by Aliyah Burke
Leaning back in her seat, she sighed. “I don’t usually eat dessert, but sure, I’ll give it a go.”
She wouldn’t be held responsible for her actions if he continued smiling at her like that and staring at her with those royal blue eyes.
“What?” she asked after he merely gazed at her.
“Just wondering why you don’t usually do dessert.”
“That’s easy. Sugar and I have a love-hate relationship. When I love it, it loves my ass and hips, then I hate it.”
The way his gaze moved over her told her he approved of what he saw. So intense she almost reached for more ice water.
“Hello, Dustin,” a male voice interrupted.
Finn observed as the joviality was sucked from Dustin’s face by those two simple words. She glanced up and stuffed the urge to punch the intruder in the throat. Travis Hill.
His blue eyes skated lewdly over her, and she blew out a breath as she began counting in her head. One. Two. Three. Four. Ten. Fifty. A hundred. Fuck it.
“What are you doing here, Travis?” Dustin’s tone was dagger sharp and ice cold.
The smug smile Travis sported grated on Finn’s last nerves. “Just finished eating with a date, saw you here, and wondered if you were ready to let me come back to work.”
He had guts, Finn would give the fool that, at the very least. She reached for her water and drank, waiting to see how this would play out. Wasn’t boding well at the moment that was for sure.
The tensing of Dustin’s jaw was the only indication he teetered on the edge of his control. Something which Travis didn’t appear to notice. Like she would be pointing it out. In her estimation, the man deserved to get his ass kicked.
“You’ll never work at the Diamond J again, Travis. I don’t work with men I can’t trust.”
“She was a whore. A woman shouldn’t come between men.”
“Get out of my face, Travis.” Growled words. Not a good sign. A worse one was the fact Travis didn’t heed the warning.
The man looked at her briefly, managing to make her feel dirty and wanting a shower in a mere second. “Trying out a different flavor?” he asked with a sneer.
Dustin exploded into action, blowing out of the seat before she knew what happened. Travis had taken two direct punches before she could even react. Scrambling from the booth, Finn wedged herself between the men, back against Travis.
“Don’t, don’t do this, Dustin.” It didn’t matter she sounded like she begged.
His gaze wild and tumultuous, overflowing with fury, barely recognized her before he dismissed her. The bloodlust was there, front and center.
“You hit me!” Travis yelled from behind her.
Dustin made another move and this time she countered, keeping between them. It happened twice more before he glanced back down to her. She wanted to hide from the anger there, but she refused to, trusting he wouldn’t ever hurt her.
“He’s not worth it, Dustin,” she implored.
Lord, she wanted to touch him, offer comfort but she didn’t, just kept between them. Hopefully she could talk him down because there was no way she could physically stop him—his strength, far superior to her own.
He lifted his hand, and she saw the cut on his knuckles. Taking a peek over her shoulder, she saw the blood streaming from Travis. Not her concern.
“He’s not worth it,” she reiterated.
Waitstaff showed and escorted Travis away, and she finally got Dustin out to his truck, after paying for the meal and grabbing their dessert on the way.
He didn’t speak until after she got him in the driver’s seat of the truck and had climbed in on the other side.
“Sorry.”
“What for?” she asked. She opened the med kit she’d found in the backseat. “Give me your hand.”
“Making a scene.”
She smiled, keeping her focus on his bleeding hand. Drawing it to her, she cleaned it with an alcohol wipe, the scent strong and sharp.
“I don’t care about that. I didn’t want you to go to jail.” Rooting around in the kit, she withdrew the liquid bandage then applied it. “The man’s an ass and deserved what he got, hell, he deserves more.” She tilted her head and observed her handiwork. “There you go. No permanent damage.” Why did she feel the need to brush her lips against his new injury?
He didn’t speak and she busied herself with cleaning up. She reached for the door to get into the back and return the items when his hand curled about her wrist. Fissures of pleasure rocked her and she licked her lips before facing him in the truck’s interior light. “What?”
Silent, he took the blue container emblazoned with the universal sign of the medic from her and tossed it over his shoulder into the back, then he tugged on her. She went willingly and his lips met hers. Goodness, she had no idea he could kiss like this. Okay, not entirely true but the real thing was so much better than memories.
Some men were all tongue, trying to gag a woman, some just flat out sucked at kissing. Not Dustin. His, perfect. He didn’t take, he coaxed. Coaxed her to open, to dance with his tongue, to practically climb on his lap in this truck in the restaurant’s parking lot.
His taste. Divine. A mix of dinner and him. It was the him she craved more of flooding her taste buds. The heady, masculine flavor of which she couldn’t get enough.
When the kiss ended, she rested on her knees on the seat, close as she could be without actually straddling him. Not that it would be bad in her mind.
“Let’s get out of here.” His voice rasped, only adding to her arousal.
She swung her feet over and began to move back on the passenger side when he slid an arm around her waist. Stay. She got the non-verbalized message. Her response was to turn off the lights she’d been using.
