Once she’d showered and changed, Nikki felt like a new person, and far more prepared to deal with the challenges the day would bring. Foremost, she intended to quash the impression that she was easy game. No, indeed-y. He could look and lust all he wanted, but Nicole Powell of Decatur, Georgia, was off-limits to hot cowboy lawyers. There was no way in hell she was going to return home with her tail between her legs all because she’d let him put his there.
Wanting to look hot but not wanting to look like she’d tried, Nikki donned a pair of tight low-rise Wranglers and a clingy sweater over her fifty-dollar Victoria’s Secret add-two-cup-sizes Bombshell bra, last year’s Valentine’s present to herself. She pulled on a denim jacket and a pair of well-worn Justin Ropers, remnants from her old honky-tonkin’, boot-stompin’ days.
She went light on the makeup and pulled her wavy brown hair into a loose braid that hung over her shoulder. It was a casual, girl-next-door look that she carried off well. It was also one that men liked—at least men like Wade.
She made up the bed, grabbed her bag, and opened the door to find him leaning on the jamb. The effect, the sheer and virile maleness of him, nearly bowled her over.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Yes. I do. Thanks.”
“You look much improved.”
His eyes drifted over her, his sexy mouth quirking at one corner. She was fascinated by that mouth. His kisses had turned her inside out. She remembered that too.
She gave a dry laugh. “I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment.”
“Believe me, it is. C’mon. Breakfast is waiting.”
She clutched her protesting stomach. “Maybe just coffee for me.”
She followed him to the staircase leading to a huge vaulted living room. The floor to ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking vista of countless mountains etched in shades of blue and gray, capped by crowns of pristine white. She paused on the landing to take in the view.
“I can’t believe all that sits right outside your door!”
“The ranch is in the heart of the Ruby Valley,” Wade said. “We’re surrounded by seven mountain ranges and have some of the best grazing lands around. I guess I’ve come to take the landscape for granted.”
“I can’t believe you want to sell,” she remarked incredulously.
“Stupid as hell, isn’t he?” replied a gravelly baritone from below.
The body attached to the voice came into view as soon as they descended the stairs. He wasn’t as tall as Wade, but bigger, more weather-beaten, and doubly imposing. Maybe that last part was due to his expression—as hard and rugged as the mountains in the backdrop.
Wade’s head jerked in his direction. “Mornin’, Dirk.”
She noted that neither of them smiled, but she’d been forewarned about their mutual hostility.
“Mornin’? Hell, it’s closer to noon. Some of us actually work around here. The ol’ man and I have been moving cattle for the past five hours while you’ve been lazing in bed.” He raked over Nikki with a disapproving stare.
“Hold it right there,” she blurted. “I’m not his girlfriend if that’s what you think. I’m a client.” She looked to Wade, “Or will be as soon as I get a few things straightened out.”
“A client?” Dirk’s mouth twisted on the word. “Since when did my little brother start bringing clients out to the ranch?”
“Since they needed a place to stay,” Wade replied. “Miz Powell’s here because her father recently passed away and she lost her wallet on the trip up here. Nikki, this rude asshole is my brother, Dirk.”
Dirk’s expression softened at Wade’s explanation. He tipped his hat with a look of chagrin.
She stepped forward and extended her hand. His gaze met hers. It was then that Nikki noticed he and Wade had the same beautiful eyes. She also noticed the ugly burns on the right side of Dirk’s face. It took an effort not to stare.
He accepted her hand with a brief squeeze of his own. “Sorry for your loss, Miz Powell. Welcome to the Flying K.”
“Please, just call me Nikki.”
Dirk grunted something unintelligible before turning back to Wade. He’d resumed the look of a pit bull preparing for a fight. “The only asshole is the one who would give away the family farm.”
“Seven point eight mil’ is hardly a giveaway.”
“You can’t put a price on four generations of blood, sweat, and tears. You’ve got no friggin’ loyalty, Wade.”
Wade’s expression darkened, his lips compressed. The testosterone levels were rising as palpably as the flush invading Nikki’s cheeks.
“Save it for later, will you, Dirk? Nikki doesn’t need to witness our family feud.”
“Why’s that?” Dirk challenged. “Don’t want her to witness your shortcomings in our pissing contest?”
Wade met his brother’s glare, fists clenched at his sides. “I said this isn’t the time, Dirk.”
