Chapter Twelve
SARAH SPENT THE NEXTday immersed in cleaning the years of neglect from Luke’s home. She found it strangely satisfying. With every passing day, the big house felt more like a home.
It was a far cry from the Greek Revival mansion where she’d grown up, but within its walls, she could envision a far cozier type of life. Luke’s house fairly cried out to be occupied by a large, happy family.
Unfortunately, she and Luke hadn’t made any more steps in that direction. After the blissful hours they’d spent in the parlor last night, she’d expected him to offer to share his bed. Instead, she’d awoken cold and alone. He’d left a small sketch of her, and she’d found it beautiful, yet disturbing. He’d been more than flattering, making her look like a sleeping angel, but it made her uncomfortable to think that he’d stared at her nudity long enough to draw it. She’d hidden it in her room, wondering what she was supposed to do with a naked picture of herself.
He’d been up at dawn and had spent the entire day out on the ranch. She’d been waiting for him to return all afternoon but didn’t know what she would say to him when he did.
She didn’t know how she could go on like this, giving herself to him so completely without any real indication that he intended to make their relationship permanent. He probably thought she was a whore and who could blame him, given her recent behavior?
When she was with him, her base instincts took over. She couldn’t look at him without wanting to touch him, without wanting to feel him inside her. It had never been like this with her husband William. Though they’d made love repeatedly in the weeks before William had left for war, he’d been as shy and embarrassed as she was. Their encounters had been perfunctory at best, done in the dark and never spoken of.
With a sigh, she finished straightening Luke’s room and then closed his door behind her. She was on her way to check on dinner when she heard a commotion at the front door. A woman’s laughter echoed down the hall, followed by Luke’s deep murmur.
“Sarah,” Luke called, freezing her in her tracks. “Come here. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
She walked down the hall, dreading what she’d find. Luke stood in the doorway, and he smiled with apparent pleasure as Sarah approached. For a moment, she was too lost in the depths of his smoky gray eyes to pay much attention to the woman beside him. Knowing she was being rude, she wrenched her gaze away and glanced at his guest.
The woman was gorgeous and dressed in the very latest fashion. The smile she bestowed on Luke was full of affection.
Sarah was achingly aware of her own oft-mended gown, unkempt hair, and the smudges of dirt on her arms and face. With reluctance, she joined the pair, jealousy rising within her as she wondered why she’d ever thought she could make Luke care for her.
“Sarah, I’d like you to meet my sister-in-law, Rebecca. Becky, this is Sarah.”
Sister-in-law?A rush of relief swept through her, startling in its intensity. Rebecca was married to Luke’s brother. Therefore, she was no threat. But then she realized if Rebecca was here, Luke’s brother couldn’t be far behind.
Rebecca gave her a nervous grin. “It’s nice to meet you, Sarah.”
Sarah’s fleeting good humor disappeared. She glared at Luke and saw that his smile had slipped as well.
“My brother, Matt, is still outside talking to Hank. He’ll be in shortly.” Luke shrugged, an apology in his eyes. “I invited them to stay for dinner. That is, if you’ve made enough.”
Sarah nodded. “There’s a roast in the oven. It should be done soon.”
“Are you sure it isn’t an inconvenience?” Rebecca asked. “I told Matt we should send word ahead.”
