The Texas Rebel [The Armstrong Brothers of Cedar Creek 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Rebecca Joyce

  Sitting next to her on the blanket that he put down, Mark smiled at the woman before him. She was extremely beautiful. With her auburn hair flowing around her in the bright sun, she looked almost ethereal, a mirage. When she smiled, he could actually feel his heart constrict and air leave his body as if she held every moment of his happiness within her.

  But every now and then, when she thought he wasn’t looking, a sad, haunting look shone in her eyes. Almost as if she carried the weight of the world within her, she would sigh, taking a deep breath, seemingly trying to gather her thoughts. She would then smile as if nothing was wrong, as if she was trying to divert the attention back to him.

  She was very good at deflecting. Whenever the conversation got too personal, she would ask about his brothers, his parents, his job, which he knew she hated talking about, anything to not answer the questions about herself. Determined to learn more about her, Mark knew he had his work cut out for him. She was shy and didn’t volunteer information as freely as he did, but there was something about her that intrigued him. She was a total mystery, an illusion, intriguing, and he wanted to know more. All he really knew about her was what she allowed him to know.

  She told him that her parents had died in a house fire five days before her twelfth birthday. She told him that she graduated from Washington State University, and had a job with a local publishing house in Seattle. She was an avid runner who enjoyed hiking and all outdoor activities. When she mentioned running in the Boston Marathon, Mark about choked.

  “That over twenty-six miles!” he exclaimed.

  “Really, you don‘t say.” She smiled.

  “And you finished?”

  “Yes. I ran it under three hours and twenty-six minutes.”

  “Holy shit.”

  Mark enjoyed his time coaxing every bit of information he could out of her. She appealed to him a way no other woman did. It wasn’t just the sexual attraction. She was his intellectual equal in ways. She carried herself well, and looked at life with open eyes. She was fearless, and she didn’t put up with any of his bullshit.

  He liked her. He liked her a lot.

  By day Friday, he couldn’t wait for practice to be over so he could head to the hotel, shower, and change. He left his hotel in by six in the morning and headed straight for the stadium. It was a long and grueling practice that was lasting longer than he planned. It took all he could muster not to walk off the field and leave. He found himself just going through the motions, agreeing with what the coach wanted. He wanted to be somewhere else. His head wasn’t in the game right now. He never had this problem focusing before, and figured it was just nerves, but still, that little nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach was bugging him. He knew whatever it was, he had to put it out of his head and concentrate.

  His team was once again lined up, and as he placed his hands under his linebacker, the ball was snapped. He grabbed the ball and stepped back three or four steps and stood. He waited for an open player, and when he couldn’t find one, he just kicked the ball toward the field goals as hard as he could. Everyone around him stopped and stared as the ball went right through the uprights.

  “Hey man, you trying out for a new position on the team?” a big burley linebacker named Moses Blakely asked, walking up to him.

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. You just scared the shit out Raymond over there,” Moses said, pointing to the team’s kicker. Mark looked around and realized that he was standing on the fifty-yard line, and had just managed to kick the ball half the length of the field. “Shit!” he cursed and walked off the field, kicking the turf as he went along.

  Bridget witnessed the whole act, and as soon as Mark walked over to the water table, she asked, “You okay?”

  “Bridge, can I say something?”

  “Shock me, say something intelligent,” she replied dryly, looking at her BlackBerry. When he didn’t respond, he watched as she looked up at him and sighed. “Sorry,what is it?” Mark didn’t waste any time explaining and when he was finished, Bridget just stared at him.

  “You’re serious!”

  “Please, Bridget.”

  “Oh this is just great! Now I’m your pimp!” She fumed as she walked off, still shouting as she began to dial numbers into her phone. Mark just smiled and went back to work, feeling a little more like himself.

  * * * *

  He wanted to surprise her. He had purchased two tickets to a concert near Edinburgh, finding out that one of his favorite groups was playing at the amphitheater. When he talked to Bridget, she made a few calls and snagged him box seats.

