Texas Pride by Bárbara McCauley

feel something, something you couldn’t see and yet the feeling was too strong to deny it existed? Something you knew to be true, despite all reason and logic?”
    He was feeling it now. With her. A need beyond all reason. A desire beyond logic. A flood of sensation that had nothing to do with ghosts or spirits, unless he counted spirits of the flesh.
    The need to touch her overwhelmed him, and it took every ounce of willpower he possessed to move away from her before he did something foolish again. It had been a mistake to kiss her last night. He knew what she tasted like now, how her body felt pressed against his.
    He wanted desperately to kiss her again. Now. To drag her against him right here. He felt a sudden rush of anger. At himself, at the situation. He was supposed to keep an eye on Jessica, dammit, not seduce her.
    â€œThere’s nothing more than what we see, Jessica,” he said quietly. “And sometimes even that’s a lie.”
    He stood, jamming his hands into his pockets. “I’ll be working on the blueprints for the next few nights. Unless it’s important, I’d rather you didn’t disturb me.”
    She looked at him, her gaze suddenly cool. “I wouldn’t dream of disturbing you, Dylan.”
    It was all he could do not to laugh. If she had any idea just exactly how much she did disturb him, the laugh would be hers alone. Jaw tight, he walked away on feet that felt like lead.
    * * *
    â€œIt’s truly happening, Lucas,” Meggie whispered, careful not to let Jessica hear. “After one hundred and twenty years our church is going to be restored.”
    Lucas watched Meggie as she stood smiling at the altar rail, her eyes bright as she surveyed the work done that day. She’d been on the original building committee, and the church was as precious to her as if it were her own child.
    Lucas turned away. Even after all this time, he still felt anger whenever he came here—rage that he couldn’t stop the fire, that he hadn’t saved Meggie.
    She moved beside him and lifted her sad gaze to his. “You never should have come into the church that night, Lucas,” she said quietly, understanding what he was feeling. “We didn’t both have to die.”
    He turned sharply to her, lifting his hands in a futile gesture to touch her. “My life ended the moment I knew you were trapped in here,” he said hoarsely. “I never would have left you alone.”
    Meggie lifted her fingers to her lips, then pressed her hand close to his mouth. “My only regret is that I never became your wife.”
    â€œYou are my wife,” Lucas insisted. “In my heart and in my soul.”
    She shook her head. “The vows were not exchanged here in God’s church.”
    Frustration filled Lucas. It was impossible to discuss it with Meggie. He’d never been able to convince her that the betrothal made no difference to him. Following the fire, the town moved services into the town hall. Meggie’s beloved church had never been rebuilt.
    Until now.
    Meggie and Lucas watched as Jessica rose from the pew where she’d been sitting and gathered up the food wrapping. She glanced around the church, then turned and left.
    â€œShe’s troubled by her feelings for Dylan,” Meggie said, then sighed deeply. “He doesn’t believe we exist, Lucas. I was so sure he was the one, but if he doesn’t believe, he can’t be.”
    â€œI seem to recall even we needed some time to accept the reality of our existence, my sweet.” He smiled. “Or should I say, lack of?”
    She smiled back. “It was strange, wasn’t it? Being so frightened, then peaceful. It felt like a dream.”
    A dream, Lucas thought. One where he never slept and never woke. And always the feeling that he needed to move on.
    But he wouldn’t leave Meggie. Not ever. And she wouldn’t leave Makeshift.
    So here they were. And