For the Love of a Cowboy (Cowboy Dreamin')

by Sullivan, Sandy

  “Hi. I’m Jacob Young.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jacob Young.”

  “And you are Angel?”

  She grinned thinking about the name she’d put on the note she’d left on the nightstand at the motel. “Angel is a nickname. My real name is Paige.”

  “Nice name. It fits you.”

  “Thanks. My dad thought so I guess.”

  Taking off his hat, he twisted the brim in his fingers. “I hoped I’d see you again. I needed to say thank you.”

  “For what?”

  The girl sitting on the stool next to her left, so he took the seat as she spun around to face him. “Savin’ my ass last week.”

  “I didn’t do anything.” She sipped her soda.

  “Yeah, you did. My memory is kind of cloudy about the particulars, but you kept those guys from killin’ me and then took me to the motel across the street to keep me from drivin’.”

  “You remember quite a bit then, Jacob.”

  “Where did you learn to fight?”

  “Tae-Kwon-Do lessons for way too many years.”

  “Ah.” He glanced at her glass as she drained it, then signaled for the bartender. “Another of whatever the lady is drinkin’ and Coke for me.”

  “Two Cokes, comin’ up.”

  “You aren’t drinking tonight, Jacob?”

  He dropped his gaze to his hands, slipped his hat back on his head and then looked at her. “No. Funny really. After the trouble last week, I haven’t had a drop since. I have you to thank for that too, I guess.”

  “Listen. I’m not sure what got you drinking so heavy in the first place and I hope what happened last week opened your eyes, but I didn’t do anything.”

  “Yeah, you did. You showed me how destructive my life had become over something I really didn’t have a lot of control over.” He reached over to squeeze her fingers.

  Goose bumps rose on her arm, making her frown. She’d never had a reaction like that over a man’s touch before. Calluses scraped against her skin. He worked for a living apparently.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be forward.”

  “It’s okay.” She sipped her drink. “What got the fight started last week anyway, if I might ask?”

  “Somethin’ stupid, really. I challenged them to some pool for money thinkin’ I could win back what I’d lost at darts, but I was too drunk to even shoot the cue.”

  She thought about the puke on his shirt and grimaced. “Yeah, you were pretty drunk.”

  “Unfortunately, I’ve been more or less in the same condition for the last several months.”

  “Too bad.”

  “Yeah, but I think things are turnin’ around. Like I said, I haven’t had a drink in a week.”

  “Great. I’m glad.”

  “The best thing is, I don’t want one. I’ve been in this bar every night since last week waitin’ for you to show up and it hasn’t bothered me not to drink. I’ve watched others actin’ really stupid and I realize now how senseless the whole ritual is.” He drank half his drink and then set the glass back down. “You don’t drink when you come in here?”

  “No. I lost my mother to a drunk driver seceral years ago so I refuse to drink and drive. If I drink, I bring a driver with me, but since I’m on a bike, it’s hard to bring someone who can ride.”

  “What kind of bike?”

  “Harley Softail.”

  Jacob whistled through his teeth. “Wow. Nice bike.”

  “You know Harleys?”

  “Yeah. I don’t own one, but I’ve had my eye on one for a long time. Money has been an issue.”

  “I know the feeling. They aren’t cheap toys.”

  “No, no they aren’t.”

  The band struck up a haunting melody in a little two-step rhythm. “Would you like to dance?”

  She tipped her head to the side and smiled. He really seemed like a nice guy when he wasn’t sloshed off his ass. “Sure.”

  He took her hand sending goose bumps racing up her arm again. Her whole body exploded in the annoying little bumps. The feeling seemed weird, but nice. Maybe it wasn’t a bad thing after all. She wouldn’t mind gettin’ down and dirty with a nice lookin’ cowboy.

  Paige wasn’t small by any means at five foot eleven, but this devastatingly gorgeous cowboy even towered over her.

