CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LUCE DISCARDED HER SWEATER, an action he found sexy as hell. Anticipating the rest of the outfit’s removal had him on edge—and he was more than willing to help her get naked.
“Let me unzip your dress.” He didn’t wait for an answer, taking her shoulders and turning her around, sliding down the zipper.
He pressed his mouth to the nape of her neck, lifting all that silky hair out of the way. Her back was beautiful, smooth and feminine, and as he traced her spine with his fingertips, she gave a sexy little shiver.
She didn’t comment on the minimal decor in his room. Bed, dresser, lamp and one comfortable armchair—that was it for him. It wasn’t as though he hung out there much. The quilt with its mountain theme he’d bought from Hadleigh, and there was a pegged rack for his hat and coat, as well as a handwoven brown rug, but otherwise he’d kept it pretty simple. She turned around to face him. “Kiss me.”
No way could he resist that invitation, especially when she was so irresistible in a slinky bra and barely there panties. He really kissed her. A “this is the night we got engaged” kiss. In about a minute they were on the bed and she was busy unbuttoning his shirt. To his mind this was how it was supposed to be. Both so attracted it was inevitable, like the sun coming up on the horizon.
They made love in a breathless rush of desire and newfound emotion and ended up damp and twined together. Pleasure had taken on a whole new dimension. He wasn’t possessive, but he sure as hell wanted to keep her in his life.
She touched him. “I could get used to this.”
“Sex?” He relaxed with her in his arms. “Oh, count me in.”
“I meant just being with you.”
He tried for lighthearted, but he couldn’t quite manage it. “That works.” Then he cleared his throat. “Luce, after we go to California, I want you to come back to Wyoming with me. How can we figure this out?”
He shouldn’t have pushed. She drew back, and her body tensed. “I have to finish this degree. I’m doing it for myself and I don’t know if you understand this, but I’ve spent a lifetime trying to please my parents and friends. This is for me. You love what you do. I want that. I’m happy about being a wife, but I want to be more than that, too. I don’t want to wind up—I don’t know—like Danielle, working at some job because I need it, not because I love the work.” She paused, shook her head. “Not that there’s anything wrong with waiting tables—that isn’t what I meant—and I’m not implying that you’d ever...” Finally, in a despairing gesture, she threw up her hands. “I want to teach students about ecology, inspire the kind of awareness that might save a species, or even the planet... You of all people know how I feel.”
He absorbed her words, let her settle down a little.
“I hear what you’re saying,” he said after several minutes. Then he raked a hand through his hair, his other arm tightening around her. “How long will it take to finish your degree?” he asked.
“Until December.”
He winced. “Ouch,” he said. “I’m not sure I can be away from you that long.”
“Mr. Carson, that might be the best thing you’ve said to me since the day we met.” She playfully ran a finger along his stomach. “Maybe the university will let me do most of the remaining course work online. But I need to do this, one way or another.”
Luce’s tenacity was one of the qualities he loved most about her. He moved back onto her warm body. “It can’t be December,” he said, only half teasing. “We’ll have to figure out something else.”
She gave him a twinkly smile. “Think about a Christmas wedding.”
“I’m thinking about a Christmas wedding night.”
“I can tell that you are.” She stretched suggestively beneath him.
He kissed her throat. “Will your parents like me?”
She laughed. “My mother will, for sure. She’s one of the scheme team, remember? And my father will be okay with my choice of husband, since you’ve never been in prison and you’re gainfully employed. Dad’s priorities are simple.” She touched an index finger to his mouth when he raised his head. “And my sister will adore you—I think she already does. Beth is a free spirit, so be prepared.”
He cupped her breast, stroking her nipple. “I’m adaptable. My father told me once that ranch life forces you to change the game plan in no time flat. One minute you’ve got sunny skies, the next pouring rain. A dust storm could follow. You just never know.”
She gazed up at him. “You still miss him a lot, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” He exchanged his caressing thumb for a flick of his tongue, not sure this was the moment to talk about his dad—although he’d brought the subject up. Luckily, she sensed his feelings and left it alone.
“I like your room. It’s very...serene.”
If she was willing, he was in the mood for a repeat performance of what they’d just done. “Feel free to stop by anytime. This is a room with a beautiful view.”
“It doesn’t face the mountains.”
“I was talking about right now and I’m not looking out the window but at you.”
She did that cute thing and blushed. “Nicely done. And I’m looking back at you, by the way.”
“I think I noticed that.”
“I thought you might have.” She arched into his caress. “Maybe we should stop staring at each other and get down to business. Again.”
“Yes, ma’am. You’re insatiable. I like that.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
Only you. This wasn’t the time to talk about her romantic history. Or his. They’d had enough of the past tonight with Danielle. It was an interesting experience to fall in love again, older and wiser. As a teenager, his psyche had processed information very differently. Lust colliding with immature emotion wasn’t a good combination. This time, at least, he was aware of what he wanted and needed—as a man and not a boy.
