Cowboy Underneath It All (5 page)

Chapter Five

Yeah, this definitely fell into the stupid category. And the sad part about it? Kane had plenty of time to change his mind in the minutes that followed his offer to Eliza.

Minutes that didn't do anything to dull the stupidity.

Of course, Eliza was only adding to it.

After they said a hasty goodbye to her parents and Dax and Violet, they hurried out of there while trying not to look as if they were hurrying. But Kane doubted they were fooling anyone.

Eliza didn't help with any attempt to rethink this plan. That's because she started kissing him the moment they got into his truck. He had to hand it to her. It was hard to get a seat belt to stretch that far, but she somehow managed it, along with landing some of those kisses in the very spots that made him forget all about rethinking and stupidity.

There was a definite urgency to her kissing, and speed seemed to matter here. It was as if they were suddenly starved for each other. Strange, since Kane hadn't felt himself burning for her until he'd seen her the night before at the pub.

That was partly true anyway.

Deep down, he'd always been attracted to Eliza. Kane knew that now. But that attraction was no longer anywhere near the “deep down” area. It was right there, burning him alive.

Kane was extremely thankful that there wasn't any traffic on the farm road that led from Eliza's house to his. Also thankful that it was pretty much a straight line. Hard to turn corners when Eliza had moved on from kissing his neck to his chest. He wanted to tell her to stop and wait until they got in, but hell, he'd entered that urgency zone, too.

Somehow, Kane managed to pull into his driveway and bring the truck to a stop. He turned off the engine but didn't get out. That's because the fire was a frenzy now, and there was no way he'd be able to walk to the house. Not now that he was as hard as stone. Nope. The only way to fix this was to take hold of Eliza and kiss her exactly the way she'd been kissing him.

Everywhere.

Of course, he had to get control of her hands first because she was trying her damndest to unzip him. He wanted that, a few minutes from now, but first he had to get her in the house.

Or not.

Despite the kissing/wrestling match that was going on, he failed at the zipper mission. Eliza was able to pull it down and get her hand inside his boxers.

Oh, man.

Kane no longer cared about getting in the house. Nope. Sound reasoning vanished. He also knew Eliza was going to put a quick end to this if she continued with all that maddening touching she was doing.

He turned her, laying her back on the seat. She was wearing a loose cotton dress, and he shoved it up. No finesse. None. But they were past that point, because in addition to trying to give him a hand job, she was trying to get out of her panties. She banged her elbow against the dash. Cursed.

Then banged her arm against his face.

There'd be bruises, possibly even a concussion, since Kane did his own share of banging. And not of the sexual variety, either. He bashed his head against the steering wheel when he tried to take out a condom from his wallet.

By the time he finally managed that, Eliza's panties were off, and it was obvious she didn't want to wait another second. Neither did he, but in the back of his mind, Kane thought he might like to savor this a bit.

“We can take our time with the second round,” Eliza murmured, making him wonder if he'd said that aloud or if they were just on the same page.

They were certainly on the same page when it came to the actual sex. Kane hadn't had sex in a vehicle since high school, and despite the logistics, he managed to get Eliza in just the right place so he could get the condom on and push inside her.

Hell, yeah. It was right.

Everything was suddenly right.

Kane couldn't think too much beyond the “fire hot” stage, but this seemed past the point of just plain pleasure. It was, well, special.

He didn't know how Eliza maneuvered her body like that, but she got her legs around him. Got him to pick up the pace that would almost certainly be the opposite of taking the time to savor it. Like their drive over, everything was frantic.

Kane went faster, harder, deeper.

He braced himself for the onslaught of the climax. It came all right. He did. She did. And Kane knew he'd just made a huge mistake that he was sure to regret.

Well, he'd regret it later.

Right now Kane wanted to get Eliza inside for that second round.

* * *

It was possible that Eliza could no longer move any part of her body.

She was too slack to test that theory, though. The only thing she wanted to do right now was stay in Kane's bed, snuggled up against him. Exactly where she'd spent most of the night.

