Catch Me a Cowboy (Wattle Valley, #1)

by Jacquie Underdown

  She crept down the darkened hall to her room and closed the door quietly behind her before flicking on a light. Blissful emotions still surged through her body from last night’s encounter with Wil. He was the most delectable lover she’d ever had. No one compared to Wil—his size, body and a certain other appendage, but also the reverence in his touch, as though he worshipped at her alter, wanted to please her sexually, emotionally, spiritually. And in doing so, she ached to give him what he needed in return.

  Emily sat on the end of her bed and opened messages on her phone before she hid it away in her luggage.

  She smiled as she typed a message to Wil.

  EMILY: Goodnight. xx

  WIL: Goodnight, gorgeous. Here’s hoping I dream about you.

  Noon the next day, Emily’s tummy was fluttering with excitement as she climbed into the passenger side of Wil’s helicopter. He sat in the pilot’s seat, handed her a headset, then put on his own. He wore beige pants and a white long sleeve shirt.

  She’d flown in a helicopter before, but never had her lover been the pilot. It thrilled her to see him in this commanding position and she never thought him sexier than she did right now.

  Who would have thought that this cowboy from the country would bring her to her knees?

  ‘Where are we going today?’ she asked.

  He winked and smiled. ‘Secret. Now buckle up, baby, coz we’re about to take off.’

  Emily locked the straps over her shoulders and waist. Wil started the chopper and they floated into the air. She watched the hectares of lush green farmland from the window as they soared above it all.

  A cameraman sat in the back and a Go-pro was set up above the front window, but she could ignore the intrusion now—Wil was the centre of her focus. Only him.

  They flew for thirty minutes across the rural landscape until the lush green transformed into long stretches of highway and bundles of houses. Wil detoured over the top of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, over the Docklands, and above the city.

  ‘I do love my hometown,’ she said, grinning as she saw it from a bird’s perspective.

  They landed shortly afterwards at the airport. A driver was waiting to collect them. She sat in the back of a lush Mercedes with Wil, cuddled in his arms. They kissed and whispered and she barely noticed the city whipping past until they stopped outside the Comedy Theatre.

  Emily grinned as she looked at Wil. ‘What are we doing?’

  He pointed up to the billboard perched on the roof of the building, lit up in neon lights. Frank N Furter, Riff Raff, and the rest of the production stared down at her.

  ‘The Rocky Horror Show?’

  Wil laughed. He reached into his small bag at his feet and pulled out a pink feather boa. He wrapped it around her shoulders and kissed her lips. ‘Yep.’

  Excitement stormed through Emily’s cells. She’d not seen this musical yet though she’d tried many times, but work always intruded. Had Xanthi included it on her application that this was her favourite?

  She squealed and jumped out of the car to join the crowd heading into the theatre. They had wine in the foyer while they waited for the musical to start, then were ushered to the front row. Emily’s eyes glossed as she took her seat. How far in advance had Wil planned this to get them these seats? Did he know right from the beginning that she’d still be here by this stage?

  They sat together in the dim room filled with people dressed in suspenders, feather boas and wigs. The lights went out and the spotlight focused on the woman standing before the curtain on the stage. Emily turned to Wil and kissed his cheek. ‘Thank you so much. This is perfect.’

  He kissed her forehead and smiled. ‘I’m glad you like it.’

  The opening theme music started and Emily was lost in the performance until the very end.

  After the production, they were driven to Emily’s favourite restaurant, Mo Vida. They ate tapas, Emily drank mojitos, and chatted. Wil delved more into his vision for the farm, and they both spoke about their childhood, defining moments, and life in general.

  Sitting across from Wil, she watched him deal with waiters, talk and laugh. He fit so well into her world. And she fit into his. On the helicopter ride home later, she looked across at him and realised then what this day meant. He was showing her that their lives could blend. No matter where they came from, opposite ends of the spectrum, together they fit.

  She leant across and placed her hand on his thigh. ‘Thank you for today, Wil.’

