Her Texan Temptation Page 6

  He finished the last bite of his sandwich. “She’s planning to visit in the spring. I’ll make sure you get a chance to get acquainted.” He finished his glass of tea. “Oh,” he said, changing the subject, “I used what was left of the hay. If you tell me where the rest is stored, I’ll move it into the barn.”

  Mary Beth sat up straight, then fiddled with her spoon. “I knew it was getting low.”

  Deke looked at her. “You don’t have any more?”

  She shook her head, and a heavy sigh escaped her lips. “I was going to pick some up a couple of days ago.” Her gaze dropped to the table.

  “You’re not growing it?” Deke asked, curious. It wasn’t like Mary Beth to not plan ahead. Or was it? He was discovering there was a lot about her he didn’t know.

  A lump formed in her throat. She managed to swallow past it, but her teeth worried her lower lip. “I haven’t had much success. I’ve been buying it in town. At least I was until my truck broke down. I tried to figure out what was wrong with it, but never could get the darn thing started. Clyde was going to take a look at it.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Now, he’s quit. I guess in all the confusion, I forgot to get the hay.” She’d have to call the feed store and have it brought out, which would cost money she didn’t have to spare.

  Deke stood and took his dishes to the sink. “I’m no ace mechanic, but I’ll take a look at your truck. If I can’t figure out what’s wrong, Russ can come over and check it out.” Russ was married to his sister, Lynn, and they owned a horse ranch about ten minutes away. “He’s had a lot of odd jobs over the years. I bet he can fix it.” He returned to the table to pick up her dishes, then took them to the sink, Mary Beth’s financial situation on his mind.

  Had she really forgotten to order the feed? It didn’t seem to him that she had that much money, but he wasn’t sure. Hell, if she was short of cash, he’d lend her some. He opened his mouth to make the offer, then shut it again. Maybe he’d better wait for further proof before jumping to conclusions. Besides, they were actually getting along for the moment. And he was beginning to enjoy it.

  “Please don’t go to any trouble,” she insisted. Mary Beth didn’t want Deke to involve anyone else in her problems.

  Deke walked back over to the table and stopped beside her. “Don’t worry about it.” He lifted her face up so he could look into her eyes. “Stop frowning or you’re gonna have worry lines,” he warned, then drew his finger across her forehead. He’d only meant to tease, but the instant his fingers touched her face, his body tightened and the last of his words spilled out in a rough ache.

  Mary Beth’s breath dammed in her lungs as she stared at him. She hadn’t expected him to touch her. An intense sensation of longing flared deep in her stomach.

  You’ve really got to get a grip on your attraction to this man.

  She swallowed hard and tried to smile. “I’ll remember that.”

  Desire stirred inside Deke. Lustful feelings that he had no business entertaining. The last thing he needed was to get involved with Mary Beth. But as sure as he was that it was going to complicate things between them, he had a suspicion that getting involved with her was something he wasn’t going to be able to stop.

  Five

  Deke pushed Mary Beth’s pickup truck under the shade of an old pecan tree. Though the vehicle wasn’t a relic, it sure hadn’t seen a showroom in years. Rust had eaten away at the dull silver paint along the front fender and left ugly jagged holes in its wake.

  Even if he got it started, he didn’t like the idea of Mary Beth traveling the roads in this beat-up, unsafe truck. It could break down miles from town on one of the back roads. Stuck out in the middle of nowhere, anything could happen to her.

  As he worked on the truck, checking plugs and cleaning off connections, Mary Beth’s situation nagged at him, darkening his mood. The hay for the horses was gone and her pantry was practically bare. On top of that, the ranch all but screamed for attention. Either she didn’t care about the desperate need of repairs, or she had much greater problems. He suspected the latter.

  If she had any sense, she’d sell the ranch. It was a good piece of land with the potential to be profitable. Why was she holding on to it? Stubborn woman. Yeah, if he’d learned nothing else about her, he’d definitely learned she was stubborn.

  And sexy as hell.

