by Aliyah Burke
“Want to tell me what all that was about today?”
“Nope.”
He slanted his gaze at her, and she continued to descry the storm in all its glory. The only sign she gave of being uncomfortable was the slight tightening of her fingers around the mug.
“Does Rosa live here?”
“No, she’ll be leaving soon. Why?”
“I just didn’t see her car so I thought maybe she lived here.”
He stretched out his legs and stared at the tips of his boots. “She parks in the garage so on days like this she doesn’t have to go out in the weather.”
Laciee stared at him, an odd expression on her face.
“What?”
“Just a bit surprised, I guess. I don’t know many people who would give up their garage so their housekeeper could park in it.”
“You should meet new people.”
“Believe me, I’ve thought about that.” She sipped her drink and he found himself mesmerized by the motion of her swallowing. The dining room light was the only other aside from the storm and it was soft on her skin after it poured through the window.
“Sure you don’t want to tell me what it was about?”
“I’m sure. The less you know the better. So yes, I’m sure.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”
He watched her as she mulled over his words. Judd wanted her to open up to him but for the moment, he was good with the silence. Hell, he lived most of his life that way. The time he’d been with Laciee was the most he’d spoken at a single instance in years. He realized part of it was because if he didn’t continue the conversation, she would have allowed it to cease, and he liked hearing her talk. She’d unwittingly gotten him to open up. Now, if only she would.
“I think it’s better you stay far away from it.” She looked at him. “And me.” Laciee shifted on the bench, so she could see him clearer. “I appreciate your hospitality, truly I do, but I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
Fire burned in his veins. He flexed his fingers around the warm mug in his hand and kept his gaze steady on her. “Leaving for where? Back to that hotel where they basically looked the other way when someone broke into your room and vandalized it?” Crap, even thinking about it pissed him off all over again.
“Honestly, I was going to head to Dallas and just come back the day Karis and Wyatt returned.”
“Reneging on your promise to her?”
She shrugged. “You going to tell her?”
“Yes. Stay here, Laciee. I’ve told you before, you’re safe here. I’m gone most hours of the day, so you’ll be left to your own devices. You can ride, walk, do whatever. Just stay.” Okay, that was pretty much begging.
She made no mention of it, just stared at him with those big brown eyes. “You don’t know—”
“I don’t know because you won’t tell me. The offer is there.” He pushed to his feet as the taillights from Mrs. Sanchez’s car vanished into the wet night. “Dinner is waiting. I’ll see you inside.”
He had to leave or he’d try to shake some sense into her. Acting as if nothing was wrong, she was infuriating him. Or was it because she wanted to protect him? Either way, she needed to be safe. If she was in Dallas he would be so focused on her and her safety he wouldn’t be able to do his job here.
He’d just pulled the meal from the oven when she walked into the kitchen via the dining room. They passed one another as he set the food on the table by the window they’d just been seated outside of. When she moved by him holding the salad in her hands, he had to clench his in order to keep from grabbing her and hauling her flush to his chest.
This woman, while logically he knew was the same spitfire who’d accompanied him in his hotel bed, was nothing like her. That one had been liquid fire, all heat and passion. This one was closed up and almost stiff. Sure, he caught glimpses of the vixen but for the most part, she had been locked away. He wanted the tousled hair, kiss-swollen lips, passion-flushed skin woman.
“Judd?”
He blinked and stared at the woman talking to him. She watched him curiously. “Yes?”
“I asked if you wanted something other than coffee to drink with your meal.”
Totally hadn’t heard that question. “Water will be fine. You sit, I’ll get it.”
“Nonsense,” she said brushing back by and returning to the kitchen.
He held her chair for her once she made it back to the dining room, pitcher of cold water in hand. Pushing her close, he permitted himself to close his eyes and inhale, allowing her scent to embed deeper into his memory. Then he sat across from her.
As they dined on smashed potatoes, fresh biscuits, gravy and steak fried chicken with veggies, he kept the conversation light. He ignored his need to know more and pry into what happened even through the dessert of apple pie. She excused herself immediately after, carrying her dishes to the kitchen.
Soon she’d cleared it all and had begun putting things away, totally ignoring his insistence she didn’t have to do anything.
“Go sit down,” he ordered for the umpteenth time.
“I feel better doing something. Go get me a container for the rest of these potatoes.”
He blew out a breath even while following her directive. “You know there’s something wrong about you issuing orders in my house that I’m willingly following.” He placed it beside her.
“Don’t look at it that way,” she replied without looking at him.
Leaning closer, he tucked some hair behind her ear. “How should I look at it then?”
“Getting the job done quick.”
“You know I like to take my time.” Her hands shook as she placed the lid on. “Like to be thorough. Exploratory.”
The pulse along her neck jumped and he hid his grin. She wasn’t as immune to him as she pretended to be. His smugness only lasted a brief moment when her tongue snuck out and skimmed her plump lips, driving all blood straight to his stiffening erection.
“The pie,” she croaked.
“What about it?” He didn’t retreat. Instead he moved closer to her.
