Wanted: Fairy Godmother (12 page)

Giving up any more control or any of his dreams seemed like betrayal. But would he regret not snatching the happiness Callie’s presence offered?

As the music swelled, Jake buried his face in her neck. Her silky hair caressed his cheek. Hugging Callie filled the emptiness within, stirring the deepest regions in him, hinting at hidden pockets of feelings he’d only discover with her.

Lost in Callie, Jake finally heard her softly repeated phrase, “The song’s over.” He crashed back to the moment. Reluctantly, he released her. Only then did he notice the quiet room and all eyes focused on him. His best friend, Les, holding a willing Sissy Ketchum, smirked knowingly at him. Many of the others wore the same silly expression.

Frowning down at Callie now, he thought,
Lord, what in the world did she do to bewitch me?
Shaking his head, he wondered if Lance had spiked the punch or, worse yet, if he’d become so intoxicated with Callie herself that all his senses had left him, especially his common sense.

“You have to.” Callie followed Jake in to the dark interior of the barn, crossing her fingers behind her back. Four days had passed since the party and the boys’ quest for information increased daily. She just had to make Jake see reason.

“I don’t have to do anything of the sort.” He threw her a glare over his shoulder.

He’d managed to spend more time with his cousins, even going so far as to ask for their help in preparing for the rodeo, but Jake still held back, keeping himself separate somehow. Forcing Jake into this frank discussion might be the key to unlocking the corral he’d erected around himself, plus build a lasting bond between him and his cousins.

“But you’re all they have in the world. Who else is there to teach them about sex education?”
Who else would they trust?

He strode swiftly down the center aisle, slapping his gloves against his thigh as he held them in a death grip with his left hand.

Callie skipped to keep up with him, inhaling the heavy, pungent scent of horse and hay. Laying a detaining hand on his forearm, she halted him in mid-stride. The prickly hairs on his arms caressed her palm, sending heated awareness to her toes. She pulled back instantly. Dragging her attention away from her reaction to him, she said, “They’ve been asking questions. Lots of them.”

Facing her, he frowned and shoved his hat to the back of his head. With fists on his hips, he asked, “And how exactly have you been answering these
questions?
”

“With the truth.”

He swore under his breath, making her wince.

“But I qualify everything with the fact that I’m not experienced…” Her words trailed off. Searing heat stung her cheeks. She noticed he squinted in the dim light.

He grabbed her chin between his forefinger and thumb, tilting her face to the rays of light shafting through the wooden planks of the building. “Very interesting,” he muttered, his hot breath so close it fanned across her skin, sending shivery delights down her spine.

Afraid she revealed too much, she swatted his hand away. “Didn’t your father ever explain the birds and the bees to you?”

“Nope.” He turned and headed for the back of the barn.

Catching up with him, a keen curiosity forced her to ask, “Then how
did
you learn?”

“I picked up some stuff and figured out the rest.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well, good for you. Some of us aren’t so fortunate, you know. Especially Stan, Marvin, and Lance. Do you want them to be laughed at any more than they already have been? Do you know how it could wound their pride forever? Maybe even warp them for life.” She pressed her advantage. “Who knows, they may never feel adequate enough to marry.”

“Ah hell!” He plopped down on a nearby bale of hay, throwing his gloves, and then his hat, onto the floor.

She giggled. “I knew you’d see things my way eventually.”

He rubbed his face, and then dragged a hand through his hair.

Callie took pity on him and sat down beside him, massaging the tension in his shoulders. “Feel better?” Her voice came out low and husky. Sitting near him, touching him, assailed with that unique musky scent of his, stirred Callie more than she dared to admit.

“I’ll talk to them after dinner,” Jake conceded, snatching up his gloves and hat from the barn floor. He shook them free of the clinging strands of hay.

“They’re waiting for you in your office. I sorta promised them you’d talk to them now.” She felt his muscles tense beneath her hands.

“Why did you go and do a thing like that? It may come as a surprise to you, but I do have a ranch to run.” His sarcasm cut deep, causing her to pull away from him.

