Cowboy Bargain (The Dalton Boys Book 2) (10 page)

She scooted away from the table and cleared her plate, then Maggie’s. The woman thanked her with a smile.

As Maya cleaned the kitchen, putting away food items and pan lids, she found herself looking around.

“Where does this go?” She held up a portable mixer.

Maggie opened her mouth to tell her, but Cash got up and took the item from her. The brusque way he plucked the mixer from her hands from her made her mouth fall open with surprise, but the way he nudged her aside raised her fury.

“I’m capable of putting things away, Cash Dalton.”

“I can do it.”

“So can I.”

The room fell still, all eyes on them.

“No one said you couldn’t put it away, Maya. I’ll do it though.”

“Do I come into the paddock and tame your horses for you?”

“You’re more than welcome.”

“Well, I
don’t
welcome your help. A simple answer about where to place the mixer was all I needed.”

Maggie put her hands together and clapped.

Cash tossed his mother an insulted look and shoved the mixer at Maya. “It goes on the top shelf. See if you can reach it yourself.” He stomped out of the kitchen, his footsteps echoing in the walls of her heart.

“’bout time someone put Cash in his place. He’s been taking over and bossing us all since we were kids. I’m sure happy not to share a room with him anymore,” Kade said.

Maya’s stomach churned. She hadn’t meant to start a fight, but she was used to doing for herself and making a place in the family was important to her.

She looked up at the shelf, and Beck came to her rescue. He placed the mixer up high.

“Thank you,” Maya said quietly.

He tipped his head near hers. “He’s not upset with you. He likes to be in control, and not having a clue as to how to get that house built is wearing on him.”

She nodded. “I’m glad you told me. I guess we aren’t totally functioning as a couple yet.”

His smile was small, his eyes a little sad. “You’ll get there, I have no doubt.”

She wanted to ask about the woman who’d stolen his truck and left him helpless in the middle of nowhere, but no one else knew about the moment, and he probably wouldn’t welcome her question even if they were alone.

Maya went to find Cash. He leaned against the truck, obviously waiting for her. “You ready?”

She nodded and climbed in. He shut the door behind her. When he walked around the truck to get behind the wheel, she was reminded of their first meeting. How far they’d come. Countless smiles and a lot of laughter. A few arguments. And a wagonload of passion.

She waited until he was seated and placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He met her gaze, and his mouth softened. “No need. I shouldn’t try to do everything for people. My family’s complained about it for years. I thought Witt was bad.”

“I need to let people do things for me. It’s sometimes hard after being on my own for so long.”

He nodded but didn’t start the truck. The emotions running through her rushed to the surface. She leaned across the console and slid a hand around his nape. “We have some wrinkles to smooth, but I’m glad I married you, Cash.”

Pushing out a breath, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they shone. “That’s good to hear, darlin’. You aren’t alone.”

Minutes later, as they bumped down the country roads toward the city, the tension eased. Applying for her green card seemed like a summer breeze compared to the stormy silence between them after speaking to the bank personnel, though. Cash’s shoulders were so tight, Maya feared he’d pop the threads of his shirt.

She didn’t know what to say to make him feel better. He was a provider, that much was apparent, and it was eating him up that he didn’t have a home for her besides the trailer.

“I’ve never had much, you know. A sagging cot. A bucket to wash my hands, dishes and clothes in. Mama and I often lived without necessities like clean water. So living in the trailer with you seems like a dream to me, Cash.”

He went still, his only response the whitening of his knuckles on the steering wheel.

“I can happily live in that trailer with you for a long time. But I want you to be happy in it with me.”

He swung his head toward her. “I am happy with you.”

“But you want a house.”

“For us. Yes. It’s important to me. I didn’t realize how important until I watched you sleep that night we got married. I wanted things for you, Maya. To pamper you. You deserve it.”

Her throat closed. “Does it help if I tell you I’d live under a bush as long as I had you?”

He stepped on the brakes and pulled off the side of the road. Déjà vu slammed her. That first time he’d pulled over, he’d proposed. It occurred to her she’d never truly said yes.

Maybe it was time to confess her feelings.

They turned to each other. She didn’t hesitate—she hurled herself over the console into his arms. He caught her lips under his, feeding his desperation to her. She kissed him back with everything in her heart.

“Yes. Yes, yes,” she murmured between swipes of his tongue.

