Cowboy Promise

by Janalyn Knight

  Much better than a no. He clasped her hands. “I’m glad you’re considering my idea. I can’t stand the thought of not seeing you again.” Looking into her eyes, he hoped she could see how much he wanted her.

  She squeezed his hands and smiled before turning and unlocking her car door.

  Ethan stared as Dallas drove out of the parking lot, a hollow spot growing in his chest. She’d gotten to him. He’d work this thing as hard as he had to. That girl was his.

  FRIDAY EVENING, CASH sat in his recliner, frowning at his phone. He spoke with Dallas during the week, but a call wasn’t what he needed right now. He wanted to be with her—missed her smile, the sweet sound of her voice, and the music of her easy laughter. He had enjoyed spending his Saturday with her, but tomorrow, he’d be busy castrating calves. His part-time ranch hand, as well as Ward Ramsey, a good friend of his who lived on a neighboring ranch, would be helping him with the chore.

  Something else had been on his mind, too. He couldn’t help wondering if Dallas was dating someone else. She’d said she went out twice. True, it could be with girlfriends, but it bothered him some. Though he knew it was none of his business, he didn’t like the idea of her seeing another man. It would be awkward, but he wanted to ask her about it.

  He glanced at the time. Nine—Piper should be asleep by now. Tapping Dallas’s contact, he waited for her voice.

  “Cash. How are you?”

  “I’m kind of bummed. I want to see you tomorrow but I need to cut a bunch of bull calves I spent all week rounding up.”

  “Cut?”

  “Sorry. Castrate them.”

  “Oh ... wow. I never thought about that, I guess. Hey, we’ll miss you, too. But I could use the time to do some things around the house. I’m way behind. If you’re not too tired, you’re welcome to come by for a glass of wine Sunday afternoon.”

  “That sounds great. I know Sundays are reserved for you and Piper.”

  “We’ll make an exception. After all, you gave up your Saturday for us.”

  Cash scrunched his forehead, hoping for inspiration. Nothing came. “Uh, I’m not sure how to bring this up, so I’ll just ask. Are you dating someone else?”

  “Well,” she said on a sigh, “it all kind of happened at once. He’s a man I’ve worked with for several years, and he asked me out at the same time you did. I said yes to you both, not thinking the dating thing through—the time away from Piper—none of it.”

  She continued, her voice gentle and earnest. “Cash, I like both of you. I told him the same thing—about spending time away from Piper. I really don’t know where all this is going. This is all new to me, and Piper has to remain my priority. Her and my goal of returning to school. I hope you’ll understand.”

  Her honesty went a long way toward reassuring Cash. He could handle a little competition. It wasn’t like they had a commitment or anything.

  DALLAS FLUFFED HER hair and adjusted her bangs as she walked to the door at two-thirty on Sunday afternoon. Cash had called earlier and said he was on his way. Her heart beat faster as she anticipated seeing him again. Looking through the Judas hole, she confirmed the tall, handsome cowboy was her visitor.

  She opened the door, and Cash smiled, holding up a bottle of wine. “Thought I’d contribute to our afternoon debauchery.”

  Dallas laughed and took the wine from him, stepping back to allow the big man to enter. “Debauchery? Is that what we’ll get up to?”

  Cash chuckled and followed her to the kitchen. “One can only dream.”

  She showed him her bottle. “I have this zinfandel. And I see you’ve brought us an Australian Shiraz. Which shall we open first?”

  Cash tipped his hat to her. “Lady’s choice.”

  “I want to taste this shiraz.” Grabbing an elaborate wine opener from the counter, she had the cork out in no time. After splashing some in each glass, she handed Cash one and held hers up. “Here’s to a wonderful afternoon and maybe a tiny bit of debauchery.”

  Cash’s grin matched hers as they touched the globes of their glasses together.

  They headed out of the kitchen, and Cash laid his hand on the small of Dallas’s back, encouraging her to go ahead of him through the door.

  That gentle, innocent touch was so sensual she wanted to purr.

