Big City Cowboy (Harlequin American Romance)

by Benson, Julie

  Her fingers clutched his chest as she leaned into him. He deepened his kiss. His tongue mated with hers as his hand covered her breast, caressing and exploring. Her passionate moan thrilled him.

  When Lizzie ground her pelvis against his erection, he nearly exploded. “Damn. I never should’ve moved back home.”

  “What are you talking about?” Her husky whisper fanned his heated skin.

  “One, you deserve a bed, not to be tumbled on a couch. Two, my mother lives in this house.”

  “I want you. Now.” Lizzie reached for the zipper on his jeans. The scrape of metal filled the room.

  He sucked in a breath as her hand slid inside his waistband, gently caressing his heated flesh. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he fought to not explode right then and there.

  “I don’t mind being quiet, and beds are overrated.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Elizabeth’s cell phone alarm blasted her awake at four. Rory, curled around her, his incredibly talented hand cupping her breast, slept through the noise.

  As she shut off her alarm, she felt her face flame with embarrassment. She’d made love with Rory in his office. Then they’d sneaked up to his room. Propriety might have ruled her life with an iron fist before, but not once Rory wrapped his arms around her. When she broke the rules, she broke them with a passion. A passion she’d never felt before.

  At least she’d had the presence of mind to set an alarm for an early escape. The last thing she wanted was someone in Rory’s family seeing her slinking out of his room in the morning.

  She spent a few precious moments watching him, remembering how she’d discovered the man possessed unbelievable stamina and skill in bed. He’d also been surprisingly tender the second time they made love. He’d explored every inch of her as if he’d been trying to file the details away.

  What had she done? Sure, she had amazing memories to hold on to now, but how would she ever go back to New York and leave him here in Colorado?

  She leaned over and kissed his forehead, longing to fight reality’s rude advance. Then she sighed and slid out of bed.

  “Where you going?”

  She snatched up her blouse and threw on the garment.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little late for modesty?” He flashed her that million-dollar smile, and her heart melted. She’d see that smile in her dreams forever.

  “You’ve got a point, but I’ve got to go.”

  “The sun’s not even up. Come back to bed.”

  “I don’t want anyone to see me coming out of your room.”

  Resignation replaced desire in his warm brown eyes. “I’ll stand guard.”

  He tossed off the covers and stood. Her resolve wavered at the sight of him.

  She had to get out of here fast, before she threw away common sense and her heart. His future lay here in Colorado. Hers resided in New York.

  He joined her at the door and kissed her tenderly. She knew she needed to say something, but the right words eluded her. Finally she forced out, “I’ll see you at work in a little while.”

  How lame was that?

  “This is the first time I’ve looked forward to coming to work since I left the ranch.”

  Rory opened the bedroom door and scanned the hallway. “All clear.”

  After giving him a quick kiss, she scooted out of his room.

  Her reality had spiraled so out of control since meeting Rory, and yet she now realized her life needed mixing up. While she’d thought herself happy, she’d been barely content, more numb than anything. Rory had showed her what life could be if she opened up to the possibilities. No going back now, but the scarier question was if she went back, what would she be going back to?

  ALL DURING THE SHOOT, Elizabeth struggled to keep her focus on work. She couldn’t help melting every time Rory sent her a steamy glance. She hoped no one noticed. How would she leave him tomorrow after what had happened between them last night?

  They finished shooting the commercial just before dinner. Both she and Devlin survived, thanks again to Avery’s distractions. Once the crew had packed up and left for the hotel, Elizabeth asked Devlin to join her in the McAlister living room. He sank onto the caramel-colored couch while Elizabeth sat in the chair to his right and resisted the urge to wring her hands.

  “I hope you’re as happy with what we’ve accomplished here as I am,” she said as an icebreaker.

  “Rory is the perfect spokesperson for our new markets.”

