One Stubborn Cowboy (16 page)

She enjoyed her two days, but was not unhappy to leave. She hadn't fully realized it before, but Taylorville had become home.

Kelly was surprised to see Kit's truck parked in her driveway as she approached her house late Friday afternoon. Slowly she pulled in behind him. The truck was empty. She looked at her porch. Not there.

As she slid from the car, she wondered where he was. Was he waiting for her? How had he known she was coming home at this time? She still wore a blue silk dress. It was a little warm for the heat in Taylorville, and she had planned to change as soon as she reached home. But first she'd look for him.

As she walked up the driveway she heard voices in the back. Curious, she walked along the side of her house and paused. Kit was sitting beneath the large oak with Molly. Both were drinking iced tea and seemed content to relax in the shade.

Kit saw her as soon as she appeared, and sat up.

"Where the hell have you been?" he asked, glaring at her.

Kelly smiled and walked slowly across the grass, her high heels sinking into the dirt with each step. She knew she looked good. Her hair was French braided to keep it from her face, her makeup was impeccable. It was her usual style for the city. Would he see any difference in her?

"Hello, Molly, Kit. Nice to see you both," Kelly said deliberately, ignoring his outburst.

Kit scowled, remembering her comment a while ago about not greeting people.

"Is this one of those occasions when you haven't seen someone for a while?" he asked.

"Yes, it is." She smiled at him, holding his gaze, wondering if he'd give in.

"Hello, Kelly Adams. It is nice to see you after so long a time. Where the hell have you been for two days?"

He had started out in a falsetto, but ended up in a deep growl and she knew better than to push her luck any further.

Conscious of Molly's curious eyes, Kelly crossed the rest of the way and leaned over to kiss Kit. "I went to San Francisco. I think I've sold my pony book."

"You might have let someone know," he said darkly, looking at the tea.

Kelly dragged another chair into the group and sat down, glancing from him to Molly. "I rather think you are right about that, Kit. But I'm not used to accounting for myself to others."

"That's wonderful about your book, Kelly," Molly broke in, trying to calm the storm that seemed to be brewing. She looked at Kit to concur, but he remained silent. Finally she gave a small sigh.

"I'll be going. I guess you two want to be alone."

Kelly smiled and said goodbye, watching as the older woman walked back to her own house.

"Do we want to be alone?" she asked once the back door had closed behind Molly Benson.

"Come closer, Miss Sassy-mouth, and see what I want," he said, placing his glass on the grass beside his chair.

Kelly studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his mood. Feeling on top of the world because of her visit to San Francisco, she slowly stood and walked over, daring to sit in his lap.

Kit was surprised, but only for a second. His arms came around her and he pulled her down against his chest, her head nestling against his shoulder and neck.

"I've been alone and on my own for so long I didn't even think to let anyone know I was going into the city for a couple of days."

"We all worried about you. Sally didn't know why you hadn't been out to see the pony. Molly didn't know where you'd gone. I asked everyone that knew you."

"You weren't worried about me, too, were you?" she asked lightly, breathing in the scent of him, warm and masculine. Her heart rate increased.

"No." One hand slowly slid up and down her arm while his other hand held her hip firmly. "This dress feels as soft as your skin," he said quietly.

"It's silk," she said closing her eyes. Was this heaven? Had she taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in heaven?

"It feels like you do all over." His voice was low and Kelly felt a surge of desire sweep through her. She remembered every touch of his hands and fingers and mouth that day of the picnic. Her body heated in response and she shifted uneasily, not wanting him to know.

"Is this for Molly Benson's benefit?" she asked.

"I rather think it's for mine."

She looked up at him at that and smiled, her finger gently tracing the outline of his mouth.

"I couldn't wait to tell you the news about my book," she said shyly.

"I'm proud of you, honey. You're so talented. I wish I was."

"I think you are, only in other areas." She pulled his lip a little and slipped her finger into his mouth. His tongue greeted her and his lips closed over the finger.

Kelly tilted her head, pulling her hand away, only to reach behind him and urge him toward her.

He needed no coaxing. His mouth covered hers in a rough kiss, full of desire and passion. She reveled in his touch, conscious his hands were still, holding her close to him, feeling the strength of his chest against has, the power of his shoulders and the growing hardness in his lap.

Pulling back, breathing hard, she gazed up into his glittering eyes.

"Was that enough for Molly, do you think?" Kit asked lazily as he brought the brim of his hat down to shade his eyes.

Kelly struggled to get up. But he held her hard against him. She hit him with her fist and he chuckled. "Damn you. Let me up. That's plenty for Molly," she said through gritted teeth. He made her so mad.

"Good, then the rest is for us." He swept his hat from his head and gathered her closer, his mouth plundering her halfhearted resistance and sweeping her along with an intensity that threatened to flame out of control. It was hot and exciting and demanding. She moved against him, responding, rising to the passion he built between them. Kelly wanted to float on the cloud of delight and bliss that his touch brought. All thoughts of ending the charade fled. Not yet. She wouldn't stop just yet.

