He slumped against the wall of the shower as he tried to catch his breath. It’d been a long damned time since he’d exploded like a sixteen-year-old kid with his first fuck. After he shook his head to clear his thoughts, he stood back under the water to wash the cum from his body. Wow. That was pretty intense.
Once he finished his shower, he shut the water off and grabbed a towel from the rack. He dried off before he wrapped the towel around his hips so he could head into his bedroom. Warm night breezes blew through the open window, sending goose bumps along his arms. Sleeping with the window open at night was one of his favorite things to do, along with hearing a women’s sigh of completion. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. A woman was the last damned thing he needed.
Chapter Three
Sunlight filtered in through the window over Terri’s head, bringing her out of her dreams gradually even though she didn’t want to wake up. The gorgeous hunk of a man slowly licking her from head to toe had her desire at a peak. The moment she slowly came awake though, he disappeared like a wisp on the wind. She didn’t even know who he was. His face had been shadowed in the dream. His dark black hair the only feature she’d been privy to see with any clarity.
Her whole body hummed with sexual tension. God, I need to come. It had been way too long since she’d had sexual gratification with anything other than her vibrator, but without a man in sight, she’d have to do this herself…again or do without…again. The clang of the breakfast bell echoed in the distance as she rolled over and looked at the clock. Damn it! I over slept.
She rushed to get dressed and pull her hair back out of her eyes with a ponytail holder. She didn’t have time for makeup or anything else. Not like I’m going to meet Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome at the breakfast table. After she quickly slid her feet into her flip flops, she rushed out the door and ran smack into a broad chest.
Oomph.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“My fault, ma’am.”
She glanced up into gorgeous blue eyes. “Joshua?”
“Jason, ma’am. Josh, Joel, and I are triplets.”
“Ah. I can see the similarity, although I don’t think I’ve met Joel.”
“No, ma’am. He’s off on his honeymoon with his new wife, Mesa.”
“How great. I love weddings.”
“Are you headed to breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“May I escort you?” he asked, holding out his elbow. “I wouldn’t want you to run into anyone else this morning on your way to get food.”
“Well, thank you, kind sir.”
“You’re more than welcome, ma’am.”
“Call me, Terri.”
“Nice to meet you, Terri.” They walked along the path headed for the main lodge. “I guess you’re stayin’ in one of the cabins?”
“Yes, for a couple of weeks. I’m doing some research.”
“Research for what may I ask?”
“Rocks, brush, trees, animals of your native area for a uh…paper I’m doing.”
“Interestin’. If you need some help, please feel free to find me. I’m usually around doin’ one thing or another. Maybe I could take you ridin’ so you can check out stuff.”
“Good idea! Thank you. I’ll see if I can find you after breakfast.”
They started through the doors only to be almost run over by a racing three-year-old. “Whoa there, little man.”
“I’m hungry, Uncle Jason.”
“You shouldn’t be runnin’. You know what Gran and your dad say. Besides, you about ran over one of our guests.”
“Sorry.” Ben dropped his head so she couldn’t see his face. All she could see was the bent head with his little cowboy hat on.
Damn, if he wasn’t the cutest little thing in his hat, jeans and boots. “It’s okay.”
“No. I’m not supposed to run in the house. I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
“Thanks.” The kid spun around and rushed off toward the huge table at the end of the room where several more family members seemed to have gathered.
“Would you like to sit with the family?”
“Uh.” She withdrew her hand from his arm. “No thank you. I don’t want to intrude.”
“No intrusion. We have special guests sit with us all the time.”
She backed up a couple of steps. “No. Really. I see a couple of ladies I know. I’ll sit with them.”
“All right, then. Find me later and I’ll hook you up with a horse.”
“Thank you, Jason.”
“You’re welcome, Terri.” He tipped his hat before he walked away.
Air rushed from between her lips in a heavy sigh. Damn, these folks sure made a bunch of handsome cowboys.
“He sure is a pretty one,” one of the ladies from the day before said as they came up behind her in line. “What a nice smile too.”
“Yeah, he really is.” Terri couldn’t help but agree.
“He’s one of the triplets,” the other lady added. “Can you imagine?”
“No,” Terri replied. “I think one of those would be enough for me on even a fantastic day.”
“I’d sure like to give it a whirl,” the first woman replied. “I’m Marg, by the way. We didn’t introduce ourselves to you yesterday at dinner. We’re staying in the Annie Oakley room.” She waved toward her friend. “This is Liz.”
“Nice to meet you ladies. I’m Terri.”
“Are you here for relaxation, Terri, or just to get away?”
“I’m actually doing some research on the area. I thought this would be the best way to get it.”
“Great idea,” Liz said. “I hope you get to spend some time out with one of those boys getting your research done.”
The two women giggled as Terri frowned. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she’d just been set up by the two older women who now seemed to be playing matchmaker with her. Yes, the men on the ranch were gorgeous from what she could tell. Each one had their own look about them, even the triplets. They were identical, but there were subtle differences between the two she’d seen. It made her wonder about the third, who wasn’t there at the moment.
