He walked into the kitchen, snagged a longneck from the fridge, and took a swig. The brew went down cold and refreshing.
The kitchen looked cleaner. The counter seemed whiter. The floor spotless. Cami had only been here nearly two months, and her imprints were everywhere.
He plunked into a spot on the couch.
“How was the game?” Michael came from his room.
“Cami’s team won.”
“Tell me you didn’t get pissed off?”
“Of course not.” The fact that he asked aggravated Rhett.
His brother stood. “I’m gonna get a beer. Want another?”
“Sure.” Rhett figured he’d have several before the night ended.
Michael handed him a bottle. “Ain’t none of my business, but ... you don’t seem happy? Wanna talk about it?”
“Hell, no.” Rhett flipped on the TV and feigned interest in a cereal commercial.
“You and Cami fight?”
“Not really. She got quiet. Refused to talk.” When women did that, it got his temper blistering.
“That’s never good. What’d you do?”
“Slept with her.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“I didn’t think so. This morning, well, she acted different.” Guilt hit him smack in the middle of his chest.
“Women get funny after sex.”
“You can say that again.” Rhett refused to admit she was a ... virgin. Hell, he still had trouble wrapping his brain around it. “I’m used to being a bachelor, but with Cami, I don’t know what I want.”
“I’ve learned to take each day as it comes.” Michael grabbed the remote and switched to a basketball game.
Rhett’s growling stomach reminded him he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Got any ideas for supper?”
“Ordered Chinese. Violet’s coming over.”
“You two serious?”
“Just dating.” A smile tugged at his brother’s lips.
“In that case, I’ll get something in town.” He’d head over to the Last Call.
“You don’t have to leave.” The doorbell rang. “Must be dinner. I’ll get it.”
Violet came in with a six-pack of beer. “Hope you don’t mind I brought a friend.”
Cami cast Rhett a veiled glance. She walked toward the kitchen holding two bottles of champagne and swaying her hips. Her black sweater emphasized her tiny waist. Part of him thought to join her in the other room, but his pride said to wait. Let her make the first move.
Violet whispered to Michael, “Help Cami open the bottle,” and he disappeared into the kitchen.
“I insisted she come.” Violet lifted her shoulders, and her eyes narrowed as she stared at Rhett. Had Cami told her about sleeping with him?
They moved to the dining room. Rhett took his spot on the left side.
Violet plunked across from him and glared. “Had to practically drag Cami over here. What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing. I took her to the Seismics Center for a game. Think she’s overly tired.” He stretched his arms above his head and yawned.
“Promise me you won’t hurt her. Lori’s already moved to Wyoming, and I don’t want Cami to leave, too.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“You’d better.” She hit his shoulder.
A champagne cork popped. Michael carried in a bottle and two fluted glasses and handed one to Violet. Cami did the same for Rhett.
“Here’s to Cami.” Michael held up his glass. “Look at how you’ve cleaned up our pigsty.”
Glasses clinked.
Rhett cleared his throat and stared at her mouth. All he could think was how much he wanted to run his tongue along her lips.
“May we never have to live on canned soup and top Raman again.” Michael toasted.
Glasses clicked again.
Someone knocked on the door.
Rhett brought the bags to the table and passed out the paper plates that came with the meal.
“Kung Pao chicken’s my absolute favorite.” Michael opened a container. “Be careful Rhett. It’s so spicy it might burn a hole in your gut.”
“I’ll be fine.” His brother made a reference to Cami’s cayenne peppered chicken she served one evening.
Containers with sweet and sour pork, Egg Fu-yung, fried rice, chow mein, moo shoo vegetables, spring rolls, and broccoli with garlic sauce passed around the table. Rhett ladled a bowl of wonton soup and handed it to Cami. Their fingertips brushed, and chemistry sizzled between them.
Cami needed to loosen up. He filled her glass with champagne. She picked it up and downed the contents.
