Liam opened his mouth to protest again, but then he glanced at Hope and changed his mind. She was still blushing like crazy, but her gray eyes sparkled with excitement. This might not be a bad thing, after all.
“I’m the bride,” Phil said. “I get to do what I want.” She cleared her throat. “Here goes.”
“Noooo.”
Phil ignored her. “In your yard we came creeping, with you soundly sleeping, our sharp pruners flashing, then off we were dashing, to—”
“Stop, stop!” Hope giggled and covered her face with both hands. “This is beyond embarrassing.”
Phil smiled and finished the song. “To places here and there, with your flowers in our hair.” She drew out the last note and ended with a flourish as everyone clapped and cheered. Standing, she took a bow and then gestured to Hope. “Composed by our very own Hope Caldwell at the tender age of fifteen! Bravo!”
Hope groaned. “It’s a good thing this is the eve of your wedding, because if it wasn’t, I would kill you.”
But Liam noticed there was no bite to her words. Sure, she was embarrassed, but she also seemed pleased that Phil remembered the song all these years later. She’d lost the novel she’d spent countless hours writing, but this cute little song had survived.
Whether intentionally or not, Phil had rocketed Hope back to a time before her dreams had been crushed. Even better, she still enjoyed being recognized for something that she’d created. It was a start.
Phil leaned down and gave her a hug. “Forgive me?”
“Oh, sure.” Hope gazed up at her with a placid smile. “But you might want to check around your place after you get back from your honeymoon. I’m not saying I’ll put salt in the sugar bowl or a big rubber spider in your cupboard, but I’m not saying I won’t, either.”
Phil chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.” She glanced over at Liam. “She may seem sweet and innocent, but I could tell you stories.”
“I’ll bet.” Getting a glimpse of the mischief-maker Hope used to be showed him even more clearly how Tom had affected her. He wondered if Phil saw the change and had decided to remind Hope of that girl of fifteen who’d written a song about stealing flowers. If so, good for Phil.
The meal went late and the cleanup even later.
While Liam worked with his brothers at the barbecue site and then in the kitchen, Herb and Phil’s dad shot pool, and Hope sat on the front porch chatting with the other women. Rosie had made a big pot of coffee and opened a new bottle of Baileys. Liam wondered if the planned rendezvous in the vacant cabin would be happening after all.
The ladies were still going strong when the guys finished in the kitchen and joined them on the porch. Liam came out the door in time to hear Edie say, “I like mine nice and thick.”
“I don’t mind so much if they’re thin.” That was Chelsea. “But I hate it when they’re limp.”
“That’s the worst,” Hope said. “Give me thick and firm any day.”
Cade spoke before Liam had a chance. “What in hell are you ladies talking about?”
Lexi stood and walked toward him, smiling. “What do you think we’re talking about?”
“I’m not about to take a guess after what I heard.” He turned to Liam. “You want to?”
“Not me.” He glanced back as Finn, Grady and Damon filed through the screen door. “Apparently the discussion out here on the porch is a debate about thin versus thick, and nobody wants limp. Any of you want to venture a guess as to what they’re discussing?”
Finn laughed. “I know exactly what they’re discussing.”
“Yeah.” Damon rubbed the back of his neck. “Me, too. Blame it on the Baileys. And we’re having a wedding tomorrow, so I guess it’s only natural that talk would turn to—”
“Fries,” Finn said. “They’re talking about fries. Chels, am I right?”
“You’re right.”
Lexi sighed. “You’re no fun, O’Roarke. I had the rest of them going.”
“Sorry about that, Lex. Chels and I had this discussion earlier because I was thinking of changing up the pub fries at O’Roarke’s. We decided I should leave them thick.”
“I thought it was probably fries,” Cade said.
“No, you didn’t.” Lexi put her arm through his. “Let’s head back to my place, cowboy. Maybe we’ll cook up some fries.”
Cade surveyed the group on the porch. “That’s code for sex, in case nobody picked up on it.”
Lexi gave him a swat on the arm.
“We picked up on it,” Damon said, rolling his eyes. “See you two in the morning.”
About that time, Karl and Herb finished their pool game and came out to the porch.
“He skunked me,” Karl said.
“But you put up a good fight.” Herb clapped him on the shoulder.
“Very gracious of you to say so.” Karl beamed at everyone. “It’s been a great day, but I’m bushed.” He looked over at his wife. “Edie, think we can talk my future son-in-law into meandering back to town and hauling us along with him?”
“Sounds like a fine idea.”
Damon laughed. “I’m in. Phil, you ready to wrap it up?”
“Sure.” Phil stood. “But wait! Isn’t it bad luck for you to see the bride the night before the wedding?”
“How about if I promise to keep my eyes closed?”
“That works, but I’d better drive. Goodbye, all. See you tomorrow.”
The crowd was dispersing, and Liam’s hopes rose in proportion to the number of people exiting the area. At last Chelsea finished her Baileys and coffee and was ready to walk back to the cabin with Finn. She’d borrowed a pair of flip-flops from Rosie after growing tired of dealing with her stilettos, which she’d tucked into a borrowed tote.
