Dex maneuvered her into the corner behind Paycheck. “Quiet,” he said, laying a finger over her lips.
“She must have walked back to the arena.” Randi’s voice faded as she moved away from the stall.
Dex grinned before pulling her into a mind-blowing kiss. His hand cupped her breast, and she forgot to breathe. Of its own accord, her leg wrapped around his, and she touched his tongue with hers.
Dex groaned, and an electric jolt shot through her body.
Sex against a wall in a stall. They’d joked about it years ago. It had been item number one on their bucket list, but she’d never been brave enough. She suspected he hadn’t either.
Was she brave enough now?
Dex leaned against the wall, taking her shoulders in his hands and holding her body away from his. “I don’t suppose Randi would stay away from your trailer for an hour or so?”
So she wasn’t the only one with too many scruples. She grinned. “No, I don’t suppose so.”
He pulled her into a tight hug, and she could feel the bulge of his erection. Maybe she should rethink scruples. His scent was familiar and delicious, and his body fit hers like they’d been made for each other.
She took a deep breath, but kept her head snuggled beneath his chin. Maybe things would be different this time. “Would you go to Texas with me?” She hadn’t meant to whisper, but was glad when the words were barely audible.
Dex heard her. “For how long?”
He nuzzled the base of her neck, and she almost forgot the question. Almost, but her idea could work. They could be together. “Forever, or for as long as we want.”
Dex set her away. His gaze cut through her more sharply than his soft words. “I can’t leave the ranch now. You know that.”
And, there it was. He loved her, but on his terms. She guessed he’d say the same about her. Unbending force, meet immovable object.
Mavis stepped away, bumping into Paycheck. If the colt noticed, he didn’t acknowledge her. Eating was the most important thing on his mind.
Her body still sang from the feel of Dex’s hands, but her brain couldn’t ignore reality. If she waited around for Nana Dunbar to die, she might have a chance with Dex, and wasn’t that a sad way to view the world?
She smoothed her hair and straightened her shirt. “I’d better get Tuneful ready. She takes a long time to warm up.”
Dex watched her with hooded eyes. As she turned, he touched her arm. “You were serious when you asked me to go to Texas?” His shoulders carried the weight of the world, and sadness filled his eyes.
Mavis’ face felt like it might crack as she forced a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I was kidding around.” She tried to hurry away before Dex could see the tears brimming in her eyes, but he caught her arm.
He reached out one finger and wiped away an escaped tear. “Please understand. I can’t leave my dad right now.”
~-~
A few hours of happiness at a time was all Dex seemed able to capture. Moving around Paycheck, he followed Mavis and stepped into the brilliant sunshine.
He wanted to go back in time, back into the stall, and keep the world at bay. The sight of her took his breath away, until she turned, and he saw the look on her face.
She took a big breath and let it out slowly before speaking. “I know, Dex, and I’m sorry. I can’t be what Lucy wants, and I shouldn’t have to try. She’ll never be happy if we’re together, and you’ll never be happy if she’s not.”
Mavis had summed up his thoughts without him saying a word. Other people fell in love and lived mostly happy lives. There had to be a way to be with the woman he loved. Moving to Texas might be his only option, but the vision of his father’s weathered face flashed through his mind. Dad loved the Rafter D, and Dex couldn’t abandon his father’s dream. There didn’t seem to be a way to keep everyone he loved happy.
A strand of her hair had come loose from her ponytail, and he took it between his fingers. “I love you. You know that, right?”
The tears filling her eyes spilled over as she nodded. “Me, too, but love alone has never been enough for us.”
“Mavis!” Randi rounded the corner of the stable and hurried toward them. “Where have you been? Butter’s owner offered to let me . . .”
They both turned to face her, Mavis’ face wet with tears.
Randi stopped mid-stride. “Am I interrupting? Of course, I am. I’ll talk to you later.” She turned on her heel and hurried away.
Mavis swiped at her tears with the tips of her fingers. She straightened but kept her gaze fixed on the ground. “I really need to get Tuneful ready.”
