“Thank goodness you’re back safely. I’m coming to your cabin to talk to you,” Edward said.
“Listen. It’s really late and—” Ainsley heard the telltale click of a hang-up as it stung her ear “—I’m tired and don’t want to talk to you, you overgrown excuse for an obstinate number cruncher.” The last remnants of her emotional bliss crashed to the floor. She slammed the receiver down and spun to Meagan, hands fisting in the air. “Why, why, why does he do this to me? Why is he not pursuing my sister? Should I draw him a map to Cecelia’s house, maybe?”
“What’s going on?” Meagan asked.
“Please don’t go to bed,” Ainsley pleaded, grabbing her arm. “I can get him to leave faster if you’re here.”
“Okay,” her roommate agreed, “though I may fall asleep on the sofa. You should pretend you’re really drunk.”
“Oh, that’s good. He’ll completely disapprove and hopefully leave.”
After a few minutes, a knock sounded at the door and Ainsley steeled herself before she answered it. “Edward. Come in. Please. I have nothing else to do tonight except go to sleep.”
“Ladies,” he said. He still wore a suit, but this one was neatly pressed. He handed a bouquet of red roses to her. She took them and stomped to the kitchen, fighting the urge to whap him on the head with them. Repeatedly. How many years had he known her and he never got it through his mind that she disliked getting flowers. It made her think of men who were apologizing for some wrongdoing in the most smarmy of possible ways.
Meagan folded herself into the corner of the brown sofa. Even Edward’s pointed stare did nothing to make her leave the room. She blinked back at him, twirling her hair, her features serene and guileless. When she stayed put, Edward focused his attention back on Ainsley.
“What the hell are you still doing here? Don't you have to drive fifty miles to a hotel or something?” she asked.
“I wanted to say good night to you. Your cell was off, so I’ve been calling your cabin every fifteen minutes. Were you in the white pickup that drove through the gate about ten minutes ago? Where have you been?” he demanded.
“Shy Ann’s,” Ainsley said, coming into the common room. She sat next to her roommate and tucked her feet beneath her.
“There’s no way you’d be back here this soon if you went there,” he accused. “Where were you, really? With that cowboy of yours?”
Even in the midst of his most ardent pursuit of her, he had never been this possessive. “It’s a bar. We danced. We drank. We rode a mechanical bull. And it was fun.” She said the words precisely and with great care.
“What on earth made you do such a thing?” Edward folded his arms and fixed her with a glare. As if he was her father or something.
“You!” She slammed her fist down on the arm of the sofa. “You show up here, unannounced and uninvited, issuing demands and expecting me to come running! I came here to get away from you! Why are you here chasing me and not with Cecelia?”
The vein in his forehead bulged and though his imploring expression didn’t change, his eyes darted away from hers for a brief moment and his posture stiffened. He knelt in front of her and took one hand in his, his smooth palms a complete contrast to Riley’s strong, work-roughened grip. “I’m not going to let your sister come between us. We’re meant to be together, Ainsley. What we have is perfect, even if you don’t see it. We can get married and our lives will follow the path we’re supposed to be on.”
“I want my own path, Edward. And you do, too. Don’t try to deny it. You’re saying the words but look at you! You don’t feel them in your heart. You can’t live your life trying to make other people happy. Make yourself happy. Make Cecelia happy.”
“You’re doing the same thing, Ainsley.”
The man was right. Riley made her feel interesting and worthy and sexy. Maybe even a little…loved. Ever since she’d come here, she’d been able to not worry about what to say or how to act. She could be herself. Riley had brought that out in her. She stood up, forcing Edward to rise as well. “Not anymore.”
He straightened the legs of his trousers, avoiding her glare. “You’ve had too much to drink tonight. Sleep in tomorrow. We can go to the airport when you’re ready.”
“Do you see?” Ainsley asked Meagan. The yearning to throttle the man became so overwhelming she shoved her hands in her pockets. “What else can I do, here?”
