Rock Star Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Book 6) (8 page)

Tessa breathed in Sean's scent and nuzzled her
face into his chest. He reached behind her head and pulled her even closer. He
said in her ear, "I'd like to stay in your bed all night, but I don't
think your dad and mom would appreciate it. I can't take a chance of being
tossed out on my ear just when things are finally going right for us."

That afternoon during their encounter against
the tree beside the river, Sean had pressed his forehead to hers and said,
"As much as I want to, I'm not going to make love with you out here in the
open. Can I come to your room tonight?"

Tessa had been so overcome with lust that she'd
have granted him anything. She'd whispered, "Yes."

Later, after they'd ridden back to the ranch and
taken care of the horses, she been so embarrassed she'd opened her mouth to
cancel everything, but Sean had suddenly dipped his head and covered her lips
with his. She'd melted into him. Then he'd said, "Later," and quickly
walked away. No doubt he knew she was about to go gun shy on him.

After dark, she'd been so nervous she'd almost
jumped in her car and driven away. Sean Barfield and
her.
It was beyond
crazy. A light rap on her door had sent her into panic mode and she'd frozen.
He must have known because he'd slightly opened the door, peeked around it, and
just stared at her.

She'd thought she was going to hyperventilate,
but suddenly, he was across the room and kissing her so passionately that any
thought of bolting exploded into a million shards. No way was she leaving.

Now, she stretched her arms around him. "I
don't want you to leave, either, but you're right."

"That's what I like to hear." He
rolled her onto her back and positioned himself above her. The room was dim,
but not so much that she couldn't see his white teeth when he smiled. He said,
"Let's do something crazy next Saturday, like go to Denver and hang out at
the mall, take in a movie, eat ice cream, walk in the park. What do you
say?"

"But what if you're recognized?"

"I won't be because I'll wear my hippie
outfit."

Tessa chewed her lip. "And I could dress
like a hippie, too."

"Yes! That's my fun-loving Tessa."

She grinned and he lowered his head and said,
"And there's my dimple." He licked it and then they were making love
all over again.

After he left, Tessa scooted over to the side of
the bed he'd just vacated, and Sadie jumped up beside her. Inhaling Sean's
lingering scent, sleepily, she said, "Now, that's what I call rockin' the
garage."

Sean held Tessa's hand and tugged her into the
ice cream parlor. He made the peace sign with his fingers and said to the clerk,
"Peace, brother." He cocked his head at Tessa, "What's your
pleasure, Butterfly?"

She looked longingly at the carton of double
fudge-fudge, but said, "I'd like a single orange sherbet."

He said to the clerk, "We'll have two
double fudge-fudge double scoops."

Tessa opened her mouth to protest and he quickly
planted a kiss on it.

After Sean paid the clerk and handed out her
treat, Tessa glared at him and then licked her ice cream. She moaned with
pleasure and he leaned down to her ear. "I sure hope I can please you
tonight as much as that ice cream."

"Sean!" she exclaimed, and then
corrected herself. "Moon Boy!"

He said, "Come on; let's go see what's
playing at the movies."

They located the theater in Cherry Creek
Shopping Center and perused the poster boards. Moon Boy said, "You pick
out whatever you want, Butterfly."

"Really. You mean you wouldn't mind
watching a chick-flick?"

"Honey, I'll watch anything you choose,
just as long as I can sneak my arm around you and steal a few kisses."

She giggled and said, "Just because you're
so accommodating, I say we watch that sci-fi you seemed really interested
in."

The movie turned out to be very good, but
Tessa…er…Butterfly liked the stolen kisses from Moon Boy much more. His fake
beard tickled and she had to stifle giggles more than once.

After the movie they walked the mall and window
shopped. They received more than a few glances. Butterfly wore a flowing skirt
plastered with butterflies that she'd found at Cindy's Second Chance Clothing
shop in Paxtonville and a peasant top that kept falling off one shoulder. She'd
pinned several silk flowers in her hair and she wore sandals that laced up to
mid calf. She'd even drawn a butterfly on her right cheek with colorful flow
pens.

As for Moon Boy, in addition to what looked to
be a month's worth of beard, he wore baggy linen trousers, a matching linen
tunic, and a blue bandana tied around his forehead. He also wore sandals. As
extra disguise, he had donned large, very dark sunglasses.

When they walked past a music store blaring one
of his tunes, he grabbed Butterfly's hand and hurried her away.

