Cowboy Untamed

“He sure does stand out.”

“Yep. He was the hardest to catch. We finally got him in the trap using tuna as bait. I think the others would eat any flavor I put out, but I buy the fish kind because that’s all Fred will eat.”

“You’re partial to him.”

“I am. He’s the smartest one and a survivor. He has several scars from the fights he’s been in, but he beat the odds.” She glanced at the approaching cats. “They seem a little uneasy about you being here. Maybe we shouldn’t talk.”

As they both fell silent, every cat settled down to eat except Fred, who stayed about six feet away with his green eyes fixed on Grady. Sapphire waited in hopes the cat would come forward on his own, but at last she decided he needed to be coaxed.

“Stay very still,” she said, “while I try to sweet-talk him into coming over.”

Grady gave a slight nod.

Leaning forward, she began crooning to the cat. “Come on, sweet Freddie. This man isn’t going to hurt you.” She lowered her voice. “Freddie, Freddie, Freddie. You know you want some. Come on, kitty-cat. That’s a good boy.”

Fred crept up to the bowl and began to eat, his teeth crunching on the small pellets. But that wasn’t the only sound Sapphire heard. The rhythm of Grady’s breathing had changed. She knew that rhythm because she’d heard it last night after he’d kissed her senseless.

She couldn’t imagine why he was reacting that way, unless... She had to smile as she thought of a possible reason. She’d probably sounded damned seductive just now when she’d lured Fred up to the food bowl. Having a man around who was that susceptible to her was flattering. And arousing.

The cats made short work of the food. When it was gone, some moved away from the bowls and began grooming themselves. Snow White and Persephone came over for some head scratches, but Fred grabbed up one last bite before turning and scampering back to the woods as if he couldn’t wait to leave.

“I’m determined to pet him someday.”

“You probably will.” Grady’s breathing was back to normal.

“I think I will, too, eventually.” She gave Athena some attention before she began gathering up the bowls. “Show’s over for this morning, though.”

He picked up the rest of the bowls. “I’ll help you wash these.”

“That’s above and beyond. I know you want to get your area set up.” She didn’t feel ready to share the small space with him again. Besides, one of the other co-op members could show up at any moment and she didn’t want to take a chance on major embarrassment. “I’ll do it.”

He must have heard something in her voice, because he didn’t insist. “Thanks for letting me come along for the feeding routine.”

“You’re welcome. Did you pick any favorites?”

“Either Snow White or Athena. I haven’t decided which.”

“The two mama kitties.”

“Yep.” He held the door for her and followed her into the tiny kitchen. “I’m a real fan of mothers who stick by their kids. Like my mom did.”

She put down the bowls and turned to him in surprise. “But you ended up in foster care at Thunder Mountain Ranch.”

“And consequently, people think she abandoned us. Instead she was in a car accident and Rosie offered to take Liam and me until Mom was on her feet. Once she was okay, we went straight back to her. She’s terrific.”

“Does she live here?”

“Not anymore. She’s in Cody with her new husband. Liam moved there when he got the job with the rafting company. I’d left to work in Alaska, so Liam talked Mom into moving down there with him. She met John in Cody. It all worked out.”

“I can see that.” Her heart squeezed as she thought of how tough those years when his mom was laid up must have been. “I’m glad for you. When we were in high school, all I knew was that you and your brother were at Thunder Mountain. I figured the two of you had no parents, or at least none that were worth anything.”

He grimaced. “That’s the only bad thing about going there. People assume we were neglected. Rosie’s tried to set the record straight, but it’s not easy. Thunder Mountain boys are supposed to be hard-luck cases.”

“And some of them are.”

“Yeah, just not me and Liam.” He walked over to the coffeepot. “I’ll get a cup of coffee and move out of your way.”

“Will you start work on the sculpture for the event?”

“No, I’m saving that for the actual night.” He took a mug out of the cupboard and poured coffee into it. “But I need to get comfortable with the space. Liam said Rosie would love to have one of my pieces, so that’s what I’m going to make first to test the setup.”

“That’s so sweet!”

“I’m a sweet guy.” He grinned. “So if you need me, I’ll be in the back of the barn getting hot and sweaty.” He picked up his coffee and left the kitchen.

Once he was gone, she took a deep breath before turning her focus to the bowls. She’d never washed those bowls so thoroughly. She scrubbed each one until her fingertips wrinkled while she tried to blot out the image of Grady’s smile and his “getting hot and sweaty” comment. He wasn’t going to let up on her.