  Oh, yeah. All he could think about was making love to her. All night long. He had erotic memories of the night he’d spent with her. Every single detail was etched in his brain. Being around her today had made him cognizant of his physical awareness of her. How could he not want to make love to her now?

  Well, so what if he did? he argued with himself. It didn’t mean he had a thing for her.

  “Ow!” He jerked his finger back as it connected with a live wire. He’d better keep his mind on the engine before he fried his brain. Not that Mary Beth wasn’t doing a fine job of that as it was.

  It wasn’t long after he checked the headlights and ensured they worked fine that he ruled out the battery. Although old, it appeared to be sufficiently charged. However, come winter, it’d probably have to be replaced.

  Scratching his cheek, he couldn’t imagine sinking any more money into the old heap. Apparently, maintaining the truck wasn’t high on Mary Beth’s list of priorities. Pulling out the oil dip stick, he shook his head. A black, gooey syrup that he presumed to be oil clung to it. Not to mention it was a quart low. He shook his head and wondered when she’d last had it changed.

  More proof that Mary Beth needed money?

  And what else hadn’t she mentioned? Maybe she’d been short and couldn’t pay Clyde. Was that why he’d quit? If so, it meant that she wouldn’t be able to afford to hire someone to take his place.

  He pondered that thought as he continued checking parts on the truck. He figured he’d test his theory of her money troubles later, mention she should buy a newer model truck, then gauge her response.

  In the end the problem with her truck turned out to be the alternator. Deke made a trip into town to pick up a new one, then decided to swing by the feed store for hay and feed. More than likely Mary Beth wouldn’t like it, but if she was really in financial straits, he’d be saving her the delivery charge.

  Besides, he couldn’t stand the thought that if she got it in her head to pick up the supplies, she’d try to unload the bales by herself. Deke more than anyone else knew that once she got something on her mind, it took a stick of dynamite to make her change it.

  Upon returning, Deke moved the hay and feed to the barn, then installed the new alternator, racing against what looked like another storm moving in. As he scanned the darkening sky, he could smell the cool scent of the incoming rain, feel the potency of the storm in the air. He glanced at the parched ground. They could use it.

  Years ago at the Bar M, he and his brothers had installed an elaborate irrigation system. Not all ranchers had the resources to do the same. Deke shook his head in disgust as he looked over Mary Beth’s dry, cracked land. It was a shame that Hank hadn’t seen fit to invest the time and expense on irrigation for Paradise. If the right care were given, this ranch could be one of the finest around. One even he would be proud to own.

  He turned his attention back to the truck and tightened the last bolt one more time. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he wiped it from his brow with the bottom of his dirty, dark-blue T-shirt. Hoping that he’d solved the problem, he got inside the truck and gave the key a twist. The engine turned over, sputtered, then began running more smoothly. He switched it off, then tried it again, and it started right up.

  Distant thunder rumbled as he started toward the house to check on Mary Beth. He frowned at the churning clouds as drops of water dotted his shirt. Just as he reached the door and stepped inside, the sky let loose.

  He’d deliberately stayed outside all afternoon, determined to prove to himself that he could resist the temptation of being with her. A waste of time, he thought now as he hurried through the kitchen
, calling her name. As much as he’d told himself that he could keep his distance, he was anxious to let her know that he’d fixed her truck. Oddly, doing something for her, however small, gave him a sense of satisfaction.

  Unaware that she’d been sleeping, he walked into the living room. As he hung his hat on a rack, she jumped and stared at him, her eyes wide and soft.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  She stretched her arms above her head, her body moving provocatively in slow motion, lifting her full breasts, jutting them at him. Deke thought for sure that he was being tested. He stared at her with his tongue practically hanging out. Hell, he was only human.

  “It’s okay.” Mary Beth sleepily rubbed her eyes, then opened them again. She scooted into a sitting position.

  It was far from okay from where he was standing, Deke thought. “How’s your ankle?”

  “I think it’s getting better. It doesn’t hurt nearly as much now.” She removed the ice pack so he could see, then winced as she ran her hand over the injury.

