The Last Good Cowboy

by Kate Pearce

  “Avery, honey.” He kissed her left hip and ran a line of kisses along the worst of her scars—the one that went all the way down to her knee. She jumped when his mouth dipped into her belly button and then lower, the tip of his tongue teasing and exploring her most sensitive places, bringing everything back to sudden, shocking life.

  “Nice.” He dipped his head lower, easing her thighs wider as he took her with his tongue and his fingers and . . . oh God. She grabbed a handful of his hair as she climaxed, turning her head to stifle the sound against his pillow.

  He rose over her and stripped off his jeans and boxers, letting her see just how hard and ready he was for her. Leaning across the bed, he found protection and covered himself before coming down back over her.

  “You want me?”

  “Yes please.”

  His smile was beautiful as he eased inside, making her moan, while he stretched and learned her, rocking back and forth, taking it so slowly that she almost wanted to scream at him. But oh God, the pleasure of that leisurely, so-like-Ry penetration made everything feel even better.

  She climaxed immediately and he went still, holding himself deep until she gasped for breath and managed to open her eyes. He was watching her, his gaze molten in the silver moonlight, his mouth a sensual treasure she wanted to plunder forever.

  “Selfish,” she gasped.

  “What, you?” His smile was so hot she was surprised she didn’t come again. “Nope, I can take it.”

  “Really?”

  He rolled his hips, and she clutched his biceps. “As many as you want, princess.”

  She mock-frowned at him. “Don’t call me that. Marley’s the princess in my family.”

  “She’s not as pretty as you.”

  “You’re obviously delusional, but that’s okay.” She smoothed her hand over his muscled chest. “I am pretty spectacular.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  He started moving again, and she rapidly forgot her name, and everything except the grinding rhythm of his body over hers, and the need to take him, and keep him, and bring him with her into a climax that would rock his world.

  “Avery . . .”

  He bucked against her one last time, driving so deep she instinctively curled her legs higher around his hips and just held on, her third climax catching her unawares, drawing a strangled groan from Ry as she clenched around him.

  After one last, lingering kiss, he moved away and set himself to rights. She lay still, experimentally moving her limbs, checking that beneath her sexual high her bones were all present and in working order.

  “You okay?” He drew the covers back and got into bed, pulling her in with him.

  “Yes, I’m good.”

  He spooned her from behind; his hand curved over her belly, her rounded butt against his flat stomach. She breathed in the smell of sex, and sweat, and them, and let out a big contented sigh.

  “Thank you.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “No, thank you. I was having a hell of a day until you came and saved me.”

  “HW didn’t mention he planned to bring a film crew with him?”

  “He didn’t tell us anything at all. He just arrived.”

  “When’s he leaving?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Good.” She turned her head to kiss his shoulder.

  “Yeah.” He kissed her again, his hand sliding lower until he cupped her mound. “Why are we talking about him right now?”

  “Because he has the amazing ability to make himself the subject of every conversation when he’s around?”

  “I don’t want to think about him.” He paused. “You okay about us being a couple?”

  She rolled onto her back to stare up at him. “You’re asking me that now?”

  He shrugged. “You know how it is, Avery. A lot of people prefer to hook up or—”

  “Stop right there.” She slapped her hand over his mouth. “I don’t.”

  His golden eyes crinkled at the corners and he bit her fingers. “Neither do I.”

  “Then we’re going out together, okay?”

  “Officially. If you like, I’ll get Dad to take out an ad in the local paper.”

  She grinned at him. “Local rancher snares hot hotelier in his lasso of love.”

  “Sounds good—although my roping could do with some work.”

  “Maybe you can practice on me.”

  “Yeah?” He raised his eyebrows. “Sounds like fun.”

  “But maybe not right now.”

  She yawned and covered her mouth, and he immediately cuddled down behind her. How come she felt so comfortable when they’d only slept together once? But she knew him, knew the serious boy inside the strong man, at some bone-deep level that made being with him feel so right.

  Her eyes were beginning to close. “You’ve had a busy day, what with the ranch, and HW, and being interviewed, and your mom . . .”

  His hand stilled on her shoulder. “What about my mom?”

  She winced. “I, um, overheard HW saying something about your mother maybe being alive?”

  He was quiet for so long she contemplated either apologizing or leaving.

  “Yeah. Chase has been looking into what happened that night my mom and sister disappeared. He thinks they might still be alive and living in Humboldt.”

  Avery slowly closed her mouth and attempted to match his calm tone. “That’s pretty major. How do you feel about that?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t remember her very well. HW and I were five when she left. I do remember that it was the day after our birthday party. I think that’s what they were arguing about.”

  “Wasn’t your dad suspected of killing them?”

  “Yeah, but there was no evidence to tie him to any crime. Eventually when no bodies showed up the police gave up trying to pin it on him. It almost broke him anyway. He was never the same, and he left us as well.” He sighed. “Took him twenty years to find his way back here, and Chase and BB still haven’t quite forgiven him.”

  “So, what’s the plan now?” Avery asked.

  “We’re supposed to go up to Humboldt to check this woman out.”

  “But you don’t think it’s her, do you?”