“I’m not sure it will stop until you invite him to your wedding,” her roommate said, tapping a fingertip against her lips. “I’m really fascinated by this, though. I’ve never met a man so self-centered.”
“I’m right here, ladies.” Annoyance tinged his voice.
“Don’t like people talking over you?” Ainsley snapped. “Go home, Edward! Go back to Cecelia. I’ll return to South Carolina when I’m ready.”
* * *
Edward took in Ainsley’s rigid features and chose to believe the tension around her mouth was due to lack of sleep instead of the unwelcome stress he had heaped upon her. “You’re obviously tired. We can talk over breakfast.” He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head. His lips smacked air next to her cheek. “Good night, darling.” The words felt false, as much as he tried to believe in them.
She said nothing but followed him to the door and held it open. The lock clicked in place as soon as the door closed, leaving him alone in the cool night air. He breathed a sigh of relief, the duty to his future done, leaving his heart in shambles.
He stumbled through the dark to the stables where he had parked his car, convincing himself that he was pleased with the overall conversation. He knew Ainsley didn’t love him, but with some persuading, she would realize the love she craved caused nothing but heartache. Although tonight would have been better if she hadn’t been angry at seeing him. Or had welcomed him with warm words. Or even said good night. What had happened was normal for his dealings with Ainsley, though her newfound determination was a surprise. He had never seen her relaxed. Maybe she never smiled.
Cecelia had smiled at him. Had laughed with him, had touched him. He tightened his resolve and banished the thoughts of her from his mind. Refocused his energy on winning Ainsley back from the cowboy. On reestablishing the life he grew up with and was destined for, even if it wasn’t the one he wanted. Even if he knew it wasn’t what Ainsley wanted. He had rushed to the ranch to convince both of them that being together was better.
Soft footfalls sounded on the path and he stopped when he heard the feminine voice. “Hey, you’re that guy from dinner.”
It took his eyes a bit to adjust to the sight of the speaker in the darkness. A brunette stood in front of him, her dark eyes sparkling with a pleasure he didn’t understand.
“Edward.”
She studied him with a curious smile that held a gleam that he couldn’t identify. “What are you doing out so late, Edward?”
“Just heading back to my car. I wanted to say good night to my fiancée before I went to my hotel.” He smiled to hide the lack of emotion in his forced words.
Her eyes widened and the curious smile morphed into one of satisfaction. “Fiancée? Really.”
He nodded. “I’ve missed her so much this past week.” Whether he was trying to convince himself or this woman, he didn’t know.
“We are talking about Ainsley, right?”
“Of course. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and we’re going to have a great life together. In fact, I’m taking her home tomorrow so we can start planning the wedding.” It would be a calm, sterile marriage. No emotional involvement. No entanglement of feelings. No heartbreak when he realized she was holding back from her true self.
“That’s lovely, Edward. All us girls should be so lucky to have someone like you.”
If only Ainsley thought so, too. He nodded to the woman, who scurried away with a giggle. Once in the rental car, he took out his phone. It had been vibrating against him for a while. Cecelia had called, left him a message. Texted him. Call
ed him again and sent an email. His finger hovered over the delete button, wishing he could erase the empty pang in his chest with as much ease as he could erase all of her messages.
He sighed and played her messages on speaker, the phone on the seat next to him as he drove off the ranch.
* * *
The sun blazed overheard as Riley and Jewel strolled down the midway of the Grand Fair. She linked her arm through his and he glanced down at the beautiful woman. How uncomplicated his life would be if his family had never thought of this stupid reinvention of the ranch. But then he wouldn’t have met Ainsley. With the way her smile shifted his world, though, that might not be a good thing.
The dirt path of games, refreshments, and rides reflected the same scene and sounds he’d experienced every year when the fair came to the neighboring town. “Do you mind if we go to the roller coaster?” Riley asked. “I usually ride it first.”
