Wagered Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher

Author:Robin Lee Hatcher [Heart, Wagered]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Hawk wondered during the ride back to the ranch house, Rand at his side, what Bethany was telling her best friend about their marriage. He got his answer as soon as he walked into the cabin’s parlor.

She rose from the sofa and came to his side, slipping her arm through his. With her eyes, she pleaded with him not to ruin the pretense. “Isn’t it wonderful? Rand and Ingrid have set a date for their wedding.”

“So he told me.” Hawk continued to stare down into her face, caught afresh by her beauty. He’d forced himself to remain aloof these last weeks, and now he reacted like a man dying of thirst, drinking her in while the opportunity remained. He was a fool to do so, and he knew it.

From the doorway, Rand said, “Ingrid, we’d better get goin’. I promised the reverend I’d have you back before supper. He’s like to skin me alive if I don’t.”

“Must you leave already?” Bethany asked softly.

“We will see you tomorrow.” Ingrid joined Rand by the door. “Perhaps you could stay in town a little longer after the ser vice. Your parents would like it. You hurry away so quickly each week that we have had no time to visit.”

Hawk had forgotten tomorrow was Sunday. And the idea of lingering for long talks with his in-laws wasn’t a welcome one. He feared they would see through their daughter’s attempts to appear happy. But why it mattered was beyond him. He expected her to leave eventually. Wouldn’t sooner be better than later?

Together they walked outside to see their friends off. Bethany continued the charade, her arm still locked with his. In unison, they raised their outside arms to wave farewell as Ingrid and Rand rode away. Hawk waited for her to withdraw, but she didn’t.

This is how it should be. This should be us at the end of every day.

Except it wasn’t the end of the day. There was still plenty of daylight, and he was already at home with Bethany. The longing to crush her to him and drink the sweetness from her lips was almost more than he could resist.

He eased from her side. “I think I’ll go for a swim in the creek. I’m hot and dusty.”

“May I . . . may I come too? It’s too hot to bathe in the tub.”

He swallowed a groan. His purpose had been to remove himself from her company. “Can you swim?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “And I have my bathing costume in my trunk.”

How could he refuse when she looked at him like that? “Get your things while I saddle your horse.”

A short while later, they rode up the mountain slope, Hawk leading the way. The secluded pool, about a mile from the mouth of the springs, was surrounded by trees and brush. They reached it as the sun dipped behind the tallest peak, hinting at the end of day long before darkness would fall.

Hawk glanced over his shoulder at Bethany. She was clad in her bathing costume, an odd little getup complete with a matching cap over her hair.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.