She turned to survey the rest of the room, finding it neat without being fussy. A plush towel hung from the knob of a door that led into the master bathroom. A flannel shirt was tossed over the back of a straight-backed oak chair, and a pair of worn boots sat in a corner near an oak dresser. The dresser top served as a gallery for several framed photos, many of them sepia-toned. As she walked over to look at the pictures, she took a deep breath and realized that the room held Tom’s scent That scent was making her more than a little crazy.
“Your family?” she asked, striving for nonchalance.
“About three generations’ worth.”
She studied the pictures and recognized the ranch house in the background of most of them. “Tom, is there a chance you could lose this place?” She turned to find him leaning in the doorway, watching her.
He adjusted the tilt of his Stetson. “I reckon you’ve been talking to Juanita.”
“No, I—”
“Don’t bother covering up for her. It’s okay. When you two became chummy, I figured she might confide a few things in you. She’s been wanting a woman around to talk to. Luann isn’t quite her speed.”
“Okay, Juanita told me she was worried. Does she have reason to be?”
He walked into the room, his boots echoing on the hardwood floor. “Why the concern? You’ll be gone soon.”
She looked into his eyes and knew she’d have to be very careful in this room. It would be too easy to forget herself and her code of ethics. “You’re right. It’s none of my business.”
“It’s nice of you to be concerned,” he said, his expression softening. “I guess the place found its way into your heart a little bit”
“Of course it did.” And so did you. She tried to pretend her pulse wasn’t hammering. “You have a wonderful spot here. I don’t know how precarious your finances are, but if you’ll let this calendar work for you, it will increase your business among single women. With you on the cover, and Jose and Jeeter inside, the ranch will look very appealing to women who have a romantic image of cowboys.”
He frowned. “I’m running a guest ranch, not an escort service.”
“And I’m not saying these women will expect anything different If they do, I’m sure all of you can handle it just fine.”
“Meaning?” He stood close enough to kiss her.
She trembled. “Come on, Tom. I’m sure you don’t live like a monk out here.”
“I don’t generally get involved with guests, either.”
She tried to be flip. “Then the hot tub doesn’t usually come with a cowboy included?”
“Only in your case.” His gaze reached into hers for a long, tense moment. “Are you sure you want that calendar picture, Cleo?”
She swallowed and stepped back. “Yes. And you’re right. This is the perfect place, just as you predicted. If you’re free this afternoon, I’ll—”
“I’m free.”
“Then I’ll meet you up here at three.” She edged around him, heading toward the door.
“You don’t want to get your camera and start now?”
“No, I...need to clean the lens.” Lame, lame, lame. But it was all she could come up with to postpone the session. She needed time to shore up her defenses before she walked back into this pressure cooker of a bedroom. “I’ll see you at three.”
He touched the brim of his hat. “Yes, ma’am.”
12
CLEO NEEDED one more bracing, career-oriented talk with Bernie before she walked back into Tom’s bedroom. She needed to remind herself of her goals, and what was best for both her and Tom. She used the ranch-house phone while everyone else was eating lunch, because for the first time in recent memory she had no appetite.
“I’m glad you called,” Bernie said. “I hated to wait until I picked you up at the airport, but it seemed silly to bother you on your last two days.”
“What’s up?”
“You know I wasn’t overjoyed at the idea of bringing your father’s company in for cross-promotion, but I have to tell you, it was a smart move.”
“Really?”
“Instead of just offering the calendars as a premium for buying Sphinx Cosmetics, he wants to go the other way, too, and offer Sphinx cosmetics as part of the calendar package. They’re coming up with a whole line of products with a Western theme to coordinate with the calendar. Now that I see old Calvin Griffin in action, I understand why he’s where he is. The man’s a marketing genius. Everybody involved with this project is going to make money, lots of money.”
Cleo thought immediately of how that might help Tom keep the ranch. “That’s good, Bernie. And the best part is, I’ve just about nailed my cover picture, and it’s going to be hot.”
“Just about? I figured you’d know who you were using by now. That Jose character wouldn’t be bad, or—”
“You haven’t seen the shot I want to use because I’m taking it this afternoon. I want Tom McBride for the cover, and he’s agreed to let me use him if he sees the proofs first.”
“Hold it. Proof approval? Who are you and what have you done with Cleo?”
“I know it’s unusual for me to allow a subject to approve the proofs of a session, but—”
“Unusual? Try never in the history of your career. This makes me nervous, babe. We don’t have a lot of time to jack around with this. You’ll have to mail him proofs, and he’ll probably be out rounding up cattle or something and not get to it for weeks, and production needs to start by—”
“Don’t worry, I’m shooting thirteen cowboys, like I originally planned, so if Tom doesn’t work out, we’ll still have our calendar.”
“Which reminds me. Should I start looking for a matron-of-honor dress?”
“I’ve, uh, sort of abandoned that plan for now.”
“Good thing, because a wedding could really louse up the schedule for this calendar, and I’ll tell you, we want to have our ducks in a row when Calvin comes to call with his Sphinx Cosmetics team.”
“We’ll be ready,” Cleo said. “See you in two days.”
