Montana Moonshine (Montana Cowboys Book 1)

by Vi Summers

  Instead of stepping closer, I took a pace back. “Oh no, I’m not riding him.” That horse was fucking massive.

  Brandon let out a huff and tried to keep his voice light. “I’ll be right behind you and we’ll go slow. You’ll be safe. Now get your ass over here and get on.”

  My eyes flared at his demand, then flicked to Jake, who laughed. “He’s a brat when he’s hungry. Best you remember that and listen to him, jailbird.”

  Brandon whipped off his hat and whacked it against Jake’s leg. Warmth gathered in my chest to see Brandon’s hair sweat-dampened and plastered to his head. This was him in his element, and I found that sexy as hell—dirty boots, wet jeans, hat hair, and all.

  When he turned his attention back to me, all annoyance slid from his expression. It softened into an undeniably charming smile.

  “C’mere, Louisiana,” he said again, with a flick of his hand.

  “It’s a long way back, girly,” Jake added.

  I bit my bottom lip a couple of times, then threw up my hands. “Fine.”

  Brandon’s hands were already cupped and waiting for my boot, and he boosted me up onto his horse with much more ease than I anticipated. Nervousness surged through me as the gigantic horse shifted under my sudden arrival.

  I looked down at Brandon, suddenly alarmed to see he was no longer holding onto the horse.

  “Where do you sit?” I asked nervously.

  The smile Brandon aimed up at me created a series of bursts through my chest. Dammit, he was even more gorgeous than last night.

  “Right behind you, darlin’.”

  I did a quick check over my shoulder. “Where?” This was literally a saddle for one.

  Brandon chuckled. “I’ll show you.”

  He gripped the front of the saddle and set his foot in the stirrup. The next thing I knew, Brandon was up and jostling me from behind as Red bolted forward.

  Both of Brandon’s arms reached around my body and tugged the reins, quickly getting the horse under control and standing still once more.

  My heart hammered so loud I was sure Brandon could hear it. Its fast rhythm stuttered when his breezy chuckle sounded close to my ear.

  “Red didn’t expect that, did he?”

  “I don’t think anyone expects an extra two hundred pounds to land on them without warning,” I replied breathlessly.

  “One ninety,” Brandon corrected in a lowered tone that sent ripples of energy pooling low in my belly.

  Jake and his horse walked by, reminding us we weren’t alone. Not that Jake’s presence seemed to bother Brandon; he pressed himself harder against my back, then breathed more words close to my ear.

  “Hold onto the front of the saddle, darlin’.”

  While my brain struggled to focus, my fingertips found the edge of the smooth, worn leather, and gripped. With a click of Brandon’s tongue and a flick of the reins, Red followed Jake’s horse.

  I was acutely aware of my back brushing against Brandon’s chest with every small movement. His body heat seeped through my clothes, pushing my own higher. Without warning, Brandon lowered his loosely balled fists onto my thighs. My breath snagged. Butterflies consumed my belly.

  “Is it okay if I rest them here?”

  I swallowed thickly. “Sure.”

  “I still can’t believe you wandered this far from the house. Don’t ever do that in the evening,” he warned, though his voice didn’t hold the harsh edge of earlier.

  “I guess I got caught up in the freedom and beauty of this place. I can see why you love it out here.” There was no way I was admitting to being worried for their safety.

  “Born ‘n’ raised on these lands. I’m a part of this ranch as much as it’s a part of me.”

  I drank his words in, hoping they’d offset the hollowness in my heart; I’d never had a compelling sense of belonging. Brandon’s simple sentence created a deep yearning in my soul. It made me miss Ollie so much that tears formed in my eyes.

  “Hey, relax, darlin’. You’ve tensed up,” Brandon soothed.

  Exhaling a calculated breath to ease the ever-increasing ache, I focused on relaxing my shoulders.

  “Sorry. Just thinking about… things.”

  Brandon lifted one hand from my leg. He adjusted his hat, then heard the telltale scrape of his hand running down his face.

