After the predictable pancake breakfast, he’d dropped her at the barn, telling her to call him when she was finished with her horses so he could drive her back to her condo. He needed to load some more boxes and run them up to his new house. It had all felt so natural, as if they had been together for eons, but it didn’t surprise either of them. They’d been secretly lusting after each other for months.
It was late when he returned her to her condo late that morning, and as they walked inside to hug each other goodbye, she felt uncomfortable, almost sad, and she clung to him tightly, not wanting to let go.
“Can you tell me why you’re feelin’ like this?” he asked, confused by her sudden change in mood.
“I’m not sure,” she murmured, thinking about her mother’s objections but unable to voice them. “It’s not us, we’re perfect, it’s something else, and it doesn’t help that I won’t see you until Monday.”
Believing she’d picked up on the dark cloud looming over him, he was amazed at her almost psychic awareness, and he couldn’t deny the pang of separation rippling through his heart. She was right. Monday felt too far away.
“I’m going to have to stop for dinner at some point. How about I call you when that happens, and we can go out somewhere for a quick bite.”
“That would be great,” she said quickly.
“No hanky-panky though, when I say a quick bite, that’s what I mean. I’ll have to go right back to finish unpackin’ and gettin’ organized.”
“I promise, I won’t try any funny stuff,” she giggled.
“You’d better not, cos you know what’ll happen if you do,” he said, sending her a look that sent her butterflies fluttering.
“I’ll be on my best behavior! I swear.”
“I’d better get outta here right now, or I’ll never leave,” he murmured, then kissing her softly, he reluctantly pulled away and moved to the door. “Behave yourself.”
“I will,” she smiled, and watching him leave, she let out a long sigh, and I’ll be thinking about you every single second.
Though she continued to avoid her mother as she set about her day, in the middle of the afternoon she decided to call her father. She had no quarrel with him, and she did want to talk to him. He was the voice of reason, and he helped to keep her on an even keel.
“Hey, sweetie, I’m glad to hear from you,” he said warmly.
“Hi, dad, any more earth-shattering news?”
“You’re driving your mother batty,” he said, cutting to the point. “Why won’t you answer her calls?”
“She didn’t tell you?”
“I don’t know, tell me what?”
“That she’s once again trying to run my life. I’ve been spending some time with Scott Sampson, and he sent me a card. She intercepted it and threw it away. Can you believe that?”
“Only because she loves you,” he said patiently.
“Give me a break. Do you know that’s illegal? You can’t take a person’s mail and toss it in the garbage.”
“That’s a fair point,” he chuckled. “Shall we call the cops?”
“That’s not all she did,” Cathy continued, refusing to be amused. “Did she tell you that she tried to forbid me from seeing him? Seriously? I’m not ten,” she exclaimed, her voice rising, “and I’m glad I’m driving her batty. She’s driving me batty, and would you please tell her that after tomorrow, I will not be spending any more time with that Renaldo character. I have no interest in him and I have better things to do.”
“Why don’t you tell her yourself? Nicely! Recognize that she only has your best interests at heart. Maybe you could mend fences.”
“I will speak to her when she’s prepared to apologize for throwing away the card Scott sent me, and promise not to interfere any more. You can give her that message, and that’s it, but dad, how are you?”
“I’m fine, sweetie, and tell me about Scott. Have you been seeing him long? I know he’s leased his barn. How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t even know what to say,” she sighed. “I wish he wasn’t, but I understand why.”
She was sitting on the couch, and leaning back she closed her eyes, reliving some of the amazing moments from the night before.
“Is he treating you right?”
“So right, dad. If I tell you something, do you promise to keep it to yourself?”
“Of course I will, sweetheart. Go ahead.”
“The first time I met him I liked him. I mean, liked him, liked him. He’s so…different. I guess that’s the best word to use. He’s interesting, and he’s easy to talk to, and he has this amazing place up in the hills. You should see it.”
“You mean he has another home?” David asked, surprised that the low-key cowboy owned more property.
“He bought it a year ago, and he’s selling the house he’s been living in and moving up there. He’s going back into training and selling horses. I think he’ll let go of the boarding facility entirely fairly soon. I think he’s just seeing if leasing will work out and up his income, but that’s just a guess.”
“He sounds very enterprising, but all I care about is that he makes my little girl happy.”
“He does, dad. He’s special, very special, and if mom wants me around, she’d better get used to the idea that Scott is in my life, and I intend to keep it that way.”
“I’ll do my best, sweetie, but you know your mother. She’s as stubborn as you are.”
“She can be as stubborn as she wants, it’s not going to change anything, no matter how many stunts she pulls.”
“Are you doing anything special this weekend?”
“Scott’s moving a bunch of stuff up to his chalet, that’s what I call his new house, the chalet, but we’re meeting for a quick dinner, and you know I’m playing tour guide tomorrow. I can’t say I’m looking forward to that, but I’ll get through it. No doubt Renaldo has some stories from the circuit he can tell me.”
“All right sweetie. I’d better get go.”
“Okay, dad. Thanks for accepting me and Scott and being so good about everything.”
