“What are you doing that for?” she asked as each man set to lifting his horse’s legs, one at a time, and proceeded to use what looked like a pick of some sort on the hoofs.
“Checking for stones. Anything gets lodged in here, a horse can go lame,” Jesse said.
Despite their obvious desire to be alone with her, both men were patient and gentle with their animals. It was clear to Annie that they cared about their horses.
She waited until the horses were in their stalls before she closed in on the men. She felt bold and sexy as hell. A novel feeling, she decided to take full advantage of it.
“We smell of horse, honey,” Jesse warned as she put her arms around his neck.
“I don’t care. Kiss me.”
He did, his lips and tongue seeming eager to taste her again. Grant came up behind her and pressed close, his hands running up her sides, then into her hair.
She never would have thought it would be a turn-on to kiss one man while being fondled by another. She gently pulled her lips from Jesse’s and stretched her neck back to find Grant’s lips.
As she sucked Grant’s tongue into her mouth, she felt Jesse pulling her T-shirt out from under the waist band of her jeans. His hands fluttered across the front of her breasts, his fingers dipping down to tease and stroke her nipples beneath the light fabric of her bra.
Grant pulled her shirt all the way to her neck, then used his right hand to cup and squeeze her right breast just as Jesse pressed a hand against the denim at the juncture of her thighs. It was a tease of the worst kind, drawing a moan from deep inside Annie as she surged her hips toward his touch. He obliged, rubbing back and forth.
Grant reached into her bra and pulled at her nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. “Maybe the barn is private enough.” Grant’s words sounded as strained as his pants must have been, judging from the size of the erection he pressed against Annie’s bottom.
“Yeah,” Jesse agreed, and yanked open the snap of Annie’s jeans. “Maybe it is.”
Annie wasn’t particular—bedroom, barn, as long as they did something now. She needed to feel their hands on her flesh. She needed them to stoke the fires they’d lit inside her.
“Shit!” Grant’s soft curse snapped the thread of her arousal. Both men went stock still. At first, Annie didn’t understand. And then she heard the unmistakable sound of gravel crunching under tires as a vehicle approached the barn.
Chapter 5
Jesse reluctantly lifted his hands from Annie’s delectable breasts, his sigh enormous. But there was no help for it. His spread, his responsibility.
“I guess the barn wasn’t a good idea after all. I’ll get rid of whoever it is.”
He took some comfort from the fact that Grant wasn’t going to carry on without him, though he thought maybe he might have felt all right about it if he did.
Watching the way Annie snuggled against his friend’s cock as they rode back to his ranch hadn’t produced the waves of jealousy he’d feared. It only made him hornier. Despite all their discussion and planning, it was good to know the green-eyed beast wasn’t going to rear its ugly head.
With one last look over his shoulder at Annie and Grant, he headed out the door to give the bum’s rush to whoever had come to visit. At least he didn’t have to worry about hiding his erection. Threat of discovery had deflated it in a heartbeat.
After the cool dimness of the barn’s interior, the bright sun of early afternoon made him blink. In the seconds it took him to focus his eyes, both the driver and front passenger’s doors of the white Cadillac opened.
“Oh, goody, we hit pay dirt on the first stop!”
Jesse looked into the delighted face of Maeve Bishop, one of the county’s leading citizens—and his late mother’s best friend—and he knew his plans for the afternoon had just undergone a major change.
Outside the passenger’s side of the car, and looking just as delighted, stood Pam Gilchrest, the pastor’s wife.
“I baked a cake and planned to surprise that sweet Annie Rutherford. She’s been with us a year today, can you imagine? And just as we were getting out in front of the store, Ned Foster told us that he’d seen you and Grant driving off with Annie earlier. I said to Pam, I’ll bet you those sweet boys decided to bring Annie out to one of their ranches for the day to celebrate her first year here in God’s country!”
Before Jesse could think of something clever to say, Annie and Grant emerged from the barn. Jesse ran a panicked eye over them both, though he knew they wouldn’t have come out unless they put themselves together first.
