“This is all trivial that doesn’t matter anyhow. You and I… now that matters.” Maverick tilted his head, and moved toward her as if to kiss her.
If only his kiss would erase her past. She lowered her face at the last minute and his mouth landed on her forehead instead. “What if… what if you’re wrong?”
His hands ran through her hair and the warm tingles were like sweet torture. All she wanted was Maverick but he’d hate her if he knew the truth. She'd thought she'd found the man she could be herself with. “Who cares? I’d rather spend the last few minutes of our time alone, holding my sweet Jess in my arms.”
She needed to figure out what to do. Her racing heart had to slow down. Hoping for a moment to gather her emotions, she lifted her brow and pointed at his phone. “You finished work then?”
She swallowed and waited for him to say he needed a couple of minutes but he put his phone aside. “I checked on that contract with David and Callie. Everything is on track and there shouldn’t be any last minute hang ups.”
Ones like her family had caused, and now possibly her brother-in-law might be planning more trouble for him in the future. Maybe if she proved her capabilities and helped him, he’d see her value and not hate her entirely. David wasn’t a sure thing. She curled her legs closer to him and said, “I’m a good accountant, Maverick. And something about that nod still plays in my head from last night. You should have a backup plan. Do you have contingencies set?”
He unwound her arm from her waist as the limo sped down the backroads that were more bumpy and instead held her thigh steady like he’d protect her from a rough ride. “Last time, Colt Collins stole one of the subcontractors prices by offering higher contract prices if they signed his instead. We lost some shipping, but then he outright bought the parcel of land while I was dealing with the subcontractor. It was an old-school bait and switch tactic to draw my attention away at the last minute. This time though, David is trustworthy.”
“In business, the worst person to betray you is usually family, which was why the Morgans were successful with their Morgans don’t fight Morgans motto.” He leaned to kiss her. Her heart whispered to let him. This conversation was dangerous. Instead, she asked, “So you’re sure about David?”
He tugged her closer as his hands wrapped around her lower back. “Everything is fine and on track, not a Morgan in sight. Now tell me how I can help you?”
Her insides quivered. She'd never had this before, so she sighed and settled onto his lap. “Help… me?”
She straddled him and gently kissed his face and neck. His hands caressed her back and hips.
His sexy mouth captured hers and made her heart sing. She hoped that they could both stop talking. However, as the limo rolled onto the farm, he lowered her to sit beside him and said, “Yes. Once we’re home, it’s back to the routine we started. I’m willing to change to be home earlier to you and Carter. But I’d like for you to tell me about Brock and how exactly he’s blackmailing you. I thought when you came it was physical threats but I’ll help you no matter what he’s done or threatening.”
That was the last thing she needed--she had to figure out the best way to explain herself. She shook her head. “Let me talk to my brother and sister and find out what happened. Once I know all the newest details then we can talk.”
He ran his hand through her long waves and nodded, “Tonight then.”
The limo hit the packed dirt road leading to the farmhouse. Soon, they'd go inside and resume their roles. She whispered in his ear, “In the meantime, just kiss me and don’t let me forget your kiss throughout the rest of the day.”
A slow smile grew on his face while the limo stopped. He kissed her fingers. “It will be a short day as we were at the hotel for most of it.”
True. Her body still ached from the sweet memories of their lovemaking, so she curled closer to him and said, “Even better. Tonight I get to be with you. I love it.”
A crash of sensations hit her at once the moment his lips brushed against hers. The world disappeared. In that moment she finally stopped caring about Catherine and just let Jess have her happiness.
If Maverick understood, then maybe they'd still have their chance. This kiss made her wish.
The slight humidity in the air reminded Maverick that spring was on its way, and with it the return of never-ending rain showers. Until then, hose trucks filled with water nourished the orange trees.
His hands were dirty from checking the soil's moisture levels, so before he went inside to see his son and Jess, he stopped at the sink on the back patio to wash his hands, kicking off his work boots and slipping into shoes so he wouldn't track mud in the house. He soaped up.
The smell of Jess’s floral perfume wafted toward him--though he knew she was inside. Was the kitchen window open?
She had to be close. Maverick rinsed, turned off the faucet, and heard her voice clearly as she spoke. "Tess."
Without intending to spy, he stopped to listen as Jess said, “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want us to pay this guy. It’s the principle of the thing.”
That's right, they'd had the names that rhymed. His lips curved in a smile. He heard another voice that was much higher pitched than Jess's say, “You're my sister. I’ll handle everything on my end, but I need you to be safe.”
Jess must have her phone on speaker. He pressed his head to the windowpane, slightly open a fraction, to wave, but he didn’t see her. He imaged her walking down the hall toward her room. Jess said, “I’m safe. I promise.”
Her sister asked in a huff, “How is going on the farm?”
Jess sighed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Why? His spine tingled. Was he so different from her life? Maverick's gut twisted as her sister said, “Well, stay holed up for another day or two. We’ll have this all straightened out by the wedding.”
"Right. I said I’d be there. Bye, sis." Jess ended the call.
Alicia came to mind.
