Kiss Me, Chloe

by George, Linda

  A man who couldn’t handle his own wife had no business trying to handle a large company—at least that’s what his boss believed. Chloe wasn’t his wife, but that didn’t matter to Marston. If Greg came back without Chloe, he’d have some serious explaining to do. One way or another, he had to convince her to return to Houston—if only to get the rest of her clothes.

  Rules were made to be broken in love and war—and this had turned out to be war.

  Chloe sighed and leaned back. “We have to stop.”

  “Or finish it. But I sense you aren’t ready for that yet.”

  Chloe thought about it, really thought about it. “You’re right. As long as Greg is in Ouray, I’m not free of him. When we make love, Kyle, I want it to be with no distractions.”

  He loved the sound of that and nodded.

  “I promised Byrdie I’d take it easy with you, but when you kiss me like that, I’m no better than a randy teenage boy, with only one thing on my mind.” He ran his fingers through tendrils of hair on her forehead and framing her cheeks.

  She turned her head and kissed the palm of his hand. “I don’t seem to be able to put it all behind me. It hasn’t been that long since I left Houston.”

  “Chloe, don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s something I have to know.”

  “What?”

  “When I kiss you, and you close your eyes, I can’t help wondering who you’re thinking about.”

  Her heart ached a little at the confession. “Kyle, I want you to remember something about me. Promise you won’t forget.”

  “I promise.”

  “If I were thinking about Greg, I’d be kissing Greg. When I kiss you, I’m thinking about you. And when you kiss me …” She touched her lips lightly. “You’re the only man on the face of the earth.”

  His smile warmed her heart.

  “Come here, darlin’.”

  She rested her head on his chest, loving his arms around her, lying side by side.

  <><><>

  Heading for his room a few minutes later, Kyle stopped to catch his breath and try to clear his head. He heard the front door and moved to the top of the stairs and saw Greg coming toward the stairs. Kyle met him halfway down and blocked his way, keeping him in the living room. Staring at the man who stood between him and the woman he wanted more than anything in the world, a heavy silence hung between them until Greg spoke.

  “This is no game, Stanton.”

  “Nope. I love her.” Kyle could see the words bore into Greg’s gut like a white hot poker—exactly the response he’d hoped for. “I’m not saying that Chloe loves me yet. But she could love me if you weren’t in the picture, keeping her confused. So, I’m giving it to you straight. I intend to convince her I’m the man who’ll do right by her for the rest of her life. I’ll use any means, short of violence.”

  “We agreed the best man should win.”

  “The best man.”

  “Give it your best shot, truck driver.” He pushed past Kyle and went straight up the stairs to Chloe’s room.

  Kyle followed. He wasn’t about to leave Greg alone with Chloe now.

  Greg knocked. “Chloe?”

  She came to the door, hoping her cheeks weren’t still flushed. When she saw the expression on the two men’s faces, she felt cold inside. Something had happened, and it wasn’t good.

  “All bets are off,” Greg said. “The game’s over. It’s every man for himself from now on.”

  “I see.” So the game had changed to a contest, with Chloe as the spoils of war. “You’ve settled things between you. That’s just fine. But don’t expect me to participate in this little war because I won’t.”

  “You promised you’d go with me to the festival tomorrow,” Kyle reminded her.

  Chloe was through being treated like a piece of furniture. “I’m going with Byrdie. The two of you—can go together.” She closed the door and listened to see if there would be any further discussion.

  Two sets of footsteps went in two different directions—down the hall and down the stairs. Negotiations had ceased.

  The war had begun.

  Chapter 13

  The Fourth dawned hazy. Misty pearl gray clouds burned off with the arrival of the sun, promising a glorious day. Chloe dressed in white jeans and a red and white striped blouse to echo the patriotic theme of the festival. She intended to have a good time, with or without Greg and Kyle. Although, spending an entire day without Kyle’s sappy grin wouldn’t be her first choice.

  She brushed her glossy hair back into a pony tail, added a red bow, then skipped down the stairs into the kitchen, humming, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

  Byrdie, frying pancakes at the stove, joined in all the way to the end of the chorus. “My, but you’re sounding happy this morning!” She reached for a platter, already stacked high with steaming pancakes, and added several more from the griddle.

