Chapter Four

Trouble.

Grant’s breath caught and he gave a silent prayer of thanks that she hadn’t turned on the lights under the water. Her back glistened in the moonlight and several wet tendrils of hair clung to the side of her neck where they had fallen down from their top knot. He had no problem picturing her as a Lorelei luring sailors to their death.

“Hi, Doc.” Her voice was sultry on the night air.

Danger flags flew up in his mind, flashing red lights warning of trouble ahead and to proceed with extreme caution.

“What are you doing here?” Grant sighed. He wasn’t up to a battle of wills with her tonight.

Charli’s long, slender hand trailed through the water and scooped liquid into her palm to dribbled the wet streams onto her chest. Grant’s gaze clung to the droplets, watching them disappear into the shadowy cleavage. He dragged his attention back to her face.

“I love a long, hot…” She paused and her eyes twinkled. “…soak before bed, don’t you?”

Grant shook his head. There was no way he was going to admit to her that he was thinking the same thing. “I was actually going swimming but heard a noise over here and thought I should check you—er, it out.”

“Doc, there’s two things you should never do alone. Swimming’s one of them. Wouldn’t you rather come in here with me?” She flicked the hot water in his direction.

He’d rather swim with alligators, it would be safer. He narrowed his eyes at her smug laugh. “No thanks.”

“I promise I’ll stay on my side of the tub,” she offered.

He longed for the warmth and relaxing jets, but his glance kept straying to her bare shoulders.

“Come on, Doc. I won’t show you anything you don’t want to see, I promise.”

This was foolishness. He was a grown man who certainly could share a hot tub with another adult. Still, when he dropped his towel, glad he had worn swim trunks. He pointed at her. “You’ll stay over there?”

She nodded and he dipped his foot into the water. “God, it’s hot!” He yanked back as the water burned his skin.

“Why bother if it’s not hot enough to make you think twice.” She took a long sip of her drink.

Grant hissed and took his time until he was finally submerged up to his neck and leaned back against the marble side. Ahhh, perfect. The warmth seeped into his aching muscles and he felt a million times better already. He stretched his legs out. They touched smooth skin and he jerked them back.

Charli laughed but he ignored her to closed his eyes, determined to enjoy the hot tub in spite of the company.

“Long day?” she asked.

Sincere sympathy in her tone made him open one eye. She was without a doubt the sexiest woman he’d ever met in person. He closed his eyes once more. “I was out on a call until a little while ago. How was dinner?”

“Not bad. The usual family night at the ranch. Teddy and Susan at each other’s throats, Buck and Sara announced her pregnancy, which we had all guessed already, and of course, the recap of the wedding and reception from all sides.”

He noticed she made no mention of Cord; her not talking about him said more than if she’d chattered about him endlessly. He opened his eyes and stared at the water line barely covering half of her bare breasts.

She tipped her head. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you let me rub your shoulders and massage the ache away?”

“No, thanks.” He sank lower into the water, letting the jets hit him between the shoulder blades. A sigh of pleasure slipped from his mouth.

“Doc, you’re getting me all hot with those groans.”

Grant closed his eyes again. “You can get as hot as you want as long as you stay on that side of the tub.”

“You’re no fun. Has anyone ever told you that?” The husky tone in her voice aroused and annoyed him at the same moment.

“And fun is your middle name isn’t it? Trouble Fun Boyd. Fits you to a T.”

She laughed and slid her foot alongside his calf, her toes curling into his skin.

His eyes popped open. Grant fought back against the flood of desire that coursed through him at the intimate caress. “Don’t.”

She blinked innocently. “I’m sorry, was that your leg? I didn’t realize I was that close.”

He grunted at her outright lie. “If I only had a beer, this would be perfect.”

“Here, have some of my drink.”

Before he could refuse, she slid across the tub with her glass in hand, stopping just short of touching him.

His mouth was dry and her drink looked cold and refreshing, but he didn’t trust her. It was way too much like Eve and the apple. “What is it?”

“Coke,” she answered.

He resisted for a second but thirst won out. He tipped it up, took a long swallow—then coughed and spluttered as the liquid burned like fire down his throat. “Damn it, Charli! That isn’t Coke.”

Charli caught the glass as it tipped into the water with his jerking movements. She shrugged her shoulder and tossed the liquid back, finishing it in one long swallow. “I didn’t say it was just Coke.”

