Beauty and the Brit (33 page)

“I
know
we can’t get away with that here. Do you see what happens if I let my mean and forceful side have its way?”

“I love it.” She pushed the shirt off his shoulders and pulled it from his arms. “Hel-lo, you magnificent man.”

“Now, that’s ridiculous.” He grinned as she stroked his shoulders, ran her palms down his biceps and forearms, and circled his wrists.

“Your name is David, right? I believe you were friends with some guy named Michelangelo.”

Their laughter bubbled joyfully, and he swapped their holds, grabbing her wrists and pinning her to the wall once more.

“You’re completely mad. Where do you dredge up such nonsense?”

He released her wrists and pushed up her T-shirt with both hands this time. The breast he’d exposed earlier still awaited him, the deep bronze aureole pebbled, the nipple erect and inviting. Bending sideways he took it into his mouth, letting all the textures tease him, as if he wasn’t already uncomfortable enough.

“David, David, David,” she murmured, the sounds coming from deep in her throat. “I think you could make it happen just like this.”

“That would make me happier than you can imagine.”

With a swift, desperate motion he dropped one hand to the juncture of her thighs and pressed. Her buckled-knee reaction gratified him to his toes.

“No!” To his surprise she shoved his hand away, whimpering. “Same as you—we can’t do this here.”

“Let’s find a place where we can.”

“Tonight?”

“You really want to wait?”

“Of course not. But I’m going to. Somebody has to control your baser side.”

“Rio.” He pressed into her again, loving the slight abrasiveness of her shirt fabric against his skin. With both hands he cupped her cheeks and tilted her face to his. Red silk waves flowed over his fingers. Blue gemstones met his gaze. “I didn’t expect this. I didn’t plan any of this. Not today. Not the last three weeks. It started as pure attraction because you are beautiful. But you need to know, it’s not just that anymore.”

“It’s not,” she agreed. “Not that I know
what
it is.”

“A connection.”

“I want to connect tonight.”

“I’ll figure something out. Maybe—”

“Daaaavid!” The call from someone in the barn made them both jump guiltily.

“Crap!” Rio grabbed his shirt from the ground, shook it out, and handed it to him, then straightened her own clothing. “See. I had a sixth sense—”

He threw on the shirt and began buttoning from the bottom. She took it from the top.

“Tonight,” she whispered, rose on her toes to kiss him, and disappeared around the end of the barn leaving him aching and wondrous.

Chapter Twenty-Five

O
NE LOOK AT
David’s hard, fit body that afternoon had turned all thoughts of him as a safe, solid presence upside down. Suddenly he was sexy and dangerous, and Rio craved time with him like a suffocating woman would crave air. But if there was some cosmic plan, God, Providence, or the Universe, was being just plain cruel.

The doorbell rang at seven-fifteen that evening. When David answered it, his speechless stare and the man he let into the foyer sent her hopes for the night spiraling into disappointment. She recognized him immediately. Thick hair, the same sable brown as David’s, waved across his forehead, and the same slender, muscular build filled out neat gray Dockers and a pale gray, V-neck sweater over a yellow polo with its collar preppily turned up. There was no doubt that, a full day early, Colin Pitts-Matherson had arrived.

“Da’.” David finally held out his hand, which Colin took without hesitation in an impersonal but cordial greeting.

“David.”

His mother bustled to the door. “Colin? Good heavens. We were planning to fetch you tomorrow.”

“Hello, Stella.”

Colin embraced his ex-wife with a good deal more warmth than he’d offered his son.

“We were waitlisted for an upgrade on our scheduled flight. I got a call this morning saying some first class seats were available on today’s but not ours. It seemed fortuitous to take them.”

The man definitely had clout. Airlines didn’t simply call the average person up and let him change his flights. And now that he was inside, he owned this room, too, with sheer presence.

“Well, come in then,” Stella said. “See who else is here.”

“You said you had a surprise. I, too, have brought someone along.”

For the first time, Rio noticed the quiet figure behind Colin. Taller by three inches, wiry and greyhound sleek, with a broad forehead and prominent nose, he waited patiently.

“How do you do?” David shook the stranger’s hand.

