Texas Roses (The Devil's Horn Ranch Series)

by Samantha Christy

  She turns her head. “It’s okay. I want you to.”

  “You sure?”

  “Quinn, are you going to fuck my ass, or do I need to get my vibrator?”

  I laugh. “Get ready for a damn ride.” I crouch down and get a condom from my jeans. I suppose lube would be good, but we don’t have any. I run my fingers through her wetness and pull it back to her hole, then I coat my dick with whip cream just in case. When I push inside her, we both groan. I thought her pussy was tight, but this is amazing.

  I pump in and out, ready to shoot off at the exquisite feeling. Then I realize her hand has traveled between her legs. I reach around and move it, putting my finger on her clit. “The only one who’s going to make you come is me.”

  “Then do it, cowboy.”

  She reaches underneath and handles my balls. She pushes herself into me, making me go harder, deeper. “I’m gonna come,” I say.

  With one finger on her clit and a hand squeezing her breast, she shouts, screams, convulses, and shudders all at once. I do the same before I collapse onto her back.

  I chuckle. “I really do think they might have heard you at the lodge.”

  Her laughter pushes my dick out of her.

  “Jesus, Amber. That was fucking hot.”

  “I know, right?”

  The way she says it lets me know this might have been my first time doing it this way, but it wasn’t hers. I have to keep myself from being jealous of all the guys who’ve been here before me. I’ve never been jealous. Never had a reason to be. I turn her around and stare into her eyes. “I don’t want anyone else to ever touch you. Got it?”

  “Are you… claiming me?”

  “Hell yes, I am. Are you letting me?”

  She bites down on her lower lip and smiles.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Amber

  “How’d our little Josie sleep last night?” Sophie asks on her third day.

  “She’s slept better the past few nights.”

  “That’s because she’s getting more stimulation. All the walks I take her on. The toys we play with. Even just talking to her. It’s her job to take in the world and learn new things every day. I’m not surprised her sleep has improved.”

  “You’re doing a great job with her.”

  She glances around the living room. “Is Quinn working?”

  I have the inclination to make her call him Mr. Thompson, but that might be a bit territorial of me, so I don’t. And I’m not jealous. I know he’s not interested. But a small part of me knows how he is—or used to be anyway. Will he tire of me? Or me of him? I keep waiting for it to happen. Even through a week of Josie, we’ve managed not to break up, stray, or even fight.

  “He is. He’ll be gone most of the day.”

  I try not to think too much about what he’s doing. He’s flying. The helicopter has been fixed. He took it out yesterday to test it, and today, he’s picking up guests at the airport. I know he said it was a one-in-a-million fluke, but what if it happens again? I’ve read of people winning the lottery twice—the odds of that are probably way greater than one in a million.

  My alarm goes off. “I have to get to a meeting. You okay here?”

  She picks up Josie. “We’re great. Hey, would you mind if I took her to the store to pick up a few things for dinner?”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I enjoy cooking. And Josie is so easy.”

  Easy. I laugh, thinking of our first few days with her. “Knock yourself out,” I say, taking money from my purse and leaving on the table for her. “I know we’ll both appreciate whatever you make.”

  “Do you want to ask Quinn if I can take her?”

  “He’s probably up in the air. It’s fine.”

  “I don’t mean to overstep, but it doesn’t seem to me like you’re Josie parents. Am I missing something? Did you recently adopt her? Did someone die and leave her to you?”

  “It’s complicated. I’m not her mother, and we’re waiting on a paternity test to see if Quinn is her father.”

  “I’m sorry I pried.”

  “It’s fine. Just know you’re a godsend.”

  She smiles. “I’m glad you think so. And I hope you’ll keep me on if you do end up needing a nanny after three weeks.”

  I thumb to the bedroom. “I have to get to work. See you for dinner.”

  It still feels strange walking into anyone’s house uninvited. You’d get arrested for that in New York City, but that’s how they do things around here. I knock once and open. “Devyn?”