  Cash sat next to her on the couch and, after taking a drink, set his wine on the table. “So, where’s Piper?”

  “She fell asleep not ten minutes ago. I’m lucky she still takes an afternoon nap. If you can stay a while, I’m sure she’ll want to see you.”

  Cash smiled and took his hat off, laying it on the coffee table upside down. “I don’t have any place I need to be. I’d love to see her again, too.” He leaned back and crossed his ankle over his knee, sliding an arm over the back of the couch.

  As he got comfortable, his dress shirt stretched across muscles in his arms and broad shoulders, and the jeans he wore were tight in all the right places. Her breathing quickened. The more time she spent with Cash, the stronger her body responded to him. Looking into his eyes as he spoke, she knew it was more than that. Kindness shone through his gaze. And his smile was easy and gentle. He was a decent man, not just a handsome one.

  She drank her wine and asked, “How did the castrating go yesterday?”

  He huffed out a breath. “It went pretty well, I guess. I don’t work my cow-calf pairs too often, so the mommas are kind of jumpy. And they sure don’t like being separated from their babies. With three of us, it makes the job a pretty smooth operation, though. We gave the calves shots, wormed them, and tagged and castrated them, so it was more than a slash and dash. But, since I already had them penned in the corrals, we were able to finish.”

  Nodding, she smiled. “It sounds like it’d be cool to watch. Like the Old West.”

  “Hey, you and Piper should come out to the ranch sometime. We can ride, do anything that strikes your fancy.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “Uh, I don’t know about me riding, but I’ll bet Piper would love you to lead her around.”

  He grinned. “Come on, I can teach you. I have a real gentle horse that you’ll like. Don’t let his name—Rambo—deceive you. He’s a babysitter when he’s not chasing cattle.”

  His charismatic smile encouraged her and she nodded. “Okay, I’ll think about it. Going to the ranch might be fun.” His grinning response sent tingles to her belly, and she’d leaned toward him before she realized it.

  Growing serious, he reached for her hand, drawing her next to him and settling his arm around her. Neither said anything for a few moments.

  He pulled her closer still and said quietly, “You feel good. I’ve wanted to hold you for a while.” He picked up his glass and took a swallow of wine, sighing deeply and truly relaxing.

  Her body was warm, intensely sensitive to his hard body against her. His scent, woodsy and light, filled her head.

  After kissing her temple, he took another drink.

  She nestled her head a little closer. “I love the chance to relax during Piper’s naptime. This is the only time I have to myself.” Sighing, she said, “You feel good, too.”

  He patted her arm and drank.

  Dallas cradled her wine and closed her eyes. She was comfortable with Cash, like she could let down her guard and be herself. His sincerity drew her in. When she was with him, he fully tuned into her. She breathed in and sighed it out, relaxing her whole body. Hopefully, Piper would take a long nap. This was wonderful.

  Cash gently squeezed her arm. “So many sighs. Everything okay?”

  “You caught me. I was enjoying this and hoping my daughter stays asleep for a long time. Does that make me a bad mom?” She grinned up at him.

  Laughing, he said, “I don’t think so. At least, if it does, then I’m a bad guy, too, because I was just thinking the same thing.”

  Still grinning, Dallas got up. She needed some old-fashioned country music—love ballads that made you want to swoon or cry. Her CD collection was always her go-to for
Sunday afternoons. After she took a few moments to choose, music swirled softly around the room. She sat back down on the couch and slid in close to Cash.

  He wrapped his arm around her again. “That’s more like it. They don’t make them like they used to. Don’t get me wrong, I like the new stuff for partying and dancing, but for listening, you can’t beat the classics.”

  She smiled and held up her hand for a high five.

  Cash clasped her fingers and pulled her into him, bending his head to her.

  Dallas watched his half-lowered eyes as his face drew near. Her heart ticked faster as she anticipated the touch of his mouth on hers.

