Too Close For Comfort (Sweetrock Cowboy Romance Book 2) (8 page)

They found an easy rhythm, their hearts beating in pace with each other, her soft moans urging him faster, deeper. When she cried out and quickened the pace, he raised himself up. He wanted to see her face. To watch as she came undone.

Her eyes fluttered open and looked deep into his. For one second, he felt as if they were connected not only by body, but also by soul and he whispered one word before giving himself to her completely.

“Forever.”

T
essa woke
up the next morning feeling totally relaxed and sated. The previous night’s storm had passed, and the sun was slanting glorious golden rays through her window. It took her a minute to remember why she felt so good and then warmth flooded through her. After making love with Cash in the barn the night before, they’d managed to put their wet clothes on long enough to put the horses away and then rush back to Tessa’s house only to peel the wet clothes off again and fall into her bed.

She stretched languidly, turning over, wanting to feel Cash’s warm body beside her. The memory of his hard muscles, strong hands, and soft lips on her ignited a spark deep inside her as she reached out for him.

Her arm fell on the empty bed.

She jerked up, looking at the tangled sheets.

He was gone. Had he left without a word?

Panic raced through her. What had she done? She’d slept with Cash and now he was gone. Her best friend. Had she ruined that friendship?

Pots clanging from the direction of the kitchen stole her attention, and then she caught the smell of bacon. Relief swept through her. Cash wasn’t gone, he was cooking breakfast. Just like normal. Things were normal, but better. At least she hoped they would be better.

Memories of the previous night washed over her as she got out of bed. The sex had been good. No, not just good—amazing. For the first time since Derek, she’d
felt
something.

And that scared the crap out of her.

She slipped into her pink fuzzy bathrobe. Even though it was summer, she loved the cozy feel of it next to her skin. As she opened her bedroom door, her earlier elation warred with trepidation in her chest.

Would Cash act different? Would it be different in a good way? Had last night been as mind blowing for him as it had been for her, or was it just a one-time thing that he’d rather forget.

There was only one way to find out. She headed toward the kitchen.

She hesitated in the doorway, watching him at the stove, his familiar broad shoulders and strong profile now taking on a new type of familiarity.

As if sensing her there, he turned and her heart somersaulted. Would he have the same friendly smile he’d always welcomed her with?

“Hey, there. Did you sleep good?” His smile was hesitant but the friendly, sexy gleam in his eye drew her toward him and the next thing she knew she was kissing him. He kissed her back with an enthusiasm that left little doubt in Tessa’s mind as to whether or not he regretted the previous night.

She broke away and picked at the bacon as she gave him a sexy wink. “Good. How about you?”

“
Very
good.” He pulled her close, ran his hand along the lapel of her robe and down the front, and then slipped it inside. His hand was warm on her bare skin. She felt her knees grow weak as he cupped her breast and dipped his head for another kiss.

She was breathless when she came up for air a few minutes later.

Cash flicked off the stove, his voice husky as he asked, “When do you have to be at work?”

Tessa glanced at the clock.

Shit!

“In fifteen minutes!” She broke away and ran to her room. Too bad she wouldn’t be able to linger with Cash, but she only had about five minutes to dress and get on the road or she’d be late.

When she rushed back out, he’d already fixed her a plate. Her heart melted at the kind and thoughtful gesture. She shoveled it in then raced toward the door.

Remembering that she’d left him standing there in the kitchen, she turned around and raced back, kissing him on the lips—but a quick one this time.

He caught her hand and pulled her back as she tried to race away. “Hey, you up for dinner here tonight? I’m cooking.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

“Okay, see you tonight.” He tugged her in for a quick kiss on the forehead then let her go. The hopeful look on his face reminded her of when he was a little boy, and her heart soared with joy that he was hopeful about seeing her.

She rushed out the door and drove to work so fast that she barely had time to think—her only thoughts of Cash and how he wanted to see her that night. Wanted to cook her dinner. He wanted to be with her just as much as she wanted to be with him.

So why did she have this niggle of doubt?

