Tempted By Trouble: The Doctor and The Rancher (Bad Boys Western Romance Book 1)

by Susan Arden

  “At least I remember my date’s name,” Cory snipped.

  “What’s changed since yesterday?” Matt asked, cutting the rising tide of people’s emotions.

  An uncomfortable silence followed. They were all talking about her as if she weren’t present. Carolina glanced down at her plate, pretending that the grilled steak was more than entrancing, and took an excessive amount of time cutting a bite. After she finished her dinner, she laid down her fork, and looked up. His mother’s quizzical expression made her hesitate.

  “Maybe we could talk after dinner while the men smoke?” Sarah asked.

  “That would be lovely,” Carolina murmured. “Can I help clear?”

  “Don’t you dare. We’ll have our tea in the living room. Matt.” Sarah gave him a motherly stare.

  “I’d better see you there,” he whispered.

  Carolina’s smile tightened. She had planned on reviewing the samples one more time. Tomorrow the preliminary lab results would be in. She suddenly felt caught. A door shutting.

  Matt kissed the side of her cheek. His face was closed and distant, even though he ruffled her hair before going outside.

  The dishes were cleared and Sarah carried in a tray. “This house takes on a whole different personality when the men are outdoors.”

  The laughter and talk was muffled until Matt’s deep voice rose.

  “That’s for certain,” Carolina agreed. “Men can overpower a situation if left to their own devices.”

  Sarah poured tea into the cups. “Do you take cream or lemon?”

  “Cream and thank you for the other night, last week.” As Matt’s mom poured the cream, Carolina glanced around. There were photographs of all the McLemores and she asked, “Where’s Cory?”

  “My pleasure.” Sarah held out a cup of tea and nodded over at the photographs she’d just admired. “As for Cory, I believe she’s talking on the phone. My daughter would do well with a career that involved sales and telephones.”

  “We were all that age.”

  “You aren’t that much older than she is and yet look at you. A professional. A woman who holds her own future. Commands respect.”

  Carolina stopped sipping her tea. “I don’t know if that’s all true, but you’re very kind to say so.”

  “Kindness nothing. We McLemore women pride ourselves on being forthright. Anyone with working eyes, would tell you the same thing. Yet it’s from a mother’s intuition that I say, my son is taken with you. I almost thought it would never happen, again.”

  Carolina’s face heated uncomfortably. She desperately did and did not want to discuss Matt’s past. But this was his mother and Carolina rushed on to say, “You have a wonderful son. Really, he’s a remarkable man. From the first moment that we met, Matt struck me as, well, …” It had taken every bit of strength to speak evenly and now, the sting behind her eyes made talking next to impossible.

  “I’m not fishing for compliments for my son,” Sarah said softly. “Honestly, I’d like to know your thoughts on Matt as a man.”

  Moisture filmed Carolina’s eyes. She swallowed. “I’m not sure it’s easy to sum up my thoughts. Every day is new. Matt’s unconventional, a maverick in his ideas about ranching and business, and someone I’ll never forget.”

  “Like a tornado?”

  The fist that had held her heart as if in a vise let go. In a whoosh, Carolina laughed out her anxiety. “Yes, but in a good way.”

  Sarah chuckled as well. The tension in the room dissolved. “Did Matt tell you anything about his brothers or father?”

  “Some. Did you mean anything specific?”

  “McLemore men don’t mince words, either. They’re pretty set in their ways and strong willed. Have been for generations. Matt is educated. He’s seen the world but he always comes back home. What I’m getting at is these are men who know what they want and go after it wholeheartedly.”

  The tea swirled in Carolina’s cup, a vortex much like her own whirling feelings even if she felt more relaxed. Here was Sarah explaining about her son and asking for clarification of her emotions. Confused, a yearning to stop being pulled in a million directions arose in Carolina. Matt was a man she wanted to keep in her life but it was as if a gully lay between them. She’d already known a man whose secrets had screwed with her head. A highly-respected man yet in private—Carolina’s mind screamed that Jeff and Matthew McLemore were worlds, no universes apart.

