by Jane Jamison
Jeff would’ve bet his right arm that Kane was angry. Angry at himself for not thinking to load the items in his truck and angry that Jeff had somehow gotten the better of him.
He lifted his hand to her. “Alex, uh, Alexia, uh, Miss Martin? I’m ready to roll when you are.” He pulled open the passenger side door. “Would you like a ride over to Daisy’s?”
Disappointment flooded him when she shook her head. “No thanks. I have my own car.”
He followed her look, and only now noticed the red convertible parked at the side of the house.
“But you two can give Milly and the kids a ride.”
The soft lift of her lips was anything but sweet. She was enjoying the fact that he’d have the rambunctious kids in his truck. He scanned the family that stumbled onto the porch behind her. Milly Johnson was as tall as she was wide but her four uncontrollable kids were stick thin. Mikey was already headed toward him.
Aw, shit.
“Hey, Mikey. Kane said you could ride with him.” He turned his famous shit-eating grin on an even stormier Kane. “Isn’t that right, cowboy?”
The muscles jumped in Kane’s jaw. “Yeah. Sure thing.”
At least that earned him a real smile from Alex.
He winked at her, saw her surprised reaction, then motioned Milly over. “Come on, Milly. Kane will take the kids. You can ride with me and catch a break from all the racket.”
Although a heavy woman, Milly Johnson could move fast when she wanted to. Judging from the way she hurried to his truck, she really wanted to. Jeff helped her into the cab, then nodded at Kane and grinned. “Enjoy the ride, man.”
* * * *
“I have to tell you how thankful we are to have you here.” Daisy set the rocker in motion, making her red hair sway. She wore the skinny black jeans Alex had seen her in more than once along with a bright orange T-shirt that boasted a ferocious, fanged grizzly on the front.
Alex already thought of the diminutive woman as a friend although she’d only been in Destiny for less than three days. They’d taken to sitting on the porch in the evening and having a drink. “Will you stop it? You don’t have to keep thanking me. I’m happy to help out. Besides, it’s my job.”
Working with Tulsa’s Emergency Preparedness Team was great and she loved it. But there were times when she wished for something more. A home with a man to love and kids to raise. Who knew? She could always help out as a volunteer if she didn’t want to keep working full-time.
There’s no use thinking like that with no man on the horizon.
For the umpteenth time, she wondered why that was. But she knew why. She’d had enough guys tell her that they liked her, but that her weight was an issue they couldn’t get over.
Screw them. I’m fine on my own.
She took a sip of the tea that Daisy had given her. As usual, it was laced with a little whiskey for good measure.
They saw my weight before getting involved. So why did it bug them later? Could it be my temper instead?
True enough, she could flash anger in less than sixty seconds. But weren’t romance novels filled with fiery heroines? Didn’t a lot of men like hot-tempered women? She cringed and took another sip to cover the gesture.
I sound like Jeff.
She made a mental note to practice keeping her temper under wraps. At least until a man got to know her better and realized what a good woman she was.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it always came down to her main problem.
I’m fat. Plain and simple.
Most guys thought so, although the group of men called chubby chasers loved her body. Too bad she wasn’t attracted to any that she’d met so far.
Talk about calling the kettle black. Am I two-faced for not liking overweight men?
She sighed and wished she could find the hunk of her dreams.
Why can’t I find a man who looks like Jeff Jenkins or Kane Kannal?
She’d never seen two better-looking men. They were super hot and full of all the right spices. It had taken everything in her to keep from yanking off her clothes and offering her plump body up for their amusement. They could take her one at a time or at the same time. All they had to do was ask. Or better yet, just take. She’d like to try fighting them off. Just as long as they took control of her and gave her pleasure in the end.
Or in the pussy.
She snorted the sip she’d just taken.
“Are you okay?” Daisy studied her with eyes wiser than their years.
“Uh-huh.”
She tried to shake her thoughts away from the two unattainable hunks, but failed.
