Marriage at the Cowboy's Command by Ann Major Page A

capable of. Her sexy house guest had her thinking about him day and night.
    Luke, with his silky black hair. Luke, with his powerful shoulders and lean body. Luke, with the devil’s own grin.
    Last night had been particularly sleepless. Thus, on the third morning of his stay, as she watched his tanned hand stab a thick slab of ham in the too-intimate confines of her tiny kitchen, she felt too near her breaking point. Slamming her coffee cup down on the table, she leaned toward him.
    When he tensed and jumped back from his eggs,she smiled triumphantly. Maybe she wasn’t the only one on edge.
    For the last two nights she’d barely slept. Not that she’d stripped off her nightgown again or touched herself—even though she’d wanted to. No, instead, she’d lain awake for hours, listening to every creak of the house, thinking about Luke lying in his bed down the hall. She’d ached for him.
    â€œYou’ve been here two full days.”
    â€œDon’t forget the nights,” he murmured in a low tone.
    At the mention of those nights, which she’d deliberately avoided saying anything about, warm color crawled up her neck.
    â€œI want to get this over with! So what’s your mysterious solution to my problem?” she demanded. “What is it? You have to tell me!”
    He set his fork on his plate with a clatter and stood up. “Do I, now?”
    Was he as nervous around her as she was around him? Did he feel ensnared by the sensual tension that had her emotions so tangled? She might think he was simply afraid to answer her question, but she knew Luke wasn’t afraid of anything.
    After placing his dishes in the sink, his lean, broad-shouldered back was to her. He called down the hall to remind Daniel it was time for them to wait for the school bus.
    Refusing to be ignored in such a high-handed manner in her own home, she shot out of her chair, only to wince when her ankle touched the floor. Blinking back tears and taking a quick breath to clear the pain, she carefully hobbled to the sink. Leaning on one crutch, she said, “Surely you have things to do in London.”
    â€œMany things.”
    â€œTeresa being one of them?”
    He turned. The lean, bronzed face that had haunted her dreams was taut with mockery. “For someone who claims she is utterly indifferent, you do take an inordinate interest in my love life. I can’t help but wonder why.”
    That he saw through her so easily galled. “Why can’t you just cut to the chase, so we can get this over with and go on with our lives?” she snapped.
    â€œSince I know about Daniel, ‘going on with our lives’ is not possible any longer.” He stared down at her, studying her too intently through his long, sooty lashes. “Is that what you really want—me gone and out of your life?”
    â€œOf course. But I can’t help but wonder what my life here will be like if you change the way the ranch is run. I heard you talking to Al Johnson again yesterday. Why did you call him? Is he coming here? In what capacity? Why? What are you planning? The suspense is killing me.”
    â€œI can see that, and I’m sorry.”
    â€œTell me what you plan to do.”
    â€œAll in good time,” he repeated. “Much as I enjoy your company and the possibility of a spirited argument, we don’t want Daniel to be late to school, do we?”
    Mutely, she shook her head. Without another word on the subject, he turned and stomped down the hall to hurry their son along—a necessary chore, since Daniel was so easily distracted. He was probably playing with an action figure instead of putting on his shoes at this very moment.
    Still, she wanted to run or, rather, hobble after Luke and badger him into telling her. But she knew him well enough to realize she would humiliate herself to nopurpose. No doubt her curiosity amused him. The wiser course was to wait him out. Otherwise,