Which was a nice sentiment but totally unnecessary. She was maybe not quite five seconds away, but very, very close.
She stroked the hair off his forehead, the sheer beauty of watching her best friend give to her in this new yet ancient way—
The steady beat of his tongue, the steady pulse of his fingers. Those things brought her close, but it was the smile on his face, the fact that it was him touching her so intimately that sent her over the edge. Her body tightened around his fingers, tiny muscles pulsing.
“Ryan.” She breathed it out, the emotion coming from her soul. From somewhere deep, deep inside.
Sexual pleasure rolled through her system with all the ensuing happy endorphins. That had not sucked.
Well, okay, bad choice of words.
Her legs shook, but she was very much laughing with gentle amusement as Ryan rose to his feet, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her against his body. Madison savoured that as well. The muscles under her fingers, the way his chest rocked. Especially when she tangled her fingers around his rigid cock.
He caught hold of her hair and turned her face up to him. This kiss wasn’t as gentle, and as he took her lips, she tightened her grip. Pumped a little harder, and an instant later Ryan pulled back and swore. Hips pulsing erratically as he shot over her fingers, against her belly. His seed coating her as the water poured down on them both.
He leaned against the wall, pulling her over him. An instant later he’d angled the showerhead to keep them under the spray.
Then he held her until their breathing had begun to calm and their hearts were no longer racing.
Well. The entire adventure had been slightly unexpected, but pretty much everything she’d hoped for. She hadn’t even had to talk him into it.
Madison rested her head against Ryan’s chest. And dreamed.
12
It took a lot of effort the next day for Ryan to not grin like a banshee, headed out in public to drop off Talia for school then to work his normal day shift at the pub.
Madison seemed to be better at hiding her reaction to their previous evening’s activities.
Then again, Maddy was usually a lot happier in her outward appearance than him, so he wasn’t sure what change he expected to see.
She’d said goodbye to Talia at the house and left before them, with an excuse of “things to do.” One of which he knew was meeting up with Rose to get her approval on the fundraiser email before it went out.
Madison being busy was probably a good thing on many levels. If she’d have come to the fire hall with him, chances are he’d have been so distracted by wanting to kiss her, he’d have been useless.
Kiss, then touch, then…
He cursed as he walked into a wall, stubbing his baby toe hard enough, the damn thing pulsed.
Okay, he did want sex. He wanted to experience that as well as a myriad of other adventures with Madison. But he wouldn’t rush to make it happen.
It would be good. He had zero doubts on that score, based on the way Madison had damn near read his mind and stroked and touched him so perfectly—
…and he was hard again. Ryan dropped his head into his hands and focused on taking deep breaths.
Thankfully, he had a lot of tasks to keep him busy around the hall. He cleaned and scrubbed, refilled emergency kits. Alex stopped by unexpectedly just before lunch, joining him and Mack as they paused for a midday break.
In the middle of telling a joke, Mack stalled out. “What’s your problem?” he asked Alex.
Both Ryan and Alex looked up, slightly shocked by the rapid interruption. Ryan because he’d been once again distractedly daydreaming about the next time he’d be able to corner Madison and find privacy.
Alex because…
Ryan frowned. “You’re right. Something’s up.”
“Oh, bullshit. Just because he says it, doesn’t make it true,” Alex growled.
“No, but the fact you’ve reorganized every item on the table including lining up the salt and pepper shakers with military precision instead of sprawling back in your chair like usual, grinning at us for being suckers about posture…” Ryan shrugged. “Spill the beans.”
“If I take a leave of absence, can you get me back onto the roster?” Alex asked Mack before glancing at Ryan. “And I believe the phrase I usually use is stick up your ass.”
Mack snorted before wiping at his mouth and offering a gentle shrug. “Shouldn’t be a problem. How long do you need off?”
“That’s it. I don’t know.” Alex made a face. “Family stuff. I might have to head home for a while. Silver Stone will let me go, but I’d hate to have to jump through a ton of hoops here. But I don’t want to leave you in the lurch.”
A knock sounded, knuckles rattling against the wall beside the door. Ashton Stewart stepped into view, his bright eyes taking in the gathering and landing on Ryan. “Just the man I wanted to see.”
As Ashton walked forward, Mack laid a hand on Alex’s arm. “I’ll double-check, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Ashton grabbed a coffee before pulling out a chair and settling beside them. He looked Ryan in the eye. “That visitor of yours. She’s a bundle of trouble.”
Ryan blinked. “Madison? What’d she do this time?”
Which got a laugh out of the other men.
“Yeah, that last bit kind of confirms this is normal behaviour for her.” Ashton waved his phone in the air. “I got an email. It appears someone out there in Heart Falls is willing to pony up money for me to cavort on stage like a goat.”
Dear God. The email—Madison said she would go over it with Rose to get her approval and then start blasting the information around town.
The terrible thing was, suddenly Ryan could picture Ashton having to put on a pair of furry ears and kick up his heels. In fact…
“I would pay money to see that,” Ryan agreed.
