“I guess as serious as you can be after a week, but yeah, I want to date her. Exclusively.”
He nodded and took a drink. “You don’t think she’ll distract ya?”
“She didn’t this weekend.”
“What about your vow to never fall for another woman again? You ready to put all that shit behind you now?”
“I’m still struggling with a few things, but I really want to see where this goes with us. I invited her to come to Vegas and spend the weekend with me there.”
Ty let out a gruff laugh. “Well, that’s where she differs from Kaci. She actually supports your bull riding. At least, right now she does. We’ve both seen women do a one-eighty with that in this business.”
I pulled in a long drink of beer and sat there for a few minutes before I responded. “I’ve been pretty up front with her about what I do. She’s not going in with blind eyes.”
Ty sighed. “Kaci didn’t either.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. Kaci had always supported me and Dirk and knew we both loved bull riding. When we got married, though, that all changed. She had changed. Hell, maybe we both had changed.
Ty’s voice made me jump slightly. “I will tell you something about Lincoln Pratt. She’s different from other women. I figured that out when I was doing the real estate deal with her. She’s set in her ways. When she wants something, it appears she goes for it, and she’s not afraid to take on something . . . broken.”
My head snapped over to him. “You think I’m broken?”
“I think you’re as fucked up as I am—different reasons, but still a little fucked up.”
I sighed and raised my beer to his. “Isn’t that the truth.”
He grinned before taking a drink.
We sat silent again before Ty turned to me. “Do you think two guys like us are really ever going to be able to keep a woman happy?”
Shrugging, I finished off my beer and answered him honestly. “I have no damn clue, but it sure will be fun trying to.”
He scoffed. “You have fun trying. There are plenty of women around, so no need to have to worry about pleasing just one.”
Staring at my brother, I wanted to ask him what he was so damn afraid of, but I let it go. After all, I had my own fears that were trying to bubble up to the surface.
Chapter Twenty-One
LINCOLN
Karen showed me all around the office, including where the coffee was stored and how to make the type of coffee she liked. And, if I wanted something else, I could feel free to bring in another pot.
“The most important thing I need to show you is this. Where the extra M&M’S are when the candy bowl gets too low. I have to have them to survive.”
I giggled. “Got it.”
Making a mental note to buy more M&M’S, I headed to my office.
I smiled gleefully at my mountain view. Karen explained she had a new client coming in who wanted to remodel her living room, kitchen, and dining area, and it would be the first client I was going to handle. Since I had owned my own business back in Atlanta, she was giving me full rein. I was over the moon.
Then she delivered even better news. “The office is closed on Fridays, and as you found out today, we come in later on Mondays.”
I would be able to go to Vegas early now and spend the whole day with Brock on Friday. Maybe I would surprise him and fly in on Thursday night.
A knock at my door had me glancing up to see a young woman standing there. She was dressed entirely in blue. And when I say blue, I mean at least three different shades of blue, from her shoes straight up to the large-brim hat she wore.
“Lincoln Pratt?” she asked, stepping into the office when I motioned for her to come in.
“Yes! Julia Kent?” I asked, rounding my desk.
“That’s me.” Her gaze ran over me with interest as she sat in the chair in front of my desk.
As I made my way back around to my chair, I took up a notepad and pen and smiled. “Karen tells me you want to remodel your entire downstairs.”
Pursing her lips, she tilted her head to examine me. “I’m sorry, but are you even old enough to know what you’re doing?”
I tried not to laugh, considering this woman looked to be the same age as me. “Yes. I have a degree in interior design and owned my own company back in Atlanta for a few years before moving to Montana.”
“What brought you here?”
Okay, this was going to be a personal interview, it appeared. “Well, I was looking for a change, cooler weather, distance from my parents,” I added with a lighthearted laugh.
“Hmm.”
That was her only reply.
Taking in a breath, I said, “Okay, well, should we talk about your redesign? Karen said you have a theme you want to go with.”
“Are you dating Brock Shaw?”
I nearly choked on my own tongue. “Excuse me?”
Clearing her throat, Miss Kent repeated her question. “Are you . . . dating . . . Brock Shaw?”
I leaned back in my chair. “I’m not sure what my personal life has to do with redesigning your home, Miss Kent.”
“It doesn’t, Miss Pratt. It’s purely a nosy-ass question on my part.”
A tight smile formed on my mouth. “I see. Well, to answer your question, yes, I am.”
A huge smile erupted on her face as she leaned in. “Shut! Up!”
Okay, there was her age coming out.
“Why is that so shocking?”
She waved her hand about. “Okay, where do I even begin? First off, his wife died, and he totally blamed himself for her death. The man has been filled with guilt ever since.”
Kaylee should have sought out this girl for the town gossip.
“Don’t even get me started on his brother Ty. He’s hot, and he knows it. I’m pretty sure he’s slept with most of the women in Hamilton. Word has it, though, he has someone in Billings, I think. He’s cooled it down on the one-night stands the last few weeks. As a matter of fact, there have been no reports of any hookups.”
“Reports?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, Ty often gives the rumor mill a run for its money.”
