by C. R. Moss
She tilted her head, and when she opened her mouth to reply, he inserted a melon ball.
“You asked around about me, so I returned the favor.” He chuckled and winked. “But there is one thing I’m curious about. When you talked about your life being in Philadelphia, you said ‘for the most part.’ What’d you mean by that?”
“My father and brothers are physical therapists. My one brother is working on a rodeo circuit right now, but Dad and my older brother moved to Las Vegas a few years ago and opened a practice. Before I came out to the ranch, I spent some time with them. They’re begging me to join the team. Dad had business cards with my name and title printed in hopes that I’d change my mind and say yes. Even though my hours suck and taking vacation time is hard, I love where I work in Philly. So, for the most part, my life is in Pennsylvania, but my family is here. I’ll be coming back. I just don’t know when or how often.”
His stomach rose and dipped as if he rode a rollercoaster. It surprised him how in a span of seconds he could experience the hope of her making Nevada her home then have his wish ripped away. “Gotcha.”
“Come, cowboy.” She stroked his cheek. “No long faces right now. We still have hours before we have to say good-bye. Now, lay down.”
Wondering what she had in mind, he did as requested. Careful and methodical, she placed slices of fruit, some pulled pork and barbeque sauce, slaw and bits of bread along his torso and legs. “I’m gonna make a meal of you.”
To his delight, she made good on her word, nipping, licking and sucking as she ate the food off of him. Happy to return the favor, he enjoyed his lunch off the palette of her body.
The rest of the afternoon as they ate, talked and loved, he marveled at her good-nature and radiance and how her ex-husband must be a stupid man for letting her get away.
After they dressed and gathered their belongings, they sat at the cave’s edge and watched the lights of the city come to life and twinkle like a sparkling gold blanket stretched across the valley. He cherished every moment she spent in his arms, the feel of every excited breath she took in wonderment. It’d be so easy to fall in love with her, and he wished he could tell her that, but he hated complications more. Bringing his feelings into the mix now would probably muck up whatever they had between them.
“Darlin’, I think it’s time to go.”
She nodded, and he swore a tear trickled from her eye, but she turned her head and moved to the ladder before he could be sure.
On the way back to the ranch, they strolled side by side, leading the horses behind them.
“Beautiful evenin’, isn’t it?” He ran his hand against her arm, committing the shape of her body to memory.
The sky shifted into twilight, welcoming dark blues, deep purples, and warm pinks as the sun finished setting behind the western mountain range. The air cooled promising the onset of a divine, desert evening.
Maggie stopped walking. “Kent.” She gazed at him, her emerald green eyes shining brightly in the light of the moon joining the evening sky. “I had such a great time today.”
He took her hand into his and raised it to his lips. “Me too, darlin’.” His lips touched her knuckles.
Truth be told, he wanted to stay in the Dougan brothers’ cave with her stripped naked, continue to service her until daylight, and admire the sunrise with her. But though he technically had the day and night off, duty called. He needed to check in with Dak and the Doc about Cheyenne, and Maggie had an early flight out the next day.
Maggie kissed his cheek. “So, what do you say to you and me same time next year?”
He raised a brow. “Hey, isn’t that the name of an old movie?”
A confused look moved across her face. “I don’t know. If it is, I think it was before my time.”
A chuckle sounded. “Oh that’s right. I’m an old man.” He’d been told she was between five and ten years younger than him, putting her in her early to mid-forties. Maybe the information was wrong. Suddenly, the decades of his fifty some years weighed on him.
She slapped his arm playfully. “You are not an old man. Far from it. And, I know the movie. That’s why I referenced it.”
A year. Could he deal with not seeing her for that long? A lot could happen in that time. Maybe she wouldn’t be opposed to a visit from me.
They’d reached the boundary of the clearing. The lodge and reality loomed across the way. He stopped. “Why don’t you let me take the horses? You go and get yourself ready for tomorrow.”
“Only if you promise to come to my room for a nightcap once you take care of your chores?”
He probably should have said no, turned down her offer so they wouldn’t prolong the agony of the inevitable good-bye. The thought of one last time with her spurred on a different answer though. “I would love that.”
She handed him Coda’s reins. “Good. I’ll see you in an hour.”
“Yep. You can bet on it.”
She hurried off toward her cabin, looking no worse for wear after having spent hours in a small cave engaged in a sex fest. Kent let out a low whistle and led the horses to the stables.
After he groomed Coda and Riley and stowed the cleaned tack, he went down toward the pregnant mare’s stall. Doc and Dakota had the situation under control. In a couple of hours, Cheyenne would welcome her second foal into the world. Dak told him to enjoy the evening, and if he were needed, he’d call.