Well, who could blame him? Last night she’d practically shrink-wrapped herself to his body. She’d barely escaped from the parking lot without begging him to come home with her.

She’d vowed on her way here this morning that this would be a new day and she’d keep her cool. That had lasted until he’d climbed out of his truck in his work clothes. He shouldn’t have been as sexy in those as when he’d been dressed to impress, but apparently, it didn’t matter what that cowboy wore. He had only to show up and she’d respond with a rapid pulse and damp panties.

Her lusty thoughts persisted even though he’d walked to the back of the barn at least fifteen minutes ago. The clank of metal and the hiss of a torch indicated he was working while she stood staring into space and wasting time.

Before his arrival yesterday she’d thought having him in the adjoining stall would be harmless fun, a chance to prove she could flirt without getting involved. Instead it looked as if she’d battle constant temptation with no relief in sight. She’d underestimated her sex drive, as well as his.

Swearing off artists had seemed like a piece of cake when she’d been smarting from the last humiliating breakup. Then Grady Magee had walked into her life. If the gods were testing her, they couldn’t have given her a bigger challenge. He was better looking, sexier and more talented than any of the other four.

She had plans for today, though, and her wheel was waiting. Maybe once she immersed herself in the project, she’d forget that Grady was on the other side of the wall getting hot and sweaty. Yeah, right. Molding slick clay on a revolving wheel was a sensuous experience that would only make the situation worse.

One of the other co-op members was bound to come in shortly. She took courage from that as she walked down the aisle between the stalls. If she went straight into her work area without stopping by his, she might be okay.

The hissing of the torch stopped. “Is that you, Sapphire?”

“It’s me.”

“Could you give me some advice on this thing I’m making for Rosie?”

She could hardly refuse such a request. “Sure.” Besides being flattered that he’d ask her opinion, she was curious about the design. He hadn’t mentioned what he’d planned to create for his foster mother.

She felt the heat before she stepped inside the stall. He hadn’t been kidding about the “hot and sweaty” part. His goggles hung around his neck and moisture had collected in the hollow of his throat. She wanted to dip her tongue into that depression and savor the salty taste.

Or maybe she’d comb his damp hair away from his forehead and unbutton the shirt that clung to his muscular chest. Booted feet braced apart and leather gloves tucked under one arm, he studied a sketch he’d tacked to the wall that separated his stall from hers. He’d laid an assortment of metal pieces on the floor beneath it.

She stifled a groan of frustration. Knowing he was the man who’d created the sculptures she’d seen in galleries had certainly made him appealing. Yet that was nothing compared to being in the same physical environment where he labored over his art. A visceral tug of longing almost made her reach for him. She clenched both hands and fought the impulse.

Something told her he wouldn’t welcome a sexual advance right now, in spite of all the discussion they’d had on the subject. When he looked at her, his direct gaze was all business. He was in work mode. “This won’t take long, I promise. I know you have your own stuff to do.”

“No problem.” His change of mood might have insulted another woman, but not her. She understood it. He’d entered his creative zone and had channeled all his sexual energy there. As long as he was focused on sculpting, she wouldn’t have to worry about this attraction between them. She hadn’t counted on that, because it was a rare gift, but one she respected. It also might explain why Grady had achieved such a high level of success.

“I thought I knew what I wanted when I sketched this,” he said, “but now I’m rethinking the configuration. It’s wolves.”

“I can see that. Nice.” The sketch was more than nice. He’d captured maternal love so perfectly that she had no doubt it was a mother with her litter.

“I picked a female wolf for Rosie because wolves have several pups. I’ll make a bear for my mom because bears only have two.”

Talk about irresistible. Now he’d added a layer of tender consideration to his blatant sexuality. “I’m sure they’ll both be thrilled. The concepts are brilliant.”

“I don’t know about the brilliant part, but they’re logical.”

Oh, and FYI, the guy was modest. His admirable traits kept stacking up. “Trust me, both ladies will think the pieces are brilliant.”

He laughed. “They do have an embarrassing tendency to gush. Okay, back to these wolves. My sketch has six pups but I think five is plenty. Maybe I should drop it back to four.”

“Hmm.” She studied his drawing. He’d arranged the wolves so they were all interconnected and would form a cohesive sculpture. She loved the symmetry of it.