Earlier Liam had explained the vacant cabin setup to Grady, who seemed to be finding the long trail of goodbyes amusing. “Guess I’ll turn in, too,” he said. “Coming with me, bro?” His grin said he knew the answer.
“In a minute.” Liam propped a hip against the porch railing. “It’s a beautiful night. Almost hate to go in.”
“It’s beautiful, all right,” Herb said, “but it’s been a long day. I’m off to bed. Rosie?”
She swallowed the last of her drink. “It’s time. You and Hope enjoy the porch. Herb and I used to sit out here for hours when we were younger. Before we had the boys.” She stood.
“And I was one of those boys.” Liam walked over and hugged her. “I’ve said it before, but I don’t know what Grady and I would have done without you and Herb.”
“You would have survived.” Rosie gave him a tight hug back. “You’re both very strong.”
Liam looked down at her, and his heart swelled with gratitude. “But for two years, we didn’t have to be strong. You gave us a soft place to land.”
“It was our pleasure.”
“Absolutely,” Herb said. “You and Grady were great to have around.”
“And as long as we’re getting nostalgic and sentimental,” Rosie said, “this might be a good time to ask if you think Grady could make me a sculpture sometime.”
“Absolutely! Do you want one? I’ll bet he has no idea or he would have done it by now.”
“I’d love one. I didn’t want to bring it up to his face because I know he’s busy, and I don’t want him dropping everything to do it.”
Liam nodded. “I could see that happening. He’s behind now because he spent so much time on Phil and Damon’s.”
“And I don’t want to insult him by offering to become a paying customer.”
“He’d have a fit if you did that. Tell you what. I’ll try to gauge when I think he’s caught up and then mention that I think you’d love one. How’s that?”
“Excellent. It doesn’t have to be huge like D
amon and Phil’s, but maybe he could come up with a little something. I would cherish it.”
Liam was touched by the request. “I know you would.” He gave her another hug good-night, and Hope stood so she could do the same. Then Herb and Rosie went inside, leaving him alone with Hope. Finally. He gazed at her, not wanting to come across as some raging bull even though he felt like one. “Do you want to sit on the porch for a while?”
Smiling, she reached in the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a key. “What do you think?”
13
HOPE HAD WAITED impatiently for this moment, and she wasn’t about to waste a single second lounging on the front porch. Judging from the way Liam grabbed her hand and hustled her down the steps, she doubted he was interested in a moonlight chat, either.
During the rehearsal she’d regretted not wearing her sexy heels, but she’d chosen exactly the right footwear for this speedy trip to the cabin. Her daisy had long since wilted and been discarded, but she didn’t think Liam cared now whether she wore a flower in her hair or held one in her teeth, for that matter.
She arrived with her heart pounding and her breathing labored, but that wasn’t because they’d race-walked down here. The promise of what they were about to enjoy would have been enough all by itself. She moved forward to unlock the door.
Tugging on her hand, Liam pulled her back. “I need to go in first,” he murmured. “Give me a minute or two.” He took a key from his pocket and shoved it into the lock.
“Rosie gave you a key, too?”
“I asked Cade for his.”
“Why?”
He opened the door and stepped into the dark interior of the cabin. “You’ll see.” Leaving her standing alone on the wooden stoop, he closed the door.
Because the floorboards creaked, she could hear him moving around doing something. She didn’t think he was pulling mattresses off the bunks because she would have heard them thump to the floor. Since he had a key, maybe he’d sneaked in sometime this afternoon to set up the mattresses.
That could explain why he and Grady had been late to the rehearsal. Grady would know all about this rendezvous, so he might have helped. Heart still beating wildly with anticipation, she shivered as a cool breeze touched her overheated skin. The wait was driving her crazy.
After what seemed like forever, he appeared in the doorway, a broad-shouldered silhouette of a cowboy outlined by glowing light. He reached for her hand. When he spoke, his voice was husky, as if he’d been going a little crazy, too. “You can come in.”
She stepped inside the cabin and gasped. The cabin had been transformed from what was essentially a dorm room into a romantic bower brimming with wildflowers and greenery. At least twenty votives in glass holders cast their flickering light over the bed positioned in the middle of the floor.
Although the bed likely had been created using two bunk mattresses, a set of dark green king sheets made it look luxurious and inviting.
The creative setting left her speechless. The romantic in her longed to melt into the ambiance and savor it with the man who’d helped put it all together. But the cautious side of her wondered about his motives.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“Of course I do. It’s amazingly beautiful, but...”
“It’s over the top. I was afraid of that, but when I walked in here earlier today, it seemed so uninspiring. I said something about it to Grady, and he helped me improve the situation.”
“Does Grady think that we’re serious about each other?”
“No, I swear he doesn’t. I made it clear from the beginning that we’re just having some fun.”
“Then why would you go to this much trouble? Don’t get me wrong—I love the way it looks—but it took effort.”
