Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 54
Brandi sighed. “Look, Kade and I are just friends.” With a whole lot of benefits. Great ones. Really great ones. Big ones. Shoot. She reached for her water. Funny how hot it was getting, despite the central air.
Bulldog McCall smiled broadly and leaned back in her chair. “Interesting. I wasn’t talking about Kade, but now that you’ve mentioned him, I think maybe we should.”
“No, no…we shouldn’t. We really shouldn’t.”
Lovely. Now Kerri was smiling.
“A double denial,” the cook stated with a nod. “We definitely should.”
Jordan’s brow rose. “I suppose you’re going to claim his truck was parked outside your house all night on Thursday because he ran out of gas?”
“Oh, hell no. That guy would never run out of gas. Not with his stamina.”
Kerri’s indrawn breath and pink cheeks were the first indication Brandi had spoken her thoughts out loud. Dammit. And if that wasn’t clear enough, then Jordan’s chuckling was confirmation.
She shot from her chair. “Oh, look at the time. I’d better get back to work.”
“Oh no you don’t,” her client insisted, hand snaking out to clamp around her wrist.
Kerri shook her head. “Not after a statement like that.”
The sisters were too much. Looking all hopeful.
Smiling, she shook free and held up her hands. “Forget it. I don’t kiss and tell.”
“So, there was kissing involved.” Kerri beamed.
Jordan snorted. “I’d say a whole hell of a lot more for Brandi to make a statement like that. But we’ll leave it right there. I just want to say I think it’s great. You and Kade. You’re perfect for each other.”
Why did people keep saying that?
Putting her hands on her hips, she frowned at the sisters. “Hold on. There is no me and Kade. It was just…just…”
“Sex,” Kerri answered, cheeks turning pink again.
“Actually, it was great sex,” she felt obligated to say. The sheriff had outdone any man she’d ever known, which technically wasn’t many, but he’d also bested her fantasies, and well, she did have a fantastic imagination. She had it in writing from her seventh grade English teacher.
“Yeah, I’m guessing that would tie into the stamina statement.” Her client grinned.
Instead of embarrassment, she felt the warmth of satisfaction flow all the way to her toes and couldn’t help but smile.
“Must be something in the Harland County water,” Kerri remarked, then slapped a hand over her mouth as her blush turned crimson.
Apparently the speaking out loud syndrome was contagious.
“Amen to that,” Jordan chimed in. “And not that this isn’t a fascinating subject, because let me tell you, Cole put the ‘S’ in stamina, but I’d like to get back to my original question, Brandi. Don’t you have something to tell us about your violin?”
Ah, so that was what the woman was getting at. Her past. She’d rather talk about sex with Kade.
Even though playing dumb hadn’t worked before, she thought maybe she’d have better luck this time. “Like?”
“Like, when will you tell everyone what you used to do? And can we hear you play again? And will you please play at the pub sometime?”
A heavy weight settled over her shoulders. She sat down and sighed under the pressure. “I don’t think anyone would be all that interested in hearing about my prior job.”
“Wrong.”
“And as for playing again,” she went on as if Jordan hadn’t spoken. “I’m not really up to it yet. It’s just associated with too many dark memories.”
“But I’m sure there are lots of good memories, too. And maybe now, here in Texas, you can make some new ones.” Kerri stared at her, brown eyes big and earnest.
The woman had a point. And her cell was a Godsend because it began to ring. “Sorry,” she told the girls as she fished the phone blaring David Garrett’s version of “Thunderstruck” from her pocket. Her heart dipped a little at the fleeting thought it might be Kade, although, she’d never given him her number.
Glancing at the caller ID, she held back a sigh. A different military man. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, sweetheart. You are going to the dinner, aren’t you?”
Right to the point as always.
“Yes. I’ll be there.”
“Good. Are you going to sit with your old man and your brother, Ben?”
“Of course.” She smiled. “It’ll be nice to see you both again. I miss you.” The words fell from her mouth before she could stop herself, and she was surprised to realize she meant every word. She did miss them both.
