by Vivian Arend
4
Daniel took his time making his way home, stopping by the swimming hole to stare into the swirling water. His thinking place—the spot he’d retreated to when the noise and bustle of being a part of huge family grew too much.
He’d needed to find quiet. The middle child of six, his daddy would joke, which meant he’d always had one or another of his brothers around. He’d learned to be the peacemaker, to walk the most serene path possible. At least in the public eye.
A ripple spread from the rock he tossed, small waves carrying across the slow-moving section of creek. Beth was a widow—he hadn’t expected that. Something in her actions in the bar had struck him hard, and he wanted so badly to explore the way she had let him take control of her in that hallway before the time and place had ripped them back to reality. She hadn’t acted like a grieving widow. She’d said as much, but she must have been with the man for a number of years. Lance had to be at least eight.
Heck, the boys were another whole issue. Daniel loved kids, but they weren’t what he was focusing on right now. It was the woman who fascinated him. Although, if he did get involved with Beth, she’d probably have all kinds of rules about not seeing the kids and keeping things secretive. He had a buddy in town who was dating a single mom, and he’d shared stories that reminded Daniel of having to crawl in the windows at two a.m. to avoid the wrath of his daddy for missing curfew.
He stood and dragged his fingers through his hair. Ahh, shit. The vision of Beth’s eyes haunted him. Why in the hell couldn’t he just walk away? Did he want to have to hide and balance dating and dealing with kids? The ache in his belly screamed far louder than the warning in his brain.
It wasn’t about being totally in lust, although getting to continue the adventure they’d interrupted so long ago excited him a lot. No, it was something else altogether. Something drew him and damn if he could deny the need.
Baggage and all, he was determined to see where this thing between them could go.
He strode through trees, twilight enough to guide his path. Before he even hit the porch, he smelled his daddy’s pipe, the aromatic tobacco lingering on the air. Daniel took the steps two at a time, dropping himself into one of the comfortable chairs on the deck.
“Beth and the boys get home okay?” Mike puffed his pipe then blew a long slow stream of smoke into the air.
Daniel shook his head. “You adopting more strays? They got home fine.”
His father rocked his chair a few times, the rhythm of the porch boards creaking soft and low. “She was surprised to see you today. You want to share what that’s about?”
Daniel coughed. Last thing he wanted was to tell the truth. “No.” His father raised a brow. “Sir.”
Mike didn’t say a word, just lifted his pipe to his lips. He smoked in silence, and Daniel tapped his fingers against his leg.
Damn it. His father did it to him every blessed time.
“I met her in Calgary when we took in a shipment of furniture in July. I hoped to see her again, but we…lost touch.”
Silence reigned. The fall noises were subtler than the spring. The crickets fell silent earlier as the temperature dropped quicker in the evening. The soft sounds of the animals in the coop and the barns carried on the air occasionally, but it was a calm night. Peace filled his soul, the motions of his father rocking, even and slow, like a familiar balm. In the distance, the sound of the guest cabin door closing rang out.
“That’ll be Blake saying good night to Jaxi. He’ll be here soon.” Mike pointed the mouthpiece of his pipe at Daniel. “I don’t know it all, but that lady in the Peter’s house needs some caring for.” Daniel moved to speak but his father held up a hand. “If you’re interested in her, you treat her nice. Understand, son?”
“I always treat ladies nice.”
The firm command in his father’s eyes made him hesitate. It was outrageous how he could be in his midtwenties and still reduced to a schoolchild by the man.
Blake wandered around the corner, his expression so dreamy Daniel couldn’t hold in his chuckle. His father joined in and Blake grinned sheepishly.
“I look like a love-struck fool, don’t I?”
The three of them laughed together, sitting on the porch in the full dark, and Daniel relaxed into the peace offered by his family. Finding Beth had turned all his previous plans to dust. Which was just fine—tomorrow was another day.
He could hardly wait.
Beth wandered the house after the boys finally settled. She wished it was as easy for her to put aside the excitement of the day and fade into sleep. The water boiled, and she made a cup of tea and carried it onto the porch to sip while she stared into the dark September sky.
Tell the truth, Beth. She sighed into her cup. Yeah, what she really wished for was someone to tuck her into bed.
And not just any someone—Daniel.
There was a part inside her that was scared to death of getting involved with a man again, but as her sister and parents had pointed out, not all men were like Samuel. Not everyone had the desire to control every facet of her life until she couldn’t breathe.
But her late husband hadn’t started that way either.
The next days passed in the usual blur of activity, getting the boys to the bus on time and rushing to her own teaching position. Arranging play dates and settling further into the community. She saw the Coleman boys around town occasionally, once Travis and once Blake, and both times her mind shot back to Daniel. No matter how full she made her to-do list, the damn man preoccupied her mind. After asking a few casual questions of her co-workers and other people she’d gotten to know, Daniel had come through with a squeaky-clean report.
Would getting involved with him really be so terrible?
