Round-the-Clock Temptation (14 page)

Nothing about this was going to be easy.

“Was he mad that you lied about Jane working for the Devlins?”

“Actually, it never came up. He was too busy telling me how he and Jane ran off to Vegas and got hitched.”

“No kidding. That's good news, right?”

“Yeah, it's real good.” Just do it. Tell him.

“How come you don't sound happy?” There was so much genuine concern in his eyes, she couldn't stand to look at him a second longer.

She turned and busied herself with putting the coffee can back in the cupboard. “I am happy for them, I guess it'll just take a little getting used to.”

Say it now, she coaxed, when you're not looking at him. Then Connor's arms wrapped around her from behind, drawing her against his solid chest. “It's okay to be confused, or even a little upset,” he said.

That's when she knew it was hopeless. She could never do it with him holding her this way, with him being so sweet and understanding.

She turned in his arms and buried her face against his shirt, so he wouldn't see the tears welling in her eyes. Maybe just coming right out and telling him wasn't the way to go, not if she couldn't force the words out. She didn't even know what to say.

There had to be another way to do this.

She held on tight, wishing she never had to let go.

“Hey, you all right?” he asked, stroking her back.

“I'm all right,” she choked out, her tears pushing closer the surface. “Just a little emotional. Must be PMS.”

“Maybe I ought to take you back upstairs and see if I can't make you feel better,” he said.

He tucked his finger under her chin, lifting her face, then he kissed her—so slow and sweet she knew she couldn't tell him no.

One more day, she decided. One more day and she'd figure out a way to put an end to this once and for all.

C
onnor watched from the fence as Nita worked with Buttercup in the training pen, wondering what was going on in her head, what she was thinking.

She looked the same, sounded the same, even acted the same at times, but in the week since her father and Jane had returned, something had changed. At first Connor had written it off as her reaction to her father's marriage, but he didn't think that was it.

He couldn't even put his finger on what it was exactly that was different. There were times when she would look at him, but he didn't think she was really seeing him. It was as if her mind was somewhere else, working something through. Other times she looked at him so intensely it was as though she were trying to communicate without actually talking to him.

Even her temperament seemed to have changed. Most of the time she ran hot or cold. Either she was hopping mad at him or, tearing his clothes off. Sex was different, too. The first few times, even though it was fantastic, she'd had a casual, almost flippant air about her. Lately she'd been putting her heart and soul into it and, though it could have been a trick of the light, sometimes he could swear she had tears in her eyes. She'd given up trying to kick him out of bed at night, too, and slept curled up tight in his arms.

He knew that if they weren't careful, someone was going to catch them in a compromising position. He was pretty sure Jane had figured it out as soon as she'd come home, but so far she hadn't told Will. If she had, Connor would have heard about it. At some point, he was going to have to have a talk with Will so he could make his intensions clear.

First he'd like to know what was going on in that head of Nita's. Every time he tried to talk to her about it, she'd start kissing him and taking his clothes off, making it impossible to concentrate on a damned thing. It was just a feeling, but he suspected she had something up her sleeve, and it wasn't going to be good.

“She looks good,” he said, as Nita led Buttercup to the gate.

“She'll be ready to go home soon,” Nita said. “Probably Monday.”

“You'll miss her.”

She rubbed the horse's neck. “Yeah, she's a real gem.”

“If you're finished for the afternoon, I thought maybe you and I could take a ride out along the fence line.”

“Why, did the boys see someone out there last night?”

“Nope. Just got a feeling.” The truth was, there hadn't been any disturbances lately. Whoever it was had either given up, or was waiting for the opportune time to strike again. Meaning he had to constantly be on his guard. They had determined that Malcolm had never been to the farm with Gretchen, not that it discounted him as a suspect. The club was keeping an eye on him just in case.

The real reason Connor wanted Nita out there with him, was so that they could talk. She wouldn't be able to use her charms to distract him if she was sitting on a horse.

“Nita,” Jimmy called from the bunkhouse. “You got a minute?”

Nita handed Buttercup's reins to Connor. “Take her in the stable and saddle Goliath up.”

He led Buttercup to the stable as she jogged off to talk to Jimmy. Maybe now he would get some answers from her.

