“Thank you. I suppose these are the best fries too.”
“Yep.” He winked at her and she swore she nearly swooned. The man was deadly sexy.
She opened the foil surrounding her food, and spread it on the desk. The burger took up most of the wrapper it sat on. She looked at Roark as she picked up her burger, inhaling the delicious scent, and took a bite. The flavors exploded on her tongue and she couldn’t stop the moan that emanated from deep in her throat.
“Oh, my God! This is fantastic. I’ve never had a burger like this. You got me, Roark, definitely the best burger in the world. What does she do to it?”
Roark chuckled. “She won’t say. Her husband says it’s a family secret. No one cares, because they’re the best.”
“They are for sure,” she said then took another bite.
“Try the fries. Connie cuts them herself.”
Priscilla picked up a fry and took a bite then looked at Roark with her eyebrows raised. “So good!”
“Told you,” Roark said taking a bite of his burger. “Once you finish, we can get going. You might want to change out of those jeans...it’ll be hot as hell out there.”
“All right.” She continued to eat until nothing was left and all she could do was lick her fingers. Glancing up, she caught Roark staring at her as she crumpled up the foil. She simply grinned and tossed it into the trashcan. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Roark swallowed and winked at her again. “Can’t wait, darlin’.”
The heat poured into her cheeks but she smiled then left his office to head for the house to change her clothes. A short while later, having changed into shorts and now on her way back to the barn, she saw two ranch hands walking toward her. She raised her camera and snapped their picture. They both looked startled.
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to get some pictures for the article.”
“Yes, ma’am,” one of them said as he put his fingers to his hat. Cowboys and their manners always made her smile.
“Could you both stand by the hay bales?”
“Yes, ma’am,” they both responded in unison, and moved to stand beside the bales. When she raised the camera, they smiled and she snapped their picture. She thanked them with a smile and a nod then walked away and entered Roark’s office. He looked up at her and she watched as his eyes traveled over her. From her green tank top to her shorts then down her long legs then back up. When his eyes met hers, a slow smile lifted his lips.
“How am I supposed to get any work done with you in those daisy dukes?”
“Are they too short?” She laughed and spun around, showing off for him.
“Hell, you are evil.”
“I took a picture of two of your ranch hands but I forgot to ask them their names.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
“Ha! I’ll get you their names later. They probably can’t remember their names after seeing you dressed like that anyway. I’m lucky I can remember mine.”
“It’s Roark Callahan, but do you know my name?”
“Yeah, it’s cockteaser.” He laughed when she gasped then he stood and walked around the desk. She put her back to the desk to face him and smiled up at him.
“Is that how you see me?”
“I see you as one gorgeous, sexy woman,” he murmured lowering his head and taking her lips in a deep kiss.
“Roark,” she whispered breathless against his lips.
“We’d better get going or we won’t leave this office and too many people come in and out of here without knocking.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
Roark pulled back from her. “Are we talking about staying in the office or going to the west pasture?”
“West pasture.” She leaned close to his ear. “No one up there to disturb us, is there?”
Roark groaned. “Nope. Let’s go.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him toward the tractor at the back of the barn. He left her standing there to enter a room but came back out a minute later with a blanket. He grinned when she blushed.
ONCE THEY REACHED THE tractor, he helped her up into the cab and had a hard time keeping his eyes off her ass as she climbed in. Those shorts were barely there and his dick was definitely noticing too. Damn, she was so beautiful and he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He couldn’t count how many times he’d woken her up in the middle of the previous night. She was so responsive to his touch and he was damn responsive to hers. He climbed up behind her and closed the door then started the tractor. It lurched when he let the clutch out and she grabbed his arm.
“Bessie is a little touchy when she first takes off but like a woman if you treat her right, she’ll purr.” He grinned at her thinking how he could make her purr.
“Why is it when men name anything, they give them female names?”
“Probably because most machines are like women, so it’s hard to get them to do what you want. Do you have a car?”
“Yes, I drive an SUV so I can haul my camera equipment around.”
“Does it have a name?” When she didn’t answer, he glanced over to her to see her cheeks were red. “Well?”
“Carrie—as in Carrie Underwood.”
Roark laughed. “There ya go.”
“I never thought about it having to be a female name though. I just love her.”
Roark nodded then concentrated on driving over the knolls and getting to the pasture. Once there, he lowered the blades and began cutting the hay. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Priscilla snapping pictures. It was a good thing the cab had air conditioning because it was one of the warmest days so far. He had a hard time keeping his eyes off her legs. All he could think about was how they felt wrapped around his waist. He shifted in his seat, trying to get his dick to settle down.
After cutting several rows, he stopped and looked over at her. She stared back at him then a slow smile lifted her sexy lips.
“How about we use that blanket, Roark?”
“You read my mind.” He shut the tractor off, opened the door, climbed down, and then held his arms up to her. She scooted across the seat, put her hands on his shoulders while he put his on her waist, and he lifted her down. Letting her slide down the front of his body until her feet touched the ground, he pressed his lips to hers and letting her feel what she did to him. She took his hat from his head and tossed it back into the cab. Lifting his head, he grinned then grabbed the blanket, took her hand, and led her to the side of the pasture.
