Mail-order Bridegroom Part 8

"I won't sleep with you."

His smile was derisive.

"That's an unrealistic request and you d.a.m.ned well know it."

"It's not. I--'

He cut her off without hesitation.

"This is going to be a real marriage--in every sense of the word. We sleep together, drink, eat and make love together."

"Not a chance," she protested, her voice taking on an edge of desperation

even she couldn't mistake.

"You wanted control of the ranch and you're getting that. I won't be part ofthe bargain. I won't barter myself."Sardonic amus.e.m.e.nt touched his expression."You will and you'll like it," he informed her softly."I know you too well not to make it good for you.""You knew an inexperienced eighteen-year-old girl," she declared pa.s.sionately."You know nothing about the person I've become. You know nothing of my hopes or dreams or desires. And you never will.""Another challenge?" He moved closer."Shall we settle that here and now? The bed's a little narrow, but it'll do.

I guarantee you won't be disappointed."

She took a hasty step back, knowing there was nowhere to escape should he decide to put action to words.

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d," she whispered.

"I won't be forced."

"I don't use force. I don't have to." For a horrifying second she thought

he'd prove it, that he'd sweep her up without regard and carry her to thebed. That he'd scatter her resistance like so much chaff before the breeze. Then he relaxed, though his gaze remained guarded and watchful. "What about children?" he asked unexpectedly.

"Or are they off your list, too?"

Events had proceeded so swiftly that she hadn't given the possibility anythought at all."Do you want children?" she asked uncertainly.He c.o.c.ked his head to one side, eyeing her with an uncomfortable intensity."Do you? Or, should I say, do you want my children?"

"Once, that was all I dreamed about," she confessed in a low voice.

"And now?"

She looked at him, fighting her nervousness.

"Yes, I want children."

"You won't get them if I agree to your condition. Cross it off your list,

Leah. It's not a negotiable point."

She didn't want to concede defeat, didn't want to agree to give herself tohim without love, without commitment. But he'd left her without choice."Hunter, please..."He closed the distance between them. Cupping her head, he tilted her face up to his."We'll make love, you and I, and we'll have children.Plenty of them. Though chances are they won't be blue-eyed blondes.Can you live with that? ""I'm not my father. I know you don't believe it, but it's true. Do you really think I could love my child less because he's dark..." she dared to

feather her fingers through his hair 'instead of fair? "

He caught her hand and drew it to his scarred arm, her pale skin standing out starkly against his sun-bronzed tan. "It matters to some."

"Not to me. It never mattered to me."

He nodded, apparently accepting her words at face value. "Any moreconditions?" he asked, flicking her list with a finger."No," she admitted."But you'd better know up-front I can't promise I won't argue with you. I love this ranch. And I'll do all I can to protect the people on it."

He shook his head.

"That's my job now."

"That doesn't mean I won't worry."

"Worrying is also my job," he informed her gravely.

She nodded. That left only one last decision to be made. "About the wedding..."

"I want to marry by the end of the week. Tell me where and when and I'll bethere. Just make sure it's no later than Sat.u.r.day.""So soon?" she asked in dismay."That's less than a week.""Are you having second thoughts?""Constantly. But it won't change anything. I won't sell and I can't save the ranch unless I marry you. But a wedding... There's a lot to be done and

not much time to do it in."

"Find the time." He tugged her more fully into his arms. "I have to go," he said, and kissed her.

His touch drove out all thought and reason, banis.h.i.+ng the ghosts that lingered from that other time and place. And no matter how hard she wanted to oppose him, to keep a small piece of herself safe and protected, he stripped her of all resistance with consummate ease.

Deepening the kiss, he cupped her breast, teasing the tender peak through the thin cotton. And she let him. let him touch her as he wished, let him explore where he willed, let him drive her toward that sweet crest she'd once shared exclusively with him.

For a moment Leah was able to pretend that she meant something to him again,

that he really cared for her more than he cared for her ranch.

But as hard as she tried to lose herself in his embrace, the knowledge that this was in all probability a game of revenge intruded, and finally drove her from his arms.

He released her without protest.

"Call me with the details," he instructed, and headed for the door.

"We'll need to get the license as soon as possible."

"There's one last thing," she suddenly remembered. He

paused, waiting for her to continue and, almost stumbling over the words, she said, "Conrad... Conrad Michaels. He retired." Hunter didn't say anything, prompting her to state her concerns more openly.

"Are you responsible for his retirement?"

"Yes."

She'd suspected as much, but it still shocked her to hear him admit it.

"Why7' He didn't reply. Instead he walked outside, forcing her to give

chase. Without breaking stride, he gathered up his buckskin's reins andmounted. She clung to his saddle-skirt, hindering his departure, desperatefor an answer.

"Hunter, please. Tell me why. Why did you force Conrad to retire?"

After a momentary hesitation he leaned across the horn, fixing her with hard black eyes.

"Because he put you at risk."

Alarmed, she took a step back.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the ad."

"But I placed the ad, not Conrad."

"He knew about it, and not only did he not try and stop it he encouraged you

to go ahead with it while in his capacity as your banker." His face might have been carved from granite.

"You still don't have a clue as to how dangerous that was, do you?"

"We were very selective," she defended.

"You were a fool," he stated succinctly. "You might as well have painted a bulls eye on your backside, stuck yourpinfeathers in the ah- and proclaimed it open hunting season. Count yourselflucky that you and that old harridan of a grandmother weren't murdered inyour beds."

"So you had Conrad fired." "I wanted to!" he bit out.

"Believe me, more than anything I wanted to have him fired for plantingsuch a criminal suggestion in your head. Considering he's an old familyfriend, I let him off easy. I agreed to an early retirement."

A sudden thought struck her.

"If you're that powerful-- powerful enough to force Conrad's retirement--whatdo you need with this ranch?" She spoke urgently."It has to be small potatoes to you. Why are you doing this. Hunter?"A grim smile touched his mouth and he yanked the brim of his stetson low over his brow.

"That, my sweet bride-to- be, is one question I have no intention of answering."

And with that he rode off into the approaching storm, the dark, angry clouds

sweeping across the sky ahead of him, full of flash and fury.