Perhaps the timing was finally right for him to move forward. Cassie had told him enough about Ann’s personality that he felt he already knew her, in a way. Yep, for the first time in a long time, Trey was interested in letting a woman into his heart. Into his life. And hope—after the dry spell he’d had over the years—was a very welcome thing.
Chapter 9
“Let me smell your breath.” A strong whiff of alcohol smacked Ann in the face at Zoe’s demand.
Ann backed up and rubbed her nose, squinting from the bright bathroom lights blaring overhead. “No. You’ll just smell your own and think it’s me.”
“Tsk.” Zoe leaned to the side and shook her head. “I’ll know the difference.”
“I don’t care if you don’t believe me. I’m of age. I can have as many drinks as I want to.”
“I knew it.” Zoe thrust an accusing finger her way.”
“But,” Ann said, “I’m telling you, I haven’t had an ounce of liquor tonight.” Instantly, she regretted being so firm in the statement; she didn’t want Zoe to be suspicious of her the whole night. If her friend could just chalk up her behavior to a few too many drinks, she’d lay off. But what about the rest of the trip? A flicker of fear crept over her skin at the thought.
“I don’t know why you’re so surprised,” Ann blurted, “I’ve been dying to get my hands on a cowboy since I was a girl; you know that. Maybe I’m just finally really interested in a guy.”
Zoe tipped her head back, scrutinizing her with those bright green eyes. She nodded slowly, as if Ann were passing the test.
“So now that I found him, I’m going to go after him,” Ann said. “I’m going to be bold and different, and I’m not going to be scared or back down.”
The look of satisfaction came when Zoe pushed out her bottom lip and did more nodding. “Huh. Well, welcome to the life of the living, Ann Simpson!” she hollered, throwing her arms around her.
Immersed in the overzealous grip, Ann patted her friend’s back and squeaked out a reply. “Thanks.”
Zoe flung the bathroom door open. “Now, let’s go get us those cowboys,” she cheered, throwing an exuberant arm in the air.
Ann’s face flushed red. No matter how far she came, she’d still be miles away from Zoe. Which, she realized, was fine with her.
Zoe tossed her a wave and scurried back to Randy at the bar. Ann weaved through barstools, jutting pool sticks, and clusters of men with surveying glances. All the while thinking back on that kiss.
It might have been short, and she and Trey may have just met, but he’d made magic out of that moment. The gentle caress of those fingers on her neck. His large hand cradling her face. Like a heroine in one of her novels, Ann had swooned beneath the feel of his heavenly lips on hers. In fact, she’d nearly moved in for another kiss once he pulled away.
And there he was. Leaning back in his chair, his glass nearly empty, his eyes set on her. Ann dared herself to hold that gaze for a blink, but all too soon she dropped her attention to the floor and kept it there until she got to her chair. A chair he’d scooted a whole lot closer to his than it used to be. It felt like there were flames in her cheeks.
“So,” Trey said, leaning over to speak close in her ear. “We can play a game of pool. Hit the dance floor. Order more drinks…” He glanced over his shoulder before turning back to her. “Or we can head outside and take a stroll under the stars, if you’d like.”
“I’d love that.” She grabbed her drink, sucked down a few more sips, then set it back on the table.
“Shall we?” Just as the words left Trey’s lips, a large group of guys approached him from behind.
He spun around in time to receive a series of shoulder pats. One of the guys tugged the rim of his hat. “Not trying to hide this girl away all for yourself, are you?” one asked.
“Yeah, Trey. It’s only fair that you introduce her to us,” another said.
Trey brought his mouth to Ann’s ear. “These guys are like vultures around ladies that are new in town; you’ll have to excuse them.” He cleared his throat and motioned to the guy standing to his left.
“Ann, this is Max, Charley, Allen, and Greg. They work on the ranch with us.” He faced the group. “Men, this is beautiful Ann from Seattle. And she’s mine for the night.”
The man named Greg chuckled while stepping in to shake Ann’s hand. “We’ll see about that.”
