by Starla Kaye
* * * * *
“I’m so pissed with you,” Cole snapped, holding his phone and looking out his bedroom window while he talked to his sister. He’d managed to get cleaned up, dressed, and started re-thinking his decision to help with Mandie’s session soon. “Tricking me into letting your friend stay here this summer. Hell, I don’t think I can survive another week.”
“She’s getting to you,” Victoria said with a definite smile in her voice.
Getting to him? No, she’d already gotten to him, which greatly worried him. He didn’t want a relationship of any kind with a woman right now. But he sure as hell couldn’t stop thinking about Mandie telling him that she was more than up for having an affair this summer…with him or with some other man on his ranch. He didn’t want to have an affair with her. Even more, though, he refused to see her have an affair with one of his men. Trapped. Dammit.
“How are you feeling today?” Victoria asked, sounding worried. “I wish you’d called me yourself yesterday. At least Aunt Bessie did. Mandie called, too. She was really worried about you, felt guilty about what happened.”
He looked across the ranch yard toward the arena. Rusty and a couple of the ranch hands were working with the ornery gelding today. Naturally, the horse was finally behaving.
“I told her it wasn’t entirely her fault.”
“Not her fault at all, bro. You’ve been riding and breaking horses long enough to know better than to get distracted with a spirited horse.”
“Yeah, I know. Still….” He vividly remembered seeing Mandie in that sexy T-shirt, that suggestive T-shirt. “She’s a frustrating woman. Trouble. Do you have any idea what sort of things she teaches her clients? How to flirt. That’s what she’s teaching this afternoon.”
“It’s an excellent session. I’ve heard it.”
Cole spotted Mandie at the far end of the arena where she and her group had been watching the breaking-in lesson with Rusty and his men. He squinted but couldn’t read the front of her T-shirt. No doubt something else strange and suggestive. It distracted him enough that he mumbled, “Well, I’m supposed to be part of the session today. She was going to have Rusty help her, but….” He slammed his mouth shut.
Victoria, of course, giggled. “You’re her guinea pig for the flirting class? Oh, that’s great!”
“Nothing great about it. And I’m reconsidering helping her.” Except he didn’t want her having Rusty take his place. His fool friend would really get off on working with her, on flirting with her.
“Maybe you need some tips, bro,” Victoria teased.
He was about to snap back at her when Rusty ambled toward Mandie. He didn’t have to see her to know she’d flash him one of her bright smiles. “I don’t need any tips on flirting. I’ve got to go.” He ended the call before she could make another wise-ass crack.
Resigned to acting the fool, he headed out of the bedroom. His head still throbbed. His ribs ached like the very devil. But damn if he was going to lounge around up here and let Rusty turn on his charm and make a play for Mandie. That woman! He’d known from the second he set eyes on her that she’d be trouble. Maybe he’d turn her over his knee and wallop her good—like she’d suggested. Okay, she hadn’t teased him about giving her a serious spanking, but still….
* * * * *
Mandie had just settled her group into the gathering room in the guest lodge when she heard heavy boots thudding across the wooden porch. Anticipation threaded through her. Cole. She hadn’t been sure he would show up, hoped he would, but not sure. Now she felt nervous. Flirting with him was one thing. Having him help her with her class on flirting was something entirely different. But she knew a great deal about the subject and she had a feeling he knew very little. Typical man.
She sucked in a breath, turned to face him with a welcoming smile, and tried to still the nerves dancing like live wires in her stomach. “I’m glad you could join us.”
He shot an uneasy glance at the three couples scattered around the large room and seated on several leather sofas. They’d all witnessed him getting thrown in the arena yesterday. They’d all asked about him this morning. He nodded in their general direction and removed his hat, setting it on peg by the door. “I said I’d be here.”
Yes, he had and Cole Whitlock was a man of his word. Even if it cost him. From the way he stood there so stiffly, his jaw tight and lines of pain bracketing his mouth, she knew the man belonged in bed, not here. She owed him for this effort.