He dove into his email. Mack and Alex were doing the same.
Sure enough, the message from the Heart Falls Hope Foundation was right there in his inbox.
On December 21, the Heart Falls community will perform their own variation on The Nutcracker. Never seen The Nutcracker before? Don’t worry, our variation has been uniquely adapted to our location and needs.
In the best of Christmas traditions everywhere, this classic story will be performed by the multiple talents within our community. The star ballerinas will be the Heart Falls troop coached by Charity Gruzing.
We are also raising money for the Heart Falls Hope Fund, which is where you come in.
Be a volunteer or be a donator. Or both!
For every five dollars donated, you receive a vote. (Volunteer hours already performed and/or a commitment of future hours can be traded for votes as well.)
Cast your votes to select which role our volunteers should play.
For example, if you really want to see fire chief Bradly Ford perform on stage in [our unique variation of] the role of the Mouse King, he must have the highest total votes in the category.
The winning performers will be required to:
1: devise an appropriate costume. We suggest recycle, reuse in all cases, rather than renting. Donate the money instead.
2: choreograph your own maximum two-minute interpretive dance (solo or in a group) to the music you will be provided.
Please check this online doc for a real-time list of the current potential performers and the amount offered for them to perform that role. This is a fundraiser, so be generous and sneaky. You have one week to choose your dream cast for this epic event. All bids close at three p.m. on Sunday, December 13.
Cast will be announced Monday morning, which will give you one week to create your costumes and choreograph your dance. Performance will be Monday, December 21 at 6 p.m. at the Heart Falls Community Centre. Five-dollar entrance fee for adults is suggested but not required.
Remember this event is family-friendly, and also for the sheer entertainment of it. Talent is not required.
E
nthusiasm and a good sense of humour are.
Ryan clicked over to the Google doc just as Mack let out a braying laugh. “Ashton, good for you. At least twenty-six people want to see you cavorting like a goat.”
Ashton leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. “You’d think some would have a little more respect for a man’s position.”
This was damn amusing. “You think those are all workers at Silver Stone?”
“Look at that, twenty-seven,” Mack updated.
Alex put his phone down on the table and attempted to look innocent.
Ashton glared at him.
Alex shrugged. “What can I say? The ranch email encouraging our participation arrived at the same time, and I’m all for team spirit.”
Ryan met the older man’s eyes. The question Madison had asked previously made Ryan double-check his answer had been accurate. “If you do end up being asked to dance like a goat, will you do it?”
“Of course I will,” Ashton said. “I’m not some curmudgeon with no holiday spirit. Heart Falls is my home, and it’s for the good of the community.”
Other than the fact he said the first part with a bit too much emphasis, Ryan agreed with the sentiment.
Mack and Ashton took off to do a specific schedule check. Alex stayed where he was across from Ryan, hands pressed to the table, his cocky attitude vanished. He seemed to be trying to figure out what to say.
He finally spit it out. “Am I really a dick when I talk with Yvette?”
If the other man wanted honesty? “You’re childish around her. Kind of like little boys in grade school who poke the girls they like.”
“Well, shit.” Alex pulled a face. “That would be because I do like her.”
“Since neither of you is ten years old, it’s probably not a good way to get her to reciprocate. Just saying,” Ryan offered.
The other man leaned back, his lazy sprawl returning. “Well, since I’ll be leaving town soon anyway, not much use worrying about my past mistakes. I shouldn’t start something I can’t finish.”
Which was exactly the same conclusion Ryan had come to.
He met Alex’s gaze. “When are you leaving?”
“Not sure. It’ll probably be pretty last-minute.”
“But you’re coming back?” Ryan asked.
“Damn straight. Got a great job at Silver Stone and good friends here at the hall.” Alex nodded slowly. “Just have to wait on anything more.”
Something uncomfortable rolled in Ryan’s gut. He couldn’t wait to get home to find a time and a place to resume the sexual exploration with Madison. But the truth remained. She was leaving.
This new thing between them really had nowhere to go. It wouldn’t do to get his hopes up.
* * *
Yvette picked Madison up. She and Brooke had flipped a coin to see which of them would drive, the sheer competitiveness of which made Madison laugh.
She understood better when they were seated three across the bench seat in Yvette’s truck, Madison in the middle.
She leaned forward as Yvette turned off the main highway and started up what looked more like a goat trail. “That’s the road?”
“Not the main road, but yes.” Yvette pointed to the top of the ridge where fainter tracks vanished under hard-packed snow. “That’s the back side of Sonora’s property. Her house and the pet-rescue barn are right off the main road.”
“You’ll see why we’re going this way in a minute.” Brooke tapped Madison on the shoulder and pointed in a different direction. “But here’s a view you should appreciate. That’s Silver Stone. All that land, pretty much from where we are to where the horizon ends.”
“Wow.” For a city girl who had spent a lot of time living in a condo when her brothers were young, the expanse looked like an enormous patch of wilderness. “Please tell me this isn’t a survivor-type activity where you’re going to abandon me and discover if I’m still alive come the spring.”
