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Rand rose on his elbow, peering down at Echo. Her beautiful body was a wonder of curves nipping in at her tiny waist, and it was his for the taking.
“I hope you don’t think this was gratuitous sex.” He drank in her beauty. “Now that I’ve had you, I will only want you more.”
Echo smiled softly. “Ummm, it was wonderful.”
“Echo...” He had to say something, even if it was completely wrong. “Are you all right?”
Rand expected to see deep fear in her eyes, but she turned to face him with a relaxed expression glowing across her face.
Echo’s blue-black brows met as she frowned. “And just why shouldn’t I be? You’re a wonderful lover.” She dragged her fingertip across his bottom lip, then replaced it with a kiss so soft it was nearly undetectable.
Blood pounded in his temples. He had to talk to her. This had been a mistake, a wonderful one, but still a mistake. He sighed inwardly—he had no self-control with Echo. She meant everything to him.
Leaving was the only way he could keep her safe. If he stayed, the person trying to kill him could hurt her. It was bad enough he had lost Ann, and by God, he wouldn’t lose Echo too. He had to walk away from the desire that plagued him day and night. As soon as he found out why Ann had died, he’d come back. But how am I going to explain that to her?
His eyes raked over Echo’s beauty. Her hair lay over her creamy white breasts, hiding them seductively. Long slim legs. It wasn’t her physical beauty that had ensnared him, it was her soul. Rand loved her.
“Rand, answer me.”
Her words pulled him back to reality. How can I leave her now? “I’m sorry,” he said as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. “This is difficult for me... Echo, I still have to go in the morning, but...”
“W-what about us...this?” Bounding from the bed, she grabbed her shorts, stepped into them, and stuffed her panties and bra into the pockets. Her bottom lip trembled. She bit down to control the movement.
As Echo pulled the T-shirt over her head, Rand grabbed her. “Listen to me, that’s what I’m trying to tell you,” he said firmly, turning her toward him. Her eyes rounded as her head popped through the opening in the shirt. “I’m going to Rawlins, but I’ll be back. We can’t leave things unresolved between us like this.”
He held her upper arms in each of his hands, pulled her into his body, kissed her soundly, then pushed her away. Tears stung his eyes as he looked at her. She is so vulnerable.
“I love you, Echo. I’ll be back,” he promised. “Keep the carriage house for me. The estimate process should only take a day or two.”
He didn’t think it was possible, but her dark blue eyes grew larger than before.
“I don’t know, Rand. I’m never sure where I stand with you. You send my emotions on a wild ride.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me to come back?”
Her soft hair brushed against his naked chest. “No, I’m not saying that. I love you, too, but until we resolve this mess with Ann’s death, I don’t know how our relationship can survive.”
A bright flash of lightning was followed immediately by deafening thunder that shook the room. The elements reflected his turmoil. “I don’t underst—” He pushed her away from him, looking down the length of his naked body, then up toward the ceiling. “What the hell?”
“Rand, what’s the matter?”
Running the flat of his hand down his chest, he traced a rivulet of water. “The roof is leaking.”
“No! It can’t be. I just spent thousands of dollars having a new roof put on this place.” Her face paled as she glanced up at the ceiling, watching an ever-widening wet spot.
Another flash of lightning broke through the water-laden clouds as they dumped their heavy load in a fierce downpour. Rand tried to remain serious for Echo, but he couldn’t. The laughter he tried to swallow broke through his tight vocal cords and erupted as a loud hoot.
“Look at me! Naked and wet. I’ll throw on some clothes, then we’ll find a bucket or something to put under this stream.” As he dressed, the ribbon of water became wider.
“There’s something in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.” Rand took the steps two at a time. As he moved through the living room, the front door flew open, and Alexis called Echo’s name.
“Oh, there you are. Where’s Echo? The hotel is leaking,” she said, taking in his state of undress with one glance.
“Go get everything you can to catch the water. We’ll be right behind you.” Alexis nodded and headed back toward the hotel as he yelled up the stairs. “Echo! Get your butt down here.”
A few minutes later, they were racing up the curved staircase to the top floor of the main building.
“Mrs. Brennen!” one customer hollered. “There is rain splashing onto my bed!”
Rand took the woman by the arm and led her back into her room. “Let’s move this beautiful bed out of the rain. We don’t want you sleeping in a soggy bed.”
Moving to stand beside him, the older woman batted her eyes and helped push the four-poster bed against the wall.
“I’ll bring you some dry bedding as soon as we take care of the other rooms.”
He raced back to the landing. “Lex, over there! Get the bucket under that large stream! I’ll help everyone get the furniture out of harm’s way.”
An hour later, he and Echo collapsed in exhaustion into overstuffed chairs in the sitting area on the main floor.
Echo’s hair hung limply over her shoulders. She slowly ran her fingers through the strands, staring out the French door that led to the terrace. The deluge had slowed, and only small drops landed in the puddles.
“I don’t understand what happened to the roof. It’s the newest part of the building.” Her voice came in a low monotone.
“Surely the contractors will make good on their warranty contract,” he said, standing to move across the room to Echo’s side.
She pursed her lips. “I hope so, but it’s been over a year. I knew I should have gotten that extended warranty.”
“Now, don’t blame yourself, this could happen to anyone. I’ll check the roof out tomorrow. It’s probably an obvious problem.”
“Weren’t you leaving in the morning?”
He shrugged. “That old place has waited years on end. A few days more or less won’t hurt a thing. I’ll call them tomorrow and reschedule the estimate.”
Echo straightened, leaning her elbows on her knees. “Thanks, Rand. I’m glad you were here tonight.”
Smiling, he dropped beside her. “I thought you might have been embarrassed.”
“Why?”
“You know—getting caught coming out of my bedroom in the middle of the night.”
“Rand! I hadn’t even thought of that! God! You think Alexis knew what we had been doing?”
“Hmmm.” He dropped his arm around her shoulders. “I suspect Alexis could tell what we’d been up to by our disheveled appearance.”
“Oh!” Echo covered her face with her hands. “She’ll tease me forever.”