by Tina Leonard
He just didn’t want Stormy to be the solution.
“Is there something I should know about Stormy that you’re not telling me?” Annie asked, slowly pulling away to sit in a chair. She watched him with suddenly curious eyes.
“No. It’s going to be fine, Annie. You know I’m just uncomfortable around people sometimes.” It was a straw, and he grasped at it.
“You seem more uncomfortable with Stormy than most. Is there something I’m missing here?”
A smile hovered at the edge of her lips. He shook his head, anxious to keep his secret hidden. “Nope.”
Annie got to her feet. “Well. For a moment there, I wondered if there was something going on between the two of you.” She shrugged, smiling. “I haven’t seen you this out of sorts about a woman before.”
“I’ll admit we don’t get along very well.”
“That’s not exactly how Carmen put it. Your mother says you spent more time in Stormy’s bedroom when she was sick than you did on your land.”
“She was afraid to be alone.” He headed into the kitchen to show that this conversation had gone far enough.
“It’s a good thing Carmen is here to be a chaperon for Stormy. We wouldn’t want there to be any gossip about Stormy and you in town.”
“A chaperon! That woman isn’t worried about her reputation—” He halted immediately. Stormy had been a virgin, a fact he couldn’t forget nor take lightly. She was a good woman, as much as he’d Hollywood-stereotyped her. She deserved to be treated as respectfully as a woman who wore white dresses buttoned up to her neck and sat in church seven days a week. “I hadn’t thought about that.” He dumped ice in a glass and scowled.
“Well, now you have,” Annie said brightly. “Of course, it doesn’t slip my attention that you’re not insisting that there isn’t a reason for gossip concerning you and Stormy. That there’s nothing going on between the two of you…”
Cody stared at his sister-in-law, realizing he’d been maneuvered into a trap. He started to say something to her, make a stinging reply of denial, but her eyes were laughing at him. He shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“Maybe Mary’s not the only one who’s taken a liking to Stormy,” she said softly as she patted him on the shoulder.
“I haven’t!” he denied. “Don’t look at me. I don’t like her, like that. She doesn’t affect me one way or the other.”
“I meant me,” she said smoothly, with a grin as big as Texas, “but now that you’ve mentioned yourself, I wonder if you’re trying just a little bit too hard to act as if you don’t like her. Relax, Cody,” she said, as she left the kitchen, “Stormy’s not a rattlesnake that requires special handling. She won’t bite you.”
He closed his eyes. For a snakebite, there was antivenom.
For what Stormy was doing to him, there was no antidote.
Mary stayed with Stormy in town the few days she’d been promised, and Cody didn’t go near the Stagecoach. He spent a lot of time thinking. He and Annie had come to an agreement. If Mary created a ruckus while her folks were gone, he was going to take her to task. Punish her if need be. Though this went firmly against his grain, he knew that he could no longer allow Mary to manipulate him. If situations arose during the time Annie and Zach were gone that were serious, Mary was going into counseling upon their return.
He hated that idea. But it was true that he’d allowed Mary to work him like a cow dog. He hadn’t done a whole lot to curb her wildness, preferring to sit squarely in the role of favored uncle. While he wasn’t crazy about Stormy Nixon, at least she’d kept Mary’s attention off rock throwing and on matters more typical of her age, such as wanting to be beautiful.
So, either peace and quiet existed at his ranch while her folks were gone, or Mary was getting the reining in she deserved. Cody sighed, wishing they were past the weekend already. He knew Stormy had her return plane ticket set for Sunday. Annie would be back, and Stormy would be gone. His life could return to normal.
The biggest, most important rule of all while Stormy was in his house was that, while he treated her courteously and with the respect she deserved, no way was he ending up in her bed. No matter how much she enticed him. No matter if it killed him, he was not falling into that woman’s arms again. She was destructive to his lifestyle and his brain; he hadn’t stopped thinking about her since her arrival in Desperado. Now he had an itch. It kept him awake at night, and kept him company in the saddle. His body craved that woman. His mind was fascinated by her. His heart ran scared from her.
She turned his entire being inside out.
From the window, he watched her pull the thing she called a suitcase from the car. Her flowered carpetbag looped over her arm, and a mashed, vagabond-style hat covered her hair.
The hair on the back of his neck electrified as she walked toward the house. Four days. It was only four days.
Temptation, thy name is woman.
He went out to help her carry her things.
“I’m glad you’re going to stay with us, Stormy.” Mary’s eyes filled with happiness. “It’s going to be so much fun!”
If you like constant friction, Stormy thought. Cody had taken her suitcase inside, which she hadn’t expected. Usually, he acted as if he might catch a disease if he touched her. Except for the time they’d made love. He hadn’t had any problem touching her then. Afterwards, of course, had been a different story. Then he’d been afraid of getting caught by Mary—and by me. Cody definitely didn’t want anything that remotely felt like commitment—and her virginity had certainly run him off.
She watched his wide back as he walked inside the house. “I’m glad I’m staying here, too,” she told Mary. “It will be fun.”
