Falling for the Hometown Girl

by Shelli Stevens

  “Katie,” he whispered raggedly, stilling inside her. “Oh, my God, you feel amazing.”

  “Well you can’t stop now.” Her laugh was unsteady as her nails dug into his shoulders. “You just got to the good part.”

  He gave a slow smile and began to move again. “That other stuff wasn’t the good part?”

  “Oh...” Her eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head. “That was better than good. That was... oh.”

  Hunter slid deeper, wanting to take her fast and furious, but worried about hurting her.

  “You’re going to making me lose control.”

  “Do it.” Her nails dug deeper. “You know I’m not breakable, Hunter. Take me the way you want to.”

  It was the only encouragement he needed, before he gripped her hips and thrust hard and deep inside her.

  She cried out with pleasure and wrapped her long legs around his waist.

  They found a fierce, primitive rhythm. Their gasps and moans a symphony to accompany the lovemaking. When he was close to release, he touched her again, to bring her to a second one.

  Moments later, his muscles gave out and he fell heavily on her, pinning her to the weight of the bed. Guilt slithered through the heady rapture in his blood. He should move off her. Not crush her like this. But he was boneless and mindless.

  Seeming unbothered, she wrapped her arms around him and held him still.

  “You okay?” she asked softly, wiping the trickle of sweat off his forehead.

  It took several seconds before he could formulate words. “Okay would be a severe understatement. Am I hurting you?”

  “No.” She laughed from beneath him. “I love the feeling of you on top of me. Don’t you leave me yet.”

  Not even a possibility.

  So many years he’d visualized this moment in his head. Had imagined what making love to Katie Marshall would feel like.

  It exceeded his every fantasy.

  She explored his shoulders with soft hands, before moving her palms to his pectorals muscles and pressing her palms against them. Without trying, he flexed.

  Her soft laugh drew a smile from him.

  “You are so hard here.” Wonder filled her voice. “Are you sure you don’t go to the gym.”

  “No gyms. I can’t see paying that kind of money when I can be active for free. Pushups at home, an occasional run, and lots of hiking.”

  Feeling stronger now, he pressed his palms against the mattress and lifted himself off her.

  He laid on his back and drew in a long breath. “And you’re pretty toned too.”

  “I should hope so. This ranch keeps me active between work and play.” She paused. “I also have good genes. My mom was a beanpole.”

  Katie’s mom. He frowned, struggling to remember her. He vaguely remembered her dad roaming about town, but not the mom. She’d referred to her in past tense.

  He reached over to stroke her hair. “What happened to her? Your mom?”

  Maybe if he hadn’t been so relaxed, he wouldn’t have noticed her tensing beside him. It took a moment before she replied.

  “She’s living in Bellevue. At last I heard she was, anyway.”

  His frown deepened. “Bellevue, WA? But why?”

  “You never heard?” She rolled onto her side and faced him, resting her cheek against her hand. “My mother left us when we were kids.”

  The air in his lungs locked. He moved to his side so he was watching her again. He searched for a sign of sadness or anger in her steady gaze, but there was nothing. Maybe lingering passion and a hint of defiance. Like she was daring him to be shocked by her indifference to her mother walking out.

  Hoer the hell had he never known this?

  “I’m sorry. How old were you?”

  “Five.” Her lips curled into a bitter smile.

  There it was. The slight hint of emotion that she tried so hard to hide.

  His stomach churned. Katie probably hadn’t even been in kindergarten. What kind of mother could abandon her family? Could abandon someone so sweet and innocent? And why? Even more puzzling was how Katie had come into adulthood so cheerful and optimistic. How did she go through life not wearing something so awful on her persona like a badge?

  “Have you seen her since?”

  Maybe he should’ve just stopped asking questions, but the need to put together these pieces of Katie drove him.

  “Once.” Her lashes fell. “That was enough.”

  There was a story there but, judging by the thin line of her mouth, she wasn’t going to elaborate. In that instant, he hated her mother as much as she must’ve.

  “Hell.” The curse came from low in his throat. “I didn’t know, Katie. About any of this. I’m sorry.”

  “No reason to be sorry. You didn’t do anything.”

  “Regardless, I’m sorry I brought it up.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb and her lips trembled.

  “It’s fine. Really. It’s not something I talk about much, but it’s fine.” She let out a soft sigh. “I think I missed the idea of her—of having a mother—more than my mother herself.”

  Silence swelled between them, and he let it grow. What the hell could he say to any of that? Maybe his parents had been less than perfect, but they’d been there for him. They’d loved him, even when he’d done everything he could to be unlovable.

  “Come here.” He pulled her into his arms, and she snuggled up against him, tucking her head under his chin. “I feel like a jerk for never knowing.”

  Warmth stole through every inch of Katie’s body, but especially in her heart.

  With Hunter’s arms around her and his lips brushing against her forehead, she could very well have stayed here for eternity. Well, at least until morning.

  Content, she snuggled closer.

  “You weren’t much older than I was when it happened, Hunter. The gossip died out fairly soon after, small town or not.”

  “Your dad never remarried?”