“Yeah,” another said, moving in to shake her hand next. “She might have come with you, but perhaps she’ll be going home with one of us.”
The guys let out a round of hoots.
“Quiet there, Max,” Trey scolded. “Woman’s got too good of taste to settle for any of you schmucks.”
Ann couldn’t hide the smile that formed on her lips. Never had she been the center of attention in such a good-looking group of guys. Cowboys, no less. Of course, Trey had said they were like this each time a new lady came in town, so Ann couldn’t let her head inflate over it. Still, she was secretly glad Zoe was nowhere in sight.
The thought had barely come to mind when a woman broke through the crowd. She hoisted her arms around the shoulders of the men at her side, each acknowledging her with an appreciative smile. Two blonde braids hung at either side of her Barbie-like face while a cowgirl hat rested perfectly on her head. The girl flashed an I-own-this-place grin and set her eyes directly on Trey. “You owe me a dance,” she hollered.
The statement was enough to sink tiny darts into Ann’s chest. She glanced back and forth between the two while the group mumbled to one another.
“Yeah,” the tall, thin cowboy finally said. Ann couldn’t’ remember his name. “Go dance with Jenessa, Trey, I’ll take care of your lady friend.” He shot her a wink.
Jenessa? Great, that was the girl Randy mentioned.
“She don’t need you for that,” another hollered, stepping into the circle formed by the group. He lifted the cowboy hat off his head and brought it to his chest while dropping to one knee. He looked up at Ann and took her hand. “I’m Max,” he said. “Lady lover, bull rider, and coyote killer. May I have this dance?”
Max was handsome, Ann would give him that. And confident too. But he wasn’t the one Ann wanted to dance with. She turned to look at Trey, surprised to see an irritated scowl set on his face. One aimed right at Max.
Suddenly Jenessa was in the mix, stepping up to Trey from the other side. “I won’t keep him long,” she assured.
“Well?” Max asked, giving her hand a squeeze.
She set her eyes back on him, ignoring the uncomfortable ache in her chest. “Of course,” she said. Thank heavens the song the band was playing was a slow one. She wouldn’t know what to do with herself otherwise. She wasn’t one to hit the dance floor at clubs, but a slow dance she could do.
As they stepped onto the large, wood-slatted dance floor, Ann let her gaze shift to where Jenessa had dragged Trey. The girl’s mouth seemed to move a hundred miles an hour. Ann couldn’t tell what Trey thought of her or the conversation for that matter. His face was frozen in the same polite smile.
Max lifted the hand he held in a poised position as he faced her, wrapping his other warm around her back. “Don’t let this dance ruin you for dancing with other guys. Truth is, I’m better than the rest of them, so if you don’t wind up with me, you’ll be settling for second best.”
Ann chuckled. “Good to know.” She felt awkward letting him lead as he was, but couldn’t fathom keeping up any other way. It took a few beats to realize the pattern he guided them in, and soon she didn’t need much direction at all.
“So you said you’re a bull rider. Does Trey do that too?” Ann hadn’t thought to ask Trey herself, but curiosity struck when Max mentioned it.
“He sure does. And he’s dang good at it, too. Almost as good as me,” he added with a laugh.
Ann liked the image that came to mind—Trey competing in a bull-riding rodeo while she cheered in the crowd.
Once her feet were familiar with the
steps, her eyes drifted back to Jenessa and Trey. “So how exactly does Trey owe her a dance?” she asked. Ann knew her question reeked of jealousy, but she couldn’t let that stop her.
“Oh, Jenessa’s kind of a man chaser. When Trey’s not around, I’m the object of her affection. When he’s within reach, I drop off her radar.” He’d said it as if it didn’t faze him a bit, but Ann sensed the hurt in those words. Words that had given new life to the seeds of doubt Ann had tried to bury.
“Hmm,” she managed, but then couldn’t stop herself from asking what was on her mind. “Do you like her?”
Max faltered in the next step. “Of course. We all do.”