She and Cash had been friends forever and he would never hurt her. Then again, she and Derek had been friends before, too. And look where that had gotten her. But Cash wouldn’t do what Derek had done? Would he?

No. Cash was a different man. A better man. She couldn’t let her insecurities and inability to trust ruin what she had going with him.

She didn’t have a trail ride scheduled for another hour, so she got to work doing chores in the barn. Cleaning out stalls. Oiling saddles. The storm had broken the hot weather and it was a little cooler. The morning was pleasant, especially with the sounds of the horses and the sweet smell of hay and manure as accompaniment. She hummed as she worked, lost in delicious thoughts of the previous night.

“Well, isn’t someone in a happy mood today?”

Tessa looked up to see Sam and Nick heading toward Nacho’s stall on their usual morning visit.

Tessa’s cheeks heated at Sam’s knowing look. Did she know what had happened between her and Cash last night? How could she possibly know that already? Then again, Sam had always been able to read her and Tessa probably had “I had great sex last night” written all over her face.

But Sam wouldn’t know with
whom
. Tessa wanted to keep it that way, at least for now
.
She didn’t know how Cash would feel about her blurting out their new level of friendship to the whole town, or how
she
felt about it for that matter.

Tessa gestured to the sunny day outside. “It’s a beautiful day. I’m in here with horses. What’s not to be happy about?”

“Right.” Sam petted Nacho on the nose and looked at Tessa out of the corner of her eye. “So, how are the living conditions at your folks’ place?”

Tessa’s blush deepened. “Gr-great. We’ve got a routine going that works.” She stuttered.

Sam’s lips quirked up in a knowing smile, her left brow raised a fraction of an inch. “Oh, really?”

Tessa put the saddle down, reached for a bridle and some sliver polish and tried to act casual. “Yeah, it’s nice having someone around.”

Nick peered out at her from the other side of Nacho’s neck. “I hope that doesn’t put a damper on Cash’s activities with the ladies. I have money riding on a certain brunette.”

Tessa’s brows mashed together, her heart dropping. “I’m sure he could bring one to my place. Or go to her place.”

“But he hasn’t,” Sam cut in.

Tessa shrugged, her earlier happiness slowly draining away. “Well, one night he drove that brunette from the bar home.”

Nick snorted. “I’ll bet.”

Sam shot Nick a warning glare and he looked confused. So did Tessa. What was Sam up to?

“He just dropped her off because she was too drunk to drive. Cash is a gentleman.” Sam gave Nacho’s nose one last pat and then headed toward the door, giving Tessa a pointed look as she passed her. “A gentleman that you can trust.”

“Well, of course he is,” Nick said, following behind Sam and still looking confused. “See you later, Tessa.”

“Later.”

“Give me a call this afternoon,” Sam yelled over her shoulder as she bounced out of the barn.

Tessa watched them leave, her earlier feelings of doubt taking root and spreading, trying to obliterate her happiness. She pushed the doubt away. Despite Nick’s insinuations, Sam had a point. Cash hadn’t taken the brunette home. In fact, she hadn’t seen Cash with anyone in a long time. Maybe seeing Nick and Sam so happy had given Cash the same thoughts about settling down.

But was he ready to settle down with her or was she one last fling?

And what were all these thoughts of settling down? Up until a few weeks ago, Tessa had been leery of any relationship. But that had been because she hadn’t been able to trust or feel since Derek.

But last night with Cash, she’d
felt
. She’d felt plenty.

The question was...could she
trust
enough not to screw things up.

* * *

C
ash’s heart
expanded in his chest as he thought of his morning with Tessa. Too bad she’d had to go to work. He wouldn’t have minded doing some more exploring of her body. Find out more about what she liked and how to satisfy her. Cash could spend a lifetime doing that and never get bored.

Thinking about the night before in the barn and later in her bed had made it hard to focus on cleaning up the breakfast dishes. It had been even better than he’d fantasized about. His heart took a fragile little leap—Tessa might have ruined him for other women. But hopefully, he wouldn’t have to worry about any other women.

Did he dare hope that Tessa could be his forever?

