Love on the Wild Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  Time flew by when you were having fun—not so much when you were doing paperwork. But eventually, closing time came, and Jamie and Tony headed out. Lizzy made a final check through, then locked up the shop and headed up the inside stairs to her apartment. It was really Maggie’s apartment; she was just staying there while her friend recovered on the ranch under the watchful eye of her new fiancé.

  Hmm. Maybe it wouldn’t be Maggie’s apartment anymore. Now that she and Colton were getting married, they would probably move her to the ranch permanently.

  Maybe it could be mine now. She’d come to Peak Town to help out, but it wasn’t like she had to go back to LA. She had quit her job in California for various reasons. One being her jerk of a boss had said no when she asked for time off to go see her wounded friend—and his former employee.

  Managing the restaurant had been no fun after Maggie left anyway.

  Lizzy talked to her briefly about staying in town and helping run the shop. Perhaps it was time to revisit that idea. Nail down a solid plan.

  The shrill ring of her phone belting out “You’re so Vain” by Carly Simon made her groan.

  Reaching the top of the stairs, she unlocked the apartment door while pulling her cell phone out of her pocket. “Hello, Mother.” It was a horrible ring tone to use for her mother, but it fit.

  “Elizabeth, darling, where in heaven’s name are you?”

  She sighed, closed the door, and leaned against it. “In Peak Town, Colorado. Just like I have been for the past few weeks. I told you, Mother.”

  “Still?” Dinah Hayworth’s voice rose, but she didn’t yell. Dinah never yelled. It wasn’t a proper thing for a lady of her status to do. “I thought you would be back home by now.”

  “I already discussed this with you and Father. I’m not coming home for a while.” She waited a beat then added, “Maybe never.”

  “Never? What on earth are you talking about?”

  That sounded like a yell.

  Making her way down the hall to the bedroom, Lizzy stripped off her work clothes. What to wear tonight? A dress? Would that be too formal? Jeans. Too casual? If she was in LA, she’d know exactly what to wear, or she should say, whom to wear. She had a closet full of designer names she was sure no one in Peak Town had ever heard of.

  “Elizabeth, are you paying attention?”

  Maggie wouldn’t care what she wore. She would just want her to show up. That’s why they were best friends. Neither of them cared much for the Hollywood façade. They had played the game, but it was never really their thing.

  “Yes, Mother. I hear you.”

  Okay, so jeans and a nice top. That would be good. With my black, Kate Spade heels.

  Her only LA vice was shoes. A sexy pair of heels made her feel fantastic even on the worst of days. Being five-foot-nine, and then adding her heels, she towered over most men, but she didn’t care. If they had an issue with her height, that was their problem.

  “Then answer me. What is going on?”

  “I’m not sure yet,” she replied honestly. “I came out here to help Maggie with the bakery as she recovers, but I don’t know…I kind of like it here. I might stay and help run the shop.”

  “What about your job? Your apartment?”

  Tugging the jeans on, she grabbed her sleeveless, green silk tunic. Perfect. “I quit my job and sublet my apartment.”

  “You quit your job!”

  Yup, definitely yelling.

  “What about your father and me? Did you ever think of how your leaving would affect us?”

  Yes, she had. After about ten minutes, she concluded neither of them would think of her long enough to miss her or even realize she’d left. Harsh, but true. Point in fact, it had been weeks, and this was the first call she received from either of them since she called from the airport telling them she was leaving.

  It had always been that way. Her parents were too wrapped up in their own lives to concern themselves with their only child. Lizzy had accepted that fact long ago. It hurt, but she had Maggie—closer than a sister. That’s why she was here now, and that’s why she was thinking of staying. There was nothing, and no one, for her in LA.

  “You should come home, Elizabeth, dear. Devlin is casting his new film, and there’s a role in it you’d be perfect for.”

  No matter how many times she told her parents she didn’t want to be in show business they never got the hint. “I’m not an actress, Mother.”

