What a Man Needs Read online

  “Cyndi, you don’t have to ask for permission. Besides, he’s sexy as hell. It’s about time you had some fun.”

  Cynthia blushed. “We’re just going to the lounge at the Grand Hotel.”

  “Then go for it. Nora just called and apologized for not being here. She had car trouble. So we rescheduled for tomorrow, and she wants us to come out to her family’s ranch. She insists if anyone can help you with your fear of horses, it’s her brother.” Kelly cocked an eyebrow. “That means I’m coming by your hotel early.”

  Cynthia didn’t want to talk about her fears or her fading career now. “Fine, then I’ll see you tomorrow.” She walked to the door and to Patrick. Tonight she wanted to get lost in this cowboy’s eyes.

  Patrick walked through the front door of the historic hotel, following close behind his beautiful date. He’d been to the bar here before, and it was still pretty lively, though a lot quieter than Friday night at Morgan’s Pub.

  What he wanted mostly was to find somewhere he could be alone with Cyndi. But the tall, statuesque beauty seemed to draw stares everywhere and she seemed almost shy with the attention. Once inside the lounge, he directed her to a small table in the corner where the light was dim and they could talk without shouting at each other.

  He ordered her a glass of wine, and he had another beer. The sound of jazz came through the speakers, but they could at least carry on a conversation. Once the drinks arrived, Patrick had lost his thirst for a cold beer. He wanted Cyndi, and when her hot gaze locked with his, he had no doubt she wanted the same. She leaned forward and whispered, “So, where do we go from here, Patrick?”

  Patrick’s eyes never left hers as he closed the short distance between them and covered her mouth with his. Intoxicating. Sweet. Tempting. They were the words that described this woman. Finally he broke off the kiss.

  “I think I should just call you Cyn. As in pure sin. That’s what you are. And you’ve been driving me crazy since you walked into Morgan’s.”

  “Well, stop wasting time and just kiss me—” The last of her words were swallowed as he captured her mouth once again. This time he ran his tongue over her lips, then delved inside to taste her, mimicking what he wanted to do to her. He released her and sucked much-needed air into his lungs as his lips moved to her ear to nibble. Feeling her shiver, he then returned to her incredible mouth. “I want you.”

  The sound of laughter caused them to break off the kiss, and Cyndi buried her head against his neck and whispered, “We just can’t seem to find any place to be alone. Maybe we should go upstairs.”

  Patrick froze momentarily as Cyndi raised her head, her whiskey-brown eyes showing her desire. “Oh, baby, don’t tease, I want you too badly.”

  “I’m not teasing.” She ran her fingers over his chest. “I want you to make love to me.”

  “Give me ten minutes to make the arrangements.” Patrick kissed her quickly, then pulled away. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

  Patrick had no idea what he’d done to deserve this night, he thought as he handled the check-in. He quickly stopped by the hotel gift shop and picked up some protection. He might be out of his mind for this woman, but he wasn’t crazy. Yes, he was. That was the only thing that explained his impulsive actions, but when he walked back to the lobby to find Cyndi standing by the elevators, all rational thoughts disappeared from his head.

  Silently, they rode up to the sixth floor, then got off. Patrick took her hand and laced it with his, and together they walked down the long hall, her body brushing against his and causing an unbearable tingling. Suddenly he pulled her into the ice-machine alcove and took her mouth in a heated kiss.

  “Are you sure you want this?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Her hands moved over his chest and he groaned, then with her arms wrapped against him, they continued their journey. Locating their room, Patrick used the key card and opened the door, allowing Cyndi to go in first. He followed and closed the door behind him. When he turned around, Cyndi pushed him back against the door as her lips met his.

  He drank from her sensual mouth, hungry for more. His hands were busy as he ravished her body, and by the time they moved to the bed, her blouse and bra were gone, as was his shirt.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said as he worshiped her perfect breasts. Then he dipped his head and laved the hard bud. She whimpered as she held his head against her chest.

