License to Love: Holiday Box Set (Contemporary Romance) Page 8

  Scotch Broom bushes lined the path until the bottom and then of the trail and then it opened and they were on the beach. Missy pulled in a breath at the view. Sand stretched out all around them and waves pounded the beach ahead.

  Pulling up beside him, she said, “It’s loud.”

  He liked the wonder in her eyes, and how red her lips were from the cold air. It took him a minute to see she had turned her gaze to him.

  “I’ve been biting my tongue and not telling you how beautiful you are,” he said with reverence. There wasn’t any change in her expression, but she didn’t look away, either. “Caught you by surprise?” he asked.

  She laughed. “You do that a lot.” Her breathless voice stirred his passion.

  He’d learned his lesson when he rushed her before, so he’d take it slow. “Want to ride down the beach a ways?”

  Excitement lit up her eyes. She nudged Speckle and they set off, nice and slow to enjoy the ocean. He’d been around the cold ocean, the seagulls, the foghorns all his life, but he could tell it was new for her. She watched the birds as they swooped and darted over the endless banter of water and sand. They rode a ways down the beach, just enjoying the sound, sights and feel of nature.

  “Here comes a big one,” he said.

  “How do you know?”

  “It’ll be the seventh. Everything’s got a pattern.” He paused alongside her horse. The next wave rose up higher, crashed, and came racing up the sand.

  “It’s going to get us!” She backed her horse up. Speckle flicked an ear, and looked at him as if to say, She’s a newbie. The wave did reach them, but the horses weren’t afraid of the ocean.

  A bank of fog hung in the air above them, leaving stillness underneath. Even while the ocean fought the land, the air stood still.

  “Where did the wind go?” she asked him.

  “It does this once in a while, fall or springtime.” He’d walked it all his life, but today was new for him. Today was with her.

  She glanced at him and smiled.

  “Hungry?” he asked. At her nod, he led the way back toward the brush near the hill. Staying by the horses, they sat on the sand with the sandwiches.

  “Thanks for today,” she said before taking a bite. After chewing for a minute she added, “For the furniture, and all this.”

  “My pleasure.” He meant that, too, in a big way. Watching her ride, watching her watch him back. It was all his pleasure.

  A desperate need filled him. He wanted to kiss her, but he’d been unable to gauge if that’s what she wanted.

  While they ate, she turned her gaze toward the waves and sky. Hardly a soul had ventured out today. That could have something to do with the fading daylight and falling temperatures.

  The fog made it seem later, darker, and he knew they should head back. He didn’t want her riding up the hill for the first time in the dark.

  She turned to him as if she’d read his thoughts. “It’s almost dark.”

  “Yeah, time to go,” he agreed and stood, offering his hand. Hers felt cold, another reason to leave.

  When she stood, her body nearly brushed his. At first, she looked at his chin. He knew she could sense the mood, sense how he wanted her.

  She raised her gaze to meet his. After a searching, thoughtful look, she rose on her toes and softly kissed his cheek.

  The woman was killing him.

  She mounted her horse and waited for him. Yeah, he’d follow her anywhere. But would she let him? Did she want to stay with him?

  He let her lead the way back up the hill and through the forest. They didn’t speak. How could they?

  He felt something like respect for the time, for that kiss, and for the feelings that must be boiling inside her. He wanted to take it slow, for her.

  After they brushed the horses, he walked her home. Her mind seemed to be turning something over, and he hoped it was him. She glanced at him several times, but didn’t say much.

  At her door, he leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. If lightning could touch lightly, it did.

  The look in her eyes asked for more. Instead, he touched his hat and headed back to the stables. The horses needed their blankets since the temperature was already flirting with freezing.

  He smiled on his way there because he’d tricked her into taking an evening off. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and he planned to take full advantage of having her in his house all day. She’d need her rest tonight.

  * * * *

  Missy rolled over onto her back, rubbed her hair out of her face, and stretched. The alarm clock clicked on and Alan Jackson’s smooth, sweet voice filled the room.