  “Speaking of Rory, I’ve come up with an idea that I think will please both of you regarding the underwear campaign.” She cleared her throat, kept thinking positive and sent out good energy. Maybe it would work, provided the good vibes bored through Devlin’s thick skull and actually hit brain cells. Hey, stranger things had happened. Look at Elton John and Eminem performing together at the Grammys.

  “Imagine Rory answering the ranch house door. Standing on the other side is a gorgeous woman. Dangling from her index finger is a pair of Devlin Designs’ boxers. I haven’t completely worked out the dialogue, but she could say something like, ‘You left these at my place.’ We could also do a shot with Rory in bed. He’s leaning against the headboard. The sheets are pooled at his waist.”

  Elizabeth paused and reminded herself to remain assertive and focused. “Another idea I had has a woman coming out of the bathroom. She walks toward Rory, wearing his boxers. She smiles and asks if they look as good on her as they do on him.”

  For the first time since she’d started talking, Elizabeth glanced at Devlin.

  He wasn’t doing cartwheels over her ideas, but his thoughtful gaze told her he was considering them. Better results than she’d expected.

  His contemplation and openmindedness lasted only another minute before he frowned. So much for visualizing the outcome. She was definitely asking for a refund on the positive thinking course she’d taken.

  “Your idea won’t work because it pulls the focus off Rory. With him wearing the product the focus remains clearly on him and underwear.”

  “If the camera remains on him, I think the viewer will stay focused on Rory as well, and with him in bed shirtless, what woman would take her eyes off his gorgeous body?”

  “Surely you can convince him to change his mind.” Devlin paused, gazing pointedly at her. The look in his eyes soured her stomach. “You two seem like you’ve become close.”

  Damn. Devlin had noticed. Elizabeth swallowed hard. Remain calm. Don’t show any reaction to what he said, because no way could he know exactly what had happened between them.

  Sure, she and Rory had acted differently at the shoot today, but the changes were subtle. He didn’t question her directions as often. A couple times she’d asked what he thought about how she envisioned a shot. A few times she’d caught him staring at her with a look that would melt the polar cap. But Devlin couldn’t know how close she and Rory had actually become.

  “Rory and I have settled into a comfortable working relationship.”

  “Good. That should help when you talk to him.”

  She clenched her hands together so tightly her fingers went numb. How could this man even suggest she use her relationship to strong-arm Rory into changing his mind? Devlin proposing she do so left her needing a hot shower to scrub off the scum.

  Then realization dawned. He expected that because in the past she’d compromised her principles to keep his business. Every time he threatened to agency shop, she knuckled under, so why wouldn’t he expect her to do so now?

  “You don’t know Rory if you think anyone can talk him into doing something.”

  As if on cue, Devlin’s eyes narrowed and he folded his arms across his chest. “I can take the remainder of my business elsewhere.”

  She was so tired of him holding that over her head. She thought about her town house—the first real home she’d had since her grandmother died—along with its mortgage payment. She’d saved enough to survive a couple months, but to avoid losing her home she couldn’t be
out of work longer than that.

  Her career and her town house were all she had. Her chest tightened from the weight of her decision. What a lousy choice. Her pride and principles, or keeping her home and everything else she’d worked for.

  No, that wasn’t true. If she lost her job and her town house, she’d still have her self-respect and her dignity.

  She was done with Devlin’s ultimatums. No longer would she compromise her principles and give up bits of her soul to keep his business. She’d hit her breaking point.

  “I won’t try to talk Rory into doing something he doesn’t want to do. If you want his arm twisted, you’ll have to do it yourself.” She straightened, vowing to not let him bully her. “I do value your business, and I’ve worked very hard for your company, but I won’t play on his trust and respect for me, or our personal relationship.”

  “I’ll be contacting Ms. Rayzor about ending our association.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Elizabeth stood, shook Devlin’s hand and lied through her teeth saying it had been a pleasure working with him. Then she turned and walked away.

