Cowboy 12 Pack

by Cynthia D’Alba, Paige Tyler, Elle James, Donna Michaels, Shoshanna Evers, Randi Alexander, Cora Seton, Beth Williamson, Sabrina York, Sable Hunter, Lexi Post, Becky McGraw

  His Army duffle bag.

  The liquid heat flowing through her veins cooled in an instant. He was a soldier. Their world revolved around discipline and rules, and carried strict expectations. She was not getting caught up in that again. Been there, done that, too many times. She was supposed to find and date a guy who was not in the military.

  As great as the man made her feel, Kade was disqualified.

  No matter. He’d told her he didn’t want a relationship, either. And even if he hadn’t, she’d seen it in his eyes. No. Last night was just sex. And only for last night. She’d leave it at that and store away the good memories.

  “Now there’s a sight for sore eyes.”

  Brandi squeaked, and turned around, clutching her things. Leaning back against the pillows, arms tucked behind his head, the handsome man watched her with a lazy smile.

  Her face heated, and yes, dammit, other parts, too.

  “Kade, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “You trying to sneak out?”

  “N-not really. Just time to go.”

  Ah the hell with it. She dropped her clothes on the bed and began to get dressed. Butterflies swarmed her stomach at the sound of his intake of breath. She didn’t dare glance at him or her no second date, no military rules would fly out the window.

  “You sure you don’t want to hang around for breakfast?”

  Her pulse hiccupped. “Actually, I do. That’s the problem. This was supposed to be just one night of sex. If I stay, that makes it two…and is liable to change things. And we both want to stay away from the ‘r’ thing.”

  The light started to fade from his eyes. “True.” He sat up. “How about we have an actual breakfast, then?”

  “Thanks, but no,” she said, slipping her shoes on before she stood. “I’m just going to check on my horse, then get home and change before I’m due at Jordan’s for work.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  “No,” she rushed to say. “I—I think we should just leave it here.”

  Being near him would…well, it wouldn’t be safe. For whom? She wasn’t sure.

  He frowned, and for a scary moment, she thought he was going to protest, his chivalry too deeply engrained. But his expression cleared and he nodded. “Okay. Suit yourself.”

  She rushed to the door, then stopped and turned around. “Thanks for…uh…”

  Words failed her at the moment. Seemed wrong to leave without thanking the man for making her feel good about her curves, and well, just satiated and so completely damn satisfied.

  “The sex,” he replied, small smile tugging his talented lips.

  She smiled back. “Yeah, the sex.”

  “Any time, hun.” He winked. “You weren’t the only one who enjoyed it.”

  She nodded, feeling a little bit great.

  “You ever feel the need for more, you know where to find me.”

  Yeah, like that was going to happen.

  She left the smiling, naked, sexy-as-sin man and headed to her horse’s boarding stall. Smart one, Wyne. You just walked away from a morning of wild, satisfying sex with a hot as hell sheriff. She really needed her head examined. And was contemplating that very thing as she stepped into the stable and ran smack into another hot-as-hell Dalton.

  “Careful, darlin’.”

  “Sorry, Kevin,” she said. “I—I…what are you doing here?”

  “Yeah, see that’s the funny part. I live here.”

  She curbed the urge to smack him, but gave in to the pull of his fun nature and smiled back. “I know that, silly. But I thought you were in Houston with some flight attendant.”

  He wasn’t supposed to be at Shadow Rock, catching her with Kade.

  “I was. The night is over. She’s on her next flight and I have the day off, so there was no need to stay in Houston.”

  Okay, so he technically didn’t catch her with his cousin…or did he?

  Her mind raced through the events of last night. Dear Lord, Kevin hadn’t been home when they…

  “Relax, darlin’. I didn’t see anything you and my cousin did.”

  She sighed inwardly. At least that was something. Bad enough he knew. She stiffened. Wait. Wasn’t he the one they said gossiped like a little girl? Shoot. Great. Now everyone was going to know.

