The Cowboy's Autumn Fall

by Shanna Hatfield

  Brice was nearly choking into his napkin with laughter. His face was red when he finally took a deep drink of water and straightened in his seat.

  “So you think I taste good, do you? Are you prepared to do some more tasting later?” Brice teased, enjoying the way his words made Bailey squirm in her seat. So much for the unflappable scientist guise.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Bailey said, cutting into her steak and taking a bite, hoping to calm her nerves and give her hot cheeks time to cool.

  They finished dinner without further incident and when they were ready to leave Brice gave Viv a big hug, telling her it was from Cady. Viv wrapped Bailey in a friendly hug and whispered in her ear that Brice was a fine young man any girl would be happy to catch.

  Bailey swallowed down her inclination to tell Viv she would never catch Brice because she wasn’t chasing him, or anyone for that matter. The only thing she was chasing was her dream for her career.

  Leaving the café, Brice took her for a scenic drive and ended up parking the pickup on a remote hill above rolling fields and pastures. It was the perfect place to watch the sun make its descent. The colors filling the autumn sky were spectacular.

  One of Bailey’s favorite things in the world was to watch the sun set, reflect on her day, and allow peace to seep into her soul. Today, she felt something extra, something new and wonderful, as she sat next to Brice and they watched a giant fireball of orange sink into the western horizon.

  “That’s gorgeous,” Bailey whispered from her vantage point that felt like it was on top of the world. Brice slid his hand across the seat and captured hers, pressing a warm kiss to her wrist before stroking his thumb back and forth across her palm.

  Bailey’s initial impulse was to snatch her hand back, but she ignored it. Hushing the voice in her head telling her it was a bad idea to get any more involved with Brice, she allowed herself to enjoy the sensation.

  “Describe the sunset, sugar,” Brice said quietly, watching the look of pleasure on her face, hoping the gentle touch of his fingers on her hand was contributing to it.

  “Are you colorblind?” Bailey asked, suddenly concerned that Brice was missing out on the beautiful colors visible through the windshield of his truck.

  “No,” Brice said with a chuckle. “Although Tess might tell you she thinks I dress that way sometimes. I just wanted to hear you describe what you see.”

  “Very well, then,” Bailey said, looking at the colors streaking across the sky. “There are oranges, pinks, purples and a hint of gold.”

  “Nope,” Brice said, taking off his hat and setting it on the truck’s dash. “That won’t do at all. Try again, but this time, don’t look at the colors with your head, look at the colors with your heart. They are so much more than just orange and purple, Bailey. Look again. Try to really see.”

  Bailey considered what Brice said. Was she missing out on something by looking at the black and white facts of life instead of the colorful rainbow painted by emotions?

  Studying the brilliant shades slowly fading into evening’s darkness, Bailey smiled. “Tangerine orange is rising up to meet impulsive purple while decadent melon is playing in the fringes with shimmering goldenrod.”

  Eyes sparkling with happiness, Bailey turned to Brice, looking so young and carefree, seeking his approval for the first time since they’d met. “Is that what you meant, Brice?”

  “That is exactly what I meant, sugar,” Brice said with a pleased grin, about to fall into the ocean of her intense blue eyes. “I was beginning to wonder if you could see with your heart, but obviously you’ve got a great vision when you want to use it.”

  “Thank you,” Bailey said, still excited about her heart vision, as Brice called it. She looked at him and thought up a few words to describe him beyond the basic terms of handsome like powerfully robust, eagerly energetic, and vibrantly virile. As searing heat filled her cheeks at the direction of those thoughts, she needed a distraction. “You try. I want to hear your descriptions.”

  “Are you sure?” Brice asked, stroking his fingers up her arm to the bend at her elbow. He tried not to grin when he could see goose bumps break out on her skin.

  “Yes, please,” Bailey said, unaware that the inside of an elbow was capable of transmitting such a storm of positively wonderful sensations.

