When Sparks Fly (70 page)

I met Kaleb at the table once again with a large coffee mug in his hand. “Morning.” I remarked as I passed by headed towards the kitchen cabinet to grab a mug. He didn’t answer just nodded. “Have you seen Tucker or Aaron? I need a ride into town by ten.”

“Last I saw Aaron, he had Tucker out in the barn. He’s a good kid. Lord, I should just go back to bed.” He spoke softly before taking another sip of his coffee.

“Great. You have him out there doing your job. You can’t keep him you know. He is riding in the rodeo, then he is headed out to another one. So please don’t abuse him.” I wanted to beg him to be nice. Although he was leaving I was hoping he would stay in contact no matter what happens between us.

“Tucker couldn’t keep his eyes off you last night. Yes, I was shit faced and three sheets to the wind, but the one thing I do remember is him eye fucking you. All I am going to say is be careful. He is young and living a life you don’t want to live.” Kaleb pushed his chair back and stood. “I really don’t want to see you get your pretty little heart ripped out twice.”

“I am a big girl and I appreciate the fact you are looking out for me, but I will be fine. I am going into this with my eyes wide open.” I needed my brother to know I heeded his warning, but I didn’t want him to interfere in my life. I understood very clearly he was my older brother, but sometimes he did overstep his bounds and I had to remind him just a bit he wasn’t in control of my life. I would always be in control and I knew how to handle the choices I made. Yes, they may not always be the correct choices, but they were mine and I would live with them.

“Kennedy, I really need you to think twice before making choices that could change your life.” He patted my shoulder as he shuffled by me to the sink. I watched him dump the coffee down the drain and head towards the back door.

Those words hit a nerve making me stop in my tracks. I normally take what he says with a grain of salt, but this crossed the line. “Kaleb William, have you ever just stopped to realize that there are some things in life you can’t control? Choices that affect your life that someone else makes. I didn’t have any control over watching my husband die. He did as he pleased. I didn’t make that choice. So don’t go and tell me to think about the choices in my life because every choice we make changes the road we are on. Go to hell!”

I watched as Kaleb’s mouth dropped wide open. Yes I probably just shocked the shit out of him. I didn’t give a rat’s ass. He had crossed the line.

“I didn’t want you to take it like that. I love you. I have seen the way you look at him and the way he looks at you. It’s only a matter of time…. Well, in your case it might be hours, but you want him in bed.”

“So what if I do? Doesn’t mean anything. Unlike some women in this town, I won’t just jump into bed with anyone!” I could no longer keep the tears at bay as they tumbled down my cheeks. I hated crying in front of my brother. To me, it showed I was weak, and that bothered me more than the tears.

I dropped my head into my hands and tried not to sob. I felt strong arms slip around me. My brother, who was often my strongest source of grief, could be my strength and comfort too. “I am sorry. I really didn’t mean it the way it came out. I know you are a lady.” He paused coughing into his hand, “Well most of the time.” He chuckled into my shoulder.

I couldn’t help but laugh at him. I knew he was right. I could cuss and get as muddy as the boys, but I could also wear those heels and clean up better than the men any day. My mother raised me right. Blood, bugs and dirt didn’t bother me, whereas my other ‘girlfriends’ would faint at the site of blood. Heaven forbid they break a fingernail or get dirt under them, they would freak.

“You are still an ass.” I playfully shoved against him, barely nudging him away.

“Well, you better get out to the barn and round up those hunky boys to take you to town.” I started to turn from him and head out the back door when he spoke again. “Why in the world did Tucker bring you home in the first place?”

“Let’s just say we had an interesting introduction.” I let the door slam behind me. I wasn’t about to tell my brother I wanted to jump Tucker’s bones right there on the counter in the store.

*

I managed to pull Tucker away from Aaron in the barn who was mucking stalls. Aaron complained a bit until I reminded him he had lost the bet last week and he now had to clean the stalls or run naked down Main Street. He took the latter of the two. Which honestly I can’t say I blame him. It never failed; my brother and Aaron were constantly trying to outdo me in something. They would never learn.

The rest of the day flew by as I closed up the shop and met several of my girlfriends in the town square for the ride over to Tyler. The annual 4th of July fair and rodeo started tonight. Great food, drinks and a hell of a lot of hot cowboys and wannabe’s. I had to laugh when Tucker walked into the store last night. I really thought he was a wannabe, but after I saw him cover in cow shit not batting an eye, I knew Tucker wasn’t one.

As we unloaded from the truck, we all slipped in behind the gates. I had all access passes since the store was a sponsor of the carnival and rodeo. A few of the other girls got noticed and were escorted out while Lauren, my best friend, and I slipped in and started mingling with the crowd of people. I had grown up in this world. I spied my dad talking to a group of older men. I began making my way through the crowd and over to my daddy, I spied Tucker chatting to a small group of guys. He caught my eye and nodded, but didn’t break from the conversation.

When I reached my dad’s side, he smiled wide and tucked his arm around me. “Evening Kennedy.” His smile wide. I was definitely the daddy’s girl everyone made me out to be. “Gentleman, my daughter, Kennedy Montgomery. Kennedy, Mr. Blains, Mr. Owens, Mr. Temples and Mr. Oars.”

I nodded politely as he made the introduction. More than likely in an hour I wouldn’t remember their names but I could almost bet they would remember mine. For as long as I could remember men fell all over themselves. With my bright blue eyes and chocolate colored hair, I stood five foot six and I wasn’t thin or thick, but just right. I think that is why Nate fell over himself to be my best friend. He knew the man I would marry would be the man who became my best friend. He was absolutely right. He never tried to impress. He just fell into step with me and the rest they say, is history.

