The Weston Front

by Gray Gardner

  The Bar H Staff was trying to herd all of the guests away from the stunned bear and back towards the main part of the ranch. The hosts were trying, as well. Caroline practically knocked me down as she hugged me, squeezing the air completely out of me. Everyone was talking but I couldn’t really hear anyone.

  It was one pair of angry blue eyes that really got my attention. He pushed through the crowd, handing off the tranquilizer gun, grabbed my white t-shirt with the little longhorn on the pocket, and yanked me behind him.

  “West,” I protested, embarrassed that he was pulling me away as everyone watched. But everyone wasn’t looking at me. They were looking at the bear. I felt marginally better until we reached my cabin and we walked right in…I’d left the door open.

  Taking a deep breath, I prepared to explain myself but suddenly found the doorknob in my face as he flipped me around and yanked me up by the waist. I grabbed at the back pocket of his jeans and kicked my boots as they floated around somewhere behind me, but I didn’t get a chance to explain anything.

  He didn’t lecture or say anything at all, really. I sure did, though. As he held me at his hip he brought his hand down and began smacking my ass and it was loud and fast. I begged for him to stop and cried out that I was sorry. It hurt, sure, but I was certain the whole ranch could hear us. When his hand left my waist and my boots slapped down on the floor, I was suddenly engulfed in a hug tighter than the one Caroline had given me.

  “Get off, let me go!” I protested, angry that he’d treated me that way.

  “Christ, Blake!” he choked into my neck, holding the back of my head and under my legs. “You scared the shit out of me! Why on earth would you chase after a bear?”

  I was still futilely struggling to get away from him, my arms pushing in between us, as I grunted, “I didn’t golooking for it, asshole! It showed up on my deck and since the touch panel screen was broken I had to go to the emergency phone to warn people!”

  He breathed heavily as he held me against him, not ready to let me go even though I was completely resisting him. “You listen to me. When there are things like bears, intruders, fires, whatever, you worry about your own neck andthen you worry about everyone else! Understand?” he loudly said, sitting on the edge of the couch and perching me on his knee, still holding me tightly.

  “No!” I grunted, trying to twist away from him. He couldn’t be serious about not trying to help other people. He was the one who was so worried about me instead of himself all of the damn time.

  “Blake…”

  “No, I mean it! That’s not how I’m wired! So get used to it or leave me the hell alone!” I shouted, pulling at his light blue plaid pearl snap shirt as his arms still held me tightly to his chest.

  He half sighed, half grunted in exasperation.

  “You’re brave, Blake. You’re kind and sweet and brave and no one doubts that. But I think everyone out there can agree that running from the safety of your cabin to a phone across the field with a bear on your tail was really stupid!”

  “Well then I guess I’m just another stupid girl,” I muttered, abandoning my struggle and sitting stiffly in his arms. That had cut a little too deep.

  He exhaled and rubbed his eyes. “Do you see what I mean when I say trouble finds you? I only left you like, three hours ago. And look at this mess!”

  “I’m sorry I’m such a stupid mess, West! I really am! Now get out of here! Please!” I ordered with absolutely zero authority as tears spilled out of my eyes. I was confused. He liked me? He was irritated with me? He was tired of me? I wasn’t sure. It just hurt. My chest hurt. My body hurt. I turned my head from him but he quickly stood and carried me into the bathroom.

  “Come on, Sweetheart, it’s okay,” he calmly said, which only infuriated me even more. He started running the water in the tub as he sat me down on the edge of it. I tried to take the opportunity to run off, but he quickly grabbed my waist and pulled me back into him, his voice in my ear. “If you get anything out of this conversation, Blake, then get this: you aren’t a mess. You aren’t stupid. You’re selfless, like I said, to your detriment. You’re sweet and I love that. And I’m sorry I lost it back there. But you…scared me. And I didn’t like feeling like that; do you hear me? I was terrified that I was going to be seconds too late. Can you understand that?”

