Welcome Home, Cowboy

by Annie Rains

  He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him where she could feel that certain parts of him were very excited to see her. “You,” he said, surprising her by lifting her off her feet. Then he carried her down the hall and into the bedroom.

  —

  Lawson laid Julie down on the bed and stared at her for a long moment. Her skirt was slightly lifted, falling above her knees. Her hair was splayed out around her face. “Beautiful” was the only word he could think to describe her, but that didn’t do her justice.

  She sat up and pulled at the button of his jeans.

  “Wait a minute,” he said. “I thought I was the one seducing you.” He smiled as she slowly lowered his zipper.

  “I want to celebrate you tonight, too.”

  The front of his pants tightened at her suggestion; he nearly exploded with her touch. He forced himself to push her off, before he lost too much control. Then he lifted her blouse over her head and pushed her gently to lie back on the bed. “This is what I wanted to do last night.” He ran his hands and mouth over her body, enjoying the way she shuddered against his touch. Her skin was soft, smooth. He never tired of the way it felt. “I want you,” he said. “All of you.”

  Except he didn’t mean he wanted her sexually, although that was a given. He wanted her, all of her. He wanted to wake up with her in the mornings and go to sleep with her at night. He wanted to tell her about all the things that haunted his dreams. And he wanted to know about her hopes and dreams as well, wanted to make them all come true.

  He kissed her mouth, then moved to grab a condom from the nightstand drawer beside them. They were on the last of the ones they’d purchased at the grocery store weeks ago. He slipped one on and returned to the comfort of her arms, looking at her in a whole new light as he made love to her. The first few condoms might’ve been just about sex, but now it was more between them. A lot more, which should’ve terrified him, but it didn’t.

  When they were done, he handed Julie back her skirt. “I’ll still take you to dinner if you want.”

  Her eyelids hung sleepily. “Hmm?”

  He grinned. “You said you were starving earlier,” he reminded her. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “Anywhere?” she asked, draping her arm behind her on the pillow. She looked like an angel beside him.

  “Lady’s choice.”

  “I’m beginning to love those two words.” She stretched and started to sit up. “Just give me a few minutes to get beautiful again.”

  “You’re already beautiful, darling.” He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. She tasted like the champagne they’d sampled before landing themselves in bed. “But I’ll wait for you in the living room.”

  He got dressed and walked down the hall, giving her privacy. Each step he took felt like walking on air, because of her.

  Ten minutes later they were in his truck and driving across town to the local all-night pancake house.

  “Of all the places you could’ve picked,” he teased.

  She laughed. “I have a sweet tooth sometimes.”

  Yeah, he did, too. And she was the sweetest thing he knew.

  “So where exactly are you going tomorrow?” he asked when they were seated in front of a large stack of pancakes, topped with maple syrup and fresh fruit.

  Smoothing her hair behind her ear the way he’d realized she did when she was nervous, she forked another bite of pancake, sliding it across the plate and soaking up the syrup. “Nowhere important.”

  “Julie?”

  Her gaze lifted to meet his and she sighed, her shoulders rounding. “I’m going to Charlotte for the day.”

  A lead feeling anchored in his stomach. “Charlotte? Why the hell are you going back there?” He heard the edge in his voice.

  She shrugged. “I didn’t want to tell you. I knew you’d be upset.”

  “Are you going to see him?” he asked. “Are you moving back?”

  Her eyes widened. “No. Of course not. Seaside is my home, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.”

  Something loosened in his chest. “But you are going to see him? Your ex?”

  The look in her eye told him it was true.

  “It’s a long story, but I need to face Daren. I need to tell him why I left.”

  “You don’t owe that jerk-off anything,” he said through a tight jaw.

  “No. But I owe it to myself,” she said slowly, firmly. “Things are unresolved between us. I slunk out of that place before daylight, like a frightened girl. I need to prove to myself that I’m not that girl anymore.”

  Lawson picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “I’m going with you.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’ll be back tomorrow night. I need to do this on my own, Lawson.” Fire sparked behind her eyes. She wasn’t angry, she was determined.

  Every muscle in Lawson’s body was tight. No part of him wanted to see her go back to Charlotte. Not because he was jealous—maybe just a tiny part—but he also didn’t want to see her get hurt again. “If he so much as looks at you wrong, you call me.”

  A soft smile bloomed on her mouth. “Deal.” She outstretched her hand.

  “We haven’t made a deal in a while.” He took her hand, rubbing his thumb along her smooth skin. “I mean it. I protect the ones I care about.”

  “Which means you care about me.”

  “Of course I care about you. I care a lot about you.” And that was as close to relaying his feelings as he usually got. Never show fear. Guard your feelings, boy. His father’s voice was as clear in his head as the truth about his feelings for Julie were in his heart. He pushed both away.

  “I care about you, too.” She stabbed another bite of pancake, putting it in her mouth and chewing. “Flipping the tables now. Let’s talk about you. How’s work going?”

  Lawson leaned back in his chair. He’d prefer being in bed with her. “Great,” he lied. “I spoke to my commander this week and I’m returning to regular duty next week.” That wasn’t a lie, unfortunately.

