Kentucky cowboy, p.11
Kentucky Cowboy, page 11
What had happened to his resolve to cool his ardor?
Judd’s heart hammered against his ribs as he stared at her. His gaze traveled the length of the thin shirt to where it ended above her knees and then progressed down to the tips of her toes. He guessed what was beneath that shirt of his. Nothing at all.
Judd set his jaw. Okay, buddy, you invited her. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought. Now face-to-face with her, dressed in practically nothing, he needed to corral his galloping libido. He wasn’t good for Mandy. He knew that now.
Mandy shivered. Whether her reaction came from the chill in the night air or from a nervous response to his nearness, Judd couldn’t guess. Something compelling sparkled between them and it had nothing to do with the occasional flashes of lightning behind the window shades. He assessed her curvy body and fought the impulse to warm her with a deluge of hot kisses.
Nope, not a good idea.
Judd stripped one of his mother’s patchwork quilts from the back of a recliner and draped the cotton coverlet around Mandy’s shoulders. “Here. Put this around you.”
That should hide the temptation. But she looked innocent and charming all bundled up with her bare feet sticking out beneath the quilt.
“Sit down.”
Slowly, Mandy settled onto the sofa. He placed a second quilt over her lap. Dropping to a knee, he picked up a slender foot to tuck the edge of the blanket under her toes. Her sharp intake of breath jolted him. He glanced up to see her eyes darken.
He’d seen that look earlier. A powerful arousal almost knocked him to the floor. What if he rubbed her feet with his warm fingertips? What if he kneaded the balls of her feet, around and around, gently, and then worked each toe with his fingers, in a sensual offering of pleasure?
What if he just stopped thinking like that?
Judd jumped up. He had vowed to cool it with her. Making love had been a big mistake. Still the urge to kiss her senseless threatened to destroy his best intentions.
Putting distance between them, Judd picked up a glass of cold milk from the serving bar and took a sip. The action bought him time. When he turned around, he had better control of himself.
“Milk and cookies,” he said. “It seemed appropriate somehow, but I can make coffee if you want.”
He handed her a glass and placed a plate of cookies on the coffee table in front of her.
Mandy hesitated only briefly and then accepted the glass. She sipped the milk and watched him over the rim. When she lowered the glass, her upper lip was covered with a milk mustache.
“Got milk?”
“Oh!” Mandy quickly licked away the evidence, the innocent movement of her tongue turning him on even more.
Judd backed away and forced himself to deny his own damned desire. Retreating to an easy chair, he sank down into its soft depths.
Mandy cradled her glass with both hands as if she needed its protection, took another sip, and then reached for a cookie from the plate on the table. She surveyed the boxes. “You’re almost finished here,” she said in a sleepy voice.
He drew an unsteady breath. He didn’t want to make small talk any more than he wanted to sit across the room from her. Seeing Mandy snuggling on the sofa—in a colorful, cotton cocoon, all cozy and warm—made his blood sizzle. The memory of her naked and in his arms sucker punched him.
Mandy swallowed the rest of the cookie and drank the milk. “Wouldn’t Bonnie be surprised to see us sitting here together?”
He inclined his head and returned a knowing look. “That’s not all she’d be surprised about.”
Mandy lifted her glass. “To Bonnie Romeo.”
Judd raised his. “To Bonnie.”
After draining his glass, he sat it on the coffee table. Self-control was never his strong suit. He couldn’t refute his need for love, for the comfort Mandy brought to him. Nope, he’d not deny himself. Not tonight. Not if she was willing.
Judd climbed to his feet, his mind made up, and approached the sofa. He offered his hand.
Mandy grasped it. Silently, he pulled her to her feet. Trailing the quilt behind her, Mandy followed him to the stairs.
Judd’s heart told him he would regret this tomorrow. But right now, he didn’t care.
Chapter Eleven
By Tuesday morning, Mandy was able to report positive news about Joker. The cat’s kidney enzymes had come down, and he was bright and alert. She had taken him off fluids and decided he could go home the next day.
