Thunderstruck

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “It looks great, Phil.” Ben gazed at the cabin. “It’s a lot to have accomplished in two days. You and Damon must work well together.”

  “We do.” She hoped her expression didn’t give too much away.

  “He’s a good guy,” Molly said. “Cade says he wouldn’t be the person he is today without Damon and Finn. He says that Damon—”

  “Hang on.” Damon came over with Ty. First he made the introductions, and then he gestured toward Molly. “Okay, you can continue bragging on me now. Ty thinks of me as the guy who pulled all kinds of pranks and refuses to believe I’ve become an upstanding citizen. I’d appreciate it if you’d set him straight.”

  Ty shrugged. “That’s just how I remember it. Cade had the stash of rubber snakes, and you were forever short-sheeting the beds. I think Finn was the one who glued the toilet seats shut, but that could’ve been you, too. And somebody put salt in the sugar bowl, and there was the time you duct-taped our cabin door shut, and—”

  “Molly, tell him I’ve reformed.”

  She laughed. “I wish I could say that, but Lexi mentioned that Cade still has some of those rubber snakes, so I have to assume that you—”

  “Nope, nope.” He held up both hands. “I can’t speak for Cade and Finn, but I’m a changed man.” He glanced over at Phil. “You’ve spent two days working with me. Tell them I’m a serious, hardworking dude.”

  “No pranks so far, but the week’s not over. Sounds as if I’d better stay alert.”

  Ty chuckled. “I would if I were you. I lived with this guy for...how long was it?”

  “Not long enough, apparently. You totally misjudged my sterling character.”

  “Three years. I came when I was fifteen and left for college when I was eighteen. And you were pulling stuff the entire time, my friend.”

  Damon rolled his eyes. “Selective memory.”

  “Photographic memory.”

  “Damn. I forgot about that. Listen, could we change the subject?”

  “Consider it done. I have something I wanted to discuss with Ben, anyway. Rosie said you had a concern about liability if you teach the saddle-making classes in your shop.”

  Ben nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

  Damon clapped Ty on the shoulder. “Then if you’ll excuse me while you do your lawyer thing, I need to have a little chat with Phil about tomorrow’s work schedule.”

  “Sure.” Ty glanced at him. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

  “You bet.” Damon took Phil’s elbow. “Let’s move out of traffic.” He guided her several feet away from the crowd.

  “What about the work schedule? Is there a problem? All the materials are there. I thought we’d finish the walls, frame the door and start on the—”

  “We will.” He released her elbow. “All that. I just needed a moment to tell you...you look so beautiful.”

  Her breath stalled. “Thank you. It’s just my normal nice clothes. Nothing special.”

  “You make them special.” He smiled. “I like the bling on the back pockets of your jeans, not that I needed anything sparkly to draw my attention to that spot.”

  Her cheeks warmed. She was guilty of wearing those jeans because she wanted him to be teased, just a little bit, by the flash of sequins.

  “Philomena, you have one fine—”

  “Shh.” She glanced around, but nobody seemed to be listening. She’d achieved her goal of making him notice, and now they should dial it back.

  “Well, you do. So soft, and yet firm and extremely kissable. I—”

  “Damon.” Her little ploy had succeeded far better than she’d anticipated.

  But he wasn’t finished. “It’s not only the jeans that caught my attention. It’s also your green silk shirt. It is silk, right? Like your caftan? Because it reminds me of the way the caftan draped your—”

  “Yes, it’s silk.” She looked everywhere but at him. “Listen, I admit that I wore the silk shirt because of the caftan, but that’s enough of this talk. We’re in public.”

  “Nobody knows what I’m saying.”

  “I do.” She risked glancing up. And she forgot that anyone else existed.

  His warm gray eyes drew her in, reminding her of the pleasure they’d shared only hours ago, and the pleasure they would find in her bed tonight. Whatever tension she’d felt coming from him a little while ago seemed to have vanished. Now he was all in, committed to turning her on, committed to spending the night making glorious love to her.

