Chapter Eight
After spending halfthe night pissed off at Nicole and the other half worried about her, Slade entered the stables the following morning itching for a battle. He spotted Evan nailing a new horseshoe onto Apollo’s hoof with Reed’s guidance. Instead of obliging his mood, Evan tossed a rare grin over his shoulder as he straightened, dropping the stallion’s leg.
“Check this out. Not bad if I say so myself,” he boasted.
Slade checked the hoof then looked at Evan, pleased with his improved disposition today. “Good job. Are you two done in here?” he asked Reed.
“We’re done. Go ahead and join the others, Evan.”
He waited until Evan was out of earshot before saying, “Came in early and without attitude. I wonder why?”
“I’d rather enjoy the reprieve than waste time questioning it,” Reed stated, stroking Apollo’s brown-spotted neck. “Besides, you walked in with enough attitude for both of you.”
“I was in battle mode, expecting another confrontation.” He strode to Bandit’s stall, and they led their mounts outside before Reed picked up the conversation.
“Is he the one responsible for the trouble lately?”
“Maybe. Likely.”
They grabbed saddles and prepped the horses, the task not enough to keep his brother from digging for more. “You have proof or just suspicions?”
Slade mounted, not ready to discuss his hunch. “Nothing concrete. Where are we headed?”
“Hunting. We lost two calves last night. The tracks looked like cougar.”
“Fucking cats.” Pumas topped the list as one of the most elusive animals in the wild, making them difficult to track. They were also deadly when on the prowl and he left Chace behind. Better safe than sorry. He checked the ammunition in his rifle before riding out, saying, “Let’s go hunting.”
They rode at a brisk pace for thirty minutes, talking with gestures, before slowing enough to hear each other. He almost picked up speed again when Reed spoke without lifting his head from the recent tracks they found.
“So, what happened between you and our new neighbor last weekend at Casey’s?”
“We spoke, and I followed her home.” Slade pointed to a clear paw print in a muddy patch. “He’s a big son of a bitch.”
“And wily. The tracks disappear here.”
They’d come upon a rocky foothill with no discernible pathways, easy enough for a mountain lion or skilled climber, which they weren’t, to scale. Tugging on the reins, he steered Bandit to the right. “Let’s circle a bit before giving up.”
Reed kept his focus either downward, his lips curving as he said, “Sounds good. Gives you time to tell me how Nicole responded when you took her upstairs.”
Slade wasn’t amused but used to his brother’s good-natured ribbing. “How did Lily respond in bed last night? Or did you take her upstairs?”
“Okay, I get it,” he replied, glancing his way with a chuckle. “Gotta admit, though, I’m liking the merry chase she’s leading you on.”
The cat’s loud snarl had them quickly withdrawing their rifles from the scabbards, seconds before they caught sight of a puma’s tail. They followed with caution, luck staying with them when they saw the cat halfway up the hillside. In sync, they took aim and fired, dropping him a few feet away.
“He’s even bigger than I imagined.” Slade nudged the fallen puma with his rifle, making sure he was dead. He could see how easily an animal this size could kill a couple of calves in one attack.
“Damn, I wouldn’t want this guy anywhere near our houses. There are stories of cats wandering into towns lately. Too bad we couldn’t risk the time to contact one of the sanctuaries to take him though.”
He shuddered, Reed’s comment bringing Nicole living alone with a timid dog to mind. “Let’s get back.”
The hunt took the better part of the morning, and he worked alongside Reed when they returned, playing catch-up on their chores. He couldn’t seem to stop thinking about Nicole, worrying when there was no cause. She was a grown, independent woman, brave enough to tackle that run-down place on her own, so his fixation made no sense. He liked her spirit, admired her gumption, and couldn’t deny his sexual attraction. There were other women he liked, a few he admired, and if he’d acted on every woman he found sexually attractive, his lifestyle would be no better than his philandering father’s. Which left him asking where, or to whom, he went from here.
