The Cowboy and the Angel

by T. J. Kline

  “Is this about Joe?” Warning bells sounded in his brain, and he was sure Robert knew far more than he was letting on.

  He clapped Derek’s shoulder in a sympathetic gesture. “Do me a favor? Keep this conversation between the two of us. She’d be furious if she knew I told you any of this.” He chuckled. “Definitely has her mother’s fiery spirit.”

  Derek looked back toward Angela’s trailer. The conversation with her father hadn’t done anything but intensify the foreboding in his gut. Something was going on but he wasn’t sure who needed his protection more: his family or Angela.

  THE SMELL OF hickory smoke from the barbecue drifted to where the crew waited impatiently for the two women to finish getting ready. Derek could tell there was going to be a coup if they didn’t leave soon. Several of the hands had already tried to convince Scott and Derek to allow them to sneak off. Kassie fussed in her father’s arms, leaning sideways, trying to get her uncle’s attention.

  “Give her here.” Derek reached out his arms just in time to catch Kassie as she lunged for him. He laughed and tossed her up into the air. “How’s my cowgirl?”

  “Today? Moody,” Scott warned.

  “Oh, so you’re just like your daddy?” Derek caught his brother’s glare and laughed.

  His laughter died as he saw Angela emerge from the trailer wearing a white sundress with green flowers that matched her emerald eyes. The skirt was soft and flowing, reaching just to the tops of her borrowed brown dress boots, which matched the brown belt Sydney had loaned her. She’d pulled some of her flaming hair back, making her look young and innocent and oh-so-sexy, with the low-cut neckline showing off her ample endowment. Kassie shoved her fingers into his gaping mouth.

  Scott laughed out loud as he took his daughter back. “Maybe if you didn’t have your mouth hanging open, she wouldn’t have done that.”

  Derek pecked a quick kiss to Kassie’s hand. Angela was so beautiful she’d actually made his jaw drop, and Kassie had taken advantage. As she came near, Derek could see that Angela was blushing at his reaction. He winked at her.

  “You look amazing.”

  She eyed him appreciatively. “You don’t look too bad yourself, cowboy,” she teased.

  “Isn’t Sydney ready yet?” Scott grumbled impatiently.

  “I’m right here.”

  Derek didn’t even bother to tear his eyes from the vision in front of him. “Hey, Syd.”

  “Here you go,” Mike said as he approached and handed each person a ticket and a wristband. “These are for dinner and drinks. Angie, these are for your dad, wherever he might have gone.” Mike looked around.

  She bit her lip and looked at Derek. He immediately understood her concern. She didn’t want her father to start drinking and get out of control. “I’ll give them to him.” Derek tucked the wristband and Robert’s ticket into his back pocket, out of sight.

  Angela mouthed a quick thank you to him as Mike shuffled the hands into the bed of his truck. Her father came out of the trailer to meet the group, freshly showered and shaved, dressed in a pair of jeans and a borrowed Western shirt. She was surprised. She hadn’t seen him look this good in a long time.

  “Dad, you look nice.”

  “Thank you.” Her father pinched his lips together and looked at Mike. Derek didn’t miss the glance and wondered if Mike hadn’t already issued a warning to Robert.

  “Let’s get going before these guys starve.” Derek led Angela to the truck and opened the back door for her. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before leaping into the bed of the truck, taking the spot beside Robert. “Here’s your meal ticket.” He handed the man the slip of paper and leaned toward him. “Save us both the trouble. No drinking tonight at the dance, okay?”

  “I’ll do my best,” Robert said. Mike leaned over and said something to Robert Derek couldn’t hear. “I’ll try. I mean it,” he promised.

  Most of the hands hopped out of the truck and headed toward the food before Scott had even parked the truck. Derek shook his head at Mike, saying, “They act like we don’t feed them.”

  Mike laughed. “They’re just ready for some fun.” He jumped out of the truck and went to Sydney’s door, scooping Kassie from her car seat. “You can come with Grandpa, little girl, and your Uncle Derek and Angie can go get the food while we find a place to sit.”

