by Mary Leo
They moved together in complete silence, as if they were trying to guard their lovemaking from the rest of the world. Every kiss, every touch brought on an emotion that Maggie had never experienced with any other man. She felt as if she was making love, truly making love, for the very first time.
When they finally shed the rest of their clothes and lay in each other’s arms, naked, a fire raged deep within her. A fire that rendered her helpless each time he caressed her body. The need to have him inside her was almost more than she could bear.
“Now,” she whispered as he moved on top of her, deliberately taking his time, tormenting her with each touch, then slowly slipping a condom over his firm erection. “I want you now.”
When he entered her, he let out a deep groan that seemed to come from his soul. A rush of excitement tingled over her body and she allowed a low, heavy sigh to escape.
“Where have you been all my life?” he whispered.
“Trying to find you,” she told him while looking deeply into his eyes.
“I’m right here darlin’. Not going anywhere. I’m in love with you.”
A tinge of doubt flitted through her head. Could this be real? Could she trust him? Could she trust herself?
She dismissed the questions. Right now all she wanted was Blake, and nothing else mattered.
“Me, too” slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself.
The intensity of their passion increased with the speed of his movements, and just when she thought she couldn’t endure the sensation another second, they shuddered their release together, as if they had planned it to happen this way. She couldn’t help but groan out her pleasure, causing Blake to hold on to her even tighter.
Afterward, while he rested on top of her, their breathing slowing to a normal rhythm, she marveled at the power of her passion for him, and the emotions surrounding it.
Then, as she cuddled up next to him, cradled in his strong arms with their legs twined, she cried.
* * *
BLAKE AWOKE TO FIND Maggie still wrapped in his arms, facing him. They had barely moved. The clock on the nightstand read a few minutes after nine, and he knew, as much as he wanted to stay right there for the rest of the day, if he didn’t slip out of bed right now, Scout and Suzie would be searching for him.
Still, he took a moment to watch Maggie as she slept: the rich black hair swirled around her lovely face, the body—an incredibly beautiful body—draped around his, her breathing even and steady. He felt as if he’d died and gone to cowboy heaven.
He was in love again, or maybe he was in love for the very first time. The feelings he had for Maggie were different, as if he never knew what true love felt like until now. Watching her sleep, he knew he wanted her in his bed every night, and from what she’d said and done, he felt hopeful that she wanted the same. It didn’t make sense to him that a woman would make love the way Maggie had if she intended to move on up the road.
He had to know for sure. Had to know now. This minute.
Just as he was about to gently wake Maggie with a kiss, he heard Scout and the dogs running through the hallway outside the bedroom door. At one point, he even thought he heard someone knocking on the door. Suddenly Maggie stirred, rolled over, then settled up against him, her long legs all mixed up with his.
The warmth of her body caused a desire so intense he could barely control it, but there was nothing he would do about it then. Not with Scout out there on the hunt. He’d have to wait until that night, or later that day if he could get Maggie alone.
Reluctantly, he moved out from under Maggie’s grasp, trying his darnedest not to wake her. The past couple of days had been such an emotional time for her, the woman needed all the sleep she could get.
He grabbed his clothes off the floor, slipped everything on as best he could, found his boots under the bed, no time to pull them on, and made his way out of the room, trying to be as quiet as a barn mouse.
As soon as he closed the door behind him, he heard a stranger’s voice coming from the kitchen. A female voice sounding official and asking for Maggie Daniels. He didn’t know what the woman wanted with Maggie, but her voice made his skin get up and crawl. She certainly wasn’t from Briggs.
He stood like a deer in the headlights not knowing which way to go—back into the room to wake Maggie—or into the kitchen to see what this intruder wanted. Either way, he felt like a rabbit in a wolf’s mouth.
Before he could get his mind and body in first gear, Scout and Suzie came charging down the hall, boots and paws stomping on the wooden floor, Scout’s arms outstretched, Suzie’s pink tongue flapping. Both dog and child crashed into him with such force his boots flew out of his hand, heels bouncing off the bedroom door then sliding along the floor.
It took all of Blake’s strength to keep himself upright.
“Daddy, oh, Daddy! There’s a business lady here asking for Maggie. She said that Mrs. Abernathy told her to come here. But I knocked on the bedroom door, Daddy, and she didn’t answer. I’ve looked everywhere for her, but I can’t find her. Do you know where she’s hiding? The lady in the kitchen really wants to talk to her. What do you think she wants, Daddy? Is Maggie in trouble?”
“I don’t know, Scout. We’re just going to have to wait and see.”
Suzie kept trying to get at the bedroom door, and Blake kept trying to move her out of the way.
“Why did you sleep in the guest room, Daddy? You’re not a guest. Maggie’s our guest. That’s her bedroom. Yours is upstairs next to mine.”
She giggled.
Blake stared down at her, trying to come up with an excuse. “I was tired and didn’t feel like walking up the stairs.”
