Jo did feel a bit overdressed when she walked into the McBride family home and saw that most were wearing casual clothing. But she knew everyone there and didn’t feel too uncomfortable. It had been years since she’d seen Mom and Dad McBride—Del and Bull.
The house was where the McBride boys had grown up. Even now it was full of noise and laughter and a kind of energy that always seemed to be noticeable around the McBride clan.
Tess hugged Jo the moment she walked into the house. Tess and Gage had just returned from their honeymoon, and Jo hadn’t had a chance to visit with her since they’d come back.
“Thanks for bringing Jenny home.” Tess drew away and smiled. “She had a good time with you and Tate.”
“I bet she’s looking forward to your upcoming Disneyland trip,” Jo said.
Tess laughed and shook back her short blonde curls. “Don’t you know it.”
Megan, Tess’s sister, hugged Jo next, and then Megan’s husband, Ryan gave her a one-armed embrace.
Cat and Danica came in along with Blake and Creed. Jo didn’t know the two women as well as she knew the others in the room, but she’d always liked them both.
Blake tended not to talk as much as his brothers and his features were a little harsher. He exuded power and virility and had a hard look to his tanned face. But when his gaze settled on Cat, his facial expression softened and Jo could tell that the woman meant everything to him.
Creed and Gage looked the most alike out of the brothers. Both had powerful builds, dark hair, and green eyes. Gage had a sexy, charming grin. It was easy to see that he’d been a lady-killer before he met Tess. Creed had an ease and confidence in his nature, but as a bull rider who’d almost been killed by a bull, he was one hell of a tough guy, a real alpha male bad boy.
Just as tall as his brothers, Ryan had denim blue eyes and a teasing nature about him. He was the perfect guy for Megan who’d been married to a real jerk in the past.
Tate rested his hand on Jo’s shoulder. “Mom and Dad will want to see you.”
Jo nodded as Tate took her hand and led her to the far end of the living room where Bull sat in a recliner and Del was curled up on a couch, close to where he was sitting.
Bull McBride was a massive man, like his name suggested, and it was clear the five McBride brothers all got their height from him. Even though each was different in looks and build, the brothers were all muscular and good looking to a one. Blake was probably closest in build to their dad.
Del had short brown hair and was pretty and slim and Jo remembered her being one of the sweetest women she’d ever met. But she was a strong woman—she’d had to be, the only female in a house of six alpha males.
Bull and Del both stood. Bull grabbed Jo in a bear hug, knocking the breath from her. “Been too damned long, girl.” He held her out where he could see her. “You were what, eleven, twelve, when you left?”
“Eleven.” Jo smiled as she caught her breath. “It’s so good to see you, Bull.”
“My turn.” Del brought Jo into her arms for another hug. “Glad you’re back in Prescott where you belong, sweetheart.”
“I’m glad too,” Jo said. “I’m happy to see you all again.”
Del held Jo at arm’s length and looked over the chocolate brown velvet dress studded with crystals. “Simply gorgeous.” Del looked at Tate. “Why didn’t you bring her home sooner?”
Tate gave his mother a grin. “Took me this long just to talk her into going with me anywhere.”
“About damn time,” Bull said in his gruff voice. “You grew up into a fine young woman, Jo-Jo.”
“Thank you.” Jo felt warmth flush through her at the compliment and because it seemed as though they’d expected Tate to bring her to see the family.
“Danica and the other girls fixed a wonderful dinner.” Del slipped her arm around Jo’s waist and they started toward the kitchen. “Mexican. We’ve just been waiting for you two.”
“It smells great.” Jo walked with the petite woman, breathing in the warm scents of spicy meats and sauces.
Jo looked at Tate as he walked with them. “They were expecting me?” she said with a raised eyebrow.
A sexy grin curved the corner of his mouth but he didn’t say anything.
The house was huge and had a separate dining room with a massive table built for ten, but they were able to squeeze in two more chairs so that all twelve of them had a place at the table.
