Rocky Mountain Devil

by Vivian Arend

  “We’re going slow, remember?” She gave him a sweet, seductive smile. “Don’t move too fast, baby. You’ll get whiplash from changing gears that quickly.”

  He didn’t care. “There’s a room down the hall. That’s not moving in with me.”

  “Concentrate,” she teased, rolling her hips and blowing his mind.

  He pushed aside everything else so he could focus on her and how amazing this felt. She must have come to the same conclusion because conversation faded to noises of satisfaction as she rode him until they both collapsed, bodies pleasured to the max.

  She hijacked the shower first, and Rafe decided to give her a break, because even after everything they’d done, if he joined her, she’d end up plastered against the wall with his cock deep inside.

  He got breakfast started. She came into the kitchen with her hair wrapped in a towel to trade places with him, and fifteen minutes later they were grinning at each other across the table. Talking comfortably about not much in particular.

  That’s when he remembered something. “Isn’t the library closed today?”

  She nodded, refilling his cup from the coffee pot. “I figured I’d go in and do a little work while it’s quiet. Wendy will be taking time off soon to have the baby, and I’d like to get ahead of the game if possible.”

  Kissing goodbye at the door before heading different directions seemed…weirdly right. Rafe stared after her car as she turned toward town, waving happily at him.

  It had been a damn fine Thanksgiving after all.

  Rafe wandered to his truck with a stupid grin on his face, refreshed and eager to get to work.

  A couple days later the first snowfall arrived, thick and heavy enough it was clear winter intended to stay.

  The change in seasons meant a refocus of what they worked on around the ranch as winter chores switched in. The time they spent in the barns was all about warmth, the sounds and scents of contented animals heavy in the air. In contrast, the constant chill and snap of the wind that accompanied working outdoors had a beauty of its own, yet sharper and more dangerous.

  Rafe enjoyed both extremes as he prepared for the weather outdoors to get even colder.

  A week later he was in town to grab something for Allison, and the temptation to track down Laurel was too much to resist. He slipped into the library, the scent of books and the rumble of voices making him smile. It really was the perfect job for her—so much like her character. A quiet setting that had the potential to burst open with life at any moment.

  Ever since the night she’d stayed over, they’d continued to steal moments together, fooling around fairly innocently at times, sometimes doing more. Enough to keep him on the edge, wanting to rush forward yet satisfied with taking one step at a time.

  Laurel seemed happy as well, visiting with her family and hanging out with her girlfriends. He wasn’t able to join her every day, but when they did get together, it was pretty damn good.

  Testing the waters. Moving forward. He still wasn’t sure where they were going, but this thing between them felt right.

  Although, if he was willing to admit it, the possibly of sex was a little distracting.

  Like now. Rafe paused just inside the doors, glancing around until he spotted Laurel disappearing behind some library shelves. He detoured to the back of the stacks so he could sneak up on her. He peeked around the corner to spot her as she squatted to return books to a bottom shelf, the curve of her ass teasing him under the short skirt of her straight-laced librarian outfit. He moved forward, checking to see if anybody else could see them, but they were tucked out of sight, neat and tidy.

  His mind went to a dirty, dirty place.

  He drifted behind her as she stood. When she would’ve turned to face him, he sidestepped, keeping her back to him as he snuck a hand around her body and pulled her tight against him.

  “Oh—” A gasp escaped her, then she laughed, twisting her head as she peered down the long opening between the bookcases. “I seem to have been accosted by a pirate. Whatever shall I do?” she murmured.

  He nibbled on her neck, his cock thickening rapidly as he breathed her in. “I’m looking for a treasure to steal. Maybe you can help me find it.”

  “Treasure Island is in the fiction section, or we have ‘How to bury treasure for dummies’ in the non-fiction,” she announced proudly.

  “It’s not my treasure that needs burying,” he growled, rocking his hips forward.

  “Oh, my.” Laurel wiggled naughtily. “Well, in that case, I think I can help, but you can’t tell my boyfriend.”

