The Rancher and The Event Planner (A Salvation Texas Novel)

by Cheryl Gorman

  She glanced at her filthy clothes then back at him. “I can’t go like this.”

  “Sure you can. I haven’t had a shower either. At least not in the traditional sense. Besides, Grace won’t mind.”

  A hot meal at Grace’s was exactly what she needed. JC grabbed her purse and climbed from the car. In a few minutes, she and Rafe stepped inside the Bluebonnet. The place was packed despite the rain. JC shivered in the air conditioning and wished she had a jacket, because her wet sleeveless top and shorts were no defense for her sunburned skin against the chilled air.

  “Hi, you two,” Grace said. “Quite a storm huh?”

  “Yes, I didn’t expect it to be so busy tonight,” JC said.

  Grace grabbed some menus. “A storm like this always brings people out. I guess they figure its safety in numbers or something.” She laughed. “Linc’s here. He’s having dessert, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you joined him.”

  JC was bone tired and didn’t feel up to chatting but it would be rude to say no. “Sure, why not?”

  In a minute, JC and Rafe settled at Linc’s table.

  “Evening,” Linc said. “How did the planting go?”

  “Don’t grill the woman. She’s had a tough day,” Rafe said before she could answer.

  Linc frowned at Rafe. “I’m not grilling her, I’m just asking a question.”

  JC’s stomach rumbled along with the thunder outside. “It went fine.” She prayed silently the rain wouldn’t destroy the work they had done.

  A waitress came by and took their order. Linc quizzed Rafe about ranch business until their meal was served. “You’ve done a first class job, JC,” Linc said.

  “Thanks, Linc, I appreciate it.” She glanced at Rafe hoping he would agree but he sipped his coffee and shoveled down the chicken pot pie he’d ordered. Linc tossed his napkin on the table. “I’ll see you two later. There’s a waitress over there dying for me to come and flirt with her.” Linc walked toward the main counter where a pretty blonde was serving up a slice of pie to a customer.

  JC scooped up a spoonful of chicken noodle soup and took a bite of one of Grace’s signature grilled cheese sandwiches. Her skin burned and goose bumps rose on her arms and legs despite the hot soup. She saw Rafe’s gaze skim over her arms.

  “Be right back,” he said. In a minute, he draped a sweater over her shoulders.

  She grasped the edges of the sweater pulling it around her arms. “Thank you.” He didn’t mention her sunburn. “Why not just go ahead and say it?”

  His eyes widened slightly. “Say what?”

  “I told you so about the sunburn.”

  He shrugged. “I figure you’re already uncomfortable enough, kind of like a hairless cat in a sandpaper factory. You don’t need me to remind you to be more careful.”

  She shook her head. “You have a gift for telling someone how stupid they are without coming right out and saying it.”

  He studied her for a moment, his eyes soft and probing. “You are far from stupid, Jennifer. You’re one of the most intelligent women I know.” She searched for a reply, but nothing was forthcoming.

  One corner of his mouth rose. “You were careless about the sunscreen. That’s all.”

  She eyed the redness across his nose. “So were you.”

  “Touché.”

  The storm slackened only briefly before another one followed on its drippy heels. There were televisions in the corners of the restaurant next to the ceiling and the news was on. Because of the conversation of the surrounding people she couldn’t hear everything the newscaster said, but they had the words streaming onto the screen for the hearing impaired and the news wasn’t good. A string of severe thunderstorms would be passing through the area for the next hour with hail, damaging winds and local flooding to be expected. The counties were highlighted on the weather map and Salvation was in the middle of it. The brunt of the storms was expected to hit within the next hour. “Great.”

  “You can’t control the weather, Jennifer. And remember, when a horse throws you, you get up and get right back on.”

  The waitress came by with the bill and Rafe paid it before she could get her money out. “Thank you for the meal.”

  “No problem.”

  After they finished eating, weariness weighted JC down. The food had settled well and now she wanted to go back to Cade’s cabin and sleep like the dead, but she couldn’t. The storms had left the area and she needed to go to the park. She laid her napkin on the table. “Time to get my car and survey the storm damage.”

