“Together forever.” She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I can see why that would make you jaded.”
He took her hand, raised it to his lips. “But not you. You’re the farthest from a jaded person that I’ve ever met. No one’s like you, Sadie.”
“And for me, there’s never been anyone like you.”
She kissed him, and this time the kiss wasn’t quite as sweet as the intensity of it grew and blossomed. Their tongues tangled as their mouths slanted against each other, seeking more. Breathless, she broke the kiss and took his hand, tugged him toward her bed. In case there were any questions, she kicked off her boots and pulled her dress off, leaving her in a black push-up bra and matching panty thongs.
Gratified at the very male sound that came out of Lincoln, she absorbed the knowledge that he didn’t look at all disappointed. In fact, he appeared stunned as his gaze raked over her body, from her breasts to her legs.
“God, Sadie. You’re beautiful. So beautiful.”
His callused fingers gently traced a path from her bra strap to the cup, tugging it down. Then he bent low to take her nipple in his mouth, licking, teasing, and tugging until she moaned.
He met her gaze intently, his blue eyes the darkest she’d ever seen them. “Are you sure?”
“You wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
“That’s all I need to hear.” He unbuttoned his shirt, letting her help, and quickly divested himself of his boots and pants.
She stood for a moment just admiring his body. Anyone could tell that Lincoln didn’t spend a lot of time behind a desk. He worked physically hard every day of his life and it showed. His shoulders were wide and muscular, his stomach flat, tapering down to strong muscular thighs.
He gently laid her on the bed and covered her with his warm body. He kissed her, hot and deep, plundering her mouth. When he had her breathless, his tongue took a leisurely tour of her body, from the column of her neck, down to her belly button, leaving tendrils of heat in its wake.
“I want to take my time, but I don’t know if I can,” Lincoln said. “I want you so much and you’re driving me out of my ever lovin’ mind.”
“You don’t need to go slow or be careful with me. This time,” Sadie said. “Right now, I want you hard and fast. And, like, yesterday.”
He blinked. “Damn, girl, you are constantly surprising me.”
“I hope so.”
Desire pulsed through her body and she bucked under him, then her hands were on his ass, lowering his boxer briefs. She sucked in a breath at the sight of him completely naked now because he was um, large there, too. She probably shouldn’t be surprised.
He caught her staring and grinned. “Are you okay?”
“Y-yes.”
“But not so sure about hard and fast anymore? Don’t worry. I’ll make this good for you.”
“I know you will.” Sweet emotion spiked through her and she bit her lower lip to keep from crying. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Oh, it’s happening.”
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this.”
“Yeah?” he grinned. “Show me.”
* * *
Lincoln was about to go out of his mind with lust. He’d felt intense desire before, but this felt completely new. This? Sheer madness. It took everything in him not to ravage her the minute she’d brought him to her bed. Because damn, she was unbelievable. So gorgeous, with soft peachy skin and dear Lord, the underwear…Sadie wore of the sexiest panties he’d ever laid eyes on. He wanted to tear them off with his teeth, but it looked like she’d paid a lot for them.
Then she’d bucked underneath him and told him what she wanted. He went almost still with surprise. He’d fantasized about this moment, but though their kisses were hot, he didn’t expect a wild woman in bed. Slow would be better, if he could manage. She certainly didn’t make this easy.
“Condom,” he said and reached for his pants, pulling the shiny package out, and ripping it open.
He put it on and lowered himself to her, kissing all over her body, feeling her writhe under him and open up, spreading her legs wider. His fingers probed inside her and she wasn’t just damp, she was sopping wet. That final check was all he needed. Slowly, he slid into her and gave her a moment to adjust to his size.
“Okay?” he asked, nibbling at her neck, and tried not to move inside her, which required a herculean effort.
“Oh God, yes, please. Lincoln. I need to move.”
