His frown deepened. “I ride...rode bulls for a living. I’m sure as hell not intimidated by any car.”
She opened the passenger door. “Prove it.”
Muttering a curse, he lowered himself into the driver’s side and backed the seat up to make room for his long legs. Then he curled his long fingers around the wheel and looked her way. “You’re a real pain in the ass, Dalton. You know that, don’t you?”
She smiled her reply.
He looked around and then nodded in approval. “Not too shabby.”
“It belonged to my grandfather. He left it to me when he passed away.”
He eyed the keys in his hand. “Maybe I’d better not take it for a ride.”
She hit the door lock, not that it would keep him in if he chose to leave, but she was making a point. “Weren’t you just about to prove something to me?”
“I repeat,” he said with a chuckle as he started the engine, “Real pain in the ass.”
He looked big behind that wheel. Sexy. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll grow on you.”
“Like one of those pesky, clinging vines, no doubt,” he muttered with a grin as he pulled out onto the drive.
She tried not to dwell on the image those words brought to mind. Her naked limbs wrapped firmly around his bare, muscular body. Lacy groaned.
“Dalton?” he said, looking her way. “You okay?”
“I’ll be better once you get this ‘Vette moving and I feel the wind in my hair.” And on her heated face.
They turned off his drive and onto the road. “So what’s the fastest you’ve ever gone in this thing?”
“Around 100.”
His eyes widened as he pulled away from the house. “As in miles per hour?”
“What can I say? I like fast.”
“In your men, too?”
Her head snapped around, her gaze meeting his. “I’m supposed to be asking you the questions, remember?”
“Sorry,” he said, forcing his gaze back to the road. “That was out of line.”
“You’re forgiven – this time.” She laid her head back against the leather seat with a sigh. “I love this.”
“This?”
“Flying down the road with the top down, the wind whipping around me. There’s nothing like it.”
“Have you ever ridden a horse?”
“No.”
“It’s even better. Maybe I’ll take you out for a ride sometime.”
She rolled her head to look at him. “I’d like that.”
He removed his hat and placed it on the seat between them. “Aren’t you worried about your hair getting all messed up?”
“Why? Have we been invited to a dress your best hoe-down this evening?”
He grinned. “Not that I recall.”
The man had a great smile when he chose to use it. “Wait!” she exclaimed. “Make that a cowboy’s ball. Only instead of losing her glass slipper, Cinder-cowgirl leaves behind her boot.”
Cade cocked a playful brow her direction. “Do I detect a conflict of interest here, Dalton? Seems to me you’ve got something against cowboys.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong.” She flashed him an impish grin. What woman in her right mind could resist a ruggedly sexy cowboy in tight jeans and boots? One who could wrestle a bear and win.”
“I’d like to think it was me you were referring to with the ruggedly sexy part, but seeing as how I’ve never wrestled a bear that leaves me out. Unless you count Burk. He’s hairy enough.”
Their laughter blended together and drifted off as the car sped even faster down the country road.
Lacy couldn’t keep her eyes off the boyish grin that tugged at the corners of Cade’s mouth. Something told her that catching him in this kind of carefree mood was a rare thing.
They sped down the road, radio blasting, like a couple of teenagers and then back again. Cade eased off the gas as they neared the ranch, his grin fading.
Lacy pushed the strands of windblown hair away from her face. “Well, that didn’t take long.”
“Not nearly as long as it would have in my old pickup truck.”
Grabbing his hat from the seat, she dropped it onto her head. “How about another spin?”
“You don’t have to twist my arm.” Instead of turning onto the road that led up to the ranch, he drove on.
She clutched the hat to her head as the wind threatened to sweep it away. She hadn’t had this much fun in...forever.
This was a whole different side of Cade. Relaxed. Smiling. Fun. Maybe her stay there wouldn’t be so bad after all.