In the late afternoon they found an out-of-the-way
Italian restaurant and asked for the most private table available. The waiter
grinned and led them to a small courtyard beside a bubbling fountain.

After they placed their orders, Butterfly leaned
back and sighed, "I haven't had this much fun in years!"

Moon Boy smiled. "I haven't either. See how
fantastic we are together."

The waiter returned with drinks before she could
answer.

Their meal was delicious, their conversation
fabulous, and their desire to be alone consuming. Moon Boy said, "Let's skip
the park and go back to our motel."

Butterfly nodded shyly.

They had driven to Denver in Butterfly's car
because her dad's beater truck wasn't reliable enough to drive out of town, and
Moon Boy's sports car would have garnered way too much attention. Butterfly
could tell that Moon Boy truly loved his anonymity.

Back at the Holiday Inn Motel, Moon Boy shed his
disguise and once again became Sean Barfield. Butterfly closed her eyes when
Sean began removing the flowers from her hair. He said, "You're beautiful
as Butterfly, but even more beautiful as Tessa."

After much encouragement, he finally got her
into the shower with him and Tessa knew there was nothing on earth more erotic
than showering with Sean Barfield.

Preston handed Tessa the file on Biscuit. Freckles
had brought him in for a checkup and the dog was thriving under her care.
During the pup's examination he had been polite but aloof. He hadn't been back
to Freckles' duplex since her razzing him about his dream girl a week earlier. By
the way she'd watched him during the checkup, he'd felt like a bug under a
microscope, but he was determined to not let her get under his skin again. As
she was leaving he'd gotten the impression she wanted to apologize, but when
she said nothing, he figured it was only wishful thinking on his part. What the
hell did he care whether she owned up to being a snot. He was glad when she
left. At least he thought he was glad.

Rather than dwell on his feelings for Freckles,
he concentrated on Tessa. She was different. She glanced up and said,
"What? Do I have lipstick on my teeth or something?"

"No. But something's going on with you. You
want to tell me about it?"

"No." She glanced back at Biscuit's
folder, but there was a soft smile lifting the corners of her mouth. That's
when it hit him—Sean! The asshole had finally gotten to her. He was surprised
when he didn't completely fall apart. Instead, he said, "Happy looks good
on you, Tessa."

After that he put on rubber gloves and started
cleaning the animals' cages.

It was almost closing when Tessa rushed into his
office and said, "Freckles is on the phone and she sounds frantic."
He jerked the phone up and punched the blinking button. "Hello, Freckles,
this is Preston. What's up?"

"The puppy's gone! I've looked everywhere
for him. I was playing with him on the floor and introducing him to Bozo, you
know that huge husky, and I ran to the kitchen when the tea kettle whistled,
but when I came back, he was gone. He and Bozo were getting along fine. You
don't think Bozo ate him, do you?"

"God, no! He's probably just hiding. Did
you try to entice him with food?"

"Of course I did! I even got out his
favorite squeaky toys."

"I'm leaving work now and coming over. Keep
calling him and offering food."

"Okay."

Preston glanced at Tessa who was still in his
office. "Biscuit is missing."

"I gathered as much. Do you want me to come
with you to help find him?"

"No, but thanks for offering."

Ten minutes later, Preston pulled to the front
of Freckles place. She had her front door open before he was out of his truck.
From her distraught expression, the little guy was still on the loose.

He said, "We'll find him," as he
followed her into the house. He saw a squeaky toy on the floor and picked it
up. Going down on his knees he started squeezing the darn thing and looking in
every nook and cranny he could find. Bozo thought he wanted to play and jumped
on him. The dog was so big he laid Preston out on the carpet. Freckles grabbed
Bozo's collar and pulled him toward the hallway. "I'll lock him up in the bathroom.
I already checked in there for Biscuit."

Preston continued his search. "Come on
Biscuit. Come on, boy. Come to Papa. You're not in trouble."

Freckles returned and went down on her knees,
also searching with a squeaky toy. After combing the living room, they started
on the dining room and then kitchen. Preston carefully pulled out the fridge
and oven—no dog. He asked, "Is there any way he could have gotten
outside?"

"No. All the doors were closed and the
windows all have screens. It's like he was abducted by aliens."

"Let's check the bedrooms." She
followed him to the bedroom she called her "doggie guest suite" and
then the "kitty guest suite" across the hall. No Biscuit. There was
only one room left besides the bathroom, where Bozo was scratching and whining
to be released from.

