Taming Clint Westmoreland - Brenda Jackson [19]
She heard a noise outside her bedroom window and crossed the room to see what had caused it. The sun had set and dusk had settled in. One of the floodlights that were shining from the side of the house provided enough brightness for her to see Clint as he leaned against a post talking with two of his men.
It was hard not to take an assessment of Clint each and every time she saw him. From the window, she couldn’t see every single detail, but she had a clear view of his thighs. He was standing with his legs braced apart and the muscles that filled his jeans were taut and firm. Just looking at him standing there in that sexy pose made her pulse race. She was actually feeling breathless. This was her reaction to the man whom she was supposed to live with for thirty days? She doubted she would be able to get through one day living with him let alone thirty. She was well aware from what he’d said earlier that day about his ability to control his desire if they decided to live together. He had basically given his word that he would abide by any boundaries that she set.
While she was thinking about what boundaries she would establish if she decided to stay, he turned toward the window as if somehow he’d felt her presence there. Their gazes locked. Held. And it seemed at that moment something, a tangible connection she could not define, passed between them. It was as if some understanding had been made, but for the life of her she didn’t know what it was.
Dazed and more than a little confused, she took a step back on wobbly knees at the same time she dropped the curtain back in place to shield her from his view. She knew she had to rein in her uncontrollable imagination, urges and lust. If he could control his then she most certainly should be able to get a handle on hers. But she had to admit what she was experiencing was not something she encountered every day. She simply had never been the type of woman to get goggle-eyed over a man. But ever since she’d arrived in Austin, she had been doing that very thing.
Sighing deeply, she moved toward the bathroom hoping her new state of mind was something she got over real soon.
Clint frowned as he walked down the long hallway toward his bedroom. It was way past midnight. After taking care of the evening chores, he had hung around the bunkhouse and played a game of cards with some of his men.
He had stayed away from the house as long as he could, and now he was back inside. His mind wandered to what had happened earlier. He’d been standing out in the yard talking to a couple of his men until he happened to notice Alyssa staring at him from her bedroom window. He’d done the only thing he could do at the time, which was to stare back.
It seemed that against his will, his gaze had locked on hers. It was plain to see that Alyssa was getting to him and the brazen images of her that had been forming in his mind all day weren’t helping. Hell, he may have bitten off more than he could chew in asking her to stay under his roof. If only there had been another way for them to end their marriage, he mused. Surely there was someone he could talk to about it.
His cousin Jared immediately came to mind. Jared was the attorney in the family. His specialty was the handling of divorce cases. Perhaps his cousin could give him some advice. He checked his watch. Jared was usually up late at night and Clint turned in the direction of his office, deciding to give his cousin a call.
He pushed open his office door and paused. There, sitting at his desk in front of his computer, was Alyssa. She hadn’t heard him enter, and so he just stood for a moment and gazed at her. The soft lighting from the lamp, as well as the