Cougar in Texas: 3 (Rugged and Risque) (11 page)

But as they walked from the stable to the back porch of the house, where Reese arranged lunch on a lightweight blanket she’d spread out on the redwood deck, a new thought sprang to mind.

Settling on the floor because there was no furniture, Caleb said, “Maybe adding a new stable isn’t the way to go.”

“What do you mean?” Sam asked as he reached for the spoon in the large tub of macaroni salad. Reese had also put out chips and three halved sandwiches stacked with turkey and ham, apparently expecting Caleb to have a big appetite.

“There’s so much land here,” he said. “I have twelve stalls in the main stable to use for the most severe cases, so I can keep them under close supervision. But rather than add another stable with eight stalls, why not build eight corrals? Let the horses that can manage it—and that need the space—roam a bit?”

“I can’t imagine they’d complain about that,” Reese said.

“You’re probably looking at similar costs, since you’d have to build the second stable anyway.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

They devoured lunch, then Sam took the opportunity, as Reese cleaned up and returned the picnic basket to the SUV, to approach family business. He said, “You know there’s a party in Dallas for Dad after Christmas.”

“Already RSVPed in the negative.”

“That would be the third reason I’m here.”

Caleb snickered. “It’s not even a party for a particular occasion. Well, other than for Mom to show off the new diamond necklace Dad bought her for Thanksgiving.”

“Regardless,” Sam said, “it’d be a good idea for us to go. Show our support for them, as well as our united front.”

With a groan, Caleb told him, “I’ll give it some thought.”

Sam got to his feet and said, “I’m gonna fix a few more posts. Then I’m going into town for dinner, if you both want to accompany me.”

“In need of a place to stay?” Reese asked as she returned.

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

“I’ll give him directions,” Caleb said as he stood.

Later, Reese recommended the steakhouse for dinner. She greeted several people and told them about Caleb and Sam’s undertaking. After they’d eaten their meal, Sam picked up the tab and they all drove to the B&B.

“The second-largest room in the house is upstairs at the end of the hall,” she told him. “It’s quiet back there.”

Sam handed her a credit card before heading up to the room with his bag. She set it on the kitchen counter with Caleb’s. He wondered if she ever planned to charge him. Perhaps Tommy’s words hadn’t quite left her memory. It wasn’t at all a moral dilemma in his own mind. He was living in her house and eating her food, after all. She needed to be fully compensated. If she didn’t run his card soon, he’d bring her cash. She couldn’t ignore that.

As he considered the predicament, she stared up at the landing at the top of the steps. He deduced she needed to find some way to make peace with her own bedroom. Caleb didn’t find it necessary at the moment. His fingers twined with hers and he tugged gently.

“Why don’t you climb into my bed?”

A smile seemed to tickle the corners of her mouth at the invitation. “What about Sam?”

“Let him find his own bedmate.” He strolled toward his suite, taking her with him. “Don’t worry. He won’t mind the racket.”

“He’s on the opposite side of the house. How noisy do you think we’re going to get?”

“Depends on how hard I can make you come.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

His sexy grin made her toes curl. “I haven’t heard you say no to me yet.”

“You haven’t given me a reason to.” He swept her up in his arms and she laughed again. “You like doing that, don’t you?”

“Maybe it’s territorial, but I can’t help it.”

She nuzzled his neck. “Again…not complaining.”

* * * * *

Ginger told Reese the next afternoon at the lingerie shop she wanted to treat her friends to dinner and drinks for helping with the first round of wedding decorations. They all met at Pietro’s.

“You are not going to believe the latest word on the street,” Jess said in an offended tone as she slid into the booth in the far corner of the dining room.

“If it has anything to do with me,” Reese said as she reached for the basket of sourdough bread, “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Well, of course it does. And you absolutely
do
want to hear it.”

Reese dipped the end of her hunk of bread into the small pool of olive oil and balsamic vinegar she’d poured onto her side plate. After swallowing, which gave her time to decide whether to listen to what her friend had to say or reiterate she didn’t want to know, she caved.

“Fine. What am I up to now, according to the rumor mill?”

“Tommy is spreading word all over town that you’ve now got
two
men staying with you at the B&B.”

“That’s hardly worthy of calling it gossip. It’s a fact.”