  He smiled. ‘You’re welcome.’ He was silent for a long moment, then whispered, ‘We’ll make it work, Em. The city isn’t far from my home. We’ll make it work.’

  She laughed. ‘You’d spend a fortune on fuel flying to me.’

  It was spoken in jest, but he said earnestly, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes.’

  Her breath was stolen from her lungs. She nodded and squeezed his thigh harder. Her throat ached. Her eyes pricked with tears; she blinked them away and looked out the window at the blackness surrounding the chopper. Wil was one in a million. Nothing like any man she had ever met. Yes, she was falling hard for this cowboy. More than she could have ever dreamed.

  They landed and Wil took her hand, led her up to the farmhouse. She wanted to go inside with him so much, but the cameras were lingering. And they both had filming to do after this.

  She bit back her aching disappointment when they stopped at his front porch.

  ‘Good night, Emily,’ he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

  She grabbed his face, turning his mouth to hers and kissed him hard on the lips. She wanted more, so much more, but for now, this was all she could have.

  ‘Good night,’ she said.

  He smiled, but the desire was fierce in his hooded gaze as he gave a final wave and headed into his farmhouse and her towards the car waiting to transport her back to the cottage.

  When Emily arrived back at the contestants’ quarters, tonight’s filming was to be a group affair. She always wondered what angle the directors were taking when they set up nights like this. She much preferred to be in a room on her own with a camera and the director asking questions.

  The four remaining women were waiting in the living room, glasses of wine sprawled across the table.

  They sat taller when Emily entered the room.

  ‘Hi,’ she said.

  They offered their greetings, but the tension was thick in the room. They wanted to know what she had gotten up to. Emily was the first to go on a super-date and the ladies were obviously curious.

  ‘So?’ asked Tatiana.

  Emily couldn’t mask her smile, so she didn’t try. She was past hiding her emotions from the other contestants and from herself. They were what they were, there was no hiding behind veils of lies. ‘I’ve just flown back from Melbourne in Wil’s helicopter.’

  ‘Was he the pilot?’

  Emily nodded.

  Becky leant back against the couch and crossed her legs. ‘What did you do?’

  She told them about their date and the girls grew excited about their own dates that would take place during the week.

  ‘Did you kiss again?’ asked Daniella.

  Emily inhaled deeply and nodded. ‘Yes. We kissed again.’

  ‘With tongue?’ asked Becky leaning forward, one eyebrow arched.

  Again she nodded, flutters of lust stirring in her belly, and said, ‘Yes. With tongue.’

  Tatiana smiled. ‘Competition is fierce now. Game on.’

  ‘Yes,’ Emily agreed. ‘Game on.’ Well and truly. And she’d do anything now to win this. There were no other options. None.

  After a couple of drinks with the ladies, Emily showered and changed into her pyjamas. She retrieved her mobile from her luggage the moment she was inside her bedroom, hoping Wil had messaged. He consumed her every thought. She hated these moments where they weren’t together.

  Her phone buzzed with a message and her tummy tugged and heart beat faster. Lust stormed through her veins when she saw his name on t
he screen.

  WIL: I need you. Can we meet?

  EMILY: Is this what we city dwellers call a “booty call”?

  WIL: Unashamedly.

  EMILY: I could sneak out to the tree in five?

  WIL: See you then.

  Emily quickly took off her pyjamas and dressed in jeans, a jumper and zipped on a pair of boots. She tiptoed down the hall and slipped out the back door. With quick footsteps, she made her way across the field. Wil’s car lights shone in the distance, then a door shut quietly followed by his heavy footsteps across the grass. She jogged to him. Needing him so much she could burst.

  When she saw his big frame, she ran into his arms. He drew her in and kissed her hard on the mouth. She tangled her fingers in his hair, breathing in his scent, feeling the rough slide of stubble on her chin. He was all man and she craved every square inch of him.

  His arm wrapped her around the waist, the other gripped her arse and squeezed so her hips rolled against him. He was rock hard and hot and the mere thought fuelled her blood with desire.

  ‘I’ve wanted to kiss you all damn day long. This is torture,’ he whispered against her lips.