“I love you.” He wasn’t really telling her; he was telling himself with a sense of wonder. “I can’t believe it.”
“Thanks.” She urged him closer. “If I didn’t know what you meant, I might’ve taken offense.”
He kissed her again. “I just never thought I’d feel this way.”
“This is going awfully fast,” she whispered.
“I hope you aren’t insulting my stamina.”
She laughed. “So far, no complaints in that department.”
“And I’ll do my best to keep it that way.” He shoved back the tangled sheets so he could see her better. “Can we have our wedding soon? Location doesn’t matter to me.”
“Um, just keep doing that and you won’t hear any argument from me.”
He did as he was told. She wasn’t voluptuous, but those graceful curves were so feminine, so perfect... He stroked her intimately. “This?”
“Exactly. Don’t stop what you’re doing.”
As if he would. “You have my word.”
* * *
“I THINK I NEED to write a chapter in The Cowboy Guide to a Successful Relationship.” Luce was limp in his arms after another earth-shattering climax, resting against Drake’s chest. “Can I coauthor it with you?”
“Oh, I’m dying to know what your chapter would be titled.”
“‘Cowboys Are Not as Simple as They Seem.’”
“Oh, thanks. I’m not happy we seem simple in the first place.”
“What I mean is that you’re so straightforward, but you’re also sensitive. For that matter, Red is, too, along with Slater and Mace. You love animals, you’d do anything for your family, you rescue damsels in distress—”
He interrupted her. “I think you’ve been reading too many fairy tales.”
“Okay, I loved them when I was a kid, but that’s beside the point.”
Although the moon was no longer full, light spilled in through the window, which had no drapes. He might not have a view of the mountains, but stars were visible in a vast sky and it was utterly quiet except for the far-off lowing of cattle.
Whatever she might have said next was interrupted by someone knocking on the door with alarming urgency.
“Drake.” Male voice and it didn’t sound happy.
Quickly Drake jumped up to grab his jeans. “Be right there!” he called.
Luce dived under the sheets. It was one thing if people knew she and Drake had been sleeping together, but quite another to be caught bare-ass naked in his bed.
Red opened the door. “Let’s go. Right now. We’ve got trouble.”
Drake didn’t hesitate but picked up his shirt and thrust his arms into the sleeves. “Bad?”
“I’m hardly going to roust you out of bed otherwise, son.” Red sounded grim. “Sorry to bust in like this, Luce.”
Luce nodded. “Anything I can do to help?” she asked tentatively.
“Maybe. An extra pair of hands never hurts. Don’t wear your favorite dress or anything. We’ll be out front. Grab a towel and his cell phone, will you?”
Actually, one of her favorite dresses was the only thing available. She waited until the door shut behind Drake and then slipped into it. She didn’t bother with her perfect matching shoes because something in Red’s voice told her this was not a perfect situation at all.
She found Drake’s cell on the nightstand, ran into the bathroom for a towel and dashed out the door. She wondered if she needed a jacket, since it had started to cool off, and then didn’t care when she opened the front door and saw the blood.
All over the front porch.
Harold was on his side. He was licking Drake’s hand, but he wasn’t moving in any other way. The big German shepherd’s fur was matted with blood. Drake said tersely, “Luce, call Jax Locke. It’s in my contacts. Tell him to get here right away. I mean right away. Throw the towel over to Red, please. This dog’s been mauled pretty bad.”
Luce’s hands were shaking, although Drake appeared calm.
She found the number, got referred to a service and left a message, but about thirty seconds later, the phone rang back. Dr. Locke said, “Drake? What’s going on?”
“I—I’m...Luce Hale...his fiancée.” She was stammering. “Something...it must’ve been big, maybe a mountain lion, got hold of Drake’s dog. There’s a lot of blood.”
“Harold? On my way. You guys tell the dog to hang in there. I mean it. Animals understand.”
Drake was already doing that, talking softly to the dog, crooning words of encouragement. She was almost more worried about him than Harold—not to mention Red. Both of them were on their knees next to the dog, who was wrapped in the towel. Blythe came out, tying her robe. “I was still up reading and heard voices.” Then she caught sight of Harold and gasped. “What’s going on... Oh, no! Have you called—”
“He’s on his way.” Drake’s voice cracked. “Let’s hope he can do something. I just asked Red and there’s no trace of Violet. I’m thinking that big cat got a little too close to the house. Dogs spook them. But mountain lions don’t usually act this way. Something is off here.”
Red shook his head. “I was asleep. I heard a commotion that woke me out of a sound sleep, like when a Canadian clipper starts wailing through the trees. I ran out of the stable and found Harold like this about five feet from the porch. Brave guy.”
