He held out his hands. “Let me help you up on the rock.”
Not giving her a chance to protest, his hands spanned her waist. His gaze dipped, taking in her full bottom lip. If he were to lean forward a few inches, he could snag a kiss—one of those mind-blowing kisses that haunted him at night. He swallowed. Caving in to his desires now wouldn’t solve anything between them—it’d only complicate things further now that he had feelings for her.
With her settled on the rock, he turned his back. If he kept staring at her pink lips, he knew his resolve would crumble. Instead, he focused on the familiar beauty of the vast canyon. “You’re the first person I’ve shared this spot with. I’ve been coming here since I was old enough to take the horses out on my own. I’d lie on this rock and daydream.”
“You were lucky to have such an amazing childhood. I can definitely see what draws you to this spot. It’s like sitting on top of the world. I wish I’d had a spot like this to unwind and do some thinking.”
“You could have it now.” He turned to her, wanting her to take him seriously because he’d never been more serious in his whole life—for a variety of reasons. “Buy the couple hundred acres I have up for sale and build yourself a house. Consider it a retreat from the craziness of New York. Better yet, move here permanently and…and breed horses. You have a way with them.”
“Really? You think so?” He nodded but then doubt shadowed her eyes. “I’m no horse breeder or rancher. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“Okay. Then start your own business—an Internet business. And when I finish up my chores for the day, I can head over to your place to share an evening meal.” Now where had that idea come from? But the thought of being able to see Lexi whenever he wanted had a smile tugging at his lips.
“And who’s going to be in charge of whipping up those supposed dinners?”
“Why?” How could he have forgotten that he was talking to a high-powered executive? Something told him that she didn’t eat dinner at home very often. “You don’t cook?”
She shook her head. “Not even a little.”
She certainly wasn’t making this sales pitch easy on him. “You could learn—”
“Save it. Me in the kitchen will never happen.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “I’d be an utter failure.”
“Have you ever tried?”
She shook her head. “Are you saying this because you want me to move here or because you’ll do anything to stop the resort from being built?”
“Would it be so bad if it were a bit of both?”
“But you can’t make me into the woman you want me to be. I’m a businesswoman. I’m not a homemaker, not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s just not the path my life has taken. I understand numbers and spreadsheets. I know nothing about recipes and measuring cups. Sometimes, I wish I was good at both. I always envy women who can balance everything life throws at them.”
“I didn’t say you have to be a homemaker,” he ground out. “But how do you know what you want if you don’t try it on to see how it fits?”
“You can’t expect me to change into something that I’m not. It won’t work.”
This wasn’t how he’d hoped the conversation would go, but what would it hurt to keep talking? “You know, exploring other interests doesn’t mean you have to change.”
She tilted her head to the side and looked at him. “If I were to consider your idea—and I’m not saying I am—but if I were, what do I do about HSG? My father and the investors are counting on me to bring home this deal and keep the company profitable.”
“I don’t have all of the answers.” Cord refused to be sidetracked. HSG wasn’t his responsibility. “If you were to buy the land for personal reasons, do you envision yourself living here or just flying back for the occasional vacation?”
“We’re talking hypothetically?”
He nodded, eager to have her give his idea real consideration. The more she talked about it, the more tangible the possibility would become for her—at least, he hoped so.
“If I owned land here, I envision building a house and moving here.”
He smiled, liking the way her mind worked. They were headed in the right direction. Now, how in the world would he persuade her to take such a massive leap?
“And since we’re talking hypothetically,” she gave him a pointed look, “I’d have Midnight Star on my ranch. He needs to be ridden and often.”
Cord inwardly groaned. That horse wasn’t the only thing that needed to be ridden and often. He swallowed hard.
He drew his thoughts up short. He needed to focus. The only way to keep Lexi close would be to figure out a way she could still work for HSG while taking up residence here in Whistle Stop. But was that even possible?
Still, she was really taken with Midnight Star. “So you’re going to swap your business persona to become a horse thief. Looks like we’ll be taking that trip to the sheriff’s office after all.”
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “If you’ll recall, I got out of it last time. I’m sure I’ll find another way out, should the need arise.”
He didn’t doubt with her easy way with words and those pouty lips that she’d be able to get out of any little scrape, but he wasn’t about to admit it. “The scorpion sting only works once. You’ll have to find another compelling reason to wave that sympathy card if you want me to fall for it again.”
Her chin jutted out. “Are you challenging me?”
He shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to pull up stakes and move to Whistle Stop to find out.”
“You know I hate to turn down a challenge. Be careful, or I just might, and then you’ll be minus a horse.”
Cord found himself wishing she was sincere, and it had nothing to do with saving Haggerty. He didn’t like the thought of her returning to New York and never getting to see her again. He enjoyed their time together a lot—a whole lot. As for giving up Midnight Star, it’d be worth it if he gained Lexi for a next-door neighbor—oh, what a beautiful neighbor.
“Could you hand me some water?” She wiped a palm over her forehead.
