Stone Cold Cowboy

by Jennifer Ryan

  She cocked up one eyebrow and gave him a half smile. “We’ll get one thing done.”

  He planted one hand on her bottom and pushed her down the hall toward her room. “Pack.”

  “Spoilsport.”

  “You’re asking for trouble, woman.”

  “I’ve got my hands full of it, I might as well have some fun.”

  “You like living dangerously.”

  “Nothing seems dangerous when I’m with you.” She walked past her brother’s room and stopped short. She went through the door and stared at the broken dresser drawer and the hole it made in the wall when her brother must have thrown it. “Connor’s been here.”

  Rory bent and picked up an empty bottle of whiskey. The brown dregs settled in the corner of the bottle. “Looks like he might have slept here last night and drank away his sorrows.”

  “Probably waiting for me to come home. Even though we spoke last night, I didn’t tell him where I stayed. Damn. He must be really hurting. I can’t imagine how he feels. He missed being there in my father’s final hours. He never got the chance to make things right.”

  “Maybe someday he’ll remember he still has a sister and will want to make things right with you.”

  “Right now, I’d be happy if he made even one right decision.” She backed out of her brother’s room and walked into hers across the hall. She went to her desk by the window and used her keys to open her desk drawer.

  “You need a key for your own desk?”

  “If I want to keep my laptop from getting stolen, yes.”

  Rory frowned. “Your brother is an asshole, and I think cavemen might have used that same laptop.”

  “Yep. Will you grab my denim jacket out of the closet and my boots? I’m looking forward to going for that ride.”

  Rory did as she asked. She packed up her laptop in her backpack and made sure she had her books and homework assignment for her next class.

  “When do you have school?”

  “I have a class Tuesday and Thursday and another on Monday and Wednesday.”

  “How many more classes do you have to take before you graduate?”

  “After eight years, these are the last. Finally.”

  “You’re graduating?”

  “In May. My father would have been so proud. I’m the first of the family to earn a college degree.”

  “Your father was proud. He knew you’d finish. It’s not in you to quit.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve got an assignment I need to finish and plan a funeral.”

  “About that, what do you want to do?”

  “I need to look at my father’s papers. He planned everything when my mother died. He’ll be buried next to her. Everything else I need to know should be in his hiding spot.”

  “I can’t believe you two had to hide and lock away everything.”

  “Life with a drug addict who will do anything, including sell anything he can get his hands on for his next fix.” She cocked her head toward the door. “Come with me. I need your muscles.”

  “They’re all yours.”

  She slid her hands up his arm and over his biceps. He raised his hand and flexed, breaking the hold she had on him with ease. “Oh God.”

  “That’s what you’ll be saying later.” He hooked his arm around her back and pushed her forward, and grabbed her hips when she stood in front of him. He walked her forward, keeping in step with her, his mouth at her neck, kissing a trail up to her ear. “Stay focused, or we will never get this done.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who flexed and made my insides quake.”

  His deep chuckle at her ear sent a shiver down her spine, but he was right; she needed to focus on the task and stop distracting herself from reality with the hot guy who went out of his way to make her smile and forget the reason she was here.

  She walked out of his light grasp and stood next to her father’s desk in the small office off the living room. She pointed to the fake ficus tree in the corner. “Pull the tree up when I release the bolts.”

  She squatted next to the small oak barrel planter and pulled out the black wrought-iron handle with the pin her father had rigged to hold the fake top and tree in place.

  “Clever.” Rory held the tree aloft like it was nothing more than a feather. She’d have had to struggle to pull the eight-foot top-heavy tree out and set it in the corner. Moss fell free and landed on the hardwood floor. She’d clean it up and spread it over the base again when they reset the tree.

  “What’s inside?” Rory asked, kneeling beside her.

  Sadie stared into the barrel amazed by how much her father had stuffed into the small space. Her mother’s jewelry box. She opened it and stared at the few but treasured pieces her mother loved. Her and her father’s wedding rings. A pair of tiny diamond stud earrings. A couple of gold necklaces. One had two gold hearts dangling from the bottom. One with an S for Sadie, the other with a C for Connor engraved on it. Tears filled her eyes.

  Rory’s big hand settled on her back. “It’s strange the things that remind me of my mother. The coffee cup I made her in fourth grade is still in the cupboard. Every morning when I grab a mug, there it is. Some days, I barely notice it. Others, it hits me so hard my heart feels like it’s shattered all over again.”

  Sadie tapped the charms with her finger. “I remember every time she bent over to kiss me, this would dangle from her neck. I can still remember the smell of her hair, the way she smiled, the sound of her laugh, but my memories are fading into the realm of dreams. The further I get from those moments we shared, the less real she seems.”

  “That’s life, sweetheart. You will never forget her, but you have to live your life. If Connor was here, you’d share your memories and stories. I used to with Ford and Colt all the time when we were young. We don’t do it as much now, but maybe we should.”

  Rory took the necklace from her fingers, unclasped it, draped it around her neck, and fastened it. He pulled her hair free and brushed his fingers through the long strands.

