Can't Resist a Cowboy (4 page)

Chapter Six

Her voice lost velocity, because the moment Levi turned his innocent-looking smolder on her, she forgot how to function. Realizing her mouth was hanging open, Carrie pressed her lips together. She was tempted to ask him to step away from the light, on account that he looked like a freaking Greek god standing there, all swathed in a golden glow, and it was only making her angrier.

Black hair and chiseled face, broad shoulders, and huge biceps showing beneath his shirt. The gleam in his eyes made her pulse quicken. He moved to her side with purposeful steps as if his sole intent was making contact with her body. She held her breath just long enough for his fingers to slide gently over her upper arm. And then she exhaled with a quick, low whoosh, shivers racing down her arm at the caress of his hand.

“That’s an interesting way to say hello, Carrie Lynn.”

An overpoweringly sweet scent wafted off him. She wrinkled her nose and without thinking about it, leaned into him to take a better whiff. Common sense came rushing back and she moved away before she did something really stupid, like grab his bare arm and lick him. Slowly.

“Why do you smell like chocolate pudding?”

He gave a stunted laugh and moved his hand to his front pocket. “Is it that bad?”

“No, it’s delicious.” A flush heated her face even before the words were done tumbling out. Smoke replaced the light of humor in his eyes. Blinking hard, Carrie turned away from the glare from the window. It bothered her eyes…but also made a perfect excuse to put a little more distance between them. He moved along with her, keeping the proximity.

“Carrie.” Levi’s breath washed over the back of her neck, and the warm electric sparks down her spine didn’t come from the sun. She could feel him there, his body, as he’d stepped up behind her. Her muscles tensed in preparation for his touch, but none came—both a blessing and a disappointment. “What can I do for you?”

“You can start by telling me why the hell a crew is taking measurements for a campground on Agate Falls land.” She’d much prefer to talk to her dad about this, but since he was out and about, Levi was her only choice.

“Do you want to sit?” Levi moved beside her, creating a trail of chocolate-scented air.

“No.”

He moved across the open living room and into the kitchen. “Soda?”

“Are you stalling, Levi?”

He sauntered back over with a can of Coke in one hand. “I don’t have a reason to stall. And I’m not quite sure you have a reason to be so upset right now.”

“Are you kidding me? Does my dad know that you’re planning to tear up Agate Falls—?”

“Why do you think he wouldn’t know?”

“So you are planning to develop the land? And what? Turn it into another Paint River?”

Her own vitriol confused and shocked her. This wasn’t her normal… She didn’t let go of her emotions like this. Figuring it was a reaction to him and not so much the circumstances, she willed herself to cool it.

“It’s business, Carrie. We’re looking at options. Weighing choices that can bring long-term financial stability to Agate Falls. That’s all.”

“That’s
not
all.” Not by a long shot. Developing the ranch would mean changing it, taking away the landscape of her childhood. The adult part of her understood that nothing stayed the same, but the little girl inside wanted everything to stay the way she remembered it.

“Are you mad about the ranch, or is this about me and you?”

There was no way she was answering that, even if she already knew the answer. “There is no me and you.”

“Damn it, you know what I mean.”

Of course she did. Opening that can of worms wasn’t worth the turmoil. Not when there couldn’t be anything more between them than
business
, and soon, once she went back to Wyoming, nothing. “You think a lot of yourself if you’re implying that I didn’t put you out of my heart years ago.” She lifted her chin. “The only thing between you and me right now is wanting what’s best for Agate Falls, even if we don’t have the same ideas in mind.”

“I’m the boss, Carrie.”

“Excuse me?”

“Fifty-five percent. That’s how much stake I hold in Agate Falls, which means, technically, I own it.” He cracked the can and took a drink. “Look, I won’t keep anything from you. You’re a part of Agate Falls, and…you’re important.”

She shrugged off his comment, though it gave her a trickle of warmth. The flash of angst she’d had about this whole thing suddenly seemed like an overinflated knee-jerk reaction. In the big picture, she didn’t have much say in how things went. She lived a state away, had her own life off the ranch. What her dad and Levi decided to do wouldn’t be ruled by her nostalgia and need to hang on.

Her reluctance to let go and the ever-growing secret wish that she could stay were having a tug-of-war. It was hard to let go of the past when she was so scared about her future. Still, it was her problem. Not Levi’s.

Deflated, she could only nod. “Thank you.” Feeling incredibly silly, she moved to go, but his voice stopped her.