  Cynthia had never felt like this before. She’d never been so sexually aware of a man, or so aggressive. She couldn’t seem to stop herself as her hands raked over Patrick’s perfectly sculpted body. She went to the zipper on his jeans and tugged it down. He only grinned as he helped her remove his pants.

  He stood before her naked. He was perfect. She raised a shaky hand and began to trace his skin on his broad chest, following the swirl of sandy hair that dipped past his waist to his erection. He felt his breathing grow rapid as her hands worked their magic.

  Patrick had to stop her. “You are sin.” He grabbed her hands. “My turn.” He opened her zipper and pulled down her jeans. Cynthia kicked off her heeled sandals then stepped out of her pants. With a long, appreciative stare, he finally pressed her back on the bed, causing her fiery hair to flare out against the pillow.

  He grabbed a condom from the box and prepared himself, then came to her. He grinned down at her, one small part of him hoping he survived this night. The rest of him not caring. He’d die a happy man. Suddenly he became serious as his desire for her turned to desperation. His hands moved over her body, then between her legs, slipping inside to see that she was wet and ready for him.

  “Please, Patrick, I want you,” she cried, squirming against him, her desire and excitement showing in her eyes.

  He moved against her body, then whispered in her ear. “I’m going to fill every inch of you, Cyndi,” he promised as he nudged himself between her legs, slipping into her inch by inch.

  Cyndi raised her hips and he pushed into her again and again. The bed jerked against the wall, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t, Cyndi wouldn’t let him. He growled as his hips moved against her writhing body. He plunged and withdrew until he felt her tighten around him. With the next thrust she cried out his name, triggering his climax. He drove into her one more time, then he exploded.

  With a groan he collapsed onto her and Cyndi held him close. “That was incredible,” he said.

  “Not bad for starters,” she whispered.

  Patrick raised his head to catch her teasing smile. “I’m going to make you sorry you said that.” He tickled her ribs and she began to squirm.

  “Stop! Stop!” she begged.

  He paused. “I thought you wanted more.”

  “Then let me clarify that.” She moved against him. “Stop tickling me. Don’t stop touching…kissing…tasting…loving me.”

  “My pleasure.” He leaned down and, starting at the top of her sexy body, began to work his way through the list.

  Sometime early the next morning, Cynthia realized two things—she was naked in a strange bed, and she wasn’t alone. Her eyes shot open. It was still dark, or at least it was in the room. And the man softly snoring against her ear was the same one she’d had incredible sex with last night…and at two o’clock and again at four. She glanced at the clock to see it was now 5:34 a.m.

  She drew a calming breath, but it didn’t help. She drew another and slipped from the bed. She picked her clothes off the floor, quickly put them on and slipped on her shoes, all the while praying that Patrick wasn’t going to wake up.

  With her purse in hand, she headed for the door, then paused, hating to leave without saying a word. But what could she say—thanks for the night of incredible sex? And as far as she knew, Patrick didn’t know who she was and she’d like to keep it that way. He took Cyndi to bed, not Cynthia Reynolds. Some things should be left alone.

  With a glance over her shoulder, Cynthia allowed herself the pleasure of seeing the near-naked man in bed. He’d been a wonderful lover, b
ut she couldn’t take the chance of spending any more time with this man. Not that she wouldn’t like to, but she had her career to think about.

  Cynthia turned and walked out the door. Keeping her head down, she joined an older couple on the elevator. When the woman’s eyes showed recognition, Cynthia tensed.

  “Say, are you that actress… What’s her name? Cynthia Reynolds?”

  Cynthia shook her head. “You know, I get that all the time. Myself, I don’t see it.” The doors to the lobby opened and Cynthia made her getaway. She hailed a cab back to her hotel. Luckily, she used a private entrance and could get to her private suite without anyone stopping her, wanting to know where she’d been or where she was going. She only had to face her sister in a few hours and convince her that she hadn’t done anything last night that she regretted.

  She might have been stupid to make love with Patrick last night, but she’d never regret it.

