Josh's Justice, Cowboy Romance (Bad in Boots, Book 4)

by Michelle, Patrice

  Tucked in the corner of the mirror, the picture was of a young blond-haired boy around seven or eight wearing fireman’s gear. A boy with dark brown hair and wearing a police officer’s uniform had his arm slung over the blond boy’s shoulders. Halloween costumes, perhaps? Big grins lit their faces as they each held up a cardboard bullseye target riddled with holes.

  The smile gave the blond kid away. It was Josh’s smile.

  When she turned to the twin bed, she noticed a man’s white t-shirt neatly folded on the pillow that hadn’t been there before. Picking it up, she put the material to her nose and inhaled. Josh must’ve left it for her while she showered.

  The shirt smelled like him…well, the way he’d smelled yesterday when she’d met him in the stables. Had she really just met him for the first time thirty-six hours ago? Then again, tragedies had a way of steamrolling through the crap that usually takes weeks to bring people closer together.

  Pulling off the nightgown Josh’s mom had given her, she slipped into his t-shirt, which fell halfway to her knees, then turned off the light.

  The house wasn’t overly cool, so she folded the heavy quilted comforter to the bottom of the bed, then slid in between the cotton sheets.

  As soon as she pressed into the pillow, her mind shifted back to Josh. Their first meeting wasn’t the most common for two people to have, nor was their second for that matter, she thought, a wry smile tugging on her lips. No wonder it felt as if they’d known each other much longer. That had to explain the instant connection she felt whenever he was close.

  She recalled the way his warm hand felt on hers, remembered his hard chest against her back as he’d helped her groom Lightning. Closing her eyes, she pictured his handsome face and sexy smile and imagined him pulling her close like he’d done a few minutes ago. How could a man who kissed like that still be single? Stop thinking. No questions, Sabrina. Just enjoy the moment, remember? Moments she could easily handle. She conjured the feeling of his lips on hers and let out a wistful sigh.

  “I hope that sound is for me,” came a man’s whisper next to the bed.

  Sabrina jerked up on her elbow, a startled gasp rushing forth.

  “Shhh.” Josh put his finger over her lips. “It’s just me,” he continued as he sat down next to her. “Everyone’s in bed, but I promised I’d keep an eye on you for at least another half hour. And I always keep my promises.”

  The outside lights gave off some illumination in his room, allowing Sabrina to see the slow smile that spread across his face as his gaze roamed over her shoulders. He looked pleased that she’d put on his t-shirt.

  He smelled like soap and deodorant. Guess he’d taken a shower too. Sabrina ate up every inch of his bare torso. Light blond hair sprinkled across his muscular chest veeing its way down to hard abs that disappeared into his jeans. Every sexy inch of him begged to be touched. He hadn’t bothered to put on the belt he had on earlier, as if he’d gotten dressed fast. The thought made her tingle and her chest tighten. No man had ever looked so incredibly irresistible as Josh Kelly staring at her as if he wanted to devour her.

  She smiled and slid over on the narrow bed to give him room. “Looks like there’s only one place to sit.”

  Josh flashed a quick grin and sat on the bed beside her. As he leaned back, his broad shoulders crowded hers for space against the narrow headboard. He gave a low laugh and he lifted his arm over her shoulders, then pulled her into his arms. “Somehow this just seems the right way to end a day like today.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” She sighed and snuggled against his bare chest, wrapping an arm around his trim waist.

  “Do you have any family?” Josh asked quietly, his fingers twirling the ends of her hair.

  She nodded against his shower-warmed skin and ran her finger over a muscle that ran along his hip. “I have two older brothers and my mom. My…my dad passed away.” She was glad she was able to get that out without dwelling on the subject.

  “I’m sorry, Sabrina,” he commented in a genuine tone as he lifted the strand he played with to his nose.

  “He died a long time ago.” She didn’t really want to talk about her dad. “Tell me about the boy who used to live in this room.” She wanted to learn about the man who’d saved her life and held her in his arms as if he’d known her forever.

  She felt him shift under her cheek and realized he was looking at the wall of trophies and achievement awards she’d noticed earlier.

