The Maverick Meets His Match (15 page)

Ty huffed. “I land, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“She doesn’t know about me, does she?”

“Not yet.”

“Will she?”

He looked over at her, his brown eyes assessing. “We didn’t talk about other relationships, but I’m willing to keep our vows for the six month duration of the marriage. If you are. I think that would be in keeping with JM’s wishes. And the promise we made. Promises should mean something.”

Like until death do us part?

She hadn’t really thought ahead to the prospect of other men in her life, considering her relationship with Mitch Lockhart had ended. But of course, someone like Ty probably had more than one relationship to tie up. And she certainly didn’t want any more gossip than this quickie marriage would already engender.

“I agree.”

She ended the message with a period—no heart, thank you very much—hit the Send key, and then dropped the cell phone back into its cubby before she was tempted to press the Contact icon to see who else constituted “loose ends.” He probably had similar pictures of the others. She suddenly felt out of sorts. Miffed. Annoyed. Which was just plain ridiculous, but…

“Is that your type?” she blurted out.

“What do you mean?” Ty shifted in his seat. With his aviator sunglasses hiding his eyes, she couldn’t gauge his response, but she guessed this was not a topic the private Ty wanted to talk about. Too bad.

“The well-endowed piece of eye candy clad in the tiniest bikini in the picture on your phone.” Mandy crossed her arms over her chest. Why was she surprised that Ty was like every other man when it came to women—superficial. Why should she have expected anything more?

“Her name is Kendall. And she loaded that picture on there.”

“Is
Kendall
your type?”

“Is Mitch Lockhart your type?”

“I asked first.”

“I dated her, so, yes, I guess she is my type. For a date.”

“And for a wife?”

He twisted his head in her direction for a quick puzzled glance. “I wasn’t in the market for a wife.”

“Just a trophy girlfriend.”

“What the hell is a trophy girlfriend?” Just as quickly, he returned his attention to the cloud-dotted blue horizon.

“Someone who looks good on your arm and in your bed. Not someone you have a deep conversation with or who necessarily shares your values or who you want raising your kids. You know, someone built for sex, but not much more.”

“Your claws are out, Mandy. Don’t tell me you really are jealous?”

Were his lips crooking up in a smile?

Like she’d be jealous of any woman Ty went out with. She had no cause to feel one prick of jealousy. At least, she shouldn’t. She was trying to make a point, however, for all sensible, smart women. That there should be more to a relationship than just sex.

The irony of her own relationship with Mitch was not lost on her.

“Hardly. But do you even know her values, Ty? What does she want to do with her life? What does she feel is a woman’s role in the world?”

His jaw bunched. “I don’t know. But I don’t know the answers for you either, and I married you.”

“Very funny. Just so you know, I want to run Prescott Rodeo Company, marry, and raise my children to be good upstanding and productive citizens. And I believe a woman’s role in this life is the same as a man’s—to leave the world a better place than she found it—for as many people whose lives she can affect. So what does Kendall care about?”

Okay, so he didn’t know what Kendall’s “values” were. And yes, he’d dated her mainly because she charged his jets. But that’s all Ty was looking for.

Mandy also charged his jets. More than Kendall. Much more. To his way of thinking, her curves were far more alluring—and dangerous. He liked her frankness, admired her integrity. But she was a lot more work, heaven help him. She challenged him, made him uncomfortable for reasons he’d yet to understand. He hadn’t wanted to marry either woman.

So how the hell had he ended up married to the one he hadn’t slept with?

“She met my requirements, Mandy.”

“For a trophy. I understand, Ty. I really do.”

Her smugness was damn irritating. “And Mitch?”

He heard her draw a deep breath before she answered.

“I’m not sure why you keep bringing up Mitch, especially since we are no longer a couple, unlike you and Kendall—”

“I said I’ll fix that.”

“But to answer your question, his goal is to get to the National Rodeo Finals. He doesn’t want to be tied down with a wife and kids, and he believes a guy’s role in life is to have as much fun as he can for as long as he can before he gets lassoed by some woman. Except for wanting to be in the NRF, I’d say you two had a lot in common.”

