A Lone Star Romance: Book 2 in The Only Love Series

by Violet Sparks

  "I think they're laying low so we can have a few minutes alone. They like me, you know. A lot."

  "I can tell. Have they worn you out yet?" she asked in a serious tone.

  "Not at all. It's refreshing to have someone appreciate me for a change," he growled in that low tone that drove her wild. His lips touched her ear before he took a soft nip at her neck, just below her lobe.

  Kiki felt her knees go to mush.

  "Look, Noble. I—"

  "Can I drive you home after the reception?" he asked, cutting her off.

  "Why?"

  "Because I'll be going your way," he said with a hint of humor.

  "So will several others. I'm sure Jim can take me and—"

  "Shh, Little Lady. Enough about Jim. I want to drive you home because we need to talk."

  He spun her around to face him. She studied his expression, so serious, so dark.

  "Are you going to behave and refrain from damaging any property?"

  "Sassy tonight, aren't you?"

  They both knew she referred to the door he kicked in at the bungalow, requiring a hasty repair by one of the cowboys.

  He continued, "I'm leaving first thing in the morning, and I need to get things settled between us. Understand?"

  His tone didn't reassure her. She nodded in reply, but felt like bursting into tears.

  "Now, I'm going to go find your parents. I'll be sitting with them at dinner. After that first dance where you have to promenade with a groomsman, you save yourself for me. Got it?"

  Promenade?

  Kiki bit her lip and scowled.

  "Good," he said, swatting her on the rump as he strolled past her, heading for the ballroom.

  She watched him enter the hotel. He shaved before the wedding, and she wasn't sure which she preferred, stubble faced ranch owner or bearded cowboy. He looked unbelievably handsome in his dark grey suit and blue tie, which set off his eyes. She couldn't get enough of his rugged good looks and stared after him long after he'd disappeared in a throng of people.

  She didn't taste anything at dinner. Just as he'd promised, Noble appeared as soon as her obligatory dance with Douglas finished. As luck would have it, the band played a slow song next. Harden led her to the far corner of the dance floor, away from her parents. He kept one rough hand on her back, but allowed his other to slip lightly over her derrière.

  "Hey," she said.

  "Sorry." He cupped her bottom before shifting his hand to her shoulder. "Do you have any idea how irresistible you look in this contraption?"

  Every nerve in her body tensed as electricity ran up and down from her toes to her head. He raked his hands slowly, up and down, over the rouching on the back of her dress, rubbing the folds of the tulle-like fabric between his fingers.

  Good thing his back is to Mom and Dad.

  "Don't play the hick with me, Noble. You should have told me you went to an Ivy League school and had a graduate degree."

  "You should have asked, Tiny Dancer. Instead, you assumed I was an ignorant brute."

  She didn't know what to say. He took her wrists and lifted her arms to his shoulder level, placing her hands behind his neck. Then he slid his own to her waist, pulling her against his chest. She felt his hands tighten around her as they swayed to the music. Kiki nervously twisted her fingers together.

  "If I did assume anything about you, I apologize," she said.

  He threw his head back and roared with laughter. The hard set of his jaw disappeared, and the skin around his startling blue eyes crinkled with laugh lines. His expression turned warm. A knot of joy formed in her stomach, its heat spreading throughout her body. She loved seeing him happy. Loved. Loved making him happy. Loved him.

  I love this cowboy.

  A shudder ran through her. He held her gaze, his eyes flaming heat, desire, maybe lust. She glanced at the floor, wishing she could escape his grasp. She knew he felt a strong attraction to her, but what if he didn’t love her? She certainly wasn’t his type. He'd loved and pined for that tall, blonde Viking princess. That's whom he would have chosen for himself. Whom he chose. She couldn't bear the idea that he might be interested in just one thing.

  How can I get through an entire night of dancing with him?

  Kiki feigned exhaustion for most of the fast dances, but Harden wouldn’t accept no whenever the band's tempo slowed. She found herself stiffening in his arms when what she really wanted was to melt into the man.

  Then the bride and groom made their exit.

  "Say your goodbyes," he commanded.

