lifted the handle of the cat carrier and swung it along as he walked toward the parlor.
Audrey grabbed hold of her mind, and followed behind.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes, Audrey Faith,” he said over his shoulder.
So was he. Her throat constricted as she recalled the dreams she’d had of him for the past four weeks. Now she was here with him in the flesh. “I like to be called Audrey now. I dropped the Faith a few years ago.”
Luke chuckled, and it was deep and rich and full of raw sensuality, just like she’d remembered. Of course, back when she was a teen, she didn’t know much about sensuality. She only knew that she loved the sound of his laughter. “All right, Audrey,” he said, softlike.
Mercy. Her belly warmed from the delicious way he said her name.
Audrey gave herself a mental shake as she walked behind him into the house. She managed to keep her eyes trained off his perfect butt fitted into Wranglers. Instead, she concentrated on Luke’s dark blond hair that reached past his collar to curl at his shoulders. The strands were much longer now. She remembered threading her fingers through those thick, healthy locks. How she yearned to do it again.
That entire night seemed like a surreal dream.
Luke set the cat carrier down on the sofa and turned to face her. “It’s really good to see you, Audrey. It’s been a long time.”
How long was a long time? She’d seen him one month ago.
“Same here,” she said. This wasn’t how she’d expected this conversation to go. In her wildest imaginings, Luke would have been thrilled to see her. He would have whisked her off to his bedroom, claiming undying love and demanding that she never leave his side again. In the worst-case scenario, Luke would’ve scolded her for having unprotected sex with him and then running off in the middle of the night.
But this conversation was just plain strange.
“I’m glad you came for a visit,” Luke said, gesturing for her to take a seat.
She sat down next to the cat carrier. Luke took a seat across from her in a buttercup-colored wing chair trimmed with round bronzed studs. “You look great.”
She didn’t think so. When she’d dressed this morning, she’d picked the best her neglected wardrobe had to offer, plaid blouse, baggy jeans and her too-long hair tucked into a baseball cap. She’d been meaning to get a stylish cut but that obviously hadn’t happened. The ball cap and casual clothes were Audrey As Usual. “Thanks, so do you. Are you feeling better?”
“I’ve got no complaints. My arm’s good as new now.” His arm had been encumbered with a cast when they made love, but that hadn’t stopped him from making her die a thousand pleasant deaths that night.
“That’s...good.”
“What’ve you been up to?” he asked, being polite.
“I, uh... Luke?” She hated to sound desperate, but Luke was avoiding the whole I-jumped-your-bones-in-the-middle-of-the-night subject.
His eyes softened and his voice registered sympathy. “What’s up, honey? You have another fight with Casey? Is he still being a bear?”
She leaned back against the seat cushion, rattled. Was he being deliberately obtuse? Surely he had to know why she’d come this distance to visit him.
Luke was a wealthy horse breeder now. Along with his brothers, he owned the biggest ranch in three counties. He had a lot on his mind, and it humbled her to think he remembered her troubles with Casey. It had been years since Audrey had complained to Luke about her brother’s overprotective, overbearing nature. She would confide in Luke, because he was the only one who’d really listened to her and treated her as an equal rather than a silly girl with years of growing up to do.
“We still argue,” she said, “but it’s different now.”
“How so?” He seemed genuinely interested.
“He can’t ground me anymore, so I really let him have it.”
Luke laughed again. “I bet you do.”
Audrey forced a smile. She didn’t get any of this. Luke acted as if they hadn’t been intimate, hadn’t steamed up the sheets on that guest-room bed. Was making love to a woman such an everyday occurrence to him that Luke thought nothing of it? Just casual sex with a onetime friend? “Casey knows I’m a big girl now. He doesn’t lord over me like he used to.”
She wanted to make it clear to Luke that Casey didn’t play into the equation. What happened between the two of them wasn’t any of her big brother’s business.
“So he finally cut the apron strings?”
“He’s getting there. It’s better than it was.”
Luke nodded, and they stared at each other. “Can I get you something cold to drink?”
“No...I’m just fine.”
“Okay.” He nodded once again and then she caught him glancing at his watch.
“Am I keeping you from something?”
“Nope,” he said, sitting up straighter in his seat, giving her his full attention. Luke was the best fibber on the planet. On the rodeo circuit, he used to tell white lies all the time to make people feel better.
Yes, Mrs. Jenkins, your strawberry-rhubarb pie is the best in the county.
Jonathan, you just need another year practicing with that fiddle before you make it to the Grand Ole Opry.
No, Audrey Faith, you’re not keeping me from anything important.
Audrey knew it was now or never. She had to speak with Luke about that night. She couldn’t leave things the way they were without clearing the air.
“I actually do have a reason for being here, Luke,” she said softly. “I think you know why, but if you’re going to make me say it...”
Luke’s forehead wrinkled as he gave it some thought. Then it hit him. “Ah...Audrey.” He raised his hand to stop her. “Say no more. I should’ve guessed the second I saw you standing on the doorstep.”
Relieved, Audrey let her stiff shoulders relax. Finally, they would get things out in the open.
“You heard about the wrangler job at the ranch,” he said. “Casey must’ve told you I was shorthanded. Come to think about it, there’s no one better to help me settle down my pain-in-the-ass, hardheaded stallion. I should have thought of hiring you myself, but we haven’t talked in years, so it didn’t cross my mind. The truth is, I need to get Tribute in line. He’s a big challenge. Casey tells me you’re not going back to vet school until the fall?”
Blood drained from her face and a shudder of dread coursed through her body. Her devastation would be visible any second now. She couldn’t let that happen.
Get a grip, Audrey. Hang on.
She was finally getting the picture. It