“Mighty thirsty, eh?” Michael laughed.
“I am.” She hiccupped.
Drinking should lighten her mood. With one bottle empty, he grabbed another from the fridge and opened it. As he topped off her champagne, she nodded and lowered her eyes.
“You know, the Silver Wings victory last night was a fluke.”
Her eyes flashed, and her mouth tipped up at the corners. “You wish.”
“Care to make a wager?”
“My boss must like losing.” She actually giggled. Might be the champagne. If that were true, he’d have to purchase this stuff by the case.
“Let’s check our fortunes.” Violet passed out the cellophane wrapped cookies. “I’ll start. Mine says, “Drive like hell, and eventually you will get there.”
“That’s weird.” Michael chuckled. “Mine must belong to Rhett because it says: A person who rests on laurels gets thorns in his backside.”
“Not hardly.” Rhett wasn’t the least bit irritated as he cracked his cookie, his eyes riveted to Cami. “Listen to this. Don’t be afraid to smile. You’ll never know who will fall in love with it.” He smiled at Cami. “Is it working?”
“Not in the least.” She unconsciously licked her lips, and he wanted to pull her onto his lap and kiss her senseless.
“What’d you get?” Violet’s dark eyes glittered.
“Your reality check is about to bounce.” Cami gave a little laugh. “Happened the minute I stepped inside this ranch house.”
Rhett had to know what was bugging her, and said, “Let’s go outside and take a stroll.”
“No thanks. I’ve got a headache.” She turned to Michael and Violet. “Thanks for dinner.”
“I’ll walk you home.” He thought she might fight him, but she allowed Rhett to take her hand and lead her. “I want things right with us.”
“So do I.” She sighed. “But everything’s complicated.”
“Can I take you to dinner tomorrow night? Give us time to sort this through.”
“I guess.”
They reached her door. He turned her to face him.
“I’m not inviting you in.”
“Didn’t expect you to.” He leaned over and briefly touched his lips to hers. “See you in the morning.”
Chapter Eighteen
Rhett’s measly peck on the lips had Cami longing for another night of lovemaking. He’d become a complication, one that couldn’t last. She’d crossed the line and failed to find him a soulmate. How was she supposed to do her job when she wanted Rhett for herself? Conflicted, she walked toward the ranch house to make breakfast.
“Howdy, gorgeous.” Rhett greeted her from the porch and flashed his mesmerizing grin.
“Hi.” Instantly, she craved him. It’d be easy to slip her arms around his neck and kiss him. She knew where that would lead. Cami needed the diversion of the kitchen and dashed toward the front door.
“Don’t rush off.” He gripped her shoulders, pivoted her to face him, leaned down and savored her lips. He tasted like coffee.
“It’s not even six, and you two are already kissing,” Michael walked out chuckling.
Rhett dropped his hold on her, and said to his brother, “Anyone ever tell you you're a pain?”
“You do every morning.” Michael smiled like a mischievous little boy. “You making breakfast, Cami, or am I on my
own this morning?”
“You’ll be fed.”
“Good. See you in an hour.” Michael headed towards the stables.
“Mind if I help in the kitchen?”
“Yes, I mind.” Confusion whirled through her. “I’ll never get anything done.”
“Too bad. You’re stuck with me. I’ll start on the eggs.” He placed his hand on her shoulders and pushed her forward into the kitchen. “This is how an expert works.” Taking out a bowl, he tried to crack two eggs at once and ended up with mostly shell in the dish and egg dripping off the counter.
“Wipe that off.” She laughed, snatched the bowl, and rinsed it out in the sink. “Think you’d better stick to ranching.”
He stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, he darted his tongue along her ear and bit her lobe. Her breathing came fast. He moved away and stretched out bacon strips into the frying pan.
His lips scorched her forehead. He ran his calloused fingers along her chin and up to her mouth. “I’ve got an appetite for you. Guess I’d better let you get back to work.” He walked away.
