Heart of a Rancher: A Cowboys of the Flint Hills Novel

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Oooh the nerve of him, calling her babe. Lexi hurried from the kitchen, pulse racing like she’d just finished a brutal round of racquetball. What in the hell was he doing in Prairie, let alone at Caro’s wedding? “Obvious, Lex,” she muttered hurrying up the stairs in a feeble attempt to put as much distance between her nemesis and herself as possible.

Thanks to the gossip at her mother’s diner, she’d figured out a couple of years ago that Jamey Sinclaire was Jarrod’s sister. But since Lexi went out of her way to avoid Jarrod professionally as well as personally, she hadn’t given it a second thought. She wasn’t back in Prairie that often, anyway. But why did he have to look so delicious holding a newborn baby? The guy didn’t have a parental bone in his body. How could he when he was one-hundred-percent cocky arrogant lawyer?

But her racing heart didn’t seem to give a s**t about that. She was pretty good at reading people, and she worked that repeatedly to her advantage in the courtroom. Jarrod’s face made it clear he wanted her for dinner. And dessert. And the thought of that sent fire racing through her to settle in a hot ache between her legs. This would not do. Not at all. She’d kept a lid on her attraction to him for years, she could do it in her family’s house. She barged into Carolina’s room. “Quick,” she gasped. “Lock the door.” She slammed it shut and sagged against it, turning the lock as three pairs of startled eyes turned her direction. “Ma’s going crazy down there,” she offered. It was a weak excuse, however true. Although it seemed like Jamey was managing her mother just fine. But the offer of help had died on her lips when she spied Hotshot Hunkypants in the corner with a baby.

Her older sister, Cassie, marched over to the door, face set, and firmly unlocked the door. “You can’t keep her from Carolina,” she reprimanded. “You’re the one who’s wound up tighter than baling wire.”

Hell, yes, she was. “Only because my opposing counsel showed up to visit his sister,” she snapped.

Three pairs of eyes went round, and her sisters all spoke at once. “What?” “Who is it?” “What do you mean?” “Spill,” ordered her twin, cradling her own baby, Bubba. The cutest little chubster an auntie could ask for. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this.”

The barb hit home. Lexi usually told her twin, Lydia, everything. But with Lydia so wrapped up in her pregnancy, and becoming a new mom, and with helping her husband Colt, get a rodeo riding program off the ground, Lexi’s gripes and problems had seemed… trivial. Lately, she’d kept more to herself. But right now, she was trying to bring a riot of butterflies in her chest under control. She scowled at Lydia. “I didn’t know about it until I saw him in our kitchen.”

Lydia gasped, eyes going wide. “Wait. You mean to tell me that hottie who’s Jamey Sinclaire’s brother and who’s melting everyone’s ovaries within twenty miles of here is your opposing counsel?” She blinked, then burst out laughing. “Caro, I hope you’re serving popcorn at the reception. I’m gonna need a bowl.”

Cassie c****d her head, puzzled. “How did we not know your opposing counsel in ‘the trial of your life’,” she air-quoted, “was Jamey’s brother?”

Her face burned. “It was need to know?” she squeaked.

“Sure it was.” “Hmmmph.” “She didn’t want us to know,” Carolina chimed in after her sisters, giving her a big stink-eye.

Lexi’s gut clenched. It wasn’t that she was purposefully deceiving her sisters. She’d never do that. She loved her sisters more than her own life, but Jarrod was… well, a pain in her a*s for starters. They had this weird chemistry that tended to raise its head at inopportune times, like when they met for e-discovery six months ago. Then there was the time at a corporate mixer right after she’d moved to D.C. when she’d made a poor attempt at flirting with him and he’d been a first-rate d**k. After that, she put all her effort into being the best at her job, but he always seemed one step ahead of her — the golden boy getting the sweetest cases, making partner at an ungodly young age, the highest earnings. Just thinking about it made her blood heat. Not that she wanted what Jarrod had. She’d come to terms with the kind of lawyer she wanted to be fresh out of law school. She wanted to look at herself in the mirror every day and not cringe. Lexi looked around at her sisters, suddenly aware they’d gone quiet. “I… ah… it didn’t seem important.” Flimsy excuse, but how could she explain? She looked at Lydia for help. Lyd understood she was the more private of the two, that sometimes she needed to work things out in her head before talking about them with her sisters.

But it was Carolina who came to her rescue. “You can hide out up here if you need to, but I’ll be downstairs celebrating with my husband.” She lifted her eyebrows with a grin. “Is it time to get dressed?

