Trouble With a Cowboy (20 page)

Not
touching him wasn't an option. She needed to feel him, be close to him even if
it would only be for a few hours.

"How
long will it take to get to Littleton?" he asked.

"About
seven hours if we drive straight through."

"We
should be there by early afternoon then."

"If
we leave here early, yes."

"I'll
call my driver in the morning and let him know. He's coming out of Dallas so it
won't take him long to get there."

Silence
stretched into the darkness. She didn't know what else to say. I love you
wouldn't work. He didn't want to hear that.

* * * *

Morning
came too early and she wasn't ready for it. The night had disappeared before
her heart could cope. Without a word, she vanished into the bathroom and shut
the door. She wouldn't cry. She couldn't. Cold water to the eyes would make the
tears threatening to fall appear not so apparent—she hoped.

A
soft knock on the door and Tucker's voice reached her through the wood panel.
"Jacie? You okay?"

"I'm
fine, Tucker. I'll be out in a second and we'll get moving."

With
shirt tucked in, hair brushed into a ponytail at the back of her head and boots
on, she was ready to roll.

When
she opened the door, the sight of Tucker leaning against the wall, arms crossed
over his broad chest and what she could almost believe was a sad smile on his
face, took her breath away.

"Ready?"

"Yep.
Let's roll," she said, moving toward the door.

The
animals were loaded, and the goodbyes said. Tucker promised to keep in touch
with her friends, but she figured he was being nice. Pam patted her shoulder
and told her to admit her feelings for him before it was too late, but she shook
her head. "I'll call you when I get home."

"You
better, baby girl."

She
waved through the windshield before they headed down the driveway.

White
lines and blacktop stretched for miles in front of her. It used to be enough,
but now, she didn't think it would be. Even though he hadn't left yet, she felt
it with every mile they got closer to Oklahoma.

One
stop for gas and food and on the road again. No words were spoken except for
necessary things. Uncomfortable silence grew thicker and thicker inside the cab.

Four
o'clock they rolled into Littleton and she drove the truck around behind the
motel. She had no plans to stay tonight. The quicker she got away from Tucker,
the better for her heart. Her trailer sat right where they had left it.

"At
least no one bothered your trailer," he said, glancing across the cab.

"Nope.
Appears to be in one piece."

She
shut the truck off and climbed out. The escape hatch on the trailer gave her
instant access to letting her mare out. Tucker popped the door on the side and
she unhooked the lead rope. Once her horse stood outside, she looped the rope
through the tie and then moved to unhitch his trailer.

In
no time at all, his trailer stood solemnly by itself.

Another
eighteen-wheeler pulled in and stopped next to them as she worked on hitching
her trailer back up to her truck. "Hey, Charlie," Tucker said when
the drive climbed out.

"Hey,
boss."

While
the two men made small talk, she loaded her mare and latched the trailer door.
Nothing kept her here now—nothing except Tucker.

"How
was the drive?"

"Not
bad." Charlie took off his hat and held out his hand to her. "You
must be Jacie. I've heard a lot about you."

She
cocked an eyebrow and glanced at Tucker. "Have you."

"Yes,
ma'am. Tucker has done nothing but sing your praises every time he's called me.
It's nice to meet you finally."

"You
too Charlie. I take it you’re taking Tucker and his bull home?"

"You
bet."

Jacie
shuffled her feet and looked at her boots for a minute. When she lifted her
head and locked gazes with Tucker, she wasn't sure what to make of his
expression.

"I'm
going to get rollin', Tucker. I've got another twelve hours of hard
drivin'."

"You
aren't staying here tonight?"

She
shook her head and said, "No. I just want to get home."

"Yeah,"
he murmured. He pulled out his wallet and handed her several hundred dollar
bills. "This is for your expenses for the rest of the trip."

"I'm
not takin' your money, Tucker."

"Take
it, Jacie. I want you to have it."

A
weary sigh rushed from between her lips as she took the money and stuffed it in
her pocket. "Thanks." She looked everywhere but at him. "Well, I
guess this is goodbye."

"Yeah,
I guess so."

"It's
been fun. I mean, this whole three weeks will be something I won't forget
anytime soon."

"Me
either."

She
stepped close and placed one hand on his shoulder. "Bye, Tucker," she
whispered, then brushed his cheek with her lips.

"Bye,
darlin'."

Chapter Eleven

By
the time Jacie hit Nashville, her tears had dried and she decided not to let
the last couple of weeks ruin her life. Yes, she loved him and yes, it would be
hard to move on without him, but she would. She had to.

Macy
lay curled in Tucker's seat, sound asleep.

She
would never be able to think of it as anything other than Tucker's seat now and
the thought almost brought fresh tears to her eyes.

Bumper
to bumper traffic on Interstate 24 delayed her return home, but she didn't care
anymore. Caring meant living and living she couldn't do yet. She talked to her
parents early this morning and told them she would be rolling into the home
place about six. Her truck would sit parked there until she had another load to
run, but for now, she wanted to crawl into her lonely bed in her lonely house
and forget Tucker Marshall ever existed.

God
help her, it would be the only way she could continue to function for now.

The
money he had given her burned a hole in her front pocket. She hadn't even
pulled it out during the twelve hours from Oklahoma. It didn't matter. She had
her winnings from NFR to get home on and pay her bills. Unfortunately, the bank
had called several times over the last day saying something about her truck
payment bouncing. The payments were already late, but the money Tucker had
given her would help her get caught up.

