Chapter 12

We'd been riding in silence for ten minutes when Woody reined in Shadow. I'd been staring into space contemplating my crappy life, so it was a good thing Dixie was paying attention to where we were going. I opened my mouth to ask what was up when I noticed that Woody was pointing. In the brush, next to the river were a doe and her fawn.

We stood still for a few long moments watching them drink from the water, before the deer spotted us and moved into the cover of the woods.

I was in awe. "That was cool," I exhaled.

"They're amazing, aren't they? Beautiful and graceful and skittish... a little like you." He looked at me seriously. I looked away.

We resumed our steady pace and made our way back to the barn. When we got back, Woody helped me down from the saddle, wrapping his hands around my waist and allowing me to slide down the length of his body. I stayed in his arms for a moment and looked up at him. "I had a really great time today. I just wanted you to know that."

Woody smiled, "Me, too," and leaned down to kiss me. The kiss was full of possibilities that I'd probably never take the chance to explore.

Dear heaven, the man could kiss. I pulled back, a little breathless. I swallowed hard, it was now or never.

"So, I have a question for you... Do you have plans for tonight?"

Woody still seemed dazed from the kiss, and confused by the abrupt change of subject. "No, Darlin'."

"Well, I was... um wondering... I'm having dinner at my parents tonight, and unfortunately my mom is expecting me to bring a date with me. I was... well… would you go with me?"

Woody smiled. "Is your granny gonna be there?"

I grimaced. "Yeah."

He shrugged, "Alright, Darlin'."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

There was, now, a very attractive naked man in my apartment. And I still hadn't had an orgasm.

Woody was using my shower, but so far I had resisted the urge to join him. Being the gentleman he was, he'd allowed me to go first, and now I was concentrating on the struggle to tame my mane, so I wouldn't be tempted to break into the bathroom.

After we'd gotten the horses put away, we'd made our way back to my place. Woody wanted a shower before dinner, as did I, so he watched TV while I hopped in.

I'd emerged to find him watching Dr. Phil. I just raised an eyebrow at him.

"Darlin' I can't stand the man, but it's like a train wreck. I just can't look away. Where do they find these people?"

I'd shrugged. Huh. Dr. Phil'd probably love to get his hands on me.

I'd been surprised that Woody had a change of clothes and asked him about it.

"Well, Darlin', I was gonna ask you to join me for dinner tonight anyway."

"Oh," was my brilliant reply. "Doesn't that kinda give you two dates? Is that cheating?"

"Well, one of the advantages of being late in the week is that I get more time to spend with you, Darlin'," he'd said sweetly.

He emerged from the bathroom, his hair damp, looking finger lickin' good. Damn, I should have jumped him in the shower.

"You ready?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be," I replied.

We arrived at my parents with five minutes to spare. My mother and grandmother were waiting at the screened door, as expected.

"Brace yourself," I said under my breath.

Woody just smiled, "Don't worry Darlin', my granny's crazy, too."

I must have looked dubious.

"Really, I'll have to tell you about the time she shot the mailbox with a sawed-off shot gun."

"Well, did she ever try to shoot dinner once it was already on the table?"

A slow smile spread across Woody's face, "This is gonna be fun."

We walked up the front steps. "Mom, Grandma, this is - "

"Woodward McTeer, but everyone calls me Woody," he said with a charming smile, taking my mother's hand and kissing her knuckles.

My mom looked like she was going to swoon, maybe it was the accent.

Grandma Mazur stuck her boney elbow into my side so she could shove in between Woody and me.

"Howdy, partner," she said looking up at him, batting her eyelashes.

"Mrs. Mazur, I've heard so much about you, but the rumors of your vivacity hardly do you justice." He winked at me over her head. Grandma Mazur tittered.

"Well, dinner's ready," my mother said finally finding her voice. "Stephanie, will you help me bring the lasagna to the table."

"Sure." I looked over my shoulder as I left Woody in my grandma's clutches and mouthed, "Sorry."

I groaned as I passed through the dining room. Terrific, Valerie and the kids were here. This house was like a freaking three-ring circus.

"I get to sit next to Woody!" my grandmother called.

"No!" my mother and I shouted simultaneously from the kitchen. Mom's lasagna was great, but sometimes the price for dinner at my parent's was too high.

As we settled around the table, introductions were made between Woody, who was seated between Valerie and I, and the rest of my family. Everyone greeted Woody politely, except Dad. He seemed completely oblivious to the stranger at the table and just asked for more gravy for his lasagna.

"I thought you were bringing Hal, Stephanie. Are you Hal?" Valerie asked.

"No, ma'am. Hal works with us."

My mother made a hissing sound, like I'd just stumbled onto a rattlesnake. "Oh, Stephanie, don't you know better than to date someone you work with," Mom nagged. Woody tried to suppress a snort. I shot him a look, but he had a point. I had taken interoffice dating to a whole new level.

"Valerie did and you didn't give her a hard time," I said sullenly. Why is it that I can feel like a twelve year old within minutes of walking in this place?

