For Love of Charley (9 page)

Cole walked to the window and picked up a
half-empty glass from the table next to it. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, thanks.” She watched him sip and then
looked back at the window. He must have been standing there in the dark, looking
out. Waiting? Watching for her? But why, if he really didn’t care about her?
Something loosened in her chest and began to expand.

Her gaze met his, and her heart began to
pound at the look in his eyes. She took a step toward him. Without looking
away, he slowly lowered his glass to the table.

“Charley.” His voice was husky and she
didn’t know if it contained a plea or a warning. And she didn’t care. Taking
the last step that separated them, she splayed her hands on the hard muscles of
his chest, lingered for a moment before she slid them up to his nape.

His hands were around her waist, and she
felt them tighten reflexively as she pulled his head down to hers. A
long-dormant emotion uncoiled inside her as she brushed her lips over his,
softly, from side to side.

“Charley,” he sounded desperate. “You don’t
know what you’re doing.”

“Wrong,” she whispered. “I know exactly
what I’m doing.”

With a groan, his arms went around her,
pulling her tightly to him. His mouth covered hers possessively, hungrily, time
after time until she was dizzy with the taste of him, the scent of him. Joy
warred with need. This was where she belonged, here, in his arms. Even if he
left her, she would take what she could get, for as long as possible. When his
hand moved to her breast, cupped it, his thumb teasing the hard outline of a
nipple, she arched against him. A whimper of hunger escaped her lips and
suddenly he went wild.

Before she knew what was happening, he’d
yanked her T-shirt over her head and was pressing her back on the desk, his
mouth moving over her bare flesh. Bracing herself with one hand, she fisted the
other in his hair, guiding him. When first his lips, then his teeth closed
around her breast, the ache centered low in her stomach exploded. Eyes closed,
her head went back in ecstasy.

Just as his hands found the clasp on her
pants, Mrs. Paulson’s voice echoed up the stairs. “Dinner’s ready!”

Instantly they both froze, and then Charley
heard Cole give a low curse. She couldn’t stop the giggle that burst from her,
and he leaned back and grinned ruefully.

“We’ll be down in a minute,” he yelled over
his shoulder.

As soon as he lifted her from the desk,
Charley reached for her T-shirt, but he stopped her.

“Wait. Please.” His voice was an aching
whisper and she paused as his eyes ran over her again. When he trailed one
finger down her neck and touched her breast, she shivered at the naked desire
aflame in his eyes. Gently, he took the shirt from her and helped her slip it
on, his touch still caressing even as he tugged the material down. Then he
pulled her back into his arms.

“I have to make a trip to our Los Angeles
office tomorrow.”

Charley couldn’t keep the disappointment
from her voice. “You aren’t coming to my party?”

“I’ll be there. But I may be a little late.
Ride to the party with Frannie.”

She searched his eyes. “Why?”

“Because I’m taking you home.”

Happiness burst inside her. “I thought this
was a battle you didn’t intend to lose,” she teased.

“I surrender,” he whispered, his mouth
heartbreakingly tender as it covered hers.

The party was in full swing when Cole
pulled up behind the Red Dog. Thanks to a delay at the airport, he was later
than he’d intended to be, and hadn’t taken the time to go home and change. The
ironic thing was that most of the trip had been a waste of time. He hadn’t been
able to keep his mind on business and had actually shocked his staff into
silence by staring out the window with a smile on his face. When Tom Jackson,
his branch manager, had to repeat his report twice, Cole had finally dismissed
them and spent the rest of the day shopping for Charley’s birthday present.

Stepping out of the Jag, he tossed his suit
jacket back onto the seat, and then added his tie, leaving the top two buttons
on his shirt undone. The sound of laughter and music drifted on the night air,
and he smiled. Charley was somewhere inside. Just a few more hours, and he’d be
alone with her.

Cole stopped in his office long enough to
leave the gaily wrapped package he carried, then headed into the main part of
the Red Dog, his gaze searching for Charley. Frannie and Kristy were standing
together, and he stopped behind them just as Kristy whispered, “Who’s that man
Charley is dancing with?”

Both Cole and Frannie turned to stare at
the dance floor.

“Oh, that’s Sam Tyree.” Frannie grinned.
“Would you like to meet him?”

“I already have.” Kristy’s tone was chill.
“He’s arrogant, conceited, and insulting.”

Frannie laughed. “Oh, yeah. You’ve met
him.”

Cole finally located the couple and his
eyes narrowed. The man holding Charley in his arms was every bit as tall as own
six feet, two inches. His hair was black as night, and muscles bulged from the
short-sleeved shirt he was wearing. And he was laughing down into Charley’s
upturned face as they moved around the dance floor. “I don’t remember any
family named Tyree from around here.” He kept his eyes glued to them as Kristy
and Frannie both turned to look at him.

“That’s because he’s only lived here for
five years. Do you remember Gus Ferguson? Sam is his nephew. When Gus died, Sam
inherited his ranch.” Frannie smiled at him. “We were beginning to think you
weren’t going to make it.”

Cole ignored her last statement. “They
dance together like they’re used to doing it.”

