This Love Will Go On (17 page)

A smile tugged at his beautiful mouth.  “He might at that.”

“Come on,” she said, tugging at the sleeve of his jacket.  “Get that fancy coat off.  We've got work to do, cowboy.”

”We?” Jade's tone was dryly amused.

“You said we were a hell of a team.”  She walked through the open door and into the sunshine. Jade followed.  Gesturing at the portion of his herd that stood grazing in the park, she said, “See what I mean?”

Jade looked, said ‘holy shit,’ and strode into the street, forgetting about his good clothes.

Harry had already made some progress, turning most of the herd back from the east part of town.  He stood in the middle of the road and bellowed at the cattle, which, Raine thought, should be enough to scare anyone, man or beast.  She and Jade set out on foot, shouting and yelling in a pattern, working back and forth at the rear of the herd, gathering the young Herefords into an unwieldy bunch and getting them moving in the direction of the range.

Moments later, on the outskirts of town, the last calf went through the gate and Jade swung it shut.  He ran his hands over the post and examined the wire loop. “I'd sure like to know how in hell that gate came open.”  He slipped the loop over the post, fastening it securely.  “Nothing's been broken. From the looks of things, somebody came along and deliberately opened it.”

A tingle of alarm went through her.  “This is a cow town.  People understand that cattle are a man’s life work.  Who would do a thing like that?”

“Somebody with a grudge against me, obviously.”

Raine said, “The only one I can think might who might have a grudge against you is…”

“Todd Anderson.”  They said his name together.

“You’ll never be able to prove it,” Raine said.

“You’re right. The only thing I can do is rig up a strong padlock on the gate so he can’t get it open again.”  Looking unperturbed, Jade relaxed back against the post, his lean body moving easily under the supple material of his clothes.  The late afternoon sun gave his hair the patina of antique gold and his eyes a dark, devilish twinkle.  Against a blue sky just tinged with a touch of purple, his tanned face stood out in stark, clean lines, the planes of his cheeks taut and masculine. The fresh smell of earth and grass and Jade mingled to tantalize her nose. For a man whose stock had just run rampant through the town, he looked very much at ease, almost…happy.  He said, “I'll have an electrician out to the shop to fix those cords tomorrow.”

“That's a start,” she said, unable to tear her eyes away.  She hadn't seen him in such an amiable mood in years. Whatever, or whomever, he had seen in Canton had done wonders for him.

He met her gaze with the unselfconscious ease that was totally his, his lips lifted in a dark, attractive smile.  “What's the matter? Do I have dirt on my nose?”

“On your suit,” she said, lifting her hand to brush it away and snatching it back before her fingers made contact with his body.

He caught her hand in midair.  “Don't be afraid to touch me.”

“I'm not.” She pulled at her hand, but he didn't release it.

“Have dinner with me.”  His smile deepened and showered her with Kincaid charm.  In this mood, he was irresistible.

That magnetic smile and his hand holding her fingers made it difficult to think.  He was dressed to the teeth and he'd been to Canton. A man didn't dress like that just to go see his lawyer.

"No, I'd better get home and see about Tate.”

“He's all right with Julia. I've already spoken to her.”

She raised silvery eyes to him.  “When?”

“I went to the house first and asked her to keep Tate while we go out.”

“You were very sure I'd go.”

He said impatiently, “Of course I was sure. Raine, we have to talk.”

About what?  About the wonderful woman you've found? About how much you appreciate what I've done for Tate but now you've found someone else to act as his surrogate mother?
  She shook her head.  “Send me a postcard.”

He stared at her for a moment as if he couldn't believe she'd said those curt, cutting words.  “Raine, listen to me.  I…”

“Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it.”  For almost a year, she had fought with her longing for him.  He had teased her and tried to seduce her more times than she could count.  Now, he’d found someone else and he wanted to share his good news with her.  She couldn't bear it.  “I'm not…not interested in anything you have to say.”

With a suddenness that startled her, his amiability fell away. His face as dark as a Dakota storm sky, he grasped her hand and pulled her close.  “Listen to me, you little fool.  I've got something to explain to you and I don’t intend to say it out here with the smell of cow dung in our noses.”

