Cute and spunky. Delaney gave a mental groan. She’d never minded being described as cute or spunky until she met Cisco. But she knew his type was long legged and sophisticated, like Rachel Robinson. He’d never be truly interested in someone like Delaney and the knowledge grated on her nerves.
“I’ve got to go.” She chucked her brother on the shoulder. “Thanks for having my back with Stacey. I know she means well but everywhere I turn, a sibling wants to set me up with a friend. I can handle my own life, you know?”
“I know.” Christopher’s smile was gentle. “I felt the same way.”
Cisco took a step forward. “Actually, I forgot something I need to take care of this afternoon. Christopher, is it okay if I text you later this week to set up a meeting?”
“Sure thing,” her brother answered. His cell phone rang and he glanced down. “This is a call I’ve been expecting. I’ll talk to you both later.”
Delaney didn’t wait for Cisco. She pushed her way out into the bright afternoon sunlight. The heels of her boots clicked on the sidewalk as she walked toward the truck she’d parked two blocks down. But within a few steps, Cisco’s long-legged strides matched hers.
“I don’t need an escort,” she told him, flipping her sunglasses onto the bridge of her nose. “You told Christopher you need to take care of something. Go for it.”
“Slow down, Flapjack.”
“Don’t call me that.” Delaney whirled around, pointing her finger at Cisco. “I can’t stand it when my brothers use that name. There’s no way I’m letting you get away with it.”
“Sorry,” Cisco said with a slow wink. “I think it’s cute.”
Delaney stomped her foot, actually stomped her boot on the sidewalk. “Cute,” she spit out. “Next you’re going to add spunky.”
“Well...” Cisco flashed a smile. He pointed the toe of his boot toward hers. “Now that you mention it.”
“Don’t you dare.” Delaney jabbed her finger into his chest, growing frustrated when he didn’t move an inch. She’d been admiring all that lean muscle for the past week, but now his strength only fueled her anger.
“Have dinner with me,” Cisco said gently, wrapping his own fingers around hers.
The invitation should have thrilled her, but she was too irritated to appreciate it. She didn’t want to be one of the legions of Cisco Mendoza fans.
“No.”
He chuckled. “Come on, Delaney. You know you want to go out with me.”
Chapter Five
Delaney spun around, walking away. Never in his life had a woman turned her back on him. Cisco found her willingness to leave him in the dust made him want her all the more. Delaney was more than a distraction. He cared for her and right now he couldn’t stand the idea that he’d somehow, even if inadvertently, hurt her. By the time he truly registered the meaning of that, she was halfway down the block.
Cisco ran to catch up, reaching her just as she was stepping off the curb to cross the street. “Delaney, wait.” He reached for her but stopped when she slapped at his hand, not breaking her stride. “I’m sorry,” he told her.
At that she stopped and turned to him. “Sorry for what?” The way her eyes narrowed gave him pause.
Cisco was pretty sure this was a test, one he couldn’t afford to fail. There was no doubt he had a line for every occasion. He’d been cultivating the gift of sweet-talking women since he’d first noticed girls. But when he answered Delaney’s question, he tried a new tactic—the truth.
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I care about you, Delaney. Please have dinner with me.”
“So you can learn more about the Fortunes?”
“I want to learn more about you.”
She studied him for a long moment. “Where would you take me?”
“My place. Let me cook for you.”
“You cook?”
“I’ve been known to occasionally.” He flashed her a smile, rewarded when one side of her mouth quirked. “Please, Delaney. It’s obvious you don’t want people to know we’ve been spending time together. I heard what you told your sister when she asked about the necklace.” Now he couldn’t resist. With the tip of one finger, he traced the delicate gold at her throat.
Her breath hitched in response and her blue eyes darkened, but her gaze didn’t waver from his. He loved her bravery.
“I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about us,” she told him, her voice a whisper.
“What’s the wrong idea?”
“That this is anything more than you meeting my conditions in order to help you with a business deal.”
“What if I want it to be more?” He lifted his hand from her neck and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
She shook her head. “We have a temporary arrangement, Cisco. That’s all it is.”
He didn’t believe she meant those words. He wanted to pull her into his arms and prove how wrong she was. To show her what she meant to him. But Delaney deserved more—she deserved to be treasured and cherished. For once in his life, Cisco was going to be the man who did the right thing. The thought that the best thing he could do was tell her the entire truth of the situation niggled in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away.
“Will you come to dinner?” he asked again. “Please.”
She squeezed shut her eyes as if debating with herself. “Fine,” she answered after a moment, opening them again. “Tomorrow night.”
“Whenever you want,” he agreed.
“Do you ever not get your way?” She sounded irritated but a trace of a smile played at the corner of her lips.
“Not if I can help it.” He bent forward and dropped a quick kiss on the tip of her nose. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Delaney.”
* * *
Delaney heard voices as she came down the steps in her parents’ house and saw Stacey’s car in the driveway. “I’m taking off, Mom,” she called, heading for the front door. “I won’t be late.” The last thing Delaney wanted was to be grilled by her sister tonight.
