Midnight Ride

by Cat Johnson

  In hindsight, that had been foolish. His leaving before sealing the deal left the field wide open for Rohn to step in and ask her out, and what reason would Janie have to say no? Tyler wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Determination fueled him. He cut the truck engine and pocketed the keys. Hand on the door handle, he stopped and eyed the glove box. He flipped open the compartment and pulled out a strip of condoms. He didn’t know what was or wasn’t going to happen, but it was better to have them and not need them than the opposite. He folded the strip and shoved it in his back pocket as the reality hit him that this might actually happen. Today. With Janie.

  Pulse racing with that thought, Tyler hopped down from the truck and slammed the door behind him. Boots crunching on the gravel, he strode to the kitchen door.

  It was afternoon, so there’d be no chance of finding Janie looking soft and adorable in her little shorts and T-shirt again. More likely she’d be in her barn clothes—jeans and boots. That was perfectly all right. She looked smoking hot dressed like that, too.

  She was in the kitchen, standing at the counter doing something, probably cooking dinner. Maybe making another pie. He didn’t know, and at the moment, he didn’t care. He knocked and saw through the window when Janie turned toward him and smiled.

  That was all it took. He didn’t wait for her to invite him inside. He reached down. The knob turned in his hand and he pushed the door open. Stepping inside, he gave a shove and it shut behind him and moved toward Janie.

  “Tyler.” Her eyes widened. “Hi.”

  Her expression of surprise increased as he backed her up against the counter. Bringing his hands up to cradle her face, he crashed his lips against hers. She kissed him back with equal enthusiasm. He took that as a good sign.

  He pulled back from her lips just far enough to be able to say, “I walked away from you last night.”

  Her green gaze met his. “Yeah, you did.”

  “I’m not making that mistake again.” He shook his head. “Believe me.”

  “Okay.”

  Judging by the look in her eyes, even if Rohn did ask Janie out, there was no way she’d ever say yes. She wanted him. If Tyler could only get her to agree to a real date, he’d be golden. Then there’d be no doubt in anyone’s mind. Not his or hers. Not Colton’s or Rohn’s. Then Tyler would be one happy man.

  The phone in his pocket rang. He was intent on ignoring it as he leaned in toward Janie. He’d waited too damn long for this already. He’d almost closed in on her lips when she said, “Your phone is ringing.”

  “Ignore it.” Thrusting his hands into her hair, he took her mouth, just as a sequence of beeps from the phone signaled he had a voice mail.

  Whoever had the incredible bad timing of calling him at a moment like this had left a message. He’d get back to them later. Much later.

  Another, different chime sounded and Tyler knew he also had a text message. Beginning to hate his cell and every one of its many alerts, all of which it seemed he’d heard in the last thirty seconds, he pulled back from the incredible feel of Janie’s lips.

  He sighed deeply as she smiled. “It’s okay. You should check that.”

  “I know.” Taking a step back from the warmth of her soft body so he could check his phone sucked. This was no time for interruptions. In future, he’d remember to keep the damn thing turned off. Or at least have it set on silent.

  Family dinner in an hour. Get home!

  Tyler barely managed to bite back the cuss he almost let fly when he saw the text message from Tuck. He’d completely forgotten that he’d promised to have dinner at home tonight with everyone.

  “Everything all right?” Janie watched his face.

  “Yeah. It’s just . . . dammit.” He shook his head and shoved the phone back in his pocket. Tuck could wait for a response. “I promised to have dinner at home with the family tonight. My brother and his wife are visiting.”

  “Tyler, don’t look so upset. It’s okay. You should see your brother while he’s in town.”

  A wonderful idea struck. One that would kill two birds with one stone. Maybe even three. “Come with me.”

  “What?” She laughed.

  “Sure. Why not?” Tyler liked the idea more with each passing moment.

  He’d get to spend the evening with Janie while fulfilling his obligations. And as a bonus, her having dinner with his family might bring him one step closer to her agreeing to go out with him in public on a real date. That would lead, hopefully, eventually, to her agreeing to give a serious relationship a try. It was perfect.