  Two

  With a groan, Patrick rolled over in bed, his mind filled with erotic images. He blinked, suddenly recalling the sexy woman he’d made love to nearly all night long.

  Cyndi. Patrick smiled as he reached out for her, but he found the other side of the bed empty; just her scent lingering on the pillow. He sat up and glanced around the dark room only to discover he was alone. He swung his legs over the side of the mattress. His clothes were still scattered where he’d tossed them, but there was no sign of Cyndi’s things. He got up and walked to check the bathroom. It was deserted, too.

  There was no trace of her anywhere. He sank against the doorjamb. “Looks like you’ve been dumped.” Not that he’d had much experience in taking women to hotel rooms, but he hadn’t seen this coming. Especially after what they’d shared last night…just hours ago. It was a blow to his ego, he admitted to himself. He wasn’t planning on carrying this attraction that far anyway, but she didn’t need to run away.

  He felt his anger grow as he slipped on his briefs and jeans. Well, the hell with her. He didn’t need the complication anyway. He had the ranch to worry about and it was going to take all his attention when he expanded the vineyard. He sat down and pulled on his boots. And Cyndi No-last-name didn’t fit into those plans. She’d probably done him a favor by leaving. No awkward moments. No regrets. He wasn’t into commitment anyway. Not with the possibility he might inherit his father’s bad habits. Besides, he’d already raised a family—his three sisters. He finally had time to himself.

  It had taken him a lot of years to turn the Tanner Ranch into a profitable operation. Added to the cattle, and the breeding and training of horses, he had the Christmas tree farm to watch over. And his dream of the Tanner Vineyard would take all his time and energy, not to mention the money he still had to come up with. Since he didn’t want to use any of the equity in the ranch, he’d been saving every penny.

  So he didn’t need distracting thoughts about tall sexy, auburn-haired women. He ran his fingers through his hair and headed out the door. Last night was a night he needed to forget.

  Problem was, he doubted he ever would.

  The pounding sound grew louder. Cynthia rolled over in bed, hoping it would go away.

  “Cyndi, open the door,” her sister called.

  Cynthia groaned. She climbed out of bed, went to the door and pulled it open.

  “Good, you’re awake,” her sister said as she swept into the large hotel suite.

  One of the reasons Cynthia always stayed in a hotel when she visited Portland was so she could have her own space and privacy. What a joke.

  Cynthia glanced at the clock. “It’s seven-thirty in the morning. What are you doing here at this ungodly hour?”

  “That’s right. And you aren’t dressed.” Kelly examined her. “Looks like you partied a little too hearty last night. How’d it go with the sexy cowboy?”

  Cynthia stiffened. “Fine. We had a few drinks and some laughs,” she said. And made love three times, she added silently. “Don’t change the subject. What are you doing here?”

  Kelly’s eyes narrowed as she folded her arms. “How could you forget that we’re going out to the Tanner Ranch. You have a date with a nice horse.”

  Cynthia groaned. “Not this morning.”

  “Yes, this morning. I told Nora we’d be out at the ranch early, so go get dressed.”

  “Well, call and tell her we’ll make it another time.”

  Kelly took Cyndi’s hand, led her to the sofa and sat her down. “Look, sis, you told me you wanted a chance at that movie. And the only way to get it is to show you can handle a horse. Has that changed since last night?”

  Career had always come first for Cyndi, and somehow over the years, it had become her life. Every serious relationship she’d tried had gone sour when she had to go off on location, or the guy couldn’t handle her kissing her leading men, especially when the tabloids blew it up as more. And she’d never met any man who had meant enough to her to give it all up. Yet, last night…Patrick had been the first one in a long time who’d made her think how nice it would be to have someone in her life.

  But in the early morning light, she’d panicked.

  “Nothing has changed. Give me twenty minutes to get showered and dressed.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll call room service for some coffee.” Kelly went to the phone, speaking over her shoulder to Cynthia, “Put on some jeans. I have two pairs of boots for you in the car.”

  “Why do I feel like I’ve been had?”

