Chapter Five
Grant swallowed hard. His pants tightened uncomfortably at the blaze of passion in her eyes.
She dipped her finger into the sauce once more, this time offering it to him.
Involuntarily, he closed his lips around her finger and rolled his tongue over the sweet sticky syrup. He sucked until he had her entire finger in his mouth.
She slowly drew her finger back. “Why’d you come over tonight, Doc?” Her voice was as sweet as the cherry syrup.
“I wanted pie.”
Charli shook her head. “No you didn’t.”
“I didn’t?” He tried to look innocent.
She shook her head again. “Nope. You came over here to make certain nothing was going on between Teddy and me. You were jealous.”
Grant stood up, putting some space between them. “You’re crazy. But then, we both know that. You’re nuts.”
He set his plate in the sink and turned back around. She was there behind him, blocking his path.
Her hands flattened on his chest, toying with the button to his flannel shirt. “I am crazy, that’s true. But it’s you that’s making me nuts.” She tugged him towards her and brushed her lips across his.
All thought of resisting fled. His hands reached for her and encircled her slim waist as he met her halfway. Hungrily, he opened his mouth, parting her lips with a thrusting tongue.
Charli slipped her arms up and around his neck, pressing against him. Grant leaned back against the counter. He shifted until she rested in between his thighs. With a groan, he cupped her rear end and held her tight against his arousal.
All warnings of how incredibly bad this was were shoved firmly aside. He let himself enjoy the feel of her in his arms, the way she fit snuggly against him and the fiery sensations her kiss sent through his body. All night, he’d been wondering if she would be kissing Teddy like this. He’d driven himself crazy with images of her in the other man’s arms, and bed.
She pulled back and slowly lifted long, dark lashes. Her tongue flicked across her bottom lip. “You’re a very good kisser, Doc.”
Grant’s heart pounded so hard he felt sure it was coming clean out of his chest. His hands moved up her back in a caress. “I’m sure Teddy would have been better,” he replied on a ragged breath.
Charli shook her head. “He doesn’t light my fire—not like you do.”
Though her words struck a chord deep inside him, he recognized a line when he heard one and it was like ice water tossed on him. There was nothing to be gained by getting involved with this woman. She was a walking fling. He was past that point in his life where he only wanted momentary pleasure. He needed to find a woman who he could build a future with and this was not that woman. Add to that she was going to be working with him for six weeks. Sleeping with her tonight would destroy any chance he had of keeping the veterinarian practice running smoothly while Beth was gone. He needed to focus and not on how good she kissed or what he could only imagine she was like in bed.
“Trouble,” he began.
She pressed one long finger over his lips. “Shh. Kiss me goodnight and I promise I’ll go to bed all alone like a good girl. Although, quite frankly, I never knew what fun there was in being good.”
The petulant smile she produced made him smile and he couldn’t deny her one more quick kiss.
A few moments later, just as she promised, she pulled out of his arms and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Sweet dreams, Doc,” she said softly.
****
“I don’t want a fuss,” Cord insisted. “I mean it Flo, no big party. Just a quiet family dinner.”
Charli caught Flo’s amused glance as the other woman put her hands on her plump hips. “This isn’t about you. This is about having a shin dig and we’re using your birthday as an excuse.”
Cord set his coffee cup down and glared back. Charli knew he’d never win. No one in this family dared to cross the matriarch housekeeper. If Flo was determined the family was having a birthday party to celebrate Cord turning thirty, then you could bet there’d be a party.
He walked out of the room and Flo winked at her. “Will you make the cake?”
She smiled. “You know I will. I’ll help you with anything else too. But right now, I have to head over to the clinic.”
“You’re a good girl to help out. I can’t imagine working in the office is much fun for you.” Flo handed her a covered plate. “Here’s some cookies. You keep them over there for you and Grant to snack on.”
Charli kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”
The few days she’d worked for Grant before the wedding, she hadn’t really felt they were working together; he’d been out of the office the entire time. Today, however, they’d both be in the clinic. He’d be expecting her to chase him around, treat it all like a joke.
She glanced down at her clothes. Jeans, navy blue polo shirt and sneakers. Nothing sexy about this outfit. Her fingers slid over the three open buttons that ran up the front of the cotton shirt. Well, he couldn’t expect her to be that good.
