Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)

by Donna Michaels

  “I’ve heard that before and it’s a bunch of bull.” He turned around, ready to do that walking thing when slim fingers wrapped around his arm and stopped him.

  “Connor, wait. I’m not sure why you’re mad, but what I said was true. It’s not you. I’m the one with the problem,” she said again, coming to stand in front of him, gaze open and honest. “I’m the one who’s a mess right now. Since my divorce, I’m…I’ve been…”

  Her voice trailed off as if she struggled for words to convey her meaning.

  His darn heart squeezed and compassion flowed through him. Sucker.

  His hand lifted to touch the softness of her cheek again. “It’s all right, darlin’. Relationships can get messy.” That was an understatement, and he was living proof. “I don’t know what happened between you and your ex, but whatever he did to put that look in your eyes, I hate him for it.”

  Her fingers tightened around his arm, and her eyes filled with tears.

  Ah hell. What did I do to cause that?

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Kerri closed her eyes for a moment, and he wasn’t sure if he should crush her close, stay put or run like hell. A moment later, they reopened and were clear.

  Thank God.

  A genuine smile softened her expression. “Sometimes, you say the nicest things. I swear, Connor, you’re the sweetest man I know.”

  Normally, he would’ve taken offense. He’d much rather be the sexiest, or strongest, or greatest, but when she lifted on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, he decided being sweet had its perks. It got her to put her lips on his body, and that was all right by him. More than all right.

  Besides, it removed the apprehensive look from her eyes. Now, she stared at him through a warm gaze, rapidly turning hot as he stroked her lower lip.

  When the hell had he given his hand permission to touch her again? Jesus. He had zero control when she was near. Zero.

  “I think you’ll find I can be full of sugar, darlin’.” Might have come out corny, but it made her smile widen, and that was worth it.

  Whatever kind of pull she had on him, increased, tugging him closer in a stranglehold he couldn’t break. And maybe he didn’t want to break it. Even though they both had issues, he was beginning to wonder if maybe they shouldn’t give into this attraction and try to heal each other.

  She wet her lips, and he swore he felt the soft swipe of her tongue as if she’d touched his flesh. He inhaled and let her berry scent wrap around him tight, filling his senses to the brim. Yeah, fighting something this strong was foolish. It was much smarter to give in.

  Cupping her face, he continued to stare into her eyes, giving her plenty of opportunity to run. She didn’t. Hot damn, he had to admit, he was a bit surprised. His pulse pounded heavily through his veins, to the point of vibrating.

  Wait, not him, but her phone pressed against his ribs.

  She blinked and stepped back, color rising in her cheeks as she fished the cell out of her coat pocket.

  “Hello?” She inhaled again, keeping her gaze on anything but him. “Hi, Jordan. Yeah, I’m ready. I’m in the cattle barn giving Hank a recipe for his wife.” She sent Connor a quick glance and an equally quick nod before twisting on her heel and heading for the door, phone still stuck to her ear.

  As he leaned against the corner of the stall, Connor watched the sexy, vulnerable, sweet west coaster disappear, and battled a few emotions of his own. Disappointment and relief claimed top billing.

  He drew in a breath and released it on a slow exhale.

  That was close. Too close.

  A smile tugged his mouth. Saved by the bell. He’d have to thank his future sister-in-law later; she’d inadvertently halted the runaway steed. Thank God.

  Connor didn’t know what it was about the cook, but he needed to up his resistance. She was a city girl. No matter how sweet and innocent and vulnerable she may seem, he needed to remember that.

  A trying feat when she was near. Much clearer when she was not.

  Drawing in another breath, he straightened from the wall. Now, if he could just do something about his sudden hankering for strawberries.

  The first week went by fast as Kerri obtained a new wardrobe, moved into the old homestead with her parents, and helped Jordan and Emma plan and prepare Cole and Jordan’s Engagement/Christmas Party to be held that night at the McCall Ranch. In less than an hour.

  She hoped she made enough food.

  Since it was practically winter, the celebration would be indoors, although a few heaters were set up outside should the guests feel the need to wander onto the brightly lit patio.