The brush of his arm along her leg as he reached for the shifter between her knees caused her heart to speed up. Heart pounding, she sat quietly while he drove them out of Branchwater. They turned up the long road leading to the Diamond J only never made it to his house for he veered off onto another small road. He parked them by a small lake, shutting off the engine and lights. His heavier breathing filled the interior. She didn’t move, trying to figure out how far this was going.
When he opened the door, she glanced at him. He held out a hand to her, his blue eyes piercing any resolve she may have had after the kiss he’d laid on her earlier. Taking his offered hand, she slid along the seat, skirting the gearshift yet again. Soon she stood beside him, overlooking the lake. Smooth as glass, the water reflected the waxing moon rising into the night sky.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, moving by him to the tailgate.
Off in the distance she could hear the sounds of a ranch. Horses whinnying, cattle bawling and the like. She hopped up on the gate without any care of her skirt. The truck dipped slightly when he joined her.
“Come here a lot?”
“When I need to get away. First time I’ve ever brought someone out with me.”
Words escaped her. She had been sure this was like his make-out spot. But to know he’d never even brought Charlotte out here and that woman was supposed to marry him—yeah, she was feeling a bit giddy. Sighing, she swung her feet and tipped her head back, struggling with the urge to straddle him and see where they ended up. The last thing she needed was to get involved with someone here. She wasn’t staying long and being in a relationship with anyone, especially Dustin Kane, wouldn’t be smart.
She knew herself well enough to know she didn’t do causal. Add into that her feelings for Dustin anyway, and it just wouldn’t be her best course of action.
“I should probably take you home,” he said, getting down after they’d sat in silence for a while.
“Yes, probably should.” Why did it take so much for those words to slide free? She didn’t want to analyze that.
Dustin, however, didn’t step away from her. Instead he positioned his powerful body between her legs.
“Yeah.” His word, low and drawn ou
t, skated along her skin.
The moonlight, the fact she was alone with him again, hell, she hadn’t a clue but she wanted to kiss him. Again. He didn’t move, merely watched her with his intense gaze.
Dragging her tongue along her lower lip, she inhaled the scent wafting from him. It was unique, not anything which came in a bottle. His was wild. Pure. Raw.
“About you taking—”
His mouth cut off her comment. She melted into his strong chest as he cupped her head with his hands. One on her cheek and the other, he threaded into her hair, fingers gripping the strands as if to hold her.
Like she had plans to go anywhere.
Powerful and commanding, he thrust his tongue into her mouth. It was so unlike their previous kiss, it threw her. Only for a few then she caught up. He stroked her, dueled with her tongue, and all around branded her.
He moved his hands to cup her ass, lifting her from the tailgate. She hooked her legs around his waist as her arms latched about his neck. Their lips remained melded as he carried her. She hadn’t a clue where he was taking her and she didn’t care.
Dustin broke off the kiss as he placed her on the passenger seat. His expression was tortured as he brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. Silent, he left her there, hesitating before dropping his gaze to roam over her body. With a muttered curse, he left her there as he strode to the driver’s side.
Chapter Four
“What’s this I hear about you on a date with Finn last night?” Connor’s question came with decided annoyance.
Tightening the girth on Beau’s saddle, Dustin ignored him.
“You know I won’t let it go, man.”
Patting the gelding, Dustin turned to face his soon-to-be ex-best friend and foreman. “We went out. So what?”
Connor hooked his thumbs in his belt and rocked back on his heels. “Went out with Finn, got into a scuffle with Travis, hmm, call me curious. You could hardly talk to her the other day, why a date?”
He drew on his gloves and readjusted his hat. “Why is my dating habit anyone’s business?” There wasn’t even an attempt to hide his anger. Most of which came from the fact he’d not stopped beating himself up for taking her home last night. He should have stripped those damn clothes from her, made love to her in the moonlight and maybe, just maybe, he would have gotten her out of his system. “In case you’ve forgotten I’m single, remember…wedding didn’t happen.”
If his attitude offended Connor, the man didn’t let it show. He shrugged and stepped closer before leaning against the stall. “It’s not. I was just wondering.”
“Feel free to keep doing just that.”
“All the men know. You punching Travis while on a date with Finn, gossip is running wild, man.”
Dustin rolled his eyes. “Y’all as bad as women with your gossiping.”
Connor barely blinked. “Sure, that comment will get us off your back. Christ, Dustin, what’d you think would happen? Your first date since Charlotte and it’s with Samantha Finley.”
He forced his hands to relax. “I assume there is some point to this, Connor. Make it and leave me alone.”
“No point man, just wondering what you’re up to.”
“You have a problem with me wanting to fuck her? Is that it?” He’d never wanted to punch Connor so much in all the years they’d known one another. “Why is that?” He advanced on his friend, well aware of the danger he presented.
“You’re wired, Dustin. Calm down. You know the men are going to rub you about this. I have nothing against Samantha, at all, so just get that out of your head.”
“This isn’t the men, this is you saying this, Connor. Let’s get one thing straight and you can pass the word along to your ladies,” he growled. “What I do and who I do it with is no one’s goddamn business. Clear?” Connor’s gaze shifted past him briefly and he held up a hand. “If I want to fuck my way through the entire female population of Branchwater, Texas then that’s what I’ll do. If I want to start this endeavor with Samantha Finley,” Connor’s eyes begged him to stop, “then I will fuck her and move on.”
