At the end of the lane, he brought the horses together, then came to Sofia’s side. “Ready?”
“I think we’ve gotten acquainted.” Sofia smiled up at the horse, and if a horse could smile, Oreo did.
Holding on to Oreo, he offered Sofia his hand. She took it, then reached for the stirrup, easily lifting herself up.
“Do you talk to horses a lot?”
She took the reins in her hands. “This is my first time, I guess. It seemed natural.”
Indeed. After giving her a quick reminder lesson on how Oreo would understand her instructions as to which way to go, Boone mounted Burrito.
“You two follow me,” he said, then turned Burrito toward the hills.
They started out at an easy trot, but Burrito was clearly itching for more of a ride, so Boone allowed a gallop. Oreo followed, not wanting to be left behind. Occasionally, Boone looked back to check on Sofia. The smile on her face was wide, her cheeks pink. Yeah, she was enjoying this, not thinking about breaking a nail, not thinking about her hair or anything remotely having to do with her looks.
He didn’t understand why she was so obsessed with clothes and makeup when she’d been gifted with a natural beauty. She definitely wasn’t insecure, but confident and comfortable in her own skin.
Even though the cold air snapped around them, the day was classic Montana. Bright, beautiful, big sky. God’s country. He ought to do this more often. Take a ride and figure out the rest of his life. He’d never imagined at thirty-one he’d be back living on his family’s ranch. But he’d also never imagined being wealthy like this. His life here had turned out to be much more than he could have expected when he’d only done the right thing and moved here to please his mother.
He thought it would be a short-term situation, but the ranch needed running. And he couldn’t complain about his accommodations, or the ability to run the show when it came to anything having to do with the horses. Lastly, his mother reminded him and his brothers that this ranch was their legacy and someday would be their children’s legacy.
Ironic that his children, the next generation, would be the ones to gain their land and cattle through inheritance. He was grateful beyond measure to be able to give this to his children and grandchildren someday. The legacy of it all had been the thing to get him thinking more about children. That, and watching both Holt and Morgan settle into their lives as fathers. They weren’t anything like Neal had been as a father, and that gave Boone a lot of hope. He, too, could be a different kind of father. Loving. Attentive. And always, always loving and respectful of their mother.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the first ridge, and turned to see that Sofia and Oreo had fallen back. He wheeled Burrito around, then headed the short distance back to them.
“I don’t know what happened,” Sofia said when he met up with her. “Suddenly Oreo just didn’t want to keep going, and she started snorting.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Was it something I said? I was just telling her about the Mistletoe Rodeo next month. Maybe that was upsetting. Poor baby.” She reached to pet Oreo’s forelock.
Boone wrinkled his brow, halfway between a laugh and a snort of his own. This woman was constantly surprising him.
“I don’t think that’s the problem. Believe it or not, it’s going to snow.”
* * *
“Snow? What makes you say that?”
The air was crisp and cold, the leaves bright yellow, orange and red. A typical Montana autumn. But the first snowfall didn’t usually hit until November, so this would be unusual.
Sofia listened dumbfounded as Boone told her that Oreo could smell snow in the air before it fell. That she’d proved it time and time again. And Sofia had worried that she’d talked too much about the rodeo. This was an intuitive horse.
“We better head back,” Boone advised. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll get there ahead of the snow.”
“How are we going to get her to move?”
But she should have known not to worry. Boone kept them trotting side by side the rest of the way back. To get Oreo to stop resisting, at times he spoke to her, and made little clicking sounds that soothed her. Oreo kept moving, as if she understood Boone’s language, and they made it back to the stables as the first snowflakes fell.
Until then, Sofia hadn’t believed it would actually snow.
What a weird October. First, a so-called psychic had led her to Boone, a man she’d come to adore. Now, she’d met a horse who could smell snow. What was next? A cow who could sing?
After taking care of the horses and stabling them again, they headed back to the cabin as the snow began to stick to the ground. Spot waited for them at the top step of the wraparound porch, shivering.
Boone picked him up, dusted the snow off his paws, and tucked him in his jacket. “Poor buddy.”
Sofia’s hands were freezing even inside the leather gloves Boone had handed her in the tack room. She took them off and rubbed her hands together while Boone hauled in some more chopped wood and started another fire.
“Maybe we should wait until it stops snowing before I take you back to your car. It probably won’t snow for long.”
“Well, since I need a new set of tires, that’s probably for the best.”
Earlier, Sofia thought that she should go home soon. But this fire, this snowfall, this man, had her rethinking everything.
Boone turned to her, jaw gaping. “You need a new set of tires?”
“Just the back ones. It’s no big deal. I’ve been saving, and I didn’t think it would snow until at least next month.”
“It’s dangerous to drive with low tread.”
“It’s not too bad. Please don’t worry.”
But he looked concerned, his brow furrowed, and her heart pinched. In the next moment a wallop of pure desire pulsed through her body. She wanted this man more than she’d ever wanted anyone in her life. This was so much more than pure physical attraction.
He straightened. “But I do worry.”
