With a nod, he did what any red-blooded man would do: cupped those beautiful cheeks and helped her into the saddle, his hands lingering…just to make sure she was secure.
“Wow.” She glanced around, gaze clouded with uncertainty. “It’s pretty high up here. Um…where are you going to sit?”
“Behind you,” he replied. “Slide up as far as you can.”
“O-okay.” She scooted forward. “Now what?”
“Take your foot out of the stirrup and let go of the horn.” With a hand on the back of the saddle, he steadied himself while he shoved his booted foot into the stirrup, reached around her to grab the horn and settled into the saddle behind her.
Ah, hell.
He was in trouble. It was a tight fit, and she felt good. Real good. The close proximity forced her curves to brush his body in places that ached for more. Much more. He tugged on the reins and propelled the horse forward, seeing stars when Jovy slid back with a startled gasp.
So damn good.
“Sorry,” she muttered, leaning forward, body stiff.
“It’s okay.” He set his other hand on her hip, his thumb making contact with a strip of warm skin above her shorts. “Relax. Enjoy the ride.”
When her body remained rigid, he pressed his mouth to her neck and smiled against her skin when she sucked in a breath.
“W-what are you doing?”
He kissed a path to her ear. “Helping you relax.”
He was so screwed. All the protests and restraint he’d mustered to keep his distance from this woman took a hike each time they touched. He had zero control when it came to her. He couldn’t stop himself. Didn’t want to stop.
She shuddered and pressed back, making him see stars again. “Someone might see.”
Lula Belle’s pasture was the last homestead before town. They were surrounded by open fields. “No one around for miles.”
The more he kissed and licked, the more she relaxed, melting against him. Things got out of control fast. He reached under her top to cup her breast, flicking his thumb over her nipple, pebbled tight behind the lace. She moaned and arched into his hand. So perfect. She was addicting. And still a little tense. He pushed the lace aside to free the tight bud and tweak between his forefinger and thumb.
“Stone,” she gasped, so he did it again. And a few more times, until she squirmed deliciously against him.
“Take the reins,” he ordered, his voice tight with need as he placed them in her hand.
She stiffened. “Wait…what do I do?”
“Just hold them evenly and taut like this,” he instructed. “Galahad will continue on a slow, steady pace.”
“I’m not s—oh.” She inhaled when he slid his newly freed hand up her bare thigh.
God, she was soft. And spread open. He was grateful she had her short shorts on again, because it gave him easy access to her beautiful body. He stroked a finger over her trembling upper thighs.
“Stone.” She sucked in another breath. “Are you sure it’s safe to do this?”
No. No it wasn’t. She was killing him, making him want things, need things, do things he shouldn’t. But she had a big day ahead of her. She needed to relax, and he knew exactly how to help.
“Yes. It’s okay,” Stone replied, desire making him reckless, making him forget their no-touching pact. She seemed to have forgotten, too. “Just hold on to those reins and stay still. Let me do all the work. Let me take care of you.”
Starting at the nape, he kissed the back of her neck, cupped her other breast, and slid a finger under her shorts. She moaned and trembled, spurring him on, feeding the need to make her lose control…in the open…on a horse. But he didn’t care. He was on a mission. To pleasure Jovy. To give her an experience she’d never forget.
Neither would he.
“Scoot back,” he ordered against her throat, and when she did, he gained the room necessary to slip his finger inside her slick warmth. Ah, hell, she was wet. So damn wet.
She bucked and let out the sexiest sound he’d ever heard, and damn, he nearly lost it. “Easy, or we’ll spook the horse.”
“Okay,” she murmured. “Just…oh wow…don’t stop.” Her free hand curled around his leg and clutched tight.
“Yes, ma’am.” He slid his finger in and out, increasing his pace at her insistence.
Her body grew taut and tight with a different tension. She was close. And he wanted to make her burst. He kissed a path to her shoulder, staring, mesmerized at her nipple as he pinched the tight peak. She threw her head back, but managed to hold the reins steady as she allowed him to have his way with her body.
