Cowboy Most Wanted (Copper Creek Book 1)

by Stina Lindenblatt

  With the TV crew hanging around the gazebo, Natalie wasn’t able to examine my knee. Which was probably a good thing. I have no idea how she was planning to examine it when I had my jeans on…unless she expected me to remove them, leaving me in only my boxer briefs.

  “You ready for this?” I ask Asgard, who is sitting in the passenger seat of my truck. Behind us, in the white van, is the TV crew.

  That’s right—they couldn’t resist joining us on the sheep-herding mission.

  Woof.

  “I’m with you. I wish they weren’t coming with us.” I have no idea if that’s what Asgard said, but the sentiment is still the same.

  How am I supposed to talk to Violet with the tagalongs joining me? And that includes Natalie. Somewhere in the span of three minutes, Camilla got the idea that having Natalie help me with the sheep would make for entertaining television.

  I park my truck behind the sheriff’s car on the side of the main road into Copper Creek. The sheep are happily chewing the grass, not at all concerned with Austin waving at them to get moving.

  Violet’s also here, leaning against a fence post and laughing at her brother’s antics. Asgard and I approach the pair.

  “You could help me here, sis,” Austin says.

  “And miss the fun of seeing our town sheriff play herder boy? Never.”

  “I love you too, Vi.” There’s definitely eye rolling in his tone.

  She laughs again.

  Her gaze turns to me and the familiar heat in her eyes from the last time she was in town is back.

  A van door slides shut from somewhere behind me. Violet’s gaze shifts to over my shoulder. Then the heat in her eyes vanishes faster than a box of chocolates left with Grandma Meg and her friends.

  And I don’t have to turn around to figure out why. For someone who was telling me to give Natalie a chance, she’s not acting like she’s one hundred percent onboard with the idea.

  Warm satisfaction fills my chest. She’s not as indifferent as she pretended to be earlier.

  A desire to pull her into my arms and admit that I love her nudges at me. Fortunately, common sense has a different take on the matter.

  With his tongue lolling to the side, Asgard waits for me to give him the signal to herd the sheep. I give him the command and he’s off. He’s not trained for sheep herding, but his natural instincts don’t care about that.

  I weave through the herd of sheep. Other than moving out of my path, they don’t exactly make an effort to stroll back to their farm. Asgard commands a greater power, like the Norse gods who live in the location he is named after. The sheep trot forward as he walks past them.

  Only they aren’t trotting in the direction we need them to go. They’re just moving to the side of the road. Some are moving north…when we need them to go south.

  Austin waves his arms at them, encouraging them to turn around and head the other direction. Gone is his intimidating ex-SEAL stance. It’s now replaced by something more comical.

  “You’re doing a great job there, Sheriff.” I wink at Violet.

  She giggles, the tension from earlier faded…for now. Maybe after we’re finished here, Asgard can herd everyone else away so it’s just Violet and me. So I can talk to her, touch her, kiss her.

  The upside of the TV crew joining us…well, there is no upside. They’re busy setting up the lighting. Which means they’re preventing the animals from moving in the direction we need them to go.

  The sheep decide that between Asgard and the TV crew, my dog is the least threatening. Which says something right there, given that the sheep think of him as a hungry wolf and not a dog doing his job. They lunge northward, with Violet in their path.

  Violet attempts to dart out of the way, but the heavy rain from yesterday made the ground wet and muddy here. Her foot slips from under her and she goes down with a shriek.

  Before Austin has a chance to rescue her, I race over, drop beside her, and shield her with my body. Luckily, we’re dealing with sheep and not cattle. They veer around us.

  The feel of her soft body against mine is almost my undoing. I’ve missed her more than words can say. And if we weren’t in this awkward situation with her brother and the camera crew looking on, I would show her just how much I miss her, how much I love her.

  Even if it isn’t the smartest thing to do.

  Once the risk of Violet being hurt has passed, I move off her.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, body tingling from head to toe. Tingling from having her in my arms. Tingling from having her against me.