  He was whistling as he pulled the car to a stop in front of her house. He didn’t bother knocking and walked right in. All was quiet as he scanned the room. Taking a peek into her room, he found her still asleep. Whistling to himself, he quickly made coffee for her and walked into her room.

  There sprawled out across her bed, lying on her side fast asleep with just a T-shirt and a pair of scantily laced panties on, lay the woman he couldn’t figure out. Asleep, she looked peaceful, like nothing in the world could ever bother her or giver her concern. Asleep, that littleVabove her eyebrows relaxed, allowing for serenity to take over.

  She was sleeping peacefully today, no nightmares like the day they met. She just softly breathed in and out, allowing for the faintest of movements. Her face was angelic, almost childlike.

  He yearned to reach out and touch her.

  Moving closer, he gulped loudly as his feet turned to cement blocks. Her long legs curved around the comforter, giving him a glorious look at her bottom. Dear God! What a bottom it was, perfectly round and firm, and something to hold on to. A small strawberry birthmark was perfectly placed right above her right cheek. Mark wanted to reach out and kiss that lucky thing.

  She lay curled up on her side with a pillow tucked under her breast, as her hair fell across her face. Mark moved to the other side of the bed and knelt down, gently moving her hair away.

  “Hey, beautiful. Time to wake up,” he whispered.

  She didn’t move.

  “Sarah. Wakey wakey,” he tried again.

  Still nothing.

  “Humm,” he purred, “If you won’t wake up, I guess I will just have to join you, then,” he said a little louder with a devilish grin on his face.

  She heard him then. He watched as she opened one eye as he started to unbutton his jeans. “One more button, Mark, and you won’t have to worry about procreating anymore. I will cut that appendage off with a steak knife,” she whispered.

  His head popped up and he smiled. “Good mornin’, sunshine!” he said devilishly. “Get up. We have places to go and people to see,” he said, slapping her on her rump, laughing as he walked out.

  “Do you know how early it is?” she said, noticing it was still dark outside.

  “Yep. Come on, lazy bones. Get up before I really join you.” He chuckled.

  * * * *

  Mark took full advantage of having her out in town. He took her to lunch at a hotel that Bridget had recommended.

  “You’re rating at Dundas Castle?” she asked, amazed.

  “Yep, come on, let’s eat. I’m hungry,” he said, tugging her along.

  Sarah had never seen such wonderment in her life.

  Dundas Castle was located twenty minutes from Edinburgh. Located on over a thousand acres, the castle was one of Edinburgh’s most prized and unknown secrets. Built in 1818 by the renowned architect William Burn, the castle belonged to the Stewart-Clark family. With floor-to-ceiling windows, silk walls, and tapestries, Dundas Castle was an enchanting place hidden in the hills of Edinburgh.

  Mark smiled as he watched her take in all she could see. It pleased him that he could show her sights that amazed and awed her. Holding her hand, he led her into the Croquet Room, and soon they were seated. Dining on fine cuisine, Sarah had never tasted anything more delicious before in her life.

  Afterward they walked the grounds of the castle, admiring all of it
s beauty. With two hours to kill before the concert, Mark insisted that she have dinner with him at The Witchery by the Castle.

  Located in Edinburgh’s historical district, Sarah knew there was a dress code for that particular restaurant. She tried to persuade him that she had no problem cooking dinner, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

  “Mark. I can’t. I’m not dressed. Let me cook dinner, and then we can go to the concert,” she pleaded.

  “Not a chance, gorgeous. I finally have you out and about in my element. You are not going to chicken out on me now, are you? he questioned ruefully.

  “Fine, take me back home so I can get dressed.” She gave in.

  “No need, darlin’. I have taken care of everything.” He smiled.

  “What do you mean?” she asked skeptically.

  “You’ll see.” He chuckled.

  Driving back to the hotel, Mark walked up to the counter and asked the concierge for his room key. He took Sarah by the hand and led her up the spiral staircase to his suite. Once inside, she was surprised at the size of his room.