  “I’d say that the honey-gold tones are almost as lovely as the curls on your head,” Brice said, sliding a little closer to Bailey. “The swath of color over there that looks like rich red wine is almost as luscious as your ruby red lips. The ardent orange sinking into the horizon is almost as brilliant as your quick and fascinating mind while the passionate purple makes me think of what lies in here.”

  Brice put a calloused hand to her chest, just above her heart, making Bailey’s eyes go wide and dark.

  “Then there’s the fiery shade of attraction that ignites every time we’re together,” Brice said, in a voice that was deep and husky with emotion. He rubbed his thumb across her cheekbone, down her jaw and across her lips.

  Noticing the look of longing he felt reflected in her magnificent eyes, he gave in to the temptation and kissed Bailey with all the love he held for her in his heart.

  Lost from the moment Brice started stroking her palm, Bailey wrapped her arms around his neck and surrendered to the kiss, surrendered to the man who was making her feel things she never imagined.

  When she whispered his name, he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer against him. He was half sprawled on top of her as each kiss became more urgent and demanding than the last. Brice pressed hot kisses down her neck, setting her on fire everywhere his lips touched. She ran her fingers through his hair, then let her hands slide down to the bunched muscles in his arms, somewhat in awe of the strength and power she felt there as she turned her head to give him better access to her throat.

  Through the fabric of her skirt, Bailey felt searing heat from Brice’s hand on her thigh, convinced his handprint would be branded on her skin permanently. Pressing herself even closer against Brice, his muscles tensed before he buried his face against her chest.

  Bailey heard him groan as her hands dug into his shoulders pulling him closer. Brice went completely still before raising his head and releasing a ragged breath.

  “Sugar, I need to take you home. Right now,” Brice said, sitting up and running his hand through his hair. Sliding back against the driver’s side door and slapping his hat on his head, he waited for Bailey to stop blinking at him with a look of bewilderment before starting the truck. “Buckle up, Bailey.”

  Functioning without thinking, Bailey sat up, straightened her rumpled blouse and buckled her seat belt. She fluffed her curls and sat quietly, wondering on the drive back to the ranch what she’d done to displease Brice.

  More interested in her work than dating, Bailey didn’t have a lot of experience with men. She rarely went out with any guy more than twice because that encouraged them to have crazy ideas like wanting to spend time with her and thinking she’d be interested in a relationship when she wasn’t. She merely wanted to enjoy an evening out. If the man had other ideas, that was his problem.

  Thinking back on every single date she’d ever had, Bailey couldn’t think of one she’d enjoyed more than this evening with Brice. She’d certainly never been as attracted to a man before as she was to this small-town cowboy. Apparently, he wasn’t feeling the same.

  Brice parked the truck by the mud room door of the Triple T Ranch house and got out without saying a word. Bailey would have hopped out and hurried inside before Brice could open the door for her, but between her heels and slim skirt, she needed his assistance getting out of the truck.

  When he opened the truck door, though, instead of helping her out, he gave her a look that nearly melted her in the seat and pulled her close to his chest.

  “Bailey, I’m sorry I got a little carried away, but you are so beautiful and sweet, I just couldn’t help myself,” Brice said, his cheek against hers and his lips near her e
ar. She absorbed his warmth and breathed in his rich, autumn scent, trying to analyze where the evening veered off track.

  “I don’t understand,” Bailey said, pulling back from his embrace so she could look him in the eye. “I assumed I was doing something wrong and you weren’t enjoying it. Isn’t that why you stopped? Because you were disappointed?”

  “Oh, sugar,” Brice said, fighting down the desire that was making his legs nearly as weak as his resolve. “You were doing everything just right and I enjoyed it more than you can know. That’s why I stopped and why we came home. You doing everything so wonderfully right was going to take us somewhere that would definitely be wrong.”

  “I see,” Bailey said, feeling heat flame up her neck as she digested what Brice was saying. She would no longer harbor disdainful thoughts of anyone who mentioned getting caught up in the moment. She used to think people who said that were weak-willed and emotional. Now, she thought there was much more to it than controlling emotions. A lot more. Shamed by both her inexperience and her inability to keep her distance from Brice, she blushed.

