by Reece Butler
He was a damn good mechanic, a volunteer firefighter, and was in church every Sunday unless there was an emergency somewhere. He was salt of the earth, a strong arm at your back, with a smile for a child even when he hurt from wanting his own.
Kenny Peters might not own a ranch, but he had the ethics of a Montana cowboy. He’d stuck it out, alone and lonely, while Eric had run. And now Eric was stuck back in Climax, just like Susie.
“I remember when Susie first came to town,” said Eric. “She was a nice girl before she started doing her damnedest to get her hooks into me.”
“She still is a nice girl.”
“She changed when she figured out what her mother did for money. It must have been hell living in that small trailer.”
If he’d known then what he knew now, he would have had Pops bring her and her sister home to live with them. It was a miracle one of her mother’s boyfriends hadn’t attacked her. He found out a few years back her older sister wasn’t so lucky. Max had made an offhand comment about his dad and a couple of other men taking care of some guy in Dillon. They gave the married man a choice of going to jail for a very long time, or paying enough money for Susie’s sister to get a damn good education. Turns out she’d become a dentist, specializing in children.
“We both know Susie had a hell of a life,” said Eric. “One night, out of the blue, she said all she really wanted was a clean, safe home and a man who loved her. Just one.” He cleared his throat. “She used to watch you when she thought no one was around. She went after me because she needed a ticket out. But it was you she wanted, all along.”
Kenny turned to his set of rolling tools. He opened one drawer, and then the next, as if looking for something. It was a stalling tactic as the man knew where every wrench, screwdriver, or spring was in the entire garage. Mr. Peters used to joke that he’d handed his son a wrench at the same age Eric’s dad sat him in his first saddle.
“She was asleep in the guest room when I went to work that first morning.” said Kenny. “I walked home for lunch to make sure she was okay. I heard something, so I looked in the kitchen window. She was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor.” He paused. “She was singing.” He choked out a laugh. “She can’t carry a tune in a bucket but I don’t give a God damn. For the first time in forever, she seemed happy. And she was in my home.”
“What did you do?”
“I backed away and headed back to work. Halfway there, I started whistling.” Kenny turned and Eric saw his smile. His white teeth stood out from the mess he’d made on his face.
“You two make a good pair,” said Eric. “I can never tell what the hell tune you’re whistling. It all sounds the same.” He reached out and punched Kenny in the shoulder. It felt like rock. “I’m happy for you, man.” He rubbed his empty stomach. “Can I come home for lunch with you?”
“You come anywhere near my woman and I’ll take you down so fast your head won’t stop spinning before you land in South America.”
Eric crossed his arms, relaxed at the threat. “You got it that bad?”
“Damn straight!”
Neither wanted the other’s woman, but it was good to establish territory.
“I wish you the best, man.”
Kenny turned away, but not before Eric spotted the hint of red rising up his neck. “How long you going to hang around this time?” he asked.
“Why?” replied Eric. “You got something that needs doing?”
“Depends on Susie.” Kenny jammed his fists in the side slits of his coveralls. He cleared his throat. “I want to give her time to settle in before I ask, but if she says yes, will you stand up for me?”
Eric stared for a few seconds until the words penetrated. A warmth spread out from his heart. “You want me to be your best man?”
Kenny shrugged as if it was no big deal. “Only if you’re around.”
“Dammit, man, considering how long you’ve wanted that woman, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” He dropped his head to hide his expression. Men didn’t show emotion, especially to their buddies. “I’m honored, man. Really.”
Kenny’s tight shoulders relaxed. “Thanks.”
“You got a ring?”
“Dad gave me the one his great-granny brought from the Old Country. It’s not big, or fancy. It’s not even a diamond. But it means a lot to me.”
“Susie’s had fancy rings with big diamonds. They meant nothing. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“It might not happen for a while,” replied Kenny, hedging. “She might even turn me down.”
“I can wait.”
That certainly was true. Eric had nothing to do but wait. He needed something to occupy his time. He could work on the ranch until Matt came back, but then he’d be in the way. He hadn’t planned to ask for work, but the more he thought of it, the better it sounded. Matt might be hesitant to approach Nikki if his big brother was hanging around. That meant Eric needed a reason to be out of the way.
“I’m not going back to South America. Anything else you need doing?”
“You serious?”
“Yep.” Eric nodded. “Got laid off.”
A slow look checked him from head to foot. “I can’t pay enough to keep you in food.”
“S’all right. Company’s paying me to be lazy for a year. I want to hang around town until Matt convinces the doc to marry him.”
“And then you’re gone?”
“Something like that.” Eric shrugged the question away.
Kenny tilted his head like a bird. A vulture, not a robin. “You do know an apprentice gets the shitty jobs?”
The eager light in his buddy’s eyes made Eric wince.
“Don’t tell me Brewster’s mill needs an overhaul again?” He groaned when his buddy replied with very satisfied smile. “Dammit, Kenny! In ten minutes I’ll be covered in grease, sawdust, and pigeon crap, and then—”
“Take it or leave it.” Kenny held out his hand. The spark in his eyes was a challenge.
