Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? (20 page)

“I wasn’t sure you’d be here.” Her voice came out cool and poised.

“Let’s drive somewhere. I don’t want anyone to come out here and see us.”

“Fine.”

He led them to his truck, the apprehension on her features an easy read. After they were seated and belted in, he drove the short distance into the town and started cruising the streets.

She stared out the window, taking in the small stores of downtown Little Falls and the flowers that decorated the sidewalks. “This really is a lovely town.”

Riley grunted in response.

“How was your date with Jewel?” She said it lightly, but with an edge in her voice.

“Informative,” he said, and remained quiet.

Her entire body bristled in the silence. “Out with it, Cowboy. What’s going on with you tonight?”

Riley glanced over at her before pulling in to the high school parking lot. He turned off the ignition and put his hand back on the wheel, still not making eye contact. “I don’t like being used as a way to pass the time before you get married.”

She held her head in her hand. “Oh, for the love of Carla. Are we back to Edward again?”

“Tell me you’re not engaged.”

She placed her hands on his face, forcing him to turn and look into the depths of her fiery eyes. “I’m not engaged.”

“After I left you last night, Edward stopped by for a midnight visit.”

“Yes, he did. He acted like he was my mother and I had come home after curfew.”

“So you did let him into your cabin.” He fixed her with a hot glare that she met and returned tenfold. He needed her off guard so she couldn’t hide behind avoidance and planned lies. “You bragged to the other women about how you’ve caught me.” Bet she never thought the other women would have the balls to tell him.

The anger left her, replaced by a blank stare. The kind of practiced stare women get when they know they’ve been trapped in a lie. “What?”

“How else could they know what happened?”

Ainsley growled, a low feral sound that compelled his primal nature to respond. He fought the urge to grab her, to taste her, to let himself take all night. His body disobeyed his mental command and he reached for her but only grabbed empty air. She had hopped out, slamming the door with enough force to rattle the entire truck, and charged steaming down the empty lot. He sprinted after her.

He was two steps behind when Ainsley swung around. “How do you think they know, you dumb jerk?” She stepped forward to close the space between them and shoved his shoulders. “This whole thing is your fault.”

“My fault? I said nothing about you.”

“And you think I want to get skinned alive by talking about you? You’re not worth that kind of pain, Cowboy.” She strode off again.

“Fairfax. Stop.” He grabbed her hand.

Ainsley spun into him and bunched his shirt in her hands, then marched him backward until he hit the truck. She wound her fingers through his thick hair. “If I wanted to lord my conquest over the other women, I’d do
this
where they could see me,” she growled through gritted teeth, then yanked his head down and kissed him, hard and unwavering.

He held her under the soft contours of her jaw and returned the passion, his rough thumbs brushing her cheeks. After a moment he drew back, but she tightened her grip, not allowing him to move, to breathe, demanding he stay and kiss her. Her mind swirled in sensual darkness until she ripped her mouth away, gasped for air, and attacked him again. All reasonable thoughts fled. She was left only with him.

She hooked her foot behind his leg to get closer, heedless of her skirt riding up her thighs and thankful she had on pretty cotton panties instead of laundry-day underwear. Riley’s hand grasped the crook of her knee and he spun them around, pinning her between him and the truck. He lightly grazed her ear with his teeth, and the rush of sensations made her damp. “Vanilla-scented witch,” he muttered.

Shivers ran down her body, hardening her nipples, and she moaned as he moved his mouth from her ear to her neck. His hands found their way under her shirt and he caressed her belly, her overheated skin tingling where he touched her. He undid her bra with a quick flick of his wrist, then slid his palms around to cup her breasts, tremors shaking her body.

His erection was hot and heavy through his jeans and she fumbled for his zipper, wanting to feel it against her. He edged back a tiny step to give her more room and she yanked the denim down his thighs, taking his briefs with them.

His hands cupped her ass and she used them as leverage to hoist herself up and lock her ankles around his waist.

“Screw all night,” he panted, sending jolts of arousal down her nerve endings. “We’re doing this now.”