Then she bucked beneath him, and he was a goner. All control slipped and he just pounded into her, riding her like she’d asked, hard and fast. She clutched at his shoulders, her hips meeting him with every powerful and deep stroke. She was incredible, taking every last inch of him. It wasn’t long before she moaned, calling out his name, and he felt the first waves of her pulsing and clenching around him like a vise. It milked an orgasm out of him faster than he could have ever believed possible. Better and more intense than any in his life.
He groaned and emptied himself into her. But after, even with all her enthusiasm, he still worried he’d hurt her. He rolled with her and tucked her to his side.
“Damn, girl. You didn’t have to take me all at once like that.” His hand glided up and down her spine, soothing her, feeling gratified at having left her breathless.
“Once you were inside of me, there was no other way.”
“Are you sore, baby?”
“I don’t think so, but I also can’t feel anything right now. I’m not even sure I have a body. It feels like it dissolved and floated up to heaven.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You’re amazing.”
She played with the hairs on his chest and glanced up at him, a playful smile on her lips. “Not nice and sweet?”
“Well, you certainly taste sweet. How about that?”
“I’ll take it.”
“You will,” he said and rolled to brace himself above her. “And then you’ll take some more.”
“Oh, yes.”
And with that, he lowered his head between her legs and proceeded to rock her world.
It was still dark when Lincoln forced himself to disentangle from Sadie and get dressed. They’d been at it all night long, which meant that whether she wanted to admit it or not, Sadie was sore. He’d been gentle the next time, taking his time, slow and easy, but still she’d come harder than he’d ever seen a woman do.
But it was time to go. Playtime was over. Their ranch hands were always given Sunday off for family and church, which meant a longer day for him, seeing as they were already shorthanded. Usually he’d manage to find some time for himself on Sundays, though, if nothing else because Mima insisted he, Daisy, and Hank join her for dinner. Tonight, he would move heaven and earth (or more like a couple of cows) to see Sadie again.
He bent over her naked and sleepy form to kiss a bare shoulder, as it peeked out from under the covers. “Don’t get up.”
“Don’t go,” she said lazily, reaching to pull him close. “I wanted to serve you breakfast in bed.”
“Cook me dinner instead. Or I’ll cook you dinner. Either way, I’ll be back.”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t think you’re getting rid of me now, do you?”
He stroked her butt one last time through the sheet and then went out the door, locking it behind him. A random ray of moonlight illuminated beautiful Lupine Lake. Dawn broke over the horizon as he drove up the hill to his cabin for a shower and change. Within a few minutes he was fully caffeinated and mucking horse stalls. He hated Sundays because of this one chore that he didn’t usually have to do. Eve often took this job for extra cash, but Mima insisted she have Sundays off.
Next he saddled his gelding and rode out to the north pasture to check on the fence line.
That’s when he saw Jolette Marie riding in the distance. Her family’s horse ranch abutted the Carver ranch, but they rarely ran into each other. Both families owned plenty of land, with the ability to
avoid each other if needed. The Trueharts never required any help from their neighbors. Wealthy and influential, Mr. Truehart had been married five times, each time to a younger woman. He employed a full staff, including a maid and a cook who lived on the property.
Lincoln could go on avoiding Jolette Marie but that wouldn’t work for him. This was a small town. Much as he hated it, this conversation would happen. This was his fault, for taking advantage of the easy situation that Jolette Marie offered. Now he had to get out of this quickly, with the least amount of damage to a woman he thought of as a friend.
He rode to the fence line and dismounted, a clear signal that he wanted to talk. Jolette Marie joined him almost immediately, smiling widely as she hopped off her horse.
“I knew you’d be back. We’ve got a new horse coming in for training, but I can meet you tonight.”
“That’s not going to work for me.”
“What are you thinkin’, then? Tomorrow?”
He shook his head, realizing he’d misled her just by meeting her here. “This thing between us is going to have to be over.”
“Are you kidding me? Is this about Sadie?”
