In the Arms of the Rancher

The warm sensations that had been inside Kate faded to cold determination. She could not, would not, go through a situation like that again.

He jumped on her last remark. “In that case, lunch?”

She had no choice but to smile, and it did feel good, dammit. And she couldn’t resist, didn’t want to resist, even though she feared she’d regret it.

“I’ve got to stop by my apartment to change. Do you want to meet me there?”

“Sure. What time?”

Kate glanced at her wristwatch, noting it was not quite twelve-thirty. “Would forty-five minutes work? You realize I’m not going to even ask whether Vic gave you the number.”

He chuckled in reply. “See you then.”

Within fifteen minutes, Kate was entering her apartment. Slipping off her jacket as she went, she headed for her bedroom. She removed the rest of her suit, hung it back in the closet and made a beeline for the bathroom, wanting to wash up before applying fresh makeup.

She smoothed her hair with a brush, giving it a healthy sheen. Makeup was fast and easy. She kept it light, natural looking. Back in the bedroom she was reaching into the closet for one of the outfits she wore only to work when the buzzer sounded on the intercom.

Hawk? Kate shot a look at the bedside clock. Only thirty-five minutes had passed since she’d talked to him. Pulling on a lightweight robe, she went running to the intercom.

“Yes?” she said on a quick breath.

“Ready for lunch?”

A flutter tickled her stomach, clutched at her throat. “Err…” she said, “not quite. Sorry.”

“That’s okay, I’ll wait.”

“You don’t have to wait in the lobby,” she said, feeling uncertain that inviting him up was wise. Still, she did. “I’ll buzz the lock on the lobby door. I’m in the second-floor front apartment. Just walk in. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

“Gotcha.”

That was what she was afraid of, and if he did have her, what did he intend to do with her?

Thinking she must either be nuts or self-destructive, Kate unlocked the front door and, turning, dashed back into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

She heard the front door open and Hawk call out, “I’m here, Kate. Take your time. I’m in no hurry.”

In the process of fastening her belt, Kate had to smile. Hawk was—or at least appeared to be—so nice, pleasant. But then appearances, she reminded herself, were deceiving. She sighed, fully aware that she knew that better than most.

When she entered the living room, Hawk was standing with his back to her, perusing the books on her five-shelf bookcase. He looked gorgeous from the rear.

“See something you like?” she asked, her face growing warm from merely thinking about his tight rear.

He turned to smile at her before replying. “Now I do.” He ran a slow look over her, which parched her throat and moistened other places she didn’t care to think about at the moment.

“Ready to go?” she asked brightly, perhaps a bit too brightly.

“Ready for anything,” he said in a tone that was darn close to a purr. “What about you?”

So am I. The thought zapped into her mind and she immediately zapped it back out. “Uhh…” She stalled, trying to think of a reply, then improvised. “Well, if you don’t mind, I’m not ready for lunch…at least not in a restaurant.” She dragged up a facsimile of a smile. “I’ll be spending most of the rest of the day in a restaurant.”

He shrugged. “Okay, what would you rather do?”

She didn’t have to think about that one. “It’s such a mild and beautiful day. “I’d like to spend some time outside. What do you think?” Kate watched as he pondered her suggestion for all of a few seconds.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said and arched one brow. “Do you like hot dogs?”

Kate had to smile. “I love hot dogs, especially dogs loaded with chili.”

“Well…” he said slowly, “how about we drive to town, park and stroll around the outside of the casino hotels. Some of the grounds are beautiful. When we’re ready, we can go into one of the hotel food courts, have our dogs and, if we still have time, maybe check out some of the upscale shops.”

Kate came to a halt, staring at him as if he had two heads.

“What?” Hawk said, frowning.

“You like to shop?” She managed a fake note of awe.

His frown turned into a wry expression. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like it, but I don’t mind shopping occasionally…like two or three times a year.” He grinned at her.

Even as she shook her head in despair at him, Kate grinned back. “Okay. Let’s roll before you change your mind.”

“Good idea.” As if unconscious of his move,

Hawk curled his hand around hers, laced their fingers together and led them out the door.

Kate’s hand tingled with warmth as they rode the elevator to the ground floor. When the doors slid apart, she immediately felt both chilled and angry all over at the sight that met her eyes.

Jeff…What was he doing there? Her earlier fear coursed back. She could hardly miss his hand reaching for the buzzer to one of the apartments. She felt Hawk stiffen beside her, as if readying for a fight, either verbal or physical.

“What are you doing here, Jeff?” she said, trying to tell Hawk to keep his cool by squeezing his hand.

Without taking his hard-eyed gaze off Jeff, Hawk tightened his grip on her fingers.

