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Emmett yanked her closer, sliding his arms around her waist. “Well,slut’s a little harsh, darlin’, but whatever you think. This has nothing to do with your kid. I’ll find someone to watch her twenty-four/seven because that’s how much of your time I’ll need.”
Anger sparked at his callous disrespect for Jen. Who the hell did he think he was? Of course, she already knew the answer. He was Emmett Purnell, owner of the biggest logging operation in Idaho. He was loaded and charismatic when he wanted to be and didn’t like taking no for an answer. He’d smiled, turned on the charm and played the part of a gentleman until he’d managed to break through her barriers and she’d finally agreed to go out with him.Idiot, idiot, idiot!
Sally shook her head firmly. “Not interested.”
Emmett’s hands slid down to cup her bottom and pull her against him roughly. His intentions quickly became apparent as the hard ridge of his erection pressed into her stomach. Shock gave way to fury. She drew her arm back and swung, and her fist met his jaw with a resounding wallop.
Clearly taken by surprise, his head snapped back, but he recovered quickly. His lips thinned to the point of nearly disappearing, and his eyes darkened to glittering black orbs. “I like it rough, baby.” He backhanded her so fast and hard, Sally hit the ground before she’d even registered the blow. The ringing in her ears made it impossible to hear…or think. A thousand needles pricked her cheek as the pain and taste of blood sent her to her knees, tying her stomach in knots.
She scrambled to stand, but dizziness and the pain in her still-fisted hand hindered her efforts. She refused to scream—that was sure to bring Jen and her babysitter, Tiffany, out of the house. Sally couldn’t take the chance they might get hurt. Besides, screaming wasn’t really her style. The best she could do at the moment was crawl out of the reach of the enraged lunatic and hope he came to his senses.
“Go ahead. Touch her again and see what happens, you fucking coward.” The suggestion, coming from the darkness behind Emmett’s vehicle and delivered with steel-edged composure, took her completely by surprise.
Sally swung toward the new player, forgetting Emmett for the moment. The voice was all too familiar, stirring unwelcome memories. Eyes watering from the blow, she squinted to see the man standing in the darkness just beyond her yard.
“Luke?” Sally staggered to her feet, clenching her teeth against the sick feeling that swirled in her stomach.
It couldn’t behim. Not the man she’d fallen hard for before he deployed with his SEAL unit over a year ago. Not the man who’d refused to see her when she hurried to the hospital in Bethesda after hearing he’d been rescued from a terrorist prison. Rushing to his side because she’d thought they meant something to each other, she’d quickly learned the truth of the matter. His disregard had let her know, in no uncertain terms, that the feelings had been one-sided.Thatman had no reason—or right—to show up at her door.
Sally searched the shadows near the street, where the voice had originated. When she finally made out his silhouette, her breath caught in her throat.
Luke didn’t spare her a glance.
“Who the hell are you?” Emmett turned to face him.
“Does it matter?” Luke’s words contained a dangerous warning that Sally had never heard before.
As he stepped from the shadow of the SUV, his military fatigues and the duffel he carried reminded her of the homeless people who’d camped on Elk Creek last fall. A knife in a leather sheath hung at his side. His face was etched with lines of exhaustion, and he might have carried himself stiffly, but otherwise he was the same man she remembered. Light brown hair, longer and a bit more disheveled than the last time she’d seen him, always tempted her to run her fingers through it…even now.
“I’ll need your name to give to the undertaker,” Emmett sneered.
A humorless smile bared Luke’s teeth as he let the duffel drop to the ground. He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it over the bag. A black Navy T-shirt stretched across his obscenely well-muscled torso, just the way Sally remembered. Dog tags rested against the contour of his chest. His thick arms hung relaxed at his sides, his nonchalance chilling by itself.
“Okay, hotshot, you’ve got about a second to get the hell out of here if you want to avoid the beating I’ve got for you.” Emmett started toward him at a brisk walk.
Despite the pain that had long since festered into bitterness, she couldn’t stand by and let Luke get hurt. He’d been wounded, seriously. He looked strong enough, but what if he wasn’t fully recovered? She glanced around for something to use as a weapon, but Jen had cleaned the yard last weekend and put all the garden tools away. Sally backed toward the house, unable to take her eyes off the disaster unfolding in her yard.
Luke’s expression didn’t change. He remained motionless as Emmett approached.
Her boss took a swing as soon as he was within arm’s length. Luke ducked, evading the blow effortlessly, then shoved Emmett against the front of his Tahoe. He held him there in some kind of a headlock until Emmett’s legs folded and he slid to the ground, apparently out cold. Luke opened the SUV’s door, yanked Emmett off the ground, as though the man who’d towered over her weighed nothing, and stuffed him into the front seat before slamming the door shut.
Luke didn’t look at her until he’d retrieved his jacket. As he threaded his arms into the sleeves, he turned to run his gaze over her, his expression dark and brooding.
“What are you doing here, Luke?” Sally’s leftover concern gave her voice a trace of impatience.
“It’s good to see you too, sunshine.” He bent to retrieve his duffel before walking toward her. “Let’s go in the house. He’ll be out for a few minutes. I’m staying until he wakes up and takes off without causing any more trouble.” A gentle hand stroked her cheek, where Emmet’s blow had landed, and Luke’s piercing gaze dared her to argue. He turned her toward the house and fell in beside her, pressing his hand to the small of her back. “What the hell are you doing, hanging out with a guy like that anyway?”
It wasn’t like she didn’t already know she’d screwed up. She didn’t need a lecture from this man, who’d picked today to show up on her doorstep after he’d cast her away like so much trash. Sally’s annoyance grew to irrational irritation. The nerve of him, even if he did rescue her from an uncomfortable, possibly dangerous situation. He had no right to judge her, despite his scent of freshly mown hay with a touch of cinnamon that teased her senses. She didn’t have to defend her actions to him…and yet she couldn’t keep from doing just that.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but he seemed like a decent-enough guy until he’d had a couple of drinks. This is Huntington—not LA or New York. The dating pool here includes anyone single, employed and under fifty.” Besides, who would have thought she couldn’t trust her boss—a respected local businessman?Well, he’s not my boss anymore.Did one have to give notice in situations like this?
Luke stopped and turned to face her, his brow shooting upward toward the hair that cascaded over his forehead. Rich brown eyes held her gaze, and she was powerless to turn away. Finally, a smile broke free that reminded her of the man she’d known before he’d gone through hell. “Well…it’s good I’m here, then.” He winked before opening the door and pushing inside, leaving her standing on the steps with her mouth open.
An instant later, the sound of Jen squealing and shouting Luke’s name was followed by small feet running across the room. The wonderfully deep and warm male laughter that spilled through the doorway brought Sally images of Luke catching her daughter in his arms and twirling her around, exactly as he’d done a year ago. Jen had gotten attached to Luke too, and it’d taken her a long time to accept the fact he wasn’t coming back. Now, her childish giggles, mixing with his masculine voice, meant trouble and heartache.
Damned if I’ll let him hurt my daughter again.
Hands shaking slightly, she covered her face and tried to get her head back in the game. Part of her struggled to understand the toll Luke’s ordeal as a POW had taken on him, and she wanted to weep for the man he’d been. Another part wanted nothing more than to hold him and let him know it didn’t matter—not to her. But the sting and humiliation of his rejection when he’d refused her entry to his hospital room hadn’t yet faded. Maybe she could have forgiven him if it had only affected her. Fortunately, Jen had remained in Huntington with friends, thereby spared the debacle at the hospital, but Luke’s actions had hurt her too. Neither of them were up for a repeat performance.
