Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(40)

“We?” The blonde’s blue gaze turned to ice. “You. And Wade?” Her smile suddenly became brittle. Slightly hostile. Definitely territorial. The message wasn’t lost on Nikki.

“Yeah. Me and Wade.”

Donna’s gaze darted between the two women. “I’m sorry, sugar. I’ve not introduced—”

“Allison Evans.” The blonde extended her hand.

Although the smile never left her face, she eyed Nikki with a look that hinted at contempt. Small wonder. Allison looked like a cover model, while Nikki resembled something the cat dragged in. Nevertheless, she burned under the obvious scrutiny.

“Nicole Powell,” Nikki replied tightly. “I’m up from Atlanta.”

“Really? What brings a girl like you so far above the Mason-Dixon Line?”

A girl like you? What the hell did that mean?

“I have some personal business to settle here,” Nikki replied, purposefully vague.

Wade had told her that Allison was just a business associate, but Allison’s manner indicated a much more personal relationship than he’d claimed—the lying sonofabitch. Only hours ago, she’d awakened beside him in a blissful lust-induced daze. He’d made her feel like the only woman in the world—in his world anyway. What a gullible idiot she was.

Allison’s brows rose. “Business? Really? And I suppose Wade’s taking care of this business for you out here on his family ranch?”

Nikki bristled. “As a matter of fact, he is, or will be soon enough.”

“Sweet tea anyone?” Donna Knowlton chimed in.

“I’d love some,” Nikki replied, desperate for any excuse to get away from Allison.

“None for me thanks,” Allison said. “I’ll just stay out here and visit with my little Sunshine.”

Nikki was about to follow Donna inside but stopped in her tracks. “Your Sunshine? The palomino mare is yours?”

“Well, not quite,” Allison said. “I’ve been wanting to buy her for a good while, but Dirk wouldn’t part with her. But once the ranch deal is done, it’s just a matter of negotiation. Dirk won’t have any reason to keep her then. I don’t know why he’s held on to her all this time anyway, unless it’s just to torture poor Wade.”

“Torture poor Wade?” Nikki shook her head in growing puzzlement. “What do you mean by that? Why would keeping a horse bother him?”

Allison cocked her head with a smug smile. “I guess Wade hasn’t told you about Rachel?”

“Rachel?” Nikki asked.

“Please, Allie. We don’t need to go there,” Donna interjected with a tight smile. “Let’s just let sleeping dogs lie, all right?” She hooked her arm through Nikki’s, steering her toward the house. “How about that tea now, sugar? We can wait for the boys inside.”

The last thing Nikki wanted was to see Wade and Allison together. She already abused herself with that mental image…and it hurt like hell. The longer she’d studied Allison, the more her insecurities had bloomed. She cursed herself as ten kinds of fool for thinking Wade was interested, and refused to make things worse by hanging around like a dog who’d just lost its bone.

“Donna,” she asked, “is there any possibility I could get a ride back into Sheridan?”

“Don’t you think you should wait for Wade? I expect he and Dirk will be back before too long—”

“I’m so sorry to be such trouble, but it’s really quite urgent. I really have a lot to do and need an Internet connection,” Nikki insisted.

Given the opportunity to leave now, rather than waiting for Wade to return, she’d beg a ride or even hitchhike if necessary. At this point she’d do just about anything to avoid further contact with him or incur any greater obligation. She only hoped the balance on the prepaid Visa card would be sufficient to cover a couple of nights lodging at a cheap motel until she got her ID and credit cards back.

“If you can’t,” Allison interjected, “I’m sure I could run her into town.”

Hell no! Nikki wanted to scream. Instead, she forced a smile. “How kind of you to offer. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

Donna looked from one woman to the other. The tension had to be impossible to miss. To Nikki’s relief, she volunteered. “No need to trouble yourself, Allie. I’ll drive her into town. I have to pick up a few things at Walter’s IGA anyway.”

A few minutes later, after gathering up her things, Nikki hopped back into the old white truck with Wade’s mother behind the wheel.

“I’m sorry to see you go so soon,” Donna said. “I hope Allie didn’t chase you off. She might bare her claws, but don’t worry, sugar. She’s got nothing on you.”

Nikki felt a flush invading her cheeks. “What do you mean?”

“Though she’d have you think otherwise, Wade’s never really taken to her. She might be a glamour girl and even comes from big money, but truth is, she was just there when he was at rock bottom and vulnerable.”

“Vulnerable?” Nikki couldn’t picture that at all.

Donna continued on, as if she hadn’t heard the implied question. “Don’t let his smooth exterior fool you. Wade’s a real soft touch and he’s been burned for it, too. Badly. It’s taken him a long time to get over it—if he even is over it.”