“That’s the day I found out I was pregnant.”
He swallowed. “You were glowing.”
“Do you still want kids, Stryke?”
“I have Lilly.” His grip tightened on the bottle.
“I mean one of your own.” She took a sip and he watched her lips move. “You’re young yet.”
“And so are you.” He didn’t want to talk about the subject. He strolled across the room to her and put his bottle on an end table. “Tonight I don’t want to think about the past, or even the future. I want to feel.”
She set her beer next to his. “I agree.”
He found the zipper at the back of the dress. “I love the dress, but it’s time I see flesh.” The material fell at her feet as he soaked in her beauty. “Red is your color, sweetheart.” The crimson bra and matching panties made it easy to forget all his troubles. He dipped his finger underneath one strap and tugged it down her shoulder, then did the same with the other. With each breath she took the mounds of her breasts rose, threatening to spill from the strip of lace.
She reached around, undid the snap and the lace fell into the sequined puddle. She gave them a toss with her foot. Her firm breasts were perfect, at least to him. He’d been with women who had large breasts but none compared to Leslie’s firm, smaller breasts. He cupped her soft skin in his palms, rolling her erect nipples underneath his thumbs. A deep groan came from deep within her chest.
Her fingers fell to his belt as she tugged and pulled the leather. When the buckle clanked free, she continued to release him from his confines.
Brrrrr. Brrrrr. Brrrrrrrr.
“What’s that?” She brought her head up, pausing in her finger strokes on his length.
Hell, he didn’t hear a thing!
Brrrrr. Brrrrr. Brrrrrrrr.
Shit!
“Is that your phone?” She blinked twice.
He nodded. His jeans were lowered on his hips, she was still holding his cock and his cell was vibrating against his thigh. “I better get this.” No man ever wanted to be faced with a scenario where he had to stop a woman from jacking him so he could take a call. He read the caller ID. “It’s Tessa.”
“Then by all means, you’d better get it.” Leslie removed her hand and backed away. Did he see hurt in her eyes?
The phone stopped buzzing. “Leslie?”
“Why didn’t you answer?”
“I didn’t make it in time. I’ll call back. It could be about Lilly.”
“You’re right.” Concern took the place of hurt. “Call back and make sure things are okay.”
Pulling up his jeans and pushing his cock back into his boxers, he hit redial. Tessa answered right away. “What’s wrong?” he asked. He listened to Tessa explain.
“Is Lilly okay?” Leslie laid a hand on his arm. Her eyes were wide and one corner of her mouth was crooked.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said to Tessa then clicked end. “Lilly has a fever.”
“Then you should go. She needs you there.”
He dropped his phone back into his pocket and jerked his zipper closed. “I know, but you can come too.”
She moved her hand. “I can’t. Duke and Lila are leaving for their honeymoon. Dillon has disappeared and I have to keep an eye on the sick mare.”
“The McAllister isn’t your responsibility.” Something in him snapped. Once the words were out, he wanted to take them back, but it was too late.
“The horses are though.” Her lips thinned.
“You no longer have to dive yourself into work, Lesi. You have two people who need you.” He rubbed the area between his brows where a headache was forming.
“I’m not “diving” into work. I have a job, one that I love.” She swiveled and marched to the window. When she turned back to him, anger marred her delicate features. “Just as you have a job.”
“My job doesn’t get in the way of my priorities.”
“Don’t worry, Stryke. Tessa will be more than happy to take my place there tonight.”
He huffed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I don’t have time for this.” He jabbed his hand through his hair as he stomped toward the door. He quickly fastened his belt and placed his hand on the knob, glancing at her over his shoulder. “How the hell have I found myself smack dab in the middle of all this estrogen?”
Then he tore open the door and marched out.
****
The following evening, Leslie still raged from the argument she’d had with Stryker. She took a seat on one of the bar stools and watched Carly flit around the kitchen at the Swift Wind. She’d invited Leslie for dinner because Chance was at a horse auction. Leslie jumped at the chance for female conversation. It appeared Carly needed to bend an ear also.
“How are you, Carly? You seem in deep thought.”
“Remember I had told you that I was considering hiring a nanny? She started yesterday.”
“You’re not feeling guilty, are you?” Leslie watched Carly stir a pot of bubbling liquid on the stove.
“How is it possible that every other woman on this planet can balance two young children, a business, a house and I can’t?” Carly stewed in the steam rolling from the pot.
“First of all, that’s too broad of a statement. I know a lot of women who hire people to help with their children and house. You’re one person, with a very busy husband, both of your kids are still in diapers and this house is huge. I’m exhausted just saying that sentence.”
“Chance told me the same.”
“Now come out of your steam bath before you boil your eyeballs.” Carly nodded and moved from the stove. “There you go. Now stop being so hard on yourself. Chance can afford a nanny. Your kids won’t suffer because you get a break once in a while. You’re one of the best moms I know.”
“I’m sorry, Leslie. Did you say you and Stryker got into a spat?” Carly opened the microwave and took out a bowl of green beans. “Have you spoken with him?”