  Julie straightened. “That’s awesome news, Lawson. I’m so proud of you.”

  “You’re the one doing great things in this town.”

  She blushed a little. “I love this town. It’s my home. When I was young I couldn’t wait to leave, but now that I’m back…” She shrugged. “I’m here to stay.”

  Lawson watched her. He hadn’t lied when he said he cared about her. He wanted her to be happy. God knows she deserved a little bit of joy after her shitty ex. That’s why he needed his transition back to regular duty to go as smoothly as possible next week. He belonged where Julie was, and Julie belonged here. That was as clear as the desire in her eyes right now. “Again?” he asked. “You can’t get enough of me, can you?”

  She grinned, shaking her head and setting her fork down.

  “I’ll grab the check,” he said.

  —

  The sun was just coming up as Julie passed the sign letting her know that she was leaving Seaside behind. But not for long. Seaside was her home now, and there was no sweeter place.

  Except maybe in Lawson’s arms.

  A warm feeling ran through her as she retraced the details of the night before: making love, having dinner, Lawson telling her that he cared about her. She could put a lot of meaning behind those words if she wanted to. Maybe “care” really meant he loved her. Would that be so bad? To be loved by Lawson?

  Smiling to herself, she veered onto the interstate. It would take another three hours to reach Charlotte. Daren would just be waking by the time she arrived. And hopefully he’d be in a good mood. If he was feeling rational, they’d agree that they were never good for each other. Then they’d part ways amiably, and Daren would give her a glowing reference when Mr. Banks called next week. That was the best-case scenario.

  Julie’s phone beeped beside her. She’d respond later, when her hands and mind were free. For right now, she’d just keep basking in the memory of last night. Hopefu
lly there’d be many, many more of those in her future, which she could begin enjoying just as soon as she handled her past, once and for all.

  Chapter 21

  Lawson tossed his phone on the bed beside him and willed himself to get up. Julie wasn’t answering her texts. He’d spent the last several weekends with her. But today he’d be flying solo.

  He sat up and reached for the T-shirt beside his bed. He’d promised Allison at the Veterans’ Center that he’d go over one weekend and do some more handyman work. Today was as good a day as any. He reached for his phone again and tapped in Griffin’s number, hoping to score an accomplice to his good deeds.

  “Work? On my day off?” Griffin asked, sounding about as excited as Lawson was about the fact that Julie was spending the day with her controlling ex.

  “What else do you have to do?”

  Griffin yawned loudly into the phone. There was no way Lawson had woken him up. Griffin stayed up late and woke early. It was debatable if the man slept at all. “True. I’ll meet you there in an hour.”

  Lawson hung up and sent another text to Julie.

  Call me if he gets out of line.

  She was probably driving and didn’t want to be distracted by her phone. He liked that about her. She was a good girl. Sweet, smart, and innocent everywhere except inside the bedroom. In the bedroom, she was everything he’d ever fantasized about: sexy and vulnerable, shy and demanding.

  Pulling on a pair of jeans, he headed to the kitchen to grab an apple to eat on his way to the vet center. On his to-do list today was fixing the center’s porch railing. The porch led to a nice-sized outdoor area where the veterans enjoyed several barbecues each year. He’d never participated in the events here, even though he’d been invited. He considered the center to be more for retired Marines. Julie’s yoga class proved that assumption wrong, though. It’d proved a lot of assumptions wrong.

  “Hey, Lawson,” someone said as he got out of his truck in the parking lot. He recognized the voice immediately and took his time turning to face her.

  “Mel,” he said. She was already in front of him, invading his personal space and smiling like a sugar-crazed child on Halloween. Obviously she’d forgotten that she was mad at him. “How are you?” he asked, glancing around the lot and formulating his getaway strategy.

  “Good.” She nodded, still staring at him awkwardly. “I was thinking we should get together soon and drink that wine I brought to your house.”

  This almost made him smile. The wine she’d shoved at Julie and told her to drink? The wine that he and Julie had enjoyed prior to making love? “Oh. Well, it was nice of you to bring it over. I’m, uh, seeing someone these days, though, Mel.” The words stumbled from his mouth. It was the first time he’d said it out loud. He was seeing Julie Chandler. Dating her. They were getting serious whether he was ready or not.

  Mel’s smile fell into a flat line. Her bright eyes suddenly darkened. “Is it that woman who’s been at your place a lot lately?”

  Lawson took a tiny step backward, not retreating from her, but personal space would be nice. And how the heck did she know that Julie frequented his place? “Mel, you’re bordering on stalking,” he said slowly.

  “Stalking?” she scoffed. “You lead me on and then you accuse me of being a stalker?”

  He nodded, looking at the entrance of the Veterans’ Center again. “Let me ask you. What are you doing here right now?”

  “What do you mean?” Her voice rose a nervous notch that made him take another tiny step backward.

  “I mean, you’re not in the military and never have been as far as I know. Why are you at the Veterans’ Center?”

  “Well, I saw your truck and followed you in,” she said, giggling at the end of her words.

