Bridleton (11 page)

Her mind flashed back to how he’d looked the last time she’d entered his bedroom. Gloriously naked and aroused. Talk about a blatant display of manhood. Her cheeks flushed a little at the memory.

“Whatever you’re thinking, it must be wicked,” said Zack. “You have a glazed look in your eyes.”

“It’s the sun,” she said, skillfully dodging as he tried to flick her with a towel.

He continued to taunt her. “Don’t move too fast or you’ll lose that poor excuse for a bathing suit.”

“It’s called a bikini. Women’ve been wearing them for generations now, big bro. Get with the program.”

Noah and Trace exchanged greetings with everyone. Noah gave her a long, thorough glance then turned and dove into the pool. Trace followed and Zack quickly lost interest in bickering. He went to the diving board and challenged the other two men to a competition.

Andrea adjusted her chair to a reclining angle, flipped her braid over her shoulder and relaxed. The sun quickly warmed her body. Her skin tingled as the heat bathed her limbs. She’d forgotten how much she enjoyed the sensation and how arousing it could be. Other than during photo shoots, models avoided the sun. It damaged and aged the skin but she didn’t care today. It felt good to do something just because it felt good.

Closing her eyes, she half listened to Chey and Nanna discussing an upcoming social function in town. The men did a lot of splashing and yelling with an occasional spray of water showering their way. For the next half-hour she drifted in a lazy-day trance.

Her skin prickled in all the sensitive areas Noah had given so much attention earlier in the week. The kiss of the sun simulated his caresses and sensitized every nerve ending. A smile curved her lips at the thought.

“That’s another wicked little smile,” teased Chey. “What wicked little thought prompted it?”

Andrea decided she’d better quit daydreaming. No way would she discuss her current thoughts with her baby sister and great aunt. “I’m thinking I’m getting very good at breaking rules,” she said.

“Professional-type rules?”

“Yeah. And boring habits. I didn’t even realize how structured and boring my life had gotten until I came home.”

“I’ve been telling you to come home ever since you left.”

Chey and Andrea chuckled at Nanette’s reminder but it also reminded them of why they needed to be home.

“You haven’t told us what your cardiologist had to say on Friday.”

Nanette took a sip of tea. “He’s still preaching about the bypass operation.”

Andrea sat up and gave Nanna her full attention. “Then he obviously thinks you’re a good candidate for the surgery. He wouldn’t encourage you if he didn’t think you’re strong enough.”

“I’m just too old for that nonsense.”

“You’re not too old,” insisted Chey. “I’ve been doing some research and people in their nineties are having bypass surgery. You’ve always been active. You don’t smoke or drink and your general health is good. Why not improve your quality of life?”

“Those kind of operations cost a lot of money.”

“Is that what’s stopping you?” asked Andrea.

“Not entirely,” said Nanette. “The doctor assures me I can get government assistance for medical issues. I’ve just never considered the option. I’m not a welfare case.”

“Well, first thing tomorrow morning we’ll do some serious research,” declared Cheyenne. “There’s not much we can’t find on the Internet. We’ll get ourselves better informed and check out the possibilities.”

“If you decide to have the surgery, we’ll find a way to pay for it,” promised Andrea. She didn’t know how but she refused to consider the alternative at the risk of losing her Nanna. “Now that Chey and I are home we can help you through recovery too. There’s nothing we can’t handle if we stick together.”

She made the declaration with heartfelt sincerity and realized she’d never said anything truer. Her family meant the world to her even though she’d spent the last few years avoiding the fact. Whatever the cost, protecting them was worth every penny.

“Well we don’t need to worry about it today,” said Nanette. “Today is for relaxing and enjoying.”

“I’m fine with that,” said Cheyenne. “But I’m getting hot already.” She yelled at the men in the pool, “Hey, guys, how about a volleyball game?”

At her suggestion Zack went searching for the necessary equipment. When he found it, they stretched the net across the middle of the shallower end of the pool and started pairing off teams.

“How ‘bout Trace and I take on Noah and the girls?” said Zack.