  “Look, I owe you an apology, Louisiana. I was out of line last night and I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. If you want, I can talk to the sheriff about getting you removed from-”

  “No!” I shouted.

  Brandon jerked, and Jake swiveled quickly in his saddle. I sent Jake a reassuring smile, then lowered my voice.

  “Please don’t make me go back. I just can’t. Please. I’ll do anything, just don’t call the sheriff.”

  More tears burned in my eyes and near-overwhelming dread lay like a dead weight in my stomach. I would run away before I returned to prison; that was how strongly I felt about it. Sniffing and palming my eyes dry added to the embarrassment of crying.

  “Christ, I didn’t mean to upset you, darlin’. I just didn’t want you to think that I was takin’ advantage of you. That’s not why you’re here.”

  “I know. It’s just there’s so much riding on me being here.”

  Brandon’s hand returned to my thigh and his fingers splayed wide. Protective and reassuring, I found myself welcoming the warmth of his touch. The lack of intimate—not necessarily sexual—contact over the last eight months had been the hardest to deal with. I missed affection. I missed little arms around my neck and snuggles from my main man. I missed feeling loved and needed. And I missed being looked at like I was a man’s entire universe.

  “I’m sorry about last night too,” I murmured. “I bullied you into standing in the rain, then I touched your-” I coughed, and my cheeks burned.

  Brandon’s amused chuckle made them flare further. “My dick? Yeah, I noticed,” he drawled. “But I groped you, so I guess that makes us even?”

  The ache in my lower belly got stronger, and I swear he could hear how breathless I became.

  “It only makes us even if you liked it,” I teased.

  “I did,” Brandon whispered against my ear, sending shivers cascading down my spine.

  Oh god. This was almost too much for my shredded nerves and wanton libido to handle.

  Brandon grunted, then shifted behind me before setting his hand back on my leg. “Damn, sitting back here just got a whole lot more uncomfortable.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “That bad, huh?”

  “Yes, that bad, Louisiana,” he hissed.

  I was glad to have him at my back, where he couldn’t see how wide my smile was or how red my cheeks were. Unfortunately, Jake was still a horse's length in front of us and chose that moment to look over his shoulder.

  “Are you two sittin’ in a sun-pocket or somethin’? You’re both red as fuck,” he exclaimed, looking genuinely surprised.

  “Jesus, Jake!” Brandon yelled loud enough for his true frustration to show.

  “What?” Jake asked, putting on an innocent face. “I thought you were hungry, so wonderin’ what’s with the dawdling all of a sudden?”

  Muttering under his breath, Brandon subtly kicked, and the horse picked up a gear.

  Great. Thanks to Jake and his big mouth, we headed for home at a faster pace than before—and that meant less time with Brandon’s body creating sparks against mine.

  Chapter 14

  Brandon

  I could have throttled Jake for the untimely interruption. Second damn time, too. Right when I was hard for Louisiana and barely managing to swallow through the arousal that consumed me.

  I nudged Red’s flank with my heel while glaring at Jake, pissed that he was smirking at catching me red-handed again.

  The scent of Louisiana’s hair flowed up from under her hat, drawing my undivided attention back to her sitting so close I could set my lips on the juncture of her neck and shoulder. The perfect spot to t
aste her flawless skin. See if it was as smooth as it looked.

  Her hips rolled with each of Red’s strides, and the only way to take my focus away from the sway was to sit as close as I could to her. That, however, created a massive problem for my dick; it was wedged against the back of the saddle, all but fully hard and building one hell of a predicament.

  I struggled to keep my breath steady as the fresh smell of wet grass and damn leaves in the air faded to become second best to Louisiana’s fragrance. It wasn’t perfume but a combination of shampoo, deodorant, and hay that had me leaning closer and pressing my hand a little firmer against her thigh. She must have been in the barn before coming out here.

  Visions of laying her down in the hay and sinking inside her slayed me from left field. I hadn’t realized a tortured groan rose from my throat until Louisiana turned just enough to look back at me.

  “Are you okay?”