“That’s silly, Daddy. Nobody gets that tired.” She made a big eye roll for emphasis causing Blake to chuckle.
“You’re right. Next time no matter how tired I am I’ll walk up to my own bedroom. Did the lady tell you her name?”
Scout nodded, all pleased with herself. “Yes. Her name is Ms. Allison Bennett.”
“Did she say where she was from?”
She shrugged. “Do you want me to ask her?”
He sank down on one knee, getting her complete attention. Suzie walked around him to scratch on the door.
“No. That’s okay, sweetpea. Please tell Ms. Bennett that Maggie will be out in a few minutes.”
“I looked everywhere for her, Daddy. She’s not here.”
“I know where she is.”
Suzie began sniffing and whining at the door. Scout hesitated, watching Suzie, then she cocked a hip and stuck a fist to it. “Is Maggie asleep in there? But why didn’t you tell me, Daddy? Is it a secret? Doesn’t she want to see Ms. Allison Bennett? She looks like a nice business lady, Daddy. Maggie doesn’t have to be afraid.”
“Scout, you ask far too many questions. Just run along and tell the lady that Maggie will be right out.”
“Okay, but I don’t think I like this hide-and-seek game. You and Maggie don’t play fair.”
Scout and Suzie clambered back out to the kitchen.
Blake picked up his boots, turned and opened the door to the guest room. Maggie stood in the middle of the room, partially dressed in the clothes he’d peeled off her. Even though she wore the same jeans and boots, and was trying to pull on his T-shirt, the one she’d worn just last night, she somehow looked entirely different.
Her hair was pulled back tight, like she’d worn it the first day he’d met her. Her cheeks were
bright pink, matching her pink glossy lips. The lips he wanted to kiss again and again. Gone was the country girl he’d left in bed, naked, pressed up next to him. In her place was Ms. Maggie Daniels, as citied-up as she could get wearing his shirt and her tight jeans, all ready to meet Allison Bennett…obviously another city girl who probably came to fetch Maggie.
He needed to know why, but whatever it was, he had a strong feeling it wouldn’t be good…for him.
His stomach tightened, his mouth went dry and a funny feeling crawled up his spine. “I take it you heard Scout.”
She nodded, as she perched herself on the edge of the amber-colored club chair to pull on her boots. “I can’t believe that Allison Bennett is here…in Briggs…in your kitchen…asking for me. There has to be some kind of mistake.”
Maggie seemed to be as pleased as a little heifer heading for its mama’s teat.
“Is this Allison Bennett somebody important?”
She hesitated, as if she was reluctant to give up the details.
“You could say that, yes.”
She sounded cold and distant. Like he was someone she didn’t have time for.
He pressed on anyway. “Is she a friend of yours?”
“I wish.” Maggie stood then let out a sigh as she gazed down at her dirty boots. “In the tech world she has the popularity of a female version of Steve Jobs when he was alive, but she’s actually more like the queen of the global communication business. And she’s here. Asking for me.” She shook her head and stared at Blake. A smile stretched across her lips. “She must be lost, or confused. Maybe she’s working for Technix now and wants my decision.”
A strange look came over her. A look Blake couldn’t quite place. As if she’d just said something she hadn’t meant to.
At first, Blake didn’t get what she was referring to, then slowly he understood. Maggie had a job offer in her field and she hadn’t told him.
He took a step back. His body tensed. He got it now. Got everything. He felt as if he’d just been sucker-punched. “You warned me the first day I met you that you had other applications out there. Did one of them come through?”
She let out a breath, the smile left her face. “It did.”
“And when were you going to tell me?”
He did everything he could to hold back the anger that was brewing inside him. Was their lovemaking her way of saying goodbye?
“I haven’t said yes yet.”
“What does that mean?” The back of his neck ached. He could barely move it.
She passed him without glancing up. As if she couldn’t look him in the eye. “It means I’m still thinking about it.”
“Does this Bennett woman have anything to do with that decision?”
She stopped in front of the door, and turned to face him. “No. At least I don’t think she does. Allison left a big multinational company six months ago to have a baby. I really don’t know why she’s here.”
“Then she’s not just an old friend dropping in to say hello.”
Maggie shook her head.
As much as it ripped his insides apart, he said, “You know there were no strings attached to last night. Whatever I said wasn’t meant to keep you here if you don’t want to stay.”
She nodded, her eyes welled up and she stared at the floor for a whole minute, then, regaining her composure, she said, “I know. Thanks.”
She grabbed the brass knob, slowly twisted it and moved out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Blake let out the sigh he’d been holding deep in his lungs and plopped down hard on the bed. “You did it again, Doctor Blake Granger. You’re the royal chump once more. Your brothers, Milo, and hell, the whole damn town knew what you couldn’t admit. She’s a leavin’ city girl, and you’re a first-class Country moron.”
He needed to get out of there. Needed to blow off some steam. Needed to get away from Maggie, and Allison Bennett and all city girls. What he needed most at that moment was pure Country.
