“You won’t be carryin’ it.” He hoisted her suitcase and duffel in one hand and his suitcase in the other.
“I’m swooning right here. Just so you know.”
“Good.” He smiled. “That’ll come in handy later.”
“Ready, kids?” Kendra came out of the kitchen with a spray bottle, a dust rag, and a bag of what looked like linens. “Hey, Rory, that’s impressive.”
“He wrestles barrels of whiskey back home.”
“Clearly he wins that contest every time. Let’s go.” She went out the door.
Damaris grabbed her backpack, pressed her hand to her heart and batted her eyes before following Kendra.
He was still laughing as he brought up the rear on the way to the cabin. She was irrepressible, his Damaris. His Damaris. Not exactly accurate, was it, now? But maybe it could be.
The log cabin was easy to see now that he knew it was there. No telling how he’d missed it before. Must have been too involved with the wedding, Damaris, the foaling, Damaris…
If he’d been able to design the perfect Western setting for a cozy rendezvous, he couldn’t top this. Early morning sunlight dappled the porch and two wooden chairs with slanted seats and backs. Adirondacks? Maybe. A stone chimney rose above a galvanized tin roof.
The sky was clear, but if he could be lucky enough to have a little rain tonight on that roof, combined with a cheerful fire and Damaris, life didn’t get much better. But all he truly needed out of that grouping was Damaris.
The inside was even more inviting, since a bed covered in a colorful quilt was the dominant piece of furniture in the open concept interior. A battered easy chair sat in front of the fireplace. He and Damaris could probably share it. A tight fit would be fine with him.
Kendra set down the linens, spray bottle and dusting rag. “I’m gonna open the windows to air it out. You can close them later if you get chilly.”
“This place is right out of the movies I used to watch as a kid.” Rory put the suitcases next to the bed. “Only those were movie sets and this is real.”
“Sometimes after a riding lesson Kendra would let me come up here and read on the porch. I pretended I was a pioneer woman.”
Kendra chuckled. “When Ian and I lived here I was a pioneer woman. That kitchen is okay for a few days, but it has its limits.” She picked up the spray bottle and the dust rag. “You two will be coming to the house to eat, right?”
“Yes, please,” Damaris said. “I’m not a good cook under the best of circumstances.”
“I am,” Rory said, “but—”
“You can cook?” Damaris’s eyes widened. “Kendra, is it just me, or is he the perfect guy?”
“He’s close.” She wiped off the small kitchen table and the counters. “Then again, I’m prejudiced in favor of a certain Sawyer dude. Who also can cook.” She glanced around. “So, you have linens and there’s enough firewood for tonight. We can replenish it in the morning. I’ll leave you two to settle in.”
“I’m not settlin’ in quite yet.” Rory looked over at Damaris. “There’s a wheelbarrow and a shovel down at the barn callin’ my name.”
She gave a quick nod. “Same here.”
“You’re gonna muck out stalls?” Kendra clearly thought they were nuts. “When I asked you to be a part of things, I didn’t mean shoveling horse apples.”
“Horse apples? You lost me.”
“Euphemism for horse poop. I appreciate the impulse, but why not stay here and settle in? Prepare for your ten-thirty video chat.”
“I can’t think of anythin’ better to prepare me than shovelin’ horse apples.”
“Well, I sure can, but it’s your call.”
“Besides, I promised Aleck a picture of a wheelbarrow full of them.”
She stared at him. “Really?”
“Really.”
“You Scots are strange. Okay, then, I’ll walk with you and check on Licorice and Eclipse.”
“I always liked mucking out stalls,” Damaris said as they headed back down the hill. “I used to figure out my physics homework while I shoveled and raked.”
“I do sort of remember that. Are you hoping it might give you a breakthrough on your research project?”
“Nah. I just want to watch Rory get all hot and sweaty.” She winked at him.
Kendra laughed. “Now that I understand.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Watching Rory shovel turned out to be as exciting as Damaris had anticipated, especially when he took off his shirt and used it to wipe his face. Cody had given him some basic instruction before leaving Damaris to supervise.
They’d been working alone for quite a while, chatting now and then. Casual though it all seemed, she’d worked herself into a sensual lather. If Rory hadn’t been locked into the video chat at ten-thirty, she would have suggested having fun getting cleaned up together.
But he did have the chat and she didn’t plan to be there. She finally told him so while they sat on a straw bale during a break from their labors in the barn. He’d put his shirt back on, but just her luck he hadn’t buttoned it.
He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. “I don’t expect you to be sittin’ where Aleck can see you.” He put down his hat. “I wouldn’t try to introduce you or anythin’.”
“Good, because that would be extremely awkward.” Tantalizing glimpses of his bare chest through the opening in his shirt gave her heart palpitations.
He seemed oblivious. “I can see why you wouldn’t want to be in range of the lens, but you can sit nearby. And give me moral support.”
“Do you need me there? Because if that’s the case, I’ll reconsider.”
He gazed at her. “Nay, I don’t need you there, although it would be nice. But since I’m in the right on this, I’m not nervous about it. Honestly, it’ll be a relief to share the details with Aleck.”
