Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas (The Hills of Texas Book 4)

by Kadie Scott

  “But I haven’t thanked you properly.” Before he could stop her or step back, Ashley wound her arms around his neck, gave a tug to pull his head down to her level, and laid those sweet lips of hers against his.

  Whoa.

  The second her lush body pressed against his, every honorable intention wavered along with any vestige of his will. The desire she stirred in him swept through in a tornado of sensation and need. They had kissed only once before. Two years ago. The experience had left him craving more, still waking some nights, hard and aching for her.

  With a low groan, Jennings pulled her closer and took over the kiss, deepening it, asking for more. Asking for everything.

  Her tiny whimper of need whispered across his lips as she opened her mouth for his questing tongue. She tasted of beer and berries, an intoxicating combination. The heat between them burned, igniting like a spark to dry tinder. Jennings smoothed his hands down her back, then lower, over the velvety softness of her skirt to cup her backside, pulling her in tight to his body.

  “Jennings.” She panted between kisses, her desire-laden voice stoking the flames higher.

  “Yeah?”

  “Take me home?”

  The breath locked in his throat as yearning battled with the darned southern honor ingrained deeply in him. She was drunk, and he had yet to see if she was truly over her relationship with Eric or not. Besides, these days, she didn’t like him all that much when she was sober.

  Reluctantly, he pulled back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, honey.”

  Hurt replaced the dazed desire in her eyes a second before she glanced away. “Right. Why would you want to be with someone who followed a guy around like a puppy dog for years? Guess that makes me too stupid to be good enough for you?”

  Was that really how he’d made her feel? Jennings stepped back, willing his body to quit responding. One would think the chill in the air would help, but nope.

  Bitterness twisted her mouth. “That’s what I thought.”

  She spun away, then pulled up short, pitched forward, and vomited.

  “Terrific,” he muttered. Careful to keep his best boots out of the line of fire, he held her hair back while she emptied her stomach of all contents. Eventually, she stood, but swayed precariously, her eyes half-closed.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” He grabbed her before she could tumble to the ground. Scooping her up into his arms, he strode across the parking lot to his truck. With a bit of maneuvering, he managed to deposit her inside. Lucky thing she was tiny—otherwise he would’ve had trouble lifting her up. He even got her seat belt latched. Then he grabbed an old coat that he kept in the back seat and draped it over her.

  “Stay here, honey. I’m going to tell Taylor I’m taking you home.”

  “M’kay,” she mumbled.

  A quick check on Mason showed the guy still out cold. He must’ve been dead drunk, because Jennings hadn’t hit him that hard. Still, he couldn’t leave him out here to freeze. Getting a grip under his arms, Jennings hauled his carcass inside, leaving him in the front room by the door. Back inside the bar, he found Taylor chatting with Mandy. “Hey, Jennings. Long time no see.” Reaching out an arm, she gave him a side hug.

  “Hey. I have Ashley all but passed out in my truck.” He hitched a thumb toward the door. “Where are you guys staying tonight?”

  Mandy listened with blatant interest, but that couldn’t be helped.

  Taylor’s eyes widened. “You didn’t—”

  He shook his head. “No. Just helping out.”

  Her brows drew down over eyes a tad darker than her sister’s, more gunmetal than mercury. He’d bet anything Ashley would hate it if she saw the concern reflected there. “We decided to stay in town tonight.”

  No surprise there. The town lay a decent drive from the Hughes ranch. One that could be done after a night out, but given the alcohol involved, he wasn’t surprised they’d opted not to head back that night.

  “I’ll come get her,” Taylor offered.

  He put a hand out before she could turn away. “That’s okay. I was leaving anyway.”

  She eyed him, clearly undecided. “I don’t think she’d appreciate—”

  “I’ll take care of her, Taylor. You enjoy your bachelorette party.” He gave her arm a squeeze.

  Finally, she gave in and, after leading him back to their booth, handed over Ashley’s purse with an amused chuckle. “She never could handle alcohol. We’re staying at the Blue Moon Motel in town. Her room key’s in her purse. I’ll close out her tab for her.”

  “Thanks.”