  I nodded to get him to just shut up. I think he knew it, too, because he still held me as the tub filled up. He leaned back and wiped the tears off of my cheeks every few seconds, kissing my head and exhaling in ragged breaths. So what if I’d scared him? I’d been afraid, too.

  I let him stand me up and help me out of my boots, but when he pulled my hat off and tried to take my shirt off after it I pulled my arms down and glared up at him.

  “Get in the tub, Blake,” he sighed only halfway patiently, folding his arms across his chest and turning around. I had half a mind to get a wet towel and crack it across his ass, but instead I just conceded and undressed. A bath did sound like a great idea.

  The hot water felt good and again I was surprised that my ass wasn’t still stinging. I closed my eyes and let out a long, shaky breath. Then the water splashed and rose up to my chin. My eyes shot open and across the bubbly water I saw deep blue eyes staring right at me. This tub was enormous.

  “I don’t remember inviting you in here,” I snapped, frowning and lowering myself further into the water.

  He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, fully relaxed in the tub. “I’m not leaving you alone when you’re upset.”

  “Again,you’re the reason I’m upset, asshole.”

  “So what do you want to do this afternoon?” he asked, popping one eye open and catching me staring at his broad, wet chest.

  “I don’t think I’m going to tell you,” I replied, sitting up and grabbing the body wash and a washrag.

  “Here,” he said, quickly taking the rag and reaching out for me. I jerked my head away but he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him. I felt his hard legs on top of my feet, his hard abs against my knees, and yes, my hands were somewhere in the region of his hard cock. I was surrounded by smolderingwet cowboy.

  “Jesus, are you turned on by this?” I scowled, turning my head each time he tried to swipe the washrag across it.

  “We’ve been over this,” he grinned, finally stilling my face in his large hand and rubbing the rag on my forehead. “Dirt smudge.”

  I snatched the cloth and threw it at the soap dish, still frowning at him.

  “And you know I can find out very easily if you’re turned on right now,” he said in a low voice, mouth turned up on one side. He was turned on, for sure. Was I? Surely not.

  I immediately leaned back to the edge of the tub. I was so not in the mood to play that game at the moment…and I was scared of what he’d find.

  “I thought we’d go to the shooting range,” he offered, leaning back again and sinking into the water.

  “Oh, I’m sure you’re justdying to take me back there,” I smirked, trying to relax as well. I’d be damned if I let him keep getting to me. I was tough.

  “Then what would you like to do?” he asked in a suggestive voice. Toughness dissolved. Now I was a very wet puddle of provocation.

  I was immediately unsure of myself. Unsure of him…unsure of everything. I wanted to salvage my dignity…and my feelings.

  “I’d like to go home,” I surrendered, leaning forward and resting my head on my wet knees. “I’m tired.”

  “You’ve never struck me as the type of girl who quits…”

  “Yeah but I know when I’ve been beaten…don’t say it!” I quickly huffed, pointing at him as he opened his mouth and just laughed. Laughed. What an asshole. I made to get out of the tub but he had other ideas.

  He quickly sailed across the water and had the back of my head in his hand, the other somewhere under the water at my side. Water splashed around us and his mouth pressed against my cheek as he mumbled, “You don’t know how much you turn me on.” He pressed his bod
y against mine and kissed me on the mouth, deep and hard. “Andthat is such a turn on.” He flipped us around so that he was on the wide ledge of the tub and I was forced to straddle him. Oh God, his erection was pressed right up against me. “My sweet, naughty girl.” He rolled his hips into mine and kissed me urgently. “Fuck me, my sweet, naughty girl.”

  Shit, I was so easy! I barely even made him fight for it! He had his cock right at my entrance in about one second and was soon thrusting into me, groaning into my mouth and holding my body to his. And man, he was talking dirty. And I really liked it, obviously, because I only rode him for a couple of minutes before exploding around him.

  Wasn’t I supposed to be mad? And going home?

  He came, too, which I was beginning to love. Dan and I never orgasmed at the same time. With West, it was like the sight of me coming was enough to make him come, too. I sighed as I laid my head against his wet chest, feeling him still very hard inside me. God, I really was a stupid mess.

