Always a Bridesmaid

by Cindi Madsen

  “More like half apology you had to go through that, half teaser of what’s to come if you play your cards right.”

  The tip of his nose skimmed across her cheek, and he pressed a featherlight kiss to the sensitive spot under her ear. “I should warn you, I’m real good at cards.”

  Ford punctuated his warning with a nip to her earlobe, and a shiver had its way with her spine. Her nipples puckered against the fabric of her bra, declaring they were now invested in the outcome of this evening, and the temptation to crawl onto his lap and forget the whole mud-bogging thing inundated her.

  She’d managed to deliver a flirty line without making a fool of herself, though, so she stuck with playing coy. “I certainly hope that’s not the only thing you’re good at.”

  …

  Violet’s squeal rent the air as she made a sharp turn. Tires skidded, mud flew. Ford leaned the opposite direction, using his weight to prevent them from tipping into the ankle-height puddle.

  Her squeal morphed into a giggle.

  “You neglected to tell me you were a speed demon,” he said.

  “I never have been before, but there’s never been mud before, either.”

  Affection boosted his mood as high as the fluffy white clouds in the sky. At one point in his life, Ford had declared there was nothing better than climbing onto an ATV and getting lost in the wilderness for days.

  Violet’s happiness, however, had him thinking about empty lives and full ones. It wasn’t until this very moment that he realized he had, in fact, been missing something.

  “Again?” she asked. “Or do you want a turn to drive?”

  “I’ll drive us home. You go ahead and play in the mud as long as you’d like.”

  The girl gunned it, mud splattered his posterior, and then he was hugging her to keep from falling instead of using it as an excuse to hold her.

  “Do you see that log sticking out of the water?” he ask-yelled.

  “What?” she hollered over the sound of the engine.

  Oh shit. Ford lunged to hit the brakes and stop them in time, but his reaction was too slow, the vehicle going too fast.

  The four-wheeler hit the log and went vertical, and since he’d let go of Violet to grasp for the controls, the machine bucked him off.

  A jolt rocketed his spine and rattled his teeth as he landed on his ass.

  Mud squished between his fingers, water seeped into his jeans, and he brought up his forearm and swiped his face. Namely the bit around his eyes.

  The engine died, and panic held him captive as he searched for Violet in the mess.

  Sucking footsteps came from his other side. Violet lumbered through the puddle and dropped to her knees in front of him. “Are you okay?”

  He meant to answer, but then she was running her hands over him, her face crinkled with concern. Finally, he forced his tongue into motion. “I’m fine. You?”

  Relief smoothed her features and loosened her shoulders. She swept mud-speckled strands of hair away from her pretty face. “Yeah. The four-wheeler did a total parkour move off that log, but I felt you fall, so I killed the engine and came running.”

  Violet wobbled to her feet and extended a hand. He gripped hold of it, the mud slimy yet gritty between their palms. The current between them snapped and sparked, igniting his libido, along with his mischievous side. She heaved, and rather than helping, he gave a sharp tug, throwing her off-balance.

  She fell on top of him, their wet skin and clothes slipping against each other as he braced her hips. His evil laugh sounded similar to the cackling noise she’d made every time she’d taken a turn that left him significantly dirtier.

  Ford rolled so she was the one lying in the goop. “Like a hog to mud…”

  She scowled, the mostly unsullied skin around her eyes emphasizing her fiery side. “Comparing me to a hog isn’t as charming as you think it is, Ford McGuire.”

  “If you’re a hog, I’m a hog, too. Does that make it better?”

  “No,” she said as she propped herself up on her elbows, but she giggled and slapped murky water at him.

  They splashed and batted water at each other until they were both soaked.

  As their rapid breaths slowed, the ripples stilled, and their gazes latched on to each other. The air shifted, and damn she was beautiful.

  Ford braced his palms on either side of her hips and crawled over her until his body hovered over hers. “Violet?”

