by Dara Girard
* * *
And Jameson took it with a hunger he didn’t even know he had. He couldn’t get enough of her. He sank between her soft thighs and used his tongue to taste her. And then they both rode a tide of passion until they fell listless on the bed, still entangled.
“To think I only came in to give you flowers,” Jameson said, his voice muffled against the pillow.
Brooke giggled. “I’m glad you did. I’ll never look at roses the same way again.”
Jameson turned on his side and lifted himself up on his elbow. “Besides saving Royal Thunder’s life and taking care of Cecelia and the house, what else have you been up to while I was away?”
“I was preparing for the pottery fair.”
“So when is your show?” Jameson asked.
“Gone.”
“Gone?”
“I canceled.”
“Why? Wait. Damn, I’m sorry,” Jameson said as he realized the date had passed.
“Don’t be. I had to. I wanted to. I would have felt awful if I’d left. There will be other shows,” Brooke said, then kissed him and they soon forgot about anything else.
The next night was the same and Brooke felt like everything was perfect until an unexpected guest came to visit.
Chapter 9
“There’s someone here to see you,” Cecelia said.
“Me?” Brooke asked, taking off her work apron and wiping her hands. She’d been working in her studio when Cecelia called her cell phone. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
“She’s at the house. I didn’t think you’d want to be disturbed in your studio.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right there.”
Brooke returned to the house wondering who would have come for a surprise visit. It couldn’t be Meredith; Cecelia would have said so. Mitch would have called her if there was something wrong, and he usually handled everything himself. Also, Cecelia said “she.” Brooke continued to guess as she walked inside the house. She halted when she saw who sat in the living room. The young woman looked up and saw Brooke, then rushed over to her and gave her a fierce hug.
Just as she had in college, her friend Leslie blew into Brooke’s life like a mini whirlwind. She was small and compact with the energy of a New Yorker on a caffeine high, and she talked as if every moment might be her last. She lived in Colorado but traveled extensively.
“Hi, I just had to see you. I was so annoyed that I missed your wedding, but it happened so fast I wasn’t able to make it—”
“Yes, I know—”
“But I thought I’d be able to at least see you at the craft festival, but you weren’t there so I thought I’d come out and see how you were doing. Oh, my God, this place is amazing. When you told me you came from a small town I wasn’t expecting this. Did you marry into Montana royalty or something? Do you have pictures from the wedding? Where is he?” She peered behind Brooke. “No, wait, I think I see him.”
Brooke turned and saw Jameson coming down the hall.
“Is it?” Leslie asked.
“Yes.”
Leslie gave a low whistle. “Rich and sexy. Did you like the trousseau?”
“I told you I did.”
“I was talking to him,” Leslie said, holding her hand out to Jameson, who’d come up behind Brooke. “Leslie Mifflin.” She sat back down. Jameson and Brooke sat across from her on the love seat.
Jameson shook her hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“Don’t worry—I won’t be staying long. I only plan to spend a night, then I have somewhere else I need to be. I just wanted to stop by and see how my friend was doing.” She turned to Brooke. “Why didn’t you make the festival? I remember you telling me how excited you were about exhibiting there. You’d been talking about it for months. I was stunned when I didn’t see you.”
“An emergency came up.”
“I really didn’t expect this for you,” she said, admiring the house and the scenery outside. “In college all you talked about was how you wanted to get away from your father’s ranch and live like an artist.”
Brooke glanced at Jameson. “That was a long time ago.”
“Not that long. Remember how much fun we had going to the museums and listening to the symphony? I’d never thought you’d end up marrying a cowboy, but I realize love makes you do crazy things.”
“I like Granger.”
“That’s a new tune. I never thought you’d come back here after what you’d said about feeling stuck.”
Brooke remembered that she had complained once, when she’d erroneously thought Jameson had started seriously dating another woman—only to discover it was just another date from the cowboy auction he entered every year. She’d wanted to make herself forget about him, and the town, and she’d said things to help her get over him. It hadn’t worked, but unfortunately Leslie had remembered that particular conversation.
“It had been a hard time in my life. I don’t feel that way anymore. I don’t think I ever really did—it was just a painful period I was going through.”
“You don’t have to explain,” Jameson said. “Some people enjoy this town more than others.”
“Uh-huh,” Leslie said, her gaze darting between them. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Jameson stood. “I’ll let you two ladies catch up.”
“Oh, don’t leave yet,” Leslie said, lightly tugging on his shirt sleeve. “Tell me how it happened.”
“How what happened?”
“How you two met.”
“I told you that we’ve known each other a long time,” Brooke said.
“Oh, yes, that’s right. He’s your secret crush. The guy you’ve loved since you were fifteen.”
