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By the time he had tucked her into his vintage sports car, he realized two things. One, he should have brought the larger Mercedes. He and Mellie were so close in this small space he could have leaned over and kissed her with no trouble at all. Given the fact that he was already hard just from looking at her and inhaling her light scent, he was in trouble.
Secondly, Mellie was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. She seemed pale, but maybe that was a trick of the light. “Relax,” he said. “We’re going to a party. I want you to have fun.”
Mellie half turned in her seat. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.” Her eyes were huge. The pulse at the base of her throat beat rapidly.
He smiled, ruefully aware that he was in far deeper than he wanted to admit. What he was about to do would make them late, but it would be worth it. Leaning across the gearshift, he held her chin in one hand and slid his other hand beneath her masses of golden-red hair to cup her nape. “I can’t wait all night to taste you.”
He kissed her slowly, even though he wanted to do the opposite. Her lip gloss would have to be repaired, but that was a minor inconvenience. She responded instantly, moving toward him and sighing as his tongue mated with hers. Her skin was soft and warm, her kiss feminine and eager.
Damn. His memories hadn’t been exaggerated by his illness at all. Here he was, stone-cold sober, fever-free and wildly out of control already. He inhaled sharply and released her, pausing only to run his thumb along her trembling lower lip. “Say something,” he demanded.
Her faux-fur wrap had fallen away. Mellie retrieved it and huddled into the warmth. “Like what?”
Now that her bare shoulders were covered, maybe he could manage a coherent conversation. “I want to strip that dress from your body and drag you into the backseat.”
So much for conversation.
Mellie managed a smile. “I’d invite you inside, but I think it’s probably a terrible faux pas for the newly elected president of the Texas Cattleman’s Club to miss his own party.”
He gripped the steering wheel, needing to refute her statement but knowing she was right. “Afterward. Tonight. I want to stay over.”
The silence lasted several beats too long for his peace of mind. Mellie wrinkled her nose. “I’d rather you not. My neighbors are nosy.”
Hell. “Be honest with me, Mellie. Are you objecting to the venue or to the idea of you and me?”
This time her answer was even slower in coming. “The venue only, I suppose. I’d like to think I could say no to you, but I won’t lie to myself. I want you, Case. But we seem to be at an impasse, because I know you don’t have women spend the night out at the ranch.”
A knot inside his chest relaxed. “For you, I’ll make an exception.” He meant his response to be light and teasing, but the six words came out sounding like a vow.
Mellie nodded slowly. “Okay, then. We can swing by here later, and I’ll pack a bag. If you’re sure.”
He wasn’t sure at all...about anything...except that before midnight, Mellie Winslow was going to be in his bed.
* * *
Mellie felt as if she had fallen down the rabbit hole. Suddenly, her career seemed far less important than her love life. Since when did she calmly make plans to spend the night with a man? She hadn’t had sex in over two years. Maybe she should warn Case that she was rusty. Or maybe he knew enough for the both of them.
As they pulled up in front of the imposing Texas Cattleman’s Club, a uniformed parking valet hurried forward, ready to take the keys and whisk the car away. Case helped Mellie out of the low-slung vehicle, both of them taking care not catch her dress on anything.
When she stood at his side, her stomach full of butterflies, he slipped an arm around her waist. “You ready?”
She nodded, but her heart plummeted. Out at the ranch, Case had simply been a sick male who needed her help. Now...here...it was going to be impossible to ignore who he really was.
That truth was hammered home with a vengeance as they stepped through the doors of the club. Camera flashes went off in chorus. Reporters shouted questions. Case gave the press crew an easy smile and a good sound bite, even as he kept his arm curled protectively around Mellie and steered them toward the ballroom, stopping only to drop off Mellie’s wrap and clutch purse at the coat-check counter.
Another doorway, another entrance.
This time there were no cameras, but instead a surge of well-wishers who wanted to congratulate Case. It was inevitable that he and Mellie would end up separated. She smiled and wiggled her fingers at him to let him know she was okay. It was actually kind of sweet to see how many people gathered around him to say hello.
As she waited for the crush to subside, Mellie looked around the room with curiosity. This was only the third time in her life she’d ever been inside the club, and the other two occasions had been long ago.
The building was a century old and had been cared for well over the years. Tradition mingled with luxury seamlessly. It was fun to see so many people dressed to the nines and ready to party.
Mellie smoothed her skirt and kept a smile on her face. Just as she was planning to go in search of an out-of-the-way corner, strong fingers gripped her elbow. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Case.” She was startled to find him at her side. A moment ago he’d been surrounded by a small crowd of people.
