by Stacey Lynn
I debated pushing away from her and ending the kiss, but then she put her hands on my hips.
Game over. The warmth of her hands soaked through the thin fabric making me force myself not to thrust my hips against hers to show her exactly what she did to me.
Instead, I shoved my hand on the wall by her head, into her hair and angled her, and slid my tongue into her mouth for the first time.
She whimpered down my throat, arched her back, and kissed me deeper.
Holy hell it was magnificent. Her hands went to my hips, slid up to my waist, and her small, but strong fingers dug into my burning flesh.
My shoulders shook, tensed from staying in place, not moving forward and flattening her against the wall before lifting her legs to hold them around my waist.
And even if that was what I wanted, what I was thinking of and seeing while our tongues slid against each other, we tasted each other and discovered each other for the first time, I still stayed still.
I needed to touch her. My other hand went to her hip, sliding slowly over her robe to give her time to allow it or end the kiss.
Instead, she relaxed further. I pushed back her robe and settled my hand on her hip, over the clothing.
No skin to skin tonight. Not for me. My fingers dug into her shirt, my other hand in her hair, I held her in place, devoured her mouth and soaked in every minute, every tiny little sound she made, until my control reached a snapping point, and I slowly pulled back.
My shoulders heaved. My breath was ragged.
Her lips were parted and her eyes glassy. Her chest moved rapidly up and down.
“Better than I imagined,” I said. I still held her. My brain at the top of my body hadn’t gotten the message I needed to let her go. I was still thinking with my dick.
She let me go first, and I followed.
“That was…nice.”
Nice. I’d take it. At least she didn’t think it was a mistake yet.
“It was.” I slid my fingers from her hair and settled my hand back on the wall. “You okay?”
She blinked several times, her chest still moved quickly, her cheeks were flushed and her lips were puffy because I’d just kissed the shit out of her.
No one had ever been more beautiful.
“Yeah. I’m okay. Good, I think.” Uncertainty flashed across her face as she glanced to the mess at the floor.
I leaned in, blocking her view.
“I can go into town tomorrow and get some boxes. Box it up so you don’t have to go through everything again.”
“No. I want to. I need to. I’ll call Brooke or another friend to help me.”
I’d give her that. I should also leave before it got awkward.
“Hey,” I said when her gaze fluttered from mine and she went back to peering at the wall behind me like she’d done when she first saw me. “I liked that, Rebecca. I like you. There’s nothing wrong with what we did. You know that, right?”
“Yep.” Her lip disappeared into her teeth and she nodded. “I know.”
“You want me to leave you alone now?” I’d pressed my luck far enough.
She liked the kiss. It was written all over her. Reality was slowly sinking in though and if she needed time to process that, she needed to take it. Joseph would always be with her. She still loved him. I still didn’t want him ruining that moment. Not immediately, although I suspected that would come. I’d figure out how to handle it then.
“Yeah, I should get some sleep.” She licked her lips.
I pushed off the wall and took a step back.
“Okay. Good night, then.” I turned to leave when her hand pressed against my stomach. Her hand was shaking, tiny little tremors that belied the coolness in her eyes when I stopped.
“I liked it too, Cooper.”
Her smile was fleeting.
I still wanted to stick it in my pocket and keep it like an award.
I left her without saying anything else, hoping like hell she knew how much I liked it too, liked it more she gave it to me, and maybe…just maybe wanted more.
* * *
I slept like crap and in the morning, I grabbed my clothes from the dryer and got dressed, started a pot of coffee for Rebecca, and took off before she woke up. The best way to move forward after our night and that kiss—that freaking incredible kiss—was to give her some space. The last thing I wanted was the awkward morning-after scenario if she regretted it.
I’d remember that kiss forever and it was the tamest kiss I’d had since I was a teenager.
I hustled to the guesthouse, jumping over mud puddles and knocked over solar lights on the rocky path. I kicked a few branches out of the way and once inside, I took a shower, took care of myself pretending the whole time I was taking care of Rebecca.
I was in the barn with the four-wheelers and tractors, digging through piles of tools Rebecca used to mend the fences.
I’d take them just in case the storm hit anything.
“You don’t want to take the ATV out today.”
I startled at her voice, as much no-nonsense as it always was when we were working and turned. Rebecca was standing directly inside the barn, sipping on a mug of steaming coffee, dressed in gray cut off sweat shorts and a pale blue sweatshirt. It had a wide neck, hung off one shoulder and long sleeves where her thumbs were stuck through the holes.
Her hair was still damp, hanging long over her shoulders and when she bent her head to take another sip of coffee, I caught a glimpse of a white bra strap.
Fuck me two ways to Sunday, she looked beautiful all messed up and relaxed.
“You’re not dressed to work.”
I’d planned for this moment. Repeated a hundred times what I’d say when I first saw her. That asshole comment hadn’t made the list.
She didn’t seem to care much.
“I called Brooke. She’s stopping at the home improvement store and buying some boxes and bringing them out once they open up. Before then, I have to finish up some more paperwork. I was going to wait for the heat to dry the land before checking everything this afternoon.”
She wasn’t waiting around in cleaning out Joseph’s clothes. I didn’t know whether to hug her or smile.
