Courtship of the Recluse, Linda Rigsbee [e novels to read online txt] 📗

become seriousabout him? As far as he knew, she made a habit of this kind ofactivity. Could a man tell when he was her first?

Her one saving grace was the fact that thenext morning he didn’t act as though nothing had happened. As hesat sipping his coffee after breakfast he glanced at her.

“I missed you this morning.”

She searched his face suspiciously but therewas no leer in his expression. The statement was simple and honest,and somehow it made her feel better.

“We shouldn’t have... We can’t let it happenagain.” she stammered.

“Why?” Again the question was devoid ofimplication.

“Because it isn’t right... I mean... well youbeing my employer and all. I’m not a ...”

He stood and carried his coffee cup to thesink, pouring out the remains. “I pay you to take care of the housewhile I’m out working. I guess that makes me your employer.” Hecarefully placed the cup in the sink and ran water into it. “Butwhat we do with our time after work is strictly between the two ofus.” He lifted his head and met her gaze. “If you don’t want tosleep with me, I don’t want you to feel obligated to do so to keepyour job.”

She caught her breath. “Oh, no. It isn’t thatat all. It’s just that... well, it isn’t right for two people whoaren’t...” She stopped. Would he think she was pressuring him intomarriage now?

He quirked a brow. “Aren’t married?” At hernod he shrugged. “Isn’t it a little late to start worrying aboutthat sort of thing?”

“I should have thought about it before, butit’s never too late to stop doing something you know is wrong.”

He walked across the kitchen and paused atthe door. “People should get married because they want to spend therest of their days together, not because they’ve already shared afew nights.” He lifted his hat from the peg and clamped it on hishead and then paused, one hand on the door while he studied herface. Finally he shrugged.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

She stared at the door after he left. He wasmaking it plain enough. He wasn’t interested in marriage and hedidn’t want her trying to manipulate him into it. At least now sheknew where they stood. Tears flooded her eyes and spilled down hercheeks. How could he have been so ardent last night and sothoroughly indifferent this morning? Last night she could havesworn he loved her. Now his only concern was that she had his mealready when he came home for supper. What a fool she had been.Hadn’t Mary warned her? But no, she had been so certain, so naive.Not once, but twice. There would be no third time. Of course,hadn’t she said that twice already? The smartest thing for her todo was to pack up and leave. This was a no-win situation.

But instead of packing, she cleaned the houseand went for a ride. Bad as the situation was, she still couldn’tstand the thought of leaving the ranch. And for what? At leastwhile she was here she could save some money. If she went back tothe diner she would be lonely and broke. None of this would havehappened if they hadn’t been alone in the house. Maybe she could dosomething about that and help Cade make some money at the sametime. She had been reluctant to mention her idea before, but nowshe was desperate enough to risk his anger.

So, that evening at supper she broached thesubject.

“You know Cade; you could make a profit offthis ranch other ways than running cattle.”

He jerked his head up and regarded her for amoment with a sour expression.

She hesitated, intimidated by his obviousdispleasure. But too much was at stake, so she pushed on.

“Have you ever thought of turning this placeinto a dude ranch? You have the extra bedrooms and...”

“The last thing I want is a half-dozen littlebrats running around here tearing things up. Adults are bad enough,but when they bring their unruly offspring, it’s unbearable.” Hescowled at her. “Besides, I like coming home to a quiet house everyevening.”

She picked at her food and finally pushed itaway. That left only one thing. She had to leave - the sooner thebetter. She carried her plate to the sink. Scraping the left-oversinto a bowl, she ran water to wash the dishes. Cade brought hisdishes to the sink and paused gazing down at her, but she refusedto look up.

His hands touched her waist for a moment. Heslipped his arms around her from behind and drew her back againsthis chest.

“Cindy,” he whispered, kissing her neck in away that made her heart dance with excitement.

She stiffened. “Stop it, Cade. Nothing isgoing to happen - not tonight or any other night.”

He dropped his hands and stepped away,frowning down at her. “If it’s that important to you, I guess wecould try a few guests. But if this is because you’re lonely...”

“I’m not lonely. And having guests here won’tmake me crawl into bed with you again, either. I wouldn’t use youthat way.”

“I never said…“

“You never said a lot of things,” she cut himoff shortly.

“You’re angry with me again.”

“I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with me. Idon’t know how I got into this situation in the first place. Ialways swore I’d never...” He didn’t want to hear about her moralethics - especially since she had thrown them all to the dogsanyway. Face it. She was having an affair with her boss. How muchlower could she sink? Loving him was no excuse, because evenknowing he didn’t love her, she still couldn’t find the decency toleave. How could she blame him when she had offered noresistance?

He turned to the stove, pouring himselfanother cup of coffee and leaned against the counter, watching herthoughtfully as he sipped the coffee. Finally he cleared histhroat.

“What would it take to make you happy, Cindy?I have a feeling you’re getting ready to fly the coop. If you wantme to leave you alone, it’s done. I never meant to push myself onyou in the first place. I thought you were...” He paused, as ifsearching for a tasteful word.

“Eager? Easy?” She supplied bitterly as sherinsed the last dish and put it into