Alone with You

Harrison had played the dutiful son, attended Harvard, resisted his odd penchant for women who many would consider tacky and inappropriate. After school he’d taken no time to blow off steam but immediately joined the company. He didn’t deserve this treatment.

Knowing this, she still said nothing in his defense. She simply allowed the silence to fester. Until Harrison left the office without another word. Only then did she look up. “Was that really necessary?”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting soft.”

That line in the sand? She could feel her toes right up against it. God, she really should tell him to keep his job, that she no longer wanted it. But she couldn’t face the growing list of creditors. “Fine. What’s next?” she asked, lifting her chin.

“Go to Human Resources and fill out the necessary paperwork. Then I suggest you get out there and find the right cowboy.”

Lexy didn’t say another word as she rose and let herself out. Human Resources? Really? For God’s sake.

Norma was waiting for her. “I knew he’d pull something like this,” she said, and waved a hand when Lexy smiled. “Of course I was listening. I had a feeling he was up to no good and I wanted to be prepared. Right after you called last week he asked me to check on the status of the calendar...which we both know he doesn’t give a tinker’s damn about.” She slipped around her desk. “When I told him they were having trouble finding the last man, he seemed mighty pleased. So I asked myself, what is the old goat up to?”

Lexy watched her pull a manila folder from her bottom drawer and then motion for Lexy to follow. They walked quickly to the elevators and got into the first private car.

“This man’s endorsement contract with us expires in just under two weeks,” Norma said, holding up the folder. “Harrison signed him for that ridiculous Sundowner accessory line that failed. But the guy is perfect. He’s a bareback bronc rider who’s won two world championships, gold buckles, million-dollar purses, the whole thing. I remembered him because my Henry is such a big rodeo fan. This Tanner fellow is over thirty and on the downslide right now so maybe he’ll do it.” Norma passed her the folder. “Worth a try.”

“Why didn’t you give this to the woman who’s in charge of the project?”

“Frankly, I’d hoped I was wrong and your father wouldn’t send you on a wild-goose chase just to show you who’s boss. It pains me to see him treat you this way.” She squeezed Lexy’s hand. “If it had turned out I’d misread Marshall, I would’ve given Harrison the file. But Karina?” Norma sniffed. “I do not care for that woman.”

Lexy grinned. “Norma, you’re the absolute best.” The elevator doors slid open and Lexy stuffed the folder into her purse. If her father expected failure, she couldn’t wait to disappoint him.

2

LEANING ON A cedar post and watching the last saddle bronc event, Will Tanner muttered a curse when he saw his friend go flying over the mare’s head. Charlie hit the ground, landing hard on his ass, but jumped up quick as a jackrabbit. The crowd roared from the stands, surging to their feet with applause when Charlie whipped off his hat and waved it. He’d been around the circuit for a long time and was a fan favorite, even when he was losing. Something that happened too often lately. Just like with Tanner.

“That ol’ guy sure can take a lotta punishment.” Clay stood next to him, one foot propped on the bottom rail. He reached in his jeans’ pocket, glanced at his fancy iPhone, then looked at Tanner. “You been busted up pretty good in your day. How many bones have you broken?”

In your day.

The words were as irritating as a yipping coyote.

Tanner squinted at the fresh-faced kid who was barely twenty. Probably only started shaving last year. Didn’t stop him from trying to grow one of those dumb little soul patches. “Enough,” Tanner said, turning back to see Charlie limp to the gate, watching for the scores to go up.

He was only thirty-four, a year older than Tanner, and had the good sense to announce that after this year he was done rodeoing. It was gonna be strange following the tour without Charlie. For over twelve years, even when they hadn’t traveled or bunked together, their paths had regularly crossed. But that’s the way it was with most of the veteran riders. They’d all played poker together, got drunk together and chased women. Until they started winning gold buckles and didn’t have to do the chasing anymore.

Clay’s thumbs worked feverishly on the cell’s keypad. Tanner still hadn’t gotten the hang of texting. Hell, half the time he couldn’t remember to turn on his relic of a phone. When he did, it usually needed charging.

“So where you headed next?” Clay asked, his attention focused on the small screen until he finished his message and stuffed the iPhone back in his pocket. He caught Tanner’s frown. “I was just tweeting my scores.”