  “Where’s Kyle this morning?”

  “He went to the grocery store for me. He asked for French toast this morning, but forgot to get powdered sugar yesterday. I haven’t seen Greg. Are you expecting him?”

  “I have no idea what his plans are for the day. When do you expect Kyle to get back?”

  “Right now, darlin’.” Kyle came through the back door with a bag of groceries under each arm. “I got everything on the list, plus a few goodies.” He pulled out half a dozen kinds of cookies, bananas, apples, oranges, and two half-gallons of ice cream—pecan praline and chocolate chip. “With all the baking you’ve been doing, I thought an easy dessert might be in order for tonight. Whata ya think?”

  Byrdie beamed at him, then at Chloe. “Isn’t he the most thoughtful nephew an aunt could ask for?” She kissed his cheek, then pinched it. “What a face. How could anyone resist that face?”

  “With no trouble at all.” Greg appeared at the door with a cool expression for Kyle, a nod to Byrdie, and a tentative smile for Chloe. “Just thought I’d stop by and see if you’d changed your mind. Would you like to have an escort today?”

  “Thanks, but Byrdie and I are going to the parade. Are the two of you going to enter any of the contests this afternoon?”

  Greg eyed Kyle with a peculiar glint in his eyes. “Of course we are. And I’m going to beat him so bad, he won’t be able to hold up his head in this town for a month.”

  “That so?” Kyle never blinked. “We’ll have to see about that. It’ll be hard to beat Greg at the Cow Patty Toss. He’s had so much more experience at slinging—”

  “Kyle!” Chloe warned him.

  He hushed.

  Byrdie’s eyes brightened with mischief. “I can’t wait to see you two after the pie-eating contest.”

  “Well, then, let’s get going!” Kyle hugged Byrdie. “Are you ready?”

  “Not quite. I have to get lunch a little farther along. With Chloe to help, we should be leaving here in about fifteen minutes.”

  Chloe nodded approvingly. So far, so good. She might feel like doing some final “sorting” tomorrow, keeping those feelings and emotions that rang true and discarding the rest, if the guys could just keep things congenial today. It was asking too much, though, and she knew it. They were like boiling kettles with the lids dancing, looking for any excuse to blow their lids. Right now, the last thing she needed was an explosion. She knew how Greg handled stress. She needed to see if Kyle could hold it together under fire.

  Greg made a big deal of checking his watch.

  “Worried about missing the parade?” she asked, knowing he had a reason for the blatant gesture.

  “Nope. I have a date. I’ll see you later.”

  Speechless, they watched him leave with a jaunty spring in his step.

  Byrdie was first to break the silence. “Did he say a date?”

  Kyle couldn’t help grinning like a possum. “He certainly did. I wonder who he suckered?”

  Chloe didn’t offer a comment. Seeing Greg with Ellen had been shocking. The last thing she expected was to see him flau
nt being with another woman. It didn’t add up, no matter which way she tried to sort it out.

  What bothered her about it was the effect his cocky pronouncement had on the pit of her stomach. As much as she wanted to think Greg could no longer control her or any part of her life, it obviously wasn’t true. And that realization made her angry.

  Kyle nudged her elbow. “This means you’re free to be my date for the day, if you’ll do me the honor.”

  Her throat too tight to speak, she nodded.

  Kyle led her to the living room where they could talk privately. “You know what he’s doing, don’t you?”

  She frowned. “I’m not sure.”

  “He’s trying to make you jealous so you’ll realize it doesn’t matter that he messed around, or that he’s dating someone he met yesterday. He wants you to go crying to him, begging him to forget about everyone else because you still love him.”

  “He wouldn’t do that. Would he?”

  “In a Houston minute. Don’t let this little stunt fool you, darlin’. The best thing you can do is nothing. Don’t react, unless it’s with a smile. If you ignore his little stunt, it’ll drive him crazy.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  Kyle took a deep breath. Greg’s little ploy had already done what he wanted it to do. If only Kyle could convince her to call Greg’s fishy bluff, this could be the turning point.

