Cooking For Cowboy (Stampede Sizzlers) (8 page)

Sierra sighed, totally mesmerized. She loved hot weather! Especially when a sweltering day drove a beautiful male specimen like Chad to remove his shirt, allowing her to admire his above-the-waist attributes.

She set her plastic tub down and wandered toward the corral, drawn to him like steel to a magnet. Her gaze never left Chad’s half-naked body. God, he was a good-looking man. His muscular chest glistened with sweat in the afternoon sunshine, and his Wranglers fit perfectly. She couldn’t decide whether to stare at his butt or at his tanned, bare chest. To heck with it, she’d ogle both.

She approached the corral, stepped up onto the bottom rail, and leaned against the wooden top. The rough wood scratched her bare skin, and she realized she was only wearing the pink polka dot bikini she’d worked in all afternoon. She crossed her arms in an attempt to at least cover her chest area while keeping her balance on the rail.

Chad reached up, affectionately stroked the horse’s neck. Would his hands stroke her body with equal gentleness? Oh, yeah! She felt her inner thighs tingle and grew wet just thinking about it. Her breath caught as she noticed the outline of his biceps indicating the strength in his arms. He continued leading the horse around the corral. Was the animal injured and he was evaluating its health? He rubbed a hand down the animal’s leg and Sierra imagined him doing the same to her limbs.

Just then he turned. “What are you doing down here?” he called, shock evident on his face.

The horse side-hopped, startled by Chad’s voice. “Easy, there. It’s okay, boy.” While he reassured the nervous animal, his eyes never left her.

Judging by the surprised expression, discovering his cook standing here in a bikini was likely the last thing her boss expected. He was eyeing her like she was a prime rib dinner after a hard day’s work! She felt her face redden. She should have high-tailed it to the house and grabbed a cover-up.

Sierra stood, speechless. He’d asked her what she was doing down here. Darn good question. How would she explain her sudden appearance at the corral?
Oh, I just thought I’d come down here and drool over your physique.
Not likely. “He’s a gorgeous animal, isn’t he? Was he hurt? Why were you checking him over so closely?” She abruptly shut up, realizing she was babbling.

“Bruised his foreleg a couple weeks ago, but he seems healed and ready to return to racing.” Chad patted the animal’s neck and then slipped the halter off over his head. The horse charged away and pranced around the corral.

“I’m glad he’s okay,” said Sierra.

Chad turned and headed over to join her. His appreciative gaze roamed her body and a broad smile creased his face. “Were you sunning on the deck?”

As he moved toward her like a cat stalking a mouse, the words
coming in for the kill
crossed her mind. “I...I was working in the garden,” she stammered, hopping off the rail and taking a step back. She resisted the urge to bolt for the house like a frightened filly. “Doing a little tanning at the same time. Fresh peas and salad for dinner.”

Chad climbed up and over the rails and jumped down onto the ground beside her. He grabbed a long-sleeved plaid shirt off the top rail and pulled his arms through it. He slowly fastened the snaps, his gaze riveted to her body.

Darn it. If she’d noticed his shirt hanging there, she would have asked for the darn thing to cover herself. Too late now. She folded her arms across her chest again, tugged at a strand of hair that fell across her eyes.

“Maybe I should take up gardening?” He winked.

“Weeding is so glamorous. You’ll love it,” she teased, nervously.

“I’d enjoy the scenery for sure.” He stood hands on hips, shamelessly looking her up and down.

“Okay, time to start dinner,” she declared and headed toward the house.

“Meet me in the hot tub tonight around ten o’clock,” he called. “I’d love to see more of that bikini.”

* * *

All evening Sierra couldn’t decide if Chad had been teasing, or if he actually expected her to join him in that enormous hot tub atop the back deck. He didn’t mention anything about it at dinner, just headed back out to the barns after he ate.

She’d spent the evening playing cards with Celia who’d headed off to bed a few minutes ago. Sierra glanced at her watch. Ten minutes to ten.

What the heck.

Almost every muscle in her body ached from all the work she’d done in the garden today. Even the hot shower she’d taken before making dinner hadn’t helped. She slipped into her bedroom, donned her new blue-and-white-striped bikini, and grabbed a fluffy white towel out of her en suite.

