Love on the Wild Side

by Mariah Ankenman

  Then there was his cryptic, “You have no idea how much fun I can be,” statement. Talk about mixed signals.

  And they said women were hard to understand.

  With her mind preoccupied on thoughts of Dade, it was hard to focus on what her best friend was saying.

  “I know they’re beautiful, but why so expensive? Lizzy?” Maggie waved a hand in front of her face. “Hello! Earth to Elizabeth.”

  “What? Oh, sorry. What were you saying?”

  Her friend gazed at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

  She felt her cheeks flush. What was she doing thinking of her own silly problems when she was supposed to be focused on her friend’s big day. Some friend she was.

  “I’m fine.”

  Sharp green eyes didn’t look convinced. “Is anything wrong? Do you need to talk about something?”

  Yes. She needed to talk about Dade and all the mixed signals he was throwing out. She needed to talk about how her body turned to putty around him even while her brain knew it was a bad idea. She needed to talk about how she wanted to rip his clothes off more and more every time she saw him and have her wicked way with him.

  But she couldn’t talk about that. Not with Maggie. The guy was going to be her brother-in-law, and Lizzy had promised to try and get along with him. Somehow, she didn’t think her friend meant it in the biblical sense.

  Over the years, they shared everything with each other, but she couldn’t bring herself to share her complex feelings for Dade, not right now. She didn’t want to put her best friend in an awkward position.

  Besides, nothing even happened.

  Not yet.

  Not ever. The frustrating cowboy had made that pretty clear.

  And then he almost kissed her.

  Ahhh! She was going to go insane.

  “I think I just ate something bad for dinner that’s all.”

  The other woman’s concern didn’t dissipate. “What did you have?”

  Her brow furrowed, trying to remember what she had grabbed from the fridge after work before coming over. “Ummm. I think it was Chinese take-out.”

  Those big green eyes widened. “Lizzy, Peak Town doesn’t have any Chinese restaurants.”

  “Uh oh.”

  She stared at Maggie then burst into laughter. Her friend joined in the hilarity.

  “Oh no. It’s never a good thing when two women laugh like that,” a jovial voice sounded from the doorway. “You’re not planning on making me wear a penguin suit for the wedding are you?”

  She turned to see Colton standing at the entrance to the living room, a mischievous smile on his face. Right behind him stood Dade with a grim scowl. They looked so opposite, she wondered how they were even related.

  “It’s called a tux,” Maggie answered. “And you don’t have to wear one if you don’t want to, but you are not wearing your jeans.”

  “But my jeans are comfortable.”

  “Do you think I’m going to be comfortable in layers of crinoline and lace?”

  Colton ambled over to the couch. Leaning down, he brushed his nose against his fiancée’s. “I think we’d be much more comfortable wearing nothing at all, Magpie.”

  Her best friend blushed bright red and swatted his shoulder. “You behave, cowboy.”

  He stole a quick kiss before straightening. Maggie sighed in contentment, a smile on her face. It was such an intimate moment, Lizzy felt like a voyeur.

  “You staying for dinner, Lizzy?” Colton asked.

  From the corner of her eye she saw Dade tense.

  “Thank you, but no. I had dinner before I came over.”

  “Come on, Lizzy. Stay,” her best friend insisted. “I made my chicken casserole.”

  Right in the taste bud with that one. She absolutely loved Maggie’s chicken casserole. Her best friend knew it, too.

  “Well, I guess I can stay for a bite or two.”

  Colton helped Maggie to the kitchen. Lizzy followed, trying as hard as she could not to look at Dade. He made it pretty easy by heading into the kitchen ahead of them. She helped gather plates while he got the casserole out of the oven and placed it on the table. Maggie served, and for a few moments, the only sound was the chewing of food.

  “Mmm. I have missed your cooking, Maggie,” she said after finishing half her plate. “It’s no wonder the shop has been so busy.”

  “Really?”