  A shaky breath filled the space between them. “Yeah?”

  “I’m going to kiss you now.”

  Her pink tongue flicked out to wet her lips, enticing him closer, and he stifled a groan. It’d been a long time since he’d wanted to kiss a woman this badly, yet he hesitated.

  Once their mouths met, their carefree puppy-training and wedding-planning sessions would come with extra baggage. There’d be expectations and feelings and a whole mess of other stuff he still wasn’t sure he was ready for.

  She angled her head, drawing his attention to the column of her neck and lower… Thanks to the water, her shirt was plastered against her chest. Hypnotized, he watched it rise and fall. Rise and fall.

  Going back was for suckers anyway.

  Ford brushed his lips over hers, a quick taste that had him wanting a whole lot more. A quick readjust so that his forearms were in the mud, and he sank into her curves as he molded his mouth to hers.

  Violet parted her lips, inviting him deeper, and he swept his tongue inside to tangle with hers. Her moan spurred him on, and he slid his hand underneath the hem of her shirt. He stroked her soft skin, sucking her upper lip into his mouth as he put more of his weight on his left side. His erection strained against his zipper—a deluge of pleasure and a zing of pain.

  Ford skirted his fingers along the underside of Violet’s bra, and when she linked her arms around his neck and lifted her knee so their hips fully met, he grunted. Dark spots danced across his vision as he palmed her breast over her bra, finding her nipple hard and straining against the lace.

  He gave the needy nub a flick, and Violet arched underneath him, her hips knocking into his and ripping a growl from his throat.

  Afraid he’d lose control and inadvertently crush her, Ford sat back on his heels, pulling her up with him.

  “What’re y—? Oh,” she said as she settled on his lap, his pulsing erection notched against her center. “Yeah, this was a good idea.”

  Violet dipped her head and kissed him again, sucking and licking until the world spun off its axis. Ford wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck and held her in place as he devoured her mouth.

  He wasn’t sure if it was his gasp or hers that cut through the silence. Right now, all that mattered was they were both writhing and breathless, and why the hell had he taken so long to kiss this woman?

  She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, and he gladly shed it. “Whoa,” she said, tracing the muscles in his chest and abdomen with her fingers.

  Before she returned to his lap, he wanted to rid her of her shirt as well. He yanked it up and off and tossed it aside.

  The last rays of the day danced across her skin, casting a soft glow that accented every salacious inch. She wrapped her arms around herself, half hiding, half emphasizing, and his breath lodged in his throat.

  “Damn, Vi. You’re… I… Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

  A shy smile spread across her face and her arms slowly fell away. Her brazen side reemerged, dangerous and intoxicating and… Mine.

  Ford lifted a muddy finger and painted a line between her breasts, her belly button, the waist of her filthy jeans. He swiped back and forth, and Violet gripped his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin.

  She nipped at his lower lip, her breath soft and sweet. “Not that I’m not enjoying our fancy spa mud bath, but…” She shivered and snuggled closer. “The wet-and-cold thing is
starting to kick in.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, giving her as much of his body heat as he could. “We’re closer to my house than where we parked, so we can head there to dry off and warm up, and I’ll get my truck later.”

  They stood and, after they grabbed shirts that were too caked in mud to wear, slipped and slopped their way over to the four-wheeler.

  Violet danced around as he fired up the engine. “What are the odds we can make it to your place without someone seeing us? I’ve been the topic of gossip in Uncertainty before, and I was really trying to stay out of the spotlight. Shirtless and coated in mud will undoubtedly land me on the radar.”

  “Who cares what people say? Just ignore ’em. Sooner or later, those biddies’ll find something new to gossip about.”

  “I wish I didn’t care. Every time I visited this place growing up, I tried to convince myself I didn’t. But I never could pull it off.” She climbed on behind him and hooked her arms around his middle. “You’ll have to teach me your ways.”

  “Easy. Step one: stop giving a shit.”

