Borrowed Cowboy (Shadow Maverick Ranch) (9 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Paxton heard the ruckus the minute he stepped out of the truck.

Damn horse was going to tear his stall apart if he kept that up, or worse, injure himself.

Pax groaned as he unfolded his legs from the truck. His body was in desperate need of sleep, but his mind wasn’t anywhere near on board.

With muscles screaming in protest of being back on the job, Pax made a slow trek to the barn. Jade would be devastated if anything happened to Diablo, even if it was the horse’s own fucking fault.

Without hesitation, he entered the tack room. A quick search and he found what he needed. A big, red apple. After a lazy inspection to deem it edible, he struggled through wet denim for his pocketknife. His clothes were
still
soaked, adding what felt like a hundred pounds to his body. Add the mud, blood, and cow shit caked on his jeans and he was downright dragging boots.

He needed a hot shower and about twelve hours’ sleep.

Pax didn’t even give a shit about occupying the space he’d avoided for so long. The place his marriage had ended. He glanced around as he made his way to the stall. A tractor. Bales of hay. Various horse paraphernalia hanging from pegs in the wood.

Just a barn.

And Reese was the only woman on his mind. God, he was such an idiot.

Diablo kicked the walls of his stall, gaining his attention.

“Hey, now. How about you settle down a bit, huh?” Pax sliced off a piece of the apple and held it up. “Want some?”

Diablo kicked again, so Pax shrugged and popped the piece of apple into his own mouth.

“I suppose you’ve got a lot to be angry about, don’t ya, buddy? Yeah. I know a little something about that myself.”

That phone call earlier hovered front and center.

Diablo grunted, watching as he sliced into the apple again. This time, Diablo bobbed his head and chuffed, clearly wanting the treat.

“I hear you. I do,” he soothed, happy Diablo accepted the apple graciously and not by taking off his fingers. At least the beast had some manners. He’d worry a little less about Jade knowing the horse had a gentle side. The animal had been abused before his sisters had stepped in and rescued him. “Life can really suck sometimes. You’re in a good place now.”

Pax wished he could say the same for himself.

He slid the stall door open and eased through.

Diablo shifted.

“Don’t even think about kicking me, dude. How about we go outside and you can run off a little of that energy? What do you say?”

He slid the outer door open. Diablo pushed by him to get out. Pax followed him to the paddock.

The rain had turned to a pre-dawn mist. A
t this point, getting wetter wasn’t an issue, so he took his apple and perched on the fence, keeping a close eye as Diablo trotted the perimeter of the enclosure.

He should call Reese. The fact that it was somewhere between three and five in the morning wasn’t what stopped him. He’d left his phone in Clay’s truck.

Probably for the best. What the hell would he say to her anyway?

Pax focused on his movements as he sliced another piece of apple. As if one more nick would make a difference at this point. His arms looked like he’d shoved them through a shredder. His gloves spared his hands, but there was only so much a guy could do to protect himself from a scared calf tangled in a mess of barbed wire. Thank fuck he’d been able to cut it loose. One of the many they’d saved tonight.

He ate methodically, one slice after another, too tired to deal with anything except the up and down motion of his arm. Diablo trotted over and the two of them finished the fruit together in silence.

“Hey.”

Pax’s heart did a jumping jack or twelve. Diablo’s big muzzle kicked up and he chuffed. Pax darted a glance over his shoulder.

“What’re you doing here?”

“You weren’t answering your phone.”

He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “Sorry about that. We’ve been a little busy around here tonight.”

Reese swung a jean-clad leg over and joined him on the fence. She straddled the rail, hooked her booted feet so she faced him.

The sight of her took his breath away.

“Don’t.” He jerked away as she tried to touch his face. Lord only knew what he looked like, but he had a pretty good idea of the crap that covered him.

Her hand dropped. “What happened to you?”

“What, this?” He felt the abused area above his eye. Damn, that hurt. “Smashed it against the side of the truck.”

He closed the knife and returned it to his pocket.

“Someone help you with that?”

“I could blame Clay, since he was driving. But no, it’s compliments of a rutty road and poor visibility. I wasn’t paying attention.” Because he’d been on the phone. “Sorry about dinner.”

“I don’t care about that. Would you please look at me?”

He obliged, ate up the vision of her face. She looked as tired as he felt, and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Perfect. He was in no condition to handle her tears. He firmed his grip on the fence rail and went back to staring at the dirt.

“You’re the only one in my life, you know that, right?”

His lungs burned as he filled them up, slow to exhale. “Yes, Reese. I know.”

* * *

“You know,” Reese repeated, just to be sure she’d heard him correctly. The man was going to drive her crazy. She’d been out of her mind for hours, panicked he’d never let her explain, and
he knew
?

