Chapter Twenty-Nine
The flash of sadness in Kate’s eyes frustrated the hell out of Rafe. How could he convince her to take a chance on him? He didn’t give a damn about that custom bed unless she was in it with him.
But he couldn’t say that or they’d be right back in the weeds. He pushed away from the table. “Maybe we should put the dishes in a sink full of soapy water before we—” The sounds of multiple horns honking shattered the stillness of the night. “What the devil is that?”
“The Babes are here.”
“Here? In front of the cottage? Dear God, I hope they’re not staging a chivaree.”
“What’s a chivaree?”
“It’s when people gather outside the house of newlyweds to make a ruckus banging on pots and pans. I haven’t heard of using car horns, but there’s no reason that wouldn’t be—”
“They’re up at Henri’s, not down here. It just sounds like they’re right outside. They did the same thing last time.”
“Why, for Pete’s sake?”
“It’s their new thing.”
“I don’t remember hearing this kind of racket before last month’s sleepover.”
“Maybe you were inside with music on. It was just like this. Even louder. They might have decided to keep it down because you’re here.”
“Sounds doggone loud to me. Ah, good. They’ve stopped. What’s the deal?”
“Red thought they needed some sort of official salute to begin the proceedings. She wanted a line of trumpets, but nobody at the Buckskin plays the trumpet.”
“I’m sure they could find a recorded fanfare they could use.”
“It was considered. Nobody liked the idea. They wanted it to be live. They chose the horns on their vehicles.”
“Did they warn you ahead of time?”
She smiled. “They did better than that. They asked my permission, since I’d be the main one affected. It’s once a month, so I said sure. I wonder what Aunt Lilith thought of it.”
“A few honking car horns is nothing to what she’s in for once the party gets started.”
“And that’s why I wear my earplugs during their sleepovers. Especially after they bought the karaoke machine.”
“Did you hear about the bawdy songs Ed loaded on that thing?”
“Oh, my God. Aunt Lilith will flip out.”
“Ed added the songs after that hair salon party she staged for Ellie Mae a few days after the auction. She and Ellie Mae know all the words and the others wanted to learn them.”
“No wonder Ellie Mae’s driving up. She and Ed make quite a… wait, that’s it! I know why they rescheduled. They want to gross out Aunt Lilith with bawdy karaoke and drunken hijinks so she won’t ever come back.”
Rafe gazed at her. “She does seem to like the place a little too much.”
“She also thinks you’re terrific. With what she’s seen so far, she’ll have charming stories to tell her friends about her niece and the hunky cowboy. Then she’ll need to fly back to gather more charming stories.”
“And if she’s dropped comments to Henri about future visits…”
“Henri would pull out all the stops to keep her away.”
“Then I hope it works. That’s assuming you don’t want more visits from dear Aunt Lilith.” More visits would mean more cottage time for him, but he wouldn’t point that out, either. So many land mines.
Kate met his gaze. “I can’t imagine what that would be like, having her fly out at a moment’s notice, which is what she loves doing.”
“Disruptive.” And he’d take it in a heartbeat if it meant he could spend the nights here.
“We won’t have to worry about it, though. The Babes have appointed themselves guardians of the Buckskin.”
“As usual.” Kate was probably right. The Babes were nothing if not thorough. Lilith wouldn’t be coming back. “Well, mystery solved. We can forget about their sleepover.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. “And concentrate on ours.”
Making love when time was running out added intensity, but Rafe would trade it instantly for a lifetime of everyday married sex with Kate. She wasn’t giving him that option.
She lay on her side facing him, eyes closed, pale lashes fluttering as she dreamed. She’d fallen asleep while insisting she wasn’t tired. As she’d drifted off, she’d stroked his thigh and claimed she had lots of energy left. A little catnap was all she needed.
One more time, Rafe. Her hand still rested on his thigh. It twitched as her muscles relaxed. Her tousled curls bore testimony to their last round. Around three they’d showered together, dried off and come back to bed because she’d wanted to treat him to oral sex, but not in the slippery shower.
What a treat it had been, too. As she’d driven him crazy, he’d managed to keep from coming by stroking his fingers through her hair, over and over.
When he was on the brink, he’d made her stop so he could suit up and sink into her warm body once more. Could be for the last time. They’d been arguing that point when she’d dozed off.
The lights were still on all over the house. They’d drawn the curtains so they could roam freely without getting dressed. A two-person orgy.
He’d learned where she loved to be stroked and where she was ticklish. She’d mapped the same territory on him. They’d made a lot of noise.
Oddly enough, he hadn’t heard much from Henri’s place. Some music and laughter had spilled out, but not at the volume the Babes were famous for. Now, as dawn approached, everything was quiet in the big house.
Here, too. Gave him time to count his blessings. He wouldn’t get what he wanted, but thanks to Lilith he’d been allowed this chance to hold Kate in his arms and kiss her with all the love in his heart. He’d spent hours caressing her silken skin and giving her pleasure.
