Texas Blaze

Mitch rubbed the tension building at the back of his neck. Damn, he wished he hadn’t headed to the bunkhouse. He needed to focus on the rustling problem, and now all he could think about was rearranging that jerk’s face.

AFTER BEING STOPPED TWICE, Kate raced though the kitchen door and upstairs to her bedroom. More people would undoubtedly be looking for her to give their thanks and bid her good-night. She didn’t care. Better they couldn’t find her than breaking down in front of them.

If no one mentioned her engagement, she’d probably be okay, but she hadn’t been willing to take the chance. Word would spread soon enough that the wedding was off. Not even if Dennis got down on his knees and begged forgiveness, or took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle announcing to the world what a jerk he’d been and pleading for a second chance would she give in.

She locked her bedroom door, leaned back against it and slowly sank to the floor. How could Dennis have been so callous? It was horrible enough that he’d betrayed her, but in her own backyard? The throbbing at her temples intensified until the pain blurred her vision. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to cry, the searing sting of tears burning the backs of her lids.

The hazy image of the woman he’d been kissing edged into Kate’s mind. She hadn’t gotten a very good look at the blonde and couldn’t say if she knew her or not. Everything had happened so fast. But she recalled the short skirt and the bleached, teased hair. The kind of woman the cowhands picked up in the local bar for a night.

Kate shuddered. Ironically, one of the problems she’d had with Dennis was that he was a bit of a stuffed shirt. Conservative and proper to a fault, even for a school principal. His goal was to become superintendent of schools for the West Texas district. She understood he needed to protect his image, but how often had she tried to get him to loosen up when they were alone? Yet he’d risked everything by compromising himself at the side of the damn bunkhouse.

Drawing her legs up, she hugged her knees to her chest, hoping to ease the pressure there. She felt hollow and empty and so terribly stupid. How could she not know this man? She’d been dating Dennis for nearly two years. Even when they had no time to share dinner or go to a movie or a play, she saw him every day at school.

“Oh, God.” She covered her mouth with her hand, afraid she was going to be sick.

How would she be able to face him? It was one thing to have to announce that their engagement was off, but how could she expect to do her job? Go to her classroom and teach knowing his office was right down the hall, ignore the other teachers gossiping in the lunchroom and giving her pitying looks. She had a month and a half before the school year started, she reminded herself calmly. It did no good.

What a bastard. How many times had he told her how perfect she was for him? How good they were together? What he’d really meant was that she could help his career, she realized with a fresh stab of pain.

Her parents had left Kate and her two brothers a vast and profitable ranch. In the thirteen years since their deaths, under her older brother Joe’s leadership, the Sugarloaf had become the second-largest ranch in the county. Although none of them had been politically active, the Manning name meant something in the community. Enough to help Dennis become superintendent of the district.

Anger squeezed out the hurt, and she slowly pushed herself up. Good thing she’d dragged her feet over ordering the invitations and meeting with the caterers. Her excuse had been that she needed to prepare for the July Fourth weekend, but the truth was, she’d effortlessly organized the festivities for the past ten years. Had instinct regarding Dennis’s motives made her cautious? She couldn’t deny the doubt that had plagued her lately, which she’d attributed to prenuptial jitters and fatigue.

The phone rang, startling her. It was him. She knew it without question, yet she moved to the nightstand to check the Caller ID, anyway. She stared at the familiar cell number, her anger snowballing with each incessant ring. Stupid jerk. Did he really think she’d be willing to talk to him at this point? Or ever?

Finally, the ringing stopped, and she exhaled slowly. Her gaze caught on the pretty pink tote bag sitting near her closet door, and a fresh wave of pain and anger swept over her. Fueled by a fury she didn’t recognize, she grabbed the bag of sexy lingerie she’d bought a week ago. The impulsive purchase had been the only thought she’d given to the wedding. Ironically, the lingerie was to have been for the honeymoon. Because she’d so desperately wanted to light a fire under Dennis. Boring, straitlaced Dennis, who’d always seemed to prefer watching the news channel to cuddling with her.