Working in the sawmill ten miles from town would keep him from Nikki. Since Brewster only had it serviced when it was absolutely necessary, it was a huge job. It would keep him busy for weeks. And since no one else would touch the job, he could do it on his schedule. A schedule that would let him put Nikki first. His engineer brain started percolating. Since he last worked on the ancient machinery he’d thought of some improvements that would increase the efficiency and safety.
“I’m going to fix it my way,” he warned.
“Fine with me. Brewster won’t complain if it makes him money.”
“Done.”
Eric slapped his hand in Kenny’s. They shook, once, then yanked. Eric was first, but Kenny was ready for him. They bumped around the shop in an upright version of arm wrestling. Eric managed to knock Kenny down. He grabbed Eric’s foot and twisted. When Eric spun around to stop his ankle being broken, Kenny rolled to his feet and danced out of the way. He laughed at Eric’s scowl and checked the wall clock. He nearly split his face with his smile.
“Time for lunch. I’m outta here.” He shrugged out of his overalls, hung them on a peg, and headed out the open door.
“Aren’t you going to clean your hands and face first?” demanded Eric as he hauled himself to his feet.
“Nope,” replied Kenny cheerfully over his shoulder. “Susie likes to do it for me.” He sauntered down the street, an atonal whistle floating behind.
Eric watched him go. Sexy Susie was at home, eagerly waiting for her man, lunch all prepared, maybe that cake already baking. They’d talk over the meal, getting to know each other better. Or rather, Susie getting to know him better. Kenny knew everything he needed to about the woman he planned to be with for the rest of his life: she was the only woman he’d ever wanted. The rest was just details.
Susie would never do to Kenny what Vivian had done to him.
Vivian was a trust-fund baby. Susie rarely had money for lunch. She’d laugh it off, saying she needed to keep her figure. After h
e’d seen her taking a leftover half of a hamburger from an empty plate and stuffing it in her mouth, he’d insisted they eat together. He did nothing to shame her, or cut into her pride. He told her his mother always packed lots of food in his lunch because he was growing. So, even though he wasn’t as hungry anymore, he couldn’t get her to change her ways.
Both of them knew it wasn’t the whole truth, but Susie was desperate enough to accept the lie. She’d been too ashamed to have girlfriends, pushing them away before they could hurt her. She stuck so close to Eric that no other guy would dare go after her. She was smart, but because her mother forced them to move so often, and pushed her to use looks instead of brains, she had little desire for school.
Susie had done the best she could with the life she was given. She’d tried what she’d thought was the easy way, marrying money, and learned it wasn’t worth the price.
The woman he’d planned to marry had been given everything she’d wanted. Vivian had unconditional love from her parents. Lovely, intelligent, and confident, she developed a multitude of friends. Daddy made sure she had the best education money could buy. He even hired bodyguards when he thought she needed protection. She’d pointed them out one time at a concert he’d taken her to.
He’d saved for weeks, eating peanut butter and noodles to afford the tickets. She’d thought nothing of it, and expected him to take her backstage to see the band afterward, like her other boyfriends had done. Eric tried to tell her they’d never get near, but next thing he knew, she’d called in bodyguards, who’d arranged it. He hadn’t a clue they were there. He’d waited outside cooling his heels while Vivian took her time. She made it up to him later that night, but the sex felt hollow.
He should have listened to his gut back then.
He realized later her daddy wanted an honest, hard-working, Montana cowboy to watch over his precious daughter while she had her fun in South America. Vivian had been the one to encourage him to apply for a job with a prestigious company. She was delighted when they were both interviewed, and accepted. He was stunned she’d even applied. She wasn’t a bad geologist, but he couldn’t see her living without hot showers, makeup, or a cappuccino machine.
Turned out, she wanted a period of wild adventure. After a few months flying over jungles and trouping over rocks, she wanted out. She’d gone, and done it her way. Since then Eric had worked his ass off to prove he had what it took. Vivian’s daddy might have helped him get his foot in the door, but the rest was all his own.
Nikki, like Susie, had grown up with little, but she had her mother’s love. She’d made it on her own, with a few lucky breaks. Getting hired to work in Climax was one of them. Lucky for both of them. No, for all three of them.
Matt wanted a wife to love, but Eric had no use for one. Never again would he let himself get wrapped around a woman’s finger. Nikki was nothing like Vivian, but he’d been burned too badly to let his guard down. Matt could have Nikki full-time, while he’d be her part-time lover.
“If Kenny Peters can find a pretty woman who’s been banged up by the world,” said Eric to himself, “then Matt can have a beautiful, educated one.”
It was up to Eric to convince Nikki she needed something neither her profession, family, nor friends could provide. She needed love, and sex. Matt could love her, and he’d fill in the rest. And that included showing her what he meant by “obey,” and how good that could feel.
Matt would be back that weekend, so he had a timeline to follow. He wanted Nikki to be on edge the next time, so he’d give her a few days to think things over. Once Kenny told Brewster that he would overhaul the sawmill, the old man would demand he get his ass in gear. He might as well show up unannounced and see the lay of the land. He’d stay at the Circle C for a couple of days and hope Max had helped banish those nightmares.
