Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)

by Donna Michaels

  Once inside the store, he disappeared, but Kerri shrugged figuring she’d meet up with him eventually; the place was tiny. Grabbing a cart, she wheeled through the aisles, picking up the things on the list she’d had in her pocket. She was examining the green peppers when a shadow fell across the vegetables.

  “Hello, Kerri,” a deep voice said from behind. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  Surprised, she nearly dropped the pepper, but recovered before it tumbled to the floor. Meeting Duke’s blue gaze, she smiled weakly. “Hello. I didn’t see you there.”

  He was so big and male, and she felt shabby despite the approval in his eyes and soft smile on his lips.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you, but I couldn’t believe my luck in running into you here. I just left a message with your mother.” He grinned.

  “Oh. Is there something wrong?” Kerri asked, concern washed away some of her nerves.

  He shook his head. “No, there isn’t anything wrong. I just wanted to ask…”

  He didn’t get a chance to finish because another shadow crossed over her, and the voice belonging to it rudely cut into their conversation.

  “Don’t go getting any ideas, Carver.”

  Connor’s voice was grim, and Kerri had all she could do not to jump at the venom in his tone. Turning to face him, she was shocked to see fury emanating from his every pore.

  Holy cow. She’d never seen Connor so angry before. Heck, she never would’ve associated Connor with the word fury. The cowboy was usually just too laid back.

  “Stay out of it, McCall. This is between Kerri and me,” Duke growled out a warning.

  “She doesn’t want to go out with you.”

  “How do you know? I haven’t even asked her yet!”

  As the two cowboys squared off, gazes locked, Kerri wondered briefly if this was what a showdown was like in the old west.

  “I know because she has better taste than the likes of you,” Connor said, tone steely cold. “Your problem is with me.” He pointed to himself and then nodded to her. “Leave her out of it.”

  “You do not have dibs on every woman, McCall.” Duke narrowed his eyes. “This isn’t college. You can’t bully me around.”

  Kerri’s neck was getting sore looking from one to the other. A few customers stopped shopping and were eyeing the men with interest. Disgusted with their juvenile behavior, she set the pepper in her cart and silently pushed her items, along with her embarrassment, to the checkout, leaving the men to continue with their squabble.

  She was putting her bags in the truck when Connor finally came out of the store. He didn’t have any marks on him, so it must’ve only been words the idiots exchanged.

  She didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry, so she kept her voice void of feeling. “Oh, you’re finally done.”

  “Yeah. Look, Kerri—”

  She cut him off with a wave of her hand. “I don’t want to hear it. Whatever your problems are, they’re between the two of you. Leave me out of it.”

  “It’s just that—”

  Again she silenced him with her hand and shook her head. “I mean it, Connor. I’m not interested.”

  And she wasn’t. She didn’t care who the best chest pounder was or who had the bigger penis. None of that impressed her. She liked her men civilized. Ones who didn’t have shouting matches in the middle of a flippin’ market.

  She hadn’t had problem with Duke. He’d been civilized and polite until Connor had barged in.

  Kerri climbed into the truck and slammed the door, putting an end to their conversation. At least, she hoped so.

  The ride home was done in total silence. She kept going over the events of the squabble in her head, and by the time Connor stopped the truck, she was angry.

  What right did he have to interfere? She could take care of herself. Did he do it out of concern for her, or just because he didn’t want Duke to have what he couldn’t? The more she contemplated, the angrier she became.

  Getting out of the truck, Kerri drew in a breath and grabbed a bag. She was so ready to put some distance between them. Her mind knew he had only been trying to protect her, but it still rankled that he’d treated her like a head of cattle. She reached for the second bag, but Connor grabbed it first. Fine. No sense in arguing over groceries. She trudged up the stairs, down the hallway and fished the key out with her free hand. He could drop the bag off and leave; she really didn’t want his company right now.

  “Kerri, will you let me explain?”