“Miss you too, sweetheart. When you coming back home?”
Another sigh left her lips. Not that again. “I am home, Dad.”
He grunted. “We’ll discuss it when I see you. Uh, got to go, hun. There’s a Battalion meeting in less than five. See you Saturday.”
And just like that, he was gone. Nothing new there. Higher ups said jump, he asked how high. Of course, Major Wyne was just as good at doling it out. And as for discussing, his idea of a discussion was a ‘this is how it should be done, now do it’ mentality.
Guilt squeezed her insides. That wasn’t fair. He was actually very patient and caring. Dennis Wyne had been an angel when her mother had needed one, taking her to and from treatments and appointments. She knew the man could very well have turned his back on the sick woman and her daughter, allowed others to take care of his wife, but he hadn’t. No. He’d nursed her and attended to her needs right up until the end. He’d gained Brandi’s love and respect and had had it ever since. He’d been Catherine Wyne’s rock and strength. And although Brandi had been ten when her mother married the man, he’d never treated her any different than his four sons. He even adopted her and gave her his last name. And when her mother died two years later, he’d never wavered in that love.
“Your family must miss you,” Kerri said, bringing Brandi’s mind back to the present.
Shrugging, she shoved the phone back in her pocket. At times, she missed them a lot. Like this past week. She really could’ve used her big brothers and their caring and kidding and all things brother to keep her mind occupied. Their constant banter and teasing always made her feel safe and loved. Then there was her little nephew. God, her arms ached to crush Tyler close and hold him tight.
Instead, she’d held onto an entirely different kind of male. Her good parts instantly tingled at the memories.
“Did you tell them about Kade?”
She reeled back and blinked at Kerri. “What? No. What for?”
“Well, you’ve been having sex with him, and most women tell at least one person in their family about a guy they have sex with,” the cook stated matter-of-factly.
“What?”
“You told your brother, Ben, about Kade, remember? In the apartment when we were going over plans.”
“No, I didn’t. You did,” Brandi reminded the former cop. “Yeah, thanks for that, by the way.” Then a slight problem dawned on her, and she groaned. “Oh, great.”
“Ben’s coming to Texas with your dad, isn’t he? That’s what that phone call was about.” Jordan’s smile was practically too big for her pretty face.
“Yeah, for a Dining Out dinner for anyone who served in one of the joint task forces in an overseas operation. They’ve been involved in several. I don’t remember which one this is for, but it’s being held in Houston this year.”
“That’s wonderful,” Kerri gushed.
“Yeah, until my dad volunteered me to play at the dinner.” She would rather attend out of respect than a command.
“But you’re so good. Why is it a problem?”
She sighed. “It’s not that. I-I stopped playing when I was told what to play and when to play. This just brings it all back. But, I’d do anything for the troops, so of course, I haven’t declined.”
“Have you picked up the violin since Sunday?”
“Yeah, several tim
es.”
“Your asshole ex-boyfriend isn’t going to be there, is he?”
Brandi blinked…in unison with Jordan as they stared at Kerri, the sweet cook. She’d never heard her friend say a bad word about anyone.
“Kerri,” Jordan said. “I can’t believe you called Brandi’s ex that.”
“Sorry, but he is.”
“No.” Jordan shook her head. “An asshole serves a purpose.”
Brandi snickered. “True. And no, Ed is not going to be there. Just my dad and brother, and a few others from the PA Guard. And, of course, other soldiers from across the county.”
“Oh, well, what about for Texas? Will Kade be there representing the Texas Guard?”
“No.” Thank heavens. She’d checked that straight out. Called in a marker to a friend in the Guard and had them look up the list. Despite the size and number of soldiers in the Texas Guard, Brandi wouldn’t put it past her bad luck to have the First Sergeant on the list. But he wasn’t. “A Colonel Dwyer, and a few more are representing the local regiment.”
Jordan scrunched her nose. “That’s too bad. Kade would’ve loved to hear you play. I’m sure of it. He loves a good fiddle.”
