Going to the Chapel Read online

  The look on his face told her he wanted her as much as she wanted him, and knowing he also wanted to protect her, made her yearn for him something fierce.

  She dropped her gaze to his broad chest and reminded herself she only wanted to experience incredible sex with this man. Find out if making love could be as awesome as Jillian said. She closed her eyes and imagined her and Sam being intimate.

  He took her hand and led her to the side of the house under a huge oak tree. He leaned against it and pulled her close, and her curves fit perfectly against his body. She barely managed to hold in a groan. “You hear that music?” he asked, his breath skimming over her neck.

  “Yes.” She unzipped his coat and laid her cheek against his chest. “I also hear your heartbeat.”

  “It’s trying to keep up with the music.”

  “So’s mine.” Leaning back, she unbuttoned the first two buttons of her coat then took his hand and placed it over her heart, which did a triple beat against her ribs.

  His gaze locked on hers, and she was lost to all thought. He dipped his head and his lips grazed her cheek before he nibbled his way down her neck and then back up. Her breath caught in her throat and she moaned as his lips slid over hers, gentle as a summer breeze. She felt his lips curl into a smile and then his mouth captured hers, tasting and coaxing and making her forget everything but the feelings that danced through her and nudged all coherent thought out of her mind.

  He raised his head and it was all she could do not to beg him for more, but she somehow managed to not make a total fool of herself. “When you get nervous this week about our upcoming date, remember that kiss.” He ran his hands down her arms and clasped both her hands.

  “I won’t get nervous,” she said, hoping that was true. Lord knows, she wouldn’t forget his kiss. Ever.

  “Sure you will, but I hope you’ll think of our kiss and be excited enough not to run for cover.” Before she could respond, he walked her back into the barn. After taking her coat and tossing it onto a chair along with his, he led her onto the dance floor, and at that moment, there was nowhere else in the entire world Claire wanted to be except in Sam’s arms.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  After tossing and turning most of the night, Sam threw back his covers and sat on the edge of his bed, massaging his scalp. Groaning, he stood. Might as well rally and get some work done, because he sure wasn’t getting anymore sleep, not when he couldn’t quit thinking about Claire and how great she’d felt wrapped in his arms last night.

  The woman got under his skin something fierce, and he wasn’t sure why, which made him more than a little uncomfortable.

  Brutus walked over to him, no longer favoring his paw, and nudged his hand. The dog’s brown eyes looked soulful. “Don’t look at me like that.” Brutus whined and Sam scratched his head as he thought back over his evening with Claire. They had danced most of the night away and had a terrific time. And when the event was over, he’d given her a chaste kiss and left. It had been the hardest thing he’d ever done, but he wasn’t about to hurry things with this woman. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.

  He closed his eyes, letting himself remember their kiss last night.

  Yep. He was toast. If he and Claire came out here next weekend for riding and a picnic, they’d end up in bed. No way would he be able to resist her, so he hoped like hell she’d been honest when she’d told him she wasn’t looking for anything more than fun.

  Standing, he pulled on his jeans and chambray shirt, then made a pot of coffee and grabbed the bacon and eggs from the refrigerator.

  Brutus barked and Sam tossed him some raw bacon. “Spoiled already, aren’t you?” The dog barked again and Sam grinned. “I’m sure glad your lousy owners haven’t been found. You’re finally starting to look like more than a bag of bones.”

  Brutus cocked his head and whined, then headed to the back door. Sam opened it and the dog trotted outside, sniffing the ground. Shivering from the cold morning air, Sam quickly put on socks and boots before going back to the kitchen to eat. Before sitting down to eat, he saved some of his scrambled eggs for Brutus. He deserved them. The dog was good company, and Sam was grateful to have him.

  A scratch at the kitchen door let him know Brutus was ready for his breakfast. Sam scooped kibble into the dog’s bowl and tossed the leftover eggs in with it, then let the dog in, glad for his company. It would be a long week waiting to see Claire again, and he’d be smart to take advantage of the time to get his head on straight. He needed to proceed with caution even though the lady seemed to want him as much as he wanted her, but Sam knew she needed way more time to get over her ex-fiancé before getting involved, on any level, with another man.

