How to Rope a McCoy (Hell Yeah!) (14 page)

“She’s
my grandmother.” Cady announced as if that fact said it all.

And
it
sorta
did. “You know something about me and
Heath?”

The
very idea made shivers dance across Cato’s skin.

“Not
exactly.” Cady clasped her hands together. “Since I’ve been pregnant, I don’t
have the visions like she does. I used to and perhaps I will again someday, but
all my energy seems to be going into taking care of these babies.”

“So,
what did you mean when you said for me to not be so sure?” Hope wanted to
flourish in her heart.

“I
just have a feeling.” Cady smiled. “I can still see auras and yours and his
keep flashing red and purple anytime you are together, which is a pretty good
indication of mutual interest.”

“Oh,
I see.” She didn’t, not really. The idea that she was surrounded by colored
energy was a little far-fetched for her. Cady, however, was from a family who
not only believed those things but manifested them beyond contradiction.
Besides the incident with Savannah where she predicted the future, Cato had
heard that the
Fontenots
had done everything from
helping people protect themselves from danger with
magick
to affecting the weather. She wasn’t sure how much of this she believed, but
there were plenty of people who did. “Thank you, I’ll take any type of
encouragement I can get.”

Cady
pointed behind Cato. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Cato turned and
saw a pretty young woman standing behind her. She had short dark hair and a
vibrant smile. “Tammy, this is Cato Vincent. Cato meet Tamara Grayson. Joseph
is sponsoring her in the first Women’s Extreme Sports completion. Tammy does it
all. She runs, swims, bicycles, rock climbs, snowboards, and base jumps. And
she wins at it all.”

“What
a privilege.” Cato greeted her with a handshake.

“Thanks.”
Tammy smiled. “I am grateful for the
McCoys
’
support.” She glanced shyly around. “Has anyone seen Jaxson?”

Jaxson.
Hmmmm
, so that was how it was. “They haven’t come in
for lunch yet.”  

“Speaking
of…” Cady grinned, looking toward the corral. “They’re here.”

“Hello,
Cady, Miss Grayson.” Heath doffed his black Stetson. “Could I borrow Miss
Vincent for a spell?”

A
spell? Cato almost laughed. He didn’t know how nearly correct he was. She
wondered if he realized he was speaking to a member of Louisiana’s most famous
witch family.

“Of
course, I enjoyed spending time with Cato. She is a beautiful person.” Cady was
gracious, as
always.                  

“I
couldn’t agree more.” Heath took her by the hand. “Come eat with me, I think we
need to clear the air.”

Oh,
that didn’t sound good. She wondered what this was all about. She let him lead
her toward the tables that had been set up near the cooking area. “Let’s sit
over there.” He gestured toward an area that wasn’t so crowded.

“Hey,
Heath!” Jaxson joined them. “I have you and the little lady a bowl of mountain
oysters.” He set them on the table.

Heath
raised an eyebrow and smirked at his brother, knowing exactly what he was up
to. “Thank you,
Jax
. We’re about to get our plates.”

“Jaxson,
there’s a young lady asking for you.”

“Who?”
He started looking around.

“Tammy
Grayson, she’s impressive.” Cato had no more got the words out of her mouth
that Jaxson took off to find her as fast as he could travel on his crutches.

“Matchmaker.”

“Hey,
they have a lot in common, both so athletic and outgoing. I bet they’d make a
good couple.”

“See,
you women are all alike.” Heath teased.    

Before
they took their seats, Cato and Heath passed by the service tables and dished
up enough to feed an army. “I bet you’re hungry. I understand you all have been
working hard,” she commented to Heath. “Did you have breakfast around the
campfire this morning?”

“No,
I grabbed a couple of sausage biscuits from the kitchen before I left.” He met
her eyes, what he’d witnessed the night before never far from his mind. “How
did you sleep?”