Well, most of the night excluding the time in the truck. And on the living room sofa. They'd finally made it to the bed after midnight.

Like their kiss in the pub and on the porch, Eliza had fantasized about being with Kane this way. And now it had finally happened. Also like that kiss, the hype of this experience lived up to the fantasy.

Of course, in her fantasies Kane and she went on to live the perfect life while having lots more sex. And even though that would be jumping the gun to think they could actually have a future together, this was a start. Now that they knew they were good in bed—and in his truck—then maybe that “good” would extend to other areas.

That rosy outlook lasted just a short while before the doubts began to creep into her head. Kane probably had casual sex like this all the time. He might intend to keep having casual sex. And maybe that's what she wanted, as well.

As long as that casual sex was with her.

She winced even though she'd only thought that and not said it aloud. It was a dumb thing to think. And, heck, she might not even want more than just this. Eliza was hanging on to that resolve until Kane shifted, pulled her even closer and dropped a kiss on her mouth.

Mercy, she was in so much trouble.

“What kind of trouble?” he asked.

The sound of Kane's voice jarred her. The realization of what she'd done did some jarring, as well. She'd actually said that trouble part aloud. Great. Now she would have to explain something she didn't want to explain.

“I'm just thinking,” she settled for saying.

“Thinking too much,” he mumbled back, and he checked the clock on the nightstand. “Especially thinking too much, since it's barely seven in the morning.”

Good. He was going to let this slide. Or not. Just when she thought she was in the clear, he opened one eye, peeked out at her and then groaned softly when he touched his lips to her bunched-up forehead.

“Is this about Violet?” he asked.

Eliza was certain her forehead bunched up even more than it already had, because her sister was the last thing on her mind. “Uh, no. Should it be?'”

He groaned, kissed her again and adjusted the pillow so that he was looking down at her. “No. But I thought it might bother you that I'd been with your sister. In fact, I wasn't sure you'd be able to get past that.”

“Oh, I'm long past that.” She paused. “Are you?”

No groan this time, just a long breath, and he gave the pillow another adjustment so that he was looking up at the ceiling. He tucked his hands behind his head. “I am. You shouldn't have to ask after what just happened.”

That sounded...promising. For a few moments anyway. But Eliza could tell from Kane's next long breath that it wasn't going to be promising for long.

“I have no idea where this is going,” he said. “Still don't. And that means this wasn't fair to you. I shouldn't have started this.”

Good grief. That sounded like a goodbye. Eliza wanted to ask if he was about to dump her, but her throat didn't cooperate. Kane must have taken her silence as a cue for him to continue.

“I'm sorry for not thinking this through,” he said. “But I'm not really sorry for what just happened between us.” He paused. “Are you?”

She couldn't answer this fast enough. “Not a chance.”

He gave her a lazy smile. A kiss. And she thought maybe the kiss had the potential to turn into another round of lovemaking. But the ringing sound stopped any chance of that. Or at least delayed it.

Kane fumbled around on the nightstand, located his phone, but he cursed when he looked at the screen. She cursed, too, when she saw the name of the caller.

Charlene.

He didn't take the call, and it went to voice mail. Kane played the message and put it on Speaker so that she could hear.

“Kane,” Charlene said in her message. “Call me about those cows. I'm pretty sure we can work out a deal now.”

He shrugged. “Guess she had a change of heart.”

Maybe. But Eliza suddenly had a bad feeling about that. The bad feeling went up a notch when there was a knock at the door. It was a little too early for visitors.

“That'd better not be Charlene,” Kane grumbled.

He threw back the covers, got up and started to dress. Eliza did the same, but Kane finished ahead of her and went to the door. Whoever was visiting was persistent about the knocking, and the knocking got louder and louder with each passing second.

“How could you?” someone asked. And it was a voice that Eliza immediately recognized.

Violet.

Her sister repeated her question and then shifted her gaze to Eliza. “I remember everything you told me when I was drunk. You and Kane have been lying to me, to everyone, and it has to stop right now.”