“Whatever you want to do is fine, Riley. This is your home. I want to experience it the way you do.” Jewel stroked his arm, gazing up at him through dark lashes. “I’ve missed you since that night in the greenhouse. But I understand. You can’t show favorites, no matter how much someone brags about having caught you already.”
What did that mean? There was no way Ainsley was spilling their relationship to the other women. Was she? He cleared his throat so he wouldn’t have to answer, then pointed out the top of the coaster over the rides and colorful booths. Friends and neighbors stopped them along the way, all giving Jewel openly curious stares. How much did they know about what was going on at the Crescent Ridge? After brief conversations, they continued on their way so his friends could talk about him when he was out of earshot.
Aside from the arm holding, Jewel didn’t touch him, though she did give him lots of wistful glances that made his skin prickle. She squealed when the roller coaster went down its large hill, feigning fear to snuggle close and erase all air between them. Her flying hair stung his cheeks like small pin pricks and he tried to tame the mass. She mistook the gesture for a caress and leaned into his palm, and he gathered her hair over her shoulder, away from him, before putting his hand in front again. She answered him with another longing look, a contrast to Ainsley’s wide-open features.
After the roller coaster they played some carnival games. Jewel chose the duck gallery and picked up the plastic rifle, bracing it on her hip to shoot. She missed.
“It would probably work better if you put it to your shoulder,” Riley said.
“Oh, okay.” She raised it to shoulder level, but in front of her and shot it like a pistol. She missed again. “I think it was easier the other way.”
The need to show her the right way overtook any desire to keep his distance. Most people he knew had been taught to handle guns at birth. “Let me help you.” He stood behind her and gently tapped her ankles with his foot until she stood with her legs slightly apart and her feet at an angle. He reached over her to place her left hand on the forearm under the barrel. She snuggled into him and he stopped himself from taking a step back.
Gritting his teeth for fortification, he placed her other hand on the trigger guard, then tapped her elbow until she raised it. He didn’t understand women who thought playing helpless was the way to attract him. Not all women. Ainsley didn’t. She did everything with gusto.
“Riley.” Jewel’s voice interrupted him with a note of irritation. She must’ve called him more than once. “Is this right?”
“Almost. Raise the rifle so the butt is lightly pressed to the front of your shoulder. Then you’re good to go.”
She did what he asked and jumped with excitement when she hit the moving target. She put the weapon down and threw her arms around him. “What a wonderful instructor you are!”
“Don’t forget your prize,” he answered, nodding to the man working the counter. He handed Jewel a small yellow duck and she glowed over her accomplishment.
“Isn’t he the cutest thing ever?” she asked, waving the stupid animal close enough to Riley’s nose that the cheap material scratched him. “Thank you so much for helping me win it.”
All he’d done was show her how to hold a gun. She made it sound like he had gone wild animal hunting.
After a few more games—and stuffed animals for Jewel—they made their way to the concession stands and got some lunch. Riley took a big bite of his burger while the woman picked at her plate of rabbit food.
The straw from her untouched lemonade rolled between her fingers, and every few seconds she peered at him through lowered lashes. “I feel I need to tell you something, but I don’t want to sound whiny or bitchy or anything,” she finally said, pushing her salad away.
“Okay.”
Jewel sighed. “I went out last night for a walk in the moonlight. I couldn’t resist the pull of this beautiful land around the ranch.” She paused and Riley’s heart accelerated. Please don’t let her have seen him leave Ainsley’s cabin. “I saw a man leave Ainsley and Meagan’s cabin.”
His neck got hot and he took a huge bite of his sandwich. “Oh?” he mumbled around his food.
