“I didn’t intend to stay long.”
“You thought she’d pack up and follow you?”
“Something like that.”
Tony took a sip of his beer. “You’ve got a lot to learn about country women—especially those with children.” He looked him over critically. “Lesson one: show her you’re serious.” He placed his hat back on his head and tipped it at Charles.
“I am not wearing a hat.”
“Do as you please. Just trying to be helpful. It’ll be over 110 degrees tomorrow in the shade. You’ll look ridiculous in that getup.”
Charles shrugged. “Not much I can do about that. This town doesn’t have anything open twenty-four hours.”
Tony looked over his shoulder and called out to a man across the bar. “Hey, Jeb. You think you could open your store long enough to get this guy into some jeans and boots? He wants to surprise Melanie.”
“That is so romantic,” one of the women in the room said.
“Anything for Melanie,” a tall man with a beer belly and easy smile said. “What do you say I finish this beer and meet you over there?”
Tony turned back to Charles. “Problem solved.”
“Are you screwing with me?” Charles asked, eyes narrowing.
“You’re the one who said you wanted to marry her. You told her parents you’d learn to ride. Can’t do that in a suit. Or maybe you were just saying what you thought we wanted to hear. That wouldn’t be a good idea,” Tony said, his voice laced with steel.
“I never say anything I don’t mean.”
“Then finish that drink, because it’s time to cowboy up.”
Charles stood just outside a changing stall and studied himself in the mirror. The heels on the leather boots felt unnatural, but he’d grown up in jeans and T-shirts. As the son of a construction company owner, his attire had been functional for most of his early life. It had only been when he’d left his small town behind for college that he’d also turned his back on that side of himself.
These cowboys think I was born and raised in the city. They have no idea. His father had named his company Dery and Son when Charles was born, and for Charles that had meant working on construction sites for as long as he could remember. He’d grown up with calluses that would have impressed any country boy. The Dery family believed in good, honest hard work being the only way to make a living.
Funny how easy it is to reject even honorable ideals when they are voiced by your parents.
Although his father had publicly celebrated his son’s admission to Stanford, Charles knew it meant his dad had to let go of his dream of one day handing his company over to him. It was the first step in Charles’s plan to move away—the start of the life he felt he was destined for. They’d never fought about it because his family didn’t fight. They avoided the unpleasant. It was how his parents dealt with Sarah getting a horse even after they told her not to. It was also how they’d dealt with their youngest son, Phil’s, drowning at their lake house.
The casual attire brought Charles a flashback to a simpler version of himself. Is this who I would have been had my brother lived—Rhode Island’s work-boots version of this? Would I have stayed and taken over my father’s business?
Would I have been happier?
“When you’re done admiring yourself over there, you might want to pay Jeb. He has time for two more beers before his wife comes looking for him,” Tony said dryly.
Charles turned and met Tony’s eyes. “I’m ready.” Even though he wasn’t sure if he actually was. He placed his folded suit and shoes in a large bag, then grabbed a few more pairs of jeans along with a variety of casual shirts. Tony silently watched Charles purchase them.
Jeb placed a tan hat on top of the clothing. Charles started to protest, but the man grinned and said, “It’s on me. A gift for Melanie.”
Charles reluctantly put it on and thanked him. Tony shook his head. Charles adjusted it more forward. Tony shook his head again and tugged the brim of his own hat to demonstrate how to wear it low. Charles pulled the brim lower. Tony nodded in approval.
As they were leaving, Jeb said, “Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding.”
Charles nearly tripped down the landing and Tony chuckled.
“You seeing Melanie tomorrow?” Tony asked in a suddenly serious tone.
Tempted to tell him it was none of his business, Charles answered, “Yes.”
“You know she comes as a package deal. You don’t get her without her son.”
Temper rising, Charles said, “I never said I wanted to.”
“You sure as hell looked like you didn’t give him much thought when you met him.”
Faced with a truth he couldn’t deny, Charles glared at the man who had voiced it. “I’ll do better the next time I see him.” He shook his head as he gained control of his temper.
“I’ll meet you at my barn after dinner.”
“For?”
“Jace is exercising one of my horses for me. Might be a good idea for you to come over and see it.”
Charles watched Tony cautiously. “Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?”
Tony pushed back his hat an inch and gave him a steady stare. “Sarah says Melanie loves you. I didn’t always appreciate the people around me, but Melanie has been on my ranch long enough that she’s like family. I won’t be the reason you fuck it up with her.”
“You say that like you know I’m going to.”
Tony shrugged and tugged the brim of his hat down again. He walked off and left Charles on the sidewalk, reflecting on the little he had said.
Melanie had a life in Fort Mavis. She had friends and family. It wouldn’t be easy to convince her to leave all that behind for him.
And is it right to?
Her son needs a father, not someone who doesn’t even know how to talk to him. Can I be that man?
He frowned as he walked back into his hotel.
Life had been much easier before he’d rediscovered his conscience.
Chapter Nineteen
Melanie opened the door of her house the next morning and then stood there, gaping at the sight of Charles in jeans, a snug tan T-shirt, and cowboy boots.
