by Kate Pearce
Heat gathered on her cheeks. “I didn’t mean that to happen either.” Some of the amused warmth faded from his eyes, and she hastened to continue. “Not that it wasn’t . . . lovely, but my timing sucks.”
“Yeah.” He shivered again as a sharp breeze cut between the barn and the welcome center.
She found his shirt and tossed it to him. “Go and take a warm shower before you catch something.”
He considered her for a long moment. “You going to be here when I get back?”
“Yes, I’ll be in the welcome center all day.”
He nodded. “Then I’ll catch up with you later.”
He jogged away toward the house. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that Avery remembered the horse—a horse that needed to be rubbed down and let out to graze. Had Ry done that deliberately? She didn’t think so. His mind had definitely been on other things. There was no one else around. She supposed she could fetch Roy or Billy from the center if she had to.
She eyed Dolittle, who was taking a nap, and circled around checking him out. Most of the mud had been washed off. All he really needed was to be rubbed down and let out into the field—a field that was about ten feet from where the horse was tied up.
Swallowing hard, she grabbed one of the cloths and advanced toward Dolittle. Her hand was shaking so much it looked like she was waving a flag.
“Okay, then. You can do this, Avery. You can . . .” She reached out and dabbed the cloth against Dolittle’s long neck. “That’s it. Nice horsey. Stay asleep.” Was that her pathetic, breathy voice? She studied Dolittle’s long eyelashes and thought he snored. Did horses snore?
One step closer, and she swiped the cloth down over the horse’s back and withers. His muscles rippled as she worked and the chestnut shine of his coat caught the sun. She was breathing too fast and inhaling way too much horse, but she was getting it done.
* * *
Ry was halfway to the house before he remembered Dolittle, and doubled back. The last thing he wanted was for Avery to think he’d left her to deal with the horse. Sure, he was freezing his nuts off and soaked to the skin, but Avery was way more important than that. He paused in the shadow thrown by the barn and halted, his attention riveted by the unexpected sight of Avery drying Dolittle off.
She was talking as she worked, her voice way too high-pitched with an edge of panic that if Dolittle were any other horse would’ve set his ears twitching and tail swishing. Ry took another step forward, and then stopped. Should he let her continue? See how far she could go before she lost it? Was that being cruel or kind?
Even as he considered, she went to Dolittle’s head to untie the halter rope securing him to the hitching post. It seemed to take her a long time. Part of Ry wanted to get out there and do it for her, to tell her it was okay and that she could let it go, could let him do it. She was still talking to herself—or maybe to the horse as she led Dolittle toward the gate into the pasture.
Ry readied himself as Dolittle finally woke up, blew on Avery’s hair, and allowed her to lead him on. She took another long minute to open the gate. Ry let out his breath as she and the horse went through, and she unclipped the rope from Dolittle’s halter. Most horses moved off immediately, but Dolittle settled in for another nap right there.
Avery gave the horse a tentative pat, and turned back to the gate. Her face was white, her brown eyes huge, and her mouth tight. Ry took one last look at her and quietly retraced his steps toward the house. God, he was so damn proud of her. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her how brave she was, but had a feeling she’d be better off not knowing he’d been watching her.
He was grinning like a loon. Some things had to be done alone, and this was probably one of them. He’d take a quick shower, get dressed, and find her at the welcome center. Then he’d make damn sure she knew just how much he appreciated her.
* * *
She was definitely going to throw up.
Avery had locked herself in the restroom and stared at her pale, sweating reflection as she leaned over the sink. She’d gotten Dolittle into the field.
By herself.
It was the first time she’d voluntarily touched a horse in years. She blinked back tears as she started to shake, gripping the edge of the sink until her fingers hurt. She took several deep, gulping breaths, but couldn’t seem to stop crying.
A knock at the door made her jump like a wild deer.
“Avery? You okay in there?”
It was Ry’s voice. She debated what to do. It was obvious that she’d been crying, and she didn’t want to face an inquiry about why.
“Avery?”
She washed her face and hands, unlocked the door, and walked straight into Ry’s arms. He held her close without saying a thing, his thumb rubbing small, comforting circles on the back of her neck as she simply breathed him in.
“What’s up?” he murmured into her hair.
She spoke into his shirt. “I put Dolittle in the field.”
“You did?”
She slowly looked up at him. “Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“Nope.”
Taking her hand, he drew her back into her office, closed the door and locked it. He walked her backward, sat her on the edge of her desk, and framed her face with his hands.
“You are awesome.” He kissed her forehead, then her nose, then each cheek, and finally her mouth. He smelled like pine and sea salt from his shower. “You rock.”
She smiled even though she was still close to tears. “Yeah?”
He kissed her again, this time less gently, until she opened to him and kissed him back. With a soft groan, his hands slid to her shoulders.
“I didn’t mean to leave you alone with Dolittle.”
“I know.”
“I came back as fast as I could, but I guess you’d already taken care of everything.”
She shrugged. “I couldn’t leave him standing there all day.”
