RILEY Men of Clifton Montana by Susan Fisher-Davis FINAL (1)

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  It was time to leave for Kaitlyn’s place, discover what was in those letters, and try not to fall any further in love with her and her daughter. Riley walked back into the cabin and picked up his truck keys.

  ****

  Kaitlyn ran for the door when she heard the doorbell. Stopping in front of the door, she smoothed down her shirt, took a deep breath, and opened the door. Riley stood in front of her, smiling. He held out a bouquet of wild flowers and Kaitlyn grinned up at him.

  “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

  Riley leaned forward and kissed her. “You can thank me later,” he whispered against her lips then grinned when she blushed.

  Opening the door wider for him to enter, he strode past her and Kaitlyn closed her eyes for a second, inhaling his aftershave. Hearing him chuckle and her daughter’s infectious giggle, Kaitlyn turned in time to see Riley pick Sadie up and toss her into the air making Sadie squeal, and Kaitlyn’s heart clutch in her chest. No matter how many times she saw it done, it terrified her.

  “You’re going to give me a heart attack doing that.” Her breath whooshed out.

  With a serious expression on his face, Riley turned toward her cradling a smiling Sadie whose arms encircled his neck. “I’d never let anything happen to her.”

  Kaitlyn nodded. “I know that. It just takes a few minutes from my life every time I see you or Sam do that with her.”

  Still holding Sadie, he sauntered to her, leaned in, and kissed her. “I can’t have that happen. I’ll only do it when you’re not around then.” He grinned. “Something sure smells good.”

  “Fried chicken. Come on, let’s eat.” Kaitlyn led the way to the kitchen.

  As they sat at the table, Kaitlyn couldn’t keep her eyes off Riley. He seemed to be enjoying himself with Sadie. Occasionally, his eyes would glance in her direction but he talked with Sadie the entire time. Sadie babbled back at him making him laugh. When Sadie picked up a fry, took a bite then offered it to Riley, he bit the end, and she giggled. It amazed Kaitlyn when he took a bite after Sadie did because a man she’d dated six months ago had looked at the fry in disgust when Sadie offered it to him. Riley didn’t just act as if he were taking a bite, he actually took one.

  “This is really good, Katie,” Riley said, after taking a bite of chicken, chewing with gusto, and swallowing.

  “Thank you. I love to cook. I don’t get to make many big meals, so when I get a chance…” She shrugged.

  “I guess with just you and the squirt, you don’t get the chance often.”

  Kaitlyn laughed. “No, I don’t. We just get by on quick meals.”

  “Well, you can cook for me anytime. This is fantastic.”

  Feeling the heat pouring into her cheeks at the compliment, she knew she was a good cook but it was because Riley had complimented her so she silently chastised herself for reacting like a silly schoolgirl.

  It wasn’t long after dinner that Sadie started fussing, only she didn’t want to go to her mama, she wanted Riley. Kaitlyn tried not to take offense but it was certainly a first for Sadie, and it worried her a bit that her daughter’s attachment to Riley was growing stronger. When he took her from Kaitlyn, he followed her to Sadie’s bedroom. Kaitlyn told him to lay her on the changing table. As he lowered her, Sadie screamed.

  “Now I’m deaf in the other ear.” Riley winced.

  Knowing she shouldn’t laugh but Kaitlyn couldn’t help it, she’d been there too. “The ringing will stop shortly.”

  Riley growled even as he smirked and rubbed his ear. “Real funny, smartass.”

  Kaitlyn snickered. “Come on, Sadie. Stop fussing or no bunny.” Sadie stopped screaming and her eyes opened wide. There was no way Kaitlyn would deny Sadie her bunny but it was the only way to get the little girl to calm down.

  “What’s the bunny?” Riley whispered.

  “Her bunny.” Kaitlyn jerked her chin toward a toy box where a large blue stuffed bunny lay on top. “She likes to sleep with it. It’s falling apart but I haven’t had a chance to buy her a new one.”

  “So you threaten her with it?” She could tell he was trying not to laugh.

  “I make empty threats. I’d never take it away from her, but she doesn’t know that.”

  “That’s just wrong.” Riley put his lips to her neck while she changed Sadie, making her body come to life with heated quivers. “I never took you for such an evil woman.”

