Exquisite Acquisitions

by Charlene Sands

  “You figured right. I met Bill Fargo.”

  “I know. I saw him on the road. He said he nearly scared the stuffing out of you. I haven’t told him who you were, exactly. I figured it’s best to keep it quiet for now.”

  “I thought he was a snake.” She sent him a withering look. “I know, I’m pathetic.”

  Carter shook his head with laughter. “No, you’re not. I might have exaggerated a little about the snake problem here. Just wanted to keep you on guard, in case you might come across one.”

  “Well, it’s not as if I’d go up to a snake and try to make friends.”

  He rubbed his chin and held back a grin. “Then my strategy worked.”

  She wanted to slug him.

  He took off his hat and set it between them, then ran a hand through his hair. The ends curled up and relaxed down against his collar. Macy’s mouth went dry. The simplest gesture from him got her wheels spinning. With Carter around, her balance was always being tested. Then she remembered how stubborn he was, and the question that had been on her mind poured out. “Did Jocelyn fix up this room?”

  Carter jerked back. His eyes blinked rapidly. “What?”

  “I was wondering if your fiancée started work on this house?”

  His mouth twisted and he rose from the bed. He strode to the window and looked out. “She was never my fiancée.”

  “Oh right,” she whispered. “Sorry.”

  Silence filled the room.

  Macy rose and went to him. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

  He turned to her, his eyes blazing. “Didn’t you?”

  “No, I, uh,” she began, retreating a step. “If you don’t want to tell me, it’s fine.”

  Carter closed his eyes and drew air into his lungs. He didn’t owe her any explanation, yet she wanted desperately to know. And it wasn’t just about getting a chance to work on the inn. She’d been here a short time and they were still strangers, but not really. For some odd reason, they jelled. They sort of fell in step with each other, and though he made her heart do silly things, she felt something akin to friendship with him. He mattered to her.

  His fingers went to his forehead and he rubbed there, squeezing the skin together. “Jocelyn didn’t even like this place. She thought I should tear it down.”

  “Oh.” That was a shocker. She watched Carter’s hazel eyes turn a deeper shade.

  “I’ve been considering it, but not because of her.”

  Macy didn’t get it. “Then why?”

  Carter spoke through tight lips. “It has to do with my father.”

  Macy waited, curious and dying to know, but she held her tongue. It was obvious this was a sore subject. He gazed at her, searching for trust. Something he saw in her eyes must have convinced him. He spoke in a detached tone. “After his last rehab, we’d agreed he’d be the groundskeeper here and work with the decorators. You know, let them inside and make sure they had everything they needed. It was a test, and he promised me he’d cleaned up his act. He was going to live here when it was all done and run the place.” Carter scoffed with disgust. “That lasted about two weeks. The decorator came to me one day when he didn’t show. I went looking for him and found him passed out on his backyard cot. His house was on fire. Apparently dear old dad left a burner on at the stove. Smoke was everywhere, but he was too damn drunk to wake up and save his own life. Then I heard Rocky whimpering. He was trapped inside the house.”

  “Oh no! How awful.”

  “I got him out of there and took him home with me.”

  “What about your father?”

  “Had a bout of smoke inhalation, but nothing gets Riley McCay down. He’s fine to drink another day. Boarded up the walls, from what I hear, and is living out of two rooms in that old house.”

  “It’s a good thing you showed up when you did, Carter. Or neither of them might have survived.” Images of her own father flashed in her mind. How she’d wished she could have gotten through to him before he’d gone down the path of self-destruction.

  There was silence. Carter took a breath and blew it out, clearly bitter about his father. “So now you know.”

  “But—”

  He put two fingers to her mouth, stopping her from speaking. His touch, finger pads to her soft lips, caused commotion in her belly and she gazed into his gorgeous hazel eyes. “But, I’ve had a change of heart. You made me see value in this house. I can’t let it sit anymore. So, if you’re still willing, you can fix it up. I spoke with my accountant today and—”

  “Really?” Macy blurted between his fingers, overwhelmed with joy. She hadn’t heard much else other than he had changed his mind. “I can decorate the inn?”

