Rodeo King (Dustin Lovers Book 1)

by Chaffin, Char

  Caleb arched a questioning brow. “Nothing. Just tried to keep him entertained.”

  “Good . . . good.” There was a beat of silence. “If I decide to tell Carson you’re his father, it’ll be when I feel the time is right.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “I get that, Rosie.”

  “Excuse me?” A young candy striper wheeled up a cart with a pitcher of juice and some glasses. “Would you like something to drink?”

  Glad for the interruption, Rosemary stepped away from him. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  Chapter Seven

  Caleb paced the waiting room of the hospital, where he’d spent most of the past several days wearing a path in the carpeting as he worried about his son.

  My son!

  His hand clenched at his side, still unable to wrap those words around his brain. The anxiety flooding his body was a new emotion for him. The fear ran so deep, it squeezed the oxygen from his lungs. And he’d left Rosie to deal with this by herself over the last five years.

  Which made him a first-class dirtbag, and he wasn’t sure how to make it up to her. He’d do everything in his power to gain her forgiveness, because he was determined to be there for Carson from here on out.

  “Mr. Johnson,” the young, friendly nurse said as she approached him. “Ms. Carmichael would like you to join her in Carson’s room.”

  His heart pounded hard as he rushed down the hall. Is something wrong?

  Although still upset with him, at least Rosemary hadn’t shut him out, allowing him to spend time each day with Carson. Even sick and feverish, his son was sweet and funny, and now owned a huge chunk of Caleb’s heart. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for that little boy.

  When he entered the room, Rosemary and the doctor stood next to Carson’s bed.

  “Caleb.” Her face glowed. “Carson’s being released today.”

  The gut-deep relief he felt at that news made the wandering-cowboy part of him cry ‘uncle’ as a protective instinct he didn’t know he had slammed into him. A fist squeezed inside his chest as he watched Rosemary feather slender fingers through Carson’s hair, before leaning in to tenderly kiss his rosy cheek, murmuring, “Mommy loves you, little man.”

  She was an amazing mother, and had done a wonderful job raising their boy. But from here on out, Carson would get the benefit of both his parents.

  Caleb closed the distance between him and his son to peer down at him. He winked. “Hey, champ. Ready to get out of here?”

  He nodded, smiling shyly, then asked, “Are you my daddy?”

  A barely audible gasp fell from Rosemary’s lips.

  Dr. Vine cleared his throat and headed for the door at a quick pace. “I’ll get that paperwork going for you.”

  Caleb’s gaze shot to Rosemary as his heart pounded a staccato beat in his chest. “Thanks, Doc.” He nervously rubbed his leg, somewhat sore from all his pacing. He truly did not want to screw this up.

  Her hand pressing against her throat, she chewed on her plump bottom lip as she brought her attention to their son. “Carson—”

  Caleb laid his hand on Rosemary’s shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. “Rosie,” he said quietly, “let me.”

  She glanced up at him, then back at Carson. “All right,” she agreed hesitantly.

  He advanced to the side of the bed, then ruffled Carson’s hair, grinning in an attempt to keep it light. “Would that be okay with you, buddy?”

  His breath hitched as he waited for his son’s answer, not knowing what he’d do if Carson hated the idea. And it’d be Caleb’s own damn fault for not being there for his boy.

  A huge smile split Carson’s cute cherub face. “That’s great. Can I call you Daddy? Will you play baseball with me and Uncle Mason? Can we go get pizza? I like pizza!”

  Caleb sighed in relief. Taking note of Rosemary’s emotional state, giving her a moment to collect herself, he stroked his son’s silky head. “You bet you can call me Daddy. And pizza’s my favorite, too.”

  Rosemary laughed. “I’m sure Uncle Mason will love having your daddy play baseball with you.”

  The teasing tone in her voice was directed at him, and Caleb grinned at her as he felt the shift in their relationship. Although he didn’t figure he was completely forgiven, at least Rosie seemed willing to give him a chance with their son. That was a good starting point and a much better place than when he’d first stepped off the bus, days ago.

