“I’m driving a hay wagon for Justin,” Emily said.
“I’m going to buy groceries for the next couple of weeks. Want me to pick up anything for you?” It seemed only natural that Nikki would ask, but then she wondered if that was too much and got a little flustered.
His hand moved a little bit higher. “We’re out of everything at the cabin. Just buy whatever you think we need, and keep the receipt so I can reimburse you.”
“Are y’all living together?” Emily asked.
“No!” Nikki put a hand on his to stop it.
“Well, that was pretty definite,” Tag chuckled.
“My mama would put out a hit on me if…Wait a minute.” Nikki frowned. “I’m almost thirty. If I want to live with someone, that’s my business.”
Tag gently squeezed her leg. “That’s my girl.”
“Does that mean you might live together sometime in the future?” Emily asked.
“Mind your own business, sis.” Tag removed his hand, picked up a chip, and dipped it into the salsa.
“Nikki?” Emily asked.
“Let’s just get through tonight, but the question is kind of moot since I haven’t been asked. I don’t think, at this point in our relationship, it’s time for that anyway.”
Before they could continue with the conversation, the waitress came with another menu and asked Tag what he’d like to drink.
“Coke with a wedge of lime, please,” he said. “And some more chips and salsa. If the ladies are ready to order, I know what I want.”
The waitress whipped a pad from her pocket. “Yes, sir?”
“The taco plate with refried beans and rice and an order of guacamole on the side. And while we’re eating, would you fix up three more of those for me to take with me?”
“You got it.” She turned to Emily.
“That sounds good. I’ll have the same.”
“And you, ma’am?” she asked Nikki.
“Two chicken taco plates, no beans on the side, double the rice.” Nikki glanced out the window in time to see a black Lincoln pull up to the curb. “Tag, let me out, please.”
He slid out of the booth and stood to one side. “The bathrooms are at the back.”
“Not going that way.” She made her way through the tables and stepped out on the sidewalk in time to see the vehicle back out onto the road. Lucky devil didn’t even catch a red traffic light at the next corner but sped right through a green light and made a left-hand turn before she could read the license plate.
It wouldn’t be her father because Lucas said he drove a pickup truck, so who in the hell was stalking her?
“Did you get a look at him?” Tag asked so close behind her that she jumped.
“Nope, but I could swear it’s the same car that was parked across the street from my dad’s old place last night,” she said. “Next time I’m going to get his license number and call the police.”
“Billy Tom?” Emily gasped right behind Tag.
“Nope, can’t be. This has been going on since before Billy Tom even showed up at the pizza place. We might as well go on back inside. Let me get the door for you.”
“A gentleman opens the door for his lady,” Tag muttered. “I hate these crutches.”
“So I’m your lady? Is that the same as your girlfriend?” Nikki raised an eyebrow.
“I hope so.” Tag finally smiled.
Nikki had a full cart of food by the time she’d finished shopping. She divided it as she set it on the conveyor belt. What she planned to take to her apartment would be in separate sacks from what she’d bought to go to the cabin. She paid the bill, shoved it into her purse, and piled all of it into the trunk of her car. It took two trips up the steps to get all of her things into her place. Once it was put away, she fed Goldie and told her not to wait up for her because she might not be home until morning again.
Face it. You are practically living with Tag, and you’ve only known him a month. Quint’s voice in her head put a smile on her face.
“But I feel like I’ve known him forever,” she muttered as she locked the door and went down to her car.
When she got to the cabin, Tag was sitting on the porch, his crutches lying next to him on one side and Red sprawled out on the other. He waved and started to get up when she parked. She shook her head at him.
“Just sit still. I can get this. Thought I’d make some supper before we leave. It’ll give me something to do until it’s time to go,” she said.
He got up, hopped over to the door without his crutches, and held it open for her. “I can think of something better to do than cooking.”
“Oh, yeah, well, let me get this stuff put away, and you can show me what you’ve got in mind.” She lined grocery bags on her arm and carried them into the house.
“It’s got something to do with giving you a massage for doing all this for me, and then we’ll see where that takes us,” he said. “But first you have to get naked.”
“I’ve never had a massage from a sexy cowboy. This could be interesting.” She set the bags on the kitchen table and put away the food as she unloaded it.
“Well, today is your lucky day,” he told her as he went back for his crutches.
Red dashed into the cabin ahead of him and went straight to Nikki.
“Look at those big old sad eyes,” she crooned as she ripped open a package of doggy treats. “He knows who loves him the most.”
“If I get a sad look in my eyes, will you treat me?” Tag asked.
“You can have as many bacon-flavored little bites as you want,” she told him. “But first you’ll have to sit up and beg for them.”
“Red don’t have to beg,” Tag protested.
“Red is a puppy. You’re a big sexy cowboy.” Nikki put the last of the groceries away and kicked off her shoes and socks.
“I’ll get the oil. You just get naked and stretch out on the bed,” Tag said.
“Oil? How many women have you…” She stopped. The past was the past and was none of her business.