  He removed his fingers from her mouth and nodded.

  “Oh, thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck and lifted up to kiss him solidly on the lips. “You won’t be sorry.”

  Six

  Carter was already sorry.

  He held Macy in his arms, splaying his hands on her tiny waist. She was pressed close, her breasts crushed to his chest. His pulse quickened as he looked down at her mouth. Her lips were full and soft and generous. Her expressive violet eyes were closed, but Carter had seen the look of sheer joy on her face, and it was impossible not to feel the same way.

  His body grew tight and hard. Awareness coursed through his veins. Her eyes fluttered open after that one teasing kiss, and she stared at him. He held his own, until her mouth parted and her subtle female scent drifted up to his nostrils. A man could take only so much before he caved.

  He bent his head farther and nipped at her lips. A little whimper rose from her throat, a plea asking for more. Carter wasn’t going to deny her. He brought his mouth to hers and kissed her fully. She fell into his arms, as if she wanted to be there all along, as if she belonged there.

  A shudder ran through his system. She didn’t belong in his arms, but her kisses were too damn tempting, her mouth too appealing and the taste of her too damn good.

  Was it an ego stroke, or real passion? Carter didn’t want to know. Both of them were in lonely places right now, and if they could bring each other a little pleasure, why not? He pulled her closer and took her in another kiss. This time, he got real serious.

  She grew bold and brought her hands to his chest, then stroked up his shirt to toy with his neck. He liked a woman who went after what she wanted. He liked her hands on him. He wove his hand into her hair and pulled her ponytail loose. The silky blanket of curls fell down her back. His fingers threaded through the thick locks. “Open for me, darlin’.”

  Her lips immediately obeyed and he drove his tongue into her mouth. He kissed her again and again, their mouths caught up in a frenzy of lust.

  Macy whispered his name softly, reverently between kisses. “Carter.”

  He wanted her then and was fully aware they were standing in the only room that housed a big, welcoming bed. No strings attached, he’d told her when he’d invited her here. He’d promised her that, and he was about to make that clear a second time. He pulled away from her slightly and met with eyes filled with desire. “There’s—”

  Something flashed outside the window, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Henry’s truck coming up the road. “Crap.”

  Carter put his head down, bunched up his face for a second and then stepped away from Macy. “Henry just pulled up. He must be looking for me. It’ll be only a minute before he comes up here.”

  Macy gasped and pulled herself together quickly. It wasn’t as if she’d been naked or anything, but she looked flustered.

  “I’ll go down and see what he wants.”

  Carter grabbed his hat, set it on his head and gave Macy one last look before leaving the room. Regret battled with good sense as he went down the stairs. It was a good thing Henry interrupted what might have happened, he told himself. He wished to hell he believed that. He hadn’t quite recovered, but he put on a good show for Henry when he met him out front. He was sitting in his truck, and Carter leaned agains
t the passenger window. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Looks like Belle is ready to foal. You said you wanted to be there.”

  “Yeah, I do. How’s she doing?”

  “Being it’s her first time, she’s a trouper. I’ve gotta get back to the barn.”

  “I’ll come relieve you in a few minutes.”

  Macy appeared in the doorway, her hair back in a ponytail, her hat sitting pretty atop her head. Henry tipped his hat and didn’t voice the question Carter noticed in his eyes. Henry knew how to be discreet when he had to be. “Miss Tarlington.”

  “Hi, Henry. Anything wrong?”

  “Not a thing. It’s good news.”

  Carter turned to her. “You ever see a mare give birth?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “You want to?” he asked.

  Macy glanced at Henry first then looked at Carter. With a broad smile, she nodded. “I’d love to.”

  “Well then, I’ll be going. I’ll see you both at the ranch,” Henry said, revving the engine.

