Cowboy Unwrapped

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  “Absolutely. That’s exactly what I was going to say before you took the words right out of my mouth.”

  Phil gave him a withering look. “Be careful, daddy-o. My sense of humor disappeared sometime during the third trimester.”

  “I wouldn’t mind having a chair,” Rosie said. “I’ll sit next to you, Phil. We can be royalty together.”

  “I’ll get it.” Herb, who always wore his Santa hat on Christmas Eve, went to fetch Rosie a chair. With his gray hair covered by the cap and a big smile on his face, he looked years younger.

  Although Jake hadn’t thought he was homesick for the ranch and his foster family, he felt a wave of it as he watched Herb get Rosie settled next to Phil. If the fire department in Sheridan had been hiring when he’d gone looking for a job, he never would have left. Instead he’d ended up in Jackson Hole, which certainly was a beautiful place to live. He liked the people he worked with, too, but Sheridan was home. Maybe he should check on the job situation again and see if he could get back here.

  He vividly remembered his first Christmas at the ranch when Herb had explained what he called the November Project. The older guys had jobs in town and could buy small gifts for everyone, but Jake had been fourteen and dead broke. Normally the boys didn’t get paid for doing chores, but in November that changed for the younger ones.

  Herb found all kinds of odd jobs for them and by the first week in December they each had enough cash to pick out something inexpensive for Rosie, Herb and every foster brother. Herb would take them into town and turn them loose. That first Christmas had been the best one of Jake’s life.

  As Herb distributed presents and the recipients started opening them, Jake saw that others had chosen his one-size-fits-all solution. Damon and Phil gave everybody eight hours of home maintenance work, collectible after the baby was born. Cade and Lexi had come up with a group trail ride into the mountains next spring complete with a catered lunch.

  “You’ll have to put in for time off so you can go, too,” Cade said to Jake. “And you’re welcome to bring a guest.” Significantly he didn’t suggest bringing Amethyst.

  Finn and Chelsea had brought everyone glassware etched with the O’Roarke’s logo on one side and a small but sentimental TMB logo on the other. Grady and Sapphire had come up with a creative pairing of their skills. Sapphire had made colorful serving platters, no two alike, and Grady had designed a decorative metal holder so they could hang on the wall when not in use.

  Jake’s smoke alarms brought laughter but sincere thanks, too.

  “This is a very loving gift,” Rosie said. “Thank you, Jake.”

  “I really need this.” Amethyst smiled at Jake. “Thank you. I’ve been meaning to ask the landlady to replace ours with a better one, but now I don’t have to.”

  “You’re welcome.” He gave her a quick smile. Damn it, now when he looked at her he couldn’t help thinking she could be gone in a matter of weeks. Earlier he’d worried that he should have bought her something more personal, but now he was glad he hadn’t. He’d be wise to dial back on the sentimentality.

  “I apologize that I have no gifts for any of you,” Amethyst said. “But if you’re up for a song, I could give you that.”

  “That would be lovely,” Rosie said.

  “Definitely.” Lexi got to her feet. “But before Amethyst gives us a song, I have a special gift for Cade.”

  Jake held his breath. This had damn well better be a proposal.

  “Should I stand up?” Cade’s heart was in his eyes.

  Jake really wanted this to be a proposal.

  “Yes.” Lexi took a deep breath. “Please.”

  Cade got to his feet. To Jake’s surprise, the guy was steady as a rock while Lexi seemed a little shaky.

  She reached in her pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. Then she dropped to one knee. “Cade Gallagher, I love you more than life itself and I would be honored if you would agree to marry me.” She popped open the box, which contained a man’s gold wedding band.

  He peered at it. “I can’t put that on yet, can I?”

  “Not yet. It’s for the ceremony.” Lexi’s jaw tightened. “But I couldn’t very well give you a diamond engagement ring. So what’s your answer?”

  Cade rubbed his chin. “I’m thinking.”

  “Cade Gallagher, if you don’t accept this proposal I swear I’ll...”

  “What?”

  “Get glitter all over you!”

  “Ah, Lexi, you will anyway.” Reaching down, he pulled her to her feet. “You know I’ll marry you, woman. Thank God you finally asked.” And he kissed her as everyone in the room stood and cheered.

  Sometime in the middle of all that Jake had taken Amethyst’s hand. What a stupid thing to do.

  But she laced her fingers through his and gave his hand a squeeze. “I love this,” she murmured.

  “Yeah, me, too.” And the worst part was, the scene with Cade and Lexi had showed him that he wanted more from Amethyst than she was willing to give.

  8

  JAKE’S BEHAVIOR TOWARD her had changed and Amethyst wasn’t sure why. He’d pulled back, retreated into some kind of protective shell that reminded her of their high school days. Then he’d taken her hand during Lexi’s memorable proposal and she’d thought maybe things were okay, after all.

  They weren’t, though. The minute the kiss had ended and Cade had called for champagne, Jake had released her hand.

  “I need to go help,” he’d murmured before hurrying toward the kitchen.

  She’d thought it was an excuse, but now wasn’t the time to ask him what was going on.

