All-American Cowboy

by Dylann Crush

  She shifted, taking the condom and unrolling it onto him with practiced hands. He flipped her onto her back and pushed inside. She was always ready for him. Slick and hot and tight. So fucking tight he almost lost it.

  “Now, Beck. Now.”

  The sky exploded above them. With every boom overhead, he and Charlie let loose their own noises of pleasure. Her nails dug into his back, urging him faster, deeper, harder. He thrust, giving her his all, everything he had, everything she needed. Her mouth formed into the little O, and her hips stilled. He pulled out slow, just the way she liked it, then eased in again, building momentum. She buried her mouth in his chest, muffling her gasps, letting herself tumble over the edge. He waited for her to come down from her high. Then she opened her eyes and watched him climax. The fireworks reflected in her eyes. Purples, yellows, blues, and reds burst into the sky, then faded away, growing dimmer and dimmer until it was just her and him and…oh God, something crawling over his butt cheek.

  * * *

  “I still don’t understand how Beck got stung by a scorpion on the butt. What were y’all doin’ again?” Presley tilted his head, playing dumber than everyone already thought he was, and winked at Charlie across the kitchen island of their parents’ house.

  “We must have stumbled across a nest or something. It was dark. I don’t know.” Her face burned like she’d been the one to suffer from the sting instead of poor Beck. Her family didn’t need to know what they’d been doing. Or that she’d started to fall so hard for him she didn’t know how she’d survive when he’d inevitably leave at the end of the summer.

  She tossed a glance toward Beck. “How are you feeling?”

  The poor man leaned on his elbows on the counter, his jeans pulled down to expose a swollen, red knot on his left butt cheek. “I guess I’m doing as well as can be expected seeing as how my girlfriend’s mother has her hands all over my rear.”

  “Oh, hush. One butt is like the next. With five boys, I guarantee you, this is nothing new.” Her mama spread a paste of meat tenderizer and water onto the bite, then blew on it to get it to set.

  Charlie bit her lip to keep from laughing.

  Beck growled. “Don’t you laugh, Charlie. This isn’t funny. Have you ever been stung by a scorpion?”

  Mama clucked her tongue. “Stop your wigglin’ unless you want this stuff smeared all over your pants too.”

  “Yes, I have been stung by a scorpion before. And bit by a snake. So there. Suck it up, Manhattan.” She rounded the island and covered his hand with hers.

  “Hell, that snake was a tiny garter snake. Barely took a nip at you.” Presley snapped a picture with his phone. “This is gonna look great online.”

  “Would you give me that?” Beck reached for the phone, but Presley skittered away.

  “Presley, you stop that nonsense right now. And, Beck, if you move on me again, I’ll take you over my knee and turn your other cheek just as red as this one. Presley, hand me that damn phone.”

  “Sorry, Mama.” Presley turned over the phone with a bashful grin.

  “Charlie, delete that picture, then you can take over. It’s one o’clock in the morning, and I need my beauty sleep.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She took the phone and opened up the camera app. With the press of a button, the image disappeared and was replaced by a photo of Presley with two half-naked redheads draped over him. She tossed the phone on the island like she’d been burned. “Presley, you’re going to hell.”

  “What’s he done now?” Beck craned his neck to see.

  “Nothin’ I ain’t done before. Y’all have a good night now.” He blew a kiss to each of them and disappeared through the kitchen door.

  “If that boy hasn’t been the death of me yet, I suppose there’s still hope.” Mama wrapped Charlie in a hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You keep an eye on that bite. He hasn’t had a reaction yet, so I’m sure he’s in the clear. But if his tongue starts to swell or he has trouble breathing, get him to the hospital right away.”

  “What do you mean my tongue might swell? Can I die from this?”

  Mama placed a hand on Beck’s arm. “You’re going to be fine. Stay away from scorpions, okay?”

  He nodded and rested his head in his hands. “Can we go now? I think I passed my limit for embarrassing situations about an hour ago when your grandma pinched my ass.”

