by SJ McCoy
It was crazy, and she knew it. She’d only known him for a few days. But she felt a connection with him that she hadn’t felt with anyone else. She flung open the kitchen door and went inside. Just because she was hung up on him didn’t mean she should go around changing her ways, changing herself – hanging around in the hopes that he’d call. She pushed her hair back off her face and went to the fridge. She should cook. She didn’t do it often enough, but it was a great way to lose herself when she was in a funk like this. It was stupid. He’d asked if he could call her, said he didn’t know when he’d be back from Bozeman. Why was she getting herself all worked up? She didn’t know, but she smiled as she took a beer from the fridge and popped the top. It might be stupid. It might not be like her. But it was a good thing. She knew it. She was only like this because it mattered – Spider mattered – to her. Very much. It was a new experience for her, but she wasn’t going to say it was a bad one. It felt kind of amazing.
She chopped onions and peppers, ready to sauté them. She was making Ace’s favorite pasta primavera. She hadn’t seen him since Chico on Saturday night, hadn’t thanked him for being good to Spider. She’d make the pasta and then ride up to his place with it. She hadn’t been up there in a while and Ace was always good company.
She jumped when her phone rang and grabbed it out of her back pocket. Her heart leaped into her mouth when she saw Spider’s name on the display.
“Hey,” she answered.
“Hey back. Sorry I didn’t call you sooner. We ended up spending all day in Bozeman.”
She frowned. Bozeman was okay. It was handy to have a town like that just over an hour away, but it wasn’t her kind of place. It didn’t even feel like Montana anymore. Most people she knew called it Boze Angeles these days. She had to wonder if he and Reid had spent so long there because he liked it. “No problem. Did you have a good day?”
“Yeah.” He sounded so enthusiastic her heart sank. “I mean, Bozeman’s okay, I guess, but getting a whole day with Reid was awesome.”
She relaxed. “That’s good. I love that you guys are so close. No offense or anything, but you wouldn’t be the first two guys I’d match up as being best buds.”
She loved his laugh. He sounded relaxed and carefree, and given what he’d told her about his childhood, it was a testament to his character that he wasn’t darker and more broken. “What are you trying to say?”
She laughed with him. “I’m not trying to say anything. I’m saying that Reid is some super smart writer and programmer and you’re this …” she hesitated, and he laughed again.
“Yeah, think carefully before you say what I am. I know you said no offense, but …”
“Ha! I wasn’t hesitating over whether I’d offend you. I was wondering if I should be as honest as I was about to be.”
“What were you going to say?” The laughter was gone from his voice.
“I was going to say that I wouldn’t naturally think of a super smart computer guy being best friends with a super hot, super fun, coffee shop owner.”
He was quiet for a long moment before he asked. “You think I’m fun?”
She laughed. “Of course, I do! Because you are. You know this – don’t you?”
“I didn’t. I’m just … I don’t know. I guess I’ve always been too busy surviving to give much thought to fun. And then once I got my feet underneath me and knew I had the survival thing covered, I just kind of got on with being the guy in the background, making sure everything’s taken care of.”
Frankie shook her head. “I can imagine you being that way, I can see it, but it’s not all that I see in you. To me you’re fun.”
“Thanks.” She could picture him running his hand over his head as he spoke.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. It’s just the truth. And while you’re making sure everything’s taken care of, who takes care of you?”
“I do.”
“I knew that before I asked.”
“So why did you ask?”
“Because I want to be sure. What are you doing tonight?”
“I was hoping that maybe I could see you.”
She smiled. “I was hoping the same thing. Want to come down here and let me take care of you?”
He was quiet for a few moments, and she laughed when she realized what he was thinking.
“I didn’t mean like that! I meant, I’m cooking. I’d love to feed you.”
His chuckle sounded a little embarrassed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I didn’t say I don’t want to take care of you – only that that wasn’t what I meant.”
His laugh was more relaxed this time.
“What time do you want me to come?”
She tried so hard not to laugh that she snorted, which just made her laugh more. “Sorry! I can’t help it. Do you remember the way here? Do you want me to come get you?”
“I remember the way. And thanks, but I don’t want you to come all the way back up here. I’ll come on the bike.”
“Okay. Whenever you want is fine by me. Do you want to come up and see Ace with me? I’m going to take some pasta up for him.”
“Sure. I’d like to see him again. But I have to make a stop before I get to you; I don’t want to hold you up.”
“Where are you going?” She probably shouldn’t be so nosey, but she couldn’t imagine where he might be going.
“Reid told me about some rental cabins just off the highway; from what he said they’re about halfway down to your place.”
She frowned. “Why do you need a rental? Are you guys okay?”
“We’re great. But they need their space and I need mine. I’ll be more comfortable and more likely to stick around for longer if I’m not staying at their place with them. I’ll still see them but it’s better for us all this way.”
“That makes sense.” Her heart was pounding but she had to ask. “Did Reid tell you that we have cabins here? Ace manages them.” She held her breath as she waited for his answer.