“I want you to meet Mac McCallum,” he said. “And his sister Violet. Mac is an energy technology whiz. Violet keeps their family ranch running smoothly.”
Mellie shook hands with each of the attractive McCallum siblings. “Lovely to meet you both.”
Violet grinned. “I think this is going to be a short-lived conversation. They’re motioning for the two of you to lead out the first dance of the evening.”
Mellie’s mouth went dry. She looked up at Case as they made their way to the center of the room. “Do you even know how to dance?” she whispered. “’Cause I’m not exactly a professional.”
“My mother and grandmother were old school. Young men had an obligation to learn the ways of gentlemen. Dancing was at the top of the list.”
“I’m impressed.”
The orchestra stuck up a dreamy tune as Case swept Mellie into his arms. At some level she was aware that she and Case were alone in the middle of the floor. Overhead, a priceless chandelier sparkled, showering them with small rainbow flashes of light. The crowd was four-and five-people deep, pressed back around the edges of the room.
But in Case’s arms she forgot to be either nervous or self-conscious. He held her confidently, steering her easily in a waltz. His hand was warm on her back. “Thank you for coming with me tonight,” he said, his smile a flash of white in his tanned face. “You’ve made this a lot more fun for me.”
“You didn’t really need a date,” she pointed out. “There are all sorts of women in this room who would love to dance with you.”
He dipped her skillfully and laughed when she couldn’t stifle a small gasp. “I didn’t want any of them,” he said. “I only want you.”
After that, the song ended and everyone took the floor as the next song began.
Case bent to whisper in her ear. “Let’s get something to eat.”
She nodded, even as he extricated them from the mass of bodies nearby. Fortunately, the air was cooler and the people fewer as they approached the buffet tables. Mellie filled her plate with boiled shrimp, beautiful canapés and various hors d’oeuvres. “This looks amazing.”
Case served himself three times as much, but then again, he was a big man who needed a lot of fuel. He found a table for two. “Eat fast,” he joked. “More of my friends want to meet you.”
Mellie knew the moment alone wouldn’t last long. It seemed as if every eye in the room was on them. Her earlier reservations about being seen in public with Case Baxter came flooding back. “It’s easy to see why you were elected,” she said. “You’re very popular.”
He lifted an eyebrow as he wolfed down a spicy meatball. “It would be the same for anyone who holds this position. People like knowing they have access to influence.”
“That’s a pretty cynical statement.”
“But true. I learned a long time ago not to believe my own press. When a man has money and power, people flock around like bees to honey. Underneath it all, I’m just a Texas cowboy.”
“If you say so.” Maybe he was being modest and maybe he really believed what he said. Either way, he wasn’t seeing clearly. There was something special about Case...something that made her want to be with him for more than a single night. Something elemental. Something real.
She didn’t particularly enjoy the barrage of eyes trained on their table at the moment. The avid interest made her worry about finding food in her teeth or spilling wine on her beautiful dress. Still, it was a relief to know that she didn’t feel as out of place as she had expected.
When they finished eating, Case began to introduce her to an endless stream of his friends, including Jeff Hartley, a local rancher who appeared to be without a date for the party, and Drew and Beth Farrell, to name a few. Some of them—such as Dr. Reese—Mellie knew already, at least in passing.
Royal wasn’t all that big. Families tended to own the same land for generations. Drew and Beth shared the story of how they had been not-so-friendly neighbors until the wicked F4 tornado stranded them together in a storm cellar.
All of Case’s circle of friends were interesting people. Beneath the social chitchat, though, Mellie knew what Case was thinking. Because she was thinking about it, too. Sex. Naked, wild, exploratory sex. Two people attracted to each other without much else in common.
When Case was pulled into a conversation that seemed to be more business than pleasure, Mellie hung back on the far edges of the room, listening to the band and chatting with Amanda and Nathan. Unfortunately, her support team was heading out early.
Amanda hugged Mellie. “It’s been a fun evening, but Nathan was up at five this morning. We’re going home.”
Mellie returned the hug. “Thank you again for the dress. I think Case likes it.”
Nathan snorted. “Every man in the room likes it. You’re a knockout, Mellie Winslow.”
“Hey.” Amanda pinched her husband’s arm. “I’m standing right here.”
He scooped her up and gave her a thorough kiss, one that left Amanda pink cheeked and starry-eyed. “Mellie knows I only have eyes for you, sweetheart. Don’t you, Mellie?”
“I do. And she feels the same way about you. Now go home before you get arrested for public indecency.”
Their laughter was equal parts smug and rueful.
Watching the Battles walk across the dance floor to the exit gave Mellie a funny twinge in her chest. Amanda and Nathan had known each other forever. Their relationship was rock solid, and they were more in love today than they had ever been.