  “No. I’m pretty sure he loved her until his last breath.” Anger sparked hot in her veins, but she ignored it. It did no good to get angry over the past. “God rest his soul.”

  He kissed her forehead again. “I was really sad to hear he passed away.”

  “Thanks.” Anytime she thought about him, she got a little choked up. “Going on two years, but I still miss him so much. I’d probably be a mess if it weren’t for my brothers.”

  Hunter’s arms tightened around her and his chest rose against her cheek as he breathed in deeply. She slow-blinked, drowsiness slipping in like the fog they’d find in the morning. Her eyes closed.

  Maybe she fell asleep, or had been about to, because she jerked in his arms and gasped. What time was it anyway?

  The idea of leaving this bed—leaving Hunter—had every part of her protesting. But it had to be done.

  “This was an amazing night.” She kissed his shoulder. “But I should get back to the house.”

  Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she climbed out of bed to retrieve her clothes.

  Hunter sat up, his brows furrowing. “Don’t want to stay the night?”

  Was it wishful thinking, or was there a note of disappointment in his voice.

  “I would,” she admitted, pulling her panties on and then stepping into her jeans. “If I didn’t have to be up at the crack of dawn to start breakfast.”

  “I see.”

  She grabbed her shirt and tugged it on, then went to find her socks and boots.

  “Come back tomorrow evening.”

  Four words. A sensual command, or a question? It was hard to tell.

  “We’ll see.”

  He climbed out of bed and pulled her into his arms, lowering his lips to hers. With just a little pressure and teasing, he had her sighing and leaning into him moments later.

  “Please, come back tomorrow evening.”

  This time it was a gravely request and her heart skipped a beat.

  “It’s looking entirely likely that I will.”
She cast him a look from beneath her lashes and made her way toward the door. “Night, Hunter.”

  “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

  She disappeared left the cabin and stepped into the darkness of the night.

  Her footsteps on the dirt were nearly silent and happiness bubbled through her veins as her mind lingered on what had just happened with Hunter. Which was why she didn’t see the shadow of another person until she ran straight into him.

  Panic ripped through her and she went rigid.

  “Relax, baby, it’s just me.”

  Lance. He was probably just getting back from the bar with his cousin. Any relief was quickly replaced with repulsion.

  “Excuse me.” She stepped back, but he caught her arms, halting her retreat.

  “What’s your hurry?”

  He leaned in and the alcohol fumes on his breath nearly singed off her eyebrows.

  “Get your hands off me.” She tried to jerk free, but his grip was tight enough to bruise.

  “Looks like you were coming from Hunter’s cabin.” He moved closer, blocking out the moonlight. “Maybe you’d be up for round two with me?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Shock and anger exploded in her, and as he pressed his fleshy lips to hers, she pulled back enough to slam her foot between his legs.

  Lance wheezed out a gasp, and his fingers clenched around her arms.

  “Katie, you forgot—what the hell?”

  There was a rush of footsteps before Lance was ripped away from her.

  A resounding crack of a fist hitting flesh sounded in the night, and Lance hit the ground.

  Hunter grabbed Lance by shirt and tugged him to his feet. “I told you not to touch her, you son of a bitch.”

  The rage in his voice promised further violence, spurring Katie forward.

  “Hunter, don’t! He’s not worth it.” She tugged on his arm until he dropped the other man to the ground again.

  “You hit me? Over a piece of ass?” Lance slurred. “You’re crazy, man. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

  “Don’t do it.” Katie had to restrain him again. “He’s drunk.”

  “I’m aware.” There was a visible savageness in Hunter, that was barely leashed.

  “I’m done.” Lance pushed to his feet. Stumbling to his cabin. “Done with this damn country bachelor party shit and done with you, Hunter.”

  That last bit sounded ominous. A quick glance at Hunter showed it difficult to gauge whether it meant anything to him.

  “I’m gonna leave,” Lance threatened.

  “Whatever you want, but wait until you’re sober.”

  “Fuck off.” Lance turned and stumbled back to his cabin.

  The night was once again silent and calm, with the familiar sound of the crickets. There was nothing calm about the emotions running rampant in her though.

  Katie blinked, willing her heart to slow down. Her stomach still churned. She scrubbed her lips with the back of her fist, wanting to erase the memory of that forced contact with Lance.

  “Are you all right?”

  Hunter was the first to speak, and all she could do was shake her head.

  “What if I hadn’t come out here?” he continued on a rasp, “What if—”

  “I acquainted my boot with his balls. I’m pretty sure he was on the verge of letting me go anyway.”

  Hunter caught her hand and squeezed it. “I should’ve never brought him here. Never let him come within a hundred feet of Marshall Ranch.”

  “It’s not your fault.” It was a statement she was getting familiar with tonight, and her words came out warily this time.

  “Why don’t you come back to my cabin, sweetheart.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “I know you’re upset.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She stared at where their hands were joined. “I just...” She wanted to go with him, but there was another emotion turning her stomach sour. “I really need to get some sleep, Hunter. Please.”

  “Of course. I understand.” He didn’t sound thrilled, but he let her go.

  It was only after she took a couple of steps that she paused. “You came running after me because you said I forgot something. What was it?”

