The Cowboy (Wild For Her Series Book 2)

by Ally Prince

  Mason ordered the beers while Tony and I found a booth and sat down.

  He exhaled before placing his wallet and cell on the table. “Just when you think you know someone.” He shook his head once again.

  “It’s not your fault. He was obviously good at hiding things.” They all were when they had to be. I needed to stop lumping all males into a pool with Brian. He was an ass in his own right, and I needed to stop thinking or using him as a comparison because he wasn’t worth the effort.

  “He checked out when I hired him. Now I need to find another replacement.” The man looked stressed, and I didn’t envy him at this moment. “I don’t think I’ve been out for a beer in months.” He took a moment to look around Walkers. It was a great place, great atmosphere, and Harry was a bit of a looker, so that was a bonus.

  “You don’t socialize much?” Not that it was any of my business.

  He shook his head and thanked Mason for the beer when he placed it in front of him. He slid in next to me and slipped an arm behind me on the back of the booth. I liked being open with Mason, not that we hid what we had, but not having to worry who might see was relieving.

  “I moved here three years ago for the job. I haven’t really made time to make friends and get out and about. But I think it’s about time I did. Brookfield has a great community spirit, I should try to be a part of that a little more. What about you, Mason? What do you do?”

  “I run a ranch and feed-lot out on County Road 76. My parents are thinking of retiring soon. Dad’s been ill, Mom keeps injuring herself. I think it’s about time they relax a little and enjoy life. Maybe give them a grandchild to dote on.”

  I snorted beer out my nose. It spilled on the table and my eyes burned and blinked fast as I tried to breathe. I coughed, wincing at the same time because it jolted my arm.

  “Jesus, Pen. Steady up.” He rubbed my back. My face grew hot and something burned in my chest.

  “Well, stop saying shit, Mason,” I growled, because what the ever-loving hell was he thinking. This man was my boss and would hopefully be again, he did not need to hear about our bedroom habits.

  “It’s the truth, Pen. No point denying it. We’re together, we’ll have a family and get married. What’s wrong with that?”

  Glancing up to see his eyes, he may have been slightly offended. But he threw it out there like you talked about the weather and it caught me off guard.

  “Nothing,” I stated. “But can we discuss this alone before we broadcast to people what our so-called plans are.” He seemed to contemplate that for a second before he shook his head.

  “Nope. That’s how it’s going to work, I’ve already decided.” The ass sipped his beer, laughter dancing in his eyes as he scanned the crowd avoiding me.

  “That’s what I want.” Tony stated.

  “What? Kids and marriage?” I asked, leaving Mason to people watch.

  “No.” He smiled and pointed between the two of us. “What you two have. It’s honest, loving, and something not everyone finds. You just get each other, you fit together. You move, he follows. It’s natural.” He shrugged at his words before taking a sip of his beer. I sat there stunned thinking about what he’d said, wondering if we were that transparent.

  Did we just fit? If we did, then there were no questions to be asked, we just were.

  “Yeah, well, it’s easy when you have the love of your life by your side. Penny makes life easy, most days.”

  Was he for real? I turned my head in his direction. “Most days?” I repeated, and both of the men laughed.

  “That’s what you choose to pick on.” He leaned forward brushing a quick kiss on my lips. “You’re the love of my life, Pen. What do you think about that?”

  “I think it sounds pretty wonderful.” The smile on my face wobbled at the sides, my eyes filled with tears. I’d blame the beer for making me emotional.

  I decided to scan the crowd to let my eyes settle. Pale blonde hair at the bar stopped me.

  Was that Kayla?

  And who the hell was the brute sitting next to her?

  “See. I want that,” Tony stated pulling me from the moment. “You have any single friends?” He chuckled but when he turned to scan the crowd, I couldn’t help but think he wasn’t joking. He finished his beer before slipping a bill on the table.

  “Buy yourself a drink on me. You’ve had a shitty few days, Penny. I’ll keep in touch if that’s okay?” He stood before heading out of the bar. I watched him leave until Mason put his face in front of mine.

  “Well?”

  “Well, what?”

  “Aren’t you going to say it?”

