Cougar in Texas (Rugged and Risque 3)

“Around the corner from Ginger’s lingerie shop on Main Street. That’s where I work some afternoons.”

His brow jerked up. She worked where? “Tack or lingerie?”

“Lingerie.”

“Whoa…” He moved away as all sorts of wicked images raced through his mind, all centered solely on Reese in something lacy or satiny or just downright skimpy. She had the kind of body that easily inspired erotic fantasies. Though, again, the last thing he needed popping into his head were visions of her sprawled across a bed, wearing a risqué ensemble and licking her lips in anticipation of what he suddenly wanted to offer her.

“What?” she demanded in her soft tone, breaking into his wayward thoughts. “I don’t look like the type of woman who could sell bras and panties?” She gave him an impish look as she planted a hand on her hip.

“That’s not at all what I was thinking.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Thanks for bringing me new towels. I’m gonna take a very cold shower now.”

“Oh please,” she scoffed as she waved a hand at him in apparent exasperation.

Caleb stared at her. “You have no idea how alluring you are, do you?”

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip.

He shook his head. “Well, I’m just sayin’…” He turned and walked away.

* * * * *

Reese watched him go, her heart pounding, her pulse racing.

Had he just said…? Had she heard him correctly?

Her eyes narrowed on the doorway. “Seriously?” she whispered.

But no… What was she thinking? He was being kind. A Southern gentleman and all that. No way in hell did he find her attractive.

Except that she had noted some lingering gazes. And he’d described her as “insanely beautiful”. While she’d received her fair share of compliments, no man had ever called her that. Not even Tommy when he’d first been so enamored with her.

None of it mattered though. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d told her friends at the flower shop she wasn’t interested in a new man. So she did her best to push thoughts of Caleb from her mind as she finished the scones and wrapped everything up, leaving the pastries on the counter for him to enjoy whenever he wanted. Then she went about her business, tending to the flowerbeds and courtyard, and trimming the tall hedges along the full perimeter of the property. The foliage offered privacy from the neighbors she had on either side of her. A dense forest managed by the BLM lay beyond the boundary of her backyard.

For the most part Reese found her lot easy to maintain without help. She’d been doing all the yardwork herself for the past eleven years, since Tommy hadn’t offered his assistance. Although he was handsome and a former football player, he lacked ambition in a big way. The affliction had worsened over the years until he’d basically become no more than an armchair quarterback, beer in one hand and chips in the other.

Why Reese had put up with his laziness for so long was beyond her. The best she could surmise, she’d taken her wedding vows too seriously—especially that “for better or for worse” part. Lord, had she been stuck with an awful big heap of “for worse”. But as Caleb had said, she could kick herself all she wanted. She couldn’t change the past or the huge mistake she’d made. She had to let it go.

Unfortunately she only managed to complete half the hedge grooming before the sun set. She’d heard her guest’s vehicle start up at some point, and figured Caleb had either gone into town for dinner or out to the ranch.

Too bad. She realized she’d been looking forward to him being in the house that evening. Having tightly bound most of her feelings when she’d learned of Tommy’s deception, she hadn’t allowed herself to accept the very harsh reality that suddenly came to mind, because of Caleb’s presence. She was lonely. And had been for an extremely long time.

Tears stung the backs of her eyes and she had to blink them away. She didn’t want to remain mired in disillusionment and disappointment. Though, admittedly, both emotions were difficult to shake off.

With a wistful sigh, she cleaned up, made dinner for one and then went to bed early with a sci-fi book, not trusting herself with a romance novel. She might end up fantasizing about the sexy cowboy staying downstairs…and wouldn’t that be all bad and wrong?

She rose before the sun the next morning, but didn’t see the menu selection for breakfast hanging on Caleb’s door. Peering out one of the many windows in the living room, she noticed no other vehicle than her own. She’d heard his SUV pull into the drive around eleven p.m., just before she’d drifted off to sleep. Apparently he’d decided to get an early start out at the Painted Horse this morning, right as dawn turned into a cloudless day.

In the kitchen, she discovered he’d taken a few scones with him for breakfast. He’d also left her his credit card with a note.

R., Took some pastries—hope you don’t mind. Don’t forget to charge me for the room. Nadine told me your going rate and I’m fine with that for the month. C.

She set the credit card next to the machine, but didn’t run it. A nightly charge would add up to quite a bit and she didn’t feel comfortable with the

sum. She’d have to figure out a more reasonable price. It was just a room, for God’s sake. Not a suite at the Plaza Hotel.

Her curiosity about her guest from Dallas mounted as she entered his room to tidy up—and found it in almost the same orderly state as before he’d moved in. Though he hadn’t yet unpacked his bags, he’d made his bed and everything else was in its rightful place. Even the bathroom was neat and organized.

If he kept this up, her housekeeping services would be extremely light. One more reason she needed to adjust the rental rate.