Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11) (27 page)

“I saw that look,” Alyssa said.

Harmony turned to her. “So did I.”

“I swear, it’s like the temperature in the house just rose ten degrees. I might go up in flames just being in the same room with the two of you.”

Harmony laughed. “Shut up, Alyssa.”

She made her way around to say hello to friends and relatives. Somehow, she and Barrett ended up in the kitchen together.

“Hey,” she said, wishing she could touch him.

“How’s it going?”

“Good. Stopped by your house today.”

He nodded. “I was there the other day. They’ve made a lot of progress. Walls are in place and drywall and flooring is in. I can see how the place is going to look now.”

“I really like how it’s taking shape. You’ll be surprised how fast they finish it. Before long I’ll be putting the final decorating touches on it. In fact, you need to make the final decision on paint because they’re waiting on that.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Drake came over and draped his arms around both of them. “You two over here talking pillow colors?”

“You know it’s my favorite topic,” Barrett said.

“How’s the place coming along?” Drake asked.

“Good. You need to come by and take a look.”

Drake stepped back. “What? And miss the big reveal? I’ll wait for the open house. The one that comes with beer.”

Barrett laughed. “Okay.”

“In the meantime, Mama said dinner’s ready.”

They sat and ate and, as usual, Mama and her aunts had set out a feast—way more food than Harmony could eat in one sitting.

She’d grabbed a dish towel and tucked it into the neck of her dress. This was one of her favorite dresses, and no way was she going to get barbecue sauce on it.

“You should put one of your mama’s robes on,” her Aunt Paula said.

“Yes, because that would be even more attractive than that towel you’re wearing.” Alyssa gave her the side eye.

“Oh, I’m fine with this, thank you.”

“The bib looks great,” Barrett said. “I especially like the red and blue birds.”

That’s because the red and blue birds were spread across her breasts, but she was not going to say that out loud. “Thanks, Barrett. I thought the color scheme was ideal.”

After dinner, the guys did dishes, which was the norm.

Harmony and Alyssa took glasses of iced tea out to the back porch. A storm was brewing. It was cloudy and the wind had picked up, but she was grateful for the breeze and the sudden drop in temperature.

They were soon joined by Mama and the aunts, and then all the guys.

“I want to thank you for the invite to your family’s ranch,” Mama said to Barrett.

“My mother said to tell you she’s made up your favorite guest room. And that they just picked some corn the other day.”

“I do love fresh, farm-raised corn on the cob. Is that handsome ranch hand still working there?”

“My Uncle Elijah?” Barrett asked with a grin. “Yes, he’s still there.”

“I look forward to seeing that man again.”

Drake shook his head. “Do I need to watch out for you and Barrett’s uncle?”

Mama pointed her finger at Drake. “No, you need to mind your own business.”

Harmony laughed. “Oooh, she told you.”

“I guess she did.”

The wind started to get violent, so everyone moved inside. The aunts left, then some of the guys.

“I should go,” Alyssa said. “I have to make a stop at the hair-supply store before I head home.”

Harmony hugged her. “Looks like the storm is going to get bad. You be safe driving home.”

“I will. You, too.”

Harmony said good-bye to her mother, who made her promise to call as soon as she got home, then told her brother she’d see him in Texas, since he was heading down there tomorrow morning and she wouldn’t fly out until tomorrow night.

She headed out, with Barrett right behind her. She could see lightning out in the distance. Hopefully she’d beat the storm home.

She got into her car, and as she hit the highway, she noticed Barrett’s car behind her. Not unusual, since they lived in the same direction, but as she got closer to home, his car stayed behind hers.

She smiled, and was grateful to have him stay behind her because the downpour started several miles from home. It was a hard rain, with heavy wind, thunder and lightning. She pulled into her garage, leaving the door open when Barrett pulled into her driveway. He made a quick dash into the garage, but he had gotten wet.

She shut the garage door.

“Crazy storm out there. Thanks for following me.”

He shook water droplets from his hair. “I needed to be sure you got home okay.”

They walked inside. “Which reminds me, I need to call my mom. There are towels in the downstairs bathroom you can use to dry off.”

“Okay.”

He disappeared and she fished her phone out of her purse, made a quick call to her mother to let her know she was home and safe, then laid her phone on the counter.

Barrett came out of the bathroom with a small towel, rubbing it over his face and hair.

A sharp crack of thunder made her jump.

Barrett laid the towel down and came over to her, sliding his arms around her to tug her against him. “Scared of the storm?”

“Not really. Just surprised by the thunder.”

“It’s okay. I’ll keep you safe.”

“How about you take my mind off of it?”

His lips curved. “I can do that. You know, when we were at your mom’s tonight, it took all my willpower to keep my hands off of you.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes.” He smoothed his hands down her arms, then turned her around to face her kitchen counter. “I kept thinking of being behind you over the kitchen counter, lifting that pretty white dress and fucking you.”

Her stomach tumbled, the need she’d held in check all night releasing in a full-blown shudder when he drew the zipper down on her dress, then reached inside to cup her breasts. Even with her bra on, her nipples responded, tingling and hardening against his questing fingers.

Every time with Barrett was like this, her desire for him as fast and frenzied as the lightning outside. He bent her over the counter and pressed his lips to her neck.

