The Cowgirl's Forever Love

by Vivian Arend

  She was undoing shirt buttons as she headed back to the drawer to grab another one of his T-shirts. “He and his brothers came out to Whiskey Creek to help one summer. He was a pain in the ass, but a good-natured, good-intentioned one. What’s he doing in Heart Falls?”

  Josiah was at her back, hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him before she could strip off his shirt and make an exchange. “We’ll figure that out in a minute, but first—”

  He slid a hand along her cheek to the back of her neck, and an instant later he was kissing her intensely. Not a “we’re starting something” type of kiss, but a sweet, spicy, “thank you and I can’t wait until the next time” kind of deal.

  She gasped for air when he opened space between them, just far enough to look in her eyes, tipping their foreheads together as he spoke quietly. “I didn’t get nearly enough time to play but thank you.”

  Lisa’s lips twitched. “You’re saying thank you for giving me an orgasm? You’re welcome. Anytime, honestly.”

  Josiah’s smile was sincere, the heat in his eyes unmistakable. “I had fun, and I will take you up on that offer. But also, thank you for not freaking the hell out when we got invaded.”

  “You reacted a lot faster than I did,” Lisa admitted. She eyed him. “Do we really need to go out there?”

  “Don’t tempt me.” He aimed her back toward the cupboard, slipping his shirt from her shoulders and pressing a kiss to the top of her shoulder. “Grab a T-shirt and sweats. Then put this back on.”

  “Your house isn’t that cold,” she said, even as she followed his instructions.

  He rummaged in the closet. “I don’t want them to be able to see through the T-shirt that you don’t have a bra on,” he admitted.

  “No panty lines, either,” she teased, jerking on another set of clothes as she smiled at his tortured groan. She twisted to find he’d pulled on a flannel shirt, this one with faint red lines crossing the black.

  He gave her a dirty look. “Careful or I’ll make you wear a pair of mine.”

  Lisa grinned and offered her hand. She glanced over at the side of the room where Ollie had settled after following them. The pup had curled up, but was watching both of them intently. “Seems strange she decided to defend me like that.”

  “Protective breed. Obviously thinks you need looking after,” he taunted.

  “Says the man who had me laid out on the island like a smorgasbord without remembering his roommates would be arriving any minute,” she murmured softly as they walked down the hall. Ollie trotted after them, right on their heels.

  Josiah glared at her as he spoke quietly. “Behave.”

  “You don’t mean that,” she teased again.

  He shook his head. “No, you’re probably right. Come on. I’ll let you cross-examine him first.”

  Lisa tangled her fingers with Josiah’s as they returned to the kitchen, the connection very right.

  What felt weird, though, was seeing Finn Marlette. It was like slipping back in time to when he and his brothers, Levi and Duncan, had come out to the Whiskey Creek ranch.

  Catching up on what had happened since the last time they’d met was not a conversation she’d ever imagined having sans underwear.

  Ollie walked underfoot, close enough to defend, far enough away to not be tripped over. She got along amazingly well for limping on three legs. Only once Lisa was sitting on a stool at the island did Ollie go back to her blanket and settle with another of those enormous sighs.

  Finn and Zach had been working while she and Josiah were getting dressed, and a pot of water boiled on the stove. Zach was chopping vegetables into a huge bowl and the scent of garlic hung heavy in the air.

  Finn looked up from where he was crushing the fragrant cloves under his knife. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re looking good.” He didn’t crack a smile as he said it.

  Lisa laughed. “Thank you. How’s your family?”

  He shrugged. “As good as can be expected. Duncan is working with a transport company, and Levi took over the ranch when Mere and Papa decided they’d had enough.”

  “And you?” Lisa had heard part of it through the grapevine and from Tamara, but she wondered what Finn would say when asked.

  “A little bit of this. A little bit of that.”

  “If you break into song, I will hit you,” Zach warned.

  Finn glanced at him, his expression going stone blank.

  Zach snorted.

