Jasper (Cloves County Cowboys Book 2)

by Amelia Shea

  “I don’t like it.” His arm shot out, pointing over her head. “You shouldn’t be cleaning up his mess.” Kellie caught the contempt in his tone. Garr was a good guy, but he called it as he saw, and right now, he didn’t like what he was seeing. “When was the last time that boy did a favor for you?”

  Nine years ago.

  Kellie sighed. Explaining why she was doing it would make no sense to Garr, and she wasn’t about to try and make him understand. She knew he liked Jasper and Grey enough to take their money, but he wouldn’t be doing any favors for any of the Fords.

  “Garr, it’ll be fine.” She stared at him and smiled. “Thirty minutes at most, I promise. No need to worry.”

  He glared at her. He may not like it, but he also knew she’d do what she wanted. As much as she liked and respected Garr and his wife, Kellie answered to no one but herself.

  “Fine, but call me when you get home, let me know ya got there safe. You’re lucky I’m not gonna tell Patty. She’d be down here in a flash, tying you to the bar to keep you from being reckless.”

  Kellie laughed. It was true; Patty would not approve. “It’s not reckless. I’ll be fine. Trust me.”

  “Go now, before the snow gets worse.”

  Kellie nodded, trying to hide her smirk, and headed to the back to grab her jacket, gloves, and bag. March in Montana was frigid. This year was proving to be brutal.

  Walking back out to the main floor, she heard Garr before she saw him.

  “Jesus Christ, boy, pull yourself together.”

  Walking around the corner, she saw Garr. He was dragging Jasper out of the chair, trying to get his coat on. Jasper seemed in a daze.

  “I gotta close out my tab.” Jasper wobbled on his feet, reached into his back pocket, and stumbled.

  “You can pay me next time you’re in, which better not end this way, Jasper. You need to get your shit together.”

  Kellie stepped forward. “Garr.”

  “Let’s go.” He looked over at Kellie with a face of great annoyance. Knowing Garr, he was seconds away from arguing with her again about taking him home. She rushed to the door, not giving him the chance, and held it open while Garr ushered Jasper outside to the truck.

  Garr must have come out while she was in the back because the truck was already running. Opening the passenger door, Garr heaved Jasper’s large frame into the truck and slammed the door. The snow was coming down pretty hard, already coating her jacket white. She started to the driver side but stopped when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

  “I don’t like this, Kel.”

  “Thirty minutes. I’ll be fine, stop worrying.” She rushed to the truck and hopped in. Garr braced his hand on the open door.

  “You call me,” he barked, glancing over to the passenger seat, and shook his head.

  “I will.”

  Garr slammed the door shut, and Kellie adjusted the seat closer to the steering wheel. Jasper was more than a foot taller. She glanced over at him slumped against the window. Leaning over the console, she grabbed the seatbelt, pulling the strap around his body. He twisted and sat up, putting them at face level, inches apart.

  His eyes opened slowly. Those blue eyes. While the Fords brothers looked similar, Jasper had lighter hair than the other two. His cheekbones were more pronounced than his brothers. But they all shared the same aquamarine glimmering blue eyes. Her heart beat faster, being so close to him. He had always had that effect on her, since the first time she set eyes on him nine years ago.

  She’d been a freshman in high school. On the first day of school, she was scrambling to find her last class. It had been a rough first day. Their high school had been so big, a far cry from the smaller middle school she had come from. She had not one friend in any of her classes. She sat by herself on the bleachers for lunch. She just wanted to find her last class and be done with her first day. If this was any indication of what her high school years had in store, she was doomed.

  Looking down at her schedule, she walked into a wall of flesh and fell back on her ass, her books flying in every direction.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, looking up to a boy who stared down at her like she was shit on the bottom of his shoe. He was big, and his sneer reminded her of a rabid dog.

  “You should be. Look where you’re going next time.”

  Kellie remembered the fear she felt. Her hands started to sweat, and she got to her knees to get up, but the boy towered over her.