  Her lips, being so damn close, was like dangling a steak in front of a starving wolf; there would be only one outcome. The moment to kiss her last night had been snatched right out from between our mouths, and I was still burning from the loss.

  I tore my gaze away from her parted, heart-shaped lips, and met her pretty blue eyes—the color of a lake on a perfect winter’s day. So clear with a depth of shade that rivaled the purest light-toned sapphire, and equally as stunning.

  “Do I have something on my face?” Louisiana asked with a crinkle appearing between her eyebrows.

  Shit, I needed to pull myself together.

  Clearing my throat and shaking away the spell, I forced a smile. “No, your face is beau- There’s nothin’ on it,” I quickly amended.

  Louisiana faced forward again, yet I could see her cheekbones tinting pink.

  “You groaned like you were sore,” she murmured without looking back.

  A strained laugh came out of my mouth. Yeah, I goddamn groaned! It wasn’t every day I had a view like this.

  “Just not used to riding this way, darlin’. We’re almost home, though.”

  Louisiana hummed, then a wisp of a smile bunched her cheek when I re-positioned my hand on her thigh. Feelings that never had permission to form in the first place took hold of my heart. I was sure she felt whatever this was between us, and I needed to tread extremely carefully. I already knew her criminal history and what baggage she brought with her, and those reasons alone had to remain at the forefront of my mind. With every situation, there was a choice, and those decisions had to be made by Louisiana, not me.

  The house came into view as we entered the final pasture before the yard. On a whim, I laid out a string-free invitation.

  “There’s a dance next weekend at a local ranch. Rory and Wyatt are going. If I go, do you want to come along? It’s a shared dinner, drinks, music, you know, that sort of thing.”

  I cringed at how awkward I sounded. Jake was right; I needed to find some goddamn chill.

  As if reading my thoughts, Louisiana asked, “Is Jake not invited?”

  Jake turned at his name and I held his eye contact while putting a polite spin on his plans. “Jake prefers to find entertainment a few counties over.”

  He snorted, and Louisiana laughed with comprehension.

  “Maybe I should come with you,” she called.

  Without thinking, my hand snapped from her thigh to her waist. The movement was firm and assertive, and it matched the possessiveness her comment created in my veins.

  “No,” both Jake and I snapped at the same time, though for differing reasons.

  “It was a joke, but way to shut me down, guys. You’re both acting like cavemen.”

  I willed my body to relax and reluctantly released my grip on her waist. The urge to put my hand straight back on her curves was stronger than ever when Jake grinned wickedly.

  “Where I’m going and what I’ll be doin’, is not for your eyes, jailbird,” he drawled.

  Louisiana’s quick inhale snagged in her throat, and I was positive I felt her body temperature spike through the layers of clothing between us.

  “Christ, Jake. A little tact would be nice,” I exclaimed.

  I’d never admit it, but Louisiana’s reaction created an intense wave of jealousy. I wanted to be the one making her breath hitch, not Jake.

  He roared with laughter and said nothing to defend himself. With his attention turning to the approaching yard, I ran a hand over my chin, then encased Louisiana in my arms while holding the reins in both hands. I didn’t need to, but it meant I had an excuse to press myself against her back.

  “Do I have to go?” she asked.

  “Not if you don’t want to. If you don’t, I’ll stay home with you. Wouldn’t want to risk you wandering the ranch at night by yourself,” I teased.

  The playful slap on my forearm had me chuckling. I liked that side of her.

  “Can I think about it?” Louisiana asked.

  “Sure can. I’m still on the fence ‘bout going,” I admitted.

  “Why’s that?”

  I replied while steering Red over to the yard fence. “Last year I ended up sleepin’ in their barn loft.”

  Her burst of laughter was loud in my ear. “Uh, why?”

  “He was hiding from a broad,” Jake cut in.

  There was no point denying the truth. “Yeah, I was.” I scoffed. “Not sure if I have the energy to go through that again.”

  I slid off Red and tied the reins to the fence while Jake did the same with Bolt. When I looked up at Louisiana, her face was set in an expression I hadn’t seen before.

