Texas Hot (4 page)

Now, after Mitch’s call, she had to wonder if her imaginings could become reality.

She had zero business getting involved with her employer but she was certainly tempted. After her rotten marriage to Anthony had ended, Gina honestly believed she was through with men but Mitch was different from any guy she’d ever met. Strong, trustworthy and hard-working, he was the kind of man who’d never let a woman down. Had she actually applied the word ‘trustworthy’ to Mitch? A man she barely knew? Surely the lessons of the past hadn’t abandoned her already. The sad, painfully violent relationship with her ex had sent her running on a road to nowhere and before long it would begin again. Gina knew she couldn’t stop until Anthony finally accepted the fact that she didn’t
belong
to him.

Going about the business of pulling thick steaks from a freezer, Gina felt an overwhelming burst of happiness blast through her veins. It had been so long since a man had expressed interest in her. Amazing! And though she knew none of this would last, she hummed a little as she wrapped two large potatoes in foil, poked them with a fork, and set them aside to bake later. It wasn’t until she’d gotten halfway through chopping veggies for a salad that her phone rang again.

Thinking it might be Mitch, she reached for the phone and smiled until she saw her mother’s name pop up on her screen. Gina’s first instinct was that something might be wrong at home so couldn’t help the sharpness of her voice as she answered.

“Mom! Is everything okay?”

“Of course, mia, everything is good here. I just wanted to see how you’re doing. You haven’t called home since you got the job in Texas. I can’t believe you are there and cooking for real cowboys. Imagine that! How are you settling in?”

Gina blew out a relieved breath and sank into a chair at the kitchen table. “You scared me, Mama.” Closing her eyes she leaned back against the wooden back of her seat. “I’m fine. Everyone has been very nice and my employers are a dream. Cooking for these men isn’t much harder than feeding my army of brothers, the only difference being that sometimes these guys smell like horses and they talk with a sexy accent.” She laughed a little. “You should hear them. It’s just like in the movies that Papa loves to watch. How is he?”

“How is he? He is missing his princess and worries constantly that Anthony will find you. You should come home so that we can better protect you.”

Same song just sung on a different day.

Love for her mother filled her up. She was so relieved Maria Leoni couldn’t see the tears her daughter knuckled from her cheeks. “You’re making me homesick.”

“Then come home. Anthony won’t bother you here.”

“He will, Mama. He already has. Remember that night just two days before I left New York? He broke down the door trying to get to me and I thought Papa would have a heart attack fighting him off. Then my brothers got involved. There was blood, police, and chaos. Mama, I’m sick of chaos.”

“But you didn’t have to run.”

“I did. Why can’t I make you understand that I need time alone without the constant stress of Tony showing up to harass me. And my brothers. Why should they have to live in constant protector mode? It’s not fair.”

Her mother went quiet, then sighed. “None of this is fair, mia. Take all the time you need. Just remember that we’ll all be here for you when you decide to come home.”

“I’m not sure where
home
is anymore.”

Maria gasped. “It is here. This will always be your home.”

Gina desperately wanted to comfort her mother and wished she could take back the hastily spoken words. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her but with every day that passed, she felt she’d found a place at this beautiful Texas ranch. There was an ease about the people here and a no-nonsense attitude that soothed her yankee sensibilities. “Of course, Mama, but I’m a grown woman. I can’t continue to hide with you and Papa. I have to make my own way.” Changing the subject, she asked about her four brothers and received a quick report that they were well but worried. “You didn’t mention Michael.”

Michael was the baby of the family and only twenty. He looked up to her ex and unfortunately tried to mimic many of Anthony’s behaviors. Not a good role model, her former husband.

“He is confused but understands that Anthony didn’t behave as a good man should.” There was a long pause on the line.

“What?”

“I shouldn’t tell you because you’ll only worry but Michael was approached by Anthony a few days ago. Your brother was coming home and was stopped by Tony just a few blocks from the house. Luckily, Frank Jr. pulled Michael away before he could answer any questions about you.”

Thank God for her oldest brother.

