Second Burn Cowboy (Second Chance Series Book 6) (5 page)

“You’re supposed to rest.” Deckland looked at her while
rinsing the coffee cups, careful not to get his bandage wet. He had a hard time working with only one hand. Frustrated, he dropped the cup, it clattered across the ceramic, and he turned off the water. When he turned, he caught Dante and Elsa’s inquisitive eyes on him.

“Bro, can I speak to you about a business matter?” Dante asked.

“I’ll leave you two alone. I have some business calls to take care of myself.” Elsa was already across the threshold.

Deckland watched her leave
, and a foreign sensation blossomed in his gut. He was playing with fire and someone was bound to suffer the consequences.

Drying his hands, he turned to Dante
, who was wearing a Cheshire smile. “What the hell is that look?” Deckland growled.

“Well, well
…what do we have here?” Dante crossed his arms over his chest.

Tossing the towel onto the sink, Deckland sighed. “I know what you’re thinking and you’re completely off mark.”

“Come on, Deck. Having Elsa stay here is more than just a good deed. And if I didn’t suspect it before, seeing the way you look at her has convinced me.”

“She’s been through a lot. I’d never take advantage of her
, and I’m definitely not looking for a relationship.” Deckland pushed the chair under the table with his foot.

“That’s not what I’m suggesting. I just don’t want to see you get hurt, bro. I haven’t seen you act this way since high school, all jittery and sorts. April hasn’t said much, but I get the feeling Elsa has had some hard breaks. Now that her store is gone, will she stay in town?”

“She did say she thinks she’ll stay.” Deckland rubbed the back of his neck. “I can take care of myself. Now go home and take care of your wife.”

Once Dante was gone, Deckland went upstairs and pulled on a shirt, socks and his boots just as the soft knock came on his closed door.
“Come in.”

Elsa peeked in. “Sorry to bother you.”

“No bother. What do you need?” She remained in the doorway. Was she afraid what would happen if she stepped foot in his room? Hell, he knew he didn’t have much restraint left.

Dante’s warning dashed through his brain. Maybe his brother was right, he needed to be careful.

“Can I ask a favor?”

“
What can I do?” He grabbed his hat from the dresser and placed it on his head.

“I need
a ride into town to get a few things.”

He pushed his wallet into his back pocket. “I have a hankering for eggs and bacon. You do eat bacon, right?”

“Does turkey bacon count?”

He winced.
“Turkey ain’t bacon, no matter how it’s sliced.”

****

Deckland and Elsa walked into the diner, and she noticed how everyone, men and women both, perked up and greeted him. Men respected him and women appreciated him. He exuded power without the cockiness. She saw envy in a few mascara-rimmed eyes.

They chose a booth in the back and ordered.

Once the waitress brought their coffee, Elsa took a long sip and it landed rock hard in the pit of her stomach. Her nerves were on edge since she’d helped Deckland with the bandage. His warm skin and playful eyes had almost been her undoing, but when he’d invited her to kiss him, she lost all battle. Dante’s bad timing had been good.

Looking
across the pitted and worn table at him, he was staring through the window at two kids playing football across the street. A smile curved his mouth—she smiled too.

She slipped her
gaze over his coal locks that skimmed his collar, along his sharp jawline covered in a shadow of beard and over broad shoulders that stretched the shirt to its limit. Rolled up sleeves exposed tanned, muscular arms dusted with crisp, dark hairs that matched the thick tresses on his head.

He brought his gaze
to her, and his piercing blue eyes penetrated her like an electric prod.

She swallowed
, but the tightness in her throat remained.

The moment her feet touched the floor th
at morning, she’d decided that she needed to get off the ranch as fast as she could. After dreams of Deckland all night, leaving her sweaty and needy, she reminded herself that she didn’t want to be caught up and lose her concentration on her goals. After spending the better of two years removing herself from a bad relationship, she was still recovering.

Deckland was kind, compassionate, considerate…nothing like her narcissistic ex. She cringed.

She was confused—on occasion, she still couldn’t control the tears. Her mind and heart were at a tug of war.

“That’s a loaded expression,” he said.

“I have a lot on my mind.” She rolled her finger along the rim of the cup.

“Care to share?”

“I guess I—” The waitress approached with their plates, stopping Elsa’s train of thought.

“Here you go.” The pretty
brunette kept her gaze glued on Deckland. “Is there anything more I can get you?” Each word oozed proposition.

Elsa bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. She wanted
strawberry jam but didn’t think the waitress was asking her.

“No, thank you,
BreAnn.” He dug into his eggs, oblivious to the girl’s flirting.

“Maybe I can come out to the ranch and take a ride.” The girl beamed.

He didn’t even look at her. “Anytime. Just tell one of the boys to saddle up the gentlest mare.”

With a slumping of shoulders, BreAnn
turned and left them alone.

“Did you not see that?” Elsa asked.

He looked at her over his fork. “See what?”

“She was so
coming on to you. I think you wounded her.”

“BreAnn? She looks at me
as if I’m old enough to be her father. In fact, I’m good friends with her parents.”

She’d let him believe what he wanted. Some men had no clue that certain girls liked older men. Elsa knew this from experience.

Busily buttering her toast, she took a bite, chewed, then asked, “How is it possible that you aren’t married? I’m sure it’s not from a lack of interested females.”

“I’ve been waiting for the right one and she never came along.” He finished the last bite of food.
“My brothers tell me I work too much and don’t get out often enough, so I’ve missed a lot of opportunities.”

“If my two-cents are worth anything, I’d say you always dedicate yourself to helping others and haven’t taken the time to enjoy life.”

