Come and Get It (5 page)

Quin took her hands in his and raised
them to his lips, kissing each knuckle. “I’m sorry for your loss,
Rose. I can’t imagine what it must be like to love someone that
much and lose them.”

Dixie studied his face. It was a
strong face, all hard angles and smooth planes. But it wasn’t
careworn. Life had been easy on him. He wasn’t a man who’d cared
deeply about much of anything, she figured. Hell, he hardly even
had any laugh lines.

“
You’ve really never been
in love, Quin?” She didn’t know why the answer was so important to
her, but it was.

“
Nope. Can’t say I have.
I’ve been in like a few times, and in lust more times than I can
count. But never love.” He frowned. “Is that what you’re looking
for from me, Rose, because if it is—”

She could almost hear the gate slam
shut around her heart. “Don’t get your shorts in a wad, sugar. The
only man I’ll ever love came home from the war in a body bag.
You’re a pleasant distraction, nothing less, nothing more.” Attuned
to people’s reactions, she couldn’t help noticing the slight
stiffening of his body. As if such a notion were
unexpected.

Quin nodded, running his hands under
her nightgown to grasp her hips. He pulled her chair closer and
leaned in to kiss her. “Mmmm, sweet. How about you come back to bed
and let me distract you properly.”

Dixie was just about to comply with
his request when a truck pulled up in a hurry, horn blaring. “Oh,
shit! It’s the girls!”

Quin rose to his feet in a fluid
motion. “The girls?”

“
My sisters and a couple of
friends. We’re supposed to drive into San Antonio today. Rita Mae’s
sister’s getting married on Monday and we’re taking her shoppin’,
then tonight’s her bachelorette party.” She leaped to her feet and
gave him a shove toward the bedroom. “Hurry and get dressed! I
don’t want ’em thinkin’ you spent the night.”

Quin raised an eyebrow and pointed to
the clock on the fireplace mantel. It was just beginning to chime
the hour. “Rose, it’s seven in the morning. I think those women
already guessed you had company sleeping over.” He chuckled when
she moaned her distress, then pulled her close and kissed her. “All
right, I’ll go finish dressing.”

Dixie hurried to the door. “Go on up
to the main house and have some coffee,” she called to the women.
“I’ll meet you up there in a few minutes.” Catcalls emanated from
the truck, and Rita Mae hollered, “Dixie’s got a boyfriend,” like
some kind of third-grader. She heard Quin’s laughter from the
bedroom.

* * *

“
It’s that architect from
California, ain’t it?” Rita Mae asked.

Dixie’s brother, Bennett, frowned.
“What architect?”

Rita Mae turned to Bennett. “He
designed that new development going in where the C-Bar used to be.
Hugh told me he was givin’ Dixie the eye.”

“
We just went to dinner!”
Dixie protested. Even though he was three years younger, Bennett
was very protective of his older sister.

“
And he wound up spending
the night?” The shocked look on Bennett’s face said it
all.

“
Oh, for God’s sake, I’m a
grown woman, Bennett. If I choose to take a man to my bed, it ain’t
nobody’s business but my own.”

Bennett stood up so quickly his chair
fell backward onto the kitchen floor. “I’m gonna kick that
bastard’s ass.” He started toward the door in a fit of
anger.

Dixie was up after him in a heartbeat.
“You stop right there, Bennett James Bonifay!” He stopped, spine
straightening, and she nodded in satisfaction. After all, she’d
raised him. He knew when he was in trouble. “You got no call to be
runnin’ that man down, much less whippin’ his ass for something I
chose to do.”

Dixie walked up behind him, sliding
her hands around his waist. With a sigh, she rested her cheek on
his back. “Benny. I’ve been alone so long. Don’t begrudge me the
comfort of a man when the need comes on me.”

Bennett turned in her arms and hugged
her tightly. “I just don’t wanna see you hurt, Dixie Rose. It like
to killed us all, watchin’ you mourn Bud. I’d spare you that kind
of pain again if I could.”

