Chapter Eight
Grant knocked at the back door of Buck and Sara’s house. “Sara?”
No answer. Grant knocked again, turned the knob and let himself in. The kitchen showed signs that someone was home and footsteps upstairs confirmed it. Walking to the front of the house, he hollered up the staircase. “Sara? Do you know what time Buck is getting back?”
A muffled voice replied, “Be right down.”
Grant took his hat off and wiped his brow. He gazed about the expansive foyer as he waited. Sara and Buck’s house was much smaller than the main ranch house and was decorated to reflect the couple’s casual taste.
He moved back to the kitchen, dropped his hat on a chair, and helped himself to a glass of water. Footsteps skipped lightly down the hallway and he turned to Sara—only to come up short, shocked to see Trouble in bare feet entering the kitchen. He glanced past her, expecting to see the other woman, but it was apparent she was alone.
“Hey, Doc.” She moved to the sink where he still stood and playfully bumped his hip with her own, scooting him out of the way. When he stepped back, she turned on the water and rinsed the baby bottle she held.
Grant had managed to avoid Charli for several more days. After his weekend away, he returned to the ranch, surprised to find the office completely organized, the files updated, the database complete and everything in far better shape than he’d left. She’d even scrubbed the walls and mopped the floors of all the rooms and kitchenette. But there’d been no sign of his sexy office help. Now, here she was, her golden legs showed off to perfection by incredibly white shorts and a red halter top crisscrossed over her chest and cradling her breasts like a lover’s hands. Her hair was pulled back into a long ponytail and her bare toes were painted fire engine red.
Speechless, he was torn between being incredibly thrilled to see her and wanting to run a million miles away.
“Something you wanted?” she asked. Her grin was cocky and knowing and her gaze slid down his body. Her smile grew wider at his obvious excitement at running into her.
Grant frowned. “Where’s Sara?”
She reached for the dishcloth and he tried to ignore the way her shorts slid higher on her thighs. The woman was too damn sexy for her own good—or his. Mentally, he calculated how much longer she’d be on the ranch. He sighed, had it only been two weeks, not even three yet since Beth left? He was never going to make it.
“Buck had to go to Houston to look at some horses and I told Sara to go too, stay and have dinner, maybe even overnight if they want. They haven’t been away since the baby was born.”
Her ponytail swished across her back as she wiped down the counter. His hands itched to pull it back and kiss her senseless. Instead, he shoved his clenched fists in his pocket to keep from touching her. “It’s Thursday.”
She turned and grinned. “What’s that have to do with anything? Oh, you mean the office?” She laughed and reached into the cupboard. “There’s no work for me to do over there and you know it.”
“I suppose there isn’t. Everything looks great, thanks.” He knew he didn’t sound grateful like he should, but he was trying hard to keep his distance. Being gruff was the only way he knew to put her off.
She shrugged and set two plates on the kitchen table. “I didn’t figure I needed to be there doing nothing. I knew you had the phones forwarded to your cell anyway.”
Charli leaned across the table to reach the salt and pepper shakers and Grant couldn’t help but admire her rounded rear end. Unfortunately, she caught him staring.
She glanced back over her shoulder. “You do have a thing for my butt, don’t you?”
He jerked his gaze off her. “What are you setting the table for? I thought you said Sara and Buck were eating in Houston.”
She walked back across the kitchen to the cupboard directly behind him. She rested her hand on his shoulder as she reached for glasses. Her breasts pressed into him as she stretched. He sucked in his breath, not daring to move, not daring to breathe. Charli held her position with fire in her eyes.
Her gaze slipped to his mouth and then back to his eyes once more. “I was going to have a late lunch, figured you’d like to join me.”
She tipped her head, but didn’t wait for his response. Setting the glasses on the table, she shifted to the refrigerator and emerged carrying an armful of ingredients. Grant knew he should leave. He’d already had lunch, well, late breakfast, but he certainly wasn’t hungry. They were all alone except for the napping baby. He swallowed again. He had to leave. Right now. This was exactly the type of situation he needed to avoid with her.
“Lunch sounds great.” Did those words come from him? “What can I do for you?” he asked. His mother, after all, hadn’t raised someone who didn’t know enough to help out in the kitchen.
She pulled out a cutting board and knife. Charli laughed in an evil way deep in her throat. “You’re really going to ask me a question like that?”
She set the cutting board in front of him along with a plump tomato and cucumber. He didn’t bother to respond and, instead, set to work slicing the tomato. Charli tossed the vegetables with some ingredients and an onion and pepper, making a small salad. Grant watched her assemble thick sandwiches and whip up some type of dressing for the bread. By the time they were seated next to each other and he took his first bite, he once again had fallen under her spell.
“Awesome,” he muttered around the sandwich. “I don’t know what you do, but you sure know how to do it.”
