“Yeah, I think I got everything we might need.” She smiled at me before turning to her sister. “I’ll call you if any of them look like they are taking a turn for the worse. Don’t worry.”
I pressed a kiss to her temple as I helped her into my truck and we made our way back to the stables. When we got there, Balthazar was resting his head on the door of the stall and it was as if a weight started to lift from my chest. The horses weren’t out of danger yet, but Balthazar looked to be on the mend. London grabbed a pail of fresh oats and hay with some enzymes that Asher had mixed up for us to start feeding them.
When the stallion took pieces of the straw, London’s face brightened.
“He’s eating, that’s a good sign.” Her voice echoed across the barn. “We’ll just need to make sure that they stay hydrated, that’s imperative.”
I nodded to let her know that I understood as I moved to grab a few water pails. When we were finished refreshing the water and seeing which horses would eat a little, London and I made our way to where several bales of hay were stacked.
“You want to sit in the back room where there’s a table or do you want me to grab some blankets and just stay out here with the horses?”
I caressed her cheeks with my thumbs as I cupped her face. “We can stay out here, it would probably make you feel better.”
“You wouldn’t mind camping on blankets?”
“Of course not.” I was pretty sure that if I told her I would sleep on sharp rocks if it made her happy, she would freak out, so I just smiled and straightened the blankets that had been piled on the hay.
“David will be here in a little bit, he’s bringing me something.”
“Yeah? What is he bringing?”
“Just some fingerprint kits in case I need them.”
“Can I play with the black powder you guys use?”
“I’ll let you play with the black powder if you can keep me entertained.”
“Don’t go there, McManus.”
I winked at her. “What, I didn’t mean anything bad. Is it my fault if you took it there? I was thinking that you could come up with another one of your famous games. I could always use three more wishes.”
“Okay, we’ll play a game.” She eyed me skeptically and then grinned. “I guess it’s only fair since we didn’t get to finish our last challenge.”
“Bullshit, I won, and you know it. I get those first three wishes.”
She was staring at me through her long, dark lashes, it was so feminine and so unlike London that I doubted she knew she was doing it. “If I catch you staring at me like that again, I’ll definitely think you’re crushing on me.”
She rolled her eyes. “As if. Excuse me, McManus. I’m not one of those girls who is going to fawn all over you.”
“Good for you. I’ve never liked those kinds of girls. So, about my three wishes...”
“Okay. Just remember that this isn’t Fear Factor, nothing gross, okay?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to make you do anything like that,” I reassured her. “My three wishes are all going to be used on dates. Three wishes; three dates.”
Her eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe that I’d ask something so innocent. “That’s it?”
“That’s it. That’s all I’m asking for.” I held my hands up in surrender.
“These were wishes without any sort of restrictions, and you’re using them for dates?”
“I am. I liked the other night when we went to the bar. I want us to spend some more time together, just the two of us.”
“You could have just asked me out.”
“I could have, but then you could have said no again. Plus, now I have a chance to prove to you that I’m not the man whore you think I am and that one night we spent together wasn’t something I actually do very often.”
“You’re not joking, are you?”
I shook my head.
“Okay, three dates. Just give me a heads-up so I can get ready in time since I’m always so yucky after working on the ranch all day.”
“Fine. But are we still playing another game for wishes? I could always use three more. I might not be so innocent next time.”
“No wishes.” She laughed. “It’s just a good way to pass the time and keep you entertained, as you so requested.”
“Okay. So, what is the game?”
“Two truths and one lie. I’m going to say three things, and you have to guess which one is the lie.” London’s eyes twinkled with excitement. I couldn’t help but smile knowing that she was concocting some astronomical tales.
“Okay. Let me go first.” London nodded, allowing me first chance. “I’ve never tried bungee jumping. I don’t drink soft drinks. I don’t like kiwi.”
She smirked. “Easy. You don’t drink soft drinks.”
I made a buzzing sound, and London gasped in surprise. “No way I’m wrong.”
“I don’t like kiwi.”
She frowned. “That’s a crime, they’re delicious!”
“Nope. They are also gross. Your turn.”
London licked her lips, making my muscles tense. I was even more amazed how much self-control I could muster not to jump her right here.
London clenched her right hand into a fist and released her pinky finger. “I drive tractors.”
I smirked. That was obvious.
“I can’t cook.” She released another finger. “I like cats.”
Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile. I already knew that London couldn’t cook, which was why I figured the first date would be at my house, but I didn’t want to ruin her fun.
“Easy. You don’t like cats.”
She puckered up her lips into a cute pout.
“I’m wrong?”
“Yep. I love cats, but I hate Siamese cats. I tried to adopt one back in high school because I thought they were really cute. You know, Lady and the Tramp, we are Siamese. But it refused to listen to me. The bitch kept scratching my face and pissing on my bed. I finally had to get rid of her because Dad said that he was going to throw her into a combine even though we didn’t have one. But I still like cats in general.” She rolled her eyes. God, she looked beautiful when she did that. Okay, she looked beautiful no matter what she did. “We’re tied, one point each.”