  Decorated in period pieces, the cream-colored walls were warm and inviting. The beautiful adorned furniture was something out of a time long forgotten, and thatbed. Sarah couldn’t take her eyes off it. The magnificent piece stole all the attention from the grandeur of the room. Soft ivory silk hung from the four-poster bed. A fluffy, white goose-down comforter blanketed the queen-size bed that was decorated with royal blue pillows. Sarah couldn’t help herself as she walked over to it and touched the bed.

  Mark walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear teasingly, “You know, we could skip the concert and try out the bed, if you want to.”

  Sarah just huffed and removed herself from his embrace. “You’re incorrigible, and you know that.”

  “What?” he replied, pretending to be hurt.

  Sarah looked at him ruefully and asked, “Why did you really bring me here?” She watched as he just smiled, walking into the other room and returning with a large box. He laid it down on the bed and backed away. “For you, gorgeous. Now if you will excuse me, I have to get changed myself,” he said, leaving and shutting the door closed behind him.

  Sarah turned to the large box on the bed and removed the lid. There under pink tissue paper was a soft-purple silk dress, stockings, and a pair of matching heels. She lifted the dress and was surprised to find it was the right size.

  She didn’t know what to do. Did he expect her to wear this tonight? She couldn’t possibly accept a gift like this. It was too expensive. More to the point, could she go back out into the public eye knowing what all it entailed?

  For the last couple of years, she had lived a relatively reclusive lifestyle. She worked diligently, blending in with her surroundings so she could live a normal life. And for the most part it worked. She knew Mark must have gone all out to show his appreciation, and she liked that about him, but it was unnecessary. She didn’t need moonlight and roses.

  Her life was simple and stress-free, something she worked really hard to achieve, and now, in less than a week, confusion and uncertainty had invaded her thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, she could have a personal life and still step out into the world once in a while. It was something she was never able to achieve early in her career, but going from one extreme to the next just wasn’t working anymore.

  She had learned from Mark that his job was high profile. He was constantly in the spotlight. His every action was dissected in the media, something she could definitely relate to, but never said. But yet, he managed to have both a career and a private life.

  The only thing she wanted to know was how he handled it when the two clashed together. For her it was a total catastrophe, with pictures, headlines, and her life’s story being played over and over again. It was cruel, and she wanted none of it ever again.

  She turned around, thinking he might be watching, but the door remained closed. With the dress still in her hand, she sat on the bed wondering what to do. A small knock at the door brought her out of her fog.

  “Yes?”

  “Ma’am, my name is Beth. I am here to help you get dressed,” the jolly voice said through the door. Confused, Sarah got up and opened the door.

  There, standing with a small suitcase and a white garment bag in her hand, was a woman in her early forties with soft graying red hair. The woman smiled, and when she did so, Sarah could see the realization in her eyes. Sarah stiffened and waited.

  “Oh my God. I know you,” Beth said, walking closer to her.

  Sarah tried to hush the giddy woman. “Yes. Please come in,” she said quickly, grabbing the woman’s arms and pulling her into the room before she alerted the whole hotel.

  “Ms. Mitchell, it’s sure an honor to meet you. I had no idea it was you. They just told me it was some woman who needed some help getting dressed. If I had known it was you, I would have brought a better selection of cosmetics.”

  Sarah was really confused now. “What?” She watched Beth set her things about the room, and when she turned, she had pulled out a chair and motioned for Sarah to sit.

  “I am here to get you ready. Wait till my daughter hears I got to help the one and only Sarah Mitchell,” she said, flabbergasted.

  “Oh please, don’t tell anyone I’m here. Please, I beg you,” Sarah pleaded. She watched the woman wink at her.

  “Sure thing, Ms. Mitchell. I know how hard it must be for you sometimes. It will be our secret. Come, let’s get you ready.”

  Sarah did as she was told.

