To Court a Cowgirl (19 page)

She went back inside as Jason picked up the calf and carried its limp body to the barn, where he closed in into a stall so animals couldn't get to it. He and Zach would take care of it when the kid got back. In the field the mother still paced, bawling and looking for her baby.

The sound tore at him.

He walked back to the house, went inside without knocking and headed down the hall to the bathroom, where he washed his hands. His clothing was wet and streaked with mud from the calf, but there wasn't a lot he could do about that.

He came out of the bathroom to find Allie standing in the middle of the living room, staring at a painting she'd started. A calf, of course.

“By the way, I really am fine,” Allie said, looking over her shoulder as he approached. “It's sad to lose a baby, but it's part of the business. We lose calves every year.”

She was schooling him, but it wasn't the calf that concerned him now. It was the other comment she'd made.

“What did you mean when you said something about a dead calf and an ex-husband?”

Allie's gave a careless shrug. “Kyle met me after work to find out why I wasn't taking his calls.”

“Your ex is hanging around your place of work?” Jason felt an instant surge of protectiveness.

“He still wants help paying his hospital bills. He never was very good with the word
no
.”

“So he's stalking you?”

“I'm calling the sheriff the next time I see him. I don't know how much good it will do, since he used to be a deputy—but he was a bad deputy, so it'll probably be fine.”

“I don't like this.”

“It's okay, Jason. More of a nuisance than anything.”

“Maybe I should stay here. I can bunk with Zach.”

Allie's chin lifted. “How about I take care of my issues and you take care of yours?”

She seemed more angry than afraid of her ex, so after a second's pause, Jason said, “Agreed, but...if for some reason you become concerned—”

“I'll call law enforcement.”

And judging from the stubborn look on her face, he was going to have to accept that answer. “Any chance you have some Jameson left?”

Allie nodded and silently went into the kitchen. Jason followed her and grabbed the bottle down from over the fridge after she pointed at the cupboard there. She got glasses and he poured a healthy splash in each one. He handed her a glass and said, “I'll be gone next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I have an interview.” And he'd hoped to tell her under better circumstances. “With Brandt.”

Her gaze flashed up to his. “The job you wanted.”

“A candidate dropped out.”

“Does Zach know?”

“I got permission to leave.” He didn't smile even though it was kind of funny.

Allie pressed her lips together, then took a sip of her whiskey.

“Allie?”

She gave a slight shrug and didn't quite meet his eyes as she said, “I'm going to miss the hell out of you.”

* * *

H
AD
SHE
REALLY
just said that?

Oh, yes, she had.

Damage control.

“It's the truth,” Allie said matter-of-factly. “And lately I'm all about the truth, uncomfortable or not. You can't live life well if you're lying to yourself.”

He reached out to run a light hand up her arm and then his fingers curved around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. Allie went without a word, stepping into his one-armed embrace and letting her head rest against his broad chest.

“Any other truths you'd like to share?” he murmured against her hair.

“I don't know if being attracted to you is good or bad.” She swirled the whiskey in her glass, then took a sip, keeping her temple pressed against his chest as she drank. False courage was fine with her right now—especially if she were going to start spilling all of her truths.

And damn but he smelled good.

Jason set down his glass on the sideboard and then gently took hers and set it alongside his own. Allie looked up at him, losing herself in the warmth of his gaze as he wrapped his other arm around her loosely and said, “Just to be crazy, why don't we go with good?”

“Then I have to ask myself where it's going.”

“And how do you answer yourself?”

“If I'm honest...I have to say that since I haven't figured out my own life, my own self, how can I factor someone else into the equation?” Especially when the results had been so devastating in the past.

He gently tipped up her chin. “You bring up good points.”

“Yes. I know.” She lifted her eyebrows at him. “I'm great at that. Bringing up points that I don't have an answer to.”

He smiled at her—that gentle don't-worry-I've-got-your-back smile that made her want to believe he really did have her back—and then framed her face with his big hands. His fingers were pleasantly warm against her skin and she wanted more than anything to believe that this was a good thing.

If only so many other things in her life had not imploded.

But thoughts of implosions didn't stop heat from flowing through her body. It didn't keep the small tingles from traveling over her skin. And it didn't stop her from just plain wanting.

“Maybe,” he said in low voice, “this is a take-it-one-day-at-a-time situation.” His mouth was so close. All she had to do was rise up on her toes and touch his lips.

“Could be,” she agreed huskily.

