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that I ever let any man do that& !
He put a long finger over her lips and smiled at her in a way he never had before. It s okay,
Jake.
She was still trying to catch her breath, and not doing a good job of it.
I think you could say that we re compatible, in that way, he mused, enjoying her reaction to
him more than he could find a way to express.
She laughed softly. Yes, I think you could.
He smiled. So, suppose we get married. And you can live with me, here on the ranch, and you ll
never have to worry about Harris again.
She hesitated, but not for very long. She nodded, slowly. Okay.
His high cheekbones went a ruddy color. It flattered him that she d agree after a torrid passionate
interlude, when he hadn t been able to persuade her with words.
Don t get conceited, she said firmly, figuring out his thoughts.
His eyes twinkled. Not possible.
She laughed. It was as if the world had changed completely in those few minutes. All her hang-
ups had gone into eclipse the minute Ted turned the heat up.
I wondered, he confessed, if you d be able to respond to a man after what happened to you.
I did, too. She moved close to him and put her hands on his chest. It was one reason I was
afraid to let things go, well, very far. I didn t want to lead you on in any way and then pull away and
run. I almost did that once.
Yes, he said.
If we get married, you ll give me a little time, won t you? she asked worriedly. I mean, I think
I can do what you want me to. But it s just getting used to the idea.
Ted, who knew more than she did about women s re actions when passion got really hot, only
smiled. No problem.
She grinned. Okay, then. Do we get married in the justice of the peace s office& ?
In a church, he interrupted. And you have to have a white gown and carry a bouquet. I ll even
wear my good suit. He smiled. I m only getting married once, you know. We have to do it right.
She loved that attitude. It was what she d wanted, but she was sensitive about being pushy.
Okay, she said.
You ll be beautiful in a wedding gown, he murmured, bending to kiss her tenderly. Not that
you aren t beautiful in blue jeans. You are.
I m not, she faltered.
You are to me, he corrected. His black eyes searched hers and he thought about the future,
about living with her, about loving her& He bent and kissed her hungrily, delighting when she
returned the embrace fervently.
The steak s going to be room temperature in about thirty seconds! Rourke shouted down the
hall.
Ted pulled back, laughing self-consciously. I guess we could eat steak, since he s been nice
enough to cook it, he told her. His eyes glittered. We can tell him we re engaged before we even
start eating.
Rourke s not interested in me that way, she said easily, smiling. He s a nice man, but he s just
protective of women. It isn t even personal.
Ted had his doubts about that. Jillian underestimated her appeal to men.
Come on, she said, and slid her little hand into his big one.
That knocked the argument right out of him. It was the first physical move she d made toward
him. Well, not the first, but a big one, just the same. He slid his fingers between hers sensually, and
smiled at her.
She smiled back. Her heart was hammering, her senses were alive and tumultuous. It was the
beginning of a whole new life. She could hardly wait to marry Ted.
Rourke gave them a knowing smile when he noticed the telltale signs of what they d been doing.
He served up supper.
This is really good, Ted exclaimed when he took the first bite of his steak.
I m a gourmet chef, Rourke replied, surprisingly. In between dangerous jobs, I used to work
in one of the better restaurants in Jo burg, he said, giving Johannesburg it affectionate abbreviation.
Wonders will never cease, Jillian said with a grin. From steaks to combat.
Oh, it was always combat first, Rourke said easily, since I was born in Africa.
Africa was always a rough venue, from what Cash told me, Ted said.
Rourke nodded. We have plenty of factions, all trying to gain control of the disputed African
states, although each is a sovereign nation in the Organization of African Unity, which contains fifty-
four nations. The wars are always bloody. And there are millions upon millions of displaced persons,
trying to survive with their children. A mercenary doesn t even have to look for work, it s all around
him. His face hardened. What s hardest is what they do to the kids.
They must die very young there, Jillian commented sadly.
No. They put automatic weapons in their hands when they re grammar school age, teach them
to fire rocket launchers and set explosive charges. They have no sense of what childhood should
actually be.
Good heavens! she exclaimed.
You ve never traveled, Jake, Ted said gently. The world is a lot bigger than Hollister.
I guess it is. But I never had the money, even if I d had the inclination, she said.
That s why I joined the army. Ted chuckled. I knew it was the only way I d get to travel.
I wanted to see the world, too. Rourke nodded. But most of what I ve seen of it wouldn t be
appropriate for any travel magazine.
You have a ranch? Ted asked.
He smiled. Yes, I do. Luckily it s not in any of the contested areas, so I don t have to worry
about politicians seizing power and taking over private land.
And you run Brahmas, Ted said, shaking his head. Ugly cattle.
They re bred to endure the heat and sometimes drought conditions that we have in Africa,
Rourke explained. Our cattle have to be hearty. And some of your American ranchers use them as
breeding stock for that very reason.
I know. I ve seen a lot of them down in Texas.
They don t mind heat and drought, something you can t say for several other breed of cattle,
Rourke added.
I guess, Jillian said.
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