Authors: KC Klein
Texas Wide Open (19 page)
“Do you trust me?” He turned his head and whispered the words into her palm.
“No!”
“Fair enough.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t trust myself either.”
“What are we going to do?” This was past critical. They had to stick to the rules.
He propped himself up on an elbow above her. “Do you want to stop?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. What do you usually do in these situations?”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
She shook her head. She was desperate, in way over her head, possibly a bit drunk,
and grasping at straws.
and grasping at straws.
“You’re not kidding. Christ. Okay.” He closed his eyes briefly and when he opened
them the look he gave her made her breath hitch and blood pound. “By this time I would’ve
had you every way to Sunday. I’d have taken you from the front, from behind, and if
you’re really naughty, in your mouth. I’d be so deep inside you by now that I’d have
you seeing God.”
them the look he gave her made her breath hitch and blood pound. “By this time I would’ve
had you every way to Sunday. I’d have taken you from the front, from behind, and if
you’re really naughty, in your mouth. I’d be so deep inside you by now that I’d have
you seeing God.”
“No, no.” Panic gripped her heart. The last thing she wanted to see right now was
God. God or her mother, kinda the same thing.
God. God or her mother, kinda the same thing.
He groaned and threw himself off her and onto his back. “I’m not doing this right.
That wasn’t what I was supposed to say.”
That wasn’t what I was supposed to say.”
“What were you supposed to say?” Her head was spinning so wildly, it was hard to think
of anything.
of anything.
She saw his throat work as he swallowed hard. Then he was back on top of her. His
eyes all warm and smooth like yum on a cinnamon bun. “What I should’ve said from the
very beginning.”
eyes all warm and smooth like yum on a cinnamon bun. “What I should’ve said from the
very beginning.”
“Which is?”
“Which is that I want you so much. I want you so much right now that it hurts. And
honestly, I think I’ve wanted you from the first time you told me to drop dead and
pushed me off of the dock into the lake.”
honestly, I think I’ve wanted you from the first time you told me to drop dead and
pushed me off of the dock into the lake.”
“That was when I was twelve!”
“Yeah, I know it’s been a long time.”
“You’re scaring me, Jett.” And he was. This sounded way too deep to be just an answer
to a challenge. This sounded way too real to be coming from the town’s playboy. She
didn’t do this. Didn’t get involved. She kept her attachments to a minimum. Easier
for when she left. Besides, people she loved had a tendency to up and die on her.
to a challenge. This sounded way too real to be coming from the town’s playboy. She
didn’t do this. Didn’t get involved. She kept her attachments to a minimum. Easier
for when she left. Besides, people she loved had a tendency to up and die on her.
“I know. I know. Don’t freak out. This”—he gestured with his hand to encompass the
whole situation—“doesn’t mean a thing. We’re just two people who had a little too
much to drink and in the morning we will wake up and forget any of it ever happened.”
whole situation—“doesn’t mean a thing. We’re just two people who had a little too
much to drink and in the morning we will wake up and forget any of it ever happened.”
“You promise?” She had to believe him. Needed to believe him.
“Yeah.” He nodded. His face was grim, lines etched deeply along the sides of his mouth.
“Just do me one more favor. Let me have one more thing. Then I promise if you want
to stop, we’ll stop.” A small half smile came out. “I’ll turn the hose on myself if
I have to.”
“Just do me one more favor. Let me have one more thing. Then I promise if you want
to stop, we’ll stop.” A small half smile came out. “I’ll turn the hose on myself if
I have to.”
Everything in her body screamed yes, but she hadn’t made it in life by letting her
emotions totally take control. “It’s gotta be kept to just kissing, Jett. I can’t
handle much more.”
emotions totally take control. “It’s gotta be kept to just kissing, Jett. I can’t
handle much more.”
“Oh yeah, Texas. Just kissing. I promise.” But the smile in his eyes was pure wicked,
and she felt as if she’d just been conned by the best. And she should know.
and she felt as if she’d just been conned by the best. And she should know.
Chapter 19
Cole froze, his coat only half on as he waited for Katie. “I guess I deserved that.
But I’ve gotten a new truck. You know, Katie, some things have changed since you left.”
But I’ve gotten a new truck. You know, Katie, some things have changed since you left.”
Alcohol soured the air, along with a silence only found deep in the night and in the
soul of some broken men and some desperate women.
soul of some broken men and some desperate women.