  After a long moment, Chloe took a deep breath. “I promised Byrdie I’d go with her, and that’s what I’m going to do. There’s no law that prevents you from tagging along with us. In fact, I’d be happy for you to do just that. We could use some help this afternoon, carrying all those pies, if you happen to be around, with nothing better to do. Two can play this little game.”

  Kyle wanted to sing and shout! “As a matter of fact, my plans for the day are completely open.”

  Byrdie leaned around the corner. “I’m not going to be ready as soon as I thought. You two go on and I’ll catch up.” Her grin stretched much wider than her simple pronouncement accounted for.

  “That’s because I’m not in there helping.” She went to the kitchen and tried to pitch in, but Byrdie had her mind made up. Chloe gave in gracefully and returned to the living room, telling Byrdie, “We’ll be back to help with those pies. Call when you’re ready.” She reached into her purse, pulled out her cell phone, and turned it on. No messages from Greg.

  “It would seem you and I are fated to spend the morning together, Darlin’. Shall we?”

  With a smile, she hooked her arm through his and they headed for Main Street.

  <><><>

  Red, white, and blue streamers hung from every house and building in town. A banner, stretched across the street from lamppost to lamppost, with letters drawn to resemble U.S. flags, declared Ouray’s Festival of the Fourth. Everyone in town seemed to be dressed in red, white, and blue. Chloe’s excitement built when the local high school band played a medley of patriotic songs.

  Population of the mountain village had quadrupled within the past forty-eight hours. With the festivities planned, it promised to be a fun-filled day, with temperatures forecast in the high seventies, sunny and clear.

  Before the parade started, the Mayor led everyone in singing, “America the Beautiful,” and “America,” then gave a three-minute talk on patriotism and celebrating the freedom they enjoyed in the greatest nation on earth. He concluded by leading everyone in the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the raising of the flag, and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

  The parade was beginning when Greg appeared, his arm linked with a striking brunette with a smile as bright as the sun above.

  Kyle held Chloe’s hand, squeezing her fingers rhythmically. After recognizing who Greg was with, Kyle grinned. The fish salesman had no idea who he’d hooked up with. If Kyle had known, he might’ve put a bug in Cindy’s ear, to make sure Greg had a “memorable” day. Maybe he’d have a chance to clue her in later.

  “Hey, Cindy! What’s cooking at the Barn Door?”

  “Kyle Stanton! Give me a hug before I get my feelings hurt, you handsome trucker, you! I figured you’d be here this weekend, but when I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of your sorry carcass—“

  Kyle picked Cindy up and swung her around, both of them laughing. When he set her back on her feet, he planted a brotherly kiss on her cheek.

  Greg didn’t seem the least bit happy about the reception Kyle had gotten from Cindy, but he didn’t say a word.

  “Cindy, I want you to meet Chloe Llewellyn. She’s just moved to Ouray from Houston.” Kyle’s eyes sparkled when he turned to Chloe.

  Cindy shook Chloe’s hand warmly, then gave her a hug, her smile brilliant, cheeks glowing. “I’m so glad to see someone new moving to Ouray! We’ll have to have lunch so I can tell you all the naughty things I know about Kyle, like playing doctor when Aunt Byrdie and my mother weren’t looking. Then you can tell me what he’s been up to lately when he was supposed to have been calling to tell me he was in town. I may never get over the slight.” Her sigh, exaggerated and melodramatic, brought nothing but smiles—except from Greg, whose mouth had tightened into a flat line.

  “I haven’t known Kyle that long,” Chloe said, thoroughly charmed with Greg’s date. “We met in Albuquerque, about a week ago.”

  “Honey, when you’ve known Kyle Stanton for an hour, you know practically everything there is to know. Goodness knows, I’ve been trying to get him to carry me off to his ranch house in the clouds for years, but I guess I’m too much like his sister for that to happen.”

  Kyle nodded. “Bratty little sister, at that.”

  So this was the “sister” Kyle mentioned at the ice cream parlor. Chloe loved her already.

