“I’ve only ever done two things in my life just because it made me happy. One was starting my business. Marriage and family didn’t come as quickly as I’d hoped, so designing and decorating nurseries for a living was the next best thing.”
Deacon stroked his thumb gently across the back of her hand as she spoke. “What was the other thing?”
She looked at him, a soft smile curling her lips. “Falling in love with you. You made me happy. You never asked me to be anybody other than who I was. You knew the truth about my mother, and it never seemed to bother you.”
“That’s because you were perfect just the way you were, Cecelia. Why would I ask you to change?”
No one had ever spoken to her the way Deacon did. His sincere words easily melted her defenses, cracking the cold businesswoman facade that she worked so hard to maintain. She’d always felt so alone, and she didn’t want to be alone anymore.
Unwelcome tears started to well up in her eyes. Cecelia hated to cry, especially in front of other people. She wasn’t raised to show that kind of vulnerability to anybody. In the Morgan household, she learned at a very young age that emotions made one appear weak, and that wasn’t tolerated. Her birth mother had been weak, they’d told her, and look where she had ended up.
“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away from him to wipe her tears away.
“Stop apologizing,” he said. He reached for her and pulled her into the protective cocoon of his strong embrace. Cecelia gave in to it, collapsing against him and letting her tears flow freely at last. He held her for what felt like an hour, although it was probably just a few minutes. When she was all out of tears, she sat up and looked at him.
Deacon’s face was so familiar and yet so different after all these years. He still had the same kind eyes and charming smile she’d fallen in love with, there was just more maturity behind his gaze now. She found that wisdom made him more handsome than ever before.
In that moment, she didn’t want him to just hold her. She wanted to surrender to him and offer him anything she had to give. Slowly, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his. This kiss was different from the one they’d shared before. There was no desperation or anger fueling it this time, just a swelling of emotion and her slow-burning desire for him.
Deacon didn’t push her away, nor did he press the kiss any further. It was firm and sweet, soft and tender, reminding her of warm summer nights spent lying in the back of his pickup truck. It was a kiss of potential, of promise.
Cecelia wanted more, but as she leaned farther into Deacon, she felt his hands press softly but insistently against her shoulders. When their lips parted, they sat together inches apart for a moment without speaking.
Finally Deacon said, “That’s probably where we should end tonight. I don’t want you to have any more regrets where I’m concerned. Or expectations.”
Cecelia didn’t regret a thing about what had happened between them, but she understood what he meant. What future could they possibly have together? She was still picking up the pieces from her broken engagement, and he’d be back in France in mere weeks. She nodded and sat back, feeling the chill rush in as the warmth of his body left her.
Setting her drink on the coffee table, Cecelia stood up. “I’d probably better get going, then. Thank you for listening and being so supportive. You don’t know how rare that is in my life.”
Deacon walked her to the door, giving her a firm but chaste hug before she left. It felt good just to be in his arms. She felt safe there, as though Maverick—and Chip and her parents and the gossipmongers of Royal—couldn’t hurt her while Deacon was around.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” he said.
Cecelia waved at him over her shoulder, feeling an unusual surge of optimism run through her as she climbed into her car. For the first time in a long time, she couldn’t wait to see what life had in store for her.
Six
“The chef has put together the tasting menu for the grand opening celebration. I didn’t realize it was happening today, and I promised Brandee that I would go with her to shop for some things for the ranch. Can you handle it without me?”
Deacon looked up from his desk and frowned at his business partner. “I may have lived in Europe for the last few years, but I don’t exactly have the most refined tastes. I am a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. Are you sure you want to leave the menu up to me? That’s a pretty important element of the party, considering we’re trying to lure customers into the new tapas restaurant.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. We hired the best Spanish chef in all of Texas to run the restaurant. I’m pretty sure that anything Chef Eduardo makes is going to be amazing. If you’re worried about it,” Shane said with a wicked grin, “you could always ask Cecelia to join you. She’s known for having excellent taste, in design and event planning.”
Deacon sat back in his chair and considered Shane’s suggestion. Since their kiss a few days ago, he had been considering his next move where she was concerned. He knew that he should back off before they both ended up in over their heads. The past had proven that his and Cecelia’s relationship was doomed. They weren’t the same people they were back in high school. Even so, he found his thoughts circling back to her again and again.
So what now? He wanted to spend some time with her. A date seemed too formal, especially since she might not want to be seen out with another man so soon after her engagement was called off. But this would be an interesting alternative if she had the time. “Okay, fine. You’re off the hook. Get out of here and go buy some barbed wire or a horse or something.”
Shane waved and disappeared down the hall. Deacon got up from his desk and went in search of Cecelia. He found her in the lobby directing the hanging of a large oil painting. It was a Western landscape, one of the few nods to Texas in her otherwise modern design.
“Perfect!” she declared after the level showed the frame was aligned just right.
“Well, thank you, I try,” Deacon said from over her shoulder.