Chapter Fourteen
Maggie was a mix of emotions. On the one hand she was thrilled that Allison Bennett had taken the time to find her, but on the other, Allison couldn’t have found her at a more confusing point in Maggie’s life. Not only was she now totally smitten with Blake, but up until this meeting she was considering making Briggs her home, a concept that just a few weeks ago would have been inconceivable.
As soon as she was outside the kitchen, Scout and Suzie came running toward her.
“Did my Daddy tell you Allison Bennett is here? She’s so nice. She has a baby at home in San Francisco. Is she your friend? She’d be a nice friend.”
Maggie took Scout’s hand. “I don’t really know her, Scout, and I don’t know why she’s here. So could you sit with me when she tells me? I think I’m a little nervous to meet her. She’s a very smart lady.”
“I bet she’s not as smart as you are. You got Tanner to sit in my daddy’s dentist chair. Nobody ever did that before. Not even Kitty, and she tried lots of times. You have to be really, really smart to do that.”
Maggie stopped, bent over and gave Scout a tight hug.
“Thanks, Scout. I knew I could count on you to say just the right thing.”
“Anytime,” Scout said, waving a hand as if she did this kind of thing all the time. And from what Maggie knew of Scout, she probably did.
“Here she is,” Dodge said, as Maggie and Scout walked into the kitchen.
Allison Bennett was in her mid-thirties, with deep brown hair tied in a long ponytail. Dressed in a black pantsuit and a crisp red blouse, she sat at the kitchen table nursing a mug of steaming coffee. Her black mega-purse sat at her feet next to Mush, who seemed to have a fascination with its smell. Somehow Ms. Bennett didn’t quite fit inside this cowboy’s house.
She stood when Maggie entered the room and held out a hand, formality radiating from every inch of her.
At once Maggie fell into business mode and took Allison’s hand, giving it a good firm shake. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Allison. I’ve been an admirer of yours for quite some time.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” Allison said.
Maggie almost gasped out loud, but caught herself when Scout gave her hand a tug.
“Thanks,” she said confidently. Not that she was feeling the least bit confident. More scared silly than anything else. Still, she knew enough to appear calm and self-assured: never let them see you sweat.
“Coffee?” Dodge asked Maggie.
“Yes, please.”
Maggie pulled out a chair across from Allison, and Scout climbed up on her chair at the end of the table. When Dodge set Maggie’s coffee in front of her, he turned to Scout. “Let’s you and me check the cattle barn so’s these here ladies can chat.”
“She’s okay, Dodge. Thanks. I told her she could stay,” Maggie countered.
Scout sat up straighter in her chair, a wide grin spread like sweet honey across her face.
“Only if you’re sure. She might be small, but she can pack a wallop when she wants to.”
Scout wasn’t about to sit back and accept his view of her. “I won’t say anything unless someone asks me a question. And I’ll say please and thank you, I promise.”
“She’s fine, Dodge. Really,” Maggie told him, throwing Scout a warm nod.
Dodge grabbed his worn cowboy hat off the hook next to the fridge, tipped it to Allison, then settled it on his head. “Been a pleasure, Ms. Bennett. Drop
by anytime you’re in these parts. Door’s always open.”
“Thanks,” Allison told him as he walked away, through the living room, then out the front door. Mush followed right behind him, his long tail up in the air.
“I hope you didn’t have trouble finding the place.” Maggie reflected on her first attempts at finding Briggs and how she’d driven past the town several times before she realized what she’d done.
“We have a house over in Jackson, Wyoming. My husband’s an avid skier, so we practically live in Jackson during the winter. No trouble finding Briggs. I knew exactly how to get here. The trick was finding you, and if it wasn’t for the annual Spud Tug, I may not be here right now. My niece is Miss Russet.”
“Your niece is Miss Russet?” Maggie repeated, thinking how unbelievable that seemed.
“Yes,” Allison said curtly. “And during her reign, she travels to as many fairs as possible. She told me all about you and how you pushed Doc Granger in the spud mash. You’re a hoot on YouTube.”
Maggie wanted to crawl under the table. She had no idea somebody posted the Spud Tug. “I’m a hoot?”
“At least in Idaho. That’s the thing. Social media picks us up when we least expect it to, and something as innocuous as the local Spud Tug can go viral in a matter of hours. Our mission at Bennett Media is to tap into that viral trend and use it to benefit our clients. Some really good things can happen because of it. Like me being able to find you.”
“But you found me because of your niece, Miss Russet.”
“She actually prefers Ms. Russet. It sounds a bit more professional, don’t you agree?”
Maggie wanted to remind her they were talking about a vegetable queen, but she grinned and nodded instead. “Yes, much more professional.”
Allison’s face suddenly flipped to serious business, not that she had given off any real signs of levity while they were discussing Ms. Russet, or even the Spud Tug, but now she was completely transformed. “I’ll get right to the point and not waste any more of your time. I heard that Technix has made you an offer. Is that true?”