Taming Angelina: The Temptation Saga: Book Four

by Hardt, Helen;

  3. No past marriages

  4. Ambition

  5. Wants children

  6. Adores me

  7. Good-looking with a great body

  8. No fear of commitment

  Only eight items and she’d kept the looks down at number seven. That had to prove she wasn’t completely shallow. Seriously, what was wrong with wanting the best?

  Angie didn’t want to settle. Her mother had settled. Wayne had married Maria after she’d gotten pregnant with Angie. Their marriage had sustained itself and they produced two more children. They owned two ranches. But Maria had freely admitted to both her daughters that they’d never been in love. They liked each other. Respected each other. Worked well as partners.

  But no spark.

  Angie wanted spark.

  The sparks between her and Rafe Grayhawk this afternoon could have ignited a freaking forest fire.

  Sex with Zach McCray had been great, no doubt. But he’d never adored her. She chuckled out loud as she realized why she hadn’t had sex since Zach and the creation of the list. Sex wasn’t even on the list! She only now realized it. All the guys failed one or more items on the list before sex even came into consideration.

  Okay, new item on the list.

  9. Great in bed

  In fact, she’d move that to number one. No way was she going another five years without sex. She was thirty-two. Things might start to atrophy.

  “Dump the list, Angie,” Catie was saying. “It’s the only way. Or have a few one-night stands if it’s just the sex you want.”

  She’d come darn close to that with Rafe. A one-night stand—or rather a one-afternoon stand—had never been her style. Yet today she’d been ready to chuck it all and screw Rafe right on her sister’s deck. How completely slutty. The town might have a few things to say about Angelina Bay, but no one had ever accused her of being a slut.

  “One-night stands are not my style,” she said.

  “Have you ever had one?” Amber asked.

  She shook her head.

  “Then how do you know?”

  She cracked a smile. “I guess I don’t. And I know Catie doesn’t either since Chad’s her one and only. Why don’t you tell us about one-night stands, Amber?”

  Amber’s cheeks pinked. “They’re not really my style either, though I’ll admit to two of them. Both were back in San Antonio. I was pretty drunk during the first one, though at least I was lucid enough to make sure he used a condom. The second one was shortly before I came here. I met this totally hot guy at a bar a few nights before I left. Damon was his name. I never found out his last name. Blond, blue-eyed, and gorgeous. We went to his place and humped like bunnies all night. In the morning, he kissed me goodbye and I left. We didn’t exchange numbers or anything.”

  Angie looked around the Bullfrog. Joe Bradley, the mechanic, sat with Sheriff Doug Cartright and the very married Dallas McCray. The rest of the crowd was younger. Not really any one-night stand material. Well, what did she expect on a Thursday night in Bakersville, Colorado? Hardly a thriving metropolis.

  Didn’t matter anyway. The only one-night stand she wanted was with Rafe Grayhawk, and he’d turned her down.

  Angie Bay didn’t usually get turned down. She did the turning down. Clearly she’d done way too much of that lately.

  “God, I need some sex,” she said again.

  “You’re sounding really desperate,” Amber said. “Exactly how long has it been for you?”

  “Over five years.”

  Catie and Amber spat their drinks again.

  “The way my friends keep showering me, we’re going to need more drinks over here,” Angie said to the bartender.

  “You haven’t had sex since Zach?” Catie shook her head.

  “You’ve seen the list. I have standards.”

  “Having standards for a relationship is one thing,” Amber said. “Sex is another thing.”

  “I’m not sure I agree,” Catie said.

  “You found your one and only love when you were five,” Amber said. “That’s great, but most of us aren’t so lucky. And it’s fun to test the waters sometimes.”

  Oh, I had some serious fun testing the waters this afternoon.

  Amber took a sip of her cosmo, this time without a spit take. “How are we going to get you some?”

  “I’m sorry,” Catie chimed in, “but I refuse to help my sister get some. It’s…weird.”

