Courted by a Cowboy Read online

“I’ll call him.”

  Josie stood. “That’s what I want to hear, and remember I’ll want to hear all the sordid details.”

  Chapter Three

  It was just dinner. If it didn’t work out then no big deal. Whitney put on her earrings and slipped on her pumps. Colt had told her he’d be by to pick her up around seven. It was almost five to. Her hand shook. Maybe she’d been too hasty in accepting a dinner invitation. Perhaps they should have met and chatted over coffee again. She reached for her cell phone, hoping it wasn’t too late to tell him of the change of plan, when she heard a car heading onto the driveway.

  She glanced outside, curious to see if he still drove the same brand and style of car. Whitney swallowed. It was a damn limo with tinted glass, and he was getting out of it looking downright delicious.

  She ran her hand down the front of her dress and smoothed her hair. The doorbell rang and bile rose in her throat as her stomach did flips. She walked toward the door wondering if she’d made the biggest mistake of her life, or maybe it would be the best decision ever.

  Colt stood on the front step wearing a light blue shirt, navy tie, and pants. And yes, cowboy hat and boots. She was tempted to pull him inside, drag him up to her bedroom, and demand he make love to her.

  “All ready?” he asked.

  His question shook her out of that fantasy.

  “Sure. So you drive a limousine these days?”

  He glanced at her and smiled as the driver got out and opened the door back for them.

  “I thought we could sit and chat without me having to concentrate on traffic, and enjoy a bottle of wine at the restaurant.”

  Whitney got into the limo, aware that her dress had risen up when she’d sat down. Colt eyed her thighs as he slid in next to her.

  The driver got back in and soon they were on the road.

  “You didn’t tell me what you did for a living. I’m guessing something you don’t like and hence you’re thinking about a change in career.”

  “I’m a high school English teacher.”

  “That’s right you wanted to major in English. And you don’t like teaching anymore?”

  “It’s sort of a long story and I thought it would be nice to have another career option.”

  “Always nice to have those.”

  This was supposed to be a fun social evening and she didn’t want to get into the real reason she’d run home to Missoula. She glanced at Colt’s thighs, the well-defined muscles straining against his pants. He’d certainly kept himself in great shape, but then again he didn’t have far to go to work out because their house had both a pool and tennis court.

  “Do you still live in the same house?” The question shot out of her mouth before she realized she was being nosy.

  “No, my ex-wife opted for that, but I found somewhere just as nice. Not as big but big enough for me. After we eat I can give you a tour.”

  Whitney took a deep breath. Was that an open invitation hoping things would progress beyond dinner, or an innocent I’d love you to see my home?

  How old would he be now? And no, she wasn’t going to ask him that. She had to draw the line somewhere. If she remembered correctly he’d been twenty when Mark had been born, so he’d be around forty-seven now.

  The oldest guy she’d been with had been just three years her senior.

  The limo pulled up outside a restaurant she’d never heard of, which wasn’t that unusual because since her parents had retired to Florida, she hadn’t been back to Montana for five years. Colt waited until the driver got out and opened the door for them and then held Whitney’s hand as she slid out of the back seat.

  “I’ll call you when we need picking up,” he told the driver before he put his hand on the small of her back and encouraged her to walk along the cobbled path that led to the entrance. The restaurant looked like it was on a lake and as they headed inside she saw a fountain by the reception area, and candles burning on each of the tables in the dining area. It looked like the sort of place you took a lover so you could propose.

  “Good evening, Mr. Robson, your usual table is ready and waiting,” said the man behind the desk.

  “Perfect,” said Colt

  The restaurant manager picked up two menus from behind the counter and led them to cozy alcove with just one table. Colt pulled out the chair for her.

  “Can I start you off with some drinks?” asked the man.

  “You like white wine?” Colt asked her.

  “Sure, whatever you’re having is fine.”

  “My usual,” said Colt.

  “I’ll be right back with that.”

  “You obviously come here a lot,” said Whitney.

  “Someone at work suggested it and the food’s fantastic. And you should see this place in winter. There’s a fire burning over there and when it snows you can watch the flakes falling on the patio over there. Pure heaven.”

  It sounded like it, but depending on what she decided about going back to Chicago to teach, it might be awhile before she saw a Montana winter. Whitney opened up the menu and hadn’t seen so many choices, not even in the Windy City. This one looked like a novella. She grinned and he must have noticed it.

  “And what was the smile about?”

  “I was just thinking this food sounds completely different to the hole in the wall café I’ve been eating breakfast at.”

  “But is the food any good?”

  “Some of the best in town.”

  “I guess that’s all that matters. Maybe I’ll have to try it one of these days.”

  Josie would certainly like that.

  The man who’d shown them to their table returned with the wine and poured it for them. “Your waiter will be right with you.”

  “I hope he’s got lots of patience because it’s going to take me forever to choose,” said Whitney.

  “You need some help?” asked Colt.

  “Sure, anything you can recommend?”