  Her friend still wasn’t cleared to go back to work, but Lizzy had been giving her updates. “Yeah. It’s a good thing Tony decided to come work for you. I don’t think Jamie could have handled all that baking on her own. You’ll probably need to hire a replacement when she goes to college in the fall. I don’t think you can do all the paperwork and bake at the same time, even with Tony’s help.”

  Maggie looked at her fiancé who smiled and nodded. “Actually, I was wanting to talk to you about that.”

  She put down her fork, recognizing her friend’s “serious” voice.

  “I was wondering if you wanted to move here permanently, and help me run the shop?” Her smiled turned nervous. “You know how much I hate paperwork and ordering and that stuff. I thought we could be co-owners. You manage. I bake.”

  She’d already quit her job in LA. No plans for the future. Lizzy was kind of just winging it, but…

  “But the shop is yours. You own it. Your grandmother left it to you. It wouldn’t feel right.”

  “Gran loved you. She would be happy to know you’re running the shop with me. You can buy me out of half, and then we can own it together.”

  She could. With a ridiculous amount of money in a trust fund left to her by her grandparents, she didn’t need to work. She simply enjoyed working.

  “Come on, Lizzy. It will be a blast. Like old times, but we’ll be the bosses this time.”

  It would be fun. And the thought had crossed her mind a time or two. They even briefly discussed it before, but this was a solid offer. Spending every day with her best friend again? No question.

  “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Maggie squealed with delight, trying to jump up from her seat to hug her.

  “Don’t hurt yourself,” Lizzy exclaimed, jumping out of her own seat to hug her best friend.

  “I’m fine. I’m just so excited for this idea.”

  “Me, too,” she said with a grin.

  As she retook her seat, Lizzy noticed Dade had stopped eating. His jaw was clenched so tight it looked as if he’d break off some teeth. So, Mr. Fuddy Duddy didn’t want her staying. Well, too bad. She didn’t care what he wanted. If he didn’t like her hanging around, that was his problem.

  “Good, now that that’s settled,” Maggie began, turning to Colton, “I think I know where I want to take our engagement photos.”

  “Oh yeah, where?”

  The dark-haired woman got a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes. “That old waterfall we used to play at. The one at the end of Jackrabbit Trail with all the flowers.”

  It sounded dreamy.

  “That would be great,” the younger Denning replied, shoveling another helping of casserole onto his plate.

  “I’ll want to get some sunset shots before we go up there. To make sure the lighting works.”

  He frowned. “You can’t take that hike right now. I guess I could go up tomorrow afternoon with my camera.”

  Maggie made a face. “No offense, Colt, but unless I want fifty pictures of your finger covering the shutter, that’s not going to work.”

  “Hey, I’m not that bad.”

  Her friend rolled her eyes, mouthing, yes he is, to her. She smothered a laugh.

  “Okay, fine. I’m that bad.”

  “I can do it.” The waterfall sounded lovely and peaceful. Just what she needed. “I am the maid of honor after all. Doing stuff for the bride is kind of in the job description.”

  “That would be great, Lizzy, but you need someone to show you where to go so you don’t get lost. The trail kind of disappears in spots.”

  �
��I can take her.”

  They all turned at Dade’s deep, rough voice. Surprised by his offer, she narrowed her eyes. Two minutes ago, he almost needed dentures because he was mad she planned on staying in town, and now he wanted to take her to some out of the way romantic waterfall?

  Ha! He’s probably planning to murder me there.

  “It’s a really tough hike. Think you can handle it?” He pierced her with that ice-blue stare.

  She saw the challenge in his eyes. He didn’t think she could do it. Poor city girl is going to take one hike and go running back to LA. Was that his plan? Well, he didn’t know jack squat about her.

  “I’ve been walking since I was ten months old. I think I can handle it.”

  His lips curled into a snide grin. “Better get some hiking boots. Those toothpicks you call shoes will break your ankle up on that trail. It can be treacherous.”

  She glanced down at her black and white polka dot heels. She liked her shoes. Wait, he noticed her shoes? That meant he liked them. Usually, a man mentioned a woman’s shoes when he was thinking about seeing her in them…and nothing else.

  Looked like he didn’t want her as gone as he acted.