  “In the kitchen!”

  I go back to see Andie, not Devyn. “I thought it was Devyn’s afternoon to watch the kids.”

  “I got fired.”

  “What?”

  She gets a few Diet Cokes, and we sit at her kitchen table. “The Double Duce informed me today that they’ll no longer be needing my vet services.”

  “Oh, gosh. Why?”

  “They didn’t say. But I’m sure it’s no coincidence that it happened right after Jon Thompson was released from prison.”

  “Why wouldn’t Jon want you working there?”

  “He couldn’t care less if I’m working there. He just wants to make my life more complicated. The joke’s on him, though, because I’m actually glad to have the extra time. After having Viv, I stopped working full time and was down to splitting my time between here and The Double Duce. I guess now I’ll just work here.”

  “How’d Maddox take it?”

  “I’m not sure if he knew whether he wanted to punch Jon or thank him. He doesn’t want me to go off the ranch. Guess he got his wish.”

  “Still, you can’t let Jon get his way.”

  “It’s definitely not the hill I’m going to die on.”

  “How dangerous is he?”

  “Very. I’d stay away from him if I were you. He hates Maddox. He almost raped me. Probably would have if the cavalry hadn’t shown up. And now he hates Quinn.”

  “Noted. I’ll watch my back.”

  She nods in the direction of the guest house. “So how are things? Sophie seems great.”

  “She is. I don’t know how you and Devyn manage without a nanny.”

  “It’s different when you have months and months to plan and anticipate. The two of you were blindsided. Don’t feel inadequate if you need help.” She cocks her head. “Can I ask what your plans are? What will you do if Josie is Quinn’s daughter?”

  “That’s the question of the year. Quinn won’t even talk about what he’ll do if that turns out to be the case. We’ve tried to contact any family. It seems other than Michelle, Josie’s only living relative is a maternal grandfather living in a retirement home in Naples, Florida, and he has Parkinson’s disease.”

  “So if Josie is his, he’ll have no choice but to raise her if Michelle won’t. Would you be willing to take that on?”

  “To be honest, he wouldn’t have to ask twice. I see so much of myself in her.”

  She smiles empathetically. “While I admire your willingness, I just want you to be sure you’d be doing it for Quinn and not just Josie.”

  I grin. “Is this you being protective of him?”

  “I may not have started out liking him very much, but he’s grown on me over the years, and now he’s family. In case you haven’t noticed, here at Devil’s Horn Ranch, we take care of our own.”

  “I have noticed.”

  “You’re one of those, you know. You’re family too.”

  “Am I?”

  “If you want to be.”

  “I do.”

  “Good. Now tell me what’s going on with you and Quinn.”

  I make sure Vivian is out of earshot, although I’m sure she wouldn’t understand. “Lots and lots of hot sex.”

  She sighs. “I remember those days. Don’t get me wrong, we still have our moments, but there’s nothing like the newness of a relationship.”

  “It’s still strange hearing that word. I didn’t think I’d ever be in
a relationship, let alone one like this.”

  Her brows shoot up. “Are you in love with him?”

  I stiffen. “Love? Are you insane?”

  “Does your heart race when you see him?”

  I shrug, then nod.

  “When he leaves, does it feel like he’s taking a piece of you with him?”

  I blow out a long breath. “Every time.”

  “Can you picture your life without him?”

  “No, but—”

  “But nothing. You’re in love, girl. And I’d bet the ranch that he is too.”

  “I’m not so sure. What are the odds of a manwhore and a tramp hooking up, getting into a helicopter crash, making a temporary fuck-buddy pact, and then falling for each other?”

  She laughs and gets up, leaving the room to come back with a stack of paperback books. “You just described half the plots of Maddox’s mom’s books. You’d better watch out, or she’ll write one about the two of you someday.”

  “There’s nothing special about us.”

