by Starla Kaye
He should be concerned about their disagreement and how to make things right. But all he could seem to worry about was the cute little blonde in her ridiculous pink trailer. Lord a’mighty, the spunky female did love pink. Pink hat, pink boots, pink trailer, and pink truck. She probably had a pink saddle stored somewhere, too.
Unable to stay in bed any longer without tossing around, he climbed off the mattress as carefully as he could. He didn’t want to disturb Daniel.
Padding barefoot, he strolled to the window overlooking the ranch yard. The trailer sat near the front of the horse barn and under one of the security lights. He’d picked the spot though he hadn’t helped with the setup. He wanted her nice and safe and in a place where he could keep a watchful eye on her. She brought out all of his caveman-protect-the-woman instincts. Which included his grim determination that she wasn’t going to work with a twelve-hundred-pound, half-crazed quarter horse more than capable of crushing her in a frightened move. How could he live with himself if Ruby got hurt, crippled? Worse, killed.
But, damn, she wanted the chance to work with Starbright. She’d gone toe-to-toe with him earlier. He’d been impressed by her guts to do so but not enough to change his mind. Daniel jumped all over him about letting her prove herself.
He cursed under his breath. He couldn’t do it; he just couldn’t.
The light inside the trailer went off, snaring his attention. She must be going to bed at last. Shit! His muddled brain envisioned the shapely woman sliding into bed naked. Those plump breasts….
“Come here.”
He jerked in response to his lover’s deep, seductive command. Guilt for his thoughts about his strong attraction to Ruby kept him still. How could he face the man?
“Cal,” Daniel called again. “Come to bed.”
His dick stiffened in an instant, and his balls ached. He’d never been able to resist for long. As he turned around, his lover flicked on the lamp beside him. The comforter and sheets were already shoved to the end, and he lay stretched out naked and patient. His hand gripped his hardened cock, stroking while he waited.
Need tore through him, making it critical he deal with the undeniable hunger smoldering between them. Yet, more than he craved relief, he wanted to make up with his friend. He knew the best way to do that. It shouldn’t be about his need this time.
Their gazes locked, Daniel released his cock and put his arms out to his sides in a casual move. Cal pulled in ragged breaths as he climbed onto the mattress, crawled upward until he sat on his haunches over his lover’s narrow hips. Just the feel of skin touching skin had him struggling not to rush this along.
He ached for the tempting man beneath him. Slow, nice and easy. Damn hard to do. Fighting himself, he forced his hands to inch up his body from his trim waist, over his lightly haired chest, and to his face.
“I’ve got to kiss you,” he said on a breathy growl, unable to stop staring at the man’s full lips. After so long together, he was amazed at how much pleasure he got out of kissing the other man. When they’d first kissed, he’d been shocked, but not for long.
“Do it.” His lover tipped his mouth up and reached to pull Calhoun down to meet him.
Taking his time, Calhoun savored the other man’s lips, deepening the kiss until he shook in desperation for more. When Daniel’s hands reached around to cup his ass, making their dicks rub together, his situation grew worse.
He groaned and shifted to the side. As if his lover understood the plan, he raised his arms to rest on the pillow and gave free access to the thick cock lying on his stomach. Invitation accepted, he took hold of the treat offered, leaned over, and took the red crown into his mouth.
Sexy thigh muscles tightened.
Encouraged, he flicked his tongue across the tip several times and took pleasure in the way Daniel’s whole body stiffened. When long fingers threaded into his hair and pushed his head downward, he drew his cock inch-by-inch into his mouth. At the same time, he moved his hand to play with his lover’s balls.
Daniel moaned and held his head so he wouldn’t end what was happening. As if he could at this point. The scent of musk filled his senses, made him crave more. Pressed against the mattress, his own dick ached for attention. He would take care of that later. Instead, he focused on sucking cock, moving his mouth up and down the length.
“You’re killing me,” Daniel gritted out, arching upward.
