FELICIA WOKE UP and stretched her arms over her head, curling her toes against the soft sheet. A bird chirped from the tree outside her window, then flew away. She listened closer and heard…nothing. Fabulous. Two mornings in Nirvana were spoiling her. The peace she found here was nothing like waking up to beeping horns, car engines, and busy activity.
Finally climbing out of bed, she dressed in a strappy pink tank and cut off shorts, pulled her hair back into a messy bun and went downstairs where she found Kaycee in the kitchen squeezing fresh orange juice.
“Good morning.” Kaycee flipped pieces of bacon in the skillet on the stove and took out a pan of cinnamon rolls from the oven. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a baby. Do you make breakfast every morning?” She watched Kaycee remove the rolls from the pan, place them on a cooling rack then drizzle icing over the top.
“Most days, I do. Chase leaves before sunrise, then comes back to have breakfast with me. It’s the little treats that mean a lot. Help yourself to bacon, rolls and coffee. Sugar and cream are right next to the refrigerator. I wasn’t sure if you were into those flavored creamers, so I bought a variety. French Vanilla. Mocha. And I think hazelnut.”
“Ahh, just what I need.” She grabbed a colorful mug from the hook and poured herself a full cup, then added a large helping of mocha creamer. “So Chase will be back soon?”
“He should be here any time. We’re actually both supposed to be on family leave, but you know your brother. He can’t seem to keep his hands out of the business side of things for longer than a few hours at a time.”
“Yes, but I’ve also noticed that he can’t keep his hands off of you either.” Felicia wagged her brows. “I feel like I might be cramping your style staying here.”
Kaycee blushed. “Not at all. We haven’t been given the go-ahead from the doc yet, if you know what I mean.”
“You have to wait for a period of time after you have a baby before you can, well, be intimate?” Felicia grabbed a piece of bacon from the platter and popped it into her mouth.
“Until a woman is healed. When a baby moves through the birth canal, sometimes parts can tear—”
“Sorry, but I think that’s too much for me to hear over coffee.”
Kaycee laughed. “Your time will come.”
“You seem so sure of that, but I promise, I’m nowhere close. What are your plans today?” Felicia sat down at the table and sipped her coffee, savoring the rich taste with a hint of sweetness.
“Nanny interviews. Ugh. I hate the idea of leaving Isabella with anyone, but eventually I want to work again, help on the ranch, and go back to yoga classes. If I hire someone, they can start now and we can get used to each other before I have to leave Isabella alone with that person. I’ve never felt so guilty in my life.”
“Don’t feel guilty. Be happy that you can afford help. A rested mom is a happier mom. Is there anything I can do to help today? I’m at your disposal and, no, I don’t offer that to just anyone.”
Kaycee shrugged, bringing the pitcher of orange juice and glasses to the table and placing them in the center. “I want you to go and enjoy the land, check out the views. See the changes that have been made since you’ve been here last.”
“I plan to do that this morning, in fact. I’m going for a walk.” Felicia resisted the urge to grab another slice of bacon and instead, gulped down half her coffee, got up and dumped the rest into the sink.
“The trails along the north side are perfect for sightseeing. That’s where a lot of guests run early in the morning.”
“Thanks for breakfast and I’ll see you later.” Felicia gave her a wave, then stepped through the backdoor, breathing in the fresh, country air. The scent of hay and freshly mowed grass tickled her nostrils. She didn’t get this back in her big city apartment. She’d always been a country girl, and still was at heart. Here lately she’d done a lot of thinking on where she wanted to settle down. Maybe Chase would allow her to live here at Nirvana, but the question was, would they kill each other?
Hearing the low hum of a Gator in the distance, she sighed in irritation. So, her ‘bodyguard’ was right on time this morning. She’d known the second she’d stepped foot at Nirvana that her brother would ensnare one of the cowboys into monitoring her every move. Sure, the idea had pissed her off, but for now, she’d entertain the cowboy who wasn’t any good at being a private detective.