“Stone…I’m…”
“Come for me, Jovy,” he urged, changing the angle of his strokes before he brushed his thumb over her center.
Her grip on his thigh tensed, and he watched her fall apart as she called out his name in a long, drawn-out moan forever seared in his brain. God, he’d never seen anything so beautiful, heard anything more perfect, felt anything so fucking incredible in his life. Her head was tipped back, eyes closed, face flushed while her body tightened around him with such wild abandon he’d nearly followed her over.
Reducing his strokes, he brought her down slowly and worked to regain control of his throbbing crotch and the fire flooding his veins. He was never going to look at riding his horse the same again. Ever. With one last kiss to her neck, he forced himself to remove his hands from her hot, still-quivering body, and fixed her bra and top back into place.
“Wow,” she muttered between breaths. “I can’t believe you just did that to me, and that I let you, and on a horse.”
He eased the reins from her grip and kissed her ear. “You were incredible.”
“Me?” She twisted as far as possible to look at him. “That was all you, Stone.” Reaching across her body, she cupped his jaw while holding his gaze, hers still dark with traces of desire. “Thank you.”
Then she kissed him, running her tongue over his bottom lip. The fire he’d worked so hard to douse flared back to life with a roaring vengeance. He groaned and slid his free hand up her chest to lightly grip her throat and jaw. Damn, she tasted so hot and hungry. But taking care of her on a horse was one thing; taking care of him was another. Way too dangerous.
He broke the kiss and sucked in a breath. “We need to stop.”
“No.” Her smoldering gaze blinked at him. “We need to take care of you.”
His dick throbbed in agreement. He swallowed and shook his head. “No. Too dangerous. Not on a horse.”
“But, it’s not fair to leave you…hanging.” She wiggled that fine ass against him.
He saw stars before his vision momentarily faded. “I’ll take a rain check,” he growled, gripping her hip to still her wicked movements. “Right now, we need to get you to your café.”
“Shit.” She faced forward and sucked in a breath. “I forgot.” Then she leaned back against him to dig her phone out of her pocket. “I’ve got twenty-seven minutes.”
He sent Galahad into a trot. “Plenty of time. The town’s just ahead.” He pointed to Skeeter’s garage, just becoming visible in the distance, and dropped his gaze to her bouncing breasts. Hot damn, the woman was mouthwatering. “Do you need help with anything?”
What he really wanted was to help her out of her clothes and into his bed. Considering that’s the very thing he’d avoided for almost a year, he should’ve been alarmed. He wasn’t. Just hard and throbbing.
“That’s sweet. Thanks, but no. Everything is prepared and my cook is already there,” she said. “I’ll be okay. I’ve taken up enough of your time the way it is. You must’ve been heading to town for a reason.”
“To work on the terms of a contract with the McGregors.”
She twisted to face him again, a thousand-watt smile lighting her pretty face. “Congratulations. Now you’ll be able to build another barracks and help more veterans.”
She got it. She really understood. This woman was turning out too good to be true. Too
good to keep at arm’s length, although…they probably just blew that on the ride in. He nodded and cleared his throat. “Yes. Once we’re done and get paid.”
She stilled. “Wait…what do you mean? Surely you get half up front, right?”
He frowned. “No. We normally do it in three stages.” They couldn’t afford to scare people away. It made stretching the budget tough, but they managed.
“Then you need to change that to two. Half up front, the rest when you’re done. Trust me, that’s more than fair.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Maybe you can consider it when you’re doing commercial work,” she continued to press. “I’m sure it’s different than residential.”
True. He blew out a breath and nodded. “A little more complicated. Different codes, certifications, permits, and planning.”
“Then you should be compensated differently. Think of the men,” she urged.
Stone stiffened. When it came to business and the ranch, the veterans they served were always first and foremost in his mind. “I am. That’s why I don’t want to blow this job.”
She nodded. “I know, but what’s it going to hurt to suggest half up front to the McGregors? If they say no, then you revert back to your usual plan. At least think about it.”
