Sugar and Sin Bundle

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  “I’ll show you out.”

  Nana headed for the door, but Regan spoke quickly. “Hal, before you go, could I speak to you about something?” She cast a quick glance at Tripp and then Nana. “Alone, please?”

  Tripp frowned as Hal nodded, but had no choice except to follow Nana from the room. He cast her an inquiring glance in the hall, but she just shrugged her shoulders and went downstairs. Tripp waited in the living room until he heard Hal’s feet on the stairs, then he met him in the foyer.

  “What was that all about?”

  Surprise flashed in Hal’s expression before he quickly averted his gaze. “You know I can’t tell you that.”

  Although curious about the unease on the other man’s face, Tripp held his impatience because the lawyer was right. As Hal continued toward the door, Tripp remembered Nana had said he was a friend first, lawyer second. He took a deep breath and before Hal could reach for the doorknob, he asked, “My father ever talk to you about me?”

  Hal paused. “No.”

  Disappointment lanced through Tripp despite the fact that he wasn’t surprised. His father seemed to have locked that part of his life up the same as Tripp. They always had been so much alike.

  “Not directly, anyway,” Hal added, turning to face him as he adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. He shifted his stance as Tripp raised a questioning brow. “You started college with an academic scholarship.”

  “I did. How’d you know?”

  “A friend of mine served on the board of the Businessmen for Higher Education Scholarship Fund and recognized your name in the applications. I told your father about it and he contributed to the fund.”

  Tripp frowned. “Are you saying he bought my scholarship?”

  “No, recipients are decided by an outside committee, so you earned it on your own. But the decision had come down to you and another applicant, and your father’s added funds allowed for you both to receive the money instead of the board having to choose one over the other.”

  “School would’ve been impossible without that money the first year,” Tripp said.

  Hal gave him a quizzical look. “Yet you went and turned it down the second year.”

  He shrugged. “I had a good job over the summer and they worked with my schedule to keep me on through the school year—I didn’t need the money as much as someone else might.”

  “That pissed Judd off.” Hal chuckled. “And he wouldn’t admit it, but he was pretty damn proud, too.”

  Tripp smiled. Good.

  “Whenever we got together, he spent half the time bragging about you and what a success you’ve made of your business over in Galveston.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh, he’d never admit it, and it came out as a lot of bitching and blustering, but I knew exactly what he was doing as he went on and on. He was damn proud of you then, and he’d still be today. If his stubborn pride hadn’t gotten in the way, maybe you’d know that, too.” Hal caught his gaze and tipped his head thoughtfully. “Then again, maybe you understand a little more about pride than you’d like to, am I right?”

  Tripp nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat.

  After Hal left, he sat in the living room to absorb what the lawyer had revealed. Considering their past, his father’s opinion shouldn’t matter so much to him, but it did.

  When he could blink without tears blurring his vision, he headed upstairs, only to find Regan had drifted back to sleep. He sighed and ran a frustrated hand over his face. He’d hoped to sit with her awhile longer so they could talk about his dad and the future of the ranch they now shared.

  And find out if their future could be more than just a half-owner business partnership.

  Chapter 15

  The grandfather clock in the living room struck two a.m. when Reggie made her way down to the kitchen to brew a cup of tea. Pretending to sleep earlier had confined her to her room when she longed to get out of the claustrophobic box of four walls. But after talking to Hal, the last thing she’d wanted to do was face Tripp’s probing gaze.

  To avoid waking anyone with the piercing whistle of Grandma’s old tea kettle, Reggie boiled water for her tea in a pot on top the stove. After adding a spoon of sugar and a splash of cream, she took the steaming mug out onto the porch. The screen door squeaked just past the halfway point, making her cringe as she glanced up the stairs.

