Riding for Love (A Western Romance)

by Susedik, Tina

  To her chagrin, Denton wasn’t waiting for her. Had he gone for another drink? After all, she’d been in bathroom forever. She walked around the corner and ran into a solid body. Thrilled to have found him, she was surprised at another man’s voice.

  “Eve, honey. Just the woman I hoped to find.”

  “Max?” She peered around his body. “Where’s Marie?” She didn’t care for the predatory gleam in his eyes, or for the smirk crossing his lips.

  “Oh, she’s occupied right now.” He took hold of her elbow. “Besides, you’re the one I want to be with, not Marie. She’s one crazy woman.”

  Eve attempted to yank her elbow from his grip. To her dismay, he tightened his hold.

  “Right now I want to spend some time with you. I’ve missed you.”

  “You know I’ve been busy.” She gave up struggling against his hand as they went out onto the country club’s wraparound deck.

  Max released her elbow, leaned against the railing, and faced her. “So I’ve been told.”

  “This is a busy time of the year, Max.” Eve frowned. “What’s this about?”

  “Not so busy you can’t go out with that Johansen fellow.”

  “What I do with my spare time is none of your business. You and I are friends.” She moved to step around him. “Only friends,” she stressed.

  Max grabbed her by the upper arms and yanked her against him.

  “Max, what the hell are you doing?”

  “Taking what I’ve wanted since I met you. From what I understand, you’re giving it to him. Why not me?”

  Eve pushed against his chest. Years of handling large animals had built up his muscles and it was like pushing a freight train. But years of handling horses, feed, and tack had given her a few muscles of her own, and when he brought his mouth toward hers, she turned her head. The kiss landed on her cheek.

  She pushed harder against his chest, seconds away from smacking him across the cheek. “Max, stop!” He finally released her arms and stepped back. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “He’s only using you, Eve.”

  “Who?”

  “Johansen. He’ll get what he wants from you and dump you like before.”

  Eve folded her arms under her breasts. “What do you know about that?”

  Max leaned back against the railing and crossed his ankles, resting his hands behind him on the top of the railing. “He dated you in high school because he was sorry for you, and as soon as he and Marie got to college, he dumped you for her.”

  “Sounds like Marie’s version. Did she bother to tell you how she got Dent to marry her?”

  He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes, in fact, it does matter. To me anyway. She’s a liar, and I don’t like that you are willing to believe what she says over me.”

  “So you do care?” She snarled at him, and he sighed. “Hell, she does seem a little crazy to me.”

  “If she’s crazy, why believe her and not me?” Eve thought if he shrugged one more time, she’d smack him a good one, and not on the lips.

  “I guess because it’s easier to believe the worse in people.”

  “So, even though you think the worst of me, you still want to be with me. This doesn’t make sense.”

  Again the shoulder shrug.

  “If you want me so bad, why are you with Marie tonight?”

  “Jealous?”

  Hands clenched at her sides, she refrained from smacking the smile from his face. “Not hardly.” She backed up a step when he reached out to take her in his arms. “You didn’t answer my question, Max. Why are you with Marie tonight?”

  “A means to an end.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Time will tell.” This time he didn’t allow her to move away and grabbed her hand.

  “Let go of me, Max, or I’ll scream so loud, the entire city will hear me, not to mention the sheriff who is in the next room.”

  “No need to scream. I wouldn’t hurt you. I want to show you something.”

  “Then let go.”

  Max released her hand and motioned for her to move in front of him. “We’re going around the corner,” he said in a louder voice.

  Eve was puzzled. Why did he need to raise his voice? His strange comment became perfectly clear when they rounded the corner. She gasped at the sight before her.

  Marie and Denton stood hip-to-hip. His ex’s hands were on either side of his face, their lips locked in a kiss.

  Eve wanted to scream, run, hide. Max was right. It was high school all over again. Denton was playing with her and her emotions. Damn the son-of-a-bitch. Tears swam in her eyes.

  Max put his hands on her shoulders. “Sorry you had to witness this, Eve, but I wanted you to understand what kind of man you’re involved with.”

  Through the red haze of anger, she blinked away her tears, and stepped closer to the couple. But, contrary to what she’d first thought, their hips were not locked together. Hands clenched at his sides and eyes wide open, Denton appeared to be inching his body away from Marie’s. His eyes widened when he noticed Eve. She watched as he tried to pry Marie’s lips from his.

  “Well, well, well,” Max said before Eve said anything. “Look at our dates, Eve. We turn our backs for one second and they’re practically going at it like rabbits. And in public, too.” He took her arm. “Come on, babe, let’s leave these two alone.”

  Eve wasn’t sure what game Max and Marie were playing, but she wasn’t one of the characters.

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake.” She yanked her arm from Max’s grasp.

  At the sound of her voice, Marie had released her lip-lock, wrapped her arms around Denton’s neck, and looked up in mock surprise. “Max. Eve. We didn’t hear you. Dent and I are . . . Well, you can see for yourself we’re renewing our relationship.”

