Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 Page 2

  She groaned and tried to cover her breasts somewhat behind her arms when he glanced around at the sound.

  “We’re nearly there. Have you never been on a horse before?”

  “I am from Los Angeles.”

  “That’s a no then.”

  She let him believe her groan was one of discomfort, rather than have him guess the real reason.

  “You should stay away from places like this, doll face. A face and a body like yours … men around here, would not ask, they would just take.”

  “All men?”

  Shut up, Shannon! Are you crazy!

  He skidded to a halt and did not move for a moment. His horse came to an abrupt halt too and she nearly tumbled over his head. Her quick prayer that he misunderstood or did not hear her, clearly went unanswered. His charcoal grey eyes swung to hers.

  “Is that an invitation, doll face?”

  She just stared at him, praying her eyes did not give her thoughts away. He started jogging again.

  “’Cause if it is, I accept.”

  Now see what my sassiness brought me!

  Shannon was relieved when she saw the large Ranch house come into view, alongside many stables and out buildings, five minutes later. There were lots of training paddocks and she saw hundreds of horses grazing.

  “Do you breed horses?”

  He just nodded and kept jogging until they reached the front of the main stable. A young stable boy came running closer and took the black monster’s reins from his master.

  His master turned and walked away. She gaped after him, but found her voice quickly.

  “Hey! What about me?”

  He stopped, his legs spread wide with his hands on his hips. He was clearly irritated with her. He spun around and yanked her from the horse, ignoring her annoyed yelp. He must have run for ten minutes, but he was not even breathing hard.

  He placed her on her feet and jerked his head towards the house. She jumped when he bellowed over her head.

  “James!”

  “Yes Boss!”

  Another youngster came running and he joined the first young stable hand staring at the beautiful woman next to their boss, with his shirt wrapped around her waist.

  “Take Miss …?”

  “Shannon Davis.”

  “Take Miss Davis to the house. Tell Rosa to put her in one of the guest rooms.”

  He looked her up and down and wrinkled his nose.

  “Tell Rosa she needs a bath.”

  She gritted her teeth. It was because of his … his monstrous horse that she needed a bath!

  “Right ya are, Boss. Follow me, Miss.”

  Shannon followed him past the stables through a beautiful garden path and into the side entrance of the three story mansion. James hollered for Rosa, who came running from the back of the house.

  “What you’re all swollen up for?”

  “Nothin’.”

  “Then why shout as if somethin’ is? Are you fixin to give me a heart attack?”

  “Now don’t get all worked up and throw a hissy fit, Rosa. Boss says you must put the missy in one of the guest rooms and she needs a bath.”

  He turned to Shannon politely.

  “There you go, Missy. All sorted.”

  “Thank you, James.”

  He nearly swooned from the generous smile she bestowed on him. Shannon turned to the frowning elderly woman.

  “And who would you be, Missy?”

  “I am Shannon Davis. Please to meet you Rosa.”

  She held out her hand and Rosa shook it hesitantly.

  “Where do you han’ your boots, Missy?”

  “Please call me Shannon. I’m originally from LA, but I got lost. I have no idea how I ended up here! I came from Waco and I am on my way to Houston, but I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Mr. Muscles said I was on a road no one ever uses.”

  A small smile twisted Rosa’s mouth at Shannon’s reference to Jarrod’s physique.

  “Good heavens, then you must really have fallen of the horse. Why did he not show you the way back?”

  “The rental car broke down. Something about a gasket. We tried to call a tow-in service but neither of us had cell reception out there.”

  “He told you to phone a tow-in?”

  “Yes … he did not seem too pleased to bring me with.”

  “Sounds like our Jay. He hogs his privacy. Come on then, Shannon. I’ll put you in a room overlookin’ the pool. It is a nice cool room with balcony doors you could leave open at night. Where is your baggage?”

  “He said he will send someone to fetch it. Ehm … who is he? I don’t even know his name.

  “We all call him Jay. No matter. I am sure Amy left some clothes here last weekend. It’s his cousin’s and I am sure she won’t mind. They might be a tad big, but it will only be until yours arrive.”