Chapter Six

“Hell.” And since Kane didn't know what else to say, he just repeated it a couple more times.

Violet was clearly upset, and judging from her red eyes, she'd been crying. The moment she stepped inside, fresh tears came, but even then she managed to give both Eliza and him a stern look.

“Why?” Violet asked. That question was for him. “Why would you even do something like this?” She directed that one to her sister.

Eliza shook her head, and Kane figured it wouldn't be long before she had tears in her eyes, too. “I thought... Well, I thought I was doing the right thing by lying to you,” Eliza said. “I didn't want anything to get in the way of you being with Dax.”

Violet threw her hands in the air. “And you thought telling me you were in love with Kane would help?”

Kane had figured the L word had been thrown around when Eliza had first told Violet about their budding relationship. Their fake budding relationship, that was. But he had known that it could possibly be true. Eliza could be in love with him. Or maybe she thought that she was. He certainly hadn't helped matters in that department by spending the night with her.

“I'm sorry,” Eliza said to Violet. “I honestly believed I was doing the right thing.”

“Well, you weren't,” Violet snapped. Her gaze slashed to Kane. “And how long have you known about the lies?”

“He didn't know,” Eliza jumped to say.

She was obviously trying to defend him, but Kane wasn't going to let her take all of this on her shoulders. “I found out the day I got home. Eliza told me when we were at the pub.”

That sent Violet's hands up in the air again. “And you didn't put a stop to it then and there?” But she didn't give him a chance to answer. “You should have told me. Not while I was drunk, either,” she quickly added to Eliza.

Eliza gently took hold of her sister's arm and led her to the sofa. Judging from her stiff posture, the last thing Violet wanted to do was sit down, but she did when Eliza sat.

“Kane didn't have any part in this. Not before the fact,” Eliza explained. “He wanted to tell the truth while you were at your bachelorette party, but I talked him out of it.”

Again, she was defending him, and it was certainly something Kane didn't deserve. “I had plenty of chances to tell Dax that night, and I didn't,” he admitted.

“Well, he knows now, and he's not any happier about this than I am,” Violet informed them. “Neither are Mom and Dad.”

Eliza groaned. “Mercy. They know?”

“Of course. I couldn't let them go on believing this sham of a relationship. Heck, I think Mom was ready to start picking out your china pattern. She believed it was serious between you two.”

Kane didn't know if it was serious or not. In fact, he wasn't sure where he stood with Eliza now that the cat was out of the bag. More to the point, he didn't know where he
wanted
to stand with her.

Obviously, Kane owed several people apologies. Eliza's parents, Dax, Violet and anyone else who was upset by this. One person who didn't fall into that upset category was Charlene, and Kane thought maybe now he knew the reason for Charlene's phone call.

“Just how many people did you tell about this?” Kane asked Violet.

“It's early, so not that many. But I did tell Dax's sister, Veronica.”

Hell's Texas bells. It was all over town by now, and yes, Veronica would have definitely called Charlene. Heck, it was possible that every single person in Spring Hill already knew.

“Mom and Dad want to see you right away,” Violet added to Eliza.

He could have sworn that the color bleached from Eliza's face. “Did Mom get really upset?”

Kane knew the reason for the color loss and Eliza's frantic tone. He doubted this would set back her recovery, but it wasn't a good thing for her mother to have an emotional upheaval.

“Mom's not any happier about this than I am,” Violet answered. She glanced at Kane, then Eliza. Specifically, at their clothes.

Which were a little askew in places.

The right strap of Eliza's dress was dangling off her shoulder, and Kane realized his jeans were unzipped. He fixed that. Eliza smoothed her hand through her hair. Added to the fact that it was early morning and they were together, Violet must have put her anger aside long enough to figure out what had gone on.

Violet huffed. “This is all part of the sham,” she declared. “You were going to show up home looking like this so Mom and Dad would think Kane and you were lovers.”

Kane wasn't sure if he should confirm that Eliza and he had achieved the label of lovers. Not through a ruse, either. But through good old-fashioned sex. But it didn't feel right coming from him, and if Eliza planned on saying anything, she didn't get a chance to do that before Violet continued.

