Alone with You

“Lots of guys older than you are still riding,” she said, hating the trace of defeat in his voice.

Tanner reacted as if she’d slapped him. Plowing a hand through his hair, he brushed past without looking at her. “It happens to everyone sooner or later so do me the courtesy of dropping the pity.”

“I wasn’t...” Lexy closed her mouth, aware she couldn’t trust herself not to confess it was guilt, not pity that she felt.

She breathed in deeply, really despising what this trip had come to. Why she’d imagined getting Tanner to Houston would be easy, she had no idea. Part of the problem was that she hadn’t expected to like him. She’d left Oklahoma City assuming he’d be just another cowboy like the ones who’d already turned down the proposition, except Tanner had no choice. He’d honor his contract by doing what she told him, then they’d part ways, and that would be that.

But she did like him, and yes, there was a little bit of pity roiling inside her, yet she was forcing him to do something he strongly objected to only so she could prove herself. Actually, this foolishness proved nothing. It was her father’s petty way of humbling her. So they were both using Tanner.

No, this was on her. She could stop this charade right now. Refuse to exploit the lousy contract his attorney had been too stupid or lazy to negotiate.

She watched a very grim Tanner sit on the edge of his bed and pull on his boots. If only she could explain to him that all he had to do was show up for the photo shoot. She’d be forever grateful and he could walk away free and clear. After she got paid, perhaps she could even give him some money for his trouble. The thought made her uneasy. He wouldn’t appreciate the offer. He’d said he didn’t care about money, and she believed him.

Her maxed-out credit cards and unpaid student-loan notices flashed before her eyes. Unfortunately, right now, money was her key motivation. “Whether you have any interest in the calendar or not, you understand that you must show up for the photo shoot. If nothing else, it’s a good-faith effort on your part.”

“See, I don’t get that. I’m telling you I want nothing to do with your new cologne, and the second my contract expires I’m done. So why waste everyone’s time?”

She shrugged. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

His lips moved, and though she couldn’t hear him, she could well imagine what he was muttering to himself. He tugged the hem of his jeans over his boots and stood.

A glance at her watch made her breath catch. “I brought a copy of your contract in case you had questions.” They couldn’t afford to miss their flight. Staying over a night translated to expenses her credit card couldn’t cover. “If you have trouble with the legalese, your attorney will verify what I’m saying.”

Every time she mentioned his attorney Tanner looked as if he wanted to strangle her. She didn’t understand what that was about but she kept quiet, pulled the folder out of her purse and passed it to him.

He stared at it. “I remember one thing. You people agreed not to interfere with my riding schedule. I have two events coming up. No way I can make it to Houston and back in time.”

“Where are you scheduled to ride?”

“Iowa.”

Tempted as she was to ask him the date, she already knew he was playing loose with the truth and making him more defensive wouldn’t help her cause. “That’s a month from now.”

“Yeah, but there’s Wyoming before that.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I already checked.”

“How?”

She held up her phone. “Online.”

“But...” He looked confused, angry and maybe even embarrassed because she’d caught him lying. “You couldn’t have checked every rodeo lineup.”

“I didn’t. I looked up your name on Google. If you’d like, I’ll show you what comes up.”

“Jesus.” He glared at her phone as if it were the enemy. And then looked at her the same way. “A man can’t have privacy anymore.” He tossed the folder on the couch and then picked up a magazine off the side table and looked underneath. Next he dug into a plastic bin filled with packaged cookies and crackers.

He found his phone, an older model that she doubted had internet capability. She watched him hit speed dial and hoped he was calling his attorney. Maybe then Tanner would understand that he had no choice, and they could still make the flight paid for out of the corporate account. Same thing for the car. Anything that deviated from the plan would cost her money she didn’t have.

She went to the window and glanced at the parking lot across the street. Finding the rental wouldn’t be a problem, but she wanted to give him some privacy. Or at least the illusion of privacy. “Doug, call me as soon as you get this,” Tanner said. “It’s important.”

Dammit. He’d obviously had to leave a message. If he stubbornly waited to talk to the attorney, she’d be screwed. “I’m assuming that’s your lawyer. Does he return calls promptly?”

