“Are you ready to go?” she asked.
“I am. I need to get home anyway. I have a client coming in the morning.”
“For one of your horses?”
“Yes,” he said but didn’t move, just kept those sapphire blue eyes on her.
“All right,” she whispered but didn’t move either.
She watched him push off from the table, saunter to her, and stop in front of her. He cupped her face in his hands, leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers. When she opened to him, his hands moved down to her waist. He moved them around her back and slid his hands down to her ass and squeezed it. He lifted his lips from hers and stared down into her eyes.
“Can I see you Friday?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
“You have to work Saturday, don’t you?”
“I do but I’m only open until one, so we can get together after that if you’d like.”
“Oh, I would like. How about I pick you up around three on Saturday then?”
“Pick me up?”
“Yes, ma’am. You said you’d be willing to try riding. How about Sunday?”
“You’re not making sense here, Holt. Is it Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?”
A grin lifted his lips. “All three. We can go to dinner on Friday night. I’ll pick you up on Saturday then we can go riding on Sunday.”
“Do you want me to come to your house on Sunday?” She frowned not understanding what it was he had planned.
“No, I’m hoping you’ll already be there.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. Is that a yes oh, or a no oh?”
She snickered. “A no oh?” She wasn’t going to make it too easy for him.
“Okay, smartass. Will you spend the night Saturday?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Perfect. Come on, let me walk you home then I’ll get going. I know you have to get up early, and so do I. Friday can’t get here soon enough.”
They walked out of the bakery, and she locked the door then he took her hand in his, and together, they headed down the sidewalk.
“It’s getting colder,” she said, pulling her sweater tight around her and wished she’d brought a light jacket instead, but she smiled when he put his arm around her and pulled her close.
“It won’t take us long to get to your apartment.”
“Do you want a cup of coffee before you go?”
“No, thanks…because if I come in, I won’t want to leave, and we both have to be up early.”
She nodded, but she’d been hoping they could try out the couch.
“It’ll be that much sweeter by Saturday when you spend the night,” he leaned down and whispered in her ear, making her shiver.
“You’re right.” She just hoped it would go much different this time.
They walked through the parking lot of the diner, around the back, and up the metal steps. At the door, he gave her a quick kiss.
“Go on in and lock the door.”
“Yes, sir.” She saluted.
He shook his head. “What have I gotten myself into?”
Sloane laughed, stood on her toes, and kissed his chin.
“I’ll see you Friday night.”
“Yes, you will. I’ll call the bakery one day this week to let you know what time the reservations are for sure. Goodnight.”
“Night,” Sloane said, entered the apartment, closed the door, and turned the locks. He was right. Friday couldn’t get here soon enough.
Chapter Five
Saturday afternoon, Holt climbed the stairs leading to her apartment then stood on the stoop and knocked on the door. He heard the locks turning, then the door opened, and she stood there smiling at him.
“Hi there, cowboy. Come on in,” Sloane said as she pushed the door open wider for him to enter. She wore a black turtleneck sweater that hugged her curves, jeans, cowboy boots, and he wanted her more than his next breath.
Last night had been pure torture for him since he’d had to take her home after dinner. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to have sex in the back of his truck but he had to drive her home since she had to be up so early. He leaned down, kissed her lips, removed his hat, and entered the apartment.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, just let me get my suitcase.”
“Suitcase?” He raised his eyebrows as if surprised.
“Uh, yes, you wanted me to pack a suitcase, didn’t you?”
“No.”
“Oh, I thought you said you wanted me to spend the night,” she said in a low tone of voice as if embarrassed and disappointed.
Holt couldn’t let it go on. He grabbed her, pulled her close, and kissed her lips. “I’m teasing, darlin’. Except you didn’t need to pack a suitcase since I want to have you naked all weekend.”
He laughed when she punched his arm.
“You’re so bad, Holt.”
He placed his lips on her neck. “I want to be so bad with you, Sloane. Let’s go.”
She kissed his jaw then turned to get her overnight bag, but he took it from her.
“Just let me make sure everything is off, and I’ll be ready.”
“Get your coat on too. It’s damn cold out now. Snow is due tomorrow.”
“Really?”
She looked like an excited child on Christmas morning, and he couldn’t stop the grin when he nodded. He watched her walk to the hall tree by the door and take her coat down. He stepped forward to help her with her coat. She smiled up at him then pulled her beanie out of the pocket of her jacket and down over her head. It was green and made her eyes appear even more so. He couldn’t stop the grin as he looked at the fuzzy ball on top of the knit cap.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered right before he took her lips in a deep kiss. When she sucked on his tongue, he thought about her sucking his…nope. Don’t go there. He slowly raised his lips and stared into her eyes. “I can’t wait to get you to the house.”
“Same here.” She gave him a quick kiss, and he grinned.
When he thought about how he’d almost fucked this up, he could kick his own ass. He jerked his chin for her to head out the door, she smiled at him and picked up her purse, walked to the door, and opened it.
