Cowboy Cool: Book 5 (Cowboy Justice Association) Read online

  Reed remembered where she kept her glasses from earlier today and quickly filled it with cold water from the refrigerator door. Kaylee had perched on one of the stools at the island and was watching him as he moved around the room. Not in a creepy way but in a warm, admiring way. A man could get used to a woman looking at him like that if he wasn’t careful.

  “Drink. Now where do you keep your medicine?”

  She dutifully started drinking the water and pointed to a cabinet in the corner of the kitchen. Reed rummaged through the various first aid supplies and found the bottle behind some nighttime cold liquid. He shook two from the container and held them out.

  “You aren’t allergic or anything, are you?” He doubted she would have medicine she was allergic to in her cabinet but he had to be sure.

  “No, I’m as healthy as a horse.” Kaylee giggled and had to set her glass down. “Get it? Horse? There are horses in Montana.”

  Trying to keep from laughing at her fuddled antics, he nodded and placed the pills in her palm. “I get it. Cute joke. I bet you’ve never even ridden a horse in your life.”

  Tossing back the tablets, she took a gulp of water. “You’d be wrong. I’ve ridden, although not a lot.” Her shoulders slumped and her lips turned down. “You don’t want me, do you?”

  Well, shit. He didn’t need this tonight. All because he’d agreed to do Logan a favor and now look at how things were turning out. Logan was going to owe him big after this. It was all Reed could do not to grab her hand and guide it to his very hard cock pressing against the fly of his jeans.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Kaylee Blue, but you are also a little drunk. I don’t think it would be right to take advantage of that.”

  Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Are you just saying that to be nice? A lot of men say I’m too fat.”

  A lot of men needed to get their heads out of their asses. Kaylee was a gorgeous woman with curves in all the right places. Like a pinup girl from another era, she had a tiny waist with round breasts that begged to be worshipped, lush hips, and an ass that made Reed’s palms itch to spank those bottom cheeks a bright red.

  “You look just fine,” he assured her. “That doesn’t have anything to do with why we’re not going to have sex tonight. You’ve had too much to drink, honey. You need to sleep it off. Tomorrow you’ll be glad you didn’t jump into bed with some cowboy who will be gone in the morning.”

  “That’s what I mean. I only have this one chance to sleep with a man from one of my books,” she insisted, but her eyelids were already starting to get heavy. He could tell the alcohol was making her sleepy and she yawned just then to prove it.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but finish your water and then I’m going to put you to bed. Alone.”

  She slugged down the rest and sighed as he placed the glass in the sink. “You’re no fun.”

  “I hear that all the time,” he agreed. “You need to get some sleep.”

  “It’s only nine o’clock,” she argued. “Eight year olds go to bed at nine.”

  “Eight year olds and grown women who have drank too much and should have known better do too,” he retorted, liking the fact that she didn’t give in to him too easily. Most of the women he knew were happy to let him boss them around. Sometimes because they liked having someone tell them what to do and sometimes they hoped he would fall in love with them. He moved the ladies who believed the latter out of his life at the speed of light.

  “Can I have a kiss goodnight?” She was peeking at him from under her lashes, a sly smile curving her lips. Before he could say no she was winding her arms around his neck and pulling his head down to hers.

  One kiss wouldn’t hurt anything. He’d give her a quick one and then pat her on top of the head and send her upstairs to sleep. Running his hand down her spine, he pulled her a little closer and brushed her lips with his own, once and then twice. He tried to pull away but she pressed herself closer so he could feel her full breasts mashed against his chest and the warmth of her breath on his skin.

  “I want a real kiss,” she said huskily, pulling his mouth to hers. The kiss was hot, slow, and way too much with a woman he barely knew. She had his breathing ragged and his heart pounding all with the way she seductively played with his tongue. He didn’t even want to look down at his groin, knowing his cock was painfully hard and ready for action.

  He reached up and unwound her arms from his neck and took a step back, placing some much needed distance between them.

