“Congratulations and welcome aboard,” he stated, sounding quite genuine.
“Thanks. I’m excited about working with and getting to know the team before the official season.” She paused a moment. “I apologize for not giving you a heads-up on my professional role with the team. I now know that I should have.”
“You aren’t obligated to tell me anything about your personal life. I was there to fulfill my obligation to help Haven House collect the bid you made. That’s done now.”
Kelly looked nonplussed. “What do you mean by that, Houston?”
Houston shrugged. “It was my understanding you might not cough up the funds unless I agreed to the luncheon date in place of my brother.”
“Excuse me!” Kelly felt terribly affronted. “There’s nothing further from the truth. That’s thinking I may be a thief. Who in Hades did you hear that from?”
“Afraid I can’t give up my sources.” Houston was now wondering if Austin had lied to him just to get him on the date. His two brothers would never stop the irritating attempts at matchmaking. “We’ve met the perfect woman for you,” Austin and Dallas had crooned to Houston.
“Then you shouldn’t repeat what you thought was said. It is a bold-faced lie. I rendered the entire bid amount in a check made out to Haven House before I left the event. Have a nice life!” Angrier than she’d been in a long while, she smashed her finger against the button controlling the driver’s-side window.
Houston reacted quickly to the unexpected rising glass in an attempt to avoid decapitation. For several seconds, he just stood there, looking after Kelly’s car, which sped through the parking lot like it was on the track at a NASCAR racing event.
It looked as if he owed the vivacious Dr. Kelly Charleston an apology. If that was the case, Austin was guilty of putting him in an unattractive position. As he thought back on his comments about collecting on the bid, he realized he hadn’t exactly been sensitive in how he’d phrased it. It was so unlike him.
Houston knew he had to see Kelly again, at least one more time. An apology was necessary, no matter who’d misrepresented the reason for the date. Her thinking he was an insensitive jerk didn’t sit well with him, not when he wasn’t like that. As he conjured up the stunned, wounded look on her face, he felt a sharp ache of deep regret.
Why do I act so out of character when I’m around Kelly? Houston wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer, since he probably wouldn’t like it.
By the time Houston made it to his Porsche, which was a different color and model from Kelly’s, he had his mind made up about seeing her again. As he settled onto the driver’s seat, he thought about how to apologize. No one had to tell him he’d hurt her feelings and no one had to advise him to make it right.
Houston turned the key in the ignition and revved the engine for a few seconds. The car shot out across the lot, slowing as it turned out of the parking area and onto the street. He looked ahead to try and spot Kelly’s car. By the way she’d sped off, he wasn’t surprised she was nowhere in sight. Just as he came up on the next exit, he saw her car moving slowly down the ramp. Following the Porsche off the freeway, he kept her in sight until he could signal her to pull over. Then he recalled they’d exchanged cell-phone numbers in case either had to cancel the luncheon date.
With his Bluetooth earpiece in place, Houston used the phone’s voice-command capability to get Kelly on the line. She responded on the first ring, sounding irritated and a bit disgusted. “Hey, Kelly, think you can pull over for a minute? I need to talk to you.”
“Who is this?” she asked, knowing full well it was Houston.
Houston didn’t believe for a second Kelly didn’t recognize his voice. If she’d stored his number in her cell, his name had also shown on the viewing screen. “It’s Houston,” he said, tolerating her petulance. “Let me have a word with you, please.”
She sucked her teeth. “You’ve said enough. Frankly, I don’t want to hear another remark coming out of your mouth.”
Houston chuckled under his breath. She was red-hot and he found her little temper tantrum bold and sexy. “Suit yourself, but you don’t know what you’re missing out on.”
“Like hell I don’t!” Kelly pressed the end button on her cell phone just to show him she didn’t care about anything that had to do with him. It hurt her to know he believed she’d withhold the promised donation. The reason she’d supposedly reneged on the deal hurt her more than anything else.
