Moonlight Beach Bachelors: Her Forbidden Cowboy

“Gotcha,” Dylan said. “A little me time. I hope Zane hasn’t been working you too hard.”

“Not at all. I’m enjoying the work.” With her finger, she pushed her sunglasses up her nose. She did that when she was nervous, and obviously, Dylan McKay made her nervous. Zane wasn’t sure that was a good thing. He inhaled deep into his chest. Jessica was vulnerable right now, and she didn’t need Dylan hitting on her.

“But you’re both coming to the party tomorrow night, right?” Another charming smile creased his neighbor’s face.

“Nope, sorry,” Zane said. “We’re not available.”

Jessica faced him a second and blinked, then shifted her focus to Dylan. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. I’d love to come. What time?”

Dylan’s grin seemed to spread wider than the ocean view. “Six o’clock.”

“I’ll be there.”

“You will?” Zane asked. They’d both decided on not going.

She nodded. “Sure, why not? Sounds like fun.”

Zane couldn’t argue the point. If she wanted to go to Dylan’s little party, he had no right to stop her. “Well, then...I guess we’re coming.”

“We?” Jessica asked. A genuine spark of delight lit her expression. “You’re going now? That’s great, Zane.”

He shrugged it off but couldn’t stop his chest from puffing out. Why did it make him so doggone happy that Jessica wanted him around?

“Well, I’d better be off. Zane, is it still okay that I take one of your cars?”

“Yep. You know where the keys are in the office.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll take the SUV. Bye for now,” she said. She pivoted and walked back into the house.

“She’s nice,” Dylan said.

“Very nice. ”

“Too nice for me? Are you warning me off?”

“Damn straight I am.” Zane eyed him. “You know darn well Jessica isn’t your type. So stay away. I’m serious. She’s had it rough lately.”

The patio chair creaked as Dylan leaned over the arm and focused on him. “You like her?”

“Of course I like her. She’s like my...” But this time Zane couldn’t finish his thought. He couldn’t say she was like a sister to him. An image of taking her mouth in a daring kiss burst through his mind again. In that moment, he’d forgotten she was Janie’s sister. All that filled his mind was how sweet and soft her lips were. How much he wanted to go on kissing her. He’d felt at peace with Jess, yet electrified at the same time.

He’d had women in the past to satisfy his physical needs. He hadn’t been a total saint after Janie died, but he hadn’t had a real relationship, either, and he sure as hell wasn’t going in headfirst with Jessica. So why in hell was the memory of kissing her earlier torturing him?

“I meant you want her for yourself.”

Zane snorted. “Are you not hearing what I’m saying? She’s off-limits. To everyone. She has a lot of healing to do. Until then, no one gets near her.” He’d promised her mother he’d protect her and make sure she didn’t get hurt again.

“Okay, okay. I get it, Papa Bear. Now, let’s get back to the script. I think Josh’s character is perfect for you, like it was written with you in mind.”

For once, Zane was grateful the subject changed to his possible acting career.

Five

Thank goodness for credit cards. They gave Jessica the freedom to spend, spend, spend at the boutique Mariah had once raved about. She scoured the golden wardrobe racks at Misty Blue, and every time something struck her as daring and unlike her small-town schoolmarm image, she handed it to Misty Blue’s attire concierge to put aside for her to try on. Sybil, the thirtysomething saleswoman, was dogging her, making suggestions and flattering her at every turn.

“Oh, you must have that,” and “you’ll never find a better fit,” and “you’ll be the envy of every woman on Moonlight Beach,” were her mantras.

Jessica ate up her compliments. Why not? She needed them as much as she needed to buy a whole new wardrobe. The old Jessica was put to rest the minute she’d heard about her so-called good friend eloping with her fiancé. So be it. Jessica would return to Beckon a new woman.

Her clothes would be stylish. Her attitude would brook no pity. And she’d have a few thousand dollars less in her very tidy bankroll.

Saving money wasn’t everything.

“I’ll just put these items in your dressing room,” Sybil announced. “Take your time looking around. When you’re ready, you’ll be in the Waves room.”

Jessica blinked. Even the dressing rooms had names. “Okay, thank you.”

She moved around the boutique slowly, taking her time perusing the shelves and racks. She picked out a two-piece bathing suit, a few hip-hugging dresses, two pairs of designer slim-cut jeans, and four blouses in varying colors and styles.