The cell phone inside her purse rang. Cade slowed the car and turned the volume down on the radio as she brought the phone to her ear. “Hello?...Yeah, no problem getting here...Don’t worry, Mac, you’ll get your story.”
She snapped the phone shut and shoved it back into her bag. When she looked up she met Cade’s narrowed gaze. “My editor,” she said with an apologetic smile.
“I already figured that much,” he said stiffly before turning his focus onto the road ahead. “Time to go home.”
Talk about bad timing. Why couldn’t Mac have waited to hear from her as they’d agreed on? One glance at Cade told her there would be no recapturing the fun they had shared only moments before. His posture was ridged. His long fingers curled in a death grip around the wheel. A clear sign that he’d drawn the protective walls back up. Which put her right back to where she started – the hated journalist.
CHAPTER THREE
Removing the worn leather cowboy hat from her head, Lacy handed it over to Cade. “Here’s your hat.”
He took it, slapping it onto his head. “Well, this has been real nice, but all play and no work makes me lose more money.” He turned the car around.
“Cade—”
“I’m sure ‘Mac’ wouldn’t appreciate your playing around on his dime,” he said, his tone clipped. “Time for you to get busy squeezing blood from this here turnip.”
Lacy bristled at his remark, but what she hated most was seeing the smiling, happy-go-lucky cowboy she’d been with only moments before vanish and the cold, cynical one return.
They drove the rest of the way back to the ranch in silence. When they finally pulled up in front of the house, Lacy grabbed for her purse and climbed quickly out of the car.
“Where you going?” he called out, ending the silence between them.
Anywhere you’re not, she wanted to say as she reached into the backseat for her suitcase and matching toiletry bag. “Getting my suitcase.”
Cade stepped out of the car and walked around to where she stood. He reached for her suitcase. “I’ll get that.”
She pulled it away, the suitcase knocking against her leg. “No, thank you. I can do it myself.”
“Suit yourself.” He handed her back the keys. “I’ll show you to your room before I head out.”
“Just give me directions. I’m sure I can find it. I wouldn’t want to waste any more of your precious time.”
His scowl deepened. “Second room on the right.”
Wheeling her suitcase behind her and carrying the other, she made her way back to the house. She paused on the porch long enough to yell out, “I’ll be sure to unpack my gardening gloves. I’d hate to get my hands dirty while I’m squeezing blood out of a soured turnip.”
Cade looked as though he were about to reply, then turned and headed for the barn.
“Stubborn cowboy,” she muttered as she let herself into the house and pulled her suitcase down the narrow hallway. Her head was pounding and she was ready to drop. The long drive from Denver was finally catching up with her. All she wanted to do was collapse on a nice soft bed and close her eyes for a little while. Rejuvenate.
She passed by the kitchen entrance, and a little further down the hall on the opposite side was a bathroom. The next room on the right was the one Cade said was hers. She opened the door and stepped inside, reaching for the light switch. She flicked it on but the only thing that
turned on was the overhead ceiling fan. Apparently, the light had been turned off, or it had burnt out and Cade hadn’t taken the time to change it.
Despite the shadows cast about around her, Lacy surveyed the room, taking in the faint scent of cedar and leather. Nothing frilly. No bright colors. No knickknacks of any sort. She crossed the room to the window and drew open the dark brown curtain panels. Sunlight streamed in, casting the room in muted shades of gold.
Turning, her gaze was drawn to the long wooden beam that ran across the wall above the bed. It served as a display shelf for an assortment of trophies and plaques. Cade’s no doubt.
Lifting her suitcase up onto the bed, she set to unpacking. She hadn’t planned to stay more than a few days, but she would make do with what she’d brought. Maybe even pick up a few things in town next time she was there.
She gathered up her lingerie and the thin cotton sleep shirt she’d brought to sleep in, carrying them over to the antique oak dresser by the door.
The top drawer was empty, except for a few shirts that had been pushed to one side, obviously to make room for her things. She quickly deposited the armful inside and then returned to the bed to get more of her clothes.
