Unbridled, page 16
Denny grimaced as he followed her gaze. “Would you be offended if I threw them away after we found you a pair of boots?”
Alex laughed. “Only if we can burn them and roast marshmallows.”
Denny turned to Connor. “I like her. Don’t you dare screw this one up.”
Now it was Alex’s turn to blush. “The boots?”
“Ah yes, first let’s measure that foot of yours.” Denny gestured to one of the captain’s chairs lined up neatly in front of the wall of boots. “Have a seat and we’ll get started.”
The next forty-five minutes were spent experimenting with boots of all shapes and colors, not to mention sizes. There was ostrich, kangaroo, snake and bull hide, then pointy toed, round toed and somewhere in between.
It was a dizzying array of everything boots, making Alex glad Denny had such a wealth of knowledge. When he slid on a pair of chocolate brown Tony Lamas made of bull hide with a round toe, her feet nearly sighed with relief.
Denny sat back and looked up at her. “Well?”
“Wow. These are perfect.” Alex stood and walked back and forth while Denny watched. “It’s like they made them for me.”
“I knew I’d find the right pair for you.” He looked like a strutting peacock as he patted himself on the back with the success of the boot-finding mission. “They’re waterproof too.”
“They’re great. Thank you, Denny. Really, thank you.” She picked up the box and winced at the price. Two hundred dollars was a deep cut into her funds, but they really were perfect. They were sturdy, comfortable as hell, and even though they weren’t pretty, there was a little bit of stitching that made them look, well, less boxy.
“And may I burn these now?” Denny held up the sneakers.
“With my blessing, yes.” Alex picked up the empty box and headed toward the front of the store, realizing Connor was nowhere in sight.
“He’s over by the hats.” Denny was right beside her and she realized he knew exactly what, or rather whom, she was looking for. “He’s a good man, had a hard life until he got here. Your daddy, well, he worked that man like a dog until he sweated out all the bad. Now he spends his time trying to prove to everyone he’s just as competent as Grant was.” Denny’s gaze was serious for the first time that day. “Judging by the way you’ve been looking at each other, things are complicated already. Just don’t hurt him; he’s hard as steel on the outside, but beneath, he’s more vulnerable than anyone I know.”
Alex had no idea about Connor, didn’t know about his relationship with her father, or that he had apparently been just as messed up as she’d been. Perhaps her father had straightened Grant out when he couldn’t do the same with her. Another reason her father had loved him, and forgotten her.
She knew it wasn’t Connor’s fault, but it damn well made her heart clench in pain.
“Yeah, I know what you mean.” She made her way over to the hats on the opposite side of the store, bypassing all the clothing. She’d look for jeans another day when she had more money to spend.
Connor was staring at a line of hats sitting on a bench. The hats were varying shades of brown in different styles. He was frowning at them when she walked up.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for a hat.”
“I can see that, but I’m fairly certain these wouldn’t quite work for you.” She picked up the caramel-colored one and popped it on her head. To her surprise, it fit perfectly.
“I was picking one out for you.”
Her surprise turned to pleasure as she realized he’d been shopping for her. A man, shopping for her. What a strange and unusual world she’d returned to, where cowboys and honor still existed, not to mention chivalry.
“That one is just a bit too light for your hair.” He picked up one near to the shade of the boots on her feet and plucked off the hat, plopping down the new one. “Try this one.”
She stared at him, trying to read what was lurking in the depths of his green gaze. He adjusted the hat, then cupped her cheek, his thumb sliding gently across her chin.
“Perfect.”
Alex leaned toward him and her lips grazed his. He sucked in a breath and leaned closer. Her arms started to rise of their own volition when someone cleared his throat behind them.
“The hat on the bill too?” Denny sounded utterly amused.
Alex wanted to smack him. She didn’t know if it was because he interrupted them or because he thoroughly enjoyed doing it.