His ex had taught him to never trust easy, and his neck was tight. He shouldn’t believe that Jess was leaving him just when she’d said she’d move in. Jess was different.
His stomach shouldn’t be in knots over something he could clarify with a question. As he stepped into his house, his phone beeped. He glanced at it and saw Alicia’s name with a text that read, You have an interesting new girlfriend Maverick.
Who I date doesn’t matter to you. He was happy to set that boundary.
Three periods showed she typed back so he stood and waited near the open door behind him. I’ve been offered $10K for my pictures of you and her at the cotillion.
I didn’t know my picture was worth a dime.
If you give me the money I’ll sell them to you instead.
Not interested Alicia.
Done, he pushed his phone back in his pocket. Jess was a sweet girl and he didn’t care if anyone knew they were together.
Maverick headed toward the bedroom he’d placed her in the first day she'd arrived. He knocked on the door it opened on its own. Jess rose from her seat on the bed and stuck her phone in her pocket. He swallowed uncomfortably, not wanting to act like he hadn't overheard. “That was your sister?”
“Yeah.” She glanced at the floor and then up, her hair over her shoulder. “How much did you hear?”
“Not much.” He hadn't intended to spy on her but she'd had her phone on speaker. He crossed his arms. “How can I help with Brock?”
She strode toward him, graceful and poised. “I just need to stay out of my normal life for another day or two. My brothers are handling Brock.”
He took a step and let his hands fall to his sides. "What are you being blackmailed for?”
“Money.”
“I could pay him whatever he’s asking.”
Jess's cheeks blushed red. “I don’t want that.”
“Why?” He froze at her insistence that she didn't need his help. He didn't want to force himself into her life. “Why are you being stand
offish about this?”
She took his hand. “Because it sets a bad precedent.”
That he helped her? It was part of letting someone into your heart, at least he thought so. He narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean?”
She squeezed his palm as she rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t want people thinking I’m an easy cash cow.”
This wasn’t about him then. He should have guessed. He traced her cheek. “I happen to agree, and told my ex no. She said she has pictures of us at the cotillion.”
“No!” Jess's voice rose and her face went white.
He tilted his head. “I don’t care if people see us dancing together in some photo. She wanted $10K which seemed a high price for nothing.”
“But you refused?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to give Alicia another dime.” He understood Jess's feelings of being taken advantage of.
As if on cue, a piercing scream came from the baby monitor that had a video screen and adjustable audio. She lowered the sound and smiled at the baby who'd just woken up. “Carter.”
He opened the door so they could head to the nursery. “My boy likes having you around.”
She walked beside him and gave him a saucy wink. “Good, because he’s sweet.”
“Glad you think so.” He opened the nursery door for her.
Carter continued to cry and she cooed as she crossed the room. As she picked up his son, his heart swelled.
Jess being here made everything in his world better.
She glanced over her shoulder as she soothed Carter and asked, “You’re coming?”
To hold his son. Yes. He walked over and massaged her lower back, then reached for Carter. “I like to watch that sway of your hips when you walk.”
She handed Carter over and adjusted his son's head. “Funny.”
He rocked his son, who stared back at him with such intensity, his heart nearly stopped.
Carter was the best part of him and always would be. Alicia had been a horrible choice for all things, except this. He’d never let this boy go. He glanced over at Jess who beamed her happiness like a beacon of light and he wanted her in his arms too. He winked at her. “Once Carter goes back down for his nap, I’m thinking we can be alone.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“It can wait,” he said, though Carter’s bright blue eyes were clear and awake. Best part was, he wasn't crying.
Jess brushed her fingers against his arm and his muscles quivered from her touch as she said, “Later--finish your chores, and we will get our alone time then.”
He laughed. “Now that sounds like a woman who knows what she wants.” Maverick kissed his son’s forehead and handed him back to Jess. “See you later, Carter.”
She took the baby easily, but then he leaned forward and captured her lips in his. "Jess."
He had to be gentle as she held his son, but honestly it was easy to imagine her as a mother to his child.
He headed out of the room to his office.
Figures waited for him to oversee and the contract still needed to be signed for David and Callie to handle shipping the peaches. However it was such a nice day, he grabbed his laptop and headed to the lunch area where he usually sat with his farm hands and used a picnic table as a desk.
The warmth of the day and the gentle breeze relaxed him as he read over the document that David still hadn’t signed.
He raised his chin to the wind which usually helped stir an answer in his mind, then wrote back to his lawyers to give David another day. Perhaps he'd drank too much at the cotillion.
Everything else was working on schedule.
He checked his emails and responded, comfortable enough on the picnic bench. He had no idea how much time passed but the smell of tobacco behind him as Bob tapped his shoulder gave his foreman away. Maverick closed his laptop. “Bob, what’s going on?”
Bob climbed up on the wooden picnic table. The sun was starting to descend which signaled it was five, and once the conversation ended, he’d head back to Jess and Carter. Like a family. Bob straightened his legs to rest on the bench below and nodded. “I see a relationship growing between you and Jess.”
