Cowboy Country (55 page)

“That stinks, Jess!” Nicole said, carrying a peach tart over and pulling up a chair.

“Well, with all the crazy, it’s nice to be out of Austin for a weekend right now, and it’s about time I saw Emilia again. I promised Mary once a month,” Jessie offered, as Nicole filled her own coffee cup.

“And Wyatt?”

Jessie blushed as she met Nicole’s inquisitive eye. “It’s going to be tough, seeing Wyatt again this soon.”

“How are things with your public defender, Mark?”

“He’s been wonderful, getting the DA to fight for my program, because it saves their office so much work, and is so cost effective. And with Mark lobbying for me, the DA’s office has already offered me work. He’s kind, he’s smart, he’s together...but he isn’t Wyatt, Nicole. Mark and I are friends, but there’s no real...zing?”

“Oh, honey,” Nicole said, squeezing Jessie’s hand with an eager look. “Luanne Rodriguez’s band plays the Armadillo tonight. The old gang is sure to be out. Why don’t we let Wyatt know we’re heading over? I’m sure Hymie’d love to see us, too.”

Squeezing Nicole’s fingers back, Jessie nodded shyly, adding skim milk and stirring her coffee. “I don’t know if I could take another round of Wyatt and Stacia, but I’d love to see Lu play.”

“Jess, I know Stacia made it sound like she and Wyatt had a future, but it’s just not that way.”

Jessie took a deep breath, decided to spill the beans. “I might be around more, Nicole, I mean, like, work here. Awhile back, Rodric McGreer mentioned he was interested in opening a branch office here in Hobble Creek, but I loved my job, and didn’t think twice. After they announced my program cuts this week, Rodric called, which was so thoughtful, offering me a real job at a new office here, with an amazing salary. My head is spinning, Nic.”

Nicole smiled. “Sweetie, that’s wonderful! You have all good choices. I’d love to have you here in Hobble Creek! And don’t worry, Wyatt is bound to wake up to what he wants for the rest of his life.” She rolled her eyes. “Tonight you’ll meet Steve, a programmer at Dell. He lives in Austin, too. Pickings are so slim around here, I’ve resorted to internet dating.”

“Nicole, if Steve’s not the man for you, you’ll find someone great, it’s just a matter of time. The Armadillo must be good luck, it’s where Rodric McGreer saw how pretty Daphne Antelerone was, and whisked her to Austin. Besides, who cares about boys, when there’s babies and horses to play with?”

“Agreed, as far as horses, but boys are kinda a necessary link to babies. Daisy and Hank Gallagher are pregnant, and they’re saying twin boys.”

“Twins? Holy Gosh! Daisy? Man, she’ll have her hands full! We’ve been invited to visit with Emilia at Mockingbird this morning, if you want to.”

“Jess, that sounds awesome. I’d love to get out for a little while, while it’s still cool. Give me a few minutes to finish up here and I’ll join you.”

When they arrived at Mary’s, Denise brought over lunch for them all.

Another package had arrived from Teja, and after the baby went down for her nap, Mary opened the box and unwrapped the clothing, which they all went wild over.

“Lucky Emilia, to get packages air dropped from LA. Every girl in town should be so fortunate, to have a fairy godmother like Teja,” Nicole smiled.

Jessie met her eye and smiled. “I was real lucky to have a generous friend with a mother who loved to shop, Nicole. You and your mom were my fairy godmother.”

Saturday, June 18, 2016, 9:13 PM ~Hymie’s Armadillo Music and Dance Hall, Hobble Creek, TX

The Armadillo occupied the old fire station and Jessie arrived early to check it out, ordering a margarita and chatted with the bartender, Shanna, while Lulu’s band warmed up upstairs. The bar and restaurant was downstairs, and upstairs was a big open dance hall with a bar along the back wall. Hymie had retained the period architecture and the fire pole, which a few patrons had been known to use for quick access, and Jessie loved the place.

Hymie came downstairs and hugged her, then, with a devilish look, set up double tequila shots for them.

They salted their wrists.

“Hymie, you’ve done amazing things here,” she said, clinking glasses.

“Ah, we have fun. It’s Hobble Creek, not too tough to raise the bar a bit,” Hymie joked, before they threw their shots back, finishing with wedges of lemon. “Gonna try the fire pole, later?” he grinned.

“Don’t you dare get me that wasted!” Jessie giggled.