“Yep, put them all on the Finley Ranch bill. Our new accountant will be paying it at the end of the month.” With a grin he took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
She stood there, unable to process what had just happened. Connor had simply paid for likely more than three hundred dollars’ worth of boots and hat for her without any hesitation. It had been years since anyone had paid her way, particularly Finley Ranch money. She’d relied on herself for so long, even going so far as to pay David rent on the guesthouse, much to his consternation. Having someone take care of her was as foreign as the hat on her head, not necessarily uncomfortable, but unusual. She didn’t know how to respond, particularly considering how freaking amazing his hand felt holding hers.
Alex felt young again. Her heart lightened and a smile crept across her face. Damned if she wasn’t falling in love with him, this hard-as-nails cowboy with a passion that matched her own. Oh boy, she was definitely in trouble.
Connor leaned down and kissed her quick. “Anything else you need here?”
She turned to see herself in the mirror. The hat was perfect; the color highlighted the shades of her hair and the tone of her skin. She was surrounded by men who knew what she needed to wear, even if she didn’t. The thought made her chuckle. If only David could see her now.
“No, nothing else.” She glanced at Denny. “Thank you for your help.”
Denny smiled and bowed in a courtly manner that made her think again of chivalrous gentlemen. “You are most welcome, my dear. Next time ditch the stiff and you and I can go have fun together.”
“Shut up, Denny.” Connor led her from the store, with Denny’s laughter following them.
Alex couldn’t remember a time she’d been so happy or content. That meant it likely wouldn’t last.
Connor felt off center, as if he were watching everything happen instead of being there. The feel of Alex’s small hand in his, however, was very real. She wore the boots and hat, looking much more like a Wyoming girl than the L.A. woman she’d been a week ago.
He hadn’t intended on not working, or, for that matter, going with her into Lobos, but he had just the same. Connor hadn’t taken a day off in eight years, not since his first day at Finley’s. Even sick as a dog with the flu, he’d worked. Now, with barely a word to the staff, he’d driven off with Alex in her fierce Camaro.
The sun was warm on his face as they walked down the strip mall toward the car. He was content, almost happy. It was an unfamiliar sensation.
“Are you hungry for lunch? It’s almost noon.”
“Hungry enough to chew on my new hat. I missed breakfast.” Alex glanced around. “Anyplace good to eat around here?”
“I forgot you haven’t been here for ten years. There’s a nice sandwich shop down at the end. They have a great club sandwich and make homemade chips.” He hadn’t been there in three years, but he’d seen the sign when they drove in.
“Sounds good to me. I’m starving.” She leaned in a little closer and her breasts brushed his arm.
Connor almost forgot he was hungry at all.
“I didn’t realize you were bringing a date for lunch.” Connor’s contentment vanished suddenly as a dark cloud named James Howard intruded. He turned to find James standing at the entrance to the sandwich shop, a nasty grin on his face.
“What are you doing, Howard? Following us?” Connor snapped.
James looked at Alex. “I thought I was meeting Miss Finley for lunch.”
Connor’s stomach flipped. Twice. He turned to her and her mouth opened and closed, yet she didn’t speak. Son of a bitch.
He backed away from her, letting her arm drop from his. “You thought it was a good idea to play us off each other, Alex?”
“No, I didn’t. James asked me if I wanted to have lunch, but I never said yes.” She didn’t sound very convincing.
And Connor was definitely not convinced. “You were on your way to town when I saw you.” He remembered that she had looked startled to see him. “In fact, you didn’t even want me to come.”
Alex’s cheeks flushed. “I wasn’t expecting you to come, but I’m glad you did.”
“Hm, Alex, you shouldn’t really have two dates for lunch.” James tsked at her. “You knew I’d be here and yet you came with Connor. I think you are playing a dangerous game, Miss Finley.”
She turned to James. “You are an asshole, you know that? I came into town to get boots. That’s all.”
“And a hat, apparently.”