“You could’ve.” He searched her face, his hazel eyes intent. “Or you could’ve called Roy or Dad.”
“I thought about it,” she confessed. “But I wanted to see if I could do it.”
He kissed her again. “My hero.”
She pushed on his chest. “Don’t. There’s nothing heroic about me. I almost threw up. Can we stop talking about it now?”
His smile was slow in coming and made her all too aware that she was female—something that hadn’t happened to her since her accident.
“Sure. How about we clarify something else?”
“Like what?”
“You touched me first, didn’t you?”
She blinked at him. “What?”
“When I took my shirt off, you touched my arm, right?”
“I suppose I did. So what?”
He grinned. “You want me, don’t you?”
“I wanted to touch you at that moment, sure.”
“Just like I want to touch you, hands, tongues, and other body parts.”
“It was just an impulse.”
“So you don’t want anything else?”
Her heart rate sped up. “I didn’t quite say that, but—”
He placed a finger over her lips. “No buts. I want to make you come again. Will you let me?”
She held his heated stare as her body swayed toward him, offering itself before she could even attempt to frame the necessary words.
“I would’ve thought it was your turn.”
“I can wait.” He kissed her slowly and thoroughly until she could barely remember her name, as he eased her knees apart, his hand cupping her mound.
She was lost in his taste and his texture again, moving against his hand as he kissed and fondled her, raising her hips in an urgent plea for him to take more, do more.
“Damn, Avery, you’re so beautiful.” He kept on kissing her as he worked the button and zipper of her jeans free, and fitted his palm against her already damp panties. “So brave, so pretty, and so wet and ready for me.”
He eased a finger beneath the elastic of her terribly sensible panties, homing in on her already needy center and stroking her there until she almost lost her mind. When he finally slid a finger deep inside she came almost immediately. He didn’t stop, just murmured his appreciation and brought her to a second more intense peak, which left her gasping his name.
She wanted more, she wanted everything . . . She rocked against the heel of his hand, lifting into each stroke and grinding herself against him until a small persistent ache from her hip impinged on her sensual haze. She tried to shift her weight and her breath hissed out. Ry immediately went still, easing her back onto the desktop and slowing his fingers.
“Time to stop, I think.”
She managed to open her eyes. “I’m fine. I really am.”
His smile was crooked as he pulled his hand free. “You might be, but I’m about to come in my jeans. I haven’t done that since I was a teenager.”
She sat up straight and the pain on her side eased. He was right in front of her so it was easy to run one finger over the hardness behind his fly and feel his helpless response.
“My turn, I think,” Avery whispered
“You sure about that? Because I’m not asking . . .” He stopped talking as she attacked his zipper to reveal white boxers clinging to the thick shape of his arousal. Avery sighed and rubbed her thumb over the crown, which was already attempting to push its way out of the confining cotton.
“Nice.”
“Yeah?”
He sounded almost as breathy as she did, which was kind of endearing. She dipped inside the boxers and stroked the length of him, making him buck against her hand.
“Jeez, I think I’m gonna . . .”
With a hoarse cry he came into her hand and she held him close as he rocked and pulsed against her. His forehead came to rest on her shoulder as the last few shudders racked through him.
She was smiling when she removed her hand, and he hastily set himself to rights. She slid off the desk to do the same, and her left knee buckled. He immediately caught her elbow, holding her steady until the cramp eased.
“I’m sorry, Avery. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“I’m fine.” She shook off his hand, turned her back, and zipped up her jeans.
“But—”
She could hear it in his voice, the fear, the worry, the same tone she endured day in and day out from everyone around her.
“I’m fine, okay?”
And now she didn’t want to turn around because she knew what she’d see—the honest concern for her, the sympathy.
But he didn’t say a word, so eventually she sat down at her desk, hands clasped together in front of her, and raised her chin.
He retrieved his hat from the floor and took a while putting it back on. God, he was beautiful, so golden, and languorous, and easy on the eye . . .
“Was there anything else you needed, Ry?”
He angled his head and studied her for a long while. “Why won’t you let me apologize?”
“Because I don’t like being reminded that I’m a stupid invalid?”
His mouth quirked up at the corner. “Ah.”
“What’s so funny?”
“You are.”
She sat up straight and glared at him. “Because I want to be treated like a normal woman?”
He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I thought I was treating you like one.”
“You were, and then you had to spoil it all by apologizing.”
This time she got the whole smile and wanted to growl at him—might actually have done it, considering his startled expression.
“I was apologizing for my lack of control.” He shrugged. “A guy likes to last more than two minutes, you know? It was embarrassing.”
She gaped at him. “You . . . were?”
“Sure.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”
He winked at her. “Just promise me you won’t tell your friends, and I promise I’ll do better next time, okay?”
“You think there’ll be a next time?”
He hesitated, his gaze meeting hers. “I’d sure like to get a second chance.”
“You would?” Wow, he sounded as if he really meant it. “This isn’t the best place to be doing any of this.”
