Chapter 4
He tasted the stew and lifted his head to stare at her in surprise. “This is actually very good.”
Her tapered brows rose as she took a spoonful. “I should be offended at your reaction, but I’m not. Cooking soothes me. I don’t do it very often, but when I do, I am very good at it. I come from a family of chefs.”
“And yet you are a food critic.”
Her lips curved into a smile that had the heat curling in his lower body. “I like to set my own path.” Tilting her head to the left, she studied the tanned face. The warmth of the cabin had dried his skin and his hair was curling in riotous disorder around his face. “You, on the other hand, have followed tradition to become a rancher.”
“Yes.” He found himself relaxing and wondered if it was the woman or the meal or even the coziness of the cabin. “Ranching is in my blood.”
“You never entertained the idea of doing anything else?”
He shook his head, a smile touching his stern lips and drawing her attention to them. She was wondering if she should try and get him in bed tonight or wait. “I learned to ride before I could walk. It left no doubt in anyone’s mind that I was going to take over from my dad.”
She reached for a glass of water and took a sip. “How difficult is it?”
“Ranching?”
She nodded.
“You’re at it from dawn till dusk and beyond that. You spend most of the time either on a horse or in a jeep. I would say it’s pretty difficult for someone who has no love for it.” He was surprised he was even telling her this much.
“But you love it.”
“I do!” He lapsed into silence and looked into his bowl, surprised to see that he had finished the stew.
“Seconds?”
“No.” He shook his head and looked out the window. “The storm has abated.”
“It has.”
“I should get going.”
“I should say something like – it’s too late for you to be going anywhere.” Her eyes drifted over his face and settled on his lips, giving him heart palpitations. “Or pretend to be a damsel in distress and ask you to stay.”
Heat spread over his entire body and for a few seconds he could not say anything. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he pushed back the chair with unnecessary force and stumbled to his feet.
“I think we both know you’re nothing of the sort.” His voice was harsh, his face rigid. “And I do not like being propositioned. We’re a small town and this kind of behavior is not appreciated.”
Pushing back her chair, she rose and came towards him. His first instinct was to turn tail and run as far and as fast as possible, but he forced himself stay where he was.
“What kind of behavior would that be?” She had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.
“I don’t play games.” He stood still as she spread her hands over his chest.
“Perhaps it’s time you started.” She was amusing herself at his expense, but that was not all. There was something about the man that had her ditching her resolve not to get involved. She was not promiscuous, but she was not a prude either.
The fact was that as soon as she laid eyes on him that night, she felt something stirring inside her. His determination to fight it only made him even more irresistible. With her eyes trained on his, she started to unbutton his shirt, dropping her gaze to the wide area of a smooth chest and tanned to a golden brown, muscles flexing.
“My, my, what do we have here.” Her fingers edged towards the small brown nipples and had him sucking in his breath. For a fraction of a minute, he considered shoving her away and getting the hell out, but the decision and the power to make rational ones had been taken from him.
With a snarl, he gripped her hands and shoved her back against the wall. With one hand cupping the back of her neck, he lifted her face and lowered his. He waited a beat as if undecided, before bending his head and taking what she was so blatantly offering. Her lips were soft and sweet and addictive.
His first taste had him reeling. Crushing his lips to hers, he parted hers with his tongue, bruising the softness and swallowing her moan. His free hand raced down to her hips and then to her derriere, lifting her against his rigid arousal.
Something primal exploded inside him as she moved her body against his. The tenuous control he was holding onto snapped completely. Grinding his body against hers, he deepened the kiss, almost gulping her down. A groan escaped him when she flung her arms around his neck.
Her small breasts – Jesus! Unfettered breasts, he could feel the nipples branding his chest – pressed into his skin and sent sparks flying everywhere. Shoving his hand into the waistband of her leggings, his body vibrated with shock when he encountered silky soft skin and nothing else.
He was in the middle of dragging her leggings off, when common sense pushed through a flood of desire so brutal, he was blinded by it. Lifting his mouth from hers, he managed to shove her away, his breathing ragged, eyes darkened with desire.
He stood there staring at her as he tried to quiet his riotous thoughts and rampaging emotions. Her lips were swollen, the sweater dropping down one shoulder and her eyes were dreamy with passion.
And if he stayed… Turning away abruptly, he almost ran out, dragging his jacket on and shoving his feet into the boots. Without looking at her, he wrenched open the door and slammed it shut behind him.
Leaning against the wall, Kamilah took several deep breaths and pressed her hand to her chest.
“Oh, dear Lord.” She whispered with a shaky laugh. “Damn, but the man can kiss.”
*****
He rode relentlessly. As if the devil himself was after him. Several times during the ride back, he almost turned around. Cursing himself for the lack of control, he pushed his horse and almost welcomed the wind lashing against his skin.
There was a light drizzle coming down, but he did not even feel the moisture coating his clothing. Reaching the outskirts of his property, he brought the animal to an easy canter as he examined the area with keen eyes. Signs of flooding was everywhere and come morning, they would have a lot of work to do. He certainly did not need the distraction.
