StudinTexas (2 page)

“Just sayin’,” came her friend’s sassy retort.

Sky folded her arms over her chest once more. A warm spring
breeze ruffled the leaves on the voluptuous trees dotting the ranch in clusters
and blew strands of dark-auburn hair about her shoulders and face. She paid
them no mind.

She asked, “How am I so far out of the loop?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?” Reese countered.
“’Cause it’s a very simple scenario of you letting that sidewinder you called a
boyfriend and manager crush your cell phone under the tires of his ’57 Cadillac
convertible.”

“I didn’t
let
him. Asshole”—
ah! his new nickname
—”took
it from my purse. I searched for weeks and finally found the bits and pieces on
the dirt road about a half mile from my trailer in Luckenbach, after he’d paid
me an unwelcomed visit there.”

She’d explained to Reese what she’d surmised had happened to
the phone when Reese had finally called the dance hall to locate her, since she
obviously wasn’t returning messages without it.

Truth be told, Sky had been lax about keeping in contact
with her Wilder friends over the past few years. Nothing like the class of
2000’s Most-Likely-to-Rock-the-World falling so miserably short, she was hiding
out at the neverending cowboy-and-music fest that was Luckenbach, baking her
cakes.

No, she hadn’t failed financially. She’d raked in plenty of
cash with her various jobs—and now Mac Willet was after a hefty amount of her
nest egg. And she would concede that she had, indeed, amassed a modicum of
notoriety. Was, in fact, the most famous daughter, sister and friend in Wilder.
But Sky had never
excelled
at anything… She’d gotten by. Had earned a
stamp in her career passport for the things everyone her whole life had claimed
she ought to do, given her gregarious personality and what they’d always
considered immense talent.

In reality, Sky was a Jill of most trades—not a born
superstar. There wasn’t one single thing that she did so exceptionally well
that she’d call herself successful at it, except those damn wagon-wheel cakes.
But she loved baking, so she couldn’t complain there.

Beside her, Reese urged, “Check this place out with me.
Puh-leeeeze?
”

Sky sighed. “Exactly how much energy do you intend to put
into wearing me down?”

Reese snickered.

“That’s what I thought.” She threw her hands up in the air
in surrender. “Fine. Show me around. But I’m not interested in meeting any
former Marine stud. I’ve been through more men than Erica Kane.”

“Ha! Remember when we’d ditch school so we could see one of
her many weddings on
All My Children?
”

“Who would have guessed my romantic life would end up
paralleling hers? Wrong man after wrong man after
disastrously
wrong
man.” Yes, the asshole had damn near wrecked her. In more ways than one, but
that wasn’t something she was inclined to share. Not even with Reese.

“Major difference, my friend,” Reese pointed out. “Erica was
a serial cheater. You’re more loyal than a Labrador.”

“To my own detriment. That’s how I ended up in Nashville
with the sidewinder, if you’ll recall. Boyfriend number, what? Two hundred and
seven?”

Reese snorted. “Think you capped out at a whoppin’ three
since high school, my little drama queen.”

“Sure feels like two hundred and seven.”

“Well, I’m telling you, once you see the setup here, you’re
gonna make up your mind in a heartbeat about staying. And as for Sam Bennett…”
She jerked her chin toward the western edge of the semicircle drive. “Here he
comes now.”

Sky rolled her eyes. “Honey, I have seen a cowboy on a horse
before. Does nothing for—” A soft gasp escaped her parted lips as Sam and his
bay stallion trotted toward them, then slowed to a leisurely gait.

The former Marine was strapping—a powerhouse of a man,
sitting tall in the saddle, a black Stetson pulled low, shrouding his eyes.
Regardless of the hat, Sky got a fine view of his chiseled cheekbones and
strong jaw line. His thick, lightly corded neck gave way to broad shoulders,
bulging biceps and ridged abs, all of which his tight black T-shirt showed off
in the most enticing way.

Given the long, muscular legs encased in jeans, she
suspected he was a good six-foot-two or three inches of rugged masculinity. A
mountain of a man, really, if ever she’d seen one.

He casually tipped his hat as he and his horse eased by.
“Afternoon, ladies.” His slow, sensual drawl oozed through Sky’s veins like
warm molasses.