The brush of his hard body on her own sent her over the edge.  “Stop manhandling me as if I were one of your cows.”

“If I thought it would help to grab you by the ear, I'd do it,” he muttered hoarsely.

She struggled and pushed and writhed in his arms. His hard grip was unyielding and in her own desperation to get away, she twisted her arm too vigorously. She cried out in pain, and instantly, he let her go.

She rubbed her injured wrist.  “I'm sorry,” he said coolly.

“It wasn't your fault,” she admitted honestly, more anxious than ever to be away from him. The glittering green of his eyes kept her rooted to the ground. “You’d better get that padlock installed before you go away the next time.”

“Thank you for the advice, Miss Taylor.”  He dipped his head and then raised his eyes to her, a burning anger in them.  His voice was cool, a testament to his control.  “I presume you'll send me a bill for damages.”

“You bet I will.”  She turned to go, aware that his eyes burned into her back as she walked away.

“Isn't Daddy coming to get me soon?” Tate asked at the supper table, his eyes turned first to Raine's face and then to Julia's.

“No, honey.  You're staying all night with me,” Julia soothed him.  “Your daddy had some work to do and he thought he'd get it done more quickly without you.”

“I'm a good helper.”

“I know you are.”  Julia smiled at him.  “Maybe your dad thought you needed a little vacation after a hard day at school.” Julia nodded to the lead slug that Tate held in his hand and said in an undertone to Raine, “He hasn't let go of it since he came in the door.”

Her mouth twisted.  “I’m glad something good came out of this day.”

“Is the shop really bad?”

“If Jade has the electrician come, that will take care of the worst of it, I guess. The back part really suffered more damage than the front…well, maybe not. The whole place…”

“…looks like it's been bombed,” Julia said, quoting Raine's words of a moment ago.

“I don’t know how you can take it so lightly.”

Julia raised eyes that were clear and untroubled to Raine.  “I’m sure it can't be too bad.”

Raine stared at her.  “I know you're not going to publish the paper any longer, but that equipment does represent an investment.”

Julia set the fine china cup she was holding carefully into its saucer. “Raine, I have something to tell you. I should have told you weeks ago, but I was afraid that you would take it badly.”

“Take what badly?”

“I've sold the print shop.”

“Sold it?”

“The building, the equipment, everything.  We made the transaction two weeks ago.  I've been renting the place from the new owner since then.”

Her stomach felt as if she had just taken a ride on a roller coaster. She heard herself asking in a comparatively normal voice, “And I had no say in this?”

“We thought it best.”

“Who’s we?  Who bought the shop?”

Julia picked up her cup.  “Why, Jade, of course.”

“Jade? Jade bought it?”  A heat rose in her cheeks.

“Yes, I sold it to him.  Is there any reason I shouldn’t have?”

“What’s he going to do with it?”

“He plans to sell the press and the Linotype to a printer in Wessington Springs and use the building as a distribution center for another feed company he's bought to turn into a co-op.  I’m sure it will be a success.  Jade is a very astute businessman.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“I didn't think it made any difference to you. You knew the paper was closing down. You'd already mentioned you were planning on driving to Canton to look for work.  I thought it would be one less thing for you to worry about.”

She stared at Julia.  “I was going to offer to try and keep the shop open. I thought if I got job printing I could make it pay.”

Julia shook her head. “I thought you might try something like that. I mentioned it to Jade, and he agreed with me that it wasn't a good idea, that it would only send you in debt.”

Raine clenched her teeth together and fought to absorb the impact of Julia's words. The truth came in a flash of pain.  “He couldn't wait, could he?”

“What are you talking about?”

Tangled emotions roiled through her.  “Now that he’s found somebody else, he couldn't wait to get rid of me.”

Julia looked totally taken aback.  “My dear! Wherever did you get such an idea?  I'm certain that wasn't his intent at all. Jade was only thinking of me and you too, I’m sure.”

“How convenient. But when he helped you, he helped himself, didn't he?  He solved all his problems at once.”

