Roping the Wind (9 page)

‘Hi, I’m Jay Turner.’

Rob returned his handshake with interest and gestured to a stool alongside him. ‘I hear from Mrs Rettle that I should watch my back.’

Jay smiled. ‘She thought she’d seen me on TV and that must mean I was dangerous.’

‘Yup, she was all set to call the police after she finished talking to me, so don’t be surprised if there’s a reception committee waiting for you when you leave.’

‘As long as it isn’t a lynching party, I’ll be OK.’

Rob sat back and studied Jay’s face. ‘Thing is, you do look kind of familiar.’

Jay’s stomach tightened. ‘Don’t say Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or I’ll definitely have to leave.’

Rob laughed. ‘You get that a lot, do you?’ He shook his head. ‘Nope, can’t see it myself but you are familiar.’

Jay forced a smile. ‘I was on the rodeo circuit for a fair few years.’

Rob slapped his hand on the worktop. ‘That’s right! Jay Turner. You were all set up to become world champion a few years ago. What happened with that?’

Jay’s hand slid down to his right knee. ‘I got hurt. That’s what happened.’

‘It’s a tough old business.’ Rob shook his head. ‘I make boots for some of the guys on the tour and, jeez, some of them are going to pay for their moment in the spotlight for the rest of their lives.’

Jay shrugged. ‘It’s part of the deal.’

‘But no one expects to get sidelined before they want to go, right?’

Jay tensed but there was no sympathy in Rob’s voice, only a friendly interest. He met Rob’s gaze head-on.

‘I’ve been told I have no chance to compete at a professional level again and yeah, it sucks. Now I just have to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life.’

‘And you think that might be making cowboy boots?’

Jay picked up a scrap of tan leather from the worktop and smoothed it between his finger and thumb. ‘I’ve always loved working with leather. My grandfather made his own boots and I used to sit and watch him for hours. On the rodeo circuit I got used to fixing my gear and gained some skill along the way.’

Rob nodded. ‘Yeah, sometimes the best way to learn is on the job.’

‘I suppose it is but I always wanted to learn properly. I figured I’d take it up when I retired.’ He cracked a smile. ‘I got my wish sooner than I expected and started doing more complex leatherwork at the physical rehab place in Oregon.’ He shrugged. ‘They told me I had to do something or they were going to force me to learn how to crochet.’

Rob chuckled and slapped his hand on the worktop.

Jay put the scrap of tanned calfskin down. ‘That’s why I’m here. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of cowboy boots and I want to make mine special and unique. I heard you were the best teacher on the West Coast.’

‘Thanks for the compliment.’ Rob sat forward. ‘I can teach you. I have an adult class in the evenings you can join and, if you like it, we can take it from there.’ Rob got to his feet and went to his desk, then returned with his business card. ‘Leave me your details and if you’re connected to the web, you can enroll online. It’s real easy.’

Jay stood too and realized that Rob was almost the same height as him.

‘Thanks for seeing me.’

‘It was a pleasure. Watch out for the cops on the way out.’

Jay grinned as he made his way back down the hall. He already liked Rob Wilton’s no-nonsense attitude. It suited him just fine. He was going to be treated just like any other guy and judged on his skill rather than for how long he could sit on a bull. After months of uncertainty he realized it was a challenge he was more than ready to take.

He remembered to wave at Mrs Rettle as he left the building but she only scowled at him. He had to give her credit. Dealing with young adults all day certainly hadn’t dampened her dander. It might’ve made her a little paranoid, but, hell, teenagers were tough.

He tipped the brim of his hat back to stare up at the clear blue sky. Life was definitely getting better. He had the opportunity to embark on a new career and the delight of dating Dr Helen. His pulse quickened as he thought of her. He’d call her tonight and see when he could meet her again.

Chapter Eight

‘So what’s the problem? I thought you’d jump at the chance to take Peter Hart’s job.’

Helen put down her spoon and stared regretfully at the crust of her second piece of pie. ‘That’s exactly what he said.’

Carol put her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. ‘So you don’t want to be the youngest department head in the country?’

‘I’m not sure. Hospitals are strange places. Most people imagine that the people who work there are saints and heroes, but they’re not. They’re just as ambitious and greedy as the rest of corporate America.’

