“Yeah, you do.”
A chuckle burst out of his chest. He kissed her quickly on the lips, then took off for the other side of the arena. Evie still needed her rest, but he hoped like hell that when he pulled himself away and got back over to Pleasant Lane that she would still be awake, waiting for him.
Chapter 18
Evie chewed the inside of her lip and reminded herself again that Jesse was not the chatty type. His near stony demeanor bled over into his teaching style. On the way back from the ranch he declared that he would be in charge of dinner. Steaks with a side salad, and a peach cobbler one of the women at church had sent him home with. Evie thought this would be a perfect opportunity to learn how to use a grill. She though Lilah was joking when she said Jesse wouldn’t let her touch his grill or the steaks.
She was not.
Still, Evie refused to turn down the chance to at least watch and learn. She followed Jesse and Clementine over to his house and watched in complete silence as he pulled the steaks out of the fridge and then went to turn on the grill.
Forty minutes later, he’d barely said a word, but Evie had learned a thing or two about grilling and Jesse. Jesse’s backyard was nearly as big as Miss Leona’s, but he had a large pool constructed out of dark stone that gave it the feel of a deep lagoon. Jesse Pleasant was anti-horse, but pro-dog and pro-swimming. The man also took care with his steaks. She was impressed with the focused way he seasoned each cut with his massive hands. He meticulously arranged each steak on the hot slats, saying—more to himself—that inches between each cut was required for even cooking. He closed the lid on the grill and finally turned to her.
“Now we wait. It won’t take long.”
“This was better than watching videos on YouTube,” Evie admitted.
“How so?”
She explained the egg debacle. “I think I was taking in too much information. Like videos with music and graphics, or the cook just going on about how their kids like their eggs fluffy, but their husbands like them a little dry. Watching you, I could just focus on what you were doing.” She smiled up at him.
“Sometimes simple is better.”
“Agree. So, tell me something new. About you.” She was going to bond with Jesse. That was her mission for the evening.
“I think Miss Leona is seeing someone.”
Evie almost choked on her own breath, before laughter came bursting out of her. “Excuse me, what? Also, that has nothing to do with you.”
“I can tell you more about next quarter’s projections for the ranch,” he replied, one dark eyebrow arching up.
“Uh, no, thank you.”
“This is all there is to me. My work, my dog, and this grill. I’m not trying to give you the hot goss on my grandmother’s love life. It’s just something I’ve noticed and it’s been on my mind.”
“Okay, tell me.”
“Semiretired attorney. He goes to our church.”
“And they’ve been going out? He’s been coming around asking to see her?”
“Miss Leona is old-man bait, so I’m not shocked when even married dudes flirt with her, but there’s something different here.”
“Does she flirt back?” Evie tried to picture it and then immediately tried not to picture it. There was acting and then there was real life. This was a little too real.
“She doesn’t flirt, but she doesn’t politely blow him off either, or make him look like a fool for even trying. I caught them talking on the phone the other day.”
“What’s bothering you about it? Besides the part where you have to think about your grandmother dating.”
“Not sure yet.” He pulled out his phone and appeared to be sending a text. And then he was quiet. Evie had follow-up questions, but she didn’t know where to start. She’d gotten a taste of what it was like when he didn’t approve of a relationship. Would Jesse hunt down an elderly man and put the fear of God in him if he got too close to Miss Leona?
“They’re done,” he announced suddenly.
“How do you know?” Evie asked as he lifted up the hood of the grill. A mouthwatering aroma hit her nose.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. You’ll learn more about meat thermometers and the like, but I just know.”
“I’m glad to see Zach’s not the only cocky one in the family.” Evie looked up and caught the ghost of a smile pass under his mustache. Evie set the table while the steaks were resting and a few moments later Lilah and Vega arrived with the salad and the cobbler.
After Lilah said grace, Jesse made a show of serving his steaks, and gave Evie his first real bit of culinary advice.
