Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (12 page)

He was done playing games.

Tying Danger to a post near the Rhinestone house, he decided to walk the rest of the way. He had made it to the yard when he heard a low female voice. He looked in the distance and saw Em waving at him from the porch. His stomach soured. Figured.

He thought about turning around, but he couldn’t do it to his brother.

A thought had crossed his mind to ignore her, but he couldn’t make it inside of the house without crossing her path. He had no choice but to greet her, even if he could only manage a curt nod.

“Nash, can I speak to you a minute before we go inside?” she asked.

He shrugged. “What is there to talk about?” What did she expect from him?

“I wanted to give you this.” She pushed a piece of paper toward him. He glanced down at the check. The exact amount he’d paid for Trojan. “I’m sorry I haven’t given it to you sooner.”

He took the check and pushed it into his shirt pocket. “So all went fine with getting the horse?” he asked, for civility’s sake.

“Yes. He’s here now. I have a trainer coming to take a look at him.”

“You thinking about racing Trojan?” Nash scrubbed his jaw. “I thought you were all against the methods of training.” She shrugged and the thin strap of her dress slipped down her shoulder. He remembered how soft her skin was, how good she smelled. His cock pressed his zipper and he blew out a breath through his tight lips. This was going to be one long evening.

“I hate John’s methods of training, but I have a friend who trains horses who does things differently. She’ll be here tomorrow. I can’t say I’ll have Trojan ready to race, but it’s in his blood.”

“Hope it all works out for you.” And he meant every word.

“I hope you’re not angry with me.” She chewed on the corner of her mouth as if she worried.

“Angry? What for?” He swallowed a bitter taste.

“The other night…well, you and I, we were headed in a dangerous—”

The door came open and her mouth closed. Nash turned to find DJ in the doorway. “There’s the couple now. Were your ears burning? We’ve been talking about you both.”

Nash lifted a brow. “We are not—”

Em laid a hand on his elbow. “We are on our way in now. Sorry. I had to speak with Nash.”

“No sorry needed. It gave us more time to talk about you two and this sudden relationship.” DJ patted Nash on the shoulder. “I think you two make a great couple.”

Nash gave Em a side-glance. As soon as DJ turned his back, he mouthed to Em, “You didn’t tell them?”

“No,” she mouthed back.

He wanted to say something harsh, but any chance of that was gone when Jewels and Pearl grabbed Em and dragged her into the house. Nash stepped across the threshold and shook his head. DJ gave him an apologetic look.

Yep, he should have stayed home.

Those were still his exact thoughts a few days later as he worked on the ranch.

“What’s your problem, bro?” DJ asked in a lowered voice.

Nash glanced at his brother and shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He pounded a nail into another board on the new fence along the valley’s edge.

“You’re as grumpy as a hungry bear. More than usual, at least.” DJ pulled off his gloves and threw them into the back of his truck. “Want a water?”

“No, I want to get this finished before it gets much later.”

“Suit yourself.” DJ lifted the lid of the ice chest and grabbed a bottle, and shook the partially frozen water. He uncapped the lid and drank half in one gulp, squinting. “Maybe it’s the fact that we’re working in one-hundred-degree temperatures this morning that’s got you in a rile. Who ordered up hell for today’s forecast? I might be able to withstand it if I wasn’t stuck with the devil himself.” DJ’s laughter made Nash’s ears vibrate.

He looked at his brother and frowned. “No one said you had to stick around, bro. Go bother Jobe. He’s been too quite these days. Go stack some hay or work with the barbed wire fencing up at the west pasture. Hell, maybe even brush out a horse.” Nash wanted to be alone and DJ had done nothing but poke at him all morning. “Anyway, since you got hitched you’ve become a pansy ass. You never used to complain about the heat.”

DJ tossed his empty bottle into the bed of the truck. “Is that your problem? You can’t wait to put a ring on Em’s finger?” He chuckled and wiped his hands on his dirty jeans.

Nash gritted his teeth. He wanted to tell DJ the truth, but it didn’t come to his tongue. “I ain’t in no hurry for nothin’,” he grumbled.

DJ’s brow shot up and he rubbed his unshaven jaw. “Whoo-whee, someone’s testy.”

If Nash could argue, he would, but he knew he had been a jackass for two days, since he’d left Rhinestone. Most men who were fed ribs, steak, potatoes, corn on the cob, and cherry cobbler would be happy, but he’d ended going home feeling uptight and tense. He’d barely said two words to Em during dinner, and she’d practically ignored him. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her once and it made him want to punch something. If his brother didn’t stop pestering him, he might turn out to be the target.

