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CLUB TIMES

For Members’ Eyes Only

Smooth Operator on the Loose!

While I checked out some vehicles at the used car lot of Lone Star County, my ears perked up at the sound of sweet words. When I looked up, I was staring at the newest hotshot of Mission Creek—Ace Turner Carson—and he’d coated me with a thick layer of honey. Ladies, I’m warning you, this man is lethally charming. Because I’m a sharp woman of a certain sophistication (stop laughing, Ford), I knew Ace was just talkin’ purdy.

Change of topic, isn’t that Crystal Bennett as sweet as can be? She’s done such a bang-up job on the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new maternity wing at Mission Creek Memorial. Of course, I care more about whether or not her red hair is real. While we shared a brioche in the Yellow Rose Café, I asked her if she dyed her hair. Crystal giggled and said, “Don’t be silly.” (In LSCC-speak, this means “drop dead.”)

Having received hot and cold reactions from Ace and Crystal this week, I’m ready for a Jacuzzi with some of Lone Star’s finest (as long as I don’t have to see them in their swimwear). Why don’t you come along with us and cool off at the Lone Star Country Club!

About the Author

MYRNA MACKENZIE,

married to her high school sweetheart, with two (very tall and always hungry) teenage sons, has been blessed by the joys of family. She’s had the chance to be a teacher and to learn all the cool things that kids can teach us about human nature. She’s traveled, hiked mountains, rafted white water and seen bear and elk up close. And, since 1993, when she began writing for Silhouette, she’s also had the privilege of being able to share the stories she loves to write with readers around the world. Winner of the Holt Medallion honoring outstanding literary talent, and a finalist in the Readers’ Choice Awards and the Orange Rose contest, Myrna likes to think of herself as a professional (but hardworking) daydreamer.

Myrna was thrilled when she was asked to be part of the LONE STAR COUNTRY CLUB continuity. The opportunity to work with some of her favorite authors, to be a part of such an exciting and complex story and to have the chance to flesh out characters who were so much fun to work with has been a joy. You can contact Myrna by writing to her at P.O. Box 225, LaGrange, Illinois 60525 or by visiting her Web site at www.myrnamackenzie.com.

Her Sweet Talkin’ Man
Myrna Mackenzie

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Welcome to the

Where Texas society reigns supreme—and appearances are everything.

A sexy playboy and an irresistible single mom get more than they bargained for when a stalker threatens their newfound romance.

Ace Turner Carson: He’s in Mission Creek to claim an inheritance he feels is rightfully his. But spending just a few days with the wealthy Carsons—and a beautiful “little lady”—gives Ace a sense of belonging he’s never experienced…and a family to come home to.

Crystal Bennett: While stuck in a broken-down elevator, a smooth-talking playboy quickly insinuates himself into Crystal’s heart, and she is forced to rethink her ability to trust men. Especially once Ace puts his own life on the line for her child…

A shadow in Mission Creek: The ribbon is cut on the new maternity wing of Mission Creek Memorial Hospital. Everyone who’s anyone attends the ceremony…as does a stranger who lurks in the background with ulterior motives of his own.

To my sister-in-law, Pat—Thanks for umpteen favors, for making my brother a happy man and for hosting all those holiday dinners.

You’ve been a blessing.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

One

“Whoa, this is going to be some family reunion. Especially since the rest of the family doesn’t even know I exist,” Ace Turner Carson said to himself as he pulled his white sedan into the above-ground parking garage of the Mission Creek Memorial Hospital.

No surprise, though, since he himself hadn’t even known his true roots until three months ago when his mother died.

But now he knew. Something he almost wished he didn’t know, he thought with a grimace. And he’d had to take the next step and come to Mission Creek, Texas. His mother had suffered years of humiliation and pain after she’d been abandoned by the man she loved. Ford Carson deserved to suffer a little humiliation in kind.

Who better to engineer that than a hell-raising bad seed of an unwanted son?

“So bring on the family reunion,” Ace whispered. “And let’s make it as public an event as possible. Past time to get in the dance, buddy.”

