Mindset (26 page)

Josh and Cade both decided to go to the Lit Center with the girls, and they went in two cars in case someone had to leave early for any reason.  Trish was exceedingly happy to see her friends feeling well enough to come to work, and she was extremely thankful for the help.

The guys stayed outside to pull weeds and clean up the parking lot while the women cleaned inside the building.  Trish’s mother called around noon and said Lexie was running a fever, and she left early to take her to the pediatrician.  After she left, Josh and Eva went to get lunch for everyone, and Cade and Callie went to buy some plants and potting soil. 

They all sat down to eat Subway sandwiches, and afterwards Josh and Eva went out to buy some office supplies, telling the other pair that they’d see them back at the house. 

Callie started potting plants into the colorful containers they’d bought while Cade planted ground cover in the bordering garden area.  It was hot and sweaty work, and they were both caked in dirt and mud halfway up to their elbows.

“Why in the world didn’t I think to put up my hair?  I’ve never been so hot in my life.”  Callie tried to blow her hair away from her face where it seemed glued by the streams of perspiration running down her face and neck.

Cade was in the process of watering the beds he’d just planted and looked over at Callie still kneeling on the ground transferring plants.  And smiled. 

“Pretty hot, are you?” 

Callie looked up at him, feeling a little on the cranky side.  “I just said so, didn’t I?  I’m burning up.”

Without another word, Cade turned the hose on Callie soaking her from the chest up.  “Better?”

Callie blinked her eyes several times and used her forearm to swipe the now dripping hair out of her eyes.  “I cannot believe you just did that.”

“Just trying to help, baby.”

Callie slit her eyes nearly closed and looked at his smiling face. 
Okay, fine.  We’ll just see who has the last laugh here. 
Callie looked down at her soaked white t-shirt and got an idea how to exact revenge.

“I’ll be right back.  Baby.”  She went inside and rinsed her hands in the bathroom sink and looked at herself in the mirror.  She smiled a wicked smile as she put her plan into action.

When Callie went back outside, her hair was tied up and she had a big smile on her face.  Cade looked up with his smile still in place, but when he got a better look at her, he froze and the smile was lost real quick.

“Callie, what the hell do you think you’re doing coming outside like that?”

“Like what?  With my hair up?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, and it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with your hair.  You go put your bra back on.  That t-shirt doesn’t leave a damn thing to the imagination, damn it.”

“Oh.  You mean this t-shirt?  The white t-shirt that you just finished soaking through?  Is it
my
fault my bra was too uncomfortable to wear being wet like that?”  Callie threw her shoulders back and put her hands on her hips, stretching the thin, sheer fabric even tighter across her chest, her nipples clearly outlined.  She was obviously cold.

“Jesus Christ, Callie!  Anyone could come by at any time.  We’re in front of the god damn building, and the god damn street’s right there!”

“Well, in this heat, it should dry out pretty fast.  In fact, by the time I get back from the 7-11 across the street and buy me a Slurpee, it should be completely dry.  Do you want me to get you a Slurpee too?  Coke or cherry?  I want cherry.  Be right back.”  Callie started toward the street only to be intercepted by Cade who threw her over his shoulder and started inside the building after he turned off the water.  Callie squealed and yelled at him to put her down in between spurts of laughter.  He swatted her none to gently as he crossed the threshold.  And locked the door.

“You play with fire, little girl, and you’re gonna get burned.”  Callie pushed up against his back until she was nearly vertical, and Cade slowly began to lower her until her breasts were even with his mouth.  Then he teased her hardened nipples with his mouth through the thin, wet material of her t-shirt.

“Oh God, Cade.  God.”  Callie held his head to her and moaned, and he lowered her more until he could take her mouth in a demanding, hot kiss.  Callie wrapped her legs around his waist and returned his fire with some of her own as she rubbed against the erection she could clearly feel through both their jeans.

“Callie, Jesus, baby.”  He kissed her passionately and walked her over to the receptionist’s desk that was still clear after being moved in days before, holding her rear in both his hands.  When he got to the side edge, he set her gently down and stripped her t-shirt off.  She looked at him and slowly lay back on the desk.

“Take my jeans off, baby.  As hot as it is outside, I do believe it’s about to get hotter in here.”

Cade didn’t need to be told twice and slid her jeans and panties off, casting them aside.  Callie cupped her breasts in her hands and pushed them together, running her fingers over the still puckered nipples and moaned.

“Holy shit.”  Cade reached for his belt buckle and started to unfasten it.

Callie continued to trail her hands lower, hovering just above the triangle of curls below and finally dipping lower.  “Hurry, Cade.  I need you, baby.”

“Fuck me.”

“No, baby.  Fuck
me
.”

Callie threw back her head and moaned and he bit her neck and licked his way down to her breasts, taking each hard peak into his mouth in turns as he continued to pump into her hard and fast.

