by Sara Orwig
He kissed and caressed her lightly, holding her close to him. She could feel his heart pounding with hers, both finally slowing.
“Jessie, I’ve wanted you more than I can ever tell you or you can ever know. This is perfect. I don’t want to let you go.”
“You don’t have to yet,” she whispered with her eyes closed, feeling a storm brewing within her.
“I didn’t expect this tonight,” he said, shifting to look at her.
“I didn’t expect this either. I guess I’m not ready for dinner and dancing,” she said.
“Don’t be sorry. You’re wonderful, beautiful, so special.” His words wrapped her in a warm feeling that made her want to kiss him again, a sweet, slow kiss that reflected how much she liked him.
“I wanted this tonight. I wanted to make love, but now I’m not ready emotionally.”
“Don’t have regrets. We can back off—go back like we were.”
She guessed he was trying to help, but she couldn’t keep from feeling a tiny burst of disappointment. Was he having second thoughts? Was he having real regrets? She searched his dark eyes. Did he mean what he said? He kissed her temple while his fingers combed through her hair. He was so gentle when he wanted to be.
“You’re special, Ryan. You’ve sort of given me life back. It’s been so long since there was excitement or fun or joy like I’ve known here with you. Those things are very special. At the same time, I’m not ready for intimacy. I don’t think I can handle this,” she said.
He kissed her temple gently. “You’ll get over all the hurts, Jessie. It’ll all be in the past.”
“You do all the right things,” she said, pushing his hair from his forehead.
“Take it a day at a time. It’ll work out. Don’t worry about it tonight. No worries or concerns tonight. This is a special time now, so shut down thoughts about the past or the future.”
“I’ll try,” she said. “Ryan, I wanted to make love.”
“I’m glad you did. You know I did, heart and soul,” he said, his brown gaze steady. He sounded as if he meant what he said. She began to feel better.
“And yet you never pushed me. That just makes me want you more.” She smiled at him. “If you were pushing me, I could say no so easily.”
“Contrary woman,” he teased, returning her smile.
“I am filled with contrary thoughts and feelings. Tonight has been marvelous. Dancing, eating out at a fancy place—things I haven’t done in so long and wanted to do,” she whispered. “Maybe some things I desperately needed. At the same time, I just can’t cope with the emotional side of becoming intimate.”
“I told you, you don’t have to cope,” he whispered, kissing her temple lightly again, but this time he had a slight frown. “I don’t want you hurt or worrying. Just accept tonight and we’ll go from there. Actually, we can be more conservative. Just say no and I’ll accept it.”
“I know you will,” she said, still wondering if he harbored regrets. She couldn’t imagine he would, unless he felt she was taking everything too seriously.
Much later he carried her to the shower and then back to bed to make love again. Afterward she was in his arms, close against him with her head on his chest. “Ryan, tonight is an exception.”
“I know and I understand. I hope you don’t have regrets. I couldn’t possibly, but I understand why you want it to be an exception. Hopefully, sometime you’ll feel differently about it.”
“I feel rocky and uncertain, vulnerable. At this point I could fall in love so easily, but it might be a reaction to all that has happened and not be my true feelings at all. I can’t trust my own feelings.”
“Yes, you can,” he said, wrapping her in his arms. “Just take things one day at a time,” he said. “Time will pass and you’ll be more confident in your feelings and reactions.”
“You’re so positive.”
“Tonight has been fabulous, Jessie. Every second of it. Do you mind if I call you Jessie? Would you rather be called Jessica?”
“Jessie is fine. You’re the only person who has ever called me that.”
“That surprises me. Jeb calls me Ry and has for as long as I can remember.”
He rolled over to kiss her and talk ended.
* * *
The next Saturday, Ryan drove into town with her to get things he needed. As he drove back to the ranch that afternoon, her cell phone beeped and she pulled it out to read a message. “Oh, my word,” she said, feeling her stomach drop. She glanced at Ryan.
“Do I need to pull over? Do I need to turn around and go back to the hospital? You look pale, as if you’ll faint. What’s happened?”
“Nothing that drastic. My parents have just landed in Dallas and are driving out to Bywater. They found out where I’m staying. I’m calling my sister.”
When Jessica called, Lydia answered and they talked for almost fifteen minutes until Lydia ended the call. “My dad insisted Lydia tell him because he’s worried about me. He thinks I should come home.”
“Does he know you’re all grown up?”
She smiled. “Yes, they know, but they can’t keep from telling me what I should do. My parents will stay in the hotel in Bywater. I doubt if they will stay long. Neither one will like the hotel or the town. Ryan, I’ll drive back to town to talk to them. They’ll stop at the hotel and want me to come where they are. They won’t drive out to the ranch.”
“Let me talk to your dad and invite him out. They can come eat dinner with us. I’ll grill steaks if they like steaks.”
“You don’t need to get involved. My dad can be difficult sometimes. You’re not going to talk him into coming here.”
Ryan gave her a look. “Where’s your usual optimism?” He took her hand and gave her a squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you with them. I’ll call when we get to the ranch.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know my parents.”
“I grew up with a difficult dad. I know plenty about dealing with a parent, plus my older brothers.”