Oh yeah, I need to hook Kaylee up with Miss Kent.
“Now, if you’re interested, a few of the local single guys always go to the Blue Moose on Wednesday nights. But then, you did say you were dating Brock, so you might not be interested.”
She winked, and I attempted to get her back on track with our conversation.
“So, your design—”
“You’ll probably want to avoid Lucy Mae. She’s nothing but trouble, and has a thing for Brock that she hasn’t been able to let go of since he dumped her for Kaci.”
My eyes widened. “Avoid her?”
I had no idea why I asked and egged her on to keep talking.
“Yes! She’ll fill your head with tales of Brock and his whoring ways. That’s what she did with Kaci.”
Frowning, I wanted to ask why, but I was not about to start gossiping about Brock’s deceased wife and his ex-girlfriend.
“So, a theme?” I asked, again trying to get the conversation back on her project.
“And whatever you do, don’t eat at the Rusty Pig.”
I pressed my lips together in an attempt not to giggle. This woman was hell bent on getting me caught up on all of the town’s gossip.
“And why would that be?” I asked. A glutton for punishment.
Julia placed her hand over her mouth and pretended to gasp. “I hope you haven’t eaten there already! He barely passes the health inspections, and I’m almost positive he uses cat for his meat.”
“I’m sorry . . . what did you just say?” I asked, leaning in closer. “Did you say cat?”
She nodded. “It hasn’t been confirmed yet.”
Blinking a few times, I slowly shook my head and took in a deep breath. No wonder Karen had given me this client. Was this some sort of test? Handle the town gossip and you can handle anything?
“
So, back to your remodel. Did you have any color scheme you wanted to keep with?”
She nodded. “Blue.”
Thank the Lord, we were moving on.
“You know Dirk, Brock’s best friend?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Yes. I know Dirk.”
Leaning in closer, she gave me a saucy grin. “He’s really good in bed—or so I’ve heard.” She winked. “Okay, so maybe we did hook up once or twice. The man has a cock like no other.”
My jaw dropped. Then my eyes went to her wedding ring, and she laughed.
“It was before I got married. Now, your best friend, is she moving here as well?”
My head was spinning. How did this woman switch topics so quickly?
“Kaylee is not a subject open for discussion.”
She looked apologetic. “Lord, I’m sorry. You’re new in town and not ready for the ins and outs of Hamilton, probably,” she said with a lighthearted laugh.
I forced a smile and decided enough was enough. “My goodness, Mrs. Kent, we should really talk about your design theme.”
She sat up straighter and cleared her throat. With a big toothy grin, she said, “Right. I want to go with an ocean theme. Blue everywhere and fish decorations galore!”
I almost laughed, but I realized quickly that she was serious. Especially when she pulled out the three-ring binder with pages of ideas she’d taken from Pinterest plastered inside.
I looked from the binder to Julia and back to the binder.
Oh, hell, this is not the first job I’m taking on in Hamilton . . . is it?
Walking into my barn, I took a deep breath. It was Tuesday night, and I hadn’t seen Brock since Sunday. I wasn’t the type of girlfriend who was clingy, and truth be told, I had needed the distance between us to wrap my head around these intense feelings I was having toward both Brock and Blayze. And I’d just gotten off the phone with Julia. I needed to get my mind out of the ocean and back to real life. I’d also learned from Karen that Julia was the town go-to person when you needed to find out anything. Of course, she’d informed me a little too late. I’d figured that out on my own.
I’d passed that information along to Kaylee. She’d rubbed her hands together, and an evil grin had spread over her face. “I think I’ll go introduce myself to Mrs. Julia Kent.”
“Be warned,” I’d advised her last night, “she probably already knows you and Ty danced and left the bar together a couple weeks back.”
Walking up to Thunder, I smiled. “Hey, handsome. How was your day?”
“Long.”
I spun around at the sound of Brock’s voice. My mouth instantly went dry when I saw him. Cowboy boots. Tight jeans. White T-shirt. White cowboy hat.
He looked delicious.
“Hey,” I said, realizing how happy I was to see him.
“Hey back at ya.”
He moved toward me in easy strides, making my insides quiver with anticipation. All thoughts of whatever else I had been thinking about vanished. The only thing I could think about was Brock kissing me. Touching me. Taking me right here, in the barn. I was turned on simply from the sight of him.
“Lincoln?” he softly whispered as he stopped in front of me. “You’re looking at me like you want me.”
With a barely there nod, I replied, “I do.”
He pushed his fingers into my hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you yesterday. It was a crazy day on the ranch. Dad takes full advantage when he’s got all three of his boys home.”
“It’s okay. I was exhausted from work. I have a client who wants an ocean theme in her living room, dining area, and kitchen.”
He grinned. “Julia Kent?”
I gasped. “How did you know?”
“She’s always been obsessed with the ocean. I bet she was dressed all in blue too.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Yes! I thought she had done that for inspiration!”
Brock laughed and wrapped his arm around my back, pulling me closer. “She’s also a big gossip.”
With a small grin, I replied, “Yes, I found that out quickly.”
Then, his mouth was on mine. And I was lost. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to have this man kiss me.
