At Close Range (Ranger Ops Book 1)

by Em Petrova

  “I don’t know how you do it, Nash. Your work is something I could never do.”

  “That’s not true—you went to Mexico on your own reconnaissance mission.” His lips tilted upward at one corner.

  “I had to find out what I could. Good thing I ran into a man who would fill me in.” She reached up and smoothed her fingers over his angular jaw, watching his eyes as they darkened by the minute.

  He began to lean toward her again, but she stopped him.

  “This chemistry between us—it’s real isn’t it?” she asked.

  “Oh yeah.” He slid his hand beneath her hair and tangled his fingers against her skull, cradling her while he searched her eyes. “I have some horses boarded nearby. I don’t have a place big enough to keep them yet, but I’m working on it. I’d like to take you to see them. Do you ride?”

  “I used to when I was a young girl, with Antonio.”

  “Good memories, I’m sure. Will you come with me right now?”

  She laughed. “Now?”

  “Yeah. I’m free, but who knows for how long. I want to spend time with you before I’m called to some other duty.”

  “I’ll come with you, but I need to change out of this skirt and heels if I’m going to walk or ride.”

  Running his thumb back and forth over her lower lip, he moved in by slow degrees. When he finally kissed her, she was more than ready—burning for him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung as he plundered her mouth like he owned every inch of her.

  Thing was, she wasn’t so sure he didn’t.

  Suddenly, he broke the kiss and lifted her. She giggled as he plopped her back into the passenger’s seat. “Your car should be safe enough here.”

  “Yes,” she said. “It’s a good part of town.” As he started the Jeep and rolled out of the parking lot, he turned in the direction of her house. “You know where I live?”

  He shot her a glance. “I kinda know everything, darlin’.” His smoldering expression hinted at knowing more—like exactly what turned her on, starting with that look on his handsome face.

  During the drive, she noticed more things about him, such how the veins down his forearms snaked in such an enticing way. Those long fingers wrapped around the steering wheel made her insides tense up too. And he wasn’t just driving—he was hyper-alert. No wonder he had spotted Antonio during that other mission. The man missed nothing, it seemed.

  When they reached her small neighborhood and he pulled up outside of the home she shared with her parents, he cut the engine and looked to her. “Could I come in? I’d like to meet your parents.”

  That threw her for a loop-de-loop. “Um, of course. I’d like that. Just…” She pressed her lips together.

  “I won’t say a word about your brother. It isn’t my place, darlin’, and I’m not out to cause more hurt.”

  She nodded and got out. How was it that having a gorgeous man beside her made the world appear so different? Changed, almost. The sad little neighborhood suddenly showed off the birds chirping in trees and shrubbery and little kids biking at the end of the street.

  She’d always tried to see the beauty in the world without Antonio, but now… knowing he was at least alive and sharing a planet with her left her feeling lightened. Maybe telling her parents would help them see this way as well.

  When she opened the screen door, Nash held it back for her. She led him into the house, and her mother came from the kitchen. The scents of dinner wafted out.

  Her mother came to a stop. Her eyes widened, and Nevaeh was thankful Nash wasn’t in uniform of any kind. If her momma saw another Texas Ranger in her house, she’d probably run out the back door screaming.

  Nash made the first move. “Hello, I’m Nash Sullivan.”

  “We’re friends,” Nevaeh jumped in.

  “Hello. Nice to meet you.” Her mother sliced a look Nevaeh’s way, and she hoped Nash couldn’t read her mother’s expression the way she was. Her mother obviously thought Nash was just as hunky as Nevaeh did, judging by the light smile that touched her lips.

  “Nash has horses, and he’s taking me riding.”

  “Oh, how nice. You haven’t done that in a while. Is it still raining?”

  “It stopped on our way here,” Neveah said.

  Her momma glanced over her work attire. “You’d better get changed. Would you two like to eat with us before you go? There’s plenty of spaghetti.”

  Nash smiled. “I think we’ll grab something on the way but thank you for the invite. Next time.”

