The Cowboy's Gamble: Destined For Love Series (7 page)

His soft, intimate laughter reached out and caressed her. “Josie, darlin’, you sure do know how to flatter a man.”

Her mouth pursed in irritation. It hadn’t been her intent to flatter and seduce him, and the rogue knew it, too. He was deliberately twisting her words, intentionally being charming. The amicable act had to be for her men’s benefit.

Mac sent his other men ahead and directed his gelding toward where Josie and Seth were by the barn.

“Want me to stick around, Josie-girl?” Mac asked, his old, weathered face creased with concern beneath the brim of his equally old leather hat.

“That won’t be necessary.” She didn’t want any spectators for the “marriage of convenience” spiel she planned to propose to Seth. “Though since you’re here I’d like you and Seth to be introduced formally.”

While she made the introductions, both Seth and Mac moved their horses closer to the other’s until they were able to reach out and shake hands. Both of their grasps were firm, with none of the silent rivalry Josie had expected to flare between them. Amazingly, Seth’s expression reflected a high regard for the older man.

“I’m looking forward to working with you,” Seth said pleasantly. “And I’d appreciate it if you and the other hands help me get familiarized with how the Golden M operates.”

Josie gaped.
Oh, he was so smooth!

Seth’s easy, open personality earned Mac’s respect and admiration. It sparkled in his eyes and transformed his features with a personable smile. “We’ll all try and make the transition as easy as possible.”

“I appreciate that,” Seth said.

Traitor,
Josie thought of her foreman.

As if hearing her private thoughts, Seth’s gaze slid her way.
How ‘bout you, Josie, darlin’? You gonna make the transition easy on me?

She smiled sweetly, but her gaze was filled with a not so demure answer.
Don’t count on it.

The devastatingly sinful grin curving his mouth turned her knees to water. The message in his eyes was clear and caused her pulse to skip a beat.
Challenge accepted.

Mac directed his prancing gelding around toward where his men had gone. “Well, the two of you behave yourself.”

The parting comment was as innocent as anything Mac had ever said to her, meant to keep her and Seth from fighting, she was sure. Unfortunately, the casual remark served to conjure up all kinds of misbehaving possibilities of the more sensual variety.

“I’ll be back around noon to check in.” With a tip of his hat, Mac was off, leaving a thin trail of dust in his wake.

“Looks like it’s just you and me,” Seth said, his voice a low rumble of sound.

“And Kellie,” she added, reminding him that he needed to keep her daughter’s presence in mind. “Like Mac said, behave yourself.”

“We’ll see.” Dismounting his mare, he led her to the hitching post and tied off her reins, then returned to Josie. “You got a cup of coffee you can offer me?”

His presumptuousness annoyed her. All his easy-going civility was beginning to unnerve her and make her question any ulterior motives he might have up his sleeve. He was being way too nice and friendly.

Fine, she’d kill him with kindness, too. She was all for being cordial and making their arrangement as pleasant as possible for both of them. In exchange for a platonic marriage, she’d put up with a few of his idiosyncrasies.

She blew out a resigned breath. “I’ve got coffee and muffins up at the main house,” she said, and before she changed her mind about being polite, she led the way.

S
eth followed Josie up to the house at a more leisurely pace, and came to the conclusion that the view from a few yards behind was more pleasurable than walking side-by-side. Her spine was unyielding, but she more than made up for that rigidity in the gentle sway of her hips and the way those long, graceful legs strode so determinedly toward the front porch.

He’d thought nothing could look sexier on Josie than those cut-off shorts she’d worn Sunday, but it seemed he was wrong. The full-length jeans she wore were old and faded, but fit her like a tailored glove. The soft, well-worn material hugged her small, toned ass, molded to her slim thighs, and gave his imagination something to consider for future fantasies.

Her blouse, tucked into the waistband of her jeans, was on the prim and proper side in comparison to her Sunday attire, as was the tight, single braid that fell halfway down her back. Her packaging appeared conservative, but what she didn’t realize was that a man would have to be dead below the belt not to notice her lush curves.

He was far from immune in that department—his quickening pulse was too quick to remind him that he was a twenty-nine year old male in his prime.

She cast a surreptitious glance over her shoulder to gauge his distance behind her, and he lifted his gaze from her jean-clad bottom and let a slow, shameless smile spread across his face. She looked momentarily startled, then quickly recovered.

“Is it necessary that you lag behind?” she asked, her tone exasperated.

“No, not necessary at all,” he drawled. “Just more enjoyable.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she promptly turned back around and kept trudging toward the house, muttering something beneath her breath he couldn’t decipher. It was probably for the best. He was certain whatever she had to say about him wasn’t complimentary.

His good-natured attitude was throwing her off-kilter, which is precisely what he’d intended. He’d had three days of doing nothing except pack up his meager belongings and think about the various ways he could approach the wedding agreement with Josie. They’d be married, living in the same house and interacting on a daily basis for more years than he cared to think about. The only way they’d survive was if they agreed up-front to leave the past where it belonged and make a pact to start out fresh.

It wouldn’t be easy, for either one of them, but it was a compromise he was willing to attempt in order to make life bearable for them both.

Her leather work boots echoed off the steps as she gained the porch. At the front door she stopped and waited for him to catch up.

“Kellie is still sleeping,” she said, her voice hushed. “I’d appreciate it if you kept your voice down when we go inside.”

He lifted a dark brow, detecting a nervous energy about her that didn’t sit well with him. “Is there going to be a need for me to raise it?”

“No.” Quickly glancing away, she pulled open the screen door and entered the house.

