Bluegrass Bend

by Mandy Magro

  ‘Kiss me again, my gorgeous man.’

  ***

  Looking into Ivy’s beautiful eyes Ronny didn’t need any more of an invitation. Leaning in, he placed his lips against hers, heat spreading throughout his body as she returned his passionate kiss. ‘I want to make love to you,’ he whispered.

  ‘I want that too,’ Ivy replied breathlessly.

  Ivy wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders as he lifted her. They made their way inside, their kisses continuing as they half stumbled through the back door and down the hallway. In his bedroom, Ronny gently placed her on his bed, the sliver of moonlight spilling through the curtains enough to subtly light Ivy’s exquisite features. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’

  Ivy didn’t reply. Instead she sat up, removed the tie from her hair so it fell freely around her shoulders and then slowly began removing her clothes, her eyes never leaving his. Ronny ached to touch and kiss every inch of her beautiful skin as he watched her, but he stood his ground, wanting to drink her in as she stripped for him. She was entrancing and he wanted to take this slow, so he could savour every look, kiss, touch, lick and moan.

  He undid his shirt and dropped it from his arms and then took off his jeans and boxers, and remained standing there, naked. Ivy gazed at his hardness and then she smiled wickedly as she lay back and closed her eyes. Ronny’s gaze travelled the length of her bare, silky-smooth body, halting when he reached the scar on her stomach. Needing to run his lips over it, to kiss away the pain that night had left in her heart, he climbed onto the bed and lay beside her.

  ‘I want you to just lie there and let me pleasure you.’ His voice was husky with lust, and gently demanding. ‘I want to taste every inch of you before I slide inside you.’

  Ivy nodded as though unable to speak, her breath quickening.

  He ran his fingers gently over her eyelids, the moan escaping her parted lips turning him on even more as he ran his fingertips over her mouth and then downwards. He gently tilted her neck to the side so he could kiss the place where her pulse throbbed. Ivy responded by pressing his face to her skin harder and he followed her cue and bit the place he was kissing. She cried out in pleasure. Then, unhurriedly, he traced the line of her throat with his lips and stopped to run his fingers over her breasts, circling her erect nipples before leaning in to lick them, then suck and graze them with his teeth. Ivy arched her back, her breathing fast and shallow.

  Aching to be inside her, but craving her sweetness before he did, Ronny continued on his downwards path, making sure to trace the inside of her belly button, and slowing when he reached her scar. He kissed it inch by inch until he reached her inner thigh. Easing himself on top of her, he gently pushed her legs open, bringing his mouth down upon her sweetness. At first, he did nothing but blow warm breath over it. Gently, teasingly, he ran his tongue all over her lips before slowly sliding his tongue into her, savouring every drop. She was so wet and warm and tasted truly addictive. Ivy pushed herself into him as her hands went to the back of his head, groaning in pleasure. Licking, sucking and kissing her, his hands pressing on her inner thighs as he slid her legs open wider, he made her moan and writhe beneath him in ecstasy. Pushing his tongue in as deep as he could, he gradually moved upwards before sucking on her pleasure spot and circling it with his tongue. He could feel she was so very close, but he didn’t want her to fall into paradise just yet.

  ‘I want you inside me, now!’ Ivy cried out.

  Ronny smiled as he slid his lips up her stomach, over her breasts and her neck back to her lips. Kissing her with unrivalled passion, he began to unhurriedly slide himself deep inside her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, encouraging him as her hands gripped his back and her nails dug into him gratifyingly. She held her breath. Her muscles tightened around his manhood, sending shivers through him.

  Once completely inside her, he stopped, enjoying the sensation of being at one with the love of his life.

  Ivy flicked open her eyes, and he met her desire-filled gaze. ‘I love you,’ he whispered.

  ‘I love you too,’ Ivy replied, her voice soft yet filled with yearning.