  ‘I know. I ache for you.’

  His lips were against hers again, his tongue penetrating her mouth. ‘I’m hard for you already.’

  She pressed back and giggled. ‘I can feel that.’

  ‘I want to be so deep inside you.’

  She looked around at the empty field, the lone tree. ‘What? Here?’

  He took her hands and sat on the ground, pulling her down with him, then laid back on the cool grass. ‘You can ride me, baby, that way you only have to get your knees dirty.’

  Giggling, she climbed over his thick body until she was straddling his waist. ‘Hmmm, so this is how they came up with the phrase “ride ‘em, cowboy”?’

  He held the back of her neck and gently pulled her down to him until her lips covered his. ‘You better believe it.’

  Chapter 37

  Wil loved the feel of Emily’s body close to his as she linked her arm around his elbow. Emily was breathtaking in a flowing pink dress and brown leather cowboy boots. She had mentioned that they had become her fetish; they had well and truly become his too.

  Tonight she was meeting his family. Though, sneakily, she had already met half of them. But his brother had flown in from Sydney with his wife, and Cheree’s husband was attending. In quiet, Wil had reminded them to act as though this was the first time Emily had ever been introduced to them.

  They strolled into the barn, which had been set up with fairy lights and soft music. A long table dressed in a white table cloth and shiny table wear, candles and starched napkins sat in the centre of the space. Cameras were everywhere to capture each moment.

  Earlier today, Wil and his family had run through the requirements of tonight with the director. In plain speak—questions. Lots and lots of questions. Poor Emily was either going to handle this magnificently, or freak out. He had his money on the first option.

  A smile spread across Emily’s face as they strode to the lounge area to the side of the barn. His family was waiting, dressed in their best clothes. Wil had to remember how to talk, seeing that smile. A warm tingly heat spread over his chest and up to his throat. He was proud, he realised. So very proud to have this beautiful woman on his arm ready to meet his family. His gaze darted to his brother, to catch his reaction. Surely, he would think Emily as gorgeous as Wil did?

  Alec’s eyes widened when he noticed their arrival. His wife’s face was full of a smile. His mum and dad stood, awaiting their exchange. Cheree slowly lifted from the seat, helped by Mark. They were all smiling, eager expressions on their faces.

  Wil chuckled when they stood before them all. He’d waited three long years to introduce his family to the woman of his dreams and could never have believed that a reality dating show was what made it a reality. He would never insult the process ever again.

  One by one, starting with Alec, Wil introduced Emily to each member of his family. She shook hands and kissed cheeks, promising she’d try and remember all their names. Wil excused himself to collect drinks from the bar while Emily sat amongst his family. He had to look back over his shoulder as he strode away and smiled because she blended in as though she was made for him and this life.

  He’d forgotten how utterly pleasurable, exciting, and heart-warming it was to fall in love. He’d not done so since he was fifteen and met Billi at a local inter-school dance. Nearly fifteen years later and his body was reacting exactly as it had all those years ago. He woke early with thoughts of her, jumping out of bed without any tiredness and excitement coiling in his stomach. She was the last thing on his mind before he went to sleep, and her face fluttered through his mind during the day, wrapping tendrils of lust around his bones and heart.

  Wil carried Emily a glass of champagne and himself a beer. He handed her the flute and sat beside her.

  ‘So how’s it all going here? Getting acquainted?’

  Emily smiled. ‘Yes.’

  ‘We were just asking Emily how she was finding the show.’ said Alec’s wife, Sandy.

  ‘And?’ asked Wil peering at Emily.

  ‘And I was saying I’m enjoying it more than I could have ever predicted.’ She turned to the others in the small crowd. ‘I didn’t want to come on the show. I thought Wil would be … creepy and sleazy—’

  Wil laughed. ‘Oh thank you very much,’ he said with feigned indignation.

  Alec reached over the space between them and slapped Wil’s knee. ‘Hey, ease up, I remember a similar conversation with you.’

  Wil grinned sheepishly at Emily. ‘We were both surprised.’