Ann met his gaze, ready to challenge him on his answer when she caught the coy smile he wore. He gave her a wink before spinning her in place. And then the song was over. Max released her before putting his hands together for the band. He leaned into her as the next song was introduced.
“Thank you, Ann.”
“Thank you,” she returned. She was glad to see that Trey was already headed their way, a grinning Jenessa by his side.
“What should we do next?” Jenessa turned her attention to Ann. “You up for a game of pool?”
“I don’t think she’s—” Trey started to say, but Jenessa spoke over him.
“Why don’t you let her speak for herself?” Her eyes had narrowed into a glare aimed at him, but they softened as she turned back to Ann. “What do you say? We could go guys against girls.”
The word sure shot to the tip of Ann’s tongue so fast she nearly said it. But that was the old Ann. The passive Ann who’d say yes because it was too uncomfortable to say no. In reality, sticking around for some type of double date action with the man chaser (as Max had called her) was the last thing she wanted to do.
Ann could feel the heat of Trey’s gaze on her as she lifted her chin to look directly into Jenessa’s bright blue eyes. She let out the pent up breath she held. “No thanks,” she said. “I mean, Trey and I were just headed out when you guys came.” She glanced over at Trey before looking back at her. “Sorry.”
Ann realized she’d made it sound as if they were planning to leave, versus grab some fresh air as they’d intended, but she didn’t want the woman inviting herself again.
“Maybe we should go, too,” Jenessa said, moving to take hold of Max’s forearm. “Want to head out with these guys?”
Ann noticed a look exchanged between Max and Trey before Max spoke up.
“I think we need to let these two have a little alone time. The girl’s only here for a couple of days. May as well let them get to know each other, right?”
The sigh of gratitude that escaped Ann was audible. Thank heavens the band had started up again and covered the sound of it.
Trey placed his hand on that spot at Ann’s lower back again. “Sounds good to me. Thanks for the dance, Jenessa.” Trey tipped his hat to Max next. “Goodnight.”
Chapter 10
Resounding twangs from the country band faded as Trey let the heavy door close behind him. Gone also were the loud conversations, clanking glasses, and the voice in his head that told him to run the moment Jenessa arrived. That girl gave life to the word relentless like no one he’d ever known.
He welcomed the sounds of their new surroundings as he and Ann made their way to the trail behind the bar. Bikes and runners could be found trekking the paved path during daylight, but here in the late hour, their only company seemed to be crickets hiding somewhere in the tall, dry grass alongside. That, and the sparsely scattered streetlights humming in the distance.
“You know,” Trey said, offering his arm to Ann. “I thought you were about to say yes to that pool game.”
Ann had barely wrapped her hand around his bicep when she froze in place. She turned to him, her face unreadable in the low light. “I’m sorry,” she said. “If you want to go back, we can. It’s just been a really long day with the flight and everything and…”
Trey held a hand up. “No, no. I was glad. I’m not sure I could’ve stuck around even if you had said yes.” He grinned. “Of course, I would have done it if that was what you wanted.”
“Oh, good.” Ann tightened her grasp around his arm and began walking again. A few steps later she gave him a playful nudge. “I’m glad,” she said.
“I was thinking about the articles you mentioned. I’d like to hear more about them.” They were approaching a streetlamp, and Trey took advantage by leaning his head a bit to see the expression she wore. His pulse sped at the reminder of her beauty. Porcelain skin. The tiniest splash of freckles along her upper cheeks.
She seemed to do the same with him, just briefly, before setting her gaze straight ahead once more. A touch of pink spread across her cheeks. “I’ve only published a handful. The cause has to practically jump out at me, really. There was one… I think it was the second one I did… yeah. It was a situation with my niece’s school. My brother and his wife had spoken with the teacher, the principal, even somebody from the district, but no one would do anything.
“What happened?” Trey asked, intrigued.