She’d returned the favor, welcoming him and responding with such eagerness that he’d had the most satisfying orgasms of his life. These intimate moments with Kate would sustain him. He had much to be grateful for. He would always—
“Hey.” She followed her low, sexy murmur with a lazy caress, smoothing her hand up his thigh and over his hip. “I’m awake.”
Fire shot through his veins as he looked into her eyes. No mistaking what the lady wanted. “I see that.”
“One more time?”
His heart hammered as he reached blindly for the condom packets scattered on the hearth. “You don’t even have to ask.”
“Yes, I do. You might be too tired.”
He smiled. “No, ma’am.”
“Your friend says the same thing.”
He glanced down as she wrapped her hand around his rapidly expanding cock. Her ring hand. Would she take her ring off today? He handed her the packet. “Want to put it on?” One last time.
“Yes.” She let go of him so she could rip open the package. Tossing the wrapper over her shoulder, she lovingly rolled on the condom. The turquoise and malachite set into her ring caught the light. “There.”
“Any special requests?”
“No.” She stretched out on her back, her head on a pillow. “This is my favorite.”
“Mine, too.” He moved over her, braced on his forearms.
She slid her palms up his chest and wound her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” He gradually slid his cock into her tight channel as he held her gaze. “I’m not done.”
Her breath caught. “I meant for… everything.”
“Loved those burnt potatoes, did you?” He began an easy rhythm.
“Yes.”
“And the bruise on your tush from the rock under the blanket?” He picked up the pace.
“Uh-huh.” Her breasts quivered as she gulped in air. “Badge of honor.”
“And when we got so wild we shoved the mattresses apart?”
“Didn’t feel a thing. Too busy coming.”
“Same here.” And he would soon do that again. She was close and he was right behind her.
“I love you.”
She swallowed. “I love you, too.”
“It’s forever, Kate.” He thrust harder. “I’ll always love you.”
She started to shake her head.
“You know it’s true. You know.” He pushed deep and she came.
She gasped, but didn’t cry out. Her turbulent gaze locked with his and her fingers dug into his shoulders as she arched into her release.
With a groan, he slipped the leash on his control, shaking violently as the climax rocked him from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toes. As he absorbed the aftershocks, his and hers, he searched her stormy gray eyes for a glimpse of a possible future. He couldn’t give up. Not yet.
He’d put all he had into loving her. Had it been enough? There. A glimmer.
Then she closed her eyes.
Chapter Thirty
Kate had set her alarm since she was due at the dining hall to cook breakfast. But the click of the front door closing woke her before the alarm chimed.
Rafe had turned off the lights they’d left on all night, so the house was cloaked in early morning shadows. As she sat up, a piece of paper fluttered on the pillow next to hers.
Rafe’s note was short. His bold handwriting barely fit on the scrap of paper he’d found, a receipt from the Apple Barrel General Store that she’d left in the kitchen. Barn duty. Leave mattresses for me. Love, Rafe
She located her phone on the coffee table and checked the time. She’d have to leave the mattresses, either for him to move or for her to wrestle out of here when she came back. Showering and dressing would take all the time she had before heading to the dining hall.
As she hurried through her routine, the bare box springs on her bed kept Rafe front and center, darn it. She didn’t want him there. She wanted him tucked away until she’d had coffee and a chance to gather her wits.
She snatched up her phone on the way out the door. A text from Henri. She pocketed the phone and left. No time, now. She left the door unlocked in case Rafe came back to move the mattresses.
The parking area next to Henri’s was empty. The Babes had left. When had Aunt Lilith planned to fly out? Lack of sleep and lots of sex had blurred that detail.
The dining hall kitchen looked the same as it had the last time she’d cooked a meal here on Friday night, less than forty-eight hours ago. How was that possible?
With a sense of relief, she threw herself into preparing the meal. She sipped coffee to jumpstart her brain as she worked. Greeting the guests who arrived eager for breakfast helped, too. Feeding people gave her joy.
Toward the end of the breakfast hour, Henri showed up in the dining hall looking surprisingly chipper after a sleepover with the Babes. Normally a Babes pajama party meant a morning hangover.
Kate gave her a smile and a hug. “Do you want breakfast? I still have—”
“No, thanks. Some coffee is fine. I can get it.”
“Don’t drink what’s in the coffee urn. It’s been there a while. I’ll get you some fresh.”
“Okay. After everyone clears out, we need to talk. I texted you, but I—”
“I haven’t had time to read it.”
“Doesn’t matter. I just asked you to call me when you had a minute. After I thought about it, I decided to come over here and talk to you in person.”
“Then I’ll be right back with your coffee.” Returning to the kitchen, she poured coffee into a Buckskin logo mug and walked into the dining room as the last couple was going out the door. “Have a nice day, folks!” she called after them.
“We will! Thanks, Kate!” They gave her a wave.
Henri watched the interchange with a smile. “We get such nice people here.”
“Mostly.” Kate set down the coffee in front of Henri before taking a seat across from her.
She laughed. “Right. Want to get some coffee?”
“Thanks, but I’ve been sipping while I cooked. I’m good. You’re looking great, by the way.”
Henri gave her an amused glance. “As opposed to the way I usually am after a Babes sleepover?”