  “No.”

  Her answer took him off guard. “No? Why not?”

  “For one, your family’s not expecting me. It’s rude to show up uninvited.”

  “No, it’s not. My mother cooks enough for an army. Our friends and neighbors are always stopping by to eat. Jace. Colton. Logan. And you’re not uninvited. I’m inviting you.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Janie.” He took a step closer, settling his hands on the curve of her waist. “You like me. I know you do.”

  “You’re right. I do. That doesn’t mean it’s proper for me to go to dinner at your parents’ home.”

  “It’s my home, too.”

  She pursed her lips and shook her head and he knew arguing the point wasn’t working. Maybe he could use his lips in a more persuasive way than flapping them at her with words she’d stopped listening to. He leaned low and pressed a kiss to her mouth . . . and felt her smile beneath his lips.

  Curious as to what could be funny about his kissing her, he pulled back and asked, “What?”

  “If your plan is to kiss me until I agree to go to dinner with you, it’s not going to work.” When she saw his frown, she laughed. “Did I guess right?”

  He refused to admit it and let out a burst of air instead. “All right. I’ll give you a pass today. You don’t have to come with me, but there’ll be no family dinner tomorrow.” He glanced at the counter, where she’d already started to prepare supper. “I’m sorry about bailing on you today.”

  “It’s fine. I understand. It’ll all keep for a day.”

  “Good. I’ll be back to start on that field tomorrow, as early as I can get away from Rohn’s.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  His eyes narrowed as he leaned in again and took a kiss that wasn’t half as long or deep as he wanted it to be. “Mmm, you’re very welcome. And I’ll be around for some more thanks after I’m done mowing.”

  Janie smiled. “Am I paying you for your work in kisses now?”

  “No. You’re paying me with good home cooking and blueberry pie. The kisses are just a bonus.” He grinned.

  She laughed even as her cheeks grew pink. “Okay. It’s a deal.”

  “You sure you won’t come with me to supper tonight?”

  “I’m sure.”

  He waited, but he knew she wouldn’t change her mind. Not tonight. He’d change it for her, though. One day. Very soon. Hopefully.

  Damn, he’d never had so much trouble getting a woman to do what he wanted in the past. Maybe that was what made Janie so special.

  Tyler drew in a deep breath. “Okay. I’d better get going. Tomorrow, I’ll be back.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  He cocked a brow. “Am I that predictable?”

  “Yeah.” She dipped her head. “But I think I like it.”

  “Good.” He couldn’t go without one more kiss, one that he had to physically drag himself away from. It was very hard leaving her, but he had to. “Damn. Okay, I’m really going.”

  “Okay.” A smile tipped up the corner of her tempting lips.

  He shook his head and turned toward the door, forcing himself to go directly to the truck without turning back. It would be so easy to say to hell with the family dinner and stay, but in the long run, it would be easier to go, get it over with, and make Tuck and his parents happy.

  But tomorrow—tomorrow would be another matter
entirely.

  Chapter Twenty

  Rene blew out a slow whistle as she stared across the field. “Oh. My. God. That man riding on that big old John Deere might be the hottest thing I’ve seen in a real long time.”

  Janie followed Rene’s stare to where Tyler was cutting the hayfield. She would admit, the view was nice, but she had to think the hottest thing she’d seen lately was the heat in Tyler’s eyes as he came busting into her kitchen, intent on kissing her, and more, if he hadn’t gotten that text from home.

  Although even hotter was the dream that had woken her just before midnight. It was hard enough to fall to sleep with Tyler and his visit in her memory, never mind being tantalized by him in her sleep.

  In her dreams, he didn’t kiss her and leave her wanting the way he had for three nights straight. He stayed, and damn, things got hot. Molten. Just like her insides when he was around. In her dreams, he took her on a midnight ride that had her waking sweaty, her body still clenching around his, even though he’d only been there in her mind.