  Kelly turned and smiled. “I’m just giving you a little push. You’re a damn good actress and you deserve the part in Cheyenne. I just want to make sure you have every opportunity to get it.”

  Cynthia stepped into the large bathroom and turned on the shower. She knew getting the female lead in the movie could jump-start her fading career. She only hoped that Nora’s brother knew what he was doing and had a very gentle horse.

  Once in the car, Cynthia thought of a dozen excuses not to go through with this. Right up to the time they drove under the archway to the Tanner Ranch.

  The beautiful, serene area seemed to stretch for miles. Against the mountains in the distance, everything was lush and green, still damp from an early-morning shower. White split-rail fences lined either side of the road, and several horses and foals roamed freely in the pastures.

  A large yellow two-story house with white shutters came into view. The huge porch was adorned with hanging baskets of colorful flowers, and a swing faced a spectacular view of pine-covered mountains. Kelly drove on and headed to the barn. The white structure had a charcoal-colored roof and huge framed doors that stood open. A man walked out leading a very large horse. Cynthia’s heart began to pound in her chest.

  “Come on, let’s go find Nora,” Kelly said.

  “Let’s try the house first,” Cynthia suggested, not yet ready to get near a horse.

  Just as they got out of the car, a brunette woman exited the house—Nora Tanner, she assumed, from her friendly wave to Kelly. She was about twenty-five and had a petite, shapely body clad in jeans and a cotton T-shirt.

  “Hi, Kelly,” the woman said, then turning to Cynthia, she gushed, “Oh, Ms. Reynolds, it’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Oh, no, an adoring fan.” Kelly rolled her eyes.

  Cynthia ignored her. “Please, call me Cyndi.”

  Nora nodded. “Cyndi. I’m so glad you could make it.”

  “I’m sure my sister told you that I don’t do very well around horses.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m happy that you’re going to give riding another chance,” Nora offered. “Welcome to the Tanner Ranch.”

  Cynthia heard a horse’s high-pitched whinny. “I’m not sure this is going to work.”

  “But you’re here to try,” Nora said.

  Cynthia nodded reluctantly.

  “Good, you won’t be sorry. My brother is the best with horses, and the best teacher. Let’s go find him.” She headed toward the barn.

  Cynthia reluctantly followed her. How
could she have let herself be talked into this? Nora went on ahead and talked to a man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes who looked to be in his late thirties. Just their flirtatious demeanor told her they weren’t brother and sister.

  “This is Forest. He’s the foreman here. Forest, this is Kelly and Cyndi.”

  The cowboy raised his fingers to his hat in a salute. “It’s nice to meet you, ladies.”

  Cyndi managed a hello, but was watching the horse in the corral. The shiny coal-black stallion wasn’t docile like the horses she’d seen in the pasture. This animal was prancing around, bobbing his head up and down, whinnying. She couldn’t take her eyes off the magnificent animal.

  Forest noticed her interest. “You’ll have to excuse Black Knight, he’s a little…stirred up.” Just then a high-pitched whinny came from the barn. “He’s going to stand in stud today.”

  Cyndi didn’t have to live on a ranch to know what that meant. “How nice for him.”

  Just then a man’s loud voice came from inside the barn. Nora said, “Don’t let Patrick’s bark scare you off. He’s a real sweetheart. C’mon.” Nora went inside.

  Patrick? Cynthia froze. No. It couldn’t be the same man, she told herself.

  Kelly nudged her down the cement aisle lined on either side with horse stalls, some empty, some with horses inside that came forward to welcome them. Cynthia could smell a sweet mixture of hay and horses in the immaculate barn.

  At the far end a tall man stood with his back to them. Even before he turned around, Cynthia knew who he was. Oh, God. This had to be a bad dream. She quickly took in his blond hair partially covered by a white cowboy hat. It was the same face, the same chiseled jaw that she’d stroked so many times last night, and the same mouth that had done so many incredible things to her during their lovemaking. Finally she raised her gaze and looked into those blue, blue eyes.

  Cynthia fought for a breath. She needed her best acting performance to get through this meeting.