When the tip of his tongue touched hers, a tingling shaft of excitement streaked through her, and she shuddered violently from head to foot. Feeling her reaction, Trace ended the kiss. He drew his mouth slowly from hers and smiled down at her bewildered face.
"You see. That wasn't so bad, was it?" he mocked gently.
Numb with shock, and something else she couldn't even attempt to define, Katy could only stare at him. She was weak and shaken, and knew, vaguely, that her condition was not due entirely to fear.
Trace cupped her face in his hands and ran his thumb over her parted lips. A searing blaze leaped in his eyes as he watched them tremble beneath his touch. Regretfully, he let his hands slide down to curve around her shoulders and dragged his gaze away from the sweet temptation of her mouth. Katy's heart turned over at the virile, passionate look in his eyes as they roamed over her face. "I may as well tell you right now, Katy me darlin'. I mean to have you. And nothing you can do or say is going to alter that."
He lowered his head once more and bestowed a swift, hard kiss, then took the key from her nerveless hand and opened the door. "Now, go to bed, Katy. I'll see you tomorrow." A hand in the small of her back gently pushed her inside, then the door was closed behind her.
It was only as she stood, stock still, in the middle of the living room, listening to the sound of his receding footsteps, that she realized his coat was still draped over her shoulders.
Chapter 4
Warm spring sunshine caressed Katy's face as she paused on the church steps. Usually she came away from the Sunday morning services with a feeling of tranquillity and peace. But not today. The scene with Trace the night before had left her so upset she couldn't concentrate on anything else. She had gone through the religious rites by rote, her emotions in turmoil, her mind a million miles away.
Pulling the lacy scarf from her head, Katy slipped it into her purse, then stepped to one side and watched the crowd of worshipers file by. She was in no hurry, because she had absolutely nowhere to go. With Trace's "I'll see you tomorrow" still ringing in her ears she didn't dare go home. Katy descended the shallow steps and started slowly toward her car. She had to find something to keep her occupied, something that would keep her away from the house all day. But what?
She was still asking herself the same question as she eased the car out of the parking lot and turned in the direction opposite to the farm. It was hot and stuffy in the car and Katy rolled down her window and opened the vents. Immediately the heavenly scent of roses swirled around her. She breathed deeply and let her eyes wander over the vast rose fields lining the highway on either side. They were just coming into first bloom, acre upon acre of almost every variety and color of rose grown. It was a source of great pride to most Tyler residents that their east Texas town was known as the rose capital of the world. More than half the field-grown rose bushes in the United States came from the immediate vicinity. From April to October the rose fields, which virtually surrounded the town, were a riot of color and scent. To Katy there was no more beautiful sight.
A sign pointing to Tyler lake drew her attention and, with a shrug, Katy decided it was as good a place as any in which to while away a Sunday afternoon.
Spying a fast food restaurant just ahead, she flipped on the turn indicator and swung into the drive-through lane. A few minutes later she pulled back onto the highway, a sack containing a juicy cheeseburger and a large, icy Coke on the seat beside her. The appetizing aroma filling the car made her nose twitch appreciatively.
At the lake Katy drove around the shore until she found a secluded picnic table among the towering pine trees. She parked her car in the space provided and carried her lunch to the table. Insects scattered before her, clicking noisily as she walked through the
"You see. That wasn't so bad, was it?" he mocked gently.
Numb with shock, and something else she couldn't even attempt to define, Katy could only stare at him. She was weak and shaken, and knew, vaguely, that her condition was not due entirely to fear.
Trace cupped her face in his hands and ran his thumb over her parted lips. A searing blaze leaped in his eyes as he watched them tremble beneath his touch. Regretfully, he let his hands slide down to curve around her shoulders and dragged his gaze away from the sweet temptation of her mouth. Katy's heart turned over at the virile, passionate look in his eyes as they roamed over her face. "I may as well tell you right now, Katy me darlin'. I mean to have you. And nothing you can do or say is going to alter that."
He lowered his head once more and bestowed a swift, hard kiss, then took the key from her nerveless hand and opened the door. "Now, go to bed, Katy. I'll see you tomorrow." A hand in the small of her back gently pushed her inside, then the door was closed behind her.
It was only as she stood, stock still, in the middle of the living room, listening to the sound of his receding footsteps, that she realized his coat was still draped over her shoulders.
Chapter 4
Warm spring sunshine caressed Katy's face as she paused on the church steps. Usually she came away from the Sunday morning services with a feeling of tranquillity and peace. But not today. The scene with Trace the night before had left her so upset she couldn't concentrate on anything else. She had gone through the religious rites by rote, her emotions in turmoil, her mind a million miles away.
Pulling the lacy scarf from her head, Katy slipped it into her purse, then stepped to one side and watched the crowd of worshipers file by. She was in no hurry, because she had absolutely nowhere to go. With Trace's "I'll see you tomorrow" still ringing in her ears she didn't dare go home. Katy descended the shallow steps and started slowly toward her car. She had to find something to keep her occupied, something that would keep her away from the house all day. But what?
She was still asking herself the same question as she eased the car out of the parking lot and turned in the direction opposite to the farm. It was hot and stuffy in the car and Katy rolled down her window and opened the vents. Immediately the heavenly scent of roses swirled around her. She breathed deeply and let her eyes wander over the vast rose fields lining the highway on either side. They were just coming into first bloom, acre upon acre of almost every variety and color of rose grown. It was a source of great pride to most Tyler residents that their east Texas town was known as the rose capital of the world. More than half the field-grown rose bushes in the United States came from the immediate vicinity. From April to October the rose fields, which virtually surrounded the town, were a riot of color and scent. To Katy there was no more beautiful sight.
A sign pointing to Tyler lake drew her attention and, with a shrug, Katy decided it was as good a place as any in which to while away a Sunday afternoon.
Spying a fast food restaurant just ahead, she flipped on the turn indicator and swung into the drive-through lane. A few minutes later she pulled back onto the highway, a sack containing a juicy cheeseburger and a large, icy Coke on the seat beside her. The appetizing aroma filling the car made her nose twitch appreciatively.
At the lake Katy drove around the shore until she found a secluded picnic table among the towering pine trees. She parked her car in the space provided and carried her lunch to the table. Insects scattered before her, clicking noisily as she walked through the
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