  When they reached the dance floor, he turned around to face her with a saucy little grin on his lips. He swept her into his arms as he began to two-step her around the dance floor.

  “I guess I should have asked if you know how to two-step.”

  “Yeah, I do,” she said, getting into the rhythm he created with the shuffle of his feet. The man was good. Solid muscle bunched and rolled beneath her fingers resting on his right shoulder. His hand clasped hers in his left as they scooted around the wooden floor.

  “Do you come here often?”

  “I have recently. I just found this place a few months ago.”

  “You aren’t from Bandera, are you? I would remember if I’d see you around.”

  “No. I live in San Antonio.”

  “Why Bandera to come to a bar then? Surely there are a few honky-tonks in San Antonio.”

  The devilish grin returned. What did she say to that? She sure couldn’t tell him the truth. I’m a preacher’s daughter and I can’t be seen anywhere in San Antonio without my dad hearing about it. He’d have a stroke if he saw me dressed like this. “I don’t like the bars there. I found this one on one of my rides. It’s quaint.”

  “Quaint, huh?”

  She nodded as she realized he was backing her into a corner with all this talk, feeling her up for information on a personal level. “What about you? Do you frequent The Dusty Boot a lot?”

  “I have in the past, but I won’t be anymore.”

  “You’re givin’ it up?”

  “Yes. I need to get my life together. I’ve taken the first step by quitting drinking.”

  “That’s a great thing, Jacob. I’m glad you’ve seen the destructive power of drinking. You had me worried last week when you wanted to drive.”

  “I’m sorry. I should never have put you in a position to have to take care of me.”

  “I would have done it for anyone.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I tend to take care of people.”

  The music changed into a slow song, but he didn’t release her. In fact, he pulled her closer and slowed their steps. “I’m glad you did it for me. Maybe I can return the favor some time.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Would you like to get a cup of coffee?”

  “Are you asking me on a date, cowboy?”

  He grinned. “Maybe.”

  “In that case, no.”

  “No?”

  “I don’t date my rescued victims.”

  “Okay. One friend to another then?”

  “How about a Coke and a piece of pie?”

  “Sounds like a date to me.”

  “No. No dates remember?”

  “All right. Two friends havin’ a piece of pie and somethin’ to drink.”

  She stepped out of his arms, but frowned at the loss of his heat. “I’ll go for that.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothin’. Why?”

  “You were frownin’.”

  “I thought of somethin’.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know you very well. Should I really be havin’ coffee and pie with you?” she asked, coming up with something fast as an excuse rather than telling him she frowned because she didn’t want to leave his arms.

  “I’ll be a perfect gentleman. I swear.” He took her hand again. “I’d like to get to know you a little, Paige. You saved my life.”

  “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that.”

  “I would. I might have killed someone if you hadn’t kept me from drivin’ home.”

  “You’d been lucky up until then.”

  “I know. I’d done a lot of things in the last few mont
hs I haven’t been proud of.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm to escort her to the door. “We can have pie at the diner two doors down.”

  “Are they open?”

  “Yeah, for a little bit yet.” He winked. “I know the owner.” They chatted about Bandera as he told her he’d lived there most of his life. “My parents moved here when I was little.”

  “They live around here?”

  “Yeah. We own a cattle ranch and guest place outside of town.”

  “Nice. Do you have siblings?”

  “Yep. Eight brothers, one sister-in-law and one live-in partner for my eldest brother.”

  “Live-in partner? Like is he gay or somethin’?”

  Jacob laughed. The sound sent chills down her back. The low, intense chuckle sounded rough like he hadn’t done it in a while. “No. He just settled down with a great girl, but they aren’t married or anything. They’re livin’ together with his son and she found out she’s pregnant right around Christmas.”

  “Congratulations to them.”

  “They are pretty excited about it. My parents are too. They’ll have another grandchild to love.”

  “Sounds like a great group.”

  “It’s interesting livin’ out there.”