“I came to invite you to brunch,” Jeff answered, his tone of voice demeaning. “But I see you obviously have already eaten.”

Steel infused Kate’s back and her head lifted, propelled by pride and anger at the insult in his double entendre. A low, almost growling sound in his throat, Hawk took a step forward.

“Don’t,” she said, yanking his hand to hold him back. “He’s not worth your time and energy.” She looked at Jeff with distaste. “I saw a lawyer today. He is going to swear out an order of restraint against you.”

“You bitch,” Jeff snarled. “And you think that should worry me?” His laugh was harsh, demeaning. “I should have taught you who’s boss long ago.”

Kate felt the simmering anger inside Hawk with the tremor that flashed through him from his rough hand in hers.

“You gutless bastard.” Hawk’s voice was very soft, controlled and somehow terrifying. He again took a step forward, loosening his fingers to draw his hand away from hers.

Kate clasped his arm with her free hand, holding him in place next to her.

“I’d advise you to leave, Jeff, while you are still in one piece,” Hawk growled.

Though Jeff sneered and put on an act of bravado, as if unimpressed with the six-foot-six-inch Hawk, he cast a disparaging look at Kate as he turned, yanked open the lobby door, then paused to glance back this time in clear fear and anger. He glared at Hawk. “You have no idea the trouble you’re going to be in.” He sneered. “I have friends in this town.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Hawk drawled, obviously neither impressed nor intimidated. “And all of them in low places, I’m sure. You know what you can do with your threats and your friends. Get lost.”

His face looking like it was about to cave in on itself, Jeff tore out of the lobby. The swiftness of his steps as he headed for his car was proof that the bigger man had more than intimidated him. He had scared the hell out of him.

“Son of a bitch,” Hawk said softly between his teeth, harsh anger in his voice. Tension hummed through his taut body. He made another move, as if to follow after Jeff.

“Hawk, please don’t,” Kate said, tugging his hand.

He paused, but his hard-eyed gaze remained fixed on the other man until he drove away. Only then did he shift his gaze to her. “I’m not a violent man, Kate,” he said, his voice still threaded with anger. “But I’ll take only so much, be pushed only so far…”

“Not today,” she said, smiling in hopes of cooling his temper.

“No?” Hawk raised one brow. “Says who?” The tension and anger were gone; his eyes teased her.

“Me…I…” She shook her head. “Whatever. I’m ready for a walk in the sunshine…I need a breath of fresh air after that nasty encounter.”

Hawk’s expression was sober, but his eyes continued to tease. “Okay, but this jaunt better be good.”

“Or?” Kate asked in challenge.

“Or it won’t be,” he said, grinning, an invitation for her to join him.

Her relief palpable, Kate laughed.

The tension gone, they had a brief tug-of-war over whose car they were going to use. Hawk won with the simple offer to drop Kate off at work afterward.

The hours they spent together seemed to fly by. They talked practically the entire time, except while they were devouring the chili dogs, sharing one order of French fries and sipping on iced tea.

In a boutique in the Forum Shops at Caesars, they discussed the array of colorful cashmere scarves since Hawk was considering giving one as a Christmas gift to his sister, Catriona. Kate didn’t hesitate giving him her opinion.

“This is beautiful. Perfect for winter,” she said, holding up a scarf in swirling shades of forest green, russet and antique gold.

His lean fingers lightly stroked the length of the soft material.

As if he were touching her, a tingle slid the length of Kate’s spine in time with the stroking of his fingers. She drew a quick breath before asking, “Yes? No?”

He nodded. “I think you’re right. “It’s perfect. Is there anything else you want to look at?”

“No.” She shook her head.

“You wouldn’t like one of these scarves for yourself?”

“I’d love one,” she said ruefully. “But my clothing budget doesn’t stretch to cashmere anything.”

From the expression that flittered over his face, Kate was afraid for a moment that he was going to offer to buy her one of the gorgeous scarves. She softly sighed with relief when he shrugged.

“Are you ready to go, then?”

“Yes,” she said, glad he hadn’t made an offer she would have to refuse, even one involving a simple, if very expensive item.

Kate was happy to get outside again and barely noticed where they were walking until they were in sight of where Hawk had parked the car. It was only then that she glanced at her watch for the first time since they had left her apartment complex.

An odd sensation, almost like sadness, settled on her as they drove to Vic’s restaurant. Their day together was almost over. Kate doubted there would ever be another one, as he would soon be leaving for his ranch, his vacation over.

“I had a lovely day, Hawk. Thank you,” she said when he brought the car to a stop in the restaurant lot. This time she waited until he opened the car door for her.

“You’re welcome, Kate.” His hand on the door handle, Hawk looked at her as she emerged from the car, an endearingly soft smile curving his tempting mouth. He leaned toward her. Without a thought, she met him halfway.