“You sure you don’t need him to defend against us? It might take all three of you,” shouted Cheyenne as she jumped into the pool. She disappeared underwater and then popped back to the surface. “Come on, Drea! Let’s show ‘em some action!”

Andrea smiled at Nanna. “I think Chey’s bragging might be a little misplaced.”

“Probably,” her aunt agreed. “Do you think that suit of yours can hold up to water sports?”

“Probably,” she said, laughing. “I guess we’ll find out. If you see a piece of turquoise flying through the air you might want to cover your eyes.”

The chill of the water stole her breath as Andrea used the ladder to ease herself into the pool inch by inch. It felt frigid against her hot skin.

“That’s the hard way,” Trace told her. “Just hold your breath and jump.”

She ignored the advice, having always preferred a slow transition. “You do it your way, I’ll do it mine.”

“Come on, come on, you’re such a sissy!” shouted Zack.

“I’ll sissy you with a spike to the head if you don’t quit harassing me, big brother! You never were any good at volleyball.”

His shout of outrage got drowned out when she made the final dip underwater. With a hard kick off the ladder, she dove to the center of the pool and surfaced beside Cheyenne. Bouncing on her toes, she grinned at her brother on the opposite side of the net and shouted, “Bring it on!”

Trace’s serve was swiftly returned and the volleys flew back and forth with a lot of jumping, splashing and good-natured ribbing. Nanna moved to the side of the pool, dangled her feet in the water and cheered for both teams. It didn’t take long to realize Noah and the women were too much for Trace and Zack. Chey, by far the most agile player, took pity on them. After the first game she dove under the net to level the competition.

Fifteen minutes later, Zack’s team won the second game. The third game would be the tiebreaker but they were all running low on energy. They took a few minutes to just relax in the water.

“How ‘bout we call it a draw and get the grill fired up?” suggested Chey. “I’m hungry but I want to get a quick shower before we eat.”

“You don’t know the meaning of quick shower,” said Zack.

She made a face at him. “I’ll bet I can shower, change and be back on the patio before you even get the steaks on the grill.”

“It’s a bet.”

“I’ll take some of that action,” said Trace. “I’m gettin’ mighty hungry myself. I’m for any plan that gets the food on the table faster.”

“Then let’s get with it,” said Zack. “I may not be the best volleyball player in the world but I am the best barbeque chef.”

A chorus of groans echoed the outrageous boast. He waved them off and climbed from the pool, followed more slowly by Trace and Chey. After offering Nanette a hand up Zack passed out dry towels. Andrea didn’t want to leave the water just yet. She might be slow getting into the water but she was equally slow to get out of it.

As the others gradually moved from the pool deck toward the patio, she floated toward the deep area. Her breath hitched as she felt Noah’s hair-roughened arms circling her waist. He tugged until her body spooned against his, her back to his chest. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, letting him support her weight while she floated.

“I’d forgotten how much fun you are,” he whispered, nibbling on her ear. “You don’t play enough.”

“Says the pot to the kettle.”

For long, leisurely minutes they floated, enjoying the sun and water and each other. Andrea had missed the closeness. She missed touching him and feeling his body next to hers. While the others worked on the patio, she basked in the comfort of Noah’s arms.

Goose bumps danced over her skin as he planted kisses across one shoulder and then the other. When he sucked on the back of her neck she felt the pull deep in the pit of her stomach. Reaching down, she grabbed his thighs and sank her nails into the taut flesh. He moaned, a long, low, needy sound that matched the way she felt.

Noah reciprocated by bringing both his hands up to cup her breasts. He used his thumbs to slowly rub her nipples into hard knots. A tremor quaked through her. She wanted him badly. Almost badly enough to try some inventive activities in the pool. Reaching between them, she palmed his growing erection. It thrilled her to feel the fierce, immediate response.

His low growl of warning didn’t keep her from stroking him harder, so Noah gradually moved to the edge of the pool where they couldn’t be seen from the patio. He turned Andrea in his arms and pulled her close. She wrapped her legs around his hips and rubbed herself against his fully aroused flesh. Up and down, back and forth, she rocked in a torturous rhythm. He slipped his hands under her suit and gripped her buttocks, kneading the supple flesh. They teased each other until their breathing grew labored.

