by Susan Crosby
He stared at the floor.
Muttering a few creative curse words, he set down the dog, climbed the staircase, then walked directly to Karyn’s room. He knocked quietly. After a few seconds she opened the door.
“I’m sorry,” he said. Apologizing was something he rarely did because he usually thought things through first. “I was taking out my frustration about Jason—and Ginger, too, I suppose—on you.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry I made you cry.” Because he could see she had, in fact, been crying since she’d left the living room. She looked more fragile than he’d seen her.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t go, Karyn. I don’t want you to leave, and I know Cass would second that.”
“Okay.” She whispered the word.
Then he realized why she seemed not as strong as usual. She had her shoes off, which took inches off her height. It made him even more protective. He took a mental step back.
“Can I get you something? Hot tea? Cocoa? Brandy?”
She shook her head, but he didn’t want to leave.
“Why don’t you get ready for bed and I’ll bring you hot chocolate?”
“You don’t have to take care of me, Vaughn.”
Was that what he was doing? “It’s just a cup of cocoa.”
“Fine. Okay.”
“Is ten minutes long enough?”
“Yes.”
Vaughn timed warming the drink so that it would keep its heat. He put Belle in her crate in his room, and she let him know how unhappy she was. But there could be only one alpha dog in the house.
She’d left her door open a crack and the bathroom light on, but that door was mostly closed, too. He could see she was sitting up in bed.
“You do realize it’s only nine o’clock?” she said, accepting the mug. “I never go to bed this early.”
“You’ve got a TV.” He picked up the remote and handed it to her. “Or you could finish your drink, and I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
She smiled at last. “Will you read me a bedtime story?”
Belle howled.
“Go, Dog. Go?” Vaughn asked. He found her feet through the blanket and rubbed them as she drank. Sounds of pleasure escaped her. He pushed the blanket aside from her knees down, changed his position a little and drew her feet into his lap.
“You don’t have to make anything up to me, Vaughn. I was the one who was wrong.”
“I could’ve handled it differently. You seem so strong most of the time that I forget how hard this all must be for you.”
“I wouldn’t trade the time with you and Cassidy for anything.” She set her mug aside and closed her eyes.
He got up and turned off the bathroom light, then returned to her. He liked the dark, liked the possibilities that night brought when you couldn’t see everything clearly, making you feel your way through instead. Her feet were smooth and delicate. He pressed his thumbs into her arches and got a response. He wondered if she made the same noises during sex.
“We haven’t made out in bed,” she said, her voice soft and a little sleepy sounding.
“There’s probably a good reason for that.” He could only restrain himself so much for so long.
“We could set a time limit. Five minutes, then we quit.”
“Dreamer.”
“You don’t think we could quit?” she asked, rising up on her elbows.
“I’m no masochist.” He tucked her feet back under the covers. “I take it you’re not ready to sleep.”
“Not yet.”
“Tell you what. I’ll take Belle out and change into something more comfortable, then I’ll come back and we’ll talk about it some more.”
“You are the talkiest man I’ve ever known. Don’t you do anything spur of the moment?”
“That’s how mistakes happen. See you in a bit.”
“Maybe,” she said in a self-affronted tone that made him smile.
Needing to cool down his desires, he took his time walking the dog, who was not nearly as uncontrollable as she’d been at the beginning. Then he crated her, changed into pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, the same as Karyn, and headed back to her room. He crept inside, hoping she was asleep—and hoping she was awake. As he neared the bed, she folded back the covers in welcome.
He climbed in. She immediately slid close to him. He wrapped an arm around her as she rested hers on his chest, a leg atop his, and sighed, her breath a warm rush against him. Her vanilla scent tickled his nose. He was already hard with need. He’d purposely not brought a condom with him. Losing control was not an option.
But she was hell-bent on making out, so he could tantalize her, make her lose control instead.
“If you take off your T-shirt,” he said, “and stretch out on top of me, I’ll give you a backrub.”
She sat up and peeled off her shirt. There was just enough light from the moon outside her window to see her tempting breasts. He wouldn’t touch them, he decided, would leave her wanting more. Just a backrub.
“You take your shirt off, too,” she said.
He whipped his over his head, then helped her settle on top of him, her breasts pressed against his chest, skin to skin.
“So, you even pack your six-shooter in bed, Lawman. That’s risky.”
He smiled, then began to massage her back, her skin silken, the ridges of her spine fascinating. He followed that trail all the way down to the tip of her tailbone, then cupped her rear and massaged her there, too.
* * *
Karyn couldn’t hold still. His hands felt wonderful as they squeezed then soothed. His erection flattered her. She wanted to throw back the covers, get naked and take him inside her. She’d been foolish to believe she could lie with him so intimately and not want a conclusion.
“You’re giving off a lot of heat,” he said close to her ear.
“What a surprise.”
His chest shook with laughter.
“You have incredible hands,” she said. “Talented.”
