Stud for Hire

by Sabrina York

  “Do you know how many times I’ve fantasized about taking you in the tack room?”

  The question caught her off guard, hurtling her back to the first night they’d spent together. She could hardly believe she was the same woman.

  Then again, she wasn’t.

  “That could probably be arranged.”

  His head dipped and his lips covered hers. Lust, only ever banked with him, flared to life. He smiled through the kiss as he walked her backward, his hands roving, even as they steered her toward the tack room.

  Harley whinnied, as though cheering them on . . . or warning them. Because, as they reached their destination, the sound of laughter and chattered conversation reached them. Logan stilled. Sighed. “Well, it could be arranged, but it might take some doing,” he said as, just then, no fewer than three ranch hands wandered into the stable and greeted him with raised hats. “This is a real working farm, you see.”

  “Like Cody’s isn’t?”

  Logan snorted. “I don’t know what Cody’s is. But here, we raise cattle.”

  “Not holy hell?”

  They shared a look and laughed. The laughter, and the moment, quieted around them. The mood shifted. Heat rose again.

  “Shall we . . .” He cleared his throat. “Shall we go into the house? I would . . . love to show you around.”

  “I’d like that.” She didn’t bother suppressing her grin. She knew what he had in mind. “Oh dear,” she said as a sudden thought hit her. “We forgot my things. I don’t have any clothes.”

  Logan’s grin widened. “How is this a problem?” he asked.

  They were still grinning when they stepped up on the broad porch with its fresh, white-washed paint. The entryway was a broad double door, with carved wood and gleaming brass fixtures.

  “Welcome to my home,” Logan said as he opened the door. He invested the words with such meaning, they made Hanna’s heart flutter. Or perhaps that was the look in his eye. “Do you want a tour?”

  Disappointment skated through her. After that kiss in the stable, she’d been hoping for—

  “We, ah, could start with the upstairs—”

  “Oh, yes please!”

  He chuckled at her quick response. But seriously. It had been hours since they’d been together. That was far too long.

  The tour, such as it was, was brief, and consisted of the hall leading to his bedroom. And, also, his bedroom. It was enormous; the chamber stretched across the east side of the house and included an elegant sitting area. It was decorated in heavy, dark wood and dominated by a grand four-poster bed.

  Hanna glanced at Logan, excitement trilling through her as thoughts of what they could do in that bed danced in her head.

  She had little time to contemplate the prospects. As soon as they were through the door, he kicked it shut and yanked her into his arms.

  “Here,” he whispered. “Finally, I have you here.”

  She laughed, but then met his eyes. He wasn’t joking. His features were bleak, pinched. “What is it, Logan?” She asked, cupping his cheek with her palm.

  “I had this dream that this was where I would say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “But now that you’re here . . . I . . .”

  “Logan?” Anxiety swirled in her chest.

  “Sorry, Hanna. This is kind of nerve-racking.”

  “What is—?”

  Her lungs locked as he did it. As he dropped to one knee. “Hanna Stevens. I’ve always loved you. As a boy, it was a crush, I know that now. Because what I feel for you . . . God, it’s worlds, universes more.”

  Tears pricked her lashes. Something sweet swelled in her chest. “Logan—”

  “I want you in my life. I want you in my bed. I want you across the table from me every night at supper, and I want you holding my hand when I take my last breath. But only . . .”

  “But only?”

  “But only if that’s that you want.”

  “I want.” She said it so softly, he may not have heard.

  “You don’t have to answer me yet. It’s probably unfair of me to spring this on you so soon, but I want you—need you—to know how I feel.”

  “Logan—”

  “You hardly know me, after all.” She heard the insecurity of a young boy in his tone, layered as it was with the surety of a man, a man brave enough to expose his heart when he wasn’t sure it would be accepted.

  “I do. I do know you—”

  “That’s why I wanted to spend this time with you. I didn’t want to force you to be with me but I hoped, hoped that as you got to know me, maybe, just maybe, when you made your choice . . . it would be me you picked.”

  She had to stop him. He was breaking her heart. She did it the only way she knew how. She dropped to her knees at his side and kissed him. “You’re an idiot, Logan Landry,” she said. But she said it with a smile.

  “Get off your knees,” he grumbled.

  “You first.” But they stood together and then she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. “I do know you,” she said. “I know a lot about you. I know you are a boy who once stood up to the biggest bully in town for a girl who barely noticed him.”

  “Never noticed him.”

  She flushed. “Never did. I’m sorry for that.” She stroked his cheek.

  “Don’t be, Hanna. Don’t ever be sorry. Just be . . . Hanna.”

  “That’s another thing I know about you.”

  “What?”

  “You want me to be me. You always wanted me to be happy—even if it meant you couldn’t have me. You were willing to let that happen.”

  “It would have killed me. But you deserve that, Hanna. Every woman does.”

  “I love you, Logan. And I always will. I love everything about you. And you know what?”

  “What?” He met her gaze, his eyes wide and filled with adoration and humility and hope.

  “I love that boy too. That scared, brave boy. He saved me that night. From God knows what.”

  “I know what,” he growled. “Damn Zack Pucey.”

