Mustang Belle: A small town, rock star, cowboy romance (Mustang Ranch)

by Eva Haining

  “I heard about your friend. How’s he doing?” he asks with a mouthful of food.

  “Good, thanks. It’s a long road, but you’ve got to start somewhere, and I’m hoping what happened is his rock-bottom.”

  “We’re rooting for him.”

  I place my order and ask the waitress to give me whatever Knox would normally get. It only makes Jax more intent on teasing me. “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like I’m some lovesick fool.”

  His shit-eating grin only widens. “I said nothing. And I certainly won’t point out that the lady doth protest too much.”

  “Eat me, Jax.” I’m laughing as I say it, knowing there’s some truth to his observation.

  “You’ve already got a cowboy for that, and you picked the most experienced guy in town since I hung up my bachelor spurs.” I don’t like how his words cause a pang of jealousy in the pit of my stomach.

  “So, Knox is quite the player?”

  “He’s been sowing some wild oats since the breakup. Any red-blooded man would. It’s not every day you get dumped for a pretty-boy movie star. It kind of makes it impossible to get away from. I don’t blame him for spreading a little extra love.”

  Holy shit!

  “Knox was dating Maisie Bryant? That’s who you’re talking about, right? I doubt there are multiple movie sweethearts kicking around town.”

  “Fuck, I thought he’d have mentioned it to you.”

  “Nope, must have slipped his mind.” I sit down next to him, my brain throwing a million questions at me, but I feel bad for prying. “Were they together long?”

  “No, but he was really into her.”

  “She’s very beautiful.”

  Jax nudges me with his elbow. “You’re not exactly lacking in the looks department.”

  “Thanks. Doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m only in town for a few weeks. He didn’t want me to know, so I have no intention of bringing it up with him.”

  “Good idea.”

  When my to-go bag arrives, I say my goodbyes and head to the B&B to check-in before walking to the farm to see if Knox has time to eat some of this food with me. The owner of the B&B smiles brightly as I walk through the door and starts laughing.

  “Hey, how are you? You’re in a good mood today.”

  “Lovely to see you again, young Belle.”

  “I’m hoping you have a room available for the next few weeks while I’m in town.”

  “That won’t be possible.”

  “Are you fully booked?” I’m surprised. It’s a nice B&B, but how busy can it be?

  “No, but young Thomas came by this morning and told me not to rent you a room until you speak to him.”

  “He did what? I never mentioned it to him. How did he know?”

  “I can’t answer that, but I do know he’s rather smitten. I was his age when I met my wife, God rest her soul. He has that look when he talks about you.”

  “I’m so sorry for your loss. I guess I’ll go and see what he has to say for himself. Expect me back later today for that room.” He chuckles to himself as I turn on my heels and head for the farm.

  “It took you long enough.” I hear Knox before I see him swinging a sledgehammer at a fencepost. Holy Mary, Mother of God. With his white t-shirt hanging from his back pocket, his muscular physique is on display as he hammers the substantial-looking post into the ground. He’s mouthwatering, all manly cowboy, with delicious abs.

  “I brought you lunch. Do you have time to stop and eat?”

  “I’ve always got time for a pretty girl, especially when she’s bringing me food.” He drops the hammer and strides over to greet me, planting a kiss on my lips as his hand falls to the base of my back, ushering me to the shade of a large oak tree.

  “Do pretty girls often bring you meals? Should I pencil myself in on your schedule?” I can’t hide the thinly-veiled jealousy I feel at the thought of other women enjoying him the way I have these past few days. Jax’s words have been playing on a loop in my head the entire walk down here.

  He pulls me in for a kiss, the scent of his cologne mixed with sweat and the tall grass carries on in the breeze, intoxicating my senses. “No pencil required. You’re the only girl on my dance card right now.”

  “How did you know?” I don’t even need to elaborate before he starts laughing.

  “I can’t divulge my secret powers of deduction.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “So am I.”