  “I want you to get your all of your things and come and stay at my place,” he mumbled into my hair, gently stroking the part of my back that was exposed out of the warm water.

  “Why? So I don’t get into any more trouble?” I softly asked, only halfway kidding. I was still trying to come back down to earth.

  “I don’t dare presume that you’ll ever beout of trouble, Sweetheart. I just want you close to me.”

  “That’s sweet,” I replied with a very fake melodious voice. I kissed his chest. “But seriously, after today? Aren’t we getting a little too close to one another?”

  He suddenly shot up and caught me as I dipped under the water when I fell off him. I coughed as he dragged me up for air, and then rubbed the water out of my eyes as he stared right at me.

  “I’m not playing around here, Blake, and I know you aren’t either.”

  “Look at how you reacted today!” I stated, standing up when he did and yanking the towel he offered out of his hands. I wrapped mine around my shoulders as he did the same around his waist. “This is getting out of hand! I’m leaving in four days! We have to be realistic about this!”

  “Boy, you know how to spoil a moment,” he grumbled, pushing us into my bedroom.

  “I’m just trying to save us from a disaster,” I argued, sitting on the edge of the bed as he pushed me down. He paced in front of me, all gorgeous, wet, and half naked.

  “I was asking you to move in with me!” he replied, running a hand down his face in frustration.

  “For four days? My hero!” I smirked, standing up and glaring at him. He pushed me down again and gave me a warning look that had me pressing my thighs together again. Was what it about that look on his face?

  “Not for four days,” he said in a low, commanding voice. “For as long as you can stand me.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The singing, the swaying, the terribly boring ghost story, the half-interesting tale of the old west…I realized immediately that I had not been missing out on those campfires. When they pulled out the marshmallows, however, I smiled up at West as he twisted a couple onto a stretched wire hanger and poked them over the dying flames. People gathered around, some not even noticing us, others completely unable to take their eyes off of us. I was beginning to comprehend West’s status asowner, his status assingle and unavailable, and what it meant that he’d asked me to move in with him.

  And I definitely understood that he wanted people to perceive him as unapproachable and rigid when he was really more resolute and fiercely protective.

  Caroline nuzzled into Rowdy as they sat on the large stone ledge of the fire pit surrounded by benches and rocks that were cut for sitting on. Hosts interacted with their guests and built S’mores for the kids. West chatted with Dusty and a few others, looking serious and sexy and completely unattainable.

  “Cupcake, you’re taking’ well-done to a whole new level.”

  I frowned as I turned my head up from my perch on the fire pit ledge. Good God, another smoldering cowboy. He had his hands on his hips, his hat pulled low over his eyes even though it was dark out, and a canvas brush jacket that looked brand new. His boots looked new, too. And he didn’t have old stains on his jeans. A guest?

  “That means that you’re burning your marshmallows,” he added, nodding at the fire.

  I quickly turned to find my marshmallows aflame and cursed as I pulled the wire hanger towards me and blew the fire out. Burned to an unappetizing crisp. I looked back up at the man curiously, my hanger still in my hand with charred sugar stuck on one end.

  “Christ, youare cute,” he mumbled, rubbing his jaw and shaking his head as he peered down at me.

  Flattered? Sure. Confused? Totally. Who was this guy?

  “You don’t say much, do you,” he stated, still staring at me as people bustled around us in the light of the fire. “So I’ll just get to it. West’s a good guy. What do you think about him?”

  I know my mouth was hanging open as I frowned at the man. What? Was West sending his friends after me? Hadn’t I been honest with him? Was I making my feelings that much of a mystery? I guess, in all fairness, my friend had gone after him to be good to me.

  “This is the point where you start verbalizing coherent answers, Cupcake.”

  “Quit calling me that,” I finally said, in a low voice. I abandoned the coat hanger and ruined dessert and brushed my hands together, squaring off to the tall, smoldering cowboy in new clothes. “Who are you?”

  “Tell me what you want with West.”

  “Tell me why you care,” I responded with my hands on my hips. Was that a smile playing on his lips? He began to really annoy me.