“That’s why I’d rather not be there. I don’t want to hear the details of how Catriona schemed to get you into her bed and then turned on you when you refused to become her lap dog. I’d just want to fly over there and pull her hair out by the roots. That’s not a good idea for many reasons.”
“You’d go over and pull her hair out?” He seemed tickled by that concept. “Have you ever had a physical fight with someone?”
“No, just the verbal kind, but there’s always a first time for everything. I get furious just thinking about what she did without knowing the details. Once I know them I might lose it.”
“Lose it? You?”
“It could happen. Let’s not take that chance.”
“I’m fascinated by the concept of you losin’ it.”
“You’ve already seen me do it, just in a different context.”
“I have?” When he shifted his weight on the hay bale, his shirt moved enough to reveal the red-gold of his chest hair caressed by sunlight.
She curled her fingers into her palms. Then she lowered her voice, even though no one was there to hear except Licorice and Eclipse, the only horses still in the barn. “When I come.”
“Oh. But you’re not angry, then.”
“No, but I’m not filtering my response, either. That’s how I define losing it.” Which she might any time, now. She could almost taste the sweat on his skin.
“I’m glad you clarified.” He smiled. “I’m lookin’ forward to the next time you lose it.”
“Believe me, so am I.” Unless it turned out to be now, which would demonstrate how little self-control she had. “But after what Kendra said, I want to hold off on our disappearing act until after dinner.”
“I wish we didn’t have to wait so long, but I’m with you on that. I decided the same thing. Daylight is for bein’ with friends and family. Nighttime is for…” He reached up and stroked her cheek with one finger. “Losin’ it.”
She gulped. “Rory McGavin, you’re too hot for your own good. I’m about ready to change the plan and spend the whole afternoon in bed with your sexy
self.”
“You are? Then let’s do it. We’ll worry about friends and family tomorrow.”
“No, let’s not. It sets a bad precedent. We talked about going over to Zane’s raptor center today. If we don’t start checking things off the list, we’ll get to Saturday and you won’t have done everything you wanted.”
“Except make love to you. That’s at the top of my list.”
“We can do that at night. We have the cabin, now, which neither of us anticipated yesterday. Our opportunities for making love just expanded exponentially.”
“Say that last part again.”
“Why? Didn’t you get what I meant?”
“Oh, I did, lass. I just love hearing how you phrase things.”
God, his eyes were blue. She was in real danger of falling into a sensual haze. That could lead to bad judgment and a disregard of Kendra’s simple request. “We need to create a schedule.”
His eyes sparkled. “On a spreadsheet?”
“Hey, don’t tease. You loved my spreadsheet.”
“I did. I do. But speakin’ of sheets…”
“Stop.”
“Aye, I will. Start schedulin’.”
“Let’s tackle one day at a time. Here’s a possibility for the rest of today. Text me when you’re finished with your video chat. We’ll head into town. I found out they serve lunch at Pie in the Sky now, so we can eat there. After that we’ll go over to Raptors Rise. Sound good?”
“Sure.”
“I’ve decided instead of calling Mandy this morning I’ll go see her in person if she’s available. While I’m there I’ll pop over to Raptors Rise and let Zane know we’re coming to the center, probably mid-afternoon.”
“All right.”
“One more thing. I’ll bet you’ll want to take another shower before that video chat so you’ll look cool and collected.”
“I guess that’s a good idea, huh? I hadn’t factored that in.”
“It is a good idea, and I need to do the same before I go see Mandy.” She consulted the time on her phone. “It’s later than I thought. We’re crunched on time if we each want to shower.”
“We can take one together.”
“No, we can’t.”
“Meaning we won’t fit? I didn’t check the size of the—”
“It’s not a matter of fitting, although I doubt we would manage easily. It’s a matter of getting naked together and expecting to go on about our business during and after.”
“Mm. I see your point.”
“The prudent solution is for me to shower now so I’ll be off to Mandy’s and out of your way when you’re getting ready for the chat.”
“Guess so. Then you’re takin’ off?”
“I’d better. We’re almost done with the stalls.” She stood.
“We are.” He levered himself off the hay bale. “Go ahead. I’ll finish up.”
“Did you get your pictures for Aleck?”
“Not yet. Thanks for remindin’ me.”
“I’ll see you later.” She gave him a peck on the cheek because anything more might get her into trouble.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” He slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her close. “If I must wait for hours, I need a proper kiss.”
She met his gaze and sucked in a breath. God, he was focused. Intense. She shivered. “When you look at me like that, you can have anything you want.”
“Just a wee kiss.” His voice rumbled softly in the silent barn. “Dunna want to ruin the schedule.” His lashes fluttered down as he lowered his head, muting the effect of that laser-sharp gaze. Then his lips took over.
Gentle pressure gradually deepened to a no-holds-barred assault that was new, different. Her surroundings faded. There was only Rory…
She moaned and clung to him, a willow in the wind of a passion that swept her into the teeth of the storm. And then, with exquisite tenderness, he brought her back to earth.
