Cowboy Double-Decker (3 page)

She blew out her breath. She had no idea where she’d go after the course was over, much less how to get Scotty back into the car.

One hour at a time, girl. You’ll make it through.

She had to.

“Where’s Scotty?” She forced a light laugh into her voice to make the boy smile.

He sat on his padded bottom, surrounded by toys, waiting for her to pick them up so he could toss them again. She draped her slightly-damp towel over his head, then quickly dressed in panties, bra, and T-shirt while Scotty fought the towel off.

“There he is!”

No one—
no one
—would harm or take her son from her. Scotty
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was the only one in the world who loved her. He needed her, and that need kept her going. She knelt to toss the toys back in the basket.

Biker boy wouldn’t appreciate stepping on a plastic digger in his bare feet. He was grouchy enough already.

“We don’t care about the blond hunk in the bathroom, do we Scotty?”

Oh, yes we do!
sang her previously non-existent sex drive.

Maybe it was the sheer exhilaration of actually making it here that had her body singing. Perhaps the itchy ache between her legs was from sitting still, driving from one coast to darn near the other. Her suddenly-tight bra must have shrunk in the wash, the cheap fabric chafing her nipples.

Face it, Kaela, you want biker boy Bryan to give you an orgasm.

Or six.

Scotty reached for the basket to tip it again, but she scooped him up. “We have to empty this first, my man.” She laid him on the bed on his changing pad and tickled his belly to get his attention. She unwrapped the smelly bomb and winced.

“Tinky!”

“You are so right!” He grinned up at her. “Why don’t you learn
my
words? Say ‘I love you, Mommy.’ One word from a man and it’s stuck in your brain.”

She jumped when a loud bang and muttered curse suggested the big guy in her shower found the walls a bit too close for his elbows.

He’d be soaping himself down right about now. Rubbing his belly, dropping his soapy hand to slide it over his…whoa!

“Single moms do
not
think of that.”

What did that arrogant man have that set her off like no one else?

Her first time having sex with Freddie had been as bad as her aunt warned, and it never got much better. But he said he loved her and, not expecting anything different, she’d given him what he wanted.

Wasn’t it time she learned what
she
wanted? Her panties never got this damp from desire. Her breasts hadn’t ached for a man’s touch
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Reece Butler

before. She’d wait and see how it went. She could always say no.

Something about the big man made her think he’d cajole and encourage but never force her. Her darling boy stuck a finger in his mouth and gnawed, eyebrows furrowed.

“Another tooth? We don’t want any ear infections this time.”

She’d barely qualified for health insurance before she got laid off.

She needed a good job, fast. In next week’s course, she’d create the least expensive, most efficient green plan ever. The course leader would post it on his web site for ranchers and potential employers to see. She’d get a wonderful job offer out here in the West, far from Freddie and bad memories.

Yes, it was past time to create some good ones, like with that blond hunk, all naked and wet. She almost dropped her towel when Bryan bent over to put Scotty in his playpen. She’d always had a thing about cowboys and chaps, the way they outlined a snug butt.

What hid in the front of his jeans was extra.

She shook her head. “It must be painful to be a guy sometimes,”

she said to an oblivious Scotty.

Bryan looked rough and tough yet had held her son gently. That meant he could take care of himself and those he loved. She shook the thought away with a toss of drying curls. Rough, tough cowboys weren’t potential husband and father material. She didn’t want or need a bully in her life again.

She’d grown up watching Aunt Delia’s fear and pain. Trapped in a marriage to a brute, so cowed she believed it was all her fault.

Unable to escape because the man controlled her strings as if she were a mindless puppet.

But she was not her aunt. She had education, experience, and would do anything to give Scotty the loving home she lost when her parents died. If she could last until her April birthday, she’d be okay.

Finally getting control of her modest inheritance would give her a touch of freedom. She and Scotty would still be alone against the world, but they’d have a tiny home of their own that no one could
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take away. A few hot and sexy memories to fill her long, lonely nights would be nice, though.

