Wanted: Runaway Cowgirl (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Brynn Paulin

  “Yeah. Anyway…” She set her cup in the sink then jumped down. Her hands rested on my chest, starting my pulse thrumming faster again. “Everything is scheduled out, with the activities divided among the crew and you.” She patted my cheek. “Less work and running around like a chicken with your head chopped off. More time with me.”

  “I love you,” I breathed, relief washing over me at the realization that not only had she taken over managing the office and the guest operations like a pro, but she’d lightened my workload.

  Her hands drifted along my shirt, stopping when she met my belt buckle. She stilled then side-stepped away, and I could literally see her shifting modes. “Get to work, lover boy. Is that a yes or no on checking in the guests?”

  “Lunch with me after?”

  “Yes, you don’t have to do the meet-and-greet until dinner tonight.”

  “Then yes, please. I’d appreciate that help.”

  “Okay, well, you better get moving, and I’ll get cleaned up and give Gran a call.”

  “Will she be pissed at me keeping you over?”

  “Heck, no. She outright told me to sample the goods before committing. She may or may not have made a test drive reference. Not sure. I was traumatized.”

  I laughed. “She’s always been progressive.”

  “She is that.”

  I pulled her into my arms for one last kiss before running off. “But there’s no test driving, baby,” I growled against her lips. “I’m well and truly yours. I won’t let you throw me back and try a different model.”

  Chapter Nine

  ~ Jorie ~

  “Have you ever thought of working on a big resort?”

  I looked up from my clipboard and over at Damon Parker, one of our guests for the week. I’d interacted with him a few times since he’d arrived Sunday. Though he’d made a point to waylay me every day—today being Friday—he hadn’t acted creepy at all. His interest he didn’t worry me. In fact, the man was very into his wife, Mirabella. The pair, in their early thirties, was here for their one-year anniversary and he couldn’t keep his hands off her.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “Mira and I are actually leaving in a few minutes because of a business matter I can’t postpone. This is my family’s company,” he said, and I glanced down to see his name and a notation that he was a VP at a nationwide chain of luxury hotels with which I was quite familiar. “We’re looking for someone for our Manhattan location, and I’d love to chat with you.” He nodded. “Think about it,” he said, turning away before I could decline. “Call me for an interview.”

  I stared after him then shook my head, heading back toward the main compound. I’d come over to drop off a few small supplies at the kitchen and had opted to walk so I could stretch my legs a bit. Back at the office, I pulled Damon’s card from my pocket where I’d shoved it and tossed it on my desk.

  My hand rubbed over my stomach. I’d been queasy all day, just this side of puking, and my head hurt. I reached for the bottle of water on my desk, hoping I wasn’t coming down with something. My hands were ever so slightly swollen too, making my ring uncomfortable, as well. Ugh. Weird. I didn’t usually retain water, even when I was coming up on my period.

  Settling into work, I pulled off my ring and set it on my desk because it was making me crazy while I typed. I hated taking it off, but it was rubbing just enough to distract and annoy me. I took another small sip of water, wishing my head would stop aching. I probably needed food. Or caffeine. I had to finish this invoice, then I’d go hunt down some sustenance that wouldn’t make me even more nauseated. I hadn’t eaten this morning because I’d felt so on the edge of being sick, but now I was hungry. Hungry but afraid to eat. Normally, when I had a headache, I’d have coffee and maybe a little chocolate. Lately, the idea of either just made me heave.

  Not…cool… Not… Oh, no!

  I scrambled for my iPhone and pulled up my period tracker. No. No no no no no! My eyes welled as I waited for it to load. Then, through tear-blurred vision, I stared at it. My insides tumbled, and I pressed a hand to my mouth. Three days ago. My cycle should have started three days ago. But it hadn’t.

  My head dropped to my desk, and my hand splayed over my still-flat belly.

  Oh God.

  Forgetting everything else, I grabbed my purse and keys and headed out to my car. I had to find out. Now.

