Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch Book 7)

by Vivian Arend

  No need to explain in any more detail. Allison gestured to where Gabe was waiting. “Come on, I’ll walk up with you.”

  All around them the land had turned the vivid green of summer, and there were contented-looking sheep scattered over the nearest hillside. “Looks as if your diversification plans are going well.”

  “We’ve got cattle on the far fields, and while transitioning the herd is still moving slowly, the sheep are fully certified,” Allison reported. “This portion of the Coleman ranch is closer than ever to organic status.”

  There were more healthy-looking sheep waiting behind the corral fencing as they approached, and Melody smiled as she extended a hand to Gabe. “Those animals don’t need a vet. You’re going to put me out of a job,” she protested.

  “You know it.” He winked. “You want to head inside and check the new breeders we purchased? I’ll be in in a minute.”

  It was cooler in the barn, and a lot darker, and for a moment she stopped, Allison at her side, as they blinked hard to get their eyes to adjust.

  Soft masculine laughter drifted over. “You look like owls,” someone teased.

  She twisted to the side and discovered Gabe’s younger brother standing with a rake in hand, blond hair tucked under a cap and a hesitant smile on his lips.

  “Whooooo,” she said mischievously.

  Rafe’s smile bloomed, and his face transformed. High cheekbones and square cut jaw revealed a shadow of the handsome man he’d be once he put on a few more years. Now he was good looking, with a few cuts and scrapes adding to his appeal.

  All of them had that Coleman cast to their features. Melody smiled back as she considered the differences between the youngest in the clan and Steve.

  “Good to see you again, Rafael.”

  He offered a quick nod then turned away, striding toward the darker recesses of the barn. She bit back her amusement. There was something she’d never expected. A shy Coleman?

  Allison stepped close enough to whisper, “I think he’s got a crush on you. He was watching you most of the barbeque when Steve wasn’t looking.”

  Oh dear. “Well, that’s…sweet.”

  No way she would let the boy know how hilarious she found this idea. Not because Rafael wasn’t attractive, but because she simply didn’t need any more trouble on her plate, and having more than one Coleman vying for her hand would be trouble with a capital T.

  She went to work, Allison chatting for a short while before taking off to go help her siblings at the family restaurant they co-owned. That left Melody with the Angel Coleman boys, which was fine by her. They worked slowly but efficiently through the animals, taking a quick break at the house for lunch.

  Melody got back to the barn before the boys did, headed into the pens to finish the last of her tasks.

  She’d been working for about thirty minutes, enjoying the calm of the barn. The only noises the shuffling of the sheep’s feet and their low bleats. So when a gruff voice startled her from her intense concentration, she just about jumped out of her skin.

  “What the hell are you doing in there?”

  She gripped the sheep under her hands solidly to stop it from escaping after being spooked by his loud question. Melody glanced up to find Ben Coleman glaring at her.

  “Afternoon. I’m here on a vet visit,” she reminded him. “Your son contacted me.”

  If anything that made him glare harder. “Bullshit.”

  Wow. She might have had issues the other day with Dalton, but this was beyond the typical response. Melody rose to her feet, brushing her hands on her jeans as she made her way cautiously toward the gate and left the pen. She extended a hand in the hopes of turning around his attitude. “We’ve met before. Last year I was out when Mathis was checking—”

  “Where’s he?” Ben interrupted.

  Melody fixed her smile in place, reciting the now familiar words. “Mathis is on vacation. I’m filling in for him, and—”

  A stream of curses interrupted her, low and vehement, and far more in-her-face rude than any of the previous ranchers had been. Melody stumbled backwards as Ben crowded forward.

  “Dad.”

  Rafael stepped between them, the young man casually leaning the rake in his hand toward his father to halt his progress. Ben jerked to a stop. He blinked, then twirled on his heel and stomped from the barn.

  Melody stared at his retreating back, and the broad shoulders of the young man standing before her, and wondered what the heck had just happened.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Rafe twisted on the spot, an unreadable expression on his face. “Of course.” He cleared his throat then motioned back toward the pen she’d left. “Are you done with them?”

  So they were going to pretend nothing strange had happened. Fine. Melody knew the rules. “I’m done everything here, unless you have other animals I need to check somewhere else on the ranch.”

  Rafael shook his head. “Just whatever Gabe contacted you about.”

  They were silent as he walked her back to the truck, because there wasn’t really anything she could discuss with him.

  All she knew for sure was walking off the Angel Coleman land and onto the Moonshine section was like moving from a very solemn event to a daycare.

  Trevor and Lee greeted her with loud whoops as they waved from the backs of their horses, headed for the rails to dismount and tie up the animals. Dogs barked as they raced underfoot, and the herd of horses shuffled excitedly behind the railing as they were funneled toward the barn.

  She raised a hand to wave back when a lariat dropped over her shoulders and tightened around her torso.

  “Looks like I caught myself the nicest filly in the batch,” Steve teased as he pulled her toward him and planted a lusty kiss on her lips before setting her free.

  “Bad boy,” Melody warned, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed his public display of affection.

  Steve stepped in closer. He lifted her chin with his fingers. “Are you trying to hide?”

