by Talty, Jen
JW took her hand and placed it on his biceps. “Your friend is a crappy whisperer.”
Well, hell. She had to walk right past it. “All right, but only because it’s hotter than hell outside. I don’t mean to use you to get my ex off my back.”
“This is the only time I don’t mind being used,” JW said with a smile.
The sun hadn’t quite disappeared behind the horizon, and the humid air clung to her pores as she tucked her purse under her armpit and tried to keep up with JW’s long strides. He looked like he was taking a stroll while she scurried on like a hamster on a spinning wheel.
But what baffled her was why she continued to keep her hand tucked neatly in the crevice of his elbow until they stepped into the ice cream shop.
He ordered a chocolate chip sugar cone, and she asked for double chocolate in a dish.
“I can pay for my own.” Standing in front of the register, she dug into her purse.
“I’m sure you can, but my sister would have my head if I didn’t.”
“Your sister’s not here.” She took the cup he offered, letting him pay. She saw no point in insulting his kindness, but she would have to make sure he understood that she wasn’t interested.
She bit back a smile. Not interested? Hell, all she could think about was how his callused hands would feel on her backside.
They sat at one of the tables outside. This time, he kept his cowboy hat on.
“I have to ask what’s with the hat?”
“Where I come from, this is our version of your baseball cap, which I’ve been wondering, why do people wear those suckers backward? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
“When on right, it blocks the sun from your face. When on backward, it protects the neck.”
“Is that why I don’t see a single redneck in this city?”
She laughed so hard she nearly spit out a mouth full of ice cream. “You’ll need to go to the countryside in Virginia to see them.” She wiped her lips with the tiny napkin all ice cream shops give out. “So, where do you live?”
“Buhl, Idaho.” He finished his cone in like three bites.
She shivered, her teeth stinging at the idea of chewing the cold dessert. “Idaho? What the hell are you doing in Baltimore?”
He shrugged. “I’ve probably had one too many drinks, so consider this me being loose in the lips since I generally don’t talk about myself to perfect strangers.” He tipped his hat up a tad, leaning back in his chair. “The last few months have been difficult for me, and my family kept telling me that I needed to take a vacation. So, Georgia Moon set up a map of the United States and handed me a dart. I swore I’d go wherever the dart landed.”
“It landed on Baltimore?” She shook her head. “You poor man.”
“It can’t be that bad, can it?” he asked.
“Just be careful where you go at night. I wouldn’t walk anywhere after dark in this city.”
“I did read that somewhere.”
She nodded. “Speaking of which. I live a few blocks from here, and I should get going.”
“It’s dark, so I’m walking you home.”
She took in a long, slow breath. “I appreciate the company, the ice cream, and the gesture, but I’m not interested in—”
“I’m going to be rude and stop you right there,” he said, gently taking her by the elbow. “Part of why I need a vacation is because of a bad relationship I was in, and I’m here to clear my head, not get involved, or even have a fling. But I’m a gentleman who can in no way feel good about letting you walk alone in these streets. I’ve heard about the crime in this city—”
She patted his biceps and damn near broke her hand. “You can walk me home.” She shouldn’t have said that. While she believed he was a harmless cowboy, she had a rule about the men who came into the bar. Hell, she had a rule about men. Stay clear of them.
Kitty stopped dead in her tracks only one house from her folks.
“Your ex-husband is persistent,” JW mumbled.
“Just promise me you won’t get into it with him, okay?”
“I promise I won’t start it, but that’s the best I can do.”
“I’ll take it.” If her father had seen Preston sitting on the front porch, JW would be the least of her concerns. “What are you doing here, Preston?”
“If you’d give me five minutes of your time, I wouldn’t have to do this.” Preston stood.
JW’s biceps flexed, and his entire body stiffened, but to his credit, he didn’t say a single word.
“Let’s go for a walk.”
“That’s not a good idea,” JW said.
“This doesn’t concern you.” Preston inched forward.
JW puffed out his chest. “Maybe not. But I’m not leaving until I know Kitty is tucked safely inside her home.”
“I’ll make sure my wife is taken care of.” Preston held up his hand, spreading out his fingers. “Five minutes. That’s all I ask.”
“Okay,” she said reluctantly.
JW growled.
“Wait right here, okay?” She patted JW’s arm before walking up the street with Preston, making sure she kept her distance from her ex-husband. “You’re trying my patience, and after this evening, you need to leave me alone.”
“I still love you, Kitty. I want you back. I never should have let you go in the first place.” He rested his hands on her shoulders.
She shrugged them off. “You lost my love and respect the day you hit me.” She palmed her cheek.
“I’m so ashamed by my actions that day. I want to make it up to you.”
“Leaving me alone will do that.” She stole a glance back at JW, who stood in front of her house with his hands on his hips. “Anything else?”
“Who is he to you?”
“He’s a friend. But if he were to become more, that’s none of your business. Now, please, I’m begging you, leave my family and me alone.” She spun on her heels and took off as fast as she could without breaking out in a full-out run toward JW.
“Are you okay?” JW asked.
She nodded. “Is he leaving?”