“Did I hear the word ‘cake’?” Grant asked, his smile wide enough, Jesse thought, to hide a multitude of sins.
“You did indeed. I baked a lovely Cherry Delight cake, to celebrate Annie’s first anniversary as a member of our community.”
Mrs. Bishop was well noted for her Cherry Delight cake. Though the confection was definitely delicious, it certainly wasn’t in the same class as tasting Annie would have been. Any protest Jesse might still have been harboring vanished at the look of pleased surprise on Annie’s face.
“You baked a cake for me? No one has ever baked a cake for me. Thank you, Mrs. B!”
“I’ve got tea and coffee up at the house if you ladies would like to come in? And the cake is invited, too, of course.”
Both Mrs. Bishop and Mrs. Gilchrest giggled at Jesse’s invitation. Then they accepted, getting back into the car and driving it over to park it closer to the house, but not before they talked Annie into getting into the back seat so they could begin to have their ‘visit’ right away.
“Hell,” Grant grumbled as he strode up to Jesse. “Looks like we’re not going to have the dessert we planned on. At least, not right away.”
Jesse clapped his hand on Grant’s back. “Probably not today, period. Unless you can come up with a really good reason why those ladies should not save us the trouble of driving all the way into town to take Annie home when they have to go that way anyway.”
“Oh, hell,” Grant repeated. “You’re right. I have a good reason, just not one I want to share with two ladies, one of whom is a pastor’s wife.”
Jesse laughed, but only because he’d long ago discovered that misery really did love company. “Well, look on the bright side,” he said as they headed toward his house. “At least there’s cake.”
* * * *
“Hey, Billy. Hear you had yourself a good time Saturday night.”
Billy Woods looked up from his morning paper, cup of coffee in hand. He beamed a smile at Harry Gray as the older man sat down on the stool beside him. Sadie’s Café was filling up as it always did at eight o’clock on a Monday morning. Most folks hereabouts seemed genuinely glad to see the beginning of another work week. Billy thought that a marvel.
He waited until Mary Lou stopped on the other side of the counter in front of them, poured coffee into a fresh cup for Harry, and topped up Billy’s.
“The usual, Harry?” the busy waitress asked him.
“Please.”
Most people who came into Sadie’s had a usual. Billy knew that Harry’s was three link sausages, scrambled eggs, and toast. Mary Lou nodded, then made her way down the counter to serve a couple of other newcomers.
Business was brisk but never hurried at Sadie’s.
“Saturday night?” Harry reminded him, his tone quiet.
“It’s not gentlemanly to kiss and tell,” Billy said.
“Aw, come on, Billy. Have a heart. Me and Phyllis have been together for nearly thirty years. I love that woman, and I never even look much when another one walks by. The least you could do is tell me a little bit about your exploits.”
“Exploits?”
“Rumor has it you left The Powder Keg over in Laramie Saturday night after your gig in the company of not one, but two spectacular looking blondes. And you were nowhere to be found yesterday, which implies you didn’t sleep in your own bed. This isn’t the first time you’ve scored a double, eit
her, the rumor mill claims. Come on, Billy, give me something here.”
Billy knew Harry was mostly just teasing him, though he didn’t doubt the man would appreciate a couple of details. To satisfy his audience of one he gave what he hoped sounded like a lustful sigh. “Mandy and Candy, bless their frisky little hearts. Yes, the rumors you heard were true.”
“I knew it! And?”
How much to tell? Billy set his cup down, his insouciance one of his most recognized trademarks.
Or it had been since coming to Branchton, Wyoming, six months before. He’d found his niche, too, which was really saying something. Mother would be shocked to see how well I fit into the role of all-around handyman and local Lothario.
Considering some of the reasons for his being the topic of conversation so often, he wouldn’t be telling his mother about that part of his time in Branchton any time soon. He couldn’t hold back his smile as he thought of the wild time he’d enjoyed over the weekend.
“I can tell you only that I enjoyed one of the most memorable nights of my life Saturday night.”
