AdonisinTexas (3 page)

She’d
been the one to misjudge
him
.

“So you don’t find my store offensive?” she ventured.

“Not at all. I don’t know what half of this stuff is, but I
think every woman should wear lingerie.”

She laughed, the tightness in her chest loosening. “Typical
red-blooded male.”

His eyes blazed as he asked, “Were you expecting something
different?”

Ginger admitted, “Considering you lived with Jonathan and
Lydia after your parents died, and the fact you went to a Christian college to
study ministry…”

His jaw clenched briefly. He said, “I chose a different path
after I left Wilder.” He didn’t elaborate further. Rather, he changed the
subject back to what had happened to her. “I hear where you’re coming from,
Ginger. And I don’t want to cause problems for you. I’ll see what I can do when
I speak with the sheriff.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I’d appreciate
that.”

“Do you have a bag I can put the evidence in?”

“Sure.” After replacing the receiver on its base, she
rounded the desk and pulled out one of the small, plain bags she used for
massage oils, lubricants and body paint before placing them in the larger, red
shopper’s bags embossed with her boutique’s discreet and simple name,
Ginger’s
,
in gold print.

Ryan carefully collected the paper sack and can and placed
them in the bag, then said, “How about you lock up and I’ll walk you to your
car?”

She suddenly remembered she was due at dinner with her
friends. Stealing a glance at the grandfather clock her grandfather,
ironically, had left her when he’d passed a few years ago, she swore under her
breath. Then pressed two fingers to her lips as she let out a little
eep
.

“Sorry about that.”

Ryan grinned. “Stop thinking of me as some goody two shoes.”

In truth, it really was difficult to consider him in those
terms. He seemed to be a man who’d been around the block a time or two and knew
what he was doing in the bedroom. The thought sent a titillating thrill down
her spine.

She said, “I’m late for dinner at Pietro’s with friends.”
For a fleeting moment, she contemplated asking him if he’d like to join them.
But it was Friday night and she knew Lydia and Jonathan would be at the popular
restaurant.

Ginger had experienced enough trauma for one day. She didn’t
need Lydia burning a hole in her head during dinner if she saw her with Ryan.
Nor could she stomach the sting of rejection if he turned her down.

Offering an arm to her in a gallant way, he said, “I’ll walk
you to the restaurant. It’s on the way to the sheriff’s office.”

She grabbed her purse, set the deadbolt on the door and
strolled casually with Ryan down the sparsely populated sidewalk. Her arm was
linked with his, her hand on his rock-hard biceps. The feel of his rigid
muscles beneath her fingers warmed her insides. And damn, did he smell good.
Musky and masculine. Expensive cologne mixed with male heat.

He made her clit tingle and kept her in a constant state of
arousal without doing a thing.

To divert her attention from the erotic—and still so bad and
wrong—effect he had on her, she said, “You didn’t even break a sweat when you
tackled that guy.”

“I’ve had some training.” Glancing down at her, he added, “I
could teach you a few moves, if you want.”

She’d never needed to defend herself physically in a small,
quiet town such as this, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to pick up a few tips.
Besides, it was an excuse to spend more time with Ryan.

Is that really such a good idea?

The thought formed quickly in her head, making her frown.

Ryan misread her once again. He said, “I promise you won’t
get hurt. I’ll be careful with you.”

She laughed, hoping to put his mind at ease. “That’s not at
all what I was thinking. You were very gentle with my arm.”

Recalling how it’d felt to have his big hands on her body
sent a shot of exhilaration through her. He incited a riot of sensations she’d
given up on ever experiencing. Being so close to him ignited a searing,
throbbing feeling deep in her pussy. He made her feel safe, with his hunky body
and tender touch, but also sexy as he gazed down at her with an appreciative
look.

When they reached Pietro’s, Ryan stopped short of the door
and propped his shoulder against the brick wall. Ginger reluctantly released
his arm.

He continued to stare at her, a flicker of heat in his eyes.
He said, “I’d really like to see you again. If you’re not currently involved,
that is.”

Warning signals went off in her head, but Ginger
conveniently ignored them. The excitement coursing through her was much too
pleasant and certainly too powerful to brush off.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked in a breathy voice.

