Always a Cowboy Read online

Page 25


  He realized Grace’s hand was still in his. He let go, albeit reluctantly.

  Then, suddenly, he felt as tongue-tied as he ever had at fourteen. “My family’s been on this ranch for generations,” he heard himself say. “So I can’t say I know what it would be like having to start over someplace new.” Shut up, man. He couldn’t seem to follow his own advice. “I travel a lot, and I’m always glad to get back to Mustang Creek.”

  Grace turned to Ryder, sighed, then looked back at Slater. “We’ve taken up enough of your time, Mr. Carson.”

  Mr. Carson?

  “I’ll walk you out,” he said, still flustered and still trying to shake it off. Ordinarily, he was the proverbial man of few words, but tonight, in the presence of this woman, he was a babbling idiot. “This place is like a maze. I took over my father’s office because of the view, but it’s clear at the back of the house and—”

  Had the woman asked for any of this information?

  No.

  What the hell was the matter with him, anyway?

  Grace didn’t comment. The boy was already on the move, and she simply followed, which shot holes in Slater’s theory about their ability to find their way to an exit without his guidance. He gave an internal shrug and trailed behind Grace, enjoying the gentle sway of her hips.

  For some reason he wasn’t a damn bit tired anymore.

  * * *

  HAVING BEEN A police officer, Grace had plenty of experience dealing with men. In law enforcement, still a male-dominated field even though women were finally making inroads, overexposure to testosterone was inevitable. She’d come to terms with the effect her appearance had on the male gender, not out of vanity, but because she was practical to the bone.

  She wouldn’t have described herself as beautiful; she got an instant update on her imperfections every time she consulted a mirror. She knew her mouth was a shade too wide. Her nose tilted up just a little, giving her an air of perkiness that was wholly unfounded, and she couldn’t have gotten a tan in the middle of a desert. Her eyes were an almost startling shade of blue—she’d been accused of wearing colored contacts—and she didn’t even want to discuss the hair. Just call her Carrot-Top.

  It was ridiculously curly unless she wore it long, and the stuff could go clown-crazy if the humidity was high. Thankfully, Wyoming was drier than Seattle, so she didn’t have to fight it quite as much now. The color was impossible to change, although she’d tried highlights and different treatments, but nature won out every time, so now she let it go its own way.

  Slater Carson hadn’t been turned off.

  Quite the opposite, in fact.

  Grace wasn’t sure how she felt about her own reaction. Yes, she was jaded about men, but something was different this time. She was—okay, she could admit it—sort of flattered.

  Recalling the slow, gliding assessment of those sexy blue eyes as they moved over her, she got a definite buzz. And Slater Carson wasn’t hard to look at, either, with all that dark, wavy hair, a day’s beard growing in and a lean, wiry build that said cowboy. He moved like one, too, with long, slow strides, and when he smiled at her as he held the back door open to a starry Wyoming night, there was an easy curve to his mouth, the hint of a grin, not in the least boyish, but confident, amused, knowing.

  The message had been clear: he wouldn’t mind if they met again.

  Well, Grace thought, Mustang Creek was a small town, where everybody seemed to know everybody else, so they were bound to run into each other at some point.

  If he expected more than a polite nod and a “howdy,” though, he’d be disappointed.

  Grace distrusted men like Slater—too good-looking, too privileged, too used to getting whatever and whoever they wanted. Yep, the illustrious Mr. Carson reminded her a little too much of her ex-husband, exuding confidence the way he did, certain of his success, of his place in the world.

  No, thanks. Grace had been down that road before, and after all the excitement and the heady passion and the dazzle, she’d run smack into a dead end. In some ways, she was still reeling from the impact.

  Feeling resolute, she got into her vehicle, which she’d parked in the well-lit driveway alongside the Carson mansion, and slammed her door, waiting for Ryder to stop dawdling and plunk himself down in the passenger seat.

  This wasn’t how she’d planned to spend her evening. Her vision had included downloading a movie, munching popcorn, generally vegging out on the couch with her bare feet propped up, wearing shorty pajamas and face cream.

  Grace had had a long day at the resort; she’d dealt with a faulty air-conditioning unit and repairmen who couldn’t seem to agree on what was wrong, a chronically late employee who was wonderful when he actually got there, by which time the rest of the staff was thoroughly and justifiably annoyed, plus guest complaints about the lap pool that ranged from too hot to too cool. Among other things.

  Coming home to find Ryder about to nail a newly acquired and obviously expensive metal sign to one wall of his bedroom had immediately thrown her evening plans for a loop. Immediately suspicious, Grace had questioned the boy.

  Never a good liar, he’d confessed.

  Grace had figuratively grabbed the kid by one ear and dragged him to the Carson house.

  Now he hauled open the door on his side and got in.

  “I’m sorry,” Ryder said. He didn’t really sound sorry, and he didn’t look at her, but sat staring out the windshield instead. His tone was stubborn, and the set of his mouth underscored his attitude.

  Grace sighed inwardly.

  Ryder was a good kid, and Slater Carson had been right earlier, when he’d said everybody made bad decisions now and then. “You know better.”