He wanted to stop her. Tell her she was everything to him, and he couldn’t live without her—but he could. He wouldn’t die if she moved to Texas, but he wasn’t sure he’d want to live.
Mavis disappeared into Tuneful’s stall.
With no other choice, Dex turned toward the arena. There was nothing left to say here, and the silence was awkward. It was time to give up this childish dream and get on with his life.
By the time he’d reached the arena, the practice runs had finished, and a huge tractor worked the ground, readying it for the race to come.
Although he wished with all his heart he’d had more time with Mavis, he knew it was for the best to have things out in the open. He gave a short, humorless bark of a laugh, and the kids sitting next to him turned to look.
He’d known quite a few life-long bachelor ranchers and had wondered at their stories. Now, it was more than likely he’d become one of them. Not yet thirty years old, and he was looking at a lifetime alone.
Up to this point, his brother Davie hadn’t had any better luck with women. When his little brother got done traveling around the world, maybe the Dunbar boys would ranch together until they died of old age. That image didn’t improve his day.
Over one hundred barrel racers competed, but no one was in the same caliber as Mavis and Tuneful. A downed second barrel had cost Mavis the win, but their time was even faster than yesterday’s.
Dex recalled her words from the night before. She hadn’t wanted him to be disappointed with the run, but the run was the least of his worries. He wished he’d made sure she understood she couldn’t disappoint him no matter what she did.
When Rafe had called shortly after he’d arrived at the race, Dex had told him to go on home. He’d planned to ride back to Homedale with Mavis and Randi. Looked like he’d better scare up another ride because hours in the truck with Mavis would be torture for them both.
As he wandered through the trailers, he saw Randi standing by the palomino. If he let her break the news to Mavis that he’d found another way home, it would be easier on both of them.
“You okay?” Randi met him halfway to the trailer. “Mavis?”
“Nothing new on that front.” It took all he had to smile when he wanted to beg the universe to solve his problems. “Could you let Mavis know I won’t be riding home with you? I got . . .” He had what? Nothing!
“Oh, shit. I just texted her. I’m going home with Mandy. She’d offered to let me stay a couple of days and ride that palomino a few more times before I make my decision.”
“She’s traveled all over the country by herself. She’ll be all right.” It didn’t make him feel better to know she would.
“I’m sorry, Dex.” Randi stepped forward and gave him a long hug.
He had to clear his throat before speaking. “For what? You haven’t done anything.”
“I’m sorry things haven’t worked out with you and Mavis. You were meant to be together.” Randi gave him another quick squeeze then stepped away.
“Apparently not.” He turned before he had to say more. All he wanted to do now was crawl off into a corner and lick his wounds. But first, he had to tell Mavis she was on her own for the ride home.
He could text her the way Randi had done, but he had to make sure she was okay for the drive. He was a damned masochist was what he was.
The stalls were empty so he m
ade his way to the trailer. Paycheck and Tuneful were tied to the side, but there was no sign of Mavis. Dex looked around the area. The trailers on either side of Mavis were already gone.
He tried the door, and the moment he pulled it open, he heard crying. Couldn’t anything be easy today? Should he go in and try to comfort her or would butting in make things worse? He couldn’t imagine her being upset because of the downed barrel. This had to be about them.
The blinds were drawn, making the interior dim. He stepped inside and took a moment to let his eyes adjust. As soon as he’d shut the door the crying had stopped, but he could still hear an occasional sniffle.
“Go away.” Mavis’ voice hitched on the words, and he heard the bedding rustle as she turned over.
“I can’t. You’re my ride home.” Once again, his brain had commanded his mouth to say the opposite of what he’d intended. “Ready to go?”
“No, I’m spending the night here.” The muffled words crawled out from beneath the pillow she’d pulled over her head.
“Got an extra blanket? It’s summer, but it still gets chilly when the sun goes down.” It would be easy enough to find another ride, but he couldn’t leave her like this. “And what about a pillow? Although, I could roll up my jacket if you don’t have an extra.”
