Rancher's Choice

by Kylie Brant

  “You don’t like it here?”

  “Oh, I’ve gotten used to it,” he answered smoothly. “After my father died and my sister moved away, someone needed to stay to look after things. God knows, there’s not much around here for entertainment, so when I feel the need for more elegant surroundings I fly to Europe for a while. But I always come back. What about you? Where are you from?”

  “I’m going to school in Tucson, but I grew up in a small town,” Kaly replied. “Tell me about your travels,” she invited, and Paul obliged. He told her funny stories about mishaps in his journeys, and they compared notes on the archaeological marvels overseas.

  “What have you been doing in your free time?” he quizzed later, after he had fetched them soft drinks.

  “Not much,” Kaly replied. “I’m working on my doctoral dissertation—that takes up most of my nights. But I do enjoy exploring the ranch on horseback. It relaxes me.”

  “How about the Robertses? Are you getting along with them okay? You must be pretty brave coming out to spend an entire summer with people you don’t even know.”

  “They’ve been wonderful,” Kaly answered warmly. “Jeff is a perfect boss and Carrie is great. I’m enjoying myself so much it doesn’t even seem like a job.”

  Paul watched her, his eyes alight with interest. “You haven’t mentioned Jackson,” he noted. “How do you get along with him?”

  Kaly could feel herself grow rigid just at the mention of the man’s name. Paul sounded as if he was making more than idle conversation. “I don’t see much of him,” she responded carefully. “I’m sure running a ranch of that size keeps a person busy. You probably know that yourself.”

  “It does take work,” Paul answered, “although my operation isn’t near the size of the Circle R. And I know for a fact that it doesn’t take all of Jackson’s time, either.” He shook his head. “That man has quite a reputation.” When Kaly remained silent he shot a quick look at her. “I don’t mean to be filling your ears with tales. It’s just...” Here he hesitated. “Well, he was almost my brother-in-law, you know.”

  Kaly blinked in shock. “No,” she murmured, “I didn’t know.” She’d never heard that Jackson’s ex-fiancée had been a neighbor.

  “It’s old news.” Paul shrugged. “And I think these things usually work out for the best. Maria, my sister,” he added, “is married and happy enough, I guess. She was really hurt when Jackson jilted her, but she’s put all that behind her now.”

  Kaly said nothing, but she couldn’t help but wonder at his words. What had caused Jackson to call off the wedding? Had he finally realized he couldn’t be happy tied down to one woman? Or hadn’t Maria been malleable enough for him? Whatever the reason, the decision had definitely left a lasting impression on him. It colored the way he saw women, Kaly knew. But, though curious, she was uncomfortable listening to Paul speak of it. She knew Jackson well enough to know he’d be furious at the idea of others discussing his personal life, although from what she’d heard it was a primary topic among the locals.

  Paul’s voice broke into Kaly’s continued silence. “Listen to me,” he said wryly. “I’m beginning to sound like some of these old busybodies who spend their afternoons gossiping over tea.” He gazed intently at her. “I’m sure you and I could find much more interesting subjects than Jackson Roberts to discuss.” They talked desultorily for a while, Paul making her smile several times at his portrayals of the meetings he’d had to endure that day. Kaly enjoyed his company, but after a time she noticed Jeff and Carrie standing near the house.

  She excused herself, saying, “I’d better check and see if the Roberts are ready to go. I don’t want to hold them up if they are.”

  Paul rose when she did. “It was my pleasure to meet you, Kaly. I look forward to seeing you again.”

  She headed in the direction she had last seen Jeff and Carrie, but they were no longer in sight. She moved slowly through the crowd still gathered, but in the growing darkness it was difficult to discern faces. Finally she decided to see if they had already gone to the car parked in front. She headed around the corner of the house and made her way carefully through the yard.

  “Hey, lady, haven’t you heard of the big bad wolf?” a voice said near her shoulder, and Kaly shrieked softly in surprise. She jerked around and barely made out Jackson’s form leaning against the house.

  “You creep.” she fumed, her heart still racing. “You did that on purpose.”

