Cowboy Command

by Olivia Jaymes

  Marion’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “It wasn’t his fault. Those two boys and their friends were wild, no one more so than Trent. He was a sweet boy, a good boy, but he was a daredevil. Riding between two trucks was only one of the stunts he liked to pull on a regular basis. He drove his souped-up car too fast, and he rode his motorcycle too fast. He drank on the weekends and got in fights.” Marion sighed and put down her coffee cup. “And I loved him. We all did. He was the nicest boy you’d ever meet. All the young men were a little wild, to tell you the truth. I probably don’t know a fraction of the crazy things they did and that’s just fine with me. I’m sure it would turn my hair gray. Well, grayer.” Marion smiled sadly.

  Presley frowned. “That doesn’t sound like the Trent Seth described.”

  “Yes.” Marion nodded. “He only thinks about the good in Trent, which was so many things, but he doesn’t think about Trent’s flaws. He had those too. We all do. No one was responsible for Trent’s death that day. Not Seth, not Trent. It was an accident. A stupid, tragic accident.”

  “Seth’s spent his life trying to make up for it, hasn’t he?”

  “He has. At first I encouraged it. I thought it would help him get over things. When he enlisted in the Army and then when he decided not to work the ranch but go into law enforcement, I supported those decisions. Unfortunately as the years have passed it doesn’t seem to make any difference. He’s still trying to make up for that day.”

  “We saw a bunch of teenagers doing that same thing yesterday. That riding between two cars thing.”

  “That’s what set this off then?” Marion pushed away her empty coffee cup. “I’d wondered. Kids have been doing this for years, long before that movie showed it. They’ll be doing it long after I’m gone. Seth’s fighting a losing battle.”

  “You feel immortal at that age.” Presley refilled Marion’s cup and her own. She needed a second cup for this conversation.

  Marion chuckled. “I know I did. Seth did too. Such memories of my youth. I wish Seth’s hadn’t been spoiled.” Marion looked straight into Presley’s eyes. “Since then he’s been a different person. He tries to be in control of everything. He follows rules to the letter. He used to be more laidback and relaxed. He’s not the same boy I raised.”

  Presley swallowed hard. “I’m trouble.”

  Marion looked at her for a long time before nodding. “Yes, and that’s what makes you perfect for him. He needs someone to shake him out of his complacency. Eliza was a sweet girl but she wasn’t for Seth. She and Seth both need someone to bring fire and passion into their lives. They couldn’t do it for each other.”

  Marion knew her son. Presley found herself longing for a close family like the Reillys. She’d seen the love between them and it made her wonder why she’d never been able to inspire that kind of love in her own small and dysfunctional family.

  “I’m not sure he agrees. We kind of decided last night to maybe take a break from spending personal time together.”

  Marion stirred her coffee, a smile playing around her lips. “I won’t allow that to happen. You’re the one, Presley.”

  Presley shook her head. “I’m not. I won’t even be−” She broke off, realizing she couldn’t say she wasn’t planning to stay in Harper. “It’s just that we met only a week ago. I’m not sure we know each other very well.”

  “You mean you haven’t slept together yet,” Marion stated, much to Presley’s shock. “What are you waiting for?”

  Presley tried to hide her smile. “I don’t know, to be honest. I think we both want to.”

  Marion snorted. “All men want to, dear. Do you want to?”

  Fuck yeah, she did. She’d never been this attracted to a man in her life.

  “I think so. He’s a complicated man, Marion. It might not work out.”

  “How do you know if you don’t take a chance?” Marion stood and started to pull on her coat and gloves. “I’ll text Seth and tell him to bring you to dinner tonight. If you want something, dear, you have to go after it. The more it means to you, the more you have to work for it. But it’s worth it, I promise. Don’t let Seth’s melancholy and doubts drive you away. Don’t let him fill you with his own pain. Sweep it away and replace it with something infinitely better.”

  “What?” Presley stood to see Marion to the door.

  Marion smiled as she headed out. “Why, love, of course. Thank you for the coffee. See you tonight.”