A few minutes later, she pushed open the door to the reception area. The smell of coffee wafted in the air. She could hear Grant’s voice obviously on the phone down the hall. She walked through to the small kitchenette, put the cookies away, and poured herself a cup of coffee, adding some flavored creamer she’d put in the refrigerator last week. When she turned around, Grant was in the doorway. He looked rumpled, as if he’d rolled out of bed and tossed on the clothes that were on his bedroom floor.
“Morning, Doc.” She lifted her coffee to her mouth and leaned one hip against the counter.
“I left a bunch of files on your desk. Can you type the notes into the computer?” He frowned. “You can type, right?”
She smiled and took another sip of her coffee. “I’ve got very skilled fingers.”
He narrowed his eyes. She didn’t so much as wiggle an eyebrow, although the self-restraint was an effort.
“Okay, well, if you could type up the notes and put them in the database in the computer that would be a big help.”
“You’ll have to show me the database.”
The phone rang and Charli smiled. “I’ll get it.” She slipped past him where he stood in the doorway. His office was directly across from the kitchen and she picked up the phone in there instead of walking all the way to the reception area.
“Good morning, Sweet Meadow Veterinarian Hospital. May I help you?” She hitched her hip up on the corner of Grant’s desk, the phone cradled between her shoulder and ear.
“Well, well, well, the rumors are true,” came the caller response.
Charli grinned and twirled the phone cord around her finger. She recognized local rancher, Cole Preston’s handsome voice on the other end of the line. “What rumor would that be?”
“That there was a beautification project going on at the clinic.”
Charli glanced up and watched Grant walk into the office. She smiled into the phone. “Well, aren’t you sweet to say that. Did you just call to say hello or did you need our services?”
“Unfortunately, I need to talk to Grant. Although I’d much rather keep talking to you.”
“He’s right here. Maybe I’ll see you later this week?” Her gaze caught Grant’s as she promised to see the other man. Grant’s gaze narrowed, causing hope to flutter in her chest. First he shows up last night to interrupt her evening with Teddy and now he seemed annoyed by her casual promise to the neighbor.
“I’m looking forward to it. Bye, Charli.”
She smiled warmly into the phone. “So am I. Here’s Doc. Bye.”
Grant had stepped close to the desk where she sat on the edge. She handed him the phone, moving out of the way of the cord. “It’s Cole Pritchard.”
When he took the receiver from her hand, their fingers brushed. His sharp intake of breath echoed in the small room. What was wrong with him today? She studied him carefully as he spoke into the phone.
“What’s up Cole?”
She stayed where she was, watching him as he talked. He caught her gaze, frowned and looked away. She smiled. Did it really bother him to have her this close? She picked up the small framed picture on his desk. In white lab coats, he and Beth stood with a small calf between them. She didn’t recognize the background and figured the photo must have been taken when they were doing their residency up in New York. She set the photo back down.
“I’m booked this morning but can stop by after lunch?”
Charli watched his lips move. He had such nice lips. He kissed good, too. Her gaze drifted down to his chest covered with a simple T-shirt. He chuckled at something Cole said and it drew her gaze back to his face. When Grant smiled, his eyes lit up and crinkled at the edges. His face softened and the scowl usually present disappeared. What would his eyes look like when he was making love? Would they be serious, soft or would they twinkle with teasing laughter?
“Okay, I’ll see you then.” He reached past her to hang up the phone.
She wet her lips.
He frowned.
Charli expected Grant to step back, but instead, he crossed his arms over his chest and stared back. She raised her eyebrow innocently. “You have to go to Cole’s?”
“Yeah. He’s got an issue with one of his bulls.”
“The red one or the black one?”
His lips twitched. “The black one. He’s getting up there in years.”
“Need my help?”
“Nope. You stay right here out of my way and work on the files.”
It stung that he thought she’d get in the way. She’d been around cattle her entire life; it wasn’t as if she was useless. But she’d agreed to help in the office, and that’s what she’d do.
Charli scooted off the desk and out the door. “Okay, boss.”
She was already behind the desk in the reception area when he came back out.
