Country Thunder

by Cheyenne McCray

  Her throat worked as she swallowed. No time to be thinking about things like that.

  She opened the door and Justin smiled. He took off his hat and ducked in through the doorway and set his Stetson on the chair by the door.

  He didn’t kiss her, and her stomach sank.

  “Something smells great,” he said.

  “Spaghetti and meatballs.” She led the way to the kitchen area. “Beer?”

  “Sounds great.” He opened the fridge and pulled one out. “You want one?”

  She held up a glass of red wine. “I’ve already started.”

  He closed the fridge and opened his can as he walked to the small table that she’d already set for two. He settled back in his chair. “I wish you could have seen Kaycee ride out for the men. She wanted to surprise them, and they did a great job cheering her on. Every one of those men thinks the world of that girl.”

  “And they should.” She grabbed a pair of potholders out of a drawer. “She’s a special young lady.”

  “She sure is.” Justin watched her as she started to pick up the stock pot to drain the spaghetti in a colander. He got up. “Hold on. Let me do that.”

  She could do it perfectly well on her own, but she stepped aside and let him help. Sometimes, you had to let people help because it made them feel better to be of use.

  “I hope you like apple pie,” she said.

  He poured the water and spaghetti into the colander, steam rising up around his face. “What red-blooded cowboy doesn’t like apple pie?”

  She laughed. “I picked one up from the bakery. You can take the leftovers back to the ranch for the men.”

  “I might share with Kaycee, but the men aren’t likely to get one bite.” He grinned. “Truth be told, hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream is my favorite.”

  Warmth filled her at his easy smile. Maybe everything would be fine between them. If not, she hoped they could be friends, hard as that would be.

  Miranda pulled out two pasta bowls, loaded each one with noodles, then poured spaghetti sauce over the noodles. She added three big meatballs to her bowl and five for Justin before carrying them to the table.

  As they ate, their conversation flowed like nothing was wrong between them. He was so easy to talk with and it was effortless being with him.

  They went straight to apple pie alamode after he carried the plates to the sink while she got out the pie and vanilla ice cream. She heated slices of pie in the microwave, then topped the slices with scoops of the ice cream.

  When they finished with dessert, Justin pushed his bowl aside. Miranda did the same, her belly twisting as she looked into his eyes.

  He took her hands and gripped them.

  She held her breath, then forced herself to let it out.

  “Miranda.” Justin paused, his chest rising and falling with his deep inhale and exhale. “I’m not going to sugar-coat it.”

  Her stomach fell. This was it.

  He spoke quietly. “You should have told me about the fact you didn’t have the document that said you’re not married.”

  “I know.” The words would barely come out. She closed her eyes, trying to fight back the tears that burned behind her eyelids. “I kept trying…but all it comes down to is the fact I didn’t.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes,” he said, his voice low and husky. “This one has just been hard for me to take. You’re still a married woman.”

  Miranda opened her eyes, trying hard not to cry. But in the end, she couldn’t stop the tear that rolled down her face.

  She tried to pull her hands from Justin’s, but he wouldn’t let go.

  “I have a proposition to make,” he said.

  She waited for him to speak as another tear fell.

  “We’ll start over. We’ll spend time together while you get that paperwork taken care of.” His earnest expression had her heart beating faster. “We just won’t end up in bed together until all is said and done.”

  “You’re okay with it?” She could hardly speak. “You forgive me?”

  He squeezed her hands. “There’s nothing to forgive. You made a mistake and we’re going to take a few steps back. Everything is going to be fine.”

  Justin stood and pulled her up and into a hug. He held her to him, and she fell into his embrace, enjoying his heat and the warmth of his heart.

  He leaned back just enough to look into her eyes. “I love you, Miranda, and I’m not letting you go.”

  More tears rolled down her face. “I love you, Justin.”

  “You’d better,” he said with a cocky grin.

  She threw her arms around his neck and never wanted to let go.

