by Sara Orwig
“I’ll do my best. Darlin’, this morning seems a year away instead of hours.”
“Yes, it does,” she answered in a softer tone of voice.
“I hate being away from you, and I’ll be home as soon as I can—probably half-past five before I can get there. I’ve gotta run now, but I had to talk to you.”
“Thanks for calling,” she said in that same low, breathless voice that made him want to cancel all the rest of his afternoon appointments and go home right now.
“’Bye, Merry,” he said, wanting to say so much more, continually shocked by his intense reaction to her. As soon as she returned his farewell, he broke the connection, pocketed his cellular phone and left for a meeting with his accountant.
In a daze Merry replaced the receiver and walked to the bedroom they had shared the night before, staring at the bed while her thoughts spun vivid memories. She was in love with Jason, but she wasn’t falling for any wild promises or lines from him because this was old stuff to him. He was a playboy and oh-so-clearly had let her know he didn’t want to be involved in a serious commitment.
In spite of knowing about his past and his reputation, she loved him, and a broken heart seemed inevitable. She knew that she needed to move out of his house and get some distance between them because she was going to have to resist his sweet-talking, sexy charm if she didn’t want to become as devastated as her sister.
In the meantime, she would be here tonight and she was going out with him this evening and for the next twenty-four hours, she was going to close her mind to the future.
At half past five she heard his pickup and saw him stop at the main house and get out to talk to one of the hands, then he climbed into the pickup and drove to the guest house. She wanted to run and throw herself into his arms. She looked down at her cutoffs and red T-shirt. Her hair was clipped behind her head and she smoothed wayward tendrils back into place.
The door of the pickup slammed shut, and as she watched his ground-eating stride, her pulse jumped. In his black Stetson, jeans and a white shirt, he looked sexy and appealing. In his hand was a crystal vase with a dozen deep-red roses.
He opened the door and tossed away his hat as his hot gaze met hers.
“Hi,” he said in a husky voice. “I brought you flowers.”
“They’re beautiful,” she said without taking her gaze from his. He set them on a table as he crossed the room to her.
Her racing pulse accelerated, and then she was flying to fling herself at him. The moment they were in each other’s arms, Jason walked her backwards toward the bedroom.
While they kissed, her hands were all over him as much as his were all over her. She hadn’t known it was possible to desire someone the way she did Jason. Still kissing him, she unbuttoned his shirt and tugged it out of his jeans frantically, barely aware when he pulled her T-shirt over her head and tossed it away. In their slow walk to the bedroom, clothing was strewn willy-nilly.
“I want you, Merry,” he whispered hoarsely. “I haven’t been able to think about anything else all day.”
She wound her fingers in his hair, kissing him while her other hand trailed over his chest.
He cupped her bare breasts to fondle and kiss her while she closed her eyes and moaned with pleasure. Urgency tore at both of them. Her hungry need for him overwhelmed her. She caressed him as he lifted her onto the bed and moved between her legs, lowering himself and entering her swiftly.
She arched beneath him, clinging to him and moving with him, giving herself completely to him. She ran her hands over his smooth, muscled back, down to his thighs, memorizing each inch of him. Body against body, united, hearts beating together. How she wanted it to be forever!
When they crashed with release, ecstasy filled her and in that one moment, she held him, knowing they were one.
“I couldn’t wait to see you,” he said when their breathing slowed to normal. He held her close in his arms, his fingers smoothing her hair from her face. “I’m torn between wanting to take you to Claire’s tonight and wanting to stay right here in bed and love you all night long.”
She drew her fingers through his hair, feeling the thick strands, letting her hand slide down to his strong shoulder. “I suspect you’ll get hungry later.”
“Hungry for you,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “Reservations are for half-past-eight. That gives us some time.” He turned to kiss her throat. She ran her hand over his muscled back, still covered with a sheen of perspiration. She couldn’t get enough of him either. She wanted him in her arms, loving her, more than she wanted anything else. And she really didn’t care whether they went to Claire’s or not.
