My True Cowboy (14 page)

“Do you?”

“I'm driving you there, aren't I?”

When she blinked in surprise, he tempered his voice. Remembering that women needed to hear the words. “It's still what I want.”

“It's still what I want, too,” she said softly.

In no time, he'd parked the truck and shut the lights.
The moon wasn't out, and it was dark in the cab. As his eyes adjusted, he could barely make out her silhouette.

There was only one thing to do. He pulled her into his arms and started kissing her, quietly doing his best to bring her back to the point where they'd stopped earlier.

To the point that had brought them out here.

Susan responded enthusiastically. Her mouth was open, her tongue probing into his mouth. Her hands were pulling at his shirt.

He easily unbuttoned the three top buttons and pulled it over his head. To his pleasure, she slipped out of that top and bra again, then slid her hands up his bare chest.

Scant moments later, his jeans were off and her panties were down, and protection was in his hand.

He was embarrassed. Surely she'd expected a little more grace? More patience? “I'm sorry. Can't wait, Sue.” Before he lost his mind, he prepared himself for her. And then suddenly he was home. Or what it felt like, anyway.

Her legs were wrapped around him, her breath was coming in short bursts, her hands were on his ass. Only a few hard thrusts brought them both to fulfillment.

Slowly, reality settled back in. Sweat coated his shoulders, his back. In the dim light, Susan was staring up at him, something akin to wonder in her eyes.

“Was I too rough?” he murmured. “It's been a long time for me. Jeez, I promise I usually have a bit more finesse.”

“Finesse in your truck?” She laughed. “Oh, the things you worry about, Cal.”

She was joking. She wasn't disappointed. She didn't have regrets. “Maybe next time we could spread out a bit?”

She sighed, as if he was asking too much of her. “Just tell me when and where, Cal Riddell. And I'll be there.”

“Is tomorrow too soon?”

“Not at all,” she whispered before she leaned up and
touched her lips to his. “As a matter of fact, tomorrow's way too late.”

“Guess you don't mind the truck?” he murmured against her lips, rubbed his hands along her back, enjoyed the way her cool, soft skin felt against his fingers.

“Nope.”

“So then, maybe, we could—”

“Stop talking, Cal, and kiss me.”

Cal Riddell did the only thing he could do. He easily complied with her wishes. It wasn't hard to do.

“How much longer is Daddy going to be staying at the care center?” Ginny asked as Cal pulled in to a parking space at the front of the home two days later.

Jarred, who was sitting in the passenger seat next to Cal, looked over his shoulder and answered, “I'm not rightly sure, sugar. A lot depends on how he's feeling.”

“Is he feeling better?”

“I think so,” Cal said. Actually, most of the time when he'd visited, he had a feeling his father was having the time of his life at the retirement home. He'd only seen his dad sit alone in his room a handful of times. Actually, most times, Cal had a heck of a time trying to figure out where his father was. Feeling stronger, he was now walking out by the pond, playing poker with the other men, and had even taken to playing gin with Rosa Ventura on a regular basis.

When Cal came to visit, they focused on people his dad had met, or the other old guys. Or the family. Rarely did he ask about the day-to-day operation of the ranch anymore.

Instead, he talked of it in general terms…almost as if his ranching days were in his past.

Yet there was still Ginny to consider. She needed him, too.

“But Daddy will come home soon?” she asked. “You really think so?”

“I do.” Glancing in the rearview mirror, Cal saw that Ginny's expression was full of worry. While Cal could imagine his father enjoying things other than the ranch, poor Ginny just missed her father. “He will,” he promised.

Lightening his tone, Cal looked over at his brother, who was texting on his cell. “Jarred, you were here yesterday. Did any of the nurses tell you anything? I wonder if I should contact Dr. Williams. You know, to get a full report.”

“Whatever you think,” Jarred replied as he slipped his cell phone into his back pocket. “Though, I have to admit that I haven't asked about his EDD lately.”

Cal shook his head. His brother loved acronyms, and it took practically a psychic to figure them out. “EDD?”

“Estimated Date of Departure. What else?”

“Oh, brother.” Because a child was present, Cal refrained from telling Jarred that he was acting like an SOB. “Virginia, we'll ask Susan if she knows anything about when Dad's coming home. If anyone knows what's going on around there, she will.”

As Jarred folded his seat forward so Ginny could climb out of the back, he had the gall to wink at their little sister. “Oh, yes. Let's ask Susan all about Dad's EDD when we see her. Because I'm sure there's no other reason why Junior would want to see Susan.”

