“Just go. We’ll be here to help if you need it.”
Joel scrambled out the door after Vicki, racing to close the distance between them.
Sarah was on her feet, but leaning unsteadily against a wall between shops. Definitely underdressed for the cool temperature, her makeup, which had probably been fancy and fine the night before, made her look more like a raccoon than a sexy woman.
Vicki had her coat off and around her sister’s shoulders before Joel had time to react.
“What the hell are you doing?” Vicki planted her fists on her hips. “Don’t you ever sleep in your own bed?”
Sarah looked over Vicki before running a gaze up and down Joel, speculation in her eyes. “Whose bed were you in last night, lil’ sis? I don’t think you slept alone. So get off your virginal high horse.”
Joel pressed his coat over Vicki’s shoulders, leaping forward to catch Sarah as she stumbled. The fumes coming off her were enough to make his head spin. “Had a few last night?”
Sarah clutched his arm, fingers wrapping around his biceps in far too friendly a manner. “Oh, well, now. Maybe I shouldn’t tease my sister about taking you for a ride. You’re a sweet cowboy, aren’t you?”
“Sarah, you need to go home.” Vicki glanced up the street, her teeth set into her bottom lip. “Joel, I hate to ask, but do you think Matt…?”
“Of course.” He slipped an arm around Sarah’s body to help her to the truck.
Only she didn’t go willingly. Or maybe too willing as she pressed herself to his chest and draped her arms over his neck. “I like cowboys.”
He turned his face to the side to avoid breathing her in. “Sarah, we’re taking you home.”
“You can take me home anytime.”
Vicki snapped. “You really have no problem making a play for my boyfriend? I mean, shit, Sarah, have at least a little class.”
Joel half carried, half dragged Sarah toward Matt’s truck as Sarah struggled to get away. “Oh, that’s rich, coming from you. You’re the original boyfriend stealer in the family.”
“Shut up. You’re drunk, and you don’t want to talk about this right now.”
Sarah, however, wanted to do exactly that. “Poor Lynn was devastated when you stole her boyfriend. Silly girl never had anyone before, and you ruined it.”
They were at the truck, Sarah continuing to ramble.
“You always fuck things up for Lynn. Got her sent away. Ruined her chances to find a decent guy. You’re just a jealous bitch.”
Joel was tempted to suggest they drop the woman in a heap and leave her there.
Only Vicki was opening the back door. “Matt, sorry, but can you drive to my sister’s place?”
Maybe it was uncharitable, but he was grateful when Sarah passed out completely. Unconsciousness stopped her from groping him, and stopped the steady stream of foul accusations flung at Vicki.
Somehow they got Sarah’s limp body into the truck and at the other end of the journey, up the stairs and into her apartment.
Joel carried Sarah as he followed Vicki, the chaos of the room making his eyes bulge. “Crap, I thought guys were pigs.” Oops. “Sorry.”
Vicki thrust open a door and swept clothes off the bed to the floor. “Don’t apologize to me. I agree completely. Put her down and we can go.”
She pulled a garbage can closer to the side of the bed and jerked a cover over Sarah who was already snoring.
“You want to take her shoes off or anything?” Joel asked.
Vicki grabbed him by the hand and physically pulled him from the room. “The only reason we stopped is if she’d collapsed in some back alley and died after I’d seen her I would have felt guilty. What happens from here on is none of my business. Or yours, so just…let’s go.”
Matt and Hope were silent when they returned to the truck. Matt took them to Vicki’s apartment, the ride far more subdued than the happy hours they’d shared that morning.
Vicki sniffed, her face blank as she blinked away tears.
Joel stepped out to help her with her things, but it was Hope who surprised them both. She waited until Vicki’s small pile of camping gear was inside the apartment doors, then she swept in and wrapped her arms around Vicki, squeezing her tight.
Vicki stood stiffly for a moment before accepting the hug, her eyes bright with moisture. “Thanks. And thanks for the camping trip, it was awesome.”
“Call me, we’ll talk about the rental, okay?” Hope waved as she hopped into the truck cab.
Joel took Vicki’s things upstairs, making a rude gesture at the asshole across the hall. He hoped even harder it would work out for Vicki to share a place with Hope. He lowered her stuff to the floor before turning to take her in.
It was as if she’d closed off a part of herself. All the warmth and happiness he’d seen over the past day while they’d been camping was locked up tight, and he missed it. He stood without quite knowing what to do. “You going to be okay?”
“Of course.” Vicki paced to the window and peeked out through the slats. She pivoted toward him and forced a smile. “I’m always okay. Thanks for the camping trip. I had fun.”
He nodded. “She’s not your responsibility.”
“I know. I told you that.” Vicki shrugged. “Just a bit of a kick in the teeth after the different emotions of the past days. It’s nothing I can’t work through.”
Joel moved in closer. “You want me to stay? We can talk about it.”
Vicki met him in the middle of the room and slipped her arms around his waist, tilting her head back to give a glimmer of a real smile. “Oh, you. I’ll be fine. You’re wonderful, and I had a blast. We can talk later this week, okay? I suppose the horse lessons need to continue.”
Joel bent over to give her a sweet kiss.
There wasn’t much more to say. “Lessons continue for sure. You’re not getting out of them.”
She stared across the barn, her shoulders firmly planted against the wall. “Well, I’m good this far.”
Joel laughed. “Staying over here isn’t going to get you on the horse, not unless you have loooong legs.”
“Nothing wrong with my leg length,” she insisted. Vicki took a deep breath. After her little screaming debacle the last time she met with Sable, she didn’t want to embarrass herself again. Still, taking the next steps seemed damn impossible.
“Why don’t we stay here for a bit until you’re comfortable?”
Hmm, she was learning to recognize that tone in his voice. The slight rasp suggesting sex and pleasure. She lifted her head, wrapped her arms around his neck and accepted his kiss.
And when he lifted her, she folded her legs around him and held on tight.
Suddenly the wall was not just holding her up but him as well as he rocked against her, teasing her body, dragging a response from her as their lips meshed. Wicked wicked tongue and snapping bites were followed by soothing caresses.
Getting comfortable? Yeah, she’d pretty much forgotten that there was a horse in the building.
Someone cleared their throat.
Joel dragged his lips off hers, leaning their foreheads together. “You know, there’s not usually a revolving door on this barn.”
Vicki laughed. “So you’ve said. I don’t believe you. Now let me down.”
Maybe she should have felt embarrassed to be caught fooling around with him, again, but what the hell.
This time Jaxi stood waiting. Her coat was buttoned at the top, the bottom flaring around her distended belly. “So, now that you’re finished for a bit… Or, do you want me to come back later?”
“Shut up, Jaxi,” Joel stated calmly, no vinegar in the words.
Jaxi grinned.
Vicki stepped forward, tucking herself in front of Joel. “What’s up? Do you need help with something?”