Kiss Me Cowboy (Cowboys of Crested Butte Book 3)

by Heather Slade

  Blythe pulled away from her dad.

  “What?”

  “Bree needs you,” she said softly.

  “So do you,” he answered, pulling her back into him. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You can let go.”

  Blythe buried her face in her father’s shoulder and let herself cry.

  At the cemetery on the Air Force Academy grounds, Zack’s brother read the list of the awards his brother was being given posthumously—the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. Again, to Blythe, none of that mattered. Every time she looked at her sister, she saw a broken heart no award would mend.

  After they lowered the casket into the ground, the minister asked that the family be given some privacy, and the crowd dispersed respectfully.

  Blythe saw Liv and Renie walking to another part of the cemetery. She had forgotten that Renie’s father was buried here, too.

  9

  Zack’s family came back to her parents’ house, and several of Bree and Zack’s friends came, too. As they were leaving the cemetery, Renie asked if she wanted them to come to the house, but Blythe told her it would be okay if they didn’t. Blythe wanted to escape for a little while, if only to her bedroom. If Renie and Billy came to the house, she’d feel as though she’d have to talk to them.

  “Take me for a drive?” she said to Tucker when he walked in the front door.

  He didn’t answer but put his jacket back on and turned around.

  “I’ll tell my mom—”

  He nodded his head and slipped out the door before she finished her sentence.

  Tucker needed a few minutes to himself. He doubted he’d have that long, but he’d take whatever time he could get. He’d never wanted to bury himself in a woman more than he wanted to right now. And not only for her comfort, for his, too.

  Grief was palpable, and it had surrounded both of them the last few days. Witnessing it had brought it all back to him. It hadn’t been her pain alone he experienced. He relived his own pain—it engulfed him.

  He wanted to feel something else, anything. All he could think about was running his hands over Blythe’s body, nuzzling himself into her, and holding her nakedness next to his own.

  She said she wanted to go for a drive. He hoped she knew where she wanted to go. He’d been staying at the inn in Palmer Lake, and right now, it was the only place he could think to take her.

  Blythe opened the door and slid onto the seat next to him, and brought her mouth to his. “I need you, Tucker,” she whispered.

  The first time she and Tucker kissed, it had been slow and languid. This kiss was nothing like that. It was hot and hard. It took her breath away and made her want to climb on top of him right there, in her parents’ driveway.

  He pulled away first.

  “Blythe, honey, stop for a minute.”

  She froze. What was she doing? Her sister’s husband had just died. What must he think of her? She lunged for the passenger door.

  “Wait,” he said, grabbing her arm. “Where are you going?”

  “It’s okay. If you don’t want this—”

  “Hold on.” He pulled her back inside. “I didn’t say that.” He took a deep breath. “There isn’t anything I want more.”

  “Why did you stop, then?”

  “Let’s get something straight right now. It isn’t because I don’t want you.”

  She watched his mouth as he spoke. She wanted him to stop talking and kiss her instead.

  “You gotta stop looking at me like that.”

  She closed her eyes. If he didn’t have an iron grip on her, she’d try to scoot away again. She shifted to see if he would let her go.

  “Blythe. Please. Stop moving, baby. Sit still for a minute. I’m trying to talk to you.”

  “Since when do you want to talk?”

  Tucker started the truck but kept his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

  “What are you doing?”

  He didn’t answer. If she didn’t want him to talk, he wouldn’t.

  “Tucker?”

  He stopped at the end of the block, pulled the truck over, and kissed her again.

  Couldn’t she feel the heat between them? How could she think he didn’t want her? But he didn’t want it like this. He wanted them to connect, to comfort each other. When his body touched hers, he wanted to know their souls were touching, too.

  He put the truck back in gear.

  “Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?”

  He didn’t answer.

  She crossed her arms in front of her. Didn’t she know what it did to her breasts when she did that?

  He pulled around to the back door of the inn and parked the truck.

  “Look at me,” he said. “Is this what you want, Blythe? Because, if it isn’t, you need to tell me now. If we do this, everything changes. Everything.”

  Was she ready? Part of her had been ready the first time he kissed her, on the porch of Ben Rice’s house in Crested Butte. When he’d slid his hand up and cupped her breast, she’d wanted him to make love to her there and then. And later that night, on their way home from dinner, when Tucker had stopped the truck and kissed her. She’d been ready then, too.

  “Blythe, answer me.”

  She looked into his eyes. Yes, she was ready. She told herself Tucker and Jace confused her, that she didn’t know which of the Rice twins she wanted, but the truth was, she’d known all along. Even when they’d met and she looked into his brooding eyes, she’d known then she wanted him and no one else.

  “I want this, Tucker,” she breathed.

  His hand gripped her neck as his lips covered hers, taking possession of her mouth. His other hand slid up under her shirt and caressed her skin.

  “Let’s go inside.” He wanted every part of her body touching his. Even when they got to the door of his room, he didn’t want to let her go. His heart pounded as adrenaline surged through his veins. He couldn’t breathe with wanting her.

