The Wanted Cowboy (Cowboys After Dark Book 5) Read online

  “Oh, sure, no problem,” he sighed, grateful it wasn’t some kind of emergency, and not wanting her to know he’d been watching from the alley he decided to drive his car around the block before pulling up outside the cafe.

  Inside the kitchen, Tess ended the call and turned to Luke.

  “Okay, he’s on his way,” she announced.

  “Great. Remember, just be totally calm, business as usual,” he smiled.

  “I will,” she promised.

  Moving quickly back into the storeroom and out to Tess’s car, he hid himself under a blanket on the floor in the back. As the thick wool enveloped him he surrendered to its insulating heat; it was the warmest he’d been since donning the thin, civilian clothes three days before.

  Back in the diner Jeb had just placed the heavy can on the counter.

  “There you go, anything else?” he asked.

  “Uh, yes,” she began. “I’ve been thinking about what you said, and you might be right. If Luke comes back to town, he could very well try to see me.”

  “Well, good, I’m glad you’re startin’ to think straight,” he declared, relieved his sister was finally seeing things his way.

  “Do you think you could follow me home and make sure the house is empty, and he’s not lurking anywhere before I go in?”

  “Sure, I can,” he smiled,” I’m real glad you want me to. I was gonna offer earlier but it didn’t seem like such a good idea. You were gettin’ a bit rat-assed.”

  “I hate that term,” she scolded.

  “I know, but you were,” he replied raising his eyebrows. “Let’s go, you follow me to your house, and then wait in your car until I give you the all clear.”

  “Perfect, thanks, Jeb,” she smiled, and pecking him on the cheek handed him her house key. “You can be useful sometimes.”

  “Funny,” he said sarcastically as she ushered him out the door.

  Moving quickly back through the cafe and storeroom, she hurried outside and into her waiting car.

  “You okay back there?” she asked as she climbed behind the wheel.

  “I feel great,” he replied, moving the blanket off his face to answer. “This is so warm I could sleep here all night.”

  “Maybe you should,” she declared staring straight ahead. “Jeb’s pulling up at the end of the alley waiting for me. Stay hidden.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he mumbled, and pushing his hat under her seat, he moved the blanket back over his head

  Starting up the car she drove it slowly forward, then followed her brother on to the main street and headed for home. It was a short trip, but the roads were icy and he was driving slowly so it took longer than the usual five minutes. As she finally turned into her driveway and pushed the remote control to open the garage door, Jeb parked his patrol car and stepped out into the nasty weather. Waving at her, his jacket pulled up around his neck to protect himself from the chilly conditions, he hurried to the front door, unlocked it, and walked inside.

  He took his time, checking every nook and cranny both in the house and backyard, and finally satisfied he entered the garage and strode up to her car.

  “Here are your keys,” he offered through her open window. “Everything looks good. Damn, it’s cold even in here.”

  “Your nose is turning blue,” she giggled. “Thanks again, I’ll call you in the morning.”

  Hitting the remote and opening the garage door, she watched him in her rear view mirror, then sighed as she lowered the door behind him.

  “I’ll stay here until his car leaves,” Luke’s voice said from under the blanket. “Just come and get me.”

  “No, I think I’ll leave you there,” she quipped. “I still can’t believe you’ve put me in this position, and I can’t believe I’ve agreed to it,” she exclaimed, and quickly leaving she was out of the car before he had a chance to respond.

  Walking into the living room she stood at the window, waved to her brother, and watched him slowly pull away from the curb. Closing the drapes she started the fire, turned on the heat, then moving into the kitchen pulled out some leftover chicken and dumplings she’d made the day before. It was one of her specialties, a favorite at the cafe, and she always made extra for herself.

  After setting it on the stove to warm up she walked back to the living room and peeked out the side of the curtains; the street looked deserted but she wasn’t going to take any chances, and before going to fetch Luke from the car she moved into her bedroom; if Jeb was watching, the bedroom light turning on would make the most sense.

