Bad News Cowboy (23 page)

If the town of Copper Ridge couldn't see that, if Nathan West couldn't see what a wonderful man his son was, then they were blind-ass idiots.

“Not sure I deserve your trust,” he said, “but I'll take it. Which maybe says some bad things about me.”

“You're only bad in a fun way.”

“We'll see if you still think that in a few minutes. Get on your hands and knees. Show me your pretty ass.”

Those words, those surprising, dirty words, sent an arrow of heat straight through her midsection that hit its target, fear rippling through the tailwind. But still, she didn't hesitate, stopping now never occurring to her.

She liked Jack like this, all rough and commanding, because she knew he got that way when she pushed him to the limit, pushed him straight to the edge of his control. She'd learned that she was never more in power than when Jack was making demands, and she knew that she could push that power, push his control, further by obeying him.

Strange, maybe. But she was discovering that the politics of sex were different from anything else.

She held her breath, waiting for his next move. A firm, warm hand slid across her backside, the friction over her skin hot, perfect. He moved his hand lower, teasing the entrance to her body with strong, blunt fingertips before pushing his finger deep inside of her.

She'd been with Jack countless times over the past weeks, and she'd started to think they'd done all there was. This was different. She couldn't see him, couldn't guess what might be coming next.

She heard him tearing a condom packet, knew that now he was rolling it over his thick length. She knew this routine well, knew just how long it took to go from grabbing the pack to protected to inside of her.

She held her breath and she waited, but he didn't do anything yet. He simply waited, one hand firm on her hip, the other moving between her legs, drawing the moisture from inside her body and sliding it over her clit.

That was one of the new sexy words in her vocabulary, added thanks to Jack and his very dirty mouth.

“You're ready for me, Katie,” he said, his voice rough. “So wet. So hot.”

“Yes,” she whispered, “I'm ready.”

He replaced his fingers with his cock, pushing inside slowly. This new angle of penetration was a revelation. She felt fuller, and he went deeper. And she saw stars. But she couldn't see his eyes. This was a departure from the way they typically made love, his gaze trained on hers as he thrust hard and deep.

She couldn't see him now; she could only feel him. The intense fullness of him being inside of her, the strength in his hold, the sound of his breath. There was familiarity in his rhythm, because she knew exactly the way that Jack moved to bring them both to orgasm.

This position should have felt more distant, but it didn't. If anything, it felt more intense, more intimate somehow, because it was up to her to know him by touch, by sound, rather than by sight. She did. She knew his body; she knew his strength. It was Jack. Only Jack.

It could only ever be Jack.

He shifted, bringing his hand forward to tease her clit, intense, deep need riding through her as he did, bringing her closer and closer to climax.

Her arms were shaking from the exertion of holding herself up, because while she had strength from lifting bales of hay, demanding her muscles work properly while being subjected to this assault of pleasure was a bit much.

Unable to hold herself up any longer, she relaxed, lowering her upper body down to the sleeping bag, while Jack thrust hard into her from behind.

She pressed her face into the pillow and let it capture all of the sound she couldn't control as Jack propelled them both over the edge. Release roared through her, stars bursting behind her eyelids. Little pops of white light that burned bright before fading, leaving behind impressions of flashbulbs and fireflies.

His fingers dug deep into her hips and he froze behind her. Made a low, harsh sound, no concession being given to the fact that they were not in a soundproof environment.

Maybe, just maybe, the people around them wouldn't guess what that sound was. But she knew. She knew it intimately.

Jack. It's Jack.

He withdrew from her body, releasing his hold on her for a moment before tugging her up against him, his chest pressed against her back, his breathing hard and uneven. He held her like that until they had both settled a bit, the aftereffects of their climaxes fading slowly. Their muscles relaxing, sleep edging closer. It was an amazing thing to be so in tune with another person. To reach the heights at almost the same time and to come down together.

“Just a sec, baby.”

Jack moved away from her, rustling around in his things for a moment before coming back to her. “I came prepared for contraceptive disposal,” he whispered, his voice husky.

“You make it sound so classy,” she whispered.

“You know me better than that.” He kissed the back of her neck and pulled her more tightly against him, nestling her bottom up against him.

“Hell, Jack, you know
me
better than that.”

He traced his fingertip down her arm. “Yes, I do.”

