A Texan in Her Bed

by Sara Orwig

  “His office is in the other side of this building. I’ll show you. You have a good time,” he said, standing when she did. With mere inches between them she lost her breath again as she gazed into his blue eyes.

  “That is the prettiest purple sweater I’ve ever seen,” he said, slipping his fingers beneath the neckline at her collarbone and then sliding his hand down the V. His feathery touch drifted down and she tingled, wanting his hands on her, remembering his caresses.

  “Wyatt,” she whispered.

  He closed the sliver of space between them, sliding his arm around her waist and drawing her to him while he kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him in return. Her heart raced as she inhaled the scent of his tangy aftershave, felt the hardness of his body pressed against her, tasted him, reacted to his kisses. She wanted another night with him, hours of loving.

  Finally, she stepped away. “Wyatt, what you do to me is a sin,” she whispered.

  “No, it’s not. What I want to do to you is a sin. And I will again, Destiny.”

  “I’m going to be late,” she said, gazing up at him. She stepped away, straightening her clothing.

  Wyatt held the door for her and as they entered the reception area, he pointed to a hallway.

  “Take that hallway and you’ll see his office or you can go out and enter through the other front door.”

  “I’m going to say something to Duke who’s in the limo, so I’ll just go the front way.” She smiled at Corporal Quinby. “Thanks, Dwight. You have a real nice day,” she said and he smiled in return.

  * * *

  “Bye, Ms. Jones,” Dwight said, jumping to his feet and going to hold the front door for her, something Wyatt could not recall seeing Dwight do for anyone under seventy years of age.

  “Dwight, it’s Destiny. Call me Destiny,” she said, pausing to look into his eyes. As he grinned, his face turned red.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “Yes, Destiny.”

  As the door closed behind her, he turned and looked at Wyatt. “A man could get paralyzed looking at her,” he said, blinking and pushing his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose.

  “I hope not,” Wyatt said, looking at the door and thinking about Destiny.

  “What’s funny—my wife wants to meet her because she loves her book.”

  “Get your wife down here and introduce them. Destiny loves people.” With a sigh Wyatt went back to his office to call Nick and see about dinner. He would give Jake and Madison a call in case they were back and wanted to come meet Destiny.

  When he couldn’t get any of the three of them, he left word on their answering machines and then sat back to send each sibling a text, but his mind was on Destiny. Her perfume still lingered and he recalled running his fingers beneath the edge of the neckline of her sweater, feeling her warm, soft skin and curves that made him hot.

  Dinner at his place—and then when the brothers left, he would have her there to himself. He made a mental note to tell her he would pick her up. He didn’t want Duke bringing her to his place in the limo and then hanging out until after dinner to take her home. No, Wyatt wanted her all to himself after the family left.

  He wondered what she and Ernie were seeing and what Ernie was telling her. He suspected a historic tour of Verity had new sights to see. The tour probably would keep Ernie busy for the next two hours.

  His phone rang and caller ID indicated Jake Calhoun.

  “So you’re back,” he said.

  “Yes, we are.” It was Madison who answered.

  “You sound happy.”

  “I am, Wyatt. Happier than I’ve ever been.” She paused to take a breath. “So I hear you’ve met Destiny Jones. We weren’t here when she came to town, but she said she met you.”

  “Oh, yes. You’ve talked to Destiny?”

  “Yes. That’s why I’m calling. She called me this morning and asked me for an interview this afternoon at two o’clock. She’s heard about the Milan-Calhoun feud and she wants to talk about it.”

  Wyatt shook his head. “Damn. I told her no interview with me. She hasn’t said a word to me about any Milan-Calhoun interview with you today and I just saw her. She didn’t tell me she would ask other members of my family.” His hand tightened on the phone. He had known she would stir up trouble over the feud. He’d been right about that from the start.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but evidently, you’re not going to get interviewed by Ms. Jones,” Madison said and he could hear the laughter in her voice, which added to his annoyance.

  “I don’t want to be interviewed, dammit. I’ve turned her down on an interview. I don’t want her to stir up that old feud. With your marriage to Jake, things are smoothing over a bit between the families. We don’t need a stranger to sail into town and fan the flames of old angers and bad feelings.”

  “Maybe she’ll just talk about how the feud is over and how happy a Milan can be married to a Calhoun.” Madison’s smile was audible.

  “She didn’t come to Texas to get background for a show of sweetness and light.”

  “She’ll interview Jake and me, and I think she is calling one of his siblings and maybe another one of mine. Obviously, it’s not you. I thought I’d give you a heads-up.”

  “Thank you for that,” Wyatt said. “Any chance of getting you to back out of it?”

  “I don’t think so. Why should I? It’s an old story that everyone around here knows, so what’s the harm?”

  “I just figure it may stir up hard feelings.”

  “I won’t do that and neither will Jake. Especially since we just got married,” she said, the tone of her voice softening. He was happy for her and didn’t want to intrude on that happiness or spoil even a fraction of it.

  “Sure. When and where is this interview—at Jake’s ranch or yours?”

  “Neither. I’ve moved into Jake’s home on his ranch, but the interview is in Verity. It’s in the Verity Hotel lobby,” she replied. “You can come observe if you’d like.”

