“That’s fine. Just tell them what to expect so they aren’t shocked when they see your mother. I can’t imagine walking in on that without knowing. I don’t know if you told them about the tubes?”
“Yeah, I did, so they should be prepared.”
“Good. Make sure to tell them they can’t stay long.”
“We will.” Jeremiah hugged his dad before he stepped back. “Tell her we love her and we’ll see her later.”
“Thanks boys, for being here. You don’t know how much this means to me and your mother.”
“We’re family. It’s what families do,” Jeremiah answered.
“I know, but you never know how people are going to react when things like this happen. We love you boys.”
“We love you too, Dad.” The other three murmured in agreement to Jeremiah’s statement. He knew his dad was having a hard time in this situation, but their love was strong. They would make it through. “Let’s go before it gets too much later. I have early duty.”
When they walked into the main lodge three hours after they’d left, none of the brothers had gone to bed. They wanted a full report which between him, Joey, Jason, and Jackson, they got every bit of information the four of them had received.
“I’m going to bed, guys. I have to be up in like three hours,” Jeremiah said, stifling a yawn with his hand.
“I think we should all go on to bed,” Jeff replied. “There isn’t anything else we can do tonight. Dad will call me if Mom’s condition changes. We have a ranch to run.”
All of the boys agreed, finally filing off to their respective bedrooms and abodes leaving Jeremiah to check the room one last time before he went to bed. When he finally got to crawl under the sheets, he drifted off into dreamless sleep.
Morning came early for Jeremiah as he rolled over with a groan and smacked his alarm to silence the screech. If the guests wanted a cheerful, smiling cowboy this morning they wouldn’t get one, he was afraid. He rolled over to his side and wearily sat up. When he climbed to his feet, his left leg felt numb and tingling, like he’d sat on it and put it to sleep. This is nuts. He stumbled a few steps before he regained his coordination and could head for the bathroom. He needed a shower this morning more than he needed anything. He had to wake up somehow and coffee alone wouldn’t do it. It was going to be a long day.
After his shower, he walked across the room with a towel slung low over his hips to retrieve some clean jeans and shirt.
A timid knock sounded at his door.
“Just a minute.” He glanced out the window to find the woman he stood Callie up for, waiting on his stoop. After he threw on his jeans, he didn’t bother with a shirt as she knocked again. “Well hello, Brenda, isn’t it?”
She stepped inside his cabin and shut the door.
“Can I help you with something?”
“Yes. I’m a horny guest. You need to take care of your guest.”
“Listen, Brenda, I don’t think that is such a good idea.”
“Why not? You were going to the other night until you got that phone call and then dumped me back at the ranch like yesterday’s garbage. I didn’t appreciate your treatment of me, Jeremiah.”
“I’m sorry, but my mother has a strict policy against us messing with those staying at the ranch. I was following her rules.”
“I call bullshit. You had every intention of fucking me out there on our ride.”
“Can I be truthful with you?”
She walked him backward until his back hit the wall with a thud. Her hands found his chest with both palms resting flat on his skin. “I wish you would.”
“I have a girlfriend.”
“Is that who called you?”
“Yeah.”
“You were going to cheat on your girlfriend?” She slapped him hard across the cheek. “You lowlife scumbag! I can’t believe you were going to cheat on her without any regard to her feelings at all.”
“But you—”
“Never mind what I was going to do. I didn’t realize you had a girlfriend.” She spun on her heels and disappeared through the door with a hearty slam.
“Well, shit.”
He rubbed his cheek where she’d slapped him before grabbing a shirt, slipping it on and then going to find his socks and boots. If that didn’t wake him up, nothing would.
When he went through the main lodge door several minutes later, he found most of the people who were staying on the ranch already eating. His brothers had already got their food so he went through the line to get his own plate and sit down next to Jackson. “Any word from Dad this morning?”
“No, nothing or Jeff hasn’t mentioned anything so I would think he hasn’t heard anything.” Jackson glanced over at him. “You look like shit, bro, and why do you have a nice hand print on your cheek?”
“Brenda paid me a visit this morning.”
“Brenda?”
“The guest I took out riding the other day. I think she planned on a morning romp. I told her I had a girlfriend and she slapped me.”
“You don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Not yet, but I hope to by the end of today. I want to have a nice talk with Callie after all my chores are done.”
“I hope you two get things straightened out.”
“Oh, I plan to. Otherwise, I might have to kidnap her until she listens to me.” He shoveled eggs into his mouth, then sipped the hot coffee he’d retrieved before he’d sat down. “Heaven.”
“I think we are all feeling the effects of our late night.”
“Yeah, but we had to be there for Dad and each other.”
“Tragedy always brings people together.”
“We are family. It’s what we do.”
“You got it, bro.”
Jeremiah quietly finished his breakfast as he listened to the conversation going around the family dining room table. The guests seemed subdued today even though he didn’t think any of them knew what had happened the night before.
The moment he was finished, he stood, took his plate to the wash bin and headed out to the stable to take his first round of guests on the ride over the hills of their home. The boys all traded off doing rides to give each other a break or to do other things around the ranch, but today he could use the time to think. He had plans to make to woo Callie and let her know she was the girl for him.
