A fiftysomething woman with hair the color of deep, rich red wine walked out of the house. She was flawless in her appearance, neat and tidy, and her pretty face must have stopped men in their tracks when she was younger. Even now, she was stunning and dressed in Western clothes that looked as if they’d just come off a fashion runway.
“Hi, Ruby,” Zane said.
“Zane. It’s good to see you again.”
Zane took Jessica’s hand as he moved toward the house. Ruby tried not to react, but her eyes dipped to their interlocked hands for a second before she gave them both a smile. “Ruby, I’d like you to meet Jessica Holcomb. Jess, this is Ruby Bowen. She and Chuck own this amazing land.”
They came to a stop on her veranda. “Hello,” Jessica said. “The place is lovely. You have vineyards?”
“Thank you. Yes, we grow grapes and raise horses. It’s a rare mix, but it works for Chuck and me. We don’t bottle the wine here—we’re too small for that—but we do have our own label. It’s fun, hectic and keeps us plenty busy.”
“I bet,” Jessica said.
“I met Ruby and Chuck at a charity auction six months ago,” Zane said. “Being original Texans, they’ve been gracious enough to offer their stables for whenever I wanted to ride.”
“Absolutely. We’ve got over a thousand acres and plenty of horses that need exercising. We figured Zane was like a fish out of water, living at the beach these days. We’re happy he took us up on the offer. Chuck’s out of town and due back later. He’ll be sorry he missed you. But please, make use of the grounds. The stables are just down the hill a ways. Our wrangler, Stewie, is waiting for you. He’ll find a good fit for both of you.”
“Thanks, Ruby. Would’ve been by sooner, but it’s hard to ride with a broken foot and wrist. Just recently got the dang cast off.”
“Well, you’re here now, and that’s all that matters. Have a good time. Be sure to stop by afterward. Chuck may be home by then.”
“Will do, and thanks again,” Zane said.
Just minutes later, Jessica rode atop a sweet bay mare named Adobe, and Zane sat a few hands taller on a black gelding named Triumph. In her hometown of Beckon, the terrain was flat as the tires in Jeb’s Junkyard. But here at Ruby Ranch, set in the Santa Monica Mountains, the powder-blue sky seemed nearly touchable. They ambled along a path that led away from the house into land that rose high and dipped gently alongside a creek.
“No rain lately,” Zane offered. “I bet this creek was a rushing stream at one time.”
“It’s still pretty awesome up here.”
“It is. You miss riding?”
She nodded, holding on to the silver-gray felt hat Ruby’s wrangler had offered her. Zane kept his ball cap on his head, but there was no doubt he was a cowboy, through and through. He may have great wealth and live in a contemporary beach house, but you couldn’t take Texas out of a Texan. And that was fact. “I do. I love horses.”
Zane gave a nod of agreement. “Yeah, me, too.”
It was a sore subject and one Jess didn’t want to press at the moment. Zane had abandoned his home after the fire that took Janie and their unborn baby’s life. The place still stood as it was. Acres and acres of land gated off, going to waste. He hadn’t had the heart to demolish what was left of his house or improve upon the land. He’d had an agent sell off the livestock, and that was that.
Heartbroken, Zane had picked up roots, leaving memories he couldn’t deal with behind. Losing him had taken a big chunk out the hearts of the fine people of Beckon. Zane was their golden boy, a singer whose talent brought him great fame. The townsfolk were darn proud of their hometown hero. He’d had no more loyal fans in the world.
“I’m glad you brought me up here, Zane.”
He eyed her, studying her face as if trying to puzzle something out. “I’d have never come without you. Fact is, Chuck’s been after me to ride for months, and I never took him up on it.” His voice seemed sort of strange, and then he took a giant swallow. “I didn’t want to, until now.”
She shouldn’t read too much into it, but her heart jumped in her chest anyway. Hope could be just as drastic as despair to her right now. She shoved it away and took a different approach. “You were confined a long time. I bet getting up on a horse and riding is just what you needed. It’s freeing.”
