Cowboy's Break

by Lexi Post

  This would kill Rachel. She would hate him forever if he did this. “Fuck.”

  “Excuse me, sir?” A young woman with attitude looked down her nose at him.

  She probably heard him swear. He faked irritation. “I just banged my knee on this statute. That’s the last thing I need in my house.” He limped to the door as Crystal and her taxi drove away.

  Once outside, he took a deep breath, but the smell of car fumes and grease filled the air. He didn’t miss his old job at all. Now, he had to make sure he had an air-tight case before he presented his findings to Rachel.

  Unless he could return the horse and the money with her none the wiser.

  There was a slim chance he could keep this between himself and Crystal. To do that, he needed to be able to confront her with everything.

  Determinedly, he wove between the people on the street, anxious to return to the ranch where there was clean air and Rachel.

  ~~~~~

  Rachel finished setting the table. The fresh cut wild flowers toppled from the vase in pretty purples and yellows. The steaks would be ready in just a few minutes, but the door to her office remained closed.

  Vince had insisted on working privately all afternoon. Normally, she wouldn’t have agreed to that, but since he’d found Matterhorn, who arrived a couple hours ago, and had even called her insurance company so she wouldn’t be accused of insurance fraud, she let him do what he did best.

  She now had complete faith that he’d find Foxglove but she hadn’t made the cookies yet. She’d promised them for when he found her horse and he still searched. She crossed her arms over her waist. She hoped her boy was okay.

  The sound of the office door opening and Vince’s boots on the hardwood floors had her surveying the kitchen table one last time. Then she watched the doorway, her heart beating just a bit faster.

  He stepped in, his face worried, but the minute he looked at her, he smiled. He walked straight to her and took her face in his hands. “You don’t know how good it makes me feel to see you.”

  Before she could respond that it had only been a few hours, his lips were brushing hers and nudging her to open her mouth. She held his waist and let him in. His tongue dove in, tasting her, mating with hers, making her knees weak.

  When he let go, her hips fell back against the counter and she grabbed it to steady herself.

  “That closed door did little to block the heavenly smells coming from this kitchen.” He took a deep breath. “I hope dinner is almost ready.”

  She nodded as she regained her equilibrium. “It is. Could you grab us a couple beers?”

  He moved to the refrigerator.

  She didn’t miss the opportunity to look at his ass in his blue jeans. The man was even hotter now than when they first dated. Forcing herself to look away, she piled the steak, mashed potatoes, and peas onto two plates and set them at the table. She grabbed the gravy she’d made and brought it as she sat down.

  Vince raised his beer. “To a bright future for the Sunnyview Ranch.”

  And to us. She grinned and clinked her beer bottle against his then drank. When she put her bottle down, he was already cutting into his meat. “Does that mean you’ve figured out where my money went?”

  He nodded, his mouth full of steak.

  Relief swept through her and her stomach loosened. Maybe she could actually eat her dinner now. If he knew where it went, then she had faith he could get it back.

  After a few moments of companionable silence, Vince looked at her instead of at his food. “This is excellent. Thank you for inviting me to dinner. I rarely get a home cooked meal.”

  She stopped, her fork on the way to her mouth. “Why? Because of your job? Are you gone a lot?”

  He sat back, titling his head to the side. “Actually, no, that’s not why. It’s because it sucks cooking for one person.”

  Oh, she probably shouldn’t have jumped to negative conclusions. “I get that. I cook with the anticipation that Crystal may drop in, so when she doesn’t I have great leftovers.”

  “Does she ever?” He sat straight again, as if her answer were important.

  “Yes, she does. Usually two or three times a week. With her, she has such a busy schedule, especially before tax time, that she is lucky if she can get to the vending machine for dinner. The other times of the year, she is having fun with her friends, so she goes out to eat a lot. She likes coming here for home cooked meals.” She put another forkful of mash potatoes in her mouth as he visibly relaxed.

  “You two seem closer now than when she was young.”

  She swallowed. “We are. We’re all we have left of our family besides the ranch.”

  Vince’s brow lowered in concern. “No aunts or cousins and all that?”

  She shook her head. “No. My mom was an only child and my dad was the youngest of two but his older brother died young as well—heart attack.”

  Vince appeared to chew on that along with his steak, so she took another bite of hers. That he was concerned at how little family she had left was comforting. Of course, if she and Crystal were to have children, then they could have more family. She would love to have a bunch of kids running around the ranch, playing in the hay, learning to ride, helping a baby calf come into the world.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  She’d stopped eating with her thoughts, and Vince looked at her curiously. What would their children look like if they married? “I was just daydreaming. Will I be able to get that lost money back? Was it a hacker like I thought? Or was it a huge mistake on Crystal’s part? I don’t think I could tell her if it was. She is very proud of her ability to manage the finances here.”

  He finished eating. “I don’t think you’ll get your money back. It was a big mistake on Crystal’s part, but it’s something we can correct moving forward.”

  “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say to that. She’d rather it had been someone stealing her money than for Crystal to have made such a huge error. Now she would have to double check all her work. When would she have time for that?

