“The change in you from when we first met is remarkable. I thought you were too good to be true when Grace introduced us. Since you’ve met Joaquin and realized what you want in life, you’ve bloomed. It’s amazing to remember you were the shy beauty who brought me a pecan pie. Remember the first time I kissed you?”
“I’ll never forget. That was my first kiss and second.” She gazed at him with love in her eyes.
“I gave you your first kiss?”
She nodded, sentimental tears in her eyes. His lips descended to hers in a tender kiss as he led her in the dance. Aching with desire for him, she wished for nothing more than to be consumed by him and Joaquin both.
Chapter Eighteen
After the song ended, Angel walked her to the ladies room and waited for her as he usually did. Tonight, Joaquin was not the only one drawing hungry looks. He didn’t think she saw them, but Angel noticed that she was the recipient of more than a few appreciative stares. She was radiant tonight, even more than usual, and that attracted the attention of others.
He caught a glimpse of Joaquin across the club. Ben was at their table escorting Dinah out of Teresa’s chair and away toward the bar. There was something not quite right about that woman, but Angel couldn’t put his finger on it. He’d heard a few interesting rumors about her but didn’t honestly know what to think about her. He was relieved she’d vacated Teresa’s chair so she could take a break, though. He stepped to the bar to order another round of drinks for their table while he waited for Teresa.
Returning to the hallway where the restrooms and office were located, he thought he heard Teresa’s voice. Looking in the dimly lit hallway, he could see Teresa pressed against the wall, trying to escape the close proximity of an overly friendly cowboy. Her brows were drawn together, and she spoke in clear, sharp tones.
“I told you, I am here with my fiancé. I do not want to sit with you or your friends.” She didn’t sound frightened, but she didn’t sound happy, either.
The man was taller than her and outweighed her by a good seventy-five pounds. “Come on, honey. I saw you dancing with those two cowboys and kissing them both. You can drop the ‘fiancé’ line. I promise we’ll treat you right. Don’t worry,” he said good-naturedly as he leaned toward her.
Angel tapped him on the shoulder and got his attention. “Teresa, go to the end of the hallway and wait for me there. Don’t leave, just wait for me.” Teresa looked up in relief and scooted past him, still pressed against the wall.
Angel turned his full attention to the cowboy who now looked a little embarrassed. “When a lady tells you no, you should accept that she means it. That beauty is engaged to me. If you’d checked her finger while you were ogling her, you would have seen the two carats worth of diamond she carries on her delicate finger. She’s here with me and my brother. If you have a problem with that then we can go outside and have a little chat about it,” he said, pointing at the backdoor.
The tall ranch hand raised his hands palm up in apology. “Sorry, man, we saw her dancing with you both and made some assumptions. That was a dumbass thing to do. I apologize. We’re new in town and haven’t had any time to relax in a while. No harm, no foul?”
Angel would have liked to stay angry at the guy for making assumptions about Teresa’s character. It was obvious the guy had not intended to insult either of them. He seemed liked a good guy. Something about him also seemed vaguely familiar. “Are you going to apologize to her?”
The cowboy nodded affirmatively. “Sure. I didn’t mean anything by it, just happened to see her waiting in the hallway on my way to the men’s room and thought I’d take a chance. I’m really sorry.”
The man was nice enough about it and willing to apologize to Teresa, so Angel decided to throw him a bone. A nice, juicy, ripe, and ready one, he figured.
“I can see you didn’t mean to offend Teresa, so I’ll give you a tip. There’s a woman sitting at a table near ours who is into group encounters, but you can’t mention how you know that.” He followed Angel as he walked back to Teresa. “Also, see that tall redhead in the red spandex dress at the bar?”
“Uh-huh!” the cowboy responded eagerly.
“You might want to try your luck there, too, but she likes it a little rough, I hear.”
The guy got a quizzical look on his face. “Rough, huh?”
“Don’t misunderstand, cowboy. She’d be the one getting rough, not you.”
The look on his face told Angel that was a whole lot more kink than he could handle. “Holy shit. Point me in the direction of the other gal first, and I’ll keep that one in reserve.”