He sat back in the cushion. “I enjoy life.”

“When did you vacation last?”

“Vacation is overrated.”

“Said no one ever but you.” Dropping the toast to her plate, she brushed the crumbs from her fingers. “Admit it, you need to find someone who’ll drag you away from work and show you some fun.”

“Anyone in mind?” His smile was lethal.

How did all of their conversations end with goosebumped and trembling flesh? She walked right into the trap, but couldn’t resist. “I’d suggest the pretty waitress, but—”

“She’s not my type.”

“Exactly.” She placed her palms on the table. “What type are you looking for?”

“Can’t answer that because I ain’t looking. When she’s ready, fate will send her my way.”

His gaze burned a hole through her, injecting sweet poison into her blood. “Confidence is a virtue.”

“Could be foolishness. I’m not quite sure yet.”

Heat spiraled through her, settling in the apex of her thighs. “I guess we should go. I’m sure you’re ready to get back to the ranch.”

He shrugged. “A break
doesn’t hurt a cowboy now and again. I’ll take you wherever you need to go. You did say I needed someone to drag me away.” The soft drawl and the meaning of his words wreaked havoc on her senses.

As they left
the restaurant, he pressed his hand on the small of her back and she couldn’t think logically with him so close.

Inside the truck, he turned on the A/C and she managed to breath
e normally again.

The
y drove toward the location of her shop, which was only two blocks away. When they pulled in front of the demolished building, Elsa reminded herself to stay strong.

The site was lined with yellow caution tape and smoke still rose from the black hole where her business stood.
Everything was a total loss, except for a few personal items she kept in the back of the business van parked across the street. Thankfully, it was safe.

She tore her attention away from the tragedy and concentrated on unlocking the vehicle.

“I don’t want to leave the van sitting here. I’ll drive myself back to the ranch.” She knew what he’d say before he opened his mouth but she let him continue.

“Doc said no driving.”

“And I’m sure you were told to keep a bandage on your healing stitches.” She tilted her chin and looked at him through the veil of her lashes. Didn’t he think she’d notice he’d removed the dressing just as soon as she turned her back?

His gaze narrowed. “Then I’ll follow you.”

She shrugged. At least they’d compromised.

Once situated in the driver’s seat
, she gave him a quick wave. He nodded.

Key in the ignition, she gave it a turn.
Whirl, whirl, whirl.

Grimacing,
she pumped the gas pedal.

The engine whined again in protest and refused to start. They’d always
had a love-hate relationship, and apparently, they were on the wrong side today.

Pressing
her forehead to the steering wheel, she counted to ten. A knock on the window made her lift her gaze. Lines of concern etched Deckland’s rugged, tanned face.

She opened the door and
stepped out. “It won’t start.”

“Pop the hood. I’ll give it a look.”

Reaching in and pulling the lever, she watched as he disappeared under the hood, only to come up a few minutes later with a sour expression. “I can’t find anything here, but I’m not a mechanic either.”

The
brink of sanity she clung to threatened to crumble. “Just my luck.”

“I’ll make a call. Dante will have it fixed in no time.” He took his phone out of his pocket.

“No, you can’t do that.” Seeing his curiosity, she shook her head. “Remember, he said April is sick. He’s too busy to worry about fixing a car.”

“I’ll call a mechanic, but they’ll take longer.”

Inwardly shrinking, she hesitated. Did she have a choice? “One thing I’ve learned since living here, time is only a number on a clock. But looks like that’s the path I have to go.”

“Things could always be worse.”

And so he kept reminding her.

Folding her arms over her chest, she looked from the
demolished building back to him. “I have an order of two hundred cupcakes due in two days.”

“I don’t bake, but I have a kitchen.”

“By chance, do you have mini cupcake pans?” His brow crooked and she bit back laughter. “You mind taking me to the closest kitchen store?”

“What else do I have to do today? Better than shoveling horse shit and stacking bales of hay.”

“I’m not sure if that was sarcasm, but before this is all through you’re going to be wishing you’d never met me. Three days and then I’ll hit the road. I promise.”

His smile
broadened. “Three days, three months, my home is your home.”

“C
an you help me grab something?” She was already opening the side door to the van. Taking out two small suitcases, she dropped the bags at his feet. “This is odd, I know, but I can explain.”

He shrugged. “
You don’t owe me an explanation, unless you’re storing dead bodies.”

“No dead bodies.” She laughed.
“I’ve always been the type to stay prepared for anything. As a kid, my mom and I bounced around from place to place, starting from scratch many times, and I never found it fun. Sometimes we lived in our car and took sponge baths in gas station restrooms. Nothing like trying to get clean and feeling dirtier because you stepped in someone’s urine.” He was one of the few people she’d told this to. When he didn’t offer her a word or expression of sympathy, relief spread through her. The last thing she ever wanted was another person’s pity. “Old habits die hard.”

“You still take showers in a sink surrounded by puddles of urine?” he teased.

Laughter bubbled inside of her. “No, that was never a habit but a necessity. I’m referring to keeping my belongings safe.”

“
Maybe one day you’ll feel secure enough so that you won’t have to stay prepared for something bad to happen.”

Looking back at the destroyed remains of her business, she sighed.
“Some plans are thwarted.”

He reached down, grabbed the
bags, anchoring the largest over his shoulder. He didn’t even break a sweat. “When I was a kid my mom told me when a door closes, we find the open window. I know it’s hard to see the positive side to all of this when it’s raw and fresh, but you’d be surprised at the opportunities you have waiting. You just have to look for your open window.” He walked to his truck and placed the bags in back.