Thrown: Studs in Spurs, Book 6 (22 page)

Hopefully it would only be this way when he and Riley were alone. Skeeter would be mighty embarrassed if it happened while the others were around. Or worse, while he was trying to ride.

Yeah. Not good. He noticed her smile. “What?”

“I know it’s bad, but I like that I do that to you.”

“Sadist.” He couldn’t help smiling back before he leaned over and brushed a chaste kiss across her forehead. “Good night.”

Still looking much too happy with herself and grinning ear to ear, Riley said, “Good night.”

Skeeter shook his head as he swung his legs over the side of the mattress. He allowed himself one parting glance at Riley, satisfied and sleepy in her bed, before he closed the door. He made his way back up the stairs trying to walk as lightly as a sleep-deprived grown man could.

He got to his mattress in the dark without tripping and had just lain down when he heard the sound of one of the guys rolling over.

“Have fun?” Aaron asked.

Shit. He obviously hadn’t been quiet enough. At least it was Aaron, who already knew the full story, and not Chase. Though if they didn’t stop talking, Chase would be awake soon too.

“We didn’t do what you’re thinking,” Skeeter whispered.

“Eh. You’ll get there.” Aaron stretched and groaned. “Go to sleep. Chase’s frigging run is at six.”

Happy Aaron was more concerned with their workout in the morning than with what had happened with Riley tonight, Skeeter closed his eyes and hoped sleep came fast.

Chapter Seventeen

A sound from the front of the house woke Riley as the morning light came through her window. A car door slamming maybe? Probably one of the guys had run out to the store for something. She was still groggy. It was tough to piece things together.

Once again, she’d overslept. Although this time there was a good excuse. She’d been up much too late doing things with Skeeter that were well worth losing sleep over. What he’d done to her body had left certain muscles as sore as if she’d worked out.

All that clenching, she supposed. She blushed at the memory. It was going to be hard to face Skeeter and act normal around everyone after last night. What had seemed so right in the dark felt a little embarrassing in the light of day. He’d had her stripped bare before him. He’d had his mouth places…

And she’d not only let him, she’d lost control so completely they were both lucky she hadn’t woken everyone in the house when she’d…she couldn’t even think the word.

Wow. What had happened to her? She’d never acted like that with another guy, but all she could think about was doing it again. But only with him. Riley had no doubt it was Skeeter himself, more than a change in her. He had a perfect balance—a combination of nice guy and bad boy.

He’d left his own home, given up his free time, to be here to help her with the bulls, with the dishes, with the preacher. It didn’t matter what it was she needed, he was there to help, no matter what.

Then there was that other side of him. The naughty side that was still tinged with sweetness. He was a virgin who knew how to touch her exactly right. Who made her feel things she’d never felt before.

The need within her coiled, tightening her insides, priming her for release.

She couldn’t make tonight come any faster, but she could get her lazy butt out of bed. With any luck, one of those voices she heard as a low murmur was his.

She pulled a clean T-shirt and shorts out of her drawers and dressed for the day.

One look in the mirror told Riley she needed to redo her braid. She remembered Skeeter’s hands in her hair last night, remembered thrashing her head on the pillow as he’d brought her to heights she’d never felt before. She let out a breath and pulled the elastic band from the bottom of the braid.

It was definitely going to be an interesting day. Slade and Jenna were newly engaged. She and Skeeter were out in public as a couple and acting like it in private. The touring pro event was tomorrow when she’d attend with her veteran bulls and a caravan of rookie ranch hands.

Her life sure had gotten a lot more interesting—and complicated. The sheer number and diversity of her houseguests proved that. She kind of loved it, having a house full of people. As long as she could steal a few minutes, or hours, alone with Skeeter every once in a while.

As Riley brushed her hair out quickly so she could rebraid it and get moving before any more of the morning got away from her, one voice stood out from the rest. Was that—no, it couldn’t be. Dang it. It sure sounded like it.

The preacher was here.

She glanced at the clock. Visiting at seven-thirty in the morning? At that hour, the chances were good he was here to check up on them. Unannounced, she noticed. All the better to catch them unawares. Best way to find out if they were doing something they shouldn’t be. Little did the preacher know he should have been here closer to midnight for that.

