"I don’t understand."
She fished the keys to her truck out of her pocket, threw them at him and almost laughed as they hit him square in the chest, then dropped onto the ground at his feet.
"You drive."
"I can’t drive your truck."
"Well you sure as hell think you can."
"What?"
"You’ve done nothing but bitch about my driving since we left the diner. I’ve had it. If you think you can do better, do it, buddy. I’m not driving another mile."
Snow coated his hair and shoulders while they stood toe-to-toe, their warm breath puffing out in a white cloud between them.
After a couple of moments, she thought she heard a whispered apology, but she couldn’t be sure. "Excuse me? Are you driving because we need to get moving."
"I’m sorry, darlin’," he said, closing the small distance between them.
His hands cupped her face. The cold of his fingers felt frigid against her skin. The freezing chill of his lips brushed hers. He lifted his head and stared into her eyes.
"I’m used to being in control. A woman having power over my destiny is a little hard for me to swallow. Even a man in a position like that would drive me nuts, but I’m willing to bow to your expertise with the truck drivin’ thing," he said, dropping his hands.
"Do you promise to shut up and let me do my job?"
"I’ll work on it, but you have to promise me somethin’ too."
"What?"
"If I’m making you mad, tell me. I don’t want to fight with you the whole trip."
Okay. This is a bit weird. Never has a man wanted me to let him know if I’m pissed because something he’s done. Compromise?
"I trust you with my life and my prize possession," he murmured, then brushed his lips against hers again. "Now. Can we get back in the truck? Otherwise there won’t be anythin’ left to have sex with you because it’s all going to fall off."
"We aren't having sex, Tucker."
"A man can hope, can't he?" he asked with his charm-your-panties-off smile.
"Wimp. It’s not freezing out here."
"Easy for you to say. You've got a heavy coat on."
"We aren’t too far out of Amarillo. Maybe another hour."
"Thank God! A warm bed would be really nice right about now."
"Easy slugger." She scowled and cussed when she heard a loud bang come from the rear of her rig.
Chapter Five
"What the hell? If your damned bull is causing problems, I’m going to have issues."
The bang came again as they hurried to the back of the trailer to look inside. The bull banged his horns against the side of the trailer and her mare whinnied.
"Easy, girl," Jacie cooed, stroking the animal’s nose through the window in the side. "He’s being a typical male, I would think. Getting shit all riled up."
"He’ll be fine until we reach Amarillo. You said you knew somewhere we could stop to let them out?"
"Yeah. Once we get on the road, I’ll call and warn Phillip we’re coming."
"Phillip?" he asked and she raised an eyebrow at the catch in his voice. If she didn’t know better, she could swear a little jealousy tinged the one word.
"He’s an old friend."
"It’s none of my business."
"No, but I’m telling you anyway. I try to stop every time I come through here to see him anyway," she told him as she climbed into the cab. "I’ve known him since I started driving trucks. He used to drive this highway all the time too, but he’s retired now."
She picked up her cell to dial her friend’s number.
"Hey, Jacie. Are you in town?"
"Not yet, but soon. Mind if I drop in?"
"Of course not. You don’t have to ask. Your room is ready as always. When you going to be here?"
"An hour to ninety minutes. Leave it to me to be traveling during the one snow storm of the year in Amarillo."
His warm laughter could be heard on the other end.
"I have a couple of animals with me not including the one riding in the cab of my truck. Do you have room in the barn for tonight?"
Tucker gave her a warning glance.
"Of course, honey. I’ll make sure Juan has two spots cleaned out. Will that do?"
"Perfect. I’ll see you in a bit."
"Be careful, sweetheart. The roads might be slick."
"Yes, sir."
After clicking the phone shut, she set it on the center console. She could feel the looks and sly glances coming her way from Tucker's side of the truck. A sharp intake of breath here or a clutch of his hand on the armrest on his seat, gave away his uneasiness, but he didn't say a word. Silence enveloped them for the rest of the ride into Amarillo. He seemed lost in thought or he didn’t want to piss her off by saying anything about her driving.