With a click of a button, Cal locked the doors, then tried to glare at Jarred the best he could without Ginny noticing. “Watch it,” he warned under his breath.

Ginny grabbed Jarred's hand and started skipping along beside him. “I like Susan.”

“I can't wait to meet this lady myself,” Jarred said. “She seems to be all our usually solemn brother can talk about.
In fact, I have a feeling we're going to cross paths with her first thing. She might even be just around the corner, waiting to greet us.”

“Enough,” Cal muttered.

Jarred chuckled. “Settle down. I'm just joshing ya. You're due, anyway. We both know I got lots of grief from you about Serena.”

But Serena was Jarred's fiancée. They were serious. Cal swallowed. Was that the direction he was headed with Susan? Matrimony?

When they entered through the automatic doors, even the blessed coolness of the air conditioner couldn't save Cal's cheeks from heating up…or stop his heartbeat from accelerating when he spied Susan.

“Hi,” she said with a smile. “I was hoping I'd get a chance to see you when you came in.”

Today, Susan had on a black skirt that did nice things to her hips and a bright pink knit shirt cut in a low V across the front. Lace along the edge almost made it look modest, but even that swath of lace couldn't disguise the inch or so of cleavage that was visible to everyone who dared to look.

And who wouldn't look? As always, she was gorgeous. And that pink top seemed to make her auburn hair look even more striking than usual.

Beside him, his brother's smile turned into a full-fledged grin. “Hi,” he said. “I'm Jarred. And I know you already know Ginny.”

Susan smiled at Ginny. “I sure do. She and my son, Hank, are becoming good friends.” Holding out a hand, she said, “I'm Susan Young. It's a pleasure to meet you, too.” When Cal took Ginny over to say hello to Paula, Susan stepped closer to Jarred.

He shook her hand. “Same. So, I hear you're new to Electra?”

“I am. Hank and I just moved here a few months ago.”

“Electra's a small town. I'm surprised we haven't crossed paths before.”

“I am, too.” She shrugged. “But I've been working a lot. I don't have much spare time.”

“I know what that's like. I heard you've been out to our place?”

“I have. Cal took me around.” Susan smiled Cal's way. “It's really beautiful. You're lucky to have such a pretty place to call home.”

“Where is home for you?”

“Ohio. The Cincinnati area.”

“Long way to move for a job,” Jarred commented. Almost easy sounding.
Almost,
but not quite.

“It was.”

“But you've settled in?”

“I'm trying to. I'm one of the directors here. I'm in charge of human resources.”

“But I suppose you're lookin' to put down roots and such.”

“I hope so, I mean we will, if we end up staying.”

Jarred paused. “
If
you end up staying? But I thought you and Cal were getting close.”

“Well, we are kind of close, but I can't stay here just for him,” she replied. “I mean, when or if we break up, I'll have nothing.”

The moment her words left her mouth, Susan wished she could take them back. Then she could clarify her thinking. Explain how she needed security in her life, one way or another. That Hank needed at least that from her.

But she didn't owe Cal's brother more of an explanation. Especially when Jarred was glaring at her the way he was, as if she had said she liked torturing small animals.

Whenever they'd discussed the other Riddell brothers,
all Betsy had ever mentioned was Jarred's fabulous charm. She'd even told Susan a story about how Jarred had participated in the town's charity event…even going so far as to auction himself off to the winning lady.

In Susan's mind, that had to have taken a lot of confidence and swagger. But little of that seemed to be in evidence today.

So far, Susan thought his questions were just a little too pointed for comfort.

“So, do you have any idea what you'll do if you leave here? If—or when—things with Cal don't work out?”

“Yes. Just the other day I got a call from my old job in Cincinnati. They offered me a promotion if I'd come back.”

Jarred narrowed his eyes. “You'd do that? Just take off?”

“Maybe. I've got bills to pay.” Darting a look Cal's way, she added, “I imagine I'll have to go if I don't have a good reason to stay.”

“Because you need the job.”

That wasn't it at all. What she wanted was a commitment from Cal one day. But that thought was too special and too private to say out loud to Cal's brother. So she retorted with a quip. “Definitely. Not everyone has your kind of money, Jarred,” she added with a smile.

Then, of course, she wished she'd never said that at all. “Um, would y'all like me to walk you down to your father's wing?”

“That's not necessary. We've got it. I promise, we don't need a thing more from you.”

 

“J
ARRED, WHAT IS GOING ON
?” Cal asked as he approached, just in time to hear his brother speak way too rudely to Susan.

“Nothing,” Jarred said as he motioned Cal forward.