“Take off your top so I can taste you.”

The command shocked Andrea out of her passion-drugged arousal. “I can’t take off my top,” she said, glancing toward the patio.

Her refusal made Noah stiffen and ease his grip on her. The passionate intensity of his gaze changed to brooding darkness. “Nobody can see us.”

“I’d still be exposed!”

“What’s the big deal? You’ve been taking your clothes off for strangers all these years? Why not for me?”

Andrea hardly believed her ears. She slammed her hands against his chest and pushed herself out of his reach. “You big jerk!” she yelled and then lowered her voice to an angry whisper when she remember the others. “I’m not a stripper! I get paid to wear clothes, not take them off! If that’s what you think of me then it’ll be a cold day in hell before you see this body naked again!”

Turning abruptly, she dove underwater to the ladder and hauled herself out of the pool. Knowing she needed to rein in her temper before joining the family, she snatched up a towel and dried off with rough, jerky movements. Take off her bra! He expected her to undress for him in broad daylight? With her family standing just yards from them? After barely touching her for days? After telling her they had no future and suggesting he wouldn’t care if she went back to New York?

Did he really equate modeling with public nudity? Stupid redneck assumption! Unbraiding her hair, she fingercombed the tangles and shook it until it flowed over her shoulders. Still fuming, she asked herself if he’d always been so damned arrogant. First he’d accused her of being a snob and now he compared her to a stripper? Unbelievable. What a big fat jerk!

Andrea slipped her feet into flip-flops just as he hauled himself from the pool.

“Drea.” His tone coaxed but she ignored him.

She started to wrap the towel around her sarong-fashion but changed her mind. Unashamed of her profession or her body, she decided to flaunt it even though the wet fabric exposed more than it covered. Let him get a really good look at what he’d be missing. Maybe her family would be too busy to notice the thinness and clinginess of her bikini.

When Noah reached for a towel she left the shrub-enclosed pool deck and walked the few yards to the patio. She arrived just in time to see a visitor round the corner of the house. The sight of Lloyd stopped her in her tracks.

“I knocked at the front door,” he told Trace, Zack and Nanette. “When I didn’t get an answer I followed the voices back here. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” said Zack as he fired up the grill. “Judging by the Yankee accent, I’d guess you’re a friend of my sister’s.”

“Lloyd,” Andrea spoke to draw his attention and then joined them on the patio. A look of genuine pleasure lit his eyes when he saw her. It went a long way toward smoothing her ruffled feathers.

“What a beautiful vision,” he declared. “Like a mermaid rising from the sea.”

“It’s the bikini,” Zack drawled laconically. “Looks like bits of seaweed.”

Andrea shook her head at his taunt but flashed Lloyd a grin. He opened his arms and she hesitated. “I’m all wet and I smell of chlorine.”

“I’ll risk it,” he teased, shortening the distance between them. He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you like hell.”

Andrea put her arms around his neck and hugged him back, welcoming the affectionate greeting. Her ego had taken quite a beating since she got home and his open adoration eased the sting a little. He kissed her and she returned the kiss but felt guilty. Though it was good to see him, the direction of her life had taken a three hundred and sixty degree turn since they’d parted. She needed to discuss a lot of things with him but didn’t want spectators when she explained the changes.

How she wished she could respond to him as strongly as she did to Noah. Lloyd was a really decent, successful man who did his best to make her happy. She admired him and enjoyed his company. So why couldn’t she love him?

“I didn’t think mermaids had long, skinny legs,” Trace muttered loudly enough to be heard. The comment put an end to their embrace. Andrea glanced his way. He and Nanette sat on the left side of the patio near where Zack worked with the grill.

“Cretins!” she responded to the continued teasing. Lloyd gave her another supportive squeeze.

Chapter Seven

“Just cretins and jerks, that’s what we are,” said Noah as he approached from the pool. She and Lloyd turned their attention to him and another shaft of guilt hit her. Not because her boyfriend had arrived unexpectedly but because her pulse leapt at the sight of Noah’s mostly naked body.

