Read Online Desert Rain by Elizabeth Lowell - Free Book Online

my senses entirely. You werent in any shape for it, so . . . So?
    Holly shrugged and waved her hand at the scraps of twine scattered around their feet.
    So I made a lot of granny knots in the rain, she said.
    You should have waited until the storm let up.
    Youre a lot stronger than I am, even when youre half dead from cold and getting rapped on
     the skull by a boulder. You didnt want to wait.
    You mean I sent you back out into that storm to take care of Sand Dancer? Linc asked
     tightly.
    It was you or me, and I was in better shape at the time.
    My God, Holly. He pulled her roughly against him. You should have let me go. You could
     have been hurt.
    You already were hurt, she pointed out.
    Still
    Linc, Holly interrupted, exasperated. What kind of person do you think I am? You were hurt!
    And you were alone in a wild storm with a stallion that went crazy every time the sky lit
     up.
    I blindfolded him, she said simply.
    Lincs hands framed her face as he studied her deceptively fragile face. His thumbs stroked
     her cheekbones.
    Youre incredible, he whispered. Clever and long legged and wild, with eyes like gold coins
     . . .
    Suddenly Holly was acutely conscious of the sunlight glinting in Lincs hair and mustache
     and eyes, of the tempting line of his lips, of his tongue so quick and moist.
    A muscle moved and tightened along his jaw. He struggled to control the impulse to kiss
     Holly until they were both breathless. Very carefully he let go of her and turned his
     attention to Sand Dancers hobble.
    Where did you get this? Linc asked as he worked over the knot. I dont remember having a
     spare shirt in the saddlebag.
    Its my blouse. Thats why I wasnt wearing anything under my jacket when you
    Abruptly, Holly stopped talking. The thought of the moment Linc had unzipped her jacket
     and looked at her naked breasts made heat tremble deep inside her body.
    Linc saw her betraying shiver.
    Holly, he said wonderingly, its a miracle I can keep my hands off you from one minute to
     the next. But Im trying. God knows Im trying.
    Linc removed the hobble and untwisted the fabric of Hollys blouse. The material was
     stained. Fine sorrel hairs stuck to it in random patches.
    He held up the blouse and shook his head.
    Id stick with the jacket if I were you, he said.
    Ive got another blouse.
    Too bad. I like the way the jacket fastens.
    It doesnt. The zipper is jammed.
    Like I said.
    Lincs eyes lit with silent laughter as he untied the bridle and slipped it over Sand
     Dancers head.
    Come on, boy, Linc said. Lets see how thirsty you are.
    He tugged on the rains. Obediently Sand Dancer stepped forward.
    Holly and Linc both watched the horse move until they were sure that the animal suffered
     from nothing more serious than a few stiff muscles.
    Linc nodded, smiled approvingly at Holly and took her hand.
    Seems like old times, he said. Hidden Springs, the smell of sage, a horse andhe gave Holly
     a teasing sideways looka rumpled munchkin watching me with gold eyes.
    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?

Desert Rain
    Seven
    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