  The smile slowly fell from her face and an intense seriousness settled over her features as she peered into his eyes. ‘Very much. And I’m grateful for that.’

  Alec cleared his throat. ‘Okay, okay. We get it, you’re both enamoured. Keep it for the bedroom, though.’

  Cheree groaned. ‘Oh, please, Alec. Sister present here. I don’t need those images of my brother.’

  Emily laughed, tilting her head until it rested on Wil’s shoulder. Her hand pressed to his chest. He placed a kiss on the top of her head and breathed in her sweet scent. His body reacted, swarming with warmth and his heart beat out a tender melody.

  A short while later, they were directed to the table as dinner was about to be served. Once seated, Emily became the centre of the conversation, which was a relief for a change. Over the last month or so, he’d had to adjust to that. It was becoming easier now the show was coming to a close, but at the beginning, it would sometimes overwhelm him.

  Mum leant further across the table. ‘We are so proud of Wil and we all want him to be happy. What is it about him you like the most?’

  Question time.

  Emily took a long sip of champagne, her lips curling into a smile. She looked up at Wil then back to Mum. ‘He’s genuine. Genuinely kind, caring, empathetic, intelligent. Hard working. He’s unlike any man I’ve ever met.’

  Mum smiled wide, obviously taking pride in hearing her son being spoken so kindly of. She nodded. ‘He is a very genuine man, Emily. That’s all we’ve ever asked of him, is to be true to himself.’

  Dad nodded once.

  ‘Here, here,’ said Sandy holding her glass in the air.

  ‘Cheers,’ they all said, charging their glasses and taking a sip of their drinks.

  Mum laughed. ‘But Wil was a terror as a kid, wasn’t he, William?’

  Dad agreed.

  Emily giggled. ‘What did he do?’

  Mum smiled. ‘Where do I start? He stole the tractor from the shed when he was nine and drove it into the dam.’

  ‘What about when he kept that shoe box of mice under his bed and they had all those babies,’ said Cheree.

  Emily rolled her head back and laughed.

  ‘They escaped into the house and we had mice for months. The farm cats thought they were in heaven,’ said Dad.

  ‘
And what about when I dared him to leave the gate open on the sheep and they all ended up wandering up the main highway.’

  ‘We were collecting sheep from bushland for a week.’

  ‘And remember when he threw water bombs at the geese and they chased after him, biting him on the …’ Cheree stopped and burst into laughter. ‘It was so funny, he had to spend the rest of the night with an ice pack.’

  Wil laughed. He’d forgotten all those moments until now. ‘Did no lasting damage.’

  Emily nearly sprayed her champagne everywhere.

  ‘You find that funny, do you?’ he said, elbowing her lightly in the ribs.

  ‘A little.’

  The waiters interrupted with plates of entrees, placing them on the table before each of them—tomato and onion tartlets.

  ‘So Wil has filled you in on his plans for this farm here. How do you see yourself fitting in with all that, with this lifestyle?’ asked Alec.

  Emily sat taller. ‘That side of things is still … daunting for me. I won’t try and hide that it’s all very new. I’ve been a city chick my entire life. The country will take some getting used to.’

  Alec smiled. ‘That’s understandable. And Wil here, is a very patient teacher.’

  ‘So are all of us,’ said Dad.

  Cheree nodded. ‘Exactly. We sometimes forget others weren’t born with farming in their blood, but we are all willing to show you the ropes.’

  Wil shifted in his chair when he felt Emily tense beside him. ‘Or, Emily might want to continue pursuing her career. There are plenty of opportunities around here for that.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ agreed Alec. ‘Multi-million dollar rural properties sprawling across this region.’

  Dad placed his beer on the table. ‘When it comes down to it, Emily, could you move out here and make a go of it with Wil? Do you see that in your future?’

  Wil remained very still and didn’t look at the others, instead concentrated on the table top.

  ‘Yes. Yes, I do see that,’ said Emily evenly.

  A sigh streamed from his lips, his shoulders relaxed. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. He kissed her head, eyes closed. That was the only question he needed the answer for.