Her Midnight Cowboy

by Lauri Robinson

They galloped for a short distance before she pulled Templeton to a slower gait. Rowdy copied her actions, and when they were riding calmly, side by side, she attempted to coax him into conversation, as Liza had suggested. “Do you like it here, Rowdy?”

  “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

  Angel searched for another topic. “Did your travels ever take you to England?”

  “Nope.” He looked at her quizzically. “You wishing you’d gone with your folks?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not much for traveling. I’ve gone out East a few times, but can’t say I liked it much. I’d rather be home. Have you been East?”

  “Yep.”

  “Been to New York?”

  “Yep.”

  “Plan on going back?”

  “Nope.”

  The laugh they shared tickled her insides. He seemed to relax a bit, and then a casual conversation flowed between them. They talked like they used to, of things they both wondered about, as well as those they knew the answers to. As they started down the hill toward the ranch house, she asked, “Why haven’t you married?”

  He shrugged. “Guess I’ve never met a woman bossy enough to suit me.”

  She glanced sideways. The cocky grin she loved was there, and he winked. Her heart flipped and flopped. He’d called her bossy more times than not.

  She’d longed for his teasing the past few weeks. “I’ve missed you lately, Rowdy.”

  He brought his horse to a stop in the middle of the ranch yard. When she reined in, he moved forward until their horses stood side by side. “Missed me?”

  She nodded.

  “I’ve been right here.”

  She shrugged. It was an attempt to look indifferent, whereas in reality her heart was threatening to rip open. “Sometimes I think you don’t like being around me.”

  He gazed straight ahead, as if he couldn’t face her. “I like being around you.”

  The words were flat and sounded forced. That hurt. She blinked away the moisture in her eyes and steered Templeton into the barn. Once there, she dropped the reins, preparing to dismount. The hands that grasped her waist were gentle, yet firm, and sent tiny flares zinging through her body like shooting stars in a midnight sky.

  Rowdy lifted her from the saddle and lowered her to the floor. “I like being with you, Angel,” he whispered from behind her.

  It took a moment before she understood what he meant. Heart in her throat, she twisted around.

  The shimmering silver eyes staring down at her made her insides melt. His fingertip, slightly rough, brushed her cheek. “Way too much.”

  She opened her mouth, attempting to speak, but no words formed. Her lips trembled and she licked them before biting the bottom one, staring at him the entire time.

  His hold on her waist grew firmer, tighter, and she shifted her hips, wanting to feel his touch through the layers of her skirts. Instinct had her stretching upward. She paused when her lips were half an inch from his. “I like being with you, too, Rowdy.”

  He growled and closed his eyes. The muscles in his neck tensed. She ran her hands up his arms, over his shoulders, to gently cup his jawline. “Show me, Rowdy. Show me how much you like me.”

  The ferocity of his mouth connecting with hers should have surprised her, but it didn’t. Searing, his lips sent a flame of desire all the way to her toes. First her hat, then his fell to the floor. Lacing her arms around his neck, she pulled herself against him and, stretching up on her toes, kissed him back with all the intensity that had built up inside her during the past months.

  He stepped backward, taking her with him until he bumped into the barn wall, and then his tongue slipped between her lips and tangled with hers. It was divine, and sent heat racing through her veins. As one, they spun around until her back was up against the wall. Her hands raced over him, caressing his cheeks, cupping his neck, combing into his hair before moving on to explore other regions—the bulk of his shoulders, the curve of his back and sides.

  His were just as frantic, going from her hair to her waist and back again, leaving every spot wanting more. Sensations assaulted her. Nothing had ever tasted so good, felt so right. He was indeed perfect—and kissing him was better than she’d dreamed it would be.

  They spun again, and she pressed him against the wall with her entire body. His lips raked across her cheek, down her neck and then back to her mouth. She groaned, burrowing her breasts into his hard chest.

  Abruptly, he jerked his mouth away from hers. With a gentle hand, he pushed her aside. “Go write your invitations, Angel. Go write them now.”