Cecelia spun on her heel and turned to look at him. “Very funny. Can I help you with something, Mr. Chase?”
Even now, always business first. Thankfully, he truly had a business proposition for her, even if his motivation was less than pure. “Actually, I was wondering if I could borrow you for an hour to help me with something.”
“An hour? It’s almost lunchtime.”
“Which means...all your guys will be out in search of a taco truck and you will have nothing better to do than to join me for a private tasting at the new restaurant here in the hotel.”
She arched an eyebrow at him, but she didn’t say no. “Is the chef still working on the menu?”
“No, that’s already set for both restaurants. What Chef Eduardo has put together for today is the menu for the grand opening gala. It features some of the items that will be on the restaurant’s menu, but also some more finger-food-type selections that can be passed around by waiters. Shane was supposed to do this with me, but he’s gotten roped into a shopping excursion with Brandee. That just leaves me, and I’m afraid I don’t have the palate for this. I could use a second opinion.”
Cecelia’s gaze flicked over him for a moment, and then she nodded. She turned back to her crew. “Why don’t you guys go ahead and take lunch? We’ll finish up the rest of the paintings this afternoon.”
She didn’t have to tell them twice. The men immediately put down their tools and slipped out of the back of the hotel. Once they were gone, Cecelia turned back to Deacon with a smile. “Lead the way, Mr. Chase.”
Technically, it wasn’t a date, but Deacon felt inclined to offer her his arm and escort her down the hallway anyway. The Bellamy was designed with two dining options. The Silver Saddle was the more casual of the two, offering an upscale bar environment and featuring a selection of Spanish tapas i
n lieu of the typical appetizer selection. The other restaurant was the Glass House, a high-end farm-to-table restaurant, featuring all the freshest organic produce and responsibly sourced game available. The executive chef was even working on a rooftop garden where he intended to grow his own herbs and a selection of seasonable vegetables.
Normally, the Glass House would’ve been the appropriate venue for the grand opening, but Deacon had had other ideas. It wouldn’t take much to lure the residents of Royal to the Glass House. That was right up their snooty, rich alley. Spanish tapas were another matter. Deacon had suggested that the food for the event be catered by the Silver Saddle instead, so they could introduce the town to what he and Shane hoped would be the newest hot spot in Royal.
When they arrived at the bar they found the executive chef waiting for them. Eduardo welcomed them with a wide smile. “Mr. Chase, I hope that you and your guest are very hungry.”
“We are,” Deacon replied. He’d seen a mock-up of the menu and knew they were in for a treat. He didn’t actually expect to make many, if any, changes. Eduardo knew what he was doing. It was just good for him to know in advance what his guests had in store for them. “I can’t wait to see what you put together.”
Eduardo directed them to a corner booth. The decor of the bar was still a work in progress, but the majority of the key elements were in place. Along the edge of the room, the space was lined with burgundy leather booths and worn wooden tables. In the center was a rectangular bar that was accessible to guests on all sides. On the far side of the room from where they were seated, there was a stage for live music and a dance floor. Overhead, instead of a disco ball, Deacon had custom ordered a mirrored saddle, the bar’s namesake.
They had gone for a cowboy atmosphere with a modern edge, much like Cecelia’s room design, and Deacon was pretty sure they’d nailed it. In two months’ time, he had no doubt that this place would be hopping on a Saturday night.
He helped Cecelia into the booth and then sat opposite of her. Before they could place their napkins in their laps, Eduardo called the first waiter to the table with a tray of four different beverages. He set them down and disappeared back into the kitchen.
“First, I wanted to start with the beverage selection for the evening. Of course we will have an open bar that will provide whatever beverages the guests would like. However, we will be showcasing the Silver Saddle’s four featured drinks, as well.” He pointed to the two wineglasses. “Here are our two signature sangrias. The first is a traditional red wine sangria, and this here is a strawberry rosé sangria.
“Next is our take on an Arnold Palmer, but instead of sweet tea, we use sweet-tea-flavored vodka and a sprig of rosemary in the lemonade. Last is the Viva Bellamy, designed exclusively for the hotel, with aged rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, blood-orange liqueur and orange bitters. Please enjoy, and we’ll be out with the first round of tapas momentarily.” Eduardo turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
“I have to say the best part of my job might be that I get to drink without ending up in the HR office,” Deacon quipped with a grin as he picked up the old-fashioned glass containing the Viva Bellamy.
Cecelia opted for the rosé sangria. She took a sip and then smiled. “This is wonderful. It might be the best sangria I have ever had, actually. Try it.”
She held the wineglass up to his lips and tipped it until the sweet concoction flowed into his mouth. It was a lovely beverage, but that wasn’t what caught his attention. He was far more focused on Cecelia as she watched him. Perhaps Shane was smarter than Deacon gave him credit for. Feeding each other tapas could be quite the unexpectedly sensual experience for a weekday lunch at work.
