Heart of the Wild (3 page)

God, how she wished he was old and ugly. How she wished her fingers didn't itch to run recklessly through his thick, black-brown hair that tapered neatly past his shoulders.

Chayton Amory had stolen her heart eight years ago, and broken it. Raw pain stabbed her without warning. Memories best forgotten rushed into her head as she took in the same strong face, hawk-like nose, and stubborn set chin. Those expressive dark gray eyes looked stone cold at her—like gun metal.

"Are we going to play guessing games all morning, or are you going to tell me what this is all about?"

"It's pretty simple. He wants to talk to you."

"Hasn't he heard of a phone?" She moved to put some distance between them, hugging the door, but the confines of the jeep were too close. As though distance would make any difference. The whole state of California wasn't big enough for the two of them.

"Good question. One I'm sure you'll want to ask him when you see him."

"I'll ask. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the little, star-struck tomboy you were going to marry eight years ago. And I don't intend seeing my father, now or later. Kidnapping is a federal offense, I hope you both realize. And going anywhere you don't want to go with someone you don't want to go with…is kidnapping."

"I figured you'd see it that way." His voice held an edge, but the smile widened. "And I've noticed."

He glanced at her again, this time his eyes speaking for him.

Those damn bedroom eyes could melt a candle at two feet. Damn his magnetism. Chayton Amory looked as though he wanted to swallow her.

"Look, don't make this anymore than what it is. He sent me to get you, that's all."

"Make it more than it is?" Hysteria wasn't far away.

"That's right, don't dramatize. You always did dramatize, Kasie. Maybe you got that from your mother. And I certainly wouldn't accuse you of being a tomboy, especially in that get-up."

How could she know that a morning fishing expedition could turn into something like this? Kasie glanced at her clothes, rolled her eyes at her tattered jeans and fish-smeared sweatshirt, and continued to try to talk sense into the man.

"Look, I'm not going with you anywhere. I've a previous engagement. Sorry. Now turn this—thing around and put me back on the beach like you found me, or you'll be sorry."

"Sorry. Your plans will have to wait. He wants to see you before the wedding."

"He wants to ruin my wedding?" She gasped, numbed by her own festering rage. "Oh—this is so like him. Still trying to control me, isn't he?"

"Looks that way, doesn't it? Maybe you need to be controlled."

"You always were a male chauvinist."

He showed no signs of guilt or remorse. She cringed inwardly, seething.

"You don't seriously think you're going to get away with this, do you?"

"Afraid so." His smug confidence annoyed her further.

Flabbergasted, Kasie buttoned her lip momentarily. For the time being, she would wait and see where this was leading. The more she antagonized him, the worse this could get. She clenched her jaw tightly, till it hurt, and bit back a retort. When Amory made up his mind to do something, there was no turning back.

Oh, how she wished she had been sensible and stayed in bed this morning. She could be basking in a hot tub of fragrant water right now, waiting for the inevitable shopping spree her mother had planned. But then she never had been sensible, and she hated shopping. She preferred showers to long basks in the tub.

Her eyes drifted over him, reluctantly, curiously. Damn him, he was even more gorgeous than she remembered. His strong, lean frame dominated the jeep. His black jeans hugged his hips as naturally as though he'd been born in them; his jacket was a crushable soft color of faded brown, and his shirt was an oxford cotton in mint green, one of her favorite colors. His hair blew in the wind, creating an uncivilized look. Half Native American, half Irish. He was beyond the word handsome; hard, dark and provocative.

She wondered hysterically if she could jump from the vehicle and survive, but at this speed it would be suicide. Maybe she could step on the gas, and make him wreck the darn thing. Wild thoughts dashed through her head, but none were worth trying.

After a long while of mentally wrestling with the situation, she sighed and sat back in the seat. She wasn't beat yet, but he'd definitely won the first round.

Amory didn't stop driving till nightfall. He didn't waste idle conversation on her, either. The determined look on his face told her not to dally with him. He pulled over at a motel later that evening, eyed her, then pulled her along with him while he registered. After treating her to a simple supper of steak and eggs, he escorted her into one of the cabins.

Once Amory had her safely inside the room, he peered down at her red, angry face with steel-edged determination.

"This all stops, now. The joke has gone far enough. I am not amused!" She tapped her foot loudly. "If you take me home this instant, we'll let bygones be bygones."

He glanced at her foot with amusement, a twinkle lighting his expressive eyes.

"Another little habit you've picked up from your mother, I suppose? Huh, Kasie? Well, cool it, and you better start lowering that pretty little nose of yours a notch or two. Snobbery doesn't become you." He glanced about the room.

"Snobbery? What did you expect, greetings and salutations? You should certainly know me better than that. I want explanations, Amory! My God, do you realize you've ruined the wedding rehearsal?" She choked as she spied the clock by the bed.

The Bed!

"Too bad." He turned away from her, to gaze about the modest confines of the room. "And you'll get your explanations in due time, from your father. So save that fast and furious temper for him."

He wasn't going to listen to reason. He was being his usual calm and quiet self, obviously determined to go through with this ridiculous charade, she decided.

