by Michele Hauf
Rather than speeding up, they’d slowed down, so she got to look at him more. He seemed at peace with the path he’d taken. She didn’t believe it was for show, either. “Do you see your mom?”
“I talk to her once in a while. I have a sister, and we speak more often. She has two kids, so I make it a point to see them at least twice a year. They grow so fast.”
Haley felt a bit sad for him, though she couldn’t say why. Her own situation wasn’t too different. Divorced parents, one brother, one sister she saw only at Christmas. “The McAllisters must seem like a second family to you.”
He smiled. “Yeah, sort of. I never knew Mr. McAllister...he’d passed on a year or so before I got here. Cole and Mrs. M. were running things. They agreed to hire me only if I went to school along with Rachel and Trace. Wasn’t too keen on it, but I did.”
“Why not? I envy how well you all get along.”
Josh reined in his horse and waited for her to do the same. Although she couldn’t imagine why they were stopping. “I had chores before and after classes, but it felt like I wasn’t pulling my weight. Of course the other hands were older and razzed me for studying while they played poker at night. They didn’t mean anything, but at that age, I was pissed off a lot.”
“I’m surprised Mrs. McAllister didn’t have you stay in the house with the family. They have so much room.”
“She tried. They all did.” He was studying her face and smiling at her. And making her incredibly self-conscious. “Are you wearing sunscreen?”
“I think so.” Flustered, she honestly couldn’t remember.
“You don’t know?”
“How am I supposed to think straight with you staring at me like that?” Haley sighed. Perfect example of letting the wrong thing spill out of her mouth.
“Pardon me, ma’am,” he said with an exaggerated drawl and broadening smile, then leaned over and pulled down the rim of her funky outback hat. It had been a last-minute purchase, which the mean girls mocked. “That should block more of the sun. I’d hate to see anything ruin that pretty skin.”
“Right.” Yeah, that sweet talk didn’t muddle her twice as much at all. “I bet you say that to all the guests.”
“Nope, you’re the only one,” he said, his smile fading, his hazel eyes dark and serious. “I don’t normally socialize with the women. Sometimes Mrs. M. invites us to the house for special gatherings, or I shoot a game of pool with Trace, but that’s it.”
Oh. Gosh. He’d never hung out...until her? Butterflies twirled inside her as she tried not to grin like an idiot.
Gypsy, apparently tired of waiting, stepped high. The loosely held reins slipped from Haley’s hand. With lightning-quick reflexes, Josh caught them.
Their eyes met as he returned the reins to her. Then he leaned forward a few more inches and brushed his lips across hers.
Chapter Six
She held her breath, waiting for him to use more pressure, turn it into a real kiss. Disappointment filled her when he drew back and removed his Stetson. It was a sweet gesture but... “You really don’t have to keep taking off your hat, Josh,” she said, and he smiled, before he came back to her at a better angle. “Oh,” she murmured the second before his mouth took hers.
He slipped his hand behind her neck, holding her steady while he traced the seam of her lips, then parted them with his tongue. She almost let the reins slip again. She tightened her hold, but the slight jerk of her wrist incited Gypsy’s restlessness. The horse’s movement forced them apart.
Josh lowered his hand from Haley’s nape and got the mare under control. With a rueful curve of his mouth, he said, “Guess I should have waited to do that.”
“It was good while it lasted.” A short nervous laugh escaped her, because Lord knew she should’ve come up with a wittier line. The heated look in his eyes quelled the thought.
“I’m gonna kiss you again,” he whispered. “When we won’t be interrupted.”
In response to his unbelievably sexy murmur, she clenched her thighs, and Gypsy snorted. “Sorry, sorry,” she said, bending forward to stroke the mare’s neck. The distraction was a godsend because she’d been about to blurt out “When, where, and wouldn’t now be a perfect time?”
