Going to the Chapel Read online

  “Not sure, but he likes you. Now slide off that horse and visit with us.” Sam scratched the dog between his ears and he quieted. This guy’s much better today, even though he’s not putting hardly any weight on his foot yet. He did, however, chow down on his food this morning. Didn’t you, buddy?”

  Claire slid to the ground, and the dog limped up to her, tail wagging. Both the dog and Sam looked happy to see her, and she smiled as she patted the shepherd’s shoulder. “So I’m not disturbing you? I don’t want to intrude.”

  “Of course you’re not disturbing me. At least not in the way you think,” he teased.

  Sam wrapped the horse’s reins around a tree branch then took her elbow and led her over to a big rock. The dog stayed at her side. “Let’s sit,” he suggested. “I’ve been on my feet all day.”

  “Yet you’re still whistling,” she couldn’t help but say, glad he hadn’t asked her to go inside the chapel. She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to go back into that chapel, beautiful or not. “I liked the tune you were whistling,” she said, still feeling awkward. “But I didn’t recognize the song.”

  “That’s because it’s something I made up.”

  She widened her eyes. “I’m impressed. Are there words to it?”

  “A few.” He shrugged. “It’s what I do when I’m working alone and forget my radio.”

  The dog nudged her hand and she hugged him around the neck. “Have you named him yet?”

  “Nope. Waiting to see what happens. Hank found the culprit who set the trap. A couple of teenage boys trying to catch a rabbit. Or so they said.”

  “That’s horrible.”

  “I have a feeling Hank scared them enough to keep them off his land.” He grinned at her. “You showing up here is a nice surprise.”

  “I...I was curious who was whistling, so I rode close enough to hear better.” It wasn’t an out-and-out lie. She had definitely been curious.

  He cocked his head, his green eyes all but dancing. “Well, aren’t you easy to lure in.” She licked her lips as nerves sizzled through her. His gaze lighted on her mouth before shifting back to her eyes. “I gave in to Ashley this morning,” he said. “Committed to her silly auction. Looks like you’re going to have to learn how to bid,” he added, nudging her with his shoulder.

  “Looks like. I saw Ashley earlier. She breezed in to join her mom and my sister and me for cookies and tea.”

  “Did you bring me a cookie?”

  “I didn’t know I’d be seeing you.” Oh, but she’d hoped she would. And now here she was staring at the man of her morning fantasies and practically struck mute. A slight breeze ruffled his light brown hair. “I’m sure there are some left. Or not. Jillian was wolfing them down pretty fast.”

  “Jillian?”

  “My pregnant sister who eats a lot these days.”

  He smiled, then motioned to the dog, who had settled at her feet. “Traitor. That should be his name if his owner doesn’t turn up, and I end up keeping him.”

  Claire leaned down and stroked the dog’s head. “The dogs we had growing up were small. The one I remember the best was a tri-colored Corgi. She went everywhere with us kids, but Justin was her favorite.” She let her fingers comb through the shepherd’s fur. “This is my first time to be the favorite,” she teased.

  His green eyes rounded. “I find that hard to believe.”

  She pulled in a deep breath and inadvertently filled her senses with his scent—male, wood shavings and something else she couldn’t quite pinpoint. She let out her breath on a sigh. “You smell good.”

  “Yeah, well you must smell better than me, at least as far as the big brute here is concerned. But let me check.” He leaned close, his face almost touching her neck and pulled in a deep breath. “Yep. You definitely win the smell contest.”

  Now she couldn’t catch her breath, let alone pull in another deep breath of this flat-out sexy man. In fact, she couldn’t seem to move, and she was glad she had a coat on, so he couldn’t see her runaway heart beating against her chest like a frightened bird. She shifted her gaze to the snow-covered field, afraid to look at Sam.

  He hooked a finger under her chin and turned her face back toward him. His full lips tilted up. “You ever won a smelling contest before?”

