by Ava Walsh
“He’s only been with two girls, Lauren. One was his girlfriend for five years and the one before that for two years. I haven’t seen him smile the way he’s been doing lately,” Adam said. Jane squeezed his hand. “So yeah, Jane and I encouraged this, but he took that extra step. He asked you to dinner.”
“I suppose so.”
Adam excused himself to go to bed for work the following day and Lauren moved next to Jane on the couch.
“Are you okay?” Jane asked.
“He asked if he could kiss me. Who does that?”
“A cowboy,” Jane said. “Adam did the same thing with me. It’s their way.”
“It’s very sweet, but Jane? I haven’t had sex before. I’ve only kissed a few guys and I don’t know what I’m doing.” Lauren shrugged. “How do I tell him that?”
“It’s not like he’s had a lot of experience either. Two girlfriends, Lauren. I can tell you right now that he doesn’t do one-night stands. Adam knows him pretty well; they’ve known each other since second grade, just like us. Don’t you know me well?”
“I do.” Lauren looked at her.
“Listen to him about Cole then. Just let this thing with Cole move along. He might surprise you.”
Lauren took that thought with her as she dressed in pajamas in the bathroom. She walked into her room and stood by the open window. The fresh air was nice and she breathed it in as she thought about the kisses from earlier.
The stars were bright in the sky as she looked over the land and let herself miss her dad. She wondered what he would think about her right now and if he’d approve of Cole. Her father had always wanted her happy and for someone to love her like he had loved her mother before she had died of cancer when Lauren was just four years old. “Do you think that he could love me, Daddy?” Lauren asked in a whisper.
She lifted her eyes as a comet shot across the sky in a bright burst, and a tear slid down her cheek. They had gone to a meadow on nights when there were meteor showers and watched them all night long. Even when he had had to work in the morning, her dad would take her and she wondered if this was a sign or a response from him. She left the window open and lay in bed, watching the sky until she fell asleep.
The girls went into the city the following day to stock up on some food and piled the cart full before checking out. Lauren watched as Jane calmly loaded the belt with everything and stared at her when she heard the total. “We stretch this out for a couple of weeks, Lauren. I have become a pro since I can’t run to the corner store so much anymore.” She put the bags in the cart and smiled as Lauren helped her. “This is the real reason that I wanted you here. I feel bad dragging Adam here after work.” She winked, and Lauren laughed. They pushed the cart to the Jeep and loaded everything inside before Jane went through a drive through, simply because it was a treat for going this far out. That and she loved the food so much.
Jane drove the hour home and took a different way that led to a large farm. “This is where the guys work.” She jumped out of the car and walked over to a fence that overlooked everything. Lauren followed. There were a few men hoisting bales of hay from a flatbed truck as well as some working with horses and Jane searched them until she smiled. “There’s my man. He’s trying to tame that new mare and has been for two weeks.” Jane pointed and Lauren saw a shirtless Adam trying to ride a horse bareback as she fought against him. Lauren laughed and her eyes moved over to see Cole lifting his cowboy hat and, conveniently, shirtless as well.
“I always stop and enjoy the view when I’m going back home,” Jane said.
“I can see why,” Lauren replied, eyeing Cole’s lean muscles and the V that disappeared into his worn jeans. He was grinning as he cheered Adam on and it made Lauren smile. Jane looked at her.
“I think you can see what made me want to stay here.”
Lauren nodded. She was already falling in love with the easy way of life here, and she looked down as Cole glanced their way and said something to Adam, who looked over too. Jane blew him a kiss and he caught it before waving them. Lauren looked back at Cole as he raised his eyebrow.
She shyly turned away and walked back to the car, heat washing over her skin. She knew she wasn’t ready to be blowing kisses to any man, but mercy did Cole look hot out there. Jane laughed and ran up to Lauren, wrapping her arms around her. “No kisses for Cole?”
“After one date?” Lauren shot back as they climbed into the car and Jane started the engine.