  Eve shook her head. “Good heavens, Marie. I thought you had acting lessons in California. No wonder you had to come back to Wisconsin. You must have flunked them all.”

  Even with his arms hanging at his sides, Marie continued holding Denton. The panic on his face was priceless.

  “Eve, this isn’t what it seems. One minute I’m waiting for you and the next . . .”

  Eve took her gaze off Denton and slipped it to Marie, who was looking over her shoulder at Eve. Marie’s smug smirk brought Eve several steps closer.

  “If this wasn’t so pathetic, I’d laugh,” she said.

  Marie dropped her arms, her smirk dropping a notch. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  Shaking her head, Eve swept an arm at the couple. “Who is kissing who and who is standing there, arms at his sides, hands clenched in fists? Doesn’t seem like Denton’s interested, Marie.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. He acted quite willing to me.” She tugged at Denton’s arms.

  Eve gave Marie another long stare, ignoring Max’s attempts at urging her away from the scene. “I have no idea what you’re up to, but Denton loves me and wants nothing to do with you or your lies and schemes.” She held her hand out to Denton.

  “Denton, honey?” Marie whined when he edged away.

  He stood at Eve’s side, took her hand, and looked at Marie, sadness written on his face. “I’m not your honey. Never was, never will be. When will you get that through your head? You put me through hell for too many years, and I want nothing to do with you, so stop playing your little games and leave me the hell alone! I love Eve. Always have, always will.”

  “Hold on, old man,” Max said. “You can’t talk to her like that.”

  Denton rounded on him. “Max, I don’t know what the hell your take is in this or what this little scenario was supposed to prove, but I think you need to butt out and take
your date home.”

  “I agree, Max,” Eve said, standing in front of Denton, facing Max. “One minute you’re with Marie and the next you tell me you want to be with me. What’s the deal?”

  “What?” Marie screeched and pushed past Eve and Denton. Arms akimbo, she stood in front of Max. “What the hell is she talking about?”

  Max shrugged and gave her a piercing look. “I don’t know what she’s talking about, Marie. You told me how she is, so who are you going to believe, Eve or me.” He took Marie’s hand and led her toward the building’s doors. “Time to go, Marie. We’ll discuss this later.”

  Marie glanced over shoulder, giving Denton a beseeching look and Eve a chilling one. After they were out of sight, Denton pulled Eve into his arms.

  “Thank you for not believing what you were seeing, honey.” He breathed deeply, letting her essence seep through his bones, banishing Marie’s scent, calming him.

  “I trust you, Dent.”

  He leaned back and searched her eyes. “You didn’t believe I would kiss her for even one second?”

  Eve smiled and rubbed her hands up and down his back. “I have to admit that, for just a second, my anger blinded me. Then through the haze, I realized your arms were at your sides. Marie kissed you, not the other way around. I also thought about what we’ve had the past month. You wouldn’t betray my trust.”

  Denton groaned into her neck. “I do love you, Eve Dayton, so much I ache.”

  “And I love you, Denton Johanson, so much it scares me.”

  “Scares you? Why?”

  “It’s so much, so fast. With all the stuff that is going on at the ranch, I can’t help worrying this has something to do with you.” He jerked back. “Geez, I didn’t mean you’re involved or you’re causing the problems. Just that your being here has something to do with it all.”

  He relaxed. “Like I’m some kind of obstacle to someone getting to you.”

  “Sounds clear to me.”

  Denton chuckled. “Yeah, right.”

  “Enough of this. Let’s go find someplace private.”

  “Like where? Tom’s been jinxing our attempts to be together.”

  “Well, I happen to know he is occupied tonight, all night in fact. So we can go back to my place. You can leave before he returns to the ranch in the morning.”

  Denton wrapped his arm around her waist and grinned when she did the same. Hip-to-hip, they headed to the deck stairs leading to the parking lot.

  “Geez, I feel like a teenager sneaking around behind my parent’s back.”

  Eve giggled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “How about parents sneaking behind their kids’ backs?”

  Denton was almost afraid to ask what she meant. Before he’d left the house tonight, it’d seemed his mother was a little more perky than usual. “Who?”

  “Your mother and Tom. So I don’t think she wants you coming home, either.”

  “Seriously? My mother?” His voice rose several octaves. “My mother and Tom? Well, that son-of-a-bitch. Keeping us apart while he and mom . . .”

  She tapped a finger against his lips. “Shhh. Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.”

  “Hell, I don’t want to look in any horse’s mouth.” He paused at the car door and frowned. “But Mom and Tom?” He shook his head and opened the door.

  “They’ve been an item for a few months now. She’s happy again and Tom, well, he’s like a father to me and if she makes him happy, then I’m happy too.

  She got into the SUV. Denton closed the door and slid across the hood like he did in high school. Once inside, he grinned at her like a little boy hoping for praise.

  “Show off.” She laughed. “Now get this baby in gear and don’t take the long way home.”

