“Mary Beth,” he called, lowering his voice so he wouldn’t startle her.
She didn’t move.
Okay, so now you’re going to have to touch her.
His palms felt sweaty, and he rubbed them on his jeans.
You wanted an excuse to, anyway.
Yeah, he did. Crouching beside her, he called to her again as he gently shook her shoulder. “Come on, sweetheart. Wake up.”
She came awake slowly, then focused her green eyes on him. She sat up and sucked in a quick breath.
“Deke! What are you doing here?” She hadn’t expected him to be there, and just thinking about him hanging around while she’d been sleeping was unnerving.
Deke didn’t move. “I stayed for a while to be sure you were okay.”
Figuring she must look a sight, Mary Beth raised a hand to her hair, then brushed several strands of it from her face. “You didn’t need to. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.” She tugged on her shirt and straightened it.
“Yeah, you keep saying that.” His gaze skimmed her face. “Here,” he said, assisting her as she started to stand. “I’ll help you to the kitchen. I made some dinner for you.”
She stilled. “You what?”
He chuckled at her stunned expression. “Don’t get too excited. You haven’t tasted it yet.” An easy grin formed on his lips.
“I can walk,” she insisted, not wanting him to touch her. She tried to push his hands away as she struggled to her feet.
Deke sighed with frustration. Her ankle was still quite swollen, and he knew it had to hurt. “Humor me, huh?” Sliding his arm around her shoulders, he held one of her hands as she half walked, half limped to the kitchen.
Mary Beth eased onto a chair at the table. “What’s that I smell?”
“Damn!” Deke made a beeline for the oven, jerked open the door and, using a battered pot holder, removed the tray of overbrowned biscuits. Disappointment outlined his features. “I think they’re a little overdone,” he stated, frowning as he put them on a plate and placed them on the table.
Her stomach growling, Mary Beth reached for one. Steam rose from the biscuit as she pulled it apart and took a bite. “They’re not too bad,” she assured him in an effort to make him feel better. “You didn’t have to do all this, Deke.”
He shrugged and joined her at the table, easing onto the chair next to her. It wasn’t a big deal, and he didn’t want her to read anything into it. “I was getting hungry, and I thought you’d be hungry, too.”
She smiled at him, her appreciation genuine. “I am hungry, and this looks delicious.”
Deke stopped in the middle of biting his biscuit. It was the first time Mary Beth had smiled since he’d arrived, and he felt the force of it all the way to his toes. Her hair, mussed from sleeping, made him want to run his hands through it, which made him want to kiss her, which made him want to…
“Is something wrong?” Mary Beth asked, watching him. He was staring at her as if she’d lost her front tooth.
Deke blinked. “What? No, sorry, I was, um, thinking about something,” he finished lamely, and he told himself to get a grip on his libido.
Mary Beth looked as confused as he felt, but thankfully, she let it drop as she slid some noodles and sauce onto her fork. Deke tried to look anywhere but at her. He saw the stack of old magazines he’d pushed aside earlier to make room on the table, and it reminded him of the picture on the refrigerator.
“Are you planning a trip?” he asked, attacking his food.
Startled by his question, Mary Beth stared at him. “No, why?”
He nodded at the stack of magazines on the table. “All of these travel magazines and that picture of Mexico on your fridge.” Pointing to it with his fork, he continued, “I thought maybe you were planning a trip.”
Her cheeks reddened, and she shook her head. “No, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Did you have to cancel a trip when you came home?”
She finished chewing a bite of the noodles. “No.” It was probably ridiculous for her to have hauled the magazines back here when she’d returned. But all of her life she’d wanted out of Crockett. Every day she caught herself dreaming of other cities, other countries, living anywhere but here.
But she wasn’t ready to admit to Deke or anyone else that she was trying to make the ranch a success so she could leave. Considering the shape it was in, he’d think that was downright laughable. Out of the corner of her eye she could see he was waiting for her to explain. Oh, God, how could she? She was foolish to believe that she’d one day live someplace exotic when she didn’t even have enough money to make minor repairs on the ranch.
