Hawk's Way Rogues by Joan Johnston

Author:Joan Johnston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2001-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Six

“Do you want to go?” Carter asked.

“I’m not sure we can,” Desiree replied across the breakfast table. “I don’t know whether I can get a baby-sitter on such short notice. Especially when tonight is New Year’s Eve.”

Desiree knew she was being contrary, but she couldn’t help it. Ever since Carter had walked out on Christmas morning, she had worried that he would do it again. Even though he had returned, the trust she had been willing to give him without question when they married was qualified now. Her anxiety wasn’t unjustified.

Carter hadn’t disappeared without a word over the past week, but he had begun making forays around the ranch by himself, getting the lay of the land and looking the place over. He hadn’t reissued the invitation he had made the day they were married to survey the ranch together.

Desiree suspected he needed the time alone to come to terms with his new responsibilities as husband and father—although they were more father than husband so far. To her chagrin, Desiree realized she very much wanted to make the effort to become Carter’s wife in every sense of the word. Only she wasn’t sure how to let him know.

Attending a New Year’s Eve party at Faron and Belinda Whitelaw’s home would be their first outing as husband and wife. The truth was, she wanted to go. But she was worried about leaving Nicole home alone with a baby-sitter. Burley was due to be released from prison today. There was no reason to believe he would head straight for Casper—except the threats he had made six years ago.

I’m coming back, Desiree. Then I’ll finish what I started.

Desiree felt cold all over. She hadn’t forgotten the last night she had spent with Burley in this house. It was something she had been trying to forget. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to be gone from here tonight. But she wanted Nicole where she could keep an eye on her.

“I suppose we could take Nicole with us,” Desiree mused. “She could sleep upstairs at The Castle. I’ve done that in the past when I couldn’t find a sitter.”

“Great!” Carter said.

“Why are you so anxious to go to this party?” Desiree asked.

“I thought it was about time we did some socializing with our neighbors. Besides, it’s a wedding celebration for my half brother, Faron. He and Belinda were married at home on Christmas, with just their families present.”

“You’re family. Why weren’t you invited to the wedding?”

He shrugged. “I was, but I decided not to go.”

“Were you worried that they might be upset at how quickly you married me?”

“Not at all. It’s just that Faron and I may be related, but really, we don’t know each other.”

Desiree’s lips curled into a wry smile. “The same thing could be said about us.”

“Yeah, but I’m planning to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Desiree hoped so. But she had her doubts about what Carter would do when he knew the truth about why she had married him.

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