Eduardo and the waiter returned a moment later with a selection of small plates. “Here we have stuffed piquillo peppers with goat cheese and seasonal mushrooms, seared scallops with English pea puree, chicken skewers with ajillo sauce, and black garlic and grilled lamb with rosemary sauce. Enjoy.”
“Wow,” Cecelia said. “This all looks amazing, and not at all what I was expecting from a place with a disco saddle hanging over the dance floor. I’d wager there’s no place like this within a hundred miles of here. People are going to trip over themselves to get to your restaurant, Deacon.”
He certainly hoped so. The array of food was both heavenly scented and visually impressive. He could just picture it being passed around on silver platters and arranged artfully along a buffet display. “Shall we?” he asked.
Cecelia nodded and looked around, considering where to start. “Do we share everything? I’ve never done tapas before, but this kind of reminds me of dim sum.”
“Yes, it’s similar. Tapas means small plates, so it’s just tiny selections of many different, shareable dishes instead of large entrée. Just try whatever you like.”
She started by reaching out and pulling a chicken skewer onto one of the empty plates they’d each been given to make the tasting easier. Deacon opted for the lamb.
Cecelia closed her eyes and made a moaning sound of pure pleasure that Deacon recognized from their night together. His body stirred at the memory of that sound echoing in his bedroom.
“Wow,” she said as she swallowed her bite and opened her eyes. “I mean, I know I said that already, but it’s true, this is so good. You have to try it.” She slid a piece of the chicken off the wooden skewer, stabbed it with her fork and held it out to him.
Deacon took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. The flavors were excellent. Her feeding him wasn’t bad, either, but he would much prefer to feed her. “That’s good. Do you like lamb?”
She nodded. He took the opportunity to stab a small cube of lamb and feed it to her. She closed her eyes again as she chewed, thoroughly enjoying the food in a way he hadn’t expected. She’d become quite the foodie since the last time they were together. He suddenly lost interest in trying the food himself, and wanted only to feed Cecelia.
He picked up one of the small stuffed peppers with his fingers and held it up to her. She leaned in, looking into his eyes as she took a bite. Her lips softly brushed his fingertips, sending a shiver through his whole body. When she finished, she took the second bite from his fingers. He tried to pull his hand away but she grabbed his wrist and held it steady.
“Don’t you dare waste that sauce,” she said. Without hesitation she drew his thumb into her mouth and sucked the spicy cream sauce from his skin.
Deacon almost came up out of his seat. The suction on this thumb combined with the swirl of her tongue against his skin made every muscle in his body tense up and his blood rush to his groin. She seemed unaffected. Cecelia pulled away with a sly smile, releasing his wrist. As though she hadn’t just given him oral pleasure, albeit to his hand, she turned back to the selection on the table and chose one of the scallops.
She was just messing with him now. And he liked it.
* * *
The plates just kept coming out of the kitchen, and Cecelia found herself in food heaven. Her roommate in college had been the daughter of a famous Manhattan chef, and she’d exposed Cecelia to cuisines she hadn’t tried back home in Texas. She’d developed a brave palate and high expectations by the time she’d graduated. The little diner in Royal had been fine before she left, but when she returned, she found herself trekking to Houston for cuisine with more flair and spice.
Now she’d have access to world-class dining right here in Royal. At that moment, Eduardo and his waiter brought out fried chorizo wrapped in thin slices of potato, a selection of imported jamón ibérico and Spanish cheeses, marinated and grilled vegetables in a Romanesco sauce, garlic shrimp and salmon tartare in salmon roe cones. By the time they got to the dessert selections, Cecelia wasn’t sure she could eat much more. She loved her sweets, but she was far more interested in the tall, handsome dish across from her at the moment.
Cecelia would be lying if she said that she hadn’t been thi
nking about Deacon since they shared that kiss Monday night. Part of her wondered if that had been his plan all along—to kiss her, send her home and leave her wanting more.
Cecelia did want more. There was no question of it. She just wasn’t sure if indulging her desires was the best idea. There was certainly plenty of sexual attraction flowing between them, and their night of passion would be one she would never forget. But could she risk giving herself to Deacon when she knew she might fall for him again?
It happened so quickly the first time, Cecelia had hardly known what hit her. For a while after they’d broken up, she had thought that perhaps falling in love was easy to do. The years that followed would prove otherwise. No one, not even her ex-fiancé, had captured her heart the way Deacon had. She feared he still had that power over her.
The hotel opened in a little more than two weeks. Deacon had told her that once things were up and running, he would return to Cannes. She couldn’t risk his taking her heart with him when he left. A few weeks didn’t seem like much time to be together, but Deacon was a well-known commodity to Cecelia. She knew the kind soul she once loved was still there, so even that short time was enough for her to fall miserably in love with him again, just to have him disappear from her life like before.
Cecelia wouldn’t let herself believe that this was a second chance to put things right between them. They could make peace, and already had, really, but a relationship between them seemed impossible. Even if he weren’t returning to the French Riviera in a few weeks, they both knew she was in no position to start something promising with anyone. Not with Maverick’s threat hanging overhead.
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