“You have fun now.”
Fun. Right. Not likely but who knew? Anything could happen. Sadie walked out of the law firm without the usual spring in her step after a good day’s work.
The old, white weatherboard house on the ranch had seen better days. Broken treads on the front steps leading up to the front porch raised an eyebrow, as did the peeling paint on the front door. When Layla had said the place needed work, she wasn’t wrong, but it looked sturdy enough despite the shine of glamour that was missing on the old girl.
There was a certain charm to the house though. The wind chime hanging from the corner of the porch created a tinkling sound, soft in the afternoon breeze. With a dusting of snow, it could be a Hallmark card image. The overgrown flowerbed in the front of the house might be filled with weeds, but that didn’t stop the old rose bushes from producing stunning red blooms that made her want to dip her nose down and take a long sniff to calm her nerves.
A straggly black-and-white dog came bounding up to the car from the rear of the house when she pulled over and parked, sending her heart beating wildly. The animal came to a screeching halt when a sharp whistle pierced the air. It glanced down the lane toward the barn, plopped its butt down, and waited for the man coming toward her. Thank goodness.
Jethro tipped his hat in her direction, a big smile on his face. Sadie wound down her window a few inches and stared at the dog beside him, wary of the teeth despite the comical way its tongue lolled out the side of its mouth.
Her nerves fluttered as he walked toward her. Seeing him again was a bad idea. That one smile at the hospital after everything had calmed down and they’d bonded over a coffee for her and an ice pack for Jethro had been her undoing. The moment when it hit her, the attraction, the chemistry between them. The dark shadow of his whiskers, the sense of calm he gave her, the sparkle in his warm, brown eyes. Oh, she was attracted! Regrettably so, considering she had her life mapped out and Jethro didn’t fit into that plan.
But as he came closer, that thought drifted away along with the knowledge that the relationship she was contemplating would cause her nothing but trouble.
*
“Ms. St. Martin. Feeling better?” Was she always this pale and nervous looking or was it something he managed to bring out in her? He opened her car door and held out a hand to help her out.
She stared past him at Clumsy and shrank away.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’re scared of this old fool? He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Um, okay. And, please, call me Sadie.” She still didn’t make any attempt to take his hand or move from the car.
“Sadie, but seriously, he’s a dopey old fool, always tripping over my feet, getting in the way, hence the name, Clumsy, but he doesn’t have a nasty bone in his body. More likely to lick you to death than anything. Promise.” He lifted his hand and gestured for her to take it.
Sadie swallowed, stared at the dog for a moment before giving him a feeble smile, and took his hand. Her skin was smooth under his rough, working hands, and when she stepped out of the car, she gripped harder while staying as close to the car as she could.
“Clumsy, here. Sit.” The big dog shuffled closer to Jethro and sat beside him, leaned his meaty head against his leg. Jethro glanced up at Sadie. “See? Like a kitten. Put your hand out and stroke him. You’ll have a friend for life.”
She gripped his hand harder, tremors going through her body. “No, I…”
“Trust me on this.” Jethro kept her hand in his and reached out to touch Clumsy’s head. The dog closed his eyes and a low rumble came from his broad chest.
“See. He likes you. Nothing he loves more than to be touched.” Jethro untangled his hand from Sadie’s and kept his fingers crossed. Her nervous grimace turned into an uncertain smile as she played her fingers over Clumsy’s head, smoothing down his ears. His body leaned into Jethro’s leg more as the dog relaxed. “Told you. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut, and trust.”
“Dogs don’t like me.” Wonder filled her voice.
He burst out laughing, and she stared at him. “What? Who’re you trying to fool? Animals know people, like little kids do. They can tell if you’re nice or nasty. There’s no bullshit where they’re concerned.”
Sadie frowned but didn’t remove her hand. Her fingers worked around the dog’s ears again, and a grin appeared on her face.
