“What’s that?”
“A personality beyond everything revolving around her. She doesn’t care if she’s all decked out in a pretty dress. She cares about the people around her. She’s not all about herself, like you are.”
Lydia jumped to her feet. “Then go out with her!”
Jeremiah smiled. “I’m glad you give your permission although it’s not needed, but thank you anyway. I’ll do that.” He got to his feet and walked toward Callie as she stood there openmouthed. “I could kiss you right now.” Her blue eyes were wide as her mouth hung open like she was ready to catch flies with it, so he put a finger under her chin to push it closed. “Easy, darlin’. I won’t. Not yet at least.”
“Wha…what?”
“I think you’d be a bit shocked if I did, so how about this? Will you go out to dinner and a movie with me on Friday?” he asked, smirking a little as he glanced back at Lydia.
Lydia jammed her hands on her hips as she glared. “You’re a bastard, Jeremiah. No wonder no woman will have you for long,” she yelled before she stormed out of the diner.
Jeremiah turned his attention back to Callie. “So what do you say?”
“To?”
“Going out with me on Friday?”
“You weren’t serious, were you?”
“Of course, I am. So what do you say?”
“Uh, okay.”
“I’ll pick you up at your dad’s house at six?”
“Sounds fine to me.”
“Great.” He tipped his hat and said, “I’d invite you to have lunch with me, but I need to get on back to the ranch. I’ll see you Friday.” He slipped his aunt a ten dollar bill for the hassle before he stepped out into the sunshine of the day, whistling softly as he headed for his truck.
The drive back to the home place went by rather quickly as he let his thoughts wander to Callie. He’d wanted to ask her out for some time, but for some reason he’d never found the opportunity. Well, that wasn’t really true. He stopped into the gas station at least once a week whether he needed gas or not, just to see her.
She was a total enigma to him. Real, not made up to be something she wasn’t. Liked the same things he liked, fishing, hunting, cars, four-wheeling, and beer, which made her even more fascinating.
Every Friday night, she met with a few of her friends at The Dusty Boot, got a little drunk and then went home. She didn’t go home with anyone from what he’d seen of her escapades. Maybe she went to San Antonio for her fun. Hell, maybe she’s a virgin. The thought brought a frown to his lips. He didn’t do virgins. Things got messy with a woman who didn’t like sex the way he did. Not that he was weird about sex. Well, maybe a little. He did like variety.
The ranch came into view a few minutes later as he pulled up the gravel drive to the gate. Once he punched in the numbers, the wrought iron gate slowly opened, allowing him entrance onto the property.
Longhorn cattle grazed in the distance to his left when he drove up the long, winding drive to approach the main lodge. The multi-story building was half stone, half wood with three big dormer windows in the front looking out over the yard. A huge porch graced the area with several rockers and benches for guests to sit and enjoy the sunset if they wish.
Jeremiah did a double-take as he noticed the old cowboy sitting in one of the rockers for a second before he disappeared into thin air. The ghosts around the property gave him the shivers sometimes when they made noise or appeared out of nowhere, but most of the time he tried to ignore them.
As he approached the front of the lodge and pushed open the door, he was met by one of the kitchen workers coming out to ring the lunch bell. The guests on the ranch were summoned to meals by the ringing of the steel bell hanging on the hook outside the door.
“Oh hey, Jeremiah,” Mandy said as she reached up to grab the rope hanging from the end of the bell.
“Hi, Mandy.”
Mandy had been a friend of Paige and Peyton’s who now worked on the ranch serving the meals three times a day. She also helped Paige with the twins who were born almost a year ago. Wow, time sure did fly these days. Getting old sucked.
“I thought you were in town?” She clanged the bell three times.
Several people came out of their little cabins and headed toward them. Meals were a very social event at the ranch, one he enjoyed a lot. The different people who came to stay there always made for interesting conversations. Many times, he would sit at a table with some of tourists so he could talk with them. He liked learning about different places. It gave him a mental list of the sights he’d like to see someday. “I was, but I’m home now.”
“Are you going to be working this afternoon?”
“Yeah. I guess. I hadn’t planned on it, but since my day is messed up, I might as well. Why?”
“Do you think you could help me? I’ve got some college algebra to do and I just don’t get it.”
“Sure. Come by my office between the meals when you have some time and I’ll help you.”
“Thanks. You’re a doll.”
He leaned in to hug her quickly before the crowd made it to the steps. “Don’t tell the ladies. I won’t be able to beat them off with a stick I keep behind the door.”
“You are too much.”
He grinned as he stepped back to allow the guests to enter the lodge for the noon meal. “When are you going to wrangle one of my brothers into marryin’ you?”
She laughed as she punched him in the arm. “I’m workin’ on it.”
He liked Mandy, not the way one would like a girl they were interested in, but like a sister. She’d been an instrumental part of Peyton getting away from her crazy ex and finding her way to being in love with his brother, Jason. He liked that his brothers were pairing up with some really great gals. Maybe it was time for him to settle down too after all.
“I need to get back to work before your mom fires my ass.”
Jeremiah chuckled. “Like that’s going to happen. You’re good for this place.”