Sybil came racing forward. “Let me take those off your hands, too. I’ll put them in the dressing room.”

She transferred the clothes into Sybil’s outstretched arms. “Thanks.”

“Would you like to keep shopping?”

Jessica eyed several pairs of shoes on top of a lovely glass display case. “Yes, I’ll need some shoes, too.”

“I’ll have Carmine, our shoe attendant, help you with that.”

Thirty minutes later, Jessica glanced around the Waves dressing room. Clothes hung on every pretty golden hook, and shoes dotted the floor around her feet. She’d gone a bit hog-wild in her choices and needed guidance from someone who knew her well. She punched the speed dial on her cell phone and was relieved when her best friend, Sally, answered.

“Help me, Sally. I need your honest opinion,” she whispered. “I texted you pictures of five of the dresses I’ve tried on. Did you get them?”

“Sure did. I’m looking at them now.”

“Good.” The inventor of cell phone technology was a genius. It made shopping a whole lot easier. “Which ones do you like?”

“Gosh, none of them look bad on you. You have a great figure,” Sally said, almost in disbelief. “You’ve been hiding it.”

“I guess I have.” She’d never been comfortable with her busty appearance and had always chosen clothes to hide rather than highlight her figure. Now, all bets were off.

“Did you like the red one?”

“Definitely the red. That’s a given,” Sally said. “Whose eyeballs are you trying to ruin?”

“What do you mean?”

“That dress is an eye-popper.”

She pictured Zane. Why had he come to mind so easily? It was ridiculous and yet, something had hummed in her heart when he’d kissed her today. He’d been caught up in the scene. She shouldn’t make a darn thing out of it. But she was having a hard time forgetting the feel of his lips claiming hers. As short as the kiss was, it had been potent enough to shoot endorphins through her body. That wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

“Do you think maybe I shouldn’t be doing this?” she asked Sally, her bravado fading.

“Doing what? Pampering yourself? Spending some of your hard-earned money on yourself? Indulging a little? I’m only sorry I’m not there to help you with your TLC gone wild. Believe me, if I could swing it, I’d hop on a plane today.”

She chuckled. “TLC gone wild? That’s a new one, Sal.”

“I’m clever. What can I say? Buy the clothes, Jess. I’ll let you decide on the shoes, but those red stiletto heels will kick some major butt. Oh, and while you’re at it, lose the eyeglasses. You brought your contacts, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I have them.”

“Well, use them. If you’re going to do it, do it right.”

Of course, Sally was dead-on. If she was going to invest in these clothes, she had to go all the way. She’d already decided to ditch her tortoiseshell glasses. Her hair could use some highlights, and her California tan was coming along nicely. Already she felt better about herself.

“And Sal, I wish you could come out here. It’s really...nice.”

“I bet. Zane’s place sounds like heaven. Right on the beach. I bet you don’t even have any swamp heat and humidity.”

“Nope, not like home.”

“Tell me you haven’t met any big movie stars and I swear I won’t be jealous.”

“I, uh, well,” her voice squeaked.

“Who? Tell me or I’ll haunt you into forever.”

“Would you believe Dylan McKay lives two doors down?” Jessica squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating the bombardment. No one was a bigger fan of the Hollywood heartthrob than her bestie Sally.

“You’ve met him?”

“Yes, I sort of ran into him on the beach.” Or rather, the other way around—he’d run into her. “He’s a friend of Zane’s.”

“No way! I can’t believe it. Tell me everything.”

A knock on the dressing-room door startled her, and she jumped. She’d forgotten where she was.

“Miss Holcomb, can I help you with anything?” Sybil asked.

“Whoops, gotta go,” she said in a low voice. “I’ve got to get dressed. I’ll call you later.”

“You better!”

Jessica smiled as she ended the call and answered the saleswoman. “No thanks. I’m doing great.

“I’ll be out in one minute.”

“You sound happy. Find anything to your liking?”

“Just about everything,” she answered.

She imagined the attire concierge who worked on commission smiling on the other side of the door.

Her purchases today would make both of them happy.

* * *

Zane had received a text message from Jessica half an hour ago telling him not to wait for her to have his meal. She was going to be late. But he didn’t feel much like eating without her. It had taken Jessica living here for him to realize he’d eaten too many meals alone.

