Desert Rain (8 page)

Linc couldnt finish. He didnt have the words to describe his yearning for the warmth and
happiness that he once had felt with Holly. So instead of speaking, he simply kissed her
with all the longing he had felt through the years they had been apart.

Holly didnt resist the kiss that stole her breath, replacing it with Lincs, or the tongue
that touched every part of her mouth in mute pleading.

When he finally lifted his head, she sighed and smoothed her cheek against his warm neck.
Truce? he asked huskily. Truce. Good.

Linc set off toward the tent with a purposeful stride, still carrying Holly in his arms.
Where are we going? she asked. The tent. The tent?

Linc looked down at Holly, surprised by the hint of nervousness in her voice. I thought Id
put my clothes out to dry, he said, smiling slightly. Holly tensed, but said nothing. Linc
stopped walking. You told me you havent had much experience with men, he began.

She nodded.

Are you a virgin? Linc asked.

You make it sound like terminal acne.

Are you or arent you?

Does it matter? Holly retorted. This is the modern world, you know.

I know. Thats why Im asking. You look as innocent as an angel, Linc said, but you didnt
act like a virgin this morning.

Sorry about that, Holly said in clipped voice. Chalk it up to false advertising. Im as
virgin as they come.

Linc stared at her angry face in frank surprise.

My God, he said after a moment. Dont they have any men in New York?

Crawling with them.

Well?

She hesitated, then shrugged.

They werent you, Linc, she said simply.

Holly felt a tremor move through the man holding her. His lips brushed over her eyes, her
mouth, her forehead.

The kisses were so gentle Holly couldnt stop the upwelling of emotion that transformed her
eyelashes into black nets glimmering with captive tears.

I dont deserve you, Linc said huskily.

Hollys lips trembled into a smile.

Youre stuck with me, she whispered.

For a long moment he simply held her. His eyes closed as he let her words and her presence
sink into him like water into dry land.

Then he eased her down his body until her feet touched the ground once more. Slowly he
released her.

Ill get Sand Dancer, Linc said. You get properly dressed. The way that jacket keeps
flopping open would test the self-restraint of a saint, and God knows Im not one of them.

Arent we going totodry your clothes?

Holly sensed a flush creeping up her face and wanted to curse. She felt like she should be
digging a bare toe in the dirt, chewing on the end of her braid and saying brilliant
things like Aw, shucks.

Linc had a way of cutting through the sophisticated shell she had built around herself
that was as maddening as it was . . . reassuring.

Slowly Lincs thumb traced the high, slanting line of Hollys cheekbone and smoothed the
silky arch of her eyebrow.

Get dressed,nin‡, he whispered, before my good intentions go up in flames. Holly studied
Linc for the space of several breaths. Just because Im a virgin? she asked. Yes.

Its a curable condition, she pointed out reasonably.

No arguments, remember?

Her eyes darkened even as they narrowed.

I wouldnt dream of arguing with you, she said sweetly. Welldiscuss it over breakfast.

Giving Linc her best Shannon smile, Holly turned and walked back to the tent, letting her
hips swing just that extra bit every step of the way.

The interior of the tent was warm. It was filled with golden light that seeped through
tiny pores in the canvas.

It was also a mess. Clothes were strewn everywhere. So were other things. The duffel had
been all but emptied out in Hollys earlier frantic search for aspirin.

But when she looked around the tent, all she really saw was memories of Linc. Heat
zigzagged from her breastbone to her knees as she relived the instant the sleeping bag had
fallen away from his lean hips.

She had stared at him. She had liked every bit of him that she had seen.

And she had seen it all.

Even worse, she had wanted to go back to him, to kneel by his side, to run her hands all
over his sleek body . . .

Is that why Linc said I didnt react like a virgin?she wondered silently.

What does he expect a virgin to do when she sees the man she loves naked? Scream? Faint?

With a wry twist to her full lips, Holly unzipped her pants and kicked them aside. She
wore nothing underneath the jeans because she had been too cold to worry about underwear
last night.

I wonder what Linc would have done if he had discovered that?she asked herself.Screamed
and fainted?

Softly she laughed aloud at the thought of anything making Linc scream or faint.

Laughter faded as Holly tried to undress. The jacket zipper was as stubborn as ever. She
peered down at it.

A single look told her that the zipper was hopelessly off track. With a shrug, she slipped
the jacket down over her hips and stuffed it into the bottom of the duffel.

For a few moments she stood naked in the warm tent, remembering how Linc had looked in the
light pouring through the open canvas flap.

Would he think I was as beautiful naked as I thought he was?

The memory of Lincs very male body caused a stirring in Holly that was becoming familiar.
Fine wires of sensation tightened, teasing her with their promise of pleasures she had not
yet felt.

And, according to Linc, Im not going to feel.

She muttered something that wasnt a normal part of her vocabulary as she pulled underwear
out of the duffel.

The bra and matching briefs were made of indigo lace. Their blue-black color made Hollys
skin glow like dark honey, but she was in no temper to appreciate the sensual contrast
between lace and skin.

