Kyle

by Jennifer Ashley

  Anna’s words died as Kyle gazed stonily down the road. That was exactly what she’d done—or was it? Part of her had welcomed the excuse to call Kyle for the make-up date.

  All right, so most of her had welcomed the excuse. Just talking to Kyle on the phone had spread agreeable heat through her.

  Anna knew exactly what the heat meant. Kyle Malory pushed all the right buttons—good looks, engaging smile, the wicked light in his eyes, and a body that stopped her heart. Women who wanted him weren’t fools.

  And now she’d pissed him off. No matter what people said about him, Kyle wasn’t a mindless rutting machine, plowing any woman who walked in front of him. He was the kind of guy who’d stop at the scene of an accident and help, comforting a shaken woman and her upset horse, who’d ruin a suit doing it and not think anything about it. Who’d give up reservations at a fancy restaurant to accompany the horse to the vet’s and then take the tired vet to the diner to make sure she ate.

  “Kyle, I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I was trying to get Jarrod off my back so I could leave the ranch before his brothers stopped me. I jumped at the first idea that came into my head. But you’re right. I should have been straight with you.”

  Kyle gave her a quick nod. He didn’t answer but stared down the road, his lips tight.

  Well, she couldn’t blame him for staying mad. But how to save the situation?

  She grasped at a topic. “So, how’s Chocolate and the foal?” She’d kept the mare called Chocolate in her stables not long ago, until the horse, who’d been having difficulty, had successfully given birth.

  “They’re both fine.” Kyle said the words curtly. He snapped his mouth shut again, more silence descending.

  “And Ray?” Anna went on nervously. “How’s he?”

  Kyle shot her another swift glance. “He wouldn’t tell me about Drew. I asked.”

  “I like her.” Much easier to gossip about other people than examine what was between—or not between—Anna and Kyle. “She’s got a tough row to hoe, but I think she has the stamina to do it. Her daughter, Erica, is twelve, ready to start junior high.”

  “About the same age as Faith, then.”

  “We should introduce them, if they haven’t met already. They probably have, though Drew is keeping Erica close to home.”

  Kyle’s hands tightened on the wheel, and Anna realized she’d said we. As though they were a couple, as though they’d stand hand-in-hand while they welcomed Riverbend’s newest resident.

  Kyle spoke into the tense silence. “It’s a small town. Knowing Faith, she’s already leading a crusade to welcome her.”

  “Faith is warmhearted.”

  “Yeah, she’s a cute kid.”

  At last, something they could agree on. “Faith really enjoyed following me around that day, helping me. She’ll make a good vet, if she decides to go that way.”

  “She does like animals.”

  Of course, agreeing on everything meant conversation would run out quickly. “Would be nice to see that B&B up and running again,” Anna babbled. “Maybe we’ll get visitors who’ll want to keep River County as beautiful as it is.”

  Kyle nodded once. “People do come here to get away from it all. Is that why you came back?”

  Awkward again. “Sort of. Nice to be with people I know. I got tired of the disbelieving looks of ranchers when I showed up to geld their horses or inoculate the cattle.”

  “Bet you put them in their places.”

  “I tried to show them I knew what the hell I was doing. But having to prove yourself every single day is exhausting.”

  “Well, everyone in Riverbend loves you.”

  He said it with no warmth at all.

  The road stretched before them, long and narrow. Even longer would be the dinner coming up at the most romantic restaurant in the county.

  Anna gritted her teeth. She’d get through this. She’d eat and smile and try to make conversation until they’d been there long enough to satisfy the bet and the nosy people of Riverbend. Then Kyle would drive her home and never speak to her again.

  Chapter Ten

  Kyle pulled in to the parking lot at Chez Orleans two minutes before the reservation.

  The place was packed. Cars and trucks spilled out from the small dirt lot to the grass around it.

  In spite of the blow to his ego that Anna had called him only to save herself from Jarrod Haynes, Kyle couldn’t help being smug when he opened the door for Anna and walked her inside the restaurant.

  She filled out the sexy pink dress she’d chosen and killed it with her shapely legs and high-heeled shoes. Her hair was down tonight, a swath of gold cascading past her shoulders, the silk of it beckoning his touch.

