Dreams of Forever: Seduction, Westmoreland StyleSpencer's Forbidden Passion

by Brenda Jackson

  He nodded. “Yeah, I can see your point. Even with Savannah being pregnant, it seems every time I drop by they’re either getting out of the bed or getting into it.”

  Lucky them, she wanted to say but changed her mind.

  “You could stay with my folks,” he suggested.

  Casey glanced over at him and met his gaze. Once again she felt the sizzle and tried to ignore the heat swirling around in her stomach and between her legs. She quickly placed her eyes back on the road, tightening her hands on the steering wheel and squeezing her thighs together. She didn’t fully understand these sensations that always swamped her when he looked at her a certain way.

  She tried to get a grip and think about what he’d just said about her moving in with his parents. How she could tell him in a nice way that his folks were just as bad as her father and Abby? She hadn’t known that older couples could be so openly affectionate.

  She cleared her throat and glanced back over at him. “I would feel like I’d be imposing on them, as well.”

  McKinnon smiled. “Yeah. Like Corey and Abby, they do take being touchy and feely to a whole other level, don’t they.”

  “And it doesn’t bother you?” she asked.

  “No, my brothers and I are used to it. My parents love each other very much and have no problem openly displaying that love. I think it’s kind of special.”

  She’d been led over the years to believe what her parents had shared had been special, too. Boy, was that wrong. Wanting to change the subject, she decided to ask him about what was still bothering her. “Why wouldn’t you entertain the thought of me working on your ranch that first day, McKinnon?”

  He glanced over at her, grateful her eyes were still on the road and not on him. He didn’t want to look into her face when he lied. He couldn’t be completely honest when he told her the reason behind his decision not to hire her. That he’d figured his constantly being around her, having her live on his ranch was a temptation he couldn’t deal with.

  So instead he said, “Like I told you, if anything happened to you I would have Corey to deal with, not to mention all those other damn Westmorelands.”

  She shook her head smiling. “There are a bunch of them, aren’t there?”

  He lifted a brow. “Bunch of them? Need I remind you that you are one of them.”

  The smile on her face suddenly vanished. “Yes, and it took me all of twenty-eight years to find that out.”

  McKinnon heard the bitterness in her voice. It was his understanding that she still had issues regarding the lies her mother told her about her father. For some reason, she couldn’t let go and move on.

  “There might have been a reason your mother did what she did,” he said quietly, recalling the reason his mother had never told him that Martin wasn’t his biological father until she’d been left with no choice. “There are some things we aren’t meant to understand, and what happened between your mother and Corey is probably one of them.”

  Casey sighed deeply. She wasn’t surprised that he knew the whole story—their fathers were best friends and had been for years. But then, given Corey Westmoreland’s popularity, she was certain that everyone in these parts had heard about his long-lost triplets.

  “Don’t try and make excuses for what she did to me and my brothers, McKinnon. All those years we thought our father was dead but he wasn’t. Just think of all that wasted time when we could have known him.”

  “But you’re getting to know him now. I hate to say that old cliché but better late than never, fits in this case.”

  Casey frowned. “No, it doesn’t fit, and I prefer that we change the subject.” A few minutes later she said, “We’ll go see the doctor first to get you all fixed up.”

  McKinnon shook his head. In addition to being feisty, she was stubborn. “Whatever.”

  * * *

  A couple of hours later, as they walked out of the doctor’s office, Casey glanced over at McKinnon. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take you back to the ranch now?”

  He frowned. “I only got two stitches, Casey, not twenty, and I still don’t think I needed them. And that damn tetanus shot wasn’t necessary, but then Dr. Mason has always been heavy-handed when it comes to needles.”

  After he opened the car door, slid onto the seat and buckled the seat belt, he glanced over at her. “Will you still have time to make your appointment?”

  “Yes, the area isn’t far from here. The first place is an apartment that’s over an empty building.”

  He turned and looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Why would you want to live in a place like that?”

  After snapping her own seat belt in place, she glared over at him, not liking his tone. “It’s not that I want to live in such a place, McKinnon, but when it comes to available housing, Bozeman isn’t overflowing with it.”

  He sat back and stared out the window saying nothing. Why did he care where she decided to live? It was her business and not his.

  She was right—it didn’t take long for her to get to where they were going. The real estate agent, an older, stout lady with a huge smile on her face, was waiting for them and once they were out of the car and introductions were made, she ushered them up the stairs to the apartment.

  McKinnon glanced around, immediately not liking the place already. He knew the area. It wasn’t bad but then it wasn’t good, either. It was close to a business district with a bar on the corner. The place could get pretty rowdy, especially on certain nights of the week, not to mention on the weekends. She would never be able to get any rest.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, the Realtor, who had introduced herself as Joanne Mills, moved aside to let them enter. “Nice place,” Casey said, placing her hands on her hips while she glanced around the huge room. “I can see potential.”

