by Rae, Harloe
I roll to the edge of the bed. “I didn’t know you were into spanking.”
“You never asked.” She gives me another swat when I stand.
Sweet Jesus, what am I gonna do with this woman? “Lesson learned.”
She swipes my flannel off the floor while I grab my boxers. Seeing her in my shirt sends a crackling connection between my brain and dick. The resulting thrum in my chest doesn’t bode well for me.
“How do you take your coffee?” She glances over her shoulder as she heads for the kitchen.
The sway of her hips is hypnotic, and I almost trip over my own feet. “Rich and extra strong.”
“Similar to your taste in women then?” Audria lifts her arms and flexes.
“I didn’t know I purchased tickets to the gun show.” I give her biceps a squeeze. “You better put those bad boys away before someone gets hurt.”
She takes turns blowing off each one. “Don’t mess with these shooters.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
She pulls a can of grounds from the cabinet.
“What’s your coffee order?”
“Plain and simple.”
Based on the number of scoops she puts in, this pot will be to my liking.
I lean against the counter, my gaze never straying from her. “We’re a good match, then.”
Her eyelids are hooded when she returns my stare. “Why the heck do you think I’m keeping you around, farmer?”
“The mind-blowing sex?”
“Oh, yes.” She gets a starry glaze in her eyes before shaking it off. “But also the compatibility.”
“Good to know you aren’t just using me to get laid.”
“You do provide pleasure like a tidal wave, but even that would lose its luster without the never-ever dates.” She coined that term last week for our country expeditions.
I rub my mouth to hide a cheesy smile. “That reminds me. Are you free next Saturday?”
“Most likely.” Her eyes twinkle. “Will you be whisking me away?”
I nod, allowing my dimples to pop with a smirk. “Block off the afternoon, and wear your cowboy boots.”
“You’re not going to give me more than that, huh?”
“Nope. Didn’t you say something about building anticipation?”
She walks her fingers up my chest. “It gets me very excited.”
“That’s right,” I hum against her lips. “I’ll be sure the suspense gets your motor purring.”
“I look forward to it.” She struts to the fridge, sticking her head inside. “Eggs and toast good with you?”
“Sounds delicious.” I press into her from behind.
She pushes against me without straightening. “I like you in an agreeable mood.”
I need distance, or I’ll be eating her for breakfast. I force myself to turn away, searching for a distraction. A vase with flowers on the table catches my eye. I was too preoccupied yesterday to notice much about her house. A quick glance around shows predictable findings. I would have no sliver of a doubt that a woman lives here. Splashes of bright colors and unnecessary clutter adorn every surface. It’s neat and organized, though. It smells fresh and warm, like a home should. I can definitely place her in this room, perching on the couch, watching Friends. Maybe she’ll let me stick around and join her.
As if on cue, Audria strides over and passes me a steaming mug. She winks while I take a sip. “Does it pass your quality inspection?”
I release a groan for her benefit. “Better than if I’d brewed it myself.”
She rolls her eyes before strutting back to the stove. “Such a charmer.”
I could easily see us falling into a routine. The air stalls in my lungs with a strangled choke. Alarm bells blare a deafening clang against my skull. I’m getting too invested. Jesus, there I go again. Rein it in, man.
My gut plummets in a familiar sensation. “Uh, maybe I should get going.”
“We haven’t eaten yet, and you’ve barely had any coffee. Take a seat. The food is almost ready.” Her tone is so nonchalant that I have no choice but to listen. She doesn’t seem to be in a hurry for me to leave.
A deep exhale releases the pressure in my chest. Why am I so damn erratic? I can be flippant about this too. “Yeah, all right.” I pull out a chair, set on parking my ass until she kicks me out.
Audria slides a plate in front of me. “Not too fancy, but it should hit the spot.”
“This is great.” I lift my fork and dig in. A thought occurs to me as a bite of cheesy eggs hits my tongue. That savory flavor gives me a crazy idea. “Are you Zooming with your friends today?”
“You really want to meet them?”
“Mostly so they know who’s stealing you away.”
