Breaking the Bad Boy (5 page)

His skin was smooth and tanned to a light shade of ocher; it was exotic and quite beautiful to her artist’s eye. She liked his hawk nose, it made him look dangerous, and she was under no illusions that he wasn’t. His mouth was wide, and straight across with thin but very sensual lips, she subconsciously licked her own while looking at them, and she saw the corners of his mouth turn up just a fraction. He noticed she was looking at his lips. His body was used to the hard work ranchers did, and his tanned arms and rough hands were indications of his labor intensive career choice.

Not so, her museum developer’s job. She wasn’t out of shape; she just would never be hard. Joss had a definite softness to her. Her daily swims kept her toned and she actually used her club membership, making her arms and legs perfect, it was her ass that was the problem. Maybe not such a great problem she thought, imagining the next few weeks in a saddle. She had a little more than the standard cushion, and that was putting a positive spin on it.

“You want to tell me the story about the bad boy you stole from the lovely Leanne?” He asked moving back to his favorite subject.

“Not really, but I’m sure plenty of other people would love to tell you that, you don’t need to hear it from me,” she said.

“But I want you hear it from you, Duchess, you’re so pretty when you blush,” he said.

“Who hit you?” She asked pointing at the scar under his eye. He looked at her surprised; then he retreated back into his distant mode.

“Who hasn’t?” He said shrugging his shoulders and she chuckled a little.

“Well, I haven’t,” she said.

“Not yet,” he said with another grin. “Give it time.”

Joss pulled out her Visa card when the woman came out to clear their plates. The woman said something that sounded harsh, and Joss simply looked at her stupidly.

“They don’t take Visa,” Buck said.

“Oh.” Joss went for her wallet and came up with three dollars. She looked across the table and Buck was already pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. “I’m sorry; I left in such a rush.”

“You get a free pass, Duchess. I understand the Kennedys don’t carry cash either.” He said something to the woman in what must have been Thai, and she bowed her head at him and together they spoke more in a single minute than what she and Buck said to each other all evening. Buck responded to her in the same language and they both laughed heartily and looked at Joss assessing her for something, she quickly decided she didn’t want to know.
The cowboy spoke Thai? He could be Asian
, she thought.
A blend of things more like, gah, stop doing that, Joss
. Buck stood up with a big smile on his handsome face. Joss stood up, too. There was no way she was going to ask what he said to the little woman, she had her pride.

“Can we swing by an ATM? I’ll pay you back,” she said. He held the door open for her and she had to pass quite close to him. She smelled his scent and she felt the sudden jolt of sexual charge from his physical nearness that shot fire through her body which settled in between her legs.
No, not
this
guy
, she told her body, but her body never, ever listened.

“Are you okay?” He asked as she faltered through the door.

“I… I’m fine, why do you ask?”

“Your body just did something funny,” he grinned.
Damn him
.

“What are you talking about?” She said.

“You tell me, Duchess, it’s your body.”

“My body is fine, thank you for asking,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” he said taking off his jacket. “Ask me.”

“Ask you what?”

“Ask me what she said.” He put his jacket over her shoulders. She wanted to shrug it off, but it was warm from his body and it smelled clean and… like him. She put her arms in the sleeves and pulled it close around her.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

“Ask me,” he whispered close to her. She shivered again. He was enjoying himself far too much.

“Tell me if you are so eager for me to know,” she said and he stopped in the street and she stopped and turned to see what was up. He was smiling wickedly.

“No, Duchess, I want you to ask me what she said,” he said.
Damn, he was sexy, when did that happen?

“How do I know you even speak Thai? She could have said ‘Hey buddy, you didn’t give me much of a tip,’ for all I know.” He laughed.

“It’s going to bother you if you don’t ask,” he said grinning.

“I think it’s going to bother you if I don’t ask, so here I am, not asking,” she turned and walked to the truck. He remained in the street for a minute watching her walk away then jogged a little to catch up with her.

“Okay, I’ll tell you if you want to know so much, but you have to kiss me,” he said still grinning. He unlocked her door and opened it for her. She climbed in and he shut the door.
He was outrageous. And why was she grinning?

“I’m not going to kiss you,” she said when he climbed in the other side.

“Sure you are, Duchess, you can barely keep your hands off me. I’ll wait for you, for a little bit,” he said and started the truck. She hadn’t touched him at all, what was he saying?

“You won’t have to wait long, I won’t be around long enough to warrant a long, excruciating waiting period. You’ll be out of your misery soon enough.” He laughed.

“That could be taken either way, Duchess,” he grinned. “I know how I chose to hear what you said.” He grinned in the green light of the dash. She rolled her eyes and leaned back into the seat.

He didn’t take her to the ATM; instead they drove home in almost complete silence again. It wasn’t until the truck stopped that she realized she had fallen asleep. She was completely disoriented, and she came awake with a start, wondering if she was the one driving. Her heart rate soared, and it took her a whole minute to calm herself with one hand on the dash, another one on her chest. Buck was enjoying himself far too much.

“Thanks for the lift, and thanks for dinner. Again, I’m sorry I didn’t have any money,” she said and he waved his hand.

