Cowboy For Hire

by Isabelle Drake

  He tipped his head, his face tight and expressionless as he pulled his gaze off the animals. “There’s a lot of them, that’s for sure.”

  What a grouch. But she wasn’t going to let him ruin her fun. “I guess it’s no big deal to you. I love it.”

  “It’s the perfect place to buy horses,” he muttered vaguely as he made a point of shrugging his strong shoulders. “If you know what you’re doing.”

  So that was it.

  He wanted to give her a hard time about needing his knowledge and experience. Victoria opened her mouth to tell him she’d had enough of him entertaining himself at her expense but the quip stuck in her throat, the slight crinkle at the corners of his eyes making her reconsider.

  He was teasing her? The sparkle in his brown eyes insisted he was.

  Lordy. The wandering cowboy full of surprises.

  The next thing she knew, he was grabbing her arm. “Come on, I’m hungry,” he grumbled, pulling her across the gravel parking lot.

  When he turned toward the food, his knee brushed against thigh, instantly sparking a series of heart-pounding pulses that melted her nerve endings and made her stomach quiver.

  Why did someone she’d only met the day before have such an effect on her? It didn’t make sense.

  She turned and caught his eye. Liquid electricity passed between them but he dropped her arm and took a wide step to the right. They were total strangers and Lang obviously wanted to keep things that way. Otherwise, the night before he would’ve gone ahead and kissed her and then…

  “One or two times?”

  Victoria swallowed hard and stared wide-eyed at Lang.

  He chuckled at her stunned expression. “I thought men were supposed to be the poor listeners.”

  “I was listening!”

  “Sure, to yourself think.” He laughed louder. “Forget it, I was ribbing you about eating hot dogs, like the regular people.”

  His tone was light, his eyes shining. Still she didn’t quite trust him. “I’m a regular person,” she said, tucking her chin in and wrinkling her nose.

  He smirked. Did he think she was some kind of snob? Where had he gotten that idea?

  Oh.

  Her father’s reputation.

  If that was the case, he was all wrong. She’d left all that behind.

  Gladly.

  No way was she going to spend her afternoons sitting around the club, planning boring luncheons and business dinners like her sister and stepmother. She had her own life to live and she intended to do it. If Lang thought she was like those boring socialites she’d gone to school with, there had to be some way to show him she was a regular person, an ordinary girl.

  Then maybe he’d come around to her way of thinking—a no-strings-attached good time.

  After he ordered their food and drinks, she reached in her pocket for some money. He pushed her hand aside. “My treat, princess.”

  She opened her mouth to protest but his dark scowl stopped her. There was no point in arguing over a couple dollars, so she waited while he paid and then strolled alongside him as he carried the cardboard tray to one of the nearby picnic tables.

  The eating area was crowded but Lang found them a spot between a group of teenagers and a noisy family. After Victoria slid in beside him, he set one of the hot dogs in front of her.

  Grinning, she dug through the condiments he’d grabbed for two of the mustard packets.

  Lang watched in disbelief as Victoria squirted both packets onto her hot dog, then took very huge and most unladylike bite. A bright smudge of mustard stuck to her lip.

  How was it that she constantly found a way to surprise him? “No ketchup or relish? Just mustard? What’s that all about?”

  A devilish twinkle flashed in her eyes but whatever she said was muffled by the mouthful of food. The mischievous bend of her mouth held a challenge his masculine pride wouldn’t let him ignore.

  He grabbed the remaining mustard packets, three ketchup and two relish packets. With a quick and practiced hand, he dumped all the condiments onto his hot dog, then turned to make a big display out of taking the first enormous bite.

  She chuckled, reaching up to wipe the mustard from her lip. He had a hard time chewing because of the laughter rumbling in his chest. Still he managed to make short work of the hot dog. Two bites later it was history.

  “Lang Thompson?”

  Still chewing like a cow, Lang turned to find a long-time friend of Cole’s, rodeo star Vince Haynes. Lang grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth, scrambled off the picnic bench to stand up and stretched out his hand.