The last word was barely out of her mouth when his lips met hers. Lightly. Reassuringly. His fingers pushed up into her hair, just as they had the first time he'd kissed her, and when he raised his head, his lips were still a fraction of an inch away from hers. She slid her hand up around his neck and pulled his mouth back for more.

Jason drew her closer, pressing her body against his long, hard frame. Their tongues touched lightly, jolting her senses, before they tangled and stroked for real, turning her body to liquid fire.

When the kiss ended, Jason raised his head to meet her gaze, his expression so very serious as he said, “One moment at a time. One day at a time. That's how I spent my career, because you never knew when something was going to happen to end it.”

She could do a moment. And then another. And another. She could live her life instead of letting fear of consequences rule her world. She'd already made strides forward, deciding to seek out a new career, whatever that might be.

No fear...

Wrong
.

She always had fears. Things happened if she didn't.

And they happen when you do
.

It was the same argument she'd had with herself since her father had died. The argument she always managed to bury, thinking she'd won, only to have it pop back up at inopportune moments...such as now.

“Allie...do you want me to leave?”

Her eyes flashed up to his. “No. I do not want you to leave.”

“Then what?”

“I want you to make me stop thinking,” she muttered. “I want you to just make me feel.”

“Done,” he said, leaning down to touch his lips to her throat. “And done.”

He was right. She was done.

She stepped back and started undoing the buttons of his ruined shirt. She'd barely even noticed how wet it was when he'd kissed her, but now...

“I should shower,” he said as he helped her undo the buttons, revealing an amazing set of washboard abs. She raised her eyes to his, ignoring what he'd said.

“Why haven't you been working without your shirt?”

He covered her hands with his. “Shower?”

She shook her head. “Later.”

“Whatever,” he muttered as she took him by the hand and led him up the stairs. Truthfully, she was afraid of coming to her senses if she had time to think, but after he'd taken off his shirt and his jeans, leaving them in a damp heap as he stood before her in his briefs, she realized that wouldn't have been an issue. Not after she'd seen him almost naked.

Her throat went dry. The knit fabric of his underwear hugged him, showing the outline of his erection. And every bit of his body was sculpted, muscled. She'd never seen anything like it. Slowly she reached out to touch him, run her hand lightly over his chest.

“You work out a lot?” she asked.

“Are you going to keep making funny remarks?” he growled.

“I'm nervous.” Ridiculously, heart-in-the-throat nervous.

“Aren't we all?”

He was nervous?

As if in answer to her question, he took her hands in his, pulled her a step closer, so that their thighs touched and the hard length of him was pressed against her belly. “This matters to me, Allie.”

And, Allie realized, it also mattered to her.

One moment at a time. Time for big decisions later.

* * *

“I
MIGHT
HAVE
to invest in a bigger bed.” Until tonight, her double bed had seemed quite roomy, but with a football player taking up three quarters of it, not so much so.

“I don't mind this,” he said as she nestled against him, totally spent and very, very satisfied. Jason had demonstrated athleticism that she could truly appreciate and now he stroked his hand up and down her back in long, lazy motions. Allie's eyes were just drifting shut when he said, “I'm worried about this guy. Your ex.”

Allie raised her head, feeling like she'd been splashed with cold water. “He just wants money.”

“You're certain.”

“Very.” She put her forearm on his chest and propped her chin in her hand. “Trust me on this.” He cocked an eyebrow in an if-you-were-me-would-you-let-it-go? expression and Allie gave up. “His plan is to bother me until I get tired of him and pay him off.”

“This has happened before?”

“Not exactly.” Allie sighed. “But kind of.”

“How so?”

“When we divorced, he wanted a piece of the Lightning Creek in the settlement. Montana is not a community-property state and the ranch was never in my name, but he wanted part of my share. When he didn't get what he wanted...he started taking things from the ranch. A few of the things, like my grandfather's old tractor, we got back. The rest he sold. Some of the stuff, I encouraged him to take in an effort to get rid of him.”

“Did he leave you alone?”

“After he lost his deputy job and moved.”

“Now he's back.”

“Apparently so. I don't know what happened with his job, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that he lost it due to his massive sense of entitlement. Anyway, now he has medical bills.”

“And he wants you to co-sign a loan.”

Allie lifted her chin from her hand. “He actually said to me that I owe him because he put five years of his life into this ranch and got nothing for his trouble. The only problem was that he all but destroyed the place over those five years.”

