Falcon's Lair

He stepped back into Jennifer’s room as she opened the bathroom door and started to hop out. He tossed the magazines and they landed at the foot of the bed. “I brought you some reading so you would stay awake. And none of that hopping around,” he said, picking her up easily. He tried to focus on the bed to avoid looking at her, but he couldn’t resist turning his head to gaze into her wide green eyes that were studying him with open curiosity.

“I don’t know how you could have had such a dreadful time with your father— you’re so cooperative. And if he’s not, I don’t know how I can work for him.”

“Your memory will return and you’ll get your answers,” Ben said gruffly, barely aware of what he was saying, more aware of the soft womanly feel of her in his arms, her red lips only inches away, the thin hospital gown that was almost nothing. As he studied her, she blinked, her expression becoming solemn, her lips parting, and he wondered if she were having half the reaction that he was.

He bent down to place her on the bed, and when she lay back against the pillow, he wanted to follow her down, to feel her softness under the length of him, to pull away the flimsy hospital gown. He remembered the pink lace teddy, the triangle of auburn curls, and his body hardened in response. He gazed into green depths that seemed to tug on his senses with silent promises. With an effort he straightened up, looking down at her, unable to turn away because there was a chemistry generating between them that held him like a direct contact with an electric current.

“Ben,” she said in the barest whisper, and his heart thudded against his ribs. He sat down on the bed beside her, his hip against hers while he leaned forward. He braced both hands on either side of her, bending close as she watched him, a slumberous invitation in her eyes until her dark lashes lowered.

He brushed his mouth over hers so lightly, the softness of her lips making him shudder. He wanted to tighten his arms around her, slide on top of her and kiss her passionately. Why was he having this reaction? Particularly with this woman who by tomorrow would be at cross-purposes with him? And then the thought was gone as her lips parted beneath his and he thrust his tongue over her full underlip, invading the velvety warmth of her mouth.

Jennifer moaned softly as he kissed her, his tongue going deep, touching the insides of her mouth and playing over her tongue. Her heart pounded violently while she returned his kiss, her tongue sliding into his mouth as she responded with an abandon that surprised her. An uncontrollable heat centered low in her body, spreading and making nerves raw, causing her to be conscious of the proximity of his strong male body.

He raised his head and she opened her eyes, looking into unfathomable darkness as he gazed solemnly down at her. Something flickered in the depths of his eyes and with a shock, she realized he looked angry.

“You’re thinking about my working for your father.”

“It’s there between us,” he answered, standing.

“Suppose you’re wrong? Or suppose when I hear your side, I quit?”

Suddenly his features softened. “I’m blaming you for things that happened in the past,” he said lightly, yet a muscle worked in his jaw. “I’ll be back soon.”

She watched him stride out of the room and lay back on the bed, wondering at the turn in her life.

Thirty minutes later Ben pushed open the door, and she dropped a magazine. Her heart jumped, her pulse accelerating because he strode across to the bed bringing with him a sense of strength and vitality that she needed. Snow was melting on his wide hat brim and across his broad shoulders, leaving sparkling drops of water in their place. Dropping sacks with mouth-watering smells of mustard and onions, he flung his coat and hat on a straight chair. Cold air swirled around him as he moved closer to help her get settled to eat.

He placed more packages on the bed. “I stopped at the hospital vending machine and bought you a comb, toothbrush, a few things. We’re leaving in the morning before the stores open or I’d get you some other things.”

“Thank you,” she said, picking up the package with the comb and tearing it open to place it on the shelf beside the bed.

In minutes they were enjoying a feast of hamburgers and onion rings along with cans of cold cola. She closed her eyes as she chewed. “This tastes wonderful! Thank you.”

“There are two burgers apiece.”

She laughed, and Ben’s heart thudded because the sound was as merry as the call of a meadowlark and her sparkling green eyes gave her a beauty that was breathtaking.

“I should have brought you three burgers and really made you laugh!”

“I can’t possibly eat two of these giant burgers!”