  “And I didn’t hear…much.” His blue eyes sparkled, and she had no idea if he was teasing or telling the truth, until he pointed to her dress. “You wore it yesterday. Doesn’t take a genius…”

  Ah, crud. She glanced at her outfit. Idiot. “Yeah.”

  He chuckled. “Don’t sweat it, darlin’. I think it’s great that you and Kade are together.”

  “We’re not together.” She shook her head. “It’s nothing like that. We just…it was just…”

  “Sex?” He chuckled. “Sure it was. Call it whatever you want, but you, Brandi, are good for my cousin.”

  Okay, she didn’t think she wanted to hear this.

  “Actually, you’re great for him. He needs someone strong yet understanding. He hasn’t been right since that last deployment.”

  Yeah, she definitely didn’t want to hear this. Her mind was already working on scenarios. She didn’t want to care. And drawing concern into the mix was just too dangerous. Besides, they didn’t have a damn relationship.

  “We all know it. He took the death of that soldier pretty bad,” Kevin continued, his words knotting her stomach. “He won’t talk to anyone. Even Connor couldn’t get through to him. So, I’m happy you’re here for the stubborn jerk.”

  So, that’s what put the haunted look in the sheriff’s eyes when his guard was down. Her heart squeezed tight. Brandi knew Kevin meant well, but she was not the answer to Kade’s problems. He needed time and professional help. She’d seen a lot of soldiers going through the same thing back home. Back east. This was now home.

  She shook her head and expelled a breath. “Look, Kevin. There’s nothing going on between me and your cousin.”

  “Right.”

  “If he’s having problems, then he needs better help than anything I could give.”

  “Right,” he repeated.

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.” The blue-eyed cowboy grabbed her face and kissed the top of her head. “You’re perfect for him. Don’t change.”

  And with that, he left. Disappeared. Was no longer in the stable. She blew out another breath, glanced around and realized they’d just held a personal conversation out in public. Thank God the nearest person was clear across the stable.

  Since the Casanova cowboy was kind enough to point out she was wearing yesterday’s clothes, Brandi decided to head home and change before she ran into someone else. It wasn’t like she was going to ride her horse in a dress, anyway.

  Fighting a smile, she slipped into her truck and immediately noticed her purse sitting on the seat with the windows down. Jeez. The damn, sexy sheriff had her so off balance yesterday, she’d left it here all night. A quick glance at the contents set her fears to rest. Nothing missing. She grabbed her phone and checked for calls, hoping none of her family decided to pick last night to check up on her.

  One missed call. One voice message.

  Her heart hit her ribs as she clicked the screen. Her thyroid doctor.

  She breathed a little easier. He most likely called about last week’s routine ultra sound and blood test results. She clicked on the message.

  “Hi, Ms. Wyne, it’s Doctor Chang. I’ve gotten your results back. You’re levels are good, and the ultra sound shows no change in the size of your goiters. But I think it’s time to do the biopsies we discussed.”

  Biopsies.

  Brandi knew the word inside and out. She’d spent too much time in hospitals when her mom had undergone all kinds of tests and procedures. Nothing worked. Catherine Wynne had still died from cancer.

  The knot in her stomach tightened. Yeah, she knew biopsies. Just never had one done on her. Since the goiters—little nodules on her thyroid—had shrun
k from the medication, she’d hoped that was enough. Swallowing was no longer an issue. But the doctor was right, they had discussed the possibility—well, probability—of having the procedure done. She’d just foolishly hoped that by not thinking about it, the inevitable wouldn’t happen.

  After jotting down the appointment time and information for pre-registration, she shoved the paper and phone in her purse, and sat back. Well, that sucked. What a rotten way to end a pretty amazing night.

  The sun was rising in the sky, peeking through the trees, casting shadows through the fence in a serene display of nature. A half-dozen horses trotted in a green pasture to her right, already seeking out the shade on the beautiful warm summer morning. Her gaze turned to the rescue barn and the lone mare grazing in a special pasture. Shadow Rock was so peaceful and tranquil. The perfect place to heal. She hoped to God it helped its owner. The mare certainly seemed to be doing well.

  She stilled. Wait. How did the horse get out? Brock wasn’t home yet.

