A Moment To Love

by Jennifer Faye

  He prepared a couple of steaks to add to the foil-wrapped potatoes already on the grill. When he came back inside, there was still no sign of Lexi. Thinking that she might want more than meat and potatoes, he tossed together a salad.

  He should probably go wake her. Then again, maybe she’d be better off sleeping. He pulled out her care instructions and in the silence began deciphering the words one at a time. He was a slow reader, but with determination, he could make it through to the end.

  “Would that happen to be the instructions from the doctor?” Lexi came up behind him.

  Too late to hide the paper. “Ah, yes. Here you go.”

  “That’s okay. Can you just read the part about what symptoms to watch for?”

  “Is something wrong?” He was poised to drop everything to drive her to the hospital.

  “Um…no. I’m just being cautious is all.”

  He looked at her as she made her way to the sink. His gaze settled on the gentle sway of her hips. He swallowed hard before forcing his attention back to the care instructions. He hadn’t gotten to the symptoms section. His chest tightened as the letters formed a jumbled mess. His throat clogged. There was no way he’d read it out loud to her. He’d sound like…like a complete and utter jerk, or worse. He might have opened up a bit to her while they were at Haggerty, but he was not sharing this part of his life. Absolutely not.

  “You can read it.” He pushed the paper toward her as she lifted a glass of water to her lips.

  Before she could even take a sip, she lowered the glass. “If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not that. In fact, it’s the opposite. It…it’s nice to have some company.”

  The corners of her mouth lifted, and she stepped up to him. “Really?” Her voice purred with delight. “Well, thanks for having me. Sorry I wasn’t so agreeable earlier. I wasn’t feeling very well.”

  “But you’re feeling better now?”

  “Much better. That nap was just what I needed.”

  His needs ran in a completely different direction. His gaze dipped to her lips. They were still damp from the cold water. He should turn away and keep busy, but his body seemed to have a will of its own as he leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers. Sweet and delectable, just like he remembered. He also remembered that he was doing the exact thing he’d told himself not to do. She was his opposition. But more than that, she was way out of his league.

  However, she didn’t reject his advance. In fact, she didn’t say one thing about his moment of spontaneity. That was a good thing. Wasn’t it? Or was she just too startled to speak?

  He pulled away. “I have to get the steaks off the grill.”

  He hustled out the back door. He should tell her the truth—he couldn’t read. At least, not like others. Then she’d see him clearly. At last this crazy attraction thing would stop. But his male ego refused to be lessened in her eyes. For some reason, her opinion meant a lot to him. If he could just hide his deficiencies for a little longer, she’d be gone.

  Just for once it was nice having someone around who hadn’t known him all of his life. She didn’t know about the merciless teasing because he couldn’t read as fast as the other kids. She didn’t know how he still struggled. Instead, Lexi saw him as a man—a landowner—someone with whom to do business. And he liked it. He really liked it. Most of all, he really liked her and her spunk. He didn’t want any of that to change.

  He’d just returned from the grill with a platter holding two medium T-bones and the potatoes when he glanced up in time to catch Lexi in mid-stretch. The curves of her body strained against her turquoise top while a sliver of her bare stomach peeked out from beneath the hem of her shirt. He practically dropped their dinner right there on the floor. He swallowed hard as he continued to stare.

  Her amused gaze caught his eye, and he turned away. “I didn’t know what you like to eat, so I grilled up a couple of steaks. If that’s okay with you, we can eat just as soon as I set the table and pour us some iced tea.”

  “Sounds good. Is it really after six? I didn’t mean to sleep all afternoon.”

  The memory of her stretched out on the bed did nothing to help him regain his composure. His appetite for steak vanished. He craved something else—someone with rumpled hair and bare feet. His gaze strayed to Lexi. Wasn’t it just like a man to hunger for a woman he could never possess? He inwardly groaned.

  With the table set and the drinks poured, he grabbed a couple of acetaminophen caplets and handed them to her. “Here. It’s past time for you to take these.”

  She accepted the pills and chased them down with some tap water. “Since I’m feeling better, how about after dinner you give me a ride back to the motel?”

  He knew her suggestion would be best for his sanity, but he’d given his word to watch over her tonight, and that’s exactly what he intended to do. “You’re stuck with me for twenty-four hours. I’ll give you a ride back to the Doc’s tomorrow for your follow-up appointment. If he okays it, you can go back to the motel then, but not before. Now, let’s eat.”

  “And that’s your final word?”

  “It is.”

  She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  After she washed up, she joined him at the table. They filled up their plates with steak and the salad he’d tossed with red wine vinaigrette.

  They quietly ate until the silence started to bother him. “Did you tell your father about your encounter with the scorpion?”

  “No. I didn’t want to worry him. He’s already more stressed than he needs to be.”

  This was where Cord was supposed to interject something to keep the conversation going. But what? He had zero experience playing host or striking up an engaging conversation.

  He settled for the first thought that came to his mind. “Your steak…is it cooked the way you like? I could put it back on the grill.”

