Cowboy Take Me Away (12 page)

“Easiest way to get there. I wrote my phone number on the bottom if you get lost, not that it’ll help ya since you’ll have to drive into Sundance to find a pay phone.”

“I’ll find you.”

“Good.”

She stayed in the driveway until he pulled onto the road, watching him go. After his truck was out of sight, she returned inside and wandered to the sun porch. She crawled onto her bed and sighed. The sheets smelled like him. She may never wash them again.

Chapter Eight

Carson

Exhausted, Carson sat on the tailgate, drinking beer number two and smoking his third cigarette when Cal pulled up.

His twin hopped out of his truck and ambled over. “That bad, huh?”

“Yep.” Cal knew Carson only smoked when something weighed on him. Strange as it sounded, smoking always cleared his head.

And the shit going round and round in his brain wasn’t making a bit of fucking sense.

His brother grabbed a bottle of Coors out of the paper sack, and sat opposite him on the old stump. “What’s up? You’ve been awful damn secretive this week.” He twisted the cap off the bottle and drank. “Speaking of…I covered for you with Dad today.”

“What’d you tell him?”

“You were trackin’ down parts.”

Some piece of machinery was always busted so Carson wasn’t surprised their dad hadn’t asked specifics. “Thanks.”

“I reckon what goes around, comes around.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll remember that.” He took another drag and held it in his lungs before blowing it out.

“You gonna tell me what’s goin’ on with you?”

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“’Cause you’ll laugh your ass off, then I’ll hafta to beat on you and I don’t feel like mixin’ it up today.”

Cal shook his head. “There’s a first.”

“Fuck off.”

He laughed. “And you’re touchy about it too. Gotta be a woman involved.”

Carson ground out his smoke before helping himself to another beer.

“Come on. Gimme something. Quit actin’ like a girl with the ‘should I or shouldn’t I?’ bullshit and start talkin’. You tell me everything because you know you can tell me anything.”

No lie there. Maybe it was some twin bond crap, or the fact they’d lived together and worked together, but he and Cal never kept secrets from each other.

But Carson couldn’t force the words out.

When he heard the sarcastic voice cooing about those sweet and sentimental words being so tightly wrapped around his heart, he said screw that and blurted, “I’m in love with her, okay? Can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t fuckin’ think without my thoughts turnin’ to her.”

“Who?”

He sent his brother a fiery look. “You know fuckin’ who.”

“Jesus, Carse, you can’t be. It’s the whole forbidden fruit shit that’s convinced you it’s love and not lust.” He pointed with his beer bottle. “Take her to bed. That’ll get her outta your system.”

“Already did that and it’s just made it worse. Or better. Fuck if I know.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Bein’ with her…it’s different. I feel different. It’s like nothin’ that happened to me or anything I did before I met her even matters anymore.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah.”

They drank in silence.

After a bit, Cal said, “So what’re you gonna do?”

“Drink until I pass out.”

“Great plan. If you pass out, I ain’t carryin’ you inside.”

“Then what good are you?”

Cal laughed. “No one else would put up with your shit, so you’re stuck with me until I pass you off as someone else’s problem.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You really wanna know?”

“I asked, didn’t I?” When Cal started picking at the label on his beer bottle instead of answering, Carson snapped, “Well?”

“That right there is what I mean. You are a hard man like Dad in so many ways. Always focused on getting the work done, makin’ sure it’s done right and movin’ onto the next thing. But you’ve got a reckless streak a damn mile wide. It’s your way of thumbing your nose at your responsibilities. During the week you’re Carson McKay, heir apparent to the McKay ranch, driven to succeed. But on weekends, you’re that wild McKay, always lookin’ for a good fight or a fast fuck, and fuck anyone who stands in your way of havin’ a good time.”

Yeah. Not a whole lot he could say to that because it was dead on.

“How many times you been asked when you’ll settle down and stop the fightin’ and the drinkin’?”

“Asked by Dad? Or asked by the people I hang around with on the weekends?”

“Both.”

“My drinkin’ buddies are
worried
I’ll settle down so they don’t say nothin’. Every once in a while Dad will mention it ain’t my job to answer every challenge with my fists, drink up all the alcohol in Crook County and sample every pussy in Wyoming.”

Cal choked on his beer. “Jesus. Dad
said
that to you?”

“On more than one occasion.”

“That shocks the hell out of me.”