“Merry, the club has an annual charity ball coming up—will you go with me?”
She looked into his thickly lashed eyes and kissed him lightly. “Yes, I’ll be happy to go with you. What’s the charity?”
“Sebastian headed up the ball this time. He decided to make a bet with all of us. This was back in his bachelor days. All of us were bachelors then.”
“Sorry to interrupt your story, but who is us?”
“Sebastian, Rob Cole, Keith Owens, Will Bradford and I are the group. The bet was that the last bachelor left standing—since most of those guys are marriage-minded—”
“But one isn’t,” she interrupted him.
Smiling, Jason kissed her lightly. “Maybe. Maybe I’m changing.”
“Like tigers lose their stripes. Go on. Tell me about this last bachelor.”
“The last bachelor left standing will enjoy a ‘consolation’ party during the ball and get to choose the charity for the gala.”
“So what’s your favorite charity, Jason, since you’ll win this bet, hands down.”
“You’re really sure about me,” he said, studying her and toying with locks of her hair.
“You’ve made your feelings clear. What’s your charity?” she insisted.
“There’s a program for kids who need help with literacy. That’s the charity I’d name.”
“That’s a good one.”
“Actually, three of the guys are married now. Will, Sebastian and Rob. So it’s down to a contest between Keith and me.”
“Well, I know who’ll win, and a lot of little kids will be helped.”
“You’re so sure about me,” Jason repeated. He rolled over to prop his head on his hand and look down at her. “This would be nice to always come home to,” he said solemnly, and Merry’s heart lurched. Instantly she told herself to not be taken in by lines he may have said too many times.
He kissed her hungrily, a kiss that heated her from her head to her toes and made her forget the annual ball or the last bachelor or anything else they had talked about. She was lost in another dizzying spiral of lovemaking.
Two hours later Merry finished dressing and walked out to find Jason standing waiting in the living room. The moment she stepped into the room, her breath rushed out. In a dark suit and white shirt, Jason looked even more handsome and commanding than ever.
His gaze lighted with pleasure as he looked her over, making her tingle from head to toe.
“Darlin’, we may go to Claire’s more often,” he drawled. “You’re gorgeous, Merry.”
“Thank you. I could say the same about you.”
She wore a simple black dress with a V-neck and a low-cut back. It was a sheath, clinging to her figure and hitting her just above the knees.
He crossed the room to tilt her face up. “Now I’ve lost all appetite for anything at Claire’s. What I’d rather have is you, but I’m going to take you out at least once.”
“I think that’s the best idea.”
“No. My best idea is bed.”
She linked her arm through his. “Let’s go, Jason.” She touched the bulge beneath his coat and patted his side, looking up at him questioningly while problems rushed back into her life.
“I might want my pistol,” he said to her unasked question.
“That makes me want to stay home.”
&nb
sp; “You’ll be safe,” he said with a determination that gave her a chill.
“I’m glad I know you now and not when you were living a different life.”
“Whether in the CIA or out of it, I’m still me. And I usually don’t carry a weapon here in Royal, but the situation changed when someone blew the end of my house away.”
They walked in silence to the car and he held the door. “Jason,” Merry said after they were driving from the ranch, “if Dorian has a good alibi for the night of the murder, that leaves him out as a suspect. Other things, like the electronic journal and his shady past, indicate it was him, yet if he was sitting in the Royal Diner the whole time, he’s not the killer.”
“Laura Edwards testified that he was at the diner. The police checked her background, and she seems honest enough.”
“That alibi really lets Dorian out.”
“Probably, but it doesn’t hurt to keep looking. You never know what you might uncover or where.”
It was half past eight when they walked into the elegant entryway of Claire’s. The lighting was dim and the carpet thick. A couple leaving the restaurant headed toward them and paused.