She shot him a self-satisfied smile, but her leg jiggled. The woman could be goddamn infuriating. And Mitch sounded like a saddle bum. How could she compare Ty to him?

“What’s this really about, Mandy? I didn’t initiate the contact with Kendall. Yet you seem intent on making me pay for her contacting me.”

She scrunched down in her seat as if she could hide that tall, nicely curved body of hers, and her brows knit together in a frown. “Are you sure you can break it off with her? I mean, you guys obviously have been going out, and this, this marriage is a little hard to explain.”

“I won’t have any problem breaking things off with Kendall.” Or the three other women he dated when he was in their city. It was only six months anyway. He’d never admit it to Mandy, but she was right. They were trophy girlfriends. Though he doubted they would appreciate that description.

He’d intended to call the women and tell them he’d be involved in a business deal for the next six months. It wasn’t exactly a lie, just not the whole truth. He wasn’t dating any of the women with an eye on the future. If they didn’t want to wait, he’d no doubt find other willing females when the time came. Somehow that thought wasn’t as comforting as it should have been.

“So can I assume you won’t be seeing Mitch, or anyone else, either?”

He knew little about the tie-down roper except JM hadn’t thought much of him. And the guy hadn’t won much, according to the Professional Rodeo Rider Association site he’d checked. Yet it was probable they would run into him on the circuit.

“I said I won’t, and I won’t.” She lifted her chin up as if daring him to say otherwise.

Feisty woman. But he believed her. One thing he’d noted right off about Mandy. She didn’t fabricate. She came right out and told you what she thought, whether you liked it or not, whether you wanted to hear it or not.

“You want children?” That was one thing he hadn’t expected her to say. Or that she wanted a man in her life. She was an independent sort, like him, and she’d certainly given him the impression she liked it that way. Domesticity and Mandy was a new thought.

“What?”

“You said you wanted to marry and have children.”

She stared at him like he’d grown another head. Seemed like a reasonable question to ask one’s wife.

“Of course I want children.”

“I thought you just wanted to run Prescott.”

Her brows drew even closer together. “If a man said he wanted to run a company, would people think he didn’t want to have children as a result?”

The tone of her voice had changed to a higher, louder pitch. He’d ticked her off. He hadn’t meant to. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“You shouldn’t have been surprised.” She had a point. “How about you? You want to become a dad anytime soon?”

His first impulse was to say no. But lately, since JM had gotten sick, he’d been thinking about kids. Having them. Raising them. Maybe. But if he did, he’d have to think about settling down and getting a wife. And he hadn’t met a woman yet who seemed a good fit. They all seemed to care a lot about looking good and not much about doing good.

“Maybe.”

“Now I’m surprised. You don’t seem like the family-man type. I had you pegged for a confirmed bachelor.”

He stiffened at her verdict. It was hard to hear that judgment from someone else, even if he’d said it about himself many times. He really didn’t have a clue how to be a father. A good father. He’d been on his own too long. But people change. Could happen to him. Maybe.

“Seems we are both into stereotyping people. But it’s not worth arguing about, since whether we want kids or not isn’t going to affect this marriage.” But it was a provocative thought. Making a baby. With Mandy.

She nodded her agreement and turned her face toward the window.

She seemed more relaxed now than when they took off, when he was afraid she was going into panic mode, with her eyes clamped shut and all the deep breathing she’d been doing.

In profile, her patrician features were highlighted, like those high cheekbones, that straight nose. And then there was all that wavy hair spilling over her shoulders and down her back. She’d have beautiful children for sure.

“So that leaves just us, right now, this moment. And I say we make the best of this situation and enjoy the time together irrespective of the decisions with the business. I promise it will be enjoyable, Mandy.”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she kept her head turned toward the window.

Well, she might be able to avoid the topic, but she couldn’t avoid the nights.

“Ben.”

Ty watched Mandy enthusiastically greet the middle-aged cowman who rose from behind his desk as they entered the small, paper-cluttered office in the back of the Abilene rodeo fairgrounds. The two exchanged hugs, and Mandy went right to work, asking after wife and kids and the cattle business as well as talking about the heat already roasting Abilene.

