by Em Petrova
“Where’s Dalton headed?” That was from Noble—his voice sent tendrils to the far reaches of her body. They hadn’t gotten a moment alone in days and had settled for a long look here and there. It wasn’t enough for either of them, but there wasn’t much they could do about it.
Ignoring his question, she put her head down and watched the ground as she walked. Walking up to the house wouldn’t intimidate her any other time, but knowing she was being singled out wasn’t easy.
When she knocked, Rafe Blackburn himself answered. He gave her a smile and nod of greeting and asked her to follow him to his office. The interior of the house was quite expensive compared to what she was used to. The Daltons put their money into the land and cattle, not slate floors and lighting that made everything look a little like an art gallery.
She tried not to stare too much as she entered his office. Filled with animal trophies from various exotic hunts and dark polished wood, the space was as decadent as the rest of the home.
“Take a seat, please.” He waved at a comfy leather chair.
She thanked him and sank to the seat. It molded to her backside as if it’d been custom made for her.
From behind his desk, Blackburn looked her over for a long minute. “I called you here today to talk to you about a rumor goin’ around.”
Her heart shoved into her throat and sat there pounding, making it hard to speak. “Oh?” she managed.
“It’s difficult for me to say this, but I heard you and Watkins have a thing going between you.”
Shit. Exactly what she didn’t want to discuss openly, and she only had herself to blame for it. She should have resisted his advances.
But to be fair, she wanted them just as much.
“We’ve been friendly,” she answered.
“More than friendly, from what I’ve heard.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“It’s a sort of unspoken rule we have here on the ranch that there’s no relations between workers. It’s not written down anywhere, but it’s a given.”
Her anger was on the rise. Was he suggesting she didn’t have enough common sense to know this without being told? Of course she knew.
She’d just blatantly disregarded it.
Double shit—now she was going to be sent home for it.
“I can see you don’t want to discuss it, and I can’t blame ya for that. It’s a sensitive subject for me as well.”
Her gaze shot to his.
He picked at the edge of his desk blotter before sitting back against his big chair. “You see, my own daughter broke the same rule.”
Gracie gripped the chair arms, waiting.
“Josie was the best of the best cowpokes we had here. Just like you.”
She smiled inwardly at the compliment, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before they plunged down the other peak to despair with a story like this one.
“She wanted nothin’ more than to work this ranch forever, starting from the ground up the way we all did in this family,” Blackburn went on. “But she fell for one of the last guys I hired.”
She wanted to ask who it was, but she had a feeling she finally knew the reason they had two openings here on the ranch.
“His name was Jay, was just as young and in love as she was. That mighta been all right for all parties, except they started shirking their duties. Things got out of hand, and they were spending far more time together alone than they were in the fields, and we lost two calves that season from pure negligence on their parts.”
Her breaths came faster, but she still had no words to add to the conversation. Blackburn didn’t seem to require any and continued.
“I told her she had to give him up or give up the ranch. And as you can see, she’s not here.”
Gracie found her voice. “I’ve hardly seen or spoken to Watkins in days. We aren’t neglecting our duties.”
“Not yet. But it’s hard to resist when you’re in love.”
Her face burned, and she started to deny it, but it would all be a lie.
She did love Noble, and there was no going back.
“I have good reports on you, Dalton. You come from good family ranching stock, and I know you’re an asset to this place. We’d like to keep you on, but I don’t want another Josie. As much as I love my daughter, she made the wrong choice.”
She stared at him, struck dumb all over again. What was there to say? She couldn’t deny she and Noble had a love affair going or that they had managed to slip away and share some stolen moments. But she didn’t want to lose her chance here either.
So her ultimatum was to dump Noble and break both their hearts or to leave the ranch like Blackburn’s daughter and let him and so many others, including herself, down.
On the heels of this was a massive wave of anger.
She got to her feet and met his gaze head on. She was a Dalton, after all, and couldn’t be spoken to this way.
“Have you said all this to Watkins?”
“No.”
“So you’re cornering me because I’m a woman? Because I’m the emotions part of this whole deal, and I’m supposed to handle everything to do with feelings while Watkins just takes care of the cattle?” She could suddenly see why Josie had fled this place.
“You misunderstand me, Gracie. I’m talking to you because I know Watkins is in too deep. I’ve seen him around you.”
The idea of Blackburn having watched them burned her even more.
“You have the level head in this relationship, and I’m giving you the chance to use it.”
Her breath rushed out of her. She turned for the door.
“Don’t wait long to do it. It hurts less if you make a clean break,” Blackburn said, still seated at his desk.
She nodded and walked out. Each footstep she took rang louder on the slate floor until she reached the door and slammed it behind her.
On the porch, she dragged in a huge breath of air, but it wasn’t helping to calm her nerves. She was beyond pissed. Irate wasn’t even in the same hemisphere of what she was feeling.
She had to go find Noble, and the sooner, the better. She just didn’t know exactly what she’d say when she found him.