  Matt was a terrific son and he’d be, without a doubt, an amazing husband and father with the right wife. But maybe Sarah was referring to something else? Carolina looked the other woman in the eye and said, “Do you think he’s headed down the wrong path? In wanting to modernize the ranch. Build a cell tower. Because those things have nothing to do with me.”

  “My dear, I’m not the one to judge my son. Wade and I trust him to take the reins of Evermore. Otherwise, we never would have started the process of putting him in charge. I only wanted to find out, if we might see more of you after this week.”

  Such a lady. Carolina couldn’t help but smile. “Unexpected things do happen. Didn’t you come back right, away?”

  “Touché, my dear.” Sarah set her cup down. “In truth, I wanted to run like the blazes and get the heck out of here.”

  “What happened?” she asked.

  Sarah’s eyes softened. “I was visiting with a college girlfriend’s family nearby. I met Wade at a dance. He didn’t say boo at first but there was something about him. Something I couldn’t forget or get past. Wade didn’t give me much of a chance. None of the McLemores ever stood for long engagements after their hearts were set.”

  Carolina sipped her tea thoughtfully, then asked, “What about college?”

  Sarah smiled sweetly. “I never went back. Wade and I were married within a week from our first dance.”

  ***

  Matt and Carolina hardly exchanged more than a couple of words going back to his house. They both seemed lost in their thoughts. He unlocked the front door then abruptly swung her around, backing her up against the wall in the foyer. He braced his hands on either side of her head, caging her between his sculpted biceps. The delicious whip of ache and longing raced across Carolina’s chest making it hard to breathe. Her fingers itched to trace the edge of his jaw shadowed by beard stubble. But she couldn’t, not yet.

  Refusing to be derailed from her intent to find out Matt’s deep dark secrets, she arched a brow. “What’s up, cowboy?” Carolina directed her gaze to the bulge straining his jeans. “Besides the obvious.”

  Her words and pointed look hit their mark.

  As if she’d struck a match, lighting a fuse in this man’s sapphire blue eyes, Matt growled, “You want some of this?” He rubbed his palm down his zipper. “What’s the word, baby?”

  ‘Please’ came to mind but Carolina stopped herself. She looked into Matt’s eyes and opened the door. “Truth.”

  “You’re playing with fire,” he warned.

  Raw lust heated her to the point of doing something desperate. She felt desire tug at her internal muscles in need of Matt pounding that rock-hard erection of his, deep into her until white-light exploded in her head.

  “Who says I’m playing.” Carolina cupped his face and crashed her mouth on his, not holding anything back. Tonight was the night to come to the mat.

  Matt hauled her up from the wall. There was no stopping them. She wrapped her legs around his waist, looping her arms around his broad shoulders. Still kissing, he carried her into the living room, dumping her onto the sofa.

  In seconds, they were naked. On fire, they both came back like magnets slammed together. Carolina had her thighs over Matt’s muscular shoulders as he hoisted her hips, burying his face between her legs.

  With no hand-holds, she bucked in pleasure. Every cell in her body was impaled by red-hot ecstasy. Fire raced in her blood and she came apart as Matt held her in place, driving, driving, driving her toward the brink. Then witho
ut letting her catch her breath, he lowered her bottom, and pounded into her in one heart-stopping ram.

  “Matt!” she screamed, giddy and sex drunk,

  He didn’t relent. Over and over, he thrust into Carolina without mercy. Forgetting the world beyond, this man with their bodies, was telling her about possession, about passion. So close to the brink, she twined her fingers into his hair, tugging as if her life depended on it.

  Unyielding, Matt groaned, “Tell me… the truth.” One more slam, one more grind of his narrow hips, and their gazes locked.

  Carolina was caught in a trap, which she’d built and like an idiot had tossed away the key. “Us,” she rasped. “Only us.”

  God, she wanted to tell him more. How he stroked her body was like a master musician. How she’d never be the same. How she didn’t want this to end. But at that moment, Matt took her over the edge. He held onto her thighs, pounding his entire length from root to tip, hauling her over a cliff into a screaming orgasm.