After work, she had been home long enough to change her clothes when the doorbell rang, and Patch barked furiously. Heat flushed Mandy’s cheeks. She had no doubt who was at the door. She was losing it where Judd Romeo was concerned.
True enough, when she opened the door, Judd stood on the porch—his long, lean frame, clad in body-hugging jeans and a crisp, white Western shirt, was enough to inspire the most cautious female.
A phantom of a smile lit his eyes. “Joker’s recovery deserves a celebration, Dr. Sullivan.”
A celebration? Like the kind they’d been having every night for the past four days?
No, their lovemaking had more of a poignant quality to it, as if they both knew it wouldn’t last. Judd needed to connect with another human being because of his loneliness and grief. Mandy didn’t want to read more into it than what it was.
Yet once she let herself go with him, she became hungry for more. Like a woman dying from starvation.
Yet she was a realist. Their time together would come to a screeching halt Saturday with Georgia’s return from camp. Nevertheless, Judd Romeo’s smile was an impossible thing to resist.
Mandy’s lips twitched, and she lifted a flirtatious eyebrow. “What do you have in mind, cowboy?”
“A banana split.” His eyes were sexy but serious. “Gooey and sinful, slathered with whip cream, and topped by a big…fat…red…cherry.”
Mandy gulped at the titillating picture he painted, her mind definitely in the gutter.
He flashed a high-octane grin and she was lost once more. “What do you say, Doc?”
It was dinnertime when they walked into The Smoothie Scoop, and the shop was empty.
“You’ve almost got the place to yourselves,” Cal said with a grin when he served up his specialty, two banana splits in pretty, oblong, glass dishes.
For once, Mandy didn’t complain about the irrationality of eating a banana split before dinner.
“I promise I’ll make sure Joker doesn’t get out again.” Judd spooned the cherry from the top of the whipped cream of his treat and popped it into his mouth.
“You’d better.” He looked kissable and too damn sexy.
He winked and snatched her cherry. “I know you don’t like them.”
She tipped her head, giving permission. “Be my guest.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Judd chewed the candied fruit slowly and ogled her with a playful look in his eyes.
Mandy shyly ducked her head and dug into a scoop of whipped cream, hot fudge, and a chunk of banana. They grew quiet as they both settled into the serious job of wolfing down a three-scoop banana split.
She must admit the image of Judd as a bad boy was a turn-on. He was a mixture of good guy with a raw devil-may-care spirit that she had disapproved of in the past. He was smart too. Why couldn’t he find something to do with his life that wasn’t as dangerous as riding bulls?
Minutes later she sat back and shoved away her dish. “I don’t think I can eat another bite.”
Judd didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll finish it.” He slid her dish in front of him, transferred his spoon to it, and scooped up the remaining melting vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel.
A smile marked her lips as she watched him devour the goop. Sometimes he was so cute and boyish. He exuded a charm and warmth that sent her heart into palpitations whenever she was near him. Dropping her gaze to the tabletop, Mandy suffered a tingle of awareness and acknowledged to herself she wanted more from him than just a sexual relationship.
Offering a smile of deep satisfaction, Judd polished off the last bite and pushed the dish away. Their gazes connected and held as if the moment was more than a simple trip to get ice cream.
The door to The Smoothie Scoop open, but Mandy didn’t turn from Judd. She trembled with the connection she felt between them.
He winked then his gaze shot over her head. “Well, will you look at that?”
Something in Judd’s casual drawl rang warning bells in Mandy’s ears. She jerked around. Two people were silhouetted in the sunlight that streamed through the open door. One was a tall man and the other, a shorter, very pregnant woman. Time seemed to waver. A pang of blazing panic seized her, and she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. She felt hot and cold and fuzzy-headed as if she were going to faint.
“Marisa?”
“Mandy?” Judd placed a cool hand on her forearm. “It’s okay. Take a deep breath.”
