Montana Mavericks: a hot cowboy collection Read online

  Her knees wobbled. Taking a deep breath, she stood and maneuvered around chairs to the front of the room. Squaring her shoulders, she placed exhibits that showed the layout of the golf course, the clubhouse, and some possible home sites on the easels behind the podium. She gave a quick speech, recapping what Niles had said.

  She answered the board’s questions regarding setback requirements, golf course maintenance, and preservation of indigenous trees.

  “Did you draw those, young lady?” Commissioner Phillips asked, pushing his spectacles up on his nose while pointing to the detailed drawings of the eighteenth hole and clubhouse.

  “Yes, I did, Commissioner,” she said.

  “They’re just beautiful, dear.” Commissioner Milston smiled. “I heard you’re designing the garden for Willa.”

  Sophie’s spine prickled with awareness. “Yes, Commissioner,” she said slowly.

  “You know, we should have a nice garden on the other side of Maverick, don’t you think?” Madge Milston asked the other two members of the board, both of whom nodded instantly.

  “Well,” Sophie said, scrambling to stay on topic, “both the golf course development and a community garden would draw tourists to the area, not only for day trips but for longer periods of time.”

  “That is so true,” Commissioner Phillips agreed. “We’ll have to get together and see what kind of funds we can obtain.” He coughed. “Do you plan on having those pretty fish ponds at Willa’s Garden?”

  “Um, yes.” She disliked losing control of the meeting, although being treated like one of the community tickled her. She cleared her throat. “Commissioners, if there are no more questions about this design, I’ll turn the podium over to the public.”

  The board nodded, and Sophie escaped back to her seat. She didn’t need to look to know Jake’s amused eyes tracked her progress.

  Several members of the public asked for a halt to all development. Some complained the golf course was too far from town, while others argued it was too close and would cause traffic problems. The Concerned Citizens Group sat toward the back, and only Billy Rockefeller testified about the perils of government control and why Montana needed a citizens’ militia. The board looked as if it had heard it all before.

  Finally, Jake’s name was called.

  He strolled like a lazy panther to the podium, all grace and confidence. An unwelcome hum whispered through Sophie’s blood. The hum pooled in a very private area as memories from her time in his bed flashed through her mind.

  “Commissioners, I’m Jake Lodge, and I represent the Kooskia Tribe tonight.” He placed a stack of papers on the podium, but his earnest gaze stayed on the commissioners. “The tribe opposes the development. First, as you know, we own Mineral Lake just below the proposed site.” Several tribal members nodded their heads in the audience. “Now, the last thing we would ever want would be to sue the county for allowing a development to pollute the lake.”

  Sophie tensed. Jake’s threats chilled her desire.

  “Damn,” Preston breathed next to her. “He did not just threaten to sue the entire county if the development is approved.”

  The commissioners straightened to focus on his testimony. “Jake, are you really saying you’d sue the county?” Commissioner Milston looked down her librarian nose at him, and Sophie fought a smile. Retirement hadn’t diminished that look at all.

  “You know we take preservation of Mineral Lake very seriously, Commissioner. You bet we’d sue the county, as well as the developer and every applicable land owner, should the lake be threatened.”

  “Young man, I don’t appreciate being threatened,” Commissioner Phillips noted.

  Jake smiled. “I understand, Commissioner, but I had an excellent football coach who once taught me that hiding your game plan wasted time. It was better to lay it out there, show your strengths, and you’d know right off where you stood in battle. It’s a lesson I took straight to the Supreme Court.”

  Commissioner Phillips’s eyes warmed, and his lips twitched into a grin.

  Jake turned toward Commissioner Milston. “A savvy librarian once chastised me for tricking a girl into the back stacks. She told me that if I wanted to kiss a girl, I should just say so and not create a story. That way the girl could make up her mind and I’d know the attraction was mutual.”

  He turned then, his gaze warming on Sophie for a heartbeat. She swallowed, unable to move.

  Then he focused back on the county commissioners. “I’m just saying what’s what so the county isn’t surprised by future repercussions.”

  He turned to Commissioner McNast while Milston smiled at him in exasperation. “Also, I spent more than one very hot, very tiring summer moving watering pipes to irrigate fields of hay and wheat while learning to respect the land around us.” Jake grinned, all charm. “Those pipes didn’t have wheels like they do today. It was unhook, lift, move, and hook again.”

  A couple of knowing laughs came from the audience.

  “But,” Jake said, turning serious, “I learned that if you pay attention, the land will show you what’s right. Geography will show you where to place the pipe, where the water needs to spray. In this case, we need to look at the land and preserve it for future generations. I know Mineral Lake is as important to Maverick County as it is to the tribe.” Several heads nodded. “Besides the lake, the tribe has serious concerns with this particular developer.”

  Sophie’s stomach dropped. Thank goodness she was sitting.

  “What do you mean, Jake?” Commissioner Milston pulled papers closer to her face.

