by Helen Lacey
Her determination to get her business back, which had been the reason she’d come to Gwendonna in the first place, somehow seemed less important the more time she spent with him.
“Okay. Later.”
He smiled and pulled her towards him. She went, foolishly.
“You were angry with me last night. Still feel that way?” he asked and turned her around until they were both outside the stall.
She looked up. “I’m…confused.”
Nate’s eyes darkened and as he pushed the stall shut with his foot, he settled her in his arms. “About what?”
“You,” she admitted. “Us.”
“Because you want the fairy-tale?”
She looked up and met his gaze. Was she so transparent? “Because I want more than just heat.”
He grasped her chin. “But it’s a place to start.”
Long ago, she believed that. Dale had seduced her with words of passion and desire and telling her she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. Was Nate any different? Sure, he’d been honest about his intentions from the beginning…but the reality was the same. All she’d be left with was memories of mind blowing sex and a broken heart.
“I…can’t…”
Nate looked deep into her eyes. “What did he do to you?” he asked softly, still holding her chin. “There’s something…some old pain that makes you want to run from this attraction. Tell me what he did?”
Joley shuddered and pulled away. She didn’t want to talk about Dale. She didn’t want to admit that she’d been a naïve fool and had been left alone and humiliated. But Nate was still standing, still watching her when she finally turned back around.
“His name was Dale Parker and he was…he was married,” she admitted with a heavy heart. “He was also my flight instructor. He was handsome and charming and I was swept up in the compliments and seduction. He was exciting and worldly and made me feel like I was beautiful. Which was a huge leap from the reality of a life where my mother kept putting me on diets and signing me up for gym membership. I didn’t know he was married at the time,” she said, swallowing the heat in her throat. “I just thought…I just thought he wanted me. I thought…he couldn’t live without me.”
Nate’s expression was unchanged. “And?” he prompted.
Joley shrugged. “I was in love with him. I thought he loved me back.”
His eyes darkened. “You were school girl? A virgin?” he asked gently.
She nodded. “A very naïve one too. We’d meet at this motel just a few suburbs from the flight school a couple of times a week. And I never…” Her words trailed off and she sucked in a breath. “I never guessed he had a wife and kids. I never thought to ask. He said we should wait until school was finished and I was eighteen before I told my parents we were together. But I never did. Not after…after…”
Nate stepped closer and took hold of her hands. “After, what? Something happened?”
Joley swallowed hard. Being close to him eased the pressure pushing down between her ribs. “I was at the motel one day, after school…I was waiting for Dale…waiting and dreaming silly dreams about how we’d get married one day. But someone knocked on the door.” The colour left her face when she remembered that awful afternoon. “It was someone else…another man…a friend of Dale’s. He said Dale couldn’t make it and that he was there to show me…” She shuddered as revulsion whipped through her. “He said he was there to show me a good time.”
Nate’s fingers tightened around hers. “What happened?” he asked tensely. “Did he…did he hurt you?”
Joley shook her head. “I left,” she replied. “And I went straight to Dale’s home and knocked on his door. Which is where I met his wife and two young children.” Joley sighed heavily. “I think she knew exactly who I was. Or rather, what I was. She looked sad. She looked like she’d had one too many knocks on her door.”
Nate urged her closer and cupped her nape. “And Parker?”
“He dumped me.”
Nate frowned with disgust. “So, he was a pig? A jerk who betrayed his wife and you and who took advantage of a young girl?”
She nodded. “Something happened to me that day…it’s like I stopped trusting people. I stopped believing I deserved someone who wouldn’t betray me.”
Silence stretched between them. His arms felt safe. His fingers gently rubbed her nape.
Finally, he spoke. “Not all men cheat,” he said quietly, locking his eyes with hers. “Not all men lie. Not all men will let you down.”
Could he read her mind? How did he know that she felt that way? Dale’s betrayal had made her wary of all men. Paul had bailed when she’d pulled back and she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him why she found it so hard to give all of herself to their relationship. Any other man she’d become involved with had lasted only a few dates. And there was Patrick in the background, running her business into the hands of receivers. Until Nate had stepped in and pulled it back from the brink of ruin.
Joley felt herself sway towards him. “I’m starting to realize that.”
“Believe it,” he said gently. “You trusted someone you shouldn’t have. You’re not the first person to do that. So, forget about him and forgive yourself.”
Could she? Her guilt and shame cut deep. “I’ll try.”
His gaze moved to her mouth. “You know, I’ve been going out of my mind all week.”
“You have?” she asked and laid her hands on his shoulders. “Why is that?”
“Because I’ve wanted to kiss you so much.”
His admission made her belly flip over. “So, kiss me,” Joley said, inviting him to take her lips, inviting him to take her.
