Breakfast with a Cowboy

by Vanessa Devereaux

  It was her turn to smile.

  “Maybe you can recommend some good books for me to read.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  “In fact, why don’t I buy you dinner tomorrow, steaks of course…that is if you’re not getting off at the first stop?”

  “I’m not, but you really don’t have to buy me a meal just for my book recommendations.”

  “I know, but you make good dinner company.”

  She had to admit he did, too.

  He finished off the last of his steak and then asked the waitress for his bill.

  “I hate to eat and run, but I’m dead on my feet. I think I’ll be turning in for the night.” He stood and she realized just how tall he was, had to be at least three inches over six feet. “If I don’t see you before dinner tomorrow, I’ll come pick you up about seven.”

  He wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and she didn’t really want him to.

  “See you then,” she said.

  “Sweet dreams, and enjoy the rest of the chicken.”

  He winked at her before he left.

  She turned around to watch him walk away and knew she shouldn’t have. Not only did she catch sight of his cute butt in the tight-fitting jeans, but he must have somehow guessed she’d be tempted to watch him leave. He turned around too, giving her another wink as he opened the restaurant car door.

  She’d been caught red-handed.

  Chapter Three

  Quinn had been unable to keep his eyes open once he got back to his compartment. He’d settled down for the night, sensing he’d drift away as soon as his head hit the pillow, but he’d been wrong. He’d stirred for the first thirty minutes and then woken, thinking about Josie and the fact she was in the next compartment. Technically they were neighbors. He’d never had such a cute one before.

  Wondering if she was asleep or maybe even reading, he put his hands behind his head and looked up at the ceiling. He realized he’d been a little over the top during dinner with his sexual play on words, but she’d ignited something deep in his soul and yes, if he was honest, his groin, too. Those pretty eyes and the strawberry blonde hair set his heart aflutter. He smiled, recalling how when he’d turned to leave he’d glanced back and caught her looking, too. Mutual interest…definitely.

  Quinn reached up and snapped on the overhead light. Despite feeling dead on his feet, he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep, so he might as well read more of his book. He pulled it out from his bag, opened it, and sat it on his chest so the beam of light could focus on the words.

  He was a few pages in when he heard what sounded like sobbing again.

  Josie.

  He sat up, letting the book fall to the ground. What was up with her? Had she been dumped by some guy? Was that why she was on the train? Was she running away from it all? Who in their right mind would dump a lady like that?

  He distinctly heard the words, ‘oh no’, and then more sobbing.

  He stood up, walked out of his compartment, and went to her door.

  “Hey Josie, everything okay in there?”

  “Sorry, did I wake you? Geez, I hope I haven’t woken everyone. I didn’t realize the time.”

  “You need some help?”

  He thought she’d tell him once again that she was fine, but she opened the door to him. He took that as a sign he was welcome to step inside. Not that there was much room for both of them. Quinn immediately noticed a pile of ashes on the floor and an overturned urn close by. She burst into tears.

  “Hey, there, what’s the problem?”

  “Everything but you probably don’t want to hear about my troubles.”

  “Now, that’s where you’re wrong. My dad always said a problem told is a problem halved and eventually solved.”

  He put his arm around her shoulder and wiped a tear away from her cheek. She had soft skin that felt as pretty as it looked. “Tell Quinn all about it,” he said.

  “I woke up with a migraine. I reached over for my bag to get my medication and I accidentally knocked over the urn and some of the ashes spilled out onto the floor before I could catch it.”

  He looked once again at the small pile sitting by the leg of the chair.

  “One of your parent’s remains?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “My sister. She requested I take this trip because she…”

  She burst into tears again.

  Quinn sat her down on the chair she’d turned into her bed and squeezed in beside her. He wrapped both arms around her and let her sob into his chest. She was warm and soft and he almost felt guilty about the level of pleasure he was getting from comforting her like this.

  “You want to tell me more about it?” he whispered.

  “She had breast cancer and this cross country trip was on her bucket list, but time ran out. She made me promise anything that wasn’t crossed off her list I had to do in her place and take her ashes along.”

  “I think that’s the most wonderful thing I’ve heard. And I admire you for keeping your promise. I know it can’t be easy for you.”

  She pulled away from him. There was sadness in those pretty eyes. And he meant what he’d just said. It showed she was a special type of woman doing something that obviously made her heart so sad.

  “We can scoop them up, no problem,” said Quinn. Had he said the right thing, was scooping the verb he should have used?

  “I tried, but most of them are now embedded in the carpet.”

  “You said she wanted to make this trip. Maybe it was supposed to happen so she could continue to make it.”

  She smiled at him. “You do have a way of making me feel better.”

  He winked at her. He hoped she didn’t mind him taking the initiative, but he got down on his knees and scraped up as much as the ashes he could, and put them back into the urn.

  “What was your sister’s name?”

  “Jennifer, and she would have been forty tomorrow…well actually today, hence me taking the trip now. And the reason I was crying when you heard me.”

  “I’m sure she’s looking at you from someplace having a good laugh about all this.”

  “Yeah, maybe you’re right. Second thing you’ve been right about since I met you.”