  She smacked him. “Don’t interrupt.”

  “Sorry.”

  “And don’t ever mention his name again. Promise.”

  “Gladly.”

  “As I was saying . . .” She sighed as she recalled how things could have been. “That boy saved me, and I owe him everything.”

  He frowned. “I don’t want you to owe me.”

  “Tough. I do. The way I figure it, I owe you about, oh, fifty years or so of utter devotion.”

  His chuckle rocked the room. “That sounds pretty good.”

  “Doesn’t it?”

  “And utter obedience too?” he asked hopefully, but it was clear he was only playing.

  She made a face, but she was only playing too. “What if I don’t want to be obedient?”

  “I guess I’ll have to break out the leather straps . . .” They both laughed and he pulled her closer. “Come here,” he said.

  “What do you have in mind?”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Not that. I want to make love to you in my bed. Something gentle. Something sweet. Something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.” He yanked off his shirt and she followed suit.

  Her every muscle shivered as he cupped her lace-clad breasts. “Something that memorable?”

  “Oh yes.” He walked her to the bed and settled her on the duvet and lowered his head.

  And just as their lips were about to meet, just as he was about to claim her completely, here, in his bed . . . a car door slammed in the driveway below. A warble drifted through the open window. “Yoo hoo! Logan! Hope we’re not interrupting anything!”

  His eyes crossed and Hanna couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Looks like we’ll have to wait for memorable,”
she said.

  Logan muttered an invective—something about damned brothers and privacy and the sanctity of a man’s home, for the love of God—and yanked on his shirt.

  “It’s okay,” she assured him as she donned her own and hooked her arms in his; together they headed toward the stairs to greet their guests. “We have time for memorable. Forever is a long, long time.”

  ***

  The unwelcome visitors brought welcome news. But they didn’t seem inclined to share. His brothers lounged in the open, casual living room and grinned at each other and Logan and Hanna as they waited for Maria, Logan’s housekeeper, to bring them food.

  Vultures.

  But Logan hardly cared if they ate his food and drank his beer. He had Hanna. And she loved him.

  He’d meant what he’d said to her. He’d had a crush in high school and lingering obsession that had haunted him all these years. But it was more, much more, now. Knowing her, and getting to know her—in all ways—had changed everything.

  He loved her like an ocean, wild and rampant and endless. It hit him, every time he looked at her, in wave after wave.

  And she loved him too.

  So while his brothers ate their stupid tamales and drank their stupid beer and smirked amongst themselves, he sat next to Hanna, his arm around her, toying with the little curls at her nape. Every once in a while she would look up at him, her eyes wide and gleaming, as though tears were not far.

  But he knew they were happy tears.

  After years of wanting her, years of dreaming of this, she was his. That was all that mattered. Whatever news his brothers brought, they could handle it. Together.

  It wasn’t until after they’d all eaten a full plate of tamales and had at least one beer apiece that Rafe gusted a sigh and said, “Well, it’s over.”

  Hanna stiffened at his side. Logan tightened his hold. “What happened?” he asked, his tone clipped.

  Ben huffed a laugh, but it wasn’t much of a laugh. “He came back. The idiot came right the fuck back.”

  Brandon dipped a chip in guacamole and crunched into it. Through a full mouth that would make their mother cringe, he added, “And he brought accelerant.”

  “And matches.”

  Hanna went stiff. “W-what happened?” Logan heard the horror in her tone. He rubbed her back.

  “He set the restaurant on fire.”

  She went white. Her gaze snapped to Logan. Her lips parted. “No. Not your beautiful creation . . .” The tears were real now. They welled in her stunning eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

  He wiped them away. “It doesn’t matter, honey,” he murmured. Nothing mattered but her, and she was here. With him. Safe. Horror curled in his gut at the thought that Zack could have executed his revenge while she’d been inside. “We can rebuild it.”

  Ben barked a laugh. “No need for that.”

  Hanna’s chin snapped up, and Logan’s with it. “What?”

  Brandon took another slug of his beer. “Did I mention Pucey is an idiot?”

  “Did you need to?” Rafe asked dryly.

  “He set the fire against the west wall.”

  “Really?” Logan couldn’t hold back a barked laugh, which his brothers shared.

  Hanna looked from one to the other, bewilderment in her eyes. “What’s so funny about that?”

  “Because, darling,” Logan said, dropping a kiss on her sweet lips. “The fireplace in on the west wall.”

  “Cement and river rock,” Ben added.

  “Nothing remotely flammable.” Brandon toyed with his beer bottle. “Burned up his kindling pretty good, though.”

  “What’s better is, he was too busy fanning the blaze to notice Grant pulling up behind him in the squad car.” Ben slapped his knee. “Should’a seen his face when he turned around.”

  “Bottom line?” Rafe’s grin was wicked. “He’s been arrested for arson. And you know what?” His gaze zeroed in on Hanna.

  “What?” she asked in a small voice, but Logan could tell she was holding back something that looked like a smile.

  “This ain’t Snake Gully. His pa don’t own the law here.”

  “He’s going to prison,” Ben chortled.

