Be My Guest Read online

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  Be My Guest

  Caroline Clemmons

  Smashwords Edition

  Revised and Expanded from the 1998

  Kensington Publishing Corp. edition

  Copyright 2011 by Caroline Clemmons

  Cover Graphics

  Lilburn Smith

  Cover Model

  Jimmy Thomas

  Romance Novel Covers

  Prairie Flowers Photo

  Caroline Clemmons

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Author contact information Mailto:[email protected]

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  Acknowledgments

  To my husband, who is always my Hero, for encouraging me to write and helping me in every possible way. A true Hero!

  To my father, for encouraging me to read, and teaching me how--even if it was so he wouldn’t have to read me Bugs Bunny comics. I miss him.

  To my husband’s cousin, Glen Dotson of Lubbock, Texas who bought nine copies of the original edition of Be My Guest to share with family.

  To Karren Lucas who has faithfully bought each of my books.

  Be My Guest

  Caroline Clemmons

  Prologue

  "Kelly, I don't want to talk about it." Will Harrison sat with a small saddle balanced between his right leg and the kitchen table. His left leg, entirely in a cast, stretched out before him. His left foot rested on a kitchen chair. The saddle, once treasured by his wife and her mother before her, now belonged to his daughter Kelly. Though lovingly cared for all of its years, the aging leather now required mending.

  Kelly threw her arms around his neck. "Daddy, please just think about it." She gave her father a loud kiss on his cheek. "After all, Mommy wouldn't want you to be all alone forever."

  Will sighed. "I'm not alone, Punkin'. I have you." He tried unsuccessfully to avoid thoughts of the times he believed himself totally alone. Many nights he lay awake long past midnight, unable to quiet the hollow, lonely ache that became a part of him when Nancy died. Would this pain torture him for the rest of his life? He reminded himself those thoughts served no purpose. Best to concentrate on the saddle and his feisty daughter.

  "But Daddy, I'll go away to college, and then you'll be really alone. I don't want to worry about you here all by yourself while I'm trying to study."

  Will paused his mending and raised his head, a mixture of amusement and exasperation warring within him. "Kelly, you're ten years old. I believe I have a few years yet before you go off to college. Besides, I have your Aunt Lori Beth and Uncle Tommy Joe, and Grandma, and Aunt Rose, and Lily here and her family."

  He glanced at the housekeeper standing at the kitchen counter nearby. As she slid a dish into the dishwasher, Lily Chapa flashed Will a look that told him he would get neither support nor sympathy from her on this issue.

  "But Daddy-y-y," Kelly pleaded, "You need to date a woman and then get married again. If you take off your wedding ring, a nice lady will want to date you. Marcie's mom said you're a real hunk."

  "Kelly Marie Harrison, the subject is closed!" Will pulled so hard he almost broke the leather lace he’d threaded through the saddle cover. Where did Marcie's mom get off talking to his daughter about him in those terms? And since when did ten-year-old girls call men hunks--especially their own fathers?

  Surely Kelly knew whenever he used her full name it signaled time to change the subject. It meant his patience wore thin, yet his precocious daughter could not resist one more try.

  "Please, promise me you'll at least think about asking a really nice lady for a date. Oh, please, please, please." She stood in front of him, a pitiful look on her face and her hands clasped together as she pleaded.

  Will stopped his work on the saddle. His daughter knew just how to get around him. With a resigned grin, he acquiesced. "Okay, we'll make a deal. I promise to think--that's just think, about it, mind you--if you and your aunt promise to stop talking about this dating thing."

  He wondered how his little girl could change so fast. It seemed only yesterday her topics of conversation were limited to horses and dolls. True, they'd talked about things that involved men and women who loved one another. How much did she actually understand about dating and sex? Did she use terms like "hunk" every day now? If he couldn’t man up now, how was he to cope alone with her teen years? Being the only parent of a spirited girl struck terror in his heart at times, even though the terror mixed with pride at the beautiful young woman who stood in front of him.

  He’d definitely met his match in stubbornness, and he hated this talk of late in which they seemed endlessly involved. "If I ever meet a woman who interests me, I'll ask her out. In the meantime, you are not to mention it again. Is that a deal?"

  Kelly's pony tail switched back and forth as she hopped in glee. "Oh, thank you, Daddy. And promise me you'll think about taking off your ring, too. That way, when you meet someone nice, she won't think you're married."

  He held up a hand to halt her speech. "I'll take off the ring when and if I meet someone who interests me. Now are you happy?" Damn, but he was weary to death of this subject.

  She kissed his cheek loudly and gave his shoulders a hug. "Oh, yes. I just know you'll find me a new mother if you look. I can hardly wait."

  When a car horn sounded outside, Lily dried her hands on her apron. "Your Aunt Lori Beth is here for you. Don't keep her waiting, and don't forget your overnight bag for your Grandma's tonight."

  With Kelly gone, Will shot Lily a pensive look. "I just don't understand why all the fuss about my wedding ring and dating lately. What brought all of this on?"

  The housekeeper resumed her chores and her rapid-fire words kept time with her movements. "Ha, perhaps the fact that Kelly's best friend Marcie is going to have a new brother or sister soon has something to do with this, verdad?"

