Feeling vulnerable, she rushed to scoop up the flower and said, “I’m trying to decide what to pack for the trip. Since I don’t know where we’re going, I’m not making much progress.”
“Pack comfortably.” The gleam in his eyes projected loud and clear that he wasn’t fooled. “If we need something more, I’ll buy it for you.”
“We’re not engaged anymore. You’re not buying me clothes or other gifts.” She’d returned all the jewelry after she’d broken up with him—everything, including a yellow diamond engagement ring with a double halo setting. The night he’d given it to her, she’d thought all of her dreams of a family and a real home had come true.
She’d grown up a lot in the past seven months, alone with her disillusionment.
“Johanna,” he drawled, “we may not be engaged, but you are an employee of Hidden Gem Ranch and if you’re on Hidden Gem business and need clothes, the company can pick up the bill.”
“Clothes for what, exactly?”
“There’s a gem trade show I want to catch while we’re out.”
She knew how elaborate and hoity-toity those events could get. Being with him at one of those shows would feel too much like a fancy date. “I’ll stay at the hotel with the dogs.”
“We’ll see,” he said in that stubborn, noncommittal way of his just before he swung a leg out the window again. “Good night.”
“Stone?”
He stopped shy of stepping all the way through the window. “Yes?”
“Thanks for the flowers.” She strode closer—just to be ready to close the window when he left, not to be nearer to him. Right? “It really is sweet how much you care about your grandmother’s happiness. I always admired that about you, your family loyalty.”
“Glad you have good memories, not just bad.”
Guilt pinched her over how their breakup had hurt him, too. She touched his shoulder lightly. “There’s nothing between Alex and me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Was it her imagination or had he swayed closer?
She pressed a hand to his chest. “That doesn’t mean there will never be someone. Am I not allowed to have another relationship again?”
A smile played with his mouth. “I’m not answering that.”
He looked over his shoulder at the yard.
She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Uh, actually—” he glanced back at her sheepishly “—I was taking the dogs for a run. Hope you don’t mind they’re digging up your yard right now.”
She laughed, enjoying this Stone, more like the man she remembered falling for, playful and open. “We’re just lucky they didn’t jump my little split rail fence.”
“Since they’re going to be spending the next week with me flying around in a plane, it would be a good idea to remind them who I am.”
She allowed herself to fall just a little more under his spell again, even if only for a minute. “That’s very sweet of you.”
“Sweet? First you make out with my cousin and then you call me sweet. Twice.” He shook his head, tsking. “This is not my night.”
Before she could help herself, she blurted out, “I wasn’t kissing your cousin.”
“Good.” Stone cupped the back of her neck and drew her in for a kiss, the full-out kind that proved to be a lot more than mouth meeting mouth.
His body pressed to hers in a familiar wall of muscle. Her lips parted and heaven help her, she didn’t regret it. She sank into the sensation of having his hands on her again, the warmth of his tongue boldly meeting hers. Kisses like this could lure her into forgetting a lot. In their time apart, somehow she’d lost sight of how intensely their physical attraction could sweep away reason.
Heat gathered between her legs until she gripped his arms, her fingers digging deep. A husky moan of pleasure and need welled up in her throat. She was so close to losing control altogether, what with a bed only a few short steps away. They may have had so many issues in their relationship, but when it came to sex, they were in perfect synchronicity.
How was she going to walk away from him after a kiss like this?
The ground tipped under her feet...or wait...Stone was stumbling into her. She braced a hand on her dresser for balance and realized Ruby the Rottweiler had both paws on the open window and she was nudging Stone in the back. Gem the yellow lab sprung up to join the Rottie, a symphony of barking echoing from beneath them. A quick glance down confirmed that Pearl the terrier and Sterling the Chihuahua-dachshund mix danced in the bushes below.
Breathlessly, she whispered, “I think it’s time for you to go.”
“Sleep well, beautiful.” Stone winked once before sliding back out the window.
She should have slammed the window closed after him. Instead, she stood between the parted curtains and watched him gather the pack with ease. He guided the larger dogs to jump her fence while scooping up the two little ones.
No question, she was in serious trouble here with only one way to cope during the coming week. She had to make absolutely sure she and Stone did not touch each other, not even accidentally. First thing in the morning, she intended to make her hands-off edict clear. Her eyes clung to the breadth of his shoulders and lower to his perfect butt that rivaled any blue jeans ad ever.
Gritting her teeth, she slammed the window closed and spun away fast.
Damn, it was going to be a long, achy night.
* * *
The morning sun crept upward at the McNairs’ private landing strip, which was located on the ranch. Johanna had given up waiting for Stone in the limousine an hour ago and had moved inside the small airport offices. The space held a waiting area, a control desk and a back room with a cot for a pilot to take naps if needed. There wasn’t much else to do but sit. She could understand Stone being late to meet her, but his grandmother was here with her dogs, prolonging a farewell that already had to be horribly difficult.
Mariah held herself rigidly in control, Ruby and Gem each resting against one leg. Pearl and Sterling curled up together on a seat beside her. Johanna couldn’t help but wonder how well the pack would adjust to being separated.
She checked the large digital clock above the door. The red numbers blinked nearly ten o’clock while the pilot kept busy with some paperwork outside beneath a Texas flag flapping lazily in the soft breeze. She bit back anger. She was exhausted from lack of sleep and frustrated from bracing herself to appear blasé in front of Stone.
Only to have him freakin’ stand her up.
She was mad. Steaming mad. And completely confused. If he was playing mind games with her, that was one thing. But to involve his grandmother? That was plain wrong, and not like him.
Shuffling a seat to move closer to Mariah, Johanna put a reassuring hand on the woman’s arm. “You don’t have to do this, Mrs. McNair. The dogs can stay with you. They can stay here now and even if the time comes...” She swallowed back a lump of emotion. “Even if the time comes when you’re not here. This is their home.”
Mariah patted Johanna’s hand. “It’s okay, really. I love them enough to do what’s best for them. I’ll be in and out of the hospital quite often, and they deserve attention.”
“Everyone here will take care of them.” She held on tighter to this strong, brilliant woman who was already showing signs of fading away. She had new gaunt angles and a darkness around her eyes that showed her exhaustion in spite