In the Cowboy's Arms

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “Sorry about that.”

  “Are you really?”

  He grinned. “No, ma’am.”

  “I didn’t think so. When I first arrived and saw your face, I thought I’d made a terrible mistake by coming here. But it wasn’t a mistake, was it?”

  He met her gaze and his eyes crinkled with laughter. “If it was, I hope you keep on makin’ ’em.”

  Dear Lord, his kiss had been enough to seduce her without adding country charm to the mix. Apparently being in this setting highlighted all his considerable attributes. She could hardly wait for tomorrow’s trip to his ranch so she could sample every one of them.

  * * *

  The woman was hotter than the griddle at a Chamber of Commerce pancake breakfast. Matt was forced to call on his acting skills in order to appear in control as he walked back into the living room with Geena. He was congratulating himself on his smooth entrance when he tripped over a footstool and barely saved himself from a face-plant.

  “I saw that!” Cade smirked at him. “It was totally the stool’s fault.”

  His face heated. “I was...uh...”

  “Distracted?” Lexi gave him an innocent smile.

  “Poor guy’s worried about Briana.” Geena’s color was high and she avoided looking at him.

  “That’s the truth.” He appreciated her attempt to excuse his clumsiness but he could tell the rest of them weren’t buying it. Even his dad, usually the last to catch on, wore a knowing expression.

  His mom stood. “Briana’s lucky I don’t live in her town. Miserable woman.” She turned to Geena. “I’m sure you’re ready to crash. Let me show you where everything is. Your bathroom’s down the hall and the shower has some idiosyncrasies you’ll need to know about.”

  “I appreciate that, because I would love to take a shower before I go to bed.”

  Great. Now he’d picture her naked in the shower in the bathroom they’d be sharing during this visit.

  “I’m going to turn in, myself,” his dad said. “See everybody in the morning.”

  Once all three had left, Matt sank down on the sofa and blew out a breath.

  Cade pushed back his hat and gazed at him. “I don’t know if it was good or bad, but whatever happened out there sure has you going, bro.”

  “It was obviously significant,” Lexi said. “You’re one of the most coordinated guys I know. You took fencing lessons, for God’s sake. You don’t trip over footstools.”

  Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “I kissed her.”

  Cade nodded as if he’d expected to hear that. “Judging from the glazed look in your eyes, she kissed you back.”

  “Yes.”

  “Ah.” Lexi chuckled. “What a wealth of information is contained in that one little word. So is it okay for the rest of us to like her, now that you’re kissing each other? Because we all pretty much do.”

  “Yeah, sure.” He had trouble collecting his thoughts when his brain had been hijacked. “Do you think Mom’s matchmaking?”

  “Good question.” Cade scratched his chin where the shadow of a beard was starting to show. “Normally I would say yes, but I don’t get that vibe from her. We talked about Geena while you two were out there smooching, but—”

  “It was one kiss.”

  “Then it must have been a dandy.” Cade studied him. “I’m happy for you.”

  “Me, too,” Lexi said. “Earlier tonight, before she showed up, I got the impression from the conversation that you haven’t been dating anyone in the past six months or so.”

  “I haven’t. After auditioning for every commercial in the world, it seemed, I was finally in demand, which was great but kept me really busy. Then this bonanza hit, but a role like that takes a hell of a lot of prep work.”

  “I’ll bet.” Compassion shone in her eyes. “You looked strung out when you arrived, but you’re a lot perkier after stealing a kiss from your PR rep.”

  “As well you should be,” Cade said. “Geena’s great. I regret the nasty things I said about her before.”

  “But you don’t think Mom’s up to her usual tricks?”

  “I don’t think so.” Cade turned toward Lexi. “Do you?”

  “Why do I get the feeling you three are talking about me?” Rosie walked into the living room looking more amused than upset.

  “Guilty.” Lexi spoke up immediately. “We were wondering if you were matchmaking between Geena and Matt.”

  “I’m not.” Rosie claimed her favorite chair before gazing at him. “I came out to tell you that I moved her to the room down by us. That way she can have her own bathroom.” She paused. “And you won’t be neighbors.”

  He was very likely blushing. “Okay.” He calculated whether the added distance would help him sleep any better. Probably not.

  “Should’ve done that in the first place, but I was feeling a little put out with you, so I thought it would serve you right to have her next door. I figured sharing a bathroom might force you to be more civil.”

  Cade snorted. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem anymore.”

  “I can see that.” She smiled at Matt. “I don’t want to torture you, son. Or her, either. She confessed the strong attraction between you two but said she would never take advantage of my hospitality.”

  “She said that, straight out?” He gaped at her.

  “You sound surprised,” Lexi said. “Don’t you know people tell Rosie everything? I’ve never met anyone who inspires people to spill their guts the way Rosie does. It’s a gift.”

  “They don’t tell me everything.” Rosie surveyed the group. “For example, nobody has bothered to mention why Briana Danvers orchestrated that photo op. It was clearly planned and executed for a reason. Appears to be the work of an angry woman, if you ask me.” She speared Matt with a look. “I’m sure you have noble intentions, but she doesn’t deserve considerate treatment after the way she’s behaved.”

