Loving Cara (10 page)

I’ve never felt anything else like it in my life.

He releases my leg and my hand and cups my face gently, kisses me thoroughly, sweeping those lips over mine, tangling our tongues and nibbling as if he were a starved man at a buffet.

“Did I hurt you?” he asks quietly as we regain our breath.

“No.” I smile softly at him and kiss his cheek. “You definitely didn’t hurt me.”

“Stay here.”

He kisses me one last time and pulls out of me, walks naked into the bathroom, and I hear running water. He quickly returns with a wet, warm washcloth and cleans me up, then tucks us both into bed.

Between the tree falling on my house last night, and the amazing bout of sex with Josh this evening, I’ve never been so tired in my life.

He tucks me against him the way he did last night, but I turn in his arms, preferring to face him, and nuzzle against his chest. He kisses my head and rubs his hands up and down my back.

“So tired,” I mutter, and yawn deeply.

“So beautiful.”

“You say that a lot.” I lean back and look up into his dark face. I can see his smile in the moonlight.

“I think it a lot.”

I smirk and kiss his sternum.

“How did you get your hair this straight?” He pushes his fingers into my hair, brushing it with his fingers.

“I used to use a flatiron every day, but then I discovered the Brazilian Blowout.”

“Sounds kinky.” He wriggles his eyebrows at me playfully.

I laugh and smack him on the shoulder. “Pervert.”

“You bring it out in me, babe.”

“The BB is a hair treatment to make my hair straight and frizz-free. I’m religious about it.”

“I liked your curls,” he whispers, and kisses my forehead.

“So you’ve said,” I sigh. “I didn’t. I like it better straight.”

“Hmm.”

He continues to caress my back, his lips resting against my forehead, and before long my eyes are heavy and I fall into a deep, hard sleep.

*  *  *

“Wake up, sweetheart.”

Warm lips are moving across my face, over my forehead, kissing me tenderly. I reach out for him and frown when my hands grip cotton.

“Why are you dressed?” I ask, still not opening my eyes.

“I’ve been up for a little while. Wake up.”

I hear the smile in his voice, but I turn onto my stomach and bury my face into the pillow. “No.”

“Come on, I need you to get up.” He’s chuckling now.

Why did I have to go and be attracted to a morning person? “Time is it?” I ask against the pillow.

“Five thirty.”

“Are you here for sex?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

“If you leave now, I’ll let you live.” I turn over onto my other side, facing away from him, and pull the covers over my head.

He laughs loudly and pulls the covers off my face. “You’re adorable in the morning.”

“I’ll show you just how adorable I can be at this hour with no coffee.”

“Open your gorgeous eyes, baby.”

He leans over me and kisses my cheek and I sigh. “Why am I awake?”

“I need to show you something.”

“I’ve seen it. You said you weren’t here for sex.” I open one eye and scowl at him. “Don’t play with my emotions.”

“Get dressed, there’s something you need to see.”

I sigh and scrub my hands roughly over my face and sit up, letting the covers fall into my lap, exposing my breasts.

Josh sucks in a breath and swears under his breath. “Get dressed fast before I join you and meet me in the kitchen.”

With that he stalks out of the room and I grin, remembering last night.

I climb from the bed, stretching and flinching as muscles I haven’t used in too long moan in protest. I’d love a hot shower, but I don’t think Josh is patient enough to wait that long, so I pull on a new blue T-shirt and jeans, slide my feet into my new sneakers, and meet him in the kitchen.

“I’m dressed.”

“Come on, we have to hurry. I don’t want you to miss it.” He grips my hand and pulls me out of the house to a waiting ATV parked at the bottom of the porch. “Hop on.”

As soon as I climb on behind him, he takes off at full speed, and I have to loop my arms around his middle to keep from falling off the back. We race down the driveway toward the big house, then veer over to the barn. He parks, cuts the engine, and helps me off the four-wheeler.

“That was fun,” I mutter dryly.

“Come on, smart-ass.” He takes my hand and pulls me into the barn, down a row of stalls. I see Seth sitting up on one of the stall walls, grinning down inside and talking to Louie, the longtime ranch hand of the Lazy K.