  “I mean that the Charleton Group is known for pitching one design and then building another once a permit has been granted.” He punched in a couple of keys on the computer next to him and a golf course design came up on the big screen in the corner. “This design shows a golf course with homes set every acre apart and was approved in Michigan three years ago.” He hit a couple of buttons. “This is the actual development.” It was still a golf course, but four-story condominiums lined the sides. Jake showed three more examples, all with the same result. “All of these were developed by the Charleton Group.” A muted gasp arose from the crowd.

  Then Jake turned to Sophie. “Miss Smith’s golf course is beautiful and is designed for homes to be scattered every two acres, right?”

  Sophie nodded, fighting the urge to push back from the table. To put distance between herself and the man commanding the podium. Sharp hurt angled through her chest.

  “Now, Miss Smith, would your design work if condominiums replaced the homes?” he asked.

  All eyes turned to Sophie, but she only saw the black ones pinning her. He was hard and cold. Determined. A slow anger started to build between her shoulder blades and pushed the hurt aside. For now.

  “Miss Smith?” he asked again.

  How dare he put her on the spot like this? Every muscle tightened in her body, her eyes shooting sparks at his. They’d shared a bed. The things she’d let him do to her! “My design includes homes every two acres.”

  “I understand that.” His voice gentled. “That wasn’t my question. I asked you whether or not your design would work with condominiums.”

  Sophie was silent for a moment as she struggled for the right answer. His look told her he’d wait all night. Her chin lifted. They were so freaking done. “No. My design would not work with condos.”

  “Why not?” he asked.

  The bastard. He was going to get her fired. But the truth was the truth, and she wouldn’t lie to the county. “The setbacks would be off. The golf course is designed to complement the lake, which would be blocked by condominiums.” Strength infused her voice as she met his challenge. No way would she let him see the pain he’d just caused. She’d trusted him.

  “Did you know?” His voice lowered even more. They could’ve been the only two people in the entire room.
/>   “Know what?” She didn’t like this Jake. The same mouth that had explored her the other night was set in a firm, uncompromising line. He looked big. And dangerous. Exuding a threatening undertone of anger if she answered wrong.

  “Did you know that Charleton usually altered designs?” he asked.

  “Of course not.” How could he think that? Hurt made her sway in her chair. She’d looked over many of their finished projects, and that had never happened. But they’d commissioned tons of designs, and she surely hadn’t studied them all.

  Niles jumped to his feet. “We’ve had enough of this slander. I can assure you, Mr. Lodge, you can expect a lawsuit from this.”

  Jake’s eyes didn’t leave Sophie’s face as he replied, “Truth is an absolute defense to slander. In other words, bring it on.” Then he gathered his papers, nodded at the commissioners, and retook his seat.

  Niles turned toward the commissioners. “The tribe opposes our development because it wants to build a golf course over by the casino.”

  Commissioner Milston turned toward Jake. “Is that true, Jake?”

  Jake stood. His voice easily reached around the room, even without the microphone at the podium. “I stated why the tribe opposes the project, Commissioner. It’s bad for the land, and a shady developer is bad for the county.”

  Preston hissed out breath as Jake continued. “However, as you are well aware, the tribe has made no secret of its plans for the casino, hotel, and golf course. We do plan to put in a golf course.” He flicked a glance their way. “I’m sure you are also aware that two, even three, golf courses in close proximity actually benefit them all. We’d like to be a golf course haven. People could stay at the hotel for several days and play several different courses.”

  “Bullshit,” Niles muttered under his breath as he sat.

  Sophie clasped her hands together under the table to keep them from shaking. To keep anyone else from seeing them shake.

  “Still think he’s a nice guy?” Preston whispered dryly.

  “Is he right about the condominiums?” she asked under her breath.

  “Not to my knowledge, but we’ll definitely have to follow up on this,” Preston said.

  Madge banged a gavel and said they would issue a decision within a week. They stood, and the crowd began to mill around Jake, everyone talking at once.

  “You have to get me out of here,” Sophie whispered to Preston.

  “Of course,” he said.

  Loni suddenly appeared across the table. “Oh, there you are, Sophie. I drove myself in today. Would you mind driving home with me? I came in earlier to do some shopping and didn’t know the storm was coming. I’ll drive, but I really can’t see very well at night and the boys all brought their own cars. I just don’t want to go alone.” Guileless brown eyes beseeched her.

  When Preston started to speak, Sophie held up a hand. “Of course I’ll drive with you, Loni. Let me grab my exhibits and we’ll go.” Loni was safe. Sophie needed time to think. Time away from Preston—and Jake.

  “I’ll help.” Loni hurried over to the easels.

  Sophie turned to Preston. “It’s okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She had to get out of there before Jake escaped from his admirers.

  “If you’re certain. Don’t worry, Sophie. It’ll all work out.” Preston dropped a light kiss on her forehead.

  The fury leaping into Jake’s dark eyes across the room snared Sophie’s gaze. She instinctively moved away from Preston and toward the exhibits. “Let’s go,” she whispered to the older woman. With a concerned look at her son, Loni let Sophie tug her out a side exit while Jake was stuck in the crowd.

  Sophie breathed a sigh of relief when they were finally alone on the road home.

  As Loni maneuvered the car onto the freeway, Sophie watched the flicker of lights across her friend’s face.

  “I’m not sure what I should say,” Loni said softly, her eyes intent on the wet asphalt.

