“Just an observation. I remember two women in particular when I was here last month who were just waiting for you to do more than simply acknowledge them.”
“Is that right?”
“I notice you’re not denying it.”
His veiled eyes revealed little. “We’ll go in through the rear door. Except for Willy manning the front desk, we have the place all to ourselves—a new experience for me now that Carson’s moved out. I’ll fix you a cup of coffee in the kitchen.”
“That sounds better than any drink at a bar.”
“My sentiments exactly.”
He let her in through the back door. This was a portion of the ranch house she’d never seen before. After locking it, he led her down a hallway in the dark. “I feel like we’re playing house,” she said.
“That’s the idea.” He put the suitcase down in the hall outside what she presumed was Johnny’s old bedroom. Before she could take another breath, he grasped her upper arms and backed her against the wall. “Since Ross could come home at any time, let’s take advantage of our privacy. I’d like to properly welcome you back to the Tetons, if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s okay with me,” she answered with a boldness she’d blush over tomorrow. She wanted his kiss so badly she could taste it before his beautiful mouth closed over hers.
She moaned as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his rock-hard body.
There was no space between them. His male scent mixed with the faint smell of the soap intoxicated her to the core of her being. Her heart thundered against his while they kissed with sensuous abandon, the way they couldn’t have done if they’d gone dancing in public.
Alex had dreamed of this moment for so long and now she found herself going with it, praying he’d never stop. His lips and hands brought pleasure to die for. This was ecstasy so beyond anything she’d felt at seventeen that she was in shock.
He finally lifted his head enough for them to breathe. “I’ve been wanting to do this since I first saw you in the airport.”
A little cry escaped her. “Would you think I was terrible if I admitted to the same thing? I tried to fight what I was feeling. You can’t imagine my guilt.”
His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Frank has to be out of his mind with pain over losing you. It’s no wonder he hasn’t given up yet.” He kissed her again with near-primitive passion.
If she didn’t miss her guess, Buck was under a false impression about her relationship with Frank. This time she was the one to pull away first, but he didn’t give her up willingly. “We never slept together,” she admitted on a ragged breath.
A stillness surrounded them. His eyes traveled over her features. “But you were together for two y—” A cough cut his words off.
“We were friends for most of it,” she explained. “I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him until we were married.”
He blinked. “Then all these years—”
“I’ve been the virgin grandma.” She half laughed. “Even though I made the mistake with Kyle that resulted in my pregnancy, I still felt virginal. The truth is, we only made love one time before my parents found out and put an end to it. I’m afraid the experience was experimental at best.”
A tremor passed through Buck’s solid frame before he drew her back in his arms, burying his face in her hair. “You’ve had a rocky path for too many years.”
“That’s why I’ve decided I’m due for a change. Coming here again marks the beginning of my new adventure.”
She heard him utter her name before pressing kisses over her hair and face. Once again, he found her mouth. Alex helped him, because her hunger matched his and had grown beyond caution. His short, rough beard was a reminder of his masculinity and whipped up her senses. In the middle of her delirium, a light went on in the hall. She heard footsteps.
“Hey, buddy—I saw your truck around the side.” Ross’s voice galvanized her into action and she tried to tear her lips from Buck’s. “What are you doing back here? I figured you’d still be in—”
Too late, he saw them in an embrace. Buck let her go with reluctance and turned to Ross with a calm that astonished her. “After I saw what was going on in town, I decided to put Alex and Jenny up in Johnny’s old room. The Teton Shadows leaves a lot to be desired on a Friday night, if you follow my meaning.”
“Carson and I weren’t thrilled to hear you were staying there, either.” He drew closer. “Welcome to the ranch house, Alex. All day, Buck and I wondered how we were going to handle being orphans in this big old place.” A smile lit up his eyes. “Now we don’t have to worry.”
She edged away from Buck. “You’re all so nice, you would never admit that my surprise visit disrupted you.”
Ross shot Buck another mysterious glance. “We like surprises. Ask Johnny.”
For a little while she’d actually been able to forget about the kids. “Did they ever settle down?”
“No. They were still talking a mile a minute when I left.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
Buck grinned. “Want to join us for a cup of coffee before we all turn in?”
“Not me. I’ve had enough for tonight. See you guys in the morning.” He disappeared behind a door down at the other end of the hall.
As much as Alex didn’t want to say good-night to Buck, Ross’s unexpected appearance had brought her to her senses. He had to have seen how they were clinging to each other. Left alone with Buck again, she knew she’d lose control. This wasn’t the time or the place. He’d had a long, tiring day and they couldn’t be private in the ranch house. Carson could decide to come back for something.
She looked up at him. “Buck?”
“I know what you’re going to say, and I’m way ahead of you,” his voice rasped. “I wanted an excuse to be with you any way I could, but it’s best you go to bed now while I’m still willing to let you.” His words thrilled her. “Housekeeping gave Johnny’s room and bathroom a thorough cleaning. The beds have been freshly made up. You’ll be comfortable and safe.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t look at me like that or I’ll forget every good intention. If you should get hungry or thirsty during the night, help yourself to anything in the kitchen.” She nodded and he added, “Have breakfast with me in the morning.” She smiled. “I’ll look for you in the dining room. Good night.”