  She cleared her throat. “If you were trying to get me hot, you succeeded.”

  “I was.” He smiled. “You looked so calm and collected from the front. I didn’t notice the bling until I saw you over there talking to Molly and Ben. And then I hoped you’d worn it for me.”

  “Actually, I did.”

  “So you were trying to get me hot.”

  She laughed. “Guess so.”

  “Worked like a charm. I—” A distant dinner bell sounded. “Looks like we’d better head back. Just so you know, I planned that we’d sit together.”

  “I’d like that.” She looked forward to the feast-like atmosphere. Traditionally, Rosie and Herb set up rows of folding tables and chairs in a side yard adjacent to the house. Food was always plentiful, which made the table legs sink into the soft earth from the weight of the platters lined up down the middle of each row.

  As she and Damon walked past the house, several people stopped them to comment on a job well-done. A few added specific observations about the troweling on the cement or the professional window install.

  “Phil gets the credit for that,” Damon said whenever someone praised something she’d been specifically instrumental in doing.

  After the fourth time he’d said it, she spoke up. “It’s a shared project. You can just say thank you.”

  “I know I could, but what if some of these people think like I used to? What if they assume I did all the hard stuff and you only helped?”

  “What if they do? So what?”

  “They need to adjust their thinking, that’s what.” He sounded truly indignant.

  And that was the moment she fell in love with Damon Harrison. She’d been edging in that direction, but that comment pushed her right over the cliff. She couldn’t call it lust anymore.

  Well, it qualified as lust, too, but the basic emotion, the one driving the bus, was love. She’d keep it to herself, though. Talk about a buzzkill. If she ever spoke that word aloud, he’d vacate her sleigh bed faster than a speeding bullet.

  “You see what I’m saying, right?” He glanced at her as if expecting a response. “People can’t go on assuming things that are wrong. That’s not good.”

  Her throat was tight from the feelings he’d churned up, but she managed to agree with him.

  “Are you okay?” He was looking at her in obvious concern. “You’re not coming down with something, are you?”

  “No, I feel fine.”

  “I wondered, because your voice sounded a little raspy just now, and I’d hate for you to get sick.”

  “I’m not getting sick.”

  “It wouldn’t be a surprise if you were. Hard work, not much sleep. Promise you’ll tell me if you start feeling bad.”

  “I’m fine.” And she wouldn’t promise him a damned thing. She was likely to start feeling bad after his plane took off from the Sheridan County Airport, and she sure as hell wouldn’t tell him about that.

  “Good.” He lowered his voice. “Just so you know, I planned on some sleeping tonight along with...the other.”

  “Did you, now?” She managed to keep from laughing.

  “That may not work out. But we really should get some sleep, don’t you think?”

  “Probably, especially if we’re going to be climbing around on the rafters tomorrow.”

  “Good point. You don’t want to be doing that tired.” He hesitated. “I had this idea, but you might not want to do it.”

  “You want to paint every other log purple.”

&n
bsp; “Be serious.”

  “You’re right. That would be dumb. You’d have to paint every log purple or it just wouldn’t look right.”

  “Never mind. I’ll tell you later.”

  “No, tell me now. I’m sorry. I’ll stop goofing around. I think I’m getting punchy.”

  “Which is why we need to sleep. Except I don’t know if I can if you’re right there, so...available.”

  She longed for a way to record this crazy conversation. “What’s your idea? Please tell me.”

  “Okay, I was thinking that after we finished the cabin and the lock is on the door, we should carry a mattress in there and...celebrate.”

  Her chest tightened. “I love that idea.”

  “I’m glad. So do I. It’s our project, and we should be the ones to commemorate a job well-done. Just the two of us.”

  “Absolutely.” She was convinced that he’d never allowed himself to fall in love before, and he was in denial that it was happening now. Someone, Cade or Lexi or Rosie, might suggest that was his problem. She hoped they wouldn’t. If anyone put a label on what he was feeling, he’d take off.