He sucked harder, faster, and caressed the smooth testicles, feeling them harden. His friend wouldn’t last much longer.
Proving him right, Daniel gave a deep growl and his thighs quivered. His breaths came out in quick pants, and he continued working until he tasted salty pre-cum. Sometimes he pulled away at this point and let the release stream onto his stomach. This time, he decided to swallow the warm semen. He endured the fierce grip on his hair and drank down every drop. He didn’t move away until his man shuddered and collapsed sated.
While his lover lay there recovering, he rolled to his back and took his throbbing dick in hand. It didn’t take more than a few firm strokes for him to find his own release. He closed his eyes and grunted, thick cum covering his hand, spurting onto his stomach. They’d needed this.
The mattress shifted as Daniel got up and padded barefoot into the bathroom. A few seconds later he returned, sat on the bed, and used a wet washcloth to clean him.
“I’m only going to say this one more time,” he said as Calhoun opened his eyes. “I think you need to hear Ruby out in the morning. Her qualifications for working with traumatized horses are impressive. She has almost as many good references on their website from satisfied ranchers as her father. And I know you saw them.”
He heaved a sigh, nodding. He still couldn’t change his mind out of fear for her safety, but he would at least listen to her. “All right, you win. But—”
“Maybe you could consider some kind of compromise.” Daniel carried the washcloth back into the bathroom. He turned off the bedside lamp before lying down again. “And thanks for the blowjob. It wasn’t necessary, but I think we’ll both be more settled.”
“I needed to do it,” he mumbled a few minutes later into the darkened room.
Daniel’s breathing had already evened out, and he doubted the other man heard him. He’d spoken the truth, though. Sometimes he had a hard time apologizing for being a jackass. This had been what he could do to make peace.
***
The next morning, the wind was a force to be reckoned with. It blew bitterly cold around Ruby as she stood glowering at the flattened, front passenger-side tire on her truck. She grumbled a string of blue curses that would have earned her a mouth soaping from her dad in the past. Her truck was turning against her. She needed to get the hell off the Circle C Ranch, but since she hadn’t taken the time to get her spare tire fixed…. Well, she would have to beg help from the annoying cowboy.
She’d only managed a couple of hours sleep, and, after her argument with Cordell the day before, she didn’t look forward to facing him. Maybe Daniel would be around and he would assist her. She prayed for her luck to fall that way.
After another few minutes of chattering teeth, freezing fingers, and hoping by some miracle the tire would magically reinflate, she turned toward the impressive log house. A spattering of lights were on both upstairs and downstairs that hadn’t been when she’d stepped out of her trailer maybe a half hour ago. She didn’t want to go there again, but she didn’t have another choice. Going to the bunkhouse and trying to find a ranch hand to help her wouldn’t be right. They had chores to take care of, and she would be a burden they didn’t need. No, she needed to seek out assistance from Cordell or, preferably, Daniel.
With her rotten luck of late, the instant she started toward the house, the front door open. Cordell looked straight at her. “Come inside! I want to talk to you.”
She might need his help, but she didn’t like the demand in his tone. What made him so bossy with her? She should turn around and go find one of the other men, tho
ugh she’d decided against the idea.
For some reason, her feet weren’t paying attention to her brain. She reached the porch before she realized what she’d done. As she glanced at him, she gaped in surprise. He didn’t appear or sound quite as disgruntled as when she’d last seen him. Actually, he looked…okay, hot.
His shaggy, dark hair was still wet and tousled as if he’d just stepped out of the shower and only attempted to dry it off with a towel. He hadn’t shaved yet and, oh my, morning scruff was darn good on him. More appetizing was the still-unbuttoned blue chambray shirt, open enough for her to see some ripped abs and a smooth, bare chest. When she managed to peel her eyes off his upper body and lower her gaze, she found a pair of well-worn jeans hugging his muscled thighs. Bare feet peeked from beneath the hems. Long toes captured her attention as she swallowed hard.