“Sure. As long as you’re willing to share the Choconut Bar.”
“I suppose if I have to.” She smiled, letting him know she was teasing him.
For a while, they shared the rock, the candy, and the water. The moment felt so right, even though he knew all of their talk was just that—talk. Frustration balled up in his gut. Lexi hadn’t changed her mind about the land. And neither had he.
“Look at that!” Lexi’s voice held a note of excitement.
He glanced her way to find her gazing up at the sky. With a hand shielding his eyes from the brilliant sunshine, he scanned the clear blue sky. And then he spotted the source of her excitement. Two brightly colored hot air balloons drifted lazily across the sky.
“I actually saw a balloon the other morning when I was out for a jog around town. I didn’t know I’d be lucky enough to see more.” She didn’t turn away from the sight of the two balloons. One was blue and white. The other had orange, red, yellow, and blue stripes. “Did you ever see anything so beautiful?”
Actually, he had seen something much more beautiful—her. But he kept that piece of information to himself. It’d do him no good at this point to show his growing feelings for her. “There are actually quite a few hot air balloons around here. In fact, every year in October a balloon fiesta is held in Albuquerque. It’s the biggest in the world. If you like balloons, you should definitely go. And make sure you don’t miss the morning glow as the balloons light up. It’s followed by the mass ascension of hundreds of balloons. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Just remember to take a jacket. Those early morning hours can be cold in the desert.”
“I just might do that.” She bestowed a smile on him before turning back to the balloons. “It doesn’t look like they’re going to drift any closer, so I guess this is the best picture I’m going to get.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and snap
ped some pictures. “Wait until I show my father these. He’s going to love them.”
“That’s not the only amazing sight out here. See how the rocks appear brown now? Well, come sundown, they’ll glow with a red hue—like jewels.” He got to his feet. “In the evening, it’s like having your very own private art gallery.”
“Stunning.” Her eyes never left his.
A flash of heat consumed him as she licked her dry lips. With no place to hide and no distractions, he couldn’t dodge the desire that overtook his common sense. Drawn to her like a restless stallion to a perky mare, he couldn’t turn away. Though this would only succeed in muddying his feelings further, he was willing to deal with the consequences. It’d be worth it to hold her and kiss her once more.
The differences between them slipped to the back of his mind. Before him sat a woman who’d given up everything to please her father. Maybe Cord just needed to remind her that there was more to life than work and duty.
His gaze shifted to her lush lips. His heart thumped, sending blood rushing to his extremities. Her blue eyes narrowed, and she licked her lips as though waiting for him to kiss her. He stepped toward her. She scooted forward on the rock. He stood between her legs. He gazed deep into her eyes, seeing the unmistakable flames of desire.
“I wish things were different.” Her voice was soft, drawing him closer. “I’d love it if you and I could start over.”
“Let’s start over right here and now.” His head dipped to hers. His lips brushed over hers, tentatively at first. He didn’t want to scare her away.
His fingers slid up the velvetiness of her neck. His thumb brushed over her warmed cheek. She was the most amazing woman he’d ever known, and he never wanted to let her go. He deepened the kiss, and she responded. Her tongue met his.
Her hands slid up over his shoulders. His heart thump-thumped against his ribs. Her fingertips dipped beneath his shirt color. His head started to drown in the most delicious sensations. The one thing he did know was that, in this moment, he wanted this—being with Lexi—more than anything in his life.
And that wasn’t going to happen.
He shouldn’t be doing this. One or both of them would end up getting hurt. Before he could pull away, she leaned against him. Her soft curves pressed to his hard muscles. The pleasure center of his brain took the driver’s seat. His hands slid down her back, and before he knew it, her legs were wrapped around his waist. Logic and reason fled his mind.
A deep, guttural moan filled his throat. He’d never wanted anyone this much. He wanted more of her kisses—more of her. He didn’t know if he’d ever get enough of Lexi. Her shirt rose up, and his fingers spanned her tender flesh. He must have tickled her, because she jumped.
She moved her mouth from his. She rested her forehead against his as they both tried to calm their breathing. “We can’t do this. Not here.”
“You’re right.” Still, he wasn’t ready to let her go. Not yet. “But you know you want more, don’t you?” His fingers moved over her waist, and he felt the rush of goose bumps.
“Cord! You’re impossible.” She smiled, and it lip up her whole face.
He leaned in close and pressed his mouth to her neck, hoping to prove a point. His lips slowly trailed down to her collarbone. The rapid pulse of her artery let him know that she was enjoying this momentary lapse of judgment as much as he was. If only they were back at his place and not in the middle of this rugged terrain, he’d show her how good they could be together.
Lexi pulled back. “Cord, we have to stop.”
With his mouth a fraction of an inch from hers, he asked, “Why?”
“Because neither of us is thinking clearly.” She pulled away. “Even if I gave up my pursuit of purchasing the ghost town, we still couldn’t be together. My business isn’t here. It’s in New York. Did you ever consider what I’m supposed to do if you and I start something? Do you expect me to abandon my father when he needs me most?”