  Champagne flowed and everyone congratulated the newly engaged couple. Amethyst felt out of sorts but she knew how to fake looking like a party girl. When Rosie reminded her that she’d promised everyone a song, she asked Cade and Lexi what they’d like to hear. After all, this was their special night.

  They picked a sentimental tune from their senior prom and she sang it a cappella, giving it all she had. Halfway through she glanced at Jake. He looked destroyed. Obviously the happy fling they’d planned was no longer going smoothly. She wondered if he’d changed his mind about driving to her house tonight.

  If he had, she might never find out what the deal was. Talk about déjà vu. He’d acted this way in high school and she’d had to pry the reason out of him, which had turned out to be that she’d supposedly flirted with another guy.

  That couldn’t be the situation tonight. Every man in the room was taken and she wouldn’t have cared if a gorgeous eligible male had appeared. She was with Jake. Until recently she’d thought he was with her, too. Now she wasn’t so sure.

  Eventually she maneuvered him into a quiet corner and asked him the pertinent question. “Are you still planning to drive to my house?”

  His reply was short and to the point. “Yes.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know. Is there?”

  She got right in his face. “Don’t do that, Jake Ramsey. Don’t answer a question with another question. Is something bothering you? If so, spit it out.”

  “Cade told me you were going to LA.”

  Aha. That explained it. “I’m thinking about it. Nothing’s been decided.” She liked Cade, but she wished he’d kept his mouth shut.

  “But that’s what you ultimately need to do, isn’t it?”

  “Quite possibly. Chelsea’s comments made me realize I should consider it. She’s a marketing whiz and I need to listen to her. Then Rosie told me about Matt Forrest, who took off for LA three years ago and, after toughing it out, he’s up for a major role. I began asking myself if I’m being cowardly to keep performing in my Wyoming safety zone in hopes someone will discover me here.”

  “Do you have contacts in LA?”

 
“Not yet. That’s the purpose of going, to make some. Hire an agent.”

  “But what if you run into some sleazy characters? What if they make promises they never plan to deliver? What if they—?”

  “I’m not seventeen years old, Jake. I’ve learned something about judging people and making good business decisions. I might have fallen for some fast-talker when I was younger, but I’m not as gullible now.”

  His chest heaved. “I’m sure you’re not.”

  “I promise I’ll be smart about things.” She searched his gaze and saw the uncertainty there. He was concerned about her on a more visceral level and she got that. She was a small-town girl considering a move to the big city. “Look, I’m not leaving next week. Probably not even next month.”

  “But you will go.”

  “After listening to Chelsea, I think I should if I’m serious about my career.” She took a steadying breath. “I realize that affects...us.”

  “There is no us.”

  “Yes, there is, Jake. We might not have planned it that way last summer, but clearly what we feel for each other goes beyond sex. We might as well acknowledge that and deal with it.”

  “What’s to deal with? You’re leaving. End of story.”

  Although he sounded angry, he was probably mostly worried about her and maybe a little hurt, too. He wouldn’t want to admit that last part, especially in the middle of a family party. “Tell you what. I’ll go tell everyone goodbye and head on out. You probably want some private time with your brothers.”

  He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Hey, I’m sorry. Don’t go yet. We’ll drop the subject.”

  “I’m not leaving in a huff,” she said softly. “I don’t do that.”

  He gave her a rueful smile. “No, I do that.”

  “Sometimes.” She touched his cheek. “I really think it’s time for me to go home.”

  He looked as if he might want to argue, but then he nodded. “I’ll get your coat while you make the rounds.”

  “Thanks.” Amethyst made her way through the room collecting hugs and Christmas wishes. Grady and Sapphire said they’d see her tomorrow and Sapphire gave her an extra hug and a whispered “good luck.”

  Jake waited by the front door loaded down with her stuff, including the bag containing the smoke alarm. That gift made her smile. Naturally he had his coat and hat on, too. She would have been surprised if he hadn’t walked her to her car. He was both gallant and protective.

  He was also beautiful to look at. As she came toward him, her heart stalled. He’d been a cutie-pie in high school, but since then his shoulders had broadened and his chest had filled out. His face had lost its smooth-cheeked boyishness in favor of rugged masculinity emphasized by the slight shadow of his beard. He fought fires for a living, a heroic job she’d always admired, and tonight his sheepskin coat and gray Stetson added a layer of cowboy appeal.

  Moving a thousand miles away from Jake wasn’t going to be easy. The miles would be a major barrier between them, but the psychological distance would be the relationship killer. Living in LA would change her in ways she probably couldn’t imagine. She’d told him the move wasn’t imminent, but the longer she delayed, the tougher she’d make it on both of them. As a kid she’d preferred ripping off a bandage to end the pain faster.

  He helped her on with her coat before handing over her purse. “I don’t know what was going through your mind just now, but you didn’t look happy.”

  “Just thinking that transitions aren’t a lot of fun.” She hooked her purse strap across her body.

  “Nope.”

  “But it’s the only way to grow.” She wound the scarf around her neck and reached for the hat he held out.

  “Assuming you choose the right ones.”

  “Which is something you can’t always know in advance.” She pulled on her hat and took her gloves from her coat pocket.