Jess crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s also saying that you’re sleeping with one of the men, and he’s hinting there might be a threesome developing, since y’all were out to dinner together last night looking chummy.”

Reese dropped her slice of bread. “Are you shitting me?” She was certain the color drained from her face.

“Would I be so upset if I were?” Jess demanded.

“Oh good Lord,” Ginger said, her eyes wide.

Liza merely waved a hand in the air. “Please. No one will ever believe you’re involved in a love triangle, Reese. You are not the ménage type.”

“Were I not royally pissed off right now, Liza, I’d take extreme offense to that comment. I could
so
do a three-way.”

The other women laughed. Ginger said, “No you couldn’t. You’re fiercely loyal—even when it’s to your own detriment. You couldn’t divide your affection, sweetie.”

Reese sighed. “Well, you do have a point there.” Especially when it came to Caleb. Her mind shifted back to her ex. “So what the hell? Tommy’s staking out the B&B to see what kind of business I’m doing?” Another ominous shiver slithered down her spine—he brought the sensation on in spades. “Oh my God.” She gasped. “Tommy’s staking out the B&B. He’s keeping tabs on me.”

“That will not do.” Ginger whipped out her cell.

“Who are you calling?” Jess asked.

“Ryan, of course. He’s on patrol tonight for Deputy Baker. I’m going to have him drive by the B&B more often.”

While she placed the call, Reese’s gaze slid around the restaurant. Her mind whirled. Not only was she creeped to high hell that Tommy might be watching her, but she wondered exactly how many people in town—and in Pietro’s—had heard the speculation she was sleeping with her guests. What did they all think? She’d turned the place into a brothel?

She groaned. “For the love of God,” she whispered. “This is so humiliating.” As though she needed another dose of mortification heaped on top of her.

“Don’t go shrinking into the seat,” Liza snapped as she began to do just that. “You know people in this town are on your side.”

“Yes, but if they start thinking I’m trying to sow some wild oats with two men, they’re going to be digging a huge hole for me.”

“Exactly who is this second guest of yours?” Jess asked. “Because apparently he rivals Caleb in the hottie department and there are several Wilder women already drooling over him.”

“Sam is Caleb’s older half brother. And he’s just as down-to-earth as Caleb.”

“Boy this town is getting better looking by the day,” Jess quipped.

“Wait ’til we all have kids,” Liza said. “Can you imagine mini-Jacks running around Wilder?”

Ginger wrapped up her call and clasped her hands together. “You two are thinking about starting a family?”

Liza positively beamed. “Jack asked, I said yes. I mean, how could I not? The mere thought of having children with his good looks and my fashion sense brings a smile to my face.”

“Ryan and I want children too.”

Jess laughed. “I have to admit, George has been hinting.
Big-time
. When we remodeled the Tudor, we prepped a room to make it easy to turn into a nursery.”

“Oh this is just too much.” Reese rolled her eyes. “Here y’all go again. Just when I thought I’d caught up in the sexual bliss area, you’ve moved onto baby bliss.”

“No one’s pregnant yet,” Liza said in an exasperated tone. “Don’t get too worked up. Jack and I have just, you know, been practicing.” She winked. “A lot.”

“Anyway,” Jess said, obviously changing the topic to get Reese’s mind off all the marital bliss. “I heard this Sam fellow isn’t wearing a wedding ring, so you can be certain there’ll be much more interest in him if he sticks around.”

Reese’s eyes narrowed on her. “Did you spend the afternoon in Lydia’s salon? Is that where you heard all this gossip?”

“Of course. Couldn’t you tell?” She gave a gentle shake of her light-auburn hair, the perfect complement to her peach-colored complexion.

“You look fantastic,” Liza assured her. “But how does that woman hear so much chatter before anyone else in this town?”

“If you sat in her chair even one time, you’d know,” Reese said in a droll tone.

“Still doing my own highlights,” Liza told them. “While Lydia has mellowed out considerably, I’m not yet convinced she won’t do something drastic to my hair because she doesn’t like the way I dress.”

“She did something drastic to
my
hair when she was mad about Ryan dating me,” Ginger said. “And it turned out great!”

Ginger’s golden locks sat perkily on her shoulders, all nice and fluffy.