  He started to move, taking his time, sliding out of her achingly slowly before sinking into her once more. His body quivered with every stroke, every touch, and every kiss. Ivy moved in union with him, her trembling hips meeting his at exactly the right time. As their thrusts became harder, hungrier, faster, their moans became louder. They grabbed hold of each other as they reached the point of absolute bliss and tumbled over the edge of ecstasy together, crying out as they did.

  Satisfyingly exhausted, they cuddled into one another as they caught their breath. They curled up gently, their bodies moulded, each feeling as if they’d found their place, their purpose, and true, soul-deep love.

  EPILOGUE

  Four weeks later

  Smiling at the two guitars sitting side by side in matching stands – he and Ivy had made such beautiful music together, and they were going to be doing a gig next week at the local – Ronny opened Lottie’s jewellery box and reached for the blue velvet box that held his aunt’s antique diamond engagement ring. He opened it to admire the exquisiteness of the ring as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. This ring had signified a marriage filled with undeniable love, and now he hoped it was going to signify a lifetime of love and commitment between him and Ivy. He wished Lottie were alive to share his happiness – that was, if Ivy said yes.

  Hearing hurried footsteps coming down the hallway he quickly wrapped the box in a tissue and tucked it into his pocket.

  Bounding into their bedroom with Cindy Clawford in tow – the cat now followed her everywhere, even down to the paddock – Ivy eyed Ronny’s smart attire of black trousers and a sky-blue shirt. She reached out and straightened his tie. ‘You’re looking pretty damn handsome, Mr Sinclair.’

  ‘Why, thank you, Miss Tucker … I can scrub up when needed.’ He eyed her up and down, grinning suggestively. ‘And you, my gorgeous lady, are looking pretty damn sexy in that black dress.’ He reached out and playfully pushed one of the straps off her shoulders. ‘I think I might have to make love to you before we leave.’

  Ivy slapped his hand away lightheartedly. ‘We’re already running late because you kept me in bed well after the alarm went off. Not that I’m complaining.’ She leant in and kissed the place on his neck that drove him wild, grinning wickedly as she went over to her dresser. ‘But hold that thought until we get back home, won’t you?’

  ‘Oh, trust me, I’m always holding that thought,’ Ronny replied as he gave her backside a playful slap.

  After applying a quick swipe of lipstick, she grabbed his hand and gave it a tug. ‘Come on, my handsome man, the auctioneer will be there in less than an hour, and I want to be there when she arrives.’

  Ronny allowed her to drag him down the hallway at a hundred miles a minute, laughing the entire way. ‘I think I better drive, otherwise it might be a bit of a Dukes of Hazard moment when you hit the dirt roads – and I want us to arrive there in one piece.’

  Ivy grabbed her coat from the stand beside the door, smiling dangerously. ‘Are you picking on my driving?’

  ‘Never,’ Ronny said, as though mortified with the thought.

  ‘’Cause if you are, you might find yourself walking to the auction,’ she replied with a wink.

  Before she disappeared out the door, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, his smile fading as he eyed her seriously. ‘We still have time to pull out of this, Ivy. I honestly don’t mind mortgaging this place to be able to keep your cottage and help with what’s owing at Healing Hills.’

  Ivy shook her head determinedly. ‘No, like I’ve told you a million times before, I won’t hear of it. This is our home; the cottage is just an empty house that I would feel much better about if there were people in it, creating a life.’ She placed her hand over her heart. ‘It will hurt, letting it go, but Mum lives in here, so I don’t need the place to remember her b
y.’

  ‘Okay, only if you’re absolutely sure.’

  ‘I’m one hundred and ten per cent certain.’ She smiled as she headed out the door, still talking over her shoulder. ‘I can’t wait to see who buys it – if it sells, of course.’

  ‘I have no doubt it’ll sell today. The place looks amazing, if I do say so myself.’ Ronny pulled a proud face as he followed her out, making sure the door was shut firmly behind him. Last time they’d forgotten to shut it they’d come home to a muddied pair of dogs asleep on their brand new couch. Bo and Jessie had been banned from the house for a week, but within three days Ivy had caved and had let them back in.