Grant cleared his throat and watched her set the glass on the edge of the tub. “That’s whiskey with maybe a shot of Coke in it for color. I can’t believe you drink that.”

“You don’t like a woman who drinks?” Charli crunched a piece of ice as she tipped her head and studied him.

“Most women drink white wine or fruity concoctions with little umbrellas in them.” Thinking of Beth and Sara, he added. “Okay, and maybe a beer once in a while.”

“I’m not like other women, haven’t you figured that out by now? Why should I drink something I don’t like because folks accept it more readily?”

She trailed her hand in the water then brushed her wet fingers into the hair loosely piled on her head. “I enjoy what I enjoy. I don’t really care much who disapproves.”

Their gazes clung. One long fingernail trailed along his bicep. She curled her hand around his arm squeezing it beneath her fingers. Grant tightened his muscle automatically.

She smiled. “Such big muscles for a doctor.”

Charli smoothed her hand up to his shoulder closing the small space between them. Where she sat next to him on the marble bench, her hips pressed into his. “It’s so strange. I always thought I preferred dark haired men,” she mumbled as if to herself while long fingers threaded through his hair.

“This place is full of dark haired men,” he said as if in a trance.

She massaged his scalp, her nails scraping gently, hypnotizing him.

“When I was here last Christmas, Beth said you’d gone home to Oklahoma. Is that where you grew up?”

Her voice was soft and her fingers worked magic on his tired body. Between the heat of the water and her touch, he was quickly turning to putty. Her fingers brushed across his ear and a shiver rippled through him. He swallowed hard and tried to focus on her question. “My parents raise Longhorns on about two thousand acres just across the border from Texas.”

“So why are you practicing here and not there?” She quirked her eyebrow. “Because of Beth?”

“That, and the fact my father and I don’t see eye to eye. He wanted me to stay home and work the family spread.”

Her hand traced a pattern from his ear down his jaw line, over to his bottom lip and back up again. “Brothers? Sisters?”

“Two sisters,” he whispered raggedly. It was hard to think about anything except the overwhelming desire to pull her into his lap and find out if that sassy mouth could kiss a man as good as he fantasized.

“Older or younger?” Her soft leg slipped behind his calf and her foot slid up and down finally nestling behind his knee.

He cleared his throat. “One of each. They both married cowboys who work the ranch with my father.”

“How about your Mom? Do you get along with her?”

Whatever magic she was working was pretty powerful. Rarely did he discuss his family with anyone except Beth, and even she didn’t really understand why it was such a sore subject for him. If ever there was a sign that he should get out of the tub now, the fact that she was able to get him to talk like this should be a huge hint.

In her eyes in the pale moonlight, he could see the same hunger he knew was reflected in his own. His heart beat harder in his chest. The steam coming off the tub mingled with that smoky, spicy perfume she wore and it was going to his head. That, or the large swallow of whiskey he’d choked down.

Her hand settled on the back of his neck and began a strong but perfect kneading motion on his muscles. Her other hand lifted to rest on his chest and sift through the dark hair that covered him. Grant was rapidly losing the battle with his self-control. When her tongue swiped across her full lips, he could almost feel it on his own. Her eyes half-closed as she moved closer, her bare breasts just a fraction of an inch away from touching him. He drew a deep, shaky breath but didn’t move away, couldn’t. Her long fingernail gently peeled his lower lip down right before she covered his mouth with her own.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July, Christmas morning when he was ten, and his twenty-first birthday all paled in comparison to the pleasure and excitement that rocketed through his body. Grant closed his eyes, tilted his head to take her kiss more deeply. He slid his hands up to rest at her bare waist. His heart beat a powerful rhythm and, when she pressed into him, any remaining bit of self control fled.

Grant hauled her roughly onto his lap sideways, her long legs thrust out across his thighs as he cradled her in his arms and took control. Charli moaned deep in her throat and met his thrusting tongue stroke for stroke. His blood pressure, already spiked due to the heat of the tub, went even higher. He was lightheaded knowing only that he had to have her.

She tasted of whiskey—and he’d never again be able to enjoy a shot without thinking of her. She was intoxicating as hell and he knew he was in the deepest of trouble. This was a mistake. Drawing his bottom lip into her mouth she nibbled at it and then sucked until he felt the pull in an entirely different part of his body.

Then again, what fun was life if you didn’t make a mistake now and then?