He rubbed his jaw across his arm and squinted up at the sun. DJ was right, it was too fucking hot to be out.

Why did he give a shit that Em hadn’t contacted him?

He shouldn’t give a shit. He should be thanking the sky above that she left him alone.

But why did he have an unfamiliar ache in his chest and an increasing pressure in his loin? Being alone made him pissy. He didn’t like all of the silly emotion swirling in his head. He wasn’t available for games, and Em seemed to be the biggest player of all. Hot one second, cold the next. Sexy and flirtatious one day, and absent the next. He growled and slammed a board with his boot.

He didn’t have a clue what happened to cause the latest change of emotions. Sure, he wasn’t skilled in knowing how a woman worked, but he had a feeling she liked having power over him. Damn, it was probably for the best that he hadn’t seen her, otherwise they would have landed in bed as sure as the nose in the center of his face. Good for his body, but very bad for his heart. He didn’t want to risk anyone reaching in and tweaking that part of him, especially someone like Em. She had no desire for a relationship. No thoughts for family. Hell, even he didn’t want to say “I do” tomorrow or the next day, but he wanted to start getting his ducks in a row. Financially, he was set. Emotionally, he was mature. Now he just needed the right woman who could handle a man with a whole lot of love to give.

A frustrated snarl climbed his throat. A man could go insane trying to figure out a woman.

His irritation at an all-time high, he looked over his shoulder at DJ. “If you ain’t planning to help, then disappear and go find something you will do.”

“When did you become boss, bro?” he snapped.

“Since you can’t get your head out of your ass.”

“Am I bothering you by standing here?” DJ lifted a brow.

“Fuck yeah. Do you think shit can get done by itself around here? Since you got hitched you’re like one of those seat warmers who sit behind a desk all day.” Nash forced through clenched teeth.

DJ groaned, grabbed his gloves and shoved his hands in. He picked up a slab of wood and started for the fence. “I’ll overlook your stupidity.”

Nash dropped his hammer and sighed. “Look, bro, sorry I’m spitting nails today.” He couldn’t take his anger and frustration out on his brother. They were best friends. They’d been there for each other through thick and thin. “You’re still a great boss and brother. If it wasn’t for you, this place wouldn’t be where it is now.”

“No blowing sugar up my ass now, Nash.” DJ laughed. “Ah, I’m sure I’ve had my own share of days when I’ve been an asshole.” DJ pounded nails into the fencing. “You might feel better if you talk about this shit fiance role you’re playing.”

Nash jerked his head around. “You know?”

DJ nodded. “I know you, bro.”

“Does Pearl know?”

“Nope. She’s happy for the both of you. But let me tell you, I don’t like lying to my wife. I also don’t want to be the one that burst her bubble.”

Nash wiped the sweat from his brow. He could wipe all day and he didn’t think it’d make a damned bit of difference. Sweat covered his body, dripping down his back and into the crack of his ass. His boxers bunched up tight, making his dick and balls swim in wetness. Not a good feeling…not at all. It was a scorcher. It didn’t help that he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a week. All the jacking off he’d done had only left his dick chafed, and yet the bitter need remained. Right now, he wanted to dump all of the ice from the cooler over his head or, better yet, go inside and take a long, cold shower. Drink a beer or two, sit on the porch and watch life pass him by. If that wasn’t the dreariest thought…

He looked down the row of poles already pounded in the ground and waiting for fencing. They had at least a good fifty feet of fencing to put up, but he couldn’t seem to get his body to move fast enough. They’d need to hire a few more ranch hands soon.

“How the hell did you get yourself mixed up in some fake romance, bro?”

“One step at a time,” he grumbled.

“Figures.” DJ sighed. “About time to start thinking of a real romance.”

“Don’t judge me. I’m not the one who got shot in the ass by a woman and then fell in love.” He grabbed a bottle of water, needing something to ease the tension in his body.

“Pfft. Hah…you’re real funny, but look where I am now. Never happier. Never more satisfied. Had I once said I’d never marry?”

“Once or twice.” Nash saluted him with his bottle and took a drink. He grabbed his hat and dragged it off, instant cooling of his wet head. He hung it on the corner of the truck bed. His body hurt like hell, even his feet. He rubbed one shoulder with his hand and the muscle didn’t give any.

“You not gonna answer?” DJ asked. “About the lie you and Em are playing?”

