“I asked her out to dinner.” The words fell out of his mouth like stones. Great. Just great.
Elaine stared, her eyes nearly drilling holes through him. “Isn’t that a little fast, cowboy?”
Irritation scratched at him. “Is there a problem?”
She lifted her hands, palms up. “Don’t know. But you’re only here for a week. What happens then?”
Killian didn’t want to make an enemy of this woman whose help he needed so badly, but he also didn’t need a nursemaid or hall monitor.
“It’s dinner, you know. Besides, she seems smart enough to make up her own mind about a date. And that’s all it is, a dinner date.”
Elaine studied him again. “Just watching out for my town.”
“Well, your town seems to know every damn detail of this situation. It didn’t seem to scare Lexie off.” He was starting to get really pissed off. “I should think you’d be glad I’m making friends in this town.”
Elaine finally gave him a smile. “I am. I’m telling you to be straight with her. Don’t promise something you won’t deliver. You don’t even expect to be here after this week.”
“Why don’t we wait and see what happens? If I screw up, you can beat my ass.”
“And you can bet I will.” She sat back in her chair and opened the little box on her desk. “Of course, these honey buns will go a long way toward sweetening me up.”
“One more thing,” he said. “How is it everyone knows all the details about this?”
Elaine shrugged. “Word gets around.”
That apparently was all he was going get for the moment.
“Fine, but I’m not done asking.”
“Meanwhile, how about tackling the latest pile I put on your desk?” She bit into one of the buns, a sure signal the conversation was over.
Chapter Two
Lexie didn’t think Killian Walker had been around long enough to scope out the restaurant scene, so she decided she’d suggest a couple of places to him. Casual places. Everyone knew he, like his brothers, was required to stay for one week. The others had made it plain when they got to Red Creek the week was all they’d commit to. She figured Killian was probably just looking for some female companionship to pass the time. She still couldn’t believe she’d accepted his dinner invitation. Since she’d come back to Red Creek, trailing the disaster her personal life had become, she’d refused to date any of the men in town who kept asking her. No more relationships. Been there, done that, had the tee shirt to prove it. Seemingly, her judgment where men were concerned was seriously flawed.
But the minute she’d clapped eyes on him at Heart Starter, every female hormone stood up and saluted while all her girl parts began planning a celebration. She was tempted for the first time since she’d run home to Red Creek, pulling the tatters of her life around her. She wanted to think it was because she’d been on sexual hiatus for a long time while she sorted out her life. She ignored the internal warning he was big trouble for her. The impact he made on her evidently froze all her brain cells. Maybe she was overdue for a fling. And if he was leaving, not staying here, she didn’t have to worry about the messy aftermath.
Right. You just keep saying that.
If she was honest with herself, though, it really had to do with the appeal surrounding Killian like a cloud of electricity. His black shirt and jeans had emphasized his lean, rangy yet muscular body and made his eyes as dark as ebony. The square jaw and high cheekbones framed a face accented by thick brows and lashes. There was a tiny scar at one corner of his mouth and another faint one running down his left cheekbone. She knew via the grapevine he worked on a ranch outside the town where he lived in Montana. Had he gotten them there, or was he a brawler, wearing his badges of war?
Whatever the answer, her palms itched to smooth over the hard wall of his chest and the taut muscles of his ass. His ass? Holy crap! Where was her mind? She might be a sensuous creature—if she remembered that was—but she didn’t have those kinds of random thoughts about men. Certainly not one she’d met for five minutes.
She took one last check in the bathroom mirror, fluffed her hair slightly, and decided this was as good as it was going to get. She was crazy. She should have worn her least-flattering clothes and made herself dull as dishwater. But she was so ready for something new in her life. If it was only for one week, so be it. And Killian Walker was exactly what she needed. She just had to convince him.
Instead, she’d changed into a new pair of skinny jeans with rhinestone studs, a deep-purple tank, and a gauzy white blouse over it, tied at the waist. Sandals with medium heels and dangly earrings completed the outfit. She wanted to knock his socks off, so when he left, he’d carry a good memory of her with him. Excitement coursed through her as she thought about the evening ahead and all the possibilities.
She heard the sound of booted feet on the outside stairs, followed by a knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly, wiped her palms on her jeans, and opened the door. And literally had to haul her tongue back into her mouth.
Killian Walker was dressed all in black again, this time in an embroidered Western shirt and dress jeans, spit-shined black leather boots, and yet another black Stetson. Heat blazed in those onyx eyes. Between her thighs, an insistent throbbing let her know she was just as affected as he was.
Damn!
His eyes took a leisurely tour of her body, from her neck over her breasts and hips to her polished toenails and back up again. With every pass, her skin felt scorched, as if he’d actually touched a match to it. She swept her tongue over her suddenly dry lips and swallowed, hard. For some reason, her gaze automatically dropped to his fly, her eyes widening at the sight of a significant bulge. Maybe going out to dinner wasn’t such a good idea. But staying in might be a whole lot worse.
This was so not her style.
“Lookin’ real good.” The husky quality of his voice sent shivers racing down her spine.
