How to Seduce a Texan

Chapter 14

Celeste snuggled down in the bed. It felt so good to sleep on luxurious sheets and…

She pushed the cover down and glanced at the clock. Drat! It was after eight. Being late her first day on the job wasn’t good. Not that Brian had actually set a time. She was pretty sure it wouldn’t be noon, though.

After a quick shower, she pulled on a pair of white slacks and a bright yellow top. As much as she loved her robes, they had a tendency to get in her way when she was giving a massage.

There was only one more thing she needed to grab before she left the room. And what she needed was in her suitcase…somewhere.

She dug around inside until she found the herbs she was looking for. There they were. Right at the very bottom, of course. She brought out the small bag that contained other small bags. Inside, she found what she needed. Her supply was getting low and would soon need replenishing.

She left the room, closing her door, and walked back to Brian’s office, stopping at the secretary’s desk. Shelley glanced up.

Shelley smiled. “Good morning. Amazing what a good night’s sleep will do. You look radiant.”

“Thank you. I feel a lot better.”

She studied her for a moment. “You’re dressed different, too. The outfit you’re wearing is…nice.” She tapped her pencil on her desk. “I might just have to tough out this cold to see what’ll happen today. Amazing what a change of style can do.” When Shelley smiled she looked like a cat who’d just found a bowl of cream.

“Is this okay to wear?” Celeste looked down at her clothes. Maybe she would have to wear a uniform, which was okay; she didn’t mind.

“Oh, no, what you’re wearing is fine. Who would’ve thought you would have a figure like that underneath the loose robe you wore yesterday.”

Celeste had no idea what Shelley was talking about. Maybe the cold had made Shelley a little spacey. Her figure was okay, nothing spectacular in her opinion.

She decided to change the subject away from what she was wearing. “The bed was wonderful. I slept like a baby,” she said.

Shelley started to say something but her words turned into a cough. She quickly covered her mouth. “Ugh, this cold is driving me crazy. I just can’t shake it. Sorry about that. I hope no one else catches it.”

That reminded her. “I brought you some herbs.” She held up the small bag.

Shelley eyed it skeptically. “Herbs?”

Celeste nodded.

“What kind of herbs. I don’t do drugs or anything.”

Laughter bubbled out of Celeste. “Neither do I, but a…a relative taught me about them. Trust me, they’ll help with your cold.”

“What is it exactly?”

Her brow wrinkled in thought. “Elder flowers, thyme leaves and a few other herbs. Just put it into a teapot and add a couple pints of boiling water. You’ll want to let it steep for about thirty minutes then strain off the herbs and drink it. It can be bitter so sweeten it with honey. Thyme honey if you happen to have any.”

“And it will cure my cold?”

Celeste laughed. “If I could cure a cold then I’d be rich. No, it won’t cure your cold, but it’ll ease the symptoms.”

Shelley nodded. “Okay, I’ll try it.”

The door behind Celeste opened and Brian stepped out. His eyes narrowed when he saw the baggie of herbs. He looked up and their gazes collided. His mouth dropped open, and for a moment he didn’t speak as he looked at her. Really looked. She could feel herself blushing. What was it with people today?

“You’re awake, and you look different.” He waved his arm toward her. “You’re not dressed the same.”

“Oh, my clothes. I don’t wear my robes when I’m working. As much as I love the freedom of movement, they kind of get in my way.”

He frowned.

Her stomach growled. “I don’t suppose you’d have something to eat? The sandwich I shared with you last night has worn off.”

Shelley started to cough.

Brian’s frown only deepened. “I told you to stay at home if you were still sick. Take the rest of the day off, and if you’re not one hundred percent better by morning, I don’t want you to come in.”

“But…”

“I’m the boss.”

Shelley rolled her eyes. “Okay, if I’m not feeling better, then I’ll stay at home. I’ll get Beth to cover me. She’s back from vacation.” She smiled at Celeste. “It was nice meeting you, and thanks for the herbs.”

“What exactly did you give her?” Brian asked as he and Celeste walked toward the kitchen.

“I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you.”

He stopped and looked down on her. She suddenly realized how much he towered over her, and right now he didn’t look happy. And he was still her boss.