Ignoring her, Tanner hit another number. He drummed his long, tanned fingers on the counter while he waited, not once sparing her a glance. “Helen,” he said, his tone more pleasant. “You’re right, darlin’. I can smell that cherry pie clear up to Montana.” He paused. “You know where Doug is?” Squeezing his eyes shut, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “How long?” Tanner sighed and stared past her toward the window. “I already left one, but if you hear from him, tell him he’s gotta call me ASAP.”

By the way he fidgeted, it was obvious he was impatient to get off the phone, but his voice never gave him away. Lexy assumed Helen was the attorney’s assistant, and Tanner exchanged several more pleasantries with her before he disconnected the call and flung the phone on the couch.

While Lexy waited for the temper in his eyes to settle, she moved to look at the pictures he had taped to his fridge. She suspected it might take a while. He kept rubbing the back of his neck and for a second glanced at the contract copy she’d brought but he made no move to pick it up.

Reminding herself patience was her only ally at the moment, she leaned in for a closer look at the pictures. The more faded photo was of a mountain lake, the other was taken on a beach with a fishing pole stuck in the white sand. That was it. No people were in either photo.

“Give me your number,” he said finally. “I’ll call you as soon as I hear from Doug.”

“When do you expect that to be?”

“No idea. He’s on vacation in the Bahamas.”

She nearly choked. “Oh, no. No. Uh-uh.” She shook her head, paused, told herself to breathe. “No. We can’t wait around.”

“Take it easy.” Curiosity flickered in his eyes. “He’ll call me back.”

“But we have a flight to catch.”

“Look, no matter what happens, I’m not getting on a plane. So get that out of your head.”

She took another deep breath to counter the panic tightening her chest. “You really can’t fly? It’s not just a ploy?”

“Nope.”

God help her, he was telling the truth. Her brain’s mad scramble in search of a solution made her dizzy again. More likely it was her empty stomach. She hurried to the couch and fished in her purse for a mint or hard candy.

“You okay?”

“I will be.”

“You look kinda pale.”

“I haven’t eaten since early this morning. I need a sugar boost.” She found a peppermint disc that she tried to unwrap but her hands shook.

“How about orange juice?” He didn’t wait for an answer but brought a jug out of the fridge.

“This is so stupid. Dammit.” Why couldn’t she get the dumb wrapper off?

“Here.” He swapped the candy for a glass of juice.

She accepted it with both hands, afraid the tumbler might slip. If the tremor wasn’t bad enough, now her palms were clammy.

Tanner sat next to her on the couch. He wrapped a hand around hers and helped guide the juice to her mouth.

Embarrassed, she took a tiny sip, then tried to break away from him. “I’m okay. Thanks.”

“Can you take a bigger one?” he asked, his roughened fingertips gentle on her skin as he urged the glass back to her lips.

She could smell him again, the same mysterious mix of leather and spice with the added hint of soap. It must be his shampoo that smelled so good. The heat from his body warmed her, making her drowsy and stirring the impulse to lay her head on his shoulder. It seemed like a lifetime ago since she’d had a decent night’s sleep. Always worrying about money and bills. He waited patiently for her to drink more of the juice before he slackened his hand and let her lower the glass.

“You could be coming down with something.” He pressed the back of his fingers to her cheek much like a mother would do to her feverish child.

“I’m not.” Lexy laughed, leaning away from him. “I’m really not.”

He lowered his hand and stood. “I didn’t mean to get in your face. Old habit. Sorry.”

“Do you have kids?” she asked, the sudden thought oddly disturbing.

“Nah, a younger brother. He kept me up more than a few nights. You feeling better yet?”

She nodded, then chugged down more of the juice . “No flying, huh?”

Tanner folded his arms across his chest. “You can ask me a hundred times but it won’t change my answer.”

Lexy swept a gaze toward the back. Only one bed and the couch was lumpy. But what choice did she have? “Then I guess we drive.”

* * *

WHILE HE WAITED for her to turn in the rental car, Tanner tried his brother again. And again, no answer. But at least he got to leave a more satisfying message. Much as he still wanted to strangle Lexy, he hadn’t been willing to use certain cusswords in front of her.

