Cowboy's Bride

by Barbara McMahon

  "You're the owner, but I give the orders," Trace replied as he gently placed her in a chair. "What do you want to eat?"

  "What does it matter, you'll decide and feed me whatever you want.” She hated being dependent on him when she was trying so hard to show she was up to running this ranch.

  "Don't sulk, it's unbecoming," he chided gently. In only minutes he was cutting vegetables and cheese for an omelet.

  "I'm not sulking. You frustrate me to death, Trace," she grumbled, watching him work. It seemed odd to have such a blatantly masculine male in her kitchen, cooking for her. Her brothers never did. For all his smoothness in the task, he looked out of place. In fact, just being inside made him seem out of place. He belonged to the rugged Wyoming land. He reminded her of the mountains in the distance, hard, demanding, tough and enduring.

  Enduring. She studied him, noting the dark hair that gleamed in the overhead light. The teak skin, taut over high cheekbones, bronzed by endless days in the sun. She felt a quickening deep within her as if her body called to his. As if his called to hers and she replied. Mesmerized, she watched his hands slice tomatoes, then dice the Cheddar cheese. Those long, hard fingers had stroked her so gently. Had tended to her so tenderly. What a dichotomy the man was. Hard as granite, determined and stubborn, yet gentle as a baby when the occasion demanded.

  "Frustrated, eh?" he repeated, a slow smile building. "I can take care of that, sweetheart, after you eat."

  "That's not what I mean and you know it. You never listen to me. I keep telling you I'm here for good and you act as if I'm on a visit and sooner or later will up and leave. I keep telling you this is my place, and I'll run it, and you ignore me as if I was a pesky fly. I'm tired of it. I had enough bossing around from my brothers. I don’t need it from you!"

  "What do you expect?" He put the knife down and stared at her. "You got this ranch in a fluke of chance, like winning a high-stakes poker game. You don't know anything about ranching or cattle. You don't even have a business background. If lack of knowledge isn't enough, you don't belong out here. You're a nurse. From Boston. You're a city girl. The loneliness and solitude of Wyoming will get to you before long. You'd never last a winter here, snowbound for weeks on end, no nearby neighbors, no parties, stores, movies. Some times no electricity. Nothing but endless cold and wind and snow. And chores that have to get done no matter what. Cattle that have to be watched, feed delivered, injuries taken care of."

  She banged her fist on the table. "You don't know anything about me. I want to be here! I will make a go of it. I won't leave at the first sign of trouble. If I did, I would have been long gone by now, because trouble is all you've given me. I'm sorry you didn't get the ranch like you wanted. I'm sorry to be in your way, but Uncle Philip owned it all these years and you survived. You'll survive without the ranch now. I'm here to stay, so leave me alone!"

  He straightened. Slowly he nodded. "Right. That's what I should have done all along. Leave you alone. More than anything, a woman can't stand to be left alone."

  She boiled up at that. "You think you're irresistible, well, I can resist with the best of them."

  "Like you did this morning?" be said sardonically, his eyes black as ink, threatening her with their harsh stare.

  The fight went out of her instantly and her face broke. She blinked back tears at the insult, her gaze dropping to the hands fisted in her lap. "That was special," she said softly, painfully. The doubts rose again. Had he only been trying to seduce her because of the ranch? Had it meant nothing to him?

  She spoke so softly he almost didn't hear her. But he did and felt as if she'd kicked him in the gut. The rage that warred in him at her attack vanished. He wasn't really angry with her, he was angry at fate. She should never have inherited this ranch.

  If she hadn't, he would never have met her and his life would have been infinitely easier. He knew better than to trust a woman. To care for a woman. Someone who would say one thing and mean another.

  But he was attracted to this petite dark-haired woman like no other. And he didn't like it. He wanted her gone.

  Wanted the disruption to his life ended. Wanted things back to normal. Lonely and dull, maybe, but with his heart and pride safe and intact.

  "I'll stay away. From now on, sweetheart, you're on your own. The offer will remain to buy the place. When you're tired of playing at ranching, let Richard know and we can finalize the deal."