Nash chuckled. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got all the time in the world. Don’t forget to include the itty bitty part about the skirt and you’re just passing through a visit with ol’ Sheriff Barnes.” DJ laughed.

“Damn! Can’t keep a secret.” Nash rubbed his jaw.

“I remember when you were about yay high,” DJ held up a hand, gauging a spot close to his chest, “You had the biggest crush on Em. You used to bug her so much on the bus that I thought she was going to lay you open with her fingernails.”

“Not my proudest moments. She was pretty back in school, but now she’s beautiful.” Nash shook his head and spread his palm over his soaked hair. “Maybe this is how I say I’m sorry for being a shithead kid. Playing her fake fiancé. She’s aiming to please her dad and I think she’s afraid to tell him the truth.”

DJ nodded. “Joshua’s putting a lot of pressure on her to marry. I think he’s afraid he’ll pass before he sees all of his daughters happy.”

“Is he that sick?” He finished off his water and crushed the bottle. A flock of birds flew out of a tree.

“Pearl said his heart is starting to give out. The girls have pushed him to stop working now that’s he officially retired, but he can’t seem to stay out of the dirt.”

“I hope that’s not us, bro. Forgetting the real things in life.” DJ’s cell vibrated next to Nash’s hip. He looked down at the screen. “Your lady sent you a text.”

“Read it to me.” DJ paused with hammer mid-air.

“It says…Jewels and Spark have invited family to the cabin for the weekend. I think they have news to share. Tell Nash he’s invited and Em is expecting him there.”

Nash’s jaw automatically clenched. The sweat that had dried on his back returned. Damn, not another family gathering. He didn’t belong among them.

DJ chuckled. “Looks like we have ourselves a big weekend planned.”

“I’m not going.” Nash put his hat back on his head.

“Why the hell not? You can’t bail on Em.” DJ hooked the head of the hammer on a board and sat on the tailgate next to Nash.

  “I’m not part of the family.”

“Yeah, but does Em know you’re not showing up?”

Nash shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. She didn’t ask and I’m not hers to worry about.” He got to his feet.

“You really don’t want to go?”

“What are you saying?”

“You said yourself. Em is beautiful. How often do you get a chance to spend time with a pretty girl?” DJ said.

“I have plenty of opportunities.” Nash scowled.

“Oh yeah? Where are they?” DJ scanned the field dramatically.

“I’m done for the day,” Nash growled. “Seeing as I did most of the work on the fence.” He didn’t wait around to hear his brother’s comeback. He had already unhitched his horse from under the shade of a tree from where he’d left her and climbed into the saddle.

He didn’t want to admit it, but his brother had a good point. He wouldn’t mind keeping company with Em, but damn it came with a price—a big, fat woody that reminded him how lonely he had been lately. A man could only pleasure himself so long before he became immune. He wanted a warm, curvy body to lie next to. The smell of a sweet lady. Laughing together. Enjoying life.

And Em wanted no part of a relationship.

He had a lot of thinking to do before this evening.

Nash let out a shrill whistle and Danger perked her ears up. He patted her on the neck and the sleek Paint took off at a fast speed. Nash needed a good ride.

****

A slow, country tune played from the radio as Em turned the car onto the narrow, gravel lane that would lead her to the Stone cabin. She hadn’t minded the invitation to get away at all and half expected that Jewels and Spark had news. After all, why would they invite family for a weekend at the cabin unless they had news to share? She could use a short vacation, time to reconnect with her sisters. Now that they both were married, she hadn’t seen them nearly enough.

Ruby had volunteered to stay at Rhinestone to keep an eye on things and finish the last chapter of her newest novel, but Em suspected there was more to the story than her cousin had let on. Em had a feeling a tall, brawny cowboy had something to do with Ruby’s sudden distance.

Too bad the rain hadn’t let up since she left home. Her windshield wipers were working overtime just so she could see twenty feet in front of the car. Mother Nature was a in a screwy mood and she was letting it be known by all.

Em didn’t mind the weather, if she didn’t have to drive in it. The thunder and lightning sort of matched her mood. It’d been awhile since she’d seen Nash. He hadn’t called, and she hadn’t either.

Yesterday morning she’d decided she wanted to take an adventure, which ended up with her at the coffee shop where Katy worked. Em hadn’t even tried to talk herself out of going there and, while she ordered a café mocha, she’d asked Katy how her date went with Nash. Katy, pure of heart, didn’t even catch on that Em had ulterior motives for asking— simply nosy. She’d almost spewed the chocolate chip muffin when Katy informed her she hadn’t spoken to Nash since the night of the gathering because he hadn’t returned her call.