  “It just—”

  She raised a hand to indicate she wanted him to stop. Now. “There’s no excuse I care to hear. You stole something and we returned it.”

  Grace started the car, flipped on the headlights and turned around to head back down the driveway.

  Ryder was quiet for a few minutes. They reached the county highway, which was practically deserted at that time of night, and, since both the ranch and the resort were well outside town, they didn’t pass many cars.

  Eventually, Ryder said, “He liked you.”

  Fourteen and he’d picked up on that, Grace reflected with rueful amusement, but he still couldn’t pick up his underwear.

  He liked you.

  There was liking a woman, and there was wanting to go to bed with her. Grace was not inclined to explain the difference to a fourteen-year-old.

  So she said briskly, “He doesn’t know me.”

  “He thought you were pretty.”

  There were times when she wished Ryder would talk to her more, and times, like now, when she wished he wouldn’t. “I think it’s just possible that he’s prettier than I am.”

  That made Ryder crack up. “At least he tried to be subtle. He didn’t, like, stare at your—”

  He stopped abruptly, and Grace figured he’d be blushing right about now over what he’d almost said, so she cut the kid a break and kept her gaze on the road. “Mr. Carson was very polite,” she conceded. “How’s the science project coming along?”

  Ryder jumped on the sudden change of subject, even if school wasn’t one of his favorites. “Okay, actually. Turns out my partner isn’t as geeky as he looks.” He was quiet for a moment, then he went on. “I was wondering if he might come over to our place and hang out sometime. That okay?”

  Grace felt a rush of relief. She’d been waiting for Ryder to stop rebelling against the move to Mustang Creek and make some friends, hoping and praying he would.

  She was in over her head with this parenting thing.

  And she didn’t seem to be getting any better at it.

  A few months back Grace’s former father-in-l
aw had called her one day, out of the blue. Haltingly, he’d explained that with his wife so ill, they couldn’t handle their grandson on their own. They hated to ask, but since Hank was overseas and all, they didn’t have anyone else to turn to.

  Hank, Grace’s ex and Ryder’s father, made a career of being unavailable, in her opinion, but of course she didn’t say that.

  She’d had no idea what to say, under the circumstances. Ryder’s mother was remarried, with a whole new family, and for reasons Grace still didn’t understand, the woman had never shown much interest in her firstborn, anyway. When she and Hank were divorced, she’d handed Ryder over without a quibble, not even asking for visitation rights.

  The woman couldn’t be bothered to send her son a birthday card, never mind calling to see how he was doing or firing off the occasional text to keep in touch.

  The whole scenario made Grace furious on Ryder’s behalf, and it didn’t help that Hank was so emotionally distant, absolutely caught up in his military career.

  In that respect, she and Ryder had been set adrift in the same boat, but Grace had had options, at least. She could divorce Hank—which she had—and move on. His son didn’t have that choice.

  So she’d said yes, Ryder could stay with her until Hank’s current deployment ended, and here they were in Mustang Creek, Wyoming, stuck with each other, both of them struggling to adjust to major changes.

  Grace brought herself back to the present. “I think it would be great if your friend came over sometime. I could order you guys a pizza, how’s that?”

  Ryder nodded. “As long as it isn’t like the ones they have at the spa, with goat cheese and whatever those green things are. I tried to like the stuff, Grace, but no way.”

  “Artichoke hearts,” she supplied helpfully. “How about plain old pepperoni?”

  Ryder grinned. “That would be great,” he said.

  “Okay, you’re on. I just need your word that you’ll stay out of trouble for five minutes.” She feigned a narrow glare. “I didn’t like facing Mr. Carson with what you’d done any more than you did, buddy.”

  Ryder’s grin broadened. “Maybe not,” he agreed, “but I think he sorta enjoyed it.”

  Copyright © 2016 by Hometown Girl Makes Good, Inc.

  ISBN-13: 9781460394137

  Always a Cowboy

  Copyright © 2016 by Hometown Girl Makes Good, Inc.

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.

  www.Harlequin.com

 

 

 