She motioned him over to where she stood by the stone fireplace that spanned the wall across from the windows. As he walked closer she said, “I don’t believe any of you have formally met him yet. This is Cole Whitlock. He and his sister, Victoria, a good friend of mine, own the CW Ranch.”
His lips thinned at the mention of his sister. Evidently Victoria’s rather sneaky way of arranging for her to be here this summer was still a sore subject. He gave her clients another nod of greeting.
When he stopped next to her, he gave her a quick glance that promised she’d pay for this later. He didn’t want to do this, but he’d promised and he would do what she needed. He knew he’d been maneuvered again. Resigned to accepting whatever her due was in his mind, she flashed him a look of acknowledgment. “Mr. Whitlock has graciously agreed to help with this session.”
He turned to face the small group. “Cole. I’m just Cole,” he countered gruffly.
Mandie quickly introduced him to the Hendersons, a middle-aged couple from Indiana, who gushed about the pleasure of staying at his ranch. After that she introduced the stern-faced, balding banker, Edward Spithaven, and his sullen-looking wife, Elizabeth. Finally she introduced the elderly newlywed couple from Nebraska, the Talbots.
Cole gave each couple a tense smile and stood rigidly beside her. She sensed the pain radiating from him and felt guilty for putting him through this. He should be in bed, she thought again, but she the selfish part of her was glad he’d come.
She decided not to drag out the introductions further and reached over to lightly run her fingers down the length of his coal gray shirtsleeve. He flinched and nearly pulled away, but a look of reassurance from her had him calming.
“I love this shirt. The color, the way it brings out the darkness of your eyes. The softness of the fabric.” Mandie stroked the sleeve again, leaning closer and watching his anxious gaze. He drew in a shuddery breath. He was clearly as affected by her touch as she was by touching him. Her pulse raced.
She took a second to compose herself and then faced the others. “Three things happened just then. All signs of flirting. Did anyone catch them?”
“You smiled at him,” Turner Talbot said. “Nice smile, too. I think he liked it.” His age-lined face was split in a knowing grin.
Cole stiffened, tightened his jaw. All outward admissions of the truth the eighty-something-year-old man spoke.
Mandie attempted to soothe her wary rancher by moving her thumb over Cole’s arm again. She heard his quick intake of breath, but he didn’t move away. Brave man. “Yes, I smiled at him. But the first lesson in flirting was really about my touching him. Touch can be an obvious sign of flirting.”
She flashed him another smile and fought the need to reach up and kiss those hardened lips, to touch him in so many other ways. Focus. On the lesson.On your clients. Forcing her wayward thoughts aside, she looked back to the silent people studying her and Cole. “Secondly, I complimented him on the shirt. We all like to be complimented, although sometimes we don’t acknowledge that.”
Cole stared at where her hand lay on his arm. She knew he wanted her to remove that hand and finally she did, just to give him a bit of relief.
Again, she concentrated on her small group of people. “Additionally, I made direct eye contact, another strong sign of flirting. The smile wasn’t a specific part of the lesson, an added bonus, I guess.”
Cole eased away and sat down on the side of one of the sofas. She could almost hear his quiet moan, noted how stiffly upright he
sat. He was in pain. Once more guilt washed over her.
“Sorry, I need to perch somewhere. I’m still a bit—“
Immediately the very petite, yet rounded Doreen went into a warm, grandmotherly mode. She frowned in concern. “You belong in bed, young man.” She glanced at Mandie with a teasing grin. “With a sweet young woman nursing you.”
Cole’s gaze darted to Mandie and he blushed. Mandie was pretty sure he’d immediately thought about the two of them in bed. And her part would have nothing to do with nursing him. At least that’s what she’d envisioned. Again, she pulled in her wandering thoughts to re-focus her group.
But Cole managed to do it first. “I’m fine, ma’am. A bit sore, but otherwise just fine.” He gave Mandie a pointed look. “Get on with your lesson.”
She moved next to him, even as he sat up even straighter, and touched his cheek with the back of one hand. At his indrawn breath and flaring nostrils, she glanced from him to the others. “I’ve always found it irresistible to touch a man’s face. The feel of the bristles of his beard stubble sends tingles from my hand right to my stomach…and lower.” She’d purposely lowered her tone, purposely turned it husky. The way her heart skipped little beats in excitement was nothing she could control.
