Unbridled (22 page)

He helped her to one of the rocking chairs on the porch. “Sit tight and I’ll park the car, then get one of the electric carts to take you to the cabin.”

Connor had some speed; she’d give him that. He was in the car in seconds, the engine roaring to life. She never expected to see the green machine driving away from her battered body, though. If she didn’t feel like shit, she might have laughed.

A couple walked past while she waited. No doubt she looked just as bad as she felt, like a prizefighter who’d lost the match. Somehow she managed to nod and look as if she was supposed to be sitting there battered and bruised. The woman looked at her in sympathy while the man shook his head as if Alex was a bad influence.

If only he knew.

“Alex? Holy shit, what happened to you? And where did you get those boots?”

She looked up to see Kent and Don in their L.A. finery standing on the porch. It was a hallucination—she knew it—but she burst into tears at the lovely, familiar sight. Then suddenly she was in Kent’s arms and Don was rubbing her back. She didn’t know how or why they were there, but she was so glad she wanted to cry. So she did.

“Oh, doll, don’t cry,” Kent crooned as he held her tight. This time there was no sexual content to their touch, as if that one night had expunged that entire need.

Alex refused to believe her relationship with Connor may have affected her sexual attraction to anyone else. That was too much to contemplate in her condition.

“Alex, what’s going on?”

She peeked over Kent’s shoulder to see Connor standing beside a golf cart, a scowl so deep she thought it might cause permanent damage to his forehead.

“Who are you?” Don challenged, his dark gaze checking out Connor’s hard form.

“Who are you?” Connor gestured to both of them. “And what are you doing?”

“Comforting our friend.” Kent turned to Connor, tucking Alex under his arm.

She had the unearthly urge to be tucked under Connor’s arm instead.

“Well, I’m taking her to her cabin.”

“Good, then we’ll come with.” Kent gestured to a small black suitcase. “Be a love, Donnie, and get my bag.”

Without so much as an introduction, Kent swept past an openmouthed Connor and climbed into the backseat of the cart. It was unreal, maybe a dream brought on by the concussion. Alex could hardly believe it when Don put two bags in the back bin, then sat in the passenger seat.

“You do work here, right? We’re guests, so please ferry us to Alex’s cabin.” Kent sounded positively imperious.

“Alex?” Connor appeared next to her, his mouth set in a tight white line. “Do you know these men?” Behind the anger and stress in his face, she also saw concern. The urge to be comforted by him roared through her again.

“They’re my friends from L.A., Kent and Don.”

“Do you want me to drive you, all of you, to the cabin?”

Ever the chivalrous knight, the honorable cowboy. Connor wanted to be certain she knew what she was doing, that nothing untoward was happening between her and the other men. Her heart melted just a bit more.

“Yes, I do. There’s a second bedroom they can have. I—I just need to sle—I mean relax.” She managed to stop the tears, at least, even if she wanted to rewind the entire afternoon.

“Fine.” Connor climbed into the driver’s seat and glared at Don, who sat next to them. “The only reason I’m driving the two of you is because of her. If it were up to me, I’d make you walk to the bus station.”

With that, he took off at a slow pace and she knew it was in deference to her. Connor really was a gentleman, for all his gruff ways and quirks; he was considerate, honorable and kind.

Damn, she really was falling in love with him.

The ride to the cabin took only five minutes, but by the time he stopped the cart, Alex was dizzy again. Without a word, Connor scooped her up, ignoring a protest from Kent, and carried her to the gate. He managed to punch in the code without dropping her and carry her up the steps and into the building.

The cool interior soothed her and she sighed with relief to be home, even if it wasn’t really her home. It was where she belonged for now.

Connor brought her to the chaise lounge in the corner of the living room and set her down so gently, she thought it might take another five minutes. Then he set about turning on lights and covering her with a snuggly blanket. The violet on the table reminded her she was still alive and kicking, same as the plant.

Kent watched from the doorway in amusement. When he caught her gaze, he raised his brows and mouthed the word “hot.” Alex shook her head at the incorrigible man.

