Karen Kelley - How to Seduce a Texan

He quirked an eyebrow. “Just care? Is that all?”

When she looked up at him he lowered his head, his mouth taking hers. A shiver ran through her. God, it seemed like forever since she’d tasted him on her lips. She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

But before the kiss could go very far, he broke it off. “Just care? Is that all you feel for me, Nikki?” He teased the back of her neck, lightly massaging.

“No, dammit, I love you,” she whispered. “There, I’ve said it. Now are you satisfied?”

“Why the hell did you let me suffer the last two weeks?” He hugged her close.

“I didn’t think you’d ever want to see me again. What I did was so wrong. It’s one thing to alert the public to dirty politicians and businesses out to fleece the innocent, but it was different with you.”

She pulled away and looked at him again as what he’d said finally sunk into her brain. “You said I made you suffer. How did I make you suffer?”

“Haven’t you guessed?”

She shook her head.

“I fell in love with you the second I answered the phone.”

Her smile was slow. “Was that before or after I told you I liked it rough?”

“Before, after, and during.”

He pressed his mouth to hers again. Her body trembled with need. God, how she’d missed this man. He was her life, her soul. He was each breath she took or would ever take.

She held him close, resting her head against his chest when they both came up for air.

“Are you going to quit football?” she asked.

“Yes. I’m spending more time at the doctor’s getting my injuries taken care of than I am playing football. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all, but after we get married will we have to live in the country?”

Cal leaned back and looked at her. “I thought you didn’t believe in marriage.”

“I changed my mind. Does that bother you?”

He grinned. “Not at all, but remember when I tell the kids you begged me to marry you, I’ll be the one telling the truth.”

She frowned. “But we aren’t going to move to the country, are we?”

“Do you want to?”

“Good Lord, no.”

“Me, neither. I’ll take the city any day. I had an offer-sportscaster with one of the stations. I think I’m going to take them up on it. So, do we have everything settled?”

“I think so.”

“Good, then call in sick, because I doubt we’ll leave your bed for the next week.”

Nikki caressed her hand across his face before sauntering toward her room. At the door, she turned back and looked at him.

“I’ll call in later.”

Damn, she liked the look of passion that flared in his eyes. She had a feeling she’d be seeing it for many years.

“I’m not so sure about this,” Nikki said as she looked around at the others. Celeste was clearly excited, Brian looked hesitant, and Cal, well, he just looked amused.

Cal grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it. He did that a lot-kissing her, holding her close. She rather liked it.

“We have to,” Celeste pleaded. “Her name was Aggie. Aggie Watson. I don’t know why anyone didn’t try to find out something about her years ago. It wasn’t like it was that difficult.”

“So, tell us about this…ghost,” Cal said, then grinned.

Nikki frowned at him and wondered why he was being so stubborn. “I saw the ghost and she’s real.”

“I thought you didn’t believe in anything you couldn’t touch, feel, or taste?” He ran the back of his knuckles across her cheek. She automatically leaned closer.

“Would y’all like a little privacy?” Brian asked.

“No, they wouldn’t. They want to do the séance, too.”

Brian shook his head. “I don’t think they look that enthused.”

“Nikki, help me out here. Don’t you want to set Aggie’s soul free?” Celeste said.

They were standing by the barn at the ranch. Nikki glanced toward the cabin, although she couldn’t see it because of the trees. A cold chill of foreboding clutched her in an icy grip. “How exactly did you say she died?”

“She was strangled by the man who wanted to marry her. She didn’t want to marry him because she was in love with someone else. So that’s why he killed her, and we just have to tell her to go toward the light. Please.”

Nikki didn’t want to go anywhere near the cabin, but how could she say no to Celeste when she pleaded so convincingly? “Then let’s do it,” she said, suddenly making up her mind.

Cal leaned close to her and whispered in her ear, “There are no such things as ghosts.”

Boy, was he in for a big surprise.

Celeste turned to look at Brian, giving him the same look she’d used on Nikki. Brian didn’t stand a chance. It was as plain as the nose on her face how much he loved Celeste.

“Okay, okay,” he finally caved.

Celeste smiled brightly. “We have to do it tonight.”

“Why tonight?” Cal asked as he casually draped his arm across Nikki’s shoulders. “Is there a full moon?”

Everyone automatically looked up, searching the skies.

“As a matter of fact, there is,” Nikki said.

“Even better,” Celeste chimed in. “Let’s go.”

They all piled into the double-cab pickup. Cal drove. Nikki wished she’d gone to the bathroom before they’d left. She was not about to take a chance her stickups were still working.

“I hope the psycho rooster has bedded down somewhere far away for the night,” Celeste muttered.

Nikki cringed. How could she still feel so damned guilty over a stupid bird?

After bumping over the dirt road they pulled up in front of the cabin. For some reason it looked really spooky in the light of the moon.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Brian asked.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared, little brother.”

“Damned right I am.”

Cal chuckled, then got out of the pickup. The others followed. Once beside him, Nikki made sure she held tight to his hand.

“Do you have the flashlight?” she asked, just to be on the safe side.

He flipped it on and put it under his face. “I want to drink your blood.”

She bopped him on the arm. “That was so not funny,” she said as they trooped inside the house.

“Okay, where are we doing this?” Brian asked.

“The kitchen, so we can all sit at the table.” Celeste raised her chin and marched right in without looking back to see if they followed.

Nikki had to give Celeste credit for determination. Nikki just wanted to get this over with and get the hell out of here.

They sat at the table.

“Now what?” Brian asked.

“I think we’re supposed to call her forth. Then we’ll tell her she’s dead and needs to go toward the light. I’ve never done a séance, but how hard could it be?” Celeste looked at each one of them, her gaze stopping on Cal. “No laughing. A young woman is depending on us.”

“No laughing, I swear.” Cal crossed his heart.

“Hold hands.” Celeste reached hers toward Cal’s and Brian’s.

They all clasped hands. Cal rubbed his thumb along the back of Nikki’s. She dug her fingernail into his and he backed off. The man was incorrigible.

“Aggie Watson, we know you’re here,” Celeste said. “We know why you’re here. That you were murdered long ago and we want to set your spirit free. Go, go toward the light.”

A blue mist began to form. Nikki held her breath, squeezing Cal’s hand. He grinned and glanced over his shoulder. When he looked back at her, his grin was gone.

“What the hell is that,” he whispered.

“The ghost,” Nikki said.

“It’s okay, Aggie. Go toward the light,” Celeste intoned.