Lace & Lassos (17 page)

She took a deep breath and tried to shake off the incredible attraction she had for Zane Cameron.

Once she turned her attention to the scenery, she was again impressed by the canopy of dark green oaks that contrasted against the expanse of golden grass. Here and there were pockets cottonwood trees and a few massive sycamores.

“This country is amazing,” she said. “An outdoor photographer’s dream.”

“I grew up here and I never get tired of it.” He glanced over at her as he drove. “Most visitors here, including Arizona natives from other parts of the state, can’t believe they’re in Arizona. Had a guy from Santa Barbara out here and he couldn’t believe how much it looked like the area he was from.”

“The expanse of grass of the San Rafael Valley and the surrounding green hills is just beautiful,” she said.

“Most people are surprised to learn that the musical
Oklahoma
was filmed right here in the valley,” he said.
 

“I never would have guessed that.” She raised her brows. “Parts of the grass valley look like how I would picture the Midwest plains back in the day.”

She was in love with the country. So peaceful, so quiet, so stunning.

It wasn’t long before they paused in front of a barbed wire fence with an open gate and a cattle guard. She looked at Zane.

“The ‘No Hunting’ signs have been taken down.” He shook his head. “I’ll have to get one of the men out here to take care of it.”

Zane drove on and they came up on an old red truck parked in the shade of a group of tall oaks but no one was in sight. Up ahead was a stock tank and water tower.

She glanced at Zane again to see him frowning. He parked then opened his truck door and climbed out. She hurried out her side, her camera strap securely around her neck and she hopped onto the dry ground.

As soon as she was out of the truck she took in their surroundings, picking out what she felt would be the best shots in the beautiful scenery. She took a deep breath of the clean air and let it fill her entire being as she closed her eyes. She let all tension leave her body as she connected with the land.

“It’s wonderful here.” She opened her eyes and looked at Zane who was staring in one direction.

“Let’s go this way. I can see some tracks leading up the road in this direction. We’ll try and stay in the open and visible,” he said as he looked over his shoulder at her. “The last thing you want is to get shot by mistake.”

“Gotcha.” She made sure she followed him and stayed out from behind the occasional oak tree or bush. “What’s in season this time of year?”

“Whitetail called Coues deer.” He paused and she almost ran into him as he gave a nod in the direction they had been walking. “Over there.”

She peered past him and spotted two men, one wearing a cap, and another in a brown cowboy hat, walking toward them.

A flash of irritation caused Zane’s gut to burn. The men should have stopped by the ranch to ask permission to shoot on his land. It was the proper thing to do, but then the signs were down.

“How do you do?” one of the two men said as they met up and the man held out his hand. “I’m Bud Harper and this is Joe Cullman.” Bud was tall, but Zane still had a good three inches on him. Joe was a little shorter and stockier.

“Zane Cameron.” He took Bud’s hand and shook it before taking Joe’s and releasing it. “Did you know you’re trespassing on private land?” Zane’s tone kept his tone even, not showing any anger. “There’s no hunting on this part of the ranch.”

Joe pushed up his ball cap. “This your land?”

Bud glanced around. “We’re sorry. We’ve been real careful to not trespass. We didn’t see any signs.”

“I own the Bar C.” Zane gave a nod. “We’re pretty welcoming to hunters, but we want to keep them out of this area of the ranch this year. Someone has taken down the signs and we’ll be fixing that.” He pointed toward the west. “If you take the dirt road another mile and a half, there’s a sign that says Jones’ Mesa. I’ve seen plenty of deer in that area and there are some great places to glass from and see a lot of country,” he said. “Just do me a favor and go under the fences if you can rather than climb over them. Hunters damage a lot of fences. It’s the only gripe I really have about you guys.”

“Sure thing. We understand. We’ll head on over there.” Bud moved his gaze from the direction Zane had pointed to and looked at Zane again. “Much obliged.”

Zane gave a nod and then Bud and Joe headed back to the beat-up red pickup, climbed in with Bud on the driver’s side. The truck gave a rusted hiccup and then rumbled as Bud started it.

