by Callie Croix
Dillon gave her a sardonic smile. “From the look on your face, I guess you didn’t expect to see me again, did you?”
To be honest, no. At least not this soon. She’d been bracing herself all week to make the painful cut, trying to put some distance between them to make it hurt a little less. But now... “No, I guess I didn’t.”
He made a tsking sound, shook his head. “What am I going to do about that?”
Stay the weekend with me. Tie me to the bed and teach me a lesson.
The thought shocked her. Her body had ached for him all week long, but she’d been expecting him to pull back. She glanced down the hall, making sure both her parents were out of earshot before facing him. “You could stay the night and help me christen my new shower,” she said, trying to keep things light and avoid what really needed to be said. “It’s big enough for two now.”
“Hmm.” He stroked his fingers through her hair, tucked a lock behind her ear. A light shiver rippled through her. His touch made her want to purr and rub up against him. Absorb that easy strength and savor the feel of his arms around her. “I could, but I thought after all our hard work here I’d take you out to dinner instead.”
Dinner? Instead? It took a moment for her to process the words. So he didn’t want to stay the night and have sex? Disappointment flooded her. Along with a healthy shot of insecurity. She felt more confused than ever. “I...sure, dinner would be great.”
He took her hands in his, laced his long fingers through hers. “A real date, Charissa.”
“A date.”
“Yeah.” He rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles. “Remember the way it used to be with us? I want to take you out, have some time to talk, get to know each other again. I’ve missed being your friend.”
“Oh.” Damn, that made her throat tighten up even more. She swallowed. “So...but wait, you’re not saying you just want to be friends, right?”
“Hell no!” He looked affronted. “Trust me, sweetness—I want you in my bed again more than anything, but I also want a hell of a lot more than that.”
She tilted her head, her heart tripping all over itself. The suspense was killing her. “What do you want, exactly?”
He raised both her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles, his mouth hot and seductive as it played against her skin. The muscles in her belly fluttered. “I’ve missed you like hell and I tried to give you the space you seemed to want, but I realize that was stupid of me. I guess I’m doing a damn poor job of it, but I’m trying to show you I’m serious about you.”
Oh... “Serious as in...how?”
Staring into her eyes, his gaze was steady and unflinching. “I’m crazy about you.”
Her heart swelled painfully, cracking through the walls that barricaded it. A sheen of tears stung her eyes. “You are?”
He nodded. “Have been for a long time. Couple more days with you and I’ll be a goner.”
Her heart drummed hard and fast against her ribs. “I think I’m already gone,” she whispered back. Saying the words felt liberating. It felt right.
Another smile, this one sexy enough to weaken her knees. “Was that so hard to admit?”
“Yes,” she blurted on a laugh. “But how will it ever work? I can’t just give up my job, my life. I’m here, you’re in Bandera—”
“We’ll do whatever it takes to make it work. I’ll come out to see you a couple times a week, and you can come stay with me on the weekends. Or I can find someone else to take over the ranch on the weekends so I can be here. Hell, I don’t much care how we work it out, as long as we do.” Dillon released her hands to wrap his arms around her back, still holding her gaze. “I want to be with you. As much as we can until we decide to move this to the next level.”
Was he talking about moving in together? She was stunned that he was already thinking about something that permanent. “You really want that?”
“Oh, yeah, I want that. But as long as I know you’re mine, I can wait a while longer for the rest of it.” He dipped his head and placed a slow, lingering kiss on her trembling lips. “You are mine, right?”
Just the thought made her feel giddy. “Yes. I mean, as long as you’re mine, too.”
“Damn right, I am.” He kissed her again, and this time she went up on tiptoe to meet him, opening to the tender caress of his tongue. Need and longing and love all swirled together inside her, making her ache for the feel of his naked body against hers. She wanted him to take her to bed right now, pin her beneath his hard weight, and make her fly as only he could. When he ended the kiss with a light caress of his tongue over her lower lip and pulled back, she could hardly catch her breath.