But his body and mind were waging an internal battle. He was still hard as rock, his heart still pounding heavily. His hands clenched the reins in a tight grip as he recalled the taste of her lips, the feel of her nipples branding his chest.
With a long and eloquent curse, he headed for the barn. The main one that housed the majority of the horses was intact and for that he was thankful. The silence surrounded him as he vaulted from the horse and led the animal towards his stall. Wiping him down took all of his concentration as well as checking on the other horses.
Making sure that there was nowhere leaking, he went to all the stalls to ensure the rest of the horses were all there, before heading out. His boots sank into the saturated ground as he made his way to the ranch house.
Changing directions, he went into the multi-vehicle garage and headed straight into the mud room to take off his boots and wet socks. Sitting on the bench, he dragged weary hands over his face, his mind in a turmoil.
He had done the unthinkable. He knew better than to allow his emotions to get the better of him. He had gotten involved with someone from out of town before and it had ended disastrously.
Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift back to earlier. He was attracted to her. That had been the case since the first time he clapped eyes on her.
If he was the type of man to get physically involved, he would happily take what she was offering. But he wasn’t. And he could not afford to be distracted by yet another beautiful woman.
He would stay away from her. Avoid her at all costs and that was not difficult to do. He had his work cut out for him and considering the storm that just passed, he was going to be very busy for the time she was here. Staying clear of her was not going to be difficult.
*****
Kamilah was not one to dwell on a man, but even though she told herself that she would find a way to lure him to the cabin, she was not going to sit and ponder about it. She had spent the night sleeping in the soft bed and waking up to an exceptionally beautiful morning.
The cabin was built on a slight incline which meant that the water did not trouble the foundation. The sun had risen with all its golden glory as if making up for its lack over the past almost two days.
Steam rose from the earth and very quickly started to dry out the earth. But instead of sweltering heat, there was a coolness to the day that beckoned one to go outdoors. Sitting up in bed, she gazed out at the trees swaying the breeze and the blaze of colors from the few brave and strong trees and brush still standing after the lash of rain.
Jumping out of bed, she quickly took a shower and put on jeans and a thick powder blue sweater. Rubbing the curling cream into her short hair, she glanced at her image in the mirror and went to make a pot of coffee. She would venture out for breakfast today, she decided. And perhaps visit some of the sites in town.
The museum in particular and the gallery. McCarthy Field was quite the modern little town as she had discovered and offered a lot of enchanting entertainment. She had started working on her book and had gotten a few pages already done.
But today, she would put away everything and concentrate on just enjoying the day.
She was settling around the table with her cup of coffee when her phone rang.
Turning it over, she answered it with a delighted smile. “Gramps, you read my mind, I was just about to call.”
*****
The clear blue of the sky with a few puffy white clouds skimming along, gave no indication of what had been unleashed just yesterday. The sun, a golden orb in the middle of it was bright and hot enough to start drying out the earth.
Shaking his head at the wonder and unpredictability of the weather, Jon jumped out of the jeep and headed towards the cottages where the repairs on the roofs had already begun.
The sounds of heavy machinery, coupled with the raucous laughter and ribaldry from his men echoed, mingling with the scent of meat stewing on an open fire pit manned by a grizzly old timer who had been with the ranch for more years than Jon could remember.
Lifting his hat in greeting, he went towards the table that was straining with food and headed towards the coffee pot to pour some into his thermos. On further examination this morning, it was discovered that they had lost several of the cattle and several fences had been uprooted.
Trees had been leveled as well. Some of the men had been assigned to cut them into bits and stow in one of the sheds for kindling. His mother’s greenhouse had survived the weather, and she was just now, along with a team of women, doing the cleaning up.
Fortunately, they had not lost power during the storm. Finishing the coffee, he grabbed a croissant and headed back to the jeep. Brushing aside the incident from last night, he concentrated on the work to be done.
*****
She was wandering the aisles and taking notes of the artifacts displayed when she was stopped by a hand on her arm.
“Pardon me for my boldness, but you’re not from around here, are you?”
Lifting her head towards the voice, she smiled at the candid expression and the friendly smile.
“No, I am not.”
“Neither am I.” The man’s smile widened as he gave her an appreciative look from light blue eyes. “Nigel Bennett at your service.”
“Is that a New York accent, I am detecting?” She asked as she placed her hand in his outstretched one.
“That’s right.” His grin was unabashedly friendly and if he seemed to hold onto her hand a bit longer than was polite, she did not say anything.
“Kamilah Wilton.”
His eyes widened as he reluctantly released her hand.
“No. The Kamilah Wilton?”
She laughed charmingly, eyes dancing. “I don’t know if I am famous enough to warrant that statement…”
“Are you kidding me?” Taking her arm, he led her towards the array of prehistoric horses and cattle. The place was nearly empty with only a few people milling around and no one seemed to be paying attention to them.
“I admire your work and your sharp acerbic wit. Your reviews are spot on. Based on that, I find myself eating at restaurants that have been given rave reviews by you. I cannot believe you’re here.”
“Just a little vacation.” Shrugging out of his hold, she stepped back a pace.
“I am on my way to Texas and decided to stop here for a day or two. I arrived during the storm and have been stuck. Where are you staying, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“At a remote cabin that suits me fine. You?”