  Presley fell back into her chair, almost choking on her own spit. Love was the last thing she needed.

  * * * * *

  His mother was up to her usual tricks. Seth had brought Presley to dinner tonight as requested. He wasn’t sure it was a good idea though. The day had been long and awkward, broken only by the occasional visitor who stopped by to chat with Presley and have a cup of her coffee. She’d been proud as punch of her new coffeemaker and even Seth had to admit it made a damn fine cup of coffee. She’d even frothed his milk. At first, when she’d offered it to him, he’d thought frothed milk was some sort of euphemism. When he realized she was seriously offering him whipped milk in his coffee, he’d graciously accepted, remembering the fancy coffees he’d drank as a rookie cop in Denver.

  His parents had kept the conversation flowing all during dinner and it was probably time for him to take Presley back to her apartment. Seth found her staring out the window of the family room. He walked up behind her, and was immediately surrounded by her soft, clean scent. He had to fight the urge to pull her into his arms. He wasn’t sure what she wanted from him now. Yesterday had started so promising, but it had all gone to hell in a hand basket, and it was all his fault. He settled for placing his hands on her shoulders.

  “What are you looking at so intently out there?”

  She turned slightly so he could see she was smiling. “The snow. I’d never seen snow until I came here.”

  Sometimes he forgot she had another life away from here. One he wasn’t part of and never would be. “It’s just cold and white. Shoveling it is hard on your back and slippery under your feet.”

  She shook her head. “It’s beautiful. I never thought snow could be beautiful, but it is. Look at the way the full moon reflects off the new snow. It’s like something out of a movie or a painting.”

  Seth looked at the back yard through Presley’s eyes. The carpet of white that sparkled under the moon reminded him of a book he’d read as a young boy. He couldn’t remember what the title was, but he did remember one thing. People liked to play in the snow. He hadn’t done it in years but he still remembered how.

  “So you’ve never built a snowman?”

  Presley chuckled. “Beach sand makes great castles. I haven’t tried to make a person.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door. “We need to address these gaps in your education and there’s no time like the present.”

  She gasped in surprise as he bundled her up in her heavy coat. He pulled on his own while she tugged on gloves and wound a scarf around her head and neck. She looked so cute, dressed like a little girl about to play in the snow. Seth wanted to make up for being a total prick yesterday and showing her the magic of snow seemed as good a way as any. He yelled into the living room that they were headed outside for a little while.

  The evening was cold but not deathly freezing. He wasn’t going to tell Presley the weather she was experiencing now was only going to get colder. As it was, she kept the space heater turned up next to her desk each day at the office. He flipped on the outdoor floodlights and led her to the middle of their large backyard. Gathering a mound of snow together, he started to pack it together to make a ball.

  “Roll this along in the snow and it will grow.” He pushed the small snowball toward her. “We do this three times, each one progressively smaller.”

  Presley was bent over, pushing the snowball through the snow. “I know what a snowman looks like, Seth,” she huffed. He started on the second snowball, building it up much faster than Pre
sley. She was scowling with her hands on her hips when he finished the second one before she was done with the first.

  “Shit, how did you do that so fast?”

  “Years of practice, honey. Let’s get this old guy put together.”

  He helped her finish the last snowball, laughing at how lopsided it was before he smoothed it into an icy sphere. They stacked the snowballs one on top of the other and stood back to survey their work. Seth was about to commandeer Presley’s scarf when his mother came out with an old cardboard box he recognized instantly.

  “Mom, where did you find that?”

  His mother laughed, handing him the box. “Mothers always have their secrets and we don’t tell. Enjoy, but don’t stay out here too long. The snow is really starting to come down.”

  His mother turned and hurried back into the house since she was only in her sweater. Seth held up the box triumphantly.

  “Snowman supplies.”

  Presley peered into the box and smiled. “You have a box of things to dress a snowman? That’s handy.”

  Seth grabbed up the pieces of “coal” to make the eyes and mouth, and handed another handful to Presley for the buttons.

