The Right Ranger (The Men of at Ease Ranch)

by Donna Michaels

“Welcome to my life.” Jovy smiled. “It’s never boring.”

  Beth lifted her glass. “I concur. You’re marrying Stone and his girlfriend. Apparently, they’re a package deal.”

  Jovy chuckled. “I know, but he’s worth it.”

  Haley couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the two women. All she knew was she liked being with Cord, and he appeared to like being with her. This felt different than it had with Drew. Cord didn’t keep secrets. She just worried about his guilt. Hopefully he’d be able to let it go, where Drew was concerned. If not, this amazing path she was on would end up like Jovy’s spilt wine. A waste of a good thing.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Cord lost count of how many times the guys kept glancing at him during the session. It was quite comical. He even smiled a time or two, which only seemed to garner even stranger looks. It got to the point where the therapist came right out and asked what was going on.

  Cord grinned. “Got me.”

  “It’s that.” Brick pointed to him. “He’s smiling.”

  “I’ve smiled before.”

  “Yeah, but not like all-the-time constantly,” Stone said.

  He snorted. “I don’t smile constantly.” He was quite positive he had a completely different look on his face when he was buried deep inside Haley.

  “See?” Brick pointed again. “It’s still there.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” the therapist asked.

  Good question. Cord folded his arms across his chest and listened as the men debated the answer. When five minutes had passed and the session hadn’t moved on to someone else, he decided to speak up again. “I had a good week. End of story.”

  “Don’t you mean a great one?” Stone corrected.

  “And I’d like to talk about the fact you let her ride Cayenne,” Brick said. “You’d never let us ride your horse.”

  “Damn straight.” He unfolded his arms but didn’t elaborate.

  “So you trust her?” the therapist asked.

  Cord turned his attention to the man and nodded. “Yes. I do.”

  Saying it out loud cemented the admission in his head. He did trust Haley. Explicitly. She’d never betray him. She’d always have his back.

  Leo smiled. “According to Haley, you had a great week.”

  “Actually, Haley said she had a great week, thanks to Cord.”

  And the straight-shooter Stone struck again.

  Leo turned to Stone. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

  Holy fucking shit. Cord transferred his gaze from face to face until he finally met one who was just as baffled by everyone’s interest in his love life. Vince. At least his Jersey buddy understood the fact that him smiling was no big deal.

  Once the circus quieted down, the meeting got back on track. Christ, if he had known he was going to stir up so much shit, he would’ve stayed home.

  Cord stilled. Wait. He was home.

  Since when did he start thinking of Haley’s ranch as home?

  An hour later, as he folded his chair and carried it to the stack by the wall, he contemplated the after-session ritual. A beer usually hit the spot. Not tonight. He was more interested in the woman entering the rec room with Jovy and his sister. Haley glanced around the still crowded room, and the instant her gaze landed on him her expression softened. Heated.

  Damn. Each of those expressions ricocheted through him with the intensity of a live round. Because he felt alive. Especially when she walked straight for him, oblivious to the appreciative glances from some of the men, and the curious ones from their friends. No doubt, they wanted to see if he’d hold back, like he usually did. Even the therapist was hovering in the doorway, gaze trained on him.

  Whatever.

  He didn’t owe anyone anything. Wasn’t there to entertain. His only concern was for the woman approaching him with warmth and hope in her gaze that said she only wanted him. It sparked those primal needs to protect and worship again. Needs only Haley conjured. He’d never had those needs or urges before.

  You love her.

  The thought whispered through his mind, and instead of scaring the shit out of him, it made him feel good. It made sense. Of course he did. Christ, he’d been in love with her for years.

  “Everything okay?” She frowned as she stopped in front of him, her brown eyes wide with concern.

  “Great,” he replied, deliberately using the analogy she’d stated on the porch. “Everything’s great now that you’re here.”

  A brilliant smile curved her lips and shone from her eyes. “I’m glad.”