“Trouble, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I just meant I really need to get on top of this office stuff.”
She tipped her head up. “Tsk-tsk, Doc. So unlike you to be concerned about rejecting me.”
He held out his finger and wagged it in her direction. “Don’t try to turn this into something sexual.”
She smirked and began to type, automatically responding to an email that came in asking for directions and hours to the clinic. “You’d be disappointed if I didn’t.”
When he didn’t move away, she raised one eyebrow.
Grant unfolded his arms, appearing as if he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to start. “Look, I think we need to get a couple things clear.”
Charli sat back in her chair and gave him her full attention. “You’re kind of rumpled this morning, Doc. Didn’t you sleep well? I certainly hope there isn’t anything on your mind keeping you awake.”
Grant pointed his finger in her direction, again. “That’s the kind of stuff I’m talking about.”
She widened her eyes. “What? I can’t ask how you slept? Inquire about your well-being? I’m a very caring person; it’s in my nature to try to help out if I can, especially if I’m in any way part of the reason you can’t get your proper rest.”
He rolled his eyes and turned away. “Never mind. I should have known you couldn’t be serious and actually have an adult conversation.”
Charli followed him back to the kitchenette. “You’re getting all worked up over nothing.”
He glared at her, but she simply set her empty coffee cup on the counter and waited patiently for him to refill it after he poured his own.
“We both know what you’re trying to do.”
Charli picked up her mug and added a generous helping of creamer. “I’m here to help you in the office while Beth is gone. I don’t think you have any reason to complain about my duties.”
Grant leaned his hip against the counter. “It’s not your work I’m complaining about. It’s evident you know your way around an office.”
“I’m a woman of many talents, Doc, if you’d only give me a chance.”
“What can I do to convince you I’m not interested?”
She tipped her head and pretended to consider the question. “It’s not me you have to convince.”
“No?”
She set her coffee down and closed the space between them. “You need to convince yourself—and you can’t.”
“I can’t?”
She shook her head slowly. Her hands drifted to the front of his chest, settling flat palmed on his T-shirt. “You would feel so much better if you’d stop over-thinking this thing between us. Don’t you ever give in to what you want instead of always doing what you’re supposed to?”
“That’s for kids. Teenage boys let hormones rule them, not adults men.”
She smiled but didn’t comment. Poor Grant. She really could see his struggle. She’d give her best pair of heels on a bet that he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him and yet, he forced himself to resist. She didn’t understand it. It wasn’t as if either of them were attached to someone else.
“I can’t afford to fool around and lose my priorities.”
“What about your other priorities, like your happiness? Your sexual needs? Actually, doctors say that a healthy sexual relationship is a great stress reducer. Your lack of a sex life could be harmful to your health.”
Grant’s jaw dropped. “Do you ever think before you talk?”
She shrugged. “I tend to go with my instincts.”
“That’s apparent.”
She knew she could push him harder. Kiss him and he’d kiss her back, but he’d already pushed her to a duel of wills in the first hour and she’d earlier decided to be professional and not tease him while they were at work.
Charli dropped her hands and stepped back. She didn’t miss the hint of disappointed in his eyes. “You’re such a liar, Doc.”
He glared, picked up his coffee and turned away again. “Think what you want, Trouble. Whatever your instincts tell you about us are way off. Not happening. Not now, not ever.”
Charli grinned as Grant walked away. She picked up her cup and leaned back against the counter. “Methinks you doth protest too much my blond-haired friend,” she murmured.
****
Grant stretched his back and groaned as he noted the time on the clock. The day had flown by but not without a ton of work. Several emergencies had popped in which always set his schedule off and then he still had the trip out to the Pritchard ranch.
He glanced at the reception desk where Charli had left an hour earlier. She’d been amazing—and not just with the office work. He’d been blown away. When he was forced to put down a boy’s dog after it had done rounds with a bull and lost, Charli had taken control of the boy and his broken hearted dad who felt all kinds of guilt over losing track of the family pet. She’d held the sobbing little guy in her arms and helped him through what was an absolutely awful situation.