  He stopped by the bar and let Bud know about Mason before heading back to his truck, where he got in beside Ashley who was passed out cold.

  He allowed his gaze to roam over her. Undeniably gorgeous, even in all her drunken splendor—long dark hair curling over a pert breast, dark eyelashes fanning out over creamy skin, a few adorable freckles across the bridge of her nose.

  He shook his head.

  “Yeah. Knight in shining armor to the rescue,” he muttered under his breath as he fired up the engine and put the truck in gear.

  Chapter Three

  Jennings managed to get a completely out-of-it Ashley back to her motel and inside her room without too much trouble. Once he laid her across the double bed occupying most of the small, recently updated room, he had a few decisions to make.

  While there wasn’t much, Ashley had managed to get vomit on her top and skirt. He doubted she’d want to sleep in it, but at the same time, her objection to his undressing her might override the need to change. Jennings knelt beside her. He took a moment to allow his gaze to rove over her features.

  “Ash? Honey, can you hear me?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, doing his best to disregard the silky texture.

  Ashley didn’t budge, so he shook her shoulder, and she let out a small groan, her lashes fluttering up. “Jay—” Then she gave a sloppy smile as her eyes fluttered closed again.

  Jennings stiffened. She hadn’t called him Jay since they were fifteen. He gave himself a shake. Didn’t mean a dang thing.

  He shook her a little more firmly. “Hughes.”

  She lolled to the side, out cold. What now? Jennings stood and ran a hand through his hair as he considered options. Her suitcase sat on the rack, an outfit laid neatly over the top. No way was he digging through her stuff to try to find her PJs.

  He whipped out his cell phone, but paused and checked the time. Midnight. Carter might kill him, but he needed a little sisterly advice right now. No way was he waking Holly who was busy with eight-month-old twins. Cash would kill him. Rusty, his oldest brother Will’s wife, and Beth, Autry’s wife, were both out of town. So that left big sister. Four years older, Carter was the only girl out of the five siblings. He didn’t see much of her these days, as she lived in Austin, but she was still the best person to ask in a pinch.

  “’Lo?” a grumpy female voice answered on the fifth ring.

  “Sorry to wake you so late.”

  “S’okay.”

  “I need your advice.”

  “About?”

  “If you were passed out drunk with vomit on your outfit and some guy was trying to help you out, what would you want him to do?”

  “Who?” Carter snapped out the word, obviously fully awake now.

  Jennings tipped his head back to consider the ceiling and his answer. “Ashley Hughes.”

  Carter gave a low whistle. “You’re like a moth to her flame with that one, aren’t you?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  Carter filled the silence for both of them. “I know all of us have been getting married lately.” He didn’t miss the bitter note to her voice. She’d broken things off with her fiancé, Brian, just last spring. “But I doubt fate can work that kind of magic on you and Ashley Hughes.”

  “I’m not thinking about hooking up with her,” Jennings gritted. Damn. Maybe he should’ve risked Cash’s wrath and called Holly instead.

&
nbsp; “Uh-huh,” came the skeptical response.

  Jennings sighed. “Just tell me what to do, Carter. Then I can leave.”

  Silence greeted the statement, but he waited her out.

  “Take her out of the stuff with puke on it. Leave her in bra and panties for modesty.”

  “Got it.”

  “Hopefully she’s wearing a bra and panties,” she muttered to herself.

  And now I have that image in my mind. “Not helpful.”

  “True.” He could hear the unrepentant grin over the line without a problem. “Try to brush her hair out and brush her teeth if you can. Maybe run a wet washcloth over her face. Then tuck her in.”

  “That’s what you’d want?”

  “From a hot guy who rescued me? Hell no. I’d want him all over—”

  “Carter.” He growled the warning.

  “All right. All right. From a nice guy helping me out? Yeah. That’s what I’d want.”

  “Nice guy. That describes me to a T.”

  Carter snorted a laugh. “Sorry, baby brother, but I don’t know that that’s how Ashley Hughes thinks of you. Although…” She trailed off suggestively.

  I’m not going to bite. No matter how tempting the bait.