***
HE RUBBED THE SADDLEsoap harder into the supple leather seat, unable to recall anyone else who had drawn all three responses, not even his long-time friend and part-time play partner, Deb. Maybe he should give her a call, ask if she cared to meet him at Casey’s tonight. It had been a while since they had hooked up, and hanging out with someone he cared a great deal for might be what he needed to squash his increasing preoccupation with Nicole.
“What has your head in the clouds?”
Slade swung around to face Brett, Reed gazing at him with an amused expression that rubbed him wrong. “Nothing wrong with concentrating on work, is there? I didn’t hear you. Sue me.”
Brett nudged his hat up and cocked his head. “I thought it might be the neighbor again.”
Scooping a hand through his hair to get it off his face, he asked, “Why would you think that?”
“Allie invited her to have coffee this morning.” He looked over at Reed, saying, “Apparently, Nicole has Slade to thank for setting her straight on the difference between a stray dog and a coyote.”
“She didn’t.” Reed sounded both surprised and worried as he asked Slade, “She tried to get friendly with one?”
“With a dog treat,” he drawled, pleased to hear Nicole was getting out instead of staying isolated.
Brett shook his head with a grin. “Okay, now it sounds amusing. Still, Allie thought someone should suggest she think about fostering the overload from Casper’s shelter instead of tackling strays, at least for now.”
Definitely time to give Deb a call, Slade decided when his pulse jumped at using that excuse to see her again. He turned back to his chore before asking, “Why didn’t she suggest it?”
“Said she didn’t want to come across as doubting her ability to handle the endeavor, whereas, that wouldn’t bother you.”
Reed’s sawhorse holding his saddle stood close enough to Slade’s for him to nudge him. “She’s got a point.”
“She’s interfering again.” He glared at Brett over his shoulder. “Tell her to knock it off and mention that to Nicole herself. Now, quit bugging me. Both of you.”
The first thing Slade did when he arrived home was call Deb.
***
“I’VE GOT TO RUN. TENo’clock meeting with a new client,” Lily said, picking up her coffee cup.
“And I have errands to run.” Nicole finished off her coffee then told Allie, “Thanks for having me over this morning, and for your suggestion to foster. You gave me something to think about. Your home is beautiful. ”
She enjoyed the coffee, blueberry bagel, and small talk with sunlight pouring through the far wall of windows, spanning the den, dining, and kitchen area. Both Allie’s invitation to join them for coffee and the idea about fostering had come at an opportune time. For the fifth morning straight, she’d awoken thinking about Slade. If that weren’t annoying enough, instead of the sex scratching her itch, it seemed to have intensified with each passing day. On top of that, she owed him an apology, and she always paid her debts.
“Thank you. I love it out here.” Allie walked with them out to the front porch. “You’re not upset that Slade mentioned the coyote incident, are you? According to Brett, he was worried. Not that he’d admit, of course.”
Lily chuckled. “Not Slade. His protective streak is as strong as Reed’s though.”
“I’m glad I’m not the only one suffering his interference, even if I do appreciate his timely arrival the other evening. And no, it doesn’t bother me that he told his brothers. It’s nice they’re close.” Probably as close as she’d been to Tony, a bond she envied, and missed. While she didn’t need anyone worrying about her, his concern had seeped through her armor and touched a soft spot she’d spent the week trying to harden again.
“Yeah, they are,” Allie agreed, following them down the steps to the long drive and their vehicles. “But, according to Brett, it still took a few years to get him to open up about his job as a military sniper.”
Lily opened her door and pointed to the east. “Our place is a mile in that direction, Slade’s another mile beyond that.”
With Lily right behind her, Nicole drove down the long road to the highway, glancing across the rangeland the Kincaids owned, unable to resist searching for Slade among the handful of riders. The ranch buildings were far enough away she could barely glimpse the roofs, the same with the hands on horseback, and she turned onto the highway cursing her weakness. What red-blooded, sane woman wouldn’t lust after any of the Kincaid brothers? That argument would work if Slade weren’t the only brother who turned her into an inferno with one look, or a simple touch. As if that weren’t enough, now she found herself sympathizing with the painful toll his years as a sniper must have taken on him.