When she could no longer hear his footsteps, she went inside Johnny’s room and got ready for bed. Her body was so wired, she knew it would be a long time before she fell asleep.
After she got into bed, she noticed how a shaft of moonlight fell across the wood floor. She loved everything about the ranch and the house itself. Built in true Western style, Carson had inherited a fabulous legacy, one he was sharing with Ross and Buck and, ultimately, the lucky guests like Alex and her granddaughter.
She lay back against the pillow, still tasting Buck on her lips. If it had been a mistake to kiss him tonight because she wouldn’t be seeing him after Monday, she didn’t regret it. He’d made her come alive so she didn’t even recognize herself anymore.
Her thoughts stretched back to her early years. She’d been five years old when Buck was born. They’d gone through life with a five-year age difference. Even if they’d attended the same high school, she would have graduated before he’d started his sophomore year. It took growing up and becoming adults for the disparity in their ages to no longer matter.
Alex marveled over the painful twists and unexpected turns of both their lives that had brought them together at this particular moment in time. All because of Jenny. But for her father who’d been killed in war, Alex would never have met Buck or his partners.
She made a promise to herself to enjoy the few days she had left with Buck to the fullest.
Don’t think beyond Monday, Alex. Just don’t think.
* * *
BUCK TURNED OUT the lights in the hall and walked up the stairs. Each step took him farther away from her, but he had little choice. Tomorrow night he’d get her alone where there was no possibility of anyone bothering them.
Ross heard him coming and walked out in the hall. They eyed each other before Buck said, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“If you didn’t want to talk, I couldn’t have handled it because I’m already exploding with curiosity. Come on in.” They both went inside Ross’s room. Buck hooked a leg around one of the chairs and sat backward while Ross sank down on the side of his bed to stretch his limbs. “Have you recovered from shock yet?”
He shook his head. “When I heard it was Jenny, calling from a motel in Jackson no less, you could have knocked me over.”
“That made two of us. So cut to the chase. What’s going on with her and Frank?”
Buck’s head flew back. “He’s permanently out of the picture.”
“Yeah?” Ross grinned. “The news gets better and better.”
“She gave up her job at the bank and is looking for a new one, not necessarily in banking. She’s even willing to uproot herself and Jenny if she can find the right situation. I’m going to stick my neck out here and ask what you’d think if we hired her to take Susan’s place at the front desk.
“Since she left for college, we’ve been lucky Willy has volunteered to help out until we find a replacement. But let me assure you, Alex has no idea that I’ve been thinking about asking her.”
Ross’s smile faded. “You’re serious about this.”
“I’ve never been so serious in my life. Whether she’d be interested is an entirely different matter. The pay wouldn’t be near what she’s been making as a loan officer. Chances are, she won’t even consider it. She has a granddaughter to raise and get through college.”
Unable to sit still, Buck got up from the chair. “I wanted to talk to you about it before I run it by Carson. Naturally we’d all have to be in agreement before the position was offered to her.”
“You’re talking permanent, like as in full time, year round.”
Year-round forever. “Yes. But that brings us to another problem. We won’t know if we’ll have broken even for at least a year. And we still haven’t decided if we’re going to keep the ranch open as a dude ranch through the winter. If not, we wouldn’t need anyone at the desk.”
“True. We’re still in the experimental stage.” Streams of unspoken messages passed between them before Ross whistled.
“I know,” Buck muttered as he walked over to the doorway. “While your mind is considering all the logistics, my mind has been making its own list of imponderables. It’s a mile long already.”
Ross got up from the bed and looked him squarely in the eyes. “I like her a lot. Even if you have to work things out a different way and she gets a job in town, if it’s what you want, I’m all for it. You know that. Good luck getting to sleep tonight.”
“That’s not going to happen, but thanks for your vote of confidence, Ross. It means everything. See you in the morning.”
* * *
TO BUCK’S SURPRISE, he actually did get some sleep, but he was awake by six-thirty. Knowing Alex was under the same roof caused his adrenaline to kick in and gave him a reason to spring out of the sack.
After a shower and shave, he put on a polo shirt and a pair of jeans. The last thing he did was pull on his cowboy boots. He’d be taking Alex and Jenny on an overnight campout, but he didn’t know if it would be today or tomorrow. They still had plans to make. In any case, they’d do some riding both days.
He heard a knock on the door. “Uncle Buck?”
Who else but Johnny. “Are you up already?”
“Yep. Jenny’s with me. We’ve got to talk to you. Can we come in?”
Something was cooking. It always was with Johnny. “Sure.”
His young gunslingers walked in looking so cute he couldn’t believe it. There was no sign Jenny had ever hurt her ankle. “Hey—I like those new cowboy boots you’ve got on.”
