Best of Cowboys Bundle

by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Barbara White Daille, Judy Christenberry, Christine Wenger, Shirley Rogers, Crystal Green, Nina Bruhns, Candance Schuler, Carole Mortimer

  Deke straightened and stepped away from her, afraid he’d do something totally stupid like reach for her. Leaning his shoulder against the wall, he said casually, “Don’t put it off too long. And I added a quart of oil. That’ll hold you for a while. Better yet, why don’t you replace that death trap?”

  Mary Beth stiffened. She just couldn’t admit she was holding on to the ranch by a thread. “I like that old truck,” she lied, hoping he wouldn’t see through her deception. “I’m not ready to get rid of it.”

  Deke studied her expression, noticed the red splotches on her cheeks and neck. He didn’t believe her for a minute, but he let it go. “It’s your decision,” he said with a shrug.

  She nodded, then swung her feet to the floor. “I appreciate your working on it, though. How much do I owe you?” she asked, and held her breath.

  Deke gave her a crooked smile. Despite knowing he was begging for trouble, he suggested, “Feed me dinner and we’ll call it even.”

  Wary, Mary Beth studied him, irritated at the way her heart did a little flipflop at the thought of being with him for a while longer. But she didn’t want his charity. “I can pay you.”

  “I didn’t say you couldn’t.” He moved away from the wall and toward her, close enough to smell her scent, far enough to resist the temptation of kissing her. “So how about dinner? Sounds like it’s raining pretty hard now, so I thought I’d wait around until it slacks off before I go.” It was a thin excuse to stay with her.

  “I don’t know what I have,” she answered honestly, then mentally ran through her cupboards. Unable to afford much more than the bare essentials, she hadn’t been to the grocery store this week.

  Deke shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not picky. Would you mind if I took a quick shower?” Before she could protest, he whipped off his dirty shirt.

  Mary Beth’s mouth went dry at the sight of him half-naked. His skin was tanned, his shoulders strong and hard muscled, his chest lightly sprinkled with fine, dark blond hair. Her gaze devoured him, slipping down his flat stomach, stopping momentarily at his belt, then drifting dangerously lower to his hips.

  She caught her breath. Long ago on the night they’d made love, she’d had the freedom to touch him intimately, to run her hands all over his body. Oh, my, she wished she could touch him now.

  “Um, no, of course not,” she said in a rush, diverting her gaze. “Maybe I can find you a clean shirt.”

  “Great. Don’t start dinner until I’m out, so I can help,” he warned. He turned and disappeared down the hall.

  A moment later the bathroom door closed, and she heard the shower come on.

  She stood. Her legs trembled and her heart pounded. It was all Mary Beth could do to make her way to her father’s bedroom.

  You can handle this, she told herself.

  No, she couldn’t. Deke was naked in her shower!

  “Just keep your distance,” she muttered as she entered her father’s room. The musty smell, the faint yet familiar scent of her father, caused her footsteps to momentarily falter. She glanced around the room. Unpleasant memories came rushing back at her. Her father’s disappointment in having a daughter, his criticism every time she tried to help with jobs on the ranch—and her burning desire to get away.

  In two years she’d rarely entered his room, and now she was ready to rummage through her father’s clothing for a shirt for Deke.

  Deke! Getting her mind back on track, Mary Beth pulled open a dresser drawer. Snatching up a long-sleeved white shirt, she slammed the drawer shut and headed out of the room.

  She approached the bathroom door with a mixture of hesitation and excitement. Should she leave the shirt outside the door, or open it and toss it in?

  She could just go inside.

  Go inside! Are you crazy?

  Maybe, but if she went in just for a second, she’d be able to see the image of his nude body through the clouded glass shower door.

  Oh, how she wanted to.

  Badly.

  She grasped the doorknob. You shouldn’t. It’s an invasion of his privacy! Not to mention rude, she chided herself. Her whole body shook with need and anticipation.

  What would Deke think if she walked in? If she stripped off her clothes and offered herself to him? Could she do it? Could she start an affair with Deke, knowing there would never be more between them? Did she want to risk hurting her heart once again?

