by Susan Stoker
He nodded toward her slider. “From your patio.”
She stared for a moment before comprehension dawned. “I forgot to close it, huh?”
He nodded. “Why are you swearing at a box?”
“I’m trying to pack as many clothes as possible into it. My car won’t hold that many boxes so they have to be full.”
He looked back toward the living room and scanned the boxes already packed and labeled. There was no way those would all fit in her car.
Shit, she was planning to move. But he could play dumb. “Why are you packing?”
She looked at him like he was an idiot. “Duh, I’m probably going to get fired if you can’t find anything to prove I didn’t set up the photo site, so I figured I’d get a jump on it.” She paused to put a hand on her hip. “You haven’t found anything have you?”
The hope in her voice wasn’t disguised by her stance. “Actually, I did. I have a friend who was able to track the site’s IP address to a location. Now I just have to narrow down who at the location set it up.”
“That’s good, right?”
For one tough bartender, Adriana’s vulnerability showed through. She loved Poker Flat. Every masculine instinct flooded his psyche. He would exonerate her, no matter what. “Yes, that’s good. But it will probably take a day or two more before we figure out who the culprit is.”
“We?”
He gave her a half grin. “There are a lot of people who work on this resort who are pulling for you.”
She turned away quickly and dragged the box to a spot against the wall with two others that also weren’t taped closed. “I always said Kendra’s misfits were special.”
He leaned the rifle against the doorjamb, dropped the bag of food on the floor, and closed the distance between them in seconds. “Hey.” He lifted her chin, forcing her to stand straight. “Would you like to have dinner in the desert with me?”
Her eyes were misty, proving him right. She’d been touched by her coworkers caring. She didn’t want to be an island again.
Unable to resist, he kissed her.
Gently, he brought their lips together until she opened for him. He explored her taste with his tongue, taking time to enjoy every nuance that was her. He held her against him, but not with the sexual fervor of before. He wanted to give her comfort.
She broke off the kiss and looked at him in puzzlement. “You want to go on a picnic?”
“Duh.” He threw her word back at her in jest. “Would that be what dinner in the desert was called?”
She smirked. “Hmm, I’ve never been on a picnic. Sounds good, as long as it includes dessert.” She winked.
Hunter’s cock reacted and his lips quirked up. “I did bring strawberries.”
Adriana rolled her eyes as she stepped out of his embrace. “Really? Good. I can think of a dozen ways those could be fun.”
Shit, now his cock was definitely getting hard.
She stepped over to her bed. “Is what I’m wearing okay, or should I put on something more exciting, like this?”
Adriana lifted a three-piece chain from the bed and held two ends up and placed them against her cloth-covered nipples. The third end of chain dangled between her thighs, its clip sparkling with a rhinestone.
Hunter swallowed hard and forced himself not to adjust his jeans. “No, what you have on is fine. It’s nothing fancy.”
She pouted and dropped the chain. Then a secret smile curved her lips as she reached for something else on the bed. She lifted a headband with black cat ears and stuck them on her head. Without hesitating, she brought a sheer black body stocking against her length. “Maybe you need protection from wild animals?” She lifted a furry cat tail with a butt plug at the end. “I can be a panther and protect you.”
Shit, his cock was harder than the desert after a three-year drought. “No.” He turned away from the sexy image that was Adriana and picked up his rifle. “I’ve got everything we need.” Holding it up for her to see, he grabbed the bag of food from the floor. “Protection and food. I’ll wait outside.”
He strode from the casita without a backward glance. If he didn’t leave right then, he’d have taken her on her bed piled with clothes, and dinner would have been completely forgotten.
But he wanted something different. He’d been quick last time and with a woman as hot as Adriana, he wanted to savor every sensation. A nice ride, some conversation, a simple meal and an Arizona sunset were what he had in mind before making love to her in the middle of their natural surroundings.
