by Em Petrova
Back in the days when her husband had been alive and the kids all too young, she’d kept the liquor in a cabinet above the fridge. Now it was right down next to the cereal. Apparently Mrs. Calhoun had a lot of use for the brandy with this group.
Or just her wayward daughter.
Hell, Mav needed a nip too.
Buck stomped inside, along with Buck Jr., the tap of boots that most definitely belonged to Wynonna pulling up the rear. Mav dropped into a seat and flipped open his binder.
“Junior, why don’t you take the pup out to the barn to see the other dogs?” Buck said gently to his son. The boy spun and ran back out the screen door, letting it bang shut.
“You may want to leave the pup here with the older dogs overnight,” Mav said. “It cries all night.”
Buck fixed his sister in a hard glare. “I don’t have time for dog training, and neither does Channing. She’s got her children’s clothes line for that department store out in a few months, and you know how busy I’ll be once rodeo starts again.” He poked a big brother finger into Wynonna’s face, and she snapped her teeth to bite it. He jerked his hand back before he met the sharp end of Wynonna.
Fuck, Mav couldn’t stop staring at those white teeth and thinking he wouldn’t mind a bite or two from her. Or tasting her. Spreading her on his bed and nipping each inch of her body from throat to toe.
It was a good thing he was sitting, because he was growing hard. His cock stretched at the thought of all that sensuous, delicious skin separating him from heaven.
She plopped into the same chair she’d sat in at the age of eight, interrogating him about his work history and battle scars. Her father hadn’t asked her to leave the room while they discussed the ranch job, and Mav had always wondered if Mr. Calhoun had let her sit here and root out weaknesses in Mav’s character. Even as a kid, she’d been a strong personality with a nose for bullshit.
“Let’s get down to business. I’ll deal with you later,” Buck said to Wynonna. She ignored him and examined her fingernails, which despite all the hard work she did, were painted the bright color of a tangerine.
What Mav wouldn’t give to have those nails set in his back as he drove into her body. Listened to her scream as he gave her what a woman like her needed.
“Mav? Start us off.”
It took him a second to fix the letters on the pages into words. As he related the costs of running the ranch and the growing numbers in the herd, Mrs. Calhoun got up to make a pot of coffee. She put a fresh plate of chocolate chip cookies in the center of the table, and Mav thumbed his hat in thanks.
She smiled and moved back to the cupboard to fetch some mugs.
“Cowboy, can I get one of those cookies?” Wynonna asked in her syrupy sweet tone.
Memories swam through his head of the little girl who’d called him Cowboy for the first three years he’d been here. As if he wasn’t worthy of a name, and she wasn’t going to respect him enough to use it. Keeping him in his place.
He bit off a growl and looked up to find her gaze hot. Damn, she was pissed. That wasn’t sugar in her tone—it was arsenic.
Mav picked one up and threw it at her. It skidded across the table surface, leaving a few crumbs as it landed by her elbow.
The whole room went still and stared between them.
Wynonna picked up the cookie and bit it off with a sassy wink that made him want to toss her over his shoulder and show her how a woman got paddled.
Momma interrupted the moment by setting a mug of steaming hot coffee in front of him. He caught a twinkle in the woman’s eyes. “Thank you, ma’am. You don’t need to wait on me.”
“I’m just showing you the respect you deserve, Mav. We’re all glad to have you running this ranch.”
Wynonna shoved away from the table and stormed out in a fiery blaze of red hair.
“Now we can concentrate,” Buck said.
After that, they got down to business and settled some questions for Mav about the ranch. But his mind—and hormones—were far from peaceful.
When he got outside, it was dark and raining. He went straight to the barn and came up short when he spotted a figure sitting with back against the barn wall. She was sheltered by the eave, and most of the rain missed her, but her drawn-up knees were wet. In her lap was the puppy.
“Where’s Buck Jr.?” he asked.
She didn’t look up from petting the sleeping dog’s ears. “I took him home.”
