Cowboy Dreamin' (Thunder Creek Ranch Book 8) (6 page)

“Then we’ll deal with it. But for now, let me grab us a couple of towels so we can go eat.”

She stepped away and opened the linen closet behind him, withdrawing two thick, fluffy bath sheets. Allison threw one to him and he caught it, but instead of drying himself, he dried her front, taking his time in all the important places, and then turned her around to dry her back. He found the task sexually arousing. By the time he was done, he was ready for another round. Then she turned and performed the same task on him.

He’d died and gone to Heaven. He was certain of that now. The more she ministered to him, the harder he got, until he knew he had to have her or jump into a cold shower real quick.

She folded the towel, laid it across the vanity counter, and hoisted herself up so she sat on the edge facing him.

“Come make love to me, Jack.”

“Here?” he asked, already knowing the answer as his gaze locked on her eyes. Unbridled passion showed in their depths as he moved toward her.

“Right here,” she said, her arms outstretched.

He parted her thighs and stepped between them. He wanted to taste her, but that would have to wait. His need was too great. He was intoxicated with, and highly addicted to, the woman who sat before him. And as he penetrated her warmth for the third time in as many hours, he had to wonder what game fate was playing with him. Why was it that he couldn’t get enough of Allison? Sex had never been that high on his list of priorities before, so why was he virtually insatiable now? Could it be something as simple as being free from studies? Or was it the woman he currently pounded into?

All thought ceased as she leaned forward and nibbled on his ear. Her soft lips combined with her wet tongue had him groaning with increased need. He needed more. She needed more.

Jack slipped his hands under her butt and lifted her against him as he turned around, his back to the counter. Her arms went around his neck, and her breasts were on a level with his mouth. He didn’t resist, sucking in rhythm with his thrusts, faster and faster, first one breast and then the other. When her climax hit, she screamed his name and tightened around him. He exploded, and it was all he could do to hold her in place.

Slowly, he lowered her to her feet, continuing to hold her close as he rained tiny kisses over her face, neck, and shoulders.

“Give me a minute and we’ll try out that shower,” he said.

“Mm-hm,” was all he got in reply as she snuggled close, her head pressed to his chest.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Mm-hm, never better.”

He chuckled, the sound low and husky. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words.”

“You talk too much.”

This time he laughed aloud and held her a little away from him so he could see the expression on her face. “I thought you were hungry.”

“I was—I am—but can’t we just rest here a moment?”

He hugged her close again, delighting in the scent, the feel of her. The way her curves fit against him caused him to think she was made for him.

Whoa! Where did that thought come from? This was sex, nothing more.

Wasn’t it?

Chapter Six

Jack dressed and headed home after their shower with the excuse that he had work to do. In truth, he needed time and distance away from Allison to put their relationship in perspective. The way she’d clung to him after they’d had sex made him wary. Granted, having another go in the shower didn’t help matters any. Even as he’d driven away from the clinic, he’d wanted her again. The crude term his fellow classmates had used was
fuck buddies.
But that didn’t fit.

He cared about Allison. And he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d taken on more than she could handle with the clinic. Why else would he have volunteered to help out?

Because he’d wanted to be near her—get to know her better. Well, he knew her about as good as anyone and better than some, but then he’d thought that about Loreena as well.

Damn! Why did life have to be so complicated?

Then he pulled into his driveway and saw Loreena’s little yellow Volkswagen Bug parked beside the house. He’d figured she was in the area because of the damage to his truck, but to show up here in broad daylight was the absolute limit.

Could this day get any worse?

He’d hoped to have a chance to talk with his mother. She always had a way of making sense of things. Should he turn off the engine or leave and come back later?

Jack turned the car off and removed the key from the ignition. Then he opened his door and stepped down from the cab. The sooner he got his ex-girlfriend away from his mother, the better for all concerned. His mother forever saw the good in people, even when there was none to be found. Loreena did have her good points. She was beautiful and intelligent, but she wasn’t anyone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Jack took the porch steps two at a time and entered the house, expecting to see the women in the kitchen. They weren’t there. He strode down the hall to the living room, but they weren’t there either. That’s when he heard feminine laughter floating down from upstairs.

His mother had invited Loreena to stay. He just knew it. Angrier than he could ever remember being, he stomped up the stairs.

“Hi, Jack. Loreena has come to visit. Isn’t that nice?”

He counted to ten, saw the knowing smirk on Loreena’s face, and counted again. “As a matter of fact, Mom, no, it’s not nice. I don’t want her here and she knows it.”

“But the baby…?” his mother said.

“Is not mine.”