His hands moved down my sides, gripping my ass and lifting me up like it was nothing for him. My legs wrapped around him, his hard length pressing against me.
“Lincoln,” he gasped when our mouths pulled apart.
He winced when I squeezed my legs, trying to feel more of him.
“Are you hurt?” I asked.
With a smile, he rubbed his nose over mine. “Cracked rib from my ride last weekend.”
“What?” I nearly shouted. “Brock, put me down!”
He laughed. “Hell no. I want you.”
“Then take me into the house, and we can be careful.”
Something moved over his face. The idea of taking me into the house was what had caused it.
Is it because he shared that house with Kaci? I am so stupid. Of course that’s what it is.
“I want you right here, in the barn.”
My stomach burned with desire. “Brock.” It was all I could manage to get out, and even then, it was with a heavy breath.
Before I knew what was happening, he had me back on the ground, my right boot had come off, and my pants and panties were pulled down and off that leg. He didn’t even take the time to remove everything. My hands shook as I undid the button and zipper on his jeans. The sound of my heart hammering in my chest filled my ears. What in the world did this man do to me? I was willing to have sex right here in my own barn, knowing anyone could walk in at any moment. The idea of it thrilled me.
Brock pulled out his wallet and took out a condom, quickly ripping it open and slipping it on.
I wanted him. Just like this. Intense and passionate. Something I had never experienced until I’d met this man.
His fingers pushed inside me, and a deep growl came from the back of his throat. “You’re so wet.”
“Yes,” I panted. “You make me that way, just by being near you.”
His eyes filled with lust, and he picked me up again. I carefully wrapped myself around him as he lowered me onto him. He filled me so full I had to hold my breath to adjust to the size of him. Not to mention I was still a bit sore from last weekend.
“You feel like heaven.”
He walked us back and pressed me against the wall. He moved slowly at first, then went faster. Harder.
I cried out, and he stilled. “Shit, are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. Do it again.”
He smiled, and I felt my heart open up more to him.
“Tell me what you want from me, sweetheart.”
Our eyes met. I knew what I wanted—but did I have the guts to tell him? “I want . . .”
He slowly pulled out, barely keeping himself inside me. When he arched a brow, I realized he wasn’t going to move until I said it.
“I want you to not be gentle. I want it harder. Faster.”
Those beautiful blue eyes turned dark, and he did just what I’d asked of him. It didn’t take me long to come. I cried out his name, feeling him grow bigger. He buried his face in my neck, pushed in deeper, and trembled as he cried out my name.
He stayed inside me as he walked us back and kicked open the door to the tack room in the barn. A bed was in there, and up until that point, I hadn’t paid much attention to it. It wasn’t uncommon for small beds to be found in tack rooms of stables or up in barns. Especially for when a mare was foaling. For a moment, I was surprised he knew it was there, and then I remembered that this used to be his barn.
He laid me on the bed and then pulled the condom off. His eyes stayed glued to mine as he lay on top of me. His still-semihard dick rubbed over my sensitive bundle of nerves, and I moaned in delight.
“Oh God, Brock.”
If he was able to make me come this way, I knew he would ruin me for all other men.
“I want to make love to yo
u, but I don’t have another condom.”
I opened my eyes. My green staring into his blue. It felt like I’d known him forever instead of the short amount of time we had actually known each other.
Am I ready to open myself up completely?
I still had unanswered questions, but at the moment, I couldn’t remember a single one. “I’m on the pill.”
He stilled. Then, he moved farther down, the tip of his head pressing at my entrance. I lifted, silently begging him to push inside me, stunned he was hard again so soon.
“Yes,” I whispered.
Then—something happened.
Brock looked around the tack room and stilled. He pulled away slightly. His brows constricted, and a look of anguish grew on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
It hit me then that he hadn’t been offering to have sex with no condom.
Brock quickly got off me, pulled up his jeans, and took a few steps back, still staring at me, but now with a look that said he was confused. Maybe even angry . . . but not with me, more at himself.
I was still half-dressed, and for some reason, I suddenly felt dirty. Like I had offered my body to a man who didn’t want it.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking and was caught up in the moment.”
When I stood, I reached for him to help steady me as I got dressed, but Brock jerked away. Like my touch was something he couldn’t stand the thought of.
I froze. My eyes instantly filled with tears. He’d told me Kaci had thought a baby would bring them closer. Maybe he thought that had been her way of getting him off the PBR tour.
My stomach sank as dread coursed through my veins. What if he thought I was doing the same thing?
“Brock.”
I couldn’t even think of any words to say. The way he was looking at me, it left me speechless.
Finally, he spoke, and the words that came out of his mouth nearly dropped me to my knees.
“I can’t do this.”
Turning, he pushed open the door and left.
He left me alone in the room and wondering what in the hell had happened.
Chapter Twenty-Two
BROCK
Two weeks had passed since that day in the barn. I’d ridden in Ohio and placed second, and then won the Last Cowboy Standing in Vegas. Lincoln never came to Vegas. Probably because she hadn’t heard from me since the day I’d walked out of the barn and left her there.
Never Enough Page 20