  “You gotta admit that was funny. Poor Nana hasn’t seen a fine cut of prime rump roast since Pawpaw died in ’96.”

  Beck groaned. “I’m so glad I could accommodate her. Can we go?”

  “Sure.” Charlie helped him to the truck, where he sprawled out on his stomach over the back bench seat. Nothing like seeing her family examine her boyfriend’s bare butt to put a damper on the evening. They’d been having a good time. No, a great time. Despite a few rough starts, Beck fit in like he’d been in Holiday his whole life. Every once in a while his city roots shone through. Like how stiff he sat in the saddle. But for the most part, he’d managed to charm the locals and even earn back their respect after that unfortunate mishap with the beer.

  “You taking me back to your place?” His voice drifted over the seat.

  “Yeah. My mom said I better keep an eye on you. How are you feeling?”

  “Like I’ve been bit on the ass by a prehistoric insect. Do you think anyone bought the whole ‘maybe we stumbled across a nest’ story?”

  “They might have been more inclined if you hadn’t run around the bonfire with your jeans around your ankles.”

  There had been some wild stories coming out of the Chuckwagon Extravaganza over the years, but Charlie was fairly certain they’d be talking about this one for decades. After Beck had jumped up and raced away, she’d pulled on her pants, grabbed their stuff, and caught up to him at the bonfire. Her mom had shone a flashlight app on his bare ass, and they’d tossed him on a horse and hightailed it back to the ranch. She might not ever get him on the back of a horse again.

  He let out another groan. “Can we pretend tonight never happened?”

  “I don’t think my nana will let you.” She looked over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of him hiding his head under his arm.

  “Would you agree I suffered from complete mortification this evening?”

  “Um, yes. No doubt about that.”

  “And you want to make me feel better?”

  Where was he going with this? Leave it to Beck to twist any situation into a favorable outcome for him. “Sure.”

  “You’re coming to New York with me then, right? I want you all to myself, even if it’s only for a weekend. What do you say?”

  He hadn’t brought up the trip since the night he’d asked. She’d sometimes wondered if she’d dreamed the offer. She didn’t know why, couldn’t seem to put words to the nagging feeling of apprehension about leaving town. It was probably nothing. Now that she and Beck had grown closer and spent so much time together, there was no logical reason for her to say no. And it would be an amazing opportunity to get a taste of his life, what he was like on his home turf.

  She took in a deep breath and answered on an exhale. “Okay.”

  “You will?” He shot to a seated position and kissed her cheek from behind. “We’re going to have a great time, I promise.”

  He settled back on the seat, cussing under his breath as he tried to get comfortable again. Charlie took in a wobbly breath. There. No more flip-flopping or queasy stomachaches. She’d made up her mind. She and Beck were going to New York, taking the next step in their relationship. How could it possibly be a bad decision?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “I don’t know. Maybe I should tell him I changed my mind.” Charlie moved around the bar, her morning chores such an ingrained routine she didn’t even have to think about her next move.

  Darby shifted June in her arms and wiped a line of drool from t
he baby’s chin. “Honey, you’ve got to go. How can you say no to a free trip to New York?”

  “It’s easy. One word. No.” Charlie slapped her palms on the bar, startling baby June, who let out a shriek and began to wail. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” She rounded the bar and took the baby in her arms. “Let me take her.”

  “Yes, go see Auntie Charlie,” Darby said, handing the baby over. “See if you can talk some sense into her.”

  Charlie glared at her sister-in-law while bouncing June on her hip. “Don’t listen to Mommy. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about it.”

  “Yeah, Mommy’s the crazy one.” Darby leaned down and grabbed a striped stuffed pig from the diaper bag. “Auntie Charlie doesn’t know a good thing when she sees it. She thinks she can bide her time and guys like Uncle Beck will just keep dropping at her feet.”

  “Don’t call him Uncle Beck.” Charlie grabbed the toy from Darby and wiggled it in front of June’s face. “Mommy doesn’t get it. She married the first guy who tried to kiss her. Things get complicated when you have to date as a grown-up.”