Big pans of enchiladas, tacos, and tamales were laid out on the table, along with bowls of refried beans, Spanish rice, salad, and several kinds of hot sauces and salsas. Water and iced tea with lemon wedges were served.
Mexican food was one of her weaknesses and something Jo tried not to indulge in too often—it was that little voice in the back of her mind that she couldn’t quite get rid of that held her back. She’d probably never get rid of that voice, but she had learned to cope. Tonight she didn’t let anything deter her enjoyment of the meal or the night.
She fell easily into whatever conversation she was drawn into at the table. Not only did she feel comfortable with this bunch, but she was also used to entertaining large groups at Jo-Jo’s.
Tate sat on one side of her, Ryan on the other. She liked Ryan a lot. He and Megan had just married a couple of months ago in a beautiful wedding. Not long after that, Megan’s sister, Tess, had run off with Gage to Las Vegas, not wanting to wait like Ryan and Megan had.
For a moment Jo wondered what it would be like to be married into this family, to have Tate as a life partner. Inwardly she frowned. Her thoughts were going in crazy directions where they had no business going.
Jo turned her gaze to Tate and found him watching her. She set down her fork. “Okay, big guy, why are you staring at me?”
His lips twitched with amusement. “You’re so damned gorgeous. How could any man not be looking at you?” He glanced up and swept his gaze around the table before turning his gaze to her again. “These guys don’t count since they all have beautiful women they’re in love with.”
If it was anyone other than Tate who was complimenting her, she might wonder at his motives. She’d been used too many times to trust men easily. But Tate was so genuine and he said things in a way that made her feel good.
“I mean every word I say,” he added with an intense expression as if he’d read her mind.
“I know,” she said quietly. “Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand beneath the table. His touch and the sexiness of his smile caused wild flutters in her belly.
Jo loved how in this family, the men shooed the women out of the kitchen when it came time to clean.
“You women-folk did all of the work cooking so you can relax while we men clean up,” Bull said before kissing Del and swatting her on the bottom.
While the men cleaned everything, Del showed Jo their collection of fine western oil paintings and pencil drawings at Jo’s request. She also looked over the family portraits and smiled as memories returned when she saw pictures of the McBride boys when they were young.
There were many pictures that had been taken of them during the time she’d lived back East, showing the young men that they had grown up to be. Creed riding a bull, Tate lassoing a steer, Ryan working with 4-H kids, Blake riding a horse, Gage working on a pump in his drilling business. There were wedding pictures, too, including Bull and Del’s wedding.
“This one is probably my favorite.” Del smiled as she picked up a photo of the seven of them—the five boys, Bull, and Del. The expressions the boys wore reflected their personalities, and Del looked like the proud mother and happy woman that she was.
She set the photograph down and smiled at Jo. “Tate had a thing for you when you were young. Looks like he still does.”
Jo wasn’t sure what to say but she smiled. “He’s a good guy.”
So she was admitting it to herself and to others. Dangerous territory, Jo, she warned herself. Dangerous territory.
Being with this group made her feel at
home and loved. All she’d had was Charlee all of these years, and the thought of having a larger family who cared for her was almost heady.
The evening stretched on with a lot of joking and kidding around, something that Jo had remembered from years ago. The youngest of the McBride brothers, Creed, was given hell as a huge birthday cake was brought to the table with candles flickering in the dimmed light of the dining room. On the center of the cake was a bull and its rider made out of frosting.
After Creed blew out the candles, Del rubbed her son’s shoulder. “Here’s to your last year on the circuit.”
“Thank God,” Danica said from Creed’s other side, a smile tipping the corner of her mouth. “I just about have a heart attack every time Creed rides.”
“Need to settle down and get busy making us some grandkids to spoil.” Bull’s gaze went around the table. “You all do.”
