“Her boyfriend grinned at me and said, ‘Hey, kid, girls like shiny stuff, don’t you know?’ Then he pulled a chain from around his neck with his class ring dangling on it, slipped it over her head and kissed her on the cheek. At that point I was forgotten. Slowly, I crept out of sight, found a trash can and dumped the roses.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Ethan asked.
“Because I thought it might help. You need to look around for a girl your own age. I found one after the goddess. And it turned out okay. We went steady for almost a whole week. Then after that, I had to beat the women off.” Which wasn’t a total lie. He did have a lot of girls interested and he didn’t lack for a date, but there had never been anyone special.
“I don’t know any girls my own age.”
“Maybe we can fix that.”
“How?”
“Leave it to me.”
***
Linc and Ethan had started applying the first coat of fresh paint on the trailer when Kinley’s truck rumbled into the yard. She jumped out carrying two furry, wiggling bundles under each arm. She wore jeans that fit like they were custom made, a t-shirt, her hat and boots and a huge grin on her face. “Look what I brought home,” her voice ringing with excitement.
She squatted, let go of the puppies and they scrambled toward Linc and Ethan. One was black and white with a smudge of black over its muzzle and the other was golden in color. Their tongues lolled with doggie grins and their tails swung in a circle of delight. The black one made a beeline for Ethan, placed his front paws on his chest and licked him in the face making Ethan laugh. Relief settled inside Linc. Thank God a smile was back on the boy’s face. The golden puppy scooted back to Kinley wanting to be picked up.
Linc pulled off his hat. “Where’d you find these guys?”
“I went by the shelter. I thought it was time this ranch had a couple of dogs around.”
“Got any names yet?”
“I’ve decided to call this guy Bruno.” She nodded toward Ethan who cuddled the black and white puppy in his arms, the dog licking his neck enthusiastically and making energetic puppy noises and squeaks. “It’s up to Ethan to name that one.”
“Me? But it’s your dog.”
Kinley shook her head. “No, he isn’t. I got him for you.”
An expression filled Ethan’s face like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, the Fourth of July and his birthday all happening at once and he’d been given the most wonderful gift, the one thing he’d wanted above everything else. Linc watched his eyes fill before he buried his face in the puppy’s fur. “Thank you,” he said in a gentle tone.
“You’re welcome. I picked up food and doggie beds and everything too.” She set Bruno on the ground. He ran to a bush, sniffed, hiked his leg then ran back to Kinley. “I have another surprise too,” she said heading back to her truck. She had a way of stroking a man with her actions that made him want to hold her close and never let go.
Kinley Taylor was special right down to the soles of her boots. Giving Ethan a puppy was exactly what that kid needed today to get his mind off Lilly and the Adonis. She had a generous heart that she proudly displayed for all the world to see. She held her head high and looked people full in the face and dared them not to take her as she was. He liked having her in his life, but at the same time it scared him to death. The back seat of her truck was packed with grocery bags and party decorations.
“What’s all this stuff for?”
She smiled, grabbed a bag and headed toward the trailer with Bruno bouncing after her. The puppy was still trying to find his feet and he tripped over himself, stumbled but got right back up and continued toward Kinley with his ears flying and adoration in his eyes. He didn’t blame the little fella one bit. “We’re having a BBQ on Friday. I stopped at the Bluebonnet and told Grace to spread the word especially to kids Ethan’s age.”
“Hope you got a lot of food because there’s no telling how many will show up.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it all planned.” She winked at him over her shoulder and Linc felt the now familiar meltdown. He moved toward her, needed to feel her in his arms but Ethan stepped through the door. His black and white puppy scurried up the steps and into the trailer where he promptly relieved himself under the breakfast table. Ethan’s gaze flicked to Kinley expecting trouble.
She laughed and the sound seeped through Linc’s skin and into his bloodstream. “No worries. He’s a baby. He has to learn and it’s up to you to teach him.” She grabbed some paper towels and a bottle of something she’d picked up at the pet store and handed it to Ethan. “Tell him no then put him outside and clean it up.”
