He got down from Fox and picked up the shoe. “Does this belong to you?” he asked. The horse nodded and butted his head gently against Charlie’s shoulder. He bent over and ran his hand down Fox’s leg and picked up the hoof.
Sure enough the horse had thrown a shoe and from what Charlie could see he might have stepped on a rock. The pad, sometimes called the frog, was a little red. He slowly let the hoof down and looked at his watch. He wished he’d noted the time when they’d left the ranch.
“Okay, boy, it looks like I’m on foot. We’d better head back.” He turned and held the reins. They followed their footprints back toward the Bickens. He wasn’t sure how far they’d come, but it couldn’t have been more than an hour. Charlie felt glad he’d worn his snow boots.
****
Lark sat in the Bickens kitchen talking to Bernice and sampling baked goods as they came out of the oven. She thought she’d better stop. Charlie was taking her and Gran out for dinner tonight and she didn’t want to ruin her appetite.
She looked at her watch and realized she’d been sitting with Mrs. Bickens for almost three hours. Her brows came together.
“Bernice, I’m sorry. I’ve bent your ear for too long. I’d better go see what happened to Charlie.” She stood and grabbed her coat from the back of the chair.
“I’ve enjoyed having the company, sweetie. Tell your Gran she’ll have lots of competition at the dance this year. Mrs. Hager is making her rum-apple cakes. Those always sell out fast.” Mrs. Bickens came toward Lark and gave her a hug. She then put a small paper bag in her hand. “These are for Charlie. He’ll probably be hungry when he gets in.”
“Thank you. We’ll see you on Saturday.” Lark left the kitchen and walked toward the barn. She looked across the field and saw Charlie exit the tree line. He was on foot with Fox walking next to him at the same pace. She stopped and watched him walk with the horse. It looked like he was talking to the animal.
Lark felt her lips curl at the ends and a tingling in her pelvis. As he came around the end of the fence, she felt her heart flutter in her chest. He was very handsome in his faded jeans and jacket. He needed a haircut, but his blue eyes looked so clear. She watched him put his arm under Fox’s neck and hug the horse, rubbing his face against the hair. Her breasts started to hurt and she noticed warmth spread into the lower half of her body. She wished for a moment that was her and he was rubbing against her chest. She blinked and realized she was holding her breath. She let it out and could hear crunching behind her.
Mr. Bickens came out of the barn. They both walked toward Charlie.
“What happened? Did Fox toss you on your butt?” Lark asked.
Charlie and Fox stopped and he dug in his pocket and pulled out a shoe. “He threw a shoe. The frog looked a little red and I didn’t want to risk making it worse by riding him.” Charlie handed the piece of iron to Mr. Bickens.
The old man leaned over and pulled up Fox’s leg. He looked at the hoof. “I see what you mean. He probably stepped on a rock.” He set the hoof down, straightened up and patted Fox on the chest. “We’ll get him a new shoe and he’ll be right as rain.”
Charlie rubbed the horse’s neck and leaned into him. “I’ll see you soon Foxy boy.” The horse’s head nodded and moved against Charlie’s shoulder.
“See, I knew he’d remember you,” Lark said and smiled.
Mr. Bickens took the reins and led Fox to the barn. Charlie watched them go. “Thank you, Mr. B. I should have a phone next week. I’ll call and see how he’s doing.”
“That will be fine. It’s good to see you again Charlie.”
“You can always use Gran’s phone.” Lark nudged his arm. She took her keys out of her pocket.
Charlie watched the horse disappear into the barn. “I didn’t even think about that.” He looked down at her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to be so long.”
“No problem.” She handed the bag of cookies to him. “Those are from Mrs. B.”
“What’s this?”
They got into her Bronco and she started the engine. She watched him open the bag.
“Oh man, I am in heaven. I can use about ten of these right now. Do you want one?” He asked and pointed the open bag at her.
“No, I’ve already eaten four.” She steered the car down the drive. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, but it wasn’t because of the snowy road. It was all she could do not to stop and throw off all her clothes. She heard Charlie say something and tried to pay attention, but her body was definitely on fire.
“That was great. Fox does seem to remember me. I can’t thank you enough, Lou. Why did you move him from the Hirsh’s ranch?”
Lark looked in the review mirror and couldn’t see the Bickens house anymore. She braked and pulled the Bronco to the side of the road. She turned off the engine and reached under her seat to grab a lever and move it back. She unzipped her coat and threw it to the seat behind her.
When she looked at Charlie, the burning became worse. She wanted his hands on her. He’d stopped chewing and looked at her like she’d lost her mind.
“What?” he said with a mouthful of cookie.
“Finish your double chocolate chip.” She slid her snow boots off and saw him swallow. She took the bag out of his hand and put it on the back seat next to her coat. She started to move to him and when he seemed to realize what she was doing, he helped her onto his lap. She put her knees on both sides of his legs and straddled his pelvis.
“Oh,” Charlie said.