There was grinning and laughter around the table and Tate winked at Jo. She flushed, heat traveling through her body. After what she’d put her body through with her anorexia, the doctors didn’t even know that she could have children. Not that she should even be thinking of that right now. Sheesh, it was only her second time out with Tate, and it wasn’t even a planned date.
“Are you going to Phoenix next weekend for Creed’s next event?” Del asked Jo.
Jo blinked. “I—”
“I haven’t had a chance to ask her.” Tate settled his arm around Jo’s shoulders as he turned to her. “I planned to when I took you home tonight.”
Jo looked from Tate to Del and back. She’d been thrown off guard, but the idea intrigued her. “I’ve been trying to find time to visit my friend, Carrie, in Phoenix,” Jo said. “I can drive down separately and see her on Sunday if she’s going to be around.”
“That sounds wonderful, dear.” Del beamed. “I’m so happy you’ll be coming.”
Del moved away to talk with Danica and Jo looked up at Tate who still had his arm around her. “Did you just set me up?”
“Nope. But I don’t mind the way it worked out.” He grinned and shook his head. “I was planning on staying the night at a hotel and spending some time with Creed on Sunday. Rather than driving separately, we can go down together.”
Jo tilted her head as she looked at him. “I thought we were taking things slow.”
He raised his hands. “We can each get our own room.”
“Hmmm.” She put one hand on her hip. “If you promise to behave.”
His lips twitched with amusement. “Promise. We won’t do anything that we both don’t want to have happen.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Well, that’s loaded.”
He put his arm around her shoulders again and squeezed. “Don’t worry about me.”
In truth, it wasn’t him she was worried about.
When it was getting late, each couple started to leave. After hugs and waves goodbye, Jo walked with Tate to his truck. The cool night made her glad she had her wrap. Ranch scents met her nose and she heard the lowing of cattle. The sky was clear and the stars so bright that they were like a brilliant swath against the darkness of the universe.
He opened the passenger side door and helped her into her seat. The heels and the short dress made it a little harder to get in. His hand moved to her bottom as he helped her in and he gave her a teasing smile before closing the door and going to the driver’s side and climbing in.
“That was fun.” She looked at him as he started the truck then headed down the dirt road leading from the McBride family ranch. “Thanks for taking me to Creed’s birthday get-together.”
“Thanks for coming with me.” He glanced from the road to her and gave her a smile. “Mom and Dad enjoyed seeing you, too.”
“I’ve always liked your parents,” Jo said.
Tate nodded. “Our dad was strict and tough, but he was a good father. Mom’s hand was a little lighter, but she managed to handle all of us, too.”
Jo was quiet as her thoughts turned to Charlee and the man her sister had slept with. Jo had managed to push her concerns aside for the night, but they were back. At least a fourteen-year difference between the two—it was like robbing the cradle.
“Thinking about your sister?” Tate asked, breaking the silence.
Jo met his gaze before he looked back at the road. “How did you know?”
“You’re frowning and you look like you’re thinking on something real hard,” he said. “I don’t blame you for being concerned. That David Smith is a stranger around here and he’s a lot older than Charlee.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.” Jo worked to shake off her worries. “I’m just an overprotective older sister.”
“I don’t blame you one damned bit.” Tate reached across the console between them and took her hand in his. His grip was reassuring, and she squeezed his hand in return. “You haven’t been to my ranch,” he said and she was glad for the change in subject. “I’ll have to take you sometime.”
“I’d like that.” She let herself enjoy the warmth of his hand holding hers. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been on any kind of ranch. Being on your parents’ tonight doesn’t count.”
“We can go horseback riding if you’d like,” he said.
She smiled. “That would be fun.”
It didn’t seem long at all before they reached her home and he walked her to her doorstep after helping her out of his truck. When she reached her door she took her keys out of her purse and unlocked the door.
For a long moment they looked at each other as they stood on the doorstep, the light above them in the archway illuminating the night in a soft glow. “Would you like to come in?” she asked and she heard the vibration in her voice.
