Kitty Valentine Dates a Cowboy, page 13
“I almost wish they would,” he growls before scooting me closer to the edge of the sofa, pushing my dress up around my hips.
Yes, there’s definitely something to be said for the threat of being discovered.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“It’s so thoughtful of you to take the time to fly to New York with me. It’s nice to not have to fly commercial and have the plane all to ourselves.”
Paxton looks over from his seat across from mine. “It’s nothing. I want to spend as much time with you as I can.”
“I know you’re so busy at the office.”
“All that matters to me today is being with you. You think it’s easy for me, knowing I’m leaving you all alone in the big city?”
“Have you forgotten that I’ve lived in the big city my entire life?” I give him a teasing smile. “If anything, I was in more danger at the ranch.”
He doesn’t see the humor in that, his expression turning stony. “You know how terrible I feel about that.”
“You have nothing to feel terrible about! Accidents happen. Besides, I still had a lot of fun. I’ll have to practice my lasso tricks when I’m stuck on a scene. Usually, I revert to rearranging my books or scrubbing the grout in the bathroom. I need something new to distract me.”
He motions for me to join him, pulling me into his lap. “When’s the next time you can come out?”
Thank God. I was hoping he would ask me that. “What would be a good time for you? I’ll be working all this week, but I might be able to carve some time out of the weekend so long as I’m a good girl and get my pages done.”
“Next weekend is your birthday though, isn’t it?”
My heart sinks. “Of course. I completely forgot. I’m dreading it because my grandmother wants to throw me a party.”
He toys with a strand of my hair. “Why? The way you talked about her, I thought you got along very well.”
“Oh, I love her to pieces, but our styles don’t exactly match. I told her I don’t want one of her big, fancy parties—like the one your father threw the other night. She had a party like that for herself when she turned seventy-five. I always get overwhelmed at those large gatherings.”
He wears a thoughtful expression while his hand roams up and down my leg. He promised to take me to dinner tonight, before flying back to Texas, and as such, we’re both dressed up. I’m wearing one of the dresses I brought with me while he’s in a suit I would love to tear from him with my teeth.
Then again, as we proved in the powder room last night, we don’t need to strip naked to have a good time.
I can now check quickie in the powder room during a fancy birthday party in a mansion off my bucket list.
“You know, if she’s so dead set on having a party for you, it’s only because she loves you. She wants to show you how much you mean to her.”
“I know,” I grumble. “And I know it makes me sound childish.”
“No, just determined to have your own way.” He nuzzles my neck. “Sounds familiar.”
We haven’t really talked about what happened last night. About the girl, Lana, and exactly how he plans to ignore his father’s wishes.
I did a little digging into the family name on my phone after he fell asleep.
Her father and Paxton’s are old friends. And, yes, their company is enormous, spanning not only the southern half of the country, but several South American countries as well.
They’re loaded, in other words, and much more the sort of people Mr. Cleary wants his son involved with.
The man didn’t even bother acknowledging me the entire night. Message received.
But here’s his son, determined to have his way. On one hand, it’s flattering. On the other, I feel guilty.
“What’s troubling you?” Paxton strokes my cheek with the backs of his fingers, returning me to the present moment.
“The fact that I’m stupid enough to worry about anything else when I’m here with you right now.”
He checks his watch. “You think we have enough time to make out for a while before we land?”
“Only one way to find out.”
As it turns out, we did, and I even have time to fix my makeup before descending the stairs.
“I have to admit, you spoiled me. I don’t know if I’ll be able to travel in any other way ever again.”
“Good!” He looks very pleased with himself as he helps me into the back of the limousine waiting for us. “You deserve to be spoiled.”
“So? Where are we headed?” I have to admit, being back in the city has me feeling more myself. Seeing that familiar skyline out the window as we approach fills my heart with a sense of relief, belonging.
“There’s a club overlooking Central Park that I’ve heard good things about. Do you like jazz?”
“I love it.”
“Good. I thought you might like the idea.” His phone buzzes, and he looks down at it, smiling at the message. “I think it will be a good time.”
Only, when we arrive, the place looks dark.
“You sure it’s open?”
“It should be. I made a reservation.” He takes my hand, and we walk to the front door together.
“I don’t think we should try to go in. Maybe something happened, or maybe somebody got sick.”
I might as well not be talking. He opens the door—it’s not locked, and that somehow only makes me more nervous.
There are people inside though. I can hear them.
And in another moment, I can see them.
“Surprise!”
The lights go on all at once, and I find myself faced with a roomful of people I know.
“Happy birthday a week early.” Paxton hugs me from behind, chuckling in my ear.
I take in the sight of my grandmother, Peter, Hayley, and her sister, Kylie, and her husband, Zack. There’s their brother, Brandon, looking like he’s ready to party. Even Maggie and Lois are here. Lois looks like she would rather be asleep, but then again, she normally looks like that.