But his kiss eased, ended. He cradled her head against his shoulder.

"You look pretty. Is that how you dress in the big city?"

"Yes." Her breathing was ragged, her heart pounded, heat washed through her. She wanted him, she ached for him. Closing her eyes she tried to imprint every inch of her skin with the feel of Kit. His breathing fanned her cheeks, her heart pounded beneath her breast, his hands burned through her skin. Would he come inside with her?

"Do you miss the city?" he asked, his voice sounding almost hollow.

"No." How could he carry on a conversation? She wanted to scream. Taking a deep breath, she tried to act normal. "In fact, I felt quite the country bumpkin when I was there. We ate at a different restaurant for each meal and I enjoyed that. But the traffic was awful. The street people are panhandling worse than ever and no one was friendly. I was glad to visit, but happy to come home."

"Umm, good. I got the cart from Beth's dad. Come out to the ranch and see if Sam can use it."

"I can't today. I'm too tired. It was a long drive and the traffic was worse than usual because it's Friday. Can I come in the morning?"

"Sure, though Clint and Sally are driving down to Sonora in the morning for some serious shopping."

"I'll come in the early afternoon, then." Slowly she pushed herself up and stood, trying to straighten her hopelessly wrinkled dress. Reluctant to bid him farewell, she was already anticipating tomorrow.

* * *

The yard surrounding the Lockford house was deserted the next afternoon when Kelly arrived. Kit's truck was parked to one side, and the one that Clint used was gone. The day was sunny and hot, with a slight breeze from the west to make it tolerable. She sat in her car for a long moment, expecting Kit to come to greet her.

But there was no movement, only the silence of the hot afternoon.

Climbing out, Kelly headed for the front door. It was open. Kelly peered through the screen, but the house was empty. Kelly rapped on wood and waited.

Looking around, she wondered if Kit was in the barn. She walked around the house and called him. No answer. The entire place seemed deserted. Had he gone with Clint and Sally?

She went back to the front door and rapped again.

She could hear music quietly playing down the hall. Opening the screen door, she stepped inside. Walking toward the music she came to Kit's room.

He was lying on a big bed, clothed in shirt and jeans, an open
Stockman's Journal
lying across his chest. He was asleep.

Kelly glanced curiously around his room. There was a trapeze-like contraption over his bed, a wheelchair nearby, and the crutches leaned against the headboard. His room was decorated in dark blues and browns, masculine and cozy. There was an elaborate stereo system along one wall, and a big screenTV positioned to be watched from bed.

Her heart ached. How many hours had he lain in bed, not able to be outdoors, as he liked? Not living on the edge as he had done before, but confined to a room?

She walked over to the bed. It was higher than a normal bed, long and wide. She leaned over and brushed her lips against his.

His eyes opened.

She glanced down the length of him, looked back up to meet his eyes. "So this is how cowboys work, huh?" she said, smiling down at his look.

He let his eyes roam over her in the insolent manner that infuriated her so much. His eyes darkened as he took in the fullness of her breasts, the way the white top clung lovingly to her figure, tapering to her slim waist before flaring to her softly rounded hips.

"Know me again," she said, reaching out to cup his chin and raise his face to hers, tingling all over from his look.

His grin was pure wickedness. "Don't you knock?"

"I did. Don't you stay awake when you expect company?"

"I was reading up on range management." He indicated the magazine.

"I could tell. If now isn't convenient for me I can come back another time."

"Now's fine." Kit ran the fingers of one hand through his hair in exasperation. He hadn't meant to fall asleep. He'd just been killing time until her arrival.

"Are you sure you'd rather work with the pony than read up on range management? What do you want to do?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.

Chapter 8

"What do you want, Kelly?"

"You," she whispered, feeling brazen and daring.

He flung the magazine away and reached for her, drawing her across his chest to lie beside him on the rich brown coverlet. Propping himself up on one arm, he looked down at her, his right arm pinioning her to the bed. Kelly made no protest, only smiled at him. She wasn't afraid. Her arms came up to reach around his neck and pull him down on top of her.

She saw his eyes spark with a deep flame before his head blocked the light as his warm mouth covered hers. His touch was light as he placed small kisses against her mouth, her cheeks, her throat.

Kelly delighted in his gentle touch, savoring the anticipation that built. He wouldn't be gentle for long, she knew. Desire flooded through her, excitement and expectation swamped every inch of her. She tightened her grip, toppling him over to lie heavily against her as his mouth roughly covered hers, seeking the smoldering heat he knew waited beneath her surface.

His tongue evoked an involuntary response from her, as he ravaged all resistance. Her senses reeled as she was taken by surprise at the intensity of feelings that overwhelmed her. His heat swept through the light cotton top and the jeans she was wearing, searing her flesh as he had that day on the hilltop. Her mouth moved beneath his as she sought to build the same fiery intensity in him as he built in her.