  ****

  Claire put a couple of pancakes on her plate and headed for the dining room to join her dad and Dottie for breakfast. Her dad arched his brows as she approached, which she took to mean he’d heard about last night’s auction. “Don’t look at me like that,” Claire said, sitting at the table.

  “Like what?” he asked, taking a bite of biscuit. She narrowed her eyes on him, hoping to keep him quiet but no such luck. He swallowed his bite of food, his gaze still on her. “I heard my daughter, the whiz-accountant, bet a wad of money last night to win a date.”

  Claire took a sip of coffee, wincing as the hot liquid burned her tongue. “The money goes to a good cause,” she said defensively, slathering butter on her steaming pancakes and then adding maple syrup. She took a big bite and almost moaned.

  “It certainly does go for a good cause,” Dottie chimed in.

  Claire smiled, pleased to have Dottie in her corner. “Ashley did an admirable job getting us all to part with our hard-earned money. Did she get her persuasive ability from you, Dottie?”

  “Yes, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She raised over four thousand dollars last night. I’m going with her later this week to give a check to the SPCA. Hope I don’t see a cute little dog I can’t resist.”

  “That makes two of us,” her dad said.

  Dottie frowned. “Seriously?”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t had a dog since...” he hesitated. “Since the kids were young I guess.”

  “Then it’s time you had one,” Dottie proclaimed, giving Claire a wink.

  Her dad rolled his eyes. “I think I’m in over my head here.”

  “You think right, Dad. Dogs are great companions.” Claire took another bite of pancakes and thought of Sam and the shepherd he’d rescued. He was a good man. No doubt about it. She sighed as she remembered last night’s kiss and wished she didn’t have to wait a week to see him. He’d been right about her getting nervous—she already was—and she wondered if it might calm her nerves to see him before next weekend. Maybe they could meet somewhere for a drink.

  She smiled at the thought, but her smile quickly evaporated when her phone rang and she saw her brother’s number. News traveled fast. She should have known the red-haired lady wouldn’t keep her big mouth shut. “Don’t kill me,” she said by way of answering.

  “I hadn’t planned on it. Torture is more in order.”

  “You said she was hot. How was I to know you wouldn’t want to go out with her?”

  “She’s also a drunk, which clearly cuts down on the hot factor.”

  “Maybe she’ll be sober for your date.”

  He grunted. “I’m thinking of payback as we speak. I know I’m a total slut puppy in your mind, Claire, but I do have my standards, low as they are.”

  Claire laughed. “Have her meet you somewhere for dinner—somewhere you never hang out. Maybe you’ll get lucky and not see anyone you know.”

  “I should be so lucky,” he complained. “So tell me, sis. Why’d you want a date with that dude so bad? You’re fresh out of a relationship.”

  “Don’t lecture me, Justin. Sam and I are friends, and I’m ready to get out and have some fun. I’m tired of feeling sorry for myself.”

  Justin snorted. “From what I heard about him last nig
ht, you’ll be a lot worse off than ‘feeling sorry for yourself’ if you date that guy. Rumor has it he likes to love ‘em and leave ‘em.”

  “Perfect. Just what I need.” She hung up before Justin could respond and pushed away from the table, her breakfast no longer hot but barely touched. “Thanks for inviting me to join you all, Dottie, and good luck with finding a dog.”

  “I might need some luck by the look on your dad’s face,” Dottie said, standing. “I’m glad you and Ashley got to spend time together this weekend. I think I’ll have a family cookout soon. Your dad and I would love for our families to get to know one another.”

  “Indeed,” her dad added with a smile.

  Claire returned his smile, then stood and picked up her plate and empty coffee mug. “I like that idea, Dottie. Ashley’s a good influence on me. I hope to hang out with her some more.”