“It’s none of your fucking business.” She folded her arms, pushing her breasts up, making Connor wonder whether he was losing his mind if he could be distracted so easily.
“Alex, after the date we had the other night, I’m surprised.” James moved closer to her, and Connor clenched his fists. “I thought we had a connection.”
“The only connection we had was a business one. It was not a date. I told you I didn’t want you in my pants and I meant it.” Alex turned back to Connor. “I’m not so hungry anymore. If you want a lift back to the ranch, let’s go.”
“If she’s in your bed, I think you’d do best to control that little filly before she—”
Connor didn’t remember his fist actually moving from his side, but suddenly it connected with James’s jaw and the older man went down like a sack of potatoes. Connor’s fist hurt and he likely broke a finger, but damn, that felt good.
“What the hell are you doing? Did you want to pull it out and measure it too?” Alex shouted at him from ten feet down the sidewalk. “I haven’t seen his yet, but I’m sure yours would be in the top two.” She stalked back to him, shaking her finger like a scolding teacher.
He didn’t expect James to reappear from behind him and punch him in the kidney. Pain exploded through him as he fell to his knees; then another punch landed on the side of his head.
Alex screeched and Connor saw her foot fly toward James just as his fist went toward Connor again. In a split second, she was flying over him, landing on her ass on the sidewalk with an audible thump; then her head smacked the concrete. Connor watched it as if it were a movie, not real, couldn’t be real.
Alex looked up at them as blood leaked from her split lip and her eyes were unfocused. “Did you just punch me, James?” She sounded surprised and a bit loopy. When she touched her lip, she hissed, then stared at her hand, surprised to see blood.
Connor roared and stood up, ready to beat the absolute shit out of James Howard. Yet the older man was already by Alex’s side, apologizing profusely, stuttering like the complete ass that he was.
“Get away from her.”
“I don’t think so, Matthews.” James sounded different, almost concerned about Alex. Connor refused to believe the man would care about a thing other than himself.
“You probably just gave her a concussion, broke her jaw, if not knocked out a tooth. I’m only going to tell you one more time—get the fuck away from her.” Connor didn’t recognize his own voice, nor did he understand the red-hot fury currently coursing through him. It had been so long since he’d let the dark side loose, it shook him to the core.
“Both of you, shut up. Connor, help me up.” Alex was her usual bossy self, but he simply complied since he agreed with her. Aside from that, if he said another word, he might really regret what came out of his mouth.
“Alex, I didn’t mean to—”
“I said shut up and I meant you too, James. You’re acting like a sixteen-year-old boy who can’t control himself.” She reached up to accept Connor’s help and he was dismayed to realize how much she was shaking. He didn’t know if it was because of the punch or the emotions that were running high.
James, the idiot, tried to push Connor out of the way and help her, but that backfired when Connor elbowed him. “Let me help, Matthews. You know I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“She told you to shut up, so shut the fuck up.” Connor resisted the urge to set Alex down and pound James into the concrete.
With the older man sputtering behind them, Connor simply scooped her into his arms and carried her to the Camaro. The sight of her blood made his grip tighten.
“Easy, cowboy, I think my ass is bruised enough for the day. God, and I had just gotten over being saddle sore.” She let out a shaky breath.
Connor loosened his grip, feeling like an ass. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean it. It’s just that asshole pisses me off. And what the hell did he mean, you were meeting him for lunch?”
“Did you call me ‘baby’?” Her words were slurred.
He had been beyond angry when he accused James of giving her a concussion, but judging by the way her pupils were dilated and her speech was slurred, it was likely true. Fear nudged aside fury.
“We’re going to the emergency room.”
“What? I’m fine, just need some ice and a Diet Coke. I’ll be right as rain. Oh, what a pretty rainbow.” Her head lolled against his shoulder. “You feel so good, Connor.”
He managed to get her into the passenger seat and wrangle the keys from her pants pocket. Any other time, having his hands in her tight jeans would be a much more pleasurable experience. Now he felt like he was in a panic and was slower than a slug in molasses.
