The Cowgirl's Secret (The Diamondback Ranch Series #)

by Novark, Anne Marie

  Sam broke the kiss, but kept his arm around Tori's shoulders. "Who made you camp director, Salinas?"

  "I did. Now shut up and get in the truck." Joe closed the passenger door on Raenell, who was riding shotgun. "Let's get a move on."

  Sam opened the door for Tori, and she climbed in, settling herself across the bench seat next to the other door. Sam climbed in after her and patted the space next to him. "Come on, babe. Sit next to me."

  Raenell looked toward the backseat and sighed. "For crying out loud, Tori. Don't be so dense. You're in the backseat. You get to sit close. Honestly! Sometimes, I think you're a hopeless case." She rolled her eyes and faced forward again.

  Tori's blue eyes shot daggers at her friend. "I'm not dense. I was letting Sam get in and situated.

  Sam grinned. "I'm all situated. Come on over." He patted the seat beside him again.

  Tori returned his smile and scooted to the middle. She grabbed the seat belt and fumbled with it, trying to fasten it with little success.

  "Want some help?" he said, his fingers itching to touch her. He could feel the heat from her body, but it wasn't enough. Their kiss had whetted his appetite for her. He had to have more.

  Tori glanced up. "No, thanks. I'll get it."

  Well, hell. He couldn't stand it. "Here, I'll do it." He reached over and buckled her in, his fingers making contact with hers, sending a jolt of electricity surging between them.

  Tori gasped as she stared at him, and he couldn't resist. He kissed her hard on the mouth before straightening to an upright position.

  He threw his arm across the back of the seat and let it slide to rest against Tori's shoulders. Her bare shoulders. The yellow halter-top she was wearing teased him, made him edgy. Her short shorts showed off her long tanned legs to advantage. A mental image of those gorgeous legs wrapped around him ignited a flame in his already heavy groin.

  He pulled Tori closer until their bodies were plastered together from shoulder to thigh. He leaned close and whispered in her ear. "I've missed you, babe. You would not believe how much I've missed you."

  Her smile was tremulous, her body tense. "I've missed you, too."

  Sam's heart constricted in his chest. Her innocence was compelling, completely addictive and it went to his head faster than a straight shot of tequila. Was she a virgin? The thought should have made him want to run for the hills. Instead, a fierce urge to possess and brand her as his rose up from deep inside.

  He took her small hand and threaded their fingers together, bringing them to his lips. Her breath hitched in her throat just as he remembered from before.

  Oh yes. Miss Victoria McCade was definitely irresistible. And he was a dead man.

  ***

  Tori sat on the old quilt that Raenell had spread on the ground for their picnic. They had all enjoyed a lunch of cold fried chicken, bread and pickles. The meal had naturally been informal, filled with light-hearted raillery and friendly insults zinging between Joe and Sam.

  The men were obviously close even though they seemed to be polar opposites. Joe was the quintessential extrovert, making jokes, ribbing his buddy, being the life of the party. Sam was quieter, more private, more intense. Tori had to give him credit though; he gave as good as he got.

  After they'd finished their picnic lunch, Joe and Raenell volunteered to take the cooler of leftovers back to the truck so the food wouldn't spoil in the hot September afternoon. Joe had issued a challenge of a Frisbee match between Raenell and himself against Tori and Sam. Tori hoped she wouldn't embarrass herself; she wasn't very athletic.

  Hugging her knees to her chest, she wiggled her bare toes against the soft worn material of the quilt. She looked out across White Rock Lake at all the motorboats and sailboats floating on the crystalline water. "I can't believe I've never been here before. It's really gorgeous."

  She glanced over at Sam. He was lying flat on his back, his hands clasped behind his head, gazing at the big blue Texas sky. He was so good-looking, he made her heart squeeze in her chest.

  As if suddenly aware of her eyes on him, he turned his head in her direction. He smiled that sexy smile of his; the one that was beginning to imprint itself on her brain. The one that made her want to toss away her books and focus on the man, start a relationship with him and experience life to its fullest. To find out what it meant to be a woman in the most basic sense.