“Look, what you did for me the other night…the leg thing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” In the four years she’d been working as a massage therapist, she’d never been as grateful for her skills as she had the other night. Easing Levi out of his misery had been profoundly satisfying. Witnessing his complete and utter agony had pulled a primal instinct from somewhere inside her to fix it.

“How did you know what to do?”

“Hmmm?” She turned to look at him while moving farther away from the sunlight. Dots and shards of light danced inside her right eye. She closed her eyes and pressed fingers to her lids, cursing, for the millionth time, this change that was happening to her.

“Oh, I’m a chiropractic assistant. I do massage, sometimes.”

When she opened her eyes, she noticed he was watching her intently…too intently. “I’ve had massages before.”

“Oh?”

“As part of my therapy. But none of them ever came close to what you did.” Levi moved closer. “It was a little magical, actually.”

“Magical,” she repeated, watching him advance. The tension between them was both sweet and disconcerting, and she wished the slightly awkward, uncomfortable thing would go away. Then again, it helped remind her that she wasn’t here on a personal level.

Time had given the lines and edges of his face a maturity that heightened his masculine appeal. And no doubt the military had provided him with the razor-sharp and completely breath-stealing expression. Even in the dimmer cast of light, his eyes glowed with intensity that shot a throb between her legs and a flicker of apprehension in her breast.

He stopped, close enough that heat radiated from his chest to hers. Around his neck, a silver chain disappeared beneath his shirt. It didn’t take much to guess what the chain held, and she wanted to see. She touched her fingertips to his collarbone, exhaling as if the contact were the fuel she needed to breathe, tracing the chain and slowly pulling it until a single dog tag slid up from beneath the fabric.

His name was stamped into it, the metal tarnished on one edge as if it had been rubbed repeatedly. The tag rested in her palm, warm from his body heat. One small, thin piece of metal represented the different paths they’d taken. She’d held his tags before, though he wouldn’t remember. She’d thought then, as she did now, what a strong, admirable man he was. Levi Haywood was a damn good man.

She let go, and the tag clanked against the chain as she stepped back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“You never have to apologize for touching me, Carrie.” Low, almost dangerous, the tone sent a sensual ripple through her body. “In fact, I’d like you do it again, right now.”

Her gaze fell to his lips as her palm met his chest. Carrie took one small step forward, pressing her hand flat again and traveling it over his pecs, the fabric of his shirt sliding over his firm, warm muscle, to his ribs where his torso stiffened and his breath stalled. Lightly, he gripped her wrist in one hand and tipped her chin with the other. Her mind and body seemed to go somewhere else, a static place, where this moment erased everything else.

He swept a thumb over her lower lip. “We have unfinished business.”

She shook her head, trying to dissuade him, herself; both. In a couple weeks she’d be gone—would be reduced to seeing Levi once or twice a year when she came home to visit, maybe. That wasn’t really worth the emotional wringer she’d have to go through if she let herself get close to him.

“We don’t.”

“We do.”

“No.” She shook her head again, the sting behind her eyes biting. If this moment could truly be suspended and molded into whatever she wanted it to be, there
would
be a second chance. Her vision and health would be perfect, and she could safely live in this remote place. But her future wasn’t malleable. And a second chance wasn’t possible.

“Maybe you have unfinished stuff, but I don’t, and I’d rather you didn’t bring it up again.”

His head dipped low. Her lips began to tingle and want. With the touch of his breath, her mouth parted. He drew closer.

“Sounds like a challenge, Carrie. Remember what happens when you challenge me?”

She studied the faint kiss of freckles across his nose, the angle of his cheekbones and strength of his smooth jaw. The beauty of it muddled her thoughts…until she remembered that she couldn’t do this. If he kissed her, she’d want more.

Carrie stepped back, immediately regretting the loss of his closeness. “Yes, I do. You usually lose.”

A low chuckle sounded from deep in his throat, the reverberation of it giving her goose bumps. “Never lost your spirit, did you, Sunshine?” The nickname tugged at her heart. It was another connection
,
like a puzzle piece falling into place.

Carrie glanced up, her forehead going tight with the sudden realization that Levi was the common thread in her deep-seated need to be here, surrounded by family and familiar faces. If she didn’t get control of whatever was going on between them right now, she was going to fall. Hard. Wallowing in self-pity over what she couldn’t have wasn’t an appealing thought. She did too much of that as it was.

“Look, my granddaddy’s barn is on that land. I don’t know what my father is thinking, but he’d never want it torn down.” She reached in her pocket for her truck keys, trying hard to get her in-control side back into place.

