Her fingers clenched in the sheet. “How can I relax with you doing that?”
They had often enjoyed this game in the past. While the act embarrassed her initially, experience said that she’d warm up to it quickly. He knew exactly how to give her what she wanted. In minutes, she was crying out his name and arching into his caress.
With her shoulders pressed to the mattress and her hips lifting to his touch, she came beautifully. He could have watched her forever...held her forever.
He cuddled her against his body, warming her chilled limbs. “Good?” he asked, though the question was perhaps self-serving.
She nodded sleepily, nuzzling his hair-roughened chest. “Oh yeah. As soon as I can breathe again, I’ll return the favor.”
He could have said no. She was a single mom with a small child and a full-time job. Brie needed her sleep.
But apparently Vaughn was a selfish bastard, even now. When Brie knelt over him with her silky hair brushing his shoulders, he groaned aloud. In some ways, what they were about to do was more intimate and arousing than before.
When she slid down his body and began circling the head of his shaft with her teeth and nibbling gently, his scalp tightened. Everything else in his body from the cell level on up tensed in helpless anticipation.
Brie was inventive and determined to torture him. Every time he was on the verge of exploding, she drew back...slowed the pace.
He cursed and begged.
Her low laugh made the hair on his body stand up, his skin tingling. This was why they had practically screwed themselves to death during their wild and wanton association when she worked at the ranch. Their relationship may have failed, but when it came to this, they were incendiary together. Perfectly matched.
At last, when he was incoherent with lust, she leaned back on her heels, took him in a firm grip and finished him off. His climax was painfully intense.
He groaned her name.
When he came to his senses, Brie was at his side, curled into him, one leg sprawled across his thighs. She stroked his chest. “You have to go home,” she said. There was no inflection in the words.
“I know.” He wanted to argue. Wanted to stay right where he was. But he was a pragmatist. No matter how much the truth sucked, it was still the truth.
When he thought his legs would support him, he rolled out of bed, gathered his shirt and pants and the rest, and made a second trip to the bathroom. This time when he returned, Brie was not in the bed. She had donned a silky nightgown and a fleecy robe and was standing by the dresser brushing her hair.
Nothing about her stance was deliberately provocative. Didn’t matter. He wanted her still. With as much desperation as he had an hour before. Being with her tonight hadn’t appeased his hunger. It had only reminded him of everything he was missing.
She stared at him from across the room, her expression sober. “I can’t have an affair with you, Vaughn. Even if I wanted to, it would be impossible. You see that, right?”
“I suppose.” He felt sulky and out of sorts. Which was a damned shame considering his recent euphoria. “But there’s more at stake here than our physical relationship.”
“What do you mean?”
“In my father’s will, there was a letter to me. And something he said... I don’t quite understand it, but I got the sense there may be twists and turns when it comes to Dad’s inheritance. Like maybe we were all on probation. Kellan is happily married now. Sophie will tie the knot soon. If I’m the only one left, I think you and I should get engaged. Not really,” he said quickly. “Only for show. So Miranda can see that I’m as stable and settled as the rest of them.”
“Why? You said you don’t care about the money.”
“I don’t, for myself. But when Dad died, he had no idea Danika existed. My daughter—our daughter,” he said, “is entitled to my share of the money. I want her to have it.”
“You and I both have good jobs. We don’t need Buckley’s money.”
“I agree. We don’t. But that inheritance will secure Danika’s future. It doesn’t make sense to let it slip through our fingers.”
“If you trot out a fake engagement, everyone in town will be talking about us. It’s not the kind of thing Royal will keep quiet.”
“True. But you and I can stand a bit of gossip. For our daughter’s sake.” His throat tightened with unexpected emotion. “I’ve missed almost two years of her life, Brie. I want to do this for my child, my own flesh and blood. You can understand that.”
Brie didn’t seem convinced, but he wouldn’t back down on this point. She nodded slowly. “If you’re sure.”
“As soon as the inheritance is settled, I’ll set up a trust fund for Nika. Then we can break off the engagement, and I’ll head back to Fort Worth. End of story.”
Brie stared at him, her head cocked to one side. “Aren’t you afraid people in Royal will expect you to marry me? That’s why we broke up before. You wanted absolutely no ties or responsibility.”
His heart skipped a couple of beats and settled into a sluggish rhythm. Sweat dampened his forehead. “That wouldn’t happen. You wouldn’t use the court of public opinion.”
“Never underestimate an enemy. You taught me that, Vaughn. It’s high on your list of business maxims.” Perhaps sensing his unease, she chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, big guy. I’d never force anyone to marry me. When I get engaged for real, I want a man who is one hundred percent invested in our relationship. That’s not too much to ask.”
He studied her for a long time as the silence between them grew. It wasn’t too much to ask. Not at all. But Vaughn wasn’t that guy. Still, when he tried to imagine Brie, blonde and beautiful in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle to meet the man of her dreams, his stomach curled in dread.
Maybe this engagement wasn’t a good idea after all. It would put the two of them in the midst of a fake intimacy that might coax him into doing something dangerous.