Besides, Ace had to admit, this could be fun—in spite of all his misgivings about being here in this unfamiliar town where the wealthy Carsons had so much influence, in spite of his reluctance even to meet the man who had given him life. He smiled. Could be real fun. Especially if he hammed things up a bit and worked hard at being an embarrassment to his dear old dad.

“Oh, yes, this is going to involve some intense concentration, Carson. Some single-minded devotion.”

Which was why when he saw a petite, well-curved redhead making a beeline for the parking-garage elevator, which was where he was headed, Ace ignored his automatic response to her undeniably appealing body.

“No distractions,” he reminded himself. “You came here for a reason.”

Yes, but that didn’t mean he’d gone completely numb to the world and blind to the things that made a man a man and a woman a woman. He might be on a single-minded quest, but this was no ordinary woman. And, after all, he wasn’t going to do anything but look, anyway. And maybe flirt—just a bit. An elevator ride didn’t leave a man time for much more.

As she drew nearer and scanned her surroundings, clearly on the alert for thugs and wolves on the prowl, he noted her wide hazel eyes, which held a hint of innocence in spite of the fact that she appeared to be in her early thirties. Interesting. What was even more interesting was that below the hemline of her knee-length ice-blue suit was a pair of the finest legs ever to grace Texas, or even the planet. Her hair was a mass of silk held back with silver clips. The strands practically begged for a man to unsnap those clips and sift through the silk with his fingertips.

Of course, touching her was absolutely out of the question. He wanted to admire her, not distress her. So when an elderly couple turned down the aisle on their way to the elevator, too, Ace grinned at them and moved forward. The red-haired beauty would know she was safe now.

He sauntered toward the elevator, his long legs taking him there ahead of her.

“Allow me to get that for you, darlin”’ he said, stepping forward to push the elevator button. “Looks like your hands are full.”

The lady stopped in her tracks. She had reached out for the button at the same moment he had, and she looked down at his hand, which was just over her own. Her skin nearly met his. He could feel her warmth. He could feel something else radiating from her. Awareness?

“Thank you, sir,” she said. “But I think you’re mistaken about my inability to handle such a simple task. After all, my hands aren’t nearly full. I’m only carrying a clipboard. And I’m truly sorry, but I don’t ever answer to the name darlin’.”

He raised a brow because, after all, she had just answered.

A slight blush turned her cheeks an endearing rose as she realized her mistake. And did he say that her eyes held a trace of innocence? Well, yes, they did, but they could also flash intense green sparks when she was perturbed. And she appeared to be pretty darn perturbed right now.

Ace couldn’t help smiling at the thought—and he couldn’t help being intrigued. That blush and those eyes told him she hadn’t had much experience with men like him, who blatantly spoke their minds or didn’t bother hiding their interest. But she didn’t back away. Her hair swung back when she dared to look up and stare him straight into his eyes. That was fortunate for him, since the movement exposed a neck that was long and pretty and pale. It made him dream of nibbling that tender spot just beneath her ear to see if he could make her sigh and gasp.

His entire body responded to the thought, an overly intense reaction that gave him pause.

Careful, buddy, he warned himself. Easy. She hadn’t revealed her skin on purpose and would no doubt be appalled if she knew that the neat little collar of her suit made him think of peeling back the lapels and letting his fingers brush her flesh. She was obviously a by-the-book, never-break-the-rules kind of lady and he was a prowling alley cat, a man who never, ever touched a woman who hadn’t been born a little wild and who liked things that way. Seeing how she was, however, he should probably just apologize and call the game off.

“You’re right. I misspoke. Excuse me,” he said as the elderly couple and the elevator arrived and he motioned everyone in ahead of him with a slight bow. But then he stepped in behind the redhead, and the orange-blossom scent of her slipped in and caught him unawares. Nothing like the enticing scent of a lovely woman to play havoc with a man’s good intentions.

He moved in just a touch closer to her than was proper. “I’ll let you push this button if it makes you feel better,” he murmured, gazing into her eyes.

Those eyes blinked. “Excuse me?” She turned a delicious shade of pink.

The old man chuckled. His wife smiled but shook her head at Ace as if to reprimand him for his manners.

