Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)

by Donna Michaels

  “Well now, darlin’,” Connor said before his buddy had the chance. “That’s where you’re wrong, because I know you’re full of surprises.”

  Unsure if that was a compliment, she decided it was best just to agree. “Exactly.”

  He stared at her, gaze dark and serious, but the smirk remained. The longer he stared, the harder breathing became, until she eventually stopped. A second later, the oven timer dinged, saving her from herself, and spurring her into action.

  Kerri sucked in a breath. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said with a slight nod. “I need to finish up.”

  She also needed to get a grip. A tight one. On her emotions, not the tall cowboy lumbering from the room. Although, that held much more appeal. Turning her back to them, and her attention to the food where it belonged, she used hot pads to pull the pizza bake from the oven.

  “It does smell good,” she heard Connor say in his sexy drawl. “But how could it not? Kerri made it.”

  Her heart stopped mid-beat while warmth engulfed in a swift wave. He just had to keep playing the sweet card.

  Darn him.

  The trail ride, so far, had been a success. At least Connor hoped so. Kade certainly looked better than when they’d first set out on Shadow Rock land three days ago. They rode hard, hiked hard, shot the shit out of targets, but tonight…tonight was the topper. It was always on the last night they participated in letter burning.

  “Here,” Connor said, passing Kade a notebook and pen.

  As they sat around the campfire, Connor put pen to paper in order to participate in their version of ‘cleansing.’ Their way of releasing the shit weighing them down. Knowing his troubles paled in comparison to his buddy’s, Connor wrote anyway. He didn’t want Kade to feel singled out, even though these outings were clearly for his buddy to regroup, find his feet.

  Transition from combat boots to cowboy boots.

  Kade had been writing silently for nearly an hour when he eventually stopped. By this time, alarm had tightened the muscles in Connor’s back. His buddy had never taken that long before.

  Death by indirect enemy fire…

  The news report had said a Texas soldier had died during this deployment, and Connor knew the death haunted his friend. Kade had never brought it up and neither had Connor, although he’d wanted to, many times over the past several months. It’d just seemed awkward over the damn internet.

  But now Kade was home, face to face. It was time to open up and shake the shadows out. To let them be seen and addressed and put away for good. Not that one’s demons ever truly go away. But Connor would do whatever it took to tip the scales in his buddy’s favor.

  Oh, they’d talked the past few days. Sure. About Wild Creek, Shadow Rock, family, Cole and Jordan, auctions, rodeos, horses…hell, even the damn weather. Anything and everything but what really needed addressing. This past deployment.

  Connor watched, noting a slight shake to his buddy’s hands as Kade folded the papers then tossed them into the fire. Silence. Not a word. As a matter of fact, his best friend had gone still, just stared at the flames engulfing the confession or promise or whatever the hell it was Kade had written, sealing the words in ashes.

  The fire wasn’t the only thing that crackled. Ripping out his solitary page, Connor could feel stress and pressure building around them. The cool night air was ripe with it. Something was going on inside his best friend.

  Tossing his note into the flames, he waited. Tension rolled off Kade’s still form in wave after wave.

  Another minute went by. Connor watched, waited. Nothing. He had to break the silence. “You okay?”

  Mouth thin, jaw tight and cracking, Kade shook his head. “No,” he replied, voice so low, so raw Connor felt it in his bones.

  The suffocating energy spiked until Kade shot to his feet, grabbed the metal bat from his pack and began to beat a nearby boulder into submission.

  That was new.

  And not good. Connor’s gut tightened and alarm returned tenfold. His buddy had always brought the bat along, but had never used it.

  Until now.

  Christ. What? Was he making up for lost time? Kade kept hitting and hitting and hitting, the incessant ding echoing into the night without end.

  God, how much more could his friend dish out?

  Not much, apparently, because a minute later, sweaty and exhausted, Kade dropped the bat, then fell to his knees, silent tears streaming down his face, chest heaving from the exertion.

  Connor knew the man code. Stay away. Keep a distance. Let the guy handle it on his own. In his own way.