Smiling, she took off at a quick pace on the trail, stepping over roots and kicking a small pebble. The sun glinted off the Gator, now on the narrow road speeding up, but only to pull over up ahead. What her brother, or her new stalker, didn’t realize was that they were messing with a smart woman. If the men thought they were being clever, she’d allow them to believe that for a little bit before she would prove that their plan sucked.
She stopped to admire a squirrel climbing up a tree and then scurrying along a branch, holding his treasure of a nut in his mouth. Further ahead, she noticed movement in the brush and looking closer, she spotted the tail of a snake before it disappeared under some leaves. She jumped and took off in a jog, until she was safely far enough away.
The path continued around a bend toward the left, but Felicia turned quickly to the right and stepped into the line of ancient trees. She slowed her footsteps and quietly moved through the underbrush until finally coming to stand behind a massive oak. She listened and heard the engine of the Gator, the small tires crunching gravel, then coming to a stop close to where she was standing. Peeking around the tree, she saw the cowboy slip from the driver’s side and look toward the area where she was. She laughed, pressing her hand against her mouth so the sound wouldn’t carry. A few minutes ticked by and she patiently waited. There were no sounds for the longest time. The cowboy must have given up on her because the engine sounded again and the tires kicked up the rocks as he drove away.
Carefully watching for snakes and spiders, she made her way back to the path. She looked around and chuckled, wiping her hands off on the legs of her shorts. She walked about fifty feet and heard a scuffled noise. The Gator was stopped alongside the roadway ahead. Movement by the cart made her stop dead in her tennis shoes.
The cowboy stepped between the view of two trees where she could see him. She recognized Dade after meeting him briefly last year. He tilted his chin and seemed to look directly at her. Can he see me? She slowed her breathing as if he could hear every breath she took, or the fast beating of her heart.
“Damn woman!” His voice traveled. “Fuck this shit!” He kicked the toe of his boot across the gravel, sending pebbles flying, one dinged off a nearby tree. He doesn’t know I’m here…twenty feet away.
So, she’d managed to ruffle his feathers. She felt no guilt at all. Served him right! He wouldn’t like being followed either.
She marched back down the path where she came from. This may have changed her plans a bit, but she didn’t mind where she walked as long as she was alone.
The sun was warm and sweat beaded between her breasts, and after walking a good distance, she found herself close to the lake. Stopping by the edge of the water, she looked across the gentle ripples, wishing she had her bikini so she could jump in to cool off. When she was little, they used to swim in the lake all of the time, swinging from a tire and jumping in. When she was older, she and Danny Hanson went skinny dipping under the full moon in that same lake. Those were the days.
Scanning the fields, she looked for other people, but she was alone. It was still early enough that many of the guests hadn’t roused yet. Here at Nirvana, mornings were lazy, and evenings were lazier. Although it was quite different than her life in the city, she enjoyed not having somewhere to be, someplace to go, and just having the luxury of relaxing. One with nature—just as everyone boasted here at Nirvana.
The view was amazing. As far as the eye could see, it was remarkable. The mountains were the background of the beautiful acres and acres of prime, untouched land. The fields of wildflowers blew in the breeze, their purp
le heads sweeping through the air, their thin stems bending but not breaking. In the distance she could see a group of horses standing along the fence, craning their thick necks over the top rail as they nibbled the tall reeds on the other side.
So who needs a bathing suit when there’s no one around?
Starting for the hem of her shirt, she stopped. One horse moved away from the others at a slow trot.
Narrowing her eyes, she focused. Is that a man sitting on top?
She swallowed.
Dade sat in the saddle. He was far enough away that she couldn’t make out the details of his face, but she’d recognize the black hat and broad shoulders anywhere. So he traded in his wheels for hooves? Blowing out a long breath, she tapped the toe of her shoe in frustration. How had he found her? Couldn’t he take a hint? Angry that he ruined her moment of tranquility, she had half a mind to stomp across the field and tell him to go jump off a cliff—with a parachute, of course.
Telling him anything about her frustration wouldn’t work. He’d just play stupid and pretend it was only a coincidence that she saw him everywhere she went.
