Naughty & Nice

by J. S. Scott

  He wasn't dropping her hand, and Elaina waited silently to be released so she could get the hell away from him. She was seriously out of her depth, and she didn't want or need his searing attention.

  "You don't look like your aunt." His voice was deep and smooth and rattled her already frayed nerves. The drive had been long, it was getting late and she was tired and hungry. The very last things she needed right now were to deal with a man that reeked machismo and everything his searing gaze implied.

  She needed to escape, but somehow, she managed to be polite. "No, sir. I favor my father's side of the family." She wanted to put space between them and hoped the small inflection she put on the word 'sir' would do the trick.

  Right after the slightly accented word came from her lips, her hand was dropped, but his intense scrutiny didn't leave her.

  "What's your last name?" he asked.

  "Ruiz."

  "Hispanic." It wasn't a question.

  She replied automatically. "Si."

  "Home from where?"

  "School."

  "College?"

  "Yes."

  The need to know her age was paramount. "What year?"

  "First year."

  Raul felt a deep hit of disappointment when he received that answer. She was just a baby. And he needed to remember it.

  "What are you studying?"

  "Nursing."

  "What school?"

  "University of Texas." She elaborated, "San Antonio."

  "So you're close by." In the wide expanse of Texas, anything less than seventy-five miles was close by. "I assume that's why you're staying here for Christmas?"

  Her bottom lip trembled. "That and because Janie's the only family I have left."

  "I'm sorry, baby." His rough voice dropped an octave.

  She felt his heated sympathy wash through her. The presumptuous way he called her baby ignited both agitation and weakness within her. She couldn't afford to be weak so she steeled her spine and lifted her chin. "Not your fault, Mr. Vega, but thanks anyway."

  Her words were sharp and didn't leave room for more questions of an intimate nature.

  She lifted her backpack to her shoulder. "It's late and I'm not up for a party. It was nice to meet you." She turned to go.

  His eyes continued to watch her. "Goodnight, Miss Ruiz. It's been a pleasure."

  His dark voice was still clamoring in her brain as she walked down the hallway to the bedroom that now belonged to her. She wearily sank down on the bed and dropped her backpack beside her. She was intensely tired, her body physically and mentally worn out by the struggle of living through the months and years just passed.

  Her mother had developed breast cancer at the end of Elaina's senior year in high school. With the help of Aunt Janie, Elaina had managed to stay in school and graduate. But her mom had been in and out of the hospital after that, and Elaina had taken on the responsibility of her care as her mother fought the fight that had ultimately taken her life.

  Elaina had wanted to do anything she could for the woman who had single-handedly raised her after her dad had died fighting in Iraq. Nursing her mother as much as she could from home had been a loving chore that she had eagerly undertaken.

  Her mom hadn't wanted her to delay college, but there had been no other option in Elaina's mind. The love she had for her mom was too strong to let her care go to strangers. Elaina knew, rightly so, that whether her mom won the fight or not, that her own life could always continue later. This might be the only time she had left with her mom, so she had effectively put her own life on hold, and for over three years she'd virtually stayed at home and nursed her ailing mother.

  When exactly she had promised her parent that she would become a nurse, she couldn't remember, but she had promised, and now that pledge was weighing heavily on her heart.

  She'd never had an affinity for the sick room, and admitted to herself she never had the calling to become a nurse. She'd promised her mom solely because the older woman thought she'd make such a good health-care professional, and it seemed to put her mind at ease visualizing what her daughter's life would be like when she was gone.

  And now Elaina was trapped, with just one semester of nursing school under her belt, she knew she didn't want to go back. She'd been struggling with it for several months now. She didn't want to be around sick people any longer. If push came to shove and she had to nurse another loved one, she knew she could find the inner strength somewhere, but as a career choice, it wasn't going to work. She didn't want to be around death and sickness; she desperately needed a break.

  The semester had started only two weeks after her mother had died. Before she had time to think or plan, with the urging of Aunt Janie, she had found herself enrolled and going to school. Going to school for something that she didn't aspire to be. There were many wonderful nurses; she knew that and was thankful to them all for the care her mother had received in the hospital. But it was a calling that unfortunately, she didn't have.

  She was just so tired. Tired of it all.

  She needed some time off, some time to herself, where she didn't have to constantly be going to school and studying. She didn't mind getting a job, and in fact was looking forward to earning her own money, but she needed something that would give her the evenings free, so she could just be herself and chill.

  Was that too selfish a thing to want? Guilt ate at her knowing it would be going against her mom's hopes and dreams for her. But what about her hopes and dreams? What about having friends, being young, dating? She hadn't even had a date since high school.

  She'd met a few people at college, young men who had been interested, but for the first few months her grief was still too fresh to even consider it. And lately, the crushing workload left no time for a social life.

  She sighed and closed her eyes.

  She just wanted some peace for awhile.

  Chapter Two

  On Monday, mid-morning, Elaina stood next to her uncle's farm truck at the feed store and watched it being loaded. This small town was the nearest one to the ranch, and at ten miles away, it boasted less than a thousand people in population. She'd been here several times in the last six months since her mother had died and Janie had married Brian. She really liked the small town.