Hawk’s kiss was as soft as his smile and gentle, with no sudden hungry pressure or demand.

Naturally, Kate wanted more, a lot more. Obviously, Hawk did, too. A low groan of protest slipped into her mouth as he reluctantly drew away.

Moving back, away from her, he dragged a deep breath into his body. Looking her straight in the eyes, he said, simply, “When?”

Kate didn’t need to question him. She knew exactly what he meant. The heat radiating through her body was a dead giveaway. He wanted her. Always honest with herself, she acknowledged she wanted him just as badly. But…Why did there always have to be a but? Nevertheless, there it was. Feeling she had known him forever didn’t change the fact that she had met Hawk less than a week ago, and she didn’t really know the inner man, the unvarnished person.

Oh, Kate was well aware that there were women who “hooked up” with a man the same day or night of meeting him. Yet as hackneyed as it sounded, she was not one of those women.

“Kate?”

At the soft sound of his voice, Kate blinked to meet his direct stare.

“I’m sorry, Hawk,” she said, disappointment tingeing her tone. “I…I’m just not sure…I…”

“Shh,” he soothed, raising a hand to glide a finger along the curve of her cheek. “It’s all right. I can wait.” A self-deprecating smile played over his lips. “Well, I think I can wait.” His smile turned teasing as he added, “I’ll suffer in silent agony.”

Kate had to laugh, but she felt like crying. “You really don’t need to come back for me tonight. Vic will drive me home.”

There it was, her feeble declaration of independence. Hawk stared at her for a moment, but she knew he had understood. She was feeling pressured and was asking him to give her some room.

He gave her a wry smile and circled the car to the driver’s side. “May I call you tonight, after you get home from work?”

“Yes, of course.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to go, Hawk, or I’ll be late.”

“Tonight,” he said, standing by the open car door.

“Tonight,” she echoed, softly sighing as he slid behind the wheel and swung the door shut.

Kate made it to Vic’s just in time, not that Vic would have said anything if she had been a few minutes late. While he was easygoing—the employees didn’t even have to clock in—she was a nut about punctuality. Although she admitted she had plenty of human flaws, being late wasn’t one of them.

Big deal, Kate thought, hanging her jacket on the coat rack in the employees’ break room. So she was never, or hardly ever, late for anything. What was so great about that? She would be better served by being tough rather than prompt. If she were tough, she would have had Jeff hauled into court for abuse and harassment long ago.

But, no, she hadn’t done that. She had tried reasoning with him. Ha! A lot that had got her. She should have realized early on that there was simply no reasoning with the self-indulgent, narcissistic jerk.

And Kate knew Jeff would ignore any restraining order and would do exactly as he pleased, which meant the continued harassment of her, especially after Hawk returned home.

There was only one thing she could do. Though Kate had thought of it many times, she now felt certain she had to leave Vegas. She had put off the decision because she liked it here, liked her job and the people she worked with. And she loved Vic, Lisa and Bella like family.

No, as much as she wanted to stay, she couldn’t take a chance of putting her friends in danger. Kate heaved a sigh of regret and hurried to the hostess station to relieve the older woman who worked part-time handling the lunch patrons.

She was afraid the day would drag by. It didn’t. The restaurant was so busy, time just flew. Kate also expected Hawk to amble in for dinner. He didn’t. So, of course, not only was she disappointed, but she couldn’t help but wonder where and with whom he might be spending his evening.

After they closed the restaurant, Vic walked Kate to his car. “Are you all right, Kate?” he asked, sounding concerned. “You’ve been awful quiet tonight.”

“I’m fine,” she answered, managing a smile for him. “At least I will be after tomorrow.”

Vic frowned, opening the car door for her. “What’s happening then?”

Kate sighed. “Jeff’s been bothering me again,” she said, touching his arm reassuringly when she saw him grow stiff. “It’s all right, Vic. Nothing happened. Hawk was with me at the time.”

Vic cocked an eyebrow. “And nothing happened? Hawk didn’t do anything?”

She smiled, if faintly, looking at her hand on his arm. “He couldn’t. I held him back.”

Vic actually laughed. “Yeah, right. Honey, if Hawk wanted to go for him, you wouldn’t have been able to hold him back.”

“I said please.” She gave him a sweet smile and fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“Yeah.” Vic nodded. “I can see that would have stopped even Hawk.” Shaking his head, he ushered her into the car. Although she knew he was bursting with questions, Vic didn’t voice even one as he drove her home.

She had no sooner entered her apartment than the phone rang. Hawk. Dropping her purse onto a chair, she hurried to the phone and snatched it up.

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