* * * * *
Gracie searched the only two places Noble would be at this time of day. Both the bunkhouse and the paddocks were empty. Maybe he’d gone off to town with the other guys for a supply run, though that would be unusual for him.
She needed to talk to him—now.
Walking up to the fence of the empty paddock, she gripped the rail and dug in her fingers. Damn Blackburn. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to work for a man like that.
She jerked her hand back as a big splinter sliced into her finger from grasping the rough wood rail so hard.
“There you are.”
She spun at the deep tone. The instant she set eyes on Noble, her heart kicked like a mule in her chest.
Dammit—she just had to love him, didn’t she? It made her life so much more difficult.
But did it have to?
He shot her a heart-stopping grin and strode up to her.
She stuck her painful finger in her mouth and sucked while cursing her own body’s reaction to the man.
His fingers closed around her wrist, and he pulled her finger free to examine it. “Splinter,” he said.
She nodded.
“Let me get that.” He released her to dig into his jeans pocket. When he came out with a huge pocketknife with a blade he could gut an animal with, she backed up.
“Oh no, you don’t.”
He chuckled. “It looks lethal, but the point’s sharp enough to skin the hair off a centipede. Look.” He held it up to the light to show her the razor-sharp edge.
“Put that thing away. I’ll get the splinter out later—it’s no big deal.”
“You don’t trust me.”
She had no idea why, but she held out her hand for him. He sliced a grin her way before pulling out the blade again. With her hand trapped in h
is hold and a knife that could take off her entire finger poised over the splinter, she held her breath.
A second later, he held up the splinter of wood.
She blinked at him. “I didn’t even feel it. How did you do that?”
“I got the magic touch, darlin’. Care to join me in the room in the barn again?”
Heat stampeded all over her insides, and she let out a slow trickle of air from her lungs. She wanted him.
There was nothing to stop her. Especially not Blackburn.
“Go on in first and I’ll catch up,” he said quietly near her ear.
Shivers ran through her, and she nodded.
As she circled the barn and slipped in through the side door, she stopped in her tracks. Why was she risking it with Noble, knowing it could end her days here on the ranch?
Maybe she wanted to end her time here. Nobody gave her ultimatums. Dictating her love life? No freakin’ way.
She moved to the door and eased it open. It wasn’t as creaky as last time she and Noble had been here, and she wouldn’t put it past him to have oiled the hinges.
She threw a look at the wall where the initials were carved. J+J. Josie plus Jay. In love, driven out. Where were they now? Were they out there, happy and making a go of it together?
She found herself rooting for them. She hoped Josie could spit in the eye of her father and in the end say she didn’t need him or the Blackburn to make her happy.
That was exactly what Gracie was about to do with Noble.
It struck her—had he been trying to throw himself to the wolves too, when she’d accused him of being careless that day weeks ago?
What if Blackburn had gotten to him too, given him the same speech, and as a result, Noble had been trying to get kicked off the ranch?
The door opened and closed silently behind the man. He stepped up to the bed where she stood and without a word, gathered her in his arms. The scent of man and fresh soap hit her senses, and she threw her arms around his neck. Clinging, she kissed him with all the desire bottled inside of her.
He released a low noise in his throat, and she breathed out a gasp. He urged her mouth open with his tongue and stroked pass after pass over hers until they were both shaking.
With fumbling fingers, they stripped each other. The condom proved too much for their heated efforts, and he finally had to slow things down to get it in place.
She lay back on the bed and parted her thighs in invitation. The way he looked at her was enough to tell her she wasn’t making a mistake.
She was in love with the cowboy.
Dragging him close, she wrapped her legs around him and yanked him in. He filled her in one sharp thrust, and they went still, breathing hard. Desperate to have all of him—now—she began to churn her hips.
His piercing stare coupled with the buck of his own hips had her pleading for release, and Gracie had never begged for anything in her entire life.
She dug her fingers into his shoulders and took out her passion, anger and fears on kissing him. Slamming her mouth over his again and again, biting into his lower lip and rubbing her cheek against his stubbled jaw just to feel the burn.
“Gracie. I got ya. We have all night. Slow down.”
She couldn’t—she had to prove how she felt for Noble and in a way, she was giving Blackburn the middle finger too.
Shoving against her lover’s chest, she made him roll. She straddled him and took over, letting the fever of need drive her faster and harder until she was on the cusp of her orgasm.
He bundled her hair off her face and looked into her eyes. “You’re the perfect woman for me.”
“I know.” She slid up and down, closed her eyes and tipped over the edge into ecstasy. He cut off her cry with his kiss.
* * * * *
As soon as Noble got his mind back, he was going to find out what was up with Gracie. The woman wasn’t herself, and while he’d loved every minute of what they’d just done, the desperation in her touch worried the hell outta him.
He brushed his lips across her shoulder and yanked her warm back flush against his chest. Her round ass fit his groin perfect, and even her long legs tangled around his own like they were pieces of a puzzle finally joined together.