Jeff could hold her arms behind her while Kane tore the shirt from her body. She could already see him running his hungry gaze over her full breasts, the rise of her stomach and onto the dark patch of hair between her legs. She could feel his palms sliding over her skin, caressing her as she’d only dreamed of being caressed.
“You’ve got that faraway look again. Did I put too much toddy into your drink?”
She blinked, jolting out of the fantasy. “What? Did you say something?”
Daisy’s eyes twinkled with a knowing glint. “I don’t know where you went to just now”—she paused, narrowing her eyes even more—“or who you went with, but I’m ready to tag along. Damn, girl, you were almost drooling.”
Alex never blushed, but if there ever was a time to do that, it was now. Instead, she took another sip and let the warmth course down her throat. She didn’t know how much liquor Daisy had added to the tea, but it was doing its trick. The warm feeling flowed to the rest of her body.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. I haven’t seen an expression like that except in the movies.” She rocked a little faster. “And I’m not talking about simple R-rated movies, either.”
Oh, hell. Was I that obvious?
“Okay, well, maybe I did let my mind drift a bit.”
“Where did it drift to? Fantasy Island?” She stopped rocking and shot Alex a pointed look. “Or would Ecstasy Island be closer to the truth?”
“Daisy, you are so not the Miss Daisy I had expected.”
“Yeah, yeah. That’s what everyone says. Now give. What were you thinking about?”
She didn’t want to say it outright, but she wanted answers, too. “Do you know a couple of cowboys by the names of Jeff Jenkins and Kane Kannal?”
Daisy stopped rocking and set her mug on the small table between them. “Of course I do. Why do you ask?”
“No real reason.”
“Like hell.” Daisy leaned forward. “I saw the way you watched them when they were unloading Milly’s things. For a minute I thought you’d pass out.”
Alex fought to keep her gaze averted. “Don’t be silly. Why would I pass out?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because they’re two of the hottest men around? Maybe because every time they picked up something heavy, their muscles bulged and flexed. Or maybe because you’re a normal heterosexual woman with breath in her body. That’s only a few of the reasons I can think of. Should I go on?”
“Please don’t.”
Daisy laughed then took her drink again. “So what do you want to know about them? Other than the width and length of their dicks.”
“Daisy!”
“Oh, please, don’t act all innocent. I’d like to know, too. But I’m sorry to say that I haven’t had the pleasure. Still, judging from the size of their hands and feet…”
“Do you really believe you can tell that way?”
Daisy shrugged. “Beats me. But it’d sure be fun to find out. Now, again, what did you want to know?”
Should she really ask? After all, she’d leave in a few days and never see them again.
“Okay, go ahead and play it that way. Let me tell you what I do know.” Daisy flipped her hair back over her shoulders. “Aside from their obvious physical attributes, they’re super-good guys.”
“Really?” Alex hated to br
ing it up, but she had to know for sure. “So Jeff’s not kind of…”
“Kind of what?”
“Kind of a racist?”
Daisy couldn’t have looked more surprised. “A racist? Jeff? Oh, hell no. Why would you think such a thing?”
“He made a stupid comment about Mexican women having tempers.”
Daisy’s laughter rang out, putting a few nearby birds into flight. “Wow. I’ve never heard anyone say that before. Trust me. If Jeff said something stupid, which is amazing in itself, then he must’ve done it because you flustered him. Could it be that he found you attractive?”
Alex shook her head, denying that possibility even as the glow from the thought rushed through her. Wouldn’t it be nice if Daisy was right? “No, of course not.”
“Why not? You’re a beautiful woman.”
She tilted her head at Daisy and scoffed, “Excuse me. Sherman tank here. No man wants all this.” She waved her hand along her body.
“I think you’re wrong. Dead wrong. You’re voluptuous and curvy and all woman. What man wouldn’t want a piece of that?”