‘That’s never stopped you from achieving what you want before.’

‘I know, but this time it feels different.’ Helen sighed. ‘And I’m not well liked.’

‘Because everyone assumes that as an attractive young thing, you simply batted your long eyelashes at Professor Hart to get your name on that academic paper.’ Carol pointed her spoon at Helen, a militant sparkle in her brown eyes. ‘But you know that’s not true. You were the one who brought the idea to him!’

‘I really wish I hadn’t.’

‘That’s stupid. You wouldn’t be in the position you are in today if you hadn’t made that decision.’

Helen smiled. ‘Exactly.’ She’d never told Carol about the drunken night she’d spent with Robert and the birth of the brilliant idea. She’d never told anyone.

‘You’d prefer to be stuck in a small hospital still being treated like a drone?’

‘I’m not sure anymore.’

Carol reached across the table and took Helen’s hand. ‘What’s up, sweetie? Do you want to give it all up and make babies? Are you having a midlife crisis?’

‘Babies?’ Helen snorted at the very idea. ‘It’s more of a crisis of confidence. I’m not sure I want to get into this race and expose myself to all the gossip and backbiting again. It’s taken me three years to be grudgingly accepted at this hospital. If I go ahead, I’m going to cause friction within the team.’

The phone rang and Helen reached across to pick it up.

‘Helen.’

‘Jay.’

‘How’s your day been?’

‘Complicated. How about you?’

He chuckled. ‘Good enough. I was wondering what your plans are for the week?’

Helen glanced across at Carol who was making kissing sounds. ‘I have a late clinic tomorrow and I’m on call this weekend.’

‘Damn. How about we meet up on Wednesday then?’

‘Sounds good to me. Where?’

‘The lounge bar of the Ritz-Carlton Club on Market?’

Helen raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you sure we’re allowed in there? I heard it was for residents only.’

‘It’ll be OK. If anyone asks, just give them my name.’

‘Great. I’ll be there at six.’

‘Helen.’

‘Yes, Jay?’

‘Wear a skirt this time.’

She put down the phone to find Carol staring at her.

‘He’s a man of few words, your cowboy, isn’t he?’

‘Most cowboys are.’

‘When you talked to him, your face went all soft and gooey.’

Helen picked up the remains of the pie and got up. ‘That’s because he relaxes me.’

‘I bet he does.’

Carol stacked the bowls in the dishwasher and poured two cups of coffee from the waiting pot. ‘Tell me about your date. It must’ve been good if you’re going out with him again.’

Helen took the cup of coffee and made her way into the cozy family room. The walls were cream, the thick carpet a dark chocolate brown which made her feel warm and secure. She settled into her favorite spot in the corner of the red velvet couch and tucked her legs under her. Carol sat at the other end, coffee cup balanced on her denim-clad knee.

‘I enjoyed myself. He’s still a pain in the ass but he was . . . interesting.’

‘Interesting. What the heck does that mean?’

‘He made me feel like a horny teenager.’

‘Holy shit. I remember what you were like back then and you were bad.’

‘I’ll take that as a compliment. I didn’t think I’d feel that way so fast, though.’

Carol sat up, almost spilling her coffee. ‘Did you sleep with him?’

Helen squirmed in her seat. ‘Not through lack of trying on my part. After turning me on way past the point of no return, he turned me down. He said it would be tacky.’

Carol laughed so hard that Helen began to laugh too.

‘Oh my God, that’s priceless. The ice queen frozen out by the rodeo star.’

‘He gives good phone sex, too.’

Carol just stared at her, her mouth forming a big ‘o’. ‘You had phone sex?’

‘We did.’

‘And you’re going to have real sex with him pretty soon, right?’

‘I believe that’s the plan.’

Carol held up her cup. ‘Here’s to you, girlfriend. I never thought I’d see the day you moved into the digital world.’

Helen leant forward and clinked her cup against Carol’s. She knew Carol would expect more details when she and Jay had sex. Normally they shared their experiences over breakfast, a kind of hysterical post-sex mortem. For the first time she wasn’t sure if she wanted to share. Her relationship with Jay was already darker and far more intense than anything she’d experienced before.

