The Maverick Meets His Match
Page 13
Her red lips moved with excitement, snagging his attention, as did the shiny mane of hair she flipped more than once. He’d like to kiss those lips again, run his fingers through all that hair. He’d like to feel her explode as he made love to her.
Holding her last night had been hell. Tonight, alone in the hotel room, he planned to hold her with a specific endpoint in mind.
He was not a patient man, and he’d no intention of allowing Mandy to drag out the inevitable. She may think she had the upper hand, but it had been ten years since he’d had an opportunity to play his hand. He wasn’t one to miss an opportunity.
He shifted his thoughts to the two men, whose narrowed-eyed focus was on Mandy. She’d done a good job reconnecting with the two wranglers. She was definitely a people person with a knack for putting them at ease. Ty usually took a different tack in his business, making people uncomfortable. It worked in contentious land negotiations, but he sensed it wouldn’t work here, where trust and familiarity were necessary ingredients.
Mandy had also impressed him, and by the interest the two rodeo men where showing, impressed Lyle and Ben as well, with her knowledge, not only of Prescott but of the Abilene rodeo venue and what would be needed to put on a successful rodeo.
He had to admit that her brand of sales was working. She seemed a natural. Like this was her calling. And he might have to pull it away from her. Seeing her in action, being with her, the responsibility sat heavier now than just a few days ago.
Ty waited until Mandy finished discussing the number of broncs and bulls needed, the number of steers required, the announcer and bullfighters to be used, and the parade details before he brought up next year’s rodeo.
“We’re here to assure you of our commitment to the Abilene rodeo in case you had any doubts, given the circumstances. What we’d like to know is, if we meet your expectations this year, can we count on doing Abilene next year as well?”
Lyle eyed Ben, leading Ty to believe they’d talked about next year already. Mandy looked at Ty with surprise. Hadn’t she ever heard of a presumptive sale’s close?
Ben’s gaze swung between Mandy and Ty. “I won’t lie. There’s been others here already, sensing an opportunity.”
“Can I ask what you told them?”
“Told them we’d think about it. You keeping the rates per animal the same?”
Ty did a quick mental calculation. If others were looking to take business, would they have offered less or equal, given the fact they thought Prescott was vulnerable? Especially if that someone was Stan Lassiter.
“Yes,” Mandy answered before Ty could open his mouth.
Ben still didn’t look convinced enough to give the affirmative answer Ty was looking for. They needed something more.
“We’ll keep the same rate—and let you name a bull and bronc you’d especially want in the mix.” He hadn’t discussed this “sweetener” with Mandy because it had just come to him, but it was a winning idea.
Ben stared at him from under the brim of his hat. “Even if it had gone to the NRF?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mandy cross her arms, and the frown she wore didn’t look all that agreeable.
“Yes,” he said. It wouldn’t cost Prescott any more, but from his meeting with Guy in Colorado, he’d learned it meant a lot to a rodeo.
Generally, a stock company could charge more for NRF-caliber horses and bulls than other equally good stock because of the fame of the animal. Not every rodeo could afford the headliners, but that didn’t mean they didn’t get good stock for their dollars. However, a legendary horse or bull would pull the top cowboys to compete, and that, in turn, would draw more people to the event.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.” Ben offered his hand. Ty shook it. So did Mandy.
In Texas, Ty knew a man’s word was as good as a contract. They’d saved Abilene.
* * *
After the meeting with Ben and Lyle, Ty had begged off, allegedly to buy some new boots more suited to rodeo work than to “squiring around a pretty woman,” as he had put it, and Mandy decided she might as well get a manicure and chill. Ty had overstepped his bounds by offering that sweetener without consulting her, even if it did secure the business. It was a bitter taste of what having Ty as a partner would be like.
The manicure had stretched into a shopping trip for yet another pair of boots for herself—embossed tan leather, brown insets, and gold studs. Before she knew it, dinnertime was almost upon her, and she hurried back to the hotel room. She fumbled in her purse for the key card to no avail. She knocked on the door. No answer.
Apparently, she had beaten Ty back to the room. That suited her. She’d take advantage of his absence by enjoying a nice long, hot shower, if she could just find her key. She dug some more until she decided to check the zippered outer pocket. Success. She slid the key card into the slot, pushed on the handle, and opened the door.
She stepped inside, her purse and shopping bag swinging on her arm. No sign of Ty. Beds were made, suitcases and closet door closed. She strolled further into the room, spying a new pair of men’s black boots by the bed. He’d gone for barn boots, an interesting choice for a man who always looked like he’d stepped out of an issue of GQ. She noted he had rather large feet and couldn’t help wondering what else might be large.
A door clicked behind her. Whirling around she came face to…face with a gloriously naked Ty. She dropped the purse and shopping bag with a thud.
Bare chest, bulging biceps, and spectacular abs begged for her notice, but it was the large object dangling between his legs that captured her attention. And held it.
My god, he was hung. Beautifully, generously. Her heart hammered against her chest. Her palms leaked sweat. The back of her neck tingled.
She had no idea how long she stared. Just stared. Unabashedly stared. And maybe even drooled. She couldn’t tell.
