Hard To Love

by Tina Rose

That should’ve made him feel better, but it didn’t. He still couldn’t get his mind off Ella, seeing her piercing green eyes staring back at his reflection in the mirror. Shaking his head, he grabbed a soft white towel to dry off, before he dressed and met Gabe in his kitchen.

  Gabe was sitting at the island typing something in on his phone.

  “I sure as hell hope that you made some coffee, since you decided to make yourself at home,” he snarled.

  Gabe harrumphed, pointing at the coffee pot. “Seriously, I don’t think a gallon would tame your demons, dude.”

  “Whatever,” Carter scoffed. “Just shut up until the coffee kicks in.”

  Gabe chuckled, shaking his head at his longtime friend.

  “Alright, so, what are we doing with this horse rescue? And you better not tell me we’re doing this shit for free.”

  “It’s a rescue, ass. We can use it as a tax write off. Jesus.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “Seriously man, do us all a favor and get laid.”

  “Dammit, Gabe. Shut up!” he snapped. “Let’s get this over with.” Grabbing his favorite university ball cap from his desk, he stomped to the front door. “You coming?”

  “It’s gonna be a long ass day,” Gabe mumbled to himself.

  The drive to the horse rescue was a short, quiet one. Carter wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. Gabe was right, he needed to get laid in the worst way. Not only had he been on a dry spell, he hadn’t found anyone that sparked interest, that is, until seeing Ella again last night. Closing his eyes, he thought back to how her pulse accelerated under his fingers, how her body submitted to his touch. His cock twitched at the thought, as he adjusted himself from the uncomfortable position.

  “So, what are we walking into here?” he finally asked, breaking the silence. He desperately needed to get Ella Reid out of his mind.

  “Well, I reckon this girl just rescued three horses from the next town over. Not sure of the details, just that they’re in desperate need of hoof treatment and were damned near starved to death. There’s a mustang that’s pretty skittish too.”

  “Well, if it’s bad enough, we may have to use a tranquilizer. Were they sheltered at least?” Carter knew Gabe hated to sedate a horse, and they had rarely used the technique, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

  “I doubt it. Probably dealing with rain rot too,” Gabe replied.

  “People are stupid assholes,” Carter mumbled.

  Pulling up to a large wooden barn with a lean to, they noticed a sign that read ‘Second Chance Horse Rescue’. There was a round pen adjacent to the barn, and a large fenced in pasture past that, for the horses to graze in. Three emaciated horses stood under the lean to, two huddled together. A bay roan mustang stood in front of the mares, ears laid back and tail swishing. Oh yeah, he was pissed.

  “Looks like you’ve got your hands full brother,” Carter whistled. “That stallion is one pissed off looking horse.”

  “Yeah, he’s seen some hard times,” Gabe replied.

  “Hey boys.” They turned to see a tall, beautiful, young brunette. Thick dark chocolate colored hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and fell to her waist. Carter thought he heard Gabe’s breath hitch. He could understand why. The girl was gorgeous, at least 5’8”, thin, yet curvy in all the right places. What wasn’t there to like? Except Carter still couldn’t get Ella out of his mind.

  “Hey,” Carter said. “I’m Carter Dawson, this is my partner, Gabe Thomas.” He nodded toward his friend, still standing dumbfounded.

  “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard you play down at Moonshiner’s. You’re good.” Liv said, shaking his hand. “I’m Liv. Sorry to call you out in such a hurry. I just got these guys in yesterday. They’re in pretty bad shape, and old George said he just can’t handle the stallion,” she said, nodding to the obviously agitated mustang.

  “So, what’s the story?” Gabe asked, finally finding his voice.

  “Well, from what I understand, their owner was deported. They were left in a field to fend for themselves for god only knows how long. The girls are a bit uneasy, but they seem to have been socialized at least. Mr. Mustang on the other hand, just seems mad at the world.” Liv said, shaking her head.

  “Well, I’ll go on and get started on the girls. I can see their hooves are in bad shape from here.” Grabbing his tools and hoof stand, Carter headed toward the lean-to.

