Not Looking for Love: A Cowboy Romance

by Martini, Mae

  After frolicking in the water a while, Richie got out and threw some steaks on the grill and Kara pulled together a salad.

  As they ate they talked about motorcycles and horses. Kara, not having any experience with either just listened, finding it all fascinating.

  “Logan, you mind if I bring Kara to the stables tomorrow to do some riding?”

  “Of course not. I won’t be there. I’m heading to Fredericksburg. McCreedy has a horse he thinks I’d be interested in. But I’ll let Hank know you’ll be coming by.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You ever ride, Kara?” Logan asked.

  “Only a couple of times, in my teen years.”

  “I got just the horse for you.” He turned to Richie and they both said at the same time.

  “Annabel.”

  Richie turned to Kara. “She’s like a little old lady.” He chuckled. “Sweet and gentle.”

  Chapter 22

  Richie held the door open for Kara, admiring her brown embellished cowgirl boots, as she got in the car. They had just left Geli’s Western Wear Boutique, the store Logan’s sister owned. Though Richie loved the high platform shoes Kara had chosen to wear he told her that they were great fuck-me shoes, but not apt for horseback riding.

  Geli outfitted her with the cute, but practical pair of boots as Richie roamed the store and found a brown, Bullhide cowgirl hat with pale pink and white embroidered flowers decorating the hat band and the underside of the brim.

  While Richie was paying for those items, he looked over to Kara who was trying on a leather fringed jacket and he told Geli to throw that in too.

  She was taking it off when he was done and as he walked toward her he said, “Leave it on. I like it.”

  When he got in the driver’s side of the car he turned to her as he started it. “Alright, now we ride.”

  She cracked up laughing.

  Richie brought out Bentley and Kara ooohhhed and aaahhhed at the handsome animal. When Hank brought out Annabel, Kara fell in love. Annabel was chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail.

  Richie was by Kara’s side, introducing her to the horses.

  “She’s beautiful,” Kara said.

  “Yeah, she is. She’s a quarab,” Richie said.

  “I’ve never heard of that.”

  “She’s a cross, or mixed breed. She’s part quarter horse and part Arabian.”

  Kara nodded.

  “Come on.” He helped her up and stepped back. “A stunning woman on a splendid horse. Yeehaw, cowgirl!” He smiled and winked at her then turned to mount up.

  They traveled for about twenty minutes at different gaits, not going to a full gallop. At one point Kara became so hot, she pulled back on the reins to stop and take off her new jacket. She tied the jacket around her waist and got Annabel moving again, lightly tapping her belly, just like Richie had shown her.

  They dismounted at Blue Hole, a swimming spot lined with cypress trees in the center of Wimberley, and Richie dropped Bentley’s reins. Kara looked around with the reins in her hand. “Drop ‘em. Logan ground tie trains all his horses,” Richie said.

  She dropped the reins and limped closer to Richie with a silly grin on her face.

  “Using muscles you didn’t even know you had, huh?” Richie chuckled.

  “I guess I can’t ride a horse as well as I ride you.” She said by his ear.

  Her breath tickled his ear and a shudder ran through him.

  They sat on the grass as they watched swimmers jump and dive into the water, and Kara was impressed with some of the kids who swung from a chain attached to one of the cypress trees and did flips into the water. One of them swung upside down without letting go that you could hear a collective ooohhh when he landed back on the bank. He didn’t get hurt though, he just laughed and readjusted so that on the very next swing he flipped into the water like a pro. When he surfaced everyone around him clapped, including Richie and Kara who were on the other side of the water, on private property.

  Kara threw her legs out in front of her and her hands out behind her, soaking up the sun as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Wow, Richie, this is such a wonderful little town. I don’t think I’ve felt this calm in a long time.”

  “Yeah, I love it here. You know that saying ‘there’s no place like home’? It rings true for me. When I’m away whether for business or pleasure, I can’t wait to get back here… The only exception is being in California with you.”

  “You’re such a charmer.”

  He chuckled.

  She smiled when she smelled Richie’s cologne as he inched close to her, and she softly moaned before he brought his lips down to hers. The kiss started out slow and sweet but soon escalated to an all-out make out session with him pushing her down to the ground and covering her body.

  She opened her eyes when he pulled back a little, breathless as she watched him watch her.

  He slowly shook his head. “What are you doing to me, Katherine Storm?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know. What?”

  He stared a moment longer, then moved off of her as he blew out a breath, and lied down, placing his head on her thighs, not wanting to answer, or admit anything, but he thought about Logan’s words ‘you’re hooked’.

  She brought a hand to his hair and lazily ran her fingers through it, massaging his head.

  “Mmmm, that feels good,” he said just before he fell asleep.

  Shortly after, she followed.

  Richie stirred as he sensed someone near them and quickly picked his head up to look around. He sighed as he realized it was just Bentley grazing on the grass near them.

  The weight on Kara’s legs shifted and she knew Richie was awake. She stretched as she slowly opened her eyes. “How long were we asleep?”