  Guys looked at her and let their gazes linger. Women did too, both admiring and envious. There were a few amazed faces as well—That’s Dr. Anna? Whoa, who knew she was such a fox?

  Kyle had always known.

  The maître d’ was the rodeo fan who’d made sure Kyle could get in tonight. He greeted them and led them to their table, asking Kyle how he was holding up after his fall and which rodeos he’d be riding when he finished healing. Anna, who had obviously thought the fan was a woman, tried and failed to hide her surprise.

  The maître d’ finally clapped Kyle on the back and left them. Kyle pushed in Anna’s chair while a waiter slipped from the shadows and dropped a napkin in her lap.

  This place was seriously swank. At least three waiters hovered at each table, one for wine, one for food, one for coordinating the other two. The menu was one page, simple, and not full of weird food that no one really ate except to impress other people.

  The chef had stuck to steaks and fresh fish flown in every morning from the Gulf, as well as vegetarian dishes that Anna eyed with approval.

  At least the ritual of ordering kept things moving. Anna chose a mixed-leaf salad with goat cheese and fried garlic “chips,” and a dish of multi-colored baby carrots in a rich sauce.

  Kyle decided, in a fit of what-the-hell, to order vegetarian as well.

  “The mushroom thing,” he told the waiter. “Sounds good.”

  Anna blinked at him over the small table when the waiter grinned and glided off. Candlelight sparkled in her very blue eyes.

  “You feeling all right?” she asked.

  Kyle shrugged. “You said they did vegetarian well here. I thought I’d try it.”

  “Must be your meds. Did you accidentally take too many?”

  “Ha ha. I’m off my meds anyway. Which is great—I’ve missed beer.”

  “This is more of a wine place.” Anna glanced at the sommelier who uncorked the bottle of pinot noir they’d ordered and trickled wine into her glass. She tasted it and nodded, and the man filled both glasses.

  “Notice he gave you the taste and not me,” Kyle said, amused. He took a sip and pretended to contemplate. “Mmm, I sense … um … wine.”

  Anna gave him a little smile. “They know you’re all about beer.”

  Kyle stared at the dark red wine—the only glass he’d have since he was driving. “This isn’t bad. I guess. I have no clue.”

  “Doesn’t matter. If you like it, drink it. If you don’t …” She waved a vague hand. “Don’t worry about it. Life’s too short to spend it on things you don’t like.”

  “Like Jarrod Haynes?”

  Kyle had intended to make her laugh, but Anna flushed. “I really am sorry about that. You’re right—I didn’t give it much thought.”

  “I shouldn’t have said that. You just smacked me in my pride.” He sent her what he hoped was a reassuring grin. “I want to think I’m irresistible.”

  Anna’s flush deepened. “I wouldn’t have called if I truly didn’t want to go out with you. I’d have called … oh, I don’t know. Anyone else.” She leaned forward, the soft light making her face more beautiful than ever. “I told Jarrod we were a thing. But don’t worry. I won’t make you pretend we are.”

  Kyle hid his edginess by taking anoth
er sip of wine. It was smooth, kind of nice. Full-bodied, the sommelier had said. “We can keep this platonic. I forced you into this date in the first place.”

  Anna was nearly as red as the wine, and also full-bodied. “I wouldn’t say forced. I agreed on the bet, and I knew the consequences.”

  A date with him was a consequence? The wine suddenly tasted bitter. But what had Kyle expected? That she’d go starry-eyed and fall in love with him because he took her to a fancy restaurant?

  This woman stared bulls in the face and poked them with sharp objects, and they stood there and took it. She’d gone alone to the Haynes ranch without fear—went to a lot of ranches full of guys happy for a visit from a pretty woman—and never had a problem.

  “Tell you what, though,” Kyle said. “If Jarrod or his brothers try to mess with you, keep on telling them you’re with me. I’ll go out there and talk some sense into them if I have to. That goes for any ranchers who give you shit.”

  And for some reason, Kyle had said exactly the wrong thing.

  Anna went frosty. “I can do my job,” she returned in a hard voice.