He noticed Jessie photographing the truck as the men left. She lowered her camera and looked at Zane. “You were pretty nice to those guys.”

He rested his hand on the hood of his truck. “Nothin’ wrong with a little hunting as long as it is in the right area and as long as they respect things.”

“What does ‘to glass from’ mean?” she asked. “That’s a term I’ve never heard before.”

“Hunters use binoculars and spotting scopes to search the country for deer,” Zane said. “It’s called glassing. When they see deer through the binoculars, they stalk them.”

“That’s interesting,” she said. “So what’s next for a day in the life of a cowboy?” Her smile caused a stirring in his gut. “After chasing off hunters and all.”

He studied her and it felt as if there was a war going on in his chest. “While we’re out here I can give you a little more of a tour of the Bar C.” Something about Jessie made him want to spend as much time as possible with her.

Not a good idea, Cameron.
He mentally chided himself.
Run fast and run now.
 

“Sure.” She smiled. “I’d love that.” She pointed in the direction of the fence line. “I saw a group of some kind of cool looking feathery looking plants over there that I’d like to photograph on the other side of the fence.”

He gave a nod then watched her as she walked away from him. She had a cute little ass and gentle curves that were made for a man’s hands to caress. And those long legs that weren’t covered by her shorts. They were enough to make a man’s mouth water.

Damn.

Jessie reached the barbed wire fence. He watched as she carefully grabbed a top strand between barbs and then did the same with her feet so that she was standing on the bottom strand and balancing as she took pictures.

Concerned that she might fall, he moved closer to her. Before he reached her, she lowered the camera and let it hang on the strap around her neck. She started to climb back down when he heard a ripping sound and then a curse.

He reached her and put his hand on her shoulder. “You okay?” he asked just as he looked down and saw that she’d shredded her T-shirt on the barbed wire.

His mouth went dry as he got a good look at her bare breast and the pert nipple. He swallowed and met her gaze.

Her cheeks had gone red hot and she held her T-shirt over her breast the best she could. “So much for this thing,” she said, trying to make light of an embarrassing situation.

“We’ll get you back to the house and you can wear one of my clean shirts.” His touch set her on fire as he took her arm and she stepped down from the fence with his aid. “For now you can wear this one.”

He released her then unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off. Her jaw almost dropped as she got a good look at his tanned physique and the powerful play of muscles in his chest and arms.

If he wasn’t about to be married she would have jumped him in two seconds flat.

“Thanks,” she said as she took the shirt from him and smiled.

He helped her slip into the shirt as she fought to keep the scrap of cloth over her breast. His shirt had his scent, warm and masculine, and she found herself inhaling and savoring it.

Once the shirt was on, they walked back to his truck and he helped her into the cab. She kept her hand firmly over the tear as he shut the door behind her.

He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the truck before glancing over at her. “Need a little help with that?” he said in a teasing voice.

“I think I’ve got it.” Her cheeks had cooled but threatened to heat up again. “What happens on Cameron property stays on Cameron property, right?”

He laughed. “No problem.”

Excerpt… Lipstick and Leather

Cheyenne McCray

Available Now!

Mike came back barefoot and wearing only his jeans.

Anna swallowed as she got a good look at his powerful body. He was cut, his muscles defined all the way from his chest and biceps, down to his six-pack and his waist that tapered into his jeans. He pulled on a white T-shirt and she found herself disappointed. Talk about eye candy. She never knew cowboys could be so sexy.

“Cold?” he asked.

Not after seeing him walk around without his shirt. No, she was all warm and tingly.

“It’s not bad,” she said.

“Even a fake fire is nice to sit in front of.” He went to the electric fireplace and got it going.

He was right, it was nice and she went to stand in front of it.

“Up for another drink?” he asked as he walked to a wet bar in the corner.

“Sure.” Why not? Earlier she did decide that she could use a drink or three.

He raised a bottle with amber liquid. “Whisky or vodka?”

“I’d better stick with vodka.” She sat on the couch and started tugging off her boots and socks. “On the rocks would be great.” When she was finished, she set her footwear aside.

