Sunset Seduction - By Charlene Sands Page 0,3
his mind, and it humbled her to think he remembered her troubles with Casey. It had been years since Audrey had complained to Luke about her brother’s overprotective, overbearing nature. She would confide in Luke, because he was the only one who’d really listened to her and treated her as an equal rather than a silly girl with years of growing up to do.
“We still argue,” she said, “but it’s different now.”
“How so?” He seemed genuinely interested.
“He can’t ground me anymore, so I really let him have it.”
Luke laughed again. “I bet you do.”
Audrey forced a smile. She didn’t get any of this. Luke acted as if they hadn’t been intimate, hadn’t steamed up the sheets on that guest-room bed. Was making love to a woman such an everyday occurrence to him that Luke thought nothing of it? Just casual sex with a onetime friend? “Casey knows I’m a big girl now. He doesn’t lord over me like he used to.”
She wanted to make it clear to Luke that Casey didn’t play into the equation. What happened between the two of them wasn’t any of her big brother’s business.
“So he finally cut the apron strings?”
“He’s getting there. It’s better than it was.”
Luke nodded, and they stared at each other. “Can I get you something cold to drink?”
“No…I’m just fine.”
“Okay.” He nodded once again and then she caught him glancing at his watch.
“Am I keeping you from something?”
“Nope,” he said, sitting up straighter in his seat, giving her his full attention. Luke was the best fibber on the planet. On the rodeo circuit, he used to tell white lies all the time to make people feel better.
Yes, Mrs. Jenkins, your strawberry-rhubarb pie is the best in the county.
Jonathan, you just need another year practicing with that fiddle before you make it to the Grand Ole Opry.
No, Audrey Faith, you’re not keeping me from anything important.
Audrey knew it was now or never. She had to speak with Luke about that night. She couldn’t leave things the way they were without clearing the air.
“I actually do have a reason for being here, Luke,” she said softly. “I think you know why, but if you’re going to make me say it…”
Luke’s forehead wrinkled as he gave it some thought. Then it hit him. “Ah…Audrey.” He raised his hand to stop her. “Say no more. I should’ve guessed the second I saw you standing on the doorstep.”
Relieved, Audrey let her stiff shoulders relax. Finally, they would get things out in the open.
“You heard about the wrangler job at the ranch,” he said. “Casey must’ve told you I was shorthanded. Come to think about it, there’s no one better to help me settle down my pain-in-the-ass, hardheaded stallion. I should have thought of hiring you myself, but we haven’t talked in years, so it didn’t cross my mind. The truth is, I need to get Tribute in line. He’s a big challenge. Casey tells me you’re not going back to vet school until the fall?”
Blood drained from her face and a shudder of dread coursed through her body. Her devastation would be visible any second now. She couldn’t let that happen.
Get a grip, Audrey. Hang on.
She was finally getting the picture. It was murky at best. “I, uh…y-yes, that’s my plan,” she managed.
She wished she’d chickened out instead of coming here. She could have done a quick one-eighty on the highway and headed straight back to Reno. Because the murkiness was clearing and the image left underneath was nightmarishly ugly.
We haven’t talked in years.
She could take that literally. Technically, they hadn’t talked…much. They’d moaned and groaned their way through that night. But she’d be an even bigger fool than she was now if she thought that’s what Luke had meant.
The Luke she’d known in the past wouldn’t have skirted an issue this big. He would have been up front and honest. He would have probably apologized and felt guilty as hell for making love to his best friend’s little sister. There was only one conclusion that Audrey could draw. There was only one reason any of this made sense.
Luke doesn’t know he made love to me.
That incredible night of passion they’d shared was one-sided.
He wasn’t being obtuse. He was clueless.
If someone plunged a dagger in her heart, the pain couldn’t have been any greater.
“What do you say, honey?” The timbre of his deep voice broke through her anguish.
“Want to spend what’s left of the summer with me on Sunset Ranch?”
* * *
“They’re just formalities, Audrey, but