TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES) (35 page)

“I’m sorry you didn’t stand up to your parents,” Jackie said.

“Yes, me, too. And when I did turn to see the handsome hunk the two of you had been drooling over during dinner, I recognized him immediately and he recognized me. When I walked outside of the restaurant he followed me.”

“You think we don’t know that?” Sheila asked, rolling her eyes. “We saw him trailing behind you and figured he’d said something to you. We figured he’d tried to hit on you.”

“And when you didn’t say anything we decided not to pry,” Jackie said.

“I appreciate that because I wasn’t ready to go into any details about my relationship with Corey last night,” Abby said. “He came by after the two of you left last night and took me for a walk, and we got the chance to talk some more.”

Jackie hit her hand against her forehead. “Good grief. Tall, dark and handsome came here last night and Sheila and I weren’t here to meet him.”

Abby chuckled. “You’ll get the chance to do so in a few minutes.”

“What about Madison? What will we tell her when you don’t return with us?” Sheila asked.

“That I’ve decided to extend my vacation another two weeks and I’ll be calling to explain.”

Jackie stared at her. “You really are going to do it? Stay two weeks to be with him.”

Abby’s face warmed at the thought. “Yes, and I’ll be fine. I promise to call and let you know I’m okay.”

At that moment there was a knock on the door and Abby glanced down at her watch and smiled excitedly at her two friends. “That’s him and I know the two of you are just dying to meet him.”

* * *

“Your friends are pretty nice.”

Abby couldn’t help by throw her back and laughed. “I’m glad you think so but as you saw they’re nothing but flirts. I thought we would never get out of there. I can tell they like you.”

He smiled. “And I like them; especially when they gave you a thumb up for spending two weeks with me on my mountain.”

Abby glanced out the truck’s window as Corey pulled into the parking lot. Their first stop was the general store.

“I need to pick up a few things,” Corey said moments later, opening the truck’s door. “And you might want to grab a few things that will be durable enough to ride up the mountain.”

She lifted a brow. “Ride?”

“Yes, we’re going up by horseback and it will probably take two days.” He chuckled at the shocked look that appeared on Abby’s face. It was priceless.

“Uh, I don’t know if you remember this, but I can’t ride a horse, Corey.”

His smile widened. “I remember. We’re riding double.”

“Oh. Why can’t we take your truck?”

“It’s Durango’s truck and the territory is too rugged for a vehicle,” he answered, wanting her to know just how secluded the two of them would be up on his mountain.

She nodded slowly. “So whenever you want to leave your mountain you come down by horse and go back up the same way?”

“Yes. That’s why I usually stock up on supplies. But there is a postal plane flown by a friend of mine that makes a trip to my mountain at least twice a week to bring the mail and any supplies I order here at the store. I usually leave my supplies at Durango’s place and they pick them up from there. I’ll have them fly in your luggage as well. We’re in luck since they will make a delivery to my place in three days. Come on, let’s go inside so I can order my supplies and get you properly outfitted.”

“All right.”

Corey breathed in slowly as he closed the truck’s door. So far she hadn’t asked to go back to the Silver Arrow, so he could only guess she figured the thought of going up to his mountain by horseback wouldn’t be so bad and he was glad of that.

She walked beside him as they headed toward the door to the general store. He opened it and stood aside for her to go in ahead of him. He then glanced around and smiled when he saw Ted Fowler the owner.

“Well, Corey Westmoreland, it’s that time already?”

Corey smiled. “Yes, Ted, I’m here for my supplies,” he said, pulling out a list from his shirt pocket and handing it to the man. “And this is Abby. She needs some clothes suitable to ride up the mountain with me.”

“No problem,” the man said, turning friendly eyes on Abby. “Hello, Abby, I’m Ted Fowler.” He extended his hand out to her.

She took it and smiled. “How do you do, Mr. Fowler? It’s nice meeting you.”

The man tilted his head and smiled broadly. “That’s a New England accent, right.”

Abby’s smile widened. “Yes, I’m from Boston.”

The man gave Corey a quizzical look. “I didn’t know there were Westmorelands in Boston.”

Corey chuckled. “As far as I know there aren’t any.” He then took Abby’s hand in his. “I’ll help Abby pick out a few items while you gather up the supplies Ted.”

“Oh, all right.” The man gave Abby a strange look before walking off.

Abby glanced up at Corey. “Is he okay?”

Corey threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, Ted’s fine.”

* * *

By the time they’d left the general store with Corey’s supplies, they’d also purchased a sweater, several pairs of jeans, t-shirts, and flannel shirts for Abby. He’d convinced her all the items were needed on the mountain. Although this was the middle of June the weather tended to be colder in high attitudes. He’d even explained that higher up on his mountains in certain areas there was even snow on the ground.

“We’re dropping everything off at Durango’s and then we’ll be on our way,” he said, pulling into the yard.

Abby glanced around at the sprawling ranch house and all the land surrounding it. “It’s beautiful and your nephew owns it?”

“Yes. It was a good investment and he worked hard to pay for it.”

“He’s single?”

Corey laughed. “Yes, with no intentions of marrying anytime soon,” he said, bringing the truck to a stop. “Durango’s SUV is here, which means he’s inside.

They were walking toward the house when the huge wooden door suddenly opened. Abby stopped walking and stared at the man who stepped outside. He reminded her so much of a younger Corey it was uncanny.

She glanced over at Corey. “And he’s your nephew and not your son?”

A huge grin touched Corey’s lips. “Yes. Several of my nephews favor me. I guess we all have those strong Westmoreland genes.”

She chuckled. “Evidently.”