  “Do you all live together?”

  “Sort of. We all have our own places if we want or we can stay in the main house where my parents have their place. We all got deeded a piece of the home place when we turned eighteen.”

  “How generous of your family.”

  “For now, we all work together and split the profits as well as the bills.”

  They reached the diner and he pulled open the door.

  “Hey you.”

  “Hey, Ann.”

  “What are you doin’ around here this late?”

  “I have a lady friend I met at The Dusty Boot and we were going to see if we could sneak a piece of your great pie and some coffee.”

  “Sure, honey. Have a seat anywhere. I was just cleanin’ things up to close.”

  “Oh, don’t bother on our part,” Paige said. “If you’re gettin’ ready to close, we can go somewhere else.”

  Ann chuckled as she waved them into a booth. “Honey, there ain’t nothin’ else open this time of night in Bandera except the bar and my little diner.”

  “I don’t want to put you out or anything.”

  “It’s no bother. I have a fresh pot of coffee I just made and the pie only takes a minute to dish up. What kind can I get you?”

  “Paige?”

  “Cherry or apple with a little ice cream if you have it.”

  “’Course, honey. Jacob?”

  “Same for me.”

  “Comin’ right up.”

  They took a seat across from each other as she glanced around the diner. The décor was simple but homey with the stools sitting along the counter and the booths with their gleaming tables. “This is a cute place.”

  “I’ll pass it along to my aunt.”

  “She’s your aunt?”

  “Yeah, my mom’s sister. She never had kids of her own so she adopted all of us.”

  “That’s right. You have a huge family.”

  “What about you?”

  “Just me and my dad.”

  “I bet it was interesting growing up an only child.”

  “Just like I bet it was interesting growing up with eight brothers.”

  “Touché.”

  Ann brought two cups of coffee along with some cream and the pieces of pie piled high with ice cream. “Good Lord, I’ll never eat all of that.”

  “Oh sure you will. Little thing like you—”

  Paige laughed out loud. “Little? I haven’t been called little since I was twelve with my height.”

  “You ain’t that tall to me, honey. Nina and I are pretty tall too and all the boys are six foot or better.”

  “Six four,” Jacob said, with a grin. “I like my women tall.”

  Her heart tripped over itself in a funny beat as she raised one eyebrow. “I ain’t your woman, cowboy.”

  He shrugged with a grin. “Okay. I like my dance partners tall.”

  “Ya got me there.”

  They continued talking about little things. Bandera and how the town had changed in the years he’d grown up there. San Antonio’s differences as well.

  “Did you grow up in San Antonio?” he asked as the fork disappeared between his full lips.

  Why was she thinking about what it might feel like to have those tempting, kissable lips on hers? She didn’t need his kind of trouble and trouble he would be from what she’d seen of him. “No. My dad is a pre—” Shit.

  “A what?”

  She bit her lip, debating on whether to tell him the truth or not. Surely he wouldn’t know her daddy, would he? “He’s a preacher.” A roar of laughter erupted from his mouth as he almost choked on his pie. “I didn’t think it was that funny.”

  “Oh my God. That’s priceless!”

  “Jacob,” she growled in warning. A warning he didn’t heed.

  “He’s a preacher? I bet he doesn’t know his little girl dresses in a leather outfit and rides a Harley either.”

  “No he doesn’t. He would have a stroke if he knew, so just hush about it.”

  Jacob coughed several times to clear his throat. “Where does he think you go on the weekends?” He raised his hand to stop her words. “Wait. Let me guess. The hospital?”

  She sighed in a rush. “A nursing home to read to the older ladies.”

  “My, my. The preacher’s daughter is a little liar.”

  “Do you really think I could tell my father I want to ride a motorcycle, dress in leather and have sex with random men?”

  “You do?”

  “Sometimes, yeah, but I sure as hell can’t tell him what I do on my weekends.”

  “How do you get away with it? He doesn’t know you own the bike, huh.”

