Bighearted Cowboy (Tarnation, Texas Book 5) Read online

  “Honey,” she said softly, “Johnny isn’t my boyfriend. He’s Brennan’s two-year-old son. Ain’t that right, darlin’?” She turned her cheek, smiling, and Brennan’s heart hitched. My God. Was he just drunk or did her eyes shine like stars? Then she almost caused him to collapse off the stool when she planted her lips fully against his. She tasted like a sweet cocktail and his body came alive. Before he could invest too much energy, she pulled away.

  “Oh, I didn’t know—” Bambi stuttered, looking like she was about to cry.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Betty Sue slid up next to Charlotte, looking from each of them in curiosity. “Did I miss something?”

  Charlotte still had her arm wrapped around his neck and his hand was placed on her waist. He wasn’t about to move until he had no choice.

  “I was just about to offer my friend here…” Charlotte cleared her throat. “What is your name?”

  “My name is Bambi,” the girl answered humbly.

  “A ride home.”

  “Hey, Bambi. I’m Betty Sue. Remember me? We’ve met a few times. How about I take you home?”

  “I met friends here.” She twirled in her stilettos. “Oh, I don’t see them.” Her shoulders slumped.

  “Okay. Then that settles it. I’ll be your chauffeur. You do have your car, right?”

  “Yes. My keys are in my pocket.”

  “Thank you,” Charlotte mouthed.

  Betty Sue shrugged and reached into her purse, grabbing her keys. “Take these and my car. Will you be okay?”

  “I’ll be fine. Take care of her.”

  “You make sure my cousin’s safe, you hear?” Betty Sue directed at Brennan. “A woman should always be treated extra special on her birthday.”

  He felt Charlotte stiffen and she unwrapped herself from him. “She’s safe with me,” he answered.

  “See you later.” Betty Sue kissed Charlotte on the cheek.

  Once he was alone with her, he said, “Thank you, but I had it handled.”

  “It looked that way, but I felt like I was protecting her more. She’d made her rounds this evening with a few cowboys. I thought it was time to cut her off before she made a serious mistake.”

  He squinted. “I wasn’t interested, if that’s what you think.”

  “Sure. See you around.” She swiveled on her heels and sashayed toward the door, leaving him with an urgency that burrowed in his bones.

  Brennan reached for a twenty from his pocket and dropped it down on the bar. Grabbing his guitar he hurried to follow the path of trouble. He stepped out into the night and glanced from left to right at the dimly lit parking lot, thinking he’d somehow missed her until he saw her standing next to a bright pink two-door.

  “Hey, hold up.”

  She brought her chin up just as he approached. “I’m going home.”

  “Just so you know, what you said, about needing to protect the girl, is very hurtful.” He pressed a hand against his chest over his heart. Sure, he was being dramatic, but still he wouldn’t have done anything with Bambi.

  “Should I have been protecting you?” One thin brow popped up over her amazing eyes. “Maybe I needed to protect both of you because you’re just as drunk as she is.”

  He opened his mouth to argue but then shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I might be, but still, I wasn’t interested. Not one bit.”

  “I believe you.” She pressed the car fob and the doors unlocked.

  “See, I knew—wait, you believe me?” He leaned against the hood, making out her expression under the dim security light above them.

  “Betty Sue told me you’re a bighearted cowboy.” There was a glimpse of a smile.

  He chuckled and swiped his palm down his jaw. “It’s early yet, want to go grab coffee?”

  “No.”

  “Wow, not even the slightest hesitation. I feel rejected.”

  “And drunk.”

  “Can we get past the drunk issue?”

  “Sure. I’ll give you the same advice I gave Bambi. Go sleep it off.” She opened the door and paused. “How easy is it to get an Uber out here?”

  He started to say, “Not too long,” but he stopped himself. He had a feeling if he told her he could catch a ride, which if all else failed he could call one of his brothers, she’d disappear, and he’d be disappointed. The longer he was around her the more he wanted to get to know her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “I’ll probably have to walk. That’s quite a distance.”

