by Alexa Davis
Rachel dragged me to the truck, and when I opened the door for her, she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. She pulled my face down to hers for a kiss so deep it drew a growl out of my throat and I shoved her up against the side of the truck for more, lifting her and bracing her back against the side of the seat as my hand slid up under her blouse and around her breast. Moaning, she slid her hand between us and down the protruding front of my jeans.
“Baby, we gotta go if that’s what you want to get at. Not in the parking lot,” I gasped, pulling her hand away. She pouted, but let me lift her into the truck, giggling when I slid my hand up her skirt for a quick feel before I shut the door. I adjusted myself and counted to ten before climbing in behind the steering wheel. Rachel was at the far side of the truck, clicking in her seatbelt and glancing at me shyly.
“Sorry, Daniel,” she said. Just the sound of her voice made me want to pull her on top of me and finish what she’d started. With a grunt of dissatisfaction, I leaned over and disengaged her seatbelt. I slid my hand between her legs and slid her closer to me. She giggled and squirmed into the middle seat.
I put the truck in drive, and put my hand right back where it had been. But I moved it up to her panties and slid my fingers over the silky fabric until she clutched my arm and whimpered. I pulled my fingers away from her now damp panties, and she let out a sound of complaint.
“All’s fair, sweetheart. Now you know how I felt trying to leave Shelly’s,” I gloated. Her shoulders sagged with a pout. I held out as long as I could, but by the time we were winding up the mountain to the ranch alone on the road, I couldn’t seem to keep my hands to myself. I slid my hand between her thighs again, but instead of rubbing her soft mound through the panties, I hooked my finger under them and slid it inside her. She cried out for me to stop and watch the road. I left my hand where it was and instead, pulled over to the shoulder to face her.
“You can’t drive like that. You could crash,” she panted. I was torn between guilt and frustration that she’d been so hurt that she couldn’t trust me.
“Darlin’, I will never hurt you. Okay?” I asked, gently rubbing my finger over her, trying to get her wet for me again. “The truck is in park, and we’re all alone out here. You can relax.”
I watched her eyes change, darkening as I found the spot that would drive her over the edge. I undid her seatbelt, and she turned so her one foot was wedged under my ass and the other dangled off the seat somewhere around my knee. I watched her eyes slowly close as the pleasure drove her head back, until it rested on the seat and she braced against the door handle with both hands, pushing down against me and rocking her hips against my hand as my finger slid into her.
I used my other hand to hold her panties to one side and slid a second finger into her. I picked up the pace and watched her lovely face as she crested, biting her lip and whimpering, on that lonely road. I slowed down and then stopped. I held the softest part of her in my hand like a downy chick and waited for the waves to subside. Rachel raised her head and arched an eyebrow at me.
“Someone could’ve seen us.” The sparkle in her eye belied her guilt.
“Have you ever seen anyone else on the road out here? It’s not exactly a congested freeway we’re on right now,” I countered. “I don’t ever want you to think I would put you in danger. Not even the risk of embarrassment.
“I love the way you feel. I love your face and the fact that your small, slender hands are as calloused as mine. I love that I have your scent on me right now as we speak.” Rachel scooted upright and blushed. “I love you. Plain and simple. And if you think I’m going to let you leave and put me through another weekend like this last one, you’re out of your goddamn mind,” I concluded, feigning irritation as she gasped and gaped at me.
“If I leave you again, huh?” she replied.
I grabbed her and pulled her into my lap and her ass hit the horn. She squealed as it went off and laughed, her whole face lighting up until it shone out from her eyes. “Well, I love your smell. And the way you let me take care of myself, but always have my back. I love the way your hands feel on me and that you give me goosebumps with a look.” She rocked her hips as she sat on my lap and made me groan.
“I love you. Plain and simple. And if you ever try to make me leave again, I’ll make you carry me off the property.” She laid down against me, and put her head on my shoulder.
“We have a lot to do, but we’re going to revisit this soon. I hope you’re ready for it when it happens,” I warned her.