  She glanced down at her plate as though she’d momentarily forgotten about the food. “It’s great. Thank you for making it. I feel bad for making you go out of your way.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t get many guests. I’d forgotten how nice it is to share a meal with someone.”

  Now why in the world had he gone and said that? But then Lexi smiled at him. A genuine smile. One of those that lit up her whole face and warmed a spot in his chest.

  “This is so much better than eating alone at my desk while poring over reports.” She took a bite of steak.

  He couldn’t imagine someone so young and beautiful spending all of her time working. He’d have thought her social calendar would be booked. “Maybe you should cut back on your hours at the office. I’m sure there has to be a lot to do in New York City.” Not that he’d know. He’d never ventured beyond the New Mexico border. Everything he needed was right here. “What sort of things do you like to do?”

  “You mean, aside from work?” She sat back as though giving his question serious consideration. “I like to read cozy mysteries. I started a really good one months ago, but I haven’t had time to get back to it.”

  “You know what they say about all work and no play…”

  “I do. But I have priorities.”

  “That doesn’t mean you can’t take a moment to enjoy yourself.” He couldn’t believe what he was saying. Why should he care how she chose to spend her time? It was absolutely none of his business.

  “Maybe you could show me more of your ranch. I really enjoyed seeing Haggerty. And I’d really enjoy riding one of your horses.”

  He bit back an eager invitation. This was so unlike him. Even with his ex, he hadn’t been interested in her so quickly. Susan had been the one to initiate things. And look where that had gotten him. Still, he couldn’t be rude. His mother had raised him better than that. And Lexi deserved only the best.

  “If there’s time before you leave, we could take a ride to a remote spot that you might enjoy.”

  “Great. I’m looking forward to it.”

 
; He glanced up, surprised by her eagerness. Maybe they didn’t have to be adversaries. Maybe they could agree to disagree about what was best for the land and be friendly with each other. He didn’t have many friends, aside from the ranch hands. Something told him Lexi would be a good friend.

  She added some butter to her potato. “Do you have any relatives in Whistle Stop?”

  He shook his head. “Not anymore.”

  She looked as though she were about to ask something else, but instead she mashed the butter into the potato before taking a bite.

  Eager to make the most of the opportunity to connect with her, he said, “The land and the animals keep me grounded.”

  “What about friends?” She laid down her fork and stared at him.

  “Obviously, you must have heard some of the gossip about me that’s going around town.” She nodded, and he continued, “Then there’s nothing more for me to add.”

  Her concerned gaze met his. “Sure there is. If you know what they’re saying, why don’t you stop it?”

  “I can’t fight the truth.” So much for his fantasy about being a “real man” in Lexi’s eyes.

  “You call that bunch of rehashed garbage the truth? I haven’t known you very long, but I know you aren’t like the man they described to me in town. And I told Mrs. Sanchez that—”

  “You did what?” He didn’t need anyone sticking up for him.

  “I told her that you’ve been nothing but kind and considerate.”

  He had? That’s really how she saw him? The funny feeling in his chest left him feeling off-kilter. What was he supposed to say now?

  “Don’t look so shocked. You can be quite the gentleman when you set your mind to it.”

  No one had ever said such kind things to him. Unable to look her in the eyes, he gazed down at his plate. “You shouldn’t have wasted your time. They already have their minds made up about me.”

  “Mrs. Sanchez seemed quite interested in my opinion of you. Perhaps you should give them a second chance, and maybe they’ll give you one, too.”

  Uncomfortable with this line of conversation, he decided to turn it around. “You made quite an impression on Mr. Forbes. He thinks your resort would be good for the local economy. He insisted I learn more about your plans. So now it’s your turn. Tell me more about this resort you’re all gung ho to build.”

  “I have some information in my room that you’re welcome to read.” Her chair scraped over the tile floor.

  He held out his hand to stop her from getting up. “I don’t want to read some sales pitch. I just want you to be bluntly honest with me. What kind of resort would you build?”

  “A Wild West-themed one.”

  Hence, the need for the ghost town. “Why in the world would you build a vacation destination in the middle of nowhere?”

  “That’s one of the land’s many charms. It’ll provide privacy to the resort’s guests.”

  “Why would they need privacy?” A dull ache in his gut told him he wasn’t going to like the answer.

  “I suppose at this point it won’t hurt to tell you that this will be an exclusive resort. The clientele will be high-profile people who want a vacation without having to worry about the paparazzi snapping pictures for those grocery store tabloids.”

  “And the ghost town?”

  “We’ll provide it as an attraction for the guests to explore.”

  Speechless, he stared at her. She wanted to take the land his family had eked out a living on and turn it into some sort of amusement for the rich and famous. His gut twisted.

  He stood and grabbed his half-empty plate. He strode to the sink and deposited it. What had happened to his plans for some fun banter and kissing? His jaw tightened. This wasn’t anywhere close to the ending he’d dreamed up.

  “Hey, where are you going?” she called to him.

  “I have to clean up the kitchen.”

  “You didn’t finish eating. And you didn’t share your thoughts about the resort.”