  Methinks the man doth protest too much.

  He wanted her, but didn’t want to want her, so he was trying to drive her away by throwing the “country life” right at her and assumed she’d head for the Hollywood hills. He didn’t realize how stubborn she could be when she put her mind to something. In the words of one of her favorite TV characters, “Challenge accepted.”

  Giving Dade a derisive smile, she sweetly replied, “Don’t worry, cowpoke. I don’t break easily.”

  Chapter 8

  Lizzy pulled Maggie’s car up the Denning driveway. If she was going to move here, she’d need to get herself a new car. She doubted the cute little Smart Car left in storage back in LA would do well in the Rocky Mountains.

  There were a lot of things she would need to take care of, but the idea of moving here permanently and running the shop with Maggie sounded so good, she’d be willing to walk through fire.

  Okay, maybe not fire. That sounds painful.

  But she was excited about this new chapter in her life. It wasn’t like she had anything going for her back in California. Her parents were there, but they would hardly notice her gone. As evidence by the one phone call she received since being here.

  Dragging herself away from unpleasant thoughts, Lizzy exited the car. The ranch was quiet, but she spotted Tony’s uncle, the ranch foreman, standing by the far paddock fence.

  Making her way over to him, she called out, “Hi, Juan.”

  The older man turned, a smile creasing his wrinkled face. “Ms. Hayworth, how are you?”

  She shook her head with a smile of her own. “I swear you are just like Tony. No matter how many times I tell you two to call me Lizzy it’s always this ‘Ms. Hayworth’ nonsense.”

  Juan chuckled. “Forgive us. Years of proper manners drilled into us by mi madre, Tony’s grandmother. How is Tony working out at the shop?”

  “He’s doing wonderfully.” She smiled, thinking of the talented young man. “He’s a natural, but I’m sure Maggie already told you that.”

  “She did, when she was convincing me to let him work there.”

  “It’s a good thing you agreed. The shop is so busy after that great review. Since she can’t bake right now, we really need the help. I am a disaster in the kitchen.”

  “With beauty like yours, Ms. Hayworth, you do not need to cook.”

  She gave him a sideways glance. “Flattery will not get you free cupcakes.”

  The ranch foreman laughed, a full-bodied one that had him holding his sides. “That is what Ms. Evans says as well. You can’t blame a man for trying.”

  She couldn’t. Maggie’s cupcakes, made by her or her employees, were delicious. She was spending a good chunk of her own money just paying for the ones she ate every day.

  “So, what are you doing over here?”

  A tanned, weathered hand pointed to the far end of the paddock. “Watching the little one walk.”

  She turned her head and saw a large, light brown Quarter Horse standing in the pasture. A few feet away, a small filly wobbled about boldly. It had to be the baby Dade mentioned when he was late to the bar the other night.

  “Ohhh, she’s so beautiful!”

  She was, too. The tiny horse had a beautiful dark brown coloring with a mane black as the night sky and a small strip of white down the center of her nose. They watched as the filly noticed a bird fly by and went chasing after it, only to lose her balance and sprawl out onto the grass. Her mother nudged the baby with her nose, and the tiny filly got right back up to chase after the bird.

  “Does she have a name yet?”

  Juan shook his head.

  She watched as the filly followed the bird to a tree where its nest was perched on a high branch. The little one tried going up on her hind legs to get to the bird, but fell once again. Its mother tried to nudge it away from the tree, but the baby horse just kept trying to get that bird.

  “Determined little thing isn’t she?”

  “Stubborn is more like it,” a deep, sexy rumble commented from behind her. “Reminds me of someone else I know.”

  Lizzy knew who she would see if she turned around. Still, she turned to confirm Dade was, in fact, standing behind her. He had on black cowboy boots and a pair of wranglers so faded and worn she bet she could rip them off with one tug. A tight white T-shirt hugged his chest, hinting at the delicious hard body she was sure lay beneath. The shirt was covered by an open, button-up, blue plaid shirt rolled up at the sleeves. On his head, he wore a faded brown Stetson.