  Now Mason was a different story, and he really wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. The few times he’d run into him at the hospital while visiting Carson hadn’t been pretty. Caleb knew his old buddy would rather kick his ass than share Carson in a game of baseball. But for the boy’s sake, Mason would have to come to grips with the fact that Caleb was here and wasn’t leaving any time soon.

  If ever.

  ***

  Rosemary watched Carson and Caleb playing with matchbox cars on the floor of her living room. Seeing the two of them together, looking so much alike warmed her heart even as worry and hope warred inside her.

  The past week had been a whirlwind of happenings, and she was emotionally exhausted. After another couple days of bedrest, Carson was almost back to normal. Caleb had brought over the pizza he’d promised, and she had the table all set.

  Carson giggled as he ran his car across Caleb’s broad chest. “Vroom. Vroom.”

  The deep rumble of Caleb’s answering chuckle, as he rolled onto his back and lifted Carson above his head, slid across her body like a caress. Her center quivered as memories of their passionate embrace in DeeDee’s alley filled her mind. If not for her brother showing up the other night, she would have let Caleb take her right there, up against the brick wall.

  She shoved the memory aside. “Okay, you two. Come eat.”

  When she’d informed her brother that Carson knew about, and accepted Caleb as his father, he hadn’t been pleased. For his nephew’s sake, though, he’d deal. But Mason was a long way from forgiving Caleb for deserting her. As was Susan, who’d told her she’d be a fool to let that ‘dirty, rotten cowboy’ back into her life. Not that she could blame them, since she hadn’t fully forgiven him herself.

  Which made the way her body cried out for his touch—every time he was near, damn it—totally pathetic.

  Caleb glanced at her from under thick lashes as Carson bounced on his eight-pack abs. His sexy grin and sinfully dark green eyes took her breath away as butterflies swarmed in her belly. She pressed her lips together, ignoring the tingling sensation between her legs, and silently told herself to knock it the hell off. That road would only lead to more heartache. She’d had little choice but to let Caleb into Carson’s life, but no way was he getting back into her panties.

  “You heard your mama, champ. Let’s eat.” He tossed Carson into the air one last time, before rolling to his feet and bringing Carson with him.

  Her son clung to Caleb’s hand, a look of hero-worship on his adorable face. “Pizza!” he yelled, rocking on his feet in excitement.

  Rosemary could only stare, with her heart in her throat. Except for the bright red hair, Carson was the spitting image of his father. A tickle of unease rolled through her, worry that her baby’s heart would be crushed when Caleb went back on the circuit. That thought hit like a bucket of cold water, bringing her back to her senses, and she frowned.

  Studying her, Caleb arched one curious brow. “Everything okay?”

  “Fine,” she lied, turning and heading into the kitchen. They took their seats around the table, their pizza already cut and waiting, along with breadsticks and a pitcher of ice tea. Carson sat between them, his face beaming with happiness as he munched his slice of pizza.

  “I’d like to stop over tomorrow and pick up Carson for the day, if that’s all right,” Caleb said, dipping a breadstick into the container of marinara sauce.

  “I—I don’t know,” she said, concerned at the way her son lit up at Caleb’s request. He was growing way too att
ached.

  “Please, Mommy,” Carson pleaded. His face had flushed with excitement.

  As if to shut down her refusal, Caleb reached across the table and placed his hand over hers, giving it a light caress. Electricity zinged between them, and Rosemary felt it deep. Her resolve weakened.

  “I thought maybe I’d take him to the park over near Hawthorn. I’d love it if you’d come along.” His low voice coaxed and seduced. Against her better judgment she found herself agreeing. Damn it. She’d never been able to resist Caleb when he laid on the charm.

  Turning to her son, Rosemary brushed his bangs off his forehead, leaning in to kiss the spot she’d bared. “Okay, sweetheart. But it’s straight to bed tonight, with no squabbles. Agreed?”

  He vigorously bobbed his head, wearing an ear-to-ear grin that was just like his father’s. And she seemed helpless against both.

  After the rest of their meal and yet another viewing of Finding Nemo, Carson jumped off Caleb’s lap, where he’d sat the entire movie, and gave him a big hug. “‘Night, Daddy.”

  “‘Night, champ.” Caleb’s voice sounded suspiciously husky, his expression tender as he cupped his son’s face.

