Cowboy Stole My Heart (A River Ranch Novel)

by Soraya Lane

  “Thanks,” she murmured.

  “Warm enough?” he asked.

  She looked at him and gave him a barely-there smile, but he saw it.

  “You don’t have to stay and look after me,” Mia said quietly.

  “I know.” Sam checked she had towels on the heated rail and moved the water glass closer in case she wanted some. “I’ll just sit out here a while.”

  He went back out to the kitchen, pulled the drapes and blinds and checked that her cat had food. The feline soon heard him and wound around his legs, and he tipped out some kibble and gave him a stroke. Then he went back into her bedroom, turned on her bedside lamp, and pulled the drapes in there, too.

  “You’re still here?”

  Mia’s soft voice made him turn. She was wrapped in a big fluffy white towel, her face scrubbed and pink, her hair twisted up on top of her head now.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Embarrassed that you saw me like that,” she said. “And on the cusp of it starting all over again.”

  He frowned and pulled the covers back, beckoning for her to come over. When she did he waited for her to lie down then pulled the covers up to her chin, bending to kiss her cheek.

  “I take it we won’t be going back for fish tacos next weekend?” he teased.

  “Sam!” she groaned.

  He stroked her face then stood back. “You’re even beautiful bent over a toilet, Mia. Any man who hasn’t been able to see that before has rocks in his head.”

  “I’m sorry tonight ended like this,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, me too.”

  He quietly slipped out then, so tempted to stay to make sure she was okay. But he didn’t. Couldn’t. Nothing had changed, and he’d looked after her as best he could. Their date had been fun, sexy, enjoyable as hell, but he didn’t stay over, period, and her being sick didn’t change that.

  Chapter 17

  MIA waved out to Sam when she saw him. It had been two days since she’d seen him; the day before she’d stayed in bed late feeling sorry for herself and her tender stomach. And with Tex receiving his treatments instead of being worked, Sam hadn’t been hanging around for long. Although he’d texted her and told her he’d been making some slow progress, she was looking forward to seeing how the treatment and training had been going.

  And looking forward to seeing Sam.

  After the way he’d looked after her, she’d started to think about him differently. She shuddered thinking about the way he’d seen her, the way he’d had to strip her out of her clothes and hold her hair back while she was sick. But the flipside to how mortified she felt was the tingle she felt thinking about how caring he’d been, how unflappable he’d been even when everything good about their night had turned to crap.

  “Hey, gorgeous.”

  Mia spun around and was face to face with the man she was thinking about. Damn, he looked good. Every time she thought about him, she wondered if she’d imagined how handsome he was, until she saw him and realized he was every bit as good as she remembered.

  “Have I missed you already?” she asked, flushing as his eyes swept over her, up then down.

  “Sorry, early session today. And he’s not having another treatment until tomorrow.”

  She smiled, hopeful. “How’s he doing?” Mia was ready for some good news.

  Sam’s grin said it all. “He’s good. Real good.”

  She let out a breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”

  Sam moved closer to her, his lips twisting into a smile. “Want to go have some tacos or chili to celebrate?” he teased.

  Mia groaned. She’d been hoping he wasn’t going to bring that up. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “I don’t even know what to say except…”

  “I’m just messing with you,” he said, touching her arm, his fingers teasing her skin even more than his words had. “And trust me when I say there’s nothing you have to apologize for.”

  Mia sucked in a breath when his fingers tickled higher, moving up her bare arm. He stopped at her shoulder, watching her, staring into her eyes and making her think wicked thoughts. Missing out on three nights of fun with Sam had been unfair, and she wanted him. Now, tonight, tomorrow … she didn’t care when so long as it was soon.

  “Do you have plans for the rest of the day?” she asked, waiting for him to kiss her, wanting him to kiss her. She decided not to wait for him to make the move and stepped into his space.

  “I do,” he said. “But plans are made to be changed.”