  Rosa took her to a beautiful large room that sighed romance. The plush duvet covers were in a soft cream color with peach and soft lilac scatter cushions. The carpet was thick and in a soft shade of bronze. Large wingback chairs faced the room on either side of the sliding balcony doors; soft flowing cream colored curtains completed the room. The furniture was big pieces – all in light oak - a headboard, two bedside tables and a dressing table.

  “The bathroom is through there and opposite that is the walk-in cupboard. You take that bath and I’ll brin’ you some clothes. You look all tired. Why don’t you take a nap when you’re done? Otherwise, come and find me in the kitchen. Jay won’t be in for a while.

  If the room made her sigh, the bathroom enticed her even more. It was more than a bathroom, it was a spa, a resort. It was huge, probably the size of her apartment bedroom, with floor length windows that offered you a beautiful view of the rolling green hills in the distance. The shower was massive and made for two, with a clear glass door. The massive oval shaped marble tub positioned in the center of the room facing the windows. The stone colored tiles on the floor complimented the marble tub and the marble tiles on the walls.

  She ran a bath and sighed blissfully when she sank into the bubbles and rested her head on the back of the tub. It was bliss. Every muscle in her body slowly relaxed. She nearly swallowed water falling asleep in the tub, she quickly lathered herself, washed her hair and got out.

  Rosa had left a loose fitting maxi dress and a short with a white tee-shirt. The short and tee-shirt won’t work, she had no bra with her and her nipples would clearly show through the thin material.

  She settled on the dress and slipped it over her head. Preferring not to put her dirty thong back on, she opted to leave it. Hopefully by the time she woke up, her baggage would have arrived.

  Shannon drew the duvet to the end of the bed and settled in the middle with a sigh of pleasure. Her eyes fell closed and she was asleep almost immediately.

  “Ain’t you goin to call the stray you picked up for dinner, Jay?”

  “I forgot about her.”

  Like hell I did. She was all I could think off the whole afternoon.

  “Shame the poor girl was dead tired and I told her to take a catnap. Her belly must be hoggin’ her for some food.”

  Jarrod sighed heavily and walked to the room Rosa directed him to. Right next door to his own! His dick jerked in excitement. He groaned.

  Damn the woman. How would Rose describe her? She's as hot as a stolen tamale. Hell, yes!

  He rapped on the door and waited. Not a sound came from inside the room. He knocked louder. He cursed when she still did not respond.

  He pushed the door open.

  “Doll face!”

  A soft moan from the bed drew his attention and he froze. She was lying on her stomach and the dress she wore had pulled up to bundle around her hips. Her ass really was perfectly shaped and he ached to cup’ his hands around them. He drew a deep breath … the darn chick was bared assed … no panty. How could a man withstand such a temptation?

  “Wake up, woman!”

  She startled and lifted on her elbows, gl
ancing around in confusion. Shannon noticed the big cowboy towering over her and she fell back on the bed.

  So it was not a dream! She was stuck somewhere in Brady!

  “If you don’t aim for me to take advantage of that naked ass of yours, you better cover yourself.”

  Shannon froze and realized the dress was bundled around her waist. She yanked it down and sat up at the same time.

  “Is it a habit of yours to just walk into a woman’s room?”

  “I knocked, doll face. A few times. Dinner is ready. So, shake a leg as they say.”

  He turned around and sauntered to the door, his dick straining back in her direction. Shoot, he better get control of the darn wayward appendage of his or he would be in deep trouble!

  “Ehm … where are my bags? I need clothes.”

  He cursed. He clean forgot to send someone to fetch it.

  “Had no one to spare to hitch out that way. Will get to it in the mornin’.”

  “You’ll … in the morning? What am I supposed to wear till then?”

  “The dress seems to fit fine.”

  He continued to the door and then gave her a heated look over his shoulder.

  “You can be glad Rosa is there. If she wasn’t, I would have taken you up on your invitation, doll face … before you even sat your ass down on the chair!”