“Yes, you want me here on the side of the road?” He grazed her lower lip with his teeth, making her nipples bunch.

“Absolutely. And yes, I’ll marry you. I never told you when I should have, but I’m so happy you asked me.”

He cupped her face and stared into her eyes for a long heartbeat. “I’ll get you that house, darlin’.”

“We’ll figure out a way together.” She ran her hands across his arms to his chest, pausing over his thumping heart. She curled her fingers around the vibration, her own pulse galloping. “Since I didn’t tell you yes when you needed it, I think I’d better confess this.”

His dark brows drew together. “What’s that?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you, Cash.”

His mouth dropped open. Searching her eyes, he didn’t speak. Then he slowly leaned in and kissed her. He held the caress, and she breathed him in. How had he become the center of her universe so quickly? His old-fashioned values and good nature had lured her from the beginning. But his humor and passion had hooked her.

Too soon he released her and set her back in her seat. When he put the truck into drive and continued down the road, she didn’t know what to say. What was he thinking?

Finally, she found her voice. “I tell you I love you and all you do is drive? What kind of man does that?”

“A man filled with desire, darlin’.”

“Desire? You have an odd way of showing it!”

“I love your sassy mouth, you know that? I’m going to silence it all night while I make love to you on a proper bed that doesn’t squeak. I’m taking you to a hotel.”

Stunned speechless, she noted the highway exit approaching, and the sign for food and hotels.

“We didn’t have a proper honeymoon. So what do you say to a few days off exotic exit 62?”

She grinned. “I can’t think of anyplace I’d rather be.”

“I hope the hotel walls are thick,” he drawled.

Chapter Eight

Maya fixed her gaze on her husband’s carved backside as he opened the trailer door. After two days alone in the hotel room, she felt conflicted. On one hand, it was difficult to think of returning to that creaky old sofa bed, but she loved being on the ranch.

Prince bounded up for his regular ear-scratching, and she crouched to give the old dog the attention he craved. When Cash glanced over his shoulder at them, he didn’t even crack a smile.

Her heart sank. He’d been so carefree while in the hotel. She knew he adored the ranch, so why was he upset to be back? Even if they had to sleep in a trailer, it was nice enough. Not a hardship in her eyes.

“I’m goin’ up to the house to talk to Pa. See what I missed.”

“Okay,” she said quietly.

He pushed past her and loped off. She watched him go before burying her face in the dog’s thick neck fur. “How can I ease his stress, boy?”

The dog had no more answers than she did. When she and Cash had left, neither of them had carried a change of clothes, though they hadn’t needed to get dressed while on their impromptu honeymoon. Room service had fed them, and the rest of their time was spent in bed. When Cash wasn’t peeling her off the ceiling after an amazing orgasm, they were cuddled up, watching old movies.

She sighed.

Prince followed her into the trailer, where she gave him a bowl of water and some beef jerky. Then he collapsed to sleep by the door while she freshened up.

So many good things had come to her recently. She was thankful for every moment, but she wanted Cash to let go of his obsession with getting them into a house sooner than possible.

Maya’s day was calm. She helped Maggie clean out the pantry and scrub the shelves with hot water. Then she and Charlotte stood shoulder to shoulder chopping vegetables for soup.

“You’re quiet today,” Charlotte remarked. “Everything all right?”

“Yes.” It was hard not to shake off her depression. “Just tired maybe.”

“Me too.” Charlotte’s hand wandered to her lower belly, and Maya sucked in a breath.

“Are you…?”

Charlotte nodded, eyes dancing and curls bobbing as if they had a power source of their own.

“Oh, how wonderful!” Maya threw her arms around her. “Does anyone know?”

“Hank, of course. And Maggie, but only because she found me throwing up two mornings ago.”

Maya pulled out of the hug and chuckled. “I can’t imagine much gets past Maggie.”

“Yes, and she’s had five children. She knows the signs.”

As Maya stared at her friend’s happy face, she couldn’t stop smiling for her. “Have you been to a doctor yet?”

“Well, that’s the worrisome thing. Vixen doesn’t have a baby doctor—just a clinic with a general practitioner. And the city is so far away.”

Mention of the city roused a lot of feelings in Maya, also reminding her of Cash’s coolness earlier.

“That’s a heavy look.” Charlotte went back to chopping.

