Craving a Real Texan--A Western romance

by Charlene Sands

  “Thanks. What on earth are you doing?”

  “Well,” he said, sighing in defeat. “I was trying to cook you breakfast.”

  “Really? That’s sweet.”

  “Actually, it was a very bad idea.” He set the spatula down to give her his full attention. Putting out his arms, she walked straight into them. It felt safe there, and right, being cocooned by him, feeling his lips on her hair giving her morning kisses. When she woke up a few minutes ago, she feared he’d left her to sleep in his own room, but instead, she found him here, trying his hand at cooking.

  “It’s never wrong to cook. If you want, I’ll show you how.”

  “You’re willing to teach me?”

  “Sure. I’d love to.”

  “You think you could take me being underfoot all day?” He touched his finger to her mouth, outlining the shape of her lips, parting them with his fingertip.

  She drew his finger into her mouth and suckled. “I think I can handle it.”

  Danger flickered in his eyes. “You are something, angel.” His voice turned husky and deep, like a growl.

  Uh-oh. She backed away from him and the stove, putting a good distance between them. “I can be a devil sometimes. Especially in the...kitchen. So watch out, bud.”

  He tossed his head back and laughed, a good, hearty sound that made her grin, too.

  Then he pulled her into his arms and gave her a good long, punishing kiss that curled her toes and made her beg for breath. When he was through, her heart was pumping hard.

  They broke the embrace simultaneously, staring into each other’s eyes. Something amazing was happening between them. For her, anyway. And she didn’t think she was wrong in assuming for him, too. But no words were spoken between them yet, nothing more than casual conversation and sexy talk.

  Harper didn’t want to be the first to make a big deal of it. To put words to their actions. It was better to ride out this thing between them and see where it went.

  “So, do you want a lesson in the kitchen or not?”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yeah. I want a lesson. Are you gonna tease and tempt me all through the day?”

  She grinned mischievously. “Probably. But only if provoked.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  Harper showed him how to make the perfect omelet, giving him tips all along with way. She taught him how to chop and dice and julienne. And they danced around each other, trying to concentrate, trying not to touch each other, at least until the lesson was through.

  They ate his omelet and drank coffee at the kitchen table as Cade shared some more of his life with her, little anecdotes about growing up a Tremaine. But each time he asked about her life, she had to give him a condensed, measured version, so as not to include the part that included Lily. Or her One Last Date fiasco. She so wanted to be truthful with him and hated the lies. But now was not the right time to come clean. Not when their involvement was just budding. She couldn’t even call it a relationship, it was too soon for that, but her feelings for Cade were growing stronger every day. She couldn’t stop it even if she wanted to.

  “The kitchen’s a mess,” she said after her second cup of coffee. “I’ll clean it up.” She rose to get started, but his arm snaked around her and tugged, and she fell right into his lap. It was like magic how that always seemed to happen.

  “I’ll help,” he said, giving her a dusky, dark-eyed look.

  His cell phone rang, and he grabbed it off the table. “It’s from my sis,” he told her.

  She nodded and bounded up from his lap, her stomach clenching. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice her panic. She made noise while cleaning up the dishes, and he rose and walked into the other room to have a conversation with Lily.

  She was so bad with deceit, she didn’t want to know what they were talking about. She didn’t want to overhear anything that could cause her to slip up with him. She scrubbed and rescrubbed the pans and bowls, taking out her frustration on them. It was almost as good as chopping wood.

  “Hey, you trying to rub the paint right off them?” Cade asked good-naturedly as he strode back into the kitchen.

  “What? Oh no. I like to make sure everything gets really clean.”

  He was behind her and she didn’t turn around, didn’t face him, but continued washing with the same vigor.

  He picked up a kitchen towel and began drying the pots and pans. “You don’t have to do that,” she said, putting on her personal chef hat. “It’s my job.”

  “I made this mess, I’m damn sure gonna help you clean it up.”

  There was no point arguing. Cade had a stubborn streak, and a keen sense of duty, she was learning.

  “Okay.”

  “That was my sister. She was just checking in. Making sure I’m being a good boy, eating my peas and carrots. I told her you were a fantastic cook, and I’ve never been more relaxed. I’ve hardly thought about work lately.”

  She nodded, keeping her head down. “Is that true?” she asked softly.

  Cade wrapped the kitchen towel around her waist and grasped the ends in one hand to bring her to face him. “Yes, it’s true. And it’s because of you.”

  “Me?” She started shaking her head. “Because of...”

  “That part’s great, Dawn. Don’t get me wrong. I mean it, I love being with you that way. But it’s also because you made me see how empty my life was before. How I let my grief take hold of me.”

  “I’m no expert, but I think grieving is actually healthy for the soul. But at some point you need to get over it.”

  He began nodding, looking at her like she’d accomplished some great feat. “Because of you, I’ve been hiking, foraging, taking the boat out, learning how to cook. It’s like I can breathe again.”

  She didn’t want the praise. She didn’t want any credit. She didn’t deserve it. “You would’ve done all those things without me.”

