Steel Toes & Stilettos (Sweet & Rugged in Montana Book 2) Read online

  He opened his mouth to ask what on earth that entailed but stopped himself. He didn’t want to know. Claire and Cole’s wedding was one week away and the two of them seemed to be in a constant state of movement dealing with it all, not to mention Alice.

  But that meant…he ran a hand through his hair. “When do you get back?”

  “Tomorrow, hopefully.”

  Hopefully? Oh man.

  “But don’t worry, big brother. The event planner might not even show tonight. She didn’t know when she’d turn up, maybe that’s part of it…a test or something to see if we could handle last-minute preparations.” Alice’s tone took on a hint of respect, “That would be smart, actually, catch us unawares and—”

  “She’ll be there tonight,” he said through gritted teeth, unable to listen to his sister’s ignorantly cheerful tirade any longer.

  “How do you know?”

  He looked over at his truck. “Because I’m driving her home right now.”

  Chapter Three

  Whatever was being said on that phone call, it didn’t seem to be going well. She watched in amusement and then fascination as this laid-back cowboy lost his cool entirely while talking to his sister.

  First he tore his hat off as if it had offended him, then ran a hand through his hair, which left it adorably tousled.

  Great. Just what she needed, for this guy to go and do something that made him adorable on top of sexy.

  Then he was scowling down at the ground and his fierce expression did funny things to her insides. Seeing him all passionate about something—anything, it seemed—made the butterflies in her belly go into a tizzy.

  But then his gaze started to dart in her direction. He clearly couldn’t see her in the darkness of the cab, but he seemed to be unconsciously seeking her out. Why?

  The answer was clear. He was talking about her. Obviously. Wasn’t that the whole reason he’d called his sister?

  So why did he look so peeved?

  She shifted in her seat as the embarrassing memory of her cold-shoulder treatment on the plane hit her anew. But how was she supposed to know he’d be her host? She couldn’t be blamed for being standoffish to some stranger who was intruding on her personal time.

  Adopting that cold exterior had become something of a defense mechanism way back in high school. She’d gone to a private school on the Upper East Side—it was a battlefield of egos and superiority complexes.

  The best way to be above it all was to…well, be above it all. Looking down her nose became a go-to response. Though being on the short side she had to tilt her nose way up in the air to look down it.

  She sniffed, shifting once again and wishing she had on something more comfortable than her corporate attire. Just because she’d started her own business hadn’t meant she could drop the formality of working in an office. If anything, it meant she needed that more than ever. Clothes were a suit of armor and she’d wanted every weapon at her disposal when she went out on her own up against the biggest and the baddest in the industry.

  Event planner might sound like a nice, sociable term, but Katy had learned the hard way that the competition could be fierce. And mean. Just ask Liz Gold, the former top planner in New York who’d been checked into a sanatorium after a meltdown of epic proportions.

  No single competitor was to blame but Katy was certain their underhanded tactics and gossip had helped. Katy was also fairly certain that the clientele hadn’t helped matters. It was one thing to deal with the high-society version of bridezilla, but to do so wearing non-designer clothes?

  She shuddered at the thought.

  Katy would have been eaten alive by that crowd if she’d showed up in jeans and an oversized sweater. And the Hollywood set were no better, although they didn’t have the old-money snobbery so much as the rich and famous kind. Neither was pleasant to deal with and each required a certain amount of defensive skills as well as the appropriate armor.

  She watched as Dax paced in front of the car, illuminated by the headlights. Clearly she’d been too quick to jump to conclusions on the plane. He hadn’t been hitting on her, he’d been being nice.

  Nice made her cringe. Not all the time, but with men who thought she needed them to come to her aid? Yeah, that didn’t sit well. She’d spent a lifetime being coddled and cared for, first by her father and then by her boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend now. Her father and her ex had been concerned to the point of controlling. So darn helpful they wouldn’t let her make her own mistakes, which often meant not making her own choices.

  She’d broken free of all of that when she’d moved west and there was no way she was inviting that kind of chauvinistic domination back into her life, not even if it comes in the package of a hot cowboy. Not even if it was disguised as nice.

  She wrinkled her nose up in disgust at the most recent display of masculine concern, telling Ellen “she’s had a long day.” She scoffed loudly in the car. Who did he think he was? Sure she’d had a long day, but no one made excuses on her behalf.

  She’d bet he was the kind of guy who ordered for his date at restaurants and insisted on picking up the tab as if no woman could afford to pay her own way.

  Ugh. She hated guys like that. She may have fallen for it before, but never again.

  So yeah, nice made her cringe.

  Still, at least she knew now that he hadn’t been trying to hit on her. It had become very clear that he’d been trying to help her, in his own misguided way, and now he was trying to be a good host. So, good. No need to worry about him coming on to her or having expectations of romance.

  That should be a relief. Somehow it just rankled. Why didn’t he like her? Most guys found her attractive, at the very least, but he was handling her like a little sister, at best, and with polite deference at worst. He very clearly viewed her as his responsibility, though it was equally clear that he wasn’t pleased about that fact. He didn’t seem happy that she was there, let alone with him.