  “You go first.”

  “I’m not telling you anything.”

  “Well then we’re going to have a little problem, Kitten,” he practically growled at me, folding his arms over his chest. “So tell me now.”

  “I don’t take orders from shit kickers, you…shit kicker,” I started boldly but ended with a mumble. Damn it! That could have been a great comeback if I wasn’t a moron.

  Deep laughing and an arm around my shoulders got my instant attention, making my skin tingle. West pulled me back into his chest as he continued chuckling.

  “I told you she was so sweet she wouldn’t be able to assemble any kind of insult. And you are a shit kicker,” West laughed, sticking his hand out from behind me and shaking the man’s.

  “I’ve never claimed to be anything but a financial genius,” the man sighed, shrugging his shoulders and removing his hat before turning his eyes back down to me. “I’m Drake, by the way.”

  I slowly shook his hand, looking back and forth between him and his neatly combed brown hair and West.

  “The big brother,” he continued, smiling and shaking his head.

  “Only by two months,” West argued, still holding me possessively against his body.

  “How can you be somebody’s big brother by two months?” I asked, my eyes darting back and forth between them. They were both big, both brunettes, but other than that, they looked nothing alike.

  “We were adopted,” West explained, slowly rubbing his hand back and forth across my back. It sent a shiver through my body and he totally noticed because he just winked at me when I looked up at him. Arrogant ass.

  “I had to come and see it to believe it,” Drake sighed, still grinning at me. “The girl who brought Weston Hamilton to his knees.”

  I was still wrapping my head around the fact that West’s brother was standing in front of me and revealing that his trip across the country was simply to see…me. I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked down at my boots uncomfortably, almost missing what West said next as the boys hugged.

  “Well, it’s good to see you again so soon. Come on home, I’ve got steaks ready to put on the grill and Blake says she can make some mean potatoes.”

  Frowning as West turned my shoulders and pushed me forward towards the road, I immediately realized that home, of course, was the place where I
was supposed to be staying with West. It was Drake’s home, too. Did he know that I was staying there? That I’d moved my suitcases into the master bedroom upstairs? That I was sleeping with his brother? Yes, he knew that. He wasn’t an idiot.

  I held my hands in front of me as I sluggishly walked behind the brothers, colorfully chatting like they hadn’t been living so far away from each other. People were scattering all around us, trying to get back to their cabins or to the observation deck on top of a hill by the stables where everyone could see the stars. I just felt out of place for some reason.

  “Keep up, Sweetheart. I’m hungry,” West grinned, looking over his shoulder and pausing as Drake did the same.

  “Oh, uh, well maybe I should just go back to my cabin and let you two catch up…”

  West frowned and walked back to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me behind him as he and his brother continued walking and talking. I did not appreciate being manhandled, but I was beginning to figure out that this was just West’s way. Less talk, more action. From a certain point of view it was refreshing. I was very much trying to sympathize with that point of view as I trekked along with my hand engulfed in his.

  When we finally reached the Hamilton Cottage bathed in soft spotlighting in the landscaping, West instructed Drake to go inside and me to stayright there. I opened my mouth to protest and felt terribly embarrassed as I obediently shut it when he held a finger at me and frowned.

  “Go fire up the grill. We’ll be there in one minute,” he told Drake, who was chuckling as he walked up into the house.

  “Don’t give me commands like I’m a fucking dog, West,” I whispered loudly, eyeing the open door to the kitchen and hearing Drake bustling around in there. I stepped up onto the stone porch steps to get a better look at my boyfriend. My adversary. Whatever the hell he was at the moment.

  “Then quit fucking doubting yourself and what you mean to me, Blake. I’ve made it clear. You’re the one muddying the waters,” he snapped, hands on his hips, still able to look down at me.

  I popped up another step and placed my hands on my hips, too. “I don’t doubt myself, West, I doubt my position! What, suddenly I’m your live-in girlfriend making you my special potatoes and then your brother comes to visit you and here I am! What does he think? I mean, I assume we’re all staying here.”