“Good.
The room and the bed were very comfortable and the shower is fantastic.”
Actually, she had slept well. Even though she’d been disappointed by their last
conversation, the physical release she’d experienced when she touched herself
had made it possible for her to sleep like a baby. “So, what did he call
these?” She popped one of the round fried pieces of meat into her mouth. It was
battered and had the texture of a chicken gizzard.    

“Mountain
oysters,” Heath answered, followed by a cough.

Jaxson
returned with Tammy in tow. “How do you like it, Cato?”

Why
was he laughing? What was so funny? “A little chewy, but tasty,” was her
answer.

Heath
waved his brother and Tammy away. “You two have a good time. I can handle
this.” He turned back to Cato. “So, you like the way that piece of meat felt in
your mouth?”

Cato
began to get a distinct feeling that something was going on. Mountain oysters.
Mountain oysters. Now, where had she heard that before? Was it some freshwater
oyster…or…

Her
expression changed and her chewing slowed down. She swallowed.

Heath
laughed.

“What
did I just eat?” she asked soberly.

“Why,
just a meat ball,” he answered with a straight face. A handsome face, no doubt,
but one that distinctly appeared to be up to something.

“A
meat ball is right.” Jaxson laughed, reappearing. Apparently, he hadn’t gone
very far.

Okay,
she had a sneaky suspicion. “You’ve been cutting calves, right?” Bravely, she
took another bite. They both nodded like young boys who had a secret up their
sleeves. Well, obviously cutting was more than just separating them from the
herd like she’d initially thought. Cutting involved—well, cutting something
off—which she presently had in her mouth. Okay, here it comes. “I like it.” She
looked directly at Heath, this was all for him. “I’d love to get a pair of
balls in my mouth. I’d roll them around on my tongue.” Then she licked her lips
and if she wasn’t mistaken, the man groaned.    

“You’re
trying to kill me, aren’t you?” he asked, holding her gaze.

Damn,
she could feel the heat between them. Cato wasn’t imagining it, she couldn’t.
“No, that is not my intention at all. I have something else entirely in mind to
do to you.” She didn’t know if her flirting skills were up to par, but she was
giving it the old college try.

Alas,
they weren’t alone. Soon they were surrounded by Heath’s family and friends and
all the two of them could share were a few meaningful glances every once in a
while. But something was brewing, she was certain of that.

After
dessert was served, a sinful gourmet version of a
Smore
,
this one with a fresh-baked cinnamon cookie, Godiva chocolate and homemade
marshmallows, everyone followed Pepper and Ryder over to the shaded south lawn
for some much anticipated games. People gravitated to what interested them most
and Cato spotted what she wanted to try. Roping. Tennessee was directing two
women on the best technique and Cato was itching to try her hand at it.

“May
I?” she asked, picking up a surprisingly stiff lariat.

“Absolutely,”
Tennessee answered and took a moment to show her how to hold it and the way her
wrist should move to achieve maximum control.

After
a few tries, Cato was pleasantly surprised. She had managed to toss the rope
over the fence post. Cato looked around. Roping the fence post didn’t interest
her so much. No, she’d rather try for something alive and moving.

“Hmmm,
so many cowboys, so little rope,” she muttered with the tiniest hint of glee.
“This could be interesting.” She smiled as she spotted the not-so-little
dogie
she most wanted to lasso and hog-tie. “Come just a
little closer. Closer.”

On
a wing and prayer, she tossed the rope. Beside her, Tennessee stood with his
jaw dropped, watching the little amateur roper do her best. Up, up, up his eyes
followed the rope and down, down, down it came and right over the hat and
shoulders of his brother Heath.

“Got
him!” she exclaimed and she gave the rope a jerk, tightening it around her
unsuspecting prey.

“
Ummph
!” Heath grunted as he was suddenly stopped in his
tracks. For a second, he didn’t know what was happening. “What the hell?”

“I’ve
always wanted to know how to rope a McCoy.” A woman quipped as she stopped to
enjoy Heath’s discomfiture. She looked familiar, but Cato couldn’t quite place
her.

