by Ronica Black
*
The campsite was warm and inviting as darkness settled in. Krista sat a ways back from the heat of the fire, due to her sunburnt skin. The burning mesquite smelled wonderful and rustic, soothing them just as the fiery colors of the sunset had done a bit earlier. Krista relaxed, enjoying the meal.
Rae had seasoned the rice and beans just right and Krista wondered how often she cooked and for whom. As she ate, she fought staring at Rae, who sat against a rock with her long legs outstretched and crossed. Her bare arms flexed as she held her bowl and ate. Her angled face looked breathtaking in the tickling firelight, and Krista found herself holding her breath as she watched her.
“Should I offer a penny for your thoughts?” Adam asked softly as he settled in next to her.
His messy model-blond hair was gorgeous, as was his smile, and she wondered how he did it. How did he manage to look that good out in the middle of nowhere? She let her eyes travel back to Rae, who was laughing at a comment from one of their guests.
Adam nudged her playfully as she sighed. “Oh, in that case, I’ll offer a cool million.” His gaze lingered on Rae. “She is something, isn’t she? Candi’s dying to get in her pants.”
Krista jerked at the words. “What?”
Adam rolled his eyes and chewed his food. “Oh please, girl. Don’t bullshit me. That is one sexy butch veterinarian.” He paused, spoon in hand. “Think she’s got a brother?”
Krista laughed and took a sip of her water. “I’m not into her, or anyone for that matter.” What was she thinking, allowing someone to catch her staring?
“Uh-huh. And I’m straight.”
“No, really.” Krista turned to him, trying to convince him. Or was she trying to convince herself?
Adam merely raised his pierced eyebrow and she dropped it altogether. They sat in silence, leaning against one another as they finished their meal. She rose when everyone was finished and took Adam’s bowl, determined to help Rae clean up.
But she was too late.
“Oh, I’ve got that,” Candace said, giggling while handing over bowl after bowl to Rae, who was rinsing them.
Krista stopped and swallowed, straightening her back. She stepped up next to Rae and rinsed her own dishes. Rae glanced at her but said nothing, and Krista left the two of them alone.
Once everyone was finished cleaning up and their stomachs were full, Jenna brought out a large thermos full of red wine just as Adam was emerging from his tent.
“I brought along some music, to help get me in the game.” He sat down the small, handheld recorder and pressed Play. A country music song began to play, upbeat and very catchy. The group cheered and took the offered mugs full of wine.
Eventually, Frank and Jenna embraced alongside the fire, swinging and swaying to the music. Candace sat on the rock behind Rae and began massaging her shoulders. Rae seemed to flinch at first and she voiced a protest, but Candace kept on, making high-pitched references to how strong Rae was.
Howie was watching closely, and his face tightened at Candace’s words. Looking stern but determined, he stood and offered his hand to her, but Candace shook her head, declining the dance. He was about to protest when Tillie stood and pulled him away from Candace, dancing at a good arm’s length from him. Krista breathed a sigh of relief and reminded herself to thank Tillie in the morning. Her heated gaze returned to Rae and Candace, and she downed the wine and hoped no one would notice that Howie wasn’t the only one sending daggers their way.
*
Rae closed her eyes and tried to relax. The firm hands on her shoulders were working magic, the music reminiscent, luring her to a place that seemed so far away. She raised the mug to her nose and thought about taking a sip. As she hesitated, she caught a whiff of the wine.
Her mind flew in reverse, back to a similar time, three years ago.
The wine and beer flowed endlessly, as did the loud country music. She laughed at Lindsay’s joke and sipped her beer as she scanned the dance floor. Moving in tandem across the floor cowgirls clutched cowgirls, two-stepping to the twang of the slow song. One couple caught her attention and she clenched her jaw at the sight.
“What is it?” Lindsay asked, lowering her beer to turn and look. Following Rae’s glare, she focused in on the dancing couple and shook her head. “Let it go, Rae, let it go.”
