Staking His Claim

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Book: Read Staking His Claim for Free Online
Authors: Lynda Chance
he saw the amount of people already gathered there. All he
could think about was getting her to himself for awhile, and now he
realized that wouldn't be possible.
    It was probably for the best, but that didn't
stop him from meandering through the house, nodding to people he
knew, his purposeful strides taking him in her direction.
    He found her in the arched doorway between
the living room and the darkened hallway that led to the bedrooms.
She was covered in a tiny red dress that ended only a couple of
inches below the point where her thighs met. Her ankle had
obviously had time to heal, and she was standing on impossibly
high-heeled strappy gold sandals that emphasized the shape and
contours of her legs.
    The only physical effects he could see from
her mishap were two pale spots on her knees where her injuries were
healing and wouldn't be noticeable to anyone that wasn't looking
for them. Her facial features were enhanced by the subtle use of
make-up and her hair was silky smooth around her shoulders. She
looked far too sophisticated for her young years. She was holding a
glass of champagne in one hand and was surrounded by a group of
young people that included Trevor.
    Raul saw red as a jealous mist swam before
his eyes.
    He ruthlessly contained his rage and
approached the group with a pleasant façade that he was far from
feeling.
    He had one thought only.
    Containment .
    ****
    Elaina stood in the circle of young people
feeling so emotionally free and happy she was almost delirious with
it. She had finally made up her mind to withdraw from nursing
school, had gotten over the guilt, and had told her aunt what she
planned to do. Much to her surprise, Janie had been one-hundred
percent supportive. They had talked for nearly two hours, and
Elaina was going to start looking for a job close to the ranch when
the hustle and bustle of the holiday season was over.
    Janie had well and truly convinced her that
she and Brian wanted her to stay with them, and for as long as she
wanted.
    Elaina now stood, leaning slightly against
the wall, feeling completely free and easy and enjoying the
conversation around her and the slight buzz that half a glass of
champagne had induced.
    A small, happy smile on her face, she glanced
across the room and her eyes tangled with the dark, intent stare of
Raul Vega.
    Butterflies hit her stomach, and she actually
felt her knees get weak. Her smile slipped a bit, and she felt a
full-blown blush spread across her cheeks and warm her face.
    His gaze never left hers as he made his way
across the room to where she was standing.
    She was held enthralled as she watched him
approach and briefly acknowledge the people around her, before he
simply reached out a hand to her and said, "Come."
    Her blush deepening, she didn't think to
refuse him and put her hand in his, murmuring, "Excuse me," to her
circle of new friends.
    Turning back the way he came, he pulled her
with him into the privacy of the study. He shut the door, leaned
back against it and crossed his arms over his chest.
    She turned in a half circle to face him, her
heart beating triple time as he stood silently observing her. The
beat of the music from the other room bled through the thick wooden
door making the enclosed area of the study seem even smaller, shut
away from the rest of the party.
    She couldn't stop the trembling in her
fingers, and the champagne glass wobbled precariously.
    His eyes narrowed in on it. "You think you
should be drinking that?"
    She already had enough alcohol running
through her system on an empty stomach, and the effort it was
taking to hold the liquid still in the glass suddenly seemed more
than her nerves could handle. She reached over and set it down on a
side table. "Probably not," she agreed mildly.
    As she turned back, it occurred to her that
he was suggesting she shouldn't drink because of her youth, and not
because of her nervous state.
    Once again, she chose not to enlighten
him.
    He spoke, his voice rough but

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