I hugged Hailey tightly. “Take a breath, she doesn’t have to agree with your plans. She has a hard time with the likes of us.”
Melody had obviously been a teen at one point, but witnessing a meltdown had to be surprising. She held the photo but stared at Hailey and me, frozen. “I should go.”
Hailey pulled away and slid onto the floor next to Melody. “No. Don’t leave, please.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “You heard the lady of the house. Why don’t you two set the table.”
Unwrapping the hose from the unit, I turned the vacuum on and methodically swiped over the rug, wood floor, and shelves where the glass sprayed.
Hailey carried the photo with her when they left the room and threw it in the trash can. Not going to argue that choice. Trish had done everything possible to discourage Hailey from pursuing singing. But Trish and I had both passed our stubborn streaks on to Hailey which meant telling her she couldn’t do something was grounds for a battle.
I worried how Hailey would succeed as a singer, but didn’t see a point in being outright negative like Trish. All I’d ever heard about that career was the starving artist problem. Not far from the realities of being a rancher, a hard gig, except we could literally eat our product. Guess that’s why we didn’t get slapped with the starving tag.
Sitting down to dinner, I was eager for Melody’s insight, and the chance to learn more about her. “Let’s not bore Melody with mom rants. You wanted to ask her about singing.”
Hailey regrouped and Melody shared the glory and the grunge about the industry.
I was impressed with what she shared. “I never thought about how much business sense you needed to be a singer. Like most people don’t think about the business end of being a cowboy. Nearly as much paper to push as cattle to drive.”
Melody stressed the importance of making sure she focused on the skills Hailey would need like business management, planning, cold calls, marketing and advertising, punctuality, networking, record-keeping for taxes and other purposes, budgets, and somewhere in there, keeping up on the craft and trends in the industry.
The more she explained to Hailey, the more I respected her vast knowledge base. She might even be able to teach me a thing or two about running a business. The teaching degree had even been part of her master plan.
Hailey asked a lot of questions and I added in a fair amount to make sure she heard all of the work that went into it other than singing. The part of the business that could make or break someone, but I must have come on too heavy.
Hailey said, “Why do you think I’m learning everything at the ice cream shop? Accounting, taxes, and the Singing Saturday gimmick, it’s promo…spend money to make money. I get it, Dad.” She was wise beyond her years.
I shook my head and laughed. “You’ve been learning right under my nose. Who’s going to run the shop when you graduate?”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone,” she said, sounding uneasy.
We’d gotten lost in conversation extending well past dinner when Hailey noticed the time. “Shoot. I’m supposed to go to the movies with some friends.”
“Let’s hurry and clean up then,” I said.
“I can take Hailey’s spot cleaning up. Not like I have anything else to do,” Melody offered.
Her tone was innocent, but my mind had her bent over the sink for something other than washing dishes. I’d spent eleven years being a devoted father, but Melody made me remember there were other roles.
With the way my dick got the best of me when I thought about her, I needed to tell her not to stay.
Who was I kidding?
Chapter 4
Melody
Was it too forward to suggest Hailey not help clean up? She’d already caught us embracing, or whatever Brandt wanted to call it. And I’d felt horrible about breaking their picture. Although our conversation had gone well, the evening hadn’t been perfect.
I didn’t want to step on his parental toes. But earlier, when Brandt held me against his body, there was no doubt in my mind it wasn’t because I’d tripped. I had to relive that feeling and find out where it led.
The impression of his arms wrapped around me had lasted through the evening. Warmth, strength, and an uncanny sensation it was where I was supposed to be. I could have stayed there forever, except my teaching position only lasted until June.
So, unless he was willing to leave his ranch, our relationship was already on a countdown. Considering most of my relationships hadn't lasted that long, there wasn't much of a risk.
But not every hookup had to point toward the classic happily ever after. Sometimes the happy part of a relationship was getting out of it. Brandt was kind of old school but a fling wasn’t out of the question. Just once. Or a couple of times.
