Shadow Maverick Ranch Box Set Page 30

  He glanced around the packed bar and realized the conversation would have to wait a little longer.

  His name being hollered drew his attention and he raised a hand to Dakota. He’d mentioned bringing Ainsley out tonight, and it appeared the whole gang had decided to crash.

  Ainsley stiffened at his side. “You didn’t mention we were meeting people.”

  “Not just people, Ains. Friends and family. The big guy in the black hat is my brother Pax. His girl, Reese is the redhead next to him. My sister Erin is the dark headed one. She and Gavin are twins, by the way.” He let the information sink in before he continued. “Anyway, her husband, Trevor, is the guy in the white hat next to her. You’ve seen Dakota and Colt, but Dak’s the one who looks like he stepped off the reservation.”

  Ainsley looked like she was about to run. He laced their fingers. “Don’t look so panicked. I promise they won’t bite. And if we’re gonna keep doing this—”

  “We aren’t doing anything.”

  Clay tightened his hold on her hand and stopped, forcing her to do the same. “The hell we aren’t.”

  Her cheeks flushed. “I mean besides messing around.”

  Maybe they’d have that conversation now after all. His frustration flung words out of his mouth. “If this was only about fuckin’, you wouldn’t have seen me beyond the first night.”

  Harsh, but true.

  “Oh, right. I’ve heard the rumors. You’re not big on repeat performances. Hell, there’s probably not a woman in this bar that hasn’t seen the warm side of your sheets.”

  What. The. Shit?

  His usually dormant temper stretched its legs as she tried to jerk from his grasp. Fuck that. It was time they came to an understanding. “Don’t, Ainsley. You walked away from me the last time we were here. Don’t think I’ll let you do it again.”

  He pulled her into the hallway leading to the restrooms, away from curious stares. “What the hell is this about?” he demanded, turning into her. “The attitude during breakfast and now this? If you’ve got something to say, Ainsley, say it.”

  Her mouth formed a thin, mutinous line. She glared at him, her eyes glassy with what he suspected were unshed tears.

  Regret softened his voice. “You want me to tell you you’re the only woman in this bar I’ve slept with? I’m sorry, Ainsley. I can’t do that. Let me remind you, you weren’t a virgin the first time I took you. You think I like knowing there might be a man here, right now, who’s been between your thighs? Pisses me the fuck off, if you wanna know the truth.”

  He backed her into the wall, leaning in until the familiar scent of oranges tickled his nostrils. He breathed her in, filling his senses with the feel, the smell of her.

  “We both have pasts we can’t do anything about. I won’t apologize for how I lived before I met you. This is a small town. I’ve lived here my whole life. Nothing I can do about that. I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done.” For crying out loud, the woman had him in knots. His hands shook. His stomach rolled as he waited for something, anything, from her.

  “Look at me, Ainsley.” He waited until she gave up trying to resist and glanced up through those thick, sexy lashes. God, her defiant gleam did something to his insides. Hardened his outsides, too.

  He pressed his hips forward, letting her feel the effect she had on him.

  “If it makes you feel any better, you’re the only woman I’ve woken up with. And while we’re on the subject, let me be real clear. You’re the one I want. You’re the only one I want. And in case you missed it, that’s me saying you do have a claim on me.”

  He felt the change in her immediately. Her spine softened. Her hands settled at his waist a moment before he let his hands drop to her shoulders. She bunched his T-shirt until the warmth of her fingers brushed against his skin. She always did that, he realized. Lifted his shirt just enough to tease along the waistband of his jeans. As though she couldn’t stand to touch him through a barrier of cotton.

  “I don’t know how to do this.”

  The vulnerability in her voice killed him. “Do what, sweetheart?”

  “Meet your family and friends. Act like a couple. What if they don’t like me?”

  He was such a jackass. Ainsley had been alone for so long, he should’ve considered how overwhelming it would be for her to be thrown into his circle without warning.

  “They’ll like you, baby. And we don’t have to act. We’ve spent every non-working hour together for days. Same thing, only tonight we’ve got beer and other people around. And we aren’t naked,” he added to lighten the atmosphere.