  Finn faced Lisa. “I speculate in oil prospects, among other things. I’m looking into some different moneymaking opportunities in the Heart Falls area. What about you? Josiah didn’t mention your name the other day.”

  She could’ve sworn he tossed a reprimanding glance at Josiah.

  “You didn’t need to know,” Josiah said. “Besides, you two have been running all over the countryside for most of the past week.”

  “Successfully, I might add,” Zach offered. “And the only reason we’re wondering about you two is so that we can avoid any embarrassing situations in the future.” He grinned unashamedly.

  Lisa wasn’t ready to give up grilling Finn yet. “I thought you were supposed to take over your home ranch. Wasn’t that what you were headed to when you left Whiskey Creek?”

  “Change of plans.” That was all Finn said as he stirred a mass of finely chopped garlic into a pad of butter and began methodically slathering it on huge chunks of a French loaf.

  “Obviously.”

  She stared at him. He was handsome, but he’d always been too serious for her taste. She’d had a lot more fun with Levi, although nothing of a sexual nature. It had been like instantly having three brothers tossed into the mix. Ones who hadn’t been nearly as protective as her Coleman cousins, mostly because they hadn’t all grown up and gone to school together for years.

  She’d enjoyed Finn’s company, but sometime that summer, something had happened between him and Karen, and she’d never been able to figure out what.

  All of her protective instincts were running on high, but this wasn’t the time or place to push for more information.

  She glanced at Josiah. “I should probably head home.”

  “You don’t have to. Stay for supper and a visit,” he offered. “I’ll drive you home later tonight.”

  Zach pulled the entire contents of a box of spaghetti out and broke it in two before dumping the mess into the bubbling water. “Just a reminder, Josiah. You left a message a few days ago to say there’s a crew coming over for poker tonight.”

  A soft swear escaped Josiah. “You’re right. From when I had to reschedule last week.” He lifted hopeful eyes to hers. “Your choice. There’s time after supper to escape before more people invade.”

  She stayed.

  In no time, she was filling her plate with the savoury sauce and potent garlic bread. Enjoying the discussion very much as Finn and Zach bantered back and forth the way old friends do.

  At her side, Josiah had slipped a hand onto her leg, resting it there while he ate one-handed. His thumb rubbed softly against her thigh, as if he wasn’t aware of the motion.

  She was aware. Every inch of her skin was lit up even through the layer of heavy cotton. The day had been such a roller coaster, and while the bad moments were beginning to fade, they laid a bit of a pall over the amazing shining times.

  Ollie sat at her feet.

  Josiah had warned the dog off from begging, but she wasn’t there to misbehave. She’d settled at the start of the meal, torso solidly on Lisa’s foot, butt on Josiah’s, but she’d tilted her head back to rest her chin against Lisa’s knee, eyes closed as she breathed in an even pace.

  What a strangely comforting yet outrageously not typical evening.

  The guys turned down her offer to help wash the dishes, so Josiah bundled her up, her dirty clothes helpfully loaded into a tightly tied garbage bag.

  He drove her back to Silver Stone, heat blasting from the vents. “Looks like temperatures are going to drop hard. We w
on’t be riding any time in the next couple of days.”

  “You want to come over to Silver Stone sometime this week?” Lisa thought it through and made a face. “You’ll get attacked by mini people, though.”

  “I don’t mind,” he said. “I know you’re busy helping Tamara, and we’ve both committed to help Sonora, so that might be where we end up spending a lot of our spare time.”

  She was glad she made the promise to help, yet felt a little saddened. “I want to spend time with you. Alone, if that’s not too forward.”

  “Trust me. We’ll find a way.” He lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing her fingers gently. His tongue snuck out and traced the line between two knuckles, and a shiver rolled over her so hard there was no way he could miss it. “Oh, yeah, we’ll find a way.”

  There were five at the table that night. Finn and Caleb both wore impossible-to-read poker faces. Zach looked as if he planned to spend the entire evening with an ear-to-ear grin, which was as good a way to hide information as any, Josiah supposed.