  She hesitated. “Not really. I mean, I just want to be as professional as possible.”

  His I’m-sexy-and-I-know-it grin was firmly back in place. “Who says it’s not professional to lay one on me?”

  Trevor paced by and caught wind of their conversation. “Is Melody passing out kisses? Because, hell yeah, I’m in the lineup for that.”

  Steve ducked past her and lunged at his brother, laughter rising from both of them as she rotated on the spot to watch their hijinks. Steve’s dog, Prince, sauntered over to greet her, and Melody bent to brush a hand over his ears.

  “It doesn’t matter how old they get, I doubt they’ll ever grow up.” Kate Coleman stood beside her, her long hair pulled back into a serviceable braid as she smiled at Melody. “Good to see you again.”

  This woman was one of the reasons Melody had been extra pissed off at Steve a year ago. Breaking up with him made it awkward to stay in touch with anyone in his family, and Kate made her long for all sorts of family-like things she tried not to dwell on. “It’s good to see you too.”

  Kate watched her boys for a moment before shaking her head and motioning toward the yard. “Let them catch up with us. I’ll show you where we need to go.”

  Melody searched the area as they walked side by side toward the horses. “Where’s Mr. Coleman?”

  There was a beat before Kate answered. “He’s not feeling well, so he’s traded some chores with me.”

  Made sense to Melody. “Then let’s get to it.”

  With the three boys and Kate chipping in, her job was over in no time. When they were finished, Lee and Trevor took off on their horses, headed for another part of the ranch and the rest of their work.

  Kate planted her hands on her hips and stared directly at Melody. “Now, you stop by again before we call you out to do your vet thing. You know you can join us anytime.”

  The welcome made her feel warm inside, and Melody smiled. “Thank you.”

  Kate headed
back to the house, and Melody was ready to hit her truck when Steve caught her by the hand. “I need you to look at something for me.”

  Melody glanced around, positive she had finished checking the herd. “Do you have more in another sector?”

  Steve didn’t answer, just pulled her along. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  She went with him willingly, around the side of the barn to where his truck and a horse trailer waited. He helped her into the driver side and she slid into the middle seat, checking her watch to make sure she didn’t get too far behind schedule. No way did she want another repeat of her hellish Monday. “I’ve got thirty minutes tops, otherwise I need to phone the clinic and let them know I’ll be late.”

  “You won’t be late,” he promised.

  They rattled down a short side road but instead of turning toward the highway, Steve took them along a back trail that led through the trees into a clearing at the side of wide-open ranch land. Nothing lay before them but miles of low rolling hills. To the west, the Rocky Mountains rose above to the sky, the craggy peaks decorated with a tiny dusting of white in the highest cracks and crannies. The tree line broke off to expose granite greys and flashes of white quartz.

  It was an amazing view, and she was glad it was something she got to see every day of her life.

  She was still staring in admiration when Steve parked the truck and jerked open the door.

  Melody followed him out, but couldn’t see any signs of an animal that needed attention. “Do you want me to be a veterinarian to the squirrels?” she teased.

  He whirled, catching her under the hips and pulling her against his body so he could kiss her fiercely. Her back pressed against the cold metal of the horse trailer as his overheated body met hers.

  “You’re driving me crazy,” he confessed when he finally let her breathe. “I’ve been aching to touch you since the weekend. I need to be inside you.”

  Melody didn’t have the words to protest, especially not when he put his lips to her neck and sucked. A flash of heat went from his mouth through her entire system, and she clutched his shoulders.

  She was in motion again, this time her feet on the ground as his hands scrambled at her belt buckle. “I want you right now,” he demanded.

  The clock was ticking, but his hands were doing incredible things even as Melody tried to make the right decision. “Oh, God. Here? You’re not serious, Steve, right out in the open—?”

  He shoved her jeans down to her ankles. He stripped off his shirt, dropping it on top of the wheel guard of the trailer while she stood, pants around her ankles, admiring the broad bands of muscles on his torso.

  Then she was on top of his shirt, her knees spread wide as he pulled her forward to his eager mouth. Her ankles were trapped together by her pants, but Steve didn’t seem to care.

  Melody shoved her hands into his hair to catch her balance, but there was no catching her breath as he ate greedily. His tongue danced over her clit until she was gasping, the sound loud in contrast to the wind in the trees behind them. Everything that had to be done that day vanished as her world closed on this time, this place.

  This man—

  The one sending her reeling toward an orgasm. Melody smiled and took the ride.

  It was as if everything he’d ever kept hidden inside could no longer be contained. Steve relished being able to touch and taste. The last hour had been a challenge. He’d wanted nothing more than to crowd her against a wall and take her right there.

  He stripped away her pants, lifting her knees in the air until she was wide open to his touch. With her death grip on his hair, neither of them was moving too far apart, but now he slowed, teasing the tip of his tongue over her clit and listening as her muted curses rose in volume.

  “Jeez, Melody. So fucking delicious. Come on my tongue. I’ll fuck you hard once you’ve come.”

