The Trouble with Cowboys

by Victoria James

  “Omigoodness, you guys are going to kill each other!” Lainey’s voice over them should have been enough to make them stop, but when Tyler turned to look at her, Cade used that moment to his advantage and knocked him down. Tyler retaliated.

  Lainey’s cursing and yelling were like a distant warning that they should stop soon, but they didn’t. They had eight years of anger pouring out of their fists. No, neither of them stopped until the sight of Lainey falling into the mud with them made them both stop moving, breathing.

  She had landed on her backside, the shock on her pretty face turning to rage in half a second. “I’m going to kill you both!” she screamed.

  They quickly scrambled, helping her up and out of the mud, both yammering, asking if she was okay.

  She glared at Ty, and he cringed. Mud was in her hair, caked to her clothes, splotched on her face. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said, wincing and reaching to grasp her elbow in case she slipped again. She snatched her arm away and put her hands on her hips. He was not going to be a total ass and admire how mud had conformed enticingly to her curves.

  “You’ve been doing a lot of apologizing lately, Tyler, and I’m thinking you should just stop doing stupid things so I wouldn’t have to hear your stupid apologies.”

  Cade said something under his breath and backed up. Ty stole a glance at his old friend, at the beginnings of a nice shiner forming under his left eye. He probably looked just as bad.

  “I don’t know what the two of you are thinking, behaving like schoolboys in a playground. And in the front yard, nonetheless. What if your father had been at the window?” Lainey hissed.

  Cade hung his head, kicking the toe of his boot into the dirt.

  “Well?” she said, staring at Ty like she blamed him. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  He really wanted to smile at the picture she made, all bossy and angry, but he knew that wouldn’t be good. He put on his best remorseful face. It had been a long time since someone gave a shit about him. He cleared his throat. “I didn’t start it.”

  Cade swore under his breath.

  “Language,” Ty said with a smug smirk at his friend.

  Lainey rolled her eyes at Ty. “Nothing you haven’t muttered around me. Cade, are you all right?”

  Cade gave a stiff nod.

  “Good,” she said. “I need to speak with you a minute.”

  Tyler tried to keep his cool as he watched Cade follow Lainey to the fence a few yards from where he was standing. He couldn’t make out what they were saying, but a minute later, Lainey was charging back toward him, and Cade hung back a few paces behind her.

  “Tyler, you’re coming with me,” she said, grabbing a hold of his hand. Maybe if he’d been in fifth grade, he’d have shot Cade a gloating smile as they walked away, but they were long past those years. And there was something in Cade’s expression, in his eyes, that made him almost feel bad. Like he used to. Cade had been a brother to him once. Ty’d been the one to bring him home until he’d become part of the family. But when the going got rough, Cade hadn’t stood by him.

  Now he was here, trying to take everything from him. Including Lainey.

  “Are you plotting my murder?” he asked as Lainey marched toward his cabin.

  She spun around, a gorgeous sight all filled with mud and anger. “Really, that’s what you deserve. Honestly, I don’t know what you’re thinking. You’re supposed to be rebuilding relationships, not hitting your friends. We talked about this.”

  She was back to putting her hands on her hips, and her red-and-navy-plaid shirt was gaping as it stretched across her breasts. He had always been a sucker for punishment. He took a step closer, and she put her hand on his chest.

  “I know that expression, and you have a helluva lot of explaining to do if you think you’re going to come any closer.”

  “Cade hit me first, Lainey. I was just defending myself.”

  Surprise lit her eyes, and he wondered what the hell she thought of him. She had assumed he’d been the one to start the fight. She frowned at him and peered over his shoulder, but Cade was long gone by now. “Why would he do that? Were you fighting about your dad? The plans for the ranch?”

  He put his hands in his back pockets so he wouldn’t reach for her. “Not exactly.”

  “Well?”

  There was no way he was going to tell Lainey that Cade was in love with her. He knew it. His friend might not have admitted it, exactly, but he could tell. But it wasn’t his place to tell.

