Stony Creek Cowboy [Stony Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Taylor Berke

  Benjamin was such a bear of a man. At six foot five, an inch shorter than his gigantic older brother, he was as sweet as he was broad but you would never know it by looking at him. It was only the warmth from his green eyes that betrayed he was in reality a gentle man. Billie knew that if she ever needed help, the Powell men definitely could double as body armor.

  A small smile pasted on Lizzie’s unusually quiet face gave the only hint of interest. It was the only indication that she was considering serving Ben more than just his food. Now, they would make for a very interesting couple, Billie thought.

  “Come to think of it, you have been in here more and more often lately little bro and always by yourself. How come? Hmm, I wonder what succulent dish keeps bringing you back in for more?” Jackson teased.

  A smack on his shoulder from across the table was delivered by Madame Julia. Billie mentally reminded herself that, in addition to not singing, she shouldn’t tick Julia off in the office. Otherwise she might be bruised by the end of the work week.

  “Boys, behave or else I might be persuaded to regale your gentle mother with the sordid details of both of your high school conquests of the dance squad after Jackson’s senior year homecoming. Do I make myself clear?” an angelic Julia replied. The only responses were some controlled gulps and quietly stated, “Yes, ma’ams.”

  Billie had to laugh. She had never been in a town where everyone’s lives and business seemed so interwoven. It was like a large family where there were all sorts of characters at play. She wondered where she would fit in and silently hoped this one time to be a joiner in the play.

  A sudden, quiet hush fell over the diner as a very pretty and very provocatively dressed woman came in. Billie heard Jackson sigh and she followed everyone else’s eye line to look at this newcomer. The woman, as though on a very specific search, spotted her prey. She walked, very slowly and with quite the show of swinging her hips, over to their booth. She gave her head a tilt and eyed Billie up and down, not hiding her interest or antagonism.

  Instead of annoyance at being ogled for the second time today by a hostile person, Billie found this to be very amusing. Billie was quite comfortable with few things in her life. One was her medical training, which was her reason for being, and two was how she looked. A secret awareness of her attraction to the male sex had always given her a confidence rather than arrogance. She never used it in an inappropriate way but rather to bolster herself in intimidating situations, particularly when dealing with men.

  A throat clearing snapped Billie away from her observation of the other woman’s glare and then she heard, “Gwen, may I introduce you to our new brilliant physician, Dr. Rothman? Dr. Rothman, this is Gwen. She was married to Jackson for two years too long,” Julia said with a smile. Both Jackson’s and Billie’s incredulous look at the introduction and explanations of this unpleasant woman made Julia cackle like a flock of geese.

  Billie inwardly smiled at how enjoyable it was going to be working with this woman.

  “Hello, Gwen. Please pardon Julia’s remark. It is just her hypoglycemia setting in. It is very nice to meet you,” Billie filled in. A loud snort and outright laugh were heard from behind Gwen. A very unashamed Ben and Lizzie were the owners of those sounds at Billie’s remarks.

  Gwen either ignored the scene going on around her or was oblivious to it all. “So you are a doctor? How nice,” she said with an undisguised sarcasm. “I hope you don’t get too comfortable here, though, with the way you look and all. Men like Jackson and Ben really aren’t interested in brains and conversation. It bores them. Your hair and makeup need work, girl, and you might be interested in adjusting your wardrobe to fit in a bit better, too. That is, if you want to be any kind of successful. You stick out like a sore thumb. Too East Coast, ya know.”

  Jackson’s arm went very tense at Gwen’s insulting perusal of Billie’s person. Before he could tell his ex-wife to stick it, Billie decided to take over.

  “While I do appreciate your constructive criticism, I feel compelled to share a secret with you, Gwen. People go to doctors to get well, not see if they will be on the cover of the next issue of buckle bunnies magazine. I have every confidence that the people of this town will find me more than acceptable as a healer and may even grow to appreciate my lack of hairspray and cowboys boots. However, as for the personal front of holding a man’s interest, if I so chose to do so, let’s just say that you are right. Brains aren’t the only thing I know how to use skillfully to entertain my chosen escort. By the way, if you feel the need to continue this false tension thing you have going on, I feel compelled to warn you. I come from New York and eat stupid cupcake women like you for breakfast.”