  All she could think was, Oh boy, I really want to save a horse and ride this cowboy!

  “I prefer the term tenacious,” she said, trying hard to keep her lustful thoughts from showing on her face.

  A sky blue gaze silently studied her. That was when she noticed he had two horses behind him.

  “What are those for? I thought we were hiking?”

  He glanced back at the horses. “We are, but it’s a ways to the trailhead, and I thought we’d ride for a bit so you don’t get too tired.”

  How nice of him to assume she was such a weakling.

  “Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

  She could have told him she had been riding horses since she was five years old. She could have told him she won the California state Youth Dressage Award for two years in a row and even went to nationals when she was sixteen. She could have told him all of this, but all she said was, “A time or two.”

  If he thought she was a helpless weakling who didn’t know her ass from her elbow, then he had another thing coming. Dade was trying to run her off, and she knew it. He didn’t like the idea of her staying in Peak Town, but that was his problem. She was staying, and nothing he threw at her was going to make her change her mind.

  “Which one is mine?”

  “Take your pick.”

  She eyed the two horses, both mares. A dark reddish Chestnut and a gray Arabian about fifteen and a half hands high. The horse she won state with the second time had been an Arabian. Cleo had been a wonderful horse, so sweet and responsive. When Lizzy retired from the sport and moved away for college, she found a lovely stable to take care of Cleo. The horse had passed away a decade back. She still missed her at times.

  “I’ll take the Arabian.”

  Dark eyebrows rose when she named the horse’s breed.

  “What’s her name?” she asked, walking over to the beautiful animal.

  “Pepper,” Juan answered when Dade remained silent.

  Most likely named for her gray coloring with just the lightest speckles of black. It suited her. Lizzy stroked the horse’s nose, giving her a little nuzzle so the animal would get her scent and not be afraid. She whispered to the horse so the men couldn’t hear. “Hey, Pepper. You’re a beautiful girl. I bet you’re fast, too, huh? Wanna give these guys a
show?”

  With that, she grabbed the reins and saddle horn. Placing her left foot in the stirrup, Lizzy hoisted herself up and onto the horse’s back. In Dressage, she rode English, but in her leisure time, she had practiced with Western.

  She glanced over to see Dade, jaw wide open in shock. The poor guy looked a little sick.

  “Hey, Dade?” a familiar voice called from the house.

  Lizzy turned her head and saw Maggie sitting on the porch swing, a big grin on her face.

  “Did you know Lizzy was the state Dressage champion in the junior league for two years running? Even went to nationals.”

  The cowboy simply shook his head, turning his unbelieving expression back to her.

  Tapping Pepper gently with her heels, she winked. “Giddy up.”

  As the horse started a slow gallop, she couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Call her immature, but it felt really good to knock that high-and-mighty “I’m the king of cowboys and you’re just a silly city slicker” look off of Dade’s face. And he thought a little hike and horseback riding would scare her off. Ha!

  Me one; Dade zero.

  Let the games begin.

  Chapter 9

  Dade watched Pepper’s easy gate ahead of him. Lizzy sat comfortable in the saddle as if she’d been riding the horse all her life.

  A Dressage champion?

  He didn’t know much about the equestrian sport, but he did know one had to be very dedicated and talented to make it to nationals, even as a kid. Any kind of equestrian activity required a lot of practice for both rider and horse. Lizzy must have grown up around horses to become a champion.

  How the hell was he supposed to know? All he knew about the woman was what Maggie told him. They met in high school, worked at the same restaurant, and her parents were in show business. Was it his fault he assumed she was a spoiled celebrity kid?

  Yes, it was. And he was acting like an ass.

  He knew why he agreed to take Lizzy on this hike, and why he brought out the horses. Ever since dinner last night, when Maggie asked her to stay to run the shop and Lizzy said yes, his usual calm control shattered. He didn’t want the tempting woman to move here permanently. It was hard enough resisting her on a temporary basis. If she moved here permanently—coming to the ranch for dinners, shopping in the grocery store, being around in general—eventually, his control would break.