  Rafe laughed. “Brat.”

  Her body shook against his. “You’re going to get me in trouble.”

  “Why do you sound so surprised?” He took hold of her earlobe between his teeth, nipping lightly before soothing the sting with a kiss.

  “You know, two can play this game,” she warned a second before leaning over and placing both hands on the book cart. The movement stuck her ass toward him, pressing them together harder.

  Jeez. If she were naked, in that position?

  “You don’t fight fair,” he muttered, “but then again, neither do I.”

  Rafe reached around and between her legs, cupping her over the fabric of her panties. The heat of her sex hit his palm, and he pressed down, rubbing the heel of his hand hard against her clit. She moaned, shivering in his grasp. Arching upward so her torso connected with his. She caught hold of his neck, arm stretching overhead so she could guide him closer until their lips connected.

  Someone coughed.

  Rafe nearly jumped out of his skin.

  Laurel straightened and twisted all in one motion, turning her back toward the far-too-familiar newcomer before quickly tugging at her clothes and pulling herself together.

  Rafe stood and let her hide her face against his chest as he stared back at Jeff. The other man’s brow was furrowed, but at least he had the decency to leave without saying anything.

  Decency. Like how decent Rafe had just behaved?

  “He’s gone,” Rafe told her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

  “I don’t know which is worse,” Laurel confessed. “Getting caught fooling around by my boss, or by him.”

  “He’s an ass,” Rafe reminded her, but the dose of guilt got stronger. They were at her job place, for fuck’s sake. He wasn’t some kind of animal that he couldn’t keep it in his pants for a few hours. “But I promise to be good from now on.”

  Laurel glanced up from under her lashes. “Whatever for?”

  She offered her hand as they walked to the front of the library, waving at Becky and Hope Coleman who stood at the checkout, arms full of library books.

  His cousin-in-law had her armful resting on top of her enormous pregnant belly.

  Okay, some traditions had to be maintained. Rafe clicked his tongue. “Haven’t you had that kid yet?”

  Hope narrowed her eyes.

  He grinned evilly.

  Laurel stepped past, tapping him on the back of the head. “You’re going to get in real trouble one of these days. Don’t you know better than to taunt pregnant ladies?”

  “Especially ones who are—” Whatever Hope had intended to say vanished as her eyes widened and her mouth popped open.

  Shit.

  It got very quiet for a moment as they glanced down at the wetness staining her maternity pants.

  Laurel recovered the quickest. “Hope? Did your water just break?”

  The other woman nodded, passing her armload of books to Becky so she could cradle her belly. “Whoa. Didn’t expect that.”

  All other plans went out the window as Rafe got pulled into the action. It was weird how much coordination and effort it took to get one pregnant woman and her husband to the hospital at the same time.

  Hope refused to let them call an ambulance. “I’m not in that much of a hurry, but I suppose someone else should drive.”

  Becky’s eyes widened in horror. “I can’t do it. You’ve got a standard.”


  In the end, Laurel was drafted to help, the three girls taking off in one vehicle with Rafe racing off in his truck toward Six Pack land in search of his cousin Matt. Ranchers and phones were notoriously unreliable, between dead zones on the cell grid or having their hands full of shit—sometimes literally—that made answering impossible. Matt hadn’t responded to Hope’s text or phone message.

  Rafe drove as fast as he damn well wanted this time. Figured, though, that the first time he had a good excuse to burn rubber, his cousin Anna was nowhere in sight.

  It took a while, but he found Matt’s truck outside the main Six Pack barn, rushing in at a dead sprint to discover Blake helping a horse foal. Matt knelt at his side, calming the mare.

  Break the news gently, or not?

  “Hope needs you,” Rafe announced with as much calm control as possible. “Every—”

  Matt shot to his feet, twisting so quickly he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

  Blake chuckled, one arm buried nearly to the shoulder in the horse. “Smooth.”

  As if he’d hit a trampoline, Matt was back up, his eyes wild as he patted his pockets frantically. “My keys. Where the hell are my fucking keys?”