  Feeling both angry and surprisingly relieved at her ability to defend herself against the cattiness that was the woman before her, Billie unconsciously leaned in toward Jackson.

  Just as Julia was revving up and about to take off in her own version of the Gettysburg Address toward Gwen, it was Jackson who spoke.

  With a controlled angry glance he slowly unfolded himself from his seat. Surprisingly, Ben did the same. “Gwen, I will tell you this only once. You will behave in a polite and respectful manner toward the doctor here. Do I make myself clear?”

  Gwen glanced from the scowl on one man’s face to his brother’s. A sharp nod followed by a sneering look was all the acknowledgment they were going to get.

  The door slammed shut on the exiting drama queen and conversation again picked up amongst the diners. Billie watched as Jackson sat back down in his seat to feel the pat on his shoulder as Lizzie walked past. Without thinking, Billie took Jackson’s hand under the table. She squeezed his fingers in hers, inwardly not only giggling to herself at the fission of desire she felt at the contact of skin but also that his oh-so-attractive and not-so-inner dominant man had made an appearance. She felt his intense gaze on her but was very confused as to his thoughts. She decided to try to lighten his mood with an observation.

  “So, Jackson, did you pay for those or did they come with the floor model?” Billie asked with a straight face, referring to the other woman’s prominently displayed assets.

  A gleeful laugh from across the table drew both of their attention. “I knew that Dr. Rothman was just what this town needed to spice things up! She is going to have all the men doing some sort of booty dance and going to put all the women’s panties in a twist!”

  Both Billie and Jackson looked at Julia as though she had lost her mind. However, the only response they got was, “Okay, kids, eat your lunch before it gets cold!”

  Chapter Six

  Billie was sure she was going to have an anxiety attack. Sunday dinner with all the Powells and their friends had her pacing in her foyer. Flowers, check. Apple pie, check. Insecurities, check. Having never been in a family environment like the one she was blessed to live next door to, she found herself in unfamiliar waters. Would she look as awkward as she felt? Zeus gave a growl as he felt her tension. Billie gave him a reassuring pat on the head and spoke to soothe him.

  “Don’t fret, my baby boy. I am just hoping no one sees my new tattoo going across my forehead that reads Hello, I want to fuck your son or the one on my butt that follows with, Jackson, if you are reading this, please try using this thing before it starts to sag.” She laughed out loud. As much as her body seemed to have a mind of its own when it was anywhere within the vicinity of his, she also didn’t want to be a onetime affair. Her heart couldn’t stand it. He was starting to get to her in a way that no one else ever had. It was just like the way she had always dreamed a love should feel. She was sure that the pain of being a fling to Jackson would hurt too intensely, too intimately.

  Her outfit had taken her an hour to narrow down. It occurred to her that perhaps Gwen’s mean-spirited comments might have affected her more than she cared to admit. She did so want to fit in. She started to put together a simple look but noticing her direction, she stopped. Clad in a midnight-blue silk cowl-neck top with a tight, beautiful cream cr
epe skirt, she felt she was dressed appropriately. Four-inch cream heels finished the look. Her private little secret was what she had on under it. She did so love her lingerie. Wistfully, she hoped that Jackson would someday be the recipient of the knowledge she kept quiet. A gold-layered set of necklaces and earrings added sparkle.

  “It’s just a meal. Just a meal with a man whose family I hope to make a great impression on. Yes, I am feeling very confident. Ugh. I am now talking to my dogs and lying to myself,” she said.

