Cade's Loss: California Cowboys 1 Read online

  But now his brother had gone and hired someone against his wishes, and to add insult to injury, it was the gorgeous, mysterious creature he’d fucked six ways to San Francisco just last night. Cade began to harden at the memories of her silky hair brushing down his thighs before she wrapped her full lips around his cock and sucked, long and hard and wet. Christ, she’d been amazing.

  “And that’s not going to fix this mess,” he said to his horse, Roscoe, as he stroked the powerful beast’s soft nose.

  No, as incredible as the night with Nina had been, that was all it was supposed to be—one night. Neither one of them had asked questions, given answers, or made plans of any sort. He’d given in, a rare occurrence, and let himself have a moment of selfish pleasure, and look how it turned out.

  Cade had been twenty-five years old and living on the pro surfing circuit when his parents were killed in an accident on Highway One, leaving his two brothers, Ty, then twenty-one, and Vaughn, only seventeen. Cade had flown home, listened to the reading of the will, and discovered that he was now part owner of the family ranch, along with Ty, and Vaughn when he came of age. He was also Vaughn’s guardian and the executor of the entire estate. He’d never known. Never had any idea that his parents had saddled him with all of it in their wills.

  Six years later and he wasn’t sure what was more work—managing the ranch or managing his brothers. Vaughn was a hopeless womanizer, plowing through the girls in all the surrounding towns as if he’d been given a time limit and had to sleep with as many women as possible before he lost the ability. He was careless and irresponsible, and usually gone, leaving everything but the actual cattle herding to Cade and Ty. Vaughn loved to be outdoors, so if the herd needed to be moved to different grazing land, he was your guy. Otherwise, he was usually in some woman’s bed.

  Which was why Cade had always figured it would be Vaughn who would knock someone up. But in the most bizarre of tricks played by the universe, it was Ty who managed that one.

  Cade shook his head as he held out a sugar cube he’d found in his pocket and let Roscoe delicately pick it up from his hand.

  Yes, as much as Cade loved his niece, Kate, her arrival at Big Sur Ranch had been one hell of a surprise. Ty had managed to find the one woman in a hundred miles who didn’t want to be married to a Jenkins brother and had no intention of raising a child with one either. Suzanna had booked the minute poor little Kate was born, and the Jenkins men and their Aunt Lynn had been raising the blonde hellion ever since.

  After all the years of coming down on his brothers for their less than responsible ways with women, Cade could hardly admit now that he’d done really dirty things with their new organics consultant. Even though said consultant shouldn’t be on the premises.

  “Hell, Roscoe,” he told the horse as it snorted in his face. “I’ve really fucked this one up.”

  “Truer words,” Ty said as he walked into the barn.

  “Don’t start,” Cade warned. “You have no idea how pissed I am that you did this without my okay.”

  Ty sighed as he leaned against the gate to one of the stalls. “You did agree to it, but that’s beside the point. She’s here now. I’ve signed the contract with her company. You’re just going to have to deal with it.”

  Cade looked at Ty, marveling at how much like their mother he looked. Vaughn was a blend of both their parents, and Cade was all their dad, but Ty had always been Mom’s boy, dark hair, dark eyes, optimistic outlook. And that optimism, that need to always work to make things better, was driving him up a damn wall. The ranch didn’t need to be made better. Hell, the ranch worked best when just left to its own devices.

  “And tell me again why we need to go organic like every other damn ranch and farm for a hundred miles around?”

  “Because our bottom line is sinking. We’re not competitive like we used to be, and all those organic ranches? They’re kicking our ass in profits.”

  “It’s called a trend, and those don’t last,” Cade argued. “Slow and steady always wins the race. Organic certification takes forever and costs a bundle. It’ll fade, and places that produce good healthy beef like we always have will win the day.”

  Ty shook his head. “Didn’t you listen to anything when I sent you to talk to people at the USDA last month? Hell, you had dinner with President Hampton and said even she was in favor of the move to organics. It’s better for everyone, man. The cattle, the land, the humans.”

