Halloween at the Corral

by Debra St. John

  Rob’s eyebrows drew together. He looked back and forth between them. “Oh, okay.”

  Dan bit the inside of his cheek, hard, to keep from laughing. Nice to see his normally fluent brother at a loss for words.

  Mom frowned. “Anyway, Robert was just telling us about the paper he published in Medical Weekly. He’s been asked to do another lecture circuit this winter.”

  Kelly sat on the loveseat, then scooted closer so her leg touched Dan’s when he joined her. “What will you be lecturing about?”

  Rob resumed his seat. “Our hospital is a forerunner in the field of cardiac laser surgery. Unlike traditional surgeries, there’s less scarring and recovery time. Hopefully other medical facilities can use our advances as an example and improve the quality of their care.”

  Dan forced himself not to roll his eyes. The warm pressure of Kelly’s thigh against his made Rob’s usual self-important tone more bearable. Poor Kelly. He really should have warned her. Luckily, before Rob, or Mom, could expound anymore on Rob’s brilliance, Carmen walked into the room. She’d been their live-in housekeeper for as long as he could remember.

  “Brunch is ready, ma’am.”

  “Shall we head into the dining room, then?”

  Mom and Dad led the way out of the room. Rob stood but let Kelly and Dan precede him.

  Dan leaned close and whispered in her ear. “You doing okay?”

  “Never better.” Her hand cupped the cheek of his ass and squeezed gently.

  Rob choked on his drink.

  Dan grinned. Damn. He was really, really starting to like this girl.

  Chapter Six

  “Can I talk you into a burger at The Corral?” Dan asked. The familiar buildings of Main Street came into view. Despite the presence of the hundred-pound gorilla in the car, their conversation on the way home had been casual. Easy. Hadn’t once touched on the dysfunctional family brunch they’d just attended. “Or you can come to my place and I can impress you with my microwave cooking skills.”

  Kelly turned in the seat. “I thought you didn’t invite girls to your place.”

  “Isn’t that a moot point since you spent most of the day there Saturday? Not to mention I thought I told you, you aren’t like other girls. The normal rules don’t apply.”

  As mouth-watering as the burgers were at The Corral, the lure of spending time alone with Dan won hands-down. Plus, their upcoming conversation was probably better held in private. How would he react when she expressed her opinion about his family?

  “If there’s popcorn involved in that microwave offer, I’m in.”

  “Just picked up a new box of kettle corn yesterday.”

  “What are we waiting for?”

  Less than fifteen minutes later, Kelly kicked off her shoes, settled onto Dan’s leather couch, and tucked one leg under the other knee. He handed her the bowl of popcorn, then joined her, looking much more at ease in jeans and a T-shirt, having changed out of his suit while their snack popped.

  “Thank you.”

  Kelly chewed and swallowed a bite of sweet and salty fluff. “For what?”

  “For not running out of there screaming.”

  She laughed. “That was definitely an experience. You were testing me, weren’t you?”

  He didn’t look away. “Maybe a little bit. As you get closer to figuring out who I am, I wanted to be sure you could handle some of my deepest, darkest secrets.”

  “Hoity toity relatives aren’t necessarily a deep, dark secret.” She took another handful of popcorn. “So, how did you become the black sheep of the family?” She kept her tone light, not wanting to give free rein to the anger lurking beneath the surface. Truth be told, she’d wanted to smack someone silly at brunch today. Either Dan’s dad for being a backboneless patriarch. Or his mom for her obvious preference for his older brother, who apparently could do no wrong, even though he was a know-it-all asshole. Thus also making him a candidate for a good slap upside the head.

  Seriously. How had Dan turned out so normal growing up surrounded by all of that?

  “When I decided to be a bull rider. It was either that or run away and join the circus, but clowns freak the shit out of me, so that was never really an option. The only other choice was the rodeo.”

  “The rodeo has clowns, too.”

  “Totally different. Rodeo clowns save my ass, not scare the crap out of it.”

