Page 71 of A Rancher's Bride
“Or did things goreallywell at the gala?” Lisa asked, brow raised.
Luke ignored both of them and focused on his oldest brother. He met Caleb’s gaze. “Sorry, but I have to go. Not because this isn’t important, but because something is up with Kelli, and I have to find out what.”
“Because you and her…?” The question in Caleb’s eyes wasn’t going away.
“Yes, me and her,” Luke snapped, edging for the door because, screw this, he wasn’t waiting any longer. “Anyone who has a problem with that can take it up with me later.”
Then damn if Caleb didn’t roll his eyes. He hauled out his wallet and passed a twenty to Lisa before returning his gaze to Luke’s. “Well? What are you doing still here? Go find out what you did wrong.”
Luke spun on his heel, cursing softly as he headed for the door. “Because it’s got to be my fault, of course.”
“Come on, bro, you know this one. The truth is it’salwaysour fault,” Walker said cheerfully. “Ivy and I have to head out. We’ll catch up with you later so you can tell us what you did,” he called out before the door swung shut behind Luke.
Luke loved his family. Every interfering, annoying, far-too-observant part of it. And while they had a huge issue with the ranch to figure out, he had a puzzle of his own to solve first.
Kelli had left her room unlocked, her suitcase abandoned. Her favourite boots were dumped in a messy heap, and her riding coat still hung on the hooks, so he doubted she’d headed to the barns.
Luke grabbed the one item he thought he might need from her room, then stomped around the building. His suspicions were confirmed when he spotted theKelli’s Spasign.
His mental debate lasted less than three seconds. Luke used the master key in his pocket, relocking the door behind him.
Water ran at full blast, echoing from the back shower room. The clothes Kelli had been wearing hung on the changing-area wall. He tossed his jacket aside, ignoring everything else as he marched across the tiled floor and through the entrance.
Kelli stood under the water, back to him, head tipped down. Her hair hung in dark brown ribbons over her shoulders, water pouring over her naked body. She had one hand pressed to the wall as if it was helping hold her up.
He uncoiled the rope he’d taken from her room, looped it in his hand and gave a low swing to set it in motion. Another loop, another, and then he set it free.
The hemp rope flew toward her and over her head. Once it dropped past her shoulders, he tugged carefully.
The instant the rope hit her skin, Kelli whirled. Her eyes popped open. “What—?”
He pulled, stepping forward rapidly, sliding his hand up the rope to lock the loop in position and prevent her escape. “Don’t try to get away or I swear I will take you to the ground and hogtie you.”
She glared as she covered her breasts with her hands. “Get the hell out of here. I put up the privacy sign.”
“That sign is for ranch-hand Kelli. It doesn’t work onjustLuke, orjustKelli, and it sure the hell doesn’t work now that we’re goddamn lovers. So”—Luke caught her against his body, ignoring the water streaming down and soaking everything including his boots—“you can finish your shower after we’ve had our conversation.”
“What conversation?” Fire flashed in her eyes, her temper matching his own.
“The one I wastryingto have when you fucking took off. Maybe it was bad timing for the family to call a meeting, but that doesn’t explain why you were walking away from me.”
“Because we’re home,” she growled. “We can be done now.”
Luke jerked in surprise, squeezing her involuntarily. “Youwantto be done? You want what we’ve got to be over?”
Doubt—and hope?—crossed her expression. “We said it was short term. We said that us being a couple was just for the duration of the gala.”
“You said it, maybe. I don’t remember that part. I’m pretty damn sure that I didn’t agree on a time frame.”
“You didn’t say no.”
“If you’re talking about when you laid down the law on the way to the gala, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise,” he roared.
“Because you were being an idiot.” Her volume was as high as his, but a hint of a smile twisted the corners of her lips.
“And you’re being one now,” he retorted. “So we’re even, and I forgive you, like you forgave me. But this. Is. Not. Over.”
Then he kissed her. He hauled her against his body, letting the fire raging in his gut flow up and out and over them both.