“Well thank you, kind sir. I love my job and hanging out with you all. It’s like a home away from home.” She walked with him toward the serving tables. “I’ll talk to you after the meal is served and we get the dishes done.”
“Okay. Find me in my office.” The family table had to be divided into two tables with the addition of all the women in the house.
He noticed an empty spot on the end where Joshua normally sat. He glanced around to find his brother sitting with a pretty, blonde woman at one of the other tables. Maybe the lone, unattached triplet was finding one of his own? He hoped so.
Jeremiah took the empty chair, turning it backward and straddling it with his thighs much to the chagrin of his mother, who frowned from across the table.
“We sit like adults at this table, Jeremiah.”
He stood up to turn the chair the right way before he eased his large frame into the seat. Leave it his mother to make him feel like an eight-year-old again. He loved her to pieces, but sometimes she drove him nuts. “Sorry, Mom.” His cell phone beeped again. After he removed it from the holster at his hip, he checked the message to see the final stock report for the day. He smiled. Things were looking up.
“No phone at the table, Jeremiah.”
“Yes, Mom. Sorry. I had to check on my stock report.”
“You know the rules.”
“I’ll go put it in my office. Be right back.” Damn. Chastised by his mother at the table, but Nina Young ruled the house with an iron fist and her sons knew it. He should have ignored the urge to immediately answer the beep. Most of the time he could get away with leaving his phone in the holster, but checking it at the table was a no-no.
He opened his office door and flipped on the computer screen for a second as he laid his phone on the desk. The stock report came up immediately when the monitor turned on. A grin spread across his face as his portfolio just took a huge jump with the purchase of the climbing stocks. If he sold in the next couple of days, he would be able to retire on his gain
s. He pumped his fist into the air a couple of times.
“You coming back to the table?” Jeff asked as he walked by the door.
“Yeah. Be right there.”
“You’re in a good mood.”
“Yep. Financial stability will do that for you.”
“That’s awesome, Jeremiah. Now if you’d find a good woman to settle down with, you’d be all set.”
“Don’t put the cart before the horse there, brother.” He slapped Jeff on the back as they walked back out toward the dining room together. “We all can’t be as happy as you are. How’s Terri feeling?”
“A lot better with this pregnancy than the last, although I wish we hadn’t added to the family so soon.”
“It’ll be okay. James is two.”
“I know. I just hope it’s a girl this time.”
“Having boy problems?”
“Ben is getting very mouthy lately. He starts school this fall and I’m afraid the teachers are going to have lots of problems with his back talking.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s his daddy’s son.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.
Chapter Two
Friday evening rolled around, bringing with it tension and apprehension for Callie. Her shoulders bunched with anxiety, her hands were sweating, her heart raced around her chest like a horse running the Kentucky Derby, and her whole body shuddered with nerves. What the hell was she thinking agreeing to a date with Jeremiah?
“Easy, girl.” Her stomach flipped. Yeah, she’d been on dates before, but not with the man she’d lusted after for several years. Lusted after. That was one way to put it. She wouldn’t agree with her heart when the stubborn organ whispered she was in love with him. She couldn’t be. He hardly knew she existed. Besides, she definitely wasn’t his type. He went out with skinny, model-thin women, not the rather rounded, plump-figured girls like her. Her boobs were too small, her waist too thick, her legs too rounded and her butt? Wow, don’t get her started on her butt. So why did he ask her out? “Just to piss off Lydia, I’m sure.”
Like Lydia would care.
Callie glanced at the clock before looking down at the slinky red number she wore. It hugged her curves to perfection, showing off her hourglass figure. This would show off everything she owned. She didn’t even know where they were going or what they were going to do, but she felt the need to knock his socks off with her dress. If tart was what he wanted, tart would be what he got. She smoothed her hands over the skirt, looking down at the red high heels on her feet. Her toes looked hideous peeking out of the ends of the shoes, but at least she’d done the girlie thing painting them a bright red to go with her dress. Maybe she should have had a pedicure done. She snorted as she covered her mouth with her hand. Yeah, right. She had put on a little makeup and curled her hair. The main attraction was the dress though. She planned to knock him dead with this outfit.
The doorbell rang precisely on time for Jeremiah’s arrival.
“I’ll get it,” her father called from the living room. “Hi, Jeremiah. How are you tonight?”
Voices carried through her partially closed bedroom door. She was ready, but she felt the need to gather her courage a bit before she went into the front room. Not having a mother past her third birthday didn’t bode well for being all that feminine, but her aunt had tried raising her up right with all the girly things. Callie didn’t care much for it growing up though. She liked working with her dad, going fishing, going hunting, riding dirt bikes, and four-wheelers. All the things girls weren’t supposed to enjoy. Tonight she would be the woman Jeremiah went tongue-tied over.
“She’ll be out in a minute, son. Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”
The rumble of Jeremiah’s voice sent shivers racing across her arms. “No, sir. I’m fine. Thank you.”
“How are things at your parent’s place?”
“Keeping us hopping, although the season is coming to an end.”
“True, true. How is the cattle business treating you all?”
