Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [103]
“I didn’t. I never pretended about that. Never. Make no mistake, Georgie, I have feelings for you. Strong feelings.”
She pulled her lips back against her teeth. “Perhaps you do, but not the kind which cherish and love. Only the kind which use and take advantage.”
“That’s not true.”
Her nostrils flared. “Did you or did you not tie me to my bed?”
“One has nothing to do with the other.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “Are you even listening to yourself?”
“You’re the one who’s not listening. I’m trying to—”
“Did you or did you not burn my hats?”
Blast.
She shoved his chest. “Get off. I mean it. Get off me right now, you no good humbugger.”
Sighing, he pushed himself up, then reached to assist her.
She swatted his hand away and scrambled to her feet. “I hate you.”
She’d taken no more than a step when he grasped her arm and pulled her back around. Her binoculars bounced against her stomach.
“You’re not going anywhere until we talk.”
“Or what?” She looked from the hand that held her to his face. “You’ll tie me up?”
“If I have to.”
Her eyes narrowed into slits. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Do you doubt me?”
Her chest rose and fell. Her lips trembled. “Say what you have to say.”
Looking around, he indicated a large log with a nod of his head. “Do you mind if we sit? This might take a while.”
She trembled, her eyes a mixture of rage and disgust. “I will sit, Luke, but not if you touch me. You will take your hand off of me and will never, ever, touch me again. I will have your word.”
“I cannot give it.”
“Then I will not sit.”
Lifting his hat, he settled it back on his head. “All right. I’ll release you for now and I won’t touch you unless you touch me first—”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
“—under one condition. You will not leave until I say you can leave.”
“I will not make any such promise.”
Taking a step forward, he tightened his hand around her arm. “Then let me make you a promise. If you run, I will catch you. If you hide, I will find you. If you reveal my true identity to anyone, I will put you away until I’ve done what I need to do. Now, sit down.”
Her lips curled.
Before she could blink, he captured her wrists in one hand and unbuckled his belt with his other. Her eyes widened as he whipped it from its loops.
“What are you doing?” She tugged at him, her binoculars bouncing, but he held her secure.
With the belt dangling in one hand, he strengthened his resolve. “You have a choice, Georgie. You can either sit on that log tied up, or you can sit on that log without binds. But you are going to sit on that log for as long as it takes to talk through this thing.”
“I’m already finished talking.”
“I’m not.” He softened his tone but not his hold. “I have no desire to shackle you, but I will. Too much is at stake. So which will it be? With or without the binds?”
Her chest rose and fell. Her eyes clouded. “I will sit without binds, but you’d best say what you have to say and be done with it.” Yanking at her wrists, she waited for her freedom, then stormed to the log and plopped down.
He followed, but found himself too agitated to join her. “I’m not Frank Comer.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’m Lucious Landrum. Texas Ranger of Company ‘A.’ ”
Her lips parted before she laughed. Laughed. Though her laugh was without mirth. “Of all the people you could claim to be, I think he would have been waaaaay down on the list. Why on earth would you want to be him?”
He tightened his jaw. “I don’t want to be him. I am him.”
“Really? And you expect me to believe you? Just like that?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It would be nice, yes.”
“Well, you’d have had an easier time convincing me you were Santa Claus. Do you forget I was at the train robbery? Do you forget it was Ranger Landrum who gave chase? I met him, Luke . . . Frank. I met