“I’ve got some business to take care of this weekend, but
how about dinner on Sunday night?”

She groaned. “The Holy Day? Not a chance in hell.”

His jaw tightened briefly. “Stop thinking everyone will
disapprove.”

“I don’t care about ‘everyone’. Your relatives are my
biggest concern.”

“We’re adults, Ginger. And, quite frankly, I don’t give a
damn what anyone says if they see us together.
I
get to decide who I
date. So…just say yes.”

Laughing softly, she said, “You’re very persuasive, Rhett
Butler.”

“Six o’clock?”

She nodded. “That’d be perfect.”

“Where should I pick you up?”

“The store. I’ll be working.”

The corners of his tempting mouth turned downward. “You work
seven days a week?”

“Yes. But I’m only open from ten to six, unless there’s
something going on downtown that might draw in customers.”

Though her patronage had picked up, she still couldn’t
justify or afford part-time help. Not yet anyway. With her sales from her
website supplementing her income, she hoped to hire someone in a few months,
and then she’d open a bit earlier and hopefully find some way to draw in more
of a crowd.

“All work and no play,” Ryan mused.

“That’s the price of fulfilling a dream.”

He nodded and said, “Gotcha.” His free hand grazed her arm
as he added, “At least your evenings are free.”

Ginger’s stomach flipped. “Indeed they are.”

“Then I’ll see you on Sunday.” He winked at her again before
sauntering off toward the sheriff’s office.

She watched him go, admiring the view. Her buzzing cell
phone, however, reminded her she was late. It was likely Liza calling. Ginger
didn’t bother answering since she’d arrived at the restaurant.

Despite the low points of the evening, there was a smile on
her face—thanks to Ryan—as she pulled open the door to Pietro’s. She strolled
over to the hostess stand manned by Ruby Jones, a vivacious, full-figured
redhead who owned the place with her husband, Mike. The town joke was that
there was no Italian chef named Pietro in Wilder. Regardless, the food was
astounding. As Ginger approached the podium, she inhaled the delicious scent of
spicy Italian sausage and peppers in a zesty sauce.

“Pasta Bolognese?” she guessed as she mentally crossed her
fingers.

Ruby’s head bobbed up and down. “Tonight’s special. You want
a menu?”

“Nope. Already made up my mind.”

The other woman lifted her arms in the air. “No one ever
wants a menu.” She wore one of her infamous aprons, this one simply saying
“Bombshell” across her ample chest.

“You know you’re late,” Ruby told her. “Your party’s already
here. They were gettin’ worried about you.”

Ginger didn’t want to think of the ordeal she’d experienced
this evening, which had made her tardy, though thoughts of Ryan remained front
and center in her mind.

“I’ll find them,” Ginger said as she wandered off, not
wanting to take more of Ruby’s time because the restaurant was hopping.

She wove her way through the packed dining room, greeting
people as she passed their tables, including the Bains. She wondered if they
knew their nephew had returned, suspecting not, since he likely would have had
dinner plans with them this evening and wouldn’t have previously been at the
diner across the street from her boutique. The latter being a small miracle for
which she was eternally grateful.

Reaching the back of the room, she quickly scanned it and
spotted her friends at a round table that sat six. She instantly regretted not
having invited Ryan to join them, even if it was just for a drink. But with a
quick glance over her shoulder at his aunt and uncle, she knew she was walking
a fine line with them and didn’t need to add more tension to the precarious
situation.

“Hey, there you are,” Liza said as she pulled out the chair
beside her and Ginger sank into it. “We were just about to call out the
cavalry. You didn’t answer your cell, and the phone at your shop had a busy
signal for about fifteen minutes. Jack and George were ready to storm your
store.”

With a dismissive wave of her hand—and what she hoped was a
nonchalant look on her face—Ginger said, “I had some business to take care of.”

“What happened to your elbow?” Jess asked, concern in her
eyes.

“Just clumsy. No worries.” To Jack Wade and George Mills,
she said, “Sorry to keep you guys waiting. It must’ve been torture. Tonight’s
special smells fantastic.”

“We ordered the second we walked through the door,” George
said, “but told Ruby to wait to serve us until you arrived. Wine?”