  “This is a very bad idea, Kaylee. You’ll regret this in the morning.”

  He was already regretting it. This woman had a potent effect on his libido and he needed to get the hell out of her home before he did something really stupid.

  “I won’t regret it.” Her lids were drooping though and her voice was soft. “I’m glad you’re here, Reed.”

  Was she lonely living here all by herself? The last thing she needed was a man like himself gumming up the works of her life.

  “Do you need me to carry you up the stairs?”

  Her chin was propped up on her hand and she was definitely fighting sleep. “No, but will you carry me anyway? I’ve never had a man carry me to bed before.”

  Reed inwardly cursed the asshole men she’d dated in the past. Obviously she was due for someone who truly appreciated her. That man simply wasn’t him. He would put her in bed, head back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep, and then in the morning get back on the road and start enjoying his first vacation in over five years.

  He lifted her into his arms and she curled up trustingly, laying her head on his shoulder. By the time he found her bedroom up the stairs and at the end of the hall she was snoring softly. Balancing her weight on one arm, he pulled back the covers before laying her on the bed.

  He scraped his fingers through his hair and sighed in resignation. He couldn’t just leave her like this. Bending over, he slipped off her shoes and tucked her under the covers. Her features were soft and angelic in sleep, so unlike the independent and stubborn woman during the day. He brushed a stray strand back from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. Her skin was soft and warm and…fuck if he didn’t need to get the hell out of this bedroom right now.

  Bounding down the stairs, he stood in the middle of the living room, torn in two. The logical part of him knew she’d be fine and he should just leave. Maybe he could write her a note. The other part didn’t like the idea of leaving a semi-drunk woman on her own. She might wake up and stumble down the stairs, hurting herself.

  With a sigh of resignation he kicked off his boots. He wasn’t going anywhere until she was a hundred percent. He flicked off the one lamp she’d left on from earlier and then stretched out on the couch with a groan of relief. He was tired and in the military he had learned to sleep anywhere, but he would keep an ear cocked in case Kaylee decided to take a midnight stroll.

  Just a minor change of plans. He’d still get on the road in the morning.

  Chapter Four

  Kaylee opened her eyes and quickly shut them again as a sharp pain pierced her skull. The light streaming in the windows was too fucking bright. Why had she left the drapes open last night? Slowly she lifted her lids again, wincing at the pounding in her temples and the back of her head. Shit, even her hair hurt.

  Groaning as she pushed to her elbows, she looked down at herself still fully dressed from dinner last night. Her foggy brain tried to make sense of the evening before and she sat up, swinging her legs off the bed.

  Dinner. Drinks. Oh fuck a duck.

  Drinks explained the cottony dry taste in her mouth this morning. The small amount of dinner she’d eaten explained why she’d managed to get herself north of tipsy. And being nervous about having dinner with a handsome hunk from one of her books explained why she hadn’t eaten in the first place.

  It all added up to a nightmare.

  Resting her head in her hands, the night before began unfurling in front of her like a really bad movie. She’d had too much to drink—something she hadn’t done in years—and thrown herself at Reed Mitchell. Whether he was being a gentleman or simply wasn’t interested, he’d turned her down which was probably for the best. She didn’t need a man that good looking staring at the cellulite on her thighs.

  She stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower, scrubbing off the shame of the night before. Pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt, she went down the stairs rubbing her forehead and swearing to never drink again.

  She needed ibuprofen and coffee. Perhaps a mental eraser as well so she could forget her embarrassing behavior from last night. She wasn’t in the habit of trying to lure unsuspecting men into her bed, despite what people might think because of her occupation. Reed probably thought she was a real slut.

  “You’re awake. I made coffee.”

  His deep voice was unexpected and she gasped in surprise, her heart skipping a beat with shock. She had to lean a hand on the kitchen counter to catch her breath.

  “You scared the ever loving fuck out of me.”