  Carter stood in front of the house, watching the Ford truck make its way down the road. When the vehicle was out of sight, he turned around and gave Macy a direct look. Her eyes, when unconcealed, were like a bouquet of blue violets, shocking in their intensity. He glanced at her mouth, tenderly swollen from his kisses. He set his hands in the back pockets of his jeans and leaned back on his boot heels. “Listen, when I invited you here, I said there were no strings attached, and I meant it. You don’t owe me anything, and you shouldn’t feel obligated because—”

  “Don’t you dare!” Macy’s lips pursed tight together. They were ready to turn a shade of purple.

  He jerked back and blinked at her tone.

  “You think I kissed you because I feel I owe you something? Man, that’s rich, Carter.”

  Carter’s voice rose. “Why are you so riled?”

  Her voice elevated a notch higher. “I’m not riled.”

  Fumes were practically coming out of her ears. “Then why the hell are you barking at me?”

  “I. Am. Not. Barking. But if you think I kissed you for any other reason than because I wanted to, then you don’t know me very well.”

  “Well, that’s right. I don’t know you very well.”

  “At this rate, you’re never going to find out.”

  “Maybe it’s best if I don’t.” The last thing he needed was to get complicated with Macy Tarlington. He’d been a fool once with a woman, and he wasn’t about to repeat his mistake. No matter how good that kiss had been. No matter how much Macy tempted him with pretty hair, gorgeous eyes and a killer body. “Besides, I kissed you. That peck you gave me wasn’t all that inspiring and hardly rated as a kiss at all.”

  “I was thanking you, Carter.” She spoke as if he should’ve realized that. As if he was a moron. “If my kisses were so bad, then why in heaven did you react that way?” Her voice lowered as she glanced at the zipper of his jeans.

  She’d turned him on. It wasn’t a crime and he wasn’t going to apologize for it. He met her challenge. His voice a thick rasp, he answered, “Don’t go analyzing my reaction to you. You’re a beautiful woman and we got caught up in something a second ago. That’s all it was.” He pushed the brim of his hat lower onto his forehead. “I’ve gotta get going. You want to come and see Belle give birth, hop into the Jeep.”

  He strode over to his Jeep and climbed into the driver’s side. Rocky followed, racing into the front seat next to him, taking up all the space. The dog turned big eager eyes to Macy, and Carter half hoped she’d changed her mind. But sure as shooting, she marched over to the vehicle and got into the back. Before she could get her butt planted firmly onto the seat, Carter gunned the gas pedal and took off.

  * * *

  Seeing the colt’s birth might have been the most fascinating thing that happened to Macy this year, if Carter hadn’t kissed her. That ranked one notch higher in her Top Ten List of All-Time Thrills. Macy couldn’t shake off the feeling of his arms around her, their bodies melding or the heat of his breath as he laid claim to her mouth. Her lips still stung a little, in a good way. Macy had let go of all her doubts and inhibitions up in that bedroom and simply gave in to what she was feeling.

  Carter had turned on the heat.

  But after the interruption, he’d shut down cold.

  Macy wasn’t looking for love, hardly believed in it herself, and she knew Carter wasn’t in the market for another girlfriend. He’d had his heart broken and his faith shattered. And, she couldn’t forget, he was the bearer of the cursed diamond ring.

  Yet still, Macy tingled in places she’d forgotten could tingle. Her nerves jangled at the memory of that kiss and what might have happened if Henry hadn’t driven up when he had.

  If she was ever to take a leap of faith with a man, it would be with Carter. No doubt about it.

  Macy leaned on the corral fence. The air was warm and sticky, the sun taking its last dip before setting on the horizon. To think, it was just an hour ago that the foal had been born, a colt. Macy had watched in awe and slight horror, seeing the mare strain and stretch to deliver her little babe. As soon as the foal was born, covered in a layer of stable straw, Carter checked under Belle’s neck for a pulse and then patted her lovingly on her flank. She’d rebounded from the delivery and lifted up to stand tall in the barn’s stall. Mama and foal were healthy, Carter had reported.