“You can make my cousin here like drown hers in A.1., ’cause—”
“Let me live my life,” Lilah scoffed.
“But if you season it properly and know your way around the heat the way I do”—geez, it was like Zach had grown a foot and packed on a hundred pounds—“your steak won’t need a thing.”
Lilah rolled her eyes. “Try it his way. And then next time I’ll make garlic-butter sauce. There’s more than one way to eat a steak.”
“Mine’s the best way,” Jesse said right before he popped a bite of the meal he’d prepared in his mouth.
Evie shook her head, then followed suit. She managed to hold in a groan of pleasure, but a small breath of pleasure did slip out of her nose.
“See,” Jesse muttered with his mouth full.
“It’s good,” Evie said. Jesse had a different approach, but if Evie paid attention, she could learn a thing or two from him. Including intriguing Pleasant family gossip.
* * *
Evie was forever in debt to the people who organized her and her grandmother’s belongings. It only took her a few minutes to find her journal from the summer when she turned fifteen. After the four of them had dinner, Evie went for a walk down to the end of the lane with Vega and the dogs.
Lilah didn’t have to go back to work for another few days. She asked Evie if she wanted to join her for a late-night movie marathon, but Evie felt drained again. It had been another long day and the excitement from the exhibition had worn her out more than she’d realized. And in the morning, she was off to see the doctor. She’d had enough action for one day. She retreated to her room and started going through her box of journals.
She flipped back and forth through the pages until she found the entry she’d been looking for. Zach had been right about the scar on her arm. In messy handwriting, the twenty-third of June.
Busted my arm. I hate that stupid horse.
The next entry wasn’t until late August and it was long. Her fifteen-year-old self, celebrating the removal of her cast, recounting how Nana Buck had grounded her for attempting to even ride Flex, and the tragic account of discovering that Zach had kissed a girl named Katie. She didn’t leave any clues as to who Katie was, but Evie made her feelings about the situation very clear. If anyone was kissing Zach Pleasant it should be her. Her fifteen-year-old self would be very pleased with recent developments.
She read on, and saw that sophomore year had been filled with drama. A fight with Delfi and details of how Britnay had planned a sleepover to force them to make up. Something about a couple—Callie and Mitch?—who’d had a messy public breakup in the halls. Lots of entries about Zach. Entries on how she dreamed about him, daydreamed about him, wondered what it would be like to “go all the way with him.” And she was stressed by the idea. All of it seemed so silly and trivial, especially as most of her grievances seemed to be resolved almost overnight. There was one entry that made her stop. A simple sentence a few days before Halloween: I miss Mom and Dad.
Evie stared at the words, her heart aching for her younger self and parents she no longer knew, but when she turned the page, what she read lifted that ache almost instantly.
I’m in love with Zach Pleasant.
He found me crying in the library after my family tree presentation and convinced Nurse Baker I was sick and needed to go home. He told her Nana and his parents wer
e in Dallas for Golden Spur so he had to drive me home.
We drove to Sonic instead of going home and we just hung out there until dinner time. I think he wanted to kiss me when we were sitting his truck, but we didn’t. I know it sounds dumb, but sometimes he looks at me like he’s really thinking about me. I know he tells me all the time we’re buddies, but I don’t know.
It doesn’t help that Mr. Pleasant jokes that I’m his girlfriend all the time either. Zach hates it.
I want to make a move, but I think rejection is literally deadly and I just can’t risk it. Also Nana will have me shipped off to a Swiss boarding school if she finds out any parts of our bodies touched. I hope she never finds out I saw Jesse’s dick by accident that one time. She’ll send me to a convent.
Nana totally busted us ’cause Nurse Baker called her at the ranch to double check after we left, but Zach stuck up for me and Nana understood why I wanted to get out of school. She’s kinda pissed, but she said that I can still go to Britnay’s Halloween party. Maybe I’ll dress up as Katie. He’ll kiss me then.