  She found herself bristling again, despite the fact that she knew logically she didn’t want him, and she certainly didn’t want him to want her, right?

  She was starting to confuse herself.

  Of course she didn’t want him to want her. That was just her silly ego talking. Maybe she was a little more vain than she’d care to admit. Yes, that was it. She was clearly just put out because he didn’t want her and that didn’t sit well, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t still for the best.

  He paced through the lights once more and she was certain his hair was even more ruffled than before as though he’d been running his hand through it continuously. Man, whatever was happening on that call, he wasn’t having it.

  Was it because of her? Was he put out because of her arrival?

  Those insecure thoughts popped up unbidden and she rolled her eyes at her own idiocy.

  She crossed her arms and forced herself to look away. It didn’t matter if he wanted her here or not. She wasn’t here for long.

  And thank goodness for that.

  Finally he climbed back into the truck and started the ignition.

  “Is everything all right?” she asked.

  “Hmm?” He turned as if surprised to see her there. “Oh, uh, yeah. Everything’s fine.”

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  His face creased in an honest grin that made her lips twitch up in response. “Sorry, I just…” His voice trailed off with a weary sigh. “It seems Alice has been held up.”

  “At gunpoint?”

  He shot a glance in her direction. “Pardon?”

  “Nothing.” She stifled a laugh at his clear distraction. Alice’s news must have been a blow. Now he wasn’t just stuck with her…he had to be alone with her. Shaking her head, she realized how silly she was being. She couldn’t be their only guest on this busy holiday weekend, and who knew how many people worked there.

  She shifted in her seat and forced her mind away from the thought of being alone with Dax. “Is your sister all right?”

 
He nodded, his gaze once more fixed on the road. “Oh yeah, she’s fine. She and Claire went to the city for last-minute wedding preparations, whatever that means,” he muttered under his breath. “And I guess Claire’s car broke down so they’re stuck there for the night.”

  She nodded even though he wasn’t looking. “You seemed awfully upset on the phone.”

  It was a casual observation but his reaction told her everything. He looked…guilty. They had been talking about her. She was why he was so upset.

  She should let it go, but she couldn’t. “I don’t know if I should be offended or amused by how miserable you are to be stuck with me.”

  He flinched and if she had any doubts, that confirmed it. Man, had she really been so horrible that this unflappable cowboy had been about ready to lose it on the phone call?

  Still wearing an apologetic wince, he gave her a little smile. “Sorry. It’s not you, it’s—”

  “I swear, if you say it’s not you it’s me right now, I will make sure to step on your toes when you help me out of the truck.” She arched her brows at him. “I don’t know if you noticed but these heels are lethal.

  “Oh, I noticed.” His tone was laced with laughter and she relaxed a bit in her seat. She didn’t want to hear him explain why he was so miserable to be around her. Her ego couldn’t take it. This whole evening had been humiliating as it was, no need to hear him spell out just how much he disliked her company.

  She scrambled to come up with something else to talk about—anything else. She latched onto the scene they’d just left. “Your friend, Ellen, seems nice.”

  “She is,” he said.

  Silence.

  Well, wasn’t this cozy? She’d never been one to enjoy silence and this one was far too tense and awkward for her liking. “What did she mean when she said she wasn’t ready to date? Is she divorced or something?”

  “No.” He glanced over. “Her husband died a couple years ago. Car accident.”

  “Oh my gosh.” Her breath rushed out of her as empathetic pain swept through her making her feel weak. “That’s horrible. He must have been young.”

  “He wasn’t even thirty,” he said. “The worst part is they had a daughter together so that little girl lost her father.”

  The silence between them was no longer awkward as they both absorbed that bubbly woman’s tragic circumstances. At least, she’d thought they were both thinking about Ellen, which was probably why his next statement threw her for a loop.

  “My reaction earlier wasn’t personal,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’m sorry for making you feel unwelcome.”

  She shrugged, thrust back into awkwardness so quickly she got humiliation whiplash. Of course that meant that her age-old defenses rose up with a vengeance. Before she could shut it down, she found herself acting like the spoiled rich city girl he no doubt already suspected she was. Sniffing haughtily she lifted her nose in the air. “No offense taken. It’s not like I want to be here any more than you want to have me.”

  Ugh. She nearly wrinkled her nose in disgust at the way she’d sounded. But it had either been act cold or show him just how hurt she was.

  She felt his quick look and tried not to flinch. It wasn’t like she was trying to be rude, but a woman had her pride. And she didn’t want to be here.

  Still, that little bit of time when they’d been getting along had been…nice.

  There was that word again. Such an insipid word. She really had to expand her vocabulary.

  They rode in tense silence for what felt like forever. Finally, Alice broke it. “Look, you can take me to a motel or something. This town of yours has one of those, doesn’t it?”

  She saw his jaw tense at her caustic tone and felt a flash of shameful pleasure when her barb hit home.

  “Lulu has a guesthouse,” he said, his voice impressively even. “But there’s no need for you to do that. Alice has prepared a house specifically for you.”