“We manage to stay afloat. The guest ranch keeps things moving. We are booked solid through most of the winter even though the weather doesn’t give them much to do on a ranch. They still come for the good old-fashioned hospitality, home-cooking, and southern charm.”
“I hear you are making yourself a name on the stock market with your trading.”
“That right?”
“Yep.”
“Do you trade?”
“I dabble. Nothing like you, I’m afraid.”
“It’s all in the numbers.”
“I’m sure. You’ll have to let me in on a few you’ve got going. I’d love to be able to make sure Callie doesn’t have to work at the station for the rest of her life to have a home.”
“Sure, Mr. Lewis. We can talk more about it tomorrow if you’d like to meet me for lunch?”
“Certainly, Jeremiah. Thanks.”
Callie took it as her cue to come out of her room even though she really didn’t want to. She was afraid to meet Jeremiah’s gaze as she rounded the end of the couch and came into his view, but she shouldn’t have been. The appreciation shining in his gaze, as he got to his feet, warmed her soul.
His jaw dropped as she wobbled slightly on the four-inch heels. “Well?”
“Wow. You look fabulous.”
“Thanks.” She smoothed the tight skirt a little around her thighs. “It’s nothing special, but I wasn’t sure where we were going, so I didn’t know how to dress.”
“It’s perfect.” He took her hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss the back of her fingers.
Holy hell, I’m in trouble.
“You two kids have fun. Be home before midnight.”
“Dad!”
Her father laughed as her face flushed red.
“I’m kidding.”
“Let me grab my bag. Oh, and my phone.”
“Sure.”
She rushed back into her bedroom to grab a few things. In a hurried thought, she grabbed two condoms from her nightstand drawer, shoving them into the zippered pocket of her purse before she headed back out to meet Jeremiah in the living room. I can hope, can’t I?
Jeremiah slid her hand into his as they walked toward the door of her dad’s house and then out to his truck. Again, she was struck by how the vehicle didn’t suit him although he was a cowboy to the bone with his Wranglers, western shirt, boots, and cowboy hat, she thought there had to be more to him than met the eye.
“What?” he asked as he opened the door for her.
“I always thought you would be more comfortable in a sports car than a truck like your brothers.”
He shut the door on her side before walking around the front to get into the driver’s side. “You know, one of my dreams is to own a foreign sports car.”
She laughed as she turned in the seat to face him. “Why am I not surprised at all. Let me guess. Ferrari.”
“That’s one of them, yep.”
“I can just see you zipping around the back roads of Bandera in your car.”
He cranked the engine of his truck over with a twist of the key. The diesel rumbled to life, sending a little thrill through her body. She had a thing for engines in general, but a diesel always ramped her up. Over the years, her dad had taught her to work on all kinds of cars at the garage. There wasn’t an engine he couldn’t fix, although with the newer cars, it had become more and more difficult for him to make any money at the garage. She hoped things got better soon. Otherwise, they might lose the station.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d get some Tex-Mex at the River Walk in San Antonio and then hit a nice little club I know.”
“Okay.”
“You do like Mexican food, right?”
“Love it. One of my favorites.”
“Good.” He glanced across the cab of the truck as they pulled onto the highway headed for the city. “Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?”
“So
rt of, but thank you.”
“I’ve never seen you in a dress like that, I think. You usually are more conservative like what you were wearing last Sunday.”
“Last Sunday?”
“Yeah, I usually see you with your dad going to Sunday brunch at the diner after church.”
“You do?”
“Yes. You look real nice.”
She bit the inside of her cheek so she wouldn’t ask why he noticed her on Sundays going into the diner. Surely he wasn’t that interested in her, right?
“You smell right nice too.”
Boy, is he doling out the compliments tonight. What gives? “It’s okay, Jeremiah. I know you only asked me out to piss off Lydia, so you might as well take me back home right now rather than go through with this date thing. I’m not the kind of woman you normally go out with and I’m sure taking me in San Antonio is just so you don’t have to show up with me at the diner of somewhere else where we might be seen. This is ridic—”
Jeremiah slammed on the breaks, pulling the truck over to the side of the road. When he jammed the gearshift on the truck into park, she pushed her back against the door, a little afraid of what he might do. Fury and frustration made his face look like granite. His eyebrows drew down, making them look slashed above angry grey eyes. She’d never seen Jeremiah Young pissed off before. She wasn’t sure she wanted to again.
“Enough. I did not ask you out because I wanted to piss Lydia off. I don’t care what she thinks. All I care about is what you think. Whether you believe me or not, I wanted to take you out. I have for a long time. I just didn’t have the guts to ask. You’re a very beautiful woman and I like you the way you are.”
“You wanted to ask me out?”
“Yes. We’ve known each other a long time, Callie. You aren’t the type of woman I usually go out with. You’re more of a permanent relationship type girl. I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of thing. You aren’t the type to fuck and walk away from. That scares the hell out of me, which is why I never asked you out before.”
“I’m not?” She shook her head. “I mean, no I’m not, but I could be if that’s what you wanted.” Desperation riddled her subconscious. She wanted him on any terms she could get him even if it was only for one night.
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