“Why? Dad ripped it up plenty in his day. He didn’t marry Ma until he was thirty-one.”

“You ain’t gonna last until you’re thirty-one, the way you’re talkin’.” Cal got a gleam in his eye. “What happens after you admit your undying love for Carolyn West and beg her to make an honest man outta you?”

Carson grinned. “First thing I do is kick your ass out. Then when my beloved and I can force ourselves to leave our bed, we’ll hit the dancehall and the bars. Just ’cause we’re married don’t mean we gotta act like them old couples who stay at home and stare at the damn walls for fun.”

Cal cocked his head. “So you do plan on getting hitched to her?”

“If she’ll have me.” As soon as Carson admitted that out loud, he believed it. He’d make it happen.

“Gimme another goddamned beer.”

He handed it over. “Can you make yourself scarce tomorrow night? Carolyn’s comin’ over.”

“Guess that means you ain’t interested in hittin’ Gentleman Jack’s?”

“Nope.”

“Maybe I’ll pop Charlie’s strip club cherry since I got a feelin’ your strip club days are done.”

“Good plan.”

And that was that. End of discussion. Another thing he appreciated about Cal. He never wanted to talk things to fucking death, but he was always there whenever Carson needed to talk.

The following night Carolyn showed up on time, looking as tempting as strawberry ice cream in a pale pink dress, her hair swirled on top of her head.

He swept her into his arms, kissing her hungrily as he carried her into the trailer. So much for acting cool.

She sighed and placed a lingering kiss on his throat.

That simple, sweet gesture nearly did him in. But he’d sworn to himself he wasn’t dragging her to his bed as soon as she waltzed in the door. He nuzzled her neck. “You smell good.”

“Like pork chops and fried apples? That’s what I cooked for them for supper and what I’m making us.”

“No, like flowers and you. The scent of your skin drives me crazy.” He dragged his lips across her ear. “Almost as crazy as how hot and sweet you taste between your thighs.”

“Carson McKay. Stop dirty talking me right now. I promised I’d cook for you first.”

He trapped her face in his hands. “Sugar, I’m not like—”
your family
, “—I don’t expect you to cook for me if you don’t want to.”

“Which is exactly why I want to do it.” She pecked him on the mouth. “I brought food with me, so if you’ll show me where you keep your cooking utensils?”

“I’ll warn ya, it’s a pretty humble selection.”

“I’ll make do.”

“Tell me whatcha need.”

Carolyn rattled off—a cast iron pan, a sharp knife, a cutting board, butter, salt, pepper and flour. Luckily he had everything.

“Want a beer or something while you’re workin’?”

“I’ll take a Coke if you’ve got one.”

Carson poured her soda on ice, grabbed a beer for himself and turned the radio on to the local country station.

He watched her work and they talked about their days while she fixed supper. It didn’t feel forced as it had other times women had offered to make him a home-cooked meal. It seemed natural and he imagined how heavenly it’d be coming home to her—and this—every night.

“Carson?” she prompted.

“Sorry. Lost in thought. What did you say?”

“I asked if you’re okay with me putting onions in this?”

He sipped his beer. “Depends on if the onions will keep you from kissin’ me tonight.”

She grinned. “Nope.”

“Then put ’em in.”

“Where’s your brother? I thought maybe I’d meet him.”

“He had plans.”

“Do you guys have any problems working together all day and then living together?”

“Once in a while, but not really. I’d rather hang out with him than anyone else.”

“So is it the same way with your other brothers?”

Carson shook his head. “My youngest brother Charlie is just outta high school and is finding his way.” He realized that Carolyn and Charlie were the same age, which was just plain weird because she was ten times more mature than his baby brother. “My middle brother Casper is an ass. I hafta work with him for now, so I don’t spend time with him outside of the ranch if I can help it. Although he is a mean son of a bitch so he’s good to have backin’ me in a fight if Cal ain’t around.”

Her eyes widened. “Is fighting a habit of yours?”

He could lie, but that’d come back on him the first time she saw him with a black eye or a busted lip. “I’d say it’s more of a hobby.”

She laughed, thinking he was joking and he let it go.

“I really miss my sister, Kimi. I saw her all the time during the school year.”

“What’s she doin’ now?”

“She’s with our Aunt Hulda. In years past I’d work with our aunt for six weeks of the summer and I’d be home six weeks. Kimi would be there and I’d be here, so we didn’t spend our summers together.” She turned off the stove. “Supper is done. You want to get the plates?”

