“We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? I believe Colonel Crawford believes our story. He is careful and checking our account. It will be a matter of time…”
She was shutting him out.
“I don’t care about Crawford.” He grabbed her wrist. “That is not what we need to discuss.”
Memories flooded him. He recalled her outrage when he threw her from the train, and her courage and resilience when she had to face crossing a swollen river. The fact that she cried, not for her home that burned to the ground, but for the humble Bible her father had given her. He contemplated her daring when she had rescued him from the hands of Copperheads and admired her swift aptitude, enabling her to handle crisis after crisis. Even when it meant wearing ridiculous disguises.
“We are man and wife. By some strange fate, our destiny is sealed. There must be total honesty between us. Your past, your feelings cannot be secret.”
She stiffened, tugged her wrist free. “You are making this difficult for me, aren’t you?”
“As much as possible.”
A reluctant smile touched her lips, and she sighed with sadness. She moved away, her back to him. “It won’t work,” she spoke over her shoulder.
Lucas’ temper soared, He checked it. “We can get over that.”
“I have my work, and you have yours.”
“What other ways have you devised to keep yourself detached from this marriage?” He couldn’t believe she was refusing him.
“You’re not good husband material.”
“Not good husband material!” The entire conversation was laughable. Here he was submitting to her, and she wanted no more than to serve her singular obsession that she had clung to during the war. Did she feel nothing for him? That she could let him go for some silly mission? For the first time, he realized that if he didn’t want to marry her, he would have made up excuses at the wedding. Then another thought snaked through his brain. His insides burned like fiery acid.
“The Saint. Admit it, Rachel.”
She turned, tears forming in her eyes. “I won’t be married to you. In your mind, you feel obligated to do the honorable thing. I don’t want a marriage built on that.”
This time, he shouted. “That is the most insane, idiotic, senseless—” He stopped and decided on another tack to convince her. “I’m a man of very few words at times, but I have a definite objective.” He drew close to her. “Just for tonight…could we put aside the war and behave like a normal wedded couple?”
Rachel’s fingers turned white where they clutched the chair. The guard had told her General Grant was away from the camp and due back at any time. So little time remained.
She felt Lucas’ longing, his eyes upon her as he stalked her across the room. No—consumed her across the space of a room. She knew what he requested. How could she tell him that no matter how she might resist, there was never a time when she didn’t want him? Her voice came fragile, and she had to clear her throat before continuing. “I doubt there’s a woman alive you couldn’t have if you put your mind to it.”
“You exaggerate my abilities.”
His smile reached her with devastating effect. Oh, his melting smile.
To bandy spiteful remarks proved easier to safeguard her feelings. She had control then. Yet, acerbic witticisms failed to come to her lips. She backed into the wall, dragging the chair between them.
He was dangerously appealing. Damp, dark tendrils curled over his forehead. She was incapable of tearing her eyes away.
Lucas tossed the chair aside. Still he did not close the gap between them. Beneath his scrutiny, a brief shiver ran through her and her palms began to sweat. This was to be their wedding night. Her heart pounded. Part of her brain screamed…do not commit.
“Rachel.”
The air between them sizzled in a wordless clash of far-reaching desires and fears, carrying them beyond friendship, beyond human bond and any other passion. That missing part of her life, that isolated part of her that desperately needed and begged for her soul to become one.Husband and wife.Even if it was for only this night.
“I thought we might…” She couldn’t finish, not with his fathomless cobalt blue eyes fastened on her while his deep, husky voice caressed her, pulling her further under his spell.
“Exactly.”
He wanted her to bridge the distance between them.
“Come here.” The naked longing in his eyes burned into her.
“Lucas, perhaps—”