  White lights and red and white poinsettias decorated the large gathering room, and a huge Douglas Fir was ornamented then centered at the far wall.

  One half of the room was set up for eating while the other half was sectioned for dancing. The band, having already put up their stage and checked their sound this afternoon, was due back in a half hour.

  The routine was becoming old hat, and Kerri discovered she enjoyed the challenge of preparing for parties and wondered if her sister felt the same.

  Maybe catering and party planning was something they should check into, even though Jordan would be in Texas and Kerri would be in California. She ignored the pang in her gut and refused to think about her future away from her family. Catering still held possibilities. So did opening another restaurant. Or working as the top chef in one. But, right now, it didn’t matter. What mattered was her sister’s engagement party due to start in a little while.

  The happy couple wanted to keep things informal, so a buffet table was set up along the wall opposite from the band, allowing enough room to use either side. Covered in red with green linen napkins, the tables each had a white poinsettia centerpiece. Festive yet simple.

  Having promised her sister she’d take care of last minute details so Jordan could get ready, Kerri went back to the kitchen to put some finishing touches on the hors d’oeurves. Satisfied with the good variety of finger foods, she glanced at the desserts, and her mouth watered at some of the delicious concoctions Emma had made. A piece of the death-by-chocolate cake had her name on it. If there had been time, she’d sneak a piece now, but somehow time had gotten away from her, and she needed to finish getting ready herself.

  The comfortable navy pants and lilac, short-sleeved sweater she wore was fine to cook in, but not formal enough for the party. Her party clothes were hanging up in her old room upstairs.

  Her old room.

  Weird. She now had two of them. One here, and one at the homestead. Although both comfortable, she was beyond relieved to be at the other house and away from any chance meetings with a certain virile cowboy.

  Shirtless chance meetings.

  Her stomach fluttered just thinking about the last time she’d unexpectedly bumped into the hunk. It had been right there by the sink. Just before she’d moved back to her parents’ home. She’d rushed in one night to pull a recipe from the oven she’d been experimenting with, only to find the sexy distraction drinking a tall glass of water.

  Shirtless. And bootless.

  It was the beginning of December. Why the heck was he shirtless, and at eleven o’clock at night, she’d wondered, and made the mistake of asking.

  He just smiled at her over his glass, dang lop-sided grin dimpling his cheek. She took in his bare feet, bare chest, and the slight rumple to his short hair. That’s when it had dawned on her. Her heart had slammed into her ribs and face had heated. Dang man obviously just had sex and had probably escorted his ‘date’ to the door right before Kerri had come down.

  Oh how she’d wished the floor would’ve opened up and swallowed her whole. Which was stupid. They were adults. So he’d had sex. Big deal.

  But it had been a big deal, and she didn’t know why. She also didn’t know where to look, so she’d grabbed the oven mitts and pulled out her pot pie.

  “That smells great, darlin’,” he’d said, moving to stand behind her. “I worked u
p an appetite. I’m starved. Can I have some?”

  She smirked as she rearranged a tray. She bet he’d worked one up. Probably went all out, got very physical and sweaty when he had sex. And that’s when she’d nodded, putting a stop to that dangerous train of thought. His lips had twitched, no doubt reading her mind and laughing at her. She’d handed him a knife and told him to help himself before she’d exited the room like it was on fire.

  The next day, she’d moved out and hadn’t spoken to him since except for a quick answering wave during her visit with Emma and Jordan on Thursday, but they hadn’t talked.

  Tonight, though, tonight she wouldn’t be able to avoid him. But that was okay. No doubt the opposite sex would surround him, and he’d be too busy to spare her more than a passing hello. And so would she, between seeing her old friends Jen and Kevin again, and dealing with the food. Although Emma made her promise to forget the prep once the party started, Kerri vowed to be too busy to pay attention to the red-blooded cowboy and his dang lop-sided grin.

  That man’s mere presence engulfed, fogged, made her do the stupidest things, and since she hadn’t been firing on all receptors since the earthquake, she couldn’t afford the fogging.