Ten minutes later, Sierra had removed the hot tub cover, settled herself on the bench seat, and sat soaking in the soothing hot water. She looked heavenward, spotting satellites and watching for stars as they appeared in the darkening sky.

Last night, she and Barney slipped outside after dark. After her dog did his final business for the day, she and Barney snuggled on a deck lounger and stared up at the sky in disbelief. Living in the city, Sierra had never experienced star gazing before. The vastness of the universe amazed her. Were her parents and grandparents looking down from that star-filled expanse overhead?

“Grandma, can you see me?” she whispered aloud. “Are you proud of all I’ve accomplished in life so far? I wish you could give me a sign or something that you’re watching over me.”

Her grandma had encouraged Sierra’s dream, insisting she would become a chef one day. Now, she felt her grandmother’s presence sometimes, especially when she was cooking. Or at least, she imagined she did. Surely, her grandma approved of her hard work and dedication to her career.

Sierra jumped when the deck door opened, the sound intensified in the still night air.

Chad appeared wearing a pair of stylish black swim trunks, with a towel draped over one shoulder. He carried a bottle of Chardonnay in one hand and two crystal wine glasses in the other.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Chad set the wine bottle down for a second and tossed the towel onto a lounger.

He stepped into the hot tub, took a seat across from her, and set the bottle and stemmed glasses down on the ledge circling the tub.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked, smiling.

“You’re forgiven for startling me.” Sierra smiled. “And I’d love some wine. Thank you for thinking to bring it out.”

“You’re welcome.” Chad poured wine into the glasses and handed her one.

“Celia showed me the wine cellar, and I’m in love.” She took a sip of wine, set her glass down, and slipped further into the water until she was covered to her chin. “I wasn’t certain if you were serious, if you’d show up, but I was hoping you would.” Darn it, that last part just slipped out. Hopefully, he’d think her flushed face was due to the steamy water.

“As you get to know me, you’ll learn that I always mean what I say.” Chad took a sip and stretched his long legs out in front of him. “That wine is hitting the spot.”

Her eyes riveted to his chest muscles and settled on his well-defined pecs when he stretched his arms wide along the ledge. Thankfully, she’d set her glass down or she’d have dropped it. His biceps bulged. She recalled their embrace and hot kiss beside the racetrack yesterday. She wanted his strong arms around her again.

“Man, this feels so good. I pulled a muscle today, working with the horses.” He massaged what she guessed to be his thigh with his hands, but his entire lower body was hidden beneath the water.

A large red patch on each shoulder indicated he’d worked shirtless in the sun a little too long this afternoon. Did the sunburn hurt? Or was he even aware of it? Should she offer to apply lotion when they got out of the water? Of course, that would involve touching his beautiful body. Her heart flipped over in her chest just thinking about it.

“My muscles ache from over-enthusiastic gardening today. The heat does feel wonderful,” agreed Sierra, sighing. “But after a while it becomes too much of a good thing.” Feeling way too warm, she climbed out of the water and sat on the ledge.

She heard Chad’s sharp intake of breath and realized he’d noticed the skimpy bit of material she was wearing.

“How many bikinis do you own?” he choked out. His face reddened. No doubt, he regretted blurting out the question.

“Five or six, and a couple one-piece suits for water skiing,” she answered, meeting those beautiful blue eyes. Judging by his expression, things were starting to get steamy in the Jacuzzi and not from the hot water.

Her own body had cooled with the light breeze resulting in a crop of goose bumps. She slipped back in and seated herself on the underwater bench before reaching for her wineglass. Crickets chirped and an owl hooted from his hiding place in a distant tree.

“Mmm, that’s good,” she whispered, returning her glass to the ledge.

Just then Barney raced up the deck stairs, jumped up and rested his paws on the side of the hot tub. He stretched his neck, attempting to peek inside. “Barney, don’t even think about it. You’re not invited to this party,” laughed Sierra, waving him away. “Go lie down. That’s a good boy.”

Barney’s head lowered and his expression indicated he wasn’t pleased. But he padded over to the covered portion of the deck where someone had thrown an old brown duvet for dogs to sleep on. Sandy’s tail wagged when his new buddy joined him on the makeshift bed.

