Always On My Mind: A Bad Boy Rancher Love Story (The Dawson Brothers Book 1)

by Ali Parker

  She smiled and settled back, her black sweater dress fitting perfectly and keeping her warm too. Tall black boots that her mother had bought her for Christmas accented the outfit nicely. To say that she’d dressed to be casual and to impress would be an understatement. She’d even dragged Parker into her room to tell her which outfit looked both laid back and hot. He laughed, but played along perfectly. A smile touched her lips at the thought of him.

  “Whatcha thinking about?”

  “Parker’s been going through a lot lately, and he’s still finding it within him to be silly and fun, caring and kind.” She shrugged and frowned slightly at the expression on Jason’s face.

  He sat back and lifted his hips a little, his arm touching hers and his leg coming to rest against hers as well. “Are you and Parker just friends, or am I sensing more competition for your heart?”

  She laughed. “Are you after my heart?”

  He looked over at her as the flight attendant came over to the intercom to talk. “That and other parts of you.”

  She felt her cheeks heat. He was more straightforward than most men she’d met, but it was almost refreshing. She wanted a real relationship, one where the cards were on the table and any false sense of security or misunderstanding was discussed, not harbored forever.

  The stewardess paused and Jason leaned over, his mouth just behind her ear. Goosebumps covered her skin as the warmth of his breath touched her face and neck. “I’m totally after your mind as well.”

  She laughed and shook her head, turning to face him so that their noses touched. They weren’t in the office or in front of anyone they knew, so if there was ever a time to figure out if he was the one, this was it.

  He reached over and touched her face, leaning in and brushing his lips across hers. She leaned into him, wanting the kiss to last longer. He tilted his head a little, the warm brush of his tongue across her mouth eliciting a soft whimper. He pulled back, only to kiss her again quickly, the look in his eyes telling her it wasn’t just her heart and mind he wanted.

  He moved back to his seat, the rising and falling of his chest giving credence to the fact that he was trying to recover, just as she was. The older lady beside her coughed and lifted an eyebrow at Rebecca, laughing softly and, honestly, brightening Rebecca’s day.

  Rebecca laid her head back and closed her eyes, reliving the kiss over and over again until sleep dragged her under.

  “Hey, beautiful. Time to go.” Jason’s hand squeezed her leg as she came to, her eyes opening in panic.

  “Oh no. Did I fall asleep? I meant to study the files.” She stretched, careful not to hit the lady to her left.

  “You did. You’re cute when you sleep.” He winked.

  “Did I snore? Please, God, tell me I didn’t snore.” She sat back, taking his hand from her leg and holding it in her own. She knew she was falling fast when she didn’t let go, but entwined their fingers together. Jason’s gaze moved down toward their hands too, a smile playing on his full lips.

  “You didn’t snore,” he responded and reached over, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “You purr a little, but it was sexy, rest assured.”

  She chuckled, closing her eyes and trying not to be horribly embarrassed. Her mother used to tell her she sounded like a kitten at times when she slept, but she’d never really tested the theory. A few one-night-stands over the years and no real relationships hadn’t allowed her to get feedback on her sleeping activities.

  The plane pulled up to the gate, and Rebecca released Jason’s hand, working to get her seatbelt undone, and then stood up in their row, Jason moving into the aisle to give them more room.

  A soft pull on her arm had her turning back to the older woman beside her.

  “Yes, ma’am? Need help with something?” Rebecca asked, turning and leaving her back to Jason.

  “No, dear. I just wanted to tell you that the young man must love you a lot,” she said quietly so that only Rebecca could hear.

  Rebecca felt fear mixed with elation rush down her nerves. Her neck and face flushed with heat at the idea of anyone loving her, much less the handsome thing waiting in the aisle to spend the next two days with her.

  “Oh no, we’re just good friends.”

