Possessive Cowboy_An Older Man Younger Woman Romance Read online

  “Still one thing you’re leaving out.” I look at him and he doesn’t budge. He’s looking at me with a confidence that tries to call a bluff. It’s like his expression says that he thought of everything and there’s no way in the world there could be anything else.

  But there is.

  “You’re mine, just like I’m yours,” I say.

  “Always,” he says and our two lips meet and we pick up right where we left off.

  CHAPTER 10

  Cody

  Cheyenne asked me to give her a few days to tell her dad about us.

  I insisted that I should ride over there right away and tell him like a man, but she says she knows him best and wants to be the one to tell him.

  I don’t like it one bit. He’s gonna feel like I went behind his back so we agreed to do it together, but she said she’s not ready just yet.

  I respect my friend, but I also need to respect my ladies wishes. We can wait a few days but we need to do this as soon as possible.

  I reach inside the fridge and look at what’s on tonight’s menu. Ham as always.

  Man, how much I wish the two of us were sitting down to a nice family meal right now. Just the two of us with some hot food. She said she’d cook for me once things get squared away. As much as I like that idea I’d be just as happy ordering food all the time. I don’t need my woman to know what it feels like to have to put her hands in soapy water to wash dishes or to do any kind of household chores or cooking. We can get a live in maid and cook as far as I’m concerned.

  I want my woman to live the good life. As a man that’s part of my responsibility. Plus she’s a woman of the twenty-first century. She’s focused on her work and she needs time to do that. It’s what she loves and it provides her with a lot of satisfaction and growth. Cooking and cleaning only takes away from that.

  I’ve got so many plans for her, for us. I just can’t wait to get her into my house so the two of us can make it a home.

  I pull back the aluminum lid on a can of baked beans and dump them into a bowl before shoving them into the microwave.

  This is no way to live. I can’t believe I even made it this long.

  And how did I even consider this kind of life was acceptable? Not anymore.

  Why? Because of her.

  I was never the guy who needed a woman. I was more than happy on my own. But when the woman came along…the woman of my dreams that is, then I quickly realized that I had to have her and this old way of living, this bachelor life, was a thing of the past. No way could I ever go back to this again, even though I find myself doing it tonight.

  But I know she’ll be here with me soon and we can get to work on filling this house up with a bunch of little kids. How cool is that going to be?

  Shoot…the way she had me today in the barn…the way she had me losing control…I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s pregnant already.

  Wouldn’t that be great.

  A son on the first try. Or even a daughter. It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s a child with her. Our child.

  I flip on the TV and see an old movie with Clint Eastwood is about ready to start.

  The lone gunman. The man who rides into town and saves the day.

  Well times sure have changed haven’t they?

  Because she’s the woman who rode into my life and changed everything.

  Cowgirls are the new cowboys in some regards I guess.

  Because she certainly saved the day. She saved more than that actually.

  She saved me from never knowing what love is and now that I do I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing her, and our family, just how much love I’ve got for them.

  “Right, Clint?” I say to the TV.

  “You got a problem with that,” he says almost as if the movie’s right on cue with my thinking.

  “No problem at all, mister,” I say to Clint on the TV. “As a matter of fact the only problem is that I didn’t make her mine sooner.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Cheyenne

  I’m sure a lot of girls would have wanted a nice, comfy, romantic first time, but not me.

  I wanted exactly what I got. I wanted to be taken by the man who was my first, and only, crush in life.

  The man who makes me feel things that no one else on earth can. Just one look from him has my heart racing, and to be able to feel his heart racing as I lay there with him after felt like I’d really accomplished something.

  Sometimes I wonder what a young and inexperienced tomboy like me really has to offer him.

  But some things don’t need to be explained. He wants me and I want him and that’s that.

  Although I still need to explain that to my dad.

  But as simple as it seems it’s so much more than that. Cody does want me, but in more ways than just the physical. He wants me to succeed in life. He’s even risking his entire farm on it, but why?

  I look out my window across the vast landscape and try and think of the ways.

  Cody had plenty of money from the work he did abroad, so it’s not like a desperate attempt to get money. I mean if my research pays off it sure will pay us handsomely, but he didn’t need that. He’s a simple guy who can eat beans and wieners around a campfire three hundred and sixty-five days a year if he has to. So it’s not about money. And it’s not like my family comes from money either.