  But that hadn’t worked so well for his brother last year, and it sure as shit didn’t work for his best friend right now. No way in hell could he stand by and watch Kade suffer any longer.

  Connor walked over and clamped a hand on his buddy’s stiff shoulder, but did nothing more. He didn’t say anything or do anything other than squeeze to show his support.

  After a minute, Kade nodded and Connor released him.

  “Is this about the Specialist?” he asked.

  His buddy nodded again, then twisted to sit back against the boulder he’d just tried to crack in two, swiping the wetness from his face.

  “It’s not fucking fair,” Kade grumbled. “He wasn’t even part of our unit. Just an attachment, a fill in from up north. He had a fiancée and a six-month old little girl.”

  Christ. Connor inhaled, wishing he had the wit or knowhow to say the right thing. But was there a right thing? He decided probably not, so instead, he handed Kade a cold beer, dropped down next to him and together they stared at the flickering flames.

  “You write about Kerri?” his buddy asked, surprising the shit out of Connor. Again.

  He stilled, bottle touching his lip, waiting for him to tip and drink. He nodded. “Yeah.” Then took a long pull. He wasn’t about to say more. Not because he felt weak, but because his troubles were so minor compared to what his friend was going through. All he had written on the damn paper was that he was going to make an honest effort to try and not lump Kerri into the same category as the other city girls he’d known.

  He’d never felt lousier in his life. Lousy because he practically had it all. A job he loved. Money. A loving family. So what if he had rotten luck with women. The rest of his life was perfect. He was blessed. He slept at night. There were no nightmares. He didn’t have memories of combat. Or death.

  No way would he insult his friend by even considering his troubles to be paramount. They weren’t. Far from it.

  “You going to ask her out?”

  Beer flew from Connor’s mouth as he choked. “What? No!” He emphatically shook his head as he wiped his face on his sleeve.

  “Funny, I never took you for a fucking fool,” Kade said matter-of-factly before he swallowed more beer.

  Was the man looking for a fight? Probably. Connor smiled. Not going to happen, buddy.

  “I’m not. That’s why I’m staying away from her. The woman’s going back to L.A., end of story.”

  “Right.” Kade nodded. “That’s why she’s opening a restaurant with her sister here in Texas.”

  He swallowed back a curse. Why the hell where they talking about this? Oh, yeah, right. To keep his buddy from the pit of despair. He relented. “Then she’s going back to—”

  “L.A.” Kade cut him off, his tone bored. “Yeah, I know. So you keep saying.”

  “Then why the hell do you keep asking?”

  “Because I don’t understand why that’s stopping you.” Again, he used a matter-of-fact tone.

  It was beginning to irritate.

  “Bullshit. You know I have zero luck with city girls. They always choose their career over me. Why beat that old horse? I’m right tired of it,” he said, lifting his bottle to his mouth.

  Kade nodded, took a pull of beer then met his gaze. “You don’t mind if I ask her out, then?”

  Beer spewed from Connor as, once again, he choked. Kerri and Kade? No way in hell. Surely h
is buddy wouldn’t do that to…

  Kade’s chuckle echoed softly into the night. A gift considering the poor guy’s mood not ten minutes earlier.

  Damn man had been yanking his chain.

  “Not funny,” he grumbled.

  “Oh, I disagree.” Kade smirked. “I think it’s fucking hilarious. You should’ve seen your face. Man, you are so whipped. You might as well stop fighting it. Something tells me it’ll go much easier if you don’t fight it.”

  “Fight this.” Connor flipped him the bird, and they were both laughing by the time they finished the rest of their beer.

  It was the week of the wedding, and Kerri couldn’t believe how fast the time had gone. Not that she’d admit it out loud. No. But it did seem like yesterday she was standing in the McCall’s gathering room with Jordan dropping the bomb that the wedding would be on Valentine’s Day. At the time, the news had felt like a death sentence to Kerri.

  In actuality, it hadn’t been that bad.

  And, although she still wasn’t free to go back to the west coast, she was essentially, marginally…happy.

