The Texas Rebel [The Armstrong Brothers of Cedar Creek 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Rebecca Joyce

  “You don’t strike me as the adventuring type,” she implied.

  “What do you mean by that?” he asked, his defenses quickly going back up.

  “Well, though you come from Wyoming, you were not properly dressed for the weather today. Plus, you wore cowboy boots, instead of reasonable shoes for walking, and that button-down shirt of yours is something you probably wear to a club or something,” she admitted.

  “I wore a jacket.”

  “A leather jacket is not something sensible for Scotland in the February.”

  “What are you, the fashion police?”

  “Well, you asked.” She giggled, emerging from behind the curtain with a large red flannel shirt that fell to her knees and a pair of gray wool socks on her feet. Her long, slender legs were shapely and tantalizing, but it was her hair. That long, illuminating auburn hair that flowed around her angelic face, and could mesmerize and bewitch any man on the planet. She was stunning.

  Mark turned and literally grabbed the countertops for support.Oh fuck! This isn’t funny anymore, God. You can stop anytime now.

  “Here, these should fit, I think. She handed him a pair of flannel bottoms, a T-shirt, and socks. You need to get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold. The bathroom is through there. Just pull the curtain so you can have some privacy,” she offered.

  Mark took the dry clothes and did as he was told. As he walked into her room, he was surprised to find that this room was much larger than he thought. There in the middle of the room stood a king-size bed made of solid oak. The white down comforter was surrounded by soft yellow and brown pillows. The walls were painted creamy beige, giving the room a feel of warmth. He had expected a lot of frilly, feminine things, but he found none. As he surveyed the room, his attention was caught by the large claw-foot tub that sat right in front of a set of French doors. He imagined her there, bathing in the morning sun, and he realized the ache in his groin had grown tenfold. Trying to control himself, he began to think of game plays, the current price of gas, anything but her.

  It didn’t work.

  He found her sitting in front of the fire drinking her hot tea. When she looked up at him, she smiled. “I didn’t know how you liked it, so I improvised.” She smiled, handing him his cup.

  Okay, lady, stop doing that. I just got the junior calmed down.

  “Thanks,” he replied, sitting down next to her.

  “Better watch yourself there. You just said it again.”

  “Said what?” he asked, confused.

  “Thanks?”

  “Oh.” He smiled and took a drink, immediately choking as he tried to swallow the hot toddy she had made. “Damn, girl! How much whiskey did you put in this?”

  “Too strong? Thought you cowboys liked your drinks strong?”

  “Strong, yes. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”

  “Well, it’s the best thing to warm you up with.”

  “Not the best thing,” he muttered.

  Sarah noticed the missing shirt she had given him. Sitting there with just the flannel pants and socks on his feet, Sarah was taken back at the size of his chest. She knew he was a well-built man, but holy crap! This man was huge. From his broad shoulders to his strong arms, she trailed down to his firm stomach where she eyed the clean lines of a well-defined six-pack. Clearing her throat, she asked, “Something wrong with the shirt I gave you?”

  Mark responded with a smile, “It was too small.” She blushed, and Mark immediately thought, There ya go, honey, now it’s your turn to drool!

  “I’m Sarah,” she said, extending her hand.

  “Mark,” he replied as their hands touched. In that very moment, Sarah knew what all the books and people were talking about when they said there was a spark. Spark, hell, it felt like a damn lightning bolt shooting through her arm right down to her very soul. The warmth filled her body like none other, but it was the true shock of it all that made her heart began flittering like a thousand butterflies. Quickly looking away, she asked, looking into the fire, “So, what is it you play again, baseball?”

  “I play football.”

  “Ah, sorry.”

  “You watch sports?”

  “Nope, never saw the need to chase a little white ball around a big green field.”

  “That’s golf.” He laughed. “Football is played in a stadium.”

  “Sorry. Are you hungry?”

  Mark looked at her for a moment. “Oh, yes.” He knew that was not what she meant but, dear God, he could eat every inch of her and still want seconds. “I could eat.”

  They spent the next hour cooking, baiting each other, and eating dinner. Mark was pleasantly surprised. She was a good cook. “I must admit it, I didn’t expect that kind of meal,” he said with a condescending grin.

  “What did you expect? Me to serve you slop!” she said, rising quickly from her chair.

  “Oh, just settle those britches back in that seat. I was going to give you a compliment.”

  “Don’t strain yourself over there. I wouldn’t want you to choke on it.”

  “You know, lady, I have never had to work so hard in my life to be nice to someone.”

  “Funny, I figured you never worked a day in your life.”

  Mark took a deep breath and tried to control that urge to strangle her. Never in his life had he ever thought about laying his hands on a woman, but damn, this woman needed her ass whipped,bad! She had a very smart mouth on her, and she said just the right amount of crap to get his temper flowing. She was rude and condescending. He knew if he stayed one more minute in this house with her, he was going to do something he would regret. As soon as his clothes were dry, he was leaving, and that was final.

