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department store. His boots were expensive, but old and badly scuffed. Even his leather belt with its
rodeo champion buckle was worn. He looked like a man at the bottom of the social ladder trying to
make his way up, and Bess was wearing a designer gown that was only one season old and
practically new. The differences between them were visible ones, and it struck her as odd that she'd
never realized how proud Cade was, nor how reluctant he might be to make a pass at a rich woman.
So many unanswered puzzle pieces fell into place when she understood all at once why he'd kept his
distance for so long. Her heart sang. She reached behind her and gently closed the apartment door.
"Mama didn't sell me to anyone, Cade," she said quietly, her soft eyes smiling as they searched his
furious ones. "You're on your way to him now," he added, indicating her dress. His eyes lingered on
her bare shoulders helplessly, with sudden hunger in his eyes. "I'm on my way to dinner with some
old friends of Mother's," she corrected. She touched his hand gently with hers, delighted at the way he
tautened at the contact, at the unwilling curving of his hand into her touch. He looked down and saw
the ring he'd given her, and all the hard lines went out of his face. "You're still wearing it," he said
quietly. "Of course I am. You gave it to me. You're very possessive," she said, with gentle accusation,
her heart racing as she felt the first stirrings of her femininity and realized its effect on him. He hadn't
wanted her three years ago, but perhaps time had changed him, because he was looking at her now
with open hunger. "I suppose I am." He sighed heavily. "And blind as a damned bat. I don't know why
I even assumed such a ridiculous thing. I know you're the last woman on earth who'd give herself to a
total stranger for money." The admission made her feel like flying. She smiled with all her heart. "I
could have told you that, but I'm glad you decided it for yourself. What are you doing in San
Antonio?" "Selling off cattle mostly, but I had to find out how you got your hands on that money." He
smiled rue- fully. "You sold the pearls, didn't you?" "Yes." "I told you not to." "Mama would have
used them to buy a car. I decided that Lariat was a better investment," she added, and grinned. "Go
ahead, throw them back in my face." His eyebrows rose. "In a way I did. I gave Donald back
everything except for the fifty cents on the dollar I asked for and told him to send it to you with my
blessing." She groaned. "Oh, no. Cade, you didn't!" "I did it out of pride at the time," he admitted.
"But the fact is, you need the money more than I do." "Money is the last thing I need!" she cried.
"Cade, if my mother gets her hands on anything, she'll spend it. I'm trying to make her see that we're
going to have to work to support ourselves." "Lots of luck," he said. "Gussie won't work. She'll get
you a job instead." She glared at him. "You might give me a chance." He touched her cheek with a
long, lean forefinger. "Yes. I might. You look lovely. Very expensive." The feel of his finger made her
knees weak. "You don't look bad yourself," she whispered huskily. "Who is he, this man she's pushing
you toward?" he persisted. His forefinger moved to her mouth and began to trace its exquisite bow
shape very lightly. "His name is Ryker," she said. "He owns a company of some sort. Cade, you're
driving me crazy!" she protested, almost gasping at the sensations he was causing with his lazy touch
against her mouth. "What do you think it's doing to me?" he asked roughly. His eyes held hers until she
felt the impact right to her toes. "The scent of you drowns me in gardenia blossoms, and that's what
your mouth looks like to me right now, pink gardenia, petal soft. I want it, Bess," he breathed, letting
his eyes fall to her mouth. "I want it so much I can hardly stand here and breathe without it." She
wanted it just as much. "I want it too, Cade," she whispered. She did. The thought of his kisses had
kept her alive for years. Every day the longing grew worse. She moved a whisper closer to him, her
face uplifted, her pulse throbbing at the flash of hunger in his dark eyes. His lean hands slid to her
shoulders and traced them, savoring the softness of her bare skin, the warmth under his hands. Her
body would be like that, he thought in anguish. Her breasts would be even softer, and he could make [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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