By Friday, after a week’s worth of crappy sleep where she tossed and turned all night, she’d come to a conclusion. She could wear out the battery-operated boyfriend she’d finally had the courage to purchase, or she could find another way to deal with the lust driving her. She didn’t need a man in her life full time, but she sure could use one part time.
He’d offered. He was attracted to her. Maybe he’d even be willing to show her something other than sex in the missionary position.
As long as she was the one who got to call the shots, this could work out well for them both.
The house was quiet, the boys all off at a birthday party. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, tucking her T-shirt in a little more, buttoning and unbuttoning her sweater. It was one thing to decide she was ready for some casual sex, another to inform Daniel of his role in that decision. Beth plopped down on her bed and sighed, her reflection taunting her. Yeah, the sleepless nights really added to her appeal as a sex symbol, dark shadows under her eyes. It took a rush of sheer willpower to force herself out the door and across the small bridge before she could change her mind, again. She’d never know if she didn’t take the chance.
The barns and outbuildings on the other side of the trees were brightly lit, and she hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she’d even find him at home on a Friday night, but there was no way she was going to phone. If nothing else, she’d walk to the main ranch house, say hello to Marion and Mike then retreat to the Peter’s house to wait until it was time to pick up the kids.
She found him in the barn. Her throat and mouth flashed dry as she watched him rake something straw-like from a stall. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, and his biceps rocked with every pull of his arms. Tight muscles showed under the jeans, under his shirt—damn, he was just so good looking from boots all the way up to his slightly mussed hair. A throb hit between her legs and she bit her lip. There was nothing wrong with her physical response.
She took a deep breath. “Hey.”
The delight in his eyes stirred more fluttering in her belly. “Beth. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She glanced around. None of the rest of the Colemans seemed to be near. “You got a minute? My boys are at a birthday party and I�
��” Holy cow, this was harder than she thought it would be. She forced her head up and met his gaze. “We need to talk.”
Daniel grinned, a panty-twisting expression that made her knees weak. He propped his rake against the wooden wall and tilted his head toward the door. “Come, we can talk while we walk.”
“No.” Her fingers were tangled together, and she dragged them apart, not sure where to put her hands. She felt about twelve years old with a first crush. “We’re private here—that would be better.”
He gestured to a bale. “Have a seat.”
She’d practiced this so it didn’t sound too desperate or sluttish. She hoped. “I was thinking about what you said the other day—”
“About us seeing each other?”
He sat beside her, their thighs touching as he faced the opposite direction. The scent of his skin rolled over her, the earthy fragrance of a man who’d done physical labour—raw and powerful. She barely stopped herself from leaning into him and offering her lips.
Instead, she nodded.
Daniel chuckled. “You’re getting all tongue-tied again, Miss Beth.”
“I’m interested in you, but I’m not looking for a long-term relationship.” The words burst out exactly how she’d rehearsed them. She twisted to face him, determined to finish. “I think we should just have some fun together.”
There. She’d said it. Maintaining eye contact was impossible, and she stared down at her fingers twisted together in her lap. He covered her hands with his, pulling one free.
“Now why did I think you were going to go and say something like that?”
He did? “I mean, you’re very attractive, but I don’t think I should get involved with anyone. It’s too soon and I don’t want—”
“The boys, right?”
Exactly. She relaxed a little. “I don’t think it’s fair for them to see me with another man.” Oh Lord, he was kissing her knuckles, his tongue teasing the seam between her fingers. The pulse between her legs quickened, and she had to force herself to stay motionless.
“Hmm. Makes sense, I guess.” He opened her palm and kissed it. “So, you’re interested in me sexually, but we can’t see each other in public. Is that what you’re saying?”
A shiver raced up her arm as he licked her wrist then gently sucked her skin.
“Yes. No. I mean…” How was she supposed to think with him touching her? When he leaned closer and nibbled on her earlobe? “Daniel, please.”
“I aim to.” He smoothed a hand over her shoulder, tangling his fingers in her hair. He pulled her head back so they could see into each other’s eyes. “You want to spend time with me.”
“Yes.”
“But the boys can’t know?”
She swallowed, watching his lips move closer. “Right.”
“Hmm.” He kissed her, lips faintly brushing back and forth as he directed the speed, the pressure. She slipped out her tongue to touch his bottom lip, and he captured her, sucking her tongue into his mouth. The kiss deepened, and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing as close as she could while seated side by side. The desire and need that had haunted her since the start of summer built to a high boil, and she gasped for air when he broke contact.
He traced a path over her body with his gaze. “How are we supposed to see each other without the little tykes catching on? And if they did find out, wouldn’t that cause more trouble?”
No. No more thinking about it. She didn’t want to analyse this anymore. She’d already had five restless nights trying to figure out how to satisfy her craving for him. “They won’t know. We’ll keep it quiet.”
He reached for her chin. “So what you’re saying, and pardon my crudeness, is you want a fuck buddy.”
She cringed. The phrase had skipped through her brain earlier, but it sounded far worse when said out loud.
Daniel stroked his thumb over her cheek. “You’re not looking for a friend with benefits because I ain’t allowed to be your friend.”