  After a huge swallow, he managed to speak. “Hey Vince, what’re you doing down this way?”

  “I might ask you the same thing,” the other man replied as he accepted Lang’s hand, shaking it firmly, the crisp white of his sleeve flashing in the bright afternoon sun. His cousin’s friend wasn’t looking at him though, the man’s appreciative gaze was zigzagging across Victoria’s calendar girl body.

  After Vince let go of his hand, Lang stepped closer to Victoria, looming over her protectively. Even though he would’ve rather punched the man in the face for staring at her like that, he went ahead and did the socially acceptable thing, introduced them.

  Lang wanted to push Victoria back down when she started to rise. He wasn’t her keeper, he reminded himself. If she wanted to show herself off, who was he to stop her?

  Cole always went on about what a rough and ready stud Vince was and how he always got more girls when they hung around together. Flashy men were probably right up Victoria’s alley.

  Lang scowled while the two of them babbled on—about the weather of all things—like old friends.

  Or, two strangers who wanted to be friends.

  When he got sick and tired of Vince’s boyish grin and exaggerated Texas drawl, he leaned over and cut into their banter. “Miss Moore is here to get some trail horses for her ranch. I came along to make sure she gets some good animals.”

  Vince managed to pull his attention away from Victoria. “You’ll want to get on over to the north corner of the lot then. I came from that way and there’s a whole herd getting unloaded.” Vince’s white teeth flashed. “I’m here looking for a pony for my niece, else I’d be considering them myself.”

  “Your niece!” The delight in Victoria’s voice was as clear as Vince’s leering grin was wide. “My sister just got married and I’m already waiting for nieces and nephews. The little girl must be thrilled.”

  Vince stuffed his hands into his too-tight pants and shifted his polished snakeskin boots. “She will be, she’s just a babe now.”

  Victoria giggled with the other man and Lang suddenly found himself out of the loop. What was so funny about a baby too young to be excited about a pony?

  Vince jerked a thumb over his square shoulder. “Lang, why don’t you go on over and check out those new arrivals in the corner lot, while I sit with Victoria for a spell?” He nodded at the table. “Looks like you already finished your food.”

  Lang glanced at the picnic table, taking in the evidence of his three-bite hot dog. The twisted condiment packets lay in a heap.

  He didn’t want to leave Victoria with that so-called stud. So what if his cousin was friends with the guy. Lang didn’t know anything about him. Except that all the women thought he was a hottie. That wasn’t enough. He could be a crazed lunatic. The next cowgirl killer.

  There had to be a way to keep Victoria from staying with Vince.

  Lang wasn’t being possessive.

  Only safe. Reasonable.

  Unfortunately, Victoria spoke up too quickly for him to put a stop to things.

  “That’s a great idea.” She gave him a one-handed push and sat her too-pretty-for-her-own-good self on the bench.

  Lang was amazed that Vince’s painted-on pants didn’t snap him in two when he eased himself down right next to Victoria. Inches away from her. And that stupid boyish grin was back.

  Lang embarrassed himself by childishly sh
oving his hands in his pockets and kicking at the dirt, making clods of dirt land near Vince’s boots.

  “Go on, Lang.” Vince’s expensive watch blinked in the sunlight as he waved him off. “I’ll take care of things here.”

  That’s what he was afraid of. He flashed a murderous glare in the grinning cowboy’s direction but hottie Vince didn’t notice.

  “Don’t you want to come with me?” Lang asked Victoria, annoyed at the plea in his voice.

  “No, you go take a look,” she replied over her shoulder. “I’ll meet you by the truck in forty minutes. Okay?”

  With that said, she turned back to the other man asking if he had any photographs of his niece. With well rehearsed movements, Vince slid his wallet out and unraveled a long, plastic strip of baby pictures. He probably had colored condoms in there too.