  Trace walked by her, his boots loud in the sudden silence. He retrieved his hat and let himself out the back door. Kalli sat still, feeling her insides dissolve. She wanted him to stay. Wanted him to finish the dinner he'd been fixing her. Wanted his help. Wanted his bossy orders. Wanted more of his kisses.

  A shiver of fear touched her. She had overestimated her ability. Uncle Philip had made it seem so easy, but Trace was right she didn't have the faintest idea how to run a ranch. She didn't know how to manage cattle. She didn’t even understand the information she'd been putting into the computer. How could she make sense of it? She couldn't stay on a horse, couldn't even saddle one without help. How could she manage on her own?

  She needed Trace.

  And he knew it. Without his help, she would probably wreck the ranch in record time. Well, that would make it all the easier for him to buy it.

  She pushed herself up and hurried to the door, hopping, unable to keep her injured foot from touching every few steps. Pain shot up her leg, but she ignored it. Throwing open the wooden door, she pushed through the screen door and out onto the porch.

  "Trace!"

  He was already in his truck, the engine on. For a long moment the air vibrated with the throaty growl of the big pickup. Then he shut it off and the silence was deafening.

  Blood pounded through her, roaring in her ears as she strained to see him in the darkness. To her left the soft glow of lights from the bunkhouse illuminated a portion of the yard. Behind her the light from the kitchen shone, but beyond that, there was only darkness. She tried to see him, but could only hear the truck door open, slam shut. Could only hear the crunch of gravel beneath his boots as he walked closer.

  "What?"

  He came into the circle of light spilling from the doorway and stood looking at her. His hat rode low on his forehead, his legs spread in an arrogant stance as he glared at her. She stood two steps higher, making her a shade taller than he was.

  Kalli licked her lips. "I'm sorry. Please, I'm sorry. Try to understand this from my point of view. I've wanted to live on the ranch since I was a child, since my first visit. All my life I've longed for this. To be given this chance, it's as if a dream came true. Haven't you ever had a dream? A wonderful dream that is so special you can't believe it when it comes true?"

  He stared at her, his lips tight, his eyes narrowed as he watched her try to explain to him.

  "I know I don't know anything about ranching, but I'm willing to learn. You're not willing to give me the chance, however. Every time I do anything, I run into a solid wall of your disapproval and dislike."

  "I told you before, I don't dislike you," he said, his voice hard, cold.

  "Maybe physically. But otherwise you don't want me here. You said so again just minutes ago. But let me tell you if I have to end up shooting my cattle one by one to eat to live, I'm staying. If I have to get a pony to ride because I can't saddle a big horse, I'll do it. If I have to invent my own system of record keeping because I can't figure out that blasted computer, I'll do it. But I'm here for the long haul."

  She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on his.

  "I want you to help me. Give me a chance. A real chance. Please, Trace. I know it is not to your best advantage, but please give me this chance. Teach me what I need to know. Let me have a fair shot at keeping the ranch and living my dream. Please."

  "You can stay, you don't need me."

  "I do, to make a go of it. Please, Trace, I'll give you anything you want, except the ranch. Help me."

  "And if the price is too high?" he said.<
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  He was going to do it. He was going to help her!

  "It won't be."

  "What if I want you?"

  She smiled, the warm glow of his words caressing her. Slowly she reached out her hand and trailed her fingers down his cheek, feeling a muscle jump beneath her touch.

  "Silly, I know you want me. You've made that clear all along. You keep saying it has nothing to do with the ranch."

  "And?"

  Kalli swallowed hard. "And I want you. I wasn't handing you a line either, this morning was very special to me. I get hot and excited just thinking about it."

  "Hell." He reached out and pulled her off-balance, crashing against him. His arms tightened around her until he could feel the soft mounds of her breasts pressing intimately against his chest, could feel the heat of her belly against his, the smooth strength of her thighs matching his. Burying his face in the strawberry fragrance of her hair, he held her tightly, letting himself feel the feminine mystery and magic of her soothe him, inflame him.