“It happens fast around these parts,” Jane teased. Lauren shook her head. When they got home, they unloaded the groceries and stored a bunch of meat in the freezer out in the garage before loading the produce into the fridge inside.
They both did some work on their computers and Jane started cooking a couple of chickens in the ovens about an hour before the guys were supposed to come over for dinner. She cleaned up the kitchen and Lauren finished up an article before she submitted it and walked over to the fridge to get a cold bottle of water.
Lauren wandered out onto the deck and looked over the land, taking it all in.
She must have gotten lost in thought, because she jumped a little when she felt someone slide their arms around her. “Enjoying the view?” Cole asked. She relaxed and settled back against him.
“I am.” Lauren breathed in the scent of sweat and dirt and smiled.
“How about earlier?” Cole asked her, and she flushed. “I liked that you were out there watching us.”
“Jane was. I just happened to be along for the ride.”
Chapter Four
“I haven’t dated since the accident,” Cole told her as they watched the sun begin to set. “I haven’t even so much as kissed anybody because that’s not my style. I do relationships.”
“I can tell that about you,” Lauren said. She kept staring at the clouds.
“I know this seems convenient with the way our friends are, but I do see something in you, Lauren.” Cole began to stroke her arms and she shivered. “I am not going to rush you into anything since this is all so new to you. I would like to date you for a while, Lauren. Is that okay?”
Lauren turned in his arms and looked up at him. “I’d like that.”
He slipped his hand down to take hers and led her to the house. “There’s some supper in that house that smells too good to ignore. Let’s go get some.”
They all sat down around the table and ate the chicken and roasted vegetables that Jane had fixed as they talked about the upcoming rodeo. Lauren was interested to hear that both of the men rode the bulls and she asked how dangerous that was.
“We take a chance every time we’re out there, but it’s a rush,” Adam told her. Cole nodded.
“Sexy as hell too,” Jane added, grinning.
“We do a couple of other events too. The bull riding is the main one, though. That draws the crowds,” Cole said. She watched his eyes light up. He obviously loved what he did. She looked down at her plate and remembered the guys from her college who had had no motivation whatsoever. Cole was so different.
He asked her to walk him to his car that night and Lauren followed him to the truck, looking up at the sky as they went. “I used to watch the stars with my daddy before he died. They’re so beautiful here.”
“That they are. I know a great place by the creek that we can go to some night. We can have a picnic and just watch the sky until we fall asleep.”
“The creek? Is that close by?” Lauren asked, and he nodded.
“Close enough.” Cole looked at her and smiled. “Can we go to dinner tomorrow night?”
“I’d like that,” Lauren replied, looking into his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her, deepening it this time as she moaned softly against his mouth. It made her feel things she never had before, and Lauren stared at him as he pulled away.
“I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon for lunch.” Cole cleared his throat and stepped into his truck. She watched him leave. Lauren turned to go back into the house and found the living room empty. She gla
nced down the hallway. Sometimes she felt as if she was imposing on the couple, even though Jane was so happy to have her here.
Lauren sat down on the couch and watched some late night television before bed as she thought about Cole. She wanted him in ways that she’d never wanted another man, and it terrified her. Seeing him at work that way, bare and genuine, had sent her hormones running. Lauren shook her head. Cole seemed to be a wonderful man, but she was still dealing with moving and losing her father. Was she fit to get involved with anybody right now? More than that, was she enough for a man like him? Cole was handsome and could have any woman that he wanted. She didn’t even know whether she was his type. She’d never seen photos of his ex-girlfriends and she didn’t want to.
Lauren made her way to bed and slept late the next day. She was up in time for lunch, showered and dressed in some shorts and a tank top. She went out into the kitchen when she heard voices and watched as the guys sat down at the table with bowls of soup and buttered bread while Jane talked to them from the kitchen. Lauren looked at her and remembered the girl that couldn’t cook and just went along with life as it came along. Here she was in the kitchen cooking and taking care of a house and a man, a man that was nothing like any of the guys that she’d dated back home.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” Jane said as she looked up and smiled. “Tired?”
