Expecting the Rancher's Child (Callahan's Clan) (6 page)

During another delicious dinner of salmon, green beans, a salad and hot rolls, Blake smiled at Lucinda as he passed a crystal bowl of strawberry jam. “Next time you come—and Sierra said you and Eli will be back later in the project—we’ll have barbecue. I’m taking Sierra Thursday night to eat at a place that has some of the best.”

“I’ve been to Texas before and I love barbecue,” Eli said. “I’ll be counting on that.”

Blake was charming with his new guests. This polite, friendly evening was so different from her first evening with him. Again, she wondered at the response they stirred in each other, something she had never experienced with anyone else.

With Lucinda and Eli present, there was more talk after dinner about various artists and buildings that Blake liked, and they all looked again at the new wing.

When they said good-night and thanked Blake, Sierra went to her room, turning in early and going over notes she had made during the day.

On Wednesday, Lucinda and Eli flew back to New York. Sierra returned to poring over catalogues.

Blake continued to charm her, talking about suggestions Eli had made that he liked. After dinner they returned to the new wing while she went over some of the suggested changes. Throughout it all they managed to remain professional.

On Thursday she couldn’t keep her mind on her work. She had agreed to go to dinner with Blake tonight. Tomorrow she would fly home for a family picnic that had become a spring tradition, growing in size each year. But tonight…

Sierra stopped work at four to get ready for the evening out. The minute she had accepted Blake’s invitation to eat barbecue, she’d complicated her life more. She should’ve turned him down, but the words wouldn’t come. She
wanted
to go out with him.

In spite of all her warnings to herself, she spent more than an hour getting ready to go, finally settling on jeans, boots and a red cotton shirt. As she dressed, she felt eager to spend the evening with Blake, knowing she would have a good time and a fabulous dinner.

And later—her thoughts stopped there. She wouldn’t think about his kisses, or how she should resist them. After brushing her hair vigorously, she let it fall free. She picked up a white Resistol, and with one final look in the mirror, she left to find Blake.

When she entered the library, her breath caught. Looking more handsome and sexier than ever, Blake stood across the room. He wore a brown Western shirt that complemented his good looks. His tight jeans fit slender hips and long legs, and the cowboy boots added to his height. The instant her gaze met his, she was hopelessly lost, dazzled by the prospect of a fun evening out with him.

“Wow, lady, you look great,” he said, enthusiasm filling his husky voice as his gaze swept over her again. “Every guy in the county will want to meet you.”

“You wanted me to meet the locals.”

“Yeah, so I did,” he said, still studying her and sounding as if he was thinking more about something other than his answer. “Ready? Let’s go get one of the best barbecue dinners you’ll ever eat.”

As the sun cast longer shadows, Blake drove to Marvina, a small town that looked only half a dozen blocks long. In the center of what had to be the main street was a restaurant with a red neon sign declaring the place to be Barney Jack’s Bar-B-Q.

Inside they were seated in a booth in a dark corner. There was a dance floor, but no musicians yet, and no dancers as people talked and ate, and busy wait staff scurried back and forth with trays heaped with baskets of shoestring fries, wrapped sandwiches and bottles of beer or frosty mugs of iced tea.

“If this barbecue is as good as it smells, then it will live up to all you said.”

“It’s the best ever.”

“You lived in town, so when did you get this love of ranching and the cowboy life?”

“My maternal grandfather was a rancher. I inherited his spread. I spent a good part of my childhood there and I loved it. I loved him,” Blake said. In the dim light she couldn’t see any difference in his expression, but his tone of voice changed, and she suspected his grandfather had been important to him.

“So, you did have family who loved you in addition to your mom.”

“Yep, my mother’s parents meant a lot to me. I never met my paternal grandparents, and both died when I was in high school.” As Blake talked, she watched two men step up on the stage. As they spread out to start playing a fiddle and bass, couples moved to the dance floor and in seconds dancers circled the floor in a brisk two-step.

A waiter appeared to take their order, and as soon as he left Blake slid out of the booth and held out his hand. “Let’s dance,” he said.

She started to protest, listening to the music and watching the few dancers. But she took his hand and stood up. In seconds they were on the dance floor, keeping time with the music. For a few minutes, it was fun to stop thinking about problems and differences and tomorrows—to just enjoy the moment dancing with a tall, sexy rancher who set her heart fluttering and would kiss her later.

For tonight, she intended to enjoy life, enjoy the Texas barbecue and enjoy Blake.

After one more dance, he said, “We should have our dinner.”

