Shadow Maverick Ranch Box Set Page 19

  Shit. There were calves out there. The western pasture was the largest, which meant it had the greatest potential for loss. Pax spun back to the barn door. “We’ll need the horses.”

  “No, we won’t. The crew out there can handle the round up. If not, we’ll use their fucking horses and do it ourselves. Gavin’s more concerned with the numbers tangled up in barbed wire. With all the rain, the creek’s gotta be runnin’ high. If any cattle slip the ridge…” Clay’s fist banged against the door with urgency. “We’ve gotta go, Pax.”

  Pax muttered a violent oath, his feet already moving. He jumped into the rolling truck and slammed the door. “Go.”

  Clay hit the accelerator and made a hard left around the barn, angling the truck toward the service road that wasn’t much more than two overgrown ruts in the ground.

  “I called Colt,” Clay informed him. “He’s headed over.”

  Colton Lancaster, primary veterinarian for Shadow Maverick Ranch, was an old high school bud of Clay’s. “Great.”

  Speaking of calling…

  Pax wrestled his phone from his pocket with a silent thank you, Jade for convincing him to get the waterproof case.

  The truck rocked hard, and Pax’s head bashed against his window. Pain exploded across the side of his face. His vision blurred. He bit back a curse and braced his palm against the roof of the truck, bracing himself against further assault.

  Clay slowed the truck. “Sorry. We’re running out of daylight.”

  Dark clouds covered the horizon, threatening to bring night several hours early. “A few more bruises won’t matter.” He swiped at his brow. Blood. More than a bruise then. “Just get us there.”

  Clay gave him a quick glance. “Shit, you okay? We really need to fix this road.” He maneuvered around a hole big enough to keep them stuck until the storm passed.

  “I’m fine. Let’s worry about fixing the road later.” With his free hand, Pax found Reese’s number and put the phone to his ear.

  A noticeably male voice answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

  What the fuck?

  Pax checked the display to confirm he’d dialed the right number. “I’m calling for Reese Jameson.”

  “Who the hell is this?”

  Was he serious? Pax so didn’t have the time for this. “None of your goddamned business.” And his patience snapped. The storm, the herd, and now this asshole? Fuck that. “Look buddy, I don’t know who the hell you are, and I really don’t care. I didn’t call for you. I need to talk to Reese.” He fought to keep his tone steady against the jostling truck.

  “Well that’s not going to be possible at the moment. She just got out of the shower. She’s still in the bedroom getting dressed. And since I’m her fiancé, I believe I have a right to know why you’re calling.”

  Blood ran into his eye. His head started to pound.

  Reese. Showering, naked. Getting dressed, slipping into a frilly bra and panties. All while this asshole stood by? How could she do that? Why would she do that?

  Paxton saw red, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t the blood seeping from his eyebrow. Goddamn it. Reese was his. Not some jackoff’s with a pompous accent.

  Yet, Mr. Jackoff was with Reese right now, and he was stuck in this goddamned truck.

  “Fuck you,” he snarled. He couldn’t do this again. Wouldn’t.

  He jerked his wrist, hurled the phone across the dash and into the windshield. The fucking thing came flying back at him, smacking him in the chest before bouncing to the floor. Only the threat of an emergency stopped his boot from finishing the job and smashing the thing to bits.

  “You okay?” Clay had to yell over the sudden downpour. It’d be a miracle if they didn’t get stuck out here.

  “Not even close.” He felt like a caged animal, pacing with no way out.

  “What was that about?”

  Pax clenched his teeth, refusing to give in to the pain that strangled his heart. His family needed him. Time to focus.

  “Something I should’ve seen coming from a mile away.”

  * * *

  Reese walked into the living room and stopped dead in her tracks.

  Adrenaline pumped into her system as her fight or flight instinct kicked in at finding a man in her apartment. Confusion melted into disbelief that quickly turned to anger as she realized who it was.

  “Todd?”

  He turned and gave her a charming smile. “Hi, Reese.”