  “That’s good.” He bent down to inspect it. Actually, she was right. It did look better. The swelling was down and the bruising had faded a little.

  “What time is it?” she asked, looking up at him as he examined her ankle.

  “Almost six.” His gaze traveled up the length of her leg, slowly over her body and stopped at her face. Just looking at her made him want to touch her.

  She frowned at his shirt, smeared with black smudges of grease, then at his greasy hands. “You’ve been working on my truck all this time?”

  “Not exactly. I needed a part for it, so I ran into town. I finished just as it started to rain.” He decided not to mention that he’d picked up the supplies she’d needed. That bit of information could wait. Right now she wasn’t mad at him. Not knowing how long that would last, Deke wanted to just enjoy being with her.

  Fat drops began pelting the roof. Mary Beth jumped at a sharp clap of thunder. “Which part?”

  Deke watched her comb her hair into place with her hands. “The alternator. Your truck’s running now, but you really should replace the battery before the weather turns cold. And it wouldn’t hurt to get an oil change, either.”

  Mary Beth’s face grew hot. She’d meant to take care of the maintenance on the truck, but she hadn’t wanted to spare the money. Not yet. Not until she’d paid her mortgage. “I know it’s overdue. I haven’t had time to get to it.”

  Deke straightened and stepped away from her, afraid he’d do something totally stupid like reach for her. Leaning his shoulder against the wall, he said casually, “Don’t put it off too long. And I added a quart of oil. That’ll hold you for a while. Better yet, why don’t you replace that death trap?”

  Mary Beth stiffened. She just couldn’t admit she was holding on to the ranch by a thread. “I like that old truck,” she lied, hoping he wouldn’t see through her deception. “I’m not ready to get rid of it.”

  Deke studied her expression, noticed the red splotches on her cheeks and neck. He didn’t believe her for a minute, but he let it go. “It’s your decision,” he said with a shrug.

  She nodded, then swung her feet to the floor. “I appreciate your working on it, though. How much do I owe you?” she asked, and held her breath.

  Deke gave her a crooked smile. Despite knowing he was begging for trouble, he suggested, “Feed me dinner and we’ll call it even.”

  Wary, Mary Beth studied him, irritated at the way her heart did a little flip-flop at the thought of being with him for a while longer. But she didn’t want his charity. “I can pay you.”

  “I didn’t say you couldn’t.” He moved away from the wall and toward her, close enough to smell her scent, far enough to resist the temptation of kissing her. “So how about dinner? Sounds like it’s raining pretty hard now, so I thought I’d wait around until it slacks off before I go.” It was a thin excuse to stay with her.

  “I don’t know what I have,” she answered honestly, then mentally ran through her cupboards. Unable to afford much more than the bare essentials, she hadn’t been to the grocery store this week.

  Deke shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not picky. Would you mind if I took a quick shower?” Before she could protest, he whipped off his dirty shirt.

  Mary Beth’s mouth went dry at the sight of him half-naked. His skin was tanned, his shoulders strong and hard muscled, his chest lightly sprinkled with fine, dark blond hair. Her gaze devoured him, slipping down his flat stomach, stopping momentarily at his belt, then drifting dangerously lower to his hips.

  She caught her breath. Long ago on the night they’d made love, she’d had the freedom to touch him intimately, to run her hands all over his body. Oh, my, she wished she could touch him now.

  “Um, no, of course not,” she said in a rush, diverting her gaze. “Maybe I can find you a clean shirt.”

  “Great. Don’t start dinner until I’m out, so I can help,” he warned. He turned and disappeared down the hall.

  A moment later the bathroom door closed, and she heard the shower come on.

  She stood. Her legs trembled and her heart pounded. It was all Mary Beth could do to make her way to her father’s bedroom.

  You can handle this, she told herself.

  No, she couldn’t. Deke was naked in her shower!

  “Just keep your distance,” she muttered as she entered her father’s room. The musty smell, the faint yet familiar scent of her father, caused her footsteps to momentarily falter. She glanced around the room. Unpleasant memories came rushing back at her. Her father’s disappointment in having a daughter, his criticism every time she tried to help with jobs on the ranch—and her burning desire to get away.

