Borrowed Cowboy

by Parker Kincade

  Borrowed Cowboy: A Shadow Maverick Ranch Novella

  by

  Parker Kincade

  Copyright © 2014 by Parker Kincade

  ISBN: 978-0-9894407-3-8

  No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Parker Kincade. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy.

  Editor

  Lacey Thacker

  Cover Artist

  Hot Damn Designs

  Formatted by

  JTLW Design

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places, brands, and dialogues in this book are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental. This book contains content that is not suitable for readers who are 17 and under.

  Dedication

  For my mom.

  Words cannot express how much your unyielding support means to me. I love you.

  And for Paxton.

  The greatest forgiveness is that which we give ourselves.

  Acknowledgements

  The Mad Skills Squad: Lacey Thacker, JT Lacy, Monette Michaels, Deni Golden, and Ardyth Neill—thank you for everything you do.

  Thanks to Kim Killion at Hot Damn Designs for another smokin’ hot cover! You bring my guys to life and I appreciate you!

  Mandy Harbin … what can I say? Thank you for laughing with me, crying with me, and for helping me keep Sonic in business with all the drinks we guzzle.

  A shout out to my street team—The Kincadians. You guys are amazing and I appreciate all you do to spread the word!

  Finally, a special thank you to Kris Kruckman, who lets me write at her house when mine gets crazy. I adore you!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter One

  Paxton Mathis pulled off his hat and swiped an arm across his sweaty forehead. The sun beat down on this end of the corral, leaving no escape from the sweltering, late summer heat.

  He approached the round pen. He stepped on the rail and climbed over, settling his ass on the top. His baby sister stood in the center of the pen, slowly circling in place, her focus absolute.

  “Hey, Pax,” Jared greeted. “What’re you doing here?”

  Pax kept his gaze glued to the action. “Backup.”

  His youngest brother snorted. “She won’t need it.”

  “That’s good.” He hooked his hat on his knee and rolled his shoulders in an attempt to loosen them up. “’Cause after a day of diggin’ post holes, I’m done in.”

  No joke—his hands cramped, his back hurt, he was covered in sweat and dust, and was hungry enough to eat a horse.

  As if it heard his thoughts, the angry beast chose that moment to kick out. Hooves connected with galvanized metal, which only seemed to piss it off, so it kicked again.

  “Easy, Jayden,” Pax barked as his baby sister narrowly escaped a hoof print to the chest.

  “Shh,” she hissed. “Keep your voice down, or you’ll spook him.”

  Pax arched a brow at the beast. The buckskin quarter horse was skittish as hell, dancing around the pen as though hot coals covered the ground. “Uh, Jade … honey, I hate to break it to you, but that horse is already spooked.”

  That earned him a teenaged-perfected no shit, Sherlock eye roll. “You’d be freaked out too if you’d been through what this beautiful guy has.” Jade’s voice was soft and gentle as she circled the nervous animal.

  Jared chuckled. “She’s gonna do whatever it takes to gain his trust. Might as well relax and enjoy the magic. Jade’s got this.”

  Yeah, she did. Jayden had a gift, a natural talent that made her damn near unstoppable when it came to animal rehabilitation. That didn’t stop Pax from worrying about her. And Jared too, for that matter. With their parents away on their first vacation together since their honeymoon, it was Pax’s responsibility to make sure the youngest set of Mathis twins were at least alive when they returned. Gavin was busy planning his wedding, Erin had her own family to worry about, and Clay … well, Clay was more interested in getting laid than playing parental surrogate to their youngest siblings.

  Young and invincible, or so they thought.

  “I didn’t move back into the house for my health, you know.” Pax tensed as the horse reared up again.

  “Yeah, ’cause livin’ in the bunkhouse is so much better. I swear man, if I had a beautiful house like yours, I’d want to actually live in it.” Jared shook his head full of shaggy black hair. “We’re seventeen, Pax. You don’t need to hover.”

  “Who’s hovering?” Pax avoided the mention of his house. Jared and Jade had been too young to understand what had happened. They knew Tammy wasn’t their aunt anymore. As far as Pax was concerned, that was all they needed to know. “I’m just here for the show.”

  The horse trotted close and stopped a few feet in front of him.

  “I’m calling him Diablo,” Jade informed them as she took a slow, but confident, step toward Diablo’s shoulder. She kept her distance and extended her hand, palm up, to show the beast the grain she held.

  Next to the horse, Jade looked small, fragile. She might be smaller in height than the rest of them, but she was far from breakable. The girl pulled her weight around the ranch just like everyone else. No coddling that one. She’d just as soon kick his ass than—horror—be treated like a girl.

  Diablo’s gaze flickered toward Jade, then he raised his head and blew a heavy stream of air and snot in Pax’s direction.

  “Diablo, huh? Fitting, I’d say.” Pax chuckled. “Got a bit of devil in him for sure. Once he gets a little meat on his bones, he’ll be quite the stud.”

