Her Sweet Talkin' Man (11 page)

“And she told you about Ford and you came here
to make him feel a little of the humiliation your mother felt?”

“Something like that.”

“And then what?”

“Then I go. I'll be free of the whole Carson thing at last and forever. I can't stay, Crystal. I'm not a Carson, even if that's my name. I wasn't born to it. I don't want it to seem like I came here looking for a handout or acceptance.”

“That wasn't what I intended.”

“I know. You wanted me to have something finer, but that's not for me. I've spent a lot of my life alone. By choice. It's what works for me.”

“Ace, that's not right.” There was such sadness in her voice, he knew she was going to try again.

“Give up on me, Crystal.” He slid his hand beneath her ponytail and cupped the curve of her neck. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “It just won't work. You can't change things and make them right for me. And I'm fine as I am. I have all that I need.”

But as he moved from her, he knew that wasn't quite right. He was beginning to need her, need the way she made him feel, the way she made him think of someone other than himself.

Still, he couldn't use her. She was too precious, and she had that little boy. He wouldn't sacrifice either of them to the greed that lived inside him, the longings that had always gone unfulfilled. If he did, he'd be no better than the man who'd started it all.

“We'd both better get some sleep,” he said, then turned to move to the living room and his couch.

“Ace?”

He turned back. She caught him by the front of his shirt, pulled him down and placed her sweet lips on his.

He forced himself not to touch her, though the taste of her, the gentle butterfly movements of her mouth were making him crazy.

Finally it was either go insane or kiss her back. He wrapped his arms around her, bent her backward over his arm and drank deeply of her lips. One kiss. Two. Ten. He couldn't get enough from her, but he tried. And then when there wasn't enough breath left between them to sustain a bird, he set her back on her feet.

She stared up at him, her chest heaving, her hair tumbling over her shoulders in a soft tangle. “Your problem isn't that you're a wanna-be, Ace. It's that you have too darn much pride.”

He blinked. “So you kissed me because you're angry with me for having too much pride?”

She leaned in closer and rested her hands lightly on his chest. She gave him a listen-to-me-you-idiot-man look. “I kissed you because you make me crazy.”

And with that she turned to leave the room. Just before she walked out, she looked back over her shoulder. “And because I really, really wanted to. For the record, I knew both your brothers before they were married. They were handsome, very charming and very rich men, but I never wanted to kiss either of them.”

And she closed the door behind her with a click.

Need spiraled high in Ace, but he let her go. He forced himself to sit down on the couch. So she hadn't liked his half brothers well enough to be attracted to them? Interesting.

“Interesting, but not really relevant,” he whispered to himself. “She still wants you to reconcile with them. You still have to leave. So just ignore what the lady said.”

Like hell he would. He wanted to drive her crazy some more.

And drive himself crazy in the process.

The next time she kissed him, they would take it to the next level. At least he hoped so. He wanted to gaze down into those hazel eyes as he touched her. No woman had ever made him want that.

It was a new experience, but then, this entire trip and everything Crystal Bennett represented was a new experience for him. Might as well learn something new while he was still here.

M
aybe Ace didn't have to stay here on her couch anymore, Crystal thought the next day. He couldn't be comfortable, what with his feet hanging off the end and her trying to push him into relationships with his family he clearly didn't want. She wasn't even going to think about the kissing part. Not that she thought Ace minded that part. He was very good at kissing, and he seemed to like kissing her. But then, she was pretty sure he had liked kissing any number of women in his life. She was just the one he was kissing now.

“Remember that,” she said to herself. “Do not forget it.”

“Remember what?”

Crystal gasped and whirled around in her chair to find Fiona standing there. “I don't know. I don't remember. You startled it out of my mind.” Which was a complete lie, but she couldn't help it. She would not discuss her feelings for Ace with his half sister, a woman who was having her own struggles with Ace.

Fiona looked at her strangely, but then she shrugged. “Come on, come with me.”

Crystal shook her head and smiled. “You Carsons are bossy.”

“You knew that when you became my friend. You're just mad because you can't boss Ace around and make him like all of us.”

“Doesn't it bother you?”

“I haven't decided yet. We're still circling each other. It's a strange relationship, Crystal.”

No question about that. “Where do you want to go?”

Fiona perched on her desk. “Clay's working tonight. Let's take Timmy over to see Grace. She's been dying to spend some time with him, and then we'll go do girl stuff. Fun stuff. You could use a night out, and heaven knows I could.”

“I don't know. Timmy—”

Fiona knew about the teddy-bear thing. “Timmy couldn't be any safer with Grace than if you hired fifty secret-service agents. My father has good help and good security.”

That was true enough.

“I'm still not sure. Ace has been…helping me at my house.”

Fiona chuckled. “Ace has been staying at your house. He's the official watchdog. That means he watches for intruders and he probably watches himself, too, for the most part.”

“For the most part.” Crystal gasped. “How do you know so much?”

“I'm a Carson. I have ways.” She smiled slyly at Crystal. “Don't worry, we'll go check in with Ace, too. Any more objections?”