“You’re welcome. I love you, and so does your mother, don’t forget that.”
“I love you too dad, and if she does, then she’d better find another way of showing it.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
“Bye, dad.”
Ending the call, Cathy suddenly felt very tired, and stretching out on the couch, she let herself drift away into a much needed nap.
Early that evening, Scott picked her up and drove them to a local diner. It was a favorite of his, but a first visit for Cathy, and while it was humble in appearance, she learned it had an A+ rating in the local restaurant guide. Biting into her cheeseburger she found out why. The meat was spicy, the cheese was New Zealand cheddar, and the sweet potato fries made her eyes roll.
“My gosh, how did I not know about this place?”
“I can’t answer that question,” Scott grinned, and though he appeared calm and relaxed, he was anything but.
As they’d driven away from her condo, he’d spotted a car doing a u-turn and fall in behind them. He’d felt a prickling at the back of his neck, and with the specter of her mother hanging over his head, he’d taken a circuitous route, and while the car had sometimes fallen behind other vehicles, it had stayed with him. Scott’s suspicions were confirmed when he’d arrived at the diner and pulled into the curb. The car had passed them, then parked a block away, and only a few minutes after he and Cathy had settled into a booth, a single man had wandered into the diner. Scott wasn’t surprised. It made sense that Marianne Coleman was having someone keep an eye on things, but it didn’t make any less unnerving.
“Scott, you seem a bit preoccupied, is everything okay?” Cathy asked, seeing the suggestion of a frown.
“Fine, sugar, I’m just thinkin’ about what I have left to do, and wonderin’ where I’m gonna put all my barn stuff. I’ve gotta finish repairin’ those sheds. I guess I can store it in the
workshop until their ready.”
“I have a favor to ask, but if you’re too busy I’ll understand. I know you have a crazy day tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? What is it?”
“I’d like Renaldo to see us together so he’ll get the message that I’m not available. It might make the day a bit easier for me.”
“I think that’s a real good idea, but like I said, we need to keep things under wraps for a bit.”
“Oh, shoot, sorry, I forgot. Darn it.”
“What time is he gonna be there?”
“After lunch, around one o’clock.”
“That’s about the time I’ll be meetin’ Todd and Benny. I’m usin’ Todd’s van and Benny’s pickup to move my antiques, but we’re gonna be makin’ a trip with the last of the barn stuff first, so I’ll be there anyway. I’ll let this guy know we’re good friends and that I look out for you.”
“That would be great, thanks. Renaldo seems like a gentleman, but you never know, and I’m not in the mood to deal with an octopus.”
“An octopus?”
“You know, arms everywhere.”
Scott laughed out loud, and though being with Cathy when Renaldo showed up would irk Cathy’s mother if she heard about it, he was pleased Cathy had made the suggestion. As he thought back to the toxic letter Marianne Coleman had left him, he realized she’d not stipulated any time frame, just, end things with my daughter. It gave him some wiggle room, and he hoped in the next few days a way out of the untenable situation would reveal itself.
As they downed the last of their coffee and paid the bill, Scott shot a covert glance at the man he believed was following them. Sure enough he was paying his check, and predictably, he left before them. Driving Cathy home Scott didn’t bother keeping watch in his rearview mirror. All he had to do was see if the car was parked outside her condo when he left.
“I had such a lovely time,” Cathy said as he walked her to her door. “Thank you for taking time out of your busy night.”
“Hey, are you kiddin’? It was great to get outta there and have a break,” he declared as they entered her condo. “You’ve given me a whole new burst energy, and I was thinkin’…”
“I like the sound of that,” she grinned.
“How would you feel about comin’ over tomorrow night after your dinner with whats-his-name?”
“I would love that, yes, definitely.”
“Show up any time,” he said, softening his voice, and wrapping her up in his arms, he locked his fingers in her hair, gently pulled back her head, and lowered his lips on to hers.
Cathy’s heart leapt in her chest, she felt her legs turn weak, and a delicious flood washed between her legs. His mouth was floating over hers, then crushing down with a hot fever, then sucking on her lower lip, and when he finally pulled back she was breathless.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave,” she muttered.
“Me too, sugar,” he sighed, hugging her against him, “but I’ll see you tomorrow around one, and we’ll be together again tomorrow night.”
“Drive safe.”
“And you sleep well.”
Kissing her again, letting his lips linger for a short time, he broke away and moved swiftly to the door, turning to wink as he closed it behind him.
Willing his cock to go back to sleep, he trotted down the stairs of the building and out the front door, and as he climbed into his SUV, he scanned the vehicles on the street. The car that had been tailing him was parked on the opposite side.
“Nope,” he mumbled, “this don’t fly with me.”
Stepping out of his car, he marched briskly across the road, not taking his eyes of the driver for a single second. It was dark, but as he approached he could see the man’s expression change from casual interest, to worry. He quickened his pace, and was at the car door before the man had a chance to start the car and peel away.
“Hey,” Scott said sharply, knocking on the window, and as the man turned around to face him, Scott saw the fear in the man’s eyes.
“Do you need something?” the man asked, lowering the window.