She waved a hand. “Don’t worry about me. Your situation is much more interesting. What will you do for medical care? And do you think your house will be ready by the time the baby comes?”

She nodded. “The house is coming along nicely. Some of the ranch chores are going undone, though, which makes me feel guilty.”

“You shouldn’t. So what if a fence isn’t brand new?”

“The Daltons like to keep things nice around here.”

“But they do the important things first—tend to the animals.”

“Yes, and I won’t complain about getting into my own house. Everyone’s been so nice to us, allowing us to stay here, but…” Charlotte shot her a look, “it will be nice to have some space.”

Biting her lower lip, Maya took up the knife again and pulled a fat tomato onto her cutting board. She sliced off the ends and quartered it before she realized Charlotte was staring at her.

“What is it?” Maya asked.

“The brothers are saying Cash has been a bear to work with recently. Has he done something to upset you?”

Those pesky tears pricked Maya’s eyelids, but she wouldn’t let them fall. In the course of life, Cash’s irritation that they didn’t have a home
right now
was like rain on a picnic. It wasn’t a big deal. Except he was unhappy, and that made her unhappy.

Charlotte laid a hand on Maya’s arm. “You can talk to me, you know.”

“I appreciate it. He was a bit short with me this morning, and I suppose it upset me.”

“Maybe he hated returning to his work after having you alone.”

“I think that’s only part of the issue.”

“He wants his own place.”

Maya nodded.

“You know, they say Witt’s the brother who has little patience, but I’m beginning to think it’s Cash.”

“Well, they’ve shared a room together most of their lives. Witt’s probably rubbed off on him,” Maya said.

After that, their conversation lightened and they chopped happily for several more minutes. Charlotte mentioned a local neighbor being a midwife back in her day.

“Will you ask her to assist in your birthing?”

“I might, though the Daltons have a bit of a dislike for the Guthries.”

“They’re still quite a distance from here, aren’t they?”

“Yes, but closer than Vixen and a man who mostly treats patients with arthritis.”

When it came time, what would Maya do? If Cash was so uptight over their living situation, she hated to see him as an expectant father.

At lunch he seemed no happier. The creases around his eyes weren’t put there by smiling. He gave Maya’s hand a squeeze under the table, but didn’t touch her further. Heaviness weighed on her, and in the afternoon, she jumped at the opportunity to ride with her father to check one of the herds grazing in the north pasture.

As soon as he got her onto his horse, he began questioning her silence. Like a child, she couldn’t hold back with him and confessed everything that was gnawing at her, including an outburst over where she’d have their children once it was time.

Papa was patient, and his voice soothed as he promised everything would work out fine. After she’d calmed, she was left with a case of fatigue and went to the trailer, where she collapsed on the sofa bed. She slept for two hours and awakened in time for dinner.

Seated once more at the big table with her new family, she gave thanks for all she had even if she had awakened a bit grouchy.

“You haven’t been to Vixen for a spell, Beck.” Kade nudged his brother with an elbow.

Beck looked at his plate. “Little point. Ain’t anyone there to visit.”

“I thought your girl was in Ashton,” Witt blurted.

Beck cringed. “No one there either, as far as I’m concerned. I thought we were eating fast so we could work on the house?”

“That’s right. Eat up, because Charlotte and I are on a deadline.”

She glowed, but no one but Maya and Maggie seemed to notice. They both smiled.

Maggie turned her attention to Maya. “I haven’t heard you say more than three sentences all day, dear. Are you feeling all right?”

There was a gleam in Maggie’s eye that spoke of her hopes for another grandchild, but it was too soon to tell if that were the case. And Maya would be happy with such an event when the time was right.

“She’s just tired today,” Cash spoke for her.

The irritation of the day coupled with her waking grouchy from a nap no longer simmered inside her. Within seconds, she came to a full boil. She glared at her husband.

“How would you know what I am? Did you ask?”

He stared back, unmoved by her annoyance with him. “I don’t need to. I know you.”

“We’ve only been married a few weeks and hardly know each other!”

The table stilled once again. Kade and Witt sat back to watch the exchange, forks forgotten. Apparently the Daltons got a kick out of their brother bickering with her.

Cash turned in his chair to face her. “I know enough, Maya. I can see the lines around your eyes and know you’re tired.”