  There’s also the familiarity aspect of him being my dad’s best friend, but he never looked at me that way when I was younger. Then again I was too young to catch his eye back then. I have to admit that now the idea of how tight we can all be sounds pretty cool. I highly doubt my dad will be into it from the start, but once he warms up to it how amazing will it be for him to have his daughter and his best friend together? I mean he trusts Cody like no other, although that trust may hit a speed bump when I tell him what’s going on between the two of us.

  But back to my original question. Why is Cody so interested in…me? I do think I’m an interesting person and I’m trying to do good things, but Cody’s all in. What drives a man to such lengths?

  There can be only one answer.

  True love.

  And that’s what makes me feel so cared for and special.

  Sure the way I lost my virginity was amazing and I’ll have that story forever, but what’s more important is that I know I’ll have him forever. He wants to be my everything. My rock. My biggest supporter. My husband. I heard him say it. He’s already thinking about our family.

  The thought hadn’t really crossed my mind, but then again Cody was halfway around the world for all those years too. Plus if I was being honest with myself I didn’t know if he’d ever come back. Or if maybe he’d met someone down there? It’s not like I would have known. Cody’s not the type to use modern electronics or communication methods. He barely uses an old rotary dial phone or even sends postcards. It’s just not his way.

  He’s a cowboy after all. My cowboy and I’m his cowgirl.

  And I know that now that he’s lassoed me I’m going to be his forever.

  I smile at just how perfect this all is.

  Now just to figure out a plan to make sure my dad thinks it’s as perfect as we do.

  CHAPTER 12

  Cody

  Three days later

  I like the idea of telling Jackson about the two of us at a barbecue. I don’t like the idea that there will be sharp objects and propane tanks nearby when we tell him.

  Jackson and I are big dudes and we’ve wrestled before. It’s just playful these days, but we did have some pretty good goes at each other when we were kids.

  But we’re not kids anymore and this is his kid we’re talking about. Once he realizes I’m serious he might flip and all hell could break loose.

  “Another Bud,” I say to Jackson.

  “Sure thing,” Jackson says. “Gotta do something to beat this heat.”

  I reach into the cooler and pull out two bottles. Why didn’t I go with cans? A broken bottle can easily become a dea
dly weapon. I’m not scared of Jackson, but I do respect him. And I feel like a high school kid who needs to win the respect of his date’s father right now. This is so weird. It’s like all those years of trust are on the line and that maybe they don’t even matter for much of anything right now.

  I just need the right moment to tell him. Shoot, I can’t believe I’m even beating around the bush here! This is not me at all.

  But I’m sticking to the plan that Cheyenne laid out. Get a few beers in him, get a burger in his belly and then go for it.

  Do it in the backyard where he’s always most comfortable. People are just as territorial as animals and the smart play is to do it on his home turf where he’s in charge. Everything around him will be familiar and comfortable…except for my words.

  “Thanks, brother,” Jackson says as I hand him the beer.

  “You’re welcome my brother from another mother,” I say.

  We clink glasses and take a swig.

  “Burgers are ready by the way,” Jackson says reaching for the tongs. “Cheyenne! You got the good buns?” he yells into her. She’s in the house mixing up the potato salad.

  Oh yeah, she’s got the good buns all right.

  “Got ‘em. I’m coming now.”

  I’m coming. She’s been making me say that non-stop and vice versa the last three days. Why does everything suddenly sound like sex with my best friend’s daughter? This isn’t helping at all.

  Cheyenne comes bounding out of the house in short shorts and a white T-shirt which she’s tied off above her belly button. Damn, she looks good enough to eat herself. I’d gladly trade all these delicious burgers for one bite of her.

  But I realize there’s no way that’s happening right now when Jackson’s eyes scan her outfit and then scan my expression. He looks back at her. “Those clothes are a bit…friendly, aren’t they?”

  “It’s summer. They’re cute and I’m hot,” she says.

  Oh yes you are hot.

  Jackson grunts something and we sit down to eat.

  Not fifteen minutes later we’ve both grubbed three burgers each, a lemonade, and another beer. Cowboys don’t have to be told to eat when there’s a hot meal on the table.

  “Got some Cuban cigars, Jackson. Want to light them up?”

  “Let’s do it,” he says and around the backyard we go.

  I feel my heart rate pick up and I know I’m getting close. I can’t remember the last time I was nervous about anything. Shoot I’ve stared down a giant black bear, got tossed from some of the meanest bucking broncs, and fell off the roof of a house before when I was helping a buddy out with some construction.

  Those were all nothing compared to this.