“I can’t wait,” she answered, smiling at him, aware of her hand still enclosed in his. He took her arm as they walked back to their table where their meals waited.

The inviting smell made her mouth water in anticipation. Taking the first bite, she closed her eyes. She opened them to find him watching her. “Blake, that is the best barbecue. I didn’t think any could be as good as in Kansas City, but that’s right there with it. It’s fantastic.”

“So now you have a brand new experience—the night I introduced you to Texas barbecue.”

She laughed. “Thank goodness you did.”

“Hey, bro,” came a deep voice as a tall, dark-haired man slid into their booth beside Blake.

They shook hands while the newcomer looked at her and smiled with a flash of straight white teeth.

“Sierra, meet my half brother Cade. Cade, this is Sierra Benson, the fabulous interior designer.”

She laughed as she shook hands with Cade Callahan. “I don’t know about fabulous, and that isn’t my career now. I’m with a nonprofit, Brigmore Charities.”

“Very good, Sierra. Maybe you can reform this guy.”

She laughed with him, thinking there was a strong physical resemblance in their black hair, straight noses and prominent cheekbones. Cade’s broad-brimmed black hat was pushed to the back of his head. He wore black boots and a black shirt, the top buttons undone. His wavy hair was a tangle, falling onto his wide forehead, and he had a streak of mischief in his blue eyes that made her feel he might be more fun loving and less serious than Blake.

“Have a beer with us,” Blake urged.

“Will do,” Cade said, smiling at Sierra. “I hear you’re the best interior designer in the USA.”

She laughed, and he grinned along with Blake, who shrugged. “Yes, she is. She’s modest, so I’ll answer for her. Wait until you see the new wing on my house and you’ll agree with me. We can make a bet on it now,” Blake said. “Best interior designer out there.”

“Will both of you stop,” she said, smiling at them as they grinned. “I’ll tell you what’s best—it’s this barbecue and these curly fries.”

“We’ll all agree on that one,” Blake said. “Where’s our baby brother?”

“He’s around here someplace. He’ll join us. Ah, here he is,” Cade said, and stood to face another tall, dark-haired Callahan who also had blue eyes.

“Sierra, meet our baby brother, Gabe Callahan. Gabe, meet the famous interior designer, Sierra Benson.”

“I’m glad to meet you, Gabe Callahan,” she said, smiling at him as he shook her hand. She noticed that she didn’t have that same volatile reaction to any other Callahan that she’d had with Blake, which was a relief.

They sat and talked, including her in their conversation until Cade stood. “It’s dance time. Sierra, would you care to dance?”

She nodded, and she and Cade slid out of the booth.

On the dance floor, she turned and they began circling, doing the two-step.

She danced the next time with Gabe, and then Blake was her partner again.

He danced her around the floor and gazed into her eyes. She was caught and held, her heartbeat accelerating, desire fanning to life. She wanted to be in his arms. She wanted his kisses, even when she shouldn’t. This was her last night with him for a while. She’d be going home and then to New York; he’d be leaving the ranch for Dallas. This was the last time for kisses.

It was after midnight when they climbed back into his truck. She turned slightly to watch him drive. “I had fun tonight, Blake. I haven’t been out like that in a long time. And dinner was fabulous.”

“I thought you’d like that barbecue. It was fun. It’s unusual that both my brothers were there. I think they wanted to meet you. They didn’t want to miss the opportunity to meet one of the world’s best interior designers. Particularly the opportunity to dance with you after they found out you are definitely the world’s best-looking interior designer.”

She laughed. “That is all ridiculous, but I was glad to meet them. I’m amazed how much alike all of you look, having different mothers. It’s great you’re so compatible.”

“We weren’t always. Before Cade and I became friends we used to fight. Then we both realized how ridiculous that was, because we really didn’t have any reason to dislike each other. Cade doesn’t have any more control over how our father treats him than I do. He’s just fortunate to be in better favor than I ever was.”

“I’m amazed they’re understanding about your competition with your father in the hotel business. I looked up some information on the web about your hotels and about his. You have more of them, plus they’re bigger, fancier and definitely more luxurious.”

“I intend to run him out of the hotel business,” Blake said in a quiet voice that carried a cold tone. “I told you, Cade, Gabe and Nathan understand, and they don’t object. It won’t really hurt our father, but it’ll annoy the hell out of him because he’s competitive. He doesn’t like me and never has.”

“You said he abandoned you when you were a baby. How could he not like you when you were so young? That doesn’t make sense.”