“Herbs-that was all. They won’t hurt her and they might help with her cold.”

“You’re trained in the use of herbs?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t give her anything that would cause her harm.”

“This is the dining room that you went through last night. Meals are provided for guests. We have one cook, one assistant, and two servers.” He walked past the tables, then through the swinging doors into the kitchen.

A woman looked up as they entered. Her gray hair peeked out from under her red cap. She wore a matching red apron that had “Kiss the Cook” emblazoned across it in black letters. When she saw that someone was with Brian, she smiled a smile that enveloped Celeste in a warmth of welcome. Celeste immediately liked her.

“This is our new massage therapist, Celeste,” Brian told the older woman. “At the moment, she’s starving.”

“Hello, Celeste. Have a seat at the bar and I’ll fix you right up with some breakfast. We can’t have you starting your first day on the job starving to death.” She continued to smile. “You can call me Betty.”

“When you finish eating, come back to my office and I’ll show you where you’ll work.” He turned and left without another word.

“He doesn’t say a lot, does he?” Celeste asked as Betty went to the counter and began to fix a plate of food. Celeste took a seat at the island, hooking her tennis shoes on the bottom rung of the stool.

The kitchen looked a lot different in the light of day-less forbidding. Maybe because Brian had left the room. It just seemed homier. And very clean. The tan granite countertops were free of clutter and complemented the creamy white cabinets.

There was an industrial-sized stainless steel stove and refrigerator. Except for the larger appliances, it could have been anyone’s kitchen.

“Brian’s got his head full of everything he has to do here at the ranch,” Betty said, and Celeste turned her attention back to the cook. “It wasn’t always making a profit like it is now. He had to put in a lot of long hours to make this place what it is today.”

“But it’s doing well now?” Her last boss not only had accused her of stealing but hadn’t paid her what she had coming. Not that she thought this would be the same situation. At least she hoped not.

Betty set a plate of food in front of Celeste, then went back for silverware. “Oh, yeah, the ranch is doing a lot of business now. We’re nearly always full. We have eight couples here this week. Two have kids. And one single woman up at the old homestead.” She shook her head. “Why anyone would want to pay good money to stay in that shack is beyond me. But Brian sees to everyone and makes sure they get what they came here for.”

She nodded as she took the fork and knife that Betty handed her. “Except I have a feeling he’s forgotten how to relax.” Darn, had she just said that aloud?

Betty laughed. “Are you going to show him how to have fun, child?”

Apparently, she had spoken aloud. She really needed to remember to think before she talked. “I doubt I could show anyone much of anything.”

Betty was thoughtful as her gaze wandered over Celeste. She shifted in her seat. Why was everyone looking at her as if she’d grown two heads or something?

“There’s a sadness about you. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, though.”

“I slept a long time. I’m still not quite awake.”

Betty shook her head. “Nope, it’s more than that.” Her eyes narrowed. “Be careful. Brian always has liked to fix things whether it be a toaster or a pretty girl, but he shies away from commitments just as much as his brother, Cal. Don’t be getting more hurt piled on those pretty shoulders.”

Their conversation was getting just a little too personal. Celeste took a bite of her eggs. She didn’t need fixing, but she could certainly see how a girl could get her heart broken around here. Brian was a handsome man.

“These eggs are wonderful,” she changed the topic.

Betty beamed. “That’s because they’re fresh.”

Celeste had a feeling she was going to like it here. Aside from the fact the people were a little strange, they still seemed friendly. She only had to remember that Brian apparently wasn’t a morning person. He’d frowned an awful lot.

Brian went straight back to his office. He didn’t breathe easy until he was sitting at his desk.

What the hell had happened to the delicate, wraithlike creature he’d hired? In her place was a sexy, sensual, vibrant woman. How was he to know she would look all curvy beneath those robes?

This wasn’t going to work. She would be too much of a distraction. He’d just have to find a way to tell her that he couldn’t use her after all. He’d give her enough money to last her a few weeks, a glowing recommendation, and…and what? Buy her a car?

No, he wouldn’t do any of that. He’d seen the look in her eyes when he’d told her she could work here on a trial basis. She’d been excited.

He stood and went to the window, staring out at the past.