“How can I let it go?” Rae swallowed the fire in her throat, wishing she had drunk at least enough to feel buzzed. “She’s dancing with that cocky piece of crap again.”
“She’s just doing it to get a rise out of you.” Lindsay reached across the small table and covered her hand. “You need to end this shit once and for all. She??s no good, Rae.”
Rae squeezed the glass beer bottle in her hand, fighting the urge to storm onto the dance floor and pummel the both of them. Lindsay was right, Shannon was doing it just to piss her off, to make her jealous. And damn it if it wasn’t working. Lately anger, jealousy, and confusion were all she was feeling. She knew she should end it, but how could she? How could she end their relationship when she really cared about Shannon?
Lindsay gently squeezed her hand. “Rae, she’s playing you, lying to you.”
Rae shook her head. “No, you’re wrong. She’s just confused, immature.”
“Come on, Rae. You’re the smartest woman I know. Stop letting her treat you this way. You rescued her, you did a good thing for her. And now she’s taking advantage. Playing head games with you.”
“But I care.” Rae slid her hand out from under Lindsay’s.
“I know you do. You’re a good person. Too good, if you ask me. But I know you well. And I know you don’t love her.”
Rae looked away. The fact stung. She had feelings for Shannon, she cared, she was attracted to her, the sex was great…but Lindsay was right. It wasn’t love. She narrowed her eyes as the song ended and Shannon came staggering their way. A sloppy, mischievous grin spread across her face when she saw Rae.
“Hey, baby,” she slurred, the scent of wine too strong on her breath. “Did you see me dancing?” She hung from Rae’s neck, trying to force Rae to look at her.
“Yeah, I saw.” Rae turned away from the kiss.
“I looked good, huh?”
“You looked great, Shannon.”
Lindsay rounded the table and took Rae by the arm. Shaking Shannon free, she eased Rae onto another stool and began massaging her shoulders.
Eyes full of venom, Shannon glared at the two of them and scooped her wineglass up. “Get your damn hands off my girlfriend!” She threw the near-empty glass at Lindsay but it smashed into Rae’s forehead instead.
Shannon shrieked and rushed to Rae’s side as blood ran down her face. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. So sorry.” Lindsay offered a napkin and shoved Shannon away. “Why don’t you just get the fuck out of here and leave her alone!”
Rae swung out her free arm to interrupt the ensuing shoving match. Around them women had left their tables to come offer help or just flat-out stare. Rae blinked through the warm blood in her eye. She held Lindsay back, not wanting any more trouble. “I’m fine,” she whispered to her best friend. “Just let me take her home.”
Lindsay stared at her like she was on crack, but Rae insisted.
“Let me take her home. I’m going to talk to her, okay?”
Lindsay caught the meaning and stood down. She lifted the napkin to dab at the cut. “You sure you’ll be okay?”
“It’s not so bad, is it?” Rae asked.
Lindsay sighed. “No, just clean it real good and use a butterfly bandage. I’ll take a look at it again tomorrow.”
Rae nodded and held out her hand to Shannon. The younger woman clutched her arm and gave Lindsay an eat-shit-and-die grin as they made their way to the door.
Rae blinked out of her trance as someone said good night to her. People were already stooping into their tents. She shouldered out from under Candace and found the blonde grinning at her expectantly.
“I think we should turn in,” Ra
e said, standing to wipe the dirt off her backside.
“Yes, we should,” Candace responded, moving closer to her. “Although,” she whispered into Rae’s ear, “I’m not all that tired. Maybe I could keep you company in your tent. Finish that massage.”
Rae felt the chill bumps of arousal ignite on her flesh from the hot breath in her ear. Her body was responding after a long hibernation of celibacy and she considered the blatant offer for about a split second; then her eyes locked with the fierce green ones across the fire.
“That’s a nice offer, but I’m beat. We’d better get some rest.” She gave Candace a polite smile. “Thanks for the massage.” As she spoke, Krista turned abruptly and disappeared inside her tent.
Jesus, why does that woman hate me?