Impatiently she yanked on her jeans again. She buttoned the rumpled blue chambray blouse
all the way up, which was how she usually wore it.

Then, deliberately, she undid a few buttons. The result was just enough cloth to cover the
indigo lace of her bra.

Some of the time. If Linc wants a virgin,she thought,Ill give him a virgin. On a blue
chambray platter, hot and

steaming, garnished with sage!

The image made Holly smile, then laugh at herself. She fastened one more button, brushed
her hair, braided it quickly, and put on her shoes.

When she was finished dressing, she straightened the clutter inside the tent with the
efficient motions of an experienced camper. On the way out, she grabbed a canteen and the
firewood she had stored in the tent to keep the wood dry.

Holly started a campfire inside a ring of stones as easily as she had made order out of
the tents chaos.

When the flames had eaten solidly into the wood, she balanced a metal grate on the stones.

She filled a bright new coffee pot with water she had hauled last night from the springs.
Then she set the coffee pot on the grate and watched it darken with the sooty caress of
woodsmoke.

After a moment she poured water into the mess kits biggest pot and put it next to the
coffee on the grate. Finally she picked up the latrine shovel and set off into the brush.

The tent is ready when you are, she called over her shoulder.

Although she couldnt see Linc, she knew he would be nearby, probably giving Sand Dancer a
rough grooming with a handful of sage.

Lincs answering shout came from the direction of the springs, telling Holly she had
guessed correctly.

She returned to camp carrying an armload of wood balanced on top of the ice chest Linc had
retrieved from the Jeep. One of the tarps Holly had packed kept the interior of the
vehicle reasonably dry during the storm.

A second trip to the Jeep took care of the rest of the camp equipment she needed. She
dipped out enough water to wash her hands and went to work on breakfast.

With quick motions she draped bacon in a small skillet and put it on the grate to cook.
After adding a few more sticks to the fire, she turned away and hung wet clothes on the
ropes that supported the tent.

Soon the twin smells of coffee and bacon were tormenting Holly, making her stomach grumble
insistently. She looped the last of her wet underwear over a rope and hurried back to the
fire.

While she was turning the bacon, Linc strode into camp. He carried a saddle over his right
shoulder and a saddle blanket in his left hand. He flipped the blanket onto a tent rope to
air out.

The force of the blanket landing sent a piece of Hollys wet underwear fluttering down like
an exotic bird.

Linc caught the bit of scarlet lace on his fingertip, smiled slowly, and looked over his
shoulder at Holly. Yours? he asked. Couldnt be, she said, turning the last piece of bacon.
Im a virgin. Must be yours. He laughed aloud, enjoying her quick mind.

With unconscious hunger, Holly watched Linc slip the saddle off his shoulder onto a
boulder. She loved the masculine play of muscle and tendon, the easy grace of his
movements, his casual acceptance of his physical strength.

Bacon is burning, Linc said without turning around, knowing that she was watching him.
Holly gave the bacon a startled look. It wasnt even crisp yet. No, it isnt, she said.

Funny, Linc said, hanging shes lacy briefs over the tent rope with elaborate care, I could
have sworn I smelled something burning. Do virgins burn,nin‡?

His voice was low, as sensual as his fingers smoothing the scarlet lace of her bikini
briefs. A liquid heat spread through Holly at the thought of being touched in the same
way. When she looked away from Lincs fingers, he was studying her, waiting for her answer.
Yes, she said.

Good, Linc said softly. But Im going to wait until youre as hungry as I am.

One, two, three. Holly snapped her fingers. Thats it. Im as hungry as you are.

She came to her feet in one graceful motion and started for the tent.

Laughing, Linc vanished inside the tent before Holly reached it. He held the flap shut
behind him.

Bacons burning, he said.

I like it that way, she retorted, tugging at the flap.

As she wrestled unsuccessfully with the tent opening, bacon grease spattered noisily.

She looked over her shoulder. Flames were licking over the edge of the frying pan.

Damn, Holly muttered.

She threw a last, frustrated look at the tent before she ran back to the fire and rescued
the bacon from certain incineration. A few deft pokes with a stick knocked down the fire.

After another look at the tent, Holly gave up and concentrated on breakfast instead of
Linc. She opened a loaf of bread and put five slices to toast on the grate. The cooked
bacon went into one of the two tin plates that had come with the mess kit. The coffee
perked companionably, almost ready to drink.

How many eggs and what way? she called without looking up.

Three. Over easy.

Lincs voice was unexpectedly close.

An instant later Holly sensed movement behind her. Lincs long, masculine fingers traced
the line of her chin and teased the curve of her ear.

Turning, Holly rubbed her lips over his palm. Then she bit the pad of flesh at the base of
his thumb with just enough force to be felt through the callus.

Linc drew in a swift breath. When he spoke, his voice was as smoky as his eyes.

You keep that up, he said, and Ill trip you and beat you to the ground.

Promises, promises, she retorted.

Her tongue flicked out to the sensitive skin between Lincs fingers, then moved more slowly.

