by SJ McCoy
Chance’s arm tightened around her middle, and he drew her close. “Morning.”
She turned and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Morning. Do you want me to make you some coffee?”
“I’ll get it in a minute. There’s something else I want more.”
She smiled; she knew what was coming. He seemed to always wake up wanting her. “And what’s that?”
He smiled and took hold of her hand, drawing it down beneath the sheet to him. He was so hot and hard she smiled.
“And what do you want me to do about that?”
He shrugged. “I dunno. I was hoping you might come up with something.”
She closed her hand around him and began to stroke up and down the length of him. “Something like this?”
He slid his hand between her legs and stroked her making her close her eyes. It felt so good.
“I was thinking more about something like this.” He circled her clit with his thumb, and she felt herself get wet for him. She rocked her hips in time with his hand while she continued to pump her hand up and down his hot, hard shaft. “Please?” he breathed.
She rolled on top of him, letting her hair dangle down in his face. “Are you going to give me a ride?”
He nodded, and his hands came up to close around her breasts, sending ripples of desire coursing through her. She straddled him and got up on her knees, guiding him toward her entrance. She was in a hurry now; she needed to feel him inside her. His hands came down to grasp her hips, and as he thrust up, she impaled herself on him. She gasped as he filled her and began to move with him. There was nothing slow and gentle about their coupling this morning. He was giving her a ride all right, and all she could do was hang on and go with him. His hips bucked wildly underneath her, and he pulled her down to meet each thrust. She leaned forward to put her hands on either side of his head, and he hit that spot inside her. “Chance!” she gasped.
He smirked and shifted his hands from her hips to her ass, holding her wide open to receive him as he thrust deeper and harder. All she could do was move with him as all the muscles in her belly tightened. He was carrying her away, and she was ready to fly with him.
“I love you, Hope,” he cried at the moment he found his release.
“Yes!” she gasped as she went with him, his climax triggering hers, sending wave after wave of pleasure crashing through her. It felt like her orgasm would never end as he pounded into her over and over and she soared away, moaning his name.
When they finally lay still, she turned to kiss his cheek. “I love you, too, Chancey bear.”
She could feel his chest rumble underneath her as he chuckled. “Really? You’re going to call me that right now, just when I was feeling like a real man—all testosteroned out having shown his woman a good time?”
She laughed. “Yes, you’re always my Chancey bear.”
He sighed and gently pushed her off him. “If you say so, but you might not want to call me that before we make love.”
She gave him a puzzled look, not understanding.
He narrowed his eyes at her and held up a pointed finger. “It makes me go from this to this.” He let his finger droop and curl up.
She laughed and slapped his shoulder. “It doesn’t! Does it?”
He nodded solemnly. “If you don’t believe me, you can try it sometime, but I promise you we’ll both be disappointed.”
She laughed. “Okay, note to self, made.”
He narrowed his eyes again. “And what did that note say?”
“To only call you Chancey bear at times when there’s no hope of you ravishing me anyway.”
He laughed. “There’s always a chance of that happening.”
“That’s true. I should make it when it’s unlikely that you’re going to. Like out in public.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
She gave him a wicked smile and rolled out of bed. “You know me better than to dare me. I’m going to put the coffee on, or I’ll make you late for work.”
When he came into the kitchen after his shower, she handed him a mug of coffee.
“Thanks, honey.” He dropped a soft kiss on her lips, making her smile, making her want this to be their life.
“What are you doing today?”
“I thought I might go up to town. I want to talk to Cassidy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I thought you’d be going to see your dad.”
“I will. He always works for a few hours in the morning. So, I thought I’d go and see Cassidy first and then stop in to see him on the way back down the valley.”
Chance nodded. “And when are you going back to LA? I want to take some time off to spend with you before you go.”
“I think I’ll leave on Monday, so we can get the weekend together before I go. I don’t want to mess you up; I know you have to work.”
“I do, but I want time with you, too.”
“I know, but you took the morning off with my dad yesterday.”
He frowned. “You don’t mind that I took time with him instead of you?”
She laughed. “Mind? I love that you did that, and it went so well. Though I’ll admit that I’m a little jealous that he got to ride out with you and I haven’t yet.”
“We’ll fix that at the weekend. I’ll take you out. I’ll ask Summer if you can take Lola. She’s a sweetheart, and she’s not getting out enough while Summer’s expecting.”
“Thank you. I’d love that.”
“Great. Well, I’d better get moving.” He poured his coffee into a travel mug and came to give her another kiss. “What have you got going on with Cassidy?”
“I want to pick her brain. Gina says she’s the one who has all the great ideas, and I want to see if she can help me figure out what I can do with myself here.”
Chance nodded. “She’s always full of ideas that one, and they seem to make her a lot of money. I hope she can help.”
“Me too.”
He stopped when he got to the doorway and looked back at her. “Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Does it bother you that I don’t have the same kind of money you do?”
