Texas Stranger (3 page)

“Does it matter so much if we know each other? You are enjoying this as much as I am.” He tried reaching for her again gently.

“Yes, of course it matters.” January jerked away from him. “I don’t just make love to anyone I meet. They would need to be special, someone I was in love with, someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.” She tried to control the emotions he stirred within her.

January was taken back by his quick movements as he moved off the bed and toward the still open door.

“I’ll call the bakers and cancel.” He said as he grabbed the handle of the door more for support than anything.

“No! I...I’m sure the Bakers will be wondering where I am, I need to pick up my car anyway.” January said, trying to steady her voice.

“If you insist on going, but I think you should soak that swollen foot.”

“I insist,” January said, turning on the bedside lamp.

“Then I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes, can you be ready to leave that soon?”

“You don’t have to bother with me, I’ll take a cab over.”

“No bother. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.” He said, closing the door behind him.

The hot steamy water felt good on her cold body. Her physical attraction to the stranger was disturbing as a strong surge of desire swept through her. Shaking her head trying to rid herself of the pounding in her heart and the trembling of her knees, she rubbed the soap bar over her body quickly. How could she just lie there and let this man almost make love to her. Had she lost her mind. She realized it had been a long time since she had wanted to have those kind of feelings with a man. But a total stranger, it was crazy.

Stepping out of the shower, wrapping the bath towel around her she longed to be home. There she could find soft bath towels, her own bathroom and her own bed. It all
sounded incredibly good, and the more she thought about it the more homesick she became. Still wrapped in her towel January picked up the telephone and dialed the club in Texas.

“Good evening, the Wei-station.” The familiar voice came over the line. “Hi Mary,” January responded with a smile.

“January! It’s so good to hear your voice when are you coming home?” Mary asked excitedly.

“Sunday, I’ll be arriving on the nine o’clock flight so don’t forget to pick me up okay?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there with bells on.” Mary replied. “Have you met any good looking men up there?”

“Sure, and I’m bringing them all home to you,” January teased remembering the arrogant stranger.

“Well, forget that, I’ve met and fallen madly in love with the most handsome man you’ll ever want to meet.?” Mary said proudly.

“Oh? Who could that be? Is he someone who is a member of the club?”

“No, but I’ll tell you all about it when you get home, which I might add better be soon. You’re ruining my love life.” She laughed.

“How could I ruin your love life when I’m over a thousand miles away?”

“Because I spend all my time in this club and I can’t seem to find the time to spend with him, so get home fast.”

“Well, I’ll be home on Sunday, so don’t forget to pick me up and don’t work to hard, but make us a lot of money.” January said, hanging up the phone.

Chapter 5

J
anuary was about to slip the dress over her head when she heard the knock on the door.

“Who is it?” she called out slipping the dress down over her slim hips. A muffled sound came from the closed door as the knock became harder.

“Who?” she said again walking toward the door.

“Carl! Damn woman open the door. I’m drowning out here.”

January recognized the sound of the stranger’s voice as she open the door glaring at him. She placed her hands on her hips. “How was I supposed to know who Carl was? If you remember you never told me your name, so don’t go yelling at me.” She cursed.

“Now wait just a minute Miss Manson. You’ve abused me, embarrassed me, caused me to ruin a perfectly good suit, along with missing a seven course meal. Not to mention turning me on and off like a light switch, now, you’re yelling at me for trying to be a nice guy. I’m not sure how much more of this I can handle and keep my temper.” He glared at her, also putting his hands on his hips.

“You can handle? Listen Mr....what ever your name is, I didn’t plan any of this as my normal course of events for the evening,” she shouted in defense. “So, if you can’t handle it, there’s the door!” she pointed in the direction of the door that had been left standing open.

“Now hold on a minute,” He said, running his long fingers through his thick hair. “I’m just trying to help and you’re treating me like I just kidnapped your first born. Which I might add I wouldn’t do, now if you’re ready, then I’ll take you over to the Bakers and you’ll never have to speak to me again.”

“Well you’ll never have to worry about kidnapping my first born anyway because I never intend to have any to be kidnap. Besides I never wanted to speak to you in the first place.” She lied, trying to stuff her swollen foot into the seemly undersized shoe.

“Let me assure you then after tonight you’ll never have to worry about it.” He grabbed her jacket from the bed where she had laid it earlier. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” She snapped, leading the way to his car.

The rain had let up only a little, as they ran to the car, her limping slightly. The drive to the Bakers was strangely quiet. Each to their own thoughts. January’s being that the fresh fragrance of his cologne was playing havoc with her senses. Carl maneuvered the car into the drive and pulled up in front of the house.

“Were you really serious about never having any children?” Carl asked.

Totally taking January by surprise. She turned around and stared at him.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You said, you never wanted children, is that true?”

“Maybe some day, but I’m not in any hurry, I’m only twenty five years old, why would I want to have children anyway. I have a career to take care of, I certainly don’t want to have to deal with children right now.”

“Don’t you like kids?” His eyes seemed to narrow.

