The Maverick Cowboy(44)

"She wasn't the last time I talked to her. But maybe you and Chase can change her mind. I'd really like her to work up here with us. She's really good with the animals."

"Agreed." Roy finished his coffee. "Maybe if you boys talk to her and offer her a decent salary, she'll step up."

Chase caught Blue's eye. "We'll both go and see her tomorrow, okay? Now can we talk about one last thing?"

"What's that?" Blue wasn't really in the mood to discuss anything else. He wanted to be out that door and driving as fast as he could over to Jenna's place to ask her what the hell was going on.

"Big Mike."

"Who's he?" Ry asked.

"The man we think helped Mom get away from the ranch twenty years ago."

Ry's jaw dropped. "You think Mom and Rachel are still alive?"

"That's what we're trying to find out. I've arranged to meet Big Mike next week in San Diego. I want you to come with me, BB."

"Sure."

"I'll get Daizee to add the details to our shared calendar and book the flights and everything, okay?"

"Sure. Thanks."

Chase sighed. "You're welcome."

"I have to go out." Blue stood up.

"Really?" Chase rolled his eyes at January. "That's a surprise. Are you sure you don't want to wait until tomorrow when I can chaperone you?"

"Nah." Blue was already halfway out the door. "Some things are better said in private."

He only just caught Chase's shouted reply as he opened the back door.

"And don't forget, some things are better left unsaid!"





Chapter Seventeen

"Your boyfriend's here," Dave said in a singsong voice as he looked out of the kitchen window. "And he's looking pretty damn determined."

"One, I don't have a boyfriend; and two, if Blue Morgan is here it's probably because there's something up at the ranch and he needs a vet." Jenna was quite proud of how calm she sounded.

"Tell him to come in and have dinner with us," Amy called from the kitchen. "I haven't seen BB for ages."

"Will do."

Dave deftly body-checked Jenna out of the way and went to open the back door.

"Hey, BB! Come on in. Ma wants to see you."

Jenna scuttled back to the safety of the kitchen and started laying the table. Blue came in and took off his Stetson, smoothing down his short brown hair.

"Evening, all."

"BB!" Amy came to hug him. "I hear you're back for good now. Ruth will be so happy." She kissed his cheek and pointed at the table. "Now sit down and tell us all your news."

Blue looked over at Jenna, who gave him a quick smile and then avoided his gaze. Ron ambled in from his study and immediately started talking horses with Blue.

"Here you go, Jenna, put this mac and cheese on the table while I dish up the real food."

Jenna went to help her aunt. She had to squeeze behind Blue's chair, and just the sight of his strong tanned neck made her knees go weak. Which was both weird and wrong, considering he wasn't talking to her.

"Sorry, am I in your way?" Blue looked up and she just stared at him, forgetting everything but how pretty his eyes were and how lush the slight curve of his lower lip and...



       
         
       
        

"Jenna?" Amy called her name and she jumped like a rabbit.

"Coming."

Eventually, they were all seated and Amy and Ron talked to Blue, leaving Jenna to pick at her mac and cheese and Dave to stuff as much in his face as he could before the others got around to having seconds. Blue answered all the questions easily, only fielding a couple about Maria and January and offering no real information. She admired his skill, which considering how blunt he preferred to be was commendable.

She doubted he'd intended to come and have dinner with them, but he didn't betray any impatience to talk ranch business. He didn't even seem particularly anxious to talk to her, which served her right.

"So why did you come over, BB?" Dave finally asked the question Jenna had been longing to ask all night. "Something up at the ranch?"

Blue smiled. "Nope, it's all good. I came to see Jenna."

"Jenna?" Ron and Amy gave each other one of those concerned looks Jenna had been seeing a lot of recently. "Is there something wrong with how she's handling things up at your place?"

Dave snorted with laughter. "It's okay, parents. I don't think BB's come to say Jenna's incompetent or anything."