“What did Daddy do?”

Raine looked down at Tate.  She’d forgotten he was there. Julia shot her a warning look. “We'd better discuss this some other time. Tate, let's go up and have a bath now, shall we?” To Raine, she said, "We can talk more after I’ve tucked Tate in."

Raine shook her head.  “You’re not the one I need to talk to.”

A strange look flickered over Julia's face. Then she said calmly, “You’re quite right, my dear, and the sooner the better.  Perhaps you'd better drive out and talk to Jade now, while Tate is here with me. You can clear up any misunderstanding without worrying about little ears listening.”

“I think I will," Raine said, her anger flowing through her like a warm stream.  “I think I will just do that.”

Her fury escalating to new heights, Raine roared out of town, driving way too fast on loose, wet gravel, her anger making her reckless.

There was no one around when she pulled into Jade's yard.  A few determined steps took her to his front door.  She stabbed at the doorbell and then half-turned and tapped her foot in a staccato rhythm against the brick stoop.  Nothing happened. She gave the doorbell another poke, holding it down with her finger.  There was nothing wrong with the doorbell.  She could hear the chimes repeat their melodic summons.  She turned to scan the buildings nearby. Was he out on the range somewhere or doing some repair work in the machine shed?

Behind her, the door swung open.

Jade stood there, wearing nothing but a terry coverup that began at his waist and barely reached his knees.  Amber hair clung damply to his nape, and the light covering of darker whorls on his chest held drops of moisture.  His body exuded a faintly soapy smell.

Irritated that, even now, she could feel the pull of sexual attraction, she snapped, “Do you always answer the door like that?”

She’d been really rude to him in the print shop and she expected him to snap back at her.  But he didn’t.  He seemed quite calm and collected.  “Yes,” he said coolly, “and the phone too, when I've just come from the shower.”  He took her arm, drew her into the house and shut the door; acting as if her sudden appearance on his doorstep was the most natural thing in the world.  “Here, let me take your jacket.” His hands went to her shoulders.

“If you're getting ready to go out, I won’t stay.” Had she been unconsciously hoping he would deny it?  He didn't.

His mouth moved upward in a half-smile.  “No problem. She's coming here. I've made a fire. Go on in the living room. I'm still on the phone, but I'll be with you in a minute.”

He divested her quickly of her jacket before she could protest and gave her a little push toward the luxurious conversation pit. Then he strode away to the kitchen, making any further resistance useless. Her anger dissolved. A welling sickness took its place as she walked woodenly over the plush carpet.  Whoever his chosen woman was, she was coming here.  Raine would probably run into her as she left.

Jade's fire crackled in the fireplace and filled the room with warmth and welcome but even with the distraction of listening to the fire, she could hear Jade murmuring in a low intimate tone to someone on the phone. No wonder he was sure he had plenty of time. He was still talking to her. Were they so much in love that they had long, intimate telephone conversations before spending the evening together?

In spite of the warmth, a chill shivered over her arms. Did she really have the courage to stay and watch some other woman make her home here?  Raine settled on the leather couch, wondering if some strange woman would come in and throw this comfortable furniture out to bring in something new and modern.

Jade's soft laughter drifted into the room and the sound of it made the muscles in her stomach tighten in pain. She heard him say, “So that’s what the bee in her bonnet is all about.”

He sounded delighted.  What right did she have to deny him his happiness? Surely he had suffered enough with Michele. If she, Raine, loved him…truly loved him with the only kind of love that was worth anything, the kind of love that put his happiness above her own, she should be glad he had found someone to take the agony out of his eyes and the bitter twist from his mouth.

She couldn't tarnish Jade's happiness.  It didn't matter what his motives were for buying the print shop.  No matter what he thought or did, she was staying.  But they would have to reach some kind of truce, because of Tate.

She jumped to her feet and climbed the two steps out of the conversation pit, only to hear Jade hang up the phone.

He was in the doorway before she could escape.  He walked toward her, his bare feet soundless on the soft carpet.  “Where are you going?”