“Maybe,” he said. His index finger pushed at the corner of his mouth, contemplating. He gave his head a shake. “Maybe it’s something else. Having to do with you.”
Oh, God. Out in the open air, in these beautiful surroundings, anything seemed possible. Don’t hope. Don’t hope. “Me?”
He slowed his horse to a stop.
She did the same.
His dark eyes grazed her face. “Yeah, you,” he said, his voice husky.
Her cheeks burned, and she hoped her new suntan along with the brim of her hat hid her emotions. Zane didn’t need another groupie. They’d already established he was her rebound guy, whatever that really meant. She was his bed partner, for sure. But after that...she had no clue where she stood with him.
Maybe her crazy heart didn’t want to know. Maybe she couldn’t survive another disappointment. It was better not knowing, not thinking at all.
She clicked the heels of her boots and took off. “Race you to that plateau up ahead. First one to the oak tree wins!” She was already three lengths ahead of him when she heard his laughter.
“You’re on!”
Westerly winds blew cool air at her face, her hair a riotous mess, as she leaned low on her mare and pressed the animal faster. The path was wide enough here for two horses, but branches hung low, and she expertly navigated through a thick patch of trees to reach the innermost edge of the clearing. Another fifty yards to go.
From behind, resounding hooves beat the ground, and she sensed Zane catching up.
“C’mon girl!” The mare was shorter, her legs not quite as long as Triumph’s, and of course, Jessica was rusty as a rider.
It was a valiant effort, even if she’d cheated at the starting line, but Zane caught her. His gelding made the pass just five yards out, and yet Adobe wrestled to move faster. Her mare didn’t like to lose, it seemed. They reached the oak tree, Triumph just nosing Adobe out.
Jess reined her mare in and circled around to the base of the oak tree. Zane sat atop his horse, grinning wide. His joy seared her heart. He was so dang happy. How could she not join in?
He dismounted and sauntered over to her, his confident strides stealing her breath. His recovery looked damn good on him, the smile on his face, the gleam in his eyes, the breadth of his shoulders...
“I win, Jess.”
“Just barely.” She gave a good fight.
“Still, a win is a win.”
He reached up and helped her off, his large hands handling her with ease as she slid down the length of him. Tucked close, she didn’t mind being in his trap. The exhilaration of the race and the handsomest darn face she’d ever seen brought on palpitations. Her heart pounded like crazy.
“So what do I win?” he asked.
“Is this a trick question?”
“Not even close.”
“What do you want?”
A soap-opera villain couldn’t have produced a more wicked grin. “A kiss, for starters.”
“For starters?” Her gaze darted to his beautiful mouth, and a delicious craving began to develop. She didn’t think she could play coy. She wanted him to kiss her, more than anything.
He nodded and bent his head. The second his yummy lips met hers, her mind rewound to last night and how his mouth had trailed pleasure all over her body. He’d tasted every inch of her. “Oh,” she squeaked.
She sensed his smile from her noisy outburst as he continued to kiss her. Then he plucked the hat from her head and angled his mouth over hers
again and again.
Backing up an inch, she gulped air to catch her breath and gazed into his mischievous eyes.
“You cheated in the race, sweetheart. You’re gonna have to pay for that.”
A dozen illicit notions popped into her head regarding how he’d make her pay, and a hot thrill spread like wildfire in her belly.
He tugged on her hand, and she followed as he led her behind the solid base of the sprawling oak tree. Hidden by drooping branches and fully shaded by overlapping leaves, he sat down, his back to the tree, and spread his legs. “Sit.” He gestured to the place between his legs. “Relax.”
Hardly a position that would have her relaxing, but she sat down, facing out, and rested her head on his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and he whispered in her ear, “Comfortable?”
She snuggled in deeper, her butt grazing his groin. A groan rose from his throat, and she chuckled. “Very.”
His hands splayed across her ribcage. “Close your eyes.”
She did.