  All remained quiet, so she continued outside. Sitting on the porch swing, she pushed with one foot to rock gently in the refreshing night air as she sipped her tea. The moon was nearly full, its light casting as many shadows across the yard as the light above the barn doors. She’d sat out here in the middle of the night so many times over the years. There was nothing like the ranch in full motion during the day, but, every so often, she loved watching it sleep.

  Tonight, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the arena. Mason hadn’t moved much in the past couple days. Ernesto had told her earlier his leg was healing well, but every time Reggie caught a glimpse of him out her bedroom window, the stallion stood listlessly, his head hanging low. It broke her heart to look at him.

  The loud creak of the screen door nearly made her jump out of her skin.

  “Regan?”

  Tripp. She held her dripping cup away from her lap as her heart raced for a different reason.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Is everything okay?”

  His low concerned voice flowed over her, giving her goose bumps. “I was just having some tea. Listening to the quiet.”

  The screen door squeaked again when he hesitated while closing it. “Would you like me to leave you alone?”

  She should tell him to go, but her heart refused to let her send him away. Surely, she could be a little selfish? “No, please stay.”

  She moved over to give him room to sit. His thigh rested against hers, and he laid his arm across the back of the swing for extra shoulder room. Mere inches separated them. The thin material of his T-shirt couldn’t contain his body heat, and she couldn’t have resisted the lure of his warm strength even if she wanted to.

  Leaning against his side, she lifted her mug for another drink. She had a hard time swallowing when Tripp’s fingers trailed lightly up and down her bare arm. Heat of a different kind curled through her, reminding her of the nights in the cabin. Though never far away in his presence, simmering sensations rushed along her skin at his touch. The fire he could ignite with one caress, one kiss. She took a gulp of tea.

  “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about the ranch,” Tripp said as she lowered her hand.

  The liquid trembled inside her cup, and she steadied her hand on her thigh. Not now. Not when she wanted this memory to be as perfect as the others from the cabin. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes against the sad sight of Mason. “Shhh.”

  The speed of his heartbeat increased beneath her cheek. “Regan—”

  “Tripp, please.”

  “I haven’t gotten a minute alone with you since we brought Mason home,” he protested.

  “Exactly.” She handed him her mug.

  “No, thank you.”

  Reggie smiled as her pulse raced to match his. “Could you set it on the end table, please?”

  “Oh. Yeah, sure.”

  When he sat back, she tilted her head on his shoulder and reached her hand up to turn his head and bring his mouth down on hers. He kissed her softly but pulled back an inch before she could completely hook him.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  She blinked innocently. “Making the most of our minute alone.”

  “You’re trying to distract me.”

  She stood up and turned to face him where he sat, looking him in the eye with a slow smile. His gaze raked down over her spaghetti-strap tank and thin cotton sleep shorts. She felt her nipples tighten and knew that he saw when he paused on the way up. His chest expanded with a deep breath.

  Taking her time, she lifted one knee onto the swing next to his right leg, the
n eased her other one up along his left side. His Adam’s apple bobbed. With her good arm braced against his shoulder, she inched forward, back and forth on her knees, until she could sit directly on his lap, all the while leaning closer until her breath mingled with his.

  “Is it working?”

  She settled a little deeper on his groin and felt him throb beneath her as a groan rumbled from deep in his chest.

  “It’s been working since the moment I set eyes on you after eleven years.”

  His rough words took her by surprise. She started to pull back for a better look at his face, but he’d already closed his arms closed around her. His mouth took fierce possession of hers, sweeping away all other thoughts but the feel and taste of him. Hot, hard and a hint of cinnamon lingering from his toothpaste.

  At some point, he undid her braid and the damp curls cascaded around her shoulders. He kissed from her lips, down her neck, to the low neckline of her top. She ran her fingers through his hair as he supported her with one arm and lifted her shirt with the other. She clutched him closer as his mouth closed over her aching nipple.

  “You drive me crazy.”

  “You’re the one driving right now.”

  He sucked hard before lifting his head. “Should I stop?”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  He kissed her lips again, long and deep. “I think it’s best if we take this inside.”