  “Well, while you rested he couldn’t keep his eyes off you. I’m thinking you might just be friends, but he’s in love. My Henry used to look at me like that when we were young. Poor boy was taken beyond recognition with me.” She smiled and Rebecca laughed.

  “I bet he was.”

  Jason leaned over and smiled at both of them. “Bet who was what?”

  The older woman shook her head. “We’re having a girly conversation. You’d not understand, son.”

  He laughed and moved back, allowing Rebecca to move in front of him. She backed up a little to allow the older woman to go before them and bumped into the front of Jason. His hands encircled her waist as he pressed against her, the aisle not giving him much room, with everyone trying to get off the plane. He breathed in, and the sound of him enjoying her sent tingles rushing down her spine. She stifled a groan and bit her lip, smiling to give the false impression that she was okay to the sweet woman who moved out before them.

  “God, you smell good,” he whispered against the back of her hair, his fingers gripping a little tighter than he perhaps realized.

  She looked over her shoulder, wanting so badly to be a sexy vixen and yet not really knowing how to.

  “Glad you approve,” she whispered and then moved to get her bags from above, Jason moving up to help her.

  “Approve is an understatement.”

  “Did we rent a car, or do you just want to take a cab to the hotel?” Jason moved toward the baggage claim belt as Rebecca’s bag came around toward them. He grabbed it and hoisted it off, reaching for his smaller one immediately afterward.

  “I rented a car for us. Just thought it would be easier.”

  He pointed to her bag. “Are we staying a week? Because I only brought enough underwear for a night.”

  She laughed and walked toward the car rental place, talking over her shoulder. “Then you’re one pair ahead of me.”

  Score … that was hot.

  She laughed under her breath at her coaching and congratulating herself. If Jason even came close to knowing what a dweeb she was, she would be in trouble.

  He moved up beside her, swallowing hard and giving her a look. She winked and turned to the attendant, who’d had a few too many cups of coffee that morning.

  A few minutes later they were seated in a black Lexus sports car. Apparently Parker had called and upgraded them for fun.

  “Remind me to thank Parker when we get home. This is beautiful, like sex on wheels.” Jason breathed out, the fitted gray sweater he wore curving around the strong muscles of his chest and leaving her staring more than she cared to. He looked over at her and smiled. “You ready for this magic?”

  “For sex on wheels? I’m living for just such an experience.”

  He laughed and shook his head, looking back before pulling out into oncoming traffic. The car jolted forward and picked up speed like nothing she’d ever experienced before. “And here I thought you were a good girl.”

  “I am a good girl.”

  “I think you want to be one, but something tells me that your bad girl side is itching for a reprieve.”

  “A reprieve? You think I keep her locked up.”

  He looked over and nodded, the sexy smile on his face drop-kicking her hormones. She clenched her jaw as he responded, “I know you do.”

  The hotel was large and far more elaborate than anything she would’ve picked out, but that was Parker for you. He was into creating an experience, no matter where he went or whom he was with. Life had always been ‘too short’ for her illustrious partner, and over the last few years their budget had expanded at the office because his tastes had gone one way—up. She would’ve given him more grief about it if he weren’t so good at bringing in new clients and loading their ban
k account with revenues. Half the reason she was able to build such a large house in the country was thanks to his three year sales record. He’d more than tripled her original revenue when she was running the firm on her own.

  Parker was a big-picture guy and knew how to sell multiple product offerings to anyone who walked through their door. To say she was grateful for him would be an understatement, and as such, she’d not be mentioning the fancy hotel stays or the first class tickets.

  “This place is more country than Texas,” Jason said, laughing, as they pulled up to the valet and got out.

  Men in white shirts and black slacks rushed around them, taking care of the luggage and welcoming her and Jason to the large hotel.

  “Yes, but where there’s country, there’s usually oil, and oil breeds money.”

