Sunset Seduction - By Charlene Sands Page 0,62
face him, because of the baby. He’d want to know the baby was all right. She wouldn’t deny him anything regarding their child, but she also didn’t want to burden his life with her presence. He had every right to blame her for all the trouble she’d caused him.
Oh, he probably would never forgive her.
She couldn’t fault him that; she’d never forgive herself.
Fresh tears burned behind her eyes. She squeezed them shut to prevent another flood. She would be eternally thankful to Luke for protecting the new life thriving inside her belly. The baby wasn’t injured. If Luke hadn’t come along when he did, who knows what would have happened?
A chill ran up and down her arms.
Our baby is safe. Thank you, Luke.
The phone rang. Audrey walked over to look at the digital number blinking on the screen.
Casey.
Like a mother hen, her brother had been calling her every day since he’d found out about the baby. Audrey didn’t pick up. She let the machine get it.
“If you’re there, please pick up. I need to talk to you.”
Please?
Since when did her brother say please?
Audrey plucked a tissue from the box and wiped her eyes. She took another one to blow her nose. Then before the machine clicked off, she grabbed the phone.
“Hello.”
“Well, you sound like death warmed over,” he said.
“I love you, too.”
Casey’s voice was full of concern. “How are you doing, sis?”
“At the moment, I’m not putting anyone’s life at risk, so I suppose it’s a good day.”
Her brother took an exasperated breath. “Audrey Faith.”
“I’m sorry, Case. But Luke was almost killed by that horse.”
“I’m gonna go out on a limb here and tell you it wasn’t your fault. None of it. The horse was spooked by the confusion in the corral. If he hadn’t been so darn isolated all that time, he wouldn’t have gotten jittery about seeing a dog chase a cat.”
“So now it’s Luke’s fault for keeping the horse in the paddock after he nearly trampled him the first time?”
“I’m saying it’s no one’s fault. It was a freakish accident.”
“Luke warned me about him, Casey. And I didn’t listen. I just went right ahead and did what I pleased. My gosh. Do you realize what might have happened?”
She shuddered in fear and wrapped her arm around her middle where the smallest baby bump had appeared just this week.
She was grateful to Luke for his fathering instincts. He’d rushed over to protect their child.
“And you pay him back for saving you and the baby by running out on him?”
“He fired me.”
Casey sighed. “To get you outta that corral safely.”
“I will work something out with Luke later on about the baby. He knows I won’t keep the baby from him. He knows—”
“You won’t marry him. That’s what he knows.”
“He doesn’t love me, Casey. What kind of marriage would it be?”
If he had loved her, he would’ve said something to her on their last night together. He would’ve known by then, wouldn’t he? But it wasn’t in Luke to lie to get what he wanted. He was too honest. Too good a man to do that. And sadly, Audrey had to face the reality that her child wouldn’t have an ideal life. He wouldn’t live in a home where his parents loved each other and harmony abounded. More than likely, their child would be shuffled back and forth between two homes.
“You should go back. Luke deserves better than this,” her brother said. “You both do.”
“You’re saying that now? You wanted to knock Luke on his ass the last I heard.”
“He has been knocked on his ass. And you leaving when you did was like kicking him when he was down.”
Her heart squeezed tight and she whispered, “That’s a low blow, Casey.”
“It’s the truth, honey.”
Audrey paused for a second. Had she made a mistake in leaving the ranch so abruptly? Casey sure thought so. She glanced at the languid cat sleeping on the bed. Jewel thought so, too. She was depressed. “The truth is, he’s glad to get rid of me. I caused him nothing but trouble.”
Casey cursed under his breath. “You’re being stubborn.”
“I take after you.”
“Think about what I’m telling you. Go back to Sunset Ranch.”
Audrey couldn’t face Luke. Her guilt was a tangible thing that dragged her down and made her ache inside. She couldn’t bear to see him hurt, bandaged up and immobile, knowing she was the cause of his agony. If that made her a coward, so be it. In her heart she knew she was saving