12-Alarm Cowboys (87 page)

He grabbed a napkin and took two more bites of the icy treat before navigating the stairs again. That’s what he should concentrate on—selling his horses. If he could do that, he could take more in without bringing his checkbook down to the edge every month.

Dropping his shorts on the recliner in his room, he sat on the edge of the bed, sliding off the last bite from one of the popsicle sticks while holding the napkin under the other, which began to drip. He would need a new truckload of hay by month’s end. Maybe he could invite Wade up to visit later in the week. He’d finish his twenty-four-hour shift at eight Wednesday morning then his four days off would start, but he didn’t want to wait. He could schedule Wade for Wednesday afternoon.

Cole pulled the rest of the last orange popsicle into his mouth and threw away the sticks. He lay down, sucking hard on the ice. When would Sean know what caused the fire? What if it hadn’t been Lacey? If someone else set it, could he pursue her?

His cock jerked to attention. “Fuck.” There was no way she would let him near her even if that were the case. Unless he believed she had nothing to do with the fire in her parents’ carriage house, she would keep him at bay, but he knew it was her. His parents had been friends of the fire chief at the time and he put the blame squarely on Lacey’s shoulders. Unfortunately, now that she was so close, Cole wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about her.

He had to stop. Closing his eyes, he thought about his horses, but even as he envisioned his barn and a new load of hay, his thoughts drifted to the past and making love to Lacey in his parents’ barn. Her petite body flushed with desire as the hay beneath the blanket cupped her. She’d smiled up at him, her pale-pink lace bra hiding little as he gazed at her deep-rose-colored areolas and nipples dying to be freed. He skimmed his hands down her waist past her small belly button to her pink lace thong that revealed the patch of golden-blonde curls beneath it.

He loved that she enjoyed sexy underthings. He never knew what she would wear. She often teased him by telling him what she had on when they were in places where he couldn’t do anything about it, like his parents’ dinner table or at her parents’ Christmas party.

He didn’t even try to unhook the pink lace bra. Instead, he leaned over her on his elbows and with his teeth, pulled the top of the bra down until it caught under one breast. He could hear her heartbeats increase even as he let go then switched to pull the other bra cup down. Resting his chin against her ribs, he glanced at her and found her eyes turning chocolate brown with desire.

Raising his head, he stared at each nipple straining toward him. He lapped quickly across both before watching them pucker, then blew across one at time, thrilled to see the hard nubs get harder.

“Please, Cole.”

He devoured her with his gaze.

She licked her lips and he couldn’t resist. Gently, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her. Her arms came around his neck and he pushed his tongue into her mouth where her own met his. He slanted his head to better taste every inch of her, a slight strawberry flavor reminding him of their last hour picking the juicy fruit from his mother’s garden.

Lacey’s moan as she moved her hand through his hair tightened his balls with anticipation.

Releasing her mouth, he returned to her breasts. The need to taste her sweet spots was too harsh to deny. He brought his mouth to her right nipple and sucked gently. She grasped his hair as her body arched against him. The hard pearl tasted of nirvana and he nibbled it lightly before drawing it carefully into his mouth.

Lacey squeaked in pleasure, a sound all her own that had the ability to send need through him like a ricochet bullet. He couldn’t wait much longer. Pulling back, he kissed his way down her flat stomach, his hands gliding along the sides of her waist and over her hips until he pushed them against her thighs, spreading her legs and revealing the wet spot of her lacy panties.

He swallowed in anticipation. Hooking his finger beneath the waistband, he pulled downward. The panty split apart, the tiny sound of Velcro as it let go caught his attention. Surprised, he looked up at her, but her face had changed.

She wasn’t the innocent, young, loving Lacey he’d known. This was the more mature Lacey with refined features. This was the face of a woman who knew what she wanted and the smirk on her lips told him loud and clear, she wanted him. He let his gaze roam over her full breasts, held now by a bright, hot pink underwire bra with no cups at all, serving up her woman’s chest like a feast that couldn’t be ignored.

Unable to resist, he latched on to a nipple and sucked hard. Lacey’s hands fisted in his hair as she arched toward his mouth. He couldn’t let go, sucking and twirling his tongue across the hard nub. He used one hand to knead the other breast before twirling that nipple with his fingers, even as he nibbled the one inside his mouth.

“Cole.” His name coming from her lips was like a caress. It was time.

He released her breast to go back to the sweet spot he had unveiled. The hot-pink panty remained partially opened and he pulled back one side to view what he hadn’t seen in years. Her sweet pink pussy was moist with her readiness, but her folds were closed tight, revealing nothing.

He pushed his hands against her inner thighs, spreading her wider, parting her folds a tiny bit. He held her legs apart and brought his mouth to the slit that opened and from the bottom to the top, he tasted her need until he hit the hard ridge of her clit. Slowly, he licked, circling it and lapping upward.

Lacey’s hips rose from the hay, rocking against his mouth.

Leisurely, as if his cock weren’t as hard as ironwood and his balls tighter than a rattlesnake’s grip, he brought his tongue down between her folds and pushed his way into the opening of her sheath.

“Cole, I need you inside me, now.” Lacey’s hands gripped his hair, trying to pull him up. Willingly he gave into her, his cock jerking at the remembered tightness that was all her.

Covering her now full curvy body with his own, he hesitated. He was so much bigger now.

Her hands on his ass, fingers digging into his flesh, convinced him to give it a try for both their sakes.

He pushed the head of his cock between her slick folds and pressed himself an inch into the tight canal he remembered. “Shit, Lacey, you still feel so good.”

Her legs wrapped around his. “Don’t stop. Please, Cole.”

