An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Adrianna’s Cowboy
ISBN 9781419923623
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Adrianna’s Cowboy Copyright © 2009 Savannah Stuart
Edited by Helen Woodall
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book Publication August 2009
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Adrianna’s Cowboy
Savannah Stuart
Dedication
This story is for Josh. Thank you for all your support.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Stetson: John B. Stetson Company
Chapter One
Adrianna Campbell grabbed another scarf and shoved it into the side pocket of her overflowing suitcase.
“Did you hear what I said?” her friend Lindsay asked.
Holding her cell phone against her ear with one hand, she grabbed a pair of boots from her closet. “Yes, I heard you but I’m not going to sue them so forget about it.”
“You should. Firing you without any notice after you worked your ass off for four years is wrong. And all because you wouldn’t screw your boss. Stupid fucker,” Lindsay muttered.
Adrianna sighed as she folded another pair of jeans. “I know but I was planning to quit soon anyway. Taking that sleaze ball to court is the last thing I want to do.”
“Fine, how about we trash his car then?”
She chuckled. “Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re kidding or not.”
“Who’s kidding? Teach that jerk a lesson he’ll never forget.”
“Okay, no, because that’s crazy and I don’t want to end up jail. Besides, this is going to be a good thing in the long run. I’ve already called my dad and he’s excited I’ll be spending some extra time at home.” Even though she only lived two and a half hours away, she hadn’t been home in four months.
Her dad might have an idea why she’d been avoiding Campbell Ranch but if he’d guessed, he hadn’t let on. A year ago he’d rehired Sam Blackwood so she’d made sure to schedule her visits around the cattle runs, knowing she wouldn’t see Sam.
“I’m going to miss you,” Lindsay said.
“I know but I’ll call you when I get there, I promise.”
“Okay, be safe.”
After they disconnected, she gave her room one last glance before rolling her suitcase down the hall and stairs.
Her phone rang again so she fished it out of her purse. She smiled when she saw the number. “Hey Dad, I’m walking out the door now.”
“Adrianna, it’s not your father.”
Her throat clenched at the intoxicating, familiar voice. Somehow she made her throat work. “Sam? Why are you calling from my father’s phone?”
He sighed. “Listen, I don’t know how to say this but uh…your dad….”
“Is my dad okay?”
“Shit, sweetheart… Your dad had a heart attack. He passed away about ten minutes ago.”
Her purse slid to the floor and she leaned against the wall for support. “You’re wrong.”
“I’m going to send someone to pick you up—”
“No! I’m leaving right now.” Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone and shoved it in her purse. It continued ringing until she made it to the highway.
It was almost easy to tune out the sound but finally she shut it off and turned the radio on low. Talking to anyone right now was impossible. If she talked to Sam of all people, she’d start crying and then she’d never make it home.
* * * * *
Sam Blackwood paced the length of the front porch and tried calling Adrianna. Again. Went straight to voicemail. Again.
Sighing, Sam scrubbed a hand over his face and headed back inside. Even if he was annoyed with her, he sure as shit couldn’t show it when he saw her. She’d just lost her dad. She might put on a tough façade sometimes but he knew the woman would be hurting something fierce. Hell, everyone who knew Jacob Campbell was hurting.
The sound of a car door slamming stopped him. He rushed back to the front door but before he made it, the door swung open. A gust of icy wind blasted him but he could barely feel it as unexpected heat swept through him.
It was her. The woman he’d wanted for longer than he cared to admit. Big blue eyes he remembered well stared at him with raw pain. She had the type of eyes a man could drown in if he let himself.
“Sam.” The ragged way she said his name tore at his heart.
He took a few steps toward her, closing the distance between them. He’d regret holding her later but for now he didn’t give a damn. Tears spilled down her fair-skinned cheeks as she stepped into his arms and he fought the guilt he experienced at actually enjoying holding her slim body against his.
Her strawberry blonde hair was shorter than he remembered. She wore it closer to her shoulders now. And it was straight, not wild and curly like before. Of course he hadn’t seen her in about four years. Things and people changed. One thing was for sure, his attraction to her hadn’t.
She was also smaller, leaner, than he remembered. Everything except her breasts of course. They pressed against his chest and even though she had on a thick sweater, he knew what they looked like. Knew what they tasted like. Perfect rosy buds he’d kissed and sucked on until she came. To his horror, his cock lengthened as memories assaulted him.
He tried to think of something, anything else but nothing worked. Like some horny teenager, his cock wouldn’t listen.
