How to Seduce a Texan

Chapter 17

Brian walked around the side of the swimming pool, careful not to get too close to the little Darnell boys, who were splashing wildly. Jim Darnell was lazing in one of the lounge chairs but keeping a watchful eye on his sons. The boys’ father actually looked as if he were half dead. It must have been an active day for them.

“Do you remember when we had that much energy?” Jim asked without moving from his seat.

Brian looked at the boys. For just a second he saw a pasture with trees and low hills. He saw him and Cal racing across the space until their lungs felt as though they would burst from lack of oxygen.

Yeah, he remembered.

He also remembered Cal had wanted him to go riding, and for a moment, when they’d been talking, Brian had recaptured something that had been lost between them.

But then he’d thought about canceling when something business-related came up. He’d need to go out of town on Friday. It hadn’t even been that big of a deal, and he wondered why he’d even considered leaving. Cal was right: Brian needed to relax more, and maybe he wanted to spend a little more time with Cal. They hadn’t done a lot of things together since his brother arrived.

“It would be nice to have an overabundance of energy,” Brian told the father as he returned his attention to the young family. “Did you have a good day?”

“We went on an arrowhead hunt. I think your foreman took us over nearly all of the south end of the ranch on horseback, and now swimming.” He nodded toward his sons. “They’re like that battery bunny rabbit.”

They laughed. Yeah, he had a feeling his grandparents had felt the same way about him and Cal.

Katie Darnell came out to join her husband and sons. There was something different about her. She practically glowed. She didn’t look nearly as tired as when they’d first arrived. Apparently, she’d had a good day, too.

Jim studied her. “It looks like you enjoyed your massage. You look beautiful.”

She smiled. “Celeste was wonderful. Not only did she have the most intoxicating fragrance filling the room, but after my massage, which totally relaxed me, she brewed me a cup of tea that she said was a special blend and had the cook send over some cookies. I felt very pampered.”

Tea? Cookies? Brian could feel the color drain from his face. Had she brewed one of his guests something she’d concocted from her herbs? Oh, hell. Visions of a lawsuit filled his mind.

“In fact,” Katie continued, “I’ve never felt this good ever. It’s almost as though she added something to the tea to make me feel so wonderful.” She laughed.

Great, drugs. Hell, Celeste had even looked liked a hippie when she’d first arrived. Brian gritted his teeth and drew in a deep breath.

“I’m glad you enjoyed your time at the spa,” Brian told her. “I’ll be sure to pass on your compliments to Celeste. In fact, I’ll do it right now. If you’ll excuse me.” He opened the French doors and went inside.

What if Celeste had given Ms. Darnell some kind of narcotic? Hell, it wouldn’t just be a lawsuit he’d be looking at. He could see the cops showing up in a late-night raid, all that he’d worked for destroyed. Damn it, he’d been afraid something like this would happen.

His jaw began to twitch as he strode inside the spa. For once, the tranquil atmosphere did nothing to calm him.

“Mr. Braxton, did you need something?” Rhonda asked as she looked up from behind her desk.

“Celeste?”

“In the therapy room.”

He didn’t stop but walked right toward it and went inside. Celeste was putting clean sheets on the table but looked up when he entered. He shut the door behind him, hoping whatever was said would go no further than this room. He’d give her enough money to leave and he’d make up something to explain why she’d taken off.

But first, he had to know what was in the tea. “What did you give Ms. Darnell?”

“Katie?”

“That’s the only Ms. Darnell that I know, so yes, what did you give her?”

“A massage.” She tucked in a corner of the sheet.

“After that?”

“I had Betty send over some cookies.”

He counted to five. “The tea. What was in the tea?”

She was beginning to look a little worried, and so she should. He couldn’t have an employee drugging his guests.

“I’m not sure. It was your tea.”

“My tea?” Some of his anger began to dissipate.

She nodded, then reached behind her for a box. “Spicy chai tea.” She pointed to the words on the box. “Special blend. I thought it sounded good so I brewed us a cup. Is something wrong with Katie? I feel fine, and Rhonda had a cup.”

“My tea?”

“It was in the supply closet. Apparently, Amy ordered it but never used it. I thought Katie needed extraspecial attention because she seemed so frazzled. After the massage, I had Rhonda brew the tea and Betty send over a plate of cookies. I think Katie just needed some female conversation to feel like a woman again. I thought it had worked.” She worried her bottom lip.

“That’s all you did?”

She nodded. Man, how wrong could he have been?

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For thinking…” His brow creased.

Understanding slowly dawned on her face. “You thought I’d drugged her?”

But rather than being insulted, she was smiling, then laughing at his misconceptions about her. And why shouldn’t she? He’d made a total ass out of himself.

“Again, I apologize.”

“Apology accepted. It’s not like you know that much about me, so it’s okay that you’d be a little suspicious.”

“Not good enough.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”

“Have dinner with me this evening. I have a private dining area. I’d like it if you’d join me.”

“Do you think the boss would mind?”

Now she was teasing him. He guessed it was better than her throwing something at him.

“Please.”

“Okay,” she said as she smoothed her hand over the crisp white sheet and tucked it a little tighter at the corner. “I have a few ideas for the spa that I’d like to talk over with you. Nothing major. I asked Rhonda and she thought they were good ideas.”

“You have ideas already?”

“Oh, it’s a great spa. I just think if you added a few things it could be better.”

“Like tea and cookies?”

The warmth in her smile filled the room. “Yes, like tea and cookies…chocolates.”

“Then I’ll see you about six and we’ll discuss your ideas.”

“Six it is.”

There wasn’t any reason for him to hang around. He’d blundered and apologized. Then he’d invited her to dinner. Dumb excuse, but he did want to make it up to her.

And maybe he wanted to find out more about the woman who had made such a big difference in Katie Darnell’s day.

He left the spa area, his steps lighter than they had been in a long time. He glanced down at his watch as he walked inside the main building. He didn’t have that long to wait, either.

“You look like you’re in a good mood,” Cal said.

Brian looked up. “I’m always in a good mood.” His gaze swept over Cal. “Your hair’s wet.”

“I went swimming in the pond.”

“We have a pool.”

“I like the pond. Remember when we used to go there?”

Brian smiled. “I remember how we used to get in trouble for going there. Grandma was afraid we’d drown.”

“That’s three times.”

Cal had finally lost his marbles. “Huh?”

“You smiled the day I arrived, when we walked up from the barn and you were telling me about Wanda Jo, then just now. I was afraid you’d forgotten how.”

“Funny.”

“Seriously, you need to slow down a little and enjoy life.”

“You’re right,” Brian agreed.

“I am?”

“Yes, you are.” When Cal grinned, Brian remembered just how much his big brother meant to him. Speaking of which. “How’s it going with that reporter? I hate that you’re having to deal with all this crap. Say the word and I’ll toss her off the property.”

“I think I can handle her.”

“Good.”

“I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

Brian could feel color flooding his face. “Actually, I have other plans.”

Cal gave him a questioning look.

“I’m having dinner with Celeste. She wants to discuss some ideas she thinks will improve the spa.”

“Ideas?”

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.