The Cowboy's Spring Romance Read online

  “I’ll just head back to the ranch. Sorry to interrupt, Lindsay, although we all thought you’d be ready for a break from Trent about now,” Travis said with a grin, opening the door. Tipping his hat to Lindsay, he turned and left.

  Trent held his Stetson in his hand and wished like everything Travis had waited just five more minutes to knock on the door. If he had, Trent would finally have kissed Lindsay. This had gone beyond painful and was now bordering on ridiculous. He’d kissed plenty of women in his time, but why was it the one woman he wanted to kiss more than anything was the one that was taking the longest to get the job done.

  Refusing to kiss her then run out the door, he took her hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing it gently then brushed the hair off her face where it had tumbled while he was tickling her.

  “Thanks for a nice afternoon, Princess,” he rumbled, taking a step back toward the door.

  Lindsay was trying to maintain the ability to breathe normally. Her hand felt like it was on fire where Trent kissed it and, like a silly schoolgirl, she had the fleeting thought that she might never wash it again. “I enjoyed it, too. Maybe we can do it again.”

  “We’ll plan on it. Bye,” Trent pecked her cheek then hurried out the door.

  Lindsay stood watching him go, not feeling the cold as it settled around her, lost in her thoughts of the handsome man who was slowly but surely weaving his way into her heart.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jealousy in romance is like salt in food.

  A little can enhance the savor,

  but too much can spoil the pleasure and,

  under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening.

  Maya Angelou

  Trent finished his morning chores and decided to go visit Lindsay, just for a few minutes. He couldn’t get her out of his head and thought he wouldn’t be able to accomplish another thing unless he could drink in the sight of her. The fact they were going out that night didn’t quell his need to see her right now.

  Slogging through the mud and melting snow toward the house, he would be glad when spring finally arrived. The time between the bitter cold of winter and the warming of spring was challenging.

  Leaving his boots by the back door, Trent stole a basket and a few muffins from the kitchen when Cady wasn’t looking. Pulling on a cleaner pair of boots, he hurried out to his truck and down the road to Lindsay’s house. As he came from behind the grove of trees that kept the house from being visible from the road, he was surprised to see a newer looking SUV parked next to her car. Studying the vehicle, he didn’t notice Lindsay outside on her porch until he got out of his pickup and started up the walk.

  Glancing at the front door, he suddenly stopped. There stood Lindsay in the embrace of a good-looking man, with her lips pressed to his cheek. He could see love and happiness radiating from her face.

  The basket falling from his hand caught her attention and she looked at him. Pulling back from the man, she took a step toward Trent.

  “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you this morning. What are you up to?” she asked with a cheery smile, acting like she was genuinely glad to see him.

  Trent was seething. There she stood, without a speck of remorse, caught in the arms of another man. After all, they’d talked about and shared, after the amazing dates they had, after him falling in love with her, how could she expect him to chat like there wasn’t anything wrong?

  Obviously, she was playing him for a fool. Trent immediately resigned that role.

  “Well, isn’t this a pretty picture. Is he coming or going, Lindsay?”

  “Pardon?” Lindsay asked, a look of confusion settling on her face.

  “You let lover boy spend the night? Isn’t that special?” Trent said mockingly, losing the ability to be rational or reasonable.

  “What?” Lindsay was sure she was not hearing Trent correctly. She couldn’t be. If she was, he was acting like a jealous creep.

  “Nice to see you play some men along while keeping others quite… satisfied.” Turning, Trent marched back down the sidewalk, Before he got in his pickup he turned back to give the man on her porch one more look. “She’s all yours, buddy, and I’ll wish you a lot of luck with that.”

  Trent started the truck, spun out of Lindsay’s drive and raced toward home.

  He couldn’t remember ever being so mad. He wanted to pummel something and yell. Maybe pound his fist through a wall.

  Instead, he went out and started loading the flat bed trailer they used to haul hay out to the cattle by hand. The hayfork on the tractor could get the job done in a matter of minutes, but Trent felt the need to do something physical. Bucking bales seemed like a great way to work out his frustrations.