  For the first time, instead of only thinking of how his return to town affected her and Carson, she thought about Caleb.

  She’d had a crush on him since she was twelve and he’d sauntered through her front door with her brother after a victorious football game. But Caleb had never seen her as anything more than Mason’s little sister. Until six years ago when he’d rolled back into town, finally taking notice of her as a woman. She’d all but offered herself up to him on a silver platter.

  Even though her heart was broken when he’d left without a word, she knew he was a good man. They’d both been young, and their one-week affair had been intense, but still . . . it’d only been a week.

  So could she really blame him for following his dreams? Maybe it was time to release her anger so he could have a real relationship with his son.

  ***

  While Rosemary settled Carson in bed, Caleb thought about what a great kid they’d created together. Their son was a joy to be around, sweet and well behaved but rambunctious enough to keep things interesting. Returning to the rodeo circuit suddenly didn’t appeal to him as it had a few weeks ago. This time, unlike six years earlier, the idea of a more settled life didn’t send him running for the hills.

  And Rosie! Damn. She’d been a teasing temptation at nineteen, with flirty ways and a sassy attitude, but she’d grown into a mature, sexy-as-hell woman who took no shit and knew what she wanted. Given the way her eyes darkened whenever she looked his way . . . she wanted him.

  He remembered her as a teenager, how sweet she’d been. Her sense of humor and the silly things she’d say, just to get a laugh from him. He also recalled a few times when he could talk to her, really open up about his dreams of making it big in the rodeo, and she’d listen. Caleb knew her folks fought like a couple of cats tied up in a bag, and Rosie had always been a sensitive kid. Too sensitive to have to deal with that shit, day after day. But she’d gotten past it. He was so proud of her.

  And he sure as hell wanted her. Not just for a week, but for something like eternity.

  Rising to his feet, he strode down the hall and stood outside Carson’s room, listening to her tender words and Carson’s sleepy giggles as she tucked him in for the night. The emotions he’d been drowning in over the last week fell away, replaced by an overwhelming need for Rosie. He wanted to make love to her, find a way to bring their relationship back where it’d been before he’d run off. He wanted to drown in their shared memories, then create new ones with her.

  He absently rubbed his sore leg. He wasn’t stupid; returning to the rodeo circuit was iffy for him. Maybe it was time to make a life for himself in Dustin, with Rosie and his son.

  If she’d have him.

  Her footsteps made a soft shuffle from the bedroom into the hall. Her breath hitched on a low gasp when she spotted him, then she slowly shut the door. “Hi,” she murmured. “Is something the matter?”

  Caleb closed the distance between them. He inhaled her heady fragrance, the same flowery perfume she’d worn six years ago when he’d explored every inch of her beautiful body, listening to the needy sounds she made as he’d discovered all her pleasure spots.

  Oh, hell yeah. His muscles tight, he reached for her and ran one finger down the silken skin of her cheek as her lips parted on a sigh. Yet the resistance he read in her body language made his jaw clench.

  “Caleb,” she whispered, shaking her head. “We—we shouldn’t.”

  Knowing he’d been her first lover filled him with such a sense of possessiveness. Though it was his own damned fault he’d lost her, he wanted to wipe away the imprint of any man who’d touched her over the last six years. To have her under him again, show her all the ways that she belonged to him, only him . . .

  Gripping her gently by her upper arms, he leaned in and nuzzled her slender neck, flicking his tongue at the rapid pulse above her breasts. Pleasure spot one. At the sound of her sharp inhale, he nipped gently on her shoulder and tugged her closer. “Rosie.” Her name was a shudder on his lips.

  When he ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth she opened for him, allowing him to plunder her moist depths until she relaxed against him. Her arms slid around his neck as that sweet whimper he hadn’t heard in six years sounded in her throat.

  Victory coursed through him.

  Chapter Eight

  Bending slightly, Caleb slid one arm under Rosemary’s knees and scooped her up. Her room was just down the hall and he strode the short distance quickly, kicking the door shut behind him. Lowering her to the bed, he followed her down, removing her arms from his neck and securing them above her head with one hand as he explored her curves.

