Texas-Sized Temptation / Star of His Heart

“May you have such great fortune,” she teased and Jake rolled his eyes.

“Actually, Nick’s really happy. It’s been good for him. His dad is ecstatic, which is why my dad is so eager. Tony’s dad is just as bad. I’m a buffer for Gabe. Dad always focuses on me while Gabe squeaks by without as much interference. Heaven help him if I marry and get out of Dad’s sights. Enough about that.”

“I can’t imagine such a thing. Grandmother let me make so many of my choices with little direction from her.”

“Be thankful.” He finished his coffee. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, great,” she said, having no intention of telling him she couldn’t get him out of her thoughts; or how she had wanted his kisses. She wouldn’t admit when she had fallen asleep, she had dreamed about him. “And you?”

“Great, but I wasn’t in a strange bed in a strange house. This is home to me. Only one thing would have been an improvement,” he added with a huskier note entering his voice.

“I’m not asking about that improvement. You had an undisturbed night’s sleep. End of subject.”

“We’re through breakfast. Fred will clean this, so let’s get ready to go.”

“I can’t shake the feeling you’re putting me off about discussing a purchase,” she said, knowing she should drop it until he wanted to talk. She couldn’t get it out of mind more than a few minutes at a time.

“I’ve told you that we’ll talk, but I want to think about it first.”

“It seems incredibly simple to me. Sell me a small chunk of the ranch. Deal done. You’ll never miss it.”

“Maybe.”

“Surely you don’t want me out of this area. I have never done anything to hurt you,” she said, carrying her dishes to the sink in spite of what he’d said.

He caught her wrist as she set down the dishes and reached for the faucet. “I told you, no cleaning. And no, you’ve never done one thing to hurt me, nor has your grandmother. It’s your father and Will that I have strong feelings about.”

“Oh, surely, you can’t mean that you would hold that land just because I have the same name as Will.” She looked into unfathomable blue eyes and wondered how strong his hatred was.

“No, I don’t, Caitlin,” he said quietly and something inside her unclenched.

“I’m glad,” she said, realizing in first one way and then another, he was gaining her liking and her respect. He already stirred desire. It was becoming a potent and frightening combination because she didn’t want to care about Jake Benton or have her heart race when he looked at her. Scariest of all was admiring and liking him.

“With oil hanging in the balance, I just want to give some thought to my decision.”

“We both have old demons to get past,” she said.

“I agree. We’ve spent a lifetime hating each other’s families. It’s difficult to switch that off instantly. You rode over here angry with me all the way, didn’t you?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I’ve told you why—all those messages I left for you ignored by your employees.”

“I’ll have to talk to someone about that. Maybe they need to find out a little more about the person before they turn them away. On the other hand, I don’t think anyone would have reported to me that a very gorgeous woman was being told she couldn’t even have a phone conversation with me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Caitlin smiled.

He turned her to face him. “I’m not being ridiculous. You wouldn’t have stood a chance at getting me to sell any land back to you if we hadn’t met in person, I can truthfully tell you that. I’ve always lumped you in with your father and half brother.”

“Big mistake,” she said. “But then Grandmother didn’t like your family, so there you are. I didn’t, either.”

“Hopefully, that has changed forever for you.”

“Time will tell,” she said.

“That’s a reserved answer, Caitlin,” he said, studying her.

“My guess is, you feel the same way. You can’t expect me to be overjoyed with you if you turn me down and I’m definitely not saying that as an ultimatum.”

“Let’s not get into conflict when it isn’t necessary,” he said. His cell phone buzzed and he answered to talk briefly before placing it in his pocket again.

“The car, trailer and horse are waiting. Shall we go?” he asked. As they left the house, they emerged into a clear day with water still dripping from trees and the rooftops.

They reached the truck and Jake held her door while she climbed inside. In a short time they were on the highway and she thought of the long ride to his ranch on horseback and how angry and determined she had been to see him.

As they sped toward her ranch, she studied his profile. His stand toward his father’s unreasonable demand, his care for his sister and brother—she envied that slightly because she had never had any love or even much kindness or attention from Will. Those things softened her harsh feelings toward the Bentons. Plus the wild unwanted allurement that had captured both of them.