  The drive over to the ranch was uneventful but eye-opening. It said a lot about the family who owned it. The outer gates and landscaping when she first entered were meticulously kept. As it was November, the bushes were wrapped in their burlap to protect them from the heavy snows, and the beds were cleared of all their previous seasonal plantings. It spoke of love and pride in the land they owned. Billie smiled at that thought. It seemed exemplary of the warm, loving, and supportive family who resided here. The first house, as she was informed by Ben after lunch Friday, was their Aunt Florence’s. How sad to lose the love of your life like that. Feeling a bit guilty for her thoughts, Billie sadly reflected that while she had loved Matthew, she had never considered him that. She took a left turn and followed the curve of the gravel road. She saw two small cabins, not far apart from each other, as well as a single shiny trailer far off in the distance. The land was so beautiful even as it prepared for its winter rest. She couldn’t believe how huge a property they had here. She thought her hundred acres was large when she bought it. Now, she sort of felt naïve. And welcome back insecurities. She prayed they wouldn’t be on display this evening.

  Billie pulled up to the large farmhouse awash with lights ablaze inside. The faint scent of mouthwatering aromas began to tickle her nose. She went to open her door and a handsome face suddenly appeared in her window.

  With a cutoff shriek of having been startled she yelled, “Troy! Back home, you might either have found yourself with a kick in your softer spots or punch in the gut for scaring a woman like that!”

  “I am so sorry!” he said with a twinkle in his eyes that contradicted his sincerity. “Glad our beautiful new doctor was able to join us. May I have the honor of escorting you into the house?”

  Winding her arm through his, Billie allowed him to steer her toward the action. The house was a delightful surprise. Antiques and comfort furniture were placed invitingly throughout the house. Delicious smells of home-cooked foods wafted as they walked from room to room saying hello. Billie felt the spinning of all the activity until she heard him.

  “Welcome to our Sunday dinner, darlin’. May I take your coat?” asked a rich, deep voice that was a hairsbreadth away from her ear.

  She turned while still hanging onto Troy’s strong arm and glanced up at the owner of the masculine voice.

  “Hello, Jackson.”

  As he gave her a very slow and very thorough inspection, she couldn’t stop the slight tremble and excitement that she felt being under his gaze. When he used that tone, it seemed her body was already trained to follow his wishes.

  Troy being Troy could never believe that a woman on his arm would have the slightest attraction to anyone else, particularly his big brother. “Are you cold, honey?” he asked her in concern.

  “I got it from here, Tiny. Go help Mom, if you don’t mind,” Jackson said quietly.

  As Troy gave a knowing look from one to the other, he made his decision and went off to the kitchen. As Billie turned around while Jackson was helping her off with her coat, she heard his swift intake of air.

  “What’s with calling him Tiny? In case you haven’t noticed, none of you Powell men fit in the average height or basic development charts,” Billie said with a laugh.

  Jackson’s visual study of her body continued as he commented, “It’s just his nickname as he is the shortest.” Her body felt like it was being heated as his eyes swept over how her breasts were framed by her shirt.

  “You are just stunning, baby. Let me look at you.”

  And look at her he did, Billie noticed. It was as though his cock filled as he gazed at how the material of her skirt showed off the curves of her ass. He thought he was being inconspicuous as he leaned in slightly to view the small breast swells that were being exposed by the drape of the silken shirt. Billie met his eyes as he looked at her and smiled appreciatively.

  Billie felt herself blush at his intimate perusal. After Jackson had hung up her jacket, she felt as he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her into the den where his cousins Brody and Cole were arguing good-naturedly with Hunter. She heard as Hunter, being a man of few words, mostly grunted in reply to their teasing.

  “You overgrown water buffalo, how are you going to find a woman who is going to put up with your shit, oops, pardon me, Doc, stuff, I mean, if you don’t go out more? Don’t you have, uh, needs?” pestered Cole with an apologetic glance at Billie.

  Hunter swung his glance to the two blathering dummies that he considered family, apparently trying to decide to grace them with an answer. “First of all, there is a lady in the room in case you haven’t noticed. Secondly, my love life is none of your business.” It was simple, concise, and to the point, just like Hunter’s personality. More ribbing about the reason Hunter took in so many sick or stray dogs was tossed about the room before Billie felt the need to join the conversation.

