Chapter Seven
Saturday night, Presley pulled on a blue and white striped dress that ended just above her knees. It was sleeveless with a tight bodice and flowing skirt. The blue matched her eyes. On her feet were cowboy boots with blue stitching. She didn’t know what to expect at the dance, but she was looking forward to going. Jaxon hadn’t mentioned if he’d be there, but then again, did she care since he threw her out of his house after mind-blowing sex. You are going to drive yourself insane!
“Yeah, already there,”
she murmured as she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
After applying light makeup and pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she took a deep breath and left the cabin. As she walked toward the huge barn, she glanced around to see most of the guests headed that way too. She was startled when someone elbowed her, and she looked to see Bett and her friend, Trixie beside her.
“I can’t believe I’m leaving tomorrow,”
Bett said.
“I’ll miss you,”
Presley said and meant it .
“Can we exchange email addresses? I’d love to keep in touch with you.”
Presley smiled and nodded. “Of course. I’d like that very much.”
Bett looked her up and down. “You look so pretty. Maybe that dress will get a certain cowboy to dance with you.”
She winked.
“I doubt that. No fraternizing, remember?”
Bett snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“I’d like to dance with Chip, but he seems so distant towards me,”
Trixie said.
“Probably because of the rules, Trix, but you can ask him to dance. Let’s just go have some fun. A live band is great.”
Presley watched as Bett and Trixie practically skipped toward the barn.
The doors were open, and she could see bare lightbulbs hanging from wires strung across the rafters.
Stacks of hay sat against each wall, and a stage was set up toward the back.
The large dance floor was parquet flooring.
Entering the barn, she looked around to see tables with checkered cloths on them sitting close to the entrance.
A buffet and bar sat alongside the band stage.
Glancing around, she didn’t see Jaxon anywhere.
Her heart sunk in disappointment.
“Hello,”
a female voice said from beside her .
Presley looked over to see a beautiful woman smiling at her. She had strawberry blonde hair and killer jade green eyes.
“Hi,”
Presley said, smiling.
The woman stuck her hand out. “I’m Willa Callahan.”
“Presley Reynolds. It’s nice to meet you.”
“I try to meet the guests, but I’ve been so busy that I haven’t gotten around to it. Is this your last night here?”
“No. I’m here for a month.”
Willa laughed. “I remember when I came here for a month, and now I live here.”
Presley tilted her head in question. “How did you end up doing that?”
“I married Devin. I came here with Rocky Fontaine. He wanted to learn how to ride a horse for the western he has coming out in two years. I was his assistant.”
She shrugged. “I met Devin and fell hard. Fought it all the way too.”
Presley laughed and shook her head. “Wow. Rocky Fontaine. He is such a good actor, and I have to say it looks like Devin won.”
“Oh, he did. Damn man wore me down. But I couldn’t be happier. We were just married in July. I do the itinerary for all the activities. I love it here. The Callahans are a wonderful family to be a part of.”
Willa looked at her. “Maybe we can have lunch together since you’ll be here a while.”
“I’d love it.”
“Great.”
Willa beamed at her. “Now, I’m off to find my husband and get him on the dance floor. Have fun.”
She waved as she weaved through the tables toward Devin who was leaning against the barn wall talking with an older couple.
Presley watched as he straightened up when he spotted Willa walking toward him.
He put his arm around her when she reached him and kissed her temple and Presley swore she heard Willa’s sigh from here.
“Lucky woman,”
she murmured. Exhaling, she walked toward the table where Bett and Trixie sat with Rodney and another man.
“Take a seat, Presley,”
Bett said as she smiled up at her.
“Thanks.”
Presley pulled a chair out and took a seat beside Bett.
They all turned toward the stage as the band started tuning up.
Presley looked around again but still didn’t see Jaxon.
Maybe he didn’t want to see her again.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d all but physically thrown her out after they’d had sex.
Shouldn’t he attend the dance for the guests leaving the next day? Would he attend the last one she’d be here for? Her throat felt raw, just thinking of going.
The sex had been so good between them.
If only it hadn’t ended the way it had.
