COWBOY FOR SALE--A Second-Chances Spicy Romance (25 page)

Her frown deepened.

Look what having fun got me last time.

Then Jared's face popped into her head.

Forget him.

When she left the bathroom, Lacey couldn't resist taking a quick left out the back door, making her way to the deck.

Where all my troubles began.

She closed her eyes, breathing in the warm, humid night air. A silvery slice of moon hung in the sky.

The volume of the band at a more acceptable level, she hummed along with the familiar tune, then noticed the faint sounds of an acoustic guitar somewhere outside playing along with the band. As she followed the sound, she finally made out the familiar profile of Jared's pickup. He was sitting on the end of the tailgate, long legs swinging as he picked the strings.

Lacey stared at him, instantly feeling both nostalgic and flustered. Slowly she walked down the steps of the deck. There was no reason not to, she argued. She should be sociable. She was an adult. It would be rude not to say hello, she told herself.

Jared turned his head at the sound of her footsteps, his fingers freezing on the strings of the guitar.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked.

“I see your ankle is better. I'm glad.” His voice was low and soft.

“Are you playing tonight?”

“Well, I thought I was. Glenn said his relatives canceled at the last minute so he didn’t need me to cover for him tonight after all. But he told me to stick around anyway. I was just hanging out for a while to give Jo a chance to finish Jamie's bedtime ritual at home before I head back. She loves to tuck her in.” He paused before continuing. “You here with somebody?”

“A whole table-full of extremely wild women.” Lacey smiled. It felt good to talk to him. Natural. Normal.

Jared returned her smile.

“Kandy's idea of a farewell party,” she explained.

“I see.”

His gray eyes turned stormy, or was she imagining it?

Lacey's gaze rested on the guitar. “I'd like to hear you play. I didn't get a chance to, when we were…” Her voice faded.
When we were together.
Her cheeks flushed with sudden heat as she sat down next to him.

This time when she took a deep breath, it was Jared's scent that filled her lungs—such a nice, clean smell, with that lovely familiar hint of lemons. A gentle quiver began between her thighs as he began to strum the guitar.

It felt like he was strumming…her.

“Any requests?” he asked softly.

“Whatever you like.” She looked into his eyes until he turned away, returning his attention to the fingers that were chording on the fretboard.

“This is one of Jamie's favorites,” he said. “I used to sing it for her when she was a baby. It’s called
Sugar Plum Serenade
.”

She watched his fingers as he picked out an intricate melody, finally shifting to a simple strum. He didn’t meet her eyes, and instead looked off into the distance as he began to sing.

“Sugar Plum, you got some sweetness inside of you,

One that makes me laugh when I’m feeling blue.

Keep on smiling, keep shining, the whole day through…

Sugar Plum, I love you.

There’s the Little Dipper and the Big Dipper too,

There’s Orion and the North Star too.

When my way is rocky, or I can’t find my way through…

Sugar Plum, I look for you.

She’s got them smiling blue eyes, grip like a grizzly bear.

Boys, it might make you think twice when you see her pretty blond hair.

Hush now, little baby, don’t say a word,

Daddy’s gonna sing just like that old mocking bird.

One day, when you’re big, you’ll sing along too…

Sugar Plum, I love you.”

He ended with the same intricate picking he’d played in the beginning, and finally met her gaze as the song ended. There was something there, in his eyes, that she couldn’t make out. A sadness, maybe? She couldn’t be sure.

“That was wonderful. I can see why Jamie likes it.”

“She calls it
her
song…”

“Ah, of course, you call her Sugar Plum…I remember.” She watched him nod. Was he pleased that she’d remembered that?

“Her favorite line is the one about the smiling blue eyes and the grip like a grizzly bear.”

She watched his smile deepen into a smile she guessed he most likely reserved for his sweet little girl. His sweet little Sugar Plum.

Another?” she asked, hoping he would.

“Sure. This time I’ll play one of my favorites.”

She watched him as he started picking out a tune she recognized, choosing an instrumental this time. Then she closed her eyes to listen.

He was good and she wondered if he'd been playing long. It made her realize that there was so much she didn't know about Jared Dillon—that she would never know. She might know his body intimately, but she didn’t know what movies he liked, why he’d chosen alpacas instead of cows to raise, why Jamie’s real name was Jamaica…the list went on and on.

She shook away the thought and opened her eyes, watching him as he focused on his technique, really seeming to concentrate on his private performance for her. Now she wished she’d asked him to play at the cabin—that she could have listened to him all night. Maybe then they wouldn’t have…

Before she could even finish the thought, Jared ended the tune with a series of chiming harmonics, the forefinger on his left hand stick-straight, bouncing nimbly up and down the fretboard.

“That was beautiful,” she whispered.

“My version of
Blue Skies
. Glad you liked it.”

“I love acoustic guitar—there’s something about the…the vibration or something, you know? You really play well, Jared. Thank you.”

***

Jared lifted the guitar, standing it on his knee. He hadn't expected to see Lacey tonight at the club.

At least at this moment, he realized, he was glad to be with her, even if his stomach was knotted painfully. And he was pleased she enjoyed his music, though he knew it shouldn't make any difference. Lacey was short term. So what if she liked his music?

“Here you are…” Kandy’s voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see her standing on the deck, her hands on her hips. “Hey, Lacey, Luke's about to play a request in your honor and I'm afraid he would be pretty insulted if you didn't dance—maybe Jared could help you out? You do dance, don't you?”

