A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series (22 page)
Read A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series Online
Authors: Violet Sparks
She shook her head.
The man lifted his brim with a forefinger, revealing a disapproving look and large, piercing, deep blue eyes. He shook his head in disgust.
"Stay here," he commanded, dropping her bags.
She watched as he dashed into the parking lot, disappearing behind rows of pick-up trucks in the darkness.
What have I gotten myself into?
Minutes later, her feet tired from standing in her three-inch pumps, Kiki sat on her designer suitcase, crossing her legs. She braced her elbow on one knee and dropped her chin into a cupped palm. Exhausted, she craved a hot shower and a warm bed.
What's that white stuff swirling in the air?
She observed small, lightweight specks twirling around in the beams cast from light poles in the parking lot. It looked like the ashes that rained down from the fires which often ravaged areas around Los Angeles.
A large, mud-splattered truck squealed to a stop in front of the sliding doors, and she watched as the cowboy leapt from the pickup and dashed inside the airport. He grabbed for her bag, and she shot to her feet just as the case was almost yanked from beneath her. With two long steps, he reached his vehicle, tossing the luggage into the vehicle's bed. She pushed down a scream as her designer gear disappeared behind a fence-like structure, which was welded to the truck's sides. He returned for Kiki, his long strides reaching her in a split second.
"You'll need this," he said, removing his flannel jacket.
As he pulled the coat from his torso, muscles visible beneath his tight shirt rippled across his chest and abdomen. Biceps bunched in his upper arms as he tugged at a sleeve. Kiki watched in awe and couldn't help but gawk. This was no old man. When he draped the wool garment over her shoulders and pulled the collar tight about her neck, she saw veins popping along his massive forearms. Everything about him shouted
masculine
, something not common in LA. She didn't even mind his scent, something like hay, spices, and animal hide. Adjusting the coat, his fingers brushed Kiki's neck, searing her skin and causing a tingle to run up and down her body.
He turned and headed outside while the Asian art expert stood riveted to the spot, shaking her head. Even James hadn't affected her like this.
Get ahold of yourself!
"What's wrong now?" he shouted, his tone gruff. "Come on!" he yelled.
The girl hurried outside, stopping to peer into the truck bed. Kiki grabbed the metal railing that protruded above the auto's sides and stood on her tip toes, trying to catch sight of her bags. The truck was grubby and filled with small ranching implements, and she could imagine the intertwined
L
and
V
motifs on her luggage smudged beyond recognition or the leather surface slashed. She reached higher for the top rung and pulled herself off the ground. Legs dangling, she spotted her cases amid hay and dirty ropes. She felt large hands on her waist, almost encircling her, as the cowboy pulled her away from the truck, setting her down on the curb. His touch left her breathless.
"Can you please place my bags in the cab?" she asked, steam puffing from her mouth in the cold night air.
The man shot her a look of astonishment, which quickly faded to one of supreme aggravation. She didn't care. This guy might be gorgeous, but he had a lousy attitude. Besides, he was paid to deliver her to a hotel, bags intact. That luggage was a recent gift from her parents, and she didn't want it ruined the first time she used it. Kiki stood her ground.
The cowboy jerked the passenger door open and said, "Get in," before walking to the back of the truck and lowering the tailgate.
She watched through the rear view mirror as the man hauled her bags out, yanking them from the bed with a ferocity she'd not seen before. Luckily, the truck had a full backseat, large enough to hold her luggage. She felt another blast of cold air as the man opened the rear door and heaved her large suitcase inside. Kiki glanced over her shoulder to make sure her beloved case remained undamaged.
"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, looking around the back of the pick-up.
She twisted, pulling her knees under herself, and poked her head over the seat into the rear of the vehicle. Her small square case came flying into the truck, barely missing her face. The back seat was as dirty as the truck bed.
"Look, Lady, I don't know what you've got in them cases, but it feels like lead! We're running outta options here," he barked, his hot breath tingling against her neck.
The man leaned over her bags, his face inches from hers. His scent flooded the cab, along with crisp outside air. Overwhelmed by his presence, Kiki slid back into her seat.
"I've got an idea," she whispered.
* * * * *
"You asked for it, Lady," the cowboy drawled from the front seat.
Bouncing along the potholed freeway, greasy metal tools poked, rammed and hammered against the art expert's hip, foot, and elbow. The road needed work, and so did the vehicle! Kiki took comfort in the fact that her designer luggage, worth thousands, remained safely belted in the front passenger seat, her smaller square bag secure on her lap. She didn't care about the carry-on lodged at the foot of the seat in front of her. After all,
it
was made of cheap nylon and only carried a laptop. She was sure the cowboy hit each dip, crack, and hole in the street on purpose. Every so often, he flashed a grin in the rear view mirror, intended to show his amusement at her discomfort.
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded as buildings along the side of the road became scarce.
He'd turned off the freeway minutes before. She'd breathed a sigh of relief then, figuring she'd soon arrive at the hotel. Mr. Liu made the arrangements for the team's lodgings, according to the broken English of Ronald Jen. Now, she felt worried.
