Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 133
“I’m not complaining,” Porsche said after a while. “Far from it. I think you two would be good for each other.”
“Because we’re both bossy?”
Porsche laughed. “You kinda are.”
Crystal turned back to her work, determined to ignore Porsche’s asides. But she couldn’t. Not when Porsche said, “It’s just that I really want him to be happy. And he seems happy around you. He hasn’t been happy for a long time.” Yeah. That twisted her heart into a knot.
“He’s a nice guy,” she murmured. “A decent guy and handsome as the devil. Surely he can have any woman he wants.”
“Right.” At Porsche’s agreement, her belly plunged, though she didn’t know why. It was the truth, after all. “But the thing is…he could have any woman he wants, but he hasn’t had a date since…”
Despite her resolve to remain silent, Crystal had to ask, “Since what?”
“Since Betsy left.”
The pulse ticked behind her left eye. “Who…who’s Betsy?”
“She was his fiancée. It didn’t work out.”
“Um…why didn’t it work out?”
Porsche shot her a sarcastic look. “You have to ask him. It’s none of my beeswax. But my point is, he hasn’t dated. Hasn’t seen any woman…’til you.”
“We’re not dating.”
“That looked like a date by the pond.”
“It was a ride—”
Porsche grinned evilly and held up her hands. “No. No. Don’t give me the details. I don’t want to know what kind of ride it was. Too… TMI.”
Crystal growled. “You know what I mean.”
“Oh, yeah. I think I do.” She leaned closer. “I did notice the blanket on the grass, by the way.”
Heat crawled up her cheeks, but she couldn’t deny it. There had, in fact, been a blanket on the grass.
“But none of that matters. My point is, I wouldn’t mind if you and Ford, you know, got together. Made little McCoy babies.”
Crystal’s womb clenched. “What?”
“I wouldn’t mind a niece or nephew to spoil.”
“I met him yesterday.”
“Sometimes it takes a moment to fall in love.” How annoying that she warbled a line from one of Crystal’s favorite songs. And off-key at that.
Crystal led the gelding to his stall, while Porsche led the mare. They slipped off the tack and hung it on a hook by the wall.
“Do you at least like him?” The wistful note in Porsche’s voice ate at her.
She sighed and nodded. “I do like him.”
“Really?” A squeal of delight. And then, “How much?”
“A lot.” Saying the words, admitting it out loud, somehow made it feel even more real.
“How much lot? Like McCoy-babies-lot?”
“Porsche, stop.”
“I can’t. I’m too excited.”
“You’re getting all wound up over nothing. For one thing”—she ticked the items off on her fingers—“we’ve just met. For another, we don’t know anything about each other. And finally, and most important, I have no idea if he even likes me. You know. Like that.”
“He does.”
Crystal froze with her hand on the stall door. The voice rumbling through the barn was not Porsche’s. It was much lower and infinitely more stirring. It sent a rumble through her soul.
She spun around and stared at Ford, who leaned against the wall behind her, with a wicked grin playing on his lips. Horror curled through her. “How-how long have you been listening?”
He tipped back his Stetson and pretended to think. “McCoy babies?”
“Oh, God.” How mortifying.
Porsche looked from one to the other, her interest far too avid.
Ford frowned at her and nocked his head toward the door. “Skedaddle,” he said. With a chuckle, she did, but not before tossing a smug look over her shoulder.
He settled his gaze on Crystal. It burned. He opened his mouth as though to speak but just swallowed. She fixated on the bob of his Adam’s apple, trying not to drool. Damn, he was gorgeous. And sexy and sweet.
He nudged the plank floor with the toe of his boot, though there was nothing much to nudge. “Did you mean what you said?”
She generally did, but it bore clarification. “Which thing?”
His throat worked again. “About liking me…a lot.”
Heat walked up her neck. “I did. But you shouldn’t have been eavesdropping.”
He grinned; it was a tentative offering. “It’s my nasty habit. Can’t resist it. Especially when I’m hearing questions I really want to know the answers to.”
Her heart skittered. “You…really wanted to know?”
“Yes, ma’am. I did.” He sauntered closer and then pulled her hard against him. She didn’t resist, because it was where she wanted to be. “I really wanted to know because I…I like you a lot too.”
“You do?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her. Too bad it was a brief kiss. “And I was wondering…”
“Wondering what?”
“I know we just met and we hardly know each other, but I was wondering if…you’d…”
It was cute the way he struggled with the words. Cute the way he went red all the way to the tips of his ears.
“If I’d…what?”
“Like to explore this…”
“This?”
“This thing between us?”
Her heart swelled and soared. “I think I would like to explore this thing between us. I would like it very much.”
He seemed to collapse in relief. “Really?”
“Really.”
“We should get to know each other better.”
“Right. And on that note…I have a question for you.” It was something that had been niggling at the back of her brain since Porsche had mentioned it.
“Okay. Shoot.”
