Big-Hearted Cowboy

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Stephanie Bond

  “Well, no, but they’re gonna be in my corner, no matter what. We have our oath. We have our creed.”

  “What would Charley do.”

  “Yes, ma’am. If I thought I could be half the man Charley Fox was, I’d tell you to cancel that date with Teague and go out with me.”

  “Let’s think about that creed. When Charley met Henri, he’d been through a divorce, right?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “He must have had some self-doubt about whether he’d make Henri a good husband since he’d already had a breakup.”

  “It’s possible.”

  “What if some guy who hadn’t been divorced had wanted to date Henri? Would Charley have stepped aside to make way for a better prospect?”

  “If he had, Henri would have been very unhappy with him. She’s told me how much she liked him from the get-go.”

  “I’ve liked you from the get-go, Jake.” The sadness in her gaze had morphed into the sparkle he loved.

  “Ditto, Millie.”

  “So tell me, in this situation, what would Charley do?”

  His heart thumped so fast he could hardly breathe. If he went through with this and hurt her, he’d never forgive himself. But if there was a tiny chance he could make her happy and he refused to try, he’d never forgive himself, either.

  “Millie, will you cancel your date with Teague and go out with me tonight?”

  “To the movies with the gang?”

  “No. Dinner and dancing at the Moose. Just you and me.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Wow, that’s messed up.” Kate sat on the living room sofa with her feet on the coffee table. She’d joined Millie for their usual afternoon cup of tea before she left for the dining hall to start dinner for the guests. “I can understand why he’s steered clear of wedding bells. Parents like that can scar you for life.”

  “But maybe he can heal.” Millie had pulled the rocker up to the coffee table so she could prop her feet on the other side of it.

  “Maybe. But I thought you weren’t into convincing a reluctant man.”

  “I’m not. The minute he starts backing away, I’ll let him go.”

  “Even if you’re up to your eyeballs in love with him?”

  Millie hesitated.

  “Aha! You’re half in love with him already.”

  “How can I be? I haven’t kissed him yet!”

  “I haven’t kissed Captain America, either, but I’m totally in love with him.”

  “Captain America is a fantasy.”

  “Much as I like Jake, he is, too. Yesterday he was the one you couldn’t have, which puts him in Captain America territory. Today he’s a wounded hero, and don’t we all go for that? Our love will heal his tortured soul and make him whole again.”

  “You’re jaded.”

  “I’m realistic. And I speak from personal experience. Please learn from my mistakes.”

  “I’ll keep your advice in mind, but I’m going on this dinner date. And I’m determined to kiss him before the night’s over.”

  “Just kiss?”

  “Absolutely! Jumping into bed would be a huge mistake. Not to mention that I’m sharing this place with you and he lives in the bunkhouse.”

  “There’s always the backseat of his truck.”

  “Blech. If I ever get naked with him, it won’t be in the backseat of his truck.”

  “I’m open-minded. If you want to bring him here, I’ll wear earplugs.”

  “Kate, stop it! Jake and I are not having sex tonight. We’re miles away from that step.” She blamed the tea for her slight flush.

  “I estimate you’re about a block away from that step. You two have been building up a head of steam ever since I came to work here. Once you kiss him, or he kisses you, whichever happens, it’ll be all over.”

  “Nope. We’ll take it slow. I mean, we were alone for at least an hour while we talked and then ate our sandwiches. He didn’t try to kiss me, or even hug me when he left.”

  “I have a theory about that. He didn’t want to start something he wasn’t prepared to finish. He wouldn’t have come over here with a condom in his pocket. That’s not Jake.”

  “It sure isn’t!” She put down her teacup and stood. “It’s too hot in here. I’ll bet the thermostat’s—”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the thermostat.” Kate grinned. “It’s you, toots.”

  She sighed. “Okay, so I’m excited about the prospect, but we’re not rushing into anything.”

  “I don’t see why not. Unless you’ve been sneaking out, you haven’t dated anyone since I came on board.”

  “I’m not the sneaking out type. I would have told you if I’d gone out with someone.”

  “I figured that. I don’t recall Jake having some sweetie in the time I’ve been employed, either.”

  “He hasn’t. He said it would have felt like he was cheating on me if he got involved with someone else.”

  “I rest my case. You’re a couple of powder kegs ready to blow.”

  “You’re wrong. We’re both capable of restraint.”

  “I’ll wear my earplugs to bed tonight, just in case.”

  Pulling the lumbar pillow from behind her back, Millie threw it at her.

  Kate ducked and the pillow sailed over her head and onto the floor. “You’ll see. I’m older and wiser. Just be careful.”

  “Don’t worry. We won’t be doing anything tonight, but even if we did, I’m a fanatic about birth control.”

  “Not my concern. I’m worried about your heart.”

  “It’s been broken before.”

  “I’m sure. By some boy with no sense. But Jake’s a grown man with enough charm and charisma to light up the town of Apple Grove. If he breaks your heart, it’s gonna leave a mark.”

  Millie put extra time into getting ready for her date. Her efforts didn’t compare to Saturday’s makeover for the wedding, though. She’d never looked that good in her life, but the elaborate hairstyle and fancy dress didn’t represent the real Millie Jones.

