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Stone’s tulips, and his kiss, were picking away at her defenses. Too bad she couldn’t wedge a coat of armor into her suitcase to withstand the barrage on her hormones.
Laughter with a hysterical edge bubbled out of her, and she flopped back on the bed into the cushiony softness of her pink-and-gray chevron quilt. She clasped the tulip against her chest, watching the ceiling fan click lazy circles above her. She and Stone had spent entire weekends in her bed making love. She hadn’t wanted to go to his quarters in the main house, not even after they’d gotten engaged, not with his grandmother in a nearby suite. So he’d taken her on elaborate trips, vowing that he did so because then he could at least feel like she was staying with him.
Now Johanna wondered if she’d known they were destined to fail even from the start. Their time together had been a fantasy that couldn’t withstand the light of harsh reality.
She hadn’t traveled much before Stone. During her year dating Stone, he’d flown her to exotic locales and swanky fund-raisers held by influential billionaires, a world away from her ranch and Stetson day-to-day life.
What should she expect from this trip?
She rolled to her side and stared into the empty suitcase. What did a girl take to a week of doggie dates with mystery families and her ex-fiancé? More importantly, how would she react if he gave her another one of those impromptu kisses?
A tap on the window snapped her out of her daze.
She jolted upright, her heart pounding in alarm. Before she could even reach for the cell phone her eyes focused on the face in the glass pane.
Stone stood outside like a Lone Star Romeo.
Her pulse leaped. Damn her traitorous body.
She rolled from the bed and to her feet. She shoved the window up, the muggy night breeze rolling inside and fluttering the lace curtains. “What are you doing out there?”
“I forgot my flowers. You didn’t seem to want them, so I figured I would give them to someone who would appreciate them.” He hefted himself up and through the window before she could blink.
She stumbled back a step, watching him eye her room, walk to the flowers then peer out the door.
Realization dawned, along with a spark of anger. “You’re checking to make sure your cousin didn’t come back here.”
“Maybe I am.” He turned on his heels to face her again. His gaze fell to her bed, right where the lone tulip lay.
Feeling vulnerable, she rushed to scoop up the flower and said, “I’m trying to decide what to pack for the trip. Since I don’t know where we’re going, I’m not making much progress.”
“Pack comfortably.” The gleam in his eyes projected loud and clear that he wasn’t fooled. “If we need something more, I’ll buy it for you.”
“We’re not engaged anymore. You’re not buying me clothes or other gifts.” She’d returned all the jewelry after she’d broken up with him—everything, including a yellow diamond engagement ring with a double halo setting. The night he’d given it to her, she’d thought all of her dreams of a family and a real home had come true.
She’d grown up a lot in the past seven months, alone with her disillusionment.
“Johanna,” he drawled, “we may not be engaged, but you are an employee of Hidden Gem Ranch and if you’re on Hidden Gem business and need clothes, the company can pick up the bill.”
“Clothes for what, exactly?”
“There’s a gem trade show I want to catch while we’re out.”
She knew how elaborate and hoity-toity those events could get. Being with him at one of those shows would feel too much like a fancy date. “I’ll stay at the hotel with the dogs.”
“We’ll see,” he said in that stubborn, noncommittal way of his just before he swung a leg out the window again. “Good night.”
“Stone?”
He stopped shy of stepping all the way through the window. “Yes?”
“Thanks for the flowers.” She strode closer—just to be ready to close the window when he left, not to be nearer to him. Right? “It really is sweet how much you care about your grandmother’s happiness. I always admired that about you, your family loyalty.”
“Glad you have good memories, not just bad.”
Guilt pinched her over how their breakup had hurt him, too. She touched his shoulder lightly. “There’s nothing between Alex and me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Was it her imagination or had he swayed closer?
She pressed a hand to his chest. “That doesn’t mean there will never be someone. Am I not allowed to have another relationship again?”
A smile played with his mouth. “I’m not answering that.”
He looked over his shoulder at the yard.
She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Uh, actually—” he glanced back at her sheepishly “—I was taking the dogs for a run. Hope you don’t mind they’re digging up your yard right now.”
She laughed, enjoying this Stone, more like the man she remembered falling for, playful and open. “We’re just lucky they didn’t jump my little split rail fence.”
“Since they’re going to be spending the next week with me flying around in a plane, it would be a good idea to remind them who I am.”
She allowed herself to fall just a little more under his spell again, even if only for a minute. “That’s very sweet of you.”
“Sweet? First you make out with my cousin and then you call me sweet. Twice.” He shook his head, tsking. “This is not my night.”
Before she could help herself, she blurted out, “I wasn’t kissing your cousin.”
“Good.” Stone cupped the back of her neck and drew her in for a kiss, the full-out kind that proved to be a lot more than mouth meeting mouth.
His body pressed to hers in a familiar wall of muscle. Her lips parted and heaven help her, she didn’t regret it. She sank into the sensation of having his hands on her again, the warmth of his tongue boldly meeting hers. Kisses like this could lure her into forgetting a lot. In their time apart, somehow she’d lost sight of how intensely their physical attraction could sweep away reason.