    Angelfire Read onlineAngelfireMoonfire Read onlineMoonfireThe Yankee Widow Read onlineThe Yankee WidowThe Cowboy Way Read onlineThe Cowboy WayCountry Strong--A Novel Read onlineCountry Strong--A NovelForever and a Day Read onlineForever and a DayThe Black Rose Chronicles Read onlineThe Black Rose ChroniclesMontana Creeds: Logan Read onlineMontana Creeds: LoganMy Darling Melissa Read onlineMy Darling MelissaSkye Read onlineSkyeMcKettricks of Texas: Tate Read onlineMcKettricks of Texas: TateSpringwater Seasons Read onlineSpringwater SeasonsA Lawman's Christmas Read onlineA Lawman's ChristmasSierra's Homecoming Read onlineSierra's HomecomingParable, Montana [4] Big Sky Summer Read onlineParable, Montana [4] Big Sky SummerOne Last Weekend Read onlineOne Last WeekendA Stone Creek Collection, Volume 2 Read onlineA Stone Creek Collection, Volume 2Tonight and Always Read onlineTonight and AlwaysFletcher's Woman Read onlineFletcher's WomanA Snow Country Christmas Read onlineA Snow Country ChristmasThe Last Chance Cafe Read onlineThe Last Chance CafeThe Man from Stone Creek Read onlineThe Man from Stone CreekWanton Angel Read onlineWanton AngelMcKettricks of Texas: Garrett Read onlineMcKettricks of Texas: GarrettMemory's Embrace Read onlineMemory's EmbraceMcKettrick's Luck Read onlineMcKettrick's LuckPirates Read onlinePiratesBig Sky River Read onlineBig Sky RiverWillow: A Novel (No Series) Read onlineWillow: A Novel (No Series)The McKettrick Legend: Sierra's HomecomingThe McKettrick Way (Hqn) Read onlineThe McKettrick Legend: Sierra's HomecomingThe McKettrick Way (Hqn)Glory, Glory: Snowbound with the Bodyguard Read onlineGlory, Glory: Snowbound with the BodyguardTwo Brothers Read onlineTwo BrothersDeadly Deceptions Read onlineDeadly DeceptionsBig Sky Secrets Read onlineBig Sky SecretsGarrett Read onlineGarrettA Creed in Stone Creek Read onlineA Creed in Stone CreekMegan Read onlineMeganMcKettricks of Texas: Austin Read onlineMcKettricks of Texas: AustinKnights Read onlineKnightsHigh Country Bride Read onlineHigh Country BrideMore Than Words Volume 4 Read onlineMore Than Words Volume 4Glory, Glory Read onlineGlory, GloryDaring Moves Read onlineDaring MovesLily and the Major Read onlineLily and the MajorCourting Susannah Read onlineCourting SusannahBanner O'Brien Read onlineBanner O'BrienBig Sky Mountain Read onlineBig Sky MountainLinda Lael Miller Bundle Read onlineLinda Lael Miller BundleMcKettrick's Pride Read onlineMcKettrick's PrideA Stone Creek Collection Volume 1 Read onlineA Stone Creek Collection Volume 1A Wanted Man Read onlineA Wanted ManBig Sky Country Read onlineBig Sky CountryThe McKettrick Legend Read onlineThe McKettrick LegendChristy Read onlineChristyMcKettrick's Heart Read onlineMcKettrick's HeartResurrection Read onlineResurrectionArizona Heat Read onlineArizona HeatSecondhand Bride Read onlineSecondhand BrideSnowflakes on the Sea Read onlineSnowflakes on the SeaMontana Creeds: Tyler Read onlineMontana Creeds: TylerCAROLINE AND THE RAIDER Read onlineCAROLINE AND THE RAIDERA Proposal for Christmas: State SecretsThe Five Days of Christmas Read onlineA Proposal for Christmas: State SecretsThe Five Days of ChristmasYankee Wife Read onlineYankee WifeLinda Lael Miller Montana Creeds Series Volume 1: Montana Creeds: LoganMontana Creeds: DylanMontana Creeds: Tyler Read onlineLinda Lael Miller Montana Creeds Series Volume 1: Montana Creeds: LoganMontana Creeds: DylanMontana Creeds: TylerThe Christmas Brides Read onlineThe Christmas BridesMcKettricks Bundle Read onlineMcKettricks BundleThe Rustler Read onlineThe RustlerHere and Then Read onlineHere and ThenOnly Forever Read onlineOnly ForeverOnce a Rancher Read onlineOnce a RancherThe 24 Days of Christmas Read onlineThe 24 Days of ChristmasBig Sky Wedding Read onlineBig Sky WeddingEmma and the Outlaw Read onlineEmma and the OutlawPrincess Annie Read onlinePrincess AnnieWild About Harry Read onlineWild About HarryThat Other Katherine Read onlineThat Other KatherineA Lawman's Christmas: A McKettricks of Texas Novel Read onlineA Lawman's Christmas: A McKettricks of Texas NovelJust Kate: His Only Wife (Bestselling Author Collection) Read onlineJust Kate: His Only Wife (Bestselling Author Collection)The McKettrick Way Read onlineThe McKettrick WayPart of the Bargain Read onlinePart of the BargainTaming Charlotte Read onlineTaming CharlotteHoliday in Stone Creek Read onlineHoliday in Stone CreekOne Last Look Read onlineOne Last LookAlways a Cowboy Read onlineAlways a CowboyBatteries Not Required Read onlineBatteries Not RequiredA McKettrick Christmas Read onlineA McKettrick ChristmasFor All Eternity Read onlineFor All EternityThe Marriage Season Read onlineThe Marriage SeasonCorbin's Fancy Read onlineCorbin's FancyThe Creed Legacy Read onlineThe Creed LegacySpringwater Wedding Read onlineSpringwater WeddingDeadly Gamble Read onlineDeadly GambleAustin Read onlineAustinCreed's Honor Read onlineCreed's HonorA Creed Country Christmas Read onlineA Creed Country ChristmasEscape from Cabriz Read onlineEscape from CabrizThere and Now Read onlineThere and NowThe Bridegroom Read onlineThe BridegroomState Secrets Read onlineState SecretsBridget Read onlineBridget