A Texan for Christmas

by Jules Bennett

  That was the only way to describe his kisses. He didn’t just meet her lips with his; he caressed them, stroked them, laved them, plundered them. And she felt every one of those touches not only on her mouth but in the very core of her femininity.

  Needing to touch him the same way, Scarlett reached between them for the hem of his T-shirt. She’d lifted it slightly when his hands covered hers and he eased back.

  “In a hurry?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I’m the only one ready for this.”

  “Baby, I’ve been ready since you walked in my door.”

  She shivered at his husky tone and glanced down to their joined hands. Her dark skin beneath his rough, tanned hands had her wondering why this looked so...right. Was it just because she hadn’t been with someone in so long? Was it because this was the Beau Elliott?

  She didn’t think so, but now wasn’t the time to get into why she had these unexplainable stirrings at just the sight of them coming together.

  “Someone is thinking too hard. Maybe this will keep your thoughts at bay.”

  Beau stepped back and pulled off his shirt, tossing it aside. He was playing dirty and he damn well knew it.

  As if to drive the point home, he quirked his dark brows as a menacing, sexy smile spread across his face.

  “What did you want when you came to my room?” she asked, surprised she even had the wherewithal to speak.

  He went to the snap of his pants and shoved them off as he continued to stare at her. He stood before her in only his black boxer briefs and she couldn’t keep her eyes from roaming every inch of muscle and sinew on display before her. His body was pure perfection. The sprinkling of dark chest hair and the dark tattoos over his side, pec and shoulder were so sexy. Who knew she was a tattoo girl?

  “I wanted to talk,” he replied.

  “That look in your eye doesn’t look like you wanted to talk.”

  His lips thinned. “Maybe I needed to forget, too.”

  She crossed her arms and glanced down, suddenly feeling too vulnerable standing before him completely naked as he let a crack open so she could glimpse into his soul.

  Beau reached out, unhooking her arms. “Don’t hide from me. I’ve been waiting to see you.”

  Scarlett swallowed and looked up at him. “You saw me last night.”

  “Not enough.”

  His fingertips grazed down the slope of her breasts and around to her sides. She shivered when his hands slid down the dip in her waist, then over the flare of her hips.

  “Not nearly enough.”

  He lifted her by her waist and wrapped his arms around her. Scarlett wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bed. She slid her mouth along his as she tipped back, then found herself pressed firmly into the thick comforter, Beau’s weight on her. She welcomed the heaviness of this man.

  The frantic way his hands and mouth roamed over her made her wonder if he was chasing away some demon in his own mind.

  Maybe for tonight, they were just using each other. But right now she didn’t care. She wanted him. She needed him. Right now.

  When Beau sat up, Scarlett instinctively reached for him to pull him back to her.

  “I need to get protection,” he told her as he grasped his jeans.

  Scarlett hadn’t even thought of that. Of course pregnancy wasn’t an issue for her, but she didn’t know his history and he didn’t know hers. Safety had to override hormones right now. She was just glad one of them was thinking straight.

  She watched as he removed his boxer briefs and sheathed himself, relishing the sight of his arousal. Nothing could make her turn away or deny this need that burned through her. Well...if Madelyn started crying, but other than that, nothing.

  Beau eased his knee down onto the bed next to her thigh. Scarlett rose up to her elbows, her heart beating so fast as desire curled all through her.

  He trailed his fingertips up her thigh, teasing her as he went right past the spot she ached most, and on up her abdomen.

  “You’re one sexy woman,” he growled. “It was all I could do to hold back last night.”

  Which only made him even more remarkable. He wasn’t demanding and selfish. Even now, he was taking his time and touching, kissing, enjoying...all while driving her out of her mind.

  Those fingertips circled her nipples and Scarlett nearly came off the bed.

  “Beau.”

  “Right here,” he murmured as he leaned down and captured her lips.

  She opened to him and shifted her legs restlessly. Beau settled between her thighs and she lifted her knees to accommodate him. He hooked one hand behind her thigh and lifted her leg at the same time he joined their bodies.

  Scarlett cried out against his mouth as she tilted her hips to meet his. He seemed to move so slow in comparison to the frantic need she felt. The man was maddeningly arousing.

  She clutched at his shoulders and arched against him, pulling her mouth from his as she tipped her head back. Beau’s lips traveled a path down her neck to her breast and Scarlett wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles behind his back.

  Beau never once removed his lips from her skin. He moved all over her, around her, in her, and in minutes that familiar coiling sensation built up within her and Scarlett bit her lip to keep from crying out again.

  But Beau gripped her backside, his large powerful hand pulling her to him as he quickened the pace and Scarlett couldn’t stop the release from taking over, nor could she stop the cry.

  Beau’s body tightened against hers as he surged inside her, taking his own pleasure. After a moment, that grip loosened and he eased down onto the bed, shifting his weight so he wasn’t completely on top of her.