Cole shifted awkwardly on the sofa arm and Doreen giggled. “I’d say your touching him has a definite effect on him as well. More flirting, right?
“Yes, more flirting. Touch is a big part of more intense flirting. Encouraging the other person, hoping he or she gets the right message.” She stroked Cole’s face one more time and his chest rose and fell in a deep breath, followed by a slight wince of pain. “Sorry. I forgot about how your getting aroused would affect your sore ribs.”
“I’m not aroused,” he grouched, scowling and moving his face away from her hand. He could do nothing to hide a bulge growing within his jeans.
“Son, even I can see you are,” Turner protested with a knowing smile. Then he shifted toward his wife and lightly stroked her wrinkled face. She gave a little shiver and he grinned. “Touch is a good thing. Right, sweetie?”
Doreen held his gaze for a second, blushed and gently batted his hand away. “Behave yourself, old man.”
From across the room, Edward Spithaven stated flatly, “I don’t particularly like being touched. I’m a very private person.”
His wife said in disgruntlement, “Don’t I know it. But what about me, Edward? Have you ever even considered I might want to be touched sometimes?”
Mandie noticed how Cole looked uncomfortable with the admissions being offered around him. But he stayed put and waited to hear what she’d say in return. She looked directly at Elizabeth Spithaven and asked, “Do you touch your husband often? Other than when you’re making love, I mean? Enough to make him feel you’re invading his personal space?”
She glanced at Edward and furrowed her brow. After a couple of seconds, she admitted sheepishly, “I really hadn’t thought about it, but you might be right.” She looked sadly at her husband. “We’ve never talked about this, but my parents weren’t touchy-feely people. They seldom hugged each other, or any of us children. Actually, they were very brittle toward anyone. I always wanted to be hugged, to be…well, just to be touched. I’m sorry, Edward.”
He frowned, studied her, and finally shook his head. “It’s all right, Elizabeth. You’re right, we should have talked about this before now.”
Pleased with this step for one of the couples, Mandie said, “Excellent, Edward. Great step forward.” When they looked at her, she added, “You both agreed to come here because you love one another. You are here to save a marriage you both felt was failing.”
Looking uneasy, Edward bobbed his balding head. “I guess I’ve forgotten how to show Elizabeth how much I love her. I’ve grown too distant.”
“Again, excellent.” Mandie leaned closer to Cole once more, watched him shore up his inner defenses, and took hold of his right hand. She held it up as an example to others. “I want each of you men to take your hand and caress your wife’s cheek. Like Turner did a minute ago. Run your thumb slowly along her jaw line.”
She focused on Cole, seeing the tension in his eyes, the determination as well. She knelt in front of him and dropped his hand. Her pulse raced again. She felt warm all over and he hadn’t yet touched her. Pulling on her inner strength, she instructed, “Do just what Cole does.”
For a second he didn’t move and then he followed her directions to the letter. He laid his calloused thumb against her cheek. She inwardly shivered. Moisture pooled low in her body. Then he gently stroked his thumb over her face.
They shared a heated look and her voice was husky as she said, “Concentrate on the sensations you feel. Transmit those feelings to your wife.”
Cole’s thumb continued moving ever so slowly against her jaw. She felt it clear to her bones. Desire, red and hot, shot through her. She saw it repeated in his darkening eyes, too. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and he feathered that amazing thumb over her mouth. She shuddered. Her thoughts started to focus on all the things she wanted to do to him, with him. Dangerous territory, especially while with her clients.
“Oh, Arthur, that feels so very nice,” Betty Henderson purred behind Mandie, drawing her attention. Thank God.
Mandie eased back from Cole, although she knew he’d seen how excited she’d become. His gaze promised retaliation later for turning him on as well. Maybe even by applying that hand he’d stroked her face with to her bottom. Oddly, the thought made her shiver in anticipation.