“Hold on, now. Susan, what's wrong?” Cal asked.

“Excuse me,” she said. “I need to make a call.”

Warily, Cal watched her walk away, then turned on his brother. “What did you do?”

“I've been getting to the truth,” Jarred said as they began to slowly walk down the hall. “Susan told me that she's been considering a job back in Ohio.”

“No, she's not.”

“I promise you, she is,” Jarred said grimly. “Obviously, she's been keeping secrets from you.”

“I bet she was going to tell me about that job,” Cal said. But even to his ears, his words sounded forced.

“Look. The fact of the matter is that Susan's on the hunt for money. And if she can't get it from you, she's going to get it from somewhere else.”

Cal was stunned to silence.

Were things that messed up between them? Was she really looking to leave? Every part of him wanted to ask her about that. To get her to clarify things. But now wasn't the time because Jarred pushed his way into their father's room, Ginny started carrying on…and from inside, his father called out his name.

Feeling his cheeks heat again, he nodded, then followed his family inside. And told himself he'd try to figure out what was going on with his brother sooner than later.

 

W
HEN THE TRIO OF
R
IDDELLS
were out of sight, Susan practically ran to her office and shut the door. She was too stunned and bewildered by what had just happened.

Why had she told Jarred all those things?

She was sure he would tell Cal what she'd said and Cal would read it all wrong.

Old hurts and distrust rose to the surface again. Greg had been that way, too. He'd gone from sweet and loving
to distant and gone within minutes of finding out about her pregnancy.

She never would have imagined Cal turning away from her, not after what they'd shared.

But maybe—just maybe—he wasn't as genuine as she'd started to imagine he was?

Oh, this confusion hurt.

She forced herself to understand why it hurt so much.

But actually, she knew the reason was simple. She'd fallen in love with him.

Really, how could she have been so foolish?

Almost without her knowing, she'd begun to trust him. To imagine a life with him. Obviously, she should have gotten her head around the idea that whatever had been happening between them, it hadn't been a mutual thing.

Maybe not a mutual thing at all.

Cal's father had been oddly reluctant to visit with them. As a matter of fact, as soon as they'd gotten all the pleasantries out of the way, he'd hugged Ginny, asked Jarred about Mexico and Serena and then acted as if he couldn't wait for them to leave.

So much so that Cal had even teased him about it. “Is our visit keeping you from something, Dad?”

“As a matter of fact, yes. There's a social here this afternoon. A couple of the guys and me were going to play a few rounds of Texas Hold'em.”

Jarred frowned. “You're blowing us off to play poker?”

“I am. I'm scheduled to leave in four days. So, I'm going to play as much poker as I can.” Glaring at all three of them, he barked, “Y'all got a problem with it?”

Jarred blinked. “No, sir.”

By his side, even Ginny had held her tongue.

“Well, then,” Jarred said. “I guess we'll let you get to it, then.”

“I'll stop by tomorrow,” Cal promised.

“I'm sure you will. Your girl's here.”

Moments later, Jarred glared his way when they were walking back down the hall. “I really think you should reconsider this relationship you've got with Susan.”

“I've gathered that.”

“Are you going to take my advice?”

“No.”

“You should.”

“What is that supposed to mean? What, you've got an opinion about Susan after five minutes?”

Jarred pointedly looked at Ginny. “We can talk about it later.”

“Oh, we will,” Cal promised.

An hour later, after they got back home and Ginny was visiting with Serena, Cal glared at his brother. “Would you care to tell me more about this conversation you had?”

“Not especially.”

“Oh, no. You start talking. Back at the Lodge, you couldn't wait to give me dirt on her.”

“All I'm going to say is that while I know you like her, she's not the right woman for you.”

“First of all, I didn't say we were getting married. We're still trying to figure things out.”

“I think she's really trying to figure out how much of an easy target you are. She's thinking about your money and this ranch.”

“And you got all that from a five-minute conversation?”

“She reminded me of other girls we know who are out for a sugar daddy.”

“Such as?”

“Oh, I don't know.” Jarred paused for a moment, then snapped his fingers. “She was kind of acting like Betsy Carpenter, that's who. You know what she's like! She was after Trent, then you last summer.”

“Susan's not like her at all.”

“She may say that, but you don't really know for sure, do you? It sounded to me like she really was going to leave if she didn't get a better reason to stay.” Jarred put a hand on Cal's shoulder. “She's after a ring, Junior. She wants
your ring on her finger so she can trap you well and good. You know I'm right about that.”

Cal felt stunned. He couldn't believe Jarred thought Susan was using him. “She's not after my money,” he said, shaking off his brother's hand.

