Her Forbidden Cowboy (Cowboys After Dark Book 12)

by Carpenter, Maggie

  If everything went as planned over the weekend, Scott would be fully moved into his swiss chalet, as Cathy had called it, by Sunday night. He would spend the following week getting himself completely settled, and his old house spic-and-span. On Monday the general cleaners were coming in, and Tuesday the carpet cleaners. His realtor would be holding her first open house over the next weekend.

  But even as he’d been busy with the last of his packing and driving back and forth, his thoughts had remained solidly on Cathy. She had taken his breath away, and he was beginning to realize the casual attraction he’d had for her over the last year hadn’t been casual at all. He’d been smart to avoid her. The chemistry between them burned hot, and he would have been hard-pressed not to break his golden rule; no crossing the line with boarders.

  Heading back into the kitchen to start loading his car, he was stopped short by the chiming of his front doorbell. The rain had started so he moved quickly, not wanting keep whoever it was waiting, but when he opened the door, all he saw was a woman holding an umbrella over her head, running back to a white Range Rover parked on the street. Thinking she must have stopped at the wrong house, he was about to move back inside when he noticed a box at his feet. She certainly didn’t look like a delivery service, and he was about to call out to her, when he saw he was too late, the car was already pulling away from the curb. Curious, he picked up the box and carried it inside, kicking the door shut behind him, and carried it into the kitchen.

  Placing it on the table, he noticed there was no sealing tape, and lifting the lid, he found himself staring at a plain white envelope sitting on top of beautiful, brand new saddlebags.

  “What the hell,” he mumbled, “did Cathy send me this?”

  Picking up the envelope, he tore it open, and pulling out the folded piece of white paper he began to read.

  Hello Scott:

  Inside the enclosed saddle bags you’ll find one-hundred-thousand dollars in cash. No, this isn’t a joke, and if you don’t believe me, open them up and take a look.

  As his pulse accelerated, a hot rush moved through his body, and he dropped into the kitchen chair. He knew, even before he checked, the money would be there, and opening the flap confirmed it. Wads of cash stared back at him. Before reading any further he darted his eyes to the bottom of the page, and when he saw the name, Marianne Coleman, his heart skipped.

  “Holy crap! She’s tryin’ to pay me off to stop seein’ her daughter,” he muttered. “Holy crap!”

  Going back to the top of the page, his hands almost shaking, he continued to read.

  I’m sure you’ve looked, you know the money is there, and you probably went straight to the end of this letter to see who it’s from, and yes, I am Catherine’s mother. I detest confrontations, especially with strangers, and I have no doubt your masculine ego would have reared its ugly head and we would have had an unpleasant argument on your doorstep. Hence, the box, and this letter.

  This is very simple, Scott. If you’re smart, and don’t have a knee-jerk reaction as men often do, you’ll see just how simple it is. If you do as I ask, you will also see how everyone wins, and if you care for my daughter at all, you will also see you do not have a choice.

  First, you need to know that you will never be accepted by me, and never be welcomed into my family. That is the foundation from which you should consider the following.

  You must stop spending time with Catherine. I understand you have just leased your barn and will no longer be managing the place, which will make this easier.

  I know that you and Catherine have just started dating. No real feelings could have yet developed. Lust, possibly, but not real feelings, the kind of feelings that would make this difficult for either of you. You must end things in a warm, compassionate, friendly way, and you can tell her whatever you wish, but you must stop seeing her. By doing so, you will save Catherine a great deal of heartache. What do I mean?

  As I said above, you will not be welcome in my home. I have forbidden her to see you, and if you insist on continuing to do so, you will cause an estrangement between her, me, and her father, which will not end well for any of us, especially Catherine. Do you want that? If you care for her, of course you don’t, and Scott, my feelings about this will not change.

  If you show her this letter, it will have the same result, and you, you alone, will bear the responsibility for that. Initially she will be angry with me, but at some point she’ll be back in the fold. My daughter may be fiery, but she has a forgiving heart, and we are very close. She will soon realize that this effort is for her sake, and comes from love, and she will not wish to walk away from her home and family for you, someone she barely knows. A week, a month, two months, and you will be history, that is if…you show her this letter. We both know that ultimately, she’ll resent you more for showing this to her, than be angry at me for attempting to save her from something that is a terrible mistake.

  Time for the newsflash.

  There is another man in Catherine’s life, a man far more suitable than you. If you don’t believe me, stop in at the bar at Milestone’s Steakhouse on Sunday night around 8 p.m., and take a glance into the restaurant.

  His name is Renaldo Cavalleri. Do a search and you’ll discover he is an extremely wealthy, international show jumper. He has just bought a home in Tuscany, and he will be flying Catherine there in his private jet. She’s going to be doing the interior decorating for him. You didn’t know about that, did you, Scott? He was here for dinner just last night, and we had a delightful evening.

  You need to understand that I will do everything in my power to see them together. This is a fight you cannot win…!

