“Beau!”
“Okay, this isn’t the time to make jokes. I know you’re not that kind of woman. I knew it that night, too, even as drunk and irresponsible as I was. I wasn’t so drunk that I didn’t know it was your first time. It surprised me, but we were both so… involved… so hot. I couldn’t have stopped if there had been a pistol stuck in my ear. I’d just have said for them to go ahead and blow my brains out, but to please wait until I finished the best night of my life. Katy is important to me. But so are you, and I think this is part of the courting process.” He leaned forward until his lips met hers.
The impact went from her lips to the pit of her stomach and down her jelly-filled legs to the Oklahoma dirt where she stood. She had the urge to reach out and hold on to his pickup fender just to keep from swooning. And that was crazier than a cross-eyed chicken at a coyote match. Because Milli Torres didn’t swoon for anyone. She was as independent as hell on wheels and no one ever touched her heart so deep that she saw stars. At least not until right now… and one other time a couple of years ago. But she’d just thought that was because it was the first time, and all women felt that way their first time.
He pulled her closer and closer to him until she was pressed against his chest so tightly she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, but he didn’t stop kissing her mouth, running his tongue deftly over her lips, tasting the last bits of Coke and dill pickles. Her
tongue met his in playful battle and she tasted the sweet peppermint gum he’d been chewing while the woodsy aftershave he wore filled her nostrils. She wished this part of the courting process could go on forever.
His hand fell down to cup one hip and pull her even closer yet.
“Mmmimm,” she groaned.
He broke the kiss but kept her in his arms. “Well, we seem to do that part of courting pretty good together. Good night, my Milli. I’ll call tomorrow, and remember, we’ve got a date Friday night. This time we’ll eat Italian or Mexican or whatever you like.”
She didn’t care if they ate frog legs from a boiling cauldron on the banks of the Red River. For a few more of those earth-shattering kisses, she’d forsake supper altogether. For a trip to the nearest motel she’d even give up breakfast, too. But that was all in the future. Build a relationship first, her mind had said, and it seemed like good advice even if it didn’t satisfy the craving in the pits of her soul.
“Italian. Nobody can cook Mexican like Momma and I’m spoiled to the good stuff.”
“Then Luigi’s, here we come.” He kissed her one more time, this time sweet and brief on the lips. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Are we still talking about food?”
“I think we better be or Jim might fill my sorry old hide with buckshot. We did it, Milli. We said good night without a fight.”
She hurried across the wide verandah. “Then you better leave and we’ll call it a miracle.”
FOURTEEN
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BEAU PULLED THE TRUCK SEAT FORWARD AND REMOVED an old quilt. He carried it to the edge of the lake, straightened it on the grassy beach, and motioned for Milli to join him. A warm breeze promised a hot wind on the morrow. Stars twinkled in the dark sky surrounding the half moon like subjects around a king.
She sat down stiffly, leaving two feet of space between them. How many times had he brought Amanda to this very spot on Lake Murray and flipped out the same quilt? How many more before that? Was she simply the next in line to be seduced on his quilt?
The day might come when they would have a big fight and he would walk out the door and into the barn right into someone else’s arms. Her breath caught. Beau seemed like a good man. So did Matthew in the beginning. He was goodlooking beyond words. So was Matthew. He thought he was in love with her. So did Matthew.
He patted the place closer to his side. “Come closer so I can smell that perfume. Look at the stars. Aren’t they beautiful? I love them in the summertime but even more in the winter. When it’s so cold you can see your breath every time you exhale and you need to wrap up in the quilt rather than lie on it, that’s my kind of weather.”
She scooted over a foot, drew her knees up under her chin, and wrapped her arms around them tightly. “So how many other women have sat on this quilt with you and how many others did you tell about the stars?”
He touched her arm.
She drew back.
“Listen to me. I’ve been on the ranch almost two years. Aunt Alice called me a couple of weeks after Darrin’s wedding and told me what the doctor said. She hung on for another month until I could get things arranged and get here, then she checked herself into the nursing home. I didn’t date anyone for several months and then a friend introduced me to Amanda, and you know the rest. You also know Amanda. Can you see her out here swatting mosquitoes and sitting on a quilt watching the moon come up? I wouldn’t have even gotten the quilt out of the truck before she’d have been whining to get back home. Now let’s don’t spoil a wonderful evening.”
He was damn sure right about that. Amanda didn’t even like twostepping in a nice clean barn, and her idea of fun was a golf match or something a lot more social than watching the stars twinkle. “Okay. Guess a little jealousy sprouted up there.”
“And I’m a little flattered that you’re a little jealous. But you don’t have to be. You can work out things in your own time and your own way. I’ve already faced my demons. Slide on over here. I want to feel your body next to mine.”
She did, and he draped his arm loosely around her shoulders. He wanted to make love to her right there. To kiss every part of her body at least once and some parts numerous times. But she had a few issues of her own to exorcise before then. When they made love again it would be in the perfect place, the perfect time, and she’d never look back on it with worry again.
“Can we trust our bodies?” she asked.
