Explosive Memories

by Sherri Thomas

Trent refused to comment as he continued toward the pigs, whistling.

  “When you get done with the small barns, you were elected to give the grounds a once over,” his sibling yelled out, stopping him in his tracks.

  What the hell!

  “That’ll take most the day,” he complained, retracing his steps.

  Sam shrugged. “No one checked the fences last week, Chris is helping Mr. Parker with another lesson, and I have to run into town to tie up loose ends before I head to Tulsa.”

  “Weren’t you just in Tulsa?”

  “Just check the fence. Darcy and Nick’ll be leaving for camp today. They can check the back lines.”

  He noted the way his sibling avoided the question, but let him slide. Sam’s comings and goings were none of his business. Besides, he wanted to hurry things along and get to the main attraction.

  Maybe Jordan would want to ride fence since they were going out anyhow. Might be a good time to talk and find out more of what she’s been doing over the last six years. She never did say what started the fire that killed her parents or how she came to a be nurse.

  Finishing the pens in record time, he hurried to throw a lunch together, saddled the horses, and secured a lead rope to pony her mount with his. He headed her way, feeling like a teenager going out on his first date, and a little foolish at the same time. The woman affected him stronger than any other, and that scared the daylights out of him. There was something about Jordan that wrapped around him, a protectiveness toward her, the need to love her and help her, to be her anchor. Yep, he definitely lost his mind…heart and soul.

  Trent reined the horses to stop as he approached the cabin and Jordan stepped outside. Blue jeans molded every delectable curve, moving with her like a second skin. A white tank top clung to her upper half, sculpting her breast and revealing enough cleavage to leave him drooling.

  “Is this horse for me?” she asked, coming closer.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He dismounted, and in one swift movement, pinned her between the animal and his body.

  She laughed and tilted her head back, bringing her luscious lips inches from his. Feeling like a starving man, he lowered his mouth and devoured her. She tasted of mint and smelled like sunshine. Blood rushed to his southern hemisphere, leaving him dizzy with want. He pushed his growing erection into her, leaving no doubt how much he wanted her.

  Petite hands crawled up his chest, to his neck, and played with the hair on the back of his head. He loved the feel of those delicate fingers on his skin, especially when they traveled below his navel.

  A searing heat rushed clean through him. Needing no more encouragement, he pivoted and walked her backward toward the cabin until she broke away.

  “Aren’t we going riding,” she panted.

  “We are.” He just decided on a different kind. “But we need lots of practice first.”

  “Trent.” She put a palm between them, holding him at bay.

  “Jordan,” he growled, moving forward as she stepped backward.

  Lifting her hair off her neck, she fanned the skin with the other hand. “I want to see the land. We have all night for…other things.” She smiled with a devilish glint and secured her thick main at the base with a tie she had on her wrist.

  Knowing she was right, he ran a hand down his face. This wasn’t the time. Work first then play. And boy, did he plan on playing…hard.

  “Let’s go, woman. We don’t have all day.” He stepped toward her mount, anxious to get going so they could get back.

  Jordan giggled and shook her head. “I can get in the saddle by myself.”

  “You sure, darlin’? ’Cause if I let you struggle, it wouldn’t be very gentlemanly.” He gave her an appreciative once over.

  “And if you help me, we’ll never leave.” She put her foot in the stirrup and swung her leg over the rump.

  “I reckon you’re right.” He mounted and looked her way to be sure all was right.

  “This isn’t TJ?” She stroked the side of the Appaloosa’s neck.

  “No. Darcy’s taking her horse on the camping trip. You’re riding Champ, and this is Lucifer.”

  She laughed. “Of course.”

  Loving the sound of her enjoyment, he smiled and asked, “What’s that suppose to mean?”

  “Wouldn’t expect the big bad cowboy’s mount to have any other name.” She giggled again.

  “For your information, this happens to be Sam’s. He hasn’t been out in a while and needed the exercise.” He pouted, pretending to be wounded by her words. “But I forgive you.”

