Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys

by D'Ann Lindun

  Almost content.

  The demon riding on his shoulders for the last year seemed a little less intense today. The restlessness that had filled his soul easing a fraction.

  “How’s it going?”

  Will glanced over his shoulder. Lily stood in the barn’s doorway holding a tall glass of iced tea. “Almost done.”

  He stood high above her on the tractor tire. She stepped forward and handed him the frosty glass. “I thought you could use this.”

  From his vantage point, he could plainly see the swell of her ivory breasts rising above her ribbed tank top. He took the glass, their fingers bumping. A sudden rush of hot blood through his system startled him. The cold drink wasn’t enough to cool him and he crunched a piece of ice with his teeth, letting it slide down his throat, wishing it would cool his cock.

  “Thanks.”

  Lily wrapped her long, elegant fingers around the edge of the tractor, the diamond in her wedding ring glittering in the dusty air. “Show me the part.”

  He held out his hand. “Come up here.”

  After a second’s hesitation, she put her palm in his and climbed the steps to the cab. Scooting onto the tire so she could look under the hood, he pointed to the new hose. “Right there. See?” The curve of her hip bumped his thigh and the fresh strawberry scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils. He fought to focus on the machinery. “I need to ratchet down the clamp and she’ll be good as new.”

  “Looks good.”

  Replacing the hose had been an easy task, but somehow her simple compliment gave Will a rush of pride like he hadn’t experienced in a good long while. He grabbed a screwdriver and tightened the clamp, aware of Lily’s gaze on him as he worked.

  He turned her direction. “Done.”

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “My pleasure.”

  A fraction of an inch separated them.

  Their gazes caught. She had flecks of chocolate in light brown irises. Freckles on her nose. His gaze slid down. The tip of her tongue touched her full bottom lip.

  She abruptly jumped off the steps. “I have to go.”

  A smile played around Will’s mouth as he watched her flee. Reaching for the rag in his back pocket, he wiped grease from his fingers. Next time he wouldn’t let her get away so easily.

  ~*~

  Lily rushed toward her house, heart pounding. She might not have much experience with men—Jeff had been her only lover—but she recognized when one was about to kiss her.

  What the hell did Will think he was doing? It couldn’t go anywhere. She was his boss for Pete’s sake! Not to mention she had a decade on him.

  She wanted him to kiss her.

  The realization brought her to a stumbling stop. She touched her lips with her fingertips. What would it feel like to have his mouth on hers? His hands on her body? Her stomach tumbled like a waterfall.

  Her cell phone rang, dragging her thoughts away from Will. “Hello?”

  “Lil? It’s Taralyn.”

  She fought to keep her voice steady. “What’s going on?”

  “I hate to ask, but could you run group tonight? Something’s come up and I can’t be there.”

  “Me?” Lily couldn’t hide her astonishment.

  “I think you’re the perfect choice,” Taralyn said. “Just keep everything moving and listen when someone needs to talk. I don’t want to cancel in case someone is having an especially bad week.”

  “I guess I could,” Lily agreed reluctantly.

  “Great!” Relief filled Taralyn’s voice. “Just make sure the lights are turned off and the coffee pot is put away when you’re through. I’ll call you tomorrow to see how it went okay?”

  “Sure.” Just what she needed, a distraction to keep her mind off Will. Lily hung up and glanced at the clock. Five already. She had to hustle to make it in time. She ran upstairs and quickly changed into a clean long sleeved T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Her braid had come loose and she took it out and ran a comb through her long hair. After tugging on a pair of boots, she ran downstairs and grabbed her purse.

  At the door she faltered.

  Should she tell Will where she was going? Probably. She was supposed to feed him.

  He wasn’t in the barn and the hood of the tractor had been put down. The faint sound of music came from the loft. He must be up there. She ran up the stairs and knocked.

  No answer.

