The Taylor Ranch: Cade

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “Sounds like a good idea. Let me go grab a pen and paper.”

  Cade looked around the hallway of the house while he waited for Patrick to return. Looked the same as it had since he’d worked here, but that was a good thing because it always felt like a real home.

  “Okay, you want to write down that number and I’ll make sure April gets it.”

  Cade took the pen and paper and wrote the number of his cell phone under his name. He handed it and the pen back to Patrick. He put his hat back on and turned toward the door. Patrick went ahead of him and opened it.

  “Don’t be a stranger anymore,” he said. “In fact, come for dinner one night.”

  Cade simply nodded. He’d love to, but he didn’t think it would be a good thing––he didn’t want to be April’s rebound man. Well, that was if she was even interested in getting involved with another guy.

  “Nice seeing you again,” said Cade before he headed back to his truck.

  Damn, he’d missed her and she’d been intending to go to his ranch. He took a deep breath. He’d have to go through all this again. He turned on the ignition and headed out of the parking area and down the road that exited the Dubois Ranch.

  Another truck was heading toward the house, setting up dust and making it hard to see, but as it got closer he was able to recognize who was driving it. April. Would she know it was him?

  When she slowed her truck, he guessed she did. She stopped, pulled over and got out so Cade decided to do the same.

  April looked better than she had two years ago. A hell of a lot more curves, in tight-fitting jeans and a short leather jacket. The white-t-shirt underneath it pulled across her chest, showing the outline of her heavy breasts and bra. He was in love all over again.

  They stood looking at one another, neither of them saying a word. He knew what his next move was going to be. It was pure stupidity, but he couldn’t help it.

  Taking two large strides over to her, he grabbed her, pulling her close into his body. And then he kissed her. Not just a quick peck like old friends, but one befitting old lovers who were reuniting. She opened her mouth to him, letting him glide her lips with the tip of his tongue, and obviously giving him permission to slip it into her mouth.

  She even smelled exactly how he’d remembered. He’d never forgotten the perfume she always wore. He had her in his arms again and he never wanted to let her go. His cock pulsed and that’s what made him realize he was playing with fire. So much had gone on between them, the betrayal and those angry words spilling from his mouth.

  Cade pulled away, once again, neither of them saying anything. He quickly realized he shouldn’t have kissed her–– he couldn’t handle this right now. He got into his truck and simply drove away, glancing in the rearview mirror and seeing April standing there, watching him leave.

  Chapter Five

  April stood watching Cade’s truck disappear from sight. She brought her hand up to her mouth and ran her fingers over her lips where Cade had kissed her. Her first instinct had been to push him away, and not because she didn’t want him to kiss her. When his lips had touched hers she’d thought back to the days without him, when she’d tried to relive their very first kiss over and over again. Sometimes it was what kept her sane, kept her going. Kept her positive about seeing the finishing line of her phony marriage.

  He’d obviously had second thoughts about kissing her again, hence the reason for his hasty retreat. However, he’d stirred up not only memories of previous kisses, but her libido too. Cade Mallory had always been good at pushing that particular button.

  So how dare he kiss her and take off, leaving her wanting more.

  Damn, he could be stubborn at times, but that was another quality she loved so much about him. April couldn’t blame him, and that was the reason she needed to talk to him and get things straightened out.

  Getting in her truck, she put it into gear and headed toward the house. Her father was just walking across the path that led to the barns and stables. He waved and then walked toward her. She pressed the button to open the truck window.

  “Cade was here looking for you. Well, at first I think he pretended he was stopping by to say hello to me, but while I’m charming and handsome, I was realistic enough to know he was here to see you.”

  Her father’s wonderful dry wit again. Despite now being in a somber mood, she smiled.

  “Yeah, he passed me on the road.” She wasn’t going to tell her father about the kiss.

  “What, he didn’t see you?”

  “I’m not sure, because there was a lot of dust swirling around.”

  “Cade left his cell phone number and said for you to call him. It’s on the fridge, you can’t miss it.”

  That was before the kiss. Maybe now he wouldn’t want her to contact him.

  Well, she was going to whether he liked it or not.

  “I think I’ll do that right now.”

  “I’ll see you at supper.”

  “And don’t be late because it’s another one of your favorites.”

  He touched the brim of his cowboy hat and walked away.

  April parked the truck and went inside and through to the kitchen where she saw the slip of paper her father had mentioned, under a magnet in the shape of the state of Montana that April had made when she was six.

  She removed it, walked over to the phone and dialed the numbers. Since the kiss, she’d become more confident about talking and reconnecting with him. A woman knew when a man still had feelings for her, and this time no Ben Parker and his deals were getting in her way.

  “Hi, Cade Mallory speaking.”

  “What was all that about?”

  She didn’t say who it was because she was sure he knew.

  “It was a foolish impulse and I shouldn’t have done it.”

  “Didn’t feel foolish to me.”

  “Well, you weren’t the one on the receiving end of hurt and pain.”

  He did still carry a grudge and she couldn’t blame him one little bit, but maybe when he heard the true story he’d understand.