His eyes glittered with unquenched hunger, but she could also see the love inside of him. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
“So? Will you let me take you to dinner and then we’ll see what happens afterward?”
Charissa wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his throat as she nodded. The elation sweeping through her made her feel dizzy, so happy she thought she’d explode. “Sure. I can tell you right now what’s going to happen after dinner, though.”
He stroked a hand over her spine and nuzzled the side of her neck. Making her melt. “Yeah? Does it involve that fancy new four-poster bed I helped put together while you were gone?”
“It’s done?” she asked excitedly.
“All done.”
She tipped her head back and gave him a naughty grin. “Did you also happen to notice the collection of silk scarves I have hanging in my closet?”
The glint in his eyes turned wicked. “No. Damn, how did I miss that?”
“Hmm.” Her fingers trailed down over his ass, teasing lightly. The thick muscles clenched beneath her hands. “I bet you could put some of them to good use with that new bed frame. Those posts looked plenty sturdy, enough to tie someone down to.”
Instantly, his hand cupped her jaw. His steely blue eyes searched hers intently, all traces of amusement gone. “Do you want that, sweetness?”
“Yes, but only ever with you. Because I trust you. And I loved what you did to me. I want more,” she admitted in a whisper, completely unashamed.
His answering smile made her toes curl, but then he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. “Christ I want you. When can you kick your parents out of here?”
Charissa licked her lips, sure the temperature in the foyer had just shot up a hundred degrees. “Just as soon as we finish the painting,” she answered breathlessly. “Got an extra brush?”
Dillon lifted his head, his expression hopeful. “There’s an extra roller in the bathroom.”
She could get rid of her parents one coat faster. “Give it to me, quick.”
He turned and shot down the hallway. Grinning, she followed right on his heels.
About the Author
Callie Croix writes erotic romance tales about dominant alpha males that she hopes will curl your toes in the best way possible. She also writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense as Kaylea Cross. An active member of the Greater Vancouver RWA chapter, Callie lives in a beautiful seaside town just outside Vancouver with her husband.
Visit Callie at
www.CallieCroix.com
To chat with other Wild Rose Press
authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
Also Available
Dustin’s Gamble
by
J.J. Ranger
Book Two of the Dume Ranch Series
After leaving for a career in NYC, Shannon Piermont has come home to Bandera, Texas. Her cousin is getting married and her grandmother has died, but all she can think about is Dustin Dumen. The sexy ranch owner had once been able to charm her pants off, but not this time. Just because they’d once shared a passion hotter than the Texas sun, didn’t mean she’d settle for barefoot and pregnant in a one-horse town.
Dusty knew Shannon couldn't settle down until she'd seen t
he world and he'd taken a huge chance she'd find her way home. Now that she has, the stakes are higher and he'll do whatever it takes to keep her there. He’d gambled with their love once—he won't do it again.
Can Dustin convince Shannon she can have it all—a career and a family—or will he have to settle for one last ride of passion?
Chapter One
Shannon Piermont slowed the SUV to a crawl on FM 1077, trepidation filling her heart. Officially she hadn’t been back in fourteen years—at least not to see anyone other than Gran. It felt like another life. In that old life, the world had been much simpler, Gran was alive and Dustin…
Just a quarter mile to go and she would be on his ranch, walking to the office to check in for her cousin’s bachelorette weekend.
“I’m here for Bridgette,” she said out loud, as though hearing the words would erase the niggling doubt that she was really there for Dustin.
And maybe to convince him to forgive her.
She passed the driveway to Gran’s property on her left, but Shannon couldn’t bring herself to look in that direction. Too many memories, too many ghosts and regrets. Carolyn—she refused to think of the woman as “mother”—kept bugging her about selling Gran’s ranch, threatening to take her to court if she didn’t give in. Money hungry—
She bit back a sigh. No, she wasn’t going there. She had enough to worry about with seeing Dustin again.