And it had been like that all day. It didn’t matter what he had to contend with, Charli kept by his side and coped with it as if she was born to the role. She wasn’t squeamish, didn’t care if she got covered in animal fluids or blood, and still had time to whip him up a lunch that was unlike any he’d ever had before. What on earth she put into the chicken salad he didn’t know, but he’d never be able to eat anyone else’s again.
Was there anything this lady couldn’t do?
He rubbed his eyes. His stomach rumbled and he headed to the kitchen. Charli mentioned she’d left him a covered plate of dinner. Ever since their morning conversation, she’d been above reproach. Well, except for the expression he’d caught in her eyes every once in a while, and the little comments she’d made about how sturdy the tables in the examining room were, which sent his imagination into overdrive. It seemed she couldn’t resist dropping comments and innuendos to let him know he wasn’t completely off the hook.
Picking up the plate of dinner, he turned off the lights in the clinic and headed out the back door and across the inside coral until he reached the door to his house. Tyler had designed the clinic and attached house for Beth as a graduation from veterinarian school gift. Through a series of events between the couple, however, Grant ended up living in the small attached cottage, which suited him fine.
Flipping on the lights, he stopped in the kitchen to toss his dinner in the microwave and then headed upstairs for a hot shower.
Half an hour later, he set aside a magazine and turned off the TV. He was physically exhausted but his mind wouldn’t shut off. He kept seeing Charli, hearing her laugh and watching her unbelievably hot body sashay around his office. Her comments about his lack of a sexual relationship haunted him. He rubbed his hand down his face and sat up in his chair, resting his elbows on his thighs. If only he’d already had someone in his life when Charli came to town, maybe he wouldn’t be so tempted to give in to what could only be a huge mistake. Not only would it make working together impossible, but once it ended, it wasn’t as if she’d just head out of town. She was a good friend of the family and he lived here. She’d be popping in and out of town all the time. It would be uncomfortable. Not to mention if somehow he ended up hurting her feelings, Tyler would make life hell for him.
Part of the problem was he had yet to meet anyone he was interested in dating. Well, there was that librarian over in Twin Oaks. What was her name again? Abigail? Yeah, Abigail Preston. He’d considered asking her out for coffee, but he hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
A sudden image of the plain brunette and the vivacious redhead side by side came to mind. Abigail was as different from Charli as, well, night and day. Yeah, and that was just what he needed. Someone like that would be good for him, and maybe if he was dating someone else, Charli would back off.
That was it.
A girlfriend was what he needed—and she didn’t even have to be real.
He paused as a sudden thought struck him. Maybe he didn’t need to actually even date the other woman, maybe if he just implied that he was seeing the librarian it would be enough. It wasn’t as if she lived nearby or Charli would run into her in town and find out the truth.
Grant pushed to his feet and headed to bed. Tomorrow he would start Operation Abigail. Even as wild as Trouble was, he suspected she had scruples and wouldn’t try to steal another woman’s man.
He froze halfway up the stairs. If he was involved with someone else, what kind of man did it make him that he’d kissed Charli? Guilt washed over him. He was horrible, kissing the redhead in the hot tub and again that night in the kitchen when he was dating such a nice girl as Abigail.
Grant gave himself a shake. He was losing it. There was not other woman; he wasn’t dating anyone so there was no wrong done. Then again, this scenario might make him look even worse to Charli, which would be a good thing. Not only was he involved with the librarian, he was cheating on her! Perfect. If this didn’t keep Trouble at bay, then nothing would and he might as well give up the fight right now.
****
Charli pushed open the door to the clinic, careful not to drop the plate full of Kolaches she’d made first thing this morning. The breakfast pastry filled with sausage and cheese or warm fruit were a lot of work, but she’d promised Cord she’d try out some of her recipes. This was one of her favorites. She figured if she was going to make one batch, she might as well make enough for everyone, including Grant. Besides, the old adage, the way to a man’s stomach, was never wrong.
As she closed the door, she could hear him talking. Glancing through his office door, she saw him on the phone. She also noticed that rather than his usual professional stance facing his desk, writing notes on the blotter furiously, he actually appeared relaxed. His feet were up on the edge of the desk, his chair tipped back—and he was smiling. Dr. Grant Clark smiling at this hour of the morning!
“I agree. Last night was very nice.” He paused and smiled wider.