Before she’d stormed into his life, he’d stayed far away from women that might cause problems--blonde, beautiful ones. He nodded. “She’s different than I thought she’d be when she showed up in her Mercedes.”
Bob said, “She’s not Alicia.”
That was the truth. With Alicia he’d bought her gift after gift but it was never enough. Jess didn’t ever want anything from him. Maybe Jess was trustworthy in a way Alicia never could have been, but that meant she needed to trust him, too. And every time he asked about Brock and the blackmail situation, she went quiet. His head hammered a warning to be cautious when it came to Jess. “Yeah, but I can’t complain. Carter came from that mistake.”
“And he was easy to watch last night now that Jess came into your life.” They both faced the orange sunset as he said, “You’ll do right by that boy, I know it. I wanted to ask your intentions.”
Maverick laughed and lifted up his laptop, ready to bring it back to the house with him. “Are you turning into her father now?”
The older man shrugged like he had every right to his opinions when he said, “No. Just looking out for you, as always.”
Bob was the closest thing he had to a mentor these days, and he’d been the reason Jess had showed up here, so Maverick nodded and said, “We’re both good.”
Bob scooted off the picnic top. “Glad to hear it.” Maverick put his bag into his truck to return to the main house. Bob followed and asked, “So what are you planning?”
Tonight he’d enjoy Jess like he had last night. His face heated as he couldn’t say that but instead he chose his words so that Bob understood he didn't need to worry. “Jess and I are going to take it one day at a time, though she’s now my girlfriend rather than the temporary nanny or pretend fiancée.”
Bob decided to take the passenger seat in the truck for a ride back to the main house. His foreman closed the door. “What happens when her family fixes the mess she found herself in?”
Jess could leave as fast as she'd arrived. Maverick hopped in and turned the engine of his truck, focused on the motor sounds rather than that thought. All good. He faced Bob. “Then she has less problems.”
He drove the truck toward the farmhouse. “And if she heads back to her life?” Bob asked.
The dirt road was muddy thanks to the water tanks that ensured the trees had the proper hydration, so driving was slower than normal to avoid a skid. “I can’t predict what she intends to do.”
As they turned toward his three-story farmhouse, the chandelier glinted from the windows. He'd bought it to catch people off-guard because they weren't expecting such beauty in the middle of nowhere. He loved the way the crystals winked and prismed with the afternoon sun behind them. Bob said, “You can let her know with certainty you want her to stay.”
Houses and buildings were stable, but women were like a hurricane. He buried that thought and shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
Bob kept his voice low when he asked, “What’s stopping you?”
In a few minutes they’d be home and go their separate ways for the night. Maverick's nerves wouldn’t be wound so tight--Bob was pushing and he didn't like it. “I don’t want to lose my childcare and put us back in square one.”
Bob turned toward him and asked, “So you’re not pressuring Jess because you want her to stay?”
Heat rose in his face. That wasn’t a good answer. Maverick gripped the wheel. “That doesn’t make much sense.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Bob agreed. “But sometimes women make us crazy.”
Alicia had made not trusting any woman a defensive reaction. Yesterday with Jess he’d let her in, and hopefully everything would be fine, despite the buzz in his head. He parked the truck. “I don’t want to rush and push her away.”
Bo
b took his time opening the passenger door. “I find that good women tend to prefer concrete offers rather than playing it ‘day by day'.”
Maybe, but he wasn’t ready for concrete. He walked Bob to his red Chevy pickup. “Modern women don’t immediately think about marriage.”
Bob laughed like that answer was hysterical and even tapped his leg as he climbed into his truck. “That’s not a generational thing. If she says yes then you know she’s going to stay beside you when times are hard, and be there to celebrate your successes too.”
Sounded like something his father would have said about his mother. Maverick stepped back. “Bob, I’m just happy she’s here right now. I can’t offer more than I already have.”
“Then you risk losing her.” Bob started his truck engine.
Maverick didn’t say it out loud, but there was something he couldn’t figure out about Jess that flew around in his brain like an annoying fly. “I’ll talk to her.”
Bob nodded and started to drive away but rolled his window down. “That’s a start. Bring a ring.”
Maverick waved him off and said, “Night, Bob.”
The farm hands were all checking out now. If there was anyone coming onto the ranch, security would let him know.
Once the dirt from Bob’s tires flew in the air and Bob was far enough way, Maverick turned toward the house. Tonight it was just Jess and him. No Alicia. No Brock. No blackmail or extortion. Just them. Nothing else should matter.
Maverick wiped his boots on the front porch rug and paused. His hair stood on end.
Something was wrong. He looked around, but nothing seemed out of place, yet electricity rushed through him.
Carter and Jess were inside. He grabbed the door handle and pushed in, expecting resistance when there'd been none. Jess, her arms crossed, guarded the hallway that led to the bedrooms, and nursery, like a sentinel. She paced back and forth, protecting her station.
She lowered her arms to her side when she saw him and let out a breath. “Maverick, thank goodness you’re back.”
His gaze narrowed. “What’s going on?”
Secret Cowboy Page 10