He set his hat back on his head and clicked a command for his gelding. Gypsy followed, and they rode for another ten minutes, finally stopping before the ground started to slope up into the foothills. Haley could see the cattle across the grassy field, and to her disappointment, another cowboy on horseback. She knew Josh had work to do, and that she’d use the time to draw, but she’d assumed they would be alone.
“Wait here a minute,” Josh said. “I’m gonna let Kyle know that I’m getting you settled before I relieve him.”
She nodded, happy that her assumption had been right, after all. It wasn’t until Josh reached the other hand that she could drag her gaze away from the breadth of his shoulders and the line of his back tapering to his waist. She’d love to sketch him from behind, but that would be difficult without asking him to pose. And she wasn’t ready to do that.
The last thing Haley wanted was to be in the way, so when she dismounted, she stayed in place enjoying the profusion of yellow and purple wildflowers climbing the pine-dotted slopes to the west. If she didn’t already know exactly what she wanted to sketch she would’ve had a heck of a time deciding on her subject. Her only concern was finding the perfect spot to sit.
Josh rode back toward her, while the other cowboy headed in the direction of the ranch. As he got closer, all she could think about was the warm feel of his lips and how much she longed to taste him again. Of course she knew not to distract him from his work. Even if it might kill her to wait.
* * *
A couple of hours later, Josh glanced at his watch, although the sun told him his shift was coming to an end. He’d never been quite this pleased about it before, but then he’d never had Haley to look forward to.
The urge to ride hard was strong, but he held himself down to an easy trot as he headed for the pretty lady sitting on the grass. He’d checked on her a lot, but she was mostly busy sketching. A couple of times she’d smiled his way, and hadn’t that been fine.
As he approached he slowed even more. Haley’s head was bent over her sketch pad, and he wished he had a camera with him. The shade of the aspen tree dappled the grass like an Appaloosa, and Haley’s hair fell forward, hiding too much. But that was okay, because he remembered her face really well.
Sliding off his saddle, he let the reins go, knowing his horse would head toward Gypsy. He didn’t want to disturb Haley, but at the last second he realized he didn’t want to scare her, either. Clearing his throat, he did frighten her, if the way she slammed her sketchbook closed was any indication. “I didn’t mean to—”
“I didn’t hear you.” She laughed when she looked up at him. “Are you done with your work?”
Nodding, Josh sat down next to her. He reached for the sketch pad, wondering about what he’d seen. “Was that a portrait?”
As he flipped the pad open, Haley squeaked like a little mouse. Only then did he realize he was being rude. “Hey, no, I’m sorry... Wait, is that me?”
Haley’s lips were pressed together, and even the shade couldn’t hide the blush that filled her pale cheeks. “Uh, yeah.”
Tearing his gaze away, he looked at the drawing again. He felt his own face heat up. The picture was of a very striking man. If he hadn’t recognized the shape of his nose and his eyes, he’d have guessed she’d been sketching Trace, or even a movie star. “No, that can’t be me.”
“I know. It’s not very good. I didn’t make your jaw strong enough, and oh, your cheekbones have been giving me fits.”
“I meant, I don’t look anywhere near this good.”
“Are you serious? You’re so much more than I could capture. It’s because I haven’t done portraiture in forever. And I didn’t have enough time.”
Josh stared into her brown eyes. She wasn’t lying. He coul
d tell. The blush was still there, but he knew she’d just paid him an amazing compliment. One he had no idea how to handle. He’d been with women who’d called him handsome before, but that was all part of the game when he was at the bar, or flirting at a rodeo. With Haley, that’s how she saw him.
She was still trying to make excuses for doing a poor job, and that had to stop. He tugged off his hat, then put his free hand on her arm.
“Thank you,” he said, meaning it in a whole bunch of ways.
She gave him a little smile, one that tipped up her pink lips to perfection. “You’re welcome.”
“I thought for sure you’d be sketching Mount Edith.”
Lowering her gaze, Haley peeked up at him from under long thick lashes. “I’d rather save this memory, if it’s all right with you.”