“Great! Now I have lines!” She shoved away from the table, gathered her plate and dumped her meal in the slop bucket for the pigs. Cash got up too. When he reached for her, she sidestepped him and sailed out the back door.

Her shorter legs were no match for his, and he overtook her in a second. “Stop right there and talk this out.”

“I won’t be ordered around.”

He blocked her way. She turned and went in the other direction. He followed, keeping pace. “What’s really the issue?”

“What’s
your
issue?”

“I don’t have an issue.”

“Your family thinks you’ve been difficult, and you haven’t spoken to me all day let alone kissed me.”

“Is that your problem? You need a sound kissin’?” He grabbed her arm, towing her to a stop.

She shook him off and continued walking. The trailer was close, and she’d lock herself up and try to free herself of her bad mood. Maybe he was right—she
was
tired.

Admitting this to herself irritated her more. She kicked up her pace until she was jogging. Cash remained glued to her side. She resisted the urge to roar at the sky in frustration and instead threw open the trailer door. She jumped up and slammed the door in his face.

Satisfaction and remorse warred within her. But not for long. The door slammed off the inner wall, and Cash braced himself in the doorway, hat low and every line of his body heralding his annoyance.

“Tell me what’s going on, Maya.”

“When someone asks me a question, I can answer for myself.”

“Just like you can put away a mixer.” He closed the door and rubbed a hand over his face, shoulders sagging. “You’re right.”

“Well…I couldn’t exactly put the mixer away myself. Beck helped.”

He arched a brow.

She collapsed to the mattress, wincing at the creak of the springs. She had to admit, she was getting a little punchy about being in this trailer too, especially with a surly cowboy.

He came forward, thigh muscles straining against denim. She twisted away and folded her arms. He wasn’t going to entrance her with his sexiness.

“Don’t turn away from me.” He gripped her shoulder.

“Don’t be an ass about not having a house yet! Work on getting Hank and Charlotte into their home before you get moody about ours.”

He dropped to the bed, and she tilted toward the divot he’d made. Before she righted herself, he yanked her across his lap. She hit with a thump and fought like crazy.

Tossing her onto the bed and pinning her with his weight, he gave her that slow bad-boy grin that riled a new kind of heat inside her. He swooped in for a kiss, and she dodged it. His lips glanced off her cheekbone, but he didn’t seem to mind. He traveled around to her ear, his breath blazing.

Gone suddenly boneless, she lost track of the reason she’d been angry in the first place.

“I think you just like to fight so we can make up,” he rumbled against her throat. He flicked his tongue into the soft depression, and she gasped.

“Maybe,” she panted.

They shifted, and the bed gave way altogether. The leg folded, jolting Cash off her.

He jumped to his feet and swung his leg back to deliver a kick to the sofa bed that echoed. “I’ve had it with this. I have a better idea.”

Before she could guess at his actions, he scooped her against his chest and stormed from the trailer. He carried her some distance into the field. High grasses swished around his legs, and he showed no sign of fatigue from bearing her weight.

She stole glances at him, feeling childish for her tantrum. She’d told him they had wrinkles to smooth in their relationship, and this seemed to be one of those times.

Or maybe she
did
just like fighting so they could make up.

Anticipation tingled through her nerves. She looped an arm around his neck and pulled him close enough to kiss. When she pressed her mouth to his, he groaned. Knees buckling, he took them down into the high grasses.

“Someone will see us,” she cried.

“Not likely. They’ll only see grasses swaying.”

“We’re not far from the house.”

“The sun’s setting and they’re headed to Hank’s house anyway. Now I’m going to silence these pretty lips.” He crushed his mouth over hers, stealing her thoughts. She wrapped her legs around his hips and parted her lips for the invasion of his tongue.

He swirled his tongue over hers, filling her head with his flavors and her heart with pure love. As they kissed, he kneaded her shoulders, worked the tight muscles in her spine all the way to her bottom.

“I don’t think that’s tense.”

“It’s gonna be.” He pinched one cheek, and she squealed. He flattened her beneath him and proceeded to blow her mind.

* * *

Cash couldn’t get his wife’s clothes off fast enough. Her gauzy top and thin bra lay several feet away, and her ripe nipples peaked upward, begging for his tongue. He sucked one into his mouth while drawing slow circles with his fingers around the other. Pressure built inside him, but he wanted to make her scream a little before taking his own pleasure.