“I’m glad he had a good time. He’s a great kid.” Cort walked down the hall. Greeted by many doors, he knew the first one was a bathroom. The door beyond it was open to a bedroom that appeared to be for guests. The three remaining doors stood closed. He opened the one to his right, revealing a large master suite with a neatly made king-sized bed and a great view of the backyard.
The door across the hall seemed like a good second guess. Jacob sat in his bed, sleepily rubbing his eyes when he pushed it open.
“Hey, partner, did you sleep well?” Cort asked, taking a seat on the edge of the boy’s bed.
Jacob’s eyes lit up and he nodded his head, holding out the ball cap he’d slept with all night.
“Like your new cap?”
Jacob enthusiastically nodded his head then launched himself at Cort, wrapping his arms around his neck.
Emotion, raw and powerful, pulled at him as he held the little boy in his arms. He cleared his throat to dislodge the lump that settled there as he held Jacob and got to his feet.
“Your mom made a great breakfast this morning. Want to join us?” Cort asked as he stepped into the hall.
He felt Jacob’s nod against his chin and grinned.
“Let’s get to it while the biscuits are hot.”
He set Jacob in his chair at the table then smiled at the boy when he bowed his head and waited for his mother to give thanks.
Kaley and Cort kept up a lively conversation throughout the meal, mostly bringing up things they’d seen at the parade and rodeo the day before. Jacob grinned or nodded his head in response to their questions.
Once they finished eating, Kaley sent Jacob to his room to make his bed and dress while she and Cort discussed plans for the day.
“If you get some paint, I don’t see any reason we can’t get both the house and barn painted before the weather turns cold. Tate has a paint sprayer we could borrow and it wouldn’t take any time to get it done.”
“I don’t know. It sounds like a lot of work and I don’t want to put Tate out by borrowing his things.”
Cort rolled his eyes and shook his head. “It wouldn’t be that much work and Tate won’t mind at all.”
Kaley stood and carried dishes to the sink, accepting Cort’s help when he started loading the dishwasher. “If you’re sure about this, I’ll pick up some paint the next time I go to town.” She scrubbed a pan and handed it to him to dry.
He shrugged and gave her a charming smile. “How hard can it be to slap some paint on a couple of buildings?”
Chapter Seven
“Whose dim-witted idea was this anyway?” Cort wiped sweat off his face and smeared white paint across his forehead.
Jacob pointed at him and giggled.
Cort realized what he’d done and scrubbed at the paint with a rag, managing to smudge it on his cheek in the process. Jacob laughed aloud.
“Think that’s funny, do you?”
The boy nodded his head and dipped his brush back into the paint bucket.
It took Kaley a few weeks to get the paint, debating what color she wanted for the house.
The day she made her decision, she asked Cort if he’d mind watching Jacob while she ran into town.
With a wave and a suggestion to spend the day having fun, he took Jacob with him to the shop where the boy helped him service a tractor. After that, they went for a ride on Cort’s horse, Stoney, checking the fence line.
They returned to the ranch yard, riding around the corner of the barn, at the same time Kaley pulled up in Dean’s pickup, the back loaded with cans of paint. Cort helped her unload it then drove over to the Morgan Ranch to borrow a paint sprayer, returning with a promise of help with the painting.
Early the next morning, Tate and Kenzie arrived dressed in old paint-splattered clothes, ready to get to work. By the end of the day, Kaley’s house looked neat and fresh, painted a deep camel color with dark green trim. On a whim, she’d painted the front door with some of the dark red paint she purchased for the barn.
The five of them spent the last few days painting the house, barn, and outbuildings. Nearly done with the project, Cort mentally listed every single reason he’d never have a career as a professional painter, the main one being that he hated to paint.
Tate’s sprayer made painting the large spaces an easy task, but several areas required paint with a brush, which is what they worked to complete that afternoon.
The drudgery of painting, something he assumed only insane people enjoyed, left him on his knees painting white trim around a doorway.