His mood turning somber, Houston repeated the voice command. It rang several times before he realized she was refusing to take his call. He understood her anger and could appreciate her feelings. However, he aimed to apologize…and his intent was steadfast. One way or the other, he planned to let her know how sorry he was.
Minutes later, Houston caught up to Kelly again, leaning on his horn to get her attention. As she glanced over at him, he gestured for her to pull over. Please, he mouthed, hoping she’d comply. If not, he’d follow her to her destination, wherever that was. She’d either park somewhere or eventually run out of gas. His tank was full.
Houston had pretty much shown Kelly how persistent he could be during their lunch date so she wasn’t surprised by his actions. If she didn’t pull over, she didn’t believe for one second he’d give up. Houston was no quitter.
Slowly, Kelly steered her car over into the right-hand lane so she could turn up into the Walgreens discount store parking lot. She had her choice in slots since the area was near empty.
Houston pulled his car in right next to hers and got out.
Kelly’s hands began to tremble. As Houston tapped his fingers lightly against the passenger-side window, she suddenly realized he intended to get into her car with her. She certainly hadn’t bargained for that. The idea of him seated so close to her, in such tight quarters, made her sweat. Yet she popped the lock open.
While easing his body onto the seat, Houston felt cramped in her car because his Porsche was custom-designed for his tall, athletic physique. He looked over at her and smiled gently. “I was an absolute horse’s behind back there. I was insensitive to you. I was at lunch on behalf of Haven House, but I’ve never enjoyed myself more. I know you are an honest person and would never skip out of a commitment, financial or otherwise. Can we please get past the bad start? I take full responsibility for it. I’d love to be forgiven.”
The soft and sincere way in which Houston had spoken had Kelly reeling. Her head was going around and around. The man made her dizzy. She didn’t even want to deal with her desire issues. Wanting him in a way she hoped he’d one day want her made her feel mental. “Why should I forgive you?”
“Because I asked you to and ’cause I really want you to. I don’t want you upset with me. Just the idea of you mad at me is upsetting. The reason why I feel this way is that I like you, Kelly. You’re fun to be with. I’d love for us to become friends.”
Friends. She both liked and disliked the sound of the meaningful noun. Friend was too tame for what she wanted. Sharing in fire and brimstone and hot, breathless passion was more to her liking. Envisioning his beautiful body naked and steamy, stretched out on her mattress, his manhood hot, hard and ready for her, made her wish she was anywhere other than in the confines of her car. Imagining eating ice chips from his body and lapping the melting water with her tongue only heated her up more.
Kelly turned slightly in her seat and looked directly at Houston. “Why did you insult me like that? What you heard about the bid, do you believe it?”
“I didn’t intend to affront you. I believe you and what you told me. I plan to find out the truth. I don’t like being lied to, especially if it was intentional.”
She sighed with relief. “I believe in forgiveness and I’m a forgiving woman. That doesn’t mean I have to be your friend, but I like you and I want to be.” Leaning in, she kissed him gently on the cheek. “Thanks for believing in me. The donation to the home was never a condition of the date. I was always going to pay. I simply wanted the
date to be with you. Remember?” Kelly had wanted to go out with Houston for the reasons she’d cited. She had wanted to find out if her bombshell reaction to him was real.
“I’m glad that’s settled. Think you’d like to hang out with me again?” he queried.
“Based on your commitment rules, I’d think you’d be the one to shy away.”
“We’ve already discussed that. You know where I stand. There’s nothing wrong with a man and woman becoming friends. Is there?”
There is when one is hot as Hades for the other. “You’re right.” She looked at the clock on her dashboard. “This has been interesting, but I’ve got to go.”
“Hot date?” Houston instantly wished he hadn’t asked such a personal question.
“Red-hot,” she remarked. Her hot date was with a steaming bath.
Houston reached for the handle and opened the door. Just before sliding off the seat, he leaned his head back in, catching her off guard as he kissed her. “Friends.”
“Friends,” she repeated, bewildered by the airy, fleeting kiss to her mouth. It was one of the sweetest kisses ever, though his lips had barely grazed hers.