Tanner nodded like he understood. This new breed of cowboy was something else. They drank protein shakes instead of beer, fretted over their exercise regimens and sat around discussing their marketability.

Damn, he was gonna miss Charlie. The two of them had both come from flyspeck towns and started young, before iPhones and Facebook and Twitter took over the world. Maybe they should retire together and make T-shirts and bumper stickers that read Real Men Don’t Tweet.

“Where did you say you’re going?” Clay asked again.

“New Mexico.” Tanner backed away from the railing, adjusting his Stetson and peering up at the clear Montana sky. He had a few hours before nightfall. Enough time to get on the road and find a place to park his trailer overnight. No sense sticking around. His scores couldn’t carry him to the next round. “You?”

“I’m riding in Wyoming in two weeks. My sister’s got a ranch in Colorado. I might hang out there in the meantime.” Clay jerked a look somewhere over Tanner’s shoulder. “Unless I get a better offer.” Before he could turn and see what had put the cocky grin on Clay’s face, the kid said, “Look sharp, old man. I believe that lady’s trying to get your attention.”

Tanner swung toward the parking lot in time to see a leggy blonde in skin-tight jeans wave. He smiled and waved back. Maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to leave tonight.

“No, not Ariel,” Clay said, unwrapping a stick of gum. “She’s waiting for me. The other one.”

“Where?” Unlike his stiff back and shoulders, his vision was just fine and he couldn’t see another living soul.

“Ariel’s kind of blocking her, but she’s behind the fence to the right.”

Tanner squinted and saw part of a female outline fading into the dark SUV behind her. She was on the short side, brown hair, pulled back, sunglasses taking up half her face and dressed kind of stodgy in a navy blue blazer and matching slacks. “What makes you think she’s waiting for me?”

“I figured she was looking to interview you for that AARP magazine.” Clay laughed.

Tanner knocked off the smart ass’s hat, then chuckled when Clay had to scramble to catch the Stetson before it blew too far. “It ain’t right you trying to make a man feel over the hill at thirty-three. You just wait...your time will come, kid. Sooner than you think.” At least it had for Tanner. If he stuck it out for two more years, half his life officially would’ve been spent rodeoing.

He had no regrets. Even if he’d had the money for college he wouldn’t have gone. His younger brother was the one with a head for learning, and he was glad he’d been able to send him to a good university. Doug had even gone on to law school, courtesy of Tanner’s winnings. He considered the money well spent.

“Why the hell did you have to do that in front of Ariel?” Clay brushed off the hat and set it back on his head.

Tanner slid another look at the blonde, her teeth gleaming an unnatural white. The shorter brunette had moved closer but the high chain-link fence prevented her from approaching. Other women had gathered near the exit, most of them buckle bunnies, but also a few moms trying to get autographs for their youngsters.

This was the part he dreaded lately. Signing autographs wasn’t a big deal. He’d never minded, especially when it was for kids, but it felt a lot better to scrawl his name when he was scoring high and taking home prize money. At other times it was a mob scene and all he wanted was to get to his trailer and let a hot shower pelt his aching body.

Today wasn’t bad. His shoulder hurt less than it had all week. Meaning he wouldn’t mind some feminine company. The redhead standing by herself caught his eye. She was just his type. Tall, lean, not too skimpy in the chest department, and he didn’t give one damn that her fancy Charlie 1 Horse hat and satin-trimmed Western shirt were just for show. He was gonna like her a whole lot more without them on.

“I’m taking off,” he said, keeping an eye on the redhead. He wanted to get to her before one of the other guys did.

“You’re not waiting for Charlie or Bryce?”

“Nah, they’re both headed for Texas.” Something Tanner had thought about doing. His grandparents lived in Texas but he’d seen them last month when he’d done some repairs around the ranch while enjoying Nana’s home cooking. He made a point of seeing her and Pop regularly. They were more like parents to him and Doug, taking them in after their mother had been killed. They hadn’t even asked for a penny of child support from his old man. Probably knew the bum wouldn’t have coughed up anything, anyhow. “See ya around, kid.”

“Yeah, sure.” Clay shot a look toward the fence. “Don’t even think about stealing Ariel,” he said with a faint grin that didn’t hide his worried expression.

“She’s too young for me.” Tanner clapped him on the back. “Anyway, I don’t poach.”