  A pair of tight, stylish jeans, her favorite boots and a knit top in forest green was more like it. She left her hair down and tamed the natural curl with a brush and blow dryer.

  She glanced at the clock. Five minutes to spare. Jake would be on time. He was good about that and after hearing about his helter-skelter childhood, she knew why. Routine would be comforting.

  Jake’s story had touched her. Kate’s description of healing his tortured soul wasn’t far off. But just because it sounded like a tired cliché didn’t mean it never happened. Concepts became clichés because they were true.

  Besides, the Brotherhood thought Jake was redeemable. She’d forgotten to mention that to Kate. Her roommate held those cowboys in high esteem. She did, too. They wouldn’t leave Jake to flounder through this experience.

  His truck pulled up outside the cottage at seven on the dot. If she’d been with Kate on a normal outing with the group, she would have pulled on her jacket and stepped outside to save him from coming to the door.

  But this was a date. She stayed put and waited for Jake’s rap on the screen door. Opening it, she invited him in. “You smell delicious.”

  “Same old aftershave. Let me help you with your jacket.” He slipped the jacket over her arms and settled it on her shoulders. “You smell delicious, too.” His breath warmed her cheek.

  “Same old perfume.”

  “I like it. I’ve always wanted to tell you, but that seemed like… overstepping.”

  She turned around and he was right there. Her breath caught. “We should go.”

  Heat flared in his eyes, but he stepped back. “We should. You must be starving. That wasn’t a very big sandwich.”

  Her laugh was breathless. Flirty. “How much do you think I eat?” She grabbed a small purse and tucked it in her coat pocket.

  “You have a healthy appetite.” A hand pressed lightly at the small of her back, he ushered her out the
door. “You don’t pick at your food. I hate when someone does that.”

  “Makes sense.” So much made sense, now. “You didn’t mention where your parents live.”

  “Casper, Wyoming. At least a day and a half drive from here. More like two days. Which is how I like it.”

  She walked down the steps. “You ran away from home, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I had my truck and a little bit of cash. I considered a few other towns, but when I drove into Apple Grove and took a turn around the square, I decided this was the place.”

  “And you got a job at the Buckskin?”

  “Not quite.” He helped her into the truck. He’d left it running with the heater on, but that wasn’t anything special. He always did that when the weather was cool and he was chauffeuring folks.

  “I want to hear the story of how you ended up at the Buckskin. I can’t believe I never asked you.”

  He smiled. “You didn’t need to know.” He closed the door.

  But now she did. She needed to know everything about Jake Lassiter.

  Chapter Ten

  Made it. Jake rounded the truck and climbed behind the wheel. Twice today he’d left Millie’s house without giving in to temptation. Hadn’t been easy with no one else there. But once he kissed Millie, he might never stop.

  Fastening his seatbelt, he turned down the volume on the country music station and pulled away from the cottage. “Warm enough?”

  “Perfect, thanks.”

  He glanced at her. “First time alone in my truck.”

  “I know.”

  “What’s Kate’s opinion of this?”

  “What makes you think I discussed it with her?”

  “I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday, Millie.”

  She laughed. “Fair enough. She hated hearing about your background. Which reminds me, how much does Henri know?”

  “Some. I didn’t go into detail, but she asked about my family when she hired me. I didn’t announce I was never getting married, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Sort of. But naturally you wouldn’t announce it. She didn’t need to know.”

  “You’re getting the idea.”

  “If you didn’t hire on at the Buckskin first thing, did you work somewhere else in town?”

  “Yes, but you haven’t finished telling me what Kate thinks about us going out.”

  She hesitated. “She really likes you.”

  “But she’s not crazy about us dating.”

  “She’s… being protective of me. I gather her ex had issues and she thought she could help him. I don’t know the details, but it didn’t work out. She warned me to be careful.”

  “Good advice. Come to think of it, she claims she’ll never marry again. That guy must have done a number on her.”

  “Sounds like it. She begged me to learn from her mistakes.”

  “Yet here you are, ignoring her advice, throwing caution to the winds.”

  “Shoot, yeah! You think I’d pass up a steak dinner at the Moose?”

  He grinned. “Steak? Did I mention steak? I could have sworn I said burgers.”

  “No, you said dinner. And I’m sure you want to make a good impression on me, so I figured on getting steak with all the trimmings. Oh, and a big slice of apple pie a la mode for dessert.”

  “Mercenary little thing, aren’t you?”

  “You mentioned today that you’re glad I have a healthy appetite, so I’m simply living up to your expectations.”

  “I see. Good thing I brought a wad of cash with me. I suppose you’ll also expect me to tip the band so they’ll play your favorite song.”

  “That would be lovely. Do you know what it is?”

  “Breathe, by Faith Hill.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “I asked Kate a while back.”

  “Why?”

  “Just curious.” He’d learned a lot by finding out that piece of information. The romantic song was drenched in sensuality. The words described a woman’s emotions while making love.