What would it be like to have that kind of security and trust in a relationship?
She was still rattling that question around in her head when a young cowboy came up to her and asked for a dance. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-one or twenty-two. Mellie felt ancient in comparison, but his earnest invitation was sweet.
They moved around the dance floor in silence. The young cowhand seemed nervous, because he glanced in Case’s direction now and then. “Mr. Baxter is giving me the evil eye,” he said.
“Don’t mind him. You and I are having a nice dance. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Your dad is Harold Winslow, right?”
Mellie stumbled slightly. “Um, yes. Why do you ask?”
Now the invitation made more sense.
The kid cleared his throat. “My cousin owns one of the shops out at the Courtyard. Word got around this week that your dad is thinking of selling the place. It’s made folks nervous about their businesses. When I saw you here tonight, I thought I’d get an answer straight from the horse’s mouth.”
“You might want to rethink that comparison,” Mellie said drily.
The cowhand blushed. “You know what I mean. Is it true?”
Mellie mulled over her answer. “It may be true that my father has been talking big and throwing his weight around. But I’m part owner of the company, too, and as far as I know, there are no plans to sell. Who is your cousin, anyway?”
“Raina Patterson. She owns the antiques store Priceless.”
“Oh, yes... I know her. Please tell Raina I’ll be out to see her in the next couple of weeks to set things straight. And tell her she has a sweet cousin.”
Now the wrangler’s neck and ears were as red as the stripe in his Western shirt. “Thank you, ma’am. Nice dancing with you.”
Mellie had no sooner grabbed a glass of punch than Case appeared at her side again. For a big man, he surely was quiet and fast when he wanted to be. “Should I bow or salute?” she asked. “Now that you’re officially the president and all?”
He snagged her glass and took a sip, his lips landing exactly where hers had been. “I saw the young pup encroaching on my territory. Don’t you know you’re supposed to throw the small ones back in the water?”
“Very funny. He’s a sweetheart.”
“I’ll bet. He was one of the brave ones. Every unattached guy in this room is thinking about doing what he did.”
“You do know how to flatter a girl.” She smiled, her confidence buoyed by Case’s wry observations.
Case lifted an eyebrow when a tall man with shaggy brown hair and green eyes approached them. The man gave Mellie an appreciative glance. “I don’t know how you ended up dancing with Case,” the man said, “but I’d be love to take a turn on the dance floor with you, pretty lady.”
“Well, I—”
“This one’s taken,” Case said, glowering. He glanced at Mellie. “Meet my buddy Logan Wade. He likes fast horses and fast women, not necessarily in that order.”
Mellie laughed. “Nice to meet you, Logan.”
Logan shook her hand, his grip warm and firm. “Don’t listen to him. I’m harmless. Case is the ladies’ man in our group. At least I’m not opposed to marriage on principle.”
From the look on Case’s face, he wasn’t amused by his friend’s ribbing.
Case glanced at his watch. “I’ve done my time,” he muttered. “Mellie and I are going to get out of here. This crowd will party for several more hours.”
Logan kissed Mellie’s hand theatrically. “When you get tired of this guy, give me a call.”
Thirteen (#u047f3563-69a3-5384-8cea-74b4d0356db5)
Case’s mood soured. Was Mellie tempted by Logan Wade’s offer? Surely not. But the other man was definitely popular with women. They loved his easy-going personality.
Case shoved aside the unwelcome realization that Mellie might be looking for something more than Case wanted to offer. He had enjoyed the evening more than he’d thought he would. But right now he was focused on the after-party.
He hoped Mellie was on the same page, because he was wired and hungry. For a brief moment he thought about heading straight to the ranch. It was possible once they got to Mellie’s house, she would change her mind.
At a stop sign, in the glare of a streetlight, he studied her profile. “Penny for your thoughts,” he said lightly. Surely she wasn’t actually thinking about Logan’s smooth flirtation. The other rancher was only trying to needle Case.
When she gave Case her full attention, her luminous, deep eyes drew him in. For a moment, he thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then she drew a visible breath. “Will you tell me about your wife?”
The question was way down on the list of things he’d expected her to say. “Is that a prerequisite for tonight?”
“I didn’t mean to make you angry.”
“I’m not angry,” he said, gripping the steering wheel. “But it’s old news.”
“I’d still like to know. Please...”
He shrugged, wishing he had loosened his bow tie. “I was young and stupid. Leslie worked for my dad. She saw me as a meal ticket, I guess. Dad tried to warn me...suggested a prenup. But I refused. We’d been married for six months when Leslie cleaned out two of my bank accounts and skipped the country.”
“I am so sorry. You must have been devastated.”