One moment he was three feet away from her, the next he had hold of her arm.  “Come and sit down.”

She went with him, suddenly anxious to say something, anything, and leave before the woman he was seeing arrived.

He pressed her down into the soft leather cushions and sat next to her, his terry coverup parting slightly, exposing his knees and a portion of his hard upper thigh.  “What did you want to see me about, Raine?” he asked pleasantly.  “Did you think of something more you wanted done at the shop?”

“I…no. But the shop…the shop is why I’m here.  I…”

She tried to keep her eyes on his face, but she seemed unable to see anything but the bare satiny skin stretched tautly over his shoulders,  the muscles well-molded underneath, the nakedness of his thighs covered with the hair that was several shades darker than that on his head. She tried again, but her throat had gone very dry. It wasn’t fair that he was so beautiful and she was so ordinary.  “I…” a remnant of her temper returned and in her distress, she blurted, “Will you go and put some clothes on?”

“Am I bothering you?”

She fought the urge to cough with nervousness.  Bother wasn’t the word.

“We know each other well enough by now for certain…intimacies.”  He picked up a long strand of her hair and played with it, wrapping it around a lean finger.  “Don't you think?”

Think? She couldn't think at all. The gentle tug on her scalp that signaled his possessiveness overwhelmed her. Her only defense was to say what she had come to say and get out of Jade's house as quickly as she could.  “Julia just told me today that you…you bought everything.”

“Did she?” His fingers tangled in her hair and brushed her shoulder.  “Did that upset you?”

“Yes. I know…”  She took a breath and tried to block out the subtle seduction of his fingers in her hair. “I know why you did it.”

“Do you?”  He dropped the strand of hair he had been fondling. Relief mingled with disappointment, until her overtaxed nerves registered the fact that he had moved closer and was sliding his arm around the back of the couch behind her.  “Tell me.  Why did I do it?”  He bent his head and his mouth moved to the side of her ear. His warm breath whispered over her skin.

“To get rid of me,” she murmured, every sensible part of her brain telling her to move away, every cell in her body refusing to deny the pleasure of his warm mouth nibbling around her ear.

“Did it work?  Are you leaving?”  he breathed softly.

His failure to give even a token denial stung.  “No,” her voice trembled, “it didn't. I’m not going.  I’m never going, no matter how much you want me to leave.”

“Does this seem like I want you to leave?”  His tongue touched her earlobe. Panicked, she pulled away. “I don’t know what it means.  I just know I’m staying,” she said staunchly.  “I'll have to drive to Canton to find work, but no matter what you do, you’re not chasing me away. This is my hometown and I belong here and I…I won't go.” What should have been an angry denouncement came out in a breathless rush.

“So you're not leaving town.”  His tongue circled closer, probed deeper.

She cried, “Don't!”  The anguish in her voice must have penetrated. He pulled away, surprising her with his acquiescence.

“No. I'm not leaving town.”  Her anger fueled by her pain, she twisted to face him head on and blurted out exactly what she was thinking.  “How can you do this to me when in a few minutes, another woman will walk through that door?”

He laughed softly. She cried out and tried to get up but he grasped her shoulders and pushed her back into the cushions, half-leaning over her, trapping her under his hard body.  “Anyone who walks through that door during the next twelve hours places his…or her…life in jeopardy.”  The gleam in his eyes and the suppressed violence in his voice told her that he meant every word. She tried to make sense out of her whirling thoughts. “But you said you were waiting for a woman…”

“I was.”  His eyes caught and held hers.  “I've been waiting for her for a long time.  Waiting till I was free.  And waiting until she grew up enough to realize she’s twice the woman her sister is.  And now I’ve finally trapped her in my lair,” his hands tightened slightly on the word, “I don't want any interruptions.”  For a long heady moment, he simply gazed at her. Her eyes wide and dark, she stared back, breath held.

“If she doesn’t want to be trapped, now is the time to tell me.”

He actually looked a little worried.  He’d been playing her.  He’d been playing her since the moment she walked in the door.  She owed him just a little of his own back.

“She’s thinking,” she said, her eyes alive with humor.

