He shook his head as he led Galahad, the new horse, into an empty stall. Thinking about Linnea as he would other women he wanted to take to bed was a very bad idea. But something tickled his brain at that thought. Linnea wasn’t like other women. Not that he dated airheaded bimbos, but she was just a class above. Even in jeans and T-shirts, Linnea had that stylish-without-trying look about her.
Garrett and his dad walked into the barn leading their horses. As his dad drew near and spotted Galahad, he nodded once.
“I guess I know why you didn’t turn up today.”
“He’s just still pouting because of the dump in the mud the other day,” Garrett said as he bumped shoulders with Owen.
Normally, their teasing wouldn’t bother him, but today he had to bite his tongue before he said something he’d regret. “Actually, I didn’t want to leave Linnea alone here. Michael made an unannounced visit.”
“Is she okay?” his dad asked.
Owen gripped the top of Galahad’s stall until his knuckles turned white. “Yeah, but I’m not sure things would have ended as well if I hadn’t shown up when I did.”
“He threatened her?” Garrett’s voice tensed, and Owen could tell his brother would punch Michael just as quickly as he would if necessary.
“Not in so many words, but I didn’t like how he talked to her and he grabbed her arm.”
“Good thing you stayed here, then,” their dad said.
“Think we should call Simon?” Garrett asked, referring to Simon Teague, the local sheriff.
“Linnea said she didn’t think he’d be back, but I’m not sure she believed what she was saying.”
Their dad fiddled with his horse’s reins, seeming to be deep in thought. “We’ll leave it up to her for now, but we need to keep an eye out.”
Owen nodded, then extended his hands to take the horses’ reins. “I’ll take care of them.”
His dad paused in front of Galahad’s stall. “Fine-looking animal.” But he headed out of the barn without saying anything about why Owen had bought the horse.
He sighed. Even with the knowledge that he’d not given his family much of a reason to believe in his sticking power, he couldn’t deny he kept hoping they’d see he’d changed. Hadn’t he?
At least Linnea saw it. Or she acted as though she did.
He really should go into town and find a way to alleviate some tension, get Linnea off his mind. That was his plan all the way through dinner. He did his best to ignore the concern that Linnea thought she was hiding, but his gaze kept going to her. He imagined taking care of Michael Benson so she’d never have to worry about him again. And despite trying to force himself to think about whom he might hook up with if he went out for a couple of beers, his imagination kept going back to Linnea and how she’d look with that long red hair flowing down over her bare shoulders.
Garrett swatted him on the arm.
He jerked his attention to his older brother. “What the hell?”
“Come back from la-la land and pass the beans.”
Owen resisted the urge to flip Garrett the bird and handed over the bowl of green beans.
“You don’t have to make dinner for us,” his dad said to Linnea.
“And you know I’m not about to stay here and twiddle my thumbs.” She smiled, and Owen wondered if anyone but he could see how much effort it took.
His dad patted Linnea’s hand. “I’d adopt you if I didn’t think your parents would fight me over you.”
She made a dismissive gesture. “Ah, they wouldn’t miss me. They’ve got two other daughters, and one of them is about to give them a grandbaby. Can’t compete with that.”
The image of Linnea’s stomach rounded with a child hit Owen’s brain with enough force that he choked on his green beans. He coughed so hard that his eyes watered. By the time he got his lungs under control, everyone else was staring at him. The depth of the concern in Linnea’s beautiful eyes nearly made him choke again. He pulled his gaze away from her.
“Went down the wrong way.”
“Killer green beans,” Garrett said. “Got it.”
Owen smacked Garrett on the back of the head.
Their dad sighed and glanced at Linnea. “I keep thinking they’ll grow up someday.”
This time her smile was more genuine. “I don’t know. They are entertaining.”
Owen thought Linnea might be feeling better, but after dinner when his dad offered to get out some cards for a game of poker, she passed, saying she wanted to go enjoy the night air.
All through his turn at washing the dishes, Owen worried about Linnea being outside alone. The moment he was done, he slipped out the back door to make sure she was safe.
When he didn’t immediately see her, panic threatened. She wasn’t on the front porch or standing next to the pasture fence. His heart hammering, he hurried toward the barn despite her professed fear of horses. He cursed when he didn’t see her inside, either. Damn it, he should have accompanied her outside even if she had wanted to be alone. He ran out of the barn, already planning how to kill Michael if he’d hurt her.
“Linnea,” he called out.
“Yeah?”
He spun on his heel to find her emerging out of the dark. “Damn, woman. You scared me half to death.”
“Sorry.”
He closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I thought Michael had come back.”
She reached behind her and pulled a steak knife from her back jeans pocket. “I didn’t come unprepared.”
He cursed. “What if he’d used that on you?”
“I was careful. I just needed some fresh air to think. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” She shoved the knife back into her pocket and walked over to the fence, close to where they’d stood and talked before. “I should get back to Dallas.”
A visceral need to talk her out of that surprised Owen, almost as much as the vision of her pregnant at dinner. He so needed a drink. “Isn’t Katrina holding down the fort for you?”
