“I agree,” Amelia said. “This is different, and you know it. My office is near the medical center. I’ll stop by on Monday and see if we can find out anything else. Maybe find another place to look for answers.”
“Thanks,” Emma and Delilah said at the same time.
“It’s good to have you home,” Emma said. “Between the three of us, we will be able to take good care of Mom.”
Her sisters both looked at her and she realized they expected her to say she couldn’t.
“Yes, we will,” Amelia said. “Mom and I talked the other day. We are working through some things.”
“Good, it’s about time,” Emma said. “Now, tell us about Cal.”
She groaned. “Are you sure we don’t want to hear about Delilah’s chef?”
“Yes,” Delilah said. “He’s a pain in the ass, and if you slept with Cal, I’m guessing he’s not.”
“I wouldn’t rule that out. But for right now, he’s not,” she agreed. “I’m probably more of the ass.”
“Why?” Delilah asked.
“It’s just me. One of the things I’ve never been good at is trusting anyone. I mean, you two are about it and that’s because well, you’re you two. But with everyone else, it’s like I’m just waiting for bad news. And I don’t want to screw up Cal any more than I already have.”
“Fair enough,” Emma said. “He’s in a rough place right now. So maybe sex was all he needed.”
“But it was more than sex, wasn’t it?” Delilah asked. “I saw you two at the river on Saturday.”
“Yeah. I like him,” she said. “So, the stakes feel higher.”
Before she could say anything else, the doorbell rang and Lea and Joey joined their group, followed by Bella who was newer to Last Stand and a good friend of Delilah’s. She told herself to just let her hair down and enjoy the night but she couldn’t stop thinking about Cal as they all made their way over to the Last Stand Saloon.
*
Good Friday. It was hard to think about anything other than the Easter plans they’d had with Rose, TJ and Lane. It didn’t really feel good in any way to him. He had spoken to Lancey—TJ’s sister—on the phone this morning and she’d asked if she could take Lane for the evening. She was on leave for the weekend. He’d agreed and invited her to join them for Easter Sunday. His housekeeper was coming over early to cook a big meal for them.
He tried not to think about the little outfit hanging in the closet that Rose had purchased for Lane a month ago. She’d bought matching ties for all of the men and a dress for herself. His heart hurt as he stood there in the kitchen watching Lane play with his chicken nuggets.
The doorbell chimed. “Who dat?”
“Aunt Lancey,” Cal said.
“Yay, Auntie!” Lane said, clapping his hands as he tried to wriggle out of the high chair.
“Hold your horses, buddy,” Cal said, getting the tray off and then helping his nephew down. As soon as his feet were under him, he ran toward the front door, his boot heels loud on the hardwood floor. Cal followed his nephew to the door and opened it for him.
He jumped forward, hugging Lancey Maverick’s legs. She looked down at Lane, tousling his hair, then glanced back at him.
Once Lancey left with their nephew, Cal and Braden had realized that the house was too quiet. They’d been staring at ESPN when Red called, asking if they wanted to join him over at the Last Stand Saloon for drinks. That had been a no-brainer, so they’d left the ranch and headed into town.
The parking lot was already starting to fill up. It was Friday night, after all. Cal found a spot and then they went inside. The jukebox was blasting ‘Come Friday’ by Aaron Tippin as they walked in.
“I’ll get drinks while you find Red,” Braden said.
Cal knew he wouldn’t have to look too hard to find their friend—he was pretty much always in the back, in the area between the dance floor and the pool tables. He had a booth and two girls were keeping him company when Cal walked up.
“Glad you could make it, dude. This is Lisa and Marjorie. They are from Whiskey River and have just spent the day on the river kayaking. Girls, this is Cal Delaney.”
“Hello,” they said in unison.
“Cal Delaney? The football player?” Lisa asked.
“Used to be. I’m retired,” he said, grabbing a chair and pulling it up to the table.
Braden arrived with a bucket of longneck beers and smiled at the women as he sat down next to Marjorie. “Hello, ladies. I’m Braden.”
“Are you a football player?” Marjorie asked.
“Nah. I make tequila.”
“Red, I like your friends,” Lisa quipped. “Tell me more about that. I thought you had to make it in Mexico.”
“You’re right. To have the tequila label, we have to grow the agave in the Tequila province. We are Mexican on our mother’s side and have inherited some land down there. We run the business with our cousins,” Braden said. “Cal put up the seed money to get it really going here in Last Stand.”
“That’s so cool,” Lisa said. “I’m going to get another glass of wine. Marjorie, want one?”
Her friend nodded and Red draped his arm around Marjorie’s shoulder, talking quietly to her while Braden looked at him. Seemed to them that Red wanted someone to partner up with Lisa so he could be alone with Marjorie, but he didn’t need two wingmen. And Cal wasn’t interested in anyone but Amelia.
He’d known that for a while. And the past few weeks had simply reinforced it. He’d driven past her place every night last week on his way home, even though it wasn’t on the way, hoping for a glimpse of her.
The song changed and he heard ‘Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off’ blaring from the jukebox. He had rolled his eyes as Lisa came back and set her wine on the table before she grabbed Braden’s hand and led him to the dance floor.
