Hot Winter Nights (Made in Montana)

by Debbi Rawlins

  Clint shook his head. “I’m starting to worry. Everyone is shocked to see you with a man. I hope you’re not one of those black widow serial killers.”

  Grinning, she reached over and cupped the back of his neck. “You found me out,” she said, pulling him toward her. “Now I’m going to kiss you to death.”

  “You sound awfully chipper when you talk about murder,” he said, well aware that he’d stopped trying to get her to open up to him. He felt her smile against his lips. And he did something he’d been dying to do all afternoon.

  Clint slipped his hand under her sweater and cupped her breast. Her nipple was hard beneath the silky barrier of her bra. With a quiet whimper, she shifted so that it was easy for him to dip a finger into the cup. Soft, soft skin surrounded the stiff nipple. A pale pink normally, by now it would have turned three shades darker.

  He remembered every detail from last night. How her lips and nipples flushed as her arousal heightened. And how she bit her bottom lip a lot, trying to stifle her loud moans of pleasure. When that hadn’t worked, she had put a hand over her mouth. Clint had enjoyed peeling her fingers away and thrusting his tongue between her lips, kissing her long and hard until they’d both gasped for air.

  After he’d worked her bra strap down her shoulder a bit, he managed to lower the cup and free her breast. The creamy flesh almost filled his hand. She was the perfect size, not too big, and all her, nothing fake or unnatural about the feel as he kneaded gently.

  He wanted to put his mouth on her. Flick his tongue quick and light the way he knew she liked it. He had offered to listen if she needed to talk. Nothing more he could do on that front. It was up to her.

  Avoiding the gearshift, she pressed against him, parting her lips and welcoming his tongue with a light suction and then meeting him stroke for stroke. The sweet taste of her mouth lured him closer, deeper. The warm scent of her skin, the firm, silky feel of her round breast...

  Clint stiffened against the speed and intensity of his body’s response. The woman was going to send him straight into cardiac arrest.

  She arched into his palm and moaned, the sound coming from somewhere at the back of her throat. Her nails dug into his forearm. Heat surged through his body. Distorted his senses. Almost made him forget they were sitting in his truck in the cold night air. As far as he was concerned, they could stay right where they were and wait for summer.

  He broke the kiss and dragged in a lungful of air, hoping that would clear his head. What he got was a strong whiff of her arousal.

  Jesus.

  Lila cupped his fly.

  He froze, braced himself. His cock throbbed. He wanted to believe he had more self-control now than he’d had as a teenager. But damn. Maybe she really was trying to kill him. It wouldn’t be a bad way to go.

  She applied more pressure and started rubbing him, which caused way too much of a ruckus inside his body. He clamped a hand around her wrist, and she stopped.

  “We should’ve gone straight to the motel,” she murmured and licked his chin up to his lips.

  He leaned back, but she just kept licking any part of him she could get to. Finally he put enough distance between them.

  “Spoilsport,” she said, sinking back. “You can let go of my wrist.”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  Her lips lifted in a devilish smile. “Why?”

  “You can’t touch me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “C’mon, Lila, you can’t expect me not to—”

  Her free hand came at him like a bullet.

  “Like this?” she asked, pressing her palm against his cock, rubbing up and down, the thick denim offering no protection.

  He groaned through gritted teeth. “Goddamn it, Lila.” The curse had slipped out, but she’d get no apology this time. He was about to explode with frustration. She was going to make him come, and he didn’t want that. Not now. “Can we wait until we get to town?”

  “Um...” She paused. “No.”

  Clint blocked her next move. Good to know he still had his high school football reflexes.

  Calmly she reached around him and cut the engine. “Thanks,” she said, looking him in the eyes, “for offering to listen. I need this more.”

  Absorbing the meaning behind her words, he nodded slowly.

  Dumb cowboy.

  Took him long enough to get it. He was her distraction. Not that he felt used. Or regretted any part he played in her life this last week. But he wasn’t special. He’d seen how the men in the crew had eyed him. That and knowing she rarely dated had turned his head some.

  For whatever reason, she felt safe with him, felt confident that he understood this was just a fling. That it would all come to an end the day the movie wrapped and she left. Or it could end tomorrow.

  He gazed into her expectant eyes. “Is that so?”

  Smiling, she nodded and reached for his fly.

  “Hold on.” He took her hand and entwined their fingers. “I didn’t say you could have your way with me.”

  Laughter burst from her lips.

  He cupped her chin and brought her face closer. “Kiss me.”

  She was still trying to lose the grin as she leaned forward. He covered her mouth with his, then slowly turned up the heat while he moved his hand to find her zipper. Her tongue circled his, then swept around his mouth demanding he join the dance. The kiss was supposed to sidetrack her, not him.

  He had her unbuttoned and unzipped fairly quickly, and then felt her tremble. “You cold?”

  “Mostly just excited.”

  Clint smiled at her honesty and paused to restart the engine and adjusted the vents to get the heat circulating. “Think you’d be warm enough without your sweater?”