  “No.” She set her bag on the counter, and he did the same, while she bent to pat the greeting Bullet.

  “You’re being childish!”

  She laughed and reeled around to face him. “I’m being childish? I can’t believe you just said that!”

  “Well you are. Miss high-and-mighty cultured Kerri is acting like a baby.” Connor looked down his nose at her.

  Her anger rose so high she couldn’t decide what to say first. So she repeated him. “I’m acting like a baby? You were the one causing a scene near the vegetables, not me.” Her finger poked his firm chest. “I wasn’t the one acting all territorial and making a fool out of myself.”

  “Of course not. Miss Priss would never stoop so low, would she?”

  Miss Priss? Her head began to pound as they stared at each other. Is that really what he thought of her?

  “She would never show any passion! Hell no, that’s a dirty word.” Distaste covered his face as he continued, “I don’t know what I was worried about. You wouldn’t know what to do with a red-blooded cowboy anyway!”

  The sting of his words cut so deep she swallowed back tears. Her whole body alternated between numb and shaking. About to retaliate, she had her mouth open when her phone rang. Happy for the interruption, she didn’t bother to look at the caller.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Kerri. It’s Duke.”

  She glanced at Connor. “Hi, Duke.” She didn’t think it was possible, but the cowboy stiffened further. “What can I do for you?”

  “I’m really sorry about that mess. All I wanted to do was ask you to have dinner with me tonight at the Gulfport.”

  With her gaze glued to Connor’s furious face, she straightened her shoulders and smiled. “I’d love to go to the Gulfport tonight. I’ve wanted to try their food.” At least that last part was true. She’d worry about the first part, later.

  Kerri watched Connor’s eyes narrow and lips thin before he spun on his boots and stalked out the door. She vaguely heard Duke tell her he’d pick her up at six before he hung up. Her attention had been drawn to the sound of tires kicking up gravel in Connor’s haste to leave.

  She slumped down into a chair, her legs no longer able to support her. As if sensing her emotional state, Bullet whimpered and set his head on her thigh. Kerri absently stroked his fur as the reality of what just happened hit full force.

  Two men had verbally fought over her in public. She’d accepted a date with a cowboy she didn’t want to go out with and was told by the one she did that he didn’t think she could handle a red-blooded cowboy.

  And wasn’t that just it. He’d nailed it. Her biggest fear shouted out, made public right to her face. By the one cowboy she’d hoped would prove her wrong.

  As six o’clock grew nearer, Kerri’s apprehension grew stronger. More than once, she’d picked up the phone to bail out of her date with Duke, but each time she stopped because she saw Connor’s face and heard his troubling words.

  You wouldn’t know what to do with a red-blooded cowboy.

  Her stomach still gripped tight. The words hurt so much because they were the truth. In fact, Kerri wasn’t sure she had what it took to keep the sexual interest in any man any more.

  That wasn’t always the case. She’d dated throughout high school, shared heated embraces with the quarterback and might have even done more if he hadn’t headed to Harvard. Then there was the cute lifeguard she’d met through Jordan when her sister had been life guarding. Tate had
been fun and sweet, and he’d taught her the merits of making out under a blanket on a moonlit beach.

  So, yeah, her young adult years had been fine. It was since her marriage that her ‘problem’ surfaced. Maybe if she hadn’t toned herself down so people would pay more attention to her food. Maybe then she would’ve been more attractive and sexy, and Lance wouldn’t have looked elsewhere. Maybe if she’d been more responsive.

  God, she didn’t know. But she couldn’t help but feel a failure when it came to sex. Why else would her husband have…strayed?

  Jordan and Megan had insisted it wasn’t her. God, she wanted to believe them, but they didn’t exactly know the full story.

  Sure, Connor couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her, although, she didn’t think she’d have that problem with him anymore. And he didn’t actually count. He was almost as bad as Kevin. Those two cowboys weren’t picky when it came to women. They didn’t seem to care about size, shape or color. Which was a good thing. She actually admired them for that…it was just that it didn’t say much for her, then. If they dated anything in a skirt, it didn’t quite prove her desirability.