Absorbed in his grumblings, a splatter of paint wet his back.
He jumped to his feet and spun around as Kaley flicked her brush at him again, covering the front of his T-shirt with bright red spots.
“You sure you want to play that game?” He took a threatening step her direction.
Aware that she may have done something she’d soon regret, Kaley backed away from him. “Now, Mr. McGraw, don’t you get any ideas.”
“Ideas? Like what?” Cort lunged for her. She dropped her brush and started running as soon as he moved. Halfway to the house when he caught her, he encircled her with his arms.
A delightful tingling sensation began at her head and worked its way down to her toes as she breathed in his scent. Cort’s muscled arms wrapped around her, holding her against his solid chest. The feeling was one of the most wonderful things she’d ever experienced.
“You aren’t wearing nearly enough paint, Mrs. Peters.” Cort carried her, giggling and squirming, to where she dropped the brush. He held her against his side with one arm while he picked up the brush and smudged her chin with red paint.
As he examined his handiwork, he made the mistake of glancing into her eyes, getting lost in the pale blue depths. Light as a feather in his arms, she fit against him so perfectly and felt so right. He inhaled her feminine fragrance and tightened his hold around her.
“Hey, there’s no need to get carried away.” Kaley teetered on the edge of falling into the silvery glow of Cort’s eyes. A heated look, charged by a powerful attraction, passed between the two of them as he turned her in his arms. His gaze dropped to her mouth, making it clear he wanted to kiss her.
The urge to run her hand along his firm jaw and sample those incredible lips made Kaley’s legs tremble. Hoping Cort wouldn’t notice, she pushed against a bulging bicep but he didn’t make any move to let her go. Instead, he pulled her a little closer and lowered his head.
The desire to have his mouth pressed to hers was so intense, Kaley’s lips twitched with wanting. She closed her eyes, anticipating the fiery jolt that would rock her senses when their mouths connected.
Instead, Jacob shoved against them, giggling and pointing at their paint-marred faces, effectively stopping Cort’s descent toward her lips.
He released her and she took a step back, trying to regain her composure. Frantically glancing around, she remembered Tate and Kenzie went home before lunch because they both had work obligations that afternoon.
Grateful they failed to witness the spectacle she and Cort no doubt made, she patted Jacob on the back then returned to the garden shed she’d been painting before she flipped paint at Cort.
Swinging Jacob into the air, Cort returned to the shop where he and the boy worked on painting the trim around doors and windows. When it was finished, all the painting would be complete.
Kaley had never imagined when she hired Cort that so many of the things she wished she had the time, skill, or muscle to accomplish would be checked off her to-do list.
Once Cort set his mind to something, she might as well stand back and let him go to it because he was a man who made things happen. Not only did he work hard, he seemed to be a jack-of-all-trades.
Great with the cattle and horses, he also knew about farming, and made several repairs around the place. The leaky stock tank no longer leaked, he’d mended all the fences, repaired broken equipment, and even installed a new freeze faucet outside the barn. The
rusted old ranch pickup boasted a fresh coat of green paint and the engine purred instead of coughing and rumbling.
One day she heard something on the roof and went outside to find him replacing worn shingles on the house. On top of everything he did outside, he often helped clear the table and do the dishes, something Dean had never once done.
She didn’t want to contemplate what she’d do when Cort left. It made her chest ache to think of his empty place at the kitchen table, not to mention the cavernous hole he’d leave in her heart.
Even though she vowed she’d never care for another man, the feelings she held for Cort were intense, raw, and beyond anything she’d ever known.
Unable to fathom what it would do to Jacob when he left, she tried to block it from her mind.
While everyone was kind to her son, most people treated him as if he lacked intelligence, which frustrated the boy and made her angry.
Cort, though, went out of his way to make Jacob feel special and loved.
As the two of them painted together, Cort told Jacob another thrilling story from his rodeo days, making her son gaze at the man with hero-worship written all over his face.