“Be my pleasure.”

First bite of the pork chop, Carson dropped his fork and grabbed her hand. “Forget about you bein’ the sexiest, sweetest woman I’ve ever met, or the fact I’d like to keep you tied to my bed twenty-four hours a day, or that I never get tired of talkin’ to you…this meal just proves that I was dead on with proposing marriage to you last week.”

Carolyn blushed. “Silver-tongued devil, that’s what you are.”

He could tell he’d made her uncomfortable, so he dropped it, even when he wanted to convince her every word he’d said was the gospel truth.

After they finished the delicious meal, Carolyn popped up to do the dishes. Carson circled his arm around her waist and set her on his knee. When she opened her mouth to protest, he kissed her. Thoroughly. “Thank you for supper. Leave the dishes. I want you to ride along when I do the last cattle check.”

“Really? Okay. Will I have to, umm…do cow stuff?”

He laughed. “No. But I’ll show you how to open gates.”

Carolyn asked a million questions as they bumped through the pastures, insightful questions so he knew she wasn’t just being polite.

“In the next couple weeks, we’ll turn out the bulls.”

“Meaning what?”

Carson peered at her from beneath the brim of his hat. “You really need me to explain what happens when we put the bulls and the cows together?”

“Oh. Uh, no.” Then a very female, very devious smirk tilted the corners of her lips. “But maybe you’d better show me what happens when a male and a female are alone together, to make sure I have a solid understanding of the process.”

“Sugar, are you sure?”

“Very. You’ve been in my bed. Now I want to be in yours.”

His dick went hard.

Instead of sitting on her side of the truck all prim and proper, Carolyn was all over him. Sucking on his neck. Nibbling his ear. Rubbing his chest. And those fingers kept sliding lower and lower.

“Caro. Slow down.”

“I don’t want to,” she cooed in his ear. “I want to feel you. Every. Hot. Inch. Of. You.”

Holy shit. Her hand was on his cock. Rubbing on his cock. Damn…that felt good. He wondered how long before he convinced her to put her mouth there. He imagined those velvety soft lips dragging up and down the length and her wicked little tongue circling the tip.

“Carson,” she whispered against his throat.

“What?”

“Are you going to open the gate?”

He blinked. He’d driven back to the trailer on autopilot, but some part of him had been conscious enough during his oral fantasy to not plow through it. He picked her hand up from his chest and kissed her fingertips before he bailed out.

Open the gate. Drive through the gate. Close the gate.

Now they were home free.

The instant they stopped in front of the trailer, Carolyn was on his lap. He didn’t know how he managed to get them out of the truck and inside, while he was carrying her with her legs clamped around his waist, while their mouths were fused together. He just knew as he carried her down the hallway to his bedroom that her sexy little whimpers and moans made his dick harder yet.

His hat hit the floor when he dropped her on the bed. “Strip or I swear I’ll rip off every stitch of clothes you’re still wearing by the time I’m nekkid.”

Carolyn stood and lifted the dress over her head. She unhooked her bra and tossed it at him, then shimmied her panties down her legs. She tilted her head and wore a cheeky grin. “Doesn’t look like I’m the slow one getting nekkid, cowboy.”

“Holy hell you are drivin’ me crazy with that body made for sin and that fuck-me-now attitude.”

“Prove it.” She bounced on the bed and crooked her finger at him.

Carson lost a few buttons getting his shirt off. Lost a few brain cells when she parted her legs and showed him the hot, tight paradise awaiting him. He nearly fell on his ass when the big head reminded him he had to take off his boots before his jeans, while the little head strained to get out of his boxers.

Then, as naked as she was, he pounced on her.

She curled around him like a vine. Her mouth avid on his. One hand gripping his hair, the other hand scratching down his back to cup his ass. Her pelvis rocking. Her back arching, forcing more skin on skin contact.

He fought a grin. From chaste and curious to a hellcat between the sheets. Yeah, this woman was fucking perfect.

Slipping a hand between them, he touched her soft curls and wet center. He stroked that pretty pussy, circling her clit, then following her slit down to the tight entrance to her body. He pushed a finger into her, swallowing her moan. When she whispered, “Yes, please, more,” against his lips, he added another finger, loving how ready her body was for his possession.

This time there’d be no foreplay.