She must’ve gotten carried away on her little shopping spree.

When Jessica finally pulled through the gates, driving toward the garage, Zane made his way to the living room and, with the grace of an ox, plunked down onto the sofa.

A minute later the door opened into the back foyer, and he heard the crunch of bags and footsteps approaching. He picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages.

“Hi, Zane,” Jessica said. Her voice sounded breezy and carefree. “Sorry I’m so late.”

When he lifted his head, he found her loaded down with shopping bags. “Did you buy out the store?”

She chuckled from a warm and deep place in her throat. “Let’s just say the store manager couldn’t do enough for me. They offered me a vanilla latte and a chocolate mini croissant, and the shoe salesman almost gave me a foot massage.”

His brows gathered. “A foot massage?”

“I told him no. I didn’t have time. Is that done here?”

“I don’t know if it’s done anywhere,” Zane said. For heaven’s sake, she was buying shoes, not asking for a damn foot rub. His nerves started to sizzle. He studied the assortment of shiny teal-blue bags she held. “Where did you go?”

“Misty Blue. Mariah recommended the shop to me. It’s just up the coast.”

“Leave it to Mariah,” Zane muttered. She had impeccable taste, but she could be indulgent at times.

“Speaking of Mariah, have you heard from her today?”

“Yes, we spoke earlier this morning. Do you need to talk to her about anything in particular?”

She shook her head and lowered her packages to the floor, releasing the handles. “I’m managing for right now.” She walked over to lean her elbows on the back of his angular sofa. From his spot on the couch, he had a clear view of her face. “How is her mother doing?”

Zane shook his head. “Not great.” He was lucky his mother and father were in their seventies and still quite active living in a retirement community in Arizona. He saw them several times a year. And when something like this happened, he thought about spending more time with them. “Mariah said her mom might have some permanent damage from the stroke, but it’s too soon to tell. She spends most of her day at the hospital or meeting with doctors.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, me, too. And with all that, she asked about you. She made me promise to have you call her with any questions.”

Jessica sent him a rigid look. “Unless it’s an emergency, I’m not going to call her, Zane. You and I both know what it’s like having to deal with a family crisis.”

A lump formed in his throat. “Yeah. I agree, and I told her as much. There’s nothing so important that it can’t wait. Between the two of us, we’ll figure out what needs figuring from this end.”

“Right. Hey, I almost forgot. I bought you a present.”

His heavy heart lightened. “You did?”

She bent to forage in one of the bags and came up holding a long, shiny black box. It wasn’t a gift from Misty Blue, that was for sure. She stretched as far as her arms could reach, eyeing the box carefully one last time, before handing it over. “I, uh, hope this doesn’t upset you, but I know how much you loved the one Janie got you, and, well...this one is from me.”

Her fingers gently brushed over his hand, and her caring touch seized his heart for a moment. With his good hand, he managed to lift the lid and gaze at his gift. He found himself momentarily speechless. It was an almost identical replica of a bolo tie with a turquoise stone set on a stamped silver backing that Janie had given him on the anniversary of their first date. It had been lost in the fire, and he’d never replaced it. It wouldn’t have had the same sentimental meaning. But the fact that Jessica gave it to him meant something. He lifted the rope tie out of the box and shifted his gaze to her. “It’s a thoughtful gift, Jess.”

“I know you treasured the first one. I helped Janie pick it out, so I remember exactly what it looked like.”

“You didn’t have to do this.” But he was glad she had.

“You’re putting a roof over my head and feeding me, but more importantly, being here is helping me heal. It’s the least I could do for you. And I wanted it to be...something special.”

“It is. Very special.”

He rose from the sofa, found his footing and, using his crutches, shuffled over to her. He gazed through the lenses of her glasses to dewy, softly speckled green eyes. They were warm and friendly and genuine. He bent to kiss her forehead the way a brother would a sister, but then awareness flickered in her eyes, and he felt it, too. He lowered his mouth, heady in his need to taste the giving warmth of her lips again. When he touched his mouth to hers, he savored her sweetness and assigned this moment to memory for safekeeping. He backed away just in time to keep the kiss to one of thanks. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Her deep, sultry voice thrilled him and churned his stomach at the same time. She sounded so much like Janie.