She gave him a squeeze. “Well, you
can’t, honey. No one can. That’s just the way of things. Everybody
gets their heart broke, you know that.” Dixie smiled up at her
brother. “Besides, it’s not like he’s stayin’ long enough for my
heart to be involved.”

Bennett snorted. “If you let him in
your bed, your heart’s already involved and you know
it.”

Dixie chuckled. “Maybe so, but not
like you think. He’s not the marryin’ kind and I know
it.”

“
And you can live with
that?”

“
What choice do I
have?”

“
We could haul his ass in
front of the preacher at the business end of a shotgun.”

It was Dixie’s turn to snort. “Fool
man’d probably prefer to take a load of shot to gettin’ hitched.
Just leave it be, Bennett. Promise me?”

Bennett gave her a terse nod. “I’m
burnin’ daylight and the chores won’t do themselves.”

Dixie watched her brother push through
the screen door and disappear down the path to the barn. She turned
to her companions and sighed. “That went well, dontcha think?” When
they all dissolved into boisterous laughter, Dixie dropped into a
chair and laughed till she wept.

Chapter Four

Things started going badly for Quin
after leaving Dixie’s house that morning. After spending the night
in her bed, he concluded there was a lot to recommend a sex-starved
widow. She’d wear him out, then twenty minutes later they’d be at
it again. Tired as he was, he couldn’t help his disappointment that
he wouldn’t be seeing her tonight. He’d left her freaking out that
people knew he’d slept over, and had driven out to the job site to
check on the changes the developer wanted. A quick walk-through
showed nothing amiss. He nodded to the few men who had opted to
work the weekend, taking the time to compliment them on their
skill. They mumbled their thanks but didn’t look him in the eye.
Outsiders were looked on with suspicion, so he didn’t take it
personally. While doing his inspection, he overheard two of the men
talking about a bachelorette party at a bar called the Stumble Inn.
Rose would be at that party tonight and he decided to make a point
of showing up, too.

In hindsight, there was nothing
unusual about his truck when he hit the remote to unlock the door.
The lights flashed, the horn tooted, but when he reached for the
door handle his fingers slid into something gooey and
foul-smelling.

“
Aw, goddamn!” Quin cursed.
He looked around but didn’t see anyone nearby, and none of the
workers were rolling on the ground laughing. He shook his hand in
an attempt to dislodge dog shit from his fingers, spattering it on
his clothes and shoes. “Nice. Real funny, guys!” Thank God he
carried a carton of wet wipes in his truck. He set about cleaning
the crap out from under his door handle, his fingernails, his
clothes. Jesus H Christ.

Quin knew it had to be more than just
his personal demeanor that had pissed somebody off when he went
back out to his truck after showering. Someone had let the air out
of all four tires. He dropped his chin to his chest and took a deep
breath.

It had to be Dixie. Or rather the men
in her life. Quin didn’t believe for a minute that she would stoop
to such juvenile pranks. No, she would come right out and say what
was on her mind. Like she had the other morning when she told him
he was just a pleasant distraction, nothing less, nothing
more.

Dixie’s bald statement hadn’t sat well
with him and he decided to pull it out and examine it while he
waited on the tow truck. What did he know about Dixie Rose Bonifay?
Well, he knew most of the single men, and a good portion of the
married ones, were half in love with her, and every one of them
felt compelled to defend the honor of one of their own. They were
going to save her from the big bad city boy.

The next thing he knew was that she
hadn’t liked the idea of people seeing them together, whether at
the restaurant or leaving her home early in the morning. Hence, she
was not in the habit of fooling around with just any man, a fact
he’d deduced that first day they’d baked cookies. Add to that the
fact that her pussy had been so tight he’d had to take his time
entering her, and it was simple to deduce that he was likely the
first man she’d slept with since her husband died. He wasn’t sure
how he felt about what it might mean.

Lastly, she’d liked what he’d done to
her. Hell, she more than liked it. She howled and carried on like a
cat in heat. Of course, good sex was supposed to be like that.
Still, knowing what he knew about her, the logical assumption was
that she cared more than she wanted to admit.