He grinned at her and shrugged. “You said you were hungry. I’m hungry and I’ll eat two.”

“Yours goes to muscle. Mine would go to fat.”

“There isn’t an ounce of fat on your body,” he drawled and watched her cheeks turn pink as she gazed at him. He shrugged. “I’d be abnormal if I hadn’t noticed.” He glanced through the window. “I heard the weather report while I was out. We’re in for more snow, and parts of the state are losing power from frozen lines that are down.”

“You need to be home.”

“There isn’t anything I can do tonight and in the morning, I’ll be there. A chopper can get in and out.”

She sighed as she wiped her fingers and mouth and folded up the paper the hamburger had been wrapped in. “What a feast! Thank you, Ben.”

He shrugged, starting on a second burger. “I was starving, too.”

“Tell me more about your life.” She sat up in bed and touched the back of his hand where a faint white line crossed from his knuckle to his wrist. “How did you get hurt?”

“Canoeing long ago when I worked one summer on a ranch in Colorado. Turned over in white water and gashed my hand on a rock. I went to Texas University, was on the track team,” he added between bites.

“You have a scar on your jaw.”

He looked amused as he touched the faint line across the lower part of his jaw. “Horse kicked me— if it had been a little higher, I would have lost an ear. I ride in rodeos occasionally.”

“You weren’t raised on a farm— why did you go into cattle and ranching?”

“Dad owns a ranch in West Texas and I used to spend summers there, and that was the best time of my life. I like engineering and I’ve worked on rigs and it’s challenging, but when I left home, I wanted as far from the oil business as I could get. There’s a satisfaction in living like I do. It’s cussed mean at times like this,” he said, glancing out the window where snowflakes still swirled and struck the glass to slide in a frozen heap at the bottom of the pane.

“This weather is bad for you and I’ve been so much trouble, but I feel safe in here, like I’m in a cocoon. I almost wish tomorrow wouldn’t come. I feel shut away right now without any problems or past, but then there’s no future, either.”

“You’ll be all right, Jennifer,” he said quietly and settled back in the chair, stretching out his long legs. “With daylight your memory should return.”

She gazed into his dark eyes and felt a troubling uncertainty, yet his presence and the conviction in his voice were reassuring. Feeling as if she could talk to him all night, she leaned back against the pillow. “You’re not married?”

“No,” he answered, shaking his head, his gaze going beyond her. “Twice in my life I’ve been interested in a woman— one time it was on the verge of becoming serious, only I discovered she had been selected by my father.”

“Why would a woman do that?”

He gave her a cynical look. “I’m healthy, sound in mind and body. Marry me with Weston’s blessings and someday Falcon Enterprises would be mine and my wife’s. Some women are willing to give that a try.”

She blushed. “I didn’t mean you wouldn’t be appealing.”

“You didn’t?” he asked with great innocence, and she laughed again and he had to grin at her.

“I guess I’ll find out a lot about you because all we can do is talk about you. I don’t have anything to tell.”

He smiled, a quick smile that warmed her. “You’ll remember.”

“Tell me about getting started on your ranch.”

Locking his fingers behind his head, he told her about traveling cross-country and not intending to settle here, thinking he would go to Montana or Idaho.

It was hours later when his voice deepened, his words slowing. A nurse checked Jennifer often and had said it would be fine for her to sleep, yet they continued talking, Jennifer learning about Ben’s ranch and life. Finally he dozed and she studied him, his thick lashes dark shadows on his prominent cheekbones, an air of strength about him even when he was asleep. With a sigh she closed her eyes and prayed that her memory would return with the dawn.

* * *

The next morning they boarded a chopper for home, Ben sitting beside Jennifer. She was pale and quiet, remembering no more than she had the night before. The snow had stopped, but more was predicted. As they flew in the first light of dawn, he held her hand in his. She looked solemn, as if she were headed for an ordeal, and he suspected she was worrying because her memory was still absent.

As the sun tilted over the horizon and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains loomed into view, snow sparkled on peaks. The dark horizon to the north was the only hint of the next storm brewing.