Saddle Up(69)

Jo-Jo’s frown deepened as she took in the disheveled bed. “I can see that,” she replied.

“I know how this looks,” Keith said, “but I swear I meant no disrespect to you, Miz Sutton. Maybe I should go.”

“Please, no,” Miranda whispered, almost a prayer. She held her breath for several agonizing seconds. She feared she’d pass out from lack of oxygen before Jo-Jo finally exhaled an exasperated sigh.

“I don’t think it needs to come to that.”

Miranda blew out an echoing breath.

“I just came by to see if you needed anything.” Jo-Jo averted her eyes as Miranda handed Keith his shirt and adjusted her own clothes.

“I don’t think so,” Keith replied evenly. “But thank you for asking.”

“We need to go to the co-op tomorrow for fencing supplies,” Miranda said. “After that, I figured we’d drive up to the Wal-Mart in Butte. If he needs anything, I’ll take care of it.”

“Absolutely not. You’ll take my credit card and charge whatever you need to my account,” Jo-Jo said.

“Don’t trouble yourselves on my behalf,” Keith interjected. “If I need anything, I’ll get it myself.”

“Don’t be silly,” Jo-Jo said. “You came here to help us.”

“I didn’t come as a hired hand, Miz Sutton. I’ll pay my own way.”

“Please call me Jo-Jo,” she insisted. “I don’t think we need to stand on ceremony, especially now,” she added dryly. She then turned toward the door. “Supper’ll be ready in an hour. I’ll expect you both.”

Miranda stared after her grandmother for a long, speechless moment.

“Is she always so open-minded?” Keith asked.

“In some things I suppose, but this is all new territory,” Miranda replied. “I’ll talk to her as soon as I go inside. I don’t want this to get any more awkward than it already is.”

“I should talk to her. I’m the one who committed the trespass.”

“You certainly weren’t alone, Keith. And if anyone is really guilty, it’s me. I knew you wanted to keep things platonic.”

“Maybe that was my initial intent,” he said, “but that plan went out the window the minute I saw you.”

“Really? I never would have guessed it by the way you acted.”

“Because I’m better at hiding my feelings than you are. You wear everything on your face, Aiwattsi.”

“Then you have me at a strong disadvantage. I don’t know how to read you at all.”

“Am I really so hard?” he asked.

“Yes. You are.” She frowned. “I can’t seem to figure you out, no matter how hard I try.”

He smiled. “Then I’ll try and make it easier for you.”

“I wish you would,” she replied with a slow grin. “I feel like I’ve been riding a roller coaster since I met you.”

One corner of his mouth curved upward. “That makes two of us.”

“What are we doing, Keith?” she asked. “I’m not trying to pressure you. I just need to know. Is this just f*cking?”

“I thought you hated dirty words.”

“I do,” she said. “But if that’s all this is, there’s no point in sugarcoating it.”

“Is that what you think this is?” he asked.

“No,” she replied. “It’s never felt like that with you. What we just did and how we did it was really naughty”—she blushed—“but in a fun way. It didn’t feel cheap or dirty.”

He grinned. “Maybe in time you’ll grow to like cheap and dirty.”

“Maybe,” she said. “But one step at a time, right?”

“Yes, Aiwattsi.” He stroked the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “One baby step at a time.”

She caught his hand and held it there, searching his eyes. “You never answered my question.”

“I didn’t think it deserved an answer. Do you think I would have come all the way here if all I wanted was a f*ck?”

“No,” she confessed, her heart racing. “You’d never have to drive six hours for that. You could have any woman you wanted.” She knew it was true. His sex appeal was undeniable.

He slid his hand down her cheek to cup her chin. “Is that what you think?”

“Yeah, I do,” she replied softly.

He dipped his head and murmured against her mouth, “Would it surprise you to know the only one I’ve ever really wanted was you?”

*

Jo-Jo was peeling apples for a pie when Miranda entered the kitchen, feeling much like a dog with its tail between its legs. “I’m sorry, Jo-Jo.”

“For what you did or for getting caught doing it?” Jo-Jo asked.

“For disappointing you. I was so very happy to see him again. One thing just led to another.”

Her grandmother replied with a sympathetic smile. “You don’t have to apologize to me. I was once young and horny too. Hell, I was once old and horny. Now I’m just plain old. At least I’m not dead. I admit I was a bit shocked, but I should have seen this coming.”

“What do you mean?”