“You
rope a McCoy very carefully,” Cato muttered as she set back on the rope. Yea,
she had him caught. Now how was she going to reel him in?

Heath
didn’t know whether to laugh or cuss. Twice now, this little hundred pound ball
of fire had made a public spectacle out of him—first with the punch anointing
and second with this rope trick. “The question is not how you rope a McCoy,
Miss Vincent.” He tried to ignore the famous actress who was watching
everything with great delight. “The question is how you keep one tied.”
       

Much
to Cato’s surprise, the tables were quickly turned as Heath began to pull the
rope in toward him, hand over fist. With each movement of his powerful arm and
shoulder muscles, Cato found herself being drawn nearer and nearer to him—not
that she was fighting it too much, understand.

He
looked around and gave everyone a wordless message. Skedaddle! And they did.
Even Tennessee took the hint and led an amused Renee off to get a cool drink.

“I
guess you think you’re really smart. Don’t you?” he asked Cato once he had her
up close and personal, arms wrapped around her tighter than the rope was
wrapped around him.

“Reasonably
intelligent,” she agreed, wondering how she was going to get out of this
predicament.

“Do
you know what I think?” Heath asked, his lips only a fraction of an inch away
from her own.

“You’re
wondering what it would be like if I tied you to my bed post?”

“Ha!”
Heath couldn’t help but laugh. God, he had a good time with her. “No, as
intriguing as that thought might be, that’s not what was on my mind. But since
you mention it…”

“So,
care to enlighten me?” She wanted to kiss him so much she was vibrating.

“Yea,
I think I’ll accept your proposition. I want to take you to bed—tonight. Okay
with you?”

Zing!
Cato felt his words in her mind, her heart, her nipples, and her clit. Her
whole being was on board with his proposal. “I am amenable to your suggestion.”

“Okay,
then, that’s settled.” To seal the deal, he slanted his mouth over hers and let
the flame flare. He’d just intended to give her a kiss, a soft kiss, a promise
of what was to come. But having her near, within reach, stole his resolve. Lust
flared inside of him and his arms tightened. Heath claimed her mouth, in front
of God and Texas, thrusting his tongue into the soft honeyed recesses and
drinking deeply. And thank God she responded, softening and opening to him like
a delicate flower.

“Wahoo!”

Heath
pulled back at the outburst. Looking up, he saw it was Jimmy with his fist
pumping in the air, his shirt thrown over his shoulder, grinning like the
Cheshire cat.

He
did his best to ignore his annoying friend, choosing to focus on her. “God,
you’re dangerous.”

“Is
that good?” she asked tentatively.

“Very
good.”

“Hey,
we’re going tubing.” Jimmy interrupted them. “
Wanna
come?”

Heath
looked at her and she nodded in the affirmative. It was too early to go to bed
and she wasn’t about to turn down a chance to see him half naked. “Let me get
my suit.”

“Okay.”
He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll meet you out front.”

Suddenly
the day seemed brighter to Heath. He looked up at the sky and found it to be
slightly overcast.

Oh
well, probably his imagination.

CHAPTER SIX

“Yay!”
Cato spun in a circle, hugging herself and laughing. Heath had accepted her
proposal, proposition,
plan—whatever
. They were going
to be together! And she was giddy, ecstatic, elated…and scared to death. Good
gracious, she had no idea what she was doing. What if she bombed? Cato covered
her face, trying to get her breathing under control. If she hadn’t come on to
him like a porn star, she wouldn’t be so nervous. He probably expected a night
of experienced debauchery and all he was going to get was…Cato. 
  

Continuing
to worry, she stared at herself in the mirror, wishing she’d brought some sort
of bathing suit other than a bikini. This little number had been a gift from
Tammany. Cato had never worn it and she hadn’t really expected to put it on
this weekend. She’d just thrown it in on a whim. Putting it on, Cato groaned.
What had Tammany been thinking? Her body was more suited to those strategically
cut, slimming black numbers that accentuated the positive and toned down the
negative.

