CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Jack
It was the crack of dawn when I heard the mooing.
I snuffled in my sleep, confused about what was happening until I heard another moo, then another.
“What the?” I grumbled, squinting. I lifted up on one arm, peering around the blankets on the bed and dislodging Teddy.
I got out of bed, heading for the window but cracked my knee on the new dresser I’d built. I wasn’t used to it being there although I was damn proud of my work. I rubbed the sore joint and brushed aside the drapes to look out the window and came face to face with a cow.
I yelped and the cow mooed in response.
“What the fuck?” I exhaled. I ran from the room and to the front door, tossing it open and took in the view.
Multiple cows were dotted around the cabin and the house, just munching on all the luscious green grass and swishing their tails, flicking their ears nonchalantly. I was struck dumb for a moment before I pulled myself together and headed to the house.
I jogged up the porch and banged on the door. It was a Saturday morning so I didn’t expect anyone to be up this early except Kat. I knocked a few more times but there was no answer. I stepped back off the porch and cupped my hands around my mouth.
“Wake up ladies!” I yelled, before knocking on the door again. The cows just watched me, stalks of grass dangling from their lips as long, gross tongues slipped out and snaked them back into their mouths. I shuddered and turned back to the door, raising my fist to knock again but it swung open.
Daisy and Tilly greeted me. One was happy, one was not.
“What the hell do you want?” Daisy glared at me.
“Do you see the cows?” I asked, jerking a thumb over my shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m not blind,” she snapped back then she realized. “Ohhhh….”
“Where’s Kat?”
“I’m here,” a sleepy voice sighed, and I looked over Daisy’s shoulder, ignoring that Tilly hadn’t removed her stare from my bare chest. Kat’s blonde hair was tangled around her and her face creased from her sheets. She rubbed her eyes and she looked so damn fuckable in all her sleep-rumpled sexiness that I lost my breath.
She glanced up and saw me, her eyes lingering on my chest and I swear I accidentally bounced my pecs. It’s just my body’s reaction to her and I can’t help it .
She folded her hands across her white tank top but not before I was treated to the view of her hard nipples and my senses crumpled.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
I pointed over my shoulder. “I know I’m new to all this, only a month in now, but I feel like these shouldn’t be here?”
Her blue eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as she took in the cattle. She pushed past her sisters and nearly body-checked me on her way out to the porch.
“What the hell?” she yelped, her eyes running over the cows dotted around the grounds. Then she whirled on me, her finger poking me in the chest.
“You didn’t shut the gate properly, did you?” she accused. I wrap my hand around hers, not moving it, just holding her steady as her eyes threw fire at me.
“Actually no, sweetheart, it was you who didn’t shut the gate properly,” I replied.
She scoffed. “Me? The experienced cattle herder? The one who’s grown up ranching? Can’t shut a simple gate?”
I tugged her closer and her eyes heated. “That’s right, Katarina. The experienced one fucked up, not me,” I teased, loving how fired up she was and wanting more.
“How dare you!” she spat, stepping closer, putting us nearly chest-to-heaving-braless-chest. I was desperate for that touch. Starving for that touch. “I don’t believe that for one second. It was you.”
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”
“Stop calling me that!” she snapped.
I was wrapped up in our banter and tugged her closer, dropping my voice. “But you like it.”
The sparks flamed between us and I wanted them to devour us. My eyes dropped to her rosy lips and I was thirsty. Or hungry. Or something. God I just wanted to slam my mouth into hers and take all that anger, all that fire and heat, and swallow it down, replacing it with moans and groans instead.
She wrenched her hand back and I knew I’d fucked up. Again.
“Let me get dressed and then we’ll go and fix it. If you can manage that simple task?”
She threw the challenge at me and I accepted, gladly. “Sure thing,” I smirked and her frown deepened.
She rushed past me and I turned to watch her go and suddenly came up against a wall of sisters and Leo. I’d forgotten we weren’t alone. Daisy looked ready to throttle me but the rest were watching us with interest. Leo chuckled and shook his head. Everyone disbanded and I was still rooted to the spot, watching Kat disappear.
Leo whistled, coming down off the porch. “Man, you like danger, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I replied, not sounding one bit convincing.
He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Sure you don’t. Look, don’t make me give you one of those big brother speeches about if you hurt her, I’ll kill you, yada yada.” He waved his hand in a bored fashion.
“I thought you were just a friend?”
“I am, but I’m also family. I’m like their surrogate brother.” The humor fell from his face and a seriousness overtook it that actually gave me pause. “So, if you fuck with my family, I fuck with you, you got that?”
“I hear ya, sparky. I don’t have any intentions with anyone,” I replied, holding my hands up.
He laughed. “Again, if you say so.” He glanced behind him. “I shouldn’t say this but Kat needs a man . A strong man because she’s a strong woman. If you can be that man, great. But if not, leave her alone.”
