Should've Been a Cowboy Read online

  Tyler cleaned up as best she could before they left the barn, but her wet clothes felt icky and no doubt she resembled a half-drowned cat. The rain continued to fall, soaking her hair and clothes even more, although Alex tried to shield her with his body. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she slid her arm around his waist as they started toward the house.

  Normally she cared a lot about how she presented herself, but a world-shattering orgasm had mellowed her out tremendously. Even so, she still didn’t like the idea of tracking the rain and mud onto the ranch’s gorgeous hardwood floors.

  “Are you sure there’s no back entrance that leads to a mud room?” she asked as they approached the front porch. “I’d think a ranch would have something like that.”

  “Um… well, it does.”

  “It does? Then why didn’t you say so before?”

  No answer.

  She gave him a whack on the arm, but considering how solid his biceps were, she didn’t think he felt much of anything.

  He yelped in protest, anyway. “What was that for?”

  “You know perfectly well! You lured me back into that barn on false pretenses!”

  “Maybe.” He didn’t sound the least bit repentant. “Mad at me?”

  “I should be. That was a very underhanded way to get me alone and naked.” She heard the smile in her voice and was sure he could hear it, too.

  “You’re right. I’m thoroughly ashamed of myself.”

  “Yeah, I’ll bet you are.”

  “I deserve to be sent straight to bed.”

  She laughed. “Stop it. We have things to do.”

  “We certainly do.” He walked faster, urging her to keep up. “For one thing, I need to count the condoms stashed in my bedside table drawer.”

  “You’re getting carried away.” And she was getting carried away right with him. Her wet panties had nothing to do with the rain and everything to do with the prospect of spending the night in bed with Alex.

  Warnings whispered through her mind, threatening to erase her glow of satisfaction, and she pushed them away. Good sex was healthy and life-affirming, like a trip to a spa. She’d soak up all the joy she could and not spoil it by anticipating the inevitable parting scene. It wouldn’t rip her heart out. She wouldn’t allow that.

  “Getting carried away feels great,” Alex said. “I haven’t felt this good since…”

  “Last August?” That would have been her answer. She hadn’t felt this giddy since the night in the hayloft.

  “’Fraid so. But that doesn’t mean I’ll get hung up on you. I can play by the rules.”

  “I know you can,” she said with determined optimism. “It was naive of us to think we could keep our distance from each other while I’m here. I think facing the attraction and dealing with it is a realistic approach, don’t you?”

  “Absolutely. We both would have been on edge the entire time, which wouldn’t have been fair to everyone around us.”

  “Right.” She glanced at the ranch house as welcoming light shone through its many windows. “So where is this back entrance?”

  “In the back.”

  “Very funny. Why are you still heading for the front door?”

  “Because the utility room is right off the kitchen. Not only will we run into Mary Lou serving dinner, but the family dining room isn’t far from the kitchen. Judging from the trucks parked in the driveway, everyone is gathered for the Friday night meal. Someone will hear us.”

  “But what about the mess we’ll make in the main part of the house?”

  “We’ll take off our shoes — or in my case, my boots — on the porch. It’s not that far to go through the hall and up the stairs. We can change clothes and come back down with nobody the wiser.”

  “I doubt that. I say somebody’s going to pick up on the fact that we have more than friendship going on.”

  He pulled her to a halt. “And how do you feel about that?”

  “It’s not for me to say. I’ll be leaving on Wednesday.” She gazed up at him as rain dripped from her hair and her eyelashes. Thank God for waterproof mascara. Although the rest of her might be a disaster, at least she wouldn’t go into the house with raccoon eyes. “I guess we need to discuss this. Do you care if they figure out that we’re involved?”

  He hesitated briefly. “I guess it’s none of their business unless it affects my work.”

  He was so adorably sincere that she chose not to mention how it had already affected his work. They still didn’t have a plan for tomorrow. She’d make sure they did have one, but they’d become seriously sidetracked from working out the details of the open house.

