Her Forbidden Cowboy (Cowboys After Dark Book 12)

by Carpenter, Maggie

  “Do you go there often?”

  “Dad’s an avid golfer, and mom is big on holding her charity events there.”

  “You didn’t exactly answer the question,” he mumbled, “but I’m not sure you have to.”

  Cathy could feel him pulling back. It wasn’t because his voice had fallen quiet, it was just a feeling that had washed over her, and a small shard of panic sent a chill through her body.

  “I’m not seeing anyone special,” she said quickly. “The guys I know, they’re just friends. It took a lot of courage to ask you to have coffee with me. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t really like you.”

  “Even though I put you over my knee?”

  To his surprise she held his gaze, and then, to his absolute delight, though her face was crimson, she slowly nodded her head.

  “Uh-huh…actually…”

  “Actually what?”

  “I don’t want to say,” she mumbled.

  “You do, you just need a nudge, and I’m nudgin’ you. Actually, what?”

  “Especially because you, uh, did that,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.

  It had been years since Scott had experienced a visceral reaction like the one that surged through his veins. Taking a breath, he grabbed a muffin, and pulling off a chunk he popped it in his mouth, following it with a swig of coffee.

  “Would you please say something?” she murmured. “I’m kind of dying over here.”

  “I’m not sure what to say,” he replied, “but I will tell you one thing. As long as I’m still managin’ the barn, all we can do is this, share a cup of coffee. Once I’m outta there, we can spread our wings a bit.”

  “How about meeting up for a drink one evening?”

  “What did I just say?”

  “One drink wouldn’t hurt, would it?”

  “Seems like you’re gettin’ braver all the time,” he grinned. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll meet you for a drink, one time, but I say where and when.”

  “Deal,” she nodded, “but not month from now. I mean, sometime soon.”

  “You are somethin’,” he chuckled. “I’ll bet you can get your daddy to agree to just about anything.”

  “No, not just about anything,” she giggled. “Anything.”

  She’d barely finished speaking when a roaring clap of thunder rolled over their heads. The skies opened up, and they both paused the conversation to stare out the window at the torrential downpour.

  “I’m really glad you told me to put the top up on my car,” she said gratefully.

  “And I’m glad I had the horses brought in. I knew it was gonna rain hard, but not this hard. I’m wonderin’ if I should wait ’til it lets up, or head back now.”

  “Let me check my phone,” she said, reaching into her purse for her phone. “I have a weather app.”

  He couldn’t help but notice it was an expensive designer leather bag, and as she unzipped it and pulled out her phone in its rhinestone cover, his doubts resurfaced. The girl had money, lots of it, and while he owned property and had a decent amount of cash in the bank, he wasn’t a multi-millionaire.

  “According to this, it’s supposed to storm through the rest of the day,” she frowned. “There’s also a flash flood warning for the lower valleys.”

  “At least I don’t have to worry about that,” he said gratefully. “One of the things I liked about that barn when I bought it was its elevation.”

  “Does that mean we can stay for a while? I don’t have anything to go home to, and I like sitting here, drinking coffee in an empty cafe with the storm outside.”

  “Sure, we can stay,” he nodded, doing his best to push away his concerns.

  There was a distant flash of lightening, and a few moments later, another roll of thunder, and bringing her elbow on to the table top and resting her chin in her palm, she smiled across at him. He liked her company, he liked her voice, he liked looking at her. Her liked her, period! They sat for an over an hour, chatting about horses in general, exchanging hilarious stories about their experiences with their equine friends, and when it came time to leave, they made a mad dash through the rain out into the parking lot. It made little difference. They were both soaked by the time they’d reached the car.

  “My gosh,” she panted. “This is crazy.”

  “Are you gonna be okay drivin’ back to your place in that little car of yours?”

  “I should be, but I just had a thought. There’s a dip in my street, and in a heavy rain it can fill with water.”

  “You wanna go by and check it out?”

  “Would you mind? It’s about a mile down Campbell Road, the first street on the right.”