“I haven’t had dinner yet. I waited for you. Mrs. Lopez put our meal in the oven to keep warm. Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” she said. “Shopping is tough. I worked up an appetite.”

He laughed. The women he knew loved to shop and spend endlessly. He’d never heard one remark about hard work.

“I’ll put the bags away in my room. Meet you in the kitchen?”

He nodded. He hated that he couldn’t offer to help her. He watched her climb the stairway holding three maxed-out shopping bags in one hand and two in the other. The next time she wanted to shop, he’d be damn ready to take the packages off her hands and carry them upstairs for her.

Zane made his way into the kitchen. Mrs. Lopez had left chicken and dumplings warming in the oven. Zane lifted a periwinkle-striped kitchen towel tucked over a basket and eyed cheesy biscuits, still warm. He dipped into the basket and sank his teeth into a biscuit. Warmth spread throughout his mouth and reminded him he was ready for a hearty meal.

“Wow, smells good in here.” Jessica entered the kitchen.

“Mrs. Lopez made one of my favorites tonight.”

“In that case, I’m surprised you waited for me.”

“I figured a Southern girl like you would appreciate sharing chicken and dumplings. It’s my mother’s recipe.”

“You figured right. Well, then. Have a seat.” She gestured to the table. “I’ll dish it up. Unless you want to eat outside?”

He shook his head. The sun had already set, and winds howled over the shoreline, spraying sand everywhere. “Here is just fine.”

Before he knew it, the table was set, plates were dished up and he had the company of one of his favorite people sitting across from him.

The chicken was tender, the dumplings melted in his mouth and Zane spent the next few minutes quietly diving into his meal. He liked that he could sit in silence with Jess without feeling as though he had to entertain her. She was as comfortable with the quiet as he was.

“Mmm, this was so good.” Jess took a last bite of food, and as she wiped her mouth, his gaze drifted down to where the napkin touched her lips. “I’ll have to steal the recipe from Mrs. Lopez and make it for my mother when I get home.”

“No problem.” He shouldn’t be noticing the things he was noticing about Jess. Like the cute way she pushed her glasses up her nose, or the way she smelled right after a shower, or how her light skin had burnished to a golden tone from days of sunbathing. The sound of her voice dug deep into his gut. Janie and Jess were the only two women he knew that had a low, raspy yet very feminine voice. Janie had been sultry, sexy, alluring, but...Jess?

“Zane?”

He lifted his gaze to her meadow-green eyes.

“You went someplace just now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to be sorry. Are you okay?”

He nodded and cleared his throat. “So, did you have fun shopping today?”

“Fun?” Her head tilted as a slow, easy smile spread across her face. “I had an attire concierge help me. That was weirdly entertaining. She dogged my every step but was nice as can be. Actually my best friend, Sally, helped me make the right choices. Sally was my maid of honor in the wedding that never was.”

“Is your friend in town?”

She laughed and shook her head. “No, not at all. I texted her pictures of the clothes I tried on, and she helped me decide. I’m so not a shopper.”

“Ah, the power of technology.”

“Yeah, ain’t it great?”

It beat having Dylan McKay help her shop. Zane wasn’t about to allow that to happen.

A heartbreaking ladies’ man was the last thing sweet Jess needed in her life right now.

“Actually, it is pretty great. I’m glad you had a good day.”

“I plan to have a lot of good days from now on.” A glint of something resolute beamed in her eyes, her face an open expression of hope.

Jess was healing, and that was a good thing. He liked seeing her feeling better. That was the whole point of her coming here. But it seemed too soon. And she seemed a little too happy for a woman who’d been betrayed and heartbroken. Right now, Jessica Holcomb looked ready to conquer the world, or at least Moonlight Beach. Instincts that rarely failed him told him something else was going on with Jess.

And he didn’t know if he was going to like it.

* * *

“Hi, Zane.” Jessica stepped into the living room, dressed and ready for Dylan’s party.

Zane turned from the window... His hair was combed back, shiny and straight, the stubble on his face a reflection of not having a shave in two days. He looked gorgeous in a white billowy shirt and light khaki trousers. When his gaze fell on the new her, his lips parted and his eyes popped as he took in her appearance from the top of her head to her sandaled toes. Pain entered his eyes, and he blinked several times as if trying to make it go away. Relying on the two crutches under his arms, he straightened to his full height and sighed heavily.