He heard the slider close and be locked. He grinned, pleased she was taking her safety seriously. When she stepped outside to lock the front door, she’d added cowboy boots and hat to her ensemble, which was perfect.
“Okay, cowboy, so where are we going to picnic?”
“Down the trail.”
“Great.” She looked around. “Um, where’s your golf cart?”
He frowned. “We’re not taking a golf cart. We’re riding.”
Adriana’s eyes widened. “Riding what?”
He chuckled. “Horses, what else?”
She stared at him for a moment before she shook her head. “Horses? I’ve never ridden a horse.”
With everyone wearing western clothes every day, it was easy to forget it was just the resort uniform. “Now’s your chance.”
“Really?” Adriana’s face looked like a kid who’d just been told she’d have thirty dollars to buy whatever candy she wanted. “Like hold the reins and gallop away?”
He grinned, glad he could help her have a brand new experience. “Yes on the reins, but for your first time, I think galloping might be a little dangerous.”
“Hell, what are we waiting for? Let’s go.” She took the food bag from him, looped her arm around his, and pulled.
He willingly went with her, vaguely wondering what the staff would say about this little excursion before his shift. Then again, it didn’t really matter. They were a tight knit group and it probably wouldn’t go any further than one another.
With his guess that it was a Poker Flat guest who was out to get Adriana fired, he just didn’t want the resort’s clientele to know any more about her than they already did.
When they arrived at the barn, Jorge met them. The first generation Mexican-American had taken over the stables after Wade was promoted to resort manager. From what Hunter had gathered, that was the same time Wade had begun sleeping with the boss, but who was he to judge?
Jorge did a great job and would give his life for the horses. He was shorter than Hunter, with short black hair and a crooked nose that rumor had it he received after being in a fight to defend Kendra’s honor. The man was thin, the kind of cowboy that had wiry strength even though he was more than ten years Hunter’s senior.
He had five horses saddled and ready. “What can I do you for, Cash?”
Adriana laughed that Jorge used the name Cole had bestowed on him, but he just smiled. “We need a couple horses for a short ride.”
Jorge looked at Adriana. “So you’re finally gonna try it?”
“Absolutely! I’m on vacation, after all.”
Jorge gave her a smile. “Good for you, Chica. It’s about time.” He returned his attention to Hunter. “I have two couples coming out for a sunset ride, but you can choose from who’s left, except for Ace. He’s feeling a little under the weather today.”
“Got it.” Hunter headed into the barn while Adriana chatted with Jorge. He stepped up to Romeo. “Hey, boy. You ready for a mellow ride?”
The tall quarter horse came over to let Hunter pet him. “What do you say we bring Elsa along for my pretty lady?”
At the mention of her name, Elsa came to her stall door. “I guess that’s a yes.” He grinned as he walked over to the tack room. Bringing out a saddle and halter for Romeo, he had the horse cinched up and ready to go in no time. It was amazing how it all came back to him, though it had been years since he’d ridden.
As he headed back to grab a halter
and saddle for Elsa, the old feeling of loss and hopelessness settled in again. All his horses were gone. His ranch was gone. Everything sold so he could pay for Julie’s medical bills, but every expert in the state still couldn’t keep her from dying. “Brain dead” they called it.
But he’d felt her squeeze his hand when he talked to her. Sometimes he swore she was dreaming because her eyelashes fluttered. And it wasn’t like they had her hooked up to a bunch of machines, just one to help her breathe and she was fed through a tube. Otherwise, she looked as if she slept.
It was his mom who had talked him into saying goodbye. She said if it was meant to be, Julie would hang on and come out of it. He’d been so sure she would. Either that or he just needed her to. Finally, one night when they were alone, he told her she could go if that’s what she wanted. He told her how much he loved her and reminded her of some of the fun times they had and the stupid things he’d done to capture her attention.
He’d held her hand and kissed her as he lied through his teeth and told her he’d be okay, but he hadn’t really believed she’d leave him.