  Although Charlotte didn’t owe the cowboy anything, she couldn’t just leave him drunk at a bar with the chance that he’d climb behind a wheel. She’d witnessed enough horrific results of people driving drunk that she couldn’t stand by and not do anything. “I tell you what. You agree to behave yourself and I’ll give you a lift home.”

  “Behave myself? Sweetheart, I always behave.” He winked. “What about you? Can you walk a straight line?”

  “With my eyes closed.”

  “I’d like to see that.”

  “I bet you would, but you won’t because I’ve had five sips of something called a Zombie.”

  “Yeah, that’s a fluff drink.”

  She held back a smile. If there was one thing she knew about Brennan Colt it was that he could be charming even when he was two sheets to the wind. She couldn’t hold it against him. Everyone had those days when they needed to unwind. Betty Sue seemed to think he was a good guy, so Charlotte didn’t feel like she had to worry that he’d pull out some perverted act once she got him in the car.

  “Jump in.” She slid into the driver’s side and watched him push off the car and come around to the passenger door. He placed his guitar in the back seat, and she caught a scent of leather and masculinity that didn’t come from a bottle. It was a nice fragrance. He situated himself in the narrow seat, his knees pressed awkwardly against the dashboard making him look like a giant sitting in the compact car. “Comfortable?”

  “I didn’t know they made cars this small.”

  Pressing the button to start the engine, she backed out of the space and pulled onto Main Street. Music played from the radio and he turned it down low to ask, “You just moved here recently?”

  “How’d you know?” She shot a glance over at him.

  “Just a guess. Tarnation’s a great town.”

  “That didn’t sound convincing.”

  “Nah, really, people are nice here.” He tapped his fingers on his thigh in rhythm to the beat of the song playing from the radio.

  “You have a nice voice. Do you get on stage often?”

  “No. Not anymore.”

  “That’s disappointing.” The windows were getting fogged from their conversation, so she switched on the air.

  “I miss it, but not enough to make it a career. I like working the ranch. That’s who I am.”

  “The stage loved you…and so did the crowd.”

  “Did you enjoy the song?”

  His stare was on her and she tried not to show how he affected her. “Yes.”

  “Well, maybe some time I can give you a private serenade.” He smiled and deep dimples bracketed those amazing lips.

  “Look, Brennan—”

  “Yeah?”

  How could she explain to him that he was wasting his time flirting with her? Yet, was he when she felt something warm and wild in her body? “I’m sure you’re a natural flirt, but…”

  “But what?” He shifted and put his hand up on her head rest. His fingers brushed the back of her head causing tingles to shoot straight into her core.

  Searching deep, she found a safe place—a place where she could hide how he made her feel. “It’s wasted on me.” Liar! He flattered her and she enjoyed it.

  “You’re mistaken, ma’am. I’m only being friendly.”

  She shot him a glance. “So you offer to give every woman a serenade?”

  “Do I detect some disappointment? Or is that a tinge of jealousy?” He chuckled.

  “Neither,” she blurted, fo
cusing on the road ahead.

  “See, if I was a betting man I might bet differently.” He picked up a strand of her hair and twirled it around his knuckle. She swatted his hand.

  “Stop.”

  “Okay.” He laid his hands on his thighs.

  She wished the butterflies in her stomach would fly away. “I have no clue what you mean about being a betting man.”

  “Your actions told me something different back at the bar. And the kiss.” He swiped a hand down his whiskers and the scraping sound unnerved her. “Whoo-whee. There was enough heat to melt an iceberg.”

  He’s teasing you. Don’t fall into the trap.

  “Okay, I get it. You enjoy this don’t you?” She didn’t dare look at him for fear he’d see straight through her and into her heated parts that craved a cowboy. “Trust me, it was for pretense only. Nothing more.”

  “You could have tossed a pin at that girl Bambi and knocked her over when you said I had a son, so the kiss…well, I think you just had a desire to stir the pot. Let’s not pretend otherwise,” he said in a smooth Texas twang.