“Are you sure? Mama, I can’t let Tony find me. If he knows I’m in Texas, he’ll hunt me down. He is so bitter after the divorce. I would never have left had Tony accepted our marriage was over. You know how irrational he has become.”

“How could I forget? His threats have turned my hair gray. He’s a monster. But please try not to worry. Both your papa and I, along with your brothers, have told Michael that he must tell Tony nothing. Michael will listen. You must trust.”

Trust? Gina wasn’t so sure she was capable of it any longer. She only prayed that her baby brother wouldn’t be so foolish as to believe a word from Tony’s mouth. Her safety very much depended on it.

Chapter Three

Thick steaks sizzled on the grill, the delicious smell reminding Mitch that it had been a long time since lunch and, after consuming far too much coffee earlier at the Dixie Pig, he was in dire need of food. Now he stood on the covered patio in his backyard, spatula gripped in one hand, and admired the beautiful brunette who currently lounged on the big, padded sofa nearby. Next to the grouping of outdoor furniture sat a tile-topped table where they would finally have a dinner alone. Just the two of them.

Nice to know he was still capable of a great idea, he admitted, mentally rolling his eyes. A man could get awfully complacent but there was no excuse for at least trying to live an interesting life.  Hadn’t he had this very conversation with his brother earlier when he’d poked and prodded him about getting out there and meeting someone? Mitch was man enough to admit it was time to take his own advice. Now that Dawson was off with Jules, this was as good a time as any to get to know Gina better.

A slight breeze blew tonight and every now and then it would whip beneath the slatted-wood ceiling of the patio and ruffle her dark hair. At the moment, she sat with her head resting back and her eyes closed giving Mitch the pleasure of looking at her as much as he wanted.

There was a cautiousness about Gina Leoni, a skittishness that made him want to know more about her. He knew she was running from something and that worried him. If she’d tell him what was going on, maybe he could help. A man didn’t pry though. People around here minded their own business and he’d always believed that was a pretty good rule to live by.

But he couldn’t help himself.

              What secrets swam behind those dark eyes and why in the hell would a woman who so obviously loved her family have travelled so far from them? Mitch understood family loyalty. His dad had been a monumental shithead and, even now, not worth a second thought, but between his mom, Dawson, and himself, there had been affection so deep it was nearly painful. Maybe their often violent circumstances had worked to make them closer. They’d been like soldiers enduring battle in war torn lands. The only difference was that their battlefield was at home. Burying Mom had been the single hardest thing he’d ever done but through it all, he’d had his brother. They were tight. Always would be. It was a reality Mitch accepted all the way to his soul.

Putting the spatula aside, he walked to the end of the table, where he reached into a galvanized tub filled with ice and extracted two icy long-necks. He started toward her and saw her eyes were now open and staring straight at him. Gina smiled slowly making Mitch’s belly go tight.

Lord, he loved a smiling woman.

“You look deep in thought,” she said.

“I try to think every now and then.”

She laughed as he’d hoped she would, thanking him as he handed off a beer. “Would you like something else? I think I have a bottle of wine in the kitchen somewhere. Whisky, too.”

“No, this is fine,” she took a sip as he ignored the two big chairs flanking the sofa and sat next to her. “Mm, I love shockingly cold beer in the summertime.”

He leaned back, kind of lost all of a sudden, as she rubbed her bottom lip against the top of the brown bottle leaving him to wonder how that mouth would feel pressed against his or how her lips and tongue would feel cruising over his throat and chest. She had a mouth made for sin and kissing her could become an obsession. Restlessly he shifted, imagining those lips sliding over his cock to take him deep.

He shifted again.

Whoa!

He was hungry for a whole lot more than food and Mitch knew he wouldn’t make it through dinner if he let his imagination go all crazy on him. Already, he entertained thoughts no self-preserving, intelligent guy would contemplate. Common sense told him that she wouldn’t be around for long. Gina Leoni was a heartbreaker and he needed to remember that. He wouldn’t mind playing but dreaming about anything more than a few long, mind-blowing nights between the sheets was downright dangerous. Mitch had been burned by a woman before and he wasn’t looking to repeat the experience. Still, he was intrigued.