She shifted against him, pressing closer, her bared breasts rubbing against his chest. Grant hadn’t felt this kind of wild, untamed, gotta-have-her-or-else type of heat since he was seventeen in the back of his pick up truck with the gal from the feed store. For a half-second, he remembered how bad that had ended, when her boyfriend found them. Was there someone out there who could claim Charli as his? The second he thought it, he knew it was insane. This was one wild horse he doubted any man could ever tame or call his own.

Her tongue moved in his mouth as her soft hands stroked his skin. Fire coursed through his veins at every touch.

This was a woman who knew exactly what to do with a man. He’d never been with someone as confident of her sexuality or as in charge as Charli. Definitely a turn-on. Most women by now would have been concerned at the hot water making their skin prune, or their hair getting wet, or make-up running. Yes, she seemed completely unconcerned, even when the pile of red hair tumbled down and hit the water. She was as focused on the embrace as he was.

He pressed his palm flat against her slender back, tracing her spine and sliding down to cup her bare backside. When she finally tore her mouth from his and slid her lips alongside his jaw and over to his neck, Grant gasped for air. The oxygen returning to his body brought a slight wave of common sense—until her hand shifted downward and her fingers opened on his stomach. Was the heaven she offered him tonight going to be worth the hell sure to come when they had to work together the next six weeks?

Before her hand could move any lower, he cupped her face in his and lifted her chin so she had to look at him. The drowsy gaze in her eyes reminded him of the dance last night. He swallowed hard, determined to be the smart one in all this.

The cool air rushed over him where their skin separated and his gaze mutinously moved down her neck to the golden brown of her breasts. She had no white tan lines to interrupt the smooth line of her skin. Obviously hot tubs weren’t the only thing she did outside naked. Her nipples were puckered and rosy and he desperately wanted to feel them in his fingers, taste them, and hear her cries of pleasure.

He fought for control. “You’re making it very hard…” he managed to choke out.

Charli’s eyebrow rose and her lips tilted into a sensuous smile. Sliding her hands back over his shoulders, she leaned towards him again. “That’s the idea, Doc.”

He shook his head firmly. “Making it hard for me to stop.” He set her off his lap and back on the bench, then sprang from the tub. His erection tented his swim trunks and he knew there was no way she couldn’t notice.

Grant didn’t look back until his robe was firmly tied at his waist. He didn’t expect to see hurt register on her features. Amusement maybe, even desire, but not this.

A second later, the teasing glint was back and she leaned against the tub to rest her arms in much the same way she’d been when he’d first showed up.

“Good night, Trouble.”

“Sweet dreams, Doc.”

Charli watched him disappear into the dark. She sighed and slid down to the water until it was up to her chin then leaned her head against the side of the tub.

What was it about that man that made her want him so bad? She’d never chased a man. Never had to. They were more than willing the minute she gave the green light. But with Grant, he was like a drug and she wanted more and more of him. He hadn’t touched her, not intimately anyway, not even the brush of his hand across her breast, yet she felt as if he’d taken her to the very brink of satisfaction…and then left her hanging.

Was this rejection? If it was, it certainly was a horrible feeling. But he wasn’t really rejecting her; he wanted her,that was more than obvious. For some reason though, he refused to give in. There wasn’t someone else; Beth had been more than happy to fill her in on everything there was to know about her friend’s business partner.

He was a mystery. And she had nothing but time on her hands for the next six weeks to figure him out.

Charli climbed out of the tub and reached for her robe. Her wet hair clung to her skin. She pulled it around to the side and squeezed the water from it. Was the intrigue merely the fact that for the first time in her life someone told her no? Was she that spoiled? Did she only think she wanted Grant because he held her at arm’s length? Was she that shallow?

She shivered with remembrance of how his eyes had gazed at her with need. That kiss had rocked her world and he’d barely even responded. She frowned, thinking of the hot affair with the prince from a small country two years before. Her frown turned into a grin. Nope Grant’s kiss was even better.

The doctor could deny it all he wanted, but he wanted her.

She glanced up at the moon and sighed as she moved towards the quiet ranch house. At the top of the back porch steps, she looked back over shoulder at the little house attached to the veterinarian clinic. A light still burned in the second floor. Was he thinking of their encounter? Did it bother him enough that he was having trouble sleeping?

Charli liked that thought ****

Grant worked steadily alongside Sam as they checked the horses one by one. Thanks to a certain hot tub mermaid, he hadn’t slept very well and had started working before the sun came up. He just set Susan’s Palomino’s hoof down and declared her shoes in good shape when Teddy and Buck’s voices came through the barn.

