Cowboy Come Home (7 page)

Maybe a minute would be long enough to come up with a reason to avoid Griffin Randall.

GRIFFIN HAD REMAINED at the barn after Camille’s riding lesson. The smell of hay calmed him. And he needed calming...and time to think.

He was an experienced man. Because his mother had preached at him to avoid love didn’t mean he hadn’t had relationships. But always on his terms. He’d always been in control. He’d always been up front with the women with whom he’d been intimate.

With Camille, he wasn’t in control.

And he certainly didn’t intend to tell her that. When a man lost control, a woman thought she gained it. That wasn’t going to happen.

As long as he could avoid touching her again. Because something happened when he touched her. A powerful hunger seized him, a hunger to feel her flesh, to bring her body against his.

After he got her on the horse, he’d retreated, stepped back, done his teaching through words. He’d put her through a grueling hour, not knowing if he was trying to punish her or himself. At the end of the lesson, she couldn’t even dismount alone. She would’ve fallen on her face.

So he’d moved to her side, giving her his strength as she’d slid off the saddle. Her body, in those sexy jeans, had slid down his, lighting it up like a pinball machine everywhere she touched. Her scent filled his nostrils, and his arms had tightened around her. He’d considered picking her up. But he knew he would have headed for a clean pile of hay rather than the house. He’d have removed every inch of clothing she wore, until nothing was between them.

What was it about Camille Henderson that attracted him more than any other woman? She was beautiful, of course. But he’d had beautiful women. She could be charming, her smile warm and tender, her eyes lighting with humor.

Stop!
His body was reacting predictably. He didn’t want to—The sound of horses increased his need to avoid showing any reaction. These men might be his cousins, but he wasn’t about to reveal his vulnerability to anyone.

After a deep breath, he moved out into the sunshine. Jake was the first to arrive, greeting Griffin with a big smile.

“Everything all right?”

“Fine,” Griffin muttered. He offered to take care of Jake’s horse, but his cousin refused.

The other three Randalls arrived together.

Chad immediately got to the heart of Griffin’s problems. “Did you give Camille her lesson? How did it go?”

“I’m afraid I overdid it, Chad. I don’t think I’m the right person for the job. How about I ride out with the others tomorrow and you stay here and give her a lesson? I think she’d prefer that.”

He watched Chad look at his three brothers, silently communicating something. He wasn’t sure what.

“Well, we’ll see. But I planned to take a couple of the boys and comb the foothills, in case we missed any of the cattle in the roundup we just finished. You wouldn’t know where to look.” He unsaddled his horse without looking at Griffin.

“Wouldn’t your hands know where to look?” Griffin was feeling pretty desperate to avoid Camille.

“Not like me,” Chad assured him with a grin. “I’ve been riding those foothills all my life.”

“Pete, you could come with me,” Griffin suggested. “That would free up one of the cowboys to do something else.”

Pete cocked one eyebrow. “I’d enjoy that, Griff, but tomorrow I’m getting a new gelding for the rodeo string. In fact, I was hoping you’d be around to help me with him.”

Griffin eagerly leaped at the opportunity to be busy with something else besides Camille. “Sure. I’d be pleased to help. Camille will understand I’ve got to help you.”

“Oh, that won’t be a problem. The animal will be here in the morning. You’ll be free for the afternoon riding lesson.”

Griffin felt his stomach sink. Then Jake approached and put a hand on his shoulder. “We really appreciate you giving Camille the lessons. She’s had a rough time lately, what with her father’s death and that skunk of a fiancé.”

Griff frowned. “Did he wipe her money out completely?”

“Just about. We want her to have some fun, especially since she’s been helping the girls out since she got here.”

Griffin knew when he was trapped. He gave up without any more protesting. “Glad to help out,” he muttered, and picked up Brett’s saddle and bridle while the cowboy started brushing down his horse.

“I’ll get that in a minute,” Brett protested, but Griffin didn’t stop.

“I don’t have anything else to do. No problem.”

So he walked away, missing the grins the four Randall brothers shared. After all, they recognized misery when they saw it. They’d all been there, done that and survived to march down the aisle.

CAMILLE HAD CONSIDERED remaining in her room for supper, using her soreness as an excuse, but she realized that was not an option. She would have the four Randall ladies hovering.