  Her instinct had been right, Jeb was watching, it did make sense to him, and satisfied he drove his car from the shadows, but as he started home he called the patrol officer taking over for the night. He was Sheriff Johnson’s nephew, a nice kid though a bit on the slow side, and his name was Dwayne.

  “You heard about Luke Larson? Over.”

  “Yep, over.”

  “Keep drivin’ by Tess’s tonight, and stay parked for a spell if everything’s quiet. I’m gonna set up a regular watch schedule tomorrow, over.”

  “Copy that, over and out.”

  A few minutes later Tess ambled into the garage and opened the back door of the car. The body under the blanket didn’t move, and for a frightful moment she thought something had happened to him, but gently lifting the blanket she saw Luke had placed his hat over his face, the blanket of top of it, and was sound asleep; for a few brief seconds her righteous indignation evaporated

  You’ve been on the run for three whole days. You must be exhausted and absolutely ravenous.

  “Luke,” she said softly.

  His hand slowly lifted, pulled down his hat, and he gradually opened his eyes.

  “Damn,” he yawned.

  “Do you want to just go to bed?”

  “No, I need to shower and eat,” he frowned, “or eat and shower.”

  “I have something heating up, it will take about ten minutes, so…”

  “So shower it is,” he yawned.

  Moving slowly he crawled up on the back seat, stretched his limbs, then holding his hat as if it were gold, he climbed out of the car and followed her into the house.

  “Wow,” he muttered as they headed down the hallway towards her bedroom.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Just weird bein’ here,” he murmured. “I swear, Tess, there were days I thought I’d never see this place again.”

  “You’ll find everything you need in there,” she said, ignoring his comment and pointing into the guest room. “You’ll find a fresh packet of razors in the top drawer, and you can use that robe,” she continued, gesturing to a thick, blue, terry cloth robe she’d laid out on the bed.

  He paused, staring at her.

  “Tess,” he mumbled, “you’re savin’ my life right now, thank you.”

  Looking at his ragged face, at the untamable hair that was always falling over his right eye and the whiskers lining his jaw, she felt a pang in her heart.

  “I wanna hug you real bad right now, but I’ve gotta shower,” he murmured.

  You just read my mind. Jeb was right, you do have me under some kind of spell.

  “I’m fine,” she said quickly, “and I don’t need a hug, not from you. I’ll have the meal ready when you come out,” but before she could move away he reached out his hand and touched the tip of his finger to her forehead, then slowly traced it around her face to her chin.

  “I’ve done that a thousand times in my mind,” he murmured, then holding her eyes for just a moment, he turned and walked into the bedroom.

  Gulping back her emotion and the intense pull that was engulfing her, Tess hurried to the kitchen, checked on the chicken and dumplings, then reaching into the refrigerator pulled out a half-empty bottle of chardonnay. Pouring two glasses she sat down at the kitchen table and sipped, closing her eyes, thinking back to the fantasies she’d had about him, the fantasies that had never been given the chance to happen.

  After a date, after he’d kissed her
sweetly goodnight at the door, she would lay in bed and imagine his mouth devouring hers with an ardent hunger, his cock, steely and powerful, stroking her with abandon, bringing her to the edge, then holding her at bay, until ultimately their orgasms rattled the rafters.

  On the night of their last evening out there had been turmoil in the small town. Old man Nate, who ran the gas station, had been knocked on the head and his cash register emptied; a rumor was circulating that Luke’s truck had been seen in the area. Sensing things could take a bad turn he had hugged her on her porch, a heavy frown creasing his brow.

  “If the worst happens,” he’d murmured, “I hope you’ll keep your faith in me. God only knows what this is all about, or what’s gonna happen, but I don’t want you around me until things simmer down. You don’t need to be a part of this crazy drama, but I’ll be back, I promise you, and you know I keep my promises.”

  “My bottom can attest to that,” she’d joked, trying to lighten the heavy air.

  Sipping her wine, recalling the moment, she shifted in her chair. Earlier that night he’d told her he’d spank her if she didn’t stop punching his arm and she’d not believed him, punching again as she looked right at him.