When they reached the ranch, as they walked into the house, her cell phone rang. “It’s my folks.”
“After you talk to them, let me talk to your dad.”
Jessica took the phone to say hello, listening to her mother talk and standing quietly. “I’ll be happy to come into Bywater to see you both. Ryan would like to say a word to Dad. Would you put Dad on the line, please?”
She handed the phone to Ryan and shook her head. She doubted if Ryan would get anywhere with her father, who could turn a deaf ear to anyone when he wanted to. She knew he’d decide he didn’t like Ryan before ever meeting him.
“Mr. Upton. This is Ryan Delaney.” She listened as Ryan chatted politely a moment about their flight to Dallas. “Sir, there is no way you’ll be really comfortable in that old hotel. Be my guest here at the ranch. I’ll send the limo to pick you up. I have far more room than the hotel. My home is more comfortable and you’ll have more time with Jessica.”
He paused, listening to her father, and she could imagine her father saying no.
“Don’t worry about the hotel. I know George Gleason, who owns it, and I’ll take care of everything. Just wait in the lobby. It shouldn’t take the limo long to get there—I’d say ten minutes from now. My driver will bring you to the ranch and we’ll have dinner and you can talk to your daughter all you want. I promise you, sir. You’ll be far more comfortable. The food is better here anyway.”
There was another brief lull and she was amazed because she guessed he’d convinced her parents to come to the ranch.
“Ten minutes. He’ll find you. His name is Odell.” Ryan paused again. “Yes, sir, that’s great. I’m looking forward to meeting you both. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Astonished, Jessica had to laugh as she shook her head.
Ryan ended the call and made another to tell his limo driver to pick up her parents at the hotel. When he finished, he turned to Jessica.
“So I was wrong,” she admitted. “I’m shocked. And how are you getting a limo from here to Bywater in ten minutes?” she asked.
“Odell is in Bywater. He was having the limo serviced and he would have hung around in town until after dinner and then driven back. He can get to the hotel in ten minutes. Your folks will be waiting. Your dad said no first, but then he said yes.”
“I imagine you impressed him with the limo. I can guess what he has been imagining about where I work. Like some farm home out of an old silent movie.”
“I’ll unload the groceries and supplies and then shower. They won’t get here for a while, but Odell is speedy.”
“I know that,” she said, thinking about the few limo rides she’d had with Ryan.
“I’ll change, too,” she added. She drew a deep breath. “They’ll want me to come home with them. I have no intention of doing that, but they will pressure me.”
“I’ll invite them to stay this week. They can see you’re in a good situation and getting along fine. That will probably help. I’ll have to go to Houston on Wednesday, but that will give you time alone with them, which will be good.”
“They won’t stay that long, I don’t think, but you just worked a miracle, so who knows? Thanks, Ryan.” He crossed the room to her and her pulse began to drum, beating faster while she watched him.
He stopped only inches away to place his hands on her shoulders. Instead of being satiated from their night of love, she wanted him more than ever. The slightest glance, the slightest touch, pretty much anything involving him, drew her to him now. As she gazed up at him, she felt breathless. She wanted to slip her arms around his neck and kiss him. Temptation tore at her.
Temptation she couldn’t ignore.
“Ryan,” she whispered.
Seven
Ryan’s arm circled her waist and he leaned down to kiss her. “Just one kiss,” he whispered, and then covered her mouth again, drawing her tightly into his embrace.
After long moments Jessica finally shifted slightly to look at him. “We should get ready,” she said breathlessly. His breathing was as ragged as hers and desire flamed in the depths of his dark eyes, making her want to step right back into his arms.
“Right. We better get busy. I’ll grill steaks tonight. Can you toss a salad together?”
“Sure. Leave the rest to me.”
When she came back to the kitchen after changing clothes, Ryan was there waiting. He’d already changed into navy slacks, a pale blue dress shirt open at the throat and his black boots, and once again he looked more like the Houston businessman than the West Texas cowboy.
He stood when she entered the room and his gaze drifted over her. “You look great,” he said.
She looked down at her pale yellow sleeveless linen dress, which was tailored with a straight skirt ending at her knees. A string of pearls was around her neck. “Thank you.”
“Odell just called. He’s turned onto the ranch, so they’ll be here in minutes.”
“Let’s go out front and wait.”
When the limo stopped and the driver held the door for her parents, she hurried to hug her mother and father, giving each of them a light kiss on the cheek. “Mom, Dad, this is Ryan Delaney. Ryan, meet my parents, Charles and Mildred Upton.”
“Mrs. Upton, Mr. Upton,” Ryan said, extending his hand to her dad. “I’m happy to meet you. Welcome to the RD Ranch. Odell will bring your things in and put them in one of the guest suites on this floor, since Jessica is staying on the first floor also. Unless you’d rather be in a guest house off by yourselves....”
At the same time, they both answered that they’d prefer the suite in his home.
Ryan turned to give brief instructions to Odell. As soon as he turned back, he waved his hand toward the front door. “Come inside where it’s comfortable. We can sit out on the patio. If you folks are ready for a drink, we have everything from iced tea to bar drinks. I’ll show you the way through the house to the family room and the patio and then to your suite if you’d like to freshen up before we have a drink.”