  Kalli remained silent, reveling in the sensations that wrapped around her. She pressed against him, feeling the solid wall of rock-hard muscles shelter her. Closing her eyes, she breathed in his scent and grew warm and languid with desire. She pressed her lips against his neck, trailed them to the pulse point at the base of his throat and let them he against his steady beat. Daringly her tongue darted out and tasted him. She felt him tighten against her, felt the growing arousal that assured her he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  Smiling in shy satisfaction, she kissed him again.

  With a groan, he tipped back her head and captured her lips with his own. Flames of desire licked between them as they strained to get closer. His mouth opened hers, and when his tongue began its explorations, she met him, enticed him, tantalized him.

  Stuffing slightly, Kalli put weight on her injured foot and the pain spited through her. She moaned involuntarily, shifting away from it.

  Trace pulled back, his eyes puzzled for a moment, then reality intruded.

  "Dumb move on my part." He lifted her again and headed for the lighted room beyond the screen door. Depositing her in a chair, he sat back on his haunches and stared at her, one hand gently brushing away the strands of hair that fell across her face.

  "Don't stop," she whispered, her palm caressing his cheek, feeling the aid-of-day stubble rasp against her skin. "I don't need that foot anyway." She leaned forward and brushed his lips with her own.

  "You're battered and bruised and have a sprained ankle. And you're hungry, or so you said," he answered, rising. He hung his hat on the rack and turned to the counter.

  She frowned. "I don't want to stop," she said, watching him. Why had he stopped?

  "Honey, when you and I come together, it's going to be wild and hot and hard and I don't want to have to pull back for fear of hurting you. We can wait. After all, didn't you just insist you're here for the long haul?" His voice had a hard edge to it.

  She nodded. What a complex man. She was sure he'd take her right to bed, love her until morning. Now he appeared to be willing to wait. Her gaze dropped to his jeans. Men couldn't hide desire. His control must be formidable. Why wouldn't he just take what she was so willing to offer?

  She closed her eyes, sizzling with memories of that morning. Remembering what he just said. When they got together it would be hot and hard and wild. Her heart raced. Just being with him was wild. What would making love be like?

  "So you will help me learn how to ranch?" she asked.

  He gave a lopsided smile. "How to ranch. Hell, I guess so. You won't last."

  "Stop it! I don't want to hear it. You may be right, but that doesn't mean I want to hear it all the time. Besides, if you don't help me, I'll sell somewhere else if I can't make it myself," she said dangerously.

  "Oh, yeah? No one else has made an offer that I heard of," he replied easily.

  He wasn't worried. The only other property that might ever want her land was the Bar M Ranch, which touched the corner of her land near the river. And Bob Marshall had never voiced any desire to expand his place. Trace wasn't worried. Sooner or later the lady from Boston would admit she was not a rancher, and hightail it right back to the big city where she belonged.

  What worried him was his reaction to her personally. Very personally. He wanted her like he'd never wanted anyone. Even Alyssa's sexual attraction when he had been a randy young rodeo cowboy didn't begin to compare to Kalli Bonotelli's. He didn't understand it. Was it just celibacy that drove him? It had been a long Time, but he'd gone long stretches of time without a woman before and never felt this... this craving. He knew it had nothing to do with wanting her land. If she signed everything over to him today, he'd still want her in bed.

  He didn't like it. Didn't like feeling so caught up with his emotions that he almost lost control. And that was the reason he held off tonight. Just to prove to himself he could. He was in charge of this. When he deemed the time right, he would take her to bed. But he was not giving in to his instincts or her pretty, pouting mouth. He'd choose the time and place.

  "Glaring at the eggs won't cook them," she said softly, the teasing lilt in her voice jerking him to awareness.

  He stared at her over those high sculpted cheeks, his look cold and hard. "Never bite the hand that feeds you."

  She smiled slowly, seductively, and shook her head. "I never would," she said in a low voice, her gaze holding his. "I might nibble a bit. Even nibble elsewhere..."