  * * * *

  Mark was waiting patiently, sitting in the drawing room. Thinking over the last few days, he realized that he had never been this relaxed or had so much fun before in his life. Sarah was a pure joy to be around. She always seemed to amaze him from one moment to the next. They had enjoyed long walks and quiet evenings in front of the fire, and they talked, a lot!

  He had never talked so much before in his life. He felt like some giddy schoolboy who had just met a new best friend. He found himself telling her things that he had never told anyone, even Mitchell. It wasn’t that he felt obligated to tell her. He just wanted her to know him, the real him. He needed her to understand him and to see him clearly. He wanted Sarah to see the real him, a side of him that only a few people saw.

  He liked the simplicity between them. They moved around each other as if they were one. She could tell when he was thinking of his family, work, or even her. He could also read her just as well. There were times when she would drift off, and he knew she was remembering something unpleasant. Sometimes her face would look so serene, and he knew she was content and happy. Her face lit up when she got excited about some little adventure she wanted to try to talk him into doing with her. She had a cute playfulness about her, almost childlike.

  Sitting there, Mark remembered this morning when he walked in on her sleeping peacefully in her bed, and then shock swept through him.

  He hadn’t kissed her!

  Not even once.

  Holy crap! That had to be a first. It was so unlike him, and he knew it. Generally by hour one, not only had he kissed a girl, but he was well onto second base, and by the night’s end he had her in his bed.

  “I haven’t had sex for a week!” he exclaimed. That comprehension floored him.

  Getting to his feet and pacing the room, he couldn’t stop his conscience from fighting the sexual demon inside him.What the hell is wrong with you? She’s a woman, you ass. Yeah, she’s different than the others, but damn it, man, get a grip. Take that woman to bed! You know what to do. You have become a master at persuasion. Seduce the lady and have your fun. You know you want to. Just do it already. What are you waiting for, a written invitation?Mark quickly shook the thoughts from his head.

  Just calm yourself. Sarah isn’t like those others. She makes you feel alive. She is more to you than a one-night stand. You will hate yourself if you hurt her, and you know it. Just be patient. She will let you know whe
n she is ready. She has become a good friend to you. Don’t go and blow it now.Mark took a deep breath.

  He was so damn confused. He walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. Nursing a scotch, the bedroom door opened, exactly at seven p.m.

  He turned, holding his breath.

  Sarah was as nervous as a cat in a dog pen. She took a deep breath and walked into the drawing room. She saw Mark standing near the bar, dressed in a dark navy-blue suit. His golden blonde hair was washed and styled. His face was cleanly shaved, and he looked utterly handsome.

  Mark couldn’t breathe. She was stunning. He had made the right choice. The purple dress was perfect. The soft-purple silk baby-doll dress fell softly to her knees. Hugging her waist, it accentuated every luscious curve of her body. Her heels gave her beautiful, athletic legs smoothness to them, but it was her expression that caught his attention. Wearing little makeup, she looked mystical, almost as if he blinked she would just disappear. She was a rare beauty that comes around only once in a lifetime, and she was standing there before him, waiting.

  He couldn’t help himself. Laying the glass back on the bar, he walked over to her and kissed her cheek. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world. Thank you for indulging me.”

  “You’re welcome.” She blushed.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. As if on cue, Beth walked into the room carrying a white cashmere coat. Mark took it from her and helped Sarah put it on. They left the room together, arm in arm, and Mark felt like flying.

  * * * *

  It was late as Mark drove Sarah home. She was asleep in the front seat, exhausted.

  They had had a wonderful evening, a memorable one, Mark thought. He couldn’t remember having a better time.

  They had left the hotel and dined at The Witchery by the Castle.

  Located in a historic sixteenth-century building at the gates of Edinburgh Castle, the Witchery was a magical hideaway. Walking through the narrow alley and down the candlelit stairs into a Gothic fairy tale of The Secret Garden dining room, they were seated immediately. Sarah noticed almost instantly they were alone.