“And I used his father as my real estate agent.”

Allie made a dismissive gesture and settled back against his chest, stretching her leg out over his thighs. “I have nothing against Ray. He spoiled his son, but that's his only crime.”

“Caused you some misery by doing that.”

“As much my fault as his.” She was quiet for a few seconds, then said, “I have never gotten over feeling stupid for falling in love with Kyle. I've spent a lot of time feeling bitter.”

“At him or yourself?”

She shot him a surprised look. “At myself. Kyle is who he is. I should have seen that.”

“At the ripe old age of twenty-two?”

“I expect more of myself, even at twenty-two—and don't say you're not the same. I know you are. You have high personal expectations.”

One corner of his mouth curved. “And how do you know this?”

“I watched you from afar during high school. Watched you power through your classes. Did my best to keep up with you.”

He shifted a little so that he could see her face. “Wait a minute... I was being intimidated by you and you were admiring me from afar?”

“I didn't say ‘admiring,'” she said with a little sniff.

Jason hauled her all the way onto his chest, cupping her ass with one hand. “How could you not admire me?”

Allie laughed and kissed his smiling lips. “All right. I was right there with the legion, admiring. But I also despised you for getting my scholarship.”

“Sorry about that,” he murmured as he traced the curve of her butt, making Allie shiver as his fingers dipped pleasantly lower.

“You've made up for it.”

She felt him growing hard again against her thighs. He stroked the hair back from her face with his free hand and said, “Any chance I can make it up to you again?”

Allie closed her eyes as his fingers dipped even lower. “Yes,” she finally said, her voice barely audible. “You definitely should make it up to me again.” If she'd known how good he was at making things up to her, she would have started his penance a long time ago.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A
LLIE
WOKE
WITH
a start when Jason rolled over in his sleep, then she sighed and curled into him, enjoying the warmth of his big body and the feel of his firm ass pressed against her thighs. She slipped an arm over him and a moment later he took her hand in his, holding it loosely against his chest for a few seconds before slowly pulling it down to where he needed some attention. Allie smiled against his shoulder. The man was pretty much insatiable. As was she. Apparently they'd both had a long dry spell, although hers had been exponentially longer and drier.

Half an hour later, she was still smiling as Jason headed downstairs.

When he came back, he was carrying two cups of coffee. Allie propped herself up against the headboard and took both cups, carefully balancing them as he got into bed again. She handed him his cup and slowly sipped hers, closing her eyes as the coffee hit her tongue. Perfect.

“It's been a while since I started a day like this,” Jason murmured, pressing the length of his leg against hers.

Allie couldn't imagine how. Women had to be all over this guy. But she wasn't going to question the situation. She was simply going to enjoy, and the beauty part was that she could talk to him, let him know when she was starting to feel uncertain, and he would understand. Let her do what she needed to do. Maybe even talk things through...if she felt like talking. Allie had never been much of a talker. So much easier to hold it all in and carry on.

But for right now, she was taking Jason's advice. She'd handle matters moment by moment. Day by day.

That way she would never truly lose control of her life, her direction.

* * *

J
ASON
HAD
JUST
gotten out of Allie's shower when he heard the car pull away and realized that Liz must have delivered Zach...and his truck was at the ranch a lot earlier than usual, parked in front of the house. The last thing he needed was for the kid, or his mom, to put two and two together and deduce that Jason was sleeping with the boss. But when Jason left the house fifteen minutes later, wearing a too-small hoodie that he'd borrowed from Allie, the kid didn't act as if he'd noticed anything.

He was waiting at the barn with the sprayer and weed-attacking tools at the ready, looking chastened and preoccupied. The judge must have had a few words to say about the kid's actions.

“Did court go okay?” Jason asked, still trying to work the sleeves of the hoodie into a comfortable position over his biceps. Allie had washed his shirt earlier that morning, but it was still in the dryer. First chance he got, he'd head back to the house and put it on, so he didn't feel as if he were wearing a wetsuit.

Zach gave a small shrug. “As well as could be expected. It isn't going to help my scholarship chances any.”

“So you're thinking about college?”

“Eventually.”

Jason clapped him on the shoulder and left it at that. Sometimes it wasn't necessary to hammer a point home when it was sinking in all by itself.

