Hot Cowboy Nights (18 page)

“He’s got a way with animals,” Melanie said. “I bet he’s got a way with the women, too? What can you tell me?”

“That the stories are probably right,” Lizzy whispered.

The donkey hopped up into the trailer without a bit of a problem, and Toby came back for the second one. That time was a different story. The plain donkey had to be coaxed all the way to the trailer where he sat down and refused to get inside. No sir, he was not going to do one thing but sit there on his butt and bray like he was being slaughtered by coyotes.

Lizzy bit back a giggle.

That scene was symbolic of Toby’s life up to that time. The fancy donkey was like the bar bunnies who couldn’t wait to go home with Toby, to jump through hoops to do what he wanted and do anything to please the hot cowboy. The plain donkey was Lizzy. She knew who he was, what he was, and worried that what he had been would never change. She was the one sitting on the ground fretting that he could never really stay with someone as plain as Lizzy Logan.

Finally, Toby pulled the donkey’s ear straight up and whispered something in it. The little gray feller got to his feet and without another peep, hopped up into the trailer beside the spotted one.

“What did he say?” Melanie asked.

“I’m not sure I want to know. Do they have names?”

Melanie shook her head. “Terry won’t let me name them. If I do, then I get attached and cry when he sells them. It’s worse since I got pregnant, the weeping that is.”

“That’s what Allie tells me.”

“She’s pregnant?”

Lizzy nodded. “And so happy. She thought she couldn’t have children.”

“I’ve got to get back over to Dry Creek and catch up on everything.”

“Nadine has a café between my store and Mama’s. Come on over and we’ll have lunch. I might even get Allie to join us.” Lizzy smiled.

“And you’ll tell me more about Mr. Sexy out there?” Melanie grinned.

“Never know. Did you hear about the town reunion? It’s next week, the Saturday before Independence Day. Some folks call it a big town reunion; others are sayin’ it’s a festival. You should come over then,” Lizzy said.

Melanie laid a hand on Lizzy’s shoulder. “I was so glad to move from Dry Creek to Wichita Falls when I was in the seventh grade that I never wanted to see that town again. But lately, I miss the folks, so I just might come over part of the day.”

Toby fastened the doors of the cattle trailer and swaggered over to the barn. “Thank you so much. If you’re ready, Lizzy, I reckon we’d best get these fellers on home before dark. Thank goodness I’ve got a couple of apples so they won’t hate me for uprooting them too badly.”

“I’m ready. Nice seeing you again, Melanie. Let me know if you are coming over for the festival,” Lizzy said.

“I sure will.” Melanie waved until they were out of sight.

“So you know her?” Toby asked.

“Went to school with her until we were in the seventh grade. Then her folks moved to Wichita Falls. She and Terry have been married about a year,” Lizzy answered.

“What are you going to name the new livestock?” Toby asked.

“They’re your donkeys, not mine.”

“If they were yours what would you name them?”

“Hey, I’ve got four kittens without names,” she reminded him.

“I’ll help you name them if you’ll help me with the donkeys.”

“Do you name all your cows?” she asked.

“No, but that’s different. Cattle might stay with me for years but it might go to the sale barn or eventually when we get things running good, we might have our own ranch sale. But the donkeys will be with us until they die, and they can live a long time so they need names.” They crossed the river bridge, entered Throckmorton County, and left Young County behind.

“I’ll have to think about it. We could each make a list of kitten names and donkey names and choose from it.”

“Deal!” he said.

An hour later the donkeys were in the pasture, had been given an apple each, and were checking out their new abode. The spotted one stayed close to the cattle, but the gray one circled the fence line, his ears perking up every time a coyote howled in the distance.

What would she name those critters? Their personalities were so different, but she had no doubt they would protect the herd.

Toby slipped an arm around her waist and drew her close to his side. “Some folks get a dog when they begin a serious relationship. Do you think it says something about us that we got two donkeys?”

Serious relationship?