Unwillingly directing her focus back to painting, she finished the garden shed in short order. Jacob and Cort joined her as she rinsed her brushes at the deep sink in the shop.
“All done?” she asked, watching the two of them approach with dirty brushes and clothes coated in paint.
“Yep. Remind me to never paint another thing in my life, especially with red paint.” Cort nudged her out of the way and took over cleaning the brushes. “Why don’t you two go get cleaned up. I think we’ve earned a celebratory dinner in town.”
Although he was her employee, Cort often gave the orders. The stubborn, independent side of her balked at his taking charge. The practical side of her knew he had the experience and skill to keep her ranch running, and that he had her best interests at heart.
“I like that idea. Jacob, you go on to the house and leave your clothes in the laundry room then we’ll get you in the bathtub.” She gently prodded her son out the door. “And you, Mr. McGraw, might need to take some extra time scrubbing off all that paint.”
Kaley grabbed one of the brushes still covered with paint and slapped it across Cort’s attractive backside before tossing it in the sink and racing out the door. She fired an impish grin over her shoulder as she ran to the house.
Cort shook his head, humored by Kaley’s antics as he followed her progress to the house. Usually serious and somber, it was good to see her loosen up and be playful, even if it was at his expense.
The more time they spent together, the more she relaxed around him. In addition, the more he saw of the attractive widow, the more he liked, respected, and wanted her.
If it hadn’t been for Jacob interrupting them earlier, he would have finally, finally savored those delectable lips that haunted his dreams. They always looked so soft and pink, he wondered if they’d taste sweet and light or dark and rich.
The direction of his thoughts drove his temperature upward, so he switched gears and focused on cleaning up the paint mess.
He’d already expressed his appreciation to Tate and Kenzie for all their help. Thanks to their willingness to pitch in and the paint sprayer they supplied, all the outbuildings and the house sported a fresh coat of paint.
Instead of the run-down mess he’d arrived to find, the Hanging P started to appear more like a successful ranch.
Now that the lawn mower worked, Kaley handled the mowing and the yard work while Cort took over the farm and ranch work. She still helped with simpler tasks and offered her thoughts on certain subjects, but for the most part, Cort managed the place on his own.
She hadn’t said anything, but it was clear she didn’t have a rural background. She’d pet the horses, but refused to ride one. The cattle made her nervous, and she acted terrified of driving the tractors.
Curious about her past, Cort knew she’d tell him about it when she was ready. She hadn’t mentioned his drinking again, but it wasn’t ever far from Cort’s mind. He started attending meetings in Kennewick and anytime he felt the urge to drink, he either focused his attention on something else or gave Tate a call. Open talks with his friend always helped him get past the urge. He owned an overwhelming sense of thankfulness to have such good people in his corner.
After cleaning the last of the brushes and paint trays, Cort left them to dry, stored the leftover paint then closed the shop door. He rushed through the evening chores, closed up the barn, then returned to the house. Buford started sniffing around as he removed his dirty sneakers and left them on the porch outside his bedroom door.
“Don’t you run off with my shoes, Buf.”
The dog barely raised his head to acknowledge Cort until he leaned down and gave the mottled beast a good rub along his back and a few scratches behind his ears.
“Knew you couldn’t resist that.” He chuckled as the dog rolled over to have his belly scratched. Cort obliged then gave the dog a friendly pat. “I’ve got to get cleaned up boy. You keep watch over the place while we’re gone.”
Buford wagged his tail and barked in agreement.
Cort hurried to shower and change, but scrubbing off paint took time. When he finally emerged from his room, Kaley and Jacob quietly sat in the living room waiting for him to appear.
“You guys waiting on me?” He squatted down by Jacob. The boy sat on his knees in front of the coffee table coloring a picture. Cort assumed a big red box represented the barn and three stick figures had to be the current occupants of the ranch. “Is that us painting the barn?”
Jacob smiled at him and pointed to the biggest of the three figures, wearing a blue blob on his head, resembling the ball cap Cort wore the last few days.