“The better to feel your incredible body, my dear.”
“I’d like to do the same to you.” She gasped as his fingers met in the middle of her rear and stroked her temptingly.
“Not this time, Hollywood.”
“You have way too much self-control.”
“You have way too little.” Rolling them both to their sides, he tugged at her pajama bottoms.
She not only let him, she helped him, until she was blessedly naked. He shoved the blankets down at the same time. Exposed, she waited for an onslaught of attention, but he surprised her as his fingertips barely grazed her, leaving trails of goose bumps across her body. Her nipples ached for his mouth, but he only used his fingers, circling them, then sliding down her abdomen and beyond. She arched up.
“You’re so hot,” he whispered, pressing the heel of his hand against her, sliding a finger inside.
She struggled to breathe. He didn’t let up until she was done, blocking the sounds she made with his mouth in a deep, searching kiss. She didn’t come down all the way but wanted more.
Wanted him, not just the feeling.
“I want to do the same for you,” she said.
“I’m all right.” But his body belied his words. She could bounce coins off him, he was so taut.
“That’s not fair.”
“I’m okay with that,” he said.
“I meant you’re denying me, not just yourself. I want to please you, to know that I have.”
He was quiet a long time, then he said, “Hands only. It won’t take long. I’ve been in a state since I watched you eat your ice cream.”
She liked that he was direct with her, not making her guess what he wanted or liked. She liked
that he let loose in bed, that he’d obviously made a study of lovemaking.
She wasn’t as experienced. She wanted to take time getting to know specifically what he liked, but she barely got her hands on him before he was true to his own words.
After a little while, he pulled his clothes on and climbed out of bed. “Sleep well,” he said.
“Almost home base,” she said in return.
“Enough to provide some damn good fantasies.”
Her room felt empty after he left. She felt empty. She wasn’t a modern woman, after all. She couldn’t have sex for the pure physical enjoyment of it, but needed the emotional involvement, too.
She was falling in love with him, which was a really stupid thing to do. They came from two different worlds. She may have a blood relationship with his daughter, but who knew how that would turn out? She lived and worked in Hollywood. His place was here. He had no desire to move away from his life on the ranch.
Should she let herself fall in love with him or fight it?
Karyn pulled the blankets over her and closed her eyes. So much to think about. So many decisions to make.
And a new fantasy to enjoy in the meantime.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, after the frost melted, they all headed to the homestead. Karyn drove over first, taking Belle with her. Vaughn and Cassidy would follow on horseback.
She’d slept for eight solid hours and woke up dreaming about Vaughn, almost expecting him to be beside her in bed. She felt a little shy around him at breakfast, and he was quiet, too, but gave her such heated looks she thought she might spontaneously combust.
Jim was out riding fence, so Karyn and Dori had the house to themselves for a while. Belle gnawed on a rawhide bone as Dori tried on various outfits. One needed to be returned, but otherwise everything fit perfectly. Karyn convinced her to wear sandals, cropped pants and a tropical blouse on the plane. Their flight was at 6:30 a.m., but Jenny would be dropping them off, so they only had to make their way from the car to the terminal entrance in the cold weather.
“I’m not sure we’ll get Jim to agree to leave his Wranglers and boots behind,” Dori said. “We plan on visiting a friend’s cattle ranch while we’re there.”
“Has he seen his new clothes yet?”
“I’m going to spring them on him tomorrow when I pack. They’re nothing like he usually wears.”
“Tell him he’ll stick out like a sore thumb if he dresses for home.”
“Getting him to leave his hat behind will probably be the hardest part. He’ll feel naked without it.”
“And hot with it, but it’s not worth arguing about, I think. I’m sure you’ll figure out how to convince him—or not. It’s only important that you relax and have fun.”
“I’ll remind him, thank you. How much longer are you staying, Karyn?”
“No clue.”
“You have a job to get back to, I imagine.”
“I told my clients I would be gone for two weeks. Some don’t believe me because I never take longer than a week. It helps that I don’t have cell reception. If they’re calling, I never know until I go somewhere within range of a tower.” From the bedroom window Karyn saw Vaughn and Cass approach. “He makes quite a statement on that horse.”
“All my sons are strong men, but Vaughn has something extra,” Dori said, coming up next to Karyn. “I got to watch him in a courtroom a few times. I hadn’t seen that side of him. He was fascinating. I burst my buttons. He has depths I hadn’t seen and intelligence beyond the norm, which I had seen. He’s a financial genius and negotiates great contracts for us. I’m only sorry that he’s had a tough time personally. Ginger really played him.”
Dori clamped her mouth shut, as if realizing she’d said too much.
“He’s talked about her,” Karyn said. “You didn’t say anything I didn’t already know.”
“I’m generally good at keeping my children’s private lives private. I don’t know why I worry about him more than the rest, even the girls.”
It took a while longer until Vaughn and Cass came into the house.
