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Kelly frowned. “I must admit my girlfriends and I found a way to dodge some of the required duties occurring right after the early wake-up calls. We got up but later snuck away from the group and climbed up into the hayloft and went back to sleep. We didn’t come up with that idea until a couple of days after the torturous schedule began.”
Houston threw his head back and laughed. “Charming story. I like it.”
The laughter vibrating from somewhere deep in Houston’s belly held Kelly spellbound. The sound of his joy was captivating. It was a true but simple story, but he seemed to enjoy it like it was a bestseller. He had mentioned how uncomplicated he liked his life. Was it this easy to please someone, knowingly or unknowingly? Kelly hadn’t even been trying to please him. She wasn’t sure she knew how to please a man.
The family had waited for Houston and Kelly to make an appearance. Their conversation had kept them rooted to one spot longer than planned. He felt guilty for holding up dinner. When he apologized, he was told by the family not to sweat it.
The host passed the blessing. Making it short and sweet, Austin held on to Ashleigh’s hand all the while. It was actually a ritual for the entire family to join hands during prayer. Austin knew everyone was ready to get into what had been dipped up from the pots and pans. The huge redwood table was laden with goodies.
Kelly was amazed by the amount of food prepared. “The dinner menu is something else, Houston. I can’t recall ever seeing this much food.”
“The Carringtons know how to put out a big Texas spread. Like I said earlier, just about every meat entrée is grilled. Steak, brisket, beef ribs, shrimp and chicken are slow-cooked. ‘Meat eaters’ would best describe the Carrington men’s voracious appetites.”
Baked potatoes, fresh asparagus and corn on the cob, both white and yellow, were also roasted on the grill. The baked beans had been prepared in the oven and Ashleigh had baked the yeast rolls and chocolate cake, according to Houston. The creamy red potato salad, a Texas favorite, was one of Angelica’s specialties.
Once everyone began eating, the room quieted down considerably. Pass me this, that or the other were the only remarks uttered. The guys began shoveling in food as soon as it landed on their plates. Loss of appetite probably never occurred among the triplets, Kelly considered. These guys knew exactly how to put it away, all in record time.
The Carrington family was magical to Kelly. Looking around the table, from one to the other, she saw how tuned in they were, as if they knew each other’s every thought and next move. Their laughter carried contagious joy. She was sure problems existed, just like in any other family, but she had a pretty good idea they weren’t exposed or discussed outside their inner circle. It seemed the Carringtons coveted their private lives.
Whatever was in the Carrington mix, Kelly suddenly wanted to be right in the thick of it. Was this fun, animated group of people what real families were made of?
Sensitive to Kelly’s mood, Houston brought his mouth close to her ear. “Are you okay, Kelly-Kel? It seems as if you’re somewhere in outer space,” he whispered huskily.
Kelly loved the nickname Houston had dubbed her with. He had made it sound endearing and sweet. “I was just thinking about you and your family.”
Houston frowned slightly. “Good or bad thoughts?”
Kelly cast him a dazzling smile. “I’m not telling. A woman has to keep some secrets locked away in her heart.”
Intrigued by Kelly’s uniqueness and her charming personality, Houston loved the interesting comments she tossed at him. He smiled back at her, unable to help himself. If only he could let himself go with her, he’d probably be a lot better off than constantly fighting to keep himself at a safe distance.
Fleetingly, Houston wished he’d dated one person consistently so he’d know for sure what it was like and what he should expect. He operated from a blind spot, but he now realized he’d put himself at a terrible disadvantage.
Kelly wished she could resist the charming Houston, yet she was happy to be at Austin and Ashleigh’s home with him. Being in the company of the entire Carrington family was an awesome experience.
The other two tough sports heroes and their handsome father were so attentive to the women they loved. Kelly closely observed how Dallas kept his eyes fastened on Lanier and Austin couldn’t keep his hands off Ashleigh. Beaumont and Angelica conversed with each other through flirtatious language. Theirs was a love etched in stone. These couples only had eyes for each other.
With all the love and romance Houston was constantly around, Kelly couldn’t understand how he managed to stay so unaffected. He was attentive enough to her, but it was nothing in comparison to how the other Carrington men reacted to their significant others.