  Nevaeh’s stomach pitched and leaped like she was on a carnival ride. There’s going to be a next time.

  Reluctant to leave these two together to make small-talk while she changed, she finally slipped off to her room to put on jeans, a T-shirt and boots. The nights were still a little on the cool side, and she didn’t know how long they’d be out, so she grabbed a light jacket as well.

  When she emerged from her room, she saw her mother laughing at something Nash had said. Nevaeh centered on her mother’s happy face, something she didn’t see every day.

  Maybe her mother needed to see her moving forward with her life, having the things a young woman did, like a boyfriend and fun dates to ride horses. It struck Nevaeh that in many ways, she had contributed to the sad cloud hanging over their family.

  “I’m ready,” she announced.

  Nash turned to her and when his gaze landed on her, his dark eyes hooded with the look she remembered all too well from their stolen moments in Mexico.

  He wanted her.

  God, she wanted him too.

  When she hugged her mom goodbye, the woman put her lips to Nevaeh’s ear. “He’s hot.”

  Lordy, she hoped Nash hadn’t overheard that exchange. She nodded and pulled away from her mother. They made it to the Jeep and Nash had started the engine before he turned to her with a wide smile.

  “So… you think I’m hot?”

  Chapter Eight

  Nash pulled into the small ranch that belonged to his friend Lang. It was good to see it unchanged. Though it had only been a few weeks since he’d been here to see his horses and ride, Nash felt as if it had been a lot longer.

  Between the Ranger Ops’ formation and their trip to Mexico to go after Nevaeh’s brother, he’d changed a lot. He wondered how long it would take for his buddy to see the changes and comment on them.

  Not long, since he was bringing a pretty woman by to meet him.

  Not just pretty—stunning. When Nevaeh had come out of her bedroom in casual attire, Nash’s cock had stirred. It was impossible not to envision stripping off every garment and leaving kisses all over her as he went.

  She slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and looked around. “It’s great here. You said it’s your friend’s?”

  “Yeah, he’s a Texas Ranger too, old school to the core, but we have a lot in common.”

  “Does he know you’re bringing me?”

  “No. But he won’t mind, trust me. C’mon.” He started toward the house with her at his side. But that didn’t feel right, so he took her hand, meshing their fingers.

  He felt her give a little tremble and looked over at her. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

  “I’m not nervous.”

  His mind went straight to the idea that she might have had a reaction to simply holding his hand, and his heart gave a happy leap.

  The ranch-style house looked as neat and orderly as always, the landscaping trimmed and a comfy chair on the porch where Lang liked to sit out and sip a beer or two every night. The single chair might look lonely to some, but Nash knew his friend better than that. The man had earned what peace he found after decades in the Texas Rangers and after grieving two wives.

  Nash had always planned to have something similar, without the heartbreak, of course. But stepping up to the door with Nevaeh at his side gave him new ideas.

  What if there were two chairs? And maybe a kid’s bicycle or two in the yard?

 
He rang the doorbell and glanced down at Nevaeh. Just then the door opened, and Lang stood there in worn jeans and boots, his hat pulled low. He pushed it back as he took in the sight on his doorstep.

  “Not surprised you turned up. Good timing too. Those horses are missin’ ya.” He turned his gaze to Nevaeh. “And I see you brought a pretty girl by too.”

  She made a sound in her throat and flushed at his compliment.

  “This is Nevaeh. Nevaeh, meet Lang, one of the greatest Texas Rangers since Frank Hamer. Thought we’d have a visit and then go ridin’.”

  Lang chuckled. “Nash exaggerates, but I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now. Come in and sit a spell. I was just fixin’ to have some tea.” To Nevaeh, he said, “I hope you’re not opposed to a dash of whiskey in the mix?”

  Smiling, she shook her head.

  Lang led them to the kitchen, where he had a pitcher of tea on the counter as well as a bottle of his favorite whiskey. He dumped a small amount into each glass and then filled each with tea.

