Second Hope Cowboy (16 page)

Hope should be happy that Tucker spent most of his days and nights on the land. The less she saw of him the less chance she’d fall into stupid again and let him through the cracks of her protective cloak. He’d managed to turn her topsy turvy and all ooey gooey since she’d went to the cabin.

All of this emotion wasn’t good for her sanity.

The kiss they’d shared in the photo booth had driven her way over the safety boundaries. Bringing her fingertips to her lips, she could still feel his mouth against hers.

Thunder sounded in the distance. A storm was brewing. Not only outside, but in her heart.

She couldn’t bear another night lying in bed wide awake, listening to every sound, wondering when Tucker was going to come home. It was a slow torture weighing her down like lead.

Grabbing her phone from the table, she texted him.

Where are you?

A minute went by, no answer.

Five minutes later, still no answer.

Thirty minutes passed with Hope pacing the floor. She’d bitten a nail down to the quick and stubbed her big toe on a chair leg.

She refused to be ignored. She had to know if he was still working—or was he working Suzy?

Without debating consequences, she slid into her boots and shot out the front door—determined to find an end to the torture.

The barn light was on when she entered. She glanced around but didn’t see Tucker. Disappointed, she started to leave.

“Hope?”

His voice was a dingy to her sinking boat of emotions.

Their gazes connected and her stomach did a flip for no reason. Oh yes, it did have reason and it was wrapped up in the package of sexy cowboy that wore a perfectly fitting red plaid shirt and worn jeans.

She ached to walk into his strapping arms, to lay her head against his broad chest and cry until all of the pain of the past disintegrated into the breeze.

Would he turn her away?

The hard set of his jaw made her wonder.

Stunned by the rush of emotions, she could barely think.

She let a long breath slide out of one corner of her tight lips.

His brow furrowed. “What are you doing here? I’m sure you didn’t walk all the way down here in the rain just to stare at me.” His voice vibrated the air around her.

Until now, she didn’t realize her shirt and shorts were damp. “I-I guess I didn’t think.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “Yeah, I have those moments.”

She frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why didn’t I tell you what?” He dared look at her with an expression of innocence.

Her stomach churned and bile rose in the back of her throat. “That you were involved with Suzy.”

His bottom lip slightly pursed. “I’m not in a relationship with Suzy.”

“Am I using the wrong words? Why didn’t you tell me you’d slept with her?”

He snorted. “Honestly, I didn’t think it was worth mentioning. And just for the record, it was only a couple of times.”

She squinted. “And that should make me feel better how?”

“I’m a man, Hope. I have needs. At least I didn’t go off and fall in love with someone else.” His eyes grew dark.

The churning in her stomach deepened and became a scorching, gnawing feeling. “Let’s not get into the Ping-Pong dance of who has done worse.”

“Oh, so you just want me to confess my sins so you’ll feel better? Is that it?” One brow cocked.

She hated the suffocating emotion that made her lack the use of fine motor skills when he was near. Her hand trembled as she pushed a tendril of damp hair behind one ear. She bit hard on her lower lip. “I hope you enjoyed your time at the fair.”

He snorted. “What the hell does that mean?”

“You should be thanking me for leaving so that you and Suzy could enjoy each other’s company.”

“You’ve said you don’t want me, your actions definitely say you don’t want me, but you sure are getting your panties in a bunch over another woman.” He kicked the toe of his work boot over the floor.

“You’re a free man, Tucker. You can ride any horse you choose, but I draw a line when it comes to three in a saddle.”

He blinked. “Do you think I planned to meet her at the fair? Wow, some opinion you have of me.” He pulled off his hat and tossed it to a bale of hay.

After the words were out, she knew how ridiculous they sounded. “No, I don’t think it was your plan. And I guess you could just tell me to mind my own business.”

“I could, if I wanted to. Come with me. I want to show you something.” He motioned for her to follow him to the back of the barn.

She found him kneeled over a sleeping calf. “How old is it?”

“Only a few days. She lost her mama during birth the night of the fair. I came back just in time to save this youngin. Cash and I take turns with her, but he has Becca to worry about.”

The air swooshed from Hope’s lungs. “This is where you were? Where you have been these nights?”

He nodded. “We’ve got to feed her and make sure she doesn’t come down with sickness.” The calf whimpered, which almost sounded like the cry of a baby. “Poor thing’s been making these noises. It’s like she knows her mama is gone.”

Hope bent next to Tucker, feeling his warmth surround her, warming her to the bones. “Have you called in a vet?”

“She’s been here a few times now, but there’s not much she can do. If this girl has the will to fight she better start. I was getting ready to feed her when you came in.”

Tucker got up, strolled to a nearby workbench and came back with a bottle—similar to a baby bottle, but with a thicker nipple and the milk had a yellowish color. “What is that?”

He shook it liberally. “It’s supplemental milk. Considering ol’ Smokey here didn’t get the colostrum from breast milk to help fight against infection, she gets this stuff three times a day that’ll give her the proper nutrition she needs.”

He lifted the calf into his beefy arms, settling the baby easily against his large chest and lap. Tucker handled him with such tenderness that Hope was overcome with emotion. For a big, tough man like Tucker, he certainly did have a softer side. It was hard to believe his large callused hands would never hurt anything, not even a fly.

“Isn’t Smokey a name for a boy?” She smoothed her palm along the calf’s neck.

He shrugged. “She doesn’t know any better.”

“That’s true. And I like the name. She seems very happy in your arms.” She knew the feeling. Realizing how wrong she’d been about his whereabouts, she was at a cross between elation and pure joy—enough that she wanted to jump up and down. He wasn’t screwing Suzy, at least not at the moment, and that had to count for something.

