That truth was hammered home with a vengeance as they stepped through the doors of the club. Camera flashes went off in chorus. Reporters shouted questions. Case gave the press crew an easy smile and a good sound bite, even as he kept his arm curled protectively around Mellie and steered them toward the ballroom, stopping only to drop off Mellie’s wrap and clutch purse at the coat-check counter.
Another doorway, another entrance.
This time there were no cameras, but instead a surge of well-wishers who wanted to congratulate Case. It was inevitable that he and Mellie would end up separated. She smiled and wiggled her fingers at him to let him know she was okay. It was actually kind of sweet to see how many people gathered around him to say hello.
As she waited for the crush to subside, Mellie looked around the room with curiosity. This was only the third time in her life she’d ever been inside the club, and the other two occasions had been long ago.
The building was a century old and had been cared for well over the years. Tradition mingled with luxury seamlessly. It was fun to see so many people dressed to the nines and ready to party.
Mellie smoothed her skirt and kept a smile on her face. Just as she was planning to go in search of an out-of-the-way corner, strong fingers gripped her elbow. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Case.” She was startled to find him at her side. A moment ago he’d been surrounded by a small crowd of people.
“I want you to meet Mac McCallum,” he said. “And his sister Violet. Mac is an energy technology whiz. Violet keeps their family ranch running smoothly.”
Mellie shook hands with each of the attractive McCallum siblings. “Lovely to meet you both.”
Violet grinned. “I think this is going to be a short-lived conversation. They’re motioning for the two of you to lead out the first dance of the evening.”
Mellie’s mouth went dry. She looked up at Case as they made their way to the center of the room. “Do you even know how to dance?” she whispered. “’Cause I’m not exactly a professional.”
“My mother and grandmother were old school. Young men had an obligation to learn the ways of gentlemen. Dancing was at the top of the list.”
“I’m impressed.”
The orchestra stuck up a dreamy tune as Case swept Mellie into his arms. At some level she was aware that she and Case were alone in the middle of the floor. Overhead, a priceless chandelier sparkled, showering them with small rainbow flashes of light. The crowd was four-and five-people deep, pressed back around the edges of the room.
But in Case’s arms she forgot to be either nervous or self-conscious. He held her confidently, steering her easily in a waltz. His hand was warm on her back. “Thank you for coming with me tonight,” he said, his smile a flash of white in his tanned face. “You’ve made this a lot more fun for me.”
“You didn’t really need a date,” she pointed out. “There are all sorts of women in this room who would love to dance with you.”
He dipped her skillfully and laughed when she couldn’t stifle a small gasp. “I didn’t want any of them,” he said. “I only want you.”
After that, the song ended and everyone took the floor as the next song began.
Case bent to whisper in her ear. “Let’s get something to eat.”
She nodded, even as he extricated them from the mass of bodies nearby. Fortunately, the air was cooler and the people fewer as they approached the buffet tables. Mellie filled her plate with boiled shrimp, beautiful canapés and various hors d’oeuvres. “This looks amazing.”
Case served himself three times as much, but then again, he was a big man who needed a lot of fuel. He found a table for two. “Eat fast,” he joked. “More of my friends want to meet you.”
Mellie knew the moment alone wouldn’t last long. It seemed as if every eye in the room was on them. Her earlier reservations about being seen in public with Case Baxter came flooding back. “It’s easy to see why you were elected,” she said. “You’re very popular.”
He lifted an eyebrow as he wolfed down a spicy meatball. “It would be the same for anyone who holds this position. People like knowing they have access to influence.”
“That’s a pretty cynical statement.”
“But true. I learned a long time ago not to believe my own press. When a man has money and power, people flock around like bees to honey. Underneath it all, I’m just a Texas cowboy.”
“If you say so.” Maybe he was being modest and maybe he really believed what he said. Either way, he wasn’t seeing clearly. There was something special about Case...something that made her want to be with him for more than a single night. Something elemental. Something real.
She didn’t particularly enjoy the barrage of eyes trained on their table at the moment. The avid interest made her worry about finding food in her teeth or spilling wine on her beautiful dress. Still, it was a relief to know that she didn’t feel as out of place as she had expected.
When they finished eating, Case began to introduce her to an endless stream of his friends, including Jeff Hartley, a local rancher who appeared to be without a date for the party, and Drew and Beth Farrell, to name a few. Some of them—such as Dr. Reese—Mellie knew already, at least in passing.
Royal wasn’t all that big. Families tended to own the same land for generations. Drew and Beth shared the story of how they had been not-so-friendly neighbors until the wicked F4 tornado stranded them together in a storm cellar.
All of Case’s circle of friends were interesting people. Beneath the social chitchat, though, Mellie knew what Case was thinking. Because she was thinking about it, too. Sex. Naked, wild, exploratory sex. Two people attracted to each other without much else in common.
When Case was pulled into a conversation that seemed to be more business than pleasure, Mellie hung back on the far edges of the room, listening to the band and chatting with Amanda and Nathan. Unfortunately, her support team was heading out early.
