by Cora Seton
For the next thirty minutes, they waited as Jolene labored and pushed. Slowly, the rest of the foal’s body appeared until it plopped onto the fresh straw. Georgie wiped the new foal’s nose and mouth, then dropped back onto her bottom and let the new mother take over. Jolene sniffed, then licked her new baby, cleaning him up.
“Is it a boy or girl?” Deb whispered from the stall door.
Georgie looked up with a smile. “A boy.” She glanced over at Tanner, who was sitting in the opposite corner of the stall. A smile more commonly seen on a new father brightened his face.
“He looks pretty good, doesn’t he?” Tanner asked.
The colt staggered to his feet, wobbled around a little and then he was back in the straw.
“Yeah. He looks fine,” Georgie said. “I suggest we all get out of here and let Jolene and her baby get to know each other.”
The two adults joined Deb and Dillon at the stall door.
“He’s beautiful,” Deb said.
“That he is,” Tanner agreed. “Now, what were the two of you doing up at this hour to begin with?”
Dillon rolled his eyes toward Deb. That was as good as pointing the finger of guilt at his sister.
Deb shrugged. “I got up to get a drink of water and thought I’d just check on Jolene.”
“Sooo, you weren’t just getting home from your date? It’s normal for you to get fully dressed when you get out of bed and go to the kitchen for water?”
The flush that climbed up Deb’s neck was a neon sign of guilt. “No,” she said, but the denial was so tepid as to be a confession.
Tanner sighed. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”
“Shouldn’t we stay here?” Dillon asked. “I mean, shouldn’t someone stay with Jolene?”
Georgie glanced at the new mother, the umbilical cord still protruding from the birth canal. It could be ten minutes before the placenta passed or it could be four hours.
“No,” she said. “Horses actually prefer to be alone to give birth. I doubt Jolene was that thrilled we were all here. I’ll keep an eye on her with the foaling camera that Tanner so wisely installed. If I see she needs help, I’ll come back.”
“But you’ll watch from our house, right?” Deb asked. She gnawed on her lower lip. “She should stay here, shouldn’t she, Tanner?”
Tanner put his arm around his little sister. “Of course she can watch from the house. I’ll make a pot of coffee and keep her company.”
“So will I,” Deb said.
“No, you’ll go to bed,” Tanner said.
“But—”
“But nothing. You and Dillon are moving cattle with Zack in the morning. I’d rather you not fall asleep and slide off Nelly.”
Deb rolled her eyes. “I haven’t fallen off a horse in years.”
“Jolene will be fine,” Georgie said. “Trust me. She’d rather you all go away and let her practice being a mother without an audience.”
The group trooped toward the house. She’d had some thoughts of spending the night with Tanner but they’d never included coffee, a couple of teenagers, and watching a foaling camera.
As soon as they hit the house, Tanner pointed toward a door that Georgie assumed led out of the kitchen. “Get going. And,” he added just before Deb went through the door, “don’t think we won’t discuss your missing curfew tonight.”
Deb tossed her hair over her shoulder and marched through the door, her head held high.
“Your sister carried herself like Marie Antoinette being led to the guillotine, if you ask me,” Georgie said.
Tanner sighed. “Coffee?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“I always thought I’d be a cool dad, you know? The kind of dad that all the kids loved. The dad who really understood what was happening with my son or daughter and all that.” He started the coffee brewing and then joined her at the table. “But I swear, Deb pushes all my buttons and I just want to lock her in her room until our parents come home.”
Georgie laughed. “Tanner.” She put her hand over his. “You’re not her father. You’re her big brother. She’s supposed to drive you nuts. That’s how siblings work.”
“So you know how it is with brothers and sisters then.”
His innocent statement reminded her of how alone she was in the world, how much she would give to have a sibling to argue with. Her gut twisted into a knot. She pulled her hand back. “Nope. Just me.”