  He wanted to groan. “I should have known. Thank you for the heads-up. When she came to town she drew a crowd and had an impromptu press conference that got reporters here from as far away as Dallas. They must have been coming to Verity anyway or got a chopper here. Get ready for a lot of attention. Have you seen her yet?”

  “No. She said I can’t miss her—she has red curly hair. So do a lot of other people, but I’ll find her.”

  “Madison, you couldn’t miss her if you were blind. You’ll smell her perfume, hear her jewelry clinking, hear her laughter. No one else in Texas looks like her.”

  “Am I talking to Wyatt Milan?”

  “Very funny.”

  “Well, now I’m interested in meeting her. Really interested. I’ve never heard you give that much description of a woman.”

  “As sheriff I’ve learned to be more observant,” he remarked, knowing his sister was teasing him. “I’ll be there with my deputy. Do your best to convey that the feud is over.”

  “I will. All she has to do is look at me with Jake.”

  “I’m sure that’s the truth. Now, on another subject—how about you and Jake come for dinner Friday night at my place? Nick and Tony want to meet Destiny, although now they’ll get to if they come watch this interview, but they want to get to talk to her.”

  “Friday night is fine with me. I’ll check with Jake and let you know.”

  “Good. See you this afternoon.”

  He ended the call and swore quietly, getting up and going to the lobby where Dwight was at his desk, typing on his computer.

  “If you want to let your wife know, Destiny Jones is going to interview members of my family at the Verity Hotel this afternoon at two o’clock. That will draw another crowd.”

  “She’s a busy woman. She’ll put Verity
on the map.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not sure Verity wants to be on the map.” Wyatt rubbed his neck. “She’s interviewing my family about the feud.”

  “Oh, my. Which one? Nick?”

  “No, Madison and Jake Calhoun. Who knows who else, but she sure as hell didn’t ask me to give her an okay to do this.” Wyatt thought his deputy looked as if he tried to hide a laugh.

  “I’m sure she didn’t. You would have killed the interview.”

  “Yes, I would have.” He left and heard his cell phone ring.

  When he answered, it was his brother Tony. “I know you’ve already talked to Madison. I thought I’d tell you two things. One, thanks for the dinner invitation and I’ll be there Friday night.”

  “Great. You’ll have a chance to talk to her at length. Now, what else?”

  “She called me and I have an interview with her this afternoon at the Verity Hotel about the feud.”

  “Would it do me any good to ask you to try to avoid stirring up trouble? That feud is beginning to die a natural death. Don’t bring it back to life.”

  “I’ll try not to, Wyatt, but I know she’s also interviewing Lindsay Calhoun, so don’t expect too much.”

  “Oh, dammit, Tony. You and Lindsay fight constantly. The two of you will fan the flames of this old feud until it’s blazing away again.”

  “I’ll try to soften my answers, but she better lay off antagonizing me.”

  “If she antagonizes you, try to save up telling her off until you’re away from a microphone and far away from Destiny.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Tony, don’t make things worse,” Wyatt said.

  “Okay, okay. Are you going to be there?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “See you then,” Tony said right before he hung up. Once again Wyatt swore quietly. He walked back to the lobby.

  “I called my wife. She’s coming for the interview.”

  “Yeah, and everyone else in town, including all the Milans and the Calhouns. I don’t want it to turn into a circus. Destiny doesn’t have a calming effect on people. If I can just keep my family calm, hopefully, Jake or one of the Calhouns will keep a cool head. It damn well won’t be Lindsay or Tony.” Wyatt shook his head and left, walking across the street in long strides as he headed to the Verity Hotel.

  Without stopping at the desk, Wyatt went to Destiny’s suite and knocked.

  In minutes she opened the door and her eyes widened when she faced him. “Come in, I think.” She stepped back as he entered.

  * * *

  “I thought it was Amy or Duke or Virginia at the door. I didn’t even look out,” Destiny said.

  “Maybe you should be more careful.”

  “Come in,” she said, leading the way into the living area. His blue eyes were as dark as a stormy sky and she could feel his disapproval when she opened the door. “Have a seat, Wyatt,” she said, sitting on a corner of the sofa and folding one leg beneath her. The look of fury had lessened and now he had a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Puzzled at the change in him, she wondered why he was here. He sat near the center of the sofa, not far from her. Her gaze dropped to his mouth while memories of his kisses made her conscious of how close he sat.

  “So this is the way you sit around the house when you’re just hanging out?” he asked.

  She looked down at her designer clothes. She wore lounging slacks and a silk top in bold black-and-white stripes and high-heeled black sandals.

  “Sometimes,” she said. “When I travel I see others whom I don’t know or don’t know well. Sometimes it pays to be dressed decently. Like right now.”

  “I don’t know about ‘decently.’ What you do for that outfit—I’d describe it in a different way.”

  “I know you didn’t come here to check out what I’m wearing.”

  “I sure as hell didn’t,” Wyatt said. “Did you know you’re getting ready to do something that will hurt my family and maybe a lot of people?”