  “Good idea,” she agreed. She curled her arm around his neck as he scooted to the edge of the seat, then stood with her still in his arms.

  “Wrap those legs around me, Princess.”

  She didn’t say a word about the nickname. It didn’t bother her anymore. In fact, she kind of liked it.

  He cursed under his breath when the screen door creaked louder than ever. When he stumbled at the top of the stairs and had to catch the banister to keep them upright, she giggled against his neck.

  “Shhh,” he admonished sternly. Then he ruined it by letting out a low laugh of his own. “You’ll wake Nana.”

  Reggie’s amusement died along with Tripp’s and they both went completely still. Grandma. She unlocked her legs from around his hips, and he slowly lowered her to the ground with a tortured groan.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, straightening her top. “It’s just that—”

  “No need to explain. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

  He walked her to her bedroom door and drew her forward for a gentle kiss. She clung tight when he started to pull back, opening her mouth under his to invite him in. His tongue slid along her bottom lip and, seconds later, the kiss began to spin out of control again.

  “I’d give anything to be back at the cabin right now.”

  She swallowed hard at the look in his eyes. More than searing hot desire, the fierce emotion in those blue depths made her heart pound with anticipation for tomorrow. And the next day.

  The door opened at her back.

  “You keep looking at me like that and I’ll have to haul you out to the barn,” Tripp warned in a low voice. “Rule number six, remember?”

  Yeah. And not only was she prepared for the consequences, she wanted them. Wanted him. Reggie backed into her room, paused when Tripp leaned in for one last kiss, then stepped out of reach and deliberately let her hungry gaze travel the length of his hard body.

  Tripp’s lids lowered over the flame of desire in his eyes. “You’re going to pay for that.”

  He pulled the door closed on her soft laughter. She melted down onto her bed, her entire body humming as she grinned at the ceiling.

  ****

  Reggie woke with a sense of hope as never before. The moment she saw it was after ten a.m., she threw back the covers and hurried through a shower. After getting dressed in a sleeveless violet shirt and jean Capri’s, she skimmed down the stairs barefoot.

  She didn’t register the deep timbre of Tripp’s voice until she was on the last stair. The sound of it from inside the office warmed her instantly, and she paused to let the sexy tones welcome her to the morning.

  “I’m only going to take a day or two to get things in order, then I’m coming back home. With the partnership, any decisions requiring both our approval can be handled long distance through e-mail, fax or Fed-Ex.”

  Tripp’s chuckle reached where she’d frozen with her fingers clenched on the banister.

  “No,” he continued. “Maybe someday, but at this point, I don’t want to stay any longer than I have to. I want to turn things over as fast as possible so no one gets the wrong idea I’m staying.”

  She didn’t wait to hear any more as her heart broke into a hundred jagged pieces. Back in her room, she bit her trembling lip and pulled out a suitcase. She couldn’t believe she’d been about to give him the ranch and tell him she loved him all at once, and all the while he was planning to get the heck out of Dodge as soon as possible. Had she ever gotten the wrong idea!

  Not that it was his fault. He’d said their being together had nothing to do with the ranch, and idiot that she was, she’d ignored the warning. How foolish and stupid of her to think simple physical attraction would be enough to keep him here.

  Once her suitcase was packed, she slid it under her bed. Grandma Rosie would ask too many questions she wasn’t willing to answer if she left now. Better to write her a note, leave after everyone was in bed, and then call her later. Maybe explain everything when she came to pick up the rest of her things. No, better yet, Ana could ship them for her. Returning to the ranch would awaken too many memories.

  She knew she was taking the coward’s way out yet again, but she didn’t have the strength to face Tripp head on. If he kissed her again, there was no telling what might slip out, even after hearing his words with her own ears. Watching him come up with a nice way to dump her was not something she wanted to do, so the only way was to avoid the situation.