  I smiled at him, I knew what he wanted to hear, and he wasn’t going to get it in Walkers, he’d have to suffer and wait. I’m sure he would survive.

  My cowboy, as handsome as he was, was not one to wait. When he realized I had no intention of returning the words he wanted to hear, he dragged me out of the bar and took me home.

  He withheld several orgasms before finally relenting.

  Zero—Mason.

  One—Girl power.

  Mason

  I arrived back in town about five minutes ago. The drive out of state had gone as planned. With a phone call to Easton and with him doing some online stalking he found an address, full name, and even a criminal record of one, Brian Lionel Redding. AKA asshole, who needed to be taken down a peg or two. Sometimes it paid to have a cousin who lived on the wild side.

  Penny would not be happy. I would accept the consequences that came with the decision. But this was something I had to do. Knowing he was out there, I think it kept Penny back a little. She might not have been consciously aware of it, but I think in the back of her mind he hovered.

  I planned on taking care of her for the rest of our lives, this was the first item on the list.

  We had pulled up to a cafe, not a bar or club, a fucking cafe. The jerk in question sat in a booth with a pretty little blonde who looked like she was one sudden move away from a heart attack. Easton had recoiled at the sight. He clearly liked his women scared and fragile. Not anymore.

  The sweet little thing took a hike real quick when we told her to, I’m pretty sure she flipped him the bird too. I liked her.

  Brian looked confused and alarmed when Easton shuffled into the booth next to him and I slid in across from him.

  To cut a long story short, he pretended not to know Penny until Easton talked her up and then he admitted to nailing her. I had to hold myself back, Easton would be getting a black eye, the bastard.

  We were told quickly to take it outside, so we did.

  Brian got one hit in, right in the eye socket, so I had a shiner to explain to Penny. But when we left, Brian was well aware of what a low-life scum bag he was. We made it clear he would be watched and if he so much as pulled a girl’s hair we would come back. Was it true? Possibly not. But the dude needed a beating, and I hoped it helped save another girl from being treated like shit. Chances were that it wouldn’t do a thing, and he was sipping bourbon with his snobby father dissing his mother at this very moment. But I had tried, I had avenged Penny to an extent.

  I pulled up at Logan’s stables and found him in the office. The bastard laughed when he spotted me.

  “I have to see her reaction, this is gold. What sap got a hit in on you?” I hadn’t told him where I was going because he would have wanted to come.

  “Brian Redding.” I waited for his reaction, but he didn’t seem to register the name. “The dick who hurt Pen.”

  His face changed instantly. “You found him without me. What the fuck, man.” He stood from behind his desk, eyes boring holes into me.

  “You can’t leave, Luce. I had Easton’s help.” He accepted that with a nod and sat back down motioning for me to sit too.

  “So, tell me what happened.” I spent the next quarter hour filling him in on what had happened.

  “Thanks, man. Never thought I’d see you two together but you kind of fit. As much as I hate it, I
’ll get used to it.” He didn’t have a choice in the matter and I wasn’t going anywhere. “The girls are in the house, we should head in.” I wanted to wipe that smile off his smug face, but I didn’t, I had as much of a blessing from him as I was going to get. I’d settle for that.

  The girls were in the kitchen cackling over something, and the instant they heard us, crickets. Talk about suspicious.

  Logan walked in front of me.

  “Well, hellooo, handsome,” Lucy purred in what, no doubt, was her best seductive voice, I heard someone gag and figured it was Penny.

  “Oh, hey, Mason.” Lucy’s cheeks heated a little. “Oh, shit! What happened to you.” Logan was sitting her back down and kissing her head as Penny turned on her stool.

  “Care to explain?” she asked with a cocked brow.

  I shrugged and walked straight over to her and pressed my lips to hers. She sat stock still not returning the kiss. My hands reached for her face, framing it. I tilted her head a little and the small sigh that washed over my lips before she responded to the kiss was heaven.

  People cleared their throats. My tongue dueled with hers as she moaned.

  “Penny, for fuck’s sake.” Logan sounded tortured, I slowed the kiss and smiled against her lips.

  Her fingers touched my eye, it hurt a little, but I would do it again.

  “You okay?” Her voice gentle, her brow furrowed a little.