Abruptly she pulled back and stared up at him through tear-laden eyes. “Are you…”
He cleared his throat but didn’t answer. To his surprise, an unexpected grin spread across her face and she laughed. Actually laughed. “You always were a randy bastard,” she murmured, as she stepped out of his arms.
Yeah, only for you. “Do you have luggage?”
“Everything’s in the car. I can get it later—”
But he was out the door before she could finish. He found her car unlocked so he lugged out a suitcase that should have its own zip code. Looked like she was planning to stay awhile.
The thought gave him a moment’s pause but he shoved it away. Adrianna might have been interested in him when she was young and too naïve to know what she wanted but things were different now.
When he came back inside, he found her sitting at the kitchen table sipping on a beer.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“Not really. Maybe this beer will dull some of my senses.”
Her laugh was wry and full of pain.
“I don’t want you to worry about anything, Adrianna. I’ve talked to the funeral home and your father’s lawyer. Everything’s being handled.”
“When…when’s the funeral?”
“Sunday afternoon.” Today was Friday.
She stared at her beer. “He always said he wanted to be buried out by that old sycamore tree.”
He pulled out the chair and sat across from her. “I know and we’re going to do exactly what he requested. Listen, why don’t you settle in and get some rest? There’s nothing you can do until tomorrow anyway.”
For a moment he thought she might say more but instead she simply stood. “Okay, just lock up on your way out.”
“I live here now.” The words sliced through the quiet room, effectively sucking all the air out with them.
Her big blue eyes grew even wider as she stared at him. “What?”
He hated telling her this next part. “Your dad… His arthritis had gotten bad the past couple months so I moved in from the bunkhouse a while ago to help out.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “He didn’t want you to worry.”
She mumbled something about her dad being a stubborn ass but then bit her bottom lip.
When she didn’t respond he continued. “If you’d be more comfortable, I could—”
She shook her head. “No, this house feels so empty without him here. I guess I’ll just head upstairs.” She cleared her throat and glanced down at her feet. “Which room is yours?”
“I took the one next to your old one.”
“I see.” She turned on her heel and disappeared down the hallway.
What the hell did that mean? I see? Seconds later, he heard her walking around upstairs and he cursed the day he’d thought it smart to kiss Adrianna Campbell. The sexy woman was quicksand for a man like him.
Chapter Two
Adrianna stepped under the powerful shower jets. Tension raced through her body and she fought the guilt that threatened to overwhelm her. Her father was dead and instead of mourning, she was lusting after the man downstairs.
She still didn’t know the details but after twelve years in the service, Sam had apparently decided to retire. A year ago he’d moved back to Cedar Grove and no surprise, a job had been waiting for him.
As she rinsed the shampoo out of her hair she wished she could rinse away her attraction to Sam. She snorted at the thought. Any woman with a pulse in a hundred-mile radius would be attracted to that man. With jet black hair, an Adonis face and muscular thighs she’d fantasized about on more than one occasion, the man was walking sex appeal.
Only once had he let his guard down around her. She’d been home over the holiday break and he’d been home on leave. She touched her fingers to her lips remembering his roughness. The way their tongues had collided in a hungry frenzy. Instinctively, she squeezed her thighs together remembering the way he’d stripped her naked, kissed and worshipped every inch of her body, brought her to a mind-blowing climax, then hadn’t finished what he’d started.
That thought was like a rush of cold water over her skin. Years later she still couldn’t figure out why he’d denied himself pleasure when she’d been ready and willing. Shaking her head, she turned off the shower, stepped out and wrapped a big cotton towel around herself.
She peeked out the bathroom door into her room. To her relief, Sam had already brought up her luggage. After blow drying the dampness out of her hair, she slipped on a pair of panties and slid under the covers of her bed.
Snuggling deeper under the patchwork quilt her mom had made for her, she shut her eyes. After twenty minutes of tossing and turning she gave up. She slipped out of bed and threw on a black-and-pink kimono-style robe.
The rest of the house was quiet as she made her way down the stairs. If she remembered correctly, her father had some whiskey hidden in his office. She barely tolerated the stuff but if she mixed it with hot tea, she’d sleep the night through.
The heavy wooden door to her father’s office was silent as she pushed it open but she jerked to a halt when she realized she wasn’t alone. Looking tired, Sam sat behind her father’s desk hunched over a stack of papers.
“What are you doing?”
He glanced up and for a brief second his eyes flashed blatant interest as they raked over the entire length of her body. Her nipples tightened painfully under his scrutiny and she had no doubt he could see her reaction through the thin robe.
“I’m going over the books. With your father’s passing, I don’t want anything to fall through the cracks in the next couple weeks.”