“An only child. No wonder you’re such a spoiled brat. I bet your parents are wanting you to settle close to them. What do they think about your moving around so much?”
She pushed a smile to her lips but it didn’t help the hollowness inside. “No folks. No family.” She shrugged. “Just me since I was about ten. That’s how I met Magda Montgomery. She and I were in the same foster home for a while.”
“Oh, Georgina. I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry over. Everyone has been gone a long time.” She shoved to her feet. “Now, how about some coffee?”
*
Tanner felt like a real ass.
“Georgina.” He went to where she stood by the fresh pot of coffee. “I shouldn’t have called you a brat or…”
“Or what, Tanner? Asked about my parents? Ask me normal questions people ask each other?” She touched his arm. “It’s okay. Really. You didn’t know I was the end of my family line. It’s no biggie.”
He pulled her to him and held her tightly in his arms. “It is a biggie. Here I was razzing you about being all spoiled rotten when you are the furthest from that.” He leaned back until he could see her face. There were tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. “I’m such an idiot.”
She hugged him and then pushed away. “No, you’re not. You’re a big, tough cowboy firefighter.” Opening the cabinet above the coffee pot, she added, “I’m gonna need some strong coffee, cowboy.”
While she poured them each coffee, he retrieved his laptop from the office and pulled up the foaling feed. Jolene was standing, as was the foal, albeit on wobbly legs.
“God, I love to watch foals when they are just getting their legs under them,” Georgina said. “He’s a beauty, Tanner. What are you going to do with him?”
“I don’t know.” He looked into her jade-green eyes and felt a tug at his heart, which was probably not a good thing. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Leaning on her elbows toward him, she grinned. “I love secrets. Spill.”
“I don’t think I want to raise cattle the rest of my life.”
Her grin slipped from her face, replaced by wide-eyed surprise. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Seriously.”
“So what do you think you want to do?”
“That’s just it.” He settled against the back of his chair. “I love firefighting but I love being outdoors too.”
“You looked like you knew what you were doing tonight at the fire.”
“I do. I was on the Lexington Fire Department for ten years before I moved back here.”
“So why did you quit?”
“I didn’t quit as much as my folks needed me. I’ve been here a couple of years but there’s just something missing.”
“And the volunteer department isn’t enough?”
He shrugged. “Yes and no. I can’t just keep living and working here. I need my own place, you know?”
“I guess. I just haven’t had a place to call home in a long time. I’ve forgotten what it feels like. It’s been rental houses and apartments for years.”
Her words burned him and he wanted to flinch from the harsh reality of her upbringing. Even when he didn’t live in Whispering Springs, he knew he had home to come back to, if and when he wanted. He knew he had family he could pick up the phone and call. The idea of being totally alone in the world was as foreign to him as Greek.
“Now you’re feeling sorry for me,” Georgina said.
“No. I’m not.”
When she arched an eyebrow in question, he conceded.
“Okay, maybe a little. It’s just that I’ve always had family and siblings driving me crazy. I can’t imagine life any other way.”
She took his hand. “You’re lucky. Don’t ever forget that.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the center of her palm, smelling and tasting the lavender soap his mom kept over the kitchen sink. “Thanks for reminding me of all I have. Even a younger sister that I somehow am going to have to punish for being late.”
“That’ll be fun.”
“Speaking of which…”
“Yeah?”
His gaze dropped to their joined hands and then back up to her bright eyes. “Earlier tonight…” He swallowed and gathered his courage to continue. “I guess I should apologize.”
“For what?” She leaned close and whispered, “Giving me the best orgasm I’ve ever had?”
She was close enough that her breath brushed across his cheeks. Her whisper kicked over the bucket of lust in his gut, spreading it throughout his system. Sucking in a deep inhale, he said, “I was going to apologize for basically attacking you.”
She chuckled and ran a fingertip over his knuckles. “I didn’t exactly put up much of a struggle, in case you didn’t notice. But to the best of my memory, it turned out to be a one-sided event. I like even numbers, don’t you?”