“Well…”
“It’s okay. I know I usually look like hell after partying with the Babes. But this time we didn’t get drunk and disorderly. We might have to remedy that by scheduling another sleepover on Thursday. To celebrate our win.”
“I’m so confused. I thought your plan was to shock the pants off Aunt Lilith.”
“We did think of that.” Henri sipped her coffee. “But Ed came up with a better plan. We decided to stay relatively sober and get Lilith smashed.”
“Are we talking blackmail pictures?”
“No, but that was on the table for a while. A very short while.” She drank more coffee. “You can get arrested for blackmailing someone.”
“What did you do?”
“We got her tipsy on her Dom Perignon while Ed dispensed financial advice. We acted like the advice was for Ellie Mae, but our target was Lilith.”
“Why? She has plenty of money.”
“And isn’t the least bit savvy about managing it. She pays through the nose for taxes. We hauled out my laptop and convinced her she needed to set up the Lilith Cutler Foundation for Aspiring Medical Practitioners to save tax dollars.”
“Medical practitioners like Ginny?”
“Oh, Ginny’s just the beginning. She’s fully funded, by the way. All the way to graduation. Ed set it up using Lilith’s banking info. We have account numbers, routing numbers, the works. She’s so easy when she’s drunk.”
“Can she reverse it when she’s sober?”
“Nope. For one thing, she doesn’t fully understand how to administer it, so Ed’s doing that for her. Pro bono, of course.”
Kate clapped her hands together. “I can’t freaking believe this! It’s fabulous! Aunt Lilith’s money will finally be used for good. Ginny’s education is paid for? All of it?”
“All of it.”
She gazed at Henri, her throat tightening. “How can I ever thank you? Or Ed? Or the Babes for orchestrating this?”
“Brownies are always welcome.”
“I’ll start baking.”
Henri reached across the table and took her hand. “Seriously, you don’t have to do anything. This was a sucky situation and we found a way to make it right.”
“Is Aunt Lilith still here?”
“Her chauffeur picked her up about thirty minutes ago. She was in no shape to see anyone. Hangover city.”
“I guess I should feel sorry for her.”
“No, you shouldn’t. She’s still selfish and manipulative. We preyed on her weakness, a desire to be admired. We told her this foundation would generate publicity. Lucy’s our PR expert. She’s going to contact some people in Indianapolis and get Lilith’s new venture some airtime.”
“I’m in awe. You guys rock.”
“By the way, have you called your mom and Ginny to tell them about the wedding?”
“No. I meant to do it yesterday, but—”
“Yesterday didn’t go according to plan.”
Her cheeks warmed. “No.”
“I guess it’s better that you haven’t called them. There’s one other aspect of this. It might not have occurred to you yet, but it’s something to consider.”
“What’s that?”
“Ginny’s education is assured. Your marriage to Rafe is no longer necessary.” She hesitated. “I don’t know where you are in your thinking, but if you wish, you can start divorce proceedings anytime you choose.”
Her joy curdled in her stomach, leaving her feeling queasy. “Uh, that’s true, I guess. Since it’s only been a couple of days, maybe an annulment would—”
“I thought that, too, but after Lilith tottered off to bed, we discussed it. With their multiple marriages, Ed and Ellie Mae are experts on the subject. They said an annulment is way more complicated than a divorce.”
“Really
? I figured it would be easier.” And less traumatic.
“Evidently not. For one thing, you have to testify that the marriage was not consummated.”
She fought the urge to cover her hot face. “Wow. That sounds so—”
“Outdated? Invasive? I know.” Henri’s sympathetic gaze held hers. “If you need help with this, let me know.”
She swallowed. “Thank you.”
Rafe’s truck was parked in front of the cottage when Kate came home after cleaning up the dining hall and kitchen. He was the last person she wanted to deal with right now, and yet the one person who deserved to have the information from Henri ASAP. He was, at least for now, her lawfully wedded husband.
He’d already moved her mattress back to her bedroom by the time she walked in and he was coming out to pick up the one that belonged in Millie’s room. He didn’t look surprised to see her.
She paused just inside the doorway. “Hi.” His hat and keys lay on the table next to it. She was used to seeing them there.
“Hi.” He took a breath. “I was hoping you’d come back while I was doing this. I hated leaving without saying goodbye, but you needed the sleep, so I—”
“I understand.”
“Let me get this other mattress transferred and maybe we can take a minute to talk. I have a little time before I have to head back to the barn.”
“Okay.” She took off her jacket and laid it over the back of the couch, which was still out of position. Unless he’d loaded the dishwasher, their dishes from last night were in the sink. Condom packets lay on the hearth.
He picked up the second mattress as if it weighed nothing and carried it into Millie’s old room. And looked damned good doing it.
She was hungry, exhausted and torn between elation for Ginny and dread about how Rafe would react to talk of divorce. “I’m grabbing some brownies. Want some?”
“Always!” he called back.
“I’ll make coffee.”
“Great!”
She had coffee brewing when he walked into the kitchen. She turned toward him. “I saw Henri this—”
Strong-Willed Cowboy (The Buckskin Brotherhood Book 5) Page 17