  “Ahhh… gonna make it up to me, fresh meat?” Her eyes were now level with his crotch, and she backed up, trying to get as far away as possible, but he matched her steps. Her heart went into panic mode, and she thought of screaming, but before she got the chance, the boy was gone. Her eyes scanned to the left and saw he was now flat on his back with another boy standing over him.

  “Next time, you look where you’re going, Arlson. You understand?” The tall figure standing glared down at Arlson on the ground. Just from his profile, Kellie sucked in a breath. He was so handsome with his high cheekbones and squared jaw. Two other boys stood close behind him, flanking on either side. They all looked older, juniors, maybe even seniors.

  “I ever see you talk to her again,” he pointed at her, “we’re gonna have problems, you get me?”

  “Y-yeeah-h…” The boy on the ground stuttered before scurrying away. Kellie watched in amazement as the boy and his friends grabbed her books and walked over to her.

  The brown-haired boy with the piercing blue eyes smiled and reached out his hand. If she hadn’t already been smitten with his profile, a full view of him would have sealed it. She carefully grabbed it, feeling the calluses on her hand. He pulled her up and gathered the books from his friends. He was so tall that she had to crane her neck and look up.

  “Ya all right?”

  Kellie was in shock and rendered speechless. No one had ever done anything like that for her. This boy was a total stranger, and he’d just defended her. So cool.

  She nodded, unable to speak.

  His smile turned to a grin and handed her the books. “He’s a jerk, but he’ll stay away. You let me know if he bothers you again though, okay?”

  She nodded again.

  He nodded and smirked. “You talk?”

  She nodded and then shook her head. He had her head going in a million different directions. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t place where she knew him from.

  “You do, or you don’t?”

  Cursing her stupidity, she croaked out, “I do. Speak, I mean. I can talk.”

  The boys behind him snickered, and she felt her face heat. The bell blasted the hall and Kellie looked around. Damn, she was late, and she still didn’t even know where she was going.

  “Where’s your next class?”

  Kellie shrugged. “I don’t know. I was looking for it when I bumped into…that kid.”

  Her schedule was snatched from her hand, and she watched him look over it and snort. “Mr. Brewer. He’ll let ya slide on the first day for being late. Go back down the hall, turn right, and through the double doors. He’s the second door on the left.”

  He handed back her paper, and she glanced up at him.

  “Thanks.”

  “Jasper.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “My name. Jasper.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder and pointed. “That’s Nick and Travis.”

  She stared at him, and then it hit her like a slap in the face. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. Jasper? This is Jasper Fords, Tripp’s brother. She had gone through school with Tripp and heard of the legendary Fords brothers, but it had been a long time since she’d seen Jasper or Grey. They were older than her, and she hadn’t been in the same school as him since elementary.

  He raised his eyebrows. “You got a name?”

  “Kellie.”

  He nodded, and his smile seemed amused. He probably thought she was a moron staring at him. She swallowed the lump in her throat but couldn’t stop her gawking.


  “You best get going, Kellie. I’ll see you around. You let me know if Arlson gives you any trouble.”

  She gave a shaky nod. “Ok.”

  The boys started down the hall, and Kellie just watched. They had to be seniors. She was wrong when she referred to them as boys. These were guys. Big guys she had just met. They all wore jeans and were tall, Jasper being the tallest and most handsome. They were almost to the end of the hallway, turning the corner when Jasper glanced over his shoulder and smiled at her before they disappeared around the bend.

  She’d remember that day forever. The day she fell in love with Jasper Fords.

  Kellie blinked a few times, coming out of her daze to see Jasper in present-day staring back at her. Damn, girl, focus. She smiled at him and clicked the buckle to his seatbelt.

  “Changed your hair?” His words were slurred.

  Kellie reached to her head and patted down her damp hair. “Uh yeah. Decided to go back to brown.” She’d given up her quest to be blonde after some friendly but honest advice from Britt. Bleached, fried hair wasn’t something any woman could pull off.

  Jasper stared and then yawned, closing his eyes.