Silent seconds ticked by making Nikki feel like a participant in a Wild West showdown. Just when she was certain violence would erupt, Dirk backed down.
“We’re not done talking, li’l bro—not by a long shot.”
“No. We’re not done,” Wade bit back, “but it’ll have to wait.”
Another grunt followed and Dirk disappeared, leaving Wade staring down at his boots and shaking his head. After a time he exhaled an exasperated breath.
“Is it always like that with you two?” Nikki asked. They were so different from one another, he and Dirk—like oil and water—and seemed to mix about as well.
“Yeah. Pretty much. A real lovable type, my big brother.”
“What’s the story anyway, Wade? Why are you and he at each other’s throats?”
He gave a crooked grin. “Noticed that, did you?”
“Yeah. Kinda hard not to.”
“Yeah. I s’pose it’s a combination of things. Dirk’s problem is mostly disillusionment. He isn’t the man he was before he joined the Marines, either physically or emotionally.”
“But you said his disability has hardly slowed him down much.”
“That’s true when it comes to the ranch, but how many one-legged rodeo cowboys have you seen?”
She had no answer to that.
Wade continued, “Dirk’s still struggling to adjust to life in general—and not making it easy on any of us. Deep down he knows things can’t go on like they used to in the old days, partly because he can’t go on like he did before. The ranch isn’t the same either, but he’s not ready to accept that and let it go.”
“And your father? What does he say?”
“He’s torn, of course. He knows how it is, but he and Mama so desperately want the old Dirk back, and the old life, that they keep hanging on, too. In the meantime, I keep dumping money into the place.”
“I can understand why. So what will you do now?”
He gave her a grim look. “Whatever has to be done. I hate to see the place go but I’m a pragmatist. I’m not going to hold on to a losing operation out of misplaced pride. We had an offer on the table. It was a decent offer. We may not get another one. I’ll try to reason with my brother, but if it comes down to it, I may have to beat some sense into him.”
“You’re joking, right?”
He shrugged. “Let’s just say all the options are on the table.”
“Really? Then what happens if he kicks your ass?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Wade rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Nikki was incredulous. “Your brother broke your nose?”
“And a few ribs, but he had two good legs then. I figure we’re more evenly matched now.” Wade cocked a grin. “But then again, I’m a lover not a fighter.”
Nikki laughed, relieved to see him returning to equilibrium. “I kinda had that part figured out already.”
“Told you I’d be happy to back up my words.”
“You missed your chance, cowboy. There won’t be another.”
Although she’d already seen enough to know he wasn’t like the others she typically went for, she still suspected he’d play her in a heartbeat if she gave him a chance—well, a second chance, given that she’d already given him the first one last night.
“You know what they say; all good things come to those who wait.”
“Never is a very long time to wait.”
He chuckled. “There’s a lot to be said for delayed gratification, you know. Given half a chance, I’d delay yours for a very long time—hours maybe.”
“That’s quite a boast, cowboy. You know what they say about the ones that talk big…” She let her gaze trail over him, allowing her shrug to speak for itself.
“It’s no boast, sweetheart.” His voice was lower. Darker. Inciting ripples in her belly. “And I’d be happy to prove it to you.”
“I hope you know you’re setting some impossible expectations.”
“So you’re thinking about it?”
He had her there. “I didn’t say that!”
“But you implied it. And that’s mighty encouraging.” He took her by the elbow before she could rebut him. “C’mon now. Mama’s likely in the kitchen. The only thing that would have brought Dirk inside this time of day would be grub.”
* * *
Flour up to her elbows, Wade’s mother greeted Nikki with Wade’s same crystal-blue eyes, and a gleaming toothy smile. “So you’re the Georgia peach Wady’s been telling me about.” She spoke with a distinctive Texas twang.
“Wady?” Nikki almost laughed aloud.
“No one calls me that,” Wade scowled.
“Except your mother,” Nikki said. “Do you have any other pet names for your sons, Mrs. Knowlton?”
Wade’s mother made a face. “I’d prefer you call me Donna. Mrs. Knowlton was my dear-departed mother-in-law.”
“All right, Donna. I’m Nicole, but I always go by Nikki.”
“Always?” Wade asked.
“Yes.” Nikki shot him a grin. “Except with big, swaggering cowboys, but I think you’re trying to distract me. I’d love to know what other names she calls you and Dirk.”