“Well, a fake night with Kane won't work because Mom and Dad know.” Violet stood. “Let's go.”

Violet didn't wait for Eliza to agree before she headed for the door. Eliza followed her but looked back at Kane.

“I'll call you as soon as I've talked to my parents,” Eliza said.

Kane hated to try to guess what she was thinking, but there was enough doom and gloom in her voice for him to know that she was dreading this. Maybe even regretting it. Not just the lies that'd started this, but regretting, too, that the lies had led to sex.

Just when Kane thought his morning couldn't get any worse, Violet threw open the door, and he spotted a visitor walking up the steps of his porch.

Charlene.

“I heard,” she said. Barracudas didn't smile, but if they did, it would be the very smile that Charlene flashed him. She dismissed Eliza and Violet with a cool glance.

“It's early for a visit,” Kane pointed out.

“Yes. Good thing they're leaving.” She spared another glance at Eliza and Violet as they got into Violet's car.

Before Kane could point out that he'd meant that comment for her, Charlene hooked her arm around his waist.

“Come on,” Charlene said. “Let's iron out the final details on the sale of those cows.”

* * *

Cows. Specifically, Holsteins, the black-and-white ones. That's what Eliza was seeing now as she looked in the mirror.

Violet probably hadn't been thinking about Holsteins when she'd chosen the maid of honor and bridesmaid's dresses. Black with white sashes that were clumps of satin swirls meant to resemble flowers. The clumps flowed down the front and back of the dress, giving the appearance of random spots. Added to that were the white gardenia corsages pinned just above the left breast.

Misty Reagan, the bridesmaid, stood next to Eliza as they eyed themselves in the full-length mirror of the dressing room at the church. “Is it my imagination,” Misty said, “or do we look like two strays from Bill McClemore's herd?”

“It's your imagination,” Eliza lied. But she figured it wouldn't be long before someone confirmed Misty's observation. Maybe even Bill McClemore himself, since he did indeed raise Holsteins.

Misty frowned, adjusted the satin clumps. It didn't help, and her gaze met Eliza's in the mirror.

“Oh, honey.” She pulled Eliza into her arms for a hug that was no doubt squishing the spots. “I'm so sorry.”

Eliza realized she must have looked pretty down to generate that kind of response from Misty. It was hard to keep a smile on her face after what'd happened between Kane and her the day before. Also, hard to smile when she was about to walk out in front of everyone in town.

Everyone who knew she was a liar.

This story was certainly the juiciest morsel of gossip this town had heard in a long time. The dresses might help with that, though. Certainly, they were ugly enough to generate some kind of buzz.

“Is, uh, Kane coming?” Misty asked.

Eliza cleared her throat, tried to sound stronger than she felt. “No. He thought it would be best if he stayed away, just so the focus would be on Dax and Violet.”

At least that's what he'd said when Eliza had called him after the chat she'd had with her folks yesterday. Eliza had made the same offer to Violet, suggesting that she stay away as well, but her sister would have no part of that. It was just something they would have to put behind them.

Since Brett and Dax were friends, Brett would almost certainly be at the wedding, perhaps hoping for a reconciliation with Eliza that stood no chance of happening. Even if she didn't have a future with Kane, she wasn't going back to a man she was certain she could never love. Of course, every man but Kane fell into that category.

“Oh, honey,” Misty repeated, and she gave Eliza another hug. She whipped out a Kleenex from her bra. “Don't cry or your mascara will run. Besides, nobody will say anything mean to you. Not to your face anyway.”

She was right. The gossip would go on behind hands, but Eliza knew what everyone had to be thinking. They wouldn't see this as her attempt to clear her sister's path to happiness. She would just look pathetic in their eyes.

“Plus, it's possible Kane isn't staying away just because this would be a sticky situation. His cows are being delivered today, so I'm sure he's busy with that.”

Eliza hadn't heard about the cow delivery. But then she'd avoided just about everyone, so she was out of the immediate gossip loop.