When she’d literally ran into Jason this morning, at first she’d thought he was Josh, but when she looked closer, she could definitely tell the difference. Joshua wasn’t quite as broad across the shoulders as Jason. All the yummy hardness of both men made it difficult to decide which one was the cutest. She’d only observed the others from a distance except Jeff. The thought of that man made her frown as she glanced over the shoulder of the person in front of her to see him talking with Nina. His dark hair glinted in the lighting of the dining room, a blue-black color. Thick and straight to barely above his collar, she wanted to run her fingers through those silky looking strands.
Seconds later, he lifted his head and made immediate eye contact with her. A frown marred his features as his eyes narrowed.
Oh shit.
She dropped her gaze, moving behind the front person hoping he wouldn’t confront her here in front of the other guests.
Cowboy boots appeared in her line of vision. Damn it!
“What the hell are you doin’ here?”
“Excuse me?” she asked, lifting her head to stare into the stormy gray eyes of Jeff Young.
“You heard me. What are you doin’ here on my family’s ranch?”
Nina appeared at his side. “Jeff this is one of our guests. What’s the problem?”
“She needs to leave.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m a paid guest.”
“Guest my ass. She’s a damned spy,” he snarled, his lips curling back in a ferocious look. He kind of reminded her of a pit bull with a bone protecting it from intruders.
Nina stepped between them and got in her son’s face. “Enough, Jeff. Terri is a guest on our property no matter her reason for being here.”
“I’m sure she’ll report back to the developers on everything we do so they can undermine u
s or somethin’.”
“Jeffery. I’ll have no more talk like this. Go back to your seat.”
“But, Ma…”
“But nothin’. Go on. We’ll talk about this later.”
His gaze snapped fire at her as he glared again before turning on his boots heels to head back to the table.
“I’m sorry, Terri.”
“It’s fine, Nina. Nothing to be sorry for. He doesn’t like me at all.”
“He sure does react to you rather oddly.” Nina stared for a moment. “I’m sorry. Get your breakfast and I’ll handle my eldest son at least until the meal is over. After that, I’m not sure what he’ll do. He does have a temper.”
“I can handle him.”
Nina cocked her head. “You know. I think you can.” She patted Terri on the shoulder before she returned to the family table.
“Wow. Interesting,” Liz said, as they finally got to the serving table and grabbed their plates.
Terri smiled. She really didn’t need the two older ladies getting in her business or being in the middle of what might become a knock down drag out with the eldest son of Thunder Ridge Guest Ranch.
* * * *
Jeff got his breakfast, all the while keeping a keen eye on the intruder. The spy. He knew she had to be up to no good if she decided to become a guest on his ranch. Something was up. He just knew it. He’d have to keep a close eye on her to make sure she didn’t get information she could use against them with the land developers. Damn it! I certainly don’t need her snooping around right now.
He returned to his place at the table with his and Ben’s plate. “Here you go, buddy.”
“What was that all about, Jeff?” Jeremiah asked, taking his chair.
“Nothin’.”
“It didn’t look like nothin’ to me. You were all up in the woman’s face.”
“I said, it’s nothin’.”
“Fine, but as the financial planner of this ranch, if there somethin’ goin’ on that affects the financial stability, I need to know about it.”
“You keep your nose in the books and leave the ranchin’ to me.”
“Kiss my ass, brother. Remember who controls the paychecks around here.”
“Fuck you.”
“What’s with you lately?” Jackson asked, lifting the fork to his mouth. “You need a woman or somethin’?”
“The last fuckin’ thing I need is a woman.”
“Watch your mouth,” Nina snapped. “We have guests present.”
“Sorry, Ma.”
“You shouldn’t be cussin’ around Ben anyway. He hears enough from you when you’re out with the cattle, I’m sure.”
“I think he needs to get laid,” Jackson added with a grin. “It usually helps my mood.”
“Your answer to everything is being between a woman’s thighs.”
“Why the heck not?” Jackson winked. “Sounds like a perfect place to me.”
“Why were you in her face, Jeff?” Jason jumped in the middle of the conversation.
“What the hell do you care, Jason?”
Jason took a drink of his coffee. “I walked her to breakfast. She seems like a nice girl to me. Kinda pretty too.”
“Just say away from her. She’s trouble.”
“What kinda trouble?” James asked, as Jeff finished his breakfast.
“Ma won’t let me discuss it here. Let’s just say, she needs to be off our property immediately.”
“She’s a paid guest, Jeff. I won’t have you kickin’ guests off the ranch. We need them to keep this place runnin’. She’s paid up for two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Jeff growled. “What is she gonna do here for two weeks?”
“I didn’t ask her when she paid up. What doesn’t it matter anyway?”
“Just keep her away from me.”
“You’re the foreman on this ranch, Jeff,” James said. “Your job is to keep everything runnin’ smoothly. You’ll be bound to run into her sometimes. We can’t keep you two completely apart.”