  When the pulsing stopped and her heartbeat slowed, and she was able to think once again, Scarlett realized she was in new territory. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say or do here. Anyone she’d ever slept with had been someone she was committed to. What did she do now, naked, sated and plastered against a man who was nothing more—could be nothing more—than a fling?

  “Someone is thinking too hard again,” he said, trailing his finger over her stomach and up the valley between her breasts. “Maybe I didn’t do my job well enough.”

  Scarlett laughed. “You more than did your job. I’m just confused what to do now.”

  Beau sat up and rested his head in his hand as he stared down at her. The entire moment seemed so intimate, more than the act of sex itself.

  “This doesn’t have to be anything more than what it was,” he told her. “You needed to escape something and so did I. Besides, this was bound to happen.”

  His words seemed so straightforward and matter-of-fact. They were all true, but she wished he’d...

  What? What did she wish? That they’d start a relationship and see where things went? She knew full well where they’d go. She’d be in Dallas and he’d be back in LA. There was nothing for them other than a brief physical connection.

  Scarlett shifted from the bed and came to her feet. Being completely naked now made her feel too vulnerable, too exposed emotionally.

  She started putting her sleep clothes back on, trying to ignore the confident cowboy stretched out on her bed.

  “Care to tell me what had you running from Colt’s house?”

  Scarlett pushed her hair away from her face and turned to face him. “I told you. Madelyn was tired and I was letting you guys talk.”

  He lifted one dark brow and stared, silently calling her out on her lie.

  “Could you cover up?” she asked. “I can’t concentrate with you on display like that.”

  Beau laughed and slowly came to his feet...which maybe was worse because now he was closing in on her with that naughty grin. “I like the idea of you not concentrating.”

  Scarlett put her hands up and shook her h
ead. “Don’t touch me. We’re done for the night.”

  He nodded. “Fine, but I still want to know what had you scared or upset.”

  From his soft tone, she knew he truly meant every word. He didn’t care that they weren’t diving back in for round two and he genuinely wanted to know what had bothered her.

  Scarlett didn’t want to get into her emotional issues. Dredging them all up wouldn’t change anything, and the last thing she wanted was pity from Beau. Besides, he’d said he was dealing with his own issues.

  “I think it’s best if we don’t get too personal,” she told him and nearly laughed. This was Beau Elliott and women all around the world would give anything to trade places with Scarlett right now.

  “We’re already personal,” he countered, reaching for her. When she tried to back away, he cupped her elbow. “You’re taking care of my daughter, living with me and we just had sex. Not to mention my sisters-in-law have all taken to you. We’re temporarily bonded, so stop trying to push me away. I can listen and be a friend right now.”

  Scarlett raked her eyes over him. “With no clothes on?”

  He cursed beneath his breath as he spun around and grabbed those black boxer briefs. As if putting on that hip-hugging underwear helped.

  The second he turned his focus back to her, she crossed her arms and decided to give the interrogation right back at him.

  “Do you want to tell me what’s got you so torn up here?” she asked. “Other than your brothers?”

  He stared at her for a moment before he shrugged. “I’m not sure what future I have to offer my daughter because I have no clue what I want to do. I’m mending relationships with my brothers, hopefully my father, and figuring out if I even want to go back to LA.”

  Scarlett couldn’t believe he’d said anything, let alone all of that.

  “My life is a mess,” he went on. “My former agent was more like a father figure and best friend. He recently passed away.”

  Scarlett put her hand over her heart. “Oh, Beau, I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you. It’s been difficult without him, but each day is a little easier than the last. But the next step is so unclear.” He pursed his lips for a moment before continuing. “I have a feeling someone with her new life laid out before her isn’t so worried about the future.”

  “Not when I’m constantly haunted by my past,” she murmured.

  She rubbed her arms, hating how he was somehow managing to break down her walls. He’d easily opened and didn’t seem to care that she saw his vulnerability. Could she do the same?

  “I could guess and I bet I’d be right.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t know me.”

  Beau stepped into her and reached up, smoothing her hair from her face. “You love Christmas and more decorations than anyone needs. You chose the most hideous tree I’ve ever seen, yet you’re determined to make this a good holiday. You’re passionate in bed and let yourself lose all control, which is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, by the way.”

  She stared at him, listening as he dissected her from the nuggets of information he’d gathered over the past few days. Beau was much more perceptive than she gave him credit for. No selfish man would’ve taken every moment into consideration and parsed each portion of their time together to understand her better.

  “I also know that my daughter and I are lucky you’re here,” he went on, inching even closer until she had to tip her head to look up at him. “And I know too much discussion on babies or families makes you shut down and get all misty-eyed, yet you’re a nanny.”

  Scarlett tightened her lips together and tried to ignore that burn in her throat and eyes.

  Beau slid his finger beneath her chin and tipped her head up. “Shall I keep going?” he asked. “Or maybe you could just tell me what you’re running from.”

  Scarlett pulled in a shaky breath and closed her eyes. “I can’t have children.”