He braced for the next patient. Buck’s enormous stallion, Tar, followed behind his owner, ambling at his own pace. Grant looked into the horse’s menacing dark eyes and winced. Tar was mean and ornery and hated to be touched by anyone but Buck.

“I’m going to like this as much as he will,” he said to the other man.

Tar shook his massive head.

Buck reached up and patted his horse’s neck. “I’ll stay right here. Stop being such a woos, Grant. He won’t bite you if I’m holding him. I told Beth to do this before she left.”

Grant shook his head. Beth had been busier than ever before she left. Either that or she was smart enough to leave the mean ones for him. “Let’s see the first hoof.”

Buck snapped his finger and Tar lifted one foot for inspection. Grant gingerly moved closer and Tar slammed his hoof to the barn floor. He sighed.

His owner frowned and snapped his finger again but Tar tossed his head.

Sam picked up a clipboard. “Who’s next? You want me to bring another one in?”

“Can’t. I have some rounds to do this afternoon. We’ll have to do some more on Saturday.”

The old foreman hung the clipboard back on the nail in the wall. Across the barn floor Teddy whistled as he pulled down a saddle.

As Grant and Buck both struggled to convince the black horse to lift his foot, Tar danced backwards.

Teddy whistled and belted out a few words to a song.

His brother cursed as his horse barely missed stomping his boot. “Would you quit that damn whistling, it’s making him nervous,” he growled.

“Sorry,” Teddy said.

Buck grabbed his horse’s hoof firmly and shoved it on his thigh, holding tight. As Tar started to pull away, Buck firmly shook his head and stroked his face. The horse kept his hoof still.

“Does it work that way with Sara, too?” Teddy rocked back on his heels and grinned.

“Shut up. What’s gotten into you anyway, you’re too damn happy for this early in the day,” his brother snapped.

Grant knelt gingerly next to the other man and carefully ran his fingers underneath the horse’s huge foot. He shook his head, dread filling his gut. “He needs new shoes.”

Teddy shifted next to them. “I can’t help but be happy when I have a date with a hot redhead.”

Grant snapped his head up. “You’re taking Charli Boyd out?”

“Yep. Out to dinner. With any luck, making her breakfast in the morning.”

Grant’s stomach recoiled. Jealousy surged through him without any explanation. He frowned. What difference did it make to him if she went out with Teddy? He didn’t want her.

He doubted last night was the first time she’d been naked in a hot tub, but it was probably the first time a man walked away. Since he’d been clear that he wasn’t going to indulge either of them in a fling, she’d probably decided to settle for Teddy. The image of her wrapped around the other man made him sick, but he forced himself to think logically.

Teddy was perfect for Charli. Maybe if he kept her attention, she’d leave him alone. The thought gave him pause, wondering why it didn’t bring the relief it should.

Buck stood up and grabbed his horse’s reins. “Watch yourself with her. She’s a good friend of this family, you treat her right.”

Grant’s jaw dropped open. He was warning his brother to behave with Charli? Hell, knowing her, he should be more concerned about Teddy coming out in one piece.

Teddy slammed his hand over his heart. “I’m deeply hurt you think I would do anything she didn’t want me to do. I’m all about keeping a lady happy, big brother, you know that.” He began to whistle once more.

“Good luck. She’s always had eyes for Cord.” Buck put Tar back in his stall and shut the door. The massive horse thrust his large head out as if wanting to make sure he didn’t miss anything.

Lucky horse. He wished he could go somewhere and hide. Listening to Teddy and Buck confirm his own conclusions about Charli wasn’t something he wanted to hear.

Teddy scoffed. “Cord can’t handle a woman like her.”

Buck narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, well, Tyler will tear you apart if he finds out you’re toying with her.”

“She can use all the toys she wants. I’m not above a little sexual game.” Teddy laughed as his brother took a step towards him. Stepping out of reach he grinned and jogged out the door.

Grant’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t know what it is about him that the women all fall for, but he’s got way too much of it.” Buck tipped his Stetson back, wiped his brow with his arm and sighed. “If we’re all set here, I’m heading out. There’s a water problem in the south end of the ranch and I need to take a look-see. After that, I’m heading on home to my baby and my son too.” He slapped Grant on the back. “I’ll call and get that new shoe guy, Joe, to come out sometime this week.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t tell him about what happened to the other guy who tried to change Tar’s shoes.”

