CHAPTER THREE

 

 

 

Dinner was an awkward affair. The men held up their end of the conversation, but the women were quite silent.

“Tomorrow, I thought we’d do a little fishing and maybe take a horseback ride since we discussed the possibility of a trail ride today,” Doug suggested waving his fork around.

“I don’t know,” Connor protested, laughing. “I’ve never been on a horse.”

“Oh…” Karin made a little moaning noise. “I’d love to teach you how to ride. I’m sure you’d be a natural.”

“I was half raised on a horse, I’ll take care of Connor,” Rey spoke up, earning a smile from her supposed lover and a scathing look from Karin.

“Excellent.” Doug never missed a beat. “Who wants more shrimp?” He picked up a little bell. “I can summon the cook. I’m sure there’s plenty left in the kitchen.”

“I’m full,” Rey said quickly. “The food was delicious. I’ve never had better. Your staff is amazing.”

“I agree. I hope we can find someone with equal skill to man the restaurant at the resort,” Connor inserted. “I would think good help would be hard to find in this area. The population is sparse and very rural.”

“Don’t be fooled, some of the greatest cooks in the world live around here. This region is the crossroads of several culinary cuisines – Southern, Cajun, Creole, Tex-Mex, and BBQ,” Rey spoke with a certain amount of pride.

“I agree. Bettina is training someone as we speak,” Doug interjected with pride.

“You seem to really have everything under control,” Rey complimented her host. Next to her, Connor jumped. It didn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out what was going on. Even though she still had food on her plate, Karin had a voracious look on her face. She shifted her body and in the next beat, Connor lurched in his chair again.

Leaning back, Rey glanced under the table and sure enough…Karin was attempting to play footsie with Connor. Oh, no. This wasn’t happening. The irate fire that rose in her breast had little to do with their agreement and a lot to do with… “Connor, sweetheart, I’m sitting in a draft.” She pointed to a vent. “Could we change seats?”

Connor seemed a bit surprised, then his face softened in relief. “Sure, doll. I’d be glad to.” In a moment, they’d switched places and Karin found herself across from Rey instead of Connor.

“Should I slip off my shoes?” Rey whispered to her as Connor struck up another conversation with Doug.

“If you do, I’ll grind your foot into the floor,” Karin answered sweetly with a saccharine smile on her face.

Rey turned her attention to the men who were discussing a proposed timeline for the resort project. Just to mess with Karin, Rey placed her hand on Connor’s arm. After a little while, she let it slide up to his shoulder, where she kneaded his bicep, then the back of his neck. Finally, she began to play with his hair. Nothing too overt, just enough to drive the other woman crazy.

Rey couldn’t help but feel satisfied when Connor lost train of a sentence and shut his eyes while she massaged his neck, or leaned more into her touch. The more she did it, the more turned on Rey became. When she began squirming in her chair, she stopped, sitting on her hands in order to keep them to herself. Across the table, Karin watched with daggers in her eyes. If looks could kill, Rey would be dead.

Thank God, Doug seemed oblivious to the whole spectacle. He jumped happily from one topic to the next, asking Connor’s opinion on things as they visualized the outcome of their vision. “What shall we call the resort, McGregor? Any ideas?”

Connor seemed to consider his words, searching for a name. “How about Whispering Pines?”

“Perfect!” Karin exclaimed clapping her hands. “You’re a genius, Connor.”

“I like it too,” Douglas agreed with a smile.

“Good. Actually, it was Rey’s idea.” He turned to give her a wink. “She’s the genius.”

“Hardly,” Rey blushed, but the look on Karin’s face was priceless. 

…Later, after dessert and a nightcap around the fireplace, Connor and Rey escaped to their room. Shutting the door, he leaned against it and exhaled loud and long. “Damn, I’m glad that’s over with. Thanks for saving me back there, you were great.”

