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She fixed a silver hoop earring to her lobe, looking a little flustered but beautiful all the same in a black silky dress that showed off her long, shapely dancer’s legs. Her hair curled past her shoulders and was held up on one side by a crystal clip.
“You look gorgeous, Cara.” He stepped into the room.
Cara looked him up and down, surprise registering on her face. And before she could comment on his attire, he shook his head and added, “It’s a shame you’re going to have to take off all your clothes.”
Chapter Three
Dressed in jeans and wearing leather boots Kevin had provided, Cara sat upon Dream Catcher, the five-year-old mare who had been born at TCC’s stables when Cara had been living with Kevin. Though she had grown up with horses on her parents’ estate, Cara had forgotten how much she loved riding. She and Kevin had taken an occasional ride in their early years of marriage, before he’d been too obsessed with work to take the time.
The day Dream Catcher was born, Cara had rushed to the stables and the moment she’d seen the feisty little filly, she’d fallen a little bit in love. To sit upon the sweet mare and ride off into the hills of Maverick County with Kevin seemed almost like a dream.
The Texas sun lowered on the horizon and cast hues of orange-gold over the valley as they rode in silence. There was a quiet settle to the land, a peace like nothing Cara had experienced for a long time. She’d been so caught up in the fast pace of Dallas that she’d forgotten what it was like to be with nature. Kevin seemed to understand that, setting the slow pace and enjoying the scenery. There was an odd sense of comfort being here with him. She could almost forget his blackmail and his manipulation.
Almost.
She slid a glance his way and let go a little sigh. Looking just as comfortable atop a horse as he was cutting a deal in his downtown office, Kevin acclimated well. Dressed in solid Wranglers, a blue plaid shirt and black Stetson, her husband dressed down very nicely.
“You’re staring at me,” he said with a grin.
“Oh, you’d like to think so.” Caught, Cara averted her gaze, hiding her own grin.
“I know so. See anything you like?”
Cara sobered at his question. “I don’t know, Kevin. Do I?”
Kevin clucked his jaw a few times. “You need to lighten up, Cara. Enjoy the scenery.”
“And you think you’re part of that scenery?”
“Me?” he said, lowering the brim of his hat. “No, ma’am. I wouldn’t presume.”
Cara chuckled. Okay, maybe she should just lighten up. She didn’t like Kevin’s blackmail, but she could enjoy the ride. If for no other reason than that she was atop Dream Catcher on a glorious, latesummer evening.
“I see a whole lot I like,” Kevin said quietly, after a minute.
Cara sensed his gaze on her, and a burning heat crawled up her neck. She didn’t dare look at him. A lump formed in her throat. She didn’t trust herself to respond.
They rode in silence until the dirt path led them to a rise. “Wait here,” Kevin said mysteriously, and clicked his mare into a trot. He rode on about ten yards to the peak of the rise, then turned toward her. “Okay, come on up.” He gestured with a wave.
Dream Catcher followed the path in a trot, until Cara met Kevin at the top of the rise. Looking into his eyes first, then following the direction of his gaze, Cara gasped at the view below. “Oh, Kevin. This is amazing.”
A small, well-kept cottage on the TCC property was lit outside by at least a hundred pillar candles. A table, dressed in white linen, was set with fine china, crystal wineglasses and lilies of every variety.
“It’s beautiful.” Tears stung her eyes. Why couldn’t he have done something like this years ago when their marriage was shaky, when she needed attention, when she needed to know she was more important than his business? Oh, Kevin, she thought, why are you doing this now, when it’s too late? The question plagued her, but she pushed it out of her mind.
Lighten up, Cara. This is temporary.
“I’m glad you like it.” Kevin pushed his horse on, and Dream Catcher followed him down the other side of the rise. When they reached the cottage, Kevin dismounted. He walked over to Cara and reached for her. She slid down the left side of the horse into Kevin’s arms. He held her, their gazes entwined, as luminous candles lit the background.
“You were always gorgeous in candlelight, babe.”
Cara smiled, the compliment warming her heart.
Kevin tilted his head, the brim of his Stetson grazing her forehead. She braced herself for the kiss, tightening up inside in anticipation.
Kevin brushed his lips over hers in the lightest feather-touch of a kiss, then backed away. Cara blinked, a little surprised.
He took her hand. “Have a seat.” He guided her to the table and pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll see to the horses.”
She watched him take the reins of both horses and go behind the cottage. When he returned and sat down, a chef appeared at the table wearing a white coat and tall hat, a waiter standing just behind him. “I hope you enjoy the meal Mr. and Mrs. Novak,” the chef said.