  She’d turned away when the door opened. Will stood there, nude from the waist up, a towel and his dog tags hanging around his neck. His damp hair looked tousled as if he’d just washed it. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” Lily swallowed. She refused to allow her gaze drop to his chest toward the undone top button of his jeans.

  “I have to go to town and run the grief group tonight. The leader can’t be there and she needs me to do it, so I won’t be home for dinner. There’s stuff in the fridge—”

  “Whoa, slow down.” He stepped aside. “Come in.”

  She didn't want to; she wanted to get out of there before she lost her mind and let her gaze roam freely all over his fabulous chest and amazing abs. “I have to go to my grief group. There’s food in the fridge.”

  He leaned on the door, the muscles in his arm bunching and cording. “I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

  Lily began backing up. “I’ll see you in the morning then.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  ~*~

  Tonight the grief group consisted of Lily, Brigit and Polly. Lily was particularly close to Polly, a woman close to her own age. Apparently everyone else felt well enough to stay home. Lily poured herself a cup of coffee and took her seat. She looked at Brigit. “How are you doing?”

  Brigit sighed deeply. “Not too bad. We’re going to have a barbeque for Cam’s birthday on Sunday.” She looked around the small circle. “I’d like you both to come. It’ll be at the house around one.”

  “What can I bring?” Lily asked. She’d planned to have her own barbeque that day. She’d have to postpone.

  “Sierra said you have a friend who is quite attractive. She’d like to get to know him better…maybe invite him?”

  Lily’s stomach pinched. She’d meant potato salad or a pot of baked beans, not to serve Will up to Sierra for her main meal. “I’ll see if he’s free.”

  Polly leaned forward, shoving her dark hair out of her face. “You have a hired man now?”

  All eyes were on her.

  Lily nodded. “Maggie’s grandson, Will.”

  Brigit piped up. “Sierra says he’s sex on a stick.”

  The knot in Lily’s stomach tightened. “I guess so.”

  Polly arched her brows. “Do tell.”

  Lily looked between her friends. Where to start? “He’s a soldier. An ex-soldier, actually.”

  “Yeah, but tell us what he looks like.” Brigit waved her hands impatiently. “Is he as hot as Sierra claims? She raved about him.”

  “He’s very attractive.” Lily didn’t want to do this. If she began to talk about Will, and how much she liked him already, she might let it slip he had almost kissed her. What would her friends think of her letting something like that happen?

  Would they think she was crazy?

  Or worse, slutty? Getting it on with a man ten years younger less than a year after Jeff died. The thought made her cringe. “Shouldn’t we talk about our feelings instead of this?”

  “My feeling is you’re awfully stingy with details.” Polly eyed her suspiciously.

  Lily struggled to find something to say other than he made her long for things she had no business wanting. “There’s not much to tell. He’s just left the military. Seems kind of lost. I think he’s searching for something.”

  “Oh?” Brigit frowned. “That doesn’t sound like someone Sierra should get involved with then. If he’s not stable, she probably shouldn’t have him around the girls.”

  “If you can’t trust a soldier then who else?” Lily fought irritation. Sierra had never been part
icularly choosey about the men she dated, hence the two little girls and no husband. She’d be lucky to have a man like Will in her life.

  Brigit sniffed. “I’ve never known you to be so pro military before.”

  Lily looked between her friends. “Of course I am. I’m an American, aren’t I? Free because of their sacrifices—” She took a deep breath. “He’s a good guy.”

  “Sounds like a prize to me,” Polly said. “God knows I could use a good man. Never found one yet.”

  Lily leaned forward and took Polly’s hand. “You will. Give yourself a chance.”

  Polly’s blue eyes welled. “I’m not a kid anymore. Everyone decent is taken by now. Or divorced and too bitter to try again.”

  “You’re the same age as me,” Lily said. “Not exactly over the hill.” Exactly what Will had said. Easy enough to believe when it wasn’t her. Polly had never had a chance to find love because her mother had needed all her life because she suffered from muscular dystrophy and Polly lived with and cared for her mom until she passed.