  “You might want to hang on there, brother,” Gabe called. “Let me get the mustang a little more comfortable first. He may not take a liking to you messing with his ladies.”

  Gabe winked at Liv, grabbed his lariat from the back of the truck and slowly entered the round pen. Right away the mustang snorted, throwing his head back and forth warning Gabe to stay away. Carefully, Gabe made his way closer to the mustang, hoping he wouldn’t charge. Tossing the lariat at the horse’s legs, Gabe got him to run to the other side of the pen. The horse made a quick turn to make a charge at Gabe, but he slapped the lariat on his leg to stop the mustang’s charge.

  “Whoa boy,” he called to the mustang.

  Gabe continued to work on submission techniques, having the horse do outside turns by slapping the lariat on his leg. As he persisted with the maneuvers, the horse challenged him, rearing up on his hind legs and roaring in Gabe’s direction. Before he had time to respond, the horse lunged at him, causing Gabe to lose his footing a tad. Seeing his chance, the horse quickly turned, kicking up his back legs, and hit Gabe in the left shoulder.

  Liv covered her face and gasped as she watched the scene play out before her eyes.

  “Dammit!” he yelled, grabbing his shoulder.

  “Are you okay Gabe?” she yelled.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. He kicks like my old Ruger shotgun,” he laughed. “Come on Ruger, let’s do that again.”

  “He’s fine darlin’,” Carter reassured her. “It’s not the first time he’s been kicked. We’ll ice it down later.”

  She smiled. “It’s gonna hurt like hell too. Ruger? I like the sound of that. Well, at least now the mustang has a name.”

  Almost two hours later, hot, sweaty and shirtless, Carter was headed to his truck to get a cold water. Walking through the dark barn into the bright sunlight, he was temporarily blinded, not able to see the person coming through the barn door. They collided with a thump, knocking the breath out of him.

  “Oh, shit!” he called. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t see for the sunlight,” he tried to explain to the otherwise known stranger. Stepping back and taking her by the shoulders, he realized it was Ella. A salacious grin spread across his lips at the scared, shocked expression on her face.

  “Carter? What the hell are you doing here?” Ella sputtered. No, no! This can’t be. Why was he here? Cautiously, her eyes took him in from head to toe. Wearing only jeans, his farrier apron hung low and seductively off his hips, and the grey band of his underwear showed, displaying bright yellow lettering. Oh my!! Sweat beads sheened across Carter’s tanned skin, trickling down his taut abs. Ella felt her heart race as his unique scent invaded her senses, leather, soap and now sweat. She wanted to lick the droplets from his body. Snap out of it woman!

  A deep chuckle seeped from his chest as his hands squeezed her shoulders tighter, pulling her closer to him.

  “I should be asking you that,” he said close to her ear. “Are you following me, Ella?” he asked seductively.

  “You’re such a dick,” she cursed.

  “Oh, there’s that dirty mouth,” his eyes glimmered as he stared at her mouth.

  “Shut up Carter. What are you doing here?” she demanded.

  Carter released his grip on her and stepped back, pointing to his farrier apron, as if that should answer her question. Ella looked confused.

  “We came to work. What are you doing here?”

  “What do you mean, ‘came to
work’?”

  “I own a farrier business Ella, it’s not all glitz and glamour. Singing gigs don’t exactly pay the bills right now.” Taking a handkerchief from his back pocket, Ella watched as he wiped the dripping sweat from his brow, then worked down his neck and chest. What she would do to be that handkerchief! “Now, what are you doing here?”

  Clearing her throat, Ella averted his eyes nodding toward the barn. “My sister runs this place.”

  “Liv is your sister?” he asked in surprise.

  “Yes, why?” A pang of jealousy struck Ella out of nowhere. Her sister was a beautiful young woman. Any man would be crazy to not find her sister attractive. Liv was also very brazen when it came to men and sex. The thought of Carter seeing her that way, or them being together was agonizing.

  “Just asking, kitten. Calm down,” he teased.

