Suspicions of the Heart (28 page)

"Am I being foolish?" she asked Lancer
as though she expected a reply.

Lancer gave her a side-glance, but he
didn't agree. The sensations of being in love were new to Candy,
new and precious. She hadn't felt this way about Fargate before or
after the marriage. She hadn't felt this way ever in her
life.

As evening turned to night, she eagerly
locked the trailer, leaving the key in the usual place for Roscoe.
She drove over to Joe's, hoping he had come in for the night. She
knocked on the door and he answered it, with a smile.

"Glad you made it. I just cleaned up.
Are you hungry?" he asked.

Only for you. Her mind waded into
dangerous territory. "A little," she replied searching his
face.

"I've got a couple of steaks on and
threw some potatoes in the oven. Sound okay to you?" he asked,
putting his arm around her and guiding her to the big
couch.

"Sounds fine," she said, trying to keep
her mind off the warmth of his body, the hand that seem to move
against her shoulder affectionately.

Determined not to act like some
love-sick teenager, she tried to keep the conversation light, but
the minute they sat down, it was to no avail as his lips claimed
hers in a kiss so tender, so loving, she could do no less than
swoon.

"I wasn't going to do this," he said.
"I swore I wasn't. But I just can't keep my hands off you,
sweetheart. I've been without you for days and I don't want to
waste another minute." His glance fed all her emotions at
once.

Overwhelmed by his tenderness, she
gasped when his hand found her breasts and cupped them. His thumb
knew just what to do to get a reaction. His lips followed; she
moaned deep in her throat from the gentle pleasure he
evoked.

He pulled away just enough to look into
her desire-ridden eyes. "If you need me to slow down, I will. Just
say the word. I'm just hungry to be next to you, all of
you."

Her lips found his, and she mumbled the
words against his mouth. "Don't--slow down."

He pulled away and stared down into her
face as he folded her across his lap. His indigo eyes were filled
with desire, and longings that mirrored her own feelings. Was it
natural to want a man this badly? She didn't know and right now she
didn't care. She only wanted to be one with him so bad she ached
from the inside out.

Without hesitation he picked her up in
his arms, and carried her into the bedroom, his lips never leaving
hers. He stood her on the floor, and looked at her. "That's a
beautiful dress, but I like what's underneath it better. Wanna take
it off, very slowly, so I can enjoy it?"

She'd never stripped for anyone in her
life, but the bold insinuation coming from his eyes made her brave.
She loved this man with all her heart and soul, and he could ask
anything of her at this moment. She slowly began to unbutton the
top, letting each button reveal a little more.

He gazed at her as he propped himself
on the side of the bed. His eyes seemed magnetized to her, going
from head to foot with lazy appreciation.

She felt like a delicious candy bar the
way his mouth seemed to water with each tiny released button. Then,
suddenly, the top half of her dress fell open. He let a slightly
throaty groan escape his lips.

He stood up, came closer and ran his
hands around her waist, and up to her bra hook. With one hand he
released it. With another, he tossed the offending material to the
floor.

On an indrawn breath he held her
breasts out in his hand, looking at them as though they had turned
to jewels. Then, slowly he backed away, his hands reluctantly going
to his sides. "Go on, sweetheart, " he encouraged.

She unfastened the rest of her dress
ever so slowly, and then slid out of it entirely. Her underwear
came next, joining the rest of her silk undergarments on the floor.
Her shoes were last.

He watched in silence, his eyes
speaking for him. She stood very still, waiting. Whatever he wanted
her to do, no matter how crazy, she would do willingly. And it hit
her, standing naked, in the center of his attention, that as long
as there was real love between a man and a woman, nothing seemed
too great to ask. Perhaps her marriage was doomed from the start,
but these moments with Joe were not. She knew she would give him
anything.

He shook his head, and his entire body
seemed to outwardly tremble. "I've dreamed about you like this.
God, I want you so bad. And yet, I don't want this feeling to
end."

She understood what he was saying, but
gasped at his courage to say it. Her lips parted in surprise and
wonder. He reached his hand to her, their fingertips
touching.

"Do I embarrass you?" he asked
lowly.

"No," she answered before considering.
"Y…you thrill me." She smiled shyly, as her leg insinuated itself
between his.

"Now, it's my turn." Without question
he stood up as she lay on the bed, watching him.

He unsnapped his shirt. She inhaled
deeply as the muscles in his arms and shoulders bulged against the
material. When he threw the shirt to the floor, she managed to
compose herself a little longer. Then he undid his belt, and it
joined his shirt. She watched, fascinated. But when the snap came
loose at his jeans, she felt herself go hot and needy. Every minute
part of her wanted him. Her breasts puckered, her stomach tightened
and she knew she would always want this man.

His jeans came off, and she waited
until the last vestige of clothes was gone before she moved to hold
him to her. Warm, hungry kisses enveloped them in a love cocoon as
they lay on the bed and made love. The night was filled with dreams
and fantasies.

Just before daylight she
left.

He had kissed her over and over before
finally letting her leave his bed. "Wish you wouldn't go,
sweetheart. I like waking up with you in my arms."

"So do I, but its best. Goodnight, see
you at the wedding." She smiled and dashed out of the
house.

The wedding day came, and Candy had all
she could do to tie Roscoe down long enough to fix his tie and
stuff his kerchief in his pocket. She bought him a red rose and
placed it on his suit. She had polished his best boots to a high
gloss and, after she had him completely ready, she went to ready
herself.

It wasn't her wedding day, but she had
all the nervous symptoms of it. How could she attend this and not
want the same thing for her and Joe?

But Joe hadn't even said he loved her.
Perhaps she presumed too much. Maybe she needed to slow
down.