Mom continued, ignoring me, "And just look at how it turned out with that Ranger fellow."

Oh, Mom, if you only knew. "Mom, Ranger and I never dated." Sex and innuendo and a few shared meals, but never a real date.

"That Ranger has a nice package, you should have tried to ride that thing." Kill me now. "But this Woody here ain't too bad."

"Are you a cowboy?" Grandma Mazur asked completely oblivious to the choking sounds coming from my mother.

Woody was blushing, "Well, ma'am, I grew up on a ranch in Texas, so I guess you might say I was a cowboy."

"Ooh. A cowboy. Wait 'til I tell the girls that I ate dinner with a cowboy. Have you ever had a shoot out like in High Noon?"

"Not exactly, ma'am."

"Did you ever meet John Wayne?"

"No, ma'am."

"Did y-"

"Mom, stop with the twenty questions and let the poor boy eat!" my mom finally said.

Silence reigned for a few blessed moments.

"I want hay," Mary Alice piped up. "Horses don't like lasagna."

"She thinks she's a horse," I said under my breath as if that was the only thing about my family that required explaining.

"What kind of horse are you?" Woody asked.

"I'm a Palomino."

"I have a horse. His name's Shadow. Stephanie met him today."

Mary Alice was mightily impressed and when she saw how much Woody liked his lasagna, she dug right in.

As we were all finishing, Mom rose from the table to clear plates and to bring in the dessert.

My father looked up finally and asked, "Who the hell are you?"

"This is Woody, Dad."

"Huh. Woody." Apparently, Dad had the same first impression of Woody's nickname that I'd had.

Mom reappeared with dessert and I inhaled mine hoping for a speedy end to the meal. All in all it wasn't too bad, but I was exhausted from trying to shield Woody from the worst of Grandma Mazur's advances, including her foot, which kept sliding up Woody's pant leg.

Mom walked us to the door when dessert was all done.

"You know Stephanie, I don't know this Hal, but I don't think it's right if you're stringing along two boys at once."

"Six, ma'am."

"Six," she echoed, paling.

"Woody's teasing. I'm not stringing anyone along." I looked at him hard and he just gave me a wink.

"You should just make a decision and go with the one you like the best."

"I second that."

I narrowed my eyes at Woody for a moment and said, "Watch it, you may not like the choice I make."

Woody just gave me a small knowing smile and turned to my mother, "Thank you for dinner, ma'am."

"You're welcome back anytime."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

When Woody and I were safely in the car and on our way to my apartment, I blew out a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry about dragging you tonight. My family can be a complete nightmare."

"It was fine, Darlin'. Your granny didn't get close enough to do any damage and your mama makes mighty fine lasagna. Besides I got to know you better, and that's what today was all about."

When we arrived at my apartment, Woody walked me upstairs.

At the door, we stood a little awkwardly. It was still fairly early, and I could invite him in, but if I were honest with myself I didn't think that was a good idea. The red wine from dinner was singing in my veins and my body was hyper-aware of the hot man merely inches from me. I could do something bad and really enjoy it. But in the morning, I'd know it was a mistake.

Woody made it simple by kissing me tenderly and saying "Goodnight, Darlin'. Thank you for a great day."

"Goodnight. I had a great day, too."

I walked into my apartment and shook my head. My hormones were really angry with me. They thought I was a big tease and I was never gonna deliver.

I looked up and nearly passed out. There on my living room couch was Ranger.

"Holy shit! You scared me to death," I said, clutching my chest. Thank God I didn't go with my hormones, or I'd have Woody half undressed in the doorway in front of Ranger right now.

"Sorry, Babe," Ranger said from where he remained seated. "Did you have a nice time with Woody?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I did," I said a little defensively.

"I can tell you did. You've been, I don't know… glowing, this week."

"Ranger, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see if you were alright. I've been out of town since the other night, and I just…" his voice trailed off.

"What?"

"I was worried."

"I'm fine. There was no lasting damage done."

Ranger's throat worked. "I can't stand that I put you in danger. I won't let it happen again."

"Well, Ranger, that is part of my job. Just like the rest of the guys. I may be a girl and I know I'm not useful in all situations, but I do have some… uh… assets that I can contribute. I don't intend to quit unless you force me to, so it's likely I'll be in danger again whether you like it or not."

Ranger just nodded, his expression shuttered. I stood staring at him.

"So, was there anything else I could do for you?" I couldn't suppress the bitchy edge to my voice.

He just stared back at me, his expression unchanging.

I went on, my annoyance building, "I mean, we've talked more this past week than we have in months. Is there something else you wanted?"

He shook his head no and walked to the door. He stopped with his hand on the door knob and looked back at me.

"I just wanted you to know that I care about you, I'm sorry I've been distant-"

I interrupted him, my voice a little hard, "I heard you were involved with someone else. Maybe you should worry about her and go back to ignoring me."

I turned and walked away from Ranger at my door, "Lock up behind you," I called over my shoulder and I closed myself in my bedroom.