With a whimper, she took the bag with her as she started yanking open dresser drawers. Why, she didn’t know, because she doubted she’d find a pair of scissors. There was one in the kitchen and probably a pair in the laundry room, but she couldn’t wait to cut up the stupid black lace teddy.

How many times had she reasoned with herself that Dennis simply wasn’t the passionate sort? His kisses were tame, his sexual appetite bordering on nonexistent. Yet he’d been all over the blonde as if he was a starving man. Obviously Kate was the one lacking, the one he found inadequate.

She swallowed back a sob. Screw him. He wasn’t worth a single tear.

The phone rang again, and without even checking to see who it was, she picked up the receiver and slammed it down. But before she got to the door, it rang again. Was he insane? Was he going to call all night? Her nerves couldn’t take it. This time after she slammed it, she picked up the receiver again and laid it beside the phone. Clint and Joe used their cells more than the landline. She doubted they’d realize the phone was off the hook. She was the one who was going to go mad if she had to listen to the warning buzz another second.

The tote bag still clutched to her breasts, her gaze darted to the dresser. Her car keys. Hadn’t she left them there? No, they were in her purse. She grabbed the brown leather strap and swung the bulky pocketbook over her shoulder. She had to get out of here. No one would miss her. Not until morning. The problem was, she didn’t know where to go.

She hesitated at the door, her hand on the doorknob, her palm suddenly clammy.

Mitch. He’d be staying at his family’s ranch alone tonight. Her breath caught in her throat. Could she really do that? Just show up? Her gaze lowered to the scrap of black lace lying in the tote bag, and she suddenly recalled their hug. She briefly closed her eyes and replayed how good his arms had felt around her, how close he’d held her. How fast he’d made her heart beat.

No, that’s not what she wanted right now. Besides, he’d never considered her as anything other than a pesky kid sister, and the last thing her bruised ego needed was more rejection. She stiffened, her hold on the doorknob a death grip.

Except that wasn’t how he’d held her.

There had been nothing casual about the way he stroked her back, and had started to cup her fanny. Mitch had physically reacted to her. And definitely not as little Katie Manning. The thought registered with shocking clarity. At the time she’d felt too guilty about Dennis to absorb what had happened, but she wasn’t wrong.

She swallowed. Was she?

Before she lost her nerve, she opened her bedroom door, checked to be sure the coast was clear and slipped into the hall. If she hurried, she’d probably beat him back to his place.

IT HAD BEEN GOOD TO SEE Clint again, Mitch thought as he passed the detached garage and parked his pickup near the front door of the rambling old ranch house. The porch steps needed a few repairs and the whole front a new paint job, but considering the age of his family’s place, it was still in pretty good shape. No thanks to him.

Mitch pushed away the guilt that had started to gnaw at him the moment he’d set eyes on the wooden sign that arched over the entrance to the ranch. Though his father had never once complained, Mitch knew that keeping the ranch operational for the past few years had been a struggle. Their longtime foreman had retired, and then Clarence, who’d been expected to take his place, had to step aside after injuring his back while dropping hay from the back of a pickup. Soon after, the rustlers had struck for the first time.

It was Mitch’s sister who’d finally filled him in on the news. His parents hadn’t bothered. Why should they? Hadn’t they figured out long ago they couldn’t count on their only son for help? That the only thing they could count on was for him to selfishly go his own way?

Exhausted suddenly, Mitch climbed out of the truck and headed for the front door. He’d driven ten hours straight yesterday, and another ten today with only a half hour stop to shovel in some fast food. Turned out he’d pushed hard for nothing. He’d missed the July Fourth celebration anyway. Probably just as well. Once again he’d been thinking about himself by wanting to use the gathering to talk to as many neighbors as possible. But the folks around here deserved a festive weekend without their thoughts being consumed by the rustling problem.

Just as he got to the porch steps he thought he saw a light flicker from the second floor. He stopped, his gaze scanning the darkened windows. The moon was full, and he decided that he must have seen a reflection off the glass. He’d stopped by earlier, long enough to take in his duffel bag and grab a quick shower. As he’d always done, he’d left the front door unlocked without giving the habit a second thought. Maybe he’d better start paying more attention.