At that moment, Brooke felt like falling through the floor. She’d forgotten she’d told Leslie that, but she’d added that tidbit of information as part of her story for why she was getting married so suddenly, saying that he was a man she’d always loved and that he’d finally returned her feelings. But Jameson didn’t seem affected by Leslie’s words.
“So, how did you propose?”
“I took her out riding one day,” Jameson said, then elaborated on a story that wasn’t true. But her friend fell for it. Brooke was grateful that Jameson was helping her to save face, but she still wished herself far away.
“That is so romantic,” Leslie said once Jameson had finished. She jumped up. “Brooke, could you show me where the bathroom is?”
Brooke did, and the moment her friend was out of hearing she turned to Jameson. “What are we going to do?”
“What do you mean? I think we’re handling it well.”
“She can’t see that we’re sleeping in separate rooms.”
“I’ll have Cecelia close the door to the study and I’ll spend the night with you.” He winked. “I’m getting used to it anyway.”
“That won’t be enough.”
“Why not?”
“It will look strange.”
“How will she know? Does she snoop?”
“She’s going to want a tour of the house.”
“What for?”
“Women like to do things like that,” Brooke said, growing impatient. “You have to get some of your things moved back into the master suite so it looks like we’re sharing the same room.”
Jameson shook his head. “It still doesn’t make sense to me, but since appearance and what people think matters to you, I’ll tell Cecelia.”
* * *
Brooke showed Leslie her studio first. She wanted to get her friend out of the house so that Cecelia and Jameson could move his things and cover up any hints that Brooke and Jameson weren’t living like happy newlyweds.
“Wow,” Leslie said, looking around. “He built this for you?”
<
br /> “Yes, he converted an old shed.”
“You know that cowboys aren’t my thing, but if I find one who likes to spend money like this I would definitely change my mind. So what’s going on between you two?”
Brooke folded her arms and feigned a look of confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you and Jameson don’t act like any newlywed couple I’ve seen. You don’t have any pictures of your wedding up anywhere, and you seem embarrassed about me mentioning your childhood crush on him.”
“It’s because I have never told him before.”
“Why not?”
Brooke glanced away, unable to meet her friend’s interested stare. “I just never had the chance,” she said, trying to sound vague. She lowered her arms then looked at Leslie. “So why are you really here?”
This time it was Leslie’s turn to look uncomfortable. “I told you.”
“It’s not like you to just drop by out of the blue. I’m not saying that I’m not happy to see you, but tell me the truth.”
“I heard that Samara Lionne is here.”
“She is, so what?”
“Do you know her?”
“No. What would a Hollywood actress and I have in common?”
“Well,” Leslie said, drawing out the word. “You’re both artistic.”
Brooke paused. “Why do you want to know?”
“I’ve always wanted to be an actress.”
Brooke stared at her, stunned. “You never told me that before.”
“I’ve never told anyone, but then I saw that Samara Lionne was in your town and I saw it as a sign. What if I could meet her and get cast in one of her movies? It doesn’t have to be a big role. I’d take a walk-on just to get started. Couldn’t you just see me in a movie? And I’ve seen all of hers and I think she’s great. We’d work so well together. I see myself in comedy or a drama or both. You know those drama-comedies that independent filmmakers like to make. I’d be the perfect comic relief or the tragic best friend. I—”
“I thought you said you were only spending one night,” Brooke cut in before her friend got ahead of herself.
Leslie bit her lip. “Well, if you could get me an interview I could spend a little more time. I’m flexible.”
Brooke held up her hand. “No one has said she’s doing a picture here.”
“But it’s a possibility. Why else would she end up in this place?”
“Maybe she wants to get away from people like you.”
Leslie grimaced. “You think it’s a bad idea?”
“I think it’s a terrible idea.”
Leslie sighed. “I knew you’d say that.” She looked around. “I’m happy for you. This workshop is amazing and so is the house, not to mention your sexy husband, but are you sure this will be enough for you for the rest of your life? Sometimes I envy the Samara Lionnes of this world. I’d love to have a jet-setting, glamorous life instead of just being a curator at a museum few people have ever heard of.”
“But you love your job,” Brooke said, knowing Leslie’s wealthy parents had gotten her the exclusive position. “You love the people you meet and learning the history of the artwork you share with them. I know what I told you in the past, but, yes, I can imagine living the rest of my life here,” Brooke said when Leslie opened her mouth. “I’m a changed woman now.”
“So, how many kids are you going to have?”
Brooke rolled her eyes. “We just got married and you’re already talking about children.”
“Have you thought about it?” Leslie pressed.
“So, are you seeing anybody?” Brooke asked, eager to change the subject.
“No, but if Jameson has a brother...”
“He does.”
Leslie’s eyes lit up.
“But he’s taken.”
“Damn, just my luck.”