Katie watched as Cole stood in front of the opened door and waited. Moths flocked
around the porch light like suicide bombers, some finding their way into the house.
And still he waited.
around the porch light like suicide bombers, some finding their way into the house.
And still he waited.
She gritted her teeth and stormed out the door. She followed Cole around the back
and watched as he dinged the key fob.
and watched as he dinged the key fob.
Finally, Cole had gotten what he’d wanted—a new F-150 Ford pickup, deep maroon, with
custom twenty-inch chrome wheels. A cowboy’s wet dream.
custom twenty-inch chrome wheels. A cowboy’s wet dream.
Cole opened the passenger door and waited for her to climb in. The smell of leather,
shined slick with Armor All and new-car scent, filled the cab. He hopped in on the
driver’s side, plugged in his phone, and soft country music floated around her. The
days of a static radio with a blown speaker were long gone.
shined slick with Armor All and new-car scent, filled the cab. He hopped in on the
driver’s side, plugged in his phone, and soft country music floated around her. The
days of a static radio with a blown speaker were long gone.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To do something I should’ve done a long time ago.”
“At midnight?” Katie huddled in her coat and wished she had on something besides her
threadbare nightshirt and jeans. “Oh God, you don’t have a half-baked plan of going
out in a blaze of glory, do you?”
threadbare nightshirt and jeans. “Oh God, you don’t have a half-baked plan of going
out in a blaze of glory, do you?”
“No. Worse.”
She sighed. The hint of dimple that appeared in the light glow of the dashboard caused
her to lose focus. “You do know Thelma and Louise didn’t live happily ever after,
right?”
her to lose focus. “You do know Thelma and Louise didn’t live happily ever after,
right?”
“Really?” He shook his head as if baffled. “I guess the subtleties of sophisticated
cinema are lost on a poor country hick like me.”
cinema are lost on a poor country hick like me.”
“Yeah, poor country hick with a truck like this,” she mumbled under her breath, but
this time she had to fight back a smile. She had to be careful. It would be too easy
to fall back into old patterns with Cole.
this time she had to fight back a smile. She had to be careful. It would be too easy
to fall back into old patterns with Cole.
They drove in silence until Cole pulled into the driveway in front of Jett’s house.
Cole walked around and helped her out of the truck. Or more like pulled her out, since
his hand was locked around her upper arm in a vise grip.
Cole walked around and helped her out of the truck. Or more like pulled her out, since
his hand was locked around her upper arm in a vise grip.
Katie stood with Cole on Jett’s front porch, shivering in her wool coat, and waited
as Cole pounded on the door for a third time. Katie rolled her eyes. This was ridiculous,
but Cole wasn’t budging. She thought about going back and sitting in the warm truck,
but he hadn’t released his hold on her, probably afraid she would bolt.
as Cole pounded on the door for a third time. Katie rolled her eyes. This was ridiculous,
but Cole wasn’t budging. She thought about going back and sitting in the warm truck,
but he hadn’t released his hold on her, probably afraid she would bolt.
“Maybe he isn’t here,” she said. She hadn’t put her watch on and left her phone at
home, but it had to be close to one in the morning. The lack of sleep was starting
to catch up with her.
home, but it had to be close to one in the morning. The lack of sleep was starting
to catch up with her.
Cole didn’t say anything, just pounded again.
Maybe an apology would go a long way to calming Cole, at least giving her a chance
of getting back home and into her bed, but it still galled her to say she was sorry.
of getting back home and into her bed, but it still galled her to say she was sorry.
The door popped opened. Jett stood there in boxers and nothing else, hair sticking
out, apparently woken from a deep sleep. “What?” he yelled, and then looked from Cole
to Katie and back to Cole. “I’m not here.” And swung the door shut.
out, apparently woken from a deep sleep. “What?” he yelled, and then looked from Cole
to Katie and back to Cole. “I’m not here.” And swung the door shut.
Cole wedged his boot in before the door closed and pushed his way inside. Katie had
little choice but to follow, since Cole was still dragging her by her arm.
little choice but to follow, since Cole was still dragging her by her arm.
Cole stood in the middle of the living room and glared at Jett. “Are you awake?”
Jett nodded.
“Are you drunk?”
