One Wild Texas Night, page 11
She wondered if she was already in love with him. She couldn’t think about it rationally when she was in his arms with his hands drifting over her.
He held her close now, still running his fingers over her.
“Claire, I want you to stay while you get your house rebuilt. You don’t have a home on your ranch or any outbuildings, and you can’t throw up a tent until that land is cleared of debris. Stay here with me. That will give us some time together, because when you go back, when we step back into our regular lives, you know our lives won’t be the same as they are now.”
She shook her head. “No, they won’t be the same. And I don’t think you’ve thought through your invitation to me,” she said, smiling at him. “I can’t get a new house thrown up in a few weeks. That project will take months.”
“I know what I’m asking,” he said solemnly, and her heart thumped. Stunned by the unexpected invitation to stay a long time with him, she gazed into his dark eyes while her heart beat faster at the thought of weeks in his arms, in his bed, making love often.
“I’ll have to think about that one,” she answered quietly. “If I stay a long time with you, it will become known in these parts. That could cause an uproar with all my relatives. It could cut me out of my family. I don’t want that to happen. I’m trying to reconnect with them. I have to think about that. It’s not going to go over well with your family, either. I know you have relatives in Texas, although not close to here, and you know that I do also.”
“We run a risk, but I don’t think my family will cut me out.”
“I don’t want to lose my family, but they probably saw my house burn on television. They might yield a little because of my losses. I can’t guess. I’ll have to think about the risk I take. Also, my brothers may try to catch you alone where they can beat you up for letting me stay here.”
“Let me worry about that one. I’ll be careful, and I’m not scared of your brothers.”
“On the other hand, I need to be near my property to rebuild. I don’t have another place to stay. This is perfect for me to work with the contractors on building a new house.”
Her breath stilled as she thought of another reason to rethink staying at Jake’s cabin.
“Then there’s another risk if I stay. I want to say yes right now, while at the same time, common sense tells me if I stay with you and we keep making love, I’ll never want to leave you. I’ll fall so deeply in love with you, my heart will break when we part. I don’t know. I have to give your offer thought before I answer.”
“Think about it. I don’t think you’ll fall in love. You’re incredibly independent, accustomed to running your own ranch. You’ll just go back to your regular routine.”
She suspected he was describing himself and his reactions to staying with someone he had had sex with and then said goodbye.
“I’m not sure you know what you’re asking. It’s none of my business, so if you don’t want to answer, don’t. My guess is that you’ve never invited someone to stay with you that long.”
He shook his head. “No, I haven’t, but it’s different this time. You don’t even have a house. You’ll be gone a lot on your ranch, supervising and working and just here at night—the best time and when I’m home. You’re damn independent or you wouldn’t be living over there alone and running that ranch. I think we can work it out, and if we can’t, we’ll change the arrangements.”
She smiled. “You promise to ask me to leave if you get tired of me?”
He gazed back solemnly. “I can’t imagine asking you to leave for a long time. I’m not a marrying man, Claire, but I want you here with me. And for the record, I don’t think you’re a marrying woman, either.”
She shook her head as she smiled. “Not to a Reed. You’re safe there, Jake. I’ve told you my feelings on that, and I know you wouldn’t ever want to marry a Blake. You lost a brother because of his marriage to a Blake. I lost a sister. So you’re right. I won’t want to marry you. But that doesn’t mean I won’t fall in love with you and end up with a broken heart.”
“I think you’re safe on that one after what you just told me. So you’ll stay?” he asked, staring intently at her and sounding as if he really wanted her at his house on his ranch. She was shocked and stared at him while she thought about it.
“I don’t have anywhere to go except Dallas, and I need to be out here right now to get things back into a routine. I’ll stay here if you will promise—absolutely be honest about it—that you will tell me to leave if you want me out of here.”
“I promise,” he said instantly, smiling at her and sounding happy, as if she had just given him a wonderful gift. She gazed at him and wondered about what she was getting into. If they fit together as well the rest of the time as they had the past twenty-four hours, she wouldn’t want to leave. At the same time, she wouldn’t ever want to marry him, because that would be a disaster.
Another thought hit her. Could Jake fall in love with her? Was he so certain his heart was safe, and he couldn’t be hurt, or were they both going to end up heartbroken?
Nine
A few hours later, Claire faced Jake and knew she would never view him the same way she had before they made love too many times to count. Her feelings about him had made a monumental change. Could they stay on a friendly basis? How much would their lovemaking improve their neighborly relationship? How much did she care about him now?
She glanced over at the clock and gasped. “Jake, do you know that it’s after three in the afternoon?” she said, turning to him as he rolled over to face her and prop his head on his hand. As he smiled at her, she brushed locks of black hair off his forehead.
“I don’t really care what time it is. I don’t want to leave this bedroom yet. This has been fabulous,” he said.
“It’s time, Jake. We’ve been here all night and all morning, going into the afternoon. It’s been fabulous, but it’s time to go back into our real world, back to the problems, because I really want to go into town and get some clothes.”
