Convenient Cowgirl Bride

by Silver James

  The man beside him snorted. “Your cousin told me to bring the best.”

  He cut his eyes to Kade, then returned his gaze to Savvie. “I came to see if you wanted to go to lunch with me.”

  “No. I’m busy,” she replied.

  “Sav.” The way he said her nickname got two pairs of eyes snapping to him.

  “I’m doing lunch with Kade.”

  “He can join us.”

  “No.”

  “Sav.” Chase said it again and gave her The Look. He recognized the moment she wavered, and pressed his point. “We’ll take your new truck. You can drive.” He was so intent on her reactions, he missed Kade shifting away and turning to face him.

  “Yeah, Sav. Let’s do lunch with the boss.”

  Chase watched Savannah’s gaze dart between him and Kade. One part of him wondered what Kade was up to, while the other was glad the man appeared to agree with him. “We’ll go to Cantina Del Sol.”

  “Is that where we ate the other day?”

  Yup, he knew the way to her forgiveness. Food. “Yeah.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  Chase ended up driving. She rode shotgun, but spent the trip twisted around in her seat talking to Kade. Every time Chase glanced at the rearview, Kade’s eyes met his in the mirror. He and Kade would need to come to a meeting of the minds much sooner than later.

  As he drove, Savvie filled the other man in on their arrangement, finishing with “So see? I’m not being dumb, Kade. I thought it through.” She reached around her seat to grasp his hand. “Mom doesn’t get to win. Not this time. And it’s important to me. I’ve wanted the chance to compete on this level since I won my first belt buckle. You know that, Kade. You were sitting there on the fence cheering me on.”

  “Savvie, you were ten, and it was a kid’s rodeo.”

  “And now I’m twenty-five. I had a good shot with Indigo. A really good shot. I got my hands on him by a fluke and a lot of horse trading. I have to stand on my own two feet.”

  As Chase watched in the mirror, Kade’s tan skin darkened. “Your own two feet? How are you doin’ that, baby girl? Chase is payin’ your bills. Giving you the ways and means. What’s he expect in payment?”

  Before Chase could jump in to defend his actions, Savvie released Kade’s hand and caught his. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Kaden Waite. You know me. We...” She gestured between herself and him before continuing. “Chase and me have an agreement. A contract. It’s business. He gets advertising. I get a sponsorship.”

  “Then why are you married?”

  “Because it was expedient,” Chase interjected after a pause.

  He didn’t say anything else as he pulled into a parking lot and maneuvered the big vehicle into a pair of spaces. He retrieved Savannah’s hand and twisted in the driver’s seat so he could see both Sav and Kade.

  “The old man was setting me up to get married, Kade. He even dragged Janiece Carroll and her father out here to force an engagement. Savannah needed a sponsor. I needed a wife. We have a prenup. She’s covered. She’ll get what she wants. This time next year, I’ll do something stupid to give her grounds for divorce. She walks away with this truck, the trailer, all the gear you brought, plus the three horses. If she’s as good as I think she is, she’ll also have the All-Around Cowgirl Championship buckle, trophy and winnings. She walks away with two hundred and fifty thousand dollars over and above what I spend on her expenses. It’s all a win for her.”

  “Except for spending nights in your bed.”

  Chase bit back a retort. Now was not the time to lose his temper, but Savannah beat him to a reply.

  “He hasn’t touched me, Kade. That’s part of the contract. Yes, in public we act like newlyweds and a happily married couple. That’s a show for his father.”

  “A show for Cyrus? Dammit, Savannah, do you know what this makes you? A frickin’ gold digger. I never thought—”

  “Shut up, Kaden.” Chase’s voice was pure icy anger. No one disrespected Savannah. Especially not the man she considered family. “Nobody says that crap about Savannah. No one, not even you. My father stood there in my home—our home—this morning, a checkbook in his hand. You want to know what Savannah told him? She got toe-to-toe right up in his face and told him he didn’t have enough zeroes to buy her off. She is not a gold digger, and you damn well will never say anything bad about her. Ever. You got me?”