  Vince rose and lifted the dirty plates.

  “Oh no, I can do that.” She rose as well, already reaching for them.

  He pulled them away. “No, you cooked the meal, so I should clean up.”

  Really? That was almost too good to be true. “Okay.”

  She picked up her beer and leaned against the wall so she could watch him. Hunter had asked her if she would keep Vince this time around. She definitely wanted to. She was in a better place now than before. It wouldn’t have worked out for either of them when they were younger.

  The question was, did he forgive her? Sometimes it seemed that he had, but other times, she wasn’t so sure. Like yesterday when they’d had sex. He hadn’t even taken his boots off for criminy sake, yet he seemed to enjoy it. She kept getting hot and cold vibes from him.

  She took a sip of beer and enjoyed her view. Vince had a tan shirt on that stretched over his powerful back as he scrubbed the pots to put them in the dishwasher. Even without his hat or clothes, anyone would know he was a cowboy through and through. How did he ever fool all those criminals?

  “Done.” He shook out the dishtowel and folded it over the towel holder. “Now for dessert.”

  She pushed away from the wall as she rapidly thought of what she could give him. She moved to the cupboards and opened the one she kept snacks in. “I didn’t make any cookies because Foxglove isn’t home yet.” Now she felt like a louse for being so literal. She should have made them to show him she had faith that he would bring her horse back because she did.

  His arms wrapped around her from behind and he spoke in her ear. “That wasn’t the dessert I had in mind.”

  A shiver of anticipation ran through just before his lips touched her neck beneath her ear and she giggled. She scrunched her shoulder up. “I’m ticklish there.”

  He turned her around in his arms. “I know that, but it makes you giggle and you don’t do enough of that.” His
face turned serious. “You need to take time for yourself.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he placed his finger across her lips.

  “Hear me out. There is more to life than running the ranch, taking care of Crystal and helping your hands. You’re still young, twenty-nine if I remember right. You need to live.” His gaze softened. “You need to love.”

  Lord have mercy, she did. “I want to, but if I don’t do all that then everything will fall apart. I’ll lose it all.”

  He shook his head. “Not if you let me in. Let me into your life, Rae. Let me help you. Let’s actually live life together.””

  Her palms started to sweat and her eyes itched. “I want to, I do. I’m just not good at depending on someone other than myself.”

  He gave her half a smile. “Are you depending on me to find your horse and fix your money problem?”

  She looked away from his mesmerizing gaze. Was she? Shit, she was. She looked back at him. “I am.” She couldn’t keep the wonder from her voice, surprised she’d been able to let him help her.

  He brushed the stray strands of hair back that always fell around her face, his touch gentle, like she remembered. His eyes finally returned to her gaze. “Let me in.”

  Her view started to blur. “You’re already in.”

  “Ah Rae, it’s not so bad, is it?”

  She shook her head then nodded.

  He chuckled. “I can help you get used to it.”

  She blinked away her tears, not happy with them at all. “But what if you disappear again? I can’t do that. It ripped my heart open last time. I was so worried you were hurt or dead and I didn’t know. No one would tell me.”

  He pulled her into his embrace and held her tight. “I’m sorry. I was so caught up in my own misery, I didn’t think what it had to be like for you.” He pushed her back so he could look at her. “I promise, I will always stay in touch with you, no matter what my job requires of me or I won’t do it.”

  She widened her eyes. “Really?”

  “Really. I love you, Rachel. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

  She closed her eyes as joy barreled through her then opened them again and smiled. “I love you, too. I always have.”

  He threw up one arm and shouted. “Yes!”

  She laughed, letting her happiness fill her completely. Then Vince’s mouth was on hers, sweet yet passionate, like the man he had become. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him back with all the love she felt, tangling her tongue with his and pressing herself against him.

  He broke their kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. “I never thought this day would come. You’ve softened all the sharp edges in my soul.”

  She rubbed her fingers along the base of his hairline. “I didn’t know how empty I was until you filled me.”

  He pulled his head back. “I want to fill you again. I want to feel myself glide into you with nothing between us.”

  She liked that idea. Liked it a lot, but she didn’t know where he’d been or who he’d been with since they parted. She’d been tested long ago and it wasn’t as if she’d slept with anyone since then. Plus she was on birth control, but she still had to know. “Are you safe?”

  He pulled away and she thought she’d angered him again, but he grasped her by her hips and sat her on the counter.

  “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t.”

  “I know. But I had to ask. That independent thing again.”

  He ran his hands down her bare arms. “Never apologize for who you are. I love that you’re independent.” He moved his hands under her white shirt and lifted it up and over her head. “This time, it’s about you.”

  She grinned. “I was with you last time, too.”

  “I was selfish and not very considerate.” He leaned toward her to wrap his arms around her and unhook her bra.

  She took his face in her hands. “You needed something from me. I got that. Sometimes one person needs more than the other. We can give and we can take. If we love each other, we don’t keep a tally. Okay?”

  He brushed her lips with his own. “You are one of a kind, Rachel Henderson.”

  She smirked. “I know.”