She joined him by the crackling fire and went into his arms, which opened easily for her. “I can see that. But I’m safe now, right? No driving in the snow with low tread.”
“Are you flirting with me to change the subject?” He palmed the soft hairs on the back of her neck, and that single movement gave her an all-body tingle.
“You might be onto something.”
What was it about this man that had such an incredible pull for her? Slowing them down hadn’t stopped all these intense feelings. It had only made them stronger. She’d always been a social person, always knew how to work a room and how to party with the best of them.
But with Boone, everything slowed down. She noticed every little nuance of a moment, such as when he took her hand in his and pressed a kiss on the inside of her wrist. When he softly kissed the shell of her ear. When he came up behind her and pulled her back to his chest.
He made time stop.
Boone tipped her chin and smiled. “You are irresistible, you know that?”
“There are worse things to be, right?” She playfully batted her eyelashes.
He met her lips and kissed her, at first tender, then deeper. Longer, stronger and more desperate as the kiss grew in intensity. They broke the kiss only once to stare at each other, and a silent acknowledgment passed between them.
This is crazy. Where have you been all my life? All those silly clichés she’d never thought would apply to her echoed in her mind. Not her. She had plans. But it wasn’t worth fighting this feeling. It was too good, too powerful.
Sofia reached for him, pulling him down by the nape of his neck to kiss him again and again. Before long she was hot, and it had nothing to do with the roaring fire. She got bold again, pulling his shirt out of his jeans. Her fingers drifted up and down his sinewy, strong back. He squeezed her behind and groaned.
Then he took a step back. “Tell me one thing first. Why did you really want to slow us down?”
She didn’t have to think long to come up with her answer. “This. Us. We’re explosive. Combustible.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” He cocked his head. “Be honest with me.”
“It scares me,” she admitted. “I’ve always been in control. This has never happened to me before with any guy. With you, I lose my head.”
And I’m afraid I’ll lose my heart.
“Baby, believe me, I get that. More than you know. But you’ve thought about us now, and you’re sure?”
He needed to hear the words from her, and she respected him even more for that.
“I’m sure I want this. I want you. I want it all. Everything you want to give me.”
He flashed her a wicked smile, then in one swift move threw her over his shoulder and began walking up the staircase.
“That fire is for you, Spot. Enjoy.”
It was very he-man and alpha of him to carry her over his shoulder like a conquest, but she wasn’t going to argue. This was hot, and it also gave her a wonderful view of his incredible butt. He kicked the door open, and she stopped staring at his butt and tried to get a first impression view of his bedroom. First, it shouldn’t be called a bedroom. It was the size of some apartments and probably three times the size of her studio.
He set her down, and that’s when she took a good look around. Boone actually had a fireplace in his bedroom. Interesting to witness the way the other half lived.
“A fireplace?” She nudged her chin in the direction of the hearth, covered in masonry stones.
“You want a fire?”
“Yes,” she said, then plastered her body against his. Hip to hip, they continued to kiss and ravish each other’s mouths. It was all the fire she needed.
Boone did his magic again, going after the soft shell of her ear, his calloused fingers against the silky hairs on her neck. When he nibbled at her earlobe, she trembled with longing. Then those hands were under her sweater, making her quiver. She raised her arms when Boone pulled her sweater off, revealing the push-up bra she’d worn today. Not having planned any of this, it was pumpkin orange with black trim, but at least it matched her panties.
She bit back a smile when Boone took it all in. “Happy Halloween.”
“Dayum, baby. You even make orange look sexy.” His finger traced the strap of her bra before he gently unhooked it, then covered her nipple with his mouth.
“Boone,” she moaned, and clutched his head as his tongue revved her up in seconds.
She almost didn’t realize that she was being moved until suddenly they were beside the bed on the other side of the room. So she pushed him down on the bed, enjoying when he tumbled easily and pulled her down with him.
He rolled them and pinned her under his hard body, threading their hands together and raising them above her head.
“Got you right where I want you,” he whispered.
“Exactly where I want to be.”
She would now stop overanalyzing their connection. A strange mix of good fortune and contentment sank all the way to her soul.
Boone kissed down the column of her neck to the dip in her shoulder, and unleashed his skilled tongue to touch and explore every part of her flesh. He never missed a spot, the overachiever. Trying to keep up, she arched against him. He groaned and released her hands from his grip, going after her pants, tugging at the waistline.
“Lift up,” he instructed, and she obliged, planting her feet and raising her butt while he slid her leggings off.
She shimmied and he lowered, finally revealing her matching panties.
Trick or treat, she nearly said, but decided “Happy Halloween” had been cheesy enough.
“Trick or treat?” he said, and she wondered if he read minds.
Or maybe just hers.
“Nice.” He trailed the leg seam of her panties, obviously admiring the high cut instead of their color.
“I’m not dressed for seduction.”
“You could wear a cloth sack and I’d still find you gorgeous.” He pressed a warm kiss on her upper thigh, then pulled on her panties until they were off.
She lay there, naked, while his hot gaze swept over her with a slow smile.