Relief washed through him. He still had time left to enjoy with Maggie.
Kent jogged back to his cabin and took a shower with minutes to spare before his hour was up. Trying not to be overzealous, he made his way to her cabin where she waited for him.
She opened the door dressed in an oversized t-shirt and cotton shorts. Who knew a woman could be sexy in clothes like that? His heart skipped a beat.
“I almost didn’t come,” his voice hitched over the words.
Maggie leaned against the doorway. “I almost sent word for you not to come. Didn’t realize this good-bye would suck so bad.”
“Yup.” A knife-like slash skimmed across his chest. He didn’t want to say it, but one of them had to. “Perhaps it’s best we don’t have that nightcap.”
Her eyes swam in unshed tears. She nodded.
Bending forward, he brushed his lips against Maggie’s a few times, then rested his forehead on hers. “Same time next year, Mags?”
“You bet, cowboy. You’ve made me an offer I just can’t refuse.”
“Promise?”
Maggie threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his. She pecked his ear and whispered, “Yes.”
His cock jumped in response to her touch. In the few precious moments of her embrace, he memorized how she molded to him, how she smelled of fruit and flowers and sounded with her east coast twang. All too soon, she smoothed her hands down his torso, feeling her way to his ass, eventually releasing and stepping away from him.
With her commitment firm in his mind, Kent tipped his hat and turned away. He made the steps two at a time and headed across the clearing toward his cabin. The crisp night air and his heavy heart chilled him. All he wanted to do was collapse on his bed, survive the night and the morning. Once he knew she was in the air flying home, his world would stabilize again. Or so he hoped.
In his cabin, he stripped down, leaving his clothes, hat and boots where he dropped them, and fell onto his bed.
For a man who’d shunned relationships and called himself a confirmed bachelor, he sure had changed his tune. That vixen Maggie. People had been right, though. He’d just needed to meet the perfect woman to see relationships from a different perspective.
A year. Kent’s stomach churned. He’d had experienced years in between dates, but this situation floored him. Knowing a woman like her existed in the world, who wanted him no less, yet not able to see her or touch her? He didn’t know if he’d be able to manage. Suffer through it he would though. He had no other choice.
Until then, darlin’, I’ll just see you in my d
reams.
Chapter Five
Kent paused in the middle of his instructions to a late afternoon group of riders and swiped a bandana across his forehead. Dak had him running ragged since sun up, and he’d yet to take a break. Though being busy kept his thoughts off certain matters—a busty female in particular—he needed a moment to go quench his parched throat.
“You all right, Kent?”
He glanced at the younger wrangler. “Yup. Right as rain, Hugh. But would you mind finishing up here for me? I got some bizzness to tend to.”
“Sure. Go on.”
Kent left the training ring and strode to his cabin, which was closer than the kitchen. Inside, he shook his head at the mess he’d left all over the floor the night before and didn’t straighten that morning. Grabbing the discarded garments, he went into his bedroom and to the wicker hamper neatly tucked away in the corner.
As his mother taught him, he checked the pockets of his jeans. A small card stuck between his fingers in the back left pocket. Curious, he pulled out the paper. Surprised to see a business card, he stared at the name. Maggie O’Hurley. Administrator & Nurse Practitioner. O’Malley Physical Therapy. He flipped it over.
Forget a year. How about same time next month? Vintigo on the Strip. Details to follow.
Without an ounce of hesitation, he grabbed his phone from the holster on his belt, flipped it open, and dialed her cell number that she’d written under her note.
“Hello?”
The fiery voice reminded him of the sex-filled hours in the cave. “Mags. The card. Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep. I know we believed we couldn’t, or shouldn’t, have a relationship, but I can’t help myself. I really like you, cowboy.”
“I really like you, too, darlin’.”
“My father is just going to adore you. I can’t wait for Sunday dinners together.”
Sunday dinners? His heart lurched with hope. He pinched himself to make sure he hadn’t fallen into some sort of dream. “Does that mean?”
“I’m saying yes to the family. Think you can wait a month while I settle things here and get moved out there?”
“You got yourself a deal, darlin’.”
“Great. Once I make arrangements for a room, I’ll let you know the details. Then when it’s time, I’ll be ready, naked and waiting.”
A real bed. Room service. Maybe even a tub big enough for two. A world all for them. His cock hardened imagining all the things he could do with—and to—her in the proper setting. “Really? I have your word?”
“Anything to be with you, cowboy. That’s a promise. One I have no intention of ever breaking. See you soon.”
The End
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