Most of all she remembered riding here with Cole.
Dont think about him.
Better to fret about her companys fundraiser than Cole. Even though she dreaded the annual event and the stress of dealing with wealthy donors, especially the women who knew how to dress and where to shop and where to lunch, she preferred worrying about all of that to thinking about Cole.
Hed rejected her, had made her feel more unworthy than anybody else here ever had. Why couldnt she simply forget him? Even after Greg had come into her life last springsolid, reliable Greg, who didnt know her secrets, who approved of her and wanted to marry her because of who and what she was nowshe remained confused about her obsession with Cole, whod never seen her as his equal.
Hed rejected her soundlyso why couldnt she let him go? Why was she so afraid of seeing him?
When shed fled Yella six years ago, shed been too traumatized to ever imagine coming back. In Austin, shed tried to better herself, tried to live down the mother who hadnt wanted her, the sorry trailer in Yella where shed been raised, the terrible night that had driven her away. Most of all, shed fought hard to be a better mother to Noah than her mother had been to her.
Not that juggling single motherhood while working full-time and going to college had been easy. Especially not when the nagging fear that she really was what everybody here had believedno goodhad remained.
Then, five days ago, just when shed been on the verge of setting a date for her wedding to the man who valued her, Miss Jennie had called from the hospital and said shed fallen. Miss Jennie was the one person in Yella whod always believed in Maddie, the one person whod been there when Maddie had been terrified and desperate. So, when Miss Jennie had mentioned shed just love it if Maddie could come for a few days because her niece, Sassy, lived in Canada and needed some time to wrap up her affairs before she could fly to Texas, Maddie had agreed to come.
Not that Miss Jennies neighbors hadnt all offered to fill in, but Miss Jennie had made it clear that she would prefer spending a little time with Maddieif only that were possible. Time seems more precious as you get older, shed said, her voice sounding frail.
Still, since Miss Jennie had helped her relocate and had lent Maddie money to go to college, there was no way she could say no, even if it meant facing Cole and the prejudiced town.
Up ahead Maddie heard the jingle of dog tags. Just as she was about to call him, Cinnamon barked exuberantly from the sun-dappled brush. Her heart sank as she realized that hed set off for the swimming hole on the Guadalupe River where she and Cole used to secretly meet. Where theyd made love countless times. Of all the places she would have preferred to avoid, the icy green pool beneath tall cypress trees on his land topped her list.
For here she could be too easily reminded of Cole, of their brief affair. Back then shed been young and in love and filled with anticipation for their every meeting. Shed been so sure that hed loved her and would love her forever, and that his love, once known publicly, would change other peoples opinions and shed gain the respectability shed craved. Even when hed insisted on keeping their relationship a secret from everyone important to him, especially his mother, shed believed in him.
It had taken a crisis of the worst magnitude to make her see him for what he really wasa typical boy in lust out for a few cheap thrills with the towns bad girl, a boy whod never respected her and couldnt be counted on to save her. No, shed had to save herself.
Maddie had had six years to deal with the trauma of the past. She was all grown up now. She knew that life wasnt a fairy tale, that she needed to get over the hurt that Cole and his mother had inflicted on her.
The last thing she wanted or needed now was to see him again and reopen all those old wounds. If she were lucky, Cole would keep to his oil fields while she was here with Miss Jennie.
Maybe then she would escape Yella unscathed.
Three
Two hours after hed left the drill site, Cole pulled up to Miss Jennies white house on the edge of town where her property backed up to a corner of his own estate. Miss Jennies house, with its sagging wraparound porch, was a sorry sight in the middle of an overgrown, brown lawn. Not that Coles mind was on the lousy condition of her house and yard as he slammed the door of his big, white truck and strode up her walk.
He was a little surprised when Miss Jennies fool of a dog didnt race up to him, yapping. Whenever Cole rode on this part of his ranch he usually ran into the mongrel. On hot summer evenings Cinnamon loved nothing better than lying on a shady rock along the bank where the river was spring-fed and icy cold.
That particular swimming hole had often been Cole and Maddies secret meeting place.
All he could think of was Maddie.
