Cowboys Forgive (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 8) Read online

  “How are you feeling?”

  Hearing the soft voice, Jace brought his gaze to the woman standing in the doorway, but she floated and blurred. Blinking, he finally managed to read her red cap. “Staff”. Maybe he could finally be on his way. “I’m fine, except the ribs.” He was lucky he didn’t break his ribs or puncture a lung. If Suicide would have had his way, Jace would be six feet deep. “I’m ready to get out of here.” He shifted and the room spun. Bringing his hand to his head, he waited until things stopped spinning.

  “Don’t be in a hurry to get moving. It’s important to make sure you don’t have any life-threatening injuries.”

  He pushed himself up to a sitting position and gritted his teeth. “I’ve been through this enough to know it’s just bruised ribs. I just ain’t twenty any longer.”

  “I’m sure the doctor will want to check your vital signs and—”

  “Can’t you just do it?”

  “I-I…”

  “If you’re not going to do your job, I’m going to get out of this bed and be on my way,” he warned.

  “I think it’s best you stay still.”

  “I think it’s best I be on my way.” He moved, another sharp pain pausing him.

  “Okay, I’ll do it.” She stepped further into the room.

  *****

  Why the hell had she come here? She’d watched Blue-eyes almost lose his life by way of a mad-ass bull and she wanted to see for herself that he was alive and well. She barely knew the man and was concerned. Wade had called and messaged her a dozen times, but she’d ignored him. Once she was certain Blue-eyes was fine, she’d meet her manager and bodyguard, and go back to her life where real cowboys only existed in her songs.

  Jessa looked around the room at the medical tools hanging on the wall. She had no clue what most of them were for, but she recognized the blood pressure cuff and thermometer. If anything, she would humor Blue-eyes to keep him in the cot. She didn’t want him getting out of the bed and possibly falling on his head. A medic would be in soon, she hoped. Or maybe the tall, broad shouldered cowboy she saw coming out of the room minutes ago.

  The second she’d heard his name, Jace Jackson, she’d recognized it, but it wasn’t until he’d fallen hard into the dirt when she’d remembered exactly how she knew him. They’d attended high school together, and he was the boy who had asked her to prom. Unfortunately, she’d rejected him. Not only had she rejected him, but when her group of friends had laughed at him, she hadn’t come to his defense. She’d chalked that moment up to stupidity. Everyone had those moments they wished they could erase. Jessa had a few of them. At the time Jace had asked her she’d been caught up in teenage issues that didn’t matter now.

  After the kiss behind the barn she realized just how unwise she’d been by turning him down.

  She slowly eased her gaze down his body. There was a reason why she didn’t recognize him at first. He wasn’t the same boy from back in high school—the shy, shaggy-haired kid who never said a word to anyone, at least to anyone in her social group. He’d filled out quite nicely.

  He probably didn’t know her with the hat and glasses either.

  Lord, she wasn’t sure why she’d come in here. Although they’d gone to school together, and kissed, that didn’t make them friends, or even acquaintances. And yet, she had the urge to say hello.

  She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she reached for the portable blood pressure kit from the shelf and took a position next to the cot. How hard could this be? Maybe she should just admit who she was and say ‘hello’ like she’d planned, then be on her way.

  “Lie down,” she told him.

  “I thought you’d never ask.” He smiled, a nice one surrounded by deep dimples, and did as she requested.

  Calming her breaths, she situated the cuff around his large bicep, just above the hand-sized cross tattoo. He looked pale, but seemed to be relaxing some as he stared at her hands. Did he sense that she had no medical training? “You were bull-dozed by Suicide, huh?”

  “You could say that.” He turned his gaze to the ceiling.

  Scanning the monitor, she found the power button and the machine buzzed alive. A second later the cuff tightened. The digital numbers continued upward and then slowly lowered until a number came onto the screen. She remembered learning in health class what a normal blood pressure was and his was perfect. Uncuffing him, she placed the kit back onto the shelf. “So, you’re a Nirvana Cowboy?”