The snow fell in a blanket of white, covering both sides of the highway. Slushy ruts gave her a path to follow while she kept her hands on the steering wheel and an eye on the trailer. I’m praying they don’t close the highway. It took a little more than an hour to get to Phil’s place with the snow falling, but as they rolled through the gates of his ranch, she knew she’d chosen wisely. Texas wasn’t known for snowfall, but it happened sometimes and when it did, it usually shut things down.
A single story white ranch house reflected the headlights of her truck as she pulled into the yard. The huge red barn sitting off to the rear of the house was her destination. The bull and her mare could romp and run in Phillip’s arena for the night.
"This place belongs to your friend?" Tucker asked, looking out the side window.
"Yep."
"Nice set up."
Once she parked the rig, they stepped out and walked to the back of the trailer.
"Hey, chica. Phillip said you were coming in."
"Gosh, it’s good to see you, Juan. How’s the family?" she asked, hugging the burly Mexican who had been with Phil since his accident.
"Good. Maria will be disappointed to have missed you. She is in Houston visiting her mama."
"It’s happens, I guess." With a tip of her head, she introduced Tucker. "Juan, this is Tucker Marshall. The bull in the trailer is his. I’m running him to Vegas."
The two men shook hands as she turned at the sound of squeaking wheels. Phillip rolled out from inside the barn with a huge smile of his face. Two years before, Phillip jackknifed his big rig in an attempt to avoid hitting a school bus full of kids. The driver of the bus had been drunk and went straight through a stop sign. Eighteen-wheelers can’t stop on a dime. The only way to keep from killing the kids on the bus was to crank the wheel hard. In the process, a spinal cord injury sustained in the accident paralyzed him from the waist down. He now only got around in a wheelchair.
"There’s my girl!"
She laughed and dropped into his lap. "You look great, Phil."
"Not as good as you, baby. Where you been?"
"All over hell and back. I got stuck in Oklahoma when I stopped for the night. Some asswipe slashed my tires because I wouldn’t hook up with him." After a quick kiss to Phillip’s cheek, she climbed to her feet and waved Tucker over. "Phillip Cushing, this is Tucker Marshall. Tucker, this is Phillip."
Once the two men shook hands, she could see the look in Tucker’s eyes that said he didn’t like Phillip. She wondered if it was a male thing or if something else might have caused the look.
"Tucker Marshall, huh. South Austin?" Phillip asked, his gaze raking Tucker from the top of his hat to the tips of his boots.
"Yeah. Problem?"
"No. I’ve heard of you. That’s all. Or should I say your reputation with bulls and the ladies."
Ladies? What the hell?
"Tucker helped me out in Oklahoma."
"Did he? Interesting." Phillip cocked an eyebrow and looked at her like he wanted to say something, but instead, he told her to situate the trailer up to the barn doors and they could unload the animals.
"Have you heard anything about the wea
ther for tomorrow, Phillip?"
"The snow should move on by then and you should have clear sailing on into Sin City."
"Wonderful news. The quicker I get there, the better," she replied. "I’ll be back in a minute. You guys play nice."
One look over her shoulder told her the men would probably exchange words before she returned.
Within fifteen minutes, the animals were fed and bedded down for the night. The snow continued to fall, but in small popcorn kernel size. She hoped the temperature wouldn’t drop anymore. Driving on a sheet of ice sucked.
"I changed the sheets on the bed and there are clean towels in the bathroom," Phillip said with a questioning look in her direction. "You are welcome to the other spare room, Tucker."
She glanced at Tucker as one eyebrow arched over his left eye. Her original plans hadn’t included staying at Phillip’s, but keeping the animals locked up in the trailer overnight wasn’t a good idea. The rest of the trip might be trying for both animals, especially if they ran into bad weather.
