The Army Ranger's Surprise

by Donna Michaels

  Slowly lifting up, she watched him for signs of consciousness and couldn’t stop the satisfaction warming her veins. He was out cold. This sexy, badass former Army Ranger was down for the count because of her. She might’ve broken him. Last night had been…wow.

  And even though it’d been their first time spending the whole night together, technically, there’d been very little actual sleep involved. It seemed as if by taking that step, she’d dropped more than a little of her guard. Her inhibitions had hit the dust, too, because damn…last night had been round after mind-blowing round of hot, erotic, sensual sex unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

  It didn’t take much imagination to envision more mornings like this with him in her bed. Her stomach fluttered, but her chest tightened. Was this smart? Were they now on an unavoidable path to getting hurt?

  Besieged with a swift onslaught of uncertainty, she carefully eased out of bed and dashed into her bathroom. Had she made a mistake? Maybe she should’ve sent him to a hotel. She glanced in the mirror, as if it were magical and held the answers…and she blinked at her reflection. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were dazed, and she was…smiling?

  Damn, she was. She really was…and couldn’t wipe it off her face. That’s because she felt amazing. And exceedingly happy. And she needed to embrace the opportunity she’d set in motion. The world didn’t end because she let him stay, and he never pressured her about committing to anything. It made her realize there was no reason they couldn’t continue their casual thing while including more delicious sleepovers.

  So there would be no more running from Leo. Not even any thoughts of running.

  Except to her sexy human furnace currently asleep in her bed. She’d left the air on all night, and without Leo’s warmth she was cold.

  In a heartbeat, she opened the door, and in another, she crawled back in bed.

  “Everything okay?” her furnace asked in a sexy, sleepy tone that immediately woke her good parts, and she sighed when he pulled her in close.

  “Mmm…there’s a man in my bed,” she said, snuggling closer, running her hand over the ridges of his abs…and farther south. “A hot, hard man.”

  “Your fault,” he said, then muttered an oath when she stroked him. He grew harder.

  So she did it again, and rocked against him, loving the feel of his thick, hard thigh between hers. “You’re right.”

  Growling, he flipped them, tucking her beneath him, before kissing a path down her throat, licking her collarbone, while his hand did some straying and stroking of its own.

  She gasped and arched up into his touch. “You feel great.”

  “You’re right.” He repeated her words, setting his forearms on either side of her head. “You do.”

  His wavy hair fell forward, as he stared down at her through eyes dark with heat. God…he was beautiful and simply took her breath. She traced her fingertip along his scruffy jaw and then lifted up to nip at his lower lip and suck it into her mouth.

  A half groan, half growl rumbled in his throat. “Hold that thought.”

  He rolled off to quickly put on a condom before returning to settle his body between her legs. “Okay, continue that thought.”

  “Yes, sir.” Instead of lifting up to meet his lips, she threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged until his mouth met her neck.

  Without needing further instructions, he kissed and nipped his way to her ear. Damn, he made her hot. So hot.

  “Love the feel of you,” he said against her throat. At this, he aligned his erection to her center and thrust inside her.

  She cried out with him, and their desire echoed around her room. So good. He felt so good. And so right. He slid one arm beneath her back and gripped her shoulder, while his other hand cupped her ass. It was as if he needed to get close. Connect tight.

  Above her, Leo’s eyes drifted shut, his expression raw, uninhibited pleasure. Exactly what she was feeling. The way he was making her feel. Then he began to move in slow, lazy thrusts, like he had all morning to love her.

  Which he did. He had the whole blessed morning.

  Morning sex with Leo…

  He was the reason she’d never done this before. The reason she’d never fallen asleep with a man. It was clear to her now. So clear.

  She’d waited for him.

  And damn, he was so worth the wait.

  …

  Breakfast was over, and two of his buddies and their women were out front in the driveway when Leo arrived at the ranch on Monday. Normally, he would’ve been home last night, but in a sense, that was exactly where he’d been…buried deep inside Kaydee’s soft curves, surrounded by her warmth and unyielding acceptance. Both physically and figuratively.