“Go ahead on out. Hand me your keys, and I’ll lock the door behind us. Is everything off?”
“Yeah, I made sure about thirty times.”
He chuckled, locked the door, took her hand, and helped her down the steps then to his truck. He opened the passenger door for her, held her hand while she climbed in then he opened the back door and set her suitcase inside. Taking a deep breath, he shoved the door closed, made sure hers was secure then strode around the front of the truck, opened the door, and climbed in. He looked over to see her shivering.
“It’ll be warm in a minute. It didn’t have time to get cooled down too much.”
“I’m fr-fr-freezing.”
He bit back a grin. “Get used to it if you’re staying in Clifton.”
“If I’m staying? I just bought a bakery,” she said then her teeth chattered.
He started the truck, turned the heat up, and drove out of the alley to head for Main Street.
“I’m happy to hear that you’re staying. If this doesn’t warm you up, I’ll make sure to make you plenty warm when I get you home.”
“Oooh, can’t wait.”
“Tease,” Holt muttered, making her laugh.
****
Sloane glanced over at Holt to see a grin playing around his lips. He looked so sexy. His black cowboy hat sat low on his forehead, his sheepskin coat hung open, his jeans were faded, well-worn cowboy boots were on his feet, and his gloved hands gripped the steering wheel.
“You look like the Marlboro man,” she said.
“Do you have fantasies about the Marlboro man?” He glanced at her then back to the road.
“I will now.”
Holt barked out a laugh. “Well, my fantasy is you.”
“Nice
, Holt. You know exactly what to say. Will you make a fire?”
“All I need to do is set a match to it.”
“I love fireplaces. They’re so romantic, and you have one in your bedroom. How sexy is that?”
“I put one in all of the rooms, and I hate to burst your bubble but it was for necessity, not romance.”
“You could have fibbed about it.”
“All right. I put it in there because I wanted to have sex in front of it on a bearskin rug.”
“I don’t remember seeing a bearskin rug.”
“We’ll improvise.” He gave her a sly wink.
“Deal.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Who knew you were easy?”
“Not me,” she said with a laugh.
Sloane looked through the windshield to see snow flurries blowing in front of the truck and sat forward to watch them.
“It just started, and I can tell it’s going to stick. It’s cold enough today to keep the roads from warming up. Snow will stick to the cold surfaces.”
“I hope I can get home tomorrow.” She nibbled on her bottom lip beginning to think staying overnight might be a problem.
“I don’t.”
She whipped her head to look at him, but he turned his face away and she couldn’t see if he was teasing or not.
“I have to go to work Monday, Holt.”
“Darlin’, if this does stick and I think it will then the roads will be bad. If the roads are bad tomorrow, you’re not going anywhere and trust me, everyone else will be staying indoors too. The diner is about the only place, other than hospitals and police, to stay open when there’s bad weather, and even Connie doesn’t do it all the time.”
“I just don’t want to disappoint anyone. My first week was fantastic, and I know a lot of them will be back.”
“Of course, they will, but they’ll also understand. Most of them have lived here their entire lives. They get it.”
“I don’t think I’d be disappointed being snowed in with you, but we won’t be going horseback riding, and I was looking forward to it.”
“Sure, we can. It’s great riding in the snow. Besides, you can always ride me.”
“Oh, my God! You are bad, Holt James.”
“Darlin’, I’m very good when I’m bad.” Then he gave a low groan and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. You just seem to bring it out in me.”
“It’s fine. I can give as good as I get.”
Holt laughed. “Looking forward to that.”
She shook her head, and they rode the rest of the way in silence until he turned into the driveway leading to his home. She was suddenly incredibly nervous. Why she was, she had no idea but the butterflies in her belly were all over the place. She placed a hand on her stomach to try to calm them, but they were too flighty even to try to slow them down.
“Relax,” he said quietly.
“How did you know?”
“Your breathing. It sounded like you were starting to hyperventilate.”
She blew out a breath. “I think I am.”
“Nothing will ever happen that you don’t want to. I promise you that. I’m not going to attack you once I get you in the house. We have the rest of today, all of tonight, and tomorrow, so just relax. We can watch some TV, get something to eat, then see where it goes.”
“Okay. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I mean, we’ve been together before.”
“Maybe because I was a jerk after the first time,” he muttered.
“But we’re past that, Holt.”
“Are we?”
She wanted to believe she was but maybe there was a bit of doubt. No, she wouldn’t let doubt ruin this. “I am, really. I won’t lie, it hurt but I understand.”
“Christ, I hope so, Sloane. I was a real jackass.”
“Yeah, you were.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing when he turned his head to look at her. The laughter bubbled out, and she laughed harder when he growled low in his throat then he chuckled.
“Okay, I deserved that,” he said with a laugh.
“What’s for dinner?”
“I put a couple of steaks out, and I’ll nuke some potatoes with them. Does that sound okay?”
“Yes, I love steak.”