Donna’s forehead wrinkled in thought. “You know, I don’t recall that I ever gave Dirk a pet name. What about you Wade? Did you ever have any nicknames for Dirk?”
“Plenty of ’em, Mama, but none of ’em bear repeatin’ in polite company.”
“You!” She playfully swatted at the side of his head. Wade dodged her with a grin. “What brings such a pretty Southern girl so far north?” Donna asked Nikki.
“My father passed away. He retired up here some years back.”
“Oh.” Her expression softened. “I’m so sorry to hear that, sugar.”
“It’s all right. I really didn’t know him all that well. My parents divorced when I was very young and I never saw him after that. Still, I’m his only kin, so I came.”
“And you’re only staying a few days?”
“Yes. That’s all I have time for. In fact, we really need to leave here soon.”
“Leave? But you just got here,” Donna protested.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Wade replied, “but we really do need to head back to Sheridan. Nicole has a number of things to take care of.”
“Well, you can’t go on an empty stomach,” Donna insisted. “I’ve got some stew and biscuits here.”
“Just black coffee for me, please.” Nikki grimaced in an effort to suppress her queasiness while Wade filled up a big bowl from the pot on the stove.
“Sure thing.” Donna poured her a cup. “Are you coming back?” she asked Wade, who was already stuffing a biscuit into his mouth. “Dirk was counting on your help to move the strays off the mountain to the south pastures.”
“Was he? Funny he didn’t mention it just now.”
“You know he’d never ask, Wade, but I’m sure he expected it the minute he saw you.”
“He’ll manage without me. I’ve got other things to see to today.”
“Sure he’ll manage,” she scolded. “But that don’t mean he should. He’s killin’ himself to prove he doesn’t need your help and I don’t like it a bit.”
He groaned. “Look, Mama, if I go out there today it won’t be pretty, and I guarantee you’ll end up carrying one, if not both of us, to the hospital. Then who will move the damned cattle?”
“Well, I won’t see your father stepping in and having another heart attack over this. Even with the ATV, he can’t do like he used to.”
“All right. All right. I’ll drop Nicole at my office and then come back to round up strays. Does that satisfy you?” Wade sighed and then shoved another biscuit into his mouth.
“It would be a start.” Her smile held more than a hint of triumph. “You and Dirk need to work this out between you, you know.”
“Yeah. I intend to. And sooner rather than later. It might not be too late to salvage the deal. The buyer was pretty hot to have this place.”
“Did you ever find out who this anonymous buyer was?” she asked.
“Yeah. I met him.”
“And?” she prompted. “Who is he?”
“Brett Simmons.”
“You don’t mean the Brett Simmons? The quarterback?”
“One and the same. And he was really pissed when the deal fell through. I almost gave him Dirk’s number, in hope he’d pound some sense into him. He’s big enough.”
“Pshaw!” Donna waved a flour-coated hand. “I’d still put my money on Dirk—one leg and all.”
Watching the exchange between mother and son, Nikki marveled at the tightness of their bond. Internal squabbling and all, she could still feel the warmth and strength of their relationships. It was something she’d never had, but had always longed for. Her own family was a dysfunctional disaster.
After her parents divorced, Nikki had had three stepfathers—and just as many new siblings, although she hardly knew the younger ones. She’d hightailed it out of Toccoa as soon as she was old enough and never looked back.
She wondered what Wade’s father was like. If he was anything like his sons, Nikki could understand why the Texas rodeo queen had followed her cowboy from Amarillo to the wilds of Montana.
She sipped her coffee while Wade wolfed down his food and then set his bowl in the sink.
“Later, Mama.” He kissed his mother unabashedly on the cheek, then turned to Nikki. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” She swallowed down the rest of her cup. “Thank you, Donna.”
“You’re welcome anytime, sugar. I hope you’ll come back soon.”
“Thank you, but I don’t think that’s too likely. I’m leaving as soon as my father’s affairs are settled. Wade’s helping me with that.”
Donna smiled big and white. “If I know my son, I don’t think he’s gonna be in any big hurry to see you go.”
Wade looked embarrassed. “Like she said, Mama, this is just business.”
“Of course it is, sugar.” Donna winked. “You both just keep telling yourselves that.”
* * *
“Don’t mind her,” Wade said as they left the house. “She’s hankering for grandkids in the worst way and thinks I’m her best chance. She doesn’t place much hope in Dirk since he returned.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s mean as hell and seems to have lost his sense of humor along with his leg.”
