When Petals Fall: A Cowboy, Second Chance Romantic Suspense (Chance Creek Book 1)

by A. L. Mercier

  "Relax. That's probably just Ryan." Jake zipped up his jeans.

  Just Ryan? To him it may be just Ryan but to her it was a man other than Jake seeing her almost naked. He was straightening his hat when she tied the knot in her shirt. She stood up and turned to look at him. Just looking at his hard, naked chest made her want him again. As if he read her mind, a grin spread across his face and he wiggled his eyebrows. She laughed and slapped at his arm playfully.

  "Don't even think about it." She buttoned the last button on her shirt and pulled it straight.

  He pulled his shirt back on and met her gaze. Her anxiety must have shown through, because his voice was one of concern as he asked, "What?"

  "Whoever that is out there is going to see me like this." She waved her hand at her provocative outfit.

  "Lucky bastard."

  "Are you kidding me?" She laughed.

  He just shook his head and grinned as they walked out of the barn.

  Just as they stepped into the sunlight, a horse came galloping up. Ryan, Jake's younger brother, was atop. He dismounted the horse and as he turned around, he tilted his hat back on his head and grinned.

  "Nice outfit, Lizzie."

  Jake threw his arm across her shoulders and pulled her close to his side. "Save your leers for your own woman."

  "If I had my own woman I would, but I don't, so I'll leer at Lizzie if I want to."

  Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Oh for God's sake, what are we, seven?"

  Ryan wiggled his eyebrows. "No seven year old would have the thoughts I'm having right now."

  "You are such a perv," she told Ryan with a snicker.

  "Gotta take my thrills where I can get them."

  She turned to Jake and crooked her index finger urging him closer. When he bent to her level, she gave him a quick kiss full on the mouth and then pulled back. "I'll see you tonight, Cowboy." She turned and walked away. "Six thirty!" she called over her shoulder.

  "I'll be there Darlin'."

  16

  Jake

  He had no idea where they were going on their date and he didn't really care. As he watched her walk away, her tight ass swaying, he knew without a doubt that he was going to lose that bet. Which meant, he had to come up with plan B to win the woman.

  17

  Lizzie

  As she pulled into the yard, Lizzie noted Matt had her SUV jacked up and was changing the tire. She stepped down from the truck and Matt raised his eyebrows. "Hell Lizzie, in that outfit you could tempt a saint into sin."

  "That was the idea."

  "I take it you went over to try to tempt Jake?"

  "Yep."

  He laughed and turned the tire iron. "Well, from the hay sticking out of your hair, I'd say you were successful."

  She came up alongside him, tempted to swat him upside his head. "Only partly. We got interrupted."

  He chuckled. "Well, get the hay out of my hair before Brand sees!" Matt wiped his hand on his pants before pulling out four long pieces and handing them to her. She felt over her hair. "Is that all of them?"

  "Looks like. Just in time, too," he added as Brand strode up. She quickly shoved the hay into her pocket.

  Brand took one look at her outfit and chuckled. "Oh, I'd have loved to have seen the look on Jake's face when he saw you in that getup."

  "It was interesting," she said playfully.

  "I'll bet." When he motioned to the tire, his brows furrowed into deep V. "What happened here?"

  "I don't have a clue." She adjusted a piece of hay poking her through the pocket of her shorts and jabbing into her thigh. "I came out to drive over to see Jake and I saw it was flat. I figured I just ran over something. Why? What's wrong?"

  Matt wiped his dirty hands on a rag. "You didn't just have a flat, the tire was slashed. I called Brand in to have a look."

  "Slashed? Are you sure?"

  Brand nodded.

  "Why would someone do that?"

  Brand looked grim. "I'm more interested in who."

  Lizzie shook her head. This was all too weird. "I can't think of anyone who would do that. Maybe the kids who downed Jake's fences are getting bored and pulling more pranks. Getting more destructive as they go along."

  Brand shook his head. "I don't know. Look at this." He pointed to the tire. "This has been slashed a good six or seven inches."