When she finally finished with her unpacking, Lacy shoved her empty bags under the bed and dropped down onto it with a tired sigh. A glance at her watch told her there were still a couple of hours left before dinner. More than enough time for her to rest her eyes. Twenty minutes or so and she would be as good as new.
She sank back into the comforter with a soft moan. It felt heavenly beneath her tired limbs. Her gaze shifted to the window and the fading day outside. She ought to be out there getting the scoop on Cade before he had time to change his mind again, but he was off somewhere repairing a broken fence. She couldn’t very well interview the man if she had no idea where to find him. So for now she would rest her tired eyes. If only for a few minutes...
* * *
Cade peeled off the thick leather gloves he’d worn while repairing the fence. “It’ll hold for now, but you’d best check it again tomorrow.”
“Will do,” Burk replied with a nod.
After tucking his gloves into the back pocket of his jeans, Cade checked his watch.
Burk chuckled as he pushed back his hat and dragged the sleeve of his shirt across his damp brow.
“What’s so funny?”
“Do you realize you’ve checked your watch at least ten times in the past hour?” his friend asked with a grin.
Cade turned to his friend. “What?”
“You wouldn’t be getting a little anxious to head back to the house and check on Miss God-Gave-Her-A-Bod Dalton, would you?”
“Never gave it a thought,” he replied, irritated that Burk could read him so well. “And as for Miss Dalton’s body I didn’t notice.” They both knew he was lying.
“Then you’ve been without a woman for far too long, my friend,” Burk said as he climbed into the cab of his truck. “There’s not a man I know who wouldn’t take notice of that pretty little reporter’s shapely behind.” He gave a low whistle. “They just don’t make’em like that anymore.”
“I thought you preferred women with legs that went on forever. Like Katie’s.”
This time it was Burk who grew flustered. “Me and Katie are just friends.”
It amazed Cade just how stubborn two people could be. Katie liked Burk. His friend liked her. Yet neither of them did anything about it.
“So you say,” Cade muttered as he headed for his own truck. When he reached it, he called back, “And for your information Miss Dalton and I have a business arrangement, nothing more.”
Burk leaned his head out the open driver’s side window. “You sure about that?”
Cade started the engine and threw his truck into gear. “I’ve got enough on my plate already without letting some troublesome female get under my skin.”
“I think she’s already there,” Burk hollered as Cade drove away.
The accusation stuck in Cade’s craw. Burk was wrong. Lacy wasn’t under his skin. Nowhere close, despite the fact she had him feeling things again. Things he really didn’t want to feel.
Cade pulled up to the house and sat in his truck, arms slung over the wheel as he stared at the front door. Dalton was in there. He never thought he’d have a woman in his house again after Karen. And he sure as hell never expected to have a reporter staying there. How had that happened?
Burk pulled up beside him. “Someone was in a hurry to get back.”
“Can I help it if you drive like an old woman?” he said gruffly as his gaze shifted back to the house and the cherry red convertible parked in front of it. “Come on, let’s go check on Dalton.”
“As in both of us?” Burk said with a chuckle as he stepped from his truck. “I’m sure you can handle it without me. I need to look in on the horses.”
The last thing Cade wanted was to be alone with Lacy Dalton for any length of time. “She’s your responsibility,” he argued. “You tricked her into coming here. Not me.”
“For a good cause,” his friend pointed out. “What’s wrong, Cade? You afraid to be alone with the Dalton?”
“Hell, no,” he snapped as he slid out of the cab of his truck. “I used to ride bulls for a living. Why would I be scared of some pint-sized female?”
“I reckon that’s something only you can answer.” That said, Burk walked away, heading for the barn.
Shaking his head and cursing a blue streak under his breath, Cade started around the house. He’d show Burk that he wasn’t afraid of some meddling reporter with a great bod.