Em hadn’t expected the sudden onslaught of mixed emotions. Disappointment because she truly wanted Nash to be happy. And satisfaction—lots of it. Why? She didn’t deserve to feel selfish when it came to him.

Not a minute had gone by that she hadn’t thought of him and wanted to speak to him. She thought she’d done the right thing by stopping anything between them before it even started. So then why didn’t it feel so right?

Another song played, this time an upbeat tune by a popular country singer. Em tapped her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat. She hummed along, then sang as the rain pelting the windshield played its own tune.

Her cell vibrated from the passenger’s seat. She grabbed it and hit talk.

“Em, it’s Pearl.”

“Why are you calling? You’re supposed to be at the cabin.” Em could barely see so she pulled over in the first safe spot she could find.

“Are you almost there?”

“Just about a mile away. I just crossed the bridge five minutes ago.” Em flipped off the radio.

“We had an issue come up at the R&R. DJ has to take care of it before we can head up.”

“Have you spoken with Jewels?”

“She said they’d be on their way in a few hours. I’m glad Nash will be there with you.”

Em’s heart skipped a beat and she dropped the phone. “Wait…,” she yelled. Reaching for the phone that had fallen between her legs, she brought it back to her ear. She calmed her nerves. “Nash?”

“Maybe you two will get some alone time.” Pearl’s giggle rattled the phone.

Em’s body trembled. She’d lost all train of thought. Being alone with Nash made all sorts of thoughts swirl around inside of her mind—none that were guilt-free.

“I’m driving. I gotta go.” She clicked end. Pulling back onto the road, she managed her breaths.
In and out.

Once she reached the clearing at the cabin, she recognized the truck parked alongside the grass in front. Nash had arrived already. She pulled up next to him, rolled down her window and peered out. He was sitting in the driver’s seat, his head laid back on the headrest. Was he sleeping?

Killing the engine and rolling the window up, she slid out, stepping into a puddle that covered her flip-flops. “Damn.” She shook the water off her shoes. She gazed through the fogged window of the passenger side. Nash still hadn’t moved a muscle. She slammed her car door and he jumped up in the seat, pushing his hat back on his forehead and looking around. When he saw her, he blinked. She knocked on the window. “Open up.”

The window came down. “Good evening,” he said.

Her inner thighs quivered. How did he do that so easily? “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited.”

This could only be classified as another one of her mistakes that spiraled out of control. “I knew they probably would, but I didn’t think you’d show up.”

Drenched in water, she pushed her stringy hair from her eyes. He slid from the truck and ran around the front. Water poured in a stream from his hat. “Can we get the hell inside before we get carried away in this shit?”

She hesitated, nodded and grabbed his hand. Together they raced up onto the porch. By the time they were inside, they were both dripping wet and water puddled at their feet onto the floor.

“So, why are you here?” She couldn’t control the trembling in her lips—partly due to the wetness seeping through her clothing, and a bigger part because Nash stood two feet in front of her, watching her with sexy pale eyes.

“I’ll try not to take your tone personally. After all, you and I are engaged.” He wagged his brows.

She smiled. Couldn’t help herself.  “Pretend, remember?”

He shrugged, brushed off his hat and water drained from the rim. He wrinkled his nose and hung it up the coat rack. She had a yearning to slide her fingers through the wet tresses of his hair. “I have nothing better to do.” His eyes sparkled.

“Wow, and I won’t take that personally.” She sighed.

“You shouldn’t. And until you tell your family the truth I’ll have no choice but to hang in here and do my best to be the greatest man you’ve ever met.”

Her stomach dropped to her toes. Her throat constricted and her knees threatened to give out. “It’s not as easy as you think telling them the truth.”

He blinked. “I understand. That’s why I’m going along with this.” His warm voice made the hairs on the back of her neck stand. “Even if you have no desire for a man in your life.”

She blinked. “It’s not how you make it seem.”

“And just how is it then?”

Wrapping her arms around her waist, she laid her head back on one shoulder, watching him. “I guess I just haven’t met the right guy. One that’ll turn my beliefs against marriage and relationships into something else, hope maybe.”

“That’s fair enough.”

“Now, tell me what you’re really doing here in a cabin far away from civilization.” She tilted her jaw.

“I didn’t decide to come until the last minute. I found that when I stopped thinking over all of the reasons why I shouldn’t, I realized I had a bigger reason to be here.”