She made the next right onto the gravel road, the entry blocked by a massive beige cobblestone-and-wrought-iron gate. DUMEN RANCH was scripted in iron across the rounded top of the gate. The N in Dumen dangled.
Shannon chuckled. Apparently her generation wasn’t the only one who snuck out at night to loosen the screws so that the sign to read “Dume.” And she’d bet she wasn’t the only one to call it the “Do Me” ranch. She and Dustin had unscrewed the bolts on the sign almost every weekend, much to his father’s annoyance.
She punched the code into the key box and waited for the gate to swing open, then drove the SUV along the winding gravel drive.
A small herd of longhorns—probably no more than a dozen—grazed in the pasture to her left, the Double D brand on their flanks. A half mile in, she turned into the parking lot at the bottom of the small hill. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the giant shade trees. Cutting off the engine, she grabbed her bag and stepped out into the humidity.
The place hadn’t changed one bit. She closed her eyes and could almost smell fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, made by the loving hand of Mrs. Dumen. Home. Even after all this time, the ranch felt just as much her home as Gran’s place.
The sidewalk to the two-story stone lodge was on an incline and by the time she reached the front porch, her calves burned—just a small reminder she’d lapsed on her workouts since coming back from Paris. The temperature inside the building felt cool against her heated skin. The interior was homey. Large wood beams framed the room and supported the roof and added to the rustic feel. It smelled of leather and sunshine. A few people milled around the room.
Offering them a smile, she crossed to the office and poked her head in the door. A thin blonde of twenty-ish, with baby blue eyes, looked up from her computer and leaned forward, pushing her exposed cleavage almost to her chin.
“Can I help you?” she asked with a lilting southern drawl.
“Checking in.” Shannon fished her wallet from her purse and handed over her driver’s license and credit card.
“Of course, Miss Piermont. You will be in the Bronc Bustin’ cabin. I am supposed to tell you Bridgette will be in the Twisted Knot with Jessica.”
Bridgette, the bride and reason for this weekend get together, was her older cousin and was marrying her college sweetheart, Adam. Jessica was probably Adam’s friend, who Bridge had gushed about a few weeks back. Shannon bit back a sigh of relief. As much as she loved her cousin, and as nice as Jessica probably was, after a hellacious fashion month in Paris, missing Gran’s funeral and a first-time homecoming, the last thing she really wanted was to share space with a gaggle of giggling women.
“Shay?” said a deep voice behind her.
She looked over and broke into a grin. “Dillon. Holy hell, you grew up good!” She raked her gaze over his tall, lean frame. Short dark hair gave him a mature look. Piercing blue eyes twinkled. “You’re smiling. Should we be worried?”
Dillon laughed. “Why would you be worried?”
“Come on,” she teased, tapping his flat stomach with the backs of her fingers. “You can’t fool me. I know you’re the crusty, serious brother.” Dillon had always been the serious one, Dane the flirtatious, Deacon the sexy one, and Dustin…Dustin was a good mix of all. At least, in her opinion.
He rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks. Nice to see you home, kid.” He chucked her on the chin and brushed past her into the office. “Ashley, have you seen Dustin?”
The blonde handed Shannon the cabin key. “Not since this morning. But then he said something about going to the house.”
Dillon looked over at her. “Shay, why don’t you go to the main house and round up Dustin for us? I know he will be thrilled to see you.”
Shannon gaped over her shoulder at him. “Me?” Did he not realize how she’d left things with Dustin?
“We’ll take your bags to the cabin,” Dillon assured her. “A bunch of cars just pulled up and we’re about to get swamped. I could really use his help.”
She heaved a sigh. “Fine.” She’d never been able to turn down a Dumen brother yet…unless one counted the breakup with Dustin fourteen years ago. Going to have to see him sooner or later. Might as well be sooner.