Connor went into the kitchen and came back minutes later with a cup of coffee. She smelled the brew and realized it was exactly what she needed. Without her even knowing what she wanted, Connor did. What that meant, she had no idea.

The coffee was hot, with enough cream to make it a light tan color, exactly how she liked it. She felt pampered, maybe even loved a bit. Connor squatted beside her and looked her over, his soft touch never once causing her pain.

Alex wished Kent and Don weren’t there. The thought surprised and shocked her. She wanted to be alone with Connor.

“You all set? I can stay if you want me to.” He didn’t look at the other men, but she knew what he was thinking just the same. Connor would enjoy throwing them out.

“No, you need to work. I’m fine. Kent and Don can help take care of me.” She hid a huge yawn behind her hand.

He picked up the cordless phone and moved it beside her. “Call up to the main house if you need me.” Connor kissed her forehead, nose and mouth, then pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, “I’m sorry this happened, baby.”

He rose abruptly and thrust papers at Kent, anger vibrating from every muscle, bone and sinew in his body. “I don’t want to leave her with you two yahoos, but obviously it’s what she wants, so I will. These are the instructions for boneheaded women who check themselves out of the hospitals against medical advice. She’s got a concussion, a bruised tailbone and plenty of other bruises and cuts. If she even once tells me she didn’t get what she wanted, I’ll throw your asses off this property. Am I clear?”

Without waiting for an answer, he slammed out of the cabin. Kent turned to Alex.

“Well, hell, girl, you didn’t tell us you already found a man. And here we were worried about you.”

This time instead of crying, Alex laughed, then winced as her head complained about the noise. She sipped her coffee and gazed at her friends. For the first time in a very long time, she felt safe and perhaps even loved.

 

 

Alex didn’t sleep, as instructed, but dozed on and off as she watched the moon rise and set. The sweet sounds of the night creatures were her only company, aside from the sound of soft snores coming from the second bedroom. She suspected Kent had a sinus condition, but was too polite to tell him.

When dawn broke, her eyes were like sandpaper, her head still pounded hard enough to make her bones ache and, worst of all, she missed Connor. He’d left her alone with her friends, and seeing them was something she thought she desperately needed, but she found out she’d been wrong.

What she needed was a cowboy with a chip on his shoulder and a smart mouth, and the most beautiful green eyes.

She managed to get into the shower by herself. The hot spray soothed her aching body, but it did nothing for her headache. Alex slipped on her frumpiest, most comfy outfit and shuffled to the kitchen. Don sat at the table with a cup of coffee and a small smile.

“Good morning, Alex. How are you feeling?”

She sat down beside him. “Like shit, but better than the pounded shit I felt like yesterday.”

He rose. “Coffee?”

“God, yes.”

With brisk efficiency he made her a steaming mug and set the half-and-half beside it on the table. She smiled, realizing Don was the quiet one, but he missed nothing. As she sipped the nectar of the gods, he allowed her to enjoy the silence and the coffee.

“You love this cowboy of yours?”

Alex was surprised, to say the least. “Excuse me?”

“I saw the way he looked at you and the way you looked at him.” Don shrugged. “It doesn’t take a genius to see you’ve already got feelings for him.”

She sipped at her coffee while she considered how to answer him. “I definitely have feelings for him, but I don’t know if it’s love, at least not yet.”

Don nodded. “We came here to make sure you were okay. Kent nearly had heart failure when you showed up looking like you’d been in a brawl.” He touched her chin gently. “I’m afraid you don’t look much better, just more, ah, colorful.”

Alex managed a small chuckle. “I can imagine. I avoided the mirror.”

Another brief silence followed, a comfortable one in which friends simply enjoyed the morning brew.

“Will you stay here?”

She expected the question, but not the clench in her stomach at the thought. “I don’t know.” Her voice was soft and uncertain.

Don smiled at her. “Then we’ll enjoy our cowboy weekend and try out the, ah, riding opportunities around the ranch. On Sunday, we’ll say good-bye again.”

