Raising Kane (18 page)
Authors: Lorelei James
Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #Adult, #Western, #Red Hots!, #Western Romance
Oh. God. What if people assumed she thought that her participation in the program was beneath her?
She’d run into that lawyers-are-idiots mindset many times. Or worse, lawyers-are-money-grubbing-charlatans. Or lawyers talk above everyone else. Even Kane had made a couple of cracks about not being on her intellectual level.
Normally she couldn’t give a rip what other people thought about her, but it bothered her to think they were feeling sorry for Hayden because of her actions—or lack thereof.
“If you have things to do today, Red, I can run Hayden home after the movie. No big deal.”
No big deal.
Maybe not to Kane, but it was to her. Rather than snapping at him, Ginger stuffed the entire brownie in her mouth. She chewed. And chewed.
And chewed.
Dammit. It hadn’t looked that big on the napkin.
Kane stepped in front of her. “What’s wrong?”
She pointed to her mouth and chewed. Then she took a swig of the punch and about gagged. She hated lime sherbet and mixed with 7-Up? It tasted like pond scum. She swallowed the sticky lump, but she still had to clear her throat several times. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m taking Hayden with me.”
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“Why?”
“I don’t have to explain my reasons to you, Kane.”
“Yes, you do, when he’s looked forward to this movie day for the last couple weeks.”
Why hadn’t she known that about her son? Ginger hated to be on the defensive and her first response was always to lash out. “I’m Hayden’s parent, you aren’t.”
His blue eyes turned ice cold.
But she’d stepped in it too deeply to back down. “I’ve been working late nights this week. I’ve barely seen him so I planned something special for the two of us. Besides, it seems you’ve already lined up an after-party movie date with Lock and Daphne. I wouldn’t want Hayden to be a third wheel.”
“Don’t punish Hayden for your jealousy.”
“Me? Jealous? Please.”
“Daphne is an annoyance to me. That’s all. But you? You, are…” He snarled, “If I wasn’t tryin’ so goddamn hard to keep my cool right now…”
“You’d what?” she taunted.
His voice dropped to a low rumble. “I’d throw you over my shoulder, take you home and spank you.”
The gleam in his eye suggested his idea of spanking would only have the slightest playful edge.
Something warm and liquid pooled in her belly, despite the anger still lingering in the air between them.
Kane stepped back and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Look. Whatever you decide to do, at least let Hayden stay for the contest announcement winners.”
“Fine.”
“And, counselor?”
“What?”
His gaze landed on her mouth. “You’ve got brownie in your teeth.”
Damn man. At least he hadn’t pointed out her food avoidance tactic again.
After a quick trip to the bathroom to remove the brownie evidence, Ginger struck up a conversation with Hayden’s first grade teacher. She ignored Kane McKay, although it was difficult with the way Hayden was practically hanging off him.
Maybe Hayden had gotten the idea from Daphne.
Ooh. Double snap.
The announcement of the contest winners quieted the room. Hayden won third place and a red ribbon.
Two older kids took the top spots. A lot older. How long were boys allowed to remain in the Little Buddies program anyway? She’d never thought to ask and wow, did that make her feel even more out of the loop.
Hayden bounded over, waving his ribbon, Kane meandering behind him. “I got third!”
“I see. That’s awesome. I’m proud of you. Grandpa will be excited for you too.”
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“Are we staying for the movie?” he asked.
“No.”
“But—”
“If you argue, maybe I won’t take you to Spearfish.”
His eyes widened beneath his glasses. “I didn’t know we were going to Spearfish.”
Neither did I
. “That’s because it’s a surprise.”
Hayden looked torn. He glanced at the volunteers setting up the movie screen and the chairs, then at Kane. Then back at her.
Kane put his hand on Hayden’s shoulder. “Go on and have a good time with your mom. She mentioned she’d worked late all week and she was lookin’ forward to spendin’ time with you. We can catch the next movie, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Buck. See you later.”
“Drive safe and have fun,” Kane said to her and walked away. Back to Daphne.
And whose fault is that?
Ginger let Hayden pick out a new model airplane at the hobby store. She’d also bought him a new Xbox game. The kid’s athletic shoes were too small. While Hayden tried on every pair in the store, she browsed the snow boot section. She found a pair that weren’t…hideous. Would Kane be happy she’d taken his warnings about frostbitten toes seriously?
