Last Chance Cowboy

by Cathy McDavid

  He was giving her the chance to say no. She could and there would be no repercussions. Gavin was above all an honorable and decent man.

  “Put me down,” she said. “Please.”

  He did as she requested, disappointment and acceptance in his eyes.

  “Not here, silly!” Really, he was so sweet. Something of a dolt at times, but sweet. “On the bed.”

  He picked her up again. “You’re going to drive me crazy.”

  How did he know that was her plan exactly?

  The bedroom was large, more like a suite. A set of French doors, bracketed by a pair of sheer drapes, looked out onto the courtyard where she and Gavin had sat and talked the other day. In the center of the room was a queen-size four-poster bed, probably constructed by Gavin’s father or grandfather. Shutting the door with his foot, he crossed the room and lowered her onto the patchwork quilt spread. The room was neither messy nor tidy but rather a comfortable in-between.

  He stood over her, his hands at his sides, his gaze casting about.

  “Wait here.”

  Wait? Sage pushed to a sitting position, instantly alarmed. Maybe he was having second thoughts.

  Going to the armoire, he opened the door, pulled out a drawer and rummaged through the contents.

  Ah! He wasn’t having second thoughts at all.

  Finding what he was searching for, he came back to the bed. “Sorry about that.” He dropped a condom packet on the nightstand.

  Sage looked over at it and burst into laughter as she read the name aloud. “Rainbow Delight?”

  “It’s a long story. Has to do with a high school buddy’s bachelor party last spring.”

  “I can’t wait to hear it.”

  He tugged at his shirt, yanking it from his pants. “It’s the only condom I’ve got. If you don’t—”

  “Are you kidding?” She jumped to her feet and reached for the top button on his shirt, quickly unfastening it. “I happen to love rainbow colors.”

  No sooner did Gavin have his shirt off than he went to work on hers. Once she was out of it, he lowered her onto the quilt. In one easy motion, he removed her boots. Then her jeans.

  “Nice,” he murmured, his expression darkening as he took in the sight of her wearing just her bra and panties.

  It wasn’t fair that he should have all the fun.

  “Come here, cowboy.” Looping her arms around his neck, she tugged him down on top of her. His weight felt good as they sank together onto the mattress.

  The remainder of their clothes disappeared in a blur.

  “Cold?” he asked, covering her body with his. “We can get under the covers.”

  “No. This is perfect.”

  She snuggled deeper into his embrace, not wanting to miss the sight of Gavin fully naked for anything, even a little chill. He was splendid. Long, lean limbs. Hard muscled planes. Strength coupled with gentleness. Male perfection at its finest.

  He seemed to appreciate her every bit as much as she did him. Skimming his hand along the length of her, he explored the hollow at the small of her back, the curve of her hip, the subtle expanse of her thigh.

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  She started to object, then decided not to. He was telling the truth. She could see it in his face. Hear it in his voice. To him, she was beautiful.

  “Make love to me, Gavin,” she murmured, lifting her hips in invitation as she brought his mouth to hers.

  He groaned in response, his hands moving more frantically now. Kneading her breasts, cupping her buttocks, sliding between her legs. Then, his mouth was everywhere his hands had been, tasting, teasing, coaxing soft sounds from her.

  She murmured his name, urged him to stop, then pleaded with him not to. His hands, his mouth, his warm breath caressing her soft feminine folds, became too much. She quickly climbed toward climax. A moment later, she tumbled over the edge—only to fall softly.

  “That was…mmm.”

  He slowly kissed his way up the length of her body until they lay face-to-face, their legs entwined. “I agree.”

  Closing her fingers around his erection, she began stroking him. “You’re beautiful, too.”

  He smiled.

  It promptly vanished when she told him to, “Lie back,” and took him into her mouth. He stopped her after only a few minutes.

  “Party pooper,” she complained.

  “Darling, the party’s just starting.”