  “Oh. Right. You did.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out her bra which had been stuffed in it. “This.”

  She took the cotton bra from him, heat stealing up her neck. Apparently, she hadn’t even put it back on. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll watch and make sure you get safely to the house this time. I should’ve done it the first time.”

  Why? Dismay had her brows furrowing. This was Marietta. There wasn’t danger on every corner. No, the danger seemed to come in with the city folks who visited.

  She settled on a simple, “Thank you.” She made her way to the house.

  Round two.

  Lance’s words reverberated in her head with each step she took. As if she’d happily be passed around from guy to guy.

  Bile rose from her churning stomach, and she clenched her fingers tighter around her bra.

  What had started as a sweet, romantic evening together had turned into something tawdrier.

  This moment felt a little too familiar and in a terrible way.

  It was different this time, but it had still become an unexpected walk of shame.

  Memories from years ago floated through mind and she squeezed her eyes closed for a moment, trying to stamp them out. But they still lingered.

  She could almost feel the cement digging into her bare feet and the high heels swinging from her fingers.

  No. It wasn’t comparable. What had just happened with Hunter was real, and nothing like what had happened years ago. She was insulting the beauty of their lovemaking to even compare it to that awful night.

  Despite her plea for sleep, Katie knew it would be harder to achieve than she hoped. Unsettled and still feeling gross from getting attacked by Lance, she headed toward the shower.

  With the warm water pouring down on her, she rested her forehead against the shower stall.

  Lance had threatened to leave tomorrow and call off the rest of the bachelor party. Did that mean Hunter would go to?

  Her gut clenched and she struggled to breathe.

  Oh, dear God, what was wrong with her?

  Would it matter if he left tomorrow or next Sunday? The point was, Hunter would still leave her. They knew this was temporary.

  And, until this moment, she’d convinced herself it didn’t really matter. But now, with tears stinging her eyes, she knew that she’d been seriously naïve.

  Which was strike two against her heart on falling for a man who had no intention of falling in return.

  By the time Hunter stepped outside his cabin the next morning to head to breakfast, Lance and Dan had left. Their cars were missing, and he knew they hadn’t just gone into town. Lance had made good on his threat. He had ended the bachelor party.

  There was a small stab of unease in his gut, but the relief that swept through him overshadowed it.

  Hunter scrubbed at his short beard and sighed, glancing toward the main house. Through the kitchen window he could see Katie up and about, scurrying around.

  In an instant, he was mentally back in the cabin, remembering what she’d felt like beneath him. He could almost feel nails digging into his back, and hear the soft, low moans in his ear.

  The blood in his veins went south and his body stirred with the need to have her again.

  Hell.

  He adjusted his jeans, knowing it wouldn’t bode well to go into breakfast with a hard-on.

  After adjusting his cowboy hat, he strode purposely toward the main house.

  Without realizing it this morning, he’d ignored his old t-shirt and hoodie. Instead he’d put on the plaid, short-sleeve, button up Western shit and placed a cowboy hat on his head. It felt more natural than the other outfit.

  Or maybe it was because he was on a ranch and just buckling to pressure.

  He stepped into
the house and took off his hat.

  “You’re still here.”

  Swinging his gaze to the left at the female voice, he found Claire and Wyatt coming out of the dining room.

  “Any reason I wouldn’t be?” He kept his words casual.

  “Figured you might’ve left along with your buddies.”

  There was an edge to Wyatt’s voice that nearly made Hunter cringe. Had Katie told him what had happened with Lance last night?

  Just the thought of that moment had his fists clenching and his blood boiling. It was a good thing Lance had left before he’d woken, or Hunter might’ve said—or done—something he really would’ve regretted.

  “I paid for the week.” Hunter offered a slight smile. “Makes sense to stay. I’m overdue for a vacation.”

  “Good.”

  Everyone turned at Katie’s remark. She stepped from the kitchen, a spatula in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

  “I’m glad you didn’t leave.”

  Her words were light and cheerful, but when he met her searching gaze, there was an intensity and relief in their blue depths.

  He knew then, on a gut level, that she hadn’t said anything to anyone about last night. Not about the two of them and not about what had happened with Lance.

  “Why don’t you come join me in the kitchen for a minute, Hunter? I’ll talk to you about a refund for the others.”

  Grateful for the invisible rope she’d tossed him, he nodded and followed her out of the room. He didn’t miss the scowl on Wyatt’s face, or the way Claire urged him toward the dining room.

  “I wasn’t serious about that refund, you realize.” Katie leaned against the counter and faced him. The sunlight through the window brought out the lighter streaks in her brown braid. “You’re out of luck on that. Sorry.”

  He gave a half smile. “Pretty sure I can afford the hit. I wouldn’t have asked for one anyway.”

  Relief shone in her eyes.

  “I want to stay, Katie. Not just for you, but for Eddie.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Eddie is coming over tonight.”

  “And every night this week. Mucking stalls and learning code.”

  “Every teenager’s dream.” Her eyes twinkled.

  “Maybe not every teenager’s, but I suspect it might just be his.”