Stony Creek Cowboy [Stony Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic) (3 page)

* * * *

Riding along the fence line in the south pasture, Jackson read a cryptic text from Sam.

You have got to get a load of your new neighbor. I think you guys are going to be good friends. Very good friends. He is just your type.

“What the hell? I think he has had one too many shots to the head with a two-by-four. He has just earned the beat down he is going to get as soon as I see that idiot.”

Jackson’s curiosity was now piqued, though. Maybe he would ride over and introduce himself. It got really lonely out there and at least the guy could know he had nice neighbors nearby. As he got within sight of the new house, he saw a woman. Not just a woman but a gorgeous woman maneuvering a ladder against the roof. “What the hell is she doing?”

Who cared really? She had to be five foot eight and all curves. From this vantage point, he had a healthy view of her posterior and he was appreciating the sight. She wore a light, filmy skirt that fluttered gently in the wind. Why the hell would she be climbing a ladder dressed like that and who the hell was she? Thick auburn hair teased to mid-back and perfect hips teased his senses as she carefully climbed up. He edged Lachlan forward just as her foot slipped from the rung. Her scream carried on the wind and lunged him into action. She clung to the gutter with one hand as he got to her.

Oh no, Billie thought as she lost her hold on the gutter and began to hurdle down into…arms? Where the heck did they come from? And who owned the hard chest that she was plastered up against that smelled so darned good? All the questions could be answered in the moment she caught her breath. However, the task of lifting her skirt off her savior’s face seemed like it ought to be first on the list.

Billie’s heart was beating out of her chest, but now she was unsure of whether it was the fall itself or the handsome face staring amusingly down at her. Gorgeous green eyes smiled into her face and her breath caught again. Dear lord, he was delicious. He had tanned, strong features with a chiseled chin, and his mouth, wow, was there a medical description for the perfection of his lips? In the millisecond it took to observe her view, she began wondering what he could do with those lips.
Kiss, I hope he can really kiss with a set like those.

“Are you all right, ma’am? Did you hurt yourself?”

She couldn’t bring herself to answer. Her mouth felt like it was watering. He had caught her in such a fashion that one hand was on her left butt cheek and the right, dear lord, was cupped around the side of her breast. Her hands were resting on strongly muscled biceps, and she couldn’t stop herself from gently squeezing her fingers, just to check if he were real. Perhaps she had hit her head and he was a hallucination? Her insides quivered as she processed that he was real, saved her life, and was holding her intimately. Somehow a potted plant to say thank you seemed inadequate, Billie thought, laughing silently to herself.

“Ma’am? Should I call the doctor?”

It was that comment that shook her out of her hormonal coma.

“No, no. I am just fine. Thank you, thank you so much, Mister, um, Mister…”

“Powell, Jackson Powell, ma’am, at your service.” He chuckled. It was at that moment he realized where his hands lay. With almost a painful intensity, his groin tightened as he felt himself rapidly harden. He gently tried to shift his hands, but it was no use. When was the last time he had such an instantaneous reaction to a woman? Well, he was holding one of the most perfect breasts and asses to his knowledge, but it was her breathless gaze that was drinking him in. He felt himself start to lean down to caress her lips with his when he got some control back.

What the hell was he doing? He didn’t even know who she was.

Her gentle laugh made his cock press against the zipper of his Wranglers with a painful intention. She wasn’t afraid. She didn’t look like the type of woman used to hard work, but instead, rather gentle in nature. She should have been the kind that would be shaken after a fall like that, but no. She just laughed. Intrigued, he had to ask, “Who are you, beautiful?”

“Oh, please excuse me. Mr. Powell, I am Billie Rothman. Your new neighbor. It is a pleasure to meet you.” No kidding. If he didn’t move those hands soon, there was going to be a seriously pleasurable way she could think of to say “thank you” and “hello” all in one.

Still having not adjusted his hold, Jackson tried to process that information. “I am sorry, but I thought our new neighbor was Bill.”