She reached over and brushed her thumb along his bottom lip then licked the dressing off. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to score points with me.” She took a bite of her own sandwich and grinned.
Grant reached for his iced tea and tried to ignore the effect her full lips had on him. He picked up his fork and ate the cucumber salad with gusto.
Charli continued to watch him with those eyes that drove him crazy. Hell, there wasn’t anything about this woman that didn’t drive him crazy. Her driving him crazy, was driving him crazy. If she was in the office he was distracted. If she was missing, he wondered where she was or when she was going to show up. He was on edge all the time.
He set his sandwich down. “We should talk about this thing between us.”
Charli raised one eyebrow. “You mean how we both want each other, but you refuse to lighten up?”
“I can’t go on like this. Why can’t we just work together without it always being sexual? I told you many different times that nothing is going to happen between us.”
Charli shrugged. “I’m not arguing. You can’t even say I’ve been anything but professional in the office.”
“Even when you say you’re being professional and you’re doing everything right, you can’t help but flirt and tease and just be you. It’s nothing bad, Trouble, it’s just your personality, but we still have almost a month to go and I’m losing my mind.”
She leaned closer, gazing at him from under her lashes. With her hair pulled back and no make up on, she should have looked young and innocent. Instead, it somehow made her even more of a temptress.
“Losing your mind can sometimes be a good thing, Doc. Hot sex is better than yoga for relieving stress.”
He forced himself to focus on the conversation and ignore what his body was telling him to do. “Trouble, I know an affair with you would be hotter than hot and mutually satisfying. I’m just not into hot flings with gorgeous redheads at this point in my life.”
“Just how many hot flings have you had in your life, Doc? Because, to be truthful, I think you really could use one.”
Was she ever serious? He shook his head. He’d never met a woman quite like her before. She was honest and straight forward and put all her cards on the table. Her direct honesty was definitely a refreshing change.
“Charli, you’re beautiful. You’re sexy and smart and you have a body that would make a dead man rise. I’m flattered that you find me appealing. Although, I will admit I don’t know why. There’s a lot of men who are better looking and lot better company than I am.”
She stood up and carried their plates to the counter. “That’s true.”
His brows furrowed at her quick agreement.
“You’re grouchy, cynical, and you don’t know the first thing about having fun. I have no idea what it is about you that appeals to me. There’s plenty of younger men than you too. Younger men can go all night. Whereas by the time they’re as old as you are—”
“Okay, I get the picture.” Grant pushed back his chair and moved to the counter, watching as she loaded the dishwasher. “But just for the record. Younger men may have more stamina, but generally, experience is preferable to youth.”
Charli lifted one eyebrow. “I would have to argue that point. When a man gets past a certain age, certain things slow down.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for the old age home yet.”
“Oh, were we talking about you?” she asked innocently.
“Exactly how do you know so much about younger men? Been with a lot of them have you?”
She straightened and turned on the water. Her lips lifted in a mysterious little smile and she glanced sideways at him. “I believe eighteen is legal in Texas, isn’t it?”
Grant’s mouth dropped open. “You are something else, you know that? How old are you anyway?”
Charli shook her head. “Don’t you know that’s one question you never ask a woman?”
“What’re the others?”
“Her weight, and how many lovers she’s had.”
Grant leaned towards her, inhaling her spicy scent. Today, it was mingled with the smell of baby power. It wrapped around him, pulling him closer. “How old are you?”
“Old enough,” she returned.
“How much do you weigh?” His gaze trailed her body, trying to make an educated guess.
“Less than you.” Her eyes roamed his body the same way, lingering for a long, heated moment on the obvious bulge behind his zipper.
As their eyes met again, he forced the words out, even though he didn’t want to know. “How many lovers have you had?”
She turned and pressed both hands flat on his chest. “Whatever number just popped into your head…double it. You’ll be close enough.”
Grant’s eyes widened.
Charli laughed and patted his cheek before moving back to the table. “What’s the matter? That shocks you? Yet, if I was a man, it would be fine, right?”
He couldn’t answer, too busy watching her shapely bottom wiggle as she stretched the length of the kitchen table, wiping away the crumbs from their sandwiches.
“It’s perfectly acceptable if a man drinks shots of whiskey, sleeps with women of all ages, and parties all night. But if a woman does the same, she’s instantly labeled.” Her tone held a trace of bitterness as if it wasn’t the first time she’d had the same argument.
“I don’t know what to tell you, that’s just how it is.”
Moving back to the sink, she rinsed the dishcloth under the water. “My grandmother once told me that the only regret she had in life was not sleeping with more men in her younger days.”
Grant raised his eyebrow. “I take it your grandmother was a lot like you.”
