Silk and Spurs

by Cheyenne McCray

  “Zane Cameron.” He took Bud’s hand and shook it before taking Joe’s and releasing it. “Did you know you’re trespassing on private land?” Zane’s tone kept his tone even, not showing any anger. “There’s no hunting on this part of the ranch.”

  Joe pushed up his ball cap. “This your land?”

  Bud glanced around. “We’re sorry. We’ve been real careful to not trespass. We didn’t see any signs.”

  “I own the Bar C.” Zane gave a nod. “We’re pretty welcoming to hunters, but we want to keep them out of this area of the ranch this year. Someone has taken down the signs and we’ll be fixing that.” He pointed toward the west. “If you take the dirt road another mile and a half, there’s a sign that says Jones’ Mesa. I’ve seen plenty of deer in that area and there are some great places to glass from and see a lot of country,” he said. “Just do me a favor and go under the fences if you can rather than climb over them. Hunters damage a lot of fences. It’s the only gripe I really have about you guys.”

  “Sure thing. We understand. We’ll head on over there.” Bud moved his gaze from the direction Zane had pointed to and looked at Zane again. “Much obliged.”

  Zane gave a nod and then Bud and Joe headed back to the beat-up red pickup, climbed in with Bud on the driver’s side. The truck gave a rusted hiccup and then rumbled as Bud started it.

  He noticed Jessie photographing the truck as the men left. She lowered her camera and looked at Zane. “You were pretty nice to those guys.”

  He rested his hand on the hood of his truck. “Nothin’ wrong with a little hunting as long as it is in the right area and as long as they respect things.”

  “What does ‘to glass from’ mean?” she asked. “That’s a term I’ve never heard before.”

  “Hunters use binoculars and spotting scopes to search the country for deer,” Zane said. “It’s called glassing. When they see deer through the binoculars, they stalk them.”

  “That’s interesting,” she said. “So what’s next for a day in the life of a cowboy?” Her smile caused a stirring in his gut. “After chasing off hunters and all.”

  He studied her and it felt as if there was a war going on in his chest. “While we’re out here I can give you a little more of a tour of the Bar C.” Something about Jessie made him want to spend as much time as possible with her.

  Not a good idea, Cameron. He mentally chided himself. Run fast and run now.

  “Sure.” She smiled. “I’d love that.” She pointed in the direction of the fence line. “I saw a group of some kind of cool looking feathery looking plants over there that I’d like to photograph on the other side of the fence.”

  He gave a nod then watched her as she walked away from him. She had a cute little ass and gentle curves that were made for a man’s hands to caress. And those long legs that weren’t covered by her shorts. They were enough to make a man’s mouth water.

  Damn.

  Jessie reached the barbed wire fence. He watched as she carefully grabbed a top strand between barbs and then did the same with her feet so that she was standing on the bottom strand and balancing as she took pictures.

  Concerned that she might fall, he moved closer to her. Before he reached her, she lowered the camera and let it hang on the strap around her neck. She started to climb back down when he heard a ripping sound and then a curse.

  He reached her and put his hand on her shoulder. “You okay?” he asked just as he looked down and saw that she’d shredded her T-shirt on the barbed wire.

  His mouth went dry as he got a good look at her bare breast and the pert nipple. He swallowed and met her gaze.

  Her cheeks had gone red hot and she held her T-shirt over her breast the best she could. “So much for this thing,” she said, trying to make light of an embarrassing situation.

  “We’ll get you back to the house and you can wear one of my clean shirts.” His touch set her on fire as he took her arm and she stepped down from the fence with his aid. “For now you can wear this one.”

  He released her then unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off. Her jaw almost dropped as she got a good look at his tanned physique and the powerful play of muscles in his chest and arms.

  If he wasn’t about to be married she would have jumped him in two seconds flat.

  “Thanks,” she said as she took the shirt from him and smiled.

  He helped her slip into the shirt as she fought to keep the scrap of cloth over her breast. His shirt had his scent, warm and masculine, and she found herself inhaling and savoring it.