“I need to get off at the main floor, darlin’,” he directed, his lips twitching as he tried to hold back his smile. His hazel-eyed lady was clearly struggling to prove to the world that she was terribly sophisticated and dignified. He wouldn’t spoil her illusions and announce that he’d seen she was still untutored in the ways of the wild.

Anyone could see that, he thought as she pushed the button for him and then one for the other couple. That prim little telltale voice might have been silent as the elevator descended, but when the doors opened at the next floor and the elderly couple exited, his lady clearly showed signs of common sense and a healthy dose of wariness. She moved to the corner and glanced up at him nervously.

Instantly Ace felt ashamed to know that he was the cause of her fear. He’d teased her earlier because he’d wanted to see what happened to her eyes when her emotions ran away with her. Still, frightening or hurting a woman in any way was just about the lowest thing a man could do.

He stepped away, leaned back against the corner farthest from her and crossed his arms to show her that he wasn’t going to grab her. “You were right to correct my bad manners,” he said. “I apologize. We’re strangers, and you’re smart not to have anything to do with anyone you haven’t been properly introduced to.”

Who in hell in Mission Creek, Texas, would introduce him to anyone? No one knew who he was.

Once they did discover his identity and what kind of man he really was, they sure as Satan weren’t going to welcome him, much less begin introducing him to the women of the community.

The redheaded beauty looked suddenly chagrinned.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re probably here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new maternity ward. You’re a guest, and you should be treated as such.”

She didn’t look any more at ease with him than she had, but he finally realized that she was wearing some sort of hospital badge. She worked here and felt she had to put up with whatever he dished out. Now that she’d decided he had a legitimate reason for being here, she felt that she had to be kind to him, even to apologize when he had been in the wrong. Sudden fierce anger surged through Ace. Anger at himself for putting her in a position where she felt she had to be gracious to a man who had obviously invaded her comfort zone. Ironic. He knew better than anyone that women often bore the brunt of men’s mistakes, yet here he was making a mistake and dumping the blame on his lovely victim. Hell, he was the one in the wrong. He was here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but his intentions were anything but innocent.

He shook his head and held up one hand to stop her from humbling herself before him any more.

“Ma’am,” he said, dredging up a trace of charm and humor to at least try to put her at ease. “You were right not to want to talk to me. I’ve got a reputation as a flirt and an opportunistic rover. And a woman these days can never be too careful. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s the smartest way to be.”

There. He could almost feel her relaxing.

For some reason that didn’t make him feel good, because he realized that his words were true. A woman couldn’t be too careful. If a man could put her at ease just with a few well-chosen words, then some no-good tomcat could take advantage of her, catch her off guard. But…well, heck, he couldn’t be the guardian of the world. He wasn’t even going to be in Mission Creek that long. Just long enough to kick up some dust, leave an impression and settle an old score. This woman, whoever she was, probably had a husband who could look after her. Besides, this slowpoke of an elevator was almost to the right floor, the main level.

Ace stood straighter, readying himself to get off and meet whatever was to come in the next few hours.

He stared up at the numbers on the digital readout.

Nothing happened.

Silence settled over the car.

The woman looked up anxiously at the numbers, which still didn’t appear to be doing anything.

And then the silence seemed to get deeper. The soft creaking of the car ceased entirely. The lights flickered and then held.

But the car didn’t buck up and continue on its way. There were no sounds of movement. There was just a lot of quiet and waiting. In the void of anything else, Ace could hear the beauty’s breathing. He looked at her and saw her body stiffen. She stared up at the floor numbers as if willing them to move.

“I…I think we may be stuck.” Her soft voice trembled slightly. She pushed the button for the floor, then pushed it again. And again.

Nothing happened.

“Oh, no.” She turned frightened eyes to Ace. She licked her lips nervously. All her cool facade of moments before drained away. “I…I think…” she began, and then stopped as if her mind was a jumble, as if she was too terrified to speak.

“Shh,” he whispered. “It’s all right. I’m sure things will get moving soon.” Although he didn’t know anything of the sort.

No matter. Those big hazel eyes were pools of lost hopes. Her clipboard slid to the floor, and her small hands curled into tight fists.