  Needing to touch her to connect to the sweet, vibrant woman, he reached for her hand again. He wanted more, a hell of a lot more. If they were at her ranch they’d already be naked. But they were at At-Ease, in the middle of the semi-crowded rec room. So, even though he wanted to kiss her until they were out of breath, it was out of the question if the others were going to gawk at them like they were the main event. “Did you make any plans with the girls?”

  She blinked. “No. We just talked over a glass of wine, which Jovy shared with Lula Belle.”

  “What?” He laughed.

  “Yeah.” She smiled. “Lula Belle showed up, knocked Jovy’s glass over, and licked the wine.”

  “Well, maybe she’s calling a truce,” he said.

  “Could be.” She smiled. “And I didn’t make any plans, why?”

  He brought their entwined hands up to his chest and held her gaze. “Because I want you.”

  Her chest rose on a sharp inhale, but she somehow managed to keep it quiet, as if she could tell he was trying not to attract attention. “I want you, too, Cord. So much.”

  It was his turn to inhale quietly. He wasn’t as good as her. By this time, only a few people were lingering about, so he got lucky it went unnoticed. But in truth, he was past caring. She wanted him. He was so done. “Come on.” He tugged her to the other side of the room, where his sister and Brick sat on the couch near Jovy, Stone, Vince, and Leo. “Good night,” he stated and didn’t wait for a reply.

  He squeezed her hand and led her to the stairs, not rising to the bait as the guys commented on their departure.

  “Aw, look, Stone, they’re holding hands again.”

  “I know. They grow up so fast.”

  Apparently it was true, because normally he would’ve flipped them a double bird, but that would require letting go of Haley’s hand. Not happening. He wanted the connection. Needed the connection. She was more important than sparring with those idiots.

  When they entered his room, he shut the door and pulled her right into his arms, taking the kiss he wanted to enjoy—away from prying eyes—the whole damn night. Cupping her face with one hand, he brushed her lower lip with his thumb before leaning in to slowly follow the movement with his mouth.

  A soft sigh escaped her lips as he kissed one corner, then the other, then full on. She fisted his shirt and made the sexiest little sounds, brushing his lip with her tongue, causing his heart to pound hard in his chest. Slow and thorough, he made long passes with his, taking his time to kiss her with a lazy intensity that grew hotter each second.

  And her taste? God, she was sweet and hot and hungry. So damn hungry that his own desire answered in kind. She nipped and drank and sucked, making him nuts. When they broke apart to drag in air, she held his face and smiled.

  “Thanks for asking me to come here with you.” Her breath was warm on his skin, almost as warm as her gaze. “I’m glad I waited until now to come.”

  “Why?”

  She tenderly kissed his temple then down his face to pepper a few more across his jaw. “Because it meant something to you. And that meant something to me.”

  Emotions swarmed in his chest. He set his forehead to hers and stared into her heated dark eyes. “I want you,” he repeated, a feeling of liberation racing through him. Having gotten the words out the first time downstairs, he wanted to keep telling her.

  “You have me. All of me.”

  He’d want
ed to get his hands on all of Haley since that afternoon when they were painting the barn door, teasing and tempting each other. Hell, his “want” for her went back a lot further, since…always. He wanted to touch her and kiss her, hold her and make her cry out his name. God, he loved hearing his name on her lips in a voice full of raw pleasure. Just thinking about it made him harder than hell.

  Taking his time, he trailed kisses all over her body as he slowly stripped off their clothes. When they were both naked and drawing in air, he urged her to sit on his bed, then he nudged her until her back hit his mattress. Damn, she was a vision. She looked amazing, fucking amazing sprawled out on top of his covers, her gaze smoldering with intense longing, so dark they appeared black. He dropped to his knees before her and ran his hands up her legs. His insides fisted when he found her wet and warm.

  She moaned and opened her legs wider for him, giving him a view that rocked his heart. Damn, he loved a woman who knew what she wanted. He’d never deny her wants. Never. He kissed a path up her inner thigh, sucking on a patch of skin while he slid a finger inside her. She gasped and shoved her fingers into his hair as if afraid he’d leave before she was ready.