Clearing her throat, she put down her fork. “I just like looking through them. After working so hard on the ranch every day, reading the stories and looking at the pictures helps me relax.”
He frowned thoughtfully as he digested her explanation. “Really?” Deke wasn’t quite sure why, but he had the suspicion there was more to it than that. A telling factor was the glowing red color on her cheeks and neck. He suppressed the urge to press her. “I’ll have to try that sometime.”
Mary Beth glanced his way, and he winked. Her chest constricted. He was making fun of her. “You think that’s funny?”
Sobering, Deke shook his head. “Absolutely not. I’ve never been to Mexico, but I can see the appeal of lying on a beach like that.” He nodded his head at the picture, drawing her attention to it. The thought of lying naked with Mary Beth on a deserted beach did crazy things to his self-control.
Her gaze slid over to the picture and landed on the lovers. She got his meaning. “Yes, well—” She cleared her throat. “I kept the picture for the scenery,” she quickly asserted, her eyes coming back to meet his. She tried her best not to imagine lying on a deserted beach with Deke, his hard naked body on hers, but her mind displayed the image with graphic clarity. Geez, it suddenly felt hot in the room. Mary Beth nearly groaned. It was an effort not to fan herself.
“Ah.” He drained the tea from his glass and shoved his chair back. “How about it, sweetheart? Wanna run off to Mexico together?” He knew he shouldn’t tease her, but he couldn’t help himself. He liked watching her blush.
Gathering a modicum of self-control, Mary Beth feigned a shocked expression. “And deprive all those buckle bunnies around the rodeo of your company? I wouldn’t think of it,” she answered, intentionally widening her eyes. “I’ve heard tell that if you’re a big bad bull rider, you can have your pick of women.”
Deke opened his mouth to deny the charge, but had to catch himself. There were plenty of women who hung around the rodeo, and admittedly he hadn’t turned a blind eye to them. But those women knew the score. They were nothing like Mary Beth. They were looking for a good time, not for happily-ever-after.
“Don’t believe everything you hear,” he said, deciding to play that part of rodeo life down. He wasn’t about to give her a reason to lower her opinion of him even more. “If you’re finished,” he said, abruptly getting to his feet, “I’ll clean this up.”
“You don’t need to,” Mary Beth rushed to tell him. “I’ll take care of them later.”
“Don’t worry about it. It won’t take me that long.”
“Deke—”
He scowled down at her. “Do you have to fight me on everything?”
“Do you have to be so obstinate about everything?” she countered.
Deke mentally began counting to ten. He got to five and felt more in control. “Look, why don’t you go in and watch television or something? I’ll take care of this mess, then get out of your hair.” At her disbelieving expression, he drew an invisible cross over his heart. “I promise.”
Giving up, Mary Beth sighed heavily. “I think I’ll just get ready for bed.” When she started to get up, Deke grasped her arm. To prove she could walk on her own, she put a little weight on her ankle. The sudden jolt of pain made her wince. “Oh!”
Deke swore under his breath as he swept
her up in his arms again. “Hold on.” His gut clenched when she slid her arms around his neck. “Don’t say a word, woman,” he cautioned, his eyes dark and stormy.
Mary Beth clamped her lips together as he carried her through the house to her bedroom. Once there, he deposited her gently on her bed, then looked around the small room. Satisfied she could reach her dresser from the bed, he turned his gaze back on her.
“I’ll leave you to get ready.” He pointed a finger at her. “Don’t get off that bed. When you’re ready, call out, and I’ll help you to the bathroom.”
“Yes, sir.” She gave him a military salute.
“Someday that smart mouth and sassy attitude’s gonna get you into trouble.”
“I’m scared.” It was obvious she wasn’t.
Deke’s gaze ran intimately over her. “You should be.”