“No problem,” Rey mumbled, digging through her suitcase. “Crap, I didn’t bring a robe.” When she packed, the idea of sleeping in the same room as Connor wasn’t even in the realm of possibility. In a hurry, she’d just grabbed the first thing her fingers found in the underwear drawer. Picking up a pink T-shirt with a cat on it, her toothbrush, toothpaste, and a pony-tail holder, Rey sighed, “Great, I’m going to look like a preteen at her first slumber party.”

“What did you say?” Connor was watching her closely, distracted by the fact that she was headed to the bathroom – to strip. They were about to crawl into the same bed. Maybe all they were going to do was sleep, but this was huge. Yes, he’d had sex with more than a few women. Most of them he hadn’t shared a bed with for one second longer than to do what was necessary. Connor had perfected the art of casual sex and a quick exit. The excuse of only being able to sleep in his own bed or the white lie that he snored like a twelve-hundred-pound gorilla were time-honored and practically foolproof.

Tonight was different, however. He was about to go to bed with his best friend.

“I’m just grumbling, pay me no mind.” Rey shut herself in the bathroom and turned on the water. 

Stepping to the door, he tapped on it. “Hey, which side do you prefer?”

Inside, Rey jumped. “The right, unless that’s what you prefer.”

Her voice was muffled and a little breathless. “All right…I’ll just…wait out here.” Connor knew there was a huge tub as well as a shower that could hold a basketball team, but the chance of Rey inviting him to join her was zilch. He went to his own bag and pulled out a pair of lounge pants, pacing up and down the room, growing hard just thinking what she might look like in the shower. All naked and slippery, wet and warm. A groan escaped his lips and for the first time Connor questioned the wisdom of his plan. Being in the same bed with Rey and not touching her might just kill him.

…In the bathroom, Rey finished her shower and climbed out. Her condo was nice, but this place was a whole other ballgame. She’d never seen so many shower heads or used a bidet before. Wiping herself off with a thick white towel, she was very aware Connor was in the next room. Only a single door separated them. He was out there, waiting on her to finish – and she was in here, nude and vulnerable. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared, willing herself to be different. Taller. Curvier. Prettier. Like her sister always said, Rey was so ordinary that if you looked up ‘average’ in the dictionary, her photo would be there as an example.

After brushing her teeth, she caught her hair up in a ponytail. “Now, it’s official. I look like one of the little girls from Despicable Me.”

Taking a deep breath, she picked up her stuff and returned to the bedroom.

“Oh, have mercy on me,” he whispered as Rey rejoined him. He could tell she was nervous, the woman had no idea how cute she looked or how much he’d love to wrestle her to the bed and love on her for a while. Connor raked a hand through his hair. “Through?”

“All yours.” She gave him a quick smile, racing for the bed. If she could just get under the covers, maybe she could burrow down so deep he’d forget she was there.

“Thanks,” Connor muttered, intent on doing his business as quickly as possible. To say he was anxious to get in the bed with her was an understatement. Was anything going to happen? Probably not. Did he want it to? Oh, hell yeah.

Connor was having a hard time processing his feelings. Suddenly, when he looked at his best friend and partner, all he saw was a desirable woman. The kiss they’d shared changed everything. As hard as he’d tried, Connor hadn’t been able to get it out of his mind. Stepping beneath the spray, his cock was strutted and swollen, throbbing with desire for the woman who waited in his bed. A woman he wouldn’t touch tonight…unless she invited him to do so.

He stroked himself a couple of times, but resisted jacking off. It just didn’t seem right, not when Rey was so close.

Once he was clean, Connor glared at himself in the mirror. Did he like what he saw? Did he like the man he’d become? He knew Rey respected him, or at least she respected his business sense. She counted herself as his friend. But was she attracted to him? “Hell!” He honestly didn’t know. The woman knew everything about him – good and bad. She frequently pointed out his faults. But could she…want him?

The question lingered in his mind as he flipped off the light and started for bed. “Damn, it’s black as pitch in here. What did you do? Close all the blinds?”

“I like to sleep in the dark,” came her muffled reply.

“Isn’t having your head covered up a sufficient cloaking device?” Connor asked as he moved along cautiously in the dark. “Ow! Damn! Blast it all!”