“It still needs to be put away.” She sidestepped and headed for the fridge where she put the containers.
“You’re running from me.” He made the observation casually while leaning against the counter she’d just been near. She glanced at him, one eyebrow lifted in silent challenge. “Admit it, that’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“I’m not running. I’m putting food away.”
“Call it what you want, Laciee Dupree. We both know what it is.” He headed for the breakfast nook. “I’ll let you run tonight. All that changes tomorrow. Sleep well, Laciee, I’ll be seeing you soon.”
Striding from her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done but he forced himself to continue through the family room to his bedroom where he sagged against his closed door and expelled a breath he’d been unaware of holding. Normally he would go upstairs and work on some paperwork but tonight he knew if he went up those stairs he would be in her bed.
And that’s a bad thing?
Hell no. But he needed to give her a bit of space. Tonight. That was all he would manage. Come tomorrow, it would all be different.
Chapter Five
Laciee woke and held still as she tried to get her bearings. It was early, her mind still on New York time. Judd Travers. She had spent the night in his house, not his bed, just his house. Was that disappointment she felt for waking alone? No time to think about it now.
Sitting up, she checked the time on the bedside clock. Four-thirty. That explained why she felt late in rising. Her normal wakeup time was five. She unwrapped her hair after she showered and dressed. Tying on her shoes, she made her way down the stairs to the utility room. The entire house was dark, as was the ranch.
Judd had told her there wasn’t an alarm system on the door so she stepped out onto the front porch and closed the door quietly behind her. Everything smelled so fresh and clean, the rain had
stopped sometime during the night. She leaned against a pillar as her eyes adjusted to the dark. Moments before she continued on her way, eyes glinted up at her from beyond the steps.
Two heelers stepped into view, one blue and one red. “Morning,” she said softly. “Aren’t you two beautiful.”
They didn’t growl. However, neither did they approach with tails wagging, so she moved cautiously. The dogs allowed her to pass and she hid a smile when they fell into step with her. As she neared the barn, lights popped on and she stepped inside.
Two men paused in what they were doing as she entered. Both of them looked her over from head to foot. She waited for them to demand she leave. One, the taller of the two, gave her a smile, showing off bad dental work.
“Morning, Ms. Dupree. Something we can get you? I’m Joel, this here be Francis—”
“Frank,” the other interrupted.
“Fine, Frank.” Joel shook his head in a move she figured to be equal parts amusement and humor.
She put her hands in her pockets. “No, I was just looking around. I don’t want to be in your way.”
“Not in the way, ma’am. We’re just helping out one of the stable hands who can’t climb the ladder to get hay.”
She saw the bales by their feet and nodded. “How’d you know who I was?”
“Boss told us you were staying here for a while,” Joel said, readjusting his stance. His whipcord lean body flowed with the style of one who’d worked a ranch his entire life. No wasted moves.
“He don’t have many visitors and I ain’t ever seen a woman come down to the barn before. Aside from Ms. Karis. We ain’t ever seen you before so we figured.” Frank had a bit more muscle tone to him but neither man could be called fat by any stretch.
“So can I look around?”
“Of course,” Frank said. “I see you’ve met Sonny and Cher.”
Her eyebrows rose in shock. “Sonny and Cher.”
“The dogs.”
She moved to where Joel tossed some hay more into the aisle. Hefting a bale, she followed suit. “You named your ranch dogs after the singing duo, Sonny and Cher?”
“They came that way.” The thin man shrugged and she hid her laughter.
“How long have you worked here at the Flying T?” she asked as two younger people came in, yawning and wiping the sleep from their eyes. They didn’t complain however and nodded greetings in their direction.
Frank got them to work while Joel paused by a stall and rubbed the head of the equine there. “I’ve been here since before the boss took over.”
She wondered if he knew who she was. “And do y’all breed horses?”
“Not really no, it’s a cattle ranch. The Diamond J breeds Quarter Horses, best in the area if you’re looking.”
She shook her head. “Nope, don’t really have much room for a horse in my apartment in New York City.”
“Nasty place,” he said with a sniff. “Don’t see how people can stand to be packed in so close to one another. Ain’t gots no elbow room or room to breathe there.”
“It is a lot more crowded. What about Frank? When’d he start working here?”
Joel looked at her and she held his gaze. She couldn’t help it, she was inquisitive and yes, it wasn’t any of her business but she was here. And asking.
“When Boss bought out a smaller ranch. Frank was selling it and going to be moving back to San Francisco when he decided to give it a go here. Been here since.”
“So it’s bigger now than the original Flying T?”
“That’s right, you used to live here. Yes, it is. Boss buys up smaller ranches and adds to his spread. Good about it, always offers the hands the opportunity to stay on and doesn’t pay us poorly.” He rubbed his chest. “He’s richer than…than…Frank!”
“What?” the other hand called back, his cultured voice a distinct difference to the Texas twang defining Joel’s.
“Who’s that rich feller you’se always going on about?”
“Rich fellow?”
“Yes, the rich feller from your Greek books.”
She hid her smile at Joel’s description.