Her breathing grew more rhythmic, and he trailed a fingertip down her shoulder and arm to her elbow before moving back up. When her skin prickled at his touch, he smiled.
“Do you think they’re still together?” she asked suddenly.
His brows crinkled. “Who?”
“J and J. Them.” She pointed to the initials on the wall.
“If they were in this bed sharing a moment just like this, I sure as hell hope so.”
Suddenly, she flipped in his hold to stare into his eyes. “What if we don’t make it here on the Blackburn? Where would we go? What could we do?”
He studied her eyes, seeing a hint of a fevered light he’d never noticed before. “What happened today?”
“I…” She chewed her lower lip. “Maybe it started when I went to the family ranch. It’s my home, my roots…”
He swallowed against the lump that was forming in his throat. “You’re sayin’ you’d abandon the idea of working here and go home asking for a job?”
Her lashes dropped over her eyes, shielding them from him. “I don’t know.”
Should he tell her how much he’d worried over one of them being sent off the Blackburn and how their relationship would shatter afterward? He couldn’t bring himself to speak the words aloud—to do so might give them reality.
“Not that many ranches left these days. Not sure I could find another to work. Most likely I’d continue helping out my dad with his hauling business and eventually take over.”
“But cowboyin’ is your first love,” she stated.
“Yes.”
Her lips tightened, and she flipped onto her back to stare at the ceiling, but he only stared at her. Judging from the tightening of her lips, she was worrying over something.
He cupped her face in his palm, bringing it around so he could meet her gaze. “Gracie. What is this relationship of ours? Do you see it going anywhere?”
She pushed out a sigh. “I don’t know.”
Ouch. Her words struck him hard, because he knew without a doubt he wanted her. Hell, he could see himself growing old with the stubborn woman. He may want to shake her at times, but she’d want to do the same with him. That was how good relationships worked, right?
Suddenly, she rolled to a sitting position and popped to her feet. Getting a view of her sultry, bare backside had him hard instantly again. She started throwing on her clothes, and his mind froze.
“Are you leavin’?” His voice came out gritty.
“Yeah, and so are you. Let’s walk. C’mon.”
He stood and yanked on his boxers and jeans, watching her bend over as she pulled on her boots. When she began to work the buttons of her shirt, he started to wonder what the hell he’d do if he didn’t have her.
She shoved her hat down over her mussed hair. “Meet ya outside.”
He bounced around, jamming his feet into his boots and yanking his shirt overhead. When he reached the barn door, he half expected to see no hide nor hair of her, but she was leaning against the side of the barn, waiting on him.
He had so much to think about, and she must too. Maybe a walk would clear both their heads.
The grasses swished under their boots as they made their way around the barn and across the field. To his surprise, she cut right in front of the main house rather than going behind. For a girl who wanted to hide their relationship, she sure was flaunting it.
A red flag to Noble.
“Gracie, what happened today?”
“I’ll tell you what happened today—my eyes were opened.” She kept walking, strides long. He had no trouble keeping up with her long legs, because he was matched with her. No other man was her speed, and no woman his.
“How?” he asked.
She threw him a look
. “Realized some things, that’s all.”
He caught her arm and drew her to a stop. “So have I. And it’s that I love you, and no matter where we end up—if it’s together on this ranch or not—I want to try to make it work.”
She stared into his eyes and swallowed hard before giving a single nod. “Let’s go to the lookout.”
He caught her hand, and she let him tangle their fingers together. His heart gave a happy leap, but he felt something coming, smelled it like cattle could smell a storm rollin’ in.
When they reached the lookout, she spun to him and grabbed his face in her hands. Surprise took hold as she slammed her lips over his with a new wildness that had him responding in kind.
He grabbed at her clothes, peeling them away though he’d just watched her put them back on. The clash of her lips against his shot dark need through his groin, and he lifted her bare body and sank deep in one thrust.
Too late, he realized he wasn’t wearing a condom.
“I’m on the pill,” she bit out and yanked him in again.
He lowered her to the ground, still joined. She worked her hands over his spine and ass, grabbing at him. He lifted her off the rough grasses and sank into her again. The tight, wet, hot feel of her without a barrier… God, he wasn’t going to make it long.
She bit into the side of his neck, and he called out her name, grinding faster, harder. She dug her heels into his ass and rode him like a true cowgirl.
The growl that came from his throat was matched with her groan, and he crushed his lips to hers. A fire climbed up from his center and washed over him.
“Dammit, I can’t live without this,” he grated out.
“Me either.”
The sweetest words he’d ever heard.
He pounded into her, and she clenched around him. As he felt her tightening around him, his balls drew up and he ground his teeth.
Then she let go in a rush of juices over his hardness, and he threw back his head and lost himself to sensation.
To loving Gracie.
Chapter Ten
“Dalton, you, Minich and Timms are with Vin.”
She nodded at the order.
“Grab one o’ the young horses we’ve been training up and use them to move the herd to the top pasture. The one they’re in is too dry without much rain. Take them down toward the creek.” Langtry squinted one eye as he contemplated her.