  Blake made soothing noises, but he caught Rafe’s gaze as he tilted his head to the side. “You two go ahead, I’ll finish up here. But, Matt, maybe it would be best if Rafe gave you a ride. Would save you wasting time looking for—”

  Matt was across the barn and in Rafe’s face. He caught hold of the front of Rafe’s shirt and half dragged him out of the barn without another word, Blake’s laughter echoing off the walls behind them.

  Obviously his cousin was not in his right mind, and when Matt held out his hand, Rafe tightened his fist around his keys. “No way in hell are you driving. Get in. I’ll get you there as quick as possible.”

  They flew down the highway, Rafe listening as Matt went off on twenty different tangents about everything Hope had been doing the last few days that he’d warned her not to. “I told her this would happen, stubborn woman.”

  “I think the kid is ready,” Rafe pointed out. “It’s been nine months, at least.”

  Matt had both hands clenched tightly in his lap, his knuckles going white. “I’m not ready,” he muttered.

  While Rafe concentrated on getting them to the hospital in one piece, his cheeks hurt from grinning so hard. “You want to call to see where you need to go?”

  Wrong suggestion. Another frantic set of patting ensued as Matt checked every one of his pockets before dragging his fingers through his hair and swearing loudly. “Where the hell is my phone? Dammit, why is everything happening to me?”

  Obviously fatherhood destroyed brain cells, even before the kid arrived. “Relax,” Rafe ordered. “I’ll get you to her.”

  He was grateful Matt seemed willing to stay by his side as they left the parking lot and strode toward the main doors. Rafe texted Laurel for information as they hurried forward, and her instant response let him guide his cousin straight to the second floor where Laurel met them.

  “You’ve got lots of time, Matt,” she assured him, holding him back from sprinting down the hall. “Becky’s with her, and the doctor, and everything’s going great.” She sniffed, then pushed him toward the nearby public bathroom. “First you need to wash your hands. With soap.”

  “Soap. Right. And water.” Matt was wide-eyed and breathing fast.

  “Water is a great idea,” Rafe agreed, failing to keep his amusement hidden. He looked forward to teasing Matt about this for years to come.

  Laurel glanced between them, her nose wrinkling. “And Rafe’s going to give you his shirt.”

  “My shirt?” Oh hell. Rafe hadn’t even noticed. Matt had come straight from the barn, and there was straw in his hair and other not-so-fresh things on his clothes. “Yes. My shirt, and my pants,” Rafe offered.

  Matt was ready to strip right there in the hallway, but between him and Laurel, they got Matt into the oversized bathroom with the door closed and Laurel safely on the outside before anyone got naked.

  A whole lot of imaginative cussing escaped Matt’s lips, and by the time he was clean and dressed in Rafe’s clothes, his cousin had reached his utter limit and was spoiling for a fight.

  “I want to see my wife now,” he demanded as he burst into the hallway.

  “Right here.” Laurel stood halfway down the hall, and she pushed open the door beside her. Matt took off at a dead sprint, skidding around the corner and into the wall before he vanished.

  “Good luck,” Rafe called, stopping outside the door to give them some privacy. Laurel hung back as well, the two of them exchanging huge grins.

  “Well, that was exciting.” Laurel tucked her fingers around his arm, guiding him back toward the elevator.

  “For a second there, I thought I was going to be delivering the kid, right there in the middle of the library,” Rafe said. “Grabbing Matt was a whole lot better.”

  “You would have done fine if you were needed.” She sniffed, glancing at him and shaking her head as she backed away as far as she could. “Now you stink.”

  “Think Hope will appreciate Matt not smelling like a cow’s backside?”

  “I think so.” Laurel laughed with him. “I need to get back to work. Becky said she’d call when there’s news.”

  Rafe kissed her goodbye in the parking lot, watching her go.

  It seemed he’d barely made it back to Angel land when his phone vibrated and an email came through. Sent to the entire list of Colemans—Becky was using Hope’s phone, and she still hadn’t figured out the concept of BCC, adding one name one after another.