“What’s wrong?” Her voice sounded – clearer and concerned.

“I stubbed my frikkin’ toe on the end of the bed,” he grumbled.

Suddenly the room was flooded with light and Connor got his first glimpse of Rey - waiting for him.

“Sorry. Are you okay?”

He searched for a word as his brain attempted to function. The woman he knew almost as well as himself looked the same…yet different. “Yea,” he finally managed to answer as a peculiar sharp pang hit him in the chest. His hand rose to rub at the troublesome spot. “I’m good.”

The few steps he took around the end of the bed and on up the other side seemed momentous. All the other women he’d been with over the years were gone from his mind.

Only Rey remained.

Sitting there among the pile of pillows, she seized his attention as no one else ever had. Her appeal for him went way beyond her physical beauty, although she was exquisite. There was no artifice and no put-on. Her face was scrubbed free of the little makeup she normally wore but every feature was fine and perfect. The clothing covering her body was not fashioned to entice, yet the temptation to know what lay beneath it was more tantalizing than any sexy lingerie could ever be.

This was Rey. 

He was intimately acquainted with her intelligence and her talents.

Now, he wanted to be equally familiar with her body and what it would take to make her tremble with need.

As he drew back the covers, his eyes never left her face. A tiny, worried frown puckered her forehead and the light from the lamp highlighted the streaks of gold in her light brown hair. What he could see of her skin, where the nightshirt hung off one shoulder, glowed in the pale light, beckoning his fingers to see if it was as smooth and warm as it appeared. She looked delicious and imminently touchable and he couldn’t wait to see for himself if he was right. “Aren’t you tired?”

“I should be,” she licked her lips. What was wrong with her? Rey had seen him without a shirt before, she knew he was ripped and fit. Connor took care of himself. Yet, she’d never been in this position before. “Aren’t you going to wear a shirt?” she asked, her mouth dry. Rey had to wrap her arms about herself to keep from reaching for him. She wanted to run her palms over his chest, play in the light dusting of hair, and memorize the intriguing planes of muscle that made him look like he stepped off the cover of a Men’s Fitness magazine.

“No. I get hot at night.” As he yanked the covers farther down, so he could crawl in, he uncovered her bare legs. For her diminutive height, they were long and shaped like a dancer’s – lithe and supple. All Conner could envision was them wrapped tightly around his waist as he pumped inside of her, over and over.

And he was supposed to stay on his side of the bed?

Rey noticed his staring and jumped to her feet. “Sorry. I didn’t think. I’ll put on some pants.”

“No, no, no,” Connor protested, questioning his own sanity. “We’re fine. We’ve got this whole continental divide thing going on here.” He pointed at the high ridge of pillows she’d constructed to ensure that neither of them ventured onto the other’s territory. “We can do this.”

Rey hesitated, but slowly returned to sit on the coverlet. She was being silly. This was Connor, the same man with whom she worked every day. Seeing him settling in the bed, Rey sought to say something to get the attention off their circumstances. “Karin is doing everything she can to make this difficult. I see why you asked me to help you.”

Connor felt a twinge of guilt over Rey’s admission. “Yes, she is. But nothing more than I expected.” Most of the women he’d dated knew the score and shared his affinity for dalliances with no expectations and no promises. Karin, on the other hand, had revealed herself to be a collector of men. She enjoyed keeping numerous conquests dangling on a string and was averse to anyone who had the audacity to want off her erotic trotline.

“I just don’t know how Douglas can put up with her. It’s just so insulting to him that she flirts with you in front of his face.” Rey went to her knees on the mattress and proceeded to pound her pillow into a desired shape.

“Douglas is basically a country boy who made good. I think he was more infatuated with Karin’s reputation as a supermodel, than he was with the person herself.” As Connor watched Rey assault her pillow, he became amused. “What are you doing? Did your pillow insult you in some way?”

Rey threw one more good punch, then curled on her side to face him. “There was a big lump in there somewhere.” She gave him a beatific smile. “Ready for me to turn off the light?”

No, he wasn’t tired of looking at her yet. “Yea, I guess so. Go ahead.”