  Chapter 19

  Warm from the glow of last night’s lovemaking and the thought of no guests until the next morning, Eve watched Denton reading the Sunday paper. He reclined in an oversized stuffed chair seemingly made for his tall frame, sipping his coffee. This was so right; looked right, felt right, even smelled right, as if his spirit not only burned in her brain, but into the walls of her house. How had she survived the past ten years without him?

  Tom had always told her the past had made her stronger, more self-reliant. She had learned to like herself and not rely on someone else for her feelings. He may be right, she thought, but life sure was a lot more fun with Denton around.

  Denton put down the paper, interrupting her musings.

  “What are you looking at?” he asked.

  “You, and how right this all is.”

  He nodded. “Come here, hon.”

  Eve sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Is this what you had in mind?”

  “This and a whole lot more,” he answered, nuzzling his face in her breasts.

  She shivered at the sensations rolling through her body. She’d never get enough of him, and reached to pull her top off to give him better access when someone knocked at the door. “Crap. Must be Dan. Some people sure have lousy timing.” She eased off his lap and went to the door.

  For the first time in her life, dismay filled her at the sight of Tom standing at her door. He stepped into the room, caught sight of Denton, and frowned.

  “Morning, Eve,” he said, giving her a hug. Stepping back, he scowled at Denton. “Dent, when did you get here?”

  Denton winked at Eve and smiled. “What do you think, hon? Ten, ten-thirty?”

  “AM or PM, boy?”

  “Does it matter?”

  Tom’s jaw muscles clenched. He took a step toward Denton. “When it comes to Eve, sure as hell does.”

  Denton rose and stood square in front of the older man. “How’s my mother, old man?”

  “None of your business,” he said, his voice holding bravado, while his face turned a shade darker than Eve’s.

  “Sure as hell is when it’s my mother.”

  The men stood nose-to-nose, arms at their sides, hands fisted. She was afraid they would exchange blows at any minute.

  “All right, you two, enough.” She slapped both men on their arms when they ignored her. Denton glanced in her direction, but Tom continued to glower at the younger man.

  “I said stop. You are both acting like children. We’re all adults, and what we do in our private lives is . . . well, private.”

  Denton poked Tom in the chest. “You’d better not hurt her, or you will answer to me.”

  Tom poked Denton back. “And you’d better not hurt Eve . . . again.”

  Eve rolled her eyes. “Geesh, you guys. Can we get on with something else?” She pulled Denton to a chair at the table. “Sit. Stay.” She turned back to Tom. “Take a seat.” After he sat down, still eyeing Denton, she added, “By the way, how is Rose?”

  Looking directly at Denton, Tom replied, “Smilin’ when I left her.”

  Both men jumped up and faced each other again.

  “Stop it,” Eve yelled. “What will the sheriff think when he gets here and has to break up a fight? I’ll have both of you arrested if you don’t knock it off.” Hands on her hips, she stood between both men. “Tom, get used to the idea that Denton and I love each other and have a relationship. Denton, get used to the idea your mother is still a young, vibrant, beautiful woman . . .”

  “Amen to that,” Tom injected, earning a snarl from Denton.

  “. . . who’s been alone long enough to want male companionship and who happens to be Tom. You guys got it?” Neither said anything. “I said, got it?” When they nodded, she added, “Now shake hands like good little boys.”

  A car door slammed while they exchanged grudging handshakes. “I think the sheriff is here. And none too soon.”

  Dan stepped into the foy
er and glanced from Denton to Tom sitting at the kitchen table, their chairs facing in opposite directions, looking like a couple of kids who’d just been reprimanded by the school principal. “Everything all right here? Do I need to bring out my billy club?”

  “It they don’t behave, you may have to. They’re just acing like a couple of jerks.” She went to the cupboard and withdrew two coffee mugs. “Sit down, Dan.”

  “Let’s get down to business,” Dan said after everyone’s mugs were filled. He set a pad of paper on the table. “I need to go over each incident with you, including the dates and who was involved.”

  Step-by-step, the trio went through each item. After they were done, Dan had a page full of notes.

  “Denton, when did you come back to town?”

  “The first part of May.”

  “When did you start your lessons here?”

  “The last week of June.”

  The sheriff studied his notes. “So from what I can tell, this all started about the time Denton came back to town. Right?”

  Denton’s chair crashed to the floor as he jumped up to face the sheriff. “Go to hell. I am not part of whatever this is.”

  “Settle down, Dent. I already said I’m not accusing you of anything.” He paused and placed hands in the air. “Honestly, I’m not.”

  When Denton sat down and crossed his arms over his chest, Dan went on. “Here’s the deal. As I mentioned last night, you’re not the only one having problems. Some of them started last fall, and now they’re escalating. Last night,” he paused, looking at each of them in turn. “Yep, last night while we were all at the reunion, someone damaged three of the Nelson’s machines—a combine, hay baler, and a tractor. They called me this morning and instead of being in church with my family, I was out investigating.”

  “Was the damage bad?” Tom asked.

  “Bad enough. They’ll need to order parts and since they’d already cut hay and were ready to bale, they may lose the crop. He says it will set him back a bit, but, if anything else goes wrong, he may not be able to make his farm payments.”