Wanting You: A Cowboy Romance (Texas Hill Country Romance Book 2)

by Mae Martini

  She smiled at him just as Cord said, “How’ve you been Gia?” as he wiped himself down with a towel.

  Gia’s eyes shot to Cord. “I’ve been good, thank you. How about you?”

  “Good, darlin’.”

  Calista looked from Gia, to Jake, to Cord then back to Gia. “You’re Jake’s Gia!” she said in surprise as Gia was still looking at Cord.

  Gia turned her head around to Calista.

  “I like the sound of that,” Jake said.

  Gia turned her head to him.

  “You like the sound of what, honey?” Randi said as she knelt behind Jake and put her arms around his waist.

  “Whoa! You’re wet,” he said as he removed her arms and ignored her question.

  Randi wasn’t too pleased and she pouted as she got up and walked back toward the water. She had looked pissed at Jake. He had been distant with her since she arrived.

  Jake looked to Gia then put his head down and went after Randi.

  “Sorry about before, Gia. We didn’t know how to play it on the intros with Randi and all.” Rory said as he and Annie got near the blanket, just out of ear shot of Allen who was rummaging in his cooler for another beer. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. You?”

  “Good.”

  “Cord told me who you were when we walked to the water. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Annie said.

  “Thank you.” Gia said. She didn’t know what to make of this. Jake must have spoken of her because the girls knew of her. And judging by how polite they were Jake must not have spoken ill of her.

  Rory built a fire. He and Jake usually built them, but Jake was occupied with an angry Randi. Cord walked back from the car with his cowboy hat on and two guitars in his hand. He sat down against a boulder and strummed.

  As Annie handed a beer to Gia and Allen, Calista brought out some fruit.

  “Get me a beer, too, please, babe?” Cord asked Annie.

  “Sure, baby,” she said and she handed one to him, then sat next to him as he began to sing, ‘Till My Last Day’, to her as everyone settled in around the fire.

  Jake walked back with Randi in tow and he didn’t look too happy. He plopped down next to Cord and picked up his guitar and began to strum along with Cord.

  Randi sat next to him and Gia noticed the scowl Randi sent her way.

  The boys played and sang, ‘When the Sun Goes Down’. They took turns singing each stanza and everyone else, at one point or another joined in. When the song was over, everyone was talking about it, while Jake and Gia were quiet, content with staring at each other.

  Gia sat opposite Jake and Randi, on the other side of the fire, next to Calista. She turned to Calista who had handed her some cherries just when Jake started playing his guitar again. Gia’s eyes shot to Jake’s as he began a solo of ‘Misirlou’. Cord, not knowing the tune, just strummed a rhythm and shrugged at Jake with a grin.

  Jake looked straight at her with a cute smile. Randi, Gia was sure, didn’t know the tune and even though she kept leering at Gia, Gia couldn’t help but smile back at Jake. She wondered if he’d always played that tune or he learned it because he knew she was a surfer. She liked to think it was the latter.

  At the end of that tune, Gia stood up and walked to the cooler for a bottle of water. She got one for Calista too, and as she walked back and handed the water to Calista, the boys began to play, ‘Don’t Ya’. Gia loved that song and instead of sitting, she began to sway to the music, getting into the sound of Jake’s and Cord’s voices.

  Jake was transfixed on Gia. The way she moved, the way she looked in her bikini, the way her breasts moved and, man, he remembered those breasts so well. He took in a breath of air as he remembered her beautiful naked body, and envisioned himself pulling the strings at her hips and the one at her back to watch her bikini fall away from her. Before he could control himself, he stopped strumming and rose up. Still singing, he walked to Gia and danced with her, while Cord continued playing.

  At one point, he moved behind her and brought her arms up and out to her sides and then he lightly stroked down her sides.

  She giggled because his feathery light caresses tickled her and because she was giddy that he was this close to her, touching her.