  Sure, he’d leave for California in a few days, anyway, but no point in ruining what was going on until then. She was content in her knowledge that they were both in love, even if he studiously ignored the possibility. Maybe they’d only have tonight to experience that special feeling before someone or something spoiled it. If so, she’d take it as a gift and be grateful. Some people never had that much.

  11

  DAMON SOAKED UP the nostalgia of a Fourth of July barbecue at Thunder Mountain Ranch. His ride this afternoon, followed by the kind of celebration he’d loved as a teenager, made him wish he didn’t live quite so far away. He couldn’t duplicate any of this in California.

  The tables were lit with old-fashioned kerosene lamps just as he remembered, and the Independence Day–themed tablecloths were in use, even though they were a bit the worse for wear. The food was pure Americana—ears of corn, ribs, sliced tomatoes, fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw. Watermelon was served for dessert, along with apple and cherry pie à la mode.

  Cade and Lexi claimed a spot opposite Damon and Phil. Ty and Brant joined them, although Damon made sure Phil was on his left, away from those guys. He hadn’t thoroughly examined that impulse, mostly because he’d rather not. He suspected that once he did, he wouldn’t be pleased with himself.

  But for now, the beer was flowing, and he could ignore his instant dislike of any man who gave Phil a second look. She was by his side, her hip against his hip, her arm brushing his arm, and that seemed right to him. If she was happy with the short-term arrangement between them, so was he.

  Herb made a little speech thanking everyone for their support of Thunder Mountain Academy. Then Rosie passed out T-shirts to everyone decorated with the academy’s logo, an inverted horseshoe with TMA arranged at the top to create snow-capped mountain peaks. The T-shirts were a huge hit, and some people put them on over whatever they were wearing. Camera phones appeared, and several group pictures were taken.

  Damon remembered first seeing that logo, designed by Molly’s husband, Ben, the day Rosie had been discharged from the hospital. So much had happened since then. The Kickstarter project was up and running, and Cade was almost engaged to Lexi. Although she hadn’t asked him, Damon saw how they acted with each other. It was only a matter of time.

  Rosie’s health had started improving from the moment the Thunder Mountain Brotherhood had rallied to help her save the ranch. Damon had reinforced his connection with Cade and Finn, something he’d meant to do ever since they’d all left Thunder Mountain. And because of a glitch in his renovation schedule, he’d met Philomena Turner.

  She pulled her T-shirt on over that sexy green blouse, which made her look adorably nerdy. As she ran her fingers through her hair, she glanced at him. “Aren’t you going to put yours on?”

  “I don’t think it’ll fit over my shirt. I might rip it.”

  “So take your other shirt off first.”

  “Here?”

  Cade stood and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Good idea. I don’t want to rip the shirt, either, and besides, Lexi never tires of seeing my manly chest.”

  Lexi groaned. “Get out the shovels. Here comes a load of—”

  “Great idea.” Ty took off his hat and unsnapped his cuffs. “You know what? We should do a beefcake calendar as one of the incentives for our Kickstarter backers. Brant, you up for that?”

  “You bet.” Brant Ellison, who worked as a wrangler on a ranch near Cody, also stood and started taking off his shirt. “We could call it The Men of Thunder Mountain.”

  “Ooo, I like it!” Molly called over to them. “Ben’s in.”

  “Aw, Molly, I’m—”

  “Come on, Ben,” Lexi said. “It’s for a good cause.”

  “But I never lived on the ranch.”

  “No,” Molly said, “but you’re a key person for the academy, and you’re gorgeous. You belong on this calendar.”

  Lexi nodded. “That’s right. Damon, what are you stalling for? Off with your shirt. Don’t let Cade upstage you.”

  “Which I totally could with my rippling abs.” Cade launched into a series of elaborate bodybuilding poses.

  That brought laughter and wolf whistles from the crowd, and a couple of women started a rhythmic clap. Soon every woman in the crowd joined in, including Molly and Phil. With a self-conscious smile, Ben stood and handed Molly his hat.

