“You want to tell me about it now?” he asked quietly, sitting near her.
“What?”
“About what got you up on a horse to come here. I could’ve sworn you were dead set against riding.”
“Oh,” she hedged.
She really didn’t want to tell him what a despicable man his brother was. He might not even believe her, and then what?
“The ride wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” she said. “But then, I didn’t have to control the horse. I…I rode in front of Slade.”
“Did I mistake you? I thought Slade was why you’re here.”
“Well, yes.”
“Yet you agreed to let him bring you, and even rode double with him?”
“Lucas,” she said, “he didn’t leave me any choice. He saw that I was leaving the ranch to find you and took it upon himself to join me. He even sat me on his horse and took off before I could do anything about it. I didn’twanthim to bring me. Heavens, the very reason I had to leave was…”
She hesitated, and Lucas grinned. “Was to get away from him?”
“You find that amusing?”
“Slade’s like that, honey. He very seldom asks permission before he does something. You’re just not used to Slade.”
“I don’t intend togetused to him.” She was beginning to feel put-upon.
“Aren’t you being a bit hard on him?”
“No!”
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Well…no.”
“All right, Sharisse.” He was annoyed over her evasiveness. “What exactlydidSlade do?”
She couldn’t bring herself to meet those probing eyes. “He kissed me.”
“That’s all?”
“Lucas!” She cried, her voice bouncing off the walls. “Isn’t that enough? He knew I was your fiancée and he kissed me anyhow!”
“Honey, I can see where it might have upset you, but I can’t really blame Slade for trying. Maybe you don’t know what a temptation you are,” he said bluntly.
She looked away. She had expected him to be angry, not amused. Had she reacted hysterically? The threat had seemed so real. Still, Slade had brought her to Lucas, and he hadn’t forced himself on her, only threatened to.
“I still don’t like him.” Agitation sharpened her tone.
“Not many people do, honey.”
Was that bitterness in his voice? He sounded so sad. “I’m sorry. You’re not angry with me, are you?”
“No.”
“I wouldn’t have come if he didn’t make me so nervous. You see, I just couldn’t stay there alone with him.”
“It’s all right, Shari.” He smiled reassuringly. “You’re not to worry about it. He won’t bother you again.”