  “Well, I haven’t found too many men in Lonesome Valley interested in an over-the-hill virgin.” Polly smiled tremulously.

  “You need to expand your horizons,” Brigit said. “Maybe try internet dating?”

  Polly shuddered and pulled her hand from Lily’s. “No way! I’d rather be alone than end up dead in an alley somewhere.”

  “Surely not every man on the internet is a serial killer,” Brigit said.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m not trying it.” Polly jutted out her chin in a defiant angle.

  “I’m so glad I have Harvey,” Brigit said. “All this dating stuff nowadays gives me a headache.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.” Polly turned her attention toward Lily. “Why don’t you date this guy yourself?”

  Lily shook her head. “He’s twenty-five.”

  “So what? He’s legal.”

  “Barely.”

  “I agree,” Brigit said. “Go for it.”

  “I couldn’t.” Lily twisted her wedding rings. “Jeff—”

  “Is gone and not coming back,” Brigit said firmly. “Moving on doesn’t mean you don’t love him any less.”

  “Yeah, but me having a fling with a kid might make him roll over in his grave.” Lily shuddered, thinking of how her late husband would take something like that.

  “Or he might cheer for you,” Brigit said. “I know Cam would be so happy if Natalie would find someone.” She mentioned her son’s teenage girlfriend who had also been in the fatal wreck.

  “I don’t think Jeff would approve of a summer fling,” Lily said. “Will is moving on after the hay is put up this fall. He’s not planning on staying here permanently and I’m not into hookups.”

  “How do you know?” Brigit shrugged. “Have you ever had one? I had one or two flings in college and they were fun. No strings and all that made the sex hot, hot, hot.”

  “I completely agree with giving him a go.” Polly nodded. “I would.”

  Lily stared at her friends like they’d lost their minds. Maybe grief had sent them both over the edge. Who were these women? She thought she knew them. Apparently not. They were both bent. “Do I know you two? Where are my friends and what have you done to them?”

  Brigit just shrugged. “Life’s short.”

  “I’ve missed out on so much,” Polly said. “I don’t want to lose out on one single more moment. So if I ever get the chance to be intimate with a hot, young man, I’m going for it.”

  “Then I’d introduce you to Will.” Lily’s stomach twisted at the thought. “Because I am not interested in casual sex.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  As soon as Lily saw Will not only knew his way around a tractor engine, but knew how to drive one, too, she left him plowing the top part of the field and she moved to the bottom section.

  She assigned him to take the bigger John Deere and she drove the Case. The older tractor wasn’t enclosed, so she slathered on sunscreen and tied on an old straw hat. Anything to keep away the dreaded freckles.

  With the radio blasting she lost herself in thought. Her friends’ advice stuck in her mind. They were full of a lot of talk, but would they really act on impulse? Doubtful. Brigit had been married longer than Lily and Polly had never had a relationship, so for either of them to declare they’d jump into an affair seemed ludicrous.

  She wasn’t about to take their advice.

  Not with a man so young.

  Not with anyone.

  Distracted, she hit a bump. Her water bottle, placed on the seat next to her, flew off and landed on the ground a few feet away. “Damn it.”

  Setting the park brake, she climbed off the machine and walked back the few feet to retrieve her drink. She picked it up, unscrewed the lid and drank deeply. It was a gorgeous day, sun shining, birds singing. Snow glittering on the mountaintops in the distance. How great would it be to picnic up there?

  Take the day off and just go? Ask Will to go with her?

  Crazy.

  She had to keep her nose to the grindstone and her eyes on business. With a sigh, she turned back to the tractor. Time to get to work. No time to play.

  Lily noticed Will driving toward her. She glanced at her watch. Noon. How had so many hours passed so fast? She’d been bearing down hard all morning, and more than half the field was done.

  Hallelujah!