  Accept the money. I’m sure you can use it. Consider it punitive damages. I’m sure your ego is deeply bruised right now, but my only concern is my daughter’s future happiness. No-one will ever know about this, and we can all ride off into the sunset. Catherine wins, because she won’t be pitted against her family, with you in the middle, her father and I win, because we won’t have a terrible, ongoing emotional situation, (and for that matter, neither will you), and you will walk away with one-hundred-thousand dollars in cash. No taxes to pay, just cold, hard cash.

  Words of Warning.

  If you attempt to come to my house, I’ll have my security people throw you off the property. What happens? Catherine upset! Back to the scenario described above.

  If you attempt to keep the money, and continue to see her, I will tell her about this, I will show her the receipt for the cash I pulled out of my account, the receipt for the saddle bags, and as extra insurance, I have taken a photograph of the package and this letter. Again, back to the scenario described above.

  If you’re smart enough to realize that walking away from Catherine is the best thing for all concerned, but your pride won’t let you keep the money, give it to a charity of your choice.

  Scott, take the money and run, don’t walk, away from my daughter.

  Marianne Coleman.

  Rising unsteadily from his chair, Scott stepped across to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer, slamming the cap on the edge of the counter to pop the cap. It reminded him of the last time he’d done that, and it brought a brief smile to his lips. Sauntering back to the table, he sat down, took two long gulps of his beer, and read the letter again, but slowly, analyzing what was said, and how. When he’d finished, it was obvious from whom Cathy had learned to be stubborn and determined. Shaking his head, he took another swig, then leaned back in his chair.

  There was only one thing he knew for sure. He wasn’t going to rob Cathy of the night he’d promised her. She would have been thinking of nothing else all day, and there was no way he was going to allow the letter, or her mother’s threats, to take that away from her. Putting the note and envelope back in the box and covering it with the lid, he began to load up his car, but it was with a heavy heart that he pulled out of his garage and headed up to his new home.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  By the tim
e Scott knocked on Cathy’s door, she had changed outfits more times than she could count, and had ended up wearing the first dress she’d tried on. Wearing no underwear meant no stockings, so she’d spent half-an-hour trying to make her spray tan look golden brown and even, not orange and patchy. She’d put her hair up, then let it down again, applied her makeup using eyeliner, then had hated it and rubbed it off. Through some unexpected luck, the result had been a sexy, smokey dark color over her lids. It was only a few minutes later that he arrived.

  “Hi,” she beamed, opening the door. “Come in. How did your day go? Did you get everything done that you wanted to?”

  “Sure did,” he smiled, putting his arms around her and hugging her tightly.

  “What a wonderful way to say hello,” she sighed, sinking into him. “What did I do to deserve that?”

  “You answered the door,” he purred into her ear, then stepping back he looked her up and down. “You look gorgeous, you really do.”

  “You clean up pretty good yourself,” she smiled, and she meant it.

  Dressed in a caramel colored V-neck sweater, khaki trousers and loafers on his feet, she would never have imagined him a cowboy who spent his day working with horses and running a barn.

  “Thanks. I haven’t had a reason to wear civilian clothes recently, and I’ve gotta admit, it feels good.”

  “Next time we should go out so I can show you off.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he nodded. “You about ready to go? You got your toothbrush?”

  “I have my toothbrush, my beauty lotions, my nightie-“

  “Nightie? Oh, no, sugar, you sleep naked in my bed,” he declared, raising one wicked eyebrow.

  “You might change your mind when you see it,” she winked, “and I also have my clothes to ride in the morning, so I can go straight to the barn. You’ll have to deliver me home after I ride though.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes, those are my conditions.”

  “Sounds fair enough. Let’s hit the road.”

  “Can you take this for me, please?” she said, handing him a small duffle bag. “I just need to grab a jacket and my purse.”

  Opening her hall closet, she selected a coat and slipped it on, and was picking up her purse when the cell phone inside it began to ring.

  “Oh, no, not again.”

  “What is it?” Scott frowned, seeing the look of angst on her face.

  “It’ll be my mother. She’s been calling me incessantly.”

  “How do you know it’s her? You haven’t looked.”

  “You’re right, I should, but it will be, and if it isn’t, it’ll be dad because she’ll have told him I’m not answering her calls.”

  “Better check, just in case.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” said with an annoyed sigh.

  Opening her purse, she pulled out her phone and nodded her head.

  “Yep! Mom! Again! That woman is relentless. I’ll text her and tell her I’m turning off my phone. That should stop her.”

  “And it’ll also tell her you’re okay.”

  “Yeah, that too,” she said as her fingers danced across the glass screen. “There! Done! Now I really am turning if off.”

  “Good, no more interruptions,” he smiled. “Let’s hit the trail.”

  It had stopped raining and the sky was clear, but the air was chilly, and when they climbed into his SUV and headed to the main road that would take them out of town, he turned the heater on high.

  “It’s going to be such a pretty night,” she sighed, staring out at the darkening sky. “I can’t wait to see the moon and stars through your skylights.”

  “It’s somethin’ special, and I’m glad you’re gonna get to see it.”