Two hours later, Julie slipped away.
He’d been shocked.
When the heart monitor went flat, the nurses ran in, but with tears running down his face, he waved them away. He’d signed the DNR the day before, again because he didn’t think Julie would really leave him, and since he’d lied to her, telling her it was okay to go, he couldn’t go back on his word.
He rested his head on her leg, held her hand and bawled his eyes out. After an hour, the hospital called his mom and she forced him to sit up and say his final goodbye.
The gaping hole in his heart was still there. He should have never gone for the second tour. If she hadn’t been driving to meet him at the airport, she wouldn’t have been killed.
His fault. His failure.
Chapter Nine
‡
“Hey, cowboy, are you just going to stand there all night looking drop-dead gorgeous or are you going to show me how to ride one of these beauties?” Adriana sauntered into the barn, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
He hefted the saddle that he’d let slide to the barn floor and moved to Elsa’s stall. What the fuck was he doing? Why was he with this woman?
Adriana moved to the horse’s stall. “Am I going to ride you, pretty girl?” She stroked Elsa along the side of her neck. “You’ll be nice, right? I’ve never done this before, just so you know. It’s my first time, so go easy on me.”
Adriana’s unease made him swallow his suggestion they forget the whole thing. He’d told her he’d take her on this stupid picnic, so he would.
She glanced at him, still petting the horse. “I can’t remember the last time I said it was my first time.” She gave him a lopsided grin, one that made it clear she was out of her element on this, but wanted to learn.
“You need to let me bring her out.”
Adriana stepped away. “Okay, just tell me what to do, or not to do. I don’t have a clue.”
He led Elsa out. “Don’t stand behind the horse. They have a kick that could actually kill you.”
Adriana moved to the opposite stalls, which were empty at the moment. Shit, now he had her afraid of them.
Great, he was an ass. He focused on getting the saddle on Elsa and cinched it tight. He was about to call Adriana over when he noticed her shorts. Where the fuck was his head? She’d be rubbed raw if he let her ride like that. Why hadn’t he had her change? She’d even asked him if she should, but he’d been thinking with his cock instead of his head.
Wait a minute. They offered naked riding at Poker Flat. He strode toward the entrance to examine the four horses waiting to be ridden. Each one had a saddle cover of soft material that stretched over the seat and had a slit for the stirrups with a flap to cover the stirrup leather. It was ingenious actually, and his respect for Kendra went up a notch.
“Need something, Cash?” Jorge sat in a lawn chair just outside the barn smoking a cigar as he waited for the guests.
“Yes. Where can I find one of these covers?”
Jorge smiled. “Pretty snazzy, huh? They’re on the second shelf on the left in the tack room.”
He tipped his hat. “Thanks.”
“And if you’re going to want privacy, take one of the left-hand trails. I’ll be taking guests up the right one.” Jorge winked.
Hunter gave him a quick nod and strode back into the barn.
“Everything okay?” Adriana’s smile was tentative. “I mean, if you don’t want to do this, that’s fine.”
Here was his out. He could walk away from spending the next couple hours with her, but he couldn’t do that. Getting her hopes up then bailing out was not his way. “No, just need something first.”
He continued to the tack room. What the fuck was wrong with him? This was his idea and now he didn’t want to go? He was more messed up than he thought. Pulling a saddle cover from the shelf, he returned to Elsa. After pulling the strings tight that kept the material on, he finally understood how they could offer naked riding.
He beckoned Adriana over. “You will want to mount a horse from her left side.”
She listened intently to every word he said, nodding as he explained how to direct the horse and slow it down. Finally, he helped her mount.
Adriana looked around. “This is higher than I expected.” The worry in her voice was clear. “There’s no seatbelt on this?” She actually looked behind her to check the saddle.
He stifled a chuckle. “It’s like riding a motorcycle. No seat belt.”
“What about a helmet?”