  Before Kyle could defend himself, the meal was delivered. This place didn’t give you dinky salads or salty soups beforehand—you got what you ordered, period.

  Kyle’s plate held a crock topped with a puffy dough sprinkled with black pepper. Smelled good even if it looked weird.

  “I never said you couldn’t do your job,” Kyle continued in a low voice after the waiters had backed away. “But some of these guys don’t get out much, and they might decide your services include more than doctoring their animals. If they know me and Ray will hand their asses to them if they even look at you wrong, they’ll be more respectful.”

  “I can hold my own, Kyle,” Anna said stiffly. “I’ve been doing it for some time now.”

  “I know, but guys like the Haynes boys don’t care. I’m not saying you’re incompetent. I’m saying they’re assholes.”

  “I know. I’m careful. I’m not a wimpy girl who needs rescuing.”

  Kyle raised his brows. “Oh yeah? I thought that’s what I was doing tonight. Rescuing you from a date with Jarrod.”

  “Yes, all right. We can argue about that forever. Eat your food.”

  Kyle poked at the pastry, which easily flaked away. Beneath was a vegetable stew, thick and hearty, smelling of peppers, onions, and fresh herbs. He took a tentative bite, and blinked in surprise.

  “Damn—this is good.”

  “Even if it isn’t dead cow?” Anna asked, looking innocent. She took a bite of carrots in silence, but her flickering expression told him she was going to flavor heaven.

  Kyle made a conceding gesture. “You’re right—they know how to cook vegetarian. This is awesome. I bet my sister could make this if I asked her.”

  Anna nodded. “Grace is pretty amazing. She might jump at the chance to cook something besides steak night after night.”

  “It’s not steak every night.” Kyle kept a straight face. “Sometimes she does chicken.” He let himself grin. “She makes Carter eat all kinds of stuff. He looks happy enough, so it must be good.”

  Anna showed a glimmer of a smile. “I think that has something to do with more than Grace’s cooking.”

  Kyle flinched. “Nope. This is my sister we’re talking about. I’ve reconciled with her being in love with Carter Sullivan, but I don’t want to think too much beyond that.”

  “Why not? Sisters are people too.”

  “No.” Kyle took another bite of the mushroom ambrosia. “They’re not, not when they’re yours. Brothers either. When they go out into the world, they are people to other people. But to me, they’re in this odd place where you love them and want the best for them, and seriously want to lock them in the basement at the same time ’cause they drive you crazy.”

  “Hm.” Anna considered this. “I bet they think the same thing about you.”

  “They do. Grace especially. She thinks I’m way overprotective.”

  “Gee, I can’t imagine why.”

  The good food was softening them both, but not quite. The stiffness was still there.

  “Because I know guys and how they think,” Kyle said. “And some think it’s perfectly okay to be total buttheads to women, because women are supposed to be their personal needs-satisfiers. Cooking, cleaning, and … everything else.”

  “Putting out.” Anna took a demure bite of her carrots.

  “I was trying to be tactful. So when I see those same guys near my sisters, or near you, yeah, I get a little overprotective. And I’m always going to be, so live with it.”

  Anna only watched him. No agreement, or apology, or understanding. Just looking at him with those gorgeous blue eyes.

  Kyle waited for her to growl at him that neither she nor his sisters needed to be taken care of, but damn it—

  Anna nodded. “You might have a point.”

  “I do?” Kyle blinked in surprised. “I mean—”

  He broke off as two people stopped at their table.

  Karen Marvin smiled down at them in beneficence. She wore a dress clasped across one shoulder with a diamond pin, leaving the other shoulder bare. Karen was ten years older than Kyle, but her body could compete with a twenty-five-year old’s. Better, even, because she worked out and knew how to choose clothes to show off the best of her.

  Her hair was pulled off her neck and fixed in what Grace had told him was a French braid, affixed with another diamond pin. That was the only jewelry she wore, which had the effect of drawing all eyes to the diamonds.

  The cowboy on her arm was a young rodeo hotshot called Deke … Something. He’d posted online that he had all kinds of sympathy for Kyle taking a fall, and hoped Kyle’s age didn’t slow down his healing. Well, probably someone had posted this for Deke, as Kyle wasn’t sure Deke could spell.