  “Did they set up the Sterno?” Emma asked, breezing in from the pantry. The cook grabbed the hot pads off of the counter and opened the oven to check on her salmon.

  Kerri nodded. “Yes, it’s all set up and waiting for us to start.”

  She washed her hands and began to fill up the appetizer trays. Jordan had insisted on a simple menu, so Kerri opted to make Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Cheesy Barbecue Popcorn and her own favorite, Strawberry Flowers stuffed with a cream cheese mixture of powdered sugar, almond extract and grated chocolate.

  Her mouth watered at the thought. She loved anything strawberry, the chocolate was a bonus.

  For the main course, Emma and Kerri had split up the duty by each cooking three different dishes. Perfect week to move into her parents’ house. This gave each cook their own kitchen and space to create. Emma made Barbecue Beef Short Ribs, Chicken and Drop Dumplings and Salmon Croquettes, while Kerri made Beef and Beer Oven Stew, Catfish Provencale and Jordan’s favorite—Three Cheese Lasagna.

  Earlier today, she’d borrowed her dad’s SUV and carted her food over to store in the McCall’s industrial refrigerator. With a double oven and warming racks, it had been super easy to heat the food at the ranch.

  Kerri just wanted everything to go well. Jordan and Cole deserved this celebration.

  She started to fill the last appetizer tray when Emma shooed her away like an annoying fly.

  “Leave that to me. You go upstairs and change for the party. Guests have already started to arrive. You should be out there mingling,” the cook insisted. “There are plenty of servers here to help me. Now, go and enjoy yourself.”

  “All right.” Kerri laughed. “But I’ll take this last tray out and then go up and change.” With a smirk, she scurried from the kitchen before Emma could take the tray from her.

  Several people were already there, including her sister, wearing a beautiful, backless red dress. Her fiancé, equally dapper in black dress pants and white silk shirt, couldn’t take his eye off Jordan. They were in the middle of the room, talking to the new arrivals. A few women and Connor, she noted with that dang flutter in her chest, were laughing off to the side.

  Dressed in black jeans and a red western shirt tucked in and with the sleeves rolled up, he looked more handsome than a man had the right. He wore his black Stetson, and as she passed with the tray, she warned herself not to think about red briefs.

  Intending to walk by, she was stopped when a hand with five ruby red polished nails wrapped around her arm.

  “Well, if it isn’t little Kerri? Oh, that looks delicious.” The blonde standing next to Connor cooed as she took a bacon wrap off of the tray and plopped it into her ruby red mouth.

  Little Kerri?

  Chapter Four

  Little? Kerri towered over the woman.

  “Sure does,” Connor responded easily as he winked at Kerri.

  She nearly dropped the dish. Holy smokes. Was he seriously flirting with her?

  “Careful there, darlin’.” Quick as lightning, he steadied the tray enough for her to gain control again.

  “Thanks, darlin’,” she replied.

  Connor chuckled, and Kerri rolled her eyes as she continued to the buffet table. She’d recognized the girl. Ashley. The same blonde Connor was supposed to take to a party when Kerri had been eleven.

  That hadn’t gone well.

  Laughter tickled her throat. It really hadn’t been her fault. Ashley made the mistake of making fun of her pigtails and braces while waiting for Connor. Kerri wasted no time in recruiting the two golden retrievers the McCalls had at the time, and as the couple stepped outside, she’d turned off the hose and let the wet dogs loose on Ashley—and her new white dress. She smiled at the memory. Wasn’t white after that.

  Reaching the table, Kerri placed the tray down and wondered briefly if Bullet was around. He’d help her bring Ashley down a peg or two if need be. Grinning, she turned around to see her sister summoning from across the room.

  Keeping the grin on her face, she walked to the happy couple and gave her sister a hug. “You look stunning, Jordan. What’s up?”

  “Thank you, hun. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t over doing it.” Her sister eyed her with concern. “I want you to enjoy yourself at this party, not work.”