Mary Beth watched him storm from the room. What on earth was wrong with her? All she had to do was bide her time, thank Deke for everything and watch him walk out of her life the way he’d done so easily two years ago. But no. She couldn’t do that. Instead, she’d gone out of her way to provoke him.
It just wasn’t in her nature to let another man run roughshod over her. She’d had enough of that from her father. She no longer had to listen to anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t do.
“Especially Deke,” she muttered, scooting to the edge of the bed. Pushing off, she hopped on one foot to the closet, opened the door, then took her nightgown and robe off of a hook.
Knowing he’d probably return at any moment, she struggled out of her clothes and tossed them on a nearby chair. Quickly she slipped on her nightgown and robe. Instead of waiting like Deke told her, she opened the door. Limping and hopping, she made her way to the bathroom in the hall.
She looked longingly at the tub, then decided there was no way she was going to get naked and take a bath with Deke McCall in her house. Then she caught a look at herself in the mirror and gasped. A wild mass of her curls had escaped her barrette and fell around her face in disarray. She removed the barrette, brushed the tangles out, then subdued it behind her neck again.
It took her a few more minutes to wash her face and brush her teeth. When she was ready to leave, she unlocked the door and opened it. Silently she peeked out into the hallway. Deke wasn’t anywhere in sight. Breathing a sigh of relief, she started to make her way back to her room with the same techniques she’d used to get to the bathroom. About halfway back to her room, she tripped when her foot caught on a throw rug. Trying to catch herself, she put all of her weight on her injured ankle.
She couldn’t help screaming as the floor came up to meet her. Before she could get her bearings, the sound of Deke’s boots pounding on the hardwood floor told her he’d heard her fall.
“Dammit, Mary Beth, I told you to wait!” His eyes narrowed as he stared at her sprawled on the floor, and his fingers tightened on the compress in his hand. Kneeling beside her, he lifted her and once again carried her to her bedroom. “You have got to be the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met!”
“I was trying to—”
“I know,” Deke said, gritting his teeth. Didn’t she realize she was doing more harm to herself? “You wanted to do it yourself.” Lowering her to the bed, he sat beside her and held on to her when she tried to scoot away. “Are you all right?” he asked, running his gaze over her, the irritation in his voice nearly gone.
“Yes. I’m fine.” Mary Beth’s response came out a whisper as she became aware of their intimate surroundings, of how good it felt to be touched by him. She stared at his blond hair as he ran his big hands over her arms, checking for bruises. He was sitting so close that she could see each single strand, so close that it would only take a slight move on her part to be in his arms.
Seeing that she looked as if she hadn’t done any damage to herself, Deke lifted his face to hers, and their eyes locked. He lost all sense of thought as his hands gripped her shoulders. Her scent surrounded him, stealing his ability to do something as simple as breathe.
He should let her go. It would be the smart thing to do. But Deke wasn’t thinking about being smart. All he could think about is what it would feel like to kiss her again.
“Look, I’m really sorry for yelling at you,” he said, his voice suddenly hoarse.
“It’s all right.” As if mesmerized, her eyes stayed on his.
“No, it isn’t. You’re going through a rough time. I should have been more patient.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. Her lips were perfectly sculpted, ripe for kissing.
For his kisses. His gut tightened another notch.
“You don’t have to be superwoman, Mary Beth. It isn’t a crime to let others help you.” Tears crested her eyes, and he realized then just how important it was for her to make the running of the ranch a success.
“I…I can’t…” She stopped speaking and turned her head aside, unable to get the words out without weeping. She wasn’t going to humiliate herself further in front of Deke.
Deke couldn’t stand the defeat he saw in her expression. But it was there, along with the despair in her eyes. He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. “Hang in there, Red,” he whispered, brushing his knuckles across her cheek in a soft caress. “Everything will work out.”
Calling her by her nickname provoked his desired effect. Her eyes chilled considerably.
“Don’t—”
“Call you Red,” he finished for her. An understanding smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah, I know.” He searched her expression, relieved to see that the anxiety in her eyes had eased.