She’s quiet for a moment, trapping her lush bottom lip between her teeth. “I suppose that’s true, in a sense.”
I wasn’t sure how she would react to that bait. Pretty damn well, I would say. Her answer tips my smile higher. “Sure is, babe. They’ll see how happy you are, freak out, and come down to rescue you. Then they’ll be stuck too.”
She giggles into her palm, trapping a mouthful of toast. “I’d love to see how they receive that message. Our call is tomorrow.”
I snap my fingers. “Well, damn. I guess that means I’ll be staying over again. Such a hardship.”
A single brow quirks at me. “I haven’t invited you.”
“But you will, babe. Or I’ll provide you with enough orgasms that you pass out from sheer bliss, whichever comes first.” I lick my lips, tasting hints of butter and temptation for what’s to come.
Her molten-chocolate gaze threatens to drown me in a pool of sugar. How can I even consider letting her go? She’s better than porn and football in the same sitting. We aren’t done. Far from it.
Audria grabs my empty dish and walks to the sink. “What’s on your agenda for this fine Saturday, farmer?”
I’m hot on her heels. “Other than you?”
She gives me a light shove. “Horny toad.”
“Don’t pretend to be offended.” My lips rain kisses along the column of her throat. “It’s your fault for making me always want more.”
“Be serious.” But she angles her neck to grant me better access.
“Absolutely nothing, babe. I’m all yours.”
Her wide eyes latch onto mine. “Still?”
I squeeze my nape. “You’ll give me a complex continuing to question that.”
Audria sucks on the inside of her cheek. “I figure you’ll get tired of me eventually.”
A bitter pill lodges in my throat. “Not yet.” Or ever.
“In that case.” She melts against me. “How about a shower? I’m feeling extra dirty.”
I tap my thumbs on the wheel as a bluesy tune kicks on. Country music never had a spot on my playlist until I moved to Bampton Valley. These days, I find myself ever so slowly becoming a fan. The catchy beat and swoony lyrics grow on a girl. This particular song has my foot tapping on the floorboard. The urge to sing along tickles my throat. Once Vannah catches wind of this revelation, I’ll never hear the end of it.
The robotic voice of my navigation app tells me to turn right on yet another dirt road. I’m not sure where Reeve is sending me, but I’ll find out in approximately three miles. From the grassy prairies and super-rural location, it’s safe to assume another outdoor activity is in my future. Best to get these out of the way before snow makes an appearance. I shiver, glimpsing the temperature displayed on my dash. The upcoming change in climate threatens with each drop in degree.
With a skyward glance, I smile at the cloudless sky. Direct sunshine bakes the ground without a hitch. It’s too early in autumn for winter to barge in. I say that every year with my fingers crossed. Reeve will have to get more creative once the weather stops cooperating. He’s not one to deliver an experience short of noteworthy and spectacular. His dedication to our never-ever dates ensure I’m thoroughly entertained. Thinking of that man gets my heart beating faste
r, syncing with the upbeat tempo blasting from the speakers. I shoo the pitter-patter away with a mental hush and let the melody steal my focus.
The next command drones at me. I automatically flick my blinker, following the orders on autopilot. The anticipation has been bottled inside me for too long, ready to escape in a bubbly explosion. My wait might be finally over.
What appears to be an enormous ranching facility appears in the distance. Pristine white fencing frames the property that seems to extend for miles on its own. The blue dot on my map suggests that’s where I’m heading. I predict this will be a doozy for the scrapbook. In the following moment, the smug voice alerts me to my arrival, easy as that.
When I pull into a winding driveway, two youngsters pop up from their crouched positions on the concrete. Gabby and a young boy who carries a slight resemblance are covered in chalk and wearing matching grins aimed directly at me. The pair run in circles with rampant enthusiasm as I park behind Reeve’s truck.
I step out to greet them with a smile of my own. “Hey, you two.”
“Miss Griffin! You’re finally here.” Gabby skips toward me, showing off the gap between her teeth.