She forced herself to look up, following the thin line of hair that ran from his navel up his finely sculpted chest, to those broad shoulders and thick neck, up to the chiseled jaw and lips cracked in a cocky smile, until her gaze landed on a pair of fine dark eyes dancing with amusement.
“Like what you see, Mrs. Martin?” he drawled.
Holy crap.
She swallowed the saliva that had condensed in her mouth. “What are you doing? Where are your clothes?”
“In the suitcase, which I was coming out to get. I took a shower.”
Gathering her splintered senses together, she found the discipline to turn around and face the wall. “Put some clothes on,” she demanded.
“Sight too much for you, darling?” he chuckled.
Steam rose inside her as if her heated blood was letting off vapors. She heard hard footfalls as he moved toward her. Please put clothes on before she jumped his bones like her pitiful body was exhorting her to do with each breath she took.
“You should have knocked,” she blurted out.
He chuckled again. “To come out of the bathroom?” She heard the click of the suitcase.
She waited, exercising all the control she could muster to keep from turning around and having another peek. The man was magnificent, and she was having a hard time fighting biology. She bit her lip in order to feel something other than lust.
She heard the snap of a waistband.
“You can turn around now. It’s covered. But I’m pretty sure you’ve seen one before.”
But never, ever like his.
She whirled around. He wore black boxer briefs that outlined the prominent ridge that had held her captive just moments before. Control. She had to exercise control. Get mad. Think about today and how he’d usurped her.
“Only fair since you’ve seen me that I see you. We could take a shower together. I don’t mind going twice,” Ty offered. He’d seen her checking him out. Maybe he was closer to sealing the deal than he’d imagined.
“In your dreams,” she said, but her voice had a funny little quiver in it. “We need to talk.”
“You should have at least consulted me before offering that option of choosing whatever livestock they wanted.” Mandy threw the purse and shopping bag on the opposite bed. “We can’t go offering that to everyone, or our premier horses and bulls get exhausted.”
“It was only one horse and one bull. I thought it was a great idea. So did Ben.” He sat down on the other bed and began to slip on the shirt, buttons open. With hands on hips and fire in her eye, Mandy stood there looking madder than one of her bucking horses, and all he could think about was stripping her naked and kissing her all over. Damn. They needed to work this out soon. He’d no intention of spending six months in frustration hell.
“That’s not the point. It’s how you did it. Without discussing it with anyone. Without the courtesy of discussing it with me.” Her chest rose with a little huff. God, she was a well-built female. Built for loving.
“How could I consult you when I had just thought of it? You see, this is where you lose me. Good idea, good deal, problem solved. But here you are jawing about how it happened. Who cares?” He crossed his arms over his chest, feeling damn irritated—and horny.
Did she realize she’d worried her lip into a plump red treat he’d love to suck on? Did she know that standing there in those heeled cowgirl boots, legs spread apart in a gunfighter pose, had him imagining her in nothing else but those leather boots—and he meant nothing else.
“I care,” she said, thumping her chest above her right breast. God, she had nice breasts. Round, perky, and more than palm sized.
Ty pulled a pair of pressed jeans from the suitcase and rose to step into them. “And the response to that is, why? We got what we came for. A commitment to Prescott for next year. What more do you want?” She wasn’t happy, and for the life of him, he didn’t know why. “You need to relax a little, Mandy.” He shot her a smile. “I can definitely help with that.”
She stomped her sexy booted foot. She always wore the most intriguing boots. “I want Ben and Lyle to take me seriously. To understand I’m capable of handling the rodeo.” Her hand waved in the air. “You blurting out that idea made me irrelevant. How do you think it feels when people I’ve known all my life don’t trust my abilities to deliver for them? If JM had made me the head of this company, I wouldn’t have to play second fiddle.”
Now she was getting him mad. Pretty as she was all riled up and passionate, he didn’t cotton to people creating myths just because the truth was hard to hear. “JM knew what he was doing.” Ignoring the sparks flashing out of her eyes, he continued as he tucked in and zipped up. “Like it or not, without me in that meeting, they wouldn’t have felt reassured you could deliver this time, much less next time. Did you hear them ask after Tucker? They like you, Mandy, but they aren’t sure about handing you the reins. At their rodeo, you’re going to show them they’re not risking anything by doing so. And JM knew having me along would give you that chance. This isn’t about being competent. This is about trust.”
She stared at him like he’d just slapped her. Probably felt like that.
Hell.
Ty sauntered forward. She just stood there, blinking at him like she didn’t want to believe what he said. But she had to know it was the truth. As he went to wrap his arms around her, she pushed her hands against his chest. He wrapped her in his embrace anyway, ignoring her weak attempt to stop him.
He held her, enjoying the feel of her curves against his hard edges, until he felt her body relax and give up the struggle.
“You were great in there today,” he whispered against her ear. “You solidified a connection with those men that is going to last. They like you, honey. They just don’t believe in you yet. You’re something new, in a new role. They need time to figure you out, is all.”
“You won’t give me time,” she said, her voice muffled and her breath warm against his shirt.