Charli frowned as she turned away. Obviously, it was a private conversation. What did he do last night? As far as she knew, he’d been here all night; she’d even looked over at his house a few times and the lights were on. Maybe someone had come over? She shrugged. Either way, it was none of her business.
She put the warm breakfast on a plate and poured Grant a fresh cup of coffee. She couldn’t help but overhear his conversation.
“I’m looking forward to it, Abby. Dinner at your place is always a treat.”
He chuckled and it sounded weird. She frowned and glanced to the doorway again. Grant was dating someone? He slid his feet off the desk and glanced towards the kitchen. Charli wiggled her fingers but he turned away.
“Yes, it’s a long week for me too, but we’ll be together on the weekend. I’m in no hurry to get back here Sunday morning.”
Charli picked up her coffee and moved to the front reception desk. The light on the phone was off which meant either there were no messages or Grant had already picked them up. Waiting for the computer to boot up, she tipped an ear to his door but his conversation was muffled and she couldn’t make out his words. How come she didn’t know he was involved with someone? All he would have had to do was tell her he was seeing someone and she would have backed off.
Leaning forward to type in the login, she paused. Wait a minute. If he was involved, why didn’t he have a date at the wedding? And why had Beth been so insistent that she help him loosen up? Did no one, not even Beth, know about this mystery woman?
Why wouldn’t his best friend know he was seeing someone? Why would he want to keep the relationship a secret? Her eyes widened. Was the woman married? She dropped her jaw. No! He wouldn’t, would he? Fool around with a married woman? He didn’t seem the type, but then, who knew what type that was.
Charli sat back in her chair and stared towards the hallway. If he was dating a married woman, his reputation could be ruined. This wasn’t Dallas or San Antonio where affairs were as common as fast food barbecue, this was “small town USA.’ This could put the business in jeopardy. Oh no. She had to get him to stop. She had to or everything he’d worked for, and Beth had worked for, could be gone.
Her mind raced but she forced herself to focus. First, she needed to make sure that was the case. If this Abby wasn’t married, then she needed to back off. There was nothing in the world lower than a woman who chased another woman’s man.
Grant hung up the phone and she heard him push back his chair and head up the hall towards her desk. She lifted her chin as he walked into the room. She tried to read his face. Poor man. If this married woman had her hooks in him, she needed to save him.
Charli smiled. “Good morning. I brought you breakfast.”
Grant rubbed his hand across his stomach. “I can smell it. In the kitchen?”
She stood up. “I’ll get them. You do what you need to do. Was that a new patient on the phone?”
“The phone?” He raised his eyebrow and looked away sheepishly. “Uh, no, no it wasn’t. It was a, um, a friend of mine.”
“Oh yeah, anyone I know?” She glanced back over her shoulder as she headed to the kitchen.
Grant followed her. “No, I don’t think so. She lives in Twin Oaks.”
“I know a lot of people in Twin Oaks. What’s her name?” She tried to pretend to be casually interested as she put his Kolache on a plate, dumped the now cold cup of coffee and poured him another one.
“Abigail Prestone. But she said she doesn’t know you.” Grant reached for the plate as she turned back. “I mentioned that you were helping in the office. She doesn’t get to Sweet Meadow too often.”
Charli smirked. He was hiding something. She could tell by the over brightness of his eyes, or was that his love for Kolaches? She wasn’t quite sure. Holding out the cup of coffee, she looked at him from under her lashes. “I see. Well, I look forward to meeting her. Is she a vet too?”
Grant took the coffee mug. “Actually, she’s a librarian.”
“I can definitely see you with a librarian. Serious, quiet. Yep, your type all the way. No wonder I get under your skin, Doc. I’m the exact opposite of your, what is she by the way? Girlfriend? Significant other?”
He reddened and looked uncomfortable. Good. Either he was embarrassed because he realized he’d kissed her while he was involved with someone else, or he was embarrassed because he was involved with someone he shouldn’t be. Either way, he was wrong and he knew it.
“There’s no need to put a label on it, we’re not in high school, are we?” He turned and walked away with his coffee and plate.
