Broken Fences (A TroubleMaker Novel, #1) (14 page)

After Sissy
smiled and waved to a few of her guests, she turned back to him. “Dusty’s
mother had married young to an older man. He didn’t work because he didn’t have
to, since he had a big inheritance to live off of. They liked to travel a lot.
When they had Dusty’s brother, Matt—”

His feet stopped
dead in their tracks, halting the dance. “Dusty has a brother?” he asked in
disbelief, having never heard that before.

“Yeah. You
didn’t know? He’s five or six years older than Dusty, a pretty busy man. We don’t
see too much of him. He was at Aunt Lulu’s, though, when she got us all
together before she—”

“Yeah, I heard
about that. I’m sorry for your loss. I know Dusty was very fond of her too.”

“I do miss her.
Nut or not, Aunt Lulu was the best. It was impossible not to adore her.” She
shook her head and blinked a few times, perhaps an attempt to shake away her
tears. “She was nothing like Dusty’s mom, a mean woman who only cared about
herself. I think Dusty was an accident.” She dropped her voice. “I overheard
Mama say that Dusty’s mom said she was a mistake, but by the time she realized
she was pregnant, it was too late for her to do anything about it.”

Colden couldn’t
believe any mother could ever say such a thing about her child, and it sickened
him. As Sissy carried on, Colden determined that the safest thing for the woman
who had birthed Dusty was to stay as far away from him as possible.

“Needless to
say, because Matt was older, their parents left Dusty with him whenever they
went on their excursions. It happened all the time. When Matt went off to
college, they stuck Dusty in boarding school, but after Matt graduated, he
tried his best to take care of her himself. As Dusty got older and smarter, she
realized she was holding her brother back from having his own life. That was
when she convinced him to let her stay with Aunt Lulu.” She waved and smiled at
someone, then turned back to Colden. “Look, on the outside, Dusty might seem to
be a strong, independent woman, but deep down, she has some serious issues with
abandonment.”

Her smiling eyes
turned serious, and his sweet little sister-in-law proved just how intimidating
she could be. He knew Jimmy wouldn’t stand a chance against Sissy. She was
fearless and, for the first time, appeared unbreakable. He felt sorry for his
brother, but he was proud to call her his sister.

 She tipped up
on her toes and looked him straight in the eyes. “Now, if you intend on walking
away again, I suggest you just leave her the fuck alone.” She grinned, patted
him on the shoulder, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before she strolled
away.

A sunny smile
fastened itself to her angelic face as she greeted her guests, and he realized
that his new little sis was a strong addition to the family. Like Dusty and his
own mother, she had put Colden in his place. Being stunned and then left alone
in the middle of a dance floor wasn’t somewhere he wanted to be for too long
though.

Still, looking
like an idiot didn’t bother him nearly as much as what Sissy had just told him.
He wondered why Dusty had never mentioned her brother and why she’d never said
anything about the horrible things her parents had done to her. They’d
abandoned her, just as he had done twice. His stomach drew tight as he realized
she probably didn’t talk about it because it was simply a wound too deep to
think about.

He had to prove
to her that he cared about her, to show her he wasn’t going to hurt her. Most
of all, Colden had to convince her that he would never, ever leave her again.
She was hurt, scared, and reluctant to trust him. With this newfound
information, if he wanted to get anywhere with her, he knew he’d have to go
slow.

When he finally
found his legs again, he walked off the dance floor. His mind was already
devising a plan, something that would allow him to mend those fences once and
for all.

Chapter
Fifteen

The party was
slowing down, and Odessa’s six-pack of heartbreaking hellions were good and
drunk. Dusty had just packed two of them into a cab, and three others had slurred
their way into sober girls’ cars for a safer ride home and probably a most
interesting nightcap. As for the last one, Sissy was holding him up out on the
makeshift dance floor at the bar. Making her way to her office, Dusty shook her
head and smiled. Odessa was never going to be the same, now that the six-pack
was short a heartthrob. Then again, nothing in Odessa was going to be the same
for Dusty now that she’d been with Colden James again either.