First her blood ran cold and then it hit a simmering boil. The knee-jerk reaction was to hop over that fence, tear out across the pasture, and not stop until she was behind locked doors at her house. Once that settled, the next thought was that if this was serious, then what the hell were they doing watching a herd of cows and two donkeys when his trailer had a really nice bed?

Toby had studied women. He’d learned from the time he’d had his first sexual experience what it took to make a woman happy. He could read their faces and their body language and knew when they were faking and when they were truly satisfied.

But that night, standing there by an old barbed wire fence with sounds of a late spring night around him, he knew true fear. He’d proven that he and Lizzy could make each other very, very happy. But that was sex, and what he wanted now was to make love to this woman. To figure out what drove two people into a place that they wanted to never leave; that was the goal, and he had no idea where to start.

“Got any beer in that trailer?” she asked.

“The four that we left out at the well are in the fridge. I don’t think they smell much like skunk,” he answered.

She slipped her hand in his. “Let’s go talk baby names and find out.”

“Baby names? Are you telling me something?” If any other woman had said that to him, he would have cleared the fence in one leap and been halfway to Muenster before he stopped for breath.

“I’ve already named Stormy’s quadruplets. They are Fefe, Duke, Raylan, and Hoss after mine and Allie’s favorite cowboys, past and present. But the twins out there in the pasture need names if we’re going to keep them,” she said. “I’m not pregnant. I’m on the pill and I told you before I wouldn’t do that to you, Toby.”

She entered the trailer before him, went straight to the refrigerator, and started pulling things out. “We were going to eat in Olney but we were so wound up talking about the donkeys that we forgot so I’m making omelets. What do you want on yours?”

“All of it.” He reached around her and removed two beers, twisted the caps off both, and set hers on the cabinet. “I’ll make the toast while you whip up the eggs. I’m sorry that I didn’t make the turn and go on into town and get us something to eat.”

“No need to be sorry. I know how to cook and omelets are my specialty.”

The kitchen area was tiny so all he had to do was take two steps and he was behind her with his hands around her waist. She flipped around, slung her hip against the refrigerator door to shut it, and rolled up on her toes. Her hands cupped his face and then her lips were on his in a steamy kiss.

Pretty, brilliant sparks danced around the trailer and Lizzy’s knees went weak. She leaned into him and the second kiss was even more sensational. Hormones whined. Her heart thumped so hard that her chest hurt. Her hands were clammy and his hands on her back were like fire. She wanted him and nothing was going to fill the aching void but Toby.

He pushed back, questions in his blue eyes as they bored into hers.

“Omelets now or later?” she panted.

“Later than what?” he asked huskily.

“How hungry are you?”

“For what?”

She started unbuttoning his shirt at the top, stopping to admire and touch the soft hair on his chest on the way to the bottom. When she reached the last one, she tugged the tail out from behind his belt, slipped her arms around his body, and laid her cheek against his chest.

“Let’s make love and only use words when necessary,” she whispered.

“Is that a pickup line?” he asked hoarsely.

“I don’t know. I’ve never said it before but it’s what I want to do right now. Is the door shut so Blue can’t disturb us?”

Little gold flecks sparkled in her brown eyes. How was it that he’d never noticed that before when they were having sex almost every night?

“You are so beautiful.” His tone said that he wanted her to believe him.

With a hop, her legs were suddenly wrapped around his waist, her body pressing against his zipper from the outside that made his erection ache. And yet, he couldn’t rush this. It had to be different from the sex they’d had before. Tonight had to be special, and tomorrow morning when she awoke, she had to realize the difference.

Their lips met again. The excitement of their tongues touching, the feel of her body heat, the tightness of her thighs against his side; the heat was hotter than anything he’d ever experienced.

“I’ve wanted to touch you all evening, but this is only our second official date. Is this the way normal people do this?” He buried his face in her hair and carried her to the bedroom.

“We’re not normal, Toby. Face it. You are wild and hot and sexy and I almost married a preacher.” The kisses grew in heat from a campfire to a blazing wildfire sweeping across the state, devouring everything in its path.

“A match made in heaven?” He chuckled.