  His kiss was everything she hoped for. A gentle brush, then his lips moving tenderly across her jaw. Heat swept through her. She wanted him at the sweet spot behind her ear, which he found, caressing it before returning to her mouth. She was hot. Her clothes felt too tight. She returned his kiss, liking the firm contours of his lips stroking hers.

  Pulling back, he looked into her eyes as if to gauge her reaction.

  Feeling drugged, she managed a shaky laugh. “Um, wow. That was...”

  He grinned. “Yeah, it was.”

  Piper’s voice came from the hallway, “Hi, Mr. Cash.”

  Dallas scrunched up her face. “So much for wishes.” She stood and walked toward her daughter, holding out her arms. “You didn’t sleep very long. Are you sure you’re ready to get up?”

  Piper nodded and looked toward Cash, climbing into her mother’s embrace. “Uh-huh. Mr. Cash, are you going to take me in your truck?”

  Dallas brought Piper to the couch, and the little girl held her hands out to him.

  Without hesitation, he pulled her on his lap. “Not today, I came to see you at your house.”

  Dallas sat silently while Cash held his own in a wandering, fanciful conversation with her daughter. How did the man do it without having experienced children of his own? He had some mad skills in the kid department. She inserted herself into the conversation. “Piper, how about a snack? Let’s go into the kitchen, and I’ll find some graham crackers and milk.”

  When Dallas walked back into the living room, she grinned. “Well, you survived that onslaught of preschooler questions.”

  “She’s a sweetheart. And what an imagination.”

  Dallas gestured toward his glass. “More wine?”

  “Sure. I’ll have one more. Thanks.”

  After she refilled them both, she sat down next to him. “What do you usually do on Sundays, Cash?”

  “Not much. Feed the barn stock, of course. Might go to dinner at my parents’ house. Rest, mostly. Sometimes I hang with a friend or two. It’s my one day off a week.”

  “So, when you spend Saturday with us, does that mean you have to work Sunday?”

  “Yep. Makes no difference to me, though. One day’s as good as the other. Except, once in a while, I go to church with my parents.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure. We always went when I was growing up, but since I took over the ranch, I kind of got out of the habit.”

  Dallas looked down at her lap. “I keep saying I’m going to find a church for Piper and me, but somehow, I never get around to it. I’m tired on Sunday mornings after working at the club and then put it off.”

  Cash reached out and squeezed her hand. “Look, you work two jobs and raise your daughter by yourself. And she’s amazing. Just don’t give up on it. You’ll find a way to do it at some point.”

  When he finished his wine, Cash stood to go. “I’m so glad you suggested I come by, Dallas.”

  Piper, who’d eaten her snack and returned to the living room, spoke up, “Don’t go, Mr. Cash.”

  “I need to go feed my cows, punkin’.”

  “Can I go? Ple-e-e-ase?”

  Dallas laughed. “Not today, sweetheart. Tomorrow I have to work and you go to Mimi’s house.”

  They both walked Cash to the front door where, after kissing Piper goodbye, he gave Dallas a chaste hug in light of the avid three-year-old gaze taking in every detail.

  As the door shut, Dallas leaned against the wall. Her house suddenly felt empty. How could that be? This was her home and she enjoyed living here. But this afternoon, with Cash’s absence, it felt lonely.

  Chapter Five

  Dallas eased her head back on the headrest in Ethan’s Lexus and breathed a sigh of relief. Piper liked the nanny who’d arrived at their house right on time earlier in the evening. In her interview a few days before, the young woman had shown just the right mixture of professionalism and playfulness. Her daughter looked forward to going to McDonald’s to eat and play on the playscape.

  Ethan took his eyes off the road and turned to Dallas. “I assume you’ve been to Lake Wichita before?”

  “Sure. But not in a long while.”

  “We’re going to a lovely spot where the sunsets are perfect. Our picnic dinner came from the 8th Street Coffee House. I hope you like it. And, of course, we have wine.”

