“Earl Sanders sent you?” an older man asked her.
“Yes, sir.” She nodded.
“Priscilla, this is my dad, Arden and my mom, Bridget. These are Reid’s parents, Declan and Catherina. Devin and Jaxon’s parents, Killian and Darcy, and that’s Uncle Liam, who’s not married. This is Reid’s fiancée, Lucy Albright, and her little boy, Zeke.”
“Z-man, Uncle Roark,” the little boy corrected him, pronouncing Roark’s name as Woark.
“Sorry, Z-man,” Roark said grinning.
Priscilla crouched down and put her hand out to the little boy. “Hello, Z-man.”
“Hi.” He shook her hand then started hopping around on one foot.
Chuckling, Priscilla took a seat beside Lucy. She was a beautiful woman with dark hair and blue eyes.
“My son rarely stays still,” she said with a smile and a shoulder shrug.
“He’s adorable,” Priscilla said as she watched Zeke run around the table and jump on Declan Callahan’s lap.
“Thank you. He’s the spitting image of his daddy.”
“Are you ready for your wedding? I met Reid not too long ago.”
“Oh yeah, I’m so ready to marry him.” Lucy smiled.
“I’m sure you are. He loves you a lot. I could tell by the way he spoke about getting married.”
“The Callahan men are the best. They fall in love fast and love deep.”
Priscilla nodded and looked around. She saw Roark, Reid, Devin, and Jaxon standing against the wall talking. They were all so good-looking. In fact, the older Callahan men were too.
A short time later, Lucy talked her into to heading for the dance floor to line dance. When they were heading back to the table out of breath, Reid strolled toward Lucy, took her hand, and led her back to the dance floor when the band played A Chance by Kenny Chesney. Priscilla was sure she heard Lucy sigh.
“Would you like to dance?” Roark asked her from beside her, his arm coming around her waist.
“I’d love to,” she said smiling as Roark took her hand and led her to the dance floor. It was a beautiful night and she loved being in his arms. “I can’t wait to get back to your house.”
Roark pulled back and raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
“Oh, please. You know why. We’re going to make up for lost time. We haven’t had sex since yesterday, in case you forgot,” she whispered in his ear.
“Trust me, darlin’, I haven’t forgotten.” He kissed the shell of her ear making her shiver.
When the song ended, they made their way back to the table. The Callahans loved teasing each other but she could feel the love. She watched as a woman approached Jaxon and asked him to dance. Priscilla looked at Roark and raised an eyebrow.
“She’s a guest. This is the only time they allow any fraternizing with guests, but only if the guests asks them to dance. I know Jaxon is never happy about it but he won’t turn a guest down.”
“I see. Everyone in your family is terrific.”
“Thanks,” Roark said grinning then he frowned when he saw Devin standing beside his chair. “Go away.”
Devin laughed. “Okay, but only if Priscilla will dance with me.”
“Damn you, Devin,” Roark growled at him.
Priscilla laughed. “I’d love to dance.”
Devin smirked at Roark then took her hand and led her to the floor. When the band started playing Craving You by Thomas Rhett, Priscilla was sure Devin would turn back around since it was a fast song. She was so wrong. He spun her all around the floor and she couldn’t stop laughing. The man could certainly dance. Once the song ended, they walked back to the table and Devin gave her a bow then walked around the table to take a seat. She swore she heard Roark grumble something.
“Did you say something?” she asked Roark, trying not to laugh.
“No. Damn Devin. He makes all of us look bad just because he can dance.”
“Oh, come on, cowboy. I’d rather slow dance one dance with you than a hundred fast dances with Devin.”
“Glad to hear that. Let’s dance.” He stood and put his hand out then led her to the floor then wrapped his arms around her as they moved together to a slow song.
“Can we go now?” she whispered in his ear.
“Damn straight,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the exit.
“Shouldn’t you say goodnight to everyone?”
“Hell, no! We’re just going to disappear.”