  Rafe held up a hand. “We don’t know he’s going to prison, but he’s been charged. I’m sure he’ll have a fair trial.”

  Logan’s gaze narrowed on his brother. “Why are you smirking like that?”

  “You remember the copper theft we had a while back?”

  Logan nodded. That had cost a pretty penny.

  “Dad had security cameras installed along the perimeter. They caught everything.”

  “You should have been there, Logan.” Ben grinned like a monkey. “It was beauty watching Grant arrest him, cuff him, and stuff him in the backseat of his cruiser.”

  “Hey, maybe the security cameras caught that too,” Brandon suggested.

  Ben laughed. “I bet they did.” His eyes glimmered. “We should have that transferred to DVD and give it to Logan for his birthday.”

  Rafe nodded. “Good idea. But we got you something else too. We had Grant issue a restraining order, just in case Zack slithers out of this.” His gaze lit on Hanna. “He’s not allowed within five hundred feet of either of you.”

  “He won’t slither out of this.” Ben sat back and crossed his arms.

  “How can you be so sure?” Hanna asked. Logan understood her concern. Zack was a slithery bastard.

  Ben’s face broke into a wide grin. “Because, darlin’, I play poker with the D.A. and he owes me big.”

  Hanna shot Logan a grin. He loved the lightness in her eyes, the quirk of her lips. But that wasn’t relief he saw. It was mischief. “So there’s an example of how playing poker can really come in handy.”

  It was a reference, of course, to the poker game he’d lost to Cody. The bet that had started all this in motion.

  He tugged her closer. “I’m happy with the hand I was dealt,” he murmured. And then, as an afterthought, added, “Even though I’m pretty sure Cody cheated.”

  ***

  They left not long after, his brothers, feeling proud of themselves, and excited to head off and tell their parents what they’d accomplished today. They wanted Logan and Hanna to come along, but Logan declined. They’d done all the real work. They deserved the glory.

  Besides, he and Hanna had unfinished business.

  It didn’t take long to finish.

  And damn, was it memorable.

  The sweetest loving he’d ever known.

  Never before had he been so glad he had a four-poster bed. She’d looked stunning, spread out across it. The sight of her, bound to his bed, egging him on with her sultry pout, was burned into his memory forever.

  He fully intended to recharge and go at it again as soon as he could, but it might take a while because she’d drained him dry.

  In the aftermath of their passion, he held her close, there in his bed, breathing in her scent and soaking in the warmth of her bare skin against his.

  He could lie like this forever, he thought. Forever and a day.

  “Logan?” Her voice filled the silence, filled his soul.

  “Mmm?” He tugged her closer and pressed his lips to her forehead.

  “I’ve been wondering . . . What does the Double H stand for?”

  Ah. He was wondering if she would ever ask. His lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile. “My dream.”

  “Your dream?” She levered up on her elbow and stared down at him, her features shadowed and smudged by the dark, but he knew them. He knew them by heart.

  “The dream I always held close. Now, my miracle.”

  She plopped down on his chest on folded arms. Almost close enough to kiss, but not. “What dream is that?”

  “Don’t you know?”

  �
�No.”

  “Hanna’s Heart.” He shifted until he loomed over her, then cupped her cheeks and took her lips in a scorching kiss. “It’s you, baby. You’re all I ever wanted.”

  And she always would be. For as long as there was breath in his body.

  She would always and ever be his dream. His dream come true. His miracle.

  And speaking of miracles, he found, to his surprise, he had, indeed, recharged.

  “Are you ready to go again?” he asked.

  “Am I,” she sighed. “Am I ever. But I get to choose the game this time.”

  “You do?” God, he loved the wicked look in her eye. “And what game would you choose?”

  Her lips tweaked. “Stud for Hire.”

  He gaped at her. Her smile broadened.

  “You’ll be my stud for hire. My gigolo. And you have to do everything I ask.”

  “E-everything?”

  “Mmm.”

  Silly girl. Didn’t she realize? Didn’t she know?

  He was, and ever would be, hers to command.

  Epilogue

  Porsche McCoy hunkered in a darkened corner of the Double Stud party room, rested her chin on her fist, and stared at the disco ball sending shards of color over the writhing crowd, trying very hard to muffle her disgruntlement.

  Just how many women was Cody going to dance with before he finally asked her? He whirled by with Sara Worth in his arms, and a laugh on his lips, and the little hairs on her nape prickled.

  He always ignored her.

  Well, that was untrue. He didn’t ignore her as much as treat her like a little sister. An annoying little sister. Patted her on the head, sent her on her way. How frustrating. She was a woman now, full grown and legal . . . not a little kid following him like a besotted puppy.

  But still, he avoided her like the plague.

  It was probably Ford’s fault.

  Cody and Ford had been best friends forever and everyone knew how protective her brother was.

  But she wasn’t a child any longer. It was about time Cody saw that.

  Her eyes narrowed as he made his way to the bar for a drink after his raucous dance. As he tipped back his head, his gaze skated the room for another partner. It landed on her. Her heart jumped . . . but then it plummeted when, without so much as the twitch of a lash, he looked away.