“What does that matter? This girl is pregnant and alone. She’s come to us for help. How can you deny her?”

“Easy.” He saw her clothes strewn about and the dresser drawers open. “Pack up and go home, Loreena. Or back to the dorm. Your family has money. They’ll see you through this.”

“Daddy kicked me out and refuses to pay for my studies next year. I don’t have any money for rent and didn’t know what to do or where else to go.”

His mother turned to the girl and enveloped her in a hug. “There, dear. Jack didn’t mean it. Don’t cry.”

Boy, could she ever turn on the waterworks. “I most certainly did mean it. If you want to take her in that’s up to you, Mom, but I’m outta here.”

Jack turned and went downstairs. He was almost out the door when Loreena caught up to him.

“Jackie, don’t go. I thought we were friends.”

“We were never friends, Loreena. What we were, what most of the campus males were for you, were fuck buddies. And on top of that, I don’t appreciate the damage to my truck.”

“Jack! I’m ashamed of you. You don’t talk to a lady like that,” his mother reprimanded as she entered the room.

“Sorry, Mom, but she’s no lady. She’s a spiteful, possessive, spoiled, conniving woman who will do anything to get her own way.”

Loreena renewed her crying jag as he slammed out of the house.

“Woman trouble?” Lucas asked as Jack strode across the porch heading for his truck.

Jack halted mid stride and glanced over to where the old man sat rocking. “Yeah, you could say that. Only she’s not my woman.”

“I reckon you could come over and sit a spell if’n you want to talk about it.”

Jack considered for a moment and then sat in the rocker beside Lucas. Maybe it would help to talk it over. “I don’t know what she hopes to accomplish by coming here.”

“Sounded to me as if she wants a papa for the babe she’s carrying.”

“It’s not mine. I broke it off with her before Christmas. I’m a responsible guy, Lucas. There’s no way that baby’s mine, but she won’t give up.”

“Could be she can’t let go because you
are
a responsible guy.”

Jack thought about that and nodded. “You could be right. She dated some real losers on campus, but that doesn’t excuse her for blaming her pregnancy on me. And now she has Mom all wound up.”

“Don’t you be worryin’ none about your mother. Winnie’s a smart one. And if’n she has it in her head to help the girl, we have to abide by that.”

“I can’t, Lucas. Loreena’s so possessive, I can’t stand to be near her, let alone listen to her lies or her tears.”

“If’n what she says is true about her family, she may just need a helpin’ hand to get back on her feet.”

“
If
it’s true.” He glanced over at her car and saw it piled full of stuff. “She really intends to move in here. Doesn’t she?”

“Winnie has a heart that’s almost too big for her body. And she invited the girl to stay for as long as she needed to, so yeah, I guess she’ll be movin’ in.”

“Damn it all, Lucas. I can’t work with her here. I can’t live under the same roof.”

“That’s unfortunate, seein’s how your mother is right happy to have you home.”

“Then why, Lucas? What made Mom invite her to the ranch … and after I told her not to?”

“Now, Jack. Your mama has a mind of her own. If’n you ever figure her out, you let me know.”

Lucas grinned, and Jack couldn’t help it—he grinned right along with him. His mother could always be counted on to help out wherever there was a need.

“For once, I wish she’d be a little less helpful. What am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t let her drive me out of my own home. You’re stronger than that.”

“Not at the moment. I guess I could move my things to the bunkhouse until I decide what to do.”

“You could. Or you could just stay put. How will you know what she’s up to if you’re not around her any? You must’a liked her well enough at one time.”

“Yeah, I did. She’s pretty and intelligent and can be fun to be with, but she doesn’t have a faithful bone in her body. We dated for a couple months, but then I found out she was seeing two other guys when I had to stay in and study.”

“So that’s the way of it. I understand where you’re comin’ from, but for your mother’s sake, I think you ought to try to tolerate the girl.”

“I don’t want to hurt Mom. I’ve worked and studied hard for six years to be able to come home and make the ranch better, more profitable.”

“Then do it. Don’t let a slip of a girl keep you from realizin’ your dream.”

“I wonder how she intends to support herself,” Jack mused aloud. “We’re not in any position to take in strays.”

“We’re not destitute either. I heard her tellin’ Winnie that she had to get a job. We can afford to put a roof over her head in the meantime.”

“Please tell me she’s not looking for work around here.”

“Well, as a matter of fact, Winnie told her about Allison needin’ a receptionist. From what I heard, she applied already.”

“Oh, dear God. Not at the clinic.” The day had just gotten a whole lot worse.

“Why not? It would free up your days to get started on the work here.”

Jack got to his feet. “I need to go. Tell Mom I’ll be back later.”