  “We used to make snowmen a lot when we were kids. Then Mom would make us hot chocolate with marshmallows.”

  “Sounds like Norman Rockwell would be proud.” Presley had finished with the buttons and was attaching stick arms he and his brothers had whittled years ago.

  “I guess I did have a pretty cool childhood. My brothers and I fought all the time and drove our parents crazy but we’re very close. Are you and your sister close?”

  He almost thought she didn’t hear him but she had stopped decorating the snowman and was standing there with snow falling all around her looking thoughtful. Finally she shook her head.

  “No, I wouldn’t call us close. I’ve always wanted us to be, though. I’ve wanted a family like you have, but it isn’t in the cards for me, I guess. When my mom married Nora’s dad I was ecstatic. I thought I would have the family I’d always wanted. My stepdad wasn’t what you would call a family man. Pair that with the fact Nora is tough to get close to. She tries, though. She just has trouble showing her emotions, that’s all.”

  Seth didn’t like the sound of it but kept his mouth shut. It took all kinds in this world, and not everyone’s family was like his, always in his business and never leaving him alone. In fact, there were times he wouldn’t mind trading her for a day or two.

  Seth reached into the box and pulled out a scarf and a hat. He handed the hat to Presley and wrapped the woolen length around the snowman’s neck while she placed the hat on its head.

  “I think that’s easily the best snowman I’ve ever seen. You have a real knack for this for someone from Florida.”

  She giggled and it made his heart beat faster. “Shhh! Do you want someone to hear you? I’m from Wheaton, remember?”

  He shook his head. “There isn’t a soul out here except for Frosty and he ain’t talking.” Seth reached out and plucked the pieces of charcoal from the snowman’s smile, rendering him speechless. Presley laughed and then fell back into the snow on her bottom. Seth grinned and held out his hand to help her up. “What in the hell are you doing? You’ll be covered in snow, woman. Take my hand.”

  She did take his hand, and tugged at his until he slipped in the snow, falling next to her with a bump. She was giggling and laughing and he couldn’t stop staring at her, mesmerized by her beauty. He’d fallen under her spell with a little help from the glistening snow and the full moon. He should want to get them inside and dry. He should want his life to be orderly and peaceful, but next to this luminous woman, none of those things seemed very important. The only important thing at the moment was Presley.

  He fell on his back and waved his arms and legs, making a snow angel. Presley watched in fascination as he stood up carefully, so as to not disturb the impression in the snow.

  “You next,” he urged. “Try it.” She obediently lay in the snow, making the wings and dress of her angel. He reached out a hand and helped her up, lifting her so she wouldn’t make foot impressions in the snow. He knelt down next to her angel and drew a gloved finger through the snow in a circle above the head.

  “An angel needs a halo.”

  She pointed to his angel. “What about yours? It needs a halo.”

  He laughed and stood up, brushing the snow from his pants. “I lost my halo a long time ago, honey. Didn’t we already talk about that night in the backseat of my dad’s truck?”

  Her eyes danced with merriment. She knelt down and quickly drew two triangles above the head of his figure. “Horns. For your snow devil.”

  He caught her hand in his and pulled her to her feet, stepping close so their bodies were touching. His gaze zeroed in on her full lips. He remembered well what it felt like to kiss them. He didn’t know if he’d ruined everything yesterday, but he was going to go for broke.

  “I want to kiss you, Presley.”

  Their lips were mere inches from each other. Seth could feel her warm breath on his chin.

  “I want to kiss you, too, but what about yesterday? About slowing down?”

  He shook his head. “I’m a dumbass. Forget everything I said yesterday. I panicked for a moment, but I’m okay now.”

  She looked at him as if she was trying to see his soul. “Are you okay with me? My life is what it is, Seth. It’s out of control and there isn’t much I can do about it. I’m not Eliza. I’m not peaceful and I sure as hell can’t be described as serene. I make mistakes. I drink too much coffee and I laugh too loudly. And here’s the biggie…I make bad decisions sometimes. Can you deal with that?”