“She’s so small! And she has knobby knees,” Seth giggles.

“She’ll get bigger fast enough,” I hear Louie respond, and my gaze immediately finds Josh’s.

“A baby?” I ask quietly.

“Yeah, Starfire had her foal just a little while ago. I don’t think she’s stood up and walked yet, and I want you to see that part. It’s pretty amazing.” Josh is grinning down at me, his eyes shining and happy.

He loves this ranch.

He opens the door to the stall, an extra-large one at the end of the row that I assume is used for expectant mothers. The smell of hay is strong, but the barn is clean and tidy. The animals are well cared for here.

He motions for me to follow him inside and shuts the door behind us. Starfire is munching happily on breakfast while her baby lies comfortably on a pile of straw, sleeping soundly.

“Oh, how sweet.”

“Starfire had her baby!” Seth informs me, a wide grin on his face.

“I see that.” I smile back at him, then watch as Starfire turns to her baby and licks and nuzzles her gently.

“She needs to eat,” Josh tells me, and wraps his arms around me, pulling me back against his chest. “So, Starfire will help her get on her feet so she can nurse.”

Sure enough, over the next ten minutes, Starfire coaxes her baby onto her feet, and the foal wobbles, unsure of her footing. Finally, she takes a few steps and roots around under her mother’s belly until she finds a teat and begins to nurse.

“Gross.” Seth scrunches up his nose.

“How else will the baby eat?” I ask him, and smile.

He shrugs, watching the mama and the baby closely, and the teacher in me can’t help but appreciate what a learning tool this is for the boy.

We spend a few hours there, watching the new foal get used to life on the “outside,” as Seth puts it with fits of giggles.

“I think it’s time for us to get to work, Seth.” I laugh when he scowls at me.

“But I should get today off, to help with the baby.”

“She’ll be here when you’re done,” I reply sternly, and run my hand down Josh’s arm before walking out of the stall. “I’ll give you a break in a couple hours so you can come check on her.”

“Okay.” Seth looks longingly at the foal and then jumps down off the stall wall and walks out of the barn ahead of me.

“Come check on me while you’re at it,” Josh murmurs as he moves up behind me and kisses my neck, just below my ear. I pull out of his grasp, pointing at Seth walking ahead.

“Will you need checking?” I ask with a grin.

“I’ve got something you can check, sweetheart.” He swats my ass as I walk away, laughing and shaking my head.

I’m so coming out to the barn in a few hours.

CHAPTER

Seven

“We could have gone somewhere more casual,” I murmur, and take a sip of wine, enjoying the sight of Josh sitting across from me at the table in his white button-down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms, and black slacks. His dark brown hair has been tamed, and I can’t wait to run my fingers through it and mess it up.

His brown gaze finds mine over the leather menu in his hands and he smiles softly. “This is our first official date.”

“I’m aware,” I respond with a raised eyebrow.

“So we should be somewhere nice on our first date. Besides,” he adds with a smirk, “you love it here.”

“How do you know?” I ask, surprised. This Italian restaurant is new to town and has quickly become my favorite. “We’ve never talked about this place before.”

“You should have seen your eyes light up when I mentioned it.” He glances back down at his menu, his lips pursed.

He’s observant, which is one of the things that I’ve come to appreciate about him. He pays attention to my moods, my body language, both in and out of the bedroom.

It’s nice to be away from the ranch for the evening. I enjoy the ranch, and in the past few days that I’ve been staying there, in Josh’s bed every night, I’ve come to have a greater appreciation for how much work it is, and how dedicated Josh is to his family legacy.

I smooth my hands down my thighs, over the cotton fabric of my orange sundress, thankful that my clothes came back from the hazmat cleaner in time for this date.

Shorts and a tank top would not have been appropriate for tonight.

Folding his menu, he sets it on top of mine at the edge of the table and takes my hand in his, weaves our fingers together. I catch a few curious glances from other patrons at nearby tables.

If news of my staying at the Lazy K hasn’t already begun circulating around town, our being out together tonight will be fodder for conversation by tomorrow morning.

The young, bubbly waitress appears and takes our food orders, then leaves us alone.

“What are you thinking?” Josh asks, his eyes searching mine.