  “Thank you for small favors.” Her eyes danced with amusement. “Where’re we headed?”

  “I was hoping you’d accompany me while I check the fence lines, then we can stop for a bite to eat in the south pasture.” He patted the bag behind him.

  “Sounds like fun.”

  Fun for her, hard for him as he watched her body rock in motion with the horse.

  They traveled in silence for the first few minutes, and he noted her taking in the surroundings. He tried to look at the property with an unbiased eye, and a sense of pride filled him. No matter what happened in his life, he could always count on this, on the serenity of the land.

  “Did your parents live on farms when they were children?” Her soft voice floated over him.

  “My dad, but not mom. Although this”—he swept a hand out in front of him—“was her dream.”

  “He didn’t want the ranch?”

  She squinted in the bright sun, and he kicked himself for not reminding her to wear a hat.

  “He loves this place, but loved my mom more, and thought she’d want a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence and all the trimmings. When he inherited the property from my grandparents, she confessed her dream of having a dude ranch. He wasn’t sold on the idea right off, but she has a way of getting people to see things her way. After a few years of raising cattle and horses, The Matthews Dude Ranch was born.”

  Jordan’s sweet laughter filled the air. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just from what I saw of Tammy at the hospital, she’s a force of her own.”

  “You’ve met my mom?” This was news to him.

  “Mm-hm. Twice when she came in with your father for his tests.”

  Strange how he wondered about this woman over the years, and here the people around him encountered her a time or two. “You know the details of my dad’s medical problems?”

  “Just what Darcy told me.”

  “Then you’re aware of his condition?”

  “Some, yes.”

  “To hear my ma tell it, you’d think he had a major heart attack instead of a few warning signs.”

  “It’s her way of taking control of the situation. I’m sure hearing the man she loves has cardiac issues scared her, but sounds like they caught the problem before anything too serious happened. Is he exercising regularly?”

  “I believe so. He complains when they’re home about the work outs he has to endure during their trips.”

  As they reached the crest of a hill, he moved his horse closer to the fence line and dismounted once to check a sagging section.

  “Do you like having a dude ranch?”

  “Truthfully, I’d rather tend cattle or train horses, but it pays the bills.”

  “What about your brothers?”

  “Nick and Chris are okay with things the way they are, but I get the feeling Sam would rather raise livestock. He’s the reason there’s so many. For a while there, he brought in strays every day.”

  “Strays?”

  “That’s what my brothers and I call all the small animals as a joke.” Reaching a flattening in the land, he asked, “Feel like stopping to eat?”

  “Don’t we need to check the rest of the fence?”

  “Nick and Darcy’ll check the back side during the camping trip, and we can scope out the rest on our way back.”

  “Then yes, I’d love to eat.” She followed him to a tree and dismounted. “Is the enti
re property fenced?”

  “No. We keep the animals close. The rest of the land’s woods and wild life.” Trent secured the horses to a branch in the shade before digging through his saddle bag for the sandwiches and the water he packed. How stupid of him. He never asked what she liked.

  “Hope cold cuts are okay?” He wheeled around. Jordan stood a few feet away, staring out over the open space.

  Eyes a tinge darker than the sky faced him. “Not much I don’t like in the way of food.” She smiled and sat in the grass as he handed over the main course.

  Peering down, he kicked himself again. “Guess I didn’t plan this very well.”

  “What do you mean? This is great.”

  “I should’ve brought a blanket.”

  “This is perfect.” She placed a corner of the sandwich in her mouth and chewed.

  Damn. Just the sight of her eating shouldn’t turn him on.

  “This is very good. Ever think of becoming a chef?”

  He laughed at her attempt to make him feel better. “Throwing a few pieces of meat between two pieces of bread doesn’t qualify for any culinary awards I’m afraid.”