  For the first thirteen years of her life, Elaina had been raised an army brat. Just as soon as she made friends and got used to a school, her father upped and moved them. It hadn't been easy. She longed for a real home and solid roots.

  Everyone in this small town was friendly, and as she wanted to be helpful, when the subject came up, she had quickly offered to make the drive for supplies.

  She stood and chatted with the boy loading the truck, enjoying the laid-back moment having nothing more pressing than getting back to the ranch with the supplies.

  He was about her age, maybe a year or two younger, maybe older. This was the third time in the last six months she had spoken to him since making her temporary home with her aunt and uncle. It was also the third time he had asked her out. She was actually contemplating saying yes this time. He was good-looking and he wasn't too pushy.

  Although he didn't make her heart beat faster, he was sweet and cute and seemed to be someone she could enjoy spending some time with.

  She continued to smile softly at him as he tried to cajole her into going out with him. "You know me now. You can't keep using that excuse forever."

  She was vaguely aware of a big, black pickup truck pulling into the parking lot as she answered with a smile in her voice. "It's not an excuse. I only found out your name today, Trevor." She stressed his name, trying out a soft, flirty tone that she hadn't wanted or attempted to use in almost four years.

  She watched the muscles ripple under his dusty red t-shirt as he dropped another fifty pound bag of deer corn in the back of the truck. He turned back to her, lifted the next bag, and stared down at her. "I'll take you to Uvalde tonight. We can catch a movie and--"

  A dark, hard voice from behind t
hem cut him off and intruded on the personal conversation. "Can't do that, Trev. I need you this week. I've got forty protein feeders that need to be filled."

  She didn't turn to face the man behind her, but she recognized that voice easily. Raul Vega stood behind Elaina, his hard words interrupting her peace. Tension jolted through her from the impact of his body so close to hers. She shifted restlessly but continued to face Trevor as a frustrated expression crossed the younger man's features.

  "Damn, Raul--"

  "You were supposed to get to it last week." His voice was dark, too smooth, too controlled.

  "Yeah, I know. Mac needed me late every night," Trevor answered.

  "You still want the extra work? I can find somebody else, easy, if you don't," Raul softly threatened.

  The younger man let out a puff of air. "Yeah, I want the work." Trevor glanced down at Elaina and his face softened as his eyes ran over her. "Another time, pretty girl."

  Elaina felt tension radiating from behind her, but she managed to smile back. "Sure. Rain check," she said softly.

  "Yeah. Rain check." Elaina felt Trevor's blue eyes on her, both disappointment and anticipation shining in them.

  Trevor threw the last bag of corn up in the bed of the truck and as he turned back, Raul slammed a computerized list at his chest. "Need this quick-fast, Trev."

  "Sure." Trevor's gaze lingered on Elaina one last time before he turned away and jogged back into the store.

  Elaina closed her eyes and knew she had no option but to turn around and face Raul Vega. Best just to get it over with.

  Twirling the keys in her fingers in a parody of relaxation, she attempted to compose herself as she swung in a graceful motion to face the man who twice now had messed with her insides. Trying to exude a calm she wasn't feeling, she pasted a false smile on her face and spoke lightly. "Hey, Mr. Vega."

  He cut to the chase.

  "You planning on taking a ride with a kid who's a stranger to you?" he blasted out.

  Her muscles tensed as she lifted her chin. "He's not a stranger. I know him. Evidently, you do, too."

  "You didn't know that before I drove up."

  For whatever reason, his audacity didn't surprise her in the least. She inhaled deeply and took her best shot, answering him in slow, firm words. "I may seem young to you, but I assure you, I'm an adult and can make good decisions."

  Raul steeled his guts against the lust that consumed him once again and gave her his opinion. "I don't think a freshman in college is an adult, baby. Maybe your definition is different than mine." He looked her over, his eyes going from the silky hair again in a ponytail, to the t-shirt that molded her feminine form. His eyes stalled on the slender hips encased in skin tight jeans, and ended up at the dusty orange Ropers on her feet. Orange. Shit. She was just a fucking kid and he was goddamn lusting after her. He needed to get his head out of his ass and fast. His voice snarled at her but the reminder was for himself, "You need to grow up some before anyone in their right mind can call you an adult."

  Elaina felt a frisson of anxiety slide through her. First year. Freshman in college. She was just about to begin arguing with him that it wasn't any of his business when it dawned on her that he thought she was a teenager. The first time she met him, it hadn't occurred to her that he might think she was younger than she actually was. But twice now, he'd seen her without any make-up, wearing scruffy, beat-up clothes.

  Maybe she should keep him in the dark. Maybe the age difference would put a wall between them, protect her from him. Did she need protection from him? Did she even want protection from him? Heat slid through her as his dark gaze stayed on her, his countenance filled with anger and something else she was simply too distressed to fully acknowledge.

  She didn't have loads of experience with men, but she was smart and the female intuition banging loudly in her head was telling her she was going to at least need all the distance she could get from him.

  She let the comment go and moved to get away from him. Suddenly, she didn't feel quite safe. "Thanks for your concern. I promise I'll be more careful."

