Darkness had already begun to fall by the time Joe and I left the mess hall, and the first chill of autumn gave me goose bumps as we headed toward the stable. At least I hoped it was the weather, although the chilling thoughts running through my mind might have been responsible.
I flipped on the lights as we went in through the open doorway to the barn. I didn’t want anyone accusing Joe of sneaking off with me—if it ever came to that. Unless someone had followed us, we would be alone there. Everyone else was still in the mess hall, sitting around shooting the breeze after dinner.
I led the way to Goldie’s stall. From that central location, we would be able to see or hear anyone approaching from either direction. Goldie stuck her head over the door and nuzzled me gently.
I leaned back against the stall door. “Okay, Joe. You’ve really got me worried now. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
His quick nod and grim smile suggested the story wasn’t going to be pretty. “Like I said before, Dusty’s not stupid. He knows enough to check his saddle every so often and make sure there’s nothing worn out on it. I examined that saddle after it broke—we all did—and it looked like the billet had just worn through from rubbing on the ring where it attaches to the saddle. But the more I thought about it—and Dusty said this too—he’d replaced those billets not long ago. I remember watching him do it.
“Now, the leather could’ve had a defect in it that might cause it to break like that, but I doubt it. I’ve never had one break on me before, and I’ve ridden with some that were a lot older than the billets Dusty replaced. I got to thinking about how it might’ve been tampered with, and I think if you used one of those little round files—like what you’d use to sharpen a chain saw—you could rub the leather really thin from underneath where it’s folded over. Looking at it from the outside, you’d never notice it. If you took it apart, you would see it, but since those billets were fairly new, Dusty would never have thought he needed to do that. Anyway, it bothered me then, and after what Rufus said about getting rid of him…well, you see why I had to say something to you.”
“Yes, and I’m glad you did. But why would Rufus do such a thing? Why would he single Dusty out?” I already had my own suspicions. If Joe’s reasoning was the same as mine…
“Maybe he thinks you like Dusty.”
Bingo.
“I can’t remember ever doing or saying anything that would give him that impression. At least, I don’t think I have. I mean, did you know?”
Joe shrugged. “No, but if I had to pick the one man out of all of us you might be partial to, it sure as hell wouldn’t be Bull.”
“I can’t argue with that, but it’s still a pretty flimsy reason to stage an accident—or fire a man.”
“Just because I didn’t notice your preference doesn’t mean Rufus didn’t,” Joe pointed out. “He’s pretty well tuned in to that sort of thing.”
“Apparently.” Rufus couldn’t possibly have known I’d had the occasional fantasy about Dusty. Maybe I kept my gaze on him just a little too long or smiled at him with a bit more tenderness. Whatever I’d done, Rufus must’ve seen it. “Will the world end because I’m fond of Dusty? What’s so damned special about me, anyway?”
A funny smile quirked the corner of his mouth. “Aside from the fact that you’re absolutely adorable, there is the ranch to be considered. You, of all people, should know what this place is worth—and unless I miss my guess, you’ll be inheriting it fairly soon.”
I grimaced. “You’ve noticed that too. I know Dad isn’t doing very well, and the fact that he tends to ignore anything his doctor tells him doesn’t help much. He’s too stubborn for his own good. But are you saying you think Rufus wants the ranch?” I shook my head in disbelief. “If that’s the case, he’s sure going about it the wrong way. He’s a good-looking man, Joe. I had a major crush on him when I was in high school. If he wants the ranch so damn bad, he should be making a play for me himself instead of running off the competition.”
Joe shrugged. “Maybe he didn’t think he’d stand a chance with someone like Dusty around. Neither would I, especially since Dusty does like you. A lot.”
Apparently everyone knew about Dusty’s feelings.
Except me.
I tried not to think about that. “And without Dusty, my only other choices were you, Bull, Calvin, and Rufus. I can’t stand Bull, Calvin is too much like a father to me, and you’re so quiet I’ve never spoken more than a few words with you—”
“Aside from the fact that I’m ugly as homemade sin.”
“Oh, you are not,” I snapped. “You’re downright charming when you smile, but instead of smiling, you’re always walking around with your head hanging down and never saying a word.”
As if on cue, Joe’s gaze immediately dropped from my face to the floor. “Yeah, well, that’s enough about me.” A moment passed before he lifted his chin, his eyes seeking mine once more. “What it boils down to is that without Dusty here to compete with him, Rufus just might stand a fighting chance.”
I stomped a foot in frustration. “Then why didn’t he find an excuse to fire Dusty years ago? What was he doing? Making me wait until I was so love-starved I’d come prowling around the bunkhouse looking for him?”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Are you? Love-starved, I mean.”
“What the hell do you think?” I was slightly exasperated with him until I remembered that what Cody and I had done with our spare time wasn’t common knowledge. “I realize you couldn’t have known the details, but Cody and I were very happy together. I miss that. I miss it so much that I—”
“Found a stray cowboy and brought him home?”
I blew out a breath. “Was it that obvious?”
He nodded. “Given that Troy’s even better-looking than Dusty, it’s no wonder Rufus is getting worried. He’ll be trying to find a way to get rid of him next.”
“Unless this whole thing is a concoction of our own suspicious minds,” I cautioned. “Although I have to admit, it does seem kinda fishy.”
“Yeah. Too bad we don’t have any proof.”
“No shit. You guys need to be very careful and watch out for each other.”
“I don’t think Rufus could get rid of all three of us.” His lips curled into a delightfully devilish smile. “Maybe we should keep him guessing.”
I grinned up at him, shaking my head. “And here I always thought you were shy.”
“You know how it is. You kiss an ugly guy and tell him he has a charming smile and…” He shrugged, still smiling at me.