  “Are you really that full of yourself?”

  “Now this is called flirting. See the difference?” His laughter made the soft hairs on her neck lift.

  “No, what I see is a sloppy drunk cowboy.” She tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “Right or left at the stop sign?”

  “Left. You’ll stay on this road for a bit.” He turned his body so that he faced her which was a great effort in the small car. “I have a question, why didn’t you dance with the cowboy?”

  “What cowboy?”

  “The one you shot down quicker than a charging bear. Don’t you know how much self-talk it takes for a man to approach a pretty woman?”

  “Are you suggesting I should dance with every man who asks?”

  “No, guess not.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him move and then felt his fingers in her hair again. She snapped her chin around. “What are you doing?” Her voice shook.

  “Relax.” He tugged on a strand then brought his hand up. “You had a piece of fuzz caught in your curls. By the way, are those natural?”

  The temperature rose by ten degrees. “Yes. I’ve had curly hair all my life.”

  He whistled. “I’m glad you don’t straighten them. That’d be a disservice.”

  “Brennan, do you always say what’s on your mind or are you really just drunk?”

  “Well, I guess you’ll have to get to know me to answer that question.”

  Heaven help her. She needed to nip the direction of the conversation in the bud. “Do you know the lead singer, Benny, very well? Betty Sue has a huge crush on him.”

  “I don’t know him well enough to go to bat for him, but he seems like a pretty decent guy. Where did you move here from?”

  “Ohio.”

  “You’re a long way from home, Buckeye. Can I call you that?”

  “No.”

  He laughed. “I once went to see the Ohio State football team play.”

  “Okay.”

  “You don’t like football?”

  “Everyone likes football in Ohio.” She never had anyone ask her so many questions all at once. Was he really this curious?

  “You exaggerate.”

  “Yes, but you know…O-H—”

  “I-O.”

  He leaned closer, looking down her legs. She swallowed hard. “New boots?” he asked.

  “That obvious?”

  “A tad. You walk out in these parts of the country for very long and you’ll have more than a little dust on that leather.”

  “I noticed by the look of your boots,” she teased.

  They crossed the bridge that took them out of town and she accelerated.

  “I don’t peg you as a country girl.”

  “How so?”

  “Just a feeling.”

  “I’m getting the idea that you have a lot of opinions about a lot of things. It’s my turn to put you under the microscope. You don’t seem the type to hold down a stool at the bar every weekend and I saw you knock back a few shots. Bad day?”

  “You could say that.” He turned his gaze toward the side window. She’d touched a nerve apparently. Some people liked being the center of interest and others didn’t.

  “I hear you have brothers. How many?”

  “Four.”

  “Wow. I bet that much testosterone under one roof caused your momma a lot of stress.”

  “Three are half-brothers. How about you? Brothers or sisters?”

  “Just me. I think.”

  “‘Just” doesn’t seem a fitting descriptive word for you. So you don’t know if you have siblings?”

  Feeling a familiar constriction in her throat, she paused. Talking about her childhood always conjured up hurtful feelings. Very few times did she find that telling the truth about her parents helped in relationship building but then again, she wasn’t attempting to build anything with Brennan. “My father left my mother and me when I was a baby and I went to live with my paternal aunt when I was nine. If they had any kids after that I wouldn’t know.”

  “Sorry. I guess I’m a bit nosy.”

  Hearing the sincerity in his tone, she smiled. “It could have been worse.”

  “You and Betty Sue are cousins? You two are completely opposites.”

  She sighed. “Aww, shucks. Are you saying I’m the opposite of sexy and voluptuous? I’m going to go home and cry myself to sleep.”

  “No. That’s not what I meant. Seriously. You must think I’m a dick. First, you accuse me of aspiring to take home some drunk young chick and now this. I appreciate a woman’s brain just as much as her body. I’m hurt.”

  “Okay, again, thanks,” she teased.

  “I’m hacking this discussion all to pieces.”

  In his defense, when it came to breasts, Charlotte was a bit sensitive. “How about we change it?”