  "I used to come here with my folks when I was a kid," Sam said, his voice deep and low. "Mom would pack a picnic basket, and my old man would bring his rod and reel. God, he loved to fish. In the spring, we'd fly kites. We'd add rolls and rolls of string, tying notes on the line, seeing how high we could make our kites go in the sky. It became a yearly ritual."

  Sam's smile faded and the light in his brown eyes dimmed. It was if the memories hurt even as they recalled happier times. Tori's heart ached for the man. She had a strong urge to touch his jaw to offer comfort. But she didn't have that right, didn't know him well enough. Yet.

  She settled by leaning over and placing her hand on top of his. "You still miss your dad, don't you?"

  Sam's gaze locked on hers. "Very much. He was the best."

  "Tell me about him. What did he do for a living?" Tori asked. "And did your mother stay at home or did she work, too?"

  Sam reached up and touched Tori's cheek with a gentle finger. "Dad was a mail carrier, and Mom worked in the cafeteria at my elementary school." He traced her jaw and her collarbone and her bare shoulder. She trembled beneath the caress. He talked while continuing the exploration over her sensitized skin. "We never lacked for the basics in life, but money was always tight. They encouraged me to do my best in school, so I could apply for scholarships."

  "And did you?" Tori's voice was barely a whisper as the impact of Sam's touch robbed her of breath.

  "Yeah. I went to UTD on a full scholarship, then I received a good offer to do my grad work at UT Austin." His finger smoothed down her arm and when he came to her hand, he held it in his again.

  "And then you moved to New York?" She liked how her hand felt in Sam's strong clasp. She was afraid she liked it too much.

  "Yep. And now I'm back in Texas. And with my mom so sick, I'm glad to be in a position where I can take some time off."

  "Hey, Garza!" Joe called out. "Get up off your lazy ass. Let's play some Frisbee."

  Sam smiled a crooked smile, squeezed Tori's hand, then let go. He jumped to his feet to face his friend. "I'm ready when you are, Salinas!"

  With Raenell in tow, Joe stood at the quilt's edge. "Prepare to meet your doom, buddy."

  "In your dreams!" Sam jerked his black t-shirt up over his shoulders and head, baring his expansive chest to Tori's very interested perusal. Even Raenell's eyes widened in appreciation as she looked from Sam to Tori. Her friend gave her an almost imperceptible nod of approval.

  Right. Tori scrambled to put her sandals back on while the two men talked trash. She exchanged an amused look with Raenell and shook her head.

  "I hear you," Joe said with a smirk. "I know from past experience that you're all talk, Garza. Want to put your money where your mouth is?"

  Sam stood nose to nose with Joe, punching his friend's chest with his index finger. "Right here, right now, buddy. Loser buys dinner; winner chooses where."

  "Deal." They shook on it. "Let's go." Joe stalked away, Frisbee in one hand, Raenell's hand in the other. Tori grinned at the funny face Raenell shot her as she hurried along by Joe's side.

  "Ready to play a little Frisbee?" Sam offered Tori a hand, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. He stole a quick hard kiss, before releasing her. "That's for good luck." He grabbed her hand and jogged after Joe and Raenell who were heading toward a large expanse of grass closer to the water's edge.

  "We're going to need it," Tori muttered softly, trying desperately to regain her breath. Kissing Sam without his shirt on, being held against his bare chest like that, had nearly made her swoon.

  Swoon? Nobody swooned nowadays. She'd definitely b
een reading too many romance novels lately. Except there was no doubt that she had felt faint.

  Tori did her best to keep up with Sam's long-legged strides. She couldn't stop her gaze from wandering over his tanned arms and shoulders, or the muscles rippling across his strong bare back.

  Damn! She was going to need a lot more than mere luck it if she was going to survive this relationship. Because whether Tori wanted to admit it or not, she was already involved in some kind of relationship with Sam Garza. Something about him definitely got to her. Not only on a sensual level, but on an emotional level, as well.

  How could such a strong man look so lost and vulnerable when he talked about his mother's illness or the dad he still missed? And how could she resist such a man?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The Frisbee challenge turned into the Frisbee fiasco, as far as Tori was concerned. Joe and Raenell won hands down.