Thoughts of his grandfather surfaced, but Cash pushed them away. Tessa was different than his grandmother. Grandpa had said that Grandma had always been restless. Sweetrock was too small-town for her. She’d wanted to travel the country, but a young marriage and child had tied her down.

Tessa wasn’t like that. Tessa was a homebody and she loved Sweetrock. She’d already had a chance to move on to city life in college and had come back to her roots. Cash knew she loved it here and didn’t want to live anywhere else. Unlike Grandma, Tessa would not be running off with a rodeo rider to tour the country.

Cash almost laughed out loud at the thought of it. It was absurd. Had that been what had held him back from showing Tessa his real feelings all this time?

Had all his previous reservations about taking the relationship to the next level really just been his own insecurities? Had he been using Grandpa’s broken heart as an excuse not to put it on the line with the one woman he really wanted because he was afraid of getting hurt?

He should’ve done this a long time ago. He’d felt a deep connection with Tessa and he knew it was more than just friendship and good sex. She wanted this as much as he did.

But for how long?

That little voice in the back of his head nagged at him, but he pushed it away. No sense in trying to sabotage things with self-doubt. He wasn’t going to do that anymore.

In fact, he was going to do his best to make sure Tessa never had a reason to look any further. They only had two more nights together at the Riley ranch and after that, they’d both be able to move back into their own places. What would happen then? Would they continue seeing each other or would the fact that they were no longer forced together cause them to drift apart?

One day at a time.

No sense in worrying about that. He wanted to focus on what was happening
now
and right now he couldn’t wait to see her again at dinner—a dinner that he intended to make the most romantic one she’d ever experienced.

He detoured from driving to his ranch to stop at Dickinson’s and pick a few things up. Salmon, asparagus, and Tessa’s favorite dessert from their bakery—coconut cream pie. He was making his way down the paper goods aisle when he spotted the candles.

Candles would be very romantic.

Images of the Riley dining room started flashing in his mind, the table set with a crisp white linen tablecloth and the lights down low. Music softly playing in the background. Mrs. Riley’s good china plates—the ones with the silver edges—sparkling silverware and Waterford crystal glasses all accented by the flickering golden light of the candles on the table. Tessa seated across from him as they ate. It sounded like bliss.

He reached for the candles, picking up a long, white tapered pair. He had them just about in his basket when a voice boomed from behind him.

“Cash? Cash Campbell?”

The voice brought up unpleasant feelings and Cash whirled around.

The candles clattered to the floor as he recognized whom that voice belonged to.

Derek Masters.

Tessa’s old flame—the one she’d never forgotten, the one she’d pined after for years—was back in town.

T
essa arrived
home to find the dining room lit with a romantic glow of candles and flowers. The table had been set with her mother’s good china on top of grandma’s white linen tablecloth. In the center, a large bouquet of white roses stuck up from a crystal vase. The house was spiced with the mouth-watering smell of lemon butter and herbs.

She stood in the doorway to the kitchen, tentatively eyeing Cash. “Hi.”

He turned around, a smile spreading on his face. “Hi. Dinner is almost ready. As I remember, salmon is one of your favorites, right?”

She was warmed by the fact he’d thought enough to cook one of her favorites. “It is. Everything looks and smells amazing.”

She started into the kitchen to peek into the oven and he caught her in his arms.

“You look and smell amazing,” he said.

Tessa looked down at herself. She was wearing ratty horse-barn clothes. Cash, on the other hand was dressed in a white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his tanned muscular forearms and black slacks. He looked delicious.

“I smell like horse manure,” she said.

Cash nuzzled her ear, sniffing her hair and her neck while tickling her and making her giggle.

“I like horse manure.” He cupped her face in his hands and she looked into his eyes, wondering if he’d made this meal for dozens of women. Wondering if she was special. The intensity of his gaze told her this wasn’t something he was taking lightly and when his lips crashed down on hers, it didn’t feel like it either.

Cash broke the kiss, his palm skating down her arm to clasp her hand and pull her into the kitchen where he had a glass of wine already poured.

She took a sip, starting to relax. “Can I help?”

“No. I’m almost done.”