  “Ah, you mean the steak instead of the chicken?”

  She nodded. “Now if you have any easy solutions to get rid of a migraine, you’ll be my hero forever.”

  “You tried something sweet to drink, and something cool for your head?”

  “Nope.”

  “Worked for me this morning when I woke up with a slight hangover. Sit there and I’ll see what I can find.”

  ****

  Josie felt better already. Quinn was right. By telling someone else about her sister’s request, she’d shared a secret and the weight of what she faced ahead of her had been lifted. He was one nice guy. If her sister was really looking down on her from someplace, Josie was sure she was smiling from ear to ear thinking how her little sister had met a cute man on a trip she’d insisted she take.

  She remembered them sitting thigh to thigh on the wicker couch on their parent’s porch when they’d driven from the doctor’s office. There she’d been told the cancer she thought she’d beaten was not only back, but was now in her lungs and bones. Neither of them had cried but sat on the couch with Jennifer squeezing Josie’s hard.

  “Promise me you won’t end up a career-minded single woman like me. If I’d know this was going to happen, I would have found myself the perfect guy and settled down and had lots of kids. I thought I had time for all that, but I guess life has other plans for me, so promise me you’ll starting looking for your knight in shining armor soon.”

  A tear ran down Josie’s cheek just as Quinn returned to the compartment. She wiped it away, hoping he didn’t see that she’d been crying yet again.

  “Found just what you need. A can of ginger ale and some ice I’ve wrapped in a towel.”

  He opened the soda and poured it into a glass she had sitting
on the shelf in her compartment. He handed it to her and she took tiny sips as he placed the ice against her temple. She closed her eyes. The combination felt so incredibly good. The man was a miracle worker.

  “I’m guessing you did some heavy drinking if you had a hangover,” she said, the bubbles from the soda going up her nose as she spoke.

  “Had the perfect excuse. I was at a wedding reception. I was best man to a guy I grew up with. He married a girl from Chicago.”

  “And you’re taking the train home to Seattle?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Montana. I traveled to Chicago by plane, but my buddy, the bridegroom, thought I’d like to see the plains and Montana by train, so it was his gift for my services as best man.”

  He rocked the ice gently over her temple.

  “That was nice of him.”

  “I guess so, although it’s taking me longer to get back to work than I’d really like.”

  “And what is your line of work?”

  “I guess I’d call myself a cowboy.”

  “Really. I’ve never met one of those before.”

  “See how interesting this trip’s turning out to be. Jennifer probably guessed it would be.”

  She was impressed. He’d even remembered her sister’s name. It showed he paid attention to what she was saying. Not many guys did that.

  “So I take it you’re riding the wheels all the way to Seattle?” he asked.

  Her body tensed up again at the mere mention of the end of the line.

  “I am, but I’m not sure I’ll be ready to scatter my sister’s ashes once I finish this trip.”

  “She request the ocean as a resting spot?”

  Josie shook her head. “She told me wherever I thought she’d be happiest.”

  “Then you’ll know where that is. Your heart will tell you.”

  She tried to raise her shoulders but couldn’t because suddenly the tension was back in them.

  “Here turn around. I know what’s causing your headache.”

  “You do?”

  She turned around, not realizing he was intending to massage her neck and shoulders until they made contact with her body. His hands were strong and she wasn’t exactly sure what cowboys did, but she could imagine him using a rope to round up cows and horses. She closed her eyes, seeing him on a horse and wearing a cowboy hat.

  His hands felt so good, even downright sexy, and she wanted more. She wanted him. She’d only just met Quinn, but she could imagine having sex with him. And if that wasn’t naughty enough, doing it right here in the compartment.

  Josie turned around to look at him.

  “Something wrong?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Kiss me.”

  Chapter Four

  He hadn’t seen that coming. He’d thought he was being a little pushy with the massage, and now this. Her lips, those gorgeous full pink lips were mere inches from his. A guy would have to be crazy not to act upon that very generous offer.

  Quinn leaned toward her, connecting his lips with her mouth. It soon became obvious it wasn’t going to be a quick peck. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers running along the nape of his neck close to his hairline. He already had the mother of all erections when she opened her mouth to him and now his cock was twitching, too. His tongue slipped over her lips, introducing itself to hers.

  The compartment was small, meaning sex would be fun, and it would also be a challenge. And shit, just his luck, he didn’t have a condom. He hadn’t thought he’d get lucky on this trip. Damn. Maybe she had one.

  Her fingers moved through his hair some more, making his nerve endings go on high alert. He knew it was stupid to get into this thing deeper, but he did it all the same. He eased his hand underneath her t-shirt. She wasn’t wearing a bra. Of course, she wouldn’t be, it was nighttime, and this was her sleepwear.

  Her nipple hardened as he waved his fingers across it. He cupped her breast. It was gorgeous and heavy. His favorite kind. His cock twitched again. He wanted her to touch him, open his fly and stroke his cock. They were bound to have condoms somewhere on this train. Hell, he’d even go compartment to compartment tracking one down if need be. His hand slid over her belly, down inside her panties.