  She had no choice but to continue moving, or land face-first on the barn floor. Stumbling toward the door, she glanced over her shoulder.

  Rowdy’s back was to her. He was bent over with his hands on his knees, as if trying to catch his breath.

  She hit the ranch house steps running, and didn’t stop until she flung herself on the divan. Angel sat there, huffing, puffing and grinning.

  Her heart danced in her chest. Whether Rowdy was ready to admit it or not, they were destined to be together forever—something she’d known for months.

  Chapter Four

  Rowdy sucked in air until his burning lungs refused to hold any more, and then exhaled with force. He pitched forward, grabbing hold of the stall board, and grunting.

  The grunt turned into a groan. His life had gone to hell in a handbasket here at Heaven on Earth. He’d accepted the foreman’s job because he didn’t want anyone else seeing to Angel’s welfare, but he hadn’t moved into the ranch house. Had flat-out refused. Knowing Angel slept in that big house—alone—was pure torture.

  But this past week had been worse. She’d completely ignored him, to the point that her gaze never even came his way. Her absence consumed him, and the lack of sleep made him edgy and cross. The cowhands saw it, though to their credit, they didn’t comment.

  Damn Ellis Clayton and his trip across the ocean. Rowdy almost wished the ship would sink. A shudder ran across his shoulders, as if a goose had walked across his grave. Damnation, that was a terrible thought for a man to have—wishing another ill.

  He lifted his head. Templeton was staring at him as if the animal was afraid Rowdy was dying. He wondered if he was. A kiss like that was enough to stop a man’s heart.

  After another deep breath, he turned, glancing through the open barn door toward the ranch house. He liked her, all right. That was the problem. Pushing away from the stall, he grabbed both hats off the barn floor. Enough was enough.

  By the time he reached the front porch, his footsteps had become determined and hurried. Without knocking, he entered the large home. A gasp made him swivel and peer into the front parlor. Angel sat on the divan, her expressive eyes wide and glowing, her curls tousled. His heart started racing again. She was so damn irresistible.

  He tossed her hat on a small table and leaned against the door frame, giving his heart a moment to slow down—as if that could happen. Flinching at the thought, Rowdy tightened every muscle, determined to prove it could.

  Angel stood, looking at him questioningly and twisting her hands together.

  “The invitations?” They weren’t why he’d come, but now seemed like a good excuse. The wherewithal to tell her that kiss should never have happened had disappeared.

  “I—I haven’t written them yet.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” Her spine stiffened. The action thrust her breasts forward.

  Rowdy fought to keep his eyes off the skin revealed by the open V of her blouse. “Yes, why?”

  Her hands went to her hips. “Because I just walked into the house.”

  “Looked to me like you were sitting on the sofa, not doing much of anything.” He bit the inside of his cheek. Seeing her flustered was damn near as exhilarating as tasting her smoldering kisses. He took a step into the room. “If you want me to take them to town, you’d better get writing.”

  She stepped forward in turn, and her gaze, washing over h
im from head to toe, sent a thrill through him. These battles were getting harder and harder to win. “Angel—” He broke off as their gazes locked.

  She stared at him as if lost in thought.. “Rowdy, do you remember when you first came here?”

  Caught off guard by her change in subject, and the way her tone had become soft and gentle, he frowned. “Of course.”

  She turned, waving around the room. “You and my father sat here while he interviewed you. He normally uses his office, but Constance and I were waxing the floor in there.”

  Ellis had explained that. Rowdy remained silent.

  “I came down the hall and heard your voice.” Angel turned to face him. “I had to peek in, see who was in here, because you sounded familiar.”

  His pulse knocked against his skin. “I’d just arrived in Wyoming. We’d never met before then.”

  She stepped forward, her big brown eyes searching his. “I know. I listened outside the door to the entire interview.”

  His fingers itched to touch her hair. He allowed them to gently brush the curls off her shoulders. “Why?”

  “Because I wanted to know everything about you.” Her hand grasped his as it fell from her hair. “I was drawn to you that day, and have been ever since. I can’t take a breath without thinking about you.”

