Should've Said No

by Tracy March

  A sharp knock sounded on the door. Lindsey’s heart leapt into her throat, her gaze darting to the clock: 11:28.

  Carden was early…and she was screwed. She went to the door and opened it, her hands a little shaky. He stood there looking smoking hot in worn-out jeans and an untucked crimson T-shirt.

  “Come on in and join us,” she said quickly so he’d know they weren’t alone. Holly and Fred had walked here, so there was no vehicle out front to alert him. Not that it would matter to him. He might not mind if the town found out they had something going. But she sure did.

  She smiled at him, trying to convey with her eyes how happy she was to see him, but struggling to act casual in front of Holly and Fred. Worried that he might touch her, or even glance at her in a way that would draw attention, she quickly closed the door behind him, moved beyond his reach, and avoided his gaze. Instead, she caught Holly’s curious look, but pretended not to notice. She headed past the tiny dining area into the kitchen, putting the counter between her and the rest of them.

  “Hey there.” Carden flashed a dashing smile at Fred and Holly, and shook Fred’s hand. He scanned the room, his gaze resting on the bushel basket on the counter. “You brought vegetables. Cool.”

  “And fruit,” Holly said.

  “Nice flowers.” Carden leveled a sultry stare at Lindsey.

  She bit her bottom lip, feeling the weight of everyone’s gazes on her. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

  Holly looked from Carden to Lindsey, clearly catching their vibe.

  Carden nudged Fred’s elbow. “How’d your poker game go?”

  Fred chuckled. “Let’s just say Dean’s hoping to win some of his money back next time.”

  “Aren’t we all?” Carden joked.

  “Cabin’s looking better already,” Fred said. “Inside and out.”

  Carden nodded. “Lindsey’s done a great job in here—she helped me do some scraping outside, too.”

  Holly cut Lindsey a raised-eyebrow look. Lindsey could bank on being cross-examined later, so she’d better prepare her answers. Pleading the fifth wasn’t likely to work with Holly.

  “I’ll prime it today,” Carden said, “and have it painted one day this week.”

  Fred reached over and clutched Carden’s shoulder. “You’re a good man, Mr. Crenshaw. Daylight’s wasting, so we’d better let you get to work.”

  Holly and Fred headed for the door and Lindsey hurried over to let them out, Carden by her side.

  “Thanks again for the fruit and vegetables,” Lindsey said.

  Fred smiled and nodded as they walked away, arm in arm.

  “Dinner one night this week, Holly,” Lindsey called. “I owe you.”

  “It’s a date.”

  Lindsey closed the door as Carden stepped behind the kitchen counter and propped his elbows on it. He leveled his gaze on her, eyebrows raised, a trace of a curious smile on his lips. “What was that all about?”

  She kept her distance and forced a pleasant look, her insides in knots. “They stopped by with fruit and vegetables. Wasn’t that thoughtful?”

  The other corner of his mouth quirked up. “You’re no good at obfuscating.”

  If he only knew…

  “Why’d you act so skittish around me while they were here?”

  She winced. “I didn’t know how to act, really. Guess that was obvious.” She rolled one of the gold beads on her bracelet between her fingers, and gazed at the flowers on the counter. Anywhere but at him. “Everything’s kind of new between us. You might feel differently, but I’d rather keep my personal life private.”

  He nodded, his expression serious. She waited for him to respond, but he didn’t.

  “In D.C.,” she said, “there were too many people and not many of them cared. If they did, it was only for a second. Here, it seems just the opposite.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What was your personal life like there?”

  Her stomach tightened. She’d led him right to that one. “What do you want to know, exactly?”

  He bowed his head and laced his fingers together. After a long moment, he lifted his head and met her gaze. “Were you dating anyone there?”

  Lindsey joined him at the counter, on the opposite side, propping her elbows on it just like him. “Not in the last year. Before that there was someone.” She caught the slight movement in his jaw as he clenched it.

  “What happened?”

  She cleared her throat. “Things didn’t work out. He was…”

  One of D.C.’s most eligible bachelors.

