His chest rose and fell as he sighed deeply. “The truth?”
“Yes, please.”
“You intrigue me, Abby. My personal life has been pretty boring for the last year and a half. The pool of available romantic partners in Royal—for someone like me who has always lived here—is finite. You’re new and different, and I wanted to spend time with you.”
Her stomach flipped. Here was an übermasculine man, not a boy, stating unequivocally that he was interested. What was she going to do about that?
“Does this mean you’re willing to let me film you at your ranch?”
He winced. “I’m still debating.”
“So, what you’re dangling is carte blanche as a videographer if I consent to get better acquainted with you?”
He grimaced. “This isn’t a negotiation. One has nothing to do with the other.”
“Well, if you let me film you, we’ll be spending lots of time together.”
“I’m not interested in being cast as some token rancher for your viewers. I am who I am. It’s nothing exotic.”
“For a city dweller, this lifestyle you’ve chosen has a certain je ne sais quoi.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” he grumbled. “There’s nothing romantic and exciting about sweat and dirt and cows.”
“Familiarity breeds contempt. You don’t see yourself as an outsider would.”
He shot her a look. “I thought you were doing a documentary about Soiree on the Bay.”
“I am. But I’m beginning to realize that the town of Royal and the Texas Cattleman’s Club may be as much or more interesting than a music festival that hasn’t even happened yet. You see, I’ve picked up a lot from Lila about how things work around Maverick County. I’m still after the human interest angle.”
“Well, good luck with that.”
Carter pulled off onto the side of the road. He reached across her lap and opened the glove box. “Here. If I’m putting the top down, you’ll need this.”
This was a narrow silk scarf, clearly expensive. It was deep amber scattered with tiny navy fleur-de-lis. When he leaned close, Abby inhaled his scent. Probably whatever he had shaved with that morning. Lime... And a hint of something else.
Her pulse beat faster. It was a relief when he straightened.
She pulled her hair to the nape of her neck and secured the ponytail with the scarf, knotting it tightly. The wind would still do a number on the loose ends, but she didn’t mind that.
She watched as Carter hit the button and made sure the top retracted slowly. Then he climbed back into the driver’s seat and gave her a grin that caused her knees to quiver. “Ready?”
Abby nodded, her heart beating more quickly than the moment warranted. “Hit the pedal, cowboy.”
The next hour took on a surreal quality. The open road. The wind in her face. The man beside her. With a sigh, Abby leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes. Clearly, there was more to Carter than she’d first thought. This busy, successful rancher who was willing to blow a whole day chasing down a woman who might or might not sleep with him had layers. Interesting layers. Irresistible layers.
Texas roads were straight and flat, and Carter drove with confidence. Never once did Abby have any qualms about her safety. For the first time, she understood the appeal of a fast, sexy car and an adventurous man behind the wheel.
When they arrived in Royal, she was windblown but content. She touched Carter lightly, her fingertips registering his muscular forearm and warm skin. “I’m hungry,” she admitted. “So dinner sounds great. But I should change first.”
He eased into a parking spot and turned to face her. His blue eyes reflected the sky. “Only if you want to. Your dress is beautiful.” He paused. “And so are you.” His gaze roved from her face to her breasts and back up to her eyes, making her shiver despite the heat.
Her throat tightened. Were all cowboys so direct? She licked her lips, telling herself they were dry from the hot summer breeze. “Um...thank you. But I’d feel more comfortable if I could shower and change.”
“Whatever you want. It’s still early. An hour and a half? I’ll make a reservation at Sheen. It’s a newer restaurant. I think you’ll like it.”
“How dressy?”
“Anything similar to what you’re wearing.”
At the hotel, Carter pulled up under the portico and they both got out of the car. He retrieved her belongings from the back seat. “I’ll run out to the ranch and be back to pick you up around six thirty.” Casually, he kissed her cheek. “See you soon, Abby.”
She stood and watched as he gunned the engine and sped away around the corner.
In the elevator, she barely recognized her reflection in the mirrored glass. Her cheeks glowed with a deep rosy hue. Slowly, her smile faded.
She was getting off track. She had come to Royal to make a documentary and get her career on solid footing. Flirting with a sexy rancher wasn’t on the list.
Even so, as she showered, washed her hair and changed into another dress, nothing could block Carter from her thoughts. Or erase the feel of his hot lips burning against her skin.
He was dangerous. Why would she get involved with a man, even temporarily, whose worldview was so different from hers?
She would have to tread carefully. Needing him for her documentary was one thing. Tumbling into his bed was another entirely.
Four
Going home to the ranch was a mistake. Too many people needed to ask Carter too many questions. By the time he escaped the inquisition, showered and changed, he barely had enough time to make it back into town to pick up Abby at her hotel at the appointed hour.
As he drove to get her, he thought about the day. He’d had fun. Honestly, that was never high on his list these days. Responsibility, yes. Hard work, definitely. But fun? Not really.