Great bod? Damn his friend for putting that thought into his head.
He stepped into the kitchen and removed his muddied boots. Then he straightened, taking in the silence.
“Lacy?”
Nothing.
Her car was still parked outside so she hadn’t gone back into town. Knowing the curious nature of reporters, she’d probably taken a walk to get the lay of the land. All the better for him. He could grab a quick shower before she got back.
Hanging his hat on a peg by the door, he started for his room. Two steps into his room, he stopped. Something was something different.
Light.
He looked toward the window. Domino must have been looking out it again. The curtains were pushed aside, letting in the red-gold hues of dusk.
He crossed the room to close them, to put them back to the way he’d kept them ever since his wife died, but something stopped him. Turning slowly, his gaze came to rest on the trophies lining the shelf above his bed. Karen had put them there.
Tearing his gaze away, Cade peeled off his dirty work shirt and tossed it onto the floor by the door. Then he pulled open the top drawer of Karen’s old dresser and reached in for a clean shirt. His hand came to rest atop something soft and silky.
“What the—”
Looking down, he found an assortment of bras and panties lining the drawer. That is, if one could call the scant strips of silk and lace scattered inside panties. Cocking a brow, he picked up one of the bras by its strap and stared at it blankly.
It was then he became aware of the soft, even breaths behind him. He turned, bra still dangling from his fingers, to find his houseguest lying in his bed.
“Dalton?”
She muttered something he couldn’t make out, before her long lashes fluttered open. She pushed up onto her elbows, her sleepy gaze meeting his. “Cade?”
“I...uh...” He couldn’t seem to get the words to make the transition from his brain to his mouth as he stood staring at her. There hadn’t been a woman in his bed since his wife.
Lacy shot up, fumbling for the switch on the bedside lamp, gasping as its light spilled across the room. Her gaze moved over his bare chest and then snapped back up. “You...you pervert!”
Cade glanced behind him in confusion and then back to Lacy. “Me?”
“Yes, you! Why else would you be standing there naked holding my bra in your
hands?”
“Why?” he snapped indignantly as he eyed the lacy red contraption hanging from his hand. “For your information, I was grabbing a clean shirt, or attempting to, when I came across this...this thing.”
Lacy flew from the bed and snatched it from his grasp. “I’ll thank you to keep your hands off my things and get out of my room.”
He lowered his face to hers, his words coming out a low growl, “This happens to be my bedroom, Dalton.”
Her whiskey-colored eyes widened. “Yours?”
“Yes.”
Color seeped into her cheeks. “I...I’m sorry. I thought you said the second room on the right.”
“I said left.” Hadn’t he? She’d had him so flustered when he’d said it that he wasn’t really sure what he’d told her.
She spun around and began pulling her things from his drawer. “I’ll get my things and you can point me to the room I’m supposed to be sleeping in.”
Much to his surprise, her composure was crumbling right before his eyes. “It’s directly across the hall,” he said, fighting the urge to grin at her unease.
She gathered her clothes and stuffed them into the crook of her arm. Then she spun around, nearly knocking him over. “I could pack a lot faster if you weren’t standing in my way.”
His gaze was drawn to the bundle she clutched to her. All those silk and satin underthings were not at all what he would have expected a hard-nosed reporter to wear under her clothes. Then again, Lacy Dalton was unlike any reporter he’d ever met.
She shot him a reproachful glare before stepping around him to the bed. “Do you mind?”
Her irritation had the corners of his mouth riding up in a slow grin. “Nope, not at all.”
She dropped her things onto the comforter and bent to pull her bags out from under the bed.
He turned, enjoying the view. “Can I give you a hand?”
Lacy glanced back at him with a scowl.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he said with a chuckle. It had been a long time since he’d had any real fun. Not since... The laughter died in his throat and his smile faded away. How the hell could he be enjoying himself when his wife never would again.
Capturing the Cowboy's Heart Page 4