  Kelly laughed. “When you put it that way… And okay, I can see why joining the rodeo instead of heading off to college and following in dear old Robert’s footsteps wouldn’t sit well with your mom.”

  Dan shifted. “Actually, there’s a little more to it than that.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “My, uh, rebellion didn’t happen until after college. I earned an undergraduate degree in biology and then got accepted to Loyola Medical School.”

  Well, that explained the sutures and the expert care he’d taken with her finger the other day. “Impressive.”

  “One would think, but Rob set the bar by going to Harvard Medical School.”

  The bitter edge of his voice chipped at Kelly’s heart.

  “One day I decided I was done living in the shadows. I’d spent my entire life trying to follow in Rob’s footsteps and live up to the standards he set. But nothing I did was ever good enough. So I turned down the placement.

  “Through a friend of a friend, I wound up having drinks with Jake Hawkins at The Corral. One thing led to another, and I decided to climb on the back of a bull. Turns out I was pretty damn good at it.”

  “I’ll say.” The multitude of buckles on the mantel were proof of that.

  “For once, I wasn’t Rob Jenkins’ little brother: almost as good, but not quite.”

  Kelly set the popcorn bowl on the table, scooted over, and laid her head on Dan’s shoulder. No wonder he basked in the attention of his fan club members. He never got any accolades at home. And the superficial admiration meant he never let anyone get close enough to see the vulnerability beneath the good ol’ boy mask.

  Would a smack along with a good shake to knock some sense into his family work? Unfortunately serving time for an assault and battery rap would mean missing out on being with Dan. And that was unthinkable.

  Because now that she had him figured out, she was ever so close to losing her heart to him. Despite growing up in the shadow of his arrogant brother, he’d turned into a successful, well-respected man. On his own terms.

  Even though his parents were clueless—and that was being overly kind—he was a dutiful son and showed up to brunch in a suit because it made his mom happy. He’d done his own thing, but hadn’t entirely turned his back on his family. Which was good. Because families were important. Even the haughty ones.

  Dan pulled strands of her hair through his fingers. “So, after the longest silence in the history of the world…what conclusion did your one semester of required psych lead you to? Have you figured out who I am?”

  “Yep.”

  He sucked in a breath. Held it. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”

  She sat up and looked him straight in the eyes. They were bluer again. Earlier they’d taken on more of a gray tone when he’d been wearing his suit. “You’re a son and a brother. A college graduate. An almost doctor. A consummate flirt. And a damn good bull rider.”

  He exhaled. “But which one of those is the real me?”

  “All of them.”

  He frowned. “Sounds like the signs of a multiple personality disorder.”

  “No, silly. They’re what makes you you.”

  “In a good way or a bad way?”

  “In a good way. At least for me.” She leaned closer and kissed him. “Although I could live without all the flirting with other girls.”

  “I think I could live without that too.” He ran his lips along the underside of her jaw.

  She shivered. “You only think? ’Cause if you were certain, there’s one more label to add to the list of what you are.”

  “Oh
yeah? What’s that?” His nose nudged aside the collar of her shirt so he could plant an open mouthed kiss in the curve where her shoulder met her neck.

  “Kelly Harper’s boyfriend.”

  “I’m certain.” His hands spanned her waist and dropped to her hips. “Although, the label will only be a temporary one.”

  She arched a brow. “Planning on moving on already?” The teasing hid the spasm of pain his words inflicted. Had she read him wrong?

  “No, silly. Soon it will be Kelly Harper’s fiancé. And then Kelly Harper’s husband after that.”

  Her heart swelled. “You sure don’t waste any time, do you? What happened to taking it slow?”

  “When something is right, why beat around the bush?”

  “I like the way you think.”

  “Good.” He nibbled at her lips. “So, Dan Jenkin’s girlfriend, do you want to go to the Halloween party at The Corral with me this weekend?”

  “You bet your jack-o-lantern’s ass I do.”