  Brice, who watched Bailey’s face turn red with embarrassment, kissed her cheek and held his hand at the back of her head, buried in her silky curls. “Sugar, don’t be embarrassed. It’s all fine. We just can’t let things get quite so far out of hand.”

  “No, we certainly can’t or won’t,” Bailey said, leaning into Brice despite her better judgment. He was so strong and warm and it felt so right to be with him. Wanting to slap herself to snap out of the trance she seemed to be in, she slid forward on the seat. “I guess I better say good night.”

  “Okay,” Brice said, not making any effort to move or let her out of the truck. Taking her chin in his hand, he forced her to look at him. “Bailey, I really didn’t plan on anything happening and I’ll do my best to behave, but it’s hard when you’re so darn pretty, and smell so nice. You make me forget everything but how much I love you.”

  Bailey stared at Brice like he had suddenly lost his mind. Love? Who said anything about love? Was that what this indescribable feeling was that twisted her insides, made her feel incapable of rational choices, and kept her thoughts constantly on Brice?

  “Brice, I don’t know what to say,” Bailey said, at a loss for words. She couldn’t say she loved him too when she wasn’t sure she did. She certainly didn’t want to be in love with him or anyone. It would wreak all sorts of havoc with her carefully laid career plans.

  “Don’t say anything right now, sugar,” Brice said, watching Bailey’s inner struggle to come to terms with what she was feeling and thinking. It was because of that struggle that he was encouraged the battle was not yet lost. “When you’re ready to admit you’re falling in love, I’ll be right here to catch you.”

  Bailey smiled through the tears that were suddenly prickling her eyes and gave Brice a soft, gentle kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Brice said, pulling her off the seat and into his arms. “It’s time for you to go to bed, my sweet sugar. I hope you’ll dream one or two dreams of me.”

  “The likelihood of that happening is quite high in light of this evening’s events,” Bailey said, wishing the distance from the pickup to the back door was at least twice as far. Being carried in Brice’s strong arms was one of the most amazing things she’d ever experienced. She remembered being carried to her room the night she was drunk at Trent’s wedding and again the next day down at the pond.

  Brice chuckled as he set her down on the step outside the mud room door. The outside light was on as well as the kitchen light and he could only guess that some of the Thompsons were probably awake and watching. If not, he was sure someone from the bunkhouse was probably keeping an eye on them.

  “Thank you for having dinner with me, Bailey. It’s been a very interesting and educational day.”

  “It has been, hasn’t it?” Bailey smiled as she looked up at Brice in the twilight, thinking how much she enjoyed having him with her at the fossil site that afternoon, despite her many protests.

  “If you don’t already have plans Friday night, would you go with me to the football game?” Brice asked, looking over Bailey’s shoulder and seeing Travis peering out the kitchen window with an obnoxious grin. Brice waved his hand at his friend, making a mental note to do something to get back at Trav.

  “That sounds fun,” Bailey said, turning to go in the door.

  Brice put his hand on her arm, making her stop and look back at him. He gave her one quick peck on the cheek then hurried back to his truck. “Sweet dreams, sugar.”

  Going into the house, Bailey thought volatile, unsettling and disturbing were probably better words to describe the feelings her dreams would evoke. Why had she agreed to another date with Brice when she needed to stay entirely away from the man?

  If she didn’t, it was going to be impossible to stop herself from doing exactly what she said she’d never do…fall in love.

  Chapter Nine

  “If one devalues rationality,

  the world tends to fall apart.”

  Lars von Trier

  “Hey, Sugar,” Brice’s rich voice resonated into Bailey’s heart as she answered her phone. The rational part of her brain told her it was ridiculous for her toes to tingle and her thoughts spin off in a dozen directions she didn’t wish them to go at the sound of his voice. The other part of her brain, the part that was speaking louder and annoying her more and more these days, loved the gravelly depths of Brice’s voice. Hearing it never failed to bring to mind his enticing scent or the enveloping warmth of his calloused hand on hers.