Charli shook her head. “Nope. She married my grandfather when she was only sixteen and loved him until the day he died. But she told me once that even though they’d had a good life, she always wondered what it would have been like to have been with someone else. To have known another man. She said if she had to do it all over again, she’d still probably have married him, but she would’ve married him ten years later so she could have had some adventures.”
“Ahh, so you’re living her adventures.”
She shrugged. “Isn’t that what men do? Don’t they shop around before finally settling down with one woman? Why should only men get to enjoy one of life’s greatest pleasures?” She concentrated on cleaning the sink.
Suspecting he’d struck a raw chord somewhere, Grant tried to lighten the conversation. “So you’ve been with men of all ages, huh?”
“Over eighteen and under eighty, that’s all I’m saying.”
Grant coughed. “Half the time I don’t know if you say those things to shock me or if they’re really true.”
“What about you? Ever been with an older woman?”
Grant reddened Charli laughed. “You have! I can tell. Come on, how much older? Ten years? Twenty?”
“Five,” he admitted.
She scoffed. “That’s not older.”
“How about you? Older? By more than ten years.”
Charli grinned. “A girl never kisses and tells. But to be perfectly honest, I don’t like older men. I much prefer them to be able to keep up with me.”
“I forgot, you like the ‘boys’ that can party all night.”
She stopped in front of him, reaching up to slip her fingers through his hair. His hands found her hips instinctively and settled on their shapely form.
“What I really like stands about six foot two, has incredibly sexy blue eyes, and this huge…” She trailed off laughing. Her hand caressed his dropped jaw as she finished, “attitude towards redheads.”
She shifted even closer and Grant’s pulse quickened. She was going to kiss him and already he was anticipating her taste, her touch, the way her body would melt against his own. There was nothing better than the rush he got when they came together.
But she didn’t. She dropped her arms and moved back to the still running water. She reached her hand into the sink and immediately yanked it back with a curse. “Son of a…damn!”
Grant saw the blood and grabbed her wrist. “What happened?”
She winced. “I must have slid it along the blade of the knife.”
He turned the water on cold and shoved her finger under it. She hissed but he held it firm while the cut was cleansed.
“Stay right there, I’m going to get some bandages.”
He hurried down the hall and found a box in the medicine cabinet. Charli stood where he’d left her, obediently keeping her finger under the running water.
“How’s it feel?” He took her hand and lifted it up to inspect its depth.
“It hurts like hell, how do you think it feels?” she snapped.
Grant chuckled. “Aren’t we the crabby patient?” Wrapping her hand in a paper towel he patted the wound dry and inspected it once again. He glanced at her face, noting her eyes were tightly closed. “You okay?
“I don’t like the sight of blood, especially mine.” She opened her eyes a tiny bit to peek. The blood had stopped so she opened them fully and let her breath out in a whoosh.
Grant simply stared.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me,” she warned.
He shook his head. “I’m not. But you watched me operate and had no issues with any of that before. Here, sit down. I don’t want you passing out on me.”
“It’s my blood that gets me woozy, not animal’s.”
Rather than sit on the kitchen chair, she slid onto the table. He opened one of the packets of antiseptic cleaner he’d found with the bandages. He stepped between her legs to take her hand. “This will sting a bit.”
Charli sucked in her breath on a cuss.
This time Grant did chuckle.
“You think it’s funny? It hurts like freakin’ hell!”
Lifting her finger to his mouth, he lightly blew on it to dry the medicine before he put a bandage on it. “I hate hurting you, but you can’t take a chance on getting an infection.”
Her blue eyes were hooded as she looked into his. “The least you could do is kiss it better,” she said softly.
Staring into her face, he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her finger.
“There. Antiseptic, bandage, and a kiss. I’d say you’re good to go.”
“I’m good to go all right, Doc.”
The husky tone in her voice sent flames of desire licking through his veins. Her legs closed together, trapping him where he was. One more squeeze and he lost his balance. His hands reached out and landed on her bare thighs. The instant his skin touched hers, Grant knew it was all over. Her hands tugged at the front of his shirt until he was forced to bend towards her.
“Trouble,” he breathed before she captured his mouth with her own.
As usual, her lips on his electrified him, made his head spin, and his senses reel. Her kiss was becoming familiar. He recognized the taste of her, the contours of her mouth. He felt like he was coming home as she deepened the kiss with a groan. Nothing this bad should feel this right. Charli’s arms locked around his neck and he slid his hands further up her satiny smooth legs.
This couldn’t lead anywhere good. But he couldn’t remember why that was a bad thing. His hands opened and closed on her thighs, his fingers inching higher until they encountered the hemline of her shorts. Leaning in, he slid his hand under the white cotton material.
