That Night With The Rich Rancher

It had to be the shock of who she was that was setting him ablaze. He’d better get a grip on reality and see her as the person he knew her to be. But that wasn’t going to happen tonight. His thought processes worked clearly enough to know that.

She smiled sweetly. “Penny for your thoughts.”

“I’m wondering why I haven’t ever heard from anyone about how gorgeous you can be.”

“I suppose because I rarely go out on dates and never with anyone in these parts.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged. “I’ve just never met anyone around here I wanted to go out with very much. And there’s nowhere close by here to go dressed up.”

“There’s Dallas.”

With a twinkle in her blue eyes, she answered, “In Dallas, our paths probably wouldn’t cross.”

“I’ve known you all my life and I know your family well. Tonight I feel as if I’m spending the evening with a complete stranger I’ve just met.”

She looked amused. “In some ways, Tony, we are strangers. There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” she said in the breathless, sultry voice that made the temperature in the limo climb again.

“I should have asked you out long ago,” he said.

“You know how likely that was to have happened, and what my response would have been.”

He nodded. “Our past is better left alone and forgotten tonight.”

“We fully agree on that one,” she answered as the limo slowed. “Tonight is filled with illusions.”

“The way you look is no illusion. You’re gorgeous,” he said, and was rewarded with another coaxing smile.

The limo turned into the airport and in minutes they slowed to a stop. While the chauffeur held the door, Tony took her arm to escort her to the waiting private jet. The moment he touched her, awareness burned in a fiery current. Her arm was warm, her skin silky smooth. He caught another whiff of her exotic perfume, and he couldn’t wait to get her to their destination so he could ask her to dance and have an excuse to hold her in his arms.

In the plane he was aware of how close she sat. It was difficult to keep from staring because her red dress had fallen open, revealing those beautiful, long shapely legs. He took a deep breath.

“I need to keep pinching myself to make sure this is actually happening,” he said. “And I keep reminding myself you’re the same neighbor I see across the fence with your horses.”

“I love my horses. You should come visit and really look at them sometime. I have some fine horses.”

“I’ve seen them across the fence. Everyone in the county knows you have some of the finest horses.”

“They’re working horses or horses for my riding. I like to ride.”

“We have that in common, Lindsay.”

“I’ve never seen you riding just for pleasure.”

“If it’s for pleasure, I don’t ride in the direction of your ranch.” He smiled sheepishly. “I figure we’re both better off that way.”

“We’re in agreement there, too,” she remarked in a tone that was light and held no rancor.

“Have you attended one of these charity bachelor auctions before?”

“Sure, because it’s a good cause.” She held up a hand but stopped before it touched his arm. “I don’t need to ask, I know you haven’t. What prompted you to agree to participate in the auction tonight? You seem to be more the type to just donate the money.”

“I lost a bet with Wyatt over bronc riding in an Abilene rodeo.”

She laughed. “So because of your brother you’re trapped into a night with me now.”

“I was filled with thoughts of revenge until you stood up to walk to the stage. Since then, this night has taken the best possible turn.”

She smiled. “I must admit I’m pleasantly surprised by your reaction. I never, ever thought I’d hear you say that. But you know, underneath this red dress, I’m still me.”

He inhaled deeply, his temperature spiking at her mention of what was beneath the red dress, even though she had intended a different meaning.

He cleared his throat. “I have a feeling I better not say anything about what’s underneath your red dress.”

She looked as if she held back a laugh. “I knew there had to be another side to you besides the one I always see. I’ve wondered how the evening would go and so far, so good. I think, Tony, we’ve set a record already for the length of time we’ve been civil to each other.”

“I intend to be more than ‘civil to each other.’ We’re just getting started,” he said. “Frankly, Lindsay, it’s damn difficult to remember that you’re the same woman whose ranch adjoins mine. I feel as if I’m with a beautiful woman I’ve just met,” he said softly, taking her hand in his and rubbing her knuckles lightly with his thumb. His brows arched and he turned her hand over to open her palm, looking up at her.

“You have soft hands. I know how you work with the cowboys. You should have hands like mine—with scars, calluses and crooked bones from breaks. How did you get these?” he asked, running his thumb lightly over her palm.

“I wear gloves most of the time,” she said. “And I haven’t been out working quite as much for the past two weeks because I was shopping for a dress and getting ready for tonight.”

Her voice had changed, becoming throaty, losing the humor, and he wondered if she had a reaction to his touch. That idea made the temperature in the limo climb again. He gazed into her big blue eyes. “I hope tonight will be far better than you dreamed possible and worth all the effort you put into it,” he said softly, and raised her hand to brush her palm with his lips.

His thumb brushed across her wrist and he felt her racing pulse, making his own pulse jump again in response. As he looked into Lindsay’s eyes, he wanted to pull her close and kiss her. He couldn’t help the thought that came to mind. How much was this night going to complicate his life?

He couldn’t answer his question, but he was glad for the auction and thankful she hoped to win him over with sweet talk. It was a dazzling prospect.

He tried to pour on the charm and avoid any topics about the ranch, their relationship or their families. The feud between their families had been far stronger when they had been children and their grandparents had influenced the families. As a small child, Tony was taught to avoid speaking to any Calhoun, and she’d been taught the same about the Milans. In fact, they hadn’t spoken to each other until they became neighboring ranchers and had their first dispute over her tree falling on his fence and hitting his truck.

The plane ride seemed to take mere minutes. Before he knew it, they touched down in Houston and were ushered to another waiting limo. A short while later, they pulled into a circular drive lined by manicured shrubs strung with tiny white lights and stopped in front of a sprawling stone building he recognized as an exclusive club.

When they stepped out of the limo, Tony took her arm to walk through the canopied entrance. Inside, when he told the maître d’ they were from the Dallas auction, they were welcomed and led to a linen-covered table by a window overlooking the wide patio that held hundreds more twinkling lights and a splashing water fountain.

A piano player sang as he played a familiar old ballad and several couples danced on a small dance floor.

In minutes they were presented a bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne. As soon as they were alone with drinks poured, Tony raised his glass in a toast. “Here’s to the most beautiful woman in Texas.”

She smiled. “A very nice exaggeration, Tony,” she said, touching his glass lightly with hers and taking a sip. “Actually, you look rather handsome yourself.”

He smiled and wondered if she felt any real attraction. “Lindsay, I can’t imagine why you’ve been hiding that beauty all these years.”

She laughed. “Not so many years, Tony. And thank you. I’m far from the most beautiful woman in Texas, but it’s nice to hear.”

“You could have had most of the single guys in the county asking you out if you’d wanted,” he said.

“Actually, that’s not my aim in life,” she remarked. “And I do get asked out.”