Charming Jo

by Laura Drewry

  Jo pulled off her hat, leaned her head back and poured the rest of the water over her face, leaving the liquid gold to run down her cheeks and into her ears.

  “Hi.” Travers’s voice jerked her back to her senses. She pulled upright, blinking hard against the water that had pooled over her closed eyes.

  How on earth did he get there? Jo was never one to be caught off-guard, especially out on the ranch, but he’d walked right up to the wagon without her knowing. She’d need to be more attentive from now on.

  She tipped the empty canteen into her mouth, wishing she had one drop left to ease the sudden dryness in her throat again.

  “Need some help?” he asked, his gaze drifting from the canteen to her mouth.

  “Got some?” She moved away from the wagon, shielding her eyes from the sun, and watched him approach. He moved like a cat about to pounce, with a sly little grin and a gaze that sent goosebumps racing down her sun-baked arms.

  “Some what?” His voice was low, deep, and all too alluring for her liking.

  With the best disinterested look she could muster, she wiped a droplet from her lashes. “Water. I’m talking about water.”

  “I’m not.” A strange look simmered in his eyes. She couldn’t quite place it, but it made every last one of her nerves twitch. What were they talking about, anyway?

  “You’re not what?” she croaked.

  He slinked closer, his gaze moving over her face, taking in every drop that slid from her nose and chin. “I’m not talking about water.” With his next step, they stood toe to toe, his face a mere breath away.

  If she wanted to, she could have leaned in and kissed him; could have pushed his hat off, filled her hands with that long dark hair, and held him long enough to discovered what those rough, teasing lips tasted like once and for all.

  If she’d wanted to.

  “What were you talking about?” Why was she whispering? And why did it feel like a butterfly was fluttering its feather-soft wings over her heart? He was trying to charm her and she wouldn’t stand for it. She’d back away. . .any second now.

  He moved his face next to hers until they were cheek to cheek and his lips, those same rough, teasing lips, were brushing against her ear. Her lids drifted closed as he whispered against her skin.

  “I was talking about the fence.”

  Jo’s eyes flew open and she shoved him back, her face even hotter than before she splashed it with water. Travers leaned against the wagon, his arms crossed over his chest, and a smug smile on his face.

  “No, I don’t need your help,” she huffed. “What I do need is more water.”

  She jammed her hat on her head before tugging on her gloves and shoving past him to the back of the wagon.

  “Dropped my canteen in the shade.” He indicated the other side of the wagon. “Help yourself.”

  She started to sneer and then gave up. What was the point, anyway? It’d just prove that he was, in fact, getting to her. She pulled the top from his canteen and guzzled half the water before corking it again.

  Travers had moved to the chopped up tree and her pile of stakes, and was regarding them with a strange look on his face.

  “Did you do all this?”

  “No. Leprechauns came running out from behind the barn and did it for me.” She pointed off toward the open range. “They ran like the hell the second they heard you coming, though.”

  He ignored her. “That’s a lot of chopping for a little thing like you.” Gone was the smug little smile. Was he actually concerned? “You might want to take a break for a minute.”

  “I’m not a little thing and I just had a break.” She had no sooner begun to tug the role of wire from the wagon when he was beside her.

  “Let me do that.”

  “I can manage just fine, Travers.”

  “Levi.” His arms, bare from wrists to elbows, distracted her for a minute. A dozen or so new scratches stained his golden brown skin – no doubt a result of the barbed wire. God knew Jo had seen cuts and scrapes a lot worse than these; hell, she had worse ones on her own arms, but this was the first time she thought about tending anyone else’s.

  She shook her head clear and tugged the roll again. “Fine, Levi. In case I haven’t made myself clear before this, I don’t need to be coddled.”

  The roll bumped to the ground at their feet.

  “I’m not coddling,” he said. “I’m helping. There’s a difference.”

  “Either way, it’s not going to work.” She had to give him credit for actually looking confused.

  “What’s not going to work?”