  “He was a good kid with an older brother and hard-working parents. He was happy-go-lucky, but also the competitive type, hence the sports trophies.” Josh’s chest rose and fell, and she felt, rather than saw, his amused smile.

  “You mean you never gave your parents a bit of trouble?” She glanced up at him, a doubtful eyebrow raised.

  His chest rumbled. “I didn’t say that. My brother and I gave our parents hell growing up. I’m just highlighting the good parts.” He laced his fingers with the hand she’d laid on his chest, then ran his other hand down her spine, spreading his fingers along her hip. “How else am I going to impress you?”

  Heat radiated from his hand and she laughed, loving his sense of humor. “How indeed?” She laid her head back on his chest and slid her thumb over his. “So tell me about you and the little boy in the picture on your dresser.”

  Josh’s entire body tensed and Sabrina instinctively knew she’d hit a nerve.

  After a few seconds, he relaxed and his fingers began to slide through her hair rhythmically. “Nick Austin was my best friend growing up. We got into all kinds of trouble as kids. Guess you could say he was the instigator, though I owned my part. Who knows how much more mischief we’d have gotten into if…well, he’s gone now…”

  Before he trailed off, she heard a hitch in his voice like it was too painful to talk about his friend.

  Sabrina hugged his waist and whispered, “I’m sorry, Josh…for whatever happened.”

  He put his finger under her chin and lifted it. “I’d much rather focus on you.” Their gazes met and he leaned close, his mouth a heartbeat away. “Ever since I held your sweet body against mine while you retrieved that damn brush…” he began, his gaze hungry and intense. “I’m sorry if I kissed you before you were ready. You just send me over, Brina.”

  “I remember being an active participant, so no apologies. Now, back to those impure thoughts you’ve been having…” she trailed off, letting her gaze drop to his mouth. If he didn’t kiss her again, she’d kiss him. Her heart rammed as she waited for him to make the first move.

  “Very impure thoughts.”

  The roughness in his voice made her really, really want to kiss him again, but her rational mind finally kicked in just before his lips touched hers. Placing a finger on his lips, she stopped him. If his mouth connected with hers, she wouldn’t want to stop. For that matter, she’d kill him if he did stop. But tonight, in his parents’ house, she needed to honor his mother’s standards. “I want to kiss you very much, but we should respect your mother’s home and her wishes.”

  Josh’s gaze flared for a second before he playfully bit her finger. “You need your rest tonight anyway, but there’s no reason I can’t tell you what I’d like to do to you,” he finished as he pulled her hand from his mouth and laid a warm kiss on her open palm.

  The seductive look in his eyes told her this wasn’t a good idea. In fact, it was probably the opposite of a good idea, but then she was already lying in bed with a guy she barely knew—who held and kissed her as if he’d known her forever. Savor each moment, remember?

  He pressed his mouth to the heel of her hand, then moved his lips to the inside of her wrist, sending liquid heat flowing through her veins. Moving his lips along her arm, a low rumble sounded in his chest. “You smell so damn good. I want to taste you everywhere.”

  He met her gaze once more and continued with a heated look, “And I do mean everywhere.”

  Sabrina bit her lip to keep from telling him to start right this very second.
>
  The corner of his mouth lifted in a sinful half-smile as he touched her nose. “I’d kiss you here.” His finger traced to her lips. “And here—” Then he slowly drew a line down her throat and touched her rapid pulse. “I’d press my lips here to know how much you wanted me to continue branding the rest of your body.”

  Branding? Why did that sound so good to her? Sabrina’s heart thudded and she began to throb as he hooked his finger along the top of the sheet, pulling it away. Ever so slowly, he ran his finger back up her stomach, then along the peak of a hard nipple. His t-shirt did nothing to muffle the stimulation.

  “I’d tease this sweet peak with my mouth until I could see the pink color through the wet material. Then I’d nip at it just to hear you moan a little deeper.”

  The ache between her thighs beat in a pulse-like rhythm, following his verbal seduction and the lowering descent of his hand. So much tension was building inside her she unconsciously rubbed against him.