She watched as Tucker coaxed the nipple into the mouth of the calf. She didn’t latch on right away, but gave a weak twitch of her head, wrinkle of her pert, pink nose then cupped her mouth over the nipple and drank.

Hope watched Tucker, skipped her eyes over his broad shoulders hidden by the red shirt. His shirtsleeves were rolled up high, exposing muscular tanned arms covered in crisp, dark hairs. He sat cross-legged, worn jeans stretched across his thick thighs.

He set down the almost empty bottle and moved his wide hands over the calf’s back. It wasn’t too long ago that he’d had those hands on her—touching, exploring.

Tingles rushed through her and her blood singed.

The years had passed, but just looking at him made her feel like a younger version of herself—a happier version.

A smile softened his features. He looked younger too.

“So now that you know I’m not cozying up to Suzy, do I get an apology?” He looked at her across the short space.

“I didn’t exactly come out and say that I thought you were with her.” His gaze caught her in a way that made her feel as if he could see to the very depths of her soul. He’d always had that way of watching her, searching her every thought.

“Oh you didn’t?”  He chuckled. “Admit it, you were jealous.”

She smiled. What else could she do? She was more smitten with him now and old feelings were coming back strong. Sometimes she wondered why fight it. There was an internal battle between past and present going on. If only giving in could be so easy. She’d fall like a leaning tower into his arms if it were.

“You don’t have to admit it. I see the truth in your eyes.” His rich voice melted sweetness across her flesh.

“You never were good at thinking of the future, Tuck.”

“Life is short, darlin’. If we’re all the time looking years ahead of ourselves, we miss the things right in front of us at that very moment in time.”

An invisible rope tugged her closer to him, and she resisted the urge. “Let’s just give into the mere idea that you and I follow this sexual connection between us—”

“Wow, you’re admitting that you want me.” He whistled loudly. The calf lifted its ears.

She rolled her eyes. “Follow along with me, if you can. If we give in, what happens in two weeks, when our time is through?”

“I have a feeling you’re going to not let me go.”

The presumptuous arrogance in his voice made her quiver. Why was she turned on when she should be walking away? “You’re sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m sure, but I know desire when I see it and sweetheart, you have want written all over that sweet body of yours. When are you gonna allow yourself some fun?”

He watched her through his thick lashes, his jaw clicked, and her heartbeat raced. He was as turned on as she was. He lassoed her with his look, the one she could never resist. A flush rushed through her, surpassing all obstacles to her hidden parts.

He laid the calf gently back into the bed of straw, stood up and lowered his hand for her to take. She stared at his long, wide fingers, the calluses on his palms. Her flesh quivered in need.  “Come on, sweetheart.”

She practically heard the lock break off the chain that steadied her. Laying her hand in his, she rose to her feet. “Where are we going?”

“Not far.” He led her to the front of the barn, grabbed a clean blanket from the stack from inside the wooden hutch. “Will you stay here with me tonight?” His eyes beseeched her.

She wouldn’t have told him no if her life depended on it.

“Yes.”

His warmth traveled from his hand up her arm and throughout her body. She was lost in the moment—probably would be for all to come—as he dropped her hand to spread the blanket across a large pile of loose straw. She guessed this was his bed for the last few nights.

He sat down on the edge of the blanket and tapped the area beside him, an unspoken invitation.

She had no hesitation left in her. She didn’t want to go back to the house and sleep alone in the big cold bed. She wanted to snuggle into his arms against his chest and listen to his soft breaths.

Joining him on the makeshift bed, all felt right in her world.

“My God, Hope. I’ve missed you.” He dragged her into the warm nest of his arms, squeezing her, but she could feel his restraint.

He pulled back but didn’t lower his arms. He smelled of leather and soap, awareness cascaded through her. She bent her head, kissed the warm skin and dipped her tongue out to taste the saltiness.

A deep moan vibrated his chest.

In one swift, needy move, he grasped her around the waist and slid her to the blanket. Her back pressed the soft straw pillow. He caught her mouth with his, sliding his tongue into the moist cavern and finding hers.

Shudders slipped through her as he lowered his body over hers, trapping her in masculinity. She moaned and widened her legs, securing her knees on the side of his hips, his swollen zipper nestling against the soft curve of her core.

He took on a rhythm with his tongue, slipping in and out of her mouth as if a promise of what he’d do with his erection soon—she hoped very soon. His fingers threaded through her hair, spreading it over the blanket, bringing a tendril to his nose.

“Vanilla and coconut. I’ve never smelled anything better,” he whispered.

Lifting her hands, she dug her fingers through his satiny locks, nicking his scalp, down to his nape and massaging the soft flesh. He growled as if telling her how good her touch felt and she rewarded him by sliding her teeth along his plump bottom lip. He rocked his hips, brushing his hard, taut body against her sensitive inner thighs.

The thin material of her shorts and lace panties were no barrier against the heat rising between them, scorching her groomed flesh. The iron length of him told her how much he wanted her, and she needed him more than she needed her next breath.

“You make me feel things that shouldn’t be legal.” His words seeped into her foggy brain. He reached for one boot, dragged it off her foot and he tossed it over one shoulder. He didn’t let go of her yet but he brought her leg up higher and kissed her ankle, darting his tongue along the finer bones, leaving a moist trail over the curve of her calf muscle, and swirled the design of an eight at the back of her knee. Tingles rushed over her and she sucked in a breath, clutching the blanket like a lifeline.