  Her parents had already gone upstairs to their room, so she hunted down the wedding party, friends, old clients, the Russians, and former co-workers. Anything to delay her from being alone with Noble.

  "I think you've just about scraped the bottom of the barrel," he said, catching her elbow in a vice grip. "Time to go."

  He must have watched as she worked the room. It was true—she stalled. But, she did get to visit with everyone she knew.

  Neither said much on the drive to her condominium. She felt like a lamb to the slaughter, as though her heart was about to be broken. She thought about asking him to leave when they entered the lobby, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't think he'd listen anyway. Once upstairs, he did have to pry her key from her fingers again. He shook his head and chuckled.

  "Still scared of me, Little One?" he said after he'd shut her inside the condo.

  In the flash of an eye, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her firmly against his chest. Kiki gasped and tried to control her breathing, which grew ragged. Her heart also raced, and she fought to remain calm.

  "Don't you know I'd never do anything to hurt you? You're so tiny, I'm always reminding myself how fragile you are. Look at me, Beatrice. See me for who I am."

  She loved the way he said her name. She loved him. Still, she remained unsure. She'd seen him crazy with jealousy, and he brought a group of buyers to view the collection after saying he wanted to keep the treasures. She risked a glance, and he instantly came down hard on her lips. Hungry for more, he devoured her mouth, deepening and softening his kisses.

  The room spun, and she feared she'd lose control if he continued. She could feel her heart pound wildly and her chest heave. Then, his mouth captured her ear. He had a hand at the nape of her neck and the other under her chin. She felt his breath catch against her neck as he dribbled kisses under her ear and along her jaw until he reached her chin. He nipped her there.

  "Say it," he whispered, his voice husky with desire.

  Instinctively, she knew he wanted her to admit she loved him.

  "No," she rasped.

  "Darling, please say it. I need to hear you say it," he rumbled, his voice insistent.

  She jerked away from him and took several gulps of air. He raked his eyes over her face, scrutinizing every detail.

  "Fine. I love you, Noble Harden. I love you with my whole heart, like I've never loved anyone in my life!"

  Once she began, the words tumbled from her. She'd said more than she intended, and less. She'd planned to tell him to leave after giving in and expressing her feelings for him so he couldn't take advantage of her. Instead, she just stood there, staring at him.

  He dropped, catching himself on one knee.

  "Noble, Noble, what's wrong?" she shouted, reaching for his hand, wanting to yank him from the floor.

  A grin spread across his face. She didn't notice he'd pulled something from his pocket until she followed his gaze to the black velvet box.

  "Kiki, Beatrice Mary Tam, I love you and want to share my life with you. Will you agree to marry me?"

  He flipped the box open with his thumb, rather dramatically, when he said me. A large, oblong, intense pink diamond twinkled amidst a halo of smaller white stones.

  "It's the only one like it in the world, Darling. A fancy deep pink diamond from a long ago depleted mine, reset with you in mind. I had to find a jewel as rare as you. Will you marry me?"

  "Yes," she w
hispered, still in shock.

  Harden pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger, then he passionately kissed each digit, pressing her hand to his cheek. He rose and took her in his arms, trailing gentle kisses all over her face.

  "You'll come to Texas to live?" he murmured.

  "Yes," she sighed.

  "You'll curate the collection?"

  "I don't care about the collection, Noble. I know you're trying to sell it."

  "What gives you that idea?" he said, eyebrows furrowing.

  "I saw Nash showing a group of men to the shed the day I left."

  "Ha! You're jumping to conclusions again, Darling. Those men were there to see our operations. They're some of our best embryo customers. They're the ones who put me in touch with Mr. Jen and Tsang. I asked Nash to show them what they'd helped accomplish, is all. If not for them, I'd have ended up using a big auction house, and we'd never have met."

  "About jumping to conclusions, Noble. Nothing went on between James and me. He just came by to say goodbye and bring me a cup of coffee. I did allow him to kiss me, but what you saw was just two people with their heads together, discussing where their relationship went wrong."

  "I figured out as much after I cooled down. Past experiences make me distrustful at times. I'm working on that. Did I ever tell you how much I love your beautiful, almond shaped eyes, Little Miss?"