This was the type of kiss that no one under twenty-one should indulge in. He was on an out-of-control rollercoaster heading downhill fast. The heady combination of her knock out body and her cocky personality seemed to speak to something deep inside him and he was tired of trying to resist her. Even knowing she was the last thing he needed in his life right now didn’t stop him from having to have her. His mind rationalized that maybe if he made love to her they’d both get it out of their systems. He’d find out if she was only chasing him because he was a challenge and he could get on with his life.
Charli unbuttoned his shirt and pressed her palms to his bare chest. Grant gasped and none too gently shoved his hand into the opening of her top, grasping her breast and kneading it in his palm. He reveled in its weight, thrilled to its warmth, and rolled her nipple in his fingers until she gasped. His body reacted powerfully to her response and, as she arched into him, he kissed her harder. She scraped her nails lightly down his chest and his thoughts raced, envisioning those fingernails closing over other parts of him. He throbbed painfully, longing to sink into her and satisfy them both, right now.
As if reading his mind, her hands moved to his belt buckle and unhooked it. She unzipped his pants and reached inside to take him in her hand.
Grant ripped his mouth from hers and buried it in her neck, unable to stop the growl of satisfaction that she’d forced from him. He yanked her head back by her ponytail as he had imagined a short time ago. Her neck was exposed with his actions and she opened her eyes and looked into his. He kissed her mouth hard, once, twice, and then deeper as she stroked him, molding her hand to his hardness.
He struggled for control as if he were a schoolboy. She knew exactly what she was doing, using long sure strokes, combined with squeezing him tightly, manipulating him, making him crazy. Grant no longer cared about resisting her, he had to have her or lose his mind.
“Tell me you want me, Doc.”
Her words were like kerosene on an already stoked inferno. Grant pushed and tugged at her top until it was tangled beneath her glorious breasts and they were both free for him to taste. He lowered his mouth to one beautiful, plump, ripe nipple. “I want you, Trouble. God help me, but I want you.” He closed his mouth over the rosy peak, reveling in the way she felt.
Charli shifted and leaned back on the table, bracing herself on her elbows to allow him full access to what he sought. Grant leaned over, accepting what she offered. He kissed the freckles on her breast, ran his tongue across her nipples, and suckled hard.
She cried out, teasing words of encouragement, spurring him on, goading him to make her crazy.
“Doc!” Her plea was throaty and desperate as if he pulled it from her very soul.
He lifted his head. Her eyes were dark and hooded, the color indescribable, like something that hadn’t been named yet. More intense was the message that passed between them, very clear with no need to be said. This time he wasn’t going to say no.
Charli sat up and reached for him once more. Grant closed his eyes as her hands closed over his straining erection. Delicious spirals of need filled him when she stroked her thumb over the tip. “We shouldn’t do this here,” he argued without conviction.
Opening her mouth on his chest, she trailed hot kisses down his front. Her hand continued to torment him, cradling the soft sacks beneath his shaft. “But we are.”
Grant thrust his hands under her thighs and dragged her to the very edge of the table then he shoved his pants down his legs. His fingers dispensed with the buttons that ran down the front of her shorts and he spread them open. His breathing was ragged when he touched the curls barely concealed behind a scrap of lace. In one smooth movement, Charli lifted her hips. Her shorts hit the floor.
He trailed his fingers along the edge of her flesh colored thong, feeling her moist heat beneath it.
“I love these little bits of nothing you wear.” He had a hard time breathing as his hand slipped inside her idea of panties.
His mouth caressed her ear as his fingers stroked her wetness. She trembled and arched closer to him. Grant couldn’t wait to slide into her and have those legs wrap around his waist.
Charli wrapped her hands around his head and pulled his mouth back to hers. “Next time I won’t wear any at all.”
Grant found the nub that contained all her pleasure and fingered it as his hand cupped her intimately. He stroked gently as she moved against him. Slipping one finger inside, he found her hot and wet and it raised his own level of arousal considerably. She groaned and her hands were wild and insistent, touching him as if she couldn’t get enough either. Charli opened her mouth for his kiss again and suckled his tongue.
Somewhere in the distance, Grant thought he heard the crying of a kitten, but Charli laid back and nothing was going to stop him from following her down to the table.
Suddenly, Grant was leaning over an empty kitchen table, his pants pooled at his ankles. Charli was gone, clothes and all. Murmured voice and baby cries from the monitor across the room let him know she hadn’t totally vanished.
Reality hit hard. Mortified by his behavior Grant yanked his pants up, buckled his belt, and buttoned his shirt. He scraped his fingers through his hair and searched the room frantically, trying to figure out what he should do next.
The monitor acted like a microphone and Charli’s voice filled the room as she cooed to the baby.
What was the appropriate behavior after almost doing someone on a kitchen table that wasn’t your own? Should he slip away and save them both the embarrassment of facing one another after a scene like that? Or would that be rude? Would it be seen as running away?