  He sucked in his breath at the image that danced before him, of her sprawled across his bed, her mouth on him hot and sexy. Maybe the time and place was now and here after all.

  She laughed at his reaction, pleased beyond anything she was able to invoke a reaction. Maybe he wasn't as immune to her as she thought when he pushed her away. Maybe he did want to wait until she was healed, the better to love her. She was thrilled. Gingerly she rotated her foot, unable to keep the grimace of pain away. Damn, she wanted to heal fast, to see what this cowboy had in mind for the two of than.

  In the meantime, she would spend every moment learning everything she could about running a ranch.

  The omelet was light and delicious. He found an old bottle of wine and they shared it as Kalli complimented him on her dinner.

  "Didn't know you were so talented," she said when she pushed ho empty plate away. "That beats whatever Charlie would have brought."

  "Charlie's a good cook."

  "So I hear. But that was wonderful. Do you cook at home?"

  "No. I have a housekeeper, Maria. She cooks, stays over when I need someone to be there with Becky."

  "Is she young and pretty?" Kalli asked, toying with her wineglass, sloshing the pale liquid around and around. Almost holding her breath for his reply.

  He chuckled, stretched back in the chair, his long legs crossed at the ankles. Tucking his thumbs in his belt, he shrugged. "I reckon her husband, Ed, thinks she's pretty. As to age, she's about fifty. Where is that on your old-to- young scale?"

  "Let me see, if a rodeo cowboy is old at thirty-four..."

  "Witch," he said without heat.

  She laughed and flirted with him. Squeezing every moment of enjoyment from the evening. Daringly she rose on her good leg and hopped over to him, plopping herself down on his lap. His surprise enchanted her as he sat up, drew in his legs to hold her, his arms going around her so she wouldn't fall.

  "What the hell-"

  "I want you to kiss me," she said, putting her arms around his neck, snuggling against him, her breasts pressing against him.

  "Kalli, no. I told you-"

  "Just a kiss, Trace, nothing more."

  God, nothing more? One touch of that sweet mouth and he would be all over her like flies on honey. No matter what his intentions, no matter how much control he thought he had, there were limits.

  "Kalli."

  "Just a few kisses, Trace. Then I'll go to bed like a good little girl. A chaste little girl, if you prefer." She chuckled and kis
sed his jaw. Trailing her open mouth across the stubble of his beard, she tasted him with her tongue.

  He moved to intercept her lips with his, locking her into an embrace that seared them both. One hand scooped her bottom to hold her higher against his chest while the other threaded through her soft hair, holding her for his kiss. His tongue tormented her, delving deep within the warm sweetness of her mouth to taste every part of her, tasting the wine and Kalli's own unique flavor. Her lips moved against his as she met his every thrust with wild abandon, returned every stroke of pleasure with one of her own.

  She was breathing so hard she thought she might pass out. But she couldn't get enough of Trace. She cursed the clothing that stood between them, cursed his decision to wait until she was better. She was so hot she could hardly stand it. She longed to expose her skin to his, feel his heat wrap around her and take her away from the mundane chores of running a ranch, no matter how much she wanted it.

  "Enough." He pulled away, still holding her hard against him, his hot breath spilling over her shoulder.

  Idly Kalli noted he was breathing as erratically as she. Good, she didn't want to be the only one affected by that kiss. She felt as if she would melt into a tiny puddle. Slowly her breathing steadied. Her awareness returned, and with it a nagging pain.

  "Trace, you're pulling my hair," she whispered, unable to move.

  Slowly he released his grip on her silky hair, soothing her scalp. "Sorry. But I had to hold on to something or strip this little T-shirt off you, put you on the table and take you right here. I told you we'll wait!"

  "You're always telling me things. Why not explain so I understand, rather than just order me around," she said, pulling away enough to look into his eyes.

  He stared at her. "I've been boss for so long, I'm not used to explaining things."

  "Even physicians explain why they are prescribing treatments for patients to their lowly nurses. If you would give me reasons, maybe I wouldn't react so strongly to your bossy ways."

  "So giving you reasons will stop your arguing at every pass?"