  She ran her hand across the butter-soft leather of the seat. The spotless, polished interior reflected the essence of the man. She couldn’t remember a time when Ethen appeared wrinkled. His short haircut didn’t allow for hair to be out of place, but even if it were longer, she couldn’t imagine a lock falling across his forehead. Always the epitome of perfection, Ethan was obsessive in his work, and his clients appreciated that they could depend on him. His excellent track record in court was due to his extreme preparedness. The man worked hard for his financial success.

  Glancing toward her, he reached across and clasped her hand, smiling confidently.

  She smiled back. How lucky was she that this man found her interesting?

  Later, when he spread a blanket at the place he chose on the western end of the lake, Dallas could see the attraction. Just off the hiking trail, it had privacy yet a view of the water and the distant horizon. “You’re right. This is the perfect spot.” That was the thing about Ethan. He planned every detail. She settled on the blanket. The air had cooled some from the heat of the day.

  Ethan nodded. “I found this place a few years ago, and I love it in the evenings.” He dipped his hand into the large picnic basket. “Here, let’s open this wine.” Soon, he poured them both a measure and sat down next to her, raising his glass. “To good company and beautiful sunsets.”

  Ethan’s charming smile and the intense look in his eyes made her feel like she was the only other person on the planet. He had a way of listening, like he hung on every word. Though this skill was what drew clients to him and kept them loyal, it still made her feel important, like she really mattered. His shoulder brushed hers and she welcomed the contact. Touching her glass to his, she said, “To a lovely evening.”

  He motioned to the horizon. “I’m guessing we have about thirty minutes to sunset. Then another half hour of light after that. How about I set out our dinner?”

  As he rummaged through the basket, drawing out one item after another, Dallas asked, “Can you tell me more about yourself, Ethan? I know lots about your work, but so little of your private life. What about your family?”

  He hesitated for a moment. “Well, here’s a story for you. I’m an only child. My father died suddenly of a heart attack while I attended college back east, leaving my mother devastated. Mother was unable to cope and withdrew into prescription drugs. Luckily, our family business weathered the storm well due to a strong board of directors and a great interim CEO.”

  He raised his glass and took a slow sip of wine, a pensive expression on his face. “I left school three months after my father’s death. I was my mother’s best hope of finding a way through her grief. After moving home, I took charge of her medications and worked with her doctor to wean her off the drugs. I transferred to a Texas university and visited Mother regularly. We’re very close now.”

  Dallas frowned. “Ethan, I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for you. What a wonderful thing you did for her. I’m glad your mother’s better now.” There
was that smile of his again. It swept through her like a warm wave. She hadn’t realized there was such a giving side to him. It never surfaced at work. He was always suave perfection. This new Ethan drew her like never before.

  He nodded and thanked her. As if needing a change of subject, he held up two sandwiches. “California Chicken Club or Chicken Salad. Your choice.”

  She tapped the latter. “It sounds scrumptious.”

  While they ate, she answered his questions about her family. He already knew some of the reasons why she worked at the firm, and she gave him a few more details. A new warmth blossomed between them, mirrored in the colors of the sky as the sun sat low in the distance.

  Ethan gathered the trash and refilled their wine glasses. He settled back down beside her, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his chest.

  She leaned her head into him and sipped her wine. True to Ethan’s promise, the sunset was spectacular. Her eyes drooped, and she relaxed into him, enjoying the sensation of his body wrapped around hers. Sarah was right. This was what she had been missing.

  Caressing her arm, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead.

  A thrill rippled up her torso. Fire burned across the path of his fingertips. She’d never reacted to him this way. Tonight, everything was different.

  Ethan set his wine glass aside and pulled hers from her grasp, setting it beside the other. Supporting her, he eased her down on the blanket.

  Her tummy fluttered. Her pulse beat loud in her ears. That glorious smile of his lowered until his lips brushed hers. She closed her eyes as the kiss deepened. Heat rushed through her and she ran her hands up his back. Returning his kiss, she wondered why she never realized what a wonderful man he was.

  Ethan pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “I knew I’d love kissing you. I’ve wanted to do that for so long, Dallas.”