Hearing her footsteps, he glanced up as she entered the kitchen. His jaw dropped. The sight of Charli with little Beau in her arms jolted him. She seemed incredibly natural holding a child. In complete contrast with the femme fatale he’d just been about to have on the kitchen table, she appeared innocent, pure, motherly.
She kissed the baby’s head and smiled up at Grant. “Looks who’s up.”
For a second, Grant wondered if she was talking about the baby or him. Pulling himself out of his trance he reached out a shaky finger. “Hey, big guy.”
Beau screwed up his face and let out a wail. Grant cringed.
“He’s teething. I’m sure that’s why he didn’t sleep too long.”
Grant stood there awkwardly, watching her while she sat down in the rocking chair in the corner. One long leg tucked up under her, the other pushing the rocker slowly, she situated the baby comfortably and rocked him as she gave him a pacifier. She tipped her head. “Why do you have that look on your face? What’s going on in that mind of yours?”
“You look completely different.”
Charli pressed a kiss to the baby’s head and snuggled him closer against her. Grant couldn’t help but envy the kid. Who wouldn’t want to be held and rocked in those arms? Beau was a lucky little guy and didn’t even know it.
“Why? Because I’m rocking a baby? You didn’t think a woman like me would be able to take care of a baby?”
He ran a hand along the back of his neck “That’s not what I meant. It’s just—never mind.”
Charli grimaced as Beau pulled at a strand of hair. She gasped and pulled the baby’s chubby hand from her breast. “Oh, little man. I like ‘em young, but you’re a bit much.”
She laughed and her eyes met Grant’s. His body ached for her. The electric charge between them was too much for him. He had no business having thoughts about what he’d like to do to her while she was holding a baby.
He grabbed his hat off the chair he’d dropped it on earlier and jammed it on his head. “I gotta go.”
Her eyes danced with amusement. “How about a rain check’?”
He frowned but found himself nodding.
Before he reached the door, she called to him again. “Hey, Doc?”
He turned back slowly. “Yeah?”
She brushed her hair behind her shoulder out of the baby’s clinging fingers. “I mentioned to Sara that you were dating Abigail Prestone. She said she was going to give her a call and see if she wanted to join all of us on Saturday night at the LoneStar.”
Her blue eyes bore into his as she hoisted the baby up to her shoulder. It was definitely the look of a challenge and his guts twisted.
“Unless you’ve already invited her, of course. To the jamboree? I think Cord made it pretty clear we were all to be there. It’s Teddy’s big thing for the children’s home.”
Grant swallowed hard. “Uh, yeah, actually I mentioned something to her about it. I’ll have to check with her again and make sure she can make it. She’s not big on country music.” He practically ran out the door before she could say anything else or ask any other questions.
Climbing into his truck, he quickly drove away. That was twice now he’d lost his head where Trouble was concerned, and twice they were stopped. Fate was definitely trying to tell him to stay away from her. Then why did he keep tempting it? And that mention of Abigail? Maybe fate was stepping in again.
He’d have to call the librarian as soon as he got back and invite her himself to the event. He couldn’t even let himself think about the embarrassment if Sara got to her first.
****
Abigail Prestone was exactly as Grant had hoped. Her pale pink dress had tiny pink polka dots and a lace collar. Around her shoulders, she draped a white cardigan much the same as his grandmother would wear. She wore plain, low heeled pumps that matched her purse. With her hair pulled back into a tidy bun, she looked every inch a proper lady. In fact, the grey eyes that peered out behind her thick glasses were actually quite pretty.
But it was what she didn’t have that drew him to her. No flash of skin, no long legs to distract him, no bright red lips to tempt him. No lush breasts. In fact, hers were well hidden from view in what he imagined was a very sensible bra. Not like the silly, flimsy, lace creation that bound another pair of golden breasts that often spilled over the top. Realizing where his thoughts were going, Grant blinked quickly and focused on his date.
She brought out the gentleman in him rather than the lusty, hormone-raging teenage boy.
He escorted Abigail to the car, glad he borrowed Cord’s Mercedes. She wouldn’t have looked right bouncing around in his old pick up truck with all his veterinarian equipment in the back and the remnants of animal hair imbedded in the cab.
During dinner, Abigail was quiet and Grant found himself struggling to make conversation. When he suggested a bottle of wine, she quietly informed him she didn’t drink. The look on her face made him decide he should refrain as well.
“I’m glad we decided to have dinner first. It gives us a chance to talk.” Grant picked up his fork and stabbed at the lettuce in his salad. The restaurant they had agreed on was a new Italian eatery set in between Sweet Meadow and Twin Oaks.
“I’m still not clear on why you needed an escort tonight.” Abigail set her fork down and seemed to be waiting for his answer.