She rolled over to click the switch and once more they were in the dark. He felt the bed give as she tried to find a comfortable position.

“Rey?”

“Yea?” she responded, finally becoming still.

“Thanks for helping me, I know this is hard…pretending.”

“Yea, it’s difficult.” Not for the reason he thought, but he was right, this was hard. Being here with Connor and pretending to be his girlfriend was like attending one of those shows put on by street magicians – it was all smoke and mirrors. None of it was real.

“It will be worth it in the end, I promise.”

“Maybe.” She slammed her pillow an extra time for good measure. Rey tried to tell herself that she didn’t want it to be real. She knew Connor, she knew what he was capable of and what he wasn’t. Even if he were to actually notice her, turn all that heated attention toward her – it wouldn’t last. Everything they shared and valued would be ruined when he lost interest. Because Rey wasn’t capable of half-measures, she threw herself, heart and soul into every endeavor. “It will all be over soon and we can go back to the way we were before.”

“Right.” Connor’s voice whispered over her skin like a caress. 

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Rey. Sleep warm.”

…Rey didn’t know if she would sleep at all, but the next time she opened her eyes, it was all she could do to keep still.

OMG!

She’d been awakened by tingles spreading along her body. From her chest to her sex, she felt warm and alive. It had taken her a few seconds to ascertain why.

Connor had shoved aside the mountain of pillows and gravitated to her side of the bed – or more correctly, gravitated to her. She was lying on her back and he was partially on top of her. Not crushing her, but she was held down securely by one big arm wrapped around her waist.

Wave after wave of chill bumps swept over her as she became aware the reason for the delicious warmth she felt. God help her, Connor was nuzzling her nipple, planting small kisses all around the sensitive mound of her rather small breast.

She wasn’t entirely innocent, either. Her arm rested on his back as if she was making sure he didn’t move, keeping his head right where she wanted it.

Rey closed her eyes, willing herself not to moan, forcing her body to be still. Her thighs ached to open in welcome and the twin of the breast that was getting all the attention ached to be included in the playtime. She thought she could feign sleep, until she felt his tongue tease her through her T-shirt. Soft, wet nudges that sent spirals of delight shooting through her being. And when he closed his mouth over the sensitive nubbin and began to suck – Rey lost it. Arching her back, she pressed his head to her chest and whimpered. God, it felt so good! Her urging seemed to enflame him and he settled in closer and began to suckle harder, his hand moving up from her waist to cover her jealous breast, rolling the nipple between his fingers.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she whispered, moaning. What was she going to do? Connor was just doing what came naturally to him, he had no idea the recipient of his attention was his tomboyish partner. Just the thought of him awaking and realizing what was going on mortified her.

As much as she’d like to remain right where she was, Rey began making tiny moves to extricate herself from the situation. She stroked Connor’s hair and slid a quarter inch, stroked it again and slid another miniscule amount. Finally, he sighed, letting her nipple pop from his mouth and snuggled against her. She waited another heartbeat or two, then eased out from under him, holding her breath as she waited to see if he would open his eyes or go back to sleep. When he grabbed her pillow, tucked it underneath his cheek and sighed, she sighed with him.

Rey crawled a few feet toward the bathroom, before she stood and made a run for it. “Whew.”

Back in the bed, Connor opened his eyes and smiled.

…Inside the bathroom, Rey splashed water on her face. “I’m losing it,” she whispered. She was going to have to get control of things before they spun out of control. Raising up, she surveyed her reflection in the mirror, trembling when she saw the wet spot over her breast where Connor had suckled her tender flesh. Not taking her eyes from the spot, she lifted her shirt, then surveyed the same spot on her breast. Her nipple was reddened. She lifted a finger to touch it, gasping at how sensitive it was. Her body wanted more, it was as simple as that.

A thud outside the door, alerted her to the fact that Connor was up.