“Yeah, I know you don’t. Not like some of those other guys who have gold buckles.”

Tanner smiled, then strolled toward the exit. He knew who Clay meant but no way would he get into a conversation about it. None of his business. He kept to himself when it came to matters of politics, religion and sex. And Betsy. Anyone who knew him the tiniest bit knew better than to disrespect his fifth wheel. A lot of the guys drove around in fancy buses equipped with everything from satellite dishes to hot tubs. Some even had hired men or relatives to drive them around. Not him. He and poor rattling Betsy had been together for ten years now. And he had every intention of driving her to his last rodeo.

He slipped through the gate and got close enough to see that the redhead had a real nice smile and sexy green eyes that warned him he’d have to watch himself. Though he’d like to think he was too old and wise to do anything stupid, he’d been thrown off guard a time or two by a green-eyed female.

Before he reached her, two boys and their mom bushwhacked him. Nodding politely, he asked their names, and signed his across the bottom of a magazine picture taken of him at the San Antonio Stock Show. He’d always appreciated the fans, but nowadays, he prized their loyalty all the more. He let the boys inspect his buckle and answered a question about where he kept the gold ones while he slyly scoped out the redhead.

God bless her, that smile was aimed right at him. He smiled back and tipped the rim of his Stetson. She tossed her long hair. Always a good sign.

The boys were herded off by their mom but before he could move, three more kids cornered him. He got them squared away by answering more questions and signing their ball caps. He hoped no one else wanted anything because the redhead was starting to look impatient.

“Mr. Tanner?”

The voice came from behind. No one called him that. Just Tanner. He stopped and turned. It was the woman Clay had pointed out earlier. She looked overheated in the blue suit. Her face was flushed and her cheeks damp. She held a hand up to shade her eyes from the broiling afternoon sun, though he figured the big, dark glasses would’ve done the job.

“What can I do for you?”

“I’m Alexis Worthington,” she said, extending her hand. “From The Worthington Group.”

“Okay.” If that was supposed to mean something to him it missed the mark. He pulled off his glove. Her hand was small and soft.

“I called you earlier and left a message.”

He automatically touched his shirt pocket where his phone would’ve been had he remembered to bring it. “I haven’t turned my phone on yet today.”

Her arched brows rose above her glasses as if he’d committed a sin. “Actually, I left you a message last night, as well.”

“Don’t know why I didn’t get that one. I wasn’t drunk.” He glanced at the redhead and saw that she was distracted by someone or something in the direction of the arena. “Look, ma’am, I’m kind of in the middle of something,” he said and started walking again, hoping to catch the redhead’s eye.

The short brunette stayed with him. “I understand. When will you be free?”

“For what?”

“To talk.” She checked her wristwatch. “Let’s set a time.”

He got the other woman’s attention again, and smiling, she leaned a hip against a sleek silver convertible. Tanner hoped the car belonged to her. He wouldn’t mind a ride in that honey. She pushed off and straightened when he reached her, the tip of her tongue slipping out to moisten her glossy pink lips. Man, she was tall. At a good six feet, he didn’t beat her by much.

“You waiting for anyone in particular, darlin’?” He smiled, removed his hat and finger-combed his hair.

“Mr. Tanner.”

Red blinked, then frowned down at the shorter woman still nipping at his heels.

“What?” he growled. Hell, he thought he’d lost her.

“I’m trying to arrange a time for us to talk.”

“Lady, I don’t even know who you are. And you gotta stop calling me Mr. Tanner.” His father was still a fixture around the tour, and Tanner had the misfortune of running into him on occasion.

“Then I presume you go by Will?”

“No. Tanner. Just Tanner.”

The redhead let out a soft, delicate snort, and they both looked at her. Her lips started to form a pout. Much as he wasn’t fond of pouters, she had a fetching mouth.

He smiled, moved a little closer. “Would you excuse me for ten seconds, darlin’? I promise, just ten.”

“All right,” she drawled, sighing, and getting him excited when she leaned into him, her warm, sweet breath drifting along the side of his neck. “I’m Kimberly.”

“That’s a pretty name.” He fixed his gaze on the tiny dimple at the corner of her mouth.

“Hey.” The brunette pest touched his arm. “How about six?”

Dammit, she was like an irritating gnat you couldn’t get rid of. And she was crazy. “Tonight?”