  “I told you I’ll spank you,” he’d warned, “but only if you want. Do you want?”

  “I dare you,” she’d teased.

  He’d immediately pulled her out of the car, bent her over the hood and spanked her over her thin skirt. She been horrified and thrilled and embarrassed and mortified, and as he’d straightened her up and spun her around he’d stared at her intently.

  “I keep my promises, Tess Turner.”

  A vibrant heat had surged through her sex, and as she’d stared at him she knew she was falling madly in crush.

  “Man that smells good!”

  His voice snapped her back to the present, and standing up she could hardly believe how different he looked. He’d shaved, the dirt was off his face making the tired, grizzled look of age disappear, and except for the out-of-control shock of hair that was determined to fall forward, his hair was slicked back off his face.

  You’re still the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, and I’m hating you right now.

  Flooded with conflicting memories, her emotions tumbling around her, she lunged towards him, her arm flying through the air, her palm landing sharply on the right side of his face.

  “Why? Why? Why did you lie to me, you said you were through with Patty Jamison?” she hissed.

  Luke glared at her, his eyes narrowing, but what she saw wasn’t scorn or fury, it was confused hurt.

  “Say something,” she spat, and impulsively lifted her arm for another strike, but this time he was ready, and as it sliced through the air his hand snapped up and caught her wrist.

  “Dammit woman,” he growled, and holding her tightly he walked her backwards, pressing her against the wall. “If you’d given me a chance to explain back then-”

  “Explain?” she interrupted, her voice shrill, her face crunched in hurt as she blazed at him. “What’s there to explain?”

  Pinning her wrist above her head he reached down with his free hand and grabbed the other, sliding it up the wall, then brought his face close to hers

  “I told you,” he murmured, “I need food, and sleep, and when I wake up I’ll explain everything. If you don’t wanna to do that tell me now and I’ll leave.”

  Her chest was rising and falling with her heavy breaths, her heart was hammering, and she was fighting a torrent of tears.

  “Like I said,” she snapped, “what is there to explain?”

  “You need a spankin’,” he said solemnly, “a real good spankin’.”

  “What?” she exclaimed. “What kind of a thing is that to say to me right now?”

  “You’re all wound up, and it seems like you have been for a while. I can see it. I saw it the minute I looked at your face across that counter in the cafe. You’ve lost weight, you’re totally confused, you’ve never made sense of the crap that happened.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied, “and besides, I’m with Tyler now.”

  It was the only thing she could think of to say. Tyler was a college graduate, the son of a wealthy rancher who was one of her father’s good buddies. Claiming she was dating Tyler was both a defense and an attack, but the fabrication didn’t have the effect she wanted. Instead of the hurt in Luke’s eyes deepening, his lips curled up into an odd smile.

  “That right?” he asked lightly, then moved his lips to her ear. “Does Tyler smack that beautiful bottom of yours when you’re bein’ a brat? Does he hold you like I once did, does-?”

  “Stop it,” she muttered, “stop it, please, Luke, stop.”

  Pulling his head back he locked her eyes.

  “Now why would you make up such a foolish tale as that?” he whispered. “There’s no way you’d even hang your scarf on Tyler Anderson’s coatrack.”

  “It’s not a tale, it’s-”

  “Tess,” he growled, “stop lyin’ to me. Why’d you say that?”

  “Because,” she began, knowing she’d couldn’t keep up the pretense, “I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me.”

  The lump in her throat was growing, its heat searing, but she was determined not to dissolve into tears.

  “You know I didn’t do what they said, any of it,” he muttered, “and when I, uh, when I…”

  A strange look was moving over his face, and dropping her wrists he brought his hands up to his head.

  “Luke, what is it?” she asked, her passionate anger instantly replaced by alarm.

  “Just kinda dizzy,” he answered grabbing her and stumbling into a chair. “No food or sleep for three days will do that.”