  With a sigh, she turned off the engine and waited until Will drew close. He, too, shut down the machine and walked toward her, carrying a plastic sack. Reaching her, he said, “Hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  He held out his hand and she took it, jumping to the ground. Once on the ground she expected him to let go of her hand, but he continued to hold on as the cold metal of her wedding ring pressed into her palm. A tingle raced straight to her lower stomach.

  “Come with me.” Still holding her hand, Will led her toward the edge of the field where a few trees grew next to an irrigation ditch. In the shade of the trees he pulled off his long-sleeved western shirt, leaving on a blue T-shirt. He spread out the garment and then indicated she should sit on it.

  Lily eased down, drew her knees up to her chin and leaned on them. “What a nice day.”

  “Gorgeous.” Will opened the sack he’d brought and handed her a sandwich. “Here you go.”

  Lily took the food and unwrapped it. “I’m glad you thought of lunch.”

  He stared at her for a minute. “Don’t you bring food when you’re going to be out all day?”

  She bit into the sandwich and shook her head. “Uh-huh.”

  “You gotta eat. You’ll waste away.” He opened and bag of chips and placed it between them. “Ridin’ these tractors is hard work.”

  She was far from wasting away, but his concern touched her. Jeff had been a good man, but he hadn’t worried too much about her welfare, assuming she would take care of herself. To have a man worry over her was a new sensation.

  One she could get used to.

  “That reminds me, I have to postpone my barbeque because Sierra decided to have Cam’s memorial get-together this weekend. Brigit asked me to invite you.” She reached for her water. “It should be more fun than it sounds. There will be lots of people there.”

  “I’d love to.” No hesitation or grumping about his own plans being disrupted.

  “Great!” Lily forced down a few more bites. Weariness filled her body. Brigit and Polly’s advice had filled her mind until the wee hours, making her toss and turn with an unnamed longing. With a sigh, she slid onto her side and closed her eyes. “I think I’ll doze for a few minutes. Wake me in ten, will you?”

  From his shirt under her cheek the scent of Will filled her nose—musky cologne, sunshine and red Colorado earth. Funny how a man could smell like home.

  Lily’s eyes flew open.

  Home?

  Jeff. She meant Jeff. How could Will possibly remind her of home when she barely knew him?

  She closed her eyes and fo
rced her thoughts a different direction. In a few minutes, a soft snore slipped out of her.

  ~*~

  Will smiled when Lily began to snore. She’d probably be mortified, but he found it endearing. Rising, he checked to make sure she wasn’t burning in the sun. The elms growing along the bank shaded her from its burning rays.

  If he hurried he could finish her field and get his done, too. Grabbing a bottle of water, he headed for the Case. Not sure why he was doubling his work load, he started down the first set of rows.

  The older tractor didn’t have a cab like the one she’d assigned him and no radio. Why hadn’t she chosen the newer equipment? He didn’t like that one bit. A woman should take the easier route. He found Lily’s iPod next to the seat and stuck in the earbud. Miranda Lambert. Good choice, one he liked a lot.

  After an hour, Will pulled off his shirt and draped it over the backrest. He probably ought to use sunscreen, but he didn’t have any on hand and he tanned easily. His Stetson shaded his face, but he’d wear a ball cap in the future. He didn’t want his good hat covered in red dust.

  The thought reminded him of all the sand he’d inhaled in Iraq. If he never swallowed grainy dirt again it would be too soon. The stuff covered everything and snuck into every pore of your body until you felt like a part of the desert. There’d been no way to get it off your skin.

  A quick shower here and he’d feel like a new man.

  If only it was so easy to wash away the past.

  He shook off the melancholy threatening to overtake him. The day was too nice, the place he’d found himself in too good to let things he couldn’t change overtake him. Like Lily’s unexpected comment had. She couldn’t know how a casual remark had pierced his soul in a very deep place. One he kept private. Sacred.

  He should apologize.

  But how?

  Where would he start?

  If he started at the beginning he’d talk for days. If he only said he’d let a woman die who should have been under his protection Lily would likely think him scum.

  Seeing disappointment in her eyes would hurt like hell.