Alex took another sip to cover her embarrassment. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
“Of course you like me. Everyone does.” She grinned, letting her know she was kidding rather than boasting. “But back to Jeff. That man is one of the sweetest guys I know. He’d do anything for anybody. Yeah, you must’ve thrown him for a loop.”
“I don’t buy into that explanation, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. So what more can you tell me about them?”
“Okay, here’s the deal. Both Jeff and Kane work with an organization called Cowboys for Hire.”
“That sounds like a bunch of male strippers.”
“Don’t I wish? We could use that kind of excitement around here.” The desire in Daisy’s voice was unmistakable. “Anyway, they’re a whole slew of men who live and work on Gabriel Cortez’s Second Chance Ranch. When they’re not running the ranch, working the herd or off doing rodeos, they help women who need it.”
“Women who need what?” If Daisy told her that they were male prostitutes or gigolos, she’d die. Then she’d run straight to the ATM.
“They’re heroes to women who need help in their lives. I’ve heard of them doing everything from fighting to get women away from abusive husbands or boyfriends to helping women get started on their own. Seems to me I heard that Jeff and Kane once worked three months for free, mind you, for one woman to build her a house after a flood wiped her out. Whatever a woman needs, that’s what they provide. Even if it’s only hauling furniture around for her.”
I can think of a lot of things I’d like them to do for me. Hell, to me.
“Hmm. I’m kind of surprised to hear that. I mean, from the way they were tossing scowls, I didn’t think Jeff and Kane liked each other.”
“Yeah, they do like to badger one another. But when it comes to work, they’re all business.”
“Have they ever helped you?”
“Not yet. But I know if I need them, they’ll be there.”
Two gorgeous men who help women. Is it too good to be true?
“So what’s the story with Kane?” She told herself she should stop asking about them, but she couldn’t. They had intrigued her and turned her on all within the first minute of seeing them.
“Kane’s story is different from Jeff’s. Jeff had an upper-middle class upbringing while I’ve heard that Kane had it pretty tough as a kid. He hasn’t said as much and probably never will, but that’s the rumor around town. It’s kind of like they are now. Jeff is lighthearted, never worrying, while Kane is the serious one. Makes sense when you think about it.”
She’d been right about the men. Kane was the dark, brooding type. But was he a bad-boy type, too?
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“You do?”
Daisy swirled the ice around in her drink. “Yep. You’re thinking Kane’s got the bad-boy thing down pat.”
She slanted a glance at her friend. “So? Am I right or not?”
“A bit of both, I think. He’s definitely got a harder edge to him than most. But down deep, I think he’s a softie. I don’t see how any real bad boy could work for an outfit like Cowboys for Hire.”
Although Alex liked that underlying part of a bad boy image, she was glad he wasn’t a total bad man. He had to have a good heart for her to like him.
Why am I even thinking about liking them? I’m going to be gone soon. And besides, they wouldn’t be interested in me.
Daisy cleared her throat. “I need to refresh my drink. How about you?”
“No, thanks. I’m afraid if I get any more, I’ll pass out.”
“Suit yourself.” Daisy rose then stopped. “Look, Alex, I know Jeff and Kane come off like two squabbling kids sometimes, but if you ask me, it’s all a front.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like I said, it’s only my opinion, but I think they enjoy ribbing each other. They’re like two parts to a whole that hasn’t come together yet.” She put her hand on Alex’s shoulder. “If they ever find a woman to love, maybe even to share, I think they could end up the best of friends.”
Now it was Alex’s turn to laugh. “Daisy, I think you’ve had a bit too much toddy and not enough tea.”
Daisy laughed then pointed at the pickup pulling into the driveway of the B and B. “Don’t look now, but I think you’ve got a visitor.”
Alex choked on the sip she’d taken. “Oh no.”
“Oh yes.” Daisy lifted a hand in greeting to the tall cowboy sliding his long drink of a body out of the truck. “Hey, Jeff, did the Johnsons forget something?”