  She debated whether to include that detail, and decided that she should. At least she could be up front with him about something. “He was known as one of D.C.’s most eligible bachelors,” she said tentatively. “The kind that dated lots of girls. The kind whose profile showed up on lists and in articles with titles like ‘D.C.’s Hottest Singles.’ I let him seduce me into thinking I was special to him, but he proved to me that I wasn’t.” She lifted her shoulders. “Over and over. After a year, I finally got the message when I walked into my apartment one night and caught him and my roommate having sex on the couch.”

  He stared at her, squinting, eyebrows low. “Some son-of-a-bitch did that to you?” His tone was low and gravelly. “What the hell?” He stood straight, shoved his hands into his pockets, and paced alongside the counter. “Did he have any idea what—” He pressed his lips together, as if to catch himself before he said too much.

  Lindsey’s heart hitched. Calm and controlled Carden had lost it a little—because of her.

  “I should’ve known better than to get involved with him,” she said. “All the red flags were waving, and I wish I hadn’t ignored them.” She smiled ruefully. “Could’ve saved myself a lot of heartache.”

  Carden came to her side of the counter and she faced him. He swept his fingers beneath her chin, gently brushed the pad of his thumb across her lips, and gave her a tender kiss. Tingles trickled down her spine and swirled lower.

  He leveled an intense gaze at her. “Are you seeing red flags with me?”

  Another thing she could be honest about. “Yes,” she whispered.

  You seem too good to be true.

  “I’m not that guy, Lindsey.”

  The husky sound of her name on his lips nearly undid her. She rested her head on his shoulder, wishing she could tell him more. Wishing she could tell him everything. Start fresh, and see where this might go.

  I’m not the girl you think I am either.

  But she couldn’t say the words.

  He wrapped her in his arms and held her close. “I’m not that guy,” he said again, whispering in her ear, soothing and seductive. “We got off to a rocky start. That was all my fault. Because I’m scared as hell to fall for you.” He loosened his embrace, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her tenderly. “But I’m more terrified to let you go.”

  Chapter 19

  A sunny afternoon helping Carden paint primer on the cabin had earned Lindsey a golden tan and an invitation to dinner at Carden’s place. He’d gone home and showered, then come back to pick her up. The two of them had spent most of their time together at Lindsey’s place so she was excited to visit the ranch again, immersing herself in Carden’s world. Last time she was there, he’d shown her his workshop—and introduced her to his workbench—but the three-bay garage was the only part of the house she’d seen.

  Lindsey rode shotgun as Carden drove his quad-cab pickup along the dusty road, traversing his rolling ranch land. “You going to invite me into the house this time?” she teased.

  He cut her a mischievous look as they passed an emerald green pond. “Depends.”

  Lindsey crossed her legs, loving that proper attire for dinner at his place was a pair of snug blue jeans and a blouse. She raised her eyebrows. “On what?”

  “On how many more smart-ass questions you ask.” He winked.

  She raised her chin, trying not to grin. “I’ve got plenty more ready to fire.”

 
“Shoot at your own risk,” he said lightly. “I’m sure Blue would love some company outside.”

  Lindsey glanced at Blue, sitting in the backseat. His floppy ears had perked up at the sound of his name, his icy-blue eyes alert.

  “There’s not a place at the table for him?” Lindsey set her gaze on Carden and bunched her lips.

  “Not a chance.” He reached over, brought her hand to his lips, and kissed it. “Tonight’s about you and me.”

  Lindsey’s heart did a somersault. Could Carden truly be for real? She’d never met a guy quite like him—much less dated one.

  The truck reached the top of a rise and Carden’s house came into view in the evening sunlight—a stunning design of rough-hewn wood, stacked stone, and glass—against an awesome backdrop of rising hills and craggy mountain peaks. It had been dark out when she’d last seen it, and she hadn’t gotten the full effect.

  “Your house is really something,” she said. “I love all the glass.”

  “I tried to bring the bright and airy feel of the outdoors inside. You’ll have to let me know how I did.”