Candace laid a lingering hand on Rae’s bare arm. “Anytime, Doc, anytime.”
Chapter Nine
Krista turned over and over again on the hard ground. Her thick sleeping bag and thin mat did little to cushion her, and replaying Candace’s words only worsened the situation. The blatant flirting was bad enough, but what made her crazy was that Rae seemed to be responding to it. Krista was appalled that the vet had allowed Candace to massage her, even leaning back and closing her eyes in obvious enjoyment.
“Oh, Rae, you’re so strong. I love the feel of your shoulders.” Krista scoffed and flopped over onto her back once more. She winced as the pain in her ass registered. Unable to sleep and tired of turning endlessly, she sat up and slipped on her hiking boots. The fire was still burning, not nearly as bright as before, but enough for her to see by. She stood and inhaled deeply. She swore the moon ran a rake over the desert every night, stirring each and every plant, every grain of dirt. She could smell every tree, every shrub, as if they’d all opened themselves up in the darkness to enjoy the cool air.
Momentarily content, she decided to walk over to Dollar, to face her fear head-on. The horse blinked at her presence and she closed her eyes, trying to bite back the anxiety she felt in her gut. She reached out blindly and laid her hand on his firm, velvet snout. He made a soft noise, breathing and nodding against her. Krista blinked at the movement and Dollar stilled and stared back at her, eyes large and liquid coal. She kept her hand on his snout and then began stroking him.
“You’re not so bad, are you?” She smiled a little, still nervous. His scent alone, one of dust and hay, made her heart hammer in her chest. The horse she’d ridden at fifteen, her very best friend, used to smell the same way. She moved her hands back across Dollar’s powerful neck, feeling his muscles twitch, trying not to flinch at his harnessed strength. Breathing deep, she tried to calm herself, tried to get herself ready for sunrise when she would have to climb back on.
Her foot ached at the thought and she shook her ankle out, knowing it was her mind playing tricks on her. Dollar snorted again and another noise caught her attention in the distance. She searched the dimly lit campsite, at first convinced that it must be coming from Adam’s recorder. But there was nothing there, nothing out by the fire. As she listened, she realized the sound was a guitar and it was coming from the trees. Krista retrieved a flashlight from her tent and crept away as quietly as she could, not wanting to disturb her sleeping guests.
About seventy yards out from the campsite, she stepped through the crisp-smelling mesquite trees and focused on a small area to her left. A single candle flickered on a rock against the diamond-strewn night sky. There, next to the candle on a large boulder, sat Rae, holding her guitar, strumming and humming a sweet tune. Krista couldn’t make out the words but her skin warmed at the sight and sound.
She crouched down and killed the flashlight before Rae caught sight of it. The vet seemed as hypnotized by her music as Krista was with watching and listening. Rae’s long lean fingers slid up and down the frets, pressing chord after chord. She was still wearing the sleeveless shirt, which allowed the candlelight to accent her muscles as she strummed. Her dark, thick hair was wavy and unruly, a few strands falling across her forehead. Krista held her breath, caught up in her beauty more than she was afraid of being heard.
Krista had no idea Rae was so talented. She’d obviously been playing for years. Right or wrong, Krista had assumed that Rae was a bit of a roughneck; she hardly seemed the sensual or artistic type. But as Krista watched her, she realized that there were many things about Rae she didn’t know. She closed her eyes, listening. The melody didn’t sound familiar and Rae would pause, as if searching for the next word or phrase. Krista felt her heart flutter when she realized Rae was writing a song.
The romanticism of that thought alone helped her drift back to camp. After crawling into her tent and removing her boots, she closed her eyes and imagined approaching Rae in the candlelight. She imagined her outstretched hand coming to rest on the angle of Rae’s beautiful jaw, bringing her in for a soft, hot, long kiss. She imagined laying her down, sucking on her neck, making her sigh, then moving lower to under her shirt, going painfully slow over her bra and torso to unfasten her jeans. Tugging them down, she would kiss Rae’s flesh through her panties, igniting wild pleasure. She would lick her hard, suck her hard, all without touching her flesh. She imagined what Rae’s groans of pleasure would sound like, and how badly they both would want flesh to meet flesh. Panties finally torn away, she would kiss there, taste her, consume her, taking in all that was Rae.