“It’s not that, it’s just—”
“Don’t know if I can do that.” She squeaked as he picked her up and placed her on his lap. “If all you’re looking for is some sex, I’m not interested. There’s a part of me that says, hell yeah, and I could be fucking you up against the wall in two minutes flat.”
Oh God, the images racing through her mind.
“But if you remember our conversation in the back hall of the bar, I don’t think you’re that type of woman. I’m not that kind of man. Honesty is one of the things that makes us who we are, and I’m going to be honest with you, darling.”
Beth held her breath as he cupped her face then stroked his other hand down her body intimately. He opened her legs and settled his fingers over her crotch. Could he feel how hot she was through her jeans?
“I find you very attractive, and I don’t just mean your body. I don’t know what troubles you’ve had in your past, but I hope we’ll get to talk them through at some point. So here’s what I suggest—you tell me if you agree. You and I do both. We fool around like you want, as long as you let us try to learn to be friends, like I want.”
It sounded so reasonable. Then he pressed a finger to the seam of her jeans and rubbed, and all logical thought fled. The slight friction against her clit was enough to cause an instantaneous reaction. She trembled in his arms. “I can’t…”
He hummed, caressing the tender skin behind her ear, tracing patterns down her neck with his tongue. “I think you can do a lot of things, Miss Beth, if you put your mind to it.”
The constant motion of his hand was driving her wild. “Please…”
Kisses descended again, and for the first time in a long time Beth let go. All her tension and fear she let fall away and simply accepted the rising passion. He was a thorough kisser, tasting her lips, her cheeks, brushing his fingers through her short hair and tugging her closer so their bodies melted together.
His hand moved relentlessly, and Beth widened her legs, rocking into his touch harder, needing a little nudge to push her over the edge. He slid his other hand under her sweater and cupped her breast through her T-shirt and bra, pinching her nipple. She teetered off the cliff, her sex pulsing with her orgasm as she moaned into his mouth. The physical bliss was so much richer than when she brought herself to a climax, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations rocking her body.
It had been a very long time since a man had touched her like that.
When he finally separated them, her whole body buzzed. His grey eyes were dark, his pupils huge as he stared. Stared at her lips, her hair, her body. “You’re beautiful when you come.”
Beth glanced around the barn then laughed. “What am I doing?”
Daniel lifted her chin, and those fathomless eyes mesmerized her again. “You’re dealing with the passion you’ve locked inside, for whatever reason.” He didn’t let her look away. “You on the Pill?”
Oh dear, this part of the conversation. She’d thought this through as well, but it was still tough to say. “I’m protected, but I want to use condoms.”
Daniel shook his head. “We’ll use them until we get a clean bill of health to show each other. If this is supposed to be fun for us both, condoms won’t cut it for the long run. There are too many things I want to do with you. Plus, I want you to know I’m clean and not going to hurt you in any way.”
Beth opened her mouth to protest then closed it. It made sense, even if the thought of anyone finding out he’d had blood work done scared her. She didn’t want the whole town talking, but if they kept it quiet, she could make that change to her plans. “I’ll get a test done when I go to Calgary at Thanksgiving. I have to see my doctor then anyway about my leg.”
He touched the brace lightly. “Anything I need to be warned about? Any positions we need to be careful with while we’re playing?”
“As if I would know,” she answered without thinking.
“Beth?”
She flushed hard at his expression—the half-savage
lust-driven animal, half-confused human thinker. He kissed her temple then lowered her back to the bale before rising and pacing a few steps.
“I need a few more details before we continue this adventure. You haven’t had sex since your accident? Is that what you’re saying?”
She hesitated. Take control, Beth. Tell him what you want. Stay in charge. “I haven’t had sex, but I also…” The words stuck in her throat.
“You have three sons. I didn’t imagine you were a blushing virgin.”
What was it he had said? Be honest?
She lifted her chin and spoke as boldly as she could. “I’ve had sex on my back for ten years with one man. I want to do something different. I want to…” The conversation got harder and harder to continue. “I want to try it all.”
He stopped in mid-pace, rotating slowly to face her. “What if your ‘try it all’ and mine veer apart?”
Oh dear.
Daniel continued, his voice gone husky and deep. “How about you make a list. Sound alright?”
She nodded, unable to force out any more words. Had she actually agreed to make a wish list of sexual positions and experiences?
Daniel held out his hand. “Come, I’ll walk you home.”
She glanced at her watch and swore. “I need to pick up the boys soon.”
“I’m just walking you home, not ravishing you.” He kissed her knuckles. “Not yet.”
Beth swallowed hard. Holy cow. What had she done?
5
Gabe Coleman stared his cousin down. Daniel tore his gaze from the chessboard for long enough to flash him the finger.
“Ha, getting pissy won’t help you. Either you have the moves to make or you don’t,” Gabe taunted. One mistake later, Daniel groaned as Gabe slid his bishop across the board and took out the castle guarding Daniel’s king. “Checkmate. Again,” he gloated.
“Dammit, you never win this often.”
“You don’t usually suck this bad. What kind of mind-altering drugs you taking to be so brainless?”