  In two years she’d rarely entered his room, and now she was ready to rummage through her father’s clothing for a shirt for Deke.

  Deke! Getting her mind back on track, Mary Beth pulled open a dresser drawer. Snatching up a long-sleeved white shirt, she slammed the drawer shut and headed out of the room.

  She approached the bathroom door with a mixture of hesitation and excitement. Should she leave the shirt outside the door, or open it and toss it in?

  She could just go inside.

  Go inside! Are you crazy?

  Maybe, but if she went in just for a second, she’d be able to see the image of his nude body through the clouded glass shower door.

  Oh, how she wanted to.

  Badly.

  She grasped the doorknob. You shouldn’t. It’s an invasion of his privacy! Not to mention rude, she chided herself. Her whole body shook with need and anticipation.

  What would Deke think if she walked in? If she stripped off her clothes and offered herself to him? Could she do it? Could she start an affair with Deke, knowing there would never be more between them? Did she want to risk hurting her heart once again?

  Soon, maybe even tomorrow, he would be leaving. Would it make a difference if she made love with him? She was leaving Crockett anyway, wasn’t she?

  But she couldn’t bring herself to open the door.

  Her pulse accelerated as she leaned closer, then pressed her cheek against the cool wood. Her eyelids drifted down, and she breathed deeply, her lungs filling almost painfully as she let her imagination run wild.

  Drifting in a dream-filled state, she saw herself opening the door and stepping inside the small bathroom. Stripping out of her clothes with seductive intent, she stepped lightly across the room and reached for the metal handle of the glass door. Slowly, her heart pounding, she drew it open and stood wantonly naked before him. In her mind she took pleasure in the way Deke’s blue eyes widened with surprise, then darkened with desire as his body hardened, readying itself for her.

  Having never bathed with a man, the creative illusion of water cascading down their bare skin sparked an urgent need in the most intimate part of her body. Her breathing escalated as she envisioned herself in his arms, her full breasts brushing against his hard chest…

  “Oh
!” she squealed as the door abruptly swung open. Mary Beth fell forward and slammed against Deke’s bare chest. The exquisite contact stole her breath. Startled, she stared aghast at his face. Lord help her, she’d been so lost in her fantasy that she hadn’t even heard him turn off the water!

  Deke’s arms went around her, catching her fully against him. “Whoa.”

  “I was, um, bringing you a shirt,” she blurted, tightening her hold on the garment now squashed between them. Heat rushed to her cheeks.

  “I like your mode of delivery,” he murmured, but he wasn’t smiling. His eyes, heavy-lidded and hot with desire, drifted to her mouth.

  She stilled with anticipation, knowing she was a fool to invite the intimacy of his kiss but unable to resist the temptation. Her mouth opened with silent invitation. Deke lowered his head, and his lips hovered above hers. Their breath mingled in what seemed like forever before he finally covered her mouth.

  The pleasure of his lips, of his tongue sweeping into her mouth coursed through her, and Mary Beth moaned. Overwhelmed by her desire for Deke, she trembled in his arms, feeling the heady force of his kiss all the way to her toes. And the erotic smell of him—pure male, mixed with her own lavender-scented soap—filled her senses. She grasped his upper arms in a desperate attempt to keep her balance, then went up on her toes as his tongue made another slow, deliberate foray into her mouth.

  Sinfully delicious.

  Her resolve to keep him at a distance deserted her. His skin, still damp from his shower, was hot and moist beneath her palms. Pressed tightly against him, she could feel him harden. Her breasts swelled, her nipples ached as his hand drifted ever so slowly down her back, then lower still to cup her bottom. He cradled her body against his hips.

  Suddenly he lifted his lips. Mary Beth instantly felt deprived of the pleasure of his mouth. She tensed, knowing what to expect. Her heart sank as she waited for him to bolt. In a moment he’d be running out the door, just as he’d done last night, just as he’d done two years ago.