  He grabbed onto her hips and swayed them from side to side as they both lowered then raised up.

  Gia felt warm liquid run through her at his touch and inwardly sighed as she brought her hands down to cover his hands.

  Jake felt the electricity shoot through him again, and inwardly, he sighed.

  When the song was over, they had another moment, staring into each other’s eyes as everyone else’s eyes were on them, then Gia remembered Randi, and she awkwardly moved away from Jake and sat back down without looking at anyone.

  Jake nonchalantly walked back to his spot, sat, picked up his guitar, and quickly began singing, ‘Little Bit of Everything’.

  Randi whispered something into Jake’s ear. She twisted her mouth in annoyance as he didn’t stop to reply, but kept on singing while shaking his head.

  Everyone watched furtively as Randi then got up and walked over to Allen and whispered something in his ear. Allen rose up and he and Randi took a walk as Jake sang to Gia.

  “Is there a place to change out of a damp bathing suit?” Gia asked Calista when the boys took a break from playing.

  “Yeah, sort of. Come on. Annie, come with us, we’re going to change out of our bathing suits,” she said as she pulled Gia’s hand up as she rose.

  Gia reached for her backpack.

  The three girls walked to where their vehicles were parked. There was no one around and the girls played look out while shielding each other as they took turns by the back of Rory’s truck.

  Gia was the last to change. She had just zipped up her jean skirt when she felt arms circle her waist and pull her back. She gasped in surprise, but quickly knew it was Jake’s sinewy arms and relaxed.

  “I’m sorry, Gia. I’ve been wanting to tell you that since you ran out of my hotel suite,” he whispered near her ear.

  Gia didn’t say anything, she just leaned into him enjoying the warm hard as steel chest that her back was resting against, and nodded.

  “You’re not afraid of me, are you?”

  She turned around and brought her hands to his face, on either side of his lips. “No.” She kissed him.

  Jake crushed her to him as he took over the kiss and pried her mouth open with his and shoved his tongue inside, in search of hers.

  Calista and Annie stepped back with smiles on their faces.

  “How romantic,” Annie said.

  “Yeah. Come on, let’s leave them alone,” Calista said.

  Gia struggled to break the kiss.

  “What?” Jake asked, sounding all breathless. He didn’t want the kiss to end.

  “I can’t do this to Randi.”

  He rolled his eyes. “This is only our second date. Well, I wouldn’t even call this a date.” He quickly added.

  “Jake, she really likes you.”

  “Gia, you know where she is right now?”

  Gia shook her head.

  “She’s with Allen. They went for a walk to smoke a joint. She asked me if I wanted to smoke. Gia, that’s not my thing. In fact, she turned me off completely now.” He paused and hugged her to his chest. “Besides, I haven’t thought of anyone but you since we met in Vegas.”

  “I tried, but I can’t stop thinking about you, either.”

  Good, that’s good, he thought as he sensually caressed her back. He knew he had to talk fast. “I didn’t mean what I said that morning and I certainly didn’t mean for you to hear… um…. guy talk. It’s just my friends were being dic... uh… asses and I was just trying to point out that they didn’t need to be there in the first place.”

  “Oh, Jake. I was a bit unnerved. I meant what I had said. I don’t do casual hookups and-”

  “I know you don’t.”

  Now she looked confused.


  “It’s in your eyes, darlin’,” and he began to grin, “I first noticed it when you threw yourself into my lap at the pool in Vegas.”

  She gasped. “I fell.”

  He softly chuckled. “I know. But when I looked into your eyes, I saw your innocence and to tell you the truth, it turned me on. I liked it. I saw it again when-” And he grew serious, “-you overheard me say something I shouldn’t have said and you flew out of the suite and out of my life before I could explain.”

  She continued to study him, moving her gaze down to his lips as she licked her lips.

  He kissed her again.

  “Did you get the flowers?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “I did.”

  “No.” He shook his head.