Allie had mentioned joining them at Casey’s again tonight, and her first inclination had been to decline, but she’d never let a man dictate her life and wouldn’t start now. Besides, she was determined to go and not behave like a weak-kneed ninny when she apologized. Once she got that out of the way, maybe she would stop thinking so much about him.
The daily list of to-do tasks started with laundry. With only one small load, she hoped to finish shopping in the mercantile, grab a sandwich, and return home with plenty of daylight left to hang outside with Sam and scratch a few more chores off her list.
Right on schedule, Nicole entered Ina’s less than an hour later and took a seat at the counter, choosing the grilled chicken melt as Ina strolled over.
“Nice to see you again, Nicole. How’s that shelter coming along?”
Pleased she remembered her, Nicole replied, “Barn and cottage are cleared, ready for the contractors on Monday.” Which gave her only two days to plan on operating a shelter or accommodate numerous foster dogs.
“You’ve hired Baker Construction, I hear. Jim will do right by you. Dated his older brother a time or two. Before Howard, of course. What can I get you?”
Nicole ordered the sandwich special, bemused by Ina’s rapid-fire dialog and subject changes. Her parents were lucky enough to enjoy a long, loving marriage, like the Hendersons, their relationship also going back to high school. None of her teen dates had made a lasting impression, let alone a desire for commitment. A much bigger school in a large city filled with people and opportunities might account for that, but already, she could tell the merits of growing up here.
“Thank you,” she said when Ina came in with her order. Looking at the loaded plate, she groaned. “You didn’t tell me it came with fries and a salad, or that you put a whole chicken in the sandwich.”
“Just half a chicken, dear.” She patted her hand. “I’ll bring you a take-home box before you finish.”
Nicole stepped out of the diner feeling full but good, happy with the day so far. With leftovers for dinner, she wouldn’t have to cook, saving time before she left for Casey’s. She would apologize to Slade, be done with that chore, and then have fun. Maybe get up the nerve to try the mechanical bull after a drink or two, she mused, and dance with a hot cowboy. Someone other than the hot neighbor.
She stepped off the sidewalk to cross over to the cars, thinking about what she would say to Slade tonight, when a car came screeching out of a lane with the motor gunning. With only seconds to spare, someone acted faster than she could and grabbed her arm, yanking her out of harm’s way to land with a jarring thud on the concrete as the car sped away too fast to identify the driver.
Shaken, her heart slamming in her chest, she lay there a minute, struggling to breathe until her savior lifted off her. Shoppers converged on them, everyone talking at once, asking if she was all right, what happened, did anyone catch who that idiot driver was.
“Did I hurt you? I’m sorry, I just reacted.”
The older gentleman helped her stand, his concerned face swimming before Nicole’s watery eyes as she worked to get herself under control. “I’m okay.” She gave a weak laugh. “At least, I think so.” Her thigh ached, but so far, that was the only repercussion she could detect.
Ina and another woman were suddenly there, the one she didn’t recognize looking from her to the man. “Oh, my goodness! William, is she all right? These darn reckless teenagers!”
Ina interrupted, clapped her hands, and shooed everyone out of the way. “All taken care of. Let the poor girl catch her breath, everyone.”
“Thanks,” she told the three of them when the crowd dispersed. “My fault. I wasn’t paying attention.” She held her hand out to the man. “William? Nicole Wells, and I appreciate your quick thinking. I owe you one.”
“Nonsense. I’m Andrea Hastings, and we’re just glad you weren’t hurt.”
William smiled. “What my wife said.”
Ina put an arm around her shoulders as they moved to the sidewalk. “Why don’t you let one of us drive you home, dear?”
Damn it.Nicole’s throat clogged, the small hug eliciting a longing for her mom. “I must be good. Look.” She cleared her throat, held up the leftovers still in the bag, and quipped, “I managed to save the food.”