  “Are you crazy, Amber? With your backstory, the crash, and everything else you just told me, and then an unexpected kid being thrown into the mix, it’s an epic love story in the making.”

  Something inside me wishes it could be true. But something else inside me knows it could also be taken away as quickly as it came.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Quinn

  I make my daily call to Josie’s mom, better known as the bitch who dumped her kid on me two weeks ago.

  “I know what you’re pulling here, and it’s not going to work. You won’t get a goddamn cent out of me. Even if the kid is mine, I’ll make sure any money I give you goes to her and her alone. You think any judge is going to be sympathetic to a mom who abandons her kid to extort money? Call me. Better yet, come collect Josie before she starts hating you.” I put down the phone and see Amber standing in the doorway. Guilt consumes me. “How much did you hear?”

  “All of it.”

  “Did you hate Piper?”

  She comes over and sits at the table. “Hate? No. I think I was indifferent. I was thirteen when I found out her story. My dad never made it a secret that I was adopted, but he never told me I was the product of rape until I became a teenager. The older I got, the more curious I became, and when I turned eighteen, I knew I wanted to meet her.”

  “It’s been difficult for you.”

  She shrugs. “I guess. I mean, we all have our issues. Sometimes I just don’t know how to be around her. Around the whole Mitchell family. I feel like an imposter half the time, and the other half, it seems like they feel sorry for me.”

  “Maybe they just don’t know how to be around you either. You seem to be fine with Maddox and Aaron.”

  “I am. They’re pretty far removed. It’s more Piper and her sisters and their parents.”

  My phone rings. I look at it and then Amber. “Oh, shit. It’s Dr. Johansen. Maybe the results are back.”

  “She said they’d come right to you.” She nods at it. “Answer it, dummy.”

  “Hey, doc.”

  “Mr. Thompson. I hate to be the bearer of bad news.”

  My stomach drops. “Oh my god, is she mine?”

  “I told you last week I wouldn’t be the one to find out. But they did contact me as the physician who collected the samples. I’m afraid we’ll have to submit new ones. They didn’t say why, but I suspect faulty handling or some break in the chain of custody of the samples.”

  Although I’m relieved, I slap my palm on the table. “This will set us back an entire week.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. Will it help if I come to you? I’m one of those old-fashioned doctors who still makes house calls from time to time, and I’m going to be out that way this afternoon around two.”

  “I’d appreciate it.”

  “Okay, see you then.”

  I put the phone down.

  “What is it?” Amber asks impatiently.

  “They have to collect more samples. Something about the original ones not being good. The doctor is coming at two.” I look something up on my phone. “Do you think Sophie can stay late today?”

  “Maybe, why?”

  “Because I need to get on a bronc and work out some of this frustration.” I pull her toward me. “And then I need you to ride me like your life depends on it.”

  “Sounds like the perfect Friday night. I’ll ask her to stay. You might have to make it worth her while, though. It’ll put her over her hours.”

  Sophie walks into the room carrying Josie.

  “Can you stay late today?” I ask.

  “Probably. How late?”

  “It’s been a hell of day. If I give you five hundred cash to spend the night in the guest room, would you do it?”

  “Technically, I’m not supposed to. The agency frowns on us going over our hours.”

  “The agency won’t have to know.”

  She smiles. “If you don’t tell them, I won’t tell them.”

  “Deal.”

  “Mind if I run home and get my overnight bag?”

  “Not if you don’t mind if Amber and I cut out of here at three and don’t come back until tomorrow morning.”

  I tap around on my phone and make a reservation at a Fort Worth hotel. Amber leans close. “This night is sounding better and better.”

  Six hours later, I’m holding my side in pain. Damn horse threw me right into the fence. Amber meets me outside the gate. “That got a little too real,” she says.

  “Just wait until later. I’ll have one hell of a bruise.” I wink. “You can nurse me back to health.”