“The guy who answered your phone when I called, he the guy you told me about?” His hands were braced on the rail by his thighs. The muscles in his arms flexed as though he held on tight.

“Yes.”

His chin lowered in what she took as a nod as they stared at one another.

“Pax.”

He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’ve gotta be honest. I almost lost it, Reese. When that dickhead told me you’d just gotten out of the shower … I said don’t.” He jerked away from her hand again.

Pain struck her chest and her eyes drifted closed. If she ever saw Todd again, she swore she’d make good on her threat to kick his balls to his throat. “Why do you keep pulling away from me?”

“Because I’m covered in ten layers of filth. I’m exhausted. And I’m pissed as fuck at myself for having even an inkling of doubt.” He jacked his arm and hurled the apple core across the paddock. It hit the barn with a loud knock that rang thought the otherwise quiet dawn.

“I don’t understand. You said you knew there was no one else.” Yet he still kept her at arm’s length.

“Jesus. Come on.”

He jumped from the fence and waited for her to follow. She looked back at the horse lingering close. “What about him? You gonna leave him out here?”

“He’ll be fine. Fresh air will do him some good.”

“Where are we going?” She had to jog to keep up with his long strides toward the house.

“I can’t have this conversation until I’ve had a shower.”

He stopped on the porch and forced the boots from his feet. To her surprise, his shirt came next. The jeans took a little longer, but he tossed them into the pile along with his socks. Under different circumstances, Reese would’ve loved the impromptu strip show. Not being able to touch the ropes of heated muscle he uncovered felt like the worst kind of torture.

Down to his boxer briefs, he waved her into the house. “Jared and Jade are bunking at Gavin’s, so there’s no one here but us.”

Was that a warning?

He led her up the stairs, into the hallway where she’d gotten her first glimpse of him in ten years. Hard to believe it’d only been a few weeks ago.

He stopped at what she guessed was his bedroom. He tossed open the door and ushered her inside.

Warm, neutral colors covered the floor and walls. A king-sized bed. A large leather recliner with a reading lamp next to it. Door to what must be the closet. Reese took it all in.

With the exception of the lone paperback tented open on the side table, there were no items to distinguish this as anything other than a guest room.

He made a quick trip to the closet before he hesitated at the door. “Wait here. I’ll be back in a few. Make yourself comfortable.”

Reese would’ve offered to help, but he’d already made it clear he didn’t want her to touch him.

So, she paced the modest space, her heart in her feet, and waited.

* * *

The shower helped clear his head.

As he’d suspected, once the dried blood and sweat were washed away, the cut on his eye s
tarted to bleed again. He popped a couple of aspirin in case the headache that hovered behind the wound decided to get frisky.

He held his arms out and rotated his wrists. Other than looking like he’d been in a cat-fight, he felt refreshed. He pulled on a pair of gym shorts and called it good.

He opened the door to his room.

Reese sat on the end of the bed, shoulders slouched, her gaze on her lap. Her dejected posture broke his heart. He’d do everything in his power to bring a smile back to that pretty face. And keep it there.

He knelt at her feet. “I owe you an apology.”

Surprise widened her eyes. “What on earth do you have to apologize for?”

Now that he’d showered, he couldn’t keep from touching her. He cupped her hands in his.

“I trust you, Reese. I do. When that guy said he was your fiancé, I knew in my heart it was bullshit. I was already upset about canceling dinner, we had an emergency and…” God, he was messing this whole thing up.

He took a deep breath and started again.

“Sometimes it takes a minute for my head to catch up with my heart, Reesey. I reacted like an ass—again—and there’s no excuse. I can’t promise it won’t happen again.” He raised her chin until she looked him in the eyes. “I swear to you, my heart will get the final say. At the same time, I need you to have faith that I won’t run out on you at the first sign of trouble.”

He placed her hand above his heart. He held her there so she’d know it beat only for her.

“I love you, Reese. With everything I am—good, bad, covered in sweat and cow shit, whatever—I love you. I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. Never again. Can you trust in that, in me?”

Tears streamed from her beautiful eyes. “I can. I will. I’m sorry, Pax. I was getting ready for our date. When I walked into the living room, he was just … there.”

Anger stiffened his spine. “He broke into your apartment?” He’d teach that motherfucker a lesson about boundaries. While he was at it, he’d toss in a class in stay-the-fuck-away-from-my-woman-1-0-1 for free.

Reese’s cheeks, wet from tears, flushed. “I’ve been trying to get my key from him for six months. He’s been a pain in my ass, but he’s never acted in a way that made me think to change the locks. When I saw he had my cell phone … when he said he talked to you, asked who you were, I went a little nuts. Cursed like a sailor. Demanded my key back.” Her face fell into her hands. “God, Pax. He insulted you—and I
hit
him.” Her head snapped up, eyes blazing through her tears. “I’ve never hit anyone in my life!”