“C’mon, slacker! Clothes off.” She sat up, tugged on his belt, managing to unbuckle it. “Join me, why don’t you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, while unbuttoning his shirt with excruciating precision. “We’re going slow this time. Not like our first time. Don’t rush me.”
Chapter Fourteen
A long while later, Sofia lay sated under a pile of blankets, her legs entwined with Boone’s, her head in the crook of his shoulder. He’d been playing with her hair, then made a move to disentangle.
She tightened her legs. “Don’t go.”
“Just going to start a fire.”
“Oh, that would be cozy. Sure, I’ll allow it.”
“Thank you, baby.” He chuckled, pressed a kiss to her shoulder and climbed out of bed.
Pulling his boxer briefs on, Boone went out the bedroom door and came back a few minutes later with a load of firewood. She watched as the muscles in his arms and back bunched, more shocking evidence that some men looked far better wearing no clothes at all. He proceeded to arrange the wood and kindling and she went up on both elbows with fascination. Boone Dalton was the real thing. A mountain man. Her cowboy.
And what a man. He could make a woman’s toes curl, talk to horses, adopt stray dogs and make a fire look pretty damn hot while making it. Why had she never fallen for a cowboy before? She couldn’t think of a single reason except that she hadn’t known what she was missing. Jeans, leather and boots were definitely the way to go.
Boone caught her staring and smiled. “What?”
“Oh, just enjoying the view.”
“You’ll enjoy this fire in a few minutes.” He tossed the kindling inside, then stacked the wood and threw in a lit match. In no time the fire roared to life, the flames licking and crackling.
Outside, a light snow continued to fall, turning the daylight into dull shades of gray.
Boone looked out the window. “It’s actually not too bad out there. I’m thinking about dinner. I should tell you that we can’t get a pizza delivered out here. Especially not in this weather.”
“Food does sound good. But please come back to bed, cowboy.”
He rolled on top of her, tucking her next to him.
In the crook between his neck and the dip of his shoulder, she stroked the light smattering of hairs on his chest. “I was just remembering how Winona Cobbs told me to pick your entry.”
“You mean it wasn’t my brothers’ great writing that made you pick me?”
“Sure, but it was just strange the way she specifically pointed to your blue envelope. She said, ‘This is the one.’”
“Well, I’m going to have to thank her personally someday.” Boone tugged her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Even if I didn’t need the clothes, I needed you.”
The sweet words wrapped around her heart, warm and intimate. “That’s just it. I thought it was weird once I found out that you didn’t even want the clothes. I mean, what kind of a psychic is she?”
“She might not be a psychic, but maybe she’s my fairy godmother.” Boone chuckled.
Sofia stopped short of telling Boone that she’d heard Winona apparently considered it her duty to teach the young people of Bronco not to be too busy with their lives to miss finding love. But maybe the feelings Sofia had right now, strong though they were, would fade. This might be the first time she’d ever fallen in love, but though Boone was her first love, he still might not be her true love. Her one and only with lasting power. Only time would tell.
You’re not ready for that, anyway.
> Her inner voice was right. But Camilla had been right, too. Falling in love was...delicious.
Boone’s phone buzzed, and he picked it up from the nightstand beside him. “I guess I should check this.”
They’d both heard the phone buzzing earlier and ignored it due to their more, ahem, pressing concerns. Boone’s eyes widened and he sat up ramrod straight.
“What? What’s going on?”
He ran a hand down his face. “Just let me get rid of her.”
Oh well, this didn’t sound good! Get rid of whom?
Unwelcome jealousy spiked through her. Some old girlfriend might have shown up out of the blue. Unable to let him go. And who could really blame anyone who wanted to a second chance with Boone Dalton?
“Who?” She couldn’t help but ask him.
“My mother. She said she’s been calling me and saw my truck so she’s heading on over. She’s got dinner for me.” Boone shoved on his shirt and pulled up his jeans. “I’d like you to meet her, but maybe this isn’t the best time.”
Sofia sat up and smoothed down her hair. “No, definitely not.”
Boone cocked his head. “I mean, you’re naked, and I would like to keep you that way a little longer. I’m selfish that way.”
He shut the bedroom door, and Sofia settled back under the covers. As long as the snow continued to fall and Boone continued to hold her, she didn’t want to go anywhere at all. But it was Sunday, and her parents would be expecting her unless she called them.
She picked up her phone to dial, and her mother answered. “Are we seeing Boone again tonight?” Denise Sanchez asked without preamble.
“I’m actually not coming over. Remember my tires? I think maybe I should just...stay put.” She didn’t want to lie and say she was at her apartment. They’d probably come and get her.
“What will you eat for dinner?”
“Believe it or not, I can cook for myself.”
“Oh, mija.” Her mother’s tone said: poor, poor, delusional Sofia.
“I’m serious!” Well, she could microwave a frozen entrée, anyway.
“Well, it’s odd. Camilla called to say she’s not coming over, either. It’s only a light dusting of snow. You both act as if you weren’t raised in Montana.”
Grand-Prize Cowboy Page 14