A peek at my watch shows two o’clock on the nose—the exact time I’m expected. This little lady needs to improve her patience beyond the classroom, it seems.
I bat my lashes at her. “Did you miss me since yesterday?”
She rolls her eyes. The sass is already strong with this one. “Um, duh. I was so super happy when Uncle Ree told me you were coming. I love being at the farm.”
“It’s a very nice one, the best I’ve seen.” And that’s a severe understatement. Each structure is bigger than the last. The layout resembles a rustic stadium but with individual buildings. It’s impossible to digest with all the sparkle and gleam. Every surface is polished to glaring perfection, even the freaking cement under my feet.
“This is Archie’s house.” Gabby hitches a thumb at the boy beside her. “He’s my second cousin or whatever.”
I offer him a wave. “Hey, kiddo. You look familiar.”
He bobs his mop of brown hair. “I’m in the third grade. Miss Kressly is my teacher.”
The pieces click together as I realize he’s in Bea’s class. “She’s the best.”
Gabby gasps. “No way. You’re way better.”
I giggle at her coming to my defense. “Thank you, sweetie.”
She beams at me. “I’m so excited. Uncle Ree is gonna—”
“Are you about to spoil my surprise, peanut?”
The three of us turn at the booming interruption.
Reeve strolls over from a barn that’s bigger than my entire block. What the hell is this place? That question fizzles into dust as I get a good look at the man walking toward me. Reeve in a ball cap is a mighty fine sight. But a cowboy hat? I’m not properly prepared for this level of sexy. As he swaggers closer, Justin Timberlake belts out that popular chorus in my head with Reeve as the muse. I’m struck dumb, completely wiped of all major functions. Consider me far past overcooked and burnt to a crisp. It’s all I can do to treat myself to a full once-over. The dark stubble on his jaw complements his cocky signature smirk. A western shirt rolled at the cuffs stretches across his brawny build. The faded jeans molded to his thighs appear custom fitted just for him. My thighs quiver from the impact. I want to ride him harder than a jackpot bull at the rodeo. He’s officially a heaping dish of yummy with extra whipped cream and cherries.
“Oh, you totally love my uncle.” Gabby slaps a palm over her mouth, muffling a loud giggle.
Holy mother of Mary, my student just caught me in the act of ogling. I swipe at my lips to wipe away any signs of drool. “What’s that now?”
She squeals, bouncing on her toes. “Don’t pretend, Miss Griffin. You have a crush on Uncle Ree.”
“What a wild imagination you have, Gabby. That’s adorable.” I palm my forehead, cursing the one responsible for making that man so damn irresistible.
Reeve hangs on the sidelines, listening to the lovely exchange, grinning like a boar rolling in slop. The desire to flip him off makes my middle finger twitch. He’s such a traitor for leaving me out to dry. Payback will be a bitch to him later.
“You’re gonna marry him. Can I be a flower girl, Miss Griffin? I know I’m your student, and that might be kinda weird, but soon you’ll be my aunt. We’ll be family. Isn’t that special? Oh, I can hardly wait.” Gabby flings her arms to the sides and spins until she’s blurry.
“Okay, whoa.” I hold up a palm. “No one is getting married, kiddo.”
“Yes-huh. I can tell. You love him.”
Is it too immature to respond with, do not? The lines between remaining professional and getting snarky are beginning to cross. “Remember we’re just friends, Gabby. That’s it.”
He must sense I’m reaching my limit, based on the blubbering. “All right, that’s enough. Scram, you troublemakers.”
“We don’t have to listen. You’re not our daddy.” Gabby stomps her little foot.
He glances at me for assistance. I only laugh. Nice try, buddy. Seems a taste of his own medicine is being served early. It’s his turn to deal with the tiny instigator.
“I’m gonna eat all your ice cream,” Reeve warns.
Her eyes widen at his threat. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Your mama always lets me have extra scoops. Maybe I’ll just eat from the carton.” He mimics spooning the stolen dessert into his mouth.
She wrinkles her button nose. “That’s mean, Uncle Ree. You need to share.”