  Her lips parted to accommodate his, and she was reminded of exactly why she liked him so much. His mouth played across hers and she sighed when he pulled away. “But I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  Mia shook her head and grabbed his collar, tugging him back a little, not ready to let him get away just yet. “Will you be passing this way later?”

  He smiled. “Maybe.”

  “Then come by tonight. I’ll cook and we can…” she shrugged. “Let’s just say that I’m sure we’ll find something to do.”

  Sam’s warm laughter made her crack, unable to keep the come-hither expression on her face she’d been trying to perfect. “See you later then,” he said, winking and pulling away from her.

  Mia stood, one hand on her hip, the other shielding her eyes from the sun. It was good to be feeling like herself again, to be flirting with Sam and enjoying the fresh air. Now she needed to forget about him for a while, ride her horses, get all her work done, then figure out what to cook for Sam. Or maybe she wouldn’t bother cooking, she thought wickedly. Maybe she would just open a good bottle of wine, slip into her bikini, and wait poolside for her lover to swing by.

  She laughed to herself as she crossed over to the stables, calling out to her horses and loving the sound of them nickering in response. This was her happy place, the one place in the world that made her heart skip a beat, but Sam was quickly becoming the one person in the world she looked forward to seeing, the only person who’d ever made her feel an unfamiliar mix of excitement, anticipation and contentment. And it scared her.

  “He’ll be gone soon,” she muttered to her mare as she let herself into her stall. She’d had the ranch hands feed her horses and care for them for the past two days, and Indi was especially pleased to see her again. “He’ll be gone and then I’ll wish I never let him get under my skin, won’t I?”

  Her horse snuffled her pockets and Mia stroked her neck affectionately, pressing a kiss to her warm, hairy cheek. Deep down, she wondered if maybe Sam would want to see her again, after their time was up, but she was smart enough not to get her hopes up. She’d agreed to his terms, wanted the same terms he had, and it wasn’t his fault he’d made her feelings leap all over the place.

  * * *

  Sam rounded the corner and found Mia stretched out, lying on a pool recliner beneath a big umbrella, eyes shut. He was about to alert her, then realized she was sleeping, or at least it looked that way. Her pool was like something out of a resort—a perfect long rectangle of the deepest blue, with four perfect sun loungers and umbrellas between them lined up on one side.

  He took off his hat and set it down beside her drink on the side table, drinking in the sight of her lying there in her bikini, hair wet and fanned out around her, one knee raised. Her mouth was parted and he smiled down at her, not wanting to give her a fright but wanting to surprise her nonetheless.

  Sam carefully positioned himself above her, trying not to make a sound, bending low, his mouth hovering over hers. He kissed her so softly, wanting to wake her with a smile on her face, his lips barely brushing hers, caressing her.

  “Mmmm.”

  Her low moan, still half-asleep, spurred him on. He kissed her again, stroking her hair, gently rousing her. When her eyes finally opened, lazy and half-lidded, he pulled back to look down at her properly.

  “Hey,” she whispered, catching her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “I was going for
the she’s expecting me vibe rather than the being molested in your own yard kind of vibe,” he said, suddenly wondering if he’d pushed things too far now that she was beneath him and looking vulnerable in her string bikini and he was fully clothed.

  “Shut up and kiss me again,” she mumbled, grabbing the back of his head and forcing him back down again.

  Sam didn’t need to be told twice. He braced himself with his hands above her head, pushing down on his elbows. She squealed when his belt buckle touched her bare stomach, wriggling beneath him, fingers at his shoulders, legs wrapping around his back.

  “You’re trouble,” he muttered as she fought to unbutton his shirt.

  “Just trying to get my money’s worth,” she said, laughing, breathless as she tried to flip them around, only the lounger was too small.

  “Shit!” Sam swore as he felt the furniture go beneath them, the chair tipping as he fell to the concrete, instinctively keeping his arms wrapped around Mia so she didn’t hit the ground. Instead she landed tight against his chest, rolling slightly once they’d landed.

