King Creek Cowboys Box Set 2

Chapter 1

Despite the chill in the late October air, perspiration rolled down the side of Marlee Fox’s face as she finished her morning jog. She slowed her pace then came to an easy walk when she reached the sidewalk leading into her neighborhood.

King Creek wasn’t too far from Phoenix, and the temperatures normally didn’t drop this low until November. This year fall decided to bless them with cooler temperatures. Marlee didn’t mind one darn bit.

She drew a breath in and blew it out as her heart rate lowered. She loved the neighborhood she lived in on the outskirts of town. Not quite country and not quite in town—the perfect space to breathe.

“Hey there.” Amy Baker waved from her porch.

Marlee came to a stop and smiled at her favorite neighbor. “We haven’t done lunch in a while.”

Amy’s footsteps thunked on the wooden porch steps as she made her way down to the path that led to the sidewalk. “I’m ready for some hole-in-the-wall tacos.”

Marlee rested her hands on the split rail fence. “Ricardo’s next week?”

“Perfect. I get off work from Heidi’s at twelve-thirty, so any time after that.” Amy’s long brunette ponytail bounced as she nodded. “We haven’t had a good gab in what seems like forever.”

“Yeah, two weeks is an eternity.” Marlee couldn’t help a grin. “I’ll give you a call when I check my schedule.”

“Only two weeks since our last lunch?” Amy returned her smile. “By the way, have you heard about the fund-raising event in November to help small businesses in King Creek?”

“I heard someone mention it at Mickey’s the other night.” Marlee tilted her head to the side. “But I was on my out the door with Ben and didn’t hear the details.”

Amy raised her brows. “You were out with Ben Campbell?”

“We’ve gone out a few times, but nothing serious.” Marlee shrugged. “Now tell me about the event.”

“With the economy sucking right now, Mayor Brown said he’d like to see something done to help our local businesses.” Amy swiped a strand of hair that whipped into her face as a breeze picked up. “I volunteered to help at the event, and I’m doing some recruiting. I know how you like to get involved in the community.”

“I’d love to give a hand.” The breeze caused Marlee to shiver as the perspiration dried on her skin. “Do you have the details?”

“I never had a doubt I could count on you.” Amy smiled. “We can go over deets Wednesday at lunch.”

“You’re on.” Marlee shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweat jacket. “So, where’s it being held?”

“The Bar M,” Amy said. “Colt volunteered his ranch.”

Marlee held back a groan as her enthusiasm deflated, and she tried not to show her sudden reluctance. Amy had no idea just how much she would prefer to not be around Colt McLeod. High school had been a long time ago, but she’d never forgotten days better left behind.

She usually managed to avoid Colt. Hard to do in a town full of McLeods, of which her cousin Rae could now be counted amongst.

The ringing of her phone saved Marlee from having to try to find a way to back out of her new commitment. She fished her phone out of the side pocket of her leggings. The screen showed Rae McLeod.

“It’s my cousin.” Marlee raised her phone. “I’d better get this.”

“I’ll see you Wednesday.” Amy gave her a little wave. “Tell Rae hello for me.”

“I will.” Marlee returned her wave then answered her phone as she walked away from Amy’s fence. “Hey, cuz.”

“Are you free for dinner tonight?” Rae sounded breathless with excitement.

“You bet.” Marlee’s calendar was filling up for the week. “What’s going on?”

“We can snag our booth at Gus’s, and I’ll tell you over garbage pizza.”

Marlee laughed. “Since when did you like your pizza with everything on it?”

“Just hungry for it.” Marlee heard the shrug in Rae’s voice. “Seven good for you?”

“I’m single, I have no kids, and I live alone,” Marlee said. “What do you think?”

Rae laughed. “See you then.”

Marlee pocketed her phone and walked the rest of the way home. She frowned as a thought occurred to her. Did Rae’s plan for dinner have anything to do with the event at Colt’s? She mentally shook her head. Nah. Rae knew that Colt was not Marlee’s favorite person, so why would she think Marlee would get excited? Rae wouldn’t, so it had to be something else.

The wind picked up as Marlee reached her home, and she shivered. She’d have to wear a jacket tonight.