He’d probably be happier if you owned up to the fact you were consumed by the green-eyed monster
today and probably deserved the spanking he’s threatened.
Why did the suggestion of Kane’s big hand connecting with her bare ass cause her belly to flutter?
His growling challenge brought out a strangely submissive need—another new feeling for her.
“Mom?”
She focused on her son. “Sorry. What did you say?”
“Can I buy this for Buck?”
The ball cap in his hand was the same midnight blue as Kane’s eyes. Above the bill was a patch that read
Superstar!
in red, white and blue lettering.
“He likes to wear ball caps when he plays poker with his cousins. He told me the luck had run out of the last one. I think this one would bring him good luck.”
“It’s very nice you’re thinking of him.”
“He’s always bringing me cool stuff and I never give him nothin’—”
“Anything,” Ginger automatically corrected.
“I never give him anything, well, except the stuff I’ve made for him.”
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Did Kane keep the Lego cars and airplanes, and robot inventions Hayden gave him? Did he display them around his house? Or hide them in a drawer?
You’d know if you’d ever been to Kane’s house.
That jarred her. She knew he lived in a trailer on McKay land off of Highway 14A. Hayden had spent time out there, considerable time in the summer. Which was why it seemed weird she’d never picked her son up at Kane’s house. Kane had always brought Hayden home.
Maybe it was time she went to him. She owed him an apology anyway—she
had
been jealous.
“Come on, Mom, let’s go.”
Hayden fell asleep on the way home. Ginger’s thoughts were as scattered as the patches of snow blowing across the interstate. By the time they reached home, it was after eight and they were both starving.
After a quick supper, she was still restless.
Her father’s interest in model airplane building had rubbed off on his grandson. They conspired on the best way to start this newest project and Ginger knew they’d be engrossed all night.
She rarely went out on the weekends. Definitely never just happened to “drop by” a man’s house more than twenty miles away. She slipped on an emerald green cashmere sweater with a deep “V” in the front that showcased her cleavage. She shimmied on a pair of western jeans. She fluffed her hair. Touched up her makeup. And put on her new sheepskin-lined snow boots.
Her father noticed her improved appearance, but didn’t comment. But Hayden said, “Hey, Mom, where you going?”
“Out for a little while. Grandpa’s in charge, so when he says go to bed, I expect you to listen to him.”
She kissed the top of his head. “See you in the morning.” She bussed her father’s cheek and whispered, “I have my cell if you need anything. Don’t wait up.”
Her nerves nearly got the best of her when she pulled up to Kane’s trailer and saw four other pickups parked in the drive. Was he having a party?
What if one of those trucks was Daphne’s?
She stomped up the steps and pounded on the aluminum screen door.
The porch light went on. The inner door opened. A tall, lanky and deeply dimpled cutie poked his head out. “Please tell me that you’re the surprise entertainment. And you’ll be actin’ out the, ‘I’m havin’
car trouble and these winter clothes are
so
constricting’ fantasy.”
“No pasties under my coat. But I can come back later if this is a bad time?”
The kid was jerked out of the doorway and Kane opened the screen door. “Ginger? What the devil are you doin’ here?”
Not good. “Sorry to disappoint you. Sounds like you were expecting a stripper?” she said tightly.
“For Christsake, Dalton, what the hell did you say to her?” Kane shook his head at whatever was said behind him. “Ignore my bonehead cousin and come on in.”
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All of a sudden this seemed like a really lousy idea. “I didn’t mean to crash your party.”
“It ain’t a party. Just a poker game and…Jesus Christ. Are you wearing…snow boots?”
She swiveled her toe in the snow. “Yes. That’s why I came over.”
His intense gaze didn’t waver from her eyes. “You drove all the way out here to show me your new snow boots?”
“Yes, since you nag at me for not wearing proper winter wear, I thought I’d prove that I do listen to you. You are a smart man, who’s usually right, and I am an idiot.”
Kane continued to give her an inscrutable look.
“Shit. Sorry. Dumb idea. I’ll go.”