  Kade settled back against the seat, his gaze fixed on Chase. Emotion flickered across his expression, but Chase couldn’t read its meaning.

  “Okay, then.”

  Chase narrowed his eyes. “What’s that mean?”

  “You’re right. I need to trust Savvie.”

  Chase jerked his chin down in acknowledgment. “Okay, then.”

  Ten

  Kade stayed through Saturday. He was there cheering Savannah on, helping her with the horses and watching. Always watching. Before her runs on Saturday night, she approached him as he saddled Big Red for the roping event.

  “Hey.” She touched his arm and made sure she had his total attention. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “Does Chase?”

  Kade’s question threw her off stride. “What do you mean?”

  “I see the way he looks at you, Savvie. He wants you.”

  His assertion should not have made her feel the way it did. She should not feel giddy and all, OMG, he likes me! Pushing those thoughts away, she considered Kade’s statement and what she knew of Chase. He liked women. Lots of women. She was just one more notch on his bedpost. Right? Right! As long as she remembered that, she’d suffer through those searing kisses of his and resort to cold showers.

  “I’m female, Kade. I’m not totally clueless, but we have an agreement. And I’ll be gone first thing Monday morning. He’s putting on a show for the cameras and his family. That’s all.”

  Her best friend growled under his breath as he backed away to shake out her rope, removing the twists before looping it and dropping it over the saddle horn. She would not back down on this.

  “Do you trust me?”

  His head whipped around, and his sharp gaze stabbed her. “What kind of question is that, Sav?”

  “The one you’re forcing me to ask. Answer me.”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then trust me. I know Chase. Yes, he’s a player, but let’s face it. I am not his type.”

  “You’re female. That makes you his type.”

  She snorted out a laugh, catching Kade off guard if his scowl was any indication. “Hon, trust me. I am not his type. I don’t have long legs, I have thunder thighs. I don’t have melons, I have grapefruit. All my curves went south. He likes them runway thin, blonde and high maintenance. I am definitely not any of those things.”

  Kade stared at her for a long moment. “You don’t have a clue, Savannah.” He made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “There isn’t a guy within a mile radius who wouldn’t jump on you if you offered.”

  Sav rocked back on her heels, shocked but pleased. “Really?”

  Tilting his head back, eyes to heaven, Kade sighed heavily. “You are clueless, babe. Totally clueless.” He lowered his chin to look at her. “Yes. Really. You have any idea how many horny football players I beat up in high school?”

  She giggled, then clapped her hand over her mouth. “No. You didn’t!” At his slow nod, she bit her lips to get control before she continued. “No wonder I didn’t have a date for prom.”

  “You had a date.”

  “With you! Not cool, Kade. You’re like my brother.” She rolled her eyes and curled her lip into a disgusted snarl even as she fought laughter.

  “Yeah. I am. And that’s why we’re having this conversation.” He rubbed the back of his neck, then dropped a h
and to her shoulder to get and keep her attention. “Look, I understand why you’re doing this. I do. I don’t like the way you’re doing it, but I understand. Still, I’m worried. The guy is bad news. All the Barrons are.” Some delayed emotion drifted across his features. “Well, the twins are. The others? They found good women, changed. But Chase and Cash? Not good, babe. Not good at all.”

  * * *

  Chase stood close enough to hear their conversation, but was hidden in shadow. He should be angry that his employee was talking to Savannah and saying the things he said. At the same time, he was well aware of his reputation—one he’d somewhat fostered. One that was coming back to bite him in the ass now. He’d discovered something over the past several days spent with Savannah. He liked her. As a person. Granted, he found her sexy and enjoyed kissing her far more than he should, given the circumstances, but he was male. And she was very, very female. In all the right places.