  “I’m not going to turn into a brainless idiot because you show off your muscles and smile your little smile at me.”

  “No?” He flashed her that very smile.

  “No.” Well, maybe.

  “But you said it was dazzling.” With a quick wink, he picked up a stake and hammered it into the ground in four quick whacks. Would have taken her at least twice that.

  She unrolled a length of wire with her gloved hands and twisted the end around the first stake. “Oh, it’s dazzling all right. There’s no question you’re a nice looking man, Travers.”

  “Levi.”

  With a long roll of her eyes, she proceeded to string the wire along to the next stake while he continued to pace out and hammer more in. “My point is that a pretty smile isn’t going to get you anything from me.”

  His brown eyes danced with his laughter. “And what is it you think I’m after?”

  She shrugged. “Whatever you can get.”

  He stopped working for a moment and challenged her with a quirk of his brow. “And what can I get, Miss Joanna?”

  Jo pretended to consider his question for a moment. “I’ve got a pretty good right hook I’d be happy to show you.”

  Travers’s deep laughter filled the air around her. “Not exactly what I had in mind.”

  “Didn’t think so.” She unwound another length of wire. “But you’ll have to go see Stella for what you’ve got in mind.”

  “Stella?” He actually looked surprised, maybe even a little shocked.

  “Come on, Travers.” Jo snorted. “You’ve been out here over a week and not been back to Lefty’s once. I reckon you must be missing Stella’s company something awful by now.”

  “You’ve been keeping track of me?” He waggled his eyebrows, then whacked another stake into the ground.

  “Don’t be thinking you’re special,” she said as she pinched the wire around the next stake. “I make it my business to know where each of my hands are at all times.” Sure it was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “So do I.” His hands closed around her waist, then turned her to face him.

  “What are you doing?” she forced her voice steady, despite the quake that rattled her bones.

  A low chuckle. “I’m making it my business to know where my hands are at all times.” He pulled her closer, his face hovering just above hers.

  Could he feel her heart pounding against her ribs? Did he hear the tremor in her voice? Damn but her mouth was dry.

  “Very funny, Travers.” She licked her lips quickly and pushed against his hands, but he wouldn’t be moved. And for a minute, she was glad for that. His fingers tightened through her belt loops, which somehow caused a tightening in her belly. “L-let go.”

  “Why?” His eyes warmed like golden fire, his voice a mere whisper and dammit he smelled good – sunshine, leather and something Jo could only describe as all-male. Whatever it was, it was driving her crazy.

  “B-because you’re being an idiot.” She couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. What would it feel like to have him kiss her right there in the middle of the day, out behind the barn with the sun scorching their backs and her fingers wound through that hair of his?

  “I can’t help it,” he murmured. “You have that affect on me.”

  His face lowered until the side of his nose brushed against hers. He was going to kiss her. Jo tried to swallo
w the panic rising in her throat, but couldn’t manage to do even that. She had to stop him. One kiss would lead to another and then before she knew it, he’d have her under his spell. And, God help her, she would not be his next LeeAnna Pearson.

  She forced her mouth into a harsh grin and shoved his hands away. “No, Travers. You’re a big enough idiot without any help from me.”

  The fire in his eyes smoldered a moment longer, then he stepped back, blowing a long breath over his bottom lip.

  “Can’t blame a man for trying.” He retrieved the hammer and another stake and set back to work.

  “No, but it does make a girl wonder.” Jo slipped her gloves off and pretended to study them.

  “’Bout what?” He didn’t look at her, which was just as well.

  “Why you bother. What do you think you’re going to gain?” What was she doing? She did not want to have this conversation. She didn’t even care why he bothered, so why ask?

  His grin returned. “Believe me, Miss Joanna. You’re no bother.”

  “But you know none of your little charming smiles are going to work on me, so why waste your time?” Again, her voice betrayed her, spilling the words she’d tried to swallow. “Why do you treat me like this?” She wished her voice sounded stronger, that it didn’t tremble so. But it seemed to have taken on a mind of its own in the last few moments.