Well, so be it! She stomped onto the dock, the wood creaking under her feet.
She wouldn’t let him deter her from enjoying herself. In fact, she’d show him!
Dragging her tank over her head and dropping it, next came her shorts. Her nipples budded and she wanted to believe that it was caused by the cool breeze, but the moisture building between her legs couldn’t be ignored or chalked up to weather. There was something insanely erotic about standing in the open, partially naked, with a handsome stranger watching her. Yeah, he’s watching me all right. His hand came up and rubbed his jaw, and he shifted in the saddle. The horse pranced from foot to foot, then clawed at the ground. Did the mare sense Dade’s irritation…or tension?
Her core pulsated and her skin warmed. She had only meant to prove a point, but instead she’d unleashed a fiery awareness inside of her, one she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Her nipples were now bunched and pressing against the lace of her bra, craving a hand or a mouth to put out the achiness.
Not sure what had come over her, she had no choice but to follow through. A good cooling off was exactly what she needed to drench the desire. Taking a step, her knees weak and trembling, she stood at the edge of the dock, then jumped into the water with a splash.
A second later, she surfaced to the top, squealing. “Holy fuck!” The water was frigid. She hadn’t thought this idea through very well. Her bottom lip quivered, her teeth chattered, and her toes were like ice cubes as she swam to the ladder of the dock. She climbed the rungs slowly as her blood started circulating again. Dripping wet and skin scattered with goosebumps, she hurried and pulled on her clothes in record time.
Feeling somewhat human again, she remembered why she’d done the stunt in the first place.
Scanning the field where Dade had been, he was gone. Disappointment slithered through her. She skimmed the line of trees and the fence where the horses were grazing, further in the distance where a group of deer munched on foliage along the edge of the brush. She hooded her eyes with her hand to protect them from the sun, which made everything appear blurred, as she looked toward the road. She caught a tiny glimpse of him riding away. Her stomach twisted as her core tingled.
Did he think she was completely out of control?
It didn’t matter what he thought.
Yeah, it sort of did. Ridiculous.
“The secret to getting rid of the cowboy was to strip naked.” She wasn’t sure why that bothered her. Wasn’t that what she wanted?
CHAPTER THREE
NEKKID. SPURRED. AND FUCKED, all at the same time!
Dade Jarrett swore when he got his hands on the spoiled, obnoxious Felicia, he was going to drag her over his knee and teach her a valuable lesson. Don’t piss off a cowboy. Boss’ sister or not! He’d had about enough of being her babysitter.
A blast of cold air shot through the vent and into the small room, making his balls shrivel to the size of a chipmunk’s gonads. This wouldn’t do at all. Grabbing the thin sheet from the table, he wrapped it around his hips. “Shit!” It was the size of a baby’s blanket, barely covering the important stuff. Oh yeah…he couldn’t wait to come face to face with the woman who’d been nothing but a pain in the ass for the last two days.
He tried the handle to the door again, sending positive vibes, hoping that it would open. No such luck.
How the hell was he in this predicament in the first place? Bigger question, how had she snuck into the building without him being aware? Was she part ninja? Sure, he’d taken a short nap after Susie had finished with his massage, like he did most times, but woke up with a big surprise. All of his clothes were gone and he was locked in. How had Felicia stolen his clothes, then managed to close the door and lock it? Damn. He was a little embarrassed.
His gaze fell on the piece of paper that she’d slipped under the door for him to find. He read it for the second time…
“Aren’t you a little too old to be following a girl around like a stalker? Enjoy a break on me. You can thank me later.”
Oh, he bet she thought she was real clever.
His gut twisted and he dropped the note to the planked floor, stomping it under his bare foot. He wasn’t a stalker! Just because he was following her…watching her…oh sheesh. Well, he wasn’t doing it because he wanted to. He growled deep in his chest and stared at his toes. She even took his boots. Damn complicated woman! How the hell did she even know that he’d been watching her? He thought he’d been pretty ninja-like himself. He chuckled. Who was he kidding? He was piss-poor at keeping an eye on himself, let alone another human being. He sniffed loudly and tightened the sheet around his hips. Thank God she left the cane and his hat, which he now smashed down on his head.