"Thanks, Phillip. I’m sure we’ll appreciate the soft bed. The motel I stayed at in Oklahoma sucked. I don't know how good the bed in the trailer is."
"It's passable," Tucker replied. "I've slept in better, but it'll do in a pinch and it's queen-sized."
"Phillip already said you could use the other spare room in the house if you don't want to stay in the trailer tonight."
"I would appreciate it. The trailer is okay, but my propane tank is probably getting low. It's what heats the thing."
"It's settled then. You can have your room, Jacie. Tucker can have the room at the other end of the hall."
Way to be obvious. Apparently Phillip thinks Tucker and I are sleeping together.
The look he gave her told her he didn't approve of what he thought she was doing.
"Can I talk to you a minute?" she asked Phillip as she walked far enough away, she hoped Tucker wouldn't hear their conversation. "Is there a problem, Phil, because if there is, we can go somewhere else."
"Why do you ask? I'm not telling you who to be with."
"I'm sorry." She shrugged. "Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions here, but I get a distinctive chill between you and Tucker."
He stared off into the distance. "I don't want to see you get hurt, Jacie. He comes across as the type to love 'em and leave 'em."
"I don't want any kind of relationship, Phillip. I like the way my life is going right now."
"You like not having a permanent home? A home to raise your children? A husband to love you and take care of you?"
This conversation is getting a little weird. "I don't need a husband and I'm not ready for kids." She narrowed her gaze on the man she'd called friend for a number of years. "What's with this the permanency talk?"
Phillip took her hand and kissed her fingers. "I care about you, Jacie. I always have."
She captured her bottom lip between her teeth as she pulled her hand from his grasp. "Phillip. You are a great friend and I care about you too, but—"
"But you aren't in love with me," he interrupted with a scowl.
"I'm sorry. No. When I do settle down it will be with the man who can take my breath away by coming into the room or smiling at me." Tucker stood off in the distance with his boot propped up on the trailer's rear fender. The heat in his eyes went straight to her belly. "The kind of man who makes my stomach quiver with desire so strong, I can't wait to get him alone. One who doesn't care about who my parents are and how much money I have in the bank."
With a tip of his head in Tucker's direction, Phillip asked, "Does he know?"
"Know what?"
"That your family owns the biggest Tennessee Walking Horse ranch in the South and you've got a multi-million dollar trust fund just waiting for you to settle down?"
"No, he doesn't and I'm not telling him. It doesn't matter anyway. Tucker and I are only traveling partners for the trip, nothing more. He has his life in Austin. I have mine on the road."
"If you wanted nothing more than to get laid, I would have taken care of you."
"Look, if this is going to get awkward, then we can move on. I don't want a physical relationship with you. You are my friend, but if it's going to get messy between us because I won't sleep with you, then we'll leave."
"It's because I'm in this damned chair, isn't it! I can still perform like any other man. It takes a little more imagination, but my dick still works."
"It doesn't matter, Phil. Having sex with you isn't an option. You being in a wheelchair has nothing to do with me wanting you."
"Is there a problem, Jacie?" Tucker asked, taking her attention away from Phillip.
"No. I think it would be best if we slept in the trailer though. I don't want to put Phil out having guests in the house."
Phillip glowered for a moment. Seconds later, he spun the chair around to wheel himself to the house. The slam of the front door left her feeling hollow inside.
"You okay?" Tucker ran one hand down her arm in a soothing motion.
"Yeah. I hate disagreeing with him."
"It sounded like a pretty heated argument."
"I guess." She took two steps and immediately regretted leaving his immediate nearness. "I'm ready for bed. We can leave the trailer right where it is. I hope you have enough propane in the tank to keep us warm. It's gonna get pretty cold tonight." With a sweep of her hand, she said, "Shall we? I hope you don't mind the cat being with us. She has her box and she'll be fine."
Tucker opened the trailer door to hold it for her. "No problem."
