Lucas.
He’d ruin everything.
She swallowed her panic, yielding to an unexpected rush of pride at the sight of him, so strong and polished, his bold looks handsomely flaunted in his navy-colored uniform with shiny brass buttons and gold epaulettes gracing his wide shoulders. He oozed power and strength and for the first time, Rachel saw Lucas in his true element, a man who was born to lead. Just by standing there, he commanded everyone’s attention—even her.
“Handsome as a devil,” said a young girl next to her.
“Why he’s no devil, he’s as sweet as a lamb.” Her two girlish companions tittered. “I will simply swoon if I don’t dance with him.”
Rachel rolled her eyes at them in disgust. She had no idea what Lucas was doing here or what trouble he’d cause her. To unveil the Copperhead leader meant keeping Lucas from creating a scene.
The band struck up a dance, and a whiskered captain bowed before her. Accepting his hand, she allowed him to parade her onto the floor. Lucas had not looked her way, but she had the uncanny feeling he knew she was there. As her dancing partner whirled her around, she kept a wary eye on Lucas engaged in conversation with several officers.
A pretty blonde emerged, exquisitely gowned, and hair perfectly coifed. She tilted her head to Lucas. He broke rank with his companions, bowed and kissed her hand. As he moved into a dance with her, a ripple of applause split the air.
“General Webster’s daughter, Susan,” her dancing companion said, following the line of her gaze. “They are engaged, and I’ve heard it’s to be the wedding of the year. Colonel Rourke has just returned from the south and completed a dangerous spy mission. He is a hero they say, bringing all kinds of information on Rebel defenses.”
“And to think he did that all by himself,” Rachel snapped, surprising her partner with her sarcasm. “He probably walks on water, turns sticks to serpents, and throws lightning bolts from the heavens.” Rachel’s blood rushed hot in her veins. To think he took credit for all her hard work.
“I’ll wager Colonel Rourke could bind any woman to him with nothing more than a few sweet words,” the captain said. “He has a way with women when he chooses. He was a committed bachelor. To tell the truth, I’d never thought to find him waltzing down the wedding aisle, consummating marital bliss.”
Rachel thought his conversation inappropriate and was about to tell him so when he continued.
“They say he was gone a lengthy amount of time, even believed dead, so you can imagine his fiancée’s joy upon his return. Most said she had been pining away.”
Rachel flashed a narrowed glance at the girl in Lucas’ arms. The twit could pine away in a pine box for all she cared. Lucas threw back his head and laughed at something amusing his fiancée said, and then returned a devastating smile to the girl. Rachel’s breath caught. A bitter stab of jealousy ripped through her. Lucas…enjoying another woman, and not just any woman, his future bride. Rachel’s chest ached so much she could scarcely breathe.
Hadn’t he’d informed Rachel in Bowman’s library that she was to be used for his pleasure? But how could he love the general’s daughter when he made so bold a claim on Rachel?
What did she care? After last night, she was over Lucas. She no longer loved him, no longer cared where he was, or what he was doing…or if he had a fiancée.
She must remain detached. She had more important matters to think about instead of getting waylaid by the legendary Colonel Rourke. At least in her work, she found a sense of purpose that helped tamp down the rising despair of loneliness. When she looked at Lucas again, his attention focused fully on Susan, her heart squeezed.How dare he be so desirable!
Rachel missed a step. If Lucas came near her again, he’d have a lesson to learn. She had fixed that situation for good.
When Lucas saw the number of covetous gazes following his wife’s every movement, he raged with renewed fury. To put a saber through every man who dared to ogle her had merit. Yet he could understand. Seeing her dressed as she was literally took his breath away. Never had he seen her dressed like that, practically didn’t recognize her without pants. As she whirled about the ballroom, her hips seemed to undulate beneath the silky fabric, hips that invited a man’s caress, and sparked the imagination of every officer in the room.
His blood boiled, taking every ounce of his effort to stay put, orders he’d received from his commander not to go near her. And he knewexactlywho initiated those orders. Two soldiers stood by a column. General Grenville Dodge glared holes into him, daring him not to interfere. Never did the irascible old general attend social occasions, least of all, a ball.
No doubt, after the harsh treatment and humiliation Lucas had put Rachel through in Bowman’s library, the orders were her way to fight back.
Fine, he would stay away. But he could not keep his eyes off her. Her beauty was like staring at the dazzling sun and he didn’t care if he went blind, and neither did any other hale and healthy man in the room.
Undeniable facts bubbled and boiled. Why did he come up with the ruse to marry Rachel? Of course, the Rebels dogged their tails. The wedding triumphed as a way to fool the Confederates. Lucas’ conscience wouldn’t let it end there. One single reality remained.
He wanted her.
He wanted to own her and possess her until she depended on him for the very air she breathed. He was formed and molded by his thoughts between his honor, his need to protect, yet to respect her for who she was. That notion came with cost. His fear couldn’t afford it and his pride refused to understand it.
He loved her.
With a war going on, and the madness of the world surrounding them, he’d fallen victim to an outrageous and brazenly beautiful woman who endured his temper, mocked his honor, and refused to yield to his authority. Meeting Rachel was like being in the bottom of a well for a very long time, and then a rope was thrown, and he was pulled up into a glorious heaven. She captivated, charmed and exasperated him as no other woman had ever been able to do. Lucas couldn’t imagine a future without her.
She wanted him, too. The knowledge slammed into his heart, nearly bowled him over. If she wasn’t so stubborn and involved with being the Saint, she would have known it long ago. He just had to make her realize it.
He danced with Susan Webster, the general’s daughter, despite her lies, but for one purpose only. To clear the air. Let her know the rumors and lies she’d spread would not snare him as she hoped it would. “I never proposed to you. So whatever wedding plans you have formed, forget it.”
“Well, I never—”