“No one here, right?”
“No one but us, darlin’,” he said as he snapped out the blanket and put it on the ground then lifted her and placed her in the center of it.
“That is so sexy,” she whispered then kissed his jaw.
“What is?”
“You...carrying me.” She kissed his neck.
“I’ll carry you anywhere,” he whispered close to her ear then pressed his lips to hers and moved his tongue into her mouth. Her moans were making him harder than any woman could without touching him. He moved his hand to the bottom of her tank top and pulled it from her shorts then slid his hand beneath until he reached her breast. She pushed him to his back then lifted his T-shirt off over his head and tossed it. He hissed in a breath when she scraped her nails down his chest to the snap on his jeans. After she unsnapped it, she slowly lowered the zipper then slipped her hand inside to wrap around his hard cock. Roark groaned and arched his hips. She pumped her hand along his hard, thick length while she leaned down and kissed his chest. He sat up and this time she was the one pushed to her back.
“Hey!”
“My show, darlin’. Just relax and let me take care of you,” he said as he lifted her shirt off over her head. Looking into her eyes, he unhooked the clasp of her bra and her breasts fell free. He swallowed hard looking at them. “You are so beautiful.”
“So are you.”
Roark chuckled. “Men aren’t beautiful.”
“Roark Callahan, you are so gorgeous, you should be illegal.”
<
br /> “Do you want to break the law?”
“Oh, God, yes. Please.”
Roark grinned as he unsnapped her shorts and lowered the zipper. He shoved them and her panties down her legs then removed them and her sneakers. Leaning over, he kissed his way up her legs to make his way to the treasure at their juncture. He spread her legs settling between them then kissed her bellybutton before moving his tongue down through her curls. He heard her gasp as he used the pads of his thumbs to spread her slit before touching his tongue to her clitoris. Her hands gripped fistfuls of his hair almost to the point of pain and she bent her knees for him giving him better access. Putting his mouth against her, he sucked hard making her pull his hair even more but no matter how much it hurt, he wouldn’t quit her. He chuckled instead.
“I could stay here all day, darlin’,” he said against her.
“Roark, please,” she said with a hard groan.
“I love when you beg.” He put his mouth back over her and sucked on her clitoris while he slowly inserted a finger then another one. He worked them in and out of her while he continued to suck on her, hitting the spots that made her body jump and bow against his mouth. Her breathing increased and so did the pressure of her grip on his hair. Her inner muscles clenched around his fingers as she cried out his name and came.
Roark kissed his way up across her flat belly to her breasts then to her lips. “You taste so good, darlin’, don’t you?” he asked as he moved his finger into her mouth.
“Roark...” She sucked on his finger then pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down.
“Don’t you?” he whispered.
“Not as good as you,” she moaned.
Roark reached into his back pocket, removed his wallet, and retrieved a condom. He tore the packet open, sheathed himself, and then thrust into her hard making them both gasp. “Christ, you feel so fucking good,” he growled out.
Her legs wrapped around his waist as he pounded into her.
“Faster. Harder,” she pleaded while hanging on.
Roark picked up the pace and when she moved in rhythm with him, he about lost it. He took her lips in a deep kiss and her legs squeezed him tighter just as she tore her mouth from his and cried out his name, and came again. He followed her over the edge, burying his face in her neck as he came hard. He tried catching his breath but was sure he’d die from the pleasure of being inside her. He finally rolled to his back, taking her with him then pulled her against him.
Thunder rolled overhead and they both looked up just in time for the sky to open up and drench them. Priscilla squealed while she scrambled for her clothes. Roark laughed watching her hopping on one foot as she tried to pull on her shorts, but looked away when she turned to give him that look that all women knew how to give. He quickly got up, dressed, and then helped her into the cab of the tractor. He started it then headed back to the ranch.
ROARK DROVE THE TRUCK down the two-lane blacktop heading for his cousins’ ranch. The dance started at eight and it was now half past. Priscilla bit her lip hoping she looked all right especially since, they were running late because of her. She’d changed clothes three times and still wondered if she’d chosen the right dress. Roark had told her she looked beautiful but she had a feeling he’d tell her that if she wore a burlap sack. She’d chosen the floral print one. It had a front tie closure and spaghetti straps that crisscrossed in the back. The dress ended just above her knees and the blue flowers accentuated her boots.
“You look beautiful. Quit fretting about being late,” Roark said as he glanced over to her then back to the road.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Because you’re a woman.” He smirked.
“Very funny, Callahan.”
Roark laughed. “You were thinking it though, right?”
“Shut up,” she muttered then laughed when he chuckled.
They drove through an archway that had Bur Oak Ranch scrolled on it. She sat up straighter and looked around. They passed a cabin that had a sign for registration then drove further on to where three barns sat. She could see light spilling from one of the buildings. Rolling down her window, she could hear laughter and music as they neared the center barn.
“Why is it called Bur Oak?”
“Because of the Bur oak trees that sit at the edge of the pastures.”
“It’s a beautiful place. What’s the difference between a dude ranch and guest ranch?”