“I texted to ask about Lilly and he said her fever broke.” Leslie played with the cap from her water bottle.
“You look peaked,” Carly said.
Leslie couldn’t hide from Carly’s superior eye. “I cried myself to sleep last night. How can I be this out of control?” The plastic lid went flying across the counter, landing on the floor at Carly’s feet. Leslie knotted her hands in her lap.
“Cowboy trouble.” Carly rolled her eyes. “They’re all stubborn men.”
Leslie shifted on the stool, biting back a moan. “He asked me to marry him and I said yes,” she murmured.
“He asked you to marry him?” Carly’s eyes widened.
“Yes.”
“That’s something to celebrate! So why were you two arguing?” Carly asked.
“I wouldn’t go back to Hollyville with him. He feels my priorities are all screwed up.” Leslie clasped her hands tighter.
“Are they?” Carly’s gaze narrowed.
“I promised Duke I’d watch over the pregnant mare. And since Dillon hasn’t come back, I can’t just take off.”
Carly took down plates from the cabinet and silverware from the drawer. “The McAllister shouldn’t be your burden and Duke wouldn’t want it to be. Haven’t you heard about Dillon?”
“Heard what?” She brought her hands up and laid them on the counter. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine,” Carly said. “He called and told Lila that he was sorry that he was going to miss the wedding. He said something about a friend having trouble and he’d be gone for a while.”
“I hope his friend is okay.” Leslie liked Dillon and only wanted the best for him.
“Me too. Duke has enough trained staff there that everything will be okay until he gets back. You should ask yourself what comes first in your life—your family or your job.” Carly spooned out a heaping spoonful of pasta onto one plate then ladled sauce over, blowing on it until
it was lukewarm. She placed it in front of Chancelor who sat in his high chair. Chasity slept in her bassinet a few feet away.
“Of course my family would, but I don’t exactly have one.”
Carly’s gaze pinned her. “Didn’t you say you two are getting married? What is Lilly? Isn’t she family?”
Leslie didn’t answer, but instead absorbed the accusation in her friend’s words. She was right. “I guess I have slipped in what’s important.”
“Don’t look so glum. Sometimes it takes us some time to find what means the most to us. Every couple has arguments. You should apologize.” Carly placed a filled plate in front of Leslie. “And eat up. You need your energy.”
Forking a noodle, Leslie brought it to her mouth and chewed meditatively. She trusted Carly’s word, but yet the woman knew nothing about Tessa. Could Leslie tell her friend that she’d been jealous over the therapist? It was a tad bit embarrassing to admit to the emotion.
She’d keep some things to herself.
After dinner, Leslie shooed Carly upstairs to enjoy some quiet time with her kids. Leslie stayed in the kitchen and cleaned. She didn’t mind the work. It eased some of the tension in her muscles, although her mind stayed on Stryker.
She’d really ruffled his feathers last night, especially when she mentioned Tessa. He probably didn’t see things the way Leslie did, the way they really were. Most men didn’t know when a woman was flirting, especially when she was as subtle as a church mouse. As mousy as Tessa seemed, Leslie had a feeling the woman could grow claws if necessary.
Dropping the glasses into the soapy water, she washed them with the scrubber then dunked them in the rinse water, staring out of the window into the field.
Stryker’s bright blue eyes and confident swagger came to her and she felt a twist in her heart. He belonged with her, and she belonged with him. Deep inside the fact screamed at her. Denying it would only cause greater pain.
Finishing the dishes, she dried her hands off on the towel. She had some apologizing to do.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Leslie pulled up in front of the two-story white house at Mason Ranch and Stryker appeared at the screen door. Had he been watching for her? It was the first time she’d seen him since Duke and Lila’s wedding. She’d called and apologized, and he’d accepted it, but she had a feeling things weren’t smoothed over just yet.
The door opened and he strolled out. As he moved closer, her stomach fluttered and shards of electricity sprung through her veins.
Climbing out of the truck, she shivered in anticipation. Stryker moved toward her, his beefy shoulders coiled under a black T-shirt. He was sex appeal in worn jeans and boots.
Gaining in distance, he pushed his hat back on his forehead and caught her with a baby-blue gaze.
If she’d had a tail, it’d been wagging.
“Hi, Lesi.” His husky tone washed over her as his eyes skimmed downward along the aching curves of her body. His heated gaze stopped at her breasts and when she inhaled, they almost fell out of her shirt. “Hi.” Her voice shook.
“Before we make it inside we’re going to talk.”
He got closer and she could smell him. The tweak of her senses brought more memories flooding in. Naked bodies pressed together, mouths suckling and exploring, entwining… “Okay.” She had to force her tongue to work.
He leaned against the door of her truck, crossing his ankles and tucking his hands into his pockets. Time seemed to slip away as they stared. Finally, he broke the silence. “I understand you have a job. Your career helps complete you. Although we both said we’re sorry for the argument, I know we still need to clear the air.”
“I agree.”
“I really am sorry that things got heated.” His brows scrunched.
She curled around everything he said. “Me too.”