Streaks
of orange, red and purple lit up the sky as she took the final turn before she
would reach her parent’s place. The Flying H ranch's large wrought iron gates
sat quite a ways from the actual house, but when she reached it, it always
meant coming home. The gates opened with a flick of her wrist and creaked as
she pushed them far enough to get her truck through. Beautiful horses grazed in
the distance. Brown and white, black and white and solid black munched on the
grass beneath their feet, giving her the peaceful feeling she needed so badly.
Several whinnied to her mare, realizing she was home.

For
now, she would unhitch her trailer, release her mare to graze with her running
buddies, and then head for home.

Once
the gate had been closed, she hopped inside her truck and made the last leg of
her journey to her parent’s house.

"What
the—"

A
huge tow truck sat in front of the house and she could see her mother
frantically talking with her hands to a guy in a cowboy hat. The side of the
truck said
Black Towing and Repossessions
.

"No
way. They wouldn't repo my truck. Would they?" she said out loud as she
turned off the engine and set the brake.

She
popped the door open and climbed out, ready for battle.
Damn it! They are not taking my truck.

Running
as fast as she could, she rounded the front end and ran smack into a solid wall
of muscle.

Two
hands grabbed her upper arms to steady her and her head came up so fast, she
banged it on the man's chin. His teeth snapped together with an almost
sickening sound as one hand released her arm.

"Damn
fine way to say hello, Jacie."

"Tucker?"
she asked, meeting the baby blues of the one man she thought she'd never see
again. "What are you doing here? Wait, I need to deal with the tow truck.
They’ll get my rig over my dead body."

"Hello
to you too. No need to worry about them. It came with me. The car I rented from
the airport broke down on the freeway and I paid this guy to bring me here."

"But,
I left you in Oklahoma."

"I
know, but I forgot to tell you I had another job for you. It's very important
and no one else can do it for me."

"Job?"
Anger flared and irritation sent shivers down her arms. "You fucking came
here to ask me to do another job for you?" She yanked her arm out of his
grasp. "I don't believe you!"

He
grabbed her arms and forced her back against the bumper of her truck. One of
his powerful thighs slipped between hers and she fought the rush of desire only
his touch could bring. "Will you listen for a minute instead of going all
hot-headed on me?"

"Fine.
What kind of job did you come all the way from Austin to offer me?"

"The
job as my wife."

"Your
wi
—"
It
can’t be. His wife?
Her stomach flipped over.

"I
love you, Jacie. Watching you get in your truck and drive away from me in
Littleton drove the fact home. I don't want to live without you. I've never
been happier than I was in Vegas. You made my life complete. I know it means
giving me your independence and having to rely on a man for a change, but I
want to be that man."

A
lone tear escaped her eye and streaked down her cheek. "You love me?"

"Yes.
I should have told you sooner. I know, but I—"

She
threw her arms around his shoulders and plastered her lips against his. His
hands buried themselves in her hair and fit her mouth harder against his,
deepening the kiss to almost impossible proportions, but she didn't care. He
was here and he loved her.

His
hot panting breath caressed her cheek when he broke the kiss. "Jacie,
please say yes."

She
peppered his face with kisses, punctuating each one with a, "Yes, yes,
yes. I love you, Tucker."

Epilogue

Five
hundred people filled rows and rows of chairs outside her parent’s home. The
wedding of Jacie Margaret Hawkins and Tucker Alan Marshall made all the local newspapers
and friends and family came from miles around to witness.

She
never thought she would ever get to this day. The day she finally gave her
heart and soul to a man, but here she was standing at the altar with the man of
her dreams. His blue eyes sparkled with love and the smile curving his lips
spoke of untold pleasures to come.

During
their first dance as husband and wife, he nuzzled her ear and said, "I
love you, Mrs. Marshall."

"I
love you too Mr. Marshall. You know after those few times in Vegas, I never
thought anyone would ever call me Mrs. Marshall for real."

"I
told you I might get used to calling you that and now you'll be Jacie Margaret
Marshall until we both grow too old to do much more than make it to the rocking
chairs on the front porch."

"I
like the sound of that," she whispered.

"Me
too darlin'."

"When
does the truck stop open in Littleton?" she asked as they twirled around
the dance floor during their reception.

"Next
month," he replied, pressing a delicious kiss to her favorite spot for his
mouth—just below her earlobe. "Did I tell you Kyle has already closed up
his shop?"

"No,
you didn't."

"Well,
he has and no one around there seems to know where he slithered off to."

"I
didn't want to completely ruin him, you know," she whispered, shivers gliding
over her skin with every brush of his lips.

"Why
not? He tried to ruin me," Tucker answered, lifting his head.

"I
know, but your love has softened my temper. I don't feel near as vindictive
anymore."

"How
about adventurous?"

"What
do you have in mind, husband?"

"You'll
see."

*THE END*

About the Author

Sandy Sullivan is a romance author, who, when not writing, spends her
time with her husband Shaun on their farm in middle Tennessee. She loves to
ride her horses, play with their dogs and relax on the porch, enjoying the
rolling hills of her home south of Nashville. Country music is a passion of
hers and she loves to listen to it while she writes.
She is
an avid reader of romance novels and enjoys reading Nora Roberts, Jude
Deveraux
and Susan
Wiggs
. Finding
new authors and delving into something different helps feed the need for
literature. A registered nurse by education, she loves to help people and spread
the enjoyment of romance to those around her with her novels. She loves cowboys
so you'll find many of her novels have sexy men in tight jeans and cowboy
boots.