Jake was turning out to be so different from the man she had imagined him to be. Much more appealing. Yet beneath all the good things lay their past history. He was a Benton who had done unacceptable things to Santerres. Will’s dislike of Jake and competition with him in sports and school was legendary. Maybe both had excelled simply because they were each trying to outdo the other.

Soon they were on what had once been Santerre land, and she grew more tense with each mile. She wanted to keep her house, keep the people who had worked for her grandmother. Damn Will and his selfish ways and the ultimate cruelty in selling all this to Jake without giving her any chance to buy part of it.

“In a way, I’m surprised Will would sell you the mineral rights.”

“I wouldn’t have bought the ranch otherwise, but Will told me there’s no oil. His father had geologists study the land, even leased it at one point, but they gave up and said there was no oil.”

“What about natural gas?”

Jake smiled at her. “As far as Will’s concerned, if there’s no oil, there’s no gas. Will is into buildings and cities and finance, not oil, gas and wind. Or even water rights. There’s a lot of water on your ranch.”

“I can’t believe Will’s lawyers let him do this without giving him a lot of advice that was solid.”

“Your brother doesn’t strike me as the type to take advice well. Not even from men he hires to give it to him.”

She nodded. “You’re right. Will is supremely confident. It helps him in many ways, but sometimes it blinds him.”

“You’re so much younger. I’m surprised you were around him often.”

“I wasn’t, but we had family gatherings because my father was the darling of my grandmother.”

“What about you?”

“Oh, yes. She was wonderful to me. I’m a granddaughter, the daughter she never had. But she loved my father with all her being. He loved her, too, so we were together on holidays where Will made his presence felt. I hated being with him because when I was little, he was mean. He’d pinch me or thump me. When I’d cry, he’d deny he had done anything. He’d say I was pretending until Grandmother lectured him. With someone checking on him, he left me alone, but he was never nice, never a brother. Since she passed, he’s barely spoken to me.”

“Will is something else,” Jake said with disgust in his voice.

When they topped a hill, a tall three-story Victorian house came into view. Trees surrounded it and shaded the steeply sloped rooftops, gables, balconies and wide bay windows.

“See, Jake, it’s a beautiful old house built by the first Santerre.”

“That wasn’t the first house,” he said.

“There’s a tiny log house that was the first, but in time, this house was built. The family considers it the first real ranch house.”

She wanted Jake to see the house, meet the people who worked for her and had devoted years to her grandmother. It should be much more difficult for Jake to displace them if he knew them, rather than faceless, nameless entities.

They drove to the corral where a wiry, sandy-haired man with streaks and sideburns of gray came forward to greet her. His weathered face was tan from years in the sun.

“Jake, meet our foreman, Kirby Lenox,” she said when she stepped out of the truck and greeted Kirby. “Kirby, this is Jake Benton.”

She watched the two shake hands and Kirby size up Jake. She saw no reaction from Jake except a friendly greeting, but she suspected he was taking in everything he saw to help him make his decision about her place.

“I’ll get the horse now. It won’t take long and then you two can go on to the house,” Kirby told them.

As he backed the horse out of the trailer, Jake watched. “That’s a fine horse,” he said, looking over her bay.

“This one’s a dandy. Caitlin has a keen eye for a horse.”

“That’s because I learned from you,” she said, smiling at Kirby.

He grinned as he patted the horse. “He’s a fine one. He’s Caitlin’s favorite. Nice to meet you, Mr. Benton.”

“It’s Jake, Kirby. We’ll see each other again,” he said easily as he held the pickup door for Caitlin.

She felt as if she were walking on broken glass, treading carefully, hoping Jake would appreciate the old house and the people or at least like them even half as much as she did.

“Thanks,” she said. In minutes Jake stopped in front of the house and walked around to open her door. He took her arm in a light touch that was a blistering contact.

“Come look around,” she said, gazing with satisfaction at the porch with wooden rockers, swings, pots of blooming flowers. Lacy gingerbread spindles formed the posts and lacy curtains were pulled back inside the bay windows. Caitlin sighed, wondering how anyone could resist the house’s charm.

