Cowboy Save Me: By Judith Lee (Tiller Brothers Book 1) (3 page)

He stepped back, smiled and just as she was about to close her door, he said, “Wait.  Give me your cell phone.”

Without even thinking she handed her phone to him.

He quickly entered his cell number.  “Please text me that you got home safely.  There are a lot of drunks out tonight, and I’d be worried if I didn’t know you made it home.”

Touched by his thoughtfulness, she whispered, “Alright, good night.” And she drove off leaving him standing alone in the parking lot with just a few other cars and an uncomfortable pressure in his wranglers.

Well it’s a start.
He still regretted not kissing her.  Since when had he ever waited for a woman to be ready for a kiss?  At least he had an excuse to see her tomorrow.  He shook his head; this isn’t what he should be thinking about.  There were more important issues than him meeting Miss Sunshine.  He should get his head in the game and start a plan.  His family was sure going to need him to step up.

He needed a beer and he headed over to the Honky-Tonk bar. Ten minutes later he got a text: 
Made it home safe. Thanks for making this day so special for me.

Cody quickly wrote back: 
Pleasure was mine.
Sweet dreams Miss Sunshine…see you tomorrow
. 

Surely his family would forgive him these few moments of enjoyment before the responsibilities started pulling him every which direction. He had played hard and lived his dream since college.  Now it was Dakota and Cameron’s time. In the future, time for romance would be at a premium, especially with what was about to happen.  Maybe she was right and he should just let her go.  She said she wasn’t ready.  Whatever that meant?  He definitely needed to get to the bottom of that.  He guessed someone had hurt her pretty badly.  Cody knew the responsible thing to do was just be friends with her.  But damn those freckles drove him crazy.

Tammy changed out of her clothes into a tight tank top and readied herself for bed. She couldn’t sleep.  The woman in her had wanted him to kiss her so bad, just
one time
for God’s sake, but then the practical
he’ll-break-your-heart-side
of her brain said
Run!
He’s not interesting in the long term relationship that she really wanted.

It wasn’t that she didn’t think she was worthy of him.  These last three years had shown her what a strong woman she was.  Control was now her middle name and she hardly ever had nightmares anymore. She knew she had become a talented professional business woman and could hold her own against any man or woman. Maybe she could even stand up to Marcus now if he ever dared try to come back into her life.

Tammy just didn’t trust herself.  With any encouragement from him she’d probably fall in love with Cody and she knew he couldn’t love her back.  He’d be on the road again, back in the arms of the buckle bunnies.  She knew this type of man.  She had heard it from his many conquests while they talked about him at the beauty salon. Oh, they all drooled and declared him one fine, unselfish lover but they all said they knew he wasn’t the type of man to settle down. 

Maybe if she just had a one night stand with him to get him out of her system, she could move on and start looking for the man of her dreams.  It had certainly not been her ex-husband.  Hopefully they’ll never let him out on probation.

She closed her eyes and remembered the way Cody had made her feel.  Her skin had tingled and she had wanted so badly to be held and kissed by him.  She could see herself and Cody sitting on his porch rocking in his swing holding their babies... 

Whoa…enough! He is not for you.  He’s only interested because you are a challenge to him
. It was like all the romance novels she read to help her get through those long lonely nights.   Once he had her, it would be
slam, bam, nice to meet you ma’am
and he’d be out the door… Or would he?

Just thinking about him was killing her.  The way he had held her hand so possessively still sent chills up her body. The way his beautiful blue eyes seemed to see right into her soul. And when he had whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek at the awards ceremony, the world had stood still.  And tonight when he had danced with her and sung to her, he almost made her believe anything was possible. Today was too much like a romance novel. 
But damn it had been mind-blowing.

She turned over in her bed and hit her pillow. 
No more erotica novels for me
.  The real man was just too hot to touch, and her body felt all steamy, on fire, and liquid in places that hadn’t been liquid in an awfully long time. She longed to use her fingers to put her out of her misery but feared it would only make her want him more.

He leaned in and touched his mouth to her lips, and whispered, “Time to wake up darlin’; I want to make love to you.”  He rolled his naked bronzed body on top of her, and she smiled with her eyes closed.

“How did you get in here?” 

“It was easy, you left the door unlocked. I just couldn’t get you out of my mind." He nuzzled her neck and licked at the freckles on the upper part of her chest.  His fingers slid gently down her body stopping at her hardened nipples. As he flicked and caressed her pink peaks, he bit into her shoulder and licked it with his tongue. Slowly he moved his mouth to her breasts kissing, and nibbling every part of her before he blew air on her nipples and made them harden even more.