  Rolling her eyes she tried to move past him, but of course he wasn’t going to make this easy. “Carter, you’ve got to stop doing this. It’s getting you no place.”

  “Oh, I don’t know sweets, I think it is,” he said, taking a step closer to her. “Did you think of me last night while you were touching yourself?”

  Heat spread over her entire body, her cheeks, neck and chest becoming splotchy. How did he know she touched herself?

  “You’re an asshole,” she attempted to push past him again. “Just move.”

  Carter laughed out loud. “Your body gives you away, sweetness. It’s okay. I thought of you too. I thought about that dirty mouth wrapped around my…”

  “Carter!” she interrupted his dirty train of thought. “Enough. I don’t have time for all your nonsense. Just stop. Go chase a groupie or something.”

  His eyes darkened as he closed in on her, slowly edging her toward the dark corner of the barn, until her back touched against the wall. The feral look on his face scared her, as his nostrils flared and eyes narrowed looking down her body, he breathed deeply.

  Placing his hands on each side of her head, he said “Let’s get something straight, okay? I don’t chase groupies. That’s too damn easy, no fun at all. But you,” he said trailing his hand enticingly down the front of her coral knit top. “You make it fun, kitten. I like the way your dirty mouth tells me no, while your heaving chest says come and get me.”

  Trying to shake her head no, her traitorous body defied her, picking that particular time for her nipples to harden.

  Carter growled deep before grabbing her hair, sharply pulling her head back, exposing her mouth to his. Crudely, he crashed into her mouth, forcing her mouth open with his rough tongue, their teeth colliding from the force. As she smacked and pushed his chest to stop him, he quickly grabbed both her hands in one of his large ones, holding them above her head, while he ground his stiffness into her middle. Discomfort radiated from her scalp and her mouth as he continued to assault her, creating a frisson of pleasure and pain to sweep through her entire body.

  “That’s right, keep making me work for it, kitten,” he said through clenched teeth, a wicked grin rising on his lips. Slipping his hand around her neck, he squeezed over her pulse. “Can you feel it? The thrill of the chase? I’m going to have you, it’s just a matter of time before I do.”

  Hearing footsteps and voices approach, Carter gave her one more swift, hard kiss before walking quickly away from her, leaving her completely confused and flustered. Son-of-a-bitch! He did it again. Left her feeling utterly lascivious. Just because she cussed like a sailor, did not mean she wanted to be manhandled, did it? Rubbing her bruised lips, she walked toward the sound of Liv’s laughter.

  “Why hello, Eleanor,” Liv said in a dreadful English accent.

  “It’s Ella, Olivia. Jeez!”

  “God, what’s up your craw? You look like a mouse the cat’s been chasing,” Liv smirked.

  If she only knew the half of it.

  Chapter Four

  “Up my craw? Nothing is up my craw. I hate that damned phrase,” she said, hastily changing the subject. “I have some good news for the benefit.”

  “Oh yeah, what’s up?” Liv asked, walking toward a silver galvinized water trough.

  “Alana Hatfield offered us her new pavilion to use if we need it.”

  “Seriously,” Liv squealed. “That is great news. Now we just have to find an act people want to see and sell tickets do it. So, who do you have in mind?”

  “I know someone who would play for you guys,” Gabe interrupted.

  Ella turned to see one very sexy, green eyed, blonde haired, wet dream walking toward them. Gabe was tall and slender with well-defined muscles rippling under his tanned skin. Good God. Liv and her never ending parade of hot men. It was ridiculous, really.

  “Oh yeah, who would that be?” Liv asked, as if his hotness didn’t affect her in the slightest.

  “Carter,” Gabe said, looking at them like they had lost their minds.

  Ella strangled on the drink of water she had just taken as she heard Carter walking toward them.

  “Carter what? Ella, are you okay?” he asked, rubbing her back as she tried her best to get out of his reach.

  “Liz is throwing a benefit for the horse rescue. She needs an act she can sell. That’s where you come in, brother.” Gabe winked.

  Once Ella finally got her coughing under control and was capable of talking again, she shook her head at Carter, pleading to him with her eyes.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary,” Ella stated. “I’m sure Carter has more important things to do.”