Abby made him want things. Lots of things. Sex, of course. She was real and beautiful, and he couldn’t deny the powerful attraction. But it was more than that. She represented a time in his life when he still had choices. At her age, he’d been actively working on the ranch, but had still entertained the idea that he might ultimately do something other than be a rancher.
Unfortunately, his dad had suffered a heart attack when Carter was twenty-five, and soon after, his life was mapped out for him. He hadn’t minded. He loved the ranch. But it had been a shock to go from his carefree postcollege days to being the top dog.
And then there was the whole thing with Madeline. His gut clenched. He’d been wrong about her. So wrong. Was Abby too much like his ex-fiancée? Did he have a type? Was he setting himself up for embarrassment and hurt again?
The unpleasant thought was one he didn’t want to dwell on, especially since his libido was firmly in the driver’s seat. He shoved the past into a locked box where it belonged and concentrated on the evening ahead.
Abby met him in the lobby. She had changed into another sexy outfit, this one more sophisticated, but no less flattering. The sleeveless, knee-length dress was white jersey knit. It clung to her body in ways that probably should be outlawed in the presence of red-blooded males. The bodice plunged in a deep vee, where a gold necklace dangled. Again, her shoulders were bare, her hair was loose and she wore white espadrilles with three-inch cork heels. The laces crisscrossed around her ankles.
He closed the distance between them. “You look amazing,” he said. When he kissed her cheek lightly, she seemed flustered.
The restaurant wasn’t far away. Over dinner, they spoke of less personal topics. Abby was funny and smart and well-informed. He should have expected that from a woman who spent time on both coasts. She might only be twenty-four, but she had grown up in a privileged atmosphere with a top-notch education.
Carter liked the fact that she challenged him. The conversation was stimulating and wide-ranging. She kept him on his toes. And under
neath their back-and-forth was a slow, molten sexual awareness.
He knew it was too soon to sleep with her. He thought she wanted him, but a man needed to be sure. On the other hand, maybe he could speed things along with a little cooperation.
Over dessert, he played his best card. “I’ve decided I’m willing to let you do some filming at the ranch, within reason. How about coming over for lunch tomorrow?”
Abby wrinkled her nose. “I’m glad to hear that, but I already have plans. Lila has arranged for me to sit in on a meeting of the advisory board for the festival. I think we’ll be at the Texas Cattleman’s Club.”
“Ah.” Now he was really frustrated.
“I could come the next day,” she said, perhaps reading his mood. Big brown eyes focused on him intently. She reached across the table and patted his hand. “I appreciate the invitation, Carter. Really, I do. But this meeting is important.”
“Of course it is,” he replied. “I understand.”
“May I make a personal observation?” she asked quietly.
He stared at her, trying to read her thoughts. His fingers itched to tangle in her hair, to pull her closer and press his lips to hers. To hold her and trace the curves of her body beneath that soft, clingy dress. “Personal?” The word came out a little hoarse.
Abby nodded. “If you don’t mind.”
So polite. So incredibly enticing.
“Sure,” he said. “I have no secrets.”
When she swallowed, the muscles in her slender throat moved visibly. For the first time, he realized she was not as calm as he had imagined. “I get the feeling,” she said, “that you want to sleep with me. Am I way off base?”
After nearly choking on his tongue, he found his voice. “Are you always so direct?” Her question rattled him.
“I don’t play games, if that’s what you mean. Most men and women make things too complicated.”
“What happens if I say yes?”
“Well...” She stared at her hands clasped on the white linen tablecloth. “I’d probably explain that it’s too soon.” She looked up at him from beneath her lashes.
His breathing hitched. “So, you’re saying there is a hypothetical date that might not be too soon?”
Her smile was slow and mysterious. “Precisely. I like you, Carter. A lot. But there are things to consider.”
“Such as?” He would bat them all down one by one.
“I’ve never in my life slept with a man I’ve known only two days. Or two weeks for that matter.”
He felt his advantage slipping. “Is there a but in there?”
“Not really. The problem is, you and I have nothing in common, and I’m only going to be in Royal for a limited time. I don’t know if I’m willing to do short-term with you. It might be better to settle for flirting and friendship.”
“Nope,” he said, scowling. “Not a choice. I have friends, Abby. You don’t fall into that category.”
“Acquaintances then? Or business associates?”
Was she taunting him? The fact that he wasn’t sure frustrated him. Or maybe it was the need pulsing in his gut. “I don’t have to label anything, Abby. We’ll be who we are. If that leads to sex, I’m all for it.”
* * *
Abby trembled. Had she ever met a man who was so earthy and civilized at the same time? Carter wasn’t rude or crass, but he took no pains to hide his sexual desire. For her. She was both flattered and intimidated. Could she hold her own with so much testosterone? Carter was a man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t shy about going for it.
She suspected that a woman in his bed would find incredible pleasure. And she wanted him. No question. Still, sex and men had been tripping up women for millennia.
In her adult life, she had been disappointed by a few guys. She’d misjudged a couple of others. Not once had she faced heartbreak. Maybe that said something about her tolerance for risk. She always calculated the odds for success in any situation.