  “You’re getting it on a regular basis from one of Bakersville’s prime studs.” Amber smiled. “Have some pity here. Angie needs a little nookie.”

  Catie laughed at that. “Nookie? Well, okay. What about Joe or Doug over there? They’re both good-looking. Joe’s a great guy. Doug’s a little bit of a lech, but hey, if it’s sex you want.”

  “Joe’s always greasy.”

  “He’s a mechanic.”

  “And Doug. I don’t like redheads.”

  “His hair’s more auburn,” Amber said, “though I agree with Catie. He’s a lech. Steer clear. Joe, though, is a sweetie. I’m surprised someone hasn’t grabbed him yet. Word around the beauty shop is that he’s one of the town’s two most eligible bachelors now that all the McCrays have been snapped up.”

  “Yeah? Who’s the other?” Angie asked.

  Amber laughed. “No one who would interest you. Your brother.”

  Catie guffawed into her virgin drink. “Harp? He’s a hottie of the town?”

  “Heck, yeah,” Amber said. “He’s good-looking, educated, has money. Best of all, he’s a nice guy.”

  Angie raised her eyebrows. “Harper’s good-looking?”

  “Uh, yeah. He’s a male version of the two of you put together. Aren’t there women crawling all over him?”

  “No, not really… Hey, aren’t we here to discuss my sex life?” Angie speared one of the olives in her second martini. “And I draw the line at my own brother, thanks.”

  “Okay.” Amber set her empty glass on the counter. “Here’s what you do.” She paused.

  “What? Don’t leave me hanging here.”

  “Chuck the list.”

  “I have to agree, Angie,” Catie said. “That list has gotten you nowhere. Sheesh, no sex in five years? Was Zach McCray that hard to live up to?”

  “No, it’s just…” What was it exactly? Why was she so picky?

  “I’m tellin’ you,” Amber said. “Try a one-night stand. You’ll be a new woman.”

  “Okay.” Angie set her drink down with such gusto an olive flopped onto the counter. “I’ll do it.”

  And she already knew exactly who she wanted to “do it” with.

  Chapter Four

  “Angelina.”

  He never called her Angelina. Sometimes Angie. Usually princess. Her father’s voice was stern. She’d heard him use that tone with Harper many times, and even with Catie once or twice. But never with her. Never with Daddy’s little princess.

  She drew in a deep breath and regarded her father’s handsome face. Was he looking older? His hair was mostly white now, but his face had always looked young. Did his cheeks seem a little more hollow? She’d seen him inside way too much lately. He must be spending too much time in the office. He needed to be outside more, doing the ranch work he loved.

  “Yes, Daddy?”

  “I hear from Harper you were nowhere to be found today.”

  God. “Yes, well, I wasn’t feeling all that well. And really, I don’t see the need to shadow Harper to learn about ranching. I’ll just read a book or something.”

  “Shadowing Harper today was not a request. You may be well over the age of majority, but you’re still living on my ranch. It’s time you starting earning your keep.”

  “Daddy, I have my own little house.”

  “For which you pay no rent. Harper pays his own way around here, and so did your sister until she got married.”

  Angie huffed. “Catie spent the last four years in Paris, for God’s sake.”

  “Getting her education. Before tha
t, ever since she was old enough to lift a currycomb, she’s been pulling her weight.”

  “I got an education too, you know.”

  “Yes, and it’s high time you used it. It was so long ago, what was your major again? Home Ec or some other froufrou thing?”

  She cleared her throat. Why was he thinking the worst of her? She had a brain. There was a reason she wanted an intelligent man. Her own IQ was quite high.

  “Health sciences, with a minor in biology.”

  “Good, good. With a biology background you can start taking more responsibility for the health and nutrition of the animals.”

  “College was long ago, Daddy. I’ll have to read up.”

  “So be it. Get online and find what you need. And I expect you to show up tomorrow and work with Harper.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She turned to leave.

  “One more thing.”

  She turned back. “Yes?”