  “Yup.”

  Taking his wrist, she pretended to check his pulse. After all this, the medic might need to check hers.

  He reached up and removed her glasses, placing them into the small pocket on her shirt. “Much better. Did you get yourself another funnel cake?”

  Oh, he remembered her from the stables, but would he recognize her as being the immature girl from high school? Or possibly as the popular country singer? Her cheeks warmed. “No.”

  “Sorry about earlier, sweetheart.”

  “The kiss…well, it did catch me off guard.”

  “I wasn’t talking about the kiss. If I apologized about that, I’d only be lying. I was talking about leaving you too soon. Unfortunately, I had a date with the devil.”

  Her breath stilled and her toes curled in her boots.

  He had his gaze steadied on the ceiling again which gave her plenty of time to get a closer look at him. He was a ridiculously handsome cowboy. They’d been in the same grade so he must be her age and she’d turned thirty-one last month. Although he’d changed drastically since school, his eyes were the same penetrating shade that could make a woman melt. His hair was as dark as night and matted close to his head from wearing the Stetson that was laying at the bottom of the bed, dirty and wrinkled.

  The cot squeaked and she caught him watching her in a way that made her heart kick up in speed. She removed her fingers from his warm skin and swallowed against the cotton ball in her throat. “Pulse is great.” At least she guessed. How was she supposed to get passed her raging pulse that throbbed her temples?

  “Great.”

  “Wow, Nirvana. That’s a little shocking.”

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re a local celebrity.”

  “I wouldn’t call myself one, but if the money helps the charity, that’s all that matters.”

  She nodded. She’d done a few events for charities herself and liked helping causes. In fact, some of today’s profits would be given to a local children’s charity.

  He lifted his chin, inhaling loudly. “You smell good. Powdered sugar and something else. Heaven.”

  “Uh…thanks.” Her cheeks had gone from warm to scorching.

  “I bet you get that all the time.” One corner of his mouth lifted.

  “No, not really.”

  “That’s a shame. A pretty woman like you deserves to be told every day.”

  It was official. Not only had he changed physically, but he’d learned the skill of charm, and it was working. Too good. Her inner thighs trembled.

  “Did you watch me ride the bull?”

  She nodded, feeling the temperature rise in the room. “I did.”

  “Whatdya think?”

  Clearing her throat, she tugged down the hem of her shirt. “There’s nothing that measures up to watching a bull ride.”

  “Oh, I can think of a few things.” He winked.

  Sweat beaded between her breasts. Was he teasing her? Did he recognize her and was getting her back for turning his invitation down for the prom? Or had he hit his head?

  “Why’d you ride again?”

  “Pride, sweetheart. To get my pride back.”

  “Well, you certainly are lucky. I hope there won’t be another pride ride?”

  He gave his head a quick shake. “Can I come?”

  “Huh?”

  “Go! I mean can I go? This effing cot is harder than a damn rock.”

  “Yes……I mean…no, we’re not done.” At least she wasn’t. “We need to make sure you’
re not suffering from a concussion.”

  “I didn’t hit my head.”

  “But you were thrashed around. Maybe you have whiplash.” She grabbed the rolling stool and sat down. “What’s your name?”

  He hesitated. “Jace Jackson.”

  “When’s your birthday?”

  His jaw grew tighter. “January sixteen.”

  She shifted. “What high school did you attend?”

  He groaned. “What does this have to do with my injury?”

  “Trust me.”

  “West Hamilton.”

  He had no clue who she was. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered. Was she happy or disappointed?

  “C’mon. I’ve laid here long enough.” He insisted. “I’ve injured myself worse by walking and falling down.”

  “Please, Jace. Relax.”

  “Look,” he sat up and swung his legs over the side making her roll back to give him space. “We both know I haven’t suffered a concussion or whiplash. I could read you the ABCs backward and walk a straight line if necessary. After a good nap, I’ll be as good as new.”