  “Matt,” she cried. “I’m there.”

  Only when his name was on her lips did he appear remotely satisfied. He pulled out of her, panting, and growled, “This is only the beginning. How much of you is mine?”

  “What do you mean?” She wanted to ask him the same.

  He touched her face and kissed her mouth. Their tenderness turned into a hungry act. “This is about a one-night no-holds-barred. Can you handle it?”

  “Matt, that isn’t a question, it’s a challenge.”

  “Only if you want to make it so. You can trust me, baby.” He raised her hands above her head and pulled. “But can you trust yourself?”

  “Me?” she laughed. “You’re unbelievable.”

  He pinned her beneath him. Matt’s cock brushed against her already sensitized skin, teasing her, then without warning, he entered her, again. With his customary penetrating stare, the man didn’t move, not one thrust. With just the right pressure, Matt ground himself against her and she saw stars.

  He dipped his mouth to her ear as she arched, ready to combust. “What is it that you’re lookin’ for, darlin’?”

  Carolina tried to rock her hips but he was so goddamn stubborn and strong. She glared up at him and blurted out, “The truth. You’ve been holding back from me ever since we met.”

  He canted closer. “I want you to stay.”

  “Tell me why!” she demanded.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Matt’s eyes narrowed as though she’d just called him out. “Something’s got you spooked.”

  “I’m not the one who sidesteps questions. You’re very good, McLemore. I’ll give you that. And please, don’t try that nonsense that you have no idea what I’m talkin’ about,” she drawled in a sultry Texas accent. “Sex is only one type of communication. I want to know about you, but I won’t invade your privacy.”

  “Why?” It was Matt who demanded this time. “Ask away.”

  “Aren’t you overrun enough?” Carolina huffed, refusing to be one more woman who ran with the bit between her teeth. She tried to free her arms but he got hold of her wrists in that ironclad grip of his. She flexed her hip and tried to flail. He yanked her arms higher, pushing down on her body with his weight.

  “Not where you’re concerned. Woman, I’m not deflecting and avoiding questions since you haven’t asked anything. What’s got you going, baby?”

  This was a Catch-22. Either she asked him point-blank about his past or she accept that he was either unwilling or not ready to discuss it. What did that mean? Carolina gritted her teeth at the other possibility: he wasn’t over the woman. Whoever she was had done a number on Matt.

  “Nothing,” she huffed, refusing to push him for answers. “Kiss me, cowboy. Or I can go down on you. Make you come so hard, you’ll see stars! Which is it gonna be?”

  Grinning, Matt replied, “Is that even a real question, darlin’?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  A day later.

  Matt clenched his jaw. All day, he’d been in a piss poor mood. At the copier place in Clarkesville, he sat at a computer station and hit print. He took the color copies to the clerk at the counter. “I’d like this bound.” He gave the man specific directions on the cover and type of binding.

  “It’ll be ready in an hour.”

  “An hour?” There wasn’t anyone else in the place. Matt drummed his fingers on the counter for a beat, then nodded. “I’ll be back.”

  In Clarkesville, his normal business amounted to doing banking, if Miller wasn’t available. Matt had a thought, besides this surprise that he had planned for Carolina, he wanted to get the little firecracker something to remember him by. His pulse thudded in his ears at the idea of her leaving.

  He wanted to punch the nearest wall. It took several rounds of self-talk each morning to get his head screwed on straight. He did a neck roll, convinced this wasn’t the end of them. Okay, if Carolina wanted to go back to a life of traveling around in that van of hers, what were his choices?

  He couldn’t chain her to his bed. The thought rolled around his brain for half a beat. Unfortunately breaking a federal law or three came with stiff penalties. At what felt like the edge, Matt laughed darkly at his warped sense of humor.

  “Fuck,” he cursed under his breath.

  It was too early for a drink and he took out his cell phone, scrolling for a shop. Not the usual and he snorted, thinking that if anyone would have the goods, it was Brandon. Matt pressed dial. When his brother answered, he cut to the chase, “Dude, need some intel. I’m in Clarkesville.”