  Hope and Matt are pleased to announce the arrival of Colton Coleman. Eight pounds, fifteen ounces, twenty-three inches. Everyone is healthy. Matt says Colt will be at Traders, dancing and breaking hearts by this coming Friday. Hope just rolled her eyes.

  He’s beautiful!

  Love from Becky.

  p.s. Someone has to tell me what “Got ya, Blake” means.

  The attached picture showed a bundle of quilted fabric around a crinkled little face, the baby’s eyes open, but not focused on anything. Typical kid—he looked like a tiny, wrinkled gnome.

  Newborn animals were far prettier, but maybe if it were his own kid, Rafe might feel differently. Maybe if it were a baby girl with ice-blue eyes and fair hair like her mama…

  The thought kicked his butt for a long time as he tried to decide what to do with it.

  Back at the start of summer it had seemed so simple. Even in September, but now? Now there was a whole lot more history to their story, and friends plus more might not be enough.

  Might not be nearly enough.

  Not a week after the excitement of Colton’s arrival, Troy Thompson called Laurel out of the blue. “Need your help. Since you’re Nic’s best friend, and all, I figured you’d like to get in on this.”

  “What are we doing, surprise party? You know it’s not her birthday, right?”

  “We’re getting married,”

  “Seriously? She never said a word—”

  “She doesn’t know yet,” Troy said with a laugh. “Here’s the deal…”

  Laurel listened eagerly as he explained his plans for a sneak elopement less than a week away. She dove into helping with preparations, thrilled for her friend.

  The hardest part was making sure she avoided meeting Nicole in person because keeping Troy’s secret would be impossible if Nic got suspicious and outright asked for information.

  The planning also gave her something different to focus on other than spending time with Rafe, or dodging Jeff.

  The man was being a royal pain in her side—more than usual—but she didn’t want to get Rafe riled up by complaining.

  Jeff wasn’t…

  Well, he wasn’t deliberately rude. He hadn’t come right out and asked her for a date, but he seemed to show up like a shadow every time she turned around. At the grocery store, asking if she had any recipes to share.
At the library, looking for books for his research topics, and what was she reading these days?

  At the frickin’ gas pump. Could he help check her tire pressure?

  It was annoying as hell, and yet could be explained away as just small-town life where it was common to bump into people all the time.

  Yes, having something as exciting as a wedding to help plan was a welcome distraction.

  “I’ve found these perfect candles—like the ones you had in the hayloft,” she told Rafe, when they talked on the phone at night, right before it was time to crawl into bed.

  “Told you my brilliance would help you someday,” he gloated. “You’re not overdoing it between work and this wedding, are you, Sitko? You sound tired.”

  She wasn’t about to explain about her sleep troubles, either. Another side effect of having Jeff around so much. Her brain insisted on going back over the troubles she’d faced in her past, like some twisted sitcom on repeat loop. “Had a rough night or two, but I’ll be fine. The wedding is in a couple days, and once it’s over, this weekend you and I can enjoy a lazy day together. Maybe even catch a nap.”

  “A real nap,” he insisted. “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

  “Don’t get bossy, Coleman,” she warned.

  Only the Friday morning they were due at the wedding site, Laurel got a five a.m. call from Rafe, and he was the one who sounded exhausted and lost.

  “Sorry. I can’t make it.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m holding down the fort. Allison’s in the hospital. She lost the baby last night. Gabe’s with her.”

  Laurel’s throat tightened. She could barely speak as a rush of memories threatened to take her under.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so…” She fought for control, looking down at her hands. She was gripping the edge of the table tight enough her fingers were going numb. “I’ll pass on your good wishes to Troy and Nicole, and I’ll stop by the hospital as soon as I can.”

  It was a mixed-up, crazily emotional day. Everything at the sunrise wedding was beautiful, the fresh white snow reflecting the flickering light of battery-operated candles. The entire area seemed filled with winter fireflies as Troy and Nicole stood in front of friends and families to exchange their vows.