Charlene Sands - Exquisite Acquisitions

Confronting his father hadn’t been pleasant, but it had been necessary. Carter cursed himself silly for feeling sorry for the guy after he’d left his father’s place.

Fargo’s eyes narrowed and his face slanted in a thoughtful expression. “You’ve had a tough childhood.”

The spot-on assessment surprised him. “You think I’m bitter?”

Fargo shook his head and spoke with sincerity. “Not at all. The truth is the truth, and it’s not always pretty. I’ve had my share of bad experiences, so let me say this, no one should judge you or what you do, because they don’t know what you’ve gone through in your life. And I bet you’ve been the adult in that relationship since you were a boy.”

Carter stared at Fargo and then smiled. Yep, he was a wise old goat. “Can’t argue that point. You know the saying, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Fargo laid sympathetic eyes on him. “You got strong pretty fast, I’d say.”

Carter sighed and leaned back, painfully admitting, “Not fast enough.”

Fargo acknowledged him with an understanding nod.

“Macy thinks I’m too hard on him,” Carter confessed. It felt pretty darn good releasing his frustration and the emotions he’d bottled up inside. Just being able to say these things aloud gave him some measure of relief. He felt he could trust Fargo with his thoughts. Man, was he looking for a father figure or what?

“And Macy’s opinion is important to you?”

Carter had to think about that a second. He wasn’t sure what Fargo was getting at, but he knew that after making love with her, the last thing he wanted was to hurt her. He still felt it wasn’t any of her business, yet it was hard for him to admit that he should have held his tongue. After all, she’d given him the best night of sex he’d had in a long while. Then he’d turned on her. He felt like a heel. “She’s told you about her father, right? He died as a result of his drinking.”

“And you think she’s transferring that situation onto yours?”

Carter lifted away from the desk and shrugged, his impatience getting the best of him. “Hell, I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Seems to me that you might want to straighten things out with her.”

Carter’s stubborn nature wouldn’t have allowed that before this conversation, but Fargo made him realize that he owed Macy an apology. Her opinion did matter. He cared what she thought about him.

An hour later, Carter strode out of his office with a plan. The air was warm, the sun still bright as he walked with purpose to the inn on foot, trying to clear his head of Jocelyn’s duplicity, his father’s latest antics and his feelings for Macy.

* * *

Halfway there, Rocky joined him, coming from the direction of the inn, his tail wagging and his body twisting in jubilation. “Hey, boy.” Carter bent to give him a pat on the head. The dog lifted up, pawing at his thighs, begging for more attention. “I hear you there. Is Macy giving you the cold shoulder, too? Nah, she wouldn’t do that to you. I’m the only dog she’s mad at.”

Rocky was rewarded with more attention, then fell in step with Carter as they approached the inn. It didn’t take him but a second to find Macy. She was standing in the center of the gazebo, rehearsing lines. He couldn’t hear what she was saying, but her gestures were fluid, sincere and emotional. Through her actions and expressions, Macy managed to convey a powerful story. Carter watched her and wondered why she’d never made it big as an actress. She had the looks and the talent. It was part of her DNA, he figured, being the child of two multitalented parents.

He’d be a fool to ever think she belonged in his world of cattle auctions, small-town life and simple pleasures. Sure, Carter had wealth. He’d built an empire and had money to burn, but down deep inside, he was still a country boy. He liked rodeos, John Wayne Westerns and eating apple pie at the county fair.

Before he lost sight of his mission and talked himself out of apologizing, Carter stepped up to the gazebo. Macy had been so deep in character, she hadn’t noticed him until Rocky gave three short, quick barks of greeting.

She froze in place when she finally noticed him.

Those violet eyes did a number on him. Something powerful surged through his system.

“You caught me in the act,” Macy said, trying damn hard to keep her voice haughty, but the glow in her eyes gave her away.

“You’re good.”

“I’m…fair.”

“You had me fooled then.”

“I wasn’t trying to fool anyone. I was trying to be convincing.”

The conversation was going down fast. Carter climbed up the first step and produced one single, healthy stargazer lily he’d been holding behind his back. “For you.”

She blinked then and the corners of her pretty mouth lifted. “It’s my favorite.”

Mara had told him today and he’d made a quick trip into town to get her a bouquet, but his housekeeper had informed him that one single stem would have more meaning. He’d never figure out a woman’s mind, but he had taken Mara’s advice.

Macy fingered the pink petal. “How did you know?”