Sometimes I enjoyed lying to myself. It permitted me to make questionable decisions. Some panned out, some were better forgotten. One of the reasons I was spending a semester getting my life on track.
Still no help from the shooting star or wishing well. Temptation was winning as I sat across the table fantasizing about an evening alone with him.
“Inviting someone over for dinner then having them do dishes isn’t the best manners,” Brandt said to Hailey.
“Really, I don’t mind.” I was facing Brandt and Hailey was to my side. I gambled and winked at him. It was supposed to be between us, but he flinched a tiny bit and a huge smile spread across his face.
“Okay, you guys are getting weird. Can I please go, Dad?”
I carried our plates to the sink and started some hot soapy water to drive my point home.
Brandt shook his head at me then addressed Hailey. “What time are you getting home?”
“Midnight?” she said pulling her shoulders up around her ears and cocking her head to the side.
“Wrong.”
“Eleven,” Hailey groaned in true irritated teenager style.
“Be sure to shut off my alarm when you get home or I’ll send the posse after you.”
A chuckle broke from my lips while I bit back the majority of my laugh. Thank goodness my parents hadn’t done that. I’m sure I reeked of alcohol many nights. Brandt was a step ahead there. I had to admire his dad skills. Strangely endearing.
Hailey dashed off, calling over her shoulder, “Thank you, Dad, Melody. I owe you.”
“I’m not sure she should be calling you by your first name.”
“We agreed she can unless we’re at school. Then she’ll use Ms. Wilson.” In the tit for tat world of properness, Brandt would require her to do something for me, but time alone with Brandt was the real prize.
My palms were sweaty but a quick dip in the dishwater hid the problem. The flush on my cheeks was harder to explain, and the wetness between my legs would be a dead giveaway for my true intentions. So many problems.
I washed while Brandt wrapped up the left-overs. How could I ask him if he’d be interested in a fling? Dating, easy. But I just wanted one time with him to see if he was everything I’d fantasized. I’d have to deal with the repercussions if he was. Physically he was near perfect, GQ meets the Wild West. His rough hands served as a reminder of the hard work he put in every day. The type of work that left a man with a hard body. I’d confirmed it when I fell against his chest, solidifying my initial attraction to him that had taken hold in the grocery store.
The clincher was his personality, how he handled life. A single dad who ran a ranch, his family’s ice cream shop, and a teenage daughter, all while not letting anything rattle him. I shook all of the gaga-ish information from my brain. That wasn't fling material.
He needed to understand my timeline. As cutesy as Hopeful, Colorado was, and as much as it made me want to sit at home and bake casseroles and mend socks, I couldn’t get enough gigs to support myself. It took a big city and a lot of work. I had to get back to the life I was passionate about.
Brandt would have to decide if we were going to cross the line. He had more at stake. How had Hailey handled th
eir divorce? Would it be too hard on her if I got involved then left? Or did she have to know?
He stepped beside me and rinsed the soapy dishes. “Thanks for talking honestly to Hailey. She’s a smart girl. The truth is always best with her.”
“Are you sure?”
“She needs to hear it straight.”
“Bummer.”
He stopped rinsing and looked at me with a furrowed brow.
“When she saw me leaning against your muscular chest with your arms wrapped around me…” I watched my wet finger trail up his arm and hook under the edge of his sleeve. “…she asked if there was anything between us.” I raised my eyes to meet his. “You said no.”
His jaw dropped open.
I went back to washing dishes.
“I, well, uh…” He was cute when he was speechless.
“Too bad. I thought I felt something.” I set a pan in the rinsing side of the sink.
“You did,” he said. His voice was low and barely audible. He was inches from me, and the prospect of him about to make the next move had my body buzzing.
“I’m not going to be around long.” I wanted it perfectly clear this was not a relationship. I’d check this cowboy fantasy off my list and move on. But he didn’t need quite that much detail.