  He and Lindsay had gone on a handful of dates in the past few weeks, had talked or texted nearly every day and he was head over heels in love with her, yet they hadn’t even kissed.

  Obviously, she was saving all her loving for mister city dude in his leather bomber jacket, salon styled hair, and designer jeans. Trent wondered who he was, how she met him, and exactly how often he spent the night at Lindsay’s house.

  If she was that kind of girl, he was glad he found out now before his heart and head were any more entangled with the maddening woman. It hurt to know she played him along, let him think she was interested in him, when he was just some sort of diversion from her boredom. Couldn’t she have the decency to act the least bit remorseful at being caught with the city dude?

  Slamming another bale onto the trailer, Trent gave it a vicious kick before picking up another.

  ><><

  Lindsay stood on her porch and watched Trent storm off. She quietly walked down the steps and picked up the basket he’d dropped. The delicious smell of blueberries wafted up to her nose. Going back up the porch steps, she looped her arm through her brother’s and walked into the house. At least they had something to go with the coffee she was making when Lonnie showed up by surprise this morning.

  He was antsy to get out of Portland for the day and decided a drive to visit Lindsay would clear his head. Leaving early, he arrived at her house just before eight. Just before the famed Trent Thompson showed up and got the wrong idea about what was going on.

  “So, that was Trent,” Lonnie said, taking off his coat and hanging it by the door before following Lindsay to the kitchen.

  Pulling out a chair, he sat down while she got out plates and butter. Pouring them each a cup of coffee, she plucked two muffins from the basket and handed one to Lonnie.

  Lonnie inhaled the blueberry scent, closing his eyes to enjoy better the experience.

  “I’m guessing these are from your friend, Cady. The one you said is a fabulous cook.”

  “Yes. These will be the best muffins you’ve ever eaten. Guaranteed,” Lindsay said, trying to remain calm, but fighting hard to do so. How dare Trent show up, accuse her of having an affair and run off before she could explain the man on her porch was her brother? “So, what brings you out here so early this morning?”

  “I just needed to get out of town and see something other than skyscrapers and asphalt, so I decided to come visit my sister for the weekend. Hope that’s okay?” Lonnie said, sipping his coffee. “I know I should have called first, but I sort of woke up, got in the car, and here I am.”

  “I’m glad you’re here and no, you didn’t need to call,” Lindsay said, taking a bite of muffin and savoring it. She expected it to taste like sawdust, with her mouth dry and her neck muscles clenched in a knot. Trent was the most infuriating dolt.

  “I got the distinct idea that Trent might be upset,” Lonnie said, buttering a second muffin, having devoured the first. Lindsay was right. They were the best he’d ever eaten.

  “That… that… stupid lunkhead,” Lindsay finally spluttered. “He had no right accusing me of anything. I can’t help it if he jumped to conclusions. If he hadn’t behaved like a crazy person, I could have introduced you and he wouldn’t have gotten all upset.”

  “Maybe he’s jealo
us,” Lonnie suggested, having got that idea quite clearly from Trent’s words and actions.

  “Well, he’s got no right to be. Besides, I’m not convinced he’s all that into me.”

  Lonnie put down his muffin while his laughter filled the kitchen. Lindsay glared at him.

  “What’s so funny? I don’t see a thing for you to be laughing at so hysterically.”

  “Do you honestly think Trent would go ballistic over a man hugging you if he wasn’t into you? He’s got it bad for you or I’ll walk all the way back to Portland.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Absolutely,” Lonnie said, sipping his coffee.

  “Then why hasn’t he…” Lindsay cut herself off before she revealed more than she intended.

  Lonnie looked at her intently. “Why hasn’t he what?”

  “Never mind.”

  “No, you started to say something and now you have to fess up. What hasn’t he done?” Lonnie pressed, knowing Lindsay would tell him.

  “Kissed me,” she whispered, staring at her plate.

  “What did you say?”