“On a practical note, I’m one short of the recycled pieces I need for the pups’ noses. I’d have to go looking for another one if I keep six, but dropping just one doesn’t feel right for the composition.”

“I’d leave them all in. You’ve already figured out how to do it, so taking one out means redoing the whole arrangement.”

“But what about the nose thing? I don’t know the scrapyards around here the way I do the ones in Cody.”

“Could you alter one of the poses so the pup has his paw over his nose?”

“Maybe.” He stepped toward the drawing. “That one. I could move the paw up without compromising the design.” He turned to her with a smile. “Great idea. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Yeah, that’ll work. Great suggestion.” He repositioned his goggles, picked up his torch and grabbed one of the pieces of metal from the grouping on the floor. He acted as if he’d forgotten she was there.

Fascinating. She’d imagined having to fight off his advances, but it seemed that when he was working, he wouldn’t be making any. That alone separated him from the other artists she’d dated. All of them, she realized now, had been easily distracted and basically lazy. They’d expected success to come to them without a whole lot of effort. They’d had ability and she’d allowed herself to be impressed with that, but ability without discipline was useless.

But comparisons to her ex-boyfriends didn’t matter, because if she did decide to have sex with Grady, that was all it would be about. She’d keep it pure so she’d never have to discover his fatal flaw and become disillusioned for the fifth time. Could she manage to enjoy the sex and keep her emotions out of it? Only one way to find out.

Walking into her cubicle, she stared at her potter’s wheel. She already had a plan for her next project, a large bowl to hold fruit. The interior would be a cool lime green and the exterior would be pale orange. She might add some flecks of yellow if she settled on the right shade.

Yesterday she’d been excited about making it, but today her thoughts were on Grady instead of the new piece that had been on the drawing board for more than a week. Several customers had said they’d buy such a bowl, so she’d already presold a few. On the other side of the wall Grady’s torch hissed, and the air was filled with the acrid scent of hot metal.

Listening to those sounds galvanized her. She’d make that bowl this morning and have a prototype for the others. Each one would be slightly different because that was her hallmark, but she had to create the first one in order to make variations on that theme.

Generally, she preferred working alone in the barn, but having Grady there intent on his sculpting kept her at the wheel longer than she’d intended. His energy seemed to penetrate the barrier between them and she experienced design breakthroughs that stunned her. The fruit bowl took on an unusual shape that dipped on one side to leave room for a cascade of grapes or a cluster of bananas. She could see that becoming a trademark of her fruit-bowl designs.

She’d transferred the first one to the kiln and stopped by the kitchen to get coffee when Arlene Danbury came through the door. Arlene’s watercolors of Wyoming landscapes had become increasingly popular in the past year, but the income wasn’t enough for her to live on. She worked part-time as a nail tech in a local salon to make ends meet. She reminded Sapphire of a sparrow—always in motion and easily flustered.

This morning she was more hyper than usual. “He’s here, isn’t he? I can smell hot metal.”

Sapphire felt like the gatekeeper, but if not her, then who? “He’s working and I’ve learned he’s very focused. We probably shouldn’t disturb him.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. But he’ll take a break sometime, right? What’s he working on? Is it the piece for the silent auction? I thought we were supposed to—”

“It’s not for the silent auction.” Sapphire had learned it was best to interrupt Arlene when she launched a barrage of chatter or it would go on forever. “He’s making a sculpture for his foster mom. You know Rosie Padgett, right?”

“She’s my client! I just did her nails this week. She’ll be so thrilled. Is it a surprise? I’ll bet it’s a surprise, so I won’t say anything. But if it’s not a surprise, then she might think it’s odd that I don’t—”

“I think it’s somewhat of a surprise but I didn’t find that out. We’ll ask him when he comes up for air.”

“Okay. Let me get some coffee before I go back to my stall.” She kept talking as she walked over to the pot. “I shouldn’t have any more, because I’m already a little jumpy, but I work so much better when I’m sipping coffee. Wait, there’s only enough for one cup. Did you want that?”

“Go ahead. I’ll make more.”

“If I’m the one to take the last of it, I’ll make another pot. That’s the way it always worked in my family. Maybe Grady wants some. Is he a coffee drinker?”

“I am.” Grady appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. “But I can make it.” Stepping through the door, he held out his hand. “Grady Magee, ma’am. Pleased to meet you.”