  “Let me see it.” I lift my shirt, and she covers her mouth. “Quinn, we should take you to the hospital. This looks bad.”

  “Nah. Cracked rib, probably. Nothing I haven’t had before.”

  “A broken rib? You definitely need medical attention.”

  “I can wrap it myself. There isn’t anything they can do, Amber. It’s not like they put you in a cast. If it snapped in two, we’d know it because it would have punched a hole in my lung or something.”

  “They can do that?”

  “I’ve seen it happen. Some dude died down in Austin last year when his rib punctured his diaphragm.” Concern crosses her face. “I’m fine. It’ll heal on its own. Although I’ll be benched from doing this for a while.”

  “Good.”

  “I thought you liked it.”

  “I did. Maybe not so much anymore.”

  “Mind telling me why?”

  “I don’t want anything bad happening to you.”

  “I thought you liked me being all dangerous.”

  “How long will it take to heal?”

  “Few weeks. A month, maybe. Depends on how bad it is.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “Ask me in a few days.”

  “Well, if it isn’t my dutiful son,” I hear from behind us.

  I turn to see my mom and Jon. “I don’t have time for this.”

  “Looks like you need a real man to teach you how to rodeo,” Jon says.

  “I know how to fucking rodeo. He took a bad turn, is all. It happens all the time.”

  “Or maybe you were distracted,” Mom says, eyeing Amber up and down. “Rumor has it you have a family now.”

  “You heard wrong.”

  “Nancy Gunderson saw you and a woman, who fits this one’s description, at her daughter’s pediatrician’s office last week.” She turns to Amber. “Is the baby my son’s, or are you trying to extort money from him?”

  “Shut the hell up, Karen,” I say. “What I do is none of your business.”

  “So it’s not yours. I figured as much. People have been trying to get what we have since your great-grandfather made us one of the wealthiest families in Texas.”

  “She’s nothing like you. She would never get pregnant just to hold on to a man and then try to pass the kid off as his. Talk about extortion—you’re the queen of extortion. Now get the hell ou
t of our way.”

  “You talk to your mother like that?” Jon says.

  “Mind keeping your voice down? I don’t want anyone here to know we’re related.”

  “Everyone knows you’re a Thompson. And make no mistake, you’ll always be a Thompson.”

  “In name only. Now, get out of the way.”

  “We ain’t done here,” Jon says.

  “Yes. We are. And if you continue to harass me in public, I’ll get a restraining order.”

  “Restraining orders are for pussies.”

  “I don’t care what you call me, Jon. We’re leaving.” I pull Amber close and walk away. “Don’t stop, even if he says something else. He loves to get under people’s skin.”

  “She isn’t nearly as pretty as the ones you usually sleep with,” Mom says loudly.

  Amber stiffens.

  “Ignore her,” I say. “Keep walking.”

  “She looks old,” Jon says. “Maybe she needs someone more experienced, like me. What do you say, sugar? Want a real man?”

  Amber turns and flips him off.

  “Don’t,” I say. “You’ll just fan the flames.”

  “He can’t talk to people like that.”

  “Has his whole life. You and I aren’t going to change that. He feels a sense of entitlement, even though he’s done nothing to deserve what he has.”

  We reach the truck. I wince when I climb in.

  “Is that why you don’t like to use your money?” she asks. “You think people will believe you’re undeserving?”

  “I am undeserving. I wasn’t even wanted, Amber. I was born to a mother who used me as a pawn.”

  “That makes you the most deserving of anyone.”

  “You think?”

  She nods. “I do.”

  I smile crookedly. “Then let’s go spend some of my money at the grocery store.”

  “You hungry?”

  “We need supplies.”

  “Are you out of condoms?”

  I chuckle. “I’m never out of those. I was thinking chocolate and whip cream. And maybe some champagne and strawberries.”

  “You getting romantic on me?”

  “Romantic? Sweetheart, I haven’t told you where I plan to put the strawberries.”