1
JAKE
There was a chill in the air as I got out of my truck and headed into the small shop just outside of downtown Broken Bend. I’d been stopping in every couple of days for the past month to check on the progress of the rocking chair I’d brought in. Time was running out if I wanted to have the repairs paid off in time to give it to my foster mom for Christmas.
Lloyd Delwater Junior lifted a hand in acknowledgment from where he stood behind the counter of his one-man store. He used to work with his dad, but at ninety-three, the elder Lloyd finally retired. Now Lloyd Junior was in charge. He’d been creating custom furniture with his own two hands for the past fifty years. The pieces he crafted from the family-owned business in our small Texas town had garnered international praise, and his customers included U.S. Presidents and celebrities.
I looked around the interior of the store while I waited for Lloyd to finish chatting with the woman standing in front of me. She didn’t look familiar based on my current view of her backside. Even though I didn’t get into town too often, I sure as hell would remember if I’d run across her before. Tight jeans molded to her curves, and her long, blonde hair flowed down her back. She had on a pair of expensive cowboy boots and a suede jacket that appeared to be custom made.
“I’ll have those chairs delivered for you the day after Christmas,” Lloyd Junior said. “What’s the address?”
“The Swisher Ranch off County Road 403. Do you know where that is?” she asked.
I blew out a long breath. Everyone knew where the Swisher Ranch was located. It was one of the largest cattle operations in the state of Texas, several times bigger than the Calhoun ranch where I’d been working for the past eight years.
“I know where it is,” Lloyd confirmed.
“Thank you so much. They’re going to look great in my dad’s office.”
“I’m honored. Do you want to put that on a credit card, miss?”
“Of course. Here, let me get that for you.” She reached into her purse and slid a card across the counter. As she did, her elbow knocked into her bag. It hit the floor, and the contents spilled out over the slate tile.
I bent down to help her pick up her things.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said as she reached for a tube of lipstick resting by the toe of my dirty work boot. “My dad always says I’m so clumsy I could get tangled up in my own shadow.”
She lifted her chin, and I finally got a good look at the woman with the amazing backside. Dark lashes fluttered against her cheeks before her gaze met mine. Then she looked at me with eyes the color of the turquoise water off the coast of South Padre Island. I’d been there once for a field trip in high school. With the soft sand under my toes, the warm water had beckoned. I’d wanted to lose myself in the depths, just like I wanted to drown in this gorgeous woman’s eyes.
“I’ll take that. Thank you.” Her fingers brushed mine as she took the keyring I’d picked up.
I searched for words, but they were stuck in my chest.
“I’m Roxy.” The keys jangled as she shoved them back into her purse and thrust her hand toward me.
“Jake.” I slid my hand into hers. As soon as we touched, I knew I never wanted to let go.
Her lips spread into a shy smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Jake.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” Truer words had never passed my lips. I immediately wanted to know everything about her, especially when I might be able to see her again.
Her cheeks flushed the perfect shade of pink as she let go of my hand.
“If you’ll sign here, Miss Swisher.” Lloyd pointed at the small terminal where her platinum Amex stuck out from the bottom.
She turned toward the counter, and my gaze followed. Everything about her screamed that she wasn’t just out of my league; we weren’t even living in the same universe. The fringed suede jacket she had on probably cost more than my horse. She probably didn’t even have a limit on her credit card, and I’d been trying to bump my credit score up another hundred points so I could qualify to buy a two-bedroom cottage on a small plot of land.
“Thank you, Mr. Delwater. I can’t wait to see the look on my dad’s face when they arrive.” Roxy tucked her credit card back in her wallet. Right before she turned around to head out of the shop—and bless me with another look at her beautiful eyes—she tilted her head and pulled her bottom lip into her mouth.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss Swisher?” Lloyd asked. He’d been married to the same woman since the beginning of time, but even he didn’t seem immune to Roxy’s charm.
She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. I strained to hear what she was asking about, but couldn’t make out a word. With my luck, she was probably suggesting to Lloyd that he have me removed me from the premises. I didn’t mean to stare hard enough to make her uncomfortable, but there was something about her that made me want to dip her low and kiss her senseless.
I rubbed at the back of my neck. What the hell had gotten into me today?
Lloyd nodded and made eye contact. “Jake here can probably help your cousin out with that. He practically lives on the back of a horse, ain’t that right?”
The idea of offering Roxy Swisher any kind of help had my heart rattling against the walls of my chest. “What kind of help are you looking for?”