  Lila stared at him, her eyes widening as she nodded. The determined temptress was gone, leaving behind a young woman who looked unsure of herself. This wasn’t the first unguarded moment he’d glimpsed of Lila. But he had a feeling these brief displays of vulnerability were rare.

  He waited a few moments, but she didn’t whip off her sweater. Guess it was up to him. The space was tight, so it was awkward, but he managed to lift the sweater over her head.

  Next Clint sprung the front clasp of the bra, and she did her part by letting the straps slide off her shoulders. Her smooth ivory skin glowed in the moonlit cab. The tips of her breasts were a dark rose, just as he’d expected. He touched the right one.

  “Wait.” Shivering, she barely got the word out. “What about you?”

  He pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck. “What about me?” he murmured, and trailed his lips to her throat. Her little whimper spurred him on. Using the tip of his tongue, he traced the ridge of her delicate collarbone.

  Her head fell back, and she made a soft contented sound.

  Sucking her nipple into his mouth, he slipped a hand inside her jeans.

  Lila inhaled with a quick shallow gasp. “Clint.”

  His name fell from her lips in a breathy whisper. An earthy muskiness laced her sweet scent, and a surge of lust shot through his veins. She bucked against his hand. He felt the tension slowly ease from her muscles.

  He parted her with his fingers and slid them into her wet heat. Her clit had swelled. He thumbed it as he pumped his fingers in and out.

  The sound of their ragged breathing filled the cab.

  “Clint, what are you— Oh... God—” She’d brought her head partway up, then let it fall back against the headrest with a thump.

  He smiled.

  She’d said she needed this, and he was happy to give it to her. Hell, he’d give her anything she wanted, anything that he was capable of providing, anyway.

  For now, he hoped it would be the best damn climax she’d ever had—well, one of the best. What happened last ni
ght while he’d been inside her... He didn’t think it was just his ego.

  And after the fireworks, he was going to drop her off at the motel and then go straight home to talk to his dad. Put his mind at ease. Clint would let him know he was ready to take over the ranch. Why wait until after Christmas? What else did he have in his future besides the Whispering Pines?

  Not Lila. No matter how much he fantasized or tried to read things into her sweet smiles and soft looks. This fling was just that to her. He was merely a stop on her bullet train to a big and glamorous life. And he sure as hell couldn’t complain because she’d never led him to believe otherwise.

  Giving his dad his word meant a lot to Clint...enough to clear the muck in his head. There’d be no more room for wishful thinking.

  After that was done, he planned on spending every free minute he could with Lila. Until they’d screwed each other’s brains out and he’d no longer have the capacity to understand she’d soon be gone forever. Almost like she’d never been there in the first place.

  14

  LILA WAS WORRIED. Definitely about Erin, that had never gone away. But now she was fretting over Clint, too. He parked the truck near the entrance of the motel. Baxter hadn’t returned, or at least his car wasn’t in the lot.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come up?” She met his gaze. “I can return calls later. Or even tomorrow.”

  He smiled. “You sure do get a lot of calls and texts.”

  Her sister first, then her mom had called, and then Erin had texted. All of them multiple times. “Did that ruin the mood for you?” Lila asked.

  “No.” Clint laughed. “No,” he repeated, shaking his head, then he leaned closer and kissed her lips.

  He didn’t linger, probably afraid of giving her the wrong idea. It was clear he wanted their date to end. She’d really hoped he would spend the night with her.

  “Most of it is your fault,” she said. “Everyone was calling because of you.”

  “What did I do?”

  “Besides give me an orgasm that nearly blew my head off?” She sighed. “You think I’m selfish. But I tried getting you to—”

  “I don’t think you’re selfish.” Clint took her hand. The light squeeze he gave it felt oddly platonic, but she liked the lopsided smile. “If I recall, I was the one who drove that particular cattle drive.”

  That made her laugh. “Interesting euphemism. Did you just think that up?”

  “Come on,” he said with another unsatisfactory squeeze. “I’ll walk you to your door.”

  He got out of the truck, so she had little choice, other than to sit there by herself.

  Clint opened her door and held it while she slid out. She couldn’t help but see that he was hard, just as aroused as he’d been fifteen minutes ago. Would he still be that turned on if she’d done something wrong?

  They headed for the entrance, his hand brushing against hers. It seemed he was about to take it. She saw his hesitation as clear as day.

  She stopped. They both turned and faced each other.

  “Clint—”

  “Look—” he said at the same time, then gestured for her to speak first.

  Her cell phone chirped. She jerked it out of her pocket.

  “Oh, shut up.” She should never have turned the darn thing back on. Easy enough to fix. Her palms were damp, she realized, as she returned the phone to her pocket and looked up to find Clint studying her face.

  “I think we have the same thing on our minds,” he said and put his hands on her shoulders. “The timing sucks. Much as I would rather be going to your room with you, I have something very important to do. It concerns the ranch, which I’ve gladly neglected for nearly a week...” He smiled and lifted her chin when she slumped with guilt. “Something I plan on doing a lot more of, if you let me. But I have this one obligation I can’t ignore. I realize now that I should’ve told you as soon as I remembered.”

  Relief washed over her. “Then go. I can get to my room just fine.”