Another few seconds, and she would have begged him to take her. She had no idea how long she stared at the door. She was falling hard for him. The compliant, obedient person who followed rules had changed. Rhett brought out her rebellious side.
The bacon crackled. She used prongs to take out extra crispy strips and set them on a paper towel. One at a time, she cracked a dozen eggs. Unlike Rhett, she found only a smidgen of shell in the bowl. While that cooked, she mixed batter for orange-cinnamon muffins. Holy Zeus. Her housekeeper’s job would be over in five days. She dreaded living back in her hometown but couldn’t fight the inevitable. What would happened to Rhett when she left? She was no better than his ex, wanting him when she knew she’d be leaving him, ultimately destroying the man she loves. Why hadn’t she found him his soulmate? Because she had been selfish.
She kept busy.
What if she stayed? She doubted that would be a possibility.
Half-an-hour later, she brought out the food. Rhett polished off a muffin. “I taste orange and—?”
“Cinnamon.”
“Add these muffins to my favorite’s list.”
“It’s already too long.” She laughed.
He grasped her hand and eased her onto his lap, smelling musky and mighty tempting. “Where should we go for dinner tonight?”
“I’d rather not go out.”
“Dinner at your place?” He gave her a hasty kiss and helped her stand.
“I suppose.”
“Pizza or Chinese?”
She chose pizza and watched Rhett walk out the door. My gosh, he was addicting.
Michael still sat at the table, and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Everything’s moving so fast my head’s spinning.”
“Tell Rhett to slow down. He might not like it, but he’ll understand.”
“We’re talking about Rhett.” She rolled her eyes. “He works on two speeds, bucking bronco and runaway stallion.” Stallion reminded her of riding him, and her face warmed a thousand degrees.
“Remember what I said, don’t fall for him. He’s not open to love.”
Too late.
~ ~ ~
Rhett walked into Cami’s studio apartment holding a box of pizza in one hand and a grocery bag in the other. “Hope this is okay.” He swallowed hard as he stared at her. In a simple blouse and jeans, she stole his breath.
“Put everything on the counter.”
“Couldn’t find chocolate ice cream at the mini-mart. Hope vanilla and chocolate sauce will do.” The idea that he worried about the flavor of ice cream was so beneath his macho image, but he didn’t care. He’d do just about anything to break the tension between them.
“Anything chocolate is perfect.”
He let out the breath he’d been holding. They unpacked the bag together and filled the buzzing fridge. The fridge had to be older than his and Cami’s ages combined.
He took out a champagne bottle and handed it to her. “Wanna open this?”
“Is this whole bottle for me?” She popped the cork over the sink.
“I was hoping you’d share.”
She poured the drink into two empty jelly jars with Flintstone characters and handed him one. “Bet these glasses have been here since the Stone Age.”
He shrugged. Many of the furnishings, in this apartment built over fifty years ago, were original. “Next time you’re in town, buy yourself some glassware.”
“Is that an order?” She grabbed two plates, flipped open the pizza box, and snatched a piece from the veggie side for herself.
“Not at all.” If she wanted to role-play being the boss, he was all for it, later. Right now, his hunger for food won out.
He watched her as she took the far end on the quilt-covered couch, slid in next to her on the right with his plate in hand, and polished off two slices of pepperoni pizza.
“I’d turn on the TV to watch a game, but it barely works.”
“You hinting for a new TV?” He’d add one to the list. “Anything else you want?”
“Maybe a diamond tiara.” She grinned as she set down her empty glass.
He pictured her wearing a crown and using her scepter to lord over him as he stripped for his queen. “Are we okay now?”
“I think so. What happened between us is overwhelming.”
“Appreciate your honesty.” He saw her flinch but figured this discussion wasn’t easy for her either. “You’re really special.”
She stayed quiet.
“I’m guessing you’ve heard about my track record.” If Violet had warned him not to hurt Cami, chances were she’d been told him about his issues.