"She's an excellent vet," Blue agreed. "I hope she's going to stick around."

Jenna slowly met his gaze. "You do?"

He smiled at her. "You want to come and take a walk in the moonlight with me and talk about that?"

"Right now?"

"No better time." He rose to his feet and nodded at Amy. "I won't keep her long."

Jenna automatically stood, too, and Dave scooted his chair out of her way. "Behave yourself, now." He winked.

"As well as you would, which gives me lots of scope." Jenna narrowed her eyes at him. "No peeping, okay?"

"Why, what you gonna do?"

Ignoring her cousin, Jenna walked around to Blue's side, and they exited the kitchen together. Even before they made it through the back door, Jenna heard an excited babble of voices and Dave whooping.

Blue kept hold of her hand, and he started walking around the edge of the flower garden and artificial putting green Ron had insisted on placing on the flat side of the lot. Down below them, close to the creek, was the original homestead that now functioned as the veterinary hospital.

"Blue." Jenna tugged at his hand until he came to a stop. "I want to apologize."

"For what?"

"I was angry and frustrated about how to deal with Lily, and I turned that on you when you tried to help."

He scuffed the toe of his boot in the soft ground. "But you're forgetting something." 

"What?"

"Rule number one of dating someone with siblings. Never get between them even if asked for an opinion. I was out of line."

"You're always out of line. That's part of your charm."

"And the reason why I mess up all my relationships. You were right about that, too." He sighed. "You find dealing with Lily frustrating? I sometimes feel the same way when I'm dealing with you."

"Why?"

He looked down at her. "You're such an amazing person, Jenna. Sometimes it feels like the only person who doesn't believe that is you."

"I want to believe it."

He cupped her jaw, his fingers warm and gentle. "Then what's stopping you?"

"Fear, I suppose."

"Yeah?"

"Fear of being found . . . lacking."

"I'd never do that."

"Not by you, but by myself."

He considered her for a long moment. "Then I can't fix that, can I?"

She mutely shook her head. With a soft sound his arms closed around her and she rested her cheek against his chest. They stood like that for what seemed like hours, and then he cleared his throat.

"I'm done with the Marines."

"Welcome back to civilian life."

"And we did the DNA tests tonight. Maria's decision."

She raised her head to look at him. "Are you worried?"

"Yeah." His smile was crooked. "Not for the reasons you might think. I've already started to think of Maria as part of the family, so whatever happens we've all agreed that we'd like to keep her."

She stiffened. "She's not a pet."

"And the ultimate decision is of course, hers."

Jenna wrinkled her nose. "Sorry, I get twitchy when people talk about adopting or fostering children."

"Totally understandable."

She put her hand on his chest. "You're being remarkably amenable this evening."

"You mean I'm being nice?" He raised his eyebrows. "I'm always nice."

She let that slide. "So, is there anything else you needed to talk to me about?"

"No, I think we're good."

She desperately wanted to ask him exactly what that meant, and what exactly was good, but didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"Okay, then. Shall I see you tomorrow at the ranch?"

She half turned back toward the house, and he caught her hand.

"I didn't say I was finished."

He twirled her back into his arms and kissed her hard. With a breathy moan she kissed him back, her hands all over him.

When he finally came up for air she was clinging to him like bindweed, her body plastered over his from knee to shoulder. He pushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear and kissed her nose.

"I told you we were good."

"You showed me even better."

He studied her intently. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Like what?"

His blue gaze darkened. "Like about certain ranchers not letting you work with their animals?"

She stamped her foot. "Oh, Blue, why do you have to go and spoil everything? I thought you said we were done?"

"I said I was done. I'm still waiting for a full report from you." Suddenly he was all business again. "You know those guys don't represent the whole valley, right?"

"How would I know that? They are all long-term clients of my uncle's who are threatening to pull their business because of me. That's not acceptable. I came here to help out, not to ruin the practice."