  Rene was probably expecting some kind of response, so Janie wrestled her attention back to the present. “He is a good-looking guy.”

  “Good-looking doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Rene shook her head. “Jesus, Janie. I don’t know how you get anything done with him here and looking so fine.”

  “He’s not around all that often.” Janie had to think how that was a shame.

  Rene sighed. “I guess that’s a good thing.”

  Janie glanced at her friend. “You mean because of times like right now when we’re both ignoring your daughter, my student, because we’re too busy watching Tyler drive my tractor?”

  “Eh, she’s only cooling down the horse.” Rene waved off Janie’s concern with a hand. “She’ll be fine.”

  Shaking her head, Janie forced herself to turn back to face the ring. “That’s good, Khriste. You can bring her back to the barn. I’ll help you unsaddle her and then we’ll hose her down. Okay?”

  “Can’t Tyler help me, like he did the last time?”

  “We’d all love to have Tyler come and help like the last time, sweetie.” Rene shot Janie a knowing glance. “But it looks like he’s busy working right now.”

  “I wish I could ride in the tractor with him. It looks like fun.”

  “It sure does. Doesn’t it, Aunt Janie?” Rene’s words were heavy with suggestion. “Wouldn’t riding with Tyler be fun?”

  Out of the mouths of babes . . .

  “I’m sure.” Janie shot her friend a glance. “But your mother’s right, Khriste. Tyler is very busy right now and we have to let him get his work done. Come on. I’ll help you. Let’s get Bella unsaddled.”

  Rene was right about one thing—Tyler sure was a distraction. Janie had been working with horses for as long as she could remember, but just knowing he was on the property—in her line of sight every time she turned around—had her concentrating twice as hard to complete even the simplest tasks. It had her marking his progress across the hayfield, anticipating when he’d be done.

  It was truly horrible, and she should be ashamed of herself, but she hoped Rene and Khriste would be gone by the time he was finished for the day so she could be alone with him. Khriste was her goddaughter. Rene, her best friend since childhood. Janie loved them both, but they’d always been in her life, and she knew they always would be. Tyler, she wasn’t so sure of. His continuing presence was iffy at best. That made her want to absorb every second with him she could.

  “Okay, Janie. I get it.”

  She glanced up at Rene. “Get what?”

  “Why you didn’t want me fixing you up with the guy at church.”

  “Um, first of all, I don’t want you fixing me up with anyone. But in particular not that guy. He’s kind of creepy and he hates horses. What in the world possessed you to think—”

  “It’s way more than all of that, and you know it.” Rene’s gaze focused past Janie. “Oh, so much more.”

  As the memories of the handful of kisses she’d shared with Tyler had her cheeks heating, Janie had to hope Rene wouldn’t notice. Offense seemed the best defense here. She was about to lay into Rene, tell her to mind her own business when it came to her love life, when Khriste dropped the sponge she’d been using to wash Bella back into the bucket.

  “Tyler! You missed my lesson. You wanna help me finish giving Bella her bath?” The girl took off running and Janie didn’t need to look to know where or why. That much was obvious.

  Janie turned in time to see Tyler grin down at the little girl before he scooped her up and slung her onto his hip.

  “Hey there, darlin’. That’s exactly what I’m fixin’ to do. Help you with Bella.”

  “I already washed most of her with the sponge, but now I have to hose her off, then dry her, then put her back.”

  “Okay. We can do that. It’s a hot one today. I might join her under the hose.” He carried Khriste toward them and then swung her down. He set her on the ground next to the horse and turned toward Janie and Rene. “Afternoon, ladies.”

  The raw charm of his smile and the easy tip of his hat during that greeting was enough to melt any woman’s heart, but especially Janie’s as she remembered the feel of those lips against hers. How he’d ditched his hat to kiss her in the truck.

  “Tyler.” Rene smiled wide. “Very nice to see you again.”