He let himself in, then waited and listened. Enough moonlight shone in through the windows that he didn’t need to turn on lights. He climbed the stairs, smiling at the familiar creaks. How many times had he been busted trying to sneak in after curfew because of these damn noisy stairs? More than he could count. Even his sister had gotten in trouble a night or two.

He stopped in the bathroom to brush his teeth before going to his old room. Now that he was six-one, he wasn’t looking forward to sleeping in the double bed that had been perfectly fine until college. His parents had a king-size bed in the master bedroom that would be more comfortable, but the pull of his old room was too strong.

The moon’s glow continued to provide enough light until he got to the end of the hall. His parents had left most of the furnishings, but surprisingly, he noticed the few missing pieces they had taken with them. As a kid he couldn’t have cared less about the cherry table his father had painstakingly labored over for two winters or the grandfather clock his great-great-grandmother had brought with her from Germany, but their absence produced a pang of sadness he couldn’t explain.

When he got to his room, he stopped short of flipping on the switch for the glaring overhead light. Instead, he used the moonlight to guide him to the lamp.

“Mitch?”

The soft voice startled him and he nearly knocked over the lamp. “Who the—Katie?”

“Yes.”

He righted the lamp, found the switch and muted light flooded the room. Lying in his bed, the blue handmade quilt drawn to her chin, she blinked and squinted at the invading glow of the lamp.

“Damn it, Katie, you scared the hell out of me.”

Her mouth curved in a tentative smile. “I didn’t think you were afraid of anything. You even worked as a bodyguard for that TV actress for a while, didn’t you?”

“What are you doing here?”

Her lips thinned and she shrank back. “Waiting for you.”

“In my bed?”

She blinked, uncertainty and embarrassment filling her green eyes. And then she lifted her chin. “You want me to leave?”

Mitch stared at her, feeling more helpless than he had in a long time. His mind flashed back to the earlier scene at the bunkhouse. Obviously that’s what this was about. She was hurting, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d only make her feel worse. But this was Katie…in his bed. Shit. This was totally messed up.

“No, I don’t want you to leave,” he said finally.

She gave him a fleeting smile of relief, and then moistened her lips. “The front door was unlocked.”

“Old habit. Maybe not such a good idea these days.” Giving her his back, he walked to the dresser to toss his keys, feeling like a flustered fourteen-year-old.

“Probably not,” she said, sounding wounded.

He realized what he’d said, how she had taken it, but he had no idea how to backtrack. Or move forward. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Remind her she was engaged? Yeah, that would go over real well. He tried to get a furtive glimpse of her in the mirror but the angle was wrong. What was she wearing? She had the quilt pulled so far up he couldn’t tell. A succession of possibilities flitted through his head, the one of her totally nude shocking him back to reality.

He cleared his throat and slowly turned around to face her. “What’s going on, Kate?”

She hesitated, and then calmly lifted the quilt and folded it back. “Just keeping your bed warm for you.”

Black lace and bare creamy skin. Just this side of naked and as tempting as sin itself. All thoughts of her as his friends’ skinny sister fled as he slowly traced the curves of her body. Everything about her was lush and inviting, and his cock hardened in response.

Somewhere deep in the recesses of his brain he knew he should look away. But he just stood there, mesmerized. The sight of her plump pink-crowned breasts sent his ache deep. Visible through the sheer black material, her nipples were large and budded. His whole body tensed. Man, he had a thing for large pink nipples. He could almost taste them. Hungered to roll his tongue over those tight nubs as he thrust into all that magnificent heat. He stepped forward, reminding himself he was invited.

Then he saw her hand tremble. He gave himself a mental shake, and moved back as he lifted his gaze to her face. “This isn’t a good idea.”

She blushed. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

In spite of himself he glanced at her breasts. “No, you certainly aren’t.”

She looked pleased, and then her brows drew together in a frown. As if the thought had just occurred to her, she slowly asked, “Are you involved with anyone?”

“No.” Too late he realized he should’ve lied.

“Good.” Her attention shifted to below his belt.

No use trying to hide his erection, which only grew at her blatant stare. He had to do something now, stop this before he made a huge mistake. “I’m not involved, but you are.”

