by Cat Johnson
Tyler was handsome on any given day. Unbelievably, he was even more so now, as he moved above her—inside her—all while he held her captive in his stare.
Leaning low, he kissed her, taking her mouth softly at first and then deeper as he thrust his tongue between her lips, and the motion of his hips increased.
He leaned back, rising above her as he ran his hands down her legs. He lifted her knees and thrust deeper, and she welcomed every one of his strokes.
Each plunge of his body inside hers made her want more. Tyler gave her what she wanted, what she needed, until it became impossible not to close her eyes and grasp at the sheets beneath her as she was consumed by the pleasure gripping her body.
Janie had no idea how long she lost herself in the moment. It could have been mere minutes, or as long as half an hour, before Tyler finished in a frenzy of motion that left them both breathless and sweaty, clutching each other like life preservers on a sinking ship.
It was by no means a brief encounter. Still, she didn’t want it to end. Of course it had to, but maybe that didn’t matter. She spied the rest of the condoms he’d tossed onto the bed. He’d come prepared for more than just one time.
Finally, Tyler rolled to his side, but his arms remained wrapped around her, pulling her with him so they lay facing one another. He brushed his fingers down the side of her face, and the intimacy of being his sole focus hit her again. She wasn’t used to really being seen. Studied.
It had been a long time since she’d worried too much about how she looked. With Tyler, she feared her hair was a mess, and God only knew what he thought of the few extra pounds she was carrying.
Self-conscious, she redirected her focus and ran her fingers over the black ink of the American flag and eagle decorating Tyler’s shoulder.
He glanced down. “I got that one last year.”
It hit her that she didn’t know much about this man or his past. Had he served in the military? Did he just get out? She knew the taste of his skin, and the feel of his muscles beneath her hands, and so many other things, but his history was probably something she should have learned before she invited him to her bed.
“It’s um, very patriotic.”
He smiled. “Yeah, it is. My brother was missing in Afghanistan. It was driving me crazy to just sit there, waiting days for the army to tell us if he was dead or alive. So I got in the truck, drove to my tattoo guy, and told him to do this. I knew it couldn’t help Tuck any, but doing something—anything—felt better than doing nothing.”
Janie’s stomach twisted at his words. He’d talked about his brother visiting, but did he have more than one? “But he was okay, right?”
“Yeah. He came back safe and sound. He’s the one I had dinner with last night.”
Janie exhaled in relief and tried to calm herself. “Good. I’m glad.”
“Yeah. Me too. He can be annoying, but he’s my only brother and I love him.”
His stomach growled, a deep, loud, disgruntled sound that lightened the heavy moment. After all the times he’d teased her for blushing or some other thing that amused him, this time it was her turn to smile. “Hungry?”
“Little bit.” He pressed his lips together. “All right, I’m starving. I guess I just hadn’t noticed that when I had more important things on my mind.”
His heated gaze settled on her face and confirmed her suspicion that the important item on his mind had been her. The whole situation seemed surreal.
Not sure how to act around him now, she needed a diversion. Cooking seemed the perfect thing.
“I’ll go finish supper.” She sat up as best she could with Tyler half on top of her. He groaned in protest and didn’t move the leg thrown over hers, pinning her lower half in place. She laughed. “You’re hungry. You’ll have to let me up so I can cook.”
He sighed. “Okay. As much as it kills me to do it, I’ll let you get out of bed.”
Tyler rolled onto his back and crossed his arms behind his head. He watched as she pulled shorts and a T-shirt out of a drawer. She might as well dress comfortably. He’d already seen all of her and he looked pretty comfortable himself, lounging naked as the day he was born on her bed while she dressed.
She wasn’t about to complain. Tyler had a really nice body. The kind of body that made the words really nice seem much too weak to refer to both him and how she felt looking at him. She’d need a thesaurus and probably a week to paw through it to come up with just the right words to describe him.