  Chapter 15

  Almost a year after Kaycee’s return to the saddle, Miranda carried a cake from the bakery toward the table where Justin and Kaycee sat with the ranch hands in the kitchen. Davie set down the vanilla ice cream. A pile of plates and stack of silverware were already on the table.

  Miranda set the cake on the table and everyone cheered when they saw, It’s a girl! written in pink icing across the surface.

  Justin hugged Kaycee, who then hugged Miranda. “Congrats on everything being official,” Miranda said to two of the people she loved more than anything.

  Kaycee grinned ear-to-ear and Justin looked like the proud dad he was. They’d just come back from court and the adoption was official: Justin was legally Kaycee’s adopted father.

  Miranda served the cake with ice cream, and everyone laughed and talked as they enjoyed the dessert.

  Justin stood and John clinked his iced tea glass with his dessert fork to get everyone’s attention.

  “I just want to say how proud I am of my daughter.” Justin looked at Kaycee. “A dad couldn’t be prouder than I am of my girl.”

  More cheers rang out and everyone clinked iced tea glasses to the toast. Justin sat next to Kaycee and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You’ve always been my little girl,” he said.

  “I know.” A thirteen-year-old Kaycee smiled at her father. “I couldn’t ask for a better dad.”

  Miranda thought she saw Justin’s eyes glisten for a moment. She’d been wiping her eyes with her napkin every now and then for the past twenty minutes.

  The men helped clear the table, then headed out to get back to work. Justin stayed with Miranda and Kaycee, who helped clean up.

  “Andi will be here soon,” Kaycee said.

  “Miranda and I are going out to dinner this evening,” he said. “You know you’re welcome to come with us.”

  Kaycee smiled at Justin. “Andi and I have to study for our algebra test, or we would.”

  As Kaycee left the room, Miranda took Justin’s hand. “Congratulations, Dad.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” He kissed her.

  “I’m going home to get ready for tonight.” Miranda smiled. “You promised me a fancy evening, so I’m wearing a fancy dress.”

  He flashed her a sensual grin. “Sexy?”

  She gave him a teasing look. “You’ll just have to see.”

  Miranda slid out of her chair of the Fountain Hills restaurant as Justin scooted her chair out. She looked up and smiled at him. She was so damned beautiful and sexy she took his breath away.

  His fingers itched to touch her. He could never get over how much he needed her and wanted her. They’d had a little hiccup in their relationship a year ago, but that was all it had been, a hiccup. Things had worked out more than fine, and it hadn’t been long before she’d had the piece of paper she’d needed. That they’d needed to make things work.

  “Thank you for dinner,” she said as they walked out of the restaurant. “I have to admit, the baked banana pudding was my favorite.”

  He laughed and took her hand. “You have a big sweet tooth.”

  She nodded emphatically. “You aren’t kidding.”

  He inclined his head in the direction of the Fountain that helped give Fountain Hills its name. “Up for a little walk?”

  She nodded. “It’s a
beautiful night.”

  He couldn’t help but admire the way her little red dress hugged her figure in all the best places. He hadn’t seen her in this dress, and it was sexy as hell.

  They strolled on the sidewalk with a view of the lake that held the fountain that was scheduled to erupt every fifteen minutes. Once the tallest fountain in the world, at peak times it would reach as high as over five-hundred-fifty feet.

  At that moment, water shot up from the center of the illuminated concrete water lily fountain. He glanced at Miranda to see her watching the spectacle as the water plume cooled the air. Miranda’s hair stirred around her shoulders in the breeze, and she glanced at him to see him watching her. She gave him a sensual look, clearly knowing how she affected him.

  They walked along the sidewalk with the fountain in the background. They reached an area with statues of influential U.S. Presidents. Justin guided her to a bench and sat next to her on it.

  He cleared his throat as he looked at her. “I want you to know how much you mean to me and how much I love you. God, I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.”

  She smiled. “You know I feel the same way.”

  “I do.” He took her hand in his. “One thing I can always rest assured of is your love.”