“Don’t worry about it, Duchess, I planned it that way,” he said getting out of the truck. She got out of her side and walked to the house. He stood behind her as she opened the door and she turned around and put a hand on his chest to stop his coming any closer. His chest was rock hard under the soft fabric of his shirt.

“I’m safely to my door, thank you,” she said. He burst out laughing. “And what is so funny?”

“Do you think I’m aiming for a goodnight kiss? Maybe payment for dinner?” She gasped slightly, that was exactly what she thought. “I live here, Duchess, let me in.” Her mouth fell open and he looked at it with unambiguous desire. She snapped it shut.

“You do?”

“Yep, so you’d better lock your door tonight,” he said gruffly. He reached out for the lapel of his jacket that she was wearing and he slowly reached his hand into the inside pocket. She inhaled sharply but he didn’t touch her. Instead he slowly pulled something from it while maintaining eye contact with her and handed it to her. She looked down and saw it was a toothbrush, and she looked back at him, suddenly confused about how he was making her feel. He swooped down and kissed her quickly; just a tantalizing press of his lips against her lips, and pushed past her to his side of the ranch house.

She locked her door, but it didn’t keep her from thinking about him and his easy smile and the light brush of his lips on hers all night. She barely had the chance to worry about Brent.

Chapter Two

Mornings were early at the ranch. Joss got up long before the sun and ran up the drive and down the road and back. The morning was cool and perfect running weather. She saw a fox and quite a few mule deer that couldn’t be bothered by her presence to get out of her way. She didn’t make it as far as her rental car, but ran for a few miles and turned back. She stopped running halfway down the drive and walked a bit until she wasn’t breathing hard and stretched at the foot of the porch steps. Content, she showered and dressed.

When she got back to the kitchen the coffee was made and she helped herself to a large mug and went to the front porch to enjoy the sunrise in the quiet cool of the morning. Buck was once again in her favorite seat, with those long legs stretched out in front of him, a coffee cup in his hand.

“You slept in,” he said not even looking up.
Slept in?
She chuckled. Joss sat and put her own feet up.

“Good morning,” she said with a sigh that turned into a yawn. Tonight she was not going to be kept awake by thoughts of this man, she was going to sleep.

“Not a morning person, are you?” He asked.

“Nope, are you?”

“Not really, but you get used to it, and after a while it’s second nature,” he said.

“Did the military drill that into you?” She asked waiting for his reaction. He didn’t really have a physical one, but he was definitely touchy about it. He turned and looked at her.

“So, you got a thing for military personnel? Guys with badges? Is it the uniform? Or is it just the gun? Tell me what exactly what your kinky craving is and I’ll find something on eBay. We can go act out any sexual fantasy you want, Duchess, I am all yours,” he watched her closely and she considered him.

When she asked him something he wasn’t interested in answering he behaved badly, and the subject was changed. He was training her to stay away from it, thinking that it was embarrassing her to hear him go on about sexual fantasy. This, of course, only made her more curious about why he was so disinclined to talk about it.

“Interesting. Do you play poker?” She asked, thinking she could clean him out at this rate. He inhaled deeply and blew the breath out. It did something odd to her insides.

“I only play strip poker with gorgeous leggy blondes,” he grinned at her. “You think you got something on me, but you’re wrong, Duchess, you are far too easy to read; I’d have you naked in a heartbeat.”

You wouldn’t even need a deck of cards
, she thought.

“What’s your position, here?” She asked him, wondering what Brent paid this man to do, and why did he live in the main house? No one had lived in the main house since she was very young.

“I’m partial to all the positions; I haven’t had any named after me, if that’s what you mean? Not yet, at least. Did you mean my
favorite
position?” He asked.

“What is your job here at the ranch? Is it all sexual innuendo for you?” She said looking off into the mountains to the west. The sun had come up and it was shining on the peaks to the west making long shadows and accentuating every shape on the hills. She wished she hadn’t missed half of it, this guy was holding her hostage. She felt the heat on her face and wondered why she stopped him; she suddenly wanted desperately to know his favorite position.

“I do everything. I’m your dad’s right hand man.”

“How long have you worked for Brent?” She asked.

“About six months,” he said. A gray tabby cat came around the corner and stopped dead when he saw them on the porch.

“Hello, puss,” Joss said and the tabby approached cautiously.

“He’s not friendly,” Buck warned.

The cat rubbed his face on Joss’s pant leg and began purring loudly. He suddenly launched himself into her lap and curled up happily. Joss scratched him absentmindedly. Buck stared at the cat and then at Joss.

“Huh,” he said and went back to his coffee.

“Cats like me,” she said and he had a very curious look on his face. “Why are you living in the house?” She asked. He took another deep breath.

“Twenty questions, huh? I’ll tell you, but then it’s my turn,” he said. She nodded. “Someone broke in a few months ago, and your dad asked me to move in. Apparently Belle thought it was a good idea,” he said.

“Belle trusts you?” She asked surprised.

“Don’t sound so flabbergasted, I’m trust worthy,” she rolled her eyes. “My turn, Duchess. Which side of the bed do you sleep on?” He grinned widely.

