Kitabı oku: «The Maverick's Virgin Mistress / Lone Star Seduction»

The Maverick’s Virgin Mistress

by

Jennifer Lewis

and

Lone Star Seduction

by

Day Leclaire

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

The Maverick’s Virgin Mistress

by

Jennifer Lewis

THE TEXAS TATTLER
All The News You Need To Know…And More!

A mysterious fire on the Montoya ranch seems to be all anyone can talk about these days. Well, that and the fact that Justin dupree has been seen canoodling with an unnamed woman at The Millionaire’s Club. Could this be the same woman the Lone Star playboy has moved into his luxurious penthouse? because if we had to “name” this woman, we’d be calling her Alicia Montoya…and that would equal a whole passel of trouble.

For, not long ago, we recall a certain dupree brother accusing a certain Montoya brother of some dirty deeds. Has the hatchet been buried between these families…or is the feud about to go into overdrive when word of the dupree-Montoya merger (and we mean that, literally) gets out?

Jennifer Lewis has been dreaming up stories for as long as she can remember and is thrilled to be able to share them with readers. She has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and worked in media and the arts before she grew bold enough to put pen to paper. Happily settled in New York with her family, she would love to hear from readers at jen@jenlewis.com. Visit her website at www. jenlewis.com.

For Anne, Carol, Jerri, Kate, Leeanne and Marie

Dear Reader,

As you can probably tell from the title of this book, my heroine Alicia Montoya is a virgin. A twenty-six-year-old virgin.

I can already hear the scoffs of disbelief. People seem incredulous that a woman could grow into adulthood without ever experiencing sex. I suspect, however, that there are a lot more adult virgins out there than many people realize.

For Alicia, a strict convent-school upbringing and a protective older brother built a strong moral code and kept her chastity belt firmly locked. before she knew it, she’d missed that “window of opportunity” in the late teen years, when most of us dip our feet in the waters of sensuality.

It happens. I know people who were in the same situation. Outgoing, fun, friendly women who just never met the right person and suddenly found themselves in their mid-twenties, wondering what went wrong. At that point sexual inexperience can become awkward, an embarrassing and shameful secret.

Luckily for Alicia, she meets just the man to help her explore her sexuality in a nonjudgmental way. Alicia’s innocence and sweetness are, in turn, refreshing—and ultimately life changing—for jaded Justin dupree. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Jennifer Lewis

Chapter One

Who on earth could be calling at this time of night?

Alicia Montoya reached out from under the covers and groped for the phone on her bedside table. She squinted at the green numerals on the clock.

2:07. What the heck?

She lifted the phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

“You’re okay. Thank God.”

“Who is this?” Her sleepy whisper was barely audible.

“Hi, beautiful.”

Oh, boy. His rich, deep voice flowed into her ear and started to awaken parts of her she’d never even known she had until she met Rick Jones. “Hi, Rick.”

“I’m so glad you’re fine.”

Alicia glanced at the clock again. “I was fine until the phone woke me. Didn’t I tell you not to call me at home?”

She wondered if her brother Alex had heard the phone. Probably. She was a deep sleeper so it may have been ringing for a while.

Pretty much nothing could happen in the Houston-metro area without her brother being aware of it. Any minute now he’d come barreling in to see what was going on.

“Sweetheart, are you sure you’re not married?” Rick teased her relentlessly about her insistence on keeping their relationship secret.

If you could call it a relationship. They hadn’t actually kissed yet, but they’d held hands once. That counted, right?

“I’m most definitely not married.” She laughed. “Not even close. But I told you my brother is insanely overprotective. Believe me, you do not want him to know you’re calling me at two in the morning.”

“Why not? You’re a grown woman. You can do whatever you want at two in the morning.” His tone suggested there were some delicious things they could be doing together at this very moment.

Alicia wriggled under her warm sheets. What would it be like to have Rick right here in bed with her? To run her fingertips over his hard chest or through his silky dark hair?

She had no idea what that would be like, and if Alex learned about Rick, she wouldn’t get a chance to find out.

“Trust me on this. It’s better if he doesn’t know about you. Why are you calling me in the middle of the night, anyway? To torment me with the sound of your sexy voice?”

She smiled in the privacy of darkness. She’d never met a man she felt so comfortable around. With Rick, she could relax enough to tease and flirt. To just…be herself.

“Actually, I was calling to see if you’re okay. I’m watching TV and there’s breaking coverage of a big fire in Somerset right now. It’s hard to tell what’s going on in the dark but it almost looks like El Diablo.”

“What?” Alicia wondered if she was dreaming. “Our ranch is fine.”

Still, fear pricked through her and she slid out of bed onto the cool wood floor. “Hold on, let me look out the window.” She hurried across the room and pulled back the thick curtains.

“Oh, my God.” Her hand flew to her mouth. An orange glow pierced the darkness.

The flashing lights of emergency vehicles moved along the drive through the ranch, and even through the insulated glass she heard the throb of a helicopter circling overhead.

“It’s on fire! The barn! Oh, no, the animals are in there—” She darted across the dark room to the closet.

“I’m coming over.”

“No, please don’t.” Panic flashed through her as she tugged on jeans under her nightshirt. “Whatever’s going on, you coming here will make it worse. I have to find Alex. The calves…” She struggled to pull on a pair of boots. “I’ve got to go.”

“Please, let me come.”

“No, Rick. Not now. I’ll call you as soon as I can.” She hung up the phone.

“Alex!” She called out into the hallway of the big ranch house.