  “Wait. I was referring to attitude. She’s outgoing, very social and you seem, well, reserved. Cautious. Holding your emotions close to your chest.”

  If only he knew why…

  “Are you and your brothers a lot alike?” she asked.

  “Yes and no. People are always shocked that each of us have the same dragonfly shaped birthmark.”

  “You do? That’s pretty amazing. Did your mom have it too?”

  “Our dad. Anyway, we have as many differences as we do similarities. Baxter is a born leader, self-reliant, protective. Arc is tough, quiet, and determined. Adam is reserved but loyal. Ash is hardheaded but a brother who’ll watch your back.”

  “And what about you? What are your qualities that make you unique from them?”

  He rubbed his palms together. “Patience.” She saw the tightness in his lips. “What about you, Charlotte? If you had to describe yourself in one word what would it be?”

  The way her name rolled off his tongue made her skin warm. “That’s a hard question. I guess if I had to pick one, I’d choose passionate.”

  “Passion. That’s a great trait to have.”

  The sky opened up and a downpour pounded the car. She turned on the wipers and slowed the car. A comfortable silence enveloped them as they continued driving on the narrow country road. She sunk into her thoughts while absorbed in how the rain bounced off the pavement in the headlights. Up ahead she saw blue and red lights and then a state patrol wearing an orange reflective jacket standing in the center of the road with a safety flashlight signaled for them to stop. Charlotte slowed then pulled over, rolling down the window. The cold rain stung her face.

  The patrolman lowered his hat against the onslaught of Mother Nature. “Officer, what seems to be the problem? Is anyone hurt?”

  “We have a big rig that got lost off the highway and tried to turn around on the slippery road and hijacked. No one’s hurt but we’re redirecting traffic.”

  Brennan leaned over her and she was fully aware of his scent, the warmth radiating from his body, and his hand
that rested intimately on her knee, not in a way that invaded her space but an act that helped her remember just how long it had been since she’d been with a man.

  “Sir, I live out on Grinning Spurs ranch. Is there anyway we can get through? We’re only a few miles away.”

  “Sorry, this road will be closed for at least another few hours. Outside of getting a tow truck out here, we have an oil spill and it’ll need cleaned up before we can allow traffic to pass. You can go back a few miles and take Dead Man’s Curve, which I highly advise against. Just as the name implies, it’s a mighty challenge and in this weather it’ll only be worse. It’s known for its treacherous passageways. My suggestion is you two head back the way you came and hunker down in Tarnation for a few hours.” His radio buzzed. “You two be careful. These roads get nasty when it rains.” He headed for his cruiser.

  “I don’t know about you,” Charlotte said, “but I wouldn’t want to be on a road called Dead Man’s Curve.”

  “Well hell.” He settled his hat lower on his forehead and rubbed his tired eyes. “I’ll make you a fair deal. I’ll walk from here if you take my guitar. I’d hate for it to be ruined from the rain.”

  “You’re going to walk? The trooper said nothing can get through.”

  “The accident is on the road. I can hoof it through the woods. It’s only a few more miles, maybe three considering I have to take the woods.”

  “I can’t let you walk, not in this weather. I’ll take you back to Tarnation. Isn’t there a B&B in town?”

  “Sure, but it’s usually full and if I have to walk, I’d rather walk from this starting point and not from town. So about the guitar?”

  “Of course I’ll keep it safe, but…well, isn’t there someone you could call that could possibly meet you?”

  “Unfortunately, we have shoddy cell service. Don’t worry I’ll be fine.” His hand was on the door, it opened, and she touched his arm. His muscles flexed under her fingers and he looked back at her. “You’ll be fine too. Just turn around over there and head back. Drive slow.”

  “I can’t let you do this. It wouldn’t be right. Let’s try the B&B and if there are no rooms available then we’ll come up with a plan B.”

  “Charlotte—”

  “Yes, I know what you said. If you have to walk, you’d rather start at a closer distance but let’s take a chance with the B&B. If it’s full, I’ll bring you back if I have to.”