  "Someone had to be awfully pissed off to slash the tire like that," Matt told her.

  And awfully strong, she thought. She tried to think of anyone she'd made angry enough to do that and drew a blank.

  "Here's the knife they used." Matt handed her the bag.

  Lizzie took the plastic bag that held a large, sharp, and jagged hunting knife and a shudder ran through her. That was one big-ass knife. "Where did you find this?"

  "Just behind the tire."

  "What kind of idiot would leave the knife behind?"

  "Someone who wanted to make a statement," Brand said, and Matt sent him a glaring look at his lack of tact.

  "It's hard to say," Matt said in an obvious attempt to soothe her. It wasn't working. She couldn't take her eyes off that knife. It was so big. So sharp.

  "Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary lately?"

  "I've been getting calls from a heavy breather, but that's it," she added when both Brand and Matt gave her quizzical stares. "And Jake already advised me to get my numbers changed."

  "Why didn't you tell me about this?" Brand asked.

  "I just did."

  "Lizzie."

  "What? I wasn't concerned about it at all until this afternoon when I was at Jake's and they called my cell. No one but business associates and close friends have that number."

  "Call the phone company when you get inside. They'll put a trace on the phone. If that doesn't work, then get your number changed," Matt said with a frown, and Matt rarely ever frowned.

  "Do I need to worry about this?" she couldn't help but ask because the looks of concern on their faces were making her edgy.

  "Let's just say until we get this taken care of," Brand gestured to the tire, "you should keep your eyes open for anything unusual and have your cell phone charged and with you at all times. We'll pick you up an extra spare. This tire is toast."

  "Thanks. I appreciate it. I'll talk to Jake about it when he picks me up later."

  "No need. I already gave him a head's up."

  Anger rippled up her spine. Did they think she was a little woman who couldn't take care of herself? She wasn't a wimp, and she'd taken damn good care of herself those seven years she lived in the city. "As much as I appreciate your concern, I can take care of myself."

  "Now, don't be going and getting your panties in a twist. Brand was just looking out for you. Besides, if they're wrecking shit here, they may be wrecking it over at the Rocking K, too."

  She knew Matt was right. She was just so used to taking care of herself that she looked at the gesture from Brand as controlling instead of helpful. She really needed to control her temper where her brother was concerned.

  "You're right."

  "What?" Both men asked in surprise.

  "I said, you're right."

  "That had to hurt," Matt teased while rubbing a hand over his heart.

  "You have no idea. Now, I'm going to go call the phone companies and then get ready for my date. I appreciate you both taking care of this for me. Really." She gave them each a quick hug and snickered at their stunned expressions, then she headed to the loft. She had a lot to do before Jake arrived.

  18

  Lizzie

  The damn basket was heavy. With the tote bag slung over her shoulder, Lizzie grabbed the picnic basket with both hands and ambled down the stairs, the basket bumping her legs, likely giving her a bruise or ten in the process. She paused halfway down the steps, set the basket down, flexed her hands, and then rubbed her thigh. She was wrong. The basket was not just heavy, it weighed a fricking ton. She took a deep breath, then retrieved the basket and continued her trek down the s
tairs.

  She made it to the bottom. Finally. Jake had better make all these damn bruises and sore hands worth her while. Lizzie looked down the Bar T access road and didn't see him coming, so she took a seat on the bottom step to wait.

  The late afternoon sun warmed her face as she leaned back and enjoyed a few minutes of peace. Horses whinnied, birds chirped, and in the distance, she heard Bailey barking. Her lips curved upward in a smile. No doubt he was having the time of his life helping Brand and Matt. A refreshing gentle breeze wafted over her, cooling her skin beneath the setting sun.

  She heard a truck in the distance and less than a minute later she caught sight of Jake's red pickup. His truck, he said, was for work, but it seemed more of a luxury truck to her. Did he really need a king cab for work? Probably not. Men and their toys she thought as he pulled the truck to a stop and got out.