  “You could be if you’d only apply yourself,” her mother whined over the phone.

  Yes, because applying herself to business school and graduating with a 4.0 wasn’t as great as being the next A list actress.

  “Your father misses you greatly.”

  I just bet he does. In fact, she’d bet her mother had not even spoken to her father since before Lizzy left California. They lived in separate wings of their house and were only seen together for social functions.

  She had no idea why they were still married when it was clear they didn’t love each other. Both had had a string of lovers since she was three. It was so Hollywood cliché it almost didn’t sound real. But it was, and it broke her heart. All a child wanted was a happy home with parents who loved her and each other—not a twenty-four-hour nanny to care for her while her parents banged everyone in the 90210 zip code.

  Listen to me whine. Ugh.

  She wasn’t that sad, lonely, little girl anymore. She was a strong, independent woman with people who loved her. Okay, one person who loved her, but that was enough.

  Slipping into her heels, she addressed her mother again. “I’m sorry, but I have to run. I’m having dinner with Maggie.”

  “Fine, but I do wish you’d come to your senses, Elizabeth, dear. This is your home. It’s where you belong.”

  God she hoped not.

  “Your father will be in Milan next month filming, and I’ll be accompanying Devlin to a charming film festival in Australia. We hope to see you back home and with this foolish nonsense of moving out of your head when we both return. Ta, darling.” The phone went dead as her mother hung up without waiting for a response.

  Standard, but it still stung. At least a little less each time.

  It wasn’t until she was in the car driving toward the ranch Lizzy realized—with a familiar pang of hurt—that her mother never even asked how she was doing.

  Chapter 3

  Dade Denning enjoyed working on his family ranch. As a young boy, he and his brother would help their father with the day-to-day chores. Back then, the place had simply been a boarding ranch; folks in town who didn’t have room on their property would rent out a stall in their barn, and his family would see to their horses for a monthly fee.

  Later, his father decided to offer trail riding with the horses they owned.

  After his parents retired and the economy had taken a turn for the worse, and after discussing options with his brother, he’d decided to add breeding to the list. They found a world class-racing stallion to breed with their mares. It had been a lucrative move.

  Most days, the repetition of daily chores would lull his mind in to serenity.

  Today was not most days.

  He threw another bale of hay down from the truck, wishing it were something else he was throwing—or more accurately, someone else.

  A while back, they had a rider get tossed from a mount. Colton had been leading the trail ride and warned the guy against kicking the horse. But the stupid jackass fancied himself a Wild West cowboy or something and kicked poor Red pretty hard. Dade wanted to jump on the guy’s back and kick him in the stomach. See how he liked it.

  Every rider signed a release waiver before being allowed within twenty feet of a horse, and the guy hadn’t even been hurt. But he’d lawyered up and was now threatening to sue the Denning ranch big time. The idiot had no case, but he was a pain in the ass. It was ruining Dade’s normally mellow mood.

  Lately, he always seemed to be agitated, on edge. It could also be the fact someone tried to
kill his baby brother a few weeks ago.

  Yeah, it had been a month of hell, but things were looking up. Colton was fine, Maggie was recovering, and the two were even engaged. He was happy for them. He loved his brother and always considered Maggie a little sister. Now, she really would be.

  He’d known there was something between those two. Even when they were kids, it was obvious to anyone with eyes. It may have taken them years, but they finally got there. Just one look at the couple and you could see how stupid happy they were.

  Their happiness brought back a deep pain though. A pain he buried long ago and never shared, with anyone. Yes, he was happy his brother was getting the chance to spend the rest of his life with the woman he loved.

  Not all men were so lucky.

  Brushing a few strands of hay off his jeans, Dade made his way toward the house. The rich smell of meat, fresh vegetables, and spices permeated the air the closer he got to the porch. Their mother’s recipe by the smell of it. He was salivating already. Manual labor made a man work up an appetite, and his brother had mentioned making stew tonight.

