Royal Trouble (11 page)

She surprised him when she said, "I'll be out too.  I'm going to call Roxanne, and probably have dinner with her, then get her to take me to my car.  I'm not sure if I'll be here for the rest of the weekend or not."

Relief washed through him, but curiosity followed.  He wondered what she planned for the rest of the weekend.  It was on the tip of his tongue to ask, but then he reminded himself he didn't have the right to ask.

Wes didn't
want
to know if she had a date or something.  That would just make it harder to do what he knew he needed to do.  Maintain his distance.

"Okay, then have a good weekend," he replied, dragging his eyes away from her to study the screensaver on the computer screen, instead of doing what he wanted to do, which was beg her to stay and put him out of his misery.

Yeah, Wes needed some relief.  Maybe he'd call Martha, who was the last woman he had sex with, a woman who could give him relief without strings.  They were both in kind of the same situation.  She had escaped a physically abusive situation, so she wasn't looking for a relationship. He had been emotionally and psychologically tortured for three years.  They both got what they wanted, comfort and relief, then went on their way in the morning.

An hour or so later in the outer office sorting supplies, Wes heard the throaty rumble of a truck coming up his gravel drive.  Curiosity getting the better of him, so he went to the front door to peer outside.  A huge, lifted black truck, with big mud grip tires rolled lazily up the drive toward his house.  He didn't recognize it, and couldn't see the driver, so he opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.

The driver stopped the big monstrosity near the front porch of his house, then dusty cowboy boots hit the ground on the far side of the truck.  At the front door, Leigh Ann opened the screen door to walk out onto the porch wearing a short blue jean skirt and glittery pink tank top, accessorized by one of those knee-melting smiles of hers. 

That bright smile grabbed him by the dick and squeezed hard.  When he saw that her visitor was Dylan Reed, a cowhand from the R & R, that fist moved up to constrict his heart.  

Wes wondered what the hell happened to her having dinner with her sister.  It was obvious from the way the man was dressed, he was going out on the town tonight, and more than obvious that Leigh Ann was going with him. 

I'm not sure if I'll be here for the rest of the weekend or not
. 

That's because she had planned on spending it fucking Dylan Reed probably.

Hot anger shot through him, transported along his veins with a good dose of disgust.  It wasn't jealousy he was feeling, Wes convinced himself.  The woman standing on that porch hugging another man, after kissing him silly the other night was not the type of woman he wanted in his life. 

He had cut her loose just an hour ago.  She was free to kiss or date whoever she wanted to.  But damn if the thought didn't make his stomach lurch.  Loneliness settled in his chest and his heart sank to his toes like a rock.  He fought the urge to run over there and tell her not to go, as he watched Dylan lead her to his truck.  The man opened the passenger door, then put his hands at her waist to lift her up inside.

Wes was definitely going to town tonight.  Maybe he could think straight then, get his head out of his ass and take care of his business.  Not pine over a woman who was no good for him.

Dylan stopped the truck in front of the travel trailer she had called home just a couple of weeks ago.  It would be her retreat for the weekend now.  A place where she could avoid running into Wes Jepson every five minutes.  A place where she could gather her emotions and get rid of the anger burning a hole inside of her.  It might only be three-hundred square feet, but it was enough room for her to think.  And a place where she could be alone to do that.

"Thanks for the ride, Dylan," she said with a short sigh, as she reached the steps to the trailer.  Rocky had been tied up giving riding lessons to a new group of guests when she called earlier, so Dylan offered to come and get her.  Her sister was going to meet her later for dinner.

"Anytime, sugar...you sure you don't want to come out with me?" he asked with a sexy grin and a wink. 

Leigh Ann wished she felt like going with him, it would probably make her feel better, but going out was the last thing she felt like doing.   "Nah, but thanks, I've had more than enough man trouble this week," she replied with a forced laugh. 

Leigh Ann had decisions to make.  Like whether she was staying at the vet office or trying to find another job.  She knew at the rate she was going, Wes would probably fire her soon, so she needed to be prepared, make a backup plan.  Leigh Ann could not afford to be jobless again.

