Rough and Ready

by Stacey Espino

  In fact, his friends weren’t homely mountain men either, but appealing cowboys, tall and strong. Her dire predicament suddenly took an equally uncomfortable turn. She wasn’t attracted to working-class men. They were rough, dirty, and no-holds-barred—completely uncivilized. She couldn’t stand small towns or the people who lived in them. What she wanted was a man like Peter, a refined man with style and class. The fact her body was taking notice of Yukon, cataloging every masculine detail, was unacceptable.

  “I don’t have my purse.”

  He smirked. “That’s not what I asked you.”

  Back home, Robyn took care of herself. She worked hard to portray herself as a confident, modern woman because appearances were everything. But for some reason, it wasn’t as easy to put on a front with Yukon. He made her feel feminine and submissive—all her insecurities open for inspection.

  “Last call!” the waitress yelled. A collective groan resounded throughout the diner. She turned the television off, the sudden quiet making Robyn shudder. Shit! What would she do now? Her only safe haven was about to close for the night. If she was going to wake up from a nightmare, it needed to be soon.

  She’d been so busy sorting her worried thoughts that she’d forgotten about the man beside her. When she turned slightly to see if he was still waiting for her to answer, he was staring. Why did he have to have such fuck-me eyes? And why was she thinking about sex when she had much more serious things to worry about? Her traitorous body was trying to unravel her.

  Chapter Five

  Yukon was striking out at every turn. The city girl wanted nothing to do with him, but he had no plans on giving up just yet. For the first time in weeks, he was thinking about something other than sleep or his shitty life. His problems came second to his new attraction for the little brunette. He felt at least ten years younger, ready to take on the world.

  “Come on, let’s get rolling,” said Carlson.

  His friends stood, paid their tabs, and began to head to the door. He needed more time.

  “You need a ride somewhere?” he asked.

  She shook her head, not looking directly at him. Maybe she did hate him. Gage would never let him forget this night.

  He grabbed his Stetson off the counter, at a complete loss for words. “You have a nice evening, ma’am.”

  Yukon joined his friends outside the diner, fighting the urge to turn back. There’d been something there, some spark when she looked him in the eyes. She was just too stubborn for her own damn good.

  “How’d it go?” Mack lit up a cigarette, taking a deep drag. “She gonna warm your bed tonight?”

  He could hear the poorly contained chuckles of amusement from his friends.

  “Fuck off,” he grumbled, walking away from the light of the diner. “I never asked her to come home with me.”

  “Does that mean she’s up for grabs?”

  He opened the door to his truck. Before climbing in, he turned. “Don’t even dream it, Mack. I told you she’s mine.”

  Yukon drove home in a half daze. He didn’t even remember how tired, pissed, or sore he was. All he could think about were those haunting eyes and killer curves. He kicked off his boots after slamming the side door of the house shut.

  Parker came down the stairs with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still damp. “You make enough noise to wake the dead.” He froze before adding, “What the fuck happened to your face?”

  He ignored his brother, too happy to argue or deal with any of the pending drama.

  “You get the fields plowed?” Parker asked.

  Yukon crashed on the threadbare sofa. “Didn’t you see for yourself?”

  “I got in late.”

  “Again? You have another job I don’t know about? Because as far as I know money doesn’t grow on trees.”

  “I didn’t see you complain when you took the cash yesterday.” Parker grabbed a beer before taking the chair, a mismatched piece with paisley print.

  “You know what, never mind. I don’t want to deal with anything tonight that can ruin my good mood.”

  Parker cocked an eyebrow. “What the fuck are you grinning about?”

  He shrugged. “I met the woman I’m gonna marry.”

  His brother nearly choked on his beer. “Is that so?” He chuckled. “Who is it? Sally from the feed store? Bailey from the hog ranch?”

  Parker purposely mentioned women he couldn’t stand. It was nice to see him smile, though. It reminded him of simpler days when they were still young and optimistic. When they hadn’t turned into strangers.

  “A city girl. Gorgeous little thing.”

  “And she likes you?”

  “She does. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  Parker laughed again, reclining in the chair to rest his feet up on the couch. “Where’s she at now, little brother? Waiting for you in your dreams?”

  “Cute. I imagine she’s staying with Kate for the night. I’ll try and prove myself to her first thing tomorrow.”

  Now Parker took notice, sitting up straighter, his beer hanging in a loose fist between his legs. “For real? What on earth would a city girl want with this god-forsaken place? And why you?”

  Yukon scowled. “Someone left her behind at the diner without a ride. She wouldn’t give me the time of day, even when Marcy started shutting down for the night.”

  “That where you got the shiner?”

  “No, but I’m sure she considered it.”

  Parker nodded, easing back into the chair. “What she look like?”

  He shrugged. “You’d love her, no doubt—long hair, curves in all the right places, and evil eyes. I never knew a woman in a suit could look that damn fine.” Just thinking about the brunette made his cock harden.

  “I like evil.”

  There was a knock at the door, startling them both. They didn’t get many visitors, especially at this hour. Yukon’s immediate thought was there had to be trouble, maybe with Ms. Granger or another neighbor. Bad news seemed to come when he least expected it. He rose to his feet and didn’t hesitate to wrench open the door. If it turned out to be unwelcome company, he could handle himself. And his shotgun and rifle were always within reach.