Her eyes widened, flooding with hurt and humiliation, before she shuttered them. Her chin quivered, and she pulled the quilt back over her body. “Don’t believe everything you hear.”

A rush of fierce protectiveness hit him like a tidal wave, sweeping away his common sense. She looked so crushed and vulnerable he wanted to go to her, hold her. But that could be a mistake. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust himself…

That was a lie, and he knew it. He shouldn’t still be hard, knowing what she’d been through, but damn it, he was. He wanted her something fierce, almost enough to ignore his duty, their friendship.

Like the coward he was, he sat at the far edge of the bed.

“Look, Kate,” he said quietly, clasping his hands together and putting his elbows on his knees. “I understand why you’re hurt and angry. But the guy’s obviously a jerk and isn’t worth you doing something foolish that you’ll regret later.”

“Must I repeat that I’m not a kid anymore? As far as your patronizing tone—” She abruptly stopped, her expression guarded. “What did you mean? Why should I be hurt and angry?”

Mitch cursed himself. He tried to think of something quick to cover his slip, but he was at a total loss.

“Why do you think Dennis is a jerk? You haven’t even met him.” Suspicion clouded her face and she stared hard at him, as if looking for a clue.

He shrugged. “You two obviously had a fight.”

She raised herself to one elbow, oblivious of the quilt slipping from her body. Her gaze stayed fixed on his until guilt got the better of him and he had to look away.

“You saw—Oh, no.” Her words ended in a whimper. She shoved back the quilt, kicking it free of her legs and tried to crawl out of the bed. She managed to get one foot on the floor.

Mitch lunged and caught her around the waist. “Katie, wait.”

“Let me go.”

“Hear me out.”

“You were right. This was a mistake. Please.” Her voice caught. “I have to go.”

He tightened his hold, bringing her quivering body to rest against his chest. Selfishly, he was glad he couldn’t see her face. The pain he knew was there would tear him up inside. “Stay.”

“I can’t.”

He settled back and drew her onto his lap. “I promise I won’t touch you. I know you don’t want to go back and face your brothers. You think I’m an insensitive idiot…”

A strangled laugh broke from her lips, and she sniffed. “I’m okay. Really.”

“I’m not. What if the rustlers come back? You want to leave me here all alone?”

She twisted around to look at him, amusement gathering in her watery eyes. “You’re a dope.”

“Yep.” He smiled and hugged her closer. “Stay the night. We can talk if you want to. I’m still your friend, Katie, and you shouldn’t be alone. Stay.”

3

“EXCUSE ME, but five minutes ago you asked me what the hell I was doing here.” Kate tried to sound spunky but she sounded more like a whipped puppy.

Mitch chuckled. “Sorry, must be getting old. A beautiful woman wants my company and I fold just because I’ve been driving for two days.”

She sighed. “Don’t, please.” She struggled to get off his lap, but his arms tightened around her.

“What did I say?”

“When I was twelve you could’ve patronized me and I still would’ve thought the sun rose and set on your ass. Fifteen years later, I’ve had enough of patronizing men, thank you very much.”

He snorted. “Explain how I was patronizing.” He sounded genuinely perplexed, and maybe even irritated.

She smiled sadly. “Okay, so maybe you are just being a nice guy. A friend. But honestly, you don’t need to soothe my wounded ego, okay? I’m a big girl. Dennis is a creep, and I’ll get over this.” Amazing how saying his name managed to slice through her. She didn’t love him. That truth had slowly revealed itself to her over the past couple of weeks, and then come to a head tonight. But his betrayal still hurt. Did he have no respect for her at all? Why hadn’t she seen that?

If she weren’t so exhausted, she probably would’ve had the good sense to have already changed out of this ridiculous outfit and sneaked back home and into her room before anyone knew she’d left. Glancing down at the skimpy black teddy, she winced. No matter what she’d thought, this had never been a good idea. As a cocky high school jock, Mitch had been out of her league even before he’d left town.

Since then, he’d worked as a personal trainer to the rich and famous, a bodyguard for a gorgeous TV star, and last Kate heard he’d gotten his pilot’s license and now flew a private plane for a rich developer in Miami. She’d bet her brand-new SUV that the man had a beautiful young daughter who’d begged daddy to hire Mitch. He was simply one of those guys who women found charming, and no matter what, he’d always landed on his feet. And Kate was, both literally and proverbially, simply the girl next door.