He folds his hands and pins her with a no-nonsense stare. “And you need to be respectful to adults.”
Gabby pouts, her lower lip trembling. Oh, she’s good. I recognize that look from when she got in trouble on the playground. “Okay, fine. Come on, Archie. Let’s go pet the ponies.”
They trot off without another word, leaving me to fight against my own traitorous self. Before I can summon a proper guard against his onslaught, Reeve wraps me in a hug fit for lovers. Good Lord, he smells of fresh pine blended with sawdust and the kind of masculine labor I want to watch in slow motion, on repeat. I sag into the embrace as he tightens his hold. A little white flag whips in the wind somewhere nearby.
A groan slips out of me. “This feels wonderful.”
The rumble that vibrates his chest makes my toes curl. “Did you miss me, babe?”
I asked a similar version to his niece, but this one has an entirely different meaning. We’re both so busy during the week that our days together are precious, not that I’m getting attached or anything. Biggest lie ever.
“Maybe a bit,” I admit.
He lifts my chin between his thumb and pointer, treating me to a tender kiss. “I’m glad you could make it.”
I sigh against his lips. “Thanks for inviting me to… wherever we are.”
Reeve releases me, keeping a palm on my back as he guides me toward the barn he appeared from. “This is my cousin’s ranch. He’s a professional calf roper. He does some steer wrestling too.”
“And he chooses to live all the way out here?” I realize how snooty that sounds the second it escapes. “No offense.”
He winces regardless. “A dig at the country after everything we’ve been through? You wound me, woman.”
“That was a gross comment. I apologize.” I cringe for sincerity’s sake.
His smile resurrects in the next breath. “No worries. I understand. This type of property seems too grand for a town like Bam. He paid a fraction of the price for this section of land compared to most other regions. To be honest, it’s tough to find this much real estate for cheaper, even in the boondocks of North Dakota.”
“Glad I’m not the only one picking on rural sites.”
“Says the city girl.” He laughs.
“You would go there,” I mumble. I stab him with a glare, catching another eyeful of hot cowboy. Staying mad at him, even as a joke, is impossible. “I like your hat.”
&n
bsp; Reeve tips the brim. “Thank you, ma’am.”
I make a gagging sound. “Eww, don’t start with that. I feel like an old lady.”
“So long as you’re mine.” He wags his brows.
The sentiment strikes straight to my heart. A whimper almost escapes from the hit. I rip my gaze from his, needing some semblance of space. It takes all my effort not to clutch my chest.
What am I doing, mooning over this guy to ultimate extremes? How long can I keep this up? Feelings are forming. Hell, they have been since our friendly date at the lake. I’m not ready for this to end. A quick peek at him shows his eyes seek mine. Those baby blues are killer on my resolve. With a nod, my decision is made. I can pretend for a bit longer.
Reeve ushers me through a doorway big enough to fit three trucks. The air is thick with dust and hay, clearly a horse palace. Two rows of stalls run along the left half, forming a wide aisle in between. The other side appears to be mostly storage rooms and leads to some massive-looking dome on the far end.
“Indoor arena,” he explains after finding my gaze trained that way. “But we’ll be using the outdoor.”
That earns a slow blink of my lashes. “What?”
“Arena.”
“No.” I shake my head. “For what?”
“Your roping lesson.” His lips twitch at the corners.
My eyes grow wider than saucers. “I’m almost afraid to ask what that entails.”
“You remember the rodeo this summer?”
“Sure,” I drawl.
A small grin forms. “Guys catching calves from the chute.”
I burst into hysterics, full throttle ahead. “You honestly expect me to do that? Listen, farmer. I appreciate the ridiculous inaccuracies regarding my skills, but no fucking way. You can’t be serious? No. Just… no.”
He stands there without no visible reaction to my tirade. Once I’ve finished, Reeve quirks a brow. “About done?”
The steam whistles from my kettle. “I guess.”
He grips my shoulders with a gentle shake. “By no means would I ever hand you a rope, plop that fine ass on a horse, and expect anything productive to happen.”
“Oh,” I murmur.