  Laughter burst out of her, and she felt some of her tension dissipate. Sam watched, a grin on his face, his hand still cradling her chin, and oh how she wanted him to kiss her. Wanted to know what it would feel like to be kissed by someone who made every cell in her body spark to life. This must be what her sister had been talking about. She’d never felt like this before, and it was totally intoxicating.

  His gaze coasted over her face and her nerves returned with a vengeance. Suddenly she wasn’t at all sure she was ready for this man. He dropped his hand and she edged back for some much-needed distance.

  “So how does the name Brutus sound to you? For the dog,” he added when she sat mute.

  “Good,” she croaked. “I hope you get to keep him. I’d really enjoy walking him from time to time.”

  “You going to let me follow along? I’m pretty well behaved.”

  He was perfectly well behaved as far as she was concerned. “Ashley says you’re hot and everyone will bid on you at the auction,” she blurted out.

  He laughed. “Ashley wants to make money on this project, so she’s a bit over-zealous.”

  Claire cocked her head and smiled, delighted when he grinned back at her. Maybe she hadn’t totally blown this. “Somehow I think Ashley knows what she’s talking about,” she said with a playful smile, relaxing into the fun of flirting even though it was pretty foreign to her. She playfully squeezed his bicep—his rock-hard bicep. “Yep. I’d say Ashley definitely knows what she’s talking about.”

  Smiling, he stood and pulled her to her feet. “Since you might end up spending a fortune to have a date with me, how about you come by tomorrow before you head back to Nashville and walk the dog with me? I’m just up the road about half a mile from here. Fourth house on the left as you’re heading back to Nashville.”

  Claire’s mouth went dry. “You won’t be here working?”

  “Not if you’re stopping by.”

  Her earlier onslaught of nerves roared back to life. “I’ll try, but give me your number is case I can’t make it.”

  He pulled his brows together, then got his wallet out of his back pocket, took out a business card and handed it to her.

  God, she was an idiot. A spineless idiot. “Thanks,” she said as she tucked the card into the pocket of her jeans. “I really will try and get by.”

  “I don’t bite, Claire.”

  She stared down at her hands. “I’m sure you don’t. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

  He took her hand. “You want references?” he asked, pulling her a step closer.

  She smiled. “You’re good at that.”

  “At what?”

  “Making me feel better. Of course I don’t want references. You’ve already been endorsed by Ashley as the guy at the auction who will bring in the big bucks.”

  He scowled. “Not sure that’s much of an endorsement.”

  Claire smiled. “I really like Ashley. I wish I had her exuberance for life.”

  He studied her face. “It’s a rough time for you now. No one expects you to be the life of the party.”

  “I’ve never been the life of the party, Sam. I tend to be a quiet observer. The breakup with Chris hasn’t helped that, but I’m trying.”

  “I shouldn’t have teased you into bidding on me,” he said with a frown.

  “No. I needed the nudge. It will be good for me to get out.”

  Sam took her hand, and it felt so right. “You still want him?”

  She pursed her lips, trying to decide what to say. “Old habits die hard,” she finally admitted. “I’m starting to realize how much was missing in our relationship.” Holding hands with Sam McGinnis was helping her with that realization.

  “Yo
u deserve the best, Claire. I barely know you, but I know that.”

  She surprised herself by leaning into him. “Thank you.” They stood in silence, Sam still holding her hand, and Claire surprised herself by not pulling hers free. “Chris was a good friend,” she found herself saying, “but I’m starting to admit there were aspects of the relationship that were disappointing. No relationship is perfect; I know that but still…” She trailed off.

  Sam squeezed her hand. “Everyone has their needs in a relationship. Sounds like maybe yours weren’t met.”

  She blinked rapidly to stem her tears. “It was minor,” she responded, trying to convince herself.

  Sam didn’t say anything, and she was grateful. She cast him a quick glance, and saw him watching her. “I’m all ears if you want to talk about it,” he said softly.

  She shook her head. “That’s brave of you, but really it was nothing.” He arched his brows and waited. She looked away remembering. “He never brought me flowers in over ten years, and he knew I loved roses.”

  “I already don’t like him,” Sam muttered.