“I need to hurry,” she murmured and stepped beneath the spray. Taking the time to wash her hair, she bowed beneath the onslaught of water, allowing her mind to rest and escape the quandary of how she was feeling. When she was finished, Rey opened the shower door and reached blindly for another towel. To her shock and surprise, her fingers didn’t encounter rough terrycloth – they collided with warm male flesh.

Hearing the scream come out of her mouth interrupted Connor’s viewing pleasure. He was never more glad of his photographic memory than now. “Shhhh, they’ll hear us.” In a split-second, he cataloged every delectable feminine feature, right before he pulled her warm, wet body to him and crashed their mouths together in a warm, ravishing kiss. A kiss so slow and sweet, it made her toes curl into the rug.

As he pressed her naked body against his equally naked chest, Rey was hit by an instant fever. Burning everywhere, she was held captive as much by an avalanche of desire as she was by the strong band of his arms. For long moments, his mouth moved passionately over hers until she stopped struggling. When she surrendered, he let his lips slide away, planting soft kisses to her cheek, neck, and collarbone. “Better? We don’t want to blow our cover.”

For a moment, Rey was too dazed and dazzled to speak. Stepping back, she gasped at the realization she was still naked. “Towel! Towel!” she squealed in a tiny whisper. “I can’t believe you came in here while I was showering!”

“Hey, I needed to go.” He defended his actions with a shrug, his eyes skating over the perfect body that she was hastily trying to cover with a large swath of terrycloth. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I thought I could slip in and out and you’d never know I’d been here. I kissed you so you wouldn’t scream.”

“Not acceptable, McGregor, a hand over my mouth would’ve done the same thing,” she hissed, clutching the towel to her like a shield. “What if I’d done the same thing to you?” When he grinned, she huffed. “You wouldn’t care, would you?” She pushed by him. “Men!”

Connor watched her go, his heart pounding in his chest. When she slammed the door behind her, he went to it and softly banged his head against the wood. The memory of her body was burned into his brain. How in the hell had he worked alongside her every day and remained so fuckin’ unaware? Rey had been hiding perfection beneath her serious business wardrobe.

One by one, he chronicled her charms.

The shape of her breasts was perfection - high, round, and firm with puffy, candy pink nipples that tilted up as if she was offering them to his mouth. A waist he could span with his hands, which flared into surprisingly generous hips that made his cock twitch just to look at them. And what was between her legs almost brought him to his knees. God, he prayed for time and opportunity to pay homage to the soft feminine curls and the treasure they concealed.

…Outside the door, Rey’s cheeks were ablaze with embarrassment. Hurrying as fast as she could, she pulled on jeans and a shirt, covering up her meager assets before he saw them again. “I’ve got to get out of here,” she murmured. “There’s no way I can face him right now.”

She almost made it to the hall before guilt overcame her. Biting her lip, she retraced her steps and tapped on the door. “Connor, I’m going on downstairs. I need coffee.” Not waiting for a reply, she fled as if the devil himself was after her.

 

*  *  *

 “So, what do you think about the place so far, Rey?” Doug handed her a cup of coffee. “I know Connor respects your opinion.”

Rey accepted the cup, stepping over to the buffet to doctor the strong brew the way she liked it. “I see great potential here, Doug. East Texas is a sportsman’s paradise, yet there’s no five-star resorts or hotels at all. Whispering Pines would be the first.” She stirred in her usual two heaping teaspoons of cream and three flat sugars. “The sky’s the limit as far as I can see.”

“Why do you think that is?” he asked, seating himself at the dining table where a maid had already set a generous plate of food at both of their places.

Rey considered her answer. It wasn’t that she didn’t have an opinion, she did. She just hesitated to voice it, in case she might influence Doug in a way she didn’t intend. A movement behind her caused Rey to look over her shoulder. Her pulse sped up, expecting to see Connor framed in the doorway. Instead, she saw Karin. “Good morning,” she said in greeting.

“Good morning, Karin. Come join us. Let me get your coffee and alert the kitchen that you’ve joined us.” Doug jumped up to wait on his wife.

“Thank you, dear.” Casting a disparaging glance at Rey, she smirked. “Where’s Connor?”

“I left him in the shower.”