For the first time in Sapphire’s memory, Arlene was speechless. She stared up at the tall cowboy with her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. After what felt like a very long time, she murmured, “You’re beautiful.” Then she pressed her hands to her pink cheeks. “Did I just say that out loud?”

Grady smiled. “If you think I look good, you should see my brother, Liam. He’s the handsome one in the family.”

“Then your mom and dad must be beautiful, too.”

“Never knew my dad, but my mom is definitely beautiful.” His gaze flicked over to meet Sapphire’s as if to ask, Who is this nutty lady?

Since Arlene didn’t seem aware that she’d failed to introduce herself, Sapphire decided she’d better do the honors. “Grady, this is Arlene Danbury. Her watercolors of the Bighorn Mountains are becoming quite popular.”

Arlene’s blush deepened. “Not as popular as your sculptures, Grady.”

“They will be. I noticed your watercolors. Really nice.”

“Oh, thank you! Pick whichever one you want and it’s yours!”

He smiled at her. “You know I can’t do that. I’d choose the best one and you’d be out a lot of money.”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do. I’ll buy one of your watercolors and be honored to have the opportunity. Now, how about if I dump out the dregs and make us all a fresh pot of coffee?”

“Okay.” Still dazed, Arlene nodded and moved out of his way. Then she turned to Sapphire and mouthed, Oh, my God.

Sapphire struggled not to lose it. At least she wasn’t the only one enthralled with Grady. Arlene gradually recovered her poise and began pelting him with questions about his work. Surprisingly, she gave him a chance to answer each one before she threw out another, but it was more like an interview than a conversation.

He took it in stride, as if this happened to him quite a bit. Sapphire didn’t doubt it. She couldn’t recall his being followed by a pack of female admirers back in high school, but he’d filled out since then. And he’d taken up sculpting.

She’d bet his career choice affected how women perceived him. It certainly had influenced her. In high school he’d been a cute cowboy like all the others who attended school there. He still had cowboy charisma going on but he’d added a layer of intrigue with his career in the arts. No wonder Arlene had been struck mute.

But Sapphire had picked up another tidbit thanks to Arlene’s fan-girl moment. He hadn’t known his dad. In talking about his mother and Rosie, he’d skipped over any mention of his father. He’d quickly dismissed the subject just now, too. Come to think of it, Grady and Liam wouldn’t have lived at Thunder Mountain Ranch if their father had been around to help out.

In a way she wished she hadn’t learned that. It made him more vulnerable, more human and endearing. Because he hadn’t elaborated, she didn’t think the story was a pretty one. He admired his mother because she’d stuck by her kids and had raised them by herself, apparently, until the car accident had left her with nowhere to turn. That meant grandparents hadn’t been on hand, either.

Yeah, she really didn’t want to know that about him. Staying emotionally detached from a guy who looked like Grady and had the talent of an angel was difficult enough without finding out that he was fatherless, too. Herb Padgett, Rosie’s husband, would have taken that role to some extent and maybe Grady’s new stepdad had belatedly become a father figure. But during Grady’s early years he’d missed out on having a dad for games of catch or afternoons spent at the nearest fishing hole.

“Coffee’s ready. Who wants a cup?” Grady held up the pot.

“Me, please.” Arlene stuck out her mug. “Thank you so much for making it. Have you ever heated water for coffee with a welding torch? I knew a guy who used to do that all the time, made me so nervous. I told him a million times not to do it but he thought it was a cool idea. In my opinion—”

“Fortunately, I don’t do that.” Grady held up the pot. “Sapphire? Coffee?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

He poured it and tossed her a wink when Arlene started in on unsafe-welding-torch stories again. “If you ladies will excuse me, I’m gonna take my coffee and get back to work.”

“Me, too,” Arlene said. “I’ll walk you down there.”

“That would be great.” Grady gave Sapphire a quick smile before leaving with Arlene.

Her voice drifted back as they started down the barn aisle. “Can I peek in on your project?”

“Not yet, ma’am.” Grady sounded polite but firm. “If you don’t mind, this is a very personal sculpture, so I’d like to make a lot more progress before I show it to anyone.”

“Oh, sure, sure. I totally understand.” Arlene must have realized she was being pushy. “I’ll just stop off here at my stall, then. See you later!”

Nicely handled, Sapphire thought. Knowing he’d trusted her enough to seek her advice about the piece created a warm glow that she carried with her as she returned to her wheel. But her plan to keep her emotional distance wasn’t working worth a damn. That could be a problem.

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