“Wow. My Phyllis is enough woman for me. I can’t even imagine…um…entertaining two ladies at the same time.”
Harry’s voice dropped to a mere whisper. Billy really didn’t like to kiss and tell. Sometimes, it was tough staying in character. He leaned forward and gave him just one tidbit more.
“It takes balance, timing, and stamina.”
“Oh, man. I think I’m going to start a Billy Woods fan club.” He took a sip from his coffee cup. “At least now I understand why Frank, over at the Broken Axel, won’t hire your band. I’m amazed he lets you work the bar Wednesday and Thursday nights.”
“Never seems to happen when I’m just slinging beer. Only happens when I’m behind the drums. Must be the way I handle my sticks.”
Mary Lou plunked a plate down in front of each of them as the bell over the café’s door jingled. The scent of jasmine followed the woman into the place, and with his peripheral vision, he watched as other diners checked her out.
Billy took the opportunity to admire the tall, sleek form of Veronica Ferris as she walked over to one of the tables beside the window, just behind him. He didn’t preen, nor did he hunch his shoulders. He lived so far off her radar, he doubted she even knew he existed. To her, Billy figured he was just one more hick taking up a stool in this modest café.
“She ever catch you and the guys playing a gig?” Harry asked, obviously referring to Veronica.
Billy chuckled. “Are you kidding? Ms. Ferris wouldn’t be caught dead in any of the great establishments where John and Phil and I entertain.”
Veronica was nice to look at, all Monday chic, and could have taken a seat at any of the finer bistros in any major city in the world, fitting right in. Billy had heard several of the locals comment on her ‘highfalutin' ways’. Frank once bet him two hundred the lady would never step foot inside The Axel.
That had been shortly after Billy arrived in Branchton and begun his stint as bartender at the local saloon, which not-so-coincidentally happened to be about a week after Ms. Ferris arranged to transfer to the Hopkins-Wyoming Bank in beautiful downtown Branchton.
“She is a snooty bit of goods,” Harry agreed. “Nice enough when she’s at the bank, on duty. But outside those walls? I’m surprised she’s let down her guard enough to have coffee with Miss Annie.”
Harry’s voice took on a softer tone when he spoke of the other woman. While most of the locals treated Veronica as if she was a prissy visiting great-aunt, Annie Rutherford had pretty much become the entire community’s baby sister.
The two women made themselves comfortable, turning their coffee mugs over on their placemats for when Mary Lou made her way to them. Though the differences between them seemed too numerous to name, they did have a few things in common, coming from back East being the major one. Billy wondered at the speed with which the sophisticated Veronica had latched onto Branchton’s newest business owner. But careful reconnoitering on his part had told him exactly how she’d done it. He gave her credit. She was a clever one.
But was she clever enough?
Billy bet she wasn’t. Only time would tell if his bet would turn out to be an example of the canny use of insight, or a bust. Things had been motoring along at a steady, nothing’s-happening pace for the last few months.
That was going to change sooner, rather than later. Billy casually turned his head, blinked as if just seeing the women seated at the table behind him. Then he winked at Annie.
“Good morning there, Annie. You look all fresh and chipper today. Good morning to you, too, Ms. Ferris.”
Veronica only nodded and offered him a polite smile. Annie’s greeting was friendlier, more genuine, and took in Harry, as well.
“Hey, Billy, how are you? Hi, Harry. How’s Phyllis?”
“Just great, Miss Annie. Oh, she said she was going to pop in to the store today, on account of it being your one-year anniversary in business and all.”
“I’ll look forward to seeing her.”
Like himself and the snooty Ms. Ferris, Annie was a former New Yorker. Billy figured her blush came from a combination of shyness and still not being used to the familiar ways of the people in this town.
He turned himself back around and appeared to focus on eating his breakfast. He ate slowly, as if he had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do. Harry also devoted his attention to his food, which Billy appreciated because it allowed him to listen closely to the conversation between Annie and Veronica. Not that he expected to learn anything significant, because she was too careful and too cagey for that. But you just never knew, so it paid to pay attention.