  Claire’s heart expanded with gratitude, spurring her to make another admission. “When we were in junior high, I wanted him to carve our initials in a tree where we always met. He refused. Said that was ridiculous.”

  “Now I really don’t like him.” Sam grinned at her and she grinned back. “Guess he’s not the romantic type,” Sam said, raising her hand to his lips and kissing her palm.

  Claire felt as if her entire body lit up with twinkling stars. “I gather you are the romantic type.”

  “You gather right.”

  She smiled at him and their gazes locked. She finally broke the contact. Still holding her hand, he led her back to her horse. “What do you think of the name Brutus?”

  “He’s pretty sweet for a Brutus, but it does seem to fit.”

  Sam nodded. “Brutus it is.”

  As soon as she was settled in the saddle, the dog began to whine. Sam glanced down. “Don’t make a fool of yourself, Brutus. It’s not manly.” Claire laughed, and Sam squeezed her thigh then stepped back.

  Claire forced herself to turn Majesty toward the ranch before she did something totally foolish, like slide off this mare and into the arms of a man she barely knew. But a man who made her feel things no one had ever made her feel. She now knew for certain there was some truth to what Chris had said when he’d broken things off with her. Oh how she yearned to experience the excitement and romance she’d never had with Chris. Just think of being with a man as sexy and handsome as Sam had her kicking Majesty into a lope and heading back to safety, before she got herself in a situation that she wasn’t at all sure she was ready to handle.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Sam sat in his truck watching women swarm into the Richardson barn like bees after honey, and wondered for about the hundredth time what the hell he’d been thinking when he’d agreed to be auctioned off at this shindig.

  He sure hoped Claire showed up to bid, but he figured there was a good chance she’d be a no-show. She’d come by his place a couple of weeks ago on her way back to Nashville, and they’d walked the dog and had a nice visit, but she’d definitely been guarded. He’d thought about calling her plenty of times since then, but had decided against it. She certainly didn’t need any pressure, and he certainly didn’t need to rescue her—something he tended to do.

  Thank God he was experienced enough to know that rescuing this woman would not be a smart thing do to. One minute Claire Coleman was warm and inviting. The next minute, cool and a hair’s breadth away from flat-out standoffish. He figured it had to do with the recent breakup with her fiancé, and he certainly couldn’t blame her for having mixed feelings about possibly getting involved with him, which left him no idea how to act with her. He should probably cool it, but the woman got to him in a big way. Still, he’d better get a grip and go slow, because this filly was skittish as hell, and he’d be smart to step back and take about a hundred deep breaths.

  Cursing himself for ever volunteering for tonight’s ordeal, he got out of his truck and headed into the fray of loud talking and even louder music. There were several couples on the dance floor doing the cowboy cha cha. He watched them for a few minutes, enjoying the smooth and graceful steps to the dance. If he did nothing else tonight, he planned on dancing. It had been too long since he’d twirled a pretty woman around a dance floor.

  He stepped farther into the barn and Ashley pounced. “Sam! I’m so glad you came. I was scared you’d back out on me.”

  “It crossed my mind,” he admitted.

  She scowled and handed him a beer. “Drink up and mingle.” Grinning, she stepped around him to greet someone else. Good Lord, did the woman know everyone within a fifty-mile-radius?

  He glanced around the barn, which was barely recognizable decked out with a shiny, wooden dance floor, long tables of food, a bar in one corner, and Valentine decorations hanging from beams in the ceiling and scattered over the tables. He felt a touch on his arm and turned, almost running smack into Claire.

  She gasped, her blue eyes wide. God, she was gorgeous. The lady was classy and sexy, and he’d bet money she didn’t even know it. “You been practicing your bidding?” he asked, forcing himself to keep his hands to himself.

  “You might want to give me a quick lesson.”

  He took her elbow in spite of his best intentions. “First you need your paddle with your number on it.”

  “Paddles have numbers?” She arched her brows. “Why? So you’ll know how many swats you get?”