  Nash accepted his glass and brought it to his lips. “Lang’s got a way of welcoming a person.” He sipped, savoring the honey touched with a slight burn of alcohol.

  “I reckon we wiped out a lot of tea and whiskey together, that’s true.” Lang slid his gaze from Nevaeh to Nash. A true happiness shone in his friend’s eyes, echoing what Nash was feeling right now.

  “Let’s go out onto the deck. We can see the horses from there,” Lang suggested.

  With drinks in hand, they followed him outside. The deck ran the length of the house and wrapped around a side.

  Nevaeh let out a small sigh at the view of the paddocks with the horses grazing, their manes and tails waving in the breeze that came off the fields beyond. Nash had always longed for a place just like this, but now that feeling was even stronger.

  “It’s beautiful here,” she said.

  “A beauty who appreciates beauty. What are you doing with this chump?” Lang’s question made her laugh, and they both watched as she tossed her head back, giving them a healthy view of all that thick hair that had Nash entranced from the beginning.

  Lang gave him a knowing smile, and Nash nodded, turning his attention to his drink.

  Nevaeh went to lean against the railing and look out at the horses. “I’m eager to ride. It’s been too long, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.”

  “A real Texas girl. Nice to see. What did you say your last name was?” Lang asked.

  “Vincent.”

  His friend’s gaze shot to Nash’s, and they exchanged a moment of mental communication. Lang was sharp and put two and two together pretty damn quick. Nash figured at some point, he’d be sitting right here on this deck relating the tale of how he and Nevaeh had come to this point after bonding in Mexico.

  Bonding… Until now, Nash hadn’t thought about it in those terms, yet there was no question in his mind or heart.

  She and Lang chatted as they finished their drinks. Then they all walked down to the stables together. As she proved she hadn’t forgotten how to saddle a horse, Lang waved Nash over.

  “Hold on tight to her. She’s just what you need.”

  “How do you know?” Why was Nash’s throat suddenly tight?

  “I was lucky enough to find that twice in my life. I know.” He clapped Nash’s shoulder. “Have a good ride. Don’t forget to close the gate when you’re done.”

  “I won’t.” He watched Lang make his way back to the house. Nevaeh mounted and tested the horse with a few tugs on the reins.

  “This one’s eager to go. C’mon, slow poke,” she called to Nash.

  Damn, this woman had taught him things.

  All his life he’d considered himself a hard-ass. It was what made him a good state trooper, then a Texas Ranger and finally landed him in this position with OFFSUS. He tried to let the people close to him know they were important, but Nevaeh had said goodbye to her brother and never seen him again. Nash didn’t want that weight on him from holding back with Lang, so he hurried after him and pulled his friend in for an embrace before returning to his horse and mounting.

  She tossed a smile Nash’s way, and happiness spread over him. If this was how his life could be, then he was ready to get started. What more could he need? He had work he loved and a woman who rocked his world.

  Hold on tight to her.

  Lang’s words reverberated in his mind as he and Nevaeh rode out across the field to the trail that cut around the perimeter of the ranch.

  * * * * *

  Nevaeh drew the horse to a stop and looked around. “This doesn’t seem like the Texas I know.” Her voice held a tinge of awe, but she didn’t care—the ranch was beautiful. She felt transported to another country, maybe France. The lush fields speckled with wildflowers and the creek cutting through the property in a lazy arc invited visions of picnics on the banks or spreading out a blanket and…

  She stole a glance at Nash. He looked as comfortable in a saddle as he did in camo and cargos.

  “This place comes pretty damn close to perfect.” His gaze landed on her. “As far as land goes.”

  She felt the caress of those words, the subtle compliment that had her cheeks warming.

  Nash pointed. “Let’s head down there. It’s a nice spot to let the horses drink.”

  She nodded and they meandered along the shore of the creek, which was wide enough to make a child happy with room to splash or catch a frog or two.

  When Nash stopped and dismounted, she looked on, admiring the cut of his muscles and the pull of his jeans against his thighs. He turned to her with a smile and held out a hand. She took it and slipped from the saddle, straight into his arms.

