Page 69 of Kayla's Cowboy

“Jackson, if you do anything, learn from what I did wrong with Alex. Talk to Morgan about what happened with her mother.”

Jackson scowled. “We’ve had the discussion about safe sex. I didn’t enjoy it, but we covered the subject.”

A grin pulled at Kayla’s mouth. “I don’t mean the birds-and-the-bees lecture. Tell Morgan you love her, and that even if you made mistakes, you’ve never regretted her being born. That’s what I’ve been doing with Alex.”

Jackson’s scowl deepened. “You think Morgan believes Marcy and me having to get married means she wasn’t wanted?”

“I don’t know, but she may have gotten the idea somewhere. Frankly, if Morgan feeling unwanted isn’t about Marcy being an absentee mother, it most likely has something to do with you.”

His fingers drummed the steering wheel. “I suppose even if something else is bothering Morgan, talking about it might help her open up.”

Kayla nodded and they fell silent. For the first time, she paid attention to the view. They’d parked on a rise and she looked down over a green landscape with a breathtaking blue sky arching overhead, a few puffy clouds accentuating the color.

“I always liked Montana,” she murmured. “When I first came, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it is here.”

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Jackson was watching her, not the terrain outside the vehicle.

“You remember my old truck?” he questioned, his voice rough.

“Sure.” The close confines of the cab became even more uncomfortable as she thought about the nights when they’d thoroughly steamed the windows of his ancient Chevy pickup. Making the mistake of looking at him, Kayla felt warmth in her stomach that had nothing to do with nostalgia.

He reached out a hand and softly traced the line of her cheek. “You have the most beautiful skin, and your eyes are Montana blue.”

Kayla didn’t resist when he pulled her into a kiss. She’d dreamed about his caresses the night before, but reality was so much more satisfying. Sliding her fingers through his crisp dark hair, she pulled him even closer. At the moment she didn’t care if they were in a truck or a bed. His hands were exploring under her shirt when he groaned and pulled away.

“I don’t have a condom with me,” Jackson grumbled.

Aching with both unsatisfied need and anger at her weakness a second day in a row, Kayla jerked her clothing into place.

* * *

AS THE TRUCK bounced over the rough road toward home, Jackson was still gripped by the passion he couldn’t seem to contain around Kayla. It couldn’t just be the influence of heated memories. He had plenty of memories of sex with Marcy, but he felt nothing during the rare times they saw each other. Marcy had even tried to get something going on her last visit, saying she missed his stamina in bed. He’d declined as politely as possible, not wanting her to get angry and retaliate against Morgan.

The irony couldn’t be escaped. He’d married the girl next door, the nice girl his parents would have chosen for him, even if they hadn’t appreciated the timing. Yet Marcy had proved as unreliable as a wisp of paper in the wind. Kayla, who’d grown up in some of the worst circumstances possible, had worked hard and never given up, even when she’d been let down by the man she’d loved.

His arousal still pressed painfully against the zipper on his jeans, and he groaned when one wheel dropped into a particularly deep rut in the track.

“A little snug there?” Kayla guessed with a knowing glance. “That’ll teach you not to start something you weren’t prepared to finish.”

“At least you know I didn’t bring you out here with ulterior motives.”

“There are pluses and minuses to everything, but it looks as if you could do with a little less plus.”

A pained laugh escaped Jackson.

Kayla had never been coy about sex, but thinking back, he realized she hadn’t been experienced, either, which made his teenage accusations about her sleeping around even more offensive.

What would his life have been like if he’d married Kayla instead of Marcy all those years ago?

Jackson firmly dismissed the thought. It probably wouldn’t have worked any better with Kayla—they still would have been too young, with too much responsibility. He’d liked Kayla best—her sense of humor and different ideas had fascinated him—but they hadn’t been in love. Then again, she’d gone on to marry someone she did genuinely love, and that had still ended badly.

It was all just the luck of the draw.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

BACK AT THE house Jackson found his ranch hands were busy setting up the backyard for the barbecue. The McGregors and his mom’s branch of the family, the Nelsons, had so many family gatherings he’d purchased a forty-foot awning to use on the grassy area to one side of the swimming pool. It was already in place and his men were bringing out tables and chairs from storage.

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