  “Sorry, honey, but she’s your problem now. I have to be up at four and Momma needs her beauty sleep.” Marcy began to walk away, revealing a very bewildered-looking city girl. He couldn’t believe Robyn was standing in his doorway.

  “Speak of the devil…”

  He turned and glared at Parker to shut him up. Yukon needed to figure out what the fuck was happening, and he needed to remember how to speak in a hurry.

  “She brought me to the boarding house but the owner wasn’t there.”

  “Kate’s place.”

  “What?”

  “The owner, her name’s Kate. She’s the owner of the boarding house.” He felt like an oversized idiot, and knew Parker likely thought the same thing.

  “The phone lines are down. I asked the waitress if I could stay with her for one night, but—”

  “Yeah, Marcy’s real particular about houseguests.” Marcy was an icon in their little town, a mother figure to many of the cowboys, including him some days. She wasn’t sugar and spice, and rarely asked anyone for help, even when she had to deal with assholes at the diner. Although she’d give you the shirt off her back, she never let a soul inside her little trailer behind the diner.

  “I don’t know what else to do. I’m sorry she brought me here…”

  He suddenly realized Robyn was still standing in the doorway, the cold night air swirling around her bare legs. Did she actually think she was unwelcome?

  “No, she did right. Come inside. Please.” He held his arm out, inviting her to enter. She hesitated, only taking one step inside before stopping. “It ain’t pretty but it’s warm and we have an extra bed upstairs.”

  Why wasn’t she coming inside? He knew their old house was simplistic and hadn’t been remodeled—ever, but it was a good, solid home. Maybe she was
used to something luxurious and modern. They were more about functionality rather than fancy décor. Maybe what he had to offer would never be enough.

  “You’re scaring her, Yukon.” Parker leaned against the kitchen wall, still nursing a beer. He looked her up and down with interest. A hint of amusement played on his features.

  “Scared?” He turned back to Robyn, now noticing the uncertainty in her eyes. His older brother had more experience than him in most areas, especially women.

  “Look at her,” said Parker. “She’s as nervous as a fawn in the headlights.”

  ****

  Parker didn’t think much about his brother’s sudden infatuation until he saw the woman in the flesh. She had an hourglass figure, full hips, and a maiden-in-distress quality that piqued his interest. And he wasn’t attracted to educated women. City slickers were a headache he barely tolerated. There’d be some at the annual rodeo events, plenty at the dude ranches he used to work during the summer, and they’d even pass through their little town—like now.

  But this one … this one whet his appetite, one he thought he had better control of. She was cute, despite her refined clothes and salon hair. A woman like her would eat Yukon alive. His brother was used to homegrown cowgirls and farmer’s daughters, not businesswomen ready to trade their soul for a paycheck.

  “I don’t know you,” she said to Yukon. “Or him.”

  She sought reassurance. He’d seen it more times than he could count, but usually from much younger women.

  Parker smiled, stepping closer to the entryway. “I’m his brother, baby girl. And I don’t know how men behave in the city, but around here they don’t take from a woman that’s not giving.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she stammered.

  “Then why so nervous?”

  “Well, where I come from women don’t spend the night with two strange men.”

  He smirked. “Guess they don’t know what they’re missing.”

  She bit her bottom lip and refused to look him in the eye. Parker prided himself on being a good judge of character. He expected her type to be overly confident with a huge ego. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she was on the shy side with a healthy dose of insecurity.

  “Don’t mind him, Robyn. Come on in.” Yukon got her inside far enough that he could shut the side door. The resulting silence was awkward and deafening.

  “I’m sorry to put you out. It’s unlike my friend to ditch me like that … in the middle of nowhere. Then again, this was our first assignment away from home.”

  Parker set his bottle down and proceeded to walk around the room. He didn’t take his eyes off their houseguest. Her sweet feminine scent had already infused itself in the air, their masculine domain invaded by her presence. Parker practically salivated thinking of all the things he’d like to do with her—to her.

  “Why would your friend leave you in our town?” asked Yukon, offering her a spot on the sofa. She tentatively sat down, crossing those long, smooth legs. He’d always been a sucker for high heels, and hers had to be a good five inches long.

  “I’m sure she had a good reason, but that doesn’t help my case much. We were supposed to get some papers signed and look into local boundary disputes, but we were late and our contact was already gone.”

  “And she just left you at the diner?”

  Robyn shrugged. “She said she’d be right back. If I had of known this would happen, I would have made sure to get my purse from her car … or not come out here at all.”

  “I’m glad you came,” said Yukon, his voice taking on a deeper tone. The love-struck look in his brother’s eyes reminded Parker that Robyn had to be off the appetizer menu. If he tried to get her into his bed, Yukon would never forgive him. They’d fought tooth and nail over women before, but that was when they were both young and stupid. Yet as hard as he tried, his feet wouldn’t carry him away and his eyes wouldn’t divert from the busty brunette.