Ethan tried to be firm with the puppy but while he was saying no, the dog licked Ethan on the chin. He picked up the puppy, set him outside. He made a u-turn ran back in and into the living room. After cleaning up the mess, Ethan nestled the dog in his arms and said, “Come on, Rocky, let’s get back to work.” And out the door they went.
While they put away the groceries, Kinley flipped on the radio. George Strait crooned a snappy love song about honey talk and persuasion while Kinley hummed along to the music.
Linc thought about the conversation he’d had the day before with his brother outside the feed store. While Molly played with a bunch of garden doo-dads and JC picked out bedding plants, Rafe asked, “So, how are things going with you and Kinley? Last time we talked she was slowly driving you up the wall.”
“Everything’s fine. We’re getting work done on the ranch.”
“I wasn’t talking about the work on the ranch. What is going on with you and Kinley? On a personal level?”
“Well, she is starting to get under my skin a little bit which is worrisome. She even has me thinking I like her being there. Under my skin I mean. I am getting used to her or maybe it’s more that I like having her around. But I don’t want her to know that because she’d go crazy trying to tangle me up in her emotions.”
“She might surprise you.”
“No, I’ve got her number. She’s all over the place.”
“Maybe not. I don’t think you know as much as you think you do. I saw her conversing with Lonny Bradshaw, you know one of the hands over at the Circle B Ranch? He was chatting her up pretty good, smiling ear to ear, turning on the charm. He even mentioned something about going to the Round Up. I don’t think she committed but the spark was definitely there.”
“Hey, sweetie. Ready to head home? I’d like to get these plants in before it gets too hot.”
Linc glanced at JC looking beautiful and happy. He was thankful she had come along, stolen his brother’s heart.
“Sure thing, babe. Come on, Molly, let’s go.”
The little girl skipped out of the store wearing blue shorts and a pink top with a horse on it. Molly stopped long enough to give Linc a quick hug. “See ya later, Uncle Linc.”
Linc thought about Lonny Bradshaw flirting with Kinley. That guy was a known hound dog about town. He went from one woman to the next like a male hummer looking for nectar and there was no way Linc wanted him playing fast and loose with his Kinley.
Whoa.
He stared at Kinley across the kitchen putting the last of the food away then nuzzling her new puppy. When did he start thinking of Kinley as his? She wasn’t his, she wasn’t anybody’s but he sure as heck didn’t want her to be Lonny Bradshaw’s.
He had an idea.
Time to stomp his boot heel on ole Lonny. “Hey, maybe after dinner tonight we can run over to the Round Up. Have a drink, maybe a dance?”
“What about Ethan?”
“Maybe Lilly can stay with him for an hour or two. What do you say?”
Kinley smiled and cocked her head to the side. “Are you asking me on a date?”
“Yeah, a date.”
“Okay, a full service date?”
The words full service made him think of bare skin and tangled sheets. “Full service? What do you mean?”
“You know what a full service date is
don’t you?”
“I don’t believe I do. Why don’t you explain it to me.”
“You pick me up at the door, dance only with me and if you’re lucky maybe I’ll give you a kiss goodnight. What do you say?”
“Pick you up at eight?”
***
Kinley wore a knee-length blue paisley print tiered skirt, an off the shoulder white top and a pair of her best boots. Her hair was loose, her face made up and a turquoise pendant around her neck. Her stomach twitched and fluttered like Bear’s mane in a stiff breeze. She hadn’t been this nervous since Ronny Clarkson asked her out in ninth grade. She picked up a tube of gloss, slicked a little over her lips then turned to find Lilly and Ethan standing in the doorway.
Ethan whistled. “You look hot.”
Kinley smiled, gave herself a once over and decided, “Yeah, I do at that. Thanks.”
Lilly laughed. “Linc won’t know what hit him. Where’re you guys going?”
“To the Round Up. He said half the town shows up on Wednesday night.”
“Yeah, Wednesday is Love ‘em or Leave ‘em night.”
“What’s that?”