  With a shy glance toward Hunter, she said, “Gentlemen, you all seem to require a lesson in anatomy. Firstly you think Troy is tiny and now Hunter is a large water animal. After his stint in the Navy SEALs, you would think the concept of rehabilitation and routine workouts would account for his size in your heads. Personally, I think his size is perfect and his taking in strays has less to do with his ‘needs’ and more with the size of his heart.” Jackson had leaned back into the couch, obviously contented at her being so near his body. With her spoken support of the great, hulking man, however, he glanced a look at her large protectee, who looked stupefied. Hunter was definitely not accustomed to anyone coming to his defense.

  Cole redirected everyone’s thoughts from Hunter with his comment.

  “I will take you up on that anatomy lesson soon, Dr. Rothman,” he said with a devilish grin. Billie blushed at the blatant innuendo. It wasn’t what he said but how he said it and that he said it in front of Jackson. After a lifted eyebrow and scowl from Jackson, Cole finished with, “Ummm, uh, perhaps not.” A controlled series of male chuckles enveloped the room momentarily before polite conversation picked back up.

  As they sat, Jackson was distracted by the feel of the silk and the warmth of her skin underneath. He could smell the light scent of her musky perfume and felt his arousal heighten. His mind knew he should get up and go somewhere else, anywhere else but here. Unfortunately, his legs apparently disagreed. What the hell was it about this woman? Maybe he should let Troy, Cole, or one of the others go after her as he knew they would. Just the thought of it, however, made him tense up with jealousy that anyone else should touch this woman. His woman. No, yes…ugh. He had to figure this out privately.

  He removed his arm as they had sat on the couch, as she didn’t belong to him yet. He didn’t want to upset her with a mark of possession until he knew whether she wanted to be his. She damn well better want to, he thought.

  “What’s wrong, Jackson?” He heard the soft whisper. The urge to turn her face to his and kiss her until she begged him for her pleasure rushed through him at that moment.

  “Nothing, darlin, why?”

  “Your body tensed up is all. Would you rather go bond with your father and brothers, perhaps? I wouldn’t mind. These guys are hysterical if a bit like a pack of Neanderthals.” She laughed.

  He looked into her eyes and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Actually, there is no place I would rather be than here with you.” He was momentarily shocked to realize that he actually believed it. After his divorce, he truly thought he would never find that kind of feeling. Maybe she slipped him some medi
cal drug in his beer? Laughingly pushing that thought aside, he watched as his mother and aunt descended upon the room and swept her away with them to parts unknown within the ranch.

  “So it’s like that then, is it?” Cole asked.

  “What the hell do you mean, dummy?” was Jackson’s answer.

  Hunter and Brody joined Cole with manly chuckles while nodding their heads in the direction of his groin. “You had better put that thing away before Mom or one of the ladies notices that huge hard-on you are sporting over there, Tex!” Cole taunted him.

  “Shut your yap. She is just the doctor who is new in town who has a hot body and I just want to get to know better.”

  The normally quiet Hunter surprisingly inquired, “How much better, then?”

  Jackson looked at Hunter and realized he didn’t just mean sexually. “I am not yet sure, buddy. I am trying to feel my way through the situation. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” Feel his way, yeah, that idea was sounding better and better.

  “You had better figure it quicker than your slow-ass brain is going, my friend. I was listening in last night at The Gas Pump while having a few beers. There are several cowboys sniffing around the good doctor there, trying to find out if she knows more about mattress dancing than normal women.”

  With a sudden growl, he asked, “Who the fuck is talking about getting near her like that?”

  “Well, that asshole Len, for one. He is just a pig. No respect. He sounded pretty pissed that you busted in there and took Doc out for lunch while he was trying to make points. I didn’t care for the venom he was spewing about both getting even with you and about getting his hands on the doc. I let him know it.”

  “He wasn’t trying to impress her,” Jackson ground out. “He was trying to fuck her with his eyes and making both Doc and Julia nervous while doing it!” he practically spat out. “There was no way in hell I was going to leave her there with that asshole. He has always wanted whatever I had, since high school. He has some sort of screwed up competition with me going on in his head.”