  “Everything okay?” Out of nowhere, Kade appeared at the side of her truck.

  She jumped, hand flying to her chest as if that would keep her thudding heart inside. So that’s how the horse got out.

  “Oh, yeah,” she lied, doing her best not to look the man in the eyes. He was too damn astute. And she was fine, or would be as soon as she had some time to herself. And made sense out of the reason she’d had the sudden overwhelming urge to cry when he appeared. “I just got…” Her gaze shot to her phone and she drew in a breath.

  No. She was not bringing him or anyone else into that vortex. She’d gone through it with her mother. No way would she put Kade or any of her friends through that kind of not-knowing hell.

  Besides, they weren’t anything more than friends, and chances were she was fine.

  She set her shoulders, lifted her chin and turned to him. “I’m good. I just got sidetracked. But now I’m late. Have a good day.”

  And with that, Brandi reversed out of the spot and didn’t look back, her body on autopilot as she drove home.

  IF YOU CONSIDERED Sunday the beginning of the week as printed on all calendars, like the one Kade stared at now on the feed store wall, then his week had started off fantastic. Too bad it’d gone downhill ever since.

  When he’d woken up Monday morning exhausted and spent from an incredible all-nighter with a very sexy, adventurous, giving woman, he’d had hopes of continuing the fantastic streak. Especially when the first thing his gaze fell on when he’d opened his eyes was one sweet-as-sin ass as the naked, hot, curvy woman bent to pick up her clothes. He should’ve known the streak was shot when he’d tried to get her back in his bed, but she’d refused, tripping over her feet to get away as fast as possible.

  And he’d even offered breakfast.

  Breakfast.

  What the hell had he been thinking? A Kade Dalton first.

  Paying for the purchases already loaded in his truck, he strode out the door, his mind still on the designer. Things had gotten worse once she’d rushed from his room. He’d found her sitting in her truck in his driveway where she’d lied to his face, telling him things were fine when he could clearly see by the damn sheen of tears in her eyes they were not fine.

  Women. He’d never understand them. Not for lack of trying. At least, with this one.

  He got in his truck, slammed the door then drove to meet Connor at the only restaurant in town opened for lunch. A hopping little Mom-‘n’-Pop diner near Foster’s called The Port Hole. With its ship motif, outdoor deck and tables set up for the summer months, the restaurant did a good business.

  Parking next to Connor’s truck, Kade checked the time. He wasn’t late. In fact, his friend was early. A rarity, especially with Kerri’s business just down the street. He thought for sure his buddy would’ve been sidetracked.

  As he walked to the deck area around the back, his gaze was pulled to the designer’s little cottage a few doors down. Her white truck sat in the driveway. Odd. He knew she was knee deep in Cole and Jordan’s renovation. Ah hell, it was no concern of his what she did. And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about her sitting in that damn truck in his driveway several days ago…or her expression as she’d driven away.

  Something in Brandi’s brown gaze had called to him, spoke to the consummate helper inside. He hadn’t gotten the sense it was something he’d done, or hadn’t done. No. They’d agreed to a no-strings-attached night of sex, and that’s what they’d had, and even though she’d rushed from his room, it was with a thank you on her lips and a smile on her face. No. He didn’t think the wounded look in her eyes was because she’d changed her mind and wanted a relationship. The emotion darkening her gaze to resemble rich coffee hadn’t been hurt, it had been more like…fear.

  Christ. His heart dropped to his ribs. What the hell happened between his room and her truck? He swiped the ball cap from his head and thrust a hand through his hair before shoving the hat back on. Why should he care? They were not in a relationship. That was what the whole talk had been about. But, son-of-a-bitch, it hadn’t stopped him from wondering about her expression all damn week.

  That was four days ago.

  “Over here,” Connor called, gaining his attention.

  He turned to find his large friend waiving to him from a corner table where a very pretty cook sat at his side. And that explained why the cowboy wasn’t late. He’d brought his woman with him.

  “Hi, Kerri,” he said, kissing her cheek before he sat down. “Your fiancé decide to spring for lunch and give you a break?”