She reached down to the side of the seat and pulled another lever. Charlie’s seat back flattened fast. She looked down at him and felt his hands on her hips. “I’m sorry. I’m being aggressive again.” She leaned over and lightly touched his lips with hers. She licked at them and when his mouth opened she teased with her tongue and nibbled his lips. “You taste like cookie. I’m probably being a slut, but it’s been a while since I felt this way.”
His hands moved to her bottom and pulled her closer. “No way are you a slut. To be honest,” he pushed his fingers through her hair. “I gave myself a hard-on when I was riding. All I did was think about you.”
“I watched you walk back in with Fox and it...you walk really nice. I’d never noticed it before.” She kissed him again and smiled. “You do know it’s all I can do not to tear all my clothes off and let you devour me. It’s too cold...” She moved her legs a little and adjusted her pelvis. She looked down at him. “Oh dear, what are we to do?”
Charlie laughed. “Oh dear is right. Try walking down an incline with an erection. It’s definitely a learning experience.” He smiled and moved his hands up under her sweater. “I’m getting one of my wishes right now.”
“What is your wish, me sitting on you?”
“That is one of my wishes, too, but I love the feel of your skin. It’s so soft.” He moved his hand up her back and unlatched her bra.
She sat up and looked down at him. “Your hands are being very naughty.”
“Yeah, they have a mind of their own. I hope it isn’t a problem?” His hands moved up the front of her sweater and cupped both breasts under her bra. He put his bottom lip out. “Can I see, please?” he whispered.
Lark pulled her arms out of the sleeves and took her bra off. She then put her arms back in and let him lift the front. She took the bottom of the sweater and held it up. She watched him gaze at her chest. His hands moved up her stomach and his fingers lightly tickled her overly excited buds.
“Lou, you are the most beautiful woman. Always have been, always will be,” he said and leaned his head to her right breast. His mouth covered the tender, hard tip and his tongue and teeth teased her nipple.
She sighed and closed her eyes, letting Charlie perform magic. Her body flamed inside and out. She’d felt excited in the past, but nothing like this. She wanted him, all of
him.
“Oh Ducky,” she moaned.
She felt one of his hands move down to the hot V between her legs and pressed on the right spot causing Lark to moan, again.
“Sweetheart, does the back seat flatten out? If I don’t get inside you soon I’m going to bust.”
She looked down at him, not paying attention to his words. His hands were making her crazy. She glanced out the back window of her Bronco and saw a truck coming towards them. That seemed to register.
She leaned back and pulled her sweater down. “We can’t do this here. There’s too much traffic.”
“What?” He saw where she pointed and looked. She saw him glance at the truck and take in a deep breath. “Let’s go back to my place.” He turned back to her.
Lark put her hand up to his face and ran her thumb along his brow. “You don’t have any furniture, Ducky.”
He kissed the palm of her hand and grinned. “According to Playboy magazine there are other ways of making love around the house. I’ve always wanted to try some of the moves.”
“Charlie Stone, you’re going to make me have a stroke.” She kissed him and moved back to her seat. She started the engine.
“Lou, are you going to put your boots back on?” he asked and put his hand on her thigh.
She grinned at him. “Maybe I’ll put them back on, but right now I’m hot...”
“Scorching hot, baby.” He leaned over, put his hand around her neck and brushed her lips with his.
She pressed toward him, let him take her mouth with passion and felt amazed at what a great kisser he’d become and how he woke up her raging hormones. “Ducky,” she said and kept her eyes closed.
“Yes.”
“I don’t know if I can drive with your hand on my crotch.” She opened her eyes and saw him look down.
“Tit-for-tat, baby.” He grinned.
Lark didn’t even realize her hand was cupped on his jeans over his penis. She felt him twitch through the fabric. “Hmmm, can I get us home in under thirty minutes? I wonder.” She straightened in her seat and shifted the Bronco into Drive. “Buckle up, sweetie.” She arched her eyebrows and grinned.
Chapter Fourteen
They made it back to the neighborhood in twenty-six minutes. Lark drove carefully and did her best to not spin out. She kept her Bronco steady on the road and didn’t put them into a ditch.
“Maybe we should leave Breaker with Gran. He might think we’re playing and want to join in the fun,” Charlie said.
Lark grinned. “I’m only interested in human animals, Ducky.”
He grinned back at her. “Quack.”
They both laughed and she turned the Bronco onto Pine Ridge Road. As they approached Gran’s driveway, Lark could see a black Lexus parked down by the front of the house. Her stomach instantly tied in knots and she stopped laughing.
“Whose car is that?” Charlie asked, as she slowed down.
“Crap, reality never seems to give it up. My fiancés.” She pulled the Bronco behind the Lexus.
“That’s a mood breaker. Lark...” He looked at her.
After she put the SUV into Park and turned off the engine, she leaned over to put on her boots. “Don’t Charlie. We were having too much fun and I shouldn’t have led you on.”
He sat back in his seat. “Definitely a mood breaker,” he mumbled. “I guess dinner’s off.”
She stamped her foot down to get her boot all the way on and looked at him. “No it’s not. Gran is really excited to go out with us tonight. We’re still on.” She looked back at the car in front of hers. “I don’t know why he’s here. My phone was on all day and I don’t have any messages.”
“I better come in and round up Breaker.”