She smiled at the warm looks passing between the Hendersons. Both had admitted the first day here that while they loved each other, they’d begun to take their marriage for granted. They took each other for granted. Sex was all but non-existent in their lives. Evidently even mere touching had been missing.
“How about you, Doreen? Are you enjoying this experiment?” Mandie adored this special couple, well into their eighties, both married and widowed before, determined to make a loving marriage for the rest of their days.
“Oh, heavens, yes!” She giggled like a young woman and held Turner’s hand against her face.
“Softest, sweetest face I’ve ever touched.” Turner beamed at his elderly bride.
Edward looked uncomfortable, but continued to stroke his thumb over Elizabeth’s face. She, in turn, gently smiled at him. “We can do this, Edward. You can do this.”
“I’m trying,” he acknowledged.
Cole was watching the couples, looking curious, looking like he had regrets. His ex-wives. Mandie knew there had been a lot missing in his previous marriages. She had a feeling that his love life had always been about quick, hot sex. But that may not have been what he’d really wanted. Maybe he hadn’t known what he’d wanted. Well, she fully intended to widen his horizons as far as lovemaking went. She knew what she wanted with him. Quick, hot sex and long, slow lovemaking, enjoying each other until neither could stand it anymore. She trembled and hoped nobody noticed.
Focusing on her job again, she cleared her throat to draw everyone’s attention. She stood and shifted to Coles’ side once more. “The skin’s surface has many sensitive nerve endings. When you touch them, you set off impulses to the brain. Those impulses trigger chemical releases, which cause pleasurable feelings. You all experienced them, right?”
Her six clients nodded, most of them pleased by what they’d experienced. Edward still looked uneasy.
Before she could say anything else, Cole got to his feet and said gruffly, “I need to go.”
She glanced at him and raised an eyebrow, disappointment filled her. “Too much for you to handle, cowboy? This talk about feelings?”
He scowled. “No, I just need to go lie down for a while.” He gently put an arm in front of his ribs. “Not up to one hundred percent yet. Remember?”
“Of course. Sorry.” She stepped in front of him, met his gaze, and mouthed daringly, “Chicken.”
His lips thinned and he leaned down to mouth back, �
��Later. You’ll pay later.”
“Maybe you should help him back to his house,” Doreen said and winked at Mandie when she glanced in her direction. “I’m sure we’ll be fine without you for a while.”
Cole’s shoulders stiffened and he eased further away. “Not necessary.”
He went to get his hat, then looked at Mandie again. “Sorry to interrupt your lesson, but I really do need to go.”
“I understand and I do appreciate your helping as long as you could.” Mandie studied his face, noted the lines of strain, and felt guilty once more about tricking him into helping her. She boldly raised her chin. “I’ll come see you later. We can take care of what we talked about earlier.” Did he understand what she meant? But then, would he even be up to taking her over his knee?
“Absolutely. I’ll look forward to our discussion.” With that he strode out of the guest lodge.
Chapter Six
The sky was pitch black, dotted with a thousand stars. Cole sat perched on the railing of the wrap-around porch, restless. Normally he’d be upstairs in bed already, worn out from a hard day’s work. He seldom saw the night sky, unless he was driving home on a Saturday night from an evening of drinking and boot-scooting with friends in town. But he hadn’t done much of that. Even then he didn’t really notice the beauty of the stars. There seemed to be a lot of things he didn’t notice or hadn’t thought about. Like the little nuances of flirting. He expected he was like most men who liked sex and went about doing whatever it took to get a woman into his bed. He wasn’t opposed to foreplay or taking things slow. He just didn’t normally think along those lines. A few seconds of touching or kissing and he was ready for the hot and wild.
Thinking about the hot and wild had him vividly remembering that night almost a week ago when he’d gone a bit crazy with Mandie. She’d walked naked in front of the cottage’s bedroom window. He’d nearly had a heart attack seeing her, wanting her…taking her. He’d damn sure enjoyed it and thought about it a hundred times since then. But it had been a mistake. With good reason, he was sour on women right now. He didn’t want an affair. No way would he let that happen.
