The Taming (The Black Thunder Series) (24 page)

Seventeen

And
That’s That

K
ate climbed into her car and checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were a little red, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t cover up with a little makeup. She would make a quick stop at the carriage house before heading for Jack’s. She traveled along the side roads of Virginia City before pulling out on to the main street. The town quickly disappeared from view and she could see up ahead the turnoff for the ranch. Kate slowed down and pulled onto the dirt drive. As she passed the main house, she saw Jack’s truck parked outside. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing he was home. She was feeling better now since Adam cleared up the whole mess about Jack.

Kate traveled further down t
he dusty road, passing the bunkhouses before the carriage house came into view along with a moving van parked out front. Kate slammed on her brakes and for the second time in her life her world came crashing to halt by what she saw. Two men were carrying her couch out the front door and into the truck. Kate felt a stabbing pain in her chest as the reality sunk in. “Oh God, no,” she gasped as the de je vu feeling repeated in her gut.

Jack was
actually packing her up without so much as a goodbye. Why he didn’t even have the decency to allow her to pack herself. Did he think too she would just go away quietly and not make a scene?

Kate blinked as a flash from her
previous marriage floated across her mind like a motion picture playing from beginning to end. That was exactly what she’ done, gone away quietly, like a dog with its tail between its legs.
Well not this time
, Kate told herself. Anger began to build until it spilled out of her pores. This time she would confront it head on.

She released the brake and slammed on the gas pedal driving straight toward the carriage house and the truck parked outside
. Kate skidded to halt behind the truck, blocking the path of the movers with her car.

“What are you doing with my stuff?” She stormed from her car
. She saw Mark emerge from the truck. “I want you to stop what you’re doing and put it all back in the house!” she demanded.

“I can’t do that, Kate,” Mark gave her a confused look
. “Jack gave orders to place your furniture in storage. I thought he discussed it with you.”

“Apparently Mr. McBride has a mind of his own,” she snapped
. “He omitted to inform me of his plans this morning. Now I want you to put everything back. Is that clear?”

“You’ll have to take it up with Jack.”
He twitched.

“I have every intention of taking it up with Jack,” she snarled
. “Where is that arrogant son of a bitch?”

“I believe he is down by the southern corral
. We had some trouble again today with some wild horses trying to break the fence.”

Kate spun on her heels and stormed off leaving a trail of dust behind her.

“What was that all about?” Dustin asked stepping from the house.

“I have no idea,” stated Mark as he scratched his chin
. “But when it comes to Jack McBride, anything is possible.” He shrugged and they both returned back inside the carriage house to continue packing.

Kate stomped her way across the ranch and toward the southern corral
. She was so mad that the cloud of dust at her feet mixed with the steam boiling from her ears. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Several of the men saw the enraged woman approaching and they scattered like the wind. They had seen that look before, and they wanted no part of what was about to transpire between their employer and another jolted female.

Kate marched right up to Jack
. He turned just in time as she slammed her fists into his chest and pushed him back.

“When were you going to tell me?” she yelled
. “You have no right to move me out of the carriage house!”

“I have every right when it comes to you, Barbie doll,” he half grinned seeing how mad she was
. He liked her temper, and he couldn’t help fueling it a bit. He knew she would settle down eventually and come to her senses.

“Why you arrogant son of a bitch,” she fumed
. She curled up her fist and slugged him right across the jaw. Jack never saw it coming, her knuckles connecting with his boned flesh. He saw stars and was thrown back. His feet got tangled, and he fell hard, landing on his backside. “We have a contract,” Kate pointed her finger at him and growled. “You try to break it and I’ll sue your ass!”

Jack rubbed his jaw and moved his teeth from side to side
. She had a mean right hook, and though he had no idea why she just hit him, he couldn’t help but be impressed. “What the hell are you spouting about woman?” He shook his head to clear out the nonsense. “I thought you’d be happy about it.”

“Happy
? Happy?” She kicked him in the leg. “You aren’t getting rid of me because of a one night stand. If you think you’re going to pack me up and send me off quietly you got another thing coming. I’m not leaving.” She kicked him again.

“Stop kicking me,” he shouted and jumped to his feet.

Kate went to swing at him again. This time Jack acted swiftly. He caught her hand in mid-motion. “Let go!”

“Not until I’ve talked some sense into that fool head of yours,” his anger flared.

“There’s nothing left to talk about. Now let go!”

“No!” he shouted louder.

Kate lifted her leg and came crashing down hard on his foot with her heel. Jack yelled, shouting obscenities, as he released her and hopped around on one foot.

Kate smiled with great satisfaction, seeing that she didn’t need to speak to get the last word in
. She flipped on her heels and headed back to the house, leaving Jack alone to care for his injured foot.

But Jack was not through
. He was now more confused than ever.
What was she talking about him packing her up to leave?
Hell, he was packing her up to stay. Suddenly the light went on his head.

Jack ran after her
. His foot was aching, and so was his jaw but in spite of his injuries, he picked up speed and high tailed it after her. He caught up with her and grabbed her by her arm, swinging her around to face him. “Kate, it’s not what you think.”

“Save it, Jack
. Fine, you want me out of here? Then I’m gone.” She took a step, but he stepped right into her path and wouldn’t let her pass.