Next week would be the test.  The schedule was packed with office visits for cats, dogs, hamsters, a ferret and a fainting goat, as well as several farm calls.  Roxanne would be there, but she expected Leigh Ann to help him.  Dealing with those animals, and helping him with his treatments was going to be the supreme test of whether things were going to work out with her being his assistant.  Considering her history with animals, the odds weren't good it was going to work out.

Dylan's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Doc giving you grief?"

Leigh Ann waved her hand then forced her lips up into a smile she didn't feel.  "Not really, it's just been a long week, and I need some space."

"Well, if you change your mind about tonight and want to let your hair down, come find me at Smack Daddy's.  I'll probably be there til closing time."

Leigh Ann stepped forward and slid her arms around Dylan's waist to give him a quick squeeze, then pushed back to smile at him.  "Thanks for everything, cowboy."

"Just lay off the beer, it makes your clothes fall off," he said with a grin.  "I fixed the air conditioner, so you shouldn't have to strip this time."

Leigh Ann shivered remembering.  "No more beer for me.  I learned my lesson," she assured him.  And no more Wes Jepson, because she had learned her lesson there too.  With one look of liquid heat from his hazel eyes, he made her drunk enough to take her clothes off as well.  If she wanted to keep her job, that would have to change. 

While she was in the shower earlier, she had done some thinking.  There had to be other men out there who lit her fire like Wes Jepson.  Men who had his good qualities, but who weren't so jaded on love.  She would just have to take her time to find one, even though that was last on her priority list right now.  Wes had just been the first attractive, younger man she met after she broke free from her mother.  Leigh Ann needed to slow down and focus on getting her life together now, and finding that man later.  At least she knew now what she was looking for, minus the asshole tendencies.

Think with your head Leigh Ann, not your heart.  You need a man who can take care of you financially, the rest will take care of itself.

Her mother's not-so-sage advice. Because her mother had gotten pregnant and married young, although Trudy Baker had never said it out loud, Leigh Ann couldn't help but think her mother regretted marrying her father, who was a modest farmer.  She might have loved him when she married him, but when he died, she hadn't shed a tear.

Going through life without love from your spouse was something Leigh Ann never wanted to contemplate.  That is why she'd broken the four engagements arranged by her mother.  After Lester, Leigh Ann vowed she wasn't settling for her mother's idea of happiness. She wanted a man who loved her, a man she could love, and wasn't settling for less.  But that man wasn't going to be Wes Jepson, because he'd made it perfectly clear this afternoon that he wasn't interested in a relationship with her. 

Not that she was looking for one, really.  She had bigger things to worry about right now.  A little sex with him wouldn't be out of the question for her though.  She was darned curious what good sex involved, and from his kissing, she was sure he could teach her.  Leigh Ann had never had a casual relationship with a man, but if Wes had suggested it, she might have agreed.  But he didn't.  Obviously, he didn't want her in any way shape or form.  She wasn't even convinced he wanted her to remain his assistant.

Now, Leigh Ann had to decide whether she could continue to work for him with that knowledge.  She also had to figure out how to broach the subject with her sister tonight at dinner.  Leigh Ann needed Roxanne's advice, but she was afraid her sister was going to lose control when she found out that Leigh Ann had kissed Wes Jepson...and liked it.

CHAPTER SEVEN

"Close your eyes and pick something, Leigh Ann," Rocky told her with a frustrated sigh.  "I'm buying, so order what you want."

"I'll have the steak salad and a glass of merlot, please," Leigh Ann told the waiter.  The man had been standing there tapping his pen on his order pad for five minutes, answering her questions about how the food was prepared.  Did he roll his eyes, before he looked down at the pad to scribble? 

Counting calories and considering carbs in her meal choices was an old habit, something she had done her entire life.  Old habits were hard to break.  Closing the menu, she handed it to him.  He shoved it under his arm and stormed off toward the kitchen.  Probably because he thought she might change her mind again.  Leigh Ann needed to remember she wasn't parading herself in front of a crowd in a swimsuit anymore, or squeezing herself into beaded gowns with no give.  Or listening to her mother. 