“Now for your punishment.”
He began to kiss the back of her neck, but it was what his hands were doing that made her dizzy. Deftly the tips of his fingers glided just under her breasts. Through the rough plaid material of her shirt, her nipples puckered in anticipation of his next move.
The snaps of her blouse popped open, his doing, and a startled gasp exploded from her lungs. “Zane!”
He brought his head around and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Shh. I’m pretty sure we’re alone out here, but just in case, keep your shrieks to a minimum.”
“You mean there’s going to be more?”
He laughed quietly. Dipping into her bra, he flicked the pads of his thumbs over her responsive nipples. Her mouth opened, and he immediately stymied her next shriek with another kiss. “You are a loud one.”
“You didn’t mind last night,” she breathed. He was doing amazing things to her with his hands.
“I don’t mind now, but we’re not on my turf anymore.”
Damn it. She was his turf. It was becoming clearer and clearer to her. “So, maybe we should stop before someone sees us?”
“No one’s out here, Jess. But I’ll stop if you want me to. And that would be my punishment. I didn’t think I could go all day without touching you again.”
With a confession like that, how in the world could she tell him to stop? “You won, fair and square, Zane. I’m a big girl. I can take whatever you dish out.”
Nine
“I like playing hooky with you,” Zane said to Jessica over dinner at an exclusive, out-of-the-way nightspot overlooking the beach. He’d heard about this place from his neighbors, who commended the food, the privacy and the music. He sat beside her in a booth, listening to smooth jazz from a sax player with a powerful set of lungs.
Every time his gaze landed on Jessica tonight, he was reminded of the way she fell apart in his arms under that oak tree this morning. He hadn’t planned on taking it as far as he did, but there was something about Jess that made him do wild things.
Maybe it was the sweet, squeaky sounds she sighed when he kissed her.
Or maybe it was the forbidden lust that came over him when she entered a room.
Or maybe it was her vulnerability and her honesty that drew him to her the most.
Those sexy shaves she’d given him didn’t hurt, either.
“I like playing hooky with you, too.” Her deep, sultry tone fit the atmosphere in the nightclub, reminding him every second he needed to finish what he’d started up on that plateau today.
She wore red tonight, a daring dress with a scoop neckline, the hem hiking up inches above her knees. The dress fit each sumptuous curve of her form to perfection. There were times when he forgot who she was, that he’d been married to Jessica’s sister and that she wasn’t ready for another relationship. He was her go-to guy, and he’d wanted it that way, but where it led from here, he didn’t know. He didn’t think past the present these days. He couldn’t hope, didn’t want to hope for more. He’d been sliced up pretty badly when Janie and his child died. The guilt ate at him every day.
He raised his wineglass and sipped, turning his gaze to the scant number of people dancing. He hadn’t disguised himself tonight. He’d relied on the dimly lit surroundings and the back booth to keep his privacy. Sometimes his fame came at too high a price, and tonight he wanted to show Jess a good time. He wanted to hold her again. He roped his arm around her shoulder and spoke into her ear. “Dance with me?”
Her gaze moved to the dance floor and the amber hues focusing on couples sharing the spotlight. Yearning entered her eyes, and he’d be damned not to deliver her this little bit of pleasure.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
He rose and grabbed her hand, leading her to the center of the room. As soon as he stepped foot on the wood floor, he turned and tugged her to his chest. She fit him, her curves finding his angles, and they moved as if they were born to dance together.
“How’s your foot?” she asked.
“It’s floating on air right now. Fact is, both feet aren’t touching the ground.”
She chuckled. “Sweet, but I’m serious. You rode today, and now you’re dancing.”
“Thank you for your concern.” He kissed her temple. “But I’m fine. Feels darn good doing some normal things again. And with the most beautiful woman in the room.”
“How do you know? Have you checked all the other women out?”
“I, uh...not going to answer that one.”
“Smart man.”