“Maybe he just needs the right woman to find it again—his humor I mean.”
“Maybe just getting laid would be a start for him, but he almost never leaves this place. Then again, what woman would be crazy enough to take him on?”
“Plenty of them, by the look of him.”
He scowled. “You’re not saying that you—”
“Found him attractive? Maybe,” she teased then laughed. “No, Wade. He’s a bit too intense for me. Genus broodus hulkus is definitely not my type, but I’d hazard Janice at the Pioneer would be willing to take him on. She seemed pretty interested in news about him.”
“Janice? You really think so?”
“Yeah, I do. If you didn’t pick up on that, maybe you don’t know women quite as well as you think you do.”
“What about you, Nikki?” he asked. “You’ve made it clear that you’ve ruled out cowboys and lawyers, so what exactly is your type?”
“I don’t know. Haven’t discovered it yet. But based on my experience, most men fall into two undesirable categories—bottom-feeding leeches and players. Still, I keep hoping there’s a whole new undiscovered species somewhere out there.”
“Or maybe your classification system needs work. I believe we touched on this last night.”
“Did we?” She frowned. “I don’t seem to recall that.”
“No? What parts of last night do you remember? How about the part in the parking lot?”
She recalled his soft warm lips and hungry hands vividly, a thought that sent heat flooding into her face. “Yeah. I seem to remember a little bit about that, but believe me when I say it never would have gone that far if I hadn’t been drunk. I’m not that kind of girl.”
“Never thought you were.”
“I don’t hop into bed with men I hardly know.”
“Never said you did.”
She paused. “I guess I should thank you for not taking advantage of me.”
“Sweetheart, don’t attribute too much altruism to my motives. I didn’t press things only because you’d had too much to drink, but don’t count on me passing up any future opportunities.”
Nikki digested that remark in silence. Part of her was annoyed he thought she’d give in to him but the other part of her was flattered at his persistence.
She thought she’d broken the cowboy habit for good—until she’d met Wade, but he wasn’t like any of the others she’d dated. Hell, he wasn’t like any other man she’d ever known. He was a devoted son, kind and generous to strangers, and responsible almost to a fault. Admittedly, he’d surprised her last night, and even more this morning. It seemed her early presumptions about him were evaporating at every turn; nevertheless, she clutched tightly to the few that remained.
She stole a long look at the rugged and awe-inspiring scenery. “It’s gorgeous out here,” she remarked. “How far does your family’s land go?”
“The homestead’s a little under five thousand acres, but we also lease some federal lands for rotational grazing.”
“Five thousand acres?” she repeated with incredulity.
Wade shrugged. “It’s a modest spread by Montana ranching standards.”
“Now that I’ve seen it, I don’t understand why you want to sell this place so badly.”
“Because there’s no future in private ranching. And I want to get the hell out of it and live my own life.”
“What’s stopping you from living your own life?”
“The shackles of guilt. You can see how it is.”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I guess I do.”
“Let’s go,” he said abruptly. “I’d rather not talk about it anymore.”
“Where’s your truck?” she asked, noting the absence of the beat up F-150. In its former place was a gleaming Lexus LX570.
“My father drove it out to the north pasture. I was going to take mine anyway.”
“Yours?”
He produced a key fob from his pocket and clicked it. The Lexus responded with a happy chirp. “I don’t like to park it at the airport. The door dings hardly make any difference to the farm truck, but I’d rather avoid repainting this one.”
“I can certainly understand that,” she said.
Once more he opened her door for her. Climbing inside, Nikki sank into the supple seat, luxuriating in the rich smell of new leather. She’d never ridden in a Lexus or even owned a brand-new car, for that matter. Maybe it was shallow, but she liked it. A lot.
He joined her inside, filling the cabin with his presence, with his scent. She studied his every move as he started the SUV and put it in gear. He wore a faded denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose strong forearms, sun-bronzed and dusted with dark hair. His straw hat was pulled down close to his brow, shading his eyes against the autumn sun. Dressed as he was, he should have looked out of place behind the wheel of the Lexus, but he looked damned good. He’d looked good in the beater too.
Hell, he just plain looked good. Good enough to eat. She finally admitted it. She wanted to taste him in a very bad way. Damn it, Nikki! Sure, he’ll show you a great time. And then when he’s done, he’ll break your stupid, cowboy-lovin’ heart.