He watched her leave the rental office carrying a bag she’d taken from the trunk. Years of conditioning made him want to jump out and help her with it, but he forced himself to stay behind the wheel of his truck. No sense making things easier for her. What he needed was for her to recognize this standoff between them for what it was, cut her losses and let him be.

The crazy thing was she had to know he’d try to run the clock on his contract. So much could happen on a road trip, even if he didn’t stoop to sabotage. Which he wasn’t above doing if it came down to the wire. And he’d wager she knew that, too. So why the dogged determination?

He tensed when he saw her stop and use the back of her wrist to blot her forehead. Two hours until sunset but it was still warm, and she’d had nothing but the orange juice. She shifted the bag to her other hand.

“Shit.” Tanner opened his door and got out. His longer strides closed the distance between them before she made it two steps.

“What are you doing?”

Without a word, he took the bag from her. It wasn’t heavy but he felt better giving in. No, he wasn’t happy with this new thorn in his backside but he didn’t have to be a bastard. Rather than opening the trailer, he stowed the bag on the truck’s backseat. Lexy watched for a moment, probably making sure he hadn’t tossed her things in the bushes. Then she went around to the passenger side.

He followed her in case she needed help getting into the cab. The step-up wasn’t easy for someone short. She just stood there as if making the climb was too much for her, and he revisited the notion that she might be playing him. Trying to gain his sympathy while she dug in her claws. But then he saw that she’d only stopped to take off her blazer.

She turned her head and caught him eyeing her flat belly and jutting breasts. “Did you need something?”

“You want help getting up there?” he asked, motioning with his chin.

Draping the jacket over her arm, she inspected the step-up. “I think I’ll be fine.” She flashed him a smile. “But thank you.”

He managed to get behind the wheel before she settled into her seat, and tried not to notice the lacy pink bra exposed by the gap in her blouse. “It’s not too late,” he said, looking straight ahead and turning the key. “You can still fly to Houston and I’ll meet you there.”

“No, I think we should stick to our plan.”

Our plan, his ass. His first choice had been to drop her off at the airport. Second, he’d suggested she keep the rental and follow him. But no, she’d insisted on sticking as close as possible. And when he’d told her he wouldn’t negotiate, she’d threatened him. Asked him if he could afford being hit with a lawsuit for breach of contract.

Oh, she’d looked contrite as all get-out, explained it wasn’t her decision. Personally, she would never take legal action against him. He still wasn’t sure he believed her. His brother would be able to advise him. Though Doug hadn’t done such a bang-up job on the contract terms. And with all the money Tanner had doled out for law school. Yeah, that pissed him off.

As soon as he’d gotten them on the highway, he glanced over at her. “You really think your company would sue me?”

“I don’t know. Probably.” She turned to look out her window. “They have quite an impressive legal department.”

“You always say they. You’re a Worthington. Isn’t it your company, too?”

Her smile seemed forced. “My father runs The Worthington Group.”

“Not fond of the old man, huh?”

“That’s not true.” She shot him a withering look. “Why would you say such a thing?”

Tanner set cruise control and leaned back. “Your body language.”

“Pay attention to the road and not me.”

He laughed when she flapped a hand, motioning for him to move the arm he’d stretched out behind her head, even though he wasn’t touching her. “Okay, sore subject. I get it. I’m not fond of my old man, either.”

“I didn’t say— I’m not engaging in this conversation with you.” She folded her arms across her chest, hiding the gap...and pink bra. “Oh, wait, I don’t have to explain. You being such an ace at body language.”

“You need something in that belly of yours. Maybe some food will give you a more pleasing disposition.”

Lexy slid him a long look. “I’m fine. We need to make use of the daylight.” She took out her phone and started working away. “I assume I won’t have internet the whole time we’re on the road. Do you have a map?”

“What for?”

“Um, the usual purpose. Figure out where we’re going.”

Tanner smiled. “Don’t you worry. I know exactly where we’re headed.”

And she damn sure wasn’t gonna like it.

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