He forced a light laugh. “Did you ever open your mouth and say something and then later regretted it?”
Abigail frowned and shook her head. “Why would you say something you’d regret?”
He sighed. Apparently, his date was perfect. Wonderful. What had Charli once said? Some mistakes are too fun to make once? He doubted the proper Abigail even knew what that meant. Still, this was the type of woman he wanted. He’d told Chalri they were dating so he had about an hour to break through this first date and move fast into a more comfortable place. “Can I be honest with you, Abby?”
She pursed her lips. “Abigail.”
“Right. Well, it’s actually kind of a funny story, Abigail.” He laughed, but when he noticed she wasn’t following him, he stopped. He spread his hands out, trying to figure out a way to explain without sounding like an idiot. “Okay, here’s the deal. I haven’t dated much in the past few years. I’ve been focused on my job.”
“I can understand that. I’m the same way.”
He nodded. Finally, a breakthrough. “Right, so anyway, this charity event came up and there’s this totally inappropriate woman who asked me to the event.”
Abigail frowned. “Inappropriate?”
“I don’t mean she’s a bad person. I simply don’t want to encourage her. I think it would be wrong for me to accept a date with her if I have no intention of, well, dating her. Does that make sense?”
She nodded. “It’s admirable of you. But I still don’t know what that has to do with me.”
He linked his fingers in front of his face and wondered how she’d take the next part. “She wasn’t taking no for an answer so I…sort of…invented a date.”
“You lied?” Her eyebrows rose in disapproval.
“I did. I feel bad about it,” he defended quickly. “It was a spur of the moment thing. I lied and said I had invited you.”
She furrowed her brow and set her fork down. “Why would you do that? We’ve only met once before and very briefly. I don’t even know you.”
He leaned forward, hoping he could appeal to her. “Because I’ve wanted to ask you out, but the timing has never been right. I know that doesn’t make it better, but hopefully you can understand. Either way, I’m grateful that you agreed to help me out of this sticky situation.”
“I don’t like misleading anyone. I won’t lie for you.”
He shook his head and reached for her hand. The expression of horror in her eyes made him draw back. “You won’t have to. I promise. They think we’ve been on a few dates, and here we are, on a date. No lie there.”
“Hmm.” She didn’t look convinced.
Grant picked up his water, wishing with all his heart it was a beer. “I think we should at least talk a bit about ourselves so no one has any reason to suspect tonight is our fist date. Does that sound all right with you?”
“I suppose. But I’m telling you, if anyone asks me straight up, I’m not...”
“I know, I know, I’ll handle it, okay? You’re very sweet to help me out.” He set his water down and picked up his fork. “So have you lived in Twin Oaks your entire life?” He dug into his chicken parmesan as he waited for her answer.
Abigail set down her fork and folded her hands in her lap. “Yes.”
Grant waited, thinking she would offer more. When she didn’t, he tried again. “Do you have your own place or do you live with your parents?” She made him pick her up at the library for the date which he found amusing.
Her eyes widened. “Why do you ask?”
The look of shock made Grant feel like he had invited himself over. He frowned. “I was only making conversation. I haven’t lived at home since I went away to college.”
She didn’t respond and resumed eating.
Grant sighed and tried again. “My family’s still in Oklahoma but my practice is in Sweet Meadow on the Double B.”
“I know. I’ve been there.”
“You have? That’s terrific? When were you there?”
“My father bought me a horse from Cord Weston when I was younger.”
“You ride? That’s great Abby—gail.”
“I don’t. I’m allergic to them. We eventually had to return the horse because I couldn’t go near it without breaking out in hives.”
“There’s been tremendous strides in allergy medicine these past few years, maybe you could try some of them. Then we could go riding and…”
A look of sheer terror came over her face and she shook her head. “I don’t think so. Thank you, but no.” She picked at her pasta and didn’t lift her eyes to meet his.
Grant was left to wonder if she was terrified of the idea of a second date with him or of the horses. Dinner dragged on forever but she did answer all the questions he asked. He only hoped they would be enough to get them through the rest of the evening.
“Have you ever been to the LoneStar?”
“No, but I know Teddy Weston from school. I heard his band was quite good.”
“If you’ve never heard Teddy sing, you’re in for a treat.”
A thankfully short time later, they left the restaurant and headed to the LoneStar.
He pulled into a parking spot in the full lot, noting immediately the bright red sports car parked in the no parking zone. He groaned as he climbed out and walked around to open the passenger door. Somehow he knew Trouble was going to enjoy this way too much.
****
Charli had tried not to watch the door. After meeting Abigail in person, she’d bet her next shot of whiskey that Grant would be coming in alone. The LoneStar on Saturday night just didn’t seem the type of place the small town librarian would enjoy.