  Once the shirt was on, they walked back to his truck and he helped her into the cab. She kept her hand firmly over the tear as he shut the door behind her.

  He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the truck before glancing over at her. “Need a little help with that?” he said in a teasing voice.

  “I think I’ve got it.” Her cheeks had cooled but threatened to heat up again. “What happens on Cameron property stays on Cameron property, right?”

  He laughed. “No problem.”

  Chapter 2

  They were still laughing when they reached the ranch house. Despite being embarrassed by Zane having seen her naked breast, she’d found it easy to put that aside and instead to enjoy his company.

  Yet there was an undercurrent between them. Something almost sexual and strong. Something that could get them both into trouble.

  And the fact that he was shirtless, thanks to loaning her his shirt, wasn’t helping her get her mind off of what it would feel like to touch him. To lick his body from head to toe.

  Down, girl.

  When he parked, she tucked her camera into her backpack then swung it over her shoulder. Before she could open the door herself, he opened it for her then helped her climb out. His palm felt warm on her arm through the fabric of his shirt that she was wearing.

  “Next time maybe you should avoid barbed wire. Not standing on fences goes for photographers too. You should have listened to me.” Zane laughed. “See what you get?” He gave her a grin as he looked down at her. “There are gates that might be a little easier to get through.”

  She gave him a sheepish look. “I suppose that’s true but you don’t have to rub it in.” She stuck her lower lip out in a playful pout.

  He grinned and took her backpack from her despite her protests. “We should probably get inside before anyone sees us,” she said. “You with no shirt, and me wearing it, can’t possibly look good.”

  “Too late.” The laughter had faded from his voice and her skin prickled as she looked toward the house.

  A beautiful, petite blonde woman wearing a pink blouse and designer blue jeans stood in front of the house. Her blonde hair hung to her shoulders in smooth, shining curls. Next to her was a tall cowboy whose hat shadowed his eyes.

  The cowboy was looking at them with clear amusement. The blonde was not.

  By the furious expression on the woman’s face, and the way she was glaring at Jessie, she was pretty sure the woman was Zane’s fiancée.

  “How dare you.” The woman’s face had flushed red. “You were off somewhere with this—this woman?”

  Zane’s expression went hard and he started to speak but Jessie hurried to say, “It’s really not what you think.”

  “Shut up, bitch.” The woman’s eyes sparked with fury as she spouted venom at Jessie.

  Jessie reeled back, feeling as if she’d been slapped. How dare the woman call her a bitch? If Zane hadn’t been there, she might have put the witch in her place.

  “Phoebe.” Zane kept his voice low and controlled. “Jessie tore her shirt on some barbed wire. I loaned her mine to cover herself up.”

  The woman put her hands on her slim hips, the snarl on her features taking away from her beauty. “How convenient.”

  The woman might be spitting mad, but the cowboy on the porch looked like he was holding back a fit of laughter.

  “Phoebe.” Zane’s voice was harder now. “You need to calm down.”

>   “Calm down?” She stomped her foot. “I’ll show you calm down.”

  “This ought to be good,” the cowboy on the porch said, just loud enough for Jessie to hear.

  The woman raised her hand and Jessie saw the flash of metal. Her heart leaped and then Phoebe threw something at Zane—and missed. Jessie looked at the dirt and saw that she had thrown a pie tin filled with brownies, the brownies now scattered all over the ground.

  She was amazed at how cool Zane appeared to be while the woman in front of him was livid.

  “Where’s Phoebe’s car, Wyatt?” he asked the cowboy on the porch.

  Wyatt gave a nod toward the barn. “Joe is detailing it now.”

  Phoebe marched down the steps and straight up to Zane. “How dare you?” she said again and raised her hand.

  He caught her wrist before she could slap him. “That’s enough.” This time Jessie could hear the anger in his voice. “Why don’t you go home and we’ll talk about this later.”

  “You bet I’m going home.” She jerked her wrist away from him. “I’ve had enough.” She glared at Jessie before she marched toward the barn, her hands clenched at her sides. “Enjoy the brownies I made you,” she said over her shoulder.