Allie left for town shortly after Jason and Zach started working in the field. She still hadn't returned when lunch rolled around, but she'd said something about going for coffee with Liz and a lot of errands, so Jason tamped down his impatience to see her again. He went into the house to get his shirt out of the dryer and fill his water bottle while Zach went to his trailer to microwave a Hot Pocket for lunch. A car pulled in as he topped off the bottle and he headed back outside without changing his shirt, stopping on the porch when he realized that Allie's car wasn't the only vehicle in the yard. There was also a blue truck and Allie was having a standoff with the owner, her hands on her hips, her chin jutted out.

Instantly Jason was on his way down the walk toward the face-off. The guy, who had to be the infamous Kyle, jerked up his gaze as Jason's boots hit gravel.

Yeah, asshole. She's not alone.

He couldn't tell if Allie was glad to have backup or not, but regardless of her feelings, she had it.

She smiled tightly. “Kyle, this is Jason Hudson.”

Kyle shifted his weight as he looked Jason up and down, then he gave an unsmiling nod.

“Hello, Kyle.”

“Is there anything else?” Allie asked pointedly. Kyle shifted his gaze to her as Jason stepped closer. He didn't presume to touch her, but he got near enough that Kyle would get the message—he was dealing with two people, not just one.

“No.” He turned and got into his truck, revving the engine after starting it and swinging into a wide arc.

Jason settled his hand on Allie's shoulder once Kyle was partway down the driveway.

“He followed me home,” Allie said in a deadly voice. “Just to argue money again.”

“This has got to stop.”

“Agreed. I may have to see about a restraining order.”

Jason's eyes narrowed as he watched the truck turn onto the road. “Maybe that won't be necessary now that he knows you have backup.”

“I hope.” Allie turned to him just as Zach came out of his trailer and started toward them. “Want to have dinner tonight?”

“I promised my dad pizza.”

“He can eat pizza?”

“As long as he follows the salt restrictions. Special sauce and cheese. No meat.”

“He must love that.”

“Oh, trust me, he does.” Allie laughed and Jason raised a hand to indicate to Zach that yes he would meet him at the gate. “The boss is coming. I'll try to stop by to see you before I go.”

He started across the drive to where Zach was waiting for him, but he couldn't help shooting another glance at the plume of dust from Kyle's truck. As he'd said to Allie, this had to stop.

* * *

A
S
IT
TURNED
OUT
,
he didn't get a chance to see Allie before he left. She was on the phone with one of her sisters and Kate called to ask Jason to pick up the pizza early. He waved at Allie from the porch, signaled that he had to go, then headed for his truck. Forty minutes later he was home and his dad was being remarkably well behaved.

“What happened?” he asked Kate in an undertone as he dropped ice cubes into glasses.

“I think he's realized that you may not be around for much longer.”

“I haven't gotten the job yet.”

“He's concerned.”

“So now he behaves.”

“Just like a little kid.” Kate got out the plates and carried them in to set the TV trays in the living room. She called the Dobes and put them outside, since they had a habit of knocking over the trays and then devouring whatever hit the floor.

“Hey, Dad,” Jason said as he came in carrying the drinks. He usually drank cola or club soda now when he watched TV with his father, since his dad couldn't drink until his medication was changed, and often wished for alcohol because of the effect hanging with his dad had on him. Oddly, he didn't feel like having a stress-reducing beer tonight. Apparently good sex had the same effect, only it lasted longer.

“JD.” His dad automatically reached for the glass and took a long drink.

“How was your day?”

“About the same. Except I saw the shrink.”

“Did you make him cry?”

Max slowly turned to meet Jason's innocent gaze and his lips twitched. “No. Not this time. I'll try harder next time.”

Jason smiled broadly and then went back in the kitchen to help Kate bring the pizza. They served Max, then the three of them settled in front of the baseball game.

“When do you think you'll hear about the job?” Max asked after almost two innings.

“It took them weeks to let me know I made the cut, so I don't know.”

“Be sure to ask,” Max said.

“I will.” They watched another scoreless, rather boring inning, then Jason said, “You know, I can still fly home on long weekends. I'll do my damnedest to be here at least once a month. And you can come down to San Diego.”

Max only nodded and Jason felt a stab of guilt, which he did his best to tamp down. This was a great career move and they both knew it.

Just as the game was ending, the Dobes went crazy outside and Kate went to look out the window. “Uncle Jimmy,” she said.

Jason hoped that his dad and uncle hadn't cooked up one final double team, but apparently they hadn't. Jimmy settled in the extra chair, declared the pizza miserably bland and then started talking about the business to Max. He was only a couple sentences in when he looked up at Jason and said, “Don't worry, kid. We're not going to try to tap you to fill in anywhere. Besides, I hear you're leaving.”