  Standing, she sighed. “Okay.” She nibbled her bottom lip.

  “Yes?”

  “Under the circumstances, I think you’re pretty hot. I mean…cleared to leave.” Was she forgetting that she had no medical training?

  He smiled and his eyes lit. “’Bout time.”

  “Just follow instructions.” She winked.

  “You have any for me?”

  “Lots of rest.”

  He stared for a good five seconds. “Do I know you? Before today?”

  She twirled a piece of her hair. “I have that kind of face.”

  Standing, he wobbled. “I think I know you.”

  “Jace, I don’t think you should be standing without help. Let me grab that friend of yours—” He leaned sideways and she quickly moved forward, pressing her palms against his brick-hard chest. If he went down she knew she’d be no resistance.

  His smell—a combination between leather and spice—made her dizzy.

  “I’m getting my pants back on. I’m feeling a draft. I don’t know why I had to get undressed anyway. This crazy place.”

  “Your knee was wrapped too.”

  He went to his clothes neatly stacked on the table. As he reached over to grab them, his gown opened in the back showing off a pair of blue striped boxers. She stifled a giggle. Good thing he wasn’t naked, but good for whom? She wouldn’t have minded. Tight asses like his were hard to find.

  “Damn!” He gave his head a quick shake. She noticed that he was having some difficulty managing sliding one foot into the leg of his jeans because he was favoring his sore ribs and knee.

  “Here, I’ll help.”

  She heard his gasp as she knelt before him helping him slide one leg in, and once that was done, she smiled. “That wasn’t too hard.” She looked up and gulped. She was eye-level with his crotch—his bulging crotch.

  His eyes fell to her mouth and he didn’t need to say a word for her to realize where his thoughts were. She couldn’t help herself as her own thoughts stumbled in the same direction. Looking further up his body, he was wide-eyed and a tuft of his hair hung down his forehead making him appear almost youthful, more like his old self.

  Clearing her throat, she wasn’t sure where to go from here.

  As if he couldn’t help himself, he closed his eyes. Could he be trying to control his thoughts? Things only got worse—or harder. The tip of his erection poked out of the hole in his underwear. He opened his eyes and groaned in humiliation.

  With jeans scrunched at his ankles, he took a step back, lost his balance and fell back onto the floor, hitting his head on the metal table sending it crashing against the wall.

  “Damn! Son-of-a-gun. Mother fucker!” After the string of curses finished, he lifted a hand to touch the back of his head, wincing in pain.

  “Jace? Are you okay?” She squatted beside him, helping him sit up. “Does it hurt?”

  “No, it feels great.” He touched his ribs lightly.

  She bit her lip, not sure what to do to help him at this point. “I’m sorry.”

  “I shouldn’t have gotten out of bed this morning.” He moaned. “You should go before things get worse.”

  “I wouldn’t do that.” She frowned.

  “Damn pain pills better take care of every bump and bruise!” he groaned.

  “Hold on. Let me see what I can do.” She stood, scanned the small area, and found an ice bag that he must have been using on his ribs. She brought it over and he watched her, his eyes glazed. Yeah, she’d guess the meds were starting to kick in. She sat next to him and patted her lap. “I’ll ice the back of your head.”

  “That’s not necessary. Don’t you have some place to be?”

  She swallowed. “No…nowhere.”

  He wrapped his steely arms around her waist. Their faces were so close she could see a freckle on his cheek. “I’m a little blurry-eyed and wobbly, but you’re beautiful. And you have nice lips.”

  “Yes, you are certainly blurry-eyed.”

  “Hey…”

  “Hey what?” She nervously laughed.

  “Let me buy you a funnel cake,” he slurred.

  “I don’t think you’re in any condition for buying me a cake.”

  “What do you do here?”

  “Huh?”

  He pointed to her hat. “Staff.”