He bent his legs beneath her so her weight rested on his thighs and palmed her through the cotton underwear. She squirmed against him, wet and ready, moaning with the erotic movement of his hand, wanting more and wanting it now. He pushed aside the elastic of her panties with a single finger and she nearly came from the contact. The head of his penis rubbed against her naked flesh and she cried out and thrust with animalistic hunger, eager to have him inside her. Hot sensations bombarded her and she closed her eyes, unable and unwilling to think straight, to think about anything except this amazing man. They were going to do it against his truck under the clear night sky, and she wanted to feel every bit of him. Colors swirled in her mind in a pulsing pattern of red and blue and red and blue and red and… and…

And then she heard the siren.

I
thought this was your truck, Riley,” the officer said, getting out of his car. He stopped a few discreet feet away as Riley forced himself away from Ainsley. He sucked in a breath and fumbled with the button of his jeans. Turning, he tucked her behind him to block her from the officer’s view.

“Jason,” Riley greeted the man. A dull pain hit his kidneys as Ainsley’s elbow bumped into him. She kicked the back of his calves in her frantic rush to put her clothing back into place, then peeked around his shoulder.

Jason studied her with the practiced look of a trained observer before touching his hat. “Good evening, ma’am,” he said.

“Please tell me you’re not here to chase me off school grounds,” Riley said, his ragged breathing a contrast to his casual words.

“Come on around to the other side of the truck, Riley.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but the hard set of Jason’s mouth stopped him. When he stood on the other side, his friend contemplated the sky, Ainsley, the tires. Everywhere and everything but Riley. “First I want to say everyone is okay,” Jason began.

The small hairs on Riley’s neck prickled. “What happened?”

“Seth got into a fight. He’s okay,” Jason repeated when Riley tensed. “Minor cuts and bruises, but he was taken to the med clinic just to be safe. I was on my way to the ranch to get you.”

“Dammit,” Riley swore softly.

“I don’t think he started this,” the officer said. “There’s this kid causing trouble at the rec center. I think he’s to blame.”

Rec center? When Seth said he had homework to finish, Riley assumed he’d be doing it in his room. “What was Seth doing there?”

“I don’t know. I showed up after someone called the police. He needs someone to sign his paperwork and drive him home. I’m glad I saw your truck. I’d rather not worry your sisters about this.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Ma’am,” Jason touched his hat, then got back into his car.

The rear lights faded in the distance. When had his life jumped completely out of his control? In the mountains, he had a work schedule, and his free time was his own. But now, living at home again, taking care of his family, being a role model for his younger siblings, nothing he did was about his own life. It was all about his family, the ranch, or this stupid market research.

He turned back to Ainsley, her swollen lips and flushed face a brutal reminder of the interruption. The barrette had fallen out and her hair splayed wildly about her head and shoulders. She looked sexy and rumpled and ready to get into bed with him.

“Don’t worry.” She touched his arm. The breathless quality of her voice called up his raging hormones and almost made him forget his family. “You don’t need me tagging along. Take me back to the ranch and then take care of your brother.”

This must be where she would hold his actions against him later. He nodded once, and held the truck door open for her before getting in himself and heading back to the Crescent Ridge. Her delicate fingers found his hand and lightly traced the knuckles, sending his pulse into overdrive.

Memories of the way her lacy bra hid her breasts from his view, the two freckles on her chest that intrigued him, her fragrance when pressed against him, almost distracted him from his intent to get her home. He spoke to keep his mind focused on what he needed to do. “I’ll bring you to your cabin.”

“Oh, no,” she said, shaking her head. “Park at your house and I’ll go alone. I don’t know who will be lurking outside tonight. Do you really want to explain yourself to any of your eager bachelorette hopefuls if they see you even remotely close to my cabin?”

The laughter in her voice battled his prickling awareness that he hadn’t heard the entire story about Edward or the boasting to other women, but he had to let it go for now. He parked by the stables and she took his hand and kissed his knuckles, then enclosed it with her other hand and held it next to her heart. Its steady thumping sent a charge through him, and for the first time since his sisters had set up this singles rodeo, he was glad. If she was being honest and open. If she wasn’t like other women.

His other hand gently skimmed her cheek and she leaned into his palm. Reaching over the space between them, he kissed her, her soft, pliable lips molding to his. She slid out of the truck, then placed her palm on the window before she disappeared into the darkness.

