Yep, he was pretty much screwed. Add the article Nikki would write and he could see his career going down the tube.
Brian had once suggested they become partners in the ranch. His idea was starting to look like Cal’s only choice between eating and starving. God, he really hated the country.
“What are you smiling about?” Celeste asked Brian. He still held her hand. She found she was reluctant to pull hers away. It was very comforting. That, and his touch, sent little tingles of pleasure up and down her arms.
“My brother’s in love.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “With whom?” Was there a third woman in the triangle? It all sounded very confusing to her.
“Nikki.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, yeah, he’s in love.”
She looked at her feet, then back at him, chewing her bottom lip. “I told Nikki that Cal knew she was a reporter, but only because I thought he must’ve been joking with you. I mean, she certainly didn’t look like an old nag.” She took a deep breath. “And that’s what you’d told me. I’m sorry if I ruined it for him.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.” He kissed her on top of her head. “My brother is a good judge of character. His gut instinct about people is always right on the mark. I think he sensed Nikki was a good person. I also think he likes her more than he wants to admit right now.”
“But she’s gone.”
He looked down at her, his eyes filled with warmth. “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
She could feel the color drain from her face. That’s what her mother had always said.
His forehead wrinkled in worry. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that I remember my mother telling me that very same thing.”
“You had a smart mother.”
She smiled. “Yes, I did.”
“When did you see Nikki?”
“I ran out of mint.”
“You went to the cabin by yourself?”
She nodded. “I felt the presence of the spirit. She’s so very sad. I wish we could help her.”
He pulled her closer to him. “I don’t want you going up there by yourself again.”
She ignored him, wanting to know more. “What do you know about her?”
“My grandmother said a young girl had been murdered there. That’s why Grandma’s parents got the land so cheap. No one wanted the haunted house.”
“Was she really murdered?”
“I never looked into the history of the place.”
“I want to.” She looked up at him. “If you don’t mind?”
“Just don’t go up there by yourself.”
“I won’t.” But she did want to know what had happened. It was almost as if she’d felt a bonding with the spirit. It would be interesting to see what she could discover.
Chapter 28
Nikki stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like death warmed over. She’d barely slept since she’d returned to Fort Worth, and two weeks of tossing and turning was taking its toll.
“Whoever invented makeup, I thank you,” she muttered before she sponged on liquid foundation and a little blush, then a dusting of face powder.
Better. Not great, but better. The dark circles under her eyes weren’t quite as visible. She didn’t want Marge questioning her any more than she already had.
Marge hadn’t looked as though she’d believed Nikki’s lies about the Cal and Cynthia story being totally worthless. An amicable breakup.
Not that Nikki cared. She wanted to forget her time at the ranch.
Her energy suddenly drained. She tossed her lipstick to the side and plopped down on the toilet seat.
Who was she kidding? She wanted to forget Cal. But it was kind of hard when her dreams were filled with him caressing her, his lips kissing hers, their bodies joining in passion. She closed her eyes and could almost feel…could almost…
She was so pathetic.
Enough! She stood, grabbed the tube of lipstick, and applied it in two quick, sweeping motions before she left the bathroom. She glanced around her tiny apartment to make sure she wasn’t forgetting something, then grabbed her purse and went to the door.
But when she opened it, her gaze fixed on a broad chest. She tried to slam the door, her heart racing, but his foot blocked it.
“Nikki!” Cal said.
She looked up when she heard the familiar voice. “Cal?” Her pulse raced even faster. Had she wished him here? Maybe she was asleep and this was just another delicious dream and he was about to ravish her.
Could you actually ravish someone if they were willing? Who cared?
“Can I come in?” He didn’t wait for her to answer as he brushed past her.
“I didn’t say yes.”
Now that the initial shock was over, why was he here? Did he want to tell her again how despicable he thought she was? Well, she’d already beaten herself up plenty for not telling him the truth. She really doubted he could do more harm.
Dammit, she’d never had any guilt until she met Cal. She wasn’t sure she liked the way he’d turned her life upside down.
“Nice place.”
She glanced around at the clothes draping the sofa, the glass that she’d drank wine out of last night and hadn’t bothered to take to the kitchen. She’d been depressed. She was almost certain somewhere there was a rule book that said you didn’t have to clean house if you were depressed.
“It was the maid’s day off,” she replied, her words dripping sarcasm.
“So I see.”
He turned around, facing her, then very slowly, as though he was making sure he didn’t miss an inch, his gaze roamed over her.
“What are you doing here?” She shut the door when a curious neighbor walked by, his steps slowing. Cal was no one’s business besides her own and she wasn’t about to air her dirty laundry in public.
“You didn’t write the article,” he said, his gaze moving back to her face.
“Yeah, well, you’re not that interesting. I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
“I would’ve thought you’d have been more worried about a lawsuit for libel. It’s not as though you had any information you could actually use.”
“That, too.” There was a gleam in his eyes. She wasn’t sure she trusted him. But Lord, she drank in the sight of him. It seemed like forever since she’d seen him, rather than only two weeks. Her body had already started to come alive, a familiar need racing through her.
“Something interesting happened.” He leaned against the back of her sofa, then picked up a thong, fingering the black lace.
She marched over and yanked the undergarment out of his hands. He only grinned.
“What could have possibly happened that would drag you to my doorstep? We both know what you think of me.” He was making her nervous. She didn’t like feeling nervous.
“Cynthia told her daddy that I broke it off with her, but the strangest thing happened-he called me.”
She hadn’t thought it would get back to Cal. “So?” she hedged, then realized she was making knots out of her