While her husband’s back was turned, she leaned in to Rey to whisper. “And yet, you’re here. I would have joined him and offered to wash his back.”

“Karin, that’s enough!”

Doug’s stern reproach stunned Rey. She was beginning to think the man was deaf and blind to his wife’s misbehavior. Attempting to cover up the awkwardness, Rey jumped in to address Doug’s question. “Getting back to the reason why there aren’t any other five-star resorts on Toledo Bend, I think I can give you some insight.”

“Good. I want to know.” He served Karin without giving her a glance, then returned to his seat, giving Rey his full attention.

“Toledo Bend has been in existence since the 1960’s, but growth has been slow around the lake primarily because of the economy of the region and the attitude of the people who didn’t really welcome the lake’s construction. The average income level is low and unemployment is high. Property values are depressed.”

Doug gave a wry laugh. “I guess that’s why I got such a good deal on the land.”

“Probably,” Rey agreed. “Even though the countryside is picturesque and the fishing is fantastic, the area has never really attracted people with a lot of money to spend.”

“Maybe that’s because they didn’t have anywhere to stay that met their standards.”

Rey nodded. “Very true, but it’s also because the chambers of commerce in the surrounding towns didn’t really have the money or the know-how to create a marketing campaign that would attract vacationers to the area.”

“I can see that,” Doug nodded as Karin huffed her annoyance at Rey’s monopolizing the conversation.

Rey didn’t let the other woman’s rudeness keep her from finishing. “What we’ll have to do is start an aggressive effort to let people know what we’ll be offering, buying spreads in high-end magazines, prime television spots, and getting listed with travel agents and websites that cater to travelers. And we need to get the process off the ground as soon as plans are finalized. By the time Whispering Pines is completed, we need every room booked and a waiting list a mile long.”

“See, I told you she was the brains of the outfit,” Connor spoke as he came to the table, leaning over to kiss Rey on the cheek. 

“I’m beginning to believe you.” Doug laughed and rose to shake Connor’s hand. “Let me tell Bettina you’re here.”

“Thanks, Doug.” He took the spot next to Rey, sitting down and reaching over to rub her back as he acknowledged Karin. “Good morning. Are we still going riding?”

“I hope so.” Karin gave him a lascivious grin. “You and I used to enjoy riding together.”

Connor coughed and Karin laughed. Rey bristled, knowing she was talking about a different kind of riding altogether. Doug returned about that time and they turned their attention to breakfast. Rey focused on her food, letting the men discuss the same topic she’d been addressing earlier. It made her feel good to hear Doug recounting her advice and both men making plans to put her recommendations into actions. As they finished up, Rey was surprised to feel Connor lean close to whisper in her ear, “I’m so proud of you.” He kissed her cheek and her neck, making Rey shiver.

“Don’t,” she muttered as Karin and Doug rose to leave the dining room. “There’s no need for that when they’re not watching.”

“I disagree,” Connor whispered. “There’s definitely a need.”

Since the other couple was so close, she didn’t respond. If Karin weren’t still so intent on putting Connor in a compromising position, she’d insist they end their charade. It was beginning to feel a little too real to Rey and she had to keep reminding herself that none of this meant anything.

As they moved from the house to the stables, Rey managed to walk between Karin and Connor, yet stay a certain distance from both. She wished Doug would keep a tighter rein on his wife. Seeing how this ultra-rich couple behaved and knowing how Connor conducted his love life, Rey vowed anew to distance herself from all things having to do with love and romance. She didn’t suppose money really had anything to do with it, her folks didn’t have a successful marriage and they were poor as church mice.

“Hey, come here, sweet,” Connor grasped her hand and tugged her close. Draping an arm over her shoulders, he spoke as if whispering love words. “You don’t look happy. Are you mad at me?”

Was she mad at him? A little. Mad about him? Tons. “No, I’m fine, just trying to do my job.” He’d been right about everything. Karin was being a total Jezebel and the deal was worth fighting for.

And so was Connor.

But that was one fight she had no hope of winning.