  Home.

  And damn, he just hadn’t wanted to leave. So he hadn’t.

  Until this morning.

  “Look what the cow dragged home,” Vince said as Leo got out of his truck.

  “Cow?” Jovy stiffened next to Stone and glanced around. “Is she here? I didn’t hear her bell.”

  Leo snickered. Lula Belle was in love with Jovy’s husband and didn’t want to share him. The cow was always getting loose from her owner down the road and showing up at the ranch to see Stone and to make trouble for his wife. It was funny as hell. Although not for Jovy.

  “Relax, hun.” Stone slung his arm around her. “She’s not here. Vince was speaking metaphorically.”

  “Yeah. That,” Vince said, also standing with his arm around his woman. “I meant it was interesting to see Leo coming home in the morning, and with another smile on his face.”

  Shit. He might’ve known he wasn’t going to get out of this without Chuckles saying something.

  “You’re right, he is smiling again,” Stone said.

  Vince grinned. “I think I even heard him whistling when he got out.”

  Leo snorted as he leaned against his truck. “You’re full of shit. I wasn’t whistling.” At least, he didn’t think so.

  “But you are smiling,” Stone said again, waving a hand at him.

  “Still smiling,” Vince pointed out.

  “Don’t listen to them, Leo,” Jovy said. “I think it’s great Kaydee gives you a reason to smile. She does, doesn’t she?”

  He wasn’t surprised she’d known about Kaydee. Apparently it hadn’t taken his buddies long to tell their women about her.

  He nodded. “Several reasons.” And last night, she’d given him several new ones. The amazing woman was full of surprises…and limber. Christ she was so damn limber.

  His mind immediately recalled an image of her, one that made him actually grateful for his photographic memory. The sight of her with one leg around his hip and the other stretched up the length of his torso as he leaned all the way over her was something he never wanted to forget. Nor was her gorgeous breasts bouncing in an erotic north-south motion while he drove into her until they were completely spent and boneless.

  “Aww, that’s wonderful,” Emma gushed, moving closer.

  Damn straight, but the hard-on he was sporting right now…not so much. He shifted to relieve some of the pressure.

  “I’m glad for you,” she continued, reaching out to squeeze his arm. “When do we get to meet her?”

  Vince’s grin broadened. “You should invite her over for brunch this Sunday.”

  “We’d love to meet her,” Jovy said.

  “Yeah,” Stone said.

  Emma patted his arm. “I think she’d be happy if you shared all this with her. But it’s okay if you aren’t ready.”

  Not ready for what? To share the ranch with Kaydee?

  A year ago, he would’ve immediately vetoed the thought. Two years ago, it never would’ve even been a thought. But today—right now—he found himself actually embracing the thought. He was proud of At-Ease and the work he did here. The veterans. His friends. All of it. And just because he and Kaydee weren’t long term didn’t mean he couldn’t share this part of his life with her.

  “Ok
ay,” he said. “I’ll ask her.”

  “That’s great.” Emma squeezed his arm again.

  “But don’t get ahead of yourselves,” he said. “There’s a chance she won’t want to come.” His chest tightened at the thought, and it made him realize how much the woman meant to him. That only increased the tightness in chest.

  “She’ll come.” Emma patted his arm again before releasing him.

  Jovy smiled at him. “Emma’s right. She’ll come. And I think it’s great.”

  A little uncomfortable now with their scrutiny, he shifted his weight and turned to Vince. “How’s your house coming along?”

  “It’s halfway done.” Vince’s expression brightened further…if that was possible. “We’re almost to the kitchen phase.”

  Happy for his buddy and Emma, and to have switched the focus off himself, he grinned. “That’s good news.” They deserved this.

  “Speaking of kitchens,” Stone said, gaining Leo’s attention, “you remember Blanche from V-Spot, right?”