A light shone downstairs, and Alex’s bedroom door stood open. “Alex, are you here?”

No answer.

She dashed down the stairs two at a time and ran to the front door. She opened it to the smell of smoke and the wail of sirens.

A mass of heaving flame engulfed the barn roof and lit the darkness all the way to the house. “Alex!”

Alicia took off running across the lawn that separated the house from the barn. She could see figures moving, running in the eerie glow from the fire. Shouting mingled with the roar of flames crackling, wood splintering and water gushing from hoses.

“Alex, where are you?” Fear made her voice crack.

Alex was always at the center of everything. She knew with every cell of her body that he was inside that burning barn.

Heart pounding, she raced toward the fire. He might be bossy and overbearing, but he was also the best brother and the warmest, most caring man in the world.

He’d raised her since their parents died and managed to scrape and struggle to provide a good life for them—a wonderful life, now that he was so successful.

A figure rushed up to her in the dark and she recognized one of the ranch hands. “Diego, have you seen Alex?”

“He sent me to wake you. He said to make sure you stay inside the house until he comes.”

“He’s okay?”

Diego hesitated. “He’s trying to rescue the calves.”

“Oh, no! I knew he was in there. We have to get him out.” She started running to the barn.

Diego grabbed her sleeve. “Miss Alicia, please. Alex wouldn’t want you near the fire.”

“I don’t care what that stubborn fool wants. I’ve got to get him out of there.”

She wrenched her arm free and took off running again. She wasn’t the Our Lady of Fatima senior track champion for nothing.

She heard Diego behind her, pleading for her to stop, protesting that Alex had personally entrusted him with her safety and that if he found out—

“There he is!” She saw him emerge from the vast doorway on one side of the barn, driving a herd of calves in front of him.

The young cows were confused and ran in all directions—even trying to get back into the burning barn—as the workers tried to shove them out into the safety of the darkness.

Alicia ran into their midst and grabbed hold of the collar of the calf nearest her. “Come on, princess, you don’t want to go back in there.” She tugged it away from the doorway.

The hot glow of flame brightened the inside of the barn and seared her skin like noonday sun. Cinders whirled in the smoky air, and ash pricked at her eyes. Every instinct told her to run far, far away.

But she turned to see Alex heading back inside. She gave the calf a slap on the rump to drive it out and plunged for the doorway, toward Alex.

“Alejandro Montoya! You get out of that burning barn or I’ll—”

Alex wheeled around. “Alicia, you shouldn’t be here. I told Diego—”

“I know what you told Diego, but I’m here now and you need to get out of this barn before the roof collapses. The whole ridgeline is on fire!”

He frowned and glanced back into the barn. “I’ll just check to make sure they’re all out.”

“No!” She grabbed the front of his shirt. His face was almost black with soot but his dark eyes gleamed with purpose.

Desperation made tears spring to her eyes. “Don’t risk your life!”

“We’ve got them all out!” A voice shouted from the darkness. “I counted. All forty-five calves are safe.”

“Thank God.” Alex grabbed Alicia and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift that knocked the breath from her lungs.

Alicia fought the urge to kick and protest his overbearing reaction. But he was running from the barn, so at least she’d got him heading in the right direction.

“You need to get back in the house and stay there until I come for you!” he shouted as he set her down on her feet a safe distance from the barn.

“I’m not a child, Alex. I can help.”

“Nothing’s going to help save the barn.” Alex winced as a sidewall gave way and the roof started to lean to one side, like a ship keeling over in rough seas.

“It was here before the house. It’s over a hundred years old. It’s been home and shelter to thousands of animals, and now…” He shook his head.

Alicia bit her lip. She knew how much every inch of this ranch meant to her brother. He’d sweated and saved and worked so hard for it.

Buying El Diablo had been a crowning moment in both of their lives. The proof that despite all the odds stacked against them, they’d made it and were going to be fine.

She looked back at the barn, now a heaving mass of bright flame. “What happened?”

“We don’t know. The fire came out of nowhere. Thank heaven we have smoke alarms that woke Dave and Manny in the apartment above it. They called the fire department, but the building was already going up by the time the first truck arrived.”

A tall man strode toward them. Reflected flames illuminated his police badge and the handcuffs glinting at his waist.

“This way, please.” He gestured to the driveway where a host of different emergency vehicles winked and flashed their lights in the orange half-light. “We need you all in one place.”

“I’m the owner,” Alex said. “I need to protect my animals.”

The tall policeman squared his shoulders. “Everyone must be interviewed for the investigation.”

“What do you mean, investigation?” Alicia squinted through the firelit darkness.

“It’s early yet, but the fire marshal thinks this fire was deliberately set. They found empty gas containers near where the blaze started.”

Alicia bit her lip. Who would do this?

Alex stood up for himself, and as a result he’d made some enemies, but who could hate him—or her—enough to destroy the ranch?

“Arson?” Alex’s voice rumbled like a train. “If I find out who did it I’ll—”

“Please, sir. Come this way. We have to take a statement from everyone, and I need your cooperation.”

Alex blew out a snort of disgust and took Alicia’s hand. “Whoever did this will pay.”

She kept her mouth shut. No use arguing with him at a time like this. Better to get him out of danger and focus on getting through this awful night.

They picked their way across the grass. An ember landed on Alex’s shirt and Alicia slapped it out with her palm.

A strange thought occurred to her. “Didn’t Lance Brody’s place have a fire recently?”