“It’s damn cold out here.” He shivered though he didn’t move, just stood there watching her. “Come on inside for a few minutes.”
Frustrated by her racing pulse and the fluttering in her lower body, she frowned. “You were so anxious to see me before I drove off you couldn’t even get dressed.”
His brow furrowed in annoyance. “I saw you by your truck from my bedroom window. I wanted to catch you before you left.” He motioned her to hurry.
Stupid feet. They moved her up the porch steps and past him into the house when she would have preferred they take her to the bunkhouse. Still, the warmth felt good. The smell of bacon cooking mixed with fresh bread made her stomach growl. She hadn’t taken the time to eat anything before climbing out of the trailer. She’d planned to stop in the next town and grab breakfast in a diner before she headed on down the highway, to where she hadn’t figured out just yet.
She sniffed the air, looking to the hallway ahead, wondering where the kitchen was and who was cooking. Did he have a housekeeper who cooked for him?
As the door closed behind her, Daniel walked to the edge of the foyer and smiled, causing her pulse to speed up more. God, the CEO was gorgeous with a capital G. He hadn’t shaved either. Boy, she really liked unshaven men. At least he’d gotten dressed. Neatly-creased khaki slacks covered his long legs, and he wore a dark-brown polo-style shirt. Did he have chest hair? Like Cordell, his feet were bare. It was obvious he’d slept here. Where? She had a strange feeling she knew.
Her face heated at the idea. She wasn’t judging them, but a twinge of regret shot through her. She’d spent more than a few minutes the night before thinking about him, remembering the way he’d touched her, the way she’d experienced a spark of yearning…before she reminded herself how annoying he could be.
She’d also thought about Daniel. He’d been so gentle, held her, and stroked her back and hair. His eyes had darkened as he looked at her before he’d left the trailer to return to the house.
She smiled in return, tried not to let him see any sign of disappointment. Besides, it wasn’t like she would have a chance to have sex with either man since she was leaving today.
“I hate to ask this,” she said, pulse racing when he stepped next to her. “I need your help. I’ve got a flat tire.”
“You don’t carry a spare?” he asked sounding a bit disgusted.
She faced him, going toe-to-toe with him for the second time since she arrived. She tilted her head back to give him a glower. “Of course I do, and I can change a flat.” She pulled in a breath to calm down. Why did he always seem to bring out the worst in her? “I had a flat tire coming here, and I haven’t gotten it fixed yet. So, I’m driving on my spare tire.”
He stood there, shaking his head, his lips thinned. Before he could say anything else, Daniel walked closer and set a hand on the cowboy’s shoulder. Whatever rant had been building disappeared.
“I’ll take care of the problem,” Cordell said as the other man’s hand dropped away. “After we eat.”
“Eat?” she questioned, feeling awkward at having interrupted their morning meal.
“Take her coat, Cal.” Daniel glanced from the cowboy to her. “I’ve got scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuits, and bacon ready. More than enough to feed us all.”
“I don’t—” Her stomach rumbled, and she winced, knowing they’d both heard the sound. “Okay, I’m hungry. But it seems wrong to eat with you when I should be heading on down the road.”
Cordell reached to peel her leather jacket from her shoulders, but she shifted away.
He huffed in irritation. “You need a tire changed, so you won’t be leaving until that’s taken care of.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“I’ve decided to let you tell me about your qualifications as a horse whisperer.” He held her gaze in challenge. “Remove your coat so we can go eat and talk.”
She blinked at him and noticed Daniel’s pleased smile. He’d obviously talked to the cowboy on her behalf. But she doubted he’d changed the man’s mind. She pinned him with a narrowed look. “You’ll listen to me, but you won’t be persuaded differently, will you?”
He appeared uneasy. “I said I would hear you out.”
She spun toward the door, offended. She could find a ranch hand to help her with the tire matter. She would pay him.
“Where the hell are you going?” He growled and clamped onto her arm.
“Somewhere else. Anywhere else.” She tried to pull her arm free, but the stubborn man held fast.