  “That’s what I said when he—” Cade groaned. “Sorry, Matt.”

  Rosie nodded as she studied the two of them. “As I suspected, it all came out on the drive from the airport.” She turned her attention to Matt. “Well?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, Mom.”

  “You don’t trust me to keep it to myself?”

  “Of course I do.” He sent a pleading glance in Cade’s direction, but Cade only spread his hands in bewilderment.

  “Maybe you don’t trust me,” Lexi said.

  “I’d trust both of you with my life. Trust isn’t the issue.”

  Rosie leaned forward. “Then what is the issue? I want to help you get out of this mess but I feel handicapped because I don’t know the whole story. I assume Geena doesn’t know it, either.”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  “She probably should. It might be extremely important.”

  “I can’t tell you what happened unless you promise that you won’t take any action against Briana.”

  “Action?” Rosie blinked. “What kind of action would I take?”

  “I don’t know, but you both have to promise not to try and harm her by word or deed.”

  “Wow,” Lexi said. “This is getting intense. Want us to sign something in blood?”

  Matt sighed. “Your word is good enough.”

  “All right,” Rosie said. “Lexi and I promise not to harm that horrible woman.” She paused. “Or hire someone to do it for us.”

  Cade choked on his beer.

  Rosie waited until he’d settled down before turning back to Matt. “What happened?”

  As Matt described Briana’s behavior, his mom grew very still, but her fists clenched and her eyes glittered with an unholy fire.

  He finished the story and took a deep breath. “It’s safe to say she’s after revenge.�
��

  Rosie looked at him and her voice sounded deceptively calm. “I could strangle her with my bare hands.” The even tone coupled with the ring of certainty was a chilling combination. She didn’t get angry often, but when she did everyone knew to take a step back.

  He cleared his throat. “Mom, you promised not to—”

  “And I won’t. She’s not worth going to jail for. I wouldn’t dirty my hands on that piece of trash. But poor Cliff.”

  “He’s the one I’m protecting, not her.”

  “Just realize you won’t be able to protect him forever. I doubt you’re the first and you won’t be the last. He’ll find out sooner or later. Probably sooner now that everyone and his dog is online.”

  “But Matt doesn’t want to be the bearer of bad news,” Lexi said. “I get that. Cliff Wallace seems like a great guy.”

  “From what I’ve read about him, he is.” Rosie leaned back in her chair. “But I think he has a weakness for bad women. I should have known this one would be no different. She won’t last, but in the meantime, she’s caused problems for one of my own.” She glanced at Matt. “There must be some way to put a hitch in her giddyup.”

  “Don’t I wish,” he said, “but I’m fresh out of ideas.”

  “We’re all too tired to think about this now.” His mom stood. “We’ll tackle it tomorrow. But thanks for trusting me with the info.”

  “It wasn’t about trust.” He got up to give her a good-night hug. “Cade and I were worried the mama grizzly might fly to LA and do a number on Briana.”

  “And wouldn’t I love to! But I won’t.” She hugged him back. Then she said good-night to Cade and Lexi before walking back down the hallway.

  “I think that went okay,” Cade said after she left. “Sorry I slipped up, though.”

  “No worries.” Matt continued to gaze at the darkened hallway as he debated whether his mom’s room-juggling trick changed anything. “Once we got into the conversation about Briana, I knew she’d find a way to dig it out of me.”

  “Like Lexi said, it’s her gift.” Cade stood and came over to sling an arm around Matt’s shoulders. “I notice how you’re focused on that hallway and who’s sleeping at the end of it.”

  “Just thinking.”

  “I know how that goes. I don’t want to get all up in your business, but—”

  “Yeah, you do.” Matt turned to smile at him.

  “Let’s just say that Mom’s maneuver with the room switcheroo is well meant, but I doubt it’ll lower your stress level. I suggest an alternate plan. Lexi and I have a comfy sofa you can use tonight. That should keep you out of trouble for the time being.”

  “And we’d be glad to have you as our guest,” Lexi added.

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll just head down to the barn and make up a bedroll in an empty stall.”

  Cade nodded. “That works, too. I remember you used to like doing that, getting into your John Wayne persona.”

  Matt lowered his voice and moved closer to Cade. “Buddy, this is awkward as hell, but I have a problem if things heat up in the next day or two. I don’t have—”

  “Say no more,” Cade murmured.

  His color high, Matt glanced over at Lexi. “Don’t listen.”

  “Can’t hear a thing.”

  “Got you covered,” Cade said quietly.

  “Thanks.”

  “All righty, then.” Cade clapped him on the back. “We’ll shove off. See you in the—well, hello, sunshine.”

  Matt glanced toward the hallway.

  Geena stood there rubbing her eyes. Her glossy brown hair tumbled in waves over her shoulders and she wore a bright blue sleep shirt with a Captain America shield on the front. She put on her glasses and peered at them. “Why is everybody still up? I thought we had to be awake at dawn.”