“Croesus?”
“Yeah, him. He’s richer than Croesus.” Joel jerked his thumb in the direction of the ranch hand who neared. “This one, loves to read dem fancy-dancy books.”
“Least I can read, old man, and Greek history is interesting.” Frank looked at her. “Do you like to read, Ms. Dupree?”
“That’s why we call you Francis,” Joel snarked.
“It’s called an education. So, I didn’t grow up scratching my ass and pissin’ on a tree—beg pardon for my language, ma’am. I learned to read.”
Their banter continued and she just listened, enjoying being part of it. They both fell silent though and looked at her. She blinked. “What?”
“Read? Do you?”
“I do, nothing like Greek history but I do enjoy a good mystery or thriller story.”
“I’ll lend you some books, you might like them.”
The men sandwiched her in and led her further back into the barn, telling her the names of each horse they passed. The teens who’d walked in sleepily worked at feeding.
“So how long have you and Boss known one another?” Joel asked as he led a roan gelding from his stall.
“I’ve known him for two days.”
Both men stopped what they were doing and stared at her before they seemed to catch themselves. “I see,” Frank said.
“I’m a friend of Karis. I came in for the wedding where I met him at the rehearsal dinner.” Sort of but there was no need to tell them how drunk she’d been. “There was a bit of…an issue with my hotel room so Mr. Travers was kind enough to let me stay here for the night.”
“So you’re leaving?” Joel hefted a saddle onto the back of the gelding after he set the blankets right.
“No, she’s staying.”
That deep timbre flowed over her and set her skin aflame. Whirling about, she found Judd standing there, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
“Morning, Boss,” the two men said together.
“Joel. Frank.”
“I don’t want to impose.” She tried again to get him to see reason.
“Your hotel room had been vandalized. You’re staying here.” He strode toward her.
She took in his presence, hungrily. Today he had dressed in all black, from the top of his Stetson to the cowboy boots on his feet. No one had the right to look so damn good in black. He moved like a predator who’d sighted his prey and waited for it to make a foolish escape attempt.
Laciee thought he’d stop before he reached her. Thought he’d act like a gentleman because he’d always been one. She had been wrong. Judd didn’t slow, just continued until their legs touched, until her breasts skimmed the chiseled planes of his torso. He reached out with one hand, sank it into her loose hair, and tugged her head back to meet his questing lips.
The kiss was brief, passionate, and proprietary. “You’re staying,” he growled out before spinning on his heels and striding off down the aisle to a different stall.
Lightheaded and with wobbly knees, she made her shaky way to a bale of hay along a stall and sat on it. Joel and Frank both watched her. Their smiles while telling her they knew how this would play out a while ago, were welcoming.
She met both of their gazes—ignoring the amusement in them—and shrugged.
“Guess I’m staying.”
Judd removed his hat with one hand and raked his other through his sweaty hair. The day was hot and he didn’t much mind the cool water that flowed beneath Kilburn. Even though it didn’t hit him he knew the horse approved. They stood in the river, which was getting too low for his personal liking, and watched as the others drove the cattle across it.
The men all knew of his guest staying at the house. Joel and Frank had taken great joy in relating this morning’s activities to them on the ride out to round up the cattle. Two things had hit him as he came upon her in the ba
rn with his men. One, he was glad she was out exploring and talking. Two, he was jealous that she seemed so much more relaxed with them than she had with him.
The kiss may not have been the smartest thing to do but he’d been unable to control himself. Kissing her was the best way—okay, second best—for him to start his day. Plunking his hat back down, he watched as a few stragglers were encouraged on to cross. Reins in hand, he got Kilburn back on his way, not that the gelding needed his help.
They’d been out all damn day and he wanted a break. Glancing behind, he watched Sonny and Cher swim across and drink as they did before scrambling up the bank and racing back to the herd.
“A smile, Boss?”
Frank had slowed down and was riding beside him.
“It’s a good day.”
“No argument here. Especially since we’ll be done a bit early today.”
“Works out since I have paperwork to catch up on.”
Frank merely smiled and rode off. Judd shook his head. It was as if they all knew he couldn’t wait to get back to the house, but no one would believe he had paperwork to take care of.
The dust whirled and settled around them as they rode in. His eyes were narrowed until he spied a figure leaning against the pen they were going to be putting these cattle in. Judd sat up a bit straighter and watched her out of his periphery as everyone worked to get the milling cattle secured. The dogs barked, cows mooed, and horses neighed along with the whistles of some of the men. The gate secured, he rode Kilburn over to where Laciee waited for him.
“Afternoon,” she said, looking up at him, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hands.
He stared at her. She wore jeans and tennis shoes. Her shirt was tight and showed off her breasts. Judd reached out his hand, drew it back to remove the glove then stuck it out again. He read the hesitation in her gaze before she grabbed him. With ease, he swung her up behind him. Her arms slipped around his waist and she held tight.
“Where are we going?”
“Barn.”
Her laugher rubbed her enticingly against the broad plane of his back. “I could have walked there.”
“I like the feel of you pressed against me.”
