Tempting Meredith Read online

  He couldn’t help the big ole shit-eating grin that cracked his face.

  “You look like the cat that ate the canary,” Meredith said wryly.

  “I feel like I just won the lottery,” Charlie admitted and hoped that didn’t scare her off.

  “No. Just commitment-free sex. Actually, I guess a man would consider that a Powerball win.”

  Most men, Charlie admitted to himself. But as hot as sex was with Meredith, he was interested in more.

  They sat on the tiny back porch, talking while he grilled steaks. The smoked scent of mesquite and the rich scent of beef had his stomach growling. He’d delayed cooking their meal, hoping to draw Meredith into a conversation and learn more about her. It had worked. One glass of Cabernet down, another in her hand, and she was charmingly loose. Her laughter and her smile came more readily. She didn’t seem to be editing her thoughts as severely, which meant he’d stopped second-guessing himself before asking her a question. Now she was telling him a story about convincing her brother to pierce his ears.

  “I swear,” she said, her voice half disgusted, half amused. “Before the needle even pricked his ear, he passed out cold. All six feet, six inches of him. On top of me.”

  Charlie laughed, as entertained by her animated expression as he was by the story. Her eyes sparkled, but she bit her bottom lip. Apparently she still felt a little guilty. He wondered if this was the Meredith close friends and family saw. “He must have squashed you like a bug.”

  “Flat as one of your pancakes.” She smiled faintly.

  “If he was that scared of needles, why’d he let you talk him into it?”

  She lifted a brow. “You have to ask?”

  “Well, yeah. You’re half his size.”

  She waved her hand in the air, discarding his logic. “Size isn’t important.”

  He choked on his wine.

  “That’s not what I’m talking about.” She rolled her eyes. “And even if that was the topic, it still holds true. It’s technique, pure and simple.”

  “Okay,” he conceded. He hoped that meant she liked his technique, since she’d come back for more. “I’ll take your word for it. But that doesn’t explain how you wrestled him into getting holes in his ears.”

  She held up one finger. “Hole. Singular. After he passed out, Nikki and I admitted defeat.”

  “He only got the one ear pierced? Why didn’t y’all just do the other while he was unconscious?”

  Her eyes widened, and she opened her mouth then closed it. Her brows drew together. “That never occurred to me.”

  A bark of laughter escaped him. “Do you have a picture of him?”

  She dug around in her purse, which was sitting on the white plastic table. She thumbed over her screen then extended the phone to him. There were two men in the photo. The blond had to be her brother. His hair wasn’t curly like Meredith’s, but it was long, so he couldn’t see the piercing. The dark-haired one didn’t have a piercing. “Is that your sister’s husband with him?”

  “That’s Landon’s boyfriend, Ty.”

  “All that drama to get his ear pierced and you can’t even see it,” he said as he returned her phone. “His hair hides it.”

  She took the phone and smiled fondly at the photo. He liked this side of her. She might be prickly with new acquaintances, but her family gentled her. It was an interesting contrast. He hoped to someday see some of that softness directed to him.

  He pushed back his chair and strode to the grill. He opened it and flipped the steaks. “When are classes over?”

  “Final grades go in on Friday.”

  He sat again and tried to sound nonchalant. “I head back to the ranch on Saturday. Why don’t you come with me? Spend a few days.” He paused, afraid of scaring her off but unable to stop the next words. “Maybe the week.”

  Her eyes widened and her brows lifted. “I don’t think so.”

  Just the answer he’d expected. “Ah, come on. I can give you a tour of the ranch.”

  She scrunched up her nose. “As in hiking?”

  “No. We’ll take the four-wheelers. Ever ridden one?”

  “No.”

  “I’ll teach you. They’re a blast. Plus, we’ve got a great pool table. You can spend the week schooling me. We can do some target shooting, too.”

  She nodded toward the grill. “I’m not an expert, but you might want to check the steaks.”

  Sure enough, smoke billowed from the sides of the grill. He grabbed the tongs and flipped open the lid. Searing flames leaped out, and he jumped back, cursing. After approaching more cautiously, he rearranged the meat and let the flare-up burn out. When the crisis was over, he pressed the center of each steak. Not as much play as he liked. Medium. He preferred medium rare, but he was lucky they hadn’t been reduced to ashes. If Meredith hadn’t brought the fire to his attention, they’d be calling out for pizza. He placed them on a platter and set it on the table.

  Meredith’s thoughtful gaze was focused on the grayed wood fence, but he didn’t think she was seeing it. Her full, pink lips were pursed together, her head cocked. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and he wanted to rake his fingers through the strands and wind them around his hands while she sucked his cock with those lips. His dick twitched, hardened and demanded to know why Charlie insisted on feeding Meredith before getting to the good stuff.

  Charlie emerged from his desire-induced stupor and cleared his throat. “I’ll bring out the sides, and we’ll be ready.”

  Meredith jumped up. “I’ll help you.”

  “No, that’s okay. I’ve got it. Just relax.” While I go inside and maneuver my cock into a more comfortable position.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

  “Yeah. Have another glass of wine.” He grinned and topped off her glass with the Cabernet. “And think about my proposal.”