  Especially now that she had an apartment.

  “Where do you want this?” Cole asked, helping Kevin carry in a large dresser.

  “In the master,” she replied, a little thrill shooting down her spine at the thought of finally sleeping in her own place tonight.

  Since it was a cash deal, they’d closed on the property within two weeks. Cole and his legal team had made everything painless. She and Jordan had spent the past week freshening up the apartment with a thorough cleaning, a coat of paint and new curtains, while taking time out to meet with possible designers for the restaurant.

  So far, they hadn’t found the right fit. Much to their surprise. They truly hadn’t expected to have trouble, but apparently, local designers didn’t quite get the Texas beach vibe they were going for. The designers would give one or the other, not both. So the search continued.

  Kerri glanced at her watch. They had another interview in two hours. This one was a transplant from the east coast. Kerri and Jordan figured the woman couldn’t do any worse. Besides, they liked her name. Brandi Wyne.

  “Where do you want this, darlin’?” Connor asked, setting down the large armoire he carried in with Kade.

  Muscles bulged under their T-shirts. Her heart skipped a beat or three as her gaze wondered over the rippling Connor had going on across his back while he straightened to stand and stare. His hair was growing in. It flopped haphazardly on his forehead and she had the strangest urge to step close and brush it back.

  Yeah…he…wow…

  “Uh, Kerri? Did you want to leave it right here in the kitchen, because Connor and I would be happy to move on to something else.”

  Her gaze snapped to the man on the other side of the large cupboard. Funny, his muscles bulged and rippled, too, but the skipping had ceased in her chest.

  “Actually, I’d be happy to stay here. What smells so good?” Kade asked, inhaling with a smile on his face.

  Kerri couldn’t believe how much better he looked since his trail ride. Whatever the two of them had done, it was good. The shadows she’d seen at his homecoming dinner where almost all gone. The gray of his eyes appeared lighter, piercing, almost smiling. And the set of his shoulders was definitely more relaxed, although he still walked with a lethal grace she knew he’d never lose. It was a cop thing. A soldier thing. Anyone who’d seen action. Her sister had it. Her late brother-in-law had had it. Their friend Shawn had it. All cops. Of course Kade would have it. Anyone who’d been deployed would carry himself with a dangerous, capable air.

  “Yeah,” Connor agreed, inhaling. “Sure smells great, darlin’. What is it?”

  She smiled. “Lasagna. My way of thanking Jordan for her help this week. She’s fixing up my guest room right now.”

  “Mmm…lasagna.” Kade smiled outright. “Dare I hope to ask if we get to try some?”

  “Of course. I made it for you, too.”

  Connor shot a look at his friend, then back to her and frowned. “For him? What about me?”

  She laughed. “Yes, you, too, ya big baby. I’m making it for everyone. You didn’t think I’d let you slave for me all day and not make sure you were properly fed, did you?”

  “Well, all right. I look forward to it.”

  Dimples appeared and brown eyes gleamed, warming her from the inside out.

  “Now, if you could just tell us where you want this monster, we’ll get back to work.”

  “In the master. Down at the end of the hall.”

  His face fell.

  “Sorry.”

  “No problem, darlin’,” he said. “We’d be happy to carry this seven ton slab of oak to the furthest room. At least we’re done with the stairs.”

  “Quit your belly-aching, McCall and get a move on,” Kade said, gripping the armoire.

  “Sir, yes, sir.” Connor saluted his friend, then tipped the heavy piece of furniture, and together the two men slowly made their way down the hall.

  Kerri was grateful she had such good friends. Good strong friends. In and out all morning, they’d carried, moved and placed the furniture her parents and the McCalls had donated, along with the bedroom suit she’d bought. A smile tugged her lips. Smiling was something she’d done a lot lately. It felt good to be in control of her life again.

  She had just finished unpacking the last box marked kitchen when Jordan called out.

  “Hey, Kerri come here. You need to see this.”

  Weaving around the stack of empty boxes in the living room, she joined her sister at the end of the hall. “What?”