“I’m…I’m sure you’re right,” she managed to get out, but her teeth chattered in spite of the fact that it was July in Texas and the air-conditioning seemed to have gone out with the power.

Ace took one look at the woe in her face, the way she was struggling to control herself in front of him when she was clearly terrified, and he wanted to take the elevator apart for her, to bodily move the car to the right floor.

“Let’s just try the emergency phone,” he said, dropping his voice to a low soothing tone as he reached for the receiver. Calmly he explained to the security officer who answered that he and another passenger were caught between floors.

“He’s going to get the technicians,” Ace told the woman when he hung up.

She almost visibly took control of herself. Her pretty lips tightening, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and gave a quick nod. “Okay,” she said faintly. “That’s very good.”

But her eyes were just a touch too wide. Ace thought he still detected a faint tremble in her voice.

“We’ll be out of here in no time, sunshine.” He flashed her a reassuring smile. “Or am I not allowed to call you sunshine?”

Something that might have been a smile in other circumstances eased some of the tension around her lips. “I’m really sorry to be acting like such a fool.” Her soft red curls slid against her cheeks as she shook her head. “It’s rather embarrassing to admit but…I’m afraid I’m not very good in small spaces. At least not when I’m stuck in one.”

He wanted to ask why. Had something happened in her past that had brought on these feelings of claustrophobia? But then, he was touchy about his own past. He certainly didn’t ask others about theirs.

“We’ll pretend that we’re not in a small space, then,” he said. “Would you mind if I suggested…that is, why don’t you close your eyes for a bit?”

He laughed as her eyes opened wider. “That isn’t exactly what I meant, sunshine.”

“I know. I just…” She took a deep shuddery breath.

“It’s just so you won’t see where you are, then you won’t think about it so much. I won’t touch you,” he said. “I promise. Here, put your hand on the phone. If I do anything or say anything you don’t like, even slightly, you call for help. I don’t think they’ll have any difficulty identifying me as the culprit once they get us out of here.”

She almost managed a smile. He was glad that by keeping her talking, she was forgetting her fears for a moment. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. And her lashes drifted shut, hiding those gorgeous hazel eyes from his view.

“What now?” she asked.

“How about this? Picture something wonderful,” he suggested. “Someplace really big and open. The ocean.”

She laughed softly, a low husky sound that would have been right at home in a setting that included satin sheets, candles and a man’s fingertips caressing her skin. “I’ve never been to the ocean.”

“Hmm, well, you should go someday,” he said, even though he’d never been to the ocean, either. “You should definitely insist that your husband take you there.” It didn’t hurt to remind himself that she probably was some man’s treasure, and he, Ace Turner Carson, had no business thinking of her in connection with satin sheets, candles or touching.

Her eyes flew open, and he didn’t have to ask why. “No husband,” he deduced automatically. “Well, all right, then. No husband, but you look like a very independent woman. You obviously are a busy and capable woman. You still have that clipboard,” he teased. “And you’ve made it clear that you don’t need any help from a man. You can transport yourself to the ocean. You are a career woman, aren’t you?” he asked, indicating the pin she wore that said Mission Creek Memorial staff. “You probably hate the fact that one of the first things men notice about you is your legs.”

Her cheeks turned a delicious shade of rose. Embarrassment or anger? he wondered. Actually he hoped he hadn’t embarrassed her when what he’d been aiming for was a little indignation on her part. Anger was a good thing at times. It could take a person’s mind off his or her problems. He knew about using anger to run from troubles.

“My legs?” she asked as if she hadn’t heard him right. Maybe she hadn’t when she was so frightened she could barely think, much less hear.

“Absolutely beautiful,” he said, wondering what in hell he was doing and where this was leading.

But just at that moment the elevator began to move again. The beauty gasped. Reality sank in. She smiled in relief, automatically turning to him to share the moment.

He smiled back, entranced by the sheer joy on her face.

And then the elevator stopped again.

Ace didn’t give her time even to think about the fact that salvation had been stolen from her. He didn’t want to see what that kind of fear and disappointment could do to her. Instead, he swooped in close, crowding her, knowing that the nearness of his body would be a distraction, although probably an unwelcome one for a woman such as this. “Tell me what that pin is for and why you were carrying that clipboard,” he said, searching for a topic to take her mind off her troubles.