  Zane let out a harsh breath and looked away from Phoebe’s retreating backside.

  “True colors, bro.” Wyatt was shaking his head as Zane looked back at him. “Been trying to tell you for ages now that you’re crazy for wanting to marry that woman. Most people think life passes by too quickly. You, on the other hand, are going to have the slowest years of your life if you marry her.”

  Ignoring Wyatt, Zane turned his attention to Jessie. “That, as you’ve no doubt guessed, is the woman I’m supposed to marry, Phoebe Anderson. He gestured to Wyatt. “And that’s my brother, Wyatt.”

  Wyatt tipped his cowboy hat. “Ma’am.”

  Zane continued, “Wyatt, this is Jessie, the wedding photographer.”

  Wyatt burst out laughing. “Now doesn’t that just make everything perfect?”

  “Nice to meet you,” Jessie said to Wyatt. “I think.”

  At that, he grinned. “A pleasure, Jessie.”

  “I’ve got to settle Phoebe down.” Zane looked like it was the last thing he wanted to do right now.

  Wyatt, who was as tall and muscular as Zane, was already easing out of his shirt. He tossed it to Zane and grinned. “Might go better if you put something on.”

  Zane gave his brother a nod and glanced at Jessie. “Make yourself at home.”

  “Maybe I should be going,” she said.

  “Stay.” He handed the backpack to her. “I’ll be right back.”

  Jessie watched Zane walk toward the barn. “Oops,” she murmured.

  “Oops is right,” Wyatt said and she turned her attention to him. He was built as fine as Zack that it was hard not to stare at his muscular form. “Probably the best thing that could have happened, believe it or not,” he was saying.

  Jessie frowned. “Why do you say that?”

  “Phoebe just showed her true colors to Zane for the first time that I know of.” Wyatt shook his head as he started to pick up the brownies and put them in the tin. “She’s done a real good job of making sure he sees her good side. Zane’s not a fool by any means, but I do think the woman has blinded him. Most of the time she seems real sweet and genuine and friendly around him and the rest of the family. People tend to love her.” He pushed up the brim of his cowboy hat. “But she’s shown another side to the help and a few others. I just happened to walk in on her and overhear her a couple times when Zane was nowhere to be seen.”

  Jessie helped Wyatt pick up the rest of the brownies. She glanced back at the barn then looked at him again. “She did seem a little…extreme.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.” He inclined his head in the direction of the house. “Why don’t you come on in for a glass of sun tea?”

  “I’d like that.” She hitched the backpack up on her shoulder and headed toward Wyatt.

  • • •

  Zane ground his teeth as he entered the barn, the sound of Phoebe yelling at someone greeting his ears.

  “Where are my keys?” she shouted at Chad, one of the ranch hands who had obviously been cleaning her car for her. “I’m leaving. Now.”

  “They’re in the ignition.” The young cowhand hurried to open the SUV’s door for Phoebe. “But I didn’t get a chance to finish.”

  “I noticed.” She tossed her blonde hair away from her face. “Now move it.”

  “Phoebe.” Zane said her name in a way that made her stop in her tracks.

  She slowly turned around, her eyes flashing with anger. “I see you have a shirt on now.”

  Zane looked at Chad. “Wilson likely needs your help. Find him.”

  “Yes, sir.” Chad jogged out of the barn, looking grateful to be out of there.

  Zane met Phoebe’s still furious gaze. “There was no call for you to act like that. You totally disrespected our guest and were as rude as anyone I’ve seen. There’s also such a thing as trust between two people,” he said quietly. “You just showed me that you don’t have the kind of trust that is needed in a marriage. A Cameron doesn’t act that way.”

  She raised her chin. “Well, I’m not a Cameron.”

  “No you’re not.” He gave her a hard look. “A display like that makes me wonder why you should be.”

  Phoebe looked shocked at the comment. The anger in her gaze turned into an almost panicked look. “Zane, please don’t say that. It hurts me. The comment that you both needed to hurry so that no one would see you made me wonder.”