Marlee pushed opened the gate of her white picket fence and jogged up the stairs to the front porch of her ninety-year-old home. The house creaked, the wind howled through the windows, the wood floors squeaked, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

She’d put up Halloween decorations for the holiday and had a witch costume ready for trick-or-treaters who’d be stopping by on Saturday. She had a great neighborhood with lots of kids, so she always had a big plastic cauldron full of candy each year.

After she let herself in, she dropped the key into a dish on a small table and locked the door behind her. She never felt like she needed to secure her door in her small town, but that was only the na?ve side of her that wanted to think she was surrounded by good people and didn’t have to worry about crime like their not-so-far Phoenix neighbors. Sure, King Creek didn’t have much of a crime rate, but it always paid to be safe.

Marlee’s shoes squeaked on the ceramic-tiled floor as she made her way to her small kitchen with its whimsically hand-painted table and mismatched yet matching chairs. The artist had painted each chair a different color, matching the shades she had used in the tabletop’s design. She’d fallen in love with the set when she spotted it in King Creek Treasures, the local consignment store. She’d been delighted to learn a local artist had painted it.

She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge that was covered in magnets from places she’d visited and holding down postcards that friends and family had sent. She twisted off the cap and took long swallows of water before staring at the fridge. One day she wanted to have children and the refrigerator would be covered with their pictures and their drawings.

First, she needed a hell of a man for a father. She tilted her head to the side. She couldn’t imagine the man she had recently been dating, Ben Campbell, as someone she’d want a long-term relationship with—much less seeing him as dad material.

For some darn reason, Colt McLeod came to mind, and she ground her teeth. No way on earth would she have anything to do with him any farther than she could throw him—which would be about one inch if she could even budge that tall, muscular body.

Marlee groaned and tilted her head to look up at her ceiling. She’d had it raised and added crown moldings. She rather liked how it made her small kitchen look bigger and more open.

She lowered her head and blew out her breath. There, did she manage to vanquish thoughts of Colt from her mind? No. Must be the fact that Amy had told her about the event at Colt’s ranch. Time to get that man out of her mind. She pictured him falling flat on his ass in a huge mud puddle in a pig pen.

Marlee couldn’t help a laugh. He so deserved that.

Since kids likely weren’t in her near future, maybe she should get a puppy. She scrunched her nose as she gave the thought serious consideration. Bear McLeod, also known as Doc McLeod, was the local vet and her cousin’s husband. She didn’t hold it against Bear that Colt was his brother. Bear would know what shelters she should look into, or he might even know of a dog that needed a good home.

She downed the rest of her water bottle and tossed the plastic into the recycle bin. She continued to think about bringing a dog into her home as she headed up the squeaking wood steps to the second floor. She’d put off getting a pet for years, but really, why wait any longer? She worked from home as an editor, so the dog wouldn’t be alone unless she went out for a while and couldn’t take it with her. She had time to train a pet and even take it on her daily jog.

“I’ll talk with Rae about it tonight.” Marlee tugged off her athletic wear and tossed it all into the clothes hamper.

Enthusiasm buoyed her steps as she headed for the shower. Kids weren’t in her near future, but she’d decided a fur-baby was.

Marlee leaned back in her recliner, rubbed the bridge of her nose, and squeezed her eyes shut. She’d been going through the slush pile, looking for a gem of a memoir that would jump and say, “Ta-da! I’m the manuscript you’ve always dreamed of receiving!”

Ha. Not even close.

Finding a manuscript that completely excited her hadn’t happened in a while. Most submissions for memoirs were boring as hell—no one wanted to read about the average person’s life. She lowered her hand, opened her eyes, and sighed.

Tomorrow she’d look at her other submissions. She accepted non-fiction queries for parenting, health, biographies, cooking, writing, humor, history, and sports. And thanks to her senior editor, Molly Shoemaker, she now accepted memoirs, currently the bane of Marlee’s life.

She rubbed the head of the polished ironwood duck on her end table, the only pet she’d had since she was a kid. “Did I ever tell you I really hate memoirs?”

The duck didn’t answer.

She glanced at her email and saw one from an online dictionary. “The word of the day is ‘numinous,’” Marlee told the wooden duck “That’s a new one.” She scrunched up her face. “Means something has a mysterious or spiritual quality.” She thought about the week’s activities. “Sounds like something that will go with Halloween. I’ll have a numinous night.”