  Cade’s mind briefly flew back to his trip to Washington, DC, when he had indeed eaten dinner with the president, who shared a mutual friend with him. What he hadn’t told Ty, or anyone, was that he’d also kissed the president, which had been nice, but nothing like kissing Nina last night. Fuck. There he went again.

  “And explain to me who she ”—Cade stabbed a thumb in the direction of the guesthouse—“is and why we need to pay her what I’m sure is far too much money?”

  Ty shook his head. “Nina Cline is from a private certifying agency. They’re accredited by the USDA to approve organic enterprises. So, she comes out here for a while—a few weeks—looks over every single detail of our operation, tells us what we need to change, and how to do it. Then we make those changes, and she’ll come back when we’re ready and inspect. Hopefully, at that point, we’ll pass and become certified. But in the meantime, we can start labeling our product as all natural, hormone free, antibiotic free, as soon as we implement those steps in the process.”

  Cade looked at his brother, nothing but dollar signs floating through his head. “So we have to pay her to consult, pay her to inspect, pay to make all these changes, pay to have our stuff relabeled, pay for alternative ways to control diseases and increase body weight in the cattle. And all on the off-chance that it will improve our bottom line—when? How long will this all take?”

  Ty crossed his arms defensively, and Cade knew from his posture that Ty’s next answer was going to be a doozy.

  “Depending on what products have been used on the land, it could be as long as three years before we qualify for the inspections.”

  Cade slammed a fist against the barn wall, causing Roscoe to whinny at him. “Three years? You want me to spend what I’m sure will be thousands and thousands of dollars and not even qualify to begin to see a return for three years? What the fuck, Ty?”

  Ty shook his head. “You may be the oldest, but we own the ranch equally. Your wishes aren’t the only ones that count. We have equal rights to make business decisions and sign contracts. You haven’t been trustee since Vaughn turned twenty-one, but you still act as though your opinion is somehow more valuable than ours. I did the right thing. I talked to you about this. It’s not my fault that you didn’t listen. I’ve been discussing this for weeks. I even sent you to talk directly to the USDA about it, figuring that then you’d understand the whole thing better. Whether you like it or not, I’ve done due diligence on this, Cade. And all you’ve done is embarrass us both in front of our new colleague. If I were you, I’d be worrying about how to make it up to Nina. She’s going to be around for a while.”

  Ty whistled to Arnold, one of the three sheepdogs they kept, and walked out of the barn, disappearing into the house.

  Cade growled in frustration and started back to the guesthouse to face the mess he’d wrought. Deep down, he knew his brother was right about decisions on the ranch. His parents had left things to the brothers equally because they wanted them to cooperate. They had always insisted on the boys treating each other with respect and often told them that they would be each other’s greatest source of support. But no one had planned on them needing that support at such a young age.

  And now it was six years later and Cade couldn’t help but feel like he was never going to get out from under the obligations he hadn’t wanted in the first place. At least if he was burdened with a ranch, two irresponsible brothers, a baby niece, and an aunt who wasn’t getting any younger, they could leave him alone to run things the way he saw fit. But obviously, Ty wasn’t going to do
that.

  He reached the guesthouse and raised his fist to knock, but before he could touch it, the door flew open and there stood the angel he’d bedded the night before, looking like she’d been possessed by a demon.

  3

  Nina glared at Cade, her arms crossed and foot tapping. “Did you need something, Mr. Jenkins?” she bit out.

  Cade apparently had little regard for personal space, because he simply shoved by, spinning to face her as soon as he was inside the little cabin. “I think we’re probably past the Mr. Jenkins bullshit, don’t you?” he asked.

  She slammed the door shut and strode to her suitcase to resume unpacking. “Had I known your last name was Jenkins, I would never have done”—she waved her hand around in the air wildly—“what we did last night.”

  Cade smirked at her, and she struggled with the urge to slap him. “Stop it!” she hissed.