  “What’s that look for, darlin’?”

  “We should go,” she blurted.

  I did a double-take and held in my laughter. “And why’s that?”

  Louisiana straightened her spine and pegged me with her cool eyes. “A, you have me curious, and B, if we show up together, maybe she’ll leave you alone.”

  It was more of a question, but I considered its merits as I reached for her.

  Her warm hands landed on my shoulders as I lifted her down, and they lingered after her feet hit the gravel. Even with Jake hidden from view behind Red, I resisted yet another urge to pull her close and lay one on her.

  It became damn near impossible when she looked up and blinded me with a smile as dazzling as the midday sun.

  Jake’s footsteps crunched on the gravel as he made his way to the barn. “Yo, boss,” he called.

  “What?”

  “C’mere.”

  Giving Louisiana a fleeting and somewhat regret-filled glance, I invited her to follow me. She hesitated and dashed an apprehensive glance at Jake. He stood at the entrance to the stables with his hands on his hips and one foot cocked up on his heel.

  “What?” I asked again.

  He turned with a grin. “Well, well, well. Someone was busy this mornin’.”

  Confused, I peered into the first stall and stared. “I’ll be damned.” I spun and found Louisiana. “You did this by yourself, this mornin’?”

  She wrung her hands nervously. “Yes. I hope that’s okay? I also checked the chickens… there are some more new chicks today.”

  My heart leaped in my chest, and I didn’t bother hiding my wide smile. No wonder the smell of her skin held a hint of hay—she’d mucked out the entire stables and they were pristine.

  “Thank you. I mean that, Louisiana. You did a great job.”

  Her face lit from my praise and shone brighter when Jake tucked her under his large arm and jostled her.

  “Good job, jailbird. We’ll make a cowgirl out of you yet.”

  Her eyes locked with mine, and I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to want those things—not when the chances of her staying here were slim-to-none. But Jake made it sound like an ice-cold beer after a hard day’s work—so damn perfect.

  Chapter 15

  Louisiana

  I woke at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning, thanks to Brandon’s rooster, then dozed in bed until I heard movement on the upper floor.

  Wyatt had
stopped by last night for a poker game, and I’d politely excused myself when the guys’ laughter got raucous, and their conversation grew slurred.

  Alcohol made men unpredictable, and that nagging voice of warning had prevented me from falling asleep until I knew the guys had called it a night. It had been just after one in the morning when I heard the stairs creak, then a hushed conversation between Jake and Brandon take place on the landing, complete with a series of low rolling chuckles that, despite being tired and in a crappy mood, made me smile.

  Once the house fell silent again, I finally succumbed to the pull of sleep, only to be woken up by the damn rooster as soon as the first rays of sunlight cracked through the dawn.

  Whoever was walking around went back to their room and closed the door softly behind them.

  Bleary-eyed and foggy-minded, I fought my way into a hoodie, then took two attempts to pull on a pair of socks. Dressed comfortably and not bothering to tame the wild mess of my hair, I ambled downstairs as quietly as I could for coffee.

  With a freshly brewed coffee in hand, I let Tom in the front door and quietly called him into the lounge. Mid-bend and about to park my booty in the comfiest armchair, a deep inhale pulled my gaze to the opposite couch. Wyatt’s singular cracked eye locked with mine and sent a pang of pain shooting through my chest.

  I jerked from the fright and let out a strangled yelp that knotted in my throat. A gravely chuckle came from Wyatt as I pressed my hand over my racing heart, only then realizing I’d spilled coffee all over the carpet.

  “Didn’t realize I was that ugly in the mornin’,” he drawled, his voice rough with sleep.

  Flustered, I hastily set the mug down. “Why didn’t you say anything when I first came in, or move so I knew you were in here?” I hissed.

  “I just woke up at that moment you went to sit. Your face, though…” He chuckled again and slung an arm over his face.

  “You suck!”

  I huffed and rolled my eyes when I heard hurried footsteps on the stairs. Brandon’s near-naked form appeared in the doorway, chest heaving and bewildered eyes darting around the living room.