“No Violet?” Blythe looked as if she might cry but was struggling against it. Luce was having the same problem.
“Perhaps she’s hiding,” Luce suggested.
Blythe hugged her. “Yes, let’s hope so.”
There was an unspoken message between them. Or else Drake will be devastated and neither of us can take it, and...
“No Violet.” Red looked tired but confirmed it. “I’ve called and called that dog. She’s feisty and maybe the fight stirred her up. She’s smaller than Harold, but she might’ve chased that lion right up the mountain.”
“It’s possible.” Drake glanced over at them. Luce recognized that remote expression. There was blood on his forearms and his T-shirt, even smeared on his face. He was doing his best to hide his response and act calm, but he wasn’t. Luce could tell he was shaken. She was, too.
It seemed to take forever as they waited, but she suspected maybe a new record was being set for traveling the distance between Mustang Creek and the ranch.
Headlights shone up the drive, and within a minute of skidding to a halt, a young man was out of the car and dashing up the porch steps. He stopped for a second, looking at the dog and all the blood. “Oh...damn it. You weren’t exaggerating.”
Drake was petting Harold’s head, soothing him. “I know. Just do your best, Jax. Thanks for coming out right away. We didn’t want to move him too much.”
Locke snapped on disposable gloves and went to kneel by Harold. The dog whined as he was examined, but it was a weak sound at best. “Good call on not moving him more than necessary. I have to stitch him up and give him a couple shots, but he’s a big dog, and in my opinion, he’ll survive this. We’ll have to wait and see. Bad news is it’ll take a little time. Where’s his sidekick?”
“Violet is missing.”
Locke paused, frowning at them. “That’s bad.”
Blythe offered a timorous suggestion, repeating what Luce had said earlier. “Maybe she’s hiding?”
“Shepherds don’t usually hide, Mrs. Carson. Anyway, I don’t think she’d leave Harold.”
It was true. Luce had never seen one of those dogs without the other.
Drake got up and walked away for a minute, his expression once again remote. Both Luce and Blythe let him go. Red said forcefully, “I’m going to grab my rifle and go look for her. I’m useless right now and I don’t like the feeling. The doc’s already here, so if she’s hurt and we can find her, we can do something about it.”
Luce said instantly and ridiculously, “I’ll go with you.”
“Like hell you will.” Drake had apparently needed a minute to collect himself; he stalked back up onto the porch. “Luce, you’re barefoot and wearing a dress, and even if you were wearing a suit of armor, I don’t want to risk you getting hurt. Stay here and help Jax. Red and I will go out. Mom, can you get the big flashlights, please? I’m going to get my rifle as well and wake up Slate and Mace.”
Blythe went inside with alacrity and Luce might have resented his commanding tone, but she didn’t know what to do and Drake was probably right. She’d be more of a hindrance than anything. She did say, “I want to help.”
“Then do it like I said, by staying put. I have enough problems at the moment. I’m worried about how this animal is acting. Harold and Violet wouldn’t have tangled with it if they hadn’t felt there was a threat. If Red found Harold a few feet from the porch, the animal came right up to the house. Not normal mountain lion behavior. And listen to me, if you think you’re going anywhere out there alone after what happened tonight, you’re dead wrong. My mother isn’t setting foot outside, either, not by herself, until we get this situation taken care of.”
Normally, she would’ve argued, but she was starting to think he was right. He disappeared inside and came back a couple of minutes later with his brothers. He’d thrown on a clean shirt and washed his face. All three of them had rifles.
Slater and Mace swore out loud when they saw Harold, their faces grim.
Luce was an animal lover through and through, and she didn’t want them to kill the lion, but she also knew they needed to stay safe. She knew Drake well enough now to know he didn’t want to kill it, either, but his mother was a slender woman who was also an avid gardener. She was often outside, alone, tending to the flowers and the herbs she planted every spring for Harry, and Luce was truly getting an education about the realities of ranch life.
Jax Locke was still working on the dog and, without looking up, said, “Priority one is finding Violet, but be careful. That cat did not get off uninjured. Not all this blood is Harold’s. I’d usually trust this dog not to bite me, but I sedated him, anyway. I don’t have to tell you that injured animals are hard to handle. And that also means your already dangerous friend out there isn’t going to be happy.”
“I’m pretty unhappy myself.” Drake jerked his head toward the stables. “Let’s go.”
At that moment Luce jumped up and caught his arm, just before his foot hit the top step. “Hold on. Did you hear that? Listen! I swear I heard a dog bark.”
They all went still, and just when she thought she’d delayed them for nothing, it came again, faint in the distance. Not a coyote or a wolf, but a dog. Even after her short time in Wyoming, she knew the difference.
“That’s her bark. I’d know it anywhere. Thanks.” Drake gave Luce’s hand a grateful squeeze before all three Carson brothers ran down the steps, hell-bent for leather, as Red would say.