  “No, I wouldn’t, Dawn. I know I wouldn’t.” He spoke her name softly, with reverence, as if she was a good woman instead of a fraud.

  She was trapped by the dish towel, searching the depths of his dark, beautiful eyes. Trapped by his charm, his honesty, his strength. And in that moment, she knew. She was in love with him. Deeply, crazily, stupidly in love with him.

  He was the perfect guy. And she was a grossly imperfect girl.

  But it didn’t seem to matter. Because what she was feeling wasn’t going away. She loved him. She loved Cade Tremaine. He was her one last date, whether she wanted it that way or not.

  “Dawn? Are you okay? You’re blinking like crazy. Got something in your eyes?”

  He stared at her, concern on his face.

  “No, I’m...f-fine.”

  He was thoughtful for a while. “If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t speak of it again. I don’t want to do anything to upset you.”

  “You couldn’t,” she said truthfully.

  “I like that you have that much faith in me.” He pulled on the dish towel and brought her up close, so no space divided them. The feel of his rock-solid chest made her lose her train of thought. Goodness, they’d made love twice last night, and it’d been amazing both times, but this morning, just a touch, a kiss, had her wanting more. She couldn’t tell him she loved him, but she could show him.

  “In you, yes. But not in your rummy skills.”

  He laughed. “Is that a challenge?”

  “For later maybe,” she said.

  “Do you have work to do?” He appeared disappointed.

  “No, yes. But honestly, Cade.” She rose up on tiptoes, licked at his delicious lips, giving him a mind-blowing kiss. Then she whispered, “The only thing I want to do right now is you.”

  Cade looked shocked for a second, then he grinned. “Aw shucks, angel. I really wanted to play cards.” Then he took her hand and led her u
p the stairs and into his bedroom.

  * * *

  Cade lay on the bed alone, looking out the window at the flourishing spring scenery. He was in a happy place, the happiest he’d been in a long while. And it was strange that when he was with Dawn, he didn’t feel guilty—he didn’t feel that same powerful grief that ate away at him.

  After they’d made love this morning, they’d dozed off in each other’s arms, and now it was approaching the afternoon. Whiling away the time had never been his style, but doing nothing with Dawn was better than doing something with anyone else. His work, the office and all the problems he fixed on a daily basis were what had driven him lately and kept him sane. But not here, not with Dawn. He didn’t need those things right now.

  With his arms behind his head, he sighed, realizing he’d come to a conclusion. All he needed was her.

  The door to the shower clicked open, and he imagined his dark-haired beauty stepping inside and soaping up. Immediately, his body reacted, everything going tight and hard below the waist. He couldn’t seem to get enough of Dawn, and lucky him, she seemed to feel the same way about him.

  He rose from the bed and strode across the room, entering the bathroom. The glass shower door was too fogged up for him to see anything more than her outline, so he opened the door a tad and peeked in.

  “Cade,” she said. “You scared me.”

  “Sorry.” But he wasn’t, not really. She was covered in tiny soap bubbles, her body glistening under the spray. “But I was thinking I need a shower, too. Want some company?”

  He’d never tire of seeing her naked. She had two perfectly round butt cheeks, just enough for him to hold in his palms, a waist he could practically wrap both hands around, breasts that were full and just slightly elongated. Perfect.

  “What took you so long, sleepyhead? I didn’t think you’d ever wake up.”

  She had a sassy mouth on her, too, that kept him on his toes. “In about a minute, you’ll think it was worth the wait.”

  He pulled open the door and stepped inside. Hot, steaming water rained down on him, and it felt like heaven on earth. He grabbed the soap out of her hands and turned her away from him, making soap bubbles of his own on her shoulders, her back and then lower, to foam up her beautiful rear end, cupping her cheeks and soaping them, making her sigh restlessly. He came up behind her and reached around to cleanse her breasts, his hands lifting those firm globes and washing them with infinite care.

  “Cade,” she moaned and turned in his arms.

  “Under a minute,” he whispered.

  “I know. You’re kinda hard to resist,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  He smiled. If she only knew how much he wanted her. How hard she was to resist. In a matter of just a few days, he’d come to think this woman was his angel. His savior.

  She took the soap from him and lathered him up, kissing the places she touched. And then she was soaping him below the waist, her hands working magic on him, stroking him until he was about ready to combust. She was relentless in her quest, and when she replaced her hands with her mouth, Cade couldn’t hold on any longer. He couldn’t deal with the pleasure she was delivering with her mouth, her tongue.

  He stopped her just in time and then lifted her up and carried her out of the shower, quickly drying them off and taking her back to bed. There, he sheathed himself with protection and brought her to the brink, again and again, until both were breathless, sated and spent.

  Six

  Harper spent the next few days teaching Cade to cook, hiking and boating with him. She was in total sync with the universe, enjoying every second with Cade, every minute they spent in bed and out. In their ongoing rummy game, she was up forty games to his thirty-eight, and she loved teasing him about losing to her. He had a competitive nature and it irked him every time she won. And if she got on a winning streak, the devil in him would distract her with his kisses. One time he actually stopped the game entirely to carry her into the bedroom and make love to her, she believed to end her winning streak. But neither of them minded the interruption. They were hungry for each other morning, noon and night. And when they’d pick up the cards again, each one would go right back into killer mode.