I rested my hands on my hips. “What do you need from me?”
“If you’re going out to check the fences, take the Kubota.” She pointed to a machine that was a mixture between a small, two-seater truck and an ATV. About the size of the four-wheelers, the cab was enclosed and it had a small bed that would allow me to carry tools. “There’s less of a chance of it getting stuck and you won’t come back covered in mud if it’s messy out there.”
“You sure?”
She brought her mug of coffee in front of her. “Yep. Keys are on the wall on a silver carabiner.”
“Okay.” Apparently, we weren’t discussing last night. “Anything else?”
“Check the calves first. It’s their first storm, and they usually do well, but they’d also be the most vulnerable. I’ll take care of the goats and chickens.”
Calves. Fences. Got it.
She stayed in the same spot. I hadn’t moved either.
There was a dictionary of words to say and I had no idea which one to choose first.
When the silence tilted to the awkward side, I headed toward the key rack to grab the keys for the truck. I wrapped my hand around the carabiner when she finally spoke.
“Cooper?”
“Yeah?” I pocketed the keys. She was still on the opposite side of the barn from me. Too far away to brush off the uncertainty suddenly tightening her features.
She licked her lips. “I liked last night.” Her voice was almost a whisper. It barely carried through the vast space between us.
It still hit me with the force of a knockout worthy punch. “Good. I did too.”
Hell if I was having this conversation so far away from her.
Her cheeks pinked as I headed toward her. She started this, but I still craved the feel of her beneath my hands and the t
aste of her on my lips. I wanted more.
She hit me with another blow as I reached her, and settled my hand on her cheek. “Did making so many movies in Hollywood teach you how to kiss so well?”
Damn her. This fucking amazing woman. I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. “No. The girls in Buffalo did.”
She was grinning too. Shaking her head a little bit and revealing that bra strap I could hardly peel my eyes off. “Maybe, tonight, you could come for dinner and tell me about it?”
My chest burned. I was stunned by the invitation and the cute mischief in her eyes.
I couldn’t help but tease her. How far would she take this playfulness? “Tell you about kissing girls in Buffalo?”
“No. Your life there.”
I’d never understood the saying pinch me I must be dreaming until that moment. She hadn’t just taken the first move in getting us past the kiss, something I thought she’d avoid, she was throwing open a door I was definitely walking through.
“Like a date?” I asked slowly.
“Yeah.” Her voice was still soft. Still quivering. Not nearly as uncertain though. “Like a date.”
I didn’t make her wait. “I’d be honored. I’d love to.”
I slid my hand to the back of her neck and pulled her forward. I kissed the top of her head and stepped back before I pushed for more.
“Good.” She pulled the mug to her lips, swallowed, and turned on her boots.
I watched her ass in cut off shorts, loose fitted sweatshirt, and cowgirl boots saunter back into the house debating if I had time to head back to my place to rub one off really quick or if I should get to work.
I went to work, hopped in the Kubota and started it up.
Hours went by feeling like minutes.
Seventeen
Cooper
She had a problem. A really big fucking problem, and I suspected that problem began with a Gavin and ended with Jefferson.
The lines on the fence weren’t snapped from the storm. They’d been snapped by wire cutters. I was still pretty green in ranching and fence fixing but even my idiot eyes could see it. To make matters worse, two of the calves were acting sick, and I had no idea what to do. The sun was bright and warm and most of the cows were up and moving around, those that were laying down got up when I drove close to them, but the two calves I was worried about, stayed down, barely glancing at me.
By the time I fixed the fence, not surprised at all it happened on the side of her land facing Jefferson’s by any means, checked on the rest of the land that bordered theirs and was on my way back to the house, forcing the truck over muddy trails, I wasn’t just pissed.
I was fuming with the need to shove my fist into Gavin’s face. It was doubtful that would help anything except make me feel a hell of a lot better in the moment.
I was dripping in sweat and caked in mud when I returned to the barn, pulling up the same time a silver pick-up and a white sedan were heading down the driveway.
I jumped out of the truck and headed in the direction of the girls climbing out of their vehicles. Brooke was first, sliding out of the Camry.
“Hi, Cooper! You’re looking like a big old fat mess today.” She grinned and headed in my direction instead of the house. “What’s going on? Rough night? Hard to sleep?”
She winked saucily telling me she knew exactly how my night went.
“It was a great night,” I said, scowling at her even though I wanted to smile. Brooke was nutty in the best way. “Rebecca has some calves that might need her attention. I don’t know what in the hell is wrong with them, but they weren’t acting right.”
“Oh.” She lost her grin but turned and gestured for the other woman to join us. “Kelly. This is Cooper. Cooper, this is a friend of mine and Rebecca’s, Kelly.”
I waved my hand. “Nice to meet you. I’d shake your hand but I’m a disaster.”
“I’m taking it anyway.” She reached for me and wrapped both her hands around mine. “Cooper Hawke. Holy crap. I’m a huge fan.”
Brooke popped her hip into Kelly’s, shoving her off me. “Down, girl.”
Shit. I hadn’t even thought.