“Well, it wouldn’t matter anyway.” She shrugged. “They have me down to play some Beethoven and Bach.” Although, she did plan to throw in some good ole Texas fiddle. Seemed fitting considering the dinner was hosted in Texas.
Her client nodded while scratching Bullet’s neck. “So, will your father and brother come back to Harland County with you when it’s over?”
Brandi blinked. “I-I don’t know. They didn’t say. Probably not. Dad’s always on a tight schedule. Probably just stay the night at the hotel where the dinner is being held, and fly out the next morning.”
Which worked for her. There wasn’t enough room in her little cottage for all three of them.
“That’s too bad,” Jordan claimed. “I would’ve liked to have known what he thought of Kade.”
“What is it with you and Kade?” she asked, head beginning to ache.
“No, it’s you and Kade.”
Oh, for the love of… “There is no me and Kade.”
And in walked Cole…and Kade.
When her mind finally caught up with her mouth, and all the heat rushed to her face, Brandi noted the sheriff didn’t appear to be angry. Just stared, one eyebrow slightly raised. Besides, the guy had nothing to be angry about anyway. He was the one who’d left while she was stark friggin’ naked…and had invited him to stay.
Okay, she’d offered him sex. A morning romp, but he’d clamed up and left for work.
If he hadn’t been so attentive during the night before, or taken such pleasure in her body, then she would’ve been offended. But deep down, she knew that wasn’t the case. She’d seen the look before. The tensing of muscles, irregular breathing, dilated pupils. He was having a ‘moment.’ A pretty strong one at that if he was passing up sex, because she got the impression from their time together he liked having sex with her…a lot.
The feeling was mutual. Dammit.
Deciding this was one of those roll with the punches moments, she nodded to the men. “Hi, Cole. Kade, you’re just in time. Maybe you can convince the sisters here that we’re not in a relationship.”
He stared right at the girls. “We’re not in a relationship.”
Jordan laughed, Kerri smiled and Cole closed his eyes and shook his head. She had no idea what that meant, but was more than ready to get back to work. All this talk about non-relationships was one thing when she said it, but a completely different feeling in her gut when the man who melted her from the inside out with just one look spoke the words.
Maybe the chicken was bad in the salad. Yeah, that was probably why her stomach felt like lead.
“Not in a relationship, right,” Jordan scoffed. “Even though you’ve spent the night at her place.”
Cole shot forward and cupped Kade’s shoulder. “Okay, going to have to intervene here. Keep your mouth shut, buddy. Trust me.” The CEO cowboy glanced around at everyone and nodded. “If you’ll excuse us. Kade came over to check out the horses I got at the auction yesterday.”
And just like that, both men nodded, then left through the back door.
She was going to give that tactic a try. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I really do need to get back to work. Thanks for lunch.”
Setting her dishes in the sink, she held her breath, waiting for a retort. None came. Breathing a little easier, she headed for the hall, thinking she was home free.
“You two are in relationship denial,” Jordan smirked. “It’ll go easier if you just admit it and give in.”
Kerri nodded. “Yeah, admitting it is your first step to a happily-ever-after.”
Snickering commenced throughout the kitchen.
“You two are so full of shit.” Brandi swiped a cherry tomato off the counter and threw it in the girls’ direction.
She had no idea why this relationship discussion had started. But she was not in one with Kade. Yes, she liked having sex with the guy. Okay, she loved having sex with the guy. He didn’t mind her curves. Heck, he loved her curves. Embraced her curves. He’d practically worshipped her curves.
And now she was getting hot again.
Still, great sex did not a relationship make.
Cripes, now she sounded like one of those doctors on television. Not that she was knocking great sex. Hell no. It certainly made her feel good. And that was all she was looking for right now. There was no need to introduce her family to the guy she’d had great sex with the past week.
Playing the violin at the Dining Out was enough of a stress maker. Thank goodness Kade was not attending the dinner. That would be just a wee bit awkward.