  Soon, maybe even tomorrow, he would be leaving. Would it make a difference if she made love with him? She was leaving Crockett anyway, wasn’t she?

  But she couldn’t bring herself to open the door.

  Her pulse accelerated as she leaned closer, then pressed her cheek against the cool wood. Her eyelids drifted down, and she breathed deeply, her lungs filling almost painfully as she let her imagination run wild.

  Drifting in a dream-filled state, she saw herself opening the door and stepping inside the small bathroom. Stripping out of her clothes with seductive intent, she stepped lightly across the room and reached for the metal handle of the glass door. Slowly, her heart pounding, she drew it open and stood wantonly naked before him. In her mind she took pleasure in the way Deke’s blue eyes widened with surprise, then darkened with desire as his body hardened, readying itself for her.

  Having never bathed with a man, the creative illusion of water cascading down their bare skin sparked an urgent need in the most intimate part of her body. Her breathing escalated as she envisioned herself in his arms, her full breasts brushing against his hard chest…

  “Oh!” she squealed as the door abruptly swung open. Mary Beth fell forward and slammed against Deke’s bare chest. The exquisite contact stole her breath. Startled, she stared aghast at his face. Lord help her, she’d been so lost in her fantasy that she hadn’t even heard him turn off the water!

  Deke’s arms went around her, catching her fully against him. “Whoa.”

  “I was, um, bringing you a shirt,” she blurted, tightening her hold on the garment now squashed between them. Heat rushed to her cheeks.

  “I like your mode of delivery,” he murmured, but he wasn’t smiling. His eyes, heavy-lidded and hot with desire, drifted to her mouth.

  She stilled with anticipation, knowing she was a fool to invite the intimacy of his kiss but unable to resist the temptation. Her mouth opened with silent invitation. Deke lowered his head, and his lips hovered above hers. Their breath mingled in what seemed like forever before he finally covered her mouth.

  The pleasure of his lips, of his tongue sweeping into her mouth coursed through her, and Mary Beth moaned. Overwhelmed by her desire for Deke, she trembled in his arms, feeling the heady force of his kiss all the way to her toes. And the erotic smell of him—pure male, mixed with her own lavender-scented soap—filled her senses. She grasped his upper arms in a desperate attempt to keep her balance, then went up on her toes as his tongue made another slow, deliberate foray into her mouth.

  Sinfully delicious.

  Her resolve to keep him at a distance deserted her. His skin, still damp from his shower, was hot and moist beneath her palms. Pressed tightly against him, she could feel him harden. Her breasts swelled, her nipples ached as his hand drifted ever so slowly down her back, then lower still to cup her bottom. He cradled her body against his hips.

  Suddenly he lifted his lips. Mary Beth instantly felt deprived of the pleasure of his mouth. She tensed, knowing what to expect. Her heart sank as she waited for him to bolt. In a moment he’d be running out the door, just as he’d done last night, just as he’d done two years ago.

  “I promised myself that I could keep things between us platonic, but if you keep kissing me like that—” He broke off his sentence with a groan.

  The burning intensity in his gaze made her pulse speed as cool air made contact with her wet lips. She could still taste him, and her knees went weak. Despite her resolve to keep her emotions under tight control, she wanted to mold herself against him.

  Until now she’d hidden her at
traction to him. After the kiss they’d shared last night, he’d left so suddenly that she felt he had no idea that she’d been half in love with him all of her life.

  Before she could gather her wits, Deke did something that totally took her breath away. He tightened his arms around her and hugged her close as he rested his chin on her head. His breathing, hard and labored, mimicked hers.

  “Honey, if I was staying in Crockett, I’d take you down to the floor and pleasure you until you begged me to come inside you.” His guttural tone left no doubt that he meant what he said.

  Mary Beth didn’t tell him that she was only moments from doing just that. To have him admit his desire for her blew her mind. To have him hold her and touch her, make love to her, would be ecstasy.

  It would also be lethal to your heart.