“Don’t worry, Coop,” Brooke said. “Jordan told Ryan. Ryan told Kelly. Kelly called me to talk about Friday and it all snowballed but we won’t say anything. Promise.”
“You’re taller in real life than I thought you’d be.”
Teasing I could take. Fangirling I could handle. I gave her my best smile and replied, “You’re prettier in the Midwest than I thought you’d be.”
“Now Cooper, I just learned how to calm down around you. Don’t get me started again.”
I grinned at Brooke. “This is you calm?”
“Calm as I get. Now, where’s our girl who’s finally cleaning out her closets. Something I’ve been telling her for months to get a move on.”
Right. The reminder of why they were there evaporated my smile. “Inside. Said she had paperwork to do. I’ll get the boxes though.”
“I’ll help you,” Kelly said and turned to Brooke. “You go in and let her know we’re here.”
“I’ll get her, but it’s not like she probably didn’t hear you scream when we got here,” Brooke mumbled. “And keep your hands off him.”
“I’ll do my very best. I promise.” Kelly’s blue eyes sparkled as she held up both her hands, middle fingers crossed over her index ones.
“Let’s just get the boxes,” I said, moving toward the truck she’d climbed out of. “I have to tell her about the calves anyway, so I’ll carry these up to the porch.”
“That’s nice of you.” Kelly went to the back of her truck and lowered the tailgate.
My eyes widened. There were dozens of boxes in the bed, all flattened, all brand new. It was at least three times the amount Rebecca needed to clean out the mess she made in her room last night. “You buy out the store?”
“Yep,” Kelly said, unashamed. “Brooke and I are hoping if she’s ready to pack up some things, she’ll keep moving.”
Alrighty then. I knew when to keep my mouth shut.
“You know,” she said, her voice growing quiet and tinged with concern. “I love her. I love her like a sister, so I’m really glad she’s finally ready to do this.”
I was reaching for the handful of boxes I could grab and stopped, peering at her over my shoulder.
Her face had lost her initial excitement and she was staring at the house.
“Hate what’s happened to her. Losing her parents, then her husband, especially in such similar ways. It’s not fair and it’s not right for it to happen to someone as amazing as Rebecca. This is good for her. She needs it.”
I grunted in approval. She was going somewhere with this and I didn’t like the direction she was moving. I pulled out a huge stack of boxes and leaned them against the tailgate.
“I liked hearing about you too, from Brooke.”
“Yeah?” I reached in and slid out another stack.
“Yeah. And I’m not lying when I say I’m a huge fan of yours. I really am.” She settled her hip against the tailgate, blocking me from getting the stack of boxes out of the bed.
I looked at her and waited, expecting the bomb.
“Don’t hurt her,” she whispered, and I felt that hint of pain and fear even from Rebecca’s friend straight to my gut. “She’s had enough hurt and from what I know, you’re just temporary. Don’t do something where we all have to fight to pull her back from hell again, Cooper.”
I’d considered that, obviously. But seeing the fear of that reality happening so fiercely in her friend’s face, the reality of it slid through my veins and landed in my gut.
Shit. What in the hell was I doing?
“I hear you. Honest.”
She pushed off the tailgate and grabbed a half-dozen boxes. “Good. I’m glad. And by the way, your ass looks really nice in those jeans, but don’t tell Ryan I said that or he’ll cut me off of his for a week and that’d be a bummer.”
A surprised
laugh ripped from my throat and I stumbled, reaching down to pick up at least two dozen boxes. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“As long as Rebecca is, too,” she sang, walking ahead of me.
But her point was made, even through the joking tone in her voice.
“Don’t worry about the calves,” she said as we reached the bottom steps. “I’ll let Rebecca know about them and she’ll either come out when we’re done here or call the vet she uses, but my guess is they’re still rattled from the storm. Animals are strange like that.”
I set the boxes against the side of the house right outside the front door. My boots were muddy and I didn’t want to track anything inside if I didn’t have to.
“You sure?”
“Haven’t ever lived on a ranch but I practically grew up with the Marx family. I’m sure.”
“Thanks. I’ll head back out then and take care of the horses.”
“Good.” She grinned at me again. And I had the sneaking suspicion she didn’t want me inside so she could take care of her girl.
I’d let her. Rebecca had good friends to be there for her. They’d help her, they’d keep it light and goofy, and if the heavy creeped in, they’d know what to do about that, too.
I tipped the bill of my KU hat to Kelly. “Thanks again. And don’t worry, I’ve heard you loud and clear.”
“Most people usually do.” Her laughter rang through the air. “I’m not known for my quiet nature.”
I finished hauling off the boxes, Kelly meeting me at the front door to pull them in and once that was done, I climbed back into the Kubota I’d used and parked it back in the barn.
Then I went to the horses, saddled up Blue and took him for a little ride to get some exercise.
The whole time, replaying Kelly’s warning in my head. I needed to have a serious discussion not only with Rebecca but Max too.
Eighteen
Rebecca
My girls. They were crazier than bats out of hell and more loyal than the blue heelers we used to have.
After Kelly helped Cooper lug all the boxes into the house, Brooke ran back out to her car, returning with a cloth grocery bag full of champagne and orange juice.