  ****

  Faux webs and black plastic spiders hung from the rafters of The Corral. Orange crepe paper wrapped the posts. Cardboard cutouts of mummies, bats, ghosts, and pumpkins decorated the walls. On the dance floor Darth Vader two-stepped by with Princess Leia. Raggedy Ann twirled in the arms of a hobo. Across the room, a skeleton did a jig over by the pool tables.

  Dan led Kelly into a smooth turn while keeping their steps in synch with the beat of the music. The shadow from the brim of his cowboy hat couldn’t hide eyes reflecting the deep blue of his striped, button down shirt.

  “I thought you said you were going to dress up.” Not that she was complaining. The ties holding his chaps in place outlined the finest rear end on the parquet floor.

  “I did dress up. I came as a saddle bronc rider.”

  Kelly laughed.

  “By the way.” He leaned closer. The scent of his aftershave washed over her. “You make a damn sexy nurse. If all nurses looked like you, I would have thought twice about quitting med school.”

  Add wicked sense of humor to the ever-growing list of traits she loved about him. Yep. That’s right. She was falling head over heels for Dan Jenkins. Who woulda thunk it?

  “How about a beer?” Dan took her hand and led them from the floor when the song ended.

  “Sure.” She hopped up on the high stool at their table.

  “Be right back.” He kissed her cheek.

  “So, you’d never go out with a guy like Dan, huh?” Tina, dressed like a harem girl, slid onto the chair across from Kelly.

  “Okay, you were right. Never say never and all that.”

  “So, is it serious?”

  Kelly hesitated. She fidgeted with the small pumpkin in the middle of the table. Since they’d already label jumped from boyfriend to husband in one discussion, serious was one way to define their relationship, new as it was. However, private was another term that came to mind. It wasn’t anybody’s damn business.

  “Never mind. You don’t need to say anything. Your expression kind of gave you away anyway.”

  “Thanks. It’s…new.” Kelly looked away from a heavily made-up Cleopatra giving her the evil eye. “And not everyone is thrilled.”

  Tina waved her hand. “Ignore them. It’s jealousy pure and simple. They’ll get over it.”

  “No worries. Once they get over the disbanding of the Dan Jenkins Fan Club, all will be well.”

  Tina snorted. “Ha. And hey, I really didn’t mean to be a busybody. I’m happy for you guys. Just promise you’ll tell me when you get your matching tattoos.”

  Kelly smiled. “You got it.”

  “Who’s getting matching tattoos?” Dan set a long necked bottle in front of Kelly.

  “You and me. What do you think?”

  “I’m in.”

  Tina grinned. “I knew it.” She hopped down. “You two enjoy the rest of your evening.” She wiggled her fingers in a wave and walked away.

  The opening beat to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” pumped through the room’s speakers. A crowd of costumed people rushed to the floor to queue up for the zombie dance.

  Dan took a sip of beer. “You gonna dance?”

  “Not to this.”

  “Too pop culture for you?”

  “Too much creepy, not enough cozy.”

  “Right.”

  “How long do you want to stick around?”

  “Are you ready to leave? I thought nothing would drag you away from a Halloween party, even with a little Michael Jackson creepiness thrown in.”

  “It’s not that. I just thought it’s a shame to waste this costume in a crowded room.” She ran the tip of her finger across the back of his hand. “You know, just because you didn’t finish med school doesn’t mean we can’t play doctor.”

  Chapter Seven

  “I know you’re the one with the almost-medical degree, but since I’m dressed for the part, I think you should be the patient tonight.” Kelly tilted her head and looked at Dan from beneath her lashes.

  He swallowed. “Works for me.”

  “Excellent.” She placed her hand on his forehead. “You seem to be a bit feverish and over-heated. We need to get you out of those clothes and have you lie down for a bit.”

  Dan’s fingers went to the snaps on his shirt. He paused. “I think I’m too weak to manage on my own.”

  A multifaceted thrill shot through her. He was playing along and would soon be bare-chested. What more could a girl ask for? “That’s why I’m here. Let me help you with that.” She pushed his hands out of the way and slowly, one at a time, popped the fasteners open until the fabric parted to reveal a sculpted chest and—thank the Great Pumpkin—a set of six-pack abs.