“I have my ways,” he said. “I’m here to apologize for barking at you this morning.”

She remained quiet, her head down, gazing at the flower. “Okay.”

“I was harsh and I shouldn’t have been.”

She lifted her lashes and spoke softly, “You’re right. It’s none of my business, but I wanted-”

“To help. I know. You can’t, and I won’t change my mind. But I’m asking you to forgive me for taking you to task for it.”

She tilted her head to the right and made a pretty picture, standing there in her white flowing blouse and blue jeans, her hair down in curls.

“How can I not forgive you? You gave me my favorite lily.”

She smiled then and Carter took her hand and pulled her into his arms. Her body felt perfect enveloped in his, and he could easily work up a reason to drag her off to bed. But his apology wasn’t over. “I have a peace offering,” he said.

Her eyes fluttered and she peeked at his mouth from under her lashes. It was too much to resist. Carter lifted her chin with the pad of his thumb and lowered his head a fraction of an inch to her mouth. “This isn’t it,” he said, taking her in a kiss he’d been thinking about all day. As soon as their lips touched it was like floodgates opening. She was soft, sexy and eager when she returned his kiss, their bodies contouring and melding together in a natural fit.

Her lips parted and he drove his tongue into her mouth. Her sweet, erotic taste traveled down to the pit of his stomach. Kissing her was like a potent drug. He wanted more. He cupped her head and kissed her again, raking his hands over her slender body, caressing her shoulders and running his palms along the swells of her breasts. She squirmed with desire and whimpered a plea. No one was more surprised than Carter when he backed away, breaking off the heady, sex-inducing contact. He wanted her, no doubt. But he had more to say.

“I want to take you out tonight.”

Macy gulped air. Her eyes lifted to his, heavy lidded and hazy. “Wh-what?”

“I want to take you on a date.”

Her chest rose and fell in deep breaths, and Carter found himself staring.

With knitted brows, she repeated, “You want to take me on a date?”

“That’s right. Tonight. I have reservations in Dallas at a first-class restaurant. I reserved a private room. It’s part of my apology, so take care when you give me your answer.”

“But…why?”

He shrugged and wouldn’t divulge the half a dozen reasons in his head. He didn’t want to admit them to himself, much less to her. “Why not?”

Her expression changed from confusion to determination, and she put the biggest smile on her face. “I’d love to go. Yes.”

He felt a ripple of anticipation zigzag through his body. Then, almost as soon as she accepted, a frown appeared on her face and her brows knitted together. “But, Dallas?” she asked on a worried sigh. “We could be seen.”

Carter shook his head. “We won’t be.” He lifted a lock of her hair. The natural wave wisped around his finger. He liked Macy best this way, curly haired and natural, but when she became that sleek, straight-haired woman, she was equally as beautiful and almost unrecognizable. “We’ll stay overnight. In the morning, we’ll stop at some small towns on the way back and-” he winced at the notion “-we’ll shop for furniture for the inn.”

Macy’s eyes blazed brilliant lavender-blue. She was a dead giveaway when she was pleased. “Really?”

“I don’t do anything half-assed, Hollywood. My apology rocks,” he said, kissing her one last time. “Admit it.”

Her chin went up ready to deny it, but then she had a change of heart. “You got me there, Carter. It’s the best apology I’ve ever received.”

Satisfied, Carter spoke quietly, “Be ready at six with your best disguise.”

It was worth all the trouble she went through to see Carter’s eyes nearly pop out of his head when she entered the great room.

She wore red.

A sleek, bodice-clinging, low-cut crimson design that covered her thighs with only an inch to spare. She’d taken a good look at herself in the mirror, cringed at the daring dress and almost returned it to the closet. The Emilio Pucci had been a gift from her mother that Macy had brought with her to New York, as a keepsake to hold dear during the auction. But Macy had never tried it on. Until now.

Macy smiled as Tina’s encouraging voice echoed in her ears. “Red’s your color, honey. Wear it and knock their eyes out.” Her mother had a knack for clothes and style and had never been outdone by her competition.

It had taken Macy a long time to straighten out her barrel curls, but she’d actually won the fight with the hair blower, and now it fell in a shimmering sheet down her back. Next, she’d dazzled her mouth with ruby-red lipstick and accented her cheekbones with bronzer. Her eyes she couldn’t do much about. She didn’t have colored contacts; she’d always thought they looked strange on people and drew attention rather than detracted from it.