His lips trailed a path to her forehead, and she sucked in air to cool her heated emotions.
“Are we more than friends now?” he asked.
“Definitely.”
She stroked the stubble of his face and he caught her hand. “Are you sure, Cheyenne?”
“Yes. Just don’t shut me out.” She reached up and gently touched his lips. He drew her closer and they shared a long kiss.
They sat cuddled together. Out of the blue, he started talking about the war. “I wish I could remember what torments me in my sleep.”
“Don’t worry about it so much.”
The big ol’ moon stared at them and silently lit a path of dreams for lovers. And it was heavenly. A long time later, Tuf got in his truck and drove away.
She wrapped her arms around her waist, watching his taillights disappear out of the drive. But he would return. Oh, yeah!
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING TUF was up early, as usual. Last night there were no nightmares, just visions of Cheyenne’s red hair splayed across his pillow. He was acting crazy and it felt good. For some time it had seemed as if a vise was clamped tight around his heart and he couldn’t breathe or react in a normal way. It hurt too much.
He was finally free of the restriction. She didn’t mind his nightmares. She had accepted him the way he was. He spent every minute of the day with Cheyenne and the girls. Cheyenne gave the twins a day off from school, and they rode their little hearts out for him, showing off. Sammie was a little daredevil at times. She was finally breaking out of her shell.
They had a late lunch at the diner, and the girls giggled and chatted like four-year-olds. Looking across the booth at Cheyenne, he saw his future. And it was normal and real. Something he’d thought he’d never have, but she was willing to take a chance on him. He was willing to meet her halfway and more.
All too soon it was time to leave. He held her, leaning against his truck. “We need time alone,” he whispered against her lips.
“Next time you’re home,” she promised. “It will be X-rated.”
After a long, heated kiss, Tuf drove away with that thought in his mind.
* * *
TUF AND BEAU HAD TO BE in Logandale, Nevada, for the Clark County Fair and Rodeo. From Nevada they headed to Corpus Christi, Texas, and then on to Old Settlers Reunion rodeo in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. The grueling schedule was taking its toll on them. Beau almost got trampled by a bull in Oklahoma and Tuf injured his shoulder, but he and Beau went on to the next rodeo. They ate junk food and sometimes slept in the truck. They both were feeling the strain of constant rodeoing. And eager to get home.
Dusk crept over the landscape as they rolled into Roundup. Tuf dropped Beau at the diner and sped home. He talked to his mom, showered and changed clothes, and was on his way to Cheyenne’s in record time.
His cell buzzed. Cheyenne. He’d talked to her about fifteen minutes ago. He hoped nothing was wrong.
“When are you leaving?” she asked.
“I’m on my way.”
“I’ll be waiting at the gate.”
“Why?”
“If the girls see you, we won’t be able to get away.”
“Oh. Are they staying with Buddy?”
“Yes. They’re gonna watch a movie. I’ll explain later. Just hurry.”
He zoomed down Thunder Road and his headlights caught her standing at the gate. She was beautiful in jeans, boots and a brown leather jacket. Her red hair was up and she was waving. He felt a kick to his heart. He couldn’t believe how much he’d missed her. Before the truck came to a complete stop, he jumped out and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. A delicate fragrance reached him and for a moment he just held her.
He ran his hands up her back beneath her jacket. “Oh, God, you feel so good.”
She kissed his neck. “You feel pretty good, too.”
Slightly turning his head, he caught her lips, and the coolness of the night vanished in the wake of heated emotions. She took his hand. “I have someplace much better in mind.”
They crawled into the truck, and he couldn’t resist stealing another kiss. “Where to, lady?”
“Billings.”
“What?”
“I promised you a night alone, and I’ve booked a room at a hotel there.”
He almost ran into the ditch, but he corrected quickly. “Are you sure?”
She cocked an eyebrow. “I am. How about you?”
“I’ll see if I can make this thing fly.”
