Desert Rain (7 page)

Suddenly Lincs glance changed, probing Hollys face as a new thought came to him. Why are
you here? he asked. And why didnt you call and tell me you were back in California?

For an instant Holly went cold. She had forgotten that she was the Royce Reflection rather
than the innocent sixteen-year-old of her memories.

And Lincs.

Holly remembered all too well how he had reacted to Shannon in Palm Springs.

I dont like jet-setters and their prostitutes.

Holly walked the short distance to the springs in silence. With every step she felt Lincs
watchful eyes on her face. She didnt want to tell him that she was Shannon, yet she
couldnt bring herself to lie.

I didnt call, she said, because I didnt know if youd want to see me.

What? Linc demanded in shock and disbelief.

You never wrote to me, she said simply. Not even a Christmas card.

Hollys voice and her expression showed the hurt she had felt when her own cards had gone
unanswered.

I wrote three times, he said flatly.

She made an odd sound and turned to look at his face.

You did? she whispered.

The third time I wrote, I got back a note from Sandra, Linc said. She told me to stop
writing, that my letters upset you. I gave up then. I assumed Sandra had taught you to
hate me.

Hate you? Holly stopped and stared at him. Why on earth would I hate you?

Without answering, Linc looped the reins around Sand Dancers neck. He gave the animal a
swat on his gleaming haunch. The horse started forward eagerly, thirsty for the liquid
wealth of Hidden Springs.

When Linc turned back to face Holly again, his face was impassive.

My father was driving the car that hit your parents, Linc said calmly.

His tone was as blunt as his words. He was utterly still, watching Hollys response.

When he saw neither surprise nor revulsion on her face, he let out his breath in soundless
relief.

You knew, he said.

Sandra told me.

Figures, Linc said grimly.

But what does that have to do with hating you? Holly asked. It was an accident. A rainy
night and a rotten mountain road and a car that went out of control.

Hollys lips trembled for a moment. She took a ragged breath and wondered if she would ever
get over the pain of losing her parents.

I found out later that your stepmother died, too, Holly whispered. An accident. Thats all.
Nobody was to blame. Certainly not you.

Linc lifted Hollys hand and kissed her palm. Not everyone would be so forgiving of the
McKenzie family, he said. Sandra sure wasnt. I could never hate you, Holly said simply.

Linc looked into her eyes.

Did you write to me? he asked.

Yes. Her voice broke. Oh, Linc, I wanted to see you so much, to hear your voice, to have
you hold me when I woke up in the middle of the night cold and shaking and frightened. I
was so alone.

Linc folded Holly into his arms, holding her as though he would make the lonely years
vanish with the sheer warmth and strength of his body.

I never should have let you go, he said savagely. I wanted to keep you so badly.

Why didnt you? Holly asked in a muffled voice.

Sandra. She couldnt believe that I felt anything more than lust for you.

She thought that of every man, Holly said curtly. She was right most of the time, but she
was wrong about you.

Linc smiled and kissed Hollys nose.

I wanted your tender little body, he said huskily. But that wasnt all I wanted. Id watched
you, watched your parents. They loved each other and they loved you.

Of course.

Linc almost smiled.

Theres no of course about it, he said. Living together doesnt necessarily mean loving
together.

Holly remembered the rumors she had heard about Lincs mother and stepmotherand Lincs
father, who drank far too much before he finally died.

Then she realized something else.

Sandra never showed your letters to me, Holly said.

Linc wasnt surprised.

Holly was. She and Sandra had never grown close, but Holly hadnt thought her aunt would
lie to her.

Sandra has a lot to answer for, she said in a clipped voice.

Linc looked at Hollys eyes. They were hard and narrow, showing an anger that was repeated
in the tight line of her mouth.

Dont blame her too much, he said after a moment. Why not? She has it coming. When she
first saw you with me, your face was swollen from crying, your hair was every which way

and you were curled up in my arms asleep. You looked no more than thirteen.

So?

If you were my daughter or niece, Linc said, and some hard-looking man said he was going
to marry you, Id have done the same thing Sandra didscream and swear and generally raise
enough hell to get my ass hustled right out of the hospital.

