“I suppose.” He nodded as he considered her remark. “Everyone in the county knows you work as hard as the guys who work for you. It’s difficult to look at you now and remember how tough and resilient you are.”
“Did you know my big brother came out to the ranch, sat me down and lectured me to try to get me to be nicer to you?”
“The hell you say. Is that why you’re here tonight?” he asked. Still, he couldn’t believe that the gorgeous creature flirting with him now was only here to make nice.
She leaned over the table, reaching out to take his hand in hers, and his heart jumped again. Every touch, her flirting, the looks she was giving him, all stirred responses that shocked him. No other woman had ever had the same instant effect on him from the slightest contact.
“No,” she replied, her voice lowering. “Before the night is over, you’ll know this was all my idea and not one of my brothers had anything to do with my plans for tonight.”
Her plans? His mind began to race with the possibilities and they were all X-rated. His blood pulsed hot through his veins. “I’m beginning to wish we were alone right now.”
With a satisfied expression, she sat back. “Mike and Josh weren’t at the auction and I haven’t talked to them lately. They have no idea what I’m doing tonight. Jake was in the audience, with Madison, but across the room from me. Otherwise, I’m sure he would have tried to stop my bidding because he would have suspected my motives. But he more than any of my brothers should know you can take care of yourself.”
Tony nodded. “I’ll bet it was Jake who tried to talk you into being nicer. Mike has had his own problems with losing his first wife, caring for four-year-old Scotty and getting married to Savannah. And Josh is too busy making money with his hotels.”
“You’re right about all three.” She glanced down to their joined hands. “Although I don’t think this was exactly what Jake had in mind when he told me to be civil to you.”
Tony couldn’t help but smile. “I’m sure it wasn’t.” He turned his hand so that his was holding hers and rubbed his thumb across her smooth skin. “You know, I’ve heard little Scotty adores his aunt Lindsay. I’m beginning to see how that’s possible.”
“I don’t think Scotty sees me the way you do.”
He laughed. “No, I’m sure he doesn’t. But you have a whole different side to you that I’m seeing tonight.” And he was still having quite a time wrapping his mind around this Lindsay. If this auction night had happened when she first moved to her ranch, would they have avoided their big clashes? Or would that same stubborn Lindsay still have been lurking beneath this beauty?
“I’ve gotten the same lecture from my brother Wyatt about cooling our fights,” he told her. “As county sheriff, he just wants peace and quiet in his life and he doesn’t want to have to continually deal with our battles—which will be less in the future, I promise you.”
“I hope we can end the clashes altogether.”
“If you’re like this, you’ll have my complete cooperation. You know, I have to tell you. Over the years, some things you’ve wanted or accused me of destroying, I had nothing to do with. Hopefully, after this, you’ll listen to my side a little more. But enough about our past. It doesn’t exist tonight, Lindsay.”
“That suits me fine,” she said softly as she licked her lower lip.
“That does it.” He pushed back his chair and went around to her. “If you do one more sexy thing, I may go up in spontaneous combustion.” He held out his hand to her. “Let’s dance. I don’t want the table between us anymore.” He also needed to move around and cool down.
Her blue eyes sparkled. “Ah, so I have your attention.”
“You’ve had my full attention since that spotlight revealed you.”
He led her to the dance floor, where he turned to take her into his arms. He was intensely aware of her enticing perfume, of her soft hand in his, of her other hand skimming the back of his neck. She was soft, lithe and a good dancer, one more surprise for the evening.
“You have really hidden yourself away from a lot of fun and a lot of attention.”
“I have a life. Around the ranch and in Verity, I don’t think I’ve missed a thing. You don’t know what I do when I go to Dallas, Houston or New York.”
“No, I don’t, but I’m curious now.”
“I have a lovely time. I have friends in other places besides Verity and the ranch, you know.”
“I’ll bet you do,” he said, smiling at her.
He had seen Lindsay in one of the bars in Verity, playing poker and downing whiskey like one of the men. Now he had a hard time reconciling that image with the woman in his arms. He stared at her, amazed it was her and wondering how long this facade would last.
Even when she returned to her normal self—and she eventually would—he knew he’d never look at her in the same way again. Discovering there was an enticing side to her changed his entire view of the woman who took life too seriously.
For once, she wasn’t so serious and earnest. He knew that was her nature, though, and he warned himself not to have high expectations of partying or lovemaking. She was not the type of woman he wanted to get entangled with, but for tonight he was going to break one of his basic rules of life.
Tonight he was going to stop thinking about the past and their problems. Tonight he was simply going to enjoy being with a stunning woman whose intention was to please him. And he wanted to return the favor.
When the dance ended, he took her hand. “I think our salads have been served. Shall we go back?”
As they ate, he listened attentively while she talked about growing up a Calhoun. She avoided mentioning the family feud or any touchy subject. Instead, she related childhood memories, college incidents and ranch success stories. The whole time she spoke, he couldn’t stop picturing her blond hair long and soft over her shoulders. He wondered if she would let him take it down later. He wanted to run his fingers through the long strands, hold her close and kiss her. He wanted seduction.
Again, he wondered about her plans for the night. She had surprised him constantly since the bidding began back at the auction. In a way she was being her most devious self, but he hoped she never stopped. So far, he had loved every minute of this night since the spotlight first picked her out of the crowd.
Over their dinners, which were a thick, juicy steak cooked to perfection for him and a lobster for her, she asked about his life, and he shared some stories.
Finally, their desserts were brought out, fancy, beautifully crafted dishes that they both ignored because they were more interested in each other.
“Would you like to dance again?” he asked when she sat back.
“Of course.”
The piano player had been joined by four more musicians, and the group played a ballad that allowed him to hold Lindsay close in his arms.
“Remember,” he whispered in her ear, “for tonight, we’ll forget our battles.”
“I already have,” she said, squeezing his hand lightly and making his breath catch.
The band changed to a fast number and he released Lindsay reluctantly. Instead of returning to her seat, she began to dance in front of him, and he followed suit. As he watched her, he could feel his body heat rising. She was like a flame, her hips gyrating sensuously, her blue eyes languid and heated as if thoughts of making love were inspiring her every movement. She was sexy—another shocking discovery. She had to know the effect she was having on him. While her eyes glittered, a faint, satisfied smile hovered on her face. He wanted to yank her into his arms, lean over her until she held him tightly and plunder her soft mouth.
He danced near the wide glass doors overlooking the veranda. He opened the doors and whirled her through them onto the patio, where warm night air enveloped them.
“We can dance out here?”
“The night has cooled enough and we have this to ourselves,” he said, moving to the music that was only slightly muted. He danced out of the light spilling through the glass doors, into the shadows and stopped, looking down at her as she tilted her face up.
She was taller than most women he had gone out with, but still shorter than he was. His eyes adjusted to the August night and he could see her looking up at him as he tightened his arm around her, feeling her softness press against him.
“Ever since you walked across the stage at the country club, I’ve been wanting to do this.” Slowly, inch by inch, he leaned in closer, taking his time to steal the kiss he craved.
He wondered if it would be worth the wait.