“I’ve been terrified out of my mind.” She knew it took a great deal for him to tell her those words. A man like Stryker didn’t easily confess his fears. “When you get scared, you run.”
She took a step back as her breath whooshed out of her. “How do I defend myself?”
“I’m not asking you to. I’m only telling you my feelings.”
He took off his hat and smoothed his fingers along the thick locks. Heat cocooned in the pit of her stomach and she wished she could splash it away. “I’m not running.”
He pushed away from the truck. His eyes clouded with concern. “I hope not.”
Her throat clogged and her eyes filled with hot tears. She wouldn’t go there. Straightening her spine, she blinked back the moisture. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
A tagged breath escaped his lips. “One hundred percent.”
His voice lapped over her like salve to a wound. “Then that makes two of us.”
“So, we’re good, right?” he asked.
“Better than good.”
“Then let’s get inside. I made dinner. Grilled steaks and baked sweet potatoes.”
Her mouth salivated. “I’m starving.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place. I hear the best way to get to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.” He wiggled his brows.
“I like that.” Together they walked into the house.
****
AFTER DINNER, LILLY played on the floor in the living room while Stryker sat with Leslie on the couch. As they planned for their wedding, she jotted down a list of things to do.
“Are you sure you’re okay with a small wedding?” Stryker asked as he stared into her soft blue gaze.
With a nod, she swept back a lock of loose hair that had found its way free of her ponytail. “Yes, I am. I promise.”
He wasn’t sure whether to believe her or not. He thought all women, from the time they were little girls, dreamt of their wedding with all of the bling and pizzazz. He knew his sister had always talked about that “big day.” Unfortunately it never came. He didn’t want Leslie to miss out on something she really wanted.
“Anyway, it’s not like this is a traditional wedding.”
“What’s not traditional about it? A wedding is a wedding. No one says you have to give up on the things you want.”
She sighed and the sound seemed to bounce off the walls. “We’re marrying for what’s best, right?” Her gaze moved to Lilly.
He hesitated. “No, that’s not the only reason.” He had yet to tell her what she meant to him. Every time he opened his mouth, something stopped him.
“It’s not?” She looked at him, or rather through him. “I think that’s very much the reason. And it’s okay. It seems like I’m complaining, but I’m not. I’m walking into this, both feet forward and eyes wide open. I love her and she needs us.”
“There are a few things we haven’t discussed yet.” He glanced at Lilly who seemed oblivious to the conversation.
“I’d say there are many things we haven’t touched on yet.” She tucked her legs up under her bottom on the cushion. Her toenails were painted a bright orange this time.
“This is something important.” He had no clue how to approach the subject. His throat seemed to narrow, closing off his air.
“You look like you could vomit. Why not just spit it out?”
“Come with me.” He took her hand and helped her up from the couch. Together they went into the kitchen.
Now alone, he could talk freely. “We haven’t talked about where we’re living.”
“Can we look at this objectively?” she asked.
“Sure we can.” He couldn’t deny he was a little unsure. He knew each of their homesteads were important. When she started folding and refolding the hem of her shirt, he knew she was bothered. “We can talk this through. Once upon a time we were very good at talking.” He hoped she’d relax.
“Stryke, I know in the end we will be living here, on your ranch.”
He swallowed. His chest burst with relief, but the feeling didn’t quite reach other parts of his body. He knew she loved Shelby, the place had become her home and
where all of her friends lived. “If Shelby is where you want to live, then Lilly and I will come there.”
She looked at him through the fringe of her lashes before shaking her head. “No. I’ve given this a lot of thought. This is your family’s home. It’s been handed down for generations. Above all, this is Lilly’s home. No matter what I say, how could I justify you two moving to Shelby to my small home in the center of town? There’s barely enough room in the backyard for a swing set, let alone a child who needs to run and play.”
He could see her point—yet still feeling no sense of reward. “I understand that, but you do know that Shelby has other houses. We could find one.”
“You’re being too kind. You know where your heart is.”
“Yes, yes I do.” And it was scattered at the moment.
“Then it’s settled.” Her smile was forced.
“Is it really though? Are you going to hate coming back here?” What good would it do if neither of them were happy?
Her shoulder moved and the neckline of her shirt dropped, showing off the thin strap of her bra.
They hadn’t made love in a while. His body reminded him.
He wanted to unbutton her shorts with his teeth, throw her back onto the counter, and ride her as wild as he had the stallion that afternoon.
Once a man got a good thing he couldn’t get enough of it—and Leslie, well, she was more than a good thing. She was like a drug and he was a goner. Always had been, so how could he expect it to change now?
“Will you hate me, Lesi?”
“I won’t hate you. Not possible. And I can find another job.”
The disappointment in her voice struck a nerve in him. “Or, maybe we can travel on the weekends.” The words were out and he wanted more than anything to grab them back.
“What do you mean?” Her brows curved over a curious gaze.
“We could keep both locations. I’ll come there and you can come here.”
“Is that what you want?” she asked.
Hell no! “I can’t expect you to give up everything.”
Her chin tilted. “And a long distance relationship would work?”
Second Round Cowboy (Second Chance Series) Page 13