  Her fingers trembled against his palm, and he tightened his hold. “Angel—”

  “Don’t, Rowdy.” She shook her head. “Don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m saying, because I do.”

  Something inside him snapped. Pulling her forward, he dipped his face, catching her slightly parted lips with his. This time, their kiss was slow and easy, yet more powerful than the one in the barn. His heart was in it this time; it had cracked open and was spreading tenderness throughout his body.

  Her arms slid around his waist. He eased his lips from hers and kissed her cheek and temple before tucking her head beneath his chin. Securing her in place, he murmured. “Aw, Angel girl, what am I going to do with you?”

  “Love me?” she whispered against his chest.

  Kissing the top of her head, he tightened his grasp, knowing he held more right now than he’d ever dreamed of. “You deserve more than I can offer, Angel. Much more.”

  She pulled back, staring up at him with a deep frown.

  The thunder of hoofbeats sounded outside, signaling the return of the ranch hands,. Rowdy gave her a little shove. “Go write your invitations. I’ll take them to town.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want company, Rowdy.”

  “I do,” he said.

  A tiny frown furrowed her brow. “Why?”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Because it’s not safe for us to be alone.” He tenderly pushed her toward the doorway. “Go write them.”

  She opened her mouth, but closed it when he shook his head.

  Rowdy followed her out of the room, then walked to the front door while she went down the hall to Ellis’s office. It was his own fault. The thought of Angel tagging along with Hank to Cottonwood on Saturday night had made Rowdy snort like a bull, so his second choice, taking a couple invitations to town, seemed like a good idea. Now it sounded even better. Maybe one of her friends could hang around for a few days. The barrier would help.

  He nodded to the ranch hands as they dismounted. He and Angel weren’t alone at the ranch, but there wasn’t a man among the group of cowboys who’d be able to stand in his way when his final ounce of control snapped. It was when—not if. He was too close to giving in and accepting all Angel offered. Ellis would be back in six weeks and then… Rowdy glanced about. Maybe Liza was right. He should head to Texas.

  His gaze went to the far side of the compound, where the original log cabin sat, the one Ellis and his first wife had built when they’d claimed the property. It was solid and still in good shape. Ellis had said it wouldn’t take much to clean it up, if Rowdy was interested in living there instead of the bunkhouse.

  Angel arrived at his side, and without a word, Rowdy took the envelopes and walked down the veranda stairs. The invitations were a good plan. He could spend the evening reading about longhorns in the bunkhouse while she and her friends quilted and gossiped in the parlor.

  A few hours later, he realized in this, too, he was wrong. Tanna’s squeal when she’d opened the envelope from Angel had been heard from one end of Cottonwood to the other. By the time he bought himself a bath and some new clothes, half the town had gathered at the Browns’ house, waiting for him to escort them to the ranch.

  He felt as if he led a posse, the way the crowd behind him sped across the plains. The sun was streaking the sky pink, yellow and orange by the time he and the wagons full of people reached the ranch yard.

  Angel walked across the veranda while he brought his horse to a halt near the hitching post. When she paused near the top step, Rowdy wondered if he’d been punched in the gut. The shinny gold dress she wore not only fitted her like a glove, but made his eyes want to play peekaboo with the full mounds of her breasts teasingly exposed by the low neckline.

  He dragged in a breath and climbed out of the saddle. Wrapping the reins around the closest post, he paused with one foot on the bottom step. “Your friends—” he waved his hat toward the crowd “—invited a few more friends.”

  “I see that,” she answered, glancing up when she heard squeals of delight.

  “I’ll, uh, stick around. See nothing gets out of control.” His gaze once again dropped to her breasts, and his heart landed in the vicinity of his toes.

  Chapter Five

  Angel’s heart twirled like a ballerina atop a music box. She couldn’t muster more than a slight nod of agreement. Rowdy was back and, she noted, in fine form. The scent of spicy soap wafted in the air as he flipped his hat back on and turned to glance at the crowd forming. The excitement lingering since their kiss pulsed through her veins, while at the same time dread rose in her stomach. It appeared none of her friends had had plans this particular Saturday night.

