Rough Riders Bundle 1(books 1, 2, 3) (55 page)

An awkward pause lingered as the sun beat down on them and the gnats swarmed.

Macie wiped sweat from her brow and slapped away the bugs. “So, what did you need, Gemma?”

“Help. Colby and Channing McKay will be here tomorrow morning. Cash and I are headed over to Meeteetse to look at a couple of bulls tonight and won’t be back until late.”

“What needs done?”

“The house is cleaned and ready, but I haven’t had time to cook anything.”

Macie relaxed. Cooking, she could handle. Cleaning the barns? Yuck. “You have a menu planned?”

Gemma shook her head. “But the freezer and the pantry are both full so there’s plenty of food to choose from.”

“Will I be working around dietary restrictions? Is Channing a vegetarian or anything?”

“No. I think it’s illegal to be a vegetarian in Wyoming.”

She smiled at Gemma’s teasing tone. Things were getting easier between them. It was an odd balancing act, with Gemma being her dad’s boss and lover—Macie was never sure when one role was more predominant for him or for her. And Gemma made a point not to intrude on time Macie spent with her dad. So they were both careful not to offend or overextend themselves or their opinions.

“So you won’t mind helping out?”

“Not at all. Might not be politically correct not to aspire to be a world-class chef, but I like to cook. I like to cook for lots of people.”

“That makes one of us. How are things going at the diner?”

“Slow.”

“That stinks. Unless you like having time on your hands?”

“Not really. I like to stay busy, though I do have more time to try out recipes when I’m not flipping burgers. Sitting around drives me crazy.” She shot Gemma a sideways glance as they started toward the house. “Would it be all right if I weeded that garden spot? Clem promised me a few tomato and pepper plants. I’d like to try my hand at gardening.”

Gemma didn’t hide her shock. “You’ve never had a garden?”

“Mom and I didn’t stay in one place very long. Certainly not long enough to see the fruits of my labors.”

“You can do whatever you want, Macie. I want you to think of this as your home for as long as you’re here, okay?”

“Okay.”

“You have time to come up to the house right now and hash this cooking business out?”

“Sure.”

“What are you doin’ with the mint?”

“Drying it. Maybe I’ll sprinkle some in a batch of brownies.”

“See? You’re creative. I never would’ve thought of that.”

An engine revved in the machine shed, then sputtered and died. Metal clanged on metal.

Gemma frowned. “Damn old tractor. Something’s always broken around here. I wish your dad would just forget about it.”

“Not a chance. I never knew that Dad loves to tinker with engines. My Escape is running like a champ now, thanks to him. He has some kind of magic hands.”

“I’ll second that,” Gemma muttered. Then she stopped in her tracks and looked up, her mouth open in shock.

Macie laughed. “Not touching that one, Gemma.”

“Foot in mouth disease runs in my family.”

“Carter’s too. So the McKays are descending on us. What is his brother Colby like?”

“Charming. Candid. Generous. He and Channing are great. You’ll like them.”

But will they like me?
Rather than dwell on that, or if Carter was going to present them as the couple he insisted they were, she focused on the jobs at hand. Inside the kitchen, Macie made lists and took notes of where assorted pots and utensils were kept.

Gemma said, “I know it’s only a little after noon, but do you want a beer? I sure could use one.”

“That’d be great.”

“Pull up a chair.”

They sat at the table, drinking in silence. Finally Macie said, “Why are you looking at bulls?”

“For breeding bucking bulls.”

“Once everything is squared away on the Bar 9, will you try to get back into the stock contractor business?”

Gemma looked surprised that Macie remembered. “Good question. That’s what I’d planned.”

“And now?”

“I’m wondering if I’m doin’ it only because it’s what Steve would’ve wanted. Being a contractor is a lot of work and a lot of travel. Which wasn’t so bad right after Steve died, when I didn’t want to be alone here, where every damn thing reminded me of him and the hole in my life.

“It was fun for a couple of years. Getting to know the cowboys and their families. Changing things up from town to town, a different rodeo every week. It felt like an extended family, appealing thought to me since I’m low on family.”

Macie bit back
me too
and listened.

Gemma cleared the huskiness from her throat. “But then things went downhill fast. Mike Morgan had a career-ending injury courtesy of one of my steers. Colby was almost killed by a bull in Cheyenne. Some of the other cowboys I’d been friends with for years dropped out ’cause they couldn’t make a living rodeoin’. After I quit seeing Cash around the circuit, I realized he was a big part of why I’d liked it so much in the first place.”

After that personal admission, Macie waited in vain for a look of dismay to cross Gemma’s face.

“It was my damn pride that kept me away from him. That and fear.” She laughed. “And my age.”

“Gemma, you’re hardly teetering toward the grave.”

“Part of me knows that. The other part, the skeptical part that looks in the mirror every morning? That part sees wrinkles, gray hair, and luggage under my eyes, and seems to have the upper hand, calling me an old hag.”

“Ageism sucks on either end.”

Gemma gave her a thoughtful look. “Meaning?”

“You think you’re too old to do what really makes you happy; everyone thinks I’m too young to know my own mind.”

“I’ve never thought of you that way.”

“That makes one of you.”

“Even your dad?”

“He made mistakes when he was young and wants to make damn sure I don’t repeat them. Although I appreciate the fact he wants to protect me, I am an adult. Sometimes I feel like I never was a kid.”

“Cash keeps reminding me age is only a number.”

“I agree. But that means I’m a very old twenty-two.”

