by Taylor Berke
He knew he should seek professional help after he hung up the phone and realized that he still had to find a towel to clean himself up.
As Jackson made his way up to Billie’s front door, he heard the seemingly menacing growls that Madison and Zeus made. He was glad to hear it, because it meant that very few things would be able to sneak up to her house without her knowing. At the sound of male voices within, he twisted his head to the side to listen. Just then the door swung open, revealing a beaming smile that she bestowed upon him. Damn, that just made him feel so good. He figured that dogs had announced his arrival and the departure of two men he wasn’t expecting to see.
“Morning, all. What brings god’s gift to cow paddies out this way?” Jackson innocently asked with a smile.
With a devilish smirk and a shy glance in Billie’s direction, Adam Taggart sheepishly answered, “Why just asking Doc if she would like to come over to our spread for a late afternoon ride and some dinner is all.” If Jackson wasn’t sure of his two friends’ intentions by that comment, he was positive of them after seeing the look on Sean’s face as he gazed at Billie. Shit. These brothers were good guys and in only the two minutes he had been in her house with them, he was ready to rip their heads off for breathing in the same air as she did.
Billie had an odd look on her face as she spoke on her phone to Sam, apparently about a broken window. Jackson figured he could ask her about that later. He turned his direction back to his misguided friends.
“Tough luck, boys,” he heard himself say. “My dad would have my hide if I didn’t assist the doc here in choosing some horseflesh for her barn.”
Without blinking an eye, Sean turned to watch Billie gather her things across the room. “You know, Jackson. We know you have so much work to do on that monster ranch of yours. Adam, why don’t we let him do his chores while we squire the doc over to the Saunderses’?” He turned his far too good-looking face in Jackson’s direction as though to bait his friend further.
Like hell they would. He had been looking forward to figuratively and literally feeling his way through the situation he was in with Billie. “Thanks for the offer, boys, but I have it covered. While I appreciate the help, Doc here needs some ‘experienced’ assistance.”
The men gave several chuckles as they watched Billie gracefully walk back into the room with her purse. She looked radiant.
“Can you guys believe that some kid shot a hole through my front window at the office already? I haven’t even been here that long and I have to replace it already!” Billie lamented to her group of men.
“That happens from time to time when the kids get bored, Doc. Don’t worry, Sam will get it all squared away for you. If you have any problems, though, feel free to call Adam or me anytime.” Jackson gave Billie a look that left her with little confusion as to Sean and Adam’s interest in her.
Jackson was momentarily distracted by the way her breasts sensually bobbed slightly with her walk when he heard her say, “I will, and thank you so much for coming over and giving me the opportunity to get to know you both better. I would love to take you up on that ride really soon. Let me get squared away with my own horse or two and I promise we can make some plans. Jackson here was kind enough to take time out to assist me in my purchases.”
With a huge grin, Jackson took note of the dirty looks that Adam and Sean gave. He felt that they had little remorse as they smacked him in the side of his head as they said their good-byes. Jackson knew that his friends were well aware that he was rarely interested in more than a quick fuck when it came to all women. It had to be obvious to both Taggart brothers that this woman was of more than a casual interest to him. Jackson appreciated their gracious retreat from their prey by acknowledging his unspoken claim on Billie.
After he watched them drive away, he turned to Billie and placed his hand on her lower back. With a gentle nudge, he ushered her through the front door to the passenger seat of his truck. After opening the passenger-side door and lifting her inside, he looked into her questioning expression.
“Don’t the men in New York assist the women into the car?”
“Yes, of course they do, but I never saw a man lift a woman into their truck nor a man who was strong enough to be able to do so.” Billie’s hands still burned from having touched Jackson’s huge biceps as he had effortlessly lifted her up and into the truck. What the heck kind of supplements did these men take in Wyoming? She figured she could bottle it and make a fortune.