Instead,
here she was in a two piece string bikini the same color as ripe raspberries.
At least she had a bit of a tan. But there was too much of her exposed, Cato
tried to stretch the small triangles over her bounteous bosoms. “Good grief!”
Dammit. There wasn’t time for grapefruit diets or body wraps. Jerking her
cover-up off the hanger, she skimmed it on. At least it was nice, not too short
and made of white cotton lace.

Heath
sat out front in Old Red, waiting. The woman caused him to lose all of his
mental faculties. Around her he thought with his dick and that head had a one
track mind. He wondered what she’d think of his mode of transportation. Even
though he never intended it to be, a woman’s reaction to Red was always a test.

Everyone
else had already left. Most of the women, having been to one of their shindigs
before, wore their swimming suit under their clothes or had it with them in one
of those large purses that women tended to carry which could hold anything from
a bottle of champagne to a small dog. But Cato wasn’t like the rest of the
women. She was honest and down to earth—aggressive as hell but sweet. In other
words, she was…

Irresistible.

He
heard the screen door slam and he looked up. God Almighty. The woman was all
legs and breasts—two of his most favorite parts. Going around to open the door
for her, he watched her every move. She had that hair of hers caught up in a
high ponytail which he’d give half of Texas to wind around his fist, guiding
her, holding her, controlling her while he drove his cock in and out of her
tight little pussy. And it would be tight, he could almost
guaran
-damn-tee
it.

And
tonight, he’d find out.

“Love
your truck!” And she meant it, he could tell by her easy smile.

“Why?” 
    

“It
has character and it’s not made out of plastic. I bet you’ve made a lot of good
memories in this truck.”

Heath
opened the passenger door and helped her in, his respect for her growing by the
minute. Some folk respected who were nice to their children or their pets—Heath
appreciated people being nice to his truck. “You’re right about that.”

Cato
settled into the seat and looked around. “I’ve never been tubing before. Do we
rent the equipment at the river?”

“We
could,” Heath answered, “but I’ve got two inner-tubes in the back.”

“I’m
excited.”

“I
plan on keeping you that way.” He was driving with one eye on the road and the
other on the daring expanse of leg and thigh exposed for his viewing pleasure.
Now that he’d made up his mind to partake of her sweetness, he didn’t hardly
have the discipline to keep his hands off of her. In fact, he had to have a
touch—just a touch.

Night
and day. That was the difference between Heath before he’d made up his mind
about their relationship and now. “Come closer.” He held out his hand and she
placed hers within his grasp. “Yea, that’s right. Scoot right over here by me.
That’s one reason I love these old trucks, bench seats are much more conducive
to cuddling.”

Cato
didn’t require a second invitation. She moved right over, her body touching his
from shoulder to knee, just as close as she could get. Heath brought her hand
to his lips and kissed it, a lingering sensuous kiss, one which made chill
bumps of arousal dance on her body. “This is nice.”

“This
is paradise.” He let go of her hand and brought his to her knee, his fingers
caressing the silky skin. “You feel so good. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on
you.”

Cato
wrapped her hands around his big bicep and held on as he let his touch glide up
her thigh. “How far is it to the river?”

“Not
far enough.”

He
had to keep his eyes on the road, so Cato had to try and move so she could see
his lips. Sometimes she wasn’t sure about what he’d said. “Can you sign?”

“Just
a few words, bare basics.” Heath was ashamed to say. “But I’d like to learn.”
He let his hand settle, cupped around her thigh only a couple inches south of
paradise. “Show me something.”

Feeling
brave and adventurous, Cato made the
vee
sign with
both hands, then slapped her palms together.

“What
does that mean?”

Okay,
maybe not so brave. She blushed. “Sex.”

“Really?”
Heath chuckled. “Show me again.”