  Her gaze went to the doorway. She’d set out a few cookies and sandwiches in case Rowdy hadn’t eaten in town. Glancing back to the incoming swarm, she realized she should have butchered a cow.

  “This was the best idea ever!” Tanna screeched, racing up onto the porch.

  Carla followed on Tanna’s heels. “Oh, yes, we haven’t had a celebration in ages!”

  Since your wedding to J.T. last month, Angel wanted to say. She glanced at Rowdy. His grin seemed as strained as hers. He touched the brim of his hat with one hand and turned away. Tanna tugged Angel’s arm, twirling her around. Over her shoulder, Angel watched Rowdy lead his horse to the barn. A new thought ticked in her head. Both Tanna and Carla were newly married, and several of the other couples climbing out of wagons were courting. Perhaps the hand holding and flirtatious glances of the group would nudge Rowdy.

  An hour later, Angel, in the kitchen wiping up spills and replenishing plates, found frustration left her nerve endings raw. The way Liza had told her to tie her corset so her breasts rode high, and the rouge powder the woman had given her to brush over her cleavage, didn’t seem to draw Rowdy’s attention at all. The scowl on his face showed disgust, not interest. Being around others sneaking kisses and giggling at each other didn’t seem to entice him, either.

  Absently, she ran her hands over the front pleats of the yellow gown she’d decided to wear—after trying on half the ones in her closet—since it had the lowest neckline. Glancing down, checking her cleavage, she spotted two long dark smears.

  “What?” she gasped, and caught sight of the blueberries on her fingers. “Oh, good grief, Tanna.”

  “What?” her friend asked, drying plates so people could refill them.

  “You made blueberry pie.”

  “Of course I did. It’s Emerald’s favorite.” Tanna set the plates down on the edge of the table. “Oh, you got some on your dress.”

  “Yes, I noticed.” Angel grabbed a towel.

  “You need to take that off. So
ak it in cold water promptly or it’ll be stained forever,” Tanna offered.

  “I know,” she huffed, moving toward the rear staircase. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Try and keep the hounds happy, will you?”

  Tanna laughed and Angel stomped up the steps. Now what was she going to wear? Not that it mattered. She could be naked and not catch Rowdy’s interest. She was halfway along the upstairs hall when someone caught her arm.

  “Finally, a moment alone.”

  She tugged, trying to break the man’s hold. “Leave me alone, Timothy.”

  He grabbed her other arm. “How about a kiss?”

  “Why on earth would I want to kiss you?”

  “Because the two of us are perfect for each other. The merger of our families will create a dynasty.”

  She didn’t see the need to repeat what she’d told him countless times. Twisting against his hold, she glared at him. Being the daughter of Ellis Clayton, though it had its good points, definitely had its downside.

  He pushed, making her stumble into the wall behind. “Think what we can do with all that money. The places we can go. The things we can buy.” His eyes landed on the low neckline of her dress, and his breath smelled of whiskey. “I’ve never seen you looking so good. Did you dress just for me? Wanted me to see what will soon be mine?” He pressed her harder against the wall.

  “Stop it, Timothy!” Thoroughly disgusted, she tried to push him away, while twisting her face from his hot breath and wet, sloppy lips.

  Suddenly, a rush of wind raced past, taking Timothy with it. Wiping her mouth on her sleeve, Angel spun to see where he’d gone.

  Rowdy had the man by the front of his shirt. “If you’ve got an ounce of wit, Milner, you’ll walk down those steps, out the door, and ride out of here without saying a word.”

  “L-let go,” Timothy moaned, clutching Rowdy’s forearms.

  “You gonna touch her?” Rowdy asked.

  Timothy shook his head. Rowdy released him but didn’t step away.

  Easing away from the wall, Timothy shot him an irritated, but nervous glance. “Geez, McGuire, just ‘cause you’re the foreman around here doesn’t give you cause to stop a man from kissing the woman he’s gonna marry.”