He didn’t believe her, but the only way he was going to find out what she was up to was to follow her inside. They crossed through the living room to the kitchen, giving Seth a brief glimpse of the house he’d acquired. It seemed open and roomy, but then anything would appear large compared to the cramped cabin he’d been living in for the past couple of years. He was anxious to have a real bedroom again, to sleep on a comfortable mattress instead of the lumpy one he pulled out of the sofa sleeper every night.

The kitchen was decorated in soft pastels of peach and green, and the sweet fragrance of baked goods was enough to make his empty stomach grumble. An oak table sat in an adjoining kitchen nook, surrounded by six spindle back chairs. Pulling one out, he sat down and watched Josie retrieve two mugs from the cupboard and pour coffee into each. She sliced open what smelled like a still-warm spice-apple muffin, slathered butter on the two ends, and delivered one of the mugs of coffee and the fragrant bread to him.

He thanked her, but she seemed so preoccupied she only gave him an indistinct nod. She looked like she had something on her mind, and it was distracting her enough that she didn’t realize she was waiting on him and being hospitable about it.

While she put cream and sugar in her coffee, he took a drink of his own. It was strong and black, just how he liked it. And the muffin was so light, fluffy, and buttery it practically melted in his mouth. He was a man with a healthy appetite, and he hated his own cooking. Marrying Josie was looking better with every bite of muffin.

He waited until she joined him at the table. She sat across from him, which wasn’t surprising, considering how very business-like she suddenly appeared. He almost expected her to take a piece of chalk, draw a dividing line between them—and inform him that the side of the table he sat on was his, and the other hers.

She didn’t seem inclined to start the ball rolling on their conversation, despite how anxious and edgy she looked, so he tossed out a question sure to start their discussion. “So, what’ll it be, Josie? Marriage or eviction?”

Her green eyes filled with the first stirring of displeasure. “Neither one is a very attractive option.”

He smiled and shrugged. “One is more gracious than the other,” he said pointedly, though he knew she’d never consider the latter, no matter how much she complained about the stipulation. “It doesn’t matter to me either way, but I’m anxious to claim the Golden M, and I’d like to know if I’ll be taking on a wife and child.”

She took a sip of her coffee then carefully set it back on the table, keeping her fingers wrapped around the mug. Finally, her gaze met his. “I’d like to offer an alternative arrangement-”

“Marriage is part of the deal, Josie.” Finished with his muffin, he pushed his plate aside. “Your father stipulated it, and I’m not willing to jeopardize the deed to the Golden M by striking an off-beat bargain with you.”

“I understand that,” she said indignantly. “But I think I have a solution, one that would cater to both of us.”

He took a long drink of his black coffee, studying her over the rim and wishing he knew what she intended. He’d find out soon enough, he supposed. “I’m intrigued,” he said, his tone a trifle mocking. “By all means, let’s hear your wonderful idea.”

Her chin lifted—showing that stubborn streak of hers. “I want a marriage of convenience.”

He almost laughed out loud.
He’d just bet she would!
“No.”

She frowned at him, as if she couldn’t belief he’d refuse such a golden opportunity. “Seth, it’s the best option available for our predicament. Our marriage could be like a business partnership-”

“No.”

She blew out a frustrated steam of air. “You’re being unreasonable!” Shoving back her chair, she stood and crossed the kitchen to the sink, where she dumped out the last of her coffee.

“
I’m
being unreasonable?” He turned his chair around to look at her, incredulity replacing his earlier amusement. “God, Josie, I’m not a monk, and I refuse to remain celibate for the next fifty years.”

“Well . . .” Her eyes were wide, as though she was groping for a feasible reply. “You could see other women.”

Anger vibrated through him. “That’s not
my
style, Josie.” She flinched at his crude remark, but he didn’t regret saying it. “I’m a one woman man. I’d expect the same of you once we’re married. Will that be a problem for you?”

She glared at him, something emotional shimmering in her gaze, an odd combination of hurt and deeply buried bitterness. “I’ll be true to our wedding vows, but I have no desire to sleep with you.”

His ego was beginning to feel a little bruised. “Be that as it may, you’ll be my wife. Conjugal rights come with the package.”

She huffed in annoyance. “If you’d give yourself time to consider the idea, you’d see that a marriage of convenience would work perfectly between us.”

“
No
.” The one word boomed like thunder in the kitchen. So much for keeping his voice down in consideration of her sleeping daughter. “You’re not in a position to negotiate, Josie. We’ll sleep in the same bed, and if you don’t like that arrangement, then you don’t have to marry me. That’s
your
alternative choice.”

She opened her mouth to reply, then immediately snapped it shut again. “Why are you making this so difficult?” She started toward him, waving a hand in the air in aggravation. “We can’t stand each other, so why would you want your
rights
?”

“Because
forever
is a mighty long time, and I’ve got a fairly healthy sex drive,” he said bluntly. And despite every reason he had to hate her, he was still strongly attracted to her. “Just because we don’t like one another doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the more physical aspects of marriage. So, which will it be, Josie?”

She stood by the kitchen nook window, back to him, staring out at the expanse of yard separating the main barn from the house. She was silent for so long, he began to wonder if she’d seriously consider giving him the ranch because she couldn’t stand the thought of him touching her.

“Fine,” she said flatly after long seconds had passed, keeping her back to him. “A real marriage it will be.”

Damned if he didn’t experience a rush of relief at her answer. He didn’t question it, but the hum of anticipation of being with her was already pulsing through his blood. “Good. Then I’ll expect your cooperation starting on our wedding night.”

She whirled around so fast her braid flew over her shoulder and slapped her chest. “You can’t be serious.”

He just looked at her, which was all the answer she needed. She wanted to postpone the inevitable as long as possible, and he wasn’t going to budge on his decision.