“I have to get the job first.”

Jim waved his hand dismissively and Jason took that as his cue to escape. He helped Kate haul the dishes back to the kitchen and load the dishwasher, then said, “I'm heading out for the night.”

“Have fun,” she said in a way that indicated she had an inkling of where he was going and why. But since he didn't talk to his sister about such matters, he simply nodded and headed out the door.

* * *

J
ASON
CAME
HOME
late that night and he was surprised to see that Jim was still at the house...until he came inside and found his father and uncle sleeping in the side-by-side recliners. He let them be and went on down the hall to bed, wishing he could have stayed with Allie.

He woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon cooking. Uncle Jim was manning the stove and Max was sitting at the table.

“I don't think this is on your prescribed menu,” Jason said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Max merely waved a hand and Jason let the matter drop.

“Two eggs or three, JD?”

“Three,” he answered automatically. “So did you guys solve the world's problems last night?”

“Most of them,” Jim said. “I still need to find a detail guy, since my guy quit yesterday, but other than that, I think we worked through things pretty well. Did you know that I'm going to run for city council?”

“I did not, but that's a great idea.” Why his Uncle Jim hadn't thrown his hat into the political ring earlier was a mystery, since he had the perfect politician mindset.

“I thought so. It might help business, too.”

Jason dug into his breakfast when Jim set it in front of him, eating as his dad and uncle talked campaign strategy, then an idea struck him.

“Hey.” Both men turned to look at him. “I have something I want to run by you guys. Unorthodox, but it might help both of us—” he moved his finger between Jim and himself “—solve a problem.”

Jim gave the scrambled eggs a stir, then said, “Shoot, kid. I'm all ears.”

* * *

I
T
TOOK
J
ASON
a good half hour of driving around town before he spotted Kyle's truck in one of the many places Allie had told him her ex frequented. He finally found him at the café, where he was unlocking the door to his truck. Jason parked close by and got out of his truck. Kyle started fumbling for the door when Jason said his name.

“I understand you need money for medical bills,” Jason said before Kyle could get the door open.

“I, uh...”

“That you're harassing Allie, hoping she'll pay you off to make you go away.”

An indignant look crossed his face. “Did she say that?”

“I said that.” Jason folded his arms over his chest. He had to give Kyle credit for standing his ground after taking that first backward step. “Do you want money?”

Kyle looked confused, as if he thought that Jason might be offering him money. He was. In a way. “Like you said, I have medical bills and no insurance to speak of.”

Jason reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “If you want that taken care of, meet me here.”

Kyle hesitated, then reached out to take the card. He glanced down at it, then back up at Jason, looking bewildered.

“I'm heading over there now. I expect you to be right behind me.”

Kyle did as told, following Jason to Jim's car lot. Once there, Jason gestured for Kyle to get out of his truck and walk with him to the dealership showroom.

“Jim!” Jason bellowed as soon as he was inside the glassed-in room. His uncle appeared from a pine-paneled office.

“Jason. What a surprise.”

“Meet your newest detail man. This is Kyle Largent.”

“I know Kyle,” Jimmy said with a smile. He'd agreed to take on Kyle on a contingency basis earlier that day and now he held out his hand to welcome him aboard.

Kyle slowly extended his hand and Jimmy gave him a hearty handshake.

“Good to have you. Now, you'll start in the detail department, but after a few weeks we'll cycle you into sales and see how you do. You can make some good money in commissions, win trips and such.”

Kyle perked up at the words
good money
.

“You'll have to kiss some ass, of course, but that's the sales game.” Jimmy beamed at him. “I think you'll do well.”

Kyle straightened his stance. “Uh, how much does the detailing pay?”

“It's decent. Come on into the office and I'll show you the salary scale, the benefits and you can fill out your W-2.”

“Uncle Jim? I'd like to speak to Kyle for just a quick minute before I take off.”

“Sure thing.”

Jimmy went to the nearest show model and wiped a few smudges with his handkerchief.

“Here's the deal,” Jason said to Kyle in a low voice. “This job will pay your medical bills easily. And you can make a lot of money, but if you screw up and get your ass fired, if you start harassing Allie again, there will be hell to pay. Do you get me?”

Kyle swallowed. “I get you.”

“I'm doing you a favor, man. One you probably don't deserve. Do not make me regret it.”