  In a haze, I drove to the pharmacy, barely registering the familiar landmarks along the way. Three things filled my thoughts: baby, pregnancy test, Nash. They twined together and rolled around in my head, over and over. How would he react? How would I know he really wanted me and wasn’t doing the right thing for the baby? I knew Nash. He’d do the right thing. It’s what he did. It’s what he had always done, even five years ago, when he’d kept his promise to keep us a secret. It hadn’t been what he’d wanted, but he’d honored his vow. Shitty execution; spirit exactly in the right place.

  In an emotional mess, I headed inside the small store to get the test. In. Out. Find someplace to pee—because I couldn’t wait until I was at the ranch, and I sure as hell couldn’t go to Gran’s. She’d know something was up in an instant.

  If only the process was that easy.

  After finally finding the correct aisle, I stared at the selection of what had to be ten different kinds of tests? Why were there so many? Did they do different things?

  “This kind’s the best.”

  “What?” I turned toward the girl, who’d walked up while I’d stared at the boxes. She looked to be about my age, maybe a little older, and had a little boy in her cart.

  “This brand,” she said, reaching toward the shelf and pulling down a few of them. She tossed two in her cart and handed me one. “Best kind. Are you new around here? I’m Ari—Ari Johnson. My husband and I raise horses near the Mathew’s place.”

  “No, not new—well, I’ve been away for five years, so…old but newly back. I live in town. My grandma is Magnolia Holland, and I work over at the Lazy D.”

  “With Nash? He’s really growing that place.”

  “Yeah, he’s worked really hard to save it. I feel lucky that I get to be a part of it.”

  She smiled and handed her little guy a toy he’d tossed into the back of the cart. “Good luck with that,” she said, nodding at the test. “I hope it comes out just as you want.”

  “Thanks…um, yours, too.”

  She laughed. “If not, we’ll have more fun trying.”

  As she moved away to finish her shopping, I stared at the box in my hand. How did I want it to come out? My hand flattened on my stomach. For some reason, I just couldn’t stop doing that. The idea of having Nash’s baby was scary but not at all unpalatable. He wanted a child, didn’t he? That hadn’t been just talk. He wanted kids and forever. But what did I want?

  After paying for the test Ari had suggested, a water and a small pack of saltines, I headed back to my car then just sat there, staring into space.

  What did I want?

  What do I want?

  The question repeated over and over in my head.

  I wanted Nash. I wanted to be with him. I wanted all the things we’d dreamed about back when we were kids, when we’d first started dating, after the months of dancing around it.

  And we’d been dancing around it again. Well, I had. He’d been pretty clear about what he wanted. Me. A baby was just a bonus. He wanted me.

  God, I was a bone head. Why was I making things so difficult?

  I needed to go find him and tell him how I felt, and that I wanted the same thing he did. I was in for the long haul. Then I’d let him know we might be parents soon. I wanted him there when we found out.

  It was time to go talk. Because we weren’t seventeen anymore, and that’s what grownups did. They talked.

  * * * *

  ~ Nash ~

  “Jorie,” I called after scraping my boots on the brushes outside then tromping into the office’s vestibule. She didn’t answer, and I peeked
into her office. Empty. Scrunching my brow, I headed into the house. She hadn’t felt well earlier, and this was the first I’d been able to come back home and check on her.

  I called for her again as I headed toward the kitchen with a casserole from Missy. She and Max were speaking to us again—thank God—but only under the condition we never did anything like “that” again. What they thought “that” was, I wasn’t sure. I’d just agreed. Jorie and I were out in the open, so it wasn’t as if we’d keep our dating a secret.

  “Baby, where are you?” I called. Not finding her downstairs, I headed up to my room to see if she’d lain down. No. She wasn’t in the house. She wasn’t in her office. Peeking out the window, I noticed for the first time that her car was gone.

  I descended the stairs two at a time, hoping she hadn’t felt bad enough to need a doctor. Usually, when she left the ranch during the workday, she called, texted or left a note. She hadn’t phoned, and I had no texts. So I went back to her office to look for a note while I pulled out my phone and hit her number. It rang once then went to voicemail.