Marlee shook her head. She’d be handing out Halloween candy on her own, rather than going to a party. She’d probably make it an early night once the trick-or-treaters dwindled to nothing.

She looked at the duck. “Time to pack it up.”

Marlee intended to go out and have fun with Rae. She needed tonight—red wine and pizza. And she’d even get to eat garbage pizza instead of pepperoni for a change.

She dressed in jeans, a lightweight V-necked black sweater, and athletic shoes, and pulled her blonde hair up into a high ponytail. A touch of makeup, and she was ready to go. Who knew if she’d meet the father of her 2.4 children?

Colt once again popped into her brain.

She thumped her skull with the flat of her hand. She’d gotten the man out of her system way back when. So why was he intruding now?

Nope. She was having none of it.

The walk to Gus’s Pizza took all of fifteen minutes. The evening was clear and cool, but she wore her purple Phoenix Suns jacket, which warded off the chill.

Warm air flowed over her face as she walked inside the pizza joint. The stained-glass lights over dark-wood booths with red vinyl-covered bench seats gave off a warm glow. The juke box played a country tune by the Phoenix-born son Dierks Bentley.

She looked in the direction of the booth she usually shared with Rae, and her cousin waved her over. Marlee smiled as she headed across the tiled floor to the booth. Rae looked flushed and happy.

Marlee slid into the booth and shrugged out of her jacket. “You look fantastic, even more than usual.”

“You’re good for my ego.” Rae laughed. “Best cousin ever.” She pointed to the two red plastic tumblers on the table, a straw sticking out of each one. “I got root beer.”

“Great.” Marlee set her jacket on the bench seat and grabbed a menu from behind the jars of red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese on the table. She flipped the menu open to the pizza section. “I am so hungry.”

“Good.” Rae tugged the menu down. “I already ordered a large garbage pizza.”

“Awesome.” Marlee slid the menu back into the holder. “How long ago?”

Rae pointed toward the kitchen. “Long enough that it’s almost to our table now.”

Marlee glanced over her shoulder and saw Gus himself carrying a large pizza pan in one hand.

“Gus’s best for you.” The man’s thick Greek accent sometimes made it hard to understand him, especially when the place was noisy like tonight. “With everything.”

“Anchovies?” Marlee glanced at the pizza then to Rae. “Really?”

Rae shrugged. “I had a craving for them.”

Marlee shook her head and smiled at the owner as he slid the pizza pan onto their table. “Thanks, Gus.”

The eighty-one-year-old man gave a nod, his craggy face reminding her of an ancient sea captain’s. “Eat.” He walked away in an old man’s slow gate.

Marlee glanced at Rae to see that she already had a big slice. Marlee took one and slid it onto her plate.

Rae took a big bite and gave a happy sigh. “Gus makes the best pizza.”

Marlee shook her head. “I must be in the Twilight Zone. You never eat garbage pizza, much less anchovies.”

Rae grinned as Marlee bit into her own pizza. “That’s because I’m pregnant.”

Marlee nearly choked on her mouthful. She hurried to chew then swallow. “That’s wonderful, Rae. Congrats to both you and Bear.”

“We suspected it for the past two weeks.” Rae practically bounced in her seat. “We just found out for sure from Dr. Martin today. Apparently, that’s why I’ve been having mood swings and want to eat all the time and hungry for weird things. No morning sickness so far. Thank God.” She bit into an anchovy on her pizza again.

Marlee felt a bright warmth in her chest at the news. “I’m so excited for you. Have you told your sister?”

Rae shook her head. “I’ll tell Carrie when Bear and I visit her and the kids next weekend. I wanted to share the news with her in person.”

Marlee sipped her root beer before setting down the red tumbler. “The twins will be beyond excited.”

Rae nodded enthusiastically. “The girls will probably think they have a new doll to play with when the baby is born.” Rae laughed. “Even though neither of them is into dolls.”

“Maybe they’ll teach the baby to kick a soccer ball when she or he is bigger.” Marlee leaned forward. “Are you going to find out if it’s a girl or boy when they can tell?”