The sun had begun to set in the sky when Jeremiah emerged from the barn. He’d done his cowboy duty for the day, but now he needed to check on things with the ranch finances.
Joey walked out of the barn behind him, clapping him on the shoulder as they walked toward the main lodge. “Thanks for the help with the mare.”
“No problem. I don’t get to do enough of this stuff working in an office most of the time.”
“I know.” Joey laughed. “You need to spend more time in the sun.” He compared the tan lines on their arms. “You’re lookin’ might pale there, bro.”
Jeremiah shook his head as he smiled. It felt good to smile for a change with everything going on in his life. He needed that. The break had done him good. “I know what you mean.”
Jeff joined them at the door of the lodge. “I heard from Dad. The bleeding has stopped and the pressure is reducing in Mom’s brain. They still have her on the breathing machine as a precaution, but they plan to remove it tomorrow.”
“Did some of the other brothers go into town today to see her?”
“Yeah. They been going in shifts so they don’t overwhelm the poor nurses with our sheer numbers.”
“Probably a good idea.”
Mandy came out to ring the dinner bell. “Hey guys. How’s your mom?”
Jeff gave her a report as soon as she got the guests heading to the dining room for dinner.
“Good. Sounds like things are looking up.”
“Yes, they are. We’re fortunate she wasn’t hurt worse. She is going to need some physical therapy for her leg, but otherwise the doctors think everything else is resolving well.”
“That’s awesome. She’s a nice lady,” Mandy replied, stepping behind the serving trays.
The boys headed toward the family table to wait their turn while the guests filled their plates high with food. Jeremiah smiled. Callie would fit in well with the family. Whoa! I’m thinking long-term here? He glanced outside and realized yeah, he was thinking long-term relationship with Callie and it felt good. He hoped he could get her on board with the plan.
Chapter Eleven
Callie sat on the couch in the front room flipping through channels on the television without even seeing what might be on. Her mind dwelled on Jeremiah. She’d heard about his mother’s accident the other night and wondered how she was doing. She wanted to be there for him, but she didn’t know how to go about doing that.
Talk gets around in a small town. It hadn’t taken long for everyone to know about it. She felt bad. Nina was a great lady.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it, Dad.”
She climbed to her feet and walked toward the front door. Her life had been pretty busy since her and Mandy’s body shots escapades at the bar. She’d been on several dates, following Jeremiah’s demand to date other people, but none of those guys were him. None came close to creating the electric impulses he caused in her every time he touched her. Didn’t he know they were meant to be together? Apparently he’s too damned stubborn to realize it.
The bell rang again. “I’m coming.”
She pulled open the door and her jaw dropped open. Jeremiah stood on the stoop with a dozen red roses in his hands, dressed to the nines in pressed jeans, brushed clean boots, shiny belt buckle, white dress shirt, suit jacket and his dress black Stetson on his head.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m here to officially ask you on a date. Get dressed.”
She jammed her hands on her hips as she frowned. “What the hell, Jeremiah? You can’t just show up at my door, ordering me to get dressed up for you. This is bullshit! I’m not at your beck and—”
He leaned in to kiss her full on the mouth before his tongue swept along the seam of her lips and she melted against his chest. When they parted she was breathless and tingly all over.
“I’m here to wine and dine you. Please? Put something pretty on. I want to spend the evening with you.”
A breathless sigh escaped her. “Okay.”
He grinned when she stepped back to do exactly what he told her. I’m a terribly weak woman where he is concerned.
She headed down the hall to her room to shower and change. He’d just have to wait while she got ready since he’d shown up without calling first. She frowned now that she had her wits about her. How does he get off showing up without calling? What if she had a date with someone else?
Her anger exploded through her as she got into the shower, washed her hair and her body and then grabbed a towel to dry off. Yes, she wanted him. She’d do about anything to have him, but this ordering her around shit was for the birds. I’ll show him! She pulled out the slinky red dress she’d worn before, high heeled shoes and silky stockings. He’s going to know exactly what he’s missing when I’m done with him tonight.
After putting on makeup and blow drying her hair to a pretty upswept hairdo, she slid into her shoes and pronounced herself ready to the reflection in mirror. “Eat your heart out, Jeremiah.”
When she walked back down the corridor to find him standing in front of the picture window looking out over the front yard, she stopped to wonder if she was doing the right thing. He was here to take her out. Maybe he’d already realized he wanted to be with her and this was his way of showing her?
“Jeremiah?”
The look on his face made it totally worth the trouble she’d taken to make herself beautiful. His eyes widened as his jaw hung open in appreciation. “You look fabulous.”
“Thank you.” She glanced down at her dress, tugging on the hem just a little since it only reached mid-thigh when she stood. “I didn’t know where we were going, but since you are dressed pretty fancy, I figured I’d better too.”
“I’m taking you somewhere special. We need to have a serious conversation about us, but this is going to be a beginning.”
Confusion clouded her thoughts. “Beginning?”