  She ran her fingers over the defined muscles. He sucked in a breath.

  “Just doing an initial exam. Making sure everything is in order.” She splayed her hand over his heart. It raced beneath her palm. “A good, healthy heartbeat.”

  He grabbed her hips and yanked her close. The jut of his arousal bulged behind the fly of his jeans.

  “Ah. Reflexes are strong. Very strong.” She twisted the button open. “But to be sure, I think a closer examination is necessary.” She eased down the zipper and then slid her hand into the opening to cup him. He twitched and jerked. “There seems to be some swelling.”

  Anticipation surged to match.

  “We’ll have to find a remedy for that.” She stepped away. “Please remove your pants and lie down on the bed.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The slow, husky drawl sent a shot of adrenaline straight to her lady parts. He took a few square packets from his wallet and tossed them on the comforter, then shucked both jeans and boxers and fell back on the brown fabric. His erection stood bold and proud.

  Kelly licked her lips. She kneeled with her legs on either side of his. He reached up and undid the buttons down the front of her white dress, then pushed it off her shoulders, leaving her clad in a bra, panties, and thigh-high stockings and heels.

  His breath hissed out. “If I had known that’s what you were wearing underneath your dress we never would have made it to the party.”

  “See? And you thought dressing up was just for kids.”

  “Turns out I’m becoming a huge fan of Halloween.” He ran his finger beneath the lacy edge of her bra. “Although, to be honest, it’s taking the dress off rather than the dressing up that does it for me.” He flicked the front clasp and the lacy cups parted. “Oh yes. Off is definitely better.” His erection brushed her belly when he sat up and sucked the tip of one breast into his mouth.

  Despite the almost over-powering need to have him inside her and become one with him in every sense of the word, she wasn’t done playing yet. She’d never been this free or uninhibited before. Kelly flattened her hands on his chest and pushed. Her nipple popped out of his mouth. He blew on the moistened tip causing it to tighten further.

  She gritted her teeth against the sensual pull. “Mr. Jenkins, you seem to be straining yourself.” Her vo
ice quivered. “We can’t have that. Lie back down, please.”

  He playfully nipped the swell of her breast, then obediently lay back down. “Sorry, nurse Harper. I’ll be good now.”

  “I think it’s time for your sponge bath.” She dipped a washcloth in the water glass on the nightstand, then dragged it down his chest, circling his pecs. She stroked each defined ridge surrounding his navel, then squeezed, allowing water to pool in his concave stomach. With tiny kiss-like sips, she sucked the moisture from his skin. Moving lower, her tongue traced the line of hair arrowing down between his hipbones.

  His breath hitched. The tendons in his hands stood out as he grabbed the comforter. “Kelly.” His voice was hoarse. Urgent.

  She looked up.

  His eyes were wild. His jaw tense. “I won’t even last eight seconds if you do that, and I want to be inside you the first time.” He slid his fingers beneath her panties. “Are you ready for me?”

  His thumb circled in just the right spot. Tendrils of sensation unfurled and undulated through her limbs. A whimper escaped. Kelly bit her lip.

  He slid one finger into her. She jerked against him. “What makes you think I can last eight seconds?”

  He nudged the lace aside to expose her. “Open one of those.” He nodded toward the packets on the bed.

  Somehow despite the fine tremors shaking her from head to toe, she managed to roll the sheath on him.

  “Are you ready to ride me?”

  “Aren’t you mixing your fantasies?” she teased. “I thought we were playing doctor. Did we switch to cowgirl?”

  “Good point.” He tumbled their positions so he poised above her, arms braced on either side of her shoulders. The tip of his straining erection brushed between her thighs. “No more pretending tonight. Just the real thing. You and me. Together. Right where we were meant to be.” He slid into her.

  Every nerve in her body redirected to the spot where he filled her so completely. Not just her body, but her very being now belonged to him. Kelly wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him close.

  They lay still for immeasurable heartbeats. Then he shifted to look into her eyes. “All those things you said I was the other day?”