  Setting his hat on the ground, he nodded and settled down beside her. He bit into his own food and stared out over the terrain. On the ride up, he shared more of his life with her than he had with anyone. Hell, he probably talked more than he had in the last five years. If he could only get her to reciprocate and share a bit about herself and what’s been going on, but he had a feeling it would take some probing on his part.

  “What made you decide to become a nurse?”

  “A family friend mentioned it a couple times when I was in high school. My mom and dad loved the idea.” She frowned. “Of course, I wanted nothing to do with anything they approved of so I never took the career seriously.” She stared out straight ahead. “When my parents died and I had no idea what to do, Dr. Sheffield, he was my father’s closest friend, sat down with me and discussed my future.” Her slender shoulders rose. “At first, I think I agreed with becoming an RN because my parents wanted me to, but now, I really do love what I do.”

  “From what little I’ve seen of your skills with Peter, I think you made the right choice.”

  Leaning back, she raised a bottle of water to her lips and guzzled a dose before catching his eye. She was just as beautiful now as six years ago. Time had not aged her, but he did note a little harder of a shell she kept around herself. How could she be single after all this time? The men she encountered had to be blind.

  Jumping in feet first, he asked, “Am I really the only man you’ve had sex with since? I’m not questioning the baby factor,” he hurried to explain, “just seems odd you slept with a virtual stranger and not a guy who lived with you.”

  She coughed, apparently choking on her sandwich, and grabbed her water, drinking more liquid. “How’d you know about him,” she asked, lowering the bottle.

  “Darcy spoke of her friend moving in with some jackass.” He shrugged. “I just didn’t know you were the friend.”

  Jordan had analyzed the same question over the years, and stared straight ahead as she gave him the only conclusion she had come to, “The one boy I was with before you tarnished a very innocent night, twisting the evening into tales of orgies. He and his friends turned the details into a hell of a lot more than the truth. The rumors flew from me being with one guy to a gang bang with the whole damn football team.” Even though she revealed a few of the details to him six years ago, embarrassment flooded her. Oh, how she detested high school.

  Mustering up courage, she stole a glance his way. Except for the slight dip of his mouth and white knuckle hold on the rim of his hat, he displayed no reaction.

  “I guess as a stranger, you held no perceived judgments about me. In a bizarre way, I felt safe sleeping with you, free to be me and let my guard down.”

  A smirk lifted one side of his lips. “Bizarre, huh? Much obliged for that.” He chuckled, then sobered. “So, what ’bout the guy you lived with in Nashville or Kentucky or wherever the hell you shacked up?”

  Jordan smiled. “That’s part of the reason he left me. Seems he wanted a woman who’d do more than lay next to him in bed.” She bit another piece of the sandwich as an awkward silence filled the air. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut?

  Trent shifted closer. “You have a little something right here.” He leaned forward and nibbled the corner of her mouth.

  Loving the feel of his lips on hers, she made a pitiful attempt to wipe the spot away with a finger. “Where?”

  “Here.” His fingers slid into her hair as his breath caressed her face.

  She drew back and licked her lower lip. “That line is over used.”

  Trent’s gaze shot to the motion of her tongue and a flicker of heat ignited in his eyes. “I’m okay with not talking at all.”

  He pulled her to him and kissed her with a potent combination of care and passion, his lips hot and compelling on hers. Jordan whimpered and snuggled closer. After their night together, how could she want him so badly? Yet, there was no denying the desire rising deep within. She was crazy about this man, no matter what happened in the past. She loved that he was strong and capable, yet tender and caring, and the gentle way he handled Peter pushed the wall she erected around herself down a few more inches.

  A palm slid over her side to her behind, cupped her back end, and squeezed.

  “Damn, you feel good.”

  Oh, God, so did he.

  He kissed her with unhurried tenderness, making her feel cherished, like a porcelain doll that may break with the slightest pressure. Her body warmed and a throb deep inside drove her closer. She threw a leg over his and pressed against his muscular thigh. Winding her arms around his neck, she lost herself in the feel of his strength, the heat of his body.