She
did, then she grabbed the wheel because Heath was trying the sign for himself.
“Hey, you’re driving!”

“With
my knee.”

She
looked down and he was indeed steering with his leg as he made the sex sign
several times in a row. “Put your hands back on the wheel.”

He
gave her a naughty, playful look. “Okay, but later I get to put my hands on
you.”

“Count
on it, cowboy,” Cato promised, even though her hands were shaking. Their eyes
held for a second or two while Heath pulled his truck off the road and down a
narrow dirt lane. Looking around, she saw they had stopped on the banks of a
beautiful small river, shaded on either side by pecans and bald cypress. “Oh,
how pretty. Where is everybody else?”

Moment
of truth. What if she were disappointed? After all, she could have been near
all the famous friends he and Jimmy had collected over the years. “Uh, I
decided to take you to a different place. I wanted to be alone with you.”

“Good
idea!” She started to turn and scramble out of the truck, anxious to get into
the water. “I’ve always loved to swim. I had a baby alligator for a while. I
kept him in the bathtub.”

“I
can believe that.” She didn’t catch what he said. Grabbing her arm, he stopped
her. “Hold on, busy britches.”

She
caught that part. “Why?”

“You’re
not letting me be a gentleman.” He got out, shut his door and went over to the
passenger side. When he opened the door, she was right there and he almost lost
his breath. Cato had no idea how appealing she was. She was excited, he could
tell by the rise and fall of her chest. God what a chest, she had to be a C cup
at least. “Do you know how sexy you are?”

“No,”
she whispered. “Am I?”

“Oh,
yeah.” Thank God this wasn’t a courtship or some romantic date. This was a
fling, a hot affair expressly for the purpose of no holds barred sex. He didn’t
have to wait, there was no three date minimum before getting her into bed.
“Come here.” He placed one hand on the nape of her neck and pulled her toward
him. “Kiss me, sugar.”

“Yes,
sir.” She framed his face with her hands and heck, just for the hell of it, she
wrapped her legs around his waist and yanked him tight against her. For right
now, she had the right and she was going to take full advantage. Touching her
lips to his, she kissed him, softly, gently, licking the seam of his lips until
he took her tongue in his mouth and began to suck on it. She felt each tug
between her legs. Cato couldn’t hear what it sounded like, but she groaned, a
sound of abject desire. He tasted like everything good in the world she’d been
missing, sensuality and passion. Heath tasted like heaven.

No
more waiting. No more games. Heath cupped her heart-shaped rear and picked Cato
up, carrying her to the water’s edge. Letting her slide down his body, he set
her on her feet. “Wait here. Let me get the tubes.”

Cato
watched him saunter off, imagining what it was going to be like to touch his
body anywhere and however she liked. Cato pinched her arm to make sure she was
awake. “I’m going to make you happy, Heath,” she promised him softly. Or at
least she hoped she could.

Cato
had been looking toward the river and missed his return until he touched her
hand. “Let’s get in the water.” As she watched, he began wrenching off his
clothes, his eyes focused on her as if he were afraid she’d run away.

Cato
followed suit, stepping out of her sandals and putting her bag down by a tree.
She felt a little shy. Lowering her eyes, she took the edges of her cover up
between her fingers and glanced up. “Oh, my god!” There he was, standing in
front of her almost nude—lean, golden, muscular. He looked glorious and a
little dangerous. She let her eyes move slowly down his body. “You are so
beautiful,” she whispered. Stepping close, she held out her hands to touch his
heavily muscled arms. “May I?”

“You
don’t have to ask.” 

Holding
her breath, she let her hands go where they would. Cato soothed her palms over
his chest, letting her nails scrape through the dark dusting of hair and over
his flat nipples. Unable to deny herself, Cato leaned over and kissed him on
the heart. She could feel it pounding hard against her lips.