Overwhelming odors of vomit and antiseptic greeted Riley when he rushed through the doors of the med clinic and into glaring fluorescent lights. Seth slumped on a gurney parked next to a wall, scratches on his cheek and jaw and a nice bruise forming under his left eye. His gray t-shirt had a few rips and crusted blood covered his knuckles, but Riley had seen worse from falling off a horse. His emotions were riding high, going from the panic of his brother in trouble to relief that he was safe. He
was
safe.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Seth sat up straighter, the muscle in his jaw flexing.

“Okay.” Riley clenched his own teeth to keep from saying anything else. He waited for the nurse to take his insurance information then took a clipboard from her and signed the paperwork.

“And I’m not going to.”

“Seth—”

“You’re not Dad! I’m sick of you telling me what to do.”

The nurse gave him Seth’s release papers and follow-up instructions. His brother squirmed off the gurney, struggling to pretend he wasn’t hurt and shifting a quick peek at Riley to see if he noticed.

Riley put an arm around Seth’s shoulders in a brotherly gesture, but really to give him unasked-for support and steer him toward the truck. “I’m not trying to take Dad’s place. Let’s just go home.”

“What about my truck?” Seth demanded.

“The nurse said you can’t drive tonight. Cookie can have someone take you to school tomorrow and you can get it afterwards.”

Seth stopped so quickly Riley nearly pushed him forward. “I’m walking home.”

Riley swallowed and briefly closed his eyes. Dealing with a recalcitrant teen wasn’t high on his list of favorite things to do. “Seth, it’s nearly ten miles. It’s late. You’re bruised and you have school tomorrow.”

“I’m. Walking.”

“Then I will, too.” Riley put his keys in his pocket and strode across the parking lot without checking to see if his brother followed.

“Riley, what are you doing? This is stupid.”

He turned back. Seth stood with his arms folded across his chest, a scowl darkening his features. “You said you wanted to walk.”

“Fine. Drive.” Seth stalked to the truck, threw the door open and slammed it shut behind him.

Riley slid in, glancing at his brother’s closed profile. “You’re okay?” He couldn’t help asking. No way was he going to lose another family member.

“I said I don’t want to talk about it. It was a stupid fight anyway.” Seth jammed his elbow on the doorframe and rested his jaw on his hand.

“Yeah?” Riley pulled out of the med clinic and headed home, keeping his eyes on the road and off his brother.

“This guy’s been hanging around the rec center and making Gina nervous. Tonight he decided to start something, and I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Who the hell was Gina? “I thought you were in your room.”

“Geez, Riley, do I have to tell you where I am every minute of the day? I’m not a baby.”

“I was only telling you what I thought.” He struggled to keep all accusation out of his tone.

Seth didn’t answer. He shifted in his seat, then reached behind him and pulled out an orange purse. “This isn’t your color.”

Crap. Riley grabbed for it but his brother held it out of his reach. “Give it here.”

“I didn’t realize you were going on nighttime…oh.” Seth gave a snort of laughter. “So which lucky lady is it? The one from the closet?”

“Never mind.” Riley took the purse from him and stuffed it near the door. He wanted to bring up Gina and the rec center again but didn’t want to put pressure on the tenuous conversation they just had. Instead, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel and considered what he’d found out. Seth wasn’t sneaking off to avoid work around the ranch or do anything illegal. He was hanging out at the rec center, and because of a girl.

“You gonna tell Molly?” Seth’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“Nope.”

“Good.” Seth slumped in his seat, then shot up straight and groaned, putting a hand on his ribs. “You’re going to make me do it, aren’t you?”

“I’m not going to make you do anything.” The truck bounced over the cattle guard as they drove onto Crescent Ridge land. The evening was almost at an end.

“Because I’m not going to,” the teen added.

Riley parked the truck and folded his arms over the wheel, keeping his eyes straight ahead. Weariness wound its way down his spine and he let out a slow breath. “She’s worried about you, you know.”

“I don’t know why.” Seth stayed silent a moment longer. “She’s afraid something will happen to me, like it did Dad.” His voice came out almost too low for Riley to hear.

“She’s scared for all of us,” he said.