  “It may be nobody’s business,” she said, “but we each have a sister sitting at the dining table. I don’t know about your family, but mine tends to think they have a right to an opinion about my behavior.”

  Alex combed his wet hair back from his forehead. “I’m sure Josie will say something to me. I made plenty of comments when she started seeing Jack, who had already broken her heart once. Okay, you’re right. Let’s get this out of the way. Josie will notice eventually, anyway.”

  “I’m not sure if Morgan will or not. She’s so focused on this baby that she might be oblivious, but Sarah’s nobody’s fool. I get the impression she keeps pretty close track of what goes on around here.”

  “She does.” He frowned. “In fact, I wonder if she already suspects something and that’s why she put us in the same wing…”

  “You think she’s playing matchmaker?”

  “No, probably not.”

  “I don’t think so, either. She seemed really happy for me that I was up for this big promotion. Anyway, we won’t confirm or deny that we have a connection and let people think whatever they want. But let’s not sneak in as if we have something to hide.”

  He nodded. “The back door it is. There’s a stairway from the kitchen to the second floor, so we can go up that way to change. If anybody intercepts us, so be it.” Wrapping his arm more securely around her, he started around the house.

  “We have been out in the barn a fair amount of time, though.”

  “So?”

  “So rather than let their imaginations run completely wild, let’s tell them we’ve been cooking up alternate plans for the open house while we waited for the rain to stop. Finally we realized it wasn’t going to stop and came ahead.”

  “All right.” He navigated around a puddle. “By the way, do you have any alternate plans for the open house? Because I have zip.”

  She noticed that the rain had let up a little, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t start up again during the night. “The barn is definitely an option, but I still think we need to suggest using the living room and the big dining room.”

  “I thought you were worried about tracking up the floors just now? If you open up the main house and it’s raining, that will—”

  “Oh, geez.” Talk about being distracted and missing the big picture. “Okay, scratch that. I’ll figure out something else. Maybe it won’t rain all that much.”

  “We can hope. But what about the entertainment? I’m not sure one lone guitar player is going to cut it, especially if he has to be talked into performing. I wanted something guests could have fun watching.”

  Now that she had worked out. “They can watch me.”

  “You? Doing what?”

  Spinning away from him, she threw her hands in the air and belted out the opening lyrics to Oklahoma.

  He grinned at her. “I didn’t know you could sing.”

  “There are lots of things you don’t know about me, Mr. Keller. An activities director on a cruise ship has to wear many hats and being able to sing and dance is a great thing to have on a resume in my line of work.” She executed a sloppy soft-shoe routine in the wet grass and finished with a little bow.

  “You are so stinkin’ cute.”

  “Yes, but do I get the job? Will you hire me as your entertainment for tomorrow’s event? Me and Watkins, the relucta
nt guitarist?”

  “Maybe. I know I can afford Watkins, but you’re a professional. I don’t know if I can afford you.”

  “Sure you can. I will work for…” She stepped closer and whispered a suggestion involving whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

  He pulled her in tight, their wet clothes sticking together like Velcro. “To hell with making an entrance and having dinner with the family. Let’s head back to the barn.”

  “Hey, you two,” called a male voice. “Don’t you have sense enough to come in out of the rain?”

  Alex released her immediately. “Hey, Jack.”

  Tyler knew it had to be one of the Chance brothers who’d opened the screen door, but when she looked at the figure silhouetted against the light she wouldn’t have been able to say which one it was. They sounded similar and all had the same broad-shouldered cowboy look. Apparently it was Jack, the oldest.

  “We’ll be right in,” Alex said. “We were just—”

  “I was practicing a number for tomorrow,” Tyler said. “Watkins and I will be filling in for the country band that cancelled on Alex. We’re going to give the entertainment a down-home feel.” She remembered Jack as being dark-haired and moody, but according to Morgan, his disposition had improved since marrying Josie.

  “The band cancelled?”

  “Afraid so,” Alex said. “About two hours ago.”

