Wild Western Nights

“May I quote you on that one?”

Her answer startled him and his eyes narrowed. “You’ve changed, Maddie.”

“How so?”

He continued to study her, looking into her dark eyes. “You’re more sophisticated, less open.”

“Time and experience, I guess,” she replied. While he gazed at her, silence stretched between them. For the first time since he’d known her, Maddie had an air of mystery about her. She had always been totally open with him, pouring out all her feelings. That was over. She was poised, self-contained and self-assured, and he was more intrigued than ever.

“Come have a look at my home,” he said, and climbed out of the car, hurrying to open her door. As they walked up the front steps, she looked around.

“This is a beautiful porch. A bit old-fashioned, which surprises me again,” she said.

“See. There are still facets of my personality for you to discover.”

“Only if I want to learn more. Because of our past, you’re assuming that I do. I’m not twenty-one anymore. I grew up.”

“Did you ever, Maddie,” he said, his husky tone returning. “You’re a gorgeous woman. My pulse doesn’t stop racing when I’m around you.”

“We’re old friends, Gabe. That’s it,” she stated in such a no-nonsense tone that he felt an invisible wall between them.

“We’re a hell of a lot more than that,” he said, unlocking his door and turning off the alarm. He stepped back out and picked her up.

With a yelp, she wrapped an arm around his neck. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m carrying you across the threshold of my house as a way to welcome you. I know you’re not my bride,” he said, relishing holding her and breaking through the barrier she wanted to erect between them. Big brown eyes only inches from his face gazed back at him. He could detect the exotic scent she wore. Warm and soft, she was light in his arms and he didn’t want to set her down. The air between them crackled with awareness and desire. The temperature in the entrance hall climbed.

Her eyes held fire in their dark depths and her lips parted slightly. With their gazes locked, he stood her on her feet. They faced each other with only inches separating them. For him, time didn’t exist. It was as if the past six years had vanished. He wanted to kiss her and she looked as if she wanted him to.

When he framed her face with his hands, she caught his wrists in each hand. “Gabe, we shouldn’t go back there,” she whispered.

“It’s a welcome home kiss,” he said, lowering his hands to her waist. He leaned closer and his mouth covered hers.

Maddie closed her eyes. She did not have the willpower to say no. She wanted his kiss, even though she knew what a hazard it would be to her peace of mind. To her whole life. She couldn’t get involved with him again.

Yet she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him in return, soaring in a dizzying spiral while heat started low inside her, filling her.

Delight and desire roiled in her. Years fell away and no longer mattered. For a moment, the only significance was Gabe’s mouth on hers. The man she loved—he always had been, from her first crush. In that moment, with his lips on hers, she had to face the fact that she loved him still.

Longing consumed her while his kisses enticed her to toss away caution. Her erratic breathing matched his. It was Gabe in her arms. Her tongue thrust deep. She wanted to set him ablaze as he did her.

She moaned softly in pleasure, feeling his hand drift across her shoulders. His caresses down her back and over her bottom brought her back to her senses.

“Gabe,” she whispered. “We have to stop.”

He raised his head slightly, the look in his blue eyes stabbing her. “Why? You’re not committed to anyone else. Neither am I. This kiss is for old times’ sake and a welcome back to Texas.”

She moved out of his embrace. “Don’t complicate my life. I’m selling the ranch, returning to Florida and not coming back here. Don’t make me want to return Texas. I don’t want ties here,” she said, too aware that she already had a tie to Gabe that she could never unravel.

“Those are strong words, Maddie. As if you have a grudge.”

“No. I have a satisfying life in Florida that I love. I don’t want it upset.”

“It was only a few welcome-back kisses. You didn’t want to return when it was hell of a lot more,” he said. His breathing was still ragged, his blue gaze smoldering. “Come on. I’ll show you around and then we’ll have a drink and I’ll cook steaks.”

“That’s fine,” she answered, trying to regain her composure. She walked past him, heading for the first open door off the entrance hall. She entered a dining room. Centered below a crystal chandelier stood a table surrounded by sixteen chairs. “This is a beautiful room,” she remarked.

“Don’t sound so shocked. Even after you saw the exterior, you expected something rustic, didn’t you?”

“Actually, yes. You’ve always been so into being a cowboy.”

“My family room is where I went with Western furnishings. I’ll show you. We’ll go through the kitchen on the way.”

She walked beside him through the dining room and into a spacious white kitchen. At the far end was a cozy breakfast area with another large table, a sofa and chairs, and a huge brick fireplace.

“This is wonderful, Gabe. You’ve done a good job. Did you plan all this yourself?”

“I had a decorator. I explained what I’d like and she did the rest. I had final approval, of course, but most of her choices suited me fine.”

“This room is grand.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it, Maddie. My office is close to the kitchen. Let me show you.”

He took her down a wide hallway into a large room. He watched as Maddie surveyed the room.

“Gabe, this is amazing. Two desks. Why do you have six computers?” Without waiting for an answer, she turned to look at the rest of the room. “You have everything. Television, fax machines, copiers. You don’t need this for ranching.”

“I do my own investments, and I keep up with world markets. I enjoy it, and I’ve had some success with it.”

She turned to study him. “You’ve surprised me again.”

“I think on this one, I might have surprised my family, too.”

“Does Jake consult you about investments?” she asked as her eyes narrowed.

“As a matter of fact, he does. I did a little investing for him at first. Now I do all of his personal investments.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Not really. It’s something I like, and I’ve been lucky. Jake and I will be worth more than Dad soon.”

She inhaled, thinking about Rebecca. Gabe could do so much for his daughter. Was she doing the wrong thing, keeping Rebecca hidden from him?

“I thought we’d eat on the patio,” he said, leading her back through the kitchen and outside. She stepped out to a partially enclosed, air-conditioned patio that overlooked an Olympic-size swimming pool.

“This is beautiful, too, Gabe,” she said with a smile. “You can go ahead and say it. I thought I knew what kind of house you would like, but you’ve surprised me. A very pleasant surprise, I might add. You had an excellent decorator.”

“Thanks, I think. So how different is my place from yours?”