“We are going to make the grapevine news before morning,” I murmur with a smile, and play with the stem of my wineglass.

“Good.” He shrugs. “Does it bother you?”

“No.” I shake my head, then frown as I think about it further. “It’s really no one’s business, although I am blurring the line where my job is concerned.”

“They can’t fire you for what you do on your own time, Cara. You’re allowed to have a personal life.” He grips my fingers more tightly. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

I nod, but bite my lip.

“What?”

“I just hope you’re right.”

Our salads are served, along with the most delicious chicken I’ve ever tasted. At the first bite, I close my eyes and moan, letting the flavors explode on my tongue.

“Oh, dear God, that’s good.”

“Don’t do that,” Josh murmurs, his voice hard, and I open my eyes to find him staring at me intently.

“Do what?” I ask innocently.

“You know what. I already want you, Carolina. I’d be happy to skip dinner and take you out to my truck and make you come until your brain is numb.” He hasn’t touched the food in front of him.

I swallow hard and twirl my fork in the noodles and garlicky chicken. I take another bite, licking my lips and moaning in happiness, enjoying the way his eyes flare and his throat moves as he swallows.

“You should eat your food before it gets cold,” I tell him sweetly.

“You’re so getting spanked later.” He laughs and finally picks up his fork, twirling it in his fettuccine.

“We can play in the truck.” I shrug and grin at him, stuffing my face with more of the delicious food. “I’m hungry.”

“So am I,” he whispers, and watches my mouth.

“Eat!” I laugh and take a sip of wine. “What are we doing after this?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Truck fun?” I ask with a giggle.

“I love the way you laugh.” He smiles and sips his own wine, and just like that the butterflies are back in my stomach. “And, yes, there may be truck fun later, but I have something else planned first.”

“Okay then,” I murmur, and continue working my way through the meal. “I’m looking forward to it.”

*  *  *

“Movies!” I exclaim, and smile over at Josh as he pulls the truck into the parking lot across from Cunningham Park. The park is just over twenty acres in the heart of town, with a large playground for parents to bring their kids to play, walking paths, benches and picnic tables, and a large grassy area where in the summer the town sets up a portable movie screen every Friday night. The townspeople bring blankets or lawn chairs and spread out on the grass to enjoy a double feature.

“I thought you might like it.” He grins and reaches over to tuck my hair behind my ear.

“I love going to the movies.”

He leans in and kisses me softly before reaching into the backseat to retrieve a small picnic basket and a soft blanket. He leads me out onto the manicured grass.

“What’s playing tonight?” I ask, and help him spread the blanket on the ground toward the left edge before the screen, against a tree.

“I’m not sure. Probably a chick flick.” He wrinkles his nose at the thought and makes me laugh.

“Not into chick flicks?”

“I’m a guy.”

“Yes, you are.” I kick my shoes off, sink onto the blanket, and glance around at all of the people. “Sit with me.”

“Happily.” He sits, his back to the tree, and pulls me against his chest, between his legs, knees bent. The previews begin and I sigh, completely content. The sun is almost down, leaving us in the glow of the screen and the moonlight behind us.

A few people I recognize, colleagues and parents of students, wave or call out greetings. Some look curiously between Josh and me, and I’m surprised to realize that it doesn’t bother me.

He’s a great guy and I’m happy to be out with him.

Josh wraps his arms around my chest and hugs me to him, kisses the top of my head, and we settle in to watch the movie. The first show is usually family friendly, and the second for more mature audiences, when parents leave to tuck their little ones into bed.

True to form, we are watching
Tangled
.

“I love this movie,” I murmur, and snuggle against him.

“You do?” He rubs my arms with his palms.

I nod happily and rest my hands on Josh’s thighs. I immediately feel a reaction to my touch: his thigh muscles clench and his cock comes to life against the small of my back. I can’t help but grin.

“Behave yourself,” I mutter, keeping my eyes trained on the movie screen. “There are kids here.”

“Your sexiness is distracting me,” he growls into my ear, and kisses the sensitive skin behind it, sending shivers through me. “Are you cold?”

“No.”

He chuckles and hugs me tight before releasing me to pull the picnic basket to our side. “I brought dessert.”