by Myla Jackson
The times Isaac had stepped in and disagreed with his father, he’d gotten the same treatment and Trent got twice the severity. He’d learned early on to stay out of it. It saved Trent additional grief.
He understood why Trent hated the ranch, but he wanted Trent to see that it wasn’t the place that was bad, but their father’s mistreatment. The Triple J Ranch was perfect now that John Jameson no long ran roughshod over his sons. The old man was probably rolling over in his grave at how they were running the operation since he’d been gone, but Isaac didn’t care.
They needed help but hadn’t pursued it yet, probably more out of cussed determination to prove to their dead father they could get along just fine without him.
Up until Dusty had knee replacement, they had managed fine. Granted it took a lot of their free time and their regular jobs had suffered for it, but they’d proven, if not to their dead father then to themselves, that they could manage the ranch.
Now they needed help.
“It is peaceful here.” Trent’s comment was low, almost lost in the faint breeze.
“It’s ours now. We can do whatever we want with it.”
“Like sell?”
Isaac didn’t comment. He’d said all he was going to say, even telling Trent he refused to sell. If his brother still felt the same in a year, he would relent. But he had to at least give it a year. If Trent couldn’t let go of the old hurt and anger a year after their father’s death, he never would and it would be time to let go of a place that only held bad memories.
“Do you really like living in Houston?”
“It’s closer to my work.”
“You can design structures from anywhere and get your work delivered on time. It’s the beauty of satellite Internet and express shipping. And I go when and where I need to.”
“As long as we have an able-bodied foreman to leave the ranch with. Which we don’t have.”
“He’ll be back.” Isaac wasn’t ready to break the news to Trent about the new hire. Not right before Trent would hopefully go to bed.
“Not soon enough.”
“Getting itchy feet?” Isaac asked.
Trent hesitated. “I don’t have the connection to this place you seem to have.”
“Have you given it a fair shake?” Isaac stood. “I mean, really given it a chance since Dad died?”
Trent continued to stare out at the Texas landscape bathed in indigo-blue moonlight. “I’m going to bed. There’s a fence down on the northeast corner. I want to get out there early and get it up before the cattle discover it and wander off.”
“I’m right behind you in a little bit. I’m still unwinding from the fun at the Ugly Stick. We should play poker every Ladies Night.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t bring one of the ladies home. Or better yet, go home with one.”
Isaac hid a grin in the dark. “I can be picky too.”
Trent snorted. “You’ve dated just about every woman in the tri-county area and you’ve yet to settle down. I’m not the only one who doesn’t like to commit.”
“I know. I have to admit, I’m just as picky when considering a lifelong promise to love, honor and cherish.”
“You could always go for Kylie Sandell.” Trent left that jab hanging.
“Not in a million years. She and her mother are toxic.”
“Speaking of toxic, we promised a load of fertilizer to be delivered to Mrs. Sandell’s house. She asked for horse dung for her rose garden.”
“Only the best for her prize roses.” Isaac’s eyes narrowed. “Why did you promise to deliver it to her? You know she’ll pick it apart.”
“She’s an older woman. I was taught to respect my elders, especially women.”
“You could have said no.”
“I know, but it’s done. I made a promise and I’ll deliver on that promise.”
Isaac sighed. “I’ll help. Someone needs to watch your back. That Kylie is as sly and conniving as her mother. The rotten apple didn’t fall far from the poison apple tree.”
Trent chuckled. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Isaac breathed a sigh of relief when Trent finally went inside.
He listened for the sounds of his brother entering and exiting the bathroom and finally the house fell silent.
Checking his watch, he noted it was thirty minutes past midnight. The Ugly Stick closed at midnight on Thursdays, even when it was Ladies Night. Before he’d left the saloon, he’d askedAudrey if he could use the five-gallon jug of gasoline she kept on hand for the bar’s lawn-care equipment. Thankfully, she’d filled it the day before. He’d poured all five gallons into Lucky’s truck. That should have been enough to get her to the truck stop in Temptation where she could use the forty dollars he’d given her to fill her tank. If all went well and she didn’t have trouble following his directions, she’d be driving up the driveway in the next five minutes.
Headlights shined through the trees heading up the road to the ranch.
Isaac stepped off the porch and waved Lucky to park on the side of the house Trent rarely visited, hoping the lights wouldn’t alert Trent to a visitor at this late hour.
When Lucky turned off her lights and climbed down from the old pickup, she smiled. “You didn’t have to stay up and wait for me to come. But thanks.”
“I didn’t want you tripping in the dark, trying to find your way around.” Isaac turned toward the house. “If you’ll follow me.”
When he didn’t hear her behind him, he turned to see her standing with her back to him, staring up at the night sky. “Wow. I didn’t know how much I missed this.”
“Missed what?”
“The night sky.”
“Have you been living in a city?”
“Not a city, but I’ve been living in a small town outside of San Antonio. Even the small towns have a lot of lights that shine all night.”
“I can wait to show you to your room if you want to sit out on the porch for a while.”
“Do you mind?” She gave him a tentative smile. “After the noise of the saloon, this is heaven.”
“Sure. Let me get your gear, then you can come sit on the steps with me.”
