Need You Now

His voice had sounded strained; his jaw was still clenched. The blue eyes she’d found so appealing had turned cold, sending a shiver straight down her spine. He kept his gaze averted and stared at the Rockies—to hide the sudden darkness that had come over him, she suspected. She was guessing he’d had a bad experience with someone mistreating an animal. That was enough to push her buttons.

She moved closer. He was a stranger, a man she’d met only a few hours ago. What was wrong with her that she didn’t feel some modicum of fear? Did she have no survival instincts at all? His tension all but blasted her like heat from a furnace. His mouth was tight-lipped and grim, cautioning her to give him space. And yet the warning had an opposite effect.

The curse she’d hidden since hitting puberty was to blame. That was the only explanation. Why else would quiet Melanie, Pastor Ray’s obedient daughter, feel this stirring inside her, feel a deep longing to touch Lucas? Good girls stayed away from bad boys. They didn’t go looking for trouble.

She hesitated, giving herself a final chance to sync with reason, but it was no use. She touched his arm.

He slowly turned and glanced at her hand. “Sorry, did you say something?”

For the life of her, she couldn’t come up with an excuse for touching him. Or for standing this close. She moved her hand to her side and focused on the Big Belt Mountains. “Would you like me to point out landmarks? There’s Mount Edith over there. And on the right—”

Lightly brushing the back of her hand, he said, “How about we eat?”

She curled her fingers into her cold palm. And then realized he hadn’t initiated contact at all. Her trembling hand had grazed his. Keeping her gaze averted, she inched away. “Sure, let’s— I’ll set out the food.”

He caught her wrist, just to get her attention, then released her. “I got carried away there,” he said. “I’m sorry I frightened you.”

“You didn’t.” She shook her head. “I was concerned.” She rubbed her arms and saw the skepticism in his faint smile. “Okay, and maybe a teensy bit nervous.”

His mouth lifted in earnest, and just like that, there was the man who’d changed the bus tire. “Are you always this forthright?”

“I try to be.”

“No matter what the consequences?”

“I’d like to think so,” she said, mesmerized by his bold stare. The demons were gone, if that was what had drawn him briefly into darkness. Now he just looked curious. “You sound so serious. Please tell me you aren’t setting me up to play Truth or Dare.”

He laughed at that. “I’ve never played and don’t want to know how.”

She relaxed and smiled, surprised that for a second she’d been afraid he’d admit something she didn’t want to know. Something that might change her opinion of him. Which was crazy. She barely knew him. “It’s just a dumb college pastime also known as study avoidance.”

She needed to move, not just stand there staring at him. To stay put would invite him to...

His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her pulse leaped.

* * *

SHE STOOD THERE, watching him with a mix of want and fear. This was...unexpected. Different from the way the Chelseas of the world eyed him like a stud up for auction.

Lucas had first started seeing that look as a teenager and had been quick to take advantage of it. But he wasn’t that reckless, carefree kid anymore, and a woman like Melanie? He stayed clear of women like her.

He could tell she was a nice small-town girl. Curious about him but uncertain what she wanted. He might’ve been out of circulation for a while and still a little rusty, but some things a man didn’t forget. Like the look of a woman who wanted to be kissed or silky skin and a soft mouth. He’d bet Melanie tasted real sweet. She’d likely be a little timid at first, but not for long.

Those thoughts had to stop. If he had a shred of decency left in him, he’d leave her alone. Leave her exactly how he’d found her when he eventually drove away from Blackfoot Falls. She wasn’t anything like the women he’d slept with in Denver, the rich ones affiliated with the reform program. Hell, he’d been nothing more than a novelty to them. It hadn’t taken long to figure that out. Not that that was a deal breaker. Uncomplicated sex was all he wanted or expected from a woman. He couldn’t say why, but he had a feeling that sex with Melanie would be anything but simple.

She finally turned away, knelt on the blanket and started setting out their picnic. He didn’t miss the slump of her shoulders or the blush staining her cheeks.

He crouched beside her. “Need help?”

“I think I can handle this. Here.” She offered him water.

A beer would’ve been more to his liking but he took the bottle. “Is there a bar in town?”

“I doubt there’s a ranching community in this country that doesn’t have at least one.”

“I don’t know.... There might be a few dry counties left.”

“Huh. The Watering Hole is the go-to place for the local ranch hands. Some prefer to head over to Kalispell, but I can’t imagine them not having someplace close to blow off steam.”

“Is the Watering Hole where you go?”

“Me?” She laughed. “No.”

“You telling me teachers don’t need to unwind or vent?”

“Oh, we have student voodoo dolls for that.”

Lucas smiled. “What else?” He watched her try to shake free a stray curl that clung to her cheek. Since her hands were full, he tucked the lock behind her ear. “What do you do, Melanie?” he asked, reluctant to lower his hand. Her skin and hair were as soft as he’d imagined. “To relieve the pressure?”

“I guess I’m lucky,” she said, a trace of huskiness in her voice. “I’m always too exhausted to think about it.”

He took the mayonnaise from her. “Not good. Stress seems to have a habit of turning the tables one way or another.” He opened the jar and set it aside.

“What do you do?” She busied herself with pulling napkins and silverware out of the bag. “You have to travel and meet new people, lobby for their help. It might be rewarding but I can’t imagine it’s fun.”

“No, most times it isn’t. As a rule people don’t care about prisoners. They figure inmates are getting what they deserve.”

“I can understand the bias. Do folks ever worry about the safety of the horses?”

“I’ve been asked that more than a few times.” He noticed the small frown forming between her brows. “Is that your concern?”

“No, not at all. I mean, of course I know everyone in prison claims they’re innocent,” she said with a small dismissive shrug. “But no, I’m not worried.”

He smiled despite the twist in his gut. “Some prisoners actually are innocent.”

Too bad he hadn’t been one of them.

4

AFTER THEY’D EATEN and the leftovers had been stowed, Melanie glanced at her watch. Lucas had explained more about the Wild Horse Training Program, and so far she saw no reason why Safe Haven couldn’t participate. All PRN wanted to do was use the sanctuary as a stopgap between the gathers and moving the horses to the various prisons. It wouldn’t cost Safe Haven anything. Food, transportation, even manpower would be completely covered. Not only that, but PRN might be interested in taking some of the strays Melanie had been unable to adopt out. Naturally, she had to lay out everything for Shea so they could make the decision together, but Prison Reform Now seemed to be very well funded.

What did concern her was the time. Another hour and it would start getting dark, though Lucas didn’t seem to be worried.

She watched him straighten the wool blanket, then sit down again so that he faced the orange glow of the sun sinking behind the Rockies. What she’d expected him to do was roll up the blanket and stuff it into the saddlebag along with their sack of trash.

Her gaze fell on his rounded biceps, then followed the cords of muscle to his wrist. He didn’t wear a watch. And though she knew he carried a cell phone, he hadn’t brought it out once. If he wasn’t anxious to get on the road, then why should she care?

No denying she was enjoying herself. The fresh air was nice and the quiet soothing. Working at Safe Haven was rewarding but seldom relaxing. Between grading papers and doing the shopping and cooking for two elderly church members, Melanie rarely had a moment for herself.