Brooke leaned forward and smiled at Yvette. “This girl has got one hell of an imagination.”
“I kind of figured that out when I discovered she turned both the Nutcracker and Clara into rag dolls. Or maybe not that part, because that’s semi-canon. But the dance of coffee and tea turned into chickens and horses? That takes some flights of fancy.”
They paused at a gate in the barbed wire fence. Madison was glad to be in the middle seat when Brooke pushed open her door and waded out into the shin-deep snow.
“Ah. The plot thickens. That’s why you wanted to drive,” Maddy accused Yvette.
“Guilty. Although I also like driving this road,” Yvette said.
“Still don’t think this is a road,” Madison muttered. Brooke waited until Yvette had driven through then closed the gate after them.
Two more gates and they were over the top of the hill and down into a neat little valley tucked away from the wind. There was also a really small barn or a really big shelter—Madison didn’t know enough to tell the difference between the two.
A small group of horses, already saddled and ready to ride, were gathered at the wooden railing around the arena. Sonora sat comfortably on her own horse, just outside the shelter.
She waved them forward, dismounting to join them as they crowded out of Yvette’s truck. “Two birds with one stone. My grandson-in-law said the old-timers needed a little attention.”
A tall man with dark hair and a gentle smile tipped his hat in their direction. “Brooke. Yvette.” He stepped forward and held out a hand to her. “And you are Madison. I’m Walker Stone. Welcome, and thank you.”
“Nice to meet you, and what am I saying you’re welcome to?”
He grinned as he glanced at his grandma. “I hear you’re the one who set up the dance thing happening in a few weeks.”
Sonora tsked at him. “Are you planning on meddling?”
Walker lowered his voice conspiratorially. “It’s too good of an opportunity to resist. Plus, it’s a good cause. What time does the bidding end, again?”
“Three p.m. Sunday, so if you’re planning anything Machiavellian-style, time your assault accordingly,” Madison encouraged. “And open your pocketbooks wide.”
“Got that part all planned,” Walker said with a smile before tilting his head toward the horses. “Come on. They’re all eager to meet you.”
What followed was a little bit of holiday perfection that Madison hadn’t expected. Even though she knew she was headed to a rural community, Ryan wasn’t really involved in that part of it, so she hadn’t expected to be able to enjoy time on horseback.
Walker introduced them to three old and steady horses he said were retirees. “But they’ve done a lot of good work over the years, so it’s nice to take them out every now and then and let them stretch their legs.”
Madison had a beautiful dark-brown horse that pushed his nose against her belly, making her laugh until she got a chance to present him with the carrot Walker had slipped her.
They took a practice turn or two around the arena before Walker led them out and down a trail that wound its way around the little protected valley.
Once the group reached a more level spot, he twisted then tipped his hat again. “I’ll just be up ahead.”
A few minutes later, he was far enough out front that the four women had all the privacy they could’ve wanted.
Sonora rocked rhythmically as the horse moved under her, Yvette by her side, Brooke and Madison directly behind them. “He’s a good boy, my grandson-in-law.”
“All your grandkids are wonderful,” Brooke assured her. “Tansy is single-handedly trying to get everyone in town to go up at least one pant size this winter.”
Madison put two and two together. “I didn’t know Tansy was your granddaughter.”
“I have four of them,” Sonora said happily. “The oldest, Ivy, is married to that wonderful man up ahead. Tansy and Rose you know from their shop. My youngest is off gallivanting at art school. Fern will be back for the holidays, though. I do
like it when all my chicks are within arm’s reach.”
The image of Sonora as a mother hen was very appropriate.
“Will she be back in time for The Nutcracker?” Yvette asked. She twisted toward Madison. “If you need artwork done, she’s the one to ask.”
That was on the to-do list. “Not that I want to assume, but can you recruit her for me, Sonora? If she has time? We don’t need a lot, but something more than my drawing skills would be helpful.”
“Of course. I know she’d be delighted.” Sonora’s smile widened. “You know how when people are doing what they’re supposed to do, it just makes them happier? That’s my granddaughter and making art.”
That philosophy sounded a little like what Madison was thinking in terms of her and Ryan. Being friends had always made them happy.
Being more—so far, it was working out well.
“I believe she’s done as of the fifteenth, so I’ll let her know to get in touch with you.” Sonora leaned forward on the saddle horn and twisted, dipping her chin at Madison with approval as she slightly changed the topic. “I like that you’re doing things up not too fancy. I like that you changed the performance to fit Heart Falls.”
“I do as well,” Brooke agreed. “It’s also nice that you made it work for everyone, and all ages, to take part.”
“I like that you combined it with the fundraiser.” Yvette said it slowly, but when she twisted to look at Madison, it was to offer a big smile and a wink. “It definitely is more fun thinking of people we know and love being up on the stage.”
“Anyone who is not being a curmudgeon will want to be involved,” Sonora said firmly. “Although, personally, if I were going to be any of the barn animals, I would pick a cat.”
A Hero’s Christmas Hope: Holidays in Heart Falls: Book 3 Page 13