Chad smiled at Sierra and held out his hand. “Why don’t you come on over here?”

She hesitated a moment and then allowed him to help her over to the other side. As soon as she sat down, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him. She leaned into him for a minute and then sat up. “Would you like more wine?”

“Save it for another night,” he answered, pulling her back against him.

For several minutes, they remained snuggled together, gazing at the ceiling of twinkling stars overhead. Sierra hadn’t been in a relationship in ages. She missed being close to a man, sharing private time together after a busy day. Too bad it would only last for a few weeks at most.

“It’s pitch-black in the country at night, no streetlights. And it’s so eerily quiet out here, no traffic and no sirens. Falling asleep proved challenging last night, but I imagine I’ll get used to it in time.” Sierra smiled with her admission.

“You will. When there’s moonlight, the whole backyard is lit. I love walking down to the creek and listening to the crickets and frogs. Of course, unless there’s a breeze like tonight to keep the mosquitoes at bay, forget it. You’d get eaten alive.” Chad wound strands of her long hair through his fingers while he spoke.

“Most of the time, we don’t get too many mosquitoes in the city. Maybe they treat the ponds or something. I wish they’d do something about the annoying wasps. I suppose it’s just a part of summer outdoors.” Sierra pointed and exclaimed, “Did you see that shooting star?”

“Yep. I made a wish, too.” He grinned and met her eyes.

“Care to share?”

“Nope. It won’t come true then.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trailed his hand down her cheek and held her chin with his fingers.

Sierra’s breath caught.

Chad leaned down and brushed her cheek with his lips. She felt his breath on her face and her insides turned to mush when he claimed her mouth with a searing kiss. He appeared as dazed as she felt when he pulled back. He whispered, breathlessly, “I’ve been waiting all day to do that.”

“You could do it again.” Sierra smiled.

Chapter 7

Sierra realized Chad didn’t have to be asked twice when he turned sideways and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her cheek and then met her eyes as if seeking permission to continue. She nodded, extending silent encouragement, and rested her hands on his waist. He trailed wet kisses down her neck to her breasts.

“You taste better than any decadent gourmet dessert,” he whispered, nuzzling the rounded mounds barely covered by her bikini top.

“Thank you,” she acknowledged the compliment.

Her nipples leapt to attention and he suckled each one in turn through the thin material.

“If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up, okay?” gasped Chad.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” whispered Sierra, knowing her voice would travel easily this time of night.

“I know. But I’ve never been so attracted to someone I just met before, never wanted to be with a woman so soon. I can count on my fingers how many women I’ve been with.”

“I can count on one hand how many guys I’ve been with. This is
so
not like me.” Sierra felt her face redden. Never in her wildest dreams would she imagine herself having this discussion with Chad tonight. But, she felt okay with it.

“This feels right though, doesn’t it?” Chad touched her cheek.

Sierra gaped. Had he read her mind?

“If you want me to stop, I will. It might kill me, but I will.”

Sierra just shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. If he stopped right now, she’d never forgive him!

“I figured you for a good girl,” he teased. “Count on one hand?”

“Blame my grandmother. When I was fifteen, I moved in with her when my parents were killed.”

“Oh, Sierra, I’m sorry.”

“Car accident. Things happen in life. Grandma did a remarkable job of raising me, in spite of everything. Anyway, when I turned eighteen, she warned me about men. She said
‘you don’t have to try on every pair of shoes in the store, just choose a few pairs you really like and then find your perfect fit’
.”

“And you’ve tried on less than five so far.”

“Three actually. Two long-term relationships that eventually soured and a one-time mistake last December. But I’m hoping the perfect guy for me is out there somewhere.”

“Maybe he’s right here?” Chad grinned, mischievously.

“Who knows?” Sierra laughed, nervously. “Maybe he is.”

“Only one way to find out.” Chad reached for her and drew her closer.

His mouth returned to her nipples, suckling the aching buds through the bikini top. Unable to stand it a moment longer, she reached behind her and released the hooks, slipped the top off her arms, and tossed it over the side of the tub. She desperately needed his mouth on her.