  “No. I keep it and my clothes in a storage shed.” She scooted out of the booth. “Forget it. Why I’m even telling you this is beyond me. Just forget I ever told you anything. You don’t know me. I don’t know you.” She headed for the door. “Think of it this way, Jacob. We never met.” She pushed open the door and headed back down the sidewalk to retrieve her helmet. This whole night was a mistake. She should never have helped him. She should have let him get his ass kicked and drive home drunk. And if he would have killed someone or himself, I would have felt like shit.

  “Paige, wait!” He caught up with her as she pulled open the door to the bar. “Come on, Paige. I’m sorry. It’s not funny. I’m sure you have your reasons for doing what you do. You aren’t really any different than me.”

  “I’m a lot different than you, Jacob. I don’t get drunk to drown my sorrows and forget about things or whatever the hell the reason you were drinkin’ like a damned fish for. I face my problems.”

  “Face them? You call hiding yourself from your father facing your problems?”

  “Don’t judge me, mister.”

  He grabbed her arm. “I’m not, Paige. I’m trying to understand.”

  “What the fuck do you care?” She yanked her arm out of his grasp. “You’ve got your own issues.”

  “Yeah, I do and I’m learning to face them.”

  “By drinkin’ yourself into stupor?”

  “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” She shoved her way into the building and headed for the bar. “Can I have my helmet, please?”

  “Don’t go, Paige.”

  “We’re done, Jacob.”

  “I’m afraid if you leave, I’ll never see you again.”

  “What part of we’re done don’t you get?”

  Chapter Three

  Paige. Paige what? He didn’t know and it was pissing him off. Jacob tossed a bale of hay from the door of the loft into the stack near the wall, one right after the other until sweat poured down his back.

  She’d hopped on her bike and tore
out of the parking lot of the bar like her ass was on fire and he wished he’d followed her or knew her last name for God’s sake! Maybe he could find out from the bartender. The guy seemed to be friendly with her.

  He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his shirt sleeve before settling his straw cowboy hat back on his head. He was tired and he wanted a drink, but he wouldn’t. Drinking was a thing of the past for him. It sure as hell didn’t solve anything in his life so he figured it wouldn’t do him any good now. Didn’t mean he didn’t want one though.

  “Jacob, you up there?”

  “Yeah, Dad.”

  “Can you come down here a minute? I need to ask you something.”

  “Sure. I’ll be right down.” He slipped off his work gloves and laid them on the next hay bale ready to be moved. The ladder to the bottom of the barn stood back to his right, outlined by the hole in the floor leading down. When he reached it, he hopped down the rungs, taking one at a time until he reached the floor beneath. “What’s up?”

  “I just wanted to talk to you about your drinking.”

  “I’ve given it up, Dad.”

  “I know you have, son, and I wanted to say how proud I am of you. You’ve taken steps to change your behavior. It’s commendable.” His dad dropped his hand onto Jacob’s shoulder.

  It had been a long time since he thought his father might be proud of him. Being the third eldest of nine boys, he sometimes felt like he got lost in the shuffle of not being the oldest.

  “I don’t know what made you start in the first place, but I’m glad you found something to help you stop.”

  “A woman, both times, Dad.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad whoever helped you quit was there. Is it someone we might meet someday?”

  “I doubt it. I’ve only met her twice myself.”

  “I see.”

  “No, you probably don’t, Dad. You see a couple of weeks ago, I almost got my ass kicked in a bar fight over a game of pool. A tall, slender woman jumped into help me, taking the biggest of the guys down with a couple well placed kicks. His friends bailed the minute they saw what she could do, I guess.” He shrugged and then readjusted his hat. “I made a fool of myself in front of her and several other people by throwing up everything I had in my stomach outside the bathroom door at The Dusty Boot. Instead of leaving me there to wallow in puke or drive myself home drunk off my ass, she paid for a motel room.”