  “Yeah, but how?”

  Ford shrugged. “You just stop.”

  “Is that how you train your dogs? Tell them to do something and they magically comply?”

  “You want a motivational treat? I might have a few doggie bones on me.”

  They both glanced at the pocket of his jeans, which was beyond crusted shut.

  “Pass,” she said, and another shiver racked her body.

  “How about a shower and dinner? I have both those things at my place.”

  The way she tightened her arms and rested her head between his shoulder blades made him feel ten feet tall. “Sold.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The ride over had dried parts of them, save Violet’s front and Ford’s back, since they’d been mashed together. Once they’d peeled themselves apart, Ford told Violet the door was unlocked and that he’d be right behind her.

  She did the sort of sprint-waddle a penguin might while running from a hungry polar bear. With warmth one twist away, she paused, her hand on the doorknob. Then she looked down at least three layers of mud and sludge.

  And smiled.

  Never before had she been so filthy. While crusty and moderately uncomfortable, it made her oddly happy.

  Free.

  Usually she held closer to societal constructs. Always had to focus on focusing. She didn’t rock the boat while also craving attention, which never had gone very well together. Often it felt like she worked her butt off to be a casual observer of her own life.

  Today she’d grabbed an amazing moment by the horns, wrestled it to the muddy ground, and experienced sensations she hadn’t even realized she’d been missing.

  A shirtless Ford ambled up the sidewalk, speckled in much the same way she was after a day of painting, and it was as if her blurry life twisted into focus. Happy, tingly emotions crystallized, and she click, clicked a button in her brain so she could always remember this perfect moment.

  “Evidently mud makes me sappy,” she said. “I’m about to start waxing poetic.”

  Amusement danced along the crooked slant of Ford’s smile. “Spout some poetry for me, Shakespeare.”

  “Wasn’t Shakespeare more of a playwright?”

  “Ooh yeah. Those are the sexy words I was hoping for.”

  Violet gave his chest a light shove. “Ha-ha. What I’m trying to say is this afternoon was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I was completely in the moment.”

  Ford wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close. “I rather enjoyed several of those moments myself.” He kissed her hard on the lips and reached around her to open the door. “Finally, I can show this doorknob who’s boss. He’s been bragging for weeks about how he got further with you than I did.”

  The guy was such a ham, a joke always at the ready, a smile a second away. She’d never been with anyone like Ford.

  Not that she’d been with him.

  Was she going to be tonight?

  If the way he kissed was any indicator, they could have a whole lot of unbridled fun together. He saw her, too—the real, unfiltered version. Scattered brain, bursts of energy, and previously buried passion for photography, which he’d encouraged her to rediscover.

  Unlike her ex, Ford didn’t attempt to calm the mayhem inside her brain—he rolled with it and patiently repeated himself. He made every minute an adventure.

  The way he’d looked at her as he’d told her she was beautiful, as if he’d been in the middle of the desert for days and had just spotted water…

  Her stomach whirled as she tipped onto her toes and initiated another kiss.

  A tug-of-war began between her heart and her brain.

  Sex without commitment often ended in tears and asking yourself what you did wrong.

  Then again, so did sex with commitment.

  More than physical attraction crackled between them, and she could feel their connection in her very soul. A sort of kindred recognition.

  Their entwined bodies knocked into the front door, nudging it open, and barks erupted. The clickety clack of paws filled the air as the dynamite trio came running.

  “Sit,” Ford firmly said, and all but Trouble obeyed. He bounded over to Violet, and she hinged at her waist to pet him. Only a strong hand grasped her upper arm and hauled her upright. “You can’t reward him unless he obeys.”

  Violet grumbled, and Ford arched an eyebrow.

  “I want to see if your method works. And it’s not fair to the dogs being obedient if Trouble gets rewarded for disobeying.”

  Turned out Ford was a stickler in one area, and since it was his job to train dogs that’d be in charge of people’s lives, she supposed that was fair.