“There was a blaze at Brody Oil and Gas, yes. That swine had the nerve to accuse me of setting it. As if I would stoop to something like that.” He clucked his tongue.

She frowned. “If Lance Brody really thinks you burned his building, could he have done this as revenge?”

She could tell by the look on Alex’s face that he’d already thought of this. The rivalry between Alex and Lance Brody went back all the way to Maverick High School, where they’d jostled for position on the soccer team. The last thing she needed was to fan the flames of that rivalry.

“I’m sure it wasn’t him.” She waved her hand in the smoky air. “I don’t know why I just said that. Why would a successful businessman get involved in a criminal act?”

“They have paid flunkeys to do their dirty work,” Alex growled. “I wouldn’t put anything past Lance Brody, or his brother, Mitch. I’ve been a burr under their saddles for years. Maybe this is their way of trying to push me out of town.”

He turned to the barn, where the roof had now collapsed and flames licked out of the hayloft windows.

His eyes flashed with a mix of anger and pain. “But no one’s going to run me off El Diablo, and whoever did this will regret the day they were born.”

At lunch the next day, Alex paced back and forth across the dining room at the ranch, his burger growing cold on the plate.

“Alicia, it’s not safe for you here right now. If someone’s out to get me, who knows what they’ll try next. You can stay with El Gato.”

Alicia looked up from her plate as goose bumps spread over her skin. “I’ll be fine here. Besides, you need someone to look after you.”

She pointed to his plate with her best schoolmarm expression. “Eat your food.”

“I’m serious, ‘Manita. It’s not safe.”

“Staying with Paul ‘El Gato’ Rodriquez is what’s not safe. I know you won’t hear a word against him, but everyone knows he’s involved in drug trafficking.”

Alex grunted as he slid into his chair. “They just don’t like to see a Latino make a lot of money. You’d be shocked if you knew how many people think I’m involved with drugs or guns or something. They don’t think we can make money the old-fashioned way like they do.”

He took a bite of his hamburger. “That’s why joining the Texas Cattleman’s Club was such a big deal for me. When I’m there, I’m one of them, a member of the club. They have to smile at me and act polite, even if they’d really prefer to see me hang.” He grinned. “I love that.”

Alicia hated the way her brother still felt like an outsider, even now that he was one of the richest men in the area.

“You were accepted into the Texas Cattleman’s Club because you’re a man of honor and an upstanding member of Somerset society. You are one of them.”

“That’s one of the many reasons why I love you, sis. You have such great faith in the human spirit.” He winked as he took a sip of soda. “But you’re still not staying here. El Gato can protect you from anything.”

“I’m sure he can. He’s probably got nine millimeters stashed in the trunk of his car, but frankly that kind of ‘protection’ makes me nervous.”

“He’s one of us. When the going gets tough, sometimes it’s better to stick with your own.”

“I don’t consider a suspected criminal to be one of ‘my own’ in any way.”

“You know what I mean. When you come from the barrio, you see the world a little differently.”

“You’re talking as if I didn’t grow up in the same house as you.” Alicia bristled. She hated when her brother treated her like a kid. “I was there, too, remember? I know what hard times are like, and I’m more than glad to have left them behind. You need to get rid of that chip on your shoulder,” she said, still trying to figure out how to change Alex’s mind. “I could go stay with one of the neighbors.”

Alex narrowed his eyes. “I don’t trust those people. Not right now.”

“How about Maria Nunez? You’ve known her as long as I have. You let me sleep over at her house when we were in school. I’m sure she won’t mind me staying a few nights.”

He grunted. “I always suspected that Maria of having a wild streak. Still, her parents are good people. Does she live at home?”

Alicia laughed. “No. She’s twenty-six years old, remember? She has an apartment in Bellaire. Very safe area.”

“If she’s not married, she should be at home with her family.” Alex took a swig of coffee.

“It’s not the nineteenth century anymore, Alex. Deal with it. I’ll call her right away. If she says no, then I’ll go to El Gato, okay?”

The lie tingled on her tongue for a second, since she had no intention of going anywhere near Paul Rodriquez and his crew of scary henchmen, even if he was Alex’s oldest friend.

Alex clucked with disapproval. “Stubborn.”

“Sensible.” She smiled sweetly. “You know I am. Don’t you trust me?”

Her heart fluttered as she realized he had every reason not to.

“All right, you can stay with Maria. You are sensible, and I’m very proud of you. I love you like crazy, ‘Manita, you know that?”

“I do, and I love you, too, you big bear of a brother.” She rounded the table and gave him a kiss on his thick head of hair before going upstairs, heart pounding.

Alicia closed her bedroom door carefully before picking up her phone.

She hadn’t even dared add Rick’s number to her favorites, in case Alex happened to pick up her phone and notice a new number there among her old friends from school.

Anticipation mingled with anxiety made her fingers twitchy as she dialed.

It rang only once.

“Hey, beautiful.” That soft, seductive voice.

A smile spread over her face. “What if I’m not looking at all beautiful right now?”

“Impossible. You can’t help it,” he said, making her feel warm all over. “I saw on the news they put the fire out and that no one was hurt. What a relief.”

“Tell me about it. We rescued every single calf, only a few scrapes and cuts on them. The barn is gone, though. Nothing left but soggy blackened wood. And there was a six-month supply of good hay in there that we’d put up for the winter.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it was insured.”