“This is too beautiful to bulldoze,” she said as they crossed the porch. “I don’t think a Benton has ever been in this house,” she added, knowing this was another twist in the history of the family feud.

When he didn’t answer, she became silent. The door swung open and Caitlin faced Cecilia whose big brown eyes went from her to Jake and back to Caitlin. “I’m back. Cecilia, I want you to meet Jake Benton.”

“Mr. Benton, welcome to Caitlin’s home,” Cecilia said warmly, extending her hand to Jake who smiled as he took her hand.

“Jake, this is Cecilia Mayes. I’ve told you about her,” Caitlin said, studying the two of them. Jake sounded incredibly polite, not the least a hard-hearted owner who would evict them. He towered over Cecilia who was only five feet tall, small-boned and thin. She wore a flowered cotton housedress and sandals. Her gray hair was fastened behind her head in a bun. She looked as sweet as she actually was to everyone and Caitlin loved her deeply and wanted to protect her from harm.

“I’m glad to meet you, ma’am,” Jake said politely. “Please just call me Jake.”

“Certainly,” she said. “Come in, please. We can sit in the front parlor and I hope you’ll stay for lunch with us. I told Altheda to plan for that.”

“Thank you, but I should get home before then. I can sit a minute and visit.”

“Fine,” she said.

“Cecilia, I want to take Jake to meet Altheda and show him a little of the house. Then we’ll join you in the front parlor.”

“Of course,” Cecilia said.

“I want you to see some of the inside of this house,” she told Jake when she was alone with him. “The original house is over a hundred years old. Grandmother made changes, had closets built in, added a wing, a deck and pool, an entertainment center. I’ve added an office. Even so, a lot is still the same.”

Fresh flowers from the garden were on the dining room table, visible from the wide hall when they walked through the open door. Jake’s Western boots scraped the polished plank floor. Tempting smells of baking bread wafted in the air and Caitlin was pleased by the appearance of the house.

Deep red velvet chairs circled the mahogany dining table. Cut glass and silver filled a breakfront.

“This room was off limits to me as a very small child unless I was invited to eat in here with the family. We had holiday gatherings fairly often when I was small. There won’t be any now or anytime in the future.”

“I remember our family get-togethers, tedious to mind my manners, yet fun in teasing Brittany and Gabe when they couldn’t get back at me.”

“Will did that anytime he was here. The first few times I told on him, he denied everything and I got in trouble, so I just learned to endure his mischief. Only he was mean, pinching me during the family prayer when he knew I wouldn’t yell, mean tricks he could get away with.”

“The bastard,” Jake said.

“That’s what Will called me far too often when no one else could hear him. If he got a chance, he reminded me that I was born out of wedlock and neither of my parents wanted me enough to keep me.”

She hoped she kept emotion out of her voice, but it was difficult even after all these years to be unemotional about Will’s accusations that actually were on target.

“Thank heavens for my grandmother,” Caitlin added.

“She gave you almost as much as your father could have given you. If he had taken you in, you would have had to live under the same roof as Will and you would never have known your grandmother as well as you did.”

“I’ve thought of that many times. Were I given a choice to live my life over with Dad or again with Grandmother, I would pick my life with Grandmother. It was a happy time growing up and she was loving and wonderful to me.”

“She didn’t have the same charitable attitude toward my father.”

“Definitely not. She disliked him enormously because of the beating he gave my dad.”

“Our families have a long and violent history,” Jake remarked.

“I don’t know if either of us can ever view the other without thinking about our bloodlines,” she said.

“I definitely can look at you and forget,” Jake said softly. “When I am near you, that old feud is the last thing I’m thinking about.”

“I’m not pursuing what you are thinking about,” she stated with a laugh. “Let me show you more of the house.

“Here’s the kitchen,” she said, entering a room she loved with a high ceiling and glass-fronted cabinets. Floor-to-ceiling glass gave a panoramic view of the pool and a decorator-designed deck.

Two ceiling fans slowly revolved. A woman in a black uniform with a white apron turned to smile at them. In her hand she held a tray from the oven with tempting-looking brownies.

“Jake, this is Altheda Perkins who has worked here since she was seventeen. Altheda, meet Jake Benton, the man who now owns the ranch.”