She sat bolt upright, her head barely missing the low ceiling of the gooseneck trailer. “What are you talking about?” She scooted to the edge, her legs dangling off the bed. Grabbing the corner of the bedspread, she wiped her eyes then glared at him.
“If you’re staying in the trailer, I’ll have to sleep in the pickup.” Now that he had her up and talking, he sank onto the bench surrounding the table. He knew this woman. She’d regain her composure in a few minutes. Even faster if she became irritated. “I don’t suppose you have a beer."
“Why are you doing this? If you don’t think I’ve gone over our problems from every angle, you don’t know me as well as you say.” Mavis dropped to the floor and stood with her arms folded across her chest. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes red-rimmed. “Give it up, Dex. It won’t work, and it hurts too bad to keep fighting the inevitable.”
CHAPTER TEN
Mavis had always been patient by nature, soft spoken and willing to listen to others opinions, but Dex was pushing her beyond her limits. The pain of realizing, for the second time, the man she loved didn’t love her enough was too much.
Knowing with all her heart Dex loved her didn’t help. He couldn’t give up the ranch, and she didn’t belong there. It was a no-win situation.
Even if he’d agreed to go to Texas, it wouldn’t have worked. She couldn’t ask him to give up everything he held dear. He wouldn’t be happy away from the Rafter D, his dad and his grandmother, and they couldn’t keep the ranch going without him.
She’d forced herself to talk to the other contestants as she’d hurried to unsaddle Tuneful. The plan had been to load the horses and head home, but she’d barely made it to the trailer before she broke down.
And now, to make her shame even worse, Dex was here, kidding around like nothing was wrong.
She lifted her head and met his gaze. “How many times do we have to do this before you give up?”
“I came here to tell you I’d found another ride home.”
Disappointment flooded her. Relief came fast on its heels. “You did?” Mavis took the two steps across the kitchen and grabbed a coke from the small refrigerator. Holding the icy can to her forehead provided a bit of relief from the stress headache she’d developed. Sometimes caffeine helped, so she popped the top and took a long swallow.
“It was a good plan, but I would have been lying. I couldn’t find anyone going my way, and now almost everyone is gone.” Dex reached into the fridge and got himself a soda. “Did you get the text from Randi?”
She pulled the phone from her back pocket and read the message. “Damn it!”
“I guess I’m all yours.”
This day just got worse and worse. Four hours stuck in a truck cab, with the one person she didn’t want to see again. Even if he didn’t talk, which wasn’t likely, she’d hear him breathe. “I don’t suppose you’d stay in the trailer and take a nap?” She knew before the words left her mouth he wouldn’t agree.
When he smiled and shook his head, she hurried out to load the horses. Even though she told him she’d prefer to do the work herself, he pitched in, filling hay bags and loading water buckets.
A faded Dodge pickup pulled up in front of them, and Randi jumped out. She took Mavis’ arm and pulled her to the other side of the trailer. “I can put this off. I’ll drive up tomorrow to try Butter.” The worry on her face was apparent. “It’s no problem. Maybe you could come with me.”
Mavis made an effort to smile. She couldn’t ask her friend to make an eight-hour round trip for nothing. “Dex is riding home with me. We’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think so, Mavis. You look terrible.”
“Thanks a lot.” Leave it to Randi to make things better. Mavis even managed a smile. “Go see if this is the horse for you. I can’t wait to have you as a traveling partner again.”
Randi gave her a big hug and hurried to the truck. “If you’re sure, I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
A small line of dust followed the old truck as they pulled out of the arena grounds.
Mavis turned around to see Dex loading the horses.
He met her by the driver’s door. “Mind if I drive for the first while?”
Suddenly she didn’t mind at all. Weariness overtook her. All she wanted to do was block out the world. Mavis climbed into the cab of the truck, tipped her seat back and closed her eyes. She tried to relax and let sleep overtake her, but two thoughts kept tumbling through her mind. Why had Dex’s grandmother tried to keep them apart? Why hadn’t Dex fought harder for her?
