Deep in a Texan's Heart

by Sara Orwig

  Four

  Lila’s heart pounded when she drove out of the lot.

  She let out her breath. Her palms were damp. She was breathless from his kiss, which had set her heart racing. Her lips tingled and a pang struck her. If only Sam didn’t have old-fashioned ideas. He was fun and sometimes she couldn’t resist him.

  As days passed, her figure was changing—her waistline was thicker. She couldn’t wear her belts fastened in the notch she had once used.

  She was running the risk of Sam noticing and she had to stop accepting his invitations. How was she ever going to tell him about his baby?

  * * *

  Sam stood a moment, watching her drive away. He ached to hold Lila. His lips still flamed from the brief, light kiss that only made him want so much more.

  Why was she avoiding him? She had gone to lunch, but if he hadn’t been persistent, she wouldn’t have, and she turned him down flatly for dinner. Yet she responded to him. Her pulse had raced when he had touched her wrist. There had to be a reason for the contradictions in her.

  When he was at the club now, he couldn’t keep from going by the billiard room and looking for her. During lunch she had challenged him, making a pointed effort to emphasize their differences, yet at the same time she had been as responsive physically as ever. The look she’d had when he had caught her gazing at his mouth practically screamed that she wanted to kiss. So why was she refusing to go out with him?

  He couldn’t believe it was simply the differences in their views regarding women and the children’s center. Her reasons to avoid him went deeper, but he was at a loss.

  One thing he knew for sure—he wanted her in his arms. He wanted to hold and kiss her and make love for hours. Why couldn’t he get her out of his system?

  He returned to his office, heading down the drive to the two-story red-brick Greek Revival with stately white Corinthian columns and a broad porch flanked by well-tended beds of flowers in the front. He spent a few minutes talking to Josh and then shut himself in his big office. After half an hour he tossed down the pen he held. Why was Lila trying to avoid him? She seemed torn between responding to him and turning his every invitation down. When he had coaxed her into accepting lunch, her reluctance had been evident.

  If she didn’t have that other side to her, he would leave her alone and make a bigger effort to get her out of his system. As it was, he wanted to know why. And he wanted a long weekend with her where they could make love like before.

  Was there a man in California?

  Sam leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. He didn’t think so. She would be firmer in her refusals and he guessed Lila was open enough to just tell him if there was someone else. So what the hell was it? He scratched his head and sighed, standing and moving restlessly to the window.

  He needed to go out with her and learn what the problem between them was or just forget her. But forgetting her was impossible. He thought about her constantly. One more night with her and maybe he could get her out of his system. Only he knew better. One night would never shake Lila out of his thoughts. He wanted unending nights.

  How was he going to get even a single night with her when she was so standoffish?

  He decided to go see how the latest house was progressing. He had a contract to build a seven-million-dollar mansion in Pine Valley, where he lived. He had to get out and do something to take his mind off Lila.

  * * *

  On Thursday, Lila showered to get ready to once again drive to Royal to meet Shannon. Tired of wearing the waist-hiding dresses, she pulled on scarlet slacks with a matching short-sleeved V-neck summer sweater. When she studied her image, she could see a small bulge. Her waist was thickening already. The clubhouse would be air-conditioned, so she pulled out a short-sleeved lightweight cardigan that matched her outfit and put it on.

  This time when she looked in the mirror, she was satisfied with her image. Combing her hair, she let it fall loose. She picked up her purse, notebook and the mailing tube with the plans and drawings inside.

  When she entered the present billiard room, Shannon was there along with some of the other women. Lila greeted Abby Price, Missy Reynolds and Vanessa Woodrow. In minutes they were all seated around a table, studying each other’s written suggestions.

  Within the hour, they moved to the dining room to continue planning over lunch. As they finished eating and lingered over iced tea, still talking about the center, Lila felt a prickle of awareness. Glancing around, she saw Sam standing in the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat when he turned to look at her. For a moment she was locked into his gaze until she realized she was staring.

  With an effort she looked away, focusing again on the women at her table and trying to ignore Sam.

  Moments later, when she couldn’t resist glancing toward the door, he had disappeared from sight. She suspected she would see him later. He had a way of popping up when she least expected to see him.

  When the women adjourned to the billiard room again, everyone shared a few final ideas. They wanted bright and colorful play areas and a separate corner for babies.

  Shannon looked at her list. “We’ll have security cameras and parents will be able to access a closed-circuit view of the center so they can see their child.”

  “We’ll have security at the front door and alarms will sound if anyone opens any of the doors except the front, which has a chime if opened, but two people will be at the desk by the front door at all times,” Missy added.

  Later, after the others had gone, only Shannon and Lila were left. As Lila put away her notes, she paused. “I think this child-care center is going to be great. The designs we have are bright and appealing.”

  “Thanks for your input. The California shop you told us about where we can get pictures for the walls is wonderful.”

  “I’m glad all of you found it helpful. I love to go there and see what they have when I need to get a shower gift or new-baby present.”