“Yes.” She removed her dark glasses and squinted at her fancy gold watch. “That’s in two hours. Plenty of time to...” Her voice trailed off as she abruptly brought her chin up and turned to stare at Kimberly. “That line worked? You just met him and you’re going to— Look, I’m not judging. I’m curious.” Just as abruptly, she turned back to him, tilting her head and looking him up and down as if he were on the auction block. “Hmm, maybe this will work, after all.”

“I’m sorry,” he said to Kimberly. The blush staining her cheeks worried him. So did the way she jerked back when he touched her wrist. “I don’t know this whack job. We’ll ignore her and—”

Kimberly inhaled sharply. “Maybe another time.” She backed away, rounding the rear of the convertible and hurrying toward the arena gate.

“Nice.” Disgusted, Tanner stuck the Stetson back on his head as he watched the redhead of his dreams make tracks. “Thanks. Good job.” He turned to the brunette, hoping she’d embarrassed herself.

She was checking out his ass. “Clean you up a bit and this could work,” she murmured, then lifted her gaze and stared at him with eyes as clear and blue as the summer sky. “What?” she asked. “Her?” She cocked her head in the direction of the arena. “Oh, please, you can get laid anytime.”

He snorted. “From your lips to God’s ears.” He watched her dig inside a purse big enough to be a briefcase, then pull out a folder. “Who did you say you were?”

“Alexis Worthington.”

“Am I supposed to know you?”

“No, but you should be familiar with the company for which I work.”

For which I work. She was one of those. “And which company would that be?” This woman wasn’t from one of his sponsors. He only had two left and he knew their reps. He glanced down at her dusty conservative shoes, then swung a longing look after the redhead. But she’d already disappeared.

“The Worthington Group,” she said as if it was supposed to mean something.

“Yeah...so?”

“That doesn’t ring a bell?”

“Look, lady—” A pair of lanky kids ran up for autographs, stopping him from telling her to get to the point or get lost. He smiled, scrawled his name, jokingly asked them if they were bull riders. The question tickled them, like he knew it would, but mostly he wanted to drag out the conversation and annoy the proper and impatient Ms. Worthington.

“Is there someplace private we can talk?” she asked the second the kids ran off.

He spread his arms. “What’s wrong with my office?”

“Funny.” She didn’t even crack a smile, only glanced around the parking lot. “I have a rental car. We can sit in there and not be interrupted.”

“You still haven’t told me what this is about. Hey, wait a minute— I know who you are. You guys make that crunchy green alien cereal, right?”

“Not exactly our claim to fame, but yes, one of our divisions is responsible for the Out of This World brand.” She wrinkled her nose, and he hated to admit it, but she was kind of cute. “You’ll recognize the name of a former subsidiary. Sundowner Leather Accessories.”

“Oh, yeah, sure...they used to be one of my sponsors.”

“Technically, they still are.”

“I thought they went belly up.”

“No. We chose to discontinue the line.”

“Same thing.” He shrugged. “Just a more polite way of saying someone screwed up.”

She blinked, then continued to stare at him. “Where did you get your business degree, the local drugstore?”

“No kidding...you can get ’em there?” He grinned at her exasperated sigh.

Then he noticed two sweet young things standing off to the side, waiting, the taller one wearing a come-hither smile that eliminated the guesswork. Oh, yeah, maybe the night wouldn’t end up a loss. But only if he could get rid of Mary Poppins here.

“Tell you what...” He brought his attention back to the Worthington woman, again caught off guard by the color of her eyes. “Is it Alex?”

“Alexis or Lexy. Either is fine.”

“Okay, Lexy, how about I call you in a couple hours and we’ll set something up?”

“Right,” she drawled, glancing at the women. “Yeah, I’m not buying it.”

“I’m offended.” Rearing back, he gave her his best wounded expression. “You have my word.”

She let out a surprisingly unladylike snort. “Still not buying it.”

“Ma’am, a cowboy gives you his word, you can take it to the bank.”

She laughed. “You’re funny,” she said, sizing him up again, then gesturing toward the women. “Go ahead. I’d like to see you in action.”

Tanner stared at her. “You wanna what?”

“Come on, turn on the charm, give me a ten in the sex-appeal department.” She slipped her sunglasses back on and shooed him with her other hand.

