Brian couldn’t stop his grin. “Yeah, ideas. Now go so I can finish my work.” But as Cal walked away, Brian heard his chuckle.
Brian found himself looking at his watch again and wondering why time was moving so slowly.
And then it was a quarter to six and he could feel his pulse speed up. When he stepped out of his office, Celeste was there, waiting for him.
“I would’ve come to your room,” he said.
“I didn’t know this was a date. I thought it was an apology, and so we could discuss some ideas.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. She had him there. “You’re in Texas, ma’am. A gentleman always meets a lady at her door.”
“Is that right?” She still looked skeptical.
“Absolutely.”
“I’m from California.”
“I won’t hold it against you. I’m sure you got to Texas as quickly as you could.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “That’s so not funny.”
“Then I’ll just hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved.”
“Good.” He led the way to the secluded alcove away from the dining room. This was his private spot. The bay windows looked out onto the back pasture, reminding him of what it had been like years ago, before he’d opened the ranch to the public. French doors led to a private patio.
There was no more spectacular view than when the sun was setting as it was now. Soft oranges blended into a darker red, then spread across into a wide open deep blue sky with threads of a light gray weaving through the palette of magnificent colors.
“You really love it here, don’t you?” she said.
“Does it show that much?”
“And then some.”
“I grew up here-me and Cal. It was our grandparents’ place. Our parents were killed in an accident and they raised us.”
“I’m sorry about your parents.”
“I didn’t really know them.”
“Then I’m doubly sorry.”
For a moment, he saw pain etched on her face and he wondered if she was remembering something from her own past, but he didn’t press because one of the young men who helped serve in the kitchen arrived with glasses and a bottle of wine that Brian had arranged for earlier.
“I took the liberty of asking Betty to fix us something special. I hope you enjoy the meal.”
She smiled and again he marveled at how she seemed to brighten the room.
“I’m sure I will.”
The waiter returned a few minutes later with salads and a basket of bread. For the first time in his life, Brian didn’t know what to talk about with a woman. Celeste saved him from stuttering like a fool.
“Tell me about life on the ranch.”
Okay, that was a safe topic as long as he didn’t mention Wanda Jo. “We have a ghost.” Oh, that was smart. Now she’d think she was having dinner with a lunatic.
“Really? I thought you didn’t believe in them.”
He shrugged, feeling the heat move up his face and was glad they were eating by candlelight. “I’ve never seen it or anything.”
“Sometimes you don’t have to. You can sense they’re there. Is it the person who smoked the pipe?”
“No, that was Grandfather. He loved his pipe.” He cleared his throat. “The ghost is at the old homestead. My grandmother said a young woman died there.”
“Oh, how sad that her spirit is trapped.”
He frowned. “I never thought about it like that.” He took a drink of his wine. “We have a guest staying there.”
“Will she free the ghost’s spirit?”
He laughed outright at that. “I don’t think so. She’s a reporter trying to get a story.”
“What kind of story?”
“About Cal.” When she still looked confused, he continued, “My brother plays professional football.”
“Yes, I know, and he does it very well.”
“She’s trying to dig up some dirt on him.”
Celeste frowned. “I hope she doesn’t print anything that will hurt his career. This reporter doesn’t sound like a very nice person.”
“I don’t think she is. Cal said Ms. Scott looks like an old nag our grandfather used to have.” He laughed and shook his head at the description Cal had used. That had been a really ugly horse.
“So why does he let her stay? I would think you’d throw her off the property.”
They stopped talking when the server brought their main course. As soon as he was gone, Brian continued.
“If it had been up to me, the reporter would already be gone.” He shrugged. “I think he wants to teach her a lesson about messing with other people’s lives.”
“I hope he does.”
He studied her. “Do you really like football?”
“I love it.”
An amazing woman. He nodded toward her plate. “How’s the steak?”
“Perfect.”
They finished eating and both declined dessert. He refilled her glass and they stepped to the terrace. A fountain bubbled in the background.
“It’s so tranquil here.” She looked up at the sky. “And so many stars. They seem so bright and so close I could almost imagine that I could reach up and grab a handful.”
He followed her to the edge of the patio, and when she turned to look up at him, he could only stare.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re so beautiful.”
She raised her glass to her lips and took a drink. He could handle that, but when she ran her tongue across her lips to catch that last drop of wine, he couldn’t resist leaning forward and brushing his lips across hers.
“Sweet,” he said, stroking her neck.
She took a step back. “I’m…I’m sorry if I gave the impression that there would be more to this than…than sharing a meal and discussing the spa. Maybe we should leave our talk until tomorrow.” She hurried away before he could stop her.
“No, I’m sorry,” he muttered. Why the hell had he kissed her? But, then, he thought he knew the answer. She was young and beautiful and like no one he’d ever met.
And he’d ruined it by acting like a fool.
Or maybe not. For just a second he was almost certain she’d returned his kiss.
Chapter 18
Nikki dragged her eyelids open and stared at the clock as she waited for her eyes to adjust so she could read the numbers. It was seven. Something was different about this morning. But what?
She shoved the cover back and forced herself to sit on the side of the bed. Oh, Lord, every muscle in her body ached. Who knew riding a horse could make a person this sore. She’d only thought milking and churning butter was bad. Okay, churning butter was still a horrible memory.
It suddenly occurred to her what was different. The rooster hadn’t crowed. She came wide awake.
Oh no, what if it had died during the night? Guilt washed over her as she hobbled out of bed and stumbled to