“Where are you going looking so nice?”
Her sister walked out from the kitchen along with their mother. Delaney smoothed a hand over the pale blue sundress that grazed her knees. It was one of her favorites and tonight she’d paired it with cream-colored cowboy boots and beaded earrings she’d borrowed from her mother.
“She has a date,” Jeanne Marie said with a smile.
“A date with who?” Stacey asked the same time Delaney said, “It’s not a date, Mom.”
“Cisco Mendoza,” her mother answered. “He’s been working at the ranch for the past couple of weeks. He and your sister have grown close.”
“We’re friends,” Delaney insisted, feeling color rise to her cheeks.
“I knew it,” Stacey said, flashing a triumphant smile. “I knew something was going on when I saw the two of you at Christopher’s office.”
“Nothing is going on,” Delaney insisted. “He’s new to town and doesn’t know a lot of people.”
Stacey laughed. “Somehow I don’t think Cisco would have a problem finding companionship, especially of the female variety.”
“He cares about your sister,” Jeanne Marie said, wrapping her arm around Stacey’s waist. “It’s sweet the way he looks at her.”
“Sweet,” Stacey repeated, her smile widening.
“It’s only dinner.” Delaney grabbed her purse from the hall table, then turned to her mother. “How does he look at me?”
“Like you are precious to him.”
Delaney’s hand stilled as she met her mother’s knowing gaze. Even Stacey fell quiet. That was exactly how Delaney wanted Cisco to look at her. The fact that her mother believed it to be true gave her a boost in confidence that made her anticipate this night in an entirely different way.
&nb
sp; “I won’t be late,” she said, her voice shaking the tiniest bit.
“Wait a second,” Stacey said before she turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
Jeanne Marie stepped toward Delaney when it was just the two of them. “You are precious, sweetie. My greatest wish is that you have someone in your life who makes you feel that every day. I’ve wished that for all of my children.”
Stacey returned, digging through her purse as she walked. “Here, take this.” She held out a tube of lip gloss to Delaney. “I got a new color last week. It’ll look great on you.”
Suddenly Delaney was transported back to high school, sharing secrets, makeup and a bathroom with her sister as they got ready on a Friday night. It reminded her of how lucky she was to be a part of this family, to be surrounded by so many people who loved her—even if their brand of love could feel smothering at times. They only wanted what was best for her.
For what seemed like the millionth time in the past several days, Delaney wondered if Cisco could be it.
She hugged her mother and Stacey, then headed to her truck. Her parents’ ranch was several miles outside of town, so it took her about twenty minutes to make it to the address Cisco had texted her earlier. Delaney parked at the curb of the small house he’d rented near downtown.
The door opened just as she reached the top step of the porch. Cisco greeted her with a wide smile. “You look beautiful as always,” he told her, his gaze warming her from head to toe.
Even though she knew it was probably just another one of his well-practiced lines, the deep tone of his voice made Delaney shiver. He took a step back to allow her through the door, but she paused. She felt suddenly shy, as if this night was going to change something big in her life.
Cisco didn’t say anything. He stood watching her, waiting for her to choose. Doubt flickered in his eyes, only for a moment, but it made all the difference to her. Because that trace of vulnerability, the chink in his worldly armor, made her know that she wasn’t alone in her feelings. Cisco was as affected by whatever was going on between them as she was, and for all his confidence, he didn’t know quite how to handle her.
She had to believe she was more than just another conquest for him, that she was special. She took a step forward and his gaze softened. Her breath caught in her throat. Her mother was right. He looked at her as if she was precious. Even if what they had was temporary, Delaney wanted to revel in the way he made her feel. She wanted to be precious to him.
“You look pretty good yourself, Mr. Mendoza,” she said as she came toward him. Tonight he wore a dark gray shirt rolled to his elbows with jeans and his cowboy boots. His Miami style was melding with the Western influence of Horseback Hollow and the results made her stomach dance with desire.
He took her hand in his and lifted it, grazing his mouth across her knuckles. “I hope you’re hungry,” he whispered, his dark eyes intense.
A mix of nerves and excitement had Delaney bursting out with laughter. “You can save the lines for another girl, Cisco. I don’t need them.”
He shook his head, but instead of being irritated at her rebuff, he gave her a genuine smile. “That hurts.” He nipped at the tips of her fingers before releasing her hand. “You, Delaney Fortune Jones, are the worst thing that’s happened to my ego in years.”
Looking at Cisco, all masculine swagger wrapped up in a delicious package, she couldn’t imagine anything wounding him. “I’m sure your ego will survive.”
She wondered if the same could be said for her heart.
“Please come all the way in, mi cielo. I do hope you’re hungry.” He followed her into the house, leaning forward over her shoulder. “Although to hear your brother tell it, you always have an appetite.”
“My brother exaggerates. Sort of.”