“Thank you.” She wet her lips again. “You, too.”
He drank her in once more then held out his hand. “We’d better get out of here before I do something to get us in trouble. Shall we?”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
She grabbed her slim purse from the little table by the door, slid the thin strap over her shoulder, and stepped out into the little landing. Pulling the door shut behind her, she double- checked that it was locked.
“Okay.” She smiled up at him. “Let’s go.”
He handed her into the silver SUV and leaned in to buckle her seat belt.
“I can do this myself, you know.” He was so close she could inhale the clean, male scent of him, earthy and outdoorsy.
“Just being a gentleman.”
He snapped the buckle into place, his face so close to her she could almost count his eyelashes. For a second, they were frozen, his mouth barely an inch from hers. Time stood still for an interminable moment. Then he backed out and closed her door.
“So,” he said when he was buckled into the driver’s seat. “This is your town. How about picking a place for us.”
She had thought about Bib’s Ribs then discarded it as too messy. She didn’t want to spend half the evening with barbecue sauce all over her face and hands. Steak. Kansas was known for steaks, and The Roadhouse had excellent meals at reasonable prices in a very informal atmosphere. She mentioned it, and Killian nodded.
“I can always eat a good steak. Just point me in the right direction.”
“It’s on the other side of town,” she told him. “I thought we’d take the long way so you can see some more of Red Creek.”
“Such as?”
“You’ll see.”
He slid her a quick glance. “Okay. You’re calling the shots.”
She was a little nervous as she gave him directions. How would he react when she took him past some of Dusty’s accomplishments. She knew how all the sons felt about the man. Lordy, the whole town knew. But if Killian was really Dusty Walker’s son, then he
should know the man was someone other than a guy who didn’t marry Killian’s mother. She pointed out the playground at the little park in the middle of a residential section. The new wing he’d paid for at the small retirement home. The high school where he’d paid for computers.
“There’s evidence of his giving nature everywhere,” Lexie told him. “He’s bought businesses going under, propped them up, and let the owners stay there rent-free until they got on their feet. Helped folks with their mortgages, and he saved more than one or two farms around here.”
“Okay, okay, okay,” Killian said at last. “I get it. The man was a goddamn saint. A fucking angel. Wonderful. I’ll get him a halo.”
“He wasn’t a saint at all, but he was more than you believe him to be.” She shifted in her seat. “That’s all I’m saying, for now. Take the next right, and we’ll head to The Roadhouse.”
Since it was a weeknight, the restaurant was barely half-full. Still, Killian requested a booth rather than a table. People watched, curious, as the hostess led them to their spot. Lexie smiled at some of them and dipped her head in a casual nod.
“Will the gossips be working overtime tomorrow?” Killian asked.
She laughed that light musical sound. “Probably, but not to worry. The next day, they’ll be chewing on someone else.”
The hostess seated them and told them their waiter would be right with them. Lexie saw Killian taking a long look around the place, at the planking on the walls, the high-back booths, the long bar with its old-fashioned mirror. A tiny stage in one corner was currently empty.
“Weekends a band plays here,” she explained. “They aren’t half bad.”
He turned those incredible onyx eyes on her. “That so? You like to dance?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Same as anyone else, I guess.”
“You do your dancing with anyone special?”
Before she could answer him, the waiter in jeans and a Roadhouse polo shirt showed up with their menus.
“Something to drink?” he asked.
“Lexie?” Killian deferred to her.
“Um, a glass of white wine, please.”
“Beer for me,” he told the waiter. They discussed brands until Killian settled on one he liked. Then he turned his attention back to Lexie. “So, do you?”
“Do I what?” She’d hoped he’d forget the question.
“Dance with someone special,” he reminded her.
“Let’s say no one special at the moment.” Or for a long time. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here with you.”
“Good to know.”
The long, slow grin he gave her sizzled her nerve endings. She hardly knew what to do with the chemistry exploding between them. She didn’t remember any other man having this effect on her. Danger, she told herself, yet she didn’t seem to be able to control her reaction to him.
Lexie had never realized exactly how erotic eating a meal could be until tonight. She was fascinated at the play of muscles in Killian’s face as he chewed and in his throat as he swallowed. Whenever he lifted the bottle of beer to drink, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the way his lips closed around the neck, imagining how they’d feel pressed against hers. Or wondering how his long fingers clutching the bottle would feel on her body.
Good lord, Lexie! Get it together!
“You okay?” Killian’s voice broke the spell.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“You’ve hardly touched your steak, and you had a weird expression on your face.”
What she had on her face was a flush of heat. Damn it.
“No, I’m fine. The steak is fine. Excellent, in fact.” To demonstrate, she cut off a piece, popped it into her mouth, and chewed.
Killian laughed, a nice, husky sound. “Lexie, if you aren’t having a good time, we can leave. I hate to see a woman forced to pretend something she doesn’t feel. I really was hoping we could have a good time. I’m only here for a week, and I’d like to spend some of it with you.”