“It was really late—maybe around quarter to one.” Jewel paused, as if unsure what to say next. Riley stopped fighting the heat and started the fight to control his temper. It wasn’t him that Jewel had seen. Which meant… “Riley, it was Edward. And he called Ainsley his fiancée,” she finished in a rush, then covered her face with her hands. “I don’t mean to sound so self-serving. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“It’s fine. Why should it matter to me?” He tried to affect a voice of indifference and Jewel’s small smile told him he mostly succeeded. But his body had stiffened and his mind flashed to the night when his mother left. His dad and siblings had been riding around the ranch, racing their mounts and playing. Jeanne’s pony could barely keep up and Dad had stayed with her until they ended their games and went back to the house. Their mother waited for them outside with a nameless, faceless man. Her luggage was already in the black car and she kissed everyone good-bye. Except his father. He’d held Jeanne, his tightened lips and stony eyes stopping Riley from asking what was going on. He thought they’d been a happy family.
He and Ainsley had already determined there was no commitment, but he wasn’t about to be her good time before settling down with a dry-cleaned accountant. No matter how much he might want to be with her, he wasn’t going to put himself in any kind of situation that gave someone else an emotional hold over him.
Jewel was only too happy to chat about herself, but she also asked him questions and listened intently to his answers. She was doing it in order to make a good impression on him, but she also didn’t have anyone from Michigan following her to Little Falls. Having her complete attention was a nice change. It was a pleasant, relaxing day, but he didn’t feel any attraction to the woman on his arm. Nothing about her made fire course through his blood or his hands itch to caress her. It was a relief when they left the fair and headed back to the ranch.
* * *
Riley gave the table a casual look before he sat and spotted the warm and inviting green eyes. So she was there to torment him some more. How long had Edward stayed last night? And why was he there? Her protestations of him being with her sister weren’t holding up much right now. Bet she didn’t have the guts to show up at the gazebo for their date later. Her hand brushed her shirt above her freckles and her beautiful smile pierced his skin. He turned away, not trusting himself to speak to her.
Dinner couldn’t end fast enough. He tried to focus on the stuffed cabbage Robin and Meagan made instead of the woman at the other end of the table. The chefs had done something different to the beef when they cooked it, and while it wasn’t bad, it didn’t taste right. Good. He could try to figure that out instead of imagining Ainsley naked. Or with Edward. Meagan took a large bite of the meat and he drew back in surprise. It was the first time he’d seen her eat anything other than the vegetables on her plate. He examined the food more closely. No wonde
r it looked strange. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it sure wasn’t beef.
He bolted to his office as soon as he could while the women gathered to play games. That must’ve been when Ainsley did all the bragging Jewel had mentioned. He filtered through the papers on his desk. The colt’s registration documentation had lain there for two days, and the pages remained untouched. He kept glancing at the digital clock. The red numbers advanced as slow as a snake in the winter. He entered some of Montgomery’s information then put the papers away without finishing. He couldn’t concentrate anyway. Might as well go wait for her now.
He didn’t have to wait long before she appeared, wearing a bright red shirt that clung to her curves and a short skirt that showed off slim legs he’d normally seen encased in jeans. A barrette held back the loose waves of her hair. Her gaze raked him over with such an intense sexuality that he almost forgot about being angry. He steeled himself against the heat he saw in her eyes, not letting himself be seduced by a meaningless promise. Her gaze clouded over and she stopped a few feet away from him.
“I wasn’t sure you’d be here.” Her voice came out cool and poised.
“Let’s drive somewhere. I don’t want anyone to come out here and see us.”
“Fine.”
He led them to his truck, the apprehension on her features an easy read. After they were seated and belted in, he drove the short distance into the town and started cruising the streets.
She stared out the window, taking in the small stores of downtown Little Falls and the flowers that decorated the sidewalks. “This really is a lovely town.”
Riley grunted in response.
“How was your date with Jewel?” She said it lightly, but with an edge in her voice.
“Informative,” he said, and remained quiet.
Her entire body bristled in the silence. “Out with it, Cowboy. What’s going on with you tonight?”
Riley glanced over at her before pulling in to the high school parking lot. He turned off the ignition and put his hand back on the wheel, still not making eye contact. “I don’t like being used as a way to pass the time before you get married.”
Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? Page 18
