Call It Destiny

manipulative games indefinitely. She loved him and knew that for her the attempts to manipulate Jake couldn’t go on much longer. She was hurting both of them too badly in the process and in the end, as her father had said, she would be the one in shreds. Love left you vulnerable.
    It was nearly ten o’clock. Heather made her decision and got to her feet. Outside thunder rolled overhead. Another late-night storm. The sound of its approach reminded her of the canyon and the night she had spent with Jake. She could not go on battling the man she loved.
    Slipping her bare feet into a pair of sandals, Heather opened the door. It hadn’t yet started raining. No need to throw a waterproof jacket on over the wide-sleeved, narrow-cuffed artist’s shirt she wore. Hurrying, Heather went down the steps of her porch and headed for the garden path that led to Jake’s cottage. With any luck he would be home from her parents’ house by now.
    There was a golden glow behind the curtains as Heather raised her hand to knock firmly on the door. It was only after she had committed herself by knocking that Heather experienced a rush of uncertainty.
    That uncertainty vanished a moment later as Jake opened the door and stood staring down at her.
    „Heather?“ The gray eyes narrowed and he seemed to tense as if for battle. „What are you doing here?“
    „I thought we should discuss this contract.“ She held up the folded document, trying desperately to stem the conflicting emotions flooding her bloodstream.
    Jake’s gaze went to the contract and back to her face and never in the entire time she had known him had he seemed more remote or, in some indefinable way, more dangerous. „I see. Come in.“
    She stepped through the door just as the rain started to come down in torrents. He closed the door and stood with his back to it, watching her with an intensity that shook her to the core. She turned to face him, holding the contract in both hands.
    „What exactly did you want to discuss? Have you signed it?“
    „No, I haven’t signed it.“
    The relief that flashed into his eyes disappeared almost immediately but Heather had seen it and her love for him washed through her, destroying any lingering doubts.
    Very deliberately she smiled and tore the contract in half. He watched, utterly fascinated, m she turned it sideways and ripped it into quarters. Then she stepped toward him and dropped the bits of document onto the floor at his feet.
    „I love you, Jake. I couldn’t possibly sign that silly contract.“ Her arms went around his neck and she pulled his head down toward hers.
    „Heather!“
    Her name was a rasping cry against her mouth. She heard untrammeled relief, gratitude and some exultation, but she didn’t think she heard the resounding note of victory. In any event Heather wasn’t paying much attention.
    Jake pulled her into the strength of his body, his broad hands flattening along the length of her back and down to her hips as he sought to force every inch of her against him.
    His tongue forged hungrily into her mouth, seeking the taste and warmth of her. Heather felt the force of the leaping desire in him and gave herself up to it with a willingness that stoked Jake’s need to an even higher level.
    „Heather, Heather! You’ll marry me?“
    „Yes.“
    He buried his lips in her hair, inhaling the scent of it. „I was so afraid you’d fight me until there was nothing left. That’s why I pushed so hard, honey. Please try to understand. I had to force you to the wall. I never wanted to hurt you.“
    „I know, Jake,“ she soothed, translating the gentling tone of her voice to the tips of her fingers as she massaged the hard curve of his shoulders. „I know, darling. It’s all right now. Everything is all right.“
    „Heather….“
    „Shh. Don’t say anything else. Not just now. Let me make love to you, Jake. Just let me make love to you.“
    „My God. Do you think I’d try to stop you? But you’ll have to wait your turn. I’ve been aching for you these past few days. Aching so much I thought I’d go out of my mind.“
    „I wanted to feel your touch, my love. At night as I lay in bed alone I wondered if you would ever touch me like this again,“ she confessed softly.
    „I’ll be holding you like this for the rest of my life,“ he vowed fervently. With a husky groan he scooped her up and settled her onto the love seat. „Tonight I need you so badly I can’t even take the time to carry you