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He lifted his body, coming half off the bed, and held her bottom with both hands, moving her forward and back hard, harder. Then with one last deep, powerful thrust, their release came, together, forcefully, each of them huffing out guttural sounds of completion.
He held her tight until the last shreds of pleasure were wrought out of both. It was beautiful and satisfying, but now that it was over, Callie couldn’t look him in the eye for fear of him seeing her every emotion.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded, then swallowed, but words wouldn’t come.
He kissed a path up her throat, working his way to her mouth. She kept her face turned away.
He put a finger under her chin and applied slight pressure to turn her toward him. She met his gaze finally. “Are you sure?”
She noted the concern in his eyes and managed to answer, “Yes.”
He let go a relieved sigh, cradling her to his body. “That was pretty damn good.”
She nodded again.
“Callie?”
“Just … good?” she blurted. She was in love with him and had given up her head and her heart for just good. It wasn’t about sex for her. It was about feelings and emotions and love. While she knew she should be thrilled and delighted that they’d made love, she only felt empty inside and guilty about her secret as well.
Tagg lay back, holding her as they fell onto the cool sheets. “Great. Awesome. Perfect. You don’t disappoint, Callie.”
“Neither do you,” she said. She lay her head down, snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes. He stroked her head, running his fingers through her hair. “But do you think it was a mistake?”
The muscles of his arms tensed and he hesitated long enough to worry her. “I don’t think I could’ve stayed away from you, so no. Not a mistake.”
But he’d stayed away after Reno. He’d left her with a note and had gone home. And never called her.
“What about you? A mistake?”
She shook her head. “Definitely not.” Being with him could never be a mistake. Callie knew men always said nice things after a satisfying night in the sack. After-sex talk was usually warm and cozy, until the light of day shined through and reality set in.
Tagg didn’t want a relationship. And he was just trying to make her feel better. She also knew that men didn’t like to analyze their feelings after making love. So she bit her tongue from saying anything else that would destroy the moment.
“Do you want anything? A drink? Something to eat?” he asked.
“No, but you go ahead if you want something.”
Tagg chuckled and the muscles in his arms relaxed. “Really? I think what I want isn’t in the kitchen.”
Callie smiled and looked into his eyes. “And what is it that you want?”
“You, all night long.” He kissed her then, a warm brushing of his mouth, less hurried, less frenzied than before. Callie returned the kiss, agreeing to his plan.
Tagg woke up before dawn, with Callie sprawled halfway over him. Her long dark hair rested in waves on his chest, her head tucked into his shoulder. The unique erotic mix of musk and flowers that he couldn’t name drove him slightly insane as he breathed in. His hand lay atop the curve of her bare bottom, his palm filled with soft smooth skin. He’d convinced Callie not to put on her nightie last night. He’d wanted her naked next to him through the night and now he thought about the wisdom in that. He would have gotten a better night’s sleep if he hadn’t insisted. He’d woken up hard and ready twenty minutes ago. He wasn’t going to wait much longer.
His erection pulsed and ached like a sex-starved teenager.
She moved on him, stirring a bit, her breasts crushing into his side.
He swore under his breath, wincing at the pain and wondering if he’d made a colossal mistake taking her to bed.
Sure as hell didn’t feel like a mistake. It felt pretty damn amazing.
But he couldn’t forget who Callie was. He couldn’t forget that she wasn’t a woman he could turn away after a night of wild sex. He’d done that to her once and had regretted it.
Callie stirred again and Tagg held his breath, waiting for her to awaken.
He wanted her. She was an indulgence he couldn’t afford, yet one he couldn’t seem to resist.
Her eyelids lifted and she looked at him with a sleep-hazy gaze, her hair in a tumble around her face, her lips parted.
Tagg claimed her mouth in a slow easy kiss. “Morning.” It wasn’t quite. The early light of dawn hadn’t stolen into the room yet.
“Morning.” Her soft breath blew over his chest. She stroked her fingers into the scattered hairs there. “Did you sleep well?”
He ran his hand up and down the smooth sleek skin of her thigh. She cooed from his touch and his erection stiffened. “I’ve been awake for a while. Waiting for you.”
