She moved her hips in rhythmic motion until Rick’s hands on her waist increased the speed and intensity and they reached an explosive and noisy climax together.
Alicia collapsed onto him, damp with perspiration and gasping like she’d just run a race.
Rick held her in his arms and stroked her hair. “You’re amazing, wonderful, beautiful, sexy, brilliant and totally hot,” he breathed, his chest heaving against hers.
Something leapt inside her. His words sounded so…heartfelt. Not like flattery or a meaningless compliment.
Rick Jones made her feel desirable and appreciated.
“You, too,” she said with a grin. “And I’m so glad we’re making up for all my wasted time.”
“It’s my pleasure.” His words tickled her ear. “More pleasure than you can imagine.”
She laughed and wriggled against him. “Well, since you’ve been gracious enough to initiate me into the delights of my own sensuality, I’d like to do something for you.”
“I think you just did,” he whispered, stroking her cheek.
“Something more…traditional.”
“I’m not sure there’s anything more traditional than sex. None of us would be here without it.”
Alicia opened her eyes and met his humorous blue gaze. “You’re so right, but none of us would be here without food, either. I’m going to cook for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, I want to. I love to cook.” She growled the words against his cheek. “It’s a bit of a passion for me.”
“You certainly are a woman of passion.” He nipped at her neck.
A ripple of pleasure filled her. It was true! She actually was a woman of passion—after all these years of waiting to experience simple pleasures most people took for granted.
What a thrill—not to mention a relief—to find that she was as capable of passion as anyone on the planet.
“Cooking was probably my first love. Unlike other things, I learned it at a very young age and I’ve been practicing for a long time.”
Rick shifted positions until they lay on their sides, facing each other. “The suite does have a kitchen…somewhere. It might be behind one of the doors at the end of the hallway. I never go down there.”
Alicia mock-slapped his biceps. “You’re terrible! You really never cook at all?”
“I’m ashamed to say I never do.” He lowered dark lashes and pretended to look sheepish. “I’m totally dependent on room service for basic survival.”
“Poor baby.” She shook her head. “Because, let me tell you, a five-star chef has nothing on home cooking that’s been made with love.”
Rick’s eyes widened slightly.
Alicia gulped.
Did she have to say the word love like that?
It was one thing saying she loved to cook, quite another to say she’d cook for him with love.
“I cook for all my friends,” she stammered. “I love hosting dinners.”
In other words, it doesn’t really mean much at all.
Which wasn’t true.
Rick had opened up something inside her, unlocked some hidden place she didn’t know even existed. Maybe it was just sex—or passion—and all the new feelings they created in her, but she felt far more for him than she could express in mere words.
“I’m honored to be counted among your friends.”
She blushed, sure he could see right through her.
His placid demeanor didn’t hint at his emotions. Was he trying to tell her he just wanted to be friends? Or that any embarrassing slips of the tongue on the subject of love would be daintily glossed over?
Her chest grew tight. “What’s your favorite kind of food?” Her voice sounded a little too high.
“I suspect it’s your favorite thing to cook, whatever that is.”
“Then let me surprise you.”
Justin looked down to find his plate totally empty, just like the serving dishes of green and red curry, and the sticky rice noodles Alicia had served with them.
All that remained of the meal was the basil garnish and a satisfied feeling in his stomach.
“You’re a goddess.”
Alicia flushed. “It’s nothing.”
“Hardly. And you did surprise me. I wouldn’t have expected Thai food.”
“You thought I’d make something Mexican.” She lifted a brow.
“You see right through me. I should have known you could never be predictable.”
“I make some killer Mexican dishes, too.” She smiled and crossed her arms. The topaz he’d given her sparkled at the top of seductive cleavage nestled in a silvery-white blouse.
Alicia Montoya literally glowed with confidence and sensuality. Everything about her was perfect.
And she’d just made what was hands down the very best meal he’d ever eaten.
“It’s the fresh chilies.” She leaned forward. “That’s what makes both Thai and Mexican food really sing. One of these days I’m going to grow them myself. Maybe when I finally get my own place.”
“What keeps you from moving out right now?”
“Alex.”
“I’m sure he’d survive without you.”
“One day he’ll have to.” A shadow passed over her brow. “At least I hope he will. I don’t want to live with my brother for the rest of my life.”
Maybe you could come live with me. The words hovered somewhere behind his teeth, until he grabbed a glass of dry white wine and washed them down his throat.
What was he thinking? He’d never asked any woman to live with him. He didn’t even want male roommates, which was one of the reasons he lived all by himself in a huge hotel suite.
He liked his space. His freedom.
Didn’t he?
Alicia rose and took both their plates. He grabbed them from her hands. “Let me take those.” His voice came out a bit gruffer than he’d intended. “You’ve done enough.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. What are you going to do with them?” Her eyes sparkled. “You probably don’t even know how to run the dishwasher.”
“I could learn.”
Alicia laughed. Still, he insisted on carrying the plates into the kitchen.