  Ana knocked a short time later to deliver the papers from Hal, and Reggie pleaded a migraine; not entirely a lie. She asked Ana to let everyone know she wanted to be left alone. The day stretched endlessly, but she wrote her letter to Grandma and decided she’d go to Amarillo. The city was close enough if Grandma forgave her and chose to visit, but far enough from the ranch.

  In the evening, she lay on the bed and waited for the house to grow quiet.

  She woke with a start to find the room dark. Frantically looking at the glowing numbers on the alarm clock, she saw it was four-forty-nine a.m. Oh God! How could she have slept so long? She threw off the covers and slipped on a pair of canvas tennis shoes.

  All she could think about was getting out before seeing anyone. If she had to face Tripp, she wasn’t sure she could hold back tears this time.

  She left the letter for Grandma Rosie on the kitchen counter, but kept the one for Tripp in her back pocket to put in his truck. Once in the foyer, she had to set her suitcase down to open the front door and screen. Using one foot to brace it open, she reached back with her good arm for the heavy case. As she bent, her hip bumped the screen door, swinging it wider with a piercing, extended squeak.

  Reggie cringed. Setting the case on the porch, she slipped through the opening and slowly eased the door back against the frame to blessed silence. A gleam of waning moonlight on Mason’s cream-colored coat flashed in the corner of her eye. She hesitated. His wounded spirit called to her across the yard, and she was helpless to ignore his misery. After casting a quick glance up the still-silent stairs, she turned and hurried across the yard.

  At the fence, she stared at the stallion who’d always been so breathtakingly majestic when running wild on the range. He didn’t belong here, caged in by fences.

  Her heart pounded faster. Eleven years ago, she’d let him loose for purely selfish reasons. Now, she’d do it because if ever an animal was meant to be free, it was Mason’s Gold. She was leaving, Tripp was leaving, so what did it matter anyway?

  She unlatched the gate and started to swing it open.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

 
Reggie jumped at the sound of Tripp’s angry voice. Damn, this is just what she’d wanted to avoid. If she’d only left right away, she’d have made a clean getaway.

  She slammed the arena gate latch back in place before turning around, her heart beating frantically against her ribs. Tripp came to a stop in front of her, his white T-shirt revealing a triangle of his abs on the right side, jeans zipped but not buttoned, and bare feet as if he’d dressed in a hurry.

  “Please don’t be mad,” she implored. “He’s not happy here. He was meant to be free—you have to see that. Caging him in is breaking his spirit. We had to bring him home, and we did, but the will never said anything about keeping him here.”

  His gaze didn’t waver from her as he advanced another step closer. “I’m talking about the suitcase on the porch.”

  “Oh.” She looked nervously toward the house. “That.”

  “Yeah, that.”

  She swallowed hard, then reached into her back pocket. “You can have the ranch.”

  Tripp frowned. “What?”

  “At the cabin, you said we should fix the mistakes of the past that we could. Well, I’m doing what I need to fix mine.” She held out the envelope. “I signed my half of the ranch over to you, Hal took care of everything.”

  His brows drew closer together. “No. Regan, listen, you don’t have to do this.”

  “It’s done already. It’s all yours.”

  She pushed the envelope against his chest and stepped back. He made a grab and caught it before it fluttered to the ground. Without even opening it to see what was inside, he ripped it in half, then in half again and let the pieces fall in the dirt between them.

  Hope flared until his words echoed in her mind. “I don’t want to stay any longer than I have to.”

  “Hal has more copies. Nothing you say will change my mind.” She forced herself to move past him, toward her car, chin held high.

  “Nothing?”

  The challenge in his question didn’t slow her. She shook her head and kept walking. One foot in front of the other; only ten more feet to the car.

  “How about I love you?”

  Her step faltered. Stopped. A second later, his hand gripped her arm and turned her around. She stared up into his blue eyes, barely able to breathe for the emotion shining from them.