“I thought you said that we weren’t keeping score?” I raised one brow.
“No, I said no bets. I didn’t say anything about not keeping score. Let’s talk about high school. You went first for round one, so I’ll go first for round two.”
For a moment there, I thought about pulling London close and kissing her savagely and repeating our first night together, but I decided that I better take it slow and settled for watching her lips. The way her mouth opened and how she occasionally stuck the tip of her tongue out to moisten her lips was almost hypnotic.
“All right. I like biology. I joined the drama club. I got into a fight with Jenny Owens.”
I furrowed my brows. Jenny Owens had been the head cheerleader at Oviedo High School. Why would London get into a fight with her?
“Okay, this is a tough call. You did a bang-up Reba act, but back in high school you seemed so much more shy and quiet, not to mention drama club was always full of the Emo kids, which you definitely aren’t. But I don’t see you as loving biology, maybe agriculture, but not bio. God, and I can’t see you getting into a fight either. I’m stumped on this one.” I rubbed my chin and watched her face for any sign of which one might be the lie.
“Just guess, there are no prizes, remember?” London taunted.
“Fine, I choose the third one. The lie is, you got into a fight with Jenny.”
London winced. “Wrong. I did not join the drama club. And yes, I got into a fight with Jenny Owens.”
“What? You really did? Why? How come I never heard about this? Jenny and I—”
“Dated, forever.” London rolled her eyes while finishing my sentence.
“Yep, she thought I was trying to get her boy
friend’s attention. You should have seen her, she burst onto the field at an Equestrian Club meet and started screaming about how I was trying to steal her guy.”
I paused and tried to put the pieces together. Jenny had been a bitch but had never come across as the jealous sort. If anything, she tried to make me jealous.
“I can tell that you don’t believe me.” London extended her legs and crossed her ankles. “I knew you wouldn’t have the slightest idea about this. Jenny was just a plain bitch, after all. I told her to take her bitching somewhere else. Then proceeded to have Grim kick dirt on her.”
“Feisty. I must have been living under a rock back in those days. That would have been huge talk on the campus.”
“It was. But I guess you guys were busy taking one too many blows to the head during football games. Never thought y’all would come out with your brains intact.”
I leaned forward until our faces were an inch apart. I crooked a finger under her chin and lifted her head a little so that our eyes could lock and our noses touched. “So, you still think that I don’t have a brain?”
London blushed, which made my cock twitch. I was fucking falling for this woman.
“It’s debatable.” She lightly punched my arm. “It’s your turn. Tell me something about high school.”
“Right. Okay. I was on the football team...”
London snorted and then rolled her eyes, obviously bored.
“I’m a man whore...”
I knew that she’d think this was easy.
“I had a crush on you in high school.”
Confusion hit her first and then surprise before she finally settled on embarrassment. I waited for her to say something as she fiddled with her fingernails. “You had a crush on me.”
“Yup, I’ve had a crush on you since maybe, like, sixth grade?”
“No, you didn’t.” London’s face was masked in disbelief.
“Yep, all I know is that you used to smile at me when you passed me in the hallways and it was the best part of my day. Then when we were in high school, it seemed as if every year I had to work harder and harder to make you smile. Then you just stopped. You wouldn’t even look at me anymore. I always wondered what I did wrong.”
“I remember, that was the same year that I got into a fight with Jenny.”
“And as far as my being a man whore. I really wish you’d stop saying that. I’m not that guy you’ve concocted in your mind and I’m not sure why you think that about me. I’ve been with you nonstop for a few weeks, have I done anything to perpetrate that belief?”
“Well...no.”
“Then will you let it rest? We’ve been out of school for twelve years, and now we’re here.” I tightened my grasp on her hand and brought it closer to my mouth, planting a kiss on her knuckles. “I’m glad we’ve reconnected, maybe this is our chance that we never got.”
She tilted her head and rested her cheek against my fingers.
I loved sitting here with her and hated when David showed up, but if I had any hope of figuring out who was creating havoc around here, I had to get to work.
11
Braden
“Hey, you two,” Holland whispered as she pulled open the barn door. “I’m on watch now plus Wally, Jack, and Ryan just got here, so why don’t you go on into the house.”
London stood, stretched, and then tried to stifle a yawn. “Okay, horses appear to be doing better, so I think we are out of the scary zone for the most part.”
“Got it. If anything changes, I’ll come find you. Now, go get some real sleep in a real bed instead of on the floor of the barn.”
London nodded, and I followed her up the path toward the house, only when she pulled the front door open, I didn’t move to follow her inside.
“I’m going to head home, but what do you think about coming by my house tonight?”
“You mean like a date, as in our first date?”
“Yep, date one. We won’t stay out late. I’ll pick you up around six?”
“I can drive since you won the race, I should make a bigger effort.” London squeezed my hand.
“Okay, see you tonight.” I smiled and let her fingers drift from mine as she backed away and into the house. When I turned toward my truck, Ryan was there.
“Lieutenant McManus, do you ever go home?”
