Kathie DeNosky - His Marriage Pact

“The only way I’d believe that is to see some pictures.”

She shook her head. “No way. Besides, I think I probably destroyed all evidence.”

He downed the last of the beer and pushed the mug away. “You said you moved a lot. Why is that?”

“I was a navy brat. We were rarely in one place for any length of time.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

“An older sister. She’s living around the corner from my parents in Idaho with her husband and three kids. My folks are so proud.”

“They’re not proud of you?”

She rimmed a fingertip around the edge of the glass. “Let’s just say they don’t understand my creative nature. Or at least my father never did. He preferred I become a nurse or teacher.”

“A traditionalist, huh?”

“More like a taskmaster. It was always his way or the highway.”

He could relate to that. His father was still controlling his life from the grave. “My dad never liked me devoting all my time to the rodeo. That made him a damn hypocrite since he met my mother on the circuit.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She was a barrel racer and he was a bulldogger.”

“Bulldogger?”

“Steer wrestler.”

She frowned. “Why would you want to wrestle a steer? That sounds rather dangerous.”

He chuckled over her lack of comprehension. “Sorry. I’m just surrounded by women who lived with rodeo cowboys. Most of the time they think they know more about it than I do.”

After downing the last of her drink, she took off her jacket and laid it in her lap, revealing a sleeveless silk top that sparked his imagination. And suddenly he started to sweat.

“Well, you’ll never have to worry about that with me,” she began, “because obviously I know nothing about the rodeo. Not that I’m averse to learning. I’m a quick study.”

Just seeing her bare arms, and a hint of cleavage, brought to mind a few lessons involving his second favorite sport. “I’m a good teacher.”

Smiling, she bent her elbow on the table and supported her cheek with her palm. “When is my first lesson?”

He wanted to suggest tonight, but the fact her voice sounded a little thick led him to believe she might be feeling the effects of the alcohol. “You name the place and the time, and I’ll be there.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she straightened and stared out at the horizon. “This place really surprised me. I was expecting a lot more desertlike terrain, not all this green pastureland. The scenery is really beautiful.”

So was she, and the fact she didn’t seem to realize that only elevated Dallas’s opinion of her. “Yeah, when the sky turns orange at sunset, it makes all the mesquite trees look good.”

She sent him a smile. “Where are you going to put the lodge?”

“On the east side of the property. We’ve surveyed about five acres that will be dedicated to Texas Extreme.”

“How many acres do you have?”

“Ten thousand.”

Her eyes went wide. “Wow. That’s a lot of land.”

He resisted reaching across the table and pushing the strand of hair away from her cheek. “We have a large herd of cattle. In fact, Texas Extreme is going to offer the experience of a good old-fashioned cattle drive, including a camp-out under the stars, complete with a chuck wagon.”

“That actually sounds fun. I’d like to join you.”

“You’d have to learn to ride a horse first.”

“I’m game, as long as it’s a gentle horse.”

“That can be arranged. I have a good gelding. He’s so broke I’d put a five-year-old on him.”

“That would be about my speed.”

“Something tells me you’d be a natural.”

Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “Thanks, but don’t count on it. I’m not sure I’ve ever been a natural at anything except designing.”

That put all sorts of questionable images in his mind. “I doubt that. In fact, I’m fairly sure you’re a natural at several things.”

She barked out a soft laugh. “I can’t think of one.”

“I can, but I’m guessing your ex never tapped into your innate abilities.”

“My ex rarely tapped into anything after our first year of marriage.”

Without giving it a thought, Dallas reached over and pushed that sliver of golden hair away from her face. “The man had to be an idiot. Is that why you divorced him?”

She suddenly looked more than a little uncomfortable. “He divorced me, remember? Not that I thought the marriage had any chance of surviving at that juncture. Anyway, I should probably be going before it gets any later.”

He really didn’t want her to leave but he had no one to blame but himself for bringing up past history. “It’s barely eight.”

“And I still have to drive back to San Antonio.”

When Paris pushed back from the table, came to her feet and swayed, Dallas stood and caught her arm. “Are you okay?”

She pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers. “I was fine until I got up. Guess I’m a little tired. That drink went straight to my head.”

As he’d predicted, Jenny’s mint juleps had claimed another unsuspecting victim. He should’ve warned Paris that she could be heavy-handed with the bourbon. “Come to think of it, you had two.”

She sent him a shaky smile. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, you did, which means you’re in no shape to drive.”

Her stern expression didn’t take away from her fantastic face. “I can’t very well stay here.”

“You can, and you will. I have several guest rooms. Five, in fact. Take your pick.” If he had his way, she’d pick his room. But he’d been taught never to take advantage of a woman under the influence.

“I didn’t pack a bag,” she protested. “I’m sure if I lie down for a little while, I’ll be fine.”

He didn’t have much faith in that. “We’ll see how you feel later, but I’m not going to let you get behind the wheel tonight if I think you’re not fit to drive. End of discussion.”

Clasping her elbow, Dallas led Paris through the double sliding doors, into the sunroom and guided her to the great room. He took one look at the towering staircase and decided showing her to his downstairs quarters would be the better part of valor.

He continued down the corridor and past the kitchen where he noticed Jenny cleaning up the dishes. He didn’t dare stop although he knew he’d have to do some serious explaining if she caught sight of them heading to the bedroom. He’d wager his inheritance she had. Not a problem. He had a bone to pick with her over the booze.

Once they arrived at the back of the house, he let go of Paris long enough to open the double doors before grasping her arm to steady her.

She took him by surprise when she wrenched out of his hold and headed to the bed. “This looks heavenly,” she said as she fell back on the mattress and laughed. “What a lovely guest room.”

“It’s my room,” he muttered. “I wasn’t sure you could make it up the stairs.”

She giggled again when she kicked off her shoes and one landed on top of the dresser several feet away, barely missing the mirror. “Are you trying to ruin my reputation, sir?”

“I’m trying to keep you from breaking your neck.” He crossed the room and held out his hands. “Hop up so I can turn down the covers.”

She accepted the gesture but instead of stepping aside, she stepped right into his arms. And then she did the one thing he’d been avoiding all night, yet wanted more than anything. She planted her mouth on his.

She looked like a saint and kissed like a sinner. Oh, yeah, she was a natural. She had mighty fine lips and met his tongue stroke for stroke. He roved his palms down her slender back and paused right before he reached her butt, which took a lot of effort.