  Cade could do it if he wanted. But Ty didn’t think that would happen.

  A part of him almost felt bad. Almost, but he wasn’t really with Lainey himself, so he didn’t have to be guilty about his friend’s unrequited love. Then there was the fact that Cade was acting like a dick, so that eased his conscience as well. “Nothing you need to know about. It’s personal. Cade’s problem, not mine or yours.”

  “That sounds cold,” she said. “Is he okay? Maybe I should go talk to him.”

  “He’s fine. I’m the underdog, remember?” he snapped, tired of talking about his traitorous best friend. “But you must be cold. Let’s go inside. You can have a hot shower and get some dry clothes on. My cabin is less than a ten-minute walk.”

  So his mind was already in the gutter the moment he said hot shower.

  Her brown eyes lit with the desire he’d seen in them the other night, and then her gaze dipped to his mouth. “Let’s walk faster,” he said, grabbing her hand.

  “I was actually coming out here to tell you guys about the weekend I just booked.”

  Hell. He didn’t want to talk about that, because it would lead to an argument. He had no idea what kind of people she’d booked. He didn’t want to argue with Lainey. He wanted to sleep with her. “Tell me after we’re not caked in mud anymore,” he said, and they walked in silence until he opened the door to his cabin.

  She stepped inside but didn’t say anything. He turned on the lamp on the entryway table and tried to gauge her reaction.

  She bit her lower lip. “This isn’t one of the cabins to rent out, right?”

  “Seriously? You’re dripping in mud and you’re criticizing my decorating?”

  A hand flew to her chest, and he noticed one of the buttons had come undone. He closed his eyes and said some kind of prayer, but then thought he shouldn’t be praying about wanting to have sex.

  “I wasn’t criticizing your decorating. You’ve done a fine job—for you. A bachelor. This is…wonderful,” she said, doing a little clap, like he was a five-year-old.

  He’d just have to show her he was a grown man. He reached for her, but she held up a hand, and his shoulders sagged.

  …

  “No, let me finish. I not only rented out one cabin but two! For next weekend.” She had been thrilled with her news…and thrilled with the idea of getting to see Ty to give him the news.

  She had to admit she was also thrilled that she’d be getting some commission. At this rate, she would make a serious dent in her repayment. She had not been thrilled to fall into the pile of mud, though. Both guys had appeared sincerely contrite, so she managed to get over it. She was still slightly concerned with the fact that Tyler didn’t seem to be making any inroads with his former friends. She spoke to Cade about trying harder with Tyler. He had agreed he’d talk to Dean and that they’d consider having a conversation with Tyler, but he wasn’t making any promises.

  He raised his eyebrows. “Seriously?”

  She nodded, very satisfied with herself. “Yup. I told you it would happen. They’ll be arriving next Friday night.”

  “How many?”

  “Eight.”

  “What exactly are they expecting?”

  She shifted. This was the part that made her slightly nervous. “So they’re all women… Bridesmaids. They’re surprising the bride. It’s a little getaway before the wedding.”

  He was already groaning and shaking his head. “Nope. No way, Lainey. Nightmare. That is a nightma
re. I can’t count all the ways that could go wrong.”

  “They’re paying five grand for two nights.”

  His face turned white. “Are you kidding me?”

  She grinned. “Nope! They arrive on Friday and leave Sunday.”

  “You mean to tell me they’re going to pay five thousand dollars for three days at a cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere during our down season?”

  “Precisely. We do have to feed them, but I’ll take care of that. I’ll talk to the cook in the canteen. We’ll have to spruce up the cabins, stock the fridge with drinks and snacks. Oh and, um, you and Cade will have to take them horseback riding, cook over an open fire, and maybe sing some campfire songs.”

  He took a physical step away from her, and his neck and face turned beet red. “Pardon?”