  “I see. So are you also part of this number Tyler’s practicing?”

  Tyler realized Jack probably had witnessed the clinch. “We were discussing that,” she said. “But I think not. He’s not much of a dancer.”

  Jack chuckled. “I know he can’t dance, but he tries.”

  “I’m not that bad of a dancer,” Alex said. “It’s just that all the Chance guys are like semi-professional or something.”

  Tyler had noticed that family trait last summer and remarked on it. Sarah had told her they all took after their father, who was the best dancer she’d ever known. “Maybe I should let you help me with the entertainment for tomorrow, Jack.”

  “No can do. I’ll have my hands full working with the horses. But you sounded great just now. I happened to hear you when I went to fetch myself a beer in the kitchen, and I was curious enough to stick my head out the door. Was that Oklahoma?”

  “Yes.”

  “Unfortunately the Last Chance is located in Wyoming. You know any songs about Wyoming?”

  “No.”

  “Guess I’ll have to teach you some, then. Alex, you might want to think about bringing your talent inside before she catches her death out there.”

  “We were heading in when Tyler decided she needed to audition for me,” Alex said.

  “Uh-huh. Well, Tyler, you’ve got a helluva voice.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Wrong tune, but helluva voice. Can we afford her, Alex?”

  Alex’s voice sounded choked. “I… yeah, we should be able to meet her terms.”

  “Good to know. See you two inside.”

  The screen door banged shut and Alex lost it, doubling over and shaking with silent laughter. “Good God,” he said, gasping. “If Jack only knew… what you named as your fee…” He gazed at her, still chuckling.

  She smiled at him. “This way I won’t have to claim it on my taxes.”

  “Yeah, I doubt there’s a line item for being served up like an ice cream sundae.” He looked at her as if he’d like to start immediately. “Have you had sex with whipped cream before?”

  “No, but I’ve always wanted to try it. Assuming you can smuggle stuff out of the kitchen.”

  “Don’t worry about that. All you have to be concerned with is keeping the noise level down while I drive you crazy.”

  “Do you have whipped cream experience, then?”

  “No.” He winked at her. “But I’ve always wanted to try it. Shall we go in?”

  “Okay. How do I look?”

  “Beautiful.”

  “Liar.”

  “It’s not a lie. You look like a woman who’s been having fun, and that’s always sexy to me.”

  “I have been having fun.” She gave him a quick kiss. “And I intend to have even more fun later on tonight.” Then she started for the stairs leading to the back door.

  “Damn, but you’re hot, Tyler O’Connelli.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “You’re no icicle yourself, Alex Keller.”

  Speaking of icicles, Alex could have used one to shove down his pants before he followed Tyler and her tight little tush into the house. The woman turned him inside out. She was right that they could never have managed four more days without falling into bed with each other.

  Now that the dam had broken and they were committed to squeezing all the pleasure they could out of this time, he would ignore the ticking clock and make the most of every second he had with her. Of course he wanted her all to himself twenty-four-seven, but that wouldn’t be happening.

  They were both committed to making the open house a success, and that would take up a chunk of time. Besides that, Tyler had come here to see Morgan, so whenever Morgan was around, Alex would back off.

  And he could start now. Morgan met them at the door and ushered them into the room containing two large-capacity washers and a matching pair of dryers.

  “Jack said you two got caught in the rain.” Morgan’s smile was merry but her gaze was assessing. “I see he wasn’t kidding.”

  “We’re soaked and we’re muddy,” Tyler said. “We didn’t want to track all through the house like this, so—”

  “Stay right there, both of you,” Morgan said. “I’ll ask Sarah for a couple of bathrobes.”

  Alex pulled off his boots and his wet socks. “She has an idea something’s going on,” he said in an undertone.

  “It’s fine. I’ll talk with her. She knows this cruise job doesn’t give me much opportunity to date. She’ll understand.”

  “Probably.” But he noticed Tyler didn’t sound quite as confident as she had out there in the rain. Neither was he. He wasn’t looking forward to dealing with Josie’s questions.