Just one. She wouldn't be with Ace tonight. The thought drifted in, along with a hefty dose of regret. It frightened her, the fact that she would start turning down time with friends in order to just look at the man, talk to the man, when there was clearly no way this could work. With Ace, it wouldn't be a matter of a man telling her he loved her, getting her pregnant and walking away. He wouldn't tell her he loved her, he wouldn't get her pregnant, but he would most definitely walk away.

That thought assaulted her. She couldn't get around it, couldn't escape it, so she took a deep breath and aimed to do the right thing. “All right, I'll go with you. Give me a second.”

Within a very short while she had delivered a happy Timmy into Grace's arms, and she and Fiona were driving down the highway en route to talk to Ace.

“We could have just called,” she said.

“And miss the chance to see what new event is going on over at Mission Creek Motors? Maybe it's old-movie night, or ballroom-dancing night. Do you believe that Ace had people dancing around all the cars?”

“I heard. He's been very good for Mission Creek Motors, hasn't he?”

“Better than very good, I'd say. Daddy's place looks like a tomb in comparison.”

Crystal felt a trace of sadness. “Has that upset him?”

Fiona shrugged. “Can't tell. He's not talking. Here we are.”

She parked and got out of the car, motioning for Crystal to follow her. But Crystal didn't need a signal. She could see Ace through the wide, plate-glass windows. He was smiling and talking to a customer, clearly enjoying himself. The customer, an elderly man, seemed to be having a good time, too. Crystal and Fiona pushed through the doors.

“So you think I'm not too old for red?” the white-haired man was saying.

“Do you feel too old for red?”

The man chuckled. “I feel like I'm twenty.”

“Well, then, why don't you take her for a spin? I'll get Bill to move it out of here.”

“Oh, I don't know.”

“You don't have to know. There's no charge for trying it, and why deny yourself a little fun? Go cruise the main drag and check out the women.”

“I'm married,” the man protested.

“Well, then, give her a treat. Stop and pick her up along the way. Take her out to some secluded place and remind her why she married you.”

“Ace.” Crystal couldn't help herself. The elderly man was a leader in the church community.

The man laughed. “Don't worry, I'm not offended. I love this guy,” he said, throwing his arm around Ace. “He makes me feel young, makes me think I still have possibilities. And I think I will give this little car a test drive. Send Bill on in,” he said.

“How can your father compete with that?” Crystal whispered to Fiona.

“He can't. And I don't think he wants to.”

Crystal gave her friend a confused look.

“He'd like to hire Ace,” Fiona said.

“Oh, that's never going to work. You know that Ace's mother worked for Ford. It would be a slap in the face for him to end up doing the same thing.”

“You can't deny that Ace has some great ideas. He's the consummate salesman.”

Crystal looked over at Ace and found him staring at her, sending her a speculative smile. As if her appearance was giving him wild ideas, sexy ideas. Was he eyeing the top buttons of her blouse? Her breath stopped, her heart sped up, her mouth went dry. In that moment, with that smile, he could have sold her anything.

“And Ace has the right idea,” Fiona said, looking around at the other cars in the showroom, seemingly unaware that her half brother was making love to Crystal with his eyes. “Have fun. Try something new. These cars are here to test-drive. You know what? I want to drive that one.”

Crystal directed her gaze to where her friend was pointing. In the corner of the showroom, bigger than life, was a convertible. A custom job. Long, cobalt-blue and sleek. It practically begged to be driven.

“Yeah, that looks like just the ticket. Would you get Ace?” Fiona said, licking her lips in anticipation.

“Fiona,” Crystal warned. She didn't want to approach Ace right now. She didn't trust herself—or him.

“No need to get me. I'm here, darlin',” Ace said, his voice low and clear at Crystal's shoulder, his breath whispering through the strands of her hair. A delicious shiver rippled through her.

“Fiona, uh, she wants to test-drive that car,” Crystal managed to say in a choked voice. “We…we just came to tell you that we're going out for a while. I won't be home until later tonight.”

That sounded so intimate, like a wife talking to her husband. Crystal felt a blush warming her cheeks.

Ace's gaze turned fierce as he studied her. “That's fine, then. No need to explain. I'm used to taking care of myself. Timmy okay?”

She nodded, unable to speak too much more with him standing this close. “He's with Grace.”

She wondered how he felt about that. He and Timmy had been getting along well these past few days. Maybe too well, considering that Ace would be leaving soon. And Grace was the woman Ford had chosen over Rebecca.

But he simply nodded. “He'll be safe, then,” was all he said. He frowned at Fiona. “You sure you're here because you want to drive this car?”

“What other reason?” she asked innocently.

But Crystal knew what Ace was thinking. Fiona had been intent on matching her with Ace since the man rolled into town. Still, this seemed innocent enough. Fiona certainly looked as if she wanted that car.

In less time than one would have thought, the car was out on the lot. Fiona was tying back her hair.

“Hop in,” she said to Crystal and Ace, motioning to the back seat.