  He pressed her into the mattress, simultaneously reaching for the condom on the nightstand. Sheathing himself, he parted her legs and entered her. The sensation of him filling her, stretching her, was exquisite. And addictive.

  She wrapped her legs around his middle, arched her back. There was no slowing down. Neither of them tried. Moments later, she sensed his muscles tightening.

  “Sage.” He lifted his head, sought her gaze and held it fast.

  Emotions exploded inside her. This was what it should be like between a man and a woman. What it had never been like for her before.

  Gavin. He made the difference.

  He clung to her and buried his face in her neck. She held him tight as he found his release. Soon, his breathing slowed, and he started to roll off her.

  “No.”

  “I’m too heavy.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Sage.”

  She liked all the different ways he said her name. In anger. Frustration. Affection. Tenderly. She liked the way he said it in the throes of passion the best.

  “What?” She sifted her fingers through his hair, sunlight from the window glinted off the black strands.

  “We’re going to figure things out. With us.”

  “I’m not worried.”

  “We have the mustang. Dan’s going to pay you the back child support. Everything will work out.”

  Her response was to give him a peck on the lips.

  Within seconds they were back where they started, hands frantically roaming and hungry for each other.

  “Sure there aren’t any more of those rainbow color condoms left?” she purred.

  “I’ll look.”

  He got up, only to go still.

  “Is something the matter?”

  “Listen.”

  A door slammed in another part of the house, followed by voices.

  “Oh, shit.” Sage started scrambling, digging through the quilt for her underwear. “Someone’s home.”

  “It’s just Cassie and my dad.”

  “Just Cassie and your dad?” Where the hell was her bra? “I will not be caught in bed with you.”

  Gavin laughed.

  “This isn’t funny.”

  “Relax.” He bent and helped her gather their clothes. “I have an idea.”

  “It had better be a good one.” She squirmed into her panties.

  He nodded at the French doors.

  It just might work, she thought.

  Dressing as quietly as possible, they tiptoed out the French doors and into the courtyard. Sage winced when the latch made a loud noise as it clicked shut. Outside, she went weak. They were going to pull this off.

  “Dammit!” She slapped her forehead.

  “What?”

  “My jacket and briefcase are in the kitchen. Your family’s going to know.”

  “Relax.”

  “I can’t.”

  Gavin grinned and hooked her by the arm. “Come on.”

  “How’s my hair?”

  “A lost cause.”

  Great. Just great.

  They hurried around the house to the kitchen door, Sage attempting to finger comb her hair with one hand. The moment of truth came too soon. She prepared herself to be the object of curious stares and the subject of much speculation.

  Except Cassie and Gavin’s dad, who were busy unloading groceries, didn’t seem the least bit surprised to see her or notice that anything was amiss.

  She was almost let down. Almost.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sage couldn’t s
top shaking. It was over. Finally. Not just the meeting, which had lasted an hour, but the whole wretched ordeal.

  “Congratulations, primita.” Roberto slung an arm over her shoulders as they walked from the upscale office building in north Scottsdale to the parking lot.

  “Thank you so much.” She smiled up at her cousin-in-law. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Isa.”

  The paternity test results had arrived bright and early that morning. Dan wasted no time. His attorney—Sage hadn’t realized he retained one—contacted Roberto, and a meeting was set up for after lunch.

  “I’m just glad it’s over and done with,” Roberto said. “Now you can enjoy the rest of your vacation. Speaking of which, what are you going to do?”

  “I haven’t thought about it.” What a lie! Until the call from Dan’s attorney, she’d been thinking of Gavin and their incredible afternoon together yesterday almost to exclusion.

  He’d called her last night and again this morning. They’d talked like a couple of teenagers, soft and low. He’d chuckled, she’d giggled. Isa had looked at Sage in confusion while her cousin Anna rolled her eyes knowingly.