  V-Spot was a restaurant Jovy once owned. Blanche used to work for her but was now part owner. “Yeah, I remember her.”

  “Well, she asked me to give her a kitchen estimate last week,” Stone said. “She hired us last night. I’d like you to do the job.”

  Him? A job for someone he knew? A friend of the boss’s wife? This was different. More at stake. More pressure. And damn if he wasn’t honored that Stone was trusting him with this job. “Thanks,” he said, straightening from the truck, a smile tugging his lips hard. “When does she want us to start?” By us, he meant him and his crew. The one milling around near the tool barn with the other crews.

  Stone grinned. “Today. Come on inside. I’ll show you the plans.”

  And then later, Leo was damn sure going to share those plans with his crew. No way would he make that mistake again. He was determined to make sure this job went smoother.

  Especially since it was a job for a friend.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tuesday evening, Kaydee pulled into the rec center parking lot with Fiona. Their first haircut clinic started in less than an hour and they wanted to get things set up. Hopefully, they’d gotten enough word out. Tonight’s donations would go to the rec center to support senior activities. It would suck if no one showed.

  She opened the back of her SUV so they could grab their equipment. Unsure what was needed, they packed their rolling cases with all the essentials before leaving the shop that afternoon. On the flyers, they’d only advertised free haircuts. After tonight, she figured they’d have a better idea what services were needed.

  “How many people do you think will show?” Fi asked as they rolled their cases inside and down the hall to their assigned room, greeting a few people along the way. They’d requested the corner one because it was off by itself and had a tile floor for easier sweep-up.

  She shrugged. “I don’t really know. I’ll be happy if at least two people show.”

  “Me, too,” Fi said. “But I think we’ll get more.”

  They spent the next half hour rearranging the room and setting out their equipment. Excitement skittered down her spine. It was actually happening. The clinic they’d lobbied for was starting in less than fifteen minutes.

  “I think we’re just about ready,” Fiona said, glancing around the room. “I’m so glad Leo pushed you to act on your idea.”

  She grinned. “Me, too.”

  She was glad about a lot of things where that man was concerned. He made her feel things, both physically and emotionally, and although some of it scared the living daylights out of her, all of it made her feel alive. And that was addicting.

  Fiona cocked her head and a smile tugged at her lips. “He agrees with you.”

  Kaydee straightened and glanced around. “He’s here?” Her heartbeat increased, because, yeah, he affected that, too. “Where?”

  “No.” Fi laughed. “Leo’s not here. I meant he’s good for you. You’re happier. Always smiling. In fact, I don’t think you’ve stopped smiling the last two days.”

  She snorted. “I did so.” Probably. Maybe. “I think.”

  Her friend laughed. “It’s a good thing. I’m glad you’re giving him a chance.”

  Opening up was scary, but the more she did, the more he did, and the more she wanted. Kaydee was in a strange, wonderful place in her life, and scared to death, yet excited.

  “Regular orgasms from a guy you like to spend time with out of bed is rare.” Fiona winked at her. “You hold on to him.”

  Kaydee blinked and was about to remind her friend where they were when several seniors entered the room.

  “Are we in the right place for the free haircuts?” one of the gentleman asked.

  “Yes, you are,” she said, and spent the next hour and a half cutting hair.

  After finishing her conversation with a nice little old lady—who not only needed a haircut, but someone to talk to about her dog and two cats—Kaydee swept up her area. She and Fiona had been going nonstop, but there was a lull in the action now, which afforded her a few minutes to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.

  “Don’t get too comfortable,” Fiona said with a grin. “Looks like you’ve got a special customer.”

  Special? How?

  Curious about her friend’s words and mischievous tone, she glanced around the woman to look at the doorway and sucked in a breath. “Leo.” Joy ricocheted through her at the sight of the handsome blue-eyed man and propelled her to her feet.

  Meeting her halfway, he pulled her in for a quick kiss to which both Fiona and the lady in her friend’s chair echoed each other with an “aww.”