  He grinned. “I’ve been waiting for the real you to appear.” The glee he saw in her face had him laughing, and he reminded himself she wasn’t ready for anything but friendship. “Let’s go get your number.” He watched her march up to a woman behind a table and sign up for her paddle, grinning like she was having the time of her life, which surprised him, since he’d expected her to be shy and withdrawn tonight.

  “So what makes you so happy this evening?” he asked when she returned, paddle in hand.

  “Ashley and I have been drinking wine,” she answered with a giggle. “I needed a bit of encouragement.”

  Shaking his head, he leaned down until he his mouth was next to her velvet-smooth cheek. “Just try and remember who you’re bidding on,” he whispered, enjoying the light, flowery smell of her perfume.

  She giggled again and playfully swatted his chest. “I’m not drunk. I’m just not petrified.”

  He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his pounding heart. So much for playing it safe. “Glad to see you enjoying yourself. By the way, you look mighty fine tonight.”

  She glanced down at herself and shrugged. “The blouse is new. My sister talked me into it. Said it brought out my blue eyes.”

  “Remind me to thank her.” He let his gaze drop to the scooped neck that showed just a touch of cleavage. A tear-drop-diamond nestled at the blouse’s neckline. He lifted the sparkling jewel off her pale chest, the backs of his fingers brushing her soft skin. Her breath hitched and his heart skipped a beat. “Pretty. Did your sister talk you into this, too?”

  “No,” she said breathlessly. “I did that all by myself.” Their gazes locked, and he could swear he felt steam coming out of the top of his head. “If you were the one up for sale tonight, I’d mortgage the ranch to buy you.”

  Her smile widened and her skin flushed, but she kept those baby blues of hers locked on him.

  Someone slapped him on the shoulder. “Act like you’re for sale, not smitten with Claire.” Ashley grabbed Claire by the arm and pulled her away from him.

  “Let go of me.” Claire yanked her arm free. “I feel like flirting for the first time in years.”

  Now those were words to perk a man up, Sam thought, deciding it might be best for him to mosey off.

  Claire watched him go with a sigh. Ashley pointed a finger at her. “Flirt with him after hours—so to speak,” she added with a grin. “Seriously, Claire, we don’t want
every woman here to see how smitten the two of you are.”

  Claire shot another glance Sam’s way and decided he had a very nice butt. “I’m not smitten,” she denied, as she returned her gaze to Ashley. “And this is your fault. You shouldn’t have let me have two glasses of wine. I’m not used to drinking more than one glass.”

  Ashley laughed. “Obviously. We’ll have to work on that. Come with me and I’ll tell you how to bid. I see the ladies are swarming around your brother.”

  Claire looked for Justin, and rolled her eyes when she spotted him. “He dressed like a cowboy. He’s not, you know. He’s a city-slicker through and through.”

  “Keep that to yourself.” Ashley laughed at Claire’s scowl. “How much money are you willing to spend on that hunk of man you were about to gobble up a minute ago?”

  Claire pursed her lips. “Right now, as much as it’ll take.”

  “Good. I’ll put him up first before you have a chance to come down from your wine-induced high.” With a laugh, Ashley walked over to the table where women were still signing up to bid.

  Claire strolled over to her brother and grabbed his hand. “Having fun?”

  He pulled free of her grasp. “Women will think I’m taken if you latch onto me,” he said with a wink. “And what’s that loopy grin on your face for? You told me the other day how much you dreaded this.”

  “I changed my mind,” Claire said stiffly.

  Justin studied her with a scowl. “Whatever. Now go away. I see a hot red-head heading this direction.”

  Claire let out a huge sigh and sauntered off, only to be pulled onto the dance floor by Sam. “You know how to shuffle?”

  One more thing she didn’t know how to do. “I can follow,” she said, trying to sound confident.

  “Hold on, baby,” he said with a grin.

  And she did. Held on for dear life because they practically flew around the dance floor. She had to admit, she caught on pretty fast. Sam was an excellent leader, and it didn’t take her long to relax into the beat and his expert moves. By the time the song ended, she had it down pat and was sorry to see it end.