I Only Have Eyes For You: BWWM Cowboy/Western Romance (Westbury Ranch Book 3) (5 page)

She licked her bottom lip. “The charity dance?”

He could tell she was nervous. Was it because she was scared of what she felt for him or because she just wasn’t so sure about him? “Yes, it will be fun, and I think it will be more fun if you’re there with me.”

“Another date?”

He waited patiently, knowing he was close.

Finally, she nodded. “Yes, I would like that.”

“Great. I’ll look forward to it.” He put his hand on hers and when she didn’t resist, he tugged her forward. He claimed her lips, without giving her time to think about it. The rush of desire that careened through his body was strong and powerful. Her lips were soft, and his were demanding. He actually felt her tremble as she nestled in his arms. He put his hands on her waist, and the warmth of her skin seeped into his fingers. Thrusting his tongue inside her mouth, he tasted every nook and cranny. She was sweet and warm, and more delightful than the cream puffs he’d tasted.

When he stepped away, her eyes were glazed.

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah.”

He strode away, knowing his heart was now in the hands of the woman who was still making up her mind about him. Lando never came this close to falling in love, and the idea of it scared him more than anything he ever experienced before. Still, it might just be an amazing adventure. 

Chapter Five

T
ime sped by on rapid wings. Paige could barely catch her breath. It seemed like it was only hours ago they were planning for the charity gala, and now she was actually getting ready to attend. Tonight was the night. She could hear the music as it pumped out of the speakers. Everyone had done a wonderful job. She was impressed with the decorations that Shayne dreamt up, and they’d painstakingly made them at the farm in the evenings. Graeme was the one who selected the music and set up the system with Lando. Juston was, of course, in the kitchen with Jackie, while Cullen and Paige looked after the other details.

It was a combined effort, and one she was proud of.

Jackie strode in. “You’re not wearing a dress.”

They had this argument countless times, while she was growing up. Paige smiled as she put some mascara on her eyes. That and the lipstick was the only concession she made for the event. “No, mom.”

“You would look lovely in a dress.”

“Are you saying I don’t look lovely in this?”

Jackie sighed. Walking over to her daughter, she rested a hand on her cheek. “Of course, you do. You look amazing.”

“Thanks, mom. So do you.”

Jackie was wearing a smart, holly berry colored dress. For someone of her age, she was quite fit and beautiful.

Paige hugged her mother. “You’ve done a good job with this event. We’re all very proud of you.”

“You have all helped, and there’s no way I could have done it without anyone of you. Now go on and have fun.”

“Don’t spend all your time in the kitchen, mom. Dance a little,” she said as she walked out.

When she saw Lando in the foyer, her breath caught in her throat. He was wearing a tuxedo. She’d never seen him dressed formally before, and boy, did he stand out. As his gaze settled on her while she strode down the stairs, her heart hammered against her chest. “You look handsome.”

“And you’re the most ravishing creature I have ever seen.” He took her hand in his and gently planted a warm kiss on it. “Shall we?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

As they stepped outside, the energy of the crowd was contagious. The dance floor Lando constructed was well-sanded, and polished to perfection. It felt good to watch everyone as they danced on the work he created. “You could have made a fabulous living as a carpenter. You’ve got some real talent.”

“But my heart wouldn’t have been in it.”

Graeme drew Cullen on to the dance floor and as she watched them dance, she was overwhelmed by the love that was so obvious. Her sister was lucky to have found a man who understood and respected her. Together, they looked good. They were perfect for each other, and she had nothing but goodwill for their upcoming marriage.

“Will you dance with me?”

“Cowgirls don’t dance,” she said.

He laughed. “Okay. Maybe then we have a drink first?”

“Let’s head towards the bar.” She could already see that the bar was a hit.

People waited in lines. They had hired two bartenders for the night who were doing a good job of making the line move at a fast speed. It all looked good.

Like the others, they also stood in line and got their beers. Walking to one of the benches that were set up, she sat on it. “It’s a good night.”

“It sure is.”

She watched the people who were dancing on the floor. Everyone was having an amazing time. It was a good turnout. It was possible that they would be able to raise more than double the money they’d anticipated. “This was the most fantastic idea ever,” she said.

“I’m full of fantastic ideas,” he replied with a wink.

She tried to hide her smile then lifted her bottle to her lips and drank. Then she glanced over and said, “I’m sure you are. Do you like to dance?”

“I’m fairly good at it, and yes, I enjoy it but only with the right woman.”

She didn’t want to ask it. No, she shouldn’t. “And I’m the right woman?”

“Oh, yes you are.”

She glanced into his eyes and then quickly looked away. She felt nervous at the look she saw there. She didn’t have to ponder over for it for long because it seemed that Juston had taken a short break from the kitchen to whisk Shayne onto the dance floor. They were awesome.

