by Addison Cole
“And what if we do those things and you decide you don’t like the person you meet in me?”
He lifted her chin. “It’s not gonna happen, but if it does, then better that we find out before we cause our families undue trauma, don’t you think?”
“I hate it when difficult things are the smartest things to do,” Jade said in a sullen voice. “You’re making perfect sense. I don’t want to hurt my family any more than I want to hurt yours, but I can’t quite piece together what you’re getting at,” she said.
“I guess you mean besides wanting to have night after night of passionate sex until you forget how bullheaded I am and your brain is helpless against my wily ways?”
“Yeah, what you said,” she said with a smile.
He could look at her smile all day and never tire of it. She had three smiles that he’d clearly defined so far: the flirty, come-hither smile; the feigned, I-don’t-want-to-but-I’ll-listen-anyway smile; and the adventuresome, rebellious smile that lit up her face when she was rapturous with life. He couldn’t wait to learn more about her.
“I guess what I’m thinking is that we meet outside of town for now and do all the things we want to do.”
She shot upright. “Outside of town? Like, completely hide from the world?”
“Not the world, but yes, from our families and this little town with far too many ears to the ground and too many mouths feeding the grapevine.” He knew she’d be upset, but he wasn’t ready to relent on this. He hadn’t worked his whole life to honor his family only to throw it all away when they could handle the situation tactfully without hurting anyone.
“So you just want to pretend we’re not together?” Her smile wiped clean, replaced with a firm line, just as he’d expected.
“Jade, only to the town, not to the world. I know it seems juvenile, but our families deserve this, and we deserve a chance to build something together without the world crashing down on us.”
She rose to her feet and crossed her arms. He rose beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close, so she was forced to look into his eyes.
“Listen to me, please. We’re not kids. It’s not like Daddy is going to say to you, You can’t date him anymore. This is a full-on family feud. This is us being caught in the crossfire of the Hatfields and the McCoys. I want a fighting chance with you. When you said you just wanted to be friends, it about killed me. I’ve taken more cold showers in a week than I ever did as a teenager. When we know how we’ll each react to situations, when we’ve built a solid base that we know can withstand the pressures of our parents, then we’ll figure out how to handle it together. And hopefully, we’ll move forward as a couple, stronger than we ever imagined. I want us to work. Please give us a fighting chance. Work with me, Jade. Please.”
The tension deflated from her shoulders and arms. He felt her relax into him.
“How can I say no to that? How can a gruff cowboy know all the right things to say to soften a girl’s heart?”
“I’m not softening a girl’s heart. I’m wooing the woman I want to share my life with.”
Chapter Twenty
JADE COULDN’T HELP but check the woods by the barn Tuesday morning. Her body still tingled with thoughts of the evening before. She felt complete for the first time in her life. She wasn’t crazy about hiding from everyone she knew. She’d much rather shout her feelings from the rooftop. But Rex was right. Their situation was not an easy one, and though she felt like she and Rex were right together, despite their confusion at the beginning, she was also smart enough to believe, as he did, that it was essential that they were absolutely certain about each other before they caused what was sure to be an uproar like Weston had never seen before. The problem was, she was sure. She didn’t need time. She’d loved him all her life. She’d just never realized it before last night.
She pushed the barn doors open, breathing in the dewy air and the tangy smell of manure under the morning sun. Her stomach took a little dip at the sight of the empty woods. Until last night, she hadn’t realized that Rex didn’t carry a cell phone. That would make things difficult, but he assured her they’d communicate without issue, and given how he’d surprised her the evening before—the depth of what he wanted, his tender words, the fact that he hadn’t ridden bareback between the sheets before her, all things she’d never expected—she knew he’d find a way.
She brought the horses out into the pasture and watched them gallop into the morning. The freedom of a horse was one of the most beautiful sights she’d ever seen. The way their tails flew out behind them like lightning in their wakes took her breath away.
Today was the first day she’d allow Flame to run, and as nervous as she was, she was excited for him as he nodded his big head, nosing her shirt the second she appeared beside his stall. She stroked his jaw, and around his neck, found a note hanging from a red ribbon.
“No way,” she said aloud.
She untied the bow and removed the note. She’d never seen Rex’s handwriting before, and now, as she took in the words, each in full caps, with quick strokes that feathered at the end, she ran her fingers over them. Knowing Rex had taken his time not only to write it, but to show up at the barn and approach the largest of their horses, at the risk of being caught by her father, made her quiver all over.
SWEET JADE, PLEASE ACCOMPANY ME TONIGHT ON OUR FIRST DATE. I’LL BE WAITING RIGHT OFF OF EXIT 2, 8 P.M. IF YOU’RE NOT THERE, I’LL KNOW YOU WERE BUSY. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOUR LOVELY FACE AGAIN. R
Jade let out a whoop! and shook her arms and hips in a little happy dance.
“Life is beginning to look up, Flame.”
“What was that little dance I saw you doing?” her father asked.
Jade froze, nervously tucking the note into the back pocket of her shorts.
“Oh, you startled me. I’m…excited because Flame’s leg is all healed. I’m taking him out to the lower pasture now.” I can’t breathe. I’m going on a date. A date! With Rex!