Roxanne wasn't afflicted by that problem.  Thirty seconds after opening her menu, she ordered a twelve ounce ribeye, loaded baked potato and broccoli casserole drenched in cheese.  Leigh Ann had always envied her sister's ability to eat what the hell she wanted and never gain a pound.  She also envied her ability to tell their mother to go jump off a bridge when she tried to control her life.

"Have you heard from mama?" Leigh Ann asked fiddling with the corner of the paper place mat on the table.

"Nope, don't want to hear from her," Rocky replied bluntly, taking a sip of the beer the waiter had delivered, along with her glass of wine.  "I let her know about the wedding, but told her if she planned to come she better not show her ass."

Even though Leigh Ann totally saw her sister's reason for hating their mother,
she
hated that her family wasn't close.  "She really isn't that bad, Annie," Leigh Ann said.  There had always been bad blood between her sister and mother.  "I know she wanted to help you with the wedding." 

Trudy Baker had been mortally wounded when Roxanne told her she was invited to the wedding if she could behave, but she didn't need her help with anything.  Leigh Ann had to listen to her complain for almost an hour on the phone.

"I don't want her help."  Rocky informed gruffly, as she toyed with the corner of the paper label.  "I take it
you've
heard from her though."

"I talked to her the other day, and saw a missed call on my phone from her earlier.  I'll call her back later," Leigh Ann replied.

"Don't tell her where you are, Leigh.  She'll come out here and cause trouble," Roxanne warned, then met her eyes intently.  "Wes doesn't need that drama."

"I know." Taking a deep breath, she figured this was as good a time as any to forewarn her sister she might not be staying with Wes.  "Annie, I need to tell you something..." 

Leigh Ann watched her sister stare at something, then her eyes widened, before a smile eased up on her lips.  "Well, I'll be damned," she said, as she stood and pushed her chair back.  When she waved, Leigh Ann looked over her shoulder to see who she was waving at, and her eyes slammed into Wes Jepson's hard body.

His eyes were shaded by the black cowboy hat he wore to match the black western shirt, and tight dark wash jeans.  The same outfit he had worn when they had gone out to dinner.  It must be his dating outfit, the only one he had, Leigh Ann thought snidely as she took in the petite brunette hanging on his arm.

Her heart floated up to her throat, before sinking to her toes like a stone.  His arm was draped over the small brunette's shoulders.  Leigh Ann had wondered what type of woman Wes liked, since evidently it wasn't her.  Now she knew.  The antithesis of her.  Except for their height, she and the slightly mousy woman he was with bore no resemblance at all.

Leigh Ann dragged her eyes from him and turned back around in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.  "Annie, I don't feel very well, I think I'm going to head out," she said and her stomach actually did roll.

Her sister's smile dropped then her gray eyes filled with concern.  "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just need to go home," she said reaching down to grab her purse from under the table.  With as much dignity as she could gather, Leigh Ann stood then walked around the table to hug Roxanne and tiptoe to kiss her cheek.  "I'll call you tomorrow.  I'm sorry about dinner." 

Leigh Ann was mortified at the choked quality in her voice, the tears stinging her eyes.  She was not going to cry over Wes Jepson.  The vet might be the sexiest man on the planet, but inside where it mattered, he was just like the rest of them. 

Nothing special.  A dog looking for a juicy bone.  Miss Right Now, not Miss Right.  Well one thing was for sure, she wouldn't have to worry about wanting him if she was around him at the office anymore.  Leigh Ann wouldn't touch the man now with a ten foot pole.  He could have all the bones he wanted, but Leigh Ann wasn't going to be one of them.  Even if he did decide he wanted her.  But she couldn't sit here and watch him gnaw on the woman he was with.

"I'll talk to you later," Leigh Ann said in a breathless whisper, before she turned and walked swiftly toward the front door of the restaurant.  Wes was still standing next to the brunette near the hostess stand.  She breezed past him, but didn't make eye contact.  Leigh Ann focused on getting out of the door and to her car.

When she was almost to her car, Wes's agitated voice yelled from behind her, "Leigh Ann!" She clutched the keys in her palm tighter, the metal dug in, but she didn't stop.  Looking down she fumbled until she found the door release on her key fob and pressed it, then yanked open the door and slid inside.