“Glad to meet you Mr. Benton,” she said politely, her smile fading slightly for a brief moment and then returning. Her white hair was a mass of curls framing her face. “Would either of you care for a brownie and milk? I can bring them to the front parlor.”

Jake declined at the same time Caitlin did. “We both just finished breakfast. Perhaps later this morning, we might enjoy a bite.”

To Jake she said, “The cabinets in here are the originals. The glass fronts are more trouble to take care of, but Altheda is willing and I love them.”

“Nice kitchen,” he said, looking around. The appliances were as up-to-date as his own, yet the kitchen retained the charm and appearance of another century and Caitlin loved every inch of it.

Caitlin showed him the new part of the house only briefly, dwelling more on the original and older rooms and areas. She tried to make him see that he would be destroying a treasure if he tore it down.

Beyond a polite interest, she couldn’t detect any other feelings about what he was seeing. She loved her grandmother’s house more than any other place and couldn’t see it as anything except a precious home that should be maintained and enjoyed.

How steeped was Jake in the hatred that always lay smoldering between the two families?

She led him through downstairs rooms and then they returned to join Cecilia in the parlor.

Jake sat, talking politely to Cecilia, laughing at a story she told that had involved him in town. Occasionally as they talked, Caitlin glanced at her watch or the clock on the mantel and was gratified to see that an hour had passed and Jake not only showed no signs of leaving, but seemed to be enjoying himself talking to Cecilia.

Altheda appeared with brownies, a pot of steaming coffee, mugs and saucers.

Jake made a phone call and let Caitlin talk him into staying for lunch.

It was after two in the afternoon when he said he had to get back to the ranch and Caitlin went out to his truck with him.

He held her arm to walk around to his side. “I’d like to walk off into the woods with you or the nearest shed or anywhere we could be alone.”

“I don’t need to ask why in the world you’d want to do that,” she replied, amused, wanting the same thing herself, which she would never admit to him. “I don’t think that’s possible. You’ll be alone with me tonight.”

“I’ll be at a restaurant with people everywhere.”

“I think you’ll manage. I’m glad you stayed today and visited with Cecilia.”

“She’s sweet and reminds me of my grandmother on my mother’s side. She knows a lot about people in these parts.”

“Cecilia used to get out a lot, go to town and she had many friends. She’s become more reclusive in the last years.”

He ran his hand across Caitlin’s shoulder. “I’ll see you in a few hours. Thanks again for lunch.”

“Thanks for taking me in during the storm and hearing my plea finally.”

He nodded and climbed into his truck and drove away. She walked to the porch and stood watching the truck on the road to the highway.

Cecilia came out to stand beside her. “Caitlin, watch out. He’ll break your heart if you’re not careful.”

Startled, Caitlin turned. “I won’t let that happen. I barely know him.”

“He’s a charming man. He’s also accustomed to getting what he wants. Not one word was mentioned about selling land back to you, so I assume he’s put you off with an answer.”

“Yes, he has until this week when he can talk to his brother and some people at his office.”

“He’s dangling you along. He wants you and this ranch. I don’t think he’s going to sell to you.”

“Whatever happens,” Caitlin said, growing somber over hearing her own sentiments spoken aloud by Cecilia, “I promise, I’ll take care of you and Altheda. Kirby, too.”

“We can all manage. Your grandmother left us each a trust that will take care of us financially. We’ll get along.” Cecilia’s gaze ran over the porch and tears filled her eyes. “I love this old house and I know you do, too,” she said gently. “It may just be time for all of us to let go and move on. Change is life, Caitlin. You know that. You’ve done your best to win him over, but those Bentons are a hard-hearted bunch toward the Santerres. He hates your brother. It shows in his cold blue eyes.”

“Cecilia, Jake isn’t so awfully cold,” Caitlin said, having a strange feeling of not being truthful. She had a knot in her throat and hated to hear what she feared voiced aloud.

“Just don’t fall in love with him, honey. You’re going out with him tonight. You be careful. That man doesn’t have your interests at heart. At least not now.”

“It’s just dinner and I’ll be careful,” Caitlin promised, looking into Cecilia’s worried brown eyes. They both stepped closer to hug each other and Caitlin could feel Cecilia’s thin shoulders and hurt for her. “Cecilia, I’d do anything to keep him from uprooting you and the others,” she said, fighting tears.