And there’s Matt.
My stomach threatens to do a full flip when our eyes meet. He only smiles, applauding like everybody else is.
“I rented out the whole club for the night. It’s all about you.”
I crane my neck to look up at him, gasping. “Are you serious?”
“And that’s not all of it. You’ll see.” He kisses my cheek before letting me go, so I can hug Grandmother.
“You didn’t want me to do something like this, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t let someone else do it.” She hugs me, patting my back. “Happy birthday, dear.”
“I don’t know what to think!”
They pretty much pass me around, everybody taking turns to hug me and laugh at how surprised I was.
A single, long table sits close to a dance floor. A live jazz band begins to play soft music while we’re served drinks and appetizers from silver trays.
“How did this happen?” I whisper to Hayley once I manage to pull her away from Paxton. I can tell she’s slightly smitten with him, much the way Maggie is. My editor is practically salivating.
“Somehow, he got my number. Some people know how to find what they want to find. He asked me to get everybody together.”
“Did you try to convince him that I didn’t want anything fancy?”
“I didn’t want to look ungrateful—and neither should you,” she whispers. “By the way, you look awesome. I guess a week on the ranch did wonders for you, huh?”
“Like I didn’t tell you I got thrown from a horse.”
“Yeah, but it looks as though you bounced back pretty well.” She drops a broad wink before going over to hang out with her brother and sister.
Grandmother and Peter are chatting with Lois while Maggie practically hangs off Paxton like a pendant.
I find Matt at the bar, by himself. Why did he come? He’s the last person I would expect to find here. Should I go over and say something? No, that might look a little obvious.
“Excuse me. I just need to get some air.” I give Paxton what I hope is a reassuring smile before stepping out onto the terrace overlooking much of the park.
I wish my heart would stop pounding. The surprise is long over—and really, I should’ve seen it coming. When he was talking about it on the jet, I should’ve guessed he had something in mind. But nothing could have prepared me for this.
Dammit, why is Matt here? It’s torturous, knowing what I know, knowing he sees Paxton and me together. Maybe I should’ve tried to talk to him when he got home on Sunday, but I was a coward. It’s not like I could’ve guessed he would end up at my surprise birthday party a week later.
“So, how did the ranch treat you?”
I close my eyes at the sound of Matt's voice. He’s standing behind me and off to the side. I can hear the ice rattling in his glass. Well, he didn’t confront me; he’s not being rude or mean, so I guess I should follow his lead.
“Would it surprise you if I described being thrown from a horse?”
“Not a bit.”
“In my defense, there was a rattlesnake, and the horse reared. Paxton shot the snake before it could hurt us or the horses.”
“What a hero.”
I grit my teeth and shoot him a dirty look. “Could you not tonight? Please? Whatever has to be settled between us can be settled after this.”
Matt looks confused. “What needs to be settled between us?”
What am I supposed to do with that? I’m still struggling to formulate a response when he nods, his mouth falling open.
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. I’m trying to be sensitive to your feelings here.”
“Since when?”
“What did I just ask you?”
“Sorry, you’re right.” He sighs, staring into his glass.
The lights from a dozen buildings around us illuminate his profile. I tell myself not to stare, but I can’t help it. Now that he opened the door by kissing me, these thoughts are bound to pop up in my head. Like, what it would be like to wake up next to him in the morning and run my fingers over his scruffy cheek.
He lifts a shoulder, his eyes still downcast. “I was all messed up. I’ve got to come clean with you and say, I still don’t trust him. I’m sorry. I see how much he likes you, but there’s more to it than that. He’s a complicated person. And I guess, I don’t know, I got overly protective. Maybe, deep down inside, I thought I could make you change your mind, make you decide to forget about him. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
I try to process this while the rest of the party goes on behind us. I should be in there, shouldn’t I? But I can’t leave Matt out here either. Not yet.
Especially not when, for some strange reason, his explanation leaves me a little crestfallen. “So, I didn’t, like, lead you on in any way?”
“Oh no! No, not at all. I don’t want you to think that.”
I guess that should make me feel better, shouldn’t it? It should come as a relief. So, why don’t I feel very relieved?
“I’m glad you’re here,” I decide to say, and I mean it. “Somebody’s got to help me get through being the center of attention.”
“There you are!” Paxton joins us—or rather, joins me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind like he did inside. He’s followed by everybody else, all of them arranging themselves on the terrace.
“What’s going on?” I ask, a little apprehensive again.
“Watch and see.” He points out toward the park. “Just one little birthday present.”
Suddenly, the sky is on fire. Red, gold, blue, green. An entire fireworks show just for me.
“I don’t believe it!” And I don’t, I can’t, even though it’s right here in front of me.
Everybody oohs and aahs at the right moments. I look around at my grandmother, Peter, my best friend, and her family. I see delight on their faces, and I’m glad.
Only one person doesn’t look as impressed.