Gina’s expression turned dreamy as she casually rolled the cold bottle over her chest. The skimpy top she wore was held in place by miniscule straps and sexy as hell, showing off her full breasts and accentuating a slender waist that he wanted to test with his fingers. He couldn’t blame her for the scanty clothes. Summers in Texas were blazing hot but nothing matched the sinful heat she generated.

His dick twitched behind the fly of his jeans.

Well, howdy ma’am.

Damn it.

When she rolled the bottle across her chest again, she closed her eyes and sighed. “Oh, that feels so good. I thought New York was hot in the summer but this is crazy.”

Mitch watched helplessly as several beads of condensation dripped from the brown glass to roll slowly down her sternum. When the drops disappeared between her breasts, Mitch’s mouth went dry. He had the insane urge to lean over and search out those lost drops with his tongue. “Can get steamy here. Summers are long too,” he managed.

He’d resorted to discussing the weather.

Pitiful.

Suddenly Gina’s belly rumbled loudly and her eyes went wide. The light from the overhead ceiling fan was fairly dim but it was impossible to miss the way her cheeks colored. She laughed and lightly patted her noisy belly. “That smell is driving me nuts,” she said. “Will it be much longer?”

Mitch looked at his watch. “Nope. About five more minutes and we’ll eat.”

True to his word, he pulled off the steaks noting the plates Gina had set nearby. Already they’d loaded the table with foil wrapped potatoes and a bowl of salad and assorted dressings. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed a meal outdoors and Mitch realized he’d missed it. As a rule, he and Dawson did their own things each night, either in a rush, or just too damn tired to stress much about food.

“This is nice,” she admitted once they were seated and digging into meat provided right here at the ranch. Gina looked around and he noted that her gaze swept the pool beyond the patio and then further to the row of utility buildings where much of the ranch’s work was done. Off in the distance, a horse whinnied, the sound blending with the wind and other night noises. “We don’t do this sort of thing. It’s definitely a city life for us. I never imagined I could enjoy something so much. It’s really beautiful here.”

“Maybe one of these days you can bring your family for a visit.”

Gina looked down and didn’t speak for a second or two but when she lifted her gaze, she was smiling. “My dad would love this ranch.”

“Tell me about them.” It wasn’t an idle question, he realized. He really wanted to know about her and the life she’d left behind. “If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. My dad is Frank and my mom is Maria. Both trace their ancestry to Sicily and as I mentioned earlier, I have four brothers, three are older and one younger. Michael is the baby, only twenty, and came along as a bit of a surprise to the folks.” She laughed. “I was ten when he was born and I thought I had my own personal doll to play with. Frank Jr. is the oldest, then Joseph and Marco. Frank is the only one who is married and he and his wife have three beautiful children. Joey and Marco are both divorced and Michael? Well, he’d better not even
think
about marriage. He’s far too young.”

“You’re protective.”

Her lips firmed. “Absolutely, I am. He needs to get his education and learn to be a man before he commits to someone.” She shook her head. “He’s too hot for his own good, incredibly good looking. Mama constantly fends off the girls who come by the apartment. I’m proud of him but I worry too. He’s so easily influenced thinking only of being popular with his friends and pleasing those whom he admires for totally ridiculous reasons.”

“That’s not good.” Mitch saw her open expression suddenly close. She was a woman with something on her mind but he didn’t want to poke and prod at her. “He’s still just a kid. If there’s one certain thing in life, it’s that young people figure things out at one point or another. All we have to do is wait it out. But eventually they do grow up.”

“And isn’t that a relief?” Gina applied a knife and fork to the dinner rapidly disappearing on her plate then paused to dab daintily at her lips. “But Dad, well, he would just love this place. I’d really love to bring him here. He has a true fascination for the west. He owns the entire collection of old Sergio Leone westerns and when I was just a kid, I’d spend Saturday nights watching them with him.”

Mitch lightly whistled the tune to the
Good, Bad, and the Ugly
and Gina’s smile widened.