“Of course I like kids, I just feel now is not the time, and I would want to spend my time raising them, like my mother, but I have a career to think of and above all a husband to father those children.” January smiled.

Only Carl didn’t return her smile, he was to deep into his own thoughts, as January opened the car door and stepped out onto the covered porch. She then shut the door, and he drove down the drive.

‘So he doesn’t want to be seen with me either,’
she mumbled under her breath as she stepped up to the door.

The Bakers were glad she had decided to come back. It seemed Carl had phoned them earlier and told them of the mishap. Seeing her to the sofa and getting her a drink, Mr. Baker made her quite comfortable making light conversation about her books.

What seemed like several minutes later Carl was ushered into the room. Everyone seemed to know him quite well and
greeted him warmly. Especially Rhonda Jackson the Mayor’s niece. January was slightly embarrassed by the way Rhonda seemed to hang all over him. January also noticed how much his attitude changed when he was around others. He was actually smiling and his face showed the appearance of someone she wouldn’t mind knowing.

Fascinated by the change in his attitude, she couldn’t take her eyes from him. His dark suit fit impeccably and the fact that his tall frame towered over everyone, seemed to set him apart from everyone in the room. Or was it just her imagination. As his eyes met her’s she turned quickly away.

January was finding the room stifling with all the cigarette smoke and it was apparent the dull pain in her foot was becoming uncomfortable. Bidding her good-byes to the Mayor and his wife she made her way to the door to leave.

“January, are you leaving without saying good-bye?”

January stood there looking at Carl a full minute before answering. Taking in his massive chest that tapered down to his lean waist and slim hips. “I .. huh, didn’t want to interrupt.” She indicated toward Rhonda Jackson, who at that time was moving toward a group of gentlemen.

“Let me see you to your car,” Carl said, leading her out the door making no comment to her statement. January felt somewhat confused by his actions. He had made it a point to avoid her all evening, now he seemed to want her attention.

The rain had stopped, and the air was quite chilly, as she hugged her jacket closer to her.

“Are you cold?” Carl frowned at her.

“No..no, not really,” she lied.

Carl walked slowly beside her as she limped slightly toward her car. January inserted the key in the ignition, and the car groaned until finally it belched to life. January sighed with relief as she looked up at the concerned expression on Carl’s face.

For a moment he stood there smiling down at her. The scent of his cologne causing her sensitive nose to respond to the fragrance. Softly she inhaled a breath of the pleasant aroma, causing the material to tighten across her breast. January’s pulse began to race as he leaned down closer to her. His eyes roaming slowly over the low cut of her bodice. A tingle of excitement raced through her body. She became unable to move. Carl’s index finger traced the outline of her delicate jaw bone. Slowly but seriously slipping down toward the V of her bodice. January moaned faintly, sucking in her breath deeply as his fingers lightly touched her soft skin. Nervously she licked her lips waiting for his next move. He leaned down until his lips were but a breath apart from her’s. Then he gently touched his lips to hers. Moving away from her, he quickly shut the car door with a bang, then strolled back toward the house.

For several seconds, January sat in the car staring after him. Confused at his gentle touch. He had the nerve to melt her to nothing and then leave her sitting in the cold car shivering to death. “The man is a regular pain in the neck. Why would I ever want to run into you again?” She patted the dash board of the old car. “You’ll keep me warm, won’t you old girl?” But January found the heater on the car would not turn on. “Well so much for that, you piece of junk.”

January’s stomach grumbled painfully, for she two had missed a seven course meal with the Bakers. She was beginning to grow shaky from lack of food, and too much alcohol. She was almost sure the Inn was still open, so heading the car in that direction January decided to get a sandwich or something light before going to bed.

Chapter 6

T
he Inn’s dinning area was nearly empty with only a few people sitting around when she entered. But to her dismay they had closed the kitchen thirty minutes before. As she thanked the waitress she headed for the door. It opened quickly, causing her to jam her fingers into the hard wood finish.

“Oh!” she cried from the pain. Looking up to see who had caused the damage.

“I should have know it would be you.” She scolded, looking back down to survey the damage nails.

“Well, such a greeting, after all we’ve been through together, what do you mean you should have know it would be me?” Carl stood looking down at her as a slight grin spread across his face.

“You caused me to break my nails,” She held her fingers up to show him the damage.

“Oh, poor baby, want me to kiss it and make it better?” He teased, reaching for her hand.

“Look! I’ll tell you what you can kiss, buster, and I assure you it wouldn’t be my fingers.” January cursed pulling her hand away from him.

“Hey now, let’s not get vulgar. But then again that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

“Please, let me pass, I have no intention of causing a scene.”

“Good, then why don’t you let me buy you a drink, you look like you could use one.” Carl said, turning her around gently and moving her toward a nearby table.

“Look...”

“Now, now, let’s not make a scene,” Carl nodded to a couple passing them.

January only slightly smiled at the passing couple, knowing she had no choice but to let him lead her to the bar area. Pulling out the chair, he motioned for her to sit down.

Feeling uncomfortable in his presence, she avoided looking at him directly. But kept her eyes fixed on the movement his hands were making.