Page 11 of Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn 4)
Her cheeks warmed even more at the thought of masturbating while imagining herself with David. Stop that. What is wrong with me?
I’ve had an emotional day. That’s why I feel out of control. I feel alone, and that’s the only reason David is such a temptation.
Lucy opened the door before David could knock. His large, muscular frame filled the doorway. Even shadowed from the sun, his blue eyes were gorgeously brilliant. And his lips looked every bit as amazing as she’d imagined a moment before. It was all she could do to not lean forward and test if there was any possibility that his kiss would live up to her fantasy.
She needed to gain control of herself as well as the situation. She gripped the door handle tightly and stood, blocking his entrance. “Thank you for your help today. I’m sorry I hit you. I was still all wound up from talking to Ted.” She paused and chewed her lip before saying, “I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“No apology necessary.” His smile was as warm as the sun shining behind him.
Lucy took a deep breath, then realized her mistake. He smelled as good as he looked. Masculine. A city woman might smell cattle or horse, but those familiar scents faded to the background for Lucy. David didn’t need cologne; he was heady enough. He’d worked hard, and the light shine of sweat on him was a turn-on that had her biting her lip again. I have to get him out of here before I bookend this day with bad choices. “I’d offer you something to eat, but I’m sure you’re anxious to get home, and it’s a long drive. I should have a check for you tomorrow. I can mail it or have someone take it to you in Fort Mavis if you need it sooner. Whatever you prefer.”
David removed his hat, and the sun brightened his thick blond hair, giving it an almost halo effect. “I’d rather you invite me in.”
Lucy leaned on the door handle for support as her knees almost buckled. I’ve watched too many vampire movies. They can’t hurt you unless you invite them in. David is not here for my blood or my ranch. But he does want something.
Me.
Oh God.
This is a bad idea.
A really bad idea.
I swore I would get back control of my life and my ranch.
Is this a test? To see if I’ll take the easy way out again? I won’t. No matter what my sex-starved body thinks, I won’t say yes this time.
I need to free myself from owing anyone anything.
“I have work waiting for me or I would.”
He made no move to end the conversation. “Your home business? Sarah told me you were starting one.”
Thank God I didn’t tell Sarah the details. I’ll have to talk to her about how much she’s sharing with David. “Yes. Hopefully it’ll bring in enough revenue after the first few months to pay you the rest of what I owe.”
“I’m not worried about the money, Lucy.”
“You should be. We didn’t even sign anything.”
He held her gaze. “Contracts don’t matter with honest people, and crooks will always find a way around them. I trust you, Lucy.”
“Trusting people is the quickest way to lose everything.”
“Is that what you believe?”
“It’s a hard truth, but I’m learning to deal with it. What do they say? ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice . . .’”
“You’re no fool, Lucy.”
“Not anymore, I’m not. I’m done letting others decide how things should be done. I’m going to save this ranch, and I’m going to do it my way.”
David leaned in, his mouth hovering above hers. “You don’t have to do it alone.”
Lucy licked her bottom lip and let out a shaky breath. It would have been so easy to forget everything else and give in to him. Then what? “Yes, I do. I won’t make the same mistake again.”
His breath was a soft caress on her lips. “Would it be a mistake?” His voice held strength and a confidence just as attractive as the rest of him. What would life be like with a man like him at her side?
Even as her eyes began to close in preparation for his kiss, she told herself she didn’t want this. She couldn’t risk losing herself again . . . no matter how strong the pull between them was.
“A package for you, Miss Lucy,” an amused male voice said from the bottom of the steps. She and David jumped apart. “I would have left it without interrupting, but it’s a heavy box, and I’m supposed to have you sign for it.” The postman smiled as he handed the box to David and took out a tablet for Lucy. “Sign right there, if you don’t mind.”
Lucy scanned the box in David’s arms. It had to be from Technically Anonymous Pleasure. After seeing the poor-quality photos for some of the items in the catalogue, Lucy ordered one of everything with the intention of taking pictures for her website. The company was normally discreet with its labels, but Lucy wanted to rip the box away from David just in case. She reluctantly turned her attention to the tablet, signed the electronic form, then handed it back to the postman, who thanked her and left.
Looking at David, she said, “I’ll take that now.”
He bounced the large square box against his chest. “It’s too heavy for you.”
“I don’t want or need your help. Give me the box.” She reached out for it and pulled before he had a chance to release it. Meeting resistance, she pulled harder. His release of the box, along with the way she’d braced herself to pull harder, sent her stumbling backward beneath the weight of it.
And this is how I die, crushed beneath a box of sex toys.
David was beside her in an instant, stopping her fall by putting an arm around her waist. Once she was steady on her feet, he reached for the box. She clutched it to her and started to retreat, but was blocked by the arm still supporting her. Opposing emotions rushed through her. She loved the feel of him against her, loved his strong touch. At the same time, she’d just learned the risk of leaning on anyone, and she was furious with herself for being tempted to do it again.
“Easy, Lucy. I told you it was too heavy.” His amused tone only confused her more.
There is nothing funny about my whole life falling apart and nothing amusing about how desperately I want to make the right choices this time. “And I told you I could handle it.”
David frowned. “Was I supposed to let you fall on your ass?”
“If that’s what I wanted—yes.”
“I can’t do that, Lucy. I’m not the kind of man who can walk away when someone is in trouble.”
Sweat began to bead on Lucy’s forehead from the exertion of holding the ridiculously heavy box. Do they wrap their toys in bricks? She turned to the side and bent to put the box down, but dropped it, barely missing both of their feet. She hated that she hadn’t been strong enough to make her point by holding the box. Tears welled in her eyes.
She knew enough about David’s history with Tony to believe David was sincere. Sarah had told her how David had hunted Tony down when he thought the horse trainer had gone unpunished for a tragedy David had felt was Tony’s fault. Tony had been drinking himself to death when David found him. Another man might have gloated over the irony, but David had not only stayed and sobered Tony up, he had also guided the man back to a career he was gifted in.
But I don’t need to be saved.
I need to do this on my own.
She met his eyes, and for a moment her resolve wavered. He had the kindest eyes she’d ever looked into. What would we be to each other if we’d known each other before all this? If I wasn’t already a tangled mess on the inside?
Why ask myself what might have been, when all I have is here and now?
“Keeping this ranch is my priority now. My only priority. I know how ungrateful that sounds, but I asked you not to come. I warned you. Good-bye, David.”
He bent closer again, so close Lucy’s resolve began to dissolve. “I’m not leaving until I’m sure you’re safe, Lucy. Wyatt hired me to help look after the outbuildings, and I agreed to bring some of my horses over to give work to some of the men who were here today. Wyatt
seems to think they’ll need it.”
The room spun. “Wyatt can’t hire you. This is my ranch.”
David caressed the side of Lucy’s face, running the back of his fingers down one side of her neck. “Wyatt’s worried about you. He thinks you need someone to watch over you. I agree.”
The pleasure of his touch confused Lucy. She felt vibrantly alive, and her miserable morning was too easy to forget. No. No. No. She pushed his hand away. “I don’t care what Wyatt thinks, and I don’t care what you do, either. I’m telling you to leave. I don’t want you here.”
“Then why do you look like you want to kiss me so damn much?” he asked.