“At the local inn. Is there a chance that you could have dinner with me? I am leaving tomorrow and would very much like to spend the evening with a beautiful woman. It would make my vacation so much better.”
She started to refuse and decided why the hell not?
“I would love to.”
“Great.” He clapped his hands, blue eyes dancing. “How about the little diner on East Street?”
“What time?”
“Say seven?”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” He grinned at her and passed a hand over his thinning sandy hair. “I really am.”
“I will see you then.” With a wave, she walked away, leaving him staring after her. Lifting her head, she breathed in the clean air and sighed as the breeze wafted through her sweater.
Unaware that she was being observed, she stopped to look at the building housing the library and decided to take a look.
From across the street at the hardware, Jon shoved his hands into the pockets of his faded denims, a brooding expression on his face.
The jeans she had on looked like they were painted on, and her sweater outlined the slender curves, ones that his hands were now familiar with. Ones he wanted to explore again, dammit! Hissing out a frustrating breath, he entered the hardware to conduct his business.
*****
Putting aide her natural penchant to dissect and critique, Kamilah prepared to enjoy both the meal and the company. Nigel was an uncomplicated individual, a travel writer exploring the small jewels, as he puts it and noting them down for other people to read and enjoy.
“I have been to so many places that I have lost count,” he enthused as they enjoyed the simple fare of buttered salmon and scallop potatoes.
The vegetables were a bit water soaked, but she did not mind one bit. It was a small diner and the service was exceptional, the server friendly. The owner was a big boned African American with a big laugh and a bigger belly.
“I have done some traveling myself,” she said mildly as she picked up her glass of table wine and took a sip. She was enjoying the simplicity of the place and the people, much to her surprise.
“What’s your favorite?” Nigel asked her eagerly. He had been surprised when she accepted his invitation to dinner and had no illusions that a stunning beauty such as Kamilah Wilton would ever take it any further. He was enjoying sitting across from her and just having a conversation.
“This little village in England, by the name of Keswick. Charming and wonderfully green. The air is clean and really reminds me of this place.”
Nigel nodded as he picked up his own glass and took a sip. “I have never been to Keswick, but I have been to several places in the UK, charming little towns with historic buildings.”
He gave her a curious gaze. “I find it hard to believe that a woman with your…, shall we say, looks and sophistication as well as talent should end up in such a small town.”
Laughing softly, Kamilah put aside her glass and resumed eating.
“I wanted anonymity.”
“Is there a reason why?” He shook his head at her raised brow. “It’s clearly none of my business. Forgive my curious mind. I am an old bachelor who took to traveling over the years and have lost out on finding myself a partner.”
There was a wistful expression on his face. “Forty years old and still traveling, still exploring. I used to love the idea of it, the freedom it affords me, but now I am not so certain it’s enough.”
She gave him a contemplative look. He appeared to be kind and thoughtful, somewhat of a relic who opened the door for her and insisted on pulling out her chair, not taking his seat until she was seated herself.
“I don’t agree with you. One is never too old to find romance, if one is looking.”
He flashed her a grin. “I would say I have found a wonderful woman, but she is clearly out of my league.”
“That’s the difference with me; I am not looking for romance.” She countered with a smile.
*****
He lost the argument with himself. Throughout the day, he busied himself attending to the repairs and the daily grind of the ranch and in some ways, he was able to stop his mind from straying to her and what happened between them last night. But seeing her in town had brought it all back.
Then some of his men were heard whispering that she was having dinner with some man from out of town. It had brought back the memories and with it came the anger. So, she had jumped from one man to the next, he thought bitterly. He had given her what she wanted, and she had turned to someone else.
The anger was like a bile inside his throat and threatened to choke him. After his rounds and the rechecking of the fence they had repaired, he found himself heading to the cabin. The car she had leased was not there in the driveway, which meant she was still out with the guy.
Dismounting, he led his horse to the wooded area, out of sight and paced the area along the bridge, his brow furrowed. Had she decided to go back to the inn with him? It had not been difficult to find out where the bastard was staying. Nigel Bennett, some sort of travel writer. No doubt he would be eager to accept her invitation.
And he had dodged the bullet. From all indications, she was fast and loose, and any man would do. The thought only made him even madder and when he heard tires crunching on the gravel, he whipped around, eyes blazing. If she brought him back…? A heavy sigh escaped him when he realized she was alone.
Staying where he was, he watched as she alighted, his narrowed eyes taking in the figure molding hunter green wool and knee-high boots. The light from the silver moon shone directly down on her and highlighted her curves.
He caught up to her just as she inserted the key into the lock. Turning her head, she sent him a slow sizzling look that had him taking a step back.
“Hi. Are you here to make sure I am okay again?”
“How was your date?” His voice was harsh, but he did not care.
Her brows lifted. Without responding, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. He followed, stepping around her as she shrugged out of her jacket. Closing the door, she trailed behind him as he went into the living area.
“Want some wine?” She murmured, watching as he stomped over to the fireplace.
“Was he a replacement?”
“I think I would like some tea. It was a bit chilly. I will be in the kitchen.” She left him standing there fuming.