“I'm glad that you don't have to leave.”

“I'm glad I don't have to leave.”

This felt right. Staying together, holding each other after they'd made love. Rather than both of them getting dressed hurriedly and her scurrying home. She had told herself that this would be awkward. But spending the night was unnecessary, because she hadn't known what to do with the steadily growing feeling that separating from him afterward was wrong. That growing sense of wrongness was... Well, it was
scary
. Because it proved what she wanted to deny. That whatever was happening between herself and Jack wasn't stagnant. It was growing; it was changing; it was moving forward.

Which was balls, because the sex was supposed to be a vehicle to help her move forward. They weren't suddenly supposed to be moving forward together.

She shivered and he moved his hand down to her stomach, so warm and perfect, strong. Firm. And she figured she would just let this moment be. It was hard to worry about the future when the present felt so nice.

She had been short on luxury in her life. She was a hard worker, and to the same degree she tended to ignore sore muscles and fatigue, she ignored all too often the velvet feel of grass under her feet and the perfect warmth of the sun on her skin. She didn't get caught up in the details.

But she was letting herself get caught up in this. In the luxury of being held against Jack. The strength in his arms, the warmth in his body, the sound of his heart beating steadily behind her. That was better than grass between her toes any day.

And it was a better way to earn sore muscles than doing ranch work.

She rested her hand over Jack's and forgot to worry about what any of this meant. For a while she was just going to let herself have the luxury.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

J
ACK
HAD
WOKEN
up early the next morning, before anyone else, because it had been important that he get dressed and get his ass out of Kate's tent before anyone saw. Fortunately, he'd managed. He was starting to think she didn't much mind anybody finding out about them, but that wasn't the way to go about it. And there would be an order to things.

Which was a shame, because he really liked his balls where they were, and he wasn't entirely certain that Connor and Eli would let him keep them when the truth came out. But it would have to. The only other option would be ending things, and soon, because sneaking around wasn't doing it for him anymore. And he wasn't doing that. Ending it. No way in hell.

He hadn't wanted to get up. He'd wanted to lie there with her forever. Still. Calm. Tranquil.

The first time in his life he'd ever found peace in stillness. A revelation.

It was tempting to think, as he often did, that the feeling was an illusion of darkness. That with the sunrise, things would change. But the sun hadn't changed a damn thing. It'd just shone a light on them. Made it that much clearer.

He had something with her...something he'd never had with anyone else. Something he'd never even imagined he wanted.

How had he ever thought she would leave things inside him the same as they'd always been? Kate Garrett was a gale-force wind, and he'd believed he could tangle with her and come out unchanged.

That was some kind of dumb arrogance.

He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the weight that was settling on his chest, and looked around. People were already filing into the fairgrounds, the first event starting soon. Thankfully for both his nerves and Kate, barrel racing was event number one. He had told her not to get worried and not to be nervous, but he couldn't follow his own advice. He wanted her to win. He wanted her to see what he saw. That she was good enough. More than good enough, she was brilliant.

She had the potential to be whatever she wanted. And sure, the idea of her going on the road with the rodeo was kind of a tough one. It would mean being separated. But that was just one more reason they needed to go ahead and figure out how they were going to navigate this relationship.

He felt like he'd been sucker punched. Relationship. Well, that was what it was. He had never before made a habit of spending the night with a woman. Had never spent multiple nights with the same woman. Maybe a few here and there, but not more than a month. He had never wanted to. But he wanted to hold Kate forever, and he supposed that meant it was a relationship.

He took a sip of his coffee and sighed as the hot, strong liquid slid down his throat. It was a fairly clear day for autumn but the air was still cool. A nice day for the events since neither horse nor rider would get as sweaty as usual.

Kate had already gone off to get ready and to get Roo warmed up, and he was trying to be inconspicuous and not hover over her. Since he had a feeling if he got anywhere near her, no one would confuse his attachment to her. He was most definitely more lover than older brother, and that much would be clear if anyone so much as saw him look at her.

He was loitering back by where the riders would come in, rather than going to the stands, because he figured however this shook out, Kate would need a big hug afterward. And he would be the one to give it to her.

His pocket buzzed and he reached into it, pulling out his phone. It was Eli. “Hello?”

“Are you at the fairgrounds?”