“Whenever I’m around you all I can think about is being inside of you. You make me hungry, Harmony. You make me hard.”

He lifted her dress over her hips, drew her panties down around her ankles. She kicked off her heels and wriggled her panties off while she heard the tearing of a condom package. He pushed her thighs apart and nudged his cock to the entrance of her pussy, reaching around to rub her clit with his hand.

Her anticipation had put her nearly there. With a few strokes of his hand she climaxed. Tingling pleasure shot through her with an unexpected rush of delight. She cried out when he pushed inside of her, the waves of her orgasm continuing to pulse inside of her while he drove into her.

“Fuck,” he said. “You’re still coming.”

She came again when he fucked her harder and faster, making her grab onto the counter for support. When he climaxed, he wrapped an arm around her waist and shuddered against her, thrusting his cock in deeply, his groan a delight to her frenzied senses.

He laid his chest against her back and she felt the wild beating of his heart, felt the perspiration of his skin as his thighs rested against hers.

“You’re sweaty,” she whispered.

“The things you do to me.”

She closed her eyes. He had no idea what he was doing to her, the way he made her feel, the responses he evoked in her.

It had never been like this for her. Not with any man before. She’d had great sex before, for sure. But with Barrett, it was as if every time was so incredibly powerful it laid her out, made her feel as if he were irrevocably weaving a spell over her.

He pulled out, then turned her around, framing her face with his hands to kiss her so tenderly it brought tears to her eyes. She fought them back, fighting the emotion.

This was just sex. Hot, rocking, crazy sex. Nothing more.

It couldn’t be more because she knew that’s what it was for Barrett.

She wasn’t going to get emotionally involved with him.

When he disentangled, he said, “I think I need a shower.”

They went upstairs and she pinned her hair up and joined him in the shower for a quick rinse off. She changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top, then fixed them both a glass of iced tea.

“Stay tonight?” she asked. “Storm’s still raging out there.”

She thought he’d object, but he just nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

They cuddled up on the sofa together. He gathered her close and she laid her head against his chest and he rubbed his fingers up and down her arm. She wondered if maybe it was too late to fight the emotional attachment she had to him.

If so, she was in deep, and it was starting to worry her.

Harmony had never been to the Double C ranch, but had heard stories about it from her mother and from Drake. She’d heard it was sizable, that Barrett’s parents owned it. Barrett’s father, Easton Cassidy, was a football legend, a retired quarterback who’d forged a dynasty of amazing sports stars.

Barrett, Flynn and their brother Grant played football. Tucker, Barrett’s twin brother, was a pitcher and the only member of the family to play baseball.

Of course there was also Mia, the youngest Cassidy sibling and the only daughter. She was in postgraduate school and not the least bit interested in sports.

Barrett’s mother, Lydia, was a former attorney who now helped Easton run the ranch as well as various family foundations. According to Harmony’s mother, the woman was formidable but also one of the nicest people her mother had ever met. She was one of the
reasons Harmony’s mom had decided to go back to school, get her degree and was now a financial analyst.

Harmony had a lot to thank Lydia Cassidy for.

Drake and Barrett had flown in earlier in the day, but since both she and her mother had to work on Friday, they hadn’t been able to fly out until later in the day. Barrett had told her he’d have a car waiting for them at the airport in Austin, and true to his word, as soon as they arrived there was a sign with her name on it and someone had helped them with their luggage and directed them to a nicely air-conditioned SUV.

It turned out the guy wasn’t with a car service but was one of the ranch hands who’d been sent to pick them up.

It was about a fifty-mile drive from Austin to the Double C ranch. They went from city to country and when they hit the gates of the ranch, Harmony was in awe at the sheer amount of land they passed through.

The main house was massive, surrounded by tall trees and barking dogs and a lot of cars.

“Is there a party tonight?” Harmony asked.

“I don’t know, honey. Knowing the Cassidys, probably. They do like to entertain. But they also have a big family.”

Her mother climbed out of the car, greeted all the barking dogs, and left her to climb up the stairs and hug a petite, slender, gorgeous woman with light brown hair. She wore a maxi skirt and a tank top and sandals and looked like a mature fashion model.

Harmony made her way to the porch—after greeting all the dogs, of course.

“Go. Shoo,” the woman said to the dogs, who scattered on command. “Sorry. They’re all super friendly. Hello, Harmony, and welcome to the ranch. I’m Lydia Cassidy.”

It was hard to believe this beautiful woman was the mother of
five children. Harmony held out her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Cassidy.”

Lydia smiled. “Call me Lydia. We’re very informal here. And it’s hot outside. Let’s go in where it’s cooler.”

They walked inside and, as a designer, Harmony took in everything, from the gorgeous wood floors to the incredible, state-of-the-art kitchen. She’d already had a glimpse of the amazing, obviously handmade dining room table they’d passed by on the way. It was all done in a very homey, country way that also felt modern and was incredibly beautiful. The décor was amazing and spot on.

“Your home is lovely,” Harmony said.

“Thank you. I made some lemonade. Would you like some?”

“I’d love some,” Harmony’s mother said.

“I would, too, thank you.”

“Me, too, Mom.”