Rocky Mountain Devil

by Vivian Arend

  Ashley smiled. “Similar to Becky’s, but more what you need.”

  Laurel lifted one of the silky straps, and the miniscule amount of fabric that followed shimmered in a seductive red. “Should I assume the colour choice means something?”

  “You’ve made one of the Angel Colemans fall hard and fast.” The woman waggled her brows. “Go, try it on.”

  It took a couple minutes of wiggling to slip everything on, including the garter belt and stockings Ashley added to the collection at the last second. Laurel glanced down. Thinking about Rafe seeing her in the outfit was enough to make her legs start quivering.

  Outside her change room, the coaxing began.

  “You have to show it off,” Nicole insisted. “Come on.”

  “You saw mine,” Becky teased. “I should get to see yours…”

  On the other side of the door, Ashley snorted with amusement. “I’m so proud of you, Becky. That was terribly naughty.”

  Laurel gathered her courage. It was true. If Becky could manage a show-and-tell, then so could she. She left the change room and stepped forward, suddenly the center of attention.

  Nicole’s eyes widened. Becky had wrapped a nearly transparent white robe around herself, and the contrast with the pale fabric made her cheeks darkening to deep pink even more noticeable.

  Ashley was the only one who didn’t seem at a loss for words.

  Although the first few things out of her mouth were swears that she apologized for immediately. “Travis warned me to watch my language around you guys, but holy shit, that is the kind of outfit that makes a person break a few rules.”

  “I look okay?”

  Becky shook her head. “Better than okay. Wow? Whoa?”

  “Hot to the nth degree,” Nicole agreed. “Merry Christmas and happy birthday, because I’m buying that for you if you don’t get it yourself.”

  She felt pretty, and she felt hot, and she had an idea Rafe would like the outfit as well.

  “One thing, though.” Ashley dropped to her knees and undid the garter belts, fingers moving quickly as she adjusted them to lie under the narrow edge of the panties. “Garters first, panties second.” She glanced up. “Means a certain someone could take off only one layer if he wants.”

  Oh.

  Ohhhhhhh.

  “I knew that,” Laurel insisted.

  “That was a lie…I think,” Nicole said. “It’s hard to tell because your face is so red in the first place.”

  “Go away, you brat,” Laurel told Nicole.

  The others laughed, but as embarrassing as the whole situation was…it wasn’t. Laurel felt accepted and cared for, and knew they only wanted what was best for her.

  And the best seemed to mean seducing Rafe.

  Which, okay by her.

  He’d been holding back a whole lot. A wild idea hit—maybe it wasn’t that he needed a nudge to get him to take the next step. Maybe she needed to convince him they were both ready.

  All four of them walked out of the store with new purchases.

  “I don’t think it’s fair you saw what we bought, but you didn’t show us,” Becky complained to Ashley.

  “I didn’t want to shock the children,” Ashley mock-whispered to Nicole.

  “After what we did see you try on?” Laurel licked another bit of ice cream off her spoon. They’d stopped at Dairy Queen to grab treats for the ride home. “Now you have me curious. What could possibly be more scandalous than that see-through, seductive underwear you were wearing?”

  “Never mind.”

  “I know,” Nicole said smugly.

  “They’re so mean,” Becky said with a laugh. “How’re we supposed to learn if you keep secrets from us?”

  “Getting an education in sexual adventuring works on an escalating scale. You know how it’s fun to have the guys talk dirty to you?”

  “I like it better when he can’t say anything at all,” Nicole admitted.

  “Speechless is good too,” Ashley agreed.

  Becky giggled. “Oh. I thought you meant when they had their mouths…busy…”

  “Becky Hall. You are a naughty girl,” Nicole said approvingly.

  “I didn’t just say that,” Becky insisted, but she was smiling as she rearranged the bag with her new outfit. She folded it carefully, straightening the corners as if she was planning something special.

  Laughter continued to ebb and flow the entire trip. It wrapped around Laurel, comfortable yet fresh and new as she got to know the others better.