When she entered, the warm hues of brown, black and gold drew her gaze and she sighed. The warmer colors always were her favorites. She rubbed her arms to calm the goose bumps of anticipation running crazily across her skin.
"The bedroom is back there, but if you'd rather, I can make up the couch. It's pretty comfortable too."
"Great. I'm sure the couch will be fine," she replied, hoping he didn't hear the nervous hitch in her voice.
"Let me grab some blankets out of my closet. If you grab the cushions off there, then I'll pull it out."
"All right."
Tucker disappeared through the bedroom doorway as she pulled the things off the couch in order to make it into a bed. She could have slept in her truck, but she would have had to run the engine all night to keep it warm. This worked out better all the way around. Except having him sleeping in the next room wasn't going to be the easiest thing to handle.
"Here we go," he said, returning from the bedroom. Within moments, he had the couch pulled out and sheets on the bed. "I think you'll be cozy enough in there unless you'd rather join me in my bed."
The temptation was almost too much. His eyes sparkled with lust, his lips called to her like a siren's song. Her body begged for him to touch her, but she refused to give into the temptation.
"Strictly business, Tucker." Her words didn't hold the strength of conviction like they had before.
"If that's what you want."
"Yep," she replied, tossing the pillow toward the top of the bed. Macy walked across the top of the bed, eyeing Jacie with a bored look.
"Okay." He turned to go back into the bedroom, but stopped to glance her way. "A little warning in case you sleepwalk or something. I sleep naked."
The lump in her throat threatened to choke her as he winked and shut the door between them.
"Great. Just fucking great. Sleeps naked. Of course, he does," she grumbled, yanking her jeans off her hips.
Slipping beneath the sheets made her suck in a ragged breath. The soft brush of cotton felt good against her heated skin, but the temperature of the bed was frigid. She huddled under the covers and waited for the bed to warm while she thought about the sexy as sin man sleeping not fifty feet from her. He could be totally annoying, but he also could stop a woman dead in her tracks with one of his smiles. God forbid, if he gave you a wink—Lord have mercy the man made her think of changing her mind about the business only part of their deal, if only for one n
ight. If only he'd take the choice away from her. If only he'd—
The door slipped open and she heard a soft whisper of her name. "Jacie?"
"Yeah?" she asked, her gaze immediately noting his lack of clothing. The wide expanse of his chest, the narrowing of his waist and the tapering of his powerful legs, made her mouth water. Her vision ricocheted back to the nest of curls between his legs to the impressive erection straining against his stomach.
"Come here."
She didn't think—didn't do anything but jump from the makeshift bed, startling the cat into a loud yowl as Jacie launched herself into his arms.
The sizzle of his mouth on hers told her he wanted this—wanted her. She reveled in the fact of his desire. His tongue explored the seam of her lips, asking for permission to deepen the kiss. Her lips parted of their own accord as she groaned at the touch of his tongue against hers. He pulled her tighter against his chest so she could feel every muscle and every plane of his hard body. His hands roamed down her back before settling on her hips. The feel of his hard length sent her desire spiraling out of control. The need for this man scared her, but she could do nothing except go along for the ride.
Scorching heat from his lips, trailed over her cheek until he reached her ear.
"Not having sex with you isn't an option. I crave your touch on my skin. I yearn for the feel of your heat wrapped around me."
"I'm glad the feeling is mutual," she murmured as he seared a path down her neck.
The material of her shirt disappeared with little more than a tug of it over her head. Cool night air hit her skin, making her shiver. Or was it the heat in his eyes?
"I didn't want to push, but God, I want you. Earlier did nothin' more than whet my appetite for you." His sexy smile and come-to-me look, made her pussy throb.
He ran one finger down her cheek, pausing at the rapid beating of her heart at the base of her throat, and then skimmed down to caress the top of her breast. The calluses on his fingers rasped over her skin in a delicious sensation of roughness against her sensitive flesh.
"You're beautiful," he whispered. "Round in all the right places. Soft to the touch. I could stroke your skin for hours."
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