Mmmm, Holly said. You taste better than bacon.

Holly, Linc said thickly, you promised not to argue.

Whos arguing?

He took her hand and held it to his lips. His tongue retraced every pathway hers had taken.

Her fingers were trembling when he released them.

The toast is burning, Linc said.

With a groan Holly turned back to the flames that seemed cooler than his touch.

As she turned the bread with quick motions, she wondered what Linc had been doing in the
tent. He was still wearing his wet jeans.

She glanced quickly at the tent ropes. A pair of mens briefs hung next to her bright bra.

Butter in the ice chest, Holly said. Honey, too.

She broke eggs into the bacon pan, poured two cups of coffee, and laid most of the crisp
bacon on Lincs plate. She flipped the eggs deftly, counted to ten, and slid them onto his
plate. Three of the five pieces of toast went on top.

Come and get it while its hot, she said. And no smart remarks or Ill eat it all myself.

Laughing, Linc took his plate of food and began to eat.

Holly cooked two more eggs, reached for her toast, and saw that Linc had already prepared
it for her. A rich sheen of butter and honey swirled over the bread and dripped over the
crust to make tiny golden beads on her plate.

Though Holly ate quickly, Linc finished far ahead of her. He poured another cup of coffee
and sat on his heels next to the rock she had chosen for a chair.

Youre amazing,nin‡, he said, sipping the coffee. Yeah. Right, she said, licking honey off
her fingers. Not too many geriatric virgins these days. Linc chuckled. Thats not what I
meant, he said. Huh.

He shook his head, denying her skepticism.

First you drag me to shelter and take care of me, he said. After that you go back out and
risk your neck in a thunderstorm taking care of my crazy horse.

Whatever Holly might have said was lost in the big bite of toast she took.

Then I wake up in the morning, Linc said slowly, and I think Im still dreaming because
theres the tasteofyouonmylips.Then...

His words died as memories of the early morning blazed in his hazel eyes.

After a moment Linc let out a long breath and sipped gingerly at the coffee. He looked at
everything around the camp except Holly. He knew if he kept thinking about this morning in
the hushed intimacy of the tent, he wouldnt be able to keep his hands off her.

Later, Linc said, Im gone for fifteen minutes rubbing down my horse and I come back to
find the tent organized, a fire going, breakfast waiting and sexy lingerie hanging next to
my wet socks.

He took Hollys hand and rubbed his mustache against it. With a gentle squeeze, he released
her fingers.

You have no idea, he said, what a shining pleasure it is not to be saddled with a
gorgeous, useless woman.

Holly winced. Not all gorgeous women are useless.

I dont remember my mother ever cooking up anything but goo for facials, Linc said,
contempt in every word.

Unhappily Holly chewed on her toast.

My stepmother was even worse, he added. She wouldnt have been able to set up a tent, much
less know how to trench around it in case of rain. Neither one of them would have gone out
in a storm to take care of a horse.

Without a word Holly ate the last few bites of her breakfast. Linc was right about those
two particular women, and the whole valley knew it. His father had unfailingly been drawn
to beautiful, completely self-absorbed women.

Even worse, Lincs father had never seen that his marital problems couldnt be laid at the
feet of the children who needed the love of at least one parent. Alcohol had been Martin
McKenzies solace and retreat when his marriages went bad.

Then Linc and his much younger half-sister had only each other when the world went cold
and harsh around them.

Hell, Linc said, his voice icy, neither one of those females would have gone out in a
drizzle to save their own children. But theyd crawl naked through cactus to a cheap motel
room.

Narrow-eyed, he stared out over the fire, seeing only the cruel past.

Holly set down her empty plate. She put her hand on his bare shoulder, blending her warmth
with his. Im sorry they hurt you, she said. The beard stubble on Lincs cheek rasped
lightly over the back of Hollys skin. Its over and done with, he said.

Is it? You still hate beautiful women for no better reason than their beauty.

Abruptly his cheek lifted away from her hand. Displeasure showed clearly in the flat line
of his mouth. It was a subject he was not willing to discuss.

But for Holly, the subject was far too important to ignore in the hope that it would never
come up again.

It would.

The longer she waited, the worse it would be when Linc found out that Holly was also
Shannon.

Would your mothers and stepmothers selfishness have been any easier to bear if they had
been ugly? Holly asked quietly.

If they had been ugly, they wouldnt have been selfish.

His voice was smooth and cold, leaving no opening for disagreement. It was as though he
had just said that the sun set in the west.

A fact, indisputable.

Holly started to speak, then thought better of it.

Linc had been hurt by actions, not words. It would take actions, not words, to convince
him that not all beautiful women were selfish and cruel.

I made a small start just by being myself, she consoled herself as she stared silently
into her coffee cup.I helped him and cared for his horse.

Holly hadnt done any of it to impress Linc. It was simply the way she was. She could no
more hide her basic nature than she could step out of her own skin.

Linc had no trouble believing that she was generous and kind. The rest of her truth was
going to be hard for Linc to accept.