She wiggled in her seat thinking about being with him again but since he’d made it clear it was a mistake, she didn’t see that happening ever again.
Tapping her foot when the band began playing a Brooks and Dunn song, Hard Workin’ Man , she watched as some people moved to the floor and started dancing.
Sitting up, she smiled as she watched Devin spin Willa around the floor.
The man could dance.
He’d pull her close to him then turn her away, and she was having a ball with her husband.
Presley laughed when he dipped her at the end of the song.
When a slow song started, they remained on the floor.
They looked so in love.
Presley was sure Willa was older than Devin, but they looked like they belonged together despite the age difference.
An hour later, she sat at the table alone and ran her finger along the rim of her solo cup.
Jaxon was still nowhere to be seen.
Was he all right? Was he going to show or stay in his house and sulk? Should she even bother staying? Deciding to leave, she stood to do just that when she saw him enter the barn from behind the band stage.
Flopping back onto her chair, she stared at him.
He looked so good with his tight red T-shirt tucked into soft looking faded blue jeans.
No cowboy hat covered his head, and she wanted to comb her fingers through his thick dark hair.
She watched as his gaze glanced around the barn and land on her then he made his way toward her and stopped by her table.
She ran her gaze over him. On his feet were cowboy boots as usual but not his everyday ones he wore around the ranch.
“I need to apologize to you,”
he said in a deep voice.
“All right.”
Folding her arms, she stared up at him and saw that sexy mouth twitch as he tried not to grin.
“I apologize for yelling at you.”
“Apology accepted.”
Jaxon blew out a breath. “Are you having fun?”
“Yes. This is a fantastic way to say goodbye to the guests leaving tomorrow.”
“Have you danced?”
“A few line dances.”
“No man has asked you to dance?”
Shrugging, she stared up into those beautiful eyes. “Yes, but I turned them down.”
“Why?”
he asked quietly.
“Waiting on you, cowboy.”
Jaxon glanced away then back. “Glad to hear it, but I’m not allowed to do the asking. This is the one time we’re allowed to fraternize, but the guests have to ask us to dance. So…ask me.”
“What if I don’t want to ask you?”
“I suppose I’d have to break the rules and ask you then.”
He smirked.
“Are you sure you want to dance with me?”
Grinning, he shook his head. “Not really, but I can’t seem to stay away. Dance?”
“Well, I’ve had better invitations.”
Presley stood and took his hand. “Thank you. I’d love to.”
Presley stood and took his hand. “I’d love to.”
As he led her to the floor, a Faith Hill song came on. Breathe. A very sexy song in Presley’s opinion. She listened as Faith’s words told her to just breathe and she was trying, but it was hard to do when each time she did, she inhaled his aftershave.
“Where have you been?”
she whispered.
“Debating on whether to come here or not.”
“I was disappointed when I didn’t see you.”
He pulled back from her and looked into her eyes. “I’m trying to tell myself this isn’t a good idea.”
“I’m here for three more weeks, Jaxon. Can’t we just enjoy that time together?”
“And if one of us gets hurt? ”
Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, she blinked tears away as she looked up at him.
“I have no doubt I’m the one who will be, but I can’t stay away from you either.”
Jaxon stared at her, then nodded as he pulled her closer to him as the band played. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. This was wrong. So wrong. But she’d told him the truth, she couldn’t stay away from him. The chemistry between them was so powerful. It was going to hurt to walk away from this man, but she knew he wasn’t in it for anything other than sex. Blinking tears away, she pulled away from him, turned, walked away, and out the doors into the night when the song ended
Taking a deep breath, she moved to the fence rail and placed her arms across the top of it. She felt him beside her, but she didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. He put his arms on the rail beside her.
“Tell me what you want, Presley,”
he said in a low tone of voice.
“I’ll tell you what I don’t want. I don’t want a broken heart.”
“Do you want me to stay away from you?”
He turned to face her. “I’ll do it if that’s what you want, but we know it’s not going anywhere. Along with me not wanting a relationship, you’re leaving here in three weeks.”
“What if I wasn’t, Jaxon? Would that even make a difference?”
“I’ve told you—”
“Son?”
Jaxon swore softly then turned toward the voice. “Over here, Dad.”
