With a seductive smile, she touched his glass with hers lightly, causing a faint clink, and sipped again, watching him the whole time with a look that made him want to forget dinner and find somewhere to be alone with her.
“I’m beginning to see that you have a sensual side you’ve kept well hidden.”
“Well, yes, Tony. I’ve kept it hidden fromyou,” she said with good humor, and he laughed.
“I suppose I brought that on,” he said, wondering whom she had allowed to see this aspect of herself. He sat back to study her. “As well as I know your family, I really don’t know muchabout you. You went to Texas Tech, didn’t you? And you were an agriculture major?”
“Yes, with a minor in business. I knew I’d come home to run a ranch.”
“Good background. Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the ranch?”
“Sometimes the problems seem a little overwhelming, but I love the ranch too much to feel at odds with it. It’s my life.”
“I agree, but it’s different for you. Don’t you want a family someday?”
“Owning the ranch doesn’t mean I can’t have a family,” she retorted.
“I suppose.” He nodded as he considered her remark. “Everyone in the county knows you work as hard as the guys who work for you. It’s difficult to look at you now and remember how tough and resilient you are.”
“Did you know my big brother came out to the ranch, sat me down and lectured me to try to get me to be nicer to you?”
“The hell you say. Is that why you’re here tonight?” he asked. Still, he couldn’t believe that the gorgeous creature flirting with him now was only here to make nice.
She leaned over the table, reaching out to take his hand in hers, and his heart jumped again. Every touch, her flirting, the looks she was giving him, all stirred responses that shocked him. No other woman had ever had the same instant effect on him from the slightest contact.
“No,” she replied, her voice lowering. “Before the night is over, you’ll know this was all my idea and not one of my brothers had anything to do with my plans for tonight.”
Her plans? His mind began to race with the possibilities and they were all X-rated. His blood pulsed hot through his veins. “I’m beginning to wish we were alone right now.”
With a satisfied expression, she sat back. “Mike and Josh weren’t at the auction and I haven’t talked to them lately. They have no idea what I’m doing tonight. Jake was in the audience, with Madison, but across the room from me. Otherwise, I’m sure he would have tried to stop my bidding because he would have suspected my motives. But he more than any of my brothers should know you can take care of yourself.”
Tony nodded. “I’ll bet it was Jake who tried to talk you into being nicer. Mike has had his own problems with losing his first wife, caring for four-year-old Scotty and getting married to Savannah. And Josh is too busy making money with his hotels.”
“You’re right about all three.” She glanced down to their joined hands. “Although I don’t think this was exactly what Jake had in mind when he told me to be civil to you.”
Tony couldn’t help but smile. “I’m sure it wasn’t.” He turned his hand so that his was holding hers and rubbed his thumb across her smooth skin. “You know, I’ve heard little Scotty adores his aunt Lindsay. I’m beginning to see how that’s possible.”
“I don’t think Scotty sees me the way you do.”
He laughed. “No, I’m sure he doesn’t. But you have a whole different side to you that I’m seeing tonight.” And he was still having quite a time wrapping his mind around this Lindsay. If this auction night had happened when she first moved to her ranch, would they have avoided their big clashes? Or would that same stubborn Lindsay still have been lurking beneath this beauty?
“I’ve gotten the same lecture from my brother Wyatt about cooling our fights,” he told her. “As county sheriff, he just wants peace and quiet in his life and he doesn’t want to have to continually deal with our battles—which will be less in the future, I promise you.”
“I hope we can end the clashes altogether.”
“If you’re like this, you’ll have my complete cooperation. You know, I have to tell you. Over the years, some things you’ve wanted or accused me of destroying, I had nothing to do with. Hopefully, after this, you’ll listen to my side a little more. But enough about our past. It doesn’t exist tonight, Lindsay.”
“That suits me fine,” she said softly as she licked her lower lip.
“That does it.” He pushed back his chair and went around to her. “If you do one more sexy thing, I may go up in spontaneous combustion.” He held out his hand to her. “Let’s dance. I don’t want the table between us anymore.” He also needed to move around and cool down.
Her blue eyes sparkled. “Ah, so I have your attention.”
“You’ve had my full attention since that spotlight revealed you.”
He led her to the dance floor, where he turned to take her into his arms. He was intensely aware of her enticing perfume, of her soft hand in his, of her other hand skimming the back of his neck. She was soft, lithe and a good dancer, one more surprise for the evening.
“You have really hidden yourself away from a lot of fun and a lot of attention.”