“Not exactly sure, but all the single women in town bring their boyfriends. My sister took her boyfriend and they had a blast.”
The doorbell rang. “There’re some cokes in the fridge, chips in the cabinet and I picked up some chocolate ice cream. Help yourself. But the beer is off limits.”
“I don’t drink,” Lilly said.
“Good for you. Keep it that way.”
“I’d like to try a beer,” Ethan added.
Kinley clasped the boy by his shoulders. “Forget it. You’re too young. When you turn eighteen, I’ll buy you your first beer. Okay? But no booze until then. Promise?”
Ethan looked away, then back at her. He held one hand behind his back. “Promise.”
Kinley narrowed her eyes, reached behind him and brought out his hand. His fingers were crossed. “Okay, now promise.”
Ethan smiled. “Promise.”
The bell rang again. “Show time,” Kinley said and headed for the front door.
Chapter Seven
When the door opened, Linc’s breath whooshed from his lungs and his skin buzzed with wow-look-at-that. The puppies scrambled forward, their feet sliding on the linoleum. They shot between her ankles and down the steps. The dogs squealed and danced around Linc’s feet until he picked one up in each arm and set them back in the trailer.
“See you later, guys,” Kinley called to Lilly and Ethan and closed the door at her back. Her hair curled around her face and shoulders, her outfit was sexy, her face painted with a light touch of makeup. Her perfume blended nicely with her natural apple scent.
Kinley stood on tip toe and kissed him leaving his lips tingling.
“Ready to go?”
Oh, he was ready alright. He took her hand and together they walked to his truck. He’d taken it to the car wash and cleaned it out. He even bought one of those air freshener thingies to dangle from his rearview mirror.
He opened the door and she climbed in like a lady careful to smooth her skirt but despite her efforts she still gave him a glimpse of toned calves. He closed the door and took his time walking around the truck. His heart was about to burst from his chest and the front of his jeans was tented. He stood still for a moment, inhaled a deep breath and glanced up at the sky fading into twilight. Crickets chirped and fireflies winked in the grass.
He waited for his heart to settle then climbed in the truck. The parking lot was bumper to trailer hitch with cars, some even parked in the field behind the bar but he managed to find a spot between a van and a beat up Chevy. A neon sign featured a cowgirl riding a bronc with a lasso over her head and the words The Roundup in bright red. Kinley started to climb out when he laid a hand on her arm. “Full service date, remember?”
After he opened the door, Kinley took his hand and climbed from the truck. The day had faded even more and the moon was starting to rise. Kinley smiled. “The moon has a ring around it. You know what that means.”
He nodded. “Yeah, the weather is about to change.” He wondered what else was about to change.
“Right, but we still have work to do on the road. If we get another hard rain the road will be even worse. I’ll take a look at the numbers tomorrow and see where the finances lie.”
The band was just finishing up a song and applause broke out as Linc and Kinley stepped inside. After tonight, tongues would be flapping all over town. So let them flap. He didn’t want to contemplate or even try to understand why he didn’t care.
Maddie Parnell smiled and said, “Hi Linc.” She glanced at Kinley.
“Maddie, this is Kinley Taylor. Kinley this is Maddie, the owner’s daughter.”
“Hi ya, Maddie. Nice to know you.”
The girl smiled. “You as well. I’ve been interested in trying my hand at barrel racing. Maybe you could give me some tips sometimes.”
“Sure thing. Drop by the ranch anytime and we’ll give it a go.”
“Great,” Maddie said. “There’s an empty table with your name on it by the dance floor. Follow me.”
Kinley walked ahead of him and Linc couldn’t help notice all the heads turning in her direction especially the male heads. A few woman leaned toward their friend or significant other and whispered something.
They settled at the table, Maddie took their drink orders then drifted off into the crowd. Linc gazed at Kinley across the table. Her lips were glossed and her skin looked as smooth as water.