“Did we give you enough time?” he asked, giving his mother a hug.
“Plenty.”
“You’re done?” he asked Karyn.
“Your mom is going to turn more heads than usual. Especially your father’s.”
“Good. We just saddled a horse for you.”
Panic set in like a gut punch, quick and breath stealing. “I haven’t shopped for the right clothes yet. No riding boots.” She lifted a leg, showing off her inappropriate footwear.
“We already know we wear the same size,” Dori said. “You can borrow mine. Your clothes are fine. I can give you a warmer jacket.”
“Traitor,” Karyn said.
“You told me you were ready to try,” Vaughn said. “No time like the present. It’s a beautiful day. We’ll take it slow and easy.”
“I’ll pack you a lunch.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Everyone looked at Karyn expectantly. She wished she was pregnant like Annie so she’d have an excuse....
The thought hung there. Pregnant. She’d never really thought about it before, except in a when-I-have-children-someday kind of way. She glanced at Vaughn. She already knew what kind of father he was. There would be no guessing about that.
“Karyn?” the man filling her thoughts said.
“Hmm? What?”
“Mom’s brought boots and a jacket.”
“And a hat and gloves.”
Before she knew it, she was standing next to a beautiful horse named Beauty, who had a white blaze down her nose. She belonged to his sister Haley, who didn’t get to ride often, so everyone took turns keeping her exercised.
Karyn’s heart pounded like crazy as Vaughn showed her how to mount up, then gave her basic lessons on using the reins. Beauty barely budged when Karyn got aboard, not shifting her legs at all.
“She’s very well trained,” Vaughn said. “You won’t have to guide her much. She’ll follow us.”
The animal felt so big and so strong under her. Karyn made eye contact with Vaughn as he mounted Gatsby.
“She wouldn’t even flinch at a rattler,” he said, his voice soothing. “Not that there are any this time of year,” he added in a hurry when she panicked.
Cassidy seemed to be enjoying it all. Her grin never diminished. And she looked adorable with her hair in pigtails poking out from under her red hat.
“Ready?” Vaughn asked.
She glanced at Dori. “I haven’t written a will.”
“Tell the lawyer your wishes as you ride.”
“Enough stalling, Hollywood. Give her a squeeze with your boots. Let’s go. Slow walk at first.”
Karyn didn’t know what she’d expected but it wasn’t this...this excitement. At first she thought it was fear, but soon she realized she was also having fun. She’d been born knowing how to do this or something. It was innate. Yet she’d never sat on a horse before.
“You’re doing great,” Vaughn said.
“I know!” She laughed. “Even though I’m scared to death!”
A slow grin came over his face. “Want to kick it up a notch? I know Cass would.”
“Lead the way.”
“Cass, get out ahead of us and go into a trot. We’ll follow you.”
“Oh, boy!”
“Keep your back straight and body relaxed, like I told you,” he said to Karyn. “You’ll bounce but in the right way. I’ll be right beside you.”
He talked to her constantly, correcting and advising. At first the pace had her catching her breath, then she got into the rhythm of it. Cold air chilled her face, making her smile a little stiff. She flashed as much of a grin at Vaughn as she could mana
ge with her cheeks frozen.
“I love this!” she shouted, the adrenaline rush huge.
“I can see that.”
They rode until they reached what appeared to be a small graveyard. A bench had been built to one side, and it sat in the sun now as they ate their lunch and let the horses rest. Then Karyn wandered through the headstones, finding Ryder family members who’d been born as far back as the early 1800s. She stopped in front of the one who’d died most recently, George Hiram Ryder, who’d passed away just over three years ago.
“My father’s father,” Vaughn said, kneeling to clear some dead leaves.
“He always had butterscotch candies in his pockets,” Cass said.
“The strong, silent type, unless he was correcting your mistakes,” Vaughn said, smiling. “He and Mitch were inseparable. Mitch took his death really hard. There’s a family history written out at the homestead, if you’re interested.”
“I am.” Then she took a good look at the entire countryside. “You know, if you ever wanted to add to your business, you could make Ryder Ranch a vacation destination spot. A working cattle ranch, not a dude ranch. People would pay good money to be part of that.”
His gaze went across the valley, too. “Where would we put people?”
“You’ve got the old bunkhouse that you could renovate. Let people come for a few days and experience the ranch. You’d only have to take as many people as you want, limit how often you have guests so that it fits with your—and I mean all of the Ryders’—schedules and desires.”
“I don’t think Dad would like having a lot of strangers on the property. In fact, I know he wouldn’t.”
“I could find top-quality guests. I bet I could fill it up for as many days as you’d like for the first year or two.”
“Well, it’s an interesting idea anyway.”
Which meant he was dismissing it. He was probably right. His father wouldn’t go for it, and if Jim wouldn’t, no one could.
Karyn thought she was feeling good until they mounted up again. Then her bottom shouted loudly about going on.