“You the jerk?” Lloyd asked, half-friendly, half-serious.

Noah’s expression remained blank. “So I’ve been told.” He shot a glance at Andrea, his gaze touching on the masculine arm linked around her waist. Then he looked Lloyd in the eyes again. Arrogance laced his next question. “And you are?”

Lloyd slipped his arm off her waist and reached out a hand. “Lloyd Rubbens.”

“Noah Courtland.”

The two men briefly shook while sizing each other up in a purely male fashion. Andrea didn’t like the sudden flare of testosterone, so she turned Lloyd’s attention to her brother. “The head cretin over there is Zack.”

Their guest took a couple steps from her and offered a hand to Zack then to Trace, who introduced himself. Next he turned to Nanna. “And I’m guessing you’re Andrea’s Aunt Nanette.”

She offered her hand and gave him a smile. “That I am. Welcome to Bridleton, Mr. Rubbens.”

“Lloyd, please, and thank you. I’ve heard so much about the place it’s nice to finally see it.”

They all turned as the kitchen door opened and Cheyenne made her reappearance. She wore a short denim skirt and white tank top that accentuated her trim, youthful figure. Lloyd moved toward her next. “And this gorgeous creature must be Andrea’s baby sister.” He accepted her outstretched hand and brought it to his lips.

“I don’t know who you are,” Chey replied flirtatiously, “but I already like you.”

Andrea laughed and made the introductions.

“I’ve always heard things are bigger in Texas but is everyone so tall?” asked Lloyd.

He stood eye to eye with Andrea when she went barefoot but he got a lot of teasing from his taller clients. Knowing how sensitive he could be about his height, she moved closer to him. He slipped his arm around her waist again and they shared a warm smile. The interaction caused a brief, heavy silence on the patio. She felt a stab of remorse when Noah’s expression tightened. Then she remembered his insult about stripping and frowned.

“I’m ready to slap some steaks on the grill,” said Zack, breaking the awkward moment. “It’s medium rare unless I hear any different.”

Noah glanced his way. “None for me, thanks, Zack. I’ve got other plans.” His gaze briefly locked with Andrea’s before he bid them goodbye and headed into the house. She forced herself not to react or watch him leave.

“Probably gonna go visit Baron.”

Trace’s suggestion had her targeting him with a glare.

“Needs to scratch an itch, I suppose,” said her brother.

Cheyenne coughed to cover a sputter of laughter. Andrea stiffened in annoyance. She wanted to strangle both men for implying Noah would go directly to Shelly Hastings’ place.

Lloyd distracted her with a question. “You have your own royalty in Texas too?”

Andrea offered him a smile and forced herself to relax. She hadn’t wanted Lloyd at Bridleton and didn’t want him involved in the little drama. Nor did she want to offend him. Having a friendly, adoring male at her side made her feel good. At least, temporarily.

“Only with livestock,” she explained. “Baron is a breeding stallion.”

When he looked puzzled, she changed the subject. “It’ll take my brother at least fifteen minutes to char our steaks. I’d like to shower off the chlorine. If you want, I’ll show you to the guest room so you can freshen up. I’m sure you had a long, hot trip.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

They excused themselves and went inside the house. She gave him a brief tour until she heard Noah come down the stairs and leave by the front door. Then she showed Lloyd the downstairs guest room, dodging a more intimate embrace with the excuse that dinner would be ready soon.

* * * * *

Late in the evening, Andrea and Lloyd strolled across the yard to the front porch. After a pleasant, casual dinner on the patio, she showed him around the main homestead of the property. City born and raised, he’d never touched a horse or cow, so she gave him a quick lesson in their overall operation.

“We breed and raise longhorns for the beef market and to sell to other breeders. Some ranchers in the area raise the longhorn bulls for rodeo stock.”

“For bull riding competitions?”

“Yes.”

“You said you used to ride in the rodeo, didn’t you?”

“No, I used to ride and compete in western pleasure classes but never anything as risky as rodeo riding. That takes serious dedication and there’s a big difference.”