  “Exactly.” He started to walk past her. Being a nice guy wasn’t getting him anywhere.

  “You’re just going to walk away from our conversation?” she yelled at his back.

  “Goodbye, Mel. Try finding a nice guy online. I’m sure the perfect guy is out there waiting for you.” He was not that guy, though. He was almost to the door when another voice grabbed his attention.

  “Well, I have to say that was fun to watch.”

  Lawson scowled at Griffin as he approached. “You were standing there listening and didn’t try to save me?”

  “Why would I do that? I preferred to watch you squirm.”

  Lawson shook his head, then laughed a little at himself. “When is she ever going to leave me alone?”

  “I hear she followed Hines around like that for nearly a year,” Griffin said, patting his back.

  Lawson pulled open the door to the center and slid him a look. “A year? Maybe I should get a restraining order on her. Think that would set things straight in her mind?”

  “Lawson. Griffin.” Allison Carmichael looked up from the semicircular desk in the front of the room. “Are you here for the class?”

  “Class?” Lawson shook his head. “What class?”

  “I guess that’s a no. So you must be here to work on the porch railing like you promised last month?” She arched a brow.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he drawled.

  “Don’t call me ma’am. Makes me feel old,” she said, rising from her chair and walking around the desk.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said again, winking at her.

  “I like him to call me sir, and we’re the same age,” Griffin piped in, soliciting another scowl from Lawson.

  “Why did I ask you to come along today?” Lawson asked.

  Allison laughed as she watched. Then she motioned for them to follow her outside. “There are tools and lumber, anything you need in the storage building over there.” She pointed at a metal building and handed Lawson a key. “Thank you so much for this. You and Julie are really investing a lot in this place lately.”

  “It’s not a problem,” he said.

  She started to walk away, then turned. “I was going to call you this week, but since you’re here, I need to check a reference with you.”

  Lawson shoved his hands in his pockets. “A job reference? For Julie?”

  “Well, you are technically her employer. Beth said you’re the one signing Julie’s checks.”

  Lawson nodded. “That’s true. Beth has her hands full right now.”

  Allison held out her hands. “It’s standard procedure.”

  “Here’s my reference: making her an employee here is the best thing this place has ever done.”

  “Aside from hiring me, you mean?” she teased.

  Lawson took an elbow in the ribs from Griffin. “You’re losing your touch, man.”

  “Sorry. I’m biased these days,” Lawson admitted. “But Julie is good.” In every sense of the word.

  Allison nodded. Then her cellphone rang in her pocket. Glancing at the caller ID, she sighed. “I have to take this. Sorry, guys. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”

  “Sure.” Turning, he jingled the keys to the storage building at Griffin and hooked his head. “Let’s get to work.” Work would distract him from worrying about Julie. She was tough and could take care of herself. She didn’t need his rescue, and he admired that about her. He just hoped her ex played nice because whether she needed him to or not, Lawson would take care of any man who tried to hurt her again.

  —

  The closer Julie got to Charlotte, the more her stomach tied itself into tiny knots—the kind that needed the end of a fork to untie. She pulled into a gas station to fill up and picked up her phone to see what she’d missed during her two-plus hour drive so far. There were two texts from Lawson. She smiled as she read them. He really did protect the ones he cared about. She liked being part of that group.

  She also had a text from Kat, along with a missed call. She’d call her sister back tomorrow. She didn’t want to explain why she was going to see Daren in person right now. Kat was protective, too. She’d have all kinds of objections, which would be convincing and which might make Julie reconsider.

/>   No turning back now.

  After filling up her tank, she pulled back onto the interstate and drove the last forty miles to Charlotte, pulling into Daren’s driveway at nine A.M. A man of relentless routine, he’d be awake and having breakfast right now—two boiled eggs and grapefruit with coffee, black. He’d scoffed at her prior breakfast of choice: maple syrup oatmeal. And eventually he’d ruled that she should trade it for something with less carbs, less sugar. Like what he ate.

  Why did I let him control me that way? Never again.

  Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to open her car door and get out. Her legs felt wobbly; she forced them to lock, took another deep breath, and reminded herself that she was strong. She was a Chandler, after all. Raised by a military father and moved from one town to another in her childhood. Being the new kid in school had demanded she be resilient, and she was.

  She walked to the front door and rang the bell, even though Daren’s key was still in her purse. He’d probably be angry with her for leaving the way she had. And when he got angry, he tended to get in her face. He’d never shied away from shoving her to the wall, yelling at her, or calling her names. And then there’d been the one night he’d hit her. The night she’d decided to skip town like a coward. Her birthday.

  She wasn’t a coward anymore.

  The door opened and she stood face-to-face with her past.

  Daren stared at her for a long moment, with an unreadable expression, one that could light to fiery anger in a heartbeat. His jet black hair was still wet from his morning shower, combed neatly and secured with gel. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice chilled with hatred. “I thought I was rid of you for good.”

  She swallowed. Took a breath. You can do this. You’re stronger now. “Hi, Daren. Can I come in?”

  He thought for a second, and then opened the door wider. “Don’t even think about trying to come crawling back.”