“I suppose so,” Lauren told her, running a hand through her hair. She got some coffee and heated it up before she took a seat with the guys at the table. “How’s work today?”
“Great,” Cole told her, looking at her with warm eyes. “How are you?”
“I’m looking forward to tonight,” Lauren told him, as she smiled and met his gaze.
“Me too.”
“Should Adam and I plan a date night?” Jane asked, as she sat down and smiled at her boyfriend.
“That would be a great plan,” Cole told them, and the couple smiled at each other. When they had finished their lunch and Cole and Adam had gone back to work, Jane turned to Lauren.
“A second date?” Jane asked, and Lauren nodded.
“I need to give this a go. I feel good about him,” Lauren said. Jane nodded. “I don’t want to be scared of what he thinks of me or what anybody thinks of me anymore. Georgia is behind me.”
“Good girl. I was so glad to get you out of there. I think you’ll flourish here,” Jane assured her as they cleaned up after the meal.
“You sure have,” Lauren told her, and Jane looked at her. “You used to have trouble deciding on a movie. Here you are living in a house with a cowboy and cooking. You’re cleaning. You’re happy.”
“I truly am,” Jane agreed, as she set the last plate to dry in the rack. “Simple is good.”
They worked through the rest of the afternoon and then Lauren went to her room to dress for her six o’clock date. She didn’t know what Cole had planned, so she dressed in a long cotton skirt and a loose t-shirt with some sandals. She put on a little makeup but too much just didn’t feel right here. She wanted to feel natural.
There was a knock at the door and Lauren walked over to get it, smiling when she saw that it was Cole. “Hi, cowboy.”
“Good evening, Lauren. You look lovely tonight.” He had dressed in a nice blue button up shirt and some dark jeans. She looked down at her skirt.
“Is it good for where we’re going?” Lauren nudged him, and he smiled and nodded.
They left in his truck. He took her to a barbecue place for take-out and then drove on the freeway for about half an hour before turning off onto a side street. Cole parked and pulled a blanket and a basket from the back as he looked over at her. “The creek.” He led her to a spot under a tree where they could see the wide stream flowing and the sun setting before he unpacked the food and set down the blanket.
“This is incredible. I have never had anybody do all of this for me. I’ve barely been taken to dinner,” Lauren told him. She sat down and looked around. “You live this every day, Cole.”
“So do you now,” Cole replied, and she nodded.
“Did you grow up here?” Lauren asked as she watched the grass moving in the wind.
“Not right in this town, but close by. Ranching is in my blood, and every man in my family has done the same thing. My family would never have forced me into it, but when you grow up around animals and early mornings, you tend to love it. I just stayed and ended up working at Smiths Ranch and eventually I’ll move up the ladder. I’ll make my life for myself and maybe…maybe settle down here.” He looked at Lauren with a crooked smile. “What was Georgia like?”
“I am sure that there were things like this in Georgia, but we lived in Atlanta. Daddy had a condo that was just a couple of feet away from the other condos. The streets were crowded and busy. I didn’t realize it until I moved here, but I was always moving so fast all of the time. It is so refreshing to stop and slow down for a change.” She accepted the plate that Cole had filled for her and thanked him. He poured some wine for her into a paper cup.
“To Julesberg and a new life,” Lauren said as they clinked their cups together and sipped the wine before digging into the barbecued chicken and corn on the cob. There were even fresh rolls with butter and Lauren laughed as she caught a drop in her mouth.
“I like seeing a girl eat. So many just order salads and pretend that they don’t want the steak on my plate. Both of my exes were like that in the beginning.” He smiled at her. “You make an art form out of it.”
“I’m not small by nature, Cole. I do enjoy food, but I know how to stay healthy.” Lauren took a bite of her chicken and laughed. “This is too damn good not to eat, you know?”