And caused an unexpected, yet delicious tickle along her
clit. Catching her by surprise.

Holy Moses, it’d been a long, long time since she’d felt
even the tiniest hint of desire and here it was, coming back to her on a rush
of heat and body-tingling lust. Slamming into her, really. She had to force
herself not to take a step back, as though the shock of an instantaneous
attraction were a living, breathing, physical entity pressing in on her.

Fighting the slack jaw she felt coming on—and maybe a bit of
drool at the corners of her mouth—she watched Sam head toward the large stable
to the east, admiring his expansive back, tapered waist and what promised to be
a very fine ass when the man stood.

Her gaze drifted back up.
Those shoulders…
Impossibly
broad and so well defined even his shirt couldn’t conceal the sinew that
bunched and released as he picked up the pace again with his horse, whose tail
flipped arrogantly as they trotted away.

Even the damn horse knew the two of them were a sight to
behold.

Sky watched them head toward the stable, her brain stalling
out while a thrumming sensation built deep in her core, seizing her insides,
making her immediately hot and bothered. So much so, her fists actually balled
at her sides and her inner muscles squeezed tight as a dull throbbing radiated
in her pussy.

So
not the reaction she’d anticipated having to
Reese’s fiancé’s brother.

Not until the two stallions had disappeared into the
enormous building did she turn to Reese and demand, “Good Lord, why didn’t you
warn me?”

“I thought I did.”

“No, you did not. ‘Sexiest damn thing’ means nothing to me
unless you put some context around it. Like tall, dark and hunky as hell. All
that bronze skin and muscle. And the boots and hat…” She sucked in a breath, an
inescapable sense of awareness jolting her. “Well, that’s just icing on the
cowboy cake.”

Reese grinned. “They’re green.”

“What are green?”

“Sam’s eyes. As beautiful and sparkly as cut emeralds. Set
against that tan of his, they’re absolutely brilliant. And his hair is as dark
as midnight.”

“You’re killin’ me, Reese. Seriously. What sort of friend
are you, anyway?”

Reese flashed a Cheshire Cat grin. “Do I even have to show
you the inn? ’Cause jackpot signs have replaced your pupils, sugar.”

Sky scoffed, though there wasn’t much punch behind it as her
body still felt the zings like nothing she’d ever known before. “Do not make
any assumptions. It is perfectly natural for a woman’s tongue to drag on the
ground when she spies a man built like that. But again… Not. Interested.”

Though her hormones vehemently protested that statement.

“Sure, sure.” Reese wasn’t buying it, either. She linked
their arms together and led the way up the wide steps to the pristine porch
that ran the length of the inn.

Sky couldn’t help but spare a glance over her shoulder
toward the stable. Despite what she’d said to Reese, the stud in the Stetson
got her juices flowing. Quite the surprise, considering she’d sworn off men
some time ago.

Yet there’d been an intriguing air about the cowboy that
she’d seemed to breathe in when he’d moseyed on by. He’d been all cool and
casual like. But had conversely incited hot flashes inside her.

She tried to shake the sensation, though her thoughts
lingered on the sexy cowboy as though he were a magnetic force she couldn’t
defy.

“Just so you know,” Reese told her, finally bringing Sky’s
attention back to their conversation. “I was equally resistant when Caleb came
to town. Said the same thing you did.
Not interested.
” She laughed
softly and shot a coy look Sky’s way. “Must I reference the skating rink
again?”

Sky groaned. “No need to rub it in. I’m sufficiently
jealous.”

“Well, it took some doing to get us together. He’s five
years younger than me, don’t you know? Liza says that makes me a cougar.”

“She sounds like fun,” Sky said, trying to get her breath
back.

“Oh she’s a hoot. I heard the reverend’s wife once called
her a disco ball at a wake. At the time, it was meant as a put down. You know
how snarky Lydia can be when someone goes against the grain. But it’s actually
sort of the truth. Liza’s pretty flashy—in a good way. She’s sure perked up
this town since you’ve been gone. We’ll have to get together for dinner one
night at Pietro’s.”

Sky’s stomach rumbled at the mere mention of Wilder’s most
popular restaurant—her reaction to thoughts of mouthwatering food a welcomed
distraction from the tingles that had resulted from the mouthwatering cowboy.