“Okay, listen. You and I were never serious. Nothing permanent. That’s the way we both wanted it.”
“That’s the way you wanted it and I went along.”
“It wasn’t just me. We’ve been together maybe twice in all the time we’ve known each other. If you wanted more, you would have said so. You have lots of other men in your life and I never cared. We never promised each other anything.”
“Because you didn’t want to settle down. With anyone. If that’s true, why are you dropping me?”
Because I feel like someone hit me over the head with a baseball bat.
Stunned. Seeing stars.
Because I’m thirty-two years old and I’ve never felt this way about a woman. I didn’t even know that I could.
He wouldn’t say any of those things to Jolette Marie and risk making her feel second rate.
“I haven’t been fair to you. You deserve better.”
Jolette Marie climbed back on her horse and took the reins. “What if I don’t mind?”
“Doesn’t matter. I do.”
She scoffed. “This is about Sadie. I knew it. You’re such a fool. She’s sweet and nice but she’s not going to keep a man like you happy and satisfied.”
At one time, Lincoln would have bet the same. Now he knew far better. God, how much better. They were going to get along just fine. What’s more, they had a connection that he’d never had with anyone else.
“You’d be surprised. But that’s my business.”
“You’re going to get bored. When you get bored enough, let me know and I might consider taking you back.”
Sadie would never bore him. “Please don’t.”
“You’re an ass,” she said and turned her horse in the direction she’d come.
“I’m sorry.”
She galloped off but not before giving him the one-finger salute.
He turned to the gelding. “Well, that went well.”
The gelding snorted.
Chapter 13
The morning after the school fundraiser, Lillian rose later than normal, made herself a quick breakfast, and without even bothering to write to Albert, set off for town. There were times when she didn’t need any advice from the old man. Those were the times when a mother and grandmother knew what to do and didn’t want anyone to stop her.
There would be some clean-up downtown today, considering that they’d all been otherwise occupied searching for Pamela Ann and Derek’s boy. Poor child. Lillian would bake some cookies and her homemade fudge for the boy soon, as well as figure out how to get ahold of his no-account father. There simply seemed to be no end to her chores. The list just kept getting longer, not shorter.
Today, she would need to have a talk with this new doctor in town. Judson Grant, Ada’s nephew. He seemed to be under the mistaken impression that Sadie was the woman for him. Ha! Lillian would set him straight. Lincoln had finally noticed Sadie, thank you Jesus. Yesterday, Lillian’s gaze followed Lincoln throughout the day, and his gaze followed Sadie’s every move.
She truly did not understand why men continued to move to their town. Most of them grew up here, but every now and then a young whippersnapper came along like he had good sense. With their shortage of women, it was Lillian’s duty to make sure her grandson got a good one. Not that her Lincoln needed any help in that department, as he did seem to be particularly gifted at attracting women, but she would prefer him to marry one of their women, and not someone he met on the rodeo circuit. And it couldn’t hurt to cut away all distractions from his and Sadie’s path straight to the church altar.
Speaking of Trinity Church, she did of course make her appearance at morning services. Lillian considered it her duty to show up not only for Hank and his children, who couldn’t be bothered, but for all the other heathens who refused to darken the doorway of a church. Bless their hearts.
She didn’t see Sadie this morning, and she was a regular. Lillian otherwise saw all of the usual suspects. Beulah and Lloyd Hayes, Brenda Iglesias, Eve. Wanda and Merle Stephens, Ada, and her nephew. While Ada schmoozed with the Pastor, trying to advance her one-way first-class ticket into heaven, Lillian offered to buy the wonderful Dr. Grant a coffee over at the General Store.
Kill them with kindness, her blessed mother used to say. Or was that her father? Well, either way.
“Of course, Mrs. Carver.” Judson (whom she refused to call “doctor” as he looked twelve) crossed the street with her. “I would love to have coffee.”