With a smile, Billie answered, “It is. Billie, the girl version. Thank you for the offer of a doctor, but that’s me, too!” She said that with such enthusiasm it was hard for Jackson not to smile back. Unconsciously, he stroked his thumb over the nipple jutting through her top. At her shudder, it was her turn to catch her breath as an electric bolt went straight through her body, ending in her clit.

Jackson’s heated gaze met hers again.
Deep breaths, man, deep breaths.
He walked Lachlan over to her porch and swung her body so he held her up against his strong chest. As he slid from the horse, he gave her a gentle smile.

Her body was no longer her own. It couldn’t and wouldn’t stop reacting to this man.

Once on two feet, Jackson said, “Here we are. You okay to stand, Billie?”

Stand, why the hell would she want to ever stand on her own again? Nope, she wanted to stay right where was, if he was giving her the choice. However, somewhere she heard her voice say, “Yes, I think so.” She slid down the front of his body, feeling every muscle and bulge. Holy Hannah was there a bulge. They sure didn’t sell anything like that in New York, and in her profession, she should know.

Stepping away from Jackson, she tried to get herself together.

“Not the most dignified way of introducing myself but hardly regrettable,” Billie said as she smiled up at him.

He felt his knees weaken. What the hell was wrong with him? He usually could control his lust, but this woman was different, definitely different.

Maybe he had caught more than just his neighbor, because he knew she was going to be his.

* * * *

“Come on in, Jackson. I am just getting used to walking in myself.” She laughed. Her body, still heated from their contact, kept her aware of his presence. “So this is the inside. We watched the progress as Phillip and Sam built the place, but wow, this is incredible.” He walked over to the kitchen and looked around admiringly.

“Do you cook, Jackson?”

“Well, I hardly think my grilled cheese would do this space justice,” he said with a laugh. “My skills are severely limited, having what my brothers and I call bacheloritis. It is a serious disease affecting only the single males of a species.”

“So there are more of you?”
Good god. How do the women around here function?
“How many?” she heard herself ask.

“Well, there is my middle brother, Benny, and my younger brother, Troy. You’ll like them. They are always getting broken or hurt. They can pay your mortgage for months,” he joked. “Rugged Hill Ranch is also home to my Aunt Florence and cousins Brody and Cole.”

“So you all live with your folks, then? It would explain your lack of cooking skills.”

“Hell no, they all have trailers around the property, except Brody and me. We both have small houses on the ranch. Our lack of ability is just a god-given gift. Please say you aren’t one of those females who needs to prove that she can work like a man but has no need for other talents, like…”

“Like?” she questioned back.

Multiple salacious images quickly filtered through Jackson’s mind, most of which involved her naked, seeing the soft skin he briefly got to hold. His cock yet again hardened at his thoughts, and he turned and shifted as he answered, hoping she hadn’t noticed. He did want to be a gentleman, at first.

“Cooking, Billie, you are leading me on with this kitchen here. What can you do in this kitchen? I did save you and all.”

“Well, I guess I am going to have to lose my virginity then.”

He quickly turned with fire in his eyes. “What did you say?”

“My new kitchen. Steer me to the nearest market and let me cook you dinner. I would love the company and cannot think of a better way to spend my first evening here.”

He rubbed his hand over his face as he fought to ignore his body’s needs. “What time?” he managed to gruffly ask.

“Seven okay with you?”

“Seven it is.” Jackson had a suspicion this was going to be a very interesting dinner.

It had to be going without female companionship for too long. Yeah, that must be it, Jackson thought. On the ride back to the south pasture, he kept replaying the events of the last hour. The feel of her skin, the softness of her breast and the light, musky perfume Dr. Rothman wore. For the third time, he shifted in the saddle. His groin was hard and throbbing. It made for a difficult ride. He wanted another type of ride. His thoughts spiraled out of control with images of her riding him, sweaty thighs rubbing his hips, her head thrown back, eyes closed and uneven breathing… Enough. Jackson started counting the white pine trees, number of cows with white spots, and even the small wild thicket that grew along the paths. He would do anything to stop thinking of his new gorgeous neighbor. Inherently he knew he had affected her as she had clung to him. It was definitely going to be one of the most exciting first dates he had ever had. Hell, he reminded himself, it wasn’t a date. It was just a neighborly dinner. He didn’t need a woman in his life. He definitely wasn’t good at relationships but couldn’t deny his immediate need to take a taste. Maybe he should bring some of the boys over to keep him from touching her. Heck no. Then they would get a look at her and all hell would break loose. He never wanted to get in a scuffle with his brothers or cousin over a woman. This one may be worth it, though, he thought. Damn, she even made him salivate.