  Cindy suddenly remembered Greg. “Where are my manners? This is Greg Reynolds. We met yesterday at the store. He begged to be my beau for the day. Sweet person that I am, I just couldn’t say no. Greg, meet Chloe and Kyle.”

  Chloe summoned every bit of control she possessed and smiled at Greg. “We already know each other—from Houston.”

  “That’s right! Greg told me he was in town visiting a friend. What luck! The four of us can spend the day together—if that’s all right with you, of course, sugar.” She gave Greg’s arm a squeeze.

  “Whatever pleases you is fine with me.” Greg gave her a forced smile, patted her back, then slipped his arm around her and squeezed her waist.

  Chloe almost burst out laughing at the show Greg was putting on. Kyle had been right about everything. Thanks to Greg’s giving away the surprise at Byrdie’s this morning, she’d been prepared. The joke was on Greg, though, for choosing Kyle’s “sister” as his date. Greg had to be steamed over that little mistake in his plan.

  Cindy talked on and on about what they could expect today, and who, among her friends would be competing in the events.

  “You guys have to get registered! Come on, sugar. I’ll show you where to sign so you can show Kyle who’s the best spitter in Ouray. I have a feeling you’re going to be great at tossing patties, too.”

  “Lead the way, honey. I’m all yours for the day.”

  Cindy wrinkled her nose at him. “My, but I love the sound of that. Kyle, don’t you dare say a word to Darrin, you hear me?”

  Kyle shrugged. “Darrin who? I don’t know any truckers from Fort Worth named Darrin.”

  “See what I mean about thinking he’s my older brother?” Cindy led Greg away. “I’m dry as dirt. Let’s see if we can’t scare up something cold to drink, whata ya say?”

  Kyle chuckled, watching them go. “She’s a pistol.”

  “She’s wonderful. Have you known her all your life?”

  “Since I turned six. She was new in Ouray and Byrdie invited her to my birthday party so she’d get to know all the village idiots, starting with me. We’ve been buddies ever since.”

  “I’m surprised your friendship never turned into something more serious.”

  “You don’t fall in love with your sister, and that�
��s what she’s been to me all my life. She knows I’d take Darrin to the cleaners if he treated her wrong—and he knows it, too.”

  “Tell me about Darrin.”

  “We went to high school together in Fort Worth, then ended up trucking for the same firm after I’d detoured through stocks and bonds. I introduced him to Cindy one summer when he came to Ouray for the Fourth. I warned him ahead of time to be good to her or I’d have something to say about it.”

  “But you weren’t really worried, were you?”

  “Nope. If I had been, he never would’ve met her.” Kyle kept staring across the crowd, even though Cindy and Greg had disappeared from sight.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I just don’t want Cindy getting any wrong ideas. When she smiles at Greg, my blood boils.”

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. You may be underestimating Cindy. She seems pretty savvy to me. And, I think you’re right. He’s doing this to make me jealous, only it didn’t work. I can see his anger behind that forced smile.”

  “You’re not going to let him know you’re jealous, is that it?”

  She pulled him down to whisper in his ear. “It won’t work, because I’m not jealous.”

  He stood up fast, hearing that. “You’re not joshing me, are you?”

  “I was stunned that he’d stoop to such a childish stunt, but that’s all. No jealousy and no hurt feelings. He just surprised me.” More than surprise. Relief. “I’m glad he’s going to be occupied with Cindy today.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “It gives me the chance to spend the day with Byrdie’s favorite fellow. And Cindy’s older brother.”

  Kyle leaned back and let loose a war whoop similar to others being heard on the street. “I’m dry as dirt, too. Whata ya say we find something cold to drink?”

  Byrdie arrived, completely out of breath but grinning ear to ear. She disappeared immediately into a cluster of ladies, laughing and chattering.

  Chloe couldn’t believe how many floats there were in the parade. For a full half hour, they watched and pointed, laughed and exclaimed over the entries. Some were elaborate, while others clearly had been thrown together in someone’s garage, but all were festive, trailing red, white and blue streamers by the mile.