“Without the pup?” Wetness was streaming over Mav’s hat and onto his shoulders, but he didn’t move closer to get out of the rain.
“Yeah, I told him his dad’s right—he should leave the dog in the barn with the others tonight.”
Mav made a noise that made her look up. “Bet that broke his heart.”
“He wasn’t happy, which was why I took him home.”
“Maybe in time he’ll be allowed to keep him. I can work with him, try to train him a bit.”
In the darkness, it was harder to make out her features, but he couldn’t look away from her face. A strikingly beautiful face he wanted to tip up to receive his kisses. He was so out of his element here, he didn’t know which end was up. He’d watched her grow up. He’d stolen a few kisses. He was too old for her and too broken.
Yet his heart wouldn’t let him forget how perfect she was for him.
“Wyn, I’m sorry for the kiss.”
She shot to her feet and, carrying the pup, went into the barn. Mav followed. Inside, it was too damn cozy, too warm and close. Dark with the rain pattering the roof and the animals shifting pleasantly in their stalls, and Wynonna so near that he ached.
“I’m engaged, remember.”
His stomach hollowed out. “Yeah, I remember. Do you?”
She set the puppy in the box and faced him. “I won’t call you Cowboy again if you don’t kiss me again.”
“Deal.” He was dying inside at the thought of never tasting those plump lips.
She gave a hard nod and then left the barn. Mav stared after her for a minute. Damn, for a few precious moments he’d thought he could have a slice of the good life with an amazing woman at his side. Stupid mistake.
He walked to the dog box and crouched before the puppy. It thumped its tail once, and Mav scooped it up and took it to bed with him.
* * * * *
Mav’s boots scuffed the floor, raising all the hairs on Wynonna’s body. She watched him approach, his hands fisted loosely at his sides and his gaze dark and heavy on her. A soft sound broke from her.
He grabbed her by the upper arms and spun her to the wall. Rough wood met her spine and he dipped his head to claim her mouth. She opened on a gasp and he plunged his tongue deep even as he nudged her legs apart and inserted his thigh between them. A thick rope of muscle that made her instantly wet and aching for him.
He held her steady, fingers digging into her hips as he ground his thigh up and into her pussy. She rocked down on him, and he groaned into her mouth. Dark passion enveloped them, and the rain droned on, split only by the occasional crack of thunder that she wasn’t so sure didn’t come from her heart.
She jerked upright in bed and grabbed for her phone. It fell off her nightstand and hit the floor, no longer ringing. She dived over the side of her bed and grabbed the phone. Lucky her arms were long. She stared at the screen. It was Austin, and somehow her fiancé had become Mav in her dream.
The purple light of early dawn streamed into her room. Too early. She’d call Austin back later. She burrowed under her covers, thinking too much and hiding from the rain outside. Bad weather ahead. Working all day in the wet and mud was better left to her brothers, but she wouldn’t be a beauty queen. She’d get up and work, right after she figured out what the hell that dream had really meant.
It had to be a representation of some frustration in her life. No way was it literal. She didn’t want Mav to touch her that way, to do those things to her.
Her engagement ring rested on the nightstand next to the clock, and she
put it on. It felt odd on her finger, but then she never wore rings. Well, it was time to start. Even if she was shoveling shit, she was going to wear Austin’s ring.
She also needed to keep busy. Even if she wasn’t busting her ass on the ranch, she had things to occupy her mind, like plan her wedding.
Filled with new energy, she dialed Austin and put him on speakerphone while she ran around the room throwing clothes on.
“Morning, angel.” He didn’t have a drawl, and that always shocked her. She was so used to men with enough prolonged vowels to pave a road to California. Even Mav had picked it up after his years in Oklahoma.
“Hey, you. It’s so good to hear your voice.”
“I’ve been so busy. Late-night political parties and early mornings writing and filming. You know how it is. You’re a superstar.”
She stared into the mirror and bundled her hair into a ponytail. Her long bangs were frizzy from the weather, but her hat would cover them. “I’m hardly a superstar. I’m a reality TV star and I’m not sure I even want to be that anymore.”