  “Well, your behavior was out of line, Phoebe. She’s the wedding photographer.” As Zane said the words, Phoebe took a step back. “She’s supposed to be photographing the ranch and your place, if you remember.”

  “Then why was she wearing your shirt?” Phoebe said, suddenly sounding less angry.

  “I told you.” Zane tried to hold onto his patience. “She stood up on a barbed wire fence to take a photograph and ripped her shirt real good when she stepped back down. I gave her my shirt so that she could cover herself up.”

  The fight seemed to go out of her. “I’m sorry, Zane.” She took a step toward him. “When I saw you with her, like that, I just—I just snapped.”

  “Yes, you did.” He couldn’t find it in himself to go toward her. “Like I said, you should have trusted me.”

  She nodded, now looking as if she had really screwed up. “You’re right. I saw red and the way I acted was stupid.” She gave him a pleading expression. “Can you forgive me?”

  Zane slipped his hands into his back pockets. “We need to reach an understanding.”

  “Yes, Zane.” She moved closer and lowered her head, not looking at him. “Trust at all times is important. I see that clearly now.”

  He didn’t respond and she moved closer and rose up on her tiptoes as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “I can think of a good way to make up.” She brought her mouth close to his and murmured. “Take me. Right here, right now.”

  “This is not the time or the place,” he said as she pressed her body close to his.

  She pulled him down so that her lips could meet his. “I want to make things good between us again.”

  When she kissed him, Zane felt nothing. Nothing at all. She hadn’t changed her attitude until he made a comment about her not being a Cameron. Maybe the boys were right about the Jekyll and Hyde behavior. He moved his hands to her shoulders and returned her kiss, trying to find that spark that was usually between them.

  Nothing.

  “What’s wrong?” She drew away. “You’re still mad.”

  He moved his hands up to her wrists then pulled her arms down from around his neck. “I think you need to go on home for now. We’ll talk later.”

  Phoebe frowned. “I’m trusting you, Zane, that she’s not the reason why you seem kind of cold right now.”

  “You’re right.” He took a
step back. “It has nothing to do with the photographer.” And everything to do with you.

  Phoebe put on her smile that usually made people fall in love her. “Give the girl my phone number and tell her to call me tomorrow. She can come photograph my place.”

  He gave a nod. “I’ll do that.”

  Her smile seemed forced as she started toward the driver’s side of the car. “Can you get the barn doors for me?”

  He opened the doors as she slid into her SUV. She rolled down her window and said, “Thanks,” then gave a little wave as she drove the vehicle out of the barn.

  He kept his gaze on her car as she headed out, through the gateway and on down the road.

  The behavior that others had been telling him about, and that he had seen more of lately, left him cold. He felt nothing, nothing at all as he watched her drive away.

  Chapter 3

  “Whoa.” Jessie shook her head as she and Wyatt sat at the table in the kitchen nook and drank tall glasses of iced tea. “Pass on being in the middle of something like that again.”

  He was wearing one of Zane’s shirts. “Now that was entertainment,” Wyatt said with a grin.

  “No comment.” She reached for a sugar cookie that was on the plate between them. “I’ll just enjoy one of these.” When she took a bite she gave a sound of satisfaction. “Now these cookies are worth talking about.”

  “Dani made them before she headed off to town.” He took a bite of his the cookie he’d taken off the plate. “Can that girl ever cook.”

  “I have a sister who’s an amazing cook, too.” Jessie pushed her hair out of her face. “Tanya came to visit for a week but she headed back to Houston. She’s a flight attendant.”

  “Is she single?” Wyatt winked. “Not enough women in these parts to choose from.”

  Jessie laughed. “Yes, and she’s cute, too.”

  Speaking of cute, Wyatt was just as hot as his brother. His hair was light brown, a chestnut color, where Zane’s was black. But they had the same gorgeous blue eyes. The resemblance between the two was clear but she could see and sense their differences, too, which started with the glint of laughter in Wyatt’s eyes where Zane seemed more serious.