The drive to the Saunderses’ horse ranch was a quiet one. Billie tried to focus on the rolling hills, evergreens, and Wyoming Mountains that rose majestically off in the distance. It was a losing battle in her mind. She was confused and felt off-balance. The man was making her so crazy that she was sure she couldn’t trust herself for making any decisions today. Just his masculine scent, a mix of the outdoors and his cologne, that filled the cab of his truck send her pulses racing. Was she actually starting to sweat? It was mid-November, for Pete’s sake. What did he want from her? One moment he was tender and possessive. They kept having stolen moments of what had to be foreplay that was so hot she was sure her boots were singed. Then usually the next day, after the man probably had time to digest his actions, he would pull away and be just a polite neighbor. He would give her warm smiles then place two feet of walking distance between them. Even right now he was sitting on the driver’s side, looking more delicious than any man had a legal right to, with an ocean of unspoken thoughts between them. She let out a sigh and decided to put Jackson on the shelf of good neighbor and friend. She wasn’t going to sit around waiting for anyone anymore. Her heart felt leaded and her eyes blurred at the thought that he might even bestow his passion on another lucky woman in the near future. Could she bear to watch? No, she would try to enjoy the company and laughter of some of the other fine specimens of Stony Creek. While she desperately wanted to sit on Jackson’s lap and suck all his thoughts of previous or future women away, she knew for her own sanity, she had to accept that those women may be a reality, ugh. How did she get to this pathetic lovelorn place in such a small amount of time? It almost felt cosmic between them, destined. She had been wrong before, though, and turned back to watching the landscape roll by.
Jackson heard her sigh and chanced a look in her direction. She looked so forlorn and sad. Had he done that? He suspected it to be true, but because he had taken to acting like a coward where she was concerned, he said nothing. How could he get her used to the idea that she could belong to only him while he struggled to figure out his own feelings? Why did her sadness make him want to envelope her in his arms and kiss her until she smiled? What was it about her? Maybe it was that she was new and from the East coast, a novelty perhaps. Or maybe it was because she had a smile and time to care about everyone and everything around her. He smiled to himself as he recalled watching her through the front window of her office as she greeted Daniel McGuire last week. He had fallen and ripped up his knee pretty decently. She had knelt down right in the waiting room and fed him chocolate cookies until he smiled and hugged her senseless. Would she be tender like that with their children? It was thoughts like that, Jackson realized, that were getting him into trouble in the first place. Sure he wanted her. He wanted her with an intensity that almost rattled him because there was more than just passion interlaced with his need for her but another emotion, too. A possessiveness and need to have her near him as often as possible. He hoped he would figure it out, as his balls were of a fine shade of blue and probably about to fall off if he didn’t get to have her soon. He smirked when he remembered how he luckily ended up being the one to come to her aid today. His family was a riot. After a moment of thinking of an appropriate retribution for them all, except his mother, she had his permission to meddle, he came to a startling conclusion. Maybe they did know something he didn’t know. The Gwen disaster really made him question his perspective in starting new relationships. Perhaps he should change tactics and start to trust the opinion of the ones tha
t he loved. He decided to give it a shot.
“We’re here,” Jackson announced as they pulled up to a beautiful ranch spread.
Billie was amazed to see that the corrals and barns were spaced apart with what seemed like a tremendous amount of horseflesh. What the heck did she know, though?
“Thank you for that public service announcement, Mr. Powell. I would never have figured that out on my own.” The sarcastic comment, very unlike her, just tumbled from her lips without thought.
Jackson’s only response was to raise an eyebrow at her. “Hey guys! Doc, welcome to Wild Mustang Ranch. I knew we would get you out here, and thank god it wasn’t a moment too late!” Beth Saunders hollered out enthusiastically.
Beth was around thirty-three and just about as cute as a button. She and her brother Gabe had brought their very cantankerous father in this week to have a check on his cough. Beth had a joie de vivre that was simply contagious and Billie liked her immensely.
“We totally need some girl time, Doc!
“Well, miss thing, it would grease the wheels rather quickly if you would stop being stubborn and call me Billie already. I sometimes forget my name out here. Everyone calls me Doc, Dr. Rothman, or darlin’!” She laughed.