He covered her mouth with his in a seductive kiss. It was hot and hard and exactly what she wanted. Nate’s palms curved over her hips and he urged her closer. She held on, driven by need and rising emotion. She curled her fingers around his neck and brought them together at his nape. Joley experienced a deep jolt of desire through to her bones. Denim against denim, breast against chest, he continued to kiss her, continued to slant his mouth across hers. As the kiss went on, the heat between them grew. It was a burning heat, way down, making her want as she’d never wanted before. In that moment, every other touch she’d known was forgotten. Everything was forgotten. Her business, her old fears about losing herself emotionally, seemed to fade and fall to her feet. Nate said her name as he trailed a kiss from her mouth and along her jaw. Joley clung to him and groaned when he moved to the sensitive spot below her ear and kissed her there again and again. He bunched her T-shirt in one hand and urged her closer.
A horse whinnied and Joley pulled back. “We should probably stop,” she said on a ragged breath.
Nate released her and straightened. “If that’s what you want.”
It wasn’t what she wanted at all. A few strides and they’d be in the tack room. Shedding a few layers of clothing and they could be naked together. A few minutes and she could press herself against him and feel every inch of his skin against every inch of hers.
“Yes…”
The word trailed off as she stepped back and pulled her shirt down over the waistband of her jeans. The kiss was over. The mood would be over too. Only, it was difficult to think of anything other than kissing him again when he stood so close.
Nate bolted the stable door. “We’re bringing some of the steers in tomorrow. Transport to the sales yard arrives on Tuesday morning. You can come along if you’re interested.”
“I’d like to help if I can.”
“Sure,” he said and grabbed his shirt off a hook near the door and quickly shouldered into it.
Was he annoyed she’d stopped their kiss? Impossible to tell with Nate. She’d told him everything about Dale and he hadn’t judged her. He’d given her the comfort she’d craved. His arms were pure temptation. And she was tempted to stay there…forever. If only they wanted the same things.
But they didn’t.
“Are you continuing the wor
k with Rookie today?” she asked of the three-year old colt he was currently breaking.
“Yes, just on my way in fact. I’ll see you out there.”
Joley watched as Nate headed out of the stables and rounded the corner. A few minutes later, she grabbed her brush kit and haltered Red, took him out of his stall and led him towards the washing bay for a strap down. Butch and Sundance danced around nearby playing chase with a stick. Working dogs? Nate’s insistence she not overly spoil them made her smile.
Nate was already in the round yard prepping Rookie for long reining. The big Tobiano colt looked restless and shifted sideways as Nate tightened the roller around the animal’s girth. The dogs barked and sent the skittish horse into a sidespin. Joley watched from her spot near the wash bay, relaxing a little once the colt settled and Nate began maneuvering him around the yard in a wide circle.
The way he handled the strong-willed animal made her appreciate his skills all the more. The horse responded immediately and came down on the bit, drawing into a long strided trot and she looked on for a while. After a few minutes she heard a quick clinking sound, saw a front shoe flick off and up into the colt’s sensitive underbelly and then like a slow camera in reverse, watched as the colt bucked and picked up speed, racing in the circle as he tossed his head. Rookie crow-hopped and the movement propelled Nate forward. The dogs barked, sending the colt into a bucking frenzy. Joley quickly left Red and raced across the yard, just in time to see the colt rear up again and strain his neck sideways. As the horse bucked, Nate jerked to the left, lost the reins and was smacked full force into the hardwood fence.
He dropped like a stone.
Chapter Ten
Joley went quickly through the fence and into the round yard. Rookie put in a few more bucks, snorted and headed for the other side of the corral.
She ignored the horse and rushed to Nate’s side. He was out cold. Joley dropped to her knees and touched his face. “Nate, wake up.”
Nothing.
There was a trail of blood on his forehead and she laid his head in her lap and pushed his hair back. The jagged cut and growing bruise looked deep and painful. She shook his shoulder and urged him into consciousness. It took a few seconds to rouse him. Finally, he moaned and opened his eyes.
“Hey,” he managed to say.
“Can you move?” she asked and used the tail of her shirt to mop the blood on his cheek.
“Kinda’ comfy as I am,” he said, offering a groggy smile. “Is the colt still—”
“Don’t worry about Rookie. I’ll see to him. We need to get you into the house.”
Nate shook his head slightly and then winced. “I’ll be fine. I just need a minute or two.”
Joley didn’t believe him. Especially since he closed his eyes again and she worried for a moment that he’d drifted back to unconsciousness. Then he blinked, moaned and tried to move. “You hit your head pretty hard. And you’re bleeding. You might have concussion. You’re going inside, so don’t argue.”
For the first time in her life she was eternally grateful she wasn’t a lightweight and said a silent thank you to her father for inheriting big bones and a strong back. She got Nate to his feet and braced her arm around his shoulders when he swayed against her. It took ten long minutes to get him to the house and to his bedroom.
“I’ll just clean up that cut,” she said and disappeared into the ensuite once she’d settled him on the edge of the bed. She returned with a damp washer and the small first aid kit she found in the bathroom cupboard.
“Stop fussing,” Nate said and tried to take the cloth.
Joley held firm and unclipped the kit as she stepped closer. “I’m doing this. Deal with it.” She straddled one knee and leant in to clean the wound. It wasn’t as deep as she’d first thought and didn’t think it needed stitches, but the bruise was gathering momentum. She dabbed on a little antiseptic. Being so close and touching him in such an intimate way stirred up a whole lot of feelings. Imagining he might be seriously hurt had scared her to pieces.