“I’m sure we will,” Kevin returned, with a nod.
Cara sat quietly while the waiter served their first course, a little pastry puff filled with light cheese and raspberries. She took her first bite and closed her eyes. “Oh…this is heaven.”
When she opened her eyes, Kevin’s gaze was on her, watching her enjoy the pastry with a gleam in his eyes. “The chef came highly recommended.”
Cara was again tempted to ask, why was he going to so much trouble? But she’d already decided that she would just go with the flow and see where that would take her, so she remained silent on the subject. “I can see why. He’s already got my vote for Chef of the Year.”
Kevin poured them each a glass of wine.
“You said something about needing my advice?” Cara sipped her wine and the smooth liquid warmed her inside. “But you haven’t said a word about it yet.”
Kevin lifted his glass to his lips and sipped. “It’s not a pleasant subject, Cara. I hate to spoil the night, but yes, I do have something I’d like to tell you. It’s regarding Alex Montoya and the recent fire at Brody Oil and Gas. I think it was set deliberately.”
“You think Alex did it?” Cara’s voice elevated with disbelief. Sure, the Brody brothers had issues with Alex, and vice versa, from their teen years, but Cara never thought Alejandro Montoya capable of something as criminal as arson.
“I do, Cara. I’d like your opinion about this. Hear me out.”
Kevin gave a detailed description of what had transpired between Lance, Mitch and Alex through the years, and then added a final note about how Alex had managed to hamper his newest revitalization development. He explained how Alex had helped back a faction that had that particular area in Somerset declared historic, thus killing the project. “I have no proof regarding the fire, but you know everyone involved. What do you think?”
Cara shook her head. She thought about the accidental meeting she’d had with Alicia just yesterday. Alicia would be devastated if her brother was involved with the fire in any way. “My gut instincts tell me Alex wouldn’t do anything so drastic. It’s not his style, Kevin. Yes, I can see him behind the scenes, working to preserve the Somerset area. He may have even done that to spite you, but that’s not a criminal act.”
“No, it just caused me a major headache and financial losses.”
“You may not agree with me,” she said with a shake of her head, “but I don’t think Alex had anything to do with the refinery fire.”
“Okay, noted. You and Darius are the only ones. Lance, Mitch, Justin and I all think he’s behind it.”
Cara sipped her wine. “Maybe you’re not being objective. Maybe you want to blame Alex. Maybe you’re so pissed at him, you want him to be guilty.” Kevin winced and Cara continued. “Revenge can be sweet, isn’t that what you always said?”
“No, I never said that.”
Cara blinked and leaned forward. “Oh, sorry, that must have been the other husband I married nine years ago.”
“Must have been.” With a smug look, Kevin lifted his glass and finished off his wine. He poured himself another glass as the waiter cleared their dishes and brought the next course.
“So, is that all you wanted to ask me?” Cara dived into her asparagus salad, her appetite flaring to life.
“Yes.”
“Are you sorry you asked for my opinion?”
“No.” Kevin spoke with an earnest tone. “I always valued your opinion. That hasn’t changed.”
Cara sat back in her seat and stared into Kevin’s eyes. “You can be so charming—when you want to be.”
“I want to be. Right now. With you.”
Why? Cara didn’t understand it, but the voice in her head told her to go with it and enjoy these last few days with Kevin. Soon enough, their marriage would be over.
When they finished all four courses of the main meal, Kevin suggested they go inside the cottage for coffee and dessert. “The chef made us something special.”
“I should be full, but I can always fit in dessert,” Cara said, feeling the zipper of her jeans expanding a bit. She was slender and, at five foot eight, she could afford to eat a decadent dessert once in a while.
Kevin stood and reached for her hand. With fingers entwined, they entered the cottage, climbing the steps, their boots scraping the wooden floors. Cara made a quick tour of the quaint cottage, noting the rustic stone fireplace, cozy chintz sofa and several swag-draped pane windows. “It’s lovely here.”
“It was the groundskeeper’s home at one time. TCC let it go to ruin, practically. I renovated it and now it’s available—”
“For impressing your dates?” she blurted, in a teasing tone.
Kevin whipped around and grabbed her by the waist, bringing her flush up against him. “You have a mouth on you, don’t you?”
Cara pulled her head back to look at him fully. “You always liked my sassy mouth.”
Kevin’s gaze devoured her mouth. He cupped her head with one hand and pulled her close, his lips so near. “I still do.”
Cara’s heart pumped double time when he kissed her. He tasted of robust wine and warmth. He tasted familiar and fine. He tasted of all the sweet things in her life she missed. “Kevin.”