  McKinnon couldn’t, and while Casey continued talking he tried concentrating on what she was saying and not on what she was doing. Having her hands on her hips had drawn his gaze to her small waistline, curvy hips and thighs. A waist he had touched the night they’d kissed, and thighs and hips that he’d molded against his own.

  “McKinnon?”

  He quirked an eyebrow at her. “What?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I don’t like it,” he said in a gruff voice. “There’s too much work to be done before it can be occupied.”

  Casey frowned. “It wouldn’t hurt for you to be a little positive.”

  “Just speaking the truth.” He turned to Ms. Mills. “You don’t have anything in a more settled residential area? I don’t like the fact that there’s a bar on the corner.”

  Before the woman could answer, Casey said in an irritated voice, “You don’t have to live here, McKinnon. That bar won’t bother me.” She then turned to Joanne. “But the size of the kitchen does. It’s too small. I like cooking on occasion and there’s not enough cabinet space. What’s next on the list?”

  McKinnon didn’t like the next couple of places, either, and Casey had to admit that neither did she. It was late afternoon when they’d seen the last apartment and Ms. Mills promised to call when other listings came up.

  “You might do better just to buy a piece of land and build on it,” McKinnon said as they headed to the car.

  “I might have to do that,” she said, but knew that building a place would take even longer. She glanced up at the man walking beside her, thinking that although he had gotten on her last nerve a few times today by being overly critical of the places they’d seen, she had enjoyed spending time with him. “How’s your hand holding up?”

  He glanced over at her. “I told you my hand is fine. To prove that point, I’ll drive back to the ranch.”

  Casey didn’t have a problem with that since she’d found concentrating on the road and not him rather difficult. She’d b
een too distracted by his mere presence, and now that he had removed the rubber band from his hair, the curly mane flowed freely down his back, making him look more savage than tame. And then there were his smoky, dark eyes that would lock with hers. More than once while sitting in the doctor’s reception room she’d glanced up from the magazine she’d been flipping through to find him watching her with an unreadable expression on his face. Each time their gazes connected her desire for him intensified that much more, and although she tried looking in another direction, it seemed her eyes kept inexplicably returning to his, only to find him still staring.

  She handed him the keys. “If you want to drive, that’s fine with me.”

  “Thanks.” McKinnon opened the car door for Casey and stood back to let her get inside, trying to ignore the way her dress raised a little when she sat, showing a nice amount of thigh. He was attracted to her something awful and spending time with her had only intensified that attraction. Sitting and watching her at the doctor’s office had been challenging. He was sure he had made her nervous but he hadn’t been able to help it. She was take-your-breath-away beautiful and while staring at her he wondered about a number of things. How she would look naked. What sounds she would make when she came. Visions of them wrapped up together in tangled sheets had immediately materialized in his mind.

  He composed himself as he moved around the car to get in on the driver’s side. He was used to seeing what he wanted and going after it, but had to constantly remind himself that with Casey came limitations. Hell, forget limitations—with Casey Westmoreland there was a no-fly, total hands-off zone, which he’d already breeched with that kiss. But he was determined to try and adhere to it from now on, no matter what.

  “Hey, McKinnon, wait up!”

  McKinnon gritted his teeth as he turned around. Rick Summers, who’d always been a pain in McKinnon’s and Durango’s sides, was approaching at a rapid pace. Rick wasn’t someone they considered a friend. In fact, from the time he’d moved into the area a few years ago, he’d practically made it his business to try and compete against them where the ladies were concerned. He really thought a lot of himself, and when it came to the treatment of women he could be a total jerk.

  “Rick, what can I do for you?” McKinnon asked, annoyed when the man reached the car.

  Rick gave him a smooth smile. “I was on my way to visit a friend and thought I recognized you coming out of the house that’s for sale. Thinking about moving into town, McKinnon?”

  “No.”

  The man then peered through the open window to where Casey was sitting and all but licked his lips. “I also saw your lady friend. Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

  McKinnon stopped short of saying “no” but knew he really had no choice. “Casey, I’d like you to meet Rick Summers, and Rick, this is Casey Westmoreland.”

  A surprised look appeared on Rick’s face. “Westmoreland?”

  “Yes. She’s Durango’s cousin and Corey Westmoreland’s daughter.”

  A smile touched Rick’s lips and McKinnon knew the man was giving Casey what he thought was his most flirtatious smile. “Nice meeting you, Casey,” he said, opening the car door to shake her hand.

  Casey returned the man’s smile. “Nice meeting you, too, Rick.”

  “Are you just visiting a spell?” Rick asked curiously.

  “No, I’m moving to Bozeman.”

  McKinnon knew by the darkening of Rick’s eyes he had definitely latched on to that response. “To live with your father up on his mountain?”

  Casey chuckled. “No, somewhere here in town.”

  McKinnon watched as Rick’s smiled widened into a look McKinnon compared to a wolf on a hunt. “In that case, I hope we run into each other again…real soon.” He tipped his hat and walked off smiling.