  Right now, Harper had a winning hand. She laid her cards on the kitchen table. “Read ’em and weep,” she said. “I win again.”

  “Damn.” Cade tossed his cards down. “I was so close.”

  “Sorry,” she said, grinning. She could hardly believe she’d been with Cade one full week. The time seemed to slip by so quickly, and she had no idea how long he planned to stay. How long they’d go on like this, in their own private, sheltered world. Technically, she was here to cook for him for as long as he needed. Lily had mentioned ten days to two weeks, but Cade made no mention of when he planned to return to Juliet County. He also made no mention of his feelings for her. Oh, he was full of compliments, and that made her ego soar. He told her she was beautiful, a talented chef and a kick-ass competitor. But he never spoke of the future. He never mentioned them having a real relationship.

  She was in limbo. And part of her was wary of where she’d end up. But another part of her was too darn happy to worry about what would happen next. She was enjoying the here and now way too much.

  “My deal,” she said, scooping up the cards on the table.

  “Hey, uh, Dawn?”

  “Hmm, what?” She shuffled the deck.

  “I think I’m ready.”

  She stopped shuffling and gazed into his dark eyes. “Ready?”

  “To cook for you. I want to make you dinner tonight.”

  “Really?” She smiled, noting confidence in his expression as he waited for her reaction. “I’d love that.”

  He touched her face, stroking his thumb along the line of her jaw. “Thanks for not telling me I’m not ready.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss. She loved how when he ended a kiss, he gently tugged on her lower lip with his own lips, as if he wanted to taste every last morsel of her.

  “This isn’t your way of distracting me, is it?”

  “No. Maybe. No,” he said finally. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”

  “What, may I ask, are you making for me tonight?”

  “Braised short ribs, with riced potatoes and creamed asparagus tips.”

  “Wow. I’m impressed. You’re shooting for the fences, aren’t you?”

  “Go big or go home,” he said, grinning. “How about we end the game for now? I’ve got some shopping to do. Wanna come?” He rose from the table.

  “Shopping for food is my second-favorite thing to do.” Then as he loomed above her, she took in his long, sturdy, muscular body, a body she’d become familiar with in the most primal of ways. A body that stole her breath and made her heart race. “Uh, make that my third-favorite thing to do.” She lifted off her seat. “Sure, I’ll go with you. And don’t you dare ask me what those three things are. You already know.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, gripping her rear end with both hands and squeezing gently. A reminder of his sexual prowess, she supposed. But it was working. Every time he touched her, it worked. “I would love to know what position I’m in, though, first, second or third?”

  She smiled and backed away from him, giving him a look that said, drop it, bud. “We have shopping to do. Ready?”

  He nodded, getting the hint. “It’s a nice day. Wanna walk to the market?”

  “I’m always up for a walk.”

  The weather was warming up lately, getting up in the mideighties. They hadn’t had a fire in the fireplace for the past two nights, and as she stepped outside wearing her usual disguise of a ball cap and sunglasses, the sun’s warmth cascaded down on her.

  Cade took her hand, and they navigated the two-lane road leading to the store. Harper noticed more cars along the road, more people out walking. It was May and, she sup
posed, vacation time for students who’d already finished their spring semester. Maybe some folks were taking early vacations to beat the summer rush.

  They entered a busier-than-usual Bright Market and scanned the shelves, grabbing what Cade needed for dinner. She helped pick out the best cut of meat and suggested some fresh herbs for the dish. As she was rounding an aisle, a girl who was on her cell phone bumped into her, knocking into her shoulders extremely hard. Harper’s sunglasses flew off, and she came face-to-face with the girl and her two friends. All three appeared to be college-aged. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” the girl who bumped her said.

  “It’s okay. Just maybe next time don’t look at your phone when you’re shopping.” It came out harsher than she intended. But one of her good friends in culinary school had lost her mother due to a distracted driver, so it was a sensitive subject.

  The girl’s mouth twisted. “And next time maybe take your shades off when you’re in the store.”

  The other two girls were staring at her. Rather than make a big deal out of it, she reached down to pick up her glasses and scrambled to put them back on. Which must’ve looked weird, since she really didn’t need them on in the store and the girl had called her out on it. “I’ve had eye surgery recently,” she fibbed. “Can’t be exposed to light.”

  The girl who’d bumped her gave her an odd look and then the three took off, whispering and looking back at her. It was probably nothing, but a queasy feeling gnawed in the pit of her stomach, and she was suddenly chilled to the bone.

  “Everything all right?” Cade came over and put a hand on her shoulder.

  “Everything’s fine. Just some snarky girls. No big deal.”

  “You sure? You seemed rattled.”

  “I’m...fine, Cade.” She plastered on a smile and gazed down at his shopping cart. “Have everything you need?”