  Sage couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so young. Or, so good. What should have been an embarrassing situation when they were nearly caught by Gavin’s dad and daughter had turned into an enjoyable dinner with the family, followed by several goodbye kisses that left Sage walking on air—or should she say, driving on air—the entire ride home to her cousin’s.

  She decided to enjoy it while it lasted. Once she returned to Show Low and two hundred miles separated her and Gavin, it would be difficult to recapture the feelings she was having now.

  “I’ve got another appointment.” Roberto kissed her on the cheek, said, “See you tonight” and then headed to his car.

  Sage waved at him before getting into her truck. She’d barely started the engine when her cell phone rang.

  “Hi.” She cradled the phone to her ear, anticipating hearing the rich timbre of Gavin’s voice.

  “Did I interrupt you?”

  “We just finished the meeting.”

  “How’d it go?”

  “Unbelievably well. Dan and I agreed on a new monthly amount, and he’s going to pay an additional sum toward the back child support he owes. It’ll take him almost three years to catch up, but at least Isa will have the money.”

  “That’s great. I’m really happy for you both.”

  Unfortunately, there was always a downside. “I just wish Dan wanted to see her.”

  “He still doesn’t?”

  “No. I agreed to visitation, naturally, and we came up with a schedule. He made it clear Isa wasn’t to come here. If anything, he’d go to Show Low. I got the impression that wasn’t going to happen very often.”

  “Poor kid.”

  “Has he said anything to you?” Sage inserted her key in the ignition.

  “About Isa?”

  “No. The mustang or your partnership.” She hadn’t mentioned Dan’s remark about his money being tied up elsewhere.

  “We talked this morning. Decided on which mares we’d breed first and set a price for stud fees. He has a few clients interested.”

  “Okay, good.” She relaxed. It was impossible for her not to dwell on what effect her relationship with Gavin would have on his and Dan’s. Not that Dan knew anything—or ever would if she could help it.

  “I finished filling out the adoption paperwork. Was thinking maybe I could drop it off tonight.”

  “You don’t have to drive all the way into Scottsdale for that.”

  “I wasn’t. I was going to drive all the way into Scottsdale to pick you up for dinner.”

  “Really?” She brightened.

  “Ever been to P.F. Chang’s?”

  “Once. I love Chinese food.” Sage mentally rummaged through her suitcase contents and the clothes she’d brought with her. No dresses or shoes besides boots and sneakers. Maybe Anna had a dress and a pair of heels she could borrow that were suitable for fine dining.

  “Six o’clock okay?”

  She held the phone closer, imagining Gavin in dress clothes. He would leave her breathless. “Perfect. See you then.”

  Grinning foolishly, she started the truck and headed toward the exit. She hadn’t quite reached it when her phone rang again. Ready to ask Gavin what he’d forgotten, she slowed when she recognized her boss’s number.

  “Hi, Steve. Did you get the pictures I emailed?”

  “Yeah, thanks. They’re great.”

  “I just got off the phone with Gavin Powell.” Since Steve’s conversations usually lasted several minutes, she pulled into the nearest empty parking space. “He’s completed the adoption papers. I’ll get them later today and overnight them tomorrow.”

  “Forget it. You don’t need to bother with that. There’s been a change in plans.”

  Sage didn’t like the tone in Steve’s voice. She’d heard it before, and it usually preceded the delivery of bad news. “What change?”

  “We’re going to follow regular procedure with the mustang. Auction him to the public.”

  “W-why?”

  “The media attention. Did you watch TV last night?”

  “A little.”

  She’d seen the evening broadcast at Gavin’s. Both broadcasts, in fact. Everyone had crowded together in the great room, laughing and ribbing Gavin mercilessly. They’d also congratulated him on doing such a great job.

  “This horse has made big news, and not just statewide,” Steve continued. “National, too. One clip’s gone viral on the internet. The office can’t keep up with all the phone calls.”

  “What does that have to do with Gavin Powell adopting him?”

  “Money, of course. With all the media attention, this horse will bring a considerably higher price than usual at auction. And positive publicity for the bureau. We can use both.”