  “How have things been since you’ve got back?” Jackson says.

  “Really good,” I say.

  “You meet anybody down there in the land down under?”

  “Nope. Was just focused on my work.”

  “Always were…and I was meaning to ask you about that. I noticed you put up a new barn on the back of your property. Back there where no one could see it.”

  “Well, not no one if you found it.”

  “Yeah. Makes me wonder what you’re up to,” he says. I hand him the cigar I just cut and take the other for myself. We light them and get them started.

  “Yeah, I got some plans based on some new research that’s been coming out.”

  “New research? Did I hear about this.”

  “I would guess you probably did,” I say thinking he probably heard a lot about it when Cheyenne was working on it.

  “Who funded the study?”

  “University of Wyoming,” I say.

  “Right here in Laramie?”

  “Yep.”

  “There was a study that went down here that was so good you went and built that big ol’ barn out there and plan to take advantage of it?”

  “Not take advantage, Jackson. Partner.”

  “Well, look at you making moves. You’re about to get rich aren’t you? And you’re smart to be careful about it, keeping it a secret.”

  Jackson takes a big puff of his cigar. “I’m just wondering who you know over at the university,” he asks.

  “Oh…you know. Some people you know.”

  “I don’t know anybody over there,” he says.

  “I wouldn’t say that,” I say.

  “I don’t. Not a soul,” he says. “I mean just Cheyenne, but she doesn’t really count, she’s just a student.”

  “Oh she counts all right. She counts for a lot more than a lot.”

  Jackson pulls the cigar from his lips and his gaze turns from the pristine landscape towards me. I don’t turn my head to meet his though. Not yet.

  “Cheyenne ran a study over there? You talking about the lambs? You know about that one?”

  “Yeah. I think it’s got some real legs to it. People these days really value the way animals are treated, and I think it’s a good thing too.”

  “So do I, but not sure how that leads to you building that barn.”

  “Well, I think Cheyenne’s really on to something and I want to stay on top of her cutting edge research by being right there with her every step of the way...side by side.”

  I feel a big hand slap me on the back. “Stay on top of her...research. That’s a strange way to word it. At first I almost thought you meant something else,” Jackson says as he takes another puff of his cigar and stares straight back out at the landscape.

  I try and make an awkward smile, but it doesn’t really work. “No,” I begin, readying myself for a punch or whatever might follow. “I’d never speak about her in that way, but I do want to be right there with her in more ways than one.”

  Jackson turns back toward me and gives me a confused look.

  “Jackson. I didn’t plan this, but it just happened.”

  “What. Just. Happened?”

  “I’m in love with your daughter and I want to marry her. And I’m asking you permission to take her hand in marriage and I want you there to walk her down the aisle.”

  The cigar falls from his lips and thankfully he waters the grass in his backyard because he has no intention of picking that thing up anytime soon or stomping it out.

  “Did I have one too many Budweisers or did you just say you want to marry my daughter and you want me to be cool with all of it?”

  “Yeah, that’s what I said,” I say, not trying to sound challenging or standoffish.

  Jackson looks back toward the landscape. “Uh huh,” comes from his throat but his mouth stays closed. It’s as if he’s pondering what I just said and all the different ways he can wring my neck right about now.

  But even though I’m wondering how he’s going to react or what he’s going to say there’s one thing that matters above all else.

  Her. And she’s mine. So at the end of the day his words don’t matter.

  I’ll give up everything, including our friendship, for her.

  I prefer not to have to, but I’m willing to. No ifs, ands or buts and no looking back.

  He turns back to me and looks me dead in the eye.

  “You know I always wondered when Cheyenne would bring a guy to the house. I just never knew it would be a man. And not just any man, but the man I respect more than any in the world. Am I shocked? I was for a second, but not really anymore. Because although I never knew it would be a man I can’t say I didn’t expect it. It’s how her mother and I raised her.”

  He turns to me and extends his hand. “This is the part where I would say ‘be good to her and treat her right,’ but because it’s you I already know she’ in the best hands possible. And I’ll be proud to watch you put a ring on that finger on her wedding day.”

  I shake his hand and we quickly embrace like real men. I’m not sure if we’ve ever hugged one another before nor will we ever again, but there’s a time and place for it and that time is now…even if it’s only once in a lifetime.

  Because she’s a once in a lifetime kinda girl. M
y girl.

  “What did I miss?” she says as she sees the two of us.

  “Nothing. As a matter of fact you’re right on time,” I say. “Why don’t you join us.”