Chapter Two
End of May
“At some point you’re going to be way too big for me to take you along when I go out at night,” Dylan said as he put Daisy in his truck. “But okay, I think I can still sneak you into Grey’s Saloon. You’ll be a good girl, won’t you?”
Daisy licked his face, her body wriggling.
She was now about two and a half months old and during the day she stayed with Isabella, the very friendly woman who cooked for all of them.
Contrary to what he’d read about boxers, Daisy had already discovered her bark over the last few days, way sooner than was apparently the norm.
Dylan was glad he’d decided to keep Daisy, especially now that Carson had moved into his own house. It would have been very quiet without her. His own house was much neater, Carson couldn’t be bothered where he put what, but he missed their late-night conversations.
Spring had arrived and over the past two months, calving had kind of blotted out everything else.
They didn’t get much sleep and had to get up several times a night checking on cows, especially the first-time mothers.
After calves were born, they were tagged, weighed, and given shots and probiotics before they were released to their mothers again.
Then they had to be closely monitored to make sure they were nursing and that they didn’t succumb to scours which could kill them quickly.
Everyone on the ranch was bone tired in the evenings. That was why Dylan planned to stay in tonight to get an early night’s sleep, but a strange restlessness was forcing him out of the house. He was going to join his cousins and brother at Grey’s Saloon in town.
Daisy settled on the makeshift bed he’d made for her on the back seat of his truck. As he drove through the gates of the ranch, it started drizzling. Turning on to the road that led to Marietta, his mind was on the fight between his dad and his uncle decades ago.
Their cousins were great people as he and Carson had discovered way back when while they’d all still been in school. But because of the fight, they had never been allowed to visit their relatives or invite them over to their place.
His dad had never spoken about it and neither, it would seem, had his uncle.
His mother had been livid every time anyone had dared to mention the other Westons.
Nobody knew what the fight had been about.
And Arlene, his uncle’s wife, who was still very much alive, wasn’t talking.
Of course, he’d tried to question her but Hayden, his oldest cousin had given him a stern warning—stop questioning his mother.
When she was ready, she would tell them.
Families usually fight about money or land, he’d discovered, but both his dad and his uncle had had their own ranches and both were big ranchers well, so that couldn’t be the reason.
A movement on the side of the road stopped his thoughts.
What was that? Slowing down, Dylan peered through the front window of his truck.
It was just after half past eight, the sun hadn’t quite set yet but because it was starting to rain harder, it was darker than it would normally be.
A red car with a Washington state license plate was parked to the side of the road. A vintage Camero if he wasn’t mistaken.
Slowly he drove closer and stopped next to the car. The front seat was empty. Whoever had been in the car, had already left.
Barking, Daisy sat up.
Moving his hand to the back, Dylan tried to calm her down. “It’s okay, sweetheart, there isn’t anyone in the car.”
Daisy didn’t like his answer though and jumped onto the front seat.
“The car is empty; the person probably hitched a ride into town.”
Daisy was not to be placated and putting her front feet against the door, she barked.
“What are you barking at?” Dylan again peered through the front window. And then he saw why Daisy was still upset.
A tall, slender woman in jeans, her long, wet hair hanging down her back, was walking along the side of the road, trailing an enormous red suitcase behind her.
“Oh, I see. Maybe we can help this lady. Come on, Daisy, move to the back.” Gently he picked her up and placed her on the seat behind him again before he stopped and opened the window. “You had car trouble, it would seem.”
The woman didn’t even turn her head to look at him but kept walking. “I’m fine, thank you.”
Driving slowly alongside her, he leaned out of his window. “It’s raining, come on. Let me take you into town.”
“I’m fine.”
As she was shouting the words, the heavens opened above them and rain poured down on her.
Dylan gritted his teeth. He didn’t understand women, never had, never would.
They were either stubborn or clingy, neither characteristics he knew how to deal with.
This one was obviously stubborn as hell.
It was evident in the way she walked, the way she held her head even while the rain was pouring down on her and in the way she lifted her chin.
“Okay,” he said, slowly following her.