“You’re doing great and I apologize for this morning.”

“Really?” For which part, she wondered. For barging in on her in the shower? For kissing her? For making her want him? “No problem, don’t worry about it. There’s too much at stake to let a little thing like that deter us from our goal.”

“Hmmmm,” he said, his tone sounding a bit unconvinced. “Are you going to help me with this horse thing?”

“Sure, just follow my lead.” She thought he looked nice in his jeans and boots. “We’ll turn you into a cowboy before you know it.”

Rey made it sound so simple, but about a half hour later, Connor realized he’d made a big mistake.

“Loosen up, you’re too tense,” Rey warned him. “You’re going to be so sore you can’t walk.”

“I already am,” Connor grated. “First, I mount on the wrong side. Second, my saddle slides off with me in it, and third - this horse hates me.”

Rey couldn’t help but laugh. She seldom saw Connor when he was less than at his best. And his best was damn good. “Your horse doesn’t hate you, she can just sense you’re nervous and that makes her nervous.”

“I’m usually so good with women,” he muttered, making Rey laugh.

“Unlike your other women, the mare has a little horse sense.”

“Are you including yourself in that category?”

“Hardly,” she huffed. “I’m not one of your women.”

“Yes, you are,” he whispered, then grinned as she pinned him with a warning look. Choosing to change the subject, he glanced up into the tall, straight pines. “This is really pretty country. And it’s so quiet, all I can hear is the sound of the breeze in the trees and an occasional bird call. A ride through the woods would probably be very relaxing for our guests. How many horses would we need to keep on hand?”

Thankful, they were talking business, Rey took a moment to ponder. “I’ll do research on some of the dude ranches down around Bandera. They offer trail rides as one of their main attractions. This won’t be our focus, but it will be a great alternative. If I had to guess, I’d say we would offer one or two outings a day and have ten spots open at a time. That way, we’d only require one trail boss to lead the excursions.”

“Sounds good.”

Her eyes went to the Rogers who were a little way ahead of them. They seemed to be having words, so she made no attempt to catch up. This slow pace gave her a chance to study Connor. “You’re doing great. By the end of our ride, you’ll be an expert.”

“You’re being kind, partner.”

“I wonder what they’re talking about?” She nodded toward the Rogers.

“Me, probably. Or how many pairs of shoes she ordered this month.”

Rey giggled at his suggestion. “The shoes, definitely the shoes. I think he might be thankful if you took her off his hands.”

“Perish the thought,” Connor chuckled. “Why would you say that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe when he almost snapped her head off at breakfast. He’s not as oblivious to her as I first thought.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing. If he put his foot down, she might act right.”

“I’m not sure if she’s capable.” Rey patted her horse’s neck, enjoying the smell of the pine trees and the touch of the warm rays of the sun on her skin. “What did you ever see in her, anyway? I mean…beside the obvious, of course.”

Connor was quiet for a moment. “I’ve been asking myself the same question, believe me. Unfortunately, I don’t usually look beyond the obvious.” Turning serious, he caught Rey’s eye. “Until lately. I seem to be rethinking my strategy.”

Rey wondered if he was changing his mind about what he valued in a woman. “Good. Maybe your taste is improving.”

“Maybe,” he gave her a wicked smile and a wink.

Rey gasped as her heart leapt. “How do you feel about the deal now?” she muttered, again changing the subject. God, she was such a coward.

“How do you feel?” he countered, holding onto the saddle horn and lifting his sore ass off the unforgiving leather.

“I think we ought to do it. We don’t necessarily have to have a lot of dealings with Karin once this weekend is over.”

“I think you’re right,” he said as he noticed Doug pull his horse to a stop, turning to the side to wait on them to catch up.

“Hey, how’s it going back there? How’s our tenderfoot?”

“My foot isn’t the part of me that’s feeling tender, Doug,” Connor stated with a pained, but amused expression on his face.

“Don’t fret, I’ve got a bottle of the best liniment in the world back at the house. We’ll fix you right up. I’m sure Rey will give you a rub down that will make you feel like a new man.”