Two tall, gorgeous men stopped in front of them just as they exited the barn. Priscilla was sure all the sexy men of the world lived in Montana as she looked at them. They were grinning big as they stared at Roark. She heard him mutter something under his breath and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well, well, well...who do we have here, Roark?” one of them asked.
“This is Priscilla Butler, a writer for Western Cowboy magazine. Priscilla, this is Gage and JD Beckett. They live in Hartland and are friends of mine or were unless they let us get going.”
She laughed along with the men. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you both.”
They stood about the same height as Roark and had dark brown hair, and amazing ice blue eyes. Each one shook her hand in turn. Damn, the men around here were truly hot.
“Gage and JD are bull riders, and Gage is also a great bulldogger,” Roark told her.
Gage grinned. “I’m touched.”
“Great, then get the fuck out of my way,” Roark growled at them and pulled her hand to walk around them. The men laughed and stepped aside.
“Have a good time...getting that...article written,” JD called out behind them.
“Damn, fucking smartasses,” Roark grumbled making her burst out laughing.
They were almost to the truck when a happy looking couple stopped them. She snorted when Roark swore under his breath.
“Hey, Roark! How are you?”
“I’m good, Brayden. I just saw your brothers.”
“Yeah, I saw them too.” Brayden looked at Priscilla and smiled. “Hello.”
“Hi,” she said. Dayum! Another gorgeous cowboy.
Roark introduced them. “Priscilla, this is Brayden and Melissa Beckett. This is Priscilla Butler.”
Apparently, he’d gotten tired of introducing her as a writer for the magazine or perhaps he was tired of getting teased about her. She smiled and shook hands with them each then Roark tugged on her hand again as he walked around them. Their laughter didn’t have him stopping at all. They finally reached the truck but as he opened the door, Sam stopped them again and this time, Roark swore aloud. “Shit!”
“Leaving so soon?” Sam asked with a smile tugging at his lips.
“Go to hell, Sam,” Roark said then saw the woman with him. “Oh...hi, Tess...I’m sorry but your husband is being a pain in the ass.”
“You should be used to that, Roark,” she said laughing.
Roark chuckled and introduced Priscilla to Sam’s wife, Tess, and then he helped her into the truck. He told Sam and Tessa goodnight then strode around the truck, climbed in, and winked at Priscilla. The thought of how eager he was to get her home had her wiggling in her seat as he started the truck, and with gravel sliding under his wheels, steered the truck for his ranch.
“What is a bulldogger?” she asked as they journeyed down the nearly empty road.
“Oh, it’s another name for steer wrestler. Gage is the best at it.”
The thought of how dangerous that was had her suppressing a shiver. “Why would anyone want to jump off a perfectly good horse to try to tackle a huge beast like a steer?”
“Same reason I ride mean as hell bulls. Adrenaline rush.”
“Is Gage or JD married?”
“JD’s not. Gage is, but he’s been separated now for two years. His wife left after the first winter she experienced here. It’s not for everyone here. Montana winters can be mighty harsh.”
Priscilla nodded and stared out the windshield. She’d welcome harsh winters if it meant spending
them with Roark.
ROARK HOPED HE WOULD make it to the ranch without embarrassing himself. He was so hard just thinking about having her that he was surprised he didn’t come right now. Glancing over at her, he mentally groaned. The dress she wore was beautiful and hugged her breasts then flowed out from the hips, ending a little above her knees and those cowboy boots she wore looked great on her. Maybe he could get her to keep them on while he fucked her. He grinned at the thought and felt his pants tighten more.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked him with a tilt of her head.
“You...uh...keeping those boots on while we have sex.”
She gasped then laughed. “Well, I’m game if you are, cowboy.”
“Damn,” he groaned, his foot pressing harder on the accelerator so the truck picked up speed. Big mistake, it seemed. He swore when blue and red lights flashed behind him in the rear view mirror. He steered the truck over to the berm, threw the gear into Park, and waited. If it was Sam Garrett, he was definitely going to get a piece of his mind, but then he also knew it couldn’t be Sam—this wasn’t his jurisdiction.