  They were nearly home when Becky leaned toward her. Ashley and Nic were chatting in an animated fashion in the front seat, busy with their own conversation.

  “I’ve tried to figure out why being intimate with Trevor doesn’t feel wrong, even though it’s against everything I was taught while I was growing up,” Becky said. “I think you know what I mean.”

  Boy, did she ever. “That sex is a sin unless you’re married?”

  Not that her father had ever preached brimstone-and-fire sermons specific to that topic, but the sentiment was there. Self-control and chastity were highly valued.

  It was one of the areas Laurel had struggled through after leaving college. After dealing with Jeff, and the fallout from their intimate relationship.

  “Did you come to any conclusions?” Laurel asked.

  Becky nodded. “I think God has a lot of good things planned for us, and sometimes people get in the way of those good things. I really don’t think it was his idea for me to end up where I did, treated the way I was. The God I believe in wants me to be with Trevor, and he’s not about to punish me for loving a man who would give up everything for me.”

  Which was pretty much where Laurel had hung her hat. She reached over and caught Becky’s fingers with hers, giving them a squeeze. “I’m so glad you have Trevor. I’m so glad to know that you’re happy.”

  Becky smiled. “I’m glad to have you as a friend. Thanks for always being willing to talk to me. Trevor is there, but he doesn’t understand this part.”

  Laurel nodded.

  Becky rejoined the conversation with the women in the front seat while Laurel let her thoughts drift a little longer.

  Coming back to Rocky hadn’t just been about coming back to Rafe. She had her family, and she had new friends, and she had Rafe.

  It was pretty amazing. She might not know exactly where she stood on a whole lot of issues, but like Rafe had told her—life would be pretty boring if she didn’t have things to learn.

  One of which…how to seduce a man. She resisted peeking into the bag holding her pretty, seductive outfit and planned for the best time to make her move.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A week later the weather was holding. Contrary to Karen’s prediction that winter would come early, October temperatures dropped slowly which made finishing tasks in the fields a whole lot more enjoyable for Rafe than it could have been.

  And when he wasn’t working, he and Laurel were having a blast dating. Nothing unexpected there considering their background. But at the end of each night, he went home and she went home, which even with the fooling around they were doing meant he spent a hell of a lot of time in the shower jacking off.

  Keeping under control was going to kill him.

  Dead.

  Soon.

  But that impromptu sermon from Pastor Dave had hit hard. Rafe was still working through what he believed in, but he knew pretty well where some of Laurel’s lines lay, and it made zero sense to blow past her limits without regard.

  Until he knew for sure what he was offering her… What he had to offer. Doubts struck over and over, made even worse every time he bumped into his father.

  Canadian Thanksgiving weekend meant a change-up in his and Laurel’s typical last minute “do whatever fits into the time allotted” routine. If they’d been any other couple dating as long as they’d been, it would have been a simple thing. They’d attend their own family dinners without worrying about inviting the other along.

/>   Only as long-time friends as well as dating, it made sense to join the other family, except both families had arranged to celebrate Sunday.

  Add to that—both families had issues, so figuring out where and when they’d have their holiday get-together was anything but simple.

  “This is a rude question,” Laurel warned as they sat together at the picnic table outside the library, stealing lunch together, “but I honestly want to know. Do you really do holidays with your family anymore? I mean, just the Angel Colemans? Considering…”

  He knew exactly what she was asking. What a mess.

  “Considering my dad is an ass? Yeah, it’s awkward, but my mom shouldn’t have to miss out on things because of him, especially now that she’s got a grandson. Since Allison and Gabe got married they host most of the time, and Mom and I join them. Ben rarely shows up, and the couple times he did, he mostly behaved. Just glared the entire time then left after he ate.”

  “I’m sorry.” Laurel rested her hand on his arm. “It’s not right that’s what family’s like for you.”

  It wasn’t, but it was his reality.

  Do I have any right to make it hers?