  If the song was Millie’s favorite, it stood to reason that she wanted that kind of experience. At the time, he wouldn’t have given himself a snowball’s chance in hell of ever being a participant in that fantasy. His odds had improved, but he’d take nothing for granted. He would treat this new situation with utmost care.

  “Do you have a favorite song?”

  The question caught him off-guard. “Can’t say I do. I like most everything by Tim McGraw and his duets with Faith are great. I’m a Kenny Chesney fan. Plenty of good songs out there. How do you pick one over all the rest?”

  “It’s the one that makes you tingle all over when you hear it. Happiness swells in your chest and you feel like the world is a beautiful place.”

  “I can’t think of a song that does that for me.” He glanced at her. Should he say it? Yeah, seize the moment. “But it’s exactly how I feel when I look at you.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Are you serious?”

  “Absolutely.” Too bad the light from the dash was so dim. He loved it when her cheeks turned pink.

  “You’re not teasing?”

  “No, ma’am. I mean every word.”

  “Nobody’s ever… I’ve never had a compliment like that. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. It’s nice to be able to say it. I’ve thought it often enough.”

  “You know what? I don’t care if we crash and burn. I’ll remember that compliment for the rest of my life. This experiment is already working for me.”

  He smiled. “Good. Me, too.”

  “Now I’m flustered, though. I’ve lost my train of thought. Oh, I remember! Your first job in Apple Grove. What was it?”

  “Washing dishes for Ben Malone at the Moose.”

  “Huh! Why didn’t you apply at any of the ranches in town?”

  “Because I was an eighteen-year-old kid who knew very little about horses.”

  “You weren’t a cowboy?”

  “Far from it. A couple of my high school friends had horses. I could ride, but I didn’t know anything about ranch work. Henri and Charley taught me everything I know.”

  “But why did they hire you if you were clueless?”

  “Ben asked them to. I arrived in the summer and camped out since I didn’t have enough money to rent a place. When he discovered how I was living, he knew I couldn’t survive in a cheap tent with winter coming on.”

  “And Henri and Charley gave you a bunk and taught you ranch work. That’s awesome.”

  “The timing was good, too. They’d just added a kitchen to the bunkhouse and I volunteered to cook the meals for the wranglers. It was something I knew how to do, something I loved doing while I learned the ropes.”

  “Serendipity.”

  “Yep.”

  “But I just happened to think—what about tonight? Did you fix dinner before you came to get me?”

  “Didn’t have to. Everyone decided to get pizza before the movie.”

  “Oh, yeah. I forgot about the movie plan.”

  “Do you still want to see it sometime?”

  “I do.”

  “Want to go tomorrow night?”

  “Two dates in a row?”

  “It’s my fault you’re not seeing it with either the gang or Teague.” He took a breath. “Did you break that date?”

  “Yes. I texted him right after you left.”

  The tension in his chest eased. “You don’t have to tell me, but since I’ll be seeing him over at Ed’s, I’d like to know how—”

  “He wasn’t surprised. You were right that he was watching us on the dance floor. He said it didn’t look like a brother/sister arrangement to him.”

  “I’m sure not. Now I feel sort of bad for the guy. I cut him off at the pass.”

  “You did, but he sounded resigned to the outcome.”

  “The fact is, I owe him one. The thought of you with him hit me like a cattle prod to the privates.”

  “Ou
ch.”

  “Yeah, it was painful. Nick accused me of being a dog in the manger. I wouldn’t ask you out, but I snarled at the first guy who did.”

  “Which brought us to dinner and dancing at the Choosy Moose.”

  “So it did.” He scored a diagonal parking spot on the street. A lot around back handled overflow, but he preferred one of these spots. “We’ve never walked into the Moose as a couple.”

  “That’s true and this is Apple Grove. Folks will talk.”

  He switched off the motor. “But you said most of them have assumed we’d get to this point sooner or later.”

  “I think that’s a good guess.”

  “Then, like Teague, they won’t be surprised that it’s finally happened.” He unlatched his belt and opened his door. “Let me help you out. The gutter is—”

  “Jake, I won’t budge until you come around. I love having you help me out of your truck. It’s one of the special moments I treasure when I’m riding with you.”

  “But it’s such a small thing.”

  “Maybe so, but I—”

  “Clearly I need to raise the bar.” He flashed her a smile. “I have way more to offer than saving you from puddles in the gutter.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jake’s last remark was the kind of teasing comment that made Millie’s blood race and her panties grow damp. I have much more to offer. Oh, Lordy, did she want to find out!

  But she’d promised herself, and insisted to Kate, that nothing would happen tonight except a kiss. Or maybe, let’s be honest, several kisses. She wouldn’t let making out lead to sex, though.

  Walking into the Choosy Moose as Jake’s date was a different experience from arriving with the Buckskin crowd. Smiles and curious glances followed them as the hostess led them to a table for two by the dance floor. A boisterous group of cowboys occupied the booth she and her buddies usually claimed.

  He helped her off with her coat. As he draped it over her chair and she took her seat, she almost pinched herself to make sure she was awake.

  Patsy, a fiftyish woman who’d been a server at the Moose ever since Millie had started coming here, hovered nearby with menus in hand. She’d worked the wedding reception the night before, too.