  She blushed and stared after him. Damn the man made her forget her own name! Quite frankly, she would not have minded Rosa not being there! Work has kept her so busy, she has not had time for relationships. It has been two years since she’s been with a man. The one man, she has ever been with. What a waste of time! And now with all those muscles all over the place, her libido was in overdrive!

  She washed her face and brushed her hair. Not wanting to wear her high heels, she had no choice but to go bare foot. She padded down the stairs and followed the sound of voices to the dining room. It was a large room with a massive dining room table and at a quick count eighteen chairs overlooking the swimming pool!

  “Oh, there you are, lovey. Come and take a seat. We’re havin’ some chicken-fried steak.”

  “Chicken-fried steak?”

  Rosa chuckled. “Not to worry lovey, it is a piece of meat we pound till it’s tender, then dredge it in flour and pan-fry it. Then we smother it with cream gravy made from the drippings. You’ll love it.”

  “I don’t know, Rosa. She looks like the type that survives from lettuce and tomatoes.”

  Shannon scowled at him.

  “Don’t make assumptions about me, Muscle man.”

  His eyebrows rose at her sassiness. She did not back down and challenged him with the glitter in her eyes. His slow smile told her maybe, just maybe, she just made a big mistake!

  “Well, lovey, you are a little slip of a girl.”

  “With a healthy appetite and a propensity for chocolates and red velvet cake.”

  “In Texas we love our Pecan nut pie. But I’ll fix us a red velvet cake one night.”

  “Oh, thank you, Rosa, but I won’t be here that long. I need to get to Houston tomorrow.”

  “Just how’re you aimin’ to do that, doll face?”

  He leaned back in his chair with his legs spread out in front of him. Shannon frowned, realizing he would not offer to even take her to the nearest town!

  “I’ll phone the car rental agency. They should have a branch in Brady. They’ll send a rental out here I’m sure.”

  “What’s the hurry to get to Houston?”

  “I have an important meeting there on Wednesday at Perfecto Architects, with the owner, Jarrod Parker and his marketing team. Ever heard of him?”

  “Sounds familiar.”

  Rosa choked and he diligently slapped her on the back.

  “Careful, Rosa. Chokin’ can cause serious trouble.”

  “So can fibbin’!”

  Jarrod smiled and winked at her. She scowled at him, knowing he was up to no good. She kind of taken to the little dark haired beauty. She was not happy seeing the lusty look in his eyes. Little Nonny was not like the other loose ashes in the wind he normally beds down with!

  “If the meetin’ is on Wednesday, why the rush to get there tomorrow?”

  “I have some changes I need to make to my presentation and I have a late afternoon meeting with a colleague of mine.”

  “So, are you an Architect, doll face?”

  “No, I am the Communication and PR Specialist Manager at Global Media in Los Angeles.”

  “Still don’t know why you’re here. ‘Don’t you have a branch in this area?”

  “Yes, in Dallas. This is a big contract for us. I am currently in the process of designing specialized communication programs, we want to propose them for this project.”

  “Hmm … well, good luck with that.”

  “Weren’t you allot upon goin’ to Houston tomorrow as well, Jay?”

  “Yeah, but I have changed my mind.”

  Rosa nearly swallowed her tongue. This time she did not even try to hide her annoyance with him.

  Shannon speared the last piece of steak into her mouth and chewed slowly, savoring the rich and tender meat. Jarrod shook his head and saluted her with his fingers against his temple.

  “I never would have believed a little slip of a girl like you could eat a steak like that.”

  “Maybe because I am not a little girl!”

  His eyes lowered to her chest and appreciated the swell of her breasts against the soft material of the dress. His smile was lewd when her nipples puckered into tight nubs in reaction to his stare.

  “Yeah … you’re no girl alright!”

  Chapter Three

  Shannon helped Rosa to clear the table and stack the dishwasher. Shannon brewed coffee as per Rosa’s instructions while she dished up the Pecan Nut pie she made for dessert. She listened with a smile to the little chubby woman, who all of a sudden could not stop talking.