“I will.” He slid his thumb under her shirt to brush her warm skin, and changed the subject. “So, did you enjoy your first horse ride?”
A lopsided grin tugged her lips as she glanced over her shoulder at him, sweet blush rushing into her face. “You know I did, thanks to you.”
He stroked just under her breast. God, she felt like silk. “It was my pleasure.” As much as he longed to go for round two, he lowered his hand back to her hip. The town was drawing near.
She chuckled. “No, cowboy, the pleasure was mine.”
He loved how she didn’t turn weird or self-conscious, just remained open and honest. It was refreshing and unexpected, considering where she was raised. Perhaps not all big-city folks were uptight and selfish. Those qualities seemed to be absent in Jovy. To prove his theory, she lifted a hand and waved to Skeeter as they passed, her face still flushed, lips swollen, and knees stained with dried blood.
Yeah, not self-conscious at all. In fact, her smile widened at the man’s questioning gaze. There was a lot to this city girl. She was teaching him not to make assumptions. He brought Galahad to a halt in front of her café a minute later, then dismounted before helping her down.
Her hot, curvy body brushed wickedly against his, and stayed there a few glorious moments while she lifted up to press a quick kiss to his lips. “Thanks for the ride…and the lift back.”
He smiled and was about to cup her ass and crush her close, but movement across the street reminded him they were in public. Odd how his whereabouts tended to seep from his mind whenever they touched. “Good luck with your grand opening.” He brushed back a stray strand of hair that had fallen free from her ponytail. “Do you want me to stick around?”
“No. Thanks.” That pretty blush returned to her face. “I’m just going to clean myself up, otherwise everything is set.” She trailed a finger down to his arm as if she couldn’t help but touch him, too. “I’ll be fine. You go nail down that contract.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He forced himself to step away. “Sorry Lula Belle ruined your quest for flowers.”
A scowl scrunched her face and she huffed. “She’s lucky I don’t serve meat.”
Stone was still chuckling as he rode toward McGregor Feed. He owed Lula Belle big-time. It led to one hell of a ride he’d never forget.
Chapter Eight
How could one of the best days of her life turn into her worst nightmare?
Jovy contemplated that—alone.
In her vacant café.
The one that opened for business over an hour and a half ago. She could almost hear crickets playing “Ode to Loser” in stereo. Poor Leslie sat flipping through a magazine in the small kitchen in back. The knots in Jovy’s stomach tightened with each tick of the clock on the wall. Any hopes of proving her business expertise to her grandfather dwindled with her lack of customers.
What should she have done differently?
She’d taken out ads. Created a Facebook page and tagged as many locals as she could find, only seeming to draw a response from two women whose kids were off at college. Blanche and Cece.
Even they hadn’t shown.
With a sad, pitiful sigh, she leaned against the counter and stared at her newly polished toenails, gleaming a pretty periwinkle that matched the walls. If this kept up, she wasn’t going to have enough money to pay for next week’s rent. And her organic food would spoil.
No. She straightened. That wouldn’t happen. She’d send the food to Vince to use at At-Ease before she allowed that to happen.
Thoughts of the ranch brought her mind immediately to Stone.
God, she hoped he was having a better afternoon than her. His company was on the verge of something great. She could feel it. And with so many deserving people set to benefit, she wanted to help them succeed. Craved it. Hopefully, Stone took her payment advice. He needed to get a little tougher, more rigid when it came to payment terms. Her suggestions were quite normal. Foxtrot had every right to implement a half-and-half schedule. All Stone had to do was try it. Jovy knew in her heart it would work.
The tinkling sound of the newly placed bell on the shop door brought her mind back to her own business. Or lack thereof.
Not anymore.
Stone strode in with Skeeter and several of the men from his ranch.
“Hello, Jovy.” His smile tripped her heart while his presence warmed her soul. “We’d like to try your special of the day.”
She walked around the counter, a little in shock over the unexpected visit. “But you don’t even know what it is.”