  Ned eyed them over the fence and bleated a goodbye. Ronny gave his mate a smile, as did Ivy. He never knew what mood Ned was going to be in from one day to the next, but he’d grown to love the belligerent goat, and the pony, Grace, too.

  ‘You got the keys, beautiful?’

  Ivy dug in her handbag. Finding them, she threw them towards him. ‘Sure do. When will the makeover on the Kingswood be finished – I can’t wait to see it restored to its former glory?’

  They climbed into Ivy’s ute, hauling on their seatbelts. ‘Oh, Dave rang yesterday, said they’re just waiting on a few final parts and then it’ll all be done.’ Ronny grinned like a child in a lolly shop. ‘I can’t wait to see the old girl all done up.’

  ‘Me too,’ Ivy said with an equally excited grin. ‘She’s gonna look beautiful.’

  Ronny revved the engine to life as Nugget tore across the drive in front of them with the two ducks in tow. ‘Right, ready to do this?’

  ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’

  ***

  Watching the auctioneer at work through the parted curtains made Ivy’s head spin. ‘How does someone talk so fast?’ she whispered to Ronny, May and Alice, who were huddled in closely beside her – all of them wanting a glimpse of the goings-on outside.

  ‘I have no idea what she’s saying,’ Alice said.

  ‘Neither do I,’ May added. ‘She sounds a bit like a chicken clucking.’

  Ronny chuckled. ‘I can understand her, and it sounds like you’re going to be making much more than you first thought, Ivy. Look at all those people out there.’

  Ivy grinned. ‘I know, I can’t believe how many turned up.’

  Alice wriggled on the spot. ‘Shh, it looks like they’re getting to the nitty gritty of the deal.’

  They remained silent as the auctioneer pointed from one couple to another, her voice getting louder and shriller by the second.

  ‘Did she just say six hundred thousand dollars?’

  ‘Uh huh,’ May, Alice and Ronny said in unison.

  They held their breath, watching, waiting, and praying. Ivy wanted to scream, she was so excited.

  ‘Sold to the couple on my right for six hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars.’

  Ivy, Ronny, May and Alice faced each other, eyes and smiles wide.

  ‘Oh my God,’ Ivy squealed. ‘That’s over a hundred thousand more than we’d first thought.’

  The four of them embraced as they did a happy dance.

  ***

  The lighting in the restaurant was soft and romantic. Ivy smiled across the table at her sexy dinner date, grateful that he’d gone to so much trouble to bring her to her favourite Italian restaurant. It was over an hour’s drive from Bluegrass Bend, and usually very hard to get in to. Ronny must have booked their table a few weeks ago to be able to get a seat and the thought warmed her already flaming heart.

  The crab and prawn linguini was to die for and as per usual, it hadn’t disappointed. And now she was tucking into her favourite dessert of tiramisu.

  ‘Thank you for bringing me here, Ronny, it’s so beautiful.’

  As always, Ronny charmed her with his smile. ‘You deserve beautiful, Ivy, because you’re beautiful – inside and out.’

  ‘Why thank you, sexiness.’ Ivy blushed as she spooned the last mouthful of decadent dessert into her mouth, and then moaned. ‘Oh my God, this is heavenly.’

  ‘Please don’t moan like that … you’ll get me all hot under the collar,’ Ronny said as he caught her gaze, and seized it.

  The intensity in his eyes made Ivy’s heart skip a beat. It always amazed her that he could make her feel as though he was caressing her soul without even touching her. She watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet box. Everything around her faded away, leaving just her and him, here, loving each other in a way not many were lucky enough to ever experience. She held her breath.

  Was he about to ask her the big question? Or was this a celebratory gift for the sale of the cottage? She squealed on the inside with the thought of it being the former.

  Ronny placed the box on the table and took her hands in his. ‘Ivy, you’re my absolute everything. I want you to be the first thing I see every morning and the last thing I see at night. You’re my best friend, and my soul lover. I want to have children with you, dream with you, and love you for the rest of my days.’ He smiled softly, his eyes glistening. ‘Will you marry me?’