Forcing one foot in front of the other, she trudged out of the lodge and up the path to the main residence. Pink, yellow, red and white roses bloomed around the walkway leading up to the door, and she breathed in their heady scent. Nausea swirled in her stomach.
God, why did she have to jump to obey Dillon’s orders? She wasn’t a kid anymore. She dreaded the initial reunion with Dustin, had hoped to put it off for as long as possible—if not completely—until this weekend was over. One drama at a time please.
Drawing in a deep breath, she raised her hand and pressed the doorbell. She waited for two minutes and then hit the button again. She leaned her forehead against the oak door and tried to calm her ever present nerves. How would Dustin react when he saw her? Did he really know she was coming? And what would he think when he found out she intended to stay for good?
“Guess nobody’s home,” she mumbled.
The door swung open, and she lost her balance with a startled squeak. She reached out to grab something, anything to stop her descent, and latched on to a pair of denim-clad hips. The material slipped down and with it, she landed on her knees, face-planted against a very masculine crotch. The tip of his cock peeked from the front of his red plaid boxers. Heat flooded her belly and moisture pooled in her panties in response to his arousal. The familiar scent of leather and sandalwood tickled her nose.
Dustin. Memories of a night over a decade ago filled with sweat-lathered bodies on the bank of the creek swam before her eyes. She shivered. All it would take was the slightest turn of her head and…
“Not that I’m complaining about your enthusiasm, honey, but you’re a little too far to the left,” a familiar, deep masculine voice teased.
She looked up into Dustin’s amused face. That crooked grin hit her in the gut with lust so fierce she wanted to toss away caution and jump him right there. Mortified, she pushed away and leapt to her feet. Dammit, of all the impressions she could have made, falling face first into his cock was not the way she intended to go.
Heat burned in her cheeks. “Dillon needs you at the lodge.” She turned on her heel.
“Wait.” He gripped her hand. “Aren’t you going to say hello or anything?”
Shannon shook her head, keeping her gaze locked on the safety of the door. “I can’t talk to you with your…your thing exposed. Pull up your pants, for God’s sake.” Only he
could make her feel like a blushing virgin.
His laughter vibrated through her breasts, and her nipples hardened against the lace of her bra. “Well, darlin’, my exposed thing never bothered you before. But if you insist…”
The rustling of denim against skin teased her imagination and whetted an appetite she hadn’t known in a long time. She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the image of his cock saluting her.
“You can turn around now.”
Drawing in a deep, calming breath, she did. He’d fastened the button-fly of his jeans, much to her relief. But the exposed V of his pelvis was too distracting for her peace of mind. She focused above the waistline and on his face. Hazel eyes were emphasized by small lines around the edges. A strong jaw was softened by full lips. Gone was the boy she’d fallen in love with. In his place was a man who could very well destroy her if she let him get too close.
“Hello, Dustin.” Shannon forced a smile and resisted rubbing her damp palms against her thighs. “Dillon asked me to let you know you are needed at the lodge.”
His eyes smoldered, and the corner of his mouth kicked up. “So you said.”
She gave a tight nod. “Right. Well.” She lifted a shoulder in an awkward gesture. “I had better get to the cabin. Have to get ready for tonight.” She swiveled toward the door. “Nice to see you, Dusty.”
“Welcome home, Shay.”
Welcome home, indeed.
Had coming back to this place been a mistake? She was tempted to tell Carolyn she could have Gran’s farm because she wanted more than anything to escape back to New York City where she could lose herself in the hustle and bustle of the big city. And even though it might be the coward’s way out, she wanted to escape the history and heartbreak of Dumen Ranch.
****
Dustin chuckled as Shannon ran out the door, her long brown hair swinging wildly with each step. A man could drown in those big green eyes of hers. He’d waited fourteen years for her to come home. At eighteen he’d been too young to understand why she left, why she refused to believe he could take care of her. It sucked that she’d been right. What had he known of the responsibility of being a husband at that age?