  He snaked a hand under her hair and cupped the back of her neck, relieved as the tension between them receded. “Let’s just relax. Have a good time.”

  Finally, a smile. “Relax. Got it.”

  “It’s not as though my family are strangers. You’ve already met Gavin and Lauren.”

  She stuttered a husky laugh. “Not the greatest example to use if you’re trying to convince me things will be fine. I’m sure you’ve heard about my meetings with Gavin. I haven’t given him much reason to like me. Why should the others?”

  “Because I do.” He couldn’t stand it anymore. He kissed her, gently parted her lips and drew her in. As her tongue rolled over his, Clay almost wished they’d stayed in tonight. Wished he could strip her naked and lose himself in the warmth of her body.

  He wanted to make things right with her. Wanted to erase the hurt he’d seen in her eyes. Wanted to show her she wasn’t alone anymore.

  He eased out of the kiss. “You’ve hung out with friends before, right?”

  “I’ve never had close friends. I’ve hung out with co-workers and casual acquaintances, but—”

  “No buts. This is no different.”

  “Feels different,” she mumbled.

  He bit back a grin. His tough little wildcat was adorable when she was unsure.

  “We’ll play it by ear. If you’re uncomfortable or have had enough, give me a signal and we’ll be outta here.”

  “Promise?”

  “Sure, baby. For you, anything.”

  #

  How Ainsley ended up sitting as far away from Clay as possible was beyond her. Once the introductions had been made, Reese slid one seat over and patted the chair she’d just vacated, leaving Ainsley no choice but to take the spot between Reese and Erin.

  Clay shook his head and chuckled as the two women waved him off to get another pitcher of beer and order them a couple of burgers.

  She could do this. She knew how to relate to people. She’d been a bartender for crying out loud. A couple of women shouldn’t be a big deal.

  Except these women were important to Clay. For reasons she wasn’t willing to think about, it made how they perceived her a significant deal.

  “So Ainsley, how long have you and Clay been seeing each other?”

  Reese was nothing short of a ray of sunshine with her sun-kissed hair, yellow sleeveless dress, and enthusiastic smile. Ainsley warmed to her immediately.

  “A week, I guess.” Hard to believe it hadn’t been months. Years.

  The thought of keeping their relationship about sex had been left to rot in that back hallway. It scared her how badly she wanted what he offered. Not forever, but a chance at … more. It was unfair to both of them for her to be greedy with her future being unclear. But as he kissed her, Ainsley knew it was far too late to save herself. She was in over her eyeballs.

  She watched Clay approach, his muscular legs shifting beneath his faded jeans as he walked. The tattoo she loved so much undulated on his forearm as he reached to place two fresh pitchers in the center of the table. Strong veins detailed the back of the hand that poured and slid a mug to her.

  Holy shit.

  All six-feet-several-inches of rugged cowboy … all hers. He’d said so himself.

  “One thing about Mathis men,” Reese said. “They don’t waste time when they know what they want. Although Gavin waited twelve years to finally clai
m Lauren, Paxton didn’t wait twelve minutes to reclaim me.”

  “The trait’s not exclusive to the men in our family,” Erin added, darting a glance toward Trevor, who’d taken up residence at a pool table with the other guys, including Clay. “Clay says you make the best spaghetti sauce he’s ever had.”

  Ainsley’s cheeks heated at the praise. “I can’t speak to the quality of the sauces he’s had other than mine, but I do make it from scratch.”

  Erin smiled conspiratorially. “I’d love to know your secret. If it’s not a long-standing family secret, that is.”

  There were probably pages and pages of family recipes in Erin’s cookbook. Another reminder how out of Clay’s league Ainsley was, the things she’d never be able to offer him. On the plus side, if they decided to get married—way too soon to consider that possibility—Clay wouldn’t have to ask her dad’s permission—a ritual she’d heard Southern men stood by—and he’d never end up with nightmare in-law stories.

  “No secret.” No family. “I use all fresh ingredients from my garden.”