“Well, then, I feel like I’m underdressed. A nice meal like this deserves more than smelly barn clothes. I’ll go get changed.” She put her wine down and proceeded to her bedroom.

All her worries about Cash’s intentions seemed ridiculous now. He’d gone to a lot of trouble with the meal. One didn’t do that for a casual fling. Not to mention that she knew he wasn’t the type of guy that had flings. Well, okay, he was but that was just with random women. He wouldn’t do that with her, would he?

She could trust Cash to not screw around with her feelings.

She took a quick shower and changed into her favorite lavender dress. The one that clung to her curves in just the right way. Cash’s lingering look when she appeared in the dining room told her she’d made the right choice.

He cleared his throat. “You look stunning.”

“Thanks.”

He’d put the food out while she’d changed. Salmon with lemon butter sauce, asparagus, and tiny little red potatoes. It looked delicious. Just like him.

Heaven on earth.

Or a farewell dinner?

He pulled out her chair and they sat.

“This is nice.” Tessa took a sip of wine, and then flaked off a piece of salmon with her fork.

“Very nice. Special.” Cash dug into his dinner.

“I guess we only have two more nights here,” Tessa blurted out. Only two more nights and the floors would be refinished and they’d be moving back to their own places. What would happen then?

Cash looked up at her, pausing with a forkful of asparagus halfway to his mouth. “I know. It’s been fun.”

Did he hesitate at the end of that sentence as if he was about to say ‘but’?

“It has.” She spread her palm on his thigh, feeling warmth and hard muscle through the fabric. “Real fun.”

Cash smiled, taking her hand and pulling it up to his lips and planting a kiss on her knuckles that sent her stomach fluttering. “I was hoping we could have even more fun.”

The warmth that flooded through her stole her words and in a second she was on his lap, his lips on hers, his hands slipping the clingy dress off her shoulders. She sighed, parting her lips and leaning in to him, enveloped in his musky smell, tasting the herbs and wine on his lips.

As he stood, picking her up in his arms and carrying her toward her room, she abandoned all reasonable thoughts and worries about what might happen after tomorrow night.

* * *

C
ash snuggled
Tessa closer to his side, feeling the warmth of her curves pressed against him, her breath on his skin. She looked peaceful and completely relaxed. Her dark lashes cast shadows on her cheek as she slept, and he resisted the urge to reach out and touch her flawless skin lest he wake her.

A guy could get used to this.

But was Tessa thinking along those same lines?

He’d loved the feeling of having a special dinner together, Tessa putting on that sexy dress for him. Taking it off was even better. And afterwards, the way her body responded to his told him that she felt their connection as deeply as he did.

When she’d mentioned that the hardwood floors would soon be done, he’d sensed a certain hesitation in her voice. Was it because she wanted to know what would happen afterwards or because she was sending him a signal that there would be no afterwards?

His mind drifted back to his run-in with Derek. According to Derek, he was recently divorced. He’d bought the old Dobbins Place, a run-down Victorian on the edge of town. He’d asked about Tessa. Cash realized it was because Derek knew they’d been friends their whole lives. What he didn’t know was how
close
of friends they’d recently become.

Cash was worried, though, because Derek had asked in a way that made it sound like he was interested in getting back together with Tessa. He’d made it a point to say he was single now. Cash had had all he could do not to punch him in the face. He couldn’t believe the jerk was actually coming back and interested in the girl whose heart he’d broken.

But it wasn’t up to Cash to make that call. It was up to Tessa. Hopefully, she wouldn’t want anything to do with the guy but it made Cash wonder why she hadn’t mentioned that Derek was in town. Maybe she didn’t know, or maybe she just wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with Cash.

Or maybe she thought it was none of Cash’s business.

He looked down at her sleeping face, watched her chest rising with a slow rhythm. His heart squeezed. Surely she wouldn’t even think of going back with Derek. Not after what had happened between them.

Images of his grandfather came to mind. His grandmother had run off when Cash’s father was just a little boy leaving Gramps with a young son to care for. He knew that Gramps still hurt from that even now. He’d never found anyone else to love. Cash just hoped he wasn’t about to suffer the same fate.