“I’m going to get some fresh air,” he said in the direction of Red who was twined with the woman next to him.
Cal gave the dance floor a wide berth as he made his way to the door. The saloon was busy for a holiday weekend. Normally, he’d be drinking and looking for someone who wanted nothing but fun, but tonight, he just couldn’t get into the spirit. He was glad Braden had found someone to distract him even if it was just for a little while. But for himself, he needed…well, a woman he was trying not to need.
Amelia had made it very clear that she wasn’t in the market for a guy on a regular basis. Neither of them was looking for that, but right now, Cal didn’t feel normal and he didn’t like it.
He wanted to be out there grinding up against a good-time girl who just wanted him because he had muscles and looked okay. He didn’t want a woman who tied him in knots and made him miss her when she wasn’t around.
He sincerely doubted a walk through town was going to clear his head but sitting here searching the crowd for Amelia wasn’t what he wanted. He put his head down, pushing through the crowd and stumbling into someone. A female someone, he thought as he reached out to steady her. Then he lifted his head and their eyes met. Amelia.
*
As soon as she saw him, she realized how much she’d missed him. She’d been spending the evening drinking and laughing and trying to act like she was just like everyone else, even though she didn’t feel it. The biggest thing about not being a real Corbyn was that she always tried to keep up appearances when she was home. Since it had only been for short weekend visits prior to this, it hadn’t seemed like much of a burden.
But on the way over, Lea had been chatting to her about how jealous she was that Amelia had a family with such a long history in Last Stand. All Amelia could do was nod. She wasn’t rooted here. She had no idea who Jax Williams’s people were. They’d never be hers so she was rootless on that side, too. This was why she’d stayed away. It was too hard to face everyone who thought she was one thing while she knew she was something else.
“I was thinking about you,” he said, under his breath. The saloon was busy tonight, as if everyone wa
s getting their party on before family dinners and church on Sunday. She wasn’t overly religious, but Memaw insisted they all attend church on Easter Sunday.
“Were you?” she asked, hoping she sounded flirty and not doubtful.
He looked good to her, with a little bit of stubble on his chin, a skintight Outlaw Tequila T-shirt and a pair of jeans that were worn in all the right places, clinging to his muscled thighs and drawing her eyes to his…um, male area.
He winked at her, letting her know that he hadn’t missed her staring at his crotch. She just shrugged and tipped her head to the side. She had pretty much made herself stay busy to give him room this week. She’d heard through the grapevine that Finn had come home, having taken the week off from driving last Sunday. She knew the boys needed time together to heal. Or at least grieve together.
So, no matter how many times her car had wanted to point itself toward the Delaney ranch, she’d forced herself to stay in town, sanding old furniture that had come with her house and pretending that working on that place was more important to her than seeing Cal. She knew she should start spending more time with setting up a business but she wasn’t sure she was staying. But she had a storage shed full of sanded-down furniture and every night, she lay awake in her bed aching for him and wishing he was there by her side.
“I was,” he said.
“I’ve been thinking about you too,” she said. “How have you been? I wanted to call but figured you might need some time with your family.”
“You can call any time,” he said. “I’ve been better.”
“I bet. I’m sorry, Cal,” she said.
He just looked away from her for a moment but not before she saw the grief and pain on his face. She couldn’t imagine what he was going through and she wished there were something she could do to take that pain from him.
‘Anything But Mine’ by Kenny Chesney started to play. The sad, sweet song of love that wasn’t meant to last made her soul ache but when Cal took her hand and drew her toward the dance floor, she didn’t hesitate.
He pulled her into his arms and she rested her head on his chest as he moved her around the floor in a country waltz. She sang along under her breath but only because the words hurt. She wanted to be his. She hadn’t realized it before this moment. But being Cal’s was something she wished she could find her way to be.
But how could she ever trust herself? She’d been betrayed and broken for all of her adult life. She had no idea how to make anything last. Of course, this was Cal. The man who took care of everyone else, no matter the cost to himself. She knew he was no Jax Williams. But how much of her was Jax’s daughter? Would she hurt him? She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she did. The price was too high, and she refused to pay it.
She’d been hurt and shut herself down. And now, as she tipped her head back and their eyes met, she wished she hadn’t. But she hadn’t shut Cal out. She’d never been able to do that and she now realized that she might hurt him. Again.
In that moment, she hated her mom in a way she hadn’t since she’d first heard the news about her real father. She wanted to go back and be that innocent girl who’d been Cal Delaney’s first serious girlfriend. She could have been his if she’d still been that girl. Not the woman who wasn’t wanted. Who’d been the product of something sordid and ugly. And her whole life was a lie when she was in Last Stand.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, tucking his head down close to her, so she could hear.
But she didn’t want to answer or say the truth out loud. And since lying was something she wouldn’t do, she put her hands on his shoulders and went up on tiptoe, bringing her mouth to his. She felt his shock at first, but he recovered quickly, his hands sliding down to cup her butt and his mouth moving over hers. His tongue thrust into her mouth, tangling with her own.