  “How long have you been here, Rosa?”

  “In Texas all my life. Here in McCulloch Country for the past twenty years. I worked for Jay’s Dad then.”

  “So you’ve known Jay since he was a young boy?”

  “Oh no! He never stayed here. He grew up with his Mom in Los Angeles. They dropped the plot when he was only eight years old. ‘Twas not a friendly separation and she kept him from his Dad all the years. He pitched up here one day fifteen years ago. He was already twenty then. It was such a happy day. Dylan could not stop cryin’. Jay … well, he just stood there with an expressionless face. When Dylan got hold of his emotions, Jay asked him why he deserted him. Why he left him with a woman that hated him and blamed him for their divorce. Somethin’ she made sure he never forgot, cursing the chant every day for twelve years.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “Oh, she passed on. She became a drunk and made a hornet look cuddly. She was so mean to that poor boy. She took all her anger and frustrations out on him. Hit him somethin’ awful, but he stayed because he believed she needed him. She sent him to college, and made sure he was educated, but love … the poor boy never had any growin’ up. He neve’ even went to her funeral. Maybe it was her influence that made him the man he is today. He worked hard and is walkin' in tall cotton for years.”

  “Walking in tall cotton?”

  “Means he is loaded … in LA terms, my boy is a billionaire.”

  “From horse breeding?”

  “Och lovey of course! He dabbles in investin’ and he owns his own company too.”

  “And his Dad?”

  “Oh, the ole geyser found himself a new wife. A real gem! He semi-retired and they travel around a lot. They’re in Alaska at the moment. We’re expectin’ them back next week. Jay built them a house over yonder hill. They’re very close now, the two of them.”

  She shook her head and her eyes were sad when they met Shannon’s.

  “Such a pity she messed the boy up. He figures there are no such thin’ as love. But he loves the ladies alright. He’ll take up with any hound that�
�ll hunt! As long as they never get their britches in a knot and want more than a tumble between the sheets. No one around here though … he stays away from floozies here. Says he does no’ have the patience for stalkers.”

  “Quite vain of him, don’t you think?”

  Rosa chuckled and winked at Shannon.

  “Have you looked at him real properly, lovey? He sets all the ladies hearts a hammerin’, real quickly round here, whenever he goes to town. But as I said, he never hitches up with any of them.”

  Yip, he tends to set a ladies heart hammering real quick … some other parts too for that matter!

  Rosa picked up the plates with the pie and headed for the door. Shannon carried the tray with the coffee to the porch outside, overlooking the swimming pool. Jay got up and took the tray from her. Once seated, Jay looked at Shannon and Rosa.

  “Must be special coffee there, Rosa. Took you lon’ enough to make it.”

  “You know us women, we talk a lot.”

  “About what?”

  “This and that. What’re you so noisy? I taught Nonny how to brew your special coffee.”

  “Why? Are you aimin’ to brin’ me my coffee in bed in the mornin’, doll face?”

  “Gmphf … in your dreams, muscle man.”

  He guffawed and took a bite of his pie. He caught her eyes on him and lifted his brow I question.

  “Somethin’ wron’, honey?”

  “I did not figure you to indulge in pie.”

  “I love my pie. No one makes pie like Rosa. Hers is well sought after across the country.”

  “Don’t let him fool you, lovey. He has a sweet chopper of note. I can’t stay ahead bakin’. I figure his wife will have to be a good cook.”

  He just snorted and leaned back in his chair, sipping his coffee.

  Shannon turned to Rosa.

  “I love your accent, Rosa, but sometimes it is more pronounced than others.”

  “I guess more an’ more people talk with less than a drawl nowadays. We still have a lot of sayings though.”

  “Hmm, I’ve heard a few of those. I’m just not always sure what they mean.”

  She glanced at Jarrod who sat watching her broodingly.

  “You don’t have an accent or talk with a drawl.”

  “I did not grow up in Texas. I picked up some habits, but not that much. Coffee’s good, doll face.”