The clipboard was still on the floor at her feet. To see it, she’d have to look down. Her hair would no doubt brush against him, he was that close. Instead, she looked up into his eyes, her own uncertain and slightly lost. She fingered the pin on her lapel. “I’m…that is, I’m the hospital fund-raiser.” She swallowed hard and then squared her shoulders. “You probably already know, but today is a very big day for the hospital with the new ward opening and so many people coming for the celebration. Lots to think about and keep track of. Lots to do,” she said, her voice a soft whisper. After all, he was near. Near enough to breathe in the floral scent of her shampoo. There was no need to raise her voice.

For a minute with this soft lovely woman standing beside him, Ace wasn’t sure he’d be able to speak as the threads of desire wound through his body. But though he had her talking, he was reasonably certain that he needed to keep her talking. Otherwise, she was going to remember where they were. The fear would resurface with a vengeance.

“You’re the hospital’s fund-raiser? Ah, so you are an independent woman, darlin’.”

She lifted her chin, tipping her head back and causing her hair to spill over her shoulders. Some of her former color and life seemed to have returned. “You’re trying to get a rise out of me, aren’t you. So that I won’t think about the fact that I want to physically rip the doors off their tracks with my teeth.”

Okay, so she was on to him. “That would be fun to watch,” he conceded.

“It’s not going to work, you know,” she said. “This isn’t the first time someone has tried to talk me out of this irrational behavior. I can’t seem to control it, hard as I try. You might as well give up. But I do appreciate your efforts…”

“Ace,” he said automatically, though she hadn’t asked his name. Oh, yes, he knew about irrational behavior, because for some reason he wanted to hear his name on her lips.

“Ace,” she repeated, her voice as soft as a whisper in the dark of night. The small space they occupied could well have been a bed. He was close enough to reach out and pull her to him, to taste her lips. He was staring down into her eyes. Her breathing was coming quickly.

But of course her breathing was coming quickly. She was scared to death.

Ace backed away a few inches. “So now you know my name, darlin’,” he offered.

She let out a laugh. “I get your point, and you’re right. I’ve already told you my occupation, one of my deepest fears and revealed the fact that I’m not married. It’s silly to keep my name from you, when I assume you’re here for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and I’ll be in front of the crowd.” She looked toward the darn buttons.

“Soon,” he said. “You’ll be in front of the crowd soon. Would you like me to call again?”

He could tell that she wanted to say no, that she wanted to appear strong. “Yes, please,” she said in a very small voice.

“Any word on our condition?” Ace asked the security guard on the other end. “Ten minutes?” It wasn’t long, but the lady was clearly hoping for something more like ten seconds.

“I’m okay with that,” she assured him rather unconvincingly. “And my name is Crystal. Crystal Bennett.” Her words came out in a rush.

Ordinarily he would have offered his last name, too, but today wasn’t a day for the ordinary ways. And revealing his last name to Crystal Bennett would fill her with questions that would probably take her mind off their situation, but would simply complicate other things. The Carsons had supplied a fair share of the money for the new wing. He’d heard that from every gas-station attendant and convenience-store clerk he’d spoken to in the course of getting directions around the city. The largest donors to the new wing and the hospital’s chief fund-raiser would, out of necessity, have a good relationship. Revealing his identity to Crystal would only lead to questions about his intent, and that just wasn’t a good idea right now.

“Crystal’s an exceptionally pretty name,” he said, instead, meaning it.

Another blush kissed her cheeks. Ace couldn’t remember ever spending time with a woman who actually blushed. The women he consorted with were completely foreign to the concept of innocence, and pretty much nothing embarrassed them. He ought to view this as a sign. A huge red stop sign.

“How long have we been in here, do you think?” she asked.

A few minutes, but he knew what she meant. It seemed longer, and it was beginning to seem longer still when Ace looked down at the shining crown of her hair and breathed in deeply. The floral scent of her hair mingled with something that smelled suspiciously like soap. Whatever it was, it was sexy as hell, and suddenly he was very aware that she was all soft skin and big trusting eyes. Oh, yes, that was trust he was seeing there.