Ace raised one brow. He exchanged a look with Crystal.

Uh-oh, it looked like Fiona was matchmaking, after all.

But Ace only smiled and opened the door for Crystal. “No point in wasting a good opportunity to ride in one of the finest convertibles ever invented,” he explained.

And Crystal had to admit that when the car took off down the highway, she felt a rush of exhilaration she'd never experienced before. Whether it was the wind trying to tug her ponytail from its clip or the fact that Ace was seated just inches away from her, she didn't know. And at this minute she didn't care.

She glanced to the side and caught Ace grinning at her.

“Like it?” he asked.

“I love it. But then, you knew I would.”

She looked up to see Fiona eyeing her in the rearview mirror.

“You behave yourself with Ace,” Fiona teased, and, looking at Ace, Crystal felt like an awkward and nervous teenager again. “Don't try to do anything just because you're back there alone with him.”

Crystal frowned. “Fiona, did you really want to test-drive this car?”

Fiona smiled. “Of course I did.”

Crystal looked at Ace. “Of course she did,” he said, but of course he and Crystal both knew in that moment what Fiona had really had in mind. Especially when she took a turn just a bit too fast and only Crystal's seat belt kept her from sliding across the seat into Ace. As it was, she slid as far as the belt would allow, which still put her closer to Ace than
was probably wise. She glanced to her side and found him studying her from hooded eyes.

“You sell lots of convertibles?” Crystal asked, searching for something, anything to keep her from wondering what that look in his eyes meant.

“More than a few,” he said quietly. “It's a car for those who are feeling…adventurous.”

A smile played at the corners of his mouth, and she got the distinct impression that he was feeling adventurous right now.

Fiona turned another corner and Crystal slipped back the other way—and so did Ace. He slid his hand along the back of the seat and caught her shoulder to keep her from hitting the side of the car.

Now they were touching. She thought she heard Fiona sigh, but she wasn't really sure because she was looking into Ace's eyes, eyes that were filled with worry.

Eventually the car stopped rolling and Fiona got out. “Okay, that's enough for now. You two have a good time tonight,” she said. “Oh, look at that. I see my husband over there. Guess he got off work early, after all.” And she crossed the street to where Clay was waiting, arms crossed, a big grin on his face.

“I'll keep her busy tonight,” he promised Ace as he kissed his wife, helped her into his car and drove away.

Silence fell. Crystal knew she should get out. Fiona had stopped the convertible and gotten out at Crystal's home. But the sun was beating down gently on her hair, the light breeze soothed, the convertible's
upholstery was extra plush and comfortable, and Ace was only inches away.

She turned her head to look at him. “Hmm, Fiona's usually a bit more subtle than this.”

“I don't think she was aiming for subtle. I have a feeling my little sister is getting frustrated with us.” He smiled at her and stroked her shoulder lightly.

A shiver went through her. She couldn't help studying his mouth, his wonderfully masculine mouth. He leaned closer.

She wanted to reach out and brush the sensitive pads of her fingertips over his lips. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and pull him down beside her into the cushions of the roomy seat, to let the breeze tease the air above them as they touched. She wanted his mouth over hers, his taste on her tongue.

Her hand was on the seat-belt clasp. His, too.

A car drove past, reminding her that they were still parked on the street in front of her house and that it was still light outside.

She swallowed.

He swore. “We don't have to do this, you know.”

“Just because Fiona wants it, we don't have to go along,” she agreed, wishing he would move closer, hoping he wouldn't.

“Even if
we
want it, we don't have to go along,” he said. And then he smiled. He kissed her once softly and then immediately pulled away. He smiled again.

Her breath slipped out of her in a long sigh of resignation, and she sat up straighter, unclipped her seat belt and placed her hand on the door handle. “Well, she almost got her way, didn't she?”

“It was a good plan, using the convertible. I've been known to say that it's my favorite in the showroom.”

“She would know that. Fiona knows people.”

“But,” he said, climbing from the car and circling around to help her out. “Everything's fine. We haven't really touched.”

“Not really,” she agreed, assuming he didn't count that one swift soft kiss. It was the kind of kiss he probably bestowed on everyone, not just her. He wouldn't have expected a reaction and would probably be surprised to know that the brief caress had made her heart pound so fast she had an urge to cover it with her hand to mute the sound.

“Fiona's going to be so disappointed that we didn't fall right in line,” Crystal said as they moved together toward the door.

He followed her inside as she opened the door. His body, so close behind hers, set her nerves to singing. She suddenly realized that they were completely alone tonight. Fiona had planned that, too.

“Maybe you should go home tonight so that Fiona will know for sure that nothing happened,” she whispered.

“Maybe I should, but I'm not leaving you alone.”

“I'll be fine.”

“I know that, because I'm staying.”

“Really, no,” she said. “I admit that I went along with it, but not because I was worried about me. I was worried about Timmy, but he's with Grace tonight. I'm glad he's with Grace. He loves her, and he doesn't get to see her as much as he'd like. Even
though she's not related, she's always found a special place for him in her heart.”