  "No."

  "Or how I wanted to grab your bottom every time you swished by me in one of those business skirts?"

  "No, but I think you fulfilled that wish tonight on the dance floor."

  "Sorry, couldn't help myself. This dress is enough to send any man over the edge."

  He captured her mouth in an intense kiss, then scooped her up in his arms. He moved to the sofa, holding her on his lap.

  "From the moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted you, Kiki. I think I fell in love with you on the ride back to the ranch, Darling. It was a struggle trying to keep my hands off you. I didn't dare hope you'd care for me until the cattlemen's ball, when you said all those wonderful things about the ranch."

  "I meant every word."

  "Then I saw you locked in that embrace with James, in your nightie, no less. It was enough to drive a man crazy. We're going to have to work on those exhibitionist tendencies you have, Sugar."

  She nuzzled her head under his chin, and he tightened his hold on her.

  "So you came to LA, looking for me?"

  "Jen gave me your address. I couldn't let you slip away, Beatrice."

  "When you told me to clear out before the wedding, I thought we were through."

  "Oh, by the way, your parents are crazy about me," he rumbled in her ear.

  "I know."

  "I already obtained their blessing."

  "What? When?"

  "Today, before the wedding. I called your father and we had lunch together. It's why they made themselves scarce before the end of the reception. So I could get on with it and claim you as my own. I guess I'll be postponing my flight. I get the feeling they want to celebrate tomorrow."

  "Oh, were they so sure I'd say yes?" she asked, laughing.

  He smothered her in kisses by way of an answer.

  Thank you for reading a Lone Star Romance. I hope you enjoyed it. Below, is a preview of Book three in the Only Love Series, A Calculated Romance, the story of Ireland and James.

  Ireland adjusted her borrowed dress, glancing at herself in the mirror. She'd never had more than hand-me-downs or thrift store bargains, and this garment didn't resemble anything she'd ever worn before. At first, she frowned, feeling she had no business in such elegant attire. Surely people would realize she was an imposter and didn't belong at such an event. Her self-confidence plummeted and she tried to come up with plausible excuses to avoid her commitments, all to no avail. She couldn't leave her employer hanging.

  Her new boss, Katrina Crimshaw, had been more than generous. She and Katrina, or Kate as some called her, had become friends almost as soon as she started working as the blogger's assistant. Instead of an office, they worked out of Kate's apartment, and she enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. So when she came to her in tears, Ireland readily agreed to step in at the last minute and replace a missing bridesmaid in her employer's wedding. She never dreamed the gesture would lead to her mandatory attendance at numerous other wedding-related celebrations, and she felt like a fish out of water. Her superior happily provided her with the appropriate clothing needed for the bridal shower and rehearsal.

  The girl ran her hand over the sleeve, admiring the fine, sheer fabric. The mint green netting covering her arms and neckline amplified the color of her eyes. A similar shaded lining, hitting straight across the bust and falling to the hemline, kept the piece of clothing modest. Except for a hint of tulle peeking from the bottom of the short gown and a set-in waist, the dress had no embellishments. Katrina allowed her to alter the garment and now it fit like a glove, flattering Ireland's figure.

  She ignored the red handkerchief that covered her hair—a leftover from the afternoon's housework. As a personal assistant, she did everything from helping to assemble photos for a blog to household chores. Answering phones, carting clothing to and from the dry cleaners, tracking correspondence, and banking also fell to her.

  "Landi, while I'm out, try on the dress for the rehearsal dinner and choose a pair of shoes to wear. I'll be back late, so lock up when you leave—no need to wait around for me," her boss had said.

  She pulled off her canvas tennis shoes and slipped on a pair of nude, high heeled pumps, completing the outfit. She tottered in front of the mirror and couldn't decide if the discomfort of the shoes was worth the increase in height. A telephone ringing startled her and she jumped. It sounded like the land line near the front door. A conscientious worker, she made a dash from the bedroom, concentrating on not falling in her three-inch heels. She trotted through the small galley kitchen and rounded the corner to the living room. A scream caught in her throat, as if she were being strangled, just as she smashed into an intruder.

