Romance, huh? He could do romance.Two hours later the phone rang in Gemma’s kitchen.“Hello?”An angry voice demanded, “Why is it that I have to hear from my mother-in-law that Cash Big Crow is working for you as your ranch foreman?”Gemma smiled. “Hey, Channing.”“Are you sleeping with him too?”“Yep.”“I have half a mind to come to the Bar 9 and kick your ass.”“Gonna have to grow a bit, Mrs. McKay.”“I can’t believe you didn’t call me, Gem. So spill the details, woman.”“Huh-uh. I ain’t telling you nothin’ over the phone.”“How about just a small hint?”“Nope.”“You’re getting mean in your old age, Gemma.”“Damn. I’ve missed your smart mouth. I’d take a chance on you whipping my butt if it meant you were comin’ for a visit.”“Funny you should mention that.”“Yeah? What’s up?”“Well, we were cleaning out the big barn on Colby’s folks place last week and I saw Colby has all this bull ridin’ stuff, which he’ll never use again. Round about that time Amy Jo Foster and a couple of her y
“I had no idea.” She studied his face. “When did that happen?”“Four years ago.” Cash finally found the guts to look at his daughter. Comprehension dawned in her big brown eyes, before those same beautiful, wise eyes filled with tears.Shit. He’d never dealt well with tears.“Oh Dad. That was right around the time mom died, wasn’t it?”He nodded.“Why didn’t you tell me?”“Because you had enough shit to deal with, Macie, without me addin’ to it. I’ve never given you anything—”Macie threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and sobbed like her heart was breaking.Cash held her tightly, offering her comfort she’d never sought from him. Soothing her. Holding her. His child. Feeling like a total selfish prick because on some level, he was happy, happy, that she’d turned to him for something.Macie’s cries slowed to the occasional hiccupping stutter. Still she didn’t release her grip on him. He had the good sense not to let go of her either.Finally he murmured, “Better, hon
Anticipation made him crazy. Waiting for her cool, strong hand to circle his cock.Followed by her hot, wet mouth and wicked little tongue.“Cash? Up against the bookcase.”Zero argument from him. He shuffled sideways until his ass met cold wood. She dropped to her knees.“Spread those legs wider.”“Yes’m.”“Now, see here, cowboy. I won’t have you knocking off my knickknacks on the bookshelves. You’re gonna have to hold still. No buckin’ your hips. Got it?”“I can move someplace sturdier. Maybe we oughta do this by a wall?”“No.” Gemma slapped his thigh.Shit. That was sexy, her taking charge and acting all bossy. His dick jerked against his belly.“I will stop if you don’t obey me, Cash.”“I’ll obey.”“Good boy. Hands by your sides.”He clenched his fists by his clenched thighs.She nuzzled the hair covering his sac. “How is it you smell so…sweet right here?When you’re all hard, tough male?” Her hand slipped up the inside of his leg. Then she cupped his balls and rolled them between
“I miss you, Macie.”“What?” Her hand flew to her throat. A nervous gesture? From stand-offish Macie?“I miss you.”“Carter—”“I miss you.”“You already said that.”“It bears repeatin’.”Talk to her. Ask her questions. Show her you’re interested in her mind, not just her body.“So what were you doin’ before I barged in?”She pointed to the tin on the table next to him. “I was just about to have a piece of pie. You hungry?”For you. I want to savor you. I want to devour you.“Carter?”“No.”“You sure? It’s a new recipe and I have whipped cream. Not fresh, it’s the canned kind—”“Have you even been listenin’ to me, Macie?” He stood and crowded her against the small refrigerator imbedded in the wall. “I said I miss you.”“How can that be? It’s only been two days since we—”“—fucked? Yeah, I know. But it’s been a couple of weeks since we talked. Really sat down and talked. Or fought. Or did anything but fuck like wild rabbits then disappear into our separate little hidey holes.”“Sorry to