Heat gathered between her legs until she gripped his arms, her fingers digging deep. A husky moan of pleasure and need welled up in her throat. She was so close to losing control altogether, what with a bed only a few short steps away. They may have had so many issues in their relationship, but when it came to sex, they were in perfect synchronicity.
How was she going to walk away from him after a kiss like this?
The ground tipped under her feet...or wait...Stone was stumbling into her. She braced a hand on her dresser for balance and realized Ruby the Rottweiler had both paws on the open window and she was nudging Stone in the back. Gem the yellow lab sprung up to join the Rottie, a symphony of barking echoing from beneath them. A quick glance down confirmed that Pearl the terrier and Sterling the Chihuahua-dachshund mix danced in the bushes below.
Breathlessly, she whispered, “I think it’s time for you to go.”
“Sleep well, beautiful.” Stone winked once before sliding back out the window.
She should have slammed the window closed after him. Instead, she stood between the parted curtains and watched him gather the pack with ease. He guided the larger dogs to jump her fence while scooping up the two little ones.
No question, she was in serious trouble here with only one way to cope during the coming week. She had to make absolutely sure she and Stone did not touch each other, not even accidentally. First thing in the morning, she intended to make her hands-off edict clear. Her eyes clung to the breadth of his shoulders and lower to his perfect butt that rivaled any blue jeans ad ever.
Gritting her teeth, she slammed the window closed and spun away fast.
Damn, it was going to be a long, achy night.
* * *
The morning sun crept upward at the McNairs’ private landing strip, which was located on the ranch. Johanna had given up waiting for Stone in the limousine an hour ago and had moved inside the small airport offices. The space held a waiting area, a control desk and a back room with a cot for a pilot to take naps if needed. There wasn’t much else to do but sit. She could understand Stone being late to meet her, but his grandmother was here with her dogs, prolonging a farewell that already had to be horribly difficult.
Mariah held herself rigidly in control, Ruby and Gem each resting against one leg. Pearl and Sterling curled up together on a seat beside her. Johanna couldn’t help but wonder how well the pack would adjust to being separated.
She checked the large digital clock above the door. The red numbers blinked nearly ten o’clock while the pilot kept busy with some paperwork outside beneath a Texas flag flapping lazily in the soft breeze. She bit back anger. She was exhausted from lack of sleep and frustrated from bracing herself to appear blasé in front of Stone.
Only to have him freakin’ stand her up.
She was mad. Steaming mad. And completely confused. If he was playing mind games with her, that was one thing. But to involve his grandmother? That was plain wrong, and not like him.
Shuffling a seat to move closer to Mariah, Johanna put a reassuring hand on the woman’s arm. “You don’t have to do this, Mrs. McNair. The dogs can stay with you. They can stay here now and even if the time comes...” She swallowed back a lump of emotion. “Even if the time comes when you’re not here. This is their home.”
Mariah patted Johanna’s hand. “It’s okay, really. I love them enough to do what’s best for them. I’ll be in and out of the hospital quite often, and they deserve attention.”
“Everyone here will take care of them.” She held on tighter to this strong, brilliant woman who was already showing signs of fading away. She had new gaunt angles and a darkness around her eyes that showed her exhaustion in spite of keeping up appearances of normalcy with a red denim dress and boots. “You must realize that.”
“I do, but I need to know they’re settled permanently, for my own peace of mind.” Mariah stroked the scruffy little terrier, adjusting the dog’s bejeweled collar. “They deserve to be a part of a family and not just a task for the staff, or an obligation for a relative who doesn’t really want them.”
“They could be a comfort to you. Even if you kept one of them, like Pearl or Sterling, maybe...”
Mariah’s touch skimmed from pup to pup until she’d petted all four. “I couldn’t choose. It would be like playing favorites with my children or grandchildren.”
There was an undeniable truth in her words and a selflessness that made Johanna ache all over again at the thought of losing her. “I wish there were more people like you in the world.”
“You’re dear to say that.” She cradled Johanna’s face in her hands. “And I wish you could be my granddaughter.”
There it was. Out there. The unacknowledged big pink elephant that had sat in the middle of every one of their conversations for the past seven months. Mariah had never once interfered or questioned her decision to break it off with Stone.
If only there’d been some other way.
Johanna leaned in and hugged Mariah, whispering in her ear, “I’m so sorry I can’t make that come true for you. I would have liked very much to have you as part of my family.”
Mariah squeezed her once before easing away and thumbing a lone tear from the corner of her eye. “I just want you to be happy.”
“My job makes me happy.” True, but she’d once dreamed of much more. “If it weren’t for your scholarship, I never could have afforded the training. I know I’ve thanked you before, but I can never thank you enough.”
“Ah, dear.” Mariah brushed back a loose strand from Johanna’s braid. “This isn’t goodbye. Even worst-case scenario, I’ll be around for months, and you’re only going to be gone a week. I intend to fight hard to be around as long as I can.”