“First, do your duty,” Angel said with a chuckle, indicating Teresa standing beside him.
The cowboy earned even more points when he removed his hat. “Ma’am, I’m really sorry I made such an ass of myself earlier. My powers of observation were seriously lacking. I can see now that you definitely are engaged to this gentleman by the ring on your finger, nor do you look like the type trolling for a group one-night stand. I’m very sorry. Please forgive me?” His hand was over his heart, the picture of sincerity and remorse.
Teresa looked him over speculatively and said, after smiling at Angel, “Thank you for apologizing. I forgive you. You seem like a nice cowboy. You should settle down with a good girl and not waste your time and money on loose women. But if that’s what you’re after, there’s a whole table of them next to ours. Why don’t we trade tables with you?”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Angel commented, “How many of you are there?”
“Three, over there.” He pointed to a table with two decent-looking cowboys sitting at it. “We’re working out at the Rockin’ C until we can get our own place out on FM 709 started up again. We haven’t been into town since we got here except to buy supplies and groceries. We’d be happy to trade tables with you. If you’re in here on a regular basis, maybe you could introduce us to some decent gals, especially if they’re as pretty as you are. No offense,” he added deeply, glancing at Angel, who chuckled. He was starting to like this guy.
“None taken. My brother, Joaquin, is waiting at our table. I’ll introduce you. I wish you luck with your ranch. We’re over at the Divine Creek Ranch on FM 709. I’m Angel, and this is my fiancée, Teresa, by the way.”
“The Warner Place?” the man said and got an incredulous look on his face.
“No, the Warner Ranch is farther out. But Joe Warner’s son, Jack, and his two friends own the Divine Creek Ranch. You know Jack and Joe?” Angel asked with a funny feeling in his gut.
“Holy crap! It’s a small world!” He held out his callused hand. “The name’s Kendall. Kendall Warner.”
Teresa’s jaw popped open, and a smile spread across her face.
“My dad, Jack, was Joe Warner’s brother. My brothers, Richard and Boone, are over at the table. Dad died a couple years back and left us his spread. We decided to settle down and try to make something of the old place. Jack is named after my dad. We’ve been meaning to get in touch with them.”
“I’ll be damned,” Angel uttered in disbelief. “I remember meeting your father once when he came to visit Joe during the summer. He was an old man back then. He must have met your mother late in life. Joe said he lost touch with Jack over the years but not intentionally.”
“He always meant to get in touch, but the years and work got away from him. Mom lives in Washington with our younger sister. So you’ve known the Warner family a long time?”
“Since I was a teenager. Your uncle and my dad are long-time friends. You need to get in touch with Joe and Jack. I think they’d all love to meet you. They’d probably be up here tonight, but their wife Grace is babysitting our little boy tonight.” As he said it, he caught the warm look Teresa shot him and held her a little closer around the waist.
Kendall got a confused look on his face, and Teresa said, “It’s complicated but all good. Listen, forget about the loose women and come sit with us. We’ll call Jack and Grace and tell them we found you.”<
br />
“Just…don’t tell them how, okay, ma’am?” Kendall said uncomfortably.
“Only if you stop calling me ‘ma’am.’ I’m your age. Call me Teresa or Miss Palacios if you must.”
“All right, ma’—Miss Palacios.”
Angel pointed out their table, and Kendall went to tell his brothers about meeting them. Angel and Teresa made their way over to the table where Joaquin still waited.
Joaquin smiled at the look on Angel’s face. “Meet someone interesting?”
“You’re not going to believe this.” Angel told him what they knew so far.
Teresa placed a palm on his brother’s biceps. “They’re going to call Jack. Wait till Grace gets a load of those cowboys. She’ll be up to her elbows in matchmaking schemes. I want a dance with you, Joaquin. You’ve been all by yourself over here waiting for us, and I don’t want you to feel neglected.” Angel patted her curvy bottom affectionately as he released her to his brother and sat in his chair.
“Well then, how about you come kiss my boo-boo.” Joaquin stood and grinned at Angel before he led her to the dance floor.