“Zane?” Her lips began to quiver. What was wrong with him? “Are you all right?”

He stared at her, his expression unreadable. “I’m fine.”

“Are you? Have I done something? Don’t you like the dress?” Her mind rushed back to the clothes she’d laid out on the bed. She’d chosen the cornflower-blue sundress that accented her slender waist in a scoop-neck design that, granted, revealed more cleavage that she was comfortable with, but wasn’t indecent by any means.

His mouth opened partly, but no words tumbled forth, and then he gulped as if swallowing his words.

“What is it?” she pressed.

“You look like Janie,” he rushed out, as though once pressured, he couldn’t stop himself from saying it.

“I...do?”

How could she possibly look like Janie? Janie was stunning. She had natural beauty, a perfectly symmetrical face. She wore stylish clothes, had the prettiest long, silken hair, and oh...now she understood. Of course she and Janie resembled each other—they were sisters—but Jessica had always stood in Janie’s shadow where beauty was concerned. Her blonde-from-a-bottle hair color had turned out a little less dark honey and much more sweet wheat, similar to Janie’s hair color. Jessica didn’t usually wear her contacts, but she imagined her eyes looked more vibrant green than ever before. Like Janie’s brilliant gemstone eyes. Did Zane think he was seeing a ghost of his former wife? She didn’t believe she looked enough like Janie for that and never thought about how it might appear. “I, um, wasn’t trying to, but I take that as a compliment.” She shrugged, compelled to explain. “I guess I needed a change.”

An awkward moment passed between them, which was weird. They didn’t do awkward. Usually they were completely at peace with each other.

“You didn’t need to change a thing,” he said firmly.

Was he trying to make her feel better? Even she had to admit, after looking at herself in the mirror today, that her new look made her appear revitalized and well, better than she had in years. Zane had no idea what she was really going through right now, the pain, rejection, anger. He didn’t know, because she hadn’t told him. He wasn’t her shrink, her sounding board. And call it pride, but she wasn’t ready to talk about Steven’s quick marriage to her once-friend/bridesmaid to anyone, much less him. “I’m sorry if I upset you. Obviously you don’t approve. I don’t have to go tonight.”

The last thing she wanted to do was cause Zane any upheaval in his life. He was still in love with Janie. She got that. No one knew what a special person her sister was better than she did.

She was staying here thanks to Zane’s generosity. He was her employer now, too, and she had to remember that, yet underlying hurt simmered inside her. He had no idea how hard this was for her. She’d come into this room hoping for some sort of approval. She’d made a change in her appearance, but it was more than that. She looked upon this makeover as a fresh start, a way to say “screw you” to all the Stevens in the world. She’d come into this room with newfound confidence, and Zane’s dismal attitude had caused her heart to plummet. Why did it matter so much to her what Zane thought?

She pivoted on her heels, taking a step toward the staircase, and Zane’s voice boomed across the room. “Damn it, Jess. Don’t leave.”

She whirled around and stared at him. A dark storm raged in his eyes.

Was he angry with her? Maybe she should be angry with him. Maybe she’d had enough of men dictating what they wanted from her. “Is that an order from the boss?”

“Hell, no.” His head thumped against the window behind him once, twice, and then he lowered his voice. “It wasn’t an order.”

“Then what was it?”

Zane’s gaze scoured over her body again, and as he took in her appearance, approval, desire and heat entered his eyes. Her bones could have just about melted from that look. Then, with a quick shake of his head, he said, “Nothing, I guess. Jess, you don’t need my approval for anything. Fact is, you look beautiful tonight. You surprised me and, well...I don’t like surprises.”

She didn’t move. She was torn with indecision.

From the depth of his eyes, his sincerity came through. “I’m a jerk.”

Her lips almost lifted. She fought it tooth and nail, but Zane could be charming when he had to be.

“Blond hair looks great on you.”

She drew breath into her lungs.

“The dress is killer. You’re a real knockout in it.”

His compliments went straight to her head. He’d finally gotten to her. “Okay, Zane. Enough said.” She’d been touchy with him, maybe because she’d hoped to impress him a little. Maybe because, in the back of her mind, she’d wanted to please Zane or at least win his approval. “Let’s forget about this.” She didn’t like confrontation, not one bit.