Callie lifted her head to look at him. Her gaze drifted down past his waist. Her smile was sweet, her words a little sassy. “Not my fault. You asked me not to leave. Or put on my nightgown.”
Stay naked. Sleep with me, had been his exact words. “Wouldn’t have mattered.” He told her the truth. “Just having you under the same roof is enough.”
Callie nibbled on her lower lip and a mischievous gleam brightened her eyes. “What are we going to do about that?”
Tagg rolled her over and set her shoulders against the mattress. He rose above her, his erection pressing into her flat belly. “I have a plan.”
Hours later, sated and holding Callie close, Tagg woke to dim sunlight pouring through the curtains. It was nearing time to get up and go about the business of the day.
Tagg could stay in this bed with Callie all week and that realization nagged at him. She was a fantastic lover, the best sex he’d had in a long time, if not ever. That worried him. He didn’t have a plan for this. The truth was, he didn’t have anything to offer her. Not a relationship. Not a courtship. He was done with those things.
So done.
And she was Hawkins Sullivan’s daughter.
He wouldn’t forget that.
When Callie stirred, Tagg draped his hand over her shoulder and rubbed her arms up and down. He felt her fatigue as her body went limp. “That feels … good. I’m … so tired.”
He brushed a kiss to the top of her head. “Go back to sleep. We have a little time.”
“I’m not going to wake up to a note, am I?” She spoke quietly, holding on for his answer before she drifted off.
“I’m here, Callie. I’m not going anywhere.”
Five
Tagg glanced at his watch, a tic working his jaw as he paced the floor in Clay’s parlor. He’d been waiting for fifteen minutes for a meeting he had with his brothers and Callie about fundraising for Penny’s Song. The usual bustling ranch looked like a morgue today. There wasn’t a soul in sight. Normally, Tagg liked solitude but now he was anxious.
Damn anxious. To see Callie.
Finally the door slammed shut and he recognized the sound of his brother’s boots shuffling across the hardwood floor.
“Sorry, I’m late.” Clay marched into the room and tossed his hat onto the sofa.
Tagg grunted.
“Jackson’s not coming. He’s tied up in town. You want a drink?” Clay moved to the bar in the corner of the room and poured a glass of iced tea for himself, then turned to Tagg.
“Nothing for me.” He glanced at his watch again. It was almost eleven-twenty. “What time did you call the meeting for?”
“Eleven.”
Clay took a big swallow of his drink, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand the way he had as a boy. “Where’s Callie?”
Tagg shrugged. That’s what he wanted to know. He’d dropped her off at Big Hawk Ranch after they’d concluded their business with the Cosgroves and said he’d call her. A couple of days slipped by as Tagg struggled with just the right words to say to her. Once he figured it out yesterday and had his speech all set, he’d called and gotten no answer. He’d left her two messages that she didn’t return.
“Don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her since we got back from Vegas the other day.”
“How’d that go? I haven’t seen either one of you since you got back.”
“Just fine. The Cosgroves let us ride a few mares and pick out the ones we thought best for Penny’s Song. I’m arranging for their transport to the ranch. We should have them in time.”
“Thanks. That’s a big help.” Clay downed the rest of his drink. “So you and Callie worked okay together?”
Tagg nodded. What could he say? That he and Callie wore out the bedsheets in the Bellagio suite? That she’d given him another night of great sex? And that he’d deliberately stayed away from her since that day because nothing was going to come of it? “We did fine. She does know horses.”
Clay sat down on a wide wing chair and stretched his legs out. “I’m surprised she’s not here. This meeting was her idea. Seemed eager about it. You sure you didn’t do something to piss her off? I know you don’t like her.”
Tagg eyed his brother, his mouth tight. “Don’t go putting words in my mouth.”
“So, you do like her?”
“You hired her. I’ve got to work with her.” Tagg clammed up after that. Fact was, he did like Callie. But that didn’t change any thing.
“Surly this morning.”
“No more than usual,” Tagg said.
