His eyes became sharper, more intent. “Then explain,” he said slowly, “why it feels so right when I hold you? How do you answer that?”
She avoided his gaze, her eyes focusing a fraction below his. “I can’t explain it any more than I can deny it.” She’d admit that much. “I do enjoy it when you kiss me, though I don’t know why, especially since I’m still in love with Clay. My guess is that we’ve lived all these years in close proximity and we’re such good friends that it was a natural, comforting, thing to do. But I don’t think it should continue.”
His nostrils flared briefly, and she could tell he was angered by her words.
“I’m begging you, Luke, pleading with you, if you—”
“Kate, would you listen to me for once?”
“No,” she said, holding her ground. “I’m asking for only one thing from you. I want you to drop this incessant pressure to marry you.”
“But—”
“Give me your word, Luke.”
His entire expression changed, and just looking at him told Kate how difficult he was finding this. “All right,” he said heavily. “You have my word. I won’t mention it again.”
Kate sighed shakily and all her muscles seemed to go limp. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That’s all I want.”
Luke lunged to his feet and reached for Silver Shadow’s reins. He eased himself back into the saddle, then paused to look down at her, his face dark and brooding. “What about what I want, Kate? Did you stop to consider that?”
Six
Kate felt good. The lethargy and depression she’d been feeling since Clay’s wedding had started to dissipate. She’d completely adjusted to the idea of her father’s impending marriage. And even the sale of the Circle L—to Luke of all people—no longer seemed so devastating. Clearing the air between them had helped, too.
“Evening, Nellie,” Kate called as she entered the small, homey café. She’d arrived home from school to discover a message from her father suggesting she meet him for dinner at Nellie’s at six sharp.
“Howdy, Kate,” Nellie called from behind the counter.
Kate assumed her father would be bringing Dorothea so they could discuss last-minute plans for their wedding, which was scheduled for Friday evening at the parsonage. Minnie Wilkins, Pastor Wilkins’s wife, and Dorothea were close friends. Kate would be standing up for Dorothea and Luke for her father in the small, private ceremony.
Carrying a water glass in one hand, a coffeepot in the other and a menu tucked under her arm, Nellie followed Kate to the booth. “I’m expecting my dad and Dorothea Murphy to join me,” Kate explained.
“Sure thing,” Nellie said. “The special tonight is Yankee pot roast, and when your daddy gets here, you tell him I pulled a rhubarb pie out of the oven no more than fifteen minutes ago.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“Nellie, I could use a refill on my coffee,” Fred Garner said. Sitting at the table closest to the window, he nodded politely in Kate’s direction. “Good to see you, Kate.”
“You, too, Fred.” She smiled at the owner of Garner Feed and Supply and the two ranchers who were dining with him. Glancing at her watch, Kate realized her father was a few minutes late, which wasn’t like him.
To pass the time she began reading the menu; she was halfway through when the door opened. Smiling automatically, she looked up and saw Luke striding toward her. He slid into the booth across from her.
“Where’s your dad?”
“I don’t know. He asked me to meet him here for dinner.”
“I got the same message.”
“I think it has something to do with the wedding.”
“No,” Luke muttered, frowning. “I’ve got some bank forms he needs to sign.”
Nellie brought another glass of water, then poured coffee for both of them.
“Evening, Nellie.”
“Luke Rivers, I don’t see near enough of you,” the older woman said coyly, giving him a bold wink as she sauntered away with a swish of her hips.
Astonished that Nellie would flirt so openly with Luke, Kate took a sip of her coffee and nearly scalded her tongue. Why, Nellie had a good fifteen years on Luke!
“Does she do that often?” Kate asked, in a disapproving whisper.
“You jealous?”
“Of course not. It’s just that I’ve never known Nellie to flirt quite so blatantly.”