“Yes, but I can’t hide from my life forever. And I feel awful that I brought my troubles to your doorstep.”
“I think we can handle one jackass.”
“But you shouldn’t have to.” She turned toward him, making him aware of how close she was, close enough for him to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
No longer able to keep his hands off her, he caressed her cheek. “And you shouldn’t have to go back before you’re ready.”
She looked so lost, so conflicted that it tore at his heart.
“Lin?”
She lifted her gaze to his, and her lips parted slightly. He saw a hint of encouragement in her eyes, enough to shatter his self-control. He lowered his mouth to hers, tasting the cherry pie they’d had for dessert on her lips. When her hands drifted up his chest, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to deepen the kiss. She felt so good in his arms, a perfect fit.
That thought shot a bolt of common sense to his otherwise drugged brain, and he broke the kiss and stepped away from her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, a little breathless.
“I can’t do this.”
She took a couple of breaths and looked as if she was having a debate with herself. “Why not?”
“Because we’re friends. You’re my sister’s best friend.” He ran his hand over his face. “And it’s wrong to take advantage of you after what you’ve been through.”
“It didn’t feel like you were taking advantage of me.”
“Lin, you know me. I’m a play-the-field kind of guy. No serious, long-term relationships.” He’d learned his lesson when he’d given his heart to someone only to have it discarded like an unwanted gift.
“I can’t say I’m a fan of serious relationships, either, at the moment.” Linnea watched him as if she was wrestling with a decision. “I don’t think that’s what I want right now.”
He relaxed a little. “Good. We’re on the same page.”
But then she took a step tow
ard him, looking nervous and excited at the same time. What the...? He wasn’t one to walk away from a willing woman most of the time, but this was different.
“Lin, you’re not thinking straight.”
“I’m not looking for forever.” She placed her hand tentatively against his chest.
Though it pained him to do so, he grasped her hand and pulled it away before he did something irreversible. “You’re not a fling sort of woman.”
She looked up at him, and he saw a yearning in her eyes that was going to be damn hard to resist if he didn’t get her back inside where his dad and Garrett could serve as a barrier.
“Maybe a fling is exactly what I need.”
The woman was trying to kill him.
“I think we should go back inside.”
“Why?” She took a deep breath. “We’re both adults, Owen.” She paused again before continuing. “Ones with needs.”
He shook his head. “There are other ways to deal with those needs. Trust me.”
Linnea lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. I evidently read things wrong.”
As she started to turn away, a part of him couldn’t let her feel like she was being rejected again, especially not when her thinking he wasn’t attracted to her would be a lie. He grabbed her hand, causing her to return her gaze to his. “You didn’t read it wrong, but we can’t. Chloe would kill me for taking advantage of you when you’re still hurting about Michael.”
She winced at the sound of the other man’s name. “Or maybe she’d be angry with me for seducing her baby brother. But Chloe doesn’t have to know.”
Linnea licked her lips as if she were already anticipating the taste of him, and he went rock hard. He had to fight the image of taking her up against the side of the barn.
“Trust me, if we gave in to this, you’d regret it.” Never had he tried so hard to convince a woman she didn’t want to make love to him.
Though his body was screaming at him that he was the king of idiots, he walked away.
* * *
LINNEA STARED OUT the window of India’s boutique, watching people come and go and eyeing the empty store space across the street. She thought about how making a move and starting over had been as big a pipe dream as the one she’d had about spending the rest of her life happily married to Michael. But how could she move to Blue Falls now when she’d made such a fool of herself the night before? She still couldn’t believe she’d actually told Owen she wanted to have a fling with him.
And she’d realized how uncomfortable she’d made him when Garrett was the one hanging around the ranch today instead of his younger brother. So when India had called to ask if she would come speak to the latest BlueBelles class, part of a series aimed at arming young girls with tools for a successful life, she’d jumped at the chance.
India and Skyler said goodbye to the last of the girls, then walked over to where Linnea was standing.
“Thank you again for saving our bacon,” India said. “I thought Skyler and I were going to have to resort to song and dance when our speaker canceled last minute.”
Skyler laughed. “You would have been on your own there.”
Linnea smiled. “I was glad to help, for whatever it was worth.”
India leaned on the rack of blouses and skirts inspired by the Roaring Twenties. “Are you kidding? You were fabulous. It’s so important to teach young girls to reach for their dreams and believe in themselves, and you did exactly that.”
“I halfway want to open a wedding gown shop after listening to you,” Skyler said, drawing a small laugh from Linnea.
India pointed out the window. “You thought any more about taking that space?”
“Some.” She’d told the girls in the BlueBelles class that they shouldn’t let obstacles or fears derail them from the paths to their dreams. As she looked across the street, she realized she’d been doing exactly that. She’d been telling herself that even considering moving her store, or opening a second location, was letting Michael win. But as she sifted through her feelings, not taking the space because of Owen felt more like a cop-out.
“And?”
“Still thinking. Honestly, I was afraid I was only looking at the space as a way to get away from Michael and all the bad memories. But I don’t think that’s it.”
“You really like it, can see its potential,” India said.