  “No problem, and let’s get some heat in here!” he exclaimed, starting the car and turning on the blower.

  As he drove slowly through the driving rain, the only other cars they saw were emergency vehicles, and as he turned down her street, they were met with a road block.

  “This doesn’t look good,” he muttered, and watching a deputy in a yellow slicker approach his car, he dropped his window a couple of inches.

  “Sorry, sir, the power lines are down, street’s totally flooded,” the young officer yelled. “Can’t let you through.”

  Scott shouted his thanks, then closed the window and looked across at her.

  “So? Where to?”

  “I’ll have to go to my parents, but I think you’re right. I don’t think I want to drive my car in this.”

  “No problem, where am I going?”

  “Park Hill, by the lake.”

  The lake community was the most exclusive in the county, and while it came as no surprise, it reminded him of who she was, and how different their lives were. Sitting the cafe laughing and getting to know each other, he’d almost forgotten.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Two Weeks Later

  For days after their coffee date, Cathy had been on cloud nine, but as time ticked past and Scott didn’t seek her out at the barn or call her, she began to wonder if their mutual attraction had been only in her head. She’d laid sleeplessly in her bed reliving their special afternoon, and by the time she would fall asleep, she’d do so convinced the energy that had been bouncing between them had been real.

  They’d had a wonderful time in the cozy cafe as the tempest had raged outside, and the scary, dramatic drive through the storm to her parent’s home on the knoll overlooking the lake had been amazing. More than once she’d grabbed his arm when a flash of lightening had blazed its energy frighteningly close, and when he’d pulled up under the portico at the front door, she’d thought he was going to lean over and kiss her. He’d been staring at her intently, and she’d felt an incredible pull, but he’d unexpectedly looked away and cricked his neck. When he smiled back at her the sparkling moment had passed. It made no sense that he would be ignoring her, and perplexed, whenever she was at the barn she’d kept her eyes open, hoping to corner him and ask him why he’d not called, but whenever she’d seen him he’d been running off somewhere, or driving away.

  She was hurt, she was ticked off, and she’d had enough.

  “If you don’t want to see me, fine, but you should at least have the courtesy to tell me,” she muttered, sitting on her tack trunk outside her horse’s stall. “Typical man. Fuck this shit.”

  Rarely did Cathy swear. It meant her fury was building to a boiling point, and as she stared down at the dirt floor, she could feel her rage ready to explode.

  “Dammit,” she growled. “You promised me one drink, just one, so what the hell?”

  “Hey, what’s up with you? Why do you look so depressed?”

  Looking up she saw Robyn walking towards her, and the teenager’s sunny smile made Cathy want to slap her.

  “None of your business,” she said brusquely. “Don’t you have some tack to clean or floors to sweep?”

  “I’m not working right now. Scott said I could exercise Dusty for him. He’s been so busy he hasn’t been able to ride. I’m so exci
ted. I love Dusty.”

  “Busy with what?” Cathy asked, hoping for some news that would explain his lack of communication.

  “I guess he found that trainer he wanted. I’ve been helping him clean out a whole bunch of stuff.”

  “From where?”

  “His office, the storeroom, places like that. We took a few saddles to the consignment shop this morning. Anyway, I’m going to get Dusty. Hope you feel better.”

  As she watched the bubbly girl walk away, Cathy clenched her teeth and banged her fist on the top of her trunk. Scott would soon be free of the barn, so he couldn’t use the excuse that he’d changed his mind because of the stupid rule he had about socializing with a boarder.

  “That’s it,” she grumbled. “If I can’t track him down, I’ll make him come to me!”

  Opening her tack trunk, she pulled out a couple of saddle pads that needed washing, and along with some brushes, old curry combs and small towels, she littered the barn aisle, then grabbing two of her pink buckets she marched off to the wash rack. Filling them with water, she left one in the middle of the wash rack floor, and hauled the second away, leaving it in front of Pepper’s stall door.