Amanda hugged Mellie. “It’s been a fun evening, but Nathan was up at five this morning. We’re going home.”
Mellie returned the hug. “Thank you again for the dress. I think Case likes it.”
Nathan snorted. “Every man in the room likes it. You’re a knockout, Mellie Winslow.”
“Hey.” Amanda pinched her husband’s arm. “I’m standing right here.”
He scooped her up and gave her a thorough kiss, one that left Amanda pink cheeked and starry-eyed. “Mellie knows I only have eyes for you, sweetheart. Don’t you, Mellie?”
“I do. And she feels the same way about you. Now go home before you get arrested for public indecency.”
Their laughter was equal parts smug and rueful.
Watching the Battles walk across the dance floor to the exit gave Mellie a funny twinge in her chest. Amanda and Nathan had known each other forever. Their relationship was rock solid, and they were more in love today than they had ever been.
What would it be like to have that kind of security and trust in a relationship?
She was still rattling that question around in her head when a young cowboy came up to her and asked for a dance. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-one or twenty-two. Mellie felt ancient in comparison, but his earnest invitation was sweet.
They moved around the dance floor in silence. The young cowhand seemed nervous, because he glanced in Case’s direction now and then. “Mr. Baxter is giving me the evil eye,” he said.
“Don’t mind him. You and I are having a nice dance. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Your dad is Harold Winslow, right?”
Mellie stumbled slightly. “Um, yes. Why do you ask?”
Now the invitation made more sense.
The kid cleared his throat. “My cousin owns one of the shops out at the Courtyard. Word got around this week t
hat your dad is thinking of selling the place. It’s made folks nervous about their businesses. When I saw you here tonight, I thought I’d get an answer straight from the horse’s mouth.”
“You might want to rethink that comparison,” Mellie said drily.
The cowhand blushed. “You know what I mean. Is it true?”
Mellie mulled over her answer. “It may be true that my father has been talking big and throwing his weight around. But I’m part owner of the company, too, and as far as I know, there are no plans to sell. Who is your cousin, anyway?”
“Raina Patterson. She owns the antiques store Priceless.”
“Oh, yes... I know her. Please tell Raina I’ll be out to see her in the next couple of weeks to set things straight. And tell her she has a sweet cousin.”
Now the wrangler’s neck and ears were as red as the stripe in his Western shirt. “Thank you, ma’am. Nice dancing with you.”
Mellie had no sooner grabbed a glass of punch than Case appeared at her side again. For a big man, he surely was quiet and fast when he wanted to be. “Should I bow or salute?” she asked. “Now that you’re officially the president and all?”
He snagged her glass and took a sip, his lips landing exactly where hers had been. “I saw the young pup encroaching on my territory. Don’t you know you’re supposed to throw the small ones back in the water?”
“Very funny. He’s a sweetheart.”
“I’ll bet. He was one of the brave ones. Every unattached guy in this room is thinking about doing what he did.”
“You do know how to flatter a girl.” She smiled, her confidence buoyed by Case’s wry observations.
Case lifted an eyebrow when a tall man with shaggy brown hair and green eyes approached them. The man gave Mellie an appreciative glance. “I don’t know how you ended up dancing with Case,” the man said, “but I’d be love to take a turn on the dance floor with you, pretty lady.”
“Well, I—”
“This one’s taken,” Case said, glowering. He glanced at Mellie. “Meet my buddy Logan Wade. He likes fast horses and fast women, not necessarily in that order.”
Mellie laughed. “Nice to meet you, Logan.”
Logan shook her hand, his grip warm and firm. “Don’t listen to him. I’m harmless. Case is the ladies’ man in our group. At least I’m not opposed to marriage on principle.”
From the look on Case’s face, he wasn’t amused by his friend’s ribbing.
Case glanced at his watch. “I’ve done my time,” he muttered. “Mellie and I are going to get out of here. This crowd will party for several more hours.”
Logan kissed Mellie’s hand theatrically. “When you get tired of this guy, give me a call.”
Thirteen
Case’s mood soured. Was Mellie tempted by Logan Wade’s offer? Surely not. But the other man was definitely popular with women. They loved his easy-going personality.
Case shoved aside the unwelcome realization that Mellie might be looking for something more than Case wanted to offer. He had enjoyed the evening more than he’d thought he would. But right now he was focused on the after-party.
He hoped Mellie was on the same page, because he was wired and hungry. For a brief moment he thought about heading straight to the ranch. It was possible once they got to Mellie’s house, she would change her mind.
At a stop sign, in the glare of a streetlight, he studied her profile. “Penny for your thoughts,” he said lightly. Surely she wasn’t actually thinking about Logan’s smooth flirtation. The other rancher was only trying to needle Case.
When she gave Case her full attention, her luminous, deep eyes drew him in. For a moment, he thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then she drew a visible breath. “Will you tell me about your wife?”
The question was way down on the list of things he’d expected her to say. “Is that a prerequisite for tonight?”
“I didn’t mean to make you angry.”
“I’m not angry,” he said, gripping the steering wheel. “But it’s old news.”