Frannie glanced back at the dance floor.
“They are. Charley and Sam are good friends.”

“I see.”

She studied his face for a second then
shook her head. “No, I don’t think you do.” She gestured. “Take a good look at
the women in this room.”

Cole glanced at her then let his gaze sweep
the room. He paused, then looked again. Every single feminine eye in the place
was locked on Sam Tyree.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Frannie
nod with satisfaction. “Every woman in the state has been chasing him since the
minute he moved here. Except one. Charley. She’s not interested so he feels
safe with her. That’s why they’re friends.”

“Only one?” a deep male voice teased.

“Two,” Frannie hastily clarified as she
turned to smile at the man encircling her waist with one arm. “I’m not
interested, either. Ben, you remember Cole Jordan, don’t you?”

“Of course.” Ben Zimmerman extended a hand.
“Cole, good to have you back.”

“Thanks.” Cole shook his hand. “Good to be
back. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to dance.”

He’d barely taken two steps when Kristy
stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Don’t look now, but Victor Channing is
trying to head you off.”

“Great,” he muttered as Charley’s uncle
made his way through the crowd, Douglas Ashton at his side. He glanced down at
Kristy while they waited. “What’s with you and Sam Tyree? It didn’t sound like
you care much for him.”

Kristy shrugged. “Apparently his ranch
borders our Duncan Mills property. He doesn’t like having his cows disturbed by
the work crews. But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” She smiled at him and moved
away.

Channing stopped next to him, beaming at
the dance floor. “They make a wonderful couple, don’t you think? I expect an
announcement any day.”

“Is that right?” Cole couldn’t hide his
grin of amusement.

The man next to him sobered. “Stay away
from her, Jordan. We both know you don’t love her. You’re here to get revenge
on me, and you know Charley is the best way to do it.” He paused. “It won’t do
you any good to tell her the truth. She won’t believe you.”

“Then you don’t have anything to worry
about, do you, Victor.” He left Channing standing and started toward Charley
again.

The first song had ended and a slow one was
starting when he reached them. Politely, he tapped Charley’s partner on the
shoulder. “May I?”

A slight tinge of red crept up Charley’s
cheeks as she saw him, but her smile of welcome had him feeling dazed. “You
made it,” she said.

“I told you I would,” he said softly.
Tonight her eyes seemed more green than hazel and he could feel himself sinking
into them.

There was a gruff laugh from next to them.
“Well, I can see I just lost my protector.”

The red in Charley’s cheeks deepened. “I’m
sorry. Cole this Sam Tyree. Sam, this is Cole Jordan.”

“I figured that out for myself.” Sam held
out a hand. “If you have time tonight, I’d like to talk you about one of your
projects.”

Cole tore his gaze away from Charley long
enough to reach for the extended hand, and then stared at Sam in amazement.
From across the room, the man had looked like a full-blooded Indian, but now
that he was in front of him, he could see that the eyes looking back at him
were a clear, crystal blue. The color, set against the deep bronze of his skin
was startling, to say the least. “Actually, all my time tonight is taken. But
if it’s about Duncan Mills, you need to talk to Kristy. She’s in complete
charge there.”

Tyree sighed. “I was afraid you were going
to say that. Well, you two have fun.” He smiled at Charley. “Don’t forget to
come out to the ranch this weekend and pick up your birthday present. Bring
Jordan with you.”

Cole turned to Charley and finally pulled
her against him. “I thought he’d never leave,” he murmured as her arms twined
around his neck. “What birthday present do you have to pick up?”

“A puppy. Sam promised me one from the next
litter and they’re ready now. Do you want to go with me?”

“You bet I do.” He tightened his grip on
her. “Especially since I heard you and Sam are practically engaged.”

Charley’s mouth dropped open. “Who told you
that?”

“Your uncle.”

She squeezed her eyes shut briefly and
dropped her forehead onto his chest. “I swear, that man is acting positively
bizarre. He doesn’t even like Sam that much, but he’s been pushing us together
all evening. I have no idea what’s gotten into him.”

Cole knew, but he couldn’t tell her yet.
Even now he could see Victor scowling at them. He’d be damned if he let the man
spoil tonight for them, though. He’d waited too long. He tilted Charley’s head
up so he could look into her eyes again. “Forget your uncle, and forget Sam.”

She smiled at him. “You weren’t even a
little jealous?”

“Is he taking you home tonight?”

“No.” The words were soft. “You are.”

“Then I’m not jealous.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her, was
still having trouble believing that she was here, in his arms. They were only
moving enough to give the illusion of dancing, and even that little bit of
movement was driving him crazy. Every inch of her body was pressed against him,
from the sweet swell of her breast to the long warmth of her thighs.

Even as he watched, the expression on her
face changed, the look in her eyes became more intense. Her arms slowly
tightened around his neck, pulling his head down to hers. When her lips parted,
he lost the battle with decorum. Giving up all pretense of dancing, he pulled
her up onto her toes and covered her mouth with his. The rest of the room faded
away as he drank in her taste, the feel of her willing lips moving under his.
Their tongues touched, caressed tenderly, then ravaged as they were both caught
in a web of sensation.