  “I doubt it, but Chase seems convinced, and he’s the one with the money.”

  He turned onto his back and she came up on one elbow to observe him. He looked his usual calm self, but . . .

  “You don’t want to go, do you?”

  He glanced at her, his golden gaze hooded. “Nope.”

  “Do you have to?”

  “Chase says it’s up to me.” He smoothed a hand over his unshaven jaw. “There’s no reason why I shouldn’t go, especially when I don’t even know why I’m so reluctant in the first place.”

  “Ry, she left you when you were five years old.”

  His smile was sweet. “She left us all, Avery. It hurt Chase and BB the most, and it almost destroyed my dad. They all want to find her.”

  “What about HW?”

  He blinked at her. “What about him?”

  “He didn’t look very happy.”

  “I’d only just told him. Once he calms down, he’ll be all for it. He was always Mom’s favorite.” He stopped talking, his gaze drawing inward. “I’d forgotten that.”

  “And now I’ve gotten us back around to talking about your twin again.” Avery groaned. “I’m so sorry.”

  He smiled back and she kissed him. God, she could spend a whole day just kissing him . . .

  “I’m sure I can think of plenty of ways to stop you thinking about HW,” Ry murmured, as he rolled her beneath him and kicked the covers to the bottom of the bed.

  “I’m absolutely sure . . . you can.” Avery let him bear her down onto the mattress again and concentrated on far more exciting things than poor Ry’s ancient family history. “In fact, that will do very nicely.”

  * * *

  Ry woke up early to an armful of lush woman . . . snoring in his ear, and he simply
buried his face in her neck and inhaled her sweetness. He’d slept right through the night, which rarely happened, and hadn’t been bothered by any of those weird nightmares about his brother or his mom. Maybe he was getting used to the idea that she might not be dead after all . . .

  Avery muttered something in her sleep and smacked her lips. Her brown hair was stuck to the side of her face, and she might have been drooling. Ry didn’t care. Having her in his bed—being with her—felt right.

  He kissed her shoulder and went to have a shower. With so many guests in the house, it would have to be quick. Chase was already talking about installing more bathrooms in the main house. Ruth and Billy weren’t too keen on the idea, thinking it would destroy the old-world charm of the place.

  As far as he was concerned, the lure of endless hot water and a good shower far outweighed Ruth’s objections. A two-minute rinse standing inside a slippery enamel bathtub was not his idea of fun. He wrapped a towel around his waist and ran back to his bedroom barefoot and shivering. Avery was still asleep. He sat on the bed beside her and stroked her hair.

  “Avery? You ready to get up?”

  She muttered something unintelligible, and rolled onto her other side, away from him. Ry tried again.

  “Avery?”

  She pulled the covers over her head and made a very specific gesture with her finger that encouraged him to leave her alone.

  Fighting a grin, Ry went over to his desk, wrote her a note, and stuck it on the pillow beside her. He found his jeans, a clean T-shirt, and some socks, and padded down the stairs into the kitchen.

  “Hey.”

  He pulled up short as HW called out to him from where he was sitting at the table. His twin looked as if he hadn’t slept at all. Ry got some coffee and scooped out a bowl of the oatmeal Ruth always left to cook overnight in the slow cooker. He added cream, raisins, and brown sugar and took his loaded bowl to sit next to HW.

  “Jeez.” HW shuddered. “Don’t you care about your arteries?”

  “I burn up a lot of calories. A good breakfast keeps me going all day. By the time I’ve gotten through this, Ruth might be up making pancakes, eggs, and bacon.”

  HW looked like he was going to heave.

  Ry kept on eating, aware for the first time that he wasn’t inclined to ask HW what was wrong, let alone fix everything for him. His brother sipped at his black coffee and stared into space.

  “You and Avery going to stay together?”

  Ry looked up. “Why do you want to know?”

  “You look happy.”

  “And . . . ?”

  HW shrugged. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “How specific are you being here, bro?” Ry slowly put his spoon down. “By any woman, or by Avery specifically?”

  “I’m not saying—”

  Ry interrupted his brother. “You just can’t help yourself, can you? Interfering in my life—trying to tell me who I can date, and whether I’m allowed to be happy.”

  “Hell, you interfere in my life all the time! You hated Lally!”

  “Because she wasn’t good for you.” He glared at his twin. “Well, I am damn happy with Avery, so don’t you come around here trying to screw things up, okay?”

  HW was the first to look away. “I thought Mom and Dad were happy, didn’t you?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Because I couldn’t sleep last night. Being back here brought out all my memories. How can you stay here and not dream?”

  Ry almost stopped breathing. “What the heck are you talking about?”

  “That last night? When Mom and Dad were fighting?”

  Ry held up a hand. “Dude, we were five, neither of us remember it clearly, okay? Why do you suddenly want to talk about it now, twenty years later?”

  HW shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. Coming back here messed with my head as well, at first.”

  “That’s not what I’m apologizing for.”

  Ry reluctantly looked into his brother’s eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “Yeah, you do. You know how she was with us. What she did that last night. You know, Ry.”

  Ry stood up. “I have to get to work.”