  He wouldn’t let go of her until he could lay his body on hers. His shoulder hit the light switch when he opened the door, and they walked inside the room.

  She climbed on the bed and lay on her back. Tucker rested his elbows on either side of her. He wasn’t gentle or easy when he pressed his hard body onto hers. He took possession of her mouth in the same way he planned to take possession of her body, as soon as he could.

  She turned her face to the side, and he saw her tears.

  “Sweetheart...” He rolled so they were side by side, and held her while she cried. “Get it out, baby. Cry as long as you need to. I’ve got you.”

  Blythe had tried so hard to hold it in, keep it from her sister and her family, but now it poured out of her. Once she started crying, she couldn’t stop.

  “I want more, Tucker.” She wanted his hands on her. She pulled back and rolled so she was straddling his body, and rested her hands on his chest.

  Tucker put his hands on her waist, pushing up her shirt as he did. Blythe grabbed the hem and pulled it off. He nuzzled his head between her breasts, wrapped his arms around her waist, and unfastened her bra. He pulled it away as she shimmied her arms from it. When his cheek met her skin, she shuddered. When his mouth replaced his cheek, she cried out.

  He rolled again, so she was back under him. With one hand, he unzipped her pants. She helped slide them down over her hips then her legs then her feet.

  Tucker caressed her bare hip, shifted to his side, and gazed at her nakedness. His lips followed the path his hands ran over her body.

  She was in agony. As much as she knew he would take his time, she didn’t want him to. Blythe grabbed at his jeans, trying to unzip them, urging him to be as naked as she was.

  He let go of her and stood. “Be right back.”

  “Wait. Where are you going?”

  Tucker rummaged through his shaving kit. She watched as he closed his eyes and looked up at the ceiling.

  “Blythe, honey. God, I’m so sorry. I d
on’t have any condoms.”

  “It’s okay; I’m on the pill.”

  “I haven’t—”

  “Tucker, I don’t want to talk. Please, get the rest of your clothes off. Now.”

  She closed her eyes, praying he would listen to her. When she opened them, his clothes were off and he was kneeling next to her. He pushed his way between her legs and came down on top of her, resting his arms on either side of her. He pulled her as close as he could and slid inside her.

  She took possession of his mouth in the same way he had hers. He began to move, and before she could catch her breath, they both cried out together.

  When Jace got to the house, he looked for Blythe and Tucker, but couldn’t find either of them. He peeked his head into the music room.

  “They left,” someone said.

  The voice, coming from the dark and quiet room, startled him.

  “I’m sorry I disturbed you.”

  He thought he heard a laugh, but he quickly realized it was sobbing instead. It had to be Bree, but it was too dark for him to be sure.

  “Can I do anything for you?”

  “Everyone keeps asking me that. There’s only one thing anyone can do.”

  “What’s that, sweetheart?” he asked.

  “Bring him back to me.”

  Blythe and Tucker made love all night, over and over again—both insatiable. When the sun rose, they slept. Later, he woke her again with his mouth, and they began the dance again.

  “Do you need anything?” he whispered when they both were, once again, sated.

  “I’m hungry.”

  Tucker didn’t have to move very far to reach the menu where it sat on the nightstand. “What looks good?”

  “You decide.”

  He smiled down at her. He’d guessed that first time they’d had dinner that Blythe liked when he decided for her. A lot, in fact. He pressed the button on the room phone and ordered.

  He was still on top of her, resting most of his weight on her body. He had to be hurting her, but she showed no sign of it. She shifted so he rested between her legs. She reached down and put him inside her. She didn’t seem to care that he was still on the phone as she began to move beneath him. It was all he could do to hang up rather than let the phone fall to the floor.

  “I should check in,” she said later.

  “Who with?”

  “I didn’t tell my mom where we were going.”

  “I texted Renie. She let your mom know.”

  “How did you get Renie’s number?”

  “I used your phone.”

  “Why didn’t you text my mom?”

  “I told Renie it was me and asked her to let everyone know you were here with me. It would’ve been a much different conversation with your mother, even if it was only a text.”

  “Oh.”

  Tucker figured things out and took care of what needed to be taken care of. He made decisions, and he acted on them. Shouldn’t she appreciate that about him and not make a big deal about the fact that he used her phone and messaged someone? With his lips on her neck, slowly making their way down her body, she decided not to question a damn thing Tucker did. At least not right now.

  Jace was in the kitchen, having coffee with Paige, wondering where Tucker and Blythe were. He knew she was with him; he just didn’t know where.

  “She’s with your brother, and it’s the best place for her right now.”

  He nodded, wishing she wasn’t right. “I know Tucker will take care of her.”

  “Jace, do you know my oldest daughter, Brooke?”

  Jace stood to shake the hand of the woman who had stalked into the kitchen.

  “Where did you say Blythe is?” Brooke stood with her hands on her hips, ignoring Jace and glaring at her mother.

  “She’s with Jace’s brother, Tucker.”

  “Did she spend the night with him?”

  “Brooke, Blythe is a grown woman, who shouldered more than her share of responsibility over the course of the last several days. Let it go. It’s none of your business.”