When he brought her the drink she took a sip and let the warm liquid slide down her throat. She seated herself on the floor in front of the fireplace, her back against the sofa. Mike sat on the floor beside her with the bottles of whisky and vodka between them.

His nearness was unsettling and comforting at the same time. He was a sexy cowboy who had more charm than he probably knew what to do with. He was casual sexy and he wore it with ease as if he didn’t realize how attractive he was.

He smelled good, of leather and fresh air, like how good it smelled outside with the new-fallen snow. His chestnut hair was a little mussed and he had a day’s stubble on his jaws. His green eyes were amazing. She might just have to change her rule about not doing cowboys.

The thought of doing this cowboy sent heat straight between her thighs and to her cheeks. She was utterly insane for thinking this way.

He rested his forearm on one bent knee, his other leg straight as he looked at her. “Where are you from?”

She lowered her glass. “Tucson.”

“You’re in my part of Arizona, not too far from where I live.” He smiled. “I have a place outside Sierra Vista.”

“Not far at all.” She returned his smile. He wasn’t really long distance like she’d expected, not that she needed a relationship right now. “From my house that’s ninety minutes at most.”

He knocked back a drink of his whisky. “What brings you to Denver?”

“It’s supposed to be a girl’s weekend out.” She shook her head and sighed. “Becky loves rodeo and we’re going to some big event. Bull riding, I think. She begged me to come and you know the rest.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “I take it rodeo is about as appealing to you as that party was tonight.”

“That’s about right.” She brushed hair from her face. “You being a cowboy, you probably get into that rodeo stuff.”

“Some.” He shrugged, the movement casual. “Have you ever watched professional bull riding?”

“I’ve seen it on the news a couple of times.” She grimaced as she thought of the scenes she’d had a glimpse of. “I can imagine a cowboy would end up missing a whole bunch of teeth and breaking lots of bones. I don’t get the appeal.”

His laugh was low, enticing. “Maybe you’ll change your mind after going tomorrow.”

“I doubt it.” She rubbed her thigh with her palm. “Are you going, being a cowboy and all?”

With a grin he said, “I’ll be there.”

“Where are your seats?” she asked. “We’re sitting in something called the Gold Buckle seats. Becky says we’re near the chute, whatever that is.”

“Nice seats.” He shifted where he sat. “I’m sitting in that same area.”

She felt a little stirring of something. Excitement maybe? “Maybe I’ll see you there,” she said.

He nodded. “No doubt you will.”

The effects of the vodka were coming on and she felt mellow and relaxed. “So what do you do?”

She swore she saw amusement in his gaze when he said, “I’m self-employed.”

“What kind of business do you have?” she asked.

“Cattle.” He took another drink of whisky. “Why don’t you tell me what you do for a living?”

She set her glass down on the plush carpeting and wrapped her arms around her knees. “I teach.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Little ones or big ones?”

Anna laughed. “Big ones. High school English.”

“Brave woman.”

She gave a quick grin. “I love it. Comes with its challenges but it’s worth it.”

“Have any children of your own?” he asked.

“Not yet.” She picked up her glass and swirled the vodka and ice. “But that’s one of my dreams. Children.”

“I wouldn’t mind having a few of my own.” He held his drink and rested on his thigh. “Married? Boyfriend?”

“No to both.” She tilted her head. “And you?”

“No strings.” He raised the bottle of vodka. “Ready for more?”

“Sure.” She held up her glass and he tipped the bottle and filled it. “Oooh, that’s more than enough.”

He set the bottle down and raised his glass of whisky. They clinked glasses and she took a sip of hers while he downed his in one swallow.

As they talked, she wondered how she could have rebuffed him so many times. He was genuine, personable, an all-around nice guy.

Not to mention he was hot. Why didn’t she say yes before now? She had turned him down three times yet here she was now, wanting him more than she could have imagined.

She found herself sitting closer to him, close enough that she could feel his body heat and their shoulders touched. She didn’t know if he had moved or if she had but suspected it was her.

At the same time they reached for their glasses and somehow his hand ended up over hers. They linked their fingers and he brought their hands up and kissed her knuckles.