  Diablo swung his head back in Jade’s direction. He bobbed his head, as if in agreement with the assessment, and pounded a heavy hoof, stirring up dust.

  Pax’s heart rate kicked up another notch, but Jade whispered an encouragement and the horse calmed, took a step, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, nuzzled her palm for the grain.

  “Hey, Pax. Run to the tack room and grab me that other rope, would you? The thin one on the hook by the door.”

  Pax glanced toward the barn and his stomach tightened. Yeah, not gonna happen.

  “Jared can get it.”

  Jared scoffed. “She asked you. Why can’t you get it?”

  Because he hadn’t been inside that fucking barn since the day he’d caught his wife getting busy with two of his ranch hands. The image of Tammy sandwiched between the two men and riding both hard, had been branded onto his brain for all time. He had no desire to relive the moment.

  But the twins didn’t know any of that.

  A car drove up and Pax took full advantage of the distraction. “We expecting company?”

  “That must be the event planner Lauren and Gavin hired for their wedding.”

  Pax frowned. “Are you kidding me?”

  Jade laughed and shook her head. Jared offered her a high-five, which she took
with a satisfied smile, and rested a boot on the rail between them. “Nope. I overheard Gavin tell Lauren he’d pay whatever it took to keep her from being stressed out. She’s still not that familiar with the area, so it makes sense to have someone help her who is.”

  “Aren’t you the little eavesdropper?” Jared teased and raised his chin toward Diablo. “He’s thinking about it.”

  Jade beamed, but smacked Jared’s leg. “Don’t make eye contact. Let him come to me.” To Pax, she said, “I think it’s sweet Gavin loves her enough to do something like that.”

  “Keep dreaming. Gavin’s interest is in self-preservation, I guarantee it.” Pax squinted, put a hand to his forehead to block the sun, as long, creamy legs emerged from the car.

  Well, now. What have we here?

  “You’re just cynical,” Jade pointed out. “Maybe it’s time you found someone, Pax.”

  He’d had someone. Fuck if he’d go down that road again.

  “Maybe it’s time you minded your own business,” he threw back, his gaze riveted by the woman stepping out of the car.

  Those legs led to a nicely rounded ass held snug by denim shorts. Strawberry-blonde curls flowed down her back, pretty as a Texas sunset against her red tank top.

  Interesting attire for an event planner.

  The woman reached back and, a few hand movements later, had those curls contained at the base of her neck. There was something familiar about … a memory flashed. Eyes as blue as the Texas sky. Smile that lit up a room. Reddish-gold hair that matched the sweet and spice of her personality.

  Reese.

  The first woman, outside his family, to own his heart. By the time he’d figured it out, she’d left. Left Texas. Left him.

  Jesus, he hadn’t thought about Reese, or the last night they’d spent together, in years.

  Pax stared, transfixed, as the rest of the woman came into view. She was too far away to see the color of her eyes, but her curves were unmistakable. He did love a woman with curves.

  A slow burn ignited in his stomach and his dick stirred.

  Huh.

  It hadn’t been that long since he’d taken a woman to bed, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten aroused from just looking. He hated the dating scene. Hated the games people played even more. The outcome was rarely good. Telling a woman he wasn’t interested in a relationship only seemed to make her work harder. As though he’d reconsider his stance once she had him between her thighs. These days, he preferred to jack off when the need became too great. Less complicated that way.

  His ex-wife had destroyed any hope Pax had in long-lasting relationships. He’d leave that crap to Gavin. He and Lauren seemed happy, and Pax hoped they could make it work.

  He’d tried. It hadn’t worked out. He damn sure wasn’t going to invite that kind of pain into his life again.

  But it was good to know his junk still worked without physical contact.

  “Wow. Would you get a look at her?” Jared whistled through his teeth. “She doesn’t look like any event planner I’ve ever seen. Damn, she’s gorgeous.”

  The beauty raised a hand in a greeting the twins were quick to return.

  “She’s also way too old for you.”

  He guessed. She didn’t look too old for him though.

  Pax shook the thought away and willed his prick to behave so as not to embarrass himself in front of his kid brother and sister.

  The woman sparked a pleasurable memory, yes. All the more reason he should forget what his body was currently demanding. He wasn’t jackass enough to sleep with a woman because she reminded him of someone else. Hell, even if she wanted to go a few rounds with him, it would be awkward when the night ended. And it would end, but she’d still be planning his brother’s wedding.

  What the fuck was wrong with him? He didn’t even know this lady, and already he had her naked and writhing in his arms.

  He wouldn’t be getting her naked, but he could damn well fix the first part. The least he could do was go and say hello to the first woman he’d reacted to in … way too long.

  His boots hit the dirt.

  Lauren came out onto the porch. Pax watched as the two women shook hands and then disappeared into the house.

  “Hey, what about that rope?” Jade called after him.

