Page 12 of Too Hot To Handle

„No,“ she interrupted flatly. „It’s my problem, not yours. Despite what you believe, I’m a big girl. I’ve survived much worse disappointments than not being hired by the Sundance Ranch.“

There was a taut silence while Reever tried to think of a way to get Tory to accept money. Even as he did, he knew that it was futile. Beneath that smooth, delicate surface she was both proud and determined to make it on her own. He admired those qualities too much to want to fight her over them.

„What happened last week?“ asked Reever finally, knowing that he shouldn’t. Whatever had driven Tory from Payton’s civilized, moneyed circles to the untamed north of Arizona was none of Reever’s business, and he knew it. Yet when he had seen the bleakness that had claimed Tory in the instant before she hid it beneath a determined smile, he had wanted to take her into his arms and promise to make everything better. „A man?“

„As in lover?“

„Yes.“

„No fair, cowboy,“ Tory said wearily. „If you want me to stop digging at you, you’ll have to stop digging at me. As you’ve taken pains to point out at every opportunity, I’m not the stuff passionate male fantasies are made of.“

„Fishing for compliments?“

„No more than you’re fishing for a pan of dirty water in your face,“ she retorted, anger giving color to her cheeks again. „I know what I am and what I’m not. I’m not sexy.“

Reever looked at Tory for a long, long moment and decided that she was telling the truth as she saw it. She didn’t believe that she was sexy, period. She was innocent to the last husky breath. And as long as she was that innocent, she could drive him or any other man right over the edge and never know it.

Deliberately Reever lifted his hand and brushed the back of his fingers over Tory’s breast. She made a startled sound deep in her throat as her nipple rose tautly. She stopped breathing entirely as his big hand smoothed out the folds of her T-shirt until her hard nipple stood out clearly against the thin cloth. She shivered and made another soft sound.

„That,“ he said, watching, listening, his expression dark, intense, „is what male fantasies are made of. You respond to a look, a touch, and you make me wonder what would happen if I really looked at you, really touched you.“

„Reever, I – “ Tory’s voice broke as Reever touched her again, softly, so softly, and turned her nerves to lightning.

„Yes,“ he said. „I know. You want to find out, too. But you’re a virgin.“

Her eyes widened to reveal a green so pure it made him ache.

„How did you know?“ she whispered.

Reever closed his eyes and said something terrible beneath his breath. „I was hoping I was wrong.“

He turned away from Tory, traded the tube of ointment for the roll of gauze he had left on the table and began winding the delicate white cloth around one of her palms.

„I’m going to wrap your hands for now,“ he said, his voice flat. „Tonight, though, be sure to take off the bandages. You’ll heal faster in the air.“

„Reever,“ said Tory softly.

„No, honey,“ he said, not even looking up. „You’re too damned young. You’d have to tell yourself that you loved me, and then you’d want me to talk about love, too. That wouldn’t happen.“ He glanced up, pinning her with his hard gray gaze. „I don’t lie to women, in or out of bed. I know what kind of woman I’ll need before I start talking about love, and I know you’re not it.“

Tory couldn’t believe the sharpness of the pain that went through her at Reever’s matter-of-fact words. With a feeling close to fear, she realized how much she cared about him and how many dreams had come into focus at his gentle touch. She could have loved him. She knew it, and it was like dying to know that he couldn’t love her in return. She tried to hide her agonized response beneath the flippancy that had allowed her to survive so much in the past.

„Because I’m not small, stacked and sexy?“ Tory asked, repeating what he had told her when he had thrown her out of his office.

„Those are qualifications for a roll in the hay, not a gold ring,“ said Reever matter-of-factly, tying off one ribbon of gauze and going to work on Tory’s other hand. „For a wife I want a grown woman who will love me and who will want to have my children, even if I can’t promise her city frills and fancies. I want a woman who won’t fade the first time the going gets rough. I want a woman who will work beside me on the ranch because she loves the land as much as I do.“ He shrugged. „I want a woman, not a girl.“

Tory closed her eyes and knew that Reever’s words shouldn’t hurt so much. There was no reason for her to feel as though she were being sliced apart by a razor made of ice. He wasn’t deliberately being cruel.

And that was why it hurt so much. He wasn’t trying to bait her. He was simply, calmly, telling her the truth. She could turn him on, but that was all she would ever be to him – a roll in the hay, not a woman to love.

For the second time Reever saw the life drain out of Tory and knew that he had caused it. He heard the echoes of his own words in his mind and winced. He had told the truth, but he hadn’t thought how it might sound to her, a belittling of her possibilities as a woman.

„Little green-eyed cat,“ he murmured, touching Tory’s cheek with his finger. „I didn’t mean that the way you took it. I’m too old for you, that’s all. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’ll find a nice boy who will teach you what it’s all about.“

„I know all I want to know about boys grabbing and pawing,“ Tory said in a thin, tired voice.

„That’s not what it’s all about,“ said Reever, smiling slightly to himself.

„Yes, I know,“ she whispered, closing her eyes so that she wouldn’t have to see Reever’s gentle, very male smile. „But you’re the one who taught me that, Reever. Just now, here, in this kitchen.“ She opened her eyes. „And you’re not a boy.“