  Last summer he’d tried to protect his sister from Jack, who had previously dumped her. Obviously Jack had learned the error of his ways and now spent all his time proving to Josie how much he loved her, but Alex hadn’t known it would turn out that way.

  Josie wouldn’t approve of Alex having a temporary fling with Tyler any more than Alex had liked Josie hooking up with Jack. She’d see it as a heartache waiting to happen, and he couldn’t promise her it wasn’t. He couldn’t very well claim to know what he was doing, either, considering that his marriage had failed miserably.

  Maybe he’d steer clear of Josie for the next four days. That wouldn’t be easy, but it wouldn’t be impossible, either. He’d be involved in the open house tomorrow and the cleanup on Sunday. Josie liked to spend most of her weekend at the Spirits and Spurs because that’s when the employees needed her the most.

  But Friday nights were reserved for the Chance family to gather at the ranch house, and the hum of conversation and occasional bursts of laughter coming from the dining room told him the meal was in full swing. Josie would be sitting next to Jack and no doubt she’d already pumped her husband for information. She might try to corner Alex before the evening was over.

  “Morgan said we need a couple of robes in here.” Sarah walked into the utility room with two white terry bathrobes over her arm. Her eyes widened. “Good Lord, what happened to you two? Did you fall in the mud?”

  “Something like that,” Alex said.

  “It was my fault.” Tyler scrubbed her hair back from her face. “I made a run for it and slipped in the mud. Then Alex tried to help me up and I caused him to lose his balance. I’m sure we looked like Laurel and Hardy out there.”

  “Well, here’s a robe for each of you.” She handed one to Tyler before giving Alex his. “You should just leave your wet stuff here. Alex, turn your back while Tyler gets out of her clothes.”

  H
e couldn’t very well say that he’d already seen Tyler naked quite recently, so he turned around and began unfastening the snaps down the front of his denim shirt. He could hear Tyler and Sarah murmuring behind him and the rustle of clothing.

  “All clear,” Sarah said in a louder voice. “You can turn around now, Alex.”

  He turned. Tyler’s clothes were piled on top of one of the washers and she stood there wrapped up tight in the terry robe.

  The robe was bulky and too big, so it completely disguised her figure. Alex shouldn’t have found a single thing to be turned on about, except that her feet were bare, and the polish on her sexy toes gleamed in the overhead light. His fevered brain kicked into fantasy mode again.

  “There’s a door in the kitchen to the right of the stove, Tyler.” Sarah pointed in that direction. “Behind it is a stairway that will take you to the second floor. The boys used that route all the time when they’d come in from the corral. You have towels up there, right?”

  Tyler nodded. “Alex brought me some.”

  “You don’t have a private bath, I’m afraid. You’ll have to share the hall bath with Alex, so you might as well take off and get a head start.”

  “I will, and thank you. Sorry to be so much trouble.”

  “It’s no trouble, sweetie. Jack says you’re going to pair up with Watkins to provide the entertainment for the open house tomorrow, which is a huge help. I feel guilty making you work on your vacation. I hope Alex is paying you well for that.”

  “Don’t worry. He is.”

  Alex covered his reaction with a coughing fit as Tyler, cheeks pink, quickly left the room.

  “Oh, dear.” Sarah peered at him. “I hope you’re not getting sick.”

  “I’m fine. Just swallowed wrong.”

  “Listen, it’s not my place to interfere, but I think that girl is extremely focused on getting her promotion. And I don’t blame her. That’s impressive, being named a cruise director at her age.”

  Alex gazed into Sarah’s blue eyes, so much like Gabe’s. Although Sarah was a devoted mother to all three men, Gabe was her only biological child. Jack had been four when she’d married his father, and then baby Nick had appeared on the doorstep, the unexpected result of Jonathan’s affair in the period between his divorce from Jack’s mother and meeting Sarah. Sarah had accepted all three boys as hers to raise. In fact, she was fast becoming a second mother to him, as well.