With Sissy
married and obviously well taken care of, Dusty figured it was time to move on
with her life, maybe make some big changes. She even thought about selling The
Bucking Barrel and starting a new life somewhere else, in a place that didn’t
remind her of the man she was in love with. Since the first time Colden James
had shifted those dark green eyes her way, she’d found him unforgettable. She
thought a change of scenery might help her get past him.

Earlier in the
night, she’d caught those penetrating eyes on her, but now it appeared as
though Colden had left the bar. She hadn’t seen him in over an hour. She’d
known all along that his departure was inevitable, but it still didn’t make the
ache in her heart hurt any less.

Perhaps she’d
pull a St. James and run too. There was no government agency willing to offer
her a quick getaway from her life, of course, but she figured she’d get enough
for the bar that she could go just about anywhere. Sadly, the only place she
wanted to be was wherever the Saint was. Shaking her head, this time over her
foolishness, Dusty walked into her office and put the cash bag in the safe.

When it came to
her foolishness, she wanted to blame it on the fact that mental instability ran
in her family. However, in her aching heart, she knew it came from the love she
had for Colden. She was never going to be able to get away from the feelings
she had for him, no matter where she went.

With that on her
mind, she turned around, only to find him standing in the doorway to her
office.

His tie was
gone, and with a few buttons undone, his shirt was open. He leaned casually
against the doorjamb, looking scrumptious as ever.

“I-I thought you
left,” she blurted.

“I wouldn’t go
without saying goodbye to my favorite girl,” he said, his voice deep and husky.
With the absence of undergarments beneath the bridesmaids dress, her breasts
swelled and her sensitive nipples tweaked against the thin material. “So tell
me…do you want me to say goodnight?” he drawled as bold, determined eyes
touched her everywhere. “Or would you rather me come in and kick this door
shut?”

She licked her
bottom lip, but before it all registered and she could give him an answer, Colden
stepped into the room. With a tap of the foot, he pushed the door closed.

“Uh…” She
struggled for her next breath as he took a few more steps into the room. “You
didn’t give me a chance to answer.”

He stopped. “But
you did. I saw it in your eyes. They’re begging to be alone with me.”

“Look, I don’t
know what you think you saw, but—”

“Really, Dusty,
don’t try to deny it. Need I remind you what happened the last time you did
that, back in the opera house?” He paused, casting a glance down her responsive
body. “Up in the balcony?”

“You mean when
you seduced me, just like you did in that damn motel room?” she rushed out,
fearful of him getting too close to her Colden-deprived body.

“No.” He drew
nearer, and her heart panicked. “I didn’t do anything to you that you didn’t
want me to do.” He halted in front of her.

“Fine. It’s
true.” She swallowed hard. “There’s no denying it. Like I said before, I’m
sexually attracted to you, but that’s all there is between us, all there will
ever—”

He picked her
up, swiped her desk clean, and set her on it. “You think that’s all it is? An
attraction?” He leaned in toward her. “The way I see it…” He touched her mouth
with his finger and drew a line to her cleavage. “You waited six years for me
because, deep in your heart, you know you belong to me.”

He couldn’t have
been more right, but she refused to admit it. She did need him and want him,
and even if it was to be the last time, she would have him right there in her
office. “Tell ya what, St. James. I’ll belong to you.” She leaned in close to
his tempting mouth. “But just for tonight.”

His lips curled
up into a smile. “Just tonight?”

“Yes.” If he
thought that he could just come back every six years and she’d be waiting for
him, whether her heart belonged to him or not, that was just nuts, and she
wanted to make that clear.

“All right.
We’ll start with tonight.” He took a step back from her. “Now,” he said, unzipping
his pants, “spread your legs wide for me.” Colden reached in and pulled himself
out of his slacks. There wasn’t anything hotter than seeing Colden’s big,
strong hand wrapped around his thick cock, the very thing she wanted deep
inside of her. “C’mon,” he coaxed while giving himself a nice, long stroke. “I
know you aren’t wearing any panties, so get those legs apart, girl. I want in
there real bad.” His fingers tightened around the engorged flesh he held in his
hand.