Fifteen minutes later, the only thing he had learned was that Mrs. Bishop had baked a cake for Annie and that she’d accepted an offer from Jesse Conrad and Grant Douglas to take riding lessons— though why it would take two men to teach the woman how to ride was beyond him.
The women were fixing to leave to begin their respective business days, so Billy paid for his food, gave Mary Lou a wink and a dollar tip, and left the café.
He had two lawn mowers and one toaster to fix in his motorcycle repair shop. Good thing he wasn’t counting on his jack–of-all-trade dollars to keep body and soul together. Just as he neared his place, his right thigh vibrated.
He stepped through the door then opened his cell phone.
“Yo.”
“He’s out. Yesterday mid-morning. Tried to call you but there was no answer.”
Billy blushed. He’d forgotten his cell phone when he went to Laramie Saturday night. He’d have to make sure he didn’t forget it again. The voice on the other end didn’t sound overly annoyed, though. Besides, Billy was the boss.
“We knew he was getting out Sunday. He recover it yet?”
“No. His buddy Squirrel picked him up. After a burger stop, they drove to his mom’s. Right now, it looks like he’s on his way into New York City. I’ll let you know if it seems he’s moving to recover it. Personally, I don’t think he will. Smarter to let the statute of limitations run out.”
“Smarter isn’t his style,” Billy said. “Keep on him, and keep me informed.”
Billy shut the phone and slipped it back into his pocket. Yep, things were going to start hopping soon. And he was good and ready for it.
Chapter 6
Nothing could have prepared Annie for Monday. It seemed everyone who’d ever stepped foot inside her store and lived in the Branchton area made a special point of coming in to wish her a happy anniversary.
All through the morning, she did her best to be gracious and patient. For the most part, her customers made that easy. Yet inside, she shivered with anticipation.
As she’d been getting ready to leave Jesse’s house Sunday afternoon he whispered, “Monday after six”. Those three words had been nearly enough to short-circuit her brain. She hoped her conversation with Mrs. Bishop, as that kind woman had driven her home, hadn’t suffered unduly.
&nb
sp; Jesse’s parting words and the sly, sexy look he’d given her had kept her in a state of anticipation ever since. She had never experienced anything like the raw sexual hunger she’d tasted Sunday afternoon with Jesse and Grant. She wanted to sample that again. Hell, she wanted to gorge on both those sexy cowboys until she walked with a limp and could no longer see straight.
She could easily have lived the rest of her life never knowing this kind of craving, but now that she’d tasted them, now that she knew she was capable of such hot sexual arousal, she wanted more.
“Why just look at that nice healthy glow in your cheeks, Annie Rutherford. I think living in Wyoming agrees with you!”
Annie felt her cheeks color even more as she met the open, sunny smile of Phyllis Gray. Short and plump with a happy face and short, curly red hair, Phyllis always reminded Annie of a younger Mrs. Claus.
“Hello, Phyllis. I saw Harry at Sadie’s Café this morning. He said I could expect a visit from you today.”
“That man of mine does love his Monday mornings at Sadie’s. Well, land sakes, look at all these flowers! I’d say you’ve been visited by a lot of folks today.” Phyllis laughed, then handed over her own bouquet of posies.
“Thank you so much! Everyone has been so kind. I’ve never seen so many flowers in one place before.”
“Oh, that’s only on account of no one’s passed on since you’ve been here in Branchton.”
Annie laughed even as she set this latest bouquet into a jar and added water. “I think next year I’m going to have to have a special anniversary sale.” She put Phyllis’s flowers on the counter.
“That’s a fine idea. But to tell you the truth, coming into this place always feels like a sale day since you took over. Old Mr. Cuthbertson never was very pleasant to deal with. I ask you, why own a store if you don’t like people? It got so if a body needed something he sold, why, you were just as likely to get one of the men folk to drive you on out to the Walmart in Laramie. But since you took over, we just come right in, never have to think twice about it. Coming in here feels just like visiting with a friend.”
Cowboy Cravings Page 4