“I’d still like to know. Please...”
He shrugged, wishing he had loosened his bow tie. “I was young and stupid. Leslie worked for my dad. She saw me as a meal ticket, I guess. Dad tried to warn me...suggested a prenup. But I refused. We’d been married for six months when Leslie cleaned out two of my bank accounts and skipped the country.”
“I am so sorry. You must have been devastated.”
“She didn’t break my heart, if that’s what you’re thinking. But she sure as hell damaged my pride and my self-respect.”
“Because you couldn’t see through her?”
“Yeah. I guess I wanted to believe I was irresistible.”
“You are, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not in the habit of having sleepovers with men I’ve known all of about ten minutes.”
In her voice he heard an echo of the same reservations that plagued him. He pulled up in front of her house and put the car in Park. “This isn’t the norm for me, either, Mellie. And I might point out that I offered you fifty grand as an investment, but you turned it down. So I’m hoping it’s my charm and wit that won you over.”
As an attempt at humor, it fell flat.
Mellie’s small white teeth worried her lower lip. “Maybe that was a ploy on my part to get you to trust me.”
“Go get your toothbrush,” he urged, his voice hoarse. “I can’t wait much longer.”
She stared at him, her hands plucking restlessly at the tiny ruffles on her skirt. Despite their current locale, she reminded him of a mermaid, luring a man into the deep.
“Is this a one-night stand, Case?”
“It’s not anything yet.” He sighed. “I can’t imagine letting you go after only one night.”
“But you agree that the two of us are temporary.”
His temper boiled over, exacerbated by lust and uncertainty. “Damn it, Mellie. Do you want this or not?”
She swallowed, and he saw her chest rise and fall. “Wait here,” she said. “I’ll be back.”
Twelve minutes and thirty-seven seconds. That was how long it took. When he saw the door to her house open, he jumped out of the car and met her, taking the small overnight bag and tossing it in the trunk.
She was still wearing her mermaid gown, which was a good thing, because he had fantasies of all the ways he wanted to peel the silky fabric away from her creamy-skinned body. He helped her into the car, waited until she tucked her skirt inside and closed the door.
The drive out to the ranch was silent. The miles ticked by rapidly. His brain was a jumble of wants and needs and more angst than was warranted in advance of a simple sexual encounter.
When he pulled up in front of his house, he realized he’d forgotten to leave a single light on. Through the windshield, he saw the night sky punctuated with a million stars. One of the many things he loved about living in Texas was the immensity of the universe overhead.
Every male instinct he possessed urged him to drag Mellie up the stairs and into his bed ASAP. But he wanted to woo her, to win her trust, to make her comfortable with him.
“Can you walk in those shoes?” he asked.
She nodded. “As long as we’re not talking a marathon.”
“I want to show you something.”
Once they were out of the car, he took her hand in his and led her toward the small corral to the left of the house. Though it was often empty, tonight a single horse stood sentinel.
“This is Misty,” he said. “I bought her recently. I thought you and I might ride together sometime.”
The small mare whinnied and cantered toward them, her tale swishing in the cool night air.
Mellie leaned on the fence rail, her expression animated. “She’s beautiful. But I don’t know how to ride.
”
Case raised an eyebrow. “A Texas woman who can’t handle a horse? Shame on you.” He lifted her by the waist and set her on the railing. Her skirt fluttered around his arms like a swarm of butterflies. “I’d love to teach you...if you’re willing.”
His guest’s smile was demure. “I’m sure you could teach me all sorts of things.”
And just like that, he reached his limit. Moving between her legs, he dragged her head down for a kiss. Hot and hard and deep. The mare lost interest and wandered away. Case lost his head and wandered into dangerous territory.
Mellie in the shimmer of the moonlight was just about the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. Her hair was more pale gold than red in this moment. And her skin glowed like pearls.
“Inside,” he groaned. “Where there’s a bed.”
Her husky laugh inflamed him. “I thought you’d never ask.”
As he lifted her down from her perch, he couldn’t bear to let her go. Instead, he scooped her into his arms and carried her toward the stairs that led to the porch.
Mellie curled one arm around his neck. He smelled her, felt her, tasted her on his tongue. Everything about the night turned mystical and enchanting. And he’d never once seen himself as a whimsical man.
He caught his toe on the second step and nearly sent them both to disaster. But he managed to find his balance. “Sorry,” he muttered.
She put a hand on his cheek, her fingertips cool against his hot skin. “I’m not complaining. This is my very first experience with being swept off my feet. I think you’re doing just fine.”
Managing the final few stairs with only a little hitch in his breathing, he set her down long enough to fish the house key out of his pocket. “Fine is a sucky adjective.”
He pulled her into the house and flipped the lock, backing his lovely guest up against the barrier that separated them from the outside world. Taking one of her delicate wrists in each of his big hands, he raised her arms over her head and pinned her to the door. “I don’t know where to start,” he said, utterly serious. “I’ve dreamed about you every night for a week.”
Courting the Cowboy Boss: Reclaimed by the Rancher Page 11