“That’s okay,” Skeeter answered. “We’d all like to try it. Besides, Stone’s buying.”
The men nodded as they filled three of the five tables.
Her heart rocked. He was doing it again. Rescuing her. The man always seemed to rescue her. She grabbed his arm and tugged him out of earshot. “Look, I appreciate what you’re doing.” God, it was sweet. So sweet. “But I don’t want you wasting your money on—”
“Hey.” He cut her off, covering her hand with his. “It’s my money, and I can do what I want with it.”
She studied him a moment. As much as Jovy wanted to succeed, she was not going to do it at the expense of At-Ease and its occupants. That wasn’t something she could live with. Her dad and grandfather had instilled the importance of being able to look at your reflection in the mirror and measure success by the amount of integrity in your eyes. She opened her mouth to tell Stone, but he held up a finger and smiled.
“Besides, it’s lunchtime.” He motioned with his head toward the men. “I had to feed them anyway.”
Her lips twitched. “Skeeter, too?”
His smile widened. “Yes. He fixed our tractor and wouldn’t take any money for it.”
“Hey, Jovy, could I get some of your unsweetened raspberry iced tea?” Skeeter asked, glancing at a menu she’d placed on every table.
A few of Stone’s men asked for some, too.
“Sure.”
“And some coffee, too, please,” Stone added, sitting down across from Skeeter.
She hesitated a second. “Okay, but just so you know, you’ll have to drink it black. “There’s no milk or cream on the menu.”
To her surprise, no one grumbled. So she served the drinks before filling six bowls of gluten-free, vegan chili Leslie had warming on the stove in back. Intuition told her this was the deciding point for the men. Stone, no doubt, rounded everyone up and made them come—something he was good at. Heat immediately flushed through her body. Nope. She refused to let her mind go there.
Just set the bowls on the table and step away.
She did, and everyone stared from their vegan chili to Stone, uncertainly and f
ear clouding their gazes. If she weren’t so stressed, she’d probably find their expressions comical. But nearly two hours with no customers on opening day had rattled her nerves.
“I know it looks a little strange,” she said, gripping the pen in the pocket of her blue-and-white checkered apron. “Once you get over the fact there’s no chunks of steak, I promise it tastes good.”
And it did. She’d tasted it herself a half hour ago. The rest of the ingredients were fairly traditional, and flavorful.
Stone eyed his spoon a little nervously, but opened his mouth and shoved it in. Everyone—including her—waited with bated breath for his reaction.
He chewed a few times, then swallowed. “You’re right. That’s not as bad as I thought. And it’s got a wicked kick.”
Bless him. She could tell he’d much rather have actual meat in his chili, but he kept his expression neutral as he’d answered as truthfully as possible.
“That would be the jalapeños.” She winked.
Skeeter shoved a spoonful in his mouth next, and she was warmed by the surprise that crossed his weathered face. “You ain’t lying. This is actually good.”
One by one, the men sniffed their bowls before taking a tentative bite, and soon they were eating with gusto. A few even asked for seconds. Thank God. Even though she worked hard to research and test dishes, Jovy was relieved her special pleased more than just her palate.
If she’d had more time to study spices and test what complemented what, she’d have a killer menu.
The bell above the door jangled and a young couple entered, yuppie clothing giving away the fact that they weren’t locals, which meant her ad in the regional papers must’ve drawn them in. Sweet. After chatting with them a few minutes, she left to grab their drinks and glanced over at the other tables. The men were just about done.
She took the yuppies their drinks, then headed to Stone with a carafe of coffee. “You want a refill?”
“No. Thanks, Jovy,” he said, rising to his feet. “We need to get back to work.”
She exchanged good-byes with the men and Skeeter, then headed to the counter, acutely aware of Stone following her to the register. Bugger had his back to the others, so when she faced him across the counter, his gaze was heated and hungry. Her pulse kicked up, along with her temperature.
In the Ranger's Arms (The Men of At Ease Ranch) Page 8