Champagne and Cowboys

by Donna Michaels

  “No, Anna, don’t cry.” he said quietly, taking her face between his hands.

  She batted away his hands. “No.” He reached for her again and she slapped him hard across the face. That was for the pain he’d caused. The way he’d used her and left her like he did. He stared at her, sadness and desire conflicted in his eyes.

  “Was I just another notch on your belt, Cole?” Her heart pounded against her chest. She had to know if she’d been deluding herself all these years. Anna blinked, clearing away the unshed tears marring her vision.

  He took her hand and kissed the palm, holding her gaze as he moved closer. His blue eyes pooled and she saw him swallow. She closed her eyes and felt the heat radiating from his body.

  “No, never. Not then, not now.” He cupped her cheek and leaned forward gently kissing each eyelid, her cheek, slowly, tenderly moving down her jaw, brushing his mouth tentatively to hers. He nuzzled the warmth of her neck. “If you don’t feel this, if you don’t want this, Anna. Tell me to stop and I will. I was a stupid fool back then.” He leaned his forehead to hers. “I know it can’t change the past ten years, but I’m sorry.”

  She knew she should walk out, but the familiar scent of his skin, the touch of his mouth on hers made her turn her head and capture his mouth anew.

  Years seemed to melt away. His kiss drugged her senses. She reached out, needing to know he was real, fisting his shirt in her hands, fearing she might awaken and find it a dream. She tried to rationalize how she felt—maybe she’d had too much wine, maybe this was his one last fling. Reason gave way to sensation. It felt so good, so right to have him touching her, wanting her like this.

  Cole reached behind her and locked the door. He lifted his eyes to hers. “What do you want, Anna?”

  Her insides trembled as she drew his shirt over his muscular shoulders. Heat coursed through her veins as he stepped back to pull the T-shirt over his head. Time and experience had only improved his physique—ten years ago, he’d been a handsome young cowboy, full of himself, swaggering, sexy. Now his confidence was sexy—he knew what she wanted and he was ready to deliver.

  “My turn,” he stated softly, turning her away to unzip the little black dress she’d worn to dinner. She heard his intake of air when the dress pooled at her feet. He touched her shoulders, turning her to face him. She wore a matching black lace bra and panties with thigh-high stockings.

  “Good Lord, Anna.” His gaze narrowed. “Do you dress like this for him?” His gaze swept over her as though she was an exquisite dessert.

  She touched him, memorizing the hardened muscles of his chest, resting her hands on his shoulders. She looked him in the eye. “I’ve never dressed like this for any man. But I have a confession to make, Cole Tanner. When I dressed tonight, I thought only of you.”

  “Anna,” he groaned. He swallowed hard and leaned in to kiss her, his hands cradling her as he knelt, leaving a trail of fiery kisses across her breasts and further down her body. He looked up as he slipped the black lace down her hips. Backed against the wall, she held his head pressed against her naked flesh.

  “I’ve wanted this—you, from the moment I saw you in my house.” His hot breath fanned across her belly as he bent her leg and rested it on his shoulder. He nudged his face between her thighs, tormenting, teasing. Anna clung to her sanity, lost in euphoric bliss, finally submitting to him, to the emotions, the fantasies she’d hidden away for so long.

  In a desperate flurry of need, every barrier was removed between them. He made haste to sheath himself before lifting her in his arms and driving deep into her. She clung to him, each thrust drawing her into a mindless pleasure. He pressed his face into the curve of her shoulder, his sighs punctuated with urgency.

  Anna’s body shattered and, pushing his face against her body to quiet his groan, Cole followed her over. For the span of a heartbeat, she didn’t move. And when he stepped back, releasing her to her feet, she was drawn into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. God, what was wrong with her? Was it possible she wanted him again?

  “Anna?”

  She looked at him, willing him not to tell her he was sorry. She wasn’t.

  “I’m….”

  She placed her hand over his mouth, halting his words. “Not tonight, Cole. No explanations. No regrets.”