“It was, but the barn is irreplaceable. It was one of the first buildings in Somerset. A true historic landmark. I was hoping to get it preservation status, but I guess I can forget about that now.” She sighed. “It could have been much worse. If the wind was blowing harder, the house could have caught fire.”

“I wish I were there to give you a hug.”

“Trust me, I could really use one.”

“Then since you won’t let me set foot on El Diablo, you’re going to have to come here to get one.”

Adrenaline flashed through Alicia. How could she ask this delicately? Or even indelicately? “Can I spend the night with you?”

A beat of silence made her pulse throb, but it was followed by a rushed, “Of course.” His enthusiasm almost made her laugh.

“Wow, that sounded bad, didn’t it? It’s just that Alex doesn’t think it’s safe for me to stay here. The police think the fire was set deliberately and he’s worried the arsonist will come back to finish the job. He wants me to go stay with an old school friend of his, but I don’t like the guy.”

“I don’t want you near any guy except me. And in case you didn’t know, my suite at the Omni has four bedrooms.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Not even a little. Pack your bags and come on over.”

“My car was parked behind the barn. It pretty much melted.”

“No sweat, I’ll come get you.” She could almost hear him panting like an excited puppy.

She smiled. “I don’t think so. If Alex sees your car, it’ll ruin everything. I’ll ask him to drive me to the Texas Cattleman’s Club. That way he won’t suspect anything and you can pick me up there. I could be there by four this afternoon.”

“I’ll meet you outside.”

Alicia frowned. It might be nice to hang out at the club a while. She wouldn’t mind showing her new beau off to her friends. But maybe he’d just want to get her bags back to his place.

Or get her back to his place.

A naughty smile snuck across her lips and her body tingled with anticipation. She’d be all alone with Rick in his hotel suite, and she had a feeling that tonight would be a night she’d never forget.

“Great, I’ll meet you by the front door. See you then.”

She hung up the phone, downright jumpy with excitement.

She’d recently bought some sexy lingerie at Sweet Nothings in anticipation of becoming more intimate with Rick. She had it hidden away in the back of her dresser drawer so Alex wouldn’t stumble across it while looking for something.

Now hopefully she’d finally get a chance to put it on—and watch Rick take it off.

Justin pressed the button to raise the roof on his Porsche convertible. He wasn’t sure Alicia would appreciate the wind in her hair.

Like every inch of her that he’d had the pleasure to see so far, her dark hair was silky smooth and perfectly groomed.

And he was looking forward to seeing a lot more of her now that he’d have her all to himself, in his suite, for days—and nights—on end.

He’d like to see desire flare in those big brown eyes, and run his eager hands all over her glowing olive skin.

A wicked grin spread across his face.

Then he wiped if off.

Cool your jets. First of all, Alicia was traumatized by the fire at the ranch she shared with her brother. She needed his support, not his hands pawing all over her.

Second, she had no idea who he really was.

He cursed and tapped his fingers impatiently on the wheel as he waited at a traffic light.

Why did he have to call himself Rick Jones when he met her?

Sure, he used the name often, but usually for making hotel reservations or when he met someone who had “gold digger” written all over her. There were definitely times when being Justin Dupree—of those Duprees—was a serious liability.

Once people knew he had more money than God, they treated him differently. And he was tired of the society press tailing him like a bloodhound, looking for more stories for their gossip columns. Thanks to them, he now had an embarrassing reputation as a playboy that was really only half-deserved.

Okay, maybe three-quarters. But that was all in the past.

He was thirty now and more settled. He wasn’t so excited about partying all night. Lately, he wanted to spend quality time getting to know a woman before he slept with her.

Take Alicia. How many dates had they been on? Maybe eight, and he still hadn’t slept with her.

Or even kissed her.

He blew out a breath. The light turned green and he honked his horn to get the car in front of him moving. Eight dates and not even a kiss on the lips? That was ridiculous. And he wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened, either.

There was something so perfect about Alicia, so pure and sweet and gentle, that he never quite felt right about asking her back to his place. She was the kind of girl you’d send flowers to, the kind whose parents you’d chat with when you picked her up at her house. The kind you’d buy a corsage for on prom night.

Except that they were both adults and her parents had been dead for years. Why did Alicia Montoya turn him from a hardened ladies’ man back into an eager and apprehensive schoolboy?

He wove through traffic on the beltway and took the exit for Somerset. Alicia Montoya was something else, and he didn’t mind waiting for the chance to weave his fingers into her soft hair.

“I’m not Rick Jones.” How hard was it to just say it?

One snag was that Alex knew him. He’d used the alias partly so he could ask Alicia about Alex and maybe dig up some useful information about him for Mitch and Lance Brody. If he actually did go to El Diablo, Alex would recognize him from the club.

And then there was Alicia herself.

Usually once he told a girl he was actually Justin Dupree, she laughed off the deception and fawned all over him, thrilled to be dating the notorious shipping heir instead of some regular guy.

Alicia though…

He let out a low whistle. He suspected she wouldn’t take the deception lightly. She’d gone to a convent school, for crying out loud. She carried white linen handkerchiefs in her purse. Her French-tipped fingernails did not look like they’d ever been anywhere Mother Superior wouldn’t approve of.

Did he really want to blow his chance of feeling those luscious, manicured nails rake down his back?

No. He didn’t. Which was why he wasn’t going to mention the little name issue just yet. He’d wait until the drama of the fire blew over. Until he’d held her in his arms and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

Until he’d made hot, wild love to her all night long.

Then he’d tell her.

Chapter Two

Alicia paced under the elegant awning outside the Texas Cattleman’s Club.