“I love it when you whimper my name,” he said between kisses.
“I didn’t whimper,” Cara protested mildly. Kevin cupped her derriere and tugged her in. Hip jamming hip, she felt his desire, rough against rough as their jeans brushed.
Kevin nibbled on her throat. “Really? Guess I’m gonna have to do something about that.”
There were times when Kevin hated his methodical mind and this was one of them. Every instinct he possessed told him to seduce Cara, here and now, and take advantage of the remote, romantic cottage setting. But Kevin had a plan in mind, and the culmination of that plan had to happen later rather than sooner.
He’d kick himself tomorrow for his damnable obstinate nature and pay the price of losing out on a wild night of sex with his wife. Yet all wasn’t lost. He needed more from Cara tonight and he’d take what little his plan allowed.
He nipped at Cara’s lips over and over, sweeping his tongue through her mouth with frenzied heat. A little tiny moan escaped her throat that sent Kevin’s straining erection into overdrive.
With an effort that took all of his will, he pulled away from her to look deep into her eyes. Her hazyblue surrender unnerved him.
He needed to touch her and feel the softness of her skin, caress the firm mounds of her perfect breasts. Nothing was going to stop him, his plan be damned.
“Baby,” he murmured, licking the soft center of her throat. “Let me touch you.”
She trembled and whimpered helplessly.
Kevin kissed his way down to the first button of her blouse. With nimble fingers, he undid that button, then the next and the next. Her breasts, cupped in white cotton, spilled out, an invitation he couldn’t ignore.
He palmed her breasts and closed his eyes, relishing the remembered feel of her, the way she fit so completely in his hand. His thumbs simultaneously caressed both erect tips, her nipples straining against her bra, until Kevin freed them from the torture.
“Ohh,” she moaned, leaning closer to him with a need he knew he couldn’t satisfy tonight.
“You feel as good as you look, baby. As good as I remember,” he murmured.
Kevin bent his head and kissed the tips of her breasts, first one, then the other. Always responsive to his touch, she arched back and Kevin drew her deep into his mouth, suckling and teasing the rosy buds with his tongue.
He wanted to take her here and now, to ease the desire straining against his jeans, to begin to rectify four years of wanting her, despite his anger. It was hard to back off, to pull away from what she offered and what he wanted, but Kevin was determined to see his plan through.
“Did you hear that?” he asked quietly.
Breathlessly, she replied, “You mean the pounding of my heart?”
Kevin smiled and kissed her lips. “No, outside. Something spooked the horses. I’ll go check.”
Cara appeared a little surprised by his quick dismissal. He turned and walked out the front door. Behind the house, the horses calmly waited. Kevin leaned against the cottage wall, beside a hibiscus vine in full yellow bloom, and shut his eyes. “Harder than I thought,” he whispered.
He waited just a few moments, until his breathing slowed and his internal thermostat cooled down. Then he untied the reins of both horses and guided them toward the front of the cottage. Cara waited on the porch steps. “False alarm,” he said. “Must have just been a coyote howl off in the distance.”
Thankfully, Cara had buttoned her blouse and straightened her unruly, honey-blond hair. He only had so much willpower where his wife was concerned. He tilted his head and sighed, without falsity. “We should go. It’s getting late.”
Cara blinked a few times, then nodded. “Of course.”
Kevin helped Cara onto Dream Catcher and then bounded up onto his horse. They headed to the TCC stables in silence. Once they were safely back at the entrance, Kevin glanced at Cara. “We never had dessert.”
Cara broke her silence with an acknowledging light in her eyes. “We’ll have to lie to the chef and tell him it was fabulous.”
He dismounted, then reached for her and, once again, she slid down the horse and into his arms. Kevin stared deep into her eyes, holding her loosely around the waist. “It was fabulous.”
Cara searched his eyes. She had questions, but Kevin had only one answer. He kissed her soundly on the lips, tasting her once again. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night. I’ll make up for the dessert we missed.”
“How can you do that? I’m sure the chef is on to bigger and better things.”
He chuckled, knowing Cara was messing with him. “Easy. I know what you crave.”
Cara jammed her hands to her hips and shook her head in denial. “I bet you don’t.”
“Oh, no? Hot fudge over chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and a dozen cherries.”
“Tasty’s?” Cara’s smug expression changed to one of longing. “I haven’t had Tasty’s for—”
“Four and a half years? I took you there for your birthday, remember?”
A thoughtful look crossed her expression and she smiled sadly. “Yeah, I do remember.”
“So, how about it? Burgers and dessert at Tasty’s tomorrow night?”