“None, but while I was in Walmart this morning, I saw this stuff and thought it would be fun,” he said. “I also bought the shower gel to go with it. It smells like coconut, and it reminded me of the beach. You said you’d love to see the ocean, so you can pretend that you’ve got your toes in the water.”
“I shouldn’t have asked.” She pulled her T-shirt over her head, and then her bra came off. She laid both over the back of a kitchen chair.
Red curled up on the end of the sofa and put his paw over his eyes.
“He’s pouting because it’s my turn to spend time with you.” Tag’s eyes went all dreamy as he watched her undress. “You are stunning, in and out of clothes.”
“I’ve always felt like I’m too small.” She took off her underpants and threw them on the pile.
“You are perfect,” he told her. “Now stretch out on your stomach and let me take your mind off all your worries.” He leaned the crutches against the wall and picked up the oil from the nightstand.
She tossed the pillow that she used at night to the side and stretched out. “Did you plan this?”
“I cannot lie to you, darlin’. Yes, ma’am, I did, and I’ve been pretty aroused just thinking about it since you agreed to get groceries for me,” he said.
He applied oil to her back and began to gently rub it in. Then he got serious. He started at her neck and slowly worked his way to the bigger shoulder muscles.
“Where did you learn to do this?” she asked.
“YouTube,” he chuckled. “I watched several videos while I waited on you.”
“You were supposed to be doing ranch paperwork,” she reminded him.
He stopped long enough to nibble on her ear. “It’s all done and caught up. Besides, the videos were way more interesting.”
“I bet they were.” Nikki sighed in contentment as he worked out a particularly large knot in her shoulder. “What are you going to do all weekend if you’ve caught up on work?”
/> “I’m going to another ranch rodeo to watch the guys ride bulls. But don’t worry, I’m going to be a spectator, not a rider. And I’ve been thinking that when I get around to the skydiving thing, we just might do it together,” he said.
“Honey, I go skydiving every time you make love to me.” She relaxed and he worked his way down her entire body.
Every part of her was tingling when he reached her toes and then worked his way back up. It wasn’t until he reached her shoulders and flipped her over that she realized he was as naked as she was.
“Oh, when did that happen?” she asked.
“What? The fact that just touching you aroused me or that I took off my clothes?”
“All of the above,” she gasped.
He stretched out beside her and ran a hand down her ribs, causing even more fire to build up in her insides. “You had your eyes closed, enjoying the massage. I took off a piece at a time. Your skin is so soft. It’s like wrapping these old rough hands in silk.”
“We’ve had enough foreplay, cowboy.” She moaned as she rolled over on top of him. “Do we need a YouTube video for what comes next?”
He flipped her over onto her back and his lips found hers in a string of kisses that left them both panting. “Honey, I think we can manage this part just fine.”
Afterwards, they curled up together in a quilt cocoon and fell asleep. Nikki’s breasts were pressed against his chest, and his arms were around her. Then like a bolt of lightning hit him, he jumped out of bed and spit out a long string of swear words. It startled her so bad that she bounced to her feet in the middle of the bed and looked around for a mouse or a spider or even a snake.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“God, my toes hurt.” He fell backward on the bed.
His weight caused her to bounce and fall flat on her butt. “You aren’t supposed to put weight on them. What happened?”
“Damn Red cold nosed my bare leg. I thought it was something crawling on me,” he answered breathlessly.
She giggled. “Looks like you scared the poor pup half to death. He’s cowering under the table.”
“Well, he did the same to me.” Tag laughed with her. “Next time, he’s going outside.”
“Oh, there’s going to be a next time?” she asked.
“You bet there is, and according to the clock, it can be right now,” he said as he pushed her back on the bed and strung kisses from her neck to her lips. “We’ve got lots of time before we go to Alvord to see your father.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
For the second night in a row, Nikki sat in Tag’s truck in front of a house. This one was a two-story frame house set back at the end of a lane lined with pecan trees. Half a dozen rocking chairs were lined up behind the railing of the wide front porch.
“I remember this house,” she said.
“You’ve been here before?” Tag asked.
“No, but I saw something like this in a magazine when I was a little girl. I told Daddy when I got big, I wanted a two-story house,” she said.
Lights poured out of several windows, both upstairs and down. A brown pickup truck was parked at the curve of a circular driveway. Tonight there was definitely someone at home, but there wasn’t a black car anywhere in sight. That meant Nikki’s stalker wasn’t her father.
“Whoa!” Nikki said. “I just assumed that whoever is driving that black Lincoln is tracking me. But what if they were following me because of you? What if you have some baby-mama out there somewhere and they want to know exactly what’s going on between us,” she said.
“Whoa there, darlin’,” Tag said with a laugh. “I think your nerves have made your imagination run wild. Relax and take a deep breath. Let’s just get through tonight, okay?”
“You didn’t answer my question.” She folded her arms over her chest.
“I would always do right by a child if it’s mine, but I wouldn’t marry for that reason,” he said. “Now let’s go talk to your dad. This isn’t something that we need to discuss tonight.”