  “Cade, I’d like to…”

  “Look I thought us saying hello was a good thing, so there’s no awkwardness when we run into one another, which being in Pine Creek we’re bound to do. So now we’ve done that with this phone call, and we’ve even thrown in a kiss for good measure, so I think that pretty much takes care of it.”

  “No it doesn’t. Not in my books. Cade, I have to tell you what happened and why I walked away from you.”

  “April, it’s water under the bridge. I’ve moved on. I have my ranch and I’m seeing someone right now, so like I said let’s be civil when we see one another and leave it at that.”

  The purring noise in her ear told her he’d cut her off.

  She sat down still cradling the phone in her hand, pushing it into her chest as the first tear fell onto her cheek.

  Fool to come back.

  How arrogant of her to think that because Cade was living just down the road, they could pick up where they left off. He had someone. Her father had been wrong about there not being a girlfriend. However, he wasn’t to blame because her dad wasn’t really into gossip, and who was seeing who and sleeping with which person in town didn’t interest him in the slightest.

  Maybe she’d leave Pine Creek for good this time. She’d miss the ranch and her father all over again but she couldn’t go through years of wondering, every night when she went to bed, if she’d hadn’t made the deal with Ben how things could have turned out for her and the only man she’d ever really loved.

  Chapter Six

  He’d been so good at being strong and putting on a different persona so people couldn’t see that he’d almost fallen apart when April had married Ben, that it was almost second nature to him now.

  Yes, he’d moved on with his career, hence him buying his own ranch. That much was true. However, him seeing someone … a total lie. He’d tried dating, even giving in to well meaning friends who’d set him up on b
lind dates. Despite some of the women being cute and nice, his heart would always belong to April Dubois.

  He hadn’t slept with another woman since she’d left his life. Not that he hadn’t wanted sex, but he didn’t think it was fair to make love to a woman while wishing April was the person underneath him.

  He threw the saddle over his horse, secured it under its belly and got on, riding out into the pasture and beyond. Cade dug his heels into the side of the horse, willing it to go faster, and hoping the wind whipping by his ears would clear away the thoughts of her.

  Wishful thinking.

  Cade slowed the horse down again. He’d go back to the house and his paperwork. Order some supplies and get absorbed in all the boring stuff … that should do the trick. He rode the horse back into the stables and fifteen minutes later was sitting at his desk figuring out how much feed they’d need when he heard someone knocking on his door.

  He wasn’t expecting anyone. He pushed his glasses up on his head and walked out into the hallway. He opened the door.

  “May I come in?”

  His mouth went suddenly dry.

  “April, I thought I’d made it clear on the…”

  She put her hand on his chest, and pushed him backwards until she was inside the house. She closed the door.

  “I’m seeing someone,” he said, knowing this was his last and only chance of defense, but she had her hand on his body, for god’s sake. What was a man to do?

  “I think the only person you’re seeing is yourself when you look in the mirror.”

  He bit his lip, hoping the corners of his mouth weren’t curling up. Since she’d been away she’d obviously inherited Patrick’s dry wit.

  “She’ll be here any minute,” he said.

  “Then I’ll wait, because I’d like to meet her.”

  She sat on the closest chair.

  “You wear glasses now?” she pointed to the pair perched on top of his head. He’d forgotten all about them.

  He pulled them down and put them on. They were purely for reading and he hated the things.

  “I like them and they suit you.”

  “April…”

  “Are you going to let me explain to you why I married Ben?”

  “Jenine should be here soon.” Oops, little slip there, because Jenine had been his mother’s name. April knew that, and what a coincidence that he was dating a woman with the same one.

  “Cade, stop it.”

  She stood and walked over to him. They were so close he could feel her sweet minty breath on his chin.

  “Well, are you going to let me talk or what?”

  She was breaking away his barrier and he was too weak to resist.

  “Maybe after I’ve done this.”

  Cade Mallory never learned his lesson. Two of his teachers had written that very thing on his school reports.

  He leaned over and kissed April again, pulling her body in even closer than he had when they’d met on the road. His cock beat a steady rhythm against her belly. He should stop now but that would be next to impossible, because he’d been without the warmth of her lips on his for what seemed like two lifetimes. She wrapped her arms around him, opening her mouth to him, letting him slip his tongue over her lips. The room was spinning and he wasn’t dreaming. Yeah, he had lots of dreams where she was back in his arms. In that dream, Ben Parker taking her away had been just a nightmare.

  April pressed her body into his, setting every nerve ending on high alert. His cock grew stiffer, which told him they’d just passed the point of no return. Cade pulled her blouse out from her skirt. She’d always been so feminine with her fancy tops and dresses. A real lady, like his mother had been. He pushed his hand up underneath its hem, gliding it over her soft, warm skin.

  He’d gone to heaven, and all without having to die for the privilege. He pulled his lips away from her before putting his hands on either side of her face.

  “God, I’ve missed you like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “You’ll never know how I missed you. It was sheer agony every morning when I opened my eyes,” April said.