“I do, especially when I’m in the second position.”
Tugging gently on her hand, he pulled her out of her chair and into his lap. He had been planning on kissing her but she beat him to it. Wrapping her arms about his neck, she pressed her mouth to his. She kissed him. He kissed her back. When she opened her mouth, he swept in, loving her with his tongue.
His hands inched up from her waist until he covered one full, curvy breast. When he squeezed, she groaned her pleasure into his mouth. Shifting her hips, she settled directly on top of his firm cock, which grew longer and harder with each of her wiggles.
He moved his hand to the hem of her scrub top and slipped under. His fingers stroked soft, warm flesh.
“God, I want you so bad,” he said against her lips. “I want to take you right here on this table.”
She pulled her mouth away and smiled. “And here I thought you didn’t even like me.”
He laughed quietly. “I’m good at hiding my feelings.”
She squirmed on his lap. “I don’t know. I think your feelings are quite evident at the moment.”
As he rose to standing, he lifted her into his arms. “I want you in my bed. Tonight. Right now. I—”
The slam of the back door interrupted him. With Georgina still in his arms, Tanner whirled toward the door. Zack stood staring at the scene in front of him.
“Now, I’ll admit I’ve had a few beers tonight. And I’ll even admit I almost fell asleep at Leo’s before I left. But I’m wondering if I’m asleep and this is the kinkiest dream I’ve had in a while.”
Tanner lowered Georgina’s legs until she was standing.
“A little late, isn’t it?” Tanner asked, hoping a strong offense would deflect any additional observations.
“I left high school many years ago, Tanner. Don’t try to change the subject when the subject is so interesting.” Zack grinned. “I knew you had your eye on the good doctor.”
“Go to bed, Zack,” Tanner said on a long sigh.
“Oh, I’m going but I’m thinking I’m not the only one—or should I say ones—headed that way.” He chuckled and started out of the kitchen only to turn back with a frown.
“Are you really here for Tanner, Georgie, or is something wrong?”
Georgina turned the open laptop toward Zack. “Say hello to Jolene’s baby boy.”
Zack lifted the computer to bring the screen to eye level. Nodding, he smiled. “Jolene’s nursing him.” He looked at Tanner. “Congrats on your first newborn.”
Tanner’s anger cooled but only slightly. “Thanks.”
After setting the computer back on the table, Zack said, “I’m exhausted. I’m sure I’ll sleep like the dead. Won’t hear a thing. Carry on.” He gave a jaunty salute and added before he left, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
As the kitchen door swung shut behind Zack, Georgina chuckled. “Nothing he wouldn’t do? Doesn’t that leave the options wide open?”
Tanner grinned. “Probably. Now…” He pulled her back into his arms. “Where were we?”
“I really should leave. Jolene is doing fine. I’m not needed anymore.”
“I strongly disagree with your assessment. Jolene might be fine, but you’re certainly needed.”
She kissed him and then smiled. “I shouldn’t be here when Deb and Dillon get up. They aren’t children, Tanner. They would be well aware why I never went home. Remember when you were eighteen?”
His face darkened. “Don’t remind me.”
She chuckled. “I’m actually surprised that Deb didn’t question why we arrived together. You might have an answer ready. I bet the question will come up.”
Sighing, he rested his chin on her head. “I’ll let you go home tonight if you’ll have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“You want to take me on a date?”
“I do. A nice place.”
“A fancy dinner? Like no jeans and boots kind of place?”
“I might have a pair of pants not made out of denim somewhere.”
“I’d love to. Walk me out? I want to check on Jolene one more time before I go.”
Once they were outside, Tanner took her hand. It wasn’t soft and thin, like the hands of so many girls’ hands he’d held. Hers was a mature woman’s hand…solid, with long fingers and short nails. Hers was the hand of a woman who wasn’t afraid to get dirt—or blood—on them. There was a distinctive difference between their hand sizes however. His hand could completely surround her petite hand, and the effect made him feel protective, as though he wouldn’t let the harms of the world get through him to her.