“That’s the question you’re asking? I was so hoping you were going to ask me what my favorite color was,” he laughed.

“I’m coming to that,” he said.

“Don’t waste your question, I could never pick just one, I like them all.”

“You’re changing the subject, Duchess,” he was playful Buck, now.

“I would have thought that was something you’d want to learn for yourself instead of being told,” she grinned at the look of shock that rolled over his face. It quickly morphed back into his smile.

“I’m considering that an invitation.”

“It’s not one.”

“A challenge, then,” he grinned. “I do love a challenge, Duchess.”

“Oh good,” she said.

“Damn,” he said and looked down at his boots shaking his head.

“Will you tell me how you came to learn Thai?” She asked. He looked up at her once again.

“I traveled a lot when I was younger, I picked it up along the way,” he said trying to sound casual. Joss chuckled. It seemed unlikely that he simply “picked it up,” but she didn’t say anything, it was none of her business, but he was a puzzle.

“How did you know I lived in
Denver
?” He eyed her.

“From the message you left on the answering machine yesterday,” he said and looked at the cat. She tried to remember what she had said on the machine, but she had been a little side tracked at the time.

“Where’s Fernando?”

“I expect him to show up in the next twenty minutes or so with several hands. There was a breach in the southernmost pasture; we have some cows to find, and a fence to mend.” She nodded. “Do you want me to have someone to take care of your rental car?”

“No, thank you, the rental company is coming to get it and take it away. But thanks,” she said. “I’m going into town, do you need anything?”

“I’m thinking I might need condoms,” he said grinning. “Maybe you should tell me his name,” he said.

“The cat’s name?” She asked. He shook his head. “The texter?” He laughed.

“There are so many names, but I meant your high school classmate, the bad boy.” He said.

“Why on earth would you want to know his name?”

“It’s a small town, I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable should you bump into him,” he said and she laughed.

“Everything you do is in an effort to make me uncomfortable,” she laughed slightly and he thought she was a smart kid. “Don’t worry about it; I’m not concerned about bumping into any former lovers. And he wasn’t my classmate, he was two years older,” she picked up the cat and stood, putting him back on her warmed chair. He curled back up contentedly, and Buck watched her ass as she walked into the house with her empty mug.

Two years older? She must have been something else in high school, though he could well believe it; she was something else now, especially in those low rise jeans that hugged her impeccable ass. He had spent a good portion of the night thinking about that ass, and how much he’d like to get better acquainted with it, and with the rest of her, he’d start with the lips, he thought, and move to her breasts. No, he might have to start with the breasts, he’d postpone the lips, but not for long, no, after that enticing taste of her lips last night, he’d like a little more. He’d start with the lips, who was he kidding? Christ, he was a kid in a candy store.

Watching her run down the drive in those Lycra pants was just about the end of him, and the sports bra, utilitarian, but on her it was very nice. She hadn’t noticed him standing quietly in the kitchen when she came back from her run, and he smiled thinking about it. He was less than a foot from her in the predawn light as she picked the towel up from the table and wiped the sweat from her face with it. He could smell her earthy scent and he was alarmingly aroused by it. He’d gone too long without; it was time to rectify that. His Duchess was all pink and sweaty, and he wanted her pink and sweaty in his arms, there was simply no way around it.

Buck stood up and reached to scratch the cat under his chin and the cat bit him hard enough to draw blood.

“You tolerate
her
, but not me? I’m the good guy, here,” he said putting his finger in his mouth. “She is definitely bad.” He looked at the door where she vanished. “And dangerous.”

***

Joss drove her dad’s Land Rover into town and stopped first at the bank for cash. Once funded, she went on to the hospital.

At the nurse’s station she was stopped and introduced to Brent’s doctor. She was a small dark haired woman who looked even more tired than Joss felt. Joss shook her hand.

“Your father is doing very well, I’ve taken him off the respirator and he’s breathing on his own,” she smiled at Joss.

“So he can talk now?”

“Oh yes, and boy, has he got a few things to say,” Dr Hastings laughed. “Why don’t you go in to see him? Don’t tire him out, okay? The nurses are going to get him up and moving in about half an hour.”

“I won’t, thank you,” Joss said.

“You’re very welcome,” the doctor walked back to the nurse’s station and handed them a chart. Joss turned and looked at the door.

When she opened the door she saw her dad and Belle lying together in the snug hospital bed, her father was running his fingers through Belle’s thick black hair. It seemed an intimate scene to barge in on and she stepped back but they both must have heard something because their eyes opened at the same time.

“Hello, Joss,” Brent said. His voice was hoarse and his lips were dry.

“Hi, Dad. Do you need a drink, you look pretty dry?” She said and went to get the cup with the bendy straw. He fumbled with it and drank deeply.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Joss,” he said a tear coming to his eye.

“Of course I’m here,” she said.

“It must be bad.”

“I just talked with your doctor; she says you’re fine, she doesn’t know what the fuss was about. I was planning a trip up here anyway; I just moved it forward a little.”

Belle struggled to get out of the bed to let Joss have her time with her father.

“Where are you going?” He said holding on to her.