  Rafe started to rise from his chair. “I’ll go with you.”

  If the park was a disaster she wanted a chance to make things right again before he viewed the park. She got her purse and slung the strap over her sunburned shoulder. “Stay and finish your dessert. See you tomorrow.”

  * * *

  The park was only a couple of blocks away from the cafe. The clouds were moving away and stars had begun to wink out like pin pricks. The full moon, white and glowing like a ball of polished marble, sailed overhead in the dark sky. The storm had washed the air clean and the temperature had dropped from scorching to comfortable.

  JC stopped by her car and grabbed a flashlight from the glove box before she stepped into the park. Moonlight filled the area like daylight, illuminating the destruction in stark relief. The truth of her defeat squeezed her chest and roiled through her gut. The ground squished under her feet and the flower beds had been crushed by the rain and the hail, their colorful blooms and stems smashed flat against the ground. The wind had blown two of the newly planted trees down despite being anchored with stakes and heavy twine. Tree limbs, leaves and flower petals were strewn everywhere. JC had known there would be some damage but not like this. She looked at the fountain, broken by a tree branch with the base under water. The plants she had set in earlier in the afternoon floated on top of the water, their roots exposed as if to say “Ha, you failed again, JC. What are you going to do now?”

  Frustration and anger melded into a hot, hard knot in her stomach. This can’t be. This can’t happen. She’d worked so damn hard. She’d done everything she could to make sure every last detail was covered and it had been covered. The park had looked so beautiful. Now it was in ruins.

  Her breath pushed through her throat in short, ragged gasps. She fisted her hands at her sides and struggled against the rushing tide of her emotions.

  No, I won’t give in. I won’t let this beat me. But it already had. There was no way she could fix this on her own. She’d called in every favor, she’d shot her wad. Crap! She’d failed the town and she’d failed herself. And she’d heaped further misery on herself by falling in love with Rafe and his family.

  A car door slammed shattering the silence. She turned to see Rafe striding into the park and jerked her head around. She scooted toward the shadows hoping he hadn’t seen her and leaned against the wet bark of a tree. Her chest ached with misery, her eyes filled and the lump in her throat pressed hard, insisting she give up her struggle and let it out. JC covered her face with her hands and sobbed.

  * * *

  Watching Jennifer’s shoulders shake and listening to her weeping, Rafe walked toward her as each sob quietly ripped him apart. He hated to see any female cry. Whenever Molly cried, it sliced him to shreds. He’d only seen his mother cry a couple of times and that was when his grandparents passed away and her tears were a sight he never wanted to see again.

  Jennifer wailed amid the drip of wet leaves and the storm’s wreckage surrounding her. Moonlight sprinkled down over her through the tree leaves making her look like a dejected angel. She needed someone. Damn it, she needed him. He couldn’t be an asshole and turn his back. He had to help her, comfort her or he couldn’t live with himself. When her tears were gone, he’d make sure she understood the strong shoulder he’d given her to cry on was a one-time thing.

  When he reached her side, she looked up at him with tears streaking her face and her chest heaving with short, g
asping breaths. Dear God in heaven, she’d never looked more beautiful or more miserable. He drew her into his arms and held her while she cried. He babbled some of the same nonsense he cooed to Molly until her tears abated. She drew back and looked up at him, her eyes wet, her eye lashes bunched together with tears and her lips trembling. Brushing the hair from her face he said, “Feel better?”

  She heaved a shaky breath. “No.”

  He knew he shouldn’t kiss her, but he couldn’t turn away from the need and longing he saw reflected in her eyes. Smiling, he placed his hands on either side of her face and lowered his head. They gazed at each other and her breath caught right before his lips grazed hers. He sampled at first, very lightly, a nip here, and a taste there, a slight sweep of tongue. Her tears tasted salty in his mouth. Slowly, he built the kiss, a little more pressure, then asked her to open for him with his tongue. She parted her lips and welcomed him inside. Drawing her closer, he melted into the kiss. Her fragrance of flowers and rain engulfed him and he breathed in the scent as if his life depended on it. A sexy I-like-this kind of moan issued from her throat and he took the kiss deeper still. Her breasts pressed against his chest and her lithe body writhed against his. By degrees, he lightened the kiss until only a thin layer of air separated they’re mouths. He looked into her eyes which were filled with a combination of surprise and desire. “I want to stretch you out on the ground and make love to you, but you would end up getting mud in your hair and in other places you’ve probably never had mud before.”

