by Ava Walsh
Maybe he’d accept me as the other parent, some sort of mother figure since his was out of the picture. This was a weird transition: being single to dating a man with a toddler. I went back to sorting books and let them play as I listened to them.
I stayed the night that night in Lance’s arms, making my way to the house in the morning to get some clothes. He continued to be a respectful gentleman.
After two months, I had clothes in the extra bedroom and I spent most nights in his bed. Every kiss was breaking my willpower down to nothing, and I realized that we moved forward every night. It started with us in our shirts and underwear to just underwear, but that wasn’t enough. I felt so shy when I took off my bra one night after we’d kissed each other senseless, but he looked at me like I was his world.
I was in love with Lance, so fast and so easily. I watched as his hands clung to me and his mouth covered my breasts gently with soft kisses. He slipped his hands down my back and over my hips as I dropped my head back and let out a soft moan. It was perfect, and Lance was everything that I wanted.
We made love for the first time at the four-month mark. Lance worshiped my body every night before that, showing me tenderness and pleasure. He moved slowly, even though I could see the need in his eyes with every kiss.
Lance moved gently with me, kissing every inch of me before he settled his body between my legs and claimed my lips with a hungry kiss. He slipped inside of me slowly, one of the most intense sensations of my life. He took his time to let me adjust.
I let the pain pass by as I stared into his eyes and then lowered my hands down his body to wrap around his ass, pulling him inside of me. Lance leaned down to kiss me as he moved in and out of my body, filling me so full as I moaned his name. It was one of the most intense feelings I’d ever experienced and I took a deep breath before I felt the release building up inside of my body.
I’d had orgasms with Lance, many of them. Those were all on his lips or fingers but the one that was throbbing inside of my body now was going to be explosive. “Lance, I’m so close,” I breathed as I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him as close to me as I could. “Oh, God. Lance, I’m going to come.”
“You feel so good, Brie. You’re everything that I’ve ever had,” Lance groaned as he moved faster and I rocked with him.
I closed my eyes and dropped my head back as I felt myself give in to the pleasure, moaning through the long waves of the release. Lance murmured to me through it and soon I heard him gasping my name as I felt his heat fill me. We’d planned for this night and I was on the pill so he could be bare inside of me. I loved him and I didn’t want it any other way.
I traced his body as he dropped gently on top of me and kissed my lips.
It was beautiful and sweet, and I cried a little when Lance told me that he loved me afterward.
Epilogue
I was all the way moved in within six months and Lance and I were inseparable. Logan and I were doing great as well, and he loved me as much as he did his father.
There was a point when Lauren approached Lance and made an attempt to get back into Logan’s life, wanting him to meet his little sister Chloe. Lance made it clear that he already had a mother in his life and that he would not have her drifting in and out of Logan’s life when it suited her, given her history.
She didn’t push the issue.
A year after that, once we were married in the meadow on the ranch, he asked her to sign papers for adoption. I was going to officially become Logan’s mom after loving him since I stepped onto the property.
I was still taking care of him every day and taking classes online in the evening. It was pretty easy since Lance was home most nights and on the nights that he wasn’t, Logan was always good to me. He was a wonderful child and he brightened my life in ways I never could’ve imagined. I was happier than ever, and I made a point of talking to Mom outside at night and telling her everything about my new life.
With the number of shooting stars I saw out there in the country late at night, I truly believe that she heard every word I said.
She was the first to know that I was pregnant a year into our happy marriage. I cried, wishing that she was here to see this, but I also thanked her for giving this life to me. Life happens as a result of events, bad and good. I suffered through the bad and the uncertainty of loss, but now I had Lance and Logan to love, as well as our unborn baby.
Lance cried when I told him that we were expecting a baby. We were outside, looking at the stars. He pulled me close and thanked God for our baby and for me as I cried right along with him. I might have arrived here in pieces, but I had been put back together–and I was stronger than ever. I was home, more than I had been anywhere before now.
*****
THE END
The Cowboy's Virgin
Description
He asked if he could kiss me. Who does that?
After her dad died, curvy 19-year-old Lauren Jones is ready for a change. Taking up her best friend Jane’s offer, she moves from Atlanta to a small village in Colorado to live with Jane and her boyfriend. They seem very happy, but Lauren’s decided that love just isn’t for her.
Too bad that Jane’s a notorious matchmaker.
Cole Harmon is a cowboy who looks exactly like Lauren’s favorite actor, Dermot Mulroney. He always hangs around Jane and Adam’s house so he’s hard to avoid. His lean muscles, tight abs and the V that disappears into those worn jeans are sending hot flashes through Lauren’s body, even though she’s determined she’s not on the market.
But when Lauren gets to know Cole better and hears about what happened to him, she realizes that she could develop feelings for this cowboy with a wounded heart.
There’s just something about a cowboy, isn’t there?
Slowly but surely, Lauren finds herself falling in love with the village and the cowboy. Is it too soon to want him? What will he say when he finds out she’s still a virgin and doesn’t know what she’s doing? Can she find room in her heart as she makes a new start for herself?