She didn’t wait for him like she usually did, but got out of the truck and headed up the sidewalk. He’d answered honestly, but it made her think what percentage of the time the pill failed. There was a slim chance that she was pregnant.
Tag caught up to her just as she rang the doorbell. “Why are you mad at me?”
“I’m not,” she said.
“And pigs can sprout wings and fly,” he said.
The door opened and her dad said, “Hello, Nikki.”
“Daddy, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Tag Baker.”
“Please come in.” Don stood to the side and motioned them inside. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tag. I’d shake your hand, but it looks like you’ve got both of them pretty tied up. This is Lucas, but then y’all met him last night. I’m so glad you’re here, Nikki.”
“He always talks too fast when he’s excited.” Lucas came out of a doorway. “But I really can’t say much, because I do too. Y’all come on in the living room. We aren’t totally unpacked yet, but this room is done, and we’ve laid out a little snack on the coffee table. Can I get you a glass of wine? A drink? Maybe some coffee?”
The look on her father’s face was like those times when she was a little girl and he didn’t quite know what to do—whether to say he was sorry for the words that had just spewed from her mother’s mouth or to give Nikki a hug. She wanted to comfort him, but the moment was awkward.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward. “It’s been a long time, Daddy.” She rose up on tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve missed you so much.”
With tears rolling down his cheeks, Don hugged her tightly. “Oh, Nikki, I’ve waited for this moment for years. We’ve got so much catching up to do.”
“Yes, we do.” She took a step back and looped her arm in his.
Lucas led the way into the living room. Nikki looked around, and her head began to swirl. She thought for a minute that she would faint right there. A collection of framed photographs of her and Quint were lined up on the fireplace mantel. A collage of photographs above the sofa included one of her in her cap and gown at her high school graduation, one at her capping ceremony when she became an LPN, and another had been taken when she received her RN degree. Scattered among them were pictures of Lucas at various functions.
She turned toward her dad. “You were there?”
“At every single thing you ever did.” He sat down on the end of the sofa and patted the cushion next to him. “Sit beside me and tell me all about yourself.”
She eased down onto the buttery soft leather sofa. “I didn’t get any of your letters until last week. Mama kept them in a shoebox. I had no idea that you’d offered to let me live with you.”
“I’m so sorry. I came to the house several times, but I couldn’t make myself go inside.” He pulled a tissue from a nearby box and wiped away his tears. “So I wrote the letters and sent them to you. I had no idea that Wilma would keep my mail from you. Let’s have a drink to settle our nerves. Lucas, will you pour for us? And forgive me, Tag. I’m so excited to see y’all that I’m being a bad host. Please sit in the recliner and prop up your foot. What happened to your leg? You want a beer?”
“A mean bull stepped on my foot at a rodeo. Guess he wanted to show me he was still the boss. And a beer sounds great.” Tag eased down in the chair and nodded toward the pictures on the wall. “Quite a collection you’ve got there.”
“Thank you,” Don said.
Nikki slid long, sideways glances at her father. His hair was gray and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth testified that he was an older man now, but he could easily pass for much younger than the fifty-five or -six that he had to be.
“You’ve grown up.” Don handed her a glass of white wine.
“Not much taller but a lot older.” She smiled.
Lucas removed the cap from a bottle of beer and waited until Tag was comfortable in one of two recliners before he put it i
n his hand.
“I understand y’all met Lucas last night,” Don said. “I should tell you about him before we get into catching up. Lucas is my son and your half brother. He’s about seven years older than you, Nikki.”
She almost shot wine out her nose. “You were married before?”
“No, ma’am. Your mama was my one and only wife. I swore I’d never make that mistake again, and I haven’t. His mother was my high school sweetheart. We started college together, and we both dropped out after a year. She moved to California with her parents, and I got a job driving trucks. She died about a year after Quint’s death, but she told Lucas all about me before she passed away.”
Lucas sat down in a rocking chair. “Mother married my stepfather before I was born, so I just figured he was my father. He died when I was sixteen and Mama died after a short fight with cancer when I was twenty-one. It was my last year of university up in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Academic scholarship,” he answered her unasked question. “I finished up the year and got a job in Dallas. Figured I might as well see if I could locate Don Grady, who Mama said was my biological father. I found him in McKinney and we hit it off. I lived with him a couple of years before I ‘fell in love.’” He put air quotes around the last three words. “I got married. It lasted about four years. And I moved back in with Dad. Last year I sold my company and retired. Now I’m writing books on running a business and retiring early in life. I’m probably making more with them than I did with a computer software company. So that’s my story. I’m your half brother. I’ve always wanted to know you beyond those pictures up there.”
“Why didn’t your mama tell my dad she was pregnant?” Nikki asked.
“Mother told me that she wasn’t sure she ever loved him, that what they had was a high school fling,” Lucas answered.
Nikki glanced over at Tag. Would they grow apart like that?
He raised his beer bottle to her. “Can you believe you’ve got a brother?”
Have a brother? she wanted to scream. I had a brother. His name was Quint. His pictures are on the mantel. I don’t know this man.
Cowboy Rebel--Includes a bonus short story Page 23