The first job he’d ever had was for Mr. Miller at the feed store. He’d been thirteen and Mr. Miller had told him he was too young. But Grandpa had hurt his back and couldn’t work. Cal had gotten a job in town, but it still wasn’t enough.

After a lot of pleading, Mr. Miller had given Brian a chance and the family had managed to make it through the summer. He still remembered how it felt to be able to pull his own weight. He kind of figured Celeste felt the same way.

So maybe he’d keep her at least until she proved whether she could do the job or not.

He sat back down and started going through the mail. Who said he even had to be around her? Rhonda managed the spa. If there were any problems, she could handle them. He’d just show Celeste around.

But there had been something different about her. He wasn’t sure, but she almost seemed lonely. He wondered if she had anyone-a relative or a friend. Everyone needed someone.

Brian snorted. Cal would be laughing his fool head off if he knew the direction Brian’s thoughts were going. Always trying to fix something, Cal would say. He’d be right. His habit had gotten him into more trouble more times than he wanted to think about.

Like Wanda Jo. He’d tried to fix her, but she’d turned the tables and showed him a whole lot more than he’d ever expected. Yeah, like he needed to think about her when she was happily married to Ape Man.

He sat forward in his chair and cleared his mind of the past, glancing at his watch. Celeste should be almost finished by now. He tapped his fingers on the desk, then picked up the mail. A couple of bills, a brochure on a horse sale coming up next month. Nothing that couldn’t wait. He tossed the mail to the side and glanced at his watch.

Then he realized how anxious he was to see Celeste again. He was a fool. But that didn’t stop him from jumping when the buzzer on his phone went off.

“Yes?”

“Celeste is back.”

He could feel his heart racing inside his chest. No, he wasn’t just a fool. He was a complete idiot. Anyone would think he was a virgin. It had been so long since he’d been with a woman, he felt like one.

Brian didn’t say a lot as he walked Celeste out the back of the main house and toward the east side. A stone path led the way to the building he’d had built a couple of years ago. He hadn’t planned to have a spa, but so many of his guests asked about one that he decided it made good business sense.

“It’s very serene,” she said.

He looked around. Yeah, he guessed it was. He’d paid to have it landscaped. There were trees on each side of the path, small ones. The landscaper had called them Japanese plum trees. They were kind of neat looking the way the trunks twisted, and combined with music from hidden speakers, it was nice.

“You pay for what you get and I only have the best.” He held the door and let her go in first. The foyer was circular. Something about peace and harmony. A load of B.S. if you asked him, but his guests enjoyed it.

He watched Celeste from the corner of his eye. She was taking everything in, and from the expression on her face, he had a feeling she liked it, too. For some odd reason, that pleased him. And he admitted the entrance was impressive.

Celeste couldn’t believe she was going to be so lucky to work in a place this tranquil and beautiful. Pale yellow walls and music like gentle rain greeted her. She liked this area of the ranch. It made her feel relaxed and welcome.

“Hello, Mr. Braxton.” A woman, who was probably in her fifties, spoke from behind a desk.

“Rhonda, this is Celeste, our new massage therapist.” His gaze moved back to Celeste. “Rhonda is the brains of the spa. She makes sure everything runs smoothly. If you have a problem, she’s the person to talk to, and if there’s anything you need, just ask her, and she’ll get it for you.” He turned and abruptly left.

“Wow, you’d think his tail feathers were on fire. I don’t think that man ever slows down.” She turned her attention back to Celeste. “You’ll love it here, though.”

Rhonda was pretty, with deep auburn hair, and she had a good aura surrounding her.

“Right now, I’m only temporary. Brian thinks I’m too young and can’t have very much experience, but he felt sorry for me and is using me on a trial basis.” She had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “I’m not sure he’ll keep me. He seems upset with me about something this morning.”

Rhonda’s gaze swept over her. “Oh, honey, you certainly don’t look too young, and that may be the problem. Brian hasn’t dated anyone in a long time.”

She could feel the heat rise up her face. “I really don’t think he’s attracted to me.”

“Oh, yeah, he’s attracted. Any man would be-if he was straight, that is. And by the way, experience isn’t everything. Amy had experience, the last massage therapist, and she was good, but she lacked that certain extra something. Brian thought she was suited for the job and kept her.”