  Time to go look for a condom, Nolan.

  But just a little foreplay first.

  His fingers went south into her curls. They were thick and he wondered if they were strawberry blonde, too. He parted them with his index finger, dipping lower until he made contact with the tiny bud beneath. He ran his finger around her clit, feeling its heat radiate back into his skin.

  Fuck, get that condom and soon.

  He flicked it one more time, thinking he had it under control when Josie pulled away, sending his hand sliding from her body and panties.

  “I’m sorry. This is really embarrassing. It’s just I’ve been so upset and…” She put her head into her hands.

  Even though he was hard and ready to make love to her, she was right. This wasn’t the right place to have sex, even if he could track down a condom. He rested his hand on her shoulder.

  “Nothing to be ashamed of. I got lost in the moment, too.”

  She looked at him, blushing as she did so. He pushed a stray piece of hair off her cheek where one of her almost dry tears had stuck it to her skin.

  “Please don’t think badly of me or that I’m a tease.”

  “Nothing like that entered my head.” He stood. “You get some rest and I think you’ll feel like a new person in the morning.”

  “Thank you, and thanks for the ice and drink and the…”

  “Anytime.”

  He turned and left, his cock still twitching. He liked her a lot. He’d like to get to know her, ask her out, but they were on a train and soon he’d be back in Montana, her on her way to scatter her sister’s ashes in Seattle.

  Maybe if it was meant to be, life would have a way of working it out.

  Chapter Five

  Josie woke up the following morning wondering if she’d dreamed the whole thing. She sat up, touching her lips as she did so. That kiss had felt pretty damn real. It had also felt pretty damn good, too.

  She rested her hand on her right breast. The sensation of his hands on her nipple had made her legs feel like they were on fire. Her panties had grown damp when he’d played with her clit, and that’s when she’d realized what a fool she’d made of herself.

  Not that she wouldn’t have wanted him to have sex with her, but deep down inside she wasn’t a one night stand sort of girl. Okay, Jennifer had encouraged her to go a little wild, live her life because you didn’t know when your time was up, but she couldn’t bring herself to have sex with a guy she’d just met, no matter how sexy and nice he was. Especially one she’d never see again once he got off the train in Montana.

  Facing him again was going to be embarrassing, but she only had herself to blame.

  She stretched out her legs, feeling hungry all of a sudden. Glancing at her watch, she noticed it was already eight and the restaurant car would have started serving breakfast an hour ago.

  She pulled on her jeans and blouse, slipped on her sneakers, and headed out and down the corridor, wondering if Quinn was awake yet. Maybe she should get him a coffee and Danish and leave it outside his compartment as a way of saying thanks for being there last night, and sorry I’m a big tease. Maybe she’d leave out the second half.

  Josie pulled back the door to the restaurant car and stepped inside, noting that it wasn’t as packed as she’d imagined. She saw the seat yourself sign by the cash register, and sat herself at the closest table. She pulled the menu from the stand, glanced at it, and then looked up and saw Quinn waving to her.

  Her cheeks burned. It was obvious they’d run into one another again before they got to Montana, but she’d hoped there would be more time between what happened last night and now, so maybe he’d forget most of it.

  She waved back, but then he picked up his coffee mug and newspaper and was heading h
er way.

  “If you’re wondering what to order, they told me the pancakes and sausages can’t be beat.”

  He slid into the seat opposite her and their knees bumped, reminding her of how good his body felt close to hers squeezed into the small compartment.

  “Oh, and by the way I’m buying,” he added.

  “You really don’t have to.”

  He raised his hand. “When a cowboy’s been that familiar with a lady, he buys her breakfast.”

  Her cheeks burned again. “Yeah, about last night… I…”

  He put his hand over hers. “No need to explain. I enjoyed it.”

  Me too. In fact, more than you’ll ever know.

  The waitress arrived at the table. “What can I get you?”

  “I guess I’m having the pancakes and sausages.”

  “And can you make sure our orders arrive at the same time,” added Quinn. “And put the lady’s meal on my tab.”

  The waitress nodded and was gone.

  “I guess when you make your mind up about something that’s it,” said Josie.

  “That about sums me up.”

  He drank some of the coffee the waitress had topped up for him, watching her over the rim of the mug as he did so.

  “You get to sleep after I left?” he asked.

  Josie nodded. She didn’t think she would but somehow that kiss, and yes, the clit massage, had relaxed her in a way no migraine medication ever had.

  “Have you suffered from migraines all your life?” he asked.

  “Since I was a teenager. My mom has them, too.”

  “I’ve heard they’re a real bitch.”

  Josie nodded. “I guess it was the stress and upset about this trip that brought it on.”

  “Well, just sit back and enjoy the scenery, because we’ll soon be crossing the state line into my home state.”

  She smiled. Montana was a vast area, but it wouldn’t be long before he’d be getting off the train and she’d be all on her own, facing the prospect of arriving in Seattle with Jennifer’s remains. She should have asked her parents to come along too, but she couldn’t bring herself to, knowing how upset they’d be. Neither of them had fully recovered from Jennifer’s passing.