Removing the cell phone from his belt, Houston handed it to Kelly. “Please store your home number for me so I can call. I’ll also give you my contact information.”
Taking hold of his phone, Kelly suddenly felt giddy inside. Wishing he wasn’t watching her so intently, she punched in the ten digits, hating the trembling in her fingers. Feeling shook up inside, Kelly inserted just her initials—K.C. Worried he may not find it like that, she erased it and put in her full name, adding M.D.
Kelly handed the phone back to Houston. Their hands touched. Then their eyes connected in a fiery way. As the heat of seduction emanated through their bodies, concentrated gazes held steady for several seconds.
Staring into Houston’s eyes was like looking into a midnight sky. It was too easy for Kelly to get totally lost in his dark gaze, too effortless for her to forget the world existed when he could draw her into his with a mere glance or a lingering one.
While making her way into the beautifully decorated master bathroom of her home, with its fancy gold and brass fixtures, Kelly stripped out of her clothes. An entire wall behind the dressing table was mirrored. Black-and-white wallpaper with red-and-gold trim adorned both the spacious bathroom and the large but cozy bedroom.
A plush, downy-soft white comforter, matching sheets and pillow shams were adorned with a pattern of large hand-stitched black roses and an intricate edging done in Christmas red. The oversize master suite, her favorite space of all, was open and airy.
An oval-shaped tub, surrounded by a step-up black-and-gold-veined marble apron, was adorned with red, black and gold candles in every size and shape. The window nearest the tub looked down onto an in-ground pool/spa amidst a stone deck. Two majestic Magnolia trees stood watch over a lovely evergreen garden. The custom-built Clear Lake home, amidst a forestlike setting, was less than a year old.
It was nowhere near dark, but Kelly closed the slats on the plantation shutters. Filling the tub with water before turning on the strong pulsating jets, she lit cranberry-and jasmine-scented candles. Before she could step up and down into the tub, the phone rang. Dashing across the room, she quickly reached for the portable extension on the dressing table.
“Is this too soon for you?” Houston asked.
“Soon enough,” she sang out, laughing softly. “Where are you?”
“I’m on the road leading to my place, which is so unlike the large spreads my brothers own. Austin had his before he got married. Both are staunch cowboy ranchers.”
“Cowboys, huh? What about you?”
“I’m the urban cowboy in the family. We grew up on a ranch with hundreds and hundreds of acres of land, where our parents still live. Daddy taught us all he knew about ranching, but it’s more in Austin’s and Dallas’s blood than mine. My home is surrounded by plenty of forested acreage in South Shore Harbor off 518. What I love most are the innumerable trees and lake access, yet the trees can be hazardous during hurricane season. I’ll have to invite you over. The landscaping alone is worth the trip.”
“I’ll just bet it is,” she said, her tone seductively taunting. Exploring the landscape of his hot body would be more than worth it. “Tell me more about the urban cowboy.”
“I appreciate the land, while Austin and Dallas love to work it. I enjoy planting the occasional shrubs and flowers, but I don’t have stables to muck or fences to mend. My brothers have qualified personnel to tend to the vast acreage and the horses and other animals. I have a gardener and a pool man. My housekeeper, Aleigha Swan, comes once a week. She cooks for me on occasion, but mainly handles the catering for parties and other special events I host quite frequently. I love to entertain at home.”
“So, there are some big differences between you and your brothers. You look so much alike I imagined you also thought and acted the same way. Silly of me, I guess.”
“Not really. Lots of folks think that way. And we are very much alike. Our parents did a great job in raising us to become our own individuals. There are a host of things that set apart Austin, Dallas and me. We grew up with the same values and principles, hung out together constantly, but each triplet has our own patented personality and our own special way of doing things and living our lives. We all have problems, but loving each other isn’t one of them. The Carringtons are a devoted crew. I’d love for you to come to one of our family dinners. They’re off the hook and so is the food.”
Kelly looked surprised. “Is that an invitation?”
Houston thought about what Kelly had asked. “Yeah, it is. We do dinner once a week when everyone is in town. Let me know when it’s a good time for you.”