“Hi, Jason,” the tall, handsome man greeted Jason. Merry looked at an attractive black-haired woman standing beside the man.
“Merry, this is Pamela and Aaron Black, some friends of mine. Meet Meredith Silver she’s from Dallas.”
“I think we’ve met,” Aaron said with a twinkle in his green eyes.
Meredith blushed as she nodded. “Aaron was outside the Texas Cattleman’s Club when I first arrived and was searching for Dorian Brady,” she explained to Jason.
“How’s the baby?” Jason asked.
“As wonderful as ever,” Pamela answered, smiling. “She’s almost seven months old now.”
“I just happen to have her latest picture,” Aaron said, grinning and whisking a picture from his wallet. “This is our Amy,” he said, and Merry looked at a picture of an adorable baby girl with huge blue eyes and wisps of black hair.
“She’s beautiful,” Merry remarked.
“Thanks. We think so, too,” Aaron replied proudly.
“Put the picture away,” Pamela said, laughing. “Aaron is immersed in fatherhood and he pins everyone down to show them pictures and tell them about Amy.”
“That’s great,” Merry replied.
“Yeah, it is,” Jason added. “Thanks again, Aaron, for coming to help fight the fire the other night.”
“Glad to do it. You’d do the same for me. If you need any more help with anything, let me know,” he added solemnly, and suddenly Merry didn’t think he was talking about fires or ranching at all.
“I will.”
“I hope you find the cause.”
“We’re working on it,” Jason replied grimly, and Merry was certain Aaron knew more about the fire than the general public did. “When things settle and I get the house rebuilt, you two will have to come over and bring Amy for a cookout.”
“Thanks,” Aaron said. “We’d like that.”
“It was nice to meet you,” Pamela told Merry.
“We’ll let y’all get to dinner,” Aaron said, taking his wife’s arm and heading toward the door.
“He’s a fellow rancher and a fellow Texas Cattleman’s Club member. He used to be in the diplomatic service. The worldly diplomat married the local school marm. I doubt if Pamela has ever been one hundred miles out of Royal. At least, not until she married Aaron.”
“They seem very happy.”
“Yeah, they are happy. This past year Aaron has been the happiest I’ve ever seen him.”
“So marriage isn’t always all bad,” she teased.
“I never said it was bad. I just said it wasn’t for me. And that was all before I met you.”
“You come up with statements like that as easy as breathing,” she accused, determined not to be taken in by a charming expert at seduction.
“I mean what I say, Merry,” he said solemnly, and she tried to ignore the thud of her heart. “Here’s the maître d’,” Jason said, turning to the man.
In minutes Jason and Merry sat at a white-linen-covered table with a candle and a single rosebud in a crystal vase. Jason ordered steaks for both of them, but when hers came, Merry could barely eat. All she wanted was to be back in Jason’s arms.
Halfway through dinner she sipped her red wine and lowered her glass, slanting her head. “What? You’re looking at me and not saying anything, but something’s on your mind.”
“Yeah, it is,” he said in a husky voice. “I was thinking about you, us, home together. That’s where I want to be.”
She drew a deep breath and last shred of her appetite fled. “Someday I’ll have to tell you no, but it isn’t going to be tonight.”
“I don’t ever want to hear no from you,” he said solemnly.
“We won’t argue that one now,” she said. “This night is special.”
He picked up her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “It’s damn special. Ready to go home or do you want to finish your steak?”
“I’m ready, Jason,” she said in a sultry voice, and his eyes darkened as they did in moments of passion.
He motioned to the waiter and in minutes they were in Jason’s car, headed down Main and out of town. She saw Jason adjust the rearview mirror and watch it often.
“What are you looking at?”
“Traffic. We’ve picked up a tail. Why don’t you get down.”
Chilled to think they might be in danger, she slid low in the seat, loosening her seat belt.
“Don’t take that seat belt off. We may be in for a bumpy ride. You hang on, because I’m going to do a turn in just a minute.”