“He told me, but I wasn’t sure that asking was the right thing to do.”
“Oh. Okay. No problem.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice.
“Frankie?”
“What?”
“I’m saying that I didn’t know if I should impose myself on you, not that I didn’t want to be around you.”
“What if I said that I’d like you around?”
“Then I’d be there as soon as I could get there.”
She smiled as relief washed over her. “Then get your ass down here, mister!”
Chapter Eleven
Spider rolled his bike to a stop in front of the house and took his helmet off. It was quite a place. He’d been surprised when he came with Frankie yesterday at how long the driveway was. He’d clocked it this time and it was just over a mile since he’d ridden under the big wooden archway that marked the entrance to the property. Frankie hadn’t been kidding when she said that Libby’s riding stables took up just a tiny corner of the property.
He hung his helmet on the handlebars and shrugged out of his jacket, then spun around when he heard Frankie laughing. The tight feeling in his chest loosened a little bit more at the sight of her. She was still wearing the dress, and he could only hope that his appreciation of it didn’t become too apparent. But more than the dress, it was her. She was just so damned beautiful. She looked so … free and happy. Even in a dress, she didn’t look buttoned up or domesticated. She reminded him of a wildflower, beautiful by her own design, not by being pampered and tended to. And that thought snapped him back to his senses – a wildflower? She must be scrambling his brain; he didn’t have thoughts like that.
He grinned at her. “What’s so funny?”
She came down the steps to meet him. “That I get to see you stripping again.” She stopped just a few feet away from him, her eyes shining with laughter.
He smiled through pursed lips and held her gaze as he slowly peeled off the leather pants that he rode in. Th
ey were hot and uncomfortable, but he always wore them and most of the time he wore them over jeans.
He had to close his eyes when he caught her running her tongue over her bottom lip as she watched. He put the pants next to his helmet and then held his arms out to his sides. “Show’s over.”
She closed the distance between them in one big stride and slipped her arms around his waist, pulling him to her. He automatically hauled her against his chest and looked down into her eyes.
“That was just the warmup act, right?”
He raised an eyebrow. He thought he understood what she was saying, but there was no way he was going to assume that.
She kissed the corner of his mouth and then looked him the eye. “I’ve seen the warmup act twice now. I think I’m ready for the main show.” Her eyes searched his face. “It’s okay if you’re not ready yet. But I need you to know that I want you, Spider. I don’t know how long you’re going to be here, but I want to make the most of whatever time we have.” She smiled, “And it’s not just about jumping your bones. It’s …” Her smile faded, and she looked away before resting her head on his shoulder and speaking into his neck. “It’s about wanting to be close to you. As close as a man and a woman can get.”
Spider’s arms tightened around her as a rush of warmth spread through his chest. “I want to be that kind of close with you, too, Frankie.” He didn’t know how to tell her everything he meant. He wanted to be with her physically, of course he did. His cock was straining against her, desperate to be inside her. But it was more than that. It wasn’t even about wanting the kind of physical intimacy that she was talking about – and he understood that she was talking about something that went way deeper and meant more than just sex. He wanted the kind of close that he hadn’t allowed anyone to get in his whole life. Grace had maybe come the closest, but she was his friend, his sister in many ways. She’d been a part of his childhood. She knew him. They were close. But the closeness he wanted with Frankie was something he’d never thought he’d experience. That kind of thing was for other people, not for him. But as he held Frankie as close as he could get her, he knew that he wanted her to be a part of his life – a big part. He wanted her to share it.
~ ~ ~
Frankie glanced over at Spider as the truck bounced its way up the rutted track that led to Ace’s house. She’d planned to put him on a horse and ride up here. He’d already told her that he’d never ridden, and she wanted to see how he handled it. But the wave of need that had come over her when she’d seen him arrive had changed her mind. She didn’t want to spend their time on horseback. She smiled to herself – she didn’t want his balls to be aching from anything but need either. So, she’d brought the truck. It was the quickest way to deliver Ace’s dinner. On the way back down, she’d show Spider the cabins. If he decided he wanted to stay here – she hoped he would, but she hadn’t thought it through before she’d made the offer – they could talk about it. But hopefully not until after she took him back to the house, and to bed.
His lips quirked up into a smile. “Are you laughing at me over there?”
“No!” She did laugh at his question. “Why would I?”
“I dunno. I guess I’m feeling out of my element. I’m very aware that out here on a ranch there’s so much that I know I don’t know. I could be doing something weird just sitting here bouncing around and I wouldn’t know it.”
“Nah. You’re doing great. Some of the tourists who come to float the river, even the hunters, will hang onto the door handle and the dashboard with white knuckles on the ride up here. They look out of their element. You don’t. You look …” It only hit her as the words came, “… you look right at home.”
He reached across and rested his hand on her knee. “Thank you. Is it weird that I feel at home?”