  "You owe me dinner, Garza," Joe said. "Next Saturday night. You, me and our two gorgeous ladies here. We'll make a night of it."

  Sam slapped his friend on the back. "Sounds like a win-win proposition to me, buddy."

  "I'm the winner, Garza. And don't you forget it."

  "Go to hell, Salinas."

  "I'll be right behind you, dude. Giving you a friendly push."

  "Hey y'all, why don't we walk around the lake, then go see the arboretum," Raenell suggested. "Tori and I've never been. I hear it's pretty awesome."

  "Lead the way, my lady." Joe made an exaggerated bow, as if he were a knight addressing a fair maiden.

  Raenell grinned, shot Tori a mischievous look, then started off toward the walking trail.

  "Hey, wait for me!" Joe called, running to catch up.

  Sam shook his head. "I think Joe's finally met his match."

  "I could say the same for Raenell." Tori gazed after the departing couple. "They definitely make an interesting pair."

  "Not as interesting as us." Sam took hold of Tori's hand, brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, making her breath hitch.

  They walked at a slow steady pace, keeping Joe and Raenell in their sights, yet maintaining a good distance behind them. For several minutes, they walked in companionable silence, hand in hand, soaking up the sunshine and the scenery.

  Sam had stuffed a napkin-wrapped piece of bread in his pocket, and he and Tori fed the ducks. They talked about everything and nothing. The afternoon passed quickly, and Tori couldn't remember when or if she'd ever enjoyed herself on a date as much as she had that day with Sam.

  ***

  The next Saturday evening, Sam picked Tori up at her apartment and headed toward downtown Dallas, where they were meeting Joe and Raenell at the exclusive five-star restaurant Joe had chosen for his winner's prize.

  "I'm so sorry I made you lose," Tori said, for like the umpteenth time.

  "It won't be a problem. Believe me, I can afford it."

  "But Joe shouldn't have picked one of the most expensive restaurants in Dallas. I thought he was your friend?"

  Sam hunched a shoulder. "That's Joe for you. He never likes to let me forget that--quote, I made it big, unquote--in New York. It's not like he's hurting for money. He owns his own construction company."

  Sam exited the freeway and continued, "It's not the money that bothers me. What bothers me--and bothers is really too strong a word for it--what irritates me is that I'll never hear the end of it. Joe does like to rub his victories in my face."

  Tori crossed her arms over her chest. "Still, it doesn't seem fair. You were handicapped with me as your partner."

  Sam laughed. "No one would think they were handicapped with you for a partner, sweetheart. Whether they were playing Frisbee or anything else, for that matter."

  "That's very nice of you to say. But there's no getting around the fact that I dragged you down." Tori cut those baby blues at Sam and offered him a smile.

  He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He certainly wouldn't complain if she dragged him down . . . like to bed. If he didn't do something about all of this sexual tension soon, he just might explode.

  "It's all in fun, sweetheart. Let it go and enjoy."

  ***

  Tori leaned her head on Sam's chest, her ear nestled right above his heart, enjoying a slow sultry dance with the man who was turning her world upside down. Of course, she'd heard and read about love at first sight, but she'd never really given it a thought one way or another in regards to her own life.

  Until now.

  From the first moment she'd set her eyes on the tall, dark and handsome man at the dance club, Tori had a feeling something momentous had occurred. And after the kisses they'd shared, she was certain of it.

  The music spun a sensual web around them; the low, dimmed lights helped add to the romantic ambiance. Tori closed her eyes and focused on the pressure points where Sam's big hands touched her body. Focused on the friction of their bodies rubbing against one another in time to the music. It felt so good, so right, she wanted to purr with pleasure.

  Sam Garza was a serious, responsible man. She admired how he'd moved back to Texas to be with his mother in her time of crisis, practically giving up the life he'd made for himself in New York. Although he denied it, she knew it had been a big sacrifice for him.

  Tori couldn't help but be thankful that he had left New York. Otherwise, she'd never have had the opportunity to meet him and experience the earth-shattering chemistry they shared.