  He slipped her feet onto his shoulders, admiring the perfect positioning that allowed him to lick along one side of her folds and down the other. Thrusting his tongue as deep as possible. He paused to wet his fingers, getting them slippery so when he placed the tips to her sex and pushed in, a happy groan escaped her. In the brief moment he watched her face, all he saw was pleasure.

  Then he was busy with his mouth on her pussy, lapping and licking and driving her wild as she squirmed under his touch. With two fingers buried deep in her body, he pumped slowly, focusing on the sensitive spot of her clit with his lips until her fingers tightened, pulling his hair as her body clamped down on his fingers, her moan of pleasure floating toward the trees.

  A second later he was on his feet, his jeans unzipped and cock in hand. He didn’t bother with any of the niceties other than lining up and pushing deep. Hot-white pleasure surrounded him as her pussy squeezed the daylights out of his cock.

  “Oh my word,” Melody whispered. “You feel twice as big as usual.”

  He couldn’t stop his grin from widening. “Way to stroke my ego, sweetheart.”

  Then he caught her around the waist and lifted her in the air, moving away from the wheel well so he could push her back against the metal trailer and thrust up hard.

  A gasp escaped her, air brushing past his ear as she caught her hands around his shoulders and clung on tight. Her ankles were locked at the small of his back as she used her legs to help him drive in deep.

  “Look at us. Look where we are,” Steve demanded, one hand catching her chin and lifting until their eyes met. He held her there so he could stare into endless pale-blue pools as he drove his hips forward. “You wanted our sex lives to get more exciting, and for me to give you new experiences. How’s this?”

  No need to wait for an answer, because he already knew she liked it. Oh hell, yeah, she liked it a lot.

  At least that’s what her nails digging into his shoulders told him. And the small noises that escaped her lips in an endless stream. Nothing sophisticated, nothing planned. Just raw pleasure and straight-out fucking, and it was very good.

  “Yes,” Melody cried, her nails leaving furrows in his skin in spite of the awkward angle.

  He switched position enough to support her on one hand while he slipped his other between them, rubbing his fingers over her clit as he increased the pace.

  The wind picked up in the trees creating a rushing sound, almost like applause as stars floated in front of his eyes. He was seconds away from coming, but damn if he would lose control before she found release.

  He placed his lips near her ear. “Let go when you’re ready,” he coaxed. “And get ready, because I’m going to fuck the daylights out of you. The next place you stop, you’re going to have to take your time getting out of the truck. Not only because I fucked you silly, but because my come is gonna slip from you, and you’ll feel it, and you’re going to remember this moment. And this one. Me, inside of you, and us both losing our fucking minds.”

  Steve emphasized every other word with a thrust of his hips. Low feral noises escaped her on every breath until he was out of time and he was one pulse away from…

  “Oh, yes, that’s… Yesssss.”

  Melody’s forehead hit his chest as she shuddered against the trailer. Steve drove forward once more, pinning her to the wall like some twisted sexual tableau, his cock jerking hard as his seed shot into her. They stayed there, locked in position, pleasure drifting around them like an intoxicating mist. He couldn’t see, his head was spinning so hard, and it was only the fact that his knees were locked that kept him from plunging to the ground.

  She gasped for air. “Sweet Jesus, what have you done to me?”

  Steve let a chuckle escape as he rotated them, his legs giving out as he collapsed onto the makeshift seat of the wheel well. “I’ll tell you as soon as I can think. I don’t have any blood north of my waistline right now.”

  Melody wiggled her legs to a more comfortable position, still speared on his cock. She looked up at him, absolute delight on her face. “That was a surprise.”

  “A nice surprise?”


  Her cheeks flushed brighter. “Damn you for talking about your come leaking down my legs. I’m going to die of embarrassment if that happens.”

  “That would make it tough to keep dating if one of us bit it during or after sex.” He leaned in closer and offered her a satisfied smile. “I’ll stop short of that. I’ll only make you pass out with pleasure, deal?”

  Satisfaction was written all over her as he lifted her and they found their clothing.

  She drove off with five minutes remaining on her thirty-minute window, Steve grinning like a fool as he watched her go.

  Chapter Thirteen

  She barely made it through the door of the clinic before Tom shoved paperwork under her nose.

  “Are you trying to put us out of business?” he demanded.

  Her jaw ached from clenching every time she was around the man. She got it, she really did. Tom was pissed off, and she seemed to be the cause of his disappointment.

  That made her his first target. But when she added in everything else she had to deal with, her patience with his childish behaviour was rapidly fading, and it had only been a week since Mathis took off.

  She pulled it together, brushing past him and speaking as politely as possible. “Let me change my shoes, and I’ll look at whatever is causing the trouble.”

  Tom whirled on his heel and stalked back into the office.

  Callie appeared in the doorway between the front waiting room where they greeted small-animal patients and the back of the clinic. Her gaze met Melody’s, and she wrinkled her nose in sympathy. “He’s been in a foul mood all morning,” she warned.

  Melody didn’t give a shit. Mathis had put her in charge, and while she’d do what was possible to keep staff morale high, she wasn’t catering to Tom’s whims to keep him happy.

  She put on a pair of runners and grabbed a coffee before heading into the office. “What’s up?