“Are you certain we’re being followed?”
“Yep. I am.”
Suddenly he jammed the brakes, spun the car in a U-turn on Main Street and sped back the way they had come. Merry half slid off the seat and scrambled to get back up.
“Dammit,” Jason snapped.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up to see what was happening.
“He’s gone. Whoever it was moved quickly. When I turned, he shot across the street into an alley.” Jason whipped down Main, spun around a corner and raced down the next street.
“You may hear sirens in a minute. You’re more than over the speed limit,” she said. “That wild turn you made in traffic on Main should have brought the law.”
“He’s gone,” Jason said and hit the steering wheel with his palm. “Damn. I wanted to see who it was.”
“We’re safe and now we’re not being followed,” she said, resting her hand on Jason’s thigh. The moment she touched him, she tingled with awareness that drove all thoughts of danger away. Jason looked around at her and drew a deep breath.
“We’re going home,” he said roughly.
They drove out of town on back roads, and, as town lights faded and darkness enveloped them, Jason drove swiftly. He held Merry’s hand on his thigh. He wanted to stop, pull her into his arms and make love to her here, now, in the car. But he knew they would be safer to wait until they reached the ranch where alarms and guards would be a protection.
He listened while she talked, but his thoughts were only half on what she was telling him. He was thinking about being followed, and then his thoughts shifted to their discussion of the Cattleman’s Club ball and the remarks on marriage. He’d told her that he wasn’t the marrying kind. But was that really the truth?
Was he in love with Merry Silver? He knew he needed to sort through his own feelings, but he had never before been this way about a woman. Never wanted one with a need that was insatiable, a craving that was impossible to fully satisfy.
He thought about meeting and talking to the Blacks. Aaron looked happier than he had ever before in his life and Jason had known Aaron Black since childhood. Hell, all his married friends looked happier. And Pamela Black looked radiant. Jason had known Pamela merely as an acquaintance, but he had always thought
her rather plain. She didn’t look plain now. Radiant was the best description of her. And Merry tonight in her black dress had stolen his breath away. She was gorgeous, alluring, sexy. He thought about his past doubts and fears of commitment; they seemed to be melting like fog in summer sunshine.
Would Merry ever walk out on her family?
The question seemed absurd. No matter how tough the situation, he didn’t think she would walk out on a commitment or responsibility. Look at her taking off work to take a little revenge on the man who’d hurt her sister so badly.
He had spent a lifetime swearing he would never marry. How could he throw over years of solid conviction after just a few days of knowing someone? Merry had turned his life upside down, stolen his heart, stormed his senses. He liked everything about her, which was crazy because he hadn’t liked a lot of things about her when he met her. She was fiery, impetuous, impulsive, feisty. Not his type of woman.
Keep telling yourself that, he thought. But that wasn’t what his heart and mind and soul were shouting inside him. He wanted her, needed her, loved her. There it was. He was in love with a woman—deeply, truly in love for the first time, in spite of his playboy reputation and the many previous women in his life. None of those affairs had been serious. Not one.
He looked at Merry, who sat serenely gazing out the window at the dark Texas countryside that was nothing but flat land and mesquite trees. How could she have become so damned necessary to him? So special. He was in love. He wanted to reach across the car seat, pull her beside him and kiss her.
Acknowledging what he felt was amazing. Never had he expected love to happen to him. He had guarded against commitment, fought it, shrugged it away as something that happened to other people, but would not be a part of his life. Now love had become vital.
He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt, but right now, speeding home through the empty night, was not the place for a very special announcement.
She would want children. He had never given children a thought because he had never expected to fall in love, much less marry. A baby with Meredith. Their baby. The notion was awe-inspiring.
But before that was love. Glorious, fire-and-dynamite loving. He remembered her in the throes of passion, her legs around him as she cried out his name. He increased the speed of the car slightly because he wanted to get her home.