“You’re not going to pass out on me again are you?” she asked when he swayed.
“No. But I have one helluva headache.”
“Aspirin,” she suggested and stepped back. “I’ll get some. And then you can rest.”
“Yes, nurse.”
She took a few minutes to collect painkillers and a glass of water from the kitchen. When she returned, Joley noticed Nate had removed his shirt. There was a trail of dust from their boots on the carpet and once she watched him take the meds, she lifted his foot and removed his boot. Surprisingly, he didn’t protest, so she quickly dispensed with the other one. When she looked at him he held out his arms.
“What’s next?” he asked softly. “Belt? Jeans?”
Joley drew in a breath and tried not to think about how much she actually wanted to undress him. “I’m sure you can manage that yourself.”
“Spoilsport,” he said and grinned, then grimaced.
“I think I should call a doctor.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s just a little bump on the head.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “I saw what happened. You took a hard hit. How do you feel? Sleepy, nauseated? Any sign you might pass out again?”
“No,” he assured her. “Just a headache like I said.”
Joley didn’t believe him and glared crossly. “Nate?”
“Ok, I feel like crap,” he admitted and rubbed a hand over his face. “But I’ll live. And if it makes you feel better I’ll get Rachel to check out the bump on my head when she and Mike get back.”
Joley knew Rachel had been an emergency ward nursing sister for a number of years before she’d married Mike. “Ok. And if she thinks you need a doctor…”
“Then I’ll go. Don’t fret.”
“Get some rest,” she told him. “I’ll see to Rookie—”
“No you won’t,” Nate said, cutting her off. “He could still be spooked. Leave him for Mike—”
“I’m not incompetent around horses you know,” she said, cutting him off right back. “I can handle a skittish colt.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Nate warned, with an inpatient sigh. He tried to stand and lasted about three seconds before he sank back onto the edge of the bed. “I won’t allow—”
“Get some rest,” she said again, more determined than ever to do exactly what she wanted. “I’ll be back when I’m done.”
She spun on her heel and left the room.
Nate must have dropped off to sleep. When he opened his eyes, he experienced a jabbing pain at the side of his head. He blinked and focused on the two people standing at the end of his bed. Two women. Joley and Rachel.
“Definitely a slight concussion,” Rachel said. “He’ll probably be dazed for a day or so. You were right, the cut doesn’t need stitches. Just rest I think.”
“I am in the room,” he said and pulled himself up. The jabbing pain increased.
“Rest,” Rachel insisted and frowned. “And Mike stayed in town because his father is still sick, so don’t get any ideas about some united macho front. Granite skull you might have, invincible you’re not. Since I have loads of things I have to do, and I’m sure Joley has a much better bedside manner than me, I’ll leave you two alone. Rest,” she warned and wagged her finger before she left the room.
Joley hadn’t moved. She’d changed her clothes though, the soft grey and pink sweats enhanced her lovely curves. “The colt?” he asked and tried to ignore the stirring he felt way down low.
“Safe and sound,” she replied and tossed her hair.
He had a raunchy thought about twisting her beautiful hair around his hands and dragging her down onto the bed. “Thank you,” he said instead.
“My pleasure.”
“Still keen to play nurse?” he asked and rested back against the pillow.
She smiled. “Where does it hurt?”
“If I told you you’d probably run a mile.”
She licked her bo
ttom lip. “Try me.”
The stirring increased. “You know, I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you?”
“Even though I ignored you?” she asked on a breath and stepped back.
He shrugged. “I liked the challenge.”
Her brows came up. “Really?”
“Okay, I didn’t. But you’re here now.”
“Because I…”
“I know why,” he said when her words trailed. “Because the flight school is the most important thing in the world to you? Or is it because Cohen is the most important thing to you?”
“Patrick?” She shook her head. “Are you serious?”
“Definitely.”
“I think I’ve made my feelings for Patrick abundantly clear.” She raised her chin. “And my reasons for coming to Gwendonna.”
Because she wanted to get her business back? That was all. What had started as a challenge had suddenly become an obstacle. Nate wanted more of her than just her body. Where was his old friend logic when he needed it? Nothing about the way he felt was remotely logical.
“I know why you’re here,” he said quietly, feeling unusually numb inside.
She smiled fractionally. “Um…Nate…about what I said earlier. Thank you for listening.”
“That’s what friends do for one another, don’t they?”
“I guess,” she agreed. “Although I’m not sure what we have qualifies as simple friendship. It’s a little too…hot.”
“Hot?”
“You know what I mean,” she said and wavered on her heels. “The sex thing is always there.”
His brows came up. “But we’re not having sex.”
“Yes…but…” Her voice trailed off for a moment. “Sometimes not having sex is as complicated as having sex.”
“But no where near as much fun,” he said and flopped back against the pillows. “I think I’ll get some sleep. Thanks for the first aid.” “No problem. I’ll leave you alone.”