  Had he heard right? Maybe this was just a dream. He’d wake up and she’d be gone…but for now, he was going to enjoy himself. He kissed her again, this time feeling her pull on the fly of his jeans. If she wanted sex as much as he did––well, Cade didn’t think that was possible.

  “I want you,” he said.

  “I want you too.”

  He didn’t care what she’d done to him. He’d make love to her first and pay the price later.

  He ran his hand under her skirt, swiftly finding her panties. He guessed they were lace. April had always loved lace. He yanked at them, feeling them give. He hadn’t intended to rip them, but everything was happening so quickly. Shreds of lace fell to her feet.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll buy you a new pair.”

  “It’s okay,” she said.

  She eased her hand inside his boxers, finding his cock in seconds.

  He groaned as she touched it as only April could. Her hand firm, just how he liked it. Cade pulled up her skirt, taking a quick peek at the tight curls at the top of her thighs. He’d even missed seeing them. He touched them, letting his index finger get lost in their thickness, soon grazing her clit and hearing her draw in her breath like she always had when he touched the little nub. April kissed him, bit his bottom lip playfully as he pushed his finger through her folds, feeling them turn hot and slippery.

  “Do it,” she whispered.

  Cade knew exactly what she meant without having to ask. Although they’d only made love once before it had been so intense, that he knew her and her body almost as well as he knew his own. He pushed his finger inside her. Her channel was tight like she hadn’t had sex for a long time. He finger fucked her, hearing her groan louder on each plunge.

  “More, lots more,” she said, holding onto this shoulders, almost riding his finger. She pumped her hips, sending his finger deeper inside her pussy. The more he pumped her, the tighter her pussy felt. Just how long had it been since she and Ben gone their separate ways? It was growing clearer and clearer that April hadn’t been fucked for a very long time.

  She kissed him, wiggling her hips and forcing him to move his finger faster. She dug her nails into his shoulders and then it felt like her pussy was crushing it as it pulsed a steady beat. She cried out, her bottom lip quivering like she was on the brink of tears.

  April almost slipped to the floor. He caught her in time, picking her up and carrying her down the hallway to his bedroom. She put her arms around his neck, and her eyes held the same dreamy look she’d had that day under the oak tree.

  Condoms. He had an unopened box in the bathroom cabinet. Why he kept some on hand he wasn’t sure, because no one had even tempted him into taking her to his bed. April was the only woman he wanted between his sheets.

  He placed her gently on the bed, pulling down her skirt and seeing the curls on full display. She opened her blouse, slightly parting her legs as she did so. Her cream bubbled from her pussy, so pretty and such a turn-on. Cade took off his t-shirt and slipped off his jeans. He leaned over to help her take off her bra. It fell away from her body and he pushed it to one side.

  Her breasts were bigger and more beautiful than he’d remembered. She’d grown up and gotten more gorgeous while she’d been away. He cupped each breast in his hands. The nipples were exactly as he remembered them, light pink, long, and made for a man’s mouth to devour them.

  Cade leaned over some more and put his lips onto the right one. April ran her fingers through his hair, lightly touching his scalp and sending tiny impulses throughout his body.

  “Cade, you want me to tell you now?”

  He put his finger on her lips and shook his head. “After we’ve made love.”

  She nodded. If it was something awful like she didn’t love him, or he’d never be good enough for her, he didn’t want to hear it until after he’d had the opportunity to make love to her. To hear her sigh
s, feel his cock deep within her, their bodies entwined like they had that day.

  Doubly stupid on his part, perhaps setting himself up for another round of misery, but he couldn’t help himself. He stood up, preparing to fetch the condoms when April reached out and pulled down his boxers, her hand mere inches from his dick.

  “I have to go and fetch a condom, but I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded and he hurried as quickly as he could, running down the hallway to the bathroom, reached for the box and being all fingers and thumbs about it. He finally managed to pull out a foil package and headed back to his room where April was lying on her side.

  “Don’t you guys usually keep those by your bed?” she asked as he ripped open the package.

  “I haven’t had any use for them since you’ve been gone.”

  He sheathed himself and got onto the bed.

  “I can’t believe that.”

  “It’s true.”

  He kissed her, rolling her over on to her back.

  “You’ve been celibate all this time?”

  He nodded. April smiled.

  “Why, is that so hard to believe?”

  “Not at all…but I have too.”

  “Well, then we’d better do something about that,” said Cade.

  Chapter Seven

  He’d obviously thought she was joking. She couldn’t blame him… how many married women were celibate during their entire marriage? Still, she didn’t want to stop and tell him she wasn’t kidding around and spoil the mood. And for all she knew he could be joking too. A good looking guy like Cade not having sex since they’d parted company?

  If it was true she had to make it up to him, because it was probably all her fault. April kissed him, parting her legs. He walked his fingers up her thighs, looking at her like she was the most special woman in the world. Another thing she loved so much about him. Cade ran his finger over her curls and she closed her eyes, feeling him get between her thighs and then, heaven as his cock pushed inside her, filling her, and reminding her that she was back with the man that had rocked her world.