“That goes without saying. See you.” The larger man walked away.

Sam snorted. “Why are you standing there with that stupid look on your face?”

“Have you noticed how Buck lights up when he talks about his son?”

Old Sammy hitched up his jeans. “‘Course he does! Ain’t ever been a baby as cute as Beau; smart too.” The weathered foreman grinned as proud as any grandfather.

Grant shook his head. That kind of life for him seemed so far away at the moment.

****

A car door slammed and Grant checked out the clock on the wall—not that he had been watching it for the past four hours.

Almost three in the morning.

He frowned and moved to the small front window of his living room. Across the yard, Teddy opened the door to a low slung sports car and helped the long legged redhead out. The couple were illuminated by the motion detector spotlight on the house as they walked from the car to the porch.

Charli was dressed conservatively, at least for her. Her skirt was long but the slit in the side revealed a flash of leg as she climbed the steps. They stood for a minute talking on the porch. Grant waited, holding his breath to see if Teddy was going to kiss her. The minutes ticked by and soon the door was opened and they went inside. The bright overhead light in the main kitchen clicked on and he could see them through the windows.

He had the sudden urge for a snack. Flo had made an amazing pie for dessert and he was sure there had been leftovers in that kitchen.

Not bothering to change out of his sweatpants or stopping to consider his real motives, Grant grabbed his hat and strode out the door, across the yard to the back porch and into the main kitchen.

Teddy sat at the table while Charli stood at the sink. They both turned to look at him when he walked in, but his attention was fully on Charli. Her eyes twinkled with a smile of welcome.

“Hey, Grant. What are you doing up this late?” Teddy asked. There was no annoyance in the other man’s tone. He didn’t sound like someone who didn’t want to be interrupted.

Weird. “I had a few late calls and couldn’t sleep. Thought I’d come over and grab a piece of pie.” He moved to the counter where Charli stood mixing drinks.

“We were having a night cap. Want one?” she asked.

Her soft pink lips lifted in a slow smile. Was she thinking about their ‘nightcap’ from last night, too? He shook his head. “No, thanks. How was your dinner?”

“Great.” Teddy’s voice broke the moment. “We went to this new place. What was it called again?”

“Antoine’s. I went to culinary school with the owner.” Charli set the glasses on the table then sank to the kitchen chair, crossing her legs.

Grant’s gaze shot to the expanse of leg that the long slit in the material revealed.

Teddy took a long drink. “This is damn good. What’s in it?”

Charli shrugged. “It’s a secret.”

“It’s good. Want to try it Grant?” Teddy offered.

Grant shook his head for the second time. “No, thanks.”

He reached into the cupboard, brought out the pie Flo had made earlier, took it to the table, and sliced a generous piece while Charli and Teddy discussed the movie they’d watched after dinner. He wondered where they went after the movie.

Moving back to the table with his dessert, he sat down in the empty chair between the two and began to eat.

“You should have seen this gal, Grant. She’s pretty incredible on a dance floor.”

Ahh dancing. That figured. “Yeah we, uh, danced at the wedding.”

Teddy snapped his fingers. “That’s right. You two were paired up, forgot all about that.”

With two fingers, Charli picked up a cherry that had fallen from his fork. Grant watched as she slipped it between her lips. When her tongue darted out to lick the sweet sauce off her lower lip his groin hardened in response.

“I can’t believe you knew all those guys in the band.”

Grant dropped his gaze from Charli and Teddy. Deliberately, he shifted his plate out of her reach.

“I’ve known the lead singer since high school,” she began. “The rest I’ve only met from knowing him. They’re good though; heading to Nashville soon they said.”

“Better them than me. The LoneStar stage is all I need.” He stood up. “I hate to do this, but I really have to turn in.”

He moved towards Charli and reached for her hand.

“Thanks for a great time.” Teddy lifted her fingers to his lips.

Grant focused on his pie, shoving in a huge forkful to keep himself from making a crude remark.

“Me, too. Thanks for dinner,” she said.

“Sleep well,” he said softly before slapping Grant on the shoulder. “See you in the morning, buddy.”

The kitchen was quiet. Grant’s senses went on full alert. As he turned his head to see if she was watching him, Charli leaned forward and ran her finger through the cherry sauce on his plate. Catching his gaze, she slid her finger into her mouth and sucked the stickiness off.