  “Yes. I called three times, and each time I got a woman, and the last time, she told me to stop calling her.”

  “What number did you call?”

  “830-555-4243,” she rattled off quickly.

  It made Jake smile that she memorized his number. Unfortunately, it was mixed up. “34—4234. The florist must have transposed the numbers. Shit, all this time I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”

  “My intention was to not call you. I put your number in my desk drawer for all of two minutes before I picked up the phone and dialed.”

  They heard footsteps and broke apart. Randi and Allen walked, from in between parked cars, toward them. They both had a guilty look, but Randi didn’t catch it or at least she didn’t let on.

  Jake backed away. “Call me,” he said before turning and walking to Randi.

  It hurt Gia that Jake turned around and left her so fast, to go to Randi. She walked back to the campsite alone and sat down on the blanket, on tucked knees.

  Chapter 9

  Half asleep, Jake heard his phone vibrate by his bed. He didn’t need to turn the light on because the phone lit up. He grabbed for it, wondering who could be calling this late at night. He didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hello?”

  “Did you sleep with her?”

  “What?” he asked, still half asleep. Recognition quickly set in. “Gia?” he leaned up and rested his head against the soft leather backboard of his bed.

  “Did you sleep with her?” She asked again.

  There was a long pause as Jake brought his other hand up to his face and scrubbed in disgust.

  Gia heard him sigh.

  “Yes.”

  There was another long pause.

  “Oh…. goodbye-”

  “No, wait, wait. Don’t hang up.”

  “We have nothing more to discuss, Jake.”

  “Why? Because I slept with a woman? I’m sure you slept with other men.”

  “Not since I’ve been with you.” She paused. “She’s a friend, Jake. A friend who really likes you.”

  “I don’t…. I don’t like her, Gia. I like you and I want to get to know you. I’ve been going out of my mind thinking about you. We’ve made a connection, Gia. You can’t deny that.”

  Neither said anything for a while.

  “How is it that you and she work together? You work for two different companies.”

  “Two different companies under one large Corporation. When one of my customers is scheduled to pick up material, someone runs outside and changes signs.” She chuckled.

  He laughed, then they both grew quiet. He sighed. “Tell me where you are. I’ll come right over.”

  She sighed. She couldn’t stop thinking about him and he was right, they’d made a connection. She wanted to get to know him too. “It’s late, Jake. I have an early flight. I have a 9:00 am meeting tomorrow back in California.” She sighed again. “Goodbye, Jake.” And she hung up the phone with a tear rolling down her face. She swiped at it. This is ridiculous, she thought, she hardly knew him.

  “Gia, wait. Gia? Gia!” Frustrated, he let out a long, loud grunt as he threw his phone down on the night table and broke a piece off.

  A minute later, he picked it up, sans the broken piece. He saw the number she had called from and saved it with her name. It had to be her cell phone. The area code was not one of Texas.

  Gia recalled the awkward ride back from the river to her hotel. She knew Randi was angry with her. What Randi didn’t know was that she had hooked up with Jake in Vegas. She kept that private. What if things between Randi and Jake worked out? At that thought, she sighed.

  When Jake told her he had no interest in Randi, well, that gave her a little hope. That was until he confirmed that he slept with her.

  Gia had a restless night’s sleep.

  ****

  “Damn, girl. What the hell? You’re not even trying. What’s up?” Sammy asked as she paddled over to Gia, after riding a gnarly wave and nailing it.

  “What? I’m good,” Gia said to her, legs astride her surfboard and kicking the water as the swell of a wave lifted her. She watched Sammy smooth back her blonde hair.

  Sammy gave her a sideways frown. “You’re passing up some good waves, and didn’t you see that asshole surfing under the pier?”

  “I saw him.”

  “What? No sarcastic comment?”

  Gia shrugged her shoulders.

  “Did you see him shoot through the pilings?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well.” She giggled. “How funny did he look trying to but failing to avoid them?”