He laughed, wrapping his arms tighter around her slim waist. Her breasts touched his chest, and he imagined her nipples pebbling for him, hardening through the delicate lace of her dress. Her hand wove through his hair, her fingertips playing with the strands as her arm lay on his shoulder, and it was the most intimate thing she’d done to him this entire day. His groin tightened instantly, and he backed away from her, fearing they’d get thrown out for an X-rated dance. Her gaze lifted, and pools of soft pasture green questioned him.
He shrugged, helpless.
She smiled then, and nodded.
He and Jess were on the same wavelength lately. They got each other, and everything felt right when he held her in his arms. He wasn’t ready to let that feeling go. Luckily, he didn’t have to think about that now.
Two dances later, they noticed their meals were being delivered to their table.
“Ready for dinner?”
Jessica nodded. “I think I’ve worked up an appetite.”
“For food?”
“Among other things.”
Jessica scooted into the booth, and he took his seat beside her as the waiter set down plates of pasta and petite loaves of garlic bread. Jess had chosen penne with sweet pesto sauce, and he’d ordered linguine with meat sauce. Steam rose up, the air around them flavored with spicy goodness.
“Looks heavenly,” Jess said, picking up her fork.
“Yep,” he said, staring at her. “Sure does.”
He didn’t think Jess would blush over such an easy compliment, but color rose to her cheeks, and she blinked and wiggled in her seat. He liked flustering her.
“Hey, you two.” A familiar voice sounded from the shadows, and Dylan McKay’s smug face came into view. “I hope you don’t mind me coming over to say hello. Saw the two of you dancing a minute ago. Didn’t have the balls to cut in, Zane. Excuse my language, Jessica, but the two of you looked hot and heavy out there. And Zane, it’s good to see you without those crutches.”
“Hi, Dylan,” she said with enough damn cheerfulness for both of them.
“Hey, you,” he said, giving Jess a wink.
Zane kept a smile plastered on his face. He liked Dylan, but damn his keen per
ception and his untimely interruption. “Dylan.”
“So, how do you like this place?” the actor asked.
“Very much,” Jess said.
“We were just about to dive into our meal.” Zane picked up his fork.
“Yeah, the food’s pretty good here. And you can’t beat...”
Lights flashed, and cameras snapped, one, two, three clicks a second. Zane caught sight of a trio of paparazzi, kneeling down, angling cameras and snapping pictures of Dylan. Damn it.
Dylan turned, giving them a charming smile as Zane wrangled Jess into his arms, turning away from the cameras. Shielding Jess, his first instinct was to protect her from the intrusive photographers. He hated paparazzi ambushes. But Dylan didn’t seem fazed. He posed for a few shots, and then the manager rushed over, shooing the photographers away from his customers.
“So sorry, Mr. McKay. This usually doesn’t happen.”
“I know, Jeffrey. It’s okay. It must be a slow news day. I’m here with some buddies. No hot chicks on my arm tonight.”
The manager didn’t smile at Dylan’s attempt at humor. He took his job seriously. “I apologize to you as well, Mr. Williams,” he said.
“No harm done.” He had to be gracious. The manager couldn’t have prevented this from happening. It happened all the time in every place imaginable, especially to Dylan. The guy was a walking magnet for the tabloids. He seemed to love the attention.
After the manager walked off, Dylan shrugged. “What can I say? I’m sorry. This place used to be off their radar.”
“It’s not your fault,” Jess was quick to say. “Like Zane said, no harm done.”
Dylan stared at Jess for a moment, his eyes smiling, and then focused on Zane. “It’s good to see you two together like this.”
Like what? Zane was tempted to ask. Instead, he sent him his best mind-your-business look.
“O...kay,” Dylan said. “Well, I’ll be getting back to my friends now. Have a nice evening. Oh, and Jess, I’ll see you on the beach.”
Jess smiled.
“Bye, Dylan,” Zane said, and the guy walked off. If only Dylan’s flirty relationship with Jessica didn’t grate so much on his nerves.
Her Forbidden Cowboy Page 13