“Probably not heaven but right now you can take me there and we’ll check it out.” She smiled. “Do I really make you hot?”

“Can’t you tell?” he groaned.

“I bet I can get out of my clothes faster than you can,” she teased.

It was a tie but they were both breathless when they fell back on the bed. He rolled on his right side and she flipped over on her left one, their faces only inches apart. He ran a hand down her back from her neck to cup her butt cheek.

“I like the way your eyes go all dreamy when you touch me,” she said.

“No words,” he reminded her.

She nodded and traced his lips with her fingers, letting them roam from there down his chest to his erection. Then suddenly she pushed him backward and flipped over on top of him. In an instant, ready or not, he was inside her and she’d taken over the whole game. They rocked together until she was panting so hard that she could scarcely breathe. He pulled her closer to him and with a fast roll he was on top, and the tempo increased until there was an explosion like he’d never felt before. The look in his eyes said that he was every bit as satisfied as she was. He tried to say her name, but a guttural moan was all he could force from his lungs.

He rolled to the side, taking her with him and when he could speak he said, “Oh, Lizzy, I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” she panted.

“That didn’t last nearly long enough.”

“If it had lasted one more second there wouldn’t be anything left of this trailer but ashes and dead bodies.” She inched over close enough to cup his face in her hands and kiss him hard and lingering on the lips. “Besides who says it’s the only time we’ll play tonight. But before round two I will need food.”

“And beer.” He grinned.

L
izzy opened her eyes slowly, expecting to see the sun coming up through her bedroom window. Sunday meant no alarm clock and she got to sleep in until at least eight o’clock. But that morning, not a foot in front of her, were two big round eyes peeking up over the edge of the bed.

Where was she? How did a dog get in her bedroom?

Then reality washed away the questions. She was in bed with Toby in his trailer, and Blue had every right to be there. It was his home, not hers. Holy blazes! She had never spent the night with a man in her life. There had been the night in the back of Toby’s pickup, but that didn’t count. It wasn’t want-to but necessity, and no sex had been involved.

“Good mornin’, beautiful,” Toby said.

She turned away from Blue’s eyes and perky ears to find Toby propped on an elbow. His blue eyes fluttered shut and he brushed a soft kiss across her lips.

“I fell asleep,” she mumbled.

“I like waking up next to you. Has anyone ever told you that you are downright cute with droopy bedroom eyes and your hair all messy?” He pushed a few strands back away from her face and planted another kiss on her nose.

“I’m not sure I like waking up to Blue’s eyes staring at me. Gave me a bit of a startle,” she said.

“Where?” He peered over her body and chuckled. “I thought I had his door locked. Guess I didn’t. Good morning, Blue. Do you think she’s as beautiful as I do?”

“He says the tall blondes that he wakes up with those big eyes are more to his liking,” Lizzy teased.

Toby’s body went stiff and he swung his legs off the bed, sat up, and reached for his jeans. “For your information, there’s never been a woman in this bed with me.”

The tone in his voice left no doubt that she’d hit a sore spot. “It’s too early for someone to have pissed in your coffee this morning, so what’s the matter? Regretting that you didn’t wake me up and send me home last night?”

He jerked his jeans up over a fine, firm-looking butt. “No, it’s not that. I want a fresh start at something new and real with you, Lizzy. I don’t want to talk about the past.”

“The past is part of who we both are, Toby.” She pulled the sheet up over her naked breasts when she sat up. “You can’t erase all those women any more than I can hit a button and delete Mitch.”

“But we don’t have to talk about either of them, do we?” He pulled a T-shirt over his head. “I’ve got chores to do. Will you be here when I get back?”

“Do you want me to be here?” she asked. “Before you answer that, you should know something about me. I let Mitch lead me about with an imaginary chain around my neck for more than a year. He told me how to dress, what to eat, and how to spend my time. I won’t do that again, Toby. I will speak my mind and be myself. I expect you to be the same. This is new territory for us both, but we won’t conquer it by walking on eggshells.”