They left the studio then walked around the estate. Leslie stopped when she saw a man walking one of the horses. “I know him. He’s a top man in the rodeo circuit.”
“I didn’t know you were interested in the rodeo.”
“I’m not, but I once dated a guy who couldn’t get enough of it so I pretended to be interested in it for a few months.” Leslie looked the man up and down. “Do you think he’s taken?”
“I don’t know.” Brook shook her head. “Oh no, you don’t.”
“What?”
“You get that look out of your eye. You’re leaving tomorrow.” When she saw a sly grin spread on Leslie’s face, she groaned, knowing her friend intended to stay longer than that. “You’re staying no more than two days and I don’t want you causing any trouble before that.”
Leslie gave Brooke a quick hug. “Thanks.” She spread her arms wide and deeply inhaled then eyed the ranch hand again. “There’s something about being around nature and all this testosterone that just makes a girl think about sex.”
Brooke nudged her. “Try to think about something else.”
Leslie laughed then lifted her brows with a look of hope. “Like getting Samara’s number?”
“Something besides that.”
“Does Jameson know her? A man with his family background has connections.”
“Put the idea out of your mind.”
* * *
“That was quite a story you fed Leslie,” Jameson said that night as they prepared for bed.
“Story?”
“Yes, about you loving me since you were fifteen. Very creative.”
It’s true, she wanted to say but didn’t. “Yes, you know me. Always inventive,” Brooke said with a hollow laugh.
“What are you going to do with the homestead when you leave?”
“Who said I was leaving?”
“Leslie said you sounded very keen on the idea once.”
“That was a long time ago,” she said in a tight voice. “I said I was going through a difficult time.” I didn’t want to see you again. I didn’t want to see you in love with someone else.
“And what happens if, or when, a difficult time comes again?”
“Granger is my home. I like to travel, I’ll admit that. But I’ll always come back here.”
“To visit?”
“To stay.”
“When the right man comes along, you’ll leave and I won’t blame you. This kind of life isn’t for everyone.”
“It’s a life that suits me fine. Do you really think I’d be doing this if Granger didn’t mean something to me? Do you honestly think I’d marry a man to save my inheritance just for the fun of it? Do you think it’s been easy for me to know that you feel roped into this marriage and can’t wait for it to end? If there had been another way, you can be sure I would have found it. But I didn’t, so here we are counting down the days until we can be free of each other.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“Do you know why I paint landscapes on my pottery? Because I love the sound of the Montana winds along the prairie and the stillness of a summer night. My roots run just as deep as yours and my love for the land is just as strong. But it’s not a betrayal to love other things, too. Like the sound of tinkling glasses in a five-star restaurant in the heart of some cosmopolitan city.”
“You’re right. You deserve that life.”
But I want that life to be with you. Brooke got under the covers.
Jameson sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I know. It’s just bad enough with my father telling me what to do in his will and then you trying to tell me my own mind.”
“It won’t happen again.”
Brooke started to smile. “You’re just nervous because you’re afraid I won’t have sex with you again.”
Jameson raised a brow. “Do I have a right to be n
ervous?”
“You did, but you made up for it.”
“Can I make up for it some more?” He wrapped his arms around her.
“Actually, you already are.”
“How?”
“By letting Leslie stay more than one night.”
He stepped back. “What do you mean?”
“She just needs a break. She told me she won’t stay more than two days, and relax, she has promised me that she won’t cause any trouble.”
* * *
But Leslie did cause trouble. She distracted the ranch hands by walking around wearing a pair of very tight jeans and a halter top. It wasn’t summer yet and the weather wasn’t warm enough, but Brooke knew the outfit would certainly make the ranch hands hot under the collar. It appeared that Leslie had given up the idea of being introduced to the actress and was now determined to be the star attraction of her own show.
“You need to do something about your friend,” Jameson said the next evening after they’d finished dinner and Leslie had disappeared to her room. Brooke and Jameson sat in the living room, both pretending to watch TV.
“What can I do?” Brooke said, feeling helpless.
“Send her home. Now.”
“I can’t do that. It’s only been one day.”
“One day too long. If you can’t send her home, I can.”
“Come on. Just give her one more day.”
Jameson shook his head. “Letting one woman into my life was hard enough, let alone two.”
Brooke swallowed, feeling guilty about the situation she’d put him in. He was right. He hadn’t planned on having to marry her, let alone having to host her friend. But she had to make him understand her position. “Jameson, please try to understand. She’s my friend and I care about her.”
“I know that and that’s why I’m being nice about it. But she’s a nuisance. She’s flirting with anything on two feet by asking silly questions and laughing at jokes that aren’t even funny.”
“I think she’s lonely.”
“I don’t care. She’s distracting the men and I can’t blame them.”
“Are you distracted?” Brooke asked with sudden interest.