  “You’re a dork, you know that, right?” I reach for the bag, pulling out containers of food when he grabs his t-shirt and sets it down for me to sit. “A gentleman but a dork.”

  “Chivalry is still alive and well in the south, Mirabelle. And if I’m such a dork, what does it say about you that you’re wildly attracted to me and spellbound by my cowboy charm?”

  “It says I have eyes, and you’re stupid hot and really know how to use those hips of yours and the trouser snake God saw fit to bestow between your legs.”

  “That might be the most unsettling description of my junk I’ve ever heard.”

  “Shut up and eat.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  We sit in companionable silence while we eat, enjoying the sounds of birds chirping in the trees.

  “So, how did you know I was planning to get a room at the B&B?”

  “You talk in your sleep. You were yelling B&B at me around three this morning, so I figured it was on your mind.”

  “I don’t talk in my sleep.”

  “How do you know? You’re asleep. I cross my heart and swear on my spurs, you were talking. It’s pretty cute.” I can feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

  “What else did I say?” Now I’m worried.

  “A gentleman never tells. Besides, the more pressing question is why do you want to stay at the B&B? Why would you want to give up sleeping next to this hot piece of ass?” He runs his hand down his washboard abs, and I’m practically salivating.

  “I just thought it might make things easier. No strings. We can’t get used to sleeping in each other’s arms.”

  “Or, we could relish all the naked sleeping, endless hours of wild sex, and the cute talking in your sleep thing for a few weeks and worry about the rest of it later.”

  “You make a compelling argument, but I didn’t come here to move in with you. I should’ve gotten a room the day I arrived.”

  “Girl, why do you have to make everything so difficult on yourself? Sex is more intimate than sleeping next to someone.”

  “I totally disagree. Think about it. If you’re asleep, I could do anything to you, I could even kill you. Surely, that’s the ultimate show of trust between two people?”

  “O-kay, now I’m terrified. Why the hell would your brain go from hot, sweaty sex to killing me in my sleep? Maybe you’re banned from my bedroom.”

  “See!” I don’t know why I sound gleeful. I just made a very compelling argument never to sleep in Thomas Knox’s bed ever again.

  He slides his fingers into my hair, pulling me in for a kiss. “You don’t scare me, Belle.”

  “You scare me.” He recoils, his brow furrowed as he searches my gaze.

  “What?”

  “Not in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre way. I like you, and we know this thing between us has a short shelf-life. I just want to make it as easy as possible for both of us.”

  “So, you basically want to fuck me and then kick me out of the bed when you’re ready to sleep?”

  “Yeah. No. I don’t know.”

  “If that’s really what you want, you don’t need the B&B. You can just stay at the house here on the farm, or you can take the house in town, and I’ll stay out here.”

  “I’m not kicking you out of your own house.”

  “They’re both my houses, so I want you to stay in one of them. If you do the B&B thing, we’ll be the talk of the town over morning coffee.”

  “We already are, according to Jax.”


  “When did you see him?” I like that he seems mildly annoyed that I was talking to one of the hottest guys in town.

  “At the diner. He said some things.”

  “I bet he did.” I was going to mention the bomb Jax dropped on me about Knox’s previous girlfriend, but he seems irked at the thought of being cannon fodder for the small-town gossips.

  “Nothing of consequence. I’m sure he was a knicker tearer in his bachelor days.”

  “Knicker tearer? Where’d you get that from?” It makes him smile, so I consider it mission accomplished.

  “When we were on tour in Europe last year, we hung out with one of the local bands in Glasgow after a gig. Apparently, that’s what they call a Casanova like yourself. Hot and steamy and ready to tear off a woman’s panties.”

  “That’s officially one of my favorite sayings.”

  “Right?”

  He takes another bite of his lunch as he stares out at the horizon. “Do I even want to know what Jax told you about me?”