  He scooped her into his arms, and she had to guard against her heart breaking all over again. They spoke little, slept even less. Time had stopped. It was only her, only him—if only for one more night.

  She awoke sometime later; the room still dim in the shadowy predawn hour. Her body sore, but well loved, she lay curled against Cole. She closed her eyes just for a moment, imagining this was her life. Here, helping Cole with the ranch and the new developments being planned. Taking pictures and working from home. But the image of Eva and her book of plans washed a fresh wave of guilt over her. She brushed her hand over his arm and he grabbed her hand, threading her fingers through his. She shut her eyes against the soft kiss he placed on her shoulder. “I should go. This is a busy day.” She pushed back the tears threatening her resolve.

  “And Harrison will be wondering where you are.” His breath was hot against her skin.

  “Yes.” She swallowed the lump in her throat and maneuvered from his grasp. “I have a million things to do today.” She slipped into her dress and quickly gathered the rest of her clothing strewn across the floor. It wasn’t until she was at the door, her hand on the knob, that she dared to look back at him.

  He lay on his side, the sheets rumpled at his waist, looking every bit like every fantasy she’d ever had about him. Pain—fresh and stinging—twisted her heart. She kicked herself mentally for allowing this to happen. This was going to be hard to forget.

  His blue gaze narrowed. “Are you okay? Do you want to talk now? I think we should—”

  She held up her hand. “I’m fine, really. I-I need to go.” She paused and forced a smile in response to the curious gaze on his face. “No regrets,” she stated. And with that lie firmly established, she slipped into the hall and made a beeline for her suite.

  Relief flooded her when she noted the bedroom door was still shut. Quickly, she changed into her robe and deposited her clothes on the chair. She picked up her camera and ran through the pictures she’d taken thus far. Candid mostly of the preparations, the countryside, and house. None of them included Cole—not yet, anyway. A single tear escaped and slid down her cheek as she remembered his parting words. Are you okay? If she could get through the next few hours without falling apart, she figured she could damn near survive anything.

  “Jesus, you’re up early.” Harrison stumbled sleepily from the bedroom. He wore his pajama bottoms, indicating that sometime he’d woken up long enough to change and fall back into bed. “I didn’t hear you come to bed last night, but I…” He frowned as he passed by the curtains and a sliver of light touched his face. “I might have had a little too much to drink.”

  Anna swiped her cheeks and turned toward the small coffee maker, pretending to get him a fresh cup. She set the camera on the table and set to her task. “Did you sleep well, then?” she asked, busying herself with the cups. Every muscle ached from Cole’s lovemaking. She should feel guilty, but God help her, she didn’t.

  Harrison circled his arms around her waist, his fingers fumbling with the sash of her robe. “It’s too early to get up. Let’s go back to bed.”

  She eased his hand away, glad the coffee was ready. She held it out to him with a bright smile. “Here you go. This should help.” Slipping past where he had her wedged against the sideboard, she walked to the French doors and drew back the curtains. The valley below was surreal—a frosted, fantasy land. Silent and beautiful, it beckoned to her. She needed the solace of being outside, alone with her thoughts, her camera—no one and nothing else. She hadn’t meant for what had happened between her and Cole to occur. But selfishly, she was grateful it had. In some strange w
ay, maybe this was the closure she needed. The courage finally to move on. She glanced at Harrison, busy with blowing across his cup of steaming coffee, completely unaware of what had transpired. She’d have to tell him, and it would be over between them. But right now, she needed to get ready for the long day ahead. “Listen, I’m going to get ready. I want to capture this view before the sun melts off everything. Why don’t I ask Maria to bring you breakfast? You can just have a leisurely morning and we’ll meet a little later for lunch.”

  His dark eyes met hers, studying her for a moment before he spoke. “Is there any whiskey around here? I’d like some for my coffee. Could you ask Maria to bring me that?”

  Anna eyed him, wondering if he sensed the change in her. Though she knew she could have no future with Cole, the truth was, she wanted nothing more to do with Harrison and his pompous act of entitlement—then again, she feared that she might never find a man who measured up to Cole. “It’s a tad early, don’t you think?”