  She cleared the table and loaded the dishwasher. She returned with two longneck bottles of Miller Genuine Draft and handed him one. He was surprised when she handed it to him with a smile. He knew he should have left well enough alone, but God forgive him, he couldn’t. “This isn’t gonna blow up in my face, is it?”

  “The cap is already off the bottle, you moron,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “Sorry,” he apologized and took a drink. “Okay, I have to ask. Just where in the hell did you get these?” he said, looking at the bottle in his hand.

  “I have it shipped over from the States. I can stand doing without many things, but good ole American beer isn’t one of them,” she said, taking a drink.

  “This beer taste so damn good. I feel like crying,” he admitted, taking another drink.

  “Well, there is more in the fridge if you want,” she offered.

  “Thanks. So does this mean we have called a truce?”

  “I don’t think it would stick. We are just saying what’s on our minds. No harm was done. I am sorry, though. I am generally a very quiet person. I don‘t know what it is about you, but I just can’t seem to help myself,” she said, leaning against the kitchen counter.

  “So, what brought you to Scotland?” he asked.

  “I just need a change of pace,” she quickly replied. Mark knew she was lying. He could see it all over her face. She didn’t mind the banter and arguing, but when it came to talking about her, she clammed up tighter that a bear trap. Not wanting to push her, he changed the subject. “Just out of curiosity, just how am I supposed to get to Edinburgh?”

  “If you start out at daybreak, you could make it there by midmorning. It’s not a long walk. I do it all the time.” She smiled.

  “You don’t own a car?”

  “Don’t have a need for one.”

  “You mean to tell me that you walk wherever you want to go?”

  “No, sometimes I take my horse.”

  “You have a horse! And you are just now telling me this.” His temper flared back up again. Why was it that she managed to just give him enough information to appease him, but she withheld the pertinent stuff, like a damn horse!

  “You never asked.”

  “Well, I am asking now. Can I borrow the na
g in the morning? I will see that it is returned.”

  “I don’t think so. I don’t like you,” she said, getting up and laughing.

  “Just what in the hell don’t you like?” he asked, getting irritated.

  Everyone liked him!

  “Let’s see if I can explain this so you will understand…” she began. “Mark, I believe that you are the most irritating man I have ever met. You are lazy and condescending. You’re selfish and want to be waited on. I can imagine how you are when you’re at work, and I bet you’re a tyrant. I would even bet that you have someone bring your breakfast to you while you’re still in bed.”

  Well, that was true, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.

  “You seem to like the modern conveniences without the care of how they omit the wonder of everything around you. You like things your way and only your way. I bet your women are beautiful but lacking in the smart department, but once you get your way, I bet you cast them aside, looking for the next thrill. You live your life by a schedule and you stick to it. Just out of curiosity, when was the last time you actually took a day off to just walk around and witness the amazement and beauty of the earth? I would even bet that you haven’t been home to see your family unless it was some event that required you to make an appearance.”

  Mother of Pearl! Who in the hell was this woman!

  “Of course, I am only just commenting on what I have seen over that last couple hours, since I really don’t know you at all. It’s just a quick observation. But let me tell you one thing before you explode. Life is not about how many hits you can acquire or how points you score. It’s about the simple things, like friendships that last a lifetime, family, and the ability to change and live with what you need, rather than what you covet in life. You have spoiled yourself, and even though I just met you, I am not going to give in to you and let you have your way,” she finished.

  Mark just sat there unable to speak. Within the last minute, this woman had summed up his whole life in the palms of her hands and squashed him. She made him feel like he was the boil on a gnat’s ass.

  From the way she described him, he even felt ashamed to know himself. What made matters worse was that she was right. She was right about everything, down to the last detail, and that irked him.

  “Now, I am going to bed. The couch is yours. There are blankets in the cabinet over there. Help yourself. There is more beer in the fridge if you want it. Good night, Mark.”

  “Night,” he muttered under his breath as she walked into her room. “I am not that bad,” he sulked, trying to reassure himself.

  Laying there on the couch, Mark was still annoyed. He knew he made no bones about it. He liked things his way. He worked hard to have the life he lived, and he was not willing to share that with anyone. He loved to have the freedom to buy anything he wanted, date any woman he saw, and the ability to make lots and lots of money. So what if he liked having breakfast in bed or taking the car instead of walking? He was his own man.

  As for his family, well, that was another story. He had tried to keep in touch with his brothers, but with all of them scattered all over the world, it wasn’t easy to just jump in the car and go say hello. So, yes, he just did the bare minimum and visited when some event came up. As for his mother, he called her, or at least he e-mailed her. His father could go to hell before he even acknowledged him. That old man was still a thorn in his side, and Mark was not one bit sorry for admitting that one.

  Growing up as the son of MH Armstrong was not an easy feat. That bastard had made it his mission in life to destroy everything he liked and wanted to do. At first he thought it was just because he didn’t care, but in the end, Mark knew it was because the son of a bitch got his rocks off destroying his son’s life. Mark loved his mother dearly, and she did try her hardest to keep him away from his old man, but there were those days when his dad would find him, making his life a living hell.