“Hello, earth to Jack. Are you drunk, asshole?” yelled a familiar voice. Jackson looked up to see Troy’s best friend, Hunter Lane, riding up. Hunter owned the Green River Ranch, whose borders ran up the west side of their property. At thirty-two, he was a quiet but very good friend. Hunter was the kind of man who observed everything and figured out what was going on in a situation very quickly. It probably had to do with being a Navy Seal. Jackson remembered him being a slim, lanky kid but after he got injured and came home, he began to do some serious weightlifting as part of his rehab. The man in front of him bore little resemblance to the kid he once was. It was still Hunter on the inside as he was still a grouch.

“Did you get bigger since I last saw you? Shit, you are gonna have to buy some new shirts, man. You are starting to look like Fabio.” With his blond hair and blue eyes boring a hole into Jackson, the start of a grin crossed his face.

“You think?” was all Hunter replied. He was always a man of few words and liked to communicate with the bare minimum, an occasional grunt. “You daydreaming or something?”

“Nah, just coming back from meeting the new neighbor.”

“So?” Hunter looked bored with the conversation.

“So what?” There was no way in hell that Jackson was going to easily give up any info on the town doctor who made shivers race through his groin. Nope, that was going to be his secret for the moment. “Nice enough,” he replied. “Gonna have dinner with them tonight so they get to know someone around here.”

“Nice of you,” was all the interest Hunter showed.

That’s sure going to change when he gets a look at Billie, Jackson thought with a laugh. Damn, his brothers he could deal with, his cousins, he could slap around, but Hunter and the other men of Stony Creek. Ugh. Jackson could see lots of cold showers and sore fists in his future.

* * * *

An ease unfamiliar to Billie began to settle into her soul. When was the last time she felt this calm and excited all at once? The house was surreal, to put it mildly. It was just stunning and she felt immediately at home. Zeus and Madison had taken to it right away. They prowled around the rooms until settling in their usual fashion by sprawling all over the living room floor. Moving always unsettled Billie and this move was quite anxiety producing. She was all alone in the world and there was no one to provide the close loving comfort that she craved. She shook her head and reminded herself that she was strong and could do this. Besides, she thought, giggling to herself, she had a hot stud of a cowboy coming over for dinner. How the heck had that happened? It was as though someone from above had taken one of her dreams and fabricated a gorgeous man just for her.

As she momentarily reviewed her embarrassing introduction to Jackson, she could feel his hand on her breast. Her heart suddenly started beating faster and she swore a sweat was beginning. Darned hormones. He was her neighbor. There was no way she was going to respond to him like that. In the brief time they had talked, he had mentioned that he had two brothers and two cousins. Really? She needed a cold shower. If they looked anything like him, she would embarrass herself some more for sure in the next few days. She was looking forward to meeting his parents and aunt, though. Hopefully they would become good friends and a base of comfort in the new community. Speaking of comfort, she took a deep breath. Scents of heavenly cooking were filling her new home for the first time. Billie loved cooking, always had. It was a kind of outlet for her. After Jackson had ridden off, she had sat in her comfort chair and just listened to the peaceful quiet for a short time. Billie had grabbed her purse and followed the directions to McMurphy’s Market for dinner ingredients. What a pleasure that had been. She was pleasantly surprised to find a tremendous gourmet section there with fine cuts of meat. Well, maybe not such a surprise, really. It was, after all, cattle country, she thought with a laugh.