He tasted like Lone Star Beer and dreams, she thought. But maybe that was the moonshine and lavender cocktails talking. She had never felt anything as good as being in Cal’s arms.
She wanted to believe in him, believe in herself and maybe even believe in them, but her heart was too shattered for that.
She knew a better woman would walk away, would leave this sweet, sexy man for someone who would love him the way he deserved to be loved. But she couldn’t.
He put one arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet as he broke the kiss. “Woman, you are killing me.”
“I was trying to tempt you,” she said lightly, fighting the sadness in her soul. She smiled at him. “I missed you.”
“Want to get out of here?” he asked. “I know—”
She put her fingers over his lips to stop him from talking. “Yes.”
Chapter Thirteen
Cal led her out of the Last Stand Saloon. He hoped this would be the first night of the rest of their lives. He couldn’t keep doing hookups with her. Their hands were clasped together and as soon as he stepped out into the cooler air, he hesitated. He knew himself well enough to know that if he slept with Amelia again, he wasn’t going to be able to keep things casual.
He liked her.
There was no denying that and more than once, he found himself waking up in the middle of the night thinking about her, wishing she was in bed next to him and that they had a more conventional relationship instead of this thing that was happening between them.
But he had no way of controlling that.
She was a goodbye girl—one who hadn’t figured out enough about herself to stay. He knew he needed to acknowledge that and accept it.
“You are staring at me like you might have second thoughts,” she said.
“Second and third and fourth. It always comes back to the fact that I want you in my arms, no matter the cost,” he admitted.
She went up on her tiptoes, lacing her fingers together behind his neck. “There is no cost, Cal. It’s just you and me together. Honestly, I’ve never felt anything this right with anyone else. But I’m not sure I’m staying here. My life is still back in New York.”
He told himself to take that as a win but the fact that she thought this was enough was a bit of a blow. He wanted more, but didn’t want to come across as needy. Too needy. Maybe it was just losing Rose and having his brothers home temporarily that was making him crave things he’d never wanted before.
But whatever it was, he needed to make up his mind about it before too much longer. But not tonight.
Tonight, he was going to take Amelia to bed and enjoy every second of it. Because she wanted him, and he wanted her.
He cupped her butt and lifted her more fully into him. She wrapped her legs around his hips, their lips met and he stopped debating with himself. It had been too long since he’d held her in his arms. That was really all he needed to know tonight.
He carried her to his truck, hearing the doors unlock as he got close, and leaning back against the passenger door for support. The skirt she wore was full and easy to get his hands under and he rubbed them up her thighs, loving the cool feel of her legs beneath his touch.
He tried to take it easy, not to clutch at her but it was hard not to. Her skin was pliant, so soft under his hands. She smelled of lavender and spring, so intoxicating and addictive. The scent aroused him as much as touching her did.
Spreading his fingers, the scent of her arousal drifted toward him. He held her, his tongue in her mouth, his erection pressing hard against the front of his jeans as he deepened the kiss.
Damn it. He didn’t want to think anymore. All he needed to concentrate on was how hot he was for her. Her tongue slid along his and he sucked it deeper into his mouth. He wanted her completely naked and underneath him on a bed, but that wasn’t the way they ever seemed to do it.
He ripped his mouth from hers, each exhalation of her breath brushing over his wet mouth. She bit his lower lip, licked her swollen lower one. He groaned and stopped thinking about anything but his thickening erection and how much he wanted her.
The metal of the pickup truck was cold ag
ainst his back as she undulated against him. He felt her long cool fingers on his neck, stroking over his pulse, which he knew raced.
He shifted her in his arms, and seeing her erect nipples pressing against the fabric of her cotton sundress, he leaned down to suck on them through her clothing. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts toward him.
He felt the strain a little in his arms, but he’d been working out every day for most of his adult life. If he couldn’t hold on to this wild cowgirl while he was making love to her, then what was the point? She moaned his name and he felt her hands in his hair, tracing the shape of his ear before moving down his neck again.
She stroked his chest and then wedged her hand between their bodies to run her fingers down the line of his zipper, over his erection. His hips jerked forward and he had to shift his hold on her. It was time.
He turned around and opened the door to the cab of his truck and lifted her up on the seat. She sat there for a minute staring down at him and he shook his head.
“Just once I’d like to make love to you in a bed.”
“I’d like that, too. Think you could drive us to my place?” she asked.
“Hell yeah.”
He walked around the front of the truck and got behind the wheel. He pressed the ignition start button as she scooted closer to him but he knew she needed her seat belt on. He wasn’t going to be able to concentrate on anything but getting them to her place and his hard-on was making it difficult for him to drive.
“Seat belt,” he said, but it came out more like a growl.
She nodded and fumbled to put it on. He drove carefully, knowing that bastard Shane Highwater would never let him live it down if he pulled him over with a woman in his truck. As soon as he pulled into the driveway of Amelia’s house, he let out a sigh of relief. He put the car in park and turned it off and hopped out of the cab to go and get her. But she was already standing next to the truck and caught his hand in hers, leading him to her house.
She unlocked the door with a key that she grabbed from the top of the doorframe.
Her Texas Ex Page 12