  She laughed and something settled inside him.

  Thank Christ her tears were gone. “I have an idea. Don’t move.”

  Rafe retrieved something from his truck and brought it back where Jennifer was still standing. “I bought this new waterproof turnout blanket for Possum.” He laid the blanket down with the outer shell against the wet ground, turned to Jennifer, held out his hand and waited.

  She didn’t move, just stood there looking at him with confusion and desire in her eyes. For a second he was relieved and damned disappointed she might turn him down when she lifted her hand and put it into his. He closed his fingers gently around hers, pulled her into his arms and took her mouth. In a moment he had her stretched out on the blanket. He wanted to go slow but she was so sexy, her skin so soft, her moans urging him on, that he couldn’t. Damn it, he wanted her and he had to have her. Now.

  With every bit of clothing he removed, he tasted her bare skin with his lips and tongue. With every breath, he whispered words he’d never said to another woman. With every sigh from her lips, he drew her closer and closer until his body, his mind, his soul couldn’t stand to be apart from her any longer. He freed himself, slipped on a condom and pushed hard inside her. A gasp escaped her lips and her eyes closed as her neck bowed. His heart and breath nearly stopped at the pleasure scouring through him, into him like a sudden summer squall. Placing his hands around her butt, he lifted her closer, pumping into her, feeling her wet, hot body squeeze him like a fist. She dug her fingers into his back urging him on, begging him not to stop as they flung themselves faster, harder toward the edge. Her eyes flew open and her gaze clamped onto his.

  “Now, Rafe, now,” she said in a raspy moan.

  Watching the expression on her face, he shot them both past the point of no return and let the orgasm take him.

  Afterward, he held her in his arms, his chest still heaving and inhaled the scent of woman, rain washed air and earth. He tilted her chin up so he could look in her eyes. Tears glistened. “Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry, I never meant to.” Then he planted, soft kisses over her face from her eyes to her chin.

  She chuckled softly. “No, far from it. I didn’t mean to cry, I’m just overwhelmed.” She gazed into his eyes. “Oh, Rafe, I never knew it could be like this.” She snuggled in closer. “I wish I could stay in your arms forever.”

  A realization snapped inside him like the taut pull of a rope lassoing a cow. Holy Christ, she saw them in a fulfilled relationship. It had been incredible having her in his arms, making love to her, but he was forced to yank the reins on her dreamy eyed delusion. He knew he was going to hurt her by breaking their connection, but this one-time time hurt was better than a lifetime of hurt he was certain he would inflict on her. And there was no damn way he would let that happen.

  As gently as he could, he pulled her out of his arms and began to dress. “Me too, but this place needs to be cleaned up.”

  “What’s the point?” Jennifer said. “There’s no more money. I can never get this place ready in time.”

  “No, but we can.”

  She looked at him. “Did you just say we?”

  “Yep. Go back to Cade’s, get changed and meet me back here in half an hour. I have some calls to make.”

  “But—”

  He pressed two fingers to her lips. “No buts. Trust me.”

  ***

  JC was in stun mode. Her body still tingled from Rafe’s amazing love making session and being forced from his arms too soon. By the time she arrived back at the park it was filled with people. But not just any people.

  The people of Salvation.

  Including Rafe.

  They worked through the night, saving some of the plants and replacing the ruined ones with stock from the local nursery. Lights had been set up, food and drink had been supplied by the Bluebonnet. By the time the sun peaked over the horizon, the park appeared as if nothing had happened. JC was overwhelmed. She didn’t know what to say except thank you, but everyone brushed off her thanks. Then Linc walked over and said, “It’s the least we can do for one of our own.”