“I know you’re right.” He placed his hand on her arm lightly. “Before we go, I have a question—actually an invitation. We’re having a celebration. It’s a thank-you dinner Saturday night in Dallas for people who contributed to rebuilding the arena. My cousins and I made a generous donation, and I want you to go with me.”
A cold chill suddenly ran down her spine as the world intruded on their idyll.
“We’re naked in bed together—I don’t think you thought that invitation through. I would love to go with you, but how can we go out in public in Dallas? We could easily run into Reeds or Blakes and all hell would break loose. Besides, it will stir things up for some locals to see a Reed out with a Blake, and you know it. We can ignore some things, but there’s no reason to go asking for trouble and for you to take me to an event. I think that’s looking for trouble. Worse, disaster.”
He shook his head. “This dinner should be okay. They’ve had several of these thank-you get-togethers, where they report on the progress of the construction, and my cousins have never once come. It’s a small group going to a private club, and we’ll be in our own room. There’s a chance to run into relatives, but it isn’t likely. Like I said, I don’t remember any Blakes or Reeds that will be at this shindig. We’ll just go in my limo, be shut away in a private room and then get back into the limo to go to my apartment in Dallas. The chances are slim.”
“And you’re willing to take that risk?” she asked.
“I want to take you, so yes, I’m willing to take the risk. I don’t think it’s likely I’ll see any relatives. Frankly, I don’t see many of my relatives in Dallas. They’re more in Amarillo and scattered in smaller towns, and they don’t go to Dallas a lot. There’s always that chance we’ll see someone, but I think we can deal with it. I’m willing to take the risk and live the way I want to live. It should be a fun evening, and you seemed interested in the arena.” As he talked, his fingers ran over her arm and the back of her hand. Then he moved his hand to caress the nape of her neck. Each light caress kept her thoughts on him more than thinking about going out with him and the problems that could mean.
“You know I want to go with you,” she admitted honestly.
“Good. So, you’ll do it. I’ll try to see to it that you have a fun evening,” he drawled, and she smiled, shaking her head.
“It didn’t take you long to talk me into it. Before we go to the party, though, I really should spend a day in Dallas. I need something to wear, I need my hair done—you know, girl stuff. I’m going to have to get a new pickup and a new car sometime, but I want to go to Dallas for that, too, and I can’t go today.”
“We can go to Dallas Thursday or Friday and stay in my apartment. I’ll get my pilot to fly us to Dallas. You can get ready and do what you want to do during the day. Just leave the nights for me.”
“Let’s go on Thursday, and I can get some business done,” she said, amazed to be planning her life and including him in it. “I’ll make appointments, because I have to see about the insurance and a lot of things on clearing my land and rebuilding my ranch house and replacing my vehicles. We moved a lot of things before the fire, so it shouldn’t be too much. We’ve got a routine for emergencies and it worked to save a lot of equipment. Trouble is, you can’t move everything. I can get my pickup, and then you won’t have to drive me around.”
“Come here,” he said in a husky voice, reaching out to lift her closer against him as he wrapped his arms around her. Held against his nude body, looking into his sexy, long-lashed dark eyes, she forgot about the weekend, the problems, the things she needed to do. She just wanted his kisses, his loving, their bodies joined. The more they kissed and made love, the more she wanted him. Would she fall in love with him?
If she did, he would break her heart, because she was certain Jake wasn’t falling in love. He wanted hot sex, endless hours of loving, but she suspected part of him was locked away, not to be shared, and he wasn’t ever going to be in love. And if the impossible happened and he fell in love with her, that would disrupt both their lives and tear them away from their families. She didn’t want that, either. There was no good solution to a relationship with him. And she knew she better face that fact and keep a realistic outlook with realistic expectations. Getting involved with Jake Reed meant disaster whatever way she went.
No matter how fabulous and exciting sex was between them, how compatible they had become, at some point, they would have to say goodbye.
* * *
“I think it’s time for me to dress—in my same old jeans and in one of your T-shirts. Then let’s go into Persimmon and get me some other clothes.”
“Whenever you’re ready,” Jake replied, though if he had his choice, he’d keep Claire naked and in bed for the rest of the day and into the night. “I will say, those jeans you’ve been wearing still look mighty good on you,” he added with a wink.
“Thank you. But I’m ready for new ones. Now, what are we going to do about riding into town together—a Blake and a Reed in the same car? That will turn everyone upside down.”
“I’ll drop you off at my uncle Bernard’s hardware store. The family avoids it unless they desperately need some hardware because he’s such a grump.”
“He is that, I’ll agree, but I figured it was just with my family. That’s kind of funny that he is with his own family. Well, he’ll still see us and spread the word.”
“He might, but it’s unlikely. He doesn’t pay attention until someone corners him and says they want to buy something.”
She smiled and nodded. “Okay. We’ll see what happens. I suppose you’ll pick me up there, too.”
“Might as well. I’ll be parked and waiting if you can give me an approximate time.”
“Sure. Give me an hour.”
“That’s not a lot of time.”
“Persimmon isn’t a big place, and they’re limited on what they have. It won’t take long because I’m not particular and I’m a fast shopper. Just in case, an hour and fifteen minutes.”