  He snorted. “It’s New Year’s Eve, sweetheart. I’m just starting the celebration a bit early. Besides, you haul me out here in the boonies, a guy’s gotta have something to help tolerate it.”

  She chose to ignore rather than confront the comment. After a quick shower, she pulled on some warm clothes and went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and to put in Harrison’s breakfast order. She found Maria already busy in wedding preparations.

  “Good morning, Ms. Worthington. I trust you slept well?” Maria glanced up from removing buttery crescent rolls from a baking sheet. The aroma made Anna’s mouth water.

  “Wonderfully so,” she said. It wasn’t a total lie. “It’s beautiful out there this morning. I thought I might take a walk, snap a few pictures.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and turned to find Maria holding out a plate of warm rolls and jam to her. She breathed in deeply and sighed. “I think I could move right in and have you cook for me every day.” Little did the older woman know how much she meant it.

  But that was a fantasy.

  Eva would be the one living here, sitting down each night with Cole. She mentally reprimanded herself. Cole was as much at fault for what happened last night between them. She wouldn’t take all the blame, but mixed in and likely prompted by her feelings of guilt, an odd feeling of camaraderie with Eva surfaced. “I was hoping to get some shots of the florist setting up in the gazebo this morning. Where is Eva? I haven’t seen her this morning.”

  “The florist called this morning and said the shipment wasn’t what was ordered. She and Freddy hightailed it to town shortly thereafter.”

  “That’s dreadful,” Anna replied. “I hope everything works out.”

  Maria shrugged. “If I know Ms. Eva, she’ll have that truck loaded and out here before noon.”

  “She seems like a formidable woman.” Anna cocooned herself in the taste and home-cooked goodness of her breakfast.

  Maria chuckled. “She’s her father’s daughter. Likes everything to run like clockwork. The woman doesn’t do messy.”

  Anna swallowed the last bite of her roll, forcing it down the lump in her throat. “Wouldn’t that be nice if life wasn’t messy?” She took one last swallow of fortifying coffee and then rinsed out her cup. “Have you seen Mr. C this morning?” she asked casually.

  “He came in a couple of hours ago. He’s likely out doing chores. Did you need to speak with him?” She skimmed her finger down a food-splattered page of her recipe book. No Internet recipes for Maria.

  “No, it’s nothing that can’t wait.” Anna fiddled with changing the lens of her camera. “I wondered if you might be able to take a couple of these rolls to my suite? Mr. Barnes is feeling a tad under the weather this morning. But you can tell him I’m walking down the lane if he decides to join me.”

  “I’d be happy to,” she replied. “He doesn’t seem like the outdoorsy type, if you ask me,” she muttered softly, not realizing Anna had overheard the remark. She peered over her bright yellow reading glasses. “I’ll be sure to tell him. And don’t stray too far. They haven’t caught that cougar yet. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the weather is going to cooperate well for this wedding, either. They’re calling for more snow coming in by late afternoon.”

  “Thanks, Maria. I’ll be careful. And breakfast was delicious.” She stepped around the island and placed a kiss on the surprised woman’s cheek.

  “You’re very welcome, Ms. Anna.”

  She smiled at the woman, realizing it was the first time she’d called her by her first name. Once outside, she paused and took in the silence around her. The air was crisp, the sky a gunmetal gray with clouds forming over the mountains on the horizon. The scent of pine tickled her nose as she scanned her surroundings. It was breathtakingly beautiful. She understood why Jim Diamond had chosen this place to build his empire, and why Cole would continue that along with Eva. She shrugged against a shiver and started down the lane, stopping at the corral beside the barn to make friends with a brown-eyed mare chewing on fresh hay. She hadn’t seen Cole yet, and she tried to convince herself that it was best to leave things the way they were. The reasons he’d never tried to contact her no longer seemed important. It wouldn’t change the events of this day.