  Her dad walked over and gave her a hug. “Come back anytime, honey. Dottie and I spend quite a lot of time here. Besides, if Ashley’s the person who got you to come out to the ranch and have some fun, then she’s a good influence.”

  “That she is.” Claire kissed her dad on the cheek, then hurried to the kitchen with her dirty dishes. After rinsing them off, she went to her room and collected her luggage. She needed to get out of here and try and occupy her mind with something besides her upcoming date with Sam. It might be a week away, but she already felt like a swarm of butterflies had taken up residence in her stomach.

  She hurried to her room to gather her belongings. After double checking to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind, she rolled her suitcase down the hall and out the front door. Before she could put it in the backseat of her car, she heard her name and turned, knowing it was Sam by the deep timbre of his voice.

  “Leaving this early?”

  She couldn’t keep herself from running her gaze over him. Nobody wore a pair of jeans better than him. And he might have a coat on, but she knew only too well the broad chest hidden beneath it. “Yes,” she finally managed to say. “I need to stop by the office and do some catch-up before tomorrow.” At least that had been her intention before running into Sam. Lord but the man could cast a spell over her. Brutus stuck his nose in her hand, and she stooped down and gave his back and sides a good rub.

  “He just had his shots. He’s getting neutered on Wednesday,” Sam added with a shudder. “At first I said no way, but Hank was persistent, so...” His voice trailed off and he winced.

  Claire laughed. “Be brave, Sam. You’re not the one going under a knife. I guess this means he’s really yours.”

  Sam patted the dog’s shoulder. “Looks like it. Sure am glad he doesn’t know what’s coming up.”

  “I’m sure he can feel your nervousness.”

  Sam stepped closer and settled a hand on her waist. “Probably. Just like I can feel yours.”

  Claire tried to swallow but her mouth was too dry. “I’m only a little nervous. I’m mostly excited.” That was an out-and-out lie, but maybe if she said it enough, it would become true. Better yet, another kiss might quiet her fears.

  She laid her hand on Sam’s broad chest and stepped closer. “I think I need shoring up.”

  He arched a brow. “I can do that.” Before she could draw in a breath, he pulled her up against him, his lips coaxing her into submission as he tasted and teased, making her yearn for more. Much more.

  When he broke the kiss, she sighed. “I think that did the trick.”

  Grinning, he tucked her into her car. Before she could shut the door, he leaned inside and nuzzled her neck. “If you need more shoring up, give me a call.”

  Oh God, how could this man be so irresistible? He brushed his lips over hers, then pulled back. “See you soon.”

  It was all she could do not to grab his shirt, yank him back to her, and lay a big one on him. His eyes twinkled as if he’d read her mind. She sucked in much-needed air. Before she could regain enough brain power to respond, he straightened and shut the car door, a slight smile playing on that sensuous mouth of his.

  Forcing her gaze away from him, she turned her car on and drove down the drive, her mind whirling with visions of being with Sam. Could she really do this? Be with a man she barely knew? “Of course I can. I want him and he wants me,” she said to herself. She would go to his place next weekend even if her knees were knocking, and she was pretty darn sure they would be. After all, she’d only been with one man in her life, and, yes, it had been nice. But being with Sam would be much more than nice. It would be more like an earthquake that shook her to her very core and finally made her quit thinking so much and simply feel.

  Matter of fact, she’d force herself to quit thinking and worrying about this right now. She didn’t need any more shoring up. This man made her yearn for something she’d never had before, and she was ready to experience all that Sam McGinnis had to offer.

  ****

  Sam glanced at his watch. Claire should be here any minute and his nerves were on edge, which wasn’t at all like him. He patted the horse he’d just finished saddling on the rump, then started back toward the house, glad the day was sunny and warming up nicely.

  He was almost to the house, when Claire turned onto the long driveway. He headed toward her approaching car and waited, relieved she had actually come and more ready to see her than he cared to admit. She pulled up beside him and stepped out of the car, a radiant smile on her face.

  Damn, she looked good all decked out in tight jeans and a long-sleeve light blue shirt that brought out her blue eyes. He opened his arms and grabbed her up, swinging her around before setting her back down. “Good to see you. I was afraid you’d change your mind.”