  “Good morning to you, too.” She was so happy she was speaking to the radio. “And happy Thanksgiving!”

  She sat up on the edge of the bed - the new one Brent had brought back for her - to listen to the rest of the song before turning if off. She’d changed everything about herself when she moved to Las Vegas, everything except her love of country music, which she’d hidden.

  She hadn’t sung in the shower in a while. She did today while lathering on coconut body wash and extra conditioner in her hair. When she dressed, she pulled on an olive green sweater that Brent hadn’t seen yet.

  Since coming to the ranch, she hadn’t been applying as much makeup, but today she went all the way. She was about to leave the bathroom when she decided to pull her hair up.

  Daylight met her outside, soft and innocent as she walked through the thin mist. Promising. A fuzzy yellow spot indicated where the sun was above the tree line. Maybe the mist would burn off to a nice day.

  Had Brent meant what she’d read in his eyes? Did she trust him? She couldn’t imagine him using her feelings against her, but she couldn’t let go of that fear, either. Why did she have to have such a hard time trusting people? Her father had been loving, but somehow she still felt like he lied to her by keeping Ben a secret. She knew a big part of her problem was due to her old boss, but naming the source hadn’t helped so far. Today was a day to celebrate, though, and she took a deep, cleansing breath and moved on.

  She wore new leather boots and Levis. It didn't compare to how she'd dressed for her old job, but this fit in with Brent and his friends.

  She knocked and wrapped her arms around herself while she waited. The door swung open and Brent’s cologne kicked her in the stomach with a sensation she . . . might like.

  “What are you knocking for?” he asked, his blue eyes full of teasing and desire at the same time. The look put her mind into sex mode before she could stop it.

  “Right. I still need to catch you in the shower.” Or climbing out, skin damp with a towel around your waist. His pupils widened. Then, leaning close, he kissed her cheek. Rather, he kissed her right next to her mouth and that was worse than kissing her lips, because now she itched all over to touch him.

  “You look nice.” He held the door open.

  “Nice?” she teased with a small smile.

  “You always look nice. I was being polite, but I could have said you look good enough to eat. Or lick, whichever.”

  She blushed at that one and could tell that’s what he wanted. Their eyes met, and his were full of playfulness. He looked pretty yummy himself, but she lost her nerve and didn’t say so. His snug jeans and fitted black T-shirt were driving her crazy, but she didn’t plan on telling him what she wanted to do.

  When she followed him into the kitchen, she saw brown grocery bags all over his counter. “I got everything on your list and then some,” he said.

  “I can see that.” She had to look away from the sexy grin he flashed her. He started to pull things from the freezer and refrigerator. Looking inside the bags, she saw they contained all the nonperishable items she could ever want for a feast. She set out ingredients for the stuffing and started chopping. Soon Brent had the turkey ready to go in the oven and worked on mashed potatoes.

  She mixed chopped celery and onion in a bowl with the dried bread and seasoning. When she turned her back to ch
op mushrooms, she felt his lips touch her neck. Moist and warm, his kiss sent pleasure rocketing through her body.

  “I’m trying to work here,” she murmured, trying not to smile too much.

  “And I’m trying to seduce you.” His soft voice tickled her ear, so she laughed instead of responding. Then a funny thing happened. His arm came around her middle in a gentle hug. She nestled back into him and closed her eyes, leaning her head back into the crook of his neck. She heard him breath in slowly, inhaling her scent, as he wrapped his other arm around her. This wasn’t about seduction but a comforting and intimate hold. She lingered, feeling secure and happy.

  A timer went off and he stepped back and grabbed a pot holder. “Don’t want to burn anything.”

  The stuffing was ready to bake so she turned her attention on the side dishes, only sneaking a few glances at him. There were several baked pies cooling on a different counter and eggnog in the refrigerator. Brent had been up early working on everything.

  They both heard loud, feminine laughter from outside, and Brent smiled. “That’d be Alice, Dale’s girlfriend.”