After a few steps, the woman glared at him. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you get into town safe and sound. That’s what we do around here.”
She turned, fully facing him for the first time. Damn, she was gorgeous. Even sopping wet and in the dim light he could see that.
The white top she was wearing was wet and clinging to her body, giving him a glimpse of the black bra she was wearing. Out of nowhere, a fist of desire hit him in the solar plexus. What the hell?
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll get in your truck, but if you lay a hand on me, you’ll be very sorry.”
Swallowing his grin, he got out of his truck.
“Get in, I’ll put your suitcase in the back.
” Without waiting to see if she listened, he took the luggage to the back.
He was used to carrying heavy stuff around, but as he lifted the suitcase he was surprised by the weight.
What the hell did the woman have in here?
As he returned to his side of the car, she was nowhere to be seen. Hopefully she was inside the truck.
By the time he got back behind the wheel, he was soaked to the skin. Trying to rub the worst of the water from his face with his hand, he turned to the woman. “I’m Dylan.”
Daisy had somehow found her way on the woman’s lap and was looking up at her adoringly.
“Thank you for the lift,” she said, her eyes on Daisy.
So, she’s not sharing her name.
She kept stroking Daisy behind her ears. “Oh, you’re a cutie, aren’t you?” she laughed.
The sound went straight to Dylan’s loins. What the actual hell?
“Sorry about Daisy,” he said as he put out his hand to pick up the dog.
“Oh, no, please leave her. She’s adorable.” Her eyes still on the dog, June closed her hand around his, stopping him from taking Daisy.
He froze. She froze. For a millisecond, gorgeous blue eyes met his. Some sort of electricity crackled, Daisy barked.
Cuddling Daisy close to her, the woman moved as far to the other side of the seat as she possibly could.
*
Swallowing, June tried to focus on the dog. Why had she gotten into this man’s truck? She didn’t know him. He could be taking her anywhere. And why had she touched him, for heaven’s sake? She’d never been a very tactile person. Growing up with strangers had taught her to always keep her distance.
In that moment, though it had seemed so natural. The bolt of electricity and Daisy’s bark had, fortunately, yanked her out of the strange stupor she’d been in for a few seconds.
Stealing a glance in his direction, she had to swallow.
Raindrops were still dripping from his hat, from his face, rolling over his face down his neck to the V of his wet denim shirt that was clinging to him like a second skin.
Muscled arms, broad shoulders, dark hair, blue eyes with a strangely familiar smile.
“You’re from Washington state,” he said. “Seattle?”
She nodded, reluctant to share any details with the stranger.
“And you’ve driven all the way here in your vintage Camero?”
“Something like that.”
He turned to look at her, but she turned her head away quickly, noticing houses. Thank goodness they’d, fortunately, arrived in Marietta.
“Where can I drop you off?” he asked.
“A friend has kindly offered me the use of her house in town while I’m here. The key will be in the pot next to the door, she said. Apparently, doing that is not a problem in Marietta.” Opening her phone, she read him the address.
Nodding, he took the first road to their left and minutes later, parked on the driveway in front of a house. “This is it. So, you’re staying in Ellie’s house?”
“How do you …? Oh, yes, I’ve forgotten,” she grimaced as she opened her door. “Small town.”
He didn’t answer her but held out his hands to take the dog.
For a moment she hugged the small body close to her before she gave it back.
She’d of course never had a pet. In the city, it wasn’t practical, so she’d stopped thinking about having a pet a long time ago.
Daisy, though, had stolen her heart with just one lick.
Dylan put the dog in the back. “Daisy, stay. I’ll be right back.”
Outside, the rain had changed back to a light drizzle, thank goodness.
As she reached the back of the truck to get her bag, Dylan had already taken it out and had his phone in his hand.
“About your car—” he said.
“Don’t worry about it,” she interrupted him. “I’ll get someone—”
“Already done.”
Irritated, she glared at him. “I’m quite capable of doing things for myself.”
Grabbing her suitcase, he proceeded to the front door. “Of course you are, but Ellie will have my hide if I don’t help her friend. I see she’s left the porch light on for you.”
