Texas Proud (Vincente 2) by Constance O'Banyon Read Free Book Online

Rachel."
    She was so near she felt the heat of his body.
Every muscle in her tightened. "No? I know what
you are feeling at this moment, Noble, because I
felt it with my father. You stand over your father's
grave, wondering if there's been some terrible
mistake-can he really be dead? You'll walk away
from the monument that was erected to his mem ory, feeling as if you've left a part of your life behind. Then you hurry to the house, feeling bereft,
thinking he'll be there, but he won't be. You will
never see him again. Death, you see, is so final,
Noble, and that will be your torment."

    His fingers bit into her arms and he jerked her
against him, sweeping her forcefully into his embrace. With his free hand he lifted her chin, and
their gazes locked. "What if you are wrong?" he
asked in a raspy voice. "What if you are to be my
final torment?"
    He lowered his head, seemingly preoccupied
with the shape of her mouth. As she held her
breath, his lips brushed against hers, and she went
limp in his arms. Then his mouth became hard,
punishing, and ravished her tender lips. The kiss
was not prompted by affection or even desire; it
came from anger, frustration and futility.
    Rachel wanted to shove him away, but he was
drawing all the strength from her body. All she
could feel was the hardness of him, the hand that
supported her head, the mouth that ruthlessly
plundered hers. Against her will, her lips softened
beneath his and she returned his kiss. She moved
forward, pressing her body more firmly against
his, feeling almost faint with longing. She tried to
remember why she was there. Suddenly she envisioned her dead father's face and struggled to be
free.
    Noble released her immediately, amusement in
his expression. He knew how his kiss had affected her. "I don't know if you realize it, Green Eyes,
but you have issued a challenge-which I shall accept."

    Rachel stared at him for a long moment. She
hadn't challenged him. She rubbed her hand
across her lips as if she were wiping away the taste
of his mouth, but knew she could never erase the
memory of that kiss. She had hoped to find his
weakness, and instead he'd discovered hers.
    "I will prove you killed my father, Noble." She
hated the fact that her voice trembled her whole
body trembled, for that matter. She had to forget
the sensation of his lips against hers and remember that he was her enemy. "Soon, all of Texas will
hear about your guilt. Then Sheriff Crenshaw will
be forced to arrest you."
    He seemed to be ignoring her when he bent
down to pull weeds from his father's grave. Then
he glanced up at her. "Do your worst, Rachel. I
always thought you were different from Delia, but
perhaps I was wrong."
    Fury erupted within her. "How dare you speak
insultingly about Delia! You haven't even asked
about her or the baby. How can you be so heartless?"
    He closed his eyes and then stood. "How is Delia? How is her baby, Rachel?"
    She felt a lump in her throat and feared she
would cry. "Delia lost your baby."
I in sorry.
    "Are you sad about the baby? Don't you care about what Delia has suffered? Have you nothing
more to say?"

    "Nothing I said at the moment would make an
impression on you. You have judged me guilty
without asking me if I fathered your sister's child."
    Suddenly his eyes were profoundly sad, and
weariness was reflected there, as if he'd witnessed
too much and valued too little. With a suddenness
that startled her, pity for him rose like a wellspring inside her.
    Noble's gaze slid away from her and just as suddenly the sensation of sadness vanished. He had
retreated behind an unreadable mask, leaving Rachel confused and shaken.
    Without a word he walked away, leaving Rachel
alone with her troubled thoughts. Her earlier confidence had been vanquished by a pair of probing
brown eyes. He'd won the first confrontation, but
she was not beaten. They would meet again; she'd
make certain of it.
    She found Faro where she'd left