“Stormy,” Mary suddenly said, “you did mean what we talked about? About Uncle, I mean?”
Stormy stared down into the teenager’s eyes. During their two-day stay together at the Stagecoach, she and Mary had a lot of heart-to-hearts. One thing that had come out was that Mary feared Stormy just liked her because of her Uncle Cody. Stormy had taken great pains to assure Mary that the two were totally separate. She felt affection for Mary. She felt something else about Cody. Hurt, mainly, but she hadn’t said that to Mary.
“I promise, it’s just going to be me and you for the next four days,” she told Mary. “Maybe we’ll get your grandma one day and all of us can go shopping.”
“Oh, good. I’d like a hat like yours,” Mary said happily.
“We’ll see how it suits you. We need to find you your own style, Mary. What looks right on me might not look as pretty on you as something else might.”
She walked inside the house, noting instantly the fresh spray of flowers on the table. Taking a deep breath, Stormy forced herself to relax. This is what you wanted. You get to be in a real home for four days. Nothing else mattered. She had worked hard on this project, and now she was going to enjoy a small vacation of her own. Annie dreamed of going to Bermuda, but Stormy…nothing so exotic for me, she thought. This is my dream.
“Supper!” Carmen called into the living room. “Stormy, don’t stand there like you’re a visitor. Come on in and join the family.” She waved a welcoming hand her way.
Stormy didn’t look at Cody as she stepped into the yellow and white painted kitchen. It was like walking into heaven—and if there was a devil standing guard in the dining room, well, she wouldn’t pay him any mind at all.
They had supper at the oval formal table in the dining room. Cody didn’t look at her much, and Stormy purposely avoided looking his way. She talked to Carmen and Mary about anything she wanted, and when they asked her questions, Stormy basked in their obvious interest in her life. Family time around a real dinner table. She wanted the night never to end, even if Cody didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. The sun set low in the distance and she helped Carmen do the dishes. Afterwards, she and Mary walked through some fields. It was this land which had brought her here. The open land that would be used for the filming was farther away,
but this ground under her feet had drawn her to this ranch. This place. It was giving her something she’d always wanted—for now.
“Are you having fun, Stormy?” Mary asked.
“You have no idea how much I’m enjoying myself,” she told her. Glancing toward the house, she could see two cigars glowing on the porch as Cody and his mother savored a late-night smoke after supper. That suited her. She just wanted to walk and listen to the country sounds and dream.
“I don’t know why you like it so much,” Mary said, her face wondering. “I get bored out here by myself.”
She smiled. “I know. But I’ve never had this. It’s all new to me. Being in LA seems typical to me, but you’d probably like it a lot because it would be different.”
“I suppose.” Mary jumped up onto the wood fence and hooked her feet over a lower rail. “I’m not bored when you’re around.”
“I know. It’s fun to get to know new people.”
“I hope I meet lots of people when the movie comes.”
“You will.” Stormy listened to the sound of birds Cody had briefly tried to teach her, so that she could distinguish between mockingbirds and mourning doves. He hadn’t appeared to like his role of teacher much.
“Will you be here then?” Mary asked.
“I’m not sure yet. I’ve been offered a job doing something different on the set, but I like being a location scout. I like going new places.” It might not be the best idea to spend too much time in Desperado. She’d see how a few weeks away from Cody affected her perspective, but she suspected her emotions would still be raw where he was concerned.
The two cigar lights went out, and the front door shut loudly.
“Grandma goes to bed early,” Mary explained. “I usually like to stay up and watch a late movie, but tonight I’m tired. Will you mind if I disappear on you?”
“No, I’ll feel like part of the family.” Stormy smiled. “I’m going to walk for a while, then come in myself.”
“’Night, then. See you in the morning.”
“We’ll go shopping.” She waved goodbye and then turned to gaze into the paddock. Closing her eyes, she tried to let her other senses work. Manure, grass, night wind smells. A steer shook his horns. Stormy took a deep breath and let all of the moment work its magic on her. She adored this place. The peace was intoxicating. Peace, brother, she heard her father say. Peace wasn’t in pot plants, psychedelic drugs and soul-disturbing music.
It was right here, under a majestic Texas sky.
Cody watched the woman from his position on the porch. She appeared lost in a world of her own. He couldn’t imagine what she found so interesting in a paddock full of cow chips and knee-high grass, but it had her riveted. Maybe she was lonely. Maybe she hadn’t really wanted to be here. He hardened his heart against those thoughts. She and Annie had gotten attached to one another in some sisterly fashion he couldn’t fathom. She and Mary had gotten together like ticks on dogs’ backs. If she was feeling out of place now, that was her problem. Stormy had wanted to be here. So now she was. He wasn’t going to go running out there and make sure she was all right.
He wanted to. He wanted to so much he knew it was a bad idea. It was only her first night here. He’d vowed to get through the next four days without compounding the mistake he’d made once. That meant he had to avoid tripping over her at every loose moment, like this one, which called to him to go see her. With the darkness and the quiet they’d get to talking—and maybe more. No, best he head back inside and not worry about a woman who claimed she could handle herself.