  “Shit, I’m sorry,” she stammered, and grabbing the plate from the table she hurriedly dished up the chicken and dumplings and placed it in front of him.

  “Thanks,” he mumbled catching his breath. “It’s passin’, just needed a minute.”

  Picking up his fork he began to eat, slowly at first, fighting the temptation to gobble it down, not just because he was relishing the joy of the meal, but knowing it wasn’t smart to wolf down food on an empty stomach.

  Sinking into the opposite chair she considered his words, how he’d shown up out of the blue at such great risk, and her inner voices began a debate.

  Was I being stupid back then? Should I have stood by him, given him a chance to talk to me? Was he totally setup? But by who, and why?

  You don’t know anything. Everything they said about him could be true.

  Then why would he come back? No, I think he’s sincere, I think he really did get the shaft. If nothing else, there’s room for doubt.

  “I, uh, might believe you,” she whispered, “I mean, that you didn’t do all those things, maybe, except for Patty. You were with her.”

  His hazel eyes lifted and stared back at her.

  “But you don’t know why, and after I was arrested you refused to talk to me.”

  “It was a confusing time,” she stammered, “and remember, I didn’t say I did believe you, I said maybe I believe you.”

  “That’s a good start,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye. “A lot of people were babblin’ at you back then, convincin’ you I was a bad guy, the evidence was overwhelmin’. There were days I even wondered about me,” he added with a grin.

  “How can you joke around? You’ve been through hell,” especially if you’re innocent.

  “Gotta keep a positive attitude, most especially when things are real bad,” he replied, “and I think I’ve got it figured out, and if I’m right it’s just as well you turned against me.”

  “I don’t understand,” she frowned.

  “You will, but I have to eat and sleep before I can explain,” he sighed.

  “l’m sorry,” she apologized as she sat up. “You’re starving and I interrupted your dinner.”

  “That’s why you need a spankin’,” he remarked, continuing to eat but
staring straight at her. “A proper spankin’, not a few slaps on the backside over your dress.”

  Tess felt the heat flood her face. Dropping her eyes, not knowing what to say, she picked up her wine and took a long sip, all too aware of the slickness against the inside of her thighs. His threat of a spanking, a proper spanking, was making her head spin and butterflies dance; her pussy wanted him, her heart wanted him, but her head was still spinning.

  “You should have some of this chicken too,” he said firmly as he leaned back, “and the dumplin’s. You look like you’ve been wastin’ away.”

  “Maybe I will” she agreed. “I didn’t have much time to eat today.”

  Standing up and making a plate of the remaining chicken she settled in and began to eat.

  If I misjudged you, how will I ever forgive myself? I think must have, and I’m so sorry. I’ll find a way to make it up to you, I will, I promise.

  CHAPTER THREE

  It was in the early hours of the morning that Luke jolted awake. His sleep had been deep and dreamless, but when he flashed open his eyes his heart was punching his chest, and for a moment he had no idea where he was. As the safety of the modest guest room wrapped around him he took long deep breaths, then let himself sink back into the warmth of the bed.

  “I will never take this for granted ever again,” he muttered, “a wonderful meal and a soft bed.”

  Closing his eyes he imagined Tess just down the hall. He’d been crazy about her for years, but being a humble, small time rancher, and she the daughter of one of the town’s wealthiest men, he’d convinced himself she was out of his league, but then he’d decided to have lunch at her cafe.

  He’d been running late that morning, with no time for breakfast before he’d left home to head into town to pick up supplies. By the time he’d finished loading his truck he didn’t feel like driving all the way back to his ranch for some warmed up pizza, and Tess’s cafe beckoned. The thought of staring at the girl for whom he’d been carrying a flame for so long became too tempting.

  The lunch crowd hadn’t yet started, and to his surprise she’d sat down at his table for a chat. He’d lost himself in her large blue eyes and found himself laughing at her sassy comments, the sparkling energy between them almost tangible. When she’d stood up and cleared away his plates his heart had fallen out of his chest in front of him, landed on the table and said, “you’re toast Luke…she’s the one.”