  “And money breeds wealth.” He winked and reached for her briefcase, taking it off her shoulder and putting it on his. She hadn’t been around many men who were so aware of her, to the point of removing burdens from her physically and reading her emotionally. Maybe dating a younger guy would be a breath of fresh air.

  Maybe age doesn’t have anything to do with it.

  “Did Parker put this under his name or yours?” Jason asked as he approached the desk, the bellhop bringing their luggage in beside them.

  “Good afternoon. I’m Linda, and welcome to the Omni. Whose name is the reservation under?”

  Rebecca checked her phone quickly, holding up one finger in a friendly manner to the lady before them. “It’s under Rebecca Martin.”

  She looked up and glanced at Jason as he nodded, a smile on his handsome face.

  “Good. I see you’ll be staying with us for one night?”

  “Yes. Two rooms, both non-smoking?” Rebecca spoke to the woman in front of her, but looked over at Jason with a questioning look to see if that would be okay.

  He nodded and moved to look around the lobby, leaving her to deal with the business at hand.

  “Oh. I only have one room with a queen-sized bed reserved. Here, let me check to make sure it’s not under another name.”

  Rebecca sighed softly. Parker would do something just like that. Get one room for them to share and hope that Rebecca might find love in the midst of a business trip. He was such a dreamer, but there was some part of her that was too.

  “Should be two. Just give us another one if you don’t mind.”

  “I would love to, but we’re having a National Oil and Gas conference this week and there aren’t any other rooms. I can try to see if there’s a room with two beds in it or even check to see if you could stay at another hotel, but it would be in the next city over.”

  Jason walked up as Rebecca rubbed the bridge of her nose. “What’s the matter?”

  She turned to him, looking up at the concern on his features. His warm brown eyes gave her comfort, and the idea of one room with one bed suddenly didn’t seem like such a bad idea at all. Perhaps fate didn’t hate her.

  “Our reservation is for one room, and they don’t have any others available.”

  He nodded and looked at the lady. “Are there at least two beds in the room?”

  “I’m checking, but it’s not looking good. The conference started yesterday and it’s been honestly insane.”

  Rebecca looked around the empty lobby. “Where is everyone if the hotel is packed?”

  “In the conference. There are fifty rooms being used on the third floor, so avoid getting on the elevators between seven and eight, eleven and twelve and four and five. It’s a nightmare.”

  “It’s okay,” Rebecca responded, not willing to worry about the room. She knew she and Jason would figure things out and that he was completely respectful of them being together in one room.

  “I’ll sleep on the couch. There’s a couch, right?” he asked, moving up to put his forearm on the counter. The smell of his skin mixed with his deodorant swam toward her and she breathed in deeply, loving the sharp masculine tones.

  “There is a couch. I’m honestly so sorry.”

  Rebecca shook her head. “It’s no big deal. We’re friends and we’ll work it out.”

  Jason took the keys and talked with the bellman as he helped them get their luggage to the elevator, casual conversation that the bellman seemed to enjoy. Jason thanked him and tipped him, slipping into the elevator as the door closed and turning toward Rebecca.

  “You okay? I’m happy taking the car to another city if you want the room to yourself. I understand the need for privacy.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “No, we’ll be fine. It will give us a chance to look over everything and go over the parts we get to play at the meeting tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, and I get to see you in your pj’s. Score.”

  She laughed and moved out into the hall, looking to her left and then right. “I think that’s funny that you assume I wear pj’s.”

  “Ummm … if you don’t then I might just die and go to heaven.”

  She laughed and reached for the keys, pulling them from his fingers and wagging her eyebrows at him. “Then who would assist me on this client?”

  “Who cares?”

  They laughed and pushed into the expansive suite that Parker had outdone himself with.

  Chapter 19

  Jason pulled the curtains back as Rebecca flipped on the lights in the room, her phone buzzing in her pocket. She checked it and was slightly surprised to see that her mom was trying to get ahold of her. Her parents had moved into the country after she’d graduated college, her dad wanting to get back to his roots, which she totally understood. They saw each other once every couple of months and spoke every once in a while, but a call in the middle of the day was a bit alarming.