TOM STOOD in front of his bedroom windows at five minutes before three. He’d cranked a couple of the windows open a few inches to let in the breeze and cool his heated body.
Right on time, Cleo stepped out of her cabin. She was hatless, and the sunlight danced like a spotlight on her jumble of blond curls. He admired the purposeful way she walked, as if she dared anyone to get in her way. He also admired her single-minded attitude and her courage in the face of adversity. They were good traits for a Montana woman to have. They were also the traits that might keep them apart
He thought she needed more than a love of photography to keep her satisfied, but he could be wrong. What would happen between them, or not happen, was up to Cleo now. If she could maintain her professional distance throughout this photo shoot, that would be a pretty clear demonstration of her ability to put her career ahead of her emotional needs. She had a right to do that, and he’d respect her choice, but he had to know what that choice would be before he risked his heart.
He’d left strict instructions with Juanita and Jose that he was not to be disturbed, short of an emergency, until morning. They probably knew exactly what was going on, but neither of them had said a word or even lifted an eyebrow. Juanita’s glance had communicated quite dearly that she thought it was about time.
Cleo had said she doubted that he lived like a monk.
She might be surprised to discover he had been doing exactly that. She might be even more surprised to learn that she wasn’t the only one dealing with the problem of sexual frustration.
To his amazement, he discovered he wasn’t any good at casual sex anymore. Once upon a time, before Deidre, he’d cut a pretty wide swath through this valley, but marriage had shown him the joys of making love to the same woman, and he’d learned to treasure continuity. Although he mistrusted wedded bliss after the way Deidre had treated him, he wasn’t ready to go back to his former sexual pursuits, either.
> He was in a bind very similar to Cleo’s, come to think of it.
“I’m here.”
The sound of her voice skittered up his spine. He turned. “So I see.”
She cleared her throat. “Well, I’ve been thinking about various poses, and I think we should start with—”
“I think we should start with closing the door.”
She glanced around at the open doorway. “Oh, I don’t think that’s necessary, do you?”
“It’s absolutely necessary. It isn’t logical, considering that I may end up on a calendar the world is going to see, but I’ll be damned if the photo session is going to be a public one.”
“All right.” She closed the door.
Instantly the atmosphere in the room intensified. His heart began chugging along like a freight train as he looked at her across the broad expanse of mattress separating them.
“I’d like you to sit on the bed,” she said. “The side closest to the windows, so I can get that light falling on your face.”
“Okay.” He sat down and propped his hands behind him. “Now what?”
She licked her lips and took the lens cap off her camera. “Let me get a reading, here.”
He looked straight into the lens as she crouched and pointed it at him.
“Nice,” she said. “The light’s perfect. Nudge your hat back a little.”
He used his thumb to do what she asked, but he kept his gaze trained on that lens, because he knew she was looking into it and that was the only way to maintain eye contact with her.
“For someone who didn’t want his picture taken, you seem pretty relaxed.”
“Maybe because I finally got a few things straight, and I know what I want out of this.”
She swallowed and clicked the shutter a couple of times. “Good. I talked to my assistant at noon, and we have some exciting cross-promotion lined up for the calendar.” She moved a few steps and clicked the shutter again. She was going through the motions, but there was no style, no flair. “Bernie predicted that anyone connected with this project will make good money. That should be welcome news for you.”
“That’s assuming you’ll be able to take a decent picture this afternoon.”
“What?” She brought the camera down and stared at him.
“All this talk about cross-promotions and money isn’t very sexy, and it isn’t your usual approach, judging from what I’ve seen. You’re holding back, Cleo.”
“I just need to get warmed up!”
He spoke low and easy. “Can I help?”
“No! I mean...” She looked confused. Then she hung the camera from her neck and ran her fingers through her hair. “You’re right I’m tense. I’ve never shot a guy I...have feelings for. This is more awkward than I thought it would be.”
“Maybe I can help, after all.” He began unbuttoning his shirt.
“Wait!”
He almost smiled at the panic in her voice. He paused and lifted an eyebrow.
“Take...take off your boots. That’s it The rancher at the end of the day sitting on the edge of his bed, taking off his boots. I like that.”
“All right.” He had the first boot off and was about to drop it to floor.
“Look at me,” she commanded, crouching in front of him.
He did, although he deliberately didn’t put a whole lot of expression into it. With her scent tantalizing him and her body almost within reach, keeping cool wasn’t easy, but he’d do it. She was going to have to work to get what she wanted out of him.
She took the picture, but he could tell from her frown that she wasn’t satisfied. “Okay, the other boot. Easy. Take it off slow. There. Look at me again. That’s better.”
Damn, but her voice was having an effect on him. He felt some heat transfer with that shot.
She stood and paced in front of him. “Let me think for a minute.”
“You didn’t have to think when you were shooting Jeeter.”
“Don’t you suppose I know that?” Her blue eyes flashed. “Jeeter was just another calendar page, but this...this has to be special.”
“Then you’ll have to go for it, Cleo,” he said softly.
She stood in front of him, her gaze troubled, her body trembling slightly.