Seth nodded and slumped in his seat, then straightened up again with a wince.

“I’ll run interference and make sure the coast is clear. But we need to talk more about this tomorrow,” Riley told him.

His brother nodded and got out of the truck, trudging slowly into the house. Riley reined in the impulse to ask him if he needed help, knowing Seth would bristle at the suggestion. Their sisters’ bedrooms were dark and Riley clasped a hand to his brother’s shoulder before they parted in the hallway.

Riley held back his window shade and tried to find the cabins that dotted the land, but the night was too dark. Nothing had been resolved with the green-eyed woman who invaded his thoughts and made him act like a hormonal teen. He undressed and stretched out on his bed. Okay. So she might be engaged, but it was obvious the marriage wasn’t about love. He could handle it if she were only in it for the sex. It might break him after she left, but he’d recover. He had before.

The doorbell chimed in the late afternoon and failed to lift Edward out of his brooding. The plane ride back from Wyoming had been the longest of his life. He didn’t care who came to see him, didn’t care if anyone called, didn’t care if he ever left his house again. Mindless game shows blared on the TV, providing a distraction for his brain, but nothing could help the loneliness of his heart.

A quick glance through the security hole showed a disproportionate Cecelia, arms folded across her chest. He could hear her foot tapping on the hardwood floor in the hallway outside his apartment. He put down the glass of Bordeaux and opened the door. Before he could say a word, she marched into his apartment on a wave of indignation, forcing him to back up or be trampled. He took a moment to revel in the wake of her fresh, clean scent.

“You’re an idiot,” she said by way of greeting. He had to agree. “How much longer do you think I’m going to wait for you? Because I have other things I could be doing with my time.”

“What are you talking about?” He wanted to leave the door open to tell her he didn’t want her to stay, but it closed on its own. Locked, too. He picked up the wine and followed her to the den.

Her crystalline green eyes regarded him with a solemn look. Normally they were filled with life, with humor, and this seriousness scared him. “You have to know, Edward. On some level, you have to know that Ainsley is never going to be yours.”

“I don’t know if I’m comfortable discussing this with you.”

Her entire body vibrated with intense fury. She had never looked so sexy. “The time for you being comfortable is over. Man up and face me.”

He wanted to man up. He wanted to tell her what was in his heart, but sharing his life with her would never work out.

“You have this picture in your head of what your world should be like. You think Ainsley fits in it and I don’t. But that picture is never going to happen and you should take a new one with me in it.”

She took a step closer to him and he backed against the wall. Her face softened and his willpower faltered. “I love you, Edward. Have for years. God knows why. You’re repressed and stodgy because you won’t let your true self shine through and you follow my sister around like a hangnail, but you’re also warm and caring and sweet and sensitive.” She brushed the hair off his forehead, her fingers burning where they touched his skin. He didn’t move, though his brain screamed at him to dodge her hand. “You know you’re psychologically bound to the wrong girl.”

She grabbed his shoulders and there was nowhere for him to retreat. She kissed him, hard, urging his buried desires to break out of their sealed box. He tried to push her away before he succumbed to the yearning, tried to break her lock on his arms and his heart. She ignored his half-hearted attempts, only brought her hand to curl through his hair the way she had on the ship.

His brain kicked into action and he groaned and tried to step away. “Cecelia…”

She said nothing, only flicked her tongue against his lips, each contact opening his reserves a little bit more. He had to stop her before she brought him down completely. He put his hands on her shoulders and this time she let him firmly and gently set her away. They stared at each other, their breath coming fast and deep in the air between them. She pressed her lips together and blinked rapidly, obviously trying to compose herself, but her eyes filled with unshed tears and her gaze burned into him. He couldn’t stand hurting her. He could feel her struggle with her own emotions, felt the same struggle with his.

He stopped struggling.

He spun her in one smooth move against the wall and bent to take her lips. A sob wrenched from her throat and salt coated his tongue while her arms gripped his neck like a vise. “Shhhhh, baby. Shhhhh,” he whispered. “It’s always been you. I can’t deny it anymore.”

She felt so right in his arms that there was no way he was ever letting her go. She molded herself to him and held him tight, burying her face in his shoulder.

He kept her flush against him, and led her into the bedroom.