  “Actually, I have been thinking about it.” She sipped the wine.

  As she swallowed, he was torn between wondering what it would be like to see her swallowing his come and what her answer would be.

  “That sounds fun,” she said.

  His eyes bugged out of his head. The wine had loosened her up, but was she so drunk she was actually saying yes?

  “But let’s take separate cars.”

  “I—you—we—I mean—” She’d accepted his invitation. Unfuckingbelievable. The kid in him jumped up and down. When the boy had calmed down some, the man said, “It’s a two-hour drive. Why don’t you just ride with me?”

  She laughed. “Because I prefer to have my own transportation. That way we won’t fight over radio stations.”

  “I’ll let you listen to whatever station you want.”

  “Huh. Even my liberal talk radio?”

  He cringed. He hadn’t thought much about her politics. But he wasn’t surprised she leaned that direction. Still, he’d invite Rachel Maddow to ride with them if it meant spending the weekend with Meredith. “Yes, even your well-intentioned but ill-informed liberal talk shows.”

  She sighed. “I knew it. You’re one of them.”

  “That’s not a bad thing.”

  She raised her brows, an invitation to explain his logic.

  “Just think of all the great make-up sex we can have.”

  “What?”

  “After we argue our positions and neither one of us budges.”

  “Have you been talking to my sister?”

  “No. Why?” What did her sister have to do with this?

  “Nothing,” she mumbled.

  He didn’t believe her but didn’t push. “Actually I’m a middle-of-the-roader. I doubt we’ll find that much to argue about. I support gay marriage, a woman’s right to choose, a strong military and the right to keep and bear arms. Only three of those are hot-butto
n issues, and I’m willing to bet a whole night in bed plus breakfast tomorrow morning that we agree on those three.”

  “And if I win?”

  He winked. “The same.”

  “Seriously, I’d be more comfortable with my own transportation. That way if things don’t work out, I can get the hell out of Dodge.”

  He couldn’t imagine that happening but relented, afraid she’d back out if he forced the issue. At least she was being honest with him. He appreciated that. “Okay. I’ll come by your house about three and you can follow me.”

  She waved off his suggestion. “Just give me an address. I’ll find it.”

  He shook his head. She’d get lost if she used her GPS. “I’ll draw you a map, otherwise you’ll never find it.”

  She smiled. “An off-the-grid house?” Her smile dropped, and she narrowed her eyes. “It is a house, right? Or a cabin or some kind of building with AC and hot and cold running water and an indoor toilet?”

  He feigned indignation. “We wouldn’t put our pool table in a tent.”

  She relaxed. “Just checking.”

  Chapter Nine

  The guy at the back of the CHL renewal class was edgy enough to make Charlie suspicious. Every time Charlie tried to make eye contact with him, the man’s gaze slid away. Guilty. Charlie had reservations about letting him on the shooting range. For damn sure, he was gonna pull him aside after the classroom portion to get a better read on him.

  It was a small group. Five men, one woman. Friendly except for that guy in the back. He didn’t look dangerous. Tall, fit, short light brown hair, clean-shaven. But there was something about him that wasn’t right. Charlie was glad the guns were in their cases.

  As the group filed out of the classroom, the man gave Charlie an apologetic smile.

  Charlie took the opportunity to say, “Jake, you look familiar. Have we met before?”

  Truth was, if they’d met, Charlie would have remembered. But it was an opening.

  “Maybe,” Jake said. “College?”

  “Aborted Aggie.”

  Jake stuck out his hand. “Howdy. Class of ninety-four.”

  Charlie shook his hand. “Guess that’s not it. I would have been two-thousand. What kind of work are you in?”

  “Software design.” The answer came without hesitation, but then his glance slid away and his fingers tightened around the gun case handle.

  “Are you from Austin?”

  “No. Houston. Moved here after graduation. I’m on a city softball team. You play?”

  “No.” An awkward silence.

  “Well, I’d best head out to the range.”

  “Hang on a minute.” Charlie finally decided on the straightforward approach. “What’s going on? Why are you here today?”

  Jake looked taken aback. “To renew my concealed carry.”

  “There’s more.” The guy didn’t seem angry or crazy, but he was definitely hiding something. “Look, I’m going with my gut here, and it’s telling me something’s off.”

  Jake sighed. “I told her this wouldn’t work.”

  Charlie stiffened and kept an eye on the gun case and an eye on Jake. “What’s that mean?”

  “My wife,” he mumbled.

  “Come again.”

  “My wife wanted me to check you out.”

  “I know your wife?” Charlie asked.

  “No. But she’s pretty sure you know her sister.”

  “Who’s her sister?” Charlie hoped to hell this wasn’t a somebody-done-somebody-wrong song. He couldn’t think of anyone he’d done wrong, not in the last few years anyway. Okay, not since high school.

  Jake fidgeted with his gun case. “You can’t say anything to her. Because if you do, I’m toast.”

  “I’m not promising anything until you explain what’s going on.”