She gave him a fragile smile. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He didn’t smile back. His senses reeled, and her warmth lured him closer. “Mary Beth,” he murmured, when her tongue slipped out and moistened her lips. He cupped the back of her head, tilting her face up to his.
Her lips parted, and their breaths mingled. Deke’s mouth slowly closed over hers, gently, briefly, then again with more pressure. Fire exploded throughout his body. Her palm came up against his chest, and it was all he could do not to crawl into the bed with her and strip her naked.
He sure wanted to.
He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth, touching the tip of hers. She moaned, a deep, longing sound that was enough to break the spell between them. He pulled away from her and got abruptly to his feet. Tasting her on his lips, he swore softly to himself.
What had he almost done?
This damn habit of comforting Mary Beth was getting totally out of control. He opened his mouth to speak, to apologize, but nothing came out. Then he did the unthinkable for the second time in his life.
He got the hell out of there.
Four
You should have stayed away. You’re only going to hurt her again.
Squinting from the early-morning sun, Deke traveled the road between the Bar M and Paradise, his foot momentarily hesitating over the brake pedal. He ignored the warning of his conscience, shifted his boot and mashed down on the gas. This was the right thing to do, he told himself. He was only going to check on Mary Beth.
Because you can’t stay away.
No, that wasn’t true, he argued with himself. She didn’t have anyone helping her. It was the least he could do. And he needed to apologize to her. He owed her that much.
Yet even now, thoughts of holding her in his arms again made him want a whole lot more.
Okay, you’re not even going to think about the kiss.
Just apologize. Straight-out. Sincere, but to the point.
The memory of that kiss continued to haunt him. It had been a mistake in more ways than one. First off, he’d enjoyed it too much. Secondly, he hadn’t wanted to stop at a kiss. It had taken every single ounce of his strength to pull away from her. Mary Beth was a pleasure that wasn’t his to have.
Kissing her had been a conscious choice. In the back of his mind, he’d thought to prove to himself that she was a temptation he could resist.
He’d been wrong.
Maybe he’d resisted her last night, but that one kiss had taught him that he still wanted her. What was he going to do about it? If he had any sense of self-preservation, he’d turn his truck around and head out of town.
Instead he braked, slowing down his truck to a speed just this side of dangerous for the curve ahead, then took the turn leading to Paradise. His truck bounced in and out of every hole in the dusty road before he pulled to a stop in front of her small ranch house.
Letting the engine idle, he absently stared out the front window of his truck and tried to dig up the nerve to go in and apologize for his disappearing act the night before. Without thinking twice about it, he could climb on the back of a thousand-pound bull full of power and rage. Why did facing Mary Beth seem like a fate worse than death?
Because you hurt her.
Again.
A tightness in his gut confirmed his thoughts. The wounded look in her eyes had haunted him all night. Running on just a couple of hours of sleep, he felt anxious and irritable. All because of what he’d done to her.
Well, hell, at least he was doing the right thing now.
Determined to get his apology over with before he chickened out, Deke grabbed his hat from the seat and slapped it on his head as he exited the truck. A movement at the side of the house caught his eye. Spotting Mary Beth, he came to an abrupt halt. Limping, she struggled to keep her balance as she walked.
“Mary Beth!” Her head swung in his direction, then just as quickly away. Deke crossed the yard, his heels kicking up dust. He glanced at the sunny, blue sky. The storm that had threatened last night had never arrived. But from Mary Beth’s cold expression, he had a feeling he was about to face a storm of a different kind—a fury he well deserved.
Mary Beth’s steps faltered, then she recovered and disappeared around the corner of the house.
Deke! Oh, God! What was he doing here? And dammit, why did her heart do a special little beat at the sight of him?
She clenched her fists. How dare he show up this morning? After the way he’d treated her last night, he could go to hell. She’d thought he’d changed. He’d made this big pretense of wanting to help her, wanting to make sure she was all right. Foolishly she’d let down her guard.
Her Texan Temptation Page 4