Her father walked over and pulled the remaining ribbon from Flame’s neck. He stared at it and lifted his eyebrows at Jade.
She snagged the ribbon from his hand. “I was practicing putting ribbons in his mane. I must have missed that piece.” She pretended to work her fingers through the rest of his mane. “I think that’s the last of it. Thanks!”
She guided Flame from his stall, hurrying out of the barn to avoid any further questions.
“Darlin’?”
She froze. “Yes?” She turned to face him, and her father crossed his arms over his belly.
“I’m glad to see you’re in better spirits today. I was worried about you.”
Guilt sliced a jagged edge in Jade’s heart. “Me too, Dad.” But I hate that I can’t tell you that it’s Rex who has raised my spirits.
“You’re not too torn up about subdividing the ranch? I thought that of you and Steven, you might be more upset.”
She blew out a breath to calm her nerves and answered honestly. “I would do just about anything to save this ranch. Everything I know, I learned right here, with you and Mom. Mom taught me to make dandelion wreaths in the upper fields and to grow every vegetable under the sun in her little garden. You taught me how to nurture animals, how to ride, and, Dad, you taught me how to think beyond the differences between animal and humans right here in this barn. But if you want to subdivide—I mean, if it’s really what you want—then you have a right to do that. But if it’s driven by something else, I’ll do anything I can to help you keep the property.”
Her father smiled a warm, comforting smile. The tension that she’d seen in his cheeks was gone, replaced with a softness and warmth. “You’re a good girl, Jade.”
No, I’m not. I’m a liar and a naughty, naughty lover. “Thanks, Dad.” The fact that he made no distinction in why he was giving up part of the ranch did not go unnoticed by Jade.
“Oh, Dad, I’ll be home really late tonight. I’m going with Riley to Preston to visit some girlfrie
nds.” The bold-faced lie made her feel as though she’d just placed her head on a chopping block.
“Okay, darlin’. Just be safe.”
And the chopper just dropped a little lower.
As soon as she was in the field, she called Riley.
“Deets, sister. And I want all of them. Did you see him at the meeting?”
Jade smiled at Riley’s enthusiasm. “What are you, the dating police?”
“Yes, and if you don’t tell me something good happened, I’ll have to put you in the slammer. Besides, it’ll alleviate the guilt I have about leaving you at Fingers.”
“Ugh, right. You do owe me. I saw him. I more than saw him,” Jade teased.
“Yeah? And is Sexy Rexy all that?”
“All that and more. I’ve never felt like this before. He…I don’t know what it is. We were bashing heads so much, but I wonder now if all that head bashing was because we’re not supposed to be together.”
“Who says?” Riley’s voice was filled with protective harshness.
“No, I mean because of the family issues, not that we’re not destined to be together. Anyway, we went to Rights Creek and…” Jade paused. The intimate details of her night with Rex seemed too personal to share, even with Riley, with whom she’d shared her darkest secrets. “And it was just a really nice night.”
“I’m happy for you, even though I can tell you’re hiding something. I can only assume it’s some dirty secret that is too spicy to say over the phone. So, what now?”
“Now you’re covering for me, so don’t be seen by my family tonight.”
“Ooh, we’re going covert? Dodging Daddy? You sneaky girl, you.”
Jade laughed. She loved the way Riley pushed and teased at all the right times. “Yes, but he thinks I’m with you seeing girlfriends in Preston and out late.”
“When in reality?”
“I’m going on a date with Rex.” A date. She loved the sound of it, and began to anticipate what it implied: holding doors, holding hands, remaining clothed, being in public together. “We’re going outside of Weston, so please back me up.”
“Like a pickup truck,” Riley teased. “I feel like I’m seventeen all over again. You’re really good for my ego.”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Well, I have a feeling I’m falling a little, so if this doesn’t work out, I might show up on your doorstep, brokenhearted and needy at three a.m.”
“I’ll have the vodka ready just in case. Oh, don’t forget. I’ve got that hot little white backless number. Come by and get it. I can’t wait to see you in it. Good luck, girlfriend, and remember, I have raked Weston clean, and there is no dirt on that man. None. Zip. You might have found the only man alive who can look like Superman and not remove his cape at every chance he gets.”
Don’t I know it.
REX HAD GROOMED the horses and put them out to pasture, then he’d taken care of the bills and placed orders for the next month, and finally, he was able to spend time with Hope. He didn’t know why, but taking care of Hope eased the longing he had for Jade. He was grooming her when his father came down to the barn. Hope would never again have the sheen of younger horses, but to Rex, she was still a beautiful horse.
“Where’s Treat today?” his father asked.
“He went into town to pick up some things for his office.”
His father nodded, patted Hope.
“You know Hope’s got plenty of years left on her, Dad.” Every time his father looked at Hope lately, a sadness appeared in his eyes, and Rex felt as though his father was feeling in some ways that he was losing their mother all over again. She’d loved Hope so much that each of them was touched by that feeling of losing her all over again to some extent.
“I know it. I’m just thinking of other things,” his father said.
“Earl Johnson?”