“Yes, but I won’t say more until we have some alone time.” He ran his fingers over her bare shoulder. “You’ll need a wrap of some kind. It’s chilly out there.”
“Let me grab something out of the closet.” When she turned around, she noticed he’d found a vase somewhere in one of the cupboards to put the flowers in. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
“They don’t compare to you.”
“You’re being such a sweet-talker tonight. What’s up?”
“This is me. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” she said, grabbing a wrap from the closet and draping it over her shoulders. “Will this be heavy enough? It’s wool.”
“Should be. The restaurant is indoors so it shouldn’t be too bad.” His gazed wandered down her frame from head to toe. “Did I tell you how beautiful you are?”
“Yes, but you can say it again. I don’t mind.”
“How about if I change it up a bit? You are gorgeous.” He leaned in to brush her lips lightly with his own. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”
Wetness coated her panties at the look in his eyes. Desire. Need. Even something she wasn’t sure she wanted to name, reflected in his steely grey gaze. Just maybe?
He held out his hand for her to take and she slipped hers into his grasp. Her other hand held a small clutch purse with her cell phone, keys and wallet. One always had to be prepared for a night to go completely wrong when on a date. Not that it would with Jeremiah, but one never knew when they might need to get a cab home.
“Shall we?”
She swallowed, trying to wet her parched throat. She wasn’t sure what to expect tonight and the thought scared the crap out of her. “Daddy? I’m going out with Jeremiah. Don’t wait up.”
“Have fun,” her father called from his bedroom.
As they walked out to his truck, she got the feeling tonight was going to be a game changer in their relationship. Something had changed his mind about her, although she didn’t know what, she wanted to shout to the heavens in thanks.
Jeremiah opened her door for her before she stepped up to slide inside the cab. He shut the door and then walked around the front of the vehicle to get into the other side. Her appreciative sigh echoed in the silence surrounding her. Boy, was he sharp all dressed up and looking good.
After he slid inside and started the truck, she snuck a glance in his direction. The jacket molded to his chest, the white shirt was open at the throat, and the jeans were pressed to sharpness. The ultimate cowboy. “You look really nice tonight.”
“Thanks. I wanted to dress up for you.”
“Are we going to talk now?”
“No. Let’s wait until we are sitting at a nice table with a glass of wine or whatever. I want your undivided attention.”
“You have it now.”
He laughed. “Good, but I want to be able to look into your pretty blue eyes when we talk.”
“Sounds serious.”
“It is.”
“Won’t you at least—”
“Nope. You’ll have to wait until we get the restaurant.”
She crossed her arms over her chest in a silent pout. She didn’t want to wait. It would kill her! Okay, maybe not, but the little grin on Jeremiah’s face made her wonder what the heck he might be up to.
When they arrived at the restaurant forty-five minutes later, she realized it was one of the swanky places on the riverfront in San Antonio. She’d never been to this particular restaurant before either, but she knew it was expensive and you had to have reservations to get in.
As they approached the podium, Jeremiah’s warm hand rested at her back. “Young. We had reservations for seven.”
“Ah, yes, sir. Ju
st one moment. Let me check to see if your table is ready.”
As they stood waiting, she leaned into Jeremiah’s body a little to absorb his warmth and he surrounded her with his arms. It was a nice feeling.
A few minutes later, the guy returned. “Right this way.”
He escorted them to a dimly light corner of the restaurant completely situated off by itself. The table had rose petals sprinkled on it with more on the chairs and even some on the floor. It was gorgeous.
“You did this?”
“Yes.”
Tears burned her eyes as she tried desperately not to cry. “It’s beautiful.” He held her chair as she slid into her spot at the table before she spread a napkin on her lap.
The waiter arrived a moment later with a bottle of wine, showed it to Jeremiah, then poured two glasses when Jeremiah gave him a nod of approval. The whole scene was surreal to her. Why was he doing this she didn’t know, but she liked it.
She took a sip of the wine and rolled it around on her tongue before she swallowed. “Very tasty, although I’m not a wine connoisseur.”
“Neither am I, but it sounded good when I set this up.”
She smiled and looked down at her hands folded on the tabletop. “Nice.”
He reached over to take her hand in his. “Shall we talk now or wait until after we eat?”
“Now would be good, but we might want to wait until after dinner. Depending on how this goes, I might not have an appetite.”
“I think you’ll like how this goes, Callie.”
“Okay.”
He inhaled like he was trying to steady his nerves before taking a leap into a very deep pool of water. “I think I’m in love with you.”
“You think?” she asked, tipping her head to the side.
“Well since I’ve never been in love before, I’m not certain, but after talking to my parents and brothers, I’m pretty sure, yeah, I’m in love with you.” He intertwined their fingers, then rubbed the pad of his finger over the knuckle on her thumb. “I’ve been miserable without you. After we made love that one time, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. It’s been driving me nuts.” He dropped his gaze to the table. “Believe me, I tried. I didn’t want to fall in love right now, but alas, here I am. I want you in my life. I need you in my bed and I think you feel the same way.”
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