  “He hasn’t kissed me yet,” Lindsay said, pained by the admission. All the guys she dated usually kissed her on the first or second date. Not Trent. He didn’t seem to be in any hurry to take that step in their relationship. At first, it seemed romantic and noble. Now, she was bewildered, wondering what about the idea of kissing her he found so repelling.

  Lonnie grinned.

  Lindsay frowned. “Why are you smiling? It goes against nature for a guy not to kiss a girl, doesn’t it?”

  “Especially when she wants to be kissed as badly as you do,” Lonnie taunted. “Good grief, Linnie, he sounds like an honest-to-goodness gentleman. At least if you discount his display of bad manners this morning. Then again, if I’d gone to see Maren and found her in the arms of a man who looked like he stepped off the cover of GQ, I’d probably lose my cool and do something I’d later regret.”

  “Who said you were magazine-cover material?” Lindsay asked, her good humor somewhat restored. “Speaking of Maren, why aren’t you spending the weekend with her? I thought you two were getting along really well.”

  “We are, but she had to go out of town on business Thursday and won’t be back until next Tuesday. Left alone in the big cold city, I knew coming to visit my little sister would cheer me right up. So far, it has been quite entertaining.”

  Lindsay threw a napkin at Lonnie and he laughed.

  “So let’s say you did find Maren in the arms of a handsome man, would you throw out accusations and stomp off or would you calmly find out what was going on?”

  “I’d probably punch the guy in the nose then ask questions later. I guess I should feel fortunate Trent wasn’t close enough to deck me. He looks like he could take down just about anyone with one swing. You didn’t mention he was quite so tall and fit.”

  “What was I supposed to tell you? You’re my brother, after all. Did you really want to hear about how tall and handsome he is or how good he smells or how his eyes crinkle up at the corners when he laughs or how he could pose for one of those fundraiser calendars as Mr. July with that broad chest and all those tight muscles, or…”

  “Wait a minute,” Lonnie said, shifting into protective brother mode. “He hasn’t kissed you but you’ve seen him bare-chested. Care to elaborate on that one?”

  “Not particularly. It was an accident and one I won’t be repeating. It was quite mortifying the first time.”

  Lonnie relaxed. “Good. Now, from what I saw and what I am hearing is that you are quite taken with Trent, who is obviously into you. The two of you need to figure out what you are going to do about it. I know he didn’t display the very best manners this morning, but Linnie, cut him a little slack. I probably wouldn’t have handled the situation much better myself if I was in his shoes.”

  “Regardless, he should know me well enough to know I wouldn’t do something like that. How could he think, even in his craziest mixed-up notions, that I would string him along while dating someone else? That I would…” Lindsay couldn’t go on as tears sprang to her eyes. She couldn’t believe Trent would think she would play fast and loose with anyone. It cut her to the quick to know he didn’t have a better opinion of her.

  The more she thought about it, the madder she got until she was fairly steaming. Lonnie’s teasing added fuel to the flames and before she could talk herself out of it, Lindsay bundled up and told Lonnie she had a few things to say to one Trent Thompson, then she’d be back and they could spend the day together.

  “Take your time, Linnie. I’ll just hang out and see what’s on television this morning,” Lonnie said, trying not to smirk. This was much more fun than staying home and cleaning his apartment.

  ><><

  Trent looked up to see Lindsay stalking toward him, anger evident in every stomp of her boots through the mud and melting snow outside the hayshed. He climbed down from where he was loading hay and stood waiting. He was more than ready for a verbal showdown if that was what she wanted.

  Planting his feet apart, he stood with his arms crossed in front of him, waiting for the earful she was about to deliver.

  Instead, she kept right on coming until she was just a breath-space away. Raising her hand, she used her index finger to poke him in the chest. Despite his layers of clothes, the action was not only annoying, it hurt a little.

  “You are such a jerk,” she hissed, poking him two more times for good measure. “How could I possibly think you were a great guy? You’re an arrogant, jealous, judgmental, first-class jerk.”

