Page 5 of Texas Made
“You’re right about that. Not unless you wanted to move here. I don’t see Marshall leaving the ranch. In fact, I’d be up shit creek if he did.”
“I can’t see him leaving you in a lurch or wanting to leave the ranch either. He seems content here. And dependable.”
“He is. Usually. Unless he gets a wild hair again and takes off.”
“When did he do that?” Marshall didn’t seem the type to get “a wild hair.”
“Years ago. Before we started breeding paints. He took off for a year.”
“Where did he go?”
“That’s the thing. None of us knows. The only thing he ever told the family was that he was traveling and not to worry about him. If he told anyone more than that he swore them to silence.”
“That sounds very mysterious.” And not a bit like the man she was beginning to know.
“He surprises me sometimes. You know how he seems so laidback, like nothing ever ruffles him?”
“Yes. You mean he’s not laidback?”
“Usually he is, but there are times when he’s anything but.” She finished her wine and poured more, topping off Jaclyn’s glass as well. She tucked her legs up beneath her and continued. “One time we were at a rodeo looking at a mare, a paint who barrel raced. While I was waiting for Marshall some dude started harassing me. I blew him off but he kept on, not taking no or drop dead for an answer, so I decided to leave. The jerk grabbed my arm and before I could take care of it—I was about to kick him in the nuts—Marshall had him down on the ground begging for mercy in seconds. He made him apologize to me and then let him go with a warning to never harass a woman like that again. I was so shocked I just stood there. Marshall wasn’t even winded. He acted like it was nothing.”
“You were surprised that he’s protective of you?”
“No, but I was surprised how easily he took the dude down. The guy must have been two-forty or two-fifty.”
Now there was lots of food for thought. Marshall apparently had depths to him she hadn’t realized. All she’d seen was what he showed on the surface. But it was some surface. A damn fascinating surface.
Having seen him in a short-sleeved T-shirt, she knew he was broad-chested and ripped. Hell, a rancher had a very physical lifestyle. Yes, Marshall Walker was one fine-looking man. What would be the harm in having a brief fling with him? Providing, of course, that he wanted to. She wasn’t at all sure Damaris was right about him being interested in her, but she intended to find out. She deserved to have some fun after working nonstop for years. She was working while she was here. Not like before she came to the ranch. But being as far away as a phone call or video chat made a big difference. According to her COO everything at home was rocking along great. No need to worry.
No? What about your fear that Marshall might be a man you could really fall for?
I’ll be careful. Besides, I won’t be here that long.
Famous last words.
Chapter Three
Marshall spent thenext two weeks in a permanent state of awareness. Partly because he saw Jaclyn all the time. Even though she worked in the cottage, she was around Damaris. With the horses. At mealtimes. Not all meals but a good many. He tried to ignore her. He really did. But it was no use.
God, he could smell her whenever she was near. In the kitchen when she came up for dinner. In the living room when she hung out with Damaris. Even in the barn with all the horses, hay, shit, dogs, cats and myriad other odors. He knew when she was near. It was like his nose was a homing device that latched on to her scent whenever she came near.
Since when had he been so obsessed with a woman? Since never. He’d wanted women before. And he’d had most of them. Not all, of course. But he’d never lost any sleep over the ones he didn’t or couldn’t have. In two short weeks Jaclyn Carson had totally screwed with his equilibrium. And she wasn’t even trying.
She wasn’t uninterested. But he couldn’t tell if she was interested, either. Just because she’d liked him when she was nineteen didn’t mean she liked him now. She’d been a kid. Now she was definitely all grown up.
And gorgeous. And desirable. And she had to know it. But she didn’t act like she knew it. To be honest, he couldn’t figure her out.
Damaris made the situation even worse when she’d taken him aside earlier that day. “I need to talk to you.”
“What about?” he asked warily.
“I want you to ask Jaclyn to be your date to the ball.”
Ask Jaclyn to Boots & Bangles? He had mixed emotions about that. For one thing, he’d been trying his best to avoid her.
And how’s that working for ya?
It’s not, damn it.
