Country Brides - Debbie Macomber [120]
Luke broke away from her, his face a study of hope and confusion. “I never know where I stand with you, Kate.” With that, he stroked her hair and quickly returned to his truck.
Kate was still reeling from the effects of Luke’s kiss. If she hadn’t leaned against her door, she might have fallen onto the walkway, so profound was her reaction.
“Luke,” she called, shocked by how weak her voice sounded. “Would you like to come inside for coffee? We could talk about…things.”
Slowly a smile eased its way across his handsome features. “I don’t dare, Princess, because the way I feel right now, I might not leave until morning. If then.”
Flustered by his words, Kate unlocked her door and let herself inside.
She gulped a deep breath and stood in the middle of the living room with her hand over her rampaging heart. “You’re in love with him, Kate Logan,” she told herself. “Head over heels in love with a man and fighting him every step of the way.”
Groaning, she buried her face in her hands. She didn’t understand why she’d been fighting him so hard. She did realize that Luke wouldn’t have spent years building up her father’s ranch if he hadn’t loved her. He could have left anytime, gone anywhere to buy his own ranch, but he’d stayed at the Circle L. He honestly loved her!
Now she knew what she wanted, but she didn’t know what to do about it.
She guessed Luke was planning to court her, to use that charming old-fashioned term. If so, one more dinner with him would be enough. They’d be officially engaged by the end of the evening. She’d bet on it!
To her disappointment, Kate didn’t hear from him the following day. Fridays were generally busy around the ranch, so she decided the next move would have to come from her.
Early Saturday morning she compiled a grocery list, intent on inviting Luke over for a home-cooked meal. She was reviewing her cookbooks, searching for a special dessert recipe, when she was suddenly distracted by the memory of their kiss. Closing her eyes, she relived the way she’d felt that night. She smiled to herself, admitting how eager she was to feel that way again.
If only she’d been listening to her heart instead of her pride…
She tried phoning Luke, but there was no answer, so she decided to do the shopping first. She put on her coat, hat and gloves, and walked the few blocks to the Safeway store.
It must’ve been her imagination, but it seemed that everyone stopped to watch her as she pushed her cart down the aisles.
When she’d finished buying her groceries, she headed over to the pharmacy and bought a couple of scented candles. Once again, everyone seemed to stop and stare at her.
“Kate,” Sally Daley said, hurrying toward her. The older woman was shaking her head, eyes brimming with sympathy. “How are you doing, dear?”
“Fine,” Kate said, puzzled.
Sally’s mouth fell open. “You don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“Luke Rivers took Beth Hammond to dinner yesterday, and the two of them danced all night at the Red Bull. Why, everyone in town’s talking about it. People are saying he’s lost patience with you and is going to marry Beth. Really, dear, every woman in town thinks you’d be crazy to let a man like Luke Rivers get away.”
Kate was so shocked she could hardly breathe. “I see,” she murmured, pretending it didn’t matter.
“You poor child,” Sally said compassionately. “Don ’t let your pride get in the way.”
“I won’t,” Kate promised, barely able to find her voice.
“I do worry about you, Kate. I have this terrible feeling that you’re going to end up thirty and all alone.”
Eleven
Thirty and all alone. The words echoed in Kate’s mind as she walked the short distance to her apartment. Tears burned her eyes, but somehow she’d dredged up the courage to smile and assure Sally that Luke was free to date