  Now, Carter led the mare and the spindle-legged foal into the empty corral. The colt followed close to its mama, and Macy’s heart tripped over itself. Mother and son were beautiful in their awkward grace. As the colt nursed, Belle stood still, swiveling her head to catch a sideways glance of her newborn. They were dark brown in coloring with black manes, their coats like gloss under the setting sun.

  Carter left them in the center of the corral and came to lean his back on the fence next to her. He was inside, she outside. He didn’t look at her when he spoke, instead focusing on the two horses. “He’s a fine-looking colt, isn’t he?”

  “He’s amazing. It’s hard to believe he’s walking already.”

  “It’s in his nature. He’s a prey animal. His instincts tell him to get up and go, avoid predators at all costs. Foals have to be quick on their feet. He’ll be trotting before bedtime, and in the morning he’ll be able to gallop.”

  “Seriously, on those legs?”

  Carter grinned. In the olden days, she’d be called a greenhorn for being naive. “Those legs are about ninety percent of his mama’s in height. Tomorrow they’ll even be stronger and will easily hold his weight. You watch and see.”

  “I’ll do that,” Macy said good-naturedly. The mood between them had eased some after the colt’s birth. It seemed neither one of them could hold on to tense feelings after witnessing something so wondrous.

  Macy always thought birth was a miracle in itself, but to witness the colt’s progress an hour after his delivery was truly inspiring.

  In the distance, cattle bellowed, their sound almost familiar to her now. This ranch was massive, with so many things going on all at once. The air was damp and uncomfortable and the stubborn man beside her way too good-looking for her equilibrium, yet Macy felt at peace. It settled into her bones now, and a sense of wonder and joy filled her. Tears welled in her eyes, and she fought them hard. She didn’t want Carter to see her cry. She turned her head and pretended to gaze at the crescent moon. Even the sky was perfect right now.

  “What’s wrong, Hollywood?” Carter asked. He wasn’t looking at her. He had a sixth sense about things. He seemed to see what she didn’t want him to see.

  “I got something in my eye. I think it’s dust.”

  “It’s not dust.”

  “How do you know?” She whipped her head around to stare at his profile.

  He shrugged. “I just know. If it’s about what happened back at the inn…”

  “It’s not. I assure you it isn’t.” She spoke adamantly, perhaps too much so, because he finally looked int
o her eyes. She squared her shoulders. “Maybe it’s seeing…I don’t know…a miracle, right before my eyes.”

  “Okay,” he said softly. Her knees nearly buckled from his sweet tone. “Just making sure.”

  They stared at each other a long time. Only the shuffling of the mare’s hooves and the distant hoot of an owl sounded in the silence.

  A change of subject was needed. “I’d like to start work on the inn tomorrow.”

  “I figured as much. I’ll have Henry make sure the locks on the inn are changed.”

  “You’ve never locked it up before…at least not since I’ve been here.”

  “There was no need to before.”

  Meaning, before this, he didn’t care what happened to the inn. His bitterness toward his father translated into disregard for the inn. At least now, he was willing to protect it, the same way he protected most other things in his life.

  The way he’d protected you.

  “I’ll have Henry give you the new keys in the morning.”

  “That’s great. Thank you.”

  “We’ll have to talk about your budget.”

  “Sounds good. I’ve learned to live on a shoestring. I can be thrifty.”

  Carter nodded. “I’ve had to do the same. But, if we’re doing this, I don’t want to pinch pennies. You’ll have all you need to make the place shine. I only have one condition.”

  Carter sent her a serious look and Macy blinked. “I’m holding my breath. What is it? You want the walls purple or retro furniture or something?”

  “Very funny. I’m asking you to use local vendors for most of the work.”

  “Oh?”

  “Texans stick together. Folks around here like to keep the neighbors employed.”

  “That’s very upstanding of you.”

  “I know.” He sent her a bone-melting smile. “I’m that kind of guy.”

  It wasn’t easy, but she ignored his down-home charm. “Of course, I’ll hire locals for the work.” Her mind was spinning. She was determined to do a good job with the inn. It was a project she could sink her teeth into.