“Of course I am. Just ready to watch her ride.” He didn't bother to specify who. And he realized that it was awfully familiar of him, but then, they were awfully familiar. Right now he couldn't bother with trying to act like it was different.

“Are you in the stands?”

“Nope. Hanging out by where they come in.”

“Are you going to come and sit down?”

He cleared his throat, turning in the direction of the stalls. And he saw Kate walking toward the arena. She was wearing a pair of tight black jeans and a button-up shirt, also black, with little silver stars up by the collar. She had on her black cowgirl hat with the silver buckle on the band, her long dark hair in its usual braid.

Some of the other women had their hair loose, in bountiful curls, bright pink lipstick, turquoise and gold. But Kate was the one who stood out to him. Kate shone the brightest. Because she was Kate. It was that simple.

“No,” he said, his chest tight. “I'm going to stand back here. Just in case. I mean, I've been coaching her and stuff.” It was a lame finish, he knew.

“Okay,” Eli said, no concern in his tone at all. Which made him feel like kind of an ass. Because no matter how obvious he felt the relationship change with Kate was, Eli clearly suspected nothing. Because, of course, as far as Eli was concerned, there was just no chance of Jack ever touching Kate. Because she was too young, because she was Connor and Eli's sister.

But those things were so small to him now. Minimal parts of the complex beauty that made up Kate Garrett. And he couldn't bring himself to care.

“Talk to you after.” He hung up, walking toward the temporary fences, keeping his distance. He didn't want to distract her. But then he noticed she was looking around, searching. Probably for Connor and Eli, Liss and Sadie. Her family. Probably not for him. But just in case, he took a few long strides down toward where she was, keeping himself across the arena from her. She turned and saw him. And the smile that lit up her face felt like the best, most undeserved gift he could've ever received.

He smiled back, gratified by the blush that colored her cheeks.

Then she turned her focus back to the task at hand. She wasn't searching anymore. Which meant she had been looking for him. That did something to him. Made it almost impossible to breathe.

The first rider went, then the next. But he didn't pay attention. His eyes were locked on Kate, who was staring straight ahead at the arena. When she was next up, she mounted Roo and took her position in the chute.

The ride ended to thunderous applause, and Kate was motionless, waiting for her gate to open. He let his eyes flutter closed just for a moment, and for the first time in his memory, he uttered a prayer.

He took a breath, and the gate opened. And Kate flew.

Her braid bounced against her back, dirt flying up behind the horse's hooves. She went around the first barrel clean, picking up the momentum she had lost on the turn and burning flawlessly into the next. When she finished, he cheered the loudest.

The next three riders went. Then it was all reset for the second round. More waiting.

Her turn came around again too fast and not fast enough. She turned back and looked at him, the first time she had looked at him since before her run. He wished that he could touch her. Tug her braid. Give her a kiss. Judging by the flush of color in her cheeks, she understood what he wanted.

“Go, badger-cat,” he whispered.

She nodded once, then turned her attention back to her ride, taking her position in the chute. For a moment everything inside of him went still. His heart, his breath. All of it frozen.

This was it. There were good times on the board, and she would have to do better this time than last time to pull ahead.

Her gate opened and she was quick off the mark. He didn't watch the timer on the board; he watched her, willing her to go fast, to go clean. And she did.

When she finished, her time had blown away everyone that had gone before her. And he knew without a doubt no one would ever catch her.

Because no one could catch Kate Garrett. Not in the arena, not in life. She was too far out ahead of the crowd. And for some reason she saw something in him. That strong-willed, determined woman who had survived and thrived even with the abandonment by her parents, both physically and emotionally. Who had lost more than any one person should, who'd had burdens placed on her slim shoulders that men twice her size could never have carried.

She saw good in him.

If the whole town never saw it, if his father never saw it, he didn't give a damn. Somehow, over the course of the past month and a half, he'd lost that drive to prove himself by organizing this charity. Had started caring about only one person seeing him at all. Because it didn't matter. It didn't matter what anyone thought. Not when Kate saw who he was.

She came around to the back of the arena just as the next rider was breaking out of the gate. And he didn't care if people saw, didn't care what they thought. He jogged toward her, slowing as he approached her horse.

He reached up, and she looked down at him, arching a brow.