  “We’re getting more support, even from some of the members who opposed this center.”

  “But still not the Gordons.”

  “Heavens, no. Both Gordons fought this like crazy. Frankly, so did your dad. Some people don’t change.”

  “I know my dad doesn’t change and Hack is going to be like him, only worse. But my mom is enthusiastic about the center. Her ladies’ book club is making a donation and I think Mom made a big donation herself. Dad will never know she had a part in it,” Lila said, laughing.

  “Good for her. We want the best possible place for the children. We barely touched on it today, but our budget is maxed out. That’s something else we’ll have to tackle.”

  “I’m sure we can get more money.”

  “Lila, if we need to get together again, I’ll give you a call.”

  “Sure, but when I go back to work, I can’t meet with you.”

  “I understand. Soon I’ll be leaving for Austin. I’m ready to see Rory,” Shannon said wistfully.

  “Bye, Shannon,” Lila said as her friend left. Gathering the rest of her things, Lila remembered her mother was in Midland with friends and wouldn’t be home until later. Her dad was with her uncle in Houston to look at a bull. She didn’t want to go home and listen to Hack, or worse, have to put up with Hack and some of his friends. As Lila walked toward the door, she paused to look at the room. Half of the old billiard tables were scheduled to be removed while half would remain. Renovations would start as soon as the center was finished. The clubhouse was getting updated continually, yet still retained some of its historic parts.

  “Taking a last look at this room before they start working on it?” came a deep male voice, and she turned to see Sam strolling into the room. “I just passed Shannon and she said you’re through for today.”

  “That’s right.”

  Sam stopped inch
es in front of her. He stood too close and her heartbeat raced.

  “Come have a drink with me. We can sit on the terrace or we can stay in the air-conditioned bar.”

  Lila debated a moment.

  “I take that as a definite yes,” Sam said, taking her notebook from her hands. “I’ll carry this.”

  “You’re sure of yourself,” she said, her gaze raking over him as he turned. His short-sleeved navy Western shirt had the top two buttons unfastened. Wearing tight jeans and boots, he looked as if he had just come from a ranch, but Lila knew Sam dressed like the ranchers most of the time, she guessed because he worked with so many of them and had grown up on a ranch.

  “You don’t have something else you have to do and you don’t look in a hurry to head home.”

  “Now, how do you know all that? You’re guessing,” she said, smiling, knowing she was once again yielding to Sam when she should have said no and gotten away from him as quickly as possible. “I was just thinking that Mom’s in Midland until later. Dad’s in Houston with my uncle. My little brother will be as eager to spend time with me as I am with him,” she said dryly. “Hack is at an age that is not the most adorable time.”

  “So I’m the lucky guy who gets your company—I knew there was a reason I came by the club. How’s the children’s center coming along?” Sam asked, walking around the room and looking at the racks holding cue sticks, the tables with the balls ready.

  “We’ve got all sorts of plans and the renovation of the old billiard room is progressing faster than I dreamed possible.”

  “Good.”

  “I’m surprised to hear you say that,” she said.

  “It’s a done deal, so I might as well accept it.”

  “That’s a good attitude,” she said, wondering how much he meant what he said.

  “Do you know how to shoot pool?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Want to play? I can give you some points.”

  “I’ll play and you don’t have to give me any points,” she said, wondering why they constantly challenged each other.

  He smiled and got cue sticks, handing her one. He racked the balls.

  “You can start,” he said. “Go ahead and bust them.”

  “Sure,” she said. As she lined up her shot, she concentrated, determined to beat him.

  “Many a game has been played on these tables and many a deal done while the game went on,” he said when it was his turn.

  “Deals have been done all over this clubhouse. It would be interesting to hear what the highest amount involved was. My guess is it was in the millions but not billions.”

  “I agree. I doubt if a billion-dollar deal went down here at the clubhouse, but we both might be wrong. And other kinds of deals have been done. Seductions, marriage proposals, clandestine meetings, probably divorce lawyers meeting with clients here. Wagers that involved all sorts of things. Will you wager on our game?”

  He straightened to watch his shot, then looked at her before he moved to shoot again.

  “Maybe. If I lose, what does it cost me?”

  He shot and balls rolled away. “All right. If I win,” he said, straightening to look into her eyes as she realized she should have refused the bet, “I get a kiss.”

  A tingle slithered to her toes. “Only a kiss,” she said as if his kisses didn’t set her on fire. “Okay.” Instantly she knew what she wanted. “If I win, you make a contribution to the child-care center,” she said, resolving to get a donation for the center and avoid a kiss that would incinerate her. “It has to be over fifty dollars.”

  “You’re on,” he replied, smiling at her.

  She focused on the game and for the next few minutes they played in silence, evenly matched, but she was concentrating and trying to play her best.

  And then she missed a shot. Holding her breath, she watched as he made his. In minutes the game was his.

  He came around to take her cue stick and put it in the rack next to his. While her heart drummed, she watched his every move.