Charli crossed her arms over her chest. Now she was more convinced than ever that Abigail was married. She pushed her hair back from her face and picked up one of the fruit filled Kolaches and took a bite. Her first instinct was to talk to Cord or Sara and get their opinion.
But wait, she couldn’t do that. If Grant was doing what she suspected he was doing, she couldn’t expose him with her questions to the families. That would just be a bad situation all around.
No, it was better she kept it private and just handled it herself.
****
Grant was not in a party mood. He’d been busier than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs the past two weeks. Combined with a heavy workload was his ongoing struggle to fight his attraction to a certain redhead.
As much as he would love to skip the entire evening though, Cord Weston was a good man, and he needed to show up at his birthday barbecue at least for the dinner. But if ever in his life he wished for an emergency call, tonight would be the night. Tucking his shirt into his jeans he couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with Charli. She’d been unnaturally subdued the last two days. Work had almost become normal and he’d been able to relax his guard. He grinned. Must be his little ploy had worked. Other than asking him if he was bringing Abigail to the party, she hadn’t said much about his ‘girlfriend’. That worked out fine; the less he said, the less lies he had to remember.
He was a genius to dream up the other woman. As for her absence at the barbecue, he explained it away easy enough with Abigail having to go out of town for the weekend. That took care of that and there were no more questions asked.
As he headed out and walked across the ranch yard, he noted the small stage Teddy had set up by the barn. He had no intention of staying late enough for dancing. His eyes scanned the area, wondering where Charli was. Not because he wanted to see her, but he was much more comfortable knowing where she was before she pulled a sneak attack on him.
Grabbing a beer from the cooler set up by the makeshift bar, he took a long drink. As clever as it had been to devise a girlfriend, he had to admit a tiny part of him missed Charli’s flirting and teasing. He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she was up to no good and when she was coming on to him. She got this certain look that literally made his temperature rise along with the rest of him. She wasn’t boring to be around, that was for sure. But the last couple of days, it was almost as if he’d taken all the helium out of a balloon.
He took another drink of his beer and frowned. This was the way he wanted it, right? He was able to focus again; the office wasn’t a hot bed of innuendo and he was getting a lot of work done. She was actually an amazing office assistant. Beth would be thrilled at what they’d accomplished.
“Grant!”
He turned to the sound of Flo calling his name.
She came out the back kitchen door, her arms loaded with plastic cups and plates. “Will you go inside and help Charli?”
His pulse jumped as he set his empty beer down. “Sure, what’s she need?”
“She’s running around in there like a one man circus. See what you can do to calm her down.”
Grant frowned. Charli frazzled? He’d never seen her looking anything but completely in control. This should be interesting.
Inside the kitchen, the object of his nighttime fantasies stood barefoot in front of the stove stirring a pot. His gaze zeroed in on the diamonds encircling her ankle. The bracelet had to be worth a small fortune and she was wearing it to a picnic. Which one of her lovers had given her that?
Her toes were painted a hot pink that matched her finger nails. Her calf length skirt was gauzy and swished across her hips with her swaying movements. One golden shoulder was exposed where her blouse had slipped and when she lifted her hand to brush her hair back, her breast rose as if to say, “Look at me.”
Grant swallowed, hard. He’d met a lot of pretty women in his life, at college and veterinarians school, but this lady was so beyond all of them. She was truly in a league of her own.
The steam rising from the stove around her reminded him of the night in the hot tub, her hair curled about her face in the exact same way. He fought down the urge to turn her into his arms, kiss her senseless, feel her hips curl into his and her hands dance along his skin “Doc?”
Grant never realized she’d turned. Her raised eyebrow and her knowing smile told him she knew exactly where his thoughts had been going.
“Uh, Flo said you needed some help.”
She sure didn’t look frazzled to him. She looked like she had everything under perfect control as usual.
“I’m all set. There’s been a steady stream of cowboys in and out my door.”
“I just bet there has,” Grant muttered.
She tipped her head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say that was almost a dig. Here, take this spoon while I get a few things from the refrigerator.”
He moved to her side and she handed over the long handled utensil. Her body pressed against his side and her soft breast pressed into his arm. She yanked at the top of her peace blouse and hauled it back into place.