  Seth felt a moment of fear in his gut but ruthlessly pushed it away. He wouldn’t let Presley down. He would keep her safe and make her smile. Nothing would happen to her on his watch.

  “I can. Can you deal with me?”

  She tapped her chin thoughtfully but her lips were curved into a smile. “I can.” She ran her hands up his chest and around his neck, making every cell in his body wake up and take notice. “I think you should take me somewhere and get me warm.”

  He swept her up into his arms, her weight almost nothing. “Yes, ma’am. There’s nothing I’d like better.”

  He knew just where to take her and just what to do. Presley would be his tonight. At least, while she was here. He wouldn’t think about when she would have to leave.

  One thing was for sure.

  When she left, she’d never forget the time she spent with him. He’d make every minute memorable.

  For both of them.

  Chapter Nine

  “We need to get you warm,” Seth said, tugging at her wet coat and gloves.

  “I can do it. You’re wet too.” Presley shrugged off her coat while Seth started a fire. She looked around the log home appreciatively. It was beautiful but simple, with gleaming wood and overstuffed leather furniture. With Seth’s love of football, she wasn’t surprised to see a large flat screen television on one wall. She was surprised to see the large eat-in kitchen with shiny stainless steel appliances and copper pans hanging from a rack over the large island.

  “Do you cook?” Presley shook her long hair out and knelt by the fire. She sighed as the heat seeped directly into her bones. She held out her hands as if to absorb the radiating warmth.

  “I do, but like you, it’s not much fun to cook for one person. Maybe I’ll cook for you sometime.” Seth headed into the kitchen and pulled down a saucepan. “In fact, how about some hot chocolate?”

  “That sounds yummy. And warm.”

  “Good,” Seth nodded. “You’re soaked head to toe. There’s a robe on the back of the bathroom door.” He gestured to a hallway. “Why don’t you get out of those clothes and put that on? You’ll be warmer. I can’t have my fabulous secretary getting sick. How would I run the station without you?”

  She chuckled as she headed down the hall, finding the bathroom with no trouble. The robe on the ba
ck of the door was flannel and from its size, clearly belonged to Seth. She pressed her nose into the fabric and inhaled his scent, letting it fill her lungs.

  Damn, he smells good.

  She stripped off her wet clothes and hung them over the shower rod, pulling the cozy robe over her nude body and tying it in place. The hem hung past her knees and she had to roll up the sleeves, but she was dry and warm. She winced as she caught a look in the mirror. Her hair was a rat’s nest, curling all over the place with the moisture. She’d left her purse in the living room so she plucked Seth’s brush from its spot next to the sink, hoping he wouldn’t mind her borrowing it.

  By the time she’d tamed her hair and returned to the kitchen, he’d also changed into a pair of blue sweatpants and a white T-shirt. The room was filled with the sublime aroma of chocolate and she followed her nose to the stove, where he was lifting the pan from the burner and pouring two steaming mugs.

  “Marshmallows?” Seth rummaged in a cabinet.

  “Heck, yeah. What’s hot chocolate without the extra sugar?”

  Seth dropped a handful of mini-marshmallows in each cup. “My mom used to put peppermint sticks in our hot chocolate at Christmas time.”

  “I’m waiting for Norman Rockwell to break down your family’s door, wrestle you to the ground, and take your picture for some magazine cover or Christmas card.”

  Seth picked up both mugs and motioned for her to precede him into the living room. “Norman Rockwell is dead. At least, I’m pretty sure he is. Would that picture be with or without Dad’s life-size cut out of Elvis? Grab those cushions and toss them on the floor, will you? We can be close to the fire.”

  They settled on the pillows and Seth handed her the mug. She sipped at the rich liquid and sighed with contentment. The chocolate slid down her throat and warmed her belly, relaxing every care away.

  “Delicious. My compliments to the chef. I think the picture would be with Elvis. I bet Elvis liked Norman Rockwell.”

  Seth placed his cup on the side table. “From what you’ve said, your family life wasn’t a Rockwell painting.”