Cisco laughed again and Delaney relaxed. As much as she found her physical attraction to him unsettling, Delaney simply liked being around Cisco. He made her smile, made her feel intelligent and interesting. But his true motives were still a bit of a mystery, and she wanted to know more about him. Her gaze traveled around the house to see if the interior gave her any clues to the man. Something smelled wonderful, rich and spicy, and she automatically headed toward the kitchen.
“This place is nice,” she said as she walked through an open living room.
Cisco shrugged. “It came furnished, which is fine since my stay in Horseback Hollow is temporary. I had a few things flown in from Miami to make it more comfortable while I’m here.”
Light spilled into the homey kitchen. A cherry-patterned wallpaper covered the walls and lace curtains hung on either side of a window in the breakfast nook. The kitchen table was made of oak, solid and a little worn. The cabinets were a faded cream color with colorful tiles on the counters.
It was what filled the counters that made her stop in her tracks. “Is this a kitchen or a science lab?”
She turned to Cisco, who’d come to stand next to her looking genuinely confused. “What do you mean?”
She walked to the far counter, tracing her fingers across the stainless steel machines situated in a neat row along the wall. “All of this stuff.” She pointed to a huge steel contraception with more control buttons than her truck had. “What in the world is that used for?”
“It’s a coffeemaker.”
“We have a coffeemaker at the ranch. That looks more like a flight simulator.”
“I told you,” he said, moving to the stove to stir something in a large pot. “I had some things flown in from Miami. A good cup of coffee is important in the morning.”
“Did you work at Starbucks in a past life?” she wondered out loud.
He chuckled. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Sure, thanks.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the upscale appliances. There was an industrial-size blender and another machine she didn’t even recognize.
“It’s a juicer,” Cisco told her as he took a pitcher from the refrigerator.
“Right.” Some of her doubts about this evening returned. She was a simple cowgirl, a native Texan and proud of it. Yes, she liked Cisco. She was attracted to him. But could it be anything more than that? He was sophisticated and used to the finer things in life. Delaney had no use for fancy frills. Family, friends, her horse and some good food made her happy. She had no intention of changing who she was but worried that at the end of the day, she wouldn’t be enough for a man like Cisco.
“Stop.” His voice broke through her musings. He was next to her at the counter, standing so close she could see the shadow of stubble on his jaw. He handed her a glass but linked his fingers with hers for a moment when she took it from him. “They’re appliances, Delaney. They don’t mean anything.”
She wasn’t certain she agreed. “Your wine has fruit in it.”
He nodded. “It’s actually sangria. It’s my mother’s recipe. She made it on special occasions. Gabi, my brothers and I loved to watch the fruit soak, although we were never allowed a sip.” He shrugged his shoulders, suddenly looking unsure. “Actually, everything tonight is food my mom loved. I don’t normally cook family recipes for...well, for anyone outside the family. But I thought you’d like it.”
She took a sip of the dark pink drink. “The sangria is a good start.”
“Wait until you try the picadillo. I’ve adjusted it a bit from my mom’s recipe to give it a more Cuban flavor. Food is a big perk about living in Miami. There are so many ethnicities in the city and the food reflects that mix.”
Delaney swallowed a bit nervously. She wasn’t usually adventurous with food. Her idea of a perfect meal was the grilled cheese sandwich at the Horseback Hollow Grill, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Cisco.
“What can I do to help?” she asked, looking around the kitchen.
“You can stand there and look gorgeous.”
> She shook her head. “I’m not exactly the stand-around type.”
“Really?” He quirked a brow. “I hadn’t noticed.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Let me help.”
“If you’d like, you can set the table. There are plates and silverware ready to go on the edge of the counter.”
“Lucky for you I have years of experience with table setting.”
She put out the plates, forks and knives, then found napkins in a lower drawer.
By the time she was finished, Cisco was bringing a large bowl of rice and another with a savory mix of meat, peppers and onions all in a tomato-based sauce. She had to admit it looked and smelled amazing.
He pulled out a chair and she sat, spreading her napkin across her lap.
Before joining her, he took a lighter out of a drawer and lit two candles in the middle of the table.
“Nice touch,” she told him.
He sat across from her and lifted his glass. “To new friends and new adventures.”
Their glasses clinked and Delaney didn’t bother to hide her smile. She was ready for a new adventure with Cisco Mendoza.
Chapter Six
Cisco realized he was holding his breath as he watched Delaney take her first bite of the meal. He rarely cooked at home anymore. Most of the women he dated expected to be wined and dined, always wanting a table at the hottest new restaurant in Miami. Cisco had never minded. Part of his job was to be seen by investors as a power player and securing an unattainable reservation added to his status.
For Delaney he wanted something different. He wanted to show her who he truly was, not the mask he’d created for his public persona. He was proud to be the son of Orlando and Luz Mendoza and happy that, for once, his character seemed to matter more than his reputation.
Her eyes drifted shut as she chewed and he leaned forward, trying to gauge her reaction. After a moment her eyes popped open again. “This is amazing.” She looked from her plate to him. “You really made this?”
“No, I had it flown in from South Beach.”
The Taming of Delaney Fortune (The Fortunes of Texas: Cowboy Country) Page 6