  Kellie moved back to her seat and was putting on her own seatbelt when she heard him mutter, “Looks pretty.”

  She whipped her head in his direction. Did he just say her hair looked pretty? His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be passed out. She watched him in wonder. Did she just get a compliment from him, or was she just imagining it? Of all the times he says something sweet, he’s drunk. Her shoulders slumped, and with a heavy sigh, she muttered, “Figures.”

  Kellie put the car in reverse, backing up and heading to the Fords’ ranch. She was barely out of the parking lot when the back tires slid. She would have to take this ride nice and slow.

  The twenty-minute drive from the bar took closer to forty minutes. The roads had gotten slick fast. A sense of relief washed over her when she pulled into the driveway. Making her way past the dark main house and around the barn, she headed up the road to Jasper’s house. At the fork in the road, she bore left. She’d never been to his house, but she had gone over to Grey and Britt’s quite a few times. The houses were parallel to one another, separated by an acre of grass.

  Pulling in front of the garage, she searched for an opener but couldn’t find it. Hauling herself out of the truck, she rushed to the passenger side. Her foot slipped, and she grabbed the mirror, saving herself from a painful fall. She jerked the door open.

  “Jasper, you’re home.”

  He didn’t even move a muscle. She gripped his chest and shook him. “Jasper, time to wake up.” Nothing.

  How the hell am I going to get him in the house?

  Kellie went up to the door and pulled out the keys, unlocking the door. Peering in, she saw a small foyer with a coat hook on the wall, leading into a living room. At a quick glance, she saw the brown leather couches and chairs. It looked nice and very manly, exactly the way she imagined his house. The floor plan was basically the same as Grey and Britt’s.

  She left the front door open and rushed back to the truck. She bundled her jacket tighter. The wind, combined with the snow, made it feel below zero. She shook Jasper’s arms again. “Jasper, come on, you’re home.”

  He stirred in his seat and turned to the inside of the cab as if to get more comfortable.

  “Oh no, buddy.” She yanked on his arm, pulling him to her. “You outweigh me by at least a hundred pounds. No way can I carry you. Time to wake up, just for a second, until I get you inside.”

  He stirred again, looking over his shoulder. He didn’t seem to recognize her, but he swung his legs out the door and slid out of the truck. He leaned forward, and Kellie quickly wrapped her arms around his stomach to keep him from falling.

  “Come on, Jasper.”

  “It’s frigid out here.” He was coherent, but his words were still slurred. It would be awhile before he sobered up.

  “Yeah, it is, come on.” She led him into the house to the couch where he slumped down and lay on his side. Kellie rushed out and closed up the truck. She was on the porch when her phone rang.

  Closing the front door behind her, she saw the number.

  “I’m leaving right now, Garr,” she answered.

  “Like hell you are,” the female voice screeched. This was not good. As protective as Garr was, he was nothing compared to his wife, Patty.

  “Patty, I just got delayed with the roads, but I’ll be home in about forty minutes.” She drew in a breath. It was a lie. With the snow coming down the way it was, she’d be lucky to make it back to town by sunrise.

  “You will do no such thing. It’s a white-out, Kellie. Hell, even the plow trucks aren’t allowed out on the roads.” She grunted and cursed. “Garr should have never let you leave. Damn that man.”

  “It’s not his fault. He tried to talk me out of it, but well, I insisted. You should be mad at me.”

  “Oh no worries there, I am livid with you right now.”

  “I’m sorry, Patty.”

  “What’s done is done. Now you listen to me, you stay right where you are until this blows through.”

  Kellie’s back straightened against the door. “I can’t stay here.”

  “Oh, yes you can, and you will. You get on the roads now, you’ll get stuck, and there’s nobody gonna come get you. You stay at Jasper’s. Garr says he’ll send one of the boys to come get ya when the roads are clear.”

  Kellie shrieked, “That could be days! I can’t stay here for days! What the hell am I supposed to say to Jasper when he wakes up?”