“Dammit Kate, you aren’t going anywhere!”  Jack shouted as his
temper flared. He seized her around the waist and pulled her to him.

“Stop it Jack!”
She hit him again, striking him in the chest and aimed for his jaw again.

He grabbed her wrist just in time
. He held it tight, as she tried to pull back, but he wouldn’t let her go. Kate let out a screech. She raised her knee and tried to hit him where it would hurt the most, but Jack blocked her with his knee.

“I have had enough!” he shouted and with one fell swoop, he swiped her legs with his own and knocked her off her feet
. Kate crashed down hard on the ground taking Jack with her. He straddled her and pinned her beneath him.

“Get off of me!” Kate yelled and struggled to get free.

But Jack held her firmly in one place. He watched her nostrils flare and her breasts rise up and down with rage. He thought she looked mighty fetching in this position, and he was half tempted to take advantage of her disadvantage, but he quickly came to his senses.

“You’ve got it all wrong, baby,” he said with a half grin
. “I’m not trying to get rid of you. I just want you closer, that’s all.”

“Don’t try to sweet talk me,” she said not falling for another one of his lines
. “I know how you operate.”

“How do I operate?” he asked with amusement.

“I’ve heard all about your one night stands,” she sputtered. “And I’m not about to be one of you casualties.”

“Who told you that?”

“It doesn’t matter. The fact is I know all about you.”

“So you think I want you to leave?” He toyed with her a little further.

“I know you want me to leave.” Her nostrils flared.

Jack sat up, tilted his head back and started to laugh
. His laughter spurred her anger further. She lifted her leg and kicked him in the back of his head. Jack shifted and slid his hips down over hers, pinning her legs with his own.

“Baby, that is the furthest thing from my mind,” he said huskily
. “I told you before, you’re mine. I’m not about to let you go.”

Kate stared at him with confusion
. “Then why is there a moving truck at my house loading my stuff?” She wanted answers.

“It’s just your furniture they’re loading,” he continued in a wildly arrogant seductive tone
. “It’s going into storage, but your clothes and all your female gadgets have been moved to my bedroom.”

Kate blinked several times not quite sure she heard him right
. “Why would they do that?” Kate needed to understand.

“Because I told them to,” he grinned.

“Why would you tell them to?”

Jack leaned closer to her and kissed her neck and gently bit the lobe of her ear
. “Because you’re mine, Kate,” he whispered in her ear. “And I don’t like to share what’s mine.”

Her
eyes grew wide as saucers. She didn’t know which was worse— him packing her up to leave, or him packing her up to stay. Either way he’d taken away her right to choose.

“I’m not moving in
with you.” She shook her head from side to side.

“You already have,” he chuckled
. “The deed is done.”

“Well, undo the deed,” she snorted.

“I don’t think you’re in a position to object.” He grinned at her as he tugged at her bottom lip with his teeth.

“Stop doing that,” she jerked her head away
. She needed for him to be serious for a change. “We barely know each other.”

“I know you enough to know that I want you in my bed.” He moved his kisses to the top of her breasts.

“But that’s not enough.” She needed him to think clearly. “What if we grow tired of each other?”

“I’ll never grow tired of you, Kate.” He looked at her with a seriousness that startled her.

“Jack, please let me up,” she begged. “We need to talk about this seriously, and besides my back is killing me!”

“Fine, I’ll let you up, but no running from me
. Or I swear I will carry you to our bed and spank your pink bottom ‘til it’s red.” The vision flickered in his head and he almost hoped she would run.

“I promise, I won’t.”

Jack released her hands and climbed off of her. He reached out and helped her to her feet. Now that she was standing she took a deep breath and exhaled. She didn’t know how to get through to him. He was a man who always got what he wanted, and he wanted her.

“Jack, you can’t just move me in without asking.”

“Why not?”

Kate laughed at the absurdity of his question
. “Because it doesn’t work like that.”

“So how does it work, baby?”

He was like a child, never having done this before. Kate ran her fingers through her hair. “We date for a few months and find out if we even like each other,” she explained. “Then after a year, you ask me.”

“That’s too long.” Jack shook his head
. “Besides, I already know I like you.”

“But you don’t love me, Jack,”
she sighed.

“I love having sex with you.” He teased her as he folded his fingers over her hand.

“Oh dear God, I am talking to a caveman,” she rolled her eyes. “Have you ever lived with a woman before?”

“No, never really cared for a woman’s company,” he answered truthfully
. “That is before meeting you.” His comment was sweet, and it did her heart good to hear it.

“Well, I’ve lived with a man before, and
it’s hard work. I’m not sure I’m ready to do that again.”

“That’s because you lived with the wrong man.”

There was some truth in his statement that Kate could not disagree. “You want to play house, Jack,” she sighed. “But I don’t think I can.”

“Are you saying no?” He looked hurt.

“Yes. I’m saying no,” she stated sadly. “Ask me again in six months and I might change my mind.”

She released his hand and began to walk back to the house
. Jack watched her leave and his temper flared. He was not going to let her walk away. He wanted her, and she was going to move in with him whether she liked it or not. He ran after her and jumped in front of her path.

“Dammit Kate, I am not going to wait six months,” he shouted
. “You’re moving in and that’s that.”

“No, Jack, I’m not,” she was adamant, which only made him madder.