“I’m taking it one day at a time, but I think I can handle anything you throw at me.” Her voice sounded dreamy and happy. I didn’t know how long I sat with her in my arms, but the moon was high overhead when I finally kissed her temple and she climbed out of my lap with a sigh.
“I’m lucky you’re little, or that would’ve been a whole lot harder,” I quipped as I squeezed her butt, making her squeal and smack my arm. “Dang, girl. You hit like you mean it.” She laughed.
“If I mean it, you’ll know,” she countered.
“Yeah, I haven’t forgotten. Your poor little hand. Never have I been so satisfied to see a man get his nose broken. I just wish you hadn’t been hurt.” I frowned and looked down at the flesh-colored brace she still wore.
“Most days I don’t even remember. And Skipper is good, too. Everything I’ve accomplished on the ranch has more than canceled out a couple of scumbags who are long gone anyway.”
I had to agree. Pete had told me she was one of the quickest studies in horse husbandry he’d ever had the pleasure to teach. She threw hay bales, mucked stalls, and held fence posts without complaint. She was the first one at roll call, and the last one to turn in at the end of the day, and then after that, she still came and helped me with the never-ending paperwork.
“You’re amazing. My own parents couldn’t have imagined a better addition to the ranch than you. In fact, I’ve considered on more than one occasion to just hand the running of it over to you, since your common sense seems to outpace how fast the men can be trained to do their jobs.” I glanced over at her. Her eyes were downcast, and she smiled down at her fingers.
“I love Lago Colina. I’ve worked at other ranches, and it was always wonderful. I love the work, the animals, it’s why I’m doing what I am in school. But, I’ve never fallen in love with a job like I have this one. The first day we went riding, I felt at home, like I could’ve ridden all those trails without a guide, even though I’d never been there. Dumb huh?” She glanced up at me.
“Not dumb. Not at all.” I coaxed her to sit in the middle again. “I want you to feel at home. Because it is home.” I got us back on the road and we were driving up to the parking in front of the workers’ quarters in minutes.
I helped her out of the car and wrapped an arm around her shoulder as we walked up to her door. She pulled me in after her and let the door slam shut behind me as she backed into the room. She reached up and put her arms around my neck, and I wrapped mine around her. Her scent, vanilla and honey, made me dizzy with need. I slid my hand down over her skirt and lifted it, cupping her ass in my hands. She sighed and tipped her head back for a kiss, and I happily obliged.
I carried her to her bed and undressed her and let her do the same for me, watching her eyes light up when she slid my jeans down over my hips. She used her hands and mouth on me until I couldn’t stand before she let me lay down so she could climb up on me to finish with her sweet, tight heat what she’d begun with her mouth. Her rocking hips became my whole world while I watched the sweat bead on her upper lip and breasts. I felt her tighten around me as she screamed her pleasure and wrung the answer from my throat in a roar as I gave in to the tidal wave that crashed over me. She laid on my chest and kissed me again, sated and sighing.
She spent the rest of the night in my arms, and long after she was completely spent and had fallen asleep, I couldn’t stop thinking. I had never wanted a woman this way. I’d never waited so long just
to bed her, and now I didn’t want to wait for the rest of our lives together to start. It had only been a few, short weeks, but I knew what I wanted as surely as the day I’d told my brothers that the ranch was mine. I only hoped she saw this the way I did.
I slipped my arm out from under her cheek before the sun rose and took my thoughts to my best friend. I saddled him up, and Kaiser and I rode the fences while the stars lit our way and I talked. My horse was a damn fine listener, too – didn’t argue or try to make it about him.
By the time the dew was drying off the uncut grass in the lower pasture, I had talked to my mother and she’d promised to corner my father until he promised to at least lay low, if he couldn’t give us his blessing. He, in turn, found me and lit into me like I was twelve again and had just accidentally set fire to the stables trying to make a bomb out of an end-to-end line of matches leading to a (mostly empty) gas can.