  “I’m fine. You’re fine.”

  “I’m fine?”

  “Yup.” I popped the ‘p’ and turned toward Logan and Lucy. “Want to go to Roys to eat?”

  “Oh, yes. I need some of that potato salad stuff they do that’s warm. Oh, I wonder if they have peach cobbler or even blueberry cobbler. Mm… let me change.” Lucy moved fast for a pregnant woman, Logan followed behind no doubt attempting to cop an eyeful while she changed. I turned my attention back to Penny as she sat on the stool with a funny expression on her face.

  “We’re okay?” She didn’t need to ask.

  “Come here.” I pulled her up to her feet and lifted her to sit on the bench and stood between her legs. My hands found her thighs. Her dark blue eyes scanning my face. I let her scan, I let her touch, and watched while she obviously was concerned about the possibilities.

  “Who did it?” she asked before pulling me down with her one good hand to press a kiss to my eye.

  “No one.” He was a no one, he didn’t deserve airtime ever again.

  “Mase.” Her tone made me chuckle.

  “You’re fine.” I pulled my face from her lips.

  “Why do you keep saying I’m fine?”

  “Because you are. I made sure you are. You’ll always be fine now. Nothing and no one will hurt you again.” Realization dawned on her and she shook her head. Tears welled in her eyes and she had to wipe at them.

  “Tell me you didn’t?” I kept my mouth shut. “Mase.” She licked her plump lips, and I had to sample them again. I moved in and kissed her. She didn’t hesitate at all to kiss me back. Her lips urgent as her hand snuck under my shirt and landed on my waist. Her legs tugged me closer until I was pressed against her pussy. I could feel the heat of her through my jeans and I wanted nothing more than to go home and sample that, but we needed to spend time with our friends. That was important, too.

  I tried to slow the kiss, but she seemed almost desperate.

  “Penny, it’s okay,” I mumbled through the kiss. I managed to break free. Her cheeks were wet and her smile sad. “I didn’t do it to upset you.” I wiped at her cheeks hating that I’d made her cry.

  “I’m not. I can’t believe you did that for me. Why?”

  “Because it bothered you. He won’t ever again. And the most important reason is because I love you.” Her watery smile was cute, and I was about to kiss her again when Lucy burst into the kitchen like her ass was on fire.

  “Let’s go, I’m starving.” She was grabbing her purse and heading to the door, not even waiting to see if anyone followed.

  “Let’s eat while she’s hungry. It doesn’t happen often,” Logan stated. Happiness looked good on him.

  “We’ll follow you there.” I tugged Penny off the counter and we headed out to eat. I knew it was just the start, her past would still haunt her, but at least she knew if she had a problem I was set on fixing them.

  I wouldn’t let her down again.

  Chapter 12

  Penny

  Blindfolds were not sexy. I staggered like a drunk giraffe as I teetered in my high heels while Mason tried to steer me in the right direction. The familiar scent of horse shit and hay hit my nose, so I knew we entered a barn or stable or somewhere of the likes.

  “Almost there.” His breath washed over my neck, gooseflesh broke out and a shiver raced down my spine. The bastard knew how much he affected me, I didn’t need to feed his ego anymore.

  With November fast approaching the air outside cooled quickly in the evening. The warmth of wherever we were washed over me, the slight wind chill outside and the thought of getting naked in it had me cringing. Not that I assumed we would get naked. Okay, I kind of did, we did it all the time.

  I could hear horses nearby as they scratched their hooves and snorted. Mason piled me up into his truck at his ranch and placed a blindfold on. We then drove for what felt like an hour. Every so often stopping, I personally think the bastard was doing laps around town to disorientate me. I had figured we were either back on his ranch or at Logan’s. Possibly Logan’s though, because this stable felt warm. Logan kept his heated.

  My heels clicked across the concrete flooring.

  “Okay, wait, just here.” Mason steadied me. Though I swear I still wobbled, might be the heels and the fact I couldn’t see even a speck of light.

  I could hear him shuffling about, humming to himself. Warm breath washed over my neck before he placed a light kiss on my pulse point.