“I can’t afford for her to hack off five inches,” Liza said. “I do not look good with short hair.”

“Interesting how the woman is even more talented when she’s miffed,” Reese mused. “Maybe you ought to give her a chance, Liza. You’ve still got a tinge of orange to those highlights.”

Liza smirked. “And you’ve got a couple gray hairs coming in along your part.”

Reese scoffed. “Now don’t go mentioning gray hairs to me. I’m sensitive about this cougar thing.”

“I still think it’s sexy as hell,” Liza contended. “And you just know it has to grind Tommy’s wheels.”

“Hear, hear!” Ginger said as she lifted her wineglass for a toast. “And don’t let the gossipmongers get you down. They just have too much time on their hands. Plus, Ryan said he’d swing by the B&B regularly and alert Dan Baker to do the same while Tommy’s in town.”

That was a tremendous relief. Unfortunately, she’d also have to warn Caleb and Sam. An unsettling thought.

Chapter Seven

Reese waited to broach the subject of her ex’s vicious rumor spreading and peeping Tom activities, not particularly amused by the pun, until the next afternoon. She drove out to the ranch around noon, taking the men lunch.

She honked as she passed the stables where they worked, then continued up to the house, some distance away. Climbing out of the car, she stared up at the enormous building and wondered what on earth the previous owner had been thinking when he’d constructed the huge abode. From what Reese knew of the place, no one had ever lived on the premises. The ranch had been completed in the early 2000s but had sat unoccupied all this time. Rumor had it the seller had moved out of the country with his global business. Obviously, he’d had enough money to not worry about paying for the property while it sat vacant, since the bank had never foreclosed. Reese wondered if he’d intended to start, or had at the time, a large family. Were that the case, the ranch would certainly be a legacy worthy of investing in.

Her gaze slid to Sam’s truck as it pulled alongside her car. She wondered about Caleb’s true stance on children. Not that she was really thinking that far ahead, but he had mentioned he was saving his trust fund for them. And regardless of the fact that they were still testing the waters with their new romance, what woman wouldn’t consider all the nuances of a future with someone she was deeply attracted to? It was nice to know the deal breakers up front, and truth be told, all the baby talk the previous evening had her mulling over the possibilities.

Granted, for the time being, she was simply happy to have found someone to share her evenings with, so babies were most definitely
not
a pressing issue. And with Sam in the house as well, she actually felt as though she were a part of something more significant than being the standalone B&B owner she’d been, even during her marriage. The lonesomeness, she suddenly realized, had vanished completely since that first kiss Caleb had given her.

She smiled at him as he strode her way. When he reached her, he gave her a long, searing kiss, making her forget all about her mission to warn them of Tommy’s gossip.

Sam finally interrupted them by clearing his throat. “Get a room, you two. There’s only a dozen of ’em in that house.”

Reese pulled away and laughed. “Yeah, I was just wondering what the heck went through the previous owner’s mind when he built it. My best assumption is he and his wife were extremely fertile.”

“No kidding,” Sam said. “I don’t think he agreed with that TV show,
Eight is Enough
.”

Caleb asked, “What brings you by? At lunchtime, no less…” He gave her a hopeful grin.

“I’m guessing you didn’t think to grab anything to eat before you came out here.”

“No, we did not.” He snickered. “Too excited to get to work. We were just talking about making a quick trip into town when you pulled in.”

“Now you don’t have to,” she said. “If one of you will grab the cooler from my trunk, I’ll feed you.”

“Damn, I like this woman,” Sam said. “If only I’d come to town sooner.” He snapped his fingers as though he’d missed out on something. Then he added, “But, of course, Caleb would have swooped in and snatched you away with all that charm of his.”

Reese smiled again. “Seems to run in the family.”

With a groan, Caleb said, “Let us not give you the wrong impression. We’re the oddballs of the clan. And no, I am not kidding or exaggerating.”

She cringed. “Then I will happily steer clear of your family.”

The brothers exchanged a look she couldn’t decipher. Then Sam said, “I’ll get the cooler.”

“Shall we dine alfresco again?” she asked.

“Back deck works for me,” Caleb agreed.

She spared one last glance at the front of the house, a niggling thought teasing her brain, but not fully forming.