“She’s too good for you, but I can’t tell her that because I like having her here,” he chided me. “Give me a little credit for the eyes in my head, son. I know the goddamn difference between a good-time girl and the real deal.” I shuffled my feet.
“Sorry, Pop. I know you like her, but this is awful fast. And by the way, I intended to talk to you yesterday, but Pete interrupted.”
“I should’ve known you weren’t just spending time with your old man. Never mind. With a girl like that, you don’t have much time to waste thinking about it. Period. Just, do me a favor and wait until we get Texas Tango on paper before you go making more drama with a wedding,” he groused.
I agreed not to cause him anymore grief for a bit, and he gave me one of his rare hugs. I found my mother and Patty already colluding in the kitchen about where and when to have a wedding. My mother, especially, was flushed and chirping like there wasn’t a thing to worry about.
“Mom, she has to say ‘yes’ first,” I reminded her. “I have a plan, and I’d love it if you helped me.” I told her of the ring I was having designed and how I planned to propose. She promised to have everything I needed when the time came, and Patty offered her assistance, as well.
I told them I needed to go see her father before we did anything and that calmed them down. For the moment. I took Patty’s amazing coffee back to the cottage, where Rachel was just waking. She chided me for letting her sleep in, until I handed her a mug. Instant forgiveness and a proper kiss followed. I watched her when she wasn’t paying attention, amazed that I had gone from never claiming a woman for more than a night, to needing to keep this woman forever, in such a short time.
After what was becoming our morning routine of coffee and showering together before a morning ride, I got the details of the girl-jockey coming to interview, told Rachel and my family, and emailed Miss Vale, as well. She was ecstatic and informed me that she actually knew Miss Blythe and gave me a gushing reference. Verica couldn’t have bought better, and I made a mental note to ask Rachel if that’s where she’d heard of the young jockey.
Rachel made the guestroom in her cottage ready, and the whole ranch was spit-shined for the arriving guest over the rest of the day and into the next. There was an air of excitement that didn’t seem to dim even through the chores and frequent admonishing from Mother and Patty to keep everything clean. Rachel and I hardly talked, falling into bed exhausted at the end of the night after getting the ranch worthy of the twenty-first century.
Wednesday night, she reminded me as she rolled over to snuggle her back against my stomach that I needed to make sure that Tuck and Mandy made it out to meet our prospect, and I quickly sent him and email from my phone. I sank into blissful unawareness with the warmth of Rachel’s body next to mine, my arm across her. We were so tired, that Thursday morning, my hand was still cupping her breast, and her hair was covering my face so much, it was even in my mouth.
I gurgled and spat it out as she snickered at me and pulled away, leaving my hand empty and my side cold. I huffed at her as she slid deftly from the bed and sashayed to the bathroom, reminding me that it was my turn to get the coffee, and that if I hurried, there would still be hot water for me. I complained, but threw on a shirt and sweatpants. It was early enough that I got the first cup off the pot of coffee and drained one and refilled it before going back to my cabin.
She was singing in the shower, some lilting old folk song I hadn’t heard in years. I loved hearing her so happy. I checked my phone before joining her and saw that I’d gotten an email from the ring designer. It was already done, thanks to the extra money I’d spent. I needed to go talk to her father, and if I was picking up the ring anyway, there was no point in putting it off, for even one more day.
My stomach lurched as I tried to figure out how to keep it all secret, but when I hopped in the shower with her, she gave me the perfect excuse.
“I think you and your father should go alone to pick up Miss Blythe from the airport,” she blurted out as I stepped onto the slick tile. She moved out of the way and I let the water pound on my back while I watched her soap up her breasts and stomach. My mouth got dry as her hands slid further down her body, and she repeated herself, thinking I hadn’t heard the first time.
“Um, yeah,” I agreed. “Why though?” I added, wishing it was my hand instead of her washcloth between her legs. Unable to help myself, I reached down and played in the floral-scented foam until I drew a whimper out of her.