  Derek wondered when Mike had started calling Angela by her father’s nickname. He nodded at Mike, knowing that Mike was giving him an opportunity to discuss Robert’s concerns with Angela. Derek had asked Mike for his advice, but he’d assured him the family trusted Derek’s instincts. He didn’t understand their blind trust in him, but Mike insisted he had grown up over the last year. He wished he had the same confidence in himself that they seemed to have in him, but after what had happened to Sydney, Derek didn’t trust himself when it came to Angela. She had him spinning in every direction, desire ruling his brain instead of logic, and he refused to take that risk again. He glanced over at Kassie cuddling against her mother’s shoulder. As much as he wanted Angela, he had to protect his family first.

  Derek slid his hand to Angela’s lower back, testing his resolve, and led her toward the growing line while Scott pointed Mike and Robert toward a table near the back where the crew would have some privacy—at least until the band started playing.

  Angela reached back and took his hand, sending a jolt of pleasure up his arm. The sizzle of fire and ice joined, creating a burning need he didn’t want to acknowledge. The joyful anticipation he could read in her eyes shook him.

  Get control of yourself. Family first.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said, dragging him into the lengthening line of hungry patrons. “There’s a band?”

  Derek tried to suppress his smile at her childlike wonder. “That’s usually the case when there’s a dance,” he said with a chuckle, glancing back at the table and Mike’s vigilant eye. “Angel, I need to ask you a question.”

  Apprehension immediately flooded her eyes at his serious tone, and he hated himself for causing the reaction when she’d been so carefree only moments ago. He put his hands on either side of her waist, his fingers splaying most of the way around, and pulled her toward him.

  “What? What happened?” Her eyes sought his, worry darkening them.

  “I need you to tell me the truth. What’s going on with Joe?”

  She frowned and looked away from him. “Joe? That’s what you want to know about? I’ve known him since I was a kid. We went to college together.” She bit her lower lip before continuing. “We both studied communications, and he became my boss. Why?”

  “That’s it?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure what you want to hear.”

  Derek stared down at her, sure that she wasn’t telling him the entire story. Joe was far too possessive to be nothing more than an “old friend.” She was hiding something, but before he could push her the man in line behind them nudged Derek, letting him know the line was moving.

  Derek tabled the conversation with Angela and introduced himself to the woman taking tickets, explaining that they needed twenty-three plates and pointed toward the table where the others waited, looking hungry and pathetic.

  “I’ll get some help and bring them all over there,” she assured him as she counted out the dinner tickets for the entire crew, slipping them into her cash box.

  “We’ll help,” Angela offered.

  “Honey,” the woman scolded sweetly, patting her shoulder, “you’ll spill all over the front of that pretty dress.”

  “Pshh.” Angela blew her lips and waved the woman off. “I’ll just borrow one of those aprons.” She reached for an apron at the top of a small stack set aside for the workers. “Is that okay?”

  “Of course it is, dear!” the woman exclaimed. “But you don’t have to do this. We can bring it to you. You’ve been busy all day.”

  Angela tossed an apron to Derek. “Don’t just stand there, cowboy. We have twenty plates t
o get over to your starving crew before they gnaw their arms off.” She shook her head at him. “You don’t want me to report the way you abuse your crew, do you?” she teased. Derek was finding it hard not to laugh at the humor in her voice. This was not the same woman who showed up trying to flirt her way to an interview less than a week ago. That woman hadn’t thought about anyone but herself, and she certainly wouldn’t have gotten dirty serving “manure jockeys.”

  Watching her now, her eyes lit with playfulness and excitement, he was having difficulty reconciling the hard-hitting reporter with his Angel. The fact she could switch roles so quickly made him second-guess his judgment more than anything else had. He couldn’t allow himself to be so hung up on a woman that he couldn’t recognize if he was being played for a fool.

