Whirlwind Read online

  Neither he nor Dayna said a word all the way back to the ranch. Her stomach was churning with apprehension, afraid that despite her hopes, Brand would turn a cold, hard gaze on her again and walk away. Bonnie, however, was unbelievably light-spirited, grinning the whole time and offering them a whistled repertoire of country and western songs.

  As the van made the final turn into the dusty road and the ranch came into view, Bonnie abruptly brought the vehicle to a stop.

  The white stallion came thundering across the desert at a gallop, hooves flying and stirring up puffs of dirt. The rider altered his direction, approaching the van. Edward Palmer cast a worried frown at the man riding toward them but urged, "Talk to him, Dayna."

  Her stomach flipped over as she opened the van door. Hesitantly, she moved toward the dust cloud, but the rumbling sound of an engine caused her to turn around. She watched Bonnie driving away, leaving her stranded and waiting for her only means of transportation to the ranch.

  Brand reined the stallion to a halt only inches away from her. From his lofty position on the huge horse, he demanded, "What are you doing here? I thought you'd left."

  Struggling to maintain a calm exterior, she said with false brightness, "I missed my plane."

  His brow furrowed. "How? Bonnie has never missed getting people off on time. How the… ?" Understanding lit up his blue eyes, but they continued to scrutinize her warily. Her courage was ready to fly from her and her heart hammered thunderously in her chest, but she stood with a firm, rigid posture, facing his skeptical regard.

  He appeared very relaxed, leaning forward to pat the mane of the horse, who was showing impatience at having to stand still. "But Shelly and Karen made it on time?"

  "Uh huh," she answered weakly.

  A long, considering look held her paralyzed before he said, "Come here."

  Dayna obeyed his command. In one swift movement he leaned over, slipped an arm securely around her waist, and lifted her to the space in front of him on the saddle. Dayna held her breath and looked down at the sun-browned arms wrapped around her waist and the hand lightly holding the reins. Love rushed through her as she remembered all the times she'd known his gentle tenderness, not just while making love but every time he touched her reassuringly or protectively. The warmth of his body so close to hers and his male scent were stimulating. She yearned to lean back and lay her head on his shoulder and feel the heat of his breath on her face.

  When they reached the lodge, he dismounted and helped her down. His penetrating blue eyes bore into her. "Why did you come back?"

  Dayna flinched inwardly at the hardness in his voice. "Please," she appealed softly, "we have to talk."

  The warmth of his hands left her waist and with them went some of her courage.

  A cold chill swept over her at his next words. "I thought we already had." His eyes clouded with confusion. "Why? Why did you think I considered every woman I met easy prey?" Bemusement deepened his frown, knitting his fair brows. "I don't have any list of conquests."

  "You came on to me right from the start. What could I think?" she managed to answer, hoping he wasn't as proud as she had been and would be able to understand.

  "My mistake was thinking you were the most beautiful, most desirable woman I'd ever met. Maybe I did come on too strong when we first met. That's my problem, not yours," he said, showing his irritation with himself.

  Dayna tried to make him understand. "I overheard what you said to W.R. You were so arrogant, so sure you could handle me like every other woman."

  "Are you talking about when you first arrived?" At Dayna's affirmative nod, he added, "That's what made you think I chased every skirt that arrived at the ranch?"

  Dayna couldn't meet the piercing blue eyes staring down at her. "That and—well, you have to remember I didn't know then that you weren't the man Alexandria Minter complained about. And," she hesitated, finding it difficult to be as open as he was, "it was obvious you were skilled at getting your own way."

  He heaved a deep sigh. "I said that to W.R. for your benefit. I knew you were eavesdropping."

  Dayna closed her eyes for a moment, trying to clear her mind of the confusion muddling it. "But W.R. said…"

  Brand interjected, "He knows how much I like a woman with spirit. That's all he meant. He probably could see the obstinacy in you and was just offering advice."

  She hesitated and then looked up. "And you knew all along that Christy was just…"

  "Trying to make a fool of me?" he finished. "Yes, I knew."

  Dayna took a deep breath, his smile giving her the encouragement she needed. "W.R. said you wouldn't be back until evening."

  "I don't know how to give up," he answered with a trace of self-derision. "I thought maybe you hadn't left yet."

  "I don't know how to give up, either. But it's happening so fast, Brand. It's frightening. I'm afraid," she admitted honestly.

  A wariness crept into his gaze. "Of course you are." His voice was filled with understanding. "Isn't everyone, a little bit?"

