Texas Tango: Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 2 (18 page)

The muscles in her abdomen clenched and shook. The pressure building inside was almost painful in its intensity. He jabbed his tongue into her sex at the same time he pushed a finger into her ass. She cried out as she exploded into a million pieces. White lights flashed behind her closed eyelids. Wave after wave of electrical force like none she’d ever experienced continued to wrack her body until she could no longer stand unsupported. She slumped against the shower wall.

“Holy hell,” she muttered.

When she opened her eyes, Travis wore a very self-satisfied smile. “Like that?” he asked.

She licked her lips and forced a shrug. “It was okay.”

“I’ll see if I can make it better than just okay.”

Chapter Ten

Sunday morning, Caroline awoke in a strange bed with a naked man draped across her. Her heart slammed into panic mode until she remembered the preceding night and the rounds of sex. Damnation. The man had an incredible body and knew how to use it…and how to use hers too.

She stretched and muscles that hadn’t been exercised in a while complained. She was sore…in such a good way.

Even though she knew last night didn’t change anything, that they were still only friends, maybe she could claim some friends-with-benefits time.

A moan from the naked man in question made her laugh.

“Don’t laugh,” he said in a gravelly voice. “I’m too old to have sex that many times in one night.”

“Please,” she said. “No wonder Elsie Belle Lambert is after you.”

He rolled over to face her. “Elsie Belle has never, and will never, be in my bed.” He burrowed his head into his pillow. “Must be my sex-god reputation.”

She couldn’t restrain her hearty laugh. “Really? I can’t believe I’ve been here for over eighteen months and nobody has ever mentioned your sex-god status.”

“Closely guarded secret.”

“I see. Well, does sleeping with a sex god get me breakfast?”

“Depends,” he said, rising up on one elbow. “What are you cooking?”

After hitting him with a pillow, she climbed from the bed. Her thighs protested. First the horseback ride and then the Travis ride. It was more activity than they’d had in years, and they were letting her know it.

Heading back to the bathroom, she washed her face and found her clothes. Travis was still in bed when she got back to the bedroom, but he was sitting up against the headboard. Flesh, tanned from days of sun, pulled taut over firm, corded muscles formed from years of riding and hard labor. The sight of his chest—all naked and muscular and totally luscious—made her mouth water.

“Feeling better?” he asked, an expression of concern on his face.

“I am. Thank you. Yesterday was what I needed.”

He patted the bed and she sat on the edge.

“I want you to stay here for a few days. Let the world go by without you.”

“I wish I could, Travis, but I feel so guilty about leaving all the work to Lydia.”

“But you’ll be leaving soon anyway, right? You’ll be leaving Lydia with the patient load then.”

His words made her flinch. He was right, but that would be different. Her contract would be up. Her commitment fulfilled.

“I wish I could stay, Travis, but—”

“No buts. If you want to stay a few days, then do. If you feel you have to go back to work, then go. But come back here at night. Henree will leave us something wonderful to eat. You won’t have to do anything at night but relax.”

She wanted to snort. Relax? Around him? Mr. Sex God?

“As a friend, I want to be there for you right now. Stay, okay?”

As a friend. The words hurt, but at least she knew where they stood. She forced a smile she didn’t feel. “Okay.”

His face lit up with a grin she was sure had always made girls do what he wanted. “Great. I’ll let Henree know I have a guest for a few days. They’ll keep your presence to themselves. I promise.”

She started from the room and stopped. “Damn.”

“What?”

She turned. “My car. I need a phonebook. I’ll have to rent one until I hear from your car guy.”

“Maybe not.” He got up from the bed, seemingly not at all concerned that he wore nothing but his skin…which did fit him quite well. And she should know. She was a doctor who’d spent the better part of the night exploring it up close.

She glanced away. Honestly. Was he so dense he had no idea what he did to her? Just looking at that body made her mouth water.

“I’ll meet you in the kitchen,” she said and made a dash down the hall before she unzipped the zipper she’d heard him close.

The heavenly aroma of coffee scented the air as Caroline hit the kitchen door. Apparently set on a timer, her morning choice of caffeine was hot and waiting. She pulled a couple of mugs down from the cabinet and was filling them when Travis entered.

“Here,” he said, handing her a set of keys.

“What are those?”

“Keys.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I got that part. To what?”

He grinned. “Look, I’ve got a car I never drive. Take it until we know about yours.”

“I don’t know, Travis.”

“Don’t argue, and don’t make more out of this than it is. Your car died. We’re friends. I’m loaning you my old car until you get yours back.” He made his way over the coffee. “No big deal.”

Friend. There was that word again. Funny how much it hurt to hear that word this morning.

Screw it. She needed wheels.

“Thanks. I’ll take care of it. What am I driving? Old truck?”

“2012 Porsche 911.”

She handed him the keys back. “Uh-Uh. No.”

He pressed the keys back into her hand. “It needs to be driven. You’d be doing me a favor. Really.”

He closed his fingers around hers. The emotional jolt had her shaking. She pulled her hand away, taking the keys with her. “Insured?”

“Of course.”

“Convertible?”

“Yes.”

“Ever want it back?”

He grinned. Her knees softened. Her toes curled. Damn. The man was dangerous.

“Yes, I want it back.”

“We’ll see,” she said. “I need to run. I’d like to get home in time to change and make it to church this morning.”

“Hang on and I’ll go with you.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s better if we don’t start appearing in public as a couple. No need to feed the gossip trolls.”

“You sure? It won’t take me very long to get ready.”

“I’m sure.”

She stepped closer to him. “Thanks for being such a good friend.” She snaked a hand behind his head and pulled him down for a kiss. “Later.”