  “Do you know Meredith Burke?”

  “Doc? Yeah.” His heart sank. Had he fallen for a married woman? Was that why she hadn’t wanted him to follow her home after their first date? Nah, that couldn’t be it. She’d introduced him to her boss. Still, he’d best make certain. “She’s not your wife, is she?”

  “No. She’s my wife’s sister.”

  “Oooh-kay.” Then it hit him. Meredith had told her family about him. That was good. Right? He grinned like a fool. Not only had Meredith introduced him to her boss, but she’d told her family about him. “So you’re checking me out to make sure I’m not some kind of perv.”

  “Yeah. Something like that.”

  Charlie relaxed and sat on the edge of his desk. Inside he was jumping around like a boy—again—and chanting, Meredith told her family about me. “What do you want to know?”

  “The usual. Who your family is. What your intentions are.”

  “How many times I’ve been to prison and for what,” Charlie added.

  “Nah. I checked public records for that stuff. No previous marriages. At least, not in Texas. No arrests. No DWIs. Not even a speeding ticket.”

  “Seriously? You investigated me?”

  “Meredith doesn’t know about it, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell her. This was my wife’s idea.”

  “Isn’t that going a little overboard? We’ve only had a few dates.” If he counted the office sex.

  “Yes. But I can explain. My wife is pregnant.”

  That was an explanation? “I’m not following.”

  “Well, apparently that translates into nine months of insanity.”

  “Seriously?” That sounded farfetched. Although he’d once caught Emma on a crying jag in the kitchen of her parents’ restaurant when she’d been pregnant with her first. Emma never cried, so it’d been a shock. And it had only gotten worse when he’d tried to comfort her. She’d ended up sobbing in his arms. To this day he didn’t know what that had been about, hadn’t been able to understand her wailed words. Still... “You can’t rein her in?”

  Jake snorted. “Yeah. Right. It’s a little more complicated than that. I’m just trying to keep the peace.”

  “Okay.” They didn’t have time to discuss this now. “I need to get out on the range. Can we do this after class?” Now that he knew the guy was simply infected with his wife’s insanity, he didn’t have any qualms about putting him on the firing line.

  “That’d be great. Thanks.”

  Charlie could learn a lot about a man by the way he handled his firearms. Jake was safe and confident with his. Not one slip-up or loss of concentration as he worked with his Browning 9 mm. No peacocking.

  Later, they sat at a table in the snack bar overlooking the range. Charlie had two hours before he needed to leave for the ranch. Did Jake know that Meredith was spending the week with him? Charlie sure as hell wasn’t going to bring it up. He suspected that violating her confidence would be the second fastest way to lose her. Right behind telling her he wanted something more than a hookup. The two men talked about hunting, their jobs and their families. Jake seemed like a decent guy. He owned a software company he’d started a couple of years out of college, but despite his geeky computer background, he wasn’t the typical nerd. When he wasn’t keeping secrets, he wasn’t socially awkward. He enjoyed sports, camping, hunting.

  The conversation lulled and Charlie asked, “Do I pass inspection?”

  Jake nodded, but then his brows drew together and his smile flattened. “But you do anything to hurt her and you’ll regret it. I might not be her brother by blood, but she’s my sister in every way that counts. And by the way, her blood brother is bigger than I am. And when it comes to his sisters, you don’t want to screw around.” He shrugged. “Just sayin’.”

  “Noted,” Charlie said. He figured if anyone got hurt, it would be him.

  * * *

  Blaine looked up from his laptop a
nd out his office window when he heard Charlie’s truck crunching over the gravel in front of the house. The dogs barked from the front porch then raced down the steps and around to the driver’s side of the truck when it stopped. Blaine’s heartbeat quickened. He’d missed him, had eagerly anticipated his homecoming until this morning when Charlie had told him he’d invited a friend. A female friend. Blaine’s heart had sunk to his bowels. Charlie had never brought a woman home. This “Doc” must be special. He was happy for his friend. Or he would be once he met the woman and determined that she was good enough for Charlie. But then, he wondered if anyone was good enough for Charlie.

  Not worried about hiding his feelings, Blaine stood at the window and watched Charlie climb out of the truck and heft his black duffle bag over his shoulder. He loved the way Charlie moved, the easy stride, the shift of his broad shoulders, a man comfortable in his own body, even with the dogs trying to trip him up as they vied for his attention. He must have come straight from work because he was wearing a white T-shirt with the black Brazos Gun Club logo in the pocket area.

  The front door whooshed opened, and the dogs’ barking grew louder. Charlie’s falsetto voice raised above it. “Honey, I’m home.”

  The door slammed shut, muting the dogs. Blaine composed his expression, shifting from longing to friendly as Charlie’s boots scuffed across the floor. By the time his friend walked through the office door, Blaine had everything under control. He strode from the window to shake hands.

  “Sure been quiet around here without you.”

  Charlie’s grin widened, and his blue eyes gleamed. “It’s good to be back. I even missed those damned dogs. And just wait until you meet Meredith. I can’t believe I talked her into coming.”