If Cole hadn’t had his feet firmly planted,
they probably would have crashed to the floor when another couple jostled into
them, but the collision did break them apart just long enough for him to regain
his senses. He couldn’t make love to her in the middle of a crowded dance floor
no matter what his heated body was screaming. Letting his lips brush hers one
more time, he took her hand. “Ready for your birthday present?”

“Oh, Cole. You didn’t have to get me
anything. I told Frannie to let everyone know I didn’t expect them to bring
gifts.”

He pulled her toward the office. “You’re
letting Sam give you a pup. You can’t refuse to take my gift.” Pushing the door
open he sat on the edge of the desk and pulled her between his thighs before
handing her the package. He wanted to see her face when she opened it.

With his hands on her hips, he watched as
she carefully removed the bow and pulled away the expensive wrapping paper to
reveal the blue velvet box. She glanced up at him, one perfect eyebrow arched
in question. “Open it,” he encouraged.

Slowly, she lifted the lid and gazed down
at the gold ID bracelet that nestled inside. A single diamond dangled from one
corner of the nameplate. For a moment she was silent, but when she looked up
again her eyes were misted with tears.

“I still have the other one,” she murmured,
her voice husky with emotion. “It’s in my jewelry box at home.”

“This one won’t turn your arm green,” he
smiled ruefully.

Charley’s laugh was shaky. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew. You wore it constantly
for a year. The green was hard to miss.” He brushed a strand of hair away from
her face. “I spent a whole fifteen dollars on that bracelet. It embarrassed me
to death. I swore to myself that someday I’d replace it with a good one.”

“It looks awfully expensive.” There was
hint of doubt in her tone.

Cole slipped it out of the box, careful to
keep his fingers over the inscription hidden under the clasp, and put it on her
arm. “They won’t take it back after your name is on it, so you have to keep
it.” He’d taken a big chance with that inscription. If she saw it too soon, it
could drive her away from him. But he knew Charley. She really hadn’t taken the
first one off for a year, and he was praying her sentimentality would have the
same results this time.

“Thank you, Cole. It’s the most beautiful
thing I’ve ever seen.” She leaned over and kissed him just as the office door
swung open.

“There you are, darlin’.”

Charley turned at her uncle’s voice, but
Cole kept his arms around her, and she didn’t seem to be in any rush to step
away from him.

“Your guests are asking for you. I thought
I raised you better than to vanish from your own party,” Channing chided her
gently.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Victor.” She threw a
polite smile at Douglas before continuing. “Cole was just giving me my birthday
present. Isn’t it beautiful?” She held her arm out for his inspection.

Channing glanced down, the smile staying on
his face. “It’s a nice little trinket. Now go mingle, girl.”

“I will.” She turned to smile at Cole.
“Ready to go back?”

He slid off the desk and stood.

“Why don’t you go on ahead, Sweetie. I need
to talk a little business with Cole.”

She nodded. “Okay, but don’t keep him too
long. This is a party, remember.”

Cole settled against the desk again, arms
crossed over his chest, waiting. It didn’t take long. As soon as Charley was
through the door, Channing closed it behind her, his smile fading in a hurry.

“I’m warning you for the last time, Jordan.
Stay away from my niece.”

“Or what, Victor? You’ll slap my wrist?
Tell a few more lies?” Cole stood. “Give it up. Charley belongs to me. She
always has, and she always will. As much as you wanted to, as hard as you
tried, you couldn’t make her quit loving me. You’ve finally found something you
can’t control.”

“She’ll never believe you!” Channing’s
voice was low and desperate. “You can’t prove a thing. She’ll never trust you
again!”

Cole walked by him and stopped at the door,
shooting a look of disgust over his shoulder. “Wrong again, Victor. She’s
already starting to trust me, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Because
of you, Charley and I have wasted ten years that we should have spent together.
I don’t intend to waste another minute. Now tell your…friend, to get out of my
way.” He met Douglas’ cold eyes and held them until the man stepped away from
the door.

* * * * *

The streetlights plunged them in and out of
darkness as Cole steered the Jag toward Charley’s house. He glanced at her. She
was staring down at the bracelet intently, even though he was pretty sure she
wasn’t actually seeing it. He had watched her nervousness build all evening. By
the time the party ended, he’d halfway expected her to back out. But she
hadn’t. The thought had his stomach churning. She wanted him as much as he
wanted her.

“What did Uncle Victor want to talk to you
about?”

“He had some problems. I addressed them.”

“Oh, good. Maybe he’s starting to come
around.”

Cole smiled at her. “Maybe.” He pulled the
car into her driveway and parked behind her Blazer. Charley made no effort to
exit on her own, and he walked around the car, opened the door and took her
hand. She was trembling.

“You know, I think I’m really going to
enjoy having a puppy,” she rattled as they walked across the lawn. “I’ve never
had a pet before.”

“Maybe I should think about getting a dog,
too. I’m sure Mrs. Paulson would feel safe from the bears if we had one
around.” He put his hand at her back as they started up the stairs.