  “Sorry I didn’t come right over when I got here. I saw you were in a lesson, so rather than bothering you, I just hopped on the tractor and started mowing. I hope you don’t mind.” He directed the last to Janie, forcing her to find words.

  “That’s fine. I don’t mind at all. You’re helping me. You do what you want to do, whenever you want.” That had come out sounding kind of suggestive. “Um, anyway, thank you again.”

  Her face felt hot just from talking to him. Or maybe it was how she could almost feel the heat in his eyes. Knowing Rene was watching her like a hawk—watching both of them—didn’t help, either.

  He waved away her thanks. “It’s nothing, Janie. I wanna help.”

  “It is something. And I appreciate it.”

  His gaze grew more intense as it focused on her. “It’s my pleasure. Anything for you.”

  Janie looked over at her friend, afraid of what reaction she’d find. Brows raised, eyes cutting between her and Tyler, Rene cleared her throat and said, “Well, we should probably get going. Khriste, time for us to head home.”

  It seemed Rene was still playing matchmaker, only this time her goal was to leave Tyler and Janie alone.

  “But, Mom, we’re not done with Bella yet.”

  “Then hurry and finish up. Aunt Janie has other things she needs to do.”

  Tyler grabbed the bucket and moved it out of the way. “I’ll get Bella all settled, but then I’ll have to get moving myself.”

  That caught Janie’s attention. Was he in a rush to finish and go? Why? “If you have to leave, I’ll finish with the horse.”

  “I meant get back to work.” His eyes cut to Janie. “I’ve got about another two hours to finish the first field. But I should be done by suppertime.” He smiled as he dropped that reminder about her promising to cook him dinner.

  Tyler bent to pick up the hose and Janie’s eyes followed the move, watching the denim tighten across his ass in the process and feeling even more grateful he wasn’t in any rush to leave. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Rene watching him, too. That was one way to get Rene’s focus off her—parade Tyler’s fine butt in front of her.

  Khriste seemed to be the only one who wasn’t ogling Tyler and his assets, and that was because she was only nine, but even at that tender age she’d fallen prey to his charm and his smile. That much was obvious from the way her eyes lit up when he came around.

  It seemed no female, young or old, was immune to Tyler’s charm. That scared the hell out of Janie, as it should, but not enough to make her stop wanting him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was a hot, di
rty, sweaty job, but that wasn’t the reason he was in such a rush to get the field finished. Janie, back at the house cooking him dinner, was.

  Swath by swath, the hay fell to the blades of the mower he towed behind the tractor. It was mind-numbingly repetitive work, but he didn’t mind, because he had a lot to think about. The agony of being torn between trying to keep things slow with Janie and wanting to push their relationship along kept him plenty occupied.

  Not that Tyler had the final say in the matter. Janie said yes, and no, according to her own free will.

  What was unsettling was that she was willing to spend time with him, but at the same time refused to let him take her out on a proper date. It was the opposite of what he assumed women wanted, which reinforced what he knew already—Janie was nothing like the girls he’d known.

  The riddle that was Janie occupied his mind and made the hours go faster. Before he realized how much time had passed, he glanced up to find he had only two passes left to reach the fence line and be done. At least with this field. There was another one he’d have to tackle tomorrow, which meant he had a good excuse to come back. Not to mention he’d have to come back and rake the hay and bale it up for her once it was dry.

  Yup, plenty of reasons to spend lots of time here, though all he really needed was one, and she was in the kitchen expecting him for supper. Her there, him here, it felt so domestic. So natural, and so different from anything he’d ever had with anyone before. He liked the idea of finishing up a day’s work and having a woman he wanted to see, who wanted to see him, waiting for him. It felt good.

  No wonder so many of the men he knew were pairing off and getting married. For the first time ever, Tyler got it. Hell, he more than understood it. He could see himself doing it. But Janie was still fighting their relationship and he had yet to change her mind.

  No problem. He liked a challenge, and it sure would be fun convincing her.

  The thought of the varied and creative ways he could convince her had him grinning as he finished the field.