Free Relentless by Cindy Stark

like each other, because she didn't want either of them anymore.
    The feeling of Luke's strong hand covering hers startled her.  "You know what I think?  I think you do a damn good job of burying your emotions."
    That he noticed what she wasn't saying brought quick tears to her eyes.  She blinked them away.  She didn't want him to be that nice to her.
    She'd rejected becoming bitter about the whole thing, refusing to give up the dream of true love, but she had to be careful with her heart.  She dabbed the stray moisture from her eyes. 
    "What about you?  Have you ever been engaged or married?"
    He ducked his head.  "Nope."
    She straightened.  "Nope?  There's obviously more to the story than your one-word answer."
    He raked the back of his hand over the scruff on his chin before he eyed her again.  "Hannah pretty much made sure no one in this town would give me a chance, but there was a girl back in college."  He chucked a rock over the ledge.  "Things didn't work out."  He leaned back and looked out over the valley.  "She wouldn't have been happy here, anyway."
    Lily furrowed her brows.  "Why not?  This place is gorgeous."
    He gave her a sideways glance and grinned.  Her breath quickened.  "Let's talk about something else.  The past is the past, right?"  She inhaled pure oxygen and blew it out, hoping it would settle her out-of-control heartbeat.  "What's the latest gossip?  Aren't small towns supposed to be infamous for their gossip?"
    He laughed then, and the intensity of their discussion blew away with the breeze.  "I believe you are the talk of the town these days."
    "Me?"  The idea surprised her.  Besides being in the bar that first night, she hadn't made much of an appearance.  "How do they know who I am?  I've only met a few people."
    "You're the pretty gal with the sexy pink shoes.  I believe Mrs. Parker called them hooker heels."
    She dropped her jaw.  "I don't even know Mrs. Parker."  But she'd known Hannah's idea of going out on the town dressed as they had been would cause a stir.
    "Don't worry.  I'll spread the word that you were seen sporting a pair of Nikes and riding a horse.  Not quite the same as cowboy boots, but people will stop referring to you as Miss Hollywood."
    "Maybe you shouldn't say anything."  She might be stuck with the Miss Hollywood title, but she'd have to suffer the consequences.
    He drew his brows into a quizzical frown.  "Why not?"
    She twined her fingers together, wondering how would be the best way to phrase it.  She groaned.  "Why do people have to know we were together?"  She clenched her fists and waited for the fallout.
    The attractive energy cycling between them shut off like a turned valve.  He'd closed her out, leaving her with an empty, cold feeling.
    A look of disappointment settled on his face.  "So what, I'm your dirty little secret?" 
    "Luke."  This time she put her hand on his.  "You don't understand.  I'm not worried about what people think, but Hannah's been good to me, and I don't want to throw that in her face."
    "Really?  Hannah again?"  He rolled his eyes.  "Fine.  I guess.  I don't want to come between your friendship."
    There he was being all gallant again.  Each minute she spent in his company made it hard to continue to believe Hannah's version of events and easier to see Caroline's point of view.
    This outing had turned out to be much more emotional than the fun horseback ride she'd expected.  "Do you think we should go?  The sun is starting to set."  She hadn't paid attention to how long it had taken them to reach the top of the hill, but she was pretty sure horses didn't come equipped with headlights.
    "Yeah.  I suppose our time is up."  He stood and held out a hand to her.
    If her heart could have, it would have reached out and tugged him to her.  Despite what Hannah claimed, she could tell he was a good man.  Maybe he'd gone through some stupid adolescent period where he treated girls like toys, but she