She laughed that laugh that warmed his heart. On the way they talked about their lives. He’d talked to her every day, but it was much different in person. He could look at her, touch her.
“The girls are going to be so excited you’re home.”
“I can’t wait to see them.”
“You’ll see a big difference. The horses and, of course, you got their minds on something besides their father. They never ask to go to his grave anymore. That worries me a little, but in other ways I feel it’s good.”
“It is.” He reached out to touch her cheek, and she caught his hand and kissed it.
“They spent an afternoon with Dinah and Austin, and Dinah said they didn’t ask for me once.”
She gave directions, and he pulled into a hotel parking lot and found a spot. Hand in hand they went inside. The hotel was nice with large glass windows in the lobby decorated in a Western theme with Montana wildlife scenes and horse sculptures.
“Are we Mr. and Mrs. Jones?” he whispered in her ear.
She smiled. “Behave.” The clerk at the counter gave her a key and they walked to the elevator. “The guy looked at me funny. I feel wicked.”
In the elevator, he took her in his arms and kissed her. “I’m feeling rather wicked myself.”
She stared at him with luminous eyes. “Don’t tell me you haven’t taken a girl to a hotel before.”
“No. Well, not lately.”
“Then we’re leading very boring lives.” She took his hand and led him down the red carpeted hall and stopped at their room number. “And that’s about to change.” She swiped the card across the door handle, and they went inside. The room was large with a king bed, sofa and a huge bath with a Jacuzzi. She glanced at her watch. “Home for the next two hours.”
For the first time, he noticed she was nervous. A tiny vein in her neck pulsed wildly. He cupped her face. “You don’t have to be nervous with me.”
“It’s just…”
“What?”
“After Ryan, I thought I would never have these feelings again.”
“What feelings?” He found he was holding his breath.
She rested her head on his chest. “Overwhelming feelings. I think about you all the time, and it makes me do crazy things, like book a hotel room. But…but I feel that way because…because I love you. I probably have since high school.”
His heart pounded so fast it seemed as if it sailed right through his chest into outer space. He lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I love you, too. There’s never been another girl for me.”
“Oh, Tuf.” She stepped back and let her jacket slide to the floor. Then she pressed herself against him. Every soft curve and angle sent his blood pressure soaring. He gently turned her and fell backward onto the bed. Her laughing green eyes stared down at him.
“Undo my shirt,” he said huskily.
“That’s easy.” With one jerk, the snaps flew open, leaving his chest bare. She paused as she saw his bruised shoulder.
“I landed on it. It’s fine.”
“Tuf…”
“Shh. Kiss me.” Her hands and lips touched his skin, and he groaned, quickly pulling her top over her head.
As their lips met, he thought this had to be the best night of his life.
* * *
A BUZZ WOKE CHEYENNE. Her cell alarm. She stirred against Tuf, loving the feel of his naked skin against hers. It was time to go, but it was hard to move with this heavenly lethar
gic feeling clinging to every muscle in her body.
She’d opened her heart to the most wonderful man, the way she should have ten years ago. She never thought she could love again. So much of her pride had been destroyed in her marriage. With Tuf it was different. She trusted him with her heart and her girls. She wasn’t quite sure how that had happened so quickly, but Tuf’s compassion for other people pulled her in like a big, hungry fish.
The most important factor was he was willing to talk about his PTSD. He wasn’t shutting her out, and he listened to her stories about her defunct marriage without judging her. They’d found a way to connect, and it was oh, so great.
She lovingly stroked his dark hair from his forehead.
He opened one eye. “Did I hear a buzz? Or is that sound stuck in my head from so many rodeos?”
“I set my cell alarm. I want to get home by ten.” She kissed his forehead, his nose. “That’s Dad’s bedtime and he won’t go to bed unless I’m there, in case the girls wake up.”
He hauled her into his arms and kissed her until she was limp with wanting. “Tuf…”
“I know.” His lips trailed to the freckles across her cheekbones. “I couldn’t resist.”