Jeff rolled his eyes. Ah hell! This is gonna be the most miserable two weeks of my life if I have to constantly be nice to her.
He glanced down at the end of the room to see Terri look his way. She was kind of pretty in a nerdy sort of way with her glasses, her hair back in a ponytail and those jeans. He frowned. At least she seemed to have gotten some jeans that didn’t look like they just came off the rack at the western wear store or might leave a blue streak should she fall down snow skiing. The thought brought a smile to his lips. Imagining her with her butt in the middle of a snow bank while her new jeans bled into the snow almost made him laugh.
Skiing was one of his favorite pastimes and he hadn’t had a chance to go in forever or at least since Ben had been born. Maybe this winter he’d be able to convince his mom to watch Ben and he could take off for a weekend by himself.
He shook his head. Getting involved with a guest was against the rules anyway you sliced it, even if he wanted to. Terri was trouble with a capital T.
A heavy sigh left his lips. He had work to do. “You stay with Grandma, Ben. I’m headed to the barn, Ma. I need to inventory the feed and see what we need to order.”
“Go head, Jeff.” She grabbed Ben in a big hug and set him on her hip. “We got this covered, right, Ben?”
“Yep. You go on, Daddy.”
Jeff rolled his eyes and laughed. His kid was growing up way too fast.
He walked outside glancing around for what he wasn’t sure. Liar. You’re lookin’ for Terri. He didn’t want to care about what she might be doing right now, but he did. After he told himself he needed to keep an eye out for her to make sure she wasn’t doing something she shouldn’t, he felt like kicking his own ass for being stupid.
Why he kept her real purpose for being in Bandera a secret from his family, he wasn’t sure. Maybe he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Why? I know she works for the developers. She told me she did. “She’s up to no good. I know she is.”
He headed to the barn with a sharp stomp to his step. His anger bubbled inside him making him all the more pissy as he grabbed the clipboard from the doorway on his way inside. Damn meddling woman. She needs to go, but how do I get her to leave?
“Maybe if I make her time here miserable, she’ll leave on her own?”
“Jeff?” Joey called coming into the barn.
“In the back, Joe.”
“I’ve got a horse I want to go look at over at the Marshall place.”
“So? Why are you tellin’ me?”
“So you can watch the horses.”
“Where is Jacob or Jonathan?”
“Hell if I know. It’s not my job to keep track of the rest of the bunch. I’m just tellin’ you where I’m going so you can watch them. There’s a group out now with Jackson on the trail. They just left and won’t be back for an hour.”
“Great. Just great. I have my own work to do and now I have to do yours?”
Joey grinned. “You can clean some tack while I’m gone.”
“Fuck you, Joe. Cleanin’ the tack is your damned job.”
“Yeah and so is breakin’ the horses so they don’t throw the guests, but I don’t see you helpin’ with that either, big man.”
“I ain’t got time to do everyone’s fuckin’ job along with my own.”
“You wanted the foreman job, buddy. You got it.” Joey waved and headed off toward where the cars were parked. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“The Marshall property is five goddamn minutes from here.”
“Yes it is, but I still need to check the stock. See ya!”
“Fuckin’ son of a bitch.” He threw the clipboard across the barn.
He headed for the tack room so he could keep an eye on the horses in the corral. Why, he wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like they were going anywhere, but a guest might have questions so he needed to be there. He could clean tack. Fuck that!
A soft voice came from the doorway. “Jeff?”
She twisted the end of her T-shirt between her fingers. He obviously made her a little nervous. “I’m sorry things have gotten off on the wrong foot between us.”
“We aren’t on any damned foot, lady. You’re here under false pretenses and I don’t like it.”
“I’m not here to spy. I need to ask questions and the best people to ask are the locals. I figured cowboys knew the lay of the land the best.”
“Why us?”
“Because your land is adjacent to the land the developers purchased for their housing development. Your land is very similar to the land over there.”
“I’m not helpin’ you.”
“Fine. I’ll ask one of your brothers. Two of the triplets have been nice enough to me. I’m sure I can get one of them to talk.”
“Leave my brothers out of this. This is between you and me.”
“There’s nothing between you and me, Mr. Young. You’re a self-centered bully who thinks he can intimidate me because I’m a woman. Well forget it. You won’t drive me away from doing my job. It’s all I’m trying to do and—”
Jeff stepped closer, wrapped his hand around the back of her head, and slammed his mouth against hers.
She pulled back. “What the hell?”
He did it again, but this time her lips softened under his, molding themselves to the curve of his mouth. His hand tangled in her ponytail, pulling her head back slightly so he could deepen the kiss. With the tip of his tongue tracing the seam of her lips, he asked for her to open for him. Her lips parted on a moan. He pulled her hair harder. Her moan deepened into a low growl in her throat. Their tongues danced, tangling together from her mouth to his and back. His hand left her hair to trace the curve of her neck.
Thinking beyond how her mouth felt under his left his brain in a fog.
Her hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer still.
Healing a Cowboy's Heart (Cowboy Dreamin' 2) Page 4