The Maverick's Virgin Mistress (Texas Cattlemans Club: Maverick County Millionaire Book 5) Read online

  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.