  “How did you get in here?” Oh right. The key she’d demanded back, yet he never seemed to have with him to return. Looked like that excuse had dried up. “You better be here to give me my key back.”

  “I came to talk.”

  “Haven’t we done this already?”

  He scowled. “I took the job in Houston for you. You were homesick, even if you wouldn’t admit it. I picked up my life and moved for you because I thought we were going to get married. That we’d be together forever.”

  Reese had suspected, but until now hadn’t been sure. “I didn’t ask you to do that. Please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

  “Harder for who? You don’t seem to be having any difficulty.” Todd stared at something in his hand. “In fact, I just had the most interesting conversation. Who’s…” he glanced at the phone in his hand. “…Paxton?”

  “Is that my cell?” Reese demanded. Cold dread filled her as she stalked toward him and snatched the phone from his hand. He was bluffing, right?

  Shit, shit, shit.

  “What’s the big deal, darling?”

  “Don’t you darling me. What is wrong with you?” She shoved him. Hard. “My clients call my cell. Did you ever think about that? You can’t just barge in here and violate my privacy like this. I told you, we’re over. I’m not going to marry you. Ever.”

  His eyes widened. “You don’t mean that. Come on, Reese. We’re perfect for each other. We can work this out.”

  God, she hoped not. She checked the screen. Paxton had called.

  “You answered my phone?” Her stomach did a somersault.

  “Colorful language on that friend of yours. Especially after I set him straight. Who is he?”

  No, no, no.

  “You son of a bitch. Set him straight about what? What did you do?”

  Pax wouldn’t believe whatever Todd had said. He wouldn’t.

  Reese’s hands shook so hard she couldn’t work the screen. She had to call him back, had to make sure he knew she loved him and only him.

  Fuck!

  “Good lord, Reese. Listen to yourself. Did he teach you to talk like that?”

  “He taught me more than that over the years. Like how to kick your balls into your throat with one swing. Stick around another thirty seconds and I’ll give you a demonstration. In case you missed it, that’s your invitation to get the fuck out of my apartment.”

  Todd’s mouth gaped like a fish out of water. “Who are you?”

  Panic threatened to get a stronghold. Her chest tightened, her oxygen cut to a critical level. Holy crap, was she having a panic attack?

  She needed to get a grip. Breathing deep, Reese focused on the matter at hand. Counted to ten. Got her shit together.

  First thing’s first. Todd, out.

  “I’ll tell you who I am. I’m the woman who’s done with you. Finished, do you hear me? I’ve tried to be nice about it, but you’ve left me no choice. Give me my key back.” Her hand shook as she held it out. “Don’t make me ask you again. I’ll call the police and have your ass removed before the hour’s up.”

  Todd reached in his pocket and pulled out his keys. “I thought I knew you. Paxton, the man on the phone, he your new fuck buddy?”

  Reese’s hand shot out, the resounding crack of palm meeting cheek not nearly satisfying enough to calm her temper. Plus it hurt like the devil.

  “Go to hell,” she snapped. “You don’t get to talk about him like that. In fact, you don’t get to talk about him at all.”

  Todd rubbed
his offended cheek. “He’s obviously a terrific influence on you,” he snarked and slapped the key into her palm.

  “You don’t know the first thing about him. Or about me. Get out. Now.” Before he reached the door, Reese added a warning. “And lose my number. I mean it, Todd. If you try to contact me again, we’ll have a serious problem. One I won’t hesitate to solve legally.”

  The door closed and Reese made sure to flip the bolt.

  Frustration hit her hard as she got Pax’s voicemail.

  Reese paced the floor as doubts rushed in. She imagined what Todd had told Pax. Did Pax believe she would hurt him like that? He’d snapped at her before, sure. But he wouldn’t truly think … would he?

  Why wouldn’t he answer his goddamned phone?

  Things had been so good between her and Pax. Better than she’d ever imagined. She’d started to believe they could build a future together. How could everything go so wrong, so fast?