  As Angela approached the table with two plates, Sydney jumped up and took them from her, passing them to the cowboys seated at the far end. Angela hurried back to the barbecue and grabbed more, not stopping until everyone had a plate in front of them. Little beads of sweat glistened at her temples as the sun began its descent and a breeze caressed her face, lifting strands of her hair gently. He followed her back to the barbecue one last time and took the apron from her hands, laying it on one of the nearby tables.

  “What’s gotten into you?” He brushed a tendril of hair back from where it stuck on her face. “Slow down.”

  “I’m having fun, Mr. Chandler, for the first time in a very long time.” Her face was flushed from the warm evening and the exertion, but her eyes gleamed with elation.

  One of the crew passed them on his way to get a drink, saying, “Thanks, Angie.”

  When did everyone start calling her that?

  She gave him a bright smile. “You’re welcome.”

  “Better watch out, boss, or one of us is going to steal her away,” the crewman warned. Angela laughed, but Derek glared at him. The cowboy held up his hands. “I’m just kidding,” he said as he hurried back to the table.

  Her laugher died when she saw his expression. He wasn’t usually the jealous type, but this woman seemed to bring out traits he hadn’t realized he possessed. His family might come first, but he wasn’t about to give her up without a fight—not to one of his crew or to Joe.

  Derek slid his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, feeling her breasts against his chest. Desire pulsed through him as steady as his heartbeat, and he moved her into the shadows, where they were hidden from sight. He covered her mouth with his, sliding his fingers into her hair. His kiss was meant to brand her, making sure she realized what they had was special, but it backfired on him. Yearning raged through him like a wildfire. Derek groaned deep in his throat, his tongue plunging into her sweetness, tasting her. The scent of her drove him mad. Her fingers clutched at his shoulders, pulling him down to her, and knowing she shared his longing was enough to still the doubts circling his mind. Derek’s lips found her neck and she arched against him with a soft whimper of delight. He needed to get control of his rebellious body, and she was making it incredibly difficult. His lips stilled and he sighed against her neck.

  “I’m debating dragging you down to one of those trailers without letting you eat dinner.” He lifted his head to look at her.

  Angela’s eyes were dark with desire, glittering like jewels, and she gave him a coy smile. “I’m not really hungry anyway.”

  Derek groaned and closed his eyes. “You’re killing me. You know that, right?”

  She laughed softly and kissed his jaw. “Actually, I’m teasing. I’m starving.”

  He shook his head and brushed her hair back from her temple. “Don’t take too long to eat. I’m kinda looking forward to having you in my arms tonight.”

  Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? You’re awfully confident, aren’t you, cowboy?”

  “Dancing,” he clarified. “After the barbecue, the band will . . .”

  Derek noticed the man approaching the table where Robert and Mike were chatting. He narrowed his eyes, trying to place where he knew him from, when he saw the camera bag over his shoulder. Joe.

  “Shit.” He saw Robert point toward where he and Angela stood together. “What are they doing here tonight?”

  Confusion marred her brow as Angela slipped out of his arms. “Who?”

  Derek put his hands at her shoulders and spun her to face the table. “The news crew.”

  She looked back at him. “They’re early. Joe told me they were coming in the morning. I . . .”

  Derek didn’t wait for an explanation. Spinning on his heel, he moved to leave. Angela grasped his forearm. “Derek, I have no idea why they’re here now.”

  He left her standing in the shadow of the trees, staring after him, and stormed back to where the news crew was talking with Mike.

  “Thought you were coming tomorrow?” Derek didn’t bother to hide his animosity as Joe met him partway.

  Joe shrugged. “I told Angela. I assumed she let you know.”

  Derek glanced back at her, still standing by the tree, looking slightly dazed. “Did you? Must have slipped her mind.”