  “Oh my gosh!” Reese turned sharply in her chair. “You have a garden?”

  “Not a very big one,” Ainsley explained. “It yields all I can handle, though. It’s my first attempt at growing anything other than mold in the refrigerator, so I’m more than happy with the results.”

  “Any plans to expand?” Reese asked.

  Ainsley startled when Clay reached around and placed a plate in front of her. He kissed her cheek, his lips lingering long enough to give her goose bumps. “Chow time. You need anything else?”

  “Aren’t you eating?”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll eat over there.” He tilted his head toward the game in progress at the pool tables. “If I leave them to it, those bastards will cheat. Got twenty bucks on the line.”

  “Is it a men-only kind of game?” Not that Ainsley would consider taking their money, but it would be fun to play a round or two.

  His grin came slow, and full of mischief. “You want in?”

  Erin shoved Clay hard enough he stumbled to the side. “Go on and let us get back to interrogating your girl. We’ll return her in one piece once she’s finished her dinner.”

  “Hey, don’t be so pushy,” Clay grumbled. “Just for that, I’m gonna up my game to make sure your husband leaves with a lighter wallet.”

  “I’m sure he poses quite the challenge.” Erin rolled her eyes, giving Ainsley a look that said Trevor must not be very good at eight-ball.

  Clay ran a hand over Ainsley’s hair. The incredibly intimate and sweet gesture made her heart trip. He bent to whisper in her ear. “Let me know when you’re done, baby.”

  Ainsley knew he wasn’t only talking about her burger. He was reminding her she held the power to call an end to their night. For some reason, it made staying easier.

  “Good lord,” Reese said under her breath. “Check him out. I never pegged Clay as one to hover.”

  Erin stared at Ainsley with something akin to approval in her gaze. “Hovering’s not the only thing I’d never pegged Clay to do.”

  Ainsley ignored their intrigued stares and dug into her burger.

  Reese broke the silence first. “I’m really curious about your garden, Ainsley. What are you growing?”

  Ainsley swiped a napkin across her mouth and took a swig of beer to wash down her food. “Isn’t there a garden at Shadow Maverick?”

  Erin shook her head. “No one has the time or inclination to tend to a garden. The guys are all busy with the cattle. Jayden and I stay busy with the horses, plus I’ve got a toddler to chase after. And if you tell my mom I told you she couldn’t grow a cactus in the desert, I’ll deny it to my last breath.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.” Ainsley relaxed into the conversation. “The garden is a lot of work. I spend hours out there every day, but I love it enough it doesn’t feel like work.”

  Gardening was therapeutic, a place she could forget the pressure of running the ranch and whether or not it would still be hers come fall.

  She turned to Reese. “For now, I’m growing tomatoes, beans, and onions. I’ve got a few different peppers, mostly sweet, but a few spicy ones too. There’s a variety of leaf greens.” Ainsley did a mental tally of the rows. “I think that’s about it. I have herbs, but those aren’t technically in the garden. I grow them in pots that can be brought inside when the weather turns.”

  This would be her first Texas winter. Having spent most of her life in areas known for snow, Ainsley had no idea what to expect.

  “Do you have a plan for winter vegetables?” Reese seemed unusually curious about Ainsley’s hobby.

  Ainsley hesitated. She did have a plan, but whether she’d be there to see it through was the elephant on her chest. “Why do you ask?”

  “I’ve been trying to find a local grower to provide fresh—possibly even organic—produce for my clients. So far, I haven’t had any luck.”

  “What is it you do?”

  “I’m an event planner. I work with a handful of caterers, but what I’d love to do is hire an in-house person to handle the food. I’d have more control over the quality of ingredients, as well as where those ingredients come from. What do you think, Ainsley? Would you even consider a discussion about selling produce from your garden? I’d be interested in a sample of that sauce of yours too. My clients would love the idea of an all-natural, locally made product.”

  Erin cut in. “I’m going to tell Pax you’re working if you don’t give Ainsley a break, Reese.”

  Reese opened her mouth. Closed it. Smiled. A delicate flush colored Reese’s cheeks. “Pax threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t take the night off.” She winked. “Although I’m not sure it’s much of a threat.”

