Cowboys 08 - Luke Read Online Free PDF Page A

with such a man must have been hard for you, but I can't have him in my service."
    Both Hans and Otto put forth several reasons why she should retain Mr. Attmore's services-Hans more convincingly than Otto-but she wouldn't listen. She would have nothing to do with Luke Attmore.
    Still, something about him tugged at something deep inside her, something that had never come to life before. She knew it was a purely physical response, and that frightened her. Her entire life had been fabricated of arrangements made for reasons of state. Personal likes and dislikes weren't allowed to enter into her decisions. As for physical reactions, well, that was unthinkable. She was a princess.
    But telling herself that didn't change the fact that she couldn't stop thinking about Luke Attmore, couldn't stop picturing him sitting in that chair, his deep blue eyes watching her every move, his near-perfect features immobile, his sensual lips parted in speech. Nor was she unaware of his broad shoulders and powerful thighs. He was a man who'd reached full, magnificent maturity, and it was impossible for her-for any woman, she was sure-to be unaware of or unmoved by him.
    Then there was his standing on the street outside her window the last two nights. Was he trying to scare her into hiring him back? She didn't think he was protecting her. Men who could be bought didn't have the kind of honor and loyalty Hans and Otto had. But if he wasn't protecting her, what was he doing?
    In the middle of a thought that said she was helpless to find out, she remembered she wasn't in Europe any longer. Neither her uncle nor Rudolf could forbid her to do what she wanted.
    "Bring him to me," she said.
    "Why do you want to see him?" Otto asked.
    "He won't come," Hans said.
    "Why not?" she asked.
    "He said he wouldn't be your guide unless you asked him."
    Valeria jumped to her feet. "Me! Beg him!"
    "He said ask," Hans said. "He was not happy that you dismissed him without a reason."
    "He was rude."
    "I don't think he meant to be," Hans said. "It's just the way of these Americans."
    "Then he should change his ways. I don't like them." "I don't think he cares what we like," Hans said. "He made that abundantly clear," Valeria shot back.
    Well, he would find himself at a loss this time, this brash American. A princess did not beg.
    "Take me to him," she said.
    "It would be improper for you to be seen on the streets," Otto said.
    That would have been true in Belgravia, but her life had changed forever the moment she entered the United States. If she couldn't go out, she would be bored to the edge of insanity. She'd had parties, balls, visitors, trips, concerts, the library, a thousand and one things to entertain her in Belgravia, and still she'd frequently been bored. She would have none of that at Paul's ranch. She should begin right now to adapt to her new circumstances.
    "It won't matter here," Valeria said. "Elvira will accompany me. With you and Hans along, what could be so improper?"
    "I don't know where he is," Otto said. "I do," Hans said.
    "Then take me to him," Valeria said.
    "I ought to make sure he's still at the hotel," Hans said. "And hire a proper room as a meeting place."
    Valeria wouldn't be put off. Hans was fanatically loyal, but he was also a stickler for maintaining her royal consequence. "I'm not willing to wait. Elvira, bring me my cloak. If I pull the hood over my head, no one will notice me."
    The moment she reached the street, she knew she'd made at least two mistakes. First, the cloak was too hot. She didn't think she could walk a hundred feet without fainting. And second, she could tell from their stares that the people of Bonner knew her at a glance. They all watched her progress down the street in fascination.
    "I advised your highness not to venture out," Otto said.
    "They're only looking at me, Otto. That causes no harm." But people usually looked at her in admiration, not in gape-mouthed wonder.
    "Where is this hotel?" she asked Hans.
    "It's