  Gia let out a little laugh and nodded. She never did understand why a person would surf under the pier. They’d always ended up crashing into one of the pillars and cracking their forehead open, like the guy just did. “I saw his arms flailing and that leg lift like a ballerina.” She shook her head, smiling.

  Gia looked around, feeling a large swell under her. She watched another epic wave go by and saw Loki get on top of it as Sammy paddled for it last minute, and missed it.

  Nothing calmed her like being in the water and riding waves with two of her friends and fellow surfers at Huntington Beach. However, it had been two weeks, since Jake held her and kissed her in the parking lot of the Pedernales River, that she had felt calm.

  Two days after calling Jake late at night, she got a text from him. It said he broke up with Randi. He must have saved her cell number in his phone.

  She wanted to call him, but didn’t. She wanted to be sure Randi was okay.

  After four more days passed and no word from Randi, she decided to call her. She didn’t want to bring it up so she made up some excuse about work and, damn, Randi didn’t bring Jake up either. In fact Gia sensed distance from her.

  In the next week, Gia received random texts from Jake. Little things, like ‘hi’ and ‘thinking about you’. She got the feeling he was trying to stay relevant in her life. She had yet to respond to any of them. She didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, she wanted to be with Jake again in the worst way. But on the other hand, she didn’t know if that would hurt her friendship with Randi.

  Friendship with Randi? Really, they were more like co-workers who got along; she reasoned, then felt bad for trying to downplay their friendship.

  She was flying into Austin the next day for the usual work schedule. Maybe she could feel out Randi some more.

  ****

  The day after Jake got a late night call from Gia, he ended things with Randi. He had made the trip to Austin to tell her in person.

  Right away, she had become vindictive, but he knew she would. She trashed all her ex’s. She told him he was a bad lay and his breath smelled. That didn’t bother him. What bothered him was that she said Gia was a whore who flirted with everyone’s boyfriends.

  He didn’t believe that. It bothered him that Randi was talking about her.

  Jake tested the waters with where he stood with Gia. He sent out a few texts. She had yet to answer him. Not good, he thought.

  He called her Austin office and they said she would be in on Friday, so he devised a plan. He just had to see her and feel her again. Never in his
life had he obsessed over a woman. He knew there was something there and damn it, he needed her to see it, too.

  He remembered the Hog’s Head. Randi said that’s where she and her co-workers hung out.

  He had a friend in the Austin area.

  Chapter 10

  “So, how’s your mom and dad?” Jake asked Clayton, his friend from college who lived in Austin.

  He had called him and asked if he wanted to get together for a few drinks. When Clay said yes, Jake suggested the Hog’s Head. Clay wasn’t a fan due to the fact that the place was clicky, but what local bar wasn’t.

  Jake came clean and told him he hoped to meet someone there. So, to the Hog’s Head they went, and Clay’s wife was going to meet them there after her shift as a nurse at the hospital was over.

  “They’re good. They’re on a cruise in the Mediterranean now. Those two don’t stay home since my father retired.” He chuckled. How’s the bed and breakfast going?”

  “Good. We’ve been up and running now for the past five months. We have some kinks to work out, but that’s to be expected, and we have a steady flow of guests.” Jake said as he looked around the bar and noticed some of Randi’s friends had settled in toward the back of the bar. He was on the opposite end.

  He and Clay were talking about some friends from college when the door opened.

  Jake’s eyes lit up as he watched Gia walk in, all cool and confident. She wore a pair of tight blue jeans with a black see through lacy top that had a black bra built in. Her hair was long and loose.

  She walked straight to the back of the bar and greeted her friends.

  Jake noted the bartender put a drink in front of her before she even asked. He saw her smile up at the bartender and felt a little jealous.

  It was loud in that section; clearly Gia’s friends were the click in that bar.

  With his cowboy hat low on his head he kept an eye on her while he and Clay talked, thinking about how he was going to play it.