“Suck them, Cody.”

“With pleasure.”  His mouth sealed on her breast and he sucked soft and hard and then soft again while his tongue flicked over her too sensitive tips. She felt the pull of his mouth all the way down to her swollen clit. Her cream was getting thicker.  He lowered his hand to her woman’s core while he continued to suck and love both breasts.  He moved his thumb in a slow circle around her nub. 

“Oh Cody, I’m so close.”

“You smell so good, gardenia and the morning dew, and I’m going to have to taste you before you come.” 

As he was sliding his lips down her body, the phone rang.  Don’t answer it she told herself.  She was so close.  It wouldn’t stop ringing.  She opened her eyes and discovered her fingers pleasuring herself. “Damn!” she cried.  Still breathing hard, she tried to get control before she picked up the phone.

She answered, “Hello?” in a raspy voice, hoping it only sounded sleepy instead of sex charged.

“I’m out honey, and you’re the first person I wanted to see.  I’m coming, so get ready for me.  I know you missed me.  Even though you’re a lousy fuck, I missed you and I won’t be stopped this time.”  And he hung up.

All her desire fled her body in an instant, and she jumped up from the bed, shaking in disbelief that he really thought he could start this with her.

She wanted to call the police, call someone, but she didn’t know who.  Her mother and father were at their Cabin in the Snowy Range Mountains and she wouldn’t be able to reach them.  She didn’t even know if she still had her attorney’s phone number in Laramie.  How quick can one get a restraining order, she wondered? She put on her short bathrobe and started pacing.  Maybe Cody would know an attorney.  She could call him.  That was crazy, she had just met him.  Maybe someone at work would know the name of an attorney.  No, she couldn’t call her fellow workers.  No one knew the hell she had been through.

Maybe Marcus was just bluffing, trying to scare her.  Could she just let this slide and hope he didn’t show up? She didn’t want the police or sheriff’s office digging into the most painful memories of her life.  Reaching for the phone, she looked at the time. 5:30 am.  Weren’t ranchers up at this time of the morning? She had to talk to someone.  She needed to talk to Cody before she went into a full blown panic seizure. She hadn’t experience the panic attach for several years. Her breathing was becoming faster and she felt light headed. Maybe just hearing his voice would calm her down; she quickly made up her mind to dial his phone number.

He answered quickly, “Hi Sunshine, you’re up awful early.  Couldn’t sleep?”

“Cody I need your help.”  Her voice was shaking, hell her whole body was shaking.  He must think she was some kind of a needy sex craved woman.  “I shouldn’t have called, just forget it, I’m sorry. I’m okay, bye,” she said, sobbing. Why had she called him?

A second later her cell phone rang. “Don’t hang up, Tammy, what’s wrong?  Do you want me to come over…I’m still in town and I can be there in a few minutes.  Are you in trouble or hurt?”  He didn’t want her to quit talking, he wanted her to tell him why she had called.  He could hear fear and the sobs in her voice.

“Okay.”

“Okay, what darlin’?” he whispered trying not to rattle her more than she already was, “I’m dressed and walking to the truck right now.  I was up.  I’m coming…give me your address.”

She knew she was in shock and her voice was still quaking, “I... I can’t tell you over the phone.  I just need to talk…talk with someone and get some help, some…some information. If you’re sure it’s okay to come,  I live in the Durman Condos, unit 15. I just didn’t know who else to call.”

***

It took him less than five minutes to get to her condo.  No one was up so he broke a few speed limits to get there.  He could tell by her voice that something was not right, and he was concerned.

He rang her door bell, and she peeked out the window first, then threw open the door and jumped into his arms.  Tears were rolling down her face.

“I’m here darlin’…shhhh, it’s going to be alright.”  He was holding her tight with one hand caressing the back of her head and the other around her waist. He kicked the door closed with his foot. She was shivering, and he was afraid she was going to collapse.  He reached down and picked her up, carried her to a chair in the front room and settled her in his lap.  He kissed her forehead, and lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes.  “I’m here, you are going to be okay.  I can help you.” He reassured her, gently wiping the tears from her eyes.

“I…I need an attorney.  I don’t know one here, and I need him quick.  I need a restraining order on my ex-husband.”

He tried not to show his surprise on his face.  He had a feeling she was recovering from being hurt, but not by an ex-husband.  It didn’t matter, he told himself.  He reached into his pocket, grabbed his phone and with one hand searched through his contacts and connected with the number he needed.