  He remembered the day when he was seventeen and out with the herd and several young calves had gotten away from him. He spent the whole day and most of the night looking for the missing steers. When he returned empty-handed, his father cursed the day he was born and whipped him within an inch of his life. If it wasn’t for Mitchell and Marcus coming to his rescue, he firmly believed the old man would have beaten him to death. That was the last night that he, Mitchell, and Marcus stayed there. The three of them left the next morning, only leaving a pitiful note to their mother and saying they would call when they found out where they were going. Of course their mother knew where they were headed, and when they arrived in Illinois, Michael was waiting at the door with open arms.

  He finished high school, and with a full scholarship to Notre Dame University, Mark packed his bags and never looked back. After graduation, he found himself as the rookie quarterback for the Rebels, and after three years he was now the starting quarterback.

  Now laying there on her couch with the fire burning, he had the strangest feeling like he had missed something along the way. He tried to push what she had said out of his mind, but he couldn’t. Her words still rang clearly in his mind, and it was pissing him off. He was about to get dressed and leave when he heard her whimpers from the bedroom.

  Getting up, he found her crying in her sleep. She was dreaming of something unpleasant, and for some reason unknown to him, her tears unsettled him. He never did know what to do with a female who cried. He usually just ducked out of the room and left them to figure it out on their own, but for some reason, he didn’t want to do that this time.

  He felt drawn to her. Walking over to her, he laid down next to her, reaching out, pulling her close to him. She looked so small and fragile. As his arms came around her, she unconsciously wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. Mark thought he was about to burst.

  What was it about this woman? She was a true pain in the ass. She dished out just as good as she got, but she was kind and inviting. She had welcomed him into her home, no questioned asked. She was so trusting and giving. There was just something about this woman that intrigued him. What a strange aura she had about her. She drew him to her like moths to a flame.

  Trying to soothe her cries, he slowly stroked her back. “It’s going be okay, hush now. Try and sleep now, honey. Everything is okay,” he whispered into her hair, and he couldn’t stop himself as he gently placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

  He stayed there with her in his arms for the longest time, just holding her, trying to get her to forget about whatever was disturbing her, when her breathing finally slowed. Mark looked down to find her peacefully sleeping across his chest. Gently trying to remove himself without waking her, he tried to turn her over, but her arm reached further around him, pulling him closer to her. Mark just sighed and pulled the comforter up around them.

  There under the cool of night, listening to the rain outside, Mark fell asleep with his arms nestled around Sarah.

  Chapter 6

  Sarah woke the next morning to find him in her bed. His arms were still wrapped around her as she had her back to him. There in her bed, he lay snuggled up to her as if he couldn’t get close enough to her. The heat emanating from his body was sweltering. Sarah was almost positive she was about to faint if she didn’t get out from under his arms. The man was a sauna!

  Though lying there for one more moment, she did wonder why he was in her bed. She knew she should be yelling and screaming at the top of her lungs, but she just figured the fire went out and he got cold. Hell, she would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed. So, sliding out of bed, she walked over to her closet and removed some clean clothes. With a quick look over her shoulders to make sure he was still sleeping, she removed her nightshirt and proceeded to get dressed.

  Mark had never slept so well before in his life. He felt wonderful. Thinking it must have been the mattress, he slowly opened his eyes to find Sarah standing across the room with her bare back to him. Thinking he was dreaming, he closed his eyes and opened them again.
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br />   There she was, pulling a sweater over her naked torso. As the sweater was pulled down her back, Mark couldn’t help but notice, once again, the gentle sway of her hips. He watched as she reached for her jeans, and, one leg at a time, he watched her pull them up over that very nice, firm butt of hers. Thinking she might not like it if she found him watching her, he quickly closed his eyes and pretended to stretch and roll over.

  Sarah quickly turned around to find him still sleeping. Sighing, she quietly walked out of the room.

  As she sat at the table drinking her coffee, she could still feel his arms wrapped around her. She had to admit it did feel good to wake in a man’s arms. She wondered if it would have been like that with William. God, she wished he hadn’t insisted on waiting until they were married to sleep in the same bed. She would have given anything to know what it would be like to wake up in his arms, even just once. It didn’t take long for her to realize that William had done that on purpose, just because she had let her secret slip one day. After that, William made damn sure everything was done by the book. Even though she said it didn’t matter, he wouldn’t hear any of it.

  So proper, her William.

  Laughing a little to herself, she got up and started breakfast. Something inside her told her that Mark could eat a big breakfast, and for some reason she was happy to cook for him. She enjoyed taking care of people, whether it was a friend or some stranger on the street.

  Growing up, she had to learn to allow others to help her, and when she could finally take care of herself, she vowed never to be inhospitable to anyone who crossed her path. She felt it was her duty to return the favor, and she never discriminated against anyone, even Catherine Mitchell.

  That woman was a thorn in her side from day one, but Sarah made it a point to always be very courteous and kind whenever Catherine was in her presence. She had to admit that Catherine did make it almost impossible sometimes, but no matter what that woman dished out, Sarah never let it affect her. She didn’t want anything to interfere with her life with William.