  Giving him a hearty shove, he fell backward over a broken bale into a pile of loose hay. Lindsay stood glaring at him. Before she could stalk off, Trent caught her legs in his and tripped her, toppling her on top of him.

  Holding her tightly as she struggled against him, he fought the urge to kiss her senseless, trying to remember how mad he was at her. When Lindsay kept fighting against him, he rolled over on top of her and pinned her hands at her sides. Trent could feel every dip and curve of her figure, even through their coats, and he was about to lose the battle of maintaining his composure.

  “I’m not the jerk, Little Miss Two-Timer. How dare you lead me on and let me think I had a chance with you when you’re already involved with someone? Couldn’t you just tell me upfront? Did you have to play me like that?”

  Pinned down by Trent’s body on hers, his arms like bands of steel keeping her from smacking him again, Lindsay was having a hard time remembering why she came out to the Triple T.

  “You’re an idiot and a jerk,” she finally said, mustering up the righteous indignation that had driven her out here in the first place. She tried not to move because every time she did she could feel Trent’s muscles ripple against her. It was hard to hang on to the unraveling threads of her fury with him so close, smelling so good and looking so ruggedly handsome.

  “You can call me whatever you want, but I know what I saw,” he said, working to keep the hurt and anger he felt earlier in his grasp. “What am I supposed to think when I see you in another man’s arms, kissing him?”

  “You could think that maybe it was my brother since I was kissing him on the cheek and we look a lot alike,” Lindsay whispered.

  “Oh,” Trent said, realizing he was an idiot and a jerk. When he saw Lindsay with the man on her porch, he just assumed it was someone she was romantically involved with from the way she hugged him and the look of love on her face. Thinking about it, the guy was tall and blond. “I didn’t know.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Lindsay said. “But if you’d waited a minute and let me introduce you, you could have met Lonnie. Instead you acted like a jealous buffoon.”

  Trent gave her a crooked smile. “So now I’m a jerk, an idiot, and a buffoon?”

  “And a dork,” Lindsay added for good measure. “How could you possibly think I was that kind of girl? I mean, come on, Trent. If I was, don’t you think we’d have at least kissed by now?�
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  “I’m sorry, Princess,” Trent whispered, wanting more than anything to relieve the tension coiled so tightly inside him and finally claim the peach-hued lips that taunted him in his dreams. “Seeing you with someone else just made me see red. I’m really sorry. I know you aren’t that kind of girl.”

  “Humph,” Lindsay said. It was hard to get her point across when she couldn’t take her eyes off Trent’s lips so temptingly close, just mere inches from her own. “I think you owe Lonnie an apology as well.”

  “Okay,” Trent said. He’d agree to anything she asked if she’d just let him kiss her. All he had to do was move his head just a fraction her direction and their lips would connect. Wanting to kiss her before they ever went on a first date, he was now convinced a part of him might die if it didn’t happen soon. Today. Right at this moment.

  “You should also spend some time thinking about how badly you behaved.”

  “Sure.” Trent was slowly moving his head closer to hers.

  “And you should come up with some means of dealing with your anger and jealousy issues.”

  “Yep.” So close, he could almost taste her lips. They looked sweet, ripe, and delicious.

  “And I expect you to stay after school all next week and write ‘I will not be a jerk’ one thousand times on my blackboard.”

  “You bet,” Trent agreed then realized what she said and grinned, moving his focus from her lips to her eyes. “But only if the teacher rewards my efforts.”

  “What kind of reward do you think you deserve?” Lindsay asked, wanting more than anything for Trent to cross the breath of space that separated their lips and end her torment.

  “A big one,” Trent said, his voice lowering as his arms loosened their grip.

  “Is that right?” she asked in a sultry tone, her lips moving closer to his of their own volition.

  “Absolutely right,” Trent said. Unable to hold back, he planned to lightly brush her lips, to give her a gentle yet teasing kiss. Instead, he crushed his lips to hers in a kiss that sent them both beyond the edge of reason. Hungry, desperate, wanting, the kiss deepened as he shifted, holding her closer. Electricity jolted through them.