Cort pointed to the figure next to him with brown scribbles around her head that trailed to her waist. “Is that your mama?”
Jacob nodded, tapping his finger on the last figure.
“And that’s you.” Cort playfully poked his finger in Jacob’s side, making him wiggle and grin. “Where’s Buford?”
Jacob put his finger on a spot colored black, brown, and yellow at the edge of the drawing.
“Oh, I see him.” Cort looked up at Kaley and winked. “Shall we go to town and find some dinner?”
Jacob jumped to his feet, his coloring project forgotten as he tugged his ball cap on his head and ran out the front door.
Kaley stared at Cort, unmoving. Her heart had melted into a puddle when he knelt by her son, asking about his drawing. The wink he sent her over Jacob’s head had nearly done her in.
Quickly gathering what little was left of her composure, she accepted the hand he held out to her and stood. Rather than release her fingers, Cort gave them a gentle squeeze and walked her to the kitchen.
As much as she wanted to deny it, the electricity zinging up her arm from his touch was impossible to ignore. His hand, so warm and big, felt so right holding hers. She badly wanted to lean against him, lean into his strength, and explore what she instinctively knew he willingly offered.
Disconcerted, she picked up her purse and a jacket, along with Jacob’s denim jacket, and walked out the door.
“Want to take my car?” Kaley asked as they went down the back steps.
“I can drive my truck,” Cort offered, watching as Jacob hopped from one foot to the other at the end of the walk.
“Jacob’s seat is already in my car. Let’s just take it, unless you’re scared of my driving.” Kaley gave Cort a challenging look.
“Nope. Lead on, boss lady.” He motioned for Jacob to join them. The boy climbed into the back seat and buckled himself in while Cort slid inside the passenger side of the car.
“Where would you two like to eat dinner?” Kaley asked as she backed out of the carport and started down the drive.
“I think Jacob worked the hardest the past few days and should get to pick.” Cort turned around and grinned at the little boy. Jacob’s
eyes twinkled as he held up his fingers to make what looked like the letter “P.”
“What’s P?” Cort asked, looking from Jacob to Kaley.
“If you let him pick, it’s going to be pizza.” Kaley smiled at her son in the rear-view mirror.
Jacob nodded his head and looked to Cort.
“I love pizza, partner. Good choice.” Cort lifted his arm over the seat and knuckle-bumped his fist against Jacob’s.
The boy pointed to the toothpick in Cort’s mouth and held out his hand.
Cort looked at Kaley for permission and she shrugged. A small case he kept in his shirt pocket held cinnamon-infused toothpicks. Tipping one out, he placed it in Jacob’s outstretched hand.
“Don’t swallow it,” he warned.
Jacob wrinkled his nose as he accepted the toothpick, offering quiet assurance he was old enough to know better. The boy stuck the cinnamon-flavored stick between his lips and rolled it in his mouth, just like he’d watched Cort do numerous times.
Rapidly spitting the toothpick into his hand, Jacob glared at Cort as he chuckled.
“Too hot for you?” he asked.
Jacob nodded his head and stuck out his tongue to cool it off, making both adults laugh. Kaley took the toothpick from him and tossed it out the window.
“You do know you’re corrupting my son, don’t you?” she whispered as Jacob drank from a bottle of water she handed him.
“I don’t know anything of the sort. It’s just a toothpick.”
“Yes, but you have one in your mouth constantly.” Kaley gave him a sidelong glance. The toothpicks added to Cort’s undeniable ruggedness, but she wouldn’t impart that knowledge to him. He was lethal enough to her system without additional ammunition. “Unless you’re eating, you’ve always got one stuck between your lips.”
“If you’re volunteering to keep my lips otherwise occupied, I’d happily toss them aside.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively while offering her a devilish grin that made her stomach flutter in response.
A hot blush colored her cheeks as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
Wrestlin' Christmas: (Sweet Western Holiday Romance) (Rodeo Romance Book 2) Page 9