by Julie Cannon
Synopsis
Two strangers collide on an empty country road…accident or fate? Political strategist Rachel Stanton, jaded and disillusioned by the scratching, clawing, and mudslinging of the campaign trail, books a week at the Springdale Ranch for a much-needed vacation. Springdale sounds like just the place to exorcise unhappy childhood memories and straighten out her head. Shivley McCoy has spent the last four years casting out her own painful past, working and sweating to make her ranch a successful business venture. She has nothing in common with fast-living Rachel Stanton, and after their inauspicious first meeting, is quite certain she’ll never see her again. Shivley is thrown when she comes face-to-face with Rachel among her group of new arrivals, and sparks of a most unexpected sort ignite. We have to stop meeting like this. People might talk. And what would they say? That we're madly in love and can't bear to be apart.
Heartland
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Heartland
© 2008 By Julie Cannon. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-60282-336-5
This Aeros Ebook is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.,
New York, USA
First Edition: March 2008
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editors: Cindy Cresap And Stacia Seaman
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design By Sheri([email protected])
By the Author
Come and Get Me
Heart 2 Heart
Heartland
Uncharted Passage
Just Business
Power Play
Descent
Acknowledgments
This was my first time working with Cindy Cresap as my editor, and as with any first time I was excited, scared, and nervous at the same time. I didn't know what to expect or even if I was doing it right. Thanks, Cindy, for your patience, comments, suggestions, and hard work to make this story come to life.
Thanks to Barb Shelton for the story idea. Even after all these years I can still remember mucking Sheila's stall in the middle of the Arizona summer.
For the third time, my thanks to Len Barot, and all the unsung (and sometimes unknown) backroom support at BSB. Without you we couldn?t do what we love so you can read what you love.
And one last thing. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, at the end of 2005 there were over 500,000 children in foster care in the United States. Two years later the number is even more staggering.
Dedication
For Laura—my cowgirl.
I love every remaining inch of you.
Chapter One
Where in the hell am I? Rachel was lost. She had been driving around in what seemed like circles for the past twenty minutes. The directions had been pretty clear, but it was obvious that she had missed a turn somewhere. The road was narrow, but she pulled off to the side as far as possible and looked at the map again. She had only been paying half attention the entire two-hour drive from Phoenix, her mind ticking off the unchecked items on her to-do list. She had worked practically nonstop for weeks preparing for this long-overdue vacation. She was tired and grouchy and had a splitting headache.
The sound of another vehicle approaching drew Rachel’s attention from the wrinkled paper in her lap. She looked up just in time to see a bright red flash round the curve in front of her. She saw the Jeep an instant before the other driver saw her, and their eyes locked in surprise.
“Holy shit!” Shivley exclaimed, spotting the tan sedan stopped on the narrow road. Stomping on the brakes with both feet and grabbing her dog Lucy by the collar all in one motion, she skidded to a stop just inches in front of the car. “Son of a bitch!” She unlatched her seat belt and vaulted out of the Jeep, Lucy following after her.
Not waiting for the dust to clear, she said, “What in the hell do you think you’re doing stopped in the middle of the road like that? You could have got yourself killed, or worse—you could have killed somebody else with your foolishness!” She stopped her ranting when the other driver stepped out of the car and onto the hard dirt road.
Shivley’s eyes blazed a trail up from a pair of well-worn work boots to long, slim legs covered by a pair of faded jeans buttoned over a flat stomach. She lingered too long on perfectly formed breasts covered by a thin white tank top. A smooth brown neck led to a pair of very kissable lips partially hidden by golden hair blowing in the breeze. Crystal clear blue eyes stared back at her.
“Oh my God! Are you all right?” the woman said. “I think I’m lost and I was looking at my map again to get my bearings. I pulled off to the side as far as I could. I hadn’t seen anybody on this road since the highway and I didn’t expect to run into anyone. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”
When the woman finally stopped to take a breath Shivley knew she needed to say something, but her voice froze somewhere in her throat. She realized she was standing there with her mouth gaping open but was helpless to do anything about it. The dog sitting attentively by her side began to growl.
“Lucy, quiet,” Shivley was finally able to croak out. The Queensland heeler immediately quieted down and sat patiently at her side. Shivley’s heart was still racing from the adrenaline of almost hitting the car or worse if she had swerved. There was no guardrail on the dirt road, and the drop to the left was steep and rocky.
“Are you going to speak to me or just stand there and look at me like I just fell out of the sky?” the woman asked with her hands on her hips.