  She flashes me a sweet smile. “All good.”

  Austin finally makes his way to us and we both help her up. He fusses over her like a crazed mother hen—in a uniform.

  Violet rolls her eyes. “Seriously, I’m fine.” She glances down at herself and attempts to wipe away the mud clinging to her clothes. “Maybe a little dirty, but it’s no big deal.”

  I push aside the need to check for myself just how fine she is…since it involves my hands on her body.

  “As long as they’re here”—I gesture with my head at the camera crew and all their gear—“the sheep won’t move in the direction we need them to go.”

  “Let me deal with this.” Austin strides over to the group, the intimidation factor back on.

  “Christ, I can’t wait for this week to be over,” I grumble to myself, Violet, and the sheep. “You’re the only thing that makes putting up with this week worth it, but I can’t touch you or risk looking at you the wrong way.” I say it while my gaze is directed at a nearby grazing sheep.

  Violet laughs. “Are you referring to me or the sheep? Because unless you’re staring at them like you’re imagining them as roast lamb, I don’t think they’re too concerned.”

  I flash her a grin. “I guess not.”

  She smiles back and nods at the crew. “Looks like my brother convinced them to leave.”

  She’s right. And about ten minutes later, their gear is stowed back in the van and they’re driving away.

  Except for Natalie and Craig. The pair approaches us, with Austin appearing smug behind them.

  What the hell?

  “Sheriff Brooks asked for a few volunteers to help you, TJ, since Violet needs to get back to her son,” Craig says. “He said we can drive back to the ranch with you.”

  Of course he did.

  “It’s okay,” Violet says. “I can stay a few minutes to help out. Granny won’t mind. Deacon’s asleep by now.”

  Except now that I’m expected to drive Natalie and Craig back to the ranch, it will be impossible for me to talk to Violet.

  Oh, who am I kidding? With Austin here, it would be impossible anyway.

  And what would I say?

  Maybe if you let her know that you love her, a voice in my head says, that you’ve always loved her and will always love her, things might be different.

  My heart rate speeds up for several rapid beats, seconding the suggestion.

  I ignore them both.

  Now that the TV crew is gone, the herding of Old Man Jeffery’s sheep back to his farm goes a little smoother.

  As Violet, Natalie, and Craig encourage the flock to pass through the open gate to the pasture, Austin joins me. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing with my sister, don’t even go there.” His tone is what I’ve always imagined it would be if he ever discovered the truth: Calm and lethal.

  There’s only one thing you can do in a situation like this. I wouldn’t call it lying. I prefer to call it creatively twisting reality to make the other person happy. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Violet and I are friends.”

  Before Violet, I’d never done the friends-with-benefits thing. And Austin knows this. Other than Katherine and a few short-term girlfriends in high school, I’ve only had one-night stands.

  “Just make sure you remember that,” he says. “The last thing she needs is to get messed up with someone like you. She deserves more than that. Deacon deserves more than that.”<
br />
  I do my best not to be offended. I fail.

  What I don’t fail at is keeping it out of my tone. “Message received. And you’re right. They both deserve someone better than me.” But try telling that to my heart.

  Once the five of us have finished getting the sheep back to their pasture, I drive Natalie and Craig to the ranch. Then I excuse myself and go to my bedroom and shower.

  But I’m not as tired as I should be. I sit at the window and send Violet a text, even though I know I shouldn’t. I’ve missed you.

  She responds a few seconds later. I’ve missed you, too.

  And then…

  What are you doing?

  Lying in bed, thinking about you.

  What are you thinking about?

  You, in your purple and black lace bra and panties.

  I wasn’t thinking about them before, but I am now.

  My phone rings and I answer it. Violet. I move to my bed.

  And so begins the most incredible phone sex I’ve ever had.

  But as the post-euphoria fades, I realize that what we just did isn’t enough. Once she returns home to LA, phone sex and sexts won’t be enough to fill the empty space in my chest. The empty space I hadn’t realized was there until now.