  HW kept on talking. “I should’ve stopped her. I should’ve . . . I dunno, done something.”

  “How about you shut up?” Ry only realized he was shouting when HW winced. “How about you get out of here, and never come back?”

  He pushed past Ruth and Billy, who had both appeared in the doorway, made for the mudroom, and then went out to the barn. Dolittle wasn’t pleased to see him at all, but Ry saddled up, and they were away, out into the pasture where no one could find him if he didn’t want them to. The only thing was—he couldn’t escape the demons that HW had raised in his mind—and now he knew he never would.

  * * *

  Aware that she was in someone else’s house, Avery woke up in a fright right after Ry left the room, and rushed to the bathroom to wash and put her clothes back on. She tiptoed down the stairs, wondering if she could get away without being seen. The bottom stair creaked loudly and she winced.

  “That you, Avery? Come and get something to eat.”

  Ruth sounded her usual self, so Avery turned around and went into the kitchen. HW was sitting at the table with Billy.

  “Good morning,” Avery flashed them all a quick smile. “Ruth, I hope you didn’t mind—”

  “You staying over? I’ve gotten used to all these comings and goings, what with Jenna, and BB, and January . . .”

  Avery’s face heated as she grabbed a mug of coffee and sat down at the table. “Is Ry around?”

  HW stirred. “Nope, he left.”

  There was a flatness to his voice that made Avery instantly worried.

  “Is he okay?”

  Billy patted her shoulder. “I saw him heading out on Dolittle. He’ll come back when he’s ready.”

  She turned toward him. “Did something happen?”

  “I dunno. I was just going to ask you the same question,” Billy said.

  “There was nothing wrong between us.”

  She didn’t want to mention that the thought of Ry fleeing his home after their first time making love was a little depressing.

  “It wasn’t you.” HW looked up. “He was pissed with me. What’s new? I can’t talk to him these days without him getting angry.”

  “Ry doesn’t get angry here, HW. Why do you think that is?” Ruth put a plate of eggs and bacon in front of Avery.

  “I know you think everything’s my fault, Ruth, so why don’t you just come out and say it?” HW gripped his mug so hard his knuckles shone white. “I didn’t ask him to stay with me all these years. He did it because he wanted to.”

  “He did it because he loves you, and wanted to keep you safe,” Ruth said. “You know that.”

  HW stood up. “Then maybe he should have developed some balls, and gone after what he wanted. I’m not taking all the blame here.”

  “No one’s blaming you for anything, son,” Billy pointed out. “We’re just trying to work out why Ry headed out without telling anyone where he was going.”

  “Seems obvious to me.” HW shrugged. “He told me about Mom maybe being alive.”

  Billy shot a quick glance at Ruth. “Yeah? How do you feel about that?”

  “It sucks.” HW picked up his cell phone and stuck it in his back pocket. “And why didn’t anyone mention it sooner?”

  “Because we decided it was something that needed to be said face-to-face, and this was the first opportunity Ry had to share the news with you.”

  “He’s not happy about it,” HW stated.

  “We all gathered that, but why?” Ruth asked. “It’s not as if you can remember her that well, is it?”

  “We remember her, all right. If Ry’s saying something different, he’s a big fat liar, but that’s his business.” HW started toward the door. “I’d better get packed and r
eady to leave. Tell Ry I said good-bye, and give my best to Chase.”

  Ruth barred his way, her spatula raised like a weapon. “Are you coming back for the wedding?”

  “I hope so. It’s right before the finals, but I should be able to make it.” He nodded at Billy and Avery. “I’m going to help BB down at the barn. Tell Francesca and the guys that I’m ready to leave whenever they are.”

  The moment he went out the door, Avery stood up and followed him. To her surprise, he hadn’t gone far. He was standing on the porch, staring out at the mountains, his expression grim as he fumbled for a cigarette in his jeans pocket.

  “May I ask you something?” Avery approached him carefully, aware that after a night of lovemaking her stiff hip was making her gait extra awkward.

  He gave her his famous golden smile, and stuck the unlit cigarette behind his ear. “Sure. What’s up?”

  “Was Ry really okay?”

  He studied her, leaning back against the Victorian railings, his gaze drifting lower to her lagging left foot. “You like him, don’t you?”

  “Well, duh, I wouldn’t be going out with him if I didn’t.”

  “He’s not as easygoing as most people think, so maybe you should be careful.”

  “Are you trying to warn me off?”

  “It depends.” He eyed her consideringly. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”

  “So who should be worried here? Him or me?”

  “Maybe both of you.” He sighed. “This thing with our mom?”

  “What about it?”

  “It’s all kinds of messed up.”

  “In what way?”

  “If she’s still alive, it . . . changes things. If she comes back here”—he winced—“I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

  “But you won’t be here anyway, will you?”

  “True. But Ry will.” He looked past her at the screen door. “Francesca’s up. I can hear her coming down the stairs. Do you want to walk down to the barn with me?”

  “I’d rather not.” Avery found a smile somewhere. “I have to go to the new welcome center and get to work.”

  “Then I’ll walk with you. It’s on my way, and I’m not that keen to get a list of chores from BB, and another lecture.”