  He couldn’t get over what an amazing woman she was, in so many ways. He dug in his jacket pocket and brought out a small box. She continued to look into his eyes, not noticing what he had removed from his jacket.

  Justin slid off the bench and got to one knee in front of Miranda. For a second, she looked puzzled, but then her eyes widened as she looked at what he was holding. He opened the box and the solitaire diamond glittered in the low lighting.

  Her jaw dropped and she looked from the ring and met his gaze, her expression shocked.

  “Miranda,” he smiled as he watched her, “will you marry me?”

  Her lips parted, but for a long moment she didn’t speak, as if she was trying to make sense of what he was asking her.

  “You’re making me nervous,” Justin teased.

  Miranda seemed to come back to her senses. “I—l.” She took a deep breath. “Yes, Justin. Absolutely, yes.”

  He slid the ring on her finger, and it fit perfectly. He’d enlisted Kaycee’s help in getting her ring sized, so he’d been fairly confident it would.

  Justin gripped both her hands. “I don’t want to wait. With my big family, they’ll want a big wedding like Kit and Carter had. Would you mind if we had something small and intimate?”

  “We could always elope,” she said, and he laughed.

  “I might get disowned if we don’t at least let my parents, grandparents, and siblings come. It goes without saying that Kaycee will want to be there.”

  She grinned. “That’s half of King Creek.”

  He shook his head and laughed as he slid onto the seat next to her. “What do you say about two weeks from now. Will that give your mom and dad enough time to plan a trip here?”

  “Plenty of time.” In the moonlight her features were slightly shadowed, but her beautiful smile was easy to see. “I’m all for it.”

  He studied her. “What do you think about starting right away to work on a little brother or sister for Kaycee to spoil, like she spoils her baby cousin?”

  Miranda gave him another beautiful smile. “That’s a wonderful idea. I can’t wait for us to have children together.”

  “How many are you thinking?” he asked.

  She looked thoughtful. “I’m an only child, and I don’t want to do that. I’m thinking three or four.”

  He nodded. “Sure you don’t want seven like my family?”

  She burst into laughter. “Seven kids? I’m no saint like your mom.”

  “Neither one of us are.” His laughter joined hers. “I’m with you on three or four.”

  “I can’t even imagine my parents being around seven grandkids.” Miranda was still laughing. “They won’t even know what to do with more than one.”

  “Good thing we will.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her softly. “At least I hope I will.”

  She smiled against his lips. “Lucky you have me to find out.”

  “I certainly am,” he said, before kissing her again.

  Excerpt: Amazed by You

  Chapter 1

  “Well, hell.” Jayson McBride raised his Stetson, pushed his fingers through his hair, and plopped his hat back onto his head as he stared at the spectacle that had invaded his ranch. “Never making a bet like this again. Might never make another bet of any kind.”

  Jack flashed a grin and nodded in the direction of the intruders in front of Jayson’s barn. “Maybe we’ll meet one of those models with their asses damn near showing.”

  Jayson rested his arms on the top rail of the corral. He glared at his fraternal twin who should have sympathized. “Those ladies are at least fifteen years younger than us. I need that like I need a hole in my head.”

  Truth was, Jack hadn’t dated in a few years, since his wife had passed, and likely wasn’t interested in young models. But Jack did like giving Jayson a hard time.

  “Options.” Jack said before adding, “Monty did say the fashion designer herself is a looker and right in your ballpark.”

  Just hearing Monty Tinsman’s name caused Jayson to scowl again. “He also said the woman is a witch in high heels.” Jayson sighed. Another part of this ordeal to deal with. “She’s supposed to be here tomorrow.” He glanced at Jack. “Why don’t you show her around?” He wasn’t hopeful, but he gave it a shot.

  “Sorry, but I think I’ll be busy.” Jack didn’t look the least bit sorry. “I’m sure you’ll handle her just fine.”