When Grant finally walked in with Abigail close behind, Charli’s jaw dropped to her chest. She turned her chair in effort to see the couple without being obvious and only half-listened as Susan continued to rant about something Teddy did earlier in the day to offend her.
“Are you listening to me?” Susan sounded annoyed.
Charli jerked her head to indicate Grant. Susan’s head swiveled and Charli kicked her under the table. “Don’t look! Pretend we’re still talking.”
Susan picked up her glass and turned slightly. She raised her eyebrows and Charli grinned.
“I never thought he’d bring her here,” Susan muttered.
She watched as Grant settled Abigail at a table and moved to the bar. Charli stood up.
Susan’s eyes widened. “Where are you going?”
She picked up her Jack and Coke, took a long swallow and smoothed her hair into place. “I just want to get to know Grant’s friend a bit better.”
Fortune was with her when she noticed a long winded neighbor step up to the bar and began to talk. Grant would be tied up for a while, and she would have time for a little conversation with the other woman.
Grant’s date lifted her chin as she approached her table. Her hands were clenched on a small clutch purse and she darted a curious gaze around.
“Abigail Prestone? It is you, isn’t it?” Charli smiled and held out her hand.
The librarian frowned and searched her eyes, then smiled and shook Charli’s hand. “Oh yes, we met last week. You came into my library to look for information on our reading program.”
Charli slipped into the chair across from her without waiting for an invitation. “I’ve never seen you in here before. What brings you to the LoneStar?”
“I’m on a date.” Then her eyes widened and she leaned forward as if to share a secret. “You were looking for information on a vet, weren’t you? You’ll never guess who my date is!”
Charli leaned in and rested her chin on her hand. “Who?”
“Dr. Clark.” Abigail smiled and sat back in her chair.
Charli opened her eyes wide and formed her mouth into an O. She glanced around quickly and then back at the other woman. “Really? I thought you didn’t know him.”
Abigail glanced at Grant again and then back. She wet her lips. She doesn’t know what to say. Charli bit back a giggle. She’d been right all along. Grant didn’t know Abigail Prestone.
“Isn’t that a rather personal question?”
Charli shrugged. “I’m just saying; two days ago you acted like you didn’t know him and now tonight you’re at a honky tonk. Not really the type of place I would think you’d enjoy.”
“What do you mean? This event is for charity and Dr. Clark, er, Grant has a strong belief in helping the children’s home.”
“Yeah,” Charli dragged it out as if she didn’t quite agree and Abigail’s eyebrows shot up. Glancing towards the bar, she bit her lip as Grant narrowed his eyes in her direction. He didn’t look real happy to see his date talking to her. Charli turned her attention back to Abigail. “Listen, just be careful with him okay? Dr. Clark isn’t quite as innocent as he likes to pretend.”
The other woman’s mouth opened and then closed. “What do you mean?” She leaned forward. “He’s not dangerous is he?”
Charli leaned back. “Only to your emotions, honey. He’s a heart breaker that one. Or so I’ve heard. I mean, I’m just repeating what other women have told me.” She waved her hand. “A girl doesn’t need that kind of pain.”
“Really? He seems so nice.”
“Personally, between you and me”—Charli bent in and Abigail leaned forward—“I’ve been told he gets what he wants from a woman and then walks. It’s a game to him to see if he can bring a woman to her knees, figuratively speaking of course. Then when she’s hooked, he walks away.”
Abigail gasped and shook her head. “I’m sure that’s just talk. Gossip is such poison.”
Charli blinked, looked down, then back up at Abigail with what she hoped was hurt. “I’m speaking from experience.”
The librarian gasped. “What? But you said you didn’t even know him.”
Charli sniffled and brushed at imaginary tears on her cheeks. “I know, I’m sorry for deceiving you. I had been told he was interested in someone who worked at the library. Seeing as you were the prettiest one there, I figured out it had to be you, and I was snooping. I’m not proud of it.” She dropped her face in her hands and drew several deep breaths. “I just had to see the competition; to find out what he didn’t see in me. I know I’m not a beauty queen but still…” She leaned back and gestured to her body. “I try to make the most of my assets.”
The other woman’s eyes softened with sympathy. “May I offer you some advice?”
Charli shrugged. “Why not.
“Well first, forget about him. He’s not worth your time, or mine.” Her eyes narrowed and her gaze fired across the room towards him. “Second, and I hope I don’t offend, but I think maybe it’s the way you dress that makes him think he can do whatever he wants.”
Charli leaned back. “You think this outfit is bad?” She looked down at her low slung, brown leather pants. They were hand-made only for her in Italy just last year. Her gold lame top hung freely on her body, held up by a tiny clip at the back of her neck and a thin gold chain hooked at her waist.
