Between Hope & the Highway (31 page)

“Hey,” Rawson nudged me. “You’re in a galaxy far, far away.”

I blinked. “I was just thinking of Mom. She’s pretty awesome.”

“She’s the best.”

We didn’t talk anymore, but walls dropped between us. At one point, his hand came down on my leg and squeezed.

“I need a favor, kid.”

“Name it.”

“I want to do something special for Liz for Christmas—to show her how I feel.”

“How’s that?”

“Like she’s my whole world.” He looked up at the ceiling. “I’ve never felt this way before, so I’m not quite sure what to do. Any ideas?”

I pursed my lips. “What about the twelve days of Christmas? You could give your true love something different each day.”

“You’re brilliant, bro.” He tousled my hair, laughing when I slapped at his hand.

We put our heads together and came up with several ideas to get started before he stood and stretched.

“That’s a good start. I better hit the sack”

“You can’t leave in the middle of the best movie ever created.”

“I have to head back to the cattle.” He pulled out his wallet and handed me his credit card. “Keep this. I’ll need your help purchasing items so they get here in time. I don’t have internet at the cattle house.”

After he left, I figured I should go to bed too. Watching movies alone was as fun as picking a sunburn.

Chapter 52

Rawson

None of the passengers filing through the double doors from whatever flight had just landed were Lizzie. Leaning back, I stared at the bronze flying geese hanging from the wood ceiling. Maybe she’d be in the next group of arrivals. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine her reaction when she saw me instead of Abe. When I discovered that she’d asked the foreman to pick her up, I offered to get her, as well as the load of straw Abe needed if he’d cover for me with the cattle. He was hesitant, but I’d busted my hide over the last month and he knew it.

So we switched…and now my heart beat so fast I half-wondered if I was having a heart attack. I’d liked girls before; shoot, I couldn’t count the number I’d been gaga for at one time or another. Yet I’d never felt vulnerable like this. The month Liz and I had been apart had been pure misery. I missed her, but even more, I needed her. Me, the guy who’d always taken pride in my independence was now the neediest man on earth.

I straightened in my seat as the sound of rushing passengers filled the terminal. As I scanned the crowds, her tinkling giggle alerted me to her presence before I saw her. Standing, I adjusted my Stetson as she walked through the double doors beside a tall, lanky cowboy who appeared to be paying too much attention to her.

“That would be great,” she said to him.

I scowled as he mashed up against her. “Let me get your number, darlin’.”

“Lizzie!” I swiftly approached.

Her expression as she glanced up and saw me was encouraging. Her face lit up like Addie’s whenever I brought her jelly bellies. “Rawson!”

I nudged
Mr. Give Me Your Number
out of the way and picked her up and swung her around. It was only one revolution on the airport walkway, yet it was enough time to savor the smell of her shampoo and the way her breath tickled my neck. My body instantly relaxed and felt whole. This was what I’d been craving.

When I should have released her, I held on a second longer and said loud enough for
Mr. Open Mouth Cowboy
to hear, “I missed you, sweetheart.”

That got the message across. He tipped his hat. “Nice talking with you, Liz. You have my number.”

She tried to wave, but I’d pinioned her arms, and no way would I allow her to give him more than a kick in the backside goodbye.

“He gave you his number?” I raised a brow. “What kind of Neanderthal is he?”

She turned all rosy under my gaze.

“Blushing becomes you…and you’re welcome by the way for getting rid of that loser.”

“He wasn’t a loser.”

I took her hand and tugged her toward the luggage carousel. “I beg to differ. He lost you, didn’t he?”

She half-heartedly punched my arm. “He wasn’t trying to win me. We just sat together on the flight here. He’s from Florida.”

Spotting her southern seat-mate scoping her out by the luggage carousel, I steered her to the opposite side. The girl was blind. As we waited for luggage to arrive, she turned to me.

“I’m glad you picked me up, Stash. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. Texts only go so far.” I wrapped my arms around her. “It’s nice to hold the real deal in my arms.”

When I didn’t let go, she mumbled into my shirt. “You can let go now.”

“I don’t think so.”

Luggage piled down the chute. Liz pushed away to point out her suitcase.

“I never pictured you for a pink suitcase kind of gal,” I said as I grabbed her bedazzled baggage and led her out to my truck.

“I’m not. That’s courtesy of my mother.”

Snow fell on the drive home, making me have to focus on driving until we pulled off on the ranch exit. As I steered down the snowy ruts, Liz started questioning me.

“How do you like working with the cows?”

I sighed. “Cattle, Lizzie. Cows are—”

“I know. They’ve had babies.”

“It’s been hell.” When she narrowed her eyes, I said, “I’m not cussing. That’s the truth. Dad’s determined to kill me. He purposely left me underhanded so I don’t have a second to even breathe or take a leak.”

She scrunched her nose. “Gross. I hoped you at least changed before you came and got me.”

Caught off guard by her remark, I started laughing so hard I had to pull over on the unplowed road. Unlatching my seatbelt, I scooted over and threw my arm over her shoulders. “Man alive, I’ve missed you. I don’t think I’ve laughed once since Dad banished me to the herd.”

Her eyes oozed compassion. “Is it really so bad?”

“Worse.” I tilted my head to take advantage of her luscious neck and began to nibble.

Lizzie surprised me by reaching up to run her fingers through my hair. She’d never done something so
normal
before, and it fired me up faster than an incinerator. Clutching her tighter, I began sucking her neck like it held the only sustenance to keep me alive…and in a way, it did. Even without touching her lips, I experienced one of the most sensual moments of my life as I made her sigh, moan, and shudder with pleasure.