“We’ll be out soon,” he said again, fighting to keep the husky note from his voice.

She nodded and bit her lip. “I wish I’d borrowed someone’s cell phone. I promised my son I would come and see him before the ceremonies began. He’s in the day-care center. He’s too young to tell time, but once things get started, he’ll hear the music and know that things are starting.”

“You have a son.” Ace forced the words through his lips. She had a son. And no husband. This probably wasn’t something he wanted to know.

For the first time he surprised a genuine no-holds-barred smile from her lips. “Timmy,” she said, and it was clear from that one word that her entire world circled around her little boy. “He’s just three.”

“Does he look like you?” Ace asked. Anything to keep that light in her eyes.

“No, like his father.” She dug into her purse and found a picture. She handed it to Ace. There, smiling back at him, was the cutest little dark-haired, big-eyed munchkin he’d ever seen.

“You’re wrong,” he said. “He has your eyes.”

“Well, maybe,” she conceded, “but nothing else.”

“You’ll give him other things,” Ace said with the confidence of a man who knew what he was talking about. “Does his father live nearby?” Why had he asked that question?

A question he obviously shouldn’t have asked, since the smile on Crystal’s lips died. “Timmy’s father never wanted to be a part of his life. He took off as soon as he knew the baby was on the way.”

A knifelike and familiar pain sliced through Ace.

“His loss,” he said tensely.

“Exactly,” she said with great feeling. And their eyes met. They shared a commiserating look. For long seconds Ace’s gaze held her gaze. He studied her. She had the most beautiful expressive mouth, he couldn’t help thinking. A mouth made for deep slow kisses that went on and on and led to better things. He could almost see how Timmy’s father had lost his head and ended up fathering a child because he, too, had a strong urge to step close to Crystal and pull her into his arms. And with a woman like this, that kind of thing could only lead to other things.

Most likely me getting my face slapped, he thought with a smile.

“Ace?” Crystal asked, and he realized that she was probably wondering why he was grinning.

“You probably don’t want to know, but I was thinking about how tasty your lips look,” he said, and he heard her sharp intake of air. Well, hell, he had always been known for speaking his mind. No doubt, this would have been one time when he should have stifled his speech and his thoughts.

“But I meant what I said before, Crystal. I don’t force myself on women. You’re safe with me.”

She studied him for a minute. Suddenly the elevator began moving again, and it continued to move until it reached the main floor and the doors opened.

Ace held out his hand, motioning for Crystal to exit the elevator in front of him. She turned to go, then turned back. Her small hand touched his sleeve, and she looked up at him.

“You made me feel safe,” she said. “I know you were trying to distract me to keep my mind off things. You’re a kind man, Ace. Thank you.”

He simply stared down at her, then watched as she walked away. She might think he was a kind man now, but what was she going to think later today when he publicly embarrassed one of the hospital’s biggest benefactors?

Crystal moved out into the sunshine where tables and booths and a podium for speeches had been set up. A wide blue-and-white ribbon cordoned off the new and shiny maternity wing, which had taken so much time and effort from so many. She had spent the past two years of her life working toward this day, yet now that it was here, all she could think about was the man she’d met in the elevator.

A small smile lifted her lips. He’d certainly been handsome with that wavy black hair and those blue eyes. And that smile. Her heart flipped at the memory.

“Stop it,” she told herself. “You know darn well that a man like that has used that smile on a million women. He’s slid into a hundred women’s beds just because they couldn’t resist that devilish grin and all that sweet talking.”

She’d been barely able to resist, either, but barely was the operative word here, because she was darn well going to resist even thinking about the man. If there was one woman in all of Mission Creek who knew better than to fall for a pair of let’s-make-love-darlin’ blue eyes and a rogue’s smile, it was her.

No more handsome heartbreakers for her, now or ever. She had Timmy to think of. And that was all the reminder Crystal needed.

Besides, today was a workday. People were relying on her. And there was a ton of things that still had to be taken care of, a fact that became clear as she neared the area where the ribbon-cutting ceremony was due to begin shortly and her employees flocked around her with tales of minor crises and questions that needed to be answered.