He looked around her office. “Agreed, but I doubt your parents are going to let me stay the night with you at the hotel.”
“You’d be surprised what they miss. I have a key to my room and instructions about how to get there without anyone ever knowing.” She hesitated. “If you want to try, that is.”
“Didn’t I just say that I did?” He sauntered closer and perched on the corner of her desk. “I want you naked and screaming my name.”
“Okay.” She refused to meet his gaze and rearranged the pens on her desk. “Then I’ll call you.”
“That’s not going to work.”
Startled, she looked up right into his amused golden eyes. “Why not?”
“Because you don’t have my new number.”
Now she was blushing. She handed him her cell. “Put it in for me.”
He complied and she called him, making his jeans pocket buzz against his thigh. He took out his cell and checked the number. “Got it.”
“Then we’re good.” She risked a smile. “I’m sure you have work to do, so I’ll see you soon, Ry.”
He stood and looked down at her before touching the brim of his Stetson and turning to the door. “Bye, Avery.”
She pretended to be busy as he unlocked the door and walked down the hallway, his spurs clinking on the new tile. When the sound faded, she sat back and let out a long breath. Her morning so far had been rather unexpected. She’d touched a horse and had her first climax in years. Actually, several climaxes. Both of these things were closely related to her interactions with Ry Morgan.
Were they a couple now? She imagined him naked, and licked her lips. Maybe they were—or maybe he was just scratching an old itch, replaying the lost years of their past before moving on again.
Her smile died. Maybe he was just feeling sorry for her.
But if that was true—and despite what he said, she still couldn’t discount the possibility—what the hell was she doing encouraging him?
Chapter Nine
“Hey, wait up, bro!”
Ry paused in the hallway and then poked his head around the door to the kitchen, where BB was sitting at the table drinking coffee and texting on his phone. He’d spent a restless night thinking about Avery instead of sleeping and was not in the best of moods.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve got new data about Mom.”
“Yeah?” Ry didn’t go any farther into the kitchen, but he didn’t retreat either. He leaned against the doorjamb. “What’s happened?”
“Chase’s guy reported back. They think they’ve traced her to Humboldt.”
“The university town up north?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. I’ve no idea what she might be doing there, but I wanted to warn you that Chase is probably planning a trip.”
“Before the wedding?”
“I should imagine so.” BB sighed. “He’s so damn focused on finding her.”
Ry grimaced. “I got that.” He hesitated. “The thing is, BB, if she was so close, why didn’t she come back? Even if it was just to visit? It wasn’t as if we were a thousand miles away or anything.”
“I asked Chase the same question. He didn’t have an answer either . . .” BB finished his coffee in one gulp. “I guess she had her reasons. Dad said she was depressed after Rachel was born, and that maybe she wasn’t responsible for her actions.”
Ry let that sink in. It didn’t help.
BB put down his mug and stood, stretching his arms over his head. He was shorter than Ry and had blue eyes like Chase and Billy, whereas the twins favored their fair-haired mother. After his years in the Marines he was also superfit and not the kind of guy to mess with. He was a straight shooter and easier to
understand than Chase, who could overcomplicate things sometimes.
“Look, if you don’t want to come with us to Humboldt, I’ll tell Chase and make it okay.”
“I haven’t decided yet. I don’t expect you to make excuses for me,” Ry replied as evenly as he could.
“But you’re not keen on seeing her, are you?” BB held his gaze. “I didn’t think you remembered her that well.”
“I don’t. Maybe that’s why I’m not as interested in pursuing this as you two are.”
“Makes sense.” BB nodded. “But I know Chase would appreciate your support. He talked to Dad and made things right with him after what you said.”
“Yeah?” Ry didn’t want to get into that. “Cool. I gotta go, okay? Let me know what Chase decides.”
He put on his boots and went out to his truck. Today, he and Roy were building fences out by the old abandoned silver mine and ghost town. Apparently both places had to be protected from the cattle and the expected influx of guests to the dude ranch. Morgansville was gradually dissolving into the dust, so a task force, headed by January and the local historical society, were working with the ranch to preserve what was there. It would make the ghost town safe and secure forever, which meant a lot to Ry.
The old mine was something of a death trap, and there were very few maps of the underground workings. The consensus had been to fence the place off completely, and just hope no one had the bright idea of getting up close and accidentally falling down an unknown shaft. Roy said anyone who did that deserved what they got, but current California health and safety laws meant the ranch would be facing a lawsuit, and Chase wasn’t going to let that happen.
One of Ruth’s dogs followed Ry out of the house and barked at him encouragingly. It was some kind of hound crossed with spaniel and possibly Chihuahua, which meant its ears were all over the place.
“You coming, Dog?” Ry held the back door of his king cab truck open, and the dog jumped in. He’d missed having a dog. Traveling between rodeos meant it hadn’t been a good idea. But now he was home and this dog seemed to have adopted him, so all was good. Before he set off, he checked his cell. There was nothing from Avery.