  Caleb’s desire skyrocketed. He bent his head and pressed his mouth to hers, an open, urgent kiss, their tongues entwining in rising passion.

  His fingers trembled as he went to work on the buttons of her blouse, managing to free her breasts without ripping the delicate cotton. Her bra fastened in the front and after a second of careful tugging, Caleb filled his palm with silky flesh. He rolled one taut peak between his finger and thumb, just the way she liked it.

  Rosie arched her body and moaned into his mouth.

  Pleasure point two . . .

  “Oh, God, Caleb.” Her voice shook; her pelvis thrust and ground against his more-than-ready erection. “Please . . .”

  He didn’t need any further prompting.

  Crazed with need, he released her long enough to strip off his clothes, as she yanked at her jeans. Clothing flew everywhere in their frenzy to get naked, and then finally—thank God—they were skin on skin.

  Her curves had filled out in all the right places, and he’d never wanted a woman as badly as he wanted Rosemary. Caleb slid down her body to taste one creamy breast. His tongue laved and his teeth nipped at the plump, pink tip. With a gasp she thrust her fingers into his hair, tugging him closer as he moved to her other breast and gave it the same loving attention. He trailed his mouth lower and her flesh quivered as he explored every lovely inch laid out before him. When he flicked his tongue in the hollow of her belly button, she sighed his name.

  Pleasure spot three.

  It might have been six years, but he still knew what Rosie liked in bed, and he was determined to give her exactly what she needed.

  The silky red curls between her thighs enticed him unbearably and he slid two fingers inside her snug heat. She was so wet and ready, and he wanted to play longer, locating all those pleasure spots he’d yet to explore. But if he didn’t get inside her in the next thirty seconds he wouldn’t survive.

  Rosemary must have had the same thought, because she gripped his neck and urged him closer. “Please, Caleb. I need you.”

  As desperately as he wanted to plunge deep, he fought to clear his desire-fogged brain, long enough to remember protection. Six years ago, stu
pidity and horniness got both of them in trouble, though Rosemary bore the consequences. He wouldn’t do that to her again. Not until it’s completely right between us. Not until we’re ready.

  “Condom,” he panted in her ear. “Wait.”

  She nodded as he fumbled through the pocket of his jeans, located his wallet, and dug out a crumpled packet that thankfully had remained sealed and intact. A few seconds later he’d sheathed himself.

  Caleb rose over her as she parted her legs, enticing him to settle against her slick entrance and edge inside a scant inch. Her breath caught on a gasp as he slowly pushed inside her warmth, his gaze locked on her beautiful face, tunneling his fingers through her hair as the words he rasped broke on a groan. “I’ve missed you, Rosie.”

  He paused, lifting her hips to meld their flesh completely, and felt his cock throb wildly at the soft cry she released.

  “Oh, Caleb. I—I’ve missed you, too.” Her legs curved tightly around his waist and she clung to him, her nails pressing into his back. For a second she looked dazed, as if she couldn’t quite believe what they were doing together. Then she gave him a gorgeous smile and wriggled her hips. “Now move.”

  He dropped his face to her shoulder on a shaky chuckle. “Yes, ma’am.”

  ***

  Maybe she hesitated for one tiny moment. Maybe she was making a big mistake. Rosemary wasn’t sure. All she knew was the rightness of Caleb, in her arms, inside her body.

  Six long years of loneliness crumbled into dust as she felt him, big and hard, moving with her in a sensual dance she’d never quite forgotten. So familiar, she had to blink back the tears and press her lips together to keep from sobbing out how much she’d truly missed him.

  There’d never been anyone but him. How could there be? Caleb Johnson had owned her soul from the very beginning and nobody else ever stood a flicker of a chance.

  She curled her hands along his shoulder blades as his thrusts came faster, dug deeper. His fingers would probably leave bruises on her hips, but she didn’t care. Each heated breath he panted into her neck, every broken endearment he huffed in her ear, pushed her need higher, made her skin tighten and prickle. There wasn’t room for anything else. All her frustration over the unbalanced situation between them, any insecurity she felt for her son’s sake . . . it simply evaporated into nothing when Caleb covered her mouth in a scalding kiss that rocked her senseless.