  “Wyatt, you and I have different views of the world. I’m not trying to hurt your family or anyone else. The feud is interesting and I’m not going to rekindle it with my questions. Your sister married a Calhoun. If anything this should show the town and the state that feuds can be resolved—time passes and they die. Now, what’s wrong with that?”

  “If you were just interviewing Madison and Jake, I would not be as concerned. You’re interviewing Tony and Lindsay who despise each other and fight on a weekly basis in every way they can.”

  “Is that right? Just because those two can’t get along, it isn’t going to start the feud up again. Besides, it obviously has never completely died. It’s just news and interesting. If I don’t write about it, sooner or later someone else will.”

  “I’d rather take that chance and maybe it would be way later and not even matter so much when there are Milan-Calhoun descendants who have blood from both families.”

  “You’re worrying for nothing. Sheriff Milan, take the afternoon off, go fishing, enjoy life and you won’t know the difference tomorrow.”

  “So you’re going ahead with the interview?”

  “That’s what I came to Verity to do, and you’re not giving me a valid reason to cancel it, so yes, I’m going to interview your sister, who is very nice and friendly. She didn’t seem worried about having an interview.”

  “She is just back from her short honeymoon. She isn’t going to worry about anything right now. The whole world is a rosy place and she is deliriously happy.”

  “How nice. Well, that should come across in the interview. Relax, Wyatt. I’m not going to stir up a generations-old feud.”

  He turned away, not answering her, and she sat in silence studying his profile, wishing he wasn’t angry with her. But he was being ridiculous about an ancient family feud. Through the years, it seemed to have turned more into a legend, and while her grandmother didn’t have kind words for the Milans, she really hadn’t ever been involved with one.

  Finally, he stood. “All right, Destiny. I’ll be back at two o’clock just to make sure everything stays quiet and peaceful.”

  As she stood, she faced him. “I really think you’d be happier if you would go fishing, play golf, ride a horse or whatever it is that you enjoy doing.”

  His expression changed, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he stepped closer. “You know what I enjoy doing most?” he asked in a husky voice that warmed her insides and changed their conversation.

  “You know what I meant, Wyatt. Something fun you like.”

  “I’m talking about the most fun possible and what I like most.” The deep tone of his voice seemed to caress her as his hands would have. She tingled and lost her train of thought for a moment.

  “I’ll be happy to have you in the audience,” she whispered finally. “As a matter of fact, would you like me to ask you to say a few words from your perspective about the family feud?”

  He stepped closer to her, making her heart race. She tried to keep from looking at his mouth and thinking about kisses. “You ask me anything about the family feud and you’ll regret bringing it up. I’ll be so damn dull, I’ll kill your interview.”

  Her smile broadened. “I do believe I’ve pierced our sheriff’s laid-back armor, that ‘nothing ever really disturbs me’ attitude.”

  “Watch out, Destiny,” he said in a low voice.

  “Now you’re giving me a challenge. You think you can dull my interview? It might be worth it just to try to break through that impenetrable cool attitude you carry off in the face of all kinds of turmoil.”

  “If you want to break through my laid-back attitude, there’s a far easier way to do so,” he said.

  Her smile faded. He stood as close as he could without touching h
er. His eyes were no longer dark blue with anger, but had transformed to crystal blue with a heavy-lidded gaze that held blatant desire. His attention shifted lower to her mouth and her lips parted. Without thought, she leaned toward him a fraction, pressing against him, and his arm circled her waist. He pulled her up against him and leaned down to kiss her, his mouth hard and demanding, his kiss passionate. His other hand tangled in her hair, sending pins and the ribbon flying, causing locks to fall over her shoulders.

  He leaned over her and she held him tightly, clinging to him while she moaned, wanting him desperately. His hand slid over her, caressing her, freeing buttons, and he shoved the top open to cup her breast in his hand. Her small cry of pleasure seemed to come from far away. She held Wyatt, sliding one hand over his muscled shoulders and chest, kissing him wantonly, desiring him with all her being. How could he do this to her so effortlessly?

  “Wyatt, the bedroom,” she whispered.

  Never breaking contact with her lips, he picked her up. She didn’t open her eyes, but was lost in his kisses. She felt him carrying her, not caring what was happening as long as she was in his arms and he was kissing her.

  As he stood her on her feet, his hands caressed her breasts. “You’re so beautiful. All I can think about is you,” he whispered and leaned down to kiss her breast while his hand slipped beneath the silk pants and he stroked her between her thighs.

  She gasped and held his shoulders while writhing with need. With an urgency that made her hands tremble she peeled away his brown shirt and trailed kisses over his chest as she undid his belt and then his uniform slacks, pushing them off his narrow hips.

  After he picked her up to place her on the bed, he turned away to get protection.

  “Wyatt, come to me,” she whispered, running her hands over his muscled thighs.

  “I wanted you, Destiny.” He lowered himself between her legs and entered her, filling her in one smooth motion, moving slowly while she thrashed beneath him.

  Wanting him with her whole being, she scaled the peak quickly, bursting with release, enveloped in ecstasy. He pumped faster, until seconds later she felt him shudder. His arms wrapped around her, pressing her close while they still moved together, even after they were sated.