Chapter One
Lauren Jones pulled her backpack from under the seat in front of her as she waited for everyone else to exit the plane. She was young, just nineteen, and starting over after her father died six months ago. Her best friend Jane Reynolds had asked her to come live with her. Jane had recently moved to a little town in Colorado that revolved around farming and the outdoors and Lauren had never seen her happier. Not seeing any reason to refuse Jane’s offer, Lauren had packed up her belongings and left her home in Georgia.
Lauren brushed her soft red hair back and walked towards the door of the plane. She was ready to start her new life and thrilled to see her friend, but there was one thing she was not looking forward to too much. Jane was a notorious matchmaker and had mentioned a certain cowboy in town to her several times. She’d allowed it and didn’t protest too much, but she’d have to somehow make clear to Jane that she wasn’t interested in a relationship right now. Lauren was bigger than most girls and men hadn’t always been nice about that. Right now, she wanted to focus only on herself and on positivity.
Lauren walked into the airport and to the escalator taking her to the baggage claim. She thought fondly about Georgia and what she’d left behind. Once her father was gone, Jane had jumped right in with her invitation, but Lauren had taken some time to make a final decision. It wasn’t easy to leave everything she knew behind. But here she was, ready to start her new life.
Lauren looked over the crowd of people and saw her pixie-like friend waving. Her blue eyes lit up. She smiled and rushed forward to hug Jane.
They’d been friends for years, ever since elementary school. Jane had moved with her family from Georgia to Colorado and now lived on her own with her boyfriend, Adam. He was a cowboy who worked with cattle as well as riding them on the rodeo circuit. Jane still had the same black hair cut into the cute bob around her face and she was glowing today. “Hi! I am so glad that you’re finally here! It took you long e
nough,” Jane teased Lauren as she looked her over. “Come, give me your bag and let’s head back to the cottage. I can’t wait for you to see it!”
“Are you sure that Adam doesn’t mind me taking up the guest room?” Lauren asked as they made their way through the airport.
Jane waved her hand and laughed. “No, not at all. He works a ton so he’s happy that I’ll have someone to hang around with.” Jane leaned closer to her. “It’s not crowded like this, Lauren. It’s small and close knit and beautiful.”
Lauren had to admit that she liked that idea as they walked into the parking garage, where Jane led her to a chunky Jeep that had its share of bumps and bruises. “This is a long way from your little yellow Jetty in Georgia, Jane.”
“Everything is a long way from Georgia in Julesberg, Lauren. It’s like a breath of fresh air,” Jane said, as she opened the back and slid the suitcase inside of the car, laughing.
“You only say that because of Adam,” Lauren teased, but Jane looked at her with a thoughtful gaze.
“No, I mean…he’s the reason that I moved there. But I just love the slow way about the town and the quiet when the sun goes down. There’s a peace about it that you have to see.” Jane smiled and stared at her. “Let’s go. I want to show it to you.”
Jane paid the fee, and they hit the freeway to go home.
Home.
“So, about Cole,” Jane said slowly. Lauren looked over at her with her nose wrinkled up. “Look, he’s Adam’s best friend, and they’re on the circuit together. He’s a great guy and let’s be honest, Lauren, you still haven’t dated too much, right?” Jane asked as Lauren took a deep breath.
“No, I haven’t. Nobody struck me back home and who’s to say that Cole will? Just because you fell for Adam on the first night doesn’t mean that it will happen to everybody,” Lauren told her. Jane gave her a long stare since they were at a stoplight. “I don’t want to be that girl that gets set up like this.”
“You’re not. It’s just something I thought of when I knew that you might move here, and my imagination went a little crazy,” Jane defended herself, smiling. “He looks like Dermot Mulroney, you know.” That was Lauren’s favorite actor and she rolled her eyes.
“Great,” Lauren said, as she settled back for the hour drive and stared over at the green mountains. “It’s pretty here.”
The girls chatted about childhood memories as they drove and laughed over some of the funnier times they had with Lauren’s father, Kevin. Jane had loved him as much as Lauren and had come back to Georgia for a full week to help Lauren through the funeral.
Lauren watched as they pulled into a small town that featured the main stores for survival but nothing fancy like Target or Costco. She didn’t know how to feel about that, but as they drove down a small street and parked in the driveway of a cute yellow cottage, she changed her mind.
It was beautiful. There was a green lawn with flowers and a big porch that was set up for guests and time outside. Lauren got out of the car and stared at it. “This is amazing.”
“It is. The house is small but cozy and I think you’ll love it,” Jane said as she took Lauren’s luggage out of the Jeep. They walked into the house and almost bumped into two men who were just coming out.
“Hi, you must be Lauren. It’s good to meet you,” said a sweet looking guy with green eyes and dark hair, who Lauren assumed was Adam. He reached out his hand and she shook it as he continued, “We were waiting to grill some burgers, and here you are. Oh, and this is Cole Harmon, my best friend.” He gestured towards the other man. Lauren looked at him and realized that Jane was right. Cole looked just like Dermot Mulroney.