Freckles asked, "Should I put Bozo in the doggie
suite?"

"Yeah, go ahead. If he starts barking in
the bathroom he'll wake the dead."

A minute later she joined Preston in searching
her bedroom. On their hands and knees they combed every corner and stuck their
heads under the bed. Finally, Preston sat on the floor and leaned his back
against the side of the bed. He shook his head. "Okay, let's think about
this," he mumbled to himself and closed his eyes. A strangled sound coming
from Freckles had him jerking his eyes open. She suddenly let out a huge sob.
"I lost my baby. He could be hurt or dead and it's all my fault!"

Preston reached out and pulled her to him. She
sobbed against his chest and he tried to comfort her. "It's not your
fault. You can't watch him twenty-four seven. We'll find him. He's probably
asleep somewhere."

Just then his eyes alighted on one of those big
house slippers that were mostly fur. It moved ever so slightly and he blinked.
Smoothing one hand over Freckles red hair, he put his lips next to her ear.
"Look there."

She inhaled on a shudder and loosened her grip
on his shirt. Her eyes were hopeful as she turned in the direction he pointed.
The pink house slipper moved again when Biscuit squirmed into a more
comfortable position with his head lodged in the toe of the shoe and his
backside in the heel. Freckles jerked her gaze back to Preston's, but he was no
longer interested in the puppy. He was wondering how long it would take to
count the freckles on Freckles. Her eyes widened when his face descended toward
hers.

Her expression of surprise when he claimed her
lips turned into a long moan as she once again clung to him. He'd always
thought her lips sexy and when she focused her concentration on kissing him, he
knew heaven had just descended into the earthly realm. The woman knew how to
kiss! They were still sitting on the floor and he moved her body until she was
straddling him. Then he laid her backwards onto the floor and rose above her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and did some kind of wiggle thing that
would have brought him to his knees if he wasn't already on them.

After twenty minutes of this glorious torture to
his knees, he rasped two words, "Bed. Now." He scooped Freckles into
his arms, stood, made a hundred-and-eighty degree turn, and dropped them both
onto the bed. That's when she started undressing him and he practically ripped
her clothes off. After that, they were all hands and mouths and tongues and she
moved in ways he'd never even imagined possible. The woman was a contortionist.

While she was doing something that had him
coming unglued, his eyes suddenly popped open and he said, "Shit."

She stopped what she was doing. "Did I hurt
you?"

"Hell no. But I don’t have any protection."

Slowly she moved up his body until a small
breast was teasing his face and reached into the nightstand beside her bed. She
grabbed a packet and said, "Not to worry."

Preston made a growling sound, grabbed her by
the waist, and plopped her onto her back. "Oh, this is going to be a long
night, sweetheart." After that, he took over.

Preston felt so relaxed that he didn't want to
open his eyes, but a dog's yipping kept breaking into his sleep. As he became
more awake, he was aware of a soft body pressed up to his. He pried his eyes
open to see a tangled mess of red hair. A stray strand tickled his nose and he
sneezed. The yipping got louder. Beside him, Freckles said, "All right,
all right, I'll take you potty." She pushed upward and stopped when their
eyes met. It was just getting light outside. She looked beautiful. He said,
"I want to count your freckles when you return."

"What?"

He grinned, "I want to count your freckles
after you come back to bed. I think it will take a long time."

A grin spread across her face. "That'll be
a first for me." Her eyes suddenly widened. "I was your first, wasn't
I?"

His slow smile neither confirmed nor denied her
question.

Biscuit's yapping was getting out of hand.
Preston patted her bottom and said, "You take him potty this time and I'll
do it next time."

He was surprised when she grabbed the sheet to
wrap herself in before getting up. As if he hadn't already seen and tasted
every inch of her.

While she was taking care of Biscuit he
stretched his hands behind his head and contemplated his feelings for Freckles.
She made him laugh; she challenged him; sometimes she made him feel like a
hero; sometimes like a heel. But the one thing he knew beyond a doubt was that
he adored her.

She returned to the bedroom and said, "The
baby's in his shoe."

The words touched his heart. This woman touched
his heart. "What's your real name?" he asked.

She didn't hedge. She just said, "Will you
promise not to laugh?"

He said seriously, "I promise."

"Victoria Amelia Genevieve
Martinique."

Somehow, he wasn't surprised. She stood at the
foot of the bed and he said, "Victoria Amelia Genevieve Martinique, will
you let me make love to you again?"