  “Grayhawk tells me you didn’t show up for your lesson this morning.”

  She’d meant to, but she’d gotten to bed late after hanging at the Bullfrog. She hadn’t been able to force herself out of bed this morning. Plus—her neck warmed—she was embarrassed to see him after their little interlude at Catie’s pool.

  “I’m sorry. I overslept.”

  He cleared his throat and his nose reddened.

  Uh-oh. Wayne Bay with a red nose was not a good thing.

  “I’ll see that you get an alarm clock,” he said through clenched teeth. “And just so we understand each other, there’s one other thing.”

  “What, Daddy?”

  He shuffled some papers on his desk. “This”—he held up a document—“is my original last will and testament, leaving Bay Crossing to you and Catie and Cha Cha to Harper.” He set the papers down and held up what appeared to be an identical document. “This is a new will Harper just drew up for me.”

  “Why do you need a new will?”

  “Why don’t you take a look at it?” He handed her the document.

  She hadn’t been to law school like her brother, but she was capable of reading a will. Everything looked in order, until—

  Her skin chilled as anger welled within her. “What? You can’t possibly be serious!”

  “I’m completely serious, Angelina. You have not demonstrated that you are capable of owning one of my properties when I’m gone. You either show me you’re serious and learn about ranching, or I leave Bay Crossing solely to Catie.”

  Not only would she not get her share of the ranch, but she’d get nothing whatsoever. None of the money in the bank, none of her mother’s jewelry, not even Nana’s afghan—nothing, nothing, and more nothing.

  “This is completely unfair! How can you even think of doing this?”

  “I’ve protected you far too long, Angelina. I finally see that I haven’t done you any favors. You either learn ranching or go on your merry way and find something else to do and someone else to finance your lifestyle. I won’t be your sugar daddy any longer.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. Do not miss any more riding lessons with Grayhawk, either. Chad is doing me a huge favor by letting him take time out of his duties to teach you.”

  “It’s not exactly a favor. Chad has tons of hands, and Rafe is being well paid.”

  “Yes. By me. May I remind you that you have nothing?”

  Angie’s throat constricted. Had someone punched her in the belly? Sure felt like it. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

  “Daddy…”

  “Crying won’t work on me anymore. I’ve said my piece and I meant every word. Now go on. You have a busy day tomorrow.”

  * * *

  “You had to do it, Wayne,” Maria Bay said to her husband.

  He nodded. “I know. It was just so much damn harder than I thought it would be. I still see that sweet little girl in a pink dress.”

  “She’s still your little girl. She always will be. But now she’ll have a means of supporting herself.”

  “I don’t have to do this. She’d easily have enough money to live on just with her profits from the ranching operations.”

  “But you said yourself when we started discussing this—she’d never grow. And that’s not what we wanted for any of our children. No one handed anything to you. Why should you hand it to her?”

  He raked his fingers through his hair. “I know, I know. I stand by the decision. This is my fault.”

  “You spoiled her. We both did. She was the first, and a girl. But stop blaming yourself. It’s counterproductive. And it’s wearing on you.”

  He sighed. She was right, of course. “I need to get to bed, Mia.”

  “I know. Come on.”

  * * *

  Well, there she is.

  Rafe blinked.

  Was it a mirage? A sexy mirage with dark hair in two ponytails, and yes, it was true—actual worn cowboy boots? Still hadn’t gotten the riding tights, but jeans would do. Jeans that fit her sweet little rump just right. He willed his groin not to respond.

  Angie Bay was not only up and in the stall before he got there at six a.m., she had Belle almost ready. Too bad all deals were off.

  “Morning.” He tipped his cowboy hat.

  “Good morning.” She smiled as she ran the finishing brush over Belle’s sleek ebony flank. “I’m all ready to get going.”

  “Sorry. You missed your lesson yesterday. We no longer have a deal.”

  “Yes, I know.” She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry about that. I…er…wasn’t feeling well.”

  “You could have called.”

  “Don’t have your number.”