  Her eyes were wide, her hand fluttering to his face.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, and he could tell that she was trying not to giggle even though she did look worried.

  “I’m just pleased I have my clothes on,” he grumbled, pushing up. “Otherwise I’d have a skinned ass right about now.”

  Mia stood, her long limbs almost close enough for him to touch. “I think you should take them off now,” she said, grinning at him and beckoning with her finger. Then she turned, ran the few steps to the edge of the pool, and dove in.

  Sam laughed as she disappeared beneath the sparkling, perfect blue water. She was one hell of a woman, and she was driving him crazy. He stripped off, meeting her gaze when her head popped up out of the water, her mouth blowing little bubbles, teasing him. When she scooped a handful of water and splashed it at him, he growled and paused at the edge.

  “You asked for it,” he yelled, naked and diving into the pool after her.

  “No!” Mia shrieked when he made a grab for her, fingers around her wrist, capturing her and forcing her to turn. She laughed as she struggled, until he had both her wrists in his one hand, behind her back, pressed hard against her.

  “I’ve been thinking about you all afternoon,” he told her, slowly releasing her wrists and smiling when those same wrists looped around his neck. Mia folded her legs around his waist, holding on to him, and he walked them both over to the steps at the other end.

  “Thinking about what?” she asked, nipping at his earlobe.

  Sam caught her chin and kissed her, slowly, forcing himself to enjoy every moment of her mouth against his. Mia ran hands through his wet hair, down his arms and back up his back and over his shoulders. Her touch drove him wild, and he kept his lips locked to hers as he slowly pulled the strings on her bikini. First her top, and then the ties at each hip.

  Mia didn’t resist, but she did moan against his mouth, pressing into him. The water lapping against them caused her top to fall down and float away, and Sam waded into shallower water so he could trace down Mia’s chest, mouth dragging across her wet skin, taking her nipple into his mouth and sucking, first softly and then hard.

  Mia yanked him back up, one hand fisted in his hair, moving against him, grinding against his erection, the soft fabric of her bikini bottom slowly drifting down and then away. She slipped down on to him as his mouth met hers again, stifling her moan, taking her in the water and loving the feel of her nails against his skin, her wet mouth gliding against his.

  Of all the things, he’d never had sex in a pool before, and he doubted he’d ever be able to dive into sparkling blue water without thinking about Mia again.

  * * *

  Mia lay back against the concrete, the hard surface still warm from the hot day, even though the sun had long started to fall, the sky darkening above her, now a dark pink. Her stomach rumbled and Sam’s palm pressed to her skin, softly rubbing.

  “I think you need sustenance,” he joked.

  “After that work out?” she teased. “I’d say so!”

  They’d been lying beside the pool for a while, but she didn’t care. No one usually came by her place unannounced, other than her siblings, and they were all away. Anyone else would go to the front door rather than making their way around the side, and the back part of her property wasn’t visible from the ranch, other than down the path. She’d been careful when she had her landscaping plan done to ensure her pool and patio was entirely private from the main part of the ranch. Besides, nothing had ever felt so good as her skin being warmed by the concrete and a naked Sam by her side, and right now she couldn’t give a damn if someone could see them.

  Reluctantly she sat up, seeing Blue sitting by the house. “I really hope he wasn’t watching us before,” she said, smiling down at Sam. She held out her hand and he took it, sitting up beside her.

  “I don’t think he’ll care.”

  She pushed at him, laughing, and stood up. She looked at her bikini floating in the middle of the pool now, surprised when Sam seemed to read her mind and effortlessly dove in to get it for her. He tossed the bikini out then shook his head, water droplets flying, before hauling himself out. The water dripping over his tanned, muscled body made her heart skip a beat all over again.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” he warned, walking closer, not slowing down.

  “Like what?” she asked.

  “Like you want something all over again.”

  Mia grinned and kissed him, squealing when his wet arms surrounded her, his wet chest cold against her warm skin. She noticed he had something else ready and waiting for her, too.