She turned her back to the approaching couple and glared at Judd as if he had something to do with this. “What’s she doing here?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, but it looks as if we’re about to find out.”
“Hello, Mandy. Judd.”
Mandy’s shoulders stiffened. Marisa’s voice sounded the same, soft and sultry, if a little tentative. Mandy pushed away from the edge of the table and stood, instinctively aware she would be at a disadvantage sitting down. Turning slowly, she fastened her gaze on her little sister.
The simple blue maternity outfit left no doubt Marisa was pregnant. She wore a short sleeve, knee length dress that molded to her body and did not hide her baby bump at all. Marisa’s blond hair was short and perky, her blue eyes, although a bit apprehensive, glowed with what Mandy took to be pride in her very evident condition and the man by her side.
“I see you’re at it again,” Mandy said, knowing her comment to be snide and cruel.
Marisa lifted her chin a determined notch. “I’m married.” She turned to look at the man. “This is my husband, Robert Bass.”
Judd’s chair scraped on the floor as he stood. He extended his hand across the table. “Judd Romeo. Nice to meet you, man.”
The two men clasped hands in that very male-bonding way. Mandy’s hackles raised. Why was Judd being so friendly to this guy?
The husband glanced toward Mandy. “We hope to visit Georgia.”
“Like hell you will.” Mandy spewed out the words without even thinking. Georgia was her child. Marisa had deserted her.
The husband stiffened. “We are prepared to seek a court order if we have to.”
“Now look,” Judd intervened. “There’s no reason to go so far. I’m sure we can work something out.”
Marisa leaned forward, teary-eyed. “Mandy, please. I was so young and stupid. I made so many mistakes.”
“You can say that again.” Mandy steeled herself, unable to listen to her sister’s lame plea without scoffing. She remembered the wild streak in her sister.
Judd’s supportive hand gripped her shoulder “Marisa and Robert,” he said in a dispassionate tone. “Let’s have a seat and discuss this calmly.”
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Mandy growled.
“Mandy.” Judd’s voice sounded a note of authority, and like Georgia did when he spoke in that tone to her, Mandy immediately caved.
Clamping her jaw tight, she spun around and circled the table, preferring to place it between her and the two interlopers. All four of them sat down, warily sizing each other up across the tabletop. Judd draped his arm over the back of Mandy’s chair, signaling his protection.
When no one seemed inclined to speak, Judd cleared his throat. “How about explaining where you’re coming from?”
Marisa slanted her husband a sideways look. He smiled at her and then placed his elbows on the table. Leaning forward, he clasped his hands together.
“I found out over a year ago about Georgia,” Robert said. “My first wife and I had divorced some six months earlier. Marisa came to me then and told me the truth. I’m Georgia’s father.”
Mandy sat back, struggling with the sudden queasiness in her stomach. “How can that be?”
Robert seemed a bit embarrassed. “I asked Marisa the same question.” Then a smile warmed his eyes as he once more glanced at his wife.
“I was seventeen when Robert and I got together for the first time.” Marisa spoke quickly as if she longed to spill her story. “He trained Saddlebred show horses at a local farm. I was underage, and I knew Robert would get in trouble with the law if anyone found out. Plus, he was married.” She shook her head. “I really didn’t want to break up his marriage.”
Mandy’s eyes narrowed. How noble. She gritted her teeth, this time trying hard not to speak her mind.
“Before Georgia was born, I got another training job, this time in Georgia.” Robert took up the story. “I moved and never knew about Marisa’s pregnancy until she told me recently.”
Mandy couldn’t contain herself any longer. She glared at Marisa’s husband. “So, that’s supposed to let you off the hook?”
“No, Dr. Sullivan, it doesn’t.” Robert set his jaw, his eyes resolute. “I’m not making excuses.” His gaze shifted to Judd. “You wanted to know the story.”
“Now what?” Judd asked.
“Marisa had moved to Atlanta. That’s where I met her again. We got married a few months ago,” Robert said.
“Before or after she got pregnant?” Mandy’s voice was bitter.