  It wouldn't be long before they would take their relationship to the next level. Tori blew hot and cold when she thought about making love with Sam.

  After they'd enjoyed a lovely celebratory dinner, and yes, Joe had rubbed Sam's nose in it, Raenell suggested they go dancing. Of course, Joe knew just the place. Different from the dance club where they'd all met each other for the first time almost a month ago. Classier. More romantic, Joe said with a waggle of an eyebrow.

  So here they were, swaying to the jazzy blues melody, making their own kind of music, fanning the flames of the smoldering passion burning between them.

  With each move of the dance, Tori felt Sam's hard body press against her. She hadn't had time to buy another dress, so she'd worn the red backless satin she'd bought for their first date, hoping Sam wouldn't mind seeing it again so soon. The light in his eyes and the appreciative smile on his lips when he'd picked her up assured her he didn't mind in the least.

  "Hey, beautiful." The deep baritone washed through Tori's system, making her almost lose her step in the dance.

  She lifted her chin, determined to at least try to appear in control of herself, instead of slowly going out of her mind with the fierce yearning need swirling low in her body. "Hey, yourself."

  He kissed her forehead. "You know what this dress reminds me of?"

  "A playground fantasy?" Tori could feel the heat stain her cheeks. Damn her unruly tongue.

  Sam's rich laugh rumbled in his chest. "Well, I wasn't going to put it quite like that, but yeah. It reminds me of our first date and that kiss under the wooden fort. I want to kiss you again. Just like that." He bent closer to whisper in her ear. "I want to do a whole lot more than just kiss. I'm burning up for you, babe. I want you . . . I need you."

  Tori swallowed hard. "I want you, too."

  Sam's arms tightened their hold around her, pressing her even closer to his aroused body. "Let's get out of here. I want to be alone with you."

  Tori glanced over her shoulder at Raenell and Joe; they were plastered against each other, dreamily dancing, oblivious to everyone and everything around them.

  Sam touched her cheek and forced her to look at him again. "I can't take you to my house. Not with my mom there. I could get a hotel room . . ."

  "No!" Tori shook her head. She didn't want her first time to be in a strange impersonal hotel room. She took a deep breath for courage. "Raenell's spending the night with Joe. We can go to my place."

  In fact, Tori had cleaned the apartment from top to bottom in preparation. She'd put fresh sheets o
n her bed. She'd bought candles to help set the mood, and to be on the safe side, she'd actually bought some protection, too.

  She and Sam had been on several dates--well, if you didn't count this one, they'd only had two actual dates; the dance club didn't really count, neither did the several lunches they'd shared during the past month or so.

  No matter, the latent passion smoldering between them had burst into a conflagration of burning desire. Tori had known Sam wouldn't be content with sharing only kisses for much longer. Hell, she wasn't content with them any more, even though the kisses were toe-curling, stomach-twisting, heart-pounding and hot.

  Sam stopped dancing and stared down at her. Tori returned the stare, determined to be mature about the whole thing. Had he guessed she was still a virgin? And more importantly, would he see it as a good thing, as if she were giving him a special gift?

  His eyes held hers in a look as old as time itself. Tori's stomach turned somersaults. Another couple bumped into them as they stood together in the middle of the dance floor. Sam grabbed her hand and pulled her back to their table. "I'll tell Joe we're leaving. Wait right here."

  Tori watched him make his way to where Joe and Raenell were still dancing in their own little world. Sam tapped Joe's shoulder and his friend stopped dancing. He continued holding Raenell in his arms, while he listened to what Sam was telling him.

  It wasn't long before Sam came striding back toward her. Tori picked up her small purse, gripping it in her suddenly sweaty hands. This was a big step for her, inviting Sam to her apartment.

  "Let's go." He took her elbow in a warm clasp and guided her out of the club and into the night.

  Tori felt like he was leading her into a future that would never be the same.

  ***

  Sam pulled into a parking spot beside Tori's car outside her apartment building. The drive from downtown Dallas to Richardson had only taken twenty minutes or so. Tori had kept pretty quiet during the trip. Every time he glanced her way, her head was averted and she was twisting her hands nervously in her lap.