He knocked impatiently, but when the screen door finally opened, it wasnt a reluctant Maddie prettily greeting him, but sharp-eyed Bessie Mueller from next door.
Cold air gushed out of the house around her as she set fists on her solid hips. Her wrinkled face was brown from working outdoors. She had a way of standing that made her look bolted to the earth.
Your mother told everybody you werent coming home till tomorrow, so, what has got you planting your dusty boots on Miss Jennies doorstep today?
It went without sayin that everybody in Yella knew everybody elses business.
Ranch affairs, he drawled, hating the way the lie made heat crawl up his neck. Is Miss Jennie doing okay?
Shes just fine, but shes restin for a spell. Shes had so much company this morninall male. Shes plumb tuckered out.
And Maddie Gray?
Bessie grinned slyly. Oh, so, its her youve come to seelike every other man in town? The knowing glint in her black eyes irritated the hell out of him. Well, shes out looking for Cinnamon, if you have to know. Thats why Im here. I told Maddie it wasnt no use chasin that mongrel. When that fool dog isnt barking loud enough to wake the dead, hes after my poor chickens or diggin up my pansies. He always comes backwhen he takes a mind to.
Like all mammals, human or otherwise, living in Yella, Cinnamon had acquired a reputation.
Cole tipped his hat. You tell Miss Jennie Ill be back a little later, then.
If Maddie was chasing Cinnamon, he knew where to find her.
When Cole tugged lightly on the reins, Raider snorted and jerked his head, stopping just short of the small creek that fed the river where ancient trees grew in such dense profusion they were almost impenetrable.
The brush is too thick from here on, Cole said, so this is where Ill leave you.
On a hunch that Cinnamon would lure Maddie to the pool by the dam, hed saddled his large, spirited bay gelding and set off.
Dismounting, Cole looped Raiders reins over a fallen log near the rushing water and left the horse grazing in the shade.
Pushing back a tumble of wild grapevines that cascaded from the highest branches of a live oak, Cole made a mental note to get his foreman to send a hand out to clip the vines before they smothered the tree. Then, as he stalked through the high brown grasses toward the emerald pool, memories of Maddie played in his mind.
Dismounting, Cole looped Raiders reins over a fallen log near the rushing water and left the horse grazing in the shade.
Pushing back a tumble of wild grapevines that cascaded from the highest branches of a live oak, Cole made a mental note to get his foreman to send a hand out to clip the vines before they smothered the tree. Then, as he stalked through the high brown grasses toward the emerald pool, memories of Maddie played in his mind.
He and Maddie had ridden these trails together. When theyd dismounted theyd often played hide-and-seek. How hed loved catching her and pulling her slim body beneath his. She would smile up at him, her flushed face thrilled and trusting in the pink glow of a late-afternoon sun.
After shed left, hed posted signs that read No Trespassing and No Swimming.
At the sound of a dog barking, Coles heart began to race. When he recognized Maddies low, velvety voice, he went stone-still.
We shouldnt be here. Were trespassing. But you dont care.
Stealthily he inched forward until he caught glimpses of dewy skin and ebony hair through the trees.
Sitting on the dam, dangling her long legs in the water, she wore nothing but a blade of wet grass on her left nipple and a pair of black thong panties. Her exotic face with those arched, slanting brows was lovelier than ever. Not that his gazemained on her face. Her naked breasts and slender waist and her legs that went forever stole his breath.
He gulped in air while his heart thudded so violently he was sure shed hear. He could turn and go, but why should he? Hed come here to find her, hadnt he?
Slowly she dipped a ragno, it was her T-shirtinto the water and squeezed it so tightly that rivulets of sparkling liquid showered her throat and breasts.
Ah, nothing like icy water on a hot day, she purred huskily as she put the T-shirt back into the pool and dripped more fluid diamonds over her body. I was burning up.
The dog was panting hard. Cole was burning up, too, but his condition wasnt entirely due to the heat.
Erect, spellbound, he watched as the blade of grass got caught in the currents of water tracing down her smooth, gleaming belly before sliding down to her navel. When a slender fingertip plucked it off her skin, heat shot through Cole. His sex, hot and hard, swelled painfully against tight denim. When Cinnamon walked onto the dam and shook water all over Maddie, she screamed even as she giggled.