“We haven’t decided.” Rae looked thoughtful. “There’s something to say about knowing and being prepared, or just finding out after the birth.”

“I’d want to know.” Marlee eased back and picked up her slice. “I’d be planning every last moment of it.”

Rae laughed. “You would. You always have had to know everything you can about everything that interests you or comes up in your life.”

“That’s me.” Marlee dug into her pizza again.

“Bear and I would like you to be our baby’s godmother,” Rae said when Marlee set down her pizza.

Marlee wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled. “Thank you, Rae. I would love to.” Marlee laughed. “You know, godmother sounds much too close to grandmother.”

Rae grinned. “Grandmotherhood is a long way off for both of us.”

“Thank God,” Marlee said. “I’m not even ready to be a mom, whenever that might be.”

For a few moments they munched on their dinner. When Marlee reached for a second slice, Rae folded her arms on the table. “Have you heard about the small business fundraising event?”

Marlee groaned and looked up at the stained-glass lamp over their table. “I practically committed to Amy Baker this morning that I’d help, before she told me it would be held at Colt’s ranch.”

“He’s really not a bad guy,” Rae said tentatively. “Maybe it’s time to bury the hatchet.”

Marlee sighed and let the thought roll around in her mind. “Maybe.”

Rae nodded in the direction of the front door. “Well, here comes your chance.”

Marlee wanted to slide down in her seat to hide. She refused to look over her shoulder. “Hell, no.”

Rae laughed. “Come on, Marlee. Give it a go.”

Two male voices approached from behind Marlee—sounded like Bear and Colt. “You planned this,” Marlee hissed.

Rae shook her head. “I knew Bear was stopping by, that’s it.” Rae straightened and she beamed, positively glowing. “You made it,” she said to Bear as he reached the table then slid onto the bench beside her.”

Bear kissed her. “Of course.”

Marlee felt more than saw the tall, muscular presence beside her. She didn’t want to look up, but she made herself do it.

Colt McLeod grinned down at her. “Hey, Marlee.”

Marlee sighed and forced a smile. “You might as well have a seat and join us.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” He gave a nod toward the bench seat. “Scoot on over.”

Marlee held back another groan. Colt couldn’t very well ask Bear to move and sit by his brother. Not to mention each bench only fit two.

She moved as far away as possible, but that was only a few inches. Colt eased in beside her and his big body pressed firmly along her side. Yep, not enough room at this table for the two of them.

Her senses ignited, now on overdrive from his nearness. He smelled so good, of soap and a comforting masculine scent. His body felt warm and hard against hers, and she wondered, not for the first time, what it would be like to be in his arms now that he was a man, as opposed to the lean but muscular teen he had been.

Colt had a larger, more muscular build than his brothers. His biceps bulged beneath his black T-shirt that clung to his perfect torso. His body felt so hard against her as he shifted in his seat. How she longed to see what was under the T-shirt and the denim that molded to his athletic thighs. The man was a work of art.

Marlee’s face heated as Colt met her gaze. “How’re you doing, sugar?”

She raised her chin. “Save your charm for another woman who will fall for it.”

He grinned. “So, I’m charming?”

A flush stole over her. “In your dreams, cowboy.”

Colt flashed her a grin. “I’ve had some pretty good dreams.”

Marlee rolled her eyes before turning to Bear. “Congrats, Bear.”

He gave his sexy-cute grin. “I can’t wait.”

“We can’t wait.” Rae rested her head on his shoulder. She looked so happy, so contented, that it made Marlee ache inside. What would it be like to have a love like the two of them shared?

Not something that would come into her life soon, considering she hadn’t been on a date in about a hundred years before Ben, she worked at home, and she rarely got out. She had her doubts about Ben. He was a kind of blip on the screen. Yeah, not gonna happen for a loooong time.

“What have you been up to?” Colt had his gaze on her again. He had the most beautiful eyes, the color of whiskey.

She swallowed and tried not to stumble over her words. “Same old, same old.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be, considering I have no idea what’s the same with you.”

She shrugged. “I edit books all day long, I go for jogs. I crazy quilt. Other than meeting up with friends on occasion, I have about zero excitement in my life.”

Colt grinned. “I could cook up some excitement.”

She resisted rolling her eyes again. “Oh, please. Spare me.”