  Sadie pressed her hand over the two hearts that rested over her own heart. She felt closer to her mother, and even Connor, for having it.

  “Let’s sort through these papers,” Rory suggested. He picked up the thick envelope and handed it to her, sucking in a surprised gasp. “Uh, that’s a lot of money.”

  Sadie stared into the barrel at the bundles of cash stacked at the bottom. “What the . . .” She reached in and pulled several out. “There’s got to be at least ten thousand dollars here.”

  Rory pulled out the papers from the envelope. She counted the money.

  “Look at this.” Rory set one paper after another on the floor beside them. “He has a life insurance policy for one hundred thousand dollars. This is the deed to the ranch. And this is his will. Everything goes to you, Sadie.”

  “The night of our first, and only, date he told me that he trusted me to do the right thing where Connor is concerned, even if that meant doing the hard thing and walking away. Tough love. I’m trying to do that, even though it breaks my heart. Old habits die hard, I guess.”

  “This money, the house and land, he left it to you to make the life you wanted. He left a note.” Rory held up the paper with only a few lines written on it. “‘Buy something you’ve always wanted just because you like it. Pay off your student loans. Write what is in your heart. Live with no regrets. Love with your whole heart the way you’ve always done and find someone who will love you the same way.’” Rory’s head came up and his gaze met and held hers. “I think you get your writing talent from your dad. As last words go, that’s pretty damn good.”

  Tears spilled over her lashes and trailed down her cheeks. “Yes. It is.”

  “You took care of him and your brother for a long time, sweetheart. Now he wants you to take care of you. You feel guilty doing that, but you’ve got to ask yourself, when is it your turn? The answer is now.”

  “It’s hard.”

  “I know. But you can’t keep living for every
one else. Trust me, the only thing that gets you is lonely.”

  “Have you been lonely?”

  “Until I met you,” he admitted, his eyes soft on her.

  “I didn’t realize I was missing you until I found you. You weren’t here and now you are and everything is different and better and complicated and simple. Does that even make sense?”

  “You and me make sense. Everything else we’ll deal with and get through together.”

  Sadie leaned forward on her hands and knees and kissed him softly. “That’s the best thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  Rory slid his hand along her face and smoothed his thumb over her cheek. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen or known. That beauty comes from your heart, Sadie.” He kissed her this time. A soft touch of his mouth to hers that lasted seconds but held a depth of meaning that flowed through her whole body. She leaned into him and savored his touch and the warm, calm, loved way he made her feel. Yes, she felt loved. He didn’t have to say it. She’d like the words, but somehow they’d seem flat compared to the simple, elegant, emotion-filled way he kissed her.

  “You’ve got to stop being this fantastic. You make all other men look bad.”

  “Good. Then you’ll never want anyone but me.”

  “Already done.” She pressed her hand to his handsome face. “Still, you can’t be this great all the time. I must do something that irritates you.”

  “I didn’t want to say anything. I mean, you’ve got so much going on already, but seriously, what is with you putting ketchup on your tacos?”

  The laugh and smile came out of nowhere. She tried to stop both, but couldn’t. The disgruntled and disgusted look on his face only made her smile and laugh more.

  “That’s just not right. Guacamole, salsa. These are condiments for tacos. Ketchup is for hot dogs and hamburgers.”

  She playfully shoved his shoulder. “Stop.”

  “Never. Not when it makes you smile like that.”

  Sadie sat back and stared at him, then at all the papers they’d spread out. “Even during all of this, you find a way to make me happy again.”

  “That’s my job.”

  “It’s in the boyfriend job description?”

  He stared at her a moment, letting that “boyfriend” hang between them. She’d said that once before, but this seemed more definite. They hadn’t really defined this thing they shared so intensely. Saying it out loud made it all the more real.

  “Something like that.”

  “Let’s hope I live up to the girlfriend expectations.”

  “You’re better than anything I ever expected.”

  “I’m not fishing for more compliments.”

  “I never thought you were. What I said is true.”

  “This from the man who never dates, according to his brothers.”

  “Not never. I just don’t see the point in running through a string of women who aren’t the right woman.”

  “How do you know they weren’t the right woman if you didn’t take the time to get to know them?”

  “I don’t know. How is it that the moment I met you I knew it was right? You felt it, too.”

  She nodded. “Still, you never really dated?”

  “Just because my brothers didn’t know about it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I’m a guy. I like women. What about you?”

  “I dated a few guys off and on over the years. Nothing serious.”

  “Until now?”

  The bold question should have made her nervous, but she answered without a single flutter of nerves. “Yes. Until you.”

  “Good. Then let’s finish this and go for our ride.”

  “That sounds a lot better than doing this. You take the cash. I’ll put these papers together and make a couple of calls.”

  “Don’t you want to deposit this money in your bank account to pay bills and stuff?”

  “No. That’s for you. I know it doesn’t cover everything—”

  Rory placed his finger over her lips, cutting off her words. “Stop. I am so damn tired of this.”

  She didn’t move from his touch, but cocked up one eyebrow.

