by Lacey Wolfe
“You’re all dressed up,” he pointed out. She was hot in whatever she wore.
She caressed his upper arm, and Braden’s eyes widened before he turned and wandered away. “I planned on changing before the lessons.”
And he’d planned on taking it off of her. “Let’s eat and see what time this is over.”
“Speaking of lunch...” His mom wiped her hands with a dishcloth. “It’s served.”
Everyone crowded into the dining room. Melissa wore the biggest smirk on her face, and he had no doubt she’d followed through on making sure he and Angie sat together since the only open seat was next to Angie. Which was fine. He took his place next to her and reached for his sweet tea.
“Thank you for helping me with this meal, Lauren,” his mom said. “My wrists have been aching the last few days.”
“Is everything okay?” Nathan asked. She hadn’t said anything to him when he’d stopped by the other day.
She waved her hand as though it was nothing to worry about. “Fine. I’m just getting old.”
His dad chuckled. “Honey, we’ve been old.”
His mom shook her head from the opposite side of the table. “Be glad I’m all the way down here, or I’d smack you across the head. You’re only as old as you feel.”
“So, uh, is this edible if my fiancée made it?” Tucker snickered.
Lauren squinted at him. “I’ll have you know your mama has been teaching me to cook. I haven’t burnt anything in weeks.”
“She did a wonderful job and has come a long way. Be proud of your future wife. Now someone pass me the potatoes.” His mom held her hands out.
The food circled the table and everyone put what they wanted on their plates. No one spoke for the first few minutes, too busy stuffing their faces with the delicious food. It still tasted like his mom’s, but some dishes had a bit too much salt or not enough, and he figured those were the ones Lauren worked on—not that they were bad.
“So.” Melissa set her fork down. “How long have the best man and maid of honor been an item?”
Damn it. He was going to beat his sister.
Angie squeezed his shoulder. “For me, it was the moment I laid eyes on him. These Carver boys are handsome. Gail and Mack, you made some beautiful children.”
Angie had a way about her; she could handle almost anything life threw at her. It was as though no one could make her stumble. He’d love to meet her family and see if they were like her.
His mom laughed. “Thank you.” She picked up a roll. “So are you two an item?”
“We’re not defining it right now. Still in the ‘getting to know one another’ stage.” Angie lifted her drink to her lips.
Nathan glanced at Tucker who stared at Angie with awe. He couldn’t blame the guy. She was amazing.
“What’s your family like, Angie?” his mom asked.
She tensed, which surprised Nathan.
“Just the usual kind. Nothing much to tell.” She set her cup down. “Thank you again for having me for lunch. The food is tasty. You and Lauren did a wonderful job.”
“Thanks.” Lauren beamed.
For the rest of lunch, the conversation didn’t come back to him and Angie and what their relationship status was, thank goodness. But he did want to dig deeper on her family when they were alone later.
* * * *
Angie rubbed the horse’s nose and waited on Nathan, who had taken a phone call. Lunch had gone well with his family. His sister had tried to embarrass her, or maybe Nathan, but she wasn’t going to allow that. Melissa was nice, just young. She got a thrill out of getting a rise out of her brother. Melissa had met her match. Angie didn’t like to see someone embarrassed or made to feel awkward.
“Sorry about that.” Nathan walked toward her as he slid his phone into his back pocket.
His woodsy scent tickled her senses. “It’s no problem. I was just getting to know Izzy better.”
“I went ahead and saddled her up. Next time, I can go over the basics with you.”
She smiled, liking the idea of a next time. “I’d kinda like to skip the lesson and just ride around with you.”
“Is that so?”
Any excuse to have his arms around her. She didn’t need to know much about a horse, just as long as he was touching her. “Mmm-hmm. What do you say?”
He caressed her cheek. “Sounds good to me. I like the riding aspect much more than the teaching.”
She placed a foot in the stirrup and glanced over her shoulder, finding his gaze on her ass. “Care to help?”
He glanced up at her, making eye contact. “Ever gotten on a horse yourself?”
“Nope. I’m all city-girl.”
He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up as she slung a leg over the horse. She gripped the reins and couldn’t believe how freeing it felt to sit on this big animal. This was something she could get used to, and she’d love to learn to ride one. If she stuck around this place, learning to ride was going to be priority one. Okay, well maybe getting her cowboy in the sack would be number one.
“Hold on, I’m coming up now.”
The horse didn’t move at all as Nathan boarded the animal. His arms wrapped around her sides as he took the horse reins in his hands as well. His intoxicating scent caught her senses again and she moaned, turned on from being this close.
He did something with his arms and feet and then the horse trotted at a slow pace around the ring. “If I’d been smart, I would’ve opened the fence,” he said close to her ear.
“Can’t she jump it?”
He chuckled. “In her younger days, maybe. But Izzy is getting up in age.”