The man smiled when he reached them and automatically gave his uncle a bear hug. “Uncle Corey, you left before I got out of bed this morning.”

“Yes, I had a lot to do before heading back up the mountain,” Corey said. He then glanced over at Abby and smiled. “Abby, this is my nephew Durango. Durango, this is Abby.”

“Hello ma’am,” Durango said, offering Abby his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

She shook his hand. “Nice meeting you as well. Corey has told me a lot of nice things about you. And you have a beautiful home.”

“Thanks.”

Durango glanced from Abby to his uncle. “When are you going back up to Corey’s Mountain?”

“Just as soon as I can get the horse properly saddled. I’m leaving my supplies here so the postal plane can deliver them to me in three days. They need to bring Abby’s luggage as well.”

Durango blinked. “Abby’s luggage?”

“Yes.”

Durango shifted his gaze over to Abby and then back to his uncle. A bemused look appeared on his face. “She’s going up to Corey’s Mountain?”

“Yes.”

“She’s a relative?”

“No, Abby’s not a relative.”

And ignoring the incredulous look on Durango’s face, Corey took Abby’s hand in his and said. “She needs to use the guest bedroom to change into her riding clothes and to repack the toiletries she’ll need in to her saddlebag.”

“Oh, alright,” Durango said, giving Abby a rather strange look.

When Durango walked off to head back into the house, Abby glanced over at Corey. “Is he okay?”

A smile played at the corners of Corey’s lips when he said, “Yes, he’s fine.”

* * *

Corey glanced up at the sky. It was almost noon and it had gotten hot already. They needed to leave now if they intended to make it to the cabin before dark. Because they would be riding double, they would not be able to cover as much distance as they would if riding single.

He glanced at Abby and his gaze skimmed over her. She looked beautiful in her riding attire, but she still had that refined look about her even while wearing a pair of jeans, a blue blouse and a cowhide vest with a pair of boots on her feet.

“ Are you ready to ride, Abby?”

“Umm, not so fast, Corey. You owe me an explanation.”

He lifted a brow. “About what?”

“Why on two separate occasions when you mentioned me going up to your mountain with you, I received some rather strange looks?”

“Did you?”

“Yes. What’s going on, Corey?”

He closed the saddlebag and walked around the horse and came to a stop in front of her. She smelled good and he wondered how he was going to handle her sitting behind him on the horse, holding on to him and smelling the way she was. He knew at that moment his control would be stretched to the limit.

He looked down at her and she was holding his gaze with a curious look in her eyes. He tilted his Stetson back and felt his stomach clench when she licked her bottom lip. He knew that was a habit of hers; a habit she’d had for years and one that could turn him on something fierce.

“Corey?”

“Hmm?”

“Why am I getting strange looks?”

He’d figured she would get around to asking him that sooner or later and she deserved an answer. “When I bought my mountain years ago I was still in my twenties. It was understood with friends and family that no woman, other than members of my family or wives of friends would ever set foot on it.”

She gave him a bemused look. “Why?”

Still holding her gaze, he said. “My mountain is my haven, Abby. It’s where I know I can always find peace. And although I haven’t lived the life of a monk, a part of me just couldn’t imagine another woman being up there on my mountain other than you. Even when I knew you were wearing another man’s name, I refused to let go and move on. I kept your memory close anyway. The memory of our time together that summer held me steadfast and it got me through some of my darkest hours.”

He paused and then said, “My family never knew why I had that rule in place. They just accepted it. Not just my family but most people living around these parts know about my rule. That’s why they are surprised I am breaking it for you. They have no idea that in essence, it was made because of you.”

Staring into his eyes while hearing the words he’d spoken let Abby know he’d spoken the truth and she was touched by what he’d said more than he could ever know because he had waited on her, even when he hadn’t known he was doing so. And even when she hadn’t known he was waiting. He had proven that their love was a whole lot bigger, definitely a lot stronger than the both of them. And it had endured. The depth of that realization sank into her, all the way to her bones. And it touched her heart and her soul. She felt a shiver and with his eyes still holding hers she felt love, so deep she couldn’t hold it inside of her any longer.

Moaning his name from deep within her throat, she reached up and slid her arms around his neck and instinctively, he lowered his head and captured her mouth. When she released another moan, he slid his tongue between her parted lips.

She couldn’t get over just how he tasted, delicious, robust and man all rolled into one. And the hard, solid feel of his body pressed against hers made her realize just how long it had been since she’d enjoyed being held by a man. Kissed by one. Touched by one. Made love to by one. Only Corey had the ability to remind her because he had been the deliverer of any and all such pleasures for her.

She leaned closer and kissed him back with the same intensity and hunger that he was kissing her. He slid his arms around her waist to bring her closer still and angled his head to deepen the kiss even more. He wasn’t just kissing her, he was consuming her, stirring passion within her that had been dormant for more than thirty years.

He was kindling her fire, reminding her of how things had once been between them, while proving that things were still that way. Time and separation hadn’t destroyed their ability to ignite the blaze between them. Now they were adults, and although he might have experience on his side now, she did not. When it came to this she was still wet behind the ears. But there was no doubt in her mind that like before he would teach her everything she needed to know.

On a regretful groan he finally brought their kiss to an end and reluctantly lifted his mouth from hers. An arrogant smile curved his lips and she all but swooned because she could remember that smile and knew just what it meant.

“Don’t look at me like that, Corey Westmoreland,” she warned, at the same time she felt a tingling in the pit of her belly.

“Like what?” Corey asked in an innocent tone, lowering his head to lick the ridge of her collarbone and then to trace a wet path upward toward her ear. He knew how sensitive she was in that particular spot.