“Nana bought them for me. Hi, Buck!” She ran over and gave him a big hug that warmed his heart.
“Hi, Red.” He kissed her forehead. “How was the sleepover?”
A smile broke out on her face. “Really fun.”
“I wish we could do it every night.”
Johnny was so predictable. Buck had to be careful not to laugh out loud. “I hear you, sport. So tell me what’s on your mind.”
“We want to camp out at Secret Lake tonight, but mom says everyone’s too tired after yesterday’s move. Are you too tired?”
“No, but your folks are, so I have a better idea. They need a day to rest, so let’s plan to take the horses up there tomorrow and camp out. Today we’ll do something else. How does that sound?”
“I guess that’s okay. Can Jenny see the cows after breakfast?” She nodded with a look of anticipation.
A drive up to the pasture with Alex would give him time alone with her while the kids sat in the back of the truck. “Sounds like a plan. After we get back, there’s plenty for you guys to do around here.”
“We want to ride our ponies and catch bad guys.”
“And then we’ll go to Funorama!” Jenny looked up at Buck with imploring eyes. “Are you going to eat with us?” She had on another princess top with a ruffle over the waistband of her jeans. This one was pink.
“I’m right behind you. Lead the way.”
“Goody!” they said in unison.
There was a full house in the dining room. Business was booming. After being open for only three months, it was the best of signs and proved they were attracting business. In time, their experiment might really grow into something. Nothing would make Buck happier. The thought of doing any other kind of work at this point was anathema to him.
He spotted Ross, who’d beaten him downstairs and was sitting at one of the tables with Alex. Buck’s heart practically stopped beating. She’d caught her hair on top of her head with a clip and was dressed in a cream-colored Western shirt with fringe. Ross couldn’t take his eyes off her and no wonder.
“That’s a sensational outfit,” Buck murmured after sitting down next to her. He saw the pulse at the base of her throat start to throb.
“I just finished telling her the same thing,” Ross said.
“I bought the shirt at the Boot Corral on the way in to town. We’re staying at a dude ranch so I figured I’d better look the part.”
“Nana bought me some new cowboy boots. See?” Jenny walked around the table so Ross would take notice.
“You and your nana light this place up like a Christmas tree.”
Johnny giggled. “You’re silly, Uncle Ross.”
Since the surprise arrival of their guests last night, a whole new mood of excitement permeated the place. Halfway through their meal, Carson and Tracy walked in. The waitress took their orders.
“Excuse us for being late.” They’d had the house to themselves on their first morning in their new home. Carson finally had his privacy and looked beyond happy. So did Tracy.
“Guess what?” Johnny exclaimed. “Uncle Buck’s going to drive us to the pasture after breakfast.”
Buck glanced at Alex. “Want to come?”
Her eyes met his. “I’d love to see more of the ranch.” Then she looked around. “Since we’re discussing plans, now might be the time to invite everyone to a party at the Funorama at five this afternoon. Jenny and I made the reservation to celebrate Johnny’s birthday. We’re sorry we had to miss his first one.”
“Huh?” Johnny’s eyes rounded. “Another party?”
Alex smiled at him. “Absolutely. Turning seven is a big deal and it’s on us
. Pizza and presents.”
Buck wished he could have recorded Johnny’s yelp of joy.
“I got you my present last month,” Jenny informed him.
“You did? Will I like it?”
Buck was afraid to look at the others while he tried to control his amusement.
She giggled. “Yes. It’s funny.”
“Can I open it now?”
“Johnny Lundgren—” This from Tracy. “Where are your manners?”
“Sorry.”
Carson grinned. “We’ll all have to wait in suspense until the party. I’ve got to hurry and get my work done before then.”
“How come you always have to work?” Johnny had posed a rhetorical question so full of disappointment it made everyone burst into laughter.
Alex had to wipe her eyes before she got up from the table. “Jenny? If we’re going on a drive, we’d better freshen up first.”
“I’ll pick you up in front in ten minutes,” Buck said.
She nodded and left the dining room with Jenny. His gaze followed her out of the room. Then it switched to Carson.
“Can I talk to you in private for a moment?”
“Sure.”
“Come on, Johnny.” Tracy was a quick study. “You need to visit the restroom before you leave.”
“Thanks, Tracy.”
He wanted to broach his idea to Carson while his partner was still available. After telling Ross to stay put, he related what he’d told Ross last night and asked him how he’d feel about offering Alex the front-desk job.
“I want your gut response, but I don’t need an answer right now. If Johnny hadn’t been around, I would have asked your wife to stay to give her input. Just think about it and talk it over with her and Ross. Alex knows nothing about this and she never will if you don’t feel good about it.”
The waitress refilled their coffee. Carson took a few sips. “This is déjà vu for me. I wanted to keep Tracy and Johnny around and offered them the use of one of the cabins while we got to know each other better. Instead we got married, but there’s no reason why Alex and Jenny can’t stay in one of the cabins for a temporary period whether she works for us or not.”
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