  She winced. “I know you’re probably not a fan of, um, singing…”

  “Lainey,” he said, his voice sounding strangled.

  “Hear me out. They’re from the city; they just want a cowboy experience. Just sing up some cowboy songs, like, um, you know,” she said, waving her hand around.

  He gave a stiff shake of his head. “No.”

  “‘Kumbaya.’”

  “Not happening. Ever.”

  She crossed her arms. “Not happening as in you won’t do it, or not happening as in you don’t know any songs? I can help with the songs. Oh, I love that old James Taylor one, you know, about sweet baby James?” She tried to smile even though he was staring at her like he was either going to murder her or kill himself. She stood still as he ran his hands down his face and groaned.

  “Just think. It’ll be worth it for five thousand dollars.”

  “Cade and I aren’t even speaking to each other,” he said through clenched teeth.

  She reached out and patted him on the shoulder. “Maybe this will bring you closer together again.” She tried to rub off the mud from his shoulder on a clean part of his shirt, which happened to be his stomach, but that wasn’t a smart move.

  His jaw tensed. “Cade and I will kill each other.”

  “I’ll speak with him.”

  “You’re not his mother.”

  “Still, we are close. I’ll talk to him about getting along with you and finding a way to work together.”

  He muttered something under his breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t talk to Cade. I don’t need you solving my problems for me.”

  “Fine. I’ll come up with the itinerary and then give it to you. This is going to be so great—you’ll see. By the end of next weekend, when you’re cashing your check, you’ll be thanking me.”

  “I need a shower, and then I need a drink. We can talk about it once we’re not soaked in mud anymore. You want to go first?”

  Her cheeks burned at the thought of him in the shower. Or her in the shower. Or, inevitably, the thought of both of them in the shower. She opened her mouth but squawked. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’ll just go home.”

  “You’re going to get your car full of mud. Why don’t you just shower, and I’ll throw your clothes in the washer? It’s Saturday night. Oh, do you have plans?”

  Too many questions, too many images floating around in her head. First things first. “Plans?” She contemplated lying for a moment.

  “Yeah, plans.”

  She shook her head. “I had to refuse several offers.”

  His lips twitched. “Lucky me.”

  She narrowed her eyes, not sure whether or not he was being sarcastic. “You have a washing machine in here?”

  He nodded. “Stacked washer-dryer in that closet beside the kitchen.”

  “Oh.”

  He was already walking to the dresser in his room. She strained her neck so she could see inside. There was a large bed and rustic dresser, plus a big picture window and a patterned quilt on the bed in between two nightstands. It was better than she’d anticipated. He came out of the room a minute later and handed her a T-shirt.

  She frowned. “I…um, I’m really particular about toiletries.”

  “Lainey, are you uncomfortable with taking a shower here?”

  Her hand flew to her chest in an attempt to feign shock. “What? Of course not. I’ve taken plenty of showers at plenty of different…places.”

  He smiled slowly. It was a darn fine smile, too, even when it held hints of mocking. It was a perfect smile, actually. Straight white teeth, a contrast to his tanned skin. “Well in that case, get going. There’re clean towels on the shelf beside the shower.”

  Her time was up. The mud was already drying and very uncomfortable against her skin; she wouldn’t be able to drive home like this. She was also freezing. “Fine. That’s a very nice offer.” She held out her hand, and he placed a navy T-shirt in it.

  “Have fun,” he said as she walked away.

  She eyed him quizzically before turning to the washroom. She locked the door and looked around. It was dated, but quite clean. As promised, she found a stack of white towels on a stainless steel rack. Fifteen minutes later, she dried herself off, feeling like a new woman. She towel-dried her hair as well as possible, already knowing he wouldn’t have a hair dryer. She slipped his shirt over her head, suddenly grateful for his height because the shirt ended up being modest enough, if she tugged at it.

  “Lainey, you almost done in there?”