Her heart hammered in her chest. God. Wouldn’t that be something? If he made this his home? “I don’t think it’s weird.” She shot a glance at him, not daring to take her eyes off the track for long. “I think it’d be awesome.”
She felt his hand tighten on her leg, but he didn’t comment. She needed to slow the hell down. She’d already asked him if he’d stay and buy the bakery. He hadn’t commented on that either, but he had said he’d set it aside. Now, she was telling him it’d be awesome if he made this place his home. She could only hope that she wasn’t making him feel the same way she felt when a guy got too needy too fast. The last thing she wanted was for him to decide it was too much and leave.
Ace was out on his front deck when they reached the house. He held a hand up in greeting and came to open Frankie’s door. “You didn’t have to cook for me, Shorty.” He nodded at Spider. “Especially when your man’s here.”
She reached into the back and handed him a big cooler bag. “Pasta primavera. A six pack. And one of those ciabatta loaves and a cherry strudel from the bakery.”
Ace raised his eyebrows. “Did I forget my birthday or something?”
She pushed at his arm. “It’s not like I only take care of you on your birthday. How about a thank you?”
Ace grinned and pecked her cheek. “Thank you.” He smiled at Spider. “I’d invite you in, but I’m starving, and Shorty’s a great chef. And besides, you didn’t come down here to visit with me.”
Spider nodded, and Frankie loved that the two men seemed comfortable with each other. Mav had tasked Ace with looking out for her while he wasn’t around, and Ace had made his disapproval all too clear when he hadn’t liked her dates in the past. She decided it was probably best to let him know that she was going to show Spider the cabins.
“He didn’t just come to see me either. He was going to rent one of those cabins by the river, but I’m going to show him ours.”
Ace raised an eyebrow at her, but she just shrugged.
“How long are you planning on staying?” he asked Spider.
“I don’t know yet.” He looked at Frankie. “There are a few things I need to work out, but I’d like to be here for a while.”
Frankie’s heart leaped in her chest. Maybe she hadn’t scared him off.
Ace laughed. “If you two haven’t figured it out yet, you will soon enough.” He held Spider’s gaze. “But when you do, you’ll have to find your own place. Staying in the cabins is all right by me.” He turned a serious look on Frankie. “But moving into the house won’t be all right by Mav.”
She blew out a sigh. There was so much she wanted to say to that, but it wouldn’t be fair in front of Spider. She just made a face and said, “I know. Anyway, enjoy your dinner.”
“Thanks, Shorty. And you know I’m not trying to be an asshole. I’m just saying it like it is.”
“I know. I’ll see you soon.”
“Yeah. You kids have fun.”
~ ~ ~
Spider watched Frankie pace the kitchen. She was nervous, which surprised him. She’d been open about telling him that she wished he’d move here, not only once, but twice. She hadn’t been nervous when she’d told him that she wanted him, wanted to get as close as a man and a woman could. But she was now.
She’d shown him the cabins on the way back down from Ace’s place. There were three of them. Two sat side by side at the edge of a pasture, and one sat farther away, by itself on the bank of the river. She told him that they used to use them as vacation rentals but having that many tourists staying on the property was more than she or Ace wanted to deal with. So, they mostly sat empty, though they did still rent them to a handful of regulars who’d been decent guests over the years.
He loved the cabin by the river. It was smaller than the others, but it had everything he needed. Plus, it had an amazing view of the mountains, and he loved the sound of the rushing water. Something about it soothed him. He wanted to say it soothed his soul, but that was a little too poetic to be something that he’d ever say out loud.
They’d left the cabins and come back here to the house because she wanted to feed him. Ace was right; the pasta had been amazing. But now Frankie was
nervous, and he didn’t want her to be. Whether she wanted to back out on her earlier suggestion about getting closer, or she was having second thoughts about renting him a cabin, he didn’t know. But he did know that he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.
He was still sitting on a stool at the island where they’d eaten, and the next time she passed him on her way back and forth from the sink to the window, he caught her arm and pulled her to him.
“Do you want me to leave?”
Her head snapped up, and she met his gaze with wide eyes. “No! I don’t. But I won’t make a fuss if you do.”
Spider frowned. “I don’t get it.”
She blew out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been coming on a bit too strong. I told you that you should buy the bakery yesterday and then today I went and told you that it’d be awesome if you were at home here – if this was your home. I’m not needy and clingy. That’s so not who I am. But I know that’s how I must seem to you. I just … you get to me. You feel so damned right. And I feel so damned happy when you’re around. And … shit! See? I’m doing it again and I don’t – ”
Spider couldn’t help smiling as he put two fingers over her lips to stop her. “Shush!”
Her eyes widened, and he could tell she was about to launch into a protest or another attempted explanation. So, he hauled her against him, spreading his legs so that she stood between them. He removed his fingers from her lips only when he was close enough to claim her mouth in a kiss. There was so much that he wanted to tell her, but he knew he could get his message across more clearly this way rather than with words.