His brow wrinkled. “Ya turnin’ me down?”
“No. Just want to sure we both understand what this is.”
He angled me to face him. Inches between us, I stared at his lips peeking through his beard and mustache. His chest rose and fell, mimicking the conscious effort I had to make at breathing. Slipping a hand around my waist, he pulled me close while his lips hovered over my forehead asking for permission I definitely wanted to give.
Brandt cupped my head with one hand and held the small of my back like he feared getting bucked. A moment of hesitation? Then his lips crashed onto mine. Firm and weighty surrounded by the soft tickle of his facial hair.
His strong arms trapped me, only allowing me to reach around his broad back. So much of him, and I’d barely explored anything. His body pressed into my breasts with each inhale, fueling my need.
He shoved a firm leg between mine and every nerve ending in my body screamed in anticipation.
The pressure of his thigh against my sex created the pull of an orgasm. So soon? I was more ready for him more than I realized.
He scooped me up and my legs wrapped around his lean waist while my arms worked their way up his biceps, over his broad shoulders, up his neck, and wove into his hair.
My tongue mingled with his as our kisses locked us together.
Sitting me on the counter, he cupped my breasts sending shivers through my body. Our contact wasn’t enough. I craved having him on top of me, pressing me into the bed, enclosing me in a world where nothing existed but us.
His head dropped onto my shoulder. “I have to run to the store.”
Abrupt halt. Did I do something wrong? Disbelief carried through my single word question. “What?”
He ran his hands through my hair, tracing it down my back. “I thought…we were…I don’t have any condoms.”
I put a finger over his lips. The fumbling nature of his words brought his endearing, cute side to the forefront again. “I’m on the pill, always use a condom as backup. But shit. I’m not sure I can handle a trip to the store. Are we good?”
He nodded and pulled me tight. “You?”
“Yeah.”
Picking me up, he walked us out of the kitchen. “Let me get you to a proper place for this.”
“The barn?” I asked, the words slipping from my mouth without thought. The fantasy must have been insisting.
He stopped in the hallway. "I was thinking of my bed."
I sank into him at the thought of sharing his bed, but I couldn’t miss the chance. This was a fling and I was only guaranteed one shot. “Willing to make a city girl’s fantasy come true, Cowboy?”
“Is that why you wore those ass hugging jeans? To tempt me?” Continuing to hold me in the hallway, he cupped a hand under my butt, grabbing my ass, driving me to insanity. Even with only one arm holding me up, he had no trouble. The flex of his muscles egged on my eagerness.
“No, but I could wear them more often.” Had I already decided he’d live up to my dreams and this wasn’t going to be a solo performance.
“It won’t matter, you won’t be in them long. Do you really want to do it in the barn?”
I shifted my weight and snuggled closer to his body, kissing his neck. “Yes, if you can hurry. Otherwise, I’ll drop my pants right here.”
“The barn it is. We can try the hallway later.” He validated my suspicions this wasn’t going to be a ‘one and done’, but I’d warned him it wasn’t a long-term deal.
I wiggled to get down and he set me on my feet. I needed a second to breathe. Something about being carried by him struck the wrong chords. Homey chords. Forever chords. Scary yet comforting chords.
Brandt grabbed a blanket off the easy chair next to the door and slung it over his shoulder. Holding my hand, he led the way outside. His firm grip made my heart race. Was I making a mistake? How long had it been since he’d had sex? Small towns and all.
The mere idea of a wanton romp on a haystack sent shivers up and down my spine. I tightened my grip on his hand and he responded by bringing my fingers to his lips for a kiss.
Tingles raced through me. I dismissed the fleeting thoughts there was something deeper. More than realizing a fantasy. More the a quick ride.
Letting go of me, he shoved the massive barn door open and flipped the lights on. I stepped forward and took in the haystack, the loft, the horse equipment, and the stalls where a couple of horses were hanging out. The smell hit me as distinctly country, but I got over it quickly when his arms wrapped around me from behind.