  Luke, Caleb’s brother, had also made it. Both of them had been good friends to Josiah for a lot of years.

  Finn and Zach were welcome additions, although their presence added a twist in the air, now that a certain tidbit of information had been revealed that Josiah hadn’t known before.

  “So, you know the Coleman family.” He dealt the cards around the table, staring at Finn as he spoke.

  Luke and Caleb both straightened.

  “We knew that,” Luke said. “Friends of the family or something like that.” He glanced at Finn then back at Josiah. “Is that not what we know?”

  “If you say so.” Josiah picked up his cards and stared at them intently.

  Zach broke the silence with a long, low, chuckle. “The gig is up, Finn. To tell the truth, it lasted almost a week. I’m impressed.”

  Caleb had his hand of cards tucked away carefully as he placed his elbows on the table, leaning toward Finn in a manner that most people would find immensely intimidating. “Why is Josiah making a big deal over the fact you know the Colemans?”

  “You should ask him.” Finn adjusted the toothpick in his mouth as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “I will.” Caleb glanced at Josiah. “Why are you being a shithead?”

  Zach and Luke both snorted, Zach trailing off into gasping coughs as he tried to swallow the beer he had just put in his mouth.

  Josiah shrugged. “Something Lisa said when she saw Finn this afternoon made me curious.”

  “Why don’t you tell us more about Lisa and this afternoon,” Finn suggested dryly.

  Oops. Damn, not a road he wanted to travel down. “I just meant it sounds as if there’s previous business between the Marlette family and the Colemans. That’s all. Seemed a little strange that you’re here all of a sudden, planning on investing in their new community.”

  “Whose new community? As far as I know, Tamara is the only Coleman who’s moved to Heart Falls full-time.” Caleb put his cards down on the table and folded his arms over his chest, his annoyance only partly faked. “Why is it that you always do this, Josiah? How’s a man supposed to concentrate on the game when you keep yammering?”

  “Have another drink,” Luke suggested, switching out Caleb’s beer bottle for full one. “I think this is entertaining. Finn definitely knows the Colemans. If I remember correctly, it was Karen who got us in touch with you.”

  It was nice to have backup, whether they knew that’s what they were or not. Because suddenly Caleb, Luke, and himself were all staring at Finn.

  The man’s expression went blank. “Not that it’s any of your business…”

  Zach pointed at Caleb. “Married to Tamara.” He swung his finger toward Josiah. “Appears to be involved with Lisa.”

  Finn leaned back in his chair. “Fine. Not that I expected to have to declare my intentions this soon, but because someone’s a blabbermouth and more gossipy than any old woman…” He offered his friend an intense glare.

  If anything, Zach’s grin got wider.

  “I plan to convince Karen Coleman it’s about time she came to her senses and agreed to be with me.” Finn said it straight up yet simple, as if announcing he was going to plow the road in the morning.

  Blunt, and completely not what Josiah had expected. “She doesn’t live here, you know,” he pointed out.

  “And Lisa’s just visiting,” Luke added, glancing at Josiah with a shrug. “At least that’s what I heard from Kelli. Sorry.”

  “I’m working on it,” Josiah muttered softly.

  Finn dipped his chin decisively. “I know Karen doesn’t live here. But I know she’s going to visit, often. It seems as good a place as any to make a move. I’m not planning on staying here forever, just as long as it takes.”

  “Having lots of options is at the top of Finn’s to-do list.” Zach shared that tidbit blankly, without any inflection. It was impossible to tell if he was being judgmental or simply stating a fact.

  “Damn right.”

  Caleb eyed Finn, his usually unreadable expression gone dangerous. “You watch how you go about that convincing. Understood?”

  Finn didn’t say anything for a moment before nodding decisively. Then he picked up his cards and shook them in the air. “Anyone who’s interested in giving up some money, I’m ready to play.”