“I agree with Beth. We so need to get our nails done and talk about the evils of men,” Jackson said with a hearty laugh.
Jackson kept on laughing for the moment until he realized he was the only one participating in his hilarity. He watched as two unimpressed female expressions were trying to stare him down and looked downright hostile.
“I guess, I, um, will go see what the guys are up to. Excuse me for a moment, ladies,” Jackson blurted out as he made a beeline for the nearest barn.
“Go help Preston and Gabe muck out the stalls, will ya?” Beth yelled at the swiftly retreating back. The women were quiet for a moment then gave a snort of laughter.
Beth looked interestedly at Billie for a moment. “I don’t know how you stay calm around that man. He looks as good coming as he does going. Women have been throwing themselves at him since he got divorced, but you are the only spark of real interest since then. Lucky girl! You must give off some sort of man aphrodisiac because you got a serious harem of men just waiting for that man over there to mess up, and they are all sure that he will!”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Beth. We don’t have anything between us. Well, I thought we might have, seemed like it was going there, but now, well, there appears to be nothing! Ugh! Men make me crazy!”
“Me, too, but you are wrong on the Jackson thing. That man gives you some seriously burning looks when you are too busy to notice. I am surprised he doesn’t have a drool cloth.”
The image of Jackson drooling over her made her stomach get butterflies again. She had to tamp them down immediately.
“Where are your brothers and parents, Beth? I want to say hi and check on your dad. By the way, did I see you giving Hunter the once-over when we were talking by the bank?”
“You cannot give a man like Hunter the once-over. You need to do it at least twice, maybe even three times! He is too darned big.” Beth laughed. “He has a whole rough, rugged mountain man thing going on with a side of cranky. Still, I wouldn’t mind if he asked me to help him check under the hood!”
“Beth Saunders, you are a nut, but I think I love you. Jackson said you all have the best horses so let’s get at it. I want a boy horse and a girl horse, please,” Billie announced.
“For a woman, who I happen to know is brilliant, is that the best you can do for vocabulary? Boy and girl horses? How about a stallion and a mare?” Beth erupted in giggles again.
Just at that moment, the men walked around the side of the first barn, kicking up some dust. The drool they had been just teasing about in reference to Jackson seemed to just appear in her mouth. Gabe, Jackson, and Preston created quite an image of male perfection in their Wranglers, boots, and cowboy hats. It seemed a shame to have shirts on those bodies. Maybe a stiff gust of wind would blow them off?
“See anything you like?” teased Beth into her ear.
“Hey, Doc! We are so pleased you decided to come out here today for your horses. Let’s go and get started, beautiful lady,” announced Preston. With one Saunders male on one arm and another fine specimen of Saunders men on the other, they deftly steered her into the gloom of the first barn.
Jackson attempted to give the trio a look of disgust and kicked at some small rocks. Giving Beth a sideways glance, he offered her his arm. Friends since they were kids, there was no tension to be found when Beth found her voice. “Um, Jackson, when are you going to let Billie in on your feelings for her? She has been the topic of discussion around the dinner table and in the barn since the moment she moved into town. My brothers are interested, very interested.”
With a gentle voice that did not betray his frustration at the situation, he said. “What feelings would you be referring to, Beth? How can you be sure something exists that even I have no personal assurances of?”
“Then you are a blind ass and deserve it if the boys steal her out from under your nose. Men truly are idiots, you know! Thank you for proving it yet again! That woman is as crazy for you as you are for her. I know it is none of my business, but she isn’t Gwen, you know,” she practically yelled at him.
“I am hearing a lot of that lately.”
“Well, maybe you should have your hearing checked or better yet, a brain scan, because you sure aren’t showing signs of life over there. Maybe she would be better off with the three amigos. Then she would be my sister-in-law and never leave the ranch. You know what? This is starting to sound better and better…” Beth crowed.