  Mark walked into the kitchen as Brooke stormed out.

  “What’s wrong with her?” he asked.

  “She asked where Blythe was, and when I told her it was none of her business, she stormed out.” Paige turned to Jace. “Sorry, she’s not our most sociable daughter. I need some fresh air.” Paige went out on the deck and closed the door behind her.

  Maybe coming over here this morning hadn’t been Jace’s best idea, especially since Bree came in and sat at the dining room table, next to him.

  “Where did you say Blythe is?” she asked.

  “Out with some guy,” Brooke answered from the other room. “Overnight, I might add.” She came back into the kitchen and stood next to Bree’s chair.

  Bree stood and tried to get past her sister, who blocked her from leaving.

  “For Christ’s sake, Brooke, why the hell don’t you go back to Germany?”

  Brooke looked from Bree to her father, expecting him to defend her. He only raised an eyebrow. Jace wanted to excuse himself, but in order to do so, he’d have to walk between the sisters whose argument was becoming increasingly heated.

  “She isn’t a little girl anymore, you know,” Bree went on, glaring at Brooke. “She doesn’t have to ask permission to stay out all night. Especially from you.”

  “So you’re okay with her acting like a slut?”

  Jace watched the tension travel up Bree’s spine, into her arms, up her neck, until it settled in bright red splotches on her face. He saw her bring her hand back, and before he could stop her, Bree slapped her sister across the face. The crack of her palm meeting her sister’s cheek resounded through the kitchen, and the force behind it shook the coffee cups hanging near the coffee maker.

  Brooke stood motionless with her hand on her cheek, looking at her father.

  “I think you should leave, Brooke,” he said.

  “But, Dad—”

  “Brooke!” he shouted. “Leave.”

  Brooke stormed out of the kitchen, the same way she had a few minutes earlier.

  “I won’t apologize to her, Daddy.”

  “I don’t expect you to.”

  “She’s a condescending bitch.”

  “She can be that.”

  “I’m not putting up with anybody’s shit.”

  “You could say we picked up on that already, Bree.”

  Jace stood to make his exit, hoping no one would notice.

  “Where are you going?” Bree challenged him.

  Jace looked around the kitchen, hoping she was talking to anyone but him.

  Mark put his hand on Jace’s shoulder. “You don’t have sisters, do you?”

  Jace shook his head, cursing himself again for coming over here this morning. “No, sir,” he answered.

  “Drama has been a steady part of my life for thirty years. I forget not everyone is used to it. Can I get you anything?”

  “I’d love a Bloody Mary,” Bree answered before Jace could.

  “You got it. How about you, Jace?”

  “Sounds good. Thanks.” A little alcohol might help ease the tension that had engulfed the room, and him along with it. “What can I do to help?”

  Mark pointed Jace in the direction of the liquor cabinet while he pulled ingredients from the pantry.

  “We like to make our own,” Mark explained, waving his hand over the full counter. “Mix your own poison.”

  By the time Paige came back inside, Bree was almost finished with her first drink, and Mark was in the midst of laying out a breakfast buffet.

  “How are you this morning, baby?” she asked Bree.

  “Better now that she took out some of her anger on her older sister,” Mark answered.

  “What happened?”

  “I slapped her.”

  Paige looked at Mark.

  “She deserved it.”

  Paige got up to look for Brooke, but Bree put her hand on her mother’s arm. “Stay, Mo
m. Please,” she said softly.

  Paige sat back down, and Jace downed the contents of his first drink of the day. Something told him there’d be more.

  “I should ask you to take me home.”

  “Why?” Tucker had no intention of taking her home, whether she asked or not. He needed her with him, and whether she realized it or not, she needed him.

  “I don’t know, for Bree mainly. I feel as though I deserted her.”

  “She has the rest of your family with her. She’ll be okay. You were there for the hardest part.”

  “But my older sister can be…kind of a bitch. Maybe I should at least call and see how’s she’s doing.”

  “If it makes you feel better.”

  Blythe opened the sliding glass door and went out on the patio. She intended to call home, but she called Renie instead.

  “I’m with Tucker.”

  “I heard.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He texted me. Didn’t he tell you?”

  “Oh yeah, he did.”

  “I guess Bree and Brooke got into a fist fight over it.”

  “What?”

  “Sorry, I was joking. It wasn’t quite that bad. But your mom told my mom that Bree slapped her.”

  “She slapped Brooke?”

  “Yeah.”

  That made them both laugh. If there was anyone who deserved to be slapped every now and then, it was Brooke.

  “Wait, which part were you joking about? Did Bree slap Brooke over something to do with me?”

  “She did. I guess Brooke was making a fuss about you being out all night, and both Bree and your mom told her to mind her own business.”

  Blythe had never gotten along with her oldest sister. Brooke married the first guy she ever had sex with, and she was pretty sure they’d waited until after they were married. There wasn’t anything wrong with living your life that way, until you started to preach to everyone else about it. That was the part Blythe didn’t like. Bree didn’t either.