  And there he was. His lean, hard, muscular body packed into jeans and a blue t-shirt. He was wearing that heart-teetering half grin and she sighed dreamily. He walked up and gave her a brief kiss. He smelled of soap, the fresh outdoors, and man. She inhaled deeply as he leaned down for the picnic basket. "Let me help you with that."

  "Thanks." Lord, she was hot for him. This afternoon in the barn had been fantastic, but it hadn't been enough. Neither of them got off. The frustration was real.

  She wanted to feel him inside her, needed to feel him there. Her nipples beaded against the bodice of the pale green cotton dress. She looked up to see Jake's gaze focused on her aroused breasts. She nearly moaned. He was looking at her as if he wanted to gobble her up in one big bite. She would love nothing more, but not here on the bottom of the steps in front of everyone on the Bar T. Just thinking of her parents doused the flames to a simmer.

  "You stop looking at me like that right now, Jake Kramer, or you won't get any of my cherry cheese torte."

  He groaned. "You mean the stuff with the homemade crust?"

  She grinned. His hunger overran his desire. "Yep."

  "The stuff with that cheesecake filling?"

  "One and the same."

  "The one with the fresh cherries and homemade whipped cream?"

  "You got it, Cowboy."

  He groaned aloud again. "My favorite. What else do you have in here?"

  She smacked his hand as he tried to peek inside the basket. "There's fried chicken, potato salad, homemade biscuits, and fresh fruit." She stepped around him and headed toward the truck.

  When she didn't hear his footsteps behind her, she knew he was up to no good. She shook her head and didn't bother to look back. "If you even think of sneaking a taste of anything before we get to our picnic, I won't feed you."

  "You're a hard woman, Elizabeth Thomason."

  She smirked as she looked at him over her shoulder. "You have no idea, Cowboy."

  He opened her door and closed it behind her. He walked around the front of the truck, then opened the door to put the basket behind his seat. He patted it with his hand. "I'm storing it close to me for safe keeping."

  "Uh-huh." She laughed. "You hungry?" As if on cue his stomach growled.

  He laughed. "Starving."

  "We'll be there soon enough."

  "Have pity on me and give me just a taste of something."

  "No-ho way. I know how you work. One taste leads to two, and two to three, and so on." And he knew just the right look to use to have her giving him what he asked for. "Not happening."

  "It smells so good my mouth is watering."

  "Then it's a good thing I made a lot of everything because I'm hungry, too."

  "It's never good when you're hungry."

  "Why's that?"

  "You eat everything, and I won't get seconds."

  Lizzie playfully slapped his arm. "Hey! I don't eat that much."

  Jake cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, you do. But it's okay. I love that about you."

  Her heart jumped at the L word. She shoved that down to deal with later and instead raised a brow of her own. "So long as I have your approval."

  Jake grinned. "Where to, Darlin'?"

  The moment of truth. She paused. "Archer's Cove." The first place they had ever made love, and the one place she knew she could seduce him into making love to her again. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him turn in his seat to look at her. She gave him an innocent look. He gave her a full-fledged, knee-buckling, make-your-heart-sigh smile that had her releasing the breath she wasn't even aware she was holding. He reached out to envelop her hand in his.

  "Pulling out the big guns, huh?"

  She nodded. "Yeah." He squeezed her hand gently.

  "All right then. Let's go."

  "How was your day?"

  "Alright. We finalized the purchase of a colt sired by Earl Johnson's prize stallion."

  "A welcome addition to the Rocking K's breeding program." The rut in the road had her bouncing on the seat.

  He glanced at her, she saw the pleasure and surprise. "And then some."

  "How'd you find him?"

  "Ryan found him on a trip upstate. He's got a good eye."

  "No wonder the Rocking K is so successful."

  "Speaking of the Rocking K," he paused to maneuver through a series of sharp turns in the road.

  "What about it?" Uh-oh. That tone could only mean one thing. He was annoyed about something. When the road ahead was once again straight, he glanced over at her.

  "When you came over earlier in your 'outfit of seduction' why didn't you tell me about your tire?"