The ranch was full of cars when Candy
and Roscoe arrived. Roscoe nearly freaked out. "Good grief, looks
like the whole town showed up. I thought this was just gonna be
family and hired hands."

"It started out that way, but so many
people wanted to come, and Aggie couldn't just say no. Could she?"
Candy glanced at him for approval.

"I guess not. I'm shore gonna feel
silly letting all those people see me in my monkey suit
though."

"Do you love Aggie?" Candy asked, a
frown lining her forehead.

"Of course I love her. You know I
do."

"Then don't worry about anyone but her
today. Okay, promise me."

Roscoe looked deep into Candy's eyes
and finally smiled. "Okay, I suppose you are right. Just a bad case
of the jitters, honey. I'll be all right, directly."

"Of course you will." Candy didn't
hesitate to reassure him. Only problem was, would she be all
right?

Once she met everyone inside, she
rushed into the bedroom where Aggie was getting dressed.

"Oh, Aggie, you look so beautiful," she
cried.

"I'm so glad you're here. Did Roscoe
come with you?" Aggie asked trying to fasten a bracelet that
refused to stay fastened.

"Yes, he's here." Candy helped her with
the bracelet.

"I was afraid he'd take one look at the
yard full of cars out there and never come in," Aggie
chuckled.

Candy put that little fact in the back
of her head as she tried to smile and reassure Aggie. "Everything
is going to be fine."

"I know I'm being silly, and overly
sentimental, but so many friends from town called wanting to come,
I just didn't have the heart to say no. I probably should have. But
Joe has a side of beef on the spit outside, and I knew there would
plenty of food. So, I let them come."

"Don't fret about it. You won't be here
long enough to worry about it," Candy promised.

A light knock came at the door, and
when Candy opened it, she saw Joe standing there looking like the
best chocolate bar she'd ever eaten. His glance took her all in
before he greeted her with one of those sexier than sin half
grins.

"I like the dress," he said softly for
her ears only.

Candy smiled, and blushed, unable to
stop feeling awkward.

"Is Aggie nearly ready?" he
asked.

"Almost. I'm going to loan her my
pearls," she began, only to be cut off by Joe.

"Lisa sent a blue garter, figured she
ought to wear it."

Candy's throat dried up. Lisa! Lisa was
here? Suddenly, she felt strangely out of place. She wanted to
crawl in a hole and die of embarrassment. She wasn't ready to meet
any of his old girlfriends. But for Roscoe and Aggie she would put
on a brave front and then go hide.

"Come here," Joe said as he handed the
garter to Aggie and pulled Candy from the room. He gently kissed
her on the nose and guided her back into the living room where all
the guests were.

He pulled her over to a small group.
"Lisa, George, I'd like you to meet Candy Arnold. Of course, you've
already met George, haven't you?"

Candy tried to squash the red face and
greet them with self-confidence, but it just wasn't there. Her hand
went out to Lisa and her eyes met with the prettiest blue-eyed
blonde she'd ever seen. No wonder Joe had fallen in love with her.
She was lovely. Delicate and feminine.

Candy felt ill. She could never compete
with Lisa for his love. He said he was over her, but could he be
covering it up? From the look of love on his face she couldn't be
sure. But he still had hold of her waist and he wasn't turning
lose. Candy shivered.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you,
Candy. Joe and my husband have told me a lot about you. I must tell
you, I've been green with envy. She's lovely, Joe."

Candy tried to relax, knowing this
woman truly conveyed such warm and wonderful manners. She tried to
forget that Joe once loved her beyond words. Then when Lisa hugged
her husband to her arm, Candy knew how one-sided the love must have
been. This woman was madly in love with her husband. Perhaps Candy
was merely being foolish. Trying to dissolve the ugly green enemy
that threatened to ruin her day, she smiled at Lisa.

Lisa grabbed her by the arm, but Joe
was reluctant to turn loose of her. "Hey, where are you taking my
girl?" Joe called.

"Don't worry, I'll bring her right
back," Lisa smiled. "I want her to meet a few friends, that's all.
You've been keeping her far too much to yourself, you
rascal."

"As long as you bring her back," Joe
warned with a spark of pure fire in his eyes when he looked at
Candy.

"Candy, I want you to meet Debbie
Fletcher. She's new, too, and I hope the two of you can be
friends," Lisa said.

Candy extended her hand, but Debbie had
a glass of champagne in her hand and didn't extend the other
hand.

"I'm pleased to meet you , Candy. What
part of the country are you from?"

Candy thought about the question before
answering. "I'm from the rodeo country."

"Oh." Debbie's nose crinkled just a
bit. "So, you're one of the rodeo bunnies?"

"Bunnies?" Candy questioned not liking
the insinuating remark.

"No." Lisa quickly jumped into explain.
"Candy's a trick rider in the rodeo circuit. She's moved out here
to live. This is where she makes her home now."

Why did the word home sound so far
away? And why couldn't she just dig a hole and dive in? This girl
was worse than she bargained for. Obviously, there was something
about her that irritated Debbie. But what could that be? Until only
a minute ago they were strangers.

Lisa took her arm and guided her to
another group, whispering in her ear, "I'm sorry Candy, I think
Debbie has had too much champagne. You'll have to forgive her. I'm
sure she didn't mean to imply anything. Come on, I want you to meet
Maud and Fred. They've been married forty years, lived here all
their lives and never go anywhere without each other."

Candy tried to relax, but the blatant
stares she received from Debbie made her uneasy.

Roscoe rescued her and pulled her to
one side. "I think we need to get this shindig on the
road."

"The minister hasn't arrived yet,"
Candy cried.

"How's Aggie holding up?"

"She's doing a little better than you.
She looks so beautiful, Roscoe," Candy said as she adjusted his tie
once more.