He groaned. “This again? No one is taking down the barn.” He crossed his arms, feet wide like a military guard standing over something important. “Nothing is set in stone, and we don’t have to develop that exact location. That’s why the survey crew is there, so we can look at options. Which reminds me.” He pulled his cell from his pocket and looked at it. “I’m about out of time to catch them before they go. This has been fun, but you’ll have to excuse me.”

Levi indicated the door with a sweep of his arm. Suddenly sluggish, Carrie realized it was well past noon and she hadn’t eaten or taken her insulin. She’d been a little fatigued this morning but attributed it to not sleeping well. No way did she want to push it, even though she was tempted to go with Levi to meet the crew. Food, medicine, and a nap would dictate the rest of her day.

Descending the porch steps, she opened her truck door and looked back at him. “Good-bye, Levi.”

His grin was huge, infuriating, as he walked behind her to go to his own vehicle. His hand traced her lower back as he passed. “How about, ‘until later’? Because trust me, Sunshine, we’re nowhere near done.”

Chapter Seven

The sun was struggling to wake up when Levi pulled into Agate Falls to help with their branding. Even through his flannel shirt and denim jacket, the chill tugged at his arms and the backs of his shoulders with a damp undertone that spoke of a brewing storm. He found Darren in the cattle barn. The older man handed him a mug of steaming coffee and they got to work gathering rope, veterinary supplies, and other odds and ends. Cowboys had gone out to herd the cattle from the high pasture down to the branding pens. Any time now, other ranchers would show up and they could get started.

He just wasn’t into it today. His legs ached something terrible. Levi sucked it up and drained his coffee. Branding should go quickly, considering Agate Falls had fewer cattle than Paint River. He should probably take it easy today, but the thought of being idle made him restless. There was too much going on in his mind to go slow.

“The survey went well,” he told Darren. “I should hear back from them in a week or so with the full report.”

Darren nodded. “That’s good.” A few ranch hands went in and out. Half expecting Carrie to come walking in at any moment, Levi glanced to the door. She’d always loved branding. When they were younger, they’d ride out with the men early in the morning to round up the cattle and bring them to the pens. When her health got tricky, she’d do small things like help with lunch, or simply stand at the rails and watch. He’d always felt sorry for her that she couldn’t be riding and in the middle of the action, but she never complained.

“Carrie come to see you yesterday?” Darren asked quietly, almost as if he’d been reading Levi’s mind.

Levi grabbed a metal toolbox and added it to his pile to carry outside. “Yes, sir.”

“What did you tell her?”

That was a loaded question, depending on what exactly he was talking about. They’d slung a lot of words around yesterday and damn if he hadn’t almost kissed her. When she’d pulled his dog tag out of his shirt and held it in her palm, he’d nearly come undone. Emotions had flickered across her face in that moment, from sadness to anger to something that had looked a lot like regret. He’d felt each poignantly as they’d stood connected by that slip of metal.

“I told her the truth about the survey crew. She’d seen them and asked me about it. I’m surprised the two of you hadn’t already talked about things, though.”

Darren turned back to his work. “I was going to the other night, but she wasn’t feeling well. She went to bed early.” Before Levi could ask, the older man threw him a look over his shoulder. “She’ll be fine. Just a medication change is all.”

Levi didn’t respond. How many times had he been with her when her blood sugar went low and she’d needed help? Countless. As she’d grown and her body started to adjust, things evened out and she stopped having so many problems. But diabetes was a lifelong condition, and hers was hard to regulate. The doctors had told her early on that she’d always struggle and have to be vigilant.

He’d been vigilant with her, and so had her father. Always watching. Always worrying. He’d hoped over the years that things would get easier for her, that her body would find a rhythm with an insulin that worked well. Seemed as if she might still be struggling a bit, though.

“That’s good.” Levi pulled a pair of gloves from his back pocket and slipped into them with the sudden urge to go check on her. She’d probably roll her eyes and order him out. It had been a little heated between them when they’d parted ways yesterday. He refilled his coffee from a thermos on the ground and did the same for Darren.

“I know it was hard on you, Levi, what you did back then for me. I hope you realize that getting Carrie off the ranch and into college in the city is what she needed.”

The mug wobbled in his hand. Levi gripped it hard. Hardly a day had gone by that he didn’t wonder what life would have been like if he hadn’t listened to Darren all those years ago and, instead of leaving Carrie behind, asked her to go with him. Sometimes the images in his head were good ones—her waiting at the military base for him when he returned from deployment, having her at his side as often as possible.