Lifting his head, he slowly released her and stepped back. “Thank ye, lass.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to form words, let alone a complete sentence. Lifting a hand in farewell, she turned and left the barn. If she concentrated, she might be able to walk without tripping. What had he put in that kiss, anyway?
The effects of it lingered as she showered in a bathroom the size of one she’d had in a low-budget stateroom during a weekend cruise to Mexico in her undergraduate days. She and Rory wouldn’t fit in here together, let alone manage to have sexy times.
It would be funny to try, though. They’d get a laugh out of it and move the party elsewhere. Ah, Rory…the hot water turned cold before she came to her senses and shut it off.
She dressed quickly and called Mandy, who sounded excited to see her. Maybe Zane had mentioned the horseback ride yesterday. Mandy would have put a whole different spin on it than Zane.
Mandy now lived in her childhood home, which she and Zane had bought from her mother, so Damaris knew exactly how to get there. Taking her phone, she set out along the wooded path that connected Wild Creek Ranch property to the acreage that now included Raptors Rise.
Walking over to Mandy’s was a treat. The small scale of Eagles Nest stood in sharp contrast to Pasadena and neighboring LA. She rode a bus to Caltech, which was an improvement over driving the freeway, but she wouldn’t say it was a relaxing trip. She and relaxation hadn’t spent much time together since she’d left Eagles Nest, but the college atmosphere was stimulating.
Mandy flung open the front door. “I’ve been pacing the floor waiting for you.” She tucked her blond hair behind her ears. “And when you’re lugging a kid around inside you, pacing is a chore.”
“Why were you pacing?”
“Zane said you guys went riding yesterday and now you asked to come over, so naturally I figured something’s happened! Am I right?”
“Well, I—”
“Wait, wait. I’m being a terrible hostess. I’ve made coffee. Come in. I should at least let you sit before I grill you. I have chocolate chip cookies.” She swept a hand toward a familiar dining table by a large picture window. A platter of cookies took center stage.
“Aw, you still have that table. I used to love eating snacks there.”
“Mom said it belongs by the window so she left it. She made the cookies, too. She’s gonna be an awesome grandma. So, coffee?”
“Love some.”
“It’s decaf because that’s all I drink these days, but if you want regular I’ll make that.”
“Decaf’s fine.”
“Be right back.” She hurried into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to wait on me. I’ll come get it.” She walked into the kitchen. “The place looks great.”
“We’ve done some painting. Before you leave I’ll show you the baby’s room.”
“You can show me now, if you want.”
“Are you kidding? I’m dying to hear what’s going on with that hot Scot.”
Damaris snorted.
“Well, he is.” She handed over a mug of coffee. “Do you take anything in it?”
“Just black.”
“Here you go.” She made a shooing motion. “Go sit. Tell me everything.”
“Um…”
Mandy’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God, you two did it! On the ride?”
“Yeah.” She started grinning and almost giggled. She was not a giggler.
“Was it awesome? Never mind. All I have to do is look at you to know it was spectacular. Put down your coffee. I want to give you a hug.”
She set her coffee on the table.
“I’m so happy for you.” Mandy gave her a bear hug. “What happens now?”
“This morning he asked Kendra if both of us could move into the cabin for the rest of our stay and she said we could.”
“Woot! What a guy!” Then she paused. “Why are you here with me instead of over there making whoopee?”
“It’s complicated.” She chose a seat facing the view of the woods.
M
andy sat catty-corner from her. “I hope you didn’t have a fight already.”
“No fight. It really is complicated, but I’ll try to keep it brief.”
“Drag it out all you want. Gives me an excuse to eat cookies.”
They’d put quite a dent in the pile by the time Damaris finished describing Rory’s issue and his brother’s attempt to repair the damage.
“Please don’t tell me this is one of those tear-jerker love stories with a sucky ending.”
She took a deep breath. “It’s not, but neither of us have the answer.”
“Move to Scotland. You’ll be fine over there.”
“You know, I might be, but if I don’t find a good academic fit, that would be bad. Caltech is perfect for me.”
“Then maybe he needs to come over here.”
“He’s excited about making Scotch and Scotland’s the place to do it. Besides, he’d be leaving his family.”
“I know, but—”
“If Rory and I are going to be together, it needs to be win-win, each of us doing what we’re meant to do, without painful sacrifices we might regret later.”
“That’s sounds very evolved and noble, but the way you describe the situation, I don’t see a solution.”
“That doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I can’t believe we’d meet, make this special connection, and then be unable to work it out.”
“You’re both certainly smart enough, especially you.”
“This isn’t about using our heads.” She gazed at Mandy. “It’s about using our hearts.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Despite what Rory had told Damaris, he was drained by the end of the interview. Aleck thought it might be enough, thank God. He didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
He texted Damaris and discovered she was walking back from Mandy and Zane’s. She described how to find the beginning of the woodland path and he headed out. Ah. Sunshine on his back, a breeze making the pine branches sigh, birds in the trees and Damaris coming his way. Better, now.
When he glimpsed her through the trees, he lengthened his stride. She waved and started to run. He did, too, focusing on her smile. Almost tripped on a half-buried root because he wasn’t watching where he was going.
A Cowboy’s Worth: The McGavin Brothers Page 15