He'd saddled Goliath, and was getting ready to go find Nita when she walked into the stable, shutting the door behind her. “I've almost got them…”

He trailed off when he looked at Nita, saw the fire in her eyes, the way she was slowly undoing the buttons on her shirt as she walked toward him.

Aw, hell, not again.

“I changed my mind,” Nita said. “I don't want to go riding.”

He didn't have to ask what she did want to do. That was pretty clear when she tossed her shirt to the floor then braced her hands on his chest and pushed him against the back wall. She started to unfasten his belt, but he grabbed her hands.

“Someone could walk in and catch us.”

She pulled her hands free and cupped the crotch of his jeans. “I guess we'll just have to make it a quick one.”

He was about to object, then she started kissing him, and as usual, the rational part of his brain temporarily went AWOL. He was ready to give her whatever she wanted, when he had the sudden sensation they were being watched, then heard someone clear his throat. He opened his eyes to find Will standing in the stable doorway, shaking his head.

Nita spun around and covered herself with her arms. Thankfully Connor hadn't gotten as far as removing her bra.

“Um, hi, Daddy.”

She didn't seem too surprised to see him, and Connor got the distinct feeling this was no accident.

“I came out to tell you that I just talked to your sister and she's coming home for a while.” Will sighed, shaking his head. “Girl, you are gonna be the death of me.”

“Sir, this is my fault,” Connor said.

“I doubt that,” Will said. He looked more resigned than angry. “Do I need to go get my shotgun?”

“No, Daddy.” Nita bent down and picked up her shirt, holding it against her. “Connor will leave.”

“I'm not going anywhere,” Connor said.

Nita turned to him. “I know you feel we need protection, but surely the Cattleman's Club could send someone else.”

“No, they can't,” Connor said.

She turned back to her father. “He'll leave, Daddy.”

“No, I won't. And my being here has nothing to do with protecting you.”

Now Will looked intrigued. “If that's true, then why are you here?

Since she was so gun-shy Connor had wanted to wait awhile, till the time was right, let her get used to the idea slowly. Too late for that now. “I've been planning to have a talk with you. I guess now is as good a time as any. I love your daughter, and I have every intention of marrying her.”

“
Marrying
me?” Nita spun to face him, a look of horror on her face. “You have got to be joking.”

“No joke.”

“Well, you have my blessing,” Will said.

Nita shot back around. “Daddy! Don't encourage him!”

As if he needed encouraging. And he could see this was going to be a bit tougher than he expected. “Will, could I have a word alone with your daughter?”

“Sure,” Will said. “And good luck. You're gonna need it.”

Didn't Connor know it. But this time he was getting what he wanted. What she wanted too, even if she wouldn't admit it.

When Will was gone, Connor turned to Nita. “Is this how you got rid of the others?”

She yanked on her shirt. “What others?”

“The other men. When they start to get too close you set up a confrontation with your father so he can chase them off? Because I know it was no accident he happened to walk into the stable. You knew he was coming. That's why you threw yourself at me.”

She didn't say a word, just gave him a death glare.

“It would have made for a tidy little end to this affair, wouldn't it? And you thought I'd take off with my tail between my legs.”

“Which I can see you're not going to do. And who the hell ever said
anything
about marriage?”

“Me. Just now.”

“You don't want to marry me.”

“I believe I just said I do.”

She buttoned her shirt. “Well, maybe I don't want to marry you. You ever think of that?”

“Not really.”

“Well, you should have, because I don't! I don't
ever
want to get married.”

She was trying to act tough, but he could see she was conflicted. He wasn't sure why she was fighting this so hard, but he had a feeling he was about to find out. “So, all this time you've just been using me for sex?”

“Pretty much, yeah. I thought we established that a couple of weeks ago, when I told you I don't do relationships.” She spun around and stomped toward the door, tucking her shirt into her jeans.

Connor followed her. “You're outta luck, Nita. Because I don't want this to end, and I don't think you do, either.”

“No, you're outta luck, cowboy. I
do
want this to end.” She shoved her way out the door into the bright sunshine.