“Hopefully, I’ll make this a permanent job.”

“I hope not.”

Celeste’s eyebrows shot up. “I beg your pardon?” Had she run up against more opposition?

“You may be very good at what you do, but you’re too young and pretty to be stuck way out here in the middle of nowhere. Unless, of course, you and Brian hit it off.”

She relaxed. “I think I’ll like staying here until I do move on, and believe me, Brian isn’t at all interested.” Angry, a workaholic, dry-but interested? No, not a chance. Although it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine his arms pulling her close.

And she’d better get those thoughts right out of her head.

“I hope you’ll be around for a long time.” Rhonda stood. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest of our little spa. I’ll tell you, this is the most relaxing job I’ve ever had.”

“Do many people use the spa?”

“Enough, but as busy as we get, I still feel a sense of renewal while I’m at work. If you ever want to practice massages, let me know. I’ll willingly take one any day.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“We have two women on staff who do pedicures and manicures: Jill, you’ll meet her later, and Lillie, who also does hair. They’re in the salon area, which we fondly call the gossip room. The guests usually get to know each other fairly well while they’re getting pampered.”

“It sounds like fun.”

“Oh, we can create quite the party atmosphere.”

They walked down a hallway. Rhonda opened a closet door. “Here are all your lotions, towels, there’re even stones. Brian ordered a lot of stuff that Amy never used. She wasn’t much into a lot of the New Age stuff. What about you?”

“I’m in to it.”

“I think you’re going to work out just fine.” She walked a little farther down the hall and opened another door. “This is where you’ll do the massages.”

The room was painted a calming beige and the music was piped into this room. A cushioned table was in the center, and there was another door. “What’s behind that door?”

Rhonda chuckled. “You have to see it to believe it.”

Celeste followed as Rhonda went inside and opened the door. “Oh my.”

“You can say that again. Brian spared no expense to pamper his guests.”

“It looks like something out of a Roman bath.” Tall pillars, a sunken jetted tub that looked more like a small swimming pool. The tiles were an old-world design in soft gold and white.

“Besides the tub, there’s a steam shower. By the time the guest does the shower, the whirlpool, and then has a massage, they’re down for the count.”

“Heaven.”

“You got that right.” She sighed, then seemed to remember she was showing Celeste around. “I hope you don’t mind, but Ms. Darnell wanted a massage. She should be getting here in about ten minutes. I’ve been helping out and giving them, but only because Mr. Braxton was in a bind. I’ve had a little training but it’s not really what I enjoy.”

“I’d love to start.”

“Just take what you need out of the supply closet. I have to get back to the phones. I suspect once word gets out that we have a new massage therapist, it’ll start ringing off the wall.”

As soon as she left, Celeste walked back to the bathing area. A place where she could soak. She smiled. Surely Brian wouldn’t mind if she used the facility after hours. She was so going to love working here.

She gathered a few things from the closet and went back to the massage room. She set everything down on the counter, then lit the aromatherapy candle. For just a moment, she let her mind empty as calmness stole over her.

“I’m early.”

Celeste jumped.

“Sorry, Rhonda told me to come on in.”

Had she been lost in meditation that long? Apparently. The woman wore a white terry cloth robe, her bright red hair pulled up on top of her head, and she looked worn and tired.

“I’m Katie Darnell.”

“Hello, Ms. Darnell. I was just meditating.”

“Do I need to come back?”

She shook her head. “Not at all.”

“Good. This is my escape time while Jim watches the boys. They’re going horseback riding and then looking for arrowheads, then swimming, all in the hopes that the boys will expend enough energy they’ll fall asleep by eight tonight and Jim and I can have a little time alone.” She frowned. “I only hope Jim doesn’t fall asleep early.”

Celeste laughed.

“I talk too much, don’t I?”

She shook her head. “Not at all. You’ve only absorbed some of your sons’ energy.”

“Did I mention they’re twins? I don’t feel as though I have any energy.”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“I didn’t think so. I should be so lucky to have even half of what they have.” She paused, her face suddenly glowing with warmth. “But I do love them.”

What would it feel like to know that kind of love?