Then he was right in her face. “You take one step off the porch, Red, and I’ll tackle you in the snow and drag your ass inside my house by the heels of your new snow boots.”
Oh. Wow. That caveman growl was sexy as hell.
“What the fuck, Kane? I know your mama raised you better than to let a beautiful woman shiver outside in this frigid weather. Come on in, darlin’. I’ll warm you up.”
Laughter.
“You touch her, I break your hand,” Kane snarled.
Really Neanderthal behavior. Really hot behavior.
Kane grabbed her by her coat sleeve and led her inside.
Four guys—all dark-haired, ranging in age from early twenties to late twenties—grinned at her and crowded around her, despite Kane’s back-off vibe.
“Hey, Ginger, nice to see you,” Bennett McKay said. “You’re lookin’ fantastic as usual.”
Kane made a growling noise.
“Thanks, Ben.”
Brandt McKay leaned forward. “I ain’t gonna offer my hand, bein’s psycho here—” he pointed to Kane, “—would probably cut it off. But I’ll echo Ben’s sentiments. You are lookin’ mighty fine tonight.”
“Thank you, Brandt. Is every one of you McKays born with a silver tongue?”
“Absolutely,” the cute, lanky one said. “The more we use our tongues the better we get with them.”
He held out his hand. “Dalton McKay, at your service.”
Ginger bit back a smile the same time Kane reached around and cuffed the impudent Dalton in the back of the head. “Dalton, don’t make me grind you into dust.”
“Always with the violence, cuz. Do you want Miz Ginger here to think we’re all as uncivilized as you?” Tell McKay winked at her. “Some of us do have manners.”
Ginger had grown up surrounded by hot guys in California. Surfer types. The All-American types.
The brooding types. The small town sports hero wannabe Hollywood-star types. But the Wyoming McKays 108
Raising Kane
were in a class by themselves. Talk about an irresistible natural charm. Lord. No wonder every woman wanted a piece of them.
“Speaking of bad manners, I’m sorry I interrupted.”
Kane said, “No, they were just leavin’.” He stared at each one of his cousins hard.
“Ah, yeah. Right. Poker night is over at…ten o’clock on a Saturday night?” Ben said, glancing at his watch.
“I’m tired of givin’ all my money to Dalton anyway,” Tell complained. “Let’s hit the Golden Boot.”
“Hell yeah,” Dalton said. “I’ll buy the first round.”
“You guys do what you want. I’m out. I’m headin’ home,” Brandt said.
“Home?” Dalton repeated.
Brandt glared at him.
“Dalton. Let it be,” Tell warned.
“The fuck I will. We both know he ain’t goin’ home, bein’s she called less than ten minutes ago.”
Dalton sneered. “Forget about her—”
Both Brandt and Tell cuffed their younger brother upside the head, shutting him up. “Thanks for the game, Kane. We’ll see you in church tomorrow mornin’, right?”
“Get the fuck out.”
Amused male laughter.
Ginger ducked her head to keep from joining in.
Four men donned boots, hats and outwear, taking their own sweet time, bullshitting among themselves, trying to engage her in conversation, while Kane folded his arms over his chest and glared at them.
Finally the trucks roared off and they were alone.
Kane began to stalk her with that look in his eye. The look that told her when he caught her, he’d do all sort of naughty, wicked things to her, without apology, and probably, without her permission.
Ginger stopped.
Kane didn’t until he crowded her against the wall. “Why are you really here?”
Damn, he smelled good. Even with whiskey on his breath. His body heat permeated her clothing, seeping into her skin, setting her needs on fire. She wanted to lick him up one side and down the other.
Bury her face in his neck. His chest. His groin.
“Ginger?” he prompted. “Are you gonna answer the question?”
Question. Right. Refocus. “Umm. I’m here because you were right today. I lied. I was jealous of Daphne. Really jealous and I feel stupid about it because that’s never happened to me before.”
He offered her a feral smile. “A lawyer recanting? Sugar, you sure your license to practice law ain’t gonna be revoked?”
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“Funny.”
“What else?”
“I wanted to tell you I’m sorry for acting like a jerk to you. And I’m also sorry for the snotty way I pointed out that I’m Hayden’s parent, when you’ve been so good for him, Kane. I see you with him and I—