“Don’t,” Cecilia said firmly, pulling away and holding Caitlin’s shoulders. “Do not do anything foolish to get your way. He’ll take advantage of you and hurt you. We’ll all be fine and stop worrying about us. You’ve talked to him about selling and you’ve done your part.”

Caitlin nodded. “I better check my calls and emails. I haven’t since this morning.”

“You’ll have to put it off for a few more minutes because here comes Kirby,” Cecilia said. “I’m going in. He’ll want to talk to you, not me. I’m guessing he’s in his fatherly mode. We all want to keep you from getting hurt while you’re trying to protect us.”

Caitlin saw the foreman striding toward her, a lanky, relaxed walk that still covered ground rapidly. She had a sinking feeling he might want to air his feelings and warn her to be careful around Jake, too.

Cecilia left and in minutes Kirby climbed the porch steps to lean against a post facing her as she sat and gently rocked.

“I saw Benton drive away. I hear he’s taking you out tonight.”

Caitlin couldn’t keep from smiling. “You three have a grapevine that carries news faster than text messaging.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Altheda told me. She had lunch for the boys and me and I was up here to get it and talked to her.”

“And she must have just found out from Jake’s remarks. Yes, I’m going out with him and I’ll be fine.”

“Look, you’re doing this for the three of us, primarily. Dusty and Red, too, because the outcome will impact them. Jake Benton’s a tough man. I’ve ridden against him in rodeos. I’ve seen Will come up against him and end up the worse for it. I’d say you forget trying to save this place. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“Kirby, you’re like an older brother to me—or a dad.”

“I believe at my age, dad is a better comparison,” he said and she smiled fleetingly, her mind on his warning.

“I’ll take care of myself and I don’t want any of you to worry. Jake won’t hurt me. I’m not getting that involved with him.”

“He’s broken more than a few hearts in this county,” Kirby said.

She gazed to the east, thinking about Jake driving home to his ranch.

“I’ll be careful. You stop worrying. I’ve already been warned by Cecilia.”

“You might as well give up on him selling the place. That man isn’t going to let you have it back. Trucks are pouring in here at that rig where they are drilling. I’ve watched them with binoculars from the barn loft. They’re busy as can be. I wouldn’t be surprised if they do find oil. Your dad never thought there was any here, but that time they drilled it was far over in the eastern corner, not up here near the house. They find oil, you can forget any hope of getting part of this ranch back.”

“I know. He retains all mineral rights, so he could go right ahead.”

“It’s not conducive to raising cattle.”

“I couldn’t just give up without asking. Just please, don’t you worry.”

Kirby straightened up. “All right. I’ve said my say and I’ll head back to work.” He turned and went down the porch steps.

“Kirby—” She waited until he turned around to meet her gaze. “Thank you. I love you for watching out for me.”

“You take care, Caitlin. I can’t watch out enough to protect you.”

She nodded and he walked away, heading back to the barn. Shortly he was in the truck and drove off on one of the ranch’s paths.

With a sigh, she went inside, mulling over the warnings against Jake that reaffirmed her own reactions. Neither Kirby nor Cecilia expected Jake to sell back to her. She headed to the kitchen, knowing she might as well listen now to Altheda, hear her cautions and then she could go back to her work to check on her galleries and orders.

When she finally stepped inside her office, she closed the door. Feeling drained, she was more worried than ever about the future of the ranch.

Caitlin soon gave up trying to work because she couldn’t keep her mind on anything except Jake. Memories of his kisses tormented her. Questions about his decision concerning the ranch were as constant a concern. All the time she bathed and dressed, she moved as if only half conscious of her actions. Kirby’s and Cecilia’s warnings made her view the evening with more caution, big reminders to be careful.

In spite of the warnings, her pulse speeded at the prospect. Her feelings toward Jake were mixed; fear he would destroy the place she loved, attraction, family hatreds, excitement. The dinner date would give her another chance to try to talk him into selling. What was really holding him back? Was he trying to get something from her besides a payment? Seduction? Perhaps tonight would bring answers.