For now, she’d be happy with circling the ring, because there was no way she wanted him to get off this horse. No way. Then he’d have to remove those sexy arms that held her as she leaned back into his toned chest. This was where she wanted to be. Nowhere else. “This is fine.”
“You sure?” he asked, his breath hot on her neck.
She nodded and closed her eyes. The warm sun heated her face while Nathan took care of the rest of her. She wasn’t sure how long they trotted around the ring, but she was sad when it was over. Again, she felt so at peace on this land. Never had she felt like she belonged somewhere, not the way she did at Carver Ranch. She wished she knew why, but she had no idea. She’d never been one to believe in fate, but something deep inside her was beginning to.
“Sit tight. I’m gonna get off and then help you down.” His arms were no longer around her like a cocoon.
She shivered, missing them—him.
He held a hand out to her. “Lean forward a bit and place your foot in the stirrup. Then kinda reverse the way you got on.”
She did as he instructed and a moment later, her feet were on the ground and his hands on her waist. She turned toward him, eyes locked on his. She wanted to kiss him, but she was nervous. It wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed before, but it had been fun and flirty. The way he gazed back at her with passion in his eyes, this kiss would be so much more.
She cleared her throat and removed herself from his grasp. “I had a nice time. Thank you.”
Nathan ran a hand through his light hair. “Would you like to come over tonight for dinner? I mean, I know my mom made a huge meal, but, I, uh…”
He was cute as hell when flustered. “Sure. I’d love to. What time should I come over?”
He glanced at his watch. “Around seven?”
“Perfect.”
He cleared his throat. “Wear that dress you had on earlier.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? You liked it?”
“Too much.”
She kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you in a little while, cowboy.”
She turned and headed toward her car since the horse ring where he taught classes was on the other side of the property from the house she was staying in. As she started the car, she squealed. It was going to take forever for seven o’clock to get there.
Chapter 6
He pulled a tray from the stove then stirred the contents. This was a favorite casserole dish of his. Usually, he wouldn’t make a casserole for a woman, but his mother had made so much food today, he decided to make the one dish even the pickiest of eaters seemed to love.
He put the foil back over and went to wait on her. As he left the kitchen, a light knock sounded on the front door. Taking a deep breath, he opened it. Oh fuck, she’d worn the dress like he’d asked, and it was hotter than he remembered. This time there were no leggings, just long legs.
“Hey.” Her eyes sparkled.
“Come on in.”
Her heels echoed on the hardwood. “Nice place. Not what I was expecting.”
“How so?” He placed a hand on her lower back and led her toward the dining room.
“I don’t know. Guess I thought it would be more country like your mom’s and grandparents’. This looks like a normal place.”
He pulled a chair out for her to sit. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not. What is normal?”
She tossed her dark curls behind her shoulder. “I don’t know. How I’d decorate. You’ve got great taste.”
“Thanks.” He lifted a bottle of wine. “Would you like some?”
She licked her lips. “Please.”
He filled her glass. “I’ll be right back with dinner. You’re hungry, right?”
“Starved.” Her eyes were dark and he had a feeling she was hungry for more than food.
In the kitchen, he grabbed the dish with potholders, then went back and placed it on the table. “Don’t laugh, but it’s a casserole.”
“I’ve not had one in years. They were my mom’s specialty. She never made meals like your mom.”
Hopefully the meal wasn’t a bad reminder of anything. “It’s good, I promise.”
Part of him wanted to put the food on her plate, but he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries so instead he sat down and sipped from the glass of wine he’d already poured himself. He was never good with dates. He’d not really had any since things ended with Carrie.
Angie scooped up some of the creamy dish and placed it on her plate before offering the spoon to him. He followed suit and couldn’t help but feel this was awkward. Earlier, it had seemed like a good idea. Spending any time with Angie seemed like a good idea, but now that she was there, he realized just how clueless he was. He was nothing like his twin, the smooth talker.
“This is really good.” She set her fork down. “Wow. I’m impressed. You made this?”
Pride filled him. “I did. What kind of dishes did your mom make?”
She chuckled slightly. “A can of cream of whatever soup, noodles, and meat. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it was always kinda bland because she never added any other spices to it. This is so flavorful.”
He finished the bite he had. “What is your mom like?”
“You don’t want to hear about it. Trust me.”
“Come on now. Don’t make me hound you,” he said, setting his fork down.
She giggled again. “I deserve that after how I acted at Long Necks, but I am curious about this woman who broke your heart.”
Now they were both curious about one another. “I think it’s best we leave her out of this, after all, exes are the past.”
She swirled her wine around in the glass. “As is my mother.”
That caught his attention. As close as he was with his family, he was as curious as a cat to know what her mom had done. “Sure you don’t want to tell me about her?”
“Pretty sure you don’t want to hear it, with your perfect family.”
“Perfect.” He snickered. “I don’t think so.”
“From where I’m sitting, you’ve got the family all kids dream of.”