“I think I might have some stuff for salads too.”
“Sounds good.”
Sloane couldn’t understand why she was so nervous unless it was like he said, he’d been a jerk after the first time. She wasn’t sure she could go through that again. If he hurt her again, it would be the last time. She was no fool, and she’d already been one for Doug, and that still stung. Not that she was hurt by it anymore. It was more the fact that he had made a fool out of her. She hoped karma bit him in the ass. Sloane had a feeling that Candy would not be the faithful type, and she’d be happy to hear her breaking Doug’s heart like he had Sloane’s. Payback was a bitch.
“What are you thinking?” Holt asked her.
“About how I hope karma bites Doug in the ass.”
“What goes around comes around. Don’t worry. He’ll get his.”
“I hope so. I’m not a vindictive person, but he made a fool of me. I can’t believe it had been going on for two years before I found out.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. To think it had been going on since Candy started working there two years ago made her madder than a wet hen.
“We’re all a little unforgiving, especially over something like that. He’s a fool. I bet his secretary is a blonde bombshell who has no clue as to how to do the job, just the boss.”
“Nailed it. She’s tall, statuesque, and all of twenty-four. Boobs out to here.” She held her hands out in front of her. “He told me when he hired her, she had no experience but she had to start somewhere. Who knew he meant on top of his desk?”
“He’s the fool. Not you. He had a good woman and fucked it up. As I said before, his loss is my gain.” He glanced over to her and smiled, making her laugh.
When he drove up to the house, she started to relax. They’d been here before, and she knew it wouldn’t end as it had the last time. She hoped anyway. She wanted to enjoy the weekend and watch the snow. It was going to get deep by the looks of the snow coming off the Glaciers in the distance.
“Those mountains are so gorgeous,” she said.
“They’re a good weather predictor. If you can’t see the tops of them in the winter, it’s snow, and it’s coming this way.”
“Deidra told me the same thing. We all love the snow though. I’m glad they talked me into coming up here.”
“Not as glad as I am, darlin’. I also think your bakery is going to be a big hit. As Connie said, everyone missed it when Celeste’s closed.”
“Well, it got a little less hectic later in the week. People finally realized if they didn’t take a number, they didn’t get waited on.”
Holt chuckled. “Good. You have to keep them in line.”
“Oh, I will.”
“I do not doubt that.”
“I suppose I’ll have to keep you in line too, Holt James.” She frowned. “Is Holt short for anything?”
“Holton. My parents are the only ones who call me by my given name.”
Holton. Oh, she liked that. She liked him. She just hoped she didn’t get her heart broken again. Doug had hurt her so much that she never wanted to take a chance again but after being with Holt, she was having second thoughts. Maybe there was love in her future.
The fact that she ended up in bed with him so fast still shocked her. Doug was the only man she’d ever been with, and now she wished she would have had a little more experience before she married him because he certainly lacked in the technique. That bimbo could have him. Maybe she could teach him a few things.
“Ready?”
“Yes.”
Holt nodded, stopped the truck by the back door, then looked over at her.
“I hope you get snowed in with me,” he said in a low tone of voice.
�
��I do too,” she whispered and stared into his eyes then watched as a slow smile lifted those sexy lips. She wanted him. Now.
“Let’s go inside.”
“All right.” She opened her door, stepped out, and waited at the front of the truck for him.
He opened the back door then appeared beside her with her suitcase.
“I should just leave this in the truck.”
“And what would I wear?” She smiled.
“I’d love to see you in nothing but my T-shirt.”
“All right.” She laughed when he groaned.
“And you call me bad,” he muttered.
Sloane grinned up at him. He lowered his head, kissed her then took her hand in his. They wiped their feet on the mat at the door then he led her inside. As soon as they entered, Buddy ran to them. Sloane kneeled to rub his ears and laughed when he tried to lick her face.
“I don’t want your kisses,” she said as she tried to push him away.
“I hope you never tell me that,” Holt said as he removed his coat then helped her up.
She removed her cap, smoothed her hand over her hair then moved to take her coat off, but he stepped behind her and helped her. She smiled up at him over her shoulder, then turned and cupped his face in her hands.
“You have such good manners, Holton James.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you, ma’am.” He grinned. “Why don’t you go sit in the living room, and I’ll start dinner.”
“Do you need any help?”
“No, ma’am. You’ll just distract me. I’ve got it.” He looked at the dog. “Come on, Buddy, want to go out?”
Holt moved to the door, opened it, and the dog shot out of the kitchen. He pushed the door closed then waved his hand for Sloane to leave the room. She smiled then turned around and headed for the living room.
As she entered the room, she walked to the windows and gazed out at the falling snow. It was heavier now. She smiled, thinking maybe she’d be stranded with him after all. She was anxious to go horseback riding tomorrow, though she was a little scared of getting on a horse she trusted Holt to put her on a gentle one. She turned around when she heard him enter the room.
Holt Men of Clifton, Montana Book 12 Page 10