And she couldn’t ask for a different seat at dinner without throwing the spotlight on her and Griffin.

She entered the kitchen with Megan just as everyone was sitting down. Griffin stood by the end of the table, waiting for her to sit.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly, leaning toward her after taking his place.

She stiffened, trying to deny the sizzling sensations that filled her. “Yes.”

“I was afraid you’d be sore. I may have pushed you too hard this afternoon.”

“Anna gave me a massage.” She tried to keep her answer to a minimum. She didn’t want an intimate conversation with the man beside her. That wasn’t true. She didn’t want an intimate conversation with the man beside her about horseback riding. Her cheeks flushed as she admitted to herself how interesting another kind of conversation might be.

“Are you running a fever?” he asked.

She glared at him. “No!”

“Everything all right?” Jake asked, leaning toward the two of them.

“Fine!” they snapped back in tandem, then glared at each other again.

- “How did the riding lessons go?” Jake persisted, his gaze sharp.

“Fine,” they repeated together, but their animosity was carefully banked, so their response would sound normal.

Camille suddenly realized everyone at the table was staring at them. With a bright smile, she said, “I didn’t know horses smelled so—so strongly. I may carry some perfume with me tomorrow.”

Smiles and chuckles came in response and several general conversations began, which eased the embarrassing moment. She took a deep breath and shifted away from Griffin’s lean, hard body. She would control her reaction if it was the last thing she did.

She hoped her words weren’t prophetic.

The phone rang. Mildred, closest to it, got up from the table and answered. “Yes, he’s here.” Every man in the room looked up. She held out the receiver and said, “For you, Pete. Long distance.”

Dinner continued, though Camille thought most everyone was listening to Pete’s call with one ear. When he hung up the receiver, he was glowing with enthusiasm. “Janie! I’ve been asked to deliver a speech at the rodeo conference next week. They had a last-minute cancellation when Don Gay got sick.”

His wife stood and gave him a hug. “That’s wonderful. You’re finally being recognized for the good job you do. I’m so happy for you.”

“Even better. You haven’t asked where the conference is.” He waited for her to do as he suggested.

“Well?” she prodded.

“Hawaii!” He swept her up and spun her around, then slid her down his body for a kiss.

Camille looked away, knowing their visible love would only increase the hunger she felt.

Everyone at the table began talking about Hawaii, and the pleasure Pete’s visit would bring.

“You’re going with him, aren’t you, Janie?” B.J. asked.

“I’d like to, but with the twins—”

“Don’t be silly, girl,” Red interrupted. “We’ve got you covered. You don’t want to turn that boy loose on a beach with women wearing those little bitty bikinis. He might forget to come home.”

Janie grinned, but it was Pete’s response that settled everything. “I don’t want to go if you’re not going with me.”

“But, Pete, think about what you’re saying,” Janie urged. “This recognition will make a big difference to your business.”

He squared his jaw, giving that stubborn look that all four Randalls—maybe five, Camille amended as she glanced at the man beside her—had perfected.

“Nope. Not without you.”

Camille spoke up. “I’m going to have to leave soon. So you should take advantage of my being here, Janie. You deserve a vacation. In fact, I think you should all go.”

There was a shocked silence that was suddenly filled with voices as the four couples discussed her suggestion.

When Anna suggested she and Brett stay at home, he protested. “Nope, I’m not going to permit it. If anyone should go to Hawaii, it’s you.” Then, he looked up and down the table. “We weren’t going to tell you for a while, but Anna’s pregnant.”

“But Torie’s still so little,” Mildred said in surprise, then closed her mouth as her cheeks reddened.

“We didn’t plan to—I mean, it just happened,” Anna assured everyone.

“Hell, Anna,” Jake protested, “you don’t have to explain to us. We’re happy for you. Besides, I agree with Camille. Everyone should go, if Camille, Red and Mildred think they can manage.”

“A’course we can. After all, without all you hungry galoots to cook for, I’ll have a lot less work,” Red argued. “There’ll just be four adults and the five children. Torie don’t eat enough to count.”

“I could go back to Chicago, making it one less for you to worry about,” Griffin offered with a smile.