  “Sit,” she told Trouble. He whimpered and pawed at her muddy pants legs, and as hard as it was to ignore the twinge in her chest, she remained steadfast. “Sit.”

  Trouble’s furry butt hit the floor.

  “Good boy!” Violet squatted and showered him with affection. “Who’s a good boy? That’s you, isn’t it?” She patted the other puppies, and Pyro glanced at Ford.

  At Ford’s nod, Pyro rushed over for the snuggle party.

  With all the puppies wagging their tails, Violet declared her mission accomplished. The crusted mud that fell from her jeans reminded her how filthy she was. “I’m going to leave a trail from here to the bathroom.”

  “We can shed our shoes and jeans here in the tiled entryway.”

  While she’d been halfway naked in front of him only ten or so minutes ago, her adrenaline had ebbed, and it was brighter in here. Suddenly she was calculating how long it’d been since she’d shaved her legs.

  Of course she hadn’t worn her fancy underwear—she’d never dreamed anyone but her would be seeing them.

  “I can’t speak for the puppies, but don’t worry, I’ll be a gentleman and turn around.” Ford pivoted toward the wall, and she caught his arm.

  “What if I…?” The fervor that’d assailed her body earlier pulsed to life, beseeching her to carry on with living in the moment. “What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman?”

  A harsh breath whooshed from his lips—one that broadcast his desire for her. And that made it a lot easier to be bold.

  She unbuttoned her jeans and began shimmying out of them. The gritty silt made feeling sexy more of a challenge, but she peeled the denim past her thighs and puddled her jeans on the floor.

  Ford’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and her blood turned molten.

  With his eyes glued to hers, he unbuttoned and unzipped his own jeans. He shucked them off and kicked them next to hers.

  A giggle arose as she glanced at their captive K-9 audience. “I think they’re waiting for our next trick.”

  “I can conjure one or two.” Ford scooped her up, his
arms binding her upper thighs, and a squeak escaped her as he strode in the direction of the hall.

  Thinking of something clever to say with his whiskers lightly abrading the tops of her breasts and his bare skin heating hers proved impossible. All pesky thoughts had been removed to make way for the lust coursing through her.

  Violet combed her fingers through his hair, shaking loose some of the crusted mud on the ends.

  A door opened to their left, and after Ford had carried her inside, he kicked it closed behind them.

  The bathroom ceiling was lower than the hallway’s, and the top of her head skimmed the light fixture. Ford loosened his grip, and she slid down his hard body, her pulse leaping as he groaned.

  He swept aside the shower curtain and fumbled with the handles.

  Once he’d gotten the water flowing, he spun and cupped her face in his hands. She nearly purred as his thumb dragged across her jaw. “Believe me, sweetheart, I’m aching to get under that hot water with you. But I’m also willing to walk out that door and give you privacy. I don’t want you to feel pressured or for you to do anything you might later regret.”

  He was usually so cocky—now, his sincere words and the hint of vulnerability in his voice made her freeze in place.

  One beat…

  Two…

  With deliberate casualness, Violet slipped one bra strap off her shoulder. Then the other.

  She reached behind her.

  The usual pinching motion didn’t dislodge her bra, so she added her other hand to aid her efforts. “Dammit. I was trying to be all sexy, and this just shows why I can’t pull it off.”

  “I’m happy to help.” Ford placed his hands on her hips, twisted her to face the mirror above the sink, and fiddled with the clasp. “The mud’s acting like cement, but don’t you worry, I’ll win this fight.”

  The bra came loose and fell to the floor.

  Ford placed a hand on the center of her stomach and tugged her against him. His erection pressed into the crease of her butt, and he caught her eye in the mirror. “Look at you. Feel what you’re doing to me. How can you say you’re not sexy?”

  The woman peering back at her was a mess. Disheveled hair, dirt-streaked, and carrying a few extra pounds.