  “That should do the trick,” she muttered standing back and staring at it, “and I hope it really pisses you off, Scott Sampson!”

  Striding back to her tack trunk, cursing him under her breath, she began rummaging it through it again to see if there was anything else she could add to the mess, but she became so caught up in her angry search she didn’t hear him walking towards her. Nor did she did sense him standing and behind her, and when his hot hand swatted her butt with a stinging smack, she literally jumped as she spun around and grabbed her seat.

  “WHAT THE HELL?”

  “I think I should be askin’ you that question,” he exclaimed, glowering at her. “What’s all this mess, and why is your bucket in the middle of the wash rack? What’re you playin’ at?”

  “Buckets! With an s,” she spat. “You missed one!”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’ll find out, and now I’m leaving.”

  “The hell you are,” he growled, looking around to make sure no-one was in earshot. “You’re gonna tell me exactly what’s goin’ on here, then you’re gonna clean up your mess.”

  “What’s going on here? You seriously have to ask me that? If you’d changed your mind about that drink, fine, okay, I’m a big girl, I can handle it, but to outright ignore me, that sucks, and it pisses me off, and you hurt my feelings. You’re nothing but a liar and a coward.”

  Her voice had risen in pitch and volume as she’d railed at him, her face had turned bright red, and she could feel a painful heat in the back of her throat.

  “Whoa, hold on there,” he said with a confused frown, holding up his hands. “Whatta you mean, ignore you? I sent you a card.”

  “You…you…did what?” she stammered, feeling as if someone had just punched her in the gut. “I didn’t get any card. Where did you send it?”

  “I only have your parent’s address, so I sent it there. You see them all the time, don’t you?”

  “I do,” she mumbled. “I was there just a couple of nights ago. They gave me my mail, but there was nothing from you. When did you send it?”

  “About a week ago, last Friday to be exact.”

  “But it’s Thursday. It doesn’t take six days for mail to arrive,” she muttered, dropping down on her trunk. “I’m sorry, I thought…”

  “Hey, if you didn’t get my card I can’t blame you for bein’ confused, but all this,” he remarked, waving his hand at her belongings scattered across the aisle, “this is a bit much.”

  “I thought you were purposely ignoring me.”

  “But leaving your crap everywhere is nothin’ but a childish tantrum. You should’ve called me, or waved me down, or stopped by the office.”

  “I did try to wave you down, and you just waved back and kept going.”

  “Cathy…,” he said, crossing his arms and staring down at her.

  “Okay, fine, but I honestly thought you were avoiding me.”

  “Hey, when you didn’t say anything about the card, I was kinda ticked off too, but I didn’t come over here and leave my crap all over your trunk.”

  “You’re right, I’m sorry,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I was just so hurt, and I couldn’t understand what was going on. I wonder why didn’t I get it? What did it say?”

  “It said,” he murmured, sitting next to her, “that I’d found a trainer, and I’d be real busy for a few days, but I was lookin’ forward to havin’ that drink to celebrate, and…”

  “And what?” she breathed, seeing a sexy glint in his eye.

  “And gettin’ to know you outside of this place.”

  “I don’t even know what to say,” she said softly, dropping her eyes.

  “Next time you think I’ve let you down, give me a chance to explain before you start throwin’ a hissy fit.”

  “I will. I promise,” she said, sighing again. “Now I feel bad.”

  “I’ve got a real easy cure for a guilty conscience,” he whispered, moving his lips against her ear.

  An instant burst of butterflies flitted around her stomach, and swallowing hard, she leaned against his shoulder.

  “I have to repeat myself,” she said softly. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t need to say anything, sugar. How about we meet up for that drink tonight? I’ve gotta lot to tell you.”

  “I’m supposed to be going to a dinner party. Mom and dad are having some people over, but I’d much rather be with you. I’ll get out of it.”

  “You do that, and text me when you know for sure, and send me your address so I know where to pick you up,” he grinned. “If you can’t make it tonight, no sweat, we can do it tomorrow night. I’ve got most everythin’ under control now, so the pressure’s lettin’ up.”