  “I can at least walk you to your—”

  “We’ll probably start making out in the elevator.”

  “Good point.” His frown was just too adorable. “Any chance I can see you tomorrow night? I don’t care how late.”

  “Absolutely.” She stretched up on her toes and kissed him. “Now, go.”

  His body no longer seemed tense as he pulled her into his arms. Then they started kissing, more passionately than they should in a public place. She pushed him away.

  “What?” he murmured hoarsely.

  “You have to go.”

  “Right.” He reached for her again, but she’d stepped back. “God, you tempt me...”

  “That’s why I’m saying goodbye.” She gave him a small wave as she backed toward the door. Mostly because he tempted her too. Clint made everything else so easy to forget.

  Lila didn’t have the responsibility of a ranch to run, but she had a duty to the film, to her career, and she owed Erin. They’d made a pact. They were in this rotten business together, for better or for worse. But even that didn’t concern Lila at the moment.

  When he didn’t move, she turned and hurried into the motel. Once she was in her room, without even washing off her makeup or changing into her nightshirt, she called her friend.

  “You didn’t have to call back tonight,” Erin said as a greeting. “Are you with him?”

  “No,” Lila said, sitting on the edge of the bed and slipping off her flats. “And we’re not going to talk about Clint.”

  “Did something happen between you guys?”

  “We’re fine. It’s us, Erin. Something’s happened that you’re not telling me,” Lila said on an exhale. “And I won’t pretend it’s not killing me. Not anymore.”

  Erin allowed silence to stretch, and then she sighed. “We’ll talk. But not on the phone. Tomorrow, okay?”

  “That isn’t fair.”

  “I’m not putting you off. I promise you. And please trust me that everything will be okay. But tomorrow would be better.”

  Lila agreed, disconnected and fell back against the pillows.

  Her friend could assure her they’d talk, but she couldn’t know that everything would turn out okay. Lila had a strong feeling that wouldn’t be the case. And God, how she wished Clint were here to help her forget. But he was right. They tempted each other, in so many ways, and Lila sure didn’t need to lose sight of her career, her future, not when she was so close.

  Foolish her, she’d begun to think Clint just might be the one man she didn’t want to let slip away. And yet she’d only known him a week.

  One short week.

  On top of that, it was the holiday season, and she was emotional about not being able to go home. That explained so much. It was for the best he wasn’t spending the night, she thought, rolling over to bury her face in the pillow. Because with so much going on already, she was starting to seriously doubt her judgment.

  CLINT WAS SURPRISED to see the office light on as he parked the truck. It was 9:20 p.m. He figured his dad would still be up, but not working on ranch business. It was the only time he used the office, and that was a rare occasion.

  Guilt slammed Clint. Shit. He really had been neglecting his duties if his dad felt the need to step in, though he was the one who’d urged Clint to take some time off.

  Not in the mood to run into his mom or grandmother, he skipped going through the house and walked to the outside entrance to the office. They never kept the door locked. He paused for a brief knock so he wouldn’t startle his dad.

  He was sitting behind the old oak desk with the middle drawer open and frowning. “Hi, son,” he said, glancing up. “You’re home early.” He shoved aside a stapler and box of paper clips. “Do we have any tape in here?”

  “What kind
of tape?” Clint sat in the leather chair across from the desk. He wasn’t used to the view from this side. Damn, they had a lot of books crammed together on the built-in shelves.

  “You know...the kind your mom uses to wrap presents.”

  “Ah. I don’t think so. Isn’t there some in Mom’s junk drawer?”

  “I looked.” Clearly agitated, he continued rifling through the desk. “She must’ve put it somewhere else. Probably with her wrapping paper.”

  “What do you need it for?”

  “To wrap her Christmas present.”

  “You bought her something?”

  His dad narrowed his eyes. “Yes, I did. Just like I’ve done in the past. So, I’ll thank you not to make it sound like I don’t give your mom presents.”

  Clint laughed. “I meant it’s not a vacuum cleaner or new washer. Not if you’re going to wrap it.”

  “Wise guy. I bought tickets for a Caribbean cruise,” he said, and Clint’s jaw dropped. “You bought your gal anything yet?”

  “You know Kristy and I broke it off months ago.”

  “I’m talking about the other gal,” his dad said with a small smile.

  “Don’t have a gal, and I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “The young lady you spent last night with, Clint. I didn’t expect I’d have to spell it out for you.”

  Clint sighed, wishing like hell he’d waited until tomorrow. “This is a different time, Pop. I like Lila,” he said, not keen on discussing the topic with his old man. “I like her a lot. But she’s not...mine.”

  “Why? Because she has something to do with that movie they’re shooting near Blackfoot Falls?”

  Clint nodded. “She’s part of the crew, and when they’re finished, she’ll be gone.”

  He’d given up the search and was putting all his energy into frowning at Clint. “You know that for sure?”

  “It’s her job, Pop. I’m sure.” Clint straightened. “Look, I wanted to talk to you. About me taking over. No point in waiting till after Christmas. We both know the answer. I’m honored you have faith in me.”