  Understanding spread across Will's face. "Ah, I see. Marcie's father remarried last year. That's about when this hounding started. And with Lori Beth expecting a baby soon, Kelly thinks every family should have one." He ran his fingers through his hair. "So, I'm supposed to find a wife just because another dad remarried?"

  Lily stood, hands on her hips, in front of Will. "No, not just because of this Marcie's father. For your own sake you should find someone. Now you know that I would never interfere in your business, but Kelly is right, amigo."

  "Not you, too, Lily?" Why did all women insist on matchmaking for every unmarried man?

  "Si, mi tambien. Ha, you live like a monk, Will." She shook a forefinger at him. "Thirty-three is too young to be alone. You know Kelly is right. Your Nancy would not want you alone forever."

  Will looked down at his hands, then off into space. "It's too soon, Lily."

  Both her expression and voice softened, but she remained resolute. "No, mi amigo, three years is long enough to mourn. It is time now to get on with your life, pronto."

  He shook his head then let his eyes meet hers. "Even if I wanted to, I'm not sure I remember how to ask a woman for a date. Besides, there's no one I find interesting in that way." Will let the saddle slide to the floor and reached for his crutches.

  Lily lifted her face and hands upward. "Madre de Dios! He is weakening." To Will, she said, "
This I can promise, Will Harrison, you will find someone if only you let your heart look."

  Will was skeptical “Maybe. Right now I have to find some fresh clothes and give that talk in Snyder. Ask one of your boys to take this saddle back to the tack room for me, okay?"

  "Si. Hector will do this." Lily turned back to her tasks as if the matter were closed and Will was as good as married again. "A wife will be good for you Will. I am glad you are going to look for such a woman."

  Will shook his head and muttered under his breath as he hobbled on his crutches out of the room. He would never understand women--not if he lived to be a hundred.

  Chapter One

  The clock on the dashboard displayed one o'clock by the time Aurora was free to concentrate on lunch in Snyder. Clouds gathered and rumbled with thunder over the West Texas town. Aurora's empty stomach rumbled with them. After a hazardous morning, fatigue overshadowed her usually cheerful nature. She passed by the fast food places before she spotted the family restaurant recommended to her by the Texas State Trooper a few minutes ago.

  Cars and trucks filled the parking lot. What a lucky break, she thought, when she spotted illuminated taillights and a car backed out of the prime parking slot at the entrance. Aurora saw the lone man in the dusty red pickup truck facing her, waiting for the space. He sat in the very same type and color truck used by two ruffians who had terrorized her earlier in the morning. Although she knew he could not be one of those two men, an unreasonable anger bubbled up in her directed toward all cowboys, especially those in red trucks.

  Her normally pleasant nature turned aggressive and she zipped the Mustang into the vacated park before the less maneuverable truck could occupy the space. The man honked the truck horn at her as she got out of her car. She just smiled and blew him a saucy kiss as she hurried into the restaurant. After all, any real gentleman would have let a lady have the only space in the first place, she told her nagging conscience.

  Her conscience would not be quieted so easily. She must be in shock from her morning encounter. Never had she acted so rudely. Regretting her impetuous actions already, she thanked goodness the exchange occurred with a stranger and not someone she might meet again.

  Seated in the corner booth, Aurora ordered a hamburger, French fries, and a large Dr Pepper. While she waited for her food, she reviewed the items listed under the town of Snyder in her Texas guidebook. Suddenly, she sensed someone standing beside her booth. As she looked up--and up--a huge cowboy with most of his left leg in a cast leaned his crutches against the side of the booth. He slid onto the seat beside her, which pinned her in the booth with him.

  Aurora scooted to the right as far as possible. "Hey, who do you think you are? This is my booth, and no one invited you to share it with me!"

  "Your car's sitting in my parking space, so I'll sit in your booth," he said calmly as he removed his Stetson and ran his fingers through sandy brown hair. He turned in his seat to hang the hat on the hook at the end of the booth by his crutches.

  Aurora blushed when she realized this must be the man whose parking space she mischievously stole. Oh no, how terrible. How embarrassing! He must have had to park a long way from the door and hobble in on those crutches. The one time in her life she acted rudely, her victim turned out to be a man handicapped by a leg cast and crutches. Still, he had his nerve sitting beside her without so much as a "may I?”

  Her chin came up defensively. "Okay, I apologize. But if you used one of those disability placards on your rear view mirror, people would know you have a problem."

  "Lady, my problem is that you stole my parking space," Will Harrison said coolly. He lifted his left leg so that the cast-encased foot rested on the seat facing them, then swiveled to gaze at her.

  Aurora inhaled the cowboy's after-shave mixed with the clean scent of his breath when he turned his face toward her. His stone gray eyes met hers. She saw anger drain from his eyes, replaced by stunned amazement. He leaned toward her.