  Pulling back so she could look up at him, she started to drown in those beautiful eyes. “You have no idea.” Satisfaction rolled over her when Riley groaned.

  Tearing her eyes from his, she cleared her throat then carried Sadie to her bed. “Could you get the bunny, please?”

  Riley handed her the bunny and she gave it to Sadie who clutched it like a lifeline. Her eyes kept closing as sleep tried to grab hold but she’d snap them back open, and look up at the two adults.

  “You have your bunny now, Sadie. Time for sleep,” Kaitlyn whispered. Sadie glanced at Riley and grinned making him chuckle deep in his throat.

  “Is it like this, every night?”

  “No. Usually, she goes right to bed. It’s because you’re here she doesn’t want to go to sleep.”

  Riley leaned down and kissed Sadie’s cheek, and her little girl made smacking sounds but didn’t let go of her bunny. Sadie’s sleepy eyes followed Riley as he walked to the door, gave her a wave, and then winked at Kaitlyn making her insides tremble before disappearing down the hall. Stroking her daughter’s silky soft hair away from her face, Kaitlyn bent and pressed a kiss against her forehead and heard Sadie exhale. When she straightened, she saw Sadie was asleep. With a deep breath of relief and an unexpected excitement racing through her, she left the room, quietly closing the door behind her, before slowly walking to the living room.

  Riley was sitting on the sofa watching the television. When she entered the room, he glanced up and smiled at her. Her heart skipped a beat as he held his hand out to her. Kaitlyn took his hand and let him pull her down beside him. Leaning over, he kissed her softly, running his tongue along the seam of her lips.

  “Let me in, sweetheart,” Riley murmured against her lips.

  Kaitlyn opened her mouth to allow him access and they both moaned at the sensation. She ran her fingers through his thick hair, pulling him tighter against her. When Riley’s mouth moved across her cheek to her ear, and his tongue ran around the shell, Kaitlyn shivered with pleasure.

  “Let’s go to the bedroom,” she whispered to him.

  “I want you right here, sweetheart,” Riley whispered in her ear, and then pulled his T-shirt off over his head. “I don’t think I can make it that far.” Pushing her down on the sofa, his hand went to her hip as he lay down on top of her. “I want you so much, Kaitlyn.”

  “Yes, Riley…please.” Kaitlyn moaned low in her throat feeling his hard shaft at the juncture of her thighs.

  “Yes, darlin’. I do want to please you.” Riley’s hand moved to the zipper of her jeans, lowering it and slipping his hand inside her panties. He ran his finger down her folds. “God, sweetheart…you’re so wet for me.”

  “I’ve been thinking about this all day.” Clenching her thighs together, she gasped when his thumb moved to her clitoris setting a rhythm, but it didn’t stop Riley from continuing the rhythm against her. Her breath caught in her throat as her arousal increased and she reached for him. “Riley…I…oh God,” she cried out as she came.

  Riley slowly moved his hand to the bottom of her shirt and lifted it off over her head. Lowering his head, he kissed the top of her breasts popping out over her demi-cup bra. He unclasped it, letting her breasts free and groaning his appreciation as he lowered his head, took her nipple into his mouth, and pulled on it. Swirling his tongue around the tight peak, he reignited her arousal.

  Kaitlyn’s hands went to the snap of his jeans, her need to touch him strong. Her hand moved inside and wrapped around his hard shaft. Stroking her hand up and down
his hard length, she smiled when he pushed into her palm. All of a sudden as if now impatient, Riley sat up and pulled her jeans and panties off. Kaitlyn blushed when she gazed up at him. His eyes traveled over her taking in every inch of her stretched out beneath him. Then he lowered his head and kissed her mound of curls. Using his thumbs, he opened her to him and his tongue moved through to her clitoris. His teeth grazed against her, making her squirm.

  “Riley, please…I want you,” Kaitlyn pleaded.

  She felt him smile against her. Then his tongue drove her wild and she bucked against him as she came again. Kaitlyn was still trying to catch her breath when he sat up and rolled a condom on then moved between her legs, and slowly inched into her, the sensation driving her toward yet another orgasm.