“Maggie is allergic to latex. They knew of at least two other students who had the same allergy, yet the school refused to address it. The counselor suggested that the parents home school their children as an alternative.” She shook her head. “Unless you research it, you wouldn’t realize just how much those students are being exposed to it. The lunch staff, janitor, and nurse wore latex gloves. Plus, it can be found in some science supplies, gymnasium equipment, and balloons that were brought in for birthdays and stuff. My brother was about to seek legal counsel when I offered to write an article about it. I sited other schools in nearby districts who’d declared their schools latex-free zones. And shortly after it published, the school made the change. They updated the necessary equipment and switched out the gloves. They even notified the parents and posted signs—the whole works.”
“Wow,” Trey said. “The power of the pen.”
“Yeah,” she said softly.
Trey pondered her humble reply as they neared the small pond off the trail. A spread of lush, green grass lined the edge of the water.
“This is beautiful,” Ann breathed. “I can’t believe this is just here in the middle of nowhere. You’ve got like a … plaza back there, a jogging trail right here, and then suddenly this hidden little spot of heaven.” She was shaking her head. “I love it.”
“You should see it in the daylight.” Though Trey had to admit—in the darkness of night, the moonlight glistening off the serene-looking surface—the pond looked more imagined than real. Of course, he hadn’t noticed until Ann spoke up about it. He liked that about her. The way she took time to appreciate small things like the taste of a lime and the view at night.
“Want to know something funny about the moon?” Ann asked, her eyes set on the sky.
“Sure,” he said through a grin.
“The Romans used to think the moon caused temporary insanity. In fact, that’s where the word lunatic comes from. In Latin in means Lunaticus, which is someone who belongs to luna, which is the moon.”
His smile widened.
“Sorry,” she said. “I’m a word geek.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I like that. It’s interesting.”
She glanced away from him, releasing a breath through pursed lips.
“Would you like to sit down?” he asked, glancing down at the shirt he wore. A snap-up number. “Here.” He tore the snaps open with a few simple tugs, shrugged out of his rolled sleeves, and spread it over the grass.
Ann looked at it before running a slow gaze over him.
Trey looked down at the thin T-shirt he wore. “What? I’m still decent, aren’t I?”
She gulped, her eyes lingering over his chest in a way that made his face warm. “Yes,” she said. “Very. You … it’s great. Thanks.” If he hadn’t known better, Trey might think he’d flustered her just then. But how? By stripping down to a T-shirt in front of her?
He doubted that could have much of an effect.
Ann wedged her feet free from the strappy heels she wore, then lowered herself onto the edge of the shirt, seeming to spare the other half for him. She brought her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and exhaled a soft sigh.
Trey removed his hat and hung it on a branch of the sparsely leafed tree to his side. Rather than take up the remainder of his makeshift blanket, he opted to lie on the grass beside it, allowing her room to move if she chose.
“You know,” he said, propping his head with his hands, “your story reminds me of an experience me and my mother had years ago. My biological father—he was a pretty crappy dad—couldn’t keep a job. Just wasn’t responsible. Anyway, at one point, my mom had to get state assistance. She’s a pretty prideful person, so it took a lot for her to accept it. But she was pregnant with my younger sister and had me and Clarinda, who was just a toddler at the time. Anyway, there she was at the grocery store. Pregnant, Clarinda on her hip, me begging for a candy bar, from what she said.” He paused, picturing all his mother had been through over the years, a feeling of gratitude washing over him. “Guess the gal at the checkout acted real put out about having to ring up the assistance checks. And she wasn’t quiet about it either. My mom, who usually has no problem putting someone in their place, just stood there and took it. Humiliated. She said there was this woman in line behind her. Real pretty. Put together. Rich looking. My mom had pegged her as someone who was probably getting off on the way the cashier was treating her.” Trey rolled onto one shoulder, propping himself with one elbow.
Ann looked over, her eyes seeming to search his face. His pulse quickened.
“But then the strangest thing happened,” he continued. “Just as my mom was doing everything she could to hold back some public breakdown, the woman behind her spoke out. She told the cashier to stop being so rude. Told her she needed to apologize to my mom and even her kids. Said she’d get the manager if she needed to.”
How to Catch a Cowboy in 10 Days (Unlikely Cowgirl) Page 5