Travis heard the roar of the Porsche’s engine and he smiled. If only she could have seen her face when he’d told her about his car. There was no way she wasn’t going to drive it.

A couple of hours later, he was standing in the Whispering Springs United Methodist Church when his black Porsche roared into the lot.

“Ain’t that your car, bro?” Jason asked.

“Loaned it to Caroline. Hers died.”

Jason’s brows furrowed. “If I remember correctly—and I do—seems like you told me to take a hike when I asked to borrow it.”

“You don’t look good in a dress. Excuse me.” Travis walked over to his car as Caroline was climbing out. “How’d she run for you?”

“You’re kidding, right? I left a group of high school boys with their tongues hanging out when I passed them.”

“Maybe it wasn’t the car,” he suggested.

She closed and locked the door. “Right.” She snorted. “But I do love new-car smell.”

Jason stood at the church door waiting. “Morning, Caroline. I was so sorry to hear about your grandmother.”

“Thank you, Jason. I’m afraid I’ve left your fiancée shorthanded all week.”

“She hasn’t complained, but I know the office missed you.”

“That is so sweet. Thank you for saying that.”

“That’s a fine looking car you’re driving.”

Travis glared at his brother, who noticeably ignored him.

“It’s a loaner,” she said.

Jason laughed. “Come on,” he said, holding his arm out. “Let me escort you inside.”

Caroline took Jason’s arm. Travis gritted his teeth. His brother was so dead.

“Thanks, Jason,” Caroline said as she slid into her usual church spot. Fitzgerald side, third row, directly across from the Montgomery family. “You and Travis go join your family.”

Travis caught her eye and pointedly looked at the spot next to her. She subtly shook her. He turned and sat next to his mother. Caroline was probably right. After already sitting with her last week, there was no reason to give the rumor mill more grist.

“Good morning, Travis,” Elsie Belle drawled in a deep Southern accent from the pew behind him. “You too, Jackie.”

“Morning, Elsie,” Jackie said over her shoulder without turning her head far. Travis knew his mother wasn’t one of Elsie Belle’s biggest fans.

“Good morning, Elsie,” Travis said, trying to be polite without encouraging Elsie Belle.

“My family is going over to WSCC for lunch, Travis. We would love for you to join us.”

Beside him, his mother snorted just loud enough for only him to hear.

“Thanks. I appreciate the offer. Unfortunately I already have plans.” Which included not having lunch with Elsie Belle Lambert and her parents.

“Well, think about it,” Elsie Belle whispered. “You can give me your answer after church.”

Travis turned toward the front of the church. Hadn’t he just given her an answer?

“Honey, if you need to miss the family Sunday meal, I’d understand,” Jackie Montgomery said, a devious grin on her face.

“Shh. The service is starting,” he whispered back.

He could feel his mother shaking with silent laughter.

It was all he could do to keep his mind on the service and not on the woman across the aisle. Once he was sure he felt her looking at him, but when he moved his gaze in that direction, she was staring straight ahead.

After the closing prayer, Jackie pushed past Travis. “Caroline.”

Caroline turned and Jackie enfolded Caroline in her arms.

“I am so sorry about your grandmother. How horrible to lose family members so close together.”

“Thank you. Mamie was ill for some time, and I think she was in a great deal of discomfort for the past couple of months. I’m glad she’s no longer suffering, but I’ll miss her so much.” Her voice cracked.

“Come have lunch with us,” Jackie said. “We’d love to have you.”

Travis was waiting for Caroline’s answer when a hand landed on his arm. “Travis? Lunch?”

He glanced down at the hand and then back at Elsie Belle. “No. I’m sorry. I’ve already made plans.”

Her hand fell from his arm. She looked at his mother conversing with Caroline. An expression of ire flashed in her eyes.

“Fine.” She whirled on her heel and marched out of the church.

“You need to do something about her, son,” his dad said.

“What?” Travis said. “I’ve never encouraged her.”

“Well, give it some thought.” His dad slapped him on the back and moved on.

He drove straight to his parents’ house, expecting Caroline to be there or to arrive behind him. She never came. When he asked, Jackie said Caroline had begged off, explaining she wanted to go to her office today and check the schedule for the week. As much as he wanted to blow off Caroline’s absence, he couldn’t. They’d been together non-stop for days and he missed her.

That evening, he wasn’t sure whether she’d come back or not. They hadn’t spoken all day, not that he hadn’t picked up his telephone more than once to call only to set it back down. She knew she had an open invitation to come back. He wasn’t going to beg.

At ten p.m., he heard the garage door grinding up. His heart leapt into his throat. Without looking at which magazine he’d grabbed, he snapped it open and began to read, inanely pleased that she’d come back.

“Travis?”

“In here,” he called, still holding the magazine as camouflage.

“Hey,” Caroline said, propping a small roller bag against the den wall. She draped a plastic-shrouded set of clothes on the back of a breakfast bar stool. The ever-present charm bracelet jangled with each movement.

“Hey, yourself.”

“I hope you were serious about my coming back?”

He tossed the magazine on the table. “I was. I’m glad you did.”

A tinge of pink colored her cheeks. “You were right.”

“About what?”

“Being alone in my house. It never bothered me before, but it seemed like everywhere I looked, I saw something that made me think of my grandmother.”

He nodded. “I remember. Sometimes it’s the simplest thing that can set off a memory.”

A tired, sad smile stretched across her mouth. “I went to make a cup of hot tea and I remembered when she and I would have tea parties. And once when I had a bad cold, she gave me tea with honey and a shot of bourbon to cut my cough. Just silly things like that.”