The Cutthroat by Clive Cussler (audio ebook reader .TXT) 📕

“Yes,” he grinned unrepentantly, “I do.”

- 85 -

BacksideOfLove.com

Carolyn Faulkner

Hayden and David were staying in their old rooms, so there was no need for the party to end early as no one had to drive home.

But Meg found herself getting a little claustrophobic, partly from the wine, partly from the decision she had just made.

On impulse, she sprinted up to her room and threw on a pair of old jeans and a disreputable t-shirt, then snuck out the back door and into the horse barn. Sugar was where he’d always been, and nickered at her softly when she appeared in his stall with grooming equipment. Learning how to groom a horse had been a benefit in more ways than one. She was getting upper body strength from the repetitive brushing movements, and the physicality of the pursuit let her mind wander and worry over whatever it was that was bothering her for the moment.

“Our engagement party is going on without us,” Barrett intoned as he leaned against the stall door, watching her. He’d noticed her escape upstairs, and gone to find her, only to see her favorite dress crumpled on her bed, and her boots missing. He knew poor Sugar was going to be paying for Meg’s inner turmoil.

He was worried that she’d felt pressured somehow into saying yes; when he’d told her that he loved her he’d noticed that she had not offered the same sentiment back to him.

Meg said nothing.

Not sure whether he wanted to know the answer, Barrett questioned, “Second thoughts already?”

Her reply was quick, and it soothed his ego. “No. Not that.

Just thinking.”

“’Bout

what?”

- 86 -

BacksideOfLove.com

Embraced

Meg drew an exasperated breath, and he eased his way toward her, grabbing the currycomb away from her.

“Honey, that horse is going to be bald before you get things worked out.” He deliberately backed her into a corner, placing a hand on either wall so there was no escape. “What are you thinking?”

She squirmed and avoided his eyes, as he slowly closed in on her, trapping her against his body. “Tell me, Sweetheart, or I’m going to kiss it out of you,” his lips hovered millimeters from hers.

Meg felt had never felt more caged, pushed, railroaded, overridden – dominated by anyone or anything in her life. This man saw what he wanted – her – and got it. He said what he meant and meant what he said. His word was law, and he expected to be obeyed. He called the shots. All of them, without an ounce of hesitation in word or deed. She didn’t know how to handle him –

marrying him was just playing into his hands, and would give him that much more control over her.

She whimpered when he leaned his lower body into hers, and her voice broke when she said, “How could I have fallen in love with a man who drives me crazy?”

A slow, sexy grin spread over his face when he heard her say she had fallen in love with him. “Who, little ole’ me?”

Meg pushed against his chest, and to her surprise, he let her up. She exited Sugar’s stall and began to pace and talk at the same time. “You’re exactly what I DON’T want in a man. You’re pushy, arrogant, obnoxious, controlling, dominating . . .” She stopped in her tracks and put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

“Stop me when I say something you disagree with.”

- 87 -

BacksideOfLove.com

Carolyn Faulkner

Barrett was leaning against the other side of the stall door while Sugar was contentedly munching hay behind him. “I wouldn’t think of being controlling or dominating enough to interrupt you, Darlin’.” He parroted back innocently.

If she didn’t think it would earn her bottom a paddling, she’d’ve given him the one-fingered salute. He was being all too cavalier about what she was saying. “I mean, I know when I’ve had too much to drink. Hell, I’m not 18!! I’m 27, and if I want to drink the whole freaking bottle of champagne, who the hell cares?!”

“I do,” he said seriously.

“Why?”

“I know that if you drank that whole bottle of champagne, you’d be sicker ‘n a dog, and I’d end up being up with you all night, holding your head while you ra –“

She held up her hand to stop his graphic description of what a whole bottle of champagne would do to her innards. “Fine. Fine.

You’re right. You’re always freaking right. I hate it. I want to control my own life.”

“Ok, I’ll take the dog back to the Great Dane Rescue and you can ask me to marry you. Better?”

He wasn’t taking her seriously, and Meg had had enough.

She was half a second away from telling him to do a physically impossible act so she stomped off toward the house, intent only on getting a hot shower and climbing into her own bed to mull things over.

- 88 -

BacksideOfLove.com

Embraced

Barrett closed the stall behind him and trotted after her.

Apparently the party had broken up without the guests of honor, and the house was dark when they entered it. “I’m going to bed,”

Meg announced, not bothering to turn back and look at him. He followed her all the way to her room, then bulldozed her down the hall and into his own room, knowing she wouldn’t put up too much of a fuss and wake the others.

He leaned back against the door as she walked to the big window and stared out at the darkness. All of a sudden, he said what the hell, to himself,