“He’s getting in some fancy sports car.”
“Then I’m great.” She let out a long breath. “Thanks for walking me home.”
He looped his arms around her waist. “May I kiss your cheek?”
She nodded, turning her head.
His hot lips sent her pulse soaring. “Good night, JW.” She left his embrace and made her way up her front porch. Stopping at the front door, she glanced over her shoulder. “I had a good time tonight.”
“I had a better time.” He tipped his head and sauntered down the street.
Damn. If he showed up in the bar and asked her out again, she wouldn’t say no.
Chapter Four
It took a little digging, but JW found out that Preston’s last name was Reinhart and his new start-up company, Reinhart Analytics, had an office only a few blocks from JW’s hotel.
After stuffing his face with a hearty breakfast, he found himself sitting at a Starbucks with a fancy cup of joe that tasted more like a coffee-cupcake, reading article after article about Preston Reinhart, his family, and the trial that nearly landed poor, spoiled, wealthy Preston in prison for embezzlement and fraud.
And now more investors were trusting a proven crook with their money?
Just as he tapped the next article on his cell, it buzzed in his hand.
Georgia Moon.
“Hey, sis, what’s up?” he asked as if he were a spoonful of sugar.
“I’m checking in to see how Baltimore is treating you, but from the tinge of sarcasm I hear in your voice, I’d say you’re one unhappy cowboy.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. There are worse places I could be. I found a great little restaurant to eat dinner at, and I have a list of zoos, aquariums, libraries, and museums to visit.”
Georgia Moon gasped. “Oh my, brother, you must be dying.”
Had it not been for a sexy redhead, he would ha
ve been on a plane home by now.
“I made a promise, and I’m going to stick to it, even if it kills me.” He sipped his coffee, keeping an eye on the building across the street. According to his research, Preston’s father owned the building and leased it out to five businesses, one of which happened to be Reinhart Analytics, located on the top floor.
“Well, you better not drop dead on us because those bulls you bought, we have confirmation they will be here at the end of next week.”
“I’ll be back by then.”
“Luke called me last night,” Georgia Moon said, abruptly changing subjects as she often did. “I emailed you his proposal.”
“I saw that and skimmed over your notes. What he wants is way below the value of his land.”
“If you offer him more, you’ll insult him,” Georgia Moon said.
“Well, find a way to make sure he gets more. At the very least, we need to cover all the extra costs that will go into this purchase.”
“I’m glad you decided to forgive him.”
“This isn’t about forgiveness. It’s a business deal. Luke and I will never be friends again,” he said with a stern tone. He knew his sister had a thing for Luke. It had started when they were all teenagers and continued into adulthood; only Luke never gave her a second glance.
In JW’s eyes, that had always been a good thing.
“Anything else I should know?” JW asked.
“Not about the ranch or business.” Georgia Moon cleared her throat. “Bella made a statement today.”
“Shit. What the hell did she say this time?” JW rubbed his wrists, remembering the cold metal tightening around his skin.
“She’s announced she’s going to be a singer.”
“She does have an amazing voice.” JW used to love to listen to Bella sing for hours. He always thought she should go on one of those talents shows. He figured Bella would win for sure. “But I get the feeling there’s more to her announcement.”
“When asked about you, she said she hoped for a reconciliation. She said that the two of you had talked and were basically in the friend zone.”
“We’re in the nowhere zone,” he muttered. More than once, Bella had used the press to try to bait him into a meeting. Since she’d had him arrested for something he hadn’t done, he’d kept his distance, and they’d spoken only once. He told her he wished her well, but that he never wanted to see or hear from her again.
Period.
“The press has been camped at the end of the driveway since the announcement this morning,” Georgia Moon said. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’m tired of her games.” JW adjusted his Stetson and examined the onslaught of people coming out of Preston’s building. “But I don’t want to call attention to myself halfway across the country.”
“I’ll gladly make a statement for you. I can tell them you’re currently—”
“On vacation with a friend that happens to be a girl.” He choked on the last word.
So did his sister. “You want me to lie.”
“It’s only a half lie.” He let out a long breath. “Not that I’ve met anyone, but I had ice cream last night with a woman, and I’m going to see her again tonight.”
“Ice cream? You ate ice cream?”
“That’s what you’re shocked about?” He laughed.
“Among a few other things. But if I tell the press that, they will hound me for more details and then go bonkers trying to find you. Not a good idea.”
His sister was right.
She was always right.
“Okay. Then tell them flat-out that Bella and I are over and that there is no chance she and I will ever get back together. Tell them once again. I wish her all the best and hope her singing career takes off. If they ask why I’m not giving the interview myself, tell them I refuse to be pulled back into the drama. That should put an end to it for good.”
“It will piss off her father.”
“He’s finished doing any business with us anyway.” Not having Robert Brothers’ seal of approval hurt the Whiskey Ranch, but they were fighters, and they had a solid foundation. They would come out on top. “He can’t do any more damage to our business. We’ve proven ourselves to those that have remained loyal, and we’re growing, especially with the bull riding school.”
“You want to write something up?”