  Rope, indeed. Paxton smiled as images of the beauty tied to his bed crept into his mind. Flame colored curls fanned over his pillows, limbs spread, body open for his pleasure. Just like that night a lifetime ago.

  The hunger simmering in his gut surged, boiled over.

  Oh, this was a bad idea. He needed to get control of himself. Now.

  “Jared, get Jade her rope and make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.” Jared would never let anything happen to Jade, but it made Pax feel better to say it.

  “Where the hell are you going?” Jared complained.

  To take the coldest shower of his life.

  Pax turned, still walking. “All you need to worry about is how fast you can get that rope. The rest is none of your business.”

  * * *

  Reese Jameson drew a deep breath and looked around. A hint of wildflowers scented the air. She’d grown up in Texas, so it shouldn’t have taken her off guard. Shadow Maverick was a cattle ranch, and it surprised her that it didn’t smell like, well, cattle.

  A fact Lauren and Gavin’s wedding guests would appreciate come winter, since Lauren wanted to host the festivities here.

  Reese slipped into work-mode. Ample parking if they could use the field across from the house. She’d need to check on that, as well as seeing about hiring a few men to direct cars to prevent a jam. There was easy access to the main road, so that wasn’t a problem.

  A hundred little details rattled around in her head as the heat brought a sheen to her skin. She was grateful Lauren had insisted on keeping this visit casual. The weather was too damn hot for anything but shorts and sandals.

  Reese took in more of the sweet-scented air, sighing with the exhale. Living in Houston hadn’t seemed so different until now. Her apartment was less than an hour from here, yet the ranch was so beautiful, so quiet, that it felt as though she’d traveled to another world.

  One of the many reasons she loved Texas.

  She glanced toward the barn. It seemed her arrival hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  A shot of nerves trembled her limbs, and she almost got back into her car. No. She had to do this. Ten years was a long time to leave things undone. This was her opportunity to deal with the past. Then maybe she could get on with her life.

  She raised a hand toward the round pen and smiled when the young man and woman returned her greeting. Her gaze drifted over the man who continued to stare, but hadn’t moved otherwise.

  A man she’d know anywhere.

  Paxton Mathis.

  Jet-black hair tumbled over his forehead. When he reached to brush it back, Reese sucked in a breath at the size of his arms. His years on the ranch had definitely given him the body of a hard-working cowboy.

  She’d known this day would come, but no amount of planning could’ve prepared her for seeing him again.

  Reese shivered and turned away as her nipples pebbled, despite the heat. It seemed her body still had a mind of its own when it came to Paxton. Well, her body could just chill the fuck out. He wasn’t her type anymore.

  She dated businessmen with light hair and eyes, bodies honed in a gym rather than the great outdoors. Predictable men. Men who’d rather play golf than play with horses, as the cowboy who’d caused her panties to dampen liked to do.

  In other words, men who were the exact opposite of said cowboy.

  And that’s worked out swimmingly, hasn’t it?

  She snuck another glance in time to see his boots hit the dirt. Holy crap. Maybe she should reconsider her type.

  And she was a t
otal nut-job. She wasn’t here to rekindle an old flame, no matter how hot it had burned.

  She’d come to work, and offer a long overdue apology. The end.

  “Hey, Reese. Are you going to stand out here in the heat all afternoon? Come on in here and let’s plan a magnificent wedding,” Lauren called from the front porch.

  Turning away from the first man she’d ever loved, Reese smiled. “If you tell me you’ve got a glass of iced tea ready, I’ll marry you myself.”

  Chapter Two

  Reese was a hot mess.

  In the literal sense.

  The moment she’d reached the door, Lauren had swept her through the house, and directly out the back. They’d spent the last hour in the late afternoon sun, discussing the best location for the upcoming nuptials. Since the whole shindig would be held here, they’d agreed to an area not far from the house. Lauren wanted a winter wedding, so the location provided the best proximity for a last minute readjust in the event of poor weather. Reese outright refused to do an outdoor wedding without a backup plan.

  Location decision made, Reese was ready to splash some cold water on her face and head home. She wanted to shower the sweat and dust from her skin, curl up with a glass of wine, and make a few notes on things she and Lauren had discussed.

  Not the most exciting way to spend a Friday night, but she didn’t mind. It’d been a long week and it wasn’t over just because the weekend had arrived. She had a large corporate barbecue tomorrow and a beach wedding on Sunday afternoon, which meant she was looking at Monday before she got any significant down time.

  In her search for a bathroom, Reese realized the house was much larger than it appeared from the outside, which was saying something because, on first sight, it was quite impressive.

  She followed Lauren’s directions and turned right at the top of the wide staircase. All the way to the end. Shit. She had said the top of the staircase, hadn’t she? She hadn’t said which side of the hallway.

  Reese looked back from where she’d come, as if the answer would magically appear on one of the three doors she’d passed along the way. No help there, so she tentatively approached the door to the left. She curled her palm against the wood, and leaned in to listen, just in case she’d picked wrong. She was about to knock when the door swung open.