Stud in Texas (Rugged and Risque 4)

Sky popped the chocolate tulips in the walk-in cooler to harden, then went back to the mousse.

Reese said, “So about Sam… What’s the situation?”

She shrugged. “This is still pretty new, Reesie.”

“Oh come on. Tell me what you think about it.”

She couldn’t help but smile again. And her stomach flipped. Her heart fluttered.

Tamping down the giggle that bubbled in her throat—Sky was not the giggling type, but she felt particularly lighthearted following that searing kiss Sam had laid on her earlier—she told her friend, “I’m not in a position to get involved with anyone, but I guess when lightning strikes, there’s not much you can do about timing. So I laid a few things on the line for him, just so he knows where I’m coming from. Where I stand.”

“This sounds serious.”

“I will say that I don’t think two people can kiss the way we do without calling it serious. Even this early on. The man jolted me to the core of my being. And if someone told me he’d never be kissing me again, I’d want to curl up in a corner and bawl my eyes out.”

Reese pressed a hand to her mouth for several seconds. Then she said, “I know that feeling exactly. Geez, Sky. I am just so happy you came home to Wilder.”

“Actually, I am too.” She reached for an icing bag and then rummaged through a metal container looking for the appropriate tip to swirl the mousse in the shells when they set.

“So did Sam tell you about Charlotte?” Reese asked.

“No.”

“Hmm. Well, it doesn’t really matter. He’s long over her and she’s getting married. But he does feel as though he doomed the relationship because he kept her from his parents for so long. An understandable thing to do, given their rather vulture-like natures. They just love to peck at people.”

Sky said, “I’m sure he’ll mention it if he feels it’s necessary. But opening up the ex-files isn’t always for the best.” She hated that she’d had to do it. Would have preferred to start something with Sam when she had a clean slate. Unfortunately, due to her current predicament, she hadn’t had much choice but to tell him about Mac.

“I suppose you’re right. I would love it if Caleb knew nothing about Tommy.”

“He turned out to be quite the horse’s ass.”

“Did he ever.”

They talked a bit more about how Caleb stepped in to save the day for Reese when it came to her unfaithful ex-husband, who’d spread some nasty rumors around town about Reese during their split. Then Reese dashed off to draft her online ad, and Sky finished the first round of desserts for the evening’s diners.

She went to work on the second round—a rich carrot cake—with thoughts of Sam on her mind.

After the dining room closed, Sky joined Reese and Caleb for a late dinner. Sam was nowhere in sight. Disappointment swept through her. Hadn’t he invited her this evening? Usually, she headed straight back to Luckenbach, given the drive. But she’d purposely stuck around tonight.

Following their pork chops, she set a fresh cinnamon-apple pie on the table, with vanilla ice cream to complement it.

She’d taken only one bite when Sam climbed the stairs to the deck and sank into the chair next to her.

“Sorry I missed dinner,” he announced. He draped an arm along the back of Sky’s chair and leaned in close to say, “’Specially since I was looking forward to seeing you.”

His words and the way he practically devoured her with his hungry gaze chased away her disappointment.

“I made pie,” she told him. “Caleb said it’s your favorite.”

“Good old-fashioned, all-American apple pie,” Sam said. “You just can’t beat it.”

“Lucky for you, there’s still a few slices left.”

Sam dug in. Sky was halfway through her own slice when she realized it was much too quiet at their table. She glanced up from her plate and asked, “What’s with all the tension?”

Sam and Caleb exchanged looks. Then Caleb and Reese did the same, before she gave a slight nod of her head.

Dread crawled through Sky’s veins.