  “Give me your cell.”

  She handed it to him and he quickly programmed his number into it.

  “There.” He tossed it back to her. “Now no more excuses.”

  She smiled again. She sure was pretty as a fresh daisy this morning. Had she had an attitude adjustment? Her scarlet lips curved up slightly higher on the right side, making her smile just a tad lopsided. The tiny imperfection made her all the more desirable.

  Damn, those lips had tasted good. Like a tequila sunrise heavy on the grenadine. He could have kissed her into oblivion. Damn near had, until it dawned on him that he was close to fucking his boss’s sister-in-law on his deck.

  Good way to get fired. He needed his job here. Chad McCray paid well, and the extra for teaching Angelina to ride would come in handy too. Pretty soon his dad could go to Arizona. He wouldn’t give up the extra dough. The opportunity to teach Angie had come along just at the right time. Bart over at the Bullfrog had offered him a job tending bar two nights a week for some extra cash. Now he didn’t need to take that moonlighting job.

  Though he did make a mean tequila sunrise.

  Orange juice, tequila, and grenadine would taste great drizzled over Angie’s sweet red nipples. Course they tasted amazing alone—he had firsthand knowledge of that. That soft little sigh from her throat as he tugged—

  Damn, these jeans are tight.

  “All right,” he said. “Get her saddled up.”

  Angie’s slender arms could barely lift the heavy saddle, but she managed to get it on Belle’s back. In the meantime, Rafe saddled Adonis.

  “Go ahead and give her a bit now, but eventually you won’t be using reins much.”

  “What?” Angie’s mouth dropped open.

  “You’ll be controlling the horse with your legs. It’s a much better way for both of you.”

  “For her, maybe. Not for me. My legs aren’t that strong.”

  He’d seen her legs two days previous. They looked plenty strong. Sturdy and shapely. She’d have no trouble learning to ride this way. And he’d enjoy watching that body develop into an equestrienne’s. Fact of the matter he’d enjoy watching that body do just about anything.

  She was lovely.

  “Okay, honey, let’s take them out.”

  They led the horses out of the stall and into one of the fenced train
ing pastures.

  “Now go ahead and mount her.” He watched. “From the left side, good.”

  “Hey, look at me!” Angie smiled and raised one hand. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been up here, it feels—”

  Thunk. Rafe let out a laugh as Angie landed on her backside right on the grass.

  “Ouch!”

  “Now don’t you wish you’d gotten those tights with leather patches?”

  “Why on earth?”

  “You slid right off the saddle, honey. I saw it comin’ bright as day.”

  “You might have warned me.”

  “And miss this? I don’t think so.” He helped her to her feet. “You’ll want to invest in one of those butt pillows, too. It’ll help when you’re trying to sit at dinner tonight.”

  “Butt pillow?”

  “Sure. You’ve seen them. People use them for hemorrhoids.”

  She rubbed her ass cheeks. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Can’t say I am.” He shook his head. “You’re cute as hell, you know that?”

  Before he thought better of it, he pulled her to his body and crushed his lips to hers. He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. “Yeah, baby, that’s right. Open for me.”

  Her lips parted, and she still tasted of tequila sunrise—the tang of the orange juice, the smokiness of the tequila, the sweet cherry of grenadine—all together in Angelina Bay’s kisses. Her tongue swooped out and met his, and suddenly the kiss had gone beyond anything he’d ever known. It was a joining, a searing, a complete union.

  This, from a kiss?

  Rather than stop him, the thought spurred him on. He kissed her more deeply, more intensely. His tongue learned the contours of her teeth, her gums, the inside of her cheeks. All sweetness, all Angelina. Her kisses drugged him with a narcotic he couldn’t live without.

  He ripped his mouth from hers. Couldn’t live without? What kind of crazy nonsense was spewing inside his brain?

  He’d only just met her, didn’t even like her. Of course she was beautiful. No one could deny that. But he’d never been one to be swept away by physical beauty. What was so different now?