He flushed again, and he wasn’t the type. Then he leaned forward and kissed that sweet mouth of hers until she relaxed and returned the kiss. When he heard the sound of an oncoming rider, he leaned back. “Come out with me tonight. I want to take you to my favorite place in all of Montana.”
“Where?”
He liked the way her eyes widened, and man, he wanted to kiss her again. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
“On horseback?”
Josh nodded. “You can bring Gypsy as your chaperone.”
She laughed. “It’ll be dark.”
“It usually is at night.” He grinned when she narrowed her gaze. “But for you, I ordered lots of moonlight. Will you come?”
“For you?” Haley sighed and gave him a beautiful smile. “I will.”
Chapter Seven
Haley could hardly believe her eyes. Josh was putting what seemed to be the finishing touches on an astonishing nighttime picnic. The full moon supplied plenty of light for her to see, even though she’d been told to stand back and let him do all the work.
Not one, but two comfy-looking blankets had been spread on a thick carpet of grass. The wind was gentle enough to brush at her hair but not disturb the tableau. There was a real wooden basket, and from it he’d pulled a bottle of white wine and a corkscrew. Two glasses, plastic and very practical. Then there was a long loaf of bread on a sheet of wax paper, and cheese—she wasn’t sure what kind, not that she cared. There was also a covered plate that she thought hid some brownies, but she couldn’t be sure.
When he was finished and looked at her, it was with a very hopeful grin. “This is it,” he said. “I hope it’s okay.”
She took that as her cue that she was allowed to approach. He’d changed from his work jeans into darker ones, and his Western shirt was pressed. Even his boots had a new shine. She found it adorable that he’d tried to tame his curly hair, but the curls had fought back the minute he’d removed his hat.
Which he’d done in order to kiss her just before he’d started setting out his grand display. That it was all for her still bewildered her down to her toes.
Of course she’d been out with other guys, in high school, college and even in notoriously eligible-men—deficient Manhattan, but no one had ever looked at her the way Josh did. As if she was something special. A rare treat.
The trouble he’d gone to for her made it all the more difficult to believe she wasn’t dreaming. She lifted her hand and put it on his very real-feeling chest. His heart was beating almost as fast as her own. “This is fantastic.”
His smile faded as he leaned in to kiss her. “You’re fantastic,” he said. He didn’t linger, though. Instead, he helped her down to the blanket and made sure they were lying close together. “You hungry?”
“Not yet,” she said.
His eyes closed as he sighed. “Thank goodness.” He pulled her in closer still, until her head was nestled in the crook of his elbow, and his hand ran down her back. She wished she could see him better, but the moon wasn’t cooperating at the moment.
It didn’t matter, though, not when his lips pressed against hers, when he moaned as she opened her mouth for him.
He tasted of mint, and she imagined she did, too. She’d worn her only dressy blouse and her best jeans, and wished she’d had something better. Not that Josh seemed to mind. He explored her, and she explored him back, far more daring than her usual timid self.
She knew time was spinning on, but neither the food nor the wine had any appeal. Making out with this charming cowboy was everything that mattered. Except for the way her body was urging her to ask for more.
The brush of his hand as it snuck beneath her blouse made her gasp, and that had him groaning and pressing his body against hers.
Feeling his hard erection against her stole her breath. Not because she was embarrassed, but because of the effect she had on him. The proof.
Josh pulled back, his breath coming harsh and fast. “I’m sorry about that. You know I don’t expect anything. I didn’t bring you up here to—”
“It’s okay,” she said. “Really.” To make her point, she moved her thigh to press against his hard length.
His mouth opened and even in the dark she could see the whites of his eyes as he stared. “Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t mind taking a few more memories home with me,” she said. “As long as we’re safe.”
He closed his mouth. “There’s no bears or anything up here.”
Giggling, she waited to see how long he would take to get what she’d meant, and his laugh came a few seconds later. “I’ve got it covered,” he said.
“That’s excellent. So where were we?”