* * * *
Teresa stood at the stove while Michael sat at Angel’s kitchen table in his little booster seat, playing with Play-Doh, when a familiar sound was heard in the distance. She smiled when Michael’s head popped up from what he was doing and listened.
Angel was in the shower, and Joaquin was dealing with some issue Ash had called him about, saying he needed to talk to him. Michael started to go back to what he was doing when the noise got louder, coming down the drive to the foreman’s house.
“Wubida-wubida!” he squealed, imitating the throaty growl of Eli’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle. “Eli and Rachel home! Wubida-Wubida! Eli! Rachel-Baby!” he screeched as he carefully climbed down from the booster seat.
Angel came into the kitchen dressed in a T-shirt and blue jeans as Michael went running for the front door, flung it open, and ran out on the porch hollering. “Eli! Rachel-Baby! You’re home!” The fringe on his little leather chaps flapped with his movements and the stiff winter breeze.
“You’re finally home from the moon! Eli! Rachel-Baby!”
They followed him out the front door as Eli rolled to a stop on his Harley with Rachel riding on the back. By the time they had their helmets off, Michael had toddled carefully down the porch steps and was running for the motorcycle. Eli’s immense size didn’t faze Michael a bit as Eli caught him and lifted him high in the air, still sitting on the bike. Rachel removed her helmet and climbed off then held out her hands for him expectantly. Rachel looked beautiful in full leathers. Her long hair was loose, flowing in the breeze as Eli placed a wiggling Michael in her arms.
She smiled radiantly at Teresa and said, “What have you been feeding this boy? He’s grown four inches since the wedding.”
She wrangled him into a hug, and he wrapped his arms around her neck and gave her a kiss and giggled, saying, “I missed you so much, Rachel-Baby, while you on the moon!”
Rachel looked at Eli, and they started laughing then she looked over at Teresa and whispered, “Rachel-Baby?”
“I know. He’s calling all of our female friends ‘baby’ now. It started with Grace,” Teresa said as she came down the steps and hugged Rachel then hugged Eli. He got off the bike and lifted Michael high on his shoulders.
“Welcome home, newlyweds,” Angel said. “Did you have a good time? Do any hiking?” he asked as he came down the steps.
Rachel glowed when she smiled at them. “Yes, Angel, we did. I got some beautiful pictures of snow on the rim of the Canyon. Our lodge was awesome.”
Eli nodded at Teresa’s hand. “We hear you have some interesting news.” he said speculatively. “I wonder if this Joaquin I keep hearing about is good enough for you, Teresa. He sounds like a bit of a tumbleweed to me,” he added teasingly as Angel grinned at him.
Teresa’s cheeks warmed, and she said, “Oh, he’s wonderful, Eli. You’ll meet him in a minute. He said he’d be right back. Did you hear about Jack’s cousins turning up?”
Rachel smiled widely. “You should see Grace. She’s beside herself. They’re going to meet them tonight for supper then go out to The Pony. We’re going to meet them there. Are you going out tonight after we eat?”
“We were out last night, so we’re planning on a quiet night at home,” Angel said as he slid a hand around Teresa’s hip. Teresa saw Rachel’s smile as she turned to him and snuggled up. There was a time when Teresa would not have made a move toward him like that with others watching, and Rachel must have taken notice.
“Well, supper is about ready. Why don’t we go inside?” Teresa offered, leading the way. Eli lowered Michael from his shoulders and carried him inside giggling, slung over his hip.
“Rachel-Baby! See my big-boy chair? I big boy now. Wanna come play Play-Doh with me?”
“Sure, Michael. Were you good while I was gone?” she asked as she took a seat by his booster chair.
“I sure was! Angel gonna be my Daddy! Mommy loooves Angel.” Then he giggled and added in a stage whisper, “Mommy loooves Joaquin, too, I think. They kiss, ick!” He wiped at his lips like it was something gross to do that.
“But I kiss Eli all the time.” she teased.
“I know. That’s gross, too. Here, you pick. Want my red or blue?”
Eli turned to Angel and Teresa and said, “Congratulations, you two. I mean three, maybe?”
“It’s not official yet,” Teresa said. “Joaquin hasn’t proposed. It’s on his timeframe now.”