She didn’t know if the outfit was his idea of a joke, but there was nothing funny about it. He looked good. Better than he should. The light material of the T-shirt accentuated his muscular chest. He removed his hat as he walked past her into her kitchen.
He hung his hat on the back of one of the chairs as she continued to stare at him wordlessly. He was gorgeous in his suit and tie, but dressed in more casual clothing he had a rugged look she wouldn’t have thought would seem to fit him as well as it did. “You look . . .”
“Ridiculous?”
“No, amazing.”
Charles smiled and traced her chin with his thumb, raising her face to his. He took a long, deep breath. “Why did you leave without saying good-bye? Why didn’t you answer any of my calls?”
Breaking free of him, Melanie turned away and hugged her arms around her middle. “I went to New York to find Jace’s father.”
“I know.”
His easy acceptance of her statement angered her. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to give him the explanation he awaited. But he said he wants to marry me. He said he wants to know me. It’s time, then, to show him the real me. “He passed away last year. I was too late.”
Charles pulled her backward and enveloped her in his embrace. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Melanie pushed at his arms angrily but he didn’t release her. “Don’t be sorry for me. It’s Jace who will never have a father. It’s Jace I cheated because I was too afraid to do the right thing and tell his father about him.”
“You had your reasons.”
“That’s the thing—they weren’t good ones. I was angry with Todd, angry at the world, and I let how I felt rob something precious from Jace. I won’t do that again. I won’t take him away from everything he loves just because I want to be
with you. I’ve hated myself for so long. Honestly, I’d rather be alone than feel like that again.”
Charles watched her quietly. They were different in many ways, but in their core they were more alike than either wanted to admit.
He said softly, “Come here.”
She walked slowly over to him. He buried his hand deep in the curls at the nape of her neck and said, “I’ve thought about you every night since we were together.”
“I’ve done the same. I started to call you a thousand times.”
“I thought you left me because of something I did. I thought I went too far our last night together.”
She looked up at him from beneath her long lashes and admitted, “No, I never thought I could like that, but every moment was . . . amazing.” Her cheeks warmed at her admission.
He pulled her to him, his arousal nudging against her stomach. He bent his head and claimed her mouth. “I love you in dresses,” he murmured and ran a hand beneath the loose hem of her dress and up the outsides of her thighs. He lifted her with one arm while removing her panties. “Barefoot and bare-assed. I’ve pictured you like this a hundred times since you left me. I think about you each night until I ache.”
Her hands instinctively sought his belt. “I know exactly what you mean.” She undid the top of his jeans and slid them and his boxers down his legs. He slipped out of them and his shoes, his thick cock already fully erect.
He stepped back and removed his shirt.
She pulled her dress over her head and stood before him breathing as heavily as he was.
He advanced again, walking her backward until she felt the cold of the Formica counter on her ass. Her lips parted in anticipation of his next kiss.
Her nipples puckered, eager for his caress.
Her pussy quivered as she wondered where he would start.
Melanie thought about how much pleasure she’d found in letting him take charge and decided it could be equally fun to try it herself. “Are you hot?”
He gave her a raw and sexual smile with just enough curl to it that she knew he knew her game.
“I am,” Charles said softly.
Melanie stepped away for a moment and took out a tray of ice from the freezer, then laid it beside her on the counter. She put a small ice cube in her mouth.
It instantly started to melt. She moved it around with her tongue, playing with it and absorbing the almost painful cold it delivered. He closed his mouth over hers, his tongue dancing with hers and the ice. Heat and cold. Skin and ice. The intensity of the sensation was unlike any she’d felt before. He buried his hands in her hair and held her there, thrusting his tongue deeper into her mouth, taking the cold of the ice into his. The only cool in her mouth was then from his tongue and she couldn’t get enough of it.
She dug her hands into his neck and held him as tightly as he was holding her. His rigid cock jerked against the inside of her thigh and she opened her legs wider to him, wet and ready. Yes, she knew all about aching for someone. She’d awoken too many nights, still frustrated, after dreaming of being with him like this and not reaching climax in her dreams. Nothing she could do with her own hand rivaled how being with him felt.
She lifted her head and reached for another piece of ice. This time she trailed it down one side of his face and across his neck. Her mouth followed the wet path, her hot breath warming his skin between her touches. “Tell me what you want. Tell me everything,” she whispered into his ear.
“Take me in your mouth. Bite me, lick me, do anything you want, just don’t stop.”
He shuddered with pleasure as she ran the ice cube lower, tracing one side of his cock, which she then took deep within her mouth to warm it. He gripped the edge of the counter. Just as he was beginning to tighten for climax, he eased her off him and reached for his own piece of ice.
He trailed it along her collarbone and down the side of one of her breasts. He circled her puckered nipple with it, then laved the nipple with his tongue between gentle nips.
Ever so slowly, he moved the dwindling ice down her bare stomach. She arched backward and cold droplets fell on her shaven mound. He kissed a path between her breasts and down her stomach. Melanie held her breath.