  “Oh, I’m certain you’ve kept her busy with plenty that might cause her mind to be slippery.” Joe glared at Derek, making him wonder again at their relationship. “Don’t worry, cowboy. She’s a pro. She’s probably already finished the story and has it all ready for me. Now she’s just enjoying the spoils of her victory.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You really think you’re the first guy she’s used to get a story? Come on, you’ve got to realize you’re not exactly her type, and we all know reporters tend to use whatever means necessary.” Joe laughed quietly and glanced at Angela, who was now heading toward them. “I remember this one politician she seduced. She got him on a story of falsifying documents. You’re not the first guy to fall for her, but you would be the first one dumb enough to have her move in and give her full access. I knew cowboys were known for their brawn, but you must have no brains at all.”

  ANGELA STARED AFTER Derek, wondering what had just happened. One minute, they were having a good time, sharing a kiss—and that kiss! She still felt her entire body tingling, as if she had touched an open current and still had electricity running through her veins. The next minute, he was storming away to face off with Joe. She looked toward the table, where Skip sat with her father while Joe made a beeline for Derek.

  “What the hell?” she muttered, forcing her feet to catch up to the two men. Joe glanced her way as she reached them.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll stay out of your way, maybe just film a few things here and there tonight for our B-roll. You know, background footage,” he explained condescendingly.

  “Like hell.” Derek growled, his fists clenching at his sides. “You can come back in the morning.”

  “Joe, what are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow.” Why didn’t he call her before coming? She certainly wasn’t camera ready. She looked at Skip’s camera bag on the table. There weren’t any lights. He couldn’t be getting any video tonight without lighting. None of this was making sense.

  Joe waved her off. “I told you we were coming on the phone, remember? This way we can get every bit of tomorrow’s rodeo, from sunup to sundown.”

  “There’s nowhere for you to sleep,” Derek interrupted.

  She looked from him to Joe. The two men stood facing one another, and she was sure one of them was about to throw a punch any second. She wasn’t sure why they disliked each other so much since they’d met only once, but the tension between them was palpable.

  Joe eyed Derek and smiled confidently. “We’ll manage. We’ve done it plenty of times before. We don’t need your charity.” He looked at Angela expectantly. “Unless there’s no story?”

  “It’s not the story I originally thought we’d have.” She stalled, looking from Joe to Derek. With his arms crossed and his eyes darkened with fury, Derek’s entire demeanor let her know their evening had come to an abrupt end.

  �
��Good, then let’s pack up and head home. We’ll figure out something else and get you back on the air.” Joe reached for her arm and pulled her toward him. “Chalk this up to a few wasted vacation days.” He smirked at Derek.

  Angela slipped her arm from Joe’s grasp, and Derek took a step toward him. There was far too much testosterone in too small an area.

  “No, I’m not going anywhere yet.”

  Joe’s brows shot to his hairline in disbelief. “If there’s no story, why are we wasting any more time here?”

  “Wait a minute.” Sydney rose from the table while heads spun toward her. “Angela told me about her new idea. I think it’s even better than animal cruelty. Rodeo: America’s Most Dangerous Sport. It would have people glued to their seats and show how dangerous rodeo really is.” She laughed and reached for Angela’s hand. “It’ll make Shark Week look like child’s play.”

  Mike’s face brightened. “I love it! You can interview the cowboys and see why they do it, what motivates them.” He smiled at Joe.

  Angela could have kissed Sydney. It was a brilliant idea. People loved tuning in to see blood, guts, and gore. Rodeo events certainly fit that description, providing more danger to the cowboy than any of the animals. She looked to Derek, hoping he would give her an indication of his thoughts, but he only narrowed his dark eyes and crossed his arms over his massive chest, looking impervious. His jaw clenched and she could just make out the pulse in his temple.

  Mike ignored Derek and concentrated on Skip and Joe. “You are both welcome to come stay at the ranch. Jen and Clay have an extra room.” He sounded like a kid planning a sleepover. “As for tonight, you can stay in our trailer. Derek and Scott can sleep on the couch in yours, right?” He looked at Sydney.

  She returned his grin. “We’ll figure something out.”

  Joe glared at Derek before turning his dark gaze on Angela. “Come here,” he ordered, pulling her aside, out of earshot. “Is this the story you want to do? You really think this is going to get you noticed by another station?”