Therein lies the problem, Kelly mused.
I’m not Houston’s significant other. I’m not even his girlfriend. Will he ever look at me the way Austin looks at Ashleigh? How many more times would the very same question come to her mind in one evening? Kelly had to wonder.
The cool evening air was a nice change from the muggy heat of the day. Several ceiling fans hung from the rafters of the covered porch cooled things off. Strung with colorful Chinese lanterns and Tiki torches, the vast area reserved for dining was well lit.
The deep shades of ever-changing colors lighting up the pool provided a peaceful, romantic ambience. The majestic trees surrounding the vast property appeared to dance in tune with the stirring winds. It was just before sunset and the stimulating sounds of nightfall could be heard in the distance.
Quiet conversations and frequent trills of laughter permeated the outdoor atmosphere for the next couple of hours. A father and his three sons took turns telling jokes, keeping the dinner party lively. Beaumont was the biggest comedian of all. He had a cache of off-color jokes about any subject a person could possibly think of.
Angelica’s eyes lovingly scolded her sons. “Guys, please don’t encourage Beau in his charming but incorrigible ways.” She knew it was all to no avail. As a mother and wife, she had to make an attempt. This was what her men did when they got together.
Dallas and Lanier were the first couple to excuse themselves from the table after the dessert had been consumed. Houston and Kelly followed suit only moments later. The two guys had given farewell affections to their parents, who were about ready to leave the ranch. Austin and Ashleigh stayed behind to see the elder Carringtons to their car.
It was a fine Texas evening for a romantic moonlit stroll around the ranch.
Houston was eager to show Kelly around the place. It was too big to see all at one time. It might take a couple of days to tour the entire property.
“Let’s walk down to the stables first.” He pointed out the whitewashed buildings to her. “I’d like to introduce you to Austin’s pride and joy, Q.B. and T.D.”
Kelly lifted a brow. “Horses! Quarterback and Touchdown, right?”
“Yeah, but how’d you guess?”
Kelly laughed heartily. “Stables might’ve given it away. As for their names, they’re a perfect fit for Austin’s career.”
Houston chuckled. “I didn’t stop to think about what I’d said. You’re right, of course. Austin loves his Palominos. The other horses on the property are used by the hired hands. There’s also been a new addition to the stables. My brother purchased a beautiful Appaloosa for Ashleigh before they found out she was pregnant. She named the frisky horse, with the beautiful, shiny spots, Sundance. Although she’s only gotten to ride Sundance a few times she visits her every day. She’ll ride again after the baby comes.”
Kelly got a far-away look in her eyes. “I used to want a horse when I was little. I received a flat-out ‘no’ when I asked. I never brought it up again. Do you ride?”
“There isn’t a Carrington who doesn’t. We were taught to ride at an early age.”
Kelly took off running toward the area Houston had pointed out, surprising him. She couldn’t wait to see the horses. She hadn’t learned to ride, but she was now thinking it wasn’t too late for her to take lessons. Maybe one of the guys could recommend a good teacher. She made a mental note to ask Houston about it later on.
After catching up to Kelly, Houston steered her into the stables and over to the stall where T.D. was housed. The horse greeted the visitors with a loud whinny, making them both laugh. “This is a friendly one, but we still have to be careful. Here,” he said, taking her hand, “let me show you how to handle her without getting injured.”
“Her? T.D. is a girl?”
Houston cracked up. “She’s a girl, a very beautiful one. Stroke her mane gently. That’s the way. She loves to be cuddled.”
“What woman doesn’t?”
Their eyes met and held for several engaging seconds. Kelly wasn’t sorry about what she’d said. If Houston didn’t like it, that was too bad for him. She wasn’t going to monitor every word she spoke for his comfort. She was used to speaking freely.
“Men like to be touched, too. I already know you have soft hands. I’ve felt them.”
Kelly was glad he wasn’t bothered by her comment. “They’re soft but strong. I know how to minister one hell of a deep-tissue massage.”
Houston’s eyes locked with hers. “Is that something I can look forward to?”