The owner, Payton Parnell took center stage on the dance floor with a mic in her hand. “Okay, it’s time to kick off Love Em’ or Leave Em’ night. For those who don’t know the story or are new in town like the famous lady, Ms. Kinley Taylor, barrel racing champion sitting with Judge Lincoln McCord this evening—” Applause interrupted her along with a series of whistles. Linc noticed a blush climbing Kinley’s cheeks. She never seemed embarrassed by anything but he just found a weak spot.
She wasn’t comfortable with her celebrity.
Of course he didn’t like having his name announced either but for some reason he was okay with it this evening. He liked being seen with the most beautiful woman in the room.
“Years ago, I came through Salvation on my way to Austin,” Payton continued. “I took one look at a man sitting in this bar and fell for him harder than a hail storm. We got married and a few months later I found out I was expecting my lovely daughter, Maddie. Take a bow sweetheart.”
Maddie bowed from her position on the edge of the dance floor. “One day he jumped in his truck and hasn’t been seen since. So I scraped together what money I had and bought this place. Smartest thing I ever did was making Salvation, Texas my home.” Another round of applause rang through the bar. “Love em’ or Leave em’ Night is about celebrating all the men and women who have had their heart stomped flat as a cow pie and left in the dirt. It’s also about celebrating the men and women who have had the courage to try again, take hold of their soul mate’s hand and never look back. Tonight, I invite those single folks here whose hearts are aching with loneliness, to take at least one turn around the dance floor, and let the magic take hold. After everybody dances, we’re going to ask this question. Should their dance partner love em’ or leave em’? All the participants get a free drink, and a heaping plate of the Roundup’s Fry Your Taste Buds nachos. But according to tradition, I get to pick the first couple.” Her gaze fell on Linc and Kinley. “Linc, take Kinley’s hand and bring that gal onto the dance floor.” She turned toward the band. “Make this one nice and slow, boys.”
The band eased into a tune about love finding a lonely cowpokes heart. Linc took Kinley in his arms. His heart raced and his pulse throbbed. They moved as one around the dance floor. Soon they were surrounded by music and subdued light and couples. Kinley gazed into his eyes and said, “How do you feel about marriage and children?”
He almost stumbled at her question but kept moving to t
he beat of the music and the warm cinnamon woman in his arms. “What brought that on?”
“It seemed the right time to ask considering where we are and this is Love Em’ or Leave Em’ night.”
“You thought about asking before?”
“Yes, I did. I mean you’re so uptight about things sometime I just wondered that’s all.”
He straightened a bit in her arms. “I’m not uptight.”
Kinley laughed and the sound floated through him like the cool easy flow of a river on a summer night. “If you aren’t uptight, why did you suddenly get all rigid?”
Rigid. Why did she have to say rigid? He could feel himself growing hard at her words. “Hey, any guy would if a beautiful woman said something like that to him. I mean it isn’t like—”
She stopped dancing and stared into his eyes. “Did you just call me beautiful?”
Did he? Yeah, he did. Might as well fess up to it. “Okay, yeah.”
She raised her brows. “Okay, yeah what?”
He swallowed as he looked into her green eyes and admired the tilt of her mouth and the gloss of her hair. “I think you’re beautiful.”
Wonder and surprise flickered over her face and settled gentle and quiet in her eyes. Without saying anything she lowered her head and rested the side of her face on his chest. “Thank you,” she murmured and they started to dance again. “No one has ever told me that before.”
He was stunned down to the tips of his Tony Lamas. “You’re kidding me, right?”
She shook her head. “Well, at least not the way you said it.”
He lifted her chin. “How did I say it?”
“Like you meant it and weren’t just trying to get me out of my panties.”
Oh, God, when she said the word panties he wondered what kind she was wearing. In his mind he envisioned a variety of underwear advertised for women. Granny panties. He discarded that one immediately. Kinley definitely wasn’t the granny panty type. Next came the bikini panties. Yeah, he could see her in bikinis. Then came the ultimate, the thong. He couldn’t help but smile. His heart sped, his pulse reared like a scared bronc in his veins. The thought of Kinley in a thong with her sweet behind naked and a scrap of lace barely covering her—. He took a slow, steady breath.
The Judge And The Heiress (A Salvation Texas Novel) Page 7