“A week?” She wrinkled her forehead. “So, you aren’t staying, either?”
“Either?”
“Well, your brothers made it plain to everyone they were out of here as soon as possible. I guess you feel the same way.”
He nodded. “Sorry. My life doesn’t include Red Creek.” He paused. “I don’t want to mislead you, Lexie. I felt a connection with you the minute I walked into Heart Starter and thought it would be nice to spend some time with you. It doesn’t matter that we just met. I like what I see, and I want to know you better. Nothing more than that. I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea.”
Embarrassment surged through her. “I didn’t get any idea, Killian. If you think—”
He held up a hand. “I didn’t think anything. Except, as I said, I’d enjoy spending time with you. Can we do that? Just enjoy the evening? No pressure?”
At his words, she suddenly found herself relaxing. She wanted that, too, didn’t she? Maybe a fling for a week to prove to herself she was still a desirable woman? Especially to a man as hot and sexy as Killian Walker. She had never been a fling sort of person, but hadn’t she told herself just tonight it was time to break out of her shell? And who better to do it with than a man who would only be around for a week?
She looked across at Killian and saw him watching her carefully.
“Um, yes, we can do that. I’d like that. Absolutely.”
The smile he gave her curled her toes. “Great.”
The atmosphere for the rest of the dinner was much more relaxed. Killian told her about growing up in Montana, how he’d been in love with ranching all his life, and how his love for it had continued to grow. She talked about Red Creek, about her parents who owned a wheat farm outside of town, and her brother who was a Marine stationed in Afghanistan.
“And you run Heart Starter,” he commented. “Did you always want to be a shopkeeper? A barista?”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “Barista,” she repeated. “That’s a fancy word for Red Creek. Maybe not my childhood dream, but I enjoy it.”
“So what was your dream growing up?”
She hesitated. Should she tell him about that dream, the one she was still chasing? No, not yet. Most people who knew about it chalked it up to a hobby, and unless something spectacular happened, that was probably what it would remain. Especially after her one disastrous relationship had tanked partly because of it and sent her back to Red Creek. She didn’t like to dwell on either and was grateful people didn’t ask her questions.
“Oh, just this and that,” she said as casually as she could. “I’m not very interesting. I’d rather hear about you.”
“And I’d rather her about you,” he insisted.
“I told you. I’m really very boring.”
He had finished eating his dinner. Now, he reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. “I don’t think there’s a boring bone in your body, darlin’.”
She was determined to bring the focus back to him. “Tell me about those scars on your face.” To soften the remark, she added, “They’re very sexy.” Damn! She shouldn’t have said that, either.
“Sexy? Really?” He winked. “Glad to hear it.”
“So, where did you get them?” she repeated, determined to keep their conversation out of dangerous territory.
He shrugged. “Paying more attention to myself than the horse. We had a little battle over which one of us was boss.”
She laughed. “And the horse won?”
One corner of his mouth, the one with the scar, kicked up in a tiny grin. “Only one time.”
“Tell me more about your work on the ranch. I want to know everything about you.”
His face sobered. “One thing you should know, Lexie, is when my week is over, I don’t intend to hang around. I have plans.”
One week and he’d be gone. Didn’t that make him a safe bet for her little fling, or whatever she chose to call it? So, why the sudden pang of disappointment?
“I’m
a big girl, Killian. Right now, I’m out for dinner with a very hot cowboy. Let’s do this one day at a time. No promises, no commitments.”
“I have plans,” he persisted, as if he wanted to be positive she understood where he was coming from. “Dusty’s money will let me follow them.”
“That’s good. So, let’s just spend some time together.” A thought stabbed at her. “Unless this is your way of telling me we’re done after tonight.”
His eyebrows jerked upwards. “Hell, no. I always like to be up front about things.”
“Duly noted.” She finished the last swallow of her wine. “So, tell me about your work back in Montana.”
Lexie listened with fascination to his stories about working on the Hart Brothers Ranch. About the shop Dusty had bought for his mother. About growing up in Montana. Before she realized it, only a handful of people remained in the restaurant.
“Guess I need to get the check,” Killian commented. “Don’t want to wear out my welcome. I sure plan to eat here again.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Killian paid the check then stood up and waited for her to slide from the booth. While they walked to the SUV, he kept his hand on her arm. He moved to open the door, and Lexie missed the warmth of the contact at once. He again helped her into the seat and buckled her belt for her. When his face was so close to hers she could feel his breath on her cheeks, he leaned forward that last little bit. She held her breath, waiting to see if he’d move away again. But no, he pressed his lips gently against hers in the briefest of kisses. Still, even with light contact, the heat it created set her blood to boiling, and the pulse in her pussy was beating with long-suppressed need.
Without thinking, she opened her mouth slightly, and Killian’s tongue swept in like a sword of flames. The kiss was so intense it stole her breath, but she never thought to break away. At last he lifted his head and looked at her with ravenous hunger blazing in his eyes. And mixed with that, a look of stunned surprise that matched her own, shock at the connection they made.
Killian (The Sons of Dusty Walker Book 3) Page 3