Bees buzzed around flowers blooming in the carved-stone planters. Sunlight glistened on the polished-marble walkway and flashed off the brass accents on the door as members came and went, waving hello and stopping to commiserate about the fire.

Alicia tried to act normal, as though she wasn’t about to embark on possibly the biggest “first” in her life.

She’d never spent the night at a man’s house before.

She’d never…

She’d never done a lot of things, and she hoped to rectify that, starting tonight.

The hushed sound of a powerful engine made her glance up. Rick pulled up in front of the awning and leaned out of the driver’s seat of his silver Porsche.

The sun shone in his tousled dark hair. “How do you manage to look more gorgeous every time I see you?” He cocked his head and fixed his bold blue eyes on hers.

Alicia blushed. She had gone to a little extra effort with her appearance today. She wanted everything to be perfect.

She gestured to her luggage. “I tried not to pack too much stuff. Just some clothes for work and a few casual things.”

Like the pretty lingerie she’d bought last week.

He stowed her bags in the trunk. Black tailored slacks clung to his powerful thighs and a well-cut polo shirt emphasized the width of his shoulders. Was it fair for a man to be so dangerously handsome?

She could hardly believe he was interested in her.

“Do you want to go in?” She gestured to the front door. Cara was inside and she’d love to see the look on her friend’s face when she got an eyeful of Rick.

Although she’d met him at the club, she wasn’t sure if he was a member. The couple of times she’d mentioned his name to friends, she’d drawn blank stares.

He hesitated and glanced at the double doors that led into the wood-paneled sanctuary. “I’d actually rather get back to the hotel. I have a business call coming. Nothing major, it won’t take long.”

“Oh, no problem. Let’s go then.” She tried not to let her disappointment show.

Of course he had business to conduct. She wasn’t exactly sure what he did, but judging from the car he drove and the fact that he had a four-bedroom suite at the Houston Omni, it must be pretty darn important. She couldn’t expect him to put his whole life on hold because she needed a place to stay.

At the Omni, the bellhop removed Alicia’s bags from the trunk and she felt strangely weightless as she watched them disappear across the glistening marble floor of the lobby.

No turning back now.

Not that she wanted to. Rick was so thoughtful and sweet. He squeezed her hand as they walked to the bank of elevators.

She squeezed back, trying not to let her nerves show. He had no idea this was new for her. That she’d never spent the night with a man before.

Or, in fact, ever had sex.

At age twenty-six.

How shocked would he be if he knew? At this point, it was such a humiliating secret, she even kept it from her girlfriends. Only Maria—who she’d stayed close to since high school—knew the terrible truth.

When Alicia had asked permission to use her as an alibi for her stay at Rick’s, Maria had been so excited she could barely get words out. “Who is he?” she asked. “Is he cute? I’ll only lie for you if you promise to go all the way!”

Alicia had laughed off Maria’s exhortations, but being a virgin at twenty-six was no laughing matter.

She flashed Rick a smile as he pressed the elevator button.

She wasn’t even quite sure how it had happened. One minute she was a teenager telling boys she wasn’t that kind of girl, the next she was looking in the mirror wondering where her so-called youth went.

Now she’d found the right man to finally initiate her into womanhood. Rick was perfect. Almost too perfect, in fact. She knew Alex would be suspicious of him.

But then Alex was suspicious of everyone.

“Be it ever so humble…” Rick winked as he slid the keycard into the lock.

“Oh, my.” Alicia’s jaw dropped as the door opened to an elegant interior, lush with fine fabrics and gleaming antiques. “This is a hotel room?”

“Not really. It’s more of a furnished apartment with all the amenities. Not too many apartment buildings come with room service, and with all the traveling I do, it’s nice to have everything taken care of.”

“I guess if you don’t have a wife to take care of you, a hotel staff is the next best thing.” She smiled, looking around the luxurious environment.

Rick’s silence made her turn.

Alicia bit her lip. A wife? What on earth was she thinking? Now he’d suspect her of auditioning for the role.

“And I guess you don’t have to worry about mowing your lawn.” She tried to push the conversation forward, to distract from her gaffe. “But you probably wouldn’t anyway.”

Duh! Rick Jones had probably never mowed a lawn in his life. Men who hung out at the Texas Cattleman’s Club had “people” for that.

She and Alex were probably the only members who weren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths. Another reminder that she was out of her element here in Rick’s luxurious penthouse.

“Which bedroom would you like? We’re on the corner so each one gives you a different view of the city.”

He ushered her into a large room with gold draperies, an elegant sleigh bed and a panoramic view west over the Galleria area.

“Gee, I don’t know if this is fancy enough for me.” Alicia grinned.

“I see what you mean. And really, the morning light is better from the east.”

He guided her out the door. Pleasure shivered through her at the feel of his hand at the base of her spine.

They entered a room with a large four-poster bed laden with embroidered pillows. Elegant white draperies fluttered slightly in the air-conditioner breeze. The view across the treetops of Memorial Park—all the way to the shimmering skyscrapers of downtown Houston—was breathtaking.

“Then again, sometimes it’s annoying being woken up too early.”

Gentle pressure from his palm sent heat snaking through her belly. She allowed him to ease her out the door.

The third bedroom had a Japanese flavor with willow-green draperies and images of cranes and lilies on the wall.

The bedpost and furniture were crafted from elegant bamboo. A bubbling fountain ornamented one corner of the bright space.