Very lightly, he traced the inside of each thigh. Melanie closed her eyes and shivered from the sensation. In anticipation of his kiss, her clit was pulsing and her inner muscles were clenching and releasing.
He traced down the inside of her calves, his hot breath following, but he withheld the pleasure of his tongue. Her skin came alive wherever he trailed the ice, and she swore as her senses overloaded.
“Your turn. What do you want?” he growled. “Tell me.”
Melanie opened her eyes and looked down at him, hating that he was so fully in control, loving that he was so fully in control. “I want you to lick my clit. Shove those fingers inside me. Take me between your teeth and tease me like you do. Bury that thick tongue inside me while I imagine it’s your cock. Fuck me with your mouth.”
“Gladly,” he said and popped what was left of the ice cube into his mouth. He parted her lower lips with one hand and held the ice between his teeth, holding it to her clit while he pumped his cold fingers in and out of her.
He brought the ice deeper into his mouth and nipped at her clit, running his chilled tongue back and forth over it as she’d asked him to. The combination of his hot lips and the unexpected temperature of his tongue made what was already amazing new and unbelievably erotic.
She crested and came with a cry, loving how he twisted his fingers within her, prolonging her orgasm and sucking hotly on her while she shuddered against his mouth.
He sheathed himself in a condom and lifted her so she was pressed against the refrigerator. He entered her with one thrust; white heat almost blinded Melanie. She wrapped her legs around his waist, nipped his shoulder wildly, and spread herself for him in abandon. This was no longer a game or a challenge. This was animal mating that had them both grunting and slick with sweat.
She came first with a loud cry. He joined her, swearing as he did and knocking the ice tray over as he shifted to sit her once again on the counter.
When they came back to earth together, the only sound in the room was the two of them breathing heavily. He lowered her slowly to her feet, nuzzling her neck as he did.
Still proudly naked, he disposed of his condom, then walked over and pulled her into his arms, looping his hands behind the small of her back. He absently pushed her hair off one of her shoulders and bent to kiss the shoulder he’d exposed. “What do you want to do today?”
Melanie sighed contently in his embrace. “Besides this?”
He chuckled. “It’s up to you. We don’t have to leave the kitchen.”
Melanie thought about it for a moment, then asked, “Would you like to see where I live?”
He buried his face in her hair. “I’d love to see whatever you want to show me.”
“Then get dressed, cowboy.” Melanie winked at him and threw his shirt at him. She picked up her dress off the floor and slipped it back over her head.
Moments later, they were outside with Jace’s dog barking and running circles around them. Melanie tried to catch him, but the pup darted and widened his circle. She rolled her eyes. “That’s Tibby. I don’t know why I agreed to him.”
Charles bent and offered his hand to the dog. Tibby sniffed it, then rubbed himself against Charles’s leg while Charles pet him affectionately. “Every boy should have a dog.”
Melanie watched the exchange with genuine surprise. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for someone who likes animals.”
Charles met her eyes over the dog. “There is a lot you don’t know about me.”
Melanie motioned for him to follow her. “I’m beginning to see that.”
He straightened and began to walk beside her. “What did I interrupt last night? Were you celebrating something?”
“I’m back in school. I’ll have my degree finished in one more semester.”
/> “That’s fantastic. You must be happy about that.”
“I am.”
“You’ll want to stay here to finish your classes.” He seemed to be mulling how that would affect his plans. His plans. Even after what they had shared back in her kitchen, Melanie knew that nothing had changed. Sex had never been their issue. She stopped and turned toward him.
“I’m not leaving Texas, Charles. I’m not moving to the city and you can’t convince me you want to stay here. Look around. You’d be bored sick in a day. You don’t want kids and I have one. We’re all wrong for each other.”
“I’m not going back to New York without you.”
“You say that, Charles, and maybe you even believe it. But I’m getting more and more comfortable with facing reality head-on. If we had met before Todd, maybe we would have found a way to be together. But my life with Jace is here. And I can’t regret that because I can’t imagine, for one moment, not having him in my life.”
“I know I didn’t handle meeting Jace well.”
She waved a hand in the air desperately. “You don’t have to explain. I know about your brother drowning. I understand why being around Jace is difficult for you.”
His jaw tightened visibly. “So that’s it. You want me to just walk away and end this?”
“My son needs a father—someone who can love him as much as I do. Tell me, can you be that man?” She issued her last question as a challenge.
“Clearly, you’ve already determined that I couldn’t be.”
Melanie held out a hand toward him, then let it drop to her side. “I didn’t mean—”
“Didn’t you?” he asked while picking his hat up off the table. He settled it on his head with force, then walked to the door. “I don’t know much about love or how any of this is supposed to work, but I’m here and I’m trying. When you’re willing to say the same—call me. I’ll be in town until tomorrow. After that, I’m heading back.”
He slammed the door behind him and strode down the stairs toward his rental car. Before entering it, he took off his hat and threw it on the dirt driveway.
Tycoon Takedown Page 18