  She followed him to the door, realizing something was happening. Maybe it had been happening for a while, but she wasn’t fighting as fiercely as she usually did. Being on the ranch at first had been one thing, but to feel welcome was another.

  “Dale, Alice.” Brent greeted them as he opened the door. “Alice, this is Missy.”

  “Well, well. Now I see why Brent let that horse kick him.”

  Missy shot Brent a confused look. Did she have something to do with that? Dale and Alice both hooted while she narrowed her eyes at Brent.

  Alice headed to the kitchen with the pies they brought.

  “We saw Ivan coming down the road,” Dale said, most likely to change the subject for Brent’s sake, then went to the door to open it. They talked and laughed over the football game while the house filled with the smell of baking Thanksgiving turkey. Brent delivered on the beer and snacks too.

  When he wasn’t checking on the turkey, Brent was often sitting next to her. That saved her from his heated looks but not from feeling his warmth next to her or smelling his scent. Despite the tension, or maybe even with the tension, she couldn’t believe how much she enjoyed visiting with all of them.

  Brent left the living room where everyone chatted but returned a moment later with his violin. “I promised the lady a song or two, for taking care of me while my side healed up.”

  He held her gaze while he warmed up. Next he eased into a soulful piece, with beautiful soaring passages. His hands moved expertly, showing years of practice, and his love of the instrument came through in his playing. She had never heard a violin played in person and the music filled her whole being. Tears sprang into her eyes.

  With his intense gaze on her, she couldn’t look away from him. Even while she knew everyone looked between her and him.

  She no longer knew what to expect from his man - except that she had a lot more to learn.

  Chapter Seven

  Music had been a hobby, one he’d always enjoyed, but tonight his music became a love song for Missy. He put his feelings for her into his music, hoping she understood his longing, his need to touch her, his need to take her breath away.

  The others clapped along with her when he finished the last song, but he looked into her wondrous brown eyes only, gauging her response.

  Romance, anyone?

  To everyone he said, “Smells like dinner’s done.” He didn’t want to make a big show of it, and he’d seen what he wanted from Missy. She’d listened with more than her ears, leaning forward, her face enraptured.

  After he carried the turkey to the table, he carved while everyone filled their plates.

  “Did you cook for the rest of the year?” Alice asked Brent with a laugh, “You don’t think we eat this much, do you?”

  He shrugged and glanced at Missy. She returned his smile with a secretive one, a shared look. With her hair pulled up, she looked different. Sophisticated, but not aloof like when he’d first met her. It helped that she wore a soft green sweater and not a silk suit.

  Funny thing was, he itched to pull her hair free and watch it tumble down around her shoulders— after kissing her neck like crazy. He hadn’t thought of that. Maybe he liked it up... for a while.

  “Gonna daydream all day, or are you hungry?” Dale intruded into his fantasy. One look at Dale grinning at him told Brent his thoughts were pretty apparent.

  “Don’t wait for me, dig in,” he joked right back. He didn’t care if everyone could tell what was on his mind. As long as Missy got the hint.

  She glanced at him but looked away quickly.

  “Pie anyone?” Dale asked, adding to Missy, “You have to try my apple pie.”

  “I’ll try to fit in a piece.”

  Brent could see her surprise when she bit into the first bite. “Can all the men around here cook and bake better than me?”

  Brent liked Dale’s pies, but what he really wanted for dessert was the woman sampling a bite. He watched her savor it, her eyes fluttering shut, and then opening to look right at him.

  A blush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. He needed to be careful or she’d start thinking he was some sex starved maniac. Well, truth be told, he hadn’t even dated for two years so maybe he was. But that wasn’t really what he wanted from her, or the only thing, anyway. He wanted to touch her and please her… he just wanted her, all of her.

  Brent’s manners insisted he didn’t rush everyone out the door after dinner, but he couldn’t wait to get Missy alone.

  On that thought, he cleared the table and let his company talk. Glancing back at them, he saw Missy’s gaze on him. His legs. She worked her way up and seemed to stop right below his belt. He let out his breath when she moved on to his stomach. She lingered there, too. Then his chest.