They helped each other dress, and it was more titillating than it should have been. Finally, they were in the truck and they drove into her dad’s driveway at five minutes to ten. The house was in darkness except for a lamp in the living room. Arm in arm they walked to the front door.
“Tonight was better than making an eight-second buzzer,” he whispered against her lips.
She giggled. She couldn’t help herself. “Tuf Hart.”
“What? My whole life is defined by eight seconds.”
“I hope it’s not when we’re making love.”
“Oh, hell, no.”
They laughed and held on a little while longer. “We have a family meeting in the morning to discuss finances, but I’ll be here as soon as I can.” He cradled her in his embrace. “Thanks for tonight.”
“The start of many,” she breathed into his neck.
“I better go, but I don’t want to.”
“Tomorrow,” she said before he kissed her one last time and strolled to his truck.
Slowly, she went inside. Her dad was asleep in his chair, but he awoke the moment she opened the door.
“Have a good time?” He pushed to his feet.
“Wonderful. Are the girls asleep?”
“Like angels.” He took a step toward the hallway and stopped. “You couldn’t find a better man than Tuf Hart in the whole of Montana, and I’m glad you two are back together but, girl, take it slow. He’s wounded on the inside and that takes time to heal. Just be careful.”
“I will.” She walked to the girls’ room, straightened their covers and kissed them good-night, but all the while she was thinking about what her dad had said. Tuf was wounded on the inside, and she wasn’t naive enough to think that love could heal that deep of a wound. But it could help to ease some of his pain.
As she crawled into bed, a niggling doubt persisted. Could their happiness be destroyed as easily as it had begun?
Chapter Fourteen
Tuf woke up full of energy. He hadn’t felt this good in years. After dressing, he took the stairs two at a time. The only thing he wanted to do this morning was see Cheyenne. She fulfilled every one of his fantasies and then some. How was he supposed to think about rodeoing today?
In the kitchen, he poured a cup of coffee. His mother gave him a strange look.
“What?”
“You’re in a good mood this morning.”
“Why? Because I got a cup of coffee?”
“No. You’re whistling.”
“Oh.” He hadn’t even realized he was doing that.
“You must have had a good time last night with Cheyenne.”
He straddled a chair. “We did.”
“Eat your breakfast. We have to go to the office.”
As they walked over, Tuf thought he’d give Ready a workout today. He tried to do that every time he was home, but now he just wanted to see Cheyenne.
Ace and Colt were already there. Beau and Uncle Josh strolled from Uncle Josh’s house with a coffee cup in their hands. There was a round of good-mornings and his mom took her seat. After everyone had coffee, Sarah opened her ledger.
She shoved her glasses onto her nose. “Leah has all this on the computer, but I still like it on paper where I can see it. That’s the way John and I did it for years, and it’s hard to break old habits.” She squinted at the open ledger. “You boys have been doing a wonderful job, but we’re still short. I have no doubt, though, with the way Tomas and Beau are riding, that we’ll make the note payment.”
There was a round of high fives.
“But we’ve incurred more expenses. Josh and I purchased two one-year-old bulls out of the same line as Bushwhacker. They were a good price and I felt we shouldn’t pass it up. Improving our stock with fresh blood is important. Also, we had to put new tires on the cattle carrier and gas prices have gone up once again, but I’m still optimistic. And Midnight is doing very well rodoeing thanks to Colt and his management of the horse. We get calls every day from cowboys wanting to know where he’ll be bucking. They want a chance at the black stallion. I’m happy to say my instincts and Aidan’s are paying off.”
“Hot damn, I love good news.” Colt grinned.
“But we have to keep doing what we’re doing.” His mom made that very clear.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Ace said. “I think everyone realizes that.”
“Yep.” Tuf pulled up a chair. “Beau and I are making every PRCA-sanctioned rodeo we can. At the start of Cowboy Christmas in July, we’ll make the big-money rodeos that count to build our points. With some luck, we’ll make the big show in Vegas. If not, we’ll still be earning money.”