“He got the cows from Charlene?” Eliza asked.

Misty wasn't a fool, and she no doubt quickly connected the dots. “I think so, but don't read anything into that. Maybe Kane just made her a good offer.”

Yeah, or else Charlene now believed that Kane was hers for the taking. Kane wouldn't go along with that. At least, Eliza didn't think he would, but maybe being part of the lying scandal had sent him into another woman's arms.

Charlene's arms would have been open and waiting.

There was a light knock at the door, and just like that, Eliza's heart went into overdrive. Maybe Kane had come after all... But it was her mother. Not that she didn't want to see her. She did. But it was still a little hard for Eliza to face her.

“I'm going to run to the little girls' room,” Misty said. She must have sensed that Eliza's mother wanted a moment alone with her. Since the bathroom was just one wall away, though, she'd likely be able to hear everything anyway.

Her mother smiled as if Eliza were a vision instead of a pathetic liar in a cow dress. “You look beautiful. Well, except for those eyes. You haven't been crying, have you?”

“Happy tears.” It was another lie. Sheez. They were just rolling off her tongue these days.

“Good. I'm glad you're happy.” She put her hands on Eliza's shoulders. “But I wanted you to know that you don't have to be happy with Brett.”

No lie needed here. “I won't be. It doesn't matter how many things Violet invites him to, I won't be getting back together with him.”

“I see.” She paused. “And what about Kane?”

Since they probably only had a couple of minutes before the ceremony started, Eliza considered another quick lie. One to assure her mother that all would be well with or without Kane. But that lie wasn't rolling off her tongue. It was just sort of stuck there in her throat.

“I know,” her mother whispered. She brushed a kiss on her cheek. “I recognize the signs of a woman in love. But then you've always been a little in love with Kane, haven't you?”

“Always,” she admitted. “And it's always been more than just a little.”

Her mother nodded. “That's the way I was with your father.”

Yes, Eliza had heard all about love at first sight; her parents had been in the fourth grade. The love had stayed strong for all these thirty-five years.

“But you never had to let people believe you were in a fake relationship,” Eliza reminded her. “A relationship that turned real. For one night anyway. I upset Dad and you—”

“You surprised us,” her mother interrupted. “That's all. You don't have to walk on eggshells around me, Eliza. And you don't have to shelter me from anything. I really am doing better, and none of this affected me as much as you seem to think it has.”

Eliza searched her mom's eyes to make sure that wasn't BS. It wasn't. That was something at least. “You certainly seemed...affected yesterday morning when I got home from Kane's.”

“I was upset because Violet was upset, but it didn't last. As you see.”

Yes, she could see. And Eliza couldn't blame her folks for being shocked that she would do something like that. She'd shocked Kane, too. And herself.

Her mother dropped another kiss on her cheek and checked the time. “I want to look in on your sister before we all walk down the aisle. Misty, you can come on out, since it's time for Eliza and you to get in your places anyway.” Her mother winked because she hadn't raised her voice at all, but Misty had clearly heard her. She practically bolted out of the bathroom.

“Those dresses are certainly interesting,” her mother muttered before she left.

Misty frowned, made another attempt to fix the dress. Eliza didn't bother to tell her that it wasn't fixable. This was just one of those garments that a bridesmaid had to endure.

“It's time for us to start lining up,” Misty said, glancing up at the wall clock.

Yep. Eliza dug down deep, searching for some steel and resolve. She didn't find much because she was already tapped out, but she wouldn't let her sister down.

With Misty leading the way, they went into the corridor they would use to enter the church. The double doors leading down the aisle were closed, but from the glass windows on top, Eliza got a peek at the guests. With the exception of the ones reserved for her parents in the front row, there wasn't an empty seat in the place.

The groomsmen came up the hall. Dax's brother, Patrick, and his cousin, Jake. An usher, Paul, who was another cousin, was there as well, waiting to accompany her mother since her father would be walking Violet down the aisle. The three dodged her gaze, which meant they didn't know what to say about all the gossip that was floating around. Good. She preferred the silence.