“Sorry, don’t mean to swear, but it’s true. You can’t pretend with animals. They know right away if you’re fake. If he thought you didn’t like him, he’d steer clear of you.” Clumsy moved closer to her—did she even notice what was happening? “Whatever gave you the idea you don’t like them?”
“My father. We never had pets growing up because he said animals don’t like me.”
“And you never thought to argue the point or prove him wrong?”
She shook her head, lines forming between her perfect eyebrows. “No. That wouldn’t be right.”
The sound of a truck coming up the drive caught his attention. “Oh, crap.” His heart raced in anticipation. Not again, not twice in one day.
“What’s wrong?” Sadie grabbed his arm.
“Tyson Watson. Guess he’s come to finish off the job. You might want to step back out of the way. Last thing I want is you getting hurt while he lets off steam.”
Huge, baby-blue eyes turned to him. “No. I can talk to him. I was there, remember? I know you were only doing what Layla wanted.”
Jethro ignored her and stepped in front of her when Tyson got out of the truck and slammed the door. “Jethro.”
He took a deep breath and prepared for the worst. “Tyson.”
The visitor walked toward him, adjusted his hat, and stopped a step in front of him. This was it. Jethro took another breath and looked him in the eye. May as well get this over and done with. No point fighting back and dragging things out. Experience had taught him that.
“I’ve, ah, look… I’ve come to say thank you.”
“What?” He held his breath, sure his hearing had been damaged. His cousin never thanked him for anything.
Tyson huffed out a breath. “And to say I’m sorry. Look, I know we’ve had our differences over the years and we should be over that by now. What you did today, well, it was real kind of you. Layla needed someone, and that should’ve been me, but it wasn’t.” He cleared his throat, looked over Jethro’s shoulder at the hills in the distance, breaking eye contact. Embarrassment tinged his cheeks. “I’d rather it was anyone but you with her, to be honest, but under the circumstances, I’m grateful for what you did.”
“Right.” He didn’t know what to say.
“Yeah. The little fella is doing well, and Layla’s pretty happy it’s all over, even if it wasn’t expected this early. Evan is happy with him but wants to keep an eye on him for a while. Make sure he doesn’t have any breathing issues. And she asked me to apologize for screaming at you when she really meant it for me.”
“I kind of got that. Considering I wasn’t the one who got her in that condition.”
“Don’t push it, kid. I’m apologizing and giving my thanks. Doesn’t mean we’re best buddies all of a sudden.”
Sadie moved to Jethro’s side, still clinging to his hand. “Really, Mr. Watson. I don’t think that’s called for, do you? After everything Jethro did today and what he took from you, I think you can cut him a little slack. After all, he isn’t laying charges against you for assault when in all honesty, he has every right to.”
Jethro squeezed Sadie’s hand, willing her to be silent. The last thing he needed was to piss Tyson off again. It was time to bury the family rivalry once and for all, but he relished the idea she would stand up for him. There was more to her than met the eye, and Jethro liked it. “It’s okay, Sadie. Tyson and I go way back. Lots of anger on both sides.”
But having this gorgeous woman by his side sent a tingle down his spine. Her warm hand tight in his was something he wanted to hold onto for as long as he could, and if it took argum
ents with his cousin to make it possible, he wasn’t going to complain. Nobody’d ever stepped between him and Tyson before. It’d always been the two of them facing off with each other, and sometimes over the stupidest things. Sadie didn’t come across as the kind of girl who would be interested in the same things as him, but while she was here, he’d make the most of it.
Tyson scratched his chin and stared Jethro down. “Yeah, well, she’s right. I think it’s time we moved on, don’t you? We’re not kids in school anymore.”
“Sure. So long as I don’t have to watch what I say every time we meet, that’s fine by me.”
Tyson grinned sheepishly. “I think after what you did today, sure. Besides, Layla has a soft spot for you. Reckon I need to give you a chance. Said you’re doing your best to make a go of things here.”
Pride shimmied up his back. “Yeah. Better late than never, I guess. I want to make Grandpa proud. Pity I didn’t step up before.”