“Betsy?”
He flinched and muttered, “She-it.”
“Porsche said you were…engaged?”
“Yeah.” He scrubbed his face.
“What happened?”
“She decided she hated the ranch.”
Crystal gaped at him. “She hated it?” How could anyone hate a ranch? To her it seemed like heaven on earth.
“With a passion. She left for the call of the big city.”
The tinge of pain in his tone buffeted her. She firmed her chin. “That woman wasn’t for you.”
“No. She wasn’t.” He licked his lips and she fixated on the sight, but he wasn’t being seductive, he was easing the way for a difficult question. She could tell, because he winced as he asked, “And you? Any ex-fiancés in your past?”
“One. Very ex.”
“And why didn’t it work out?”
She shrugged and attempted a blasé tone, but she suspected it was less than convincing. “He found someone better.”
Ford’s brow lowered. “Better?”
She gulped. “Yep.”
“Impossible.”
She stared at him, fascinated by the fury in his eyes. “She was…skinnier.”
He yanked her closer with a ferocious growl. “That guy was a dumbass.”
A chuckle erupted. “That’s what Jenn calls him.”
“You’re perfect.”
Heat rose on her cheeks. “Hardly perfect.”
His eyes narrowed. “Perfect.” A whisper. And then, as though he couldn’t resist, a kiss. It was long and lingering, though not nearly long enough. When he lifted his head and stared at her, her pulse thrummed. “Any other questions for me?” he asked, surreptitiously edging her back toward the room at the end of the long stable.
Or maybe not so surreptitiously.
“Just one.” Crystal peeped up at him through her lashes, taking in his rangy strength, his hard jawline and his gruff intensity. She shuddered. When she spoke, her words came out in a sultry whisper. “Exactly how, ahem, dominating can you be?”
His response was fierce and fast and
definitive.
They didn’t get to the rest of her questions, or his, for a while.
But then, questions were overrated.
Epilogue
‡
PORSCHE MCCOY STARED up at the ranch house that had been her home growing up. She hated to admit it, but she missed it. Living in Dallas was a blast, but there was just something about home.
Oh, sure, she missed her brother, but there was something more than that. She missed who she had been when she’d lived here. Life had been so simple then. It was a little crazy that she was jealous of Crystal, who for the past six months had been shacking up with Ford. She got to live here.
Porsche could live here too if she wanted. She could telecommute like Crystal. She didn’t have to live in the city. But somehow, things had changed, shifted. And she had the sense this place was no longer hers. She had the sense it was her purpose, her mission, her goal, to find her own place.
Still, it was nice coming home.
She grabbed her bag and got out of the car, heading up the broad porch steps. She lifted her hand at the door, unsure of whether or not to knock. And how surreal was that?
Ford relieved her of the conundrum by flinging open the door and yanking her inside. He folded her into a huge hug, the big warm one he was so good at. Yeah. Coming home was awesome.
“Porsche,” he murmured. “It is so great to see you.”
She pulled back and affected a frown, although she didn’t want to frown. She wanted to grin. “It hasn’t been that long.” She smoothed down her hair.
“It’s been way too long. Come on in.” He led the way into the kitchen, where they’d always sat and chatted, sometimes late into the night. She loved this room. The feel of it, the memories, the smells.
Someone was baking bread.
Her mouth watered.
“Where’s Crystal?” she asked, helping herself to a cup of coffee and a cookie.
“Ah… She’s in the bathroom.”
Porsche quirked a brow. Okay. TMI.
“She…hasn’t been feeling good lately.” Ford’s brow lowered. Something that looked like worry flickered over his features.
“Probably just the flu. It’s going around,” Porsche said in an effort to appease him. It didn’t work.
He scrubbed his face. “Yeah.” He glanced up as Crystal entered the room and Porsche gaped at him. The way his face changed. The way his eyes lit up. It hit her and hit her hard.
Ford had found it. That ephemeral something. The thing Porsche had been searching for as well.
Ford had found his other.
She tried not to be annoyed.
He deserved to be happy. And so did Crystal.
She looked away as the two hugged. It was far too painful.
“How are you feeling, baby?” Ford purred. Big, bad Ford. Purred.
Crystal cleared her throat. “Better.” She shot a look at Porsche. “I, um, have something to tell you.”
Ford dropped his arm around Crystal’s shoulder. “We have something to tell you.”
Porsche nearly flinched. Nearly. She had a pretty good idea of what her brother was going to say. A glance at Crystal’s left hand confirmed it.
“You’re engaged.”
He gaped at her, then grinned. “Yeah. I… How did you know?”
She waggled a brow. “Guess I’m just psychic.”
“Yes…” Crystal’s smile was pained. It captured Porsche’s attention. “We are engaged, but honey…” She patted Ford on the chest. He set his hand over hers and gazed into her eyes.
“Yeah?”
“I meant, I have something to tell you.”
Ford blinked. “Me?”