Wanting him in
there too, Dusty placed her palms on the desk, leaned back, and opened her
legs.

Colden’s eyes
darkened with desire. “Wider.”

When she obeyed,
he rewarded her by tugging the top of her dress down until her swollen breasts
popped free. He caught her nipple between his thumb and index finger and
squeezed hard. The throbbing sting caused her to cry out for more.

“I love that
sound,” he said, pinching her even harder.

She whimpered
for more.

“Now lift your
dress and let me see that pretty pussy, sweetheart.” Heat smoldered from his
sexy, hot stare. He stroked himself a little faster as he tugged on her
sensitive nipple.

That was all the
inspiration she needed. She pulled her dress up, exposing her thighs. When
Colden groaned, she yanked the material up around her waist.

“Fuck,” he
growled, and the sound pushed a bout of desire out from between her legs.
“Touch yourself.”

The need in his
tone lowered her hand to the hottest part of her body.

“Yes. Oh yeah.
Damn, girl, that’s hot.”

In an attempt to
get closer to Colden, Dusty scooted to the edge of desk.

“You want this,
don’t you,” he taunted, holding himself close between her thighs.

With her eyes
fixed on his erection, she nodded.

Colden moved
forward. Guiding the thickness of his head, he rubbed it over the soft folds of
her pussy, causing her to shudder. “Such a good girl. You’re always so wet and
ready for me, aren’t you?” He drew himself back up her bare flesh. “You like
that too, huh?”

She nodded
again. Her hips thrust forward as she slid the wetness from the slick, damp
heat over her tender clitoris.

This time,
Colden shuddered. “Let me taste you. Put that naughty, wet finger in my mouth.”

The request
turned her on, and as usual, Dusty did exactly what he demanded. When Colden’s
lips slit open for her finger, more desire spilled out from between her legs.

“So good,” he
said after taking a lick of her wetness. “Now, tell me what my naughty girl
wants.”

Drowning in
desire, Dusty didn’t hesitate. “I want you deep inside of me, taking me hard
and fast.”

Colden’s eyes
grew darker, almost black. He grabbed her by the hips and thrust himself into
her, stretching her with his thickness. He held himself there. She tried to
move her hips, but he had a good, strong hold of her. He smiled down at her and
rolled his hips once.

She dropped flat
on the desk. “More, Colden. Please! I-I want all of you,” she pleaded.

He gripped her
thighs, spreading her wider, and pressed closer until his body was flush with
hers. “Don’t move.” His fingers dug into her flesh to keep her in place as he
slowly moved in and out of her.

Desire began to
build deep in the low of her belly. On fire, and about to have a total
meltdown, she tried to sit up.

He leaned over
her. “I said not to move. Do you want me to fuck you hard and fast, or do you
want me to stop?”

“No, don’t stop.
I want it, Colden! I want you hard and fast,” she admitted, far too gone to
care how desperate she sounded. Needing him to be in control, she lowered back
on the desk. “Please! I can’t take much more, St. James. I’m so, so hot,” she
begged, preparing for release.

His hand wedged
between her legs, finding the hottest part of her. “Here?” He circled his
finger over the sensitive hood of her clit just as he glided upward, deeper
inside her. “Are you hot here, sweetheart?”

Her eyes rolled
back as she shuddered a breathy, “Yes…”

“And, if I keep
doing this, are you gonna cum?” His finger played with her naked, wet flesh.

In response, she
arched her back, and her throbbing breasts lifted for his touch. “Oh, God!
Yes!”

Both hands
reached up and captured her nipples. First, he rolled them gently, then he
pinched them, squeezing harder as he grinded his body into hers. “What about
this? Does this make you hot too?”