She dog-eared the page before she set down the diary, then picked up her phone. Still thinking about the amazing show you put on today. Are you still up at the ranch?
Her face heated shamelessly when she saw his immediate response pop up on her screen. Hey! Thought you’d be asleep by now. About to head back.
Evie texted, You want some company? When you get back. She imagined Zach had to be up early the next day. He seemed to be an early riser, and while she was tired herself, she wanted to see him. The rodeo had been a complete tease. Forget the tricks, she never thought seeing him on horseback would be such a turn-on. She didn’t want to wait a whole twenty-four hours before she could see him again.
Zach: If you can sneak away from Nurse Vega. Fuck yeah.
Evie: No sneaking required. I’m grown, as she likes to say.
Zach: I knew I liked her. Meet me at my place in 10.
Evie: See you soon.
Evie hopped out of her bed and rushed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and freshen up. She had ten minutes to figure out how to seduce a cowboy.
* * *
Evie never knew how long ten minutes could stretch on. She found herself sitting on the stone bench just outside Zach’s front door. She wrapped the plaid wool shawl Blaire had packed for her tighter around her shoulders and tried to ignore the cool wind blowing across the cul-de-sac. The anticipation that lit a fire under her ass and had her practically running from Miss Leona’s house was just enough to keep her warm, when she saw headlights make their way up Pleasant Lane. She could hear the dogs barking inside Jesse’s house as she approached, but they quieted just as quickly, probably hushed by Jesse himself.
It was silly, but just seeing Zach behind the wheel as he pulled his truck to a stop made Evie’s heart beat faster. Her body warmed all over again. When he got out of his truck she stood, her body coiled and ready to pounce.
“Evening, ma’am,” he said, touching the brim of his hat.
Evie rolled her eyes even though heat rushed between her legs at the sight of his smile and nicely pressed suit. “Get over here.” She’d been in his arms that afternoon, but that didn’t stop her from soaking up every bit of him as he pulled her close. She fell into the shadow of his hat brim, burying her cheek against his neck as both their faces were hidden from the porch light. She breathed him in, expecting a faint hint of the way he’d exerted himself in the ring, but all she got was the scent of fresh soap. He must have showered before he changed. He pulled back, then lightly touched her cheek with the rough pad of his thumb.
“You’re spoiling me,” he said. Evie couldn’t help but watch his full lips when he talked.
“How so?”
“There’s a beautiful woman waiting for me on my porch. There’s not much more I can ask for,” he replied, and then that smug smirk was back. When she woke up in the hospital, part of her wondered how it was possible for his intense good looks to distract her from his over-the-top cockiness, but now she understood. It was all a front, and if she played along she knew she’d reap the rewards of tangling with a cowboy like Zach Pleasant. She smiled to herself and took a step back, loving the way his hands slid down the length of her arms as she moved.
“You really want me to leave, don’t you?” she teased.
“Hell, nah.”
“Then stop talking and kiss me.” She followed his gaze as his eyes roamed over her face, settling on her lips. She needed to send Shanny a thank-you note for the lip balm. She wasn’t confident of much these days, but she knew her lips were kissably soft.
Zach’s arms slid around her waist, and as she pressed her hands against his chest, Evie prepared herself to be kissed senseless. Instead, the way he pressed his lips to hers was light and gentle, a whisper of the different ways things could be between them. Another kiss, just as sweet as he turned his head just a bit. Evie felt the breath leaving her lungs. She didn’t breathe again until he pulled away. She watched his face as she sighed, making a sound dangerously close to a moan.
He had no right to be so handsome. Still, she could see the emotions dancing across his features. She was tempted to smooth away the worry that touched the corners of his dark brown eyes. She wanted to touch his lips, remind him that they still had time. That for now, she wasn’t going anywhere, but she kept her hands right where they were, on his perfectly sculpted chest.
“What is it?” She could feel his muscles dance under her fingers through the fabric of his dress shirt.