Lifting her heavy luggage as if it didn’t weigh anything, he took the porch stairs two at a time. “Let’s see if we can find that key.” Bending down, he tilted one of the pots and produced the key. “Success,” he grinned and before she could take the key from him, he was unlocking the door.
As he opened the door, she grabbed the handle of the suitcase, but he was a millisecond quicker than she’d been. Her hand closed over his. Inhaling sharply, their eyes met. A strange electrical force was swirling around them, making breathing difficult.
Her eyes dropped to the V of his wet shirt where droplets were still running from his throat. She shouldn’t be staring, but whether it was the cowboy hat or the strangeness of the situation, she was fascinated.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll have to kiss you.” His voice was low, gruff, sending more shivers down her spine.
Coming out of her stupor, she quickly dropped her hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Thank you for your help. I’ll take my luggage now.”
Ignoring her, he pulled the suitcase into the house and flipped on the light. “The bedrooms are on the second floor. Let me take Fat Ruby up the stairs.”
He was moving up the stairs with the huge red suitcase before she could stop him.
So now he’d named her suitcase? Irritated, she glared after him, but her eyes landed on the way his jeans fit perfectly around his very sexy bum, and her irritation gave way for something entirely different. She quickly put her hand on her tummy. What was the strange fluttering?
When traveling for work, she usually only had one small overnight case with her, but this time she wasn’t sure exactly how long she was going to stay so she’d packed more clothes. And of course, she had to bring books. Half of Fat Ruby was filled with new releases she hadn’t had a chance to read.
Groaning softly, she rubbed her eyes. Now she was also calling her beautiful red baggage by the name he’d christened it.
Exasperated with the whole strange situation, she turned to look around her. Warm and welcoming were the first words that popped into her head.
“Fat Ruby is in the hallway upstairs,” Dylan said behind her.
As she turned, she bumped into him. He was closer than what she’d thought. Big hands closed around her upper arms to keep her steady.
“Do you always creep up on people?” Confused by the stranger and her odd reaction to him, she stepped back.
His eyes had dropped slightly and were roaming over her face. Something fascinated him. “It’s like a galaxy of stars waiting to be explored.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your freckles. There are about twenty all over your face.”
Miffed, she turned away. “Not sure if that was a line, but you should seriously work on yours if you want to impress anyone.” She’d been mercilessly teased at school because she had freckles.
Since her very first salary, she’d made sure they were very well hidden.
The rain had probably washed her makeup off.
“It’s not a line, dammit,” he grumbled.
Even now she still woke up with the relentless voices of schoolboys calling her freckle-face but never, ever had anyone referred to the dots on her face as a galaxy of stars waiting to be explored. As if she’d fall for a line like that.
It was time to get this guy out of her life. “Thank you. I don’t want to keep you.” Walking toward the front door, she forced herself not to look at him again.
At the door he paused. His gaze dropped. Clearing his throat, he stepped out onto the porch. “You should get out of those wet clothes. How the hell am I supposed to—”
Before he’d finished his sentence, he was moving toward his truck, though, so she didn’t quite hear his last words.
Sleep? Was that what he said? Why wouldn’t he be able to sleep?
Frowning, she looked down at herself. Horrified she saw her perfectly modest white shirt was wet and completely see-through, exposing the black bra she was wearing.
By the time she looked up, he was already reversing his truck onto the road.
Quickly closing the door, she leaned against it. Her heart was racing at an alarming rate, her palms were sweaty, and she was a shuddering mess.
Imagine what would happen if he’d kissed her. Oh, my goodness, where did that thought come from?
Her phone rang. It was Abby, checking on her.
“Hi, Abs. I’ve just arrived. You won’t believe what happened to me!”
By the time they ended the call about half an hour later, the butterflies had finally settled down. Laughing at herself, she ran up the stairs. It was ridiculous to think how she’d reacted to a stranger. It was probably only because she was so tired.
She seriously hoped this wasn’t going to happen every time she saw a man in a cowboy hat.