Carter Crane might turn out to be her weak spot. The strength of her desire for him was enough to make her put on the brakes. It would be dangerous and indulgent to embark on an affair when she was in the midst of a possibly career-changing project.
“Fair enough,” she said. “No labels. No clock. No expectations.”
His grin was tight. “I’m expecting plenty, gorgeous. But you’ll have to make the call. Agreed?”
She nodded, her stomach fluttery. “Agreed.”
“Dessert?”
“Yes, please.”
Because looking at Carter was making her rethink her sensible approach, she scanned the restaurant. It was beautiful, made almost entirely of glass. An interested patron could observe a chef at work or track the sunset.
Sheen was hugely popular, not only because it was new, but because the food was spectacular. Every table was full. Over strawberry crepes slathered in real whipped cream, she eyed her dinner companion. Although earlier he had tried to convince her she didn’t need to change for the evening, she was glad she had.
It was true that some diners had come in casual attire, but at least three-quarters of the men and women around them were dressed in what Abby would call special occasion clothes. The clientele ranged from the occasional high school couple on a date, to clusters of business associates, to folks like Carter and Abby enjoying a night out.
She was sad to see the evening end. Being with the ruggedly handsome rancher made her feel alive and intensely feminine in a way that was novel and exciting. Still, she was cautious. He could coax her into bed with little effort on his part. That knowledge was sobering.
If she wasn’t ready for such a rash decision, she needed to limit her exposure to him.
She licked the last dab of whipped cream off her spoon and set it on her plate with an inward sigh of appreciation for the pastry chef’s expertise. “I should probably get back to the hotel. I still have some prep work to do for my lunch meeting tomorrow.”
Carter’s face was oddly expressionless. “Of course.” He dealt with the check and then escorted her between tables to the front door.
The night was perfect. A summer moon. A light breeze. Unfortunately, the trip back to the hotel was quick. Carter parked the convertible just around the corner from the main entrance beneath a dim streetlight. He’d kept the top up this time.
She jumped out, bent on escaping her own wants and needs. Carter met her on the sidewalk and put a hand on her wrist. “A good-night kiss? Or is that too much to ask...”
Her legs trembled. “I’d like that,” she said.
When his lips covered hers, it was like jumping off a cliff into unknown waters. Her stomach shot to her throat and dropped again, leaving her woozy and breathless.
He held her with confidence. One big male hand settled on the curve of her ass. She made a small noise, somewhere between a whimper and a moan, when he pulled her more tightly into his embrace. Her arms curled around his neck.
His body was hard everywhere hers was soft. She smelled the scent of his skin, trying to memorize it. How had she known from almost the first moment that he was the one? Not the one as in gold rings and white picket fences, but the one who could reveal everything she had kept tightly furled inside her.
Carter’s reckless passion burned through her inhibitions, her ironclad caution. They were on a public street just off the central thoroughfare, somewhat secluded this time of night, but in plain view of anyone who might happen by. Truthfully, he could have taken her against the hood of the car, and she might not have protested.
When she felt the urgent press of his erection against her abdomen, she knew one of them had to keep a clear head.
Though it pained her to do so, she put a hand against his chest and pushed. “Carter...”
To his credit, he released her immediately.
They faced each other in the shadow
y illumination from overhead.
“Do I need to apologize?” he asked gruffly.
It was impossible to read his expression. “No. Not at all. Thank you for dinner. I enjoyed our evening. And thank you for driving me home this afternoon from the island. I’m touched that you gave up an entire day for me.”
He shook his head slowly, his jawline grim. “I’m beginning to think I’d do just about anything for you. Which makes you a dangerous woman.”
She traced his chin with a fingertip, feeling the late-day stubble. “I like that. No one’s ever called me dangerous before.”
“You don’t have a clue...”
Was he feeding her a line? Spinning a tale of a man made vulnerable by sex? How could she believe that?
She knew she was attractive in a casual, understated way. The male sex responded to her. But she was no femme fatale, luring unsuspecting men into reckless behavior. That was a ludicrous notion.
Still, she wanted to trust his words, wanted to believe that he felt the same urgent pull she did. Pheromones were a powerful thing. That didn’t mean she and Carter were kindred spirits. It only meant they wanted to jump each other’s bones.
With reluctance, she made herself step back. “Good night, Carter.”
His eyes glittered. “Good night, Abby.”
Turning her back on him as she walked away felt risky, but she had to get inside.
“I’ll make sure you get to the door,” he said, following her at a short distance.
“It’s only a few steps.” She picked up the pace.
“A gentleman doesn’t drop a lady on a street corner.”
By the time Abby made it to the portico where the doorman stood, her heart was pounding. Carter had lingered on the sidewalk. She felt his gaze on her back as she headed for the double glass doors.
She wanted badly to turn around. But she kept on walking...
* * *
After a remarkably peaceful night, given her jumbled thoughts and feelings, Abby awoke ready to meet the day. She was determined to focus on her job and not the enigmatic Carter Crane.
Texas Tough Page 4