  Okay…that happened out here. No need to panic. I’d just call her again in a little bit or call Magnolia to see if Jorie was there and how she was feeling. I hated the idea that my girl might be sick and I wasn’t taking care of her.

  I scanned the uncluttered desk surface. No note.

  Then a glint of metal caught my eye.

  I stared, not quite comprehending, then barely able to breathe as everything I’d feared the past few weeks slammed into the middle of my chest, lodging deep. I staggered.

  Why would she…?

  Unable to understand, I gravitated toward it. This morning, there’d been no sign she planned to leave. She’d stayed over again, and we’d woken up together, wrapped around each other. She hadn’t felt well, and I’d left her alone in the bed, promising to come back and check on her at lunchtime. And I’d only gone after she’d assured me she’d be fine and would be up in a little bit.

  I shouldn’t have left…

  When I got closer to her desk, I saw the card beside her ring. Heavy, distinctly male handwriting invited her to call him for an interview. I flipped over the card. Damon Parker. That fucker. I’d seen him sniffing around her all week. Had this been why? Had he been courting her for a job? Had they been talking about the possibility of her leaving to work for him? I glanced at his company name and swore even more. You’d have to live under a rock to not know them. Their places were the epitome of high class, catering to the ultra-wealthy. A good job there would be a feather in the cap of any up and comer.

  I wanted to punch something. Hell, I’d punch Damon Parker if he hadn’t left over an hour ago.

  But fuck that. I had to find my girl.

  Jorie wasn’t doing this. She wasn’t leaving me again. She’d have to go to Magnolia’s first. I’d stop her there. I’d offer her…

  What would I offer her that I hadn’t already? More money? I’d already told her she could be my everything. I’d given her my heart and my life.

  “Nash,” Missy called as I tore outside to my truck.

  “No time.”

  “Is Jorie inside? I need—”

  “No!” I exclaimed.

  “Did something happen?” she asked. My obvious agitation must have tipped her off.

  “I don’t—” My voice broke, and I didn’t even care if it made me sound weak. “I don’t know. But I’m going to find her and get this cleared up.”

  Grabbing me, she hugged me tight then shoved me toward my truck. “You go get her, and tell her if she even thinks of leaving, I will never speak to her again.”

  That brought a faint, momentary smile. “Will do.”

  I was more worried about Jorie not speaking to me.

  “You’ve got this, Nash. Now, go get her.”

  I ran the rest of the way to my truck, pulling out the key on the way. Moments later, I u-turned and tore down the long drive toward the gate and the road into Mason. I was halfway to the exit to the ranch when I saw her little car in the distance. She was heading for me. Wait. She was coming back? My heart started beating again with tentative hope.

  Skidding to a stop, I threw open my door and waved at her.

  She stopped, too. Her head tilted as she looked at me with a furrowed brow. After putting the car in park, she climbed out.

  “Where’re you going?” she asked.

  “To get you.”

  “To get me?”

  “You’re not leaving. I swear to God, Jorie. I can’t…”

  “Whoa!” She closed the few feet between us. Her hands were cool on my hot skin as she reached up and cupped my cheeks. “Of course, I’m not leaving. Nash, I love it here. I love you. Why would you think that?”

  “That fucker’s business card. Your ring on your desk. No note. You were just gone when you’d normally be in your office.”

  “Oh Nash…no. I just had to run into town.”

  “You didn’t leave a note.”

  “I wasn’t thinking.”

  Such a simple answer, and I’d gone and freaked out. I hugged her tight to me, pressing my face into her neck and breathing in her citrus scent. I couldn’t stop the shudders of emotions roiling through me.

  “I love you. I fucking love you,” I muttered into her neck.

  “I love you, too.”

  “You’re staying? You’re not considering a job with Parker’s company?”

  “What? Ugh. Blech. No, thank you. That place is too high class and people-ly and too far from Mason for my liking. New York is okay to visit, but I don’t ever want to live there. I’m really partial to small ranches that cater to tiny groups at a time, with the occasional moderate-sized wedding or event. A place where I can sit outside in my husband’s arms and stare at the stars and listen to the bugs singing at night.”