They passed through the monstrous foyer and the double patio doors that led to the long, wide porch overlooking the spacious and gorgeous lawn, framed by trees and strategically placed and well-maintained flowerbeds all the way down to the lake.

Reese shook her head as she surveyed the area. “Each time I’m here, this place completely takes my breath away.”

Caleb nodded. “The accommodations for the horses and the huge acreage I could partially use for the med facility were the biggest draws when I saw the listing for the property. I really didn’t put much thought into the house. But it is a showpiece.”

“So are the grounds.” She studied them again, then Sam joined them and she unfurled the blanket she’d brought along for their picnic and laid out the food she’d cooked at the B&B.

“Fried chicken and potato wedges,” Sam said as he eyed the spread. “Nice.”

“There’s coleslaw too. I make it crispy with extra red cabbage and carrot slices.”

“She even brought dessert,” Sam noted as he rubbed his hands together while eyeing the lemon meringue pie she’d carefully placed in a dessert container with a clear, domed top. “Seems you’ve discovered the Bennett brothers’ penchant for sweets.”

“Is that why all my iced scones and apple pie are gone?” she teased.

Caleb said, “Guilty, darlin’. Though I have to say, everything you make is delicious.”

She thought of his chiseled physique—imagining him naked was not the least bit difficult—and said, “I don’t know where you put it all. I can’t touch half that stuff.”

Luckily, she clammed up before she mentioned it had to be Caleb’s twentysomething metabolism, not wanting to draw attention to the age difference in front of Sam. But then she spared a glance at Caleb’s brother and decided youth didn’t have anything to do with it. Must be they came from an outstanding gene pool.

While they ate lunch, Reese continued to admire the surroundings and think of the large house behind her. Something gnawed at her so incessantly she had to set aside her paper plate and stand. Descending the steps to the grass, she took in the scenery for a moment, then closed her eyes. Sights and sounds flitted through her mind, not quite gelling. Until her eyelids fluttered open and she turned back to the house and stared up at the grand two-story structure.

A smile touched her lips. She suddenly had a very good idea of what the true purpose of the structure might be.

Caleb asked, “What’s up, darlin’?”

Her gaze dropped to him as he watched her with a curious look on his ruggedly handsome face. Sam appeared equally enthralled by the trancelike state in which she’d been caught.

“This isn’t just a home,” she told them.

Standing, Caleb rested an arm on the railing as he continued to eye her with intrigue in his sky-blue eyes. “What do you mean?”

“It would accommodate a large family, yes. Not to mention an extended family. But it’s so much grander than that. Wilder isn’t known for ostentatious settings or ancestral estates. But that’s not to say a legacy wasn’t in mind when the house was built.”

Sam chuckled. “Well, Caleb, you’ve gone and created quite the conundrum. It’s not as though any of our extended family will be hunkering down with us. And we’re both single. Did you intend to start an orphanage?”

With a snicker, Caleb said, “Think I’ll have my hands full with twenty horses. But she’s right. I didn’t give any thought to the house when I purchased the property. It’s sittin’ here, ready to be moved into, but seriously? The two of us occupying the whole damn thing, Sam? We might bump into each other in a hallway once a week, if that.”

“Or,” Sam said, “maybe the woman with the wheels churning in her brain has another idea in mind for this place.”

Reese nodded, her pulse suddenly racing. “Indeed.” She pinned Caleb with a pointed look and repeated, “This isn’t a house. It’s an inn.”

“Huh?” Caleb gaped.

“Stay with me boys,” she said in an exuberant tone as ideas came at her from all mental directions. “Picture round tables with umbrellas on the deck. A large grill in the corner, with steaks and burgers cooking, their scent wafting on the breeze. More tables and chairs on the lawn.” She turned toward the lake. “Further down, a white arch or maybe even an elegant gazebo, trimmed with vines and fresh flowers for a wedding ceremony. Sitting regally on the grass with the water and the distant mountain range as a backdrop.”

“You two have something to tell me?” Sam joked.

She laughed. Over her shoulder, she said, “Not
our
ceremony. Ginger and Ryan’s. She’s in wedding planning hell trying to turn the Elks Lodge into something beautiful and worthy of the fairytale event she’s dreamed of since Ryan proposed. Dripping that place in gold couldn’t compare to all this fresh air, beauty and grandeur. This would be the perfect setting for their wedding.”