  “That was the last tray. Honest. Emma said the same thing and threw me out of the kitchen.” Kerri laughed along with Jordan and Cole.

  “It had better be,” her soon-to-be brother-in-law warned, killer smile on his handsome face. He pulled her into a hug. “You are supposed to have fun like all the other guests.”

  She returned his embrace. “I will, I promise. I’m going upstairs to change now, then I’ll be back for the fun.”

  “We’re going to hold you to that.” Cole drew back and smiled down at her before he pushed her toward the foyer. “Oh, and Kerri?”

  She turned around and waited. His dark eyes were sparkling. Bugger was up to something. “Yes, Cole?”

  “Lose the apron.”

  Crud. She glanced down at the forgotten garment. Great, she’d talked to Ashley and Connor in her apron. Oh well. No sense in getting flustered. She was training herself to not make a big deal out of little things.

  “What? Not festive enough?” she asked. She held the apron away from her and matched Cole’s grin before turning to head upstairs to get ready.

  The party was in full swing by the time Kerri descended the stairs in a dark green, velvet dress that didn’t cling, only brushed her curves to stop just below fingertip length. She felt sexier in a dress that hinted rather than revealed.

  It wasn’t always the case. Heck no. Just this past summer, she’d lazed around Wild Creek with Jordan in her bikini. Her very small bikini. So used to blending in on the west coast, she hadn’t really thought much of her lack of clothes at the time. And she refused to think about it now.

  What’s done was done.

  Keeping her new motto uppermost in her mind, she entered the room with a smile on her face. She actually felt good. Surprising what a new dress and new sexy, black, strappy heels could do for a girl’s ego.

  With no time to waste on her hair, she’d twisted and clasped it at the top of her head, while her bangs and a few pieces fell loose about her face. Going for simple sophistication, she probably only got the simple part right. Oh well. Didn’t matter. Insert motto here. Her smile widened.

  What’s done was done.

  The more Kerri said it in her head, the more she liked the motto. Between that and what her sister always told her—don’t sweat the little stuff—her outlook on life had improved the past week. And Jordan was right. Time to stop sweating.

  So she was homeless and unemployed. So what. She was also loved by her family and friends. That’s what counted.

&
nbsp; “Oh, hun, you look lovely,” her mom said, pulling her in for a quick hug.

  “Thanks.” She stepped back, eyeing her mother’s pretty navy and silver dress. “So do you.”

  Her dad kissed her cheek. “Well, I don’t look lovely, but I am loving your appetizers,” he said, before popping another bacon wrap in his mouth.

  The McCalls readily agreed, lifting their plates.

  She smiled. “Good. I’m glad. But save room for the entrees, too.” Her gaze shifted back to her dad. “Emma’s made the salmon you love.”

  “Not to worry.” He winked, slapping his gut. “I’ve got room. But first, we’re going to mingle.”

  People were already lining up at the buffet table, so she began to make her way there when a familiar voice called out from behind.

  “Kerri, you look stunning as always.”

  She’d wondered when she was going to bump into their handsome neighbor.

  “Hello, Kevi—” She turned to greet him and burst out laughing. Cole’s best friend wore a headband that dangled a piece of mistletoe above his dark head.

  The blue-eyed, black haired cowboy smiled down at her. “What?” he asked innocently.

  What indeed. Kerri grinned. “Leave it to you, Kevin Dalton, to come up with a way not to miss out on the free kissing.”

  “That’s because it’s the only way he’s going to get any,” Connor teased, approaching from the side.

  With her pulse suddenly leaping in her chest, she turned to watch the gorgeous cowboy lumber closer.

  “You’re just upset you didn’t think of it first,” she said before she could curb her tongue.

  He laughed, dimple glaring, brown eyes twinkling. “True.”

  Breath hitched in her throat, and she wondered for the umpteenth time why she had such a reaction to the teasing hunk.

  And was there a way to make it stop.

  “Actually, he doesn’t need it,” Kevin informed. “Girls have been cornering him under the mistletoe his parents hung over there.” He pointed to a sprig hanging near the window seat in the far corner of the room.