  Rafe shoved the negative thoughts aside. “We deal with it, but considering how well you and he get along, Ms. Lippy, you probably don’t want to take the chance he shows up this year.”

  She stuck out her tongue before offering a warning back. “And I don’t think you want to come to my house. Jeff starts work this coming week, so he’s back in town.”

  “What’s that got to do with your family dinner?”

  She grimaced. “My mom invited him to stop by for dessert once he arrives.”

  “Gee, all the more reason for me to come with you. Me and Jeff, we’re best buds. I totally need to be there to welcome him back to Rocky.”

  Laurel snickered. “You remember we talked about this?”

  Rafe sighed as dramatically as possible before raising a hand in the air. “Yes, Sitko. I promise not to lay a hand on the man.”

  “Or…?”

  “…or a boot,” he finished reluctantly. “Fine. I’ll go to my brother’s and put up with my dad. But you need to call me as soon as you’re done, and I’ll come rescue you.”

  Turned out Rafe was the one who needed rescuing.

  He showed up at his brother’s only to find Gabe coming out the door, Micah in his arms.

  “Change of plans,” Gabe announced, his expression twisting reluctantly. “Allison isn’t feeling well enough to have people in the house, so Mom said she’d take over.”

  Rafe held back from cursing. Dinner at the homestead meant the odds of Ben being there were high. He was doubly glad Laurel hadn’t come along.

  He considered going home and warming up leftovers. He’d have a better appetite without Ben around.

  Still, his sister-in-law feeling shitty took precedence over his hurt feelings for having to spend time with his father. “Allison’s been under the weather a lot this fall. She okay?”

  Gabe hesitated. “She’s expecting.”

  Hot damn. “Well, that’s good news. So, it’s morning sickness.”

  “All-day sickness,” his brother shared. “She doesn’t want to tell anyone yet—so keep that under your hat.”

  “No problem.” He eyed his brother. “You’re looking tired. Is that from worrying about Allison?”

  “More to worry about than usual, yeah.”

  The answer was a strange one and seemed not just about Allison. Rafe thought back to the clandestine meetings that had been going on—he’d run into another the day before. “You got anything else you need my help with? Like ranch stuff?”

  Micah gave a shout and waved his arms excitedly as Gabe lowered him into the car seat. “Not yet. Soon, okay?”

  “Whenever. You know I’m there for you,” Rafe insisted.

  “I know. It’s not my choice.”

  The comment just piqued Rafe’s interest further, but he held his questions, heading over to the homestead in his own truck and striding ahead of his brother to open the back door.

  The scent of ham and stuffing and apple pie hung thick in the air as their mom hustled forward to take Micah from Gabe’s arms.

  “Thanks again for taking over, Mom.” Gabe snuck in and gave her a hug and a kiss.

  “I hope Allison’s feeling better soon. There’re a lot of people down with the flu already this year. With any luck the rest of us can avoid it.” Dana placed Micah on the small kitchen tabletop to remove his tiny wool jacket.

  Gabe shot a glance at Rafe.

  Deflection seemed wise. “You should consider getting the flu shot, Ma,” Rafe suggested. “It’s one of those things that can help—”

  Their mom glanced toward the living room before giving them both a pointed stare.

  Right. Vaccinations were another topic to avoid discussing when his father was around. According to him they were all one step away from the apocalypse because of modern medicine.

  Ben didn’t move out of his chair when they entered the room, just glared with disapproval. His gaze lingered on his grandson as Dana placed the little boy on the floor beside a box with a few toys in it. “He sure doesn’t look like a Coleman,” Ben muttered.

  Rafe wasn’t sure what his dad was implying. He bristled on Gabe’s behalf, ready to snap something rude.

  His brother played it cool, far less annoyance in his tone when he spoke than Rafe could have mustered. “Micah’s my son. He’s definitely a Coleman.”

  Ben grunted then turned back to the television.

  Fine by Rafe. The only reason he was here was for his mom’s sake. He settled on the couch beside her, the three of them—her, Gabe and himself—chatting while Micah dragged the toys out of the box then threw them back in.

