Chapter Three
LUKE PAUSED IN THEkitchen doorway, the ire that had driven him out of bed temporarily cooled by the sight that greeted him. Sarah hummed beneath her breath as she bustled around the kitchen making breakfast. Her golden hair was caught in a neat braid, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the stove.
She looked well rested. He assumed she’d gotten a good night’s sleep.
His hadn’t been nearly as pleasant. He’d tossed and turned, his thoughts filled with lustful images of his beautiful houseguest. He’d finally fallen into a fitful sleep near dawn, only to awaken a mere hour later to the sound of clanging pots and pans and the bracing smell of hot coffee.
Grumpy and disgruntled, he watched her flip an egg onto a plate already heaping with ham and fried potatoes. The last thing he needed this early in the morning was this perfect picture of domestic harmony. It was a mockery of every reality he’d ever known in his sorry life.
“Making ourselves at home, are we?”
Sarah spun around, smiling with what appeared to be genuine pleasure. “Luke! You’re awake.”
He frowned. She couldn’t possibly be that glad to see him. “It was impossible to sleep with all the racket you were making.”
Her welcoming smile slipped a bit. “It was so sweet of you to cook me dinner last night. I just wanted to return the favor. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d planned to sleep in.”
He stumped forward, exaggerating his limp in a blatant attempt to remind her he was a bitter old cripple, not a starry-eyed youth. He didn’t stop until he was so close she had to back up a step to keep from touching him. “I never do anything without expecting something in return.”
Her blush deepened to an almost violent hue. “I didn’t think you’d mind if I used your kitchen. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Luke gave a nasty laugh. “It upsets me that you thought I was naïve enough to be swayed by this.”
He’d made a fool of himself last night, revealing his attraction. It hadn’t taken her long to capitalize on his mistake.
“What are you talking about?” Her confusion melted into well-feigned indignation. “All I did was make you breakfast.”
“What a proper littlewifeyou are.” He gestured at the plate of food. “If I wanted a cook, I’d hire one.”
The fire went out of her, replaced by soul-deep hopelessness. “Perhaps I did hope to change your mind.” Biting her lip, she turned around, bracing her hands on the edge of the sink as though she needed the support to remain standing. “I want to stay here with you, Luke. Is that so wrong?”
Luke stared at her, feeling a bit hopeless himself. Keeping her around was sounding more attractive by the moment.
He moved toward her, settling his hands on her hips as he lowered his lips to the delicate shell of her ear. Losing all common sense, he pressed his mouth against the sweet curve where her neck met her shoulder, teasing the delicate skin with his tongue and his teeth. God, she tasted so sweet. He’d give almost anything to taste her all over. “You do tempt me.”
She went wooden in his arms. “It’s a wife’s duty to submit to her husband.”