“So you sell a lot of cattle to the beef industry?”

“Yes.”

“Did we eat some unfortunate cow earlier?”

Andrea laughed. “Yes, that’s something you get used to early in life on a ranch. We raise cattle and some pigs for human consumption. They aren’t pets.”

“And you raise horses for pleasure riding?”

“Mostly but some of the horses, like Baron, are thoroughbred champions. We still have a waiting list for his offspring. Unfortunately he had to be sold due to our financial crunch.”

“Where are all his offspring?”

“Some of the yearlings and two-year-olds are in the pasture beyond this barn,” she said as they approached the one closest to the house.

“You sure have a lot of barns.”

“Not all the buildings are barns,” she explained. “Several of them are used to store equipment. The big round ones on the other side of the corrals are grain silos.”

She pushed through the double barn doors with Lloyd by her side. Although it was an old structure, Noah and the ranch staff kept it as clean as some newer, stainless steel facilities. Buyers didn’t want animals born or raised in unsanitary conditions.

Rows of stalls spread in either direction. At their entry, horses’ heads popped over the stall gates to welcome them.

“Friendly crowd,” he said.

“They’re curious and they’re always hoping for treats.”

“What sort of treats?” Lloyd held back a little as she moved between the rows of stalls.

“They especially like carrots and apples. Don’t you want to touch one? These are mostly mares. They’re very gentle and in the late stages of pregnancy. A few already have new foals.”

Lloyd stepped closer to her and touched one satiny head, patting it like she did. He remarked about the size of mares as well as their offspring. When they’d finished the tour they washed their hands at the big industrial sink and left the barn. He took her hand as they strolled back toward the house.

Most of the evening they’d kept their conversation impersonal but she knew he was impatient to discuss her career and their relationship. She didn’t want to invite more intimacy yet neither did she want an audience. Deciding she couldn’t delay much longer, Andrea led him to the front porch swing, sat down and patted the cushion beside her.

Lloyd hesitated. “I was hoping for a little more privacy.”

She returned his steady gaze but didn’t acquiesce. Having subtly dodged his attempts to kiss and hold her since his arrival, she didn’t want to encourage him now. “The sunset is amazing. Why don’t we enjoy it while we talk?”

He studied her upturned face for a long time. When her expression remained resolute, he sat down beside her. As they set the swing in motion he took her left hand in both of his.

“Pretty awful, huh?” she said. “My hands are getting calloused and my fingernails are long gone. There’s not much hope of improvement anytime soon.”

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss on the palm. Instead of the warm, tingly feeling she should have experienced, the caress made her restless.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on?” he asked. “You’ve been avoiding me in every sense of the word. I thought we had an open, honest relationship with a promising future. Then you got an emergency call and forgot I existed. Now I don’t know what to think. Are you pissed because I came out here after you asked me not to? Or is there a lot more going on you aren’t mentioning?”

She looked into his dark, serious eyes, searching for the right words to explain without hurting him. “No, I’m not angry with you at all.”

He rubbed a thumb across the top of her hand. “I wish you were.”

When she gave him a confused look, he continued, “Anger is strong, healthy emotion. You were vibrating with it when you came from the pool today. I’m guessing all that passion had been generated by the man you swore you loathed.”

She sighed heavily. Lloyd knew all about her past relationship with Noah. It shamed her now to remember the foul things she’d accused him of doing and of the times she’d maligned his character. Explaining could lead to a discussion she’d rather avoid, so she skirted the real issue.

“Nothing’s ever simple with him. I’m usually in a temper for one reason or another when he’s near. It’s been like that since we were kids.”

“So what happened today?”

“He insulted me and my profession.”

Lloyd gave that some thought. “He doesn’t approve of modeling? That’s why you’re thinking of taking some time off?”

“Heavens no. I don’t plan my life to suit him,” she said, gently pulling her hand from his grasp. He shifted his arm to drape it across her shoulder. She didn’t resist when he tugged her closer but she didn’t completely relax.

“So what are your plans? I have a couple offers for you to consider but you’ll need to be back in New York for a few weeks.”