His father gave him a hard stare. Rex had wondered why he didn’t just pay for whatever had caused the issues so many years ago. They had enough money to buy the land outright six times over, much less pay for subdividing and legal fees, and they didn’t need the income from the property. He’d spent the entire night thinking about that piece of property and Jade’s family. His father was a generous man. He gave willingly to several charities. He’d be the first to offer to help in most any situation, and yet, where Earl was concerned, it was like that side of him didn’t exist.
Rex kept his eyes on Hope and his hands busy with the brush while he spoke. “Why didn’t we ever just buy out the Johnsons, Dad? I’ve never really understood why you let things get so bad.” The minute the words left his lips, he regretted his word choice. Why you…like it was all his father’s fault.
“I’m a man of principle, son. And on principle, you stick to your word. I stuck to mine. He didn’t stick to his. That’s pretty darn easy to understand.”
“But you said yourself that he was your friend. So what if he couldn’t hold up his end of the bargain.” His voice rose despite his efforts to restrain his emotions. He was fighting for Jade, but his father wouldn’t see that—and he might not even care, given that she was a Johnson. “We have more money than Midas. Was it really worth throwing away a friendship based on principle?”
His father stood tall next to him, dropping his shoulders, expanding his chest to its full breadth, and looking down at Rex with angry, dark eyes.
“Son, there are some things that cannot be brushed aside.” With that, his father stalked off.
Rex knew it wasn’t going to be an easy situation to rectify, but now it appeared that impossible might not be a strong enough word to describe what he and Jade were facing.
Hal stopped short and turned to face Rex again. His face was pinched tight. Illuminated by the afternoon sun, he looked larger than life, and with the power he’d always held over them, which Rex was only just now realizing, he thought he might just be. He mumbled something under his breath that Rex could not make out, then finally spat, “Your mother’s worried about you.”
“Dad.” This was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. Delusion or not, every time Hal mentioned his mother to him, he relived the sadness of her loss all over again.
“Hear me out. I’m not on the same page as her this time, so I’m not gonna tell you what she wants you to hear, and heaven knows she’ll probably strike me down for not doing as she’s asked, but a man’s gotta stand by his decisions.” He lifted his strong arm and pointed at Rex, lowering his head and deepening his stare. “You be careful where you tread, son.”
Chapter Twenty-One
THE BRISK NIGHT couldn’t have arrived soon enough for Rex. Between his father’s comment and thoughts of Jade, he’d felt hamstrung all afternoon. He stood beside his truck, just off of the exit ramp, feeling a little scandalous. He’d gone over the options in his mind time and time again, and this was the only way for him and Jade to have a fighting chance. What he felt for Jade was so much bigger than like. She consumed his thoughts every second of the day. He wondered what she was doing, how she was, when he’d see her again. Minutes dragged by like hours and hours like days.
Treat and Max’s relationship mirrored the pieces and flashes of the love he remembered seeing between his parents, and he never thought he was capable of feeling whatever those emotions were that made Treat want to rearrange his life just to be with Max, or that made his father keep his mother’s voice alive for twenty-six years. And then came Jade.
Seven minutes felt like seven hours, and as it neared eight o’clock, he worried she might have changed her mind. Then, just as that worry was taking hold in the pit of his stomach, headlights from the exit shone across the side of his truck, and Jade pulled in beside him. His cheeks stretched with a smile, and his heart bloomed in his chest. He opened her door, reminding himself that this was a proper date and not to attack her the moment he saw her.
Jade smiled, and her eyes danced with enthusiasm. “Hi,” she said in a breathy voice.
He took her hand as she stepped from the car
. Her scent and the feel of her hand in his was enough to send pulses of desire through his veins. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips.
Her tender lips, the gentle flick of her tongue, were like a dare. He wasn’t an ice king, after all. He deepened the kiss, and she responded with a sweet moan, pressing her body against his. It was like torture to pull apart, but he forced himself to do just that.
“Good to see you, too,” she said, slipping her finger in his belt loop and kissing him lightly on the lips again.
“Girl, you’re playing a dangerous game.” He heard the edge in his voice, like all his nerves were wrapped around the neediness in him.
She arched a brow. “Where to, my secret lover?”
Could she be any sexier? He put his hand on the small of her back as they went to his truck, and his hand touched bare skin. He stole a furtive glance, then gritted his teeth against the swell of hunger that took him over when he saw all that bare flesh revealed by her backless dress. How would he keep from thinking about that all night?
BEING TRAPPED BESIDE Rex in the cab of his truck was nothing short of torturous. Her body was already reacting to the heat radiating from his body when they’d kissed. How was she going to make it through the evening?
“I hope you like music,” he said.
“Love it.” Love it? That’s all you’ve got?
The mountain peaks disappeared into the night sky on the outskirts of Allure. It had been a long time since Jade had been to that part of Allure. When he pulled into the parking lot of Bar None, a restaurant and bar known for being a little less touristy than others, she became a little more nervous. She’d been there several years ago with Riley, during a college break. They’d danced and sang karaoke and had a fun time, but it had been forever since she’d been on a real date and that made her stomach knot up.