  But now that the worst thing she could imagine, losing the Devlin Designs account and probably her job, had happened, the incapacitating panic she’d anticipated didn’t come.

  An unexpected sense of freedom flooded her system as the world opened up to her. She could pursue any of the career options she’d dreamed of! But what did she want, deep down in a corner of her heart? Realization burst inside her. She wanted to be in charge of her life, not at the mercy of pain-in-the-ass clients she hadn’t chosen to work for.

  Now all she needed to do was find a way to turn that dream into an income before she lost her town house, her shirt and her mind.

  RORY SAT IN THE KITCHEN with his mother. Last night, after Lizzie had fallen asleep, he’d mentally replayed his discussion with Devlin. Then his mind fixated on the ranch’s financial state. He’d started modeling because he needed money. That hadn’t changed. In fact, he needed more, because his mom had told him she’d require more treatments than the doctor originally thought. Unable to sleep, Rory had gone to his office and crunched the numbers.

  He’d examined the ranch’s expenses and income. He’d pulled up his mother’s medical treatment and prescription costs. Then he added in Avery’s vet school tuition. He ran the numbers three times, each time hoping for a different result.

  No matter how he worked them, without added income he came up in the red. Bright red.

  As he sat at the kitchen table now, with memories of his happy childhood swirling around him, he knew what he had to do.

  “Devlin wants me to model underwear.” He tossed out the statement, hoping his mother wouldn’t immediately string him up before he had the chance to explain.

  “Absolutely not. Under no circumstances.” She glared at him. “Am I making myself clear?”

  Yup, expected reaction right on cue. “The contract I signed only covers jeans. Devlin will have to negotiate a new one to cover other products. To do the underwear, I’d make him pay some serious money.”

  “It’s not worth it.” His mother rubbed his arm, her initial storm subsided. “It’s not worth your pride. I know how much you’ve sacrificed already.”

  Sure, doing so was at the expense of his pride, but he could take the hit. “Lizzie’s always telling me I have more than my fair share of pride.” His joke fell flat. Instead of coaxing a smile from his mom, he received another glare. “I could earn enough for your treatment, anything else you need, and Avery’s tuition.”

  His mother pulled her hand away from his arm. “I won’t let you humiliate yourself. We’ll be fine.”

  Rory rubbed his neck, fatigue suddenly overtaking him.

  “No, Mom, we won’t.” His mother, the eternal optimist. His words twisted his gut, because he hated being so blunt, but she needed to know the truth. “I ran the numbers last night. With all the expenses, unless we increase our income, we’re running in the red.”

  “Then we’ll cash in some stocks or annuities.”

  “What we’ve got left for stocks won’t put a dent in your medical bills. Dad and Griff’s bills from Dad’s first heart attack and the accident wiped out our savings.” Now that he’d actually started talking about their financial state, he couldn’t stop the flow of words. “We’d started recovering, but then Dad had another heart attack. I sold almost all the stocks and cashed in whatever I could to pay for those medical bills and his funeral. There’s nothing to draw from, Mom. Our income is down because people aren’t vacationing as much or for as long as they once did. People don’t have the disposable income to buy our horses or to board them here at the ranch. We need more money.”

  “He’s right, Mom,” Griff said. Entering the kitchen, he went straight for the refrigerator, where he grabbed a can of Pepsi, popped the top and took a long drink. Then he joined them at the table, tilting his chair back.

  His mother turned to him, tapping a manicured nail on the oak tabletop—a screaming indication of her irritation. “You knew we didn’t have money for my treatment, Griffin Ryan, and you didn’t tell me?”

  Griff’s chair hit the floor with a loud thunk. “He threatened to beat the crap out of me if I told anyone, and let’s face it, he’s bigger than you are.”

  “You should have told me,” their mother said in a soft, iron-filled voice.