“Maybe not, but she might be a lot more interested than you think. A lot of girls aren't afraid to go after anyone who can give them a comfortable lifestyle.”

“Not Susan.”

“All right. Let's take money and security out of the equation. How about that other thing she mentioned? That she might not even be staying? Doesn't that sound a whole lot like Christy and what she did to you? She left you when she didn't think you were good enough for her.”

Cal wasn't about to admit it, but he'd been stewing about that some, too. “She's a nice lady, Jarred. And she's got enough on her plate without you spewing nonsense about her.”

Quietly, Jarred said, “Cal, I'd trust you with just about anything. I know you're responsible for keeping everything running the last few months. I trust you with it all. But when it comes to women, you've got no sense, and even less experience. You've been so burned by Christy, you've been keeping to yourself for too long. I just hate to see that Susan is going to hurt you the same way.” With a sigh, he said, “You just need to let her go, Junior.”

“It's not that easy.”

Jarred rolled his eyes. “It's only going to get harder. How long have you known her? What? A month? That sure as hell ain't long enough to get to know what someone's really like. I sure hope you didn't go and screw her.”

Cal's temper flared. With cool precision, he hauled off and threw his right fist into his older brother's jaw. Jarred stumbled backward. “Hey!”

Cal clenched his sore hand. “Don't say another word, or so help me, I'll hit you again.” Cal stood erect, muscles braced, ready to hit his brother again.

But instead of looking as if he was going to fight back, Jarred raised both hands up in defeat. “I won't,” he said softly. “I'm sorry. You know I'm only trying to look out for my little brother. I…I was out of line.”

“That's probably the smartest thing you've said today,” Cal replied before turning and walking away.

“Then let me say something else. If she's all that and a piece of bread…why don't you let things simmer off for a while. Let some time pass. If she's your future wife, there's no hurry. Let her decide if she's willing to stay here and settle in. Or if she's going to take off.”

Though Cal had turned his back on his brother, a part of him started thinking that maybe Jarred did have a point.

Maybe he had pushed things a little fast.

His boots led him through the house. A minute later, he let the kitchen door slam behind him. If his mother had been around, she would have yanked him by the ear and told him a thing or two.

As he strode to the barn, his temper cooled.

And that's when he knew if his mother had been alive, he would have deserved every bit of reprimand she could have come up with.

Because, although he was sure Jarred was wrong…there was a little part of him that feared that he wasn't wrong at all.

That, in fact, Jarred was exactly right. Maybe Susan's feelings weren't as genuine as his. Maybe she did just see him as the answer to her problems. Maybe she said she cared for him, but wouldn't mind picking up and leaving him, just for the hope of something better.

Maybe she wasn't the woman he had imagined her to be—and he'd been too much of a fool to see it.

Maybe she was more like Christy than he'd ever guessed.

When he was alone in the barn, he hung his head in shame. Only a fool would fall for the same thing twice.

Before he could chicken out, he plucked his cell phone out of his back pocket and dialed her number.

She answered on the first ring. “Cal?”

“Hey.”

“Is everything all right?” Doubt and worry filled her voice.

“It is. My dad's doing better. I think we're going to bring him home in a few days.”

“Ah. I see.” She paused. “So, is this why you called?”

“No…” He closed his eyes and forced himself to be tough. To remember how badly Christy had hurt him. “I was just thinking that maybe we've been taking things too fast.”

“Too fast?” she repeated, her voice faint.

“Yes. I mean, I've been thinking that maybe we need to put some space between us for a while. You know, slow things down. Especially since you're looking for new jobs and all.”

“I shouldn't have blurted out that news to your brother. I didn't go looking to go back to Cincinnati.”

“But you're not going to turn it down?”

“Not right away. It's a great opportunity. And then I'd get to be back at home.”

Back at home. Great opportunity. “What about Hank?” he asked, too chicken to put himself and his needs in the conversation.

“Hank will be sad, but he'll get over it.”

“It sounds like you've already made up your mind.”

“I haven't, but I'm seriously considering it.”

She was going to leave. And because he couldn't just sit around and be left behind again, he gathered his courage and took the bull by the horns. “If it's all the same to you, I think it might be best if we call things off now. You know. Before things get serious.”

After a pause, Susan replied, “That's a good idea. I mean, I'd hate for things to get too serious between us. It would be awful if that happened.”

When they clicked off, Cal felt like the biggest heel in the world. He'd really hurt her. Badly.

And if that pain in his chest was any indication, he had the most terrible feeling that he had just hurt himself, too.

Damn.