  “Like what?” He paced out the next stake and hammered it into the ground.

  “Like this.” She waved her hand between them, hoping he’d catch on. He didn’t. Or at least he pretended he didn’t. “As though you. . .”

  She stopped, shook her head and reached for the shovel. Maybe if she got back to work, her tongue would stop flapping.

  “As though I what?” Travers stopped hammering and sauntered back to her; standing close like he always did.

  Joanna tipped her chin up and forced the twittering in her throat to stop. “As though you like me. We both know I’m not the kind of girl you usually pay mind to, so why bother with all this crap?” A slow burning sensation began in her throat, but she forced it back. “Why waste your efforts on someone like me when Carrie’s right over there in the house?”

  With his gaze still on her, Travers tucked his gloves into his pocket and pushed her hat back until it fell from her head. Then, as he’d done before, he loosened her braid and set her hair free.

  “Stop doing that.” She pulled away, trying desperately to rebraid her hair – anything to keep her trembling hands out of his sight.

  His fingers closed around hers and eased her hands down again. Jo couldn’t breathe. She tried, God help her, she really did, but the air was locked somewhere between her lungs and throat, and every time his thumb made another circle against her palm, the lock tightened.

  “Maybe I do like you.” His voice was a low, husky whisper against her cheek.

  “Liar.” Despite herself, she shivered. His hands were so warm, so gentle. “You don’t like girls like me; you like pretty girls with ringlets and fancy dresses.”

  “You’re right.” He chuckled softly. “I do like pretty girls.” He ran his fingers through the length of her hair, then spread it over her shoulders.

  Fire burned behind her eyes, but she wouldn’t cry – she never cried in front of anyone. Especially when she had no idea what she was crying for. But it couldn’t be over something as silly as a man – especially one like him. If Travers wanted a pretty girl, he could go find one. In fact, he could have Carrie if it meant he’d stop toying with Jo.

  He cupped her face in his hands; rough hands that held her as tenderly as if she were made of fine china; rough hands that held her with such strength she could willingly trust him with anything - including her heart; her stupid, foolish, weak heart.

  “You’re a pretty girl, Miss Joanna.” He stared deep into her eyes, the gold flecks around his pupils shining brilliantly, and for a moment, she almost believed him.

  “No, I’m not,” she choked. “Carrie’s the pretty one. She’s got pretty hair and soft skin and. . .” She couldn’t finish.

  “Sure, Carrie’s pretty, too.” A small smile tugged at Levi’s lips, but it didn’t mock her. It was the most beautiful smile Jo had ever seen. “But not pretty enough that I’d give up time at Lefty’s if she offered me a job here.”

  “No?” Jo forced a smile. None of this should matter to her, and she’d be damned if she’d let on it did.

  “Nope.” His eyes caressed her face as his thumbs moved in slow circles over her cheeks. “I’ve never wanted to string barbed wire with her, either. Never even considered it.”

  “Bet she’d be sorry to hear that.” If Jo’s throat had been any dryer, it would have closed up completely.

  Travers didn’t seem to have heard her. His thumb traced the line of her cheekbone up to her ear and back again, sending a string of shivers down her spine. “And I’ve never once wanted to stand right up next to Carrie and kiss the breath out of her.”

  A tiny moan slipped from Jo’s mouth. Surely this was a dream – or a nightmare. Heat exhaustion, maybe. Things like this didn’t happen to her. She was too strong for nonsense like this; she didn’t fall for flowery words and touches. At least she didn’t used to.

  His hands, warm and strong, cupped her face as he brushed his lips over hers, whisper soft. Jo’s eyes fluttered shut, her mouth opened just enough to breathe, just enough to slide her tongue out and taste where he’d touched.

  He kissed her again, longer this time, yet not nearly long enough. His lips caressed her, slowly, leisurely, driving her mad. Every touch shot warm shivers through her veins; every heartbeat a burst of fire.