  “Wrap your legs around me, Kaitlyn,” Riley whispered against her lips. When she did, he began moving, stroking in and out. Kaitlyn moved her hips with his. Meeting him thrust for thrust, she pressed her lips to his chest, running her tongue up to his neck. Riley moaned. Kaitlyn smiled against his neck, making him growl. She softly laughed then gasped when he picked up the pace.

  They moved as one, the pressure building, and building until she couldn’t take it any longer. Her nails dug into his tight butt. Kaitlyn raised her head and bit his shoulder making him grunt. The pressure built in her again. It surprised her that he could take her there again so quickly. She cried out as she shattered once more.

  “Kaitlyn…sweetheart. Now.” Riley grunted as he came. His hips jerked as he continued to pump a few more times before collapsing on top of her. Sweat covered their bodies and they both fought to breathe after the sweet exertion. Riley raised his head and kissed her while her arms languished heavily around his neck.

  “That was amazing,” she whispered, kissing his lips quickly.

  Riley grinned down at her. “It always is.”

  As he leaned down to kiss her mouth, his weight shifted and they rolled off the sofa and onto the floor. Kaitlyn landed on top of him and she burst out laughing. She could feel Riley laughing too, his face buried against her shoulder.

  “I told you we should have gone to the bedroom.” Kaitlyn pushed back to look down at him and found him smiling up at her.

  “I think we did just fine here.” Riley kissed her before she stood.

  Kaitlyn gazed down at him, watching as he zipped his pants. “You didn’t even take your pants off, Madison.”

  Riley laughed. “Or my boots.” He rolled away from her when she swatted at him. “Help me up, darlin’.” Putting his hand out to her, she took it. Giving a half-hearted tug to help him to his feet, when he got there, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hard.

  Breathless from lovemaking and that last kiss, Kaitlyn reached for her clothes and dressed. Glancing over her shoulder, she dreaded asking the question weighing on her mind now. “Are you staying tonight?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  “Yes, if you want.” Kaitlyn gave him a shy smile.

  “Well then…no reason to get dressed, is there?” Riley grinned, pulled her into his arms again, scooped her up, and tossed her over his shoulder. She squealed, throwing her hand over her mouth fearing making too much noise and waking Sadie. “Now, we’ll go to the bedroom,” he said as he headed down the hallway.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, Kaitlyn woke to the smell of bacon frying. Sniffing the air, she stretched and grinned then sat up quickly when she heard Sadie laughing and talking. Kaitlyn quickly climbed from the bed, threw her robe on, and ran down the hall and into the kitchen. Riley stood at the stove nodding his head at everything Sadie was saying from her spot on the floor where she watched him. Kaitlyn smiled as she heard him chuckle.

  “Mama,” Sadie screamed as she got up from the floor and ran to her. Kaitlyn squatted down to catch her daughter. Her eyes met Riley’s over Sadie’s head. When he winked at her, she blushed, and heard him laugh.

  “Hi Sadie-bug. Are you bothering Riley?”

  “Riley.” Sadie pointed to him.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “I was going to once I had breakfast ready. Sadie and I have been up for over an hour.”

  “Thank you for taking care of her.”

  Nodding, Riley smiled. “Sure. She’s a real chatterbox in the mornings, isn’t she?”

  Kaitlyn snorted. “Yes. Some days it seems like she talks nonstop.” After putting Sadie in her booster seat, she got herself a much-needed cup of coffee. Carrying it to the table, she pulled a chair out and sat down beside her daughter, Kaitlyn’s eyes staying on Riley. He had on his T-shirt and jeans, but he was barefoot. Enjoying the natural ease of the way the man just existed made her body come alive with desire. The man was simply gorgeous, and knowing this would all end soon enough, made her sigh.

  Riley turned toward her. “You still tired? We can take a nap when Sadie does.” The silly way he waggled his eyebrows made Kaitlyn laugh.

  “I have to go into work today. It may be Saturday, but I’m open. Good thing Madilyn opened for me this morning.” Her mouth twisted. “I never sleep in.”

  “We were up kinda late,” Riley said softly.

  “You’re up,” she exclaimed.

  “Not yet, but I could be.” Riley gave her a sly grin.