William, bless him, took over for Nicole. “All right. Let the girl be on her way. Come along, you two.”
Nicole thanked them again and managed to file the humiliating incident away until that evening when she changed clothes and saw the bruise forming on her thigh. That explained the dull throb every time she put her weight on that leg. Instead of letting the minor injury interfere with her plan to have fun after getting Slade’s apology over with, she donned a clean pair of jeans and her favorite sweatshirt. In a simple design that said it all, the soft mauve depicted the white outline of a human hand and dog paw in a high-five gesture.
She babied Sam a little, gave him a chew bone, and left for the club, positive all would go well and as planned tonight.
***
WHAT THE FUCK WAS Ithinking? Grabbing my hastily packed bag off the motel bed that I’m fucking glad I’m not sleeping in tonight, I left the room and tossed it in the rental car’s rear seat. Leaving without accomplishing my mission doesn’t sit well but can’t be helped, not after my hasty, faulty judgment upon seeing the bitch pop up out of the blue like that. I’ve never given in to temptation simply out of convenience, and this is the reason. Too much can go wrong and screw up everything else, such as well-laid-out plans. Driving back to the private airstrip, I went over new plans for a return trip in another few weeks. Despite the asinine last-second decision that ended in failure and possibly put Wells on alert, not returning to finish this isn’t an option.
I never expected to see Nicole Wells there, not when I have yet to find where she’s living. Somewhere near the highway strip mall didn’t cut it with so much barren, open land everywhere I can see, the main thoroughfare only two lanes, and the numerous dirt road turnoffs unmarked. I’d hoped to finish this once and for all, quick and easy, and return home in time for the weekly family meeting. Now, I have to hurry back before anyone realizes I’m gone and then plan another trip to bumfuck Wyoming to end Wells’ miserable existence. Next time around, though, I’ll put the hunting skills our father taught us to use.
I have to do it for my peace of mind if nothing else. Family first, always. Dad also insisted on that.
***
“HAVE ANOTHER, THENwe’ll talk you into it.” Allie slid her second beer across the table to Nicole. “My donation to the cause.”
“You will talk her into it, not me. I think it’s nuts to ride that thing.” Lily feigned a shudder, glancing at the mechanical bull rocking in full motion, the rider laughing while getting tossed back and forth.
Nicole took a long pull on the brew before saying, “Thanks, I’ll take the drink but pass on bull riding for now. I think it’ll be easier to lose my riding virginity getting on a nice, calm, small horse first. And that ends your cause.”
The mechanical bull looked fun, and she wanted to try it, but her leg was too sore to risk further bruising. She’d managed to slip inside Casey’s an hour ago and hide her discomfort as she wound her way through the crowd to the table where Allie and Lily were already seated. Since then, she’d been ignoring Slade over at the bar while working on her apology.
“I get the gentler approach when it comes to losing your virginity, but after that pesky barrier is breached, there’s something to be said for taking a walk on the wilder side. Which means finding a new cause to lead you astray on.” Allie’s eyes twinkled, her impish grin hard to resent, even when she jerked a thumb toward Slade.
“I have to agree with you there, and add, Nicole, that all three brothers are worth risking the ride.”
Nicole put a hand to her brow with an exaggerated groan. “Lily, not you too. Allie’s the one who likes to play matchmaker. I thought you were on my side, or at least neutral.”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”
She couldn’t suppress a chuckle, or her appreciation for their friendship. The opening tempted her to tell them she had already taken that risk with Slade, but she didn’t dare hand over that ammunition. Regardless of continuing to lust for the guy, proven again when her blood warmed upon seeing him again tonight, she didn’t want another relationship. Not even a friends-with-benefits relationship.
Putting the one-night stand last weekend aside, the neighbors had welcomed her with food, assistance, and friendship, each visit chinking away at her belief she would heal faster if left alone. Without her realizing it, they’d quickly filled the void of missing her parents and friends back home, even though she had yet to reach out to Allie and Lily first. She would start there to deter them from matchmaking.