  “Probably not, but there’s no judgment here. I drove hundreds of miles for a booty call.”

  “Best reason ever to road trip.”

  “I don’t want to outstay my welcome at your place.”

  He heaves an irritated sigh. “How about I promise that I’ll tell you if I’m sick of your hot, naked body in my bed? Then, and only then, do you come and sleep at the farmhouse.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want things to get complicated.”

  “And you planned to do that by making it more complicated? You’re here, we fuck, we sleep. Wash, rinse, repeat.”

  “Silver tongue you’ve got there, Knox.”

  “Sorry, I’m tired, and I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “Just shit with the farm. No need to bore you with the details.”

  “We can talk, you know. We’re friends.”

  “It’s fine. Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Okay, but if you change your mind, I’m here.”

  “I appreciate that. Nice to know I’m not just a walking, talking dildo.”

  “Of course not. You also have an extremely talented tongue. My favorite vibrator doesn’t hold a candle to your head between my thighs.”

  “You have a favorite? So, you have more than one?”

  “Don’t judge! I tour a lot, and contrary to what you may think of me considering our current situation, I don’t sleep with a guy in every city.”

  “That didn’t even cross my mind, and I wish it wasn’t doing so right now. Is it okay that I want to snap off the dick of any past or future guy you hook up with?” My heart shouldn’t skip a beat, but it does. I like jealous Knox.

  “Totally okay. If I were to think of the many women you’ll sleep with after me, I’d want to punch them in the boobs.” He bursts out laughing.

  “Dang, girl, that’s cold. Besides, why would you think there’ll be ‘many’ women after you?”

  “Have you seen you? The fact that you’re asking right now when you’re all hot and sweaty and shirtless just shows how clueless you are.”

  He cuts me off before I embarrass myself singing his praises. “Don’t get me wrong, I know I didn’t exactly hit every branch on the ugly tree, but I’m not the player you think I am.” He stands up, brushing the grass off his jeans.

  “You couldn’t even say that with a straight face.”

  “Okay, I’ve been playing a little fast and loose of late, but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of being a one-woman guy. It’s hard to be that guy when there isn’t one woman who wants me.”

  He grabs the sledgehammer and starts banging on the fence post again, and I feel a pang of regret deep in the pit of my stomach. Not because I can’t be that one woman he wants but because I wish I could be.

  It’s seven o’clock, and Knox hasn’t come by to pick me up. After a long day of painting, I was expecting him an hour ago and have a burning desire to talk to him.

  Sprawled out on the living room floor, I grab my phone and pull up his number. I’m not sure if he’ll answer my FaceTime call, but I wait, letting it ring out as long as possible. Right at the last second, his face appears on my screen, looking mouthwatering in nothing but a towel, his hair dripping wet and messy. Fuck, he’s handsome.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Mmm.” It’s all I can manage. Damn.

  “Are you lying on the floor? Are you hurt? I’m going to need you to say something, Belle.”

  “Your body should be illegal.” There’s a twinkle in his eye when realization dawns—I can’t string a sentence together because he’s naked but for a towel. Rivulets of water make their way down his abs, drawing my attention to the ‘V’ that dips down below the line of his towel.

  “I’m just about to head your way.”

  “Why didn’t you just come here for a shower? I could’ve joined you.”

  “One of the cows gave birth, and I was covered in all kinds of nasty. Life as a farmer isn’t exactly glamorous. I thought I’d spare you the sight, and more importantly, the smell of all that farm life.”

  “You could be covered in manure, and I’d still jump you. Damn, Knox, I’m jealous of your towel right now. How long until you get here?”

  “It’s not like I have my cock out. Why do you have that goofy grin on your face?”

  “If I were talking to you in my bra and panties, you wouldn’t be distracted?”

  “Fair point. I might have to take myself in hand before heading your way. I’ll be there in ten, and you better be in your bra and panties when I arrive.”