“Sounds good to me. Like Scotty’s Burgers? If you do, I’ll have two when I come get you.”
“That would be nice. Now I need to get dressed.”
“Can I help?”
She smiled as she shook her head. “I think not. We might not get to town at all if you help.”
“Might not, but I’ll bet you’d have more fun.”
“I can’t argue that one,” she said as she wiggled away.
He put his hands behind his head to watch her as she got out of bed. She was nude, gorgeous, and he wanted her again. She yanked the top sheet off the bed, wrapped herself in it quickly and started out of the room as he reached for her, but she did a quick step and dodged his hand.
“Claire, come here,” he coaxed in a husky voice.
She shook her head. “No, no. We’re sticking to our plan. You promised to take me to Persimmon for clothes, and we’re not putting that off any longer. We’ve already made love for hours. See you on the porch.” She rushed out of his room and closed the door behind her.
Smiling, he got up to take a cold shower. He needed it. They had made love for hours, but he couldn’t get enough of her, and the sight of her nude made him want her just as much as if they hadn’t loved at all.
That was a new one for him. In fact, he thought, several things about her were different from his experiences with other women. Not being able to get enough of her was one. He wanted her even more now than he had before their first kiss. And, he didn’t want her to go home—in this case, she didn’t have her ranch home to go back to, so he might get that wish. Claire wasn’t like any other woman he had ever known—independent, a rancher and a damn good one. On top of that, she just might be the sexiest woman he had ever known—that was the real shocker.
Just thinking about her made him want to go find her and peel her out of her clothes and make love again before they left for town. He knew she wouldn’t go for it, but that’s what he would like to do, and he was shocked by his own feelings. How much was she going to tie him up in knots and change his life?
* * *
After an hour in Persimmon, Claire went back to where they agreed to meet. She had new jeans, new socks and sneakers, new underwear and T-shirts in bags and boxes. She saw Jake sitting in the driver’s seat of his pickup, his feet on the dash, his head back on the seat.
She put her head in the open window and leaned close to his ear. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty, I’m back,” she whispered.
As his eyes opened, his arm slipped around her shoulders. He pulled her closer.
“Jake—” she started to protest. He drew her head down, covered her mouth with his and ended whatever she had been about to say.
His tongue stroked hers, and she forgot everything else, forgetting where she was, what she had been doing, everything except Jake, his mouth on hers in a kiss that made her want to keep on kissing. Finally, she wiggled away slightly, but he kept his arm around her.
“Jake, wait—we’re on Main Street. Do you want all our relatives to know we have a truce? And they will hear about it.”
“I think you started this,” he said in a lazy drawl. “Get in this pickup with me and I’ll finish it,” he added, making her want him more than ever, even though she laughed.
“I should have known better than to walk up and whisper in your ear like that,” she told him. He opened his arms, and she slipped away, walking around to get into the passenger side.
“My brothers will hear about us,” she said as she buckled her seat belt, “so watch your back.”
“I promise you—I’m not scared of your brothers. I’ll take one of my cowboys as a bodyguard,” he smiled.
“I’m serious! Please be careful. I’m sure someone saw us.”
“You didn’t buy anything?” he asked, sitting up.
She motioned to the back seat, and he glanced over his shoulder. “Ahh, that should do it for a couple of days.” His gaze went over her. “Nice duds. You look great.”
She laughed. “Thank you, but I’m wearing the same clothes I wore when we came to town. Those new ones get washed first. Anyway, for now, I’m finished shopping.”
“You were speedy. I brought the burgers about ten minutes before you arrived. Do you want to go to the park and eat them or just sit here in the car?”
“The park. Unless there are lots of people there. Let’s go see. It’s a pretty day, and we can sit under a tree and I can enjoy my burger.”
“I can think of some more fun things to do, but for that I suspect you would want more privacy than the park would provide.”
“Yes, I think so,” she said, smiling at him.
“And then back to my ranch,” he said, starting his pickup.
“Yes, you’ll still have a houseguest.” Even as she said the words, she couldn’t help thinking that she should just go to Dallas, get out of his ranch house, away from him. But once again, she thought how much easier it would be if she stayed at his place to meet people when they came out to keep all the appointments she had set up for the construction of her new ranch house and buildings. She already had four appointments.
“It’s easier for you to get things done on your ranch if you’re staying on mine, right there next to yours instead of driving out from Dallas every time,” he said as if he knew what she was thinking.
“Oh yes. It’s a lot more convenient,” she answered. But she couldn’t deny the truth she felt deep inside. There was another reason she wanted to stay with him: she wanted to be with Jake, in his arms again. Because she knew that’s what would happen when they got back home.
* * *
On Thursday they flew to Dallas and Jake took Claire to her house, a large two-story in an old part of town. The area was full of multimillion-dollar mansions that had increased in value through the years and still boasted choice properties with large tree-shaded lawns, carefully tended flowerbeds and quiet streets. “Want to come inside and see my home?” she asked when the limo he’d hired pulled into her drive.