“Before!” Marisa hit the table with the palm of her hand. “I told you, I’ve made some terrible mistakes. Robert is a generous, caring, and gutsy guy. He had no knowledge of what happened. He wants children. He never had them with his first wife.”
The years of anger welled up inside Mandy, heating her blood, making her tone callous. “Being sorry doesn’t cut it, Marisa. You abandoned your daughter. You left her with Aunt Jane and skipped town without a backward glance. You’ve never bothered to call, write, send a Christmas gift, or acknowledge a single birthday.”
“I know.” Marisa dropped her head. Her voice grew small. “After so many years, I was too scared to try to make contact. I was too ashamed. I couldn’t face being a parent. I didn’t know how. Back then I dreamed of being an actress, and I didn’t see how I could handle a baby.” She looked at Mandy. “It’s not true that I haven’t kept up with Georgia. Cindy has sent me a few pictures. She’s e-mailed me. You and Aunt Jane have done a wonderful job raising Georgia. Better than I could have done.”
Mandy forced air through her lungs. She felt heat pulse in her cheeks. Under the tabletop, she clasped her hands, scared she really would choke Marisa as she’d always promised herself she would.
“Marisa has the strength to come here right now,” Robert pointed out with a firm nod. “Whether you know it or not, Mandy, your sister is trying to apologize.”
“Maybe she’d better apologize to her daughter,” Mandy whispered, the words strangling in her throat.
No one spoke for a few moments. They stared at each other, uncomfortable, on edge.
“We hope to be able to take Georgia with us,” Robert said, breaking the quiet. “We want her to live with us.”
Mandy shuddered. Her worst nightmare had come true. She glared at her sister. “How dare you.”
“Robert and I are Georgia’s parents. We’re having our own child. We want Georgia to be part of our family,” Tears pooled in Marisa’s eyes.
Mandy jumped up, shoving back her chair and toppling it to the floor. “You have no right!”
“We have every right. We’re Georgia’s parents.”
Robert’s words were a stabbing insult. “You stay out of this.” Mandy twirled to face Marisa, wagging her finger. “When did you grow a conscience? After all these years, when did you start caring?”
Marisa paled. “I’ve always cared. I was just immature. Stupid.” Her heartrending gaze sought her sister’s. “I’ve changed, Mandy. I want to do what’s right.”
Judd climbed to his feet and put one arm around Mandy’s shoulders, pulling her toward him. She trembled in his embrace. “I think we all want what’s best for Georgia,” he said calmly. “We must look within ourselves to find out what is best for her.”
“If we can’t come to an agreement, we’re prepared to go to court,” Robert declared once more
“No!” Mandy fisted her hands. “I have custody. You have no legal rights here. I’ll fight you for Georgia.”
Mandy felt Judd inhale a breath before he spoke. “Georgia is at camp at the moment, so you can’t see her now. I suggest we all take some time to cool off.”
She hated Judd’s coolness. His calm persuasion. Her blood boiled, and she wanted to throttle her sister and the self-righteous man who had gotten her pregnant in the first place.
“Can you come back in a week?” Judd asked. “Mandy will have had time to prepare Georgia for your visit.”
“I’m not going to prepare Georgia for anything.”
“We’ll talk about it,” he said to her under his breath. “You’ve got to deal with this because you don’t want a judge involved.”
“No judge will give Georgia to a woman who abandoned her,” Mandy retorted.
“You don’t know that.”
She stared up at him, her pulse pounding.
“Come on,” Judd urged. “Let it go for now.”
“Fine.” Unable to stay another minute, Mandy marched toward the door of the ice cream shop.
“Thanks, Judd,” she heard Mandy’s husband say.
“Give us a call next week,” Judd said. “We’ll talk.”
Then Judd joined her. He grasped her shoulder and steered her out the door into the summer twilight. She didn’t say a word. She couldn’t. How had Judd been able to take charge? What had given him the right to speak for her?
Why had she let him?
Chapter Twelve
