The Maverick Meets His Match (Hearts of Wyoming Book 2)(47)
“I don’t know what you’re afraid of, Mandy Martin, but you needn’t be. We have an end date, clear terms, and, evidently, your grandfather’s consent. I say let’s go for it.”
That’s what scared her. This was merely a distraction for him. She wasn’t sure what it would be for her.
“I’m not interested.” Her voice sounded thin, reedy, and unconvincing.
He slid up, almost relieving the sheet of its duty. At the last minute he tugged it up, but not before she caught a glimpse.
Every night of their trip, in the intimacy of their hotel room, he’d told her he wanted her. She’d had other men tell her they wanted to have sex with her. But they weren’t men she’d once fallen in love with. They weren’t men who were willing to steal her company. They weren’t men who might also steal her heart.
He stroked his finger down her cheek, sending a little tremor through her. “I can get you interested.” His breath puffed against her cheek, and her belly tingled.
She turned her face toward him, realizing too late the mistake she made as he gently cupped her chin. The kiss started sweet but quickly turned hot, very hot. His slick tongue stroked hers, cracking her pitiful attempt at resistance. She wanted him. And he knew it. His passion sent an earthquake-worthy tremor through her and she hung on. Sliding her hands up his neck, she burrowed her fingers in his hair and held him so she could feast on his mouth. He tasted good. He kissed even better.
She felt his warm hand slip under the hem of her T-shirt and slide up her cool flesh to her breast while he pressed his tongue deeper into her mouth. A moan escaped from somewhere in her throat. Her nipples peaked, and her mind turned fuzzy. He kissed her like he was going to devour her, and she wanted to be devoured.
It would just be sex. Just mindless sex. No one would know.
The word liar popped into her head. She was lying. To herself. It would never be just sex with Ty. For reasons that at the moment eluded her, he meant something more to her, however mistaken those feelings were. However much she didn’t want to own up to them.
It took more willpower than she thought she possessed, but she pulled back. He stared at her through lowered lids, regret in his eyes.
“No,” she managed to say.
“It’s gonna happen sometime. And soon. You can take that to the bank,” he said, his voice husky and his smile assured.
Chapter 11
The following morning, she called Libby and Cat to squeeze in coffee at the café before the dreaded late-morning flight to the Washington rodeo. She hoped Cat and Libby had some good advice to strengthen her quickly fading resolve, because she surely didn’t know what to do.
It was a few minutes past ten when Mandy, dressed in a Prescott rodeo T-shirt, jeans, and barn boots, walked into the café, her two friends already situated in a booth and waiting for her. At the last minute, one of Prescott’s best broncs had pulled up lame, but it turned out to be only a pebble caught in the hoof. Something Kyle should have checked for before sounding the alarm, but he was still learning.
Mandy slid into the booth just ahead of the waitress heading for their table. It was the same perky blonde from the other night, and they gave her their order before saying their hellos. Not quite ready to talk about herself, Mandy addressed Libby, who was wearing a cute blue-and-white maternity top with her jeans now that she was beginning to show. “So how are you feeling?”
“Good. The second trimester is a lot easier than the first, thank goodness.” The woman was beaming, and Mandy felt an odd sense of emptiness at the thought of never having children. Clearly Libby had found the right man. She wondered if she ever would.
“And, Cat, how are things going with that adverse-possession claim?” Mandy asked.
Cat was dressed in a white tailored shirt, skintight jeans, and a shiny pair of undoubtedly new cowgirl boots. She looked like she stepped out of a fashion magazine rather than a ranch pickup. Cat had always been the girly-girly type when they were growing up, while Mandy had been all tomboy. How her friend was going to run a huge ranch now that her stubborn father had passed away was beyond Mandy, but one thing she could say about Cat, she was determined—a trait they both shared.
“We’re still in the discovery phase. Our lawyer said he’ll be ready to file in a few weeks. I don’t feel right about it, but he keeps telling me it’s the law and it involves water rights, so it’s not something I can let slide.”
Mandy nodded. She understood not feeling right about something that was ostensibly legal.
“And how is Mrs. Martin feeling these days?” Cat asked.
“Confused.” And that was the truth.
Mandy elaborated, telling them about almost giving in to her raging hormones back in Abilene, the confrontation with Kendall, and her inability to concentrate, much less sleep, when Ty was in the same bed. “I’ve never been more attracted to a man, nor trusted one less than I do Ty Martin.”
“Maybe it’s more than attraction,” Libby said as the waitress set down their coffees, pastries, and the western omelet Libby had ordered. The woman was eating for two, after all.
“That’s exactly my fear. I thought being with him twenty-four seven would make me like him less. I hate to admit it, but he actually had some good ideas to help keep business. He’s smart, works hard, and doesn’t shirk difficult jobs or decisions. Those are traits I’d find attractive in anyone else. But it doesn’t change the terms of the will or his quest to sell the place. He’s still waiting on financials, which I know will show we are profitable, but I don’t know if that’s enough to convince him not to sell.”