When the show is over, when everybody files back into the club, where dinner is about to be served, Matt leans in and murmurs just loud enough for me to hear, “Looks like you got your happy ending—finally.”
And for some reason, that makes me want to cry.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“That was one hell of a party.” Maggie sounds hungover, three days later.
“I have to agree.”
“And now that I’ve met that man of yours in person, I can’t help but picture him in all of these spicy scenes you wrote. Did you really have sex in the hot tub?”
I close my eyes and cringe. What would he think if he knew Maggie was talking about him this way? Knowing she was imagining him when she read scenes I’d written between my hero and heroine?
She doesn’t let me come up with a response before continuing, “Honestly, you should include a picture of him on the cover. We’d outsell every book you’ve written so far.”
“If you think he’s swoonworthy in a suit, you should see him in cowboy boots on horseback.”
“No doubt. I can’t believe that you didn’t take any pictures for me.”
“Okay, now, you sound like a stalker.”
She chuckles like I’m kidding. “Did you receive the pictures I sent you from your party?”
“I did, and I’ve already posted a couple of them on social media. Don’t worry; I’m not slacking.”
“Good. So, you think you’ll have the rest of the book finished this week or next?”
“Uh, this week. I know I’m probably jinxing myself by saying this, but this one has gone easier than all the others.” I rap my knuckles against the desk, just in case.
“Would it be too clichéd of me to make a comment about things being right?”
“Maybe a little.”
“I’m going to say it anyway. That man is clearly crazy about you. You’d better lock this down while you still have a chance.”
“You are such a romantic.”
“Laugh all you want,” she sighs. “What I’m telling you comes from a woman with experience. When you find a man who looks at you the way Paxton Cleary does, you sink your hooks into him, and you don’t let go. I mean, the man rented out the entire club for the night. He arranged a fireworks show. He hired professional dancers for entertainment. Top-shelf liquor all night. And the food!”
“It was delicious. I can’t imagine how much he must’ve spent on that.”
“He obviously thinks you’re worth it—and I don’t disagree.”
“I’m glad you could be there.”
“So am I. Now, get to work, young lady.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
No sooner do I end the call though than something distracts me. A text message. A text message involving a picture.
A picture of Paxton’s bare chest and abs, the frame cutting off just above the happy trail leading further south.
Even this is enough to make me want to fan myself. I can’t help but remember the times we’ve had so far, what his skin tasted like. How it felt to let my fingers trace his muscles.
Naughty boy, I reply. What are you trying to do? Distract me so I’ll never get any work done?
He replies immediately. I was hoping you would reciprocate actually.
My teeth sink into my lip. What, you want to see a picture of my stomach?
Maybe something a little further north, if you don’t mind much.
The man is like a walking, talking aphrodisiac. I can’t help myself. I’m so wrapped up in him, in the excitement of being wanted by him.
Which is why I send him a shot of my cleavage. Sorry, you’re just going to have to fantasize about the rest until we’re together again. I add a bunch of suggestive emojis before sending it over.
No fair. Give a man something to live off of until then.
It’s tempting, but I have my limits. I’ve seen too many people’s reputations ruined by sexts to give photos away like they’re candy. You’re just going to have to use your imagination. Anticipation makes things so much better later on, don’t you think?
You’re killing me—and I love it.
I wish I could stop giggling. I need to get my head in the game, get this book finished.
My characters are reaching their critical moment—when it seems all hope is lost and they can’t be together anymore. Only in this case, it’s the poor heroine’s family and friends who don’t think things could ever work out between her and the wealthy cowboy. They don’t want to lose her, don’t want to see her live a different sort of life that will take her away from them.
And sadly, because she thinks they need her—her parents are still alive but older and somewhat dependent on her—she is willing to give him up even if it means giving up the closest thing she’s ever found to happiness.
Cracking my knuckles, I launch into the scene.
“I don’t understand this. What are you telling me? We were so happy before, but now …”
She shook her head, fighting back tears. One of them had to be strong, and it was going to have to be her. Because it was for the best. She didn’t belong in his world, and he didn’t belong in hers. How could she possibly hope to live up to the expectations a member of his world shouldered on a daily basis?
“We both know this can’t work permanently. It’s time we stop lying to ourselves.”
“Why do you keep using the word we, like any of this is something I want too? Don’t I get a say in any of it?” He turned his hat around and around in his hands by the brim, curling it up at the edges a little bit and probably ruining it.
Why that should matter so much to her just then was a mystery she didn’t have time to solve.
“I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am. But this was never meant to last, right? This was fun, but that’s all it was—fun. We would never make it.”
“Says who? I don’t feel that way.”
He was killing her. Didn’t he know he was killing her? Why did he insist on making this so much harder than it already was?
“I don’t have to like it, but I know it’s right. Please, if you care about me at all, you’ll accept this. Our worlds don’t match. There’s no way we could be happy in the long-term.”