She watched Charlie get out of the Bronco. She grabbed her coat and the bag of cookies off the back seat and got out. As she approached the back door, Charlie stopped and waited for her to go into the kitchen ahead of him.
Lark handed him the cookies as she walked past and looked up at him. She wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words. The flame that built inside of her earlier at Bickens Ranch had waned to a small ember and she suddenly felt very cold.
She opened the door and saw her Gran come in from the living room. “There you are. I didn’t think you’d be gone riding so long,” Gran said with a question on her face.
“Fox threw a shoe, so it took longer to get back in. It’s my fault,” Charlie said.
Lark took off her coat. “Where’s Thomas?” she whispered.
“In the living room,” Gran answered.
“Where’s Breaker?” Charlie held out his hands in question.
“Oh, I had to put him up in the bedroom. He made Thomas uncomfortable.”
Lark saw Thomas stroll into the kitchen, his blond hair combed perfectly and an annoyed look on his face. He wore a pair of dark grey flannel pants, a blue turtle neck and grey jacket. He was a handsome man, but she realized she didn’t really have any feelings for him. What was she thinking about when she accepted his proposal?
“Thomas,” Lark said and went to stand by him. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming down?”
“I left several messages, darling.” He leaned over and kissed her quickly. He turned to Charlie. “You must be Mr. Stone. Aurora explained your relationship with the family. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Lark looked up at Thomas and knew he’d just lied to her. There were no messages on her cell phone. She looked back down and thought he put on a good act, but she could hear the ice in his voice.
Charlie nodded. “Yeah.” He looked at Gran. “I’ll go up and take Breaker home. Is half an hour enough time for you ladies to get ready for dinner?” Both Lark and her Gran nodded. He walked past them and disappeared up the stairs. In less than a minute he came back down with Breaker keeping pace beside him.
When they entered the kitchen, Lark saw the wolf’s fur stand on end and heard a low growl in his chest.
“Let’s go Breaker. I’ll be back,” Charlie said and shut the door behind him.
Lark stared at the door and wanted to follow him. She looked up at Thomas and smiled. “I’m going to change.” She turned and headed to the stairs and he followed her to the bedroom.
He closed the door and leaned against it. “So, you have assisted the needy, I see.” He smiled.
Lark stood at her closet and looked over her shoulder. “Charlie isn’t needy. He’s a bit scruffy around the edges, but he’s a college graduate and knows his way around.” She almost sucked in her breath when she realized she had taken off her bra and it was still out in the Bronco. She walked to her dresser and pulled out a pink one. She took her sweater off and put it on with her back to Thomas.
“Is that so? Your grandmother said he was going to veterinary college. How exciting for him,” Thomas smirked.
Lark thought Thomas might be feeling a bit of jealousy and wanted to smooth things over. She didn’t want him here right now, but would have to make do until she could figure out the best way to discuss their relationship. “Will you come with us for dinner?”
“I came down here to spend time with you, not your grandmother and the next door neighbor. Why don’t we have dinner somewhere without them?”
Lark zipped up a pair of red pants and slipped a red sweater over her head. “We can’t do that tonight. Charlie doesn’t have a car yet and I’ve volunteered to drive.”
Thomas crossed his arms over his chest. “You know it’s interesting that you’re wearing red. It matches your face.”
She’d bent over to pull on her boots and straightened up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He walked up to her and put his hand under her chin. “They match your swollen red lips and cheeks. It makes me wonder.”
She moved her chin awa
y from his fingers and took a step back. “Thomas, it’s cold outside. My ears are probably red, too.”
“Be very careful, my dear.”
“Okay, I give. What’s that supposed to mean?”
“If I find out there’s another explanation than just the cold, we’ll have to discuss it very seriously.”
Lark wanted to scream at him to mind his own business, but knew he would only get very angry with her. If she challenged his position he could turn mean. “Thomas, there is nothing happening here. It’s cold outside and that is all.” She bent over, again and pulled her other boot on. “Look, you can join us or wait here. It’s your choice.”
He landed a heavy hand on her shoulder and wound his fingers into the sweater. “Why is this so important, Lark?”
She put her hand on his arm and looked up at him. She’d had a knot in her stomach since she parked the SUV and it just kept getting worse. “It’s not that important, but I committed to it and, as you know, I hold to my commitments.”
“I’d rather spend the evening alone with you, my dear,” he said in a quiet tone. He put his hand up into her hair and grabbed a handful.
“I know, but in three weeks, after we’re married, we will probably spend so much time together that you’ll get tired of me.” She tried to get him to release her sweater and her hair.
He moved his hand out of her hair, put it around her waist and leaned in for a kiss. Lark thought it was interesting that when Thomas kissed her, there never was any fire, anymore. The more she thought about it she realized she’d never felt much for him physically and became confused.
Thomas always approached kissing and making love like he felt angry at the world. He’d jam his tongue in her mouth and never acted very tender. She remembered Charlie’s lips on her breast and almost smiled, but stopped those thoughts and focused on Thomas.
She pulled back. “Please, come out to dinner with us.”
Love's Embers (Canon City Series) Page 10