Catching him off guard, she quickly pushed off his lap. Being cradled against him felt far too good, and even though she’d managed to keep the tears at bay, she didn’t trust herself to remain composed.

“Kate.” He caught her hand.

She stood there, wondering where she’d dumped her clothes, feeling terribly exposed. “Would you turn around, please?”

“Nope.”

She turned to glare at him. “Mitch.”

His gaze ran down the front of her, and she instinctively jerked her hand away and folded her arms over her chest. He cupped her waist and drew her closer. Then using one finger, he lightly stroked the upper curves of her breasts, where they plumped above the black lace and protection of her crossed arms.

She froze, barely able to breathe.

“You’ve turned into a beautiful woman, Kate. A very desirable woman. Don’t think for one moment I wouldn’t want you lying beneath me. But I’d be a bigger jerk than Dennis if I took advantage of you now.” He lowered his hand, his gaze touching the tops of her breasts before meeting her eyes.

For a second, she had trouble finding her voice. The way he looked at her, she could almost believe that he found her desirable. Almost. “Like I said, you’re a nice guy.” To her astonishment, her eyes started to burn. Damn him. She’d been holding it together. She spun away from him, furtively swiping at an errant tear. “My clothes…I don’t know where I left them….”

“Ah, Katie.” He scooped her up from behind and carried her back to the bed. The gentle way he handled her renewed the threat of tears. She did her best to hide her face as he laid her down on the sheets. “Move over.”

She felt like a big clumsy oaf trying to scoot her fanny to the other side, where the bed had been pushed up against the wall. He tucked the quilt around her body, and then sat at the edge of the mattress and pulled off his boots. Leaving on his clothes, he stretched out beside her on the small bed. He didn’t try crawling under the sheets or the quilt, but punched the pillow under his head before giving her another look.

“You okay?”

She nodded, sincerely hoping her nose wasn’t too horribly red. “This bed is too small for you as it is. I shouldn’t—”

“Come here.” He shifted, so that he could slip his arm under her neck and around her shoulders. He brought her close enough that she could lay her cheek on his chest. “Are you more comfortable?”

She hesitated, and then curled tentatively toward him.

“Are you sure you—”

He reached to switch off the lamp and then picked up her arm and put it in a more comfy position around his waist. Giving her shoulders a light squeeze, he said, “I’m sure.”

She smiled wryly. “You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“I figured you were going to tell me about that crush you had on me.”

She gave a startled laugh and lifted her head. Moonlight washed in through the parted curtains and illuminated the amusement in his face. “What?”

He lightly kissed her hair and urged her to lie back down. “Let’s see, how did you put it? You thought the sun rose and set on my ass.”

“You’re awful to bring that up. My admission was made in the heat of the moment. Besides, I was twelve.”

“I’m fascinated because I had no idea.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

Kate laughed. “I thought I was so pathetically obvious.”

“Nope. You were such a tomboy, I figured you were just trying to keep up with Joe, Clint and me.”

“Jeez. All that angst for nothing.”

“So let me get this straight. You only had the hots for me when you were twelve and then it just disappeared?”

“Shut up.”

Mitch chuckled. “I like the idea of being the coveted older man.”

“As if you didn’t have enough girls chasing after you. If I recall, the entire cheerleading squad drew straws to see who you and Clint would take to the prom.”

“Right.”

Along with the sarcasm, she thought she detected a hint of embarrassment in his voice, and she grinned. “Besides, I got over you by the time I went to college.”

“Cast aside for those college hunks, huh?”

“I rarely saw you anymore.”

The sudden tension radiating from his body put her on alert. Although the Colters never confided disappointment in their son’s frequent absences, it had to be an issue. She was sorry to have brought it up.

They lay there in silence until she wondered if he’d fallen asleep. As exhausted as she was, she was suddenly keyed up. The mere act of lying here with Mitch was so surreal it was impossible to relax. Plus, she was wearing a teddy, for heaven’s sake.