“Probably not.” He tipped her chin back and kissed her, which is exactly what he had wanted to do all evening. He ran his tongue over her lips, pleased she’d eaten off her lipstick with supper. He hated kissing a woman with a greasy mouth. It always felt like he was about to make love to a slab of cold bacon. He toyed with her upper arms, feeling the soft skin, and deepened the kiss.
“Mmmm,” she moaned appreciatively. “Don’t stop. Kiss me again just like that. I hear bells in the distance and I get this oozy kind of soft feeling in my stomach that tells me it doesn’t give a damn about anything but kissing.”
“Yep, it sure has a similar effect on me. What are we going to do about us, Milli?” he said hoarsely.
“Kiss some more?”
“Want to take a chance on where it might lead?”
She straightened up and wrapped her arms around her legs again. “No, I don’t.”
He sat up and watched the moonbeams flicker on the lake water. This was absolutely sophomoric. They were two grown adults and they’d acted more like that two years ago than they had recently. She wanted him as badly as he did her, so why was she willing to play at kissing and then call it quits?
“Want to talk about it?” Beau asked.
“Nope, I just want to watch the moon and stars and be quiet while I get my heart to stop pumping like crazy and my stupid hormones to be still.”
He didn’t answer. They’d done better on Wednesday night when Katy was with them. Maybe Katy’s presence was going to be like pulling calves and making hay. Something to talk about without discussing their feelings. Such heat would be disastrous, anyway. When it tuckered out there would be nothing left but a lifetime of fighting and disagreement.
She wanted to go farther than a few kisses, to feel the tautness of his body touching hers even through their clothing, but she didn’t trust herself. Look what happened the last time she’d let her heart rule her better sense. She still wasn’t on any form of birth control, so another baby could easily be on the way if she threw common sense in the lake water. She’d
proven she was indeed a fertile myrtle the first time around. The way her luck would run, Katy would have a brother or sister in nine months if she played with fire again.
“Look at the moon on the water. Ever wonder how many women used water for a looking glass long before mirrors were invented? Bet you’d look just beautiful in the water. Go down to the edge and lean way over and let me see you, both in the reflection and for real. Two beauties at one time.”
“You’d push me in.”
He fell backwards on the quilt and laced his arms under his neck. “Oh, ye of little faith. Well, then, lie down here beside me and tell me about yourself.”
She was careful to keep a ‘few inches between her and Beau when she unfolded her legs and stretched out beside him. “What do you want to know?”
“Oh, what you liked when you were growing up? Did you really ride bulls, or were you just joshing me?”
“I did ride bulls. Never did get a trophy, but did stay on one for eight seconds a few times. Just didn’t get the job done in real competition. I’ve got two brothers and I had to keep up with them. I started out barrel racing, but they laughed and called it a sissy sport, so I just figured I’d show them and I did.”
“What’re their names?”
“The bulls? Lord, I don’t remember. Seems like one was Speedo and another was Diablo.”
“No, not the bulls. Your brothers. And your folks. What’re their names? I’ve heard Jim talk about his son, John, and I know he’s an only child, so I guess that’s your father. Who’s your mother?”
“Angelina. And my brothers are Andy and James.”
“They going to string me up by my toenails when I meet them?”
“Why would they? Besides, I haven’t decided whether I’m inviting them to our steak cook-off. They’d probably win by beginner’s luck and then strut around telling me they could cook better than me for the rest of my life. They’re egotistical males. Just like you. One egotistical male does not string another up by his toenails. They just tolerate each other. So why would you even worry about them?”
He was next to her in one roll and gathered her into his arms for another passionate kiss. “Because, I did not do my gentlemanly duty by you or Katy. Never mind that I didn’t know. I should have at least made you give me a phone number so I could call later. My intentions were not so honorable that night, and the next morning you were gone. And honey, my intentions are not honorable right now, either. I want to hold you and kiss you until you are breathless. I still have trouble believing that you are here and I am here and -”
A star shot through the sky in a final blaze of glory. “Did you see that? It’s our lucky night.”
“I saw it. You really didn’t bring Amanda here?”
“No, I really did not. I’ve never brought anyone here, ever. This is my own special spot, Milli. It’s where I straighten out my problems. Sometimes I just sit here on the blanket for hours. And I wanted to see what your reaction was to this place tonight. I wanted to see if you’d be bored to tears or if you’d like the moon and stars. If you’d like the cricket and frog concert.’
“I love it. And now I’m going to take off my shoes, tie up my skirt tails, and wade in that water. Something is going to have to cool me off after those kisses or I’m not going to be responsible for my actions.”
“Oh, did they make you a little warm?”
“No, they made me damn hot!” She tossed her sandals behind her, knotted up both sides of her skirt until there was a healthy length of thigh exposed, and swatted a mosquito off her upper arm.
He shucked out of his boots and socks and was rolling up his jean legs when she stepped off the quilt. “Beat you to the water.”
She was in the lake before he could blink twice. “No, you won’t.”
“Ohhh, this is heaven. I love water. I love swimming and wading and skiing.”
“Then let’s get rid of these clothes and swim.”
“Not on your life!”
Skinny dipping did sound wonderful, and where it would lead sounded even better. She’d never even thought about making love in the water. But what a sexy thought. Hot kisses. Cool water.