“It was a big surprise,” Eli said as Teresa returned to the kitchen. “But I know they’re going to take good care of you and Michael. Rachel thinks very highly of all three of you.”
“So, Eli, I hear the sale on the ranch property went through,” Angel said.
Eli’s face split into a wide grin. “Yes! We’re talking to Jack about doing the contracting for us.”
From the kitchen table, Rachel said, “I can’t wait to get started with landscaping plans.”
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Teresa said as she lifted the lid and stirred the carne guisada and checked the other food.
Eli came up behind her and sighed dreamily, rubbing his belly. “Is that what I think it is, Teresa?”
Teresa turned to him with a smile. “Yes, I hope you don’t mind. I thought you might enjoy it again. I have fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, homemade flour tortillas, Spanish rice, corn, and homemade pinto beans.”
“Do I mind? I think it would be wonderful to have your carne guisada again.”
“Again?” Rachel inquired, rolling a worm out with blue Play-Doh and handing it to Michael.
Eli smiled, remembering. “Yes. The first morning you were in ICU, Teresa showed up with homemade carne guisada on homemade tortillas. My mouth waters every time I think about it,” Eli said and hugged Teresa again. He was a giant, for sure, but soft as a marshmallow for the women in his life.
The front door opened, and Joaquin came in and hung up his jacket. “Temp is dropping a little out there. Hey, Rachel!” Joaquin laughed as Rachel came to him and gave him a big hug. “How are you? Damn, you’re looking beautiful, girl!”
“You’re a flirt, as always,” Rachel said, laughing. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Eli, this is Joaquin Martinez, Angel’s brother,” Teresa said. Eli greeted Joaquin, and they shook hands, and the three men sat and talked while Rachel helped Teresa lay out the food on the rustic dining room table. They all sat down to enjoy the meal.
Joaquin had known about the accident when it happened, but he asked Rachel and Eli all about it. Joaquin and Eli discovered a lot of topics they saw eye to eye on. The three men enjoyed talking, and Michael interjected key points, as well. The time flew, and soon they were slipping back into their jackets and readying to leave for the club where they were meeting the rest of the gang, including Rosemary and her men.
Michael cackled and crowed when Eli fired up the Harl
ey, “Wubida-wubida-wubida!” waving at them both as they pulled away. The night had definitely gotten a lot chillier, and they quickly returned inside and began Michael’s bedtime routine.
At first Teresa wanted to return home tonight to be consistent for the sake of Michael’s schedule and also so that her neighbors wouldn’t worry about her, but Michael had asked for a sleepover.
She’d given in and was thankful she’d brought a change of clothes over that she could wear home tomorrow. She reminded the men that she could not make a habit of it. They promised that they understood, and then she worried that she disappointed them by seeming to not want to stay. That simply wasn’t the case. She secretly wanted to come home with them and never leave, starting today.
Going home the night before, after their wonderful evening out, had been hard but necessary. She’d had work that morning, and so she’d gotten in her car late Friday night and driven Michael home. Joaquin had followed her in his truck and had waited to make sure she’d gotten in all right.
Michael fell asleep less than halfway through his bedtime story, and she carried him to bed in Joaquin’s room. She smiled at Joaquin when he retrieved clothes for the following day while she tucked Michael in and laid an extra blanket over him. She returned to the living room, feeling happy about staying.
Music played as she came into the living room, and she noticed that they had moved the coffee table aside and rolled up the area rug, lit candles all around the room, and turned down the lights. Now they had a nice dance floor complete with music.
“Beautiful, may I have this dance?” Angel asked as he held out a hand to her.
“How romantic of you.” She slipped into his arms. He danced her around to the soft instrumental while Joaquin sat down and quietly watched, waiting his turn. She smiled when the next song came on, recognizing it.
“You remembered, Joaquin,” she whispered as he took her in his arms and held her close while the opening strains of “Besame Mucho” played. She danced with each of them a few more times then there was a knock at the door.
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection, Volume 1 [Book 1 - Divine Grace, Book 2 - Her Gentle Giant, Book 3 - Heavenly Angel] (Siren Everlasting Collection) Page 135