  Holy crap. The thought of Knox jerking off while thinking about me makes me squirm. “If you’re going to take yourself in hand, I want to see it. You can’t dangle that carrot in front of me and then leave me hanging. I don’t think you realize how addictive you can be, Knox.”

  “Is my dick the carrot? Not digging that metaphor.”

  “Then, get over here, and I’ll be happy to pleasure you in any way you want.”

  “Dang, girl. I like this side of you. Dirty talking and up for some FaceTime sex,” he says as he drops down onto his bed, looking hotter than the face of the sun.

  “The sex is amazing between us, right? Or at least I think it is.”

  “It is.”

  “And you were all knight-in-shining-armor in Houston. Then, I came here, and everything feels so natural with you.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “Yes and no. It’s going to be really difficult for me to leave in a few weeks. Should we just call it quits now?”

  “I’m mystified. Your logic is so flawed.”

  “In what way?” Now I’m intrigued.

  “If you don’t miss something or someone when they’re gone, they weren’t worth having in the first place.” I wonder if he’s talking about Maisie if he loved her, and she broke his heart. Why would she want J.J. Savage over Knox? I don’t understand it at all, but her loss is my gain, at least for now.

  “Are you speaking from experience?”

  “We’re not foraging into the whys and wherefores of my relationship history. I’m a good lay, and my cock is at your service. You’ve gone from wanting to watch me jerk off to ending our arrangement in two seconds flat. And now you want my relationship rap sheet. Do we really want to complicate this more than we need to?”

  “I guess not.”

  “What about you? What’s your relationship history?”

  “So, you don’t want to tell me yours, but you want to know mine?”

  “Yeah. Brazen, I know.” He flashes that killer smile of his, and I melt, even through a phone screen.

  “I’ve dated a lot of jerks. Most guys don’t do well with me being on tour and out in bars all the time. I’ve never cheated or even taken a guy’s number when offered, but that didn’t seem to factor into their jealousy. I lived with one guy for a while, and he started slapping me around.”

  “What the fuck? Did you rep
ort him? I feel murderous rage right now on your behalf.”

  “No need. It happened a few years back, and I made sure to kick his pathetic ass the night I left.”

  “I want to kick his ass right now.”

  “Not exactly the sexy conversation I had in mind when I called.”

  He scrapes his hand over the scruff on his jaw, his brows knitted together in anger. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Belle. You don’t deserve to be treated that way.”

  “No one does, it’s just life sometimes. I got out, and I’ve never looked back. I’m self-sufficient, and I don’t plan on living with a guy again anytime soon.”

  “So our little arrangement suits your relationship requirements?”

  “I’m not saying I’m anti-relationship. I just haven’t found the right guy. You’re definitely setting the bar high right now, Knox.”

  “But we’re not in a relationship. Could that be why I seem so perfect right about now? Or have I truly ruined you for any man but me, and you won’t be able to live without me on the road?”

  “Can you just hurry up? I’m going to lick every inch of your abs before heading south and sucking your cock like a lollipop.”

  “Dang, that sentence just made me hard as fuck.”

  “Then show me. You know that it’s not out of the realms of possibility we could pull off a long-distance thing if we can FaceTime fuck?”

  His face sobers at my statement as if I’ve just doused him with ice water.

  “That’s not happening, Belle. You know it, and I know it. A FaceTime fuck or whatever you want to call it isn’t an option. I’m certainly not planning on having to jerk myself off every night. I want a woman I can fuck and who’ll cream around my cock when I do. I like burying my face between a woman’s thighs and tasting her arousal on my tongue. No amount of FaceTime is going to scratch that itch.”

  “And it doesn’t matter who the woman is?”

  “Right now, no. And don’t make out like I’m not just a convenient cock for you to ride.”

  “Fuck you, Knox. You don’t need to come over here. I’ll just sleep here tonight, and you can jerk off all you want or go find some nondescript pussy to chow down on.”