“I know.” Johanna fidgeted with the horseshoe necklace. “I just want to be sure all the important things are said.”
“Of course, but I don’t want us to use our time on morbid thoughts or gloominess.” Mariah smoothed her denim dress and sat straighter. “Stone in particular has had enough disappointment from the people he loves.”
Johanna looked into the woman’s deep blue eyes and read her in an instant. “You’re sending him away this week so he won’t be here as you start your treatments.”
“Just until I get settled into a routine.”
The closeness of the moment, the importance of this time, emboldened her. “What if he wants to be around to support you?”
“My choices trump anyone else’s right now,” Mariah said with a steely strength that had made her a businesswoman of national stature. “Keep Stone busy and take care of placing my dogs. Enjoy the time away from the ranch. You work too hard, and if I’ve learned anything lately, it’s that we shouldn’t waste a day.”
Mariah eased the lecture with another squeeze of her hand, which Johanna quickly returned.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good enough, and for goodness’ sake, quit calling me Mrs. McNair or ma’am. If you can’t call me Gran, then call me Mariah.” She sighed, before shoving slowly to her feet. “Now how about we track down my tardy grandson so you can start your journey?”
“I’m sure he’s on his way...Mariah.” Johanna glanced at the wall clock again. This wasn’t like him. Could something have happened?
Johanna’s cell phone chimed from her purse, playing a vintage Willie Nelson love song. She glanced at Mariah, a blush stinging her cheeks faster than the fierce Texas sun. Damn it, why hadn’t she changed her Stone ringtone? She should have swapped her ringtone to some broken heart, broken truck country song. There were sure plenty to pick from. She fished out her cell, fumbling with the on button before putting it to her ear. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the office downtown.” Stone’s bass rumbled over her ears sending a fresh shiver of awareness down her spine. “A few unavoidable emergencies came up with work. I’ll give you a call when I’m ready to leave.”
Not a chance in hell was he getting off that easy, but she didn’t intend to chew him out with his grandmother listening. She would go straight to the Diamonds in the Rough headquarters and haul him out with both hands, if need be. Not that she intended to give him any warning. “Sure, thanks for calling.”
She disconnected and turned to Mariah. “He’s fine, just delayed downtown at the Fort Worth office. He wants me to swing by with the dogs, and we’ll leave from there. Would you like to help me load the dogs in the car?”
“Of course.” Mariah brightened at the task. “But please, take my limo. I’ll have the airport security run me back to the house.”
Johanna started to argue, but then the notion of rolling up to Diamonds in the Rough, Incorporated in the middle of downtown Fort Worth, dogs in tow, sounded like one hell of an entrance.
Her Texas temper fired up and ready, she was through letting Stone McNair walk all over her emotions.
Four (#u72d34d13-40c7-5cc5-97a4-021f60838f20)
Stone hated like hell being late for anything, but crisis after crisis had cropped up at the office even though he’d come in at five in the morning to prep for his weeklong departure.
Parked at his desk in front of the computer, he finished with the last details, clearing his calendar and rescheduling as much as he could for teleconferences from the road. He loved his grandmother, but she had to know the CEO of Diamonds in the Rough couldn’t just check out for a week without major prep. That was the primary reason for her test, right? For him to prove he was best suited to run the company.
She couldn’t have chosen a worse time.
Their CFO had gone into premature labor and had been placed on bed rest. His personal assistant was stuck in an airport in North Dakota. Their showroom was still under repairs from tornado damage and the construction crew’s foreman had gone on strike.
And his grandmother was dying of cancer.
His hands clenched over the keyboard. For her, he’d put together detailed plans for taking Diamonds in the Rough to an international level, to expand the company as a tribute to his grandparents who’d been there for him over the years. Yet now she might not even live long enough to see that dream come to fruition. It cut him to the core to think he’d somehow let her down, but he must have since she felt she needed to concoct tests for him to prove himself.
His eyes slid to the wood drafting table littered with new designs, most of them done by Amie, but a few of his own were scattered through the mix. He sketched late at night, after hours, to ease the tension of the corporate rat race, more so since his breakup with Johanna. His pieces incorporated a larger emphasis on metal work and carvings than Amie’s. He still included signature company jewels inlaid into the buckles, bolos and even a few larger necklaces. Each piece also carried the expected Western aura.
Amie was the true artist in the family, but his pieces usually landed well, too. Johanna had always encouraged him to design more....
He scratched his head and leaned back, desk chair squeaking in protest. What had he been thinking, climbing through her window last night like some out-of-control teenager? Except...he had been out of control, jealous over seeing her with his cousin. He hadn’t thought. He’d simply acted. That kiss had left him with a need for her that clawed like metal shards scraping his insides raw. Even hearing her voice on the phone forty-five minutes ago had increased the ache of wanting her in his bed again.
A quick buzz from the temp serving as a stand-in personal assistant gave him only a second’s warning before his door flung open to reveal Johanna, fire spitting from her eyes. “You missed your flight.”