  She laughed, amusement and affection twinkling in her brown eyes as she glanced up at the grinning cowboy at her side. “Something like that.”

  “Hey!” Connor slapped a hand to his chest and brought a pathetic, wounded expression to his face. “I give you lots of breaks. I’m the king of breaks.”

  “Oh, man. Way to lay it on thick.” Kade chuckled, dark mood beginning to lift thanks to his goofy-ass friend.

  Kerri patted her fiancé’s cheek. “Yes, but I’m not talking about the platter or shot glass you dropped on the floor.”

  As Connor’s mouth opened and brows rose to disappear under his brown Stetson, Kade’s laughter increased. Although the woman wasn’t brawny by any means, she sure as shit could take his buddy down in two-point-three seconds.

  “Now, darlin’. You know that wasn’t my fault,” his friend fumbled through an explanation, wounded look appearing earnest.

  As he watched the interaction between his friends, Kade noted strong bonds of trust and love evident in their voice, gaze, touch, smile, an underlying, unbreakable connection he’d seen before—in Cole and Jordan. The couples enjoyed a strong relationship foreign to the likes of him.

  A slice of envy shot through his body, and he rubbed at his chest, confused as to why envy hit him now.

  He was still contemplating that after the waitress left with their orders.

  “So, I don’t know if you know this, but Shayla is working for us now,” Kerri said.

  “No, I didn’t,” he told her. “That’s good.”

  “Her daughter is a little doll, isn’t she, Connor?”

  A knot instantly gripped his stomach and twisted, while the band around his chest tightened. He hadn’t seen Sergeant Nylan’s daughter since his trip up north three months ago. That had been tough enough. It seemed wrong—and fucking unfair—that he’d gotten to see the little girl when her own father never had the joy.

  “Yeah,” his friend answered. “A little darlin’.”

  “Excuse me.” He shot to his feet, needing air—even though they were already outside. “I have to check in with the station. I’ll be back.”

  Without waiting for a reply, he weaved around the tables and retraced his steps to the parking lot. Dammit. He inhaled and exhaled in controlled counts a therapist once suggested. It didn’t help with the tightness, but the suffocated feeling and need for air eased. He walked to his truck and considered getting the hell out of there. Bu
t nixed the notion. He didn’t run.

  Gripping the roof, he leaned his head onto his forearm and inhaled a few more times. Weeks had passed since he’d had an ‘episode.’ He thought he’d made progress. At least the nightmares had stopped.

  A pair of large, dusty boots came into view. Great. Moose.

  “Still running, I see.” Connor’s tone, although teasing, held a firm edge.

  He twisted around to lean against the truck, mimicking the cowboy. “I don’t run.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I just needed air.”

  His friend’s sigh echoed around them. “We’re already outside. You can’t get any more than that, buddy.”

  Kade laughed. “True.” Feeling better, he began to walk back toward the restaurant.

  “So, that’s it?” Connor asked, falling into step. “You push it aside and move on.”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s not healthy.”

  Biting back a curse, he stopped dead. “Just drop it, all right? I’m fine.”

  “Bullshit. If you need air when you’re already outside, you’re not fine.”

  He was about to respond when the expression on Connor’s face had him twisting around to see what had captured his friend’s attention.

  Brandi. In the passenger seat of Jace’s silver SUV.

  “I’m sure it’s nothing,” Connor said, cupping his shoulder as the vehicle drove by.

  The knot returned to his stomach…and brought a friend. “Whatever.”

  She was free to see whoever she wanted. They weren’t a couple. Guess the giant next to him hadn’t gotten that memo. Or the knots in his stomach, which increased to the size of boulders when the doctor parked in front of her cottage, draped an arm around the smiling woman and disappeared inside the house.

  “So…I’m guessing that doesn’t bother you?”

  He shrugged, overlooking the strange tightness in his chest. “Nope. Let’s go eat. Food should be ready by now.” And, ignoring his friend’s sadistic chuckles, he made his way back to the bastard’s sweet fiancée, talking his fists out of connecting with anything tall and dumb named Connor.