Men to Trust: Boss Man / The Last Good Man in Texas / Lonetree Ranchers: Brant

He moved a step closer, aware of pleasure centers opening all over his mind as he looked down at her. “Do you like trout?”

It was an odd question. She blinked. “Trout? Well, yes.”

“Why don’t you come over for lunch tomorrow? I’ll fry trout and make a pasta salad to go with them. You can take some home to your mother.”

Violet’s jaw dropped. She stood gaping at him while she tried to decide, quickly, if she’d lost her mind and was having hallucinations.

Chapter Four

Her lack of response made Kemp uneasy and provoked a sarcastic response. He’d thought she’d jump at the chance. “What’s the matter?” Kemp taunted. “Afraid to be alone with me outside the office?”

Violet gaped at him. “I am not…no…I don’t think…I didn’t say…” She cleared her throat. “I love trout. So does Mama.”

His eyes twinkled. So he hadn’t been wrong. She did still care about him. “So do I,” he replied. “I panfry it in butter and spices. I have my own herb garden, even in the winter.”

“It sounds delicious,” she said breathlessly.

He still had the strand of her hair in his fingers. They became caressing, and his deep voice dropped even lower. “Do you like cats?”

She nodded.

“You may have a little trouble with Mee and Yow at first, but they’ll get used to you.”

Violet felt as if she’d stepped off a precipice and solved the mystery of free flight. She was ecstatic. “I think cats are beautiful.”

“Mine are Siamese. They’re unique.”

She smiled slowly. “I’ll enjoy meeting them.”

He let go of her hair and touched her soft cheek with his fingertips. They seemed to tingle at the contact. “About one in the afternoon tomorrow suit you?”

She nodded, speechless.

“Know how to get to my house?”

“Oh, yes,” she said, and could have bitten her tongue for sounding so enthusiastic.

Kemp was eating it up. He knew it was a bad idea, encouraging her. At some point he was going to have to back away from her. He didn’t want commitment. Not yet. But Violet was soft to the touch and lovely to look at. He’d been without a woman in his life for a long time. He was lonely. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to have the occasional meal with her. Of course it wouldn’t. He was enjoying her rapt expression. She made him feel as if he could conquer the world. For once in his life he was going to jump in with both feet without counting the cost.

“Then I’ll expect you,” he added.

She smiled up at him, her blue eyes wide and soft and hungry. “I’ll look forward to it,” she said huskily.

“So will I,” he replied, and the smile faded for an instant as he searched her eyes for so long that she flushed and her breath rustled wildly in her throat.

“Kemp! Glad you could make it!” Tall, handsome Calhoun Ballenger moved forward to shake Kemp’s hand and greet Violet. “Kemp, there’s someone I’d like to introduce you to. Violet, you don’t mind?”

“No, not at all,” she lied.

“Tomorrow, at one,” Kemp added before he walked away with Calhoun.

“Tomorrow,” she replied.

Curt had to ask her twice if she was ready to leave. She hadn’t had the opportunity to talk to Kemp any further, and he’d been called away suddenly to meet with a man who’d just been arrested. Before he left, he’d looked back at Violet with pale blue eyes that absolutely smoldered. She was still tingling an hour after he’d gone.

“What?” she asked abruptly, facing Curt. She flushed when he grinned. “Sorry,” she began.

“Oh, I’m not upset,” he replied, chuckling. “I’m glad to see that your ex-boss finally realized what he was missing.”

She flushed even more. “It’s not like that.”

“I’m a man, Violet,” he reminded her as they walked out to his car after making their goodbyes to their host. “I know a smitten man when I see one. Kemp’s got it bad.”

“Do you really think so?” she asked hopefully.

“I think so. Just go slowly,” he advised. “He’s pretty much a loner and he doesn’t play around.”

“I knew that already.”

He turned toward her, serious for once. “What I meant,” he said softly, “is that he’s more vulnerable than a man who plays the field. And everybody knows he’s not a marrying man, at least not visibly. You just step carefully, okay?”

“I will. Thanks for the advice, Curt.”

He shrugged. “Story of my life. I’m always someone’s big brother.”

She grinned. “One day some lucky girl will carry you off,” she promised.

He smiled back. “I hope it’s a few years coming. I’m no more ready to settle down than your friend Kemp is. At least he’s got a profession. I’m still drifting.”

“Libby said you wanted to open a feed store.”

He nodded. “It’s the dream of my life.”

“I hope you get to do it, Curt. I mean that.”

He opened the door for her. “So do I. You’re a nice girl, Violet.”

“You’re a nice man.”

He chuckled. “Well, I’m accommodating, at least. Calhoun had quite a crowd today,” he added when he’d climbed in under the wheel of his and Libby’s old pickup truck.

“A big one. And some big money, too. I think he just may beat Senator Merrill for the Democratic nomination.”

“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised myself.”

Violet told her mother about Kemp’s invitation, and Mrs. Hardy grinned from ear to ear. “And how long have I been telling you that Mr. Kemp had more interest in you than a boss in his secretary?” she asked.

“It’s only to eat a trout,” Violet replied.