A Cowboy's Claim

She shook her head and got out, then came around the hood and slipped her fingers through his. “I’ll go in with you.”

Five minutes later the motel manager handed Vic a plastic key card with the number 4 on it. The walk to the room took ten seconds. His attraction to Tanya convinced him the sex would be great—better than great—but it was what happened after they made love that worried Vic. This could only be a one-night stand. He couldn’t afford to lose focus on his goal, and it would be too easy to become preoccupied with Tanya. He slid the card through the lock and opened the door.

The king-size bed beckoned, but his boots sank into the sidewalk as if it were made of wet concrete. Tanya’s fingers squeezed his right biceps and then she stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss against his neck. Her warm breath puffed across his skin, propelling him forward. He shut the door behind them and flipped the locks.

He didn’t bother with the lights.

* * *

A HEAVY WARMTH pressing against her backside woke Tanya. It took a fraction of a second for her to remember she was at the Sweet Dreams Inn with Vic. The room was pitch-black, only a sliver of light spilled beneath the closed bathroom door. She’d asked Vic to turn on the bedside lamp after they tumbled naked onto the mattress—she’d wanted to gawk at every inch of muscle—but he’d distracted her with kisses and touches and she’d lost herself in their lovemaking.

She’d seen through his tough act. He wanted her and others to believe he wasn’t self-conscious about the scar on his face, but he was. If he didn’t care about it, he’d smile and laugh and not stop himself when the action stretched the puckered flesh, pulling one side of his mouth down.

She made a conscious effort to look him in the eye when they talked, but it was difficult to ignore the ugly mark. She could only imagine how painful the wound had been, but was reluctant to ask how he’d gotten it for fear he’d push her away for good.

Vic stirred, his hand moving from her belly to her breast. His thumb flicked her nipple and she exhaled a soft sigh.

“If I tell you something,” she whispered into the dark, “promise you won’t get a big head?”

He pressed his mouth to her neck and nibbled her skin. “Promise.”

“On second thought, never mind.”

He sat up and rolled her onto her back. She could only make out the shadow of his face as he loomed over her. “You can’t leave a man hanging like that.”

She wished she could see his eyes. “Rodeo’s already given you a big ego.”

“If that’s the way you feel, then...” His mouth trailed kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, then lower...lower... Her back arched and she moaned. She knew it was wrong to think of her ex when she was in bed with Vic, but Beau had never spent much time pleasuring her, and Vic acted as if he couldn’t get enough of her. The sensations he aroused in her were powerful and humbling.

He kissed his way up her body and then brushed the hair from her eyes. “What we’re you going to tell me a few minutes ago?”

“I can’t remember.” She curled against him.

“Guess I’ll have to do this all over again.” His mouth latched onto her breast.

“Wait,” she cried out in defeat. “I haven’t caught my breath yet.” She could feel his smile against her stomach. “Okay, fine. You’re amazing in bed.”

“Amazing? That’s it?”

He kissed her—a tender caress that led to more kisses on her nose, cheeks and forehead. This gentle side of Vic was a surprise and she savored every touch and whispered word.

“My turn.” She pushed him off her.

A silent chuckle rumbled through his chest, but it didn’t last long.

* * *

VIC WOKE AT 6:00 a.m. to snoring sounds coming from the other side of the bed. Tanya rested on her back, her arms and legs spread wide as if she’d been making snow angels on the mattress. Watching her filled him with longing. He’d missed his ride in Vernal last night but being with Tanya had meant more to him than winning his next rodeo. More than was good for his sanity. Tanya was an easy woman to be with and the first woman in forever he could be himself with.

But the timing was wrong. Hell, the timing might never be right. Once he won the national championship buckle later this year, he’d retire from rodeo. Tanya only knew him as a broncbuster. When he hung up his spurs for good, she might not care for the new Vic—whoever he turned out to be. He’d be a fool to lose his heart to her when he’d end up disappointing her down the road.

This was the end of the line for them. And as much as he wanted to make love to her again before he drove her to the fairgrounds to pick up Slingshot, he didn’t dare. Tanya had already worked her way beneath his skin, and it wouldn’t take a whole lot of effort on her part to blaze a trail straight to his heart. Thank God he had a lot of rodeos and a lot of miles ahead of him to shake off her memory.

He slipped from the bed, covered Tanya with the sheet, then took a shower and threw on a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt. After tugging on his socks and boots, he stepped outside to check his phone messages—three voice mails from Maria Fitzgerald. An uneasy feeling crawled up his spine. This couldn’t be good news.

“It’s Maria, Victor. Call me as soon as you get this message. And I don’t care what time it is.”

“It’s Maria again. Please call me. It’s important.”

“Victor, if you don’t call me soon, I’ll send Riley looking for you.”

Damn it, he should have checked his messages before they left the Muggy Rim. He pressed the number 6 on his speed dial. Maria answered on the first ring.

“Are you driving?” she asked.

“I’m standing next to my truck. What’s going on, Maria?”

“I have bad news.”

Vic’s mind raced through the people employed at the boys’ ranch and wondered who had been hurt or who was ill.

“Judge Hamel contacted me yesterday. Evidently I’m the only one who has your cell number.”

“What’s the bad news?”

“It concerns your nephew, Alex.”

Vic had never met his twenty-one-year-old sister Natalia’s son. He hadn’t set foot in Albuquerque in over six years. The last time he’d spoken to his mother—maybe seven months ago—she had custody of Alex because Natalia was sitting in prison convicted of prostitution. “What happened?”

“A neighbor found Alex wandering around the parking lot at night in the apartment complex where he and your mother live. Vic, your mother’s gone. Vanished. The police have no idea what happened to her. They think she might have been abducted.”

Abducted? Yeah, right. Vic’s legs grew weak and he locked his knees. He knew what had happened to his mother. She’d left Alex to go buy drugs and had probably gotten high and never returned to the apartment. Or maybe she’d overdosed and was lying on a dirty mattress in some abandoned house in the barrio.

Vic’s head spun and he slid down the side of the truck until his butt hit the asphalt. His gut twisted with anger and resentment as he envisioned his mother shooting up heroin or smoking crystal meth until she passed out. “Where’s Alex now?” The nephew he’d yet to meet must be terrified.

“The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department placed him in a state-run facility while they search for your mother. But, Vic?”

“What?”

“Judge Hamel said even if they find her, Alex won’t be allowed to live with her anymore.”

“Where will he go?” Natalia had had over a year left on her sentence.

“Judge Hamel isn’t sure, but she suggested it would be best if you returned to Albuquerque and took temporary custody of Alex. He’s too young to be in a group home with older kids, but they have no other option right now.”

“Custody?” Exactly what did that word entail?

“I know rodeo is important, but Alex needs you.”