Then he’d head into town, pick up the doc, and haul her back to the ranch for some heavy-duty sex.
Gravel sprayed as his truck whipped out of the parking lot.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Nikki washed her face and brushed her teeth. It had been a long few days since she’d walked out on Eric. At first she expected him to show up at any time. She’d kept the front door locked and shoved a doorstop under the master bedroom door when she slept. No one had bothered her.
And that in itself bothered her!
Eric had disappeared. He hadn’t been seen in town all week. Brenda, through Max, via Kenny Peters, said he was working at a sawmill outside town. When she heard that it was a huge, messy job, she said she was glad to see the last of him. Brenda had shaken her head and gone back to filing.
Nikki had managed quite well alone. She’d been startled when the doorbell rang, but it was the airline delivering his bags. She’d stored them in the guest room down the hall. If he came home, he could sleep there.
But he hadn’t.
Every time she took a shower she remembered the cool tile against her forearms as she braced herself for his deep thrusts. When she lay in bed she could almost smell his scent on the pillow. She had wild, arousing dreams of him chasing her down, shoving her against a wall, or over an upholstered chair, flipping up her skirt, and taking her, hard.
Those dreams didn’t all happen at night, either.
It was quiet, and she’d been so distracted that she’d agreed to give Doctor Hudson a few extra hours and take a long weekend off. Now that Marci was married, and her medical position in Climax was secure, she could relax and do what she wanted.
But, what did she want?
She wasn’t one to lie in bed during the day. There’d never been a chance before. Her life had consisted of work, study, and sleep, eating whatever was at hand, and then work again. She could work in the garden, weeding. After studying for hours as a teenager, she’d loved to rest her eyes and brain by working in the garden. Of course it was all vegetables, since they needed the food. She’d always wanted the luxury of frivolous flowers, planted merely to be beautiful.
But what she really wanted was Eric.
After so many years of thinking she was flawed because no man aroused her, she’d discovered her body worked just fine with the right man. She revised that to the plural. Matt was due back soon. Would he be like Eric, eager to take her against the wall, wanting her so badly that he didn’t even think about condoms? Or would he be a slow, sensuous lover?
Slow and sensuous could be nice, but she was too frustrated to appreciate nice today. She wanted what Eric promised. No, it was more like a threat. A delicious, arousing, tantalizing, edge-of-pain threat.
What would it be like to forget about the townspeople, and Marci, and everything else but the demands of one man? To have him totally focused on her pleasure, doing things to her that she craved but had barely admitted to herself, much less to another? She’d agreed to obey Eric in bed, in order to get that pleasure. And then he’d disappeared.
In the last few days she’d realized she didn’t want to obey him. She wanted to fight him all the way! She needed the physical release that she’d never experienced from sports. Her legs and arms were so long when she was younger that she was clumsy. She’d used the excuse of extra work to improve her marks to get out of gym class. Since the teacher knew no one wanted her on their team, it wasn’t difficult. But now she wanted to strain her muscles, struggling to escape.
He’d said he had a beast in him, one that demanded he take her hard. She’d realized she had a beast as well. Hers wanted to fight, kicking and screaming, until she was overpowered. She wanted to be forced to enjoy her sexuality, knowing she was totally safe with Eric. She even had a safe word to use, just in case.
She had everything but the man.
She sauntered out of the bathroom, not bothering with a towel since she was alone. She plucked an ice-blue lingerie set from her top drawer. Eric didn’t have much furniture, so hers had fit in the master bedroom. She stepped into tap pants and leaned forward to put on the demi-bra. It held her breasts from drooping but the lace barely touche
d the lower edge of her nipples.
Maybe she should drive up into the mountains to think. It had been weeks since she’d had a chance. There’d still been snow under the trees and on the north sides of the rock outcrops. By now there should be wildflowers, perhaps even wild strawberries.
Or, she could stay here and fantasize about a hard man meeting her needs.
Would Eric ever do something about the night she’d not only walked out on him, she’d taken his precious truck? All that talk about spankings, and then he’d abandoned her. He wasn’t the first, but she was determined he’d be the last. At least she had memories.
She closed her eyes and imagined it was Eric’s hand that drifted between her legs. The tap pants were loose, allowing easy access. Her fingers slipped between her wet folds. It felt good, but nothing like his tongue, or his callused fingers.
Calluses. That’s something working men had, along with muscles. Calluses to provide a grip when he held her sweat-slick body. Muscles to hold her down as he forced her to obey. She knew what she wanted. She wanted Eric The Barbarian to force her to submit.
“Very nice.”
Nikki gasped and whirled around at the deep growl. Her hands splayed against the dresser. Eric leaned against the open bedroom door. She’d closed it, hadn’t she?
“What are you doing here?”
“Collecting my woman. You’ve got five minutes to pack and get in my truck.”
“Five…!” she spluttered. She gathered her dignity and stood tall. “Or what?”
He let his eyes play over her body. Her breasts hardened, pushing her nipples against the thin silk of her demi-bra.
“Or you’ll be flashing the neighbors when I haul you to my truck over my shoulder with your ass in the air.”