  No. She needed to test the waters with someone not so…easy. Her date with Duke was a good place to start.

  The doorbell rang as if to confirm her thoughts. She glanced at her watch. Six o’clock. Prompt. Kerri put that in Duke’s favor. Opening the door, she had to add his sense of style to the list. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit with a black silk shirt underneath and sported a matching gray tie. He didn’t look like a cowboy at all. He looked like a gentleman right down to his leather shoes.

  So it was odd that Bullet let out a low woof. She bent to pat the dog and told him it was okay. He remained quiet, but didn’t budge.

  “These are for you, Kerri,” Duke said, handing her a darling bouquet of tiny, red roses. “You look lovely.”

  She smiled at the sincerity in his gaze, and was glad she’d decided to wear her simple but elegant black dress with a boat neck and small slit up the back. She’d also pulled up the sides of her hair, and even dusted gray eyeshadow across her lids.

  “Thank you for the roses and the compliment,” she replied, feeling her face heat.

  An appreciative gleam entered his blue eyes. “You’re more than welcome.”

  Nerves began to invade her body. Calm down, you can do this. She smiled. “I’m just going to put these in water, then we can go.”

  After placing the clear vase on the credenza, she grabbed her coat off the back of the chair.

  “Allow me.” He took it out of her hands and held it open for her.

  Another plus in his favor. He looked and acted like a perfect gentleman. She only hoped he continued to do so throughout the evening. Her mama didn’t raise an idiot. Connor had to have had a reason to dislike Duke. And since she had foolishly stopped Connor from explaining, she was on her own.

  When they arrived at the Gulfport restaurant, Duke told the maitre d’ his name, and they were led to a corner booth with a wonderful view of the place.

  He ordered their wine as she looked over the posh menu. Many of the entrées were either steak or seafood, and having received rave revues for their seafood, Kerri chose the grilled salmon. Since that would be on her menu as well, she wanted to taste the competition.

  After they placed their orders, Duke sat back and gave her a curious look.

  “What?” she asked with a shy smile.

  “I was just wondering what a cultured woman like yourself is doing opening a restaurant here in Texas instead of New York or California,” he replied, tilting his head.

  “Well, I did go to school in New York and studied techniques in Paris. And my sister and I did own a restaurant in California.” Pride sent heat to her face.

  Duke stared at her, as if mesmerized, which only caused her face to heat further. He shook his head slightly and his gaze cleared.

  “You said ‘did own’ as in past tense. What happened to make you want to open one here?”

  “An earthquake.”

  His brow furrowed in concern. “You weren’t in there at the time, where you?”

  “Yes, Jordan and I were both in there, taking inventory and making a list of things we needed for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday,” she informed, before taking a sip of her wine. She really hated to think about that day.

  He leaned forward and touched her hand. “Were you hurt?”

  “Cuts and bruises mainly, but a spark set off the gas leak and reduced the place to a pile of ashes.”

  She pulled her hand away and sat back as the memory of her sister’s body being thrown to the ground and the deafening sound that preceded flying glass and debris flashed through her mind.

  With a shudder, Kerri took another sip of her wine and placed her glass back down when she heard a familiar giggle.

  “Look, Connor, isn’t that your cook?”

  Kerri knew whom that voice belonged to before she lifted her eyes to see a red dressed Ashley standing by their table with her arm possessively through Connor’s. The cowboy wore black jeans, a solid white shirt neatly tucked in, a black leather belt and cowboy boots, but no hat. Her pulse leapt at the sight of him.

  Stupid body.

  “I’m not his cook, Ashley,” she said. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  “Didn’t you cook that meal for Cole’s engagement party?” the blonde asked with a finely arched brow.

  She smirked. “I cooked some of it, but not for Connor. I did it as a favor to my sister. You know, the one who married Cole? And I seemed to recall there were other people there too, who enjoyed the buffet. Not just Connor.”