Jett’s gaze shifted around the room, stopping on the empty liquor bottle and lime
wedges on the coffee table, then back to Cole. “Not sure at the moment, but you must
be.” He shot a glance toward his bedroom. “What the hell are you doing here, Cole?”
wedges on the coffee table, then back to Cole. “Not sure at the moment, but you must
be.” He shot a glance toward his bedroom. “What the hell are you doing here, Cole?”
Katie hadn’t seen Jett in over three years and had to admit he cut an impressive figure.
Rumpled hair, bare chest, and cotton boxers. Jett had put on weight and by the look
of him, it was all muscle. His teeth, at one time his only flaw with a slight gap
in the middle, were now Hollywood ready. And if women had had a hard time resisting
him before, they had no prayer now.
Rumpled hair, bare chest, and cotton boxers. Jett had put on weight and by the look
of him, it was all muscle. His teeth, at one time his only flaw with a slight gap
in the middle, were now Hollywood ready. And if women had had a hard time resisting
him before, they had no prayer now.
“You need to marry us,” Cole said.
“What?” Jett whipped his head back around to stare at Cole open-mouthed.
“What!” Katie yelled, echoing Jett.
“Right here, right now, perform the ceremony.” Cole was cool and calm as if he was
merely watching grass grow.
merely watching grass grow.
“Cole, this is stupid,” she said, and wrenched her arm from his grasp. “I’m not marrying
you. We are not getting married. I don’t—”
you. We are not getting married. I don’t—”
Cole grabbed her arm again and turned her so she faced him. “Don’t talk. You’ll ruin
the whole thing. When you’re asked a question, just nod your head.” Cole turned to
Jett. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”
the whole thing. When you’re asked a question, just nod your head.” Cole turned to
Jett. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”
“Ah.” Jett ran his hands over his eyes, fully awake now. “I’m waiting to make sure
both parties are agreeable. I don’t do coerced marriages, even for you, Cole.”
both parties are agreeable. I don’t do coerced marriages, even for you, Cole.”
Cole looked back at her. She shook her head, as if waking from a dream. “Cole, this
is ridiculous. You don’t even have a ring. I’m marrying some—”
is ridiculous. You don’t even have a ring. I’m marrying some—”
Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box.
She couldn’t breathe. She wanted to run, but couldn’t feel her legs. “Don’t do this.
Don’t, not now.”
Don’t, not now.”
Cole released her and slowly opened the box. A diamond ring flashed. Her heart skipped,
and then sped up into a painful rhythm.
and then sped up into a painful rhythm.
“When did you? I mean . . .” Her voice faded; she couldn’t finish.
“Three years ago. I didn’t lie then, and I’m not now.” Cole’s gaze never left her
face. “Jett . . .”
face. “Jett . . .”
Jett must’ve figured she’d given enough of a consent, that or he wanted to get them
the hell out of his house. “We’re gathered here together to witness—”
the hell out of his house. “We’re gathered here together to witness—”
“For Christ’s sake, cut to the vows,” Cole snapped.
Jett startled. Nervous, he seemed to be trying to remember what came next. “You need
to exchange rings first.”
to exchange rings first.”
Cole took Katie’s left hand. Thomas’s engagement diamond sparkled large between them.
“Let’s finish what we started. Take the ring off.”
“Let’s finish what we started. Take the ring off.”
“Cole, no, I need to think.”
“The one time I need you to be impulsive and you want to stop and think? Take it off.”
Was she crazy? Had she lost her mind? This couldn’t really be happening. No, it was
a dream or drug-induced fantasy. In her mind, she’d married Cole hundreds of times.
That’s what this was—just a dream. She’d wake up and be back in her own bed with Thomas’s
ring on her finger. She wasn’t betraying him, because this wasn’t really happening.
Cole slipped Thomas’s ring off, and put it in her right hand. Then, there on her wedding
finger, was Cole’s ring. The one she should’ve worn when she was eighteen and head
over heels in love with him.
a dream or drug-induced fantasy. In her mind, she’d married Cole hundreds of times.
That’s what this was—just a dream. She’d wake up and be back in her own bed with Thomas’s
ring on her finger. She wasn’t betraying him, because this wasn’t really happening.
Cole slipped Thomas’s ring off, and put it in her right hand. Then, there on her wedding
finger, was Cole’s ring. The one she should’ve worn when she was eighteen and head
over heels in love with him.