“And it may come as a shock to you to realize you have three boys to raise into kind, caring men. What’s more important here?” She saw him weakening as his shoulders slumped in resignation. “Their wives will thank you one day.”

“You win.” He stood abruptly, and then stormed out of the building, settling his hat on his head.

Worried, Callie rushed to keep up with him. His long strides ate up the yards separating the barn from the house. “Wait!” She reached out and grabbed a piece of his shirt.

He stopped, turning to her. “Now what?”

She took a deep breath, gathering all her courage. “Take it easy on them. Don’t be too blunt.” When he scowled, she hurried to explain, “Sometimes you forget for all their years living in New York, your cousins are still very naïve. Ah…some of your phrasing could upset them.” She shrugged helplessly, hoping she got her point across.

“I’ll handle it in my own way,” he bit out, and then headed to the house once again.

Callie hadn’t particularly liked his answer. Hurrying to catch up with him, she overtook him, cutting into his path and twisting quickly, stopping him dead in his tracks.

“For crying out loud, what is it this time?”

She didn’t need to hear the exasperation in his voice to discover his patience hovered on the edge. His dark eyes glowered at her, obviously trying to frighten her into silence.

A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. “Don’t forget the romance part, Jake.” Her voice broke when his name stuck in the back of her throat.

“Romance! This has nothing to do with that. Sex education involves the technical aspects of it only, understand? You know, in and out, sperm meets egg, forms embryo, nine months later there’s a baby. Short and simple. Cut and dry.”

Callie grimaced, appalled by his stark description.
Is that what he thinks it’s all about? Doesn’t he have a romantic bone in his body?
“Not that kind of stuff. They can read about that in a book, for heaven’s sake. And not the hot tumble in the hayloft to release sexual tension, either.”

“Sometimes that’s not so bad,” he nearly shouted, clearly defending the practice.

“They need to learn about the other stuff, the good stuff, Jake. About the woman’s feelings, her needs. You do know about a woman’s needs, don’t you?” She eyed him suspiciously.

“Of course I do, but I don’t have time for that today.” He grasped her shoulders firmly, set her aside, and then began the last leg of his trek.

Dismayed, Callie made one last-ditch effort. Racing ahead of him, she jumped up the porch stairs, whirled around, and faced him, blocking his way. At eye level now, her bravado slipped a notch.

With his foot on the first stair, he halted. He swore under his breath, making her cringe at the offensive language.

“Please, Jake. They can hear all about the wham, bam, thank you ma’am mixing with the motley bunch of cowboys hanging around here. You have an obligation to teach them about making love with a woman. Please, for their sakes’, as well as all the women they ever come in contact with. And for all the Lassiters to come.”

“Ah hell, Callie. You sure put a lot of responsibilities on a man.” He sidestepped her, threw her a dark look, climbed the stairs, and then made it across the porch in two long strides. Yanking the screen door open, he nearly tore it off its hinges.

Callie grabbed the door before it banged shut. Following closely on his heels, she stopped when he reached his closed office door. “Maybe I should help you.”

He bent down, his face inches from hers. “Not on your life, lady.”

Seeing the dull red flush dot the tops of his cheeks, Callie teased, “There’s some things I’ve been wondering about lately. I could take notes.”

He sucked in a hiss of air, and then pressed his forefinger to her lips. In a deep, husky voice, he said, “Only your lover should teach you those things.” He outlined her lips softly, leaving a tingling sensation in his wake.

A thrill shafted down her spine. Desire pooled low in her belly. Playfully, she nipped at the tip of his digit, and then reluctantly released it when he jerked away as if he’d been singed. “Are you applying for the job?” Her sultry tone caused his brandy-colored eyes to flare with heat.

Straightening abruptly, he said, “You’re too feisty to handle now. How in the world would I survive if you slept in my bed?” Displeasure edged his voice.

Her heart filled with joy. She’d gotten to him. Big time. The effect she had on him lay hot and potent between them.

He shoved his gloves at her, and then tugged the Stetson off his head and handed it to her, also. “Hold these for me. And don’t get into any trouble while I’m in there.” He jerked his chin in the direction of his office.