Helen finished her coffee. With all the current stress in her professional life, she could use some down time with Jay. Giving him control of her sex life might prove more beneficial than she could possibly imagine.

Jay winced as he added another Band-Aid to the two that already adorned his left hand. He’d forgotten how sharp leather-cutting blades could be. During class, he’d been concentrating so hard he hadn’t realized he was bleeding until Rob Wilton pointed it out to him.

He’d made a good start on his new pair of boots. The paper pattern was cut, most of the leather pieces for the top were ready to go, and he’d stretched the wet vamps and linings over the crimpboard to dry before he attached them to the boot tops. Only another forty steps to go and he’d be done.

He glanced at the clock. Helen should be on her way to the lounge bar on the ground floor of his building by now. He hoped she was wearing a skirt. His fingers itched to sink into her pussy again.

She’d sounded tense on the phone. He wondered what was happening in her world to make her feel that way and immediately tried to banish the thought. He’d always steered away from getting involved in his lovers’ personal lives.

His phone trilled and he checked the number. It was the community college. Had he filled in his forms wrong or something? Had Mrs Rettle finally contacted the police?

To his surprise it was Rob.

‘Hey, I was looking at your work this evening. You’ve made a great start on those cowboy boots. Once I’d cleaned up all the blood, I was impressed.’

Jay found himself smiling. ‘Thanks.’

‘Well, I wanted you to know that you’re good and you’re quick without sacrificing quality. I’ll have to set you some more challenging tasks next time I see you.’

‘I’ll be back on Thursday, if I haven’t bled to death.’

Rob’s laugh echoed down the phone. ‘Great, I look forward to it.’

Jay hung up, still grinning like an idiot. He felt like a teenager who’d just gotten to first base. He’d been worried that the skill he’d acquired over the years wouldn’t be good enough for Rob’s class. It was nice to be proven wrong occasionally. He picked up his hat and put on his favorite cowboy boots. His evening was getting better and better.

Helen sat on a high stool at the bar chatting happily to the bartender. Soft piano music filled the shadowed well-designed lounge. Jay paused in the entrance to admire her profile. She was wearing her blonde hair down tonight and a soft cream blouse and patterned black skirt. Her pantyhose were black. He hoped they were stockings. He wouldn’t put it past her to confound him with yet another barrier to reaching her pussy. He reminded himself to be even more specific next time.

She turned as he approached and smiled. It gave him a warm feeling in his gut to see her welcome.

‘Hi, Helen.’ He bent to kiss her cheek, inhaling her soft rose perfume and her warmth.

‘Hi, Jay.’ She grabbed his wrist and frowned. ‘What happened to your hand?’

He stared down at her slim fingers, so pale against the roughness of his tanned skin. ‘Do you ever stop being a doctor?’

‘Nope, I don’t think I do.’ She examined his flesh, turning his hand over in hers to check his palm. ‘What did you do? Try to cook something too advanced?’

He tried to pull his hand away but her grip was surprisingly strong. He wasn’t sure he was ready to share his new potential career with her yet.

‘I cut myself with a knife. Now can we get back to the sex?’

She glared at him and pushed his hand away. ‘I apologize for being concerned about you. I forgot that our agreement doesn’t go beyond what
you
want.’

He let out his breath. ‘I just hate being fussed over, OK?’ He gestured at the bartender who lingered beside Helen. ‘Do you want a drink?’

She opened her beaded black purse with a decided snap. ‘I’m buying. What would you like?’

He glared right back at her. ‘I’ll have a beer.’ So much for a great evening. Every time he saw her, he had to work his way back beneath the prickles to the real woman he wanted to fuck. He slid onto the bar stool beside her. When his beer arrived he drained it in one gulp. Helen sipped at her martini, one elegant foot crossed over the other.

‘So, are you wearing pantyhose?’ he asked bluntly.

She put her glass on the bar with a decided thump.

‘What?’

‘I said, are you wearing pantyhose.’

She met his gaze, her pale eyes narrowed. ‘What is it with you? Are you really such an insensitive jerk?’

He pressed a hand to his heart. ‘Me? Insensitive? Where the hell did that come from?’