“Be careful with this custard. If you’re too rough you’ll ruin it forever. Be gentle, coax it, and you’ll do fine.”
Her voice in his ear sent spirals of desire through his body, giving him an immediate erection. Her hand covered his, slowing his stirring. He inhaled deep the spicy fragrance of her skin and leaned towards her.
Charli stepped away. “Okay, you got that. I’m going to work on the rest of the dessert.”
He turned back towards the stove but couldn’t stop from glancing over his shoulder again to see what she was doing. Bent at the waist, she rummaged in the refrigerator and he let himself enjoy the view of her raised rear end.
Damn she had a hell of a body! He tore his gaze away as she straightened.
“What are we making?” he asked “The custard sauce is to go with the raspberries and chocolate for the cake.” She moved across the room, setting a variety of ingredients on the counter. Coming back to the stove, she took the spoon from his hand again without even a teasing glance.
Grant frowned. Her voice held none of its usual teasing and he found himself missing it. Why was her complete lack of interest in him turning him on far more than her relentless pursuit this past week? Was it because of Abigail? She must not want him too bad if an absent girlfriend could keep her at arm’s length. Or had she simply decided he wasn’t worth the effort of chasing anymore? Maybe she was glad he was seeing someone else.
“I’m all set in here, Doc, if you want to go back outside.”
Grant shoved his hands in his pockets. “You don’t need me anymore?” As soon as the words left his mouth, he waited to see if she’d take the bait.
Charli shrugged. “No, can’t say that I do.”
She turned back to the stove. He had no choice but to walk away still not quite believing she didn’t turn his comment into an excuse for a sexy come-back.
****
The evening sun was setting and around the large table everyone, including Grant, sat back and groaned. He’d eaten way too much and Charli’s dessert had pushed him over the top of stuffed.
Grant froze as the object of his thoughts leaned across him. Through most of the dinner, she’d been oddly quiet and well behaved. Her hair teased his face as she reached for the spoon in front of him.
“Sorry, I just need this spoon, do you mind?”
Her blouse gaped and he was treated to a very splendid eyeful of cleavage.
Charli turned her head and caught him staring. As she shifted back to her own seat, she paused to whisper in his ear. “See something you like?”
He picked up his napkin and covered his mouth so no one could hear him speak. “I’d have to be dead not to like them.”
Before she could reach for the coffee creamer, he handed it over along with the sugar.
“That’s so sweet! You know how I take my coffee.”
He shrugged. “It’s hard not to notice when you dump half a bottle of creamer into your coffee every morning.”
“I am hard on a guy’s…”
He turned to glance sharply at her.
She smirked. “Budget. I’ll work it off if you like.”
The coffee he’d just sipped spewed out at her remark and hot liquid flowed down the front of his shirt and into his lap. He coughed as the rest of it went down the wrong way.
Charli’s hand landed on the small of his back. “Easy there, Doc.”
“You need some water? Here, fill his glass.” Cord ordered from across the table as the pitcher of water was passed down.
Charli took his napkin and began to dab at the front of his shirt. “You okay? Did something catch you off guard?”
As he stopped coughing, the rest of the table ignored them.
“I’ll get you for that,” he whispered, setting his water down.
Under the cover of the tablecloth she slid her hand across his leg to his inner thigh and whispered. “Promises, promises.”
Grant quickly reached under the table as her fingers began an intimate journey. The table jarred with his hurried movements and everyone stared at the two of them.
“Grant? What’s wrong now?” Sara asked.
Grant squeezed Charli’s hand hard. “I think it was a bee under the table.”
Cord frowned, but turned his attention back to the foreman on the other side of him. Even old Sam gave him a look that made him feel like he was doing something wrong. Great. Even when he wasn’t misbehaving with her, he was being reprimanded. Exactly why he needed to keep things strictly business between them.
He shoved Charli’s hand off his leg. “Behave, Trouble,” he hissed.
“When I behave, I get bored and so do you.” She fluttered her eyelashes.
She was right. When she ignored him, he wondered why, and when she was on the prowl, he felt like a rabbit cornered by a cat. He had a sinking suspicion that no matter what he did, the cat was going to tease him until she was good and ready to pounce. And then there’d be nothing he could do to change it.