  He laughed then pulled her bra from her arms. “And I’m going to show you exactly how special you are.” He gazed at her breasts as if he’d never seen them before.

  This time she wanted to see the older him, too. She grasped him by the shirt and pulled him toward her, opening her legs wide so he could come closer. “I’m looking forward to it.” She unbuttoned his shirt down to where it tucked into his jeans and yanked it up. “But I need this shirt off you to really appreciate the experience.” She finished unbuttoning the last buttons and the ones on his sleeves before pushing it over his shoulders.

  Vince shrugged out of his shirt, caught it with one hand and threw it on the table. “Anything you want.”

  Chapter Eight

  Rachel gazed at the muscles outlined on Vince’s chest, his taut nipples making her own harden. His abdominals were rippled with a nice crease down the center. But it was the enticing start to the V called the Adonis Belt that disappeared under his jeans that had her sheath moistening. With that strength, she knew how hard he could thrust into her. She wiggled her brows. “Be careful what you say.”

  He brought his fingers to her waistband and unbuckled her belt, flicking the leather end. “Hmm, I think as long as you aren’t into ropes and whips, I’ll be okay with it.”

  She scrunched up her nose. “That’s not my style. I don’t even use whips on my horses.”

  He leaned forward, placing his hands on the counter on either side of her, his lips only an inch from her hardened nipple. “That isn’t a surprise.” His breath caressed her peak and her areola reacted, wrinkling up.

  She arched toward his mouth and her nipple brushed his closed lips. His tongue shot out and licked her. The sensation zinged from there straight down to her opening. She grasped his head. “More.”

  This time, he spoke against her breast, his lips moving seductively over her. “As I said, whatever you want.” He licked around her hard nub then gently sucked it into his warm mouth.

  Her sheath tightened. “Yes.”

  Vince’s suction on her breast grew slowly until it verged on pain, yet she grasped his head tighter against her, her whole body tingling with desire now.

  He loosened his mouth around her and brought his teeth to close over her nipple.

  She held her breath, expecting a nibble or a bite.

  He closed his jaw just slightly than wiggled it back and forth, effective rolling her nipple. She held onto his head to keep herself upright as her whole body turned to mush.

  Take me now. The thought vibrated through her body, but she was greedy. She wanted more.

  And he gave her more. He let go of her nipple and kissed it gently then kissed a trail down her breast to lick a path up between them both before continuing to her other one. She expected him to perform a similar treatment there and she held her breath in anticipation.

  Vince wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close as he sucked as much of her breast into his mouth as possible while his tongue laved at her nipple. That action alone had her melting, but when he let out a groan of need against her skin, it vibrated down to her core and into her heart.

  “Take me, Vince.”

  She wasn’t sure he’d heard her as the suction on her breast continued and his tongue played some more, causing the ache inside her to become almost unbearable with unfulfilled desire.

  He finally released her, only to bite at her nipple with short, sharp nips that had her crying out her pleasure. Finally, he stood straight and wrapping a hand behind her head, kissed her deeply.

  She pressed her bare chest against his, feeling her breasts give way to the hardness of his pectorals. The differences in their bodies made her feel hotter and very female.

  When he finished taking over her mouth, he lifted his head. “Where did you want me to
take you?”

  It took her a second to register what he said, but as a crooked smile formed on his face, she remembered her own words and laughed. “Take me wherever you want, just take me.”

  His smile was smug as if he’d known exactly how to make her pant with need, but she didn’t care. She was ready.

  “As I said, whatever you wish.” He moved one arm under her legs and the other behind her back. “Hold on.”

  She grabbed him around the neck as he carried her out of the kitchen. “Vince, I’m too heavy.”

  He brought her into the living room, to the couch she’d fallen asleep on just the night before. He laid her down and stood staring at her in the glow of the single lamp. “No, I think you’re just right.”

  She had no waist and her legs were too long, but if he thought she was perfect, who the hell was she to argue? “I think I need to see more of you before I decide if you’re just right.”

  He raised a brow at her statement, but his hands went to his belt buckle. She watched as he unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans then toed off his boots. Without hesitation, he dropped his jeans and stepped out of them, his thigh muscles bulging as he picked up the pants and threw them on the coffee table.

  Then he pulled down his white underwear and stepped out of it, throwing it to land on his jeans. His cock was hard and sticking straight out, as if it were looking for her. She certainly hoped so.

  The play of muscle in his torso and legs as he lifted one leg then the other to strip his socks from his feet had her almost salivating.

  He held his hands out to the side. “So?”

  She gave him the biggest smile she had. “I like.” She winked. “Perfect.”

  He knelt next to her to unbutton and unzip her jeans, but not before she caught a slight flush in his cheeks. Had she embarrassed him with her compliment? That she may have, had her heart sighing. He truly was perfect.

  He pulled off her boots and socks then gave a tug at her jeans.

  She lifted her hips, and he slid them off then turned around and placed her pants on the rocking chair. Her smile froze on her face at two large scars on his lower back and a wisp of memory from the last time they made love came to her. “Were you shot?”