  Her knees hit the carpet. She dropped her face into her hands, hot tears wetting her palms.

  Not again.

  They’d been here before, hadn’t they?

  A phone call.

  That’s how it ended.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Paxton heard the ruckus the minute he stepped out of the truck.

  Damn horse was going to tear his stall apart if he kept that up, or worse, injure himself.

  Pax groaned as he unfolded his legs from the truck. His body was in desperate need of sleep, but his mind wasn’t anywhere near on board.

  With muscles screaming in protest of being back on the job, Pax made a slow trek to the barn. Jade would be devastated if anything happened to Diablo, even if it was the horse’s own fucking fault.

  Without hesitation, he entered the tack room. A quick search and he found what he needed. A big, red apple. After a lazy inspection to deem it edible, he struggled through wet denim for his pocketknife. His clothes were still soaked, adding what felt like a hundred pounds to his body. Add the mud, blood, and cow shit caked on his jeans and he was downright dragging boots.

  He needed a hot shower and about twelve hours’ sleep.

  Pax didn’t even give a shit about occupying the space he’d avoided for so long. The place his marriage had ended. He glanced around as he made his way to the stall. A tractor. Bales of hay. Various horse paraphernalia hanging from pegs in the wood.

  Just a barn.

  And Reese was the only woman on his mind. God, he was such an idiot.

  Diablo kicked the walls of his stall, gaining his attention.

  “Hey, now. How about you settle down a bit, huh?” Pax sliced off a piece of the apple and held it up. “Want some?”

  Diablo kicked again, so Pax shrugged and popped the piece of apple into his own mouth.

  “I suppose you’ve got a lot to be angry about, don’t ya, buddy? Yeah. I know a little something about that myself.”

  That phone call earlier hovered front and center.

  Diablo grunted, watching as he sliced into the apple again. This time, Diablo bobbed his head and chuffed, clearly wanting the treat.

  “I hear you. I do,” he soothed, happy Diablo accepted the apple graciously and not by taking off his fingers. At least the beast had some manners. He’d worry a little less about Jade knowing the horse had a gentle side. The animal had been abused before his sisters had stepped in and rescued him. “Life can really suck sometimes. You’re in a good place now.”

  Pax wished he could say the same for himself.

  He slid the stall door open and eased through.

  Diablo shifted.

  “Don’t even think about kicking me, dude. How about we go outside and you can run off a little of that energy? What do you say?”

  He slid the outer door open. Diablo pushed by him to get out. Pax followed him to the paddock.

  The rain had turned to a pre-dawn mist. At this point, getting wetter wasn’t an issue, so he took his apple and perched on the fence, keeping a close eye as Diablo trotted the perimeter of the enclosure.

  He should call Reese. The fact that it was somewhere between three and five in the morning wasn’t what stopped him. He’d left his phone in Clay’s truck.

  Probably for the best. What the hell would he say to her anyway?

  Pax focused on his movements as he sliced another piece of apple. As if one more nick would make a difference at this point. His arms looked like he’d shoved them through a shredder. His gloves spared his hands, but there was only so much a guy could do to protect himself from a scared calf tangled in a mess of barbed wire. Thank fuck he’d been able to cut it loose. One of the many they’d saved tonight.

  He ate methodically, one slice after another, too tired to deal with anything except the up and down motion of his arm. Diablo trotted over and the two of them finished the fruit together in silence.

  “Hey.”

  Pax’s heart did a jumping jack or twelve. Diablo’s big muzzle kicked up and he chuffed. Pax darted a glance over his shoulder.

  “What’re you doing here?”

  “You weren’t answering your phone.”

  He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “Sorry about that. We’ve been a little busy around here tonight.”

  Reese swung a jean-clad leg over and joined him on the fence. She straddled the rail, hooked her booted feet so she faced him.

  The sight of her took his breath away.

  “Don’t.” He jerked away as she tried to touch his face. Lord only knew what he looked like, but he had a pretty good idea of the crap that covered him.