There were a lot of things he could learn. How to cherish the woman who brought a ray of bright, warm light into his life and heart. How to sustain a relationship beyond a month—something he’d never really wanted to do before. Heck, maybe he could even learn how to cook if those wicked hot chilies were involved.
He could even figure out how to have a very different relationship than his parents. And be a real father to his own children.
Children? Now he was truly getting ahead of himself.
He let his eyes drift to Alicia’s lush, black-velvet-covered backside as she strode down the hallway just ahead of him, carrying the serving dishes.
Beautiful. And hot.
But so much more. Alicia had clearly obtained great pleasure from making this meal especially for him. She’d put thought and effort into every detail of the preparation and presentation. She’d made a simple dinner truly special.
This was the kind of woman he could imagine sharing all kinds of new experiences with. Maybe even sharing a life with.
His chest constricted. One step at a time, Justin Dupree. First you need to tell her your real name.
“Where are you going on your trip?” She turned to confront him with a bright, trusting smile.
“Hong Kong. Meeting with some dock officials.”
“Sounds like fun.” She entered the small but well-equipped kitchen where she’d made her magic.
“You should come.” He meant it.
She laughed. “I have to work, remember? Even though my job doesn’t pay megabucks, it means a lot to me. And I have people counting on me.”
“Of course. I’ll be back on Friday. We could spend next weekend together.”
She didn’t turn, but he saw her cheek lift in a smile, a smile that spread across the
room to him.
Okay. He’d tell her next weekend.
He didn’t want to spoil their perfect time together tonight and leave her with a bad taste in her mouth. Next Friday night he’d invite her over, give her something special from Hong Kong to sweep her off her feet, then ’fess up about his little white lie.
Yes. Much better.
He put the dishes into the dishwasher. “See, you can teach an old hound dog new tricks.” He grinned, then slid his arms around her waist. “Now, where were we?”
Alicia had noticed a familiar car in the driveway, so she wasn’t surprised to see a familiar face in the kitchen of El Diablo when she let herself in.
“Hi, Darius.” She shook his hand.
“Hi, Darius?” Alex cut in. “You go away for the weekend and forget about your own brother?”
He walked toward her, his broad grin belying his accusation, and gave her a big bear hug. “I missed you like crazy, ’Manita, but I survived, see?”
“I do see.” She kissed his cheek. “How are things going? Do the police have any leads?”
“Nope. That’s why Darius is here.”
Alicia knew him as another of the Texas Cattleman’s Club’s newest members, the owner of a prominent security firm. The tall, dark-skinned man projected an air of effortless confidence. She also knew him as one of Lance Brody’s best friends.
“He’s looking into all the angles to see if we can figure out what’s going on.”
“And to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Darius had a laptop open on the large island in the center of the kitchen. “Right now it looks like someone out there wants to frame Alex.”
“But didn’t they find gas cans?”
“Yep. Mine,” said Alex. “From the tractor shed. I hadn’t used them in months, so someone took them out and filled them, then brought them back here and set the fire.”
“That’s insane. Who could have done it?”
“No idea.” Alex shrugged. “We don’t lock the gates here, so anyone can come in and out.”
“Anyone could have come in and out,” corrected Darius. “We’re going to put in a security camera and a keypad at the gate so that everyone will have to enter a code to come in and all activity will be recorded.”
“I feel like a prisoner in my own home,” growled Alex.
“It’s for your own safety. And Alicia’s.” Darius typed on the keyboard. “We’re going to set up a security camera near the barn, too.”
“You can’t be too careful,” said Alicia with a shiver. A total stranger had stolen onto the ranch to wreak havoc and cast suspicion on Alex. “Do they still think you set the Brody fire?”
“They do. Lance Brody told Darius that someone saw my truck at the scene.”
Alicia looked at Darius, who said nothing.
“That’s ridiculous. There must be hundreds of trucks like yours in the Houston area,” she said.
“I know. But if someone wants to believe I’m an arsonist, they’ll trump up phony evidence any way they can.”
“Why would anyone want to frame you?” Fear curled in her chest at the idea that someone would want to get Alex in trouble.
“There are plenty of people around here who’d be glad to see the back of me. Some folks are just bent out of shape that a kid from the barrio can own one of Somerset’s finest ranches and become a member of the prestigious Texas Cattleman’s Club.”
“I admit we still have no leads,” said Darius. He closed his laptop and looked up. “But we’ll find the culprits of both fires and make sure they’re convicted of their crimes.”
“And I have faith that you’ll find the truth.”
Darius extended his hand, and after the slightest of pauses, Alex shook it.
Once the door had closed behind Darius, Alex strode back into the room.
“Alex, I’m surprised you’d have Darius Franklin do this, given how close he is to Lance Brody.”
Alex shrugged. “He’s the best man for the job, even if he doesn’t choose his friends wisely. I trust him.” He leaned in close to Alicia. “You look…different.”
Alicia’s face heated. “What? How on earth would I look different?”
“You’re…glowing. Or something. I don’t know. It’s strange.”