She wrapped the diaper tight and stuck it in a plastic bag for disposal. “That Bryan guy acts like he might already be a daddy.” She chattered to Scotty to keep him from squirming. “Maybe he has a nice, quiet wifey waiting at home for him. Someone to warm his slippers by the fire and wait on him hand and foot.”

Scotty watched her, again chewing his finger.

“Ha! Even if he was rich and single, there’s no way I would do that for a man!” She wrapped Scotty in her towel and sat on the bed with him in her lap.

“You, my son, need a bath. As soon as Mr. Studly gets out of the tub, you’re going in.”

She fluffed her thin curls, encouraging them to dry. She’d use gel later to get them under control. Control was everything. Scotty struggled, flailing and complaining.

“I can’t put you down, sugarpie. That little hose of yours might erupt, and I can’t afford to pay damages.”

She imagined Bryan wearing only black leather chaps, plunging deep and hard, pounding into her from behind. A flash of lust surged from her belly, erupting past erect nipples to heat her face. Dang!

How would she get through the weekend if her body demanded hot sex whenever she thought of the man?

She turned Scotty around to face her and stood up, hugging him to her chest. Bad mistake. He grabbed her hair again with both chubby fists, chortling.

She paced back and forth, gently encouraging Scotty to let go. Her bare thighs chafed against each other with every step. What this man did to her! Hard nipples, swollen breasts, and wet panties. For the first time in her life, she was turned on, by a guy built like those in her nightmares!

No man should have this much power over her. It must be exhaustion from the last few weeks. A few nights of good sleep and
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she’d be fine. Bryan would take the couch and she’d get the king-size bed. She was sure he was the type to sleep naked. She clenched her internal muscles to halt the itchy ache, but it only made it worse.

How the heck was she going to survive being near him this weekend
and
concentrate on her course?

She stopped short and gulped. He’d better be staying just for the weekend. She was signed up for the two-day intensive workshop on

“green” uses for water, followed by the five day certificate program on designing environmentally-sensitive farms and ranches. Along with her business and marketing degrees, she should find a job.

“Don’t you kiss up to that man,” she lectured Scotty. “He’s likely a one-night-stand type. Leaves broken hearts all over the place. If he’s not already married.”

“Bathroom’s free.”

She jumped at the knock and deep voice outside her door.

“I’ll take whatever bed you’re not using,” he continued.

Kaela automatically looked at the king-size bed taking up most of the room. Scotty clutched on one hip, she leaned over and yanked the jeans away. She pulled the door open to inform him, again, he’d be sleeping on the couch.

Dark eyes met hers, squint wrinkles radiating toward his temples.

He still hadn’t shaved or combed his straggly hair. As she’d imagined, springy blond curls decorated his wide, naked chest. A black tattoo that said SAM ran over his right shoulder. The line of hair descending from his belly button was darker than the golden brown curls on his chest. She followed the line which led to…

She gulped.

“I’d be happy to drop the towel if your x-ray vision isn’t working, ma’am.”

The deep, sexy drawl roared through her like a freight train rattling over a crossing. She quivered, her heart doing something that stopped her from inhaling. Scotty reached out to Bryan, breaking the moment.

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She raised her eyes to lazy, half-open ones sending an unmistakable message. She curled her toes into the rug to stiffen her legs. He looked down, lip twitching. She’d forgotten to put on her jeans.

“Oh, man. Sexy white cotton panties.”

A slow, sensual smile crept over his face. With those teeth, he either had fantastic genetics or a great dental plan. She stood tall, pretending she was fully dressed. He raised his eyes over her shoulder and glanced into the room.

“That bed’s just my size.”

“Oh, no.” She shook her head. “This is
my
bedroom. Mine and Scotty’s. You get the couch.”

He leaned a broad, naked shoulder against the doorframe, crossed his arms, and shook his head right back at her. A drop of water dripped off his long hair and rolled down his neck. She pressed her tongue against her lip as she watched it. She blinked and pulled herself back to the present when she noticed his smirk.

“Fine! I’m calling the conference leader right now.”

“You do that, ma’am. Gary and me go way back.”

She used the phone by the bed, turning her back on her problem as she bounced a squawking Scotty on her hip.