“No!”
He nodded. “I’d hate you to feel like you have to work or something.”
She smiled and went to him, putting her hand on his arm. “I do feel I have to work, but not for the money. I have to be doing something useful. Like I told you when we were in Oregon, I haven’t felt like my work is useful for a while now. I’m looking at this as an opportunity to start something new, hopefully, something that I can value.”
He nodded, but he didn’t look convinced.
“Chance, I don’t know how this sounds, but I’m not used to anyone having the same kind of money I do. It goes with the territory for me. If I didn’t want to, I’d never have to work a day in my life. That is a big difference between us, but it doesn’t concern me in slightest—as long as it doesn’t concern you?”
He shrugged. “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel a little strange. I guess I’m old school in that respect. I believe a man should be able to provide for his woman.”
“And you can. It’s not like you don’t make any money at all, is it? It seems to me you do quite well for yourself, and you’re a landowner, too,” she added with a smile trying to lighten things up.
“Yeah. I’m fine with my situation; I just wonder if it’s enough for you. If it’s going to be enough.”
“It is. What matters between us is how we feel, not where the money comes from, right? We have enough to do whatever we want to do, and we always will.”
He seemed uncomfortable with that, but he nodded. “I guess.”
She smiled. “You can know, you don’t have to guess. But for now, you’d better get your butt up to the barn, or you’re going to be late.”
He smiled and dropped a kiss on her lips. “Okay, you have a good day. I’ll see you later. Call me and let me know if you want me to come up to Oscar’s after work.”
/> “Thanks, I might. I don’t know how long Dad plans to stay.”
“Yeah, maybe we should have dinner with him again.”
“Maybe, I’ll let you know.”
Chapter Nineteen
When Chance got to the barn, he was surprised to find Dave Remington sitting on the bench outside drinking his coffee and enjoying the sunshine.
“Morning.”
Dave looked up and smiled. “Good morning. You’re just the man I was hoping to see.”
“Oh yeah? What can I do for you?”
“I don’t need you to do a damned thing, son. I just wanted to see you. I haven’t seen you in a while. I try to keep out of the way, but retirement doesn’t suit me too well. I just want to hear how things are going—with the herd, and with you.”
Chance smiled. He knew what this was about. “And with Hope?”
“Yeah.” Dave didn’t deny it.
“I’ve wanted to come and talk to you both, but at first I didn’t know what I wanted to say because I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Dave nodded. “I can understand that, and we haven’t wanted to stick our noses in. You were so down when you came home after your trip, but now she’s here, she’s been here for a while, and we haven’t heard anything from you.”
Chance chuckled. “I bet you’ve heard enough from the others, though?”
“Monique’s been pressing them all for any information she can get. The boys have played dumb, but the girls have been happy to tell anything they know.”
Chance smiled. “I should have come to see you both myself.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell us a thing if you don’t want to. We just need to know you’re okay. I thought I was seeing things when I spotted you and Seymour Davenport riding out together. I hope that went okay? He’s not an easy man.”
“I don’t imagine he is, but he and I hit it off. It seems we have a lot in common.”
Dave nodded. “I wondered if you’d both realize that. Kate was a wonderful woman. The whole valley mourned her for a long time. She was taken too young.” He met Chance’s gaze. “But not as young as your Chloe.”
Chance nodded. “Yeah, I think he saw something of himself in me, as crazy as that sounds.”
“It doesn’t sound crazy to me at all. I can see it. So, do you have his blessing?”
“I do.”
“And are the two of you hoping to say I do?”
Chance narrowed his eyes.
Dave smiled. “Sorry, but little Ruby says you are.”
He had to smile. “I’d like to think we are, but every time we get past one hurdle, another one crops up.”
Dave cocked his head to one side.
“See, I’ve come to terms with being able to love Hope, with wanting to share my life with her. I never thought I’d be able to say that, but it’s true. She’s helped me to see that I don’t have to leave Chloe behind, that she goes with me everywhere because she’s a part of me.”
Dave nodded approvingly.
“She’s made some peace with her dad, and he’s accepted that I’m an okay guy and maybe even worthy of being with his daughter. She’s going to move up here and find something to do for a career.”
“I’m glad to hear it, but what new hurdle has cropped up now? And how can it be any more major than those you’ve already overcome?”
Chance shook his head. “It’s major in my mind; I need to find a way around it.”
“And what is it?”
Chance blew out a sigh. “The money! She’s loaded, more than loaded, she’s a multi-millionaire in her own right, never mind that when her dad dies, she’ll be a billionaire.”
Dave nodded. “But you’ve known that from the start.”
“I have, but it’s only now that I’m daring to think about us really spending the rest of our lives together that the reality of what that means is starting to sink in. I’m a man, I should provide for her, and I can, but not to the level she’s used to. I can give her a home, but the cabin isn’t the kind of place she’s used to living in.”