The familiar sound of horse hooves in the aisle had him turning. Dread filled him, creating a sour flavor in the pit of his stomach. Finn stood there, watching him, hand on the leadrope of another of his prize horses, this one a buckskin named Lawless.
Shit.
She gave a nod of her head and carried on with putting Lawless back in his stall. Dustin stared after her as she retreated past him and Connor without a word.
“Wait, Samantha,” Dustin called out. She continued out of the barn and around the corner. “Watch him.” He thrust the reins at Connor before running after her. He caught up to her at her truck. “Damn it, Samantha, wait a sec.”
She paused, one foot on the running board. Her hand tightened on the frame twice before she pivoted to face him. Anger he could have dealt with, hurt even, however her expression as she stared at him sat completely devoid of any emotion.
“What you overheard—”
“Lawless was the last horse for me to work on. Send final payment to my father. Good day, Mr. Kane.”
Fuck! That bland business tone quality to her voice made him want to howl in frustration. He grasped her upper arm, automatically admiring the strength she possessed.
“Let me explain.”
She blinked, her thick curved lashes hiding her eyes briefly, and when they met his again they were still without any indication of her feelings. “No need. Remove your hand.”
“Samantha.”
“You are keeping me from my next job, Mr. Kane.” She tugged, and this time he released her. If not for the small tic in the corner of her left eye, he would have believed she couldn’t care less what she’d just overheard.
“I didn’t mean for—”
“Me to overhear. My mistake for coming early. Goodbye.” She climbed into her truck and shut him out. Her words had sounded so final. No, goddamnit.
“That didn’t go well.”
He snorted. “No shit, Connor.” He wheeled around to find his foreman there holding the reins of both their mounts. “Let’s get going.”
Without a word, they mounted and rode out on the range. Connor rode ahead, leaving Dustin alone with his thoughts. Unpleasant thoughts. How could he have been so stupid? He’d not lied about wanting to have her sexually. For he did. Immensely. Deeply.
Taking her home last night had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Especially given how she’d responded to his kiss, no reservations. Raw passion burned in her veins, and he planned to be the man to set it free.
He remained in a foul mood all day. The men had begun to tease him, but Connor put a succinct halt to that crap. When the day ended, he unsaddled his gelding, brushed him—an act that normally calmed him, however not today—fed him, and left to finish chores.
Once he made it to the house, he pushed inside and paused as the emptiness hit him. The men had a cook and he could eat with them, but he didn’t usually. He had a housekeeper, Rosa Sanchez, but she was dealing with a family issue, so he was left to fend for himself. After a shower, he fixed a sandwich, carried the plate to his office and sat behind the large oak desk, which had been his father’s and grandfather’s.
Plate to his left, he stared at the check ledger before him. He’d already written the final check for Samantha early that morning. It sat there, taunting him. Send final payment to my father. As if she wanted nothing else to do with him.
He drummed his fingers on the checks and reclined in the chair. Sure, he could send one to her father.
“I’m not conceding, Samantha. Not a chance.”
He handled some other paperwork and ate his sandwich. A few minutes after nine, he trotted out of his house to his truck. Driving away, he spied Connor outside the bunkhouse, watching, yet drove on without acknowledging him.
At his destination, he readjusted his cowboy hat as he walked up to the front door and rang the bell. Warm light spilled out into the nigh
t, bathing him along with the man who’d answered.
“Something wrong, Mr. Kane?” Evan Finley asked, crutches under his arms.
“Looking for Samantha, sir.”
Dark eyes scanned him with a mixture of fatherly concern and something else. Something Dustin didn’t want to think about.
“Problem with her work?”
“No, sir.” Christ, his stomach was in knots. “She left without me giving her the final payment.” Hands were sweaty, breathing more than a bit erratic.
“I’ll take it and give it to her.”
Dustin hesitated before pulling the envelope from his back pocket. “Thank you.” Damn it, he wanted to see her. Explain the incident in the barn.
Sharp eyes assessed him. “Maybe you could just swing by the first barn on your way out and let her know I have the check. Goodnight, Mr. Kane.” The door closed in his face.
He stood there unsure what to make of the change in attitude from her father given how he’d been on the night of their date, before spinning on booted heels, heading for the barn with long, purposeful strides. The door sat open and he slowed the moment his boots hit the aisle. He couldn’t see her but he heard her.
Friendly whickers met him as he walked down. The air was full of the perfect blend of horse and hay. Halfway through, he turned to the left and leaned against the half-door, which blocked off the enclosed arena between the two barns.
Samantha currently rode around the large area. He watched her, completely mesmerized by her ability. He was a western rider all the way but observing her, he could see the allure of English, more specifically dressage. Her poise was incredible. Her carriage, impressive. She moved perfectly with her mount. They were fluid, unified. They were one.
Dustin knew the moment she realized he descried her. She had been moving the horse diagonally across the floor in a half pass when she stiffened. Not much later, she swung down and walked her gelding to cool him down. Dustin remained quiet while she removed the tack and led the horse out the other side.