Maybe, Holly said. But you wouldnt steal somebody elses mail. And neither would I. Lincs
lips flattened. No, but Im not surprised that Sandra did, he said bluntly. Did you know
her? Holly asked.

I didnt have to. If theres one thing Dad taught me, its that you cant trust beautiful
women.

The leashed savagery in Lincs voice sent a chill over Hollys skin.

That isnt true, she said.

The hell it isnt. Take it from an expert. Linc smiled sardonically. Sandras a bitch, but
no one can say she isnt beautiful.

Ice condensed in Hollys stomach as she looked at Lincs face. It was the cruel face of the
stranger who had watched Shannon the way a cat watches a butterfly hovering over a blossom.

Predatory. Ruthless.

Beauty doesnt have anything to do with it, Holly said tightly. I know ugly women who are
mean right to the marrow of their bones, and beautiful women who are kind.

Lincs hand stroked Hollys face tenderly.

Youd see kindness in a rattlesnake,nin‡, he said in a soft voice.

Holly felt a curious melting in her bones. Once she had hated it when Linc called hernin‡,
little one, but now the word was as sweet and warm to her as his lips.

Kind Sandra, Linc continued, his voice different now, raw with remembered rage, kindSandra
swore she wasnt going to let her sisters baby girl marry the son of an alcoholic and a
whore. She called me a savage bastard who knew nothing about love.

Holly flinched at the hatred in Lincs voice.

So Sandra waited until I was at my stepmothers funeral, Linc said, and then she stole away
the only person who might have taught me how to love. You, Holly. Verykind of Sandra,
wouldnt you say? And so like a beautiful woman.

His voice was like a whip, and like a whip it stung. He looked as unyielding as he sounded.

When Holly spoke, her voice was ragged with Lincs pain and her own fear.

Its all in the past, Holly said, her voice almost pleading. Im not sixteen any more.
Sandra cant take me away again.

Lincs arms tightened, holding Holly against his body with a strength that left her aching.

Shed better not even try, he said flatly. Did she come here with you?

She stayed in Manhattan. Summer is a busy season for Sandra Productions. Everyone is
shooting the spring line.

Holly smiled at Lincs blank look.

Clothes, she explained succinctly. In order to have all the ad campaigns ready for spring,
they have to shoot in the summer.

Comprehension came. Lincs face drew into lines of distaste.

Yeah, I remember now, he said. Sandra makes her living selling tits and ass to magazines.

Linc!

He saw the horrified look on Hollys face.

Sorry, he muttered.

Holly was too shaken to say anything.

My God, she thought frantically.What am I going to do? How can I convince Linc that Im not
what he thinks Shannon is?

Linc saw Hollys pallor, sighed, and ran his hand roughly through his hair. Sunlight
gleamed off his naked arm.

I dont like models, he said finally. My mother and stepmother were both models. At least,
thats what they called it. Looked like something else to me. And it was.

Holly closed her eyes. She wished she didnt have to open her mouth and see her dream die
again. But she couldnt lie to Linc, not even in silence. Im a model, she said starkly.
What?

Im a model. Holly opened her eyes, expecting to see Lincs contempt.

Instead, she saw disbelief and amusement.

A model, he said neutrally.

Yes.

Linc laughed softly. Then he looked Holly over from her rumpled braid to her jacket
stuffed into wrinkled cotton pants. His eyes lingered on her sturdy, dirty shoes.

What do you model? he asked. Teddy bears? Swing sets? All-day suckers?

Anger snaked through Holly.

I didnt realize I was so unattractive, she retorted in a clipped voice.

His laughter vanished. He looked at Holly again, but this time his eyes remembered her as
she had been in his arms, her body changing with caresses, her naked skin glowing with
desire.

If you were any more beautiful to me, Linc said tightly, I would be afraid to trust
myself. Or you.

Being beautiful doesnt mean being untrustworthy. Beauty is just something done with
mirrors and makeup. I can be beautiful and still be worth loving!

Hey, hey, Linc said, hugging Holly against his chest. I wasnt talking about you.