  Jayson glanced down at Thor, who sat on his haunches. “What about you? Maybe you could keep her company.”

  The Border Collie tilted his head and stared up, his intelligent eyes seeming to say, “Don’t look at me, buddy.”

  Jayson shook his head and stared up at the cloudless Arizona sky. He glanced toward the conglomeration of vans, makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, hairstylists, and set designers. Then there was all the camera equipment the photographer and fashion designer had deemed necessary for the shoot, and who knew what else.

  Not to forget a meal wagon—the smells of dried-out pizza and overcooked corn dogs actually overpowered the odor of manure. Yeah, that was some nasty crap in that wagon.

  At least nine models were supposed to be in and out of the commercial shoot in less than a week’s timeframe. At least that was what Monty said, and Jayson wasn’t sure he could trust the man after this. Nine models and four days to a week of shooting, print and film, for a new clothing line.

  Great.

  He hoped his ranch would still be in one piece when they all finally cleared out.

  He looked up at the clear sky again and wondered if it would stay that way. In central Arizona, during monsoon season, a storm could sweep in before they knew what was happening. Rain was a blessing for a state experiencing a long drought. This was one time Jayson prayed rain would hold off this week so that this circus would be out of town in a hurry.

  “Here comes your favorite person.” Amusement rode Jack’s words. “He’s looking mighty proud of himself.”

  Bring in the clowns.

  Monty Tinsman ambled toward them, his belly bouncing as he walked. The muscles in Jayson’s shoulders knotted.

  Thor let out a low rumble. He’d hadn’t liked Monty from the moment the man stepped onto the Flying F.

  Jayson should have listened.

  The owner of a decent spread at the foot of the Bradshaw Mountains in Prescott, Monty was a part-time Arizona resident who headed to upstate New York in the summer. Apparently, he’d told the designer of a clothing line he’d do her a favor, and she could use Monty’s ranch to do the shoot.

  A poker night, a few beers, and a damned glorious bet. Now, the whole mess was in Jayson’s front yard.

  Monty reached Jayson and Jack, and the bastard grinned. His ove
r-the-top thousand dollar Stetson, two thousand dollar Tony Lama boots, movie star-white teeth, and tanning bed tan didn’t make him look any more like a cowboy than Jayson looked like one of those slick movie stars. Monty seemed to be a good guy, though, unless you counted sticking Jayson with this mess.

  “I’m surprised you’d show your face around here.” Jack grasped Monty’s hand. “Good to see you, Mont.”

  Jayson grumbled under his breath, “It’s far too soon.”

  Monty laughed. “I figured there’d be no problem with the magazine switching locations to your ranch, Jayson.” He appraised their surroundings. “I’ve got a nice piece of property, but yours puts mine to shame.”

  “I had a full house, ace high.” Jayson shook his head. “And you beat me with a royal flush.”

  “That was some bet.” Jack nodded. “Don’t feel bad, bro. With your hand, I’d have been all over betting a shoot on the ranch against that prize bull of his.”

  Monty chuckled.

  Jayson wanted a do-over.

  But what was done was done. His younger sister Bailey’s voice rang in his mind with one of her favorite sayings, “Suck it up, Buttercup.”

  Where’d she get that crap from anyway?

  Jayson shook his head. One of the worst things was a sore loser, and he didn’t intend to start down that path. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t give a little payback if the opportune time arose.

  “I’ve got work to do.” Jayson put his hand on Monty’s big shoulder. “By the way, I hear paybacks are a bitch.”

  Jack snorted. “I’d watch your back if I were you, Mont.”

  Thor gave a throaty growl, as if in agreement.

  Monty laughed, then took a look at Jayson’s expression. His laugh weakened and faded away. “I know you’re not serious—” His throat worked.

  Jack chuckled. “I would take Jayson’s word on this one.” Still grinning, he added, “I best be on my way too. My horses aren’t going to ride themselves.”

  He nodded his goodbye to Monty and flashed a quick grin at Jayson before taking off.