  “My favorite is the blackened salmon.”

  He leaned over, flipped the pages, and pointed to the dish in question. Served with herbed rice and oven roasted green beans.

  “That does sound pretty good. I’ll trust you, and go with that.”

  ****

  Colt noticed Whitney rubbing her hands up and down her arms as they exited the limo and walked toward the front door of his house. They only had a short distance to go, but he quickly took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It had been a hot day, but now that the sun had gone down. The wind had picked up, leaving a distinct chill in the air. He pulled out the key to the door and opened it back for her.

  “After you,” he said.

  As they entered the foyer, she looked around and smiled at him.

  “Wow, this place is really nice. I was expecting a condo or something, but it’s just a smaller version of your previous home.”

  “Maybe that’s why it feels like I’m rattling around in here all the time. Can I get you a drink while I show you the rest of the place?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Okay, let’s start in the kitchen.”

  He actually saw her eyes open wider when they arrived there. She walked over to take a peek into the screened in porch.

  “I see you still have a swimming pool.” She pointed out of the window.

  “I don’t think I could ever give up my daily swim. And if you ever want to drive over and use it, even if I’m not here, you’re welcome to.”

  “I might just take you up on that offer.”

  That would be a thrill for him. Instead of coming home to an empty house he’d look out of the window and see Whitney in the water.

  “So how long have you lived here?” she asked.

  Her question shook him out of the sexy image he’d conjured up in his mind.

  “About five years. You want to see upstairs?”

  “Sure.”

  He let her lead the way and not just because he wanted to set his eyes on that sexy butt of hers.
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  She stopped and looked at the paintings on the wall in the hallway. He remembered she’d always had a good eye for art. “These are beautiful.”

  “I picked them up at a couple of street art fairs.”

  “Really, I’ve been to a couple of those in Chicago but haven’t seen anything this nice.”

  “The Montana artists must know what you like.”

  She smiled and looked ahead. “I’m guessing you have a huge bedroom with its own fully equipped bathroom.”

  “You’ve been here before.” He pushed open the door. He’d remembered to make his bed earlier that morning. Why he’d bought a king size one was beyond him. Every morning he woke up in the middle of it and patted the mattress to either side of him, which reminded him how empty and lonely his life had become. A few months ago he’d even considered trading it in for a smaller one.

  Whitney walked over to the dressing table and stopped to look at the photo of Mark with his wife and baby.

  “He’s a cute little boy. He looks like you.”

  “A little, and thankfully I’ve got more hair than he does.”

  Whitney burst out laughing. Her laugh had always been infectious. Even if you were down, it lifted your spirits. He so wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her, but he didn’t want her to think that was the only reason he’d enticed her back to his place.

  She must have picked up on his sudden uneasiness, because she looked at her watch.

  “It’s getting late and I should be heading home.”

  “Sure I can’t interest you in coffee or tea as a nightcap.”

  “No, but thanks for the offer.”

  ****

  Whitney had felt the tension building between them all the way home. Not bad tension, but the sexual kind. Did he want her as badly as she wanted him? If he did, he must be rock hard by now. Her panties were uncomfortably damp as he pulled into her driveway. She’d never been the sort of woman who slept with a man on the first date. Had the meal at the restaurant been a date? And it wasn’t as if he was a stranger but no, she couldn’t.

  He turned off the ignition and shifted around in his seat to look at her. “It’s been the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

  “Me too.”

  “Shall we do it again?”

  Whitney wanted to, but what if they got involved and she decided to head back to her old job?

  “I’m not sure if I’m going to be in Montana for long.”

  He tapped the steering wheel. “I thought you were thinking of going to law school here.”

  She guessed he might as well know the reason why she was back in town.

  “I don’t know. I love teaching, but a couple of months ago a kid in my class brought in a gun to school. He’d been teased, and I guess he couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “Geez, that had to be scary. I mean with all the news you hear about that sort of thing going on with kids.”

  “It was, and he held us hostage for a long time.”

  She stopped and swallowed, remembering the whole horrible scene. “He held the gun to my temple and I…”

  Her bottom lip trembled and she couldn’t talk.

  Colt reached over and pulled her close to him.

  “Fuck, I can imagine what that was like.”

  “That’s why I came back to Missoula. I’m just renting this place for the summer. I’m not sure I can go back to that classroom or teach ever again. I thought maybe I’d make a good lawyer, but I’m not sure of anything now.”

  “Then how about I make this suggestion to you. Come along to my law practice, hang out, stay around for as long as you want. You can see what being a lawyer is all about and hopefully you’ll get a clear picture.”

  He wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye.

  “Are you sure I won’t be in the way?”

  He shook his head. “And it’s on the condition we have a meal together again. Let’s plan on your starting the day after tomorrow.”

  Maybe running into him had been fate. She’d never believed in it before, but now she was beginning to change her views.

  “Shoot me an e-mail and I’ll give you the address and directions,” said Colt.

  She nodded. He leaned toward her and she picked up the scent of his spicy aftershave.