She peered up at
him, and all of her feelings for him gathered to her center. “Yes, anything,”
she panted, the sensation becoming heavy and fierce. “Wherever you touch me,
you make me hot.” She tried to hold back the emotions, wanting to break from
deep within, but he moved upward and somehow touched them. “Colden, baby! Oh
yes, baby!”

“Cum! Cum right
now. Show me you belong to me, Dusty girl.”

Once more, her
entire body responded to his every command, and her orgasm broke free. Colden
pinned her hips to the desk and drove himself so hard and fast into her that it
felt like her climax would last for an eternity. At least it had lasted long
enough for Colden to call out her name in his own release.

* * * * *

The ride to
Dusty’s house was silent. Colden was still speechless from what had happened in
her office. After having not only the best but also the most meaningful sex in
his life, he had gathered Dusty into his arms. It seemed like a fitting time
for him to confess his feelings to her, but before he could say anything, she
started to cry. His strong-willed, stubborn, fearless Dusty girl had wept in
his arms for nearly ten minutes. Colden hadn’t been sure what the hell to do,
so he’d just held her.

When she’d
finally pulled back from him, her eyes red and puffy, he tried to find out what
was wrong, but short of ordering her to tell him the truth, she refused to talk
about it. She had tried to push him away, but because he refused to leave, she
had eventually agreed to let him take her home.

He had thought
he’d made some progress in her office. Everything was going so damn well. She
had wanted him, and he was certain that she needed him as much as he needed her
too, but now it appeared he’d read her all wrong.

Somehow, he’d
messed things up, making her even more upset with him. How was he supposed to
convince her that she meant everything to him when she cried after they had
sex? Did she regret it? He couldn’t bear the thought of her regretting them
being together.

He pulled into
her driveway and put the truck in park. During the entire ride, Dusty hadn’t
changed position. Her head was turned from him, looking at nothing in
particular out the window.

“Dusty, what
happened back there. What did I do to make you cry?”

“It doesn’t
matter,” she said in barely a whisper.

“Yes it does.”
His aggravation kicked his voice up a notch or two.

She lifted a
hand. “Just stop! I can’t do this anymore.” She reached for the door handle.
“There’s nothing between us other than good sex. Go back to your life, Colden,
and I’ll go back to mine.

“Dusty…” He
touched her arm to stop her from running.

“I’m serious,
Colden. We’re trying to grasp on to something that died over six years ago.”

“Don’t say
that,” he pleaded to the back of her head. “Damn it, Dusty, look at me!”

Her head slowly
turned, and he prayed that she wasn’t crying again. But when she looked at him
with that blank, dead stare, he wished for those puffy, red eyes to resurface.
At least there had been some kind of emotion behind them.

“Sweetheart…”

“Save it,
Colden. I know how you really feel about me.”

“Good…then you
know I’m crazy about you.”

She glared at
him for a few seconds, as though she didn’t believe him.

He held his
breath and told himself he was going to go slow with her. “The only reason I
came to Odessa was for Sissy. Now that she has someone to take care of her,
it’s time for me to move on.”

The statement
put a little crack of worry in his heart. “No!”

“Yes, Colden.
I’ve already decided I’m selling The Bucking Barrel and moving away from here.
This has never been my home. I don’t belong here.”

“Maybe this
isn’t your home but there is one place you do belong, Dusty girl…and that’s
with me.”

“How dare you
say that, Colden James?” Her face turned bright red. “You have no right! You
left me just like everyone else did.” Akin to his heart, Dusty’s voice cracked
a little. “You’re no different. Even Matt, my own brother, left me. Do you know
I haven’t seen him once since I came to Odessa? I’m so mad at him. Just like
you, he claims to have good reasons for his absence. It seems I tend to
surround myself with people who put me last on their list.”

Colden listened
to her, his heart no longer cracked but lacerated and bleeding. She had never
spoken of her brother because she was angry with him. Apparently, he’d hurt her
too. If she could ignore her own sibling by setting her mind to it, she would
certainly have no problem blocking him out of her life too. He had to admit
that the notion frightened him.