  “Hello, Brice.”

  “I’m running a little behind, got off work late,” Brice said, sounding cheerful and a little tired. “Would you mind riding with Trey and Cady and meeting me at the game?”

  “It wouldn’t bother me to miss the game. If you’re just leaving work, you’ll need dinner and you sound tired,” Bailey said, not wanting Brice to feel like he had to escort her to the football game at the high school. She really had little interest in watching the game and was, in truth, much more interested in watching Brice.

  “I’m not letting you off that easy,” Brice said with a chuckle, assuming Bailey wasn’t all that excited about watching a bunch of teenagers run all over the field with a football. “You go on and I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

  “Very well, then,” Bailey said holding back a sigh. Her week at work had been long and exhausting. The thought of sitting quietly reading a book or, goodness forbid, watching a movie held more appeal than sitting on hard bleachers on a chilly evening to witness kids run up and down a field. However, the book or the movie didn’t involve Brice and the football game did. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “Don’t sound so enthusiastic, sugar,” Brice teased. “Someone might get the idea you really don’t want to see me and I know that can’t be the problem. You’ve been waiting all week just to feast your eyes on this sorry cowboy, haven’t you?”

  “You’re insufferable and terribly conceited. I just saw you Wednesday, so I haven’t been waiting all week,” Bailey said, smiling at Brice’s teasing. “However, I shall anxiously await your arrival at the game.”

  “I miss you, too, sugar. See you soon.”

  Bailey got out of her Jeep, where she had been sitting when Brice called, and walked into the house. Smiling faces looked up at her from the dining table where the hands joined the family for dinner.

  “You’re just in time to eat,” Cady said, pointing to an empty seat with a plate next to Tess.

  Washing her hands at the kitchen sink, Bailey sank down on the chair, wanting a hot shower and a nap more than anything else at the moment. Knowing the family would want her to join them for dinner, she’d eat then get ready to go to the football game.

  Helping clear the table after dinner, Bailey escaped to her room where she jumped into the shower and let herself relax in the spray of hot water. Contemplating what one wore to a football game as s
he dried her hair and put on a little makeup, she decided on jeans, a soft sweater and a pair of brown boots. Grabbing a jacket, she stuffed her driver’s license, some cash and a package of gum in her pocket before hustling back to the kitchen where Cass was excitedly chattering about the game and seeing her friend Ashley.

  “Bailey! Are you coming with us?” Cass asked, grabbing her hand and towing her out the door.

  “Apparently she is whether she wanted to or not,” Trey said. The twinkle in his eyes, the same shade as Bailey’s, gave away his amusement at his precocious child.

  Trey held the door to his pickup while Bailey slid in next to Cass. Looking back toward the house, Trey sighed and walked to the back door, holding it open as he called for his wife. “Cady-girl, are you coming?”

  Unable to hear Cady’s response, Bailey wasn’t surprised when Trey disappeared inside only to emerge a minute later carrying a large box in one hand and a pile of blankets in the other. Cady hurried behind him carrying a platter heaped with cookies covered in plastic wrap.

  Trey handed Bailey the blankets with an appreciative nod when she reached out for the coverings, placing them on the seat between her and Cass’s booster seat. With his free hand, Trey opened Cady’s door, helped her into the pickup then handed her the box, which she sat between them on the front seat while balancing a plate of molasses cookies on her lap. As soon as Trey climbed behind the wheel and shut his door, the delicious scent of fall filled the pickup. Spice and something yeasty tickled Bailey’s nose and she leaned over the seat, breathing deeply.

  “What smells so delicious?”

  “Mama made doughnuts for the bake sale,” Cass said, wiggling her feet as she looked out the window. “I helped make the cookies.”

  “You did?” Bailey asked, smiling at the little girl. Cady had tried to subdue the little spitfire’s flaming curls into two pigtails, but the springy coils were already escaping. Cass’ hair would be flying every direction before the game even started.

  “Yep. I got to help stir the butter and sugar together and I beated the eggs,” Cass said, proud of her efforts.