  “What are we talkin’?”

  “Bedroom.”

  Brandon’s deep chuckle said it all. “Go to The Silk Saloon. It’s off Fourth and Devonshire. Tell them you’re associated with the S & L if you want a discount.”

  His brother owned a highly popular bar, Spurs and Leather. It catered to distinctive tastes, not that he’d take Carolina there for what he had in mind. “Thanks. I owe you.”

  “If you want any pointers,” Brandon hedged. “Just let—”

  “We’re good,” he interrupted, unwilling to discuss his bedroom affairs that involved Carolina with anyone, including his brother.

  After an hour of shopping at what amounted to an exclusive sex store, Matt exited with a bag of all sorts of goodies.

  His cell phone chimed. “Results delayed.” He pressed the icon for Carolina’s number. She picked up and he asked, “What happened?”

  “The laboratory results are gonna be late. I’m sorry,” she said.

  “How late?”

  “They’ll be out by noon tomorrow. I called when they still hadn’t arrived. There was a problem with one sample. Nothing major, but the results are pushed back a day.”

  “One day. Nothing we can do until then,” he said. “At least it isn’t hotter than hell.” They hadn’t had a cow die in the last two days, since a rainy stretch of weather had begun.

  “Yeah, it’s odd that climate might have some bearing on the cattle. But stress can definitely influence hormones.”

  “I’m heading back. Need anything?”

  “Nope.”

  “What are you up to?”

  “Still working on my client list. I’m up to Tennessee and a couple of ranches are interested. I’ve cut my rates, offering an introductory price,” she said sounding upbeat. “You were right.”

  “Glad to be of service.” He gritted his teeth at the mention of her working far, far away.

  “See you soon,” she said.

  “In thirty.” Or less. He heard the trill of Carolina’s cell, which meant an incoming call.

  Come high water, he was bound and determined to deal with this situation. He had no problem with her being a mobile vet as long as Evermore was a point on her Google map. But each time he thought of addressing their situation, he got tongue-tied. It was pure bullshit. What red-blooded jackass couldn’t speak his mind? Obviously, his kind. He popped the trunk of his car and placed
the bag inside. The best way to get close to Carolina was naked and in her face. They’d admitted things last night. This evening he intended an encore.

  Matt picked up his order at the printer then he got on the road, shifting gears on his way back to Evermore, back to Dr. Carolina Rodriguez. It took twenty-five minutes and he parked at the rear door to his office. He grabbed the white plastic bag from the printing place and entered, taking off his hat. The closet door was shut.

  Without making a sound, he came through, glancing over at Carolina. She was typing away, trying to get her business up and running. From what he’d gathered she broken away from some dipshit who’d gotten one over on her by running her into the ground as a sub-contractor.

  “Here,” he said. “Knock yourself out.”

  She took off her glasses and frowned. “What’s this?”

  “If you open the bag, you’ll find out.” He dug out the jump drive from his pocket and set it next to the keyboard on the desk. “That’s part of it.” He watched her expression change.

  Carolina removed the bound copy that had her name on the front page in a large bold font along with her cell phone number. She thumbed through the business plan that he’d developed for her. It included photographs on Evermore, as well. Things she could use on social media. It had been hard to choose which ones but he’d managed an assortment of Dr. Rodriguez: riding Skyfall, collecting samples, observing the cattle, even during a difficult calving. There was an official letter of recommendation and a list of references. He’d included the name and private telephone number of his banker, if and when she wanted financial backing. All the things he’d found a business required when it wanted to expand.

  “You did this? For me?”

  He scratched the side of his neck and replied, “Yeah.” For a second he couldn’t tell if Carolina was upset or overjoyed.

  “You’re some kinda wonderful,” she yelled, jumping out of the chair. Caro hugged him, pressing her tear-stained face to his. Smiling, he finally understood how a person could get a contact high. “Thank you. Thank you,” she said. “No one has ever done anything as nice as this, for me.”