Chapter 27
Burke sat on the edge of the bed and knew he was in trouble. He and Storm hadn’t been able to keep their hands off each other since they’d fallen into bed together fours days ago.
The more they made love, the more he enjoyed it and the more he wanted to make love to her—and the more he feared he was falling in love with her.
But then he had feared that before becoming intimate with her. She had, to his surprise, worked her way into his heart. He couldn’t say when he first realized how he felt about her. It had just happened. All of a sudden, it was there.
Love.
It must have sneaked in when he wasn’t looking.
When he wasn’t aware of it, never even considering it, and yet it had made itself known.
He didn’t mind. He rather liked the idea of loving Storm.
She wasn’t your ordinary woman, which meant he’d never have an ordinary life with her.
He wouldn’t be surprised if, once she arrived in America, she would find a cause to fight for and pursue it with gusto.
There was, however, one problem: How would he convince her to go with him to America?
He’d propose marriage.
That was a simple solution to his dilemma. But would she agree to marry him? She had been adamant about staying in Scotland. What made him think she would ever agree to leave her homeland?
Love.
There was that word again.
Would love prove to be the deciding factor in this difficult situation? Love would certainly not allow him to leave her behind. Someway, somehow, he would need to convince her that she had to return to America with him, preferably as his wife.
He ran his fingers through his tousled hair, having woken only a short time ago to find Storm gone from his bed. He didn’t like when she wasn’t there. He had fast grown accustomed to her sharing his bed, and he damned well favored her beside him.
She slept naked nestled against him so that anytime he woke in the middle of the night or early morning, he could touch or stroke her soft skin. He didn’t know how he’d ever sleep without her. She had in a very short time become a necessary part of him that he had no intention of relinquishing.
As far as he was concerned, she belonged to him. They committed to each other each and every time they made love and she was going to have to accept that whether she wanted to or not.
She was his and that’s all there was to it.
Unfortunately, he didn’t think she’d see it that way.
He’d have to convince her, and if he wasn’t able to do that, then he’d have to take charge and make a decision—one he wasn’t sure she’d be too happy with.
He dressed quickly and went in search of Storm. They really needed to discuss their situation. William and Philip would probably return any day now and then what time would they have? This needed to be addressed and settled now.
Burke glided to the ground on the rope and found that he was too late.
William and Philip sat at the campfire with Storm.
The sun had barely risen, and no doubt Storm had sensed the men’s return, which was what probably had her leaving his bed so early.
She had an uncanny sense that made her a good leader and proved advantageous for her time and again.
He wasn’t happy about postponing their discussion until this evening, but he had no choice. Right now, his brother Cullen’s situation needed discussing.
“Good news I hope,” Burke said upon joining them at the campfire.
Philip nodded. “Gratefully, Lady Alaina is a woman of habit.”
“Then there is a way for me to meet with her without her father knowing it?” Burke asked.
“She takes a stroll through the huge garden every day,” Philip explained.
William grinned. “Better yet, she’s by herself.”
“Her father prides himself on the safety of his land,” Philip said. “He would never suspect or even think one would dare approach his daughter on his property.”
“She’s not watched?” Burke asked.
“The property is watched,” William informed him.
“You will need to go in without being seen,” Storm said. “That will prove more dangerous than meeting with Lady Alaina.”
“Not a problem, watchful eyes can be diverted or misled,” Burke said with assurance. “I’d like to see to this as soon as possible.”
“You should wait for Malcolm and Angus to return,” Storm advised. “This way, if your meeting with Lady Alaina goes well, you’ll have all you need to approach her father.”
Burke nodded, knowing she was right, but anxious to get started. “When are they due to return?”
“Any day now,” Storm said and looked to William and Philip. “Get some rest, Burke, and I will formulate a plan and discuss it with you later.”
The two men looked grateful to be dismissed and walked with weary strides to their respective homes.
Burke moved to sit beside Storm. “What do you think?”
“It seems too easy, and that worries me.”
He wrapped his arm around hers and locked her fingers with his. “The earl probably feels safe with my brother in custody.”
“Or could it be a trap?”
“For whom?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I only know that something doesn’t seem right and I believe you should be extremely careful when meeting with Lady Alaina.”
“Care about me, do you?” he asked with a grin, attempting to tease, yet hoping her answer did anything but.
She squeezed his hand. “You know I care for you.”
Her response disappointed him. What was he expecting? Did he think she would proclaim her love for him? Did he assume because love had struck him, it had also struck her?
“I want you safe,” she insisted. “I don’t want to have to rescue you, though I would if necessary. You can count on it.”
He stared at her for a moment. Was she trying to tell him the way she truly felt the only way she knew how? That she would risk her life for him as she had for her husband? Did he dare ask? Did he want to know?
“You’ll need to do this alone,” Storm informed him. “We risk detection if too many men are present. We’ll wait on the outskirts of Balford land. If you don’t return within an agreed-upon time, then I will send one man in after you.”
“Sounds reasonable,” he said.
“Reasonable or not, anything can happen, and we need to be prepared for any and all upsets.”