He shut the door to the tiny bathroom without saying a word. She heard water running and the toilet flushing as she found her scattered clothing and dressed. She was facing the bed, back to the bathroom, when he stepped out and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I’m glad you are here, Lizzy, and you are right. I’ve been in there fighting with myself. Can we start the morning all over again?”

She whipped around and smiled up at him. “Good morning, you sexy cowboy. I think Blue is hungry. He’s sitting in front of the kitchen sink staring at it, waiting for you to open up a can of food for him.”

Looking at her in the mirror above the built-in dresser, he smiled back. “He can wait a few minutes while I hug my lovely girlfriend. Last night was amazing. I never realized that there’s more to sex than sex until you came along.”

“I never realized that there was a difference in sex and making love.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “If you’ll get the morning chores done, I’ll walk across the pasture to my house. Come on over there when you are finished and we can have breakfast together before church.”

“Church?” He frowned.

“Yes, darlin’.” She kissed him on the chin. “We need to go pray for a crop failure.”

The frown deepened.

“We’ve sown our wild oats on Saturday night.” She wiggled out of his embrace. “And now it’s time to do some praying that the seed didn’t take.”

“I thought you were on birth control,” he said.

Lizzy stomped her feet down in her boots and headed for the door. “God works in mysterious ways, and I’m not taking any chances. I’ll see you by nine, right?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll bring a healthy appetite and have my boots shined up and ready to sit on our regular pew in church. Wouldn’t want our crops to take root.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “How do you feel about kids, Toby?”

He leaned against the end of the kitchen cabinets. “Love ’em. Plan on spoilin’ Allie and Blake’s. Don’t know how I feel about any of my own because I never figured on settling down until I met you. What about you?”

“I’ve always wanted a houseful or at least three,” she answered honestly.

“Guess we’ll worry with that bridge later on down the road,” he said.

“If we ever get to it.” She smiled again. “One day at a time.”

“Sweet Jesus,” he sang the first words to the old song.

Maybe Toby was right.

They managed to slip into the back pew five minutes before church started, which meant Dora June and her righteous friends were already seated. And since they were on the last pew, when the services ended and Truman delivered a lengthy benediction in which he made sure God knew how much he appreciated the service, the community, and every blade of grass that had sprung up that spring, they were the first ones out of the church.

They’d paid their dues and everything was going to be smooth sailing for them from now on. Lizzy’s confidence mounted even higher when they made it to a steak house in Wichita Falls and didn’t have to wait for a table. That was unheard of on Sunday. The church crowd most usually beat everyone to the best eating places.

Toby threw an arm around Lizzy’s shoulders as the waitress led them to a booth. “I told you our luck had changed.”

“What are y’all havin’ to drink?” The waitress eyed Toby like he was a five-course dinner and she was really, really hungry.

“Sweet tea.” Lizzy didn’t like that blast of jealousy that shot through her body, but he was a good-looking cowboy and he did throw off come-hither vibes.

“Same.” Toby smiled.

“Appetizers?” she asked.

Why don’t you slide in between him and the table and give him a little lap dance. I’ll study the menu while you do your thing?
Lizzy said to herself.
Why am I letting a waitress get to me? I’m not a jealous person.

“Appetizers, Lizzy?” Toby asked.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about food not appetizers, but I would like some fried green tomatoes,” she answered quickly.

The waitress’s eyes were on the little scar on Toby’s cheek. “With our special dip or another dressing?”

“I stabbed him,” Lizzy said bluntly. “That’s how he got that scar.”

“Why? I’m sorry. That’s personal. I shouldn’t ask that.” She blushed.

Why not? You’ve been undressing him with your eyes for the past three minutes and needed a drooling bib when you got to his belt buckle.

“It’s okay.” Lizzy laid a hand on the woman’s arm. “I was mad at a woman for flirting with him and he tried to take the knife away from me. It was an accident.”

“I’ll be right back with your drinks and appetizer.” She turned so fast that she ran into a bus boy with a tray of dirty glasses and he had to do some fancy footwork to keep it all from hitting the floor.

