Terms of a Texas Marriage(20)

“Oh, that’s right. Maggie had her pups, didn’t she?”

“Yep,” Leona confirmed. “Did you remember tonight is the party to celebrate Ms. Annie’s birthday?”

Annie Philpot was considered the matriarch of the Calico Springs ranching community. She’d married and lost two fine husbands, and then, by herself, had raised her nine children and carried on the tradition of producing fine horses and prime beef cattle. Through it all, she’d still found time to care for the friends and neighbors she loved. In times of sickness or when a new baby was about to make its presence known, Miss Annie had been there. In recent years, she’d reached out more via telephone than personal visits, but nonetheless her heart remained with her extended family.

“Oh, Leona, I’d completely forgotten.”

“Figured you might have, what with the way your life has been here lately. It’s been a while since you’ve seen everyone. Most of ’em are about to bust open with curiosity about Alec. Try and make it over here, if you can.”

“Absolutely.” She would have plenty of time to make a pie. Everyone always brought a dish or dessert to these gatherings. But something else tugged at her mind.

“Leona, does anyone know?” If rumors were flying about Alec taking her ranch and his plans for the land, she needed to know before they walked into the party.

A numbing pause followed the question.

“You mean about Alec?”

“Yeah.”

“No. At least nothing’s been said to me. Whatever he’s planning, he’s kept to himself. There has been some talk of a big entertainment complex gonna be built across the river in Oklahoma. People are generally either excited about the idea or don’t much believe it. Is that what he’s doing?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Alec had never told her and she hadn’t asked. Shea wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Whatever he had in mind was not going to happen and that was as far as her mind had gone on the subject. Let him build his magical kingdom in the adjacent state if he wanted. Just keep it off her ranch land and out of the community. “Thanks, Leona. We’ll see you about eight.”

By six o’clock Alec had returned and by seven thirty they were on their way to Leona’s house. At least fifty adults and maybe a dozen kids were already enjoying the festivities when they arrived. The aroma of hickory smoke from a huge grill invited all new arrivals to bring their appetites around to the back of the house. Several long tables were set up, complete with red-checkered tablecloths. Shea placed her pie on the table with the other desserts.

One hello led to another and another until most of the party guests had met Shea’s new husband. Alec dutifully shook hands and repeatedly answered the questions of the evening: “Where are you from?” and “How did you meet?” He surprised her by responding to their inquiries in a manner both believable and flattering to her.

In essence, he lied.

They paid their respects to the guest of honor, wishing Miss Annie a most happy eighty-ninth birthday. Then they joined Hank and Leona in the chow line and came away with their plates heavily laden with home-cooked fare. Scotty wanted to eat with Leona’s grandson and several other kids his age. A table had been set up just for them.

When darkness fell, candles and lanterns cast their soft glow over the crowd. Several strands of white twinkle lights strung in the lower tree branches gave a strange, almost mystical, ambience to the festivities. With an area under the lights cleared for dancing, couples filled the space as the soft melody of a country ballad drifted through the cooling night air.

At the edge of the sphere of soft light, some of the children, including Scott, held sparklers, running back and forth, waving their arms, making circles and glowing formations against the darkness. Their laughter blended with the music and the cheerful mood of the adults, most of them lifelong friends, who’d gathered to celebrate another year of life of one of their own.

Shea knew total relaxation for the first time in a very long time. She sat quietly, eyes closed, listening to the music. Unexpectedly, a warm hand touched her shoulder. She looked up to find Alec standing beside her.

“Dance with me.”

Without waiting for an answer, he took her hand and led her to the edge of the dancing couples, drawing her into his arms.

The music flowed in a soft, slow tempo. His arms encircled her, holding her close while they moved together to the rhythm of the song. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to rest her head against his shoulder. She closed her eyes, intoxicated by the musky scent of his cologne, warmed by the sheer strength of the arms around her.

This is so wrong. She shouldn’t be dancing with this man—shouldn’t be taking pleasure in his arms. By getting to know Alec, by seeing him as something other than the enemy, it was becoming more and more difficult to ignore her growing attraction to him. She liked him. A lot, in fact. Amazingly, the realization wasn’t so painful.

As they danced, his thigh intermittently rubbed against her lower belly. She found herself holding her breath when he moved away until another shift in their movements again caused the hard contours of his body to press against her.

His fingers threaded through her hair, cupping the back of her head as he gently encouraged her gaze to meet his. She saw the flames of controlled passion in his darkening eyes before he lowered his head and settled his mouth on hers.

The kiss was pure seduction. A ball of searing heat shot straight to the juncture between her legs while the world around them ceased to exist.

Alec made a slight adjustment and his swollen shaft pressed solidly against her belly. For a moment, instinct took over and she succumbed to the blinding need to forget everything but the urge to satisfy the ache his touch created. She gave in to her body’s natural reaction and pushed against him. She heard his sharp intake of breath followed by a low growl. He lowered his hands to her hips, pulling her solidly against him, and wanton desire scorched the skin beneath her jeans.

The loud snapping of firecrackers close by made her jump. She tore her lips from his as reality came crashing back with ferocity. It was as if someone had suddenly turned up the volume to the music and the voices around them. Her eyes lingered on his mouth. The temptation to return and seek the pleasures it offered was overwhelming.

Blinking, she stepped back and looked around her, feeling as if she’d just come back from another time and place. Desperately she willed her mind to reengage.

They were in the midst of some twenty dancing couples. Glancing around, she was thankful to see that no one appeared aware of the sensual drama unfolding in their midst. She chanced another look at Alec’s face, and in the depths of his eyes she saw awareness of her internal battle. He knew how close she was to losing.

“I should go...and help Leona.”

“Leona has all the help she needs.” He gently smoothed a stray lock of hair back from her face. “Let’s go home.”

His deep, husky invitation was almost her undoing. “I...” Her eyes roamed over his face while he waited patiently for her decision. He wanted her. He wasn’t using coercion or bribery. There were no threats. He was putting it out on the table and she could say yes or she could say no.

She couldn’t make love to Alec. Could she? He was still her enemy. Wasn’t he? She didn’t believe in casual sex. For Shea, intimacy had to be between two people who honestly cared for each other. And even if she felt that way toward Alec, could she justify one night of ecstasy with a man who was bent on destroying everything she had?

“I...I’ve got to go.” She pushed out of his arms, walked in the direction of Leona’s house and didn’t look back.

Shea wasn’t sure what was happening between them, but at the very least, she knew she already had broken her number one directive: hating Alec Morreston.

“It looks like you two are having a good time,” Leona remarked as she entered the kitchen. She handed Shea a dishtowel.

Shea nodded and picked up a plate, unable to meet Leona’s eyes. “I guess.”

“Things going any better?”

She shrugged. Alec wasn’t the adversary she’d initially expected. Either his tactics weren’t as cutthroat as she’d first feared, or the man was tremendously subtle and highly skilled at manipulation. Probably both. But since his return from New York with his son, she’d glimpsed another side of the man. Even Scotty was a revelation, providing insight into the complexities of Alec’s character. It was as if he were two different people. One was the enemy, a cold and ruthless man bent on destroying everything. The other was a caring and loving father who had gained her respect and was well on his way to becoming someone she cared about.

In spite of what he’d threatened that day in Ben’s office, in spite of his determination to force her from the land, he’d given her time. Conversely, the more time he gave her, the more she contemplated what it would be like to love such a man. Lovers with no future, engaged in an affair that was sure to end badly. Who did that? Was she so foolish to fall in love with the very man who would take away everything she’d ever loved?

She picked up another plate and began to rub it with the towel. Leona snatched it from her hand.