Pacing the small space, he debated his next move. He couldn’t stay holed up in the room until Susie’s next appointment. Somewhere in the haze of enjoying his massage, he thought he remembered her saying that she didn’t have another client until tomorrow morning.
No, he couldn’t stay here. He’d go plum crazy.
Irritated and ready to send his fist through the wall, he instead took a deep breath and went to the door, pounding hard. Again and again…and again. No one came to his rescue, and he doubted they would. Guessing that it was after nine, everyone was out of the building for the night. He could call someone, but he’d forgotten his cell back at his cabin. There wasn’t much reason to carry it around with him at Nirvana. Hell, he didn’t even have his radio. Now that sucked. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and came to the conclusion that he’d have to do what a cowboy must.
Taking a step back, he balanced himself, which was the hardest part of learning to walk again, stabilized his bad leg, and in one swift kick, he struck the door with his good foot. The wood cracked and splintered, the knob popped loudly. His hip hurt like hell and it took him a long second to recover, but the door opened and that was what he’d wanted. Freedom never tasted so sweet. He’d just have to repair the door ASAP, but not until he filled the boss in on what his sister had done.
The building was dark as he made his way down the hall, using the cane to balance his steps while keeping another hand safely on the knot of the sheet.
Peering through the door into the empty parking lot, he scrubbed his jaw. The rain was pouring down—had been most of the day—and that meant some of the areas would be muddy. He laid his forehead on the glass and sighed. He didn’t have his Gator so he’d have to walk all the way to his cabin, barefoot and with a cane—on the slippery ground. Why the hell didn’t he ever think ahead? Yet, how the hell was he supposed to know some wicked woman would lock him in a room without his clothes? He should go straight to Chase and tell him that he was resigning as Felicia’s keeper. He was a cowboy, not a manny. She was old enough to take of herself.
Dade swallowed. No, he couldn’t tell Chase. The mere thought of explaining that Felicia had dumped him—not only
dumped him, but had also stolen his clothes—would make him the laughingstock of Nirvana. He’d worked really hard to get past being the ‘naive’ hand who the others liked to tease relentlessly. Most importantly, he planned to never go back to being the target of gags and bantering. Sure, they all meant well. The other hands were more like brothers than co-workers. After Dade’s accident, each of them stepped up and helped, even built a cabin that was handicap accessible. His throat constricted. He wasn’t used to the idea that he’d been handicapped. He certainly had a new respect for those who overcame physical challenges. He’d met many heroes and heroines on his path to recovery and they’d taught him to appreciate life, something he hadn’t thought much about before.
Dragging his attention back on the problem at hand, he’d get through it, but there was no doubt, not even a sliver, that when he caught up to the little heathen, he’d give her a piece of his mind. He clenched the handle of the cane until he heard the wood crack. Now was not the time to get angry. Now was the time to get smart. Considering she knew that Chase had asked Dade to keep an eye on her, there was no longer any reason to keep his distance from her. He’d be sure from this point on that he and Felicia were hooked, hip-to-hip. Hell, share dinner too. He laughed, feeling a slice of vindication. That’d teach her a lesson. He hadn’t even said more than two words to the woman, and she was driving him batty.
Outside, he stepped across the wet cement, carefully maneuvering his way through the parking lot with rain drops pounding his hat and stinging his bare back. The sheet slipped and he caught it, managing to wrap the soaked cotton around his body, but using only one hand was a bitch. The material clung to his ass like a diaper and his dick curled up inside of his body. A man never, ever, wanted that to happen.
Stay focused. He could handle the cold, this was nothing, but the muscles in his injured leg didn’t like the lower temperature and wanted to seize up on him. The weekly therapy and massage sessions were helping though. He no longer needed a walker to get around.
The Discreet Cowboy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 6) Page 2
