by Desiree Holt
“Grill?” Nida paused with her hand at the oven controls. “Georgie, please tell me you didn’t use any of Cyn’s special rub on them. Please, please, please.”
Georgie burst out laughing. “Not that I didn’t think about it, but I figured it was too much to spring on Mac first time he gets together with us.” She grinned. “Although the extra special herb she puts in it has sure helped the libidos in Saddle Wells.”
“Yes, well, I’m just as happy to leave mine where it is right now. Dormant.”
“Even with a guy as hunky as Mac McDaniel?” Georgie teased.
“He’s a client, for God’s sake,” Nida protested. “You know I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
“If I were single, I wouldn’t mind making his pleasure my business. Just sayin’.” She held up her hand in protest. “Besides, you’ve turned down every eligible man in Rowan County since you moved here a few years ago. Isn’t it about time you stopped giving whoever broke your heart and sent you running here the satisfaction of controlling your life?”
Nida stared, her mouth open. “I’m not—I didn’t—I mean,”
Georgie flapped a hand at her. “We never pry, honey. At least we try not to,” she added hastily. “You made it clear whatever it was isn’t on the table for discussion. But it’s time to stop wasting your life, and we just want to help you do it.”
“And you think getting it on with a client is the way to do it?”
Georgie stored the big bowl of salad in the fridge, closed the door and turned back to Nida. “I’m saying that he’s no longer a client and it wouldn’t hurt to flirt a little. That’s all.”
“Fine. But not tonight, otherwise I’m leaving.”
“Leaving?” Georgie’s jaw dropped. “Okay, okay. Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll lay off, I promise.” Then she winked. “But I can hope, right?”
Nida had a feeling her friend wasn’t letting her off the hook quite so easily.
And truth be told, a tiny thread of anticipation wiggled its way through her. She was pretty damn sure anything between them was just a dead end. While Mac was focused on his mission, something he was totally unaware she knew about, she still had not been able to get him out of her mind.
Bad, Nida. You never learn your lesson. Even after all this time.
Even as she continued to help Georgie in the kitchen, she listened carefully as each vehicle pulled up in the driveway, telling herself she really wasn’t checking to see if it was Cade with Mac. Amy and Buck Montgomery arrived with Reenie and Matt Stark, the women hugging her as they always did, the men giving her brotherly kisses on the cheek. Cyn and Jess Orosco pulled up right on the heels of the others, followed by Liam Douglas and his fiancée, Charity Vance. Nida told the butterflies dancing in her stomach to take a nap. What on earth was she so nervous about anyway? She shouldn’t even be thinking about the man. Her bad track record and his preoccupation were two strong reasons for her to stay away from him.
The couples were all so familiar with the B&B they literally made themselves at home, the men taking drink orders and the women helping in the kitchen. Nida wasn’t sure drinking would be such a good idea tonight, but she settled for a Lone Star Light, figuring she could nurse it for a long time. For the next fifteen minutes, she scolded herself for being nervous about something she didn’t even think she wanted to happen. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts she never heard the front door open.
“I’m back,” Cade said, pausing to hug his wife. “And I brought Mac with me, as ordered. I’ll check the grill if one of you will give this poor man here a drink.”
Mac walked in behind Cade, looking slightly uncomfortable, and Nida wasn’t sure she blamed him. She knew exactly how he felt, like a bug under a microscope.
“Hey, Mac,” Buck called. “Come over here and tell me what your poison is.”
Georgie did the honors introducing everyone to Mac and then somehow they were all suddenly out on the screened porch with drinks and appetizers, watching Cade adjust the grill. Everyone seemed to find a place with their spouse, leaving Nida and Mac suddenly with the settee as their only option. Lord, she thought. Could these people be any more obvious?
For a moment, she thought the man was just going to stand, or maybe walk outside to where Cade was stoking the fire. But then he sat down beside her, somewhat stiffly, and gave her a tentative smile.
“Good to see you again, Nida.”
“Back at you.” She took a sip of her drink. “How’s the work coming out at the ranch?”
He snorted. “With apologies to Cade, you could hardly call it a ranch.”
“Cade came to terms with all that ages ago,” Georgie said. “He’s happy someone’s changing the face of it.”
“Good.” Mac took a swallow of his drink.
Nida watched him, unable to control her fascination with the play of his muscles in his neck. In the week since she’d seen him, his skin had darkened from the sun and his blond hair had lightened. Its length now touched his collar. She noticed two Band-Aids on his right hand that she was sure were souvenirs of the hard work he’d been doing. From his strong jaw to his very sexy ass to his long, lean legs, he was every inch the masculine icon, and her body reacted to him in spite of her determination not to.
“Did you get someone to tear down those rotted outbuildings?”
He nodded. “Cade was kind enough to hook me up with a guy who handled it. I’d ask you to come around and see how far I’ve gotten, but it’s still pretty much of a mess.”
Now why the hell did I say that?
Mac wanted to kick his own ass at his stupidity. He’d already made up his mind to stay away from this woman. His body reacted to her and distracted him from his mission. But damn! She sure looked like a warm mouthful tonight. Jeans lovingly caressed curvy hips and a round butt, just the kind he’d like to get his hands on and squeeze. The vee of the snazzy pink tee shirt she wore with it showed a hint of cleavage and emphasized her breasts.