  “Close your eyes for me.” I did as I was told and waited while he removed the blindfold. He smoothed out my hair, pressed a kiss to my lips. “Okay, you can open them now.”

  I blinked a few times, the light though low took a little to adjust to. I focused on his shirt and once that swam into focus, I moved my eyes to his face. Gosh, he’s handsome. His jaw unshaved for a few days and that dark hair making him look a little more intense. Dark brown eyes focused on me and tonight there was not a hat of any kind. I kind of loved his black trucker’s cap, but tonight he’d made an effort.

  I took my eyes from him and peered to my left. “Why are we in Logan’s stables?”

  He chuckled and then walked backward pulling me with him. “Well, it’s warm in here, and I ran it past him and he said fine.” We step into a stall and Mason moves out of the way stepping behind me.

  “Oh shit.” I gasped at what sat before me. I knew I loved this man, but this, this was everything. My hands came to my face and covered it for a second. This could not be real.

  “This is what it should have looked like the first time.”

  Yep, tears fell.

  “Mason.” My voice was weak and full of emotion, but I for once didn’t care. Mason loved me. Wholeheartedly.

  “When you were just eighteen, you asked me to take the one thing from you that no one else would get. I took it because I’m a selfish bastard and I knew that once would never be enough. We laid in these very stables... well, not these but you know what I mean. I laid you down on a rough canvas in the heat of summer and took you for the first time. This is what I should have done all those years ago to show you just how special that gift was.”

  This man was so getting laid tonight.

  Before us, sat a large blow-up kiddie pool filled with blankets and pillows. Fairy lights hung from the rafters. The stall had been blacked out from the rest of the stables with what looked like black hessian. And in the corner on a small bench, I spotted some champagne and strawberries. It screamed romance and caught me off guard.

  “This is what you deserve. This and more, Pen. Always.” The man
moved me so he could claim my mouth and I let him. We kissed just standing there for what felt like an age until he pulled away. “Will you let me treat you right this time?” The wicked little smile on his face told me he had no intention of doing anything less than orgasm inducing. And the way his eyes were eating up my body I knew we were in for a long night, and I prayed that noise from this barn didn’t carry up to the house.

  “I want you to do me.” I actually blushed a little when I said it. The small chuckle that left his lips washed over me causing me to shiver.

  “Oh, I will, baby. I will.” With that, he stepped back grabbing my good hand and moved us closer to the makeshift bed. “First, I want you naked, then I might cover you in champagne, and finally I might fuck you so hard Logan’s going to need earplugs.” I wanted to laugh, but Mason was making short work of his shirt. The laughter died in my throat as I watched him undress. I no longer saw his scars as a bad thing, or as something that could have lost him to me. They were him now, and I liked that better.

  Once his shirt rested over a bale of straw, he moved toward me. His hand coming to the hem of my shirt. With such tenderness, that he’d only showed since I injured my arm, he maneuvered me from the cloth and threw it to rest with his.

  “I like these.” His knuckle grazed my nipple over the material of my bra.

  “Well, that’s good.” He tugged on my nipple a little, and I couldn’t help but groan. Leaning forward, he placed his lips on the very edge of my bra, teasing the delicate flesh with his tongue and lips before his hand slipped around my back to undo my bra. He slid it off with practiced ease and then stepped back. “Actually, I want you in nothing but those heels. Fuck, Pen, your legs look phenomenal.” I kind of wanted to kick myself for wearing skinny jeans now. But we’d work around it.

  He dropped to his knees before me and shuffled the jeans down, stopping to press a kiss to my mound over my panties. He slipped my heels, jeans, and panties off and the heels back on before standing.

  “What a fucking masterpiece.” His hand rubbed at his cock, I had to rub my thighs together. “I’m such a lucky man. I am going to take good care of you.” He hummed stepping toward me. There was only a breath between us. His eyes on mine. My lips were parted and I was close to panting but he wasn’t even touching me. Slowly the tip of a finger touched my thigh and it gently and torturously slowly moved up the side of my thigh over the curve of my hip and into my belly button before dipping. His fingers slip between my damp folds. “I love how much you want me.” In slow circles his finger teased my hard nub, the light pressure was not enough and my hips began to try to seek more.