The words flew from her mouth. Before now, she’d never formulated the complete thought, but somehow her mouth had shot it out.
Austin was silent for a long beat. “You’ve got to be kidding me, angel. You’re so good at it, and the money’s pure gold.”
She hadn’t told him what she made on the show—it wasn’t his business until he signed the prenup. Which she hadn’t brought up to him yet either. But there’d be no trouble—she was sure he would sign. He loved her for her, not her money or a portion of the family ranch.
“I’ve been thinking about it, Austin. I can’t have cameras following me around for the rest of my life, watching me sort socks.”
“Well, who’s sorting socks? You’ll have a maid.”
She stared at her phone as if it was an alien sitting on her rumpled bed. “Why would I waste money on a maid? I’ll take care of the house and the kids, just like Momma did.”
“Wait a minute. Kids? You never said you want kids.”
She felt the tips of her ears getting hot. “We haven’t discussed a lot, Austin, but we will. You don’t want kids?” she ventured.
“Of course not. I don’t have time, and you don’t either. Think of all that travel. I know your brothers do it with their wives and kids, but do you really want to haul a baby to the rodeo?”
That was another thing—she was bored with rodeoing. She loved her sport, but she’d hit the top. She held the title. What else was there to reach for? She might get some top scores in the years to come, more prizes and recognition. But eventually she’d be older and slower and the younger girls would come in and take her place of fame.
Better to bow out while she was on top, the way Lane had. She absently smeared some sunscreen over her face to protect her pale skin. It was raining and dreary, and unlikely she’d see a ray of sun today, but it was habit.
“Wynonna!” The bellow from downstairs made her snatch up her phone.
“Look, Austin, I’ve got someone calling for me. I think I have an interview or something. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Sure thing.”
“Love you.” The words sounded odd coming from her lips. She’d only said it once when she’d said goodbye to Austin before he’d hopped that flight.
“Talk to you soon, angel.”
She stared at the phone for a long heartbeat. What the…? He hadn’t even said he loved her too. Feeling itchy to get outside, she searched for her comfy hoodie that would get her through her chores. Of course, it wasn’t in her closet or laundry basket.
In only a T-shirt and jeans, she ran downstairs to find the kitchen packed with family, the scent of fried sausage wafting up to greet her. She leaned over between Ridge and Kashley and snagged a sausage patty. She took a big bite and chewed.
“Sit down, Wynonna. Did I hear you talking upstairs?” her momma asked.
“Uh-huh. To Austin.” She smiled, but from the corner of her eye caught Mav plowing into his scrambled eggs as if he was digging trenches, his fork scraping the plate with a harsh grating noise.
“Oh?” Momma asked, tossing Mav a look. “How’s Austin doing?”
“Busy. We knew he’d be busy the next few weeks, but that doesn’t stop me from planning a wedding.”
At the word, several blonde heads popped up. Channing, Joy and Kashley smiled eagerly at her. “We can help you plan,” Malou, the only dark-haired female in the room, said.
“Good, because I need loads of help. By my count, we’ll have about six hundred guests.”
Forks clattered to plates. “Six hundred? Do you even know that many people?” West asked.
Mav grunted, and she’d bet her diamond ring that he wasn’t making that noise because he enjoyed his eggs.
“Austin has a huge extended family back in Boston, and I have so many people that I’ve met over the years I’d like to invite. I mean, look right here. I have about, what? A hundred guests between Calhouns and film crew?” She smiled and snagged another sausage. “Anybody seen my blue hoodie?”
“Think it’s in the barn.” Mav’s rough tone rumbled along her senses, reminding her too much of that fucked-up dream. He raised his head and met her stare. Heat burned her cheeks, and she twisted away, heart pounding.
“I’m heading to the general store. I’m going to buy every wedding magazine they have in stock, and then I’ll do my chores.” With that, she unearthed her boots from the mudroom and went outside into the pouring rain.