But I was! Im

Hollys words were lost beneath the sweetness of Lincs tongue inside her mouth. His kiss
told her of gentleness and caring and the passion for her that infused his every breath.

Unconsciously she moved against him, fitting herself to his powerful body until there was
nothing between them but clothes and the words he hadnt let her speak.

Youre more than beautiful enough for me, Linc said against Hollys lips.

But

No, he said, filling her mouth again, making it impossible for her to speak. No more
arguments about beauty and women.

But We should know each other better before we argue, Linc interrupted again. How about
discussing it? she muttered. Ive just found you. Lets not do anything to spoil it. When
Holly didnt answer, Linc nipped her lips lightly. Okay? he asked.

But

His mouth closed over hers, stilling her words and drawing out her breath in a single
powerful kiss.

Promise me, he said finally, urgently. Having you back is a dream come true. Just a few
days. Just a few days and then we can rant and rave and slang at each other like old
marrieds.

Unhappily Holly looked at Linc.

His eyes laughed down at hers.

Im not a fool, Linc said dryly. I know well fight. You always were a stubborn wench. But
just for a fewdays...?

How many?

A rueful smile spread beneath his mustache.

Like I said, a stubborn wench, Linc muttered.

Holly waited silently.

Stubbornly.

Two? Linc asked. That will get us past the Arabian Nights party at the ranch. Then if you
want to go fifty rounds, so be it.

She wavered, tempted. Then she shook her head.

Youd be furious at me when you found out, she said.

Found out?

Linc stiffened. His fingers dug almost painfully into her arms.

Found out what? he asked harshly. Are you married?

Too shocked to answer, Holly simply stared at Linc.

Are you? he demanded.

Do you think Id have touched you if I was married? she shot back.

Other women have, he said dryly.

Not this one. Then Holly added in biting tones, Arent you going to ask about fiancŽs,
boyfriends, and lovers?

Lincs face changed, becoming a mask once more.

Are there many? he asked neutrally.

Not a single one! Holly exploded, words tumbling out of her recklessly in her anger. In
fact, Im a

Abruptly she got control of her temper and her tongue. She looked away from Linc,
embarrassed by what she had almost revealed.

His expression shifted subtly, alive again.

Youre a what? Linc coaxed.

Hollys chin lifted in a defiant gesture. She put her hands on her hips, unconsciously
echoing the moment yesterday when she had faced Lincs contempt as Shannon.

Im not very experienced with men, Holly said bluntly. But that shouldnt surprise you. As
you pointed out, Im so damned plain.

With that, she turned away from him and stalked back toward camp.

He caught up in three long strides, put one arm across Hollys back and the other beneath
her knees, and lifted her across his chest.

She gave him a cool, shuttered look.

Like I said, Linc muttered, we should declare a truce for two days while we get to know
each other. Then well get engaged.

Hollys breath caught.

The look on her face made Lincs pulse kick hard.

Three days after that, he said huskily, well get married. And then the word no will vanish
from my vocabulary.

Tears of joy and hope and something very near pain burned behind Hollys eyes. She wanted
to say yes instantly, to bind him to her before he found out about her alter ego, Shannon.

The thought of Lincs contempt for beautiful models frightened Holly.

Lincs saw neither the tears nor her fear.

His lips were moving over her throat, her hairline, her ear.

Holly, he breathed into her ear. Is my request for a two-day truce so unreasonable? Surely
you can keep your temper that long?

But Damn it, woman, Linc interrupted, what does it take to convince you? I just dont want
you to hate me later.

I could never hate you,nin‡. Dont you know that?

Linc, you dont know me. Not all of me.

He glanced upward in exasperation.

Thats the idea of the truce, remember? Linc asked the sky. We stop arguing about silly
things and talk about rings and weddings and babies.

Holly trembled and hugged Linc hard. The kiss she gave him was almost desperate.

You do want babies, dont you? he asked finally.

I want your babies, she whispered. I always have.

Linc lifted his head and looked down to the golden-eyed woman in his arms.

Then please trust me, he said in a low voice. Ill be very gentle with you. Id given up
hope of ever holding you and Im afraid of losing you all over again before I even have a
chance . . .