  He turned back and his blue eyes held smoldering fires. He walked to her and slipped his arm around her waist. “To the victor…and all that,” he said. His gaze lowered to her mouth and her lips tingled in anticipation.

  He bent lower, slowly, tantalizingly, and then his lips brushed hers. The next time, his mouth touched hers with pressure, opening her mouth, and desire swept her. She melted against him, winding her arm around his neck, returning his kiss as his tongue went deep into her mouth. Moaning softly, she was barely aware she had made a sound.

  Burning with need, she ran her fingers in his hair. Why? Why did he hold such appeal for her when they were so vastly different?

  His kiss continued and time ceased to exist. She kissed him in return while she wanted the barriers between them gone. She wanted more, ached for hours of loving that they’d had once before.

  When she ended the kiss, she was breathless, looking up at him as she stepped away.

  “Want a second match?” he asked lightly, but his voice was hoarse and his breathing ragged.

  “No, I think not.”

  He took her hand. “Maybe later. C’mon. We’ll go to the bar and have a cool drink where we can talk.”

  A few minutes later they were seated in a booth in the bar among only a half-dozen members. Soft music played and a waiter appeared to take their order. “Ginger ale for me,” Lila said.

  “Beer, chips and queso,” Sam ordered. “Ginger ale?” he asked when the waiter was gone.

  “That’s all I feel like and I have to drive back to the ranch tonight.”

  “No, you don’t,” Sam said, folding his arms on the table to lean closer. “I’ll be glad to take you home. Or, even better—”

  “Don’t say it,” she said, smiling at him. “I’m definitely going home tonight.”

  “But not for a while. We can have some fun before you do. How did you get this job that you like so much? Is that what you went to Hollywood to do?”

  “Yes, but I started much lower and when that job came open, I applied and interviewed for it along with quite a few others.” As she talked, he listened as if totally entranced. She gazed at him and thought he had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. She worked with movie stars, men who were considered by millions to be handsome and sexy, and she had never had the reaction to any of them she had by simply being near Sam. That bit of knowledge annoyed her as much as it mystified her.

  They talked, laughing over things that had happened in Royal. She lost track of time, but when a pianist began to play, she glanced around in surprise and looked at her watch.

  Sam’s hand closed on her wrist, hiding her watch. “It’s time for dinner, maybe a dance with you. It’s still early. We can eat here in the bar.”

  He motioned to their waiter and asked for menus.

  “You can’t keep from taking charge, can you?”

  “You surely can’t object to that.”

  “Of course not. It’s just amusing because it’s ingrained in you. With a twin brother, there must have been some fights and competition. I’m guessing Josh may be as take-charge as you.”

  Sam gave her a look that made her realize she was right and might have touched a nerve. “We had fights plenty. Big fights. And we are competitive. But we also stood up for each other. We can work together well and the business has been a good thing.”

  “That’s great, Sam. I don’t know about any of that. Hack is younger. When he was a toddler, I thought he was so cute. He was my doll, and I helped Mom with him. Dad spoils him. Mom’s aware of it and has tried to get Dad to be more firm with Hack, but he isn’t. A time came when Hack was no longer a baby and not so cute. We fought like cats and dogs all the way through school until I went off to college. Now he’s just a nuisance sometimes or we leave each
other alone. It’s sad. We’ve grown apart and I don’t think that’s going to change. The one person Hack is really nice to is Mom, but he does things behind her back that he knows she doesn’t want him to do. I don’t know if we’ll ever be close and I can’t imagine ever being in a business with Hack.”

  “I will have to agree with you that your little brother is one spoiled kid.”

  “I hope he matures and changes and begins to care about someone besides himself. Enough about him, though. Families are a big influence in our lives. I’m sorry you lost your mom when you were so young. I’m close to mine.”

  “Yeah. Life throws us curves. What would you like to eat?”

  She studied the menu even though she was not really hungry. “I think just a spinach salad.”

  “You can do better than that. Let’s dance and maybe you’ll work up an appetite.”

  She went with him to the dance floor and soon they were turning to a fast beat, moving with the music. Sam was a good dancer, light on his feet, moving in a sensual way while he watched her with a steady, smoldering gaze.

  Each time with him was a mistake, yet she kept accepting his invitations. Soon she’d be busy with the movie and then she’d head back to California and Sam would be a memory again. Except she had to tell him the truth. When was the time going to be right?

  Twisting and turning, her feet moved in rhythm. The time was definitely not now. Not until it was almost time to go back to California. Two or three days before, so he could get some things out of his system while she was still around. Afterward she would go to California, and he would have to adjust to the idea.

  They danced three fast numbers before there was a ballad. Along with the music, the piano player sang a sentimental love song. Sam wrapped her in his embrace, pulling her close to slow-dance with her.

  Why did it feel so right to be in his arms? To sway with him, feel his solid muscles against her? The slow steps and being held close revved desire, making her think of lovemaking with him.