  She was chewing her lips. Someone help him.

  Finally she looked up at his face and went flaming red. Oh, yeah, baby, I’m watching you, too. He smiled.

  Rubbing her neck, she turned back to Alice, who wore a sly smile.

  “Well, I think we need to be getting home.” Alice spoke loud enough for Dale to hear as she stood. They normally stuck around to put things away and help him clean, so he knew Alice was trying to give him and Missy privacy. Ivan sat with his wife on the couch, nearly climbing in her lap, so he looked equally pleased with the idea.

  Missy’s face had gone from red to pale. He’d let her leave if she gave the slightest indication she wasn’t ready to be close to him. Maybe he scared her. He’d gobbled her up with his gaze all night. Where had his self-control gone? Right in the gutter, along with his thoughts.

  Dale and Alice wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving and left. He knew they’d exchanged a look about the heat between him and Missy. But hell, he couldn’t hide it. He’d never wanted anyone like this before, and he didn’t care who saw it.

  After Ivan and Tina drove away, Missy turned to him with questioning eyes, her mouth parted. He felt a leap of excitement when he read the feelings there. “I’m not used to feeling like this.”

  Let me touch you. He felt like a boy on a cliff, staring at the deep water below. Jump, and it’ll be over. But he didn’t move yet.

  “Want help cleaning up this mess?” She glanced around, a hand on her neck again.

  “I didn’t get you alone to clean.” He pulled her into an embrace without thinking or questioning it. “I’ve wanted to kiss your neck all night.”

  His mouth made her moan, and she leaned her head back. Brent trailed his mouth up to her ear and his hands slid into her hair. The clip holding her hair up popped.

  She didn’t care. Kiss me!

  With one hand, he brushed her hair over her shoulder and slid his hand down the silky length of it. Since their bodies were pressed together, he felt her body heat through her clothing. It made him want to feel that heat skin to skin.

  They mirrored smiles at each other when her head tilte
d back to look at him. Heaven help him, he couldn’t hold back with her.

  “Missy . . . if you don’t want to kiss me, you’d better run now.”

  She halfway smiled at that same warning.

  “No way. I’m staying.” Her brown eyes held desire, not fear. He saw the cloudy look in her eyes, and brought his mouth down on hers. Soft, warm and ready. To gain her trust, he kept the contact light at first. But she parted her lips in an invitation.

  He felt like he took flight as she melted into him, molded every inch of her to his body. Clinging to him, she welcomed his advance, meeting his tongue. Urgency to devour her overwhelmed him.

  Her sweet kiss turned passionate. She tilted her head, wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, and kissed him with the same wildness he felt.

  He deepened the kiss when she moaned, but then she hesitated. Pulling back, he saw her open her eyes to meet his gaze. She looked both amazed and puzzled.

  Murmuring, he asked, “Friends can kiss once in a while, can’t they?”

  “I’ll allow it today.” She looked at his lips and leaned forward. Without looking away from his mouth, she ran a finger across his top lip, then bottom.

  He imagined pushing her back on the couch and kissing her breathless, but he needed her trust.

  “I love your mouth.” His words came out a whisper.

  Suddenly her mouth landed on his, her body against him. She shocked the socks off him by slipping her hands under his shirt and spreading her fingers across his stomach.

  She chewed on his bottom lip to drive him crazy. The kiss deepened.

  She pulled him with her and fell back on the couch. “Touch me.”

  Had she somehow seen his fantasy in his eyes?

  “Are you sure?” He didn’t plan on pushing things. She didn’t answer, just grabbed his hand and pulled it against her. So she wasn’t an uptight city girl, but an adventurous siren.

  Had she ever seemed like a city girl? He gave into the fantasy, letting his hands explore, feeling her soft skin under her shirt. He ran a hand slowly up her back, feeling her arch. A tiny voice warned to take it slow but he couldn’t resist caressing her stomach, thinking about more. Her body lifted into his touch.