“Oh hell, yes,” she said, in need of something to help take
the edge off from the incident in her shop as well as the frenzy Ryan sparked
inside her.

George poured her a glass and handed it over. After a sip,
she confided, “So I have to tell you who’s back in town.”

She absolutely could not keep that part of her evening a
secret. As everyone awaited her news, she wiggled excitedly in her seat.
Despite the obvious pitfalls of being so insanely attracted to Ryan, she
couldn’t stymie the sinfully delicious sensations he so easily evoked.

Jess and Jack had perked up, since they were Wilder natives
and curiosity obviously got the best of them. Liza wouldn’t know about someone
who’d left years ago, given she was a newcomer. But she looked interested
nevertheless. George, however, had been in town for over a decade, so he’d
likely recognize the name she was about to drop. Particularly because Ryan had
been a favorite in the newspaper following all of his sporting triumphs.

“Who did you see?” Jess prompted.

“Only the second best football player to hit a Wilder
gridiron.
Ever
,” Ginger said in an enthusiastic tone. “Jack being the
first, of course.”

As Jack gloated and Liza patted his hand, George said,
“Well, that’d have to be Ryan Bain.”

“Indeed,” Ginger confirmed.

Liza’s gaze flashed to Ginger and she stared at her with a
ghastly expression on her pretty, fashionably made-up face. “Why on earth would
you be excited over having another Bain in Wilder?”

“Because he’s not like the other Bains in Wilder. And,”
Ginger said as she leaned in close so she could lower her voice, “he’s freakin’
hot!”

“
Ooohh
,” Jess gushed as she rubbed her hands
together. “Is that lust in your eyes, young lady?”

Ginger fanned herself with a hand as she gave them a
Cheshire Cat grin. “Let’s just say, I wouldn’t be opposed to him ringing my
bell.”

The men chortled. Liza frowned. “Uh, I think the reverend,
and most certainly his wife, would have something to say about that.”

Ginger’s grin vanished. “Yeah, I figured that too. But it
wasn’t enough to stop me from accepting a date with him.”

“That’s wonderful,” Jess said as she reached over and
squeezed Ginger’s forearm.

“Just be careful there, darlin’,” Jack warned. “Hell hath no
fury and all that…”

Stealing a glance at the Bains’ table, Ginger scowled. “She
can’t tell me what to sell or to keep my nightgowns off the sidewalk. But I’m sure
she’ll have something to say about my date with her nephew.” Turning back to
the group, she asked, “You don’t think he’ll let her talk him out of it, do
you?”

Jess cringed. “He has been away for some time with ministry
studies. Who knows if she and Jonathan still hold sway over his decisions.”

“Ah,” she said as she lifted a finger pointedly. “Perhaps
not. He said he’s chosen a different path. And he wasn’t the least bit offended
by my shop.”

“Then I hope he turns out to be man enough to stand up to
his family,” George added. “Because they’re not easy to handle.”

“Ginger did quite well with Her Royal Witchiness today,”
Liza informed everyone. “Lydia wanted her lingerie off the street and Ginger
stood up to her. That reminds me, Jack. The reverend might make a play to
regulate what merchants can advertise on the sidewalks. Heads up, love.”

She gave him a playful look, which he returned with one of
pure adoration that made Ginger envious. Though she was happy both Liza and
Jess had solid relationships, it sparked her lonesomeness. And made her wonder
if she’d ever experience the same love and respect—particularly without any
turmoil.

As her thoughts returned to Ryan, Ruby arrived with a large
tray and a folding stand. She expertly snapped open the stand with one hand and
set the tray on it, then delivered the Pasta Bolognese to each place setting.

“‘Nother bottle of Chianti?” she asked. Much to
most
everyone’s relief, the alcohol restrictions in town had been lifted, with
Jack’s help.

He nodded and said, “The perfect complement to one more of
Mike’s mouthwatering creations.”

The rich, spicy aroma made Ginger’s stomach grumble. Ruby
ambled off and everyone dug in, the conversation rapidly dying on the vine as
they devoured dinner.

Ginger was still nervous about her upcoming date with Ryan,
but her friends had encouraged her and so she tried to remain optimistic.
Though the sideways glances she caught from Lydia out of the corner of her eye
made her wonder if her wishful thinking was a wasted effort.