“So, build something. You’ve got the land, you can build a nice place, just like Beau has on his land.”
Chance sighed. “I know, I could do that, but it still wouldn’t be what she’s used to.”
“It sounds to me like what she’s used to isn’t what she really wants. She’s prepared to give it all up to be with you; she knows what she’d be getting into.”
“Yeah, but what if she thinks she should build us a house or buy one? The kind of house that costs millions, like the ones she’s always lived in.”
Dave shrugged. “What if she does? Would it be a problem?”
Chance shrugged. “It shouldn’t be, no. Not if we’re a team, but it sure as hell doesn’t feel right to me.”
Dave nodded. “I’m not making light of it. I do understand. Maybe you should talk to Shane; he’s in kind of the same boat with Cassidy. She’s made millions. Shane moved into her house which is more like a mansion if you ask me. They do okay. He’s no less of a man for it.”
Chance nodded. “I know it’s stupid, but I have to be honest with myself. I know me, I know I can’t be comfortable with it.”
“It’s wise to know yourself, but maybe you can learn to live with it. She’s giving up her life to come here to be with you; maybe you can give up a little of your pride and meet her halfway?”
Chance narrowed his eyes. “It’s not about pride! It’s about …” He stopped and thought about it. “Damn! It really is, isn’t it?”
Dave nodded. “I hate to break it to you, son, but that’s all it is. You need to decide if she’s worth more to you than your pride. That’s all it comes down to.”
“Wow. I guess I’ve got some thinking to do in the saddle today.”
Dave smiled. “I guess you do. You’d better get to it. Can I tell Monique that you’re okay, then?”
“Yeah, and tell her I’ll bring Hope over to meet her at the weekend? I think they’d both like that.”
Dave grinned. “Thank you!” He stood up and gave Chance a hug. “You’re finally getting there, son.”
Chance nodded. He hoped so.
~ ~ ~
Hope found a parking spot open right in front of Cassidy’s gallery in town. She almost didn’t take it; she’d planned to call before she went in, to see if it was okay. She pulled in and peered through the storefront to see if there were any customers in there. Maybe this was a bad idea? She jumped when Cassidy appeared in the window and waved at her enthusiastically, beckoning her to come inside. There was her answer. Apparently, this was a good time.
“Hey!” Cassidy pulled the door open as she reached it. “What a nice surprise. You are here to see me, right? You weren’t just parking there to go run errands or something? You looked a bit shocked when you saw me.”
Hope smiled. “No, I wanted to come talk to you, but I didn’t know if it was too rude to just drop in.”
Cassidy laughed. “No way! It’s awesome to see you. Come on in; I’ve just made a fresh pot of coffee. Do you want some?”
“Yes, please.”
“Gina told me you’re thinking about moving here,” said Cassidy as she led her through to the back. “She asked me if I had any bright ideas about what you could do with yourself.”
“That’s right. I’ve been drawing a blank.”
Cassidy grinned as she picked up the coffee pot and poured them each a mug. “Well, you’ve come to the right person. I’ve been giving it some thought, and I have all kinds of ideas. They probably won’t suit you, but at least we’ll get a better idea of what you want and don’t want to do.” She handed Hope a mug and gestured for her to take a seat.
Hope looked back toward the door to the gallery. “Don’t you need to be out front, in case someone comes in?”
“Nope. I have a buzzer on the front door, and we’ll be comfier in here. First, tell me what you enjoy.”
Hope shrugged. “I really don’t know anymore. I love
d modeling at first. It was fun, but after a few years it got old, it’s such a bitchy, fickle world, and besides, as I got older it wasn’t realistic to think I could keep going forever.”
Cassidy nodded. “So, you got into design, started your own line of athletic wear, which I love, by the way. All my workout clothes are Davenport.”
Hope smiled, encouraged by Cassidy’s enthusiasm. “Thanks.”
“But you don’t want to keep that up? You don’t enjoy it anymore, or you just don’t think you can if you live here? You could always travel back and forth if you needed to. It’s not like you don’t have a private jet, is it?”
Hope shook her head. “I do, but that’s not the point. I haven’t been very involved at Davenport for a while now. The new designers I brought in are far better than I ever was, and the guys who run the business love what they do in a way that I don’t.” She shrugged. “It was a natural progression from modeling career wise, but I don’t think it was necessarily the right move for me personally.”
“Oh, in that case, a lot of my ideas won’t make any sense.”
“What ideas?”
“Well, I thought you could start a new line, suited to the lifestyle up here. You could do outdoor wear; you know, hiking and camping and fishing and hunting wear. Women are under-served in all those markets. Well, there are a few good lines, but there’s room for more, especially if they have your kind of touch. Women still want to look and feel good while they’re out in the mountains or on the river. Most of the clothes available are more about utility than style.”
Hope nodded, thinking it over. “It’s a good idea. It’d make sense to move in that direction …”