The view looked down on a wooded bend in the river—a strangely wild vista for this part of the world—and added to the impression of a lush retreat.

Alicia smiled. “Pretty! I like this one.”

“Make yourself at home. You can stay as long as you want. And I mean that quite literally. I have the suite reserved for the next two years.”

She laughed. How much money did this guy have? This suite probably cost ten thousand dollars a night. “Hopefully, my brother will let me come back home before then, but I appreciate the offer.”

Rick’s striking blue eyes fixed on hers. “Now, dinner. I usually have it sent up from the hotel restaurant, but we could go out if you prefer.”

“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.”

“If you insisted on me cooking it myself, I think we’d both be in trouble, but as long as professionals are involved, it’s no trouble at all.” A naughty dimple appeared in his left cheek. “Let me get you a menu.”

He slipped out of the room, leaving Alicia to catch her breath.

Her heart pounded under her pale-blue blouse and her high heels sank into the soft carpet.

Houston lay at her feet like a rug unfurled, the sun setting over the trees and rooftops casting a soft glow over the delicate furnishings of the lovely bedroom.

Tonight was the night. By tomorrow morning she’d be a woman in every sense of the word.

Rick appeared in the door with the menu, startling her out of her thoughts. “If you don’t like anything on the menu, we can talk to the chef. He’s a pretty cool guy. He knows I’m wild about lobster so he saves the best ones for me.”

“I love lobster.” Alicia looked up. “I always feel guilty eating something that can live so long, but they’re too delicious.”

“Done.” Rick snatched the menu from her fingertips, which tingled as his hand brushed against them. “And your visit here definitely calls for champagne.”

They ate in the suite’s formal dining room. Champagne sparkled in crystal flutes as candlelight illuminated the details in the wood-paneled walls, and cast shadows across the white, linen tablecloth.

The chef had prepared them an array of different sauces for the lobster and some creative and colorful salads.

The champagne tickled her nose and she was careful to take only the tiniest of sips so she wouldn’t get tipsy. She didn’t want to miss a single minute of tonight.

Rick leaned forward. “Does Alex have any suspects for the fire?”

Guilt speared Alicia as she realized she’d totally forgotten about Alex and the fire. “I don’t think so, but there was a suspicious fire at the Brody headquarters a while back and they had the nerve to blame Alex, so being a guy, he’s decided the Brodys might be responsible.”

For a moment, she thought she saw a shadow flit across Rick’s face. He picked up his glass and took a sip. “I’d think you’d be friends with the Brodys. They’re members of the Cattleman’s Club.”

“Yes, but Alex and Lance have this dumb rivalry dating back to high school. I’m glad it’s not medieval times or they’d be challenging each other to jousts. Typical macho silliness.”

“So, you don’t believe Lance Brody set the fire?” His expression was strangely serious.

“Of course not. Why would a successful businessman want to burn down our barn? That doesn’t make any sense at all.”

She hesitated. “Alex does have some enemies, though. No one who’d really want to hurt him, but he’s trodden on a few toes over the years.”

“Haven’t we all? It’s part of being successful.”

She sighed and nodded. “And he rose so far so fast, it put some people’s noses out of joint. Did you know Alex used to be the groundskeeper at the club?”

“You’re kidding me.” His look of genuine shock made her wonder if she shouldn’t have told him.

Did Alex want people reminded of his humble beginnings?

“Not for long. Just during part of high school and college. He used to mow the lawns after class. Once his import-export business took off, he quit and he’s never looked back.”

“I had no idea.” Rick raised a brow. “Alex sounds like quite a character.”

“He’s an amazing man.”

“And I guess he doesn’t think any guy is good enough for his baby sister.” A smile lifted one side of his mouth. “Is that why you won’t let me near the house?”

Alicia laughed. “He’s overprotective. It drives me nuts. I know he’s only like that because he cares about me, but come on—I’m twenty-six!”

He leveled a serious blue gaze at her. “Maybe you should get your own place.”

“Oh, I’ve thought about it, but as far as Alex is concerned, a girl doesn’t leave home until she goes to live with her husband.”

She blanched. Once again she’d managed to raise the specter of marriage. That spooked most guys right out of the room. “It’s a Mexican thing. We’re very traditional. You learn to work around it.”

At least some people did. Maria had lived on her own for three years.

Maybe I’m just the lamest wimp on earth.

She fished inside her lobster claw, hoping he’d change the subject.

Was he crazy to want an affair with Alicia? Alex Montoya was not someone to tangle with.

Lord knew he put enough distance between himself and his own interfering relatives. Did he really want to get involved with a woman whose brother hovered over her like a shadow?

Justin watched her probe into the red depths of her lobster claw like a surgeon with a scalpel.

She looked up. “What?”

“I’ve never seen someone eat a lobster with such meticulous precision.”

“I like to enjoy every delicious morsel.” She smiled and popped a tender piece into her mouth. Like everything else in Alicia’s world, her plate was perfectly ordered, not a lettuce leaf out of place.

“You’re very detail-oriented.”

“I’m a museum curator. We’re probably the most detail-oriented people on earth. Except maybe for mail-service workers. But at least we don’t have to worry about going postal.”

She shot him an infectious grin, then returned to surgery on her lobster.

“I didn’t know you were a curator. You must be very accomplished to hold that position at your age.”

He’d been impressed and intrigued when she told him she worked at the museum, but for some reason he’d assumed she gave tours or taught classes there. It didn’t occur to him she was running the show.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” A delicate blush darkened her cheeks. “I’m just passionate about my work. The Somerset Museum of Natural History was just getting started when I joined as an archivist. The original curator left for a job at the Smithsonian, and I kind of stepped into the role.”