Dance? With Lacey? Now?

Lacey looked at him, a weak smile on her lips. “As long as it’s slow. My ankle is still a little wobbly.” She shrugged, waiting for his answer.

“Sure, no problem.” He packed up his guitar and stowed it in the truck behind the seat while Kandy and Lacey stood on the deck waiting for him.

He joined them and as they walked through the back door, Luke's voice bellowed over the PA system. “And the next tune tonight is dedicated to Lacey Murdock, best little hairdresser in San Diego. They tell me she's thinkin' about leaving us and takin' her magic scissors to the Rocky Mountains. This one's for you, Lacey.”

Luke gave a one-and-two-and to the band and they began playing a slow, romantic version of Buddy Holly's
True Love Waits.

Jared caught Lacey's gaze. Did she recognize it? His own musical memory immediately reminded him it was the song they had danced to—the night he'd removed his wedding ring, the night he'd driven her home.

The night he’d begun to fall for her.

If she did remember, there was no visible sign. Lacey reached for his hand as they made their way to the dance floor that was already packed with slow-dancers.

Jared's heart began a steady thump. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Finding a tiny space, he pulled her toward him, right hand at her waist, left hand gingerly holding her right hand as though it might break if he squeezed it.

They began to sway with the music, unable to make much progress around the crowded dance floor. “Your ankle okay?” he whispered.

Lacey nodded. “Fine.”

Glancing to his left, Jared saw a couple two-stepping dangerously close to them, forcing him to pull Lacey closer. She looked up at him, her eyes questioning him.

“Sorry,” he said, “that couple was about to collide with us.”

After the couple passed, she didn't pull away from him. Holding her so close, he felt her uneven breathing.

Jared moved his hand from Lacey's waist to her back. Slipping under her silky hair, his hand rested on bare skin. Her dress was backless.
Damn
. He wondered if she had any idea what the touch of her skin did to him.

She snuggled closer to him, sending his pulse pounding. He hardened instantly and prayed she wouldn't notice. Just a dance, he reminded himself.

Her nearness was kindling a dangerous fire, and he knew it.

At the final verse, he loosened his hold on her, his heart aching.

Don't want what you can't have
.

The song ended and they separated to join in the applause. Before Lacey could turn to look at him, he had already turned away, heading for the back door.

Chapter Eighteen

Leaning her elbow on the kitchen table, Lacey rested her chin in her hand, her other hand mindlessly stirring a steaming mug of coffee. It was her third cup. The Friday night with the girls at the Rockin' Ranch had been a long one. One with too many rounds of Watermelon shots, too many toasts to good times, too many re-hashed memories. Thankfully, she'd had the foresight to move her Saturday clients. She had the entire day to herself.

As she brought the steaming liquid to her lips, she closed her eyes. Aspirin and caffeine had finally taken the edge off her headache.

The ache in her heart was another story.

It had been another restless night…this time, Jared had saturated her dreams. His hands, his lips, his body.

Dancing with him last night had made her body crave his…all over again.

A heaviness centered in Lacey's chest as she sat in lonely silence. Her dazed stare moved from the window to an envelope on the table.

Jamie's birthday party invitation.

She knew she should go. Jamie was probably depending on it—at least that's what Jared had implied. She picked up the envelope and pulled out the invitation. It was a glittery picture of a castle, complete with a princess waving from its tower.

The princess respectfully asks for your presence on the very important occasion of her fifth birthday.

Lacey sighed. She knew it wouldn't take much to fall in love with Jamie. They'd hit it off like crazy the night of Joann's impromptu barbecue, sharing girl talk and secrets when she'd tucked her into bed, upon Jamie’s insistence.

The clock chimed eleven. She'd have just enough time to clean up and be there by one. It wouldn't be fair to Jamie if she didn't go, right?

She did her best to ignore the little voice in her head that laughed at her logic. She even had a gift ready—an old typesetter's tray, ideal for hanging on the wall to display the little girl's collection of rocks and other natural treasures.

It's just a little girl's party. She probably wouldn't even have to talk to Jared. He'd be so busy with the other kids and things, she reasoned.

Finishing her coffee, she put her breakfast dishes in the sink. At least with a destination in mind, her morning began to feel like it had a purpose.

***

The party was going well which had made Jared feel so much better. It was Jamie’s first “big” party and he felt out of his element and fearful she’d be disappointed. Jo had already gotten everyone fed, and was in the gazebo making ice cream in an old-fashioned ice cream maker. Some of the kids were turning the crank while others set out dishes and all the fixings for make-your-own-sundaes.

With great pride, Jamie had seen to it that everyone had toured the barn to see her kittens and to jump in the hay, and to see the alpaca babies.

“She's here! Lacey's here!” Jamie's voice called out from the driveway.

Jared's stomach clenched as he deliberately kept his attention away from the driveway, avoiding watching Lacey's arrival. He’d been so sure she wouldn’t come.

***

“Do you want to open your present now?” Lacey asked, sitting on the edge of Jamie’s bed. Minutes after she’d arrive, the little girl had insisted she come to her room to show off how clean it was so she’d brought the present along, happy to have the time alone with her before facing Jared.

Jamie nodded, sending her curls bouncing. “And I have one for you, too,” she said.

“But it's
your
birthday,” Lacey said, drawing her eyebrows together in a light-hearted frown and pursing her lips. “How come I get a present?”