Taste of Passion (Madaris Novels) by Brenda Jackson Page A

she had gotten home to find Luke had prepared dinner again—another casserole—that was just as tasty as the one he’d made the night before. He had been in the bedroom but had gotten up to join her in the kitchen, inquiring whether the police had made any progress in their investigation. She had told him the police still didn’t have a clue who had ransacked her office, but they were still obtaining more information. Of course Whitedyer denied any involvement and so far none of the customers at the restaurant that night had reported seeing or hearing anything suspicious.
    He had asked her how her day had gone, but when he saw she wasn’t very talkative he had gone back to bed.
    That night had pretty much set the pattern for the following two days. They only had a conversation when they thought they had something to say; otherwise they seemed to be distancing themselves from each other. She sighed deeply at the thought of that happening. So much for them trying to be friends.
    “If your frown gets any deeper everyone is going to wonder what I’ve done to you, Mac,” Luke said in a low voice, interrupting her thoughts.
    She couldn’t help but glance up at him, taking in the handsomeness of his features, especially his sensual mouth. She had noted that he was getting around better these past three days. His limp was less pronounced and he didn’t wince as much when he moved around. He had mentioned at breakfast that morning that he had cut back on his pain medication a few days ago and was getting along just finewithout them. She had been glad to hear that, but she wasn’t glad to hear what he’d just said.
    “I’m not frowning,” she countered, forcing a smile to her lips.
    He chuckled as he glanced back up at her. “Now you’re not, but only because I just mentioned that you were. The last thing I want them to think is that I’ve been a bad patient.”
    No, he hadn’t been a bad patient. In fact, he’d been just the opposite. It wasn’t his fault that his very presence caused havoc to her central nervous system, producing some sort of physical response whenever he was near. Instead of responding to what he said, she took a step on the porch when Skye quickly moved in her direction. Sexual tension seemed to be swirling in the air between her and Luke and the sooner she put distance between them, the better.
     
    “I don’t know how the rest of your body is holding up, but I’m glad to see your eye sockets are still in pretty good working order where Mac is concerned.”
    Luke shot his cousin Slade a frown. “What are you talking about?”
    Slade chuckled. “I’m talking about the fact that when it comes to Mac, Blade and I do all the talking and you still do all the looking. Just like you were just doing. Just like you’ve been doing since we got here. She moves, your eyes move. They’re like radar that keeps track of her.”
    Luke silently admitted that he had been staring at Mac, and probably had been doing so frequently. But then she was pretty, and damn, he was a man who appreciated beautiful things, especially women.
    “We’re trying to be friends,” he finally said, thinking that statement would explain everything.
    “Why?” It was Blade who asked.
    The three of them were sitting on the porch while Skye and Mac were out in the yard near the corral. Theo hadbrought out an easygoing gelding for Skye to ride. Luke couldn’t help but smile at the thought that the first time Skye, a New Englander, had been on a horse was after she’d met Slade. And now she was a city girl who was determined to adjust to the western life she was a part of.
    Luke glanced over at Blade. “Why, what?”
    “Why are you trying to be friends with Mac? Slade and I are her friends. We always figured you would shoot to be something more.”
    Luke’s frown returned. “How could the two of you think something like that? You of all people know I don’t have time for relationships. I just got time for