He wasn’t perfect. There were calluses on his hands and a scar on his upper lip. His second toe on each foot was too long to be in proportion with the rest, and when he smiled it was a little bit crooked. It was his imperfections that seemed to make him more perfect, which made no sense.
Janie yanked her eyes off him, but that was easier than getting him out of her mind. “I’m gonna head down.”
Finally, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the mattress. He hooked a thumb toward the bathroom door. “Can I jump in your shower real fast? Then I’ll come right down and help you.”
“Sure, but no rush. Take your time.”
“Nah, I’m quick . . . when I want to be, that is.” His grin told her he was very pleased with himself when his innuendo made her blush. He was probably pretty pleased with what they’d done together and how long that had lasted, as well.
She couldn’t help laughing even as she shook her head, but she didn’t play into his hand and respond. All she said was, “I’ll be downstairs.”
“Okay.” He headed for the bathroom, whistling as he went.
If she didn’t feel in grave danger of getting too attached to this man, she might have been inspired to whistle a happy tune herself.
Chapter Twenty-Three
He couldn’t get enough of Janie. Even after controlling himself long enough for them to cook and eat dinner last night, and tumbling her into bed right after the dirty dishes were dumped into the sink, he still woke up next to her dreading having to leave.
It wasn’t just sex, either. He wanted to be near her. It didn’t matter what they were doing. Eating. Sleeping. Tending the horses. He was content as long as he was by her side. That, coupled with a physical need so powerful his body craved her like a drug, was almost frightening.
It was still dark outside, but he was awake, hard and needy once more. With his arms around her as she slept on her side, her back to him, he felt Janie breathing, deep and steady. He should let her sleep, but dammit, he couldn’t resist pressing closer against her.
A low grumble vibrated through Janie. “What time is it?”
“Don’t know.” He moved her hair and kissed her neck. “Don’t care. As long as it’s still dark, I know I don’t have to leave for work yet.”
He moved his hand down to her thigh and pulled her leg over his, giving clear access for his persistent morning hard-on.
“You are insatiable.”
“Is that a complaint?” he asked with a smile.
“No.”
“Good.” He reached for a condom on the table and made quick work of that necessity before sinking into Janie. A shudder ran through him. Even after being with her twice last night, he was still amazed at how perfectly matched they were. “I gotta warn you. Mornings take me a while.”
She laughed. “Longer than usual?”
“Yup.” He moved his hand across her belly, all the way to connect with the spot that had her drawing in a sharp breath. “This okay?”
She let out a shaky exhale. “Mmm-hmm.”
Her answer, tinged with a moan, had him smiling. “Good.”
Moving his fingers in a slow circle that had Janie letting out a sound that cut straight through to his core, he hoped the sun never rose.
Tyler hadn’t been lying when he’d issued the warning that things could take a while. He’d loved her until the morning light streamed through the window blinds and he knew he was going to be late. It had killed him to leave her, looking all sleepy and satisfied in h
er bed. He ended up running out of her place much later than he should have.
There was no time to go home and change. He’d showered at her house the night before, so he slapped some of her girly deodorant under his arms and took off for Rohn’s place.
Thank God she lived right next door to his job, so he didn’t have far to travel. As it was, he arrived after Colton. And after Justin, who finally had been cleared by the doc to come back. That was a good thing, not only for Justin, but for Tyler, too. His return after being out healing for weeks would take some of the attention off Tyler sliding in way after the others.
“Here he finally is.” Justin took a step forward to greet him, and Tyler couldn’t help but notice he still had a limp.
Colton’s brow shot up. “Better late than never, I guess.”
Ignoring that, Tyler clasped Justin’s hand and pounded him on the back with the other. “How you doing, bro?”
“Good enough to convince the doc to let me work.” Justin grinned as he pulled back.
“And ride?” Tyler asked.
“Not yet, but I’m working on it.”
Tyler laughed. “You’re following doctor’s orders for once? What’s up with that?”