“It’s a pleasure, Lauren. Welcome to Julesberg,” Cole said, before he offered his own hand. Even though she’d told Jane she wasn’t interested in dating, she felt a bit self-conscious as Cole smiled at her. She liked his subtle drawl though and she smiled back at him.
“Thank you, Cole. I have to admit that I like it here. It’s very charming,” Lauren assured him as he grinned and nodded.
Adam took her suitcase to the guest room while Jane went into the kitchen and grabbed a plate of burger patties to bring to the back yard. Lauren was hungry after the flight, but she needed to fresh up a bit first. She looked from Jane to Cole and then excused herself to use the restroom. “Where is it?”
“Just at the end of the hallway.” Jane gave her a reassuring smile and watched as her friend turned and left the room. Lauren went into the little room and stared in the mirror at her hair that hung down to her shoulders in soft curls. It was messy, and she needed a shower, but with the party waiting outside, that was going to have to wait.
She settled for using the facilities and ducking into the guest room beside the bathroom to change into some fresh yoga pants and a sweatshirt since it was cooling down outside. She pulled her hair back and forced a smile on her face before she returned to the living room.
The guys were outside by the grill and Lauren looked around the living room for a moment. It was a spacious room with soft couches and some tables scattered about, as well as a pretty stone fireplace. She could see through the back window to the backyard where there was a deck and the grill, as well as a gorgeous sky on the horizon. “Wow, it’s so beautiful here,” she said as Jane came over to stand beside her. “But Jane, really, Cole already?”
Jane frowned and walked into the kitchen. “I know it must look like that, but I didn’t plan it. They’re friends and they always hang out together. This is usual,” Jane said as she pulled out a bag with some vegetables marinated in spices and oil.
“Babe? Do you have the asparagus and zucchini?” Adam called from outside.
“Right here,” Jane answered. She went to get a plate and the veggies and gave both to Adam with a soft kiss on the lips. She came back into the kitchen. “I didn’t invite him the way that you think I did. He’s just always here,” she said as she put her arm around Lauren and smiled at her.
Chapter Two
Lauren followed Jane to the table in the little dining room. There were tons of windows and she took it all in with wide eyes. It was stunning here and Lauren picked up on the peace that Jane had been describing to her. The guys came in with the cooked food and Lauren sat between Jane and Cole as she sipped her sweet tea.
Dinner was light and fun as they talked about the town and their lives. Jane worked as a writer for a few online websites and thought that Lauren could do the same. There weren’t a lot of jobs outside of the ranching world and Jane was making plenty of money with her writing.
The guys were cowboys through and through. It reminded Lauren of a movie, the way the men talked and laughed as Jane sat there with stars in her eyes. She was in love and Lauren smiled at her best friend as she watched. Cole looked at her as he sipped his can of beer and smiled when their eyes locked. She blushed, then looked away and took another bite of the salad before Jane brought in the watermelon.
Adam and Cole excused themselves after everyone was done eating, Adam hitting the sack and Cole going to his own home. Jane started to clean up and Lauren helped her as she took in the mood of the house. It was so peaceful. Jane told Lauren that the men started work at five in the morning, so they typically went to sleep early.
Lauren and Jane stayed up talking for a while before Jane told her friend to get some rest and a shower after the flight. Lauren stepped back into the small bathroom and rinsed off quickly before she dressed in some pajamas and walked into her new room. It was cute. It had a full sized bed with a worn dresser in the corner. Lauren knew that this was temporary, but she thought that she’d like it here.
She left the window open so that the moon could shine through it onto the floor. She thought about her new life. She’d have to get a job, a car and a place to live. Despite all the help that Jane had offered her, she needed to do some of this on her own. But first, she needed to get some sleep.
***
Lauren woke up late the next morning and looked outside ove
r the grass and fields. She could hear the birds singing and smiled as she got out of bed and walked down the short hallway and into the dining room. Jane was working on her computer with a cup of coffee in front of her. She pushed her square glasses up her small nose when she saw Lauren.
“Morning, Jane.”
“Hey!” Jane greeted her, as she looked up and grinned. “I was letting you sleep, with the time difference and all.”
“Thanks. I think I needed that.” Lauren walked to the window and shook her head. “You wake up to this every day?”
“I do.” Jane got up and poured her friend a cup of coffee. “Here,” she offered, and Lauren took it. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It’s a bit remote, isn’t it?” Lauren could see that there were neighbors, but each house had a few acres surrounding it, whereas Lauren was accustomed to one house next to the other.
“Well, we all have each other’s numbers. We’re close and we help each other. It’s cool and, better than that, it’s nice and quiet.” Jane grabbed a cup of coffee and some cream from the fridge and handed both to Lauren.
Lauren sat at the table and sipped her coffee as she looked around for a moment. “Yeah, it is.”
Jane showed her the website that she’d gotten her work on and Lauren decided that she’d set up a profile and see what she could find. She spent a good part of the morning doing that, until she heard a car in the driveway and saw Jane pulling some food out of the fridge. “Who’s that?”