  He kept his back to her. His hands clenched the edge of the counter. “That’s not a good idea. I don’t think you want to hear what I think.”

  “Sure I do.”

  He shook his head. “Go rest while I clean up.”

  He needed the time alone to wrap his head around what she’d told him. Even though she appeared to be a desirable lady with lots of love for her father, Cord couldn’t get past his horror of her wanting to do something so trivial with the land—his land. When he was out there on the range, he could be comfortable with himself. He wasn’t constantly reminded of his shortcomings.

  What he had now was all he would ever own. By giving up a large chunk of his family’s land, his acreage would drastically shrink—his ability to make a living off the land would be severely compromised. Less land would mean a smaller herd of cattle, which would mean significantly less income. He’d have to let go of some of his ranch hands—men who counted on him for a paycheck. The thought washed away the sweetness from his iced tea, leaving behind only bitterness.

  “I don’t want to rest,” Lexi insisted. “I want to talk—about the resort. Admit it, the plan has a lot of potential. Not only will it save the Brazen H from foreclosure, but it’ll bring a lot of business back to Whistle Stop.”

  He turned to her. “Why did you have to pick my family’s land? This is a large desert area. There’s lots of other remote property. Why do you have to destroy my heritage to make a profit?”

  Tense lines etched her beautiful face as her painted nails tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Our investors want something new and invigorating. Your land offers a host of unique resort activities from rock-climbing to hiking to exploring a genuine ghost town. In addition, the area allows for an airstrip for private planes, as well as commuter flights out of the Albuquerque airport.”

  In any other circumstance, he’d have applauded her for devising a resort unique from the ski and golf resorts such as the ones up north in Red River and Angel Fire. If only she hadn’t set her sights on his land.

  “What would you say if I told you my investors want to preserve as much of the ghost town as possible?”

  “I’d say I’m still opposed to you buying the land.” He just couldn’t bring himself to tell her the whole truth—that cowboying was all he was cut out to do.

  “Is it really your heritage that you’re fighting for?” Her narrow gaze poked at him.

  He glanced away. “What else would it be?”

  “I just thought…oh, never mind.” She shook her head in frustration. “Let me help you with the dinner dishes—”

  “I’ve got it. Just go.” Realizing the gruffness of his voice, he attempted a friendlier tone. “Go get some rest. I’m fine here.”

  She walked away, leaving an overwhelming loneliness to sweep over him. They’d reached a stalemate, and both had too much riding on the deal to back down. And once again, he was alone. The story of his life.

  The whole time he scrubbed at the dishes with unnecessary vigor, he rolled around everything he’d learned that evening. He tried to ignore how much he’d enjoyed sharing a meal with her and the way she’d smiled at him. Instead, he focused on her intention to make his family’s land a playground for those with enough money to visit an exclusive resort. How in the world was he going to stop her? And keep his home—his refuge?

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  What in the world had she been thinking?

  Obviously, she hadn’t been, at least not clearly. Alexis paced around the living room. The evening had started so well. Cord could be kind and considerate. And that kiss, where had it come from? And what in the world had it meant?

  Maybe her rising desire to kiss him back—her curiosity to see where things would go if they’d quit dancing around each other—had her retreating behind the safety of her business persona. She just couldn’t let him get too close. She knew all too well what happened when she got too close to people—they let her down.

  First, her mother abandoning he
r and then her fiancé using her as a stepping stone to further his career. She highly doubted that Steven had ever cared about her. He’d cared only about what doors she could open for him. Once she’d accomplished that, he’d forgotten her like yesterday’s sports page.

  But that didn’t mean she had to wage war every time she was alone with Cord. It wasn’t like either of them was going to let things go beyond a kiss. And right about now, she was certain he wasn’t any too eager for a repeat—not after she’d detailed her plans for Haggerty.

  Still, she should apologize for ruining his dinner. She’d step into the kitchen, say her piece and slip away. She leveled her shoulders, mentally rehearsed her apology, and started for the kitchen. She’d just about reached the door when it swung open. She stumbled back to avoid getting hit by it.

  Cord’s eyes opened wide when he noticed her. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were there.”

  “I…um…it’s okay.” Her stomach quivered with nerves.

  “Do you need something?”

  She backtracked into the living room while searching for the right words. Why was she making such a big deal of this? She crossed her arms and turned to him. “Actually, there is something I want—”

  “You’re cold. I’ll start a fire. The evenings get rather chilly now that it’s getting late in the year.”

  Cord’s back was to her as he stepped up to the stone fireplace. Normally, she’d wait until he straightened and faced her, but perhaps this would be easier. She settled on the couch. Her gaze never left him as the well-defined muscles of his arms flexed while he placed logs on the grate.

  Why did everything have to be so complicated? In another set of circumstances, she’d be snug in his very capable arms, and they’d be repeating that delicious kiss over and over again. She stifled a frustrated groan. She had to stop these thoughts. Absolutely nothing was going to happen while she was here alone with this sexy cowboy. Absolutely nothing.

  “There’s a throw on the back of the couch that you can use until the fire warms the room.” Cord struck a match.