Presley turned to see a tall man and a woman walking toward them. The woman smiled at Presley.
“Your mother and I are leaving. We’re heading to Butte tomorrow, so we have to get up early.”
He turned to look at Presley and smiled. She noticed a slight Irish brogue in his voice.
“Mom, Dad, this is Presley Reynolds. She’s a guest here for three more weeks. Presley, these are mine and Devin’s parents, Killian and Darcy Callahan.”
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”
Presley shook their hands.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Reynolds. Are you enjoying your stay?”
Darcy Callahan asked her.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She could feel the heat pouring into her cheeks as Darcy stared at her with a knowing smile on her face. Damn it! She cleared her throat. “I’ll, uh, let you talk.”
She quickly scurried back into the barn.
*** *
Jaxon knew he was in for it by the looks on his parents’ faces. Taking a deep breath, he waited.
“We’ll see you when we get back, son,”
Killian said as he turned away with his hand on Darcy’s elbow.
“That’s it?”
Jaxon asked then could have kicked himself.
Darcy turned to look at him and smiled. “She’s lovely, and it’s time you moved on with your life. Nothing else needs to be said. Goodnight, hon.”
“Goodnight, Mom. Dad. Have a safe trip.”
Jaxon shook his head in wonder as he watched his parents disappear into the night. Sucking in a deep breath, he blew it out then entered the barn and smiled when he saw Devin and Willa on the dance floor. The band sang another Brooks and Dunn song, Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You. They were so happy together, and they should be after all Devin went through to get her. She’d hated that she was older than him by nine years and she’d feared Devin would leave her eventually for a younger woman just like her ex-husband had. Fool! The stupid man had a good woman in Willa and lost her. At least Devin had her now, and he loved her more than anything .
Jaxon looked toward the table Presley had sat at earlier but didn’t see her. Glancing around, he looked for her but couldn’t find her. Had she left? He stiffened up when he spotted Bett striding toward him. Shit! He didn’t want to have to talk with her, but he knew he couldn’t be rude. She stopped in front of him and smiled up at him.
“Hello, Jaxon.”
“Ma’am.”
He nodded.
“You just can’t seem to call me Bett, can you?”
“Sorry.”
“She went back to her cabin,”
she said softly.
“What?”
He frowned.
“Presley. She left to go to her cabin.”
“You’re telling me this, why?”
When she snorted, he clenched his jaw.
“I’m sure few here noticed the way you two looked at each other while dancing, but I did, and I saw you follow her outside. You know, I like her, and if you’re smart, you’ll go, and make sure she’s all right.”
She winked at him, then turned and headed back toward the dance floor.
Clenching his fists, he knew he shouldn’t have danced with her. Never, in the two years he’d been at the ranch, had he danced with a guest unless they asked. He never did the asking. What would Bethany think? She told you to find someone new! But he never wanted to…until now. Could he take a chance with Presley? What the fuck are you thinking?
“Hell, if I know,”
he muttered as he leaned against the doorjamb of the barn and folded his arms. When the song ended, he saw Devin kiss Willa’s forehead then head toward him. Jaxon didn’t straighten up as his brother approached.
“Hey, Jax,”
Devin said as he leaned against the wall close to him.
“You and Willa look like you’re having fun,”
Jaxon said, smiling.
“We are. Where did Presley go?”
Jaxon shrugged and kept his eyes on the band. When Devin chuckled, Jaxon glared at him.
“You got something to say, Dev?”
“I’ve never seen you ask a guest to dance before.”
Devin shrugged.
“Hell, I know. I shouldn’t have,”
Jaxon mumbled.
Devin slapped him on the shoulder. “Isn’t it time you moved on? Obviously, she means something to you. Where’d she go, anyway?”
“I was told she went back to her cabin.”
“So, why are you still here?”
Devin tilted his head .
“You know how I feel about the idea of another woman. I shouldn’t get involved with her.”
“You already are, Jax. Whether you want to be or not. Go. Willa and I will close this place down.”
Jaxon looked at him then blew out a breath. “Yeah, I’m crazy,”
he said, then spun on his heel and headed for Presley’s cabin .