The damned man laughed. “I’ll take you dancing. Sounds like you could use a night out.”

Her scalp tingled. Was Colt asking her on a date? He was definitely flirting with her.

She was not falling for this. Again.

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Come on, Marlee.” The corner of his mouth turned up in his sexy-as-hell grin. “We can go to Mickey’s Friday night. A live band will be playing.”

She narrowed her gaze at him. “What’s gotten into you?”

He held her gaze. “I’ve been wanting to ask you out for the longest time.”

She resisted narrowing her eyes and glaring. “I’ve heard that one before.”

Colt sighed. “You’re never going to forgive me.”

“Nope.” She eyed him steadily. “You blew it, and you blew it good.”

His expression sobered. “I’m sorry about what happened. I have been since that day—I just never had the chance to tell you.”

Marlee’s whole body tingled, and she couldn’t meet his gaze anymore. She reached for her drink to keep her hands occupied—and her attention away from the man who made her feel like she was on fire, and he was the only one who could put it out.

When she had herself under control, the best she could, she met Colt’s gaze again. Dang that man for being so sexy and having such beautiful eyes. “You’ve had plenty of time, Colt. And plenty of opportunity.”

This time he looked away. When he had his gaze on her again, he spoke quietly. “I’m a coward. I didn’t know how to say it, and it just got harder as time’s gone by. You’ve avoided me, for good reason, and I never took the time I needed to say it. I’m sorry, Marlee. Can we start over?”

She thought about it for a long moment. All the hurt, all the pain. She’d held onto it for so long. Rae was probably right, and she should bury the hatchet with Colt. After all, they hadn’t been more than teenagers in their senior year.

Marlee took a deep breath before releasing it. “It’s a new day. Sure, we can be friends.”

He studied her and didn’t smile. “How about Mickey’s Friday?”

Too soon, too fast.

She paused before giving a slow shake of her head. “No, I don’t think so.”

“All right.” He gave a lopsided smile that she found incredibly endearing. “Doesn’t mean I’ll give up.”

She couldn’t help a smile. “Doesn’t mean I’ll ever say yes.”

Marlee noticed Rae and Bear watching them. Rae wore a sly grin and Bear looked intrigued. Marlee flushed as she wondered if the pair had been watching and listening the whole time. She’d gotten lost in her conversation with Colt.

Bear and Colt joined in eating the huge pizza. As they enjoyed dinner, Marlee could barely breathe from Colt’s nearness. She was grateful Colt kept to safe topics, like the latest happenings around town and what he had going on around his ranch.

When they’d polished off the pizza, she’d reached the bottom of her glass of root beer, and he’d finished his beer, Colt asked, “How’d you get here?”

She shrugged. “On my own two feet. I live a fifteen-minute walk from here.”

“Well, it’s a five-minute drive, so I’ll take you home.” He straightened. “Can’t have you walking home when you’re intoxicated.”

She snorted back a laugh. “You know perfectly well that I haven’t had anything stronger than root beer.”

“I only hear the word ‘beer.’” His smile turned into a grin, and he slid out of the booth and stood. He absolutely towered over her, a good six-three. He braced his hand on the back of the bench seat and looked at Bear and Rae, who’d been talking.

“Marlee walked here, so I’m driving her home.”

Marlee’s jaw dropped. She started to argue but Bear and Rae nodded and smiled.

Bear grinned. “See you two soon.”

Marlee gripped her jacket in her fist, feeling like she couldn’t decline. Colt had put her in a spot in front of Rae and her husband.

Colt stepped back as Marlee held her jacket to her, scooted out of the booth, and got to her feet. She did her best not to glare at Colt.

“Call me tomorrow.” Rae had a knowing glint in her eyes.

Marlee gave a little wave and left, not caring if Colt was behind her. Naturally, he was. She could feel his body heat as he came up beside her. He touched his hand to the small of her back, and she stiffened as they made their way through the crowd that had grown since she’d arrived.

When they were finally outside, she whirled on him. “You made it too awkward to tell you where to shove your offer of a ride home.” She braced her hands on her hips. “Well, let me tell you, Colt McLeod?—”

He grasped her by her upper arms, dragged her to him, and cut her off when he pressed his mouth to hers.