  “Goodie for me,” she said under her breath.

  She was making a bad situation worse but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Stung pride and her discomfort in this state and in this truck…it gave her a reckless, unpleasant energy. This feeling of being out of control had always made her uncomfortable but over the years as she’d grown into her independence, she couldn’t tolerate feeling like she was at someone else’s mercy. She hated this feeling, it was one of many reasons she’d avoided dating, particularly men like this. Men who put her on edge. And this man? He had her on the verge of a cliff.

  And now she was going home with him.

  In the most platonic way possible, of course, but still…she wanted out. “Look, I think I’d be more comfortable at this guest house, so if you don’t mind, just drop me—”

  “Please don’t do that.”

  She might have been annoyed if he’d interrupted harshly, but he hadn’t. His voice was weary and as he ran a hand through his hair she felt a surge of empathy. He looked tired. He’d been traveling too, she supposed, he had every right to be just as burned out.

  What had he been doing in Seattle, anyway? It wasn’t her business, but she opened her mouth to ask anyway. Before she could, he continued talking.

  “I’m sorry.” His voice was husky and filled with sincerity.

  She felt herself caving despite the fact that she still really did not want to be alone with this man, in the truck or on his ranch. Shifting in her seat, she managed a less than gracious mumble. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not,” he said. “You’re a guest of the ranch and you should be made to feel welcome.”

  She held back a sigh. Wonderful. She’d just been relegated to an irritating obligation again. How very flattering.

  “Look,” he said, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. “This guest ranch idea means everything to my sister. I know I’m doing a terrible job of selling it but at least stick around until she can take over as your actual host.”

  He flashed her a smile that would have made her knees go weak were she standing. “I promise my sister got all the charm as well as the beauty.”

  “And the brains?” For a second her stomach jumped and she worried he’d think she was acting like a brat again, but he grinned and she gave him a small smile in response.

  “Oh yeah, she has more brains than me and Cole combined.”

  She doubted that. This guy hardly fit the role of a fumbling bumpkin, but she wasn’t quite ready to start throwing compliments his way. A détente she could handle—it put some of her anxiety at ease to not have outright conflict during this seemingly endless ride to the ranch. But compliments? She thought not.

  She relented with an ungracious sigh. “Okay, fine.” Looking out the window, she was determined to end this conversation before it could grow tense again. The best way to deal with this cowboy? Steer clear.

  Her mouth had other ideas. “Why is this only your sister’s deal?” she asked, curiosity winning out over reason. “Don’t you guys all own it together?”

  He nodded slowly. “Yes, but…It was her idea.”

  She held back a snort of amusement. It was her idea. He made it sound like he was blaming her for some wrong. She could just imagine them as children. She took the cookie from the cookie jar. It was her idea.

  She bit back a laugh that probably had more to do with her exhaustion levels than with the private joke. “I take it you don’t approve of the idea.”

  He frowned at the road, his brows drawing together as though she’d just offered him a particularly taxing riddle. “I think the idea has merit and it makes sense financially.”

  “But?” She added the unspoken word.

  He glanced over and then back at the road. “But having strangers on our family’s property, on the land I’ve been working since I was a kid and in the homes that have been passed down for generations…” He trailed off with a shrug.

  She stared, uncertain of what to say. It wasn’t as though she could really put herself in his shoes. Her parents owned so
me property out in the Hamptons, but she had little attachment to it, and neither did they. It had been a good investment opportunity that was more often rented out during the summers than in use as a family gathering spot.

  No one in her family had time to lounge about on the beach.

  Watching Dax’s profile she was struck with a moment of clarity. This wasn’t just a property, it was a part of his family, his legacy.

  Jealousy sliced through her like a knife. She blinked a few times in surprise. Huh. Who would have thought that she would be jealous of a cowboy and his ranch?

  A ranch that clearly wasn’t a huge financial success if they were resorting to bringing in guests, which he so obviously did not want. But then who would want strangers traipsing around their property and interfering with the daily tasks?

  Worse, the type of people that could afford the airfare and stay at a private, reclusive setting like theirs…it was about as far from Dax’s comfort zone as imaginable. Oddly, the thought softened some of her sympathy and brought back some of her earlier amusement. The thought of this downhome cowboy having to cater to the hoi polloi made her grin. “I’m guessing you get some A-listers up here, am I right?”

  He glanced over, a hint of confusion in those dark eyes as he took in her amusement. “Some. Though none so big as your client, from what I hear.”

  From what I hear. She rolled her eyes as she looked out the window. “You’re not familiar with Hannah Bailey?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  She turned back quickly, her senses on high alert. All right, that was it. “Enough of the ma’ams, already.”

  He didn’t respond. She peered through the dim lighting of the cab. What the…was that a smirk?”

  She was irritated and amused at once, not a common sensation. “Trust me, Hannah is as big a star as you can get in Montana.”

  He nodded. “Good to know.”

  “She’s the star of the highest-rated show on television.”

  He murmured something that sounded appropriate, but she knew without a doubt that he was humoring her. “Let me guess, you don’t like celebrities.”