“It was my mother he didn’t like, and I was part of her,” Blake answered flatly.

She stared at him in the darkened pickup and thought again about how different their lives were. She couldn’t understand his drive to get even for something during his childhood, something that seemed behind him now. All his efforts were such a waste of energy and talent. She couldn’t keep from thinking about all the people he could help if he put that energy and those resources to good use. With the money he used for hotels to compete with his father’s, he could instead build shelters, start reading programs and hire tutors—so many easy, constructive ways to help less fortunate people.

Blake couldn’t understand her way of life, and she couldn’t understand his.

He parked at the rear of his house and stepped out of the pickup to come around and open her door. His hands closed on her waist, and he swung her out of the truck. For an instant he held her up easily as she looked down into his eyes, and the moment changed. Desire ignited, hot and intense, as Blake lowered her, pulling her close and wrapping his arms around her.

They walked into the wide entryway together, moving into a sitting room. Light spilled into the darkened room from the hallway, and through the floor-to-ceiling glass they could see the lighted swimming pool. But all she was aware of was Blake, who drew her closer.

Her heart thudded. Her hands were light on his shoulders as she gazed up at him. She was held by a look that made her pulse race. Locked into another electric moment with him, she wanted his kiss.

“This is crazy, Blake.”

“It’s been a fun night, and it doesn’t have to end yet. There’s more I want, and so do you,” he said softly, his arm circling her waist and pulling her close against him. She slipped her arms around his neck even as she knew she should be pulling away.

All evening Blake had been sexy, fun and appealing. Desire had tugged on her senses for days. Each night their kisses made it impossible to avoid thinking about sleeping with him.

His appeal was physical. They didn’t have an emotional connection. With his drive for revenge, he was a man so much the opposite of all she believed in, she couldn’t imagine an emotional connection forming between them.

She could have this one night and not lose her heart.

FIVE

S
ierra stopped reasoning with herself as she gazed up at him. Desire was blatant in his dark brown eyes, making her pulse jump. Standing in his arms, she trembled with longing. His arm tightened around her and he leaned closer, his lips brushed lightly, and then his mouth settled, his tongue going deep.

With the first brush of his mouth, her heart thudded. Slipping her arm around his neck, she closed her eyes as she returned his kiss. Passion blazed, making her lean closer. She relished his hard body and his solid muscles against her softness. Why was she so responsive to him and him alone? How could he make her melt with only a glance? Or a brush of his fingers on hers?

Wanting him, too aware they’d be parting soon, she tightened her arms around his neck, letting go of restraints and reason. She pressed against him, wanting to seize the moment. They had an electrifying chemistry that made every glance, every moment together breathtaking and exciting.

He was aroused, ready to make love. With one arm he held her close while his hand roamed down her back, over her bottom and along her thigh. She gasped with pleasure as she ran her hands along his back, tugging his shirt out of his jeans to slip her hands over his bare skin.

She shifted to give him access to the buttons on her shirt, and he twisted them free while he kissed her. She returned his kiss equally passionately.

Showering feathery kisses on her throat, he pushed open her blouse to unfasten her bra. He cupped her breasts, which filled his large hands as he rubbed each nipple. She moaned softly with pleasure. Need for more of him built with each touch. Her hands played over him, unfastening his belt, freeing him.

She ran her fingers over his warm belly, touching his manhood. Her first caress, so faint, made him gasp and shake with loss of control.

As his fingers tugged at her jeans, she leaned back to look at him. His dark gaze consumed her with a need so intense that she shivered. His touch was light and tantalizing, making her want him desperately. Swamped by desire, she wanted his kisses on her, his hands on her, his hard body against her, his heat inside her.

“Blake,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. “Kiss me,” she whispered again, touching her lips to his jaw, feeling the stubble of his beard. She continued, trailing kisses down his chest as her hands moved lower, grasping him to stroke and tease.

“Blake, I’m not protected.”

“I’ll take care of you,” he answered, kissing away her words while he stroked her, his hand caressing her breasts.

He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom, standing her on her feet by the bed and yanking away the covers. As she caressed him, running her hands over his sculpted chest, he opened a drawer to withdraw a condom and put it on before picking her up and placing her on the bed, moving between her legs.

He was hard, breathtakingly handsome with a fit masculine body that was muscled and strong. She arched her hips, wrapping her long legs around him. He came down, his mouth covering hers.

She felt him shift beside her, and then he trailed more kisses down her throat, across each breast, taking his time, his tongue circling first one nipple and then the other before he moved lower. His hand caressed her thighs and moved between her legs.