Camille thought he looked relieved at the idea of leaving.

“Actually, Griff,” Jake said, “I was going to ask you to keep an eye on things at the ranch while we’re gone.”

Camille watched a trapped look fill Griff’s eyes. She glared at him, because she wanted this vacation for the Randalls.

Finally, he looked at Jake. “Sure. I’ll be glad to help out.”

“Then that settles it,” Jake said with a grin. “Pete, make reservations for eight. We’re going to Hawaii.”

“MILDRED, DON’T FORGET Torie likes her juice at ten each morning.”

“Camille, the boys’ favorite story is Pooh Bear,” Janie added to Anna’s reminder.

“If Caroline cries, give her her lamb,” B.J. said. “She always sleeps with it.”

“And Elizabeth likes oatmeal for breakfast,” Megan chimed in.

“Like I don’t know that,” Mildred muttered as she stood beside Camille on the porch. “Go on, get out of here,” she then shouted in mock anger. “We’ve seen these children before.”

Camille smiled at the understatement. Mildred had been on the ranch since before the twins were born. All morning the Randall wives had been offering bits of needless information in between packing and hugging their children.

Toby had been glad to leave for school after a litany of dos and don’ts from his parents. From Griff’s look of fellow sufferer, Camille suspected he’d been receiving warnings and suggestions about the ranch work from the male contingent of Randalls. He was urging his share of the vacationers into his new Range Rover. Red was going to drive the others in the family Cadillac.

“Well, it’s time to be on our way,” Jake announced, and Camille sent up a silent prayer of gratitude. She and Mildred waved goodbye, each hold ing a tearful twin. The three little girls were napping.

“The hardest part is gettin’ rid of ’em,” Mildred announced after the cars left the yard.

“Yes, it was. I had no idea they’d be so upset.” All four women had had tears in their eyes as the cars pulled away.

“They’ll recover. Like the boys. It’s just that they haven’t left them before. This trip will be good for all of them.”

“I hope so.”

Richard tugged on her face, his pudgy hand demanding attention. “Read a book?”

“Sure, sweetheart, let’s go read a book, and maybe Mildred will fix us a snack while we read. Okay, Russell?” The other twin nodded, and Mildred set him down. Richard joined him, and they both clutched Camille’s hands. With a grin at Mildred, Camille led her charges up the stairs.

She was content. At least until Griffin was back on the ranch.

Chapter Six

G
riffin and Red got back in time for supper. Griffin had been amused at the turmoil involved in sending the family off on their vacation. But he noticed the difference when he came out of his room, after washing up.

“Can you give Torie her bottle?” Camille asked without looking up.

“I’ve never done that. I might mess up.”

Red smiled as he stuck a spoon into Elizabeth’s open mouth. Camille was feeding Caroline, and Mildred was supervising the twins.

“It’s the easiest job, boy. Better take it before you get stuck with those two.” He pointed to the twins.

Toby came to Griffin’s rescue. “I’ll show you how.”

“Thanks, Toby,” he replied, though it was embarrassing for an eight-year-old to know more than him.

Toby showed him how to heat the bottle and then test its warmth. “Next, you have to pick her up. And support her head. Mom always says that’s most important.”

“How?” Griffin couldn’t have been more nervous if he’d been asked to be featured tenor at the Met.

Camille put down the spoon she was using and handed each little girl a biscuit to occupy her time. Then she came over to the playpen where Torie was fussing. Bending over, she scooped the baby into her arms with ease.

Griffin stood admiring her, from her perfect behind, shown off when she bent over, to her ease with the baby. Then she thrust the child at him.

“Crook your arm,” she ordered, then laid the baby against him. “Keep her head higher than her feet and put the bottle in her mouth. There’s nothing to it.”

Toby handed him the bottle, grinning. “You can sit down, if you want.”

Griffin moved slowly to the table and settled himself, then offered the bottle to Torie. She fussed and reached for it. Between the two of them, they finally guided it to her rosebud lips.

He sighed with relief as she concentrated on the milk, realizing Red was right. This job was easier than feeding the more active children. He grinned when Elizabeth grabbed the spoon as Camille guided it to her mouth, dumping the mashed potatoes on the tray of her high chair with a splat.