“Lying on Sunday?” Toby chuckled. “The preacher will make you deliver the benediction next week as penance.”

She picked up the menu. “It was worth it. And our preacher only calls on a woman to pray at the end of the service on Mother’s Day.”

“Little jealous were you?” he asked.

“Right then I was a whole lot jealous, not a little,” she answered honestly.

He pushed the menu to the side and covered her hands with his, his gaze captivating her eyes. The whole world disappeared and they were the only two people in a tiny space with no sound except the beating of their hearts. “I couldn’t even see that woman because I have blinders on when you are around, and every single thought in my head is about you.” His voice was low, seductive, and mesmerizing. “I’ve never felt like this before and it scares the hell out of me.”

“Me, too, Toby,” she whispered.

“It’s too hot to last, isn’t it?”

“Won’t know until we try,” she answered.

“It didn’t last before.”

A presence at their table disturbed their private world. Whatever it was, skunk, tornado, hailstorm, or the waitress bringing their drinks, Lizzy wished they’d vanish into thin air and leave her and Toby alone. She sighed as she looked up at Dora June’s condescending expression.

“Well, hello, Lizzy. I had no idea that you knew Toby and Blake before they bought the Lucky Penny. My niece, Lacy, works here and she just now told me how Toby got that scar. I bet he’s the real reason you broke up with that dear boy, Mitch, isn’t he?” Dora June asked tersely.

So much for the bad luck finally playing out. Madam Fate had only given them a slight reprieve before the big storm hit full force.

“Good morning, Miz Dora June.” Toby flashed his brightest smile her way. “Wasn’t that church service uplifting this morning? And the hymns were sung with such gusto that I bet the angels in heaven are still smiling. Would you and Truman like to sit with us? I’d be glad to buy your lunch or dinner or whatever you folks call it. In my world, it’s always been dinner and supper but I wouldn’t want to offend you.”

“Hell, no!” Truman said as he joined them. “I wouldn’t even sit with Deke today. He probably knows that Lizzy broke up with Mitch because of you. Was she the one who told you about the Lucky Penny?”

Toby smiled. “Deke is our good friend and for your information Lizzy was making a joke when she told the waitress that story. Don’t punish Deke because you don’t like us.”

“Guilty by association,” Dora June said.

“We’ll take him in anytime. Y’all sure I can’t buy you dinner?” Toby asked.

“Come on, Dora June. I don’t want folks to see us talking to these people,” Truman said.

They left in a huff and Toby chuckled.

“What?” Lizzy asked.

“Small world, isn’t it? The waitress is her niece. Reminds me of the lyrics in that old song that says he’s everywhere and he’s watching you.”

“I believe that was Santa Claus, not Dora June.” Lizzy pulled her hands free so the waitress could set the fried green tomatoes and sweet tea on the table. “Thank goodness there’s only a handful of people in Dry Creek who are hoping that the Lucky Penny fails again. The rest of the folks are really great.”

“Ain’t that the truth? What is it about four women and Truman who’ve got a burr up their butts?”

Lizzy smiled. “Five out of a whole town isn’t a bad number. I imagine they’re upset because Truman wanted to buy the ranch and waited too long.”

“Waited?” Toby dipped a fried green tomato into the sauce and popped it in his mouth.

“Folks didn’t think it would ever sell with the reputation it has, so those who were interested sat back and waited for the price to hit rock bottom. Y’all swooped in before that happened and bought it. Truman was most likely the top dog on that list and now he thinks if he can make life miserable for y’all, then you’ll leave and he’ll buy it with all y’all’s improvements already made on it.”

“Is that rumor or truth?”

“Neither. It’s my own theory. He wasn’t ever a happy person, but he turned really sour when he found out the Lucky Penny had sold to y’all. He’s fighting a losing battle, Toby. Folks love you and Blake and what you are doing to the ranch.”

“Truman nor his posse of self-righteous women are going to run us off.” Toby picked up a slice of fried tomato, dipped it in the sauce, and fed it to her.

“Good. I don’t want you to leave.”