He looked down, and she lifted up her face. A mixture of vulnerability and hope stared back at him. He wished he could tell her he’d changed his mind. He hadn’t. He’d made a promise. “This isn’t personal, Mandy. You’ll just have to trust that I’ll keep the best interests of the company, of your family, in mind. JM trusted me. Why can’t you?”
She pushed harder against him and wiggled to get free. No sense trying to make her listen. He let her loose, and she stepped back out of his embrace. God how he liked holding her. She fit him just fine. If only she’d give him a chance to show her just how fine.
“Because you gain more if you can sell PRC and convince Tuck to sell the land as well.”
“It’s true that I’d like a chance to develop that land, but only if it’s because I can get you guys a fantastic offer. I swear I’m not the enemy.” God how he wanted to kiss her. Kiss away those doubts.
“Could have fooled me,” she said barely above a whisper, but loud enough for him to hear.
“Just give me a chance to prove it, Mandy. That’s all I’m asking for is a chance.”
He reached out and curved a finger under her chin, tilting it so her luscious mouth was in his line of sight. He’d need to get her to assess things with her head, not with her heart, before she’d trust him. But just how he was going to do that, he wasn’t sure. He was sure, however, he wanted to taste her. And that heat coming from her eyes said she would let him.
Lowering his lips to hers, he covered her mouth and kissed her, long, deep, and full while his hands caressed her back, learning her curves and angles.
She returned the kiss, taking it even deeper, her tongue searching, reaching for his. God, she was a passionate woman. And there were two queen beds just waiting for them to try out—together.
Bringing his hand around, he cupped her breast through her clothes. Down soft, pliable, overflowing his palm, just as he had imagined. He began to slowly, gently knead. Her quick inhale told him all he needed to know.
He feathered kisses across her cheek, then nibbled on her ear lobe. She kissed his neck, and he felt it clear to his groin. Not to be outdone, he nuzzled the smooth silk of her throat, breathing in the sweet scent of roses, and sucked the tender area right above her collarbone as she moved her head to the side, giving him better access. All the time, he fondled her breast, covered by the fabric of her bra, with the tips of his fingers, caressing the generous swells with a gentle touch. She wasn’t resisting at all. On the contrary, her eyes were closed, her lips parted.
Subtly, he slid his hips against her body, and his hard, thickened erection scraped her soft belly, sending bolts of lust and desire through him. He sure as hell hoped it was sending those same bolts through her.
“Combustible,” he whispered in her ear.
Not willing to risk her refusal, he covered her mouth with his as he backed her up until the back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and she sat down on it with a plop, breaking the kiss. He moved to stand between her thighs and gazed down into green eyes wide and rounded with surprise, but not displeasure.
This was where he wanted her—in his bed. He’d waited years to finish what she’d started. And a hotel room in a strange city was as good a place as any.
“You are an incredible kisser,” he said, meaning every word of it. Her legs opened so he could nestle between them. Gently he grasped her shoulders and eased her back upon the bed, relieved he didn’t encounter any resistance as he covered her with his body.
Underneath him, she felt soft and supple, so at odds with the hard-shell image she tried to portray. He wanted to kiss her all over, wanted to run his tongue across her silky flesh, taste her—everywhere. He started with the soft skin of her throat, feathering little kisses as he glided his fingertips under the fabric of her top, inching it up.
“You’re so soft.” His heart pounded in synch with the throbbing i
n his pants. Sensing victory, his body clamored for more, but he had to take this slow, steady. He found her lips again and swirled his mouth over hers while his tongue pressed against the seam of her lips until she opened for him. She tasted like peppermint.
He increased the pressure as he slowly moved his body against her, letting her feel how hard he was, how much he wanted her. Brushing his thumbs along the underwire of her bra, he found the clasp. Coaxing it open, the bra gave way, and his hand found the supple flesh of her breast as he kissed the soft spot at the base of her throat.
Sliding his lips down her neck, across her delicate collarbone, down to the berried nipple that begged for attention, he suckled. Hard. Firm.
She moaned, shifted, moaned again.
He switched to the other one, pulling the nipple between his lips until her hips bucked against him and he felt the jolt of lust grip his groin.
It had been a while since he’d undressed a woman when he hadn’t been assured of the outcome. He reached for the buckle on her belt. His pulse quickened. Hot blood shot through him. She was gorgeous underneath those clothes. Perfectly proportioned, soft, and delicate. Bent upon his task, he hadn’t noticed her knee until it bumped a sensitive area to turn pleasure into a blast of pain. What the…
He raised his head, perspiration trickling down his cheek. “What did you do that for?”
“Because we aren’t doing it…that,” she rasped out between heaving breaths. She shook her head so waves of hair swept over her bare breasts, providing a translucent curtain. Damn she was beautiful.
She pushed against his chest. “Get off me.”
He dutifully rolled off her, and she jumped out of bed like he’d lit a fire under her. Maybe he had. Maybe she was running from something she was afraid she couldn’t handle.
“I’m taking a shower,” she said, her hand clutching her shirt to her body. “And I’ll be locking the door.”
Mandy slumped against the bathroom door, her knees weak, her heart pounding. She’d almost caved, had been this close to losing control.