  He held her fast to his hard body for several breathless heartbeats. But he didn’t kiss her, like she hoped for. He just stared down at her, an expression in his eyes that she couldn’t read.

  When he released her, he checked the horses, setting them loose.

  “Do we need to hobble or tie them?” she asked.

  “They know this place well. They won’t go anywhere.”

  Unable to hold back the need rising inside her, she stepped up to Nash and slid her arms around his neck. Her breasts pressed to his steely chest, making her nipples tighten.

  He planted his hands on her waist. His brow creased and she reached up to smooth it with her fingertips. “What has you worrying?” she asked so softly that the babble of the creek almost covered her words.

  “Just wonderin’ what I did to deserve you lookin’ at me that way.”

  This man was about as humble as they came. Her heart was tripping fast. “You know I have a hard time keeping my hands off you.”

  The corner of his lips twitched but didn’t come close to a smile. “I wish I had more to give you.”

  She tangled her fingers into the hair at the base of his neck. “I’m not asking for much.”

  “You deserve everything. I can’t even promise that I won’t be called out this afternoon and have to cut our time short.”

  “Then you better not waste anymore time talking.” She went on tiptoe, pulling his head down to seal her lips over his. At first, she felt the tension in him at their discussion, but when she pressed closer, that flowed away.

  With a noise breaking from his throat, he yanked her against him, bending to the task of kissing her.

  Damn, the man could kiss. Every inch of her was on fire in seconds, and she rubbed herself shamelessly against him.

  A growl escaped him, and he scooped her up and lowered her to the ground, sinking his tongue between her lips again and again on the way down. She clutched at him, parting her thighs to draw him against her neediest spot.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” she rasped between hot sweeps of his tongue.

  He eased his hand under her T-shirt, wasting no time in cupping her breast and finding her hard nipple. She squeaked in pleasure and arched up for more.

  “I can’t hold back from taking you.” His eyes glimmered
as he moved his hand to the waist of her jeans. She reached for his belt buckle, and with a series of tugs and pulls, they managed to get their clothes off. The grasses were soft against her skin, not that she cared. She just wanted Nash buried inside her.

  Spreading her thighs, she gave him a look she was certain matched the hunger in his own eyes. He stroked his cock from base to tip, and a bead of precum gathered there.

  She swiped her thumb over it and brought it to her lips.

  “Fucking hell, you’re sexy.” His eyes lidded as he watched her lick his juices from her thumb.

  A groan left him. He plastered himself to her, the head of his swollen cock at her slick folds as he crushed his lips to hers. The kiss was five-alarm, blazing out of control. She wouldn’t be surprised to see flames around them. Using her ankles on his backside, she yanked him in—inside her.

  He filled her in a slippery rush, stretching her in all the right ways. Crying out, she locked onto the sensation even as her heart thundered yes, yes, yes.

  Hell yes.

  She bucked upward, and he sank an inch deeper. They shared a moan.

  “Christ, you feel good, darlin’. Grip me. That’s it,” he crooned as her inner walls clutched at his length.

  He slid out and shoved home again. Her whimpers mixed with his guttural growls, and soon she was shaking in his arms, her orgasm just on the horizon. “I’m so close. Oh my God.” She shuddered as she began to peak. “Come with me, Nash. I want to feel your cum dripping out of me.”

  Her words seemed to spike his release. He ground his hips fast and hard, burrowing deeper with every stroke. Her world shattered, and stars exploded behind her eyes as ecstasy struck. When the first hot splash of his cum hit her pussy, she curled closer to him, wanting more than just pleasure.

  Because she was in love with him.

  Rocking his hips to the rhythm of his groans, he fixed his stare on her. The fireworks in the depths of his eyes turned her on as much as feeling him explode inside her.

  “Nash.” His name came out as a breathless whisper. “Kiss me.”

  He slanted his mouth across hers, dragging a few more pulsations from her pussy with the feel of his tongue. She dug her nails into his shoulders and kissed him back with all the emotion building inside her.