“I was wondering that my own damn self.” Colton laughed.
Justin shrugged. “Kind of have to. My mom begged me not to ride until I was completely healed.”
Tyler dipped his head in a nod. “Understood, bro.”
Unlike Tyler’s family, who’d had the life scared out of them when Tuck went missing but ultimately got him back, the Skaggs family hadn’t been so lucky. Justin’s brother didn’t make it home alive from his deployment.
“Gotta keep Mom happy.” Colton slapped Justin on the back. “But I’m glad to have you back here. Working alone with only this sorry ass for help for all those weeks sucked balls.”
Tyler rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Like you’re so wonderful to work with.”
“At least I don’t wander in late, rush through the day, and leave early.”
“Oh, really? Rolling in late—and looking like you didn’t get a whole hell of a lot of sleep—and sneaking out early?” Justin’s brows rose as he scrutinized Tyler a bit too closely for his liking. “Sounds like little Tyler’s got himself a girl.”
“Ah, shut up.” Tyler tried to act like it was a ridiculous notion, hoping the truth didn’t show all over his face.
Colton turned to Tyler with the look of a man who’d just had a lightbulb turned on over his head. “Oh, my God. Do you? And you didn’t tell me? What the hell?”
“So what?” Tyler shrugged, trying to figure a way out of this mess. “If I did, maybe, have a girl, and I’m not saying I do, what’s it matter?”
“It matters because we’re supposed to be friends. But besides that, I’m the one who had to wait around here after work for the blacksmith to come yesterday because you cut out early. And one of the horses he shoed was yours.” Colton’s eyes widened to drive home the point.
“Shit. Sorry, man. I totally forgot about him coming.”
“Because you snuck out without telling me, or I would have reminded you. So where were you going?” Colton folded his arms across his chest and glared at Tyler, clearly waiting for an answer.
Sometimes a man had to throw in a little bit of the truth to cover up a bigger lie.
“A’ight. I’ll tell you. I’m helping Janie Smithwick with her hayfields. She was going to try to do it herself, even though she’s got no experience. So I offered to step in.”
“Why didn’t you just say that in the first place? Jeez. She’s got no hired hands, so of course you should help out.” Colton let out a snort and turned to Justin. “You knew Tom Smithwick, right?”
While Tyler breathed in relief that Colton was satisfied with his story, Justin nodded. “Yup. Not well, but I knew him.”
Colton let out a slow whistle. “Let me tell you, his widow is a hell of a looker. I’m trying to convince Rohn to ask her out.”
“And what’s Rohn got to say about that?” Justin’s eyes cut to Tyler even as he addressed Colton.
“He’s dragging his feet, like he usually does when it comes to any new idea.” Colton shook his head.
“He’s not gonna ask her out.” Tyler screwed up his mouth. “They were friends with each other’s dead spouses. They can’t date now.”
“You’re nuts.” Colton scowled at Tyler. “They’re perfect for each other.”
“No, you’re nuts.” Tyler frowned.
“Whatever. I’m going in for coffee before we get to work.” Colton let out a snort and stalked toward the house.
Colton needed to get off this matchmaking kick before Rohn actually took his advice and asked Janie out, only to be shot down when she said no. There was no way in hell that Janie would say yes to a date with Rohn after the night—and morning—they’d had together.
Tyler glanced up to see Justin smirking. “What’s up with you?”
Justin shrugged. “Nothing. Just thinking how Colton missed asking the most important question.”
“What the hell you talking about?”
“He asked where you went when you left here yesterday. What I wanna know is where’d you come from this morning? Because I’d be willing to bet this week’s paycheck that it’s the same place.”
“What? No.” Tyler nearly choked on his denial.
“Mmm-hmm. Okay. If you say so.” Justin grinned. “By the way, I’ve met Janie. I don’t blame you one bit.”
“I’m not—”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell Colton if you don’t want him to know.” Justin’s gaze dropped to Tyler’s throat. “You might want to try and hide that bite mark on your neck, though.”