“If you have time, I’d love to try riding a nice horse this weekend. The contractors will keep me busy all next week.”
“I have time,” they said together.
“Wear a light coat. It’s always colder out on the range until we reach a forest trail. Then you’ll miss the sun though. By the way, love your shirt,” Allie said.
“You’ll have to tell us where to get something similar for Slade. He thinks we don’t notice he’s a softie for Chace.”
Nicole believed Lily as he was a difficult man to read. “I’ll send you the link.” Now, though, she wanted to get an apology out of the way so she could find a dance partner able to defuse her growing hunger for tonight to end upstairs with Slade again. “Excuse me a minute.”
She stood and meandered through the crowd toward the restrooms to divert the girls’ attention, cursing when she couldn’t help catching a glimpse of Slade on her way. He still wore his Stetson, which added mystery to the whole sexy, brooding cowboy image, and she wasn’t the only one looking. Nicole noticed how women hung around the bar, some trying to engage him in small talk, which he appeared to ignore. She liked his I don’t give a shit attitude when he walked away from their blatant flirting.
Maybe too much.
Kicking herself for that thought, she quit procrastinating and used the restroom. A quick apology, shake hands, and resist the tingles his touch would set off then get on with having the fun she promised herself. That was her plan until she stepped out and saw his usual detached expression soften as he greeted a tall, attractive blonde. Her heart tripped with an unexpected clutch in her abdomen as she stood rooted in place, witnessing the light kiss and their exit together, hand-in-hand, out the front door. Were they headed upstairs to that decadent room where Slade’s undivided attention had been on her last week? Maybe on the same couch or bed where his every touch offered a reprieve from the months of constant guilt and regret.
It was a meaningless one-night stand,she repeated to herself before her imagination could picture them writhing together. And hadn’t he just proven that? So she fantasized about a do-over after seeing him here again. He’d whetted her appetite for sex after a long drought — that’s all the painful spasm meant. She didn’t want another man in her life any more than he cared to get involved. Which didn’t explain the pressure on her chest and the one eye on the door as she returned to the table.
Annoyed with herself and Slade for the slump in her mood, Nicole took her purse from Lily and called it a night. “Sorry. I’m tired and going home. What time tomorrow? What?” she demanded when they exchanged a look she couldn’t decipher.
Allie never minced words. “There’s nothing serious between Slade and Deb, the woman you saw him with. They’ve been close friends for years.”
“And he’s a great guy once you get to know him,” Lily added.
Their assumption she was interested in Slade rubbed salt into the wound of her uncalled-for reaction and put her on the defensive. “First, I’m not blind, they’re more than friends, and second, I don’t care because I mind my own business.” Okay, that came out bitchy, which she regretted right away. “I’m sorry. With all I have going on, I shouldn’t have come out tonight.”
Lily jumped up and hugged her, the move as unexpected as the lump forming in her throat. “No, no, we shouldn’t have said anything.” She pulled away, asking, “You’ll still come tomorrow, won’t you?”
“Please. Around eleven?” Allie pled.
“Sure. It was my idea, after all.”
She looked forward to riding as much as she did to getting home tonight to gather her wits. They seem to have scattered in every direction possible. After saying good night, she wasted no time dashing out the door without paying attention until she ran into a wide chest and strong hands clasped her upper arms to steady her. The chill from leaving the warm interior for the colder night air dissipated the second she glanced up at Slade.
“Whoa. Going so soon? You weren’t here long.”
Nicole couldn’t tell anything by his tone, which galled her since he was so adept at reading her, and she spoke without thinking. “Watching me while waiting for someone else. Tacky, Slade.”
He dropped his hands and stood back. “You know what’s said when you make assumptions, Nicole.”
Wincing from another spasm of guilt, she watched him walk inside without another word or glance. I really know how to screw up an evening out. Nicole got in her car wondering where his friend had gone then drove home resigned to a long, sleepless night.