  Taking her time, she wandered past the little house where Stephan and Maria made their home, stopping to take pictures of the frosted flowers along the fence line that ran what seemed for miles. Looking over her shoulder, she realized she’d walked further than she’d intended. She started back, and every sound coming from the wooded hillside on the other side of the dirt road seemed to heighten. She quickened her step. Glancing over her shoulder, she wondered whether she’d know whether a big cat was following her. A solid mass suddenly blocked her path, and she let out a startled scream that caused a flock of birds to escape to sanctuary in the trees above.

  Harrison grabbed her shoulders, looking at her as though she’d lost her mind. “Not quite the cowgirl you think you are. Good God, Anna, you should watch where you’re walking.”

  Holding her hand to her chest, she brought her heart back under control. “I wandered off a bit too far. Maria said they hadn’t caught the cougar yet.”

  “What cougar?” Harrison’s eyes darted around the area. His frown deepened. “And for the love of God, what is that stench?”

  Anna, now calm and focused, was acutely aware of the stench coming from Harrison. He’d had more than one cup of whiskey-laced coffee. She doubted, however, that was what he was referring to. The ranch still had a good number of cattle.

  “My father used to say that it was the smell of money. My grandfather had a cattle farm in Iowa.” She smiled at the lost memory as he caught up to her stride. Precious thoughts of Thanksgivings spent on the farm suddenly flooded her mind. She’d forgotten how much she loved to visit there. Fascinated by the farm—more so than her mother liked—she loved riding on her grandfather’s knee as he drove his John Deere tractor through the field to check on his cattle. Back then she’d donned a pair of rubber boots he’d bought for her, and loved helping to feed the animals. He’d also been the one to buy her first pair of cowboy boots. They were red with white stitching and were scuffed up before they left the farm the same year. Her mother only allowed her to wear them when they visited her grandparents. She studied Harrison as they walked. He was dressed in corduroy slacks topped with a red sweater and a tweed jacket. His aviator shades hid the sins of his overindulgence last night. She wondered why she hadn’t seen his true character before now.

  “What? Why are you looking at me?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing, really.”

  He pulled on her arm, stopping her in the middle of the road. Pulling off his glasses, he squinted at her with an angry gaze.

  “Hey, let go, you’re hurting my arm.” Anna tried to tug from his grasp, but he held her even tighter.

  “You know what I smell, Anna? I smell shit. And not all of it is coming from the pasture.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” She tugge
d again, but his grasp was firm. She tried to walk away, but he pulled her back, pulling her up against his body.

  “You invited me here, sweetheart—as your date, if memory serves. And all night long, all you can talk about is Cole Tanner. Forgive me if I’m just a wee bit offended that you haven’t even kissed me yet. Worse, I wake up in bed alone. What’s going on, Anna?”

  “Nothing is going on, Harrison. You had a long flight and too much to drink last night. I thought I was being nice to let you sleep.”

  “So why’d you run out on me this morning?”

  Anna searched his eyes. She couldn’t find the words. She had no more excuses. “I’m sorry, Harrison.”

  His gaze softened. “You can make it up to me this afternoon, love.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

  She leaned away from the kiss. “I have a lot of work to do this afternoon.”

  His gaze narrowed. “I just bet you do. And isn’t it convenient that the bride has gone into town?”

  She raised her hand to slap him and he caught it. Her camera fell to the ground.

  He glanced at it. “You do realize that you could do so much better.”

  She held his gaze, hating his condescending attitude. The more success he’d achieved, the worse it had become. His drinking, too. Anna was about to say she agreed with him. In the past twenty-four hours, she’d seen stark differences in the two men she’d come to know intimately in her life. And as much as she had to fight her attraction to Cole, his integrity and down-to-earth demeanor had once again captured her heart—even as it had ten years before. She might not be able to have him—but she damn sure could do better than Harrison Barnes. “Better, Harrison? Do you mean I should aspire to be like you? Traveling abroad, taking pictures of the poor and needy while you share caviar and toast with your publisher?”

  His gaze turned icy. “Sweetheart, you’ll never be that good.”

  “I never realized what a complete ass you are,” she said.