He glanced out the window again. There was no sign of Callie. Where the hell was she? He hated to admit it, but he’d been looking forward to seeing her. He’d gone home to an empty house and while that usually comforted and put him at ease, he’d found himself restless and tense. He’d thought about having a short-term affair with her and wondered if she’d want the same thing. He’d been ready to broach the subject on the flight home, but Callie had rested her head on his shoulder and fallen into a deep sleep. Tagg had draped an arm around her and closed his eyes to an unwelcome sense of peace with her in his arms. He’d attributed his softening emotions to another satisfying night of sex. Period. And thought better of getting more involved with her.
“It’s not like her to forget.” Clay scratched his chin, contemplating. “I’m a good judge of character and Callie impressed me as someone you can count on. Don’t suppose something happened to her father?”
“We couldn’t get that lucky.”
Clay grinned. “He’s really got your shorts in a knot.”
“He stole that Bender deal right out from under me. I still can’t figure out how he did it. I thought I had it all tied up.”
“That was a tough one to lose.” Clay glanced at the antique walnut grandfather clock sitting catty-corner to the far wall. Another ten minutes had passed. “Well, looks like she’s a no-show. Why don’t you give her a call? I’ll speak with Jed. See if we got our signals crossed. Maybe she’s waiting over at the site for us.”
Tagg got out his cell and punched in her number while Clay went into the other room with his phone. Callie’s phone went straight to voice mail and her sweet, sultry voice came on the phone. “You know I’d answer if I could. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for the call.”
“This is Tagg, Callie. We’re waiting for you over at the main house. We had a meeting at eleven. Clay wants to know if you’re coming.”
He’d spoken in his business voice, blunt and to the point. No sense getting Clay suspicious about the two of them. If his brothers got an inkling of what had gone on between Callie and him in Vegas, they’d be riding his case about it.
Clay walked back into the room. “Jed hasn’t seen her. She was supposed to stop by the site this morning and bring some children’s books to the bunkhouse, but she’s a no-show there, too.”
“Well, it’s clear she’s not coming.” Tagg let out a frustrated breath. “I’ve got work to do. No sense waiting any longer.”
“Yeah, so do I. I’ll let you know if she calls.”
Tagg strode to the front door and let himself out. A bad feeling churned in his gut and he didn’t know what to make of it. But if he couldn’t reach Callie by later today, he was going to get to the bottom of it.
One way or another.
By seven that evening after two more unanswered calls, Tagg stood on the doorstep of Big Hawk Ranch—this time without a limousine waiting, this time without anticipation of a weekend fling with his enemy’s daughter. Tagg hated to admit it, but he was genuinely concerned about her welfare.
The housekeeper answered his knock and Tagg felt a measure of disappointment not seeing Callie at the door. “I’m Taggart Worth. I’m looking for Callie. Is she here?”
“Callie is home, Mr. Worth, but she’s not—”
“I’ll take care of this, Antoinette” came a voice from behind her.
Immediately the woman stepped aside for her employer. “Yes, Mr. Sullivan.”
Tagg now found himself face-to-face with The Hawk in the doorway. He narrowed his eyes. “I’m looking for Callie.”
“So I heard.”
“I know she’s here. I’d like to see her.”
The big man shook his head, his gaze raking him over with fire in his dark eyes. “I oughta toss you off my land.”
“You gonna get your shotgun and chase me away?”
“After what you did to my daughter, I’m tempted to do more than chase you away.”
Tagg hesitated. He’d seen Sullivan in a state before, but his reaction went beyond anything he’d ever witnessed. What had Tagg done to Callie? She was an adult. She knew what she was doing when they took that overnight trip. If her daddy disapproved, he’d just have to get over it. “I’d like to speak with her.”
To find out why she won’t answer my calls.
“Well, you’re gonna speak with me first. I got something to say to you.”
Sullivan backed away from the door and Tagg took the opportunity to step inside. The place was massive with dark oak floors and rich wood paneling. As he followed The Hawk through the house, he took in the beautifully restored antique furniture in the anteroom, the parlor and the study. He kept an eye out for Callie, but he suspected she was in another part of the building. Maybe she was up the long winding staircase that led to other rooms.
Sullivan closed the double study doors and didn’t mince words as he sat down behind a rectangular mahogany desk. “You got my daughter pregnant.”