  “Stop it,” Kaitlyn admonished, shaking her head. “My daughter’s sitting right here.”

  Riley snorted. “Like she can understand what I’m saying.”

  Kaitlyn smiled, and then sobered remembering what he should have been doing the night before. “I want you to read the letters while I’m gone.” She didn’t miss how Riley’s lips twisted with distaste.

  “All right. I’ll take them with me,” he muttered.

  “Read them, Riley. Please,” Kaitlyn pleaded knowing he needed to know his mother loved him and wanted to see him.

  Nodding, Riley carried their breakfast to the table where he set down a plate full of scrambled eggs and bacon. “I wasn’t sure what Sadie could eat, so I scrambled the eggs.”

  “She can have just about anything…except the bacon. I’m afraid she’d choke on it. Scrambled eggs are great for her.” Kaitlyn put eggs on a plate and set it in front of Sadie, who squealed with delight, picked up bits of the eggs with her little fingers, and put them in her mouth. When she smacked her lips in approval, Riley and Kaitlyn both laughed. Sadie giggled as she shoved more eggs into her mouth.

  ****

  After breakfast was over, Riley helped Kaitlyn clean up the kitchen. She wiped off the table while he loaded the dishwasher. With the kitchen respectable again, he pulled a chair out from the table, and sat down to pull on his socks and boots then he stood, and pulled Kaitlyn into his arms, kissing her.

  “I need to get going. I have a lot to do at the ranch yet so I’ll call you later,” he said against her lips. After kissing her again, he grabbed up the letters from the table in the living room, and walked out of the apartment. Even as he was driving out of the parking lot and heading for the ranch, he was wishing he could spend the day with Kaitlyn and Sadie rather than with the ghosts of memories.

  When he arrived at the ranch, he ignored the house and drove straight to the barn. Having decided to leave the barn standing, the inside still needed cleaning out. As he strolled down the center of the structure, he wondered what happened to all the Angus that the old man had bred for quality beef. The prime beef had been in demand statewide, and yet there was nothing here. It was all gone. Riley shook his head in disgust as he moved into the back room where his father had spent his time.

  Picking up a trash bag, Riley went to work gathering up the garbage lying around. The amount of empty whiskey bottles littering the space astounded him. Roscoe must have drunk himself to death. After all, he’d been only fifty-four when he died, far too young by today’s standards. Riley knew his mother was also fifty-four. He kicked the cot in frustrated anger, and went stock still when more letters fell out fr
om under it. Squatting down, he reached out a hand to pick one up but froze staring at the handwriting. It was feminine and he knew without picking it up the letter was from his mother.

  Riley stood upright and backed away until he hit the wall behind him. He ran his hand down his face. Get a grip, Madison! Taking a deep breath, he moved back to where the letters lay on the dirty floor, and picked one up. His eyes scanned it and he blinked rapidly.

  Roscoe,

  I need to see my baby. I know what I did was wrong and you’ve punished me enough. Riley’s my baby. I want him back. You don’t love him anymore. You’re not a daddy to him and he needs love. MY love. Give him to me, Roscoe. Please. Let me come there and get him. Please call me.

  Barbara

  Tears blurred his eyes as he read it repeatedly. What happened? What was it she’d done that was so wrong? Wrong enough for Roscoe to make her leave and keep her from her son. Riley noticed the date was the same year Roscoe had made her leave. Squatting down alongside the old cot, Riley rifled through the other letters. Six months separated the dates on each letter for fifteen years. Scooping them up, he worked at putting them into some kind of dated order as he carried them to his truck. Climbing inside, he headed for town—to Kaitlyn.

  When he strode into the shop, he spotted Kaitlyn waiting on a customer. He knew by the questioning concerned expression on her face, that she knew he was upset about something. She called Madilyn over to finish with the customer then she motioned for Riley to follow her to a back room. Once inside, she spun around to face him.

  “What is it?”

  “I found more letters. They’re in the truck but…I read one of them. She…my mother, she wanted me back and that bastard wouldn’t let her have me.” Riley’s voice caught on the words.

  Kaitlyn put her arms around his waist and hugged him. His arms went around her, clinging to her as if he’d drown in his sorrow without her.