  He raised an eyebrow at her. “Which thing in particular?” he asked, his voice so rumbly, it made her tingle in bad places.

  “What?” she asked in confusion, stuffing undergarments into the top drawer of the dresser while trying not to let him see them.

  “Which thing would you not have done if you’d known my last name?”

  She spun on him, unable to believe that he was really going there. “Seriously? None of it. Not the drinks, not the kissing, and definitely not anything that came after. I’m professional, and I don’t do that with clients.” A sliver of guilt worked through her as she thought about her last job and just how unprofessional she’d been.

  He sighed, running a hand through his hair. She couldn’t help but notice that he’d obviously shaved after he left her in the middle of the night, but he was well on the way to a five-o’clock shadow again, and damn but it looked good on him.

  “Look,” he said, breaking her out of her inappropriate thoughts. “I’m sorry about last night. I had no idea who you were, and I realize you had no idea who I was. I don’t really do things like that all that often—”

  She snorted in disbelief. For someone who didn’t do it all that often, he was supremely skilled. Not that she’d tell him that, of course. The man’s ego was already completely out of control.

  “I don’t,” he argued in self-defense. “And my brothers…well, they wouldn’t understand. I’m the oldest. I have certain obligations, and one-night stands with women passing through town don’t fit with those.”

  God, another arrogant rich man. How could she have made this mistake twice in one lifetime? What must it be like to live a life where you could throw away women like so much trash, exchanging them for new versions whenever you grew bored or saw someone shinier you wanted?

  “So keep my mouth shut? Does that about cover it?” Her face was hot, and she had a feeling that it was red too. How humiliating. Although, in all fairness, she didn’t want this publicized either. Given her history, sleeping with the “boss” was just about dead last on her list of things to aspire to. And of course she wanted Ty to treat her like a professional, not the fling his brother had picked up at a bar. Still, it stung.

  “It’s nothing personal…”

  She snorted in disgust. “Of course it’s not.” It never was with men like him. That was the very problem.

  “Nina,” he said, his voice suddenly concerned. “I didn’t mean that—”

  “Don’t worry about it.” She turned back to her suitcase, pulling T-shirts out with much more force than necessary. “And don’t worry about me blowing your responsible-older-brother cover. I’d rather not have everyone looking at me like the tramp who had the one-night stand with you rather than the professional consultant I’m here to be.”

  Behind her, Cade cleared his throat. “No one would ever think that. I mean, we were both there, and you’re obviously very professional…” His voice faded away, because, yeah, he could obviously tell he was making it worse, and the awkwardness was permeating the room. She could make it easier on him, but dammit, she didn’t feel like it.

  “Okay, so, um, I guess we got that all straightened out. I’ll just let you unpack.”

  She gave a sharp nod, feeling irrationally out of sorts. She just wanted him to go.

  “Dinner’s at six in the main house,” he said softly; then he was gone, and she collapsed onto the bed, falling onto her back and staring at the ceiling.

  Why? Why the one time she did something so out of character did this have to happen? She’d had the most perfect night with Cade Jenkins. It was like a fairy tale—a really dirty fairy tale. She’d been prepared to hold on to the memory for the rest of her life, one perfect shining night when a gorgeous man had been completely devoted to her pleasure. He’d said all the right things, definitely done all the right things, and for one brilliant moment, she could believe that Prince Charming might exist, and maybe she’d find one of her own eventually.

  When Liam had dumped her for his new secretary just days before their wedding, she’d been as disgusted with herself as she was with him. She’d fallen for the whole thing—the money, the charm, the promises. The farmer’s daughter in her was thrilled that she was marrying into a second-generation farming family. The sustainable agriculture major in her was starstruck by the size of Liam’s organic operation. She started off working for Carver Farms, then caught the eye of the owner and ended up engaged to him—until she wasn’t, and the fairy tale died a brutal death.