  Whitney thought he was going to kiss her. She wasn’t wrong about that just where he was going to do it. He opted for her cheek. Was he just being the perfect gentleman or did he still consider her his son’s ex-girlfriend?

  “Thanks for dinner and the ride home,” she said.

  “My pleasure and see you on Wednesday.”

  She got out of the car, stood on the doorstep, and waved until he was out of sight.

  Whitney touched her cheek where he’d kissed her. His lips had been soft and she could only imagine how good they’d feel on other parts of her body.

  Chapter Four

  Colt turned and looked out of his window at the beautiful view of downtown Missoula. The sun had risen about an hour ago and this was his favorite time of the day. Before everyone else arrived and disturbed his peace he always sat at his desk, enjoyed his first coffee of the day and tackled the crossword puzzle.

  He’d never been able to finish one and today was no different. Never mind because today he’d see Whitney again and the thought brought a smile to his face.

  He heard the first of the workers arriving and glanced at the clock on the wall. Whitney would be here soon and he was counting the minutes. It took him back to his childhood when he used to wait on the top of the stairs on Christmas morning and willed everyone to get out of bed so he could get down to the family room to see what Santa had left him. The thrill of unwrapping his gifts and finally knowing what was inside.

  He felt the same way about Whitney. His gift, undressing her and seeing the gorgeous woman she’d become. His cock twitched just thinking about it, imaging it in his mind. Her curvy hips, luscious breasts, and if he didn’t stop right now he’d need to take a cold shower. Not that his own personal one wasn’t far away. It was one of the perks he’d given himself when he’d taken over the law firm. An en suite bathroom and shower for when he worked late to prepare for a case.

  His assistant knocked on his door.

  “Anything I can get you?” she asked.

  Colt shook his head. “When Whitney arrives send her straight in.”

  “Will do.”

  He’d told everyone about Whitney and that’d she’d be hanging out, observing different things for a while, and to be on their best behavior. And he should have added hands off if any of the guys thought she was an easy target. Two of the attorneys were career bachelors, and he didn’t want Whitney getting mixed up with them.

  He turned back to look at the view and sipped the last of his coffee. Hearing a light tap on his door he turned back and saw a sight that literally took his breath away, even more than the view outside his window. Whitney.

  She wore a floral dress, belted at the waist, her golden curls hung around her shoulders and he lost it completely. He didn’t know what to say, what to do, and he grew harder with each passing second.

  “It’s still okay for me to visit for the week?” she asked.

  “What? Oh sure…I was miles away.”

  She must have thought he’d changed his mind when he’d sat there with his mouth wide open and probably looking like an imbecile.

  “Come in and sit down.”

  Whitney pulled up a chair and set in front of his desk.

  “Anything in particular you want to do on your first day here?” he asked her.

  “Can I see what you do? I know it’s probably not typical work that I’d be doing should I decide to be an attorney, but I think it would be fun.”

  “I’m doing research for an upcoming case that’s going to trial. You could help me with research. Does that sound okay, or boring?”

  “Sounds anything but.”

  “Okay, let’s get ourselves two coffees and get down to work.”


  ****

  He was wearing the aftershave again. The one that drove her crazy. They sat close, him showing her where to look for the information he needed to put his case together. She could imagine him in court, standing, maybe pacing up and down, before the jury.

  Their legs momentarily bumped and they looked at one another.

  “Bored yet?” he asked.

  She shook her head. How could a woman be bored being around a man like Colt?

  Whitney looked out of the window, hoping that would break the tension. “This is a wonderful view of the city.”

  “You should see it late at night when all the lights are turned on. It makes it worth working late. In fact, why don’t I order us dinner in here tonight so you can see it?”

  Tempting, oh so tempting.

  “That is if you don’t have any other plans.”

  She didn’t. Hadn’t had plans for an evening for a long time.

  “No. I mean no other plans.”

  “That’s arranged then. I know a deli that delivers the best food.”

  ****

  Usually when he worked this late he sat and stared at the salad or sandwich sitting in the white Styrofoam box, wondering how his life had gotten this lonely. But tonight the sun was setting, the lights of Missoula going on one by one while Whitney sat opposite him, tucking into the deli’s famous chef salad.

  “You were right, this is so good,” she said.

  He reached across the desk and wiped a drop of the Thousand Island dressing that had drizzled onto her chin.

  “Oops, guess I shouldn’t speak with my mouth full.”

  He laughed. “Shows you’re enjoying it.”

  She stood. “You’re right about the view.” She walked to the window and looked out.

  He spun around in his seat seeing her outline against the window. They’d dimmed the lights in his office so they could view the night skyline, which had given the room a romantic ambience.

  Colt stood. If he got a slap around the face it would be worth it, but he couldn’t fight it any longer. He approached her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her in close.

  He closed his eyes and waited for her to turn around and her hand to make contact with his cheek, but it didn’t. Instead she ran her hands over his arms and eased her body back into his.