  Maybe this day would take a turn for the better. A nice, home-cooked dinner like Mom used to make was just the thing to help him forget his troubles.

  The sound of tires crunching on dirt caused him to pause. Turning around, he watched Maggie’s blue Subaru wagon come up the drive. Since his future sister-in-law was inside with his brother, however, there was only one person who could be driving that car.

  The vehicle parked, and a pair of black heels popped out—who the hell wears heels on a horse ranch?—followed by the longest, sexiest legs Dade had ever seen in his life.

  “Hey there, cowpoke”

  Elizabeth Hayworth. His soon to be sister-in-law’s best friend, sexy temptress…

  And all around pain in my ass.

  “It’s Dade.”

  Her smoky gray eyes rolled as she shut the car door and made her way over.

  How the hell can she walk in those tiny skyscrapers?

  “I’m worried about you, Dade, really. You seem to have a medical condition.”

  She came closer, stopping about a foot in front of him. The smell of sugar wafted off her tempting porcelain skin. Probably from Maggie’s cupcake shop. Sugar and spice described Elizabeth perfectly. She looked so sweet and sexy, but once she opened her mouth, nothing but smartass remarks. Drove him insane.

  He tipped his hat back, brushing the sweat off his forehead with the back of his sleeve. “Oh really? And what condition would that be?”

  She stepped closer, placing a finger on his chest. His body burned from the contact. Just one, tiny touch, and he wanted to pull her closer and see if that smart mouth could be put to better use.

  He wanted her and hated that he wanted her. She was not his type. Not by a long shot. He liked sweet women, soft-spoken women who enjoyed quiet nights at home or a peaceful stroll at sunset.

  There was nothing quiet or peaceful about Lizzy—though she didn’t let him call her that. The woman was high-octane energy. She was loud, pushy, and outgoing. Everything he was not. They were like fire and water.

  So, why the hell did he want her so much?

  She was beautiful, there was no denying that. Long, strawberry-blonde hair, clear, smoky gray eyes. At six three, he dwarfed most women, but she matched him perfectly. Even in those ridiculous heels, she came just about eye to nose with him. The perfect height for him to lean over and press his lips to hers. He would never do that. For many reasons—one being he wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t bite him if he tried.

  “You, sir, have what we call stickbuttitis.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down. “That’s not a real condition, or even a real word.”

  Crimson red lips tipped up in a teasing smile. “Oh yes, it is. It means you have a stick up your butt.”

  Wouldn’t be the first time someone told him that.

  “I’m afraid we are going to have to operate,” she added, affecting a pouty frown.

  Dade heaved a sigh of frustration. “What are you doing here, Elizabeth?”

  “Maggie invited me to dinner.”

  Great. His night just got ten times worse. Not only did he have this jerkoff suing him to think about, now he had to spend an entire night trying to be nice to a woman he both wanted to strangle and take to bed. “Fantastic.”

  “See, there’s that stick again.”

  He felt a massive headache coming on.

  “Oooh, I can also see you have deathglareosis. A very tragic condition. Thankfully, not fatal.”

  “Any chance I’m contagious?”

  Gray eyes brightened, and she smiled widely. “Possible, but thankfully for me, I’ve had all my vaccinations.”

  “Great.”

  She walked past him, heading into the house. He watched her go. Trying not to notice the sexy sway in her hips or how perfectly the round cheeks of her ass would fit in his hands.

  Tried and failed. Dammit.

  Tonight was going to suck.

  He followed her in through the front door.

  Maggie, reclining on the couch per Colton’s request, looked up from her reading. “Lizzy!” Her face immediately brightened when she saw her friend.

  The two women did that high-pitched, girly squeal thing he found secretly adorable, but would never admit to, then Maggie scooted over to make room for her on the couch.

  “Your maid of honor is here. Now, let’s start the planning.”

  And that was his cue. Leave the color-coding and flower choices to the women. He needed a beer if he was going to get through this night.