The coldness faded. His body protected me. More errant thoughts of how I could handle anything with him by my side. I ran my hands over his forearms and squeezed.
“You sure about this?” he asked.
I slid a hand behind myself and rubbed over the stiff rod of his erection. Fuck. Long and hard, my senses were consumed with his heat. A verbal answer wasn’t possible.
He grabbed my chin and pulled my head to the side. His lips crashed onto mine, hitching my breath and making my knees go weak.
Tightening an arm around my waist, he kept me from falling. Physically. The shift he caused in my world made me question if I fell in other ways. Neediness had never been part of my personality. Was it neediness or belonging? I wasn’t sure how to tell and shoved the dependent feeling aside. “The loft?”
He glanced at my feet. “Fine with a ladder, or do I need to carry you?”
“Let’s ignore whether I can do it or not, and jump straight to you carrying me.” I extended my arms.
His grin melted my heart a split second before he bent and hoisted me, my ass in the air, my body dangling over his shoulder.
I scrambled for leverage and grabbed the blanket that was on his other shoulder. It didn’t help. Slipping my fingers into his belt loops offered more security as he entered the barn.
“A ‘door closed’ kind of girl?”
I hadn’t thought about neighbors or ranch hands although I hadn’t seen any houses when I drove in and it was late so I doubted ranch hands would still be around. “Anyone else here?”
“Nope.”
“Then open. I want the feel of the outdoors.”
No time wasted before we were ascending the ladder. The fabled farm boy strength giving life to my fantasies and making my panties wetter with each step.
From over his shoulder on the loft, I lifted my head and peered at the animals and barn below. I’d moved to farm country and had hardly wasted any time having sex in the hay. Was this actually my life?
He set me on the ground and shook the blanket over the wooden planks.
“Can we open this?” I pointed to a small wooden window.
“Anything you want.” He pulled a piec
e of wood from across the opening, swung the panel open, and revealed the night sky.
The moon and stars soothed me. The rush of brisk air peaked my already heightened senses. I stepped to the opening, putting my hands on either side of the window. No safety features. A different world than I was used to. Nothing to keep me from falling, although the distance to the ground was less worrisome than what was going on inside of me. In my heart. A place flings weren’t supposed to venture.
Brandt wrapped his arms around me and his body pressed against the length of my back. His breath and kisses warmed my cheek and neck as I took in the million stars sparkling in the blackness. “I’m not used to this.”
“Me either.”
“I bet you carry all of your dates up here.” I ran my hands over his arms, cherishing the way he warmed my heart and helped me appreciate the simplest things. Also vying for a little more info. And hoping at least one of us remembered my cautionary statement about getting attached.
“I’ve never been up here with a woman. I haven’t dated.”
Not exactly a virgin, but this man was long overdue. I salivated at the thought of being his first, in a while. “Then we have some christening to do.” I faced him and pulled his shirt over his head. Christening? Distraction? Whatever, as long as it got me out of my head.
Distraction, indeed. I couldn’t take it all in at once. His abs, chest, shoulders, arms…he was beefy, brawny, and utterly gorgeous. His nipples perked with the cool air, or because he was about to get laid and knew it. All the same. I kissed his chest and rubbed a hand over his bicep. Everything about him was bulky. Everything about him drove me crazy.
Grabbing the bottom of my shirt, he stripped me and made quick work of my bra, flinging them both to the side. His mouth clamped around my nipple and my legs went weak again. Laughing at me, he helped me to the blanket.
I removed my pants and panties faster than he got rid of his because he spent a hot minute watching me tuck my fingers inside my waistband and slowly drag my clothes down. Once naked, I reclined on the blanket and stared at his rigid cock as he freed himself. A damn shame this man didn’t have a dating life. I was personally going to do my best to remedy the situation.
Passionate Wishes Page 3