  “We’re in the process of leaving,” Cade said. “Why are you up?”

  Matt was grateful for Cade’s response because he was incapable of making one. His tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth as he noticed the drape of her sleep shirt and concluded she wasn’t wearing a bra. That could mean she didn’t have on panties, either. The ends of her hair were still damp from the shower.

  “I was thirsty and needed a glass for water.”

  Lexi started for the kitchen. “I’ll get you one. There’s a pitcher of cold water in the fridge. You’d probably rather have that.”

  “Thanks, I would. I’ll come with you. I need to know where things are.” Her bare feet whispered over the hardwood floor as she followed Lexi.

  Matt gazed after her, still at a loss for words. She was supposed to be tucked in her room with the door closed, not out here roaming around in a Captain America sleep shirt with nothing underneath but warm, sensuous, freshly showered woman.

  “You poor slob.” Cade regarded him with sympathy. “There’s no way I could slip you those raincoats tonight. Want us to hang around for a few, make sure she goes back to her designated area?”

  “That’s okay. I can handle it.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Chapter Six

  The hum of conversation in the living room had traveled through the air ducts to Geena’s room. She hadn’t been able to make out any of it, which had been maddening. For sure she was missing something and it might be important.

  She’d been dying to know what they were talking about, specifically what Matt was talking about. What if he’d decided to reveal the backstory that had led to Briana’s stunt? Damn it, now she wasn’t the least bit sleepy.

  She mostly blamed Matt’s kiss, although to be fair she was still on California time and she never went to bed this early. But it was after eleven here and people were still in the living room talking, even though Rosie had said they generally weren’t night owls. That meant something special was going on and she wanted to know what it was.

  When she couldn’t stand it another minute, she’d come up with an excuse to go out there. She would have put on a robe, but she’d packed so quickly this morning that she hadn’t thought to bring one. The sleep shirt was cotton, opaque and reached to midthigh. It covered everything important and she didn’t consider it seductive.

  At least, she hadn’t until she’d noticed Matt’s expression once she put on her glasses. He’d looked as if someone had blinded him with a strobe light.

  Sadly, she seemed to have caught the tail end of the party. After Lexi poured her a glass of water from the fridge, the two of them walked back to the living room. Geena had hoped that everyone would sit down and continue the discussion, but although Cade seemed ready to stay, Lexi insisted on leaving.

  After they were gone Geena was alone with Matt. She realized that might not be the best combination, considering how Matt was looking at her. She should take her water and go, but she wanted to know what that conversation had been about and she believed in seizing the moment. “Part of the reason I couldn’t sleep is that I heard you guys talking out here.”

  That startled him. “You did?”

  “Through the air ducts. But I couldn’t understand what you were saying.”

  “Oh. Yeah, I forgot about the air duct thing. Sorry if we kept you awake.” He didn’t look particularly sorry. The gleam in his eyes returned.

  “If it’s private family stuff, then never mind.”

  “It kind of was.” His expression said clearly that he’d like to drop the subject and move on to other things, like maybe kissing.

  She wouldn’t object, but she had a point to make first. “Matt, if you were giving them the scoop on your history with Briana, then I deserve to hear it, too. We’re in this together.”

  “Nice to know.” He took a step closer and there was no mistaking the intent in those blue eyes.

  The huskiness in his voice fired
her blood and fogged her glasses, but she recognized a delaying tactic when she saw one. “As long as we’re working together, your reputation is connected with mine.” She took off her glasses and used her shirtsleeve to clean them. “If I let you go down in flames that won’t look good for my firm. I don’t want to make this all about me because my investment in the problem isn’t nearly as big as yours. But I do have a stake in it.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” Taking off his hat, he ran his fingers through his hair.

  After yesterday, she recognized the gesture as a sign of nervousness. He didn’t like talking about this and he’d already been through it once tonight. “I’m sorry if this is difficult, but I need to know.”

  “I understand, but the more people I tell, the more likely it’ll come out and I don’t want that.”

  “You’re my client. I won’t betray your confidence.”

  He studied her for a moment and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

  “What?”

  “Can’t doubt the sincerity of someone wearing a Captain America shirt.” He used his hat to motion her toward the sofa. “We might as well sit.”

  She took one end and he claimed the other, leaving at least three feet between them. It wasn’t enough. She could feel the air crackling in that empty space every time she looked into his eyes.

  He laid his hat, brim side up, between them.

  She glanced at it. “Is that the neutral zone?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” His wink gave her goose bumps.

  “I promise not to attack you.”

  “I can’t make that promise.” His gaze swept over her. “Not when you come out here looking like that.”

  “Sorry. I forgot to bring a robe.”

  “I’m not complaining, just stating the facts.” His attention settled on the Captain America shield again. “I take it you’re a fan?”

  “Sure. He’s an all-American good guy. Like you.”

  “Thanks for the reminder. It’ll help me stay on my side of the hat.” He pointed to the glass she held. “You’re not drinking your water.”