  Damon glanced at Phil, who stopped clapping long enough to give him a thumbs-up. He gave her his hat and started in on his buttons.

  “Look at that, Rosie!” Molly seemed beside herself with excitement. “We have January through May right here.”

  Rosie surveyed the five of them. “We certainly do! Ty, since this is your brilliant idea, I’d like you to be in charge of rounding up seven more brothers to finish the calendar.”

  “Be glad to.” Ty put on his T-shirt. “As long as you have some contact info.”

  “I’ll get it now. If we want to use it as a thank-you for contributors, we have to move fast. Next year’s calendars are already showing up in stores.” Rosie hurried into the house.

  “Ty, we only need six more guys.” Cade picked up his logo T-shirt and pulled it over his head. “Finn doesn’t know it yet, but he’s in.”

  “He sure is.” Damon put on his T-shirt and retrieved his hat from Phil. “If we have to, he has to.”

  “He’ll do it,” Lexi said. “Chelsea will insist. Her marketing heart will fall in love with this idea. I can’t wait to hear her response.” She pulled out her phone. “Cade, take off your shirt again.”

  He preened as he surveyed the group. “See? What did I tell you? She loves my body.”

  “This is strictly business, cowboy.” Lexi stood and turned her phone on. “Damon, take yours off, too. All of you, shirts off and hats on. Line up so I can text Chelsea a picture. She’ll go nuts over this.”

  Damon thought so, too. Last month he, Cade, Finn and Lexi had scheduled a Skype call to Seattle so they could talk with Chelsea, the woman who’d guided Finn through the Kickstarter campaign he’d run for his microbrewery. Chelsea understood marketing. She was also obviously in love with Finn, who’d sworn off women following his divorce earlier in the year.

  The guys lined up for Lexi, and she snapped a couple of pictures. “Perfect. The lighting’s not great, but she’ll get the idea.”

  Molly came over as Damon was putting on his shirt for the second time. “Could I talk to you privately for a minute?”

  “Sure.” He glanced at Phil. “Excuse me for a sec.”

  “No worries.” She stood and began gathering plates. “I’m going to help with the cleanup.”

  “I should—”

  “It’s okay.” Phil smiled at him. “We have a lot of helpers.”

  “I guess.” It went against his nature to leave that for other people, but Molly definitely had something
on her mind. He could see it in her eyes. He gestured toward a spot away from the rows of tables. “That good enough?”

  “That’s fine. It has to do with Cade,” she murmured as they walked away from the hubbub. “And this calendar idea.”

  “He seems to be looking forward to it.” Damon wasn’t, but he’d go along.

  Molly laughed. “I could tell. I didn’t realize he’s such a ham.” She paused and turned to him. “I know the perfect photographer for it, and I’m sure she’d donate her services.”

  “That would be great!”

  “It would be except for one thing. Her name is Dominique Chance. She’s Nick Chance’s wife.”

  “Oh.” Looking into Molly’s eyes was always such a shock, because they were so like Cade’s. Those green eyes must be a dominant trait in the Gallagher family. “So Cade should be the one to ask.”

  “Yes, and the sooner, the better. Waiting until he sees them in two weeks will waste valuable time. And he hasn’t even said he’d tell them about the academy when he goes over there with Lexi.”

  “So you want me to talk to him.”

  “If you would.”

  He sighed. “There’s a reason why he’s reluctant to ask them to support the academy. It might not make sense to you, but it does to me.”

  “I guess it’s because he feels like a shirttail relative, and he doesn’t want to approach them with his hand out.”

  “Exactly.”

  “They wouldn’t look at it like that. They’re wonderful people who’d understand that he’s trying to help the family who gave him a home for so many years.”

  “I’ll mention that to him. Are you sure you don’t want to be part of the conversation?”

  Molly shook her head. “He’ll listen to you. I’d only be in the way. It’s always been important for him to contact them about the academy, but the calendar makes it even more time-sensitive. Dominique’s a pro and a fast worker. She could make the calendar happen.”