They’d talk later about her putting herself at risk. She’d fucking fought for him. His chest swelled with pride. He smoothed his thumb over her cheek, wiping the moisture away. “My gorgeous little firecracker. No more tears, sweets. Everything is okay now. We’re okay.”

Her body trembled. He came out of his crouch and sat down beside her. He pulled her onto his lap.

Her arms came around his neck. Her leg snaked over until she straddled him. “I love you, Paxton. God, I’ve never loved anyone else. Just you.”

He buried his face against her neck, drawing in her scent until it became a part of him. She’d always been a part of him. His beautiful Reese.

She loves me.

His hand slid under her shirt. So soft, so different from his rough skin. Need fired his blood, his exhaustion all but forgotten with Reese in his arms.

He placed her on her feet. He lifted her shirt as she went for the waistband of her jeans. He released the front clasp of her bra and, God almighty, her nipples darkened, puckered before his very eyes.

He took one in his mouth. Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding him in place as he suckled her. He alternated between biting, sucking, licking—all actions guaranteed to drive her crazy. When her hips arched against his, he moved to the other breast, gave it the same attention.

“Better get those jeans off, darlin’,” he mumbled against her delicious flesh.

She released his head and stumbled back in her rush to do as he asked.

He loved that about her. That she trusted him with her body, gave him control. Whether she knew it or not, she controlled him. Hell, she
owned
him—his body, his cock, his heart. Every bit of him belonged to her.

He shucked his shorts and he pulled her now naked body close.

His hands followed the length of her spine, over the delicate curve of her ass. He cupped her butt cheeks and lifted her, placed her on the bed.

She wrapped her arms around him as he covered her. She made room for him between her thighs and he didn’t hesitate. He captured her mouth, his tongue pushing past her lips as he penetrated her, slow and easy.

Moist heat surrounded him. So tight, she stole his breath. A perfect fit.

He made love to her. Showed her with his body what words could never tell.

The last ten years melted away. Reese tightened around him, came shouting his name. As he followed her into the bliss, Pax knew there’d be no more living in the past. No more pain. No more regrets.

Only this. Only Reese.

Chapter Fifteen

Two weeks later …

Reese walked into the shop and stopped dead in her tracks.

Holy Mother of God.

“What do you think, sweets?”

Pax caught her eye in the three-paneled mirror. He stood with his arms spread wide. The stark, white button-down he wore strained against his massive chest. Stephen Casey, owner of the shop and the man currently kneeling behind him, adjusted the hem of Pax’s black dress pants with a quick tug.

Her cowboy was a wet-dream-walking in jeans and ratty T-shirt. The suit gave him a darker, more dangerous look that had her imagination skipping down fantasy lane.

As though he followed her thoughts, his cheeks reddened. Eyes narrowed, he made a wicked sound. “Feeling’s mutual, I assure you. It’s a damn shame winter is coming. I like seeing your legs in those shorts.” His gaze darted to the tailor at his feet. “Eyes on task, Steve.” The humor in his voice held an edge as Steve turned to check out her legs for himself.

Reese went to Pax, her heart fluttering as it did whenever he looked at her. She’d never known she could be so content, so happy.

“Very handsome.” And all hers.

Reese ran her hands over his shoulders, pretending to inspect the suit he’d wear for his brother’s wedding, when really, she just couldn’t keep her hands off him.

Pax would look magnificent, standing proud as Gavin pledged his life to Lauren. The vision was enough to make her downright weepy.

The warmth of his hand enclosed her neck. “What is it, sweets? Everything okay? Hey, give us a minute, will you, Steve?”

Steve muttered under his breath and wandered off.

Reese toyed with the buttons of Pax’s shirt, staring at each one as she imagined sliding them free. They spent every night together, and she still couldn’t get enough of him.

“Everything is fine. Lauren wants my assistant to handle the details on the actual day of the wedding. Insisted on it, in fact.”

His thumb caressed her jaw. Subtle pressure had her raising her chin to look at him.

Concern marred his brow. “Of course she did. You shouldn’t have to work that day, when the rest of the family is celebrating. Is there a problem?”

And then he said things like that and she fell in love with him even more.

She gave him her most seductive smile. “No, no problem at all. But it looks like I’m going to need a date.”

The look he gave her melted her bones. “A date, huh?”

She licked her lips and his eyes tracked the movement. “Yeah. I’ve got several months yet to find someone … Paxton!” Reese laughed as he swatted her ass, her heart full of love for this man.

He got in her face, nose-to-nose. “I might be playing best man for this shindig, but don’t think I’ll let anyone else get their hands on you.”

Heat filled her cheeks. The only hands she wanted on her were his. “I guess that means you’ll be my date?”

“Always, sweets.” He leaned in and kissed her stupid. “Forever.”