  He wasn’t upset that Kade noticed, or that other men noticed how attractive Savannah was. As long as none of them tried to act on their urges and as long as she rebuffed them. She was Chase’s wife. She had to stay beyond reproach to keep his old man off his back. At the same time, he was a little irate that Kade thought so little of him. He’d never done anything to Kade. None of his brothers had. The ranch foreman carried the Barron stamp, whether the guy knew it or not. Cyrus would never acknowledge an illegitimate son, which sucked for Kade, but Chase and his brothers had always treated him with respect. To find out now, under these circumstances, that Kade had so little respect for him stung.

  The loudspeaker announced the next event—calf roping. He’d come back behind the chutes to wish Savannah good luck. She’d had good barrel racing runs and he thought she’d done okay with the calf roping so far, though she didn’t have the best times. He didn’t want to give away the fact he’d overheard them, so he faded farther back into the shadows and made his way to the box seat he’d bought. He’d managed to duck the gaggle of paparazzi they picked up every time they left the hotel, by slipping into the men’s room. The photogs hadn’t done their homework. There was a back exit that led to the competitors-only area.

  Photos and stories were hitting the entertainment sites, along with tweets and Facebook postings. His cell phone had blown up with texts and voice mails. He was careful about sharing his number with most women, but a few had it. They were upset. He’d never made promises to them, nor had he thought about choosing any of them to get him out of this situation. Savannah had been in the right place at the right time, and she was the right woman.

  Stopping at the concession stand, he grabbed a beer and returned to his seat. He sipped and reflected while waiting for Savannah’s name to be called. The last couple of nights had been sheer torture. The night of their wedding, when she was so cutely drunk, Savvie had rolled into his side, snuggled in with her head on his shoulder and her arm draped across his bare chest. He tended to sleep nude but had kept his part of the bargain by wearing cotton sleep pants. She’d worn a tank that hid nothing and soft pants that slipped low on her hips.

  He’d spent the whole night half-awake and totally aroused. Still, he’d kept his promise. He hadn’t taken advantage. Once upon a time, he might have. Savannah had sought him out, wanting to sleep close. That said something about her feelings. But taking advantage of her hadn’t been in the cards. She trusted him. Oh, he fully planned to seduce her, to make love to her, but he’d do it when she was sober—well, mostly sober. If she had a few beers or some wine to mellow out? He could work with that.

  Thursday and Friday night she’d scrupulously stayed on her side of his California king bed. In a T-shirt. A long-sleeved T-shirt. And socks. He slept hot and tended to keep the room cooler at night, but her getup was ridiculous, and they both knew it was a futile attempt to keep him at bay.

  He was so lost in his thoughts, he almost missed the announcer. “Here’s a real show of dedication, folks. Next competitor is Savannah Wolfe Barron. She might be on her honeymoon but she’s a real cowgirl because here she is.”

  That comment would generate more tweets and Instagrams and news reports. Still, it fit the narrative he was building. Chase could live with the publicity, and he figured it wouldn’t hurt Savannah’s quest for the National Finals.

  The calf burst from the chute and a second later, Savannah followed on Big Red. The sorrel was right on top of the calf in a few strides. Sav dropped her lasso over the animal’s head, her arm whipping back to snug the loop as she twisted the rope around her saddle horn. Red slid to a stop even as Sav stepped from the saddle, dashed to the calf, grabbed, grounded and snugged in three legs while she tied them with the pigging string she’d carried in her mouth. She threw her arms up and the air horn sounded.

  From the cheers, he figured she’d gotten a good time. He really needed to bone up on rodeo events. Sooner or later, some nosy reporter would ask. Plus, with Operation Seduce Savannah in full force and effect, he needed the edge so he could celebrate and compliment her achievements.

  After the calf roping ended, he headed back to the contestant area. He’d take Savannah to a late dinner, take her home. There would be a hot bath. Maybe wine. The offer of a massage for tired muscles. He gave good rubdowns. Women enjoyed his hands.

  He found Sav and Kade in the barn, rubbing down the horses. He pitched in, putting out feed and hay, then carrying her saddles back to the trailer and locking it up. To be nice, he offered to include Kade in his dinner plans.