  “Oh my God, Charlie. You’re the one who’s making it complicated. You’re a girl. He’s a guy. There’s chemistry. A lot of chemistry. What’s so wrong about seeing where it goes?”

  Baby June turned her head toward her mama’s voice, a tiny wrinkle between her cute little eyebrows. “You’re upsetting my niece. Besides, who would handle things here if I left? Just drop it.” Charlie made kissing noises and pressed the pig against her niece’s chubby cheeks.

  “I won’t. Between Shep, Angelo, and the guys, we can handle the Rose. You know that.” Darby lowered her voice like she always did when she was about to say something Charlie didn’t like. “Look, honey, it sucks that Jackson died. You should be married with your own baby on your hip right now. It’s not fair that your life hasn’t worked out the way you thought it would, the way we planned. But you’ve got a second chance. Beck’s the first guy you’ve shown even a tiny bit of interest in. It’s been more than eight years.”

  Warmth rushed from Charlie’s gut to her cheeks. Her heart stuttered, and all of a sudden, June seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. “Leave Jackson out of this. That’s low, Darby, even for you.” She kissed June on top of her fuzzy, dark curls and passed her back to her mother.

  “I want you to be happy. Life is stingy with second chances. I don’t want to see you pass yours up. You know I love you, sweetie. Waylon and I—”

  Charlie’s eyes went wide. “Do not tell me you’ve been discussing my love life with my brother.” Darby’s silence provided the answer. “Who else has been figuring out my future behind my back?”

  Darby bent down and rummaged through the diaper bag.

  “Darbs?”

  “We’re all worried about you.”

  “All?” Charlie pressed.

  “Waylon talked to Cash and Statler…” Darby lifted the diaper bag and took a few steps toward the nearest table. “Your mama even said your dad was asking about when you and Beck are going to take the next step.”

  Charlie clenched her fists and took in a deep inhale in an attempt to keep from punching her ex-bestie. “Maybe the better question is who hasn’t been discussing my love life?”

  “Whose love life?” Presley stomped through the front room and into the bar area.

  “No one. Darby and June were just leaving.” Charlie’s glare dared her friend to argue with her.

  Darby searched through her bag and pulled out her car keys. “Yeah. I’ve got to get to the store. You’re still coming for dinner next weekend, right?”

  “Yeah. Can I bring someone?” Presley scooted behind the bar.

  “Sure, Shana can come.” Darby slung the strap of the diaper bag over her shoulder.

  “Oh, Shana and I ain’t together anymore. I’ll bring somebody else. You got any cherries back here, Sis?”

  “What happened to Shana? I thought you two were serious.” Charlie opened the refrigerator and handed him a small jar of maraschino cherries.

  Presley shrugged. “Didn’t work out. Don’t you have any with stems?”

  “Why do you need ones with stems?” Charlie stuck her head in the fridge and pulled out a half-full jar of stemmed cherries, then paused. “Wait. Do I even want to know?”

  “Stem-tying contest. I’ll see which gals can tie a knot with their tongue. Gotta narrow the playing field somehow, y’know.”

  Charlie shook her head. Sooner or later, karma would catch up to her brother. He grabbed the jar from her hand, kissed her on the cheek, and took giant strides across the room.

  “Oh, hey, Charlie?” He paused before leaving the room.

  “Yeah?”

  “Have fun in New York.” The door clattered shut behind him.

  “Even Presley knows about this?” She turned on her friend.

  Darby smiled. “You could learn a thing or two from your brother, you know.”

  “Sure, like how to catch an STD.”

  “I was thinking more like how to let loose, have a good time, take a chance. I bet he’d go to New York in a heartbeat.”

  “I’m not sure Presley has a heart.” Charlie bit her lip and turned toward Darby. “I know you’re only trying to help.”

  “Hey, if you decide not to go to New York, you can always stick around here for that big ol’ family dinner I’m hosting next weekend.”