  Before she could answer, his eyes rolled and he bobbed back and forth, then moaned. Just as she’d suspected, she was no resistance against his weight. Together they sprawled to the floor with him laying on top of her, pinning her underneath his unconscious body. Her legs were spread wide with him nestled in between. “Jace?”

  Nothing.

  “Hello? Yoo-hoo!” She tapped him on the shoulder. This time she received a deep snore in response.

  Oh no. I’m trapped.

  She tried pushing him to the side, but he was too heavy. His snoring grew louder, tickling her ear drum. Her limbs were quickly falling asleep. And if this position wasn’t enough to throw her for a loop, his hand came up and grasped her breast. It wasn’t humiliation skittering through her body, but instead a reminder that she was a woman who craved a man’s touch. A woman who found this cowboy sexy and amazingly virile.

  This was the closest she’d been with a man in a very long time.

  He jerked and she looked down. He was staring up at her. “Jessa? That’s you,” he mumbled. “You, snob, you. I didn’t like your prom dress.”

  She froze. So, he does recognize me. Although he was talking out of his head.

  “You’re cozy,” he said against her chest.

  Jessa knew she should be doing her best to get the brawny man off her body, but she found it quite entertaining. And she had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time she saw Jace Jackson, not if she could help it.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “Why in the world would you want to stay at Nirvana Ranch?”

  Jessa didn’t even look at Wade as she packed her suitcase and zipped the lid closed. “I told you already. I’m due for a vacation to recharge. Let’s not rehash the argument. Nirvana is the perfect place to have some peace. You should be more supportive.”

  “I am being supportive. You’re going, aren’t you?”

  “After playing tug of war over the last month.” She grimaced and took her case off the bed and slid out the handle. “I wanted to leave weeks ago, remember?”

  “You had commitments that you couldn’t cancel just to go off gallivanting to some redneck ranch.”

  She laughed. She’d expected her manager’s resistance at the eleventh hour. “Face it, Wade. I’m the one going so it doesn’t matter what you think. I suggest you take some time too. You’re a lot more uptight lately.”

  He followed her across the space of the luxurious Las Vegas motel room. “There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve been…we
ll…different since the rodeo. You seem preoccupied.”

  Shrugging, she sighed. “Wade, have you ever looked back at a time in your life and felt guilty and humiliated over something you’ve done that was wrong?” She looked at him through the mirror as she put in her diamond stud earrings.

  “No.”

  “Really? You haven’t done anything that you’ve regretted? Maybe hurting someone’s feelings, even if unintentionally?”

  He shrugged his stocky shoulders. “Sweetheart, you’re rich enough now that you’ll never have to apologize.”

  She turned on him, narrowing her gaze. “You can’t be serious? Money doesn’t excuse us from morals and ethics.”

  “So, are you saying this visit is somehow related to something you’ve done in the past?” He lifted a thick brow.

  “Sort of. I mean, I do need the vacation to revitalize. I haven’t written a song in months. I wasn’t always my best person, especially in high school. I was quite the snob, or at least that’s what I was told recently.” She bit back a smile.

  “High school? You still remember those days when we were all pimply-faced fools that fantasized about sleeping with every available skirt? Staying at home and playing video games, wishing you had a friend.” She wrinkled her nose and he sighed. “You didn’t play video games wishing you had a friend?”

  She gave her head a shake. “No.”

  “Must have just been me then. Remember, don’t lose yourself out there in this thing called civilization. I hear it’s dangerous. Stay gone one minute too long and you can kiss your career goodbye. I’ve been known to work magic, but there’s no magic that I can perform to revive a dead career. Little Miss Trina Sway would love to fill those boots of yours. Don’t forget her album sold millions.”

  “Yeah, I can’t forget because you won’t let me.”

  “Jessa, this is what you signed up for. Either you’re in it for the long haul, or you’ll go down in flames. I’ve witnessed star after star burn out.”