But no, he couldn’t back down out of base fear. He had to do this—for his daughter’s sake. He cleared his throat. “So you agree? To the engagement, I mean.”
She nodded slowly. “I agree. But what about Sophie’s wedding? And the flower girl thing?”
“I think we go ahead with it. It will cement our...” He trailed off, unwilling to say the word.
Brie had no such scruples. “Cement our lie. That’s what you wanted to say, right?”
Why did she keep pushing him? “My sister wants Nika in the wedding, so that’s what we’ll do. I’ll tell Sophie we’re engaged.”
“And what about Kellan? If Sophie knows, you wouldn’t keep him in the dark, would you?”
“No. I’ll swing by there in the morning and fill him in.”
“And Dixie?”
Damn. This was getting complicated already. “Her, too.”
The fact that he didn’t have a longer list of family and friends in which to confide underscored Dixie’s description of his personality. He couldn’t decide if that was a bad thing or a good thing.
Brie yawned. The smudges beneath her eyes did nothing to detract from her wholesome beauty, but they told him she was exhausted. Time for a graceful exit.
He wanted to kiss her again. Badly. He was on the way out the door, so surely indulging his impulse wouldn’t lead him astray.
Crossing the room in two strides, he removed the hairbrush from her hand and set it aside. When she seemed startled, he grimaced. “A good-night kiss. That’s all.”
As he pulled her against his chest, Brie sighed and groaned. That sound encompassed every bit of frustration and resignation he felt at the thought of stepping away from her and walking out that door. Even clothed, her body was an almost irresistible temptation.
Her arms wound around his neck. Her hair, silky and thick, tumbled down her back. He tangled his hands in the strands, gripping convulsi
vely as if he could make the moment last.
She tilted back her head, and their lips met, almost tentatively at first. This chaste farewell was something beyond his experience. He was filled with awe and tenderness. Passion was there, simmering beneath the surface. But for long seconds, he offered her his...affection, not his male hunger.
This woman had given him a daughter. A child who might well be the only legacy he had to leave behind one day.
“Brie...” he muttered her name, not at all sure he had anything to say that would please her, but infinitely certain he didn’t want to hurt her with his silence.
She stroked the back of his neck, sending chills throughout his body. “It’s okay, Vaughn. You can’t be something you’re not. Neither can I. You’ll be leaving soon. I’m happy we’re not at odds anymore.”
Her speech unsettled him in ways he didn’t understand. But more importantly, the way her body clung to his gave him a rush of exultation. In spite of everything that had gone wrong between them, her body still wanted his.
He pulled her more tightly against him. In her bare feet, she was small. Vulnerable. But when he looked into her eyes, he realized he was at risk, as well.
“Kiss me again,” he begged. “One for the road.”
“You’re not going off to war,” she teased.
He moved his mouth over hers softly. “If I go head-to-head with the stepwitch, it might as well be mortal combat.”
She cupped his face in her hands and petted him, her fingertips exploring the late-night stubble she found on his chin. “Hating Miranda has become a habit for you, Vaughn. She’s not evil. I doubt if she’s even avaricious.”
“Maybe. Can we quit mentioning my former stepmother?”
“You brought her up, not me.”
Vaughn nipped Brie’s bottom lip, then stroked the tiny sting with his tongue. “I don’t want to go,” he said roughly, undone by the hour and the woman and the many months they had spent apart.
Brie broke free of the embrace and stepped back, putting physical distance between them to mirror the emotional distance he had always insisted upon. Light. Casual. Nothing to tie a man down.
Suddenly, Vaughn flashed to a vision of his father, wasting away in his bed. The old man’s once-sturdy frame frail and helpless. Alone at the end. Vaughn shuddered, more shaken than he cared to admit by the grim image.
You’re probably the most like me. Buckley’s words echoed in Vaughn’s head, haunting him from beyond the grave. Vaughn hadn’t actually witnessed his father on his deathbed. A housekeeper had discovered the body and called the coroner.
Buckley Blackwood had been ensconced in a pricey casket at the funeral home when his children saw him next. The patriarch, dressed in a tailored suit, had looked imposing even in that situation.
Vaughn swallowed hard and shook off the feeling that a ghost had crossed his path. Buckley wouldn’t be here tonight trying to influence the outcome. Two years ago, Buck had hated the idea of his son having any kind of a relationship with Brielle. He’d believed the Blackwood clan was Texas royalty. Better than most folks. Certainly far above Brielle’s station in life.
The woman in question frowned slightly, looking concerned. “Are you okay, Vaughn? You zoned out on me there for a minute.”
He cleared his throat. “I’m fine,” he said gruffly.
“I don’t suppose we’ll see each other much between now and the wedding rehearsal,” she said.
“I’ll be around.”
Her lips twitched in a reluctant smile. “Threat? Or promise?”
He walked toward the door. “You’ll just have to find out.”
Nine
Sophie poured milk into her Cheerios and stirred them glumly. “Tell me again why we didn’t just elope?”
Nigel dropped a kiss on top of his fiancée’s head and joined her at the small table in the breakfast nook. His plate of perfectly browned toast with butter and marmalade was arranged neatly. “Because you, my love, wanted a big wedding with all the frills.”