“Ah, yeah, okay. Cole, do you take this woman for your lawfully wedded wife?” Jett
seemed to get more nervous with each passing moment, shifting his weight from foot
to foot.
seemed to get more nervous with each passing moment, shifting his weight from foot
to foot.
“Yes.” Cole spoke as if he was so sure. Never a doubt.
Panic filled her. Maybe this was real. She just needed to think. And breathe.
“Katie, do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?”
A person couldn’t marry like this. This wasn’t even legal, was it?
Cole stepped closer. The blue of his eyes was the only thing real. The room spun and
yet, his face was so clear, an anchor when she couldn’t remember her own name.
yet, his face was so clear, an anchor when she couldn’t remember her own name.
“Just nod your head, Katie. No, don’t speak. Just nod and I’ll take care of the rest.”
Cole lowered to one knee, and held her hand within his. And she couldn’t breathe.
Her vision blurred.
Cole lowered to one knee, and held her hand within his. And she couldn’t breathe.
Her vision blurred.
“Please, Katie.” His voice broke.
His hand trembled in hers, and she closed her eyes. A sob broke through, and God forgive
her, but she nodded. She freed her hand and covered her face. “Yes.”
her, but she nodded. She freed her hand and covered her face. “Yes.”
“Then I pronounce you man and wife . . .”
There was more to what Jett was saying, but that was all she heard since she couldn’t
stop crying. What had she done? His betrayal had almost killed her once, and if he
walked away again, she’d never survive.
stop crying. What had she done? His betrayal had almost killed her once, and if he
walked away again, she’d never survive.
Jett said something, and then Cole was peeling her hands away from her face. She knew
him, this man who stood before her. And so she lost herself in the depth of his eyes.
him, this man who stood before her. And so she lost herself in the depth of his eyes.
“Kiss me,” Cole said.
She shook her head, a tiny movement, but she couldn’t go there. Kissing would make
being with Cole too real.
being with Cole too real.
He cradled her face in his hands and lowered his lips to hers. Soft, a promise of
a kiss, and then she exhaled and dissolved against him. Water in the desert, shelter
in a storm, shade in the summer, and this was home. He pulled her closer, hands drifting
lower, putting heated body parts in contact.
a kiss, and then she exhaled and dissolved against him. Water in the desert, shelter
in a storm, shade in the summer, and this was home. He pulled her closer, hands drifting
lower, putting heated body parts in contact.
A throat cleared.
Cole pulled back and let the pads of his thumbs stroke her dampened cheeks. He closed
his eyes, the black crescent of his lashes like half-moons on his dark cheeks, and
breathed deep. His eyes opened and pierced her with the bluest gaze. “Katie.”
his eyes, the black crescent of his lashes like half-moons on his dark cheeks, and
breathed deep. His eyes opened and pierced her with the bluest gaze. “Katie.”
He spoke her name with more reverence than any of the vows they’d exchanged, more
holy than a fervent prayer. And she was awed. She placed her lips against his, letting
her body show him her response, and melted into him.
holy than a fervent prayer. And she was awed. She placed her lips against his, letting
her body show him her response, and melted into him.
Someone coughed loudly right by her ear. Katie pulled back, startled. Cole’s gaze
didn’t leave her face and slowly, like sunlight peeking from behind a cloud, he smiled.
Lazy, one-sided, his dimple punctuating his cheek, but it was enough.
didn’t leave her face and slowly, like sunlight peeking from behind a cloud, he smiled.
Lazy, one-sided, his dimple punctuating his cheek, but it was enough.
“So ah, guess you’ll be on your way,” Jett said. His gaze darted toward the hallway
and back at Cole.
and back at Cole.
Cole laughed. He sounded the most relaxed he’d been since she’d come home. “Sorry,
man, didn’t mean to ruin your night. Go back to whoever you’ve got hidden in your
room.” He glanced down at Katie. His hand caressed down her cheek, arm, finally ending
in a small squeeze of her hand.
man, didn’t mean to ruin your night. Go back to whoever you’ve got hidden in your
room.” He glanced down at Katie. His hand caressed down her cheek, arm, finally ending
in a small squeeze of her hand.
“Jett? What’s going on? You coming back to bed?” said a woman’s voice from behind
Cole.
Cole.
Cole’s eyes widened, his face ashen, and for one moment Katie thought he was going
to be sick. He whipped his head around. “Nikki?”
to be sick. He whipped his head around. “Nikki?”