“The boxes can stay in the backseat. I just need my clothes.” She grabbed a duffle bag from behind the seat and slung the strap over her shoulder.
“I’ll get that.” Isaac took the bag from her.
“I’m a ranch hand. I don’t expect special treatment just because I’m a girl.”
“I know, but chivalry isn’t dead.” He slung the bag over his shoulder. “Humor me.”
“You’re the boss.” She followed him to the porch, dropped the duffle bag and sat down on the steps, leaning back on her elbows. “It’s beautiful.”
Isaac sat beside her and leaned back on his elbows as well. “I think so.”
“Someone else doesn’t?”
“My partner thinks he wants to move back to Houston.”
Lucky shot a glance at Isaac. “I personally can’t see how anyone would prefer Houston over this.”
“Me either.” Isaac continued to stare at the night sky. “Tell me about yourself, Lucky.”
She stiffened beside him. “You might not want me to work for you if I tell you about myself.”
Isaac chuckled. “Unless you’re a convicted felon, I can’t imagine you’ve done anything fire-worthy.”
Lucky hesitated. “Well, actually…”
“I won’t believe if it if you tell me you’ve killed someone, unless it was justifiable homicide.”
She laughed and relaxed a little. “No, I haven’t killed anyone that I know, but you might as well know now.” With a deep breath, she told him, “I have an unlucky streak the size of Texas.”
Isaac wiped his hand across his forehead. “Whew! For a minute there I thought it was something big.”
“Maybe you don’t understand.” Lucky faced him. “The good people of Comfort, Texas, ran me out of town because of my bad luck.”
He la
ughed and stopped mid-chuckle at the serious look on her face. Lucky really believed her luck was the issue.
“I mean look at what’s happened already. I pushed Audrey’s truck into a ditch and destroyed half her liquor stores. I’m bad luck.” Though tears welled in her eyes, she didn’t let one loose. She bit into her lip, making Isaac want to pull her close and kiss her troubles away.
“Ah, Lucky. It can’t be that bad.” He couldn’t resist and gathered her in his arms.
“Since my father died, I have no home to go to. But the real bad luck started the day my fiancé was killed in a car wreck. A wreck I should have died in too.”
Isaac’s chest tightened. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry you lost your fiancé, but I’m glad you didn’t die in that wreck.”
She leaned into him, her cheek resting against his shoulder. “I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m just tired.” She looked to the stars. “Tired of things going wrong around me, tired of moving on.” With a soft snort, she gave him a crooked smile. “Most people don’t know how lucky they have it.”
The faraway look in her face and the hollow tone in her voice nailed it for Isaac. He held her, his arms secure around her. “You must have loved him a lot.”
“I did, but it’s been two years. I’m finally getting over it, but my luck hasn’t changed. I really wish it would.”
“You’ve had some tough breaks.”
“I didn’t come here to cry over my crappy life,” she said into his shirt, without pulling away. “But thanks.”
After a while, he pushed her to arm’s length. “Did you ever consider that maybe your streak of bad luck brought you here? To Temptation, the Ugly Stick Saloon and the Triple J Ranch? Do you believe in fate?”
She leaned back, looked at him and shrugged. “Mostly when she slaps me in the face.”
“I believe fate brought you here and you’re just what the Triple J Ranch needed. And maybe the Triple J is what you need to get back on track.”
“I hope so.”
“Here’s to starting over.” He waved his hand in the air.
“Please tell me you sprinkled some magic dust with that wave.”
“Better. Consider your slate wiped clean. Lucky Albright has only good things ahead of her.”
Lucky didn’t look as confident as he felt. Isaac leaned forward and brushed her lips with his, liking the feel of hers. All soft and plump. Ripe for kissing.
Lucky’s eyes widened and her lips opened on a gasp. “What was that for?”
“For good luck.” He pulled her against him and kissed her again, this time lingering over the connection, his tongue darting out to skim the seam of her mouth.
“And that?” she whispered.
“That was because I couldn’t resist a beautiful woman in the moonlight.” He smiled down at her and pulled her to her feet.
She leaned up on her toes and kissed him back.
He laughed. “And what was that for?”
“I like the way you taste.”
“I could get used to you around here.”
The sad look in her eyes faded and she smiled.
Isaac’s heart flipped. Hell, the moonlight had nothing on Lucky’s smile. Her face lit up half the county and made him want to laugh out loud with joy. He could spend a lifetime making her smile. “You have a beautiful smile.”
Her smile faded to just a hint of one and she glanced down at her feet. “Thank you.”
With a finger beneath her chin, he tipped her head up. When she stared up into his face, his entire body lit on fire. The woman had no clue how desirable she was. For a moment, he hesitated, considering crushing her to his chest and taking more than a chaste kiss. But then he was afraid of scaring her on her first night at the ranch. Drawing in a deep breath, he let it out, willing his pulse to stop banging so hard. “It’s getting late. Let me show you to your room.”
“I am tired.”
“Right. Look, Lucky, I haven’t told my partner about you yet. I thought I’d give you a chance to show him what you’re made of before I break it to him that I’ve hired a ranch hand.”