Jeez, Shivley, get a grip. “I—I’m sorry,” she stammered out of politeness. “I guess you just caught me off guard.” Her mouth was dry, and her voice didn’t sound like hers at all. She cleared her throat and swallowed a few times. “I’m all right. I was just surprised to round the corner and find you sitting here.” Shivley was not sure if she was making coherent conversation or not. She’d been overwhelmed by the woman the instant she stepped out of the car. “You said you were lost. What are you trying to find?” Shivley had lived in and around this area most of her adult life and knew most of the roads and landmarks.
“Let me get my map,” the woman replied, turning and walking back to the rental car. When she leaned through the open window to grab the map, Shivley moaned at the perfectly round ass encased in tight jeans that fit her like a second skin. The way she walked and carried herself, Shivley came to the conclusion that this was not a city girl. “Snap out of it, Shivley. You act as if you’ve never seen a woman before,” she mumbled to herself when the woman backed out of the car window and headed her way.
“I’m looking for forest road number 23A. I’m usually very good with directions, but I have no idea where I am or how to get there, and my friends are probably worried about me by now.” She frowned as she held the map out and indicated where she thought she was.
When she pointed to a place on the map, Shivley noticed that she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, nor was there any evidence that one had ever been there. The scent of perfume drifted to her in the light breeze, and she found it difficult to concentrate. She took a small step back to focus on the conversation and familiarize herself with the map. “You passe
d it. It’s about a mile back on this same road we’re on now. It’s narrower than this one, so it’s no wonder you missed it. If you don’t know where it is, you might never find it.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m pretty good with maps and directions, but I was starting to feel a little stupid because I couldn’t find it.”
“I can imagine.” Boy, can I ever imagine. Shivley quickly shut down that thought. She had work to do, and thoughts as pleasant as the ones that were flashing through her mind were distracting. In two days she would be responsible for ten women, and she had to keep her mind clear. She told herself she had no time for diversions, but her mind had other ideas that were transmitted to very specific parts of her body. Her heart had ceased its insistent drumming only slightly, but she remained acutely aware of the beautiful woman standing in front of her.
The ensuing silence was a bit awkward, and Rachel struggled with something to say to prolong the conversation. She didn’t know why she wanted it to continue. It wasn’t as if she was going to be around to get to know this woman. Hell, she wasn’t even going to be around long enough to have an affair with her unless she wanted to fuck right here and now in the dirt. Hey, now that’s an idea.
For the first time, Rachel took a good look at the driver of the vehicle that had come inches from crashing into her. She was taller than Rachel’s own five foot seven by at least three or four inches. She had thick, curly hair that was so brown it gleamed in the midday sun. Her hands looked strong and powerful, and her short-sleeve shirt clearly displayed the muscles underneath her tanned skin. Long, muscular legs a shade lighter than her arms snaked out from beneath a pair of khaki cargo shorts. The words “strong” and “powerful” immediately came to mind. Rachel’s headache disappeared and goose bumps rose on her arms. Eyes as black as coal returned her gaze with a twinkle that told Rachel she had been caught looking. Oops, busted. Good God, Rachel, you really do need to get laid soon.
“Well, I guess I’d better be getting along, then.” Rachel’s comment sounded halfhearted.
“I suppose so.” Shivley didn’t want her to go but knew it was ridiculous to try to stop her. “Back that way about a mile,” she reiterated and pointed for emphasis. She held the paper out to the other woman.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Rachel took the map and their fingers lightly grazed each other.
Shivley glanced at her hand where the woman had inadvertently touched her. It looked perfectly normal, but the spot where they had touched felt like it had just been scorched with a hot poker. Shivley quickly rubbed it several times and took a deep breath.
“Come on, Lucy, let’s go.” The dog sprang to life at her command, eager to be on the way.
“Thanks again for your help,” Rachel added, not knowing what else to say. She carefully turned her rental car around on the narrow road and waited for the Jeep to pass. There was something about the woman that was intriguing, but Rachel couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She seethed sensuality in an understated way almost to the point of not having a clue of its effect. She was definitely a lesbian and far different from the women Rachel was typically attracted to. They were hot, they knew it, and they used it to their advantage every chance they had. This was refreshing, if only for a few minutes.
Shivley passed the tan sedan, and a vague sense of loss came over her. She had been drawn to the driver in a way she had neither expected nor experienced in several years. She was so absorbed in her work that she rarely took time for herself and only came into town to pick up supplies. Her social skills—no, correct that—her flirting skills had atrophied due to lack of use, and Shivley frowned as she wondered why that suddenly bothered her.
Chapter Two
Tearing open the bag of dog treats, Shivley exited the pet store and stepped onto the sidewalk. Summer had finally arrived, and the warm sun that melted over her body felt glorious. It had been a long winter with above-average snowfall, and she felt every degree below freezing in her bones. The forecast for the last week in May was sunny with daytime temperatures in the mid-seventies. Lost in thought, Shivley turned to walk to the hardware store and ran right into a pedestrian walking in the opposite direction.