“I can go over them tomorrow if you’d like. It is what I do after all. Or rather, what I did.” Since she’d graduated college she’d been working for the same advertising company. In four short years she’d moved up to be the head of the accounting department. Everything had been great until the boss’s son took over.
“Did? What happened?”
“I uh…I got let go. Yesterday in fact.” She shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself.
His dark brow furrowed as he straightened in his chair. “Why? Not because of your dad?”
“I had a difference of opinion with my boss. He thought sex should be included in my work requirements. I disagreed.”
Sam immediately stood with clenched fists. “That son of a bitch—”
She covered the distance between them and put a gentle hand on his arm as she leaned against the edge of the desk. “I can take care of myself Sam. Besides, it’s the middle of the night. What are you going to do, drive to Charlotte and kick his ass?” She smiled and lightly squeezed his arm, hoping to draw a grin from him.
His entire body stilled at the contact. His gaze slid down to her face then to her chest, caressing her body just as intimately as if he’d used his hands. When his nostrils flared she sucked in a deep breath. “Go back to bed, Adrianna.” The words came out hoarse and raspy.
“Why?” Her grip on his arm tightened when he tried to pull away from her. The feel of his bunched muscles under her fingertips sent shock waves to her pussy. The man was absolute perfection.
“Because if you don’t, I’m going to fuck you over the desk,” he growled, deep and low.
She wasn’t sure if his words were supposed to scare her or turn her on. Whatever his intention, it was the latter that won. She spread her legs and let the robe fall open farther to reveal a lot of bare skin. “Promise?”
She didn’t know who was more surprised. Him or her.
His dark eyes widened for a split second. “Damn it woman, you don’t know what you’re saying.” He brushed past her and stomped out of the room.
Tears stung her eyes as the door slammed behind him but she swiped away the few errant ones that dared to spill over. Turning on her heel, she decided enough was enough. If they were going to live in the same house for the next couple of days, she was going to get some answers. She hurried up the stairs and when she stood in front of his door she took a deep breath before knocking on it. When he didn’t answer she listened closely.
The sound of running water greeted her ears. She jerked his door open, then continued on to the bathroom door. It was slightly ajar so she marched in and flung the blue shower curtain back.
Sam had one hand on the tiled wall and one hand wrapped snugly around his very hard cock. His midnight black eyes slightly widened but he didn’t move or try to hide what he was doing.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “So what? You’d rather jerk off than be with me?” Years of putting thoughts of Sam out of her head and dating men who never compared to him, all came rushing up at once. If his answer was yes, it would be more than she could handle. She’d taken two steps toward the door when an iron hand closed around her arm. It all happened so fast she nearly stumbled. He was in the shower and then he wasn’t.
Soaking wet and completely naked, Sam held on to her as he dripped water all over the floor.
By the dark look in his eyes, he wasn’t letting go. Her breathing increased as they stood there staring at each other. Why wasn’t he saying anything? She tried tugging away from his grasp but he was immovable.
After a long pause he finally spoke but his words came out hoarse. “What do you want from me, Adrianna?”
She took a deep breath and didn’t miss the way his eyes traveled to her mouth. “I want to know why you always push me away. I see the way you look at me, Sam.”
He dropped his hand and grabbed her by the shoulders so that she completely faced him. Almost instantly, cream dampened her panties. His neck muscles corded tightly and the wild look in his eyes put her on edge. Her gaze followed the hard lines of his muscular chest down to his ripped abdomen. His cock jerked under her scrutiny and she tried to take a step back but he still held firm.
“If we take this next step, you’re mine,” he growled.
She tore her gaze away from his pulsing cock and focused on his face. He hadn’t exactly answered her question but that was fine with her. Her throat tightened and it was all she could do to nod.
Sam released her and quickly turned off the shower knob. When he did she got a glimpse of his sculpted ass and she sucked in a deep breath. There couldn’t be an ounce of fat on the man.
He turned back to face her but was silent again, making her wonder if he’d changed his mind. Finally he spoke. “Do you understand what I’m saying? You. Are. Mine.”
Again she nodded. She wanted him to dominate her. Always had. Heat and cream flooded her pussy like a tidal wave. The look in his eyes was primal and, if she was honest, a little terrifying. Not that she was scared he’d hurt her. Sam would never do that. She was just worried maybe she’d bitten off more than she could chew.
Sam reached out for Adrianna and inwardly cursed his unsteady hands. He tugged the tie on her silky robe free and pushed it off her shoulders. It fell to the floor without a sound. His entire body tensed at the sight in front of him. Faded tan lines didn’t cover nearly enough of her smooth skin and she had a dangling bellybutton ring.
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