She spotted the phone while his back was turned, and realized the management was only a call away. Surely they could help! He wouldn't get away with this. She'd show him. She could take care of herself. Without further consideration, she dived for the telephone. A big hand suddenly gripped her wrist like a handcuff, and twisted her about. Her wrist tingled from his touch.

Tingled? Dammit! The contact was electrical. She didn't want to tingle. She didn't want to feel anything. Especially with Chayton Amory. She'd fallen prey to his charms once; she wouldn't do it again.

"Good try, but useless."

"Just where in the hell do you think you are taking me?"

He smiled arrogantly. "Such language. You're losing your charm and good manners, too?"

When she stared at him too long, he answered her. "To my cabin in the mountains. You really should stop cussing. It isn't becoming."

"Becoming?" she screeched. "I wish I had something to throw at you. I'd show you becoming."

Amory had stormed back into her life, unannounced and uninvited, making her tingle, and smiling smugly as though he knew it. How dare he!

"You're still a son of a—"

"Now that's the Kasie I know and love."

Silence loomed as she clamped her mouth shut. Love? How could he use the word love around her?

"You actually think you can get away with kidnapping me?"

Had her voice gone up an octave?

"Looks that way, doesn't it?" He seemed to enjoy her discomfiture.

"And to think I almost married you!"

His eyes narrowed on hers, and something stronger than fear shot through her. Awareness. Like lightening bolts, his eyes pinned her without touching her. She had pushed him too far.

Hot, uninvited tears threatened to fall. Ineffective tears. "Why are you doing this?"

"Tears, Kasie? I hadn't expected you to stoop to that. Let's don't play games. You're not crying, and I'm not buying. It's all up to you. Your father wants to see you. I'm taking you to him, that's all. Don't make it what it isn't."

She searched his handsome face long and hard. The contact stunned her. Eight years ago she had fallen in love with this man, only to realize he was wooing her because of her father's wishes. She had overheard their conversation about how pleased her father was about their impending marriage, how he had practically planned every moment between them. Well, she didn't need his planning, and she didn't need Chayton Amory. She had managed for eight years without either of them, and wanted to continue. Besides, she wouldn't marry a man that didn't love her. Now he was back, to ruin another wedding.

"That's not all, and you know it. You're intentionally ruining my wedding. Why?" She cried. "Is this some 'get even' trick?"

"This isn't personal," he said with a smile, and then turned away from her. For a moment he was still, his back very straight.

"Most people don't have you kidnapped to talk. Wouldn't a call have sufficed?"

"I'm sure he has his reasons."

"You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still a yes man for my father. No matter who it hurts, or what the circumstances."

He turned to look at her, his expression serious. He searched her perplexed face as though looking for answers to unasked questions.

"I'm not going to argue with you, Kasie."

"My father wants to stop this wedding, doesn't he? Okay, so why?"

"Everything should be explained in due time. In the meantime, I'm taking you to my cabin, to meet with him. I'm sorry about the way I had to do it, but it seemed the easiest way to get you away from there without a scene. Your mother would never have agreed to an untimely visit. It had to be done this way. I was sure you wouldn't come willingly if I merely stopped by and asked. Now do you understand?"

Kasie cast him a disdainful glance, then after a brief silence she questioned him. "Do you know why he wants to stop my wedding?"

There was no reply, only a look of assessment.

"God, why can't you just open up and talk to me? You never could talk to me, could you? Okay, so who else lives in this cabin of yours?"

"Just me, and, on occasion, Tanka. I'm sure you remember him, don't you? My half brother?"

"Of course I remember Tanka."

After a long silence she questioned him further. "He'll be there?"

"I don't know. You know Tanka as well as I; he's never in one place too long. What difference does that make?"

What difference? Staying in a secluded cabin, in the mountains, alone with Amory was suicide to her heart.

"I'm not staying with you, anywhere," she announced without forethought.

His head jerked up, and his eyes glittered dangerously into hers, a contact she tried to avoid. His smile held her. When Amory smiled, his entire face was lit.

"Afraid?"

"Of what? You? Hardly! I didn't walk out; I ran."

"Interesting. A woman in control of a situation never runs."

"I wasn't a woman, I was a child. And I'm sure you didn't suffer. But this little scheme won't work. I'll marry Rick with or without his or anyone else's permission. So you see, it's all for nothing."

"Let's get some sleep. We'll be there in the morning."

In the morning? Then why had he stopped here? Why hadn't he continued to drive on?

Did he honestly think she would spend the night in a motel with him? He had to be out of his mind. Surely he wouldn't push himself on her.

Without thinking, Kasie made a mad dash for the door. She was caught by one big hand and slung helpless against the bed. She shrieked. The bed! Her face went pale.

"What are you afraid of, Kasie?  Me, or yourself?" He towered over her, glaring at her as she tried to get up and run for the door again, only this time he threw her on the bed, his body on top. A powerful body that fit hers like a glove.

"Why you …" She opened her mouth to scream. She had to get away from him, put some distance between them. Lots of distance. Otherwise...

He clamped her mouth shut with his hand.

All thoughts ceased as action took over. She bit him, hard enough to draw blood, deep enough to leave a scar. He swore as he jerked his hand away from her. First he glanced at his hand, then her, as though he didn't quite believe what she had done.