I patted his arm. “It’s nice to know I have that effect on a few of you, anyway. I was beginning to think I’d sprouted warts or something. I felt like a freakin’ leper. But you’re right. We probably should keep him guessing.”
A cluster fuck in the bunkhouse might make enough noise to attract attention…
Sometimes the ideas popping into my own head amazed me. Fortunately, Joe wasn’t privy to those thoughts or he’d have been blushing like a beet.
“Does that mean you might kiss me again?” Whereas he’d seemed hesitant before, now he seemed…hopeful.
“Maybe, but only when someone else might see us.”
“Damn.” He swore so loudly, Goldie threw her head up in alarm and nearly hit me in the face. “I was kinda hoping for right now.”
“It wouldn’t help if we didn’t have a witness, Joe.” I pushed Goldie’s head aside. Too bad she couldn’t tell Rufus I’d been alone in the barn with Joe, because then he might have gotten his wish. As it was, I didn’t see the point. Kissing Joe wasn’t something I’d ever considered doing before, and that kiss in the kitchen had only been intended to needle Rufus. Under ordinary circumstances, I probably never would have done it—or even thought of it.
“You wouldn’t get any complaints from me,” he said. “And if we practiced, it might be more convincing.”
I might’ve reacted with an eye roll and a giggle, but I couldn’t argue with him because he did have a point.
He took a step closer. “Aw, c’mon, Angela. What could it hurt?”
I giggled again. Here was Joe, of all people, making me feel like a silly schoolgirl—and at my age too. “Where the hell is Rufus when I need him?”
“Washing dishes, I hope.” Darting a glance at each end of the stable, he took another step toward me.
“Maybe I should go back and give him a hand. He must’ve been good for something all these years if he’s been keeping you wolves in line.”
“I guess so.” Joe’s smile disappeared and he stared at the ground again, mumbling, “If you could call a guy like me a wolf.”
“No, you’re not a wolf. But you could’ve made up all that stuff you just told me. That way I’d think you were one of the good guys, and you’d be in the perfect position to take advantage of me.”
“I’ve never taken advantage of a woman in my life.” Spearing his fingers through his hair, he kept his gaze fixed firmly on the dirt, apparently still finding it easier to look at anything besides me. “At least I don’t think I ever have.”
This was more like the Joe I knew. Never saying much and rarely glancing in my direction. Then, almost as if he’d heard that thought, his eyes slowly sought mine. His smile was wistful rather than wicked or charming. “Let me put it this way, Angela. When it comes to matters of the heart, I’ve always been the one to get the shaft.”
If he kept on with this morose train of thought, I would have to kiss him just to cheer him up. I tried for a teasing tone. “Uh-huh. Now you’re playing on my sympathy.”
“Not really. It’s the truth.”
Obviously, he was in no mood to be teased. My choices were either kiss him or get the hell out of there. “I’ve already got more irons in the fire than I need. I don’t think I could manage another one.”
“It wouldn’t be like that, Angela,” he promised. “I wouldn’t expect anything more than a hug or a kiss once in a while.” He sighed. “It sure would beat the hell out of what I’ve been getting up to now.”
“But one day you might get greedy, Joe. What would happen then?”
“When have you ever known me to be greedy?”
I was forced to admit I hadn’t. Joe wasn’t like that. I’d never seen him eat very much or get in anyone else’s way. Anytime the men were lined up for anything, he was always somewhere toward the back of the pack and accepted whatever was left without complaint. No, he didn’t want much. Not from me, anyway. My chest tightened painfully. He would have me in tears if he kept it up much longer.
In the next instant, Goldie apparently decided to add her two cents’ worth to the conversation and gave me a nudge from behind that sent me staggering into Joe’s waiting arms. I held onto him for support for a second or two, but Joe didn’t act like he wanted to let go—at least, not yet.
After thanking Goldie for her assistance, he proceeded to give me a good, long hug. “You gave me a hug and a kiss a while ago. All I’m asking is that you let me return the favor.”
I hadn’t seen this much action with this many different men since, well…ever, and I guess it went to my head.
It was only a kiss—such a simple thing, really. I didn’t think it would matter, didn’t think anyone would care, and I certainly wouldn’t lose my heart, so, in the end, I glanced up at him and nodded.
That was my first mistake.
Joe took a long time to lean down to kiss me, touching my lips tentatively when he finally reached them. No, Joe wasn’t greedy, nor was he one to rush things. He took his time, seeming to savor every moment I gave him. His gentle hold slowly became a caress, encompassing every part of my body within his reach. His lips took all that my own had to offer, and I couldn’t help responding, moving a shade closer and holding him a teensy bit tighter.
That was my second mistake…
Joe might not have been greedy, but he obviously thought I was asking for more. Deepening the kiss, he swept his tongue slowly over my lips before slipping past them. I could’ve clenched my teeth to keep him out, but, quite honestly, it never occurred to me to do that. Maybe I wanted it as much as he did, or was at least curious, but either way, before long, the kiss wasn’t friendly and comforting anymore. It was intensely sexual, bordering on erotic. The rest of my body responded with enthusiasm, making me wonder what sort of effect this kiss had on him.
Unfortunately, acting on that curiosity was mistake number three…
Pressing against him in an effort to discover whether he was as hard as I was wet, I must have ground my hips just enough to encourage him to explore places I should’ve insisted he leave alone.
I say should have, because I didn’t.
Those parts were reminding me that some of them had a will of their own—as well as the power to make me follow their lead if I didn’t keep a close watch on them. My right hand was the first to assert itself, sliding down from the unexceptionable location of the middle of his back—first to his hip and then on around to cup his left cheek—and not the one on his face, either.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Dammit.
Of all the people in the world who might have followed us to the stable, it had to have been Troy…