But when my hand slipped under her shirt, Lizzie gasped and applied the brakes full force. Ecstasy came to a crashing halt as she practically shoved me into the dashboard.

I gulped as she straightened her shirt and pulled her jacket around her like a protective shield. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

“What? I didn’t kiss you…although I should. We’ve been going out since the end of September.”

“You can’t count this month. This is the first I’ve seen you since you were assigned to the cattle.”

“All the more reason to make up for lost time.”

She folded her arms. “This is why I didn’t want to go out with you.”

I counted to ten. The girl pushed me to the edge of crazy. “Don’t you dare pull back and friend-zone me. Just tell me what you want.”

As she faced me, I wanted to kiss the furrow from her brow. “Maybe we should take a break from each other.”

I scowled. “We just did that. It’s been almost four weeks, Lizzie. I have only until I get you back home before I have to get back to the herd. I moved hell and high water to get Abe to cover for me so I could pick you up today.”

Her stern expression softened. “That’s sweet.”

“Don’t call me sweet.”

She laughed, and I hoped we could throw all the awkward out the window. I tried to throw my arm around her again, but she shook her head and lifted it like it was chemical waste.

“No more. You’re acting like we’re together.”

I raised my brow. “Right now, we are together…in my truck…alone.”

She swallowed. “We’re not together. I can date other guys.”

“Like who? Chance? You already made your feelings clear about him. Or maybe you want to make eyes at that idiot who sat by you on the plane today…the one who thinks just wearing a Stetson makes him a cowboy.”

“Hush,” she scolded. “He was nice. Besides, you better get over your jealousy because he’s looking for a job, and I told him I’d put in a good word for him with your dad. I need someone more experienced than Chance, and Garret’s worked with horses for years. He could be the man for the job.”

“I’m the man for the job!” I pounded the steering wheel. I couldn’t believe she was still talking about going out with other guys.

Her lips formed an adorable pout. “You were the man for the job until you messed up and got stuck with the cattle.”

“I forbid you from putting in a good word for that jerk.”

“You forbid me?”

“Yes. Just put up with Chance until Dad switches me back to work with you. You’ve lasted this month. What can a little longer hurt? Besides, Dad won’t hire anyone during the winter.”

“Is that so? Then why has he been having me look over resumes?”

I threw my head against the seat and growled. What was my old man thinking? He knew I wanted to train the new blood. Taking a deep breath, I worked to contain my emotions. I couldn’t change Dad’s decision, but I could regain control of this conversation and steer Liz to a compromise.

I waved my hand. “Forget Florida guy. Back to us. I won’t try to kiss you, but I think it’s time we became a couple. Exclusive. I’ve never felt this way about any other girl. I want to be serious.”

She gaped at me.

It felt as if I’d laid my heart open on an operating table for her to fix. When she didn’t respond, it was as if Dr. Lizzie callously left my bleeding, pumping organ behind to go eat lunch with friends. Each painful beat required superhuman effort as I struggled to maintain a relaxed expression and not beg her to agree.

“No,” she finally whispered. “That wouldn’t make sense right now. I’d be putting myself on a shelf. Maybe when you’re back and I see you occasionally, we’ll discuss it.”

Clenching my jaw, I scooted to my side and pulled back onto the road. The girl seriously knew how to push my buttons.

When I pulled up to the house to drop her off, I took her hand. I couldn’t leave on a bad note.

“I don’t know when I can get away again, but will you hang out with me when I do? Maybe we could watch a movie with Benny.” I knew she wouldn’t turn me down if I used my brother.

She smiled, lifting a weight from my chest. “Sure. Text me when you’re on your way and I’ll whip up some snacks…maybe even cinnamon rolls.”

I moaned and brought her hand to my lips. “You are most definitely the perfect girl for me. I’m glad you’re back, Tutti. Life has been all lima beans without you.”

Her eyes crinkled. “See you, Stash. Don’t freeze out with the cattle.”

“I won’t,” I called as she hopped out her door. “Thinking of you will keep me mighty toasty.”

Chapter 53

Liz

Gale-force winds whipped snow across the icy pasture, building ten foot snowdrifts where the rail-post fence meandered across the land. I pulled my scarf over my mouth and plowed into the elements. Nights like this made me wish for a better coat. The threadbare one I wore layered over several sweatshirts had seen better days.

Squinting into the swirling whiteness, I grabbed for the rope Abe had secured from the indoor arena to the house. When he first hammered and worked on the line, I’d scoffed, thinking I could easily find my way home in the dark or snow without help. But I’d never experienced weather like this. My eyelashes froze and my nose stung. Visibility consisted of blowing snow, which confused my internal compass. The rope had become my salvation.

Gritting my teeth, I used my gloved hands to feel my way along the bristly twine. When my boot hit something solid, I reached out and felt the door into the mudroom. Breathing a sigh of relief, I entered and shut the door quickly. Still, a pile of snow blew in with me.

I sank onto a bench to extract my boots and peel off soggy layers. My pathetic jean jacket mocked me as I rubbed my arms and shivered. The moisture had soaked clear through to my UNLV sweatshirt.

“Hey, Liz.” Benny bounded in and sat on the bench across from me.

“Hey.”

“You look like a snowman.”

“Feel like one too. This storm’s crazy.”

He grinned. “Welcome to Montana.”

I hung my pathetic winter gear and headed upstairs. Benny followed.

“What did you do today?” I asked.

He wrinkled his nose. “Mom made me play with Addie to keep her out of trouble. I wish Rawson was back so he could take a turn.”

So did I. Chance, bless his heart, didn’t have that Rawson equine instinct I sorely needed, and Bart still hadn’t hired a replacement.