“Are you nuts?” He shook his head, not sure what he’d do if she didn’t leave on her own. “That’s rhetorical, by the way, because, lady, you are certifiable.”

She smiled, her eyes now hidden behind the dark lenses. “Your fan club is starting to look bored. Better hurry.”

The rodeo had ended and people were pouring out of the arena and into the parking lot. His window of opportunity was shrinking. Though in truth, he’d lost heart for chatting up the two young ladies.

It finally dawned on him. Lexy Worthington wasn’t crazy, just manipulative. Determined. A potential pain in his ass. Better to get rid of her and be done with it. “All right, you win. What do you want?”

Her smile widened. “My rental is right over here.”

“Can’t you just spit it out?”

“I’d rather not,” she said, her gaze sweeping the swelling crowd. “This is business, and discussing it out here would be inappropriate.”

Unease itched the back of Tanner’s neck. Maybe he was in trouble. If Sundowner really wasn’t kaput he should still be wearing their logo on his shirt. He had on a belt they made and wondered if that counted.

Hell, his brother had brought the deal to him. Right after Doug had passed the bar exam, he’d negotiated the contract with a Sundowner bigwig. It hadn’t amounted to much. But Doug had been eager to show his appreciation for Tanner’s financial help so Tanner had rolled with it.

“All right,” he said. “Lead the way.”

She nodded, shifted the gigantic purse to her other hand and turned. “It’s the white sedan right over—” She made a full circle, her gaze bouncing from one white car to the next. “This is absurd.”

“Take it easy. It’s a rental. Could happen to anybody.”

“What could?”

“I’m assuming you don’t know which sedan is yours.”

She whipped off her sunglasses. “I’m wondering why so many people would buy bland white cars.”

Tanner chuckled. “You remember the make?”

“It’s domestic. I think.” She looked at the plastic encased tag attached to the key. “Here’s the plate number. Right?”

He took her wrist and turned her hand so he could see better. Her skin was really soft and she smelled awfully good. “Tell you what...let’s go to my trailer, talk, have a beer. By then the lot will have thinned out and you can take whatever car’s left.”

Narrowing her gaze, she yanked back her hand. “I’m glad you find this so amusing.”

He grinned. “No sense getting worked up over it. I have a fifth wheel sitting across the street. It’s got plenty of room.”

“First, what’s a fifth wheel? And plenty of room for what?”

“Not what that warped mind of yours seems to have conjured.” It tickled him the way her cute little nose went up in the air. “But I’m sure we can come to an agreement.”

“Oh, we already have, Mr. Tanner,” she said, suddenly all sweetness. “For the next ten days, I own your ass.”

3

SURPRISE WASHED OVER Tanner’s face, and Lexy tried not to react. She needed to take control of the situation and not waste the lifeline Norma had thrown her. Time was important. She was operating on a tight schedule and an even tighter budget. The longer it took her to drag his butt down to Houston for the photo shoot, the more money it would cost her. Money she didn’t have. She didn’t even have a credit card with wiggle room as backup. All because of her idiotic pride.

“Well, that explains it,” he said, rubbing his shadowed jaw, his hazel eyes lit with amusement. “I saw you checking out my ass earlier. Seeing as how you think you own it, I understand why you felt the need to inspect it so closely.”

She allowed for a small smile. If he thought he could ruffle her, he was in for another surprise. She slowly circled him, making a show of ogling his broad chest and muscled forearms. For good measure, she tilted her head to the side while she studied the seat of his worn jeans. “Yes, you’ll do.”

Watching her from over his shoulder, he lifted a dark brow. “You having fun?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t call it that.” She continued all the way around while he tracked her with his interesting gold-and green-flecked eyes.

He had a strong chiseled jaw the camera would love, with or without the few days’ stubble. His brown hair was a bit long, touching the collar of his blue Western-style shirt. But it was a decent haircut and he had a great smile. It was possible she’d have to take him shopping before they showed up at the photo shoot, but by then her corporate credit card would have been issued. If not, she’d have to swallow her pride and hit up Norma for some cash. Something Lexy should’ve done in the first place.

She heard someone wolf whistle and looked up to see Tanner’s mouth tighten. A pair of cowboys were walking by and laughing, the taller of the two giving Tanner a thumbs-up.