Caleb took two steps down at a time with his wide stride and joined her on the lawn.

“I’d be more than happy to give them full run of this place, Reese. Even if I’ve got horses boarded at the time, the stables and pens are so far away, they won’t disturb anyone.”

“Lord,” she said on a sigh, “think of all the grooms—and even some brides—who’d loved to ride in on a recovered stallion or in a horse-drawn carriage. This is Texas, after all.”

His eyes squinted against the sun, or perhaps because he was trying to envision the concept she was suddenly enamored with.

Sam joined them. “She’s got a point. And if you add a dock and boats at the shoreline, you’ve got fishing expeditions for the inn’s guests.” He seemed to give the entire notion some additional thought before saying, “Speaking of the horses, the ones you’ve nursed back to good health will need exercise. Guests could walk them or ride them. I’m sure there are plenty of trails in this deserted area.”

“You’ve got twelve large rooms upstairs, Caleb,” Reese continued the scenario. “You could reduce them to ten and use the spare square footage to add private bathrooms. Blow out the wall between the dining room and the family room downstairs and make it one cavernous, yet cozy restaurant with both fireplaces and all those windows to add ambience. The foyer is huge and perfect for a lobby and reception area. And the living room is big enough to accommodate guests as a lounge, study and board game room.”

“Kitchen’s industrial sized.” Sam dropped another hint.

Caleb was silent, as though absorbing their ideas. Finally, he mumbled, “I’d just have to change from a nonprofit to a private organization. Check the zoning. Shit, I can practically smell the steaks on the grill right now.”

Reese clapped her hands together. “Think of the events you could hold here. Wilder is in desperate need of a venue such as this. And the locals will come for cocktails and dinner. Pietro’s is closed on Mondays, so you’d likely pick up that clientele. Plus visitors wanting to come for the lake activities, the hiking and the horses.”

Caleb rubbed his forehead. “Nice visuals, I’ll admit, but I don’t know the first thing about running an inn.”

Everyone fell silent. Endless moments ticked by until Sam ventured, “Well, Reese, wouldn’t you have an inkling, given you run a B&B?”

Her breath caught. To manage this estate? To help bring the whole operation on line from start to finish? That might be biting off more than she could chew. She had four rooms for rent at the B&B. And with the exception of Amy’s help when there’d been multiple guests at a time, she’d been able to handle the small volume. But an inn of this magnitude…?

She hedged. Caleb slid a gaze her way and asked, “Would you even consider it?”

She looked around her again, finding the entire setup grandiose and beautiful… And a blank slate. Yet…

“This would be a more extensive undertaking than I’m accustomed to. When I bought the B&B, it was already established. All I did was move in and take over management. My lawns are too small for weddings or parties, and the interior isn’t conducive for such things, either. We’re talking apples and oranges here.”

“Yeah, but you do have experience,” Sam contended. “And vision. Not to mention, you know all about customer service and attending to guests. I’ll bet you also know right down to the tiniest detail what supplies and furniture would need to be purchased. What sort of staff would have to be hired…”

“Yes, but…” Her brow furrowed and her stomach twisted with both excitement and apprehension. She stared up at Caleb. “Are you seriously considering this?”

His gaze swept over the grounds again and his jaw worked vigorously, probably in time with the thoughts running rampant through his mind. Finally he asked, “What the hell else am I going to do with a house with twelve rooms?” He let out a hearty laugh. “I mean, why
not
consider it?”

* * * * *

The first order of business was for Caleb and Sam to meet with their lawyers and financial advisors, working out an operating plan for the new direction of the entire setup and solidifying their new partnership. Nadine Sadler researched the zoning for the land and confirmed it was acceptable for commercial purposes. Reese spent nearly a week outlining a staffing plan for him that included front desk agents, guest services help, servers and bartenders, chefs and prep cooks, bookkeepers, housekeepers, linen pickup and delivery, and maintenance workers. She also mapped out all the necessities, right down to the Egyptian cotton sheets for the beds and the hand towels for the bathroom. Caleb had insisted on going first class all the way. Though the air about the place would not be stuffy or pretentious, he wanted his guests to feel as though they were being treated to something special. “Country elegance” was the term Reese coined and both he and Sam had agreed with it.