By Honor Bound Read online

  Too agitated to sit still, he got to his feet and crossed to the back door. “Think I’ll shoot some hoops.”

  While the others continued with their chores, Pru paused by the window to watch as Micah dribbled the ball, then gingerly shot it through the basket. When it dropped through the hoop, he caught it and did the same thing again and again, wincing with each shot until the back of his shirt gradually became damp with sweat. She could see the effort each toss of the ball cost him.

  Without a word she slipped away from the others and walked outside.

  Micah glanced at her, then away as he took the ball in for another layup. When the ball dropped through the hoop, she stepped in front of him and caught it. Though her moves weren’t as smooth as his, she managed to dodge him and toss the ball. It fell cleanly through the basket. When he went to retrieve it, she danced ahead of him and took it away.

  Instead of dribbling it, she held it firmly against her chest and turned to face him. “Have you worked off enough frustration?”

  “No. Toss me the ball, Pru.”

  She clutched it to her. “If you want it, you have to come and get it.”

  He shook his head and hung back.

  Her chin came up in that angry way he’d come to recognize. “You haven’t said one kind word to me since you came home, Micah.”

  Nerves made his tone harsher than he’d intended. “What would you like me to say?”

  “How about I love you.” She studied his eyes. “Or was that a lie, spoken in a moment of madness?”

  “You know it wasn’t.”

  “I don’t know anything of the kind. One day you’re declaring your love, and the next you’re acting like I don’t even exist.” She took a step closer. “You haven’t even touched me.”

  “Don’t.” He held up his hands. His voice sounded weary. “Don’t push your luck, Pru.”

  Her eyes blazed. “It’s taken me a lifetime to find my courage, Micah. But now that I have, I’m not going to back down. Not when something this important is hanging in the balance.” She took in a deep breath. “I know that my father’s wealth can be intimidating.”

  “Now, there’s an understatement.”

  “Ah. So now we get to the heart of the matter. All my life, it’s always been about money. I’ve been forced to lead a less-than-normal life because of my father’s wealth. I was even stalked and threatened because of it. Are you now telling me that the very courageous Micah Lassiter is afraid of that same wealth?”

  “Afraid? Maybe ashamed is a better word. I’ve been behaving like a high-school jock trying to impress the class valedictorian with my muscles. That’s about all I have to offer someone like you, Pru.”

  “Someone like me?” She gripped the ball so tightly her knuckles were white. “Just what do you see when you look at me, Micah? A rich man’s spoiled daughter?”

  “Of course not.” His voice lowered with feeling. “That may be what I’d expected. But what I discovered was this smart, funny, warm woman. A woman who showed amazing courage under fire.”

  “I told you, Micah. I wasn’t brave. I was desperate.”

  “You were heroic. You stepped in front of the two Vandevere sisters, refusing to let that madman shoot them. If that wasn’t courage, I don’t know what is. And if that wasn’t enough, you fought for my life, too.”

  “How could I not, when you were risking your life for me?”

  In the heat of their argument he forgot all his good intentions and touched a hand to her arm. Just a touch, but he could feel the rush of heat all the way to his heart. “All I know is, the moment I saw you in the arms of that madman, I realized how desperately I loved you. And for the first time in my life, I was afraid. Afraid that I wouldn’t be able to save you.”

  “You just said it again.”

  “Said what?”

  “That you love me.”

  “Maybe I do. But that doesn’t change anything. Love alone isn’t enough. You’re still Allen Street’s daughter. And I’m still just a working stiff.”

  “I see. And you think that makes me too good for you. Or maybe you think you’re too good for me.” She took a step back, breaking contact. “Thank heaven not all the Lassiter men are as bullheaded as you. I guess I’ll have to go with plan B.”

  “Plan B?” His eyes narrowed.

  “I’ve already decided that I want to be part of this family. I’ve fallen in love with all of them. So if you won’t marry me, I’ll ask your grandfather. He’s already admitted a special fondness for me. And I doubt he’d be intimidated by my father’s money, or by anything that stood in the way of what he wanted.”

  As she started to turn away, he caught her by the arm and spun her back. “That isn’t funny, Pru.”

  “I didn’t intend it to be.” She held herself stiffly. “If you won’t have me, I’ll find someone who will.”

  “It isn’t that easy.”

  “Oh yes it is.” She shoved the basketball into his chest and stepped back. “If you really loved me, you’d find a way to make it work, instead of looking for every obstacle you can find.”

  “Is that what you think? That I’m looking for a way out?” He tossed the ball aside and started after her. “The problem is, I have nothing to offer you.”

  He had his hands on her before he could stop himself. His fingers tingled from the contact as he ran them up her arms, across her shoulders, all the while staring down into those wide amber eyes. “All I have is a heart filled to overflowing with love for you. What is that compared to what you deserve?”

  “What is that? Oh, Micah.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and lifted herself on tiptoe to reach his mouth. “Your love, your heart, are all I want. All I’ll ever want.”

  He couldn’t resist brushing his lips to a tangle of hair at her temple. “How can you be so sure? What if you wake up one morning and regret the life you left behind?”

  “You mean the silence and the loneliness?”

  “I was thinking more about the private jet and unlimited expense accounts.”

  “Those are just things, Micah. They can’t take the place of love.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “More sure than I’ve ever been of anything in my life.”

  “I love you, Pru.” He spoke the words against her lips. “More than life itself. You’d make me the happiest man in the world if you’d marry me.”

  “Oh, Micah. With that damnable honor you wear like a badge, I was afraid you’d never ask.”

  As they came together in a hot, hungry kiss, they could hear the sound of muffled cheering. They both looked up to see the Lassiter family peering at them through the window.

  Pru’s eyes widened. “They were listening.”

  “It’s an old family weakness. Come on.” He caught her hand.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I think it’s time I showed you my house down the street. It’ll be a lot more private for what I have in mind. And believe me, right now I’m craving a whole lot of privacy. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve held you? Loved you?”

  She touched a hand to his chest. “Are you sure you’re strong enough?”

  “Trust me.” He shot her a look that would melt glaciers. “I’m more than ready to sacrifice myself for the cause.”

  As they started away, he shouted over his shoulder, “Don’t hold dinner. We have some very important business to take care of.”

  “Micah.” Laughing, Pru tugged on his hand, stopping him in the driveway.

  He drew her close and kissed her until they were both breathless. Against her lips he whispered, “I have a whole lot of loving stored up for you, Miss Street. And if we can ever tear ourselves apart, we’ll get down to marriage plans. Knowing the Lassiter clan, I’m assuming they’ll be large and lavish. Heaven help you, you’re about to become one of us.”

  One of us.

  As she melted into him, she realized that he couldn’t imagine just how sweet those words were to the sheltered
only child of an overprotective father.

  “I love you, Micah Lassiter. And I love your entire family.”

  “I’ll remind you of that the first time they all swoop around the dinner table like a swarm of hungry locusts.” He kept his arm firmly around her waist as they started down the sidewalk toward his house.

  They were, he realized, heading toward their future.

  With this amazing woman beside him, he couldn’t wait for it to begin.

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-0376-1

  BY HONOR BOUND

  Copyright © 2001 by Ruth Ryan Langan

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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  §The Wildes of Wyoming

  **The Sullivan Sisters

  ‡‡The Lassiter Law

  †Texas Series

  *The Highland Series

  ‡The Jewels of Texas

  ?The O’Neil Saga

  ††Sirens of the Sea

  Table of Contents

  Letter to Reader

  Books by Ruth Langan

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Copyright