  The empty space that I have no idea how to fill.

  Well, doesn’t that fuck all?

  25

  Aubrey: Can you come to the clinic today? Minus the Goon Squad?

  “Natalie can go with you,” Camilla says over her coffee after I tell her my plans for the morning. The plans involving the text Aubrey sent me earlier. The plans that have nothing to do with Loki, Asgard, or the horses—Loki is just my excuse for going to the clinic. The plans that don’t involve Natalie or any of the TV crew.

  “And then we can get some great footage of you two together,” Camilla adds, “bonding over this sick cat while at the vet’s. It will be perfect.”

  Loki, who is currently doing a great job looking limp and lifeless in my arms, peers up at me as if to say, What now, human? Clearly you didn’t think this one through as well as you thought you had.

  “That will only stress Loki out more,” I say. “He’s a very sensitive cat.”

  Someone snorts. Most likely Jake or Noah. I choose not to dignify it with a response.

  Violet looks at Loki as though his sudden “illness” is breaking her heart. As far as I can tell, she has no idea her best friend texted me this morning, which means she also has no idea why Aubrey wants to talk to me.

  I want to comfort her and tell her he’s fine. He’s just adding to his résumé, which currently includes “couch warmer” and “tormentor of Asgard.”

  “Plus the waiting room is really small and the exam rooms even smaller,” I explain. “There’s not enough space for everyone to join me. But I promise, as soon as I’m done there, I’ll be right back, and we can resume filming.”

  Camilla appears to contemplate this for a moment before nodding. “All right. And don’t forget, we’re visiting the little girl’s home this afternoon, so you and Natalie can present her with the rocking horse.”

  I shake my head. “Sorry, but her parents changed their minds last night. They don’t want their little girl on TV.”

  That was mostly true. They were against her being a pawn on the reality show, but they were all for my suggestion that I give the horse to their daughter next week. Just as long as no one from the show comes with me.

  Loki releases a pitiful meow—and I almost laugh at his brilliant performance. Wow. Who knew my cat had it in him?

  After I finish cleaning out the stable and grabbing a quick shower, Loki and I drive to town in my truck. The cat meows at me from the passenger seat. It’s not a ticked-off meow, so that’s a good thing.

  “Do you think Austin suspects something is going on between Violet and me? Or was he just threatening me in case the idea crossed my mind?”

  Loki meows again, but I have no clue if he’s answering my question or telling me that I’m an idiot.

  I park the truck behind the brick building and carry him into the vet clinic. He looks nothing like the cat who pulled off the performance of a lifetime back at the house. Now he’s watching everyone as though they are his servants.

  So, back to his typical self.

  I approach the receptionist, but before I can say anything, Brianna, the vet assistant, rushes over. “Loki! I can’t believe you’ve grown even more adorable since the last time I saw you.”

  Loki purrs at her and willingly goes into her arms.

  “Aubrey will be out in a minute,” she tells me. “She’s just finishing up with Mr. Clydesdale’s cocker spaniel.”

  While I wait, Brianna asks me questions about the reality show. “Is it really as awful as it sounds?”

  “More so. I’ll be glad once the week is finished.”

  “And then what happens?” She scratches Loki behind the ear. He leans into her hand and continues purring like a jackhammer.

  Then they go away, and I never have to be involved with the show again.

  That’s the fantasy version of the answer.

  “Then they have just over three weeks left of filming Natalie with the final three contestants. After that, she picks her top five choices, and they spend four weeks filming the second part of the season.”

  “When does it start?”

  “In the new year.”

  Her eyes go as wide as Loki’s chubby head. “How many weeks is the second part before they announce the winner?”

  “Four.”

  “And if you make it to the next round, you can’t reveal the winner until the final episode is aired?”

  Which is why I have to figure a way to avoid the next round. Unfortunately, my brain’s suggestion box when it comes to this topic is empty.