“Hell, yes.” Lexi said, grateful for the attention to be off her for the moment. She crossed the room and grabbed Caro’s dress from where it hung off the top of the closet door. “This is your day. I can handle Mr. Shark Attack downstairs, and I promise not to make a scene.” She turned, draping the silky satin over her arm. “You’re going to make the perfect bride.”

Carolina reached for her hand. “And you’re going to make the perfect bridesmaid.” She looked around the room. “All of you. I couldn’t imagine doing this without my sisters.”

Lexi’s gut clenched at the sound of a knock, then promptly released when her mother entered. Jeezus, one interaction with Jarrod, and she was jumpy as a newborn filly. “Lex, will you hold Bubba? I want to give Carolina her shoes.”

“Of course. I can’t wait to make faces at my little chubbikins,” she cooed, taking her nephew into her arms. Lexi retreated to the corner, heart full as Lydia presented Carolina with a pair of luxurious black and gold boots. “Your talent never ceases to amaze me Lyds,” she said with pride in her voice.

Her twin flashed her a smile. “Don’t worry. Someday I’ll make you a pair.”

“Ha. I don’t think so. I’m happy to be auntie to all your kids.”

“Don’t be so quick to write yourself off, sweetie pie,” her mother scolded. “You’ve got enough brains in your head for all of us, and someday you’ll meet a man who appreciates that.”

Lexi made a face. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, ma. But I’m perfectly happy on my own.”

Dottie bent to pat her cheek. “You know I adore all my girls.” Her voice grew thick. “You’re the joy of my life. And little Bubba, too.”

“Mama, help me with my veil?” Carolina called.

Dottie’s hands shook as she helped tuck the veil into Carolina’s bun. She was trying her damndest to keep it together, but Lexi could tell she was struggling. They all were. After all Carolina had endured, seeing her radiate happiness made them all a little choked up. Lexi brushed at a tear as Dottie made her excuses and slipped out the door.

A flash lit up the room, followed by a loud c***k of thunder. “Ooh, no,” Lydia wailed. “You can’t have rain.”

“It’s okay.” Cassie rushed to Carolina’s side. “We moved the decorations twenty-minutes ago.”

“Besides,” Lexi added, bringing Bubba’s tiny little fingers to her lips. “Rain is good luck, right?” she cooed. “And you’re going to be just as beautiful in front of the fireplace as you would on the porch.”

Another knock sounded at the door, and this time, Lexi remembered to breathe. There was no way Jarrod would dare venture upstairs. Colton Kincaid, Lydia’s husband, stuck his head in. “You want me to take the little man?”

Lydia nodded at Lexi, and Lexi crossed the room, reluctantly handing her nephew over to his daddy. “He sure is a sweet thing.”

Colton beamed. “Lydia’s already made him a pair of cowboy boots.”

“I’m sure she has,” Lexi said, casting a wry look at her sister. “I’d be shocked if she hadn’t.”

“Are we ready, sisters?” Cassidy asked, pulling out bouquets of green and white hydrangeas from the floral box.

“More than ready,” answered Carolina as she took her bouquet and stepped through the bedroom door.

“I’ll bring up the rear,” Lexi volunteered.

“You’ll do no such thing,” Lydia contradicted, grabbing her hand and pulling her through the door. “t**s up, sis. Show whatshisface what you’re made of.” She squeezed her hand before turning and heading down the stairs.

The rain pounded on the roof, drowning out the anxious buzzing in her ears, as she followed Carolina and Lydia down the stairs. The living room was crowded with happy faces, and while Lexi kept her eyes firmly on her sister, she was instantly aware of Jarrod’s presence in the room. Without even turning her head, she could sense his sheer physicality off to her right, like they had some weird electric connection. The ceremony lasted all of fifteen minutes, culminating in a loud crash of thunder that rattled the windowpanes. Lexi jumped at the noise, but no one noticed because everyone’s eyes were glued to the kissing couple. Everyone’s except Jarrod’s. His gaze collided with hers, and she couldn’t look away.

Heat bloomed in her chest, spreading and warming her like hot, melted caramel, until she was sure her face was as pink as her dress, and the ache that had been tickling her p***y for the last hour, intensified into a throb that made it hard to concentrate on anything else.

Something must be wrong with her. She didn’t react to men like this. Except for Jarrod. Always Jarrod. She’d caught him on occasion staring at her like this — once in the law library years ago, more recently in the courtroom, and once at a mixer. Her body had reacted in kind, but the looks had been so fleeting, she’d been sure her mind was playing tricks on her. Now, she wasn’t so sure. And that was very, very bad.