“Order whatever you want, young man,” she said once they were inside. “I don’t mind paying five dollars for a cup of coffee. It’s the way of the world these days.”
“Now Mrs. Carver, I can’t have you buy my coffee. This is my treat.”
He made points with Lillian for being a gentleman. Any man of Stone Ridge would happily be impaled in the town square before he let an old woman pay for anything. Impressed, she sat and waited for him to be back with her order. They didn’t make coffee here any better than Lillian did at home, but she enjoyed occasionally being out and about and off the ranch. One couldn’t lead a full life with only cowboys, cattle, and horses for company. People needed each other and community.
“I understand that you’re thinking of opening up a clinic here,” Lillian said, because that rumor had already wound its way through town twice.
Lillian loved the idea, though she’d prefer a woman start one. Still, one couldn’t be picky.
“I certainly believe that I’m needed and would do well opening up a practice here, but it’s expensive to start a clinic. All the equipment, a location, hiring a staff.”
“We’d love to have you, but you do understand the peculiarities of our small town?”
“The shortage of women? Yes. It’s a bit…disturbing.”
“Uh-huh. That’s right.”
“I admit I have plans to be married soon.”
“Oh, you’re engaged?” This would be easier than Lillian thought.
He shook his head. “What I meant is, I have a plan. I need to find a wife and preferably soon. That could be difficult here. And unfortunately, the young woman I have my eyes on has a terrible skin condition.”
“Really.”
“Sadie Stephens. We went on one date, plenty of fun, but it ended early because she broke out in a rash. Something she ate, I’m sure. She’s a beautiful girl. So sweet and kind.”
“She is. And very much taken.”
He quirked a brow. “Taken? We went on a date.”
“Oh, dear. Here’s what you need to know about our Sadie. She’s far too sweet to say no to a friend. And she wanted to welcome you to town I’m sure.”
“I’m confused. Who is she “taken” by?” He held up air quotes.
“My grandson, of course, Lincoln Carver.”
He blinked. “I thought they were just friend
s. I met him on the night of our date.”
“Understandable mistake.”
“Well, this explains a great deal. She did put me off for another date and she wouldn’t give me the time of day at the fundraiser.”
“It’s not like Sadie to be rude, but she might have been trying to spare your feelings any further. No point in wasting your time.”
“I appreciate that since I’ve got no time at all to waste.”
Pamela Ann and Jimmy Ray walked inside the store and headed straight to their table. “Dr. Grant, thank you again for looking Jimmy Ray over last night.”
He stood. “My pleasure. Well, not my pleasure, I mean…obviously it’s not a pleasure to have your child missing for hours.”
“I knew what you meant,” Pamela Ann said shyly, holding Jimmy Ray’s hand. “He’s not gettin’ far from me for a while. Jimmy Ray swears he’ll never do that again. Right?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jimmy Ray nodded.
Lillian kept her mouth shut because she had nothing good to say. Jimmy Ray was the image of his father. But despite the overabundance of genes he’d received from Derek, hopefully he’d grow to be a fine man of Stone Ridge anyway. One could hope.
“I’ve got some cookies and fudge coming your way, young man.” Lillian wagged a finger. “I’ll send them to school with Miss Sadie.”
The boy’s eyes lit up. Lillian made award-winning fudge, after all.
“What do you say?” Pamela Ann tugged on Jimmy Ray’s hand.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
After a few more pleasantries they were on their way. Lillian noted with some surprise the wistful look in Judson’s eyes as he watched them. Pamela Ann? Really? Well, well. Why not, after all? A pretty girl, many believed she’d been far too good for Derek. Imagine if she were to marry a doctor! Of course, first she’d need to get divorced.
Although Lillian wasn’t really in the market to match up anyone but her grandchildren, this one sort of fell in her lap. She simply needed to keep Judson in town. Pamela Ann would bring Jimmy Ray for regular check-ups and love would blossom. After the divorce.
Lucky Cowboy Page 14