Mac had always been a man of strong sexual appetites, and in other circumstances he’d already be figuring out how to haul her off to someplace private, strip her naked, feast on her body and then drive his cock deep inside her as he took them both to paradise. He knew he should have sent Cade away tonight, been more forceful in refusing the invitation. But he hated to insult the man when he’d been such a help to him with everything.
The minute he walked into the kitchen tonight, however, he smelled a setup. He’d seen it before, blissful couples who all wanted to spread the happiness around and just couldn’t seem to stop themselves. If only he didn’t find himself attracted to this woman they seemed determined to put in his path. At the moment, he should only be thinking of one thing. Nothing else.
It was obvious the others all knew each other well, yet they went out of the way to make him comfortable. Mac had to admit this was the friendliest place he’d ever been. Even though his visits into town had been brief, all the people Cade introduced him to had been very welcoming. He had to admit that while he’d only been here for a little less than two weeks, the town of Saddle Wells was beginning to grow on him, as were the people.
“If you need protection,” the man introduced as Liam told him, grinning, “my fiancée works part time as a sheriff’s deputy.” He put his arm around a petite redhead standing next to him and pulled her to his side.
“Forgive me if I sound sexist,” Mac told him, “but she doesn’t look like she’d be able to protect much of anything.”
The couple looked at each other and laughed.
“A lot of people have thought that and lived to regret it. Charity spent ten years with Dallas PD. I’d want her on my side in any fight.”
“When you get to know her better,” Amy Montgomery put in, “get her to tell you about how she and my boss took down a drug dealer here in little old Saddle Wells.”
Mac’s eyebro
ws lifted almost to his hairline. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Uh uh.” Amy grinned. “She’s our local hero.”
“Actually. That’s my boss,” Charity told him. “He’d be here tonight, only he and his wife had some big event they had to attend.”
“Dillon hates it,” Liam said, “but his wife’s the publisher of The Hill Country Herald, and there are some things she’s obligated to go to.”
Mac’s brain whirled. Publisher? Sheriff? Could they help him with his search? They certainly had the connections. He just had to decide if he could let them in on his secret. He was afraid Dillon would know he was out for revenge and sit on him. He’d have to think on that.
“Steaks are done,” Cade hollered.
In minutes, the food was carried from the kitchen to the porch table. Cade piled the steaks onto platters and then they were all sitting at the patio tables. Everyone coupled up, and surprise…once again he, and Nida were skillfully maneuvered so they were sitting next to each other.
“The steaks are delish, Cade,” Cyn Orosco commented.
“Did you put some of my wife’s special rub on them?” the man sitting next to her asked.
“I think we decided to be good since we have company tonight,” Cade joked.
Mac frowned. “Am I missing something here?” When no one answered, he looked at Nida next to him. “Nida? Is there something I should know?”
“Um, Cyn has a store in town where she sells her special barbecue sauce and rub.”
“Right.” Mac snapped his fingers. “I saw you standing out on the sidewalk the other day with a tray of some kind. That was you, right?”
“It was.” The blush that crept up her cheeks surprised him.
“Cyn hands out samples of chicken and beef with her seasoning on it,” the man next to her told him. He’d been introduced as her husband, Jesse. “You should stop by and try some. Use it on your barbecue.” He grinned at his wife.
Mac slid a glance at Nida. “We have great barbecue in San Antonio too. What’s so special about this one?”
She poked at a vegetable on her plate, avoiding his eyes. “It has, um, a special ingredient in it.”
“Like what?” He had the feeling he was the only one here who didn’t get the joke.
“We’re just joking around,” Buck Montgomery said also. “It’s pretty spicy and we didn’t know how much seasoning you liked.”
He shrugged. “Pretty spicy. Maybe I will stop by and get some for myself. When I get around to buying a grill, that is.”
Everyone got very busy with their food And Mac turned his attention back to his. But he’d be sure to ask Cade or even Nida, if he got a chance, what the hell the joke was.
He did his best to participate in the conversation but had a hard time focusing with Nida’s delicate scent teasing his nostrils and her soft body just barely touching his. It was bad enough with the sweet feel of her next to him, but that scent that he now identified as a combination of vanilla and cinnamon was about to drive him nuts. His cock, which had been dormant since the accident, had decided to choose this moment to spring to life, spring being the operative word. As surreptitiously as he could, he shifted and eased the denim of his jeans so he didn’t feel as if his dick and his balls were being strangled. When was the last time any woman had this kind of impact on him?
“Mac?” Georgie’s voice jerked him to attention.
He blinked. Apparently, someone had said something to him when he’d been sitting there spacing out. Great. “Oh, sorry. My mind must have been wandering.”
And heading down a dangerous path.
“Cade asked if you’ve decided yet what you’re going to do with the property.”
A tough question since I don’t quite know the answer to that myself.