  By the time they’d played a few hands, the remaining questions on anyone’s minds had been brushed aside by the need for full concentration to keep from getting fleeced by the grinning Zach. The man had way too much luck—he had to be counting cards.

  Laughter and companionship grew stronger as the evening passed, and when they called it a night, Josiah headed off to bed far more content than he’d ever dreamed possible after the roller-coaster events of the day.

  It was interesting how much a small change in information could adjust a man’s mindset.

  Josiah worked like usual the next days, nightly juggling space with Finn and Zach. The fact Finn had publicly declared his intentions to pursue Lisa’s sister—it added a twist to Josiah’s growing relationship with the two men in his home. It wasn’t necessarily more stressful, but considering Finn was not just a temporary roommate but a potential brother-in-law down the road…

  Because him and Lisa—they weren’t just temporary and wasn’t that an enormous change in the grand scheme of things? Thinking about the future in solid, concrete terms, not just “someday I’ll settle down.”

  Which led to thinking about how to persuade Lisa over the coming days and weeks to look at permanent things to do in the Heart Falls area.

  She was busy caring for her nieces and working with Tamara, who continued to grow more uncomfortable yet not any less nauseous as her pregnancy lingered.

  In the times when they could get away, he and Lisa headed over to Sonora’s where the rest of the puppies had been transported. It was good to see the little creatures they’d saved begin to bloom. What had been piteously matted messes were now bundles of fluff. The group was predominantly Bichons, all of them finding their feet and their voices.

  Sonora’s ranch was a trifle loud at times.

  Another change that grew more right as days passed—Ollie.

  Josiah had kept her that first night. She’d spent the entire evening sitting on his feet, sighing often as she got up to walk to the door as if waiting for the moment Lisa would return.

  He’d taken her out to Silver Stone a few days later after making sure her shots were all up to date. Ever since, they’d been alternating. A few days with Lisa, a few days with him.

  There’d been no response to any of the inquiries he’d posted on the lost-and-found sites across the province and through his contacts.

  Weeks later, when he’d finally gotten away from a long day’s work, he stole over to Silver Stone. It was already after eight, and the sun had set a couple hours before he arrived. The wind was picking up, and the chill in the air was shoving the temperature back below freezing. March was
going out like a lion.

  He didn’t care. He wanted to see Lisa, and the only way to get privacy at Silver Stone was to be creative.

  So they bundled up and sat out on the porch swing, kissing and fooling around as much as they could with two winter coats and a thick blanket covering every inch.

  The only redeeming feature was the porch swing was a double wide, padded enough that Josiah finally tossed the back cushions to the ground and stretched out on the wider base. Lisa’s eyes lit up, and she crawled beside him, tugging the blanket over top of them as they proceeded to heat up the outdoors a few degrees.

  When they took a break from necking to catch their breath, Lisa stroked her knuckles over his jaw, staring into his eyes. “It’s like being back in high school and having to sneak around corners. I don’t think there’s anywhere on the ranch we can go to be alone. Not without someone coming to check on us.”

  They could be alone at his place. No one was going to interrupt them if he closed the door to his bedroom, but he still didn’t feel right pushing to the next stage.

  “It’s okay. I like kissing you.” He was leaning in to prove his point when it finally registered. The howling just on the other side of the wall.

  The porch door swung open, and Caleb’s dry tones echoed into the darkness. “I know you’re out there because this demon creature insists it needs you.”

  “We’ve got her,” Lisa called as Ollie appeared around the corner, tentatively using her fourth limb. “Thanks, Caleb.”

  “It’s cold enough you could get frostbite. You two are insane,” Caleb said. “But you’re welcome.”

  Ollie arrived next to the swing, her front paws resting on the edge as she peered hopefully at them. Not only were kids and adults determined to interrupt, but the dog was as well—more than once.

  “You really think you get to come up here?” Josiah asked.

  Lisa was already in motion, rolling over to pick Ollie up.

  “Lisa,” Josiah scolded. A moment later he had a chest ornament in the form of a cream-coloured, furry water bottle.