Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(79)

“You think that’s what Cody and I want? For you to deal with us? No thank you!” She spun away, fighting the tightness in her chest and the tears burning behind her eyes.

“Goddamnit. You’re twisting my meaning. That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what do you mean? I’m trying real hard to understand—”

*

He was nearly boiling over with frustration. He’d come to apologize to her, to try and make things right, but he just seemed to mangle his words at every turn.

“Fuck it! This is what I meant.” He yanked her into his arms, closing his mouth over hers, kissing her, on and on, long and fierce, refusing to let her go, refusing even to let her breathe. Dirk poured himself into the kiss that he hoped would overcome his ineptitude, the kiss that he hoped spoke for his heart. He released her slowly, knowing he’d laid it all on the table. There was nothing more he could say or do.

She stared back at him in silence and slowly shook her head.

It was done. Another royal f*ckup. The lump in Dirk’s throat choked out any other remark he might have made. He picked up his hat and turned to leave.

She cocked a brow. “Where are you going?”

Dirk shrugged. “I’ve got nothing more to say.”

Her gaze met his. She licked her kiss-swollen lips. “Wait a minute, cowboy. I’m not really sure I understood all that.” She slid her hands up his chest, linking her fingers around his neck. His pulse sped up with rising hope. She drew his head down to hers and kissed him until his head reeled. “Is this what you meant?”

“Yeah, Red.” He grinned when she drew back. “I think that’s about the gist of it.”

He sat on the bed and hauled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight. “So, are you saying you’ll give us some time to figure this out?”

“Said I would before, didn’t I?” she replied stubbornly. “I’m not one to change my mind when I want something.”

“You sure you still want me?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am. I’m kinda obstinate that way. You think we can make this work?”

He dipped his forehead to touch hers. “I dunno, Red, but I sure wanna try.”

“I need you too, Dirk, and Cody needs a good man in his life.”

“And you think that’s me?” He shook his head with a scoffing sound.

“Yeah. I know it is.”

“I don’t want to let either of you down.”

“You won’t,” Janice reassured. “What are we going to tell Cody?”

“I think there’s no reason to say anything right now. I want to get to know the boy. I want us to be a real family, Red, but I want to build a genuine relationship with him first. I don’t want to force myself on him. If he accepts me in his own time and on his own terms, there won’t be any cause for resentment later. Can you understand that?”

“Yes, I do. Are you saying you don’t want a DNA test?”

Dirk considered the question. “No. Maybe one day, if Cody wants it, but it doesn’t matter to me anymore.”

Janice’s eyes misted. “You really mean that?”

“Said it, didn’t I?”

Dirk shoved the suitcase to the floor, wanting nothing more than to lay her down on the bed and kiss her senseless. He pushed the remaining clothing aside, grimacing at the pile of white cotton granny panties and cross-your-heart bras. He held up a pair with a scowl.

“Please tell me these aren’t yours.”

“No.” Janice laughed. “They’re Mama’s. I’m packing her things for her. She’s decided to move up to her cousin’s place in Helena.”

“So you weren’t packing to go back to Vegas?”

“No,” she said. “Told you I’m stubborn. I was hoping if I stuck around long enough, you’d eventually see the light.”

“I’ve seen it all right, sweetheart. The whole damn sun is blazing in this room right now.”





Chapter 18


Janice backed the stock trailer slowly up to the gate where Dirk, Wade, and Cody stood ready to unload the last shipment of heifers. They’d hauled three stock trailers full of cattle they’d brought in from a big Wagyu outfit in Idaho.

“I still don’t know how you maneuver this great big thing,” remarked Wade’s fiancée Nikki.

“Years of practice,” Janice said. “I was driving a tractor before age ten, and a truck and trailer by fifteen.”

“Do you think you could teach me?” Nikki asked. “I might be a silent partner, but I really do want to learn about ranching.”

Janice was surprised at how eagerly the Georgia native had embraced the ranching life, especially given that only a few months ago Wade had wanted to sell out. Nikki’s investment in Flying K Wagyu had changed everything. It seemed that Dirk’s dream of turning the ranch around would finally come to fruition. Nikki’s twelve hundred acres in the Ruby Valley would provide mild winters and plentiful grass for Dirk’s cattle, and the free lease had allowed him to expand his herd with two more bulls and fifty cows and heifers. Most importantly, Nikki’s involvement had helped to end the long estrangement between the Knowlton brothers.