Saluting him saucily, she said, “Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir.” When he hesitated, she touched his muscular upper arm lightly, pivoted him in his tracks, and then gently nudged him toward the big pine door. “Good luck.”

“I’ll need it,” Jake muttered, clearly bracing himself as he turned the doorknob. Pushing the door open, he jerked back, assaulted as the three young men rushed for him.

“Is it true—”

“Can women really—”

“How can I—”

“Whoa!” Jake stopped the blast of questions hammering at him. “Rule number one:
Always
treat her like a lady. Rule number two:
Never
forget rule number one.” He shot Callie a glare over his shoulder, and then closed the door with a definite click.

A ray of sunshine settled somewhere in her solar plexus. Callie smiled widely, murmuring, “Yeah, Jake will do just fine.”

***

Nearing ten that night, Callie gathered all her courage. The verdict for the guys’ lesson on women proved a resounding success. Her heart swelled with a mixture of pride and love for Jake. He’d come through for his cousins.

Now Callie had to do the same for one stubborn cowboy. Whatever it took, she planned to work her magic, convincing Jake she’d be his saving grace come spring round-up.

Taking a deep, calming breath, Callie rapped lightly on Jake’s office door, precariously balancing a laden tray. To Callie, the answering gruff bellow sounded like permission to enter. Twisting the knob, she sucked in her breath as the contents listed to the edge.

“Help,” she squeaked, shoving the door wide open with a quick thrust of her hip. She winced when it banged into the wall.

“Whoa, Nellie!” Gus cried, rushing to her side and grabbing the heavy wooden tray. “That was a close one, Callie.” He smiled, his snowy-white mustache twitching with suppressed laughter.

“My hero,” she said, shrugging at her near mishap. As Gus moved to set his burden down on the littered desktop, she chanced a look at Jake sitting behind his big, ponderosa pine desk.

His deep scowl and intimidating air made her swallow hard. The way his denim shirt stretched across his wide chest brought heat to her cheeks and fantasies of him crowded her mind.

“I thought you two could use a break. Lance is trying out some new dishes for spring round-up. I think he calls it stir crazy cake.” She nodded to the two plates, piled high and wide with a delicious-looking chocolate desert topped with a big dollop of whipped cream. The rich aromatic brew standing in the nearby pot tickled her nose. “Mind if I join you for a cup?”

“Suit yourself. You always do anyway.” Jake’s intense, probing stare pinned her to the spot, unnerving her.
Could he see through her ruse?

Smiling tightly, she perched on the corner of his massive desk. She noted the three cups, wondering if Jake assumed correctly she’d set this up. Callie poured the inky-black liquid, and then handed a cup to each man.

“Lord, that boy’s a genius,” Gus said around a mouthful of cake. “Now if he could muster cattle as good as he cooks, we’d be all set.”

“Solve all your problems, would he?” Callie asked, pretending ignorance. Taking a tiny sip of the steaming coffee, she murmured appreciatively.

“You betcha.”

“Anything I can help you with? After all, I am a fairy godmother.”

“Well, there is something…”

“Forget it, Gus. She already knows,” Jake said, his voice heavy with disgust. Tossing down his pen, he steepled his fingers under his chin.

“But how?”

Callie smiled. “I’ve got my ways.” Winking at a bewildered Gus, she shifted to look at Jake.

His arched eyebrow and expectant look had her spilling her intentions. “I hear you’re riding out to check on the cowboy at your line camp. Bernie must have cut his arm pretty badly repairing the fence today to make you hightail it to him. Seems to me like you’re going to need a replacement for spring round-up next week. How about giving me a shot? I could use the extra practice.”
And money,
she added silently. “And I’m really good at mustering cattle.”
At least I still hope I am.

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jake muttered.

“Does that mean I’ve lost my charm?” Callie tilted her head to one side, shooting him a sexy, beguiling peek from under her lashes.

Jake’s middle contracted. A band of steel constricted around his chest, squeezing off his supply of air. His head began to spin and his heart thundered as realization hit him. He was falling for Callie, fast and hard. The moment, frozen in time and branded in his mind, would remain embedded in his soul for all the days of his life.