rivals. That alone was cause for a big blowup.
He shoved a hand through his hair. He hadn’t planned it this way at all.
“Kiss me.” Alicia’s sweet command blew his labored thoughts from his brain.
He kissed her, enjoying the softness of her mouth and the caress of her hands on his back.
He’d never met a situation he couldn’t charm his way out of eventually. He’d figure out the perfect moment to tell her, and everything would be fine.
She’d probably find it funny.
Wouldn’t she?
Chapter Four
Alicia had trouble opening her eyes. This room was much brighter than her bedroom at home.
It must have been a dream.
A glance to the side confirmed that she lay alone in bed.
But why did her body feel so…strange? Her limbs were heavy, and her breasts seemed more tender than usual. Her lips tingled and so did her…
Goodness. Alicia clutched the covers around her.
Maybe it wasn’t a dream.
She turned to look at the pillow beside her in the king-size bed.
The fluffy goose down wrapped in snow-white Egyptian cotton bore the unmistakable indent of a head.
Had she really slept with Rick?
She remembered a dream about being an eighty-year-old virgin.
But she also remembered a second dream.
A glorious dream where Rick kissed her and licked her, his hands roaming over her body until he entered her and drove her to heights of wild pleasure.
Sense memory throbbed in the muscles deep inside her.
Alicia drew in a deep breath as a secret smile spread across her mouth. It was real.
But where was Rick?
She pulled on a flowered silk robe and checked her hair in the mirror. Wild, in a sensual kind of way. She fluffed it with her fingers, then opened the door into the hallway.
Bright morning sunlight filled the space. Then she saw the note on her door.
Morning, beautiful, I’ve gone to a meeting. I’ll be back by eleven so don’t go anywhere, please—Rick.
His underlined please made her laugh. He really wanted her.
If memory served her correctly, he’d enjoyed last night every bit as much as she had. She could almost hear his urgent moans and feel his hot breath on her ear.
A shiver of longing rippled through her and she prayed eleven o’clock wasn’t too far away. A peek at the clock in her room answered her prayer. Thank goodness it was Saturday, otherwise she’d have slept through half a morning’s work.
Her cell phone rang on the dresser in the bedroom and she hurried to answer it. Her heart pounded and she hoped it was Rick.
“Halloooooo,” Maria said.
Could she really give her friend the scoop she’d be sure to insist on?
“Hi, Maria, how are you?”
“Very formal, hmm. Does this mean you were up late last night reading theological philosophy with Mr. Rick Jones?”
Alicia cleared her throat. “Something like that.” She was glad Maria couldn’t see her guilty smile.
“So, did you guys figure out how many angels can fit on the head of a pin? I’ve been struggling with that one for years.”
Alicia laughed. She could totally picture Maria’s raised brow. “We figured about forty, as long as their wings were folded.”
Maria tut-tutted. “Come on now, Alicia. Stop playing with me. Did you, or didn’t you?”
Alicia hesitated, glanced over her shoulder, then whispered, “We did.”
“I knew it!” Maria’s joyous whoop almost deafened her. “Well, this calls for a celebration. Want to meet me at T.J.’s for lunch?”
“Actually, Rick’s just gone to a meeting and he’ll be back by eleven.”
“And let me guess. You’d rather have lunch with some new hunk than with your oldest and dearest friend?”
“Well…”
“You’d better! You know I’d ditch you in a second for the right guy.”
They both laughed. It was so true.
“Now that we’ve established that I have no principles, you’d better tell me all the details so I don’t rat you out to Alex.”
“Alex! Oh, my gosh, I totally forgot about him. He’s all alone at the ranch.” Guilt pricked her like a needle.
“All alone? You’ve got at least ten different employees living there.”
“You know what I mean. Who’ll make him breakfast?”
“He’s a big boy. I’m sure he can pour himself a bowl of Wheaties.”
“What if the arsonist came back? I’ve got to call him.”
“Not until you tell me more about last night.”
“Maria! I’ll tell you all about it another time. And believe me, I really appreciate you covering for me, otherwise nothing would have happened at all.”
“Okay, okay, but one thing before you cut me off.” Maria had stopped teasing and her voice was filled with concern. “I know I joke around a lot, but this Rick Jones better treat my very best friend like a princess or he’s going to have me to answer to. Did he make it wonderful for you?”
Alicia nodded, then realized her friend couldn’t see. “Oh, Maria, it was more than wonderful. He was so gentle, so tender. It was…beautiful.”
“Phew.” Maria laughed. “Well, then enjoy your day with him and wish him all the best from me. And give me a call if you want to come up for air.”
Alicia shut off her phone and caught sight of her face in the bamboo-framed mirror on the dressing table. Her goofy grin almost made her laugh.
Then she remembered Alex, and her grin vanished.
She punched in his number and waited while the phone rang, cold anxiety trickling through her.
“Hey, ‘Manita. How’s Maria?”
Alicia gulped. “She’s great. How are things at the ranch?” Her