“Way to go,” Priscilla said laughing and drawing a frown from him.
“Shit,” he muttered as he put the window down when someone came alongside.
“In a hurry, Roark?”
Roark looked over to see Sheriff Grayson Beckett.
“Hey Gray, was I speeding?” He whipped his head around and glared when Priscilla snorted.
“Twenty over the posted limit. You turn into a pumpkin at midnight or something?” Gray leaned his elbow on the windowsill of the truck then looked in at Priscilla and a grin split his face.
“Just give me the fucking ticket and let me go,” Roark growled.
Gray put his fingers to his hat as he looked at Priscilla. “Ma’am.”
“Hello...uh, sheriff or deputy?”
“Grayson is the Sheriff here I told you about.”
“You were talking about me? How nice,” Gray said grinning.
“Just give me the damn ticket, Gray, so I can go. I want to get home.”
“I can see why.” Gray’s lips twitched as he winked at Priscilla.
“Fuck you, Beckett.”
Gray burst out laughing. “You know...if you were anyone else, I’d haul your ass in, but since we’re...friends, I’ll let you go.”
“Why are you working anyway? You’re usually off on the weekends.”
“Kent’s on vacation.”
“I see. I just saw your brothers. It’s real good to see Brayden.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Can I go now?”
“Sure, but slow your damn ass down or I will take you in.”
Roark saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Gray looked at Priscilla again. “Have a good night and don’t let him speed.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Behave Roark. The ranch will still be there.”
Taking a deep breath, Roark nodded. It was a good thing that Grayson was a friend because any other law enforcement officer would have taken his license. Hell, being twenty miles over the limit he could have lost his license right there. He put the gear into Drive and pulled out, throwing gravel up behind the back tires. He chuckled when he saw Gray throw his hands up.
“Roark Callahan, you’re supposed to slow down, not speed up,” Priscilla chastised him.
“I’m just glad he didn’t ask me to step from the truck because he would have seen my fly stretched to its limit.” Priscilla snorted again and burst out laughing. Roark glanced over at her and scowled. “You have no idea how hard I am and it’s all your fault. If I don’t get us to the house, it’s going to happen in this truck.”
“Again, I’m game if you are.”
“You’re going to kill me,” he muttered as he turned his eyes back to the road.
“Why was it good to see Brayden? Has he been gone?”
Roark took a deep breath. “Yeah. He was in prison for five years for murdering his wife.” At Priscilla’s gasp, he continued. “He didn’t do it though. Her own sister killed her because she wanted Brayden for herself.” Roark shook his head. “He never would have left Maisy for Tara. He loved Maisy.”
“How did they figure it out?”
“Tara told him she couldn’t wait for him to get out so they could be together. When Brayden told her, he’d never get out unless they found out who did it; it was then, that Tara said something to the effect that she’d done it for them. Brayden called his attorney and they had him wear a wire when she went back to visit him. She’s in prison now on death row because she was found guilty of first-degree murder. It was premeditated.”
“Oh, wow. That’s so sad. He seems happy though with Melissa.”
“He is now. At first, he wanted nothing to do with her. She was Maisy’s best friend and has always been in love with him. He just had no desire to fall again. He thought Maisy was the only love of his life. He says now that he was damn lucky to find it twice.”
“I love that. He seems like a nice person.”
“He is and no one around here believed he killed her. We all knew he loved Maisy. He left Hartland to move to Texas for her.”
“I’m glad he’s happy again.”