“Cole?” Nikki’s voice came out all high-pitched and squeaky, as she frantically pulled
closed a man’s white dress shirt to cover her nothing else underneath.
closed a man’s white dress shirt to cover her nothing else underneath.
Cole rounded on Jett. Gone was his ashen look, replaced with the red of an enraged
man. “Jett,” Cole growled.
man. “Jett,” Cole growled.
Jett’s hands went up, fingers spread wide. He took a step back. “Cole.”
Cole’s fist connected with Jett’s face. Jett went down. Cole followed. They rolled,
crashing into a glass coffee table. An empty tequila bottle clattered to the floor.
Cole on top, then Jett. Cole. Jett.
crashing into a glass coffee table. An empty tequila bottle clattered to the floor.
Cole on top, then Jett. Cole. Jett.
“Wait, just listen,” Jett said, before Cole’s fist landed in his gut. Jett lost the
advantage, and Cole lost no time.
advantage, and Cole lost no time.
Once on top, Cole swung. Nikki screamed.
“You slept with my sister!” Cole shouted.
Jett did a quick upper cut, throwing Cole off top position. The two men rolled until
one hit the leg of the kitchen table, knocking car keys off onto the floor. “Cole.
Dammit, it wasn’t like that.”
one hit the leg of the kitchen table, knocking car keys off onto the floor. “Cole.
Dammit, it wasn’t like that.”
Katie jumped out of the way to avoid getting taken down. Pa had once told her the
best way to stop two alpha dogs from fighting was to cool them off. Well, it was worth
a shot. Turning on the kitchen faucet to full force, she pulled out the hand-held
sprayer, and took aim.
best way to stop two alpha dogs from fighting was to cool them off. Well, it was worth
a shot. Turning on the kitchen faucet to full force, she pulled out the hand-held
sprayer, and took aim.
It took a lot of water. Copious amounts of water. Water that formed pools and started
to seep toward Katie’s boots.
to seep toward Katie’s boots.
Cole got a dose right in the face as he turned toward her, hand up. “Okay. Okay! Geesh,
woman, you’re not putting out a fire or anything.”
woman, you’re not putting out a fire or anything.”
With Jett free, Nikki rushed over and knelt by his side. “Are you okay?”
Jett nodded, but his movement was hindered as he tried to stem the flow of blood from
his nose. His gaze found Cole’s. “I should’ve never taught you how to fight so well.”
his nose. His gaze found Cole’s. “I should’ve never taught you how to fight so well.”
“You should’ve never screwed my sister,” he said, pushing to his feet.
“You’re such a hypocrite, Cole,” Nikki said, and grabbed the nearest dish towel to
place against Jett’s face. “Did you ever think that maybe I wanted to be screwed with?”
place against Jett’s face. “Did you ever think that maybe I wanted to be screwed with?”
Rage flushed Cole’s face, and he balled his fist, ready for another round. “Did he
get you drunk? So help me God, if you’re drunk, I’m gonna kill him.”
get you drunk? So help me God, if you’re drunk, I’m gonna kill him.”
Jett threw the bloodstained cloth at Cole’s chest. “That’s what you think of me? Your
best friend since second grade, and I don’t even get the benefit of the doubt?”
best friend since second grade, and I don’t even get the benefit of the doubt?”
“What do you expect me to think?” Cole shot back. “This place reeks of tequila. You
sleep with anything on two legs, and here’s my sister dressed in—God, I don’t even
want to say—in the middle of the night.”
sleep with anything on two legs, and here’s my sister dressed in—God, I don’t even
want to say—in the middle of the night.”
The blood on Jett’s face smeared across his cheek. His nose was slightly crooked,
his perfect profile forever ruined. Cole didn’t look much better. If he didn’t get
some ice on his face, he’d be seeing out of one eye for the next week.
his perfect profile forever ruined. Cole didn’t look much better. If he didn’t get
some ice on his face, he’d be seeing out of one eye for the next week.
Other books
Taste of Torment by Suzanne Wright
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
Recipe for Satisfacton by Gina Gordon
Stuart, Elizabeth by Without Honor
Fuera de la ley by Kim Harrison
Wolf Creek by Ford Fargo
Drive by James Sallis
Super Amos by Gary Paulsen
Rectory of Correction by Amanita Virosa
The Lady and the Lion by Kay Hooper