Tyson shrugged. “Sure, but hey, you’re doing it now. I brought you something.” He held out a bag. “A cake. I didn’t want to come and say thanks empty-handed, and I’m not gonna bring you flowers.” He held out the offering. “Don’t love you that much.”
“Thanks.” Jethro took the bag and peeked inside at the cake box. “Does that mean you want a coffee and a chunk of this?”
Tyson shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ve gotta feed the horses before I go back to see Layla and the baby.” He sighed, a big grin on his face. “Gives you a different perspective on life once you have a baby, that’s for sure.”
“Congratulations, Tyson. He’s a healthy-looking boy.” Jethro held out his hand and Tyson took it. “Sure as heck has a good set of lungs on him as far as I can tell.”
“Look, about what you did for her. I appreciate it, but I need you to forget everything you saw. Got it?” A dangerous glint shone in his eyes.
“No problem. But it’s not like I haven’t seen…”
Tyson held up his hand. “Stop right there. This is my wife we’re talking about, not one of your cows, understood?”
“Yeah, loud and clear.” He didn’t react to the subdued giggle coming from beside him, but he could feel her body tremble with the effort to hold it in.
“Anyway, I gotta go. And thank you, Sadie, for being there as well. We both really appreciate it.” Tyson tipped his hat, walked back to his truck, and climbed in. “And if I can repay you in any way, let me know.” With a final wave, he drove off.
Jethro’s shoulders slumped and he let out a sigh of relief as Tyson disappeared down the driveway. He looked down at Sadie. “That went better than I thought it would.”
“Hmm. He really does have a high opinion of himself though.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like he hasn’t been poor himself. Comes off as better than you are. From what I hear, he was the poor boy of the family and had it pretty tough until Layla came along.”
Jethro wiped a bit of dust from his jeans. “Maybe, but I don’t think it’s the money that’s done that to him. I think it’s finding his place in the world.”
“Explain yourself. I’m not sure I understand.”
“It’s given him more confidence to have the woman he loves by his side.”
“Oh, I see what you mean.” She moved her hand away from Clumsy’s head, and the dog nudged her to continue to stroke him. “This dog is rather needy.”
“Yeah, I don’t understand how the idea of having a pretty girl stroke my ears would be so enthralling myself.” He copped a nudge to the ribs. “Ooph.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to do that so hard.” Her lips twitched with a restrained smile.
“Don’t lie. You’re paying me back for making you stay at the birthing room today.”
“Maybe. It’s not something I want to repeat in a hurry.”
He gave her a grin and watched the way her pupils dilated. She really didn’t know how cute she was. “See, that’s where you and I are different. I grew up around that kind of thing, birthing. Always animals here having offspring. Hard to get away from it, but to be honest, I never tried. I like the idea of new beings coming into the world.”
She looked him in the eye—if only she could walk away before she got in too deep. He wasn’t the man for her no matter what her hormones were screaming out for. “You’re a fresh breath of air, Jethro Hansen.” And for the life of her, Sadie couldn’t say what she was going to do about it.
He waggled his eyebrows. “Why, thank you, ma’am.” He lifted the bag with the cake box. “Can I interest you in cake and coffee? We can celebrate the new arrival together since we were both there when the cutest Watson boy made his entry into the world.”
Sadie rubbed her fingers together, pulling a face at the grime from the dog’s fur. “If you don’t mind showing me to the bathroom first, I’d really like that.”
Chapter Four
Jethro moved around the kitchen, making a pot of coffee. Sadie could’ve offered to help, but she was so out of her element in this obviously male-dominated room and he seemed happy doing it by himself. Besides, this way she could watch and observe the man himself. Once she had a cup of coffee in front of her, she said, “I didn’t thank you for looking after me this morning.”
“So that’s why you came out here, then?” He slid a piece of cake onto a delicate plate edged with blue bonnets and pushed it toward her. It was so unlike anything she would have expected to find in a bachelor house that she had to smile.
“Yes. I didn’t perform to the best of my ability this morning, and I’d like to apologize for being the one who failed in her duty.”