  “Yes!” she said, grabbing her muddy clothes from the ground and hanging up her towel. She opened the door, and when he was standing there without a shirt on, she almost walked into him. She told herself not to let her gaze wander, but her eyes seemed to not get the memo, and she took in the gorgeous sight of Ty without a shirt. He was bronzed, his shoulders broad and his arms thick with muscle. She stopped when she got to the abs because they were too much to handle.

  “I started a fire, if you’re cold,” he said, his voice thick and sending shivers down her body.

  “Thanks,” she whispered, moving aside and walking past him.

  She heard the door shut and then the water running a minute later. She threw her clothes into the washing machine he’d pointed out but didn’t run it, since he’d probably have to add his clothes. She noticed his shirt was already in there. She walked across the room to the fireplace to warm up, especially with her damp hair and no socks.

  Being alone with Tyler in his cabin with barely any clothes on was probably not the wisest move, but it was a purely innocent situation. They were friends. Friends who were attracted to each other.

  Tyler walked out of the washroom wearing a pair of clean jeans that rode low on his hips and a plain white T-shirt. Muscles rippled while he moved, and she couldn’t make herself turn away. Luckily he wasn’t paying her any attention. She crossed her arms under her breasts, self-conscious.

  “Cold?” he asked, standing in the middle of the room.

  “Uh, no, the fire is great,” she said.

  He shot her a glance that suggested he wasn’t exactly buying what she was saying as he pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. “I think we need a drink.”

  She ran a hand through her hair, nerves propelling her to fidget. “Oh, are we staying awhile?”

  He turned and leaned against the counter, and she found herself without words. It was him… Being alone with him like this.

  “Well, I assumed you’d stay until our laundry was finished,” he replied.

  “Right,” she said, trying to be casual, “of course. That makes sense.”

  “So, considering we’re stuck here for a while and I have whiskey, why don’t you give me more of the details about my upcoming weekend from hell?”

  He was grinning when he said it, and she had to look away for a moment. His hair was still damp and mussed up, his T-shirt and jeans clung to his chiseled body, and she wanted nothing more than to walk over there and give in to the attraction and not have to worry about the consequences. The man was beautiful. Really, she had to hand it to her former teenage self—she really could pick ’em.

 
; “Right, the bachelorette party. I really think you’ll have lots of fun. I don’t suppose you have any food in here, do you?”

  “Let’s wait until I’ve had my second glass for you to explain why you would ever think that sounds like something I’d find fun. Food, I actually just bought some, help yourself to anything while I add some more logs to the fire.”

  She opened the small bar fridge and was pleasantly surprised to see a nice selection of cheese. “Do you have crackers to go with this cheese?”

  “Yup. The cupboard above the sink.”

  She busied herself with creating a platter with cheese and crackers and sliced up a couple of the apples she found in the fridge as well. By the time she was done, he had added another log to the fire, and it was roaring. She walked over to join him, and the distinct sensation that this was becoming a very intimate evening gripped her. An intimate evening with Tyler. She didn’t know if she was prepared for this.

  “That is impressive,” he said as she sat on the couch beside him but not too close. “Do you need a whiskey refill?”

  “Actually, I haven’t even had my first glass. It’s probably better to eat something first.”

  “Wise,” he said. “You help yourself.”

  She filled up her plate with an assortment of the cheddar, apple, and crackers. “Thanks.”

  He did the same, and pretty soon they were both eating, the fire crackling the only sound in the room.

  “So, are you happier living here?” she asked after a bit, taking a drink of the smooth liquid.

  He put his now empty plate down on the coffee table in front of them and sat back on the couch. She tried not to notice how small the couch seemed with him, how large his presence was.

  “Did I spill something?” he asked, glancing down.

  “Oh, what? Um, yeah, I thought it was whiskey…but not,” she managed to choke. Really, she was not prepared for this. She wasn’t calm and collected. She needed to be. Focus, Lainey.

  He seemed to buy her explanation. “I can’t say things are going really well at the main house, and I like my privacy.”