  Josh took advantage of her movement and grasped her bare leg, pulling it over his until she was wrapped around his thick, hard thigh.

  Sabrina sucked in her breath when he raised his leg slightly, purposefully pressing the hard length of his thigh intimately against her.

  God, she’d never survive this. She closed her eyes and dug her fingers into his shoulders.

  “I want to hear your breath hitch just like that when I touch you,” he said, satisfaction lacing his tense tone.

  He likes teasing me? Two can play at this game.

  Sabrina ran her hand up his thigh and rested it on his hard erection through his jeans. She met his heated gaze when he hissed out a low groan. Using her other hand on the bed for leverage, she slid herself up the length of his body until her mouth hovered close to his. “Be careful, Josh Kelly. You might be the one to start this fire, but I promise I’ll be the one to make it burn bright.” As soon as she finished speaking, she squeezed him through the thick material and smirked when he inhaled sharply.

  Josh slid his hands down her back and clasped her buttocks, his touch possessive as he pulled her fully on top of him. He didn’t stop until they were as intimately connected as they could be with clothes on. The rough feel of his jeans through her thin silk underwear made it seem as if she were wearing nothing at all.

  His eyes glittered in the darkness, full of challenge and desire as he pushed her hips down while he thrust upward, fitting himself inside her through their clothes, telling her exactly where he wanted to be.

  “I know a good bit about putting out fires, Brina,” he countered in a low, dark tone while his hands slid down to her rear to cup her buttocks once more. With a firm grip, he moved her just enough to rub her against the fly of his jeans.

  Sabrina clasped his shoulders and bit her lip against the arousing friction. “Damn you,” she hissed, then pounded one of his shoulders in sexual frustration.

  “You’re all fire…just like I thought you’d be,” he said, a tight, satisfied smile tilting the corners of his lips.

  His hands dropped to her bare thighs and he gripped the back of her legs, pulling her knees forward until she sat atop his hips.

  She’d barely adjusted to the new position when he surprised her by swiftly changing positions until she was flat on the bed and he was leaning over her. Her breathing came out in short pants as he held her hands pinned to the bed above her head, his hips spreading her thighs, hard body pressing her against the soft mattress. Renewed arousal flared in his gaze. “I think you like me holding you down,” he teased darkly.

  When he didn’t immediately release her, as if he were testing his theory, Sabrina tried to hide how much she enjoyed his dominance and began to tug in earnest to pull free. Josh’s eyes glittered in the darkness and a pleased smile tilted his lips.

  “You can release me now,” she said, forcing a steady voice even as her chest thumped in excitement.

  Josh’s fingers loosened slightly as his gaze slowly traced her features. “It’s a bit ironic that the woman who could’ve easily starred in every single adolescent wet dream I ever had will be sleeping in my childhood bed tonight.”

  His compliment shot straight to her belly and she breathed out, “Ironic?”

  He leaned close, his breath warm on her cheek as he finished huskily, “Hell yeah, because I’ll be on that couch dreaming of all the adult ways I will have you.”

  Before she could respond, he stood and scooped her in his arms. Settling her back on the pillow, he pulled the sheet over her and said in a controlled tone, “Good night, Sabrina. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Sabrina watched him leave the room, her body aching and throbbing for fulfillment. The promise in his words, the steady regard in his gaze when he told her they would be together echoed in her head, making her heart beat rapidly in anticipation. She’d never been more aroused and sexually frustrated in her life.

  Yet she craved the anticipation too.

  She wanted the attraction and tension build, let it simmer and burn. The way they’d ignited after just one kiss, she knew that when they finally came together, the explosion would be well worth the wait.

  Chapter Five

  “Hi ya, girl,” Sabrina crooned to Lightning over the stall door. “You’ll be going home once the repairs are done.” The horse snorted and pawed at the ground. Sabrina reached out and patted her nose. “But in the meantime, the Kellys will make you feel at home.” When Lightning neighed and raised her head up and down as if in agreement, she couldn’t help but smile. Just like Josh’s family had done for me this morning.