“Nothing. I’ve just missed you. That’s all. You leave a note for Vega?” he asked, lifting the spell between them, just a little bit.
“She heard me leave my room and came to check on me.”
“And she didn’t stop you?”
“She just told me to make sure you had protection and not to overexert myself. The doctor has to clear me for sex.”
“Hey, listen. We don’t have to do anything. We can just—”
“I know. That’s what I want. I just want to spend time with you. Not that I don’t want to try forward-and reverse-cowgirl with you. That’s not the only reason I came over. I mean it is, but—you know what I mean.”
“Let’s go inside and see what we can do about keeping your heart rate in a safe range.” Zach eased by her, pulling his keys from his pocket. She stopped him, though, with a hand on his elbow before he could open the door.
“Wait. Before I come in, who’s Katie?”
“Katie. Do you have a last name?”
“I found my diary from the summer, when I broke my arm.” Evie looked down as she traced the scar on her skin. “You kissed some girl named Katie? I was pretty pissed about it.”
“Woow. Katie Brown.” He shook his head, then took off his cowboy hat as if it and the memory were too much to handle at once. “Yes. I kissed Katie Brown that summer. She had a meeting at her house, announcing it to her friends and—fuck, what was that girl’s name—Nora Berks told anyone who would listen.”
“Sounds dramatic.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Of a girl that you kissed when we were in high school? No. I was just looking for some clarity. I had a lot to say in those diaries. A lot of nothing, but some good stuff too.”
“Come inside and tell me all about it.” He unlocked the door and led her inside with a gentle touch to the small of her back. They went right to his bedroom and slipped under the covers. He’d changed into a shirt and some shorts and she was still fully dressed in her pajamas. Still, that didn’t take away from what was happening between them.
He told her about his day with the Getliers. She told him some of the things she’d found in her journal, including a picture of her standing a safe distance from Flex, flicking off the large black horse. She wouldn’t tell him about the declaration of love she’d put on the page back then. She had a feeling she’d be back there again, very soon.
* * *
Billie, the hairdresser Miss Leona had hired t
o take care of Evie’s destroyed sew-in, asked, “Okay, Miss Thang. We are ready to style. You made your decision yet?”
Evie looked at herself in the handheld mirror, then looked at the collage of hairstyles on her phone for the fiftieth time. She was glad she’d taken the hourlong drive with Jesse and Vega to St. Bernadette’s Medical Center. She had her stitches removed. She had her scan, and after Vega saved her the embarrassment and asked Jesse to give them a minute alone with Dr. Zordetski, she was cleared for sexual intercourse. She did recommend that Evie go slowly and not be surprised if she noticed fluctuations in her sex drive, but at the moment she knew there would be no issues.
It was barely two in the afternoon and she was already exhausted, and with it being New Year’s Eve, even though there would be no parties on her personal agenda, she wanted to stay awake to see the clock strike midnight. But right now she had one very important decision to make.
“Can we text Corie?” She looked over at Lilah, who was sitting on the counter.
“Sure, why?” Lilah asked.
“I feel like she’ll give me the most honest opinion.”
“That’s true,” Billie muttered. She was clearly familiar with Corie’s blunt way of moving through life.
“Okay, hold on.” Evie watched Lilah as she frantically texted her god-sister.
“She’ll respond right away. She—see? She replied. ‘I thought we decided on the first one. It’s a freaking haircut not surgery. Just don’t give Jesse the clippers and she’ll look great.’ I think she just means ’cause you stay bald, Jess,” Lilah said.
“I get it,” Jesse replied.
“How do you feel about it? Talk to me,” Billie said with a light squeeze on Evie’s shoulder. She’d been very kind when she’d gently removed Evie’s tracks and washed her hair. Evie trusted her with the cut. She looked at the picture on her own phone one more time. Billie called the style a tapered fade.
“Just remember where you are and who you’re staying with,” Billie said.
A Cowboy to Remember Page 20