Tears stung her eyes as the realization hit her. She did plan on staying; her heart was shouting what her choice would be. All she had to do was voice it aloud.

 

 

Connor didn’t sleep much again. The combined lack of sleep over the last three weeks was totally kicking his ass. He dragged himself through everyday tasks, with barely a recollection of any of them.

He wanted to go see Alex, but he also respected her right to kick him out. It was partially his fault she’d been hurt, for one thing. And she had her two boyfriends from L.A. to take care of her, for another.

Their presence was a constant prick to his pride. He didn’t know who the hell they were, but seeing her in the blond one’s arms had nearly driven him to violence. Again. What she did and with whom she did it were not his concern or his business.

He made it through two days without picking a fight with anyone, a miracle in itself. By the time Sunday came, everyone started avoiding him instead of the other way around. When he left his office to have dinner, he saw Alex’s two man friends waiting by the main house with their suitcases.

A sigh of relief escaped, much to his chagrin.

They spotted him as he walked toward them. The blond one cocked a brow and the dark one’s expression was blank.

“It’s Alex’s cowboy.”

“I can see that.”

“You think he wants to pound us into the ground?”

“More than likely.”

Connor didn’t know what the hell they were talking about, but his heart thumped hard at the “Alex’s cowboy” label. He wanted to ask them what they meant, but his pride kept him from doing so. “Are you leaving?” was what came out of his mouth.

“Anxious, honey? Don’t worry; we’re just waiting for a cab. We did call the only one in town.” The blond had a smart mouth.

“Don’t tease him, Kent. He’s worried about her. Can’t you see that?” The dark-haired man’s stare was intense. “She’s not going with us, but I’m going to warn you now we’ll be back if she needs us.”

Connor reminded himself they were leaving and Alex was staying. “She’s lucky to have friends like you.”

“Don’t forget that, cowboy.” The blond glanced behind him at the approaching cab, then met Connor’s gaze. “I’m not going to repeat what Don said, but I will say don’t hurt her. She’s one amazing woman and deserves better than second place in anyone’s life.”

“I don’t plan on hurting her. She’s my, well, I don’t know.” Connor twisted in the wind with how to explain exactly what Alex was to him.

The blond man grinned. “It’s okay. It’s all part of the journey, right?”

As the two men walked away from him, he wanted to ask them a thousand questions about Alex, but couldn’t think of a single one.

The dark one glanced back at him. “Go to her. She’s been lousy company and I think she misses you.”

Connor felt a surge of cavemanlike satisfaction at the thought that she was miserable, particularly that she missed him. He didn’t grin, even if he wanted to; he just nodded as they climbed in the cab and disappeared.

Anyone else watching might have said he ran to the VIP cabin. Connor would’ve told them it was just a fast walk.

Dusk was just settling like a blanket onto the daylight as he got to the gate. When he pressed the buttons to open it, he remembered the combination was Alex’s birthday. She’d told him her father hadn’t forgotten her. At the time he had dismissed it, but perhaps she was right. Grant never mentioned her, but perhaps he kept the pain private, maybe from shame or regret.

Connor promised himself he’d never have to code a lock with her birthday to remember her. If he had his way, she’d never leave Finley’s Ranch.

He strode up to the door and threw it open. It banged against the wall, earning a startled yelp from inside. Connor could have knocked politely and asked to come in, but it wasn’t the time for it. She looked up from the chaise lounge, a book in her hand and surprise on her face.

“Connor, what the hell are you doing?”

“Visiting you.” He closed the door, then strode toward her and he saw her visibly shiver. With a predatory grin, he slid up the chaise toward her, the heat from her body almost sizzling as it came in contact with his.

“You’re hot.”

“I’ve been told that before.”

“Stupid cowboy. You know what I meant.” She didn’t push him away or tell him to leave.

He braced himself over her and she sank lower into the chaise.

“No, I don’t.” He leaned down and began to rain kisses down her face, eyes, nose and mouth. She closed her eyes and let out a kittenish sigh. His dick roared to life.

“Your body is, um, really warm.” Her voice was breathy and hitched on every other word.