Chapter Eleven
‡
ALTHOUGH SHARP, DRESS Blues were not Kade’s favorite uniform of choice—he’d much prefer the comfort of the Army Combat Uniform or ACU’s. Too bad a Dining Out dinner required more formal attire. Tonight, he’d donned the blue uniform with gold stripe down the side of the pants, double-checked his medals, stripes and insignia to make sure they were all up to date on his jacket—all while silently cursing his luck that a family emergency had forced Colonel Dwyer to call him to take his place at the last minute.
So, here he was, driving up to Houston with barely ten minutes to spare. Had he known ahead of time, he would’ve scheduled it in, and made plans to commute with a few of the other guys attending from the unit.
Not to mention, leaving Harland County in the hands of Skippy didn’t sit well with his stomach. He hoped to God nothing major arose. The kid barely handled a skunk intrusion, speeding tickets, lunch…and Kade didn’t even want to think about the cat-in-the-tree call the other day. Thanks to the deputy’s stellar response, the department now had a hefty vet bill. Poor cat would be stuck in a cast for another two weeks.
Donny wasn’t allowed anywhere near Ace. Make that Shadow Rock. He shuddered to think of the havoc the kid could inflict on livestock. Not good.
Pulling up at the venue held in a popular hotel and convention center, Kade put the deputy out of his mind and parked. It was only for a few hours. The county would be fine. He hoped. Right now, he had to switch hats. Literally. Sliding out of the truck, he swiped his beret off the seat and straightened.
“Hey, Top. Didn’t know you were coming,” one of his lieutenants said, stopping by the truck with a pretty blonde on his arm.
“Neither did I. Colonel had an emergency.” He donned his beret, shut the door then turned as the lieutenant introduced his girlfriend.
Some soldiers brought a date to the Dining Out and some didn’t, he observed as they walked inside. If he’d had more notice maybe he would’ve…what? Asked Brandi? Probably not. According to the designer, they weren’t in a relationship. Which was true. He’d more than made that clear when he’d walked away from her naked, willing body the other morning. So why he was a bit put out by her public admission of their non-relationship s
tatus at Cole’s a few days back was puzzling.
Maybe he actually wanted a relationship?
His chest squeezed tight. That would be a negatory, Sergeant. He shut that train of thought down fast. No relationship. No date. No hassles. Tonight was a night to reunite with old comrades. Men and women from across the country who’d participated in one of the operations a few years ago. Even though he hadn’t originally planned to attend, he was there now and would enjoy the evening’s events.
Removing his cover, he tucked the beret in his belt and joined some of the familiar faces gathered near the cash bar.
A good twenty-minutes had passed and he was enjoying the conversation, nursing his seven and seven, when one of the men let out a low whistle.
“Damn, how the hell did Ben land someone like that?” one of the guys questioned.
Kade turned with the others, and his heart literally rocked in his chest.
Brandi?
Wearing a knee-length, black dress with sheer sleeves, she was elegantly dressed, and even though her neckline wasn’t low cut, just enough of her luscious curves showed to raise his temperature.
Then his gaze travelled down her gorgeous legs to her shoes. Black, high and strappy, with her toes peeking through. Ah hell. She’d painted them a pale pink. They reminded him of her…
He cleared his throat and sipped his drink. He wasn’t going there. Wasn’t thinking about how her do-me-shoes made him want to do just that…right now…in one of the rooms upstairs…with just those damn shoes on.
He downed the rest of his drink. Didn’t help. He was now sporting a raging hard-on, in the middle of a Dining Out, thanks to those damn shoes.
“Yeah, she’s hot,” someone else exclaimed.
Since the men hadn’t said anything derogatory, he deduced the anger heating his blood must have something to do with the woman who wasn’t crazy about soldiers showing up with a soldier. One he didn’t know.
He cleared his throat. “Who’s she with?” he asked in his best matter-of-fact tone.
“One of the PA soldiers,” the guy replied.
Jesus. He hoped to God it wasn’t that stupid ex of hers. Surely she was smarter than to hook up with the jerk again.