“I do know,” Cole agreed, as he gazed at her fondly for a long moment.
After they were done eating, he cleaned up the trash and placed it into a bag before they settled back against the tree trunk to look up at the stars. He patted the blanket beside him and she curled her feet beside her and sat against him. Cole wrapped an arm around her, and she smiled as she let his warmth press through their clothes. They looked at the stars and talked about the constellations for a while and sipped more wine. Lauren saw a shooting star and turned to look at him with wide eyes.
She pressed closer to him and kissed him, and Cole pulled her into his lap. Their lips met in a heated kiss and she slipped her arms around his neck and molded her body against his. Cole moaned against her mouth, and Lauren tilted her head to slide her tongue against his with a slow drag. Her body was on fire and she blushed when she felt her skirt slide up.
Cole pulled her closer as he drove his tongue into her mouth and slid a hand into her hair. Lauren broke away from him as she gasped and stared into his eyes. “I have something to tell you, Cole. I-” She looked at the stars as she tried to find her courage and focused on the Big Dipper. “I haven’t ever slept with anyone. I’m a virgin. Does that completely turn you off?”
“Not at all. I want to take this slow with you, Lauren. I am not in this for sex.” He pushed her hair back and kissed her gently. They made out for several more minutes before he carried the trash to the truck and looked at her. “Home?”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Lauren walked over with the blanket and tucked it into the truck when he opened the door for her. Lauren smiled as she slid into the seat and watched him walk around.
When they arrived home, he walked her to the door and kissed her hard. Lauren almost begged him to take her back to his place. It was just a small house a few miles away, but Cole always told her that he preferred Adam’s house because it was full of life. She merely pressed her lips to his in a big kiss as she clung to his muscular neck and memorized his taste. Cole told her that he’d see her the following day before he stumbled back to his truck and she opened the front door.
Jane was just pulling a cake out of the fridge and Lauren groaned as she looked at the chocolate treat. “For me?” They sat down at the table and drank milk as they ate generous slices. Lauren looked at Jane and swallowed her bite before
she spoke. “I want Cole. Is it too soon?”
Jane laughed and sipped her milk. “I waited a week with Adam, so I am the wrong person to ask. But as far as you and Cole go, it has been developing since the night that you met. I wanted you together more than anything, and so did Adam, but this happened on its own. We just put the idea out there.” She looked at Lauren. “Are you scared of it being your first time?”
Lauren looked around to make sure that they were alone before she shrugged. “Not really. I mean, I am nineteen, and I just feel so ready with him. I feel so much for him, Jane.”
“He feels a lot for you as well. His eyes just shine when he looks at you. I’m jealous,” Jane teased her. She laughed as Lauren gaped at her.
“Yeah, you and Adam have nothing on us, right?” Lauren laughed as she noticed Jane blush. “What? Did you guys break up?”
“No. Hell, no,” Jane assured her, beaming. “Quite the opposite.” She revealed her left hand and Lauren noticed the vintage diamond ring before she gasped.
“Oh my God. He proposed! Is that why Cole asked me out?” Lauren asked. Jane laughed.
“From what Adam told me, he was quite into the picnic with or without this. I am so happy, Lauren! I know I am only twenty, but Adam is my life,” Jane gushed. Lauren jumped up and hugged her tight. “Help me plan? I mean, I know that Mom’s going to be all up in our business, but I need you.”
“I am not going anywhere,” Lauren assured her as they started to cry together.
Chapter Five
The months started to move faster. Adam and Jane went to visit her parents to make wedding plans, and Lauren found herself alone with Cole in the house a couple of months into their relationship. They had edged closer to intimacy with every moment alone and tonight she knew that it was time. Her body hated her every time that she left him, and she got them some beer and headed out to the deck where he was waiting for her to stargaze. It was Saturday night and there was no early morning the following day.