Lucky pulled free of his hand. “You haven’t told him?”
“No.”
“And he won’t like it that you’ve hired a woman. Most cowboys wouldn’t.” It was a statement, not a question.
Isaac winked. “You got it. Thus the need to show him you can handle the work before he has a chance to say no.”
“Does he make all the decisions?”
“No, but it helps to get his buy-in. He can be cranky when he wants to be.” Isaac stood, pulled her to her feet and snagged her duffle bag.
“I’ll consider myself warned.” Lucky followed Isaac up the stairs. “And don’t worry. I’m a very good ranch hand.”
“I’m counting on it.” Isaac slipped an arm around her waist and ushered her into the house. “And you’re much better looking than any of the other hands on any ranch I’ve ever been to.”
Isaac had to admit to himself he’d hired Lucky on a lark, partly because they needed a ranch hand, but mostly because he knew the fact she was female would get under his brother’s skin.
But now that he knew she was honest enough to own up to the baggage that came with her, he liked her even more. What a bunch of horseshit the last town she’d lived in had heaped onto her. No one deserved to be kicked out of town for a bad streak of luck.
Lucky seemed genuine, just the type of girl Isaac had searched for all his life and that even Trent had said he was looking for. No pretense, no frills, pretty without being conscious of the fact, and a good hard worker.
Yeah, his and Trent’s luck was about to change and he looked forward to having Lucky around making it happen. And if he could steal another kiss from her and maybe more, well, that was just icing on the cake.
Lucky followed Isaac to the last bedroom at the end of the hallway, her mind on the kiss and the way Isaac made her feel when he held her in his arms—safe and warm, and burning hot at the same time. The cowboy from earlier that evening had left her feeling hot, twitchy and off balance, and yet she’d craved kisses from both men. And if she was honest with herself, a whole lot more. It had been a long time since she’d made love to a man.
When Isaac pushed the door open, he left the light off. Moonlight poured through the window, filling the room with a deep blue glow. Her gaze went straight for the bed and her blood pulsed, driving heat to her belly and lower.
He applied a slight pressure to the small of her back, ushering her through the doorway. “If you need anything, my room is right across the hall.” He turned her, his hand sliding around to her hip. “And I mean anything.”
“Even a kiss?” she said, before she could think about what she was starting.
He smiled. “That goes without saying.” He bent, his mouth coming down over hers, his lips claiming hers in a sensuous stroke.
She leaned up on her toes, her fingers circling the back of his neck, urging him closer. Lucky parted her lips, allowing his tongue inside to glide along hers. He tasted of mint.
He cupped her bottom and lifted her, wrapping her legs around him, pressing her breasts against his chest. “Stop me if I’m going too fast.”
For a moment she considered it, but after the craziness of the day, she needed to feel wanted, and wanted to feel needed. “What if your partner wakes?”
“Let him get his own woman.”
“Isaac.” Lucky braced her hands on either side of his face. “Just for the record, I’m not your woman.”
He grinned. “I’m sorry. You’re right and I know that.” His grin faded. “So what is this?”
“Two people taking advantage of moonlight?”
“Works for me.” He kicked the door shut behind them. “And maybe when we get to know each other better, I’ll convince you otherwise.”
He laid her in the middle of the bed and pushed her tank top up, trailing kisses along her belly.
Lucky writhed against the sheets. “Wow, that feels nice.�
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“You think so?” He pushed the shirt up higher, exposing her lacy bra. She thanked the heavens for the miracle of dirty laundry. Normally she wore simple cotton bras because they didn’t itch as much when she worked out in the heat. Feeling feminine and sexy, she allowed him to pull the shirt up over her head and toss it to the floor.
He reached around her back and flipped the hooks open, sliding the straps down her arms, her breasts spilling out.
Lucky had always been a little self-conscious about her breasts. Growing up as a tomboy, they were annoying and in the way. Not until she’d met Sean had she realized how prized they were by men.
Isaac cupped one with his big, rough hand and flicked the nipple with the tip of his tongue.
“Sweet tea and grits!” she called out.
He chuckled and did it again.
Her back arched off the bed as if it had a mind of its own, pushing her breast deeper into Isaac’s mouth. Lucky’s breath caught and held, waiting for him to stroke her again.
When he did, a sharp zing of electricity sang through her veins, headed south to her core, awakening fires long banked. She feverishly worked the buttons on his chambray shirt, desire pushing her faster. Nothing less than skin on skin would do. When she released the last button, she pushed the shirt over his shoulders.
He leaned back, shucked the shirt and stood and slipped out of his jeans.
Lucky’s throat dried and her tongue swiped over her lips.
The man was beautiful, not an ounce of fat anywhere. His shoulders were wide, his arms bulged with well-defined muscles and his broad chest narrowed to a trim waist.
As her gaze wandered farther south, her belly tightened and her eyes widened. His cock jutted out long, hard and thick. Her pussy clenched, a wash of juices slicking the channel in anticipation.
When he reached for the snap on her jeans, she suddenly became conscious of where she was and what she was doing. “Wait.” She crossed her hands over her crotch. “We really shouldn’t. You’re the boss. I didn’t come to the Triple J to seduce you.”