“You got your heart broken and now prefer playing the field.” She said even-toned and matter-a-factly.
“Not anymore.” He looped his arm around her shoulders. “I’d like you to be my girlfriend.”
“We’ve only been out a couple of times.”
It surprised him she wasn’t pushing a relationship. “We’ve been working together for almost two months.” He kissed her and tasted champagne and mozzarella. “You’re delicious.”
“Tell me about your ex.”
“I’d rather keep kissing you.”
“Please, Rhett.” She stared at him, batting her eyelashes.
“Not now.”
“Don’t give me that macho attitude. I’m not asking you to hand me your man card.” She kissed his cheek.
“Fine. I met Penny at a rodeo.”
“And?” Cami wasn’t letting him off easy.
“We dated for about six months while she stayed with her cousin in Mountain Meadows.”
“Where’s that?”
“About twenty-five minutes southwest of here.” He couldn’t resist pulling her in closer and kissing her neck.
“What went wrong?” She sat up straighter.
“Nothing really. She just didn’t want to be a rancher’s wife.” Funny how the pain that once shot through to his gut didn’t happen. Since he found Cami, he realized his ex wasn’t the one for him.
“Thanks for sharing. I know it must be hard.” She grasped his hand and squeezed.
“Not since I met you.” He leaned over, pressed his mouth to hers, breathed in her sweet scent, and kissed her. He expected her to hold back, not create such a heated response that he struggled to suck in air. It took fortitude to rein in his desire and pull away. “Ready for dessert, I mean, ice cream?” He struggled to talk right.
She sighed, her lips full, her face flushed. Beyond stunning. “I don’t have a fancy scooper like in the shop.”
“Any spoon will do just fine.” He found one in the top drawer, made two bowls, and brought them and the chocolate sauce to the table.
“Help yourself.”
She poured a generous helping and squirted a line of sauce in the middle of his shirt. “Sorry.”
“If you wanted my shirt off, all you had to do was a
sk.” He stripped, while her eyes glued to his.
“It was an accident.”
“Sure it was.” He leaned over and caressed her cheek.
“Quit distracting me. My ice cream’s melting.” She brought a spoonful to her mouth and dripped ice cream down the front of her light green top. “Oops.” She gave him a sassy smile, lifted the garment over her head, and filled the sink to soak out the stain. Her lacy white bra made his cock harden.
He rose, turned her to face him, and brought his lips to hers. The kiss they shared wasn’t heated or wanton but felt natural and fitting. He wanted her, wanted the second time to be better than the first, wanted her to have no regrets. “If you want me to stop, say so.”
“Don’t stop.”
He traced her lips with his thumb. Her pliable, oh-so-inviting lips. He kissed her slow and easy, leisurely enjoying the heat their tongues generated. “You’re beautiful.”
“So are you.” Her words were as soft as a colt’s mane. She tentatively flicked her tongue along his lower lip, unhinging a fever only she could cure.
He unhooked the bra, and her breast spilled out. Not overly large, the rosy tips stood out against her creamy white skin. He brought his mouth down to one, laved it with his tongue, and heard her sigh.
“My sweet Cami.” He scooped her into his arms and dropped her onto the single bed. Her fingers caressed his chest, causing the muscles to tighten. His moan trapped in their kiss, his fingers trembling as he undid the top snap of her jeans, pulled the zipper down, and peeled off her lacy panties. He spread her legs apart, dipped his fingers inside her folds and found her wet. He fell to his knees, kissed a path from her inner thighs, brought his head down, and hooked a leg over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” she said in a mere whisper.
“Loving you.” His word choice surprised him. Once he tongued her clit, and she let out a little sigh, his mission became savoring, darting in and out, sucking, lapping, and enjoying her. Her body tightened and quivered and came in his mouth.
Smiling, he eased onto the edge of the bed. “What do you want now?” As hard as his cock was, it was important she had a choice.
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