Ryan extended a hand and I obliged. His grip was tight, and I returned the favor with a smirk playing on my mouth. There was no point in trying to hide my dislike of this man since the feeling was reciprocated.
“Actually, yes, Mr. Cardenas, I’m heading home right now. You see, London and I have a date tonight.” Ryan’s jaw twitched in anger.
That’s right, asshole, get mad, get real mad, and maybe you’ll fuck up just enough that I can catch your ass.
But Ryan’s demeanor changed when he noticed something behind me. I shifted and then glanced over my shoulder to find Wally making his way in our direction.
“How’s the investigation going with the fire?” He widened his stance—a typical bully move to make himself appear bigger.
“Actually, I don’t know. You see, a fire investigator handles that, and then they give us their final report. So, until they’ve crossed all their T’s and dotted their I’s, I’m just hanging back, biding my time, while they gather all the evidence to hang the son-of-a-bitch who did it.”
“Well, since this isn’t even your case, exactly why are you here all the time? We are a working ranch, not a playground.” Disdain laced every single word he practically spit.
“It isn’t my job, but my interest. I want to make sure the girls are safe.”
Ryan laughed dryly, putting a hand on my left shoulder, which only made me want to swing on him.
“I must warn you, Braden, don’t try to get your hands on something that doesn’t belong to you. Leave the girls alone, especially London. She’s off limits.”
I narrowed my gaze and pushed his grip off me. “Interesting that she seems to have a different opinion. According to her, she’s single. Plus, she and I have known each other since we were kids, Mr. Cardenas. There’s nothing wrong with me trying to console a friend, right?”
Ryan scoffed, blowing a puff of air on my face. “You’re taking advantage of someone who is emotionally unstable.”
I laughed. “She isn’t emotionally unstable. She’s having a rough time because of the bullshit going on around here. And I am willing to help.” I patted his shoulder, making sure I’d put enough pressure on each blow before I pulled open my truck’s door.
“By the way, Mr. Cardenas, you might want to tread very carefully. The next time you try to corner me and warn me away, I might not be in such a good mood. And...I might consider it harassment or intimidation on a law enforcement officer.” I slammed my door before he said anything else.
* * *
When my doorbell rang, I had to tell myself to be cool. Then, when I actually opened the door and saw London standing there, I had to tell myself again. She wasn’t wearing her typical jeans. No, she was wearing a cream-colored dress that rested above her knees and a pair of bright-red cowboy boots. Her blonde hair was down, and all I wanted to do was sink my hands into it and pull her closer to me. And her eyes, with her hair down framing her face, reminded me of a glass of whiskey.
“You are breathtaking. Come in.” I reached out a hand and escorted her in. “Can I fix you a drink?”
“Sure, what do you have?”
“Water, tea, beer, and wine.”
“How about iced tea for now?”
“You got it. So after I left, did Ryan do anything or did any shit happen around the ranch?”
“No, why?”
“After you went inside, he decided to take it upon himself to warn me away from you.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake! Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.” I handed London her glass of tea. “He seems to be very territorial where you’re concerned. He wanted me to know that the two of you have been together s
ince you were fifteen and the ranch was pretty much his.”
“That guy has lost his mind. I think he knows that we can’t afford to lose him right now so he just keeps pushing.”
“Don’t brush this under the rug. He may be totally harmless but until we figure this out, don’t take anything for granted.”
“Thanks.”
This was not exactly what I wanted to talk about on our first date. I held up a DVD of The Ugly Truth. “Have you seen this?”
“No. What’s it about?”
“Well, this woman thinks this guy only wants women for their bodies and that he’s incapable of a relationship.”
“Sounds familiar,” London mumbled from behind her glass of iced tea.
I chuckled. “I take offense to that. Just watch.”
By the time the couple on the screen were feeling the increase in emotions and were making out in the elevator, I’d turned London’s face to mine and our eyes were locked. Was she feeling this too?
“Talk to me.” I traced my thumb along her bottom lip.
“About what?” She tucked her head and kissed my palm. That one gesture set my body on fire.
Sliding my hand around the back of her head, I held her still and brought my mouth to hers, gently coaxing her to open and let me taste her. It was as if I were a kid in high school again, getting his rocks off by making out with a girl on the couch. But kissing London was as intoxicating as Johnnie Walker Blue. Bringing one hand up I inched my fingers down the front of her dress until I felt the taught elastic of her bra. Cupping one breast, I moved the lacy fabric down so that I could feel her in my palm and rub the pad of my thumb over her hardening nipple. I heard the gasp of breath, and it was all the confirmation I needed. I reminded myself to take this slow, but we were adults; second base was taking it slow, right?
Taking my other hand, I slid it under the hem of her dress and moved it up to her back so I could pull her closer to me, moving my fingers up her spine, I felt her stretch like a cat. Any moment I expected her to purr. God, this woman was intoxicating. Moving my hand that was in her bra to the other breast, I repeated my gestures, giving equal attention to this tit. More than anything, I wanted to lower my head and take the firm nipple into my mouth, but that would require breaking our kiss and I didn’t know if I possessed the strength to do that.
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