  Thoroughly disgusted with the jealousy tearing at his insides, Lang swung around and stalked off to get involved in the only thing he’d ever been really good at. Dealing with horses.

  Chapter Seven

  With his back slanted against the hood of her truck, hat tipped low and scuffed boots buried in the dust, Lang looked like all the other cowboys milling about the auction, with one not so small difference. Victoria wanted him to be her cowboy.

  It didn’t make sense, it didn’t fit into her plans and considering the information she’d just pried out of Vince, it wasn’t going to happen.

  According to Vince, Lang had a battered heart he planned to keep locked up until he was “pushin’ up bluebonnets”. And—according to what Cole, Lang’s cousin, told Vince—Lang had sworn off women.

  All women.

  For good.

  Still, she paused to hitch up the box in her arms and soak in the heady rush she got simply by looking at Lang. That giddiness was hers, the memories of how it felt to tingle from head to toe would be something she’d keep long after he left.

  About the time she reached the truck, he turned, meeting her gaze. His focus dropped quickly to the box in her arms. A little something, somethings—actually, she’d picked up to brighten up the ranch.

  Swimming through the crush the of excitement that grew harder to control each time she came near Lang, or even thought about him, she stepped up and opened the box. “Aren’t they sweet?”

  “Chicks?” Disbelief hung on his voice, his gaze trailing the wobbly birds as they tottered around the box.

  No way was she going to let him ruin her fun. “Think of the great time the kids’ll have hunting for eggs. The girls assured me they’ll be good layers.”

  “Girls?”

  She sighed, tipping her head toward the row of trucks next to the concession area. “The girls I bought them from.”

  “Of course.” He pushed away from the truck and angled his hat back, drawing Victoria’s attention to the overlong locks brushing against his corded neck. “What kind of chickens are they?”

  She ignored the mocking tone in his voice, replying brusquely, “The egg-laying kind.”

  “You don’t know what kind they are, do you?” he challenged. “I bet you didn’t even ask.”

  “No, I didn’t ask.” She closed the top, carefully tucking in the edges. “They’ll lay fresh eggs for my guests. That’s all I need to know.”

  “All I know is that I shouldn’t leave you alone anymore.” As soon as the words were out, he scowled even harder, if that were possible and gently took the box from her. “You’re all set with the horses,” he said, sliding the box of chicks into the shade under the truck.

  “You found some?”

  “Vince has a decent eye,” he grumbled, then spun and stalked off, asking her to follow over his sturdy shoulder.

  Victoria jogged after him, calling, “We need to talk.”

  “No, we have to get over there now.” He slowed just long enough for her to reach his side. “I told the seller we’d be by within a half hour.”

  It was her turn to scowl. “You made a deal without me?”

  “Don’t get yourself in a snit.” He flashed her an annoying know-it-all grin and gave her a gentle push on the small of her back. Warmth spread across her as they moved together, him speaking. “I know horses. These are the animals you need. If we wait too long, he’s going to put them in the auction, then we’ll never get them together. You don’t want that to happen.

  “These animals already know each other, that’ll make a big difference out on the trail. Especially since you’re going to want to use them right away.”

  It would be so easy to let him take matters into his capable hands but she wanted to do everything on her own. That had been the plan, anyway. So why was she enjoying his take-charge attitude?

  As they approached the north corner, she pushed that question aside and grabbed his arm, tugging against his powerful stride. “Lang, we really have to talk about the horses.”

  A grimace creased his face but he stopped, giving her his full attention. “Okay. What do you want to know?”

  “I need to know how much they cost.”

  He studied her, contemplation clouding his eyes. “Why? Don’t you think I’ll get you a good deal?”

  “It’s not that.” When his gaze softened, she went on. “Remember, I’m doing this on my own. I don’t have an unlimited supply of money, even though you seem to think so.”

  He rubbed his jaw, doubtful, yet considering. “Okay, how about this. You tell me how much you have to spend, how many horses you want, then let me do the talking.”