“Carter Maxwell,” the man replied in a sonorous voice—American, not British.

“David,” his father said. “Carter here might just be the answer to all your troubles.”

“I have troubles?”

“Don’t be obtuse. Pride and posturing have no place in a well-run business. Maxwell here has an interesting proposition for you. But we’ll get to that in good time. You should know, this is very fortuitous timing.”

“I see.” David’s face said he didn’t see at all.

“Now. What’s this lovely surprise I’ve been promised?” Colin strode into the living room, leaving his black, soft-sided suitcase next to the door.

David gestured for Carter Maxwell to follow. The man’s strong, impassive face made him look butlerish—not American at all.

“I guess the surprise would be me.” Kate stepped forward, her voice soft, the lift of her head self-assured, pleased.

Colin’s eyes widened in unmistakable joy. “Katherine? Am I dreaming? My dear, this is the
most
marvelous surprise. I never hoped to see you as part of the family again.”

“Oh Colin, I’m just a guest. I had the good fortune to run into Stella at the right time.”

“Seems as if the fates are on your side all at once.” Colin beamed at David. “Favoring you with perfect timing.”

Rio nearly choked.

“Not interested in the fates, Da’. I have guests for you to meet, as well.”

David’s smile wrapped Rio in warmth. “This is Rio Montoya and her sister, Bonnie. Ladies, my father, Colin Pitts-Matherson.”

Rio held out her hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Hi.” Bonnie smiled quickly.

His handshake was brief and self-assured. “Of course. The young misfortunates. I was dreadfully sorry to hear about your home. Glad you were able to find refuge here for a time.”

Rio rocked back in affronted surprise.
Misfortunates? Refuge?

She took an unobtrusive corner seat with Bonnie while the formalities wound down in a whirl of hustle and chatter. Colin and Carter were ensconced in seats of honor, offered food and drinks, and peppered with “how are things in Florida?” questions. David was assimilated into the group like a captured human into the Star Trek Borg Collective.

Finally, Colin sat back with his coffee cup comfortably in hand, and addressed the mystery of the evening. “Why don’t I have Carter explain why he’s here?”

“Sure.” Carter Maxwell’s deep voice drew curious attention.

“I have been involved in the Eventing world for the past two decades. I competed through advanced level until I was injured two years ago. Since then, I’ve been sort of an itinerant teacher and clinician. Last year, I landed under the wing of your father.” He looked directly at David. Rio saw only hard-edged patience on David’s features.

“He’s a brilliant instructor,” Colin said.

Maxwell smiled his thanks. “I’ve learned a tremendous amount,” he continued. “But my goal has always been to have a permanent facility of my own or one I could run with a partner. Your father told me about Bridge Creek and how it’s the premiere stable in this area, and it sounded intriguing. When he explained about the financial issues you’re having because of the economy here, I had a bold thought. I’d like to solve both our problems. I’d like to buy into your stable, David, and help you run it, as a co-owner.”

In less than three seconds David’s face drained of color, and Rio’s breath caught in her lungs. Without warning David shot to his feet. As quickly as he’d paled, crimson flooded back into his cheeks.

“I’m sorry. Did someone give you the impression that any part of this facility is for sale? If so, he or she was quite mistaken.”

“Nobody has any preconceived ideas here.” Colin crossed his legs casually, as if the whole suggestion was no more than a flippant remark.

“If after you hear my offer, it isn’t of interest to you, so be it. Your father is simply guiding me to potential opportunities.”

“We’re here to give you something to think about and, perhaps, find a way out of your current dilemma. No more than that,” Colin added.

David sat cautiously back down.

“That’s fine to say, Da’, but you need to remember that I didn’t call for your help. Your devious ex-wife did that. I don’t need anything. I’m not looking for help. Or a partner.”

“Very well.” Colin exchanged a look with Carter that Rio couldn’t decipher, almost as if something were going according to a plan. “Then we’ll look forward to a relaxing few days and be on our way again.”

David nodded. “I’ve got a new young horse I think you’ll enjoy seeing. Take your time up with him.”

And that was that.

An hour more passed before Rio’s stubborn optimism accepted that there would be no illicit trysts that night. David, a captive to his overwhelming family’s endless stories, wasn’t getting away any time soon.