  “Food first,” she warned. “Then we can play.”

  Sam slapped her on the backside, and she took the wet bikini from him, watching him shake like a dog. One moment he was a gentleman, the next he was as uncouth as the next guy.

  Mia was dry so she patted Blue on her way past and walked straight in. She’d left a towel for herself just inside the door though, and she threw that to Sam. Then she went into the kitchen, turned the oven on and took out everything she needed to make pizza. She had bases in the fridge, and she quickly brushed some olive oil on them, taking out a wine glass and pouring herself a drink, and then opening a beer for Sam.

  “I like this kind of cooking,” he said, brows arched as he joined her. He had the towel wrapped around his waist as he sat and rested his elbows on the counter. “I could get used to this.”

  Mia wanted to ask him if he was serious, but she didn’t. He was teasing her, and she didn’t want to ruin the mood. She glanced at the oven and decided it would be ready enough, slipping the thin pizza bases on to the tray and then putting them in the oven.

  “Sorry, show’s over. I’ll be back soon.”

  In her bedroom, she slipped into a silky robe, knotting the waist, and checked her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was nearly dry, slightly tangled and messy, and her cheeks were pink. But instead of putting any makeup on, she decided to stay as she was. Sam hadn’t seemed to mind the way she looked in the pool, so there was no need to change anything now.

  She found him sitting where she’d left him, and Mia reached for her wine glass, taking a long sip before placing it back down and getting out everything she needed. She started with chopping peppers, and when Sam silently joined her around the other side of the counter, she slid a board and the chorizo sausage down his way for him to slice. Mia took the tray out of the oven and spread tomato sauce across each pizza base, followed by peppers, mushrooms, chorizo and some ham, then she sprinkled some cheese across the top and an extra drizzle of sauce.

  “You make it look so easy,” Sam said.

  She put the tray back in the oven and turned to him. “That’s because it is.”

  He stared at her, their eyes locked, Mia’s breath rough. Sam walked into her then, scooping her up and sitting her on the edge of the counter. She crossed her arms behind his n
eck but kept her hands in the air as he kissed her, pushing her robe aside, nudging at her thighs, trailing his mouth over every inch of her as she moaned at being pleasured in her own kitchen. When he finally stopped, when he looked up at her with such intensity in his eyes, she moved forward and let him tug her down, taking her, pushing inside of her and making her bite down on his shoulder.

  Sam took all of her weight then, pulling her against him, walking her backwards against the door of her pantry as she bucked against him. Mia cried out when Sam slowly sunk to the ground, taking them both down, pushing so deep inside her as she found herself sitting astride him, on the floor, as they both reached climax.

  Buzzzzzz.

  Mia burst out laughing and buried her face in Sam’s neck as the oven timer sounded out.

  “We couldn’t have timed that better if we’d tried,” Sam joked.

  Mia laughed. “Come on, help me up. I don’t want to burn them!”

  * * *

  Sam smiled down at Mia, tucked up in his arms. His stomach was still full, he was so sleepy he could have passed out on the sofa, and Mia’s long hair was spilled around him like woven silk. He ran his fingers through it and smiled when she turned to look up at him.

  “If I don’t move I’m going to fall asleep,” she said, groaning and stretching, sitting up so she was still tucked against him.

  “I think it’s time for me to head home,” he said reluctantly, sorely tempted this time to give in and just curl up in her bed. They’d eaten and talked, then watched a movie … it was all so normal, so nice. But he knew how easily he could get caught up with being around Mia, and he was already starting to feel like he was in too deep. Tonight had been too good, too relaxing and way too easy to get used to.

  “You really want to drive all that way in the dark?” she asked, looking disappointed.

  He nodded, kissing the top of her head and forcing himself to stand. “Yeah, I’d better get going.”

  She smiled, but he could see it wasn’t the response she’d been hoping for. Mia reached for a blanket and he watched as she snuggled into it, looking like she was too comfortable on the sofa to bother moving.