With a grin, Justin turned toward the house while Tyler flashed to the memory of Janie’s mouth on him during their second time together. How amazing it had been when she’d come so hard with him inside her that she’d latched onto his neck. How he never even considered stopping her because he’d liked it. A lot.
He didn’t want Colton to know he was sleeping with Janie. Hell, he didn’t want anyone to know yet. Once they were a couple, fine, but not now. He knew he didn’t have the best reputation with the guys when it came to women, but Janie was different. He was different with her. And he didn’t want his past to cast a shadow on her reputation. She shouldn’t be judged because of him and what they did together. She didn’t deserve that. But if he didn’t tell Colton, the idiot would keep pushing Rohn toward Janie.
Damn. Justin was more observant than Tyler had given him credit for. This was way more complicated than he’d thought it would be.
The sick part was, even with Justin guessing, Tyler wouldn’t exchange his time with Janie for anything in the world. And as soon as he got out of there, he was going right back over for more.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Janie was cooking dinner at two in the afternoon. She couldn’t settle herself long enough to concentrate on anything, so she figured she might as well start the beef Stroganoff. It was her grandmother’s recipe, and to be fair, it was best if it cooked for a few hours. At this rate, it would be done at five, a little on the early side for a late-spring evening when it stayed light so long that Tyler would have sunlight to work until late.
That Janie was planning supper around Tyler even though she hadn’t talked to him all day and hadn’t even invited him to eat over yet wasn’t lost on her. Making assumptions was bad.
Assuming anything at all about a man like Tyler was worse than bad. It was a recipe for disaster and a good way to get her heart broken. That was exactly why she needed to keep her heart out of this, which wasn’t easy to do, especially since her body was all in.
The lust. The insecurity. The excitement. It was like being a teenager all over again and a totally ridiculous way to feel at her age.
Completely distracted, she realized it was past time to flip the first batch of meat chunks browning in the pan.
She’d run in and out o
f the grocery store that morning as quickly as she could so she wouldn’t miss Tyler in case he came early. She’d come home with enough cubed beef to feed a family of six. So much, she had to brown it in two batches because there was too much to do in one.
Yup. She was nuts. Crazy for a cowboy. Insane enough to have sex with him. Three times. Three incredible, unforgettable—
“Knock, knock.”
The voice startled Janie out of her sexual remembrances as the back door swung wide and Rene walked in while announcing herself.
“What are you doing here? Cripes. Did I forget a lesson with Khriste?” Janie frowned and pawed through her memory to see if she’d screwed up her schedule.
“No. Relax. There’s no lesson. I just dropped her off at her friend’s house nearby, so I thought I’d pop in.” Rene pulled out a kitchen chair. “Not that you look all that happy to see me.”
“Sorry. I am. Really.” Janie spun to glance into the pan as the beef started to smoke. She flipped the heat down to low.
She was too frazzled to be multitasking right now. Talking while cooking could result in burnt meat, if not worse. In her state, she could probably burn the whole damn house down.
Turning back to Rene, she said, “You want something to drink? Wine, maybe?”
Rene’s brows rose. Her eyes cut to the time displayed on the microwave. “Uh, sure. I could have one glass. But no more. I have to drive and pick up Khriste in a couple of hours.”
“Okay.” Janie nodded.
Thank goodness she wouldn’t be going anywhere. Just in case her worst fears came true and Tyler didn’t show up and she was left with a vat of Stroganoff, she could finish off the bottle. She might need to drown her sorrows if she never heard from him again after foolishly giving herself to a cowboy a decade her junior.
Drawing in a bracing breath, she reached into the cabinet and pulled out a bottle. She uncorked it and poured two glasses. She put Rene’s on the table.
“Thanks.”
Janie carried her own to the counter. “You’re welcome.”
Rene sniffed the air. “Smells good. What are you making?”