Cade was fierce in his lovemaking.  As he continued to increase the intensity, it occurred to him that no matter how many times he had Callie, it would never be enough.  A man and a woman couldn’t possibly get any closer than they were right now, making love to each other, and yet it wasn’t close enough. 

“Christ, Callie.  I can’t get enough of you.  Lie back and hold on.”  Callie did as he asked and he watched the play of emotions across her face as he made love to her.  He reached for her breasts again and tweaked the nipples making her moan and gasp.  Then he trailed his fingers between them and lowered them to stroke her into a mindless mass of frenzied need.  Finally, she called out his name and dissolved into a passionate release that left her breathless.

“That’s right, baby.  Feel what I can do to you.  Now feel what you do to me.”  He shouted out as he emptied himself and fell forward until he was gasping for breath against her breasts where his head rested, and she wrapped her arms around him, stroking her fingers through his hair.  He closed his eyes and tried to regroup enough to stand and found that he couldn’t let her go yet.  He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him, thinking he was as lost in her as a man could be.  It was time to make her his in every way.

 “You’re kind of quiet, Cade.  Everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine.  I’m just enjoying the feel of you.”  She felt him smile, and she kissed the top of his head.  “How would you like to go riding with me later tonight?  We could head out around five or six or so to miss the heat of the day, maybe take a picnic basket with us and tell Eva not to expect us for supper.  What do you think?”

“Sure, Cade, that’ll be fine.  I’ll pack us something to eat and bring a blanket.  It’ll be nice to get out of the house for awhile, and I haven’t ridden since we went to the canyon.  Can we go back there?

“We can if we have time.  I want to take you someplace else first.  I want to show you something.”

“Okay, Cade.  Where are you taking me?” 

“You’ll see.”

“Ooo, a mystery man.”

“Not so much a mystery as a surprise.”

“I like surprises!  Give me a hint.”

“Nope.  No hint.”

“Not even a little one?  Will I like it?”

He was quiet for a bit.  “I hope so, Callie.  I really hope so, baby.  Come on, let’s get dressed.  I’ve got some stuff I have to do before we can go riding.”

“What stuff?”

“It’s all part of the surprise.”

****

Callie made up a picnic basket and handed it over to Cade when he brought the horses over to where she waited.  When she saw the rifle cases strapped to the saddles, she raised an eyebrow questioningly.  “Just where are you taking me that you think we need to bring guns?”

“Just being careful.  Some psycho guy has already attacked you twice for sure, maybe more.  You know what your Granddad always says.  She joined him in his recitation of, ‘better to be safe than sorry’.

They headed out.  Cade figured they had a good two to three hours of light left, as he led the way toward the ranch’s northwest border.  “You’re very quiet again, Cade.  Did I do something to make you mad?”

He turned a serious look towards her and tried to smile, not very effectively.  His whole future rested on the outcome of this night.  He sure hoped it was going to have a happy ending.  He hadn’t given much thought to the possibility of her turning down his proposal, and he couldn’t help thinking about it now.  He didn’t know what he’d do if she said no. 
I guess it would depend on what kind of no she gave me.  If it was a ‘no, I don’t think so’, or a ‘no, not right now’, or even a ‘no, I’m happy the way things are’ there might still be some hope that I could change her mind.  But if it was a ‘hell no’ or ‘absolutely not’ no or a ‘no way’ no, it wouldn’t be good.  If she set her mind to ‘no’, … shit! 

Maybe she’ll say yes.  It hadn’t been that long ago when she’d said once that she wanted a future with me.  Right before she called me an ass and rode away like a bat out of hell.  But she had said it, of course.  But later she said we should see where things lead, and that sounds a lot like she might be having second thoughts.  Shit
. 

He thought things had gone pretty well so far, so maybe she did, too.  She hadn’t been mad at him lately, so that must be a good sign.  And she sure wasn’t neutral where he was concerned, that was for sure.  All he had to do was kiss her, and she was hot for him.  At least he could feel confident in that arena.  No problems in the bedroom.  Or on the couch, in the bunkhouse, or outdoors. 
You’d think that would make me feel better
.  Normally it would, but not with Callie.  He wanted more than great sex with her.  Someday, he’d be an old man, and maybe sex with Callie would be history.  
Nah.  I’ll always want her.  I’d have to be dead not to.  Fuck it.  I’m tired of thinking about it.  I’ll just have to give it my best shot and see what happens. 

“Hey, doesn’t this fence mark Granddad’s border?”

“Yep.  I need to restring some of it up a little further.  It’s busted.  Come on.”

Callie followed closely until Cade rode through the broken part of the fence.  She pulled up then and commented.  “I don’t know how smart it would be to keep going this way, Cade.  This is private property, and some people are funny about that sort of thing.  I don’t know who owns it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.  Besides, what I want to show you is just up ahead.”  She shrugged and followed.