  The ground tilted beneath her feet, her legs suddenly unable to hold her. If she didn’t steady herself, she was going to collapse right there at his feet. In desperation, she reached out for the first thing she could find.

  Him.

  The warmth from his skin seeped through his shirt and into her fingers; his heart hammering against her fist. Thick fingers slid through her hair, taking handfuls of it and tipping her head back. She leaned closer, pressing against his chest, offering herself up to all he offered.

  His lips were soft against hers – the kiss gentle and tender. He tasted like heaven; as though the warmth of the sun had mingled with his very essence. He shifted his weight, brought her hard against him and deepened the kiss. He was hungry, seeking, ravishing her lips, leaving her breathless.

  Jo spread her hands over his chest, aching to touch him; not his shirt, but him. She needed more of him, of all of him, yet it was already so much more than she’d ever imagined.

  His hands moved over her back, pressing her even closer, and caressing with every movement. Her body reacted in ways she’d never imagined; melting into him, pressing her belly against the hard length of him. She tugged his hat off and buried her fingers in that golden silky hair of his. Heaven.

  Someone sighed – was it her? The thought had barely registered when she felt his lips smile against hers. Lip to lip, they gasped for breath. Her mouth tingled from his touch; her fingers slid down and curled around his shirt again, refusing to let him go. Not yet.

  “Wow.” Levi breathed out a long, low whistle and rested his forehead against hers. His hands continued to move over her back, slowly, tempting her to lean in and kiss him again.

  “Why did you do that?” she whispered, her fingers toying with a loose button on his shirt.

  “I wanted to.” His voice, low and husky, sang against her neck and through her hair.

  “Oh.” Jo swallowed a great gulp of air. What else could she possibly say? She expected him to laugh at her, expected to see that smile she’d come to know so well, but there was no trace of it. All she saw was her own desperate hunger reflected back in his eyes. She needed to taste those lips again, to savor the sensation of them whispering against hers, to feel his heart pounding just as hard as hers.

  “I’d really like to do it again.” His thumb brushed against her bottom lip until she
tipped her face up to his.

  He began slowly, leaving a soft, wet trail of shivery kisses down her cheek, then making his way to her lips again, open, waiting and trembling.

  She leaned into him again, until they were pressed against the wagon. More – that’s all she wanted. More.

  His arms tightened around her, his lips coaxing, teasing, caressing all the while. She couldn’t get enough – the more he gave, the more she needed.

  Low whimpers slipped from her mouth. She should be horrified that she’d make such noises, but with every one, Travers’s kiss deepened, his arms tightened and his tongue – whew.

  Just when she was certain she’d burst, he released her mouth and spread more soft kisses over her chin, her cheeks, and down her neck to just below her ear. He nibbled her earlobe, then moved back down her neck, kissing his way slowly across to her other ear.

  Jo’s breaths came in gasps; her lungs searching for air that just wouldn’t come. She found a small amount of comfort in that Levi’s breathing sounded equally as labored, and when she ran her fingers through his long, silky hair again, it was his turn to moan.

  What was she doing, standing right there in the open, kissing Levi Travers? Sure, she’d thought about it, but never in her wildest dreams did she think it would be anything like this, or that--

  Levi’s arms dropped and he stepped away, leaving a gaping emptiness between them. Jo stumbled before bracing herself against the wagon again. There was something in his eyes – a look she could only describe as regret.

  “Wh--”

  “M-Miss Joanna?” Clay’s trembling voice sent a crashing wave of dread to the pit of Jo’s stomach. That was twice she’d been caught unawares in the same afternoon! What the hell was the matter with her?

  Tomorrow she’d go farther out where people would have to ride out to her – that way at least she’d hear the horses coming.

  She took a moment to collect herself before turning. Clay wasn’t alone.

  The tall man next to him had short sandy colored hair, eyes as dark as pitch and a smirk Jo would have loved to smack off his face. He twirled his Stetson between his hands and nodded toward Travers.