  “That’s about right,” I say.

  Aubrey enters the waiting room. She’s skilled at hiding her emotions. It’s why she’s a great vet. Which means I can’t tell what she knows about last night and about Violet’s and my current relationship.

  And right now, a little foresight would be nice.

  I tell Loki to be good, then Aubrey and I walk down the block to The Coffee Nut. The café isn’t too busy when we enter.

  “Morning,” Maddie, the owner, says. “What can I get you two? And just so you know, Aubrey. I have a fresh batch of blueberry scones waiting to be devoured.”

  Aubrey moans an I’m-going-to-die-if-I-don’t-eat-one noise. “I’ll have a vanilla coconut latte and a blueberry scone please.”

  I place my order and pay for them both, then we sit at a table next to the window. Aubrey starts with the usual small talk we typically skip whenever we see each other. Once our order is delivered to the table, she drops all pretenses and gets to business. “So what’s going on between you and the star of Cowboy Most Wanted?”

  Definitely not what I was expecting. “You asked me here to discuss that?”

  She takes a sip of her coffee. “Among other things. Are you hoping she picks you in the end?” She watches me with an appraising eye.

  “I think you already know the answer. If I had my way, the show would end today, with me not being the man expected to propose to Natalie.”

  “Of course if it ended today, that means Violet would be returning to LA. And who knows when we’ll see her again.”

  My heart and my lungs squeeze in my chest, tighter and tighter, until I can no longer suck in any air.

  Breathe. She’s not going yet.

  “Did Violet tell you what happened yesterday…before Austin recruited us to round up the sheep?” I ask.

  “You mean how she found you and Natalie in a compromising position?”

  Given that “compromising position” can mean anything, I clarify. “No, I mean how Natalie joined me in the river. She was topless and jumped at me, causing us both to slip into the water. And for the record, it’s not how it sounds.” Natalie being topless was bad enough. No point mentioning to Aubrey that the re
st of Natalie’s bikini was missing, too.

  “If it’s not how it sounds, then how is it?” Aubrey’s tone is free of judgment.

  “I hurt my knee yesterday. I thought a swim in the cold river would help it feel better.”

  “And Natalie decided to join you?” Again, no judgment.

  “No. I snuck out of the house because I wanted to be alone. I either did a crappy job sneaking or it was a fluke she ended up at the same spot as me.” Violet has probably filled Aubrey in on the part where I was naked, so I skip that detail. “I tried to explain things to Violet, but Austin was there.”

  “Yes, I did hear about that part. God, what I would have done to see his face when he realized you were naked. In front of his baby sister.” She chuckles, then her face goes cardiac-arrest serious. “You do realize he’ll kill you if he figures out what’s been going on between you and Violet, right?”

  “I’m aware of that.” I take a long sip of my coffee and wait for Aubrey to explain why she wanted to meet with me this morning. But instead of saying anything, she butters her goddamn scone.

  “I love her.” The words slip out, unrestrained. Shit. I hadn’t meant to blurt it.

  I expected to see any number of emotions on Aubrey’s face from my revelation. But while smugness wasn’t part of the list, it’s the number one and two and three emotion stamped there. “And when are you planning to tell Violet this?”

  “My vote is never. What’s the point? She doesn’t live here. She has a great new job in LA. And as you’ve pointed out, her brother will kill me if he finds out she and I have been having sex.” I doubt the last part comes as a surprise to Aubrey. Women talk.

  “So in other words, you’re being a coward.”

  I cross my arms and lean back in my chair. “Not a coward. Smart.”

  Aubrey laughs again. “Definitely not smart. Both you and Violet are cowards. Your ex-girlfriend made you a relationship cynic. Violet fell for a man who was married. You’re both afraid to fall in love and admit it.”

  “This why you texted me this morning? To insult me?”

  “No, that’s just the added bonus.” She winks at me.

  “It doesn’t matter if I love her. She deserves better than me.” She deserves the world.