  But fate was a bitch and had a twisted sense of irony, because a new Mr. Perfect was right here, in her face for the next several weeks, and he’d proven how unbelievably imperfect he actually was within moments. And really, in spite of all the horrible things he’d said in those first few minutes, he hadn’t even had to open his beautiful mouth to show that it had all been a mirage. No, all he had to do was be the Lord of the Manor, the spoiled rotten owner of some thirty thousand acres of nearly priceless Northern California land.

  Nina sighed, long and loud. There was no such thing as Prince Charming. There was no such thing as the perfect man, although, frankly, she’d settle for just a decent one at this point, but Cade wasn’t that guy. And last night? It was all just to get laid.

  The cell phone on the nightstand buzzed, and she sat up to grab it. It was a text from her favorite work friend, Denise.

  D: Did you get there? Is everything we heard about the bachelor brothers of Big Sur Ranch true? Are they really hot and single and stuck out there with the cows and chickens?

  Nina had to decide whether to laugh or cry. If Denise only knew.

  N: I’ve only met two of them, and yes they’re hot, but things are a little more complicated than the rumors we’ve heard.

  D: Give me all the deets!

  N: K, but this requires booze and a call. I’ve got hotel minis in my bag. You have somewhere to partake?

  The phone rang ten seconds later. “I’m in the airport bar on my way to that farm in Iowa for their inspection. I have thirty minutes and a G and T in front of me. Go.”

  “So,” Nina began. “I was standing alone at the hotel bar last night…”

  “Hey! Some help out here?” Cade could hear his brother Vaughn yelling outside the barn. He stepped out and looked across the compound to find Vaughn sitting on a horse, a calf across the bow of the saddle, trussed up like a Sunday turkey.

  “You decide to get into calf roping now?” Cade asked as he walked closer.

  “I found this baby all alone. He’s got a bum leg, so the herd must have moved on without him.”

  Cade wasn’t sure whether he admired the cattle’s brutality or not, but the idea of moving on without all the deadweight in his life was sharply appealing.

  “Wow, he didn’t have much of a mama, did he?”

  Vaughn agreed. “Yeah, I’ve seen them starve to death to stay with their

  babies, but not this guy’s, I guess.”

  “Why didn’t you just put him down? Didn’t you have a gun out there?” Cade’s

  heart briefly fluttered when he thought about Vaughn out on th
e acreage, hours from home, alone with no gun for protection.

  “Nah, I think we can fix him up,” Vaughn said, motioning for Cade to come closer and help get the calf down. “He looks like a healthy little dude. He might grow up to be a helluva bull.”

  “Or he might cost me a thousand bucks in vet bills and grow up to be too lame to mount the dog, much less a cow.”

  Vaughn rolled his eyes and started to slide the calf off the saddle. Cade rushed forward to grab it and held it upside down in his arms until Vaughn had dismounted and come to take it from him. It was a very young calf and scared half out of its mind, so it didn’t thrash, just blinked at them and lowed for its mama.

  “I’m going to have Dirk take a good look at it,” Vaughn said, referring to the old ranch hand who’d worked for the Jenkins family since Cade was a child. “He’ll know whether we need to call the vet or not.”

  “Fine,” Cade conceded, taking the horse Vaughn had abandoned and walking it toward the barn to get it rubbed down and settled in for the night. Vaughn put the calf into the quarantine barn, then disappeared into the house, assuming Cade would take care of his horse or whatever other mess he left sitting around, as usual.

  Cade was just finishing up getting all the horses fed when Ty walked in, Kate riding his left leg, her butt on the top of his foot and her arms and legs wrapped around his calf.

  “You’re kind of walking funny there,” Cade said, chuckling. His niece was a piece of work, but the cutest damn kid on the planet.

  “I seem to have picked up a bug of some sort,” Ty responded, and Kate giggled hysterically.

  “Well, I’m done with the horses. Why don’t you give that bug to me for a bit? I know you probably have some business with the chickens, and I can take the bug ”—he widened his eyes at Kate who laughed even harder—“and bring her up to the house with me.”