“I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never been to the museum. What kinds of artifacts do you have?”

“It’s an interesting mix. Most of it came from a huge private collection started almost a century ago. Dinosaur bones, fossils, meteorites, that kind of thing. We have some Native American artifacts from a different private collection. My focus has been on objects unique to the Houston area, and in particular to Somerset. This region has some interesting history. People seem to forget that when they talk about knocking down old buildings to put up a strip mall.”

Justin’s ears pricked up. “You mean the redevelopment of downtown Somerset?”

“Exactly.” Alicia tossed her head, which made her thick dark hair swing over her shoulders, golden highlights sparkling in the candlelight. “That would be a travesty.”

Interesting. He’d heard rumors that Alex had blocked the redevelopment of a key area that could have meant a big windfall to a couple of club members, including Kevin Novak. “Wouldn’t redevelopment be good for the local economy?”

“That’s what some people say, but our downtown area is one of the most well-preserved main streets in Texas. The architectural style is unique. Come on, have you ever seen corbelling like the fascia of the old town hall?”

Justin laughed, impressed by her command of architecture. “I can honestly say I haven’t.” Longhorn cattle with brass horns jutted out beneath the metal roof of the grand old building—Texas-style gargoyles. “I admit the aspirations of the town’s founders were writ large in those buildings. It does have its own charm.”

Alicia nodded, passion shining in her dark eyes. “And that would all be lost if they were bulldozed to make way for more generic big-box stores. It’s like the stuff I see in my job. Once upon a time, that fossil was just another boring insect or fish or leaf. Now it’s the only one of its kind that’s survived to the present day. A unique glimpse into another time that enriches our understanding of the world around us and its history.”

“I’ve never heard that perspective before.” He frowned. “I suspect most people would rather have a dry cleaner closer to home or a Mega Mart where they can get cheap groceries.”

“I’m not saying those things aren’t important, but downtown Somerset is too special to let it be lost forever. There are plenty of bland, ugly buildings that can be torn down instead.” She flashed a wicked grin. “I’d be happy to give them some suggestions.”

“Maybe you should.”

Justin frowned. He was getting a very different impression of the Montoya family than the one he’d formed based on idle gossip.

He’d assumed her brother stood up to block the redevelopment because he had his own profit-making agenda for the area. Now it almost seemed like he’d stalled the new development to make his history-buff sister happy.

This was not the fearsome and dangerous Alex Montoya of local legend.

Justin sipped his wine and peered at Alicia through narrowed eyes. “What would you do with the downtown?”

“I’d love to see it become a tourist attraction. Some of the buildings are ideal for upscale retail, or for quaint bed-and-breakfast accommodation. I don’t think many people in the Houston area have any idea how beautiful Somerset is. It could become popular as a weekend getaway, and that would bring business and tax revenue to the town without destroying its unique charm.”

“I’d hire you to do that in a heartbeat.”

“Shame you can’t.” Her luscious lips turned into a smile that heated his blood. “Or can you?” Her brows lifted. “You haven’t told me what you do.”

Oh, I’m just heir to the largest shipping operation in the western hemisphere.

He wasn’t at all sure how she’d react. But if he told her, he’d also have to confess that he was Justin Dupree, not Rick Jones.

“Nothing very interesting. Pushing papers around.”

She cocked her head, which made her earrings sparkle in the candlelight. “Didn’t you have an important phone call to make?”

“A phone call?”

“At the club, you said you couldn’t stay because you had a phone call?”

“Oh, yes.”

His little white lie to explain why he couldn’t go inside. Once you started with this stuff it was hard to stop.

Still, he didn’t want anyone to greet him with a hearty “Hey, Justin” until he’d had a chance to dig himself out of this hole he’d gotten into.

“I forgot about that call. But no matter. The world will continue to turn on its axis.”

“I’m sorry to be a distraction. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

Her look of concern touched something inside him.

“You are the best distraction I’ve ever encountered and I’d face all kinds of trouble to spend an evening with you. Tell me more about the natural history of Somerset. Were there dinosaurs around here?”

The sparkle in her eyes made him lean forward so he could enjoy their glow. “Absolutely.”

Alicia was sure Rick’s eyes would glaze over when she told him about the dig she’d helped out on last summer. Instead, his interest seemed to deepen with each detail she revealed.

Those intense blue irises stayed fixed on hers as she described each bone they unearthed, and how they had preserved and stored them for reassembly at the museum.

If she wasn’t mistaken he seemed…fascinated.

The candlelight flickered over the hard planes of his handsome face while he asked intriguing questions and actually listened to her answers.

Which only increased the turmoil of excitement in her stomach. How could anyone be this wonderful?

He’d said he pushed papers for a living, but his tan suggested time spent outdoors and the athletic cut of his body belonged to a man of action. There was clearly more to discover about Rick Jones.

But everything she’d learned so far had her dangerously close to falling in love with the man.

Her dessert fork clinked against her glass as she set it down too hard.

They’d known each other less than three weeks. She had no intention of actually falling in love with him or anyone else. But you didn’t have to be in love to kiss.

Her mouth twitched at the prospect of pressing her lips to his. His mouth was wide, mobile, with a way of lifting slightly higher on one side than the other like he had a naughty secret.

“I have a secret.” His words took her by surprise, as if he’d spoken her thoughts aloud.