  Her hand dropped. “What happened to you?”

  “What, this?” He felt the abused area above his eye. Damn, that hurt. “Smashed it against the side of the truck.”

  He closed the knife and returned it to his pocket.

  “Someone help you with that?”

  “I could blame Clay, since he was driving. But no, it’s compliments of a rutty road and poor visibility. I wasn’t paying attention.” Because he’d been on the phone. “Sorry about dinner.”

  “I don’t care about that. Would you please look at me?”

  He obliged, ate up the vision of her face. She looked as tired as he felt, and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Perfect. He was in no condition to handle her tears. He firmed his grip on the fence rail and went back to staring at the dirt.

  “You’re the only one in my life, you know that, right?”

  His lungs burned as he filled them up, slow to exhale. “Yes, Reese. I know.”

  * * *

  “You know,” Reese repeated, just to be sure she’d heard him correctly. The man was going to drive her crazy. She’d been out of her mind for hours, panicked he’d never let her explain, and he knew?

  “The guy who answered your phone when I called, he the guy you told me about?” His hands were braced on the rail by his thighs. The muscles in his arms flexed as though he held on tight.

  “Yes.”

  His chin lowered in what she took as a nod as they stared at one another.

  “Pax.”

  He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’ve gotta be honest. I almost lost it, Reese. When that dickhead told me you’d just gotten out of the shower … I said don’t.” He jerked away from her hand again.

  Pain struck her chest and her eyes drifted closed. If she ever saw Todd again, she swore she’d make good on her threat to kick his balls to his throat. “Why do you keep pulling away from me?”

  “Because I’m covered in ten layers of filth. I’m exhausted. And I’m pissed as fuck at myself for having even an inkling of doubt.” He jacked his arm and hurled the apple core across the paddock. It hit the barn with a loud knock that rang thought the otherwise quiet dawn.

  “I don’t understand. You said you knew there was no one else.” Yet he still kept her at arm’s length.

  “Jesus. Come on.”

  He jumped from the fence and waited for her to follow. She looked back at the horse lingering close. “What a
bout him? You gonna leave him out here?”

  “He’ll be fine. Fresh air will do him some good.”

  “Where are we going?” She had to jog to keep up with his long strides toward the house.

  “I can’t have this conversation until I’ve had a shower.”

  He stopped on the porch and forced the boots from his feet. To her surprise, his shirt came next. The jeans took a little longer, but he tossed them into the pile along with his socks. Under different circumstances, Reese would’ve loved the impromptu strip show. Not being able to touch the ropes of heated muscle he uncovered felt like the worst kind of torture.

  Down to his boxer briefs, he waved her into the house. “Jared and Jade are bunking at Gavin’s, so there’s no one here but us.”

  Was that a warning?

  He led her up the stairs, into the hallway where she’d gotten her first glimpse of him in ten years. Hard to believe it’d only been a few weeks ago.

  He stopped at what she guessed was his bedroom. He tossed open the door and ushered her inside.

  Warm, neutral colors covered the floor and walls. A king-sized bed. A large leather recliner with a reading lamp next to it. Door to what must be the closet. Reese took it all in.

  With the exception of the lone paperback tented open on the side table, there were no items to distinguish this as anything other than a guest room.

  He made a quick trip to the closet before he hesitated at the door. “Wait here. I’ll be back in a few. Make yourself comfortable.”

  Reese would’ve offered to help, but he’d already made it clear he didn’t want her to touch him.

  So, she paced the modest space, her heart in her feet, and waited.

  * * *

  The shower helped clear his head.

  As he’d suspected, once the dried blood and sweat were washed away, the cut on his eye started to bleed again. He popped a couple of aspirin in case the headache that hovered behind the wound decided to get frisky.

  He held his arms out and rotated his wrists. Other than looking like he’d been in a cat-fight, he felt refreshed. He pulled on a pair of gym shorts and called it good.