“How much longer will she need to think?”

“A nanosecond?  There, I’m done thinking.”  She began to pound him lightly with her fists.  “You miserable wretch.  You were playing me.”

“I thought I owed you a little something after that complete set down you gave me at the gate.  There I was, all dressed up and ready to woo you properly, take you out and wine and dine you, and you tell me to send you a postcard.  I couldn’t figure out what in the hell was wrong with you.  So I called Julia.”

“That was her you were talking to on the phone, wasn’t it?  Jade Kincaid, I should get up and walk out of this room right now…”

“But you won’t.  Will you?”  He actually looked worried.  Before she would answer, his mouth came down on hers with a heat and a passion that she’d been waiting for all her life.  All her years of silently loving him focused on this one blinding moment. She exploded in a blaze of relief and ecstasy under him and strained upward to meet his kiss, her mind and heart and body alive with an all-consuming hunger. He felt her need and moved to satisfy it, coming down on her more heavily, his body laying half on hers, his mouth taking hers with a hard passion.  His tongue entered her mouth and she was lovely and open to him, soon learning how to tease him back.

Conscious of her slenderness trapped under him, he lifted his mouth and moved to ease himself away.

“Oh, please, don’t move.  I’ve spent my whole life wanting this.”

“Your whole life?” he teased. 

“Since I was sixteen and I saw you strip off your shirt.”

“Precocious, weren’t you?”

“I probably shouldn’t have told you that.”

His other hand moved under her back so that she lay cradled between his arm and his body.  “From now on, you can say anything you want to me.”  His mouth moved over her face, covering it with feather-light kisses while his voice dropped to a lower, huskier, more amused tone, “do anything you want to do.”

“Anything?” she breathed, touching his bare back, dancing her fingertips lightly over his spine from the nape of his neck to the indentation of his waist above the terrycloth.  With one quick movement, she pulled it loose.

He groaned in her ear. "Where did you learn that little trick?”

“You said I could do anything.”  She pushed him down and while he watched, she unbuttoned her blouse and tossed it on the floor.  He watched her loveliness emerge, unable to believe she was stripping so willingly for him.  Her bra went next.  Now bare as he was above the waist, she pressed her breasts against his chest. 

“Um,” she said.

“Um, indeed.”  He lifted her up enough so that he could clasp both her breasts with his hands.

“I always thought I loved the way your hands looked,” she said.  “But now I know how wonderful they feel.  I want to put my nipples on yours,” she said.  “Will it work?”

“Not a clue,” he said, amazed at her inventiveness.  “Raine, are you…have you ever…”

“Nope.  But I’ve been studying up…just in case.” 

“In case of what?”

“In case of you.”  She was going round in circles now, making her breasts rub sensuously against his bare chest.  At her groan of pleasure, he smiled, the devilish highlight in his eyes reflected by the firelight in the rapidly darkening room.

An added wriggling came with the circling.  “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m trying to get my jeans off without leaving your lovely chest.”

“You’re the one with the lovely chest.  Here, sit up.  I’ll do the honors.”

While she watched him with those silvery eyes, he drew her zipper down and put his big hands under her hips to lift her.  Her moccasins came off with her jeans.  There was nothing left but the little scrap of underwear she wore.  Still keeping his eyes on her face, he inserted his finger under the silk and drew it down over her knees and ankles.

Her slight look of apprehension made him decide to be bold.  He leaned down and kissed the sweet little nest between her legs.  When she made a sound of pleasure, he lifted her up and put his mouth to her, exploring her with his tongue.  She gasped and made a slight movement as if to bring him up, but he stayed where he was, tasting and pleasuring her, toying with her clit until he could feel her body responding to him. 

She was very close to a climax, he knew.  He lifted his head and kissed her navel.

“Kiss me everywhere, Jade. 

“Raine, beautiful Raine…”

He started with a breast, tonguing her nipple and then suckling it.  Somehow, this audacious woman found a way to wrap her fingers around his member, finding an extra-sensitive place.  He nearly came up off the couch.

“Do you…is that okay?”