  Her awakened senses rocketed into response. Each thread on the sleeve of his blue chambray shirt seared where it touched her arm. For a moment Aurora had the astonishing thought that this cowboy might lean further forward and kiss her right here in public. Equally astonishing, but fleeting, came the thought that she wouldn't mind a kiss from this man. Her tongue flicked across her lips and she gave herself a mental shake, unable to turn away from his mesmerizing gaze.

  What can you be thinking? You have absolutely no business falling for some good-looking cowboy out here in the middle of nowhere. Get a grip on yourself.

  Her heart quelled the voice of reason within her mind. Aurora’s her stomach somersaulted from butterflies to flip-flops as she stared into the cowboy's wide gray eyes. She broke his gaze and peered at her folded hands a second before she raised them in capitulation.

  "Okay, Okay. I just don't know what came over me. I know you saw the parking space first, but I'm on Bubba-overload. Look, it's a long story, but it's been a real killer morning. Once again, I apologize and plead temporary insanity." She placed both hands palms down on the table.

  His gaze raked over her, and one eyebrow elevated. "Well, well. I'm almost convinced there's remorse here. Almost--but not quite. Would you like to explain to me what 'Bubba-overload' is and what it has to do with me?"

  "Listen, I apologized. Let's just drop it. Okay?" Surprised at the petulant tone in her voice, she adjusted the dark green scarf that held the hair back from her face.

  The man peered at her steadily, his voice polite but firm when he spoke. "No, ma'am, we can't drop it. I deserve an explanation after that 'Bubba' line. It sounded very much like an insult to me."

  This man obviously had his hackles up and wanted a full explanation. After her morning's adventures, she found herself impatient with this cowboy, even though her mind recognized his request sounded reasonable. Finally, Aurora swiveled at her waist to face him as much as the limited space allowed. "Oh, well, if you insist. You wore that western hat and were in a pickup truck. At a glance, you looked like the typical red-necked Bubba. All you lacked was a big wad of tobacco bulging in your cheek."

  She raised her hand and shook a finger at the man as if he were a delinquent school boy. "Listen, I've had my fill, and then some, with you guys. You follow me, whistle at me, lean out a truck window to sing to me, shout, or wave to me. I even receive various very rude gestures and get mooned. Believe it or not, I do nothing either to initiate or encourage any of this behavior."

  A skeptical smile appeared and he raised his eyebrows. A flush of color heated her face at the memory of her behavior in the parking lot. She held up one hand to stop any comment he might make before she continued.

  "Oh, I know, I acted brashly with you outside just now. Let me assure you, that's entirely unlike me. In fact, it's truly a first. I've never, ever done anything like that before."

  She shook her head in wonder. "I don't know what came over me. As I said, it must have been temporary insanity due to Bubba-overload."

  She pinched the fabric on the leg of the neatly creased blue denim jeans she wore. "Look at me. My jeans aren't skin-tight. They’re not painted on me." With a tug at the hem of her hunter-green knit top, she added, "My shirt isn't too tight, it has three-quarter sleeves, and the neck isn't low or revealing."

  Aurora moved her knees and elevated a foot to display canvas shoes. "I'm wearing my little Keds, not flashy pumps with stiletto heels. All in all, I'm dressed very sedately and not at all in a provocative way."

  The cowboy slid his glance slowly up and down her then back to her face before he smiled a slow, lazy smile that lit up his eyes and brought a dimple to his cheek. He reached over to grasp her untouched water glass and took a drink from it, his eyes returning to her face as he sipped the icy water.

  Her own mouth opened as she watched his mouth against the rim of the glass. The tip of her tongue slid against her upper lip as the water slid into his mouth. She could almost feel his lips as they received the liquid. To hide the r
ising turbulence in the pit of her stomach, Aurora glared at him. In vain she tried to avoid thoughts of his stare or the dimple that appeared with his smile.

  She forced herself to concentrate on her defense. "Um, I just drive along in my little blue Ford Mustang, enjoying the scenery and minding my own business. I do nothing to call attention to myself. I even try to be a good sport about the immature behavior some guys display."

  She took a deep breath. "I try to take it all in stride and just keep on schedule but"--Aurora slammed her hands against the top of the table--"this morning, two very frightening Bubbas tried to run me off the highway and hijack me or my car or both."

  His eyes widened and his mouth gaped, but she continued, "I'm only here because a State Trooper happened by in time to interrupt my abduction. Frankly, that scared the life out of me. The longer I thought about it, though, the angrier I became. By the time I reached this restaurant, the terror had faded and I’d completely lost my cool."

  Aurora took a deep breath and gazed at her hands. She recalled the fright that consumed her when she realized the two men followed her. Only quick thinking on her part prevented the two ruffians from succeeding at their attempt to run her off the road and get her out of her car. She shuddered to think what might have happened if not for the State Trooper. And never, never would she forget the faces of those two men.

  She waved her hands in a fluttery motion. "When I saw you in a truck the same color as the one that ran me off the road...well...I guess I just went bananas, berserk, crazy, loco. That's why I'm pleading temporary insanity." Aurora leaned back and crossed her arms in front of her.

  At this moment the waitress appeared with their food. Aurora stared in amazement as the waitress set the burger, fries and Dr Pepper in front of her and a duplicate of the order in front of the man beside her.