Nicole arrived with Steve, a computer programmer, tall, and thin, and friendly. Nicole had on a shimmery blouse with full sleeves low cut, and a mini skirt and boots, her hair down, loose and sexy, and she was excited, Jessie could tell.

Steve ordered them a pitcher of margarita, and shots, then Wyatt was there, with his bright eyes and easy grin, too big, too imposing, much too...everything.

Standing behind Jessie, his booted toes bumped her barstool as he joked with Nicole and Steve and Hymie. When his hand wandered to Jessie’s shoulder, she shook it off, then she stood, swaying a bit. Heading to the bathroom, she steadied herself at the mirror to put on a little mascara and some lipgloss, check the full the skirt of her halter dress.

The evening was a whirl of dancing and laughter. Nicole’s date, Steve, was a lot of fun. They were having a blast together, Jessie noticed. Every time Jessie emptied her glass, someone put a fresh margarita in her hand, and she danced with Hymie and all of his friends. Then Daisy and Hank and Ty and Lindsay showed up, and they all got out on the floor, boogying and shaking their groove things. Luanne’s band swung into a two-step, and Wyatt snagged her; he held one hand, the other on their shoulder.

“You look beautiful tonight, Jess. I’m real glad you’re here, sweetheart,” he crooned, close to her ear.

She met his gaze. “I’m havin’ fun, Wyatt. It’s nice, bein’ in the same room together with friends, just you and me, isn’t it?”

Close to midnight, the band took a break, Hymie set them all up with another round of shots, and then Wyatt snagged her for the last dance, a slow one. The room was spinning, so she tucked her head against Wyatt’s chest, feeling his warmth on her cheek. When the music stopped, Wyatt held wrists, keeping her close to him, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, “Let me drive you home, Jessie.”

Nicole and Steve had left sometime after the break, Jessie remembered. Normally so focused and intent, she’d enjoyed a fuzzy glow all night. “I suppose I am in no condition to drive,” she admitted. “Are you?”

“I stopped drinking before midnight. I’ve got to work tomorrow. You, however, can take a well-deserved rest,” Wyatt whispered, squeezing her fingers.

Jessie couldn’t deny the thrill his touch sent up and down her spine. “What about Stacia, Wyatt?”

“Honey, Stacia and I broke up months ago. Whatever she told you about an engagement ring was horseshit, I swear it.”

“Didn’t you have her plan the party?”

“She asked, Jessie. It sure seemed like a good idea. I didn’t have time,” he said, an edge of impatience in his voice. “She didn’t do it as a favor, honey, I paid her.”

“Oh,” Jessie said, secretly so relieved that Stacia that had initiated, not Wyatt, as she let him lead her to his big grey truck.

She nodded off once they were on the road, and he’d driven down the lane at Mockingbird, opened her passenger door and scooped her up in his arms before she realized they were. His arms sure felt good around her back and under her knees, though.

“Hey, Wyatt, I’m not staying here. I’ve got a room at Nicole’s,” she protested in a sleepy mumble.

“Jessie, it’s close to three am,” he growled. “No sense waking the guests at Nicole’s getting you upstairs. Besides, your car’s at the Armadillo. You’ll need a ride to get it in the morning.”

Inebriated, silly, surprised to be at Mockingbird, but pleased, too, Jessie pressed her face to Wyatt’s chest, and when the soft chamois of his plaid shirt touched her cheek, she giggled.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“I’m thinking of the time you did this, that’s all.”

“I’m thinking of that time, too,” Wyatt murmured, kissing her hair as he carried her upstairs. Close to her ear, he asked, husky voiced, “My room or the guest room, honey?”

She bumped her elbow to his ribs. “This is most definitely not like that other time, mister. Guest room,” she said, enjoying the sensation of being carried through Mockingbird Ranch’s great room and up the giant set of stairs.

Wyatt carefully set her on the big, fluffy, down-covered bed, and could hear him breathing as he pulled her boots off. Moonlight streamed through the French doors as he knelt by her pillow and stroked her hair. “Jessie, I had a real good time tonight.”

“Mmm, me too, Wyatt.”

“Let’s do it again, sometime soon, huh, sunshine? Makes me real happy, having you around, you know.”

Without thinking about, a smile curled Jessie’s lips. She felt Wyatt move closer, his close shaven jaw brushing hers as his lips took hers in a gentle kiss. The sense of him so close, all man, so much cowboy, big and so safe and familiar, sent a thrill down her spine.