“All your sisters are good dancers,” he commented.

“It runs in the family. You should see my mother. When she’s on the floor, it’s hard to look elsewhere. She’s magnificent. Of course, now that my father isn’t here—umm.” Paige cleared the lump of sadness that was lodged in her throat. “Mom doesn’t dance that much anymore. She and dad were great together on the dance floor.” Paige smiled wistfully at the memory.

“She’s lonely?”

“He was her soul mate. After losing him, she hasn’t looked at another man. The farm has kept her busy and so have we, and I suppose she doesn’t want to start all over again.”

“Would you be okay if she did?”

Paige nodded. “Yes, I think so. I would like her to find someone who loves her. Companionship is important, and even though we’re around her, we’re also busy with our own lives.” She thought about it. Yes, it would be a little difficult to take in initially, but eventually she would be okay with the idea of seeing her mother with someone. Picking up her beer, she drained it. “I’d be all right with it.”

Lando took her bottle and his then walked over to one of the bins that were set up in various locations. When he came back, she was moving her legs in time with the music. “Come on, one dance, and we’ll see if we can set the floor on fire as well as the others.”

She put her hand in his. “Okey-dokey. Let’s give it a shot.”

He was an excellent dancer, and as she’d said, it did run in their family. They moved in tune with the music, and she felt it in her veins, in her heart, as she danced with the man.
Damn him!
He’d charmed her. This was officially their second date, but already she felt she knew him well. There was a comfort level and yet, at the same time, there was a heat she couldn’t deny. Their sexual chemistry was off the charts.

After about a dozen songs, she pulled him off the floor. “Beer!” she panted. The line at the bar was a little shorter now, so they got their beers quickly. “Let’s go for a walk.”

As they sipped their beer and strolled out of the room, a man crossed their path. Paige was a little surprised to see him. Max, their neighbor, wasn’t on good terms with any of them. His men were constantly breaking the fences and creating trouble. She was surprised he showed up here. “Is he up to something?” she said.

Max strode right over to the bar and grabbed a drink.

She looked back at Graeme who was away from the dance floor now. He waved at her, giving her an indication that he’d seen their rather unwelcomed guest and would keep an eye on him until he left. “I would love to go and say what’s on my mind to him. He’s such a nuisance.”

“And he would love it if you made a scene and got him the attention he probably wants.” Lando’s arm snaked around her waist as he held her close. “Let’s just go and sit on that bench over there.”

“Nah!” She was in a foul mood now. Paige was surprised Cullen and Graeme hadn’t done anything about this man already. He was creating trouble on a daily basis, and yet he had the nerve to show up at the party. Obviously, they couldn’t ask him to leave as he got a ticket and came in, and this was for a good cause. “Let’s just walk a bit. I can’t bear to be around him.” It was a pleasant evening. A fine breeze blew in, and as she felt it, Paige allowed her anger to slide out of her body. She didn’t want Max to ruin this perfect evening. So far, all had gone well. “We never ate the food,” she said.

“I will go and get us some.”

“I’ll come with you.”

They grabbed two paper plates and polished off the meal in quick bites. Jackie and Juston had outdone themselves. It felt good to be at this great party and experience this amazing high of delicious food and wonderful company. She glanced at Max who was eating now. Perhaps he just wanted to show his face, so no one could accuse him of not contributing to charity, and yet she had the uneasy feeling there was more to his presence than what met the eye.

When they were finished, Paige and Lando walked away hand in hand. Paige didn’t have a destination in mind, and it seemed he didn’t either. They strode away and soon, the music faded. She slipped off her shoes and felt the soft grass under her feet. It was refreshing. They meandered away from the crowd and the lights. Finally, they stopped at a knoll and sat on it, watching the chaos and the activity from afar.

“Who’s that?” He pointed towards a guy who was walking away from the activity. “Should I go check?”

Paige peered towards the shadowy figure who picked up pace as he veered away from everyone. For a moment, it seemed the person might come towards them, but then he shifted direction. “It’s probably one of the ranch hands going back in,” she said. They watched the man until darkness swallowed him. Now they were truly alone. They were too far away from the crowd to be seen by anyone. “I’m happy with the way the event shaped up. I think this is just the beginning of things to come. Now that we’ve hosted this, we’ll be doing more of these things, and I think that’s good.”

“I’m lucky to live here. This is a wonderful place to be,” he said.

“I’ve always known I wanted to live on the land. As my mother said, ever since I was a child I loved to be with animals and to be surrounded by people who were working on the farm. When I went to the city to study, I was eager to gain new experiences but I never thought for a moment that I didn’t want to come back. My friends talked about getting an apartment, and having a good life in town. They wanted to go to clubs and be active on the social circuit, and all I wanted was to finish my studies so I could start working on the ranch.” Paige chuckled. “Crazy, right?”