  After she’d gotten dressed and walked downstairs, she let her growling stomach lead her to the smell of bacon and eggs and coffee. The fact Josh wasn’t present made her a little unsure what to do, but Julia met her in the living room with a sunny smile.

  “Morning, Sabrina. Josh’s up early, working on something or another. My son never lets himself relax. Come and eat. Everyone wants to meet you.

  Josh never relaxes? He seemed pretty laidback to me.

  “Everyone, meet Sabrina. Sabrina, meet the Kelly family,” Julia said as they entered the kitchen and approached the table.

  “Hi, I’m Ben,” the blond-haired boy around ten piped up at the far end of the table. “If you’re a friend of Josh’s, you must be all right.” His child’s logic broke the ice and made her nervousness completely disappear as he rambled on, playing host. “That’s my dad, Ben senior.” He pointed to a tall, sandy blond-haired man pouring himself coffee by the sink. “And this is my mom, Lacey.” He nodded to a woman with shoulder length auburn hair sitting next to him. “My grandpa—his name’s Kenneth—is outside already since he’s a real early riser.”

  “Good morning, Ben, and thank you for the welcome.” Sabrina gave him an appreciative smile for the introductions before she sat down and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Josh’s family. After breakfast, she’d wandered outside to check on the horses.

  Where had Josh run off to? she wondered as she watched Ben and his father setting up bulls-eye signs at varied heights in what appeared to be some kind of elaborate target practice in the open pasture area next to the barn.

  She’d just turned, intending to head back to the house to find Josh, when she saw him strolling her way, brown cowboy hat pulled low. Sabrina’s mouth went dry as she watched him approach. Did he have any idea just how sexy he was in boots, low-slung jeans and a navy t-shirt that showed off the defined muscles in his arms?

  When their gazes met and his lips crooked slightly, she inwardly sighed. Yeah, he knew. She suddenly felt incredibly dowdy wearing a pair of borrowed jeans two sizes too big. They were held up by a belt on its last loop and a plain white button down shirt tucked in the pants’ waist to fill the gaps the belt couldn’t. She hadn’t bothered to put on the borrowed tennis shoes since they were a couple sizes too small. Great, that made her barefoot and dowdy.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” he said softly, his eyes crinkling in a smile.

  “Morni
ng, Josh. Do you always get up so early?”

  “Yeah,” he said, shrugging. “Lots of stuff to take care of.” He nodded toward his brother and nephew. “Today’s the Double K’s turn to host the kid’s camp.”

  “Oh yeah, I remember you and Elise talking about that,” Sabrina said, trying to hide her disappointment that she wouldn’t be spending the day with him. “Well, I’ll get out of the way if you wouldn’t mind taking me home.”

  He gave a decisive nod and folded his arms. “That’s what I planned to do.”

  She swallowed the sudden knot in her throat, mad at herself for assuming he’d want to spend the day with her too, especially after last night. So much for not thinking ahead. Shifting her gaze to his boots so he wouldn’t see the hurt in her eyes, she said, “Let me get my clothes and I’ll meet you at your truck—”

  “But Nan wouldn’t let me.”

  Her gaze snapped to his. “Huh?”

  Josh reached out and traced a finger along her jaw, sending goose bumps scattering along her arms. “I went to the Lonestar this morning to collect some of your clothes so you could stay with me,” he began, then lowered his hand to his side and pressed his mouth in annoyance. “Nan refused to let me have anything of yours. Said she wanted to see for herself how you are doing. I’ve been ordered to bring you back to the Lonestar this morning.”

  His frown made her snicker. When it deepened, she sobered. “She’s just looking out for me, Josh.”

  A serious look settled on his features. “That’s my job.”

  Sabrina spread her hands and shrugged. “It’s no one’s job.”

  Josh’s brow furrowed and he started to speak when Ben peered around the side of the barn, calling out, “Uncle Josh!”

  “Yeah, Ben?”

  Swiping sweaty bangs from his eyes, his nephew ran up. “Can you help us nail up the backboard Grampa built? Dad needs someone taller to help him hold it up while Grampa nails it to the stand.”