“Mr. Vale, this is Michaela Jones, one of your students. I hate to be a nuisance, but there’s a problem. One of your instructors was given my room in error, and he won’t leave. ”

“Ms. Jones, I’m glad you called. We’ve just been informed you’re replacing Mike Ranger. That’s why you and Bryan Raman were assigned the same room. I heard he made it from New Orleans on that black Harley of his. That’s great.”

“No, sir, it’s not great as far as I’m concerned. I’m here with my baby, and I can’t have a strange man sharing my suite. It’s not acceptable.” Scottie laughed, and she turned to find Bryan making silly faces at him. She turned away again before he could notice the rush of heat rising from her T-shirt.

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Reece Butler

“I’ve known Bryan Raman since college and you won’t find a more gentlemanly fellow. He looks big and mean, and he flirts like the devil, but he’d never hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it. He should be used to a baby since his ranch partner had twins about a year back.

Candy made Bryan do his share of caring for them.”

“But—” She held the phone away as Scotty grabbed for it.

“Ms. Jones, you don’t have a problem with Bryan taking your couch, do you? I called him at the last moment to replace an instructor who broke his leg. He’s cut his vacation short and rode all the way from New Orleans to help out. There’s no other rooms available. It’s only two nights and with a suite, you’ll have the bedroom to yourself, right?”

Kaela closed her eyes to think. Okay, so Bryan was a great guy who was doing a major favor to an old friend. He knew about kids because he lived with a married couple with twins. Maybe he’d keep an eye on Scottie for a few minutes so she could actually relax in a hot bath instead of taking a rushed shower.

“I’m sure he’s nice, but I’m not sure about sharing with a strange man.”

“Ms. Jones.” She heard a deep sigh. “If this is going to be a major problem, I can ask my wife to bunk with you and move Bryan in with me.”

She thought about what she’d gone through to get to this course, how she needed it to survive. Ticking off the leader would not be a good career move.

Dammit, Kaela, it’s not like you’re a vestal virgin!

“Oh, no, Mr. Vale, we’ll be fine. I just wanted to make sure Mr.

Raman was who he said he was. I’m sure he’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

“That might be stretching it, but thanks.” He laughed. “Is he there?”

“Just a moment, please.” She held the phone at arm’s length, handed it over, and moved away from the bed.

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“Hey, dude! How’s it hangin’?”

Bryan’s eyes zapped to her. She turned her back to hide her body’s eager reaction to the testosterone flooding
her
bedroom.

“Yeah, she’s pissed. She thought I was stealing her kid. If she’d had a gun when she first saw me, I’d be dead.”

She whirled around. “Don’t tell—”

He made hushing noises at her, concentrating on his phone call.

“Yeah, the couch pulls into a bed. There’s a great view. No worries, I’ve had worse. See ya later.”

He hung up the phone and turned to her.

“Good,” she said. “You agree to take the couch.”

He advanced like a tsunami, unstoppable. She shuffled back a step before lifting her chin and glaring. All her life she’d had to fight for every crumb, and no matter how much she wanted to shove him out the door or rip off his towel, she would
not
be intimidated.

He pulled an eager Scotty from her arms and glared back, pointing to the bed behind her. She now knew what the mouse saw just before the hawk grabbed with outstretched talons.

“Lady, I’m sleeping in that bed. Case closed.”

His deep voice shivered over her body. Scotty squirmed, leaned over, and caught her shirt at her extended nipple. She winced and pulled off his hand, but not before laser-eyes noticed.

“You told Gary you’d take the couch, that you liked the view!”

“I do like the view. Very much.” He flicked his eyes from her shirt down naked legs to her red toenails. “The couch does pull into a bed, but I said nothing about sleeping there.” He shrugged, muscles rippling across his chest. “Nobody’ll know, so you’ll keep your virtue or whatever it is you’re so hepped up about.”

“I’m not.” She shut up, clenching her fists to stop from hitting his broad chest. She couldn’t remember anyone infuriating her like this man. With Uncle Wesley, she’d been so scared she hid all emotion behind a placid mask. Then she’d tried so hard to be whatever Freddie wanted that she ignored his insulting behavior. It was only this man
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