married her husband, Ray, but Eden had always hoped to build on her share one day. Financially, the dream wasn’t feasible. Emotionally, she couldn’t afford to start over, not with Phoebe’s welfare to consider.
And if Luke accepted her offer, what was left of her family’s legacy would belong to a stranger.
“So, if you were heading toward Montana, how did you end up coming to live in Texas?”
She watched as he picked up his mug of coffee, her gaze drawn to his hands, which were large, tanned and callused, his fingers long as they wrapped around the ceramic cup. For as much strength as those hands possessed, she knew they were also capable of great tenderness. Many times, she’d seen him gently stroke his palm along Diablo’s neck, and she’d witnessed the patient way he’d untangled a calf from a string of barbed wire, his deep voice soothing the frightened animal. She’d also seen those fingers stroke affectionately over Mouser, the pregnant female cat who lived in the barn and spent her days catching rodents.
An unexpected shiver swept through Eden. She knew from her own experience earlier that evening that Luke’s hands and voice could work magic on a woman’s senses as well.
Ducking her head back to her dessert, she banished those thoughts and considered his question. “After my parents’ death my sister and I stayed in Kansas, and that’s where Sarah met her husband, Ray. He was a bronc rider and traveled the rodeo circuit, but she managed to reform him.” Eden grinned, and Luke returned the gesture with a small smile of his own. “When they got married, he wanted to move back to Texas to be near his family, who lived in Centerville. Since I was only eighteen at the time, and Sarah didn’t want to leave me behind in Kansas, I came with her and lived with her and Ray for about a year, until I married Bryce and moved to the Double L.”
It was clear from his curious expression that Luke had more questions, but he didn’t voice any of them. She was grateful, because she had no desire to dredge up memories of her marriage and her husband’s domineering ways.
She considered turning the tables and asking Luke about his family, but figured a man like him wouldn’t have roots to speak of. But, their casual conversation had served to relax the both of them, establishing a friendly atmosphere for the topic to come.
Wiping her mouth with her napkin, she set it next to her plate. “I suppose we should discuss the real reason I’m here.”
He served himself another slice of pie. “Ahh, yes, your proposition. I was hoping that slipped your mind.”
Not likely, she thought. Though he sounded skeptical, at least this time he seemed willing to listen to her. Without further preamble, she said, “Luke…I need to get married, and I think you and I could both benefit from such a union.”
Wiping a crumb from the corner of his mouth with the pad of his thumb, he met her gaze. “Eden, I’m very flattered, but not only do we not know each other, I’m not the marrying kind.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” Enthusiasm welled within her, and she turned on her bar stool to face him. “In fact, that’ll work out perfectly!”
Her eager response made him pause a moment. He took a long drink of coffee, subtle interest touching his expression. “All right, you’ve piqued my curiosity. Why are you looking to get married, and why someone like me?”
“Someone like you?” She tilted her head, grinning, trying to keep the conversation light. “You make it sound like you’re a bad thing.”
She was teasing him, but he didn’t respond in kind. Very slowly, he turned on the bar stool, so that his hard thighs bracketed her knees, trapping her between heat, and the male scent of him. He leaned a bit closer, invading the scant distance between them. “How do you know I’m not some depraved criminal?”
With his eyes so direct and intense, and his features shadowed with grim purpose, a distinct tingle of doubt shot through Eden, forcing her to acknowledge just how little she knew about this man she’d employed without checking past references. From the moment he’d walked onto the Double L looking for temporary work she’d liked and trusted him—pure instinct on her part—and in the weeks since hiring him he’d done nothing to diminish her high opinion of him.
If he was even an ounce as corrupted as he was suggesting, then he would have taken advantage of all the times they’d been alone on the ranch long before tonight. She’d also seen him with Phoebe, and how kind and patient he was with her daughter. If anything, Eden’s respect for Luke had increased during the past month.
He was trying to shake up her composure, attempting to make her back down and cower, just like he’d attempted up at the house earlier. But, she wasn’t one to retreat from a challenge, and he was about to learn just how deep her fortitude ran.
“You’re not some depraved criminal, Luke.”
His gaze narrowed. “But you don’t know that for sure, do you?”
She dismissed his direct provocation, and the insinuation behind his words. The only thing she knew for certain was that something in Luke’s past haunted him, made him believe he wasn’t worthy of trust and respect. “I believe it, and that’s all that matters.”
She’d given him the perfect opportunity to do something to prove the sort of man he was, but he merely released a sound of disgust and sat forward again. “Why don’t you wait until you fall in love with a man who’ll make you a suitable, proper husband?”
She chose her answer carefully. “Because I don’t care to be any man’s wife again, not in the sense that includes honoring and obeying.”
He chewed on a bite of pie, then washed it down with a drink of coffee, all the while studying her speculatively. “Which brings me back to my original question. Why are you looking to get married, and why me?”
“Because you’re safe, and you won’t demand anything from me.”
Her candid response seemed to surprise him. She hadn’t meant to be so blunt and truthful, but she didn’t regret her words. If they did marry, she’d be honest for the duration of their short-term relationship, and she’d expect the same from him in return, which meant she needed to be up-front with him now.
“My marriage wasn’t an ideal one,” she admitted, pushing her plate aside. “My husband was very controlling and manipulative, and when he died, his will stipulated that his brother Allen maintain control of the Double L until I remarried. Since I prefer to live alone, without a husband, that means I’ll never secure the ranch and cattle operation as mine. The Double L is Phoebe’s future, and with me barely making ends meet on the paltry monthly allowance Allen gives me, by the time she inherits the ranch there might not be anything left.”
“So you figure the best way for you to gain back control of the ranch and accounts is to get married?”
“Yes. Temporarily.” She had no desire to become emotionally involved with another man, or give up the freedom and independence she treasured. “All I’m asking for is one year of marriage.”
“That’s six months longer than I stay in any one place.”
She’d assumed as much, and was prepared to compensate him for his time. “I’m hoping I have the incentive to make your extended stay worth your while.”
His gaze dropped to her mouth, as intimate as a caress. “What kind of incentive?”