Torn between feeling insulted the man who’d known her since the day she was born didn’t trust her, and guilty she had been doing things he wouldn’t approve of, Riley abandoned the plan for her braid. There was no time now. She had to get out there. With her hair still hanging loose around her shoulders, she reached for the door. Thank God, she’d cleaned up all the beer bottles and put them out back in the recycling can. At least it wouldn’t look as if they sat around drinking every night, even if they had done that last night.

She stopped just shy of the doorway to the living room and saw Skeeter face-to-face with the preacher and her suspicion was confirmed. He was here to check up.

“Been working hard, have you?” Pastor Porter asked him, unaware she was spying from the hall.

“Yes, sir.” Skeeter nodded.

“And you do your work dressed like that?” The preacher took in Skeeter’s running shoes and his sweat-soaked shirt.

“No, sir. We just finished a workout. I always put the coffeepot on before I shower and change into work clothes.”

Skeeter made the coffee she woke to every morning? She’d assumed it had been Jenna or one of the other girls. His sweetness ratio rose.

Enough of the third degree. Riley stepped forward into the room from her hiding spot. “Good morning, Pastor. This is a surprise.” She glanced at Skeeter. If only she could kiss him good morning. That was out of the question, so instead she said, “Morning. Thanks for making coffee.”

“No problem.” Skeeter tipped his head toward the hallway. “I need to get changed and help the guys with the morning chores.”

The preacher’s brows rose. “You’re sleeping here in the house?”

“Three of the guys are upstairs in the attic. Garret and his wife are in the den.” Riley hoped she made Garret and Silver sound extra old and responsible by using the word
wife
. “And the others are crashing in the trailer I’m sure you saw parked outside.”

Riley was certain nothing had escaped the preacher’s notice. Not even her hair. She’d seen how he’d looked at her when she’d first come out of her room. So what that she hardly ever wore her hair down and loose? It was his fault she hadn’t had time to braid it today.

She’d noticed how Skeeter had looked at her too. She’d have to enjoy that later when they were alone. “I put a big stack of clean towels in the bathroom last night before I went to bed so you should be all set.”

“Thanks.” Heading out of the room, Skeeter looked relieved to be making his escape. Riley didn’t blame him one bit. The preacher could be intimidating. Probably why he and her father had always gotten along so well.

“So what brings you here so early on this bright, sunny day?”

“Just checking in to make sure everything was all right around here.”

“Everything is great. The guys are such a huge help and it’s really nice having the girls around. I’m not used to having the company of females.”

“That does sound good, all that help and companionship.” He didn’t look convinced.

“It really is.” Riley scrambled to try and change his mind. “Tomorrow there’s an event in Arkansas. I’m contracted to bring the bulls. The guys are going to help me load the truck in the morning and then they’re all coming with me to help at the event. Skeeter’s scheduled to ride. Actually, all the guys were talking about calling in and getting on the roster to ride themselves.”

She was starting to babble so she clamped her mouth shut. She was a legal adult and the legal owner of this ranch and business now that her father was gone. Yet she still felt like a little girl when the preacher leveled that look of his at her.

He stepped forward. “Riley, I just worry about you.”

“I know you do. I really am fine.” Except for the fact she’d yet to be able to sit on the sofa. And the thought of being in the house alone after everyone went home scared the heck out of her.

She forced a smile and stepped toward the man who’d baptized her, buried her mother and now buried her father too. She should be more tolerant of his concern toward her.

Riley hugged him. “Thank you.”

The older man rubbed her back. “I’ll let you get back to your day. If you need anything—”

“I’ll be sure to call. Say hi to Mrs. Porter.”

She managed to steer him out the door, say goodbye and had even gone to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee before Skeeter appeared, freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

“Preacher gone?”

“Yeah. You can relax now.” She laughed at the look on his face.

“Heck of a coincidence, him showing up today, of all days. Don’t you think?”

“He’s not psychic if that’s what you’re thinking. He can’t know about…anything.” She could tell they were both remembering last night and moved to change the subject. “Don’t worry about him. He was just checking up on me, and now he’s seen I’m okay—”

“I’m sure he’ll come and check on you again to make sure you’re still okay.”

“Maybe.” She turned and stepped into his arms, stood on tiptoe and pressed a short kiss to his lips. “Good morning.”

He smiled and squeezed her tighter. “Mmm, it is now. But I can’t get distracted. The guys are already out there working.”

“All right, but can you do one thing first? Quick.”

“Sure. What do you need?”

She took his hand and led him farther into the room. She eyed the sofa. “Sit with me? Just for a second.”