How the hell had she grown up? “Our lives can’t be that different.”
She sighed. “Fine. My mom is in and out of rehab. She can’t seem to stop using drugs.”
He hadn’t expected that. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
She set the wine glass down and stared over his shoulder. “Nothing to be sorry for. Like I said, your family is pretty damn perfect compared to mine.”
“What about your dad?”
She shook her head. “No. That’s a story for another day.” She scooped some noodles on her fork. “I told you about my mom, now who is the ex?”
So this was how they would play it. He was game, because after the bomb she just dropped, he wanted to know more. “Her name is Carrie.”
“And… Come on. You can’t just tell me her name. My mom’s name is Kelly.”
He loved her humor. Hell, he was beginning to think he might love her. “She lied to me.”
“Was it a lie that couldn’t be forgiven? Ever?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“You have my attention.” She leaned back in the chair.
He didn’t want to bring up the past and have her feel sorry for him. Get that look everyone else did. Or even start walking on eggshells around him as his family did. He liked that she didn’t know anything about what happened to him. “That’s all I’m telling. Let’s leave her in the past.”
“We should stop talking about this then. I want to enjoy my time and not bring up things that cause pain.” She pushed back and stood. “I believe we started something fun the other night, and I’d like to continue it.”
His gaze drifted over her tight body that the black dress clung to. “I think so too. I don’t expect any interruptions this time.”
“Good. Because I want to see where things go.”
* * * *
Angie held her hand out to Nathan, who took it as he stood from the dinner table. She yanked him to her, bringing his sexy face just inches from hers. She eased back, sitting on the edge of the table. One leg wrapped around his, her skirt hiked up.
Nathan groaned and grabbed hold of the back of her head. His mouth founds hers and the fireworks started. This man could kiss her and make her forget her problems. He nudged between her legs, his erection pushing into her center.
Tonight, she’d have him naked. Even if they just played, they’d both find release somehow, someway, with one another. He cupped her breasts. She liked a man who didn’t waste time and got to just what he wanted. She was the same way. She wrapped her hand around his hard length through his pants. Stroking him through the material wasn’t enough. She wanted his skin in her palm.
Bringing both legs up, she leaned back on the table, praying she didn’t collide with any food or wine. She fiddled with his pants until she could finally shove them down. Nathan stopped kissing her as he stepped out of his pants and boxers, revealing his cock. She licked her lips at the thick and long body part that she wanted buried deep inside of her.
“As fucking hot as you look on this table, it’s not sturdy enough for the things I have planned.” He lifted her up in his strong arms.
“I have no problems with your bed.” She smiled.
“I do. That dress makes me want to do dirty things to you against a wall.”
She kissed his chin, still in his arms. “I like the way you think.”
Her back hit the dining room wall, his hard dick pressing into her panties as her dress circled her waist. Her legs were still around his hips and she ground into him as best she could.
“Fuck. I can’t hold out.”
He grabbed hold of her panties and tore them from her body. Her eyes widened, unable to believe he’d just done that. She’d read about men tearing panties from women’s bodies in books, but never knew it was possible. Her hunky cowboy just showed her it was.
“Kiss me, please,” she begged, even more turned on than she was
before.
His mouth claimed hers, and her eyes closed as she let out a soft moan. She reached between them, wrapped her fingers around his cock, and stroked hard, the tip teasing her opening. He pulled her hand away and his fingers dug into her ass, spreading her cheeks apart. His lips trailed down her neck, his tongue circling her collarbone.
“Oh God, Nathan.” She panted.
“I’ve got to have you, now,” he said, lust in his voice.
“Please.” She had the same urge. They’ve been dancing around each other for days. Sharing kisses, teasing with talk of more. Now was the time for that.
He thrust inside her. She straightened her back against the wall. One hand held her up, the other tilted her face toward him as he deepened the kiss.
His cock fit perfectly inside of her, filling her the way she knew it would. Holding tight to his shoulder, she did her best to meet him thrust for thrust, but her orgasm built quickly. Before she could think, her release tore through her.
“Nathan!” she cried out, arching her back.
He grunted and with one last hard thrust, he stiffened. His body pressed her against the wall as he caught his breath.
She’d just had sex with him. She hadn’t expected that when she came over this evening. In fact, her plan had been not to sleep with him unless she stayed in Deer Crossing after the warning Lauren had given her about him. But damn it, when it came to Nathan, anything she’d planned went out the door.
He released her and she slid down the wall. It was then she noticed he was bare.
“Did you wear a condom?” she asked.
“I didn’t even think about it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Angie. I’m clean, I promise.”
Oh God. Clean wasn’t what she was worried about. “Me too, but I hate to tell you that I’m not on birth control either.”
The color drained from his face. “You’re not? I thought all women…”
“Wrong, buddy.” She tugged her dress down. “I can’t take it. It messes with my body in weird ways.”