  Reed was standing in her kitchen drinking coffee from a mug that said ‘organized people are just too lazy to look for things’ and munching on a piece of toast. He chuckled at her consternation and pulled down another mug and filled it. She wished she’d taken the time to dry her long hair instead of leaving it wet and loose around her shoulders. Paired with her pale features without a speck of makeup and she probably looked like Dracula’s sister.

  “You have a potty mouth in the morning. Do you want some toast with that?”

  Her stomach lurched at the thought of putting food in it but bread might soak up some of the acid that was currently eating away at the lining.

  “Thank you, maybe one piece,” she conceded. “And I have a potty mouth all day long. I was just hiding it because you were a guest. Why are you still here? I thought you would have gone to the hotel last night.”

  He’d obviously made himself at home in her kitchen. He popped a slice of bread into the toaster as she sipped her coffee and rummaged in the cabinet for a few tablets. This headache wasn’t going to go away by itself.

  “I couldn’t leave you when you were like that. What if you tried to get up in the middle of the night and hurt yourself? What if you got sick and choked?”

  She leaned her forehead against the cool wood of the cabinet and sighed. “Wow, you’re a real optimist aren’t you? None of that even occurred to me. I got drunk. I passed out. If I’d woken up puking I guess it would have been a fitting punishment.”

  “Are you looking for these?” Reed held out the bottle of ibuprofen. “As for being punished, I think the way you feel is punishment enough. I tried to make it not so bad by making you drink water so you wouldn’t wake up dehydrated.”

  “It helped.” Kaylee tossed back a couple of tablets with a gulp of scalding hot coffee. “Thank you, by the way. I’m mortified but grateful you were there.”

  She kept her gaze firmly on her coffee cup. The mind-blowing kiss they’d shared was sadly still front and center in her memory. It would probably end up in her new book.

  “You’re welcome,” he said, refilling his own mug. “You said you don’t drink much.”

  “I think the last time was probably New Year’s Eve. I had a couple of glasses of champagne and woke up with a headache. This headache.”

  “What made you drink last night?”

  Reed snagged the now golden piece of bread from the toaster and placed it on a plate before handing it to her. She bit into it—no butter or honey—and let it melt on her tongue. She was surprisingly hungry. She was also not so naive that she was going to admit that he reminded her of her male characters. Her best course of action was to pretend nothing happened.

  “I know you need to get on the road,” she said instead, still avoiding eye contact. “I shouldn’t keep you any longer. You have places to go. I do thank you, though. For everything. My home is like Fort Knox now.”

  “A single woman living on her own should be careful.” Reed placed his mug on the counter. “You do seem fine so I think I will get going. You sure you’ll be okay?”

  “Positive.” She lifted her head so he could see her give him a reassuring smile. “Once I finish this cup I’ll be as right as rain. Do you have far to drive?”

  “I’m heading to Florida.” Reed tipped his head back and drained his coffee. “By myself it will probably take me a couple of days. I don’t like driving sleepy. When I stop I’ll just try for a place that has some local flavor. Do some sightseeing. I’m in no hurry.”

  “That’s smart,” she said, trying to sound more pulled together than she actually was. “Driving tired—that is when accidents happen.”

  He placed his cup in the sink. “I know. I’m a cop, remember?” he teased. “I’ll call Logan and Ava this morning and let them know that everything is fine. Be sure to call the police and file a report. Today.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Kaylee wasn’t planning on arguing with him. That would only delay his departure. “I’ll do it this morning.”

  “Good. If things escalate, I want you to promise that you’ll give me a call.” He was holding out a card he’d pulled from his pocket. “You can call me on my cell day or night.”

  She took it from him but frowned. “If you’re in Florida what would you be able to do?”

  “Advise you at the very least. Are you going to promise me?”

  He was being so stubborn she really didn’t have much choice. She nodded in agreement and set the card on the countertop. It wasn’t like she was ever going to need it in reality.

  “I guess I’ll say goodbye then. It was very nice meeting you, Kaylee.”