  “How do you like the car?” Karen asked Anna without saying hello. “Isn’t it gorgeous? I have two.”

  “It’s very nice,” Anna said politely. “Comfortable seats.”

  “The back seat is especially soft.” Karen winked at Anna. “And surprisingly large.”

  Anna turned wine-red again. Deke guffawed. “Plenty of room.”

  Karen looked in no way embarrassed. In fact, she smiled in delight and stroked Deke’s arm. “Deke’s more of a truck man.”

  “Which is why you bought me one, baby.” He kissed her cheek.

  Anna retained remarkable control of her expression. “Trucks are more practical for me. Though it’s nice to have luxury once in a while.”

  “That’s why I told Kyle to rent it,” Karen said. “If he was going to take you out, he needed to do it in style. Especially when he said he was bringing you here. The food is fabulous.”

  “Even Kyle thinks so,” Anna said without cracking a smile.

  “It can’t beat Grant Campbell’s chili, but it’s not bad,” Kyle returned, deadpan.

  Deke sent Kyle a condescending look. “Well, no one can eat chili forever. Starts to creep up on you after a while.” He put his hand on his flat stomach. “I have a ways to go before that, though.”

  Karen closed her red-nailed hand around Deke’s arm. “Let’s get to our table, honey. These two are on a date.”

  Deke let his gaze linger on Anna a bit too long. “Yeah, I heard you lost a bet,” he said to her, his tone holding sympathy.

  Anna bathed him in a radiant smile. “Oh, no, we squared that already. This date’s for fun.”

  Deke looked confused, as though he couldn’t figure out why Anna would want to have dinner with Kyle.

  Kyle warmed as Anna switched the smile to him. He knew she was bullshitting, but the idea of her leaping to his defense was a fine one. He wanted to kiss her.

  And keep kissing her. Sliding the zipper down the back of her silky dress, letting the sleeveless top ease from her shoulders …

  Karen was loving this. She leaned into Deke as she dragged him away. “Enjoy, you two,” she called over her shoulder. “Tr
y the salted caramel apple tart. Seriously good.”

  She sauntered off, and Deke quickened his steps to keep up with her. The maître d’ seated them at a table on the other side of the restaurant.

  Anna and Kyle stared at each other. Anna’s lips twitched hard, her cheeks going pink from holding in the laughter.

  Kyle lifted his wine and took a gulp. “Karen really is doing a lot for the community. In spite of her taste in guys.”

  “That’s what everyone says after a conversation with Karen.” Anna gave up fighting and let her smile come. “I don’t think she’s going out with Deke for his personality.”

  “What, you didn’t like him? I saw you checking him out.”

  “Oh, he has great ass—ets, but he’s not my type.” Anna swirled the wine in her glass. “I like a guy with less empty air between his ears.”

  “Yeah, he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Except for thinking up ways to call me old and fat without coming out and saying it.”

  Anna’s eyes widened as she looked Kyle up and down. “By no stretch of the imagination are you old or fat.”

  “A washed up has-been, that’s what he thinks. Now that I’m out of the running, he’ll sweep the season this year.” Kyle let out a sigh. “Maybe it is time I left it to the younger crowd.”

  “Fuck him.”

  Kyle started. “’Scuse me?”

  Anna looked at him with intensity, her eyes sparkling. “I said, fuck him. He’s far too full of himself, and that karma will backlash on him one day so hard he won’t get out of bed.” She jabbed her fork gently toward him. “Don’t let him keep you from doing what you want to do, what you’re good at. You’re injured, and that can be depressing, but next season you’ll come back just fine. And then Deke will eat his words.”

  Kyle regarded her in surprise. “You hate bull riding.”

  “So? That’s me. I’m on the bulls’ side. But you shouldn’t give up what you’re good at because some dickhead implies you’re finished. I can’t tell you how many people have told me, not-so-subtly, that I need to pack it in, settle down, learn to knit, and not mess with dangerous animals. To leave it to the men, because I’m only going to get hurt, and it will be my own fault. Honey.”