Jeff, looking like a hero from one of the Western movies Alex loved, pushed his cowboy hat back as he sauntered over. The bouquet of colorful flowers he carried danced with his stride. “Uh, nope.”
He stopped, his gaze resting on Alex. “I was hoping to talk to Alexia, um, Miss Martin for a moment. In private, if that’s okay.”
Alex didn’t know what to do. Daisy, however, didn’t have that problem.
“Then I’ll take that as my cue to skedaddle.”
“Daisy, no. I…”
Daisy slid her palm along Alex’s arm to cut her off. “No, don’t get up, girl. You two take your time.” She bent over, putting her mouth close to her ear. “Don’t blow it, Alex. Not many of us get a chance at a real live hunk.”
Daisy was gone before Alex could think of anything else to say. Instead, she studied his worn boots as he came up the steps. He blocked the view of his boots when he stuck the flowers under her nose.
“These are for you.”
“Well, duh.”
She jerked her head up to find him watching her with a confused expression. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”
She closed her eyes for a moment and silently berated herself. When she got caught off guard, she often reacted in a flippant, sometimes rude manner. That was one trait she didn’t like about herself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that as harshly as it came out.”
His beautiful grin split his face. She could get used to seeing that smile. Which, of course, was stupid to think since she wasn’t staying in Destiny very long.
“Don’t worry about it. I guess I kind of thrust them in your face.” He continued to hold them out, his smile never dimming.
She had no choice but to take the bouquet. “Thanks. But at the risk of sounding rude again, why are you bringing me flowers?”
He helped himself to the rocker Daisy had used. “Well, first of all, I think we got off to a bad start. Kane and I didn’t mean to be slackers.”
Once again, she felt bad. “You weren’t. It’s just that I’d been in that tiny house for what felt like a lifetime and I think I went a little crazy. I needed to get out of there and I took it out on you two.”
She couldn’t help but let her gaze slide past him to his pickup. Nope. No Kane. She pushed away the disappointment.
“
If it makes you feel any better, you can yell at Kane as much as you want.” He straightened out his legs and his body seemed to stretch on forever. “Hell, if I spent more than thirty minutes with Mikey, I’d yell at anyone and anything.”
“He was a little bit of a pain.” She rested the flowers in her lap.
His chuckle warmed her more than the toddy had. “That’s about the nicest thing I’ve heard anyone say about him.”
“And the rest?”
He cocked his head at her. “The rest?”
“You said ‘first of all.’ That usually means that there’s a second thing. Is there another reason you brought flowers?”
“You, Alexia, are one smart woman. Can I call you Alexia?”
“I am smart, and yes, you can. Go on.” She liked him for more than his body. He was witty, charming, and good company. That was difficult to find in a man. Should she listen to Daisy and jump at a chance with Jeff? Providing he wanted one, which, of course, was a long shot she wasn’t willing to bet on.
Even if he did, a part of her wasn’t ready to let her wall down yet. She’d had other handsome men pay attention to her, acting as though they were interested in more than only the physical possibilities, but that always changed in the end. They either wanted her because they thought her ethnicity meant she was a fiery lover or because they believed an overweight woman was an easy target. After all, shouldn’t a chubbette like her be grateful that they wanted to take her to bed? That had been what her last three dates had told her. Thankfully, they’d let it slip out before she’d made the mistake of getting serious about them.
“The second reason is that you’re here, away from home, to help my neighbors. I appreciate that and I wanted to say thanks.”
“I don’t need any thanks. I enjoy what I do, and I’m lucky I get to help people.”
He put his hand on top of hers, sending a shiver through her. “I figured that. But I have a third reason.”
Her gaze drifted from his hand on top of hers up to his mesmerizing eyes. “What’s that?”
“I think you’re a very beautiful woman.”
Her first impulse was to scoff. Compliments weren’t easy for her to accept. Instead, she lifted an eyebrow at him as though daring him to tell her the truth.