Chapter Six

Luke

The next morning, Luke stirred in the dark, pre-dawn moments to find Rachel in his arms, her blonde hair spread across his chest. She felt perfect there. He wanted to keep her tucked right beside him. What he really wanted to do was press her back to the bed, tear her tiny shorts off and that thin shirt too, and sink into her sweet warmth.

He’d had a small taste of that sweetness last night and that, combined with her nestled next him all night, had left him with an almost painfully hard cock. Listening to her soft breathing and inhaling her enticing scent made him wild with need.

Even though he’d taken liberties with her the night before, he wouldn’t push her for more. Fucking her there in the four-poster bed, just as the sun rose, sounded about as close to heaven as he could imagine, but Rachel was a virgin and she’d trembled beneath his touch. She was frightened of the prospect of sex and just like approaching a skittish mare, he needed to take his time with her.

He drifted off to sleep and awoke sometime later to the aroma of coffee and bacon. He washed and dressed and strolled into the kitchen. Rachel worked at the stove and didn’t hear his approach.

She wore yoga pants and a t-shirt. Her hair hung down her back, loose and damp. As she moved around, the tips of her blonde hair brushed the small of her back. His gaze hung there for a moment, caught by the sensuous, unguarded view and then he let it drift down to the way her yoga pants hugged the curve of her ass.

Jed liked to drop comments about women needing to dress like women. The subject came up when they went to the auction and women-ranchers walked around in jeans and boots. The old man hadn’t approved and Luke was certain he wouldn’t have approved of the sexy little pants his granddaughter wore this morning.

His blood heated. Again. Or was it, still? He needed a distraction. Coffee. That’s what he needed.

“Good morning,” he said, quietly.

She let out a cry of surprise and spun to face him. Instantly, her face colored a deep crimson. He knew, without a doubt, she was thinking of last night. Averting her eyes, she crossed to the coffee pot on the counter.

“How do you take your coffee?”

“Black.” He sat at the table. “You wearing that to the lawyer's this morning?”

She set a mug of coffee in front of him and frowned. “I’m wearing a skirt and blouse and sandals, if that meets with your approval. Did Jed tell you I needed help getting dressed?”

He suppressed a smile. They were back to circling and sparring, but if she’d given him the least bit of encouragement, he might have hauled her back upstairs and finished what he started last night.

“I like to be helpful in any way I can,” he shot back.

He teased, of course, but her eyes widened with a fragile expression he hadn’t anticipated.

“You could be helpful by taking me to the lawyer today.”

“Of course, I will. I told you.”

“I didn’t know if things would be weird between us.”

“They’re not weird.”

“I don’t know how to drive Jed’s truck. It’s a stick shift. And I sold my car before I came. I had a student loan payment I needed to cover.”

He nodded. “I can show you how to drive a stick, if you like. It’s not hard.”

“I asked Jed if I could get someone to teach me but he said he didn’t want a woman touching his truck.”

“Your grandfather had some out-of-date ideas. I’ll teach you. You’re smart. I’m sure you’ll get it right away.”

Her lips curved with the hint of a shy smile before she turned to the stove. “I made you some bacon and eggs.”

He eyed her backside. “Nice.”

“If you’re agreeing to teach me to drive the truck, are you agreeing to stay on after they read the will?”

She returned to the table with a plate piled high, steam lifting off a heap of fluffy eggs and several strips of crisp bacon.

“I wouldn’t leave you in a bind, Rachel.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I won’t leave you without a foreman. I’ll stay on until I find someone to replace me.”

“I could always get Sebastian to take your place.”

Luke tensed at the man’s name. Sebastian was the newest hire and full of hot air. He’d been hired on to help with a round-up and had been trouble from the start, drinking, carousing, fighting. Luke had spoken with Jed several times about the cowboy, but Jed hadn’t wanted to let him go, saying they needed the extra help. Luke could just imagine Sebastian eyeing Rachel. She was innocent and vulnerable. The bastard would take advantage of her at his first opportunity.

“Not Sebastian. If I stay on, the first thing I’ll do is fire that little shit-weasel.”

“I don’t like him too much either, but I can’t afford to fire anyone if I don’t have a foreman. Of course, I don’t even know if I can afford to keep anyone on either.”

“I won’t leave you until you have someone you can depend on.”

She bit her lip. “What if I can’t pay you?”

He pulled his plate closer and gave her a heated gaze. “You can pay me with breakfast in the morning.”

Her mouth flattened with irritation. “How can you afford to work without getting paid?”

“I have money of my own. I’ve wanted to buy a ranch for the better part of a year, but I didn’t want to leave Jed when he was sick. Now I’m going to stay until you’re situated.”

She looked at him warily. “Why do I feel like there’s more to that? Like there are some conditions attached.”

“Like last night?”

“I don’t mean last night. I mean… you’ll take over and act like the ranch is yours. Fire people and stuff like that.”

“I will fire people and hire new people. I’ll do a lot of things that Jed was too stubborn to agree to and if you want me to stay on, you’ll agree to let me have my way.”

A slow blush of pink crept along her skin.

He shrugged. “Take it or leave it, but you’re not promoting Sebastian.”

She didn’t respond right away. Instead she poured herself a coffee and sipped it as she looked out the window. Her hand trembled as she lifted the cup to her lips. He wanted to comfort her, but he wouldn’t allow himself to touch her, not until she agreed to his terms. When he was done with breakfast, he rose and went to the door.

“I’ll be back in two hours to pick you up. That should give you some time to think over my offer.”

With that he left the house and went to the horse barn where he found Sebastian, handed him a few bills from his wallet and told him to pack his things. Luke told him he had thirty minutes to pack and leave the ranch. Luke hadn’t intended to intimidate the man, but he must have, judging from how quickly he cleared out. Luke watched with satisfaction as Sebastian’s truck disappeared down the driveway.