  She shook her head. Instead of dreaming about an affair with Deke, which had no place to go, she should be glad that he’d had the presence of mind to stop things before they’d gone too far. Her feelings for him already ran too deep.

  “Promises, promises,” she teased, her voice husky. Intent on getting her bearings, she moved out of his arms and gave him the wrinkled shirt. Before she could put more distance between them, he snagged her hand.

  “I’m staying.” He waited until her eyes met his, then quietly looked at her a long moment. “For dinner,” he added with a taut look, then began shrugging into the shirt.

  Mary Beth nodded. Her heartbeat quickened as she led the way to the kitchen. Trying to get her mind on food and off how much she wanted to kiss Deke, she began searching for something to prepare. Deke had already rummaged through her understocked cabinets, so he was well aware that there wasn’t much to choose from.

  Opening the freezer door, she peered inside and inspected the contents. “I think I have some steaks,” she told him, relieved when she found several shrink-wrapped packages. Clyde had preferred to keep to his own company, which had been perfectly fine with her, so she rarely bothered to cook just for herself. She turned toward him, avoiding his eyes. “If we broil them slowly, they’ll defrost as they cook.”

  “Sounds great.”

  “Do you like rice?” She said a silent prayer that he did. When he nodded, she breathed a relieved sigh, knowing she didn’t have anything else to fix with the steaks if he’d said no. “I have a wonderful recipe for rice and black beans. I can make it while the steaks broil,” she said as she got two glasses and filled them with ice and tea.

  Mindful of her nervousness, Deke took the steaks from her. When he’d kissed her, she’d been just as turned on as him. Interesting. “I’ll take care of the steaks while you get the rice and beans started.” Maybe it was foolish to hang around and torture himself by being near her and keeping his hands off her, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave.

  Mary Beth nodded, then retrieved a pan for him to use and handed it to him. Trying to ease the tension, she asked, “So, how are you doing on the rodeo circuit?” She’d heard bits and pieces of his bull-riding exploits over the past two years. Each little detail had interested her.

  He shrugged, not allowing himself to read anything other than idle curiosity into her question. “I do okay.”

  She stopped in the process of opening a box of rice and put a hand on her hip. “Oh, c’mon. There was an article in the paper only a few weeks ago that reported you’re the front-runner.” She’d heard he had five major companies backing him. That alone told her he was one of the best.

  He frowned. Did he notice a trace of sarcasm in her tone? Deke was used to the good-natured teasing of his brothers. Though they got on his case about being foolhardy, he could still see the pride in their eyes. He’d even gotten used to Catherine and Ashley fussing over him, making him promise to wear a protective vest. For a reason he couldn’t explain, he wanted to know what Mary Beth thought. Did she think he was irresponsible? Did she care what happened to him? Or did she think he was crazy for spending his time on the back of a bull? “Yeah,” was all he said with a shrug.

  She hid a smile. Surprised by his reluctance to talk about his exploits, she watched him. “Well, first place is pretty cool, huh?”

  Deke slid the steaks into the oven. “I’m in front. That doesn’t mean I’ll stay there. A bad ride for me, a good ride for a competitor, and I’m the one behind. That’s why I have to get to Houston tomorrow. There’s two other guys on my butt,” he went on. “If I don’t show up, my standings will slip. They may, anyway, if I don’t perform well.” And he wouldn’t if he didn’t get Mary Beth off his mind, which wasn’t likely because he’d been hard as a rock since he’d kissed her.

  He should just leave. What was he thinking of, staying here?

  “What’s it like?” She added the rice to boiling water, then covered the pot with a lid and turned the heat down. “I mean, riding a bull?” she asked, taking a sip of her tea.

  He cocked his head, his grin mischievous as amusement danced in his eyes. “Unbelievable. The adrenaline rush is almost as good as sex.”

  Mary Beth nearly choked on the liquid in her throat. She shot him a warning look. “Behave or I’ll send you home hungry.” Her hands were shaking, but somehow she managed to open a can of black beans without spilling them all over the counter. She took a bowl out of a cabinet and dumped the beans in it. “Why do you ride?” It couldn’t be money, she thought. With one of the most profitable ranches in Texas, the McCalls were surely wealthy. “Is it the prestige?”