“A dude ranch is where you learn all aspects of ranching, even working the ranch and although Devin and Jaxon do that too, they also have other activities for the guests, like playing tennis and swimming. Any guest that stays here can either join in the ranching or just relax.”
“I’d go for the relaxing part.”
Roark laughed. “Some of them think they’re ready to work the ranch but once they start doing it, they’re ready to quit. It’s not for everyone. It’s damn hard work.”
“I know. I’m learning that by following you, which I’ll be doing more of tomorrow.”
Roark glanced at her. “Good luck with that.”
After parking the truck, he opened his door and stepped out then walked around to her side, and opened the door for her. She swung her legs to the side and then cupped his face in her hands, and leaned in to kiss him.
“Hey, none of that,” a deep male voice said from nearby them.
Priscilla looked over to see a tall, gorgeous man staring at them. Wow!
“Go away, Sam,” Roark muttered.
The incredibly good-looking man Roark called Sam was leaning against the truck with his strong-looking arms folded across his broad chest. He had dark brown, almost black hair, and the most amazing blue eyes Priscilla had ever seen. His black cowboy hat sat low on his forehead. He grinned then winked at Priscilla and she fell in love a little bit...although, he wasn’t Roark.
“Why would I do that, Roark?”
Roark blew out a breath and looked at him. “Don’t you have a wife to find?”
Sam laughed. “Oh, yeah, she’s around somewhere. Who’s your friend?”
“This is Priscilla Butler. She’s doing an article on me for Western Cowboy.”
Sam’s eyebrows rose. “Doing an article, eh? Is that what you were just doing?”
“Fuck you, Garrett,” Roark said in a low growl making Priscilla and Sam laugh.
“Hello, Sam,” Priscilla said putting her hand out to him, which he shook.
“Sam Garrett, the Sheriff of Clifton County,” Roark added in such a way as to make it sound like an afterthought.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sam.”
“You too, Priscilla. Well, you two have a good time. I do need to find my wife.” He saluted then walked off.
Roark looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead...I’m waiting.”
“For what?” She frowned at him. He was annoyed and she had no idea why.
“About how good-looking Sam is. I hear it all the damn time.”
Priscilla laughed. So that was it, he was jealous of Sam. “Well, he is very good-looking but he has nothing on you, Roark Callahan.”
Roark grinned. “Glad to hear it. Women just love him but he only has eyes for his wife, Tessa.” He seemed relieved, or was that her imagination? “Come on, let’s get some food, and find a seat.”
“Is he the Sheriff here?”
“No. This is Hartland County. Grayson Beckett is the Sheriff here. Sam is just here for the dance with his wife. Tessa is the veterinarian in Clifton. I’ll introduce you to her and some other friends of mine. My family might be here too.”
Chapter Nine
Priscilla smiled when he took her hand in his and he led them into the barn. Glancing around, she smiled even brighter. It looked amazing. Bare lightbulbs hung from wires wrapped around the beams in the roof. Hay bales sat stacked along one wall and a buffet with all types of food sat along the opposite wall. A parquet floor sat in front of a low stage where a country band played. The little dance floor was
crowded. Tables sat closer to the doors where they’d entered, and some people occupied them either eating or watching other people dance.
Two tall men walked toward them and she knew they had to be Devin and Jaxon. They both had those Callahan good looks and when they grinned, she knew she was right because delectable dimples appeared in their cheeks just like Roark had. The two stopped in front of them, and they shook Roark’s hand in succession in friendly greeting.
“Hey, Dev. Jax...this is Priscilla Butler, she’s writing an article on me for Western Cowboy. She was supposed to follow me around on the circuit but you know how that went.”
“Yeah, damn Burke. Hello Priscilla, I’m Devin Callahan and this is my brother, Jaxon.” They both touched the brims of their hats in greeting.
She shook their hands and hoped she didn’t giggle like a teenager as she gazed up at these two gorgeous men. Both were as tall as Roark and had gray eyes, although Jaxon’s were so light, they almost appeared silver, and she swore she could see a profound sadness in them. A woman could get used to seeing all these gorgeous men in one area. “Nice to meet you both.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Jaxon said smiling. “Get yourselves some food. The rest of the family is over there. We’ll talk to you later.”
Roark slapped Jaxon on the back and nodded. “We’ll get food then head over.”
“Head over where?” Priscilla asked.
“To where the rest of the family’s sitting.”
“What will they think of you bringing me here?”
“Nothing. I’m thirty-two years old, darlin’. They’re not going to question why I have a woman with me.” He shook his head, grabbed her hand, and led her to the buffet. “I’m hungry.”
She followed along with him to the buffet, filled a plate then they both made their way across the barn to where the Callahan family sat. She was so nervous to meet them that she wasn’t watching so when Roark stopped, she almost plowed into him. She heard everyone saying hello to him then he pulled her around to stand beside him.
“This is Priscilla Butler, everyone. She’s a writer for Western Cowboy magazine. She was supposed to follow me around on the circuit but when Burke won, she decided to follow me around the ranch to put together a piece about what a bull rider does when he’s off the circuit.”
A Cowboy of Her Own Page 10