  Carter continued anyway. “If the rumors are true, Ashley’s pride probably wouldn’t mind a hot cowboy between her legs.”

  “Not me.” Not just for her pride. Even if the image had his dick pressing painfully against his zipper.

  “You never know.” He could just picture his sister waggling her eyebrows.

  Jennings rolled his eyes. “Yeah. I do.”

  He’d never told his family why he and Ashley had a falling out. Had never told them how she’d let him down, so they and most of the town just figured he’d done something awful to piss her off. Granted, he’d been a first-rate jerk to Ashley for a long time, but he’d kept quiet about not being the only one to blame. No need to tell tales out of school.

  A loud yawn came over the line. “Can I go back to bed now? Logan needs me at a deposition tomorrow.”

  With her PhD in hydrologic science and water management, Carter’s research on water—distribution, rights, usages, pollution—made her a sought after expert in various legal proceedings. More and more often, she seemed to be called on by Logan McAdams, a big time environmental rights lawyer in Austin.

  “Yeah. Thanks, Carter.”

  “What are sisters for?” The laughter in her voice was a big tip-off.

  “I’m never going to live this down, am I?”

  “Probably not.”

  Jennings hung up and slipped his phone in his pocket. Okay. Get Ashley out of the pukey clothes. Get her teeth and hair brushed maybe. Wet cloth for the face. Then tuck her into bed. And leave.

  Despite her dead weight, she was still tiny, which meant he managed to slip her top and skirt off without much trouble.

  “Holy smokes,” he muttered when he got a good look at the matching red lace undies and bra. And skin. Lots of honeyed skin on display.

  Totally inappropriate thoughts about a passed-out woman. Real hero, Hill. He averted his eyes.

  Scooping her back up, he lugged her to the bathroom where he propped her up on the toilet, her head resting against the lid of the basin. Thankfully, she stayed in place there.

  Again, doing his level best to keep his gaze glued to her face and not the gorgeous breasts spilling out of the lacy cups of her bra, Jennings managed to unpin her hair, which was an adventure all by itself, and brush it and wash her face. Brushing her teeth was trickier, given that she had to cooperate.

  “Come on, honey. Show me those pearly whites.”

  She mumbled.

  Jennings, cupped the back of her head to raise it up, toothbrush at the ready. “Show me your teeth, Ashley.”

  “Jay?” she slurred, again.

  “Yup. It’s Jay. Open wide, okay?”

  Thankfully, she managed to obey. Before she could pass out again, he managed to do a decent teeth brushing. Then he got her to her feet and stood behind her, arm banded around her midriff. He gritted his teeth against the feel of her plastered against him, silky smooth and tempting.

  What is wrong with you, asshole? She’s drunk.

  With more coaxing, he managed to get her mouth rinsed out. Then scooped her up again, and slid her between the sheets in the bedroom. Then he paused. Time to go, but he was strangely reluctant to leave her like this.

  You are a fool, Jennings Hill.

  He smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “Take care, Hughes.”

  He turned to leave, but a small hand wrapped around his wrist with more strength than he’d expect from an unconscious woman. “Don’t go,” she murmured, eyes still closed.

  “I don’t think you’d like it if I was still here in the morning, Hughes.”

  “Stay, Jay. Please.” Then she rolled over to her side. “I need you.”

  The last three words sighed from her lips, but he still caught them. Jennings stared at her dark hair spread out over the white pillow, debating with the devil and angel sitting on his shoulders for what felt like forever. After a losing battle with both, he sat on the edge of the bed and yanked his boots off, then lay down beside Ashley, on top of the covers.

  With an unintelligible murmur, she flipped over and snuggled into his side. Jennings gritted his teeth, then draped an arm over her, because he had nowhere else he could put it, unless he cut it off. Then he closed his eyes.

  He’d stay for thirty minutes or so, just to make sure she was okay. Then he’d go home.

  Many years from now, when he got to the heavenly gates, St. Peter better give him extra credit for this.