Quin leaned against his truck, hands
in his pockets. The idea that Dixie cared for him was actually more
appealing than he wanted to admit. Usually, once he rolled off a
woman he was silently trying to think of a discreet way to get the
hell out. But with Dixie, the idea never even crossed his mind.
That first time on the porch swing he’d simply picked her up,
carried her into bed, and climbed in beside her. He even remembered
reaching for her in the night, tucking her snugly against him
before drifting off again.

He shook his head. Impossible. He
couldn’t even begin to imagine Dixie as a corporate wife in L.A.,
mingling with the rich and famous. No way she’d ever fit in. Even
if she was willing to give up her life here and move to California.
They’d eat her alive. And he couldn’t give up his life. Or could
he? He did a mental eye roll. As if he’d ever consider getting
married, or even cohabitating. Not after growing up in his parents’
household.

The tow truck finally arrived to take
him to a gas station where he could fill his tires. Still, the idea
of chucking it all and moving to Texas still percolated in the back
of his mind. He told himself it was because he hadn’t had his fill
of her yet. Their mating was frenzied, exciting, explosive. Quin
filled his tires with grim determination. He didn’t care what
roadblocks the good old boys threw in his way, he’d have his little
Texas Rose beneath him tonight, naked, willing, and begging for
release. He checked his gas tank, topped it off, and climbed into
the cab. He’d find her at the Stumble Inn, and she’d leave with him
if he had to carry her out over his shoulder.

* * *

Even in a dim room, Dixie shone as
brightly as a star. Her dark blonde hair was down, swirling around
her as she performed the slides, kicks, and vines of a complicated
line dance. She was laughing, stomping her feet and clapping her
hands, having the time of her life.

Quin watched, riveted, as the next
song started. Dixie, thumbs stuck in the waistband of her low-rise
jeans, swaying, feet cross-stepping, rocking, pivoting to face
left, then repeating the intricate steps till she wound up facing
in his direction. She acknowledged him with a smile and a nod, but
kept on dancing until the song ended. Her companions tried to keep
her on the dance floor but she demurred, fanning herself with her
hand.

Quin followed her to her table. “That
outfit’s probably illegal in several states, Rose. Especially that
top.”

Dixie laughed. “What, this old thing?”
She ran a finger over the top of one breast.

She looked hot and she knew it, Quin
thought. Had she worn the sexy corset top because she’d known he’d
be here? Damn, the thing left nothing to the imagination. The
lining was made of a shimmery hyacinth silk-spandex, covered in a
black nylon mesh. It had a built-in bra that lifted and separated
her marvelous breasts until it seemed as if they might spill over
the top. The silk lacing cord rested between her breasts, a single
knotted ribbon that begged to be tugged on by some willing man’s
teeth. Quin intended to be that man. “Have your fun, Rose, but
you’re leaving here with me tonight.”

Dixie raised an eyebrow. “Is that
right?”

“
It is.”

“
Hmm . . . and here I
thought I was perfectly capable of making my own decisions.” She
looked up when a group of women called to her, beckoning her onto
the dance floor again. “Bachelorette party, sugar. Duty
calls.”

As the evening progressed, Quin found
himself more and more frustrated in his attempts to have any time
with Dixie. When he was able to get her on the dance floor for a
slow dance, someone would tap him on the shoulder and ask, “Mind if
I cut in?” Before he even had a chance to speak, Dixie was pulled
from his arms and two-stepped to the other side of the huge parquet
floor. Dixie herself found the whole situation ridiculously funny
and strolled around the dance floor laughing and chatting with
whoever her partner was.

Before Quin knew it, the band
announced last song. Dixie was just walking back to her table when
they started playing Willie Nelson’s rendition of “You Were Always
on My Mind.” He never said a word, merely took her hand, led her
into the middle of the other dancing couples, and molded her body
to his. Even then, it didn’t feel like she was close enough, so he
bent down, wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her
up.