“Are you planning on going?” he asked, and wasn’t surprised when she shot him a startled look.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
He shrugged, as if it didn’t seem important, when it was of the utmost importance to him. “Could be dangerous.”
“Every mission is dangerous.”
“True enough, but this one even more so since the Earl of Balford would certainly claim a feather in his cap if he caught the infamous outlaw Storm.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
He brought their clenched hands to his mouth and kissed her hand. “I want to take care of you.”
Her eyes widened, their blue color softening momentarily before sparkling to a brilliant blue. He loved the shifting color. It made him feel as if he were either in the middle of a raging tempest or staring at a tranquil blue sky.
She stumbled over her words. “There is—is no need—no need at all for that.”
He kissed her hand again. “Do you really think I could repeatedly make love with you these last few days and not—”
She yanked her hand free and moved away from him. “We’ve enjoyed some time together, that’s all. It doesn’t make you responsible for me.”
He arched a brow. “Afraid I might have fallen in love with you?”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Why? You’re a beautiful, interesting, courageous woman and I love spending time with you. I love making love with you, love going on missions with you, love holding, kissing—damn if that doesn’t sound like I’m falling in love with you.”
“Don’t,” she scolded, shaking a finger at him.
He grabbed hold of her finger. “You can’t tell me that I can’t love you.”
She pulled her finger free. “You can’t love me. It would never work.”
“Because you’re stubborn?”
Storm shook her head. “We’re two different people from two different worlds.”
Burke wanted to move closer, wrap his arms around her and ease her doubt, but he knew it was better to give her distance and let her savor his words until finally she took a taste and found them to her liking.
“We are more alike than you want to admit,” he said.
“We are nothing alike and our worlds are far different. You have wealth, land, security, and a future. I have nothing, least of all a future.”
He tapped his chest. “I am your future.”
Her startled expression told him he had struck a chord. She felt something for him and probably was afraid to acknowledge it, for then she would need to confront it and make a decision that would either change many lives or hurt one man.
Storm shook her head. “No, there can never be a future for us.”
“I don’t see it that way. Love is a commitment to me.”
“There is no love,” she snapped.
“You can’t command love and you can’t fight it. Love is always the victor, just like fate.”
“I don’t love you,” she said emphatically.
Burke laughed. “I think otherwise.”
She threw her hands up and shook her head.
His manner turned serious, his voice low.
“I don’t believe you would make love with me the way you do if you didn’t love me.
I can feel the ache in your body for me, the need to be close, to join together, to commit.
It’s in every kiss, every touch, every embrace.
It’s a pleading tremble in your body, heart, and soul that only I can satisfy.
You know it as well as I do.” Burke caught the way she attempted to still the quiver that rushed over her body.
“See, it speaks to you now, agreeing with me.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“You can’t deny the truth. It will surface eventually.”
She stood. “This discussion is over.”
“Not really, Storm,” Burke warned. “It’s only just begun.”
Malcolm and Angus returned by late afternoon, with Malcolm singing the praises of Burke’s ship and sharing stories the sailors had told him of America.
Young Henry sat enthralled while others joined the small group gathered around the campfire.
Burke knew without a doubt that he would be asked many questions about his home and that a few brave souls would soon be asking if they could sail with him.
It was human nature to want to make a better life for oneself, and all it took was some hope and promise. America provided both.
“I’ll be working on Burke’s ranch,” Henry boasted proudly. “Then someday I’ll have my own land.”
The older men snickered and Burke jumped to Henry’s defense. “That you will, Henry. I know of a nice piece of land that one day just may suit you.”
“What kind of land?” Tanin asked, standing behind Henry, his arm around his wife, Ellie.
“Grazing land for cows and cattle and land for planting. I harvest enough food and then some to supply my ranch.”
“What of your tenants?” Tanin asked.
“I have no tenants,” Burke explained. “Men work for me and receive a decent wage and live in the bunkhouse.”
He could see by their expressions that they didn’t understand about a bunkhouse. “The men share a common shelter with beds for each.”
“What of the wives?” Ellie asked.
“Most cowboys aren’t wed, though the man who oversees the cowboys for me is and he’s provided with a house.”
“Besides wages?” Tanin asked.
Burke nodded and noticed that Ellie whispered in her husband’s ear. That there was promise of a future in America was too much to ignore. He was certain Ellie was probably suggesting the very same. What did they have here? What could they hope to have here?
He had watched Tanin. He was curious, a quick learner, and not afraid of hard work—all were ingredients for success. Burke decided to put the thought in his head.
“You’d do well in America and would have your own land soon enough.”
Ellie smiled and squeezed her husband’s arm. “It’s something to think about.”
“My mother—”
“Could go with us,” Ellie finished. “I’m sure her healing skills would be welcomed.”
Tanin shook his head slowly. “Storm—”
“Will not stop you.”
All eyes turned to their pint-sized leader who entered the circle around the campfire.
“You are free men and women. The choice is yours.”
Silence followed her declaration, and Burke knew what they thought. The tiny, brave woman had saved their lives and provided them with shelter and a family of sorts. How could they desert her?
There was only one answer to that.
Storm had to go to America, and it was up to him to get her there.