“Yeah.”
“Even though it’s been hurt, I still say to go with where your heart is pointing you.”
An image of Owen Brody popped into her mind, but she did her best to shove it aside. She wanted to make the decision about the store without even considering Michael, Owen or any other man. This decision was for her and what would make her happy.
“Not to push you,” Skyler said, “but I do know that Justine has shown the building to several other potential buyers. She said one of them seemed pretty serious. Some guy who owns a couple of other antiques malls.”
The way Skyler said “antiques malls” made Linnea picture one of those cluttered places filled with old junk, not things that were actually antiques. Not that poking through those types of stores couldn’t be fun, but it just didn’t fit with the feel of Blue Falls’ downtown area. And it would be a shame to cover up all that gorgeous space with a warren of dusty trinkets.
When she left Yesterwear, she headed for her car parked down the street. But the next thing she knew she was walking into the real estate office and asking Justine Ware a million questions about the empty building, how serious the other interested parties were and how long Justine thought Linnea had to make a decision before someone else committed to buy the property.
After she finished talking to Justine, she stopped by the Mehlerhaus Bakery.
“Hey,” Keri said when Linnea walked into the bakery. “Did I just see you come out of the real estate office?”
“I did.”
Keri leaned her arms against the top of the glass-fronted counter full of delicious calories. “Does that mean you’re going to take the empty store?”
“I’m leaning that way, but I have to do some financial calculations first, talk to my bank.” She pointed toward the sweet treats. “Give me one of those lemon tarts.”
When she tried to pay for her purchase, Keri waved away Linnea’s money. “It’s on the house.”
“Thank you. So, were you serious when you said you’d like to work together on weddings?”
“Absolutely. And I know India and Skyler were, too. I even know a photographer we might rope into joining forces.”
A burst of excitement nearly had Linnea’s imagination off and running, but she had to reclaim rational thought. Expanding her business was a huge step, not something she could just do on a whim like when she’d fled Dallas for some emotional healing at the Brody ranch.
“I’m trying not to get ahead of myself, but I have to admit the ideas are flowing like crazy in my head.”
“Good. Maybe those ideas will convince you this is the right thing to do.”
It was difficult to keep the excitement of a new venture quelled so that she could look at her options rationally, especially when Justine let her into the building again so she could take pictures and notes. By the time she got back to the ranch and spent a couple of hours making pros-and-cons lists, sketches of possible layouts for a showroom and even marking down ideas for an apartment on the top floor, she realized she needed to talk to Katrina. After all, she was a partner in the Dallas store. Granted, Linnea owned the majority share, but Katrina still had a say in business decisions of this size.
She’d been sitting so long that she needed to get up and stretch her legs. When she glanced out the kitchen window, she spotted Owen working with the new horse he’d brought home when Michael was making his unwelcome appearance. As she watched Owen put the animal through its paces, she couldn’t help but notice how good Owen looked. He used his legs more than the reins to guide the animal, and she wondered how strong those legs would feel entwined with hers. Heat flooded
her entire body, and an ache to be held, to have her desires sated, settled deep and low inside her.
As she’d told Owen, they were adults. They could satisfy their urges without any serious entanglements. She wasn’t looking for a trip down the aisle, and she couldn’t imagine he was, either. Maybe he had the right idea, to keep sexual relationships free and easy. But he’d made his stance on them getting involved clear.
Feeling antsy, she called Chloe.
“Hey, I heard the BlueBelles class went well this morning,” Chloe said.
Linnea pulled her gaze away from Owen before she stalked outside and accosted him. “Yeah. Listen, any chance I can pull you away from your husband tonight?”
“Maybe. You want to do something?”
“Yeah. Girls’ night. Maybe ask the other old married ladies to join us for some dancing.”
“Even though I object to the term ‘old married lady,’ that sounds like a good idea.”
When she walked into the living room an hour later dressed in the best outfit she’d brought, a pair of jeans and a red halter, she nearly ran into Owen, who was headed toward the bathroom.
“Oops, sorry,” she said, and took a step back.
Owen gave her a quick up-and-down look that made her want to drag him into the bedroom and take off the clothes she’d just put on. “You’re going out?”
“Yeah. Chloe should be here any minute. We decided we needed a girls’ night.”
“Didn’t you all just have lunch the other day?”
She smiled at him. “Not the same thing. I’m in the mood to have some fun.”
The sound of a car outside drew her attention. “There’s Chloe. See ya later.” As she went to pass Owen, he reached out and placed his hand against her naked arm.
He met her eyes and looked as though he was about to say something. She wondered if he wanted to ask her to stay but was holding it in because he thought he should. Well, it didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to get so wrapped up in a man again that she couldn’t see herself or what was right in front of her.
“Be careful,” he finally said.
Linnea lifted her hand and patted his cheek. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything you wouldn’t do.” She had no idea where that sass had come from, but she kind of liked it and the feeling of freedom and control it gave her, as though she was beginning to emerge from the dark place she’d fallen into when she found out about Michael’s lies of omission.
Her Cowboy Groom (Blue Falls, Texas Book 5) Page 9