  Hell no. He blew on her and stroked deeper, wanting to hear his name on her lips as she came apart. Knowing her rhythm, he worked her with long, slow strokes, bringing her to the edge, his body breaking out in a sweat at the sound of her moans as she bucked into him. And when she tightened her hands in his hair, he added his tongue to the mix, giving her what she wanted, what he wanted, too. He took her over the edge, and she burst for him, with his name echoing off the walls in her sexy, throaty cry.

  When he surged to his feet, she was still shuddering, staring at him with immense satisfaction glowing in her eyes. She lifted up on her elbows, her gorgeous breasts bouncing in tandem as she smiled at him. Sweet and hot.

  “Is it my turn?” she asked.

  He frowned down at her. “I thought that’s what that was?”

  “Oh, it totally was.” She sighed. “But I meant my turn to get my mouth on you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Cord grabbed a condom from his discarded jeans and rolled it on. “I wouldn’t last two seconds with your mouth on me right now.” And he wanted to last longer. He had plans. “Scoot back,” he said and helped, grasping Haley’s ankles and pushing her all the way onto the bed.

  Then he worshipped her, starting at those ankles and making a slow journey up the wonderland that was Haley. Paying special attention to the curve of her hip, her breast, her delectable tips, loving her gasps and how her hands roamed over him on their own journey.

  By the time his mouth found hers, she was trembling beneath him, making those noises he loved to hear. He needed more. He needed everything.

  With their fingers laced together, he set their hands on either side of her head, he held her smoldering gaze and pushed inside her in a slow, sure slide that had them both sucking in a breath of raw, sheer pleasure.

  Nothing ever felt better than being buried deep inside Haley. Not one damn thing.

  “Cord…” Her eyes were full of everything he felt, and he drowned in her fierce, deep, whisky-colored gaze.

  “Me, too.”

  He felt it, felt it all to the depths of his soul and his guarded heart. With his needs and his wants blurring, he dipped down to connect with her everywhere, kissing her hard and deep as he began to move.

  His body was on fire and aware, and it was fucking powerful. He’d never felt so engulfed. So needed. So wanted. So loved. He thrust into her, and everything began to make sense. There’d been no time for his indulgences in his life. Sure, he’d enjoyed an occasional fling, but he’d never sought a relationship. None of them affected him deeply. Not like Haley. Never like Haley.

  He never would’ve pursued this if Drew were alive. But once he let go of his restraint, it’d happened in an instant. Their bond, their crazy connection, had strengthened with time, and now he didn’t want to be without her. He always wanted to be with her, always wanted some sort of connection. Whether they talked, or touched, or kissed hot and heavy or slow and sweet, or he was buried deep inside her warm, welcoming heat, she made him feel alive and held the darkness inside him at bay. With Haley, he yearned for things. The things he saw in her eyes: home, family, love.

  She gave him that, willingly.

  With her mouth moving under his, her body soft and warm, he had it all with her. It was real. And amazing.

  “Haley,” he murmured, when they broke for air and she kissed each of his shoulders with soft tiny brushes of her lips.

  “I love your freckles,” she murmured, her hands gliding up and down his back, ripping a groan from his chest.

  He wanted to worship her some more, but their need was starting to take over. She wrapped her legs around his hips and he sank in even farther.

  “Cord.” She arched into him, eyes closed, head back, lips parted, with a fierce craving etched on her face.

  He kissed her throat then nuzzled the curve of her neck. She gasped, tightening on him. Tightening everywhere at once. Fire shot through his veins. And when she did it a second time, he closed his eyes and let it all engulf him. The feel of her, their scent, his name on her lips.

  It was everything. And still, he wanted more.

  Slipping his arms beneath her, he drew her with him as he leaned back on his shins. Fuck, yeah. This. This was what he’d needed. What he’d wanted.

  “Oh…damn…Cord,” she choked out on a gasp as he slid deeper.