  “Not really,” Carter grinned that Cheshire cat grin of his, as he looked at her through a heated glare. “I think it’s a great idea actually.”

  “Carter, you don’t have to do this,” Ella smiled politely, wanting nothing more than to wipe that damn grin off his face.

  “It’s a good cause, one close to my heart. And it could bring in some publicity for our farrier business too.”

  “Ella, if this is something close to the man’s heart, and he wants to help with our benefit, who are we to stop him?” Liv asked, batting her big chocolate brown eyes at him. Whoa there, little sister!

  “Okay,” Ella snapped, everyone turned to look at her like she just grew another head.

  “Damn, Eleanor,” Liv laughed.

  “I mean, you’re right, Liv,” Ella said, trying to calm her voice. “It’s very considerate of Carter to donate his time for such a good cause.”

  “Why don’t you girls stop by Moonshiner’s tonight and we’ll talk about it,” Gabe suggested with a wink.

  At the same time Liv was agreeing, Ella sputtered, “I can’t.”

  “Why can’t you, Eleanor?” Liv asked suspiciously.

  “Liv, please stop with that. I have plans.” Ella had had enough of this whole situation. She was NOT going anywhere near Carter if she could help it, and Liv’s use of her given name was doing nothing but adding fuel to her flame. She was getting pissed.

  “Since when?” Liv scoffed.

  “Olivia, despite what you may think, I do have a life. If you’d like to go to Moonshiner’s tonight, then go. You certainly don’t need me or my permission.” Ella turned on her heel, heading toward her car, hearing her baby sister’s voice calling her name, as Carter’s strong arm grabbed her around her waist, hoisting her into the side tack room, kicking the door shut behind him.

  “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ella squalled.

  “We’re about to get something straight, kitten,” Carter said, plopping her down on a wooden chest.

  “Ouch,” she screeched. “I’m about tired of you manhandling me, asshole.”

  “Oh, but sweetness, I’m just getting started,” he said as he bit her bottom lip and stepped back. “Now sit your pretty little ass still before I strap you down and tan it with one of these leather reins.” The though
t sent a message straight to his groin.

  “You wouldn’t dare. My sister is in the next room.” Ella hissed, as the thought of Carter spanking her with a leather strap radiated through her core.

  “Oh wouldn’t I? You wanna test that theory, kitten?” he asked with raised eyebrows.

  “Y’all alright in there?” Liv called, snickering outside the door to the tack room.

  Carter raised his eyebrows and nodded toward the door. “Answer you sister, sweetness.”

  “I hate you,” she hissed. “Yes, Olivia, we’re fine. We’re just working out the details for the benefit.”

  “Uh huh.” Liv snickered. “Well, don’t work too hard, Eleanor.”

  “Olivia!” Ella barked, hearing her sister giggle as she walked away from the door. That girl was going to be the death of her yet.

  Snapping her head back toward Carter, she glared at him, waiting for him to break the uncomfortable silence. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the wall turning her head in obstinance.

  Not able to take the silence anymore, she rose to leave the room. “I’ve had enough of this bullshit.”

  “Sit down,” Carter growled. Squatting down where he was eye to eye with her, he rubbed and squeezed her thighs, skimming his thumb over the seam of her pants pressing against her heated center. “I’ve never in my life met a woman who infuriated me so much, and at the same time turned me on. I want nothing more than to bend you over my knee and turn that sweet ass of yours cotton candy pink. Then kiss every inch of it before burying my hard dick inside that creamy wet pussy of yours.”

  “Well, keep dreaming asshole. You’re never touching my ass again,” she warned. Although every fiber of her being was begging him to rip her clothes from her body and carry through with his temping threats, she maintained her composure as she refused to look away from his glaring eyes.

  “Is that a fact?” he asked, snidely. Suddenly jerking her legs, he pulled her bottom to the edge of the chest, and just as fast, yanked her pants down her legs.

  “What are you doing?” she cried, trying to scurry from his grasp.