  Lizzy’s heartfelt laugh echoed in his ears as he made his way to the kitchen. The sexy vibrato was like a siren’s call straight to his dick.

  Better make that two beers.

  He found his brother in the kitchen, stirring what he assumed was the stew in a large pot on the stove.

  Reaching into the fridge, he grabbed two bottles. Popping both caps, he handed one to Colton. “Smells good.” He took a deep swig of the beer, letting the cool, sudsy brew dull his nerves. “Mom’s?”

  “Yup.” His younger brother took a drink himself. “Did I hear Lizzy out there?”

  He tried not to clench his teeth together. “You did. She just pulled up. Fair warning, they’re in there now making wedding plans already.”

  His little brother’s lips split in a big, goofy grin. “They can plan whatever they want as long as Maggie says, ‘I do.’”

  It was nice to see his brother so happy. He just wished that happiness didn’t necessitate the close proximity of a woman who drove him nuts.

  “So, you know Maggie asked Lizzy to be her maid of honor?”

  “I kind of assumed that.”

  Colton put the spoon he was stirring with down and turned. “You’re my best man.”

  “Where’re you going with this, Colt?”

  The annoyingly happy lovebird rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture he was familiar with.

  “You two don’t always seem to…get along all that well.”

  Understatement of the century.

  “I just…if you could…”

  “Spit it out, little brother.”

  Blue eyes, so close to his own, glared. He knew Colt hated it when he pulled the older brother card. Older only by three years, but older was older.

  “Fine. It would really mean a lot to me—to Maggie—if you two could try getting along.”

  Guilt prickled. His brother had been through a lot lately. All the guy was asking was for him to be civil to Maggie’s best friend. He could do that for Colton, for Maggie.

  “Hey, cowpokes. Dinner smells mighty good.”

  The headache was getting worse. He closed his eyes and counted to ten. I can be nice. I can be nice. I can be nice.

  “Magpie, what are you doing up?” his brother exclaimed, and he could hear him rushing to his fiancée’s side. “You should have called for me. We could have eaten in the
living room.”

  “I wanted to eat at the table, Colt, like a civilized person.”

  “You shouldn’t have walked in here by yourself,” he admonished, grasping her waist and helping her to the table.

  “She wasn’t by herself. I helped.”

  Dade opened his eyes to focus on Lizzy.

  She winked, sending him a smirk. “I’m much stronger than I look.”

  “Next time, call for me, Magpie. Okay?”

  Maggie placed a brief kiss on his lips, stroking his cheek with her hand. “You worry too much, my love.”

  “That’s my job. Now and forever.”

  This lovey-dovey stuff was going to make his beer come back up. He was happy for them, but a guy had his limits.

  “Okay, you two, save it for the honeymoon,” Lizzy said, playfully swatting at them. “Colt, you take Maggie to the table. Cowboy No-Fun and I will dish out the dinner.”

  Dade held in a groan. Playing nice was going to be harder than he thought.

  He grabbed four bowls from the cupboard and prepared himself for the worst night ever. As Lizzy shimmied over to the stove, hips swaying, breasts bouncing slightly, he decided one thing.

  Though tonight might suck, at least he could enjoy the view.

  Chapter 4

  Merle’s Diner had the best coffee in town. It could warm a person on the coldest day and wake up a drunk after a three-day bender. Dade usually enjoyed sitting down with a cup of Merle’s famous joe. Today, however, the coffee sat in his gut like a rock. Not even the pleasant aroma wafting from the steaming mug could fix his mood. The reason sat right in front of him, or reasons he should say.

  “Mr. Carr, I keep telling you, there is nothing we can do. You signed the waiver. You understood the risks,” he tried to explain yet again.

  The short, pudgy man eyed him with contempt, but he didn’t speak. Oh no, he left that to his skinny nose, smarmy-ass lawyer.

  “My client has suffered severe back problems caused by the accident at your ranch,” Mike Dornes answered for his client.