“I got a lot of sleep while I was there.” Alicia blushed at her lie.
“Nice necklace.” His dark eyes fixed on the topaz glittering at her neck.
Alicia’s hand flew to it. “Thanks. Julie’s Gems.” She hoped he’d assume she’d bought it for herself.
“Pretty.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, ’Manita. I’m glad it’s safe for you to come home. With Darius on the case, I feel we’re close to finding out who did this.”
“And why. That’s the weirdest part.”
“Human motivation is a strange thing. You think you know someone, then…” He threw his hands up in the air. “Be careful who you trust, that’s what I always say.”
He picked up an apple from the large fruit bowl in the center of the island and took a bite. “At least we can always count on each other.”
“Absolutely.” She uttered the word with conviction, while guilt and anxiety roiled in her stomach.
What would Alex say if he knew she’d spent the weekend with a man?
She longed to talk about Rick—she was overflowing with joy and excitement and hopeful anticipation. But better not to tell Alex, especially right now when he was so suspicious of everyone and everything.
She’d better go spill her guts to a girlfriend instead.
The airy indoor-outdoor café at the Texas Cattleman’s Club bustled with a lunchtime crowd. Alicia was pretty sure she could air her confidences without being overheard.
And she sizzled with anticipation at the prospect.
Since joining the club, she’d grown close to Cara Pettigrew-Novak. They were friends years earlier while Cara’s marriage to her college-sweetheart husband, Kevin, had slowly fallen apart, and she’d been thrilled to see them recently mend their broken bridges and get back together—apparently happier than ever.
She waved from her table as she caught sight of the statuesque blonde in the doorway. Cara waved back and weaved through the elegantly set tables toward Alicia.
They rose to kiss. “Oh, my goodness, you’re positively radioactive,” exclaimed Cara. She tucked her curly blond hair behind her shoulders and sank into her seat. “I can’t wait to hear about the man who put that gleam in your eyes.”
Alicia let out a wistful sigh, unable to stop a goofy grin from creeping over her face. “He’s amazing.”
Cara poured them both a glass of sparkling water. “I can tell, without you even saying a word. More details please!”
Alicia glanced around as if Rick might walk in at any moment and hear her bragging about him.
“Well, you remember the night I met him, when you were here at the club for Lance and Kate’s reception. We just spent the most amazing weekend together,” Alicia said.
“What does he look like?” Cara raised a slim, blond brow.
“Oh, tall, dark, handsome. Nothing special.” Alicia blushed a little.
“Sure.” Cara winked. “And I bet he doesn’t have a muscle on his whole body.”
“He is rather nicely built, even by your standards.” Cara owned a chain of dance studios and always looked ready to compete in the Olympics. “Not to put too fine a point on it, he’s perfect.” Alicia sipped her water and the bubbles sparkled over her tongue.
“Oh, I’m not sure any man’s perfect.”
“Come on, you got back together with Kevin after all those years apart.”
“Kevin certainly isn’t perfect. He’s pretty damn wonderful, though.” A smile spread across her lovely face. “And I still love him like crazy.”
“I know. I admit I used to be horribly jealous of you two. You were so lucky to meet the right man in college.”
“Uh, hello? I almost divorced him.
We’ve spent more time apart than we have together over the past few years. And part of the problem was that we found each other too early on. He wasn’t ready to settle down, not really.”
“I guess you’re right. Good things come to those who wait.”
“Something I’ve never been very good at, unfortunately.” Cara waved to the waiter. “Why waste time reading the menu? Let’s just have a hunk tell us what’s good.”
Alicia had noticed that the waiters at the Texas Cattleman’s Club tended to be dashingly handsome. Their long white aprons gave the place an air of a refined European bistro.
A gorgeous young man with cropped dark hair approached the table.
“Could you tell us what’s really sensational today?” asked Cara with an innocent smile.
“The red snapper is so fresh it’s almost swimming. And the sauce made the chef cry. It’s served on a bed of locally grown organic vegetables.”
“Sold.” Cara slapped her menu closed.
“Oooh. Me, too. And a Diet Coke.”
“No wine?” Cara raised a brow. “I’ll have a glass of pinot noir.”
After the waiter had disappeared, she leaned toward Alicia. “I can’t believe you’re going to drink soda with a meal like this.”
“I don’t like to drink at lunch. Makes me tipsy.”
“As long as there are no other reasons…” Cara narrowed her eyes.
Alicia gasped. “Absolutely not.” She raised her hand in a three-fingered brownie salute. “On my honor.” Then she paused as a chill swept over her. “At least I hope not.”
“Please tell me you’ve been taking precautions.”
“Yes. Of course I have.”
It was time for her to get serious about contraception. Maybe take the pill or something. She’d never even needed to think about it before. Although they’d used condoms, she knew they weren’t all that reliable.
“You don’t sound too sure.”
“Can we change the subject?” Alicia squeaked, as a flush crept up her neck.
“No way. Not until you tell me more about the man who has you glowing like a nuclear accident. Tell me his name again? I can’t remember it.”
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