  “But you already agreed,” she protested, anticipating Gavin’s reaction.

  He would be devastated. And angry. At the BLM and also at her. Hadn’t she assured him there would be no problem adopting the mustang?

  “Nothing’s in writing,” Steve said, easily dismissing her objection.

  “You gave your word.”

  “Even if I wanted to let Powell adopt the horse, which I don’t, it’s out of my hands. The head of the department won’t let an opportunity like this one slip by without making the most of it.”

  Sage rubbed her aching forehead. All she could think of was Gavin. His plans, his dreams, his hopes for the future about to disintegrate before his eyes.

  “You can’t do this, Steve. Please. Gavin Powell and his family are the ones who captured the mustang, and it wasn’t easy. More than that, he’s the one who originally contacted the BLM. We owe him.”

  “He still can own the horse. He just has to win him at the auction.”

  Except Sage knew the Powells didn’t have the money. Not if the mustang went for the large sum Steve and the department head were obviously hoping he’d bring.

  “It’s not fair.”

  “Few things in life are,” Steve answered caustically. “Why do you care anyway?”

  “The Powells are nice people.” She hoped he didn’t notice the hitch in her voice. “And we—I—promised them.”

  She considered going above Steve’s head, making a case on the Powells’ behalf to the head of the department. Except what good would that do? As Steve had said, it was the head of the department who’d decided to publically auction the mustang.

  Damn, damn, damn! This couldn’t be happening.

  She closed her eyes, holding her tears at bay, guilt tearing her up inside.

  “Do you have Powell’s number?” Steve asked. “I’m going to call him now.”

  “No! Let me tell him.”

  The news would be bad enough. Worse coming from a stranger. Besides, this was her fault and her responsibility to handle. Afterward, she’d advise Gavin on the ins and outs
of the auction, help him prepare.

  At least he’d have the coming week. In that time, Gavin could breed the mustang to a few of his mares.

  Then, she remembered. Avaro was in heat. She’d probably mated with the mustang during their little adventure. They could breed Avaro to the mustang again, just to make sure. And Sage would give Gavin the foal. There was also the new business he was getting because of finding the mustang. It wasn’t all bad, she reasoned.

  Only she doubted Gavin would see it that way. Nothing could make up for losing the mustang.

  “Are you sure?” Steve asked. “I’d be happy to call him.”

  Sage glanced at her watch, made a mental note to call her cousin and check on Isa. “I’m on my way there now.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Her heart jumped. “Are you coming to Mustang Valley?”

  “No, you’re bringing the horse here.”

  “I…I’m on vacation.”

  “Not till Friday. Which means you’re on the BLM’s clock through tomorrow. We need you to transport the horse here as soon as possible so we can begin processing him. PR wants to really pump up the advertising. The auction’s a week from Saturday. We don’t have much time.”

  “Steve.” Sage was aware of the pleading in her voice. “Give the Powells a few days with the horse. I’ll bring him up Monday morning.”

  “Impossible.”

  She had no choice. Not if she wanted to keep her job. The idea of rebelling, of telling her boss to shove it, was appealing. Also unrealistic. She had a daughter to support and eight years with the BLM. Decent jobs like hers, ones with benefits, weren’t easy to come by.

  “Fine,” she said, sick to the bottom of her soul. “I’ll call you tomorrow when I’m on the road.”

  Wiping her watery eyes, she put the truck in gear and drove to Powell Ranch. After calling Anna and telling her she’d be late, Sage concentrated on coming up with the best and kindest way to tell Gavin about the mustang. In the end, she decided to be honest and straightforward. Sugarcoating or dancing around the topic wouldn’t lessen the terrible blow, merely postpone it.

  Gavin was nowhere to be seen when she arrived at the ranch and parked. Spying Javier leaving the arena on horseback, she went after him. A glance at the empty round pen made her think the mustang had been moved to a more permanent location.