He
seized her hand and pulled her hard against his body. She could feel his penis
through his trunks, thick and hard cradled between them. Not one to waste an
opportunity, she peppered kisses all over his shoulder and chest. Damn, her conscience
was getting the best of her. “Heath, I need to tell you something.” She hoped
what she was about to say wouldn’t make him back out.

Talking,
who wanted to talk? “Okay.” He eased back so she could read his lips.

“I
think we should be honest with one another.”

Shit.
What was she up to? “I thought we had been.” He held up his hands, palms out.
“I told you I can make no promises.”

“Come
on, let’s sit down. This is important.” She led him to Old Red and hopped up on
the tail gate. “This is about me being honest, not you.”

Great.
Heath steeled himself to hear something he wouldn’t like. “What’s on your mind?
And bear in mind that I’m near naked and this tail gate is slightly warm.”

He
eased up on it and she had to laugh. “Hold on.” She slipped off her cover and
laid it down on the warm metal. “Allow me.”

“Holy
Fuck,” Heath breathed when he saw what she’d had hidden behind that scrap of
white lace. Her body was hour-glass perfect. Luscious tits mounded up over her
bikini top—generous, touchable,
suckable
.
His body responded immediately and completely. Seeing all of this perfection on
screen last night was one thing, seeing it in person was mind-blowing.

His
eyes on her body made Cato go soft and wet. Watching the bulge in his shorts
grow hard caused her to clit to swell and her juices to flow. “This isn’t
easy,” she admitted. “I’d rather just lie down and let you take me.”

“Sounds
like a good idea to me.” He was fighting for control and he couldn’t recall the
last time he’d felt like this. God, he had to keep his emotions in check and
what he was doing and who he was dealing with or he was going to lose his mind.
Letting himself reach out, one shaking hand, he traced the top swell of her
breast. His body felt raw, feverish, like he was walking on hot coals. Every
detail of her exquisite womanly body jarred him, scorched him.

“I
know I’ve come on to you like a house on fire, but I’m going mostly on instinct
and desire.” She laid one palm on his thigh, running her hand over the hair
roughened flesh.

She
was touching him inches from his cock and Heath was having a hard time
following her. “You’ve impressed the hell out of me.”

“Well,
that’s the problem. I’m afraid I’ve given you the wrong impression. I’m not
experienced, at all.” Cato’s voice dropped. “I’ve never been with a man.”

Heath’s
head jerked up. Now, she had his attention. Hell. She had to be kidding. He
knew what O’Rourke had said, but…but… “You’re a virgin? You sure didn’t come
across as no virgin last night.”

He
had no more than got the words out of his mouth before her shocked expression
registered with him. Aww shit.

“Last
night?” Cato felt her face flush bright red. She sprang off the truck bed and
yanked on the cover-up until he rose and relinquished his hold on it. Wrapping
it around her body, she stood at least three yards away from him. Cato wouldn’t
have looked him in the face if she hadn’t had to in order to know what he was
saying. “What do you mean?”
Please God
, she begged,
don’t do me this
way
.

“Well,
if we’re being honest,” he began, “you must have turned on the monitors and the
intercom in your room. At first, I thought you knew…”

Cato
couldn’t breathe. She covered her cheeks, her mouth was open and she thought
she might faint. “You saw me? Last night?” Oh, my god. Oh, my god. “No, I didn’t
know.” Oh, my god! What she had done! What she had said! Flashes of her rubbing
herself between the legs, milking her nipples, crying out to Heath as she
fantasized about him. “Oh, kill me now,” she groaned. Cato turned her back on
him and just started walking up the narrow lane. He had seen her. Naked!
Pooches, dimples, cellulite and all!

“Wait!”
he yelled. “Shit.” Running up behind Cato, Heath stopped her, both arms around
her waist. She struggled a little bit, but he held tight, kissing her on the neck.
Cato turned to look at him, tears streaking her face. “Don’t be upset. Watching
you was the hottest, most erotic thing I’ve ever done in my life.”