“Cody, ask Stormy if she wants some Key lime pie for dessert!” Ma called from the kitchen. “I tried a new recipe I found in Southern Living magazine just for her.”
Key lime pie? What the hell for? he wondered. There was no need to go out of their way for Stormy’s sake. Why couldn’t they eat what they were used to, such as a quick bowl of ice cream before bed? He preferred not to think about how Key lime pie would taste on Stormy’s lips. Stomping out the door, he realized the scout had wandered about half a mile down the fence line. A frown fixed on his face. No good shouting. He’d have to go after her, or risk appearing rude by hollering.
He caught up with her, calling to her when he was about fifty feet away. “Stormy!”
“Yes?” She turned to face him.
“Ma wants to know if you want some Key lime pie. She made it special for you.”
“Oh. How nice of her!”
He could see the pleasure on Stormy’s face even in the darkness. It irritated him. “You shouldn’t be walking out here so late without a light,” he said gruffly. “You might come upon a snake.”
“I see snakes all the time when it’s full light and I’m in a crowded room. Sometimes they just can’t be avoided.”
An uncomfortable thought crossed his mind. What was she referring to? “I don’t quite get your drift.”
“Never mind.” Stormy took off walking toward the house.
“Hang on a minute,” he said, catching her by the arm and gently turning her around. “You’re not implying that I’m a snake, are you?”
She shrugged. “If the skin fits, wear it.”
“Now, look, Stormy. If you’re going to stay in my house for four days, we’re going to have to get along.” He meant there to be no nonsense on this point.
“You’re right. I apologize. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of an opportunity to take a cheap shot. Especially as you’ve been a wonderful host for the six hours I’ve been here.” She turned again and headed away.
“Stormy, we should talk.” He caught up with her and turned her around to face him. “We should talk about what happened.”
She stared up at him with eyes that were round and captivating and hurt. Cody swallowed hard. “Or maybe not,” he murmured, sliding his hand up to frame her face with his hands.
This is such a bad idea, he thought as he lowered his lips to hers. He moved close against her so that they melded together. Such a bad idea, but it feels so good.
Chapter Twelve
Stormy pulled away instantly. “I think I’ll go try some of your mom’s pie.”
He kept her from turning away. “Wait a minute. I know something’s bothering you. I’d like to fix it.”
“By kissing me?” She gave him an assessing look. “I think that adds to the problem.”
Cody lowered his head, knowing she was right. “Okay. In fact, I apologize for the way I treated you the other day. I behaved like a jerk.”
“It’s over and done.” She rubbed her hands over her arms. “But just in case you think that I’m staying here because I want to be near you, I want to make it clear that I’m doing this for Annie, because she asked me to. I’m doing it for Mary, because she needs a friend. And I’m doing it for me, because…well, I’ve got my own reasons.” Her eyes never strayed from his. “But they have nothing to do with you.”
“All right,” he said carefully. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Please do,” she replied softly. “We knew what we were doing when we made love, Cody. We knew there was no future involved. Staying in your home doesn’t mean I want to have a convenient, ongoing bedtime relationship. Once was enough for me.”
He grimaced. “That isn’t what I want, either. Will you tell me one thing, though? Will you tell me why you did it?”
“Why I let you be my first, you mean?” Stormy looked away. “I don’t know, quite honestly. But I do know it wasn’t a good idea.” She turned to walk off into the night, calling over her shoulder, “I’d relax if I were you, Cody. You’re looking real hard for the trap I set out, but there wasn’t one.”
The dry grass crackled softly under her footsteps as she walked away. Cody closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe he’d kissed her. He couldn’t believe she had rejected him. His brain wasn’t working right, because he knew better than to touch that woman. Stormy was right. There was no future between them.
Four days and three nights stretched like
an eternity before him. He couldn’t sit at the table every night with her, and wake up every morning to her in his house without going mad. There were some things a man had to do, and there were some things he just couldn’t do.
He couldn’t stay here.
Sloan glanced at Cody as they finished artificially inseminating the triple-registered, black and white spotted Arabian mare. “One down, four to go.”
Cody grunted. “Good.” He was bunking at Sloan’s for the next two days, run out of his own house like a frightened dog. Thank goodness he’d promised Sloan his help with the mares. The timing was right, because it gave him a good excuse for avoiding Stormy. On the last night of her stay, he’d go home ever so casually and shake her hand. The next morning he’d wave as she drove off in her rental car—and say goodbye to the passel of trouble from California.
“Wanna get some grub?” Sloan asked.
“No.” Shaking his head, Cody said, “I’m going to grab some water.”
“I’ve never seen you eat so little. Something the matter?” Sloan went behind a wooden partition in the barn and rummaged through some equipment.
“Nope.” And that was all Cody intended to say on the subject, even to his friend.
“When’s the scout leaving?”
He shrugged and swigged water. “Saturday night’s her last night. Then she’s back to La-La Land.”