He held her hand. “It’s not crazy to know what you want. Even with me, I was always sure I wanted my life to follow this path, and that’s what I’ve been doing. My parents tried to give me a lot of options when I was young because they didn’t want to push me in a direction I didn’t want to go, but I knew what I wanted…and I went after it.” He looked at her. “This is the life. The perfect way to live. It would be crazy to choose something else when we can have this? Right?”

“Right,” she said. She couldn’t agree more. Paige glanced at him. Was it possible to be more in tune with someone? She was sure that she would never meet someone who understood her like this. It was crazy for her to fight this attraction when it was so obviously something they both felt.

A new beginning was what they needed, and she couldn’t wait to begin it.

Chapter Six

“I
remember when we used to camp out here at night,” Paige said as she laid back on the grass. “My father and mother would bring us all and we would pitch a tent anywhere we wanted. Sometimes, we would relax outside and look at the stars while our parents would tell us about the constellations.”

Lando lay down beside her. “It must have been an amazing childhood. I can relate to that because I had similar experiences. Although, I didn’t have siblings, my parents spent a lot of time with me outdoors and we had some amazing adventures. I just can’t imagine living anywhere but on a ranch. The land, it’s the heart of me.”

Ah! He understood her so well, and he felt the same way. “Yes, you’re right. The land is indeed the heart of me too.” When she glanced at him, he was looking at her. For a long time, they stared at each other without saying anything. When he claimed her lips, she made no effort to resist. What was the use of resisting, anyway? She wanted his kisses, wanted him. Her eyes closed as her lips parted. His tongue dove in to taste her mouth, and she matched him stroke for stroke. Every inch of her skin vibrated with need as he consumed her mouth. Desire was a hot storm in the pit of her stomach.

When his fingers fiddled with the buttons on her jacket, she made no attempt to stop him. Her breasts craved his attention. He opened the top and exposed her bra-clad twin mounds. His fingers moved over the lacy black bra and she shivered. When he lifted her off the grass, her body tingled in anticipation. He slipped off her jacket and unhooked her bra and made her lie down again. His breath was hot against her mouth, and his tongue was demanding. She inhaled deeply.

He lifted his head and glanced at her but his attention was focused on her breasts as he removed the strapless bra.
“
Dios mí
o
!
Estás magnífic
a
!”

Paige didn’t have to be a native speaker of Spanish to know what Lando meant. His words made her shudder. Before she could say anything, he bent his head and latched onto a sensitive nipple. The spark of desire that frizzled through her was hot. She felt the burn of it as her fingers speared through his hair.

He lavished her mounds with attention, sucking and caressing, kneading and squeezing, until she was breathless with desire. His tongue licked the undersides of her breasts and swept over her buds.

Paige trembled with need as her satiny center moistened and throbbed. Moisture coated her panties. She rubbed her thighs together in a bid to sate the overwhelming desire that rippled through her.

His fingers danced down along her stomach and fiddled with her jeans. After unzipping them, he slid them off her. He quickly relieved her of her panties, as well.

Now, she lay totally naked before him.

It wasn’t fair she still couldn’t feast her eyes on his muscles. Paige unbuttoned his jacket and then the shirt. He shrugged out of them. For a few precious moments, she was able to stare at his hard abs and the narrow waist. He didn’t waste any time and shucked off his pants. His erection was hard and ready and seeing it, her need for him intensified. “I can’t wait anymore,” she breathed out the words.

“But we’re not done yet,” he said.

When he kissed her stomach, she shivered. Bending between her legs, he paid attention to her satiny center. When his tongue touched her, she let out a short scream of delight. He knew just the right moves to make her a willing victim of this insane passion she’d never experienced before. His tongue swept over her sensitive parts while he held her thighs in a firm grip, so she couldn’t move.

Heat and need crashed and burned inside her. Everything else faded into the background, and the only thing she lived for, the only thing she wanted to die for was the release that consumed her. When the orgasm ripped through her, he lapped up her juices. As her toes curled and she clutched the grass to steady herself, he didn’t give her enough time to recover. Rather, he took position over her, and before she could understand as to what he was up to, he plunged deep within her wet depths. He slid inside with ease, and they were joined together in a way that man and woman discovered a long, long time ago.

The dance was as old as humanity and as beautiful as heaven.

Her hips lifted and landed in time to his rhythm. He set a brutal pace. For a few moments, she didn’t think she would be able to cope, but when he slammed into her with enough force to grind his pelvic bone against her, the desire she’d recently sated burned bright in her gut once more. It wasn’t just enough to be possessed, she wanted to plunder and loot in equal measure. Her nails raked over his back, but he didn’t seem to notice the pain. She was lost in her quest to find that pleasure once more. Her fingers stroked his broad back and moved over his muscles. With a fierce pace, he rammed into her again. In and out, he moved with an intensity and then his lips claimed hers. From toe to toe, hip to hip, and mouth and mouth, they were joined—and it felt wonderfully right.