“What does that make me? A very young forty-eight?”

“Yep.” Macie winked. “Why, we’re practically the same age.”

Gemma grinned and clinked her bottle to Macie’s. “I’ll drink to that.”

Her dad walked in as she swallowed the toast. “My two favorite ladies.” He kissed the top of Macie’s head, then stood behind Gemma and squeezed her shoulders.

For some reason Macie was pleased he’d acknowledged her first.

“Whatcha ladies doin’?”

“Celebrating Macie volunteering to pull my ass out of the fire. She’s gonna cook up a storm today before the McKays arrive tomorrow.”

“Really? Honey-girl, that’s awesome.”

“No biggie.” Though it was, because she could see how happy it made him.

“You gonna wow them with your special caramel apple pie, eh?” He frowned. “Hey, didja ever bring back that can of whipped cream you borrowed?”

Macie choked on her beer, and waved off her father as he started toward her with a worried look on his face.

Gemma’s eyes narrowed, then widened with comprehension. She hid a grin behind her beer bottle.

“You ready, sweets?” Cash said to Gemma. “We need to hit the road.”

“Soon as I hit the bathroom.” Gemma stood and smiled at Macie. “Thanks again for helping out. I enjoy talking with you. Don’t be a stranger.” She disappeared up the stairs.

“You’ll be okay here alone tonight?” her dad asked. “Last time we left there was a storm—”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Is Carter coming over?”

“I’m not sure.”

He fiddled with his cowboy hat. “Call him. I’d feel better if he was around.”

Macie lifted her eyebrows. Dad wanted Carter here? That was a first. “Why?”

“Yeah, well, because I want him to check the cattle before supper. He needs to take care of what’s important.”

Right. The cattle. Instead of that horses-and-cows-and-everything-else-are-more-important-than-me sinking sensation, she knew her dad had meant her. She was important. Macie hid a teary smile and turned away.

*

Later that night,
Macie was exhausted when Carter barged into Gemma’s kitchen.

After he kissed her thoroughly, he said, “Come on. I want to show you something.”

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I’m tired and I have to be up early.”

“It’ll be worth your while, I promise.”

“Then will you tuck me in bed?”

“Uh-huh. I’ll even let you sleep tonight.”

They weren’t getting a lot of sleep the nights they were together. If she’d thought the man was dynamic in bed before the whipped cream incident. Whew. It was nothing compared to the stamina with which he made love to her at every opportunity. Just a few hours back he’d wrestled her to the floor in Gemma’s living room and screwed her silly.

She still couldn’t figure out what’d changed him. In addition to the smokin’ hot sex, they talked into the wee hours. And laughed, Lord, they’d laughed until they cried. They had pillow fights and water wars. They’d crawl in bed and feed each other ice cream. Or snuggle up by the campfire. Sometimes they played cards, although neither of them knew how to play pinochle. They were truly acting like a couple.

Macie couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Or exhausted.

She sighed.

“Please? Come on, darlin’, be daring.”

“Okay. But you better not be taking me snipe hunting.”

“Never. Close your eyes.” He slipped something soft over her head. Everything went dark.

“A blindfold? Why?”

“You’ll see. Trust me.” He clasped her hand in his and led her outside. “It’s just a short drive.” He helped her into his truck. They rode down the gravel road in silence.

Macie was a little unnerved, not knowing where they were or what they were doing. They walked a ways and stopped.

“Hang on.” She heard a rustling noise and then Carter picked her up and laid her on something soft flat on the ground.

“Carter—”

“Ssh. Don’t be scared. I’m here. Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them.” He nibbled around the edges of her lips as he slid off the blindfold. One last sweet kiss and he moved away.

She felt him lay down beside her.

“Okay, you can open them now.”

Macie blinked her eyes open and stared at the sky above her, which was a magnificent swath of pitch black, punctuated with silver stars. Stars so big she could almost reach out and touch them. Stars bursting with light so bright it was as if she were part of the Milky Way.

“Omigod. It is beautiful.”

“Isn’t it?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” That wasn’t a lie. She was absolutely floored.

“There’s no moon tonight and no clouds. No streetlights or air pollution to diffuse the pure blackness of the sky.”

“Is it always like this in Wyoming?”

“No. Maybe once or twice every couple of years. I’ve seen it in the summer when it’s hot as hell, and in the dead of winter when it’s ice cold. I have to admit I like laying on a blanket much better than being wrapped up in a parka.”

“Me too. Thank you for sharing this, it’s spectacular.”

Carter reached for her hand. He swept his thumb over her wrist; he always had to be touching her. It wasn’t annoying; it was soothing, and becoming a familiar and welcome quirk.

They stargazed in awestruck silence. She had no idea how much time passed. Her mind blanked to everything the majesty stretched out before them and the sweetness of the man laying beside her.

She blinked and Carter was above her.

“I didn’t bring you out here to have my wicked way with you, believe it or not.”

He ran his fingers down the line of her jaw and she shivered.

“But I want you. I want to make love to you like this. With starlight on your face. With warm sage-scented night air around us and a soft blanket below us. No one around for miles. Just you and me, Macie. As alone as we’ve ever been.”

They undressed each other slowly and rolled over the blanket, skin to skin. Exchanging soft kisses, gentle caresses. A whispered word, a low moan. No hurry. The sexual heat between them simmered, rather than boiled.

In the breathtaking moment beneath the shimmering stars when Carter slipped inside her body, Macie also felt him slip into her heart.

‡