  His words brought fresh tears to her eyes. One of our own. She belonged in Salvation, she truly did and she belonged with Rafe and his family. With her heart soaring, she looked for Rafe and found him throwing the last bit of broken branches into the flatbed of his truck. “Rafe, we did it. We really did it.” She pulled him close but he only gave her a light pat on the back then lowered his arms at his sides. Hurt, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. “What’s the matter? Did I do something wrong?”

  He looked away. “No, you did nothing wrong.”

  She pulled his chin around. “What then? I’m a grown woman who just gave herself to a man and it isn’t something I do every day. Tell me what’s wrong. I deserve at least that much.”

  Pressing his lips to her fingers, he held her hand a moment, before lowering it to her side. “You’re right. Your tears tore me up. I couldn’t stand it until you were happy again.”

  Humiliation made her spine snap straight. She folded her arms over her chest. “Oh, so you made love to me out of pity. Gee, thanks.”

  He raised a hand stopping her. “No, it wasn’t out of pity. I just—I couldn’t—”

  “Couldn’t what?

  “I couldn’t walk away and leave you, okay? But I didn’t think first about how being with you would change things. And it can’t change things. We’ll go on as we did before. For both our sakes.”

  Shock, sadness and fury numbed JC from head to toe. “I see. So you still think we don’t belong together.”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t. Believe me, it’s for your own good. I’ll end up hurting you and we’ll both regret it.”

  “Fine.” She stepped forward until she could smell their loving on his skin. “But remember this, Rafe McCord, I am not Caroline.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The renovations on the mansion were complete and the grounds had been landscaped. The pool had been retiled and filled and the water sparkled under the summer sun. Practically the entire town had gathered on the new gravel drive outside a brand new gate to the property. The name Cotton Hills had been woven into the wrought iron design on the gate and the resort’s new crest had been placed on the entrance pillars holding the gate. The committee had made the final decision about the winner of the contest and hung a banner across the front of the gate.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,” the chairman of the conte
st committee said. “It is my pleasure to declare Salvation, Texas the winner of the Best Texas Vacation Contest.”

  Applause and whoops rose into the air. When the crowd had quieted the chairman continued. “I’d like to ask Rafe McCord and JC Barrett to please step forward.”

  JC stood to the side wearing slacks and a sleeveless blouse with new flats. She’d curled her hair, made up her face and plastered on her best game face although inside her heart panted. She stepped over to the chairman joining up with Rafe. The chairman held out an oversized pair of scissors. “With the cutting of this ribbon, I declare the Cotton Hills resort officially open.”

  JC took one side of the scissors and Rafe the other. Together they cut through the ribbon and a cheer rose from the crowd.

  He’d barely said hello to her, the jerk pervert. How could a man be that twisted and act as if nothing had happened between them? She’d been staring a hole through him and he hadn’t glanced her way, not even once. Screw him and the horse he rode in on. She deserved this moment of glory and she wasn’t going to let a stubborn cowboy ruin the moment for her. She raised her chin a notch as Rafe opened the gate. JC didn’t follow but hung back to talk to Linc. “Thank you for waiting. Linc, I need to ask you something.”

  He gestured toward the shade under a tree. “Okay, shoot.”

  “I can’t keep the job and run the resort. Would you tell the city council for me?”

  He pursed his lips, studied her a moment then glanced toward the mansion with the people walking around it. “Why should I?”

  She forced the corners of her mouth upward. “Because you like me?”

  He laughed. “Not good enough.” His expression grew serious. “Tell me the real reason.”

  She couldn’t look at him. She looked instead toward the mansion and easily picked out Rafe holding Molly in his arms. Her battered heart ached like a sore tooth. “Because I’ve done something stupid and fallen in love with your brother. I want to stay in Salvation badly, and I thought I could, but I can’t live here, see Rafe and Molly and you and not be a part of that. I’m a damned strong woman but even I have my limits.” She turned. “So, will you do it?”