  Now Ainsley was the one blushing, if the heat on her cheeks was any indication. But Reese’s excitement about her garden was contagious. Ainsley’s mind whirled with possibilities. Could she make a living from what she planted? If her ranch was smaller, less expensive to run, maybe. She could expand. Triple her yield where it stood. Anything more would have to be separated to another area.

  “All right, ladies.” Trevor collapsed into the chair next to Erin. He waved a hand to Ainsley and Reese. “You two go on. Pax and Clay need partners. I’m done.”

  Erin snuggled back against Trevor’s chest. “No complaints from me. Feels like ages since we’ve had a minute together.”

  Reese latched onto Ainsley’s hand and stood, taking her along the way. “Come on. Let’s give these love-birds some time alone.”

  Reese led them to the pool table. She dropped Ainsley’s hand to move toward Pax.

  “Ah, my next victims?” Pax grinned as Reese walked into his arms.

  “Don’t be so sure.” Clay’s hearty laugh shot a frisson of awareness along Ainsley’s spine as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. “This one’s a ringer.” Then for her ears alone, “You okay?”

  She really was. She sensed she and Reese could become great friends. Erin had the protective big sister vibe going on, but she hadn’t been hostile. So far, so good. Ainsley gave Clay’s forearms a reassuring squeeze.

  Pax raised a brow. “Care to put your money where your mouth is?”

  “Hundred bucks says she wipes the table with you,” Clay challenged.

  Ainsley jabbed Clay’s ribs with her elbow. “Don’t do it.”

  Oh, now there was a look that must’ve gotten him out of a truckload of trouble as a kid. “What? It’s not like he can complain when you beat him. I did warn him.”

  Pax came over and slapped a twenty in Clay’s palm. “Your turn for a beer run.”

  “We could use a pitcher over here, too.” Colt waved an arm from the table beside theirs, where he and Dakota had a game going. A couple of cute, vastly underdressed women stood close, feigning interest in the game when any idiot could see they were more interested in watching the men bend and stretch as they played.

  Clay wandered toward the bar, and Ai
nsley turned back to Pax. “I’m not playing for money.” It was one thing to play against men she didn’t know. No way she’d take money from Clay’s family.

  “Don’t be scared, Ainsley. Won’t be the first time Clay’s lost a bet.”

  Pax’s not-so-subtle teasing loosened Ainsley’s lips. “I’m not the one who should be scared.” Was this what it felt like to have siblings? To want to punch a person in the gut and laugh with them at the same time?

  “You tell him, girl,” came Reese’s response.

  Pax laughed. “That’ll be enough out of you.” He scooped an arm around Reese’s waist and hoisted her against him. Reese shrieked, feet dangling, as he walked her back to a tall stool and sat her down. The love between them burned as bright as the Texas sun as Reese laughed at Pax’s antics and whispered words in her ear. They shared a quick kiss before Pax turned to set the table for their game.

  “All right. Time to choose your weapon, Ainsley.”

  Ainsley went to the wall rack to select a cue. Without warning, she was jerked back into a wall of solid muscle, causing a little oof to escape her lips. Alcohol-laden breath assaulted her nose. “Hey, sweet thing. I was hoping you’d be back tonight. Admit it, you missed me, didn’t you?”

  Ainsley shoved at the hands creeping up her sides, heading straight toward her breasts. “I don’t even know you, buddy. Hey!” She latched onto his meaty wrists. “Those hands get any higher, you’ll find yourself singing soprano.”

  He released her.

  Ainsley spun, only to find herself trapped between his arms and the wall. She poised her knee to strike.

  “Aw, come on, sugar. You took me for fifty bucks last weekend. I want a chance to win my money back. Or maybe we’ll play for something even better.”

  He did a little drunken wiggle with his shoulders as his eyebrows danced up and down.

  Oh right. She remembered this guy. A horrible pool player with a taste for tequila. His idea of a good time had consisted of trying to convince her he could keep it up long enough for her to get him off.