It was then and only then that she was able to fall fast asleep.
Chapter Ten
Rae awoke early and lay blinking in her tent, listening to see if anyone was up and moving around the campsite. The predawn light was gray, the air heavy with a chill as she booted her feet and stepped outside. She stretched in the morning silence and slipped her bare arms into her flannel shirt, glad it was only getting down into the low sixties at night. Scratching her hair, she walked to the horses and gave them each a few pats. She pulled her ball cap from the saddle of her horse and walked off into the desert to relieve herself. Then after washing her face and hands, she got busy getting out what she needed to make a big breakfast. She started with the coffee, putting two kettles on to boil.
Even though the guests needed to be rising soon, she moved quietly, enjoying the sounds of the desert as it awakened. As she relit the cold fire, she thought about Krista Wyler. She hadn’t been able to think about anything other than her the entire evening and into the night. The woman had even haunted her dreams. Krista’s striking beauty had lured her, excited her, and then the mouth had opened, ruining it all.
She chuckled as she poured water into the large pot that sat atop the fire. Last night she’d admitted something to herself while she was playing her guitar. Krista Wyler was an attractive woman. Very much so. Rae didn’t know why that was so difficult to admit but it was. Maybe because Krista had been nothing but rude to her from the word go. Maybe because she came off as a spoiled city girl, a hardheaded know-it-all. Rae sat down and waited for the water to boil. Given how little time Krista had available to get this outing organized, she’d done a fairly good job. They had plenty of food and water, and the campsite had been warm and inviting the night before. If only the other two wranglers had shown up, the trip might have been a big success.
Rae pulled off her hat and ran a hand through her hair, remembering the way Krista had looked at her across the fire after Candace’s massage. The flames in her eyes had been evident, but what did her expression mean? Does she really hate me? If so, how can I be attracted to someone who hates me? Rae rubbed her eyes, stirred up and confused. A twig snapped and she looked up.
Krista stood watching her from the front of her tent. The flames in her eyes were gone but the intensity was still there, smoldering. Rae felt her own heart rate increase and she cursed it for doing so.
“Morning,” she greeted, knowing they couldn’t just stare in silence at each other all morning long.
“Good morning,” Krista replied, more than a little groggy. She shoved her hands down into her jeans pockets and approached the fire. Her sunburn
wasn’t as red as it was the night before, but it still looked pretty painful.
“Sleep well?” Rae stood and made the coffee.
Krista seemed a bit uneasy in her presence. “Fine, and you?”
“Not so good,” Rae confessed and then felt frustrated at herself. Honesty had always been her strong point, and she avoided putting on fronts, but why take the risk with Krista Wyler? The woman seemed to be dying to outdo her.
“Oh?”
As the scent of coffee started to stir her brain, Rae decided to be really honest. She took in Krista’s shapely legs, poorly hidden under the worn denim, and the fleece shirt covering a soft, breast-hugging T-shirt. Then she met and held the eyes as green and clear as morning dew on grass.
“Because of you,” Rae said.
Krista’s eyes widened in what could only be pure shock. “I’m sorry?” She meant to sound strong and polite, but her voice quivered.
Rae repeated and poked at the fire, pretending she didn’t notice. “I said I didn’t sleep well because of you.”
Krista blinked. A flush colored her neck and deepened the red in her sunburned face. Her lips moved as if she were searching for words. “Well, why?”
Rae retrieved the oatmeal, taking her time, enjoying way too much the reaction she’d gotten even though she had no idea what it meant. She poured the oats into the boiling water and sat back down, Krista’s wide green eyes fastened to her. Crossing her feet, she finally answered, “Because I can’t for the life of me figure out why it is you don’t like me.”