Chapter Four
Mav’s back muscles were screaming, and his biceps ached, but he never slowed his pace. He’d nailed all the boards onto the new enclosure and then spent the rest of the day yanking cattle out of the thick mud. The land naturally dipped in one spot, and it was a well-traveled one, since the best grazing was on the other side.
But with the downpour, the mud grew thick and the animals were getting mired. He and Buck had ridden out after lunch and found half a dozen heifers struggling to move. And a calf.
He’d jumped off his horse and waded in. The calf had been sunk up to the shoulder joints, and it’d taken some muscle to get it out. With a hard wrench and a sucking sound of its legs in the mud, he’d freed the baby and looped its front and back legs around his shoulders.
Momma cow had taken offense at him touching her baby, and he’d barely escaped a stampede. His hips joints still throbbed from that feat, freeing his boots from the mud even though they felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each while a pissed-off cow bore down on him. Somehow, he’d run.
Throughout the day, he and Buck had taken turns slapping the cattle in the rumps to get them over the patch of mud, and when that didn’t work, they pushed. Buck was dripping, his face creased with exhaustion, and Mav knew he didn’t look much better.
He was soaked to the skin and rimed in mud. He wanted a big meal, a hot shower and a soft woman in his bed. In that order.
Though if Wynonna walked out right now, he might change his mind. Hell, he’d throw her into the mud and kiss those tormenting lips until she forgot all about that asshole she was engaged to. She always liked getting dirty. He’d seen her participate in the tractor pulls, her sleek body slicked with mud.
He blinked, staring at the hard rump of the heifer, sizing up the best place to push to move it. He squatted and shoved his shoulder into the animal.
It issued an angry moo and didn’t budge.
“Buck, I could use a hand. Or shoulder.”
Buck shook his head. “Damn, I’m spent. Where the hell are my brothers? I’ve called each one of them at least twice to come up and help.”
“West and Ryder were headin’ to Lane’s place to help him out.”
“Shit. I forgot. Well, where’s Ridge? Or Wynonna for that matter? She can handle this.”
“I reckon she’s tucked up nice and dry with her weddin’ magazines, planning her colors.”
Buck groaned. “I’m not the only one who calls bullshit on this farc
e of an engagement. I can see you’re riled every time she brings it up.”
Mav shot him a look before tugging his hat lower over his brow. Buck was too observant, and Mav didn’t want him guessing Mav was pretty damn taken with his sister.
Hell, who was he kidding? Infatuated was more like it.
His phone started buzzing, and he growled in irritation.
“You need to get that? It’s the fourth time it’s rang in an hour.”
“It’s my brother,” he bit off as he threw himself at the cow.
“Didn’t know you still kept in contact.” Buck shook himself all over and came to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mav.
“I don’t. But he thinks I ought to drop what I’m doing with my life and come take over his.”
“In Oregon?”
“Yep.” Mav eyed the solid beef in front of him, seeing only roasts and thick, juicy steaks. If this cow didn’t move soon, she was going to become his dinner.
“That’s a long distance to travel. Couldn’t do a weekend trip.”
“No, and Chase wants me there for more than a weekend.”
Buck eyed him. “We can’t really do without you around here. I’m out of town end of the week.”
“I know. My ma’s got cancer.”
“Damn, I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. She’s doing well, on the end of her treatments, and she’s demanding. And stubborn. She won’t let anybody in to help her.”
“I know someone like that.” The female voice made him and Buck jerk around. Wynonna stood there in knee-high muck boots and a rain slicker. Water streamed over her cowgirl hat and dripped off the brim. The red braid on her shoulder was already dark with wetness.
“Stand aside, ladies, and let me get this job done.” She waved her arms at Buck and Mav.
“Ladies? You must feel like getting tossed into the mud today, little sis. First you’ve got my son riled over your puppy and now you’re insulting us?”
Her blue eyes burned out at her brother. “Your boy deserves a puppy, and you know it. Don’t know why you’re being so squeamish about a few tooth marks in Addy May’s shoe or a puddle of pee on that kitchen tile.”