“Excuse me,” he pushed back his chair and set his napkin down. No one asked where he was going but most important of all, Charli stayed put.
Even so, several minutes later, as he emerged from the downstairs bathroom, he wasn’t entirely surprised to see her waiting for him. He stopped in his tracks to take in the view. She leaned her back against the wall along with both hands and one foot. With her blouse pulled down to reveal two golden bare shoulders, her position was provocative and sexy as hell—like a photo shoot for a men’s magazine, the kind where each picture got more and more revealing. Beneath the soft peach blouse he could see the outline of her extended nipples.
She lifted her chin, her eyes dark with hunger. “You left in such a hurry. I worried that you might have something wrong with you.”
Her voice was as smooth as honey and slithered up his spine like a caress. Her dark red hair curled over her shoulder and down alongside her breast. His fingers itched to wrap it around his hand while he brushed against her with his knuckles.
Grant moved closer. “You knew perfectly well what was wrong with me.”
Her eyes widened innocently. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”
She bit her bottom lip. When she released it to bounce back into place, he lost it.
Grant hauled her into his arms, wrapped himself around her and kissed her harder than he’d ever kissed a woman in his life. All the nights of waking up rock hard because he’d dreamed of her again, all the teasing, all the comments and the touches and the flirting were too much. Not even the look of triumph that sparkled in her eyes a second before he reached for her stopped him.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as Charli accepted his kiss and her moans of pleasure spurred him on. He pressed himself against her where she leaned into the wall and plundered her mouth with his tongue. He grasped her breast, molding it in his palm and kneading the softness.
Against him, her body squirmed and he ground his hips into her, pressing her further into the wall. Their tongues danced and teased and she cried out as he dragged his mouth to her neck to nuzzle her collarbone. The lotion she wore had a tangy scent that filled his nostrils as he tasted her skin. The need to touch her everywhere was overpowering and Grant didn’t even bother to pretend he didn’t want to. His hands grasped her bottom and pulled her into him. The yards of material were in his way and hurriedly he bunched the skirt in his hands until he touched the back of her bare legs. Her butt cheek was smooth and rounded as he cupped it, imagining in his head what color thong she wore. His mouth teased hers again, kissing her greedily. His tongue danced with her as he tasted the coffee she’d been drinking a few minutes ago.
As if he hadn’t been with a woman in years, he couldn’t get enough of her. His head spun with desire as blood roared through his veins causing his mind to go numb to what his body was doing.
Charli gave back everything he took and then some. She spurred him on, her body wiggling and pressing into his. Her hands slipped up under his T-shirt and caressed his chest, digging into his skin and then caressing over his muscles.
Unable to stop himself, Grant jerked the neckline of her blouse down until one plump breast popped free of her strapless bra. Grant leaned forward to wrap his lips around one erect nipple.
Charli cried out softly and threaded her fingers through his hair, keeping his head to her breast.
His head whirled, making it hard to think. He knew they had to stop. They were in a public hallway; they could be caught at any moment. He should drag her out the front door and over to the clinic and hope they’d go unnoticed—or he could slip upstairs and find an empty room.
“You’re a witch.” His soft voice took the harsh sting from his words as he raised his head.
Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths. “Because I’m magical?”
“Because you’re a temptress who casts spells on men, making them do things they don’t want to do.” He kissed her lips again.
Charli turned her head and his mouth fell to her neck. “You do this to me, Doc. You make me lose my head.” She pulled him back to her mouth and kissed him hard, her tongue doing things to his that he never dreamed of.
He didn’t believe her for a second. Every word out of that pretty little mouth was a line guaranteed to make men fall at her feet. But right now, he didn’t care, he believed her. No one else mattered as long as she was his for right now. The blood rushed to his head, all sense of time and space flew. He shoved her skirt out of the way, his palm finding the heated moisture between her thighs.
“Charli? Grant?”
Grant heard Flo’s voice from somewhere in the distance, but couldn’t quite get his brain and his body to work as one.
Charli pushed him hard and he stumbled into the still open door of the bathroom. She spun around until she stood in front of him, her hands braced on the doorjamb, hiding him from the housekeeper’s immediate view as the older woman came around the corner.