  He looked at his watch. “Not long, about twenty minutes.” He sat up and looked around as he took in the sounds of kids playing and laughing in the water. “I could go for some fried chicken steak from the Town Café. You hungry?”

  She giggled. “Rich, you had a big breakfast this morning.”

  He looked her way and shrugged. “I’m a growing boy. Come on.” He stood up and reached out his hand.

  Knowing Milton, the owner of the Town Café, Richie led Kara to the back of the building and dismounted. Then he picked up his arms and grabbed Kara by the waist and brought her down from her mount, bringing her flush against his body and kissed her as she re-acclimated her legs to the ground.

  *

  Richie wiped his mouth with his napkin, pushed his chair back, and blew out a breath.

  “Hah! You look like you’re going to bust,” Kara said to him. She had long since given up trying to finish her meal.

  He grinned. “It was good. You didn’t even touch the gravy. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  “I haven’t stopped eating since I got here. I need to have some restraint.”

  “Oh, you could afford it.” He looked up to Emily, Milton’s wife, as she walked over to them.

  “You didn’t even leave a crumb for the birds,” Emily said laughing, as she picked up his plate to remove it.

  “Do I ever?”

  “No.” She shook her head then turned to Kara. “You want to wrap yours to go?”

  “Yes, please. Thank you. That was delicious.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” She turned back to Richie. “Can I get you anything else?” She looked to the front door and nodded to a couple who strolled in.

  Richie looked to Kara who shook her head. “No, just the check, Emily. Thank you.” He looked to the couple and nodded then turned back to Kara. “Ready to go?”

  *

  Kara had been at Richie’s house for two weeks just chillin’ and healing, enjoying the atmosphere, and really enjoying Richie’s company. A few of those days he left for a few hours to check on the ranch and a couple of times he took her there to see the day to day operation. She hadn’t heard from Poppy, but didn’t think she would, him being in rehab
and all. But she did feel the need to get back to California. She didn’t need to be at work for a while, Poppy had told her to take as much time as she needed when he spoke to her the day Danny beat her up. She knew she needed to get back to feeling comfortable in and around her environment though. Danny really freaked her out. Being with Richie had made her feel safe, too safe.

  “I’d like to head back to California in the morning,” she said to Richie as they sat on the couch in Richie’s living room watching TV. The rain was coming down in buckets outside since the night before.

  He looked to her. “Why?”

  I’ve got to pay some bills.”

  “Pay them on line.”

  “I’m really not comfortable with that.”

  “Your book cover banking business is done on line.”

  “Yes, but that’s a separate account, not my personal… Plus I really want to check up on the house.”

  “It’ll still be there.” He forced a grin.

  She smiled then grew serious. “Do you think Danny will give me any trouble?”

  “No. He won’t be bothering you anymore.” He accepted her wish of not pressing charges, but he made damn sure he won’t be bothering her again. He had sent some heat to take care of him, but she didn’t have to know that. Danny would never work in that industry again. In fact Richie wouldn’t be surprised if he left town.

  She tilted her head to the side as she looked at him, but didn’t question him. She trusted him to take care of her.

  He blew out a breath. “Promise me you won’t go anywhere near Velocity.”

  “I won’t, not until Poppy gets back.”

  He nodded. He didn’t want her to leave and not just because he hadn’t yet told her what he had done. He enjoyed having her here. He told her she could stay as long as she wanted but he didn’t push it. He didn’t want her questioning why he was adamant about her staying. Richie knew he should have come clean then, but he wasn’t ready yet because even though he thought he knew her he couldn’t read her on this. He figured he had time to work it out. And though he couldn’t get away that week, he knew just as soon as he could he’d be on a flight out to see her.

  Instead of going out that night for dinner Richie prepared a meal, and she was in charge of making cocktails. Margaritas were the drink of choice to go with the fajitas he was making. While he was stirring the chicken, onions, and peppers, she’d, every now and then, tilt her head to the side.

  “What?” Richie had asked a few times.

  The last time he said ‘what’ she walked over to him.” I think you’d look better like this.” She slowly, seductively, and while he copped feels of her breasts through her pretty pink sundress, unbuttoned his shirt and removed it and his t-shirt underneath. He didn’t stop her, he kept a grin on his face as he shook his head.

  She backed up a bit nodding. “Better. Don’t burn yourself.” She winked then went back to whipping up another batch of Margaritas.

  After refreshing their glasses she shook her head. “Nope. Still not right.”

  Richie had since moved to the island and was spooning cheese sauce into a bowl. He looked to her. “What’s not right?”

  She moved over to him and brought her hands to his belt buckle and undid the belt, then unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans.

  “What are you doing?” He was laughing.

  “Just trying to get it right. Lift,” she said as she bent down and tapped the foot of his right leg. She almost tipped over.

  “Careful there,” He helped steady her, and complied and lifted his other foot also when she tapped it to remove his jeans.

  “Oh, yeah. Now that’s hot,” she said as she backed up and ogled him in just his blue boxer briefs then took a gulp of her drink.

  He gave her a sideways glance. “You’re drunk,” he said. “Your eyes are lit like a Christmas tree.” He chuckled as he wiggled his butt.