  “What do you mean, what?” Jordan blinked, then motioned to the men putting her bed together in the master bedroom. “That! You are one lucky woman. Four gorgeous, muscle-bound men working on your bed.”

  Kerri’s face heated before she drew her next breath. And of course, all the men now stopped to stare at them. Yeah, she really wanted to punch her sister. And to think, she’d gone most of the day without embarrassing herself.

  Thanks, Jordan. Not.

  “Kerri, I have to admit, I’m a little surprised,” Kevin said, devilment lighting his eyes. “I never took you for a king-size bed, type.”

  “I’m not,” she rushed to say, because she had actually wanted the queen. “Jordan’s the one who talked me into it.”

  “True. And someday you’ll thank me. That extra room comes in handy,” her sister informed, winking at her grinning fiancé.

  Just kill me now.

  She could feel Connor’s stare, and there was just no way she was going to look at him. No way. Just the talk of king size and extra room in conjunction with Connor was enough to keep her body heated ‘til next winter.

  “Well, if you’ll excuse me.” She turned around without waiting for a reply. From any of them. “I’ve got more unpacking to do.”

  And now she was thinking about Connor and king size and unpacking. Yeah, she definitely wanted to punch her sister.

  A little while later, after the men finished in her bedroom and were working on the living room—at a good, safe distance—Kerri started to fill the vanity in the master bath.

  On her knees, stuffing towels way in the back, she was concentrating on her task when she heard someone walk in.

  “Kerri, Jordan tol—” he sucked in a breath. “Holy hell.”

  Barely avoiding a head smack as she jerked and backed out, Kerri glanced up at Connor. Gaze trained on her butt, he stood in her doorway stalk still, a look of fierce hunger darkening his eyes.

  Holy hell is right.

  Body instantly heating, she was thankful to be on the floor because her legs literally shook. No one had ever looked at her with so much hunger before.

  She cleared her throat. “D-did you want something?”

  A low growl rumbled from his chest, and she thought she heard him say, “Hell yeah,” but wasn’t sure thanks to the pulse pounding in her ears. A second later, he was gone.

>   Kerri drew in a breath and sat back on her legs. Okay, that was intense. And he never did tell her what he wanted…needed…why he came…oh for crying out loud, she couldn’t even think a thought without it making her hot.

  Needing a distraction, she scrambled to her feet and started to load the remaining towels into the linen closet next to the vanity. Her New York apartment had been the size of the linen closet. She snickered. It hadn’t been that bad. In fact, she’d always thought of it as cozy. And her stilted house on the west coast had been…perfect.

  God, she missed that house. It had been her refuge. Her home. The place where she’d been regrouping, discovering who she was, finding herself again. And she’d actually started to like what she found.

  A sigh pushed the strands of hair off her face that had fallen out of her ponytail. Enough of those thoughts. There was no reason she couldn’t continue to discover new things right here.

  Running out of space, she stretched on her tip-toes, trying to shove the last towel on the top shelf when sudden heat and sin and temptation surrounded her from behind.

  “Let me help you, darlin’,” Connor’s deep murmur rumbled from his chest straight through her as he took the towel from her fingers and set it on the top shelf with ease.

  “Th-thank you,” she managed, eyes squeezed shut, willing her body to stop shaking.

  And wanting, and needing. She failed.

  “You’re very welcome,” he replied in a tone barely above a whisper.

  Why didn’t he move away? Please, go away.

  He stilled, as if realizing their positions. Heat warmed her back, and heaven help her, a large hand curled around her hip, while his other slid slowly down her upstretched arm. Yeah, see, now this created a problem with her shaking legs. And her thundering pulse, and don’t forget her hitched breath. Breathing became less of a thought when his hand continued down her side, lightly skimming her breast.

  That’s when need took over. Holy smokes. Desire pooled low in her belly and led to a delicious ache between her legs. Darn man felt good. So darn good. Her nipples tightened and breasts felt heavy, hoping, wanting, needing a visit from his big, wandering hand.