“Are you ready for a drive to the city?”
His touch curled her toes. “I am.”
Carter had ushered her a few steps toward the door then stopped abruptly. “Wait.” He turned and strode over to the legal-size envelope he’d tossed on the sofa. “I almost forgot. This came for you today.”
“For me?”
He handed it over, and Macy stared at it.
“It’s the first piece of mail that’s come for you. Who knows you’re here?”
“Just my friend Avery and my attorney. This is from him. Barton Lowenthal.”
“Is it important?”
Macy was standing next to a dreamy man, ready to go out on the town. Nothing was more important than that right now. “No, it’s just probably more legal documents about my mother’s estate.”
Macy set the envelope on the end table by the entry. “I can look at it later.”
She turned her attention back to Carter, Stetson in hand, waiting for her by the door. Her life here at Wild River was so far removed from Hollywood that it was laughable. She understood that she was Carter’s rebound woman- someone to make him forget about his almost-fiancee’s rejection. They would have no real future together. Macy shouldn’t forget that, but for tonight at least, she could pretend that all away.
On the drive to Dallas, Carter made small talk and tried his best to make up for the way he’d treated her this morning. She’d been hurt and properly put in her place, but she wasn’t giving up on his relationship with his dad. She could be stubborn, too, when she had to be.
Carter kept taking his eyes off the road to look at her. She, too, was pulled by his magnetism, glancing at him in quiet moments, marveling at his good looks and confidence. Finally, halfway into the drive, he reached over and laid his hand on her leg, just above the knee. His touch sent spiraling tremors clear down to her belly. She forgot all about being stubborn. He made her forget everything but the desire pulsing like wildfire in her veins. His capable fingers applied pressure, and she broke out in goose bumps. She sucked in oxygen when he slid a hot hungry look her way. “I might not make it through dinner.”
She gulped, and images of him covering her body flashed in her mind. She relived the heady sensations from last night and wanted more. She wanted Carter. “We could shoot straight for dessert.”
A wicked smile graced his face. “I like the way you think, Hollywood. But I owe you a nice dinner.” He sighed from deep in his chest and removed his hand from her leg.
She missed his touch already and wondered how she’d make it through dinner, too.
As promised, Carter had arranged for them to be ushered into a trendy new restaurant on the top floor of the Majestic Hotel by way of an employee elevator. The secrecy made the evening only more exciting. Soft music played as dinner was served in a cozy room with a private bar and dance floor.
After ordering filet mignon and spinach souffle, they were served shrimp scampi appetizers and champagne salad. Macy picked at her food. Her appetite waned. Not even steaming-hot loaves of French bread whet her taste buds. She sipped red wine and focused on the man sitting across from her, looking dazzling and sexy.
Between courses, Carter asked her to dance, making every effort to make this date memorable. Macy curved her body to his as they moved in step with a romantic tune.
“How am I doing with my apology?” He tightened his arms around her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I’ve forgiven you for the next five things you’re bound to do,” she said with a breathy sigh.
He threw his head back and laughed. She loved the sound of it and the deep baritone of his voice. “You’re sure I’ll blow it again?”
“I’m giving you rain checks I’m so sure.”
He tightened his hold on her and spoke quietly into her ear. “But, darlin’, where’s the fun in that?”
The warmth of his breath made her shiver. With his rock-hard body pressed against her and his musky scent surrounding her, she was swept up with consuming desire. The privacy and the intimate way he held her seemed to charge the air around them. She lowered her lashes to focus on his generous mouth.
Carter shook his head with a warning glint in his eye. “Keep that up and our meal will have to wait.”
He brought his mouth to hers and took her in a breathtaking kiss. From there, things moved fast. The kiss that started slowly turned to a frenzied melding of lips with arms and legs reaching, adjusting, their bodies desperately searching for satisfaction and relief.
Carter squeezed her hand then and pulled her off the dance floor. “Grab your purse,” he ordered as he led her to the table. She clutched it and he entwined her fingers and then tugged her out of the private restaurant. The trip in the special elevator to penthouse rooms was another hurried affair, and once Carter put the keycard into the lock, they ducked into the suite.
She glimpsed the luxurious room. “Nice pl-”
Carter kissed the words from her mouth and backed her up against the wall. He murmured all the things they were going to do in this room, and Macy’s face flamed as hot as her body burned. The Pucci dress was an easy target for a man with roaming hands, and Carter made sure he touched every part of her. His sweet assault made her moan his name over and over, and she knew they’d never make it to the bed.
His kisses moved from her lips and down her throat, his chin pushing material away so that his mouth could cover her breast. She arched for him and closed her eyes to the sensual sensation. Then he rode his hand up her thigh, and within seconds her clingy dress was hiked up to her waist. Impatient, he groaned when his fingers met with her hot, wet center. He pleasured her and little moans of ecstasy huffed out of her throat.
It was a whirlwind from then on, Carter taking time only to sheath himself before he brought her the most exquisite, erotic, exciting sexual encounter of her life.
Afterward, she slumped against him breathless and sated from head to toe. “Is…that…all…you…got?”
A deep, satisfied chuckle rumbled from his throat before he lifted her into the circle of his arms and carried her to the bed. “Just wait, sweet darlin’. Just wait.”
Macy woke to air-conditioning cooling the hotel room. She lay on a luxurious bed of silken sheets, completely naked with sunlight streaming into the suite. She reached for a plush comforter and met with Carter’s hand. He brought the covers with him as he rolled toward her, setting his hand possessive and firm on her hip. Warmth seeped in immediately.
He kissed her cheek. “Mornin’.”
“Mmm, morning.” She gave him a smile, and her heart surged when his dimples appeared as he smiled back. She felt things for Carter that went beyond her simple fascination for a Stetson-wearing hunk. She cared for him, and heaven knew she admired him. But anything more than that would just be suicide on her part, a head-on collision waiting to happen.
“You still tired?” he asked, rubbing her hip in ways that sparked illicit thoughts. Last night, once they’d made it to the bed, Carter had shown her the stars of Texas without ever looking out the window.
“Not too tired to…shop.” She grinned.
He flung himself onto his back and groaned. “I was afraid of that.”
She gathered herself up, covers and all, turning to face him. “A promise is a promise, McCay. Not to mention it was part of your apology.”
He studied her through thick lashes, his mouth angling down. “I thought maybe the two ‘apologies’ I gave you last night would do the trick.”
He did have a persuasive argument. He’d given her two mind-bending orgasms last night. But, Macy
Carter’s mouth opened then shut. He lifted up and grabbed her around the waist, bringing her down on top of him, tickling her until she giggled uncontrollably.
“No! No! Stop it…stop it!”
He stopped and his mouth spread into a big grin. “Don’t ever say ‘cowboy up’ to a Texan. We invented the term.” He kissed her then set her down beside him.
Macy’s laughter finally ebbed and she sank deeper into the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. “You don’t play