The emergency room was about fifteen miles away, not too far, and the road was pretty clear between Lobos and Chilroot, where the hospital was located.
It was the most hellish ride he’d taken in two years, not since the night he’d followed the ambulance there with Grant’s broken body. The memory was not a good one to experience as he worried about Alex, particularly when she passed out two miles from the hospital.
Connor would kick James’s ass from there to the state line the next time he saw him. The son of a bitch had no self-control, no inkling of how much destruction he left in his wake. Somebody needed to teach him a lesson, and man, Connor was ready to be the one to do it.
He screeched into the parking lot, glad Alex had such a fast car. Later on he’d ask her where she got it, but for now he simply parked and ran over to her side of the car.
He’d seen her asleep before, but he’d never seen her this vulnerable. Perhaps it was the blood, or perhaps it was his heart that was getting in the way. It didn’t matter; all that mattered was getting her into the emergency room.
Connor picked her up and ran.
CHAPTER NINE
Alex woke to find Connor standing over her, his face a picture of pure worry. Her head hurt like hell along with her tailbone. She tried to swallow but she had no spit in her mouth.
“Alex.” He took her hand in his clammy ones. “Thank God you’re awake.”
She croaked and pointed to her mouth. He fumbled with the pitcher beside the bed and poured her a glass. Alex was shocked to see his hand trembling.
“What happened?”
Connor slid her arm beneath her shoulders and helped her drink. The water was like the nectar of the gods, cool and sweet as it slid down her dry throat. Her lip stung and she realized her entire mouth hurt.
“James punched you.” His voice was tight like a guitar string that had been wound too tight.
She had a vague memory of running into James in town, following clear memories of buying boots and a hat. Connor was there through all of it, a solid presence beside her. She was stupidly warmed by that fact—it had been a very long time since anyone had taken care of her.
“He punched me? Why did he punch me?”
Connor helped her lie back down before he answered. “We were, uh, fighting and you jumped in to stop it, I think, and, well, his punch went wild. You got it instead of me.” His green gaze met hers. “I’m sorry.”
She tried to remember what happened but it was fuzzy. “Why can’t I remember?”
“You have a concussion.”
“He punched me so hard I got a concussion?”
“No, that happened when you hit the sidewalk.” Connor gently touched her head.
Now Alex was glad she didn’t remember. The force of a concrete sidewalk meeting her noggin sounded bad enough to make her nauseated.
She glanced around and realized she was in a curtained-off area, still wearing her clothes. That meant she hadn’t been admitted, which was a good thing.
“Can I leave?”
He frowned. “Don’t you think you should spend the night? I mean, you have a head injury.”
“I don’t have insurance, Connor. As it is, I’ll probably use up all my funds just paying for this visit.” She sat up, then swayed when the room began to tilt.
“Whoa, there.” Connor steadied her. “I’ll pay for it. You’re half owner in the ranch, so the money I spend will be yours anyway.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better. I don’t want you to pay for it simply because my father died and left me half of a dude ranch.”
“It’s a guest ranch.”
“Shut up, Connor.” She swung her legs around and tried to stand, but ended up in his arms. “Dammit.”
“Don’t push yourself, Alex. It’s not worth it.”
She was suddenly very tired of Connor and his care of her. “Back off. I can take care of myself. I’ve done it for ten years without you, so don’t think you can just step in and be my sugar daddy.” She pushed his hands away.
He looked shocked, even hurt, but his expression hardened and he held up his hands, stepping back. “Fine, then. You make your own decisions; pay the bill yourself. I would suggest you let me drive you back to the ‘dude ranch,’ though, or you might drive into a tree when you pass out again.”
His sarcasm was as sharp as the pain in her head. “There’s no need to shout, Matthews. I’m only a foot away from you, for Chrissakes.” She made it to her own feet and waited until her stomach stopped flipping.