He handed her a fork and then dropped down into the chair opposite her. Jethro linked his fingers together under his chin, elbows on the table, and stared at her. “Duty? What the heck are you talking about?”
“Layla. I’m her assistant. She has expectations of me, and I let her down.” She picked at a curl of chocolate decorating the frosting, put it in her mouth, letting it melt on her tongue as she tried her best not to look at him and see the disbelief in his eyes.
“You really are hard on yourself, aren’t you?”
She thought about it for a second. There was no way she’d be able to tell him about the pressure she put on herself. Better to let everyone think it was her way of doing things than air her issues in public. “I don’t think so. It’s always been that way. My parents taught me to make the most of what talents I have, and I try my best to live up to that. My father’s a politician, and he’s drummed into me the responsibility of position, of doing everything properly or not at all. Being there for her was something I could’ve done better, and in my mind, I failed.” She cut a piece of the cake with her fork and popped it into her mouth. The cake was dense like a mud cake, and the frosting had a light, fluffy texture she wasn’t expecting that made her moan in pleasure.
“Sounds like it tastes pretty good.”
Sadie looked at the scar under his right eye she hadn’t noticed before, the way the skin around it wasn’t as tanned as the rest of his face. His eyes were flecked with specks of gold that made the dark brown seem more hazel. The dimple that sent a nervous flutter to her stomach again. “Chocolate is my weakness. At least the only one I’m happy to admit to.”
“Fair call. Anyway, back to your expectations. I doubt Layla will care. She was too busy to even notice what you were doing. If you don’t remind her, she’ll never know. And I ain’t saying a word.” He crossed his heart in silent promise.
So cute and unassuming. “I’m not dishonest. I can’t bear the thought of lying to my boss. She’s been good to me. Took me under her wing when I joined the firm years ago as an intern, taught me so much about litigation and family law. When I called to see how she was doing a few months ago, it seemed perfect timing that she needed me.”
“Perfect timing?” He slurped his coffee.
“Yes.” How much did she want to share with Jethro?
This was becoming easier than s
he thought it would be. He was the first person apart from Layla and Emily who’d taken the time to talk to her like a friend since she arrived. Certainly the first person to offer her coffee and cake outside of the office. That had to amount to something. After what they’d gone through together, she felt easy in his company and that was a plus. “I was in need of breathing space, shall we say. I was getting a little hedged in and wanted a change before I made certain decisions about my future. Decisions I wouldn’t be able to change once they were in place.”
“I guess you got it then.” He cut himself a slice of cake and started to work his way through it. Sadie watched, fascinated, as he methodically chewed bite after bite until there was nothing left but a crumb on his bottom lip. She was unable to look away. The movement of his lips, the animation in his eyes as he savored the cake, the deepening of the dimple as Jethro gave himself over to the pure pleasure of eating.
He looked up. “What’s wrong? I got some on my chin?”
Sadie’s cheeks burned, and she busied herself with the remains of her own cake. “No, no. It’s nothing.”
One eyebrow lifted slightly, and the gold lights in his eyes twinkled. “Thought you said you were honest.” He licked his lips and the crumb disappeared, but she found it hard to look away from his mouth.
“Oh, um.” Sadie blinked as heat built up low in her belly. She’d like nothing more than to be the one feeding him the cake, kissing the crumbs off his lips, and touching her fingertips to his dimple. Exploring every curve of his face. “It’s just not like me to be sitting in an almost stranger’s kitchen eating cake and drinking coffee. A bit out of my comfort zone.” At least that was her excuse. “I don’t usually spend my working hours with clients in this way.”
He laughed. “After what we shared this morning, strangers is the last thing I’d be calling us.”
“Please don’t remind me what happened. I’m still so embarrassed.” A smile hovered over her lips, and she couldn’t resist glancing at him again. His stare made her stomach flip. Like he’d suddenly realized she was more than his temporary lawyer. That she was a woman.
Cowboy to the Rescue Page 3