“Can’t beat Clint on a Saturday night,” he said.

“Or any night, for that matter.  My dad would love you. Speaking of family, where’s Dawson tonight?”

Mitch pushed his plate aside, reached for another beer, and twisted off the top. “Hanging out with his friend, Jules. You’ll meet her soon, I figure. She owns a little gift store downtown and today she roped my brother into helping her with some stuff there. She said the whole town is buzzing about the little yankee working here and she’s determined to meet you.”

Gina went still, her fork paused halfway to her mouth and Mitch didn’t miss the panic on her face. “People are talking about me?”

“Hell, honey, this is a small town. That’s all people have to occupy themselves in a place like this. Aside from hitting the honky tonk every weekend and going to the high school football games, we’re a boring bunch.”

Even in the dim light, he saw her face go pale.

Gina stood suddenly, gripped the edge of the table and shook her head. “I can’t stay. I just can’t. No.”

Stunned at the sudden outburst, Mitch stared as she hastily, nervously, reached for several empty platters and bowls. Her hands shook. “Let me start cleaning up. Um. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait. What’s wrong? Let me help.”

“No, no. You just enjoy your beer and let me take care of this. I insist.” She turned, her arms loaded with empty dishes and rushed for the house. She paused briefly at the closed door and Mitch stood.

“Wait just a damn minute and I’ll get the door.”

She freed a hand and turned the knob while rapidly shaking her head. “I’ve got it.” When she hurried inside, Mitch barreled around the table and took off after her.

There was no way he was going to sit on his ass when he might be able to help. Obviously something he’d said had freaked her out and he was determined to not only figure it out but to make it right. When he entered the kitchen, he saw her bellied up to the sink, her arms still loaded with dishes.

“Damn it, Gina!”

The words had barely left his mouth when she jerked to face him and the stack of plates tumbled to the floor with a crash. Horror filled her wide eyes as she stared at the mess then she lifted her gaze. Fear was palpable and it registered in his mind an instant before she pressed herself against the kitchen counter and defensively lifted her arms up as if to protect herself.

Fuck!

His heart plummeted to his belly where it curdled like old milk, sour and rancid, as the truth slapped him. Mitch had witnessed that same reaction, that exact expression of terror, on his own mother’s face more times than he wanted to remember.

He held up a hand. “Shh, it’s okay, honey.” Mitch approached slowly, cautiously, as if she were a wild mustang who needed gentling. “Put your arms down, baby, nobody under this roof is going to hurt you.”

Gina seemed to come slowly back into herself until finally she lowered her arms and it was impossible to miss the trembling that shook her. Her face flamed and she presented her back to him. Unable to do otherwise, he moved behind her and wrapped her up, his forearms pressed to her belly. “You’re safe here,” he whispered against her ear. “Nobody is going to hurt you, not under my roof.”

To his everlasting relief, Gina’s tense body began to relax and Mitch continued to hold her. More than anything he wanted to make her feel safe, to feel protected. Finally she bowed her head and dragged a trembling breath into her lungs.

Mitch’s heart broke.

In one short span of time, he understood why she’d left her loved ones in New York and had traveled such a long way alone.

“I overreacted,” she whispered before turning in his arms to face him. Her gaze connected with his and Mitch hated the sadness in her eyes, and the worry. “I’m so embarrassed.”

Mitch lifted a hand to her face, shook his head, and tucked a length of dark hair behind her ear. “No need. I know a little about what you probably went through in the past but I’ll save that for another time. Right now, I just need to take care of you.”

“No, I’m okay.”

“Bullshit. Don’t argue with me.” Reluctantly he released her and went to a cabinet to pull out a bottle of his best bourbon. After splashing some into a glass, he held it out to her. “Drink this.”

Obediently, she tossed the drink back. Her eyes went wide and filled with tears as she sputtered and gasped. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Not hardly.” He poured another ounce, placed one finger on the bottom of the glass and pushed it toward her lips. “More.”

“Now you’re just trying to get me drunk.”