She pulled him in another inch, her sheath sucking him hard, causing him to take deep breaths to keep control. He let his head fall forward, lightly touching her forehead with his own. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her body stiffened and her eyes opened. “You’ve already done that.”

A bucket of ice water spilled over his head and he sputtered, his whole body tensing as he sat up in bed. No water. No Lacey. Just another fucking dream. He looked at the clock and moaned. 2:47 a.m. Two more hours before he had to get up. He punched the pillow and lay back down, his hands behind his head. What the hell would it take to get just an hour of uninterrupted sleep?

*

Lacey coughed and
kicked off the blanket. Sitting up, she grabbed the bottle of water on her nightstand and took a gulp. She pulled in deep breaths, counting to ten on the inhale, counting to ten on the exhale like she’d been taught. No smoke filled her lungs as it had in her dream. No fire licked up the wall next to the door to get out. No heat blasted her face, just the cooling flow of the air conditioner. She lifted the hem of her t-shirt and wiped her neck.

She was safe.

Cole had brought back her nightmares.

She took another swallow of water. It had taken her two months to stop them the first time. Reliving the nightmare of waking up in the burning carriage house every night was not conducive to coherent thought. She’d lose her job if she didn’t get a handle on them.

She shouldn’t be having nightmares at all. According to the therapist her parents insisted she see, the fact she had wrapped herself in a blanket and got herself out through the flaming door should have convinced her mind she was in control. But she’d never told the therapist about Cole, or that the need to see him again had motivated her to brave the fire to get out. Nor had she told the woman that he held her closely afterward only to push her out of his life the next day.

Lacey swung her legs over the side of the bed and slipped her feet into the pink bunny slippers her mom had insisted on buying her. She pulled on her peach silk robe and padded into the kitchen. Turning on the light over the stove, she set the tea kettle to boil and prepared to make chamomile tea. Maybe the tea and looking over the monthly budget could calm her mind enough to sleep a couple more hours. It was only 3:05 a.m. and if she showed up to work any earlier than five thirty, she’d hear about it.

Luckily, her casita faced the main building, so she didn’t have a view of the burnt rubble. When her tea was ready, she walked outside onto her patio, her computer under her arm, but it was chillier than she’d expected. Maybe a warmer robe was in order. Fall was such a great time of year because the temperatures finally dropped at night.

As she set her computer and tea on the table, movement caught her eye. Someone crept around the back of the resort’s kitchen and he or she was clearly looking for a way in. No guest would attempt to obtain something to eat by climbing in a window.

Quietly, she moved back inside and picked up her phone, dialing Kendra, who she sincerely hoped wasn’t still in her office.

“Lacey, are you all right?” Kendra was definitely wide awake.

“Yes, I’m fine. Are you in your office?”

“No, I’m home. Why?”

“I just saw someone trying to get into the kitchen from the back of the main building.”

“Shit!” Kendra must have covered the phone because Lacey heard a muffled conversation. “Okay, Wade and I will check it out. You stay put and lock your doors and windows.”

Lock her doors and windows? Fear meandered up her spine. Maybe she should bring her laptop in first. That had too much confidential information to leave out on her patio with a prowler about. Hands sweating, she quietly opened the patio door and grabbed her computer. Jumping back into her home, she closed the door quickly and locked it.

Not sure if she’d locked the windows last time she used them, she checked each one, glad she did when she found the one over the kitchen sink unlocked. She’d locked the front door when she came home, but she double-checked anyway.

Leaving the light on in her living room, she moved into her dark bedroom and closed the door then stood next to her window where she could see both Kendra’s two-story home and the main building.

Wade strode down the path to the new building then broke into a run. He must have seen something. She watched him until he passed out of view. Now she wished Kendra
had
hired a security guard. It was easy to believe they were so far off the beaten path that no one would bother them, but most people in the area knew they existed and with police at least twenty minutes away, that left a long time for someone to escape if they wanted to steal something or do damage. Kendra had already had graffiti issues on the guest garage, and an attempt to destroy the bridge across the creek.

Lacey kept her eyes peeled for Wade, getting more nervous as each minute ticked by. Then the lights flicked on inside and outside the main building. Gosh, she hoped that was Wade.

The phone ringing in her living room startled her and she put her hand to her chest, even as she ran out to get it.

“Hello?”

“Lacey? Wade. Whoever was snooping about is gone but the side window to the generator room was busted. Not sure they had enough time to take anything, but could you come over and take a look? Make sure everything is the way you left it?”

“Of course. Let me get some clothes on.” She heard glass smashing in the background. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just walking on glass over here. You wait until Kendra comes by and picks you up. I don’t want anyone alone out here while it’s still dark.”

“Okay.” When Wade hung up, she returned to her bedroom and threw on a pale-yellow sundress. Where was her white shrug? She liked to have it with her at work because of the air-conditioning. Not finding it in her closet, she gave up and grabbed her lavender wrap instead. She probably left her shrug in the office. After brushing her teeth, she braided her hair and grabbed her straw cowboy hat. At least she didn’t have to worry about sleeping anymore.

The low hum of a golf cart caught her attention as she slipped on a pair of sandals. She donned her cowboy hat and made it to the door before Kendra could knock. In the light of her front door, she could see Adriana, the bartender, was already on the cart. Adriana gave a smirk. “Hope you weren’t looking forward to a full night’s sleep.”

Lacey shook her head as she jumped in the back seat of the cart. “I was planning to come into work early today anyway.”

Kendra started the cart moving toward the biggest building on the resort.

Adriana growled. “Not me. As soon as I check to see if anything is missing, I’m going back to bed. I don’t have to work until noon and there’s a good chance I might be late.”