  “Did what?” He chuckled. “I was just noting that it was awful dark for you to be wandering around. How was I supposed to know you jump a mile when you’re startled?”

  “Lucky that wolves don’t frighten me,” she informed him, still smarting from her earlier alarm. “Or I’d be terrorized at finding the biggest wolf in the countryside lurking in the shadows.”

  All amusement left his voice when he answered. “If you’re referring to me, you’re dead wrong. You just spent the last hour cozying up to the biggest predator in the country.”

  Kaly wasn’t sure which surprised her more, his reference to Paul or the fact that he’d been keeping tabs on her. “Paul Whitfield seemed very cordial.”

  “I’m sure he did,” he said. “Charm’s his middle name.”

  She was quickly growing impatient with his sarcasm. “Are you sure it’s Paul you object to, or is it the entire Whitfield family?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished she could call them back. It was a cheap shot and completely out of character for her. But Jackson didn’t seem angry when he replied.

  “No, I’m not holding any grudges against Paul because of Maria. Hell, I doubt he even knows the truth about what happened between his sister and me.”

  Kaly was filled with remorse. Though she hadn’t responded to the little that Paul had said about Jackson, she still felt like a sneak for having listened to it and, even more, wondering further about it. “We weren’t discussing you,” she told him uncomfortably. “He just mentioned your relationship to his sister in passing.”

  “And you weren’t curious in the least,” he taunted.

  “If I had any questions I’d do you the courtesy of addressing them to you,” she answered steadily.

  “And are you asking?”

  At her silence, he sighed. And then he shocked himself by revealing what he had told no one other than Jeff. “Maria needed a lot of things, and I doubt one man could supply them all. But I called the wedding off because I caught my bride-to-be in bed with another man.” He instantly regretted his revelation. The last thing he wanted was her pity.

  But she didn’t give him any. “Maria Whitfield—” her tone bespoke amazement “—must have been a fool.”

  He shot her an amused glance and shrugged. “I doubt it. He was old enough to be her father, but rich enough to give her anything she wanted. Since she liked money, she was mighty smart to grab it when it came her way.”

  “But you’re...” Kaly bit her tongue to prevent herself from uttering the rest of that sentence. Jackson read her meaning easily.

  “I’m not rich, Kaly, not in that league, anyway. The Circle R is a working ranch, and while we have good assets, our capital is mostly tied up in livestock and equipment. It takes a hell of a lot of money to buy purebred stock, and that’s what’s needed to branch out into a breeding operation.” He stopped here, certain she wasn’t interested in the financial operation of a ranch.

  Kaly touched his arm tentatively. “I’m sorry, Jackson.”

  His arm tensed reflexively under her fingers. “For what?”

  “For dredging all this up. I’m sure it’s not your favorite topic of conversation.”

  He relaxed imperceptibly. “Not hardly, but then it doesn’t matter much anymore. It stopped mattering a long time ago.” That was the truth, but it didn’t explain his uncustomary loquaciousness with her. He certainly wasn’t in the habit of swapping sad stories with any other woman of his acquaintance. What was it about her? he wondered, his eyes dropping to that small hand stil
l on his arm. She broke through his guard the way no one else ever had.

  The tension that seemed to surround them all at once made it difficult for Kaly to breathe. Belatedly she removed her hand from the furnacelike heat of his forearm. If she was so determined to skirt the magnetism he exuded, she was going to have to avoid touching him. And avoid being alone with him. She became suddenly aware of how secluded the area was. But her limbs seemed leaden, as if unwilling to move away.

  “We should—” Kaly barely recognized the breathless utterance as her own “—find Jeff and Carrie.”

  “Should we?” Somehow he seemed closer, although she couldn’t recall either of them moving.

  “They’re probably ready to go....” Her voice trailed off. He had tipped his head down as if listening to her, but that movement put his lips alarmingly close to hers. In the darkness his mouth seemed to be the only thing she could see. The only thing she could concentrate on.

  “They may be looking for us,” she whispered, as his face came nearer.