“Yes.” He gave her a little smile. “But I’d better not. My control around you is real thin.”
She stepped closer to him and tilted her face to his as she placed her hands on his chest. He was warm and solid beneath her palms.
He slipped his hand behind her head and released the clip that had been holding her hair up and the long, gentle curls flowed over her shoulders. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” he murmured as he slipped his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her head.
Slowly he lowered his head and his mouth met hers. She sighed with pleasure as his firm lips took control and he kissed her with such passion that she felt like she could lose herself. She felt desire blossoming through her, starting low in her belly, and she pressed close to him.
The feel of his solid body against hers and the hard ridge of his erection pressing into her abdomen heightened her arousal. His scent, so earthy and masculine, made her want to be even closer to him than she already was. The only way that would be possible was if they were both naked, and that thought caused a throbbing sensation between her thighs.
She was hardly able to think straight as his kiss deepened and her nipples tightened and ached. She wanted him to sink into her, to be deep inside her.
The sound of something hitting the doorstep and a light jangle met her ears and she realized she’d dropped her keys.
He drew away. His gaze locked with hers before he reached down and scooped her keys up off the doorstep then put them into her hand.
She started to ask him to come in, but he said in a rough voice, “I’d better go before I can’t stop myself.”
She gave a slow nod. He was probably right…it was too soon for them to end up in bed together.
He brushed his lips over hers before making sure she was safely in her home. She stood in the open doorway and watched him leave.
Again.
Chapter 10
Tate picked Jo up at eight in the morning on the Saturday of the bull riding event to give them time to make the ninety-minute drive to Phoenix and then to the coliseum where it was being held.
They’d gone out twice since the night of Creed’s birthday get-together. Each night had ended with a kiss that left her sexually frustrated and wanting. Even though she appreciated his gent
lemanliness, she couldn’t help but want more. But he’d made it clear that he wanted more than sex.
Charlee, on the other hand, was apparently spending every night with David that he was in town and then he’d leave on Friday afternoons.
As Jo and Tate drove to Phoenix, Jo brushed at a piece of lint on her dark Levis. She’d picked out a pair of leather ankle boots to wear with the jeans and had chosen an aqua blue button-up blouse with rolled up sleeves. She’d pulled her hair back into a French braid and wore a simple pair of small hoop earrings, a gold Figaro chain necklace, and a gold bangle watch. She’d brought a light jean jacket for the cool Arizona fall night.
Tate looked incredible in his faded blue Wranglers, a dark blue western shirt, black boots, and a black Stetson. She loved it when he had a day’s stubble on his jaws that gave him a rough, sexy look.
“If you don’t have plans for next weekend, why don’t you come on out to my ranch?” Tate interrupted her thoughts. “We’ll go riding and pack a picnic lunch.”
“I guess I have plans now,” she replied with a smile. “I’d love to.”
“Great,” he said.
She situated herself so that she could look at him more easily as they drove, which was never easy when wearing a seatbelt. “Do you raise cattle?” she asked.
“About a hundred head of black Angus,” he said. “I also raise and train horses. I just purchased a new breeding mare that I think will be a fine addition.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing everything.” A shiver of excitement went through her. It amazed her how excited she got about doing things with Tate. It was crazy.
“How much do you know about bull riding?” Tate asked.
“Next to nothing.” Jo shifted in her seat. “Crazy cowboys get on the backs of crazy bulls trying to kill them. That’s about it.”
Tate laughed. “That’s a start. I’ll give you Bull Riding 101 and you can let me know if you have any questions.”
She stretched out her long legs. “I’m game.”
“We’ll start with the bull rope,” he said. “It wraps around the heart girth of the bull and is what the rider holds onto. A bell hangs from the bottom of the rope to give it some weight so that it falls off once the rider falls off or dismounts.” He went on, “The flank strap goes around the bull’s flanks to make the bull want to buck and spin more. It comes off as soon as the bull leaves the arena.”
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