  McKinnon shook his head, and when he slid into the driver’s seat, he slammed the door shut as his protective instincts kicked in. If Rick Summers thought for one minute he would be adding Casey’s name to his little black book, he could think again. Although who she dated was none of his business, the thought of her getting mixed up with the likes of Summers didn’t sit well with him.

  “He seems like a nice guy.”

  McKinnon glanced over at Casey. “In this case looks are deceiving because Rick’s not a nice guy. He’s an ass and I suggest you stay away from him.” He could tell by her expression that she didn’t appreciate his suggestion.

  And as he drove toward the highway that would take them back to the ranch, he decided that whether she liked it or not, he intended to keep Summers away from her.

  Chapter 7

  “What are you doing for dinner?”

  Casey stiffened as she got out of the car. Now that they were back at the ranch, surely he wasn’t going to invite her to eat with him. “The usual,” she heard herself say. “Henrietta usually fixes me something, and I eat it at the guesthouse while doing journal entries of Prince Charming’s daily progress on the computer. Why?”

  “Just asking. Thanks again for the ride into town.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Common sense told McKinnon that this is where they would part ways. She would go to the guesthouse and he would go to the ranch house, and if he was real smart he would avoid her again this week. He’d spent some time with her today. He’d heard her voice and inhaled her scent and now he had gotten her out of his system for a while. Hell, not by a long shot. But as he forced himself to keep walking toward his front door, something made him turn around.

  “Casey, how about if—”

  Whatever words he was about to say died on his lips. She was gone, having made a swift exit to the guesthouse. His disappointment quickly turned into annoyance. Evidently she’d taken as much as she could of him for one day. He wished he could say the same but couldn’t. He could have taken more of her…a lot more. He had been constantly aware of her as a woman—a woman who probably didn’t know the extent of her own sensuality or sexuality. And he was a man who would love tapping into what she didn’t know; expose her to a few things. Hell, more than a few.

  Thirty minutes later, after taking a shower and being careful to keep his stitches dry, he made his way to the kitchen to warm up his food. He’d been following this same routine for years, ever since Lynette had left. He was used to it and preferred things this way. He was about to stick his plate into the microwave when the phone rang.

  He reached over and picked it up. “Yes?”

  “How are you, McKinnon?”

  He smiled upon hearing his mother’s voice. “I’m fine. How are you and Dad?”

  “We’re both doing well. We just got back today. We’ve been up on Corey’s Mountain visiting, which is why I’m calling. Abby and I decided it would be nice to give a party for Casey.”

  He tensed. “A party? Why?”

  “To welcome her to the area. A lot of our neighbors know about Corey’s triplets and some have even met Clint and Cole. But very few have had a chance to meet Casey, and we think a party will be a wonderful way to arrange that, to welcome her to the community.”

  Sounded like his mother and Abby had their minds made up. “So what do you need me to do?” Nothing, he hoped.

  “In addition to not working her too hard where she’s too tired to attend her own party and enjoy herself, how about making sure she gets here.”

  McKinnon stiffened. He had endured one car ride with Casey and wasn’t sure he would be able to do another anytime soon. It seemed the scent of her was still all over him. “When is this party?”

  “Next Friday night, here at our ranch at eight. Can I depend on you to help?”

  He sighed. There wasn’t too much Morning Star Quinn couldn’t get out of him and she knew it very well. “Yes, I won’t over work her that day and I’ll make sure she gets there.”

 
“Thanks, McKinnon. I appreciate it. By the way, it’s not a surprise or anything like that. I just finished telling Casey about it and she’s fine with it.”

  “That’s good,” he said with grim resolve before hanging up the phone.

  * * *

  Another night and Casey couldn’t sleep. Nor could she get McKinnon off her mind. He had invaded her dreams and she didn’t like it.

  Actually, that wasn’t true.

  She had liked it. So much to the point where she had awoken filled with desire so intense she felt it deep in her belly. She’d heard of belly aches before but nothing like this one.

  She slipped into her robe and, as was the norm whenever she found she couldn’t sleep, decided she’d take a stroll around the courtyard and enjoy the beauty of the night.

  A few moments later she went out the front door and onto the brick paved walkway. A flood light off the front of the ranch house glowed, but just enough to illuminate some of the new flowers Henrietta had boasted of planting this week.

  “Couldn’t sleep again tonight?”

  Casey placed her hand over her chest. Just like the last time, she hadn’t heard McKinnon’s approach. She slowly turned, thinking what she really needed was to find a reason to go back inside the guesthouse. It didn’t take much to remember what had happened the last time they’d been out in the courtyard together.

  However, instead of taking off, she answered, “No. I have a lot on my mind.”

  The eyes staring at her were dark, intense…sexy. “You’re thinking about the party?”

  She raised a brow. “The party?”

  “Yes. Mom called and told me about it.”

  “Oh.” It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that the party his mother and Abby had planned for her was the last thing on her mind. She’d been thinking about a party all right, a party of two. There were no party hats—just a big bed, silken sheets and plenty of heat between two naked bodies. “No, I wasn’t thinking about the party,” she said. And that was all she intended to tell him.