Kelly nodded. “I’ll do that. Sounds like a nice evening. Thanks.”
Houston smiled as he opened the remote-controlled gates securing the lavish homes. “Thanks for pulling over earlier today. I’m glad we had the conversation. Again, I’m sorry.”
Kelly closed her eyes. “Me, too. It’s all good.”
Houston parked in the long circular driveway. Instead of getting out of his car, he just sat there, thinking hard about what he’d said and done. Only a short time ago he’d been spouting off his commitment speech to Kelly. Today, he’d asked her for date, a real one, a first date with one of the most intelligent women he’d run across, not to mention one of the most beautiful. His idea of spending time with the opposite sex was supposed to be fun, honest and uncomplicated, without any game playing on his part. “Keeping it real” was his favorite mantra.
As much as Houston hated to admit it, he was more than merely intrigued by Kelly. There were many things about her that blew him away. He was taken with her in a big way, feeling things he’d never allowed himself to indulge in. The lady doctor was intellectually, socially and physically correct. She appealed to him on every important level he could think of. Her wit was sharp, but oh, so sweet, which required him to be on his toes and his best behavior. Kelly made him laugh, made his heart dance.
Was it possible for one woman to have it all?
As Houston thought about a beautiful lady named Angelica Carrington, he knew it was a definite possibility. His mother, a rare gem, was one woman who had it all.
Then there was Austin’s wife, Ashleigh, and Dallas’s girlfriend, Lanier. Both brothers had chosen women who had many attributes mirroring those of their mother. Houston had always known that when he went for a lifelong partner she’d have to possess the same qualities as the beautiful, spirited woman who’d raised him, the wonderful lady whose heart overflowed with kindness and love. His wife had to be the same kind of person Angelica was, a woman whose husband and children absolutely adored her.
Was Kelly Charleston that woman for him?
“God only knows,” Houston whispered shakily.
Inside his beautifully appointed lakefront home, decorated by one of the finest interior design firms in the greater Houston ar
ea, Houston headed straight for the huge, delightful kitchen, which featured dark cherry-wood cabinets and every modern piece of stainless-steel appliance and complementary equipment available for purchase. The high table with high-back bar stools was large enough to seat eight. Above the center island hung a built-in rack holding a variety of copper pots, pans and other cooking utensils.
Opening the door of the two-sided stainless-steel refrigerator, Houston pulled out a bottle of water. Twisting off the cap, he tossed it in the garbage can and then walked through the spacious one-story home, which had a formal living room, a more open casual great room, a family room, a dining room, built-in bookshelves lining the rooms and halls and several fireplaces.
Once Houston reached his massive master suite, decorated in gray, red and navy blue, he plopped down on the humongous mattress, which had been custom-made to accommodate his size. A ceiling fan/lighting fixture hung directly over the center of the bed. Two more fans hung from the ceiling in the attached retreat.
Works of Black and Asian art graced every single wall, along with a variety of shiny wall sconces holding appropriately sized candles. The majority of the bedroom featured recessed lighting, with the exception of several brass lamps positioned around the room. His home was equipped with the finest in office equipment and the latest state-of-the-art audio and visual components. Several glass bookcases were filled with books in a host of genres. CDs and DVDs were stored in a built-in cabinet.
Deciding to take a shower before lying down, Houston rushed into the bathroom and opened the glass door leading to the largest stall architectural plans would allow for. The shower was equipped with four separate showerheads, two fixed and two handheld. Each head adjusted to the user’s desired water temperature.
Houston hastily tore himself out of his clothing and stood under the jet stream of steamy water. The moment the hot liquid hit his body, he felt his muscles relax. His mind then went straight to Kelly.
Chapter 3
Freshly showered and naked as a jaybird, Houston slid under the blue, gray and red comforter and lodged two king-size down pillows under his head. As his thoughts of Kelly continued, he recalled the icy tone of voice she’d used earlier. Some guys might’ve called her frigid because of it. He had to laugh at that.
Kissed by a Carrington Page 3