“Come here,” he said, no room for argument in his tone.

She began to dismount and he caught her, holding on to her waist and lifting her down to the ground. She smiled, a small one that curved the edges of her lips up just so. He wanted to kiss them. Right at the curve, then again at the lush center.

Too bad he couldn't. Not here. Not now. But he didn't want to release her, either. Not yet.

“Kate! That was amazing.”

He stepped away from Kate slowly, not responding to the jump and wiggle on her end. He turned and saw Connor, with Eli, Liss and Sadie trailing behind, a broad grin on his face. Again, the intense trust his friends had for him was evident in the way neither brother raised a brow over his physical contact with Kate.

“It isn't over yet,” she said, scuffing her boot through the dust, her eyes fixed on the trail she left behind.

“No one is going to beat you,” Connor said.

She lifted her shoulder. “Sure. Probably not. But you paid for your tickets. You should probably watch the end of the event.”

Eli grinned broadly. “Who cares about all that. We were here to see you.”

“You guys suck. You're going to make me cry,” Kate said.

“I didn't think you had tear ducts,” Connor said.

“Turns out I do. Please don't make me use them.”

“I'll do it for you,” Liss said, “since I'm an emotional mess.”

“I'm not even pregnant,” Sadie said, “and I might.”

“I haven't won yet.”

“Just one more ride. She didn't even have a better score than you in the first round.” It was Jack who pointed this out.

“Stop with your logic,” she said, waving a hand. “I'm not going to watch. I'm going to go put Roo away. You come get me if I win.”

“You should go after her,” Eli said, when Kate was out of earshot.

“Me?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, you were her coach. Go say something encouraging. We'll keep watch.”

He'd wanted to go after Kate; he just hadn't figured he would do it in front of her family. But he would now. “Text us as soon as the results are in,” he said. Strange how easy
us
had come out of his mouth. Or not strange at all considering the things he'd been turning over lately.

“I'll text you,” Liss said. “That brick Kate calls a phone probably can't get text reliably.”

Jack nodded and turned away, headed toward the stalls. He went ahead and walked behind Kate, enjoying the view. She paused midstride and turned to look over her shoulder, one brow arched. He was caught.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He jogged up to her. “They sent me after you to act coach-like.”

“They wouldn't have done that if they had any idea.”

“Oh, sure as hell not.”

“Thank you for coming,” she said.

He wasn't sure if she meant now or to the whole event. “Of course.” That answer worked either way. “You're going pro now, Kate Garrett.”

“We don't know if I won.”

“You don't need to win. That was a winning ride, whether it wins this particular time or not. You're going to do this.”

She laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “You want to get rid of me that badly?”

“I don't want to get rid of you at all. I want you with me, in my bed, every night. You have to understand that my telling you that you need to do this is just because I believe in you that much.”

She looked up, startled. “Why?”

“A man has to believe in something. I'm going to go ahead and believe in you.”

“You sure that's smart?” she asked, a forced laugh laced through her words.

“I'm known for my luck, not my smarts.”

“But it's there all the same.”

He smiled. “Then how dare you question me?”

“Sorry, Monaghan. It will never happen again. I promise to preserve your ego at all costs.”

It occurred to him just then that it wasn't his ego he cared about. “I want to take you on a date.”

Her blue eyes widened, and she blinked rapidly. “You...what?”

“You. Me. A restaurant, a walk along the harbor. A date.”

“In public?”

“In public. Out of bed. With clothes on.”

“That...doesn't sound like as much fun as the way we normally do it.”

A strange sharp sensation lanced his chest. “Maybe not. But it is what normal people do.”

She looked over his shoulder, likely squinting to see her family in the distance. “But they'll find out.”

“I know. I'm starting to think they should.”

“But this...”

“Can't be anything if we don't move forward.”

Kate hesitated, moving her hand over Roo's neck. “I thought... I thought we said...”

“We did. But things change. Dinner. Tomorrow night. We'll have it in Old Town.”

She thrust her chin into the air, wrinkling her nose. “And what will I be wearing, Mr. Monaghan?”

“Provocative. We're going to have to deal with that later.”

Her cheeks turned pink. “Well, you're being all demanding.”

“And you like it. Wear whatever you like, but I'm picking you up at six.”

The phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out. There was a text with one word:
yes!!!