And yes, he realized that was totally crazy.
Try as he might, Tanner couldn’t get a handle on his feelings for this woman. One moment he wanted to make love to her all night, and the next, he wanted to shield her from the world.
“Jolene looks to have taken to motherhood like a pro,” she whispered to him.
He’d been so distracted by his own thoughts that he hadn’t realized they’d made it to the barn until Georgina spoke. He glanced into the foaling stall. Jolene was munching on some fresh hay while her new son nursed. At the moment, his heart felt too large for his chest. He swallowed against the lump that’d formed in his throat.
Georgina wrapped her arms around his waist. “For all the bad things I have to deal with, it’s moments like this that make it all worth it.”
“Thank you for being here for Jolene.” Putting two fingers under her chin, he lifted her face until their gazes met. “And for me.”
She squeezed his waist. “I need to get some sleep. Rumor has it that I have a hot date tomorrow night.”
“Tonight,” he said with a grin.
She chuckled. “True.”
At her truck, he pushed her up against the door and kissed her. She kissed him back. With tongues and lips and teeth, they kissed and nibbled and fondled. He grew firm and solid under her touches. Pressing her between him and the car, his hard dick was cradled against her softness.
“Stop,” she moaned in his ear. “Stop or I won’t leave.”
“Maybe that’s the idea.”
He felt her lips on his neck as they curved into a smile. “You’re a bad influence, Tanner Marshall.” She pushed him away, but the power behind the gesture was weak and ineffectual. Still, he forced himself to straighten.
“Okay then,” he said. “I’ll go sleep in a cold bed all by myself.”
She laughed and allowed him to open her truck door.
“I’d feel sorry for you but I’m going to do the same.”
She got in, closed the door, and rolled down the window. “What time tonight?”
“Six-thirty. U
nless you want to be the hottest item on the Whispering Springs gossip vine, I thought we’d go into Dallas for a little privacy.”
“Dallas sounds perfect.”
He leaned through the window for a final kiss. “Drive safe.”
As he watched the taillights of her truck fade down his drive, his heart skipped a few beats. Tanner was watching his future drive away…of that he was sure.
Chapter Nine
‡
By the time Tanner pulled into her drive, Georgie had changed her clothes no less than five times. Finally she settled on an A-line skirt, starched white blouse and a long fringe vest that hit a good five inches below her skirt’s hem. As she slipped into a pair of dress heels, her knees shook, which was ridiculous. She’d been on dates…lots of them. Why this particular one was making her as jumpy as a freshmen going to prom with a senior was a mystery.
Or was it really?
She liked Tanner Marshall. She didn’t want to, but there it was. She did. Once she’d peeled back his tough outer layer, she found a sweet, mature, smart man who made her laugh as much as he made her lust.
And that was a huge problem. She wasn’t looking for a man in her life. Not now. Maybe not ever. She’d tried that man-for-life thing with Chris, and look how that turned out. In the last year she’d pretty much convinced herself that she didn’t really need or want a man but then this tall, hunky cowboy had pushed his way in and she couldn’t help but wonder if getting involved with him was a good idea or bad one.
This stop in Whispering Springs was temporary. She was gone in less than three months. And she had the uncomfortable feeling that Tanner possessed exactly what it would take to worm under her skin and into her heart. It wouldn’t be the first time a man had broken her heart, obviously, but this felt different from Chris. If someone had pointed a gun to her head, she couldn’t have said why it was different, she only knew that it was.
And yet, she really, really wanted to sleep with him, only there’d be no actual sleeping involved in her plans. She loved how large and solid his hands were. Loved how he stroked her, as though she were the softest velvet. And his kisses. She lacked the appropriate vocabulary to describe them except they made her toes curl in her shoes, and smoke come out her ears. She dearly hoped he never noticed that smoke.