Scandals from the Third Bride

They each left a large portion of their dinners untouched. The evening was a strain, and she was ready for it to end before she lost her composure with him again.

“Want to dance?” he asked, gazing at her with a level, flat stare that made her wonder what he felt and what was going through his mind.

“No, I don’t, Cade. Let’s keep anything between us strictly business.”

“You know I paid royally for this evening with you,” he said easily. “I haven’t danced in a while. It seems to me, the night should include at least a dance,” he said, standing and coming around the table. He pulled out her chair and she stood, trying to bite back her comments.

“You’re definitely accustomed to getting your way,” she said, standing, her pulse racing at the thought of dancing with him. Everything involving him was two-sided. Attraction caused her nerves to sizzle while anger kept her in a knot as she struggled to avoid another outburst with him.

He led her to the dance floor and the moment she walked into his embrace, her pulse jumped. Why did this seem so right? He held her close against him, and she felt the soft wool of his tux. She could detect the scent of his aftershave, feel the brush of his thighs against hers.

She danced with him as if time had vanished and it was nine years earlier. Every step was familiar, every move was seduction. Her heart pounded and heat burned inside her. They danced together in perfect coordination as if they had been dancing together every night for the whole nine years.

“This is good, Katherine, to hold you,” he whispered, and his breath was warm against her ear. Her arm curled across his shoulder and she was careful to keep her hand on his coat and to avoid touching his neck. He swung her down in a dip and she instinctively clung to him as she looked into his dark eyes. She wanted him and there was no stopping what she felt.

In silence, she danced with him, closing her eyes only to be carried back in time again, remembering seductive moments in his arms when she had been wildly in love.

His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. It was pure torment because they fit too well, moved together in perfect rhythm and every step stirred up damnable memories of dances in the past…seduction…Cade kissing her.

The instant the dance ended, she turned to walk back to the table. She tingled all over from being in his arms. Dancing together had stirred too many memories and sent desire to scalding levels.

Physically, she wanted to kiss and love him. She almost groaned out loud, caught herself and coughed, hoping she could cover the sound she had made.

She picked up her purse and faced him. “I know you paid a fortune for the evening, but as soon as possible, I’d like to end it. After all, you accomplished what you intended when I agreed to work for you.”

“That’s true,” he said, taking her arm. “We’ll go.”

In the limousine he sat beside her again, closer this time, turning to face her. “I gave your address to the driver. I thought you’d live at the ranch.”

“No, I moved out nine years ago and got an apartment. Now I own my own house and live in town. I have a house at the ranch. All of us do and Dad has given all of us land. We get together about twice a month, if possible.”

“Nick told me he sees you fairly often.”

Startled, she looked at Cade. “You sound as if you know Nick.”

He shrugged. “Because of business dealings, we’ve crossed paths a few times.”

She was startled to learn Nick had never mentioned Cade to her and wondered why he hadn’t, deciding Nick probably thought it would be painful for her.

“I’m surprised he’s civil to you,” she said. “When you left, my brothers weren’t living here at the time. If you remember, they were both in college. When they found out what you’d done, they went after you, but you and your family had left the state and they couldn’t find you, which was a relief.”

“That’s not surprising.”

Trying to avoid the past, she thought about her new job. “Actually I can be free right away to start thinking about your murals.”

“Do you have someone you can really trust to run things if you’re gone a long time?”

“Yes. I’ve been away for jobs a lot. Also, Houston to Fort Worth isn’t so far that I can’t get back if I have to.”

“That’s fine,” he said easily, gazing intently at her. He wasn’t touching her, but he still could set her aflame with his sexy brown eyes and his supercharged presence.

“Are you an early riser? I can pick you up and we’ll go in my plane to Houston tomorrow. Is seven too early?”

“Seven works.”

“Fine. That’s a good time to go.”

“Tomorrow I’ll get your address and location,” she said. “I’ll find a motel nearby where I can set up my office and I can stay.”

“No, that won’t be necessary at all,” he answered easily.

“Why not? I’m not commuting every day.”

“Of course not. You don’t need to commute. You’ll live at my place,” he replied.

Three

“No! I can’t live with you,” she snapped, twisting in the seat to face him, angry that he even suggested it.

“Of course you can stay at my place instead of a hotel,” he replied smoothly. “You won’t be ‘living with me,’ you’ll be residing at my house,” he said, unfastening his coat and pushing it open. “There’s a world of rooms. Thirty rooms, as a matter of fact. You’ll be right where you’re working. If you don’t want to bring your car, I can put one at your disposal. There’s no reason not to stay there.”

There were a dozen good reasons to avoid staying at his house, not the least of which was that the man was larger than life to her. Whether she liked it or not, she could never view him as she did other men. His touch was fiery and his look could hold her immobile. Her pulse was faster right now, just riding in the limo beside him. She was too susceptible to him, far too vulnerable.

Each minute with him compounded the attraction that tugged at her senses.

“Stop worrying, Katherine,” he said quietly. “I’m no ogre. I’ll be at work. The place is huge.”

“I didn’t expect to ever see you again. Now the idea of working for you, living under the same roof, spending time together, is unsettling. Give me as much space and solitude as possible. Your murals will turn out better, I’m sure.”

“Is that a roundabout threat to leave you alone?”

“Not at all. I’m simply telling you that I’ll work more efficiently under those conditions,” she said, wanting to keep as much distance as possible between them.

He leaned close and drew his finger along her hand, making her tingle. “Let’s not argue every step of the way. I’m paying you a fortune. In return, I want cooperation.”

“Do you ever hear ‘no’?”

“Occasionally, and if there’s a logical reason, I pay attention. Can you give me a sensible cause for not staying at my place to do your painting?”

She gazed into his dark eyes. “You’re giving me one good reason right now. You’re too close. You’re touching me constantly.”

“Why is all that bad?” he asked.

“I’m susceptible to you, dammit, and I don’t want to be. Does that make you feel better? Give me room.”

He leaned away, his gaze intent. “I’ll give you room, and you move into my house. It’s large enough, Katherine. You’ll see tomorrow.”

Knowing she couldn’t refuse to cooperate with him when he was being reasonable, she shrugged. “All right, Cade. I’ll have to get measurements. I would prefer to look at all the rooms and then to focus on one at a time. I’ll get a proposal put together for you and we can meet at my office to go over it.”