The roller-coaster ride continued for some time. Finally, she swayed on the edge of the precipice. Her hands clutched his shoulders as he lifted his head. She glanced into his eyes and then the orgasm took her by storm. It ripped through her muscles and made her cry out. “Lando,” she said his name as if it was a prayer that might save her from this storm.

He exploded within her depths and then collapsed on top of her.

As they lay together, Paige wondered if this was the man, she was destined to spend the rest of her life with.
No way
. It was too soon to know that. But she was never one to give of herself so quickly. And wow, that was the best sex she’d ever experienced. What made her respond to him in that way? Did that mean Lando was different? He touched her in ways she never knew existed. Was she in love with a man she barely knew? Was that even remotely possible? Maybe for Cullen and Shayne, it was…but not her. She was too practical for that.
Gosh, there I go over-thinking things again
.

When he rolled off her, she put a hand on his chest and heard his beating heart.

“That was the perfect end to the perfect evening,” he said

Was that all it was for him? Didn’t he realize what they did made her change in a way that shocked and confused her? Was he thinking along the same lines that she was? Rather than say anything, she picked up her bra. When it snapped into place, she looked for the rest of her clothes. As soon as she was fully dressed, she glanced at him. The sight of his naked body sent her reeling. “You’re beautiful,” she said.

He smiled as he sat up. “I’m no match for your beauty. You make my heart sing.”

Rather than say anything, she stretched out and surveyed the festivities that were still going on. They would probably continue late into the night. People in these parts knew how to enjoy each moment. “We should go back,” she said.

“I could spend the night here with you.”

“And what will happen in the morning when someone comes and sees us?” she asked.

Without saying a word, he shrugged into his shirt.

Paige resisted the urge to lean over and button it for him. No. That was too intimate a gesture. She didn’t want to let him know she’d already lost her heart to him. If he found out, what would he do? Would he tell her he wasn’t interested in her in that way? For a woman who was convinced she didn’t need this kind of a complication in her life, she’d turned around too fast.

After he pulled his pants on, he reached out to clasp her hand and headed toward the farmhouse. Although they didn’t discuss it, they both skirted the area where the party was in full swing. She didn’t want to run into her mother or sisters. They would know in an instant what she and Lando had done. Although, she didn’t think any one of them would disapprove, she just didn’t want to disclose this recent shift in her relationship him.

When they reached the farmhouse, she opened the door. “I had a lovely time, Lando. Thank you for asking me out.”

“Would you like to come tomorrow with me for a ride?”

She really shouldn’t. It was important to put some distance between them, so she could judge for herself what her heart really felt, but of course, it was impossible to say no. “Okay.”

“I’ll come around at six in the a.m.,” he said. When she nodded, he swept her in his arms. The brush of his mouth against hers made her feel special. “Good night,” he said when he lifted his head.

“Bye,” she muttered. When she closed the door behind her, Paige stood quiet for some time. Really, this was something wonderful but at the same time, it was scary as hell. Where would this ride end? The truth was that Lando was someone she barely knew. How could she feel so strongly about him? As she considered her feelings, her heart ached with fear and delight. It was such a heady mixture that she simply couldn’t make sense of it.

“So you’ve gone and fallen in love, haven’t you?”

The voice startled her so much she squealed. Paige looked up to see Cullen as she stepped down the stairs. “No—what? I just don’t know…”

Cullen came down and enveloped her in a hug. “It feels much like you’re falling off a cliff without a parachute, right?”

She couldn’t lie to her sister. Cullen knew her too well, and damn it, she wanted to discuss these feelings with someone. “It sure does.”

There was a wealth of understanding in Cullen’s eyes. “Lando is a wonderful guy. What are you afraid of?”

“I barely know him.”

“And I barely knew Graeme when I decided that this was it for me,” she said. “And yet here we are, about to get married in two weeks’ time. When it’s right, it’s right, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.”

“I’m scared,” she mumbled.

“As you should be because it’s never easy to give love; nor is it easy to take it. It’s a commitment.”

“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?” she voiced her deepest concern.

Cullen ran a hand over her cheek in much the same way that Jackie often did. “Then you will just have to make sure you find out how he feels. But right now, enjoy this moment. I’m going to help with the clean up. We’ll talk some more tomorrow.”

“I’ll change and come and help you,” she said.

“Nonsense, you’re going straight to bed,” Cullen replied in a voice that brooked no argument. “We’ll manage just fine.” She smiled. “I love you, little sister.”

It was easy to look into her sister’s eyes and know that she spoke from the heart. If only she could do the same with Lando. “And I love you.”

As Cullen strode out, Paige went upstairs. It was a momentous night for her, and she was going to have to take her time to think about the implications of all that had happened.