  She giggled.

  “Now you know, you won’t be able to eat until you strip down to your panties, right?” he said.

  “Haha, shows what you know, I’m not wearing any panties.” She lifted up her dress and bared her pussy. She couldn’t wipe the silly grin from her face.

  Oh, yeah she was drunk. Richie let out a boisterous laugh and slowly shook his head. He walked over to the stove and shut the flame. “No, no, keep that dress up,” he said when she began to bring it back down. “And turn around and show me that beautiful ass.”

  Giggling she did as he asked.

  “Yeah, like that. Now bend and touch your toes.”

  She turned her head and laughed then complied with his request.

  He sucked in a breath. “Oh, yeah…” He grabbed her by the hips and leaned his hard cock into her butt, the material of his underwear was the only thing preventing him from entering her, that and he didn’t have a condom nearby, so he got on his knees and spread her, licking her from front to back. He worked his fingers inside her and pumped as he swirled his thumb all around her clit while he nipped and licked her ass. He had her screaming in no time as she coated his mouth, and he had to throw an arm around her waist to steady her when her legs shook. After he finished her off, he rose up and stroked his cock. “Suck me,” he said when she turned around. She licked her lips at the sight of him touching himself and dropped to her knees and finished him off.

  After dinner, in bed, he took her slow and sweet and wondered if she felt the shift in their relationship during their… love making that night.

  The morning resumed to some raw hard riding then he took her to the airport and secured a seat for her, first class, on a flight back to California.

  Chapter 23

  “You got nothing better to do with your time?” Richie asked Logan as he plopped himself down on the tailgate of Logan’s pickup.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Logan said as he handed Richie a longneck while sitting in a lawn chair in the bed of the truck.

  “Thanks. Where’s Doug?” Richie scanned the area.

  “He’s around.”

  They were on Doug’s property. Doug and his twin, Dave, owned a rundown piece of property they inherited from their parents. After their father died, no one took care of the place. Their mom still lived in the ramshackle house that sat a good few acres away. Both Doug and Dave were mechanics and old dilapidated trucks and cars were strewn all around the property, with a tire here, a motor there.

  It had rained heavy the past two days, making just about most of the property ripe for some ATV mud racing. No one got a call it was going on. They just knew that whenever it rained heavy, Doug and Dave would take their ATVs to ‘the pit’ as it became known. It was a long stretch of dirt that the boys deepened a bit so the water would pool. Anyone who wanted to was welcomed to come play.

  “Kara make it back all right?” Logan asked.

  “Yeah, she got in yesterday afternoon.”

  “So how’d she take it?”

  “I didn’t tell her yet.” Richie said as he scanned the crowd. “Man, doesn’t anybody work anymore?” Richie looked at all the vehicles parked any which way and heard rock music on one side of them and country music on the other side of them. He wasn’t sure why he noted it but he also noted that even though the girls were pretty on the rock side, the girls were way prettier on the country side, but he laughed inwardly, he was being bias.

  Logan gulped his beer down. “Are you kidding?” He watched the back of Richie’s head as he shook it. “Richie, I’m pretty sure that’s her source of income. The longer you wait the harder it will be to explain.”

  He turned to him. “She’s got that book cover business I told you about.” He sighed when Logan didn’t say anything. “I know.” He conceded.

  Logan’s eyes widened, a small smile crept up on his face. “Holy shit! You’re scared.”

  Richie turned his attention back to the races ignoring him and downed the remaining three quarters of his beer in one gulp then tossed it in the pail next to Logan. “Hell, I don’t know.”
He leaned back against the side wall of the truck. “I know I should have told her, but…”

  “But what?”

  Richie didn’t answer. Logan scrutinized him then let out a boisterous laugh. “You’re hooked.”

  Richie nodded again and admitted what he’d been denying all along. “I’m hooked. I don’t want to lose her so I gotta get this right.”

  “Oh, Richie, Richie, Richie. You’re in deep.” Logan shook his head grinning. “So now what? She your girlfriend?”

  “No… Nothing exclusive yet. I enjoy being with her… a lot, but neither of us is ready for that step right now.”

  “Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, brother.” Logan let out a laugh and looked beyond Richie.

  Richie followed his eyes to see two guys, one looked like Doug, stuck in the middle of the pit trying to gain traction. It looked like they were floating.

  Finally both drivers were able to hit ground and move, kicking up mud all over the place.

  “Thank God we’re far away from that,” Richie said.

  “What’s the matter, pretty boy, afraid to get dirty?”

  “Hah!”

  “You used to like getting down and dirty in the mud.”

  “Yeah, but now I like to get down and dirty in the mud with a chick.” He grinned.

  Logan grinned as he reached for another beer and handed it to Richie. “So, what’s the plan?”

  Before Richie could answer, Doug drove up on his ATV. He was covered in mud from helmet to boots. He stopped and popped off his helmet and grinning, he said, “Wooofff, that was a tough one. Did you see that? Me and Oscar lost traction, the water was so deep.” He laughed as Richie and Logan chuckled and nodded.