we’ll utilize for special occasions and weddings. You name it. This is the first project I’ve been involved with where the land dictates the building, instead of the other way around. I think Robinique understands that.”
Wade spurred his mare on. “Come on. I need to see it all one more time and get your opinion.”
“I’ve seen the plans on paper, Wade. But it’s hard for me to picture it. Seems like this place needs to stay untouched.”
“Nothing stays untouched, Gina.” He cast her a narrow-eyed look from under the brim of his Stetson. “I learned that lesson a long time ago.”
“So as long as it’s going to be touched, you might as well be the one doing the touching?”
Wade stared deeply into her eyes, capturing her and making her flinch from his intensity. “That’s right.”
Heat crept up Gina’s neck. She wanted out of this conversation, knew she should let the comment go, but she couldn’t. Wade had twisted her words and suddenly they weren’t speaking about the land any longer. She fought her rising anger. “When did you become so ruthless?”
Wade’s voice held contempt. “You know the answer to that.”
Gina slumped in the saddle. Telling him the truth now wouldn’t do any good. Wade had changed. He was a man walking in the shadow of his father. He was just as driven, just as bitter. Getting involved with him again would be a big mistake. She’d already had a bad relationship with one unscrupulous man and she feared Wade Beaumont, too, would only use her then toss her aside.
Gina kept Sarah’s secret close to her heart. It wasn’t her secret to divulge anyway. If Sarah wanted Wade to know the truth, then she would tell him in her own time. Long-standing friendships were at stake here and Gina wanted no part in destroying Sarah’s relationship with Wade. Gina was the outsider and she would always remain so. “We’d be better off just sticking to business, Wade.”
Wade cocked his head and sent her a crooked smile. “That’s all I was talking about. Business.”
Gina’s temper rose with lightning speed. There was no stopping the rage within her. She silently cursed Wade and his infuriating hold on her. She needed to get away from him. She kicked her mare’s flanks just as a wild hawk swooped down from a cottonwood. The horse reared up in fright—nearly tossing Gina from the saddle—then her front hooves landed hard onto the ground and the mare took off running.
Startled, the reins dropped from Gina’s hands. She grabbed for the saddlehorn, bouncing on the seat as the mare raced across the meadowland. Her hat flew from her head as she hung on.
She heard Wade’s commands from behind, knew he was racing behind her, trying to catch up. Gina held on for dear life. Her shoes came out of the stirrups from the turbulent ride. She lost her balance in the saddle and her grip on the horn. Within seconds, she was tossed off the horse.
She hit the ground hard.
Dazed from the fall, she heard Wade’s footsteps fast approaching. And then he was leaning down beside her with fear in his eyes and a voice filled with gentle condemnation. “Damn it, Gina. You’re always running away.”
Six
With her head pounding, her body twisted and the air knocked out of her, Gina squinted into the morning sun. Wade moved to obstruct the light, his tone fierce but his hands gentle as he touched and surveyed her body for injuries. “Did you hit your head?”
She gazed into his eyes as his fingers searched for a bump. “I have a hard head.”
“Tell me about it,” he muttered, yet the softness in his eyes belied his tone. When he didn’t find a bump on her head, his hands traveled to her face, gently turning her right to left, searching for injury. “Can you untwist your body?”
Gina did exactly that. She straightened her form then winced. “I’m sore, but at least everything’s moving.”
He frowned and spoke quietly, “The fall won’t really hit you until tomorrow.”
Gina looked up into his eyes. She liked what she saw there. In an unguarded moment, Wade let down his defenses and she witnessed the depth of his compassion. “You mean I have aches and pains to look forward to?”
“Remember when I tried to break Rocket? That horse wouldn’t give in. He must have thrown me a dozen times.”
Gina nodded, recalling Wade’s determination to break the wild stallion his uncle Lee had captured in the mountains. After several bronc-busters had tried, his uncle Lee had just about given up and had been ready to turn the stallion loose. But Wade had been more stubborn than the stallion and had finally tamed the beast. “I remember that you had trouble walking the next day.” Then it dawned on her. Slightly panicked, she tried to rise up. “You’re not saying I’m going to feel like that?”
Wade placed a calming hand to her shoulder. “Hold still, honey.”
In one grand sweeping movement, Gina was lifted up into Wade’s arms. She automatically roped her arms around his neck. He carried her to the shade of an ancient oak.
He felt solid and warm and, when he peered down at her, she couldn’t miss the concern in his beautiful green eyes.
“You’re not as tough as you let on,” she whispered near his ear. “Sometimes, I see the man you were in El Paso, Wade.”
“I don’t think he exists anymore, Gina.” Wade pitched his Stetson and Gina watched the hat land near her mare’s hooves. It was so telling, so obvious what that toss of the hat meant. Wade didn’t want to go back. He’d moved into the role of a high-powered executive and was comfortable there.
She let out a quiet sigh. “A girl can hope, can’t she?”
Wade stared into her eyes for a long moment and nodded then lowered down to sit against the base of the oak, keeping Gina firmly in his arms and on his lap. “Are you hurt? Do you feel dizzy?”
She shook her head, “I’m not hurt at all. My head’s fine. You can let me up now.”
“I can’t,” he said.
Her brows lifted. “Can’t?”
“Don’t want to, won’t.”
He smiled, right before his lips touched hers. The brush of his mouth over hers sent warm comforting shivers throughout her body.
She wound her arms tighter about his neck and he deepened the sweet kiss, coaxing her mouth open. From there, Wade took complete control, mating their tongues in a slow fiery seduction while his hand stroked her face then her throat. Gentle fingers traveled lower, unfastening the top buttons of her blouse.
Wade had her in his arms, at his mercy. Gina couldn’t fight her desire any longer. She was where she wanted to be. The Wade she’d known was still there, inside, somewhere in the soft caress of his eyes, in the caring way he held her and in the coaxing brush of his lips. She wanted Wade Beaumont to return. She wanted the man she’d once loved. She’d do anything to bring him back to her.
He slipped his hand inside her blouse. She moaned when he touched her breasts, remembering those fingers, gentle