  He walked toward the front door and she followed right behind. It was sweet of him to lie like that. She was sure it hadn’t been nice meeting her and then having to babysit to make sure she didn’t die in a pool of her own vomit.

  “It was nice meeting you too. Have a safe trip and enjoy your vacation. Thank you for everything.”

  Dear God, he was so slow in leaving. Couldn’t he let her wallow in mortification privately?

  He finally strode down the driveway to where his huge truck was parked. Waving, he slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and pulled out of her cul-de-sac. She watched him leave until he was out of sight and then closed and locked the door behind her. Resting against it, she groaned and scraped her fingers through her partially dry hair.

  “That was the most embarrassing thing to happen to me in years. Thank God he’s gone.”

  * * * *

  “So everything is fine with Kaylee.” Reed lifted the soda can from the cup holder and took a long drink. He was cruising down I-57 toward Kentucky and talking to Logan. “I turned her house into a fortress—well, a fortress for what can be done in an afternoon and made her promise to report the emails to the police. They were nasty but nothing personal. I gave her my cell number as well if the situation should get worse.”

  “Ava’s talking to Kaylee right now as a matter of fact. I’m sure she’s saying the exact same thing. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. Hopefully Ava can relax a little bit now. Her blood pressure has been too high and all she’s been talking about is Kaylee. I’ve been trying to distract her with deciding on nursery decorations and names.”

  Somehow Reed doubted that Ava was going to forget about the whole situation, and even if she did she might well just find something else to obsess about. His own sisters loved to talk about birth scare stories when they’d been pregnant.

  “She can set her mind to rest about this,” Reed assured him. “From what Kaylee said she gets email like this fairly often. She ignores them and they go away.”

  “Smart,” Logan chuckled. “Kaylee’s a bright girl and if she isn’t worried then I’m sure everything is okay.” Logan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Ava’s just plain bored. She’s gotten to the point she’s been asking me to bring home case files so she can review them with me. No way am I letting my pregnant wife start looking at crime scenes. Hell, no.”

  “Isn’t she working on a book?”

  From what Reed had heard Ava was always working on a book.

  “That’s just it,” Logan sighed. “Apparently Mark and Melissa aren’t talking to her right now. She’s difficult to live with when the muse isn’t flowing.”

  There was a screeching sound in the background and Logan cursed in frustration. “What, honey? Can you hold on a minute, Reed? Ava’s yelling something from the bedroom.”

  Logan must have put his hand over the microphone on his cell as Reed could only hear muffled voices.

  “Reed? Are you still there?”

  Logan sounded as if he were at the end of his rope. Reed wasn’t too damn sure the man was going to make it until the birth of those twins.

  “I’m here, buddy. What’s going on?”

  “Apparently Kaylee just told Ava that she received a letter again today. A real snail mail letter that said the usual crappy things but there was also a drawing of a red heart with a knife through it. Ava’s about to blow a blood vessel.”

  “If she hasn’t already called the police she should call them now. It looks like they know where she lives. This was the escalation I was worried about. He’s starting to make it personal.”

  There was a small silence and then Logan sighed heavily into the phone.

  “Listen, I hate to ask this but can you turn around and go back? Ava’s terrified something is going to happen to Kaylee and she said that Kaylee is pretty frightened as well.”

  Son of a bitch.

  “I’m already over an hour out of Champaign, Logan. Greg is expecting me at his place in Vero,” Reed said desperately. He did not want to get involved in this. The police were perfectly capable of dealing with the situation. She didn’t need a babysitter. Hell, she’d practically kicked him out of her front door this morning she was in such a hurry to see the backside of him, and Reed wasn’t about to tell Logan about that kiss.

  “I know you’re supposed to be on vacation. But shit, I need you to go back, buddy. If anything happens to Ava I don’t know what I’ll do. She’s worried about Kaylee, and honestly I can’t say that I blame her. If this was happening to Ava I’d be going out of my fucking mind. It’s not Kaylee’s fault she doesn’t have someone to look after her.”