  “Hey, I’m going to step out to take a call. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Jason turned and walked toward his suitcase. “Sounds good. I’ll be here.”

  She slipped out into the hall, looking to her right and left before finding a small alcove where large bay windows let light slip in. She moved toward it and hit redial, her heart thumping hard in her chest. Her mother’s voice sounded fine as she answered the phone, and a small bit of relief settled over Rebecca.

  “Hello?”

  “Mom? It’s Becca. Everything okay?” She tried to sound calm, but her mother’s soft laugh told her quickly that she’d failed to pull it off.

  “Yes, baby. I was just checking on you. Your father and I are doing great. He’s actually out at the lake behind the house, trying to catch something for dinner.” She laughed and her voice faded, Rebecca imagining her leaning over the sink and pulling back the pale blue curtains that blocked her view of the lake.

  “Oh, good. You never call during the day. I figured something was wrong.”

  “I can hear it in your voice, silly girl. We’re great. I was at the grocery store last night and ran into Margaret Hemlock. You remember her? She was your senior year English teacher.”

  “Yes, I remember, Mom. How is she?” Rebecca wrapped a finger around a long strand of hair that hung in front of her, her mother’s interest in the good old days a bit old itself.

  “Well, anyway, she’s fine, and she was telling me that she heard it through the grapevine that Kade McMillian was back in town. Seems as though the boy was offered a partnership in a construction company and hot doggit if it didn’t sound like the one you were using.”

  Rebecca laughed softly, unable to help herself. How many hours had she cried and whined to her mother about Kade when she was growing up? Her mother had always assumed they’d end up together when they were kids, but so had everyone else, except Kade apparently. His vote was rather essential in sealing the deal.

  “Yes, I knew about Kade coming home. He was actually the one I met with on Saturday morning about the house.”

  “Oh my. I bet that was a big surprise.”

  She could hear her father’s gruff voice in the background, asking what surprise they were talking about. Her mother told him to mind his o
wn business and yelped, giggling afterward. Rebecca rolled her eyes, her parents the epitome of long lasting love.

  “Yes, and he’s just as handsome as he was then.”

  “So …”

  “So nothing. He’s interested in getting to know each other again, and I thought I was too, but now that he’s back and I’ve seen him a few times, I’m not so sure.”

  “Oh, baby, you’ve dreamt of this day forever. Just give it a little bit of time, and I’m sure all those old feelings will come rushing back.”

  “I don’t know that I want them to.”

  “Well, I’m here if you need me. I just heard he was back in town and needed to see if you knew it. Why am I not surprised that you did?”

  Rebecca smiled and looked out the window, the fields dead and bare thanks to the elongated winter they were suffering through. “I’m starting to see a new guy at work, so I want to see where that goes and then I’ll think about things with Kade.”

  “Oh no, not Parker.”

  Rebecca laughed again as the sound of her dad cursing about Parker filled up the airwaves. “No. Not Parker. We’re just friends.”

  “Good.”

  “What in the world do you have against Parker? I thought you guys liked him.”

  “Well, your father says he’s a player.”

  “A player?” She snorted and chuckled.

  “Yes. He says that in high school he brought every type of girl home.”

  She could hear her father speak and her mother echo his words. The two of them were ridiculous, but she was beyond grateful that they were hers and okay for the time being.

  “Okay, Mom. It’s not Parker, and tell Daddy that it’s creepy that he knows who Parker brought home.”

  “I will, dear. Take care of yourself and call me later this week and tell me about your new beau.”

  “We’re just taking things slow, Mom. No beau yet.”

  “Whatever you say, princess. Any boy that gets to be with you is beyond lucky.”

  Her father mumbled something and her mom laughed. “And your father said he better not hurt or hit you or he’ll kill him.”