“Nope. I trust you, sis.”
“Good, now tell me about this woman.”
He downed the last sip of coffee and squinted as he eyed Preston emerging through the revolving doors. “Nothing to tell. Just a nice bartender who took pity on a man who sticks out like a sore thumb in this city. I plan on eating at her bar again, and that’s about it.”
“Damn, you sure know how to get my hopes up and then shoot them down.”
Preston crossed the street and paused at the corner when he made eye contact. JW tipped his hat and smiled like his mama taught him.
Kitty was not going to be happy when she found out his path crossed with her ex’s, and he’d be telling her that it was random.
Because it wasn’t.
“I gotta go, Georgia Moon. I’ll talk to you later.” He didn’t wait for his sister to say goodbye before tapping the red button on his cell. “Preston, right?” JW didn’t bother to stand, take off his hat, or extend a hand.
“I’m sorry I’ve forgotten your name.” Preston shoved his hands into his pockets.
“It’s JW.”
“Well, JW, since we’ve run into each other, I’m going to ask you to stay away from my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” JW corrected with a wide smile. “And that’s not going to happen, but I think you should keep your distance. She’s made it quite clear she doesn’t want you around.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Preston took a step forward.
JW held his ground and remained relaxed. “A friend of Kitty’s. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading to meet her now.”
“Interesting. I’m having a business dinner at McCurdy’s tonight.”
That turned JW’s smile into a frown. “Why are you insisting on making things difficult for Kitty? First, she divorces you, and last night, I distinctly heard her ask you, mighty kindly I might add, to let her live her life.”
Preston held his palms out. “It’s a free country, and my client picked the place. I guess I’ll see you there.” He turned on his expensive, funny-looking loafers and headed in the opposite direction.
“Like hell your associate chose Kitty’s bar,” JW mumbled. He took long strides across the street and down two city blocks until he stood in front of McCurdy’s Restaurant. He pushed open the door.
“Hey, JW,” Dorinda greeted him with a big smile. “How are you this fine evening?”
“Better now that I’m here.” He tipped his hat and glanced over his shoulder, half expecting Preston to be one step behind him. “I ran into Kitty’s ex a few minutes ago. He informed me he’s having a business dinner here.”
“We know.” Dorinda pursed her lips and shook her head. “He booked the back room a couple of hours ago. God, I wish I could have told him another party had it, or that we had too many reservations tonight, but sadly, that wasn’t the case. I’m just glad that we’ve got a singer tonight. Might make his business meeting difficult since we’re going to let them turn up the volume full force.”
“What kind of music?”
Dorinda giggled. “Country.”
“Hot damn, that makes this cowboy very happy.” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sexy redhead smiling at him and pointing to an empty barstool. His heart thumped in his throat. It had been a long time since a woman made him feel like a teenage boy. “Hopefully her ex will keep to himself tonight because I kind of want to punch that smug grin off his face.”
“I knew I was going to like you the second you strolled into this bar. My boyfriend’s picking me up tonight at ten, and I’m trying to talk Kitty into having a drink with us. Would you care to jo
in?”
“If Kitty does, I’m game.”
The bell above the door chimed, and a group of six people shuffled in.
“I’ve got to get back to work. You go talk her into it.”
“I’ll do my best.” After making himself comfortable, he set his cowboy hat on the counter.
Kitty placed a shot of Johnnie Walker and a Stella in front of him. “So, according to Preston, you’re stalking him.”
JW arched a brow. “Now, why would I do that?” He had at least half a dozen reasons he could think of off the top of his head.
“You don’t strike me as a fancy kind of coffee drinker.”
He took a big gulp of his beer. “That’s very true. But I promised Georgia Moon I’d try new things, and that was one of them. Rest assured, I’ll be going back to straight-up black.”
“So, you weren’t sitting outside my ex’s office building waiting for him?”
JW shook his head. He’d never been much of a liar, and he hated doing it to Kitty. “That place is between my hotel and your place of work.”
Kitty tossed a towel over her shoulder and let out a puff of air. “That makes sense.”
“Your ex is none of my business, but for the record, he did get up in my face.”
“He said the same about you. I’m more inclined to believe a man with a hat.”
JW smiled. “Do you still get off at eight?”
She nodded. “Before you go hounding me about drinks with Kirk and Dorinda, I’ve already decided I’ll go, but on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You let me lie to my ex and tell him we’re dating.”
“You, my dear, Kitty Cat, have a deal.”
She snapped his arm with the towel. “If you know what’s good for you, you won’t ever call me that again.”
“Yes, ma’am.” JW downed his shot, hoping the slow burn would calm his raging hormones.
Even if he could put a damper on them for the evening, he’d still need a cold shower before bed.
* * *
Kitty took a seat across from Dorinda on the patio at Kirk’s apartment while JW and Kirk went inside to open a bottle of wine. She stretched out her legs on the chaise lounge chair and stared at the bright stars dotting the sky. She’d agreed to go out to one of the local hot spots for a single drink with her best friend, her best friend’s boyfriend, and the hunky cowboy. The bar would have been loud and crowded.