“You tell Marianne Coleman that she’s crossed a line she shouldn’t have. Now I’m tellin’ you, don’t let me see you again. I know you’ve gotta make a livin’, but you don’t wanna make it watchin’ over her daughter, or me. You got it?”
“I’m just-“
“Not interested,” Scott barked, “now get your ass outta before I drag you from that car and kick you into next week!”
“Okay, okay,” the man nodded. “No problem, I’ll pass along the message and you won’t see me again.”
Stepping back, Scott waited until the car had pulled away from the curb, and its tail lights had disappeared as it turned the corner.
“Damn you woman,” Scott said angrily as he marched back to his car. “You might end up bein’ real sorry you did that.”
Cathy had turned out the lights in her living room, and was staring down at the street through a slit in her drapes. The car was still there. She’d been aware of it following them when they’d left the barn earlier. She’d thought she was imagining things, but there had been a man sitting in it parked outside her building all day. When it had tailed them to the diner, she’d grit her teeth, furious that her mother could do something so underhanded. What was wrong with her?
“Do I call her, or wait until tomorrow?” she mumbled, moving away to pour herself a glass of wine. “Maybe I should drive over there and have it out with her now. She’s probably hosting one of her dinner parties. I’d love to see her face if I stormed in there.”
Splashing some chilled Chardonnay into a glass, she carried it back to the window, and was surprised to see the car was gone.
“Huh, I guess now that I’m safely home, your work is done for the day,” and dropping the curtain, she ambled over to the couch and flopped down. “Do I go over and have it out with mom? It’s not late, not too late anyway. No, I’m tired. I need to sleep on this. Maybe I should just talk to dad. Good grief, mom, have you completely lost your mind?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It was a remarkably beautiful day. Cathy had taken Cinnamon on a long trail ride, and though she was still a bit nervous about spending the day with Renaldo, the peace and quiet had helped to relax her. She loved being alone with her horse, walking through the trees and climbing up the side of a hill. When she’d reached the top she’d stared out at the valley below, and had started thinking about what her father had said. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, her father was right, and her mother was only doing what she thought was best. It was warped, and completely out of line, but her mother’s heart was in the right place.
Being an only child was a double-edged sword. She was the center of attention, she was doted on by both her parents, and she had never doubted their commitment to her and her happiness. The counter to that was the oftentimes smothering love of her mother, and sometimes even her father, and now that particular demon was spiraling out of control.
Climbing off her mare, she knew at some point she’d have to call her mother, listen to her concerns, and do her best to allay her fears. If it didn’t work, at least she will have tried, but she wasn’t ready to do that, not yet.
Leading her mare into the wash rack, she gave her a quick hose down, scraped her off, coated her with fly repellant, then took her out into the paddock. Watching her mare munch on the grass, Cathy’s mind turned to Scott, and she felt a deep sense of contentment. This was the life she wanted. Being around horses, and having a devilishly wicked cowboy do unspeakable things to her. She giggled at the thought, then turned around and headed back to the barn. There was a shower behind Scott’s office, rarely used, and not the most luxurious shower in the world, but it worked, and she’d brought a change of clothes. Ambling back to her car, she retrieved her bag and headed to the office.
Only a few minutes away from the barn, Scott was singing along to the radio. He’d finished his unpacking a little before midnight, and t
hat morning he had unfolded the boxes, stacked them in the back of his SUV, and delivered them to the local recycling dumpster. Returning to his former home, he’d moved through house picking up the last bits and pieces, then had wrapped his antiques in moving blankets ready to load into Benny’s pickup and Todd’s van.
Turning down the gravel driveway, he spotted Cathy’s BMW. It made him smile, and driving past the parking area to the side of the barn, he pulled up and jumped out. Cathy had called him and told him she’d planned on showering and changing there, and he had a surprise planned.
Walking into the barn he waved at a few boarders busy with their horses, then ambled into his office. The moment he entered he heard the shower, and locking the door behind him, he approached the bathroom, testing the handle. It was unlocked. Walking in he quickly stripped, retrieved a short piece of rope from his pocket, and approaching the horse-shoe patterned shower curtain, he poked his head around and saw his lovely girl shining wet. To his shock she didn’t squeal, or jump, but grabbed his hand and pulled him in.
“You’re not surprised?”
“Who else would it be, and what’s that for?” she giggled, pointing at the cord in his hand.
“You’re about to find out,” he grinned, taking her hand and leaning her against the wall away from the streaming water. “This, sugar, is for your wrists. Hold ‘em up for me.”
“You’re going to tie me up in here?”
“Why not? I’m gonna help take the edge off, now hold ‘em up.”
“How do you know I’m edgy?” she managed, lifting her wrists, still shocked that he was doing something so decadent with people in the barn wandering by his office. “I hope you locked the door.”
“Of course, I did, and I’m right, aren’t I? You’re on edge?” he repeated, deftly tying her wrists together but leaving a tail of rope.
“Yes, you’re right,” she sighed, “and why does this make me instantly weak?”
Her Forbidden Cowboy (Cowboys After Dark Book 12) Page 11