  Ashley’s eyes darkened, and two twin spots of color marked her cheeks. The blonde looked anything but pleased about being put in her place in front of two men.

  Too bad. Kerri looked from Duke to Connor and found both men wearing an identical look of amusement on their handsome faces.

  Shoot. Now who was involved in a public pissing match? With a sigh, Kerri changed the subject and directed her question to Connor, knowing full well he’d overheard her phone conversation with Duke. “So, what brings you to Gulfport tonight? You get a sudden hankering for seafood?”

  “Yes, their grilled salmon is top notch,” he answered smoothly.

  “And their lobster,” Ashley added, before tugging at Connor’s arm. “Come on, honey, our table is ready now.”

  Kerri watched as they were led to a booth across the restaurant. Great. Right in her line of sight. A second later, the blonde’s annoying giggle reached her ears, and Kerri promptly lost her appetite.

  Turning her attention back to Duke, she felt compelled to say something. “I’m sorry about that. If you want to leave, I would understand.”

  Duke reached across the table and took her hand gently in his. “There is nothing to apologize for, and I don’t want to leave. But if you are uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else.”

  That was sweet. She looked down at her hand in his, which was undemanding yet warm, and when she glanced up, his eyes held the same signal. Until Connor and his date had arrived, she had actually been enjoying herself. No. Kerri was not going to allow them to ruin her evening.

  Defiance tilted her chin and crept into her voice. “I’d like to stay, too. I was looking forward to the salmon.” She smiled, her annoyance at their intrusion easing a bit.

  The rest of the meal went surprisingly well despite the few times her gaze had met Connor’s disapproving glare. And thanks to Ashley’s irritating laughter, occasionally Kerri’s salmon tasted as if it had been marinated in gasoline instead of lemon juice, thyme and oregano. Yeah, her gut burned. In those rare instances, she found her wine helped wash the seafood down.

  After strong coffee and delicious baked Alaska for dessert, they left the restaurant and Connor and his date behind without a backward glance.

  Duke took her to a small nightclub where they enjoyed some dance music and a few drinks. Kerri switched to soda and was placing her glass
down when Duke pulled her back out onto the floor. It was a long time since Kerri had this much fun. The last time had been when she and Lance were in New York at school. Every Friday they’d go out with a bunch of students to the local clubs and dance all night long.

  Nope, Kerri hadn’t felt this carefree in years. All the old moves were coming back, and she was loosening up, dancing between Duke and a few other admiring males. Then she bumped into an angry eyed cowboy.

  Chapter Eleven

  Instant awareness and anger vibrated through Kerri’s swaying body. She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with you, Connor? Are you following me?”

  “I’d like an answer to that as well,” Duke demanded coldly from behind.

  Connor ignored Duke and looked directly at Kerri. “It’s a good thing I am here. You’re making a fool of yourself, acting like a tramp.”

  Tramp?

  She lifted her hand, intending to slap his insolent face, but he caught her wrist with ease, and instead of releasing it, he yanked her off of the dance floor.

  “I’m taking you home right now.”

  Digging her heels in, she stopped dead and jerk from his grasp. “You most certainly are not. I came here with Duke, and I will be leaving with Duke,” she told him, moving closer to her date.

  Who does he think he is? She wasn’t doing anything wrong. Duke wasn’t doing anything wrong. Heck, she was having a great time. No way was she leaving now, and certainly not with the gorgeous jerk.

  “Kerri.” Connor clenched his teeth, then took a step toward her, but Duke intervened and put his body between them.

  Uh oh. The last thing she wanted was another round of public shoulder knocking.

  “She said she wants to stay here with me, Connor.” Judging by the rigid way Duke was standing, she was afraid fists would fly if she didn’t do something.

  Glancing at the red-faced woman silently standing on the outskirts of the dance floor, Kerri frowned. “Ashley, why don’t you take your cowboy and get out of here?”