Nana Lucy had been an independent woman for as long as Mavis had known her. She’d been opinionated but always fair. For the first few years she’d known Dex, Lucy had been friendly if reserved.
She’d insisted a woman’s place was in the house, not out working with the men. The first couple of times Dex had invited her to brandings, she’d stayed in the house with some of the other wives, and went stark raving bored.
Neither Dex nor his father had a problem with her helping. She hadn’t even realized battle lines had been drawn until Lucy Dunbar had shut her out. Why was it so important for Lucy to remold Mavis, to make her into Lucy’s idea of the perfect granddaughter-in-law? The answer was Lucy’s secret.
Dex had the radio tuned to country station, and Mavis ignored him while Luke Bryant sang his First Love Song. Keeping time to the music with his fingers against the steering wheel, Dex hummed along.
When the lyrics became too much, Mavis sat up and turned off the music. She pulled her knee up and angled her body to face Dex.
“Can’t sleep?” He glanced over then shifted his gaze to the road. They’d reached the top of Cabbage Hill and were leveling out onto the highway.
“I wish.” Mavis pulled the band from her hair and ran her fingers through the strands, fluffing the red curls.
“I’m glad you’re awake. I’ve been thinking.” Dex gave her a small smile, but the light didn’t reach his eyes. “You were right before. I think we should go to Texas.”
Mavis tipped her head and studied this man. His dark hair curled along his collar and his lips . . . She could either think about his lips or concentrate on what he was saying. Since Dex was offering what she’d wanted for most of her adult life, she chose the latter.
A shiver of apprehension flashed across her skin. She wrapped her arms around her waist, holding on to the dream for a moment longer. “What changed your mind?”
“Simple. I love you.” Dex kept his eyes on the road, but the tone of his voice told her what she needed to know.
“You’ll regret leaving.” Mavis knew the truth. She reached across the console and laid her hand on his thigh. “As much as I love the idea, you
can’t.”
Dex slowed and pulled into a rest stop along the side of the freeway. He flipped the console up and unbuckled her seatbelt. With a tug, he pulled her next to him. “I love the Rafter D. I love my dad, but he won’t know whether I’m here or not. I’m going to call my brothers and see if one of them can come home. If they won’t, we’ll lease out the ranch.” He traced his fingertip along her cheek as he talked.
The feel of his body next to her gave her a sense of peace, right up until his kiss set her on fire.
Dex slid the driver’s seat far enough back for Mavis to crawl into his lap. The raw desire in his gaze took her breath away.
She placed a hand on each side of his face. “I love you.” Any gentleness she’d been going to put into the kiss fled like a feather in a windstorm. Desperation took over. She’d loved Dex and no one else all these years.
The feel of his body heat warming her, his heartbeat comforting her, took her to another place. A place where nothing counted except the two of them.
When Dex nipped at her lower lip, she wanted to crawl inside his skin. “I’ve always loved you.”
Placing his hands on her waist, he pulled her closer. He ran his fingers up her back and into her hair. When he slid his tongue along her lower lip then sucked it into his mouth, she moaned.
Two things she knew above all else, she loved the hell out of this man, and she had to get out of these damned clothes.
Dex must have read her mind, or his mind was in the same place as hers, because he grabbed the edges of her shirt and popped the snaps open all the way down. As soon as he’d unhooked the front of her bra, she tore his T-shirt over his head.
Skin—soft and sexy and she couldn’t get close enough. How she’d missed holding Dex, loving him. In the back of her mind, she wasn’t positive Dex would go to Texas when the time came. At this moment, she didn’t care. Even if she only had one more time making love to Dex, she wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. His smile was warm and without reservation. “Before we take any more clothes off, let’s move to the trailer. I’ll need more room and a bed for the things I’ve been dreaming of doing to you.”
Cowboy Six Pack Page 27