  “I don’t think my presence at the house is a command performance or anything, so I doubt there’ll be a problem.”

  “Just let me know, now clean up the mess, and wherever you left that other bucket-“

  “Outside Pepper’s stall,” she interrupted.

  “Oh, is that right? Clever!”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll put everything away and collect both of them.”

  “That’s my girl,” he said warmly, and putting his arm around her shoulder he gave her a quick hug before heading off.

  As she watched him march down the aisle, she closed her eyes and leaned back, resting against the wall of her horse’s stall. She hadn’t been imagining things! He did like her! He liked her enough to send her a card! Smiling happily, she pulled out her phone and called her mother.

  “Hello, Cathy.”

  “Hi, mom, listen I don’t think I can make it tonight,” Cathy said, expecting the usual, oh, that’s too bad, never mind, but instead she was met by a sharp intake of breath. “Mom? Are you okay?”

  “Why can’t you come?”

  “Sorry, I’ve had a better offer,” she giggled.

  “Cathy, I need you here. You can’t cancel at the last minute like this.”

  “I don’t understand,” Cathy said, truly perplexed. “I cancel all the time and it’s no big deal. What’s so special about tonight?”

  “Yes, you do cancel all the time, and I wish you wouldn’t,” her mother said brusquely. “I have everything set for eight, the table is being decorated as we speak, and-“

  “You’re having someone decorate the table? Why is this so special?”

  “It just is! You father is expecting some very important guests, and I’ll expect you at seven-thirty. Dress well. Wear those sapphire earrings and matching choker.”

  “Who’s coming that’s so important?”

  “The Mayor and his wife for a start,” she quipped.

  “That sounds really boring,” Cathy groaned.

  “It might not be as boring as you think, now don’t let your father down. He’s counting o
n his beautiful daughter to be here.”

  “Okay, okay, I get it, I’ll be there!”

  “Good, I’m glad to hear it,” her mother declared, obviously relieved.

  “Hey, mom, before you go, someone sent me a card and I didn’t get it. Do you remember seeing anything like that?”

  “No, no, I give you everything that comes for you,” she said hastily. “Why wouldn’t I? What else would I do with it?”

  “I was only asking,” Cathy replied, surprised that her mother had become so defensive.

  “Maybe whoever it was didn’t send you anything, and they’re just claiming they did.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “I don’t know, people lie, Cathy. You’re too trusting. I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Okay, sure. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Ending the call, Cathy stared at her phone.

  “Okay, that was really strange,” she muttered. “Is tonight so important you’re just totally stressed? I guess so.”

  Disappointed that she wouldn’t be seeing Scott, she texted him the news, then added her address at the end. She was putting her phone back in her pocket when he texted her back, and as she read the message her smile returned.

  I said I’d pick the where and the when, and tomorrow night is better anyway. I’ll have more time. The where is my house, and now I can feed you as well. You can have fun tonight thinking about it.

  She sent him a quick, I can’t wait, and as she started picking up the mess she’d made, she said a silent thank you to her mother. Dinner at Scott’s house was a whole lot better than a drink in some bar.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The Coleman residence had a large motor court at the side of the house, and as Cathy pulled in she was shocked to see a gleaming black Rolls Royce.

  “No wonder mom wanted me to wear the crown jewels tonight,” she mumbled as she checked her reflection in her rear-view mirror. “I wonder who else is here besides the Mayor. He doesn’t have the money for a car like that, and if he did, he wouldn’t want anyone to know about it.”

  Glad she’d worn her simple but elegant strapless black silk dress and glossy Jimmy Choo pumps, she grabbed her evening bag and stepped out of her car, and paused to scrutinize the sumptuous automobile. It almost put her father’s Mercedes 65SL to shame. Finding herself truly intrigued about its owner she hurried into the house, as she entered the formal lounge, she discovered her mother had pulled out all the stops.