  *

  Ashley peeled sleep-crusted eyes open to discover she’d somehow managed to make it back to her motel room. Her open suitcase sat on the bench thingy, her outfit for today on top, right where she’d left it last night and reminding her she couldn’t hide out here all morning. She had things to do. Not that she wanted to, given what lurked on her docket. Maybe she’d gotten lucky and been bitten by a vampire, because then she’d have to stay out of the light. Bonus—she’d have a medical excuse to miss today’s planned festivities.

  With a grumble, she closed her eyes as pain sliced through her head. She never drank much. After a bad incident in high school at one of the many parties involving a fallow field and a lot of trucks and kids, she’d avoided getting that sloshed, having concluded the aftermath not remotely worth it.

  Until last night. She had wanted to loosen up a bit, but—between Taylor’s watchful gaze, bumping into Jennings, and the barrage of comments about Eric marrying her twin sister from well-meaning people—mostly well-meaning—she must’ve lost track of exactly how much she’d consumed.

  Idiotic thing to do.

  “Good morning, sunshine.”

  She gasped and twisted to find the source of the deep voice beside her only to flop back on her pillow with a groan and fling her arm over her eyes, heart pounding from the scare and stomach rolling from the hangover. She refused to acknowledge the tug of awareness as she recognized her companion.

  “Jennings?” She croaked. “You scared the heck out of me. What in heaven’s name are you doing in my bed?”

  She cracked an eye, peeking out from under her elbow, and caught his smirk.

  “You don’t remember?” he asked.

  “My head hurts too much to remember.” Please let her not have made a pass at him. Please. Please. Please. This was already beyond embarrassing without that.

  “You confessed your undying love for me and—”

  “I what?” She yanked her arm down to stare at him, eyes wide open now. Her stomach heaved in protest of the abrupt movement.

  He chuckled. “I brought you here, and you asked me to stay. You were in pretty rough shape, so I stayed.”

  Ashley lifted the covers and took a peek. She still wore her red lacy bra and panties, but nothing else. She lifted wide eyes to the man watching with amusement. “
Did you undress me?”

  “There was vomit down your shirt and skirt. I didn’t think you’d want to sleep in it. I called Carter and she said you’d appreciate it.”

  He called his sister? If this was anyone but Jennings… Or maybe because this was Jennings—capable, invincible, often arrogant. And then there was Carter’s sense of humor. Either way, Ashley found his calling for help sort of… adorable.

  This hangover must be worse than I thought.

  Ashley opened her mouth with another question and he held up both hands, stopping her mid-squeak. “But I kept my eyes off, mostly, and didn’t do anything inappropriate.” Laughter lurked in his voice.

  She blew out a relieved breath, ignoring a tiny twinge of disappointment because ridiculous didn’t begin to cover a wish to be inappropriately undressed by Jennings.

  A glance confirmed he still wore jeans and a now rumpled button down. Sleep lowered his voice to a sexy timbre, his usually mussed hair even more messy in a way that had her thinking this was what he’d look like after a long, hot night in bed doing anything but sleeping. A fact she was determined to ignore that she’d even noticed.

  Meanwhile, she didn’t need a mirror to know what she looked like—dark mascara smudges to emphasize the bags under her eyes, sweat-bedraggled hair, and smelling like yesterday’s garbage. This was Jennings, though, so why was her give-a-flip-o-meter even spiking?

  “I’m sorry you had to go to all that trouble,” she said slowly, battling back a mortified blush. “I’m okay now. Feel free to go on home.”

  He tucked his hands behind his head, stretching out, annoyingly at ease. “Don’t you want to know what else happened?”

  Recognizing Jennings in full teasing mode, Ashley bit her lip and refused to play along.

  “I mean…when you kissed me in the parking lot.” He gave a low whistle. “Holy moly, woman. Where’d you learn to kiss like that?” A lazy grin spread over his way-too-handsome face, dark blue eyes twinkling with a knowing look.

  Heat crept up her neck. “I’m sure I didn’t kiss—” She trailed off as memory flashed—patchy and bleary—but definitely involving tongue. “Oh.” Shock arrowed through her at the memory of how her body had leapt to life under his touch and craved his closeness, his scent, his taste. How she’d wrapped around him like a cat in heat.