  “Fine. That settles it. I’d rather risk death by jumbo jet than subject myself to the family right now.”

  Darby clapped her hands together. “Yay! You’re going to have such a good time.”

  “Bye, baby June.” Charlie dropped one last kiss on her niece’s head. “Tell your mama if this goes south, it’s all on her.”

  June smiled and reached for Charlie’s hair.

  “Oh, stuff it.” Darby grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. “You’re going to have the time of your life. Probably won’t even want to come back once you get a taste of city life.”

  Charlie clung to her friend. This would be a big step. A giant, earth-shattering step. But Darby was right…again. How did that keep happening? It was time to move on. Beck would be right next to her. There was nothing to be afraid of. At least nothing she could admit to her friend. Darby would never understand if she tried to explain that having a good time was exactly what had her the most terrified.

  * * *

  Beck grasped Cash’s hand and shook it hard. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.”

  “Feels weird saying it, seeing as how I’m enabling you to seduce my baby sister, but you’re welcome.”

  “Maybe think about it more like you’re encouraging your sister to take a giant first step in getting over her fear of leaving Holiday.” He’d already gotten a weird vibe from Charlie’s brothers, at least the ones he’d met. He didn’t need any of them to flip into protective, kick-his-ass mode if they doubted his intentions.

  “Yeah, I can live with that.” Cash downed the rest of his beer. “Gotta go. I’ll make sure she gets to the airport, but I can’t force her to get on the plane. And if she actually makes it to New York, it’s all on you.”

  “I’m up for it. She’ll have a great time, I promise.”

  Cash narrowed his eyes, not cracking a smile.

  Beck grinned. “Relax. She’ll have a great time seeing the city. Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building. That kind of stuff.”

  “Yeah. Can’t wait to hear all about it.” He stood, setting his empty beer bottle on the bar. “Just remember what I said before, and things will be fine.”

  His boots clomped across the wood floor, and Beck waited until Cash passed through the doorway before he got up off the stool and tossed the empty bottles in the recycle bin. Surely Cash would never make good on his threat of castration. But from what he’d seen during his brief visits to the ranch, deprivi
ng an animal of its balls seemed to be a regular occurrence around the Walker family. He’d have to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid and that Charlie had the time of her life in New York.

  He’d get the confrontation with his dad over with first and then be able to focus on the fun. It was too bad he’d promised to accept that award for Holiday Enterprises, but they’d still have plenty of time to sightsee and hopefully more than enough time to spend alone.

  Something hard and cold inside Charlie had loosened and thawed over these past couple weeks. It would be great to get her away from the Rose, her family, and the constant pressure she seemed to be under. In talking with Cash and Darby, it sounded like Charlie hadn’t had a real vacation in years.

  After Holiday signed the revised agreement, Beck would be free to talk to Charlie about the plans for the Rose. He’d bring up the possibility of a future and what that might look like between them. Two more days.

  But first, he had to make sure everything would be in good shape while they’d be gone. He made his way to the back room to grab a case of beer. The cooler sure wouldn’t stock itself.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Charlie whipped the lacy tank top over her head and tossed it on the bed to join the remaining contents of her closet. What in the heck did one wear to New York City? She half wished Darby had been available to help her pack. Or even Beck. But he’d left yesterday to attend some meetings before his dad left town on some cruise. So she was on her own. She’d almost canceled when she’d found out he wouldn’t be there to hold her hand on the airplane. But staying in Holiday and dealing with the aftermath of chickening out would be worse than whatever fate awaited her in New York. And Beck had promised to be there when she got off the plane. So all she had to do was get on the nonstop flight.

  She checked the clock on her nightstand. Cash would be picking her up in fifteen minutes, and so far she’d only thrown a pair of flip-flops and a nightgown in her suitcase. If only she’d had time to go shopping for some new clothes. Or thought to borrow something from Brittany. Well, screw it. If Beck didn’t like her for who she was, then she didn’t want to have anything to do with him anyway.