  She sighed. "When I went to get in my SUV this morning, all I noticed was that the tire was flat. I didn't even look at it. I had other things on my mind. I figured I just ran over a nail or something since they just replaced the roof on the barn last month, and with the dirt access road leading to the Bar T I could have run over anything."

  "Well, I don't like it."

  "It's not a big deal, it's just a tire. And it's not as if it's my fault."

  He reached out to hold her hand. "I know that, baby, but you should have told me."

  "A flat tire is not an unusual thing on a ranch."

  "True enough."

  From his tone, Lizzie could tell he had more to say. "Moving on…" Lizzie prompted, but knowing Jake, he wouldn't let it drop that easily.

  "Ryan was there for the poker game with Matt, Todd, and some of the other local guys. Ryan left around midnight and said things were quiet. Logan said he left around one and nothing was out of the ordinary then either."

  Lizzie visibly shuddered. "Like I trust anything Logan has to say."

  He pulled the truck to a stop at the edge of the trail leading to the pond. As if Jake, once again, sensed her feelings, he reached for her when she went to get out of the truck.

  "What'd you mean by that?" He held up a hand. "And before you deny there's anything going on there, don't forget I know you better than anyone and you've had the same reaction toward him since high school."

  She twisted her hands in her lap and then reached to straighten the hem on her dress. She didn't want to cause tension between Jake and one of his employees due to something that happened so long ago. "First off, this happened in high school so don't go getting all mad or macho on me."

  "Okay."

  She sighed. He was too amenable, and she knew that his agreement now would soon be forgotten. She turned in her seat to look at him. "When we were in high school, he asked me out a couple times and I always said no because I wasn't interested in him like that. I had my sights set on this tall, hunky cowboy…"

  "Don't try to distract me, Lizzie. It's not gonna work."

  "Oh, all right. I just don't want to cause problems between you and Logan."

  "You won't."

  He said that now... "Well, like I said, I told him no a couple times. Then he kept on asking and asking so when Todd and I started seeing one another I thought he had given up. Right up until the night of the spring formal."

  "What happened?"

  She blew out a breath. "Well, Todd went
to get us a couple of sodas and I went to the ladies room. When I stepped back out, he was there. Waiting for me. It was obvious he had been drinking because he reeked of whiskey. Anyway, he cornered me and started asking me why I wouldn't go out with him. At first, he was nice about it but when I told him I wasn't interested in him like that, he got more aggressive."

  "What do you mean more aggressive? Did he hurt you, baby?"

  Through the concerned tone of his voice she heard the hint of the anger. She could see by the stiffness in his posture he was working hard to keep tamped down.

  "No. He just said something like he could get me to like him if I'd give him a chance and I got a little annoyed, so I told him I didn't want to give him a chance. Then he pushed me against the wall and kissed me. At first, I was too shocked to register what was happening, but when he pushed his tongue down my throat, I kneed him in the balls and ran back to Todd who promptly and thoroughly kicked Logan's ass. Since then, I've never had a problem with him. He even apologized for his behavior. But to this very day, he just rubs me the wrong way."

  She reached across the seat and grasped Jake's fisted hands in hers. Then she slowly pried them open and kissed each palm. When he finally relaxed a little and looked at her, she smiled.

  "It's in the past, Jake. Don't hold the transgressions of a drunk teenage boy against him. I don't know who Logan is today, but from what I've heard he's a good, hard-working man." She squeezed his hands. "Let the past stay in the past. Isn't that what we've decided to do? I think Logan deserves the same courtesy."

  "You're a better person than I am, Lizzie, but I'll do as you ask as long as you do one thing for me."

  "What's that?"

  "Whether he's changed or not, stay away from Logan MacGregor."

  She laughed dryly. "I assure you, that won't be a problem."

  "Good."

  They parked at the edge of a grassy field with a thin strip of woods just ahead of where they stood. An opening in the trees showed the narrow path that cut into the woods, one she knew from memory would lead them to the pond a quarter mile away.