He had no trouble catching on this time. His lips were warm on the skin behind her ear as he shifted her onto her back. The blankets and grass were surprisingly comfortable, considering. “I can use the second blanket over us, if you’re cold.”
She just nodded. “That would be nice.”
He jumped up so fast she was startled, but he was back in a flash, the food put aside and the top blanket at the ready. He pulled it over them loosely. His hands shook when he undid the buttons on her blouse, and when it was her turn to tackle his shirt, she was trembling, as well.
Soon enough, though, she was down to bra and panties, and even though he’d had to break away to yank off his boots, he was naked down to his boxer briefs. They huddled together under the blanket, the sounds of their breathing loud and intimate.
She arched, reaching behind her back, and undid her bra clasp. When she took it off, he tossed back the cover so he could see. Moonlight lit his slow flash of white teeth. His smile was so sexy she couldn’t stand it.
“You keep getting more and more amazing,” he said. Then he cupped her breast with his hand and trailed his warm lips down the side of her neck.
She arched again, wanting his touch, his heat, wanting all he had to give. She would be back to her real life all too soon, and she was impatient for more.
His lips on her nipple gave her goose bumps. He skimmed his work-roughened palm over her other breast, to her waist and over her hip. His fingers caught in the elastic of her bikini panties, and she held her breath waiting for him to tug them down. But he was patient, definitely more than her, and took his time learning her curves and filling his hand with her behind.
Not willing to hold back, she reached down and rubbed his arousal through his underwear.
He froze. Then, as if he couldn’t stop himself, pressed into her palm.
“Now would be good,” she said.
With a strangled moan, he rolled over. He sat up and peeled off his boxer briefs, fast, then lay back down, bringing the blanket up with him.
“Wait.” She laughed. It was her turn to have a look.
“You said now.”
“I did.” She pushed the blanket back, and gasped softly when the moon slipped out from behind a cloud at the perfect time. He was hard and thick, and obviously wanted her very badly.
The sound of the packet tearing made her strip off her panties double quick, and when he nestled between her legs, she was ready. Aching. As happy as she could ever remember.
He entered her slowly, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. Then, he threaded his fingers through hers and began to move inside her.
She wrapped her legs around him as he stared down at her face. Encouraging him to go faster, harder, she lifted her hips to meet his thrusts, letting the pleasure sweep her away, keening high when the pressure built and built. With her free hand squeezing his muscled arm, her climax hit like a lightning bolt. Spasms shimmered through her, each one more intense than the last, as if she’d been bewitched by some dark magic.
There was no hiding the moment he came. He moaned so loudly they probably heard him in town, but she didn’t care. She just held on tight as they slowly got their breathing under control.
He kissed her, hard and deep, before he finally moved to lie beside her. It took a few minutes for her to get her bearings, and she was glad that she could still feel him next to her as she gazed up at the midnight sky. So many stars...twinkling just for them.
“I’m so grateful you didn’t take an early flight home,” he said, touching her cheek, then her hair. “I don’t want you to leave at all.”
“Me neither. I wish I could stay for a month.”
“Can you?” he asked. “You work on a computer. Can’t you do that anywhere?”
“Not exactly.” Laughing softly, Haley turned away from stargazing to look at him. The sound died on her lips when she saw the earnestness in his eyes. He’d meant every word. He wanted her to stay and he wouldn’t play games and pretend otherwise.
She didn’t know any other guys like him. The men she’d dated in New York seemed to live by the impersonal one-line-text rule, and only after a forty-eight-hour waiting period.
“I know I’m being selfish,” he said. “Wanting to keep you here when you have a life back east.”
“No.” She rolled onto her side and held his face in her hands. “Believe me, if I could make it work I’d cancel my airline ticket in a second.”
A slow smile lifted his lips. “Bet you get tired of men telling you how beautiful you are.” He turned his head and kissed her palm. “Too bad. You’re gonna have to hear it from me.”