  “Scott? Are you okay? Your voice sounded heavy just then.”

  “What? Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, smiling across at her and reaching for her hand. I just hope it’s not the only night you’ll see it. I don’t know how the blazes I’m gonna get us though this thing with your interfering mom, and come out of it unscathed. “Just a lot goin’ through my head.”

  “I’m sure. Your whole life is changing.”

  “Yep, by Sunday night I’ll be completely moved in. At least, I hope so.”

  “Wow. It’s happened so fast.”

  “Seems like it, but I’ve had that cabin-“

  “Chalet,” she corrected him.

  “Fine,” he chuckled, “chalet, I’ve had that chalet for so long now, it already feels like my home. Movin’ everything in though, that’s a big deal. Tomorrow after I leave the barn, I’m gonna start unpackin’, and I’m not gonna stop until it’s finished, I don’t care if it’s the early hours of the mornin’.”

  “Sounds exhausting.”

  “When I have a job like that, I just push through, and before you offer to help, I don’t need you distractin’ me,” he grinned. “Sunday the boys are helpin’ me move my antiques, and then I’ll finish up what’s left.”

  “I wish I could come by on Sunday and see how things look.”

  “You’re busy?” he asked, hoping the question had sounded casual.

  “Unfortunately, I am. I have to, uh, do something for my dad.”

  “You don’t sound very enthusiastic.”

  “I’m not,” she sighed, “and, uh…”

  “Is there somethin’ you wanna tell me?”

  “Kind of, but not now, is that okay?”

  “Of course it’s okay,” he replied.

  As hard as she tried to shake it, Cathy had the feeling that she needed to tell him about seeing Renaldo on Sunday. It was perfectly innocent, but the feeling grew stronger, and she suddenly couldn’t stand it another minute.

  “I have to tell you now,” she suddenly exclaimed.

  “Lord, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout like that.”

  “It’s okay, but what has you so wired?”

  “It’s about Sunday.”

  “What you’re doing for your father?”

  “Yes, you see, he has this big new project, very hush-hush.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t tell me about it, not if he’s asked you to keep it quiet.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He only wants it that way so he can make a big, surprise, announcement.”

  “What does this have to do with Sunday?”

  “The project is an equestrian park, but a serious one, a world class event park, with a Grand Prix stadium, a cross country course, a western area, it’s going to be a really big deal.”

  “Whoa! A world-class place like that here in Crystal Valley? I can’t believe it.”

  “I know, right? I can’t believe it either. He announced it at dinner the other night. Anyway, the guy who’s overseeing the development of the jumping stadium is in town. His name is Renaldo Cavalleri, and he’s some kind of show jumping star. Anyway, I got cornered into giving him a tour, and then I have to have dinner with him.”

  “And you’re feeling weird about it, and you felt you had to tell me.”

  “Yes, totally weird, but I can cancel. I don’t have a gun to my head, well, that’s not exactly true, but I’m happy to call it off.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” he smiled. “You told your dad you’d do it, so you should keep your word.”

  Scott wanted to hug her. If her mother’s letter had given him any doubts, no matter now small, they were now exorcised.

  “He’s insisted we meet up at the barn.”

  “Why there?”

  “He says he wants to see my horse, and he misses the smell of horses, and, uh, there’s something else. I wasn’t going to tell you this bit, but you may as well know everything,” she continued, her voice growing quiet.

  “I’m listenin’, and don’t worry, I won’t freak out,” he promised, pretty sure he knew what was coming.

  “Mom is hell-bent on me liking this guy. She’s determined that the two of us will become an item. It’s dri
ving me nuts.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  “He was at dinner. That’s what made the night such a scene. She came on really strong when I was leaving. It wasn’t pleasant.”

  “I can imagine,” he muttered, thinking about the toxic letter.

  “I get why she’s all-fired up about him, but I have absolutely no interest in him at all, none, and I wouldn’t even if you and I hadn’t…”

  “Hadn’t…?”

  “You know, gotten together. Are we together? Sorry,” she said hastily, “I shouldn’t ask you that.”

  “It’s fine,” he said calmly, turning off the main road and heading down the narrow lane into the quiet of the countryside. “No sense dancin’ around the bushes. Is that something you’d like, for us to be a couple?”

  “Is it too soon?”

  “Not for me, and I guess that’s because we’ve known each other for almost a year, and let’s be honest, we have a helluva connection.”

  “We do. I agree completely.”

  “So, if you wanna call us a couple, and see where this goes, that’s fine with me, but I’d like to keep it on the quiet side for a while. Not long, it’s just…”

  “The boarder, owner thing?”

  “It’d be real easy for me to say yes, but that’s not it, and I’m not gonna start off lyin’ to you.”

  “Is it another woman? Have you been seeing someone else?”

  “No, no, nothin’ like that, and I wish I could tell you why you need to be discreet for a bit, but I can’t. You’re gonna have to trust me to work it out. Can you do that?”

  “Of course I can,” she said softly, “and I want to kiss you very badly right now.”