  Griff paled, and Rory knew if he looked in the mirror right now, he’d find his own complexion a similar light color. As children, he and Griff had learned that the quieter their mom became, the greater her anger. They might outweigh her and tower over her now, but they both knew to take cover when Momma got mad, and she was red-hot furious at the moment.

  Her piercing brown eyes focused on Rory. So much for his short reprieve. “You took this job to pay for my treatment without telling me we didn’t have the money to pay for it. This is a family problem, and we’ll deal with it as a family. I will not be kept in the dark about finances. Is that clear?”

  Both he and Griff mumbled, “Yes, ma’am,” as if they were ten years old again.

  Nannette turned to Griff. “They want Rory to model underwear, and he’s considering the idea. Tell Rory a man with an MBA from Harvard Business School can’t do that.” His mom’s voice broke and tears filled her eyes when she looked back at Rory. “You worked too hard in school to do this. Surely we can find some other way.”

  “We’ve been trying.” Rory’s heart ached for the truth he’d forced his mother to face.

  “I could help. You shouldn’t have kept this from me. I’m not some child that needs to be protected.”

  “Mom, take it easy. It’s not good for you to get so upset,” Rory pleaded. “I didn’t tell you about this because I knew you’d overreact.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  “Rory was doing what he thought was best, Mom. Cut him some slack,” Griff added.

  Nannette stood, her face flushed. She was obviously madder than he’d ever seen her. This much stress couldn’t be good for her system, which was already taxed to the limit, coping with her latest treatment.

  She needed to calm down. As Rory rose, his mother swayed. He and Griff raced around the table toward her. Rory caught her before she hit the floor. “Call 911, Griff.”

  “Already am!” his brother yelled.

  “What’s wrong?” Avery rushed into the kitchen. “Oh, God, no. Mom. Is she unconscious?”

  “Go meet the paramedics, Avery.” Rory’s voice cracked. He swallowed hard. “Hang in there, Mom. Don’t leave us.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Avery tore through the house toward the front door, almost knocking Elizabeth over on the way through the living room.

  “Avery, what’s wrong?”

  “Mom collapsed. We’ve called 911. I’ve got to meet the paramedics.”

  “Where is she?”

  “The kitchen.”

  “Stay with your mom. I’ll meet the paramedics.”

&n
bsp; Avery nodded and ran back toward the kitchen. Elizabeth raced out of the house onto the front porch, with what she’d overheard when she went to talk to Rory swirling in her head. Treatment? Nannette appeared healthy, but obviously she had some condition requiring medical care. Apparently expensive enough to drive Rory to model to earn the money. Elizabeth took a deep breath as the answer to why Rory had changed his mind about her offer sank in. He needed the money to pay for his mother’s medical bills.

  He’d put aside his pride, his privacy, his dreams, to help his mom.

  What a man. What an incredibly magnificent man. A man who’d sacrifice whatever he had to because of his love for another person.

  And Elizabeth had derided him over being interested in nothing but money. Of course the job had been all about the money for him. He could have so easily put her in her place by telling her he needed cash for his mother’s treatment. Elizabeth had been a fool, and she owed him an apology.

  Then what his mother had said sank in. Tell Rory a man with an MBA from Harvard Business School can’t do that.

  Shame washed over her as she recalled various conversations she’d had with Rory. She’d lectured him on the ripple effect business downturns had on the overall economy.

  She’d met him on a horse ranch and assumed he wasn’t college-educated. She’d misjudged him and looked down on him because of her assumptions.

  At any time he could’ve put her in her place by throwing his Harvard education in her face, but he hadn’t. Tears filled her eyes. She, on the other hand, had repeatedly tossed her education and business sense right in his. He’d shown his true character in every interaction with her.

  Her heart melted. No woman could ask for a better man.

  She’d been able to deny how much she loved Rory before. Now there was no escaping the fact. She’d finally fallen head over heels in love, despite trying to guard against the fickle emotion. She’d found a man she wanted to spend her life with, only to discover herself unworthy of him.