“We don’t have time,” she pleaded as I cornered her against the glass and cold tile.
“We always have time for this,” I countered, kissing her as I rubbed my soapy hand over her while she trembled and moaned. I kept going until her eyes closed as her head fell back and she clutched my arms to keep from falling. “It’s not my fault you’re so goddamn pretty,” I said to her, holding her until her legs regained their strength. “So, Pop and I will go get Miss Blythe, and you can do paperwork so you’re on site when we get back,” I offered.
“My, idea, exactly,” she panted slightly as she agreed, still steadying herself against the shower wall with one hand. “Tonight,” she warned me, “you will get yours.” I laughed.
“I certainly hope so.” I winked at her and slapped her wet butt as she wrapped her towel around herself, then washed and followed her out as quickly as I could while actually getting the important parts clean. She slipped out and made her daily trip to her own cottage, and I counted the hours until I could just move her in and call it good.
Tucker responded to my message from the night before and promised to bring Mandy up to see Verica the next day and said he might have something to share on our little family problem, as well. I replied in the affirmative and headed to the big house for breakfast and to let my mother and father know what to expect for the next couple of days.
Pop agreed to come with me on my errands when we went to the airport, making an excuse to get us out early so we could get the ring. Jackson had Caleb’s number, so after a few minutes of my younger brother and Rachel’s brother texting each other, I got word that her father was actually home for the day and he’d be happy to see me.
To avoid the texting teens pitfall in the future, I had Jackson give me Mr. Martinez’s number and called him properly. I told him I needed to speak with him, and he again assured me that I could drop by on my way to the airport, unless I wanted to wait until they came up to the ranch tomorrow to meet the prospective new member of the team. Afraid Rachel would catch us, I told him I’d be there shortly.
Pop and I made our excuses and took off in Mom’s Escalade. I picked up the ring first, and we headed the few miles out of the way to the Martinez residence. I stared at the ring while my father drove, marveling at the intricacy of the platinum lace band and the sparkle of the pink diamond. I couldn’t believe how much it made me think of Rachel, and I uttered one last silent prayer that everything was going the way it was supposed to.
I was dropped off by my father to speak to Rachel’s dad while mine did some shopping for my mother. Mr. and Mrs. Martinez didn’t seem at all surprised
by the reason for my visit, and Rachel’s mom gave me a smile as she left us alone, as if to offer me encouragement. I sat on the couch across from Frank and didn’t know how to begin.
“You seem nervous. Are you okay?” he finally prodded me.
“Yes, sir. I just, well, I never thought I would be having this talk with anyone, so I’m a little underprepared, to be honest.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs, took a big gulp of air, and went all in. I explained that I knew it hadn’t been but a minute since we’d met, but that I couldn’t imagine a life without Rachel at the helm of the ranch, and I couldn’t stand her being on the ranch if she wasn’t by my side in every way.
“So, you want to marry my daughter,” Frank echoed back in shorthand.
“Yes, sir, I do,” I confessed, sheepishly. I licked my lips and continued. “I would very much prefer to have your blessing before I tell her all of this, though,” I admitted. “I did speak with my parents, and of course, they’re delighted.” I shot him a grin. “Then again, they are getting the better end of the deal.” Frank laughed out loud and slapped his thigh.
“I have to admit it. I was nervous about this day since the day she was born,” he told me. “I think we’re doing all right in the deal, after all.” He stood and reached out to shake my hand. “God bless the both of you and your marriage. She has been through more than she deserved. I hope you make up for that.” He clapped me on the back and I nodded.
“I surely intend to, sir. That is, in fact, the whole of my plan.” He shook my hand vigorously and laughed, and I saw tears in his eyes. “I look forward to seeing you up at the ranch tomorrow, and you should know, I’m not going to ask until after Miss Blythe has been interviewed, no matter what she says, so I’m keeping this conversation between us for now.”
“I think that’s the best idea. If you’re going to do it, might as well do it right, not just throw it in with everything else that’s happening.”