  “Your husband, huh?” My heart raced for an entirely different reason. Fuck, was this really happening? I’d thought I’d lost her. Now, she was telling me she really did want forever.

  “Maybe. I mean, one of these days, he might propose, and I’ll probably say yes.”

  “Probably?”

  “Most likely.”

  I dropped to my knees before her and took her hands in mine. “Jorie Holland, I don’t have a ring—”

  “You already gave me a perfect ring. I just have to switch hands with it.”

  “Okay, we’ll talk about that later, because I think you deserve a big ol’ diamond—”

  “I don’t want a big old diamond.”

  I sighed, fighting a smile. “Are you going to let me do this or not?”

  “Go ahead,” she said, her face solemn but her eyes dancing with happiness.

  “Jorie. I love you. I’ve loved you forever and I will love you forevermore. I want a life with you. I want our futures entwined here on this ranch we’ll rebuild together. I want a family with you that we’ll watch grow up and someday take over. Jorie Holland, will you make me the happiest man ever and make your future my future, too. Will you marry me and be mine, my Jorie Davidson?”

  Tears streamed down her face as she nodded frantically. “Yes,” she gasped out, barely more than a sound. “Yes.”

  I stood, wrapping my arms around her. She melted into me, and I plundered her mouth, claiming her, reaffirming she was mine and I was never letting her go.

  “Let’s go home,” I finally said, leaning my forehead to hers. “I think we need to celebrate. I’ll rope Max into covering for me the rest of the day. If I don’t make him go to the farewell party for the guests tomorrow, he’ll probably say yes.”

  “Sounds like a good plan to me.” Her stomach growled. “We should probably eat something, too. I’m feeling a little better, and I’m hungry.”

  “Missy sent over a casserole. Something Alfredo something.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Let’s leave your crappy little car here. I’ll come back for it later; you can come back with me in the truck now.” I couldn’t help it. I wanted
her near. Not because I was afraid anymore that she planned to leave. I just wanted her by me.

  “Hey! Don’t hate on my car.”

  “You need something that’ll survive the rainy season on the ranch. You’ll get stranded in that thing inside of five minutes.”

  She sighed. “Fine. Let me get my stuff. Give me a sec.”

  I kissed her hard one more time, then she went over and pulled the car closer to the edge of the road, turned it off and headed back to me with her purse and a white plastic bag.

  “We’re like two seconds from the house. I could have followed you,” she teased after I’d lifted her into the cab and run around to get in my side.

  “Nope. Want my fiancée right here.” I pulled her across the seat to sit right next to me. Hip to hip. With one arm around her and one on the steering wheel, I u-turned and headed back home.

  She leaned her head on my shoulder. “I’m marrying Nash Davidson,” she whispered.

  Keeping my eyes on the road, I kissed the top of her head. “I’m marrying Jorie Holland, and she’s stuck with me forever. When are you moving in?”

  She giggled. “Considering I’ve been practically living here, probably soon.”

  “Good.”

  The bag crinkled in her hand and caught my attention.

  “What was so urgent you had to run off to the store so quick?” I asked as I parked in front of the house.

  “Well…” She bit her lip and reached into the bag. A second later, she tossed a box into my lap.

  I stared down at it. Then back at her. Then at the box again.

  “You think?” I asked. Could this day get any better?

  “Pretty sure.”

  “Hot damn! No more condoms.”

  “Are you serious?” she laughed, trying to sound indignant. “Is that all you have to say?”

  “Nothing feels better than being bare in your sweet pussy. If you’re pregnant, I’ll be thrilled. If you’re not, I’ll do my best to get you that way soon.”

  “So romantic.”

  I shrugged, unrepentant. “I’m a rough cowboy who swears a lot and loves to fuck you—but I just flat-out love you even more. What you see is what you get. And you, my little runaway cowgirl, are never escaping me again.”