  “You didn’t need to give me your horses, the money, and clean my house. Yes, the cattle theft set me back, but it didn’t ruin me. I don’t want any more money. I don’t want you working at my place. I just want you. Don’t you get that yet?”

  She nodded because he still held his finger against her lips.

  “Good. Now pack your stuff and let’s go home.”

  He took his hand away, but she still didn’t say anything. Did he hear what he just said to her? Let’s go home. She was home. This was her house, but it didn’t feel the same. She didn’t really want to live here alone. In fact, she wanted to be with him. Always. He hadn’t asked her to move in. Not in so many words, so what did he expect going forward?

  She didn’t know, but tonight she’d be sleeping in his bed, and she didn’t intend to be there alone.

  “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” It surprised her—in a good way—that she was ready to move on with her life with him. Yes, she grieved for her father. The ache sat heavy in her chest even now, but over time it would lessen. She’d learn to smile without having to try. She’d be happy again without feeling guilty.

  CHAPTER 23

  Rory put the last sandwich in the insulated bag and zipped it shut. He stared out the window at Sadie in her tight jeans, brown boots, and pink long-sleeved shirt with her hair blowing in the wind. She stood next to the corral watching her herd of horses romping around, showing off for her. Lost in her thoughts, she tilted her face to the wind and sun.

  “She looks a little sad,” Colt commented, coming to stand beside him. “Did everything go all right at her place?”

  “Collecting her things and getting her father’s paperwork was the easy part. Watching her struggle with her emotions, not so much. The DEA agent riding her for answers didn’t help.”

  “DEA. Do they think she’s involved with her brother?”

  “No. They want her help to bring him in.”

  “If he won’t listen to her, what can she really do?”

  “Exactly. It’s inevitable he’ll get caught or killed. She’d rather have him behind bars than dead, of course, but he doesn’t trust her anymore. Unless he calls her again, she can’t do anything, including wasting her breath trying to find out where he is and convince him to turn himself in.”

  “Where are you two off to?”

  “Listen, man, I know I’ve been absent a lot and you and Ford have been carrying the load around here.”

  “Hey, I don’t mind. Neither does Ford. You want to spend time with your girl, be my guest. You’ve covered for us, hell you’ve toed the line and sacrificed a hell of a lot more than we have. If this is your chance for something with her, take it.”

  “You really like her?”

  “She makes you happy, I’m happy.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  “Do you have everything you need?” Colt’s gaze settled on the old quilt Rory had rolled up to take along.

  “I thought I’d take her on a picnic to cheer her up.”

  “Is that what they call it now?”

  “Shut up.” Rory shoved Colt away. “You’re just jealous.”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “You ever going to tell me what the deal is with you and Luna? She is Sadie’s best friend, you know?”

  “Did Luna say something to Sadie and she told you?” The fear that Rory would disapprove of whatever it was showed in Colt’s eyes.

  “No.”

  “Well, that’s something.”

  “What would she say?”

  Colt shrugged. “Right now, I don’t know. Something happened. Something I didn’t mean to happen, something that shouldn’t have happened, but it did, and now I’m not sure if it really was a bad thing.”

  “If you feel this bad about it, maybe you should apologize. Maybe she’ll change her mind about you.”
/>
  “You think she would?”

  “Give her a reason to change her mind.”

  Colt walked out without another word, but the thoughtful look in his eyes said Rory might have gotten through to him.

  While Colt needed to change a woman’s mind, Rory hoped his woman didn’t change hers about staying here. Right now, she had clothes hanging in his closet and filling two of his drawers. He didn’t mind making room for her. In fact, his room felt different now. He used to go up there and dread sleeping alone. Now he couldn’t wait for night to come so he could hold her, make love to her, and wake up to her beautiful face each morning.

  He might have lost his mind taking things this fast, but he didn’t care. He wanted her. He needed her. Being without her anymore just wasn’t an option.

  “Heading out?” his grandfather asked. He went to the coffeepot and poured himself a mug.

  “Yeah. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  “Have fun. Looks like she needs some.”

  “Granddad, I didn’t ask . . . I just moved her in here, and . . .”

  “Hey, this is your house, son. I just live here. You don’t need my permission to do anything that makes you happy. I’m glad to see things are changing in this house and in your lives.”

  “Yeah, maybe all your pushing and prodding for us to settle down had some merit. Don’t tell Ford and Colt I said that.”

  “Never. And Rory, it’s not about settling down, it’s about being with someone who makes you the best you. I think she does that for you. If you think so, too, then hold on to her.”

  “I’m trying.” Rory tucked the quilt under his arm and picked up their lunch bag.

  “Take one of the walkies. With all the trouble that’s gone on, you can’t be too careful.”

  “We’re not going that far, but you’re right. I’ll grab one on my way out.”

  Sadie rode beside Rory down the long trail. She had no idea where he planned to stop for their picnic. She didn’t really care. She loved being out on the land on horseback, nothing but wind, trees, and sunshine. She stared up at the sparse white fluffy clouds overhead. A beautiful day. The perfect afternoon for a picnic with a gorgeous cowboy.