I shook my head. “You know I can’t be that man. We’ve got history and I’m lucky that she and all the girls are letting me be where I am.”
“Sounds like you’ve been thinking about it. I think any mountain can be climbed,” Leo said cryptically.
“Why are you here this morning, anyway? You’re not usually,” I changed the subject. I’d seen the way he watched Maddy at the bar and the way she glared at the buckle bunnies that draped themselves over him. Yeah they were best friends but there was something more there too.
“I fell asleep on the couch last night,” he shrugged. “Happens a lot.”
“I’ll bet it does. Did I see Maddy get back late last night?” I prodded. “Come to think of it, did Maddy have a date? I bet you just wanted to make sure she got home safe…and alone, didn’t you?”
Leo’s face remained still, except for a slight tic under his eye.
I chuckled to myself. “Sounds like you’ve got your own mountain to climb, buddy.” I slapped him on the shoulder and turned, heading back to the cabin to change and wash my face before tackling the cow situation.
Leo’s words rang in my ears as I brushed my teeth. I liked him, he seemed like a decent guy, but he was talking shit. This mountain was unclimbable no matter how much I wanted to.
I met Kat out in front of the house, tearing my gaze from her long legs stuffed into those cute cowgirl boots and an oversized sweatshirt thrown on over her white denim shorts. Her face scrubbed free of makeup as usual and her long hair dragged back into a ponytail. She always looked stunning, kissable, lickable, beddable. Everythingable .
“August ran ahead to saddle the horses for us. It’s gonna be a long day, you good to do this? I know you’re not supposed to help on the weekends.” There was a vulnerability in her voice that raked its claws over my heart.
“Like I’ve said before, I’ll do anything you ask me,” I replied.
She nodded once. “Thanks,” she muttered before taking off at a run to the stables.
I kept pace with her, my fitness improving now that I had room to run and exercise. We mounted the horses in sync and headed back down to the house, strategizing how to get the cattle together. I would lead again and she would herd from the back. The cattle were spread so far apart, it would be tough with the house and trees in the way.
I watched her work, gesturing to her when a cow got a mind of its own and stepped away from the herd. I put pressure from the front and sides and led them backwards, up and away from the house and together we worked to get them back to the south pasture. It was harder than yesterday, it took more effort. Like their night of freedom had them acting like rebellious teenagers.
When we approached, I could see the gate was shut, which was odd. How the hell did they get out? I raised my arm, waving to Kat and signaled for her to slow down so I could ride ahead and open the gate. When the last of the cattle trotted through, Kat joined me.
“The gate was closed?” Her brow furrowed.
“The gate was closed,” I confirmed, feeling kinda smug that she was wrong about me. “Guess it wasn’t either of us.”
“Hmm,” she replied, her frown still in place. “Just means there was another way out. Come on.” She clicked her tongue and pulled on the reins and set off at a trot, riding the perimeter of the pasture, along the fence. I followed suit, wondering what she was checking for.
“There!” she shouted back over her shoulder, pointing across into the bottom corner. We rode over and dismounted. I followed her and saw immediately that the fence was broken and had been partially trampled into the mud.
“Fuck!” she shouted.
“Hey, it’s okay, we can fix it.”
“We’re gonna have to!” she snapped back.
I took a breath, not wanting to get riled up and have a repeat of earlier. Especially when I should be staying away from her. “What do you need me to do?”
“We need tools but I left them back at the ranch.”
“I’ll go get them, just don’t touch anything,” I said and mounted Chester, urging him back the way we came. I rode fast back to the house, enjoying the rush of wind, the scent of nature, the freedom. I wasn’t sure where she kept hers so I grabbed what I could from my cabin and headed back, cursing softly when I saw she had in fact, touched the fence.
“What did I say?” I grumbled as I leapt off Chester, my ass only a little saddle sore. She was in a crouch, tugging the fence up out of the mud. Her arms flexed tightly as she pulled with all her might but it didn’t budge.
“I touched it, I know, but I was worried the cows would see it again and try a second prison break,” she huffed, her cheeks pink with her exertion. “Help me!”
I surveyed what she was doing and unfortunately the only way to help was to get in behind her. I locked my knees behind hers and reached around her, gripping the fence on either side of her hands.
Her hair tickled my cheeks, her cherry blossom scent invaded my senses and I willed my dick not to get hard when her ass was practically riding it. Okay that was stupid to think because immediately I was thinking about her riding me, reverse cowgirl style and it was definitely getting hard.
“Ready?” she asked softly, turning slightly and our cheeks nearly brushed.
Damn, it was hard being this close to her, I wanted to throw her down to the ground and fuck her into the dirt. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Uh, huh,” was all I could respond. We both pulled and nothing happened.
“Harder!” she cried and fuck that was the wrong thing to say, but it sure as hell gave me the burst of adrenaline I needed.