  “Thanks, but no. I’m leaving at the butt crack of dawn, and I’ve got to swing by here to load Indigo before I go.”

  A look of concern washed over Savannah’s face, and she focused on the stall where the black horse was stabled. Kade squeezed her shoulder.

  “He’ll be fine, Sav. I’ll take care of him.”

  She offered Kade a tentative smile that seared Chase right down to his core. “I know you will. I just...” She drifted toward Indigo and the horse reacted by arching his head over the gate. Savvie rubbed his cheek and ears. “He’s been good to me. I’ll miss him.”

  Without thinking, Chase closed the distance between them and reached for her. He tugged her close for a hug. “I’ll make sure Indy gets whatever he needs. And if you want to fly in to see him while you’re on the road, do it. I’ll cover the expense.”

  He physically felt Kade’s stare burning into his back and raised his head to stare back. Chase was staking his claim, showing that Savannah’s feelings were important to him, declaring that he understood what was important to her.

  “I... Wow, Chase. That’s...”

  He returned his attention to the woman in his arms. “Shh. If you get the urge, fly home, kitten. Rent a car or I’ll have someone pick you up at the airport.” He glanced back to Kade. “Pretty sure Kade won’t mind meeting you. You can stay in my room at the ranch. Though, fair warning. Miz Beth is nosy.” He chuckled and felt Savvie’s arms slip around his waist.

  “I can handle Miz Beth.”

  He laughed outright at that. “I know you can, honey.” He leaned back a little so he could see her face. “You can handle anything and everything, Savannah.”

  Eleven

  After parting ways with Kade in the parking lot, Savannah folded into the passenger seat of Chase’s Jaguar. She waited until he was settled and buckling his seat belt before speaking.

  “I can drive the truck back to the hotel, you know. So you don’t have to get up early and bring me back out here tomorrow morning.”

  “Kitten.”

  Those two syllables held layers of nuance and hidden meanings. “How do you do that?”

  He glanced at her, amusement gleaming in his eyes. “Do what?”

  “Guys. How do guys put so much into so little?”

  He started the sleek vehicle, shifted into Reverse and backed out of the parking space. “I’m not following you, kit
ten.”

  “See? You did it again.”

  This time he laughed as he drove out of the lot. “Still not making sense.”

  “Men seldom do.” She huffed a breath that ruffled the hair curving across her forehead. “Say it again.”

  “Say what?”

  “Kitten.”

  She knew he was humoring her when he said it. “Kitten.”

  “See?”

  “No, babe, I don’t. Care to enlighten me?”

  “Doesn’t matter that it’s only two syllables. When you say it—depending on how you say it—it says so much.”

  “Okay...” Chase drew out the word.

  “I see you aren’t following. Or maybe you are and there’s some secret guy code that prevents you from explaining.”

  “Okay.”

  “Again! One word. And the way you said it just now makes it have completely different meanings.”

  “Okay.”

  “Stop it!” She slapped at his biceps and his laughter curled around her heart.

  “I think I’m following. Sort of.”

  “Look, the first time you said kitten, there was a wealth of meaning there.”

  “What did I mean when I said it the first time?”

  “I was making the point that you could sleep in rather than drag your butt out of bed to drive me out to the fairgrounds. Rodeo isn’t your thing. There’s no sense in you hanging around all day. So I say that. And you say kitten.” She did her best to emulate the way he’d said it.

  “And?”

  “And what you said was that you were going to get up early, drive me out to the fairgrounds and hang around all day. That you expected to get up early, drive me and hang out. And that I should expect you to expect that.”

  “I said all that?”

  “Well...yeah. Didn’t you?”

  “Sort of. What I actually said was that I’m a guy, I drive, you’re my girl, so I’m going to drive you. And I’m expected to do those things and hang out all day because we just got married, are ostensibly on our honeymoon and that’s what’s expected of a newly married couple.”