  Rick found me.

  Landi hit the large man hard, at full speed, shattering the sense of security she'd found. She shut her eyes at the force of impact. It felt as though she'd slammed into a cement wall. As she'd always heard about the moment just before one's life ended, her entire existence flashed across her mind. She saw her first day of school near the desert town of Cadiz, one of her earliest memories, and Rick sitting next to her on the bus ride home, befriending her. She witnessed her foster dad, Bill, oxygen tank in tow, and Momma Hatti, as she insisted being called, conspiring in their mobile home. Then, she observed herself as a girl of twelve, dressed in clam diggers, tumbling down a rock pile, scraping her hands and bruising her knees. She glimpsed report cards, excellent grades, and the praises of her teachers. She caught sight of Rick, becoming possessive, demanding, his personality growing dark with disappointments, and her flight to Los Angeles in the middle of the night, catching a bus to freedom at Needles.

  A twisting of bodies, entangling of limbs, and a hard landing on the floor followed, the breath knocked from her lungs. A rock hard weight pressed down on her torso, pinning her to the floor, and pain spread across the back of her head, like blood spilling into her skull. She felt as though she'd been hit with a sledge hammer. Still, she felt no fingers around her throat, no hand squeezing her windpipe shut.

  Ireland opened her eyes, and tried to suck oxygen into her empty lungs. At first, nothing happened and she began to panic as if she were drowning. After several agonizing seconds, she gasped for breath, producing a wheezing sound. Relief swept over her as much needed air filled her chest. The man on top of her had blonde hair and blue eyes. Had the dark-haired Rick sent someone to punish her?

  He looked at her with an avid curiosity, even amazement, then scrunched his lids closed, shaking his head, as if he couldn't believe what he saw. When he opened his eyes, his expression of bewilderment remained. Instinct told the girl this person, this man, had no
thing to do with her old boyfriend.

  She felt every muscle in her body relax as he propped himself on his elbows, relieving pressure from her chest, and allowing her to breathe more freely. He pinned her wrists above her head with one of his large hands, and pulled the handkerchief from her head with the other. Landi's chest heaved as she inhaled much needed oxygen.

  His jaw dropped and his eyes grew wide as a mass of red ringlets tumbled about her face. She watched the bluest eyes she'd ever seen return to their normal shape as the man regained his composure. Standing, he pulled her from the floor with a gentle tug. His warm smile began to put the girl at ease.

  "Sorry. That's quite a way to meet, isn't it? My name is James, and you are?" he said, his voice filled with lightness and friendship as he held both her hands in one of his.

  She shrunk from him. Katrina had warned her about Jim Crimshaw. The corners of his mouth twitched downward and his eyebrows knit together before recovering himself and flashing her a brilliant smile.

  "I believe my sister lives here. Where is Kate, anyway?" he said, cheerfully, glancing about the apartment. "Kate!" he yelled, heading toward the bedroom when the girl didn’t answer.

  The tiny apartment was shaped like a shoe box and divided in half lengthwise, between a living room and kitchen with an eating area shared by both on the far end. The entrance to the bedroom and master bath came at the back of the galley kitchen. She watched as he grabbed the jamb and leaned forward, popping his head into his sister's bedroom. His frame filled the doorway and she couldn't help but notice his powerful legs, and the muscles that rippled across his back just beneath his tight T-shirt.

  "Now, Landi, my brother is set to arrive any day. He's a wonderful sibling and all around nice guy, but he's on the rebound right now, and I don't want you to take anything he says or does too seriously. James is a bit of a ladies' man, so just keep that in mind. He's got a penchant for dating my friends and leaving broken hearts in his wake." Katrina's words echoed in Ireland's mind, as she began to tremble.

  She felt the nerves that went along with a close call, and couldn't control her shaking—being trapped alone with an attractive ladies' man didn't help. James's presence seemed to fill the apartment, leaving little room for her own. Moments before, she believed her life was about to end. Now, she sank into a kitchen chair and covered her face with her palms, fighting back tears.