“Not as much as you might think, especially with Grady directing traffic.” He blew out a breath. “Look, I promised to be your fantasy lover for the next week. This cabin didn’t fit my image of a fun place to have sex. I know Rosie meant well, but even that empty stall in the barn seemed more exotic than twin mattresses thrown on the floor.”
She finally understood and was overcome by a wave of tenderness for the tall cowboy standing in front of her. “You take your promises seriously, don’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do.”
“This arrangement is definitely over the top, but that’s what fantasies are supposed to be, right?”
“That’s what I always thought.”
“Then close your eyes. I want to create a fantasy image for you.”
“You’re doing a good job of it, standing there in the candlelight.”
“That’s nice to hear, but I can do better than this. Close your eyes.”
“All right.” Crossing his arms, he closed his eyes, which emphasized just how long and luxurious his lashes were.
“And no peeking.” She began to strip.
“Hey, I don’t cheat.” He said it with a chuckle as if to soften what might be taken wrong.
“Sorry.” She tossed her skirt and blouse over the back of a desk chair. With candlelight focused on the bed, the bunks, desks and chairs were almost lost in the shadows. “I have a bad habit of assuming people will.”
“Understandable.” The twinge of anger in his voice was so mild as to be almost nonexistent.
But she recognized it all the same. She’d become adept at reading moods while living with Tom, a temperamental and unpredictable man. She glanced over and noticed a muscle twitch in Liam’s jaw.
Yet his anger didn’t make her stomach churn the way Tom’s had. Instinctively she knew that he wasn’t upset with her for suggesting he might peek and spoil the surprise. Instead his anger was directed at the man who had made her so suspicious. Even though Tom’s name hadn’t been spoken, he’d become part of their interaction.
She didn’t want that, but she wasn’t sure how to guarantee it wouldn’t happen. She’d been with Tom for a long time. He’d left his mark. Taking a deep breath, she vowed to push him out of her mind and immerse herself in the pleasure Liam offered so freely. She left her bra and panties with her other clothes and padded over to the bed.
Tossing back the top sheet, she stretched out on her side and propped her head on her hand. She wanted to be able to see his expression when he saw her. “You can look now.”
He opened his eyes slowly at first, and then they widened and his lips parted. His sharp intake of breath was the loudest sound in the room. Then he swallowed. “Wow.” That single syllable, delivered in a near whisper, conveyed a wealth of meaning.
She heard awe and appreciation, desire and eagerness. All good things she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
His chest heaved as he took his time. His gaze traveled slowly and ignited heat along its path. Her nipples tightened and her belly quivered. When his attention lingered at the apex of her thighs, moisture rushed to that tender spot, and her body trembled.
She licked her dry lips. “Was this the fantasy you had in mind?”
“I want you so much I can barely breathe.”
“Then come and get me, cowboy.”
“Oh, yeah.” He tossed his hat to the floor and began ripping off his clothes.
She’d never seen a cowboy discard his hat so carelessly. Or pull off his boots with no regard to where they landed. His clothes ended up in a heap on the floor.
From this angle, she had a view of his pride and joy that could have been intimidating if she wasn’t so wet and ready. He yanked open a desk drawer and took out a condom, which he’d obviously made handy this afternoon.
She imagined him preparing this seductive hideaway, and lust swept through her already tingling body. “Put your hat back on,” she murmured.
He held her gaze as he finished rolling on the condom. “Okay.” He located his black Stetson a
nd settled it on his head before sliding into bed next to her. “Does that work for you?”
“Uh-huh.” She gulped for air as he rolled her to her back and moved over her. Talk about a fantasy.
“You realize a hat gets in the way if I want to kiss you.”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes. I love kissing you.”
“I love kissing you, too.” She ached for him in a way she’d never ached for a man before. “You can kiss me after.”
“After what?” His smile was the second sexiest thing about him.
“After you take care of business.”
“Like this?” He slid his thick, warm cock in deep.
“Exactly like that.” She looked up into blue eyes that had turned navy with passion. The hat thrilled her, too. That might be shallow, but she was living out a fantasy, and fantasies were by definition shallow. “Now move it. Please.”
“I was hoping you’d ask.” He withdrew slowly. “But I don’t think we should rush this, do you?”
Rushing sounded like a wonderful idea, but she had her pride. “Of course not.”
“We have plenty of time.” He eased back in and stayed there for a delicious moment. “We’ve both waited for this all day, so we should take our time and enjoy being together.”
“Mmm.” His fullness inside her was setting off shock waves that would soon result in a climax, whether he moved or not. “I’m ready to come.”
“I see.”
“So I’d appreciate it if you’d—”
“Sure thing.” And he began to thrust.
Oh, heaven! Oh, glorious, electrifying perfection! She rose to meet him and dug her fingers into the flexing muscles of his firm butt. She had the fleeting thought that cowboys had firmer butts than writers. Then she forgot to think at all. She came, and she belatedly hoped the windows were closed because she wasn’t quiet about it. Once again she probably swore.
Gradually his motion slowed, and she became aware that she’d had a climax but he hadn’t. She gathered enough air into her lungs to attempt speech. “What about you?”
Cowboy After Dark Page 12