“I can check the tack room. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some in there.”
“Are we going to go fast?”
He studied her. She held the reins in one hand, but she clutched the saddle horn with the other. It was the first time he’d seen her look uneasy.
“No, I will keep it to a walk this time.” He kept his voice low like he would to soothe a wounded soldier.
She gave him a nod. “Then I’ll stick to my cowgirl hat.”
He had to give her credit. She was nervous but determined.
He mounted Romeo, the feel of having a horse beneath him again an instant relaxant. He should have done this long ago.
“Oh my.” Adriana had her hand over her heart.
“What?” He scanned her to make sure he hadn’t screwed something up. “Everything alright?”
“More than alright.” Her gaze roamed over him. “You really do know what you’re doing.”
Her admiration had his male ego rearing its head again. He put a lid on it. “Elsa will naturally follow Romeo, so unless she tries to go off the trail, just enjoy the ride.”
“I plan to.” Adriana winked, a clear indication she was thinking of a different ride.
He ignored his cock’s movement and started Romeo out the barn. He looked back to see Elsa following, but Adriana’s eyes were wide.
Holy shit. It hit him. She wasn’t making innuendos because she was interested in sex. She used sex to hide her fear. She used sex to keep her distance. As contradictory as it sounded, his gut told him he was right.
When they came outside, the guests had arrived for their sunset trail ride and waved, causing Jorge to stop his instructions and turn around. “Enjoy your ride.”
This time Adriana laughed, but it wasn’t her usual relaxed one. “Oh, I plan to.”
Hunter continued to walk Romeo to the trailhead clearly marked by a wooden sign with a horse’s head burnt into it. The sun was definitely lower now, but sunset was still awhile off.
He looked back to check on Elsa and Adriana. Elsa was doing fine, but Adriana seemed surprised.
When she saw him looking at her, she smiled wide. “I didn’t realize how much hip action there was in riding a horse. I should have worn my split panties with the center string of pearls.”
Aw, fuck. He turned back around, his swelling cock very uncomfortable with the ride. Maybe Adriana jus
t used sex for everything, good and bad.
When he came to the first fork in the trail, he stayed left as Jorge suggested. He really didn’t feel like socializing with the guests. Shit, he didn’t even feel like talking to Adriana.
As he walked Romeo between a dense grove of mesquite trees and a steep ravine wall, they came out into an area that looked made for a picnic. The little creek was running steadily after recent rains and the desert had started blooming with yellow sun cups, hot pink fairydusters, and a smattering of blue dicks. He didn’t plan to tell Adriana the name of those particular flowers.
“Oh wow, look at this.” She brought Elsa along beside him as if she’d ridden for years. “Are these wildflowers?”
He nodded. “This will make as good a place as any for dinner.”
She didn’t say anything, so he looked over at her. She was smiling from ear to ear.
Not sure why she was so happy, he dismounted and came over to her. “Now swing your right leg over without hitting Elsa’s rump while holding on to the saddle horn, then lower yourself slowly.”
He held the reins and stood nearby, waiting to catch her if she fell.
She dismounted perfectly. “Oh, I am definitely going to have to take up riding. Maybe you could give me lessons.” She batted her eyelashes at him before laughing out loud.
He gripped Elsa’s reins to avoid taking Adriana in his arms and kissing her. She was a life magnet, enticing him with her exuberation.
He didn’t reply. Instead, he led Romeo and Elsa to the stream in case they wanted to drink. It hadn’t been a strenuous walk for the horses, but the desert air was dry so it couldn’t hurt.
He pulled the food from the saddle bags on Romeo and looked back toward the trail.
Adriana was walking through the wildflowers. She picked each one and smelled it before sticking it into her hair below her hat. They weren’t staying. They slowly slipped through, creating a cascade of color on one side of her face.
The woman’s sexiness appeared exaggerated in the natural setting. Her long legs in her short cowboy boots just begged him to spread them.