Andrea went quiet for a minute, wondering whether or not to mention the Bartell Collection idea. The timing couldn’t be worse since she needed to break up with Lloyd tonight. It wouldn’t be fair to let him go on believing they had a future as a couple. What she didn’t know was if he’d still work with her once she destroyed their personal relationship.

As they watched the sun dropped off the horizon, putting on an awesome light show. She decided to put a kernel of an idea in his very sharp, business-oriented mind. “I told you Chey’s a fabulous artist, didn’t I?”

He chuckled. “Only a few thousand times, and I’ve seen her work, remember. She’s extremely talented.”

Andrea grinned. “Well, we’re thinking once things settle down here at the ranch we’d like to approach the fashion industry from a different angle.”

“Designing?”

He sounded intrigued rather than dismissive. That buoyed her spirits. Someone of his caliber behind the sales force would guarantee attention.

“My designs, her illustrations.”

“How solid are your plans?”

“Infancy stage. But I’ve done some research and I have a head full of styles waiting to be put to paper. We’re still months, maybe years away from a launch.”

“You’ve been thinking about this a while?”

“Yes.”

He took offense. “And you never mentioned it to me?”

“I had to make sure Cheyenne wanted to be involved before I invested more time and energy.” She’d also needed to come home to bring the dream to life again but she didn’t try to explain.

He mulled that over for a minute. “Speaking of investments, you’ll need capital, manufacturing space and staff as well as marketing incentives.”

“I’m thinking small and elite, not a full-scale clothing line for all occasions.”

“Eveningwear? You always enjoyed modeling evening gowns the most.”

“That’s where I plan to start. Who knows if it’ll branch out to more.”

Lloyd loved new, challenging projects and she couldn’t ask for a better agent or partner in any business venture. She just didn’t know how interested he’d be once she broke things off with him. He’d didn’t hold grudges yet his enthusiasm could wane.

“I know a couple New York-based designers who went out of business last year,” he added. “We might be able to lease office space complete with manufacturing equipment.”

Her pulse skipped at his assumption. Better to be up front with him now. “I’m not planning to move back to New York, Lloyd.”

The statement drew him out of business mode and back to the present. He stared at her for a long time. “That had the ring of permanency.”

“I’m selling my apartment to help with finances here. The move to Bridleton is permanent. If I do any modeling, it’ll have to be local. And if or when Cheyenne and I go into business, this will be our home base.”

“You love New York, Paris and Rome,” he argued, his tone taking on a strange timbre. It sounded as panicked as she’d ever heard from him.

“I can love them and Texas too. When I came back to Bridleton I realized my heart and soul are entwined with my roots here. I love this land, this property and my family. It’s home and I don’t want to leave again. At least not for extended periods.”

He ignored her statement and offered alternatives. “I knew you had a soft spot for the place but I never imagined how grand it would be or how beautiful. You could keep your New York apartment and I could sink capital into Bridleton if that’s what’s worrying you.”

Bridleton needed the influx of cash but not from an outsider and not under false pretenses. She had to make him understand.

“I came here with the intention of checking on Nanna and returning to the city as quickly as possible. I wasn’t home two days before I changed my mind and realized this is where I belong. I know it sounds like a crazy career shift but I love working the ranch. I always have. Modeling challenged me in ways I needed at a younger age, but it doesn’t define me.”

“You can retire from modeling and accept the partnership I offered you until you’re ready to design full-time.” Now his tone held a note of desperation. “You could work both coasts and visit here as often as you want.”

“I want to help save the ranch.”

“If you’re selling your apartment and abandoning your career to save Bridleton I can make you a better offer. Accept my marriage proposal and I’ll sink all the capital you need into the place as a wedding present. It could be our winter home.”

Andrea dropped her head to his shoulder and gazed at the changing hues of the evening sky. How she wished she could accept the proposal and all the positive aspects of marrying a man who adored her. Lloyd was smart and interesting and devoted to her happiness. His money would certainly ease the financial situation for her family. But she didn’t love him and she respected him too much to cheat him out of that.