You are all dog, she said huskily, but she laughed, teasing the mongrel rather than chastising him.
Damn her to hell and back for being so gorgeous and unnervingly sexy. She seemed sweet, too, just as she always hadthe very essence of everything feminine.
But looks could deceive.
Even though he knew what she was, memories of the first time shed lain with him struck him full force.
Shed been flushed and naked as shed whispered she loved him and always would. She had begged him to take her.
Hed kissed her throat and stroked her hair. Are you sure about this?
No matter what happens, I want it to be youwhos first, I mean.
For a long time, his hands had skimmed over her body, touching her, caressing her. Shed been so innocent and so infinitely precious to him.
Determined not to hurt her, hed been gentle and patient even though his youthful hormones had been raging. Hell, hed even told her he loved her, too. Worsehed meant it.
Dont think about it.
But how could he forget how tight shed been, or how shed held her breath so long after hed entered her, shed scared the hell out of him?
Are you okay? hed whispered.
Better than okay. When shed pressed her soft mouth to his throat shed sent him over the edge. Hed apologized, but shed begun to kiss him again, and hed hardened inside her almost instantly.
Ive had a crush on you for years, shed said. I just never thought you could care for someone like me.
Well, I do.
Sometimes I still have to pinch myself so I know Im not dreaming.
Now, determined to push the bittersweet memories aside and regain control, he counted slowlybackward from one hundred to zero. Long before he reached zero, more memories bombarded him, each one sweeter than the last. Then he couldnt count, couldnt think, couldnt do anything but feel his testosterone-engorged body thicken.
More than anything, he wanted to touch her warm, velvet skin, to taste her sweet lipsjust one more time. Maybe once he was sated, he would be rational enough to remember how shabbily shed treated him.
As if she sensed him, she slid into the water, screaming because it was so cold, and then swam away from the dam, leaving a trail of graceful ripples flashing in her wake.
Instead of listening to the voice of reason that told him not to play with fire, he strode down to the bank and stood above her in the long shadows of the cypress trees, watching her swim, willing her to turn and face him.
When she did, her face whitened with shock. Cole! What are you doing here?
The alarm in her slanting blue-violet eyes cut him to the quick. But still his tone was hard when he said, I heard you were chasing Cinnamon on my land, so I came looking for you.
When her exotic face went even whiter, his own craven desire made his gut clench.
Without another word, she dived underneath the water and swam as far away from him as she could. When she finally came up, she crossed her hands over her breasts and scrambled behind the nearest rock. II didnt mean to bother you! she began, blushing furiously as she gasped for breath. If Id known you were in townI would never have come here! Your brother, AdamHe told me you wouldnt be back anytime soon. I swear he did!
Didnt you see the No Swimming signs? A kid nearly drowned here a couple of years ago, after a flood. Cinnamon is not worth risking your pretty neck by swimming here alone.
Okay. I wont do it again. If youll just leave, Ill dress and go.
The last thing I want is you dressed and gone.
The stark look of terror reappeared in her eyes. Dont start! she whispered. Please
The shame and fear in her frantic gaze tore at his heart. He remembered how sensitive shed been on the subject of her mother and how shy shed always been about sexual matters, especially in the beginning. But shed never been this skittish. Suddenly he wished he could take back the suggestive comment.
Somebody told me a while back that youre a mother nowthat you have a little boy
Her violet-blue eyes widened with even more fear. Why?
I just meant that as a mother, you shouldnt take unnecessary riskslike swimming here alone.
My son is no concern of yours! Her voice was high and thin. You made that very clear
When did we ever discuss your son?
What? She seemed to catch herself. Youre right. Of course youre right. I saw your signs. Its just that Im upset because you startled me. I shouldnt have gotten in the water without a buddy. If youll just leave, Ill get out, dress and go. Like I said. She had begun to shiver, and her lips were blue.
You can swim as long as you likenow that Im here to watch over you.
I dont want you here watching over me. Her teeth were chattering.