I tugged harder and there was a wet sounding slurp before the fence eventually moved. It was slow, but then released with a pop and sent us flying back. She landed against me, cradled between my legs, sprawled half over me and my arms wrapped around her instinctively.
She glanced up at me from under her thick lashes, our faces close together, our breath panting and our stares locked. Neither of us moved away; if anything, she sank into me deeper. My eyes dropped to those lips that I needed more than my next breath. I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and lingered there, my fingers stroking the delicate shell before trailing down the column of her slender neck.
Her breath caught, her hard facade dropped and her flash of vulnerability made me greedy.
Made me want to take.
I wet my lips, ready for a taste and she leaned forward. My heart pounded in my ears, adrenaline riding me hard and my need roared for this woman who I wanted so much and couldn’t have, like some cruel joke from fate to punish me even more.
I closed my eyes and tilted her chin slightly, ready to fit our lips together. I already knew it would be the perfect fit, the perfect pressure, the perfect taste.
Just before they touched, her breath caressing my skin eagerly, Charlie’s face flashed in my mind and I froze. After everything I’d taken from him, would he really want me in this position with his eldest daughter? His pride and joy? He’d done so much for me, given me life and a home, when I’d taken from him the thing he loved most. He was generous and good and here I was laying in the dirt with his daughter.
Fuck. What was I thinking? This couldn’t happen and I was a fucking idiot for thinking it could.
I cleared my throat. “Um, let me help you up,” I said, my voice a rough rasp.
Her eyes blinked open and I saw the moment her confusion turned to fury. She shoved away from me, muttering to herself and getting to her feet, dusting off her jeans and legs. When she turned away I adjusted myself and got to my feet.
Her shoulders were tense and she wouldn’t face me. “Kat, I—"
“You don’t need me, do you?” she asked, her voice cold and unfamiliar.
“To fix the fence?” I asked.
She nodded, still not facing me.
“I guess not,” I replied. “But Kat, I—”
“Okay, I’ll see you later then,” she said and headed to her horse, swinging into the saddle and tugging the reins. Before I could even say anything, she flew across the pasture out of sight.
“You dickhead,” I grumbled to myself .
I had fucked up, like I kept doing around her. I busied myself fixing the fence as best I could with splintered wood and basic tools, calling myself all the names under the sun.
I stepped back and surveyed my work. It was good but not good enough to hold forever. I would go into town and get some more wood and rebuild this section. My joy at having a project dimmed slightly at a rustle and movement from the tree line beyond the fence. I glanced up just as Chester next to me whinnied. Not a loud one, just a little warning. I was sure I could see something in the trees and down here it could be anything from a deer or bison to a bear.
“I think we’re done here,” I murmured and grabbed all my tools before leaving and heading back to the stables with Chester. The ride back didn’t thrill me like it normally did, I was still too annoyed at myself for my slip-up with Kat. I wondered if I should find her and apologize. On the way back to the cabin I detoured to the house and knocked on the door.
Leo opened it, a dishtowel in his hand.
“Hey man, is Kat here?”
“In the shower,” he replied.
“Ah okay.”
“Didn’t do anything dumb out there in that pasture when you were all alone, did you? Would hate to have to kill you when I’m just starting to like you.” He flashed his teeth at me.
I snorted. “I may have.”
Leo looked over his shoulder. “Wanna stay for dinner?”
I gave him a skeptical look. “Are you joking? I’ll get shot at that dinner table.”
He tossed the dishtowel over his shoulder. “ Everyone likes you, except Daisy but she doesn’t count.”
“Heard that, asshole!” Daisy shouted as she walked by. “Go and shave your back, you rodeo clown!”
He shrugged one shoulder. “See? She hates everyone, so she doesn’t count.”
I glanced into the house. “I don’t know, man.”
Leo reached out and tugged my arm and I stumbled over the threshold. “Look at that, you’re inside now. So you might as well stay for dinner.” He shut the door and I stared at him like he was crazy before I started laughing.
Leo gestured to follow him and disappeared through the open archway to the left. The air smelled delicious and my stomach rumbled, reminding me that we’d spent all day wrangling cattle and I hadn’t eaten.
I glanced around the cottage style kitchen with its soft wood and checkered patterned chair cushions and tablecloth. It was homey and warm and now that I was here, I didn’t want to leave.
“Hi Jack,” August greeted me.
I waved at her, awkwardly, taking in the wooden sideboards that held ornaments and pictures of Charlie and Sherry. That guilt flared up inside me at seeing her face. I was shocked at the gall I’d had coming into this room, and now, what, I’d sit down to dinner with Sherry’s daughters who had lived without her because of me, like we were one big happy family?
“I’ll, uh, take a raincheck,” I mumbled. August followed my gaze and her features softened. I stumbled from the kitchen with Leo shouting after me but my chest was tight and my heart pounding.
“Jack?” I heard Kat call but I didn’t stop. I needed to get out. I shouldn’t have come in the first place.
I wasn’t welcome here.