“Two days,” he bit out, tugging her around to face him. “I’ll give you two days to prove yourself. But not alone. I’ll be with you every second you’re around Starbright.”
Daniel stepped closer and pulled his hand off her arm. He gave the cowboy a chastising look. “Why would she agree to such a thing? Especially when you voiced it so nicely.” Sarcasm echoed in his tone.
Cordell glowered at the other man. “Her decision. She can take it or leave it.”
“I’m leaving it,” Ruby snapped. But at the odd expression in the cowboy’s eyes when he glanced at her—acceptance mixed with distress—she changed her mind, certain she would regret doing so later. “Fine. I’m taking it.”
Chapter Four
“Let’s go take care of your tires,” Calhoun bit out, hearing the irritation in his tone but unable to stop.
Breakfast with their guest had been awkward. At least for him. He hadn’t pressed about her skills for working with traumatized horses, and she hadn’t volunteered any information. Instead, Ruby and Daniel talked pretty much nonstop. He’d been left out. His fault, of course, but still.
His friend gave him a what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you glare. “You haven’t checked in with your men today. Why don’t you go do that and I can deal with the tire matter?”
“I said I would do it and I will.” He drew in a breath and glanced between his friend and the woman making him nuts for no good reason.
During a lull in the conversation, a soul-deep sadness filled her green eyes. He’d felt that way before, understood her need to try and hide her grief. He wanted to touch her in reassurance. But he was piss-poor at being touchy-feely.
She’d ignored him until this moment, more at ease with Daniel. She sat up straighter at the small table in the kitchen’s breakfast nook and pursed her lips. An appropriate comeback to his attitude.
“Maybe I should go with you two,” Daniel inserted, his jaw set. “Act as a buffer, although it shouldn’t be necessary.” He scowled at him.
She pushed back her chair and stood, picked up her all-but-licked-clean plate, and carried it to the sink. “I believe I’ll go back to my plan to leave. It seems pointless anyway to stick around here for two days when we all know whatever I do isn’t going to be enough.”
“No,” he said, uncertain if he meant he didn’t want her to leave or to confirm he wouldn’t give her longer than the two days they’d agreed to. Confused, he rose to carry his plate to the sink as well. He stopped close to her, inhaling a strawberry scent. His curiosity roused, he leaned over, put his nose to her hair, and drew in the smell. Definitely strawberry.
She stepped sideways, gaping at him. “Were you smelling my hair?”
Embarrassed at his ridiculous action and being caught, he avoided both their gazes. Heat spread up his neck. “I smelled something strawberry,” he muttered, looking down at his bare feet. He hadn’t considered it before, but he’d been in a serious hurry to stop her from leaving. He’d sped down the stairs barely dressed, hadn’t combed his hair or buttoned his shirt. Sometime while they’d been eating, he’d managed to take care of the matter, though he hadn’t tucked the shirt in yet. “Strawberries are my favorite fruit,” he added in defense.
“Ookkay.” She drew out the word with a hint of amusement in her tone.
He glanced at her and discovered her giving him the first smile he’d seen. Well, at least one she’d shown him. He wanted to bend down and kiss her pretty pink lips. Instead, he sped back to the table and picked up his coffee cup, which Daniel had refilled a minute ago. He chugged a large amount of the hot liquid and sucked in air as he slammed the empty cup on the table. “Shit!” he gasped, putting a hand to his neck.
In an instant, his friend came to him. “Are you okay?”
His eyes watered as fire continued spreading downward. He bobbed his head, unable to believe what an idiot he’d become this morning.
Ruby hurried toward him as well. For just a second, she stood there nibbling her lip, her expression filled with concern. She touched his arm. “How about some milk? The coolness will relieve the burn. Believe me, I’ve done this before, and that’s how my dad helped me.”
Burn? Milk? He couldn’t make sense of what she said. He stared at the spot where her delicate hand lay on his arm. His entire body sizzled with a shocked awareness.