  He shook his head, but his distant manner at the mention of the rodeo piqued her curiosity. She pushed the subject, wanting to know more about him. “I’ve always wondered what makes a man live so dangerously.” Her contempt for footloose, danger-seeking rodeo cowboys was revealed in her tone. She’d always thought of them as shallow and reckless, living only for each thrilling competition, not caring about anyone but themselves and the wild ride.

  Was that really true? Deke had proven to be just the opposite, hadn’t he? He was caring and gentle and seemed genuinely concerned about her. When he easily could have left, he’d stayed with her to make sure she was okay, had stayed around to help her.

  “I don’t think about the danger.”

  He was checking the steaks, and she couldn’t see his face. The sexual tension that had built between them had eased somewhat, making conversation more tolerable.

  “How did you get started? Did you always want to be a rodeo cowboy?” She added spices and salsa to the beans.

  “I was always fascinated by bull riding, and I started bugging my dad about letting me compete. When he felt I was old enough, he let me begin training.” Shaking his head, he smiled, but there was an unmistakable sadness in his eyes. “Until his death, he never missed a competition.” His heart ached for the days before his father had died, when he’d been the son Jacob McCall had been proud of.

  “But why do you still do it?” she asked again, feeling there was something he wasn’t saying. “You take a chance on getting killed every time you climb on the back of a bull.” Remaining silent, he watched her check the rice, then turn the burner off. She pushed him further. “You’ve been hurt in the competitions before, haven’t you?”

  He shrugged. “There’s an element of danger, yeah.” He went on talking, describing some of his rides and telling her of his injuries, dismissing broken bones and torn ligaments as if they were no more than scratches.

  Mary Beth knew differently. She’d heard stories about Deke returning home and recuperating from injuries he’d sustained during competition. Her heart twisted. Didn’t he know he could be hurt permanently, maybe never walk again, if a bull threw him and stomped on him—or worse, killed him? The thought of such an accident occurring, of his beautiful body twisted and scarred for life, made her cringe.

  Deke looked up at that moment and saw the anguish and concern in her expression. For him. Overwhelmed, a cold place in his heart warmed at the thought of Mary Beth caring about what happened to him.

  Other than Ashley and Catherine, no
other woman had shown such concern for him. He’d treated Mary Beth badly in the past, and he didn’t deserve her compassion. She should hate him for having walked out on her two years ago.

  “How long are you gonna ride, Deke?” she asked. “How long are you going to take a chance on getting killed?”

  Shaken by the sincerity of her question, he looked away. “As long as it takes to win the championship.” He leaned down to check the steaks, then took them out of the oven as she stirred the bean mixture into the rice.

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, she filled two plates with rice and beans, added the steaks, then carried them to the table. “Why is that so important?” She didn’t understand. What drove him? Didn’t he care about himself, about those who loved him?

  His recklessness struck her as odd. He cared about his family, loved them enough to come home to visit as often as possible, but he continued to risk his life in a competition that would bring him nothing more than some prestige and a gold belt buckle.

  “I want to win the championship before I’m too old to compete.”

  They sat at the table. She regarded him with more than just casual curiosity. “You’re hardly old,” she remarked, cutting a small bite of steak. “Only a couple of years older than me, and I’ll be twenty-six on Thursday.” Mary Beth gasped, stunned that she’d blurted she was having a birthday. To her acute embarrassment, Deke jumped right on it.

  He winked, then forked a piece of steak in his mouth. “Twenty-six, huh?” His gaze centered on her face. “This Thursday?”

  Upset that she’d slipped and mentioned her birthday, she looked away. “It’s no big deal. Just another day.” And it would be, she thought, sadness creeping over her. As had been in most of her adult life, there would be no one special to celebrate with. Since her mother had died, her birthday, as well as holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, meant that she’d be alone while others gathered together with families and loved ones. She had no one.