The conversation never waned thanks to Stella and Colin’s rehash of every family moment Rio had missed in her whole life. When she saw her four-thirty alarm would go off in just under six hours if she fell asleep within ten minutes, she had to call it a night.

“I’m heading upstairs,” she whispered to Bonnie.

“It’s still early.”

“Yeah, but I have to get up for work. You stay and eavesdrop; it’s fine.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s kind of cool you’re the new baker. Dawson says your pies are awesome. I already knew that, but . . .”

“Thanks, kid. I’ll save you a piece every day for that.”

She kissed the top of her sister’s head and headed toward the stairs. When she passed David, the impersonality of his smile stung. That wasn’t his fault—they’d made the agreement mutually. Still, when she waved her fingers and mouthed “good night,” he only nodded, and she wished it didn’t seem like he’d clicked back into passive mode so easily.

D
AVID DESPAIRED OF
ever breaking away from the troop of chattering monkeys his family and their two guests had become. It was as if they’d each arrived pre-programmed with every piece of news they’d gathered by phone, gossip, magazine, or carrier pigeon.

His heart sank further when Rio left. This was so far from what he’d promised her for tonight. He couldn’t even make do with having her close as part of the family, although he was beginning to wonder why. So what if it had only been three and a half weeks? In that amount of time you could know you liked someone. A lot.

The trouble was this mess his parents had laid in his lap—described in four words:

Kate. And Carter Maxwell.

He’d stopped the latter in his tracks, but it didn’t ease his mind. His father had capitulated far too quickly. Something was still up his suave and devious sleeve.

He managed to listen halfheartedly as long as Bonnie remained in her chair in the corner. Her presence reminded him Rio wasn’t far away. But when Bonnie finally stood to leave half an hour behind Rio, David couldn’t bear the pointless conversation without at least one of the Montoya sisters.

“Are you heading up?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Bonnie smiled. “It’s been nice meeting everyone, but since Rio has to get up so early, I said I’d help Andy in the barn in the morning, so it’s bed for me, too.”

“You two are such amazing little worker bees.” Kate smiled, toothy and calm.

“It’s fun. We always dreamed of having a ranch. We’re enjoying it while we can.”

“Good for you.” Kate sat back, one leg crossed elegantly over the other. “Turn adversity into a vacation.”

Even David thought that a callous comment.

“So, Bonnie,” he said. “How about if I come up now and fix that window blind you had problems with?”

He countered her confused frown with an exaggerated, hopeful wink, and she caught it with an amused smile. Intelligent girl.

“Um, okay, sure. I hate to pull you away.”

“It won’t take long.” He jumped up. “Carry on, you lot. I’ll be right back.”

Following Bonnie up the stairs felt like a release from prison.

“What’s this about?” she asked when they neared the top.

“Shhh,” he whispered. “Thank you so much, love. I was nearly ready to slit my throat.”

“What? They’re your parents and they’re hilarious. I could listen to them all night.”

“You’re just hearing the funny words,” he teased. “What they’re actually saying is excruciating. Plus, I—” He looked at her, debating. “I wanted to come up and check on your sister.”

A grin broke over her face. “I knew it. You liiiike her.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “What do you think? Is that all right? I mean, would it be all right with you if I liked her enough to, say, kiss her?”

“I don’t believe for a second you haven’t done that already.”

“Not admitting anything until I know you approve.”

“You are as weird as she is. I’m not her parent. You don’t have to ask me.”

“Of course not, but I know she doesn’t want to upset you.”

“Look, I dated a gang leader and I got into a car with a pimp. I’m not the innocent little girl she thinks I am. I know about life. Besides, you’re so much better than anyone she ever hooked up with in Minneapolis.”

“Thanks for that anyway.”

“Come on.” She took his arm firmly and dragged him toward Rio’s room.

“Bonnie, I don’t need—”

“Shhh.” She tapped her lips firmly. He grinned while she rapped on the closed bedroom door. “Sis, are you still awake?”

“Hey, Bons. Yeah, come on in.”

“Are you decent? I don’t need to see you naked.”

David glared at her as his pulse shot into hyper drive.