“Yeah,” Beau added, “if I have to stay away from Sierra, I want to make it count for something.”
“I appreciate what everyone is doing, but we have a long way to go.”
Everyone knew that, and their focus was on one thing—saving Thunder Ranch.
* * *
CHEYENNE HAD A PLAN—to spend time alone with Tuf today.
She hurried around her bedroom, which was a chore in itself because it was cluttered. A trail led to the bed and a closet. Jewelry-making supplies occupied every other inch. Beads, stones, wire, spacers and tools littered her worktable pushed against one wall. Precious stones, jewels, supplies and expensive chains filled an armoire on the other wall. Next to it, boxes sat on the floor waiting to be mailed. On the far wall were her desk and computer. A dresser with her clothes was on the other side of the bed. The bed partially blocked a double window. Cramped and small, but it was all she had. What would Tuf think of all the clutter?
For a man who didn’t care what color shirt he wore, he probably wouldn’t even notice. That’s why she loved him. He had a unique way of looking at the world. He didn’t sweat the small stuff.
She brushed her hair and let it hang loose around her shoulders. Tossing the thick strands, she picked up a green flower clip she’d made and put it in her hair. Her freckles were naked just the way he liked them. As she applied lipstick, she heard a truck. She hurried to the front door.
Her attention was on Tuf getting out of his vehicle. Heavens, he was handsome and sexy with his long legs and muscled body. His Western shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and the Wrangler jeans were oh, so deliciously tight, fueling her imagination, which didn’t need any fuel at all. He moved in a slow, easy stride, like a cowboy. She fanned herself and laughed at the same time. An aspirin might be required. She had it that bad.
Tuf bounded up the steps and gently pushed her inside, closing the door. His kiss was sweet, warm and intoxicating. Her head spun.
Between heated kisses, he asked, “Where’s everyone?”
“Dad took the girls to buy more horse cookies from Angie and then they’re going to the feed store to buy fe
ed for the horses. After that, they’re going for ice cream.” She held up two fingers. “We have two hours.”
He grinned and threw his hat onto the sofa. “I love a woman with a plan.”
Tuf never noticed the clutter. His eyes were on her. Cupping her face, he slowly kissed her until she trembled with weakness. All thought left her. They discarded their clothes quickly and soon they were skin on skin, their hands and lips touching, caressing, stroking. She wasn’t even aware of them moving to the bed, but she was very aware of his strong body, hot kisses and warm, erotic emotions shooting through her.
A long time later, they lay entwined and he stared into her eyes. “You’re beautiful.”
“So are you.” She touched his bruised shoulder. “Does it hurt?”
“It’s a little sore.”
Caressing his shoulder, she suddenly stopped. “Your right arm is swollen a little. I didn’t notice that last night.”
“Maybe.” He shrugged. “It gets some wear and tear trying to hold on to a bucking bronc.”
“I’ll get some ice. It’ll help with the swelling.” She slipped into a lightweight robe and hurried to the kitchen for a bowl of ice. In the bathroom she grabbed some towels.
After placing some ice cubes in a hand towel and twisting the ends, she straddled his back and massaged his shoulders with the ice pack until her fingers were numb. She placed the ice in a bowl on the nightstand and continued to massage his back.
“How’s the rodeo circuit?” she asked.
“Good. Kinney, Watson and Hobbs are the best bareback riders in the country, and I’m finally getting numbers to match theirs.”
“I’m so proud of you.” She ran her hands down his back, loving the tautness of his skin, his corded muscles. “Feel better?”
“Mmm. You have angel fingers and they’ve awakened more urgent needs.” He reached around and pulled her down beside him and quickly covered her body with his.
Later, she kissed his sleep-filled eyes. “Sleepy?”
“I sleep very little. That’s when I’m weak and the nightmares take over.”
“Oh, Tuf.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You don’t have to be afraid with me. I can handle the nightmares. Just don’t shut me out.”
Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming Page 13