Cord pressed his now-empty hands to his sides before kicking a stone, sending it rolling along the clay earth. “You can’t deny that there’s something going on between us. We owe it to each other to see where it leads.”
“And what about everything else? Like the town meeting where we’ll be on opposite sides?”
“I didn’t say it’d be easy.”
“Say we find a way to get past all of that. What happens when it’s time for me to return to New York?”
His gaze met and held hers. Why was she making this so difficult? He’d never claimed to have all of the answers. But he was willing to search for them with her. “Who knows? You might be sick of me by then and be thrilled to leave here.”
She frowned at him. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. We should head back.”
“Before we go, I want you to know I was serious about having you as my neighbor.” He took her hand in his and stroked the pad of his thumb over her silky smooth skin. “Think of all the benefits there’d be by living so close.”
Her pupils dilated as her gaze dipped. “You don’t know how tempting your offer is…but I can’t.”
“Because of the resort?”
She nodded.
He pulled his head away. Frustration knotted up his gut. “Why are you so dead set on making this deal?”
She leaned back against the rock. “HSG was in the middle of some big negotiations when my father collapsed. Those deals went belly-up, and we lost a bundle. This project is our last chance to turn things around. My father doesn’t know any of this yet. I’ve been covering everything up, hoping to nail down this Wild West resort before he returns to the office. If something were to happen to HSG, I don’t know if his heart could handle the strain.”
This revelation stunned Cord. From her confident attitude to her tailored suits and diamond stud earrings, she oozed success. Yet, her company’s entire future rested on him and his land. His stomach churned.
“I’m sorry for your predicament, but my family’s land can’t be your only solution. Sell your investors on another site. Tell them anything to get that glitzy playground for the rich built somewhere else.”
“I’m trying, but so far Haggerty is our only viable option.”
Not knowing what else to say, he turned away. “You’re right. We should start back.”
He took off down the narrow path without waiting for her to answer. He led them along the narrow trail at a steady pace. A glance over his shoulder showed that she was right behind him. A half hour later, they returned to the horses. She sucked in one mouthful of oxygen after another. He regretted the pace he’d set. In his desire to burn off his frustration, he hadn’t considered that she might not be used to this kind of exercise.
When she caught her breath, she said, “I didn’t mean to upset you back there. I thought maybe if you understood the position I’m in—”
“You didn’t upset me.” He met her worried gaze. “I just can’t give up that land.”
“Even if it means you lose everything? Will sacrificing your home ease your conscience about not being able to protect Haggerty? Is it some sort of penance you feel you must pay?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” His tone was short and clipped.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t say a word.
The fact that she’d gotten so close to the truth shook him. How had she figured him out in such a short amount of time? It was almost as if she could read his mind. He didn’t know if this special sort of bond they shared made any of this better or worse. He was becoming increasingly confused with each passing moment.
She’d turned to her horse when Cord reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to him. The pain in her eyes bore clear through to his soul with such force that it knocked the breath from his lungs.
Her lips pursed together as though she held back something. A silent moment passed before she uttered, “I didn’t come out here to fight with you.”
“What was the reason?”
“I wanted a chan
ce to be with you and see this land through your eyes. Never mind, it doesn’t matter now. You’re too stubborn to listen to reason.” With a huff, she turned back to Blaze.
Cord longed to believe her. The glimpse of her tender, caring side had only increased his attraction to her. Was she being honest with him? He’d been lied to before by a woman who’d professed to love him forever. He didn’t exactly trust his own judgment these days when it came to women.
Was it possible Lexi was a dutiful daughter stuck in an impossible situation? Nothing more?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Two days later, the shower pulsated off Alexis’s sore muscles, muscles she’d abused by leaning over the little desk in her motel room for far, far too long. She’d endeavored to find a solution that would make everyone happy. The hot water soothed her stiffness. For all of her efforts, she still hadn’t come up with an all-encompassing solution.
It didn’t help that Cord’s sexy image kept filling her mind. Every time she recalled the kiss they’d shared at the canyon and the way his fingers had brushed over her bare skin, it sent her heart racing. The steam from the shower swirled around as the memories of Cord crowded in. She groaned in frustration. Why did she have to meet him now when her life was so complicated?
She considered the idea of giving up the fight and letting herself fall head over heels for this rugged cowboy. Drawn to the thought like a cat to milk, she toyed with the thought of how to make it work. What would a cowboy do in a big city? Modeling work. He was cute enough. Most definitely. But a man used to working the land would be miserable in front of the camera. And how could she move to New Mexico and leave her sick father when he needed her most? The answer was, she couldn’t—she wouldn’t.
So what did that leave for her and Cord? A long-distance relationship? Alexis’s nose scrunched up. She’d been there and done that. The results had been disastrous for her heart. Even though Cord wasn’t anything like Steven, she still wasn’t going to set herself up to be hurt again. No matter how much she liked him—dare she admit it, cared for him—they didn’t have a chance of making this thing between them work.
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