“Yeah. You know how I’ve been feeling sick?”
His expression darkened. “Yeah?”
“Well, it’s not the flu.”
Something tightened in Porsche’s gut. She knew. Somehow she just knew.
Maybe she was psychic.
“Honey, what is it?”
Crystal held up a stick. Porsche didn’t need to see it to know what it was.
Ford went a little green. “I… You… We?”
Crystal’s smile was wide. “Yes, Ford.”
With a whoop, he picked her up and swung her around and then kissed her again and again.
Porsche sighed and trudged out to the porch to sit on the swing. They needed some time together. And she needed some time alone. She’d congratulate them later. For now, she just needed to stew.
While she was happy for them—or would be once she worked through her depression—she ached. She wanted what they had. She wanted love. She wanted forever. She wanted…McCoy babies.
It just wasn’t fair.
She pushed the swing into motion and gazed out at the ranch. That her attention flitted in the direction of the Double Stud was no coincidence.
Crystal had found love there.
Maybe Porsche could too.
Maybe it was time to make another visit to the stud ranch that had started it all.
And Ford?
Well, Ford didn’t need to know…
The End
About Sabrina York
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy to scorching erotic romance. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Download Sabrina’s Free Teaser Book to read excerpts and blurbs and sign up for Sabrina’s newsletter and enter the ongoing tiara contest.
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Books by Sabrina York
Wired Series—Steamy Contemporary Romance
Adam’s Obsession (Ellora’s Cave) Book 1
Tristan’s Temptation (Ellora’s Cave) Book 2
Making Over Maris (Ellora’s Cave/FemDom) Book 2
Noble Passions Series—Steamy Regency Romance
Folly (Ellora’s Cave) Book 1
Dark Fancy (Ellora’s Cave) Book 2
Dark Duke (Ellora’s Cave) Book 3
Brigand (Ellora’s Cave) Book 4
Defiant (Ellora’s Cave) Book 5
Tryst Island Series—Steamy Contemporary Romance
Rebound Book 1
Dragonfly Kisses Book 2
Smoking Holt Book 3
Heart of Ash Book 4
Devlin’s Dare Book 5
Parker’s Passion Book 6
Anthologies & Collections
Five Alarm Fire (Erotic Contemporary for the High Octane Heroes Anthology, Cleis Press)
A Cowboy for Delilah (Erotic Contemporary for the Cowboy Heat Anthology, Cleis Press)
Saving Charlotte (Erotic Contemporary for the Smokin’ Hot Firemen Anthology, Cleis Press)
Stone Hard Seal (Hot Alpha Seals: Military Romance Megaset)
The Real McCoy—in the Cowboy 12 Pack Collection
Whipped—in the WTRAFSOG Collection #8
Short Stories/Novellas
Extreme Couponing (Erotic Contemporary/BDSM, Ellora’s Cave)
Fierce (Erotic Contemporary, One Night Stand, Decadent Press)
Pushing Her Buttons (Erotic Contemporary/BDSM, Ellora’s Cave)
Man Hungry (Erotic Contemporary, Ellora’s Cave)
Rising Green (Erotic Horror, Ellora’s Cave)
Training Tess (Erotic Contemporary/BDSM, Ellora’s Cave)
Trickery (Erotic Contemporary with Magical Elements, Ellora’s Cave Hex Line)
Fantasy
Lust Eternal (Erotic Fantasy, Ellora’s Cave)
Stand Alone Contemporary Romance
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Heartbreak on a Stick
Badass
Hell Yeah!
Sable Hunter
‡
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 Sable Hunter
All rights reserved.
www.sablehunter.com
Six brothers. One Dynasty—
TEBOW RANCH.
Meet the McCoy brothers—Texas men who love as hard as they play.
Texas Cowboys – nothing hotter.
HELL YEAH!
Note from the Author
This is the fifth book in the McCoy group. As my readers well know, the events in all the Hell Yeah! take place in a relatively short amount of time. Therefore there are overlapping events at the beginning of each book. I write the books to either be read in order or as standalone books. Please be aware that there are scenes, which if you have read the others – to you will be flashback scenes. This is to tie the loose ends together and allow someone who picks up just one book to have some idea of the events that bring the family to this particular point in time. There is a full story here – well over 80000 words and new details have been woven in that only Isaac or Avery will know.
Happy reading – Sable.
Prologue
‡
“I CAN DO this.” Avery coached herself as she stood at the door of Hardbodies. “It’s a simple plan. I’ll just walk in, sit down and tell him how I feel.”
Before she could open the door, it swung open, hard, almost knocking her down.
“Damn, I gotta take a piss!” An inebriated cowboy came staggering out, swaying with every step. If a bleached blonde with way too much make-up hadn’t been holding him up, he would have fallen right at Avery’s feet. “Hey, why don’t you get out of the way, Miss Priss? What are you doing here? You look like you belong in a nunnery!”