  Ivy gasped as happy tears filled her eyes. She jumped from her seat and threw out her left hand, wriggling her fingers. ‘Yes, Ronny Sinclair. I’d love to marry you.’

  The restaurant erupted in applause as Ivy fell into the arms of the man who had already protected her and loved her for years, and was now promising to do it for the rest of his days. She was one lucky woman to have found true love with a guy as deep and as sensual as Ronny. She knew without a doubt their love would last this lifetime and she liked to believe it would proceed into the next.

  ‘I love you, Ronny, with every single inch of me,’ she whispered in his ear.

  ‘I love you, too, Ivy. Always have and forever will.’

  * Ivy’s Playlist *

  Lady antebellum ‘Just a Kiss’

  Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ‘It’s Your Love’

  Troy Cassar-Daley ‘Bar Room Roses’

  The Sunny Cowgirls ‘Green and Gold’

  Lee Kernaghan ‘Goondiwindi Moon’

  Johnny Cash ‘Orange Blossom Special’

  Merle Haggard ‘Workin’ Man Blues’

  Hank Williams ‘Your Cheating Heart’

  Waylon Jennings ‘Good Hearted Woman’

  George Jones ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’

  Clancy ‘A Walk in the Rain’

  Alan Jackson ‘Once in a Lifetime Love’

  Garth Brooks ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’

  Brad Paisley ‘I’m Still a Guy’

  Slim Dusty ‘Lights on the Hill’

  George Strait ‘When Did You Stop Loving Me’

  Keith Urban ‘Your Everything’

  Randy Travis ‘I Told You So’

  Adam Brand ‘Cigarettes and Whiskey’

  Catherine Britt ‘Sweet Emmylou’

  Dolly Parton ‘Jolene’

  Gary Allan ‘Nothing On but the Radio’

  Cold Chisel ‘Rising Sun’

  Chris Stapleton ‘Whiskey and You’

  Adam Harvey ‘That’s What You Call a Friend’

  Miranda Lambert ‘The House’

  Download Ronny and Ivy’s love song, ‘A Walk in the Rain’ by Clancy, for free by visiting harlequinbooks.com.au/bluegrassbend

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  A huge hurrah goes to the fantastic team at Harlequin headquarters – my publishers Sue Brockhoff and Rachael Donovan, my editors Annabel Blay and Kylie Mason, the design magicians that have yet again wowed me with cover gorgeousness, and the rest of the extremely talented, inspiring and addictively enthusiastic team who have helped me make Bluegrass Bend the very best it can be. I’m extremely grateful to be part of such a supportive, talented bunch.

  To my beautiful hunky manly-man of a hubby, Clancy. You inspire me in so many ways – the depth in your heart and your creative mind among the many reasons I love you so very much. You make me strive to be the very best I can be and infuse a strength within me I never knew I ha
d until I met you. Thank you for loving me the way you do, for proving the love I was searching for existed, and for being my rock, my best friend and an amazing stepdad to Chloe. The healing horses in Bluegrass Bend are all thanks to you – you’re the best! Love you with all my heart and soul.

  To my incredibly spirited, always smiling and beautiful big-hearted little girl, Chloe Rose. You’re my absolute world, darling. You teach me to see things in such different ways, and help me to capture the magic in each and every day. You’re wise beyond your years and are the kindest soul I’ve ever met. I’m always finding myself amazed by you. I love you a trillion bazillion, and then some.

  To my beautiful stepdaughter, Taylor, thank you for being such a kind and caring soul. You have a bohemian spirit that warms and calms all around you. Chloe and I are both very blessed to have you in our lives. Love you.

  To my life guru, my confidant, my dad, John. You guide me through everything with such gentleness, and with an amazing amount of love. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you backing me the entire way. I feel extremely blessed to have a father like you. Love you.

  To my amazing stepdad Trevor. You’ve influenced my life in so many ways, and I will be forever grateful for you teaching me how to always try to see the positive side of life, no matter how hard life gets – it has gotten me to where I am today. And you always know how to make me laugh – which is priceless. Love you lots!