  “They haven’t found us.” His mouth stopped a fraction from hers.

  “We weren’t going to do this.” Her voice trembled slightly.

  “We weren’t?” The husky question was breathed across her lips.

  “We decided it was a mistake.” She swallowed as his lips barely brushed hers.

  “A mistake.”

  “One we don’t want to repeat,” she said, searching desperately for words to stop him, to stop herself, for she wasn’t sure she would have the strength to deny him once he kissed her again.

  But her words finally penetrated what was left of his own instincts of self-preservation, and he pulled away. “No,” he agreed shakily, mentally damning himself for needing her reminder, “we don’t.” He moved from her and wished an emotional distance was as easily achieved. “Let’s go,” he said brusquely, and they headed toward the front of the house silently, each wishing fervently they didn’t face a twenty- minute ride home in the same vehicle.

  Chapter 6

  For the next several days Kaly didn’t have to worry about avoiding Jackson and the spell he seemed to weave around her so easily. He made himself scarce around the house. Once again he was absent from the table at mealtimes, and though no one commented on it, Kaly knew what was motivating his absences.

  She was certain that their conversations had made him as uncomfortable as they had her. She recognized that Jackson was normally reticent about himself, which made his openness with her quite out of character. He had to find that frightening. She did.

  So he must have gone running back to his other women. The thought was like a vise around her heart. She knew that it was his way of protecting himself, and her, from giving into the almost palpable desire between them. She knew what he was doing, but she still hurt at the thought of it.

  She didn’t recognize herself like this. She’d always been sure of what she wanted, and she knew that Jackson Roberts was a man to be avoided at all costs. Why, then, did she get a sick feeling in her stomach each night she heard that he was out again? She’d always been a firebrand with her family, giving as good as she got, but no one, not her family and not Philip, had ever caused the turbulent emotions she’d experienced since meeting Jackson Roberts.

  She groaned. There, she’d admitted it. She had loved Philip, but the feelings he’d stirred in her, even in the most intimate of times, couldn’t touch what she’d felt when just kissing Jackson. Instead of despairing at the rancher’s renewed aloofness, she should be grateful he was making it easier on both of them to ignore this involuntary reaction they had to each other.

  Kaly refused to acknowledge the bleakness that accompanied her thoughts. Jackson was doing what was best for both of them, and she would follow his lead. A cool, rational mind would always take precedence over heated mutual attraction. As long as she kept that firmly in her head, she would easily avoid the temptation.

  Dinner that evening was a surprise to everyone, because Jackson joined them. Jeff teased him about not having a date, but his brother just fixed him with a look and the subject was dropped.

  After dessert, Jackson announced, “We got an invitation today. Some neighbors are having an impromptu get-together tomorrow night and invited all of us to come.” His look around the table encompassed Kaly.

  “Great!” Jeff exclaimed. “The barbecue last weekend was a good time. This will be the perfect way to relax from all that work Kaly’s had me doing this week.” He winked at her.

  “Sounds like fun, Jackson,” Carrie agreed. “Who’s having it?”

  Jackson kept his eyes on his coffee cup, sipping the steaming brew cautiously. “Paul Whitfield.”

  There was silence at the table for a long moment. Jeff was the first to regain his voice. “Paul? But he hasn’t done much entertaining since ...I mean...” He faltered at Jackson’s pointed look. “He didn’t say anything last weekend about it.”

  Jackson’s cup clattered against the saucer as he set it down. “No, he didn’t,” he agreed impassively, “but what difference does that make? Last-minute parties have never bothered you before.” His chair scraped back as he stood up. “It’s at seven tomorrow night. I’ll probably be late, so go on without me, and I’ll see you there.”

  Three silent faces looked at one another as Jackson left the room. Jeff exchanged a puzzled look with Carrie. She shrugged a little at him, before glancing at Kaly and flashing her a brilliant smile. “Let’s go upstairs and pick out our clothes for tomorrow. Parties at the Whitfields have always been far more formal than we’re used to around here.” Ignoring Kaly’s protests, she came around the table, took her by the arm and fairly dragged her from the room.