“Okay, little girl, I heard you. As soon as I figure things out, you will be the second to know,” Jackson said with a warm smile.
As they walked into the dim light of the barn, they heard soft male voices peppered with the occasional gentle female laugh that stirred Jackson’s blood into fire. Just as his eyes adjusted, he saw Billie in what had to be their version of a Saunders triple-decker sandwich. Three large cowboys practically squishing into his woman! That’s it! He had had enough of this crap! Beth tried to pull on his arm to keep him from going over there and getting himself flattened by her brothers. Jackson knew that he was a huge, strong beast, but even though the three of them were a couple inches shorter, he could do the math. Three against one weren’t fair odds. “Billie, did you go on that date with Sean and Adam Taggart yet?” Beth asked innocently. All four sets of male eyes suddenly swung in her direction and then back to Billie.
Billie couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice. Beth was a quick thinker.
“Um, no. They only asked this morning. Thank you so very much for bringing that up right about now, Beth.” Jackson firmly extended his hand in her direction, daring her with his eyes not to accept it. Cool, soft fingers slid almost of their own volition into his hand. With a firm clasp, he whispered roughly into her ear for her alone. “And there won’t ever be a date with them, baby. Not with them or the Saunders idiots or anyone else. You. Are. Mine.”
She paused at the heat and firm set of his voice but stopped as a surge of anger bubbled to the surface. She leaned into him, deliberately pressing the breasts that he had been admiring this morning into his arm. Her confidence was bolstered by her suggestive motion when she felt him shudder as if in pain. “If I truly was yours, Jackson, then there would never even be a question. However, since you have no idea as to what you want, then I will continue to do as I choose. You are not the boss of me.”
Jackson’s smile made her nervous as he murmured back, “Ah, darlin’. I will be.”
The rest of the day was punctuated by lots of good-natured ribbing between Beth and her brothers and the brothers toward Jackson. Billie, under Jackson’s surprisingly gentle guidance, chose a dark-brown stallion that she promptly named Danny and a sweet white mare with a black speckled muzzle who she named Sheeza. Joe promised to deliver them over to her place in a day or
two.
Billie turned toward Jackson’s truck when she heard Beth call out to her. “I can’t wait for Friday night, Billie! Lizzie and I cannot wait to see if they teach East Coast girls how to shake their ba donka donk in medical school!” Everyone except Jackson laughed at that.
“What the hell is going to happen on Friday?” Jackson pointedly asked Beth.
Beth chanced a look at Billie and answered Jackson. “Doc here is going out on the town with Lizzie and me. We are taking this greenhorn girl dancing with the girls at The Gas Pump.”
Jackson looked from Beth to Billie, who nodded her affirmation at the comment. Billie thought Jackson looked like he was going to explode while attempting to try to control his temper. She figured he couldn’t think of how to tell her that she couldn’t go unless she was with him. Hah! He was just going to have to deal with it. If he didn’t want to date her seriously, the only way she knew how to date, then he would just have to get used to seeing her talk, dance, and socialize with other men!
While Beth cornered Jackson, the Saunders men were able to talk to Billie alone for a moment. “Doc, we just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed spending the afternoon with you. We also appreciate you taking care of our father. No matter what happens,”—Gabe inclined his head in Jackson’s direction—“if you ever need us or some help with anything, we are here for you. Okay?”
“Thank you guys so much. I had a wonderful afternoon. I will keep in mind what you said. The woman who gets to claim all of you is a lucky one indeed. However, right now I kind of have my hands full,” she said, it was not without a blush that ran across her neck down to her breasts. The men made no attempt at hiding either their gaze or their pleasure in it as it followed the path of her increased coloring.
“Doc, it would be our pleasure. Truly,” Joe finished with a confident grin.
Billie heard a growl and looked up to see that Jackson had just approached the group and didn’t seem too happy about the way the Saunders men were eyeing her breasts. After a quick farewell, Billie and Jackson walked back to the truck, where he lifted her up into her seat and began the drive home.