  He decided to lighten the mood with regular conversation and keep things civil. She was in a strange place, out of her element. “You’re probably talking about the oil pipeline. A lot of farmers are against it because it’ll cross their land.”

  “I assure you that many are for it,” she said like a programmed lawyer. The topic wasn’t personal to him because the pipeline didn’t pass through their fields, but he could empathize with his distant neighbors. These city folk only cared about money, even more than legacy, land kept in a family for countless generations. Their own house might be a shithole, but it was home and he’d tell any legal team to fuck off if they demanded he sell.

  “From what I hear, farmers aren’t going along willingly. It’s not as simple as dollars and cents—” He wanted to tell her to get off her high horse and actually talk with people affected rather than reading some legal reports.

  “Parker,” Yukon warned, as if reading his mind. His brother was right, of course. He needed to keep his mouth shut. Ms. Fancy Pants might be a high-priced lawyer, but she was also a woman, vulnerable and alone. It was late, and he was overworked and overtired. Add sex-starved to the list and he was one ornery cowboy.

  “I’ll be upstairs if you need me.” He slipped away, heading upstairs to his bedroom. Yukon could play with his city toy in peace. Parker hoped he was smart enough to realize she’d never look back once she got a ride out of their dusty little town.

  ****

  Robyn bit the inside of her cheek nearly to the point of bleeding, a nervous habit she needed to break. She wanted to be anywhere else, well almost anywhere. At least she was inside, warm, and safe from the elements and wildlife. Other than that, her situation was nightmarish. She felt like a criminal—tried and convicted, based on nothing more than her position. These guys didn’t realize that she was powerless on every count. She was a pencil pusher, a dime-a-dozen paralegal in a huge firm. Nobody even remembered her name. Her convictions or ideals counted for nothing. She did what she was told or she would be out a job, and success meant everything to her.

  Calloway said the farmers were happy to get cash for their rundown farms. She could have argued with Parker, but she wasn’t dumb enough to get into a heated debate when she didn’t have all the facts.

  Robyn watched as Parker left the room. His towel sat low on his hips, showcasing a strong, lean physique. God, why did he have to have such a hard body? It would be so much easier to ignore him. She’d tried to focus anywhere than his chest and ripped abs, but still managed to memorize many details, including the numerous old scars. He moved with the stealth of wild cat, every shifting muscle fascinating her. She wanted to hate him, just like she wanted to hate Yukon—but failed. While she might be a trembling mess on the outside, her hormones were definitely working on overdrive. Robyn couldn’t be blamed for her rising temperature. Any sighted woman would be helpless to resist.

  Only one problem—she convinced herself the only male she’d ever be attracted to would be one in a designer suit. It was what she wanted and demanded. She was angry with her body and those impossible-to-ignore desires. The sight of these two rough and tumble cowboys—scars, calloused hands, and all—make her feel truly feminine. They made her want to take a bite of the forbidden fruit, the same one she swore she’d never partake in. The place even smelled like the essence of a man, something woodsy and all masculine. Shelly would laugh her ass off if she saw me drooling over cowboys. She recalled her recent conversation with Shelly, the one about a happily ever after. Was her friend right? Was love an illusion?

  Chapter Six

  Yukon showed her a spare room where she could sleep. At least they weren’t forcing themselves on her. In a small way, she was disappointed. Maybe a big way. If she couldn’t get a backwoods hillbilly to put the moves on her, she must have some serious desirability issues. She imagined she looked like shit after the hellish day she’d endured. As much as she wanted to check a mirror, she had no hair brush or make-up for damage control regardless.

  “It’s not too big, but the bed’
s comfortable,” Yukon said, holding the door open wide for her.

  She entered the room. A lightbulb dangled from the ceiling, making the room appear to be moving on waves. It wasn’t what she was used to. Her circle of friends and co-workers demanded the best of everything. They’d never be caught dead in a room with water stains, peeling wallpaper, and questionable bedding.

  “Thank you,” she said, walking to the head of the bed. Robyn fluffed the pillow and suddenly noticed her reflection from the dark curtain-less window. She looked like a fish out of water with her full business suit. It made her wonder what everyone else in this town thought of her.

  He must have noticed her hesitation. “It’s probably not what you’re used to.”

  “Not exactly.” Did that sound rude? She turned to look at him. He was a presence, most of the doorway filled with his strong body. His face had a sun-kissed glow, and even with the minimal lighting in the room, his blue eyes were piercing.

  “Sorry about that, darlin’. We aren’t used to having a woman under the roof. Not that I’m complaining.” He licked his lower lip, and her pussy clenched.

  “Hopefully I’ll be out of your hair first thing in the morning.” She just finished speaking when a loud rap at the window made her yelp.

  “What in God’s name?” Yukon took a few brisk strides to the window and hoisted up the heavy wooden frame. It was pouring out, a mix of heavy rain and hail. The entire evening she’d been sitting outside the diner, it had been dry and dusty, not a cloud in the starry night sky. Now this?

  Someone bounded up the stairs, the hollow echo reaching them in the little room. A breathless Parker rushed in, joining his brother at the window.

  “I heard about this on the radio. It must be the storm tearing through the south end. I sure as hell didn’t expect it to pay us a visit.”