“I should never have listened to Susan. She said this top was hot.”
“Susan Sampson? Well, there you go. She lives in New York. What do you expect? They probably dress like that all the time there.”
“What else? How about my hair? Is that okay? I mean, it’s kind of wild.” She lifted the heavy curls off her neck and pulled them to the side, examining the length.
Abigail tipped her head. “I think it’s untamed, but not too bad. Maybe if you cut it shorter. You can’t do anything about the color…I mean, oh I’m sorry. Please don’t take offense, sometimes I go too far.”
“Are you kidding?” Charli reached across the table and grabbed her hands. “I’m grateful for whatever you can offer me as advice. Maybe we could have lunch sometime or do some shopping. I think I’m ready to change, mend my ways and all that.”
Abigail nodded and squeezed her hands. “It’ll be okay. You’ll be fine. But don’t change for him. He’s not worth your time. You need to change so that the next man you meet takes you more seriously.”
Charli nodded and slid her glance to where Grant was making his way toward them. “Excuse me, I think I’ll just make a trip to the ladies room and powder my nose.”
Grant finally got away from the chatty neighbor and was able to cross the bar to where Abigail sat just as the redheaded troublemaker left. He knew before he sat his date’s iced tea in front of her that Charli had said something to upset Abigail. The glare in her eyes made him feel as if he’d just crawled out from under a rock.
“Everything okay?” he asked cautiously, sitting across from her.
“You, sir, are a cad.” She lifted her chin and glared from behind her thick glasses.
Grant glanced towards the restrooms where Trouble had escaped. “Something wrong?”
“You have some nerve! Did you really think you could have your cake and eat it too?” She stood, her body visibly shaking. Her eyes flashed and her words were distinct, sharp, and to the point. “I’m telling you right now, Dr. Clark, there will not be any cake eating tonight.”
Grant stood up and reached his hand out toward her. “Abigail, please sit down. I don’t know what you‘re talking about or what Charli told you.”
“How dare you speak to me of her. You have some serious growing up to do.”
“What are you talking about? Please. Let’s sit down and talk.”
She grabbed her sweater off the back of the chair. “This evening is over.”
Grant hung his head. He knew there wasn’t any reason for it, but whatever Charli had told Abigail had to be pretty bad. “I’ll drive you home.”
Abigail bristled. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you. I will call a cab.”
Before he could argue, Cord suddenly appeared at their side. “Everything okay? Abigail, something wrong?”
His date glared for a few seconds longer and then turned to the other man. “I’m in need of a cab. Would you be so kind as to call one for me?”
Cord glanced at Grant and he met his curious stare. He shrugged. “We were out for the evening but she doesn’t want to ride home with me.”
Cord turned back to the librarian. “If it’s okay with you, Abigail, I was leaving anyway. I’ll get you home.”
Grant pulled out his keys. “Do you want the car?”
Cord nodded. “Yeah, here take my truck home.” He switched keys. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Part of him was annoyed that Cord thought he needed a talking to as if he was one of his brothers, but right now, with his date looking as if she wanted to throw her iced tea in his face, he was happy to let the other man deal with her.
He watched them leave, Cord’s hand gently guiding Abigail politely through the bar as everyone stared. He didn’t think too many people had heard their conversation, but they were all curious as to what was going on. He sat down, picked up his drink and took a long swallow before remembering it was only iced tea. He wiped his mouth with his arm and watched the ladies room door.
As soon as he dealt with the redheaded thorn in his side, he was going to get himself a stiff drink.
The minute she emerged he was on his feet. His gaze took in the form fitting pants, the silky gold top and the voluptuous breasts that swung behind the material. His guts twisted with need and ache. God she was something else. Even as furious as he was with her, he wanted her. She walked from the ladies room toward the bar as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Her long hair cascaded around her. He pushed down his desire, ignoring the way his body throbbed at the sight of her. Tonight she’d gone too far. He wanted to know what she’d said to Abigail to cause her to be so angry and so disgusted with him.
At the wedding, she’d declared she didn’t play games. But she’d been playing him since the night they met right here at the LoneStar, and it had to stop.
He was losing his mind. He couldn’t think straight when she was around. When she wasn’t around, she was in his dreams. Erotic dreams that wrapped his senses up in a perpetual state of frustrated arousal.
Even when he tried to go on with a normal life and date someone respectable, she had to interfere. True, there’d been some times when his actions might have been in direct opposition to what his mouth said, but it was time for all of it to stop. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Time to take the gloves off.
If he wanted her to truly leave him alone, he’d have to get rough. He grimaced—somehow he suspected she’d like that even better.
As Charli reached the bar and before she could order, he stepped up next to her and wrapped his hand around her soft upper arm. Her head flipped around to look first at his hand and then at him.
“Outside. Now.”