“Gentleman, it was nice to meet you all, but I think I would like to mingle with those similar in age.” I winked at Mr. Owens and stood on my toes and kissed my daddy on the cheek.

I listen to my dad chuckle as I sauntered off to find me one Tucker Jackson as he had again disappeared. As I slipped in between tents and made my way through the mass of women who come to man hunt, I heard his laugh. My heart clinched when I rounded the corner and saw him talking to a group of women. No he wasn’t mine, but something down deep inside me ached for him to be mine. I swallowed hard and tried to remind myself he would only be in town for a few days and then would be gone.

I needed to find Lauren among the people and I smiled to myself. I knew her happy-go-lucky ass would be amongst the hottest cowboys under the tent. Lauren had been my bestie since the sandbox in kindergarten. I remember the day well. Some older boy pushed me down and teased me on the playground. I tried to stand and he shoved me down again. Needless to say, Lauren stepped in and kicked the shit out of him after she knocked him to the ground. After that day we were always into trouble. Nate didn’t count. Once he figured out the truth on how to be my friend, he was in.

Sure as shit, Lauren stood toe to toe with a hot cowboy batting her big green eyes and long lashes at him, giggling under her breath. I shook my head as I interrupted their conversation. Lord help me I probably knew where it was going. Tomorrow morning I would be hearing all about her one night adventure. I tried not to smirk. “I am going to head back to the truck to get something to eat.”

“Oh okay. I will catch up with you in a few minutes. Did you ever find him?” Lauren winked as I started to leave her.

I kept walking and threw my hand up as if to say ‘yeah, I found him’. I wasn’t going to either confirm or deny that I had seen Mr. Tucker Jackson talking to a group of women. I had called Lauren on my way to work and told her all about my run in with him. She grinned and said it was about time I got back into the swing of things. I proceeded to laugh and tell her I wasn’t back. I was only thinking about the hot hunk of man. No, I wasn’t going to tell her he had my damn panties wet with a single kiss. Nor how incredible his bare ass looked when he dropped his towel.

I turned back just in time to see her squint her eyes and I knew she wanted to ask more, but she left it alone. I would tell her more when the time was right and right now was not the time. I made my way through the mix of people in the tents heading back to the parking lot. As I turned the last corner rounding a building, I literally ran into him… Tucker Jackson in the flesh.

I tried to catch myself, but ended up on my ass. As I went to the ground I caught my arm on the corner of the brick of the building ripping my arm open. “Holy shit.”

“Oh my God, Kennedy. I am so sorry. I saw you earlier, but you got away before I could stop you from leaving.” He reached his hand out to help me up.

As I reached up to take it, I realized the blood running down my arm. As I got to my feet, my head started to spin and I fell forward into him. “Whoa there. I think you hit a little harder than you thought.”

“I would have to agree, but I am more worried about the blood.” It had started running down my arm and was dripping not only on the sidewalk but all over his boots. “Shit. There is blood everywhere.”

“Here.” Tucker placed his worn cowboy hat on my head and tugged his navy blue t-shirt off his head. My eyes were wide as I watched his muscles ripple as he tore the shirt in several pieces. “Turn.” He wrapped the largest piece around the section of my arm that seemed to be bleeding the most. Tying it off, he added the other pieces to cover the wound on my elbow.

“Thank you.” I rolled my eyes feeling completely stupid over the fact that I just had busted my arm open and now, not only did he have blood on his boots and jeans, he was shirtless once again due to me. I couldn’t avert my eyes any longer and I drank his chiseled form in.

“You can thank me when we get you to the doctor and cleaned up.”

“No doctor. Just take me home. I don’t think I need stitches; I just scraped the shit out of it.” I refused to let him take me anywhere but home. Tonight was not how I had planned for this to turn out, but somehow spending time with Tucker in one way or another seems rather perfect.

“Are you sure? You were bleeding pretty badly.” Tucker picked me up and headed towards his truck.

“I am sure some butterfly stiches and a nice bandage at home will take care of my arm.” I said, trying to reassure him that this wasn’t my first time needing a bandage. “I keep a very well stocked first aid kit at the farm Tucker.” I giggled as I remembered the time when Nate had to have several stiches in the head after I accidentally hit him with a door. And the one time I needed stiches after I slammed the barn door on my own hand.

“Kennedy, are you always this stubborn?” Tucker laughed as we reached his truck.

“Tucker, you have no idea how stubborn I can be.” I let out a smirk as he set me on my feet. “And why is it you are always here to rescue me?”

“I keep asking myself the same question.” He leaned in almost touching my lips, but purposely pulled back as he opened the door. “You, Kennedy Montgomery, make me question everything.” He winked.

For a moment I was at a loss for words; he had been placed in my life for a reason I had yet to figure out. The next time I saw little old Mabel I would inform her very nicely to stay out of my love life. I love her like a mother, but some things are better left untouched.

“What’s wrong Kennedy? Cat got your tongue?” He reached over me buckling my seatbelt after I had slid into the truck.

I glared at him unable to speak. So many loud thoughts ran wild in my head as he ran his hand ever so slightly over my stomach. His hand just stopped at the edge. He leaned over and gently pressed his chapped lips against my bare neck traveling up and licking the shell of my ear before biting it and whispering, “I am going to rock your world.” I couldn’t let him know how much he was affecting me, but the trail of kisses he left on my neck was making a fire burn brighter than I had ever felt in my core. His hand ran down the front of my zipper, cupping me, pressing his thumb hard against the zipper hitting my sweet spot. The more I squirmed in the seat the harder he pressed. He was letting me know he knew exactly what buttons to push and how to flip my world. Holy shit! I was in deep, deep trouble; he could nearly make me combust with just the pressure of his thumb.