  “You’ll tell him to thank you and his lucky stars that you were kind enough and stupid enough, I’ll add, to drive his sorry drunk ass home, and save his hide from the verbal beating his daddy woulda laid into him, had he found out.”

  No, no, no. There was no way she was staying in Jasper’s house. She dragged her hand across her face. There had to be another option.

  Kellie pleaded, “I can’t stay here, Patty.”

  “You have no choice. You made your bed, now go lie in it. Maybe you’ll think twice next time before you allow that big heart of yours to make foolish decisions for you.” The line went dead.

  Kellie rested the weight of her body against the door, and her shoulders slumped. No choice but to stay here at Jasper Ford's house for the next few days?

  No good deed goes unpunished.

  She walked slowly, tip-toeing around the couch. Jasper was slouched into a half lying, half sitting position. If she didn’t move him quickly, he’d be completely passed out, and she would have no chance of getting him into bed. Ironic. I’m finally getting Jasper into bed, and it won’t be nearly as climactic as I envisioned. Hell, he won’t even remember it.

  She glanced over her shoulder at the staircase.

  “This should be interesting.”

  She bent down and gripped his arm, giving him a shake. “Jasper, wake up.” He didn’t budge. Kellie wrestled his jacket off him and tossed it onto the armchair. She sat next to him and grabbed both arms this time, pulling with all her strength. His body heaved and turned so quickly, she barely had time to brace herself. He knocked her over onto the couch; her back lay flat against the cushion and Jasper sprawled over her body.

  “Jasper, baby, wake up.” Baby? She didn’t even know where it came from. She pushed against his chest, sending him back into a wobbly sitting position. She breathed heavily and jolted to stand in front of him. Grabbing his hands, she pulled him up, just barely. Thankfully, he was slightly coherent.

  “Come on, we gotta get you upstairs.” She watched as his glassy, bloodshot eyes flickered open and he took an unsteady step forward. She braced her hands on his chest to keep him from falling. This was a mess. “Just walk slow, okay?”

  A small grunt was all she got as she led him to the stairs. His steps were slow, and she stood behind him guiding his way. It occurred to her if he fell back he would probably send them both flying down the stairs
with him squashing her. She had fantasies of being under Jasper, but not quite that way.

  It was a miracle when his foot hit the landing. He seemed to know exactly where he was going as he trudged down the dark hall. They made their way into a bedroom, and the lamp flicked on when she lifted the switch.

  She stopped in the doorway and glanced around. A king-sized mahogany bed was centered in the large room with matching nightstands on either side of the bed, and a coordinating dresser stood in the corner of the room. She had imagined his room a few times but thought it would have more of a personal touch. The furniture was beautiful, but the room itself was plain.

  Jasper sat in the corner chair and pulled off his boots, dropping them with a loud thud. He got up and made his way to her. She eyed him suspiciously. Does he even know I’m here? His eyes were cast down, and he reached out for the wall. She shifted quickly to the side, and his body fell into her, pinning her against the wall. She turned to see his hand search the wall until the room was drowned in darkness.

  She expected him to turn to the bed, but he remained standing in front of her. She was so close she could hear his breathing. If she didn’t get him into bed, he might just pass out standing up. She lightly grabbed his waist, set on getting him into bed. “Jasper,” she whispered.

  His hands left the wall and wrapped around her back, bringing his face to her neck. Oh hell. Her heart raced as his fingers caressed her back. She had dreamed of his touch. It lived up to every expectation except one. She had thought he’d be lucid. His body pressed against her, his hot breath sending the hairs on her neck standing up on end. She closed her eyes. This isn’t real, he doesn’t even know it’s you.

  A small shiver rolled over her skin, and a warmth she hadn’t felt in so long blasted through her chest.

  “Jasper.” She needed to get him in bed and get the hell out of his bedroom.

  He inhaled as his nose skimmed her neck. Chills prickled over her body, and a heated spike flared between her legs. I’m getting wet from a man who doesn’t even know it’s me. Pathetic idiot. She squeezed her eyes closed.