It had never been like this with Mark, no way, nor with any of the other men she’d dated.

All Jessie had to do was roll over, make some room, and he’d spoon her all night, just like the old days.

It had been forever since she’d felt the comfort of Wyatt’s big body, his adoration.

She was soooooo tempted.

“Night, Wyatt,” she mumbled.

“Night, Jessie-girl,” he murmured, close to her ear, stroking her hair for a long while, until she heard his boots as he made his way to the muffled carpet of the hallway, and into his bedroom.

12

TEXAS SHUFFLE

Sunday, June 19, 2016, 4:47 AM ~Mockingbird Ranch, Hobble Creek, TX

Waking in the grey light before dawn, mouth pasty, head booming, Jessie wrapped herself in the bed sheet and went to the guest bath, where she found a new toothbrush. Sometime through the night she’d wiggled out of her shirt and skirt, she realized. She found aspirin in the medicine chest, which she took with two full glasses of water.

A glimmer of sunrise came through the south windows, casting pink light, and in that cozy, sleepy morning haze, she wandered down the hallway and peeked in on Wyatt. He was stretched out on his huge bed in plaid boxers, open mouthed and snoring, his long bronze legs tangled in a sheet. The bunched biceps of tanned arms curled around a pillow, and she could see the muscles of his back and shoulders, so strong and solid, as she watched his ribs rise and fall in the rosy light.

She couldn’t help letting her eyes travel down his back, to the waistband of his boxers, to his firm butt under the loose fabric.

Until she realized he was watching her.

“Mornin’ Jess,” he called drowsily, patting the bed beside him. “Come here.”

Curiosity killed the cat, she thought, face heating as she stepped backward, wishing she could disappear in the shadows, the white sheet trailing on the floor a complete giveaway.

“Where you going?” he called, “Aw, Jessie.”

Bare chested in just his boxers, Wyatt got up, brushed his teeth, then padded into the guest room barefoot and knelt beside the bed.

Still wrapped in the sheet, lying on her back, she pretended to be asleep.

“Jessie, I can’t sleep now, and you’re not sleepin’ either. What were you lookin’ at?” he asked, grinning.

She couldn’t help smiling, so she rolled away from him, facing the wall. He climbed into the warm impression her body had made on the bed, and held her close, stroking her hair. “Jessie, I’m as crazy about you as I’ve ever been,” he whispered.

She turned her head and looked at him wary-eyed, saying nothing.

“Are you scared of me, Jessie-girl?” he asked, quiet and low.

She bit her lower lip. Tears welled in her eyes, and she turned away again, her back to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her tight, and she touched his arm silently. She hadn’t meant to let him see how fearful she really was; frightened by the intensity of her feelings, frightened by more disappointment, the passion she felt for him so strong, and the kind of adult life he had proposed years back was the life she wanted now more than ever.

Her heart ached with fear, but even more with longing.

Wyatt’s strong hands held her ribs, his searching fingertips pulling her to him.

She hadn’t remembered how strong his hands were, how wonderful they felt on her skin. She could feel the bulge of his erection behind her, and a wave of lust sucked at her, pulled her into his force field.

“Woman, you are making me really hot. You wanna take this slow?”

Jessie turned in his arms, smiled sweet, her eyes sleepy and gentle. “We can take it however we want, Wyatt.” Wriggling her butt against him, her lips met his mouth, brief, questioning. His morning erection grew rock hard, straining his boxers. Blood pounded his groin, but the kiss tasted like heaven.

Jessie had the mouth, the lips, and the body that held all of his dreams.

He needed inside her, or he’d be crazy with it.

Testing her invitation, Wyatt took her mouth, felt her tongue flicker against his, let his hips shift, so she could feel the effect she had on him.

“Oh, Wyatt, you feel so good,” she moaned, sighing, “I’ve always loved when you touch me like this. I’ve missed it.”

The music of those words, spoken so softly, put him in a full on rut.

Just a thin layer of cotton sheet lay over her small ripe breasts; her erect nipples sent a visceral charge straight to his pelvis; her sigh and those nipples were the most erotic thing he’d seen in years. 

Wyatt wanted to nuzzle her, suckle them, but he resisted, holding her in his arms. His cock said go, but his head knew there was no sense rushing it. His bulk surrounded her, her slick, soft skin to his chest, his hands splayed over the sheet that still covered her snug belly, waiting for Jessie, keeping her safe there, so protected, her heart so close to his.