As they entered, Ryan held the door for her and then her parents and then led them through the house, chatting with them about their flight and about Memphis, remarking about his stays in the city. When they reached the family room, he pointed to the patio just beyond it. But her dad was more interested in one item in the room.
“And what’s this?” he said, crossing the room to look at the framed Colt revolver Ryan had mounted there.
While Ryan followed to tell her dad about the revolver, Jessica turned to her mother. “I hope you’re not fretting. I’m doing fine, Mom.”
“We just wish you would come home. I’ve been so worried about you. We all have.”
Jessica held out her hands and smiled. “I’m doing great. I feel better and it’s been good to get away. I needed this.”
When Ryan and her dad joined them again, they were still talking about antique revolvers. She guessed that topic of conversation would continue for some time.
She followed Ryan as he led them to a suite toward the front of the house, to the east. It held dark cherrywood furniture and had an Oriental rug centered in the sitting area on the polished oak floor. “Just join us on the patio when you’re ready,” Ryan said as he walked out, leaving Jessica in the room.
She smiled at her mother. “I’ll wait and walk back with you.”
Both her parents were looking at their tasteful surroundings and she suspected her dad had already mellowed some toward Ryan.
“I know you have questions, but I told you I wanted to get away where I could sort things out. It’s very quiet here. Ryan works in Houston and is in and out. I got a job cooking for him.”
“Is he married?” her mother asked.
“No.” She knew what her mother was thinking and hurried to fill the silence. “He comes from a good family, a big family. I got to meet his siblings when he had a Delaney Foundation meeting in Dallas.”
“Are they all ranchers? Why is he working in Houston? Isn’t he a rancher?” her dad asked.
Patiently, Jessica explained. “He’s got an energy company. He said it was a drilling business until a year ago and now they have natural-gas wells. I don’t know too much about that. He loves the ranch, though, and this is where he spends part of his time. His brothers are in different businesses, as is his married half sister. Why don’t we join him and he can tell you himself much better than I can about his family.”
“We didn’t come all this way to talk to a stranger. We’d like to sit down with you, Jessica,” her dad said.
“Certainly. Let’s join Ryan now, and after dinner this evening, I think he’ll leave us alone to talk.”
“That’s reasonable, Charles,” her mother said. “Let’s go get to know Ryan Delaney.”
Jessica laughed. “Mom, before you quiz Ryan to pieces, remember that I merely work for him and I will return to Tennessee in due time.”
“I just want to know this man you work for. You haven’t known him long, but you’re working for him and living in his house. You’re out here in the middle of nowhere, alone with him.”
“Not exactly alone. Maybe tomorrow he can give you a brief tour, but he has houses nearby that he’s built and people live there who work for him. The woman in charge of his cleaning staff is here most days of the week. The chauffeur you met, Odell, lives here and he’s usually nearby, too. Ryan has a string of men who live in a bunkhouse and work here. It’s almost a small town in and of itself.”
“When he goes to Houston, you’re in this palatial mansion all by yourself?” her mother asked, looking at her surroundings.
“Yes. He has a gy
m where I can exercise. There’s plenty for me to do. I have speed dial to connect me with his foreman. And I have Gwen’s phone number—she is the woman who cleans. I don’t feel alone and there is a very good security system in the house.”
Maybe she had done too good a job selling the ranch, because her mother seemed nervous when she said, “Jessica, I don’t want you to fall in love and live out here at the end of the earth.”
Jessica bit back a laugh. “Never fear. I’ll come home to Tennessee. I have my plans and I told him when he hired me that this is temporary. I plan to go home. My family is there and my home is there. I love Tennessee. Besides, I don’t think my new employer is thinking of marriage,” she remarked.
“Well, thank heavens. I’m glad to hear you say that,” her mother said. “Is there a woman in his life?”
“I think there are several of them, but none constantly on the scene right now. Shall we go?”
She led them to the patio, and Ryan stood the moment they stepped outside. He asked what they’d like to drink and took orders. Her dad trailed after Ryan to the nearby bar. “I hear you like to play golf, Mr. Upton,” she heard Ryan say.
Thirty minutes after the arrival of her parents, Ryan was like an old friend. All through dinner and afterward Ryan and her parents chatted. He and her dad exchanged stories, laughing, with Ryan making sure to include her mother in the fun.
She realized Ryan was totally at ease charming them. He was entertaining and an excellent listener. Her dad sat back on a chaise lounge, looking as if he was enjoying the evening. Ryan already had a golf game scheduled with him for the next afternoon and they were all going to church together in the morning. At one point Ryan started to leave so she and her parents could talk alone, but her dad drew him back into the conversation and he didn’t try to go again.
By ten her parents had said good-night, gone to their suite and left her with Ryan.
“You worked a miracle. I am impressed,” she admitted when they were alone. “And my parents are very impressed. They flew out here to talk to me and now I don’t think they care.” She smiled at him with gratitude, pride and a hefty dose of surprise in the mix. “And thank you, but you didn’t have to offer to fly them home in your plane.”