  She turned away from him, left him standing alone, his hands clenched into fists. She slipped into the truck and pulled out of the parking lot.

  It wasn't until she was nearly home that she realized she should have been thinking about Trevor. But she hadn't been. Her thoughts were consumed with one man only.

  Raul Vega.

  ****

  Three days later, Raul's cell phone rang and he flipped it open. The display read Brian Canton. "What's up?"

  "Raul, I hate to bother you, man, but shit, Janie's about to freak."

  Raul cradled the phone to his ear and began ripping the leather work gloves from his hands. "What's the matter?"

  "Elaina's car broke down three miles from the house and we're in San Antonio. She doesn't mind walking back, but you know Janie, she's a city girl, she's freaking out thinking something might happen to Elaina."

  Raul felt immediate and unintentional heat fuelling his blood. "No problem. She on the south end of county road?"

  "Yeah, probably half a mile from you. Thanks, man. Drop her at the house. We won't be home for a couple of days. Buying supplies for another damn party. Just leave the car, I'll get Earl to pick it up and take it to the garage."

  "You got it." Raul closed his cell and walked to his truck, pissed at himself for the uncontrollable and sudden heat of arousal pumping through his veins. He tried to rein in his lust in a futile attempt as he reminded himself repeatedly, she's too damn young.

  ****

  Elaina had walked about a mile from her car toward the house when she heard the diesel motor idle up behind her. She figured the farther she walked, the less time she would have to spend with him. Confused and irritated with herself for the way he made her feel, she didn't want to be in his radius any more than was strictly necessary. She hadn't felt comfortable admitting that to Brian when he told her he was going to call Raul.

  She scooted to the side of the gravel road and waited for the big, black 4 X 4 to roll up beside her. The passenger door opened from the inside and she grabbed it with her hand.

  "Get in."

  Chapter Three

  Anxiety and a sliver of tension coursed through her. She didn't care for big men who thought they could tell her what to do. She especially didn't care for big, tall, Latino men telling her what to do. Latino men had that certain machismo that Anglos didn't. It was the way they were brought up, the way their fathers raised them. They thought they were the dominant gender and acted and lived it. Her gentle, blonde mother had warned her often enough. Maybe they weren't all like that, but nothing so far had indicated to her that Raul Vega wasn't. But Brian had called him to bail her out, and she had no choice but to make nice.

  She put her dusty tennis shoes on the running board and climbed in his truck. Easing down into the leather seat, she swiveled to face him. "Thanks for picking me up."

  She settled in the seat and felt his eyes on her.

  "Got your phone?"

  "Yes."

  "Pull it out."

  She did as he asked and raised her eyebrows in question.

  He rattled off his number and made her key it in and then repeat it to him. "You don't take any chances, you need someone, anytime, you can't get Brian, you call me. Anytime."

  "Okay, thanks. Again, I'm sorry to be a bother."

  "No problem, Miss Ruiz. You can't help when your vehicle breaks down. These things happen." He put the truck into drive and eased his foot down until they were slowly rolling down the deserted road.

  Elaina was agitated by his presence and her brain wasn't functioning like it should be. She said the first thing out of her head. "Yeah, well, I didn't have to run out of gas."

  He immediately braked and turned to look at her. "You what?"

  Shit! Why the hell had she said that? Her eyes flew to his and she mumbled, "Ran out of gas."

  Fury took over his features as he slammed the truck into
park and turned fully to face her. "Tell me you didn't just say that, Miss Ruiz."

  "Look, it's not your problem, I appreciate you giving me a ride--"

  "Do you know what can happen to little girls on a deserted road when they have a disabled vehicle?"

  "It wasn't intentional--"

  "You let yourself run too low on gas." His eyes ran over her. "That's not very smart." His voice was glacial.

  "Yeah, well, I'm not a little girl--"

  "You better be thankful you're a little girl right now." He looked down at her bare legs. It might be December, but it was almost eighty degrees in south Texas.

  Anger penetrated the fog in her brain and her spine stiffened. "What the hell do you mean by that? Are you threatening me?"

  "I'm stating a fact. You. Are. Lucky. You're. A. Little. Girl." He punched the words out, pulsating anger coming with them.

  His tone and attitude pissed her off. He was nothing to her; he had no right to speak to her like that. She became belligerent. "What the fuck's it to you?"

  His hand reached out and swiped her wrist in a brutal move that reminded her of a snake striking. He pulled on her arm and her butt lifted involuntarily from the seat as she was forcibly moved until her face was only inches from his.

  Elaina sucked in a single breath and then began hyperventilating. Her eyes opened wide. Damn her mouth.

  "What word did you say to me?"

  She licked her lips as fear slid through her system. Her heartbeat pounded away in her chest as her bravado disappeared in the face of his anger and the proximity of his large body looming over hers. "N-nothing."

  "Good answer. Little girls don't say fuck. You understand me? Little girls who throw the fuck word around are askin' for it, baby. You askin' for it?" His hand tightened on her wrist. "Because I gotta tell 'ya, I'm trying to be nice here. But eighteen is a legal adult, Miss Ruiz. If you're askin' for it, I got every right to give it to you."