  Her body was hot and trembling against his, everything connecting. She went a little crazy, rocking into each thrust, crying out as he gripped her hips and guided her movements, driving deeper, then deeper still.

  She was brushing him everywhere, arms and legs banded around him, lush breasts with those gorgeous tight peaks grazing his chest, mouth open on his, saying his name over and over. Nothing separated them, not even air. They touched everywhere, and then she was coming, her sweet warmth gripping him like a vise while shuddering in his arms. It was too good. Too damn good. He gave up his control and let her guide him as she barreled right over the edge and took him with her.

  Everything around him disappeared except for her. Her hungry gaze. Her cries. Her slick heat. Her trembling. Just Haley. Only Haley. That was the only thought in his head. Everything else disappeared.

  His need to remain in control or unaffected. His trust issues even vanished, because he trusted Haley. Trusted her with everything, his body, his heart, his soul. And dammit, it felt good. So damn good…

  She deserves better. Drew’s words echoed in Cord’s head. And he agreed, but he wasn’t strong enough to ignore his wants anymore. And he wanted Haley in his life. Bad. He just hoped she felt the same when he eventually found the courage to tell her the truth about Drew.

  …

  For two days, Haley walked around with her head in the clouds, and she didn’t want to come down, because, hell, it was great up there. She never felt happier or alive or more cherished in her life. She wasn’t sure what exactly had happened, but Cord seemed to have come to some kind of decision or realization about them—about her—because when he touched her or looked at her now it was with everything in him.

  And God, she couldn’t get enough. Could never even have imagined she’d ever feel so lighthearted and free. Free from the pain of her past. From now on, she was only looking ahead. Only looking at Cord.

  “Well, that should be the last of it,” Stone said as he and Brick and Cord approached her porch where she sat with Jovy and Beth.

  All afternoon, they’d had a great view of the men building her fence. In fact the view had been so great, she and the girls had settled in their chairs and watched the show for a good two hours.

  “It’s a shame,” Jovy responded, running her hand over her fiancé’s chest as he leaned down to kiss her temple.

  “What is?” Stone straightened with a frown. “That we’re done?”

  Jovy nodded. “Yep.”


  “Yeah.” Beth sighed, gaze eating up her man as he drew near.

  “Damn shame,” Haley agreed. “But at least we got through some of that paperwork that was piling up.”

  “True.” Jovy turned toward her. “The preliminary is always a pain. It should be just normal day to day stuff for you from now on.”

  “Good. I like normal day to day.”

  “Me, too.” Cord stepped up to her and smiled as he accepted the drink she offered. Tonight, she was going to come right out and talk to him about continuing to see him after the ranch opened for business next weekend.

  Right now, though, there was something else she wanted to discuss. With all of them. She waited until the guys found a seat and a drink before sharing her idea. “Since you all have a moment, I’d like your opinion.”

  Cord covered her hand she had resting on the arm of her chair and smiled. “What do you need?”

  Brick lifted a brow. “On what?”

  “I’d like to know your thoughts about me possibly hiring a few veterans to permanently help out around here.”

  She watched the surprise and delight cross each of their faces and relief rushed through her veins. She didn’t want them to think she was trying to steal anything from At-Ease.

  “That’s an incredible idea,” Cord said quietly next to her, bringing their joined hands to his lips.

  “Yes. It’s brilliant,” Jovy gushed.

  Stone nodded. “Drew would’ve loved this idea.”

  Everything inside Haley stilled and her heart hurt for the guys, because their friend wasn’t as noble as they thought. She had to be careful. No way would she let them find out. So she nodded and forced a smile.

  “I know several veterans who would probably jump at the chance,” Cord stated.

  “Then here’s my next question.” She met each of their interested gazes, letting the adrenaline vibrate through her and wash away her anxiety over Drew. “What do you think about me building either a bunkhouse for them, or maybe a few separate little cabins? I kind of like the cabin idea. It’ll give them more privacy.”

  “Wow.” Beth’s brows rose. “That would be amazing.”