Simply Love(15)

Considering the fact that he outweighed Zerek by a good seventy-five pounds and was at least twenty years younger, Luke didn’t feel he was in any imminent peril. On the other hand, though, he’d seen enraged men do some amazing things, including kicking the shit out of opponents twice their size. “Now, Milo. Let’s keep this civilized.”

“Civilized? You call askin’ to make my girl a whore ‘civilized’? There isn’t enough money on God’s green earth, young man.”

“I mean no offense.”

“Well, I’m offended! The answer is no.” Zerek leveled a finger at Luke’s face. “And you stay away from my daughter. You understand? I don’t give a rat’s ass who you are, my boss or no, I’ll kill you if you touch one hair on her head. That’s a promise, boyo.”

Zerek swung away and strode angrily back down the street toward the miners’ district. Luke gazed after him a moment, stunned that the conversation had taken such an unexpected turn. He was offering Cassandra Zerek the opportunity of a lifetime. Didn’t the ornery old cuss understand that?

“Mr. Zerek, wait!”

As the older man came to a stop, Luke broke into a loose jog to catch up to him. Drawing to a halt, he rubbed the back of a hand over his mouth, no longer quite so certain money would do all his talking for him.

“Look, Mr. Zerek, you’re taking this all wrong,” he began. “I hold your daughter in highest esteem.” That sounded lame, even to Luke. He decided the blunt truth might serve him better. “She…um…” He hauled in a jagged breath, decided one lungful wasn’t enough, and grabbed for more air. “You know, it’s the strangest thing. Until I saw her in the churchyard, I didn’t really think she was all that pretty, but—”

“Who’s askin’ your opinion?” Zerek glanced around as if looking for the idiot who’d solicited it. “Sure as hell not me. And if she’s so lacking in looks, why the hell are you makin’ this fine proposition of yours?”

Luke winced. That definitely hadn’t been the right thing to say. “She’s not lacking in looks. That’s just it.” He clamped down hard on his back teeth. After a moment, he said, “Not after you’re around her for about two seconds. Then she’s beautiful. I’ve never met anyone else quite like her.”

Zerek tipped back on his boot heels, his expression going from enraged to slightly mollified. Through the gloom, he studied Luke, his brow pleated in a thoughtful frown. “I’ll be damned,” he finally muttered. “You really are smitten, aren’t you?”

Luke gave a humorless laugh. “Would I be here if I weren’t? Your daughter is lovely, Milo. And she’d make any man a delightful companion. I mean no offense by making this offer. Truly. I’ve never felt strongly enough about any other young woman to go talk to her father, you can bet your ass on that.”

Milo hauled in a deep breath, then rubbed his nose. With a chuckle, he said, “My daughter isn’t for sale, Mr. Taggart. No how, no way. I know it might be hard for you to conceive, but there are some things your money can’t buy. My little girl is one of them.”

No longer exhibiting anger, Zerek turned and walked away. After taking only a few steps, though, he drew to a stop and glanced back. “If it’s any consolation, I felt poleaxed the first time I saw my Mary Margaret, too.” He made a quick sign of the cross. “God rest her, but she was so pretty, I near went blind just looking at her.” A reminiscent smile spread across his craggy features. He shook his head. “But, son, women like that—they’re for marryin’, not for taking as mistresses.”

Luke folded his arms. “I’m not the marrying kind, Mr. Zerek.”

“Well, then, you’re not my Cassie’s kind.” He flashed another kindly smile. “And just for the record, no man’s the marryin’ kind until he runs across the right woman. Let me give you a little advice. If you really want my daughter, pay court to her. After getting to know her a little better, you might think marriage sounds a hair more appealing.”

Somehow, Luke doubted that. “You’re making a mistake,” he said softly. “Cassandra will never get another chance like this. In a year, maybe two, you could all relocate to another town. No one would ever know about her past, and you’d have money beyond your wildest imaginings. Enough to live well for the rest of your lives. You think about that.”

“No need. There are some things more important than money. If you offered her a million dollars, Mr. Taggart, it wouldn’t be enough.”