All the while he kept his gaze locked with hers.There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, and he tried to show her that without words.
She, too, didn’t speak.It was as though she needed him to communicate as only lovers could, in joined gazes and sweet touches.
For Ben, Sarah was a woman unlike any other.With her big heart, her connection to people, her lack of vanity, and her great beauty.They combined to form the exceptional person she was.
By degrees, he increased his thrusting, and soon she was gasping, perspiring, clinging to him.As her orgasm built, he kept his gaze fastened to her face.Ben loved her like this, because she was focused on him, only him, and jealously, he wanted all her attention.All her affection.He wanted all she had to give and more.
He still couldn’t believe his amazing luck that she wanted him, too.It was his good fortune, and yes, his honor to hold her, to kiss her, to love her.And he did.
He loved her.
Nothing would change how he felt.That morning, just after dropping off his men at the airport, he’d done some of the things he’d told Sarah he needed to do.And he’d tell her about it.As soon as the sun came up.
****
Sarah woke deliciouslytangled in Ben’s arms and legs.Her head lay on his shoulder, and she felt his hand stroking her bare hip.His stirring woke her, and she still purred from their long night of lovemaking.
In the next instant, her eyes popped open and reality thumped her painfully in the chest.Within an hour, Ben would be gone.
He took her chin and tipped her face to his, lowered his mouth and gave her a long, luxurious kiss.At last, he pulled away.“I could stay here in your bed all day,” he said.“But it’s time to go.You’re driving me to the airport, remember?”
Her throat tight, she nodded.
Having already said his goodbyes the night before, Big Jim was presumably gone to town, so Sarah made them a quick breakfast of toast and fruit.Determined not to allow Ben to see her heavy melancholy, she pasted a smile on her face.Hopefully it didn’t look as fake as it felt.
Outside at the truck, he threw his bag into the back.“I’ll drive,” he said, holding his hand out.
“It’s my truck.I’ll drive,” she said, not really meaning it.
“Nope.Keys?”
With a pretend sign, she slapped them into his hand and he got in.
From the corner of her eye, she was surprised to see her father walking up from the barn.He wore a dark frown.“Hang on,” she told Ben.“Just give me a minute.”
He nodded and she hurried over to Jim.The truck was far enough away so that Ben couldn’t hear them.
Wondering why he was still home, she asked, “Dad, aren’t you going to breakfast at the diner?”
“No.”He stopped at the corral gate, which sagged on its post.He took a screwdriver and a hinge from his pocket.“Not hungry.”
“Not hungry?That’s never happened before.”She stood before the man who’d adopted her and raised her, studied him with compassion and love.There was something percolating here, bubbling beneath the surface.She cocked her head.“You’re miserable, aren’t you?”
He looked startled, but his frown didn’t ease.“I’m fine.”
“Tell her, Dad,” she rushed out.“Just tell Milly how you feel.”For some reason, Sarah felt passionate about this.She wanted to drill down to the bottom of the issue, to whatever it was keeping her father and Milly apart.Nonetheless, mostly she blamed him.What was it with men?Couldn’t they see their own happiness when it threw itself into their faces?Her heart hurt, ached in her chest as though someone had beaten it with a hammer.
“I’m not telling her anything.”Working off the old hinge, he set the new one on the fence post and turned a screw into the hole.
“Stubborn, stubborn man!”she burst out.All at once she wanted to scream the ranch down.Her fists balled.On some level she knew she was overreacting but was wholly unable to stop herself.“Can’t you see that womanlovesyou?She’s loved you all this time, and you won’t reach out to her?”Like rocks down a hillside, the words tumbled out.“She did all she could to show you that love.My God, she cared for your children.She didn’t have to do that.Doesn’t she make sure that your breakfast is prepared every day just as you like?Your toast a little burnt?Your eggs runny?”
Sarah felt her fingers shaking.Suddenly it occurred to her that she wasn’t really yelling at her father.She was yelling at Ben.Her shoulders slumped.
Mute, Jim only firmed his lips and attached the new hinge to the gate.
“In both big ways and small ones.”Sarah kept arguing, although much of the steam had gone out of her.“She’s made it clear you’re the only man for her.You’re over the moon for her, too.”When he didn’t react, she whispered, “What’s wrong with you?”
Because she knew he wouldn’t answer, she stormed to the truck and threw herself inside, blinking away tears.Sarah stared out the windshield.
