In the Arms of the Rancher: In the Arms of the Rancher / His Vienna Christmas Bride. Jan Colley

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СКАЧАТЬ “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 СКАЧАТЬ