  Victoria didn’t like turning things over like that. She’d left Phoenix to get away from depending on people but without the best horses…

  He tapped his boot impatiently, a grin appearing on his mouth. She swatted his arm, lingering just long enough to enjoy the heat of his skin. “Stop laughing at me.”

  “I’m not laughing.” He tipped his head, looking at her between his thick, silky lashes. “Did you hear me make any sounds?”

  Tiny lines crinkled around his dark eyes.

  Folding her arms, she grumbled, “I’m glad you find this so funny.”

  A seductive glimmer flashed through his gaze. “Poor little rich girl needs help from some wandering cowboy, now why would I find that funny?”

  She snickered in spite of his lighthearted barb. “Put that way, it does sound pathetic.”

  The chuckle finally rumbled out of him. “Now who’s being nasty?”

  “Okay, you get your way.” She told him how much she had to spend.

  “How many horses?”

  “Twelve.”

  She waited, all he did was nod his handsome head.

  “I know that’s not much money—”

  He cut her off with his hand, set his hand at her waist and started walking again. “You’re not looking for show animals, Victoria. Bloodlines don’t matter here. You’re only after reliable, sure-footed mounts.”

  Expectation danced inside her, sidestepping his request that she keep quiet. “You think I have enough?”

  “I’ll take care of it. Remember, no talking. I make the deal.” He fixed her with a searching stare. “You know, it’s okay to accept help from people.”

  “I guess,” she replied. But because she didn’t agree and she was getting tired of the way he kept disregarding her opinions and having a laugh at her expense, she added, “But I need to learn how to do these sorts of things myself.”

  He rolled his eyes. “A woman like you is never alone for long. Some man will happen by.”

  A woman like you…some man…

  Color splashed across her cheeks and iron settled in her spine. “Do you have a problem understanding basic concepts, Mr. Thompson?”

  He blinked in surprise then scanned her face, looking for a clue.

  “I’m not waiting for some man to happen by and…” Frustration steamed inside Victoria, forcing her to blurt out the truth. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t get married.”

  His back straightened as he grabbed her elbow and pulled her aside, away from the main
line of foot traffic. “What do you mean…can’t?”

  Victoria stumbled to a stop then sucked in a quick breath as the dark gaze of his eyes burned into her soul. The hard pull of his mouth, the steady, firm grip on her arm…

  “You’re already married? But you said…”

  How predictable.

  She should’ve seen it coming.

  Jerking her arm away, she said, “No, Lang. What I mean is that I can’t get married because I cashed in my wedding fund to buy The Circle Cat.”

  After a pause, he spoke again, his whispered words framed with cynicism. “Wedding fund?”

  “That’s right.” She squared her shoulders, set her fists on her hips. “See, so I don’t have any money left for—”

  “Your wedding was going to cost the same as a ranch?”

  “I didn’t want one of those huge designer weddings anyway. And I don’t want to get married without having a life of my own first. I want to have fun, on my own terms. Not tie myself to someone who’s going to boss me around and tell me what to think. I had a choice to make, so I did. What’s the big deal?”

  His gaze turned steadily blacker until a chill shot straight to her toes. She blinked, her boldness deteriorating under his stare.

  Lang watched Victoria press her sweet lips together, looking lost and confused. Emotions galloped through him, none he wanted to give names to. If the first had been jealousy, at the thought of her belonging to someone else, that had been quickly replaced by resentment—and a host of other downright ugly sentiments.

  If he’d been dense enough to need a guarantee that this woman wasn’t fit for the life she was trying to squeeze herself into, that was it. She didn’t belong at The Circle Cat any more than he belonged in a fancy high-rise office.

  He had to find the way and make the ranch his.

  The sooner they got the horses in the trailer, the better. Putting his concerns back where they belonged—on the horse deal—he asked, “You think you can keep quiet for ten minutes, while I settle up with the seller?”

  Her vibrant blue eyes sparked with irritation while she considered her options. “Yes, I already agreed to that. I won’t say a word.”