He was right behind her. He'd never physically chased a woman before, but he supposed there was a first for everything. “Is it because you don't love me?”

She stopped and turned to him. “No.”

Jimmy stood outside the stable with Nita's father and two of the hands. They all turned to look at him and Nita. He preferred not to do this with an audience, but if she wanted it that way, fine.

“So you
do
love me,” Connor said.

She frowned and the tough facade slipped just a little. “I didn't say that.”

“So which is it? You love me or you don't.”

She glanced over at the men, then back at Connor. “It doesn't matter either way, because I would make a lousy wife.”

“How do you figure?”

“You've lived here a month, what do you think? I can't cook, I hate to clean. I can't even run a damned washing machine!”

“Yeah? What's your point?”

She looked at him as if he was nuts. “That
is
my point. I'm just not wife material.”

“By whose standards?”

That one gave her pause. She didn't seem to know how to answer.

“What did you think? That once we were married I would expect you to throw on an apron and turn into Jane? I fell in love with
you,
Nita, just the way you are. I don't want to change a thing.”

She didn't look convinced. “You say that now, but things change.”

“That's one thing that won't. Ever. You have my word.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “Now, I'm going to ask you again, do you love me or not?”

“Yeah, Nita. Do you love him or not,” one of the hands called.

Jimmy whacked him hard on the back of the head and said, “Let the lovebirds talk.”

Nita shot Jimmy a nasty look. “We are not
lovebirds.
”

“So you don't love him?” her father asked.

“Of course I do!” she huffed out.

Connor had known in his heart, but it was a relief to hear her admit it out loud. He pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her and they were encouraged with a round of applause.

“I love you, Connor,” she said softly. “And I want to be with you, but I can't.”

He held her tight, knowing without a doubt, this is exactly where she belonged. “Give me one good reason.”

“This farm, my family—it's my life. I can't leave. I don't
want
to.”

“And I would never ask you to. If it's what you want, and it's okay with your father, we could live right here.”

“I told you before,” Will said. “This is your home now, Connor. You two stay as long as you like.”

“What will
you
do?” Nita asked Connor.

“Exactly what I've been doing for the past month. Working on the farm.”

She shook her head, looked up at him. “That's not fair to you. You need to do what you want to do or you'll regret it the rest of your life.”

“Nita, this
is
what I want to do.”

“Really?”

“But I don't want to be your employee forever. I'd like to be your partner.”

“Partner?”

“With capital, I think you could expand your business. And I have lots of money just waiting to be spent. I can't think of a better way.”

“Sure would be nice to see this place back on it's feet again,” Jimmy said, and Will nodded his agreement.

“And suppose you get tired of it?” Nita asked. “What then?”

“There's no law saying that I can't change my mind later and do something else. Become a silent partner. Whatever you and you father are comfortable with.”

She gazed up at him, an almost dreamy look in her eyes. “There are so many things I've wanted to do with the farm but we just haven't had the money….”

“Now you'll have it. We'll make this the most successful horse farm in West Texas.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What about babies?”

“No more than seven or eight,” he teased.

“That's not funny.”

“How about one or two—three tops.”

“If I marry you, people in town will think I'm a sellout,” she said. “They'll think I compromised my beliefs and caved to their influence.”

Connor grinned. “Well, there's a really dumb reason not to get married.”

She smiled, too. “Yeah, I guess it is. You promise you won't ever expect me to learn to cook.”

“Yeah, I promise. I value my life too much.”

She gave him a playful poke. “You won't make me have a big wedding will you?”

“Not if you don't want one. We could do what your father and Jane did and drive to Vegas, or we could find a judge. Whatever you want.”

She shook her head. “You're serious about this? You really want to marry me?”

Connor laughed. “Yes Nita, I really want to marry you. I'll say it a thousand times if that'll convince you.”

“I'm convinced,” Will said, but Nita didn't seem to hear him.

Her eyes were fixed skeptically on Connor, as though she still didn't think it could be true. “You want all of it. The marriage, the partnership—everything?”

“In my whole life, this is the first thing I am one hundred percent sure about. I want it all, and I want it with you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and a wide grin curled her mouth. “Then, cowboy, I am all yours.”