Kissing her again, he stroked her, driving her to want him more than she had thought possible. Every touch was magic, fiery and building their desire to a feverish pitch. He shifted, his tongue following his fingers, and she cried out in need and pleasure.

“I want you,” she whispered, not caring whether he heard or not, just having to say it. “I want you more than anything,” she added, barely aware of what she said as his hands rubbed and stroked her, building her need.

She sat up, pushing him down. “You’re driving me wild.” She trailed kisses across his belly until she took him in her mouth.

His fingers wound in her hair while his other hand caressed her breast with the lightest of touches. He groaned, sat up and rolled her over as he moved above her. She watched him lower himself to finally enter her slowly, withdrawing as her hips arched beneath him and he thrust into her, filling her, hot and hard.

Sensations rocked her, need consuming her as she moved with him.

He withdrew again, moving slowly, filling her. Her legs locked around his narrow waist while she drowned in sensation.

They moved together wildly, pumping fast in heart-pounding need. She pressed against him, crying out as she reached the pinnacle of her release.

He thrust hard and fast, climaxing with another gasp of pleasure, finally slowing while holding her close.

She clung to him, hot, damp with perspiration and happiness as they slowed. Gasping for breath, their hearts pounding together, she held him tightly. For a few moments she was in a special world, locked in his embrace.

She wanted to hold him tightly and keep the world shut away for the night.

When they were still, she ran her fingers slowly through the crisp, short hair on the back of his neck while he brushed kisses on her throat.

“I don’t think I will ever forget this night,” she whispered, being blunt and truthful. When he continued with his light kisses, she decided he hadn’t heard her.

She knew that she would never forget their lovemaking, and yet she also knew she had made another mistake with him. She should not have opened herself to this man whose view of the world was so different from hers.

One night of love should not cost her heart. No matter what bond they’d forged with intimacy, she had to forget this night and she should forget him. She hoped she could do that quickly—as soon as this job ended.

She shoved aside her worries and relished holding him while he caressed her in return.

She held fast to the moment. This night was special, and their differences in priorities and philosophies didn’t matter right now.

In the light of day, reason would set in and they would go on with their jobs and their lives, and she would eventually get past this night.

When he shifted, she gazed into his dark eyes, which were filled with curiosity.

“Are you sure you have to go home tomorrow?”

“Yes. This picnic is a big deal—it used to be mostly family, but it’s grown. Now we invite a lot of people I’ve worked with, plus people—and children—from one of the shelters.”

“Children? As in abandoned?”

“As in orphaned, mostly. Some were runaways and have no home to go back to, and some are from broken homes whose families can’t keep them at this time, but they hope to get them back in the future. We sponsor a children’s shelter.”

She combed a few locks of his hair away from his face. “Come home with me. See how we live—maybe you’ll understand what I do if you’ll come meet people.”

“I’ll be in the way,” he said.

“Nonsense. There’s no such thing as a stranger.”

“Little Miss Do-Good.”

“Scared to accept, Blake?”

He gave her a crooked smile. “Why the hell would I be scared to go to a picnic?”

“You might be afraid it will change your lifestyle,” she said, teasing him, but also wondering why he wouldn’t accept her invitation. “You have time to go. Come home with me. Sunday you can fly back here. C’mon. It won’t hurt you to meet my family, the people I work with and the kids. It will broaden your outlook a bit.”

She waited while he toyed with long locks of her hair. “Okay,” he said, and satisfaction flowed through her. She smiled at him. “You can fly back to Dallas with me and leave from Dallas Monday morning to go to New York. You can fly in my private jet. I have to be in Chicago, so I’ll go that far with you. You do that, and I’ll go home with you this weekend,” he said, studying her. “I want one more night with you in my arms,” he whispered, his breath warm on her throat.

As with all his invitations, she was torn between what she should do and what she wanted to do. What was the appeal that Blake held? She had never been attracted to another man the way she was to him—it was purely physical, sexual, lustful—and she couldn’t understand it.

“You’re arguing with yourself. C’mon, Sierra. This is a brief moment in your earnest, do-good life. Live a little, darlin’, and stay. You’ll get me for the weekend, and you can show me some of what you do. I’ll see how you live, and you’ll be back here to see a little more about how I live. One more day together won’t be earth shattering.”

She had to smile at him. “You’re wicked, Blake. The proverbial bad boy all grown up into a wicked man.”

“Then save me. You stay, and I’ll go home with you for the weekend, and maybe the visit will transform me into an everlasting do-gooder,” he said.