Mostly, though, he ruminated on how hard the life of a military spouse would have been on her. She’d have been alone, in a strange place far from home, moving as soon as it began to feel familiar. Always waiting on him, and him always worrying that she was healthy and safe while he was gone.

Sending Carrie to Wyoming to live with her aunts had been a smart plan. There she had people to watch over her while she went to college. He couldn’t be her protector, her lover, when he was thousands of miles away for months at a time. No, as much as he regretted everything they’d lost, he wouldn’t change anything. Pushing her away had been the right thing to do.

A low hum started in his ears. “Yeah,” he heard himself respond. Life on a ranch wouldn’t have been safe for Carrie any more than life as a military wife.

“She’ll be going back to Wyoming soon.” Darren threw a hay bale and pushed it into place with his knee. “No sense in getting her too wrapped up in the changes going on around here. Being stressed and all ain’t good for her blood sugar.”

She’d always been a spitfire, quick-tempered and stubborn as all hell. Considering how she’d come to see him, mad as could be, things hadn’t changed much. Levi swallowed his irritation and wiped a forearm over his face. No good ever came from keeping her in the dark—it just upset her more. And why shouldn’t it?

They weren’t kids anymore. She was a grown woman, and he was going to treat her like one. That included keeping her in the loop like she’d asked him to. He hitched a leg and cranked his head back to stretch out some of the tension that had gathered across his shoulders.

Darren took off his hat and ran a hand over his silver hair. “I suppose the two of you’ll have a few things to say to each other, too. Just as long as you keep in mind that she’s
going back
to Wyoming.” The icy glare in the older man’s eyes cut Levi deep and pissed him off equally.

“Whatever happens between your daughter and me is our business.” Levi pulled off his gloves. “What happens here at Agate Falls in
our
business.” He pointed between himself and Darren. “That’s the way it’s going to be. Sir.” He squared his shoulders, waiting for whatever response Darren might throw his way. Did he want to clear the air with Carrie about their past? Of course. Didn’t mean he was looking forward to it, or had illusions about things being anything but friendly for them. He was well aware she had a life in Wyoming, and it was her choice if she wanted to go back to it or not. Really, he had no idea what she wanted—not yet.

Darren gave him a sideways glance before nodding and turning back to his work. “Fair enough.”

Two short words, but they ended the conversation amicably. He might be Agate Falls’ investor, but Darren was still his elder and he respected the man. He had no desire to go head-to-head with him.

Voices from outside drew Levi’s attention, especially the feminine one mixed with the deeper male tones.

“How much fence?” Carrie’s voice was soft and sleepy as she walked in with two ranch hands at her side. Immersed in conversation with the man next to her, she didn’t seem to notice Levi at first. The cowboy leaned in as if telling her a secret, and she smiled. Levi clenched his jaw, grinding his molars so hard a shot of pain went straight up to his temple. He tucked a rag he’d been using into his back pocket and walked over to them.

He turned to the cowboy, whose name he couldn’t remember, and looked him up and down. If the man got any closer to Carrie, Levi was going to have to pile-drive him. “What’s going on?”

The cowboy shifted so his arm brushed Carrie’s, the challenging look in his eye saying he knew exactly what he was doing. “Broken fence on the high pasture. Didn’t have time to check real good, since we had to get the cattle down here, but we’ll go back up as soon as—”

“No.” Grabbing a huge length of looped rope, he shoved it into the man’s chest. Satisfied when the cowboy lost contact with Carrie, Levi waved toward the door. “You can start taking this stuff out. I’ll take care of the fence.” The man sniffed loudly, his face going hard. Too bad. He could flirt on his own time.

Just not with Carrie.

She moved toward her father, brushing past Levi with a curious sideways glance.

“Can’t let it go too long, and rain’s moving in,” Darren said.

“I’ll go now. My brothers will be here any time to help in the pens.” Checking the fence gave him an option that would be easier on his body and still be physical enough to make the time go by.

“I’ll go, too.” Carrie pulled a knit hat over her head, then moved to the thermos and poured her dad another cup of coffee.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Darren accepted the mug. “Levi can manage.”

“I said, I’ll go.” The firm snap in her voice made every man jump to attention. Now,
there
was a challenge. Levi eyed Darren, who was eyeing Carrie like he wanted to strap her down to a chair.

“I feel fine and don’t be assuming otherwise.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, holding her dad’s gaze with a deliberate lack of expression. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her poker face before, but this was impressive. With a sudden burst of protectiveness, Levi moved beside her. If the girl wanted to do more than serve lunch today, so be it.

“Let’s saddle up.”