“A rope.”“You’d be right. Stretch out across the bed and put your wrists together above your head.”“Why?”“Because I said so.”“I thought we were beyond games, Carter.”“You thought wrong.”“But—”“Don’t argue with me. Just do it.”“Or what?”“Or I’ll leave.”She stared at him. Defiantly. Warily.“I ain’t kiddin’, Macie. My way or no way.”Something shifted in her eyes and she nodded. She rolled on her back, knocked the pillows aside and pressed her palms to the paneled wall.“Good girl.” Carter climbed on the bed and straddled her pelvis, ignoring the questions in her eyes as he bound her. After he was satisfied she couldn’t get loose, he knelt between her widespread thighs. He snatched the pillows and said, “Lift,” so he could slide them beneath her ass.Then he dragged the tips of his fingers, oh-so-slowly, over the sensitive skin on the inside of her arms, until his palms rested on her ribs. “The rope will burn your wrists if you wiggle too much, so my advice is to stay still. N
Macie was still sprawled on her back. Using tender, soft strokes, he wiped her belly and thighs. Rinsed, and cleaned the stickiness from between her legs. Then he crawled in bed beside her, giving her no choice but to let him hold her.Carter knew her silence was an attempt to put distance between them. Not a chance in hell of that happening. He kissed the top of her head. “So, I guess me fuckin’ you in the ass tonight went beyond normal couple stuff, huh?”Macie burst out laughing. “You are a dumbass, McKay.”“I love it when you sweet talk me, Amazin’ Macie.” He growled, “That was the hottest sex I’ve ever had.”“Was pretty hot on my end too.”“You okay?”“Might be a little sore. But it was worth it.”“I’m glad. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”“You’d be the first.”He closed his eyes and breathed her in. “What changed earlier tonight? We were talkin’, getting along just fine with our clothes on and then, wham, you were on me like a bear on honey.”“It was watching you eat my pie.
For some reason Macie was pleased he’d acknowledged her first.“Whatcha ladies doin’?”“Celebrating Macie volunteering to pull my ass out of the fire. She’s gonna cook up a storm today before the McKays arrive tomorrow.”“Really? Honey-girl, that’s awesome.”“No biggie.” Though it was, because she could see how happy it made him.“You gonna wow them with your special caramel apple pie, eh?” He frowned. “Hey, didja ever bring back that can of whipped cream you borrowed?”Macie choked on her beer, and waved off her father as he started toward her with a worried look on his face.Gemma’s eyes narrowed, then widened with comprehension. She hid a grin behind her beer bottle.“You ready, sweets?” Cash said to Gemma. “We need to hit the road.”“Soon as I hit the bathroom.” Gemma stood and smiled at Macie. “Thanks again for helping out. I enjoy talking with you. Don’t be a stranger.” She disappeared up the stairs.“You’ll be okay here alone tonight?” her dad asked. “Last time we left there wa
“Grounded? Need I remind you I’m twenty, not ten?”Gemma lifted her eyebrows. “Need I remind you the legal drinkin’ age is twenty-one, and you doin’ a half-nekkid—”“Fine. I’ll shut up now.”“Good. Besides, that thing is not one of them wussy bulls they use in cowboy bars and charge you five bucks to try. That one of Colby’s is a nasty piece of machinery and the closest to getting on the back of a real bull. It’s dangerous.”“Told ya so,” Amy Jo said.“Why don’t you try to stay out of trouble and see if Cash’s daughter needs any help in the kitchen?”“Her name’s Macie, right?” Amy Jo inquired politely. “She seems nice.”“She seems young.” Keely demanded, “Hey, are you using her as free slave labor just because she’s too young to know better and because Cash is working for you?”“No. She’s a professional cook and she’s older than you, smarty.” Gemma debated on mentioning Macie’s relationship with Carter, but Keely would find out soon enough.“No way. How old is she?”“Twenty-two.”Keel