He lowered his voice another notch. “Unless you want to forget the calendar shot and just have a good time.”
Her jaw clenched. “No, by God, we’re going to do this. Take off your shirt.”
He took his time unsnapping the cuffs and pulling the tail from the waistband of his jeans while he stared into the camera lens. He could hear the pattern of her breathing change when he finally took off the shirt and tossed it on the floor.
“Lean back on your elbows.” Her tone was uneven, but there was a thread of determination running through it.
He gazed into the camera. “Aren’t you going to tell me how good I look without a shirt?”
She swore softly, and he smiled. Click, click, click went the shutter as she moved closer, leaning over him slightly. “Undo the belt.”
He was getting hard. Unhooking the belt buckle made him painfully aware of just how aroused he was.
“The top button.” She clicked the shutter furiously now.
“I want you, Cleo.”
“Don’t tell me that.” Her chest was heaving as she changed her camera angle. “Next button.”
He complied, very slowly. “You can see how much I want you. Let me strip you naked and make love to you on this blanket.”
“Stop it!” She took two more frames.
“Let me show you all the ways I can touch you, all the ways I can give you pleasure.”
“No.” She was breathing hard and kept shooting.
“I want to see the look on your face when I’m deep inside you.”
“What are you doing?” she cried, the camera clutched in her shaking hands as she battled for control.
He sat up slowly, tossed his hat aside and took the camera from her unresisting fingers. “Trying to make you see,” he murmured, lifting the strap over her head and laying the camera on the bedside table. “Did you get what you wanted?”
Her eyes were moist, her words choked. “I don’t know.”
“I believe you really don’t.” He drew her gently down and guided her back onto the blanket. “Let’s see if maybe this could be it.” He started on the buttons of her shirt.
“I can’t” Her hair in disarray against the bold patterned wool, she gazed at him. “I can’t, Tom.” Yet she made no move to stop him.
“Yes, you can.” He leaned down and kissed the soft skin of her throat as he continued to undress her.
“I’ve never...let one of my subjects...”
“This time you will.” He worked her out of her clothes, caressing her firm breasts, her narrow waist, her silken thighs. She trembled and moaned beneath his touch, thrashing her head from side to side as if to deny what was happening, but she still didn’t stop him.
Finally he lifted her more fully onto the bed and admired the contrast of her white skin against the bold colors of the blanket. “Perfect.”
“No, Tom.” She struggled for breath. “Really. We can’t do this. We—”
He silenced her with a deep kiss that left her vibrating in his arms.
“But I don’t want to,” she wailed when her mouth was free again.
“Is that right?” he murmured against her breast.
With a downward stroke of his hand he sought the fevered dampness between her thighs. “I think you have a credibility problem, sweetheart”
“I’m so afraid that I’ll...” She gasped as he probed deep.
“That you’ll find out you’re human? That a man can make you lose control of that famous discipline?”
“Yes!”
“That’s why I’m here.” He lifted his head to gaze into her eyes. “I need to see that happen.”
“You planned this all along,” she whispered.
“I wanted this all along. But I won�
��t force you.”He teased her lightly with his fingers. “Tell me to stop and I’ll stop.”
“St...”
He paused, his heartbeat thudding in his ears as he waited.
“Stay,” she murmured at last, the word ending on a sigh. “Please stay. Love me until I can’t think anymore.”
Joy surged through him as he smiled tenderly down at her. “Yes, ma’am. I’d be happy to.”
THE TOUCH OF HIS HANDS and mouth on her body swept away most of her control. The rest of it disappeared when he shucked his jeans and rolled a condom over his sizable erection.
“Now,” she said, panting, needing him to fill the aching void within her. “Now, Tom.”
“Yes, now.”
She gazed upon the rugged beauty of him as he moved over her, and her throat tightened with the sudden urge to cry. She reached up to cup his face in both hands, to memorize the way he was looking at her with a perfect mix of tenderness and passion. And she knew she’d never capture that look with a camera.
He turned his head to kiss her palm that rested against his cheek. Then he looked down at her again. “The night in the hot tub was just fooling around,” he murmured, stroking her with the tip of his shaft against her sensitive folds. “I’m through fooling around, Cleo.”
“I’m not sure...what you mean.” Her voice quivered.
“When we’re finished here, you will be.” He slid his hands beneath her bottom, lifting her to meet him as he pushed in deep.
“Oh.” The cry rushed from her, propelled by a feeling of completeness she’d never known. He filled her, blotting out everything but the sensation of joining with her destiny.
“Ah, Cleo.” He smiled gently as he drew back and completed the miracle once again.
“Tom,” she said, gasping. “Tom, I—” Words failed her.
“Just enjoy, sweetheart” He moved slowly within her, setting off ripples of pleasure with every thrust. “Life doesn’t give us times like this too often.”
She’d always considered sex a frantic, sometimes confusing business. Tom was not the least bit confused. He knew exactly what he was doing, and what he was doing was incredible. Tension drained from all parts of her body to settle in one spot, and there he lavished all his attention. Marveling at the perfection of each movement, Cleo surrendered the last of her discipline, the last of her control, for the first time in her life.
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