  Trent moved his hands back up to cradle her face as he pulled back, breathing hard. He rested his forehead on hers and stared into her eyes. “We should head back.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jordan’s knees wobbled to the point she wasn’t sure how she’d managed to get back in the saddle, but here she sat on Champ, following Trent back to the barns. The man turned her on with one touch, yet walked away as though nothing happened. The bulge in his pants told her he was turned on, but she worried he didn’t feel the same. Maybe his was just a physical reaction.

  “I have a question.”

  His deep voice broke into her thoughts as he slowed his mount, bringing them side by side.

  Fearing what was to come out of his mouth, but having nothing to lose, she masked her hurt with a smile and glanced his way.

  “What caused the fire at your parents’ house?”

  Without hesitation she blurted, “Arson.” The word hung in the balance as she waited for him to say something.

  “They catch the person responsible?”

  “Nope.” Waiting for his judgment of her bore too much, too painful, and she nudged her horse to a trot.

  “Jordan.” He caught up in a split second. “I didn’t mean to trudge up bad memories. You never said, and I wondered.”

  “They accused me, okay!” she shouted and slowed Champ.

  Trent’s hand snaked out and grabbed the reins, halting the horse. “What?”

  Under his watchful gaze, she squirmed. “Rachelle, the girl I drove with that night, left the party without me, and I couldn’t prove where I’d been. They concluded I killed my parents.” The pain of the accusations sliced her like a knife, plain as the day she was hauled downtown and placed in an interrogation room.

  She grasped the lines connected to the horse’s bridle and tugged, wanting more than anything to run away from the memory. “Can we go now?”

  “Just like that, huh? Subject closed?” His grip tightened on the leather.

  “Yes.” Tears burned in the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. That part of her life happened so long ago, but at moments like this it felt like it was happening now.


  “And here I thought we were getting to know one another better. I opened up to you.”

  “Opened up? Is that what this afternoon was about?” Jordan laughed in his face and shook her head. How could he possibly believe he opened up to her? “You spoke of your family, your family’s land, your family’s animals, your dad’s medical problems, but not one fact about Trent. Nothing about your shoulder, or…” Who April is, she added silently. “Nothing. Oh, wait, you did tell me you wanted to raise cattle and train horses. My mistake.” He had a long way to go if he thought that was sharing. He wanted facts, fine she’d give them to him. “You want the dirty secrets of my life? Here ya go…I mourned my parents’ deaths while being accused of their murder. I spent hours surrounded by police officers and detectives, being questioned and having to reveal every second of those twenty-four hours. Telling virtual strangers how I spent the night in some cowboy’s arms and in his bed when I didn’t even know his last name. To make matters worse, I couldn’t even prove my innocence. To this day, they believe I set the fire and never considered anyone else. The only reason they didn’t fry my ass was because, while I failed to provide a concrete alibi, they failed to produce any real proof.” She inhaled a shaky breath. “Oh, and let’s not forget during this I found out I carried that cowboy’s baby. Oh yeah, rumors flew. That’s why I stayed with an aunt who, by the way, couldn’t stand the sight of me.” Her body shook, and she inhaled a noisy breath. “How’s that for facts! I was minutes away from not even being able to attend my parents’ funeral.”

  The embarrassment, the confusion, the frustration of no one believing her fisted a tight hold on her chest as if it were yesterday. Her heart beat loud in her ears, and she fought to get air. She could see the officer standing over her, yelling at her, asking her where she had been that night, asking her why she set the fire, why she killed her parents. A mix of emotions clogged her throat, terror of no one believing her, fear of being locked up for a crime she didn’t commit squeezed the oxygen from her lungs.

  “Breathe slow.”

  Jordan’s vision cleared, and Trent came into view. “Oh, God.” Mortified over all she said, she covered her face with her hands.