  By six-thirty the next evening, Kaly was ready to wring Carrie’s neck. She had gone through Kaly’s closet the night before with the determination of a fashion buyer, then found nothing in it suitable for the evening. Next she’d insisted that the two of them look through Carrie’s own closet. When Carrie had pulled a dress from a hanger and proclaimed it perfect for her, Kaly hadn’t had the heart to argue with her. But now, as she looked into the mirror, she was experiencing major misgivings.

  An unfamiliar reflection stared back at her. The emerald material of the garment shimmered and made her eyes look greener. The dress was held up by tiny spaghetti straps and showed much more bosom than Kaly was comfortable with showing. It was not tight fitting, but did hint at every curve she had. She frowned into the mirror. At Carrie’s suggestion, she had left her hair down. Kaly would have been much more confident wearing it in a chignon, but had compromised and pulled it back on either side with tortoiseshell combs. Black strappy sandals and small studs in her ears completed the outfit.

  A horn sounded outside, signaling Jeff and Carrie’s readiness. She sighed and picked up her purse, heading toward the door. The evening stretched interminably before her.

  The party was in full swing when they arrived. The Robertses introduced Kaly to an alarming number of people, and she recognized many more from the barbecue the previous weekend. When the music began, she lost track of Carrie and Jeff as she was continuously escorted to the dance floor.

  Jackson entered the large room well after the party had started. He swept the surroundings with a jaundiced eye. John Whitfield had added this room on to the original ranch house when he had brought his family to live here. They always referred to it as the ballroom, which was ridiculous, considering that most of the people here were more at home at a country-and-western dance than at a fancy dress ball. His hand loosened his tie slightly. Certainly he was more comfortable in jeans than dressed like a banker.

  He reflected on his meeting with the sheriff, which had caused his tardiness this evening. For once Jackson had been unable to give his undivided attention to his plans for protecting his ranch. Instead, his mind had persisted in returning again and again to the woman so often in his thoughts these days.

  Kaly was dancing with a neighbor of the Robertses, Justin King, when Jackson first
caught sight of her. He froze in the act of accepting a drink from a servant as his eyes followed her. She was laughing up at the older man, despite the fact that King was well-known for having two left feet. Jackson felt a tightening in his gut. He’d never seen her with her hair unbound, although he’d certainly imagined it enough lately. She looked utterly desirable with her dark gold mane hanging loose. The combs holding the thick tresses away from her face framed its oval shape and drew attention to those knockout cheekbones and eyes. He surveyed her dress and frowned in disapproval. Dammit, it was cut way too low. Every man she danced with would get teasing glimpses of the creamy tops of those high breasts.

  Jackson felt the burning sensation of desire curl through him. The dress alluringly draped the curves that had been branded on his brain since he’d seen her in a swimsuit. He never should have laid his hands on her at the pool, not even in fun. His temperature had risen so alarmingly that he’d had to do several laps before he could leave the water without embarrassing himself. And seeing her tonight wasn’t much better. It was too easy to remember how her body had felt pressed tightly to his, so tightly her breasts had flattened against him and nearly sent him into orbit. Sweat popped out on his forehead at the mere memory.

  He raised the drink to his lips and tossed down half of it, his eyes not leaving Kaly. He’d done his best these past few weeks to wipe her from his mind. But neither distance nor the scores of dates he’d gone on had succeeded in stamping out the fire that started in him every time he saw her. His renewed social life hadn’t alleviated the hunger he felt. If anything, it had heightened it. The women he dated didn’t put him on edge, nor did they surprise revelations from his normally tight lips. And they didn’t interest him at all.

  His lips twisted in self-derision. He’d convinced himself that his attraction to Kaly was due to his recent unaccustomed celibacy. He’d confidently believed that resuming his relationships with women would quench the passion she torched in him. What a fool he’d been. It was Kaly who had his thoughts straying from ranch matters; it was Kaly he dreamed about on too many nights. It was her name on his lips when he awoke from those dreams, sweating, shaking, the bedclothes in a tangled heap.