“What I wouldn’t give for a huge bowl of pasta bolognese,
Mike Jones style.” Because there was no actual “Pietro” in the small town of
Wilder, Texas. Hell, her uncle Mike wasn’t even Italian, but his food kicked
ass. Sky craved it from time to time and found even the restaurants in New York
couldn’t compare.

“We don’t have any overnight bookings on Wednesday, and my
assistant manager will be in to run the dining room. We can take the night off
and meet everyone for dinner. We’ll bring Sam.”

And welcome back, tingles.

“Did I mention he’s our age?” Reese chatted on. “From some
high-society family in Dallas—daddy owns an oil company, but don’t worry about
that. I’ve learned firsthand that you just have to keep your chin up and your
wits about you around senior Bennett Senior’s crowd. And, in particular,
Caleb’s snooty mother—Sam’s stepmother—Judith.”

“Reese, honey, you make my head spin.”

And just hearing Sam’s name sparked that wicked awareness
again. How surreal. A tiny bit encouraging, though. She was actually relieved
to feel a physical reaction to a man, after being completely ambivalent for so
long. Well, it’d been more than ambivalence she’d experienced, but she didn’t want
to think about what had driven her to hide out in Luckenbach and made her so
physically unresponsive, she’d lost all touch with her own sexuality.

She’d been tangled in a very dark and scary part of herself
for much too long. But today, a ray of light had penetrated. The thought
brought a smile to her face.

Reese roped her attention once again. “I’m just getting
started, sugar.”

“’Course you are,” Sky said with a snicker. “But maybe we
can get back to the issue at hand—this very lovely structure I’m gazing at.”

The veranda of the Painted Horse Ranch & Inn was
dove-gray against the crisp white of the colonial-style building that boasted
arched windows with black trim and intricately designed pillars. A stately
though inviting establishment.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” Reese led her into the spacious lobby of
the inn, covered with a polished hardwood floor and sophisticated furnishings.

A grand staircase served as a focal point, along with a
beautifully designed reception desk. A library that doubled as a lounge and
board-game room sat off to the right. Reese guided them to the left, into the
open and elegant dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the
manicured grounds.

Due north, Wilder Lake sprawled as far as the eye could see.
A redwood deck with tables, chairs and umbrellas—as well as an enormous
stainless-steel grill with multiple side burners—overlooked the lush event
lawn. A carpet of vibrant green ran down to the water, the grass edged by full,
colorful trees.

“That is one hell of a view,” Sky said.

“Isn’t it gorgeous? I fell instantly in love with the whole
property. This building was supposed to be a house for a large family that
never moved in. Caleb didn’t need all this space for just himself, so I came up
with the idea of turning it into an inn.”

“Brilliant. It’s classy, but very warm and appealing. You’ve
done a great job, Reese.”

“Thank you, thank you. I’m damn pleased myself.”

They entered the industrial kitchen and Sky whistled under
her breath. “Some setup you’ve got here.” The chef station gave way to a prep
area on one side of the room; a dishwashing station was tucked into the other
side. Reese made a grand gesture toward the dessert station, farther back.

“All yours,” she said with a smug look on her face.

Sky eyed the U-shaped workspace, immaculate and tidy, with
all manner of equipment and accessories for pastry making.

A hint of anxiety crept in on her. “I’m not so sure this is
a good idea.”

“Of course it is.”

“Reese, I really don’t have much experience with desserts.”

“But you have a whole box full of recipes your mama left
you. That’s why you started baking in the first place.”

“Yes, but again… My specialty is
cakes.
”

She shrugged. “So dazzle everyone with cakes to start, and
then venture into other types of desserts. Really, Sky, this isn’t the Plaza
Hotel. And besides, we just opened. We’re not all that busy right now. I mean,
we’ve got private events scheduled—and Liza is our party planner. Plus, Caleb
has his hands full with the medical facility for the horses on the west side of
the property, and Sam manages the stable and corrals on the east side. But
until we have a larger marketing outreach and word-of-mouth referrals, the inn
is a work in progress.”

“Hmm. That doesn’t sound too bad. As a dessert chef,
I’m
a work in progress.”