  Eleven

  Beau’s suspicions were right. He wished like hell he’d been wrong because he could see the pain in her eyes, hear it in her voice.

  Just as he started to reach for her again, she opened her eyes and held up one hand. “No. I don’t need to be consoled and please, don’t look at me like that.”

  He didn’t know what she saw in his eyes, but how could he not comfort her? He may have the reputation of a playboy, and perhaps he didn’t do anything to rectify that with the media, but he did care.

  Even though he’d only known Scarlett a short time, it was impossible to ignore the way he felt. Attraction was one thing, but there was more to this complex relationship.

  Unfortunately, he had to ignore the pull and remain closed off from tapping into those unwanted, untimely feelings. He had a future to figure out and he’d already screwed up with one woman.

  “I love being a nanny,” she went on, her voice still laced with sadness and remorse. “But my life changed about a year ago, and I just can’t do this job anymore.”

  “That’s why you’re leaving.”

  Beau crossed to the bed and sat down. Maybe she’d feel more apt to talk if he wasn’t looming over her in only his underwear. He never wanted her to feel intimidated or insecure. He doubted she really had anyone she could talk to and the fact that she chose him—after he’d somewhat forced her hand—proved she was more vulnerable than he’d first thought.

  But he actually wanted to listen and he wanted to know how he could help...even if that only came in the form of making her forget.

  “I can’t be in Stone River.” Scarlett’s words cut through his thoughts. “There are too many memories here of my life, my hopes and dreams. Starting over somewhere fresh will be the best healer for me.”

  He understood all too well about needing to start over. The need to find a place that would be comforting and not pull you down further. Her reasons for leaving Stone River were the exact reasons he’d left LA. They both needed something new, something that promised hope for an unknown future.

  “I’m sure that wasn’t an easy decision to make,” he stated.

  She turned to face him and shrugged one slender shoulder. “There wasn’t much else I could do. After my surgery, I took a position out of the field, in the office. I love the people I work with. I just couldn’t be a nanny anymore. I thought working in the office would be easier, but it wasn’t. I was still dealing with families and listening to the stories of my coworkers. Then Maggie asked me to fill in for these few weeks before I leave and I couldn’t tell her no.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  Scarlett stared at him for a minute. The lamp on her bedside table set a soft glow on her mocha skin. Skin he ached to touch again. Scarlett was one of the sexiest, most passionate women he’d ever known, and after hearing a bit of her story, he knew she was also one of the strongest.

  “Me, too,” she whispered.

  He did reach for her now and when her hand closed in his, he pulled her toward him. Scarlett came to stand between his legs and she rested her hands on his shoulders.

  “What surgery did you have to have?” he asked.

  When she pulled in a shaky breath, he placed his hands on her waist and offered a comforting squeeze.

  “I had a hysterectomy,” she explained. “The short version of my story is I had a routine checkup. The test results came back showing I had some abnormal cells and the surgery was necessary. Unfortunately, that took away any chance I had at my own family, but in the end, the threat of uterine cancer was gone.”

  He couldn’t imagine wanting something, dreaming of having it your whole life and then not obtaining it. There was nothing Beau didn’t covet that he couldn’t get through money or power. That’s how he’d been raised. Yes, his parents had instilled in him a strong work ethic, but he also knew that at any given time he could reach for anything and make it his.

 
Yet with all his money, power and fame, he couldn’t make his own future stable when he was so confused where he should land. And if he had the ability, he’d sure as hell do something to make Scarlett’s life easier.

  With a gentle tug, Beau had Scarlett tumbling onto his chest. He gripped her thighs and helped her straddle his lap. As he looked up into her eyes, he realized that if there was any woman who could make him lose his heart, it could be her.

  Which was absolutely crazy. Why was he even having such thoughts? He’d screwed things up before when he’d let his heart get involved. Wanting a woman physically and thinking of deeper emotions were two totally different things and he needed to refocus before he found himself even further from where he needed to be.

  Between all of this with his family and now his mixed feelings for Scarlett, he needed to remain in control before he completely lost himself.

  “Let’s keep our painful pasts out of this room, out of this bed,” he suggested as he nipped at her chin. “For as long as you’re here, stay with me.”

  Her eyes widened as she eased slightly away. “You want to continue this fling?”

  “‘Fling’? That’s such a crass word.” He let his hands cover her backside and pull her tighter where he needed her most. “We don’t need a title for this. Just know I want you, for however long you’re here.”

  Scarlett laced her hands behind his neck and touched her forehead to his. “I swore I wouldn’t do this with you,” she murmured.

  “Yet here we are.”

  She laughed, just as he’d hoped. “I guess I’m wearing too many clothes.”

  He stripped her shirt off, sliding his hands and eyes over her bare torso, her breasts. “Let’s make each other forget.”

  * * *

  Scarlett pushed Madelyn in the child swing that had been hung on the back patio. Even though winter had settled in and they were closing in on Christmas, the sun was shining bright in the cloudless sky and with a light jacket and pants, the day was absolutely beautiful.