“We’ll have to wait and see. I pray that you don’t get injured during the off-season, but if you have one that calls for a massage, I’ll see to it or have one of the therapists take care of you.”
“I set myself up for that one, didn’t I?”
Kelly shrugged, feigning ignorance. “Set yourself up for what?”
Houston laughed inwardly. “Okay, so it’s going to be like that. I’m cool. Let’s move two stalls down so you can meet Q.B., who is not a girl.”
Q.B. was also a beautiful animal, whose light-colored coat glowed like sunlight. The horses’ coats were so healthy-looking. Kelly was careful to gently touch Q.B., the same way Houston had shown her how to handle T.D. The horse gently nudged her shoulder with his nose, causing her to giggle. She’d seen people kiss the noses and foreheads of horses, but she wasn’t going that far, though Kelly would like to hug Austin’s pride and joy. Texas and Wrangler were also favored by their owners.
“Let’s move on down to the lake before it gets too dark to see anything.” Houston grabbed a checkered blanket from a wall rack. “There are a lot of fish in the lake, but we don’t catch them. Austin’s not willing to reel them in to fry up in a pan. They buy fresh fish at the seafood market nearby.”
“Are all the Carrington men that sensitive?”
“Every one of us. We don’t hunt wild game, but we do purchase deer steaks and pheasant and other wild game from the neighbors who do.”
Kelly scowled. “It sounds utterly barbaric! But I guess it’s no different from eating any other kind of meat. Slaughter is involved no matter how it’s performed.”
Houston looked uncomfortable with what Kelly had said, but it was the truth. He didn’t like the idea of harming animals, but men had been acquiring meat that way for countless years. It was the way of the world, whether it was right or not.
Down at the lake Houston spread out the blanket and prompted Kelly to sit. He followed suit. While taking off his shoes, he urged her to do the same.
Kelly was happy to free her feet and let the air rush through her toes. Setting her shoes aside, she stretched out on the blanket, propping her head on one elbow. “This is nice. It’s much cooler by the water’s edge. This is some Texas ranch. I spotted a white gazebo during our journey. I have a fondness for the structure. Do Austin and Ashleigh use it?”
Houston nodded. “Boy, do they use it. Austin had it wired with speakers and hundreds of tiny white lights when it was built on that slope. It has a wooden dance floor and built-in seating around the inside perimeter. There’s also a bar and bandstand. One can see for miles and miles from up there. It’s a pretty romantic setting.”
“It sounds lovely. Have you ever taken anyone there with romance in mind?”
Houston chuckled. “I’ve been up there hundreds of times but not for romance. Austin throws old-fashioned hoedowns and uses the gazebo for social events. We love country and western music, but we’re kind of selective.”
“Austin Carrington thought of everything, didn’t he? It sounds like Ashleigh gets her fair share of romance from her loving husband. By the way, I like CW music, too.”
“They are a very romantic couple. We always tell them to ‘get a room.’”
Lanier and Dallas, hand in hand, came upon Houston and Kelly, but they just waved, smiled and moved on.
Houston waved back at the couple. “I wonder if they’re leaving already. They usually stay a lot longer. What about you, Kelly, are you ready to go home?”
Kelly sighed with deep contentment. “Not yet. It’s so peaceful out here. But if you’re ready, I’m okay with leaving. Is it getting late?”
Houston slipped his hand into hers. “It’s not that late.” His eyes softened. “I like being here with you this way. I agree that it’s quiet and peaceful. I love the outdoors as much as you seem to. I wish our basketball games could be played outside. Austin and Dallas have the best of both worlds. Occasionally they play in indoor sports stadiums, but for the most part they’re out in the elements. I wish. NBA games are always played inside as you know.”
Kelly leaned over and kissed Houston on the nose. “You poor, millionaire baby,” she cooed. “I feel so sorry for you.”
Houston chuckled. “You love messing with me, don’t you? I have no complaints. I know I’m blessed. How many people get paid megabucks to do what they love?”
“You are right about that.” Kelly lay back on the blanket and looked up at the dazzling stars. Locating the brightest one, she closed her eyes and made a wish upon it. “Starlight, star bright,” she chanted softly, “please make my wish come true tonight.”
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