“It would serve you right if that is exactly what happens,” she said, staring intently at him. “All right. I’ll fly back to Dallas Sunday night, and Monday morning, I leave Dallas for New York. That means canceling my commercial flight.”

“You’ll get a refund,” he said.

“There won’t be any privacy at my house,” she warned him. “Not only that, everyone will be busy getting ready for the picnic.”

“We might find a moment alone. Tell me you don’t want more kisses,” he said, shifting to look at her mouth and causing her heart to lurch. The joking and lightness of the moment vanished.

His arm tightened around her, pulling her against him while his mouth came down on hers. He kissed her, his tongue stroking hers while his free hand played along her hip and then between her thighs.

Moaning softly, Sierra kissed him in return. She wanted to tell him that he wasn’t fair. He had to get his way about everything, but words were lost, and in minutes her thought processes scrambled. All she wanted was Blake—his hands, his mouth and his body. She wanted his kisses, caresses and his lovemaking. She wanted him inside her, thick, hot and hard. With a gasp, she shoved him down on the bed and shifted over him, straddling him, shaking her head to get her hair away from her face.

His warm hands cupped her breasts, and his thumbs drew lazy circles over each taut bud.

“Ah, darlin’, you set me on fire,” he said.

Barely hearing him, she showered kisses on his throat, feeling his hands moving over her bottom and down the backs of her thighs. Tingles radiated from his touch and desire flashed into a raging need. She wanted him—his arms, his hard body, his energy.

“Where you’re concerned, I don’t have a backbone,” she whispered, wondering how she could possibly be so attracted to someone so wrong for her.

“I thought you had a backbone,” he whispered. “Let me see.” His fingers slid down her spine, and then his hand spread lightly as he rubbed her bottom and she gasped, thrusting her hips against him.

He rolled her over, moving on top while he kissed her, and she was lost to his lovemaking for the rest of the night.

* * *

Friday afternoon Blake gazed out the window of his private jet at the broad channel of the Red River as they flew north toward Kansas. A silver ribbon of water followed the curving banks.

Blake figured the weekend would be spent meeting people and watching Sierra chat with those she had helped. Tagging along was fine with him if it meant she would return to Texas with him. She’d promised only Sunday night, but that was better than telling her goodbye in Kansas City and each of them going different places.

At the thought of another night in bed with her, his pulse jumped. For a night with Sierra, he could easily sit through a family picnic.

He still couldn’t understand the hot attraction that burned between them, but he wasn’t questioning it any longer. He wanted her in his bed, and he thought about her constantly when he wasn’t with her. Of all the women he had ever known, he would have guessed that she would have been one of the least likely to generate this fiery, irresistible appeal.

Not only were they complete opposites, he couldn’t understand her outlook on life or her lifestyle any more than she could understand his. She actively disliked his way of thinking, and he thought she was throwing away her talent and her future by taking a low-paying, thankless job that would be endless work with few rewards.

Next to him, she gazed out the window. She took his breath sometimes. When he had danced with her, just a two-step, she’d had a sway to her hips that was tantalizing. He wanted to kiss her slender throat. She responded to any touch, even the most casual kiss.

He was ready for Sunday night in Dallas.

To get his mind off the temptation of Sierra, he tried to think about her family and get their names straight. He couldn’t imagine growing up the way she had—a house filled with kids who brought other kids home with them. And providing for a family on a minister’s salary had to have been a struggle, but Sierra never sounded as if it had been and she didn’t particularly care about money. She was truly indifferent to Blake’s wealth, which was something he couldn’t say for any other woman he had met.

Yes, Sierra was different. She had him willing to meet family and spend the weekend in separate rooms just for one more night with her.

* * *

Once during the evening, when the noise level was high, Blake gazed at the chaos around him. Three toddlers played with blocks while kids ranging in age from elementary school to middle school were occupied with electronic gadgets. Women bustled in the kitchen, getting big platters of food cooked and ready for Saturday. The delicious smell of baked beans was enticing, even after a big dinner.

He helped her dad and two brothers load games, balls, rackets, bats and equipment into two pickups. Her family amazed him. They worked together and they had a good time, getting things done without tempers flying in spite of kids needing attention and toys breaking.

Most of all, he noticed her mother and dad, who worked efficiently at their jobs. Watching them, it was obvious they cared deeply for each other and had a strong marriage. They were constantly aware of each other and worked as smoothly as two trapeze artists high above an audience. And they were amazingly polite to each other and all around them. It made him realize that he had never been around an older couple who were in love and happily married.