“You do?” Her pulse quickened.

“I had something made for you.” His blue eyes twinkled.

Alicia stared at him. “What?” She hoped it wasn’t freaky lingerie with slits in strange places. Maybe now she’d discover the dark side of Rick Jones. There had to be something horribly wrong with him, didn’t there?

Rick reached into his pocket, which really set her heart pounding.

Of course it’s not a ring, you idiot. He barely knows you. Stop watching so many old movies.

He pulled out a jewelry box.

He laughed at her expression. “Don’t panic. It doesn’t bite.” That wicked dimple deepened as he handed her the box over the remains of their pecan pie.

Alicia took it with shaking fingers and tried not to look like he’d just given her a stick of dynamite. She flipped the lid.

A single blue gem attached to a fine silver chain sparkled against white velvet. A bold five-pointed star shone through the glittering facets.

“Texas topaz! Oh, my goodness, it’s lovely.”

The sparkly stone was almost the same haunting blue as Rick’s eyes.

“I found the stone years ago on a trip into the Texas Hill country. The rock-hound friend I was with couldn’t believe I found a gem like this on my first try. I never knew what to do with it.”

He glanced down at the box in her hand. “When you told me you worked at the natural history museum, I knew I’d been saving it for you. I had it cut at a place downtown.”

“Julie’s Gems? Julie’s been my biggest supporter in saving the historic buildings.”

“That’s the place.” He grinned. “And I noticed you wear blue a lot. It kind of matches the dress you have on.”

Alicia tried not to melt into a puddle on the floor. “You are without a doubt the most thoughtful and generous man I’ve ever met.” She couldn’t keep emotion out of her voice. “It’s beautiful. Let me try it on.”

“I’ll help you.” He rose and rounded the table.

Alicia stood, smoothing out the skirt of the simple silk dress she’d changed into for dinner.

She did wear blue almost every day. It had always been her favorite color.

She lifted the single flawless gem out of its box and dangled it on the pretty chain. Pleasure and anticipation tingled through her as Rick moved behind her.

His spicy and intriguing scent wrapped around her, and she could feel the heat of his skin through their clothes. His fingertips brushed hers as he took the delicate necklace, and Alicia suppressed a shiver of delight.

He lifted the delicate chain around her neck and fastened the clasp.

“Let me see.” With a deft movement of his hands he spun her gently toward him. Their eyes met and a flash of something passed between them.

Pure lust, probably.

Not being experienced, Alicia couldn’t put a name to any of the sensations pouring through her.

Only inches separated her from Rick and as they stood facing each other, the space between them seemed to crackle with energy.

Rick held her gaze. “Magnificent.” His eyes rested not on the finely cut gem, but directly on hers, as if the compliment was intended for her rather than the jewel.

Alicia’s lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, she stared at Rick’s lips, issuing a silent invitation for them to join hers.

Their mouths met in an instant, lips crushing together as their arms slid around each other. Alicia heard a slight moan issue from her mouth as the warm, firm pressure of Rick’s kiss sent a wave of pleasure rippling to her toes.

Their tongues touched, tentative and gentle, asking a sensual question.

Rick’s broad hands closed around her waist, firm and steady. Her fingers reached up into his silky dark hair as their kiss deepened. Her breasts crushed against his chest, nipples hard with desire as he pulled her tighter into his embrace.

His thin polo shirt separated her from the taut muscle of his chest and suddenly she longed to strip off the layers of clothing between them. To feel his skin against hers.

Rick pulled his lips away slowly. The sensation hurt. She’d longed for this kiss and waited and hoped…And now it was over. But the ache of longing hadn’t diminished. It throbbed—stronger—deep inside her.

Alicia drew in a sharp breath. “Thank you.”

“For the kiss?” Rick tilted his head, bemused.

“For the necklace.” Heat rose up her neck. “But the kiss was lovely, too.”

And hopefully, just the beginning. Would he invite her into his room to spend the night? She hoped so, but how could she make that clear without being forward?

She’d spent so much time trying to keep boys’ hands away from anything below her neck that she had no idea how to encourage Rick in that direction now that she was ready.

“It’s late,” Rick murmured.

“Yes.” Hope flared in her heart.

They stood, arms entwined, lips inches apart. In her high heels she was almost his height, and if she dared she could reach up and kiss him again right now.

“I think we should go to bed.” Rick’s eyes glittered like sapphires.

“Oh, yes,” breathed Alicia. “I agree.” Her belly contracted with excitement.

“Let me show you to your room.”

She tried to keep a goofy grin off her face as they walked across the candlelit living room and into the hallway that led to her room.

Rick’s hand at her waist guided her gently, sending awareness trickling along her nerves. The rough silk of her dress chafed against her nipples even through the expensive bra she’d worn.

Tonight’s the night.

Alicia tried to keep her breathing steady as he opened the door and ushered her inside.

She’d left the room spotless and perfectly organized—just in case. No makeup scattered on the dressing table or pantyhose spread over the chairs. She’d even turned the sheets back and opened a sachet of lavender into a little dish to add a fresh, floral scent.

She shuddered slightly as Rick pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers. She rubbed against him, startled and thrilled by the hard length in his pants. Heat flooded her limbs and she wondered if it would be indecent to start unbuckling his belt while she still had control of her fingers.

But he pulled back and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “Sleep tight, my beauty. I’ll see you in the morning.”

As the door closed behind him, Alicia fought the urge to scream with frustration.

What’s wrong with me?