  A ball rolled under the couch, and Rafe fished it out, spinning it in his hand then balancing it on a fingertip in front of his nephew.

  Micah laughed with delight, his face lit with excitement.

  Ben turned up the volume of the television.

  A buzzer went off in the kitchen, and his mom rose to her feet. “That’s the last thing. We can take everything to the table.”

  Gabe reached for Micah, but Rafe waved him off. “I got him. You help Mom.”

  Rafe picked up his nephew and brought him to the highchair, strapping him in as he chatted with the kid. Ignoring his father who seemed content to ignore his family.

  But he couldn’t overlook it completely. That deep cutting hurt inside was there, no matter how much he wanted to pretend it wasn’t.

  Laurel had insisted Rafe’s decisions were his own. That he’d never step too far and let loose the anger he felt inside. Only Pastor Dave’s comment about character being what wanted to come to the surface first didn’t bode well, because his first impulse was to walk over and give his father a smack across the head and tell him to smarten up before he ruined any chance he had of making things right with his family.

  The meal was tolerable. For once Ben didn’t start in on a rant, and the silence from his end of the table let the rest of them continue to talk as they passed the food.

  Only the bastard was there. Silent and judgmental. Silent, and irritating the hell out of Rafe. He stared at each of them in turn, chewing his food angrily. And when he looked at Micah, Ben’s brow furrowed as if he was attempting to solve a puzzle.

  They were nearly done the main meal before he spoke. “The kid doesn’t look like anyone in the Parker family, either.”

  The out-of-the-blue comment took a moment to understand, but when it clicked, Rafe was speechless. What the hell?

  He opened his mouth to demand what exactly his father was implying, but before he could snap angrily, Gabe soothed the situation, although even his angelic brother looked at the end of his rope.

  Rafe couldn’t take it anymore. He got up and gave his mom a quick kiss on the cheek as he muttered his thanks. Carried his plate to the kitchen, stacking it beside the sink before heading for the door and esc
aping into the cool air.

  He wasn’t feeling very thankful at the moment. Spraying gravel as he left the yard didn’t make him any happier, nor burning rubber as he turned into the yard of the rental. He skidded to a stop in front of the house and glared at nothing.

  It took ten seconds to decide to pull out his phone and send a text. She’d be at dinner now with her family, so he wouldn’t hear from her for a while, but dammit, he needed to touch base with Laurel.

  Rafe: I should have come with you. Call when you’re done.

  She texted back right away. That bad?

  Rafe: Fuck.

  His phone rang almost instantly, and he felt like a fool for having interrupted her. His dad was a jerk, but Ben hadn’t even been that terrible that day. Not really. There’d been no shouting, or temper tantrums, or anything truly shitty.

  Just not a family. Not a time of thanksgiving by any stretch.

  Guilt struck. “You didn’t have to call me. I shouldn’t have complained.”

  “Are you kidding me? Your timing was perfect. I got to look all concerned then excuse myself from the table.” She sighed happily. “I might even be able to get out of doing dishes if I leave soon.”

  Great. Her words reminded him he’d abandoned Gabe and his mom to clean up. He mentally promised he’d make it up to them. “Don’t get me in trouble with your family.”

  “They don’t care. Well, yes, they care. Leslie was looking forward to doing dishes with me so she could hound me the entire time in the hopes I’d cave to her latest request.”

  Rafe laughed in spite of his inner frustrations. “Your sister never gives up. What’s it this time?”

  “She wants me to take over teaching Sunday school for the next three months. Which—no way.”

  “You having a good time, otherwise?” he asked.

  “It was fun, but now it’s time for us to celebrate. Where are you?”

  He glanced around. “My place.”

  “Give me a few minutes and I’ll call you back. I have an idea.”

  “Don’t get us in trouble, Sitko,” he warned jokingly.

  “Nothing you can’t handle, baby,” she promised. “Sit tight. I won’t be long.”