“Why didn’t you stop me?” she wailed. “What was I thinking?”
Unfortunately, Nigel had heard this lament before. “It’s going to be brilliant, darling girl. You’re just getting cold feet. I’m told it’s a common problem for brides.”
“I want to marry you,” she insisted. “But why do we need the big ceremony? You’ve never been to Vegas. We could be there before nightfall.”
Nigel gave her a British version of the stink eye. “Eat your breakfast.” He turned up his nose at her choice. “If you can call it that.”
“Cheerios are healthy,” she said indignantly.
“Not when you dump six teaspoons of sugar into the bowl.” His shudder was theatrical.
The Englishman had her there. She’d always had a sweet tooth. Not that he seemed to mind her fuller curves—especially when they were in bed together. Her cheeks heated as memories of last night flashed through her brain.
Nigel’s smirking grin told her he knew exactly what she was thinking. The man had an annoying habit of reading her mind.
“I need a break,” she said. “From all the wedding nonsense. Vaughn wants to take Brie to Dallas overnight. I sort of promised to keep the baby while they’re gone.”
Nigel blinked, his smile fading. “As in babysit?”
“Yes. We’re both intelligent adults. Surely we can muddle through. It will be fun.”
“She’s not even two, is she? I wouldn’t have the slightest notion of what to do with her. Besides, my family will be here soon. We’ve lots to do in the meantime.”
“Don’t you see? That’s why I’m freaking out. We’ll be showing everyone around, wining and dining them. And after that, it will be time for the wedding rehearsal. I need to take my mind off the madness. I want to play house with you. Who knows, maybe we’ll decide we want a little one of our own.”
He paled. “Good lord, Sophie. Are you trying to tell me you’re...?” He swallowed hard and dropped his toast.
“Pregnant?” She laughed softly. “No, silly man. But I don’t want to wait long, do you?”
He stood abruptly, scooped her out of her chair and carried her toward the bedroom.
Sophie pretended to be outraged. “Put me down. My cereal will get soggy.”
Nigel tossed her onto the bed and started ripping off his clothes. “You said you didn’t want to wait too long. I’m here to fulfill your every whim.”
Sophie’s heart overflowed with happiness. How had she gotten so damn lucky? She blinked back tears. “I love you, Nigel Townshend. Till death do us part.”
His smile was tight and feral. “And I you, my crazy, gorgeous American bride. Now quit talking so I can ravish you.”
* * *
Brie felt as if she was balanced on the edge of a precipice. The view was incredible, but she was terrified of falling.
Vaughn was true to his word. He’d made getting to know his daughter a priority. But he also had insisted on bringing dinner in most evenings, so Brie wouldn’t have to worry about cooking after a long day at the veterinarian office.
Not only that, but the meals hadn’t been pizza and burgers, which were her usual go-tos when she needed a break. He’d tracked down a private chef who catered to families with organic farm-to-table foods that kids would eat.
His thoughtfulness touched Brie.
Even so, she was cautious around him. Their breakup before Nika was born had traumatized her. She’d felt adrift. Completely lost. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, those strong feelings for Vaughn still simmered below the surface.
She was older now, though. Stronger. She had a responsibility to Danika that had to come before anything and everyone else.
Oddly enough, Vaughn didn’t press the physical issue. He was affectionate and amusing and an all-around entertaining guest time a
nd again. It wasn’t his fault that Brie spent hours each night tossing and turning because she missed him in her bed.
What was he waiting for?
Maybe, like Brie, he was feeling cautious, because their behavior affected more than just themselves.
Brie and Vaughn had argued over the issue of childcare. Vaughn insisted that as his daughter, Danika should attend the state-of-the-art day care center at the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Brie thought such an arrangement was too public a declaration of something she wasn’t entirely ready for the world to know.
The thing that convinced her in the end was not Vaughn’s persistence, but rather the fact that Brie knew it was time for Nika to begin playing with other children. The almost two-year-old was smart and happy and well-adjusted, but she needed more opportunities for socialization. The Club’s childcare was second to none.
In the end, Brie agreed that Vaughn could pick up Nika two mornings a week and drop her off at the club. Since he had bought an expensive car seat for his vehicle, there wasn’t much else Brie could find to protest.
The babysitter had actually been relieved to cut back on her hours. She was an older woman, and Nika’s nonstop energy could be tiring to deal with.
So now, Brie’s days were running even more smoothly.
The big change today was that Vaughn had unexpectedly asked to meet her for lunch. Thursdays were her half days at the clinic. Brie closed up shop at twelve thirty sharp, knowing that Dr. Brody would reopen the office at two. She slipped out of her lab coat and into a black blazer that matched her pants.
Tomorrow and every other Friday, Doc Brody covered for her. That usually gave Brie a chance to spend more time with Danika and to catch up on life in general.
Vaughn was in the reception area leafing through a magazine when she found him. “Hey,” she said, wincing inwardly at the breathless tone in her voice.
He stood slowly and looked at her with that masculine smile that melted her knees. “Hey, yourself. Are you hungry?”
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