Roark nodded while he drove the truck up to the back door, where he stopped, threw the gear into Park, and barely shut off the engine before he climbed out. He started to go around to her side to help her out, but she met him at the front of the truck. Taking her hand in his, he led her inside and had Snowy go out then he pushed the door shut, and turned to look at her. She stood in the middle of the kitchen with a smile on her face and her hands behind her back. When she bit her lip, he swore he orgasmed a little. He strode toward her making her walk backwards until her back came up against the wall then he stood so close to her, he could feel her body heat. She raised those amazing green eyes at him and he removed her glasses setting them on the countertop.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said as he leaned down and kissed her cheek then moved his lips to her ear and down her neck. He ran his hands up her thighs, lifting her dress then slid one to the elastic of her panties and dipped his finger inside to her slit. Her gasp filled his ear. He raised his head and looked at her lips, which were slightly parted. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, making it wet. He leaned in and kissed her lips roughly, parting them more and moving his tongue inside.
Her hands cupped his face, and he gave her a groan of deep longing. Moving both hands to her panties, he ripped them from her making her gasp again. She reached between them and unsnapped his jeans then lowered the zipper and reached inside to grasp his hard cock in her hands. Roark quickly reached for his wallet. She quickly shoved his jeans down past his hips. Roark lifted her and her legs wrapped around his waist as he rummaged in his wallet.
“Shit, I don’t have a condom,” he said scowling, and thinking it might be better to take this to his bedroom.
“I’m on the pill. Just fuck me,” she demanded, pulling him toward her.
“Oh...yes, ma’am, I will,” he told her then thrust into her making her suck in her breath. “Okay?”
“Oh, God, yes.” She bucked her hips against him.
“I’m not going to last if you keep that up, baby.”
“I need you fast and hard, Roark. Now.” She bit his earlobe.
“Good, because it’s how I need you too.” He pulled out then slammed back into her.
Her arms wrapped around his neck and her ankles hooked at his back as they moved against each other.
“Kiss me,” she begged.
He took her lips in a hard, deep kiss, thrusting his tongue into her mouth where hers began to duel with his. He moved his hands around to grasp her ass and pull her tighter against him. Her inner muscles clenched around his dick. She tore her mouth from his and tossed her head back—slamming it into the wall.
“Ouch.” She rubbed her head but then started laughing.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concerned for her
but trying not to laugh.
“Fine...I’m fine. Don’t stop.”
“No worries there,” he growled out as he pumped into her harder.
When she came hard, she screamed his name and it threw him over the edge with her. He buried his face in her neck and groaned out her name as he throbbed inside of her.
Later, he lay in bed beside her, holding her as she slept.
Son of a bitch. He was in so much trouble here. Damn Callahan curse. The men of this family fell fast, and they fell hard. What was he going to do now? She’d be gone in two weeks. Next week was the rodeo and then on to Butte. After that, she’d go back to California and he’d travel the circuit, or be here, working the ranch. There was no way he’d leave his hometown. His ranch was here and he loved the people and the area. His family was here. He could live anywhere since he had the money to do so but Spring City was home. The thought of living in California had him breaking out in a cold sweat. There’s nothing wrong with California but it was nothing like Montana.
What the hell was he thinking? It hadn’t even come up between them about either of them moving. For all he knew this was nothing but a fling to her. Admittedly, he’d be a liar if he said he hadn’t thought about the two of them being together, her moving here perhaps but he’d never move. He thought about his friend, Brayden...moving to be with a woman hadn’t worked out too well for him. Roark would never risk the life he had for a woman. Although this was different, he had never cared for any woman as much as he cared for Priscilla. Was this love?
Blowing out a breath, he gently moved her off him, sat up, and ran his hand down his face. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, stood, and left the bedroom to head for the kitchen to get a drink of water. Snowy followed him and sat down in front of him. The dog gazed up at him. Roark opened the fridge, took out a bottle of water, and twisted the cap off. He took a long drink then looked down at his dog.
“What are you looking at? I’m in trouble here, boy. I think I’ve lost my heart to that incredible woman, only when she leaves, she’s going to take it with her. What am I supposed to do?” Snowy lay down, rested his head on his paws, and let out a big sigh making Roark chuckle. “Exactly how I feel, boy. Let’s go back to bed. I need to enjoy this while I can.”
A Cowboy of Her Own Page 11