  "You aren't," Dayna said lightly, forcing a weak smile.

  "Sure I am." He was silent for a minute, and Dayna wanted to erase the frown from his face. "There isn't any woman, Dayna; I'd admit that to no one but the one I loved and trusted. I told you right from the start it was love at first sight."

  "I thought it was a line," she admitted ruefully. "How could you be so sure?"

  "I'm not a kid. I know the difference. You should have, too. Why would you be concerned about a man getting into trouble with his employer, or worry about him getting hurt, or hate the sight of him with another woman, if all you're interested in is his body?"

  Dayna nodded her head and sighed. "I guess that's true. You know I kissed you and made love with you because of a much deeper interest. And what Hank heard me say, I said in a moment of anger to Karen. But I never played games with you. I never did. You have to believe that. I was confused. So many times I wanted to believe it was real, but it seemed like a whirlwind romance we had both rushed into."

  "I told you I loved you," he insisted.

  "Oh, Brand, you don't know how much I wanted to believe you really did. And at the rodeo when I watched you, I knew I was in love with you, but I still found it hard to believe that what you said was true. I started to believe it, then, but Christy came in and…"

  An eternity of silence followed while his eyes searched her face. "Say it again," he demanded.

  "I love you."

  He swept her into the warmth of his embrace. "One more time," he requested, his arms tightening around her back. Dayna heard the warmth in his voice and tilted her head back. His lips played over hers, brushing across them, kissing their edges as she mouthed the words he wanted to hear.

  "This ranch," he mumbled, "needs a woman's touch."

  "Oh," Dayna commented wryly, glancing around her. "I think it's done very well so far."

  "Don't argue," he said with soft laughter.

  "I can't promise never to argue with you again."

  "Lord, I hope not," Brand replied as Dayna brushed her cheek against his jaw. "It's that stubbornness in those green eyes that first caught my attention that day at the hotel in Phoenix. That and the way you met my stare head on and gave me the same kind of once-over I gave you."

  "You were looking for an easy pickup," Dayna chided teasingly.

  His breath tickled the inner contour of her ear. "If you use the word 'casual,' I'll…"

  "You'll what?" Dayna mockingly challenged and drew back to see his eyes. Suffused with a radiant glow she gave him no chance to answer. She stood on her toes and initiated another kiss, this time one that grew urgent not only with passion but with the love they had shared and previously denied. They were breathless as the sound of hooves clumping over the sand broke the spell.

  Drawing a deep breath, Brand smiled tenderly down at her. The sight of his loving gaze spread a wave of warm and thrilling excitement through her. She watched him reluctantly tear his gaze from her as
a ranch hand cleared his throat and stared at the ground in embarrassment.

  Brand greeted him with an indulgent smile. "It better be important, Hank."

  Hank smiled wryly. "I'm sorry to bother you, Boss. But they just delivered the gelding you were expecting, and I tried to sign for him, but they won't take my signature. They insist on the owner's signature. I've looked all over for W.R.," he said with an apologetic shrug, "but I can't find your uncle anywhere. Will you sign these?" he asked, thrusting some papers at Brand.

  Dayna pulled away. No words passed between them, but as Brand moved forward and took the papers and pen, Dayna saw his deeply etched frown.

  Slowly she followed, chiding herself for being so slow to recognize that the Double R stood for Reardon and Renfrow. She moved close to Brand and looked over his arm at the papers. His blue eyes glanced up at her sheepishly before he concentrated on the papers and swiftly scrawled his strong masculine signature on the appropriate line.

  Handing the papers to the ranch hand, Brand asked, "You checked him over good, didn't you?"

  "Sure did, Boss."

  "Okay, I'll be down in a little while to see him."

  Brand turned to Dayna as Hank rode away with the signed papers. She no longer needed an explanation. "The white stallion is yours," she said. "Half of this ranch is yours," she added with an exaggerated sweep of her arm, "isn't it, Boss?"

  He chuckled softly and reached out, pulling her close again. "It would just have complicated things more than they already were if I had told you." Dayna leaned against his hard body, unable to remain indignant when she heard the pain in his voice as he added softly, "It hurts to love someone and not have that love returned."

  "I know," she agreed, placing her hands on his neck, one hand caressing the strong line of his jaw.

  Brand silenced any further remarks and drew her into his embrace. "From here on, we join forces. Forever," he mumbled, his mouth descending on hers, possessing her with a kiss.