  “There isn’t anything to say,” Sophie returned.

  Loni’s hands tightened on the wheel. “He was just doing his job,” she said.

  “It was more than that,” Sophie muttered.

  “It was more than that.” Loni sighed. “Jake, his heritage, it’s so important to him. Mineral Lake and the land, plus the future of the tribe. He’s a fighter, my Jake is.”

  Sophie’s nerves jerked until she wanted to puke. “The tribe is everything to him.”

  “Not everything. Family is right up there. Of course, the two usually combine,” Loni said.

  Sophie stared miserably out the window as drops of rain began to fall again. His heritage was everything to him, and he’d really turned into a shark at that meeting.

  She didn’t know the real Jake Lodge at all. One day he was a gentle cowboy who cooked her dinner and made love to her. The next he became the cold, methodical lawyer, taking the Charleton Group apart piece by piece. Or was he the powerful cowboy controlling a wild stallion with his thighs? Whoever he was, the man would win. Would do anything to win.

  She just couldn’t be pregnant. She couldn’t have a man like that in her life controlling her. Controlling her baby. What was she even worrying about? It was one broken condom. The idea that she’d be pregnant was crazy, and she needed to just relax and forget about it. She needed to forget about Jake, too.

  She didn’t notice as Loni stopped at the B&B.

  “Will you be okay tonight?” Loni asked.

  “I’ll be fine. Thanks for the ride,” Sophie said woodenly as she grabbed her exhibits from the backseat and ducked into the rain. She kept her head down against the deluge as she crossed the walk and climbed the steps to the front door. After she turned to wave, Loni flashed her lights and headed down the road. She put her boards on the porch, shifted to unlock the door, and jumped when a voice interrupted her thoughts.

  “Running, are we, Sunshine?” Jake asked from the darkness.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sophie pivoted, safe from the rain beneath the porch overhang. The shadows sat comfortably across the hard planes of Jake’s face, his back against the porch swing, his long legs extended to cross at booted ankles. He was relaxed, a predator surveying its prey. “I think we should talk, don’t you?

  “No, I really don’t think so.” She turned back toward the door and stiffened as the swing moved. Hurt and fury commingled until she wasn’t sure what she’d do. “How did you beat us here?”

  “Back roads. My mom drives slowly… I don’t.”

  She’d kick him in the groin. Yeah. Good plan. “Whatever. Go away,” she said.

  “It was business.” He stood right behind her, his breath warming the top of her wet head.

  “Baloney.” She didn’t turn around.

  “Maybe not completely,” he admitted.

  Her breath fogged the square pane of window. A part of her wanted his reassurance that their night together mattered. “You didn’t have to put me on the spot.”

  “No, but I knew you’d tell the truth and that most of the crowd already liked and trusted you,” he said.

  An unwelcome warmth spiraled through her. She was such a dope. “Sounds like a calculating, strategic move, Jake.”

  “Maybe.” His hand latched on her elbow and swung her around. “But it was the truth.”

  “Was it? How about the tribe’s golf course? Afraid of a little competition?” Fury heated her face and cascaded down her spine.

  “Not in the slightest.” His calm demeanor was going to get him punched. “I meant what I said. An additional golf course would only draw more tourists to the area. Look at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. There are at least nine golf courses within fifteen miles of one another; some you can see across the lake from others. I told you our reasons for opposing your project.”
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  “Why didn’t you tell me the tribe planned a golf course?” she asked.

  His chin lowered. “I am a lawyer, darlin’.”

  “Yeah, well, I must have forgotten that.” Sophie jumped as thunder rumbled directly overhead and gusts of wind sprayed rain at them. It matched the fury screaming through her blood. She gestured toward the rainy night while jerking her hand from his grip and stomping a safe distance away. “Even the weather worked to your advantage—I saw your mother home.”

  “Thank you. I believe she was trying to help you.” Rain dripped from the rapidly curling hair across his forehead. The scent of man and musk filled the space. “You think I control the weather now?”

  “No.” Sophie squeezed the water out of her wet curls. “I’m sure you’d like to control even the weather, but that seems to be out of your reach.”

  “You’re not,” he said in a low timbre.

  “Not what?” she asked.

  A swift arm grasped her and yanked her into his hard body. “Out of my reach.”

  Sophie put both hands on his chest and pushed. Hard.

  His only reaction was a slow, dangerous smile that set her heart sputtering. “Brute strength isn’t how you’ll get what you want.”

  “Oh, but it is for you?” Her hands clenched with the need to belt him.

  A nonchalant shrug and raised eyebrow belied the seriousness of his gaze. “If need be.”

  “Meaning what?” His hands burned through her linen jacket and matched the heat flowing through her blood. Her body thrummed to life, her nipples peaking in contrast to the anger rippling through her. What was wrong with her?

  “Meaning…” His hands tightened imperceptivity on her upper arms as his face dipped to within an inch of hers. “If Preston puts his mouth on you again, he’ll be gumming his food for the immediate future.”

  “Y-you wouldn’t.”

  “Wouldn’t I?” His gaze hardened ever further as one hand lifted to tangle in her wet curls.