  “So I get to go inside?” she teased.

  He nodded. “It’s looking like you might. Flattery will get you places—at least into the back door.” He grinned.

  He opened one of the garage doors with a remote, pulled the pickup into the bay, and got out. Blue bounded behind him and ran outside, barking, as if to announce he’d returned. Carden led her up a fair number of steps and opened the door to the house. He stepped aside so she could enter, gently grazing his fingers along the small of her back and resting them there.

  The smell of fresh baked bread greeted Lindsey as she and Carden walked along the wide hallway and into a huge open space bigger than her entire cabin. It included a living area, a dining area, and a kitchen any chef would envy. One full wall of the space was lined with windows that rose nearly to the top of the exposed-beam ceiling, revealing spectacular views. Unlike many rustic homes Lindsey had seen on HGTV or in magazines, Carden’s was bright and airy, just as he had mentioned. Ivory and gray furnishings were accented with slate blue, with a little Western flair here and there.

  “Good Lord.” She turned on her heel, taking it all in. “This place is gorgeous—and it smells like heaven.”

  Carden gave her an aw-shucks look, never seeming boastful about the many things he had to be proud of. “That heavenly smell is courtesy of Henrietta, my gem of a housekeeper and cook.” He stepped into the kitchen area, separated from the rest of the space by a huge island topped with gray-veined ivory granite, perfectly accenting the high-end stainless steel appliances. “She’s already made the bread and twice-baked potatoes, and roasted some Brussels sprouts—one of her specialties.” He opened the refrigerator, pulled out a foil-covered platter, and tipped his chin. “But grilling is my specialty. The delicious rare rib eyes are going to be all me.”

  Lindsey looked at him coyly. “Grilling is your specialty?” She shook her head. “You really had me fooled.”

  He set the platter on the island, joined her near the sprawling sectional sofa in the living area, and took her in his arms. She’d never get tired of that feeling.

  “Had you fooled how?” he asked.

  “I thought kissing was your specialty.”

  Carden captivated her with his sultry gaze. “Grilling…Kissing…” He brushed his lips over hers, teasingly light and feathery. “Take your pick, darlin’,” he said in a low whisper, pulling her closer. He kissed her fully—supple lips, sweeping tongue—a fantasy kiss that had Lindsey’s knees feeling weak. Eager for more, she considered easing him onto the sofa right now and forgetting about dinner for a while.

  He pulled away slowly, tucked her hair behind her ear, and lightly traced his fingers down the curve of her neck. Lindsey’s body pulsed with desire.

  “Stay tuned,” he said with a rasp in his voice. “I’ve got a couple other specialties, too.”

  Lindsey locked her gaze on his. “You have my undivided attention.”

  His stomach rumbled and he pressed his hand over it, grinning. “Then come outside with me and let’s get those steaks on the grill.” Carden kissed her forehead, and walked over and grabbed the platter off the island. He hitched his chin toward the bank of windows behind her, flanked by a door. She followed him outside and down the steps to an expansive stone patio, complete with a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, beautiful furniture, container gardens overflowing with colorful wildflowers, and a built-in fire pit.

  “You could just live out here if you wanted to,” Lindsey said, feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. “At least in the summer.”

  Blue came running as Carden fired up the grill, but he seemed to know better than to beg for food. Lindsey scratched his ears, his fur satiny smooth.

  “So, is rare good for you?” Carden asked her.

  “I don’t like it any other way.”

  A broad smile stretched across his face. “That’s my girl.”

  Lindsey loved the sound of that, and she wanted everyone else to hear it, too. Her heart sank. There was no way she and Carden could go public with their relationship until she figured out how to tell him she was related to the Karlssons—and how they could get past it.

  “Why so serious?” Carden asked.

  Lindsey’s gut clenched. “I’m just a little nervous for you.”

  He closed the lid on the grill, set down the tongs, and took her in his arms. “Why?”

  “You must be under intense pressure after all that talk about grilling being one of your specialties.”