  Still in his arms, she smiled at him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to support your first night,” he said, his warm gaze doing funny things to her chest. “Do you have time to cut my hair?”

  Her eyes widened. “Y-you want me to cut your hair?”

  “Yes.”

  Now she blinked. It wasn’t lost on her that the fact that he was willing to cut his hair was actually a big deal. A really big deal. His grandmother had told her he hadn’t cut it since he left the military.

  This told Kaydee a lot. She’d always gotten the impression it outwardly showed the world he hadn’t cared about anything. She knew people hung on to hairstyles as a way to hold on to their past. So if Leo was willing to cut his hair, maybe he was ready to move forward.

  To cut his link to the past.

  “It’s time.” He continued to grin. “So…will you?”

  “Of course she’ll cut it,” Fiona answered, and it knocked Kaydee out of her stupor.

  She blinked. “Yes. Of course.”

  Her heart thudded hard as she took him by the hand and led him to her chair. Giving her this honor was huge. She wanted to do right by his trust. “What would you like me to do?”

  He settled onto the metal chair and smiled his sexy damn smile, the one that made her weak in the knees. “You can do whatever you like to me.”

  Well hell.

  Now she couldn’t feel her legs. And Fiona and her client didn’t help. Not with their soft sighs and “oh mys.”

  When she finally remembered how to breathe, Kaydee did some smiling of her own and held his gaze. “Good to know.”

  Although she had a lot of experience running her fingers through his silky hair and gripping tight while he kissed her long and deep and not so sweet, this time she kept her ministration on the professional side and assessed him with a critical eye.

  Yep. He was gorgeous.

  Leo had the right hair texture and amount of forehead to wear a short or long style. Since she loved his sexy, badass look, she decided to only trim a few inches off the bottom and shape the rest, being sure to leave enough for her to grip in the future.

  Wetting his hair with her spray bottle, she tried not to think about the trust he’d just given her, but she failed. He was ready to shed his past, to shake off the very thing born from his self-induced purgatory, a
nd he wanted her help.

  The momentousness of it all hit Kaydee like a ton of bricks, and she had to blink away a sudden onslaught of tears.

  Big, firm hands curled around her hips and squeezed. “You okay?”

  Shoot. He was too astute. He noticed. And his concern only increased the burning behind her eyelids. She blinked again and nodded. Talking was out of the question at the moment, due to her hot throat, swollen with emotions best left unvoiced. Especially since they weren’t alone. He was making her feel things and want things that were starting to seem like a good idea.

  “Is now a bad time to ask you to come to At-Ease for brunch this Sunday?”

  Her eyes went wide again, and she stopped cutting. “You want me to come to your ranch?”

  “Yeah.” He smiled, that sexy damn smile. “I’d like you to meet my friends and to show you around.”

  Her heart tried to jump into her swollen throat but kind of bounced instead. He wanted to share the things that meant the most to him…with her. The amazing man was wearing her down, knocking away all her barriers. Making it near impossible for her not to fall for him. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  She hoped to God she wasn’t making a mistake.

  …

  Ever since the night of the haircut clinic, when Leo not only asked her to cut his hair, he asked her to visit his ranch, butterflies resided in Kaydee’s stomach. And now it was Sunday, and he was driving them through Joyful, a town with quaint little shops lining each side of the main street, and those darn butterflies were going batshit crazy.

  She’d been to Joyful before with Fiona. They’d heard about a gluten-free and vegan café in the paper and wanted to give it a try. The V-Spot was every bit as good as boasted. They’d enjoyed their lunch and had tentative plans to come down again next month.

  But as Leo drove past the café, her mind wasn’t on food. It was on the ranch and his army buddies, and the fact that he wanted to share them with her. Share his world. He was shedding his past and…God, she couldn’t be more proud of him. Warmth funneled through her chest. She felt privileged, honored if she had any kind of part in it. That was a good thing. A great thing. So was the overnight bag he asked her to bring.