“You remember Mrs. Snodgrass?  Her husband Bob Snodgrass is our attorney, a fellow rancher, too, so he’ll be up,” he told Tammy as he waited for someone to pick up.

“Hey Bob, this is Cody.  We need your help right now.  I’m with Tammy Anderson at her condo on Durham Road, unit 15.  She says she needs to talk with you and I’m thinking she needs to talk to you soon and in person.  Okay, thanks, Bob, I appreciate it.”

“He’ll be in about twenty minutes.  Can I make you some coffee or tea, while we wait?

“Aren’t you going to ask me what’s going on?” she sniffed.

“There’s plenty of time, and I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready.  When Bob gets here I’ll give you some privacy.  I just want you to know I’m here for you, okay darlin’?”

“Why are you being so kind to me? We haven’t even kissed yet,” she said in a confused voice.

He laughed softly, “You need me, and I liked that you called me. Don’t worry about that kiss, its coming and when we kiss you won’t be distracted with worry.

“Thank you Cody, I…I guess I should get dressed before Mr. Snodgrass arrives.” Cody had been studying her face so intently he hadn’t looked down.  At her words he looked down at her well-developed long bare legs and noticed her short robe that was partially open displaying a tight fitting tank top and the edge of some lacy underwear.  He looked up quickly and gulped.  Now was not the time for his libido to flame to red hot.
Use some control man, she needs you
. He rose and lifted her gently to her feet, and went looking for the coffee pot.

He looked back at her as she started toward the bedroom, and he asked her if she needed any help dressing.  He raised his eye brows several times, trying to lighten the mood.

She laughed through her tears, and told him he was… “Incorrigible. I think I can manage it now.”  And she walked into the bedroom.

When she came out a few minutes later she had on tight jeans, a sweat shirt which was several sizes too big for her and partially fell off one shoulder, and big fluffy bedroom slippers.  Her hair was pulled back in a pony tail that hung loose, curly and more to one side, with many of the curls escaping.  He growled lowly under his breath. 
Damn how could she look so sexy
under these circumstances?

He handed her a cup of coffee.  There was a knock at the door, and Tammy almost dropped her coffee mug, her hands shook so much.  He grabbed her coffee and set it on the table and helped her sit down on the sofa.  Cody looked out the window and opened the door and let Bob in.  He introduced him to Tammy and said he would wait outside. 

“Cody, come sit by me.  I don’t want to have to tell this story more than I have to.” 

“Are you sure Tammy?” she nodded yes.  He sat quietly by her, and she reached over and she grabbed his hand with both of her hands.  He liked that.  He felt possessive about her and had the urge to put her back on his lap.

Bob said, “Tammy, just take your time and tell us what is happening.  We won’t interrupt you.  Start from the beginning if you can.”

“O’ Okay…My last year of college I met a professor.  His name was Marcus Street.  He courted me relentlessly through my senior year until after I graduated and then I finally went out with him.  He seemed so charming and I was shy and I didn’t have a lot of friends. My mom said I was a late bloomer.” She smiled thinking how much she loved her mom and dad.  In a soft monotone voice she continued, “I was always studying by myself and busy non-stop as I worked to help put myself through school.  He bought me lots of gifts and convinced me he was in love with me and would take care of me the rest of my life.”

Tears streamed down her face again.  Cody reached over and gently wiped away her tears with his fingers.  This was killing him.  He had a really bad feeling about what was coming.

“After a year with this onslaught of pressure, he talked me into eloping with him.  I don’t know why I married him to this day.  It hadn’t felt right.  He just was relentless in his single minded goal of getting me to marry him.  A few months after we were married, he started telling me I was useless and he didn’t know why he had ever married me.  I couldn’t cook, I was terrible,” she looked down, “…in bed.  Everything I did was wrong.  If I tried to keep the house clean, or if I rearranged the furniture, or tried new meals, he would verbally harass me relentlessly.  When I wanted to go to work, he wouldn’t let me, he said I should stay at home and take care of him.”

“It escalated when he started drinking and then he would beat me.  I should have left then.  Actually I tried several times but he always found me and dragged me back with threats that he would blow up my parent’s home if I tried to leave him again, or if I told anyone.  I found my cat bloody and gutted on my bed one night and that was it.  I snuck out after he had drank himself to sleep, but as I started up the car he threw a brick through the window, dragged me out on the lawn and kicked me over and over again until I was almost unconscious.  I remember him throwing me in the backseat of the car.”