“I’m so sorry,” Shivley said, automatically reaching out and grabbing the arm of the person stumbling backward. In an instant Shivley recognized her as the stunning woman she’d met earlier in the day. “I guess it’s my turn to ask if you’re all right.” And if you’d like to have dinner, or go to a movie. Maybe spend several hours in bed?
“I’m fine, thanks.” Rachel returned the smile. “It seems as though we’re destined to keep running into each other today.”
“It appears so.” Shivley glanced up and down to assure herself that the poor woman she had collided with was not injured.
“I’m Rachel Stanton.” Rachel held out her hand in greeting.
“Shivley McCoy.” Shivley stammered for a moment, not remembering her own name. For the second time that day her mind was completely blank as to what to say next. She never had this much trouble talking to someone, particularly a gorgeous woman. Lucy wiggled at her side and nudged Shivley as if to say, “Hey, what about me?” “Oh, and this is Lucy. She’d never forgive me if I didn’t introduce her.”
Rachel kneeled down and scratched the dog under her chin. “Hey, girl, nice to meet you too.”
Shivley watched in amusement as Lucy nuzzled Rachel’s hand and wagged her tail. Dogs and babies were great babe magnets. Not that she was looking for a babe now, but if and when she was, she was confident Lucy would not let her down.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Shh, don’t say that too loud. She has a tendency to get a big head when people give her too many compliments.” Shivley smiled and rubbed the top of Lucy’s head. Rachel laughed, and Shivley thought she had never heard a more beautiful sound. It was deep and rolling like a bubbling brook and it flowed through her veins.
Rachel stood, or tried to before her right knee buckled. Shivley caught her hand to steady her before she collapsed in a heap on the ground. When she helped her up, she was met with another dazzling smile.
“Thanks.” Rachel gingerly applied weight to the affected leg.
Rachel’s hand was still wrapped in hers, and Shivley wanted to hold on forever. Her crotch started to beat in time with the blood running a race in her body. She suspected her eyes were giving her away, and to her surprise, she didn’t care. “May I come to your aid again, or do you know where you’re going?” When Rachel didn’t answer, Shivley reluctantly released her grasp.
“As a matter of fact, I’m going to the grocery store.” Rachel pointed to the supermarket on the corner. “It helps that it has a big sign for tourists like me.”
Shivley smiled at Rachel’s self-deprecating humor. “Where are you visiting from?” How long are you going to be here? Can I see you again?
“Atlanta.” The place that Rachel had lived for the last few years was just that—a place to live. As a child Rachel had lived in so many different places she never really considered any of them “home.” That nomadic practice continued into her adult years, and now Atlanta was simply a convenient place to fly in and out of.
Shivley cocked her head as if to listen a little better. “You don’t sound like you’re from Atlanta.”
“I’m not. I’m a transplant. I confess that at times I can conjure up a soft Southern drawl.” Rachel used the last statement to demonstrate.
Shivley’s body exploded in sensation, and she thought she might faint. Rachel had done an excellent job of mimicking a Southern woman both in drawl and in batting her eyes coquettishly. It was all Shivley could do not to swoon. She snapped out of her stupor when Lucy nudged her leg. “Did you find your friend’s house?”
“Yes, I did, thanks to your directions. I don’t think I would have found it without your help.”
“Just being neighborly.” A vision flashed in her mind of Rachel clad only in a skimpy housecoat standing on her doorstep asking to
borrow a cup of sugar.
Rachel focused on Shivley’s mouth, and Shivley was unaware of anything other than Rachel looking at her. Rachel licked her lips, and Shivley was entranced by the pink tongue. Her stomach jumped into her throat when Rachel’s gaze burned a trail up and down her neck, and she had to fight the urge to throw her head back to allow Rachel greater access.
Rachel shifted and Shivley saw the pulse in Rachel’s neck beating in tandem with her own. This was the first sign that Rachel was attracted to her. Shivley could almost taste the salt on Rachel’s skin and feel the heat beneath her tongue. She clenched her fists to keep from reaching out and taking Rachel in her arms. Pulling herself together, she stepped back half a step. She wanted to ask Rachel how long she would be in town, but before she had the chance, Rachel spoke.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you any longer. I guess I’d better get to the store. Thanks again for all of your help.” Rachel stepped around Shivley and her dog.
Shivley nodded and smiled. “My pleasure.” And it had definitely been a pleasure. Rachel’s eyes darkened, confirming that the suggestive wording of Shivley’s acknowledgment was not lost on her before she walked away.
Chapter Three
Shivley woke early to birds chirping outside her window. Stretching her arms and legs and filling most of the king-size bed, she buried under the covers for just a few more minutes of slumber. Lucy, however, had other ideas, and she maneuvered her wet nose under the blanket.