Ty waited for his introduction, feeling an unaccustomed awkwardness. He’d donned a white shirt and black jacket for this meeting, but he would have been right at home if he’d worn the T-shirt. Ben was dressed liked he’d just stepped off the ranch, in denims, a plaid shirt, and dusty cowboy boots.

“Ben Cornwall, I’d like you to meet Prescott’s newest partner, Ty Martin. He’s helping Prescott through this transition period.”

The introduction was smooth, even if she failed to mention that Ty was running the company. And her husband.

She seemed comfortable in this ambassador role, strengthening connections with people she’d obviously known most of her life. Ty shook the committeeman’s firm and work-roughened hand.

Ben gave Ty the once-over, like Ty was some heifer he was interested in buying but unsure of the price.

“You a stockman, are you?” Ben said, his hands now on his hips. The older man wasn’t being unfriendly, just curious—at least, that’s how Ty was going to take it.

“No. Harold Prescott is the stockman, and a better one you won’t find. I’m a businessman who owes my success to J. M. Prescott’s belief in me. I’ve stepped in to fill the gap created by his passing in order to help Mandy out. She’s the one who will make sure the rodeo will live up to Prescott standards.”

Ben kept his focus on Ty. “Being our event is at the end of the season, we’ve struggled to attract top talent. So naturally, we’ve had some concern about assuring a quality show now that JM is no longer at the helm.” He shifted his gaze to Mandy. “It’s a lot to take on if you don’t have the experience.”

“It is,” Mandy responded, standing tall and taking the man’s skepticism without flinching.

“But Prescott Rodeo Company is more than just one man, Ben,” Mandy continued. “It’s a family. JM made sure of that. As such, the Prescott family is as committed as ever to providing our rodeo councils the highest quality event with the best broncs and bulls. I feel fortunate JM started grooming me a decade ago. He understood he wasn’t going to live forever.”

Ben shook his head. “Geez, last year I’d hardly have guessed he was feeling poorly.”

Mandy’s throat moved in a hard swallow. “Neither did he. By the time they diagnosed it, it was too late.”

Ben nodded, probably having heard that scenario far too often. “Tucker not interested?”

Ben didn’t appear to notice, but Mandy stiffened. “He likes to ride ’em, not run ’em, but he’s part owner. This is a family affair, as I said,” she answered, gilding the truth a bit. “I didn’t mention that Ty is not only a business partner but my husband.”

If she fumbled those last two words, Ty could sympathize. It sounded strange to him too. He knew she’d emphasized family to stress continuity, and she’d only reluctantly included him to make that point.

Ben looked from one to the other as if trying to gauge the truth, and he blew out a breath. “Well, congratulations, you two.” Ben waved a hand toward the office doorway. “Let’s have a walk around outside and see if we can’t find Lyle Thorton. You remember Lyle, Mandy.”

“He still in charge of the volunteers?” Mandy asked, turning toward the door.

Ben nodded as he grabbed his cowboy hat from atop a pile of papers. “It’ll give me a chance to show you around, Ty, even though there isn’t much going on just yet. We only have a senior team roping competition scheduled in the outdoor arena for this weekend, but in another six weeks the place will be jumping with the volunteers getting things spruced up for the fair and rodeo.”

As they filed out of the office, Ty reached for Mandy’s hand. Her puzzled eyes rose to meet his. Well, he guessed if they were newly married, they should act like it.

Her skin was smooth and warm, and he brushed his thumb along the back of her hand. As she didn’t pull her hand away, he added a little pressure to let her know he was there, with her, walking by her side. She turned her head toward him and frowned. He smiled back.

There was still tonight and one hundred and seventy-nine other nights ahead of them.

The sun was bright as they followed Ben, strolling hand in hand, across a parking lot toward what looked to be an open-sided arena. She matched his stride, and to anyone looking, they must have seemed a happily married couple.

It felt surprisingly comfortable having her small, slender hand in his, as if he belonged to someone, belonged to something. Not a familiar feeling. And one he wasn’t sure he could get used to.

“This complex covers a hundred and twenty acres,” Ben noted as they stopped at the entrance to the arena.