He sure couldn’t tell them it was a good place to hide away, work out some of his frustration and anger and use as a base of operations for his mission. He’d figured as a guy living in a rundown house spending his days in physical labor, he wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar. He could hang around a bunch of places in jeans and work shirts, listen to conversations and ask a question now and then. It just seemed there were a damn lot of ranchers with wild offspring. How the fuck would he ever narrow it down?
“Uh, I’m still working on that.” Come on, Give them something plausible. “I needed a change in my life, a way to get away from a lot of stress I was under.” He shrugged. “Luckily, I had the resources to do that. So you might call it kind of a retreat at the moment. Or maybe a work in progress.”
“Nida always manages to match her clients up with exactly what they’re looking for,” Reenie Stark piped in. “She’s the queen of real estate in Rowan County.”
“You guys,” Nida protested. “He’s already bought the property. I don’t need a commercial.”
“Well, maybe Mac can help spread the word for you.” Georgie glanced at him. “You must know a lot of people who’d be interested in property out here, right? What exactly did you say you did?”
Before Mac could dig up a satisfactory answer, Georgie’s husband cut in.
“Leave the guy alone to eat his dinner, darlin’. And leave Nida alone too. We invited them for dinner, not the third degree.”
“You’re right. Sorry.”
But Mac didn’t think she sounded the least bit sorry.
“If you need extra labor,” Matt interjected. “I can spare a couple of the hands now and then.”
“Same here,” Buck offered.
“I appreciate it. Really.” He forced a smile. “And if I need help, I promise I’ll holler. But I think I want to get most of the junk cleared away before I figure out what’s next.” He looked at the man across from him. “No disrespect, Cade.”
“None taken,” the other man said in an amiable voice.
Throughout the meal, he was acutely aware of Nida sitting next to him. Of the way her glossy black hair swung forward whenever she dipped her head. Of her slender fingers as they grasped the silverware. Even, when he allowed himself a sideways glance, the delicate flex of the muscles in her jaw as she chewed.
Jesus, Mac. Get your shit together. You barely know her and you don’t have time for her.
Yeah, tell that to his body.
The meal was finished in a leisurely fashion and they sat over coffee and cheesecake for a long time. Mac found the people very likeable, and he enjoyed listening to their banter around the table. He’d discovered they were so much more low key than the people he knew in the city and more relaxing to be with. In another life or another time, he’d enjoy their friendship. Still, it was pleasant to listen to their chatter and see the easy way they interacted.
“Well, folks.” Buck pushed his chair back, rising to his feet. “Great dinner, Cade and Georgie. I’d love to hang around more, but the farrier’s coming very early to check the shoes on all the horses.”
“Let your foreman handle it,” Matt suggested.
Amy laughed. “Are you kidding? Those horses are like his children. I have a feeling when I get pregnant, I’ll deliver in one of the stalls on a clean bed of hay and the vet will check me over.”
Her husband hugged her to his side and kissed the top of her head. “But it will be the best vet I can get, darlin’.”
“And I’ll make sure of it,” Matt teased.
Georgie had told Mac that Amy and Matt were siblings. The casual banter between them made his heart hurt as memories of Alicia came flooding back.
“Let’s get all these dishes cleared away,” Cyn said, “and then we’ll get out of your hair, guys.”
When she rose, her husband, Jesse, rose with her. Mac thought them an interesting combination. The apparent disparity in their ages didn’t seem to bother them a bit. His love for her was almost palpable, as it seemed to be with all these couples. Mac wondered if he’d ever get past hi
s sister’s death enough to seek that out for himself.
“Just leave everything else,” Georgie told them. “Cade will give me a hand.” She winked at him. “Right, sweetie?”
“That’s me.” Cade chuckled. “The kitchen slave.”
Again, Mac noticed the casual chatter between the couples, the ease they felt with their partners and the others. He was suddenly aware that they were all leaving in pairs except for Nida and himself. And that Cade Hannigan, his ride, was engrossed in kitchen duty.
“Hey, Cade,” he called. “Can you take a break and give me a lift home?” He blew out a breath. “Damn, man. Sorry to drag you away. I knew I should have taken my own truck.”
He’d been worried about this from the get-go. Yes, left to his own devices he probably would have passed, which of course was why Cade had picked him up. Yes, he’d had a good time tonight and met people he really liked, but now he was in the awkward situation he’d been afraid of.
Cade finished stashing leftovers in the fridge and turned to him. “No problem. Just give me a second here.”
“I can take him home.”
Mac looked at the woman who’d spoken, unsure who was more astonished at the offer, her or him.
“Uh, do you live out that way?”
Was that a faint blush staining Nida’s face? He didn’t remember the last time he saw a woman do that.
“Close enough.” She gave an uneven little laugh. “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, this group spends half its time matchmaking. At least the women do. If we at least leave together, they can all go to sleep happy.”
Georgie came over and put her arm around Nida. “We really don’t want to embarrass you, honey.”
“Too late for that,” Nida joked.
“Listen,” Mac began. He wanted to smack Cade even though he really liked the man and he’d been a big help so far.
“It’s okay. Really. Let’s go so they can go to bed happy.”
“If you’re sure,” Mac said.
“I am. Come on, before I change my mind.” She waved at the Hannigans. “’Night, guys. Thanks for a great evening.”