“Do you really love swimming and skiing?”
“Adore the water. All of it.”
“Then I shall buy you a ski boat next week.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Then I’ll call a real estate agent and see if I can purchase this whole lake.”
“Beau, you are incorrigible.”
“Nope, I’m a Cajun. Who happens to love a black-haired woman with doe-colored eyes.”
“Don’t say that.”
“What - that I’ll buy you the lake, or that I love you?” he asked.
She splashed water up on her arms and then flicked her wrist, spraying his face with a fine mist. “The latter. Don’t ever say those words lightly. If you loved me so much, then why did you propose to Amanda?”
“Because my Amelia was hiding in the panhandle of Texas and wouldn’t come to me, no matter how hard I tried to get her to reappear. And now remember…” He took a step toward her. “Paybacks are hell.”
She backed away from him until she was at the edge of the bank. “Don’t you dare get me any wetter than I am. Poppa and Granny will…”
He swept her up in his arms and carried her back to the quilt. “I’m not going to get you wet. I’m going to kiss you until your knees are jelly and…”
Just your touch turns my knees to jelly.
FIFTEEN
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“I’VE GOT A CATTLE SALE TODAY AND TOMORROW. IT’S only up in Oklahoma City, but it’d be a booger to drive back that late every night so I’ve got reservations at a hotel. I’ll be gone until Wednesday afternoon. Tell Katy her daddy will miss her. And tell Katy’s mother he’ll really miss her,” Beau said into the phone. “I forgot all about the sale until I looked on the calendar yesterday. Seems like this raven-haired woman has me bewitched these days.”
“Well, I. expect me and Katy both can survive two days without you. And no prizes this time.”
“We’ll see. I’ll miss you. How about a picnic at the lake on Wednesday? We can play with Katy in the shallow water…”
“I’ll miss you, too,” Milli said honestly. “You may be worn to a frazzle by the time you get home.”
“I’ll call tonight.” He hated to hang up the phone. There was always the fear in the back side of his mind that she wouldn’t be there. She would disappear like she did that other time, and after knowing her and Katy, his heart would stop beating if they weren’t there any more.
Milli sighed and leaned against the wall. This was exactly what she needed. Her heart was split in two separate pieces. One faction had the good solid notion that fairy tales were only in storybooks, and this wasn’t Prince Charming and Cinderella. The earring he carried in his pocket could scarcely be classified as a glass slipper, and it most certainly would fit into any pierced ear on any woman. Only characters in hot, steamy romance books rode off into the sunset on the last page and lived happily ever after. If she and Beau ever really did think about a long-term relationship - she shuddered when she even thought about the “M” word - it sure wouldn’t be a perfect little world where she smiled all the time and agreed with every word he said. She might not be a first-class bitch like Amanda, but she damned sure wasn’t about to be one of those submissive little women who walked two feet behind her husband and lived and breathed just to make his world perfect. She fully well intended to have a marriage like her own parents had, like Poppy and Granny, too. Like a business relationship on the ranch, each one pulled their own weight and took care of their responsibilities. A business relationship with hot steamy nights; she moaned just thinking about it.
The other part of her heart sighed and pouted about Beau being gone for two whole days.
Granny and Hilda talked non-stop about Beau. She didn’t need t
o be convinced he was a good man or that she was attracted to him in a very, real way. What she needed to build was trust and that was very difficult. Did she really trust Beau to stay alone in his hotel room at the cattle sale? A seed of doubt wiggled its way into her mind and stuck there. If she called his number at midnight tonight, would he answer, or would there be another woman in his bed?
“Stop it!” She looked at her reflection in the rough cedar-framed mirror hanging above the antique credenza beside the front door in the foyer. “Young lady, you’ve got two hard day’s work and you haven’t got time to see him anyway, so there. And if you don’t trust him, then put an end to it right now.”
She saddled Wild Fire and rode out into the pasture to check on the barns at the back of the ranch where the hay baling crew had worked until midnight the night before. She found them stacking square bales at the back of the barn, so she pulled on her leather work gloves and helped them until lunchtime. In the afternoon she crawled up on a bright green John Deere tractor and plowed the field where the alfalfa had been harvested the day before. Then she hooked up a disc and covered the ground again. By suppertime, the pouting half of her heart was so tired it didn’t even mention Beau’s name.
Tuesday morning found her in the same place doing the same things. She grabbed a set of hay hooks and stacked hay until lunch, then ate with the men in the field instead of going back to the house. Cold sandwiches, ice-cold tea, and donuts Hilda had fried that morning had never tasted so good. She found a shade tree and used it for a backrest while she crammed the food in her mouth and washed it down with sweet tea.
One of the men took up a position a quarter of the way around the big pecan tree. “Beau still gone? You two gettin’ pretty thick?”
“He’ll be back tomorrow and I don’t know how thick we are,” she answered.
The tall, dark man looked down at her with brooding green eyes. “Well, if he don’t do things to suit you, just remember old Bob is waiting on the sidelines. I wouldn’t knock a man out of the saddle, but I’m here if he takes himself out.”
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