The cowboy lifted his square jaw to give her a good look in the mirror. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, his lips drawing into a tight, thin line before replying.
"To the Bar H, where else?" he said, his tone revealing what a pain in the butt he considered her.
"Now you turn this car, er . . . truck around right now, Mister. I'm staying at a hotel in Amarillo, not some farm in the middle of nowhere!"
She'd had enough of this escapade and forgot all about making a good impression on Mr. Liu and her new boss, Mr. Jen. It was after ten p.m., and she'd been up since five when she got the call from Hong Kong. She wasn't about to let this redneck drive her into the wilds of Texas.
"Sorry, but that's a no go. Big convention of cattlemen in town. Not a room to be had. Besides, it's an hour and a half of two-lane country roads between Amarillo and the Bar H. With a storm coming, you'd be stuck in town for at least a week."
She wanted to protest but bit her lip instead. She shot a quick prayer for her safety to the
man upstairs
and decided she had no option but to trust this rude character. He hit a bump for good measure, jolting her from her thoughts.
The firm had better appreciate this!
After a miserable two-hour trek, the truck turned onto a dirt road. Headlights shone on an imposing wooden entrance. Posts of stones, on each side of the entry, held large lanterns. Above, an arch featured a wrought iron
H
over a bar, the emblem encased by a circle. After a short pause, the gates swung open and the pickup continued onward. A few minutes later, they descended a steep hill. Lights appeared, and before long, the vehicle pulled into a large flagstone courtyard and came to a stop in front of a nondescript building.
Before Kiki knew what happened, the cowboy removed the case from her lap, unbuckled her seat belt, and lifted her from the large truck. She'd had trouble climbing into the monstrosity, as it didn't have a proper step like some pickups. The man set her down on the building's stoop and opened the door for her, nodding for her to enter.
Her sleepy eyes grew large and round as she took in her lodgings. She started down a brightly lit long hall, leading to a great room beyond. The modern decor shocked. No frontier cabin, the stark entrance led to a large living area with walls of floor to ceiling windows. A big, sleek modern kitchen greeted her to the left.
She heard a muffled
thud
and assumed the cowboy had dropped her cases in another room. Walking in the direction of the sound, she retraced her steps and veered through a doorway off a short hall to her right. She found herself in a large bedroom. The man leaned over the bed, fluffing a crisp white pillow. The dirt under his fingernails stood in sharp contrast to the spiffy linens.
"This to your standards?" he asked, his voice filled with sarcasm.
"It's lovely," she replied, her voice cracking. It unnerved her, having a stranger in her soon-to-be boudoir.
She wanted to add,
Now get out
, but she bit her lip instead as the cowboy strolled towards her. He took his time, nothing like the way he'd moved at the airport. She swallowed hard, trying to calm her quickening pulse. The man drew up right next to her and locked his eyes on hers. He held her gaze for what seemed like minutes, scrutinizing her with his deep, piercing eyes, then reached for her.
Kiki took a step back, releasing a small gasp. She'd been unaware that she held her breath.
His long arm easily covered the distance between them as his hand grasped the collar of the wool coat. Again, his calloused fingers brushed against Kiki's neck, and she swallowed hard.
"You won't be needing this anymore tonight," he said in a low tone, gently tugging the garment.
The jacket slid from her shoulders. Kiki became aware that a blush rose to her cheeks as the man allowed his eyes to roam over her.
"Sleep tight," he whispered, then strode from the room with the same gait she'd seen earlier.
What nerve!
When she heard the entry click shut, she ran to the front of the house and turned the bolt, locking herself inside. Kiki leaned against the door, catching her breath. When that man pulled the coat off her, it felt as though she were being disrobed.
How embarrassing!
As her heart pounded against her chest, the feisty Hawaiian hoped she'd never see him again.
Order your copy of A Lone Star Romance by clicking image below:
Look for Book 3 in the Only Love Series, A Calculated Romance, available soon on Amazon.
About the Author
Violet Sparks pulls from her career in corporate America, her time at a major auction house, and her love of all things
girly
when penning her romance novels. She won writing contests as a teen and always dreamed of becoming an author. A fan of the arts, Violet created one-of-a-kind gift items, sold in shops throughout Southern California, before raising a family. She met and married the man of her dreams and they now have two young children. Violet has a zeal for vintage costume jewelry, literature, museums, and travel. She writes a blog about her other passions under a pen name.
Please follow Violet on twitter at
https://twitter.com/VioletSparks20
and on facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Violet-Sparks-1151723008171928/
or visit my website at
https://www.violetsparksauthor.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 -Opportunities Lost and Gained-
Chapter 2 -Lunch With Russians-
Chapter 3 -Too Much Excitement for One Girl-
Chapter 4 -A Changing of the Guard-
Chapter 6 -Make Coffee, Not War-
Chapter 7 -Your Chariot Awaits-