with a smile.
“See ya, Callie.” He swatted each horse’s rump and they trotted into the stable. Jed followed behind.
Callie ran a hand through her hair and inhaled deep. Tagg had just saved her from an awkward situation with his ranch hand.
“Were you going to go out with him?” he asked, gesturing toward the stable.
“Jed? Uh, no. I wasn’t.” She lifted her chin a notch. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
A spark of mischief entered his eyes. “Granted. None of my business.”
“I don’t have too many friends around here. Jed and I used to be friends in school. It’s nice getting reacquainted.”
“He had it bad for you.” Tagg smiled.
“You did hear! You were listening to our conversation!”
“It was fascinating. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“But you managed to. The minute Jed asked me out.” She looked at him with suspicion.
“Don’t pretend I didn’t save your butt just then. You were stumbling … looking for a way out.”
Callie opened her mouth to protest, but Tagg was right. And he’d recognized her dilemma. “True.” Though she hated to admit it.
“Then it’s not a problem going to Vegas?”
“You mean I have a choice?” She sent him a teasing smile.
“You don’t have to go. But you are the ‘kid expert.’”
“So, it’s a request?”
He nodded.
“From Clay?”
Tagg shifted his gaze to the ground. He scratched the side of his cheek. “I haven’t told Clay about this yet.”
“But you made it seem …” Callie stopped for a second and eyed him. Could it be possible that Tagg wanted her to go? That this was all his idea?
“We need to leave by five tonight.”
Callie blinked. “We’re leaving tonight?”
“John’s an old rodeo buddy. He invited us to dinner. Under the circumstances, I couldn’t refuse. Are you in?”
Yes! “I’m in. I’ll be ready at five.”
With bells on.
“You are one lucky girl, Callie Sullivan,” she muttered later that afternoon as she packed. She folded her jeans and a plaid no-nonsense blouse into the suitcase before closing it shut, grateful that her father had left for Houston that morning. There would be no arguments about where she was going and no repercussions when she got home. If she were really fortunate, she’d return before her father this weekend and he’d never have to know she’d been gone.
Fate had a way of looking after her. At least, this time. When Tagg had called a few hours ago arranging to pick her up at home, she’d been happy to inform him that her father wasn’t around and it wouldn’t be a problem.
“You mean, I won’t face a shotgun?” Callie had laughed at his joke, though she’d never have let Tagg on Sullivan property to face her father’s wrath had he been home. She would have made other travel arrangements to save them all a nasty confrontation.
In truth, Callie had been looking forward to having the house to herself for the entire weekend. But nothing topped this turn of events—even if it was just an overnight business trip.
Because she’d be with Tagg.
Callie zipped up her suitcase, leaving it on the bed and strode into her walk-in closet, searching for just the right outfit to wear tonight. She came up with a black dress that crisscrossed over the chest but wasn’t too revealing. The dress hit her knees in a flow of material and gathered at the side with a bit of rhinestone bling. It was appropriate for a dinner invitation and yet nothing too provocative.
She’d tossed ankle-high boots in her suitcase for tomorrow. For tonight’s dinner she chose a pair of strappy black heels.
Callie combed her hair, applied light makeup to her eyes, glossed her lips and then slipped into her dress. She was ready by four-thirty.
At exactly five o’clock, a black Lincoln pulled up to her front door. She watched from the window as Tagg got out of the backseat and straightened next to the limo. Her breath caught and she whispered, “Oh, wow,” grateful he couldn’t see her initial reaction.
He looked deadly handsome wearing a white shirt under a stunning black suit coat with wide Western lapels. A dark felt Stetson sat low on his head and his jeans were brand new. He strode up to the front entrance and knocked.
Callie opened the door. “Afternoon, Callie,” he said.
He looked even better up close. A whiff of his cologne wafted over to her. His scent alone was enough to send her over the edge but the whole Tagg package got her heart pumping hard and heavy.
She smiled tentatively, realizing this was her big chance to dazzle him. She wanted to be smooth and elegant tonight. She wanted to know the right thing to say, to keep him intrigued and interested.
Then the reminder came.
They were checking out horses on a ranch.
Not having a romantic rendezvous.
Tagg looked her over, his gaze resting on her hair, which she’d put partially up and away from her face. Loose tendrils flowed down her back. A gleam of approval shone in his eyes. Then his gaze shifted down to her neckline and even farther down to her chest. Her nipples hardened under his scrutiny and she wondered if the arch of his brow meant he’d noticed. He finished his perusal by checking out her legs and then returned to her face with a slow nod. “Nice.”
Inside, she sighed with happiness. “Not so bad yourself, cowboy.”
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, I’ll just get my—”
“Got it.” Tagg reached past her to pick up her overnight case. He clutched it easily and glanced inside the house before turning around. “Anything else?”
“No, that’s it.”
“Then let’s go.”
Callie locked the front door and moved silently alongside Tagg as they strode down the inlaid stone pathway leading to the car. In many ways Big Hawk Ranch was situated the same as any other wealthy ranch, including the Worths’. The sprawling two-story ranch house that glistened with pristine paint and wood sidings was the centerpiece. A barn, stable, bunkhouse and storage buildings made up the backdrop of eighty thousand acres of prime grazing land. Cattle roamed off in the distance and the slight sweet scent of wildflowers and tall grass mingled with earth and cattle smells.
A