  “Guess not. I’ll carry your smoke alarm.” He pulled on his gloves before opening the door. Cold air slammed into them as they both hurried out and he wrapped his free hand around her shoulders. “Be careful on the steps. They’re slippery.”

  She considered telling him that she had slippery porch steps, too, and she’d been navigating them just fine on her own, but she didn’t have the heart. Jake’s protective instincts ran deep and were the main reason he’d chosen to become a firefighter. No wonder the thought of her going off to LA alone was pushing all his buttons.

  But maybe they’d be able to talk it through. “Look, I know you’re not crazy about my plan.”

  “I’m not, and it might seem like I’m being selfish, but there’s more to it than that.” Their boots crunched through the frozen snow as they walked to her SUV. “This may sound chauvinistic, but I’m not convinced LA is a safe place for a single woman who doesn’t know anybody, let alone one who looks like you.”

  She didn’t know if it was chauvinistic but it sounded exactly like Jake. If he could manage it he’d send her with a bodyguard. “Have you ever been to LA?”

  “Actually, I have. Several of us went for training in crowd control. Jackson Hole is getting more popular with celebrities all the time, and our chief wants us to be prepared in case a situation gets out of hand.”

  She had to admit that gave his opinion more weight. Other than a family trip when she was a kid, she’d never been. “Did you consider it a dangerous city?”

  “Not if you’re hanging out with a bunch of firefighters.”

  They’d reached her SUV and she turned to face him while she dug in her purse for her keys. “Would you feel better if I took a self-defense course?”

  “Yes. But mostly I wish you knew someone there.”

  She found her keys and glanced up at him. “I just thought of something. I do know somebody. Matt. Rosie could put us in touch. I’ll bet he’d have all kinds of tips on living in LA.”

  “You should definitely contact him, but you’d better do it soon. Rosie said if he gets the part he’ll be shooting on location in Utah for the next few months.”

  “I hadn’t heard that. So much for that brainstorm.”

  “Maybe he won’t get the part, but if he does, you could hold off going until he’s back.”

  She hated seeing the spark of hope in his green eyes because she was about to douse it. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  His jaw tightened. “Then you’d better sign up for a self-defense class.”

  “I’ll look into it.” Taking hold of his arms for balance, she stood on tiptoe and dipped under his hat to give him a quick kiss. Belatedly she realized a peck on the lips probably wouldn’t satisfy either of them, even if they were standing in sub-zero weather.

  Sure enough, he groaned and pulled her close. Then he angled his head so he could kiss her more thoroughly without losing his hat.

  She’d forgotten that he’d perfected that technique when they’d dated in high school. His kisses had been hot then, too, but he’d never completely lost control, much to her disappointment. Tonight all restraint was gone. Backing her against the side of her SUV, he thrust his tongue deep.

  She gripped the collar of his coat and hung on as he ravished her mouth. He poured equal parts longing and frustration into a kiss that surrounded them in a cloud of steam. His arms shielded her from the cold metal of the SUV, but he was still holding the smoke alarm and it pressed against the small of her back. She was sandwiched between the alarm on one side and his erection on the other. Great sex and constant vigilance—the two elements epitomized Jake Ramsey.

  The cold air lost its punch as she began to heat up. She imagined opening the door and making love in the backseat. If he’d thought to bring a condom out here, she could easily be talked into it.

  Panting, he lifted his mouth from hers. “God, how I want you.”

  �
��Let me open the car. We can—”

  “Not here.” His laughter was choked. “Damn, woman, they’d find our frozen bodies in the morning if we tried a stunt like that. But I’m so done with this party.” He released her and stepped back, his chest heaving. “Stay here with the motor running while I let everyone know I’m following you home.”

  “You are? I thought you’d want to stay longer and hang out with your family.”

  “I thought so, too, but I have a more urgent issue that needs to be dealt with. I’ll be with them in the morning while you’re at your folks’ house. Get in the car and wait for me. I’ll be out in a sec.” He handed her the bag and backed away.

  She gulped. “Okay, if you say so.”

  “I do. When you see my truck’s headlights, pull out ahead of me.” He turned and started for the ranch house, his long strides covering the frozen ground much faster than when he’d been walking with her.

  She gazed after him until the cold penetrated her sensual fog and she began to shiver. Without his warmth encircling her, the breeze sliced right through her coat. Climbing into her SUV, she tossed her purse and gift bag on the passenger seat. Then she started the motor and continued to shiver while she waited for it to warm up so she could turn on the heater.

  His headlights swung into view not long after she’d done that. He’d really hustled to get here so fast. Putting the SUV in gear, she pulled out ahead of him and started down the winding road that led to the highway.

  Once they reached the main road, driving to her place became a kind of vehicular foreplay. Hardly anyone was out at this hour on Christmas Eve, so she could concentrate on the headlights in her rearview mirror and picture Jake impatiently waiting for the moment they were alone in her house.

  He’d said the box of condoms was in his truck. He’d likely bring some in with him but if not she’d bought his favorite brand this morning. Thanks to their interlude in Jackson Hole she knew what that was. They’d had to make a trip to the gift shop before heading up to her room.