A scream sounded from inside the house and Jack hauled the door open in an instant with Lucas right behind him. “Mom?”

“We’re in here, Jack.”

He ran to the living room. “Is everything okay?”

“You all right, Winnie?” asked Lucas.

“We’re fine. Loreena just got a call. She’s found a job already. She got a little too excited is all.” Winnie beamed a smile at her protégée.

Jack’s heart dropped. His gut clenched. Dread seized his brain until he felt it might snap from the pressure.

“Oh, where at?”

Lucas asked the question that Jack hadn’t dared put into words.

“The Wakefield Veterinary Clinic,” Loreena replied proudly. “I start on Monday.”

Jack turned and walked up the stairs in a zombie-like state. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t feel anything except for a burning need to be alone. He went into his room and closed and locked the door. Then he kicked off his boots and sprawled across the bed. Life had just become a whole lot crazier.

****

Allison was at a loose end after Jack left, but she understood having to work all hours when you had a business to run. His was some of the best loving she’d ever had, and she was tingly-sore in a few places that had never before seen so much action. She giggled as she ate the leftovers and then went through to the office to check her messages.

First the phone. Three messages, none of them emergencies, but she knew the owners were worried or they wouldn’t have called. She called them back and made appointments for the morning.

Now the emails. She wondered if anyone had applied for the position she had open. Although she loved having Jack around, it wasn’t fair to keep him from what he needed to do at the ranch. One message was from her pet food supplier saying that her supplies were on backorder and would be shipped as soon as the items came into their warehouse. Her medical order was shipped today, and she should have it by the first of the week. Good. Two were advertisements, which she deleted. The last was an applicant.

Allison read over the woman’s resume, and it sounded good. She dialed the number listed on her resume and did a phone interview. She was so impressed with the girl’s education and enthusiasm, she’d hired her to start on Monday.

Allison couldn’t wait to tell Jack. She picked up the phone and realized she didn’t have his cell number. She could call his mother, but if he wasn’t in the house, she didn’t want to take a chance on Winnie going out to look for him.

Oh, heck. She was bursting with good news and had to tell someone. She looked up Winnie’s number and realized it was the same number she’d called to speak with her applicant. What was going on?

She opened the girl’s resume again and saw that her education thus far had been at the University in Edmonton. Wasn’t that where Jack had just graduated from? Who was Loreena, and how had she ended up at the Grayson’s ranch? Was she related to them somehow? Goodness knew the Manning/Grayson clan was huge. She’d met a few of them and heard of the rest, but there’d never been any mention of a Loreena that she could remember.

She decided to put off calling. Jack would probably call later and she could fill him in then. The phone rang. “Wakefield Clinic, Allison speaking.”

“Allison, this is Cal at the Thunder Creek Ranch. We have a birthing emergency. A calf wants to come out hoofs first, and there are two of them. We tried to turn it, but no go. Can you come out?”

“Right away. I’ll grab my bag and be there shortly.”

“Thank you. We’re in the calving shed behind the main barn.”

“I’ll find you.” She disconnected the call and went into action. First, a change of clothes. Calving could get messy, and she wasn’t going to be wearing her white shorts.

Ten minutes later, dressed in blue jeans and a navy t-shirt, she pulled on her boots, jumped in her truck, and headed to the ranch.

****

Tired of lying on his back and staring at the ceiling, Jack got up and went downstairs to the room he’d set up as an office. Loreena was there.

“What are you doing in here?” he thundered.

Loreena jerked upright but didn’t make a move to leave.

“Your mother said I could use the computer to check my email.”

“This is my computer and my office. You’re not welcome in here,” he said as he advanced on her.

“Fine. I’m leaving.” She quickly closed whatever program she’d been using and rose to go around the desk in the opposite direction from where he stood. “But if I read things right, this is still your mother’s house. What you want doesn’t mean squat.”

“Loreena, don’t push me.”

She laughed as she left, and he crossed the room to lock the door behind her. He no longer felt like working, but he sat down and checked her browsing history. Not one email site had she accessed. Several dating sites were logged as well as a search for Grayson Families in Alberta.
Nosey little bitch.

He opened the file on Grayson Families, and there was Roy’s trial. Damn it! What good did it serve her to know about him? Another file was on Michael and his coverage of Cameron Manning’s arrest, Lucas’s brother and his step-uncle through marriage. What did Loreena hope to gain by digging up family skeletons? He was about to call his mother and Lucas in to show them what she’d been up to when he heard their bedroom door close. It was only two doors down from the room he was in, and he knew they’d gone to bed for the night. It was early to bed and early to rise on a ranch.