Angel in Black by Fela Dawson Scott Page B

touch?”
    His questions pierced her heart, like arrows gone astray, stealing words to leave her speechless. Out of control, Blake grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
    “Do you love him, Rina?” The words slipped out before Blake had time to think. He could have kicked himself, for he didn’t care if she did. Or did he? With a growl, he shoved her away, sending her reeling backward into the table. Whether he was disgusted with himself or her, it didn’t matter.
    She should have been warned by the evil glow in his eyes, but she had been pushed past her breaking point. Rina had never been able to lie, but she was not averse to not telling the whole truth.
    “Yes, I love him,” she all but screamed. Rina knew he would not know her love was as a sister for a brother. She wanted more than anything to hurt Blake Roberts as he hurt her, and anger spurred her on. “I would give my life for him, I would kill for him.”
    Her words accomplished what she intended and she knew it, reveling in his pain.
    Blake went numb for a moment, unable to understand why it would matter so damn much she loved the man. But it did — and that made him angrier than Rina had.
    “Why hasn’t he married you?” Blake no longer cared and he carelessly rambled on. “But then, why would he want to? He can use you until he tires of you then find a pretty little virgin to take as a wife. You must remember, Rina, men do not marry women of loose morals.”
    Rina could not take any more of his venomous words and put her hands over her ears to shut out his ugly words. She shook her head back and forth in denial of his cruel accusations. Dashing past Blake, she ran outside and straight into John as he walked up to the cottage door. Relief flooded through her as she looked into John’s soft brown eyes. Seeing her distress, he protectively pulled her to him. Rina felt his muscles tense when Blake appeared in the doorway, eyes smoldering and jaw clenched; his anger barely held in check.
    Blake took in the touching scene before him and a strange feeling tugged at his heart when the younger man’s arms wrapped about Rina protectively. With a feigned casual air, he leaned against the door frame, a sardonic grin on his face as he drawled, “Well, we meet at last.”
    John ignored the sarcastic words and turned to Rina. “Are you all right? Is this man bothering you?”
    “I’m fine, Johnny,” she assured him, wanting to avoid a fight between the two men. Nervous, she glanced at Blake and said, “Lord Roberts was leaving. Weren’t you?”
    Her emphasis made it more a demand than a question, and Blake’s eyebrow shot up in amusement as he considered her request. “Yes, I was — another time, little one.”
    Without another word, Blake walked past them and mounted Hera. Nodding to Rina and John, he rode off, leaving one confused and the other angry.
    He nudged Hera into a gallop and allowed her to run freely. As he pounded down the road toward Windsong, the tension inside him eased slightly. He couldn’t understand why the woman caused him to lose his temper so easily. It would be better if he forgot the willful female — she was trouble and he knew it. He would certainly be better off without her. Yes, he decided firmly, I’ll put her from my mind. There are plenty of women to occupy my time. What do I need with a wildcat like her?
    All the way home, Blake lectured himself for letting the wench get under his skin. By the time he cleaned up for dinner, his determination had been renewed; he would forget Rina and her damned beautiful eyes.
     
    “A RE YOU GOING TO tell me what that was all about?” John asked Rina as Blake Roberts rode away. He sensed her anger and recognized the look in her eyes. Silence followed his question and he knew Rina well enough to be patient. John waited, knowing she needed time to collect her thoughts and gain control over her emotions. They walked over to Blackstar and led him to his stall. Rina picked up a brush and