  Carden tipped his head back and laughed—another sound Lindsey loved. “Sweet of you to worry.” He gave her a tender, sexy kiss that had more to come written all over it. “But I promise you I’ll deliver.”

  —

  Carden couldn’t have ordered a more spectacular display of stars for tonight. After their delicious dinner—complete with kick-ass rib eyes—he and Lindsey had settled outside on the patio. They lounged on a cushioned double chaise, a fleece blanket thrown over their legs, Blue lying on the patio, at their feet. Flames danced in the nearby fire pit, their heat chasing away the evening chill.

  “I got a call from my dad this morning,” Carden said. “I need to go to Denver this week for business.”

  “Is he involved with the trust?” Lindsey asked.

  “He’s the family lawyer. Smart as a whip and handy for everything from the trust to Travis’s business contracts.”

  “What does your mom do?”

  Carden’s heart warmed as he thought about his parents. “She volunteers, serves on a few committees. Takes care of all of us.”

  “Nice. I’m sure she enjoys taking care of you guys most.”

  “For sure. She loves when I go to Denver and stay with her and Dad. I do, too. Even a grown guy likes to be spoiled once in a while.” He shook his head. “Sometimes I think she nudges my dad to come up with business that needs tending to just to get me there. But it’ll work out well this time. We’ll all leave from there for Travis and Emily’s wedding in Savannah. I’ll be gone a week, so there’s something I need you to decide.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A couple layers of paint are all that’s needed to finish up your Lemon Cream cabin. I can get one of the ranch hands to paint it while I’m gone, or I’ll do it as soon as I can after I get back.”

  “If you can spare the ranch hand,” she said, “save yourself the work. As much as I like having you around, I’m sure you’re incredibly busy.”

  She had that right. As if the business of running the ranch wasn’t enough, there were always projects related to the trust. The designation of land for conservancy had turned out to be a more labor-intensive undertaking than he’d anticipated. And the people from Colorado Living magazine would be there the week after next to interview him and take photos.

  “I’ll get one of the guys to do it, and let you know when he’ll be there.”

  “I might be able to find ano
ther handyman project or two if you want to stop by when you get back.” She gave him a flirty grin.

  “Start another list,” he teased, remembering the night they’d met. He’d been smitten with her from the get-go.

  Carden nestled close to her, still unable to believe what she’d told him today about her son-of-a-bitch ex-boyfriend. The guy was some kind of fool, for sure. Girls like Lindsey were as rare as red diamonds. Anyone who found one had best hold on to her and treat her right.

  “I’m sorry that guy in D.C. hurt you.” He wished he could take away her heartache, because he knew too well what it felt like.

  She rested her head on his shoulder. “As awful as it was, it was for the best. I mean, you don’t forget something like that, but hopefully you learn from it.”

  “You do. But that lesson can be costly.”

  “Sounds like the voice of experience talking,” she said.

  Despite the calm atmosphere, his pulse picked up pace. He was determined to prove to her that he wasn’t like her ex. That’d take actions more than words, but telling her about Amanda was the place he had to start.

  “I’ve been there.” His gut clenched at the thought of saying more. Only he and Gran knew what had happened with Amanda. Telling Lindsey was one of the biggest risks of his life.

  She turned her body toward his, smoothed her fingers down his arm, and clutched his hand. “Oh no,” she said, conveying so much in two words. Her tone was soothing and sad, as if she was truly sorry for his pain.

  Carden’s heart warmed at the depth and sincerity of her reaction. Maybe he could trust her with his story. He took a slug of his beer and nodded. “When I was in college, my folks leased out their ranch land here and moved to Denver part time. After graduation, I decided to come back here. The only thing I ever wanted was to run a cattle ranch of my own in Thistle Bend. I stood to inherit a sweet parcel of land but I had to wait until I was thirty to get it unless my grandfather deeded it to me early. I’d lived and worked on my family’s ranches all my life, but Pops wanted me to prove I knew what I was doing before he set me out on my own. So I lived with my grandparents, and worked my butt off to earn my ranch early.” He caught himself getting lost in the details. Those were easier to talk about.