  “Nope. Your shoring up did the trick. I decided to quit thinking so much and concentrate on more important things.”

  “Such as?”

  “Feeling.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him lightly. It was all he could do not to carry her into the house and straight to his bed.

  Grinning, he took her hand and led her around to the back deck. “I have cheese and crackers and wine—your new favorite drink,” he added with a wink. “It should help keep you in the ‘no thinking’ zone.”

  “Just don’t let me drink so much I fall off my horse.” She glanced toward the barn. “Looks like you’re ready to get started. Which one am I riding?”

  “The gelding is a bit calmer, but you choose. They’re both pretty reliable and you looked like you knew what you were doing when you rode out to see me at the chapel.”

  “I did not ride out to see you,” she denied.

  “Careful. You might bruise my ego.”

  She patted him on the arm. “Somehow I doubt I could bruise your ego.”

  He almost stopped dead in his tracks as the realization hit him that this woman actually had the power to do that. He shook off the uncomfortable feeling. “So where did you learn how to ride horses if you grew up in Nashville?” he asked, deliberately changing the subject. They stepped onto the deck and he motioned her to a chaise, then sank onto the one beside her.

  “I’ve been riding for years,” Claire answered as she settled in. “Mama was a country girl at heart. She had horses growing up, so she gave us all riding lessons when we were little and put us in equestrian camps during the summer. I’ve loved to ride since she took me to my first lesson when I was only five years old. It’s one of my best memories with her,” she added, a faraway look in her eyes.

  Hearing the sadness in her voice, made Sam want to comfort her. He took her hand and tucked it onto his lap. “I know you miss her.”

  Claire’s eyes teared. “Yes. We all do. She was a fabulous mother. Dad tells me I look a lot like her.”

  “Then she must have been a beautiful woman,” Sam said, rubbing a thumb over the top of her hand, which was graceful and feminine even though she wore no polish and had short nails.

  “Mama was not only beautiful but full of life.” She gave him a fleeting smile. “It’s weird seeing Daddy with another woman.
I’m happy for him, and I like Dottie, but it still feels a bit uncomfortable.”

  “Of course it does. Dottie’s a great lady, though. My guess is you’ll warm up to her pretty quickly and get comfortable with her before much longer.”

  Claire squeezed his hand. “You’re probably right. At least I hope you are. It’s not like I was a kid when I lost my mom. Makes me wonder how a young child ever handles losing a parent.”

  Sam’s gut tightened. “My dad left us when I was thirteen. He treated Mom horrible, and us kids not much better. Part of me was glad to see him go; the other part of me felt abandoned.”

  “Oh, Sam, I’m sorry. I had no idea. Someone had a good influence on you, though, because you turned out to be a great guy.”

  He shrugged, not sure he was all that great, but at least he was a helluva lot better than his dad. “Mother was very nurturing. Plus I have a wonderful aunt, and an uncle who took me under his wing and didn’t hesitate to let me know when I’d screwed up. It’s a good thing, because I went through a time when I was a total hellion. As much as that might shock you,” he added with a grin.

  “Actually it does kind of surprise me. You seem like a pretty upstanding guy.”

  “I straightened out. For the most part,” he added, ready to change the subject. “I’m really glad you came today, Claire. I thought about our date a lot this week.”

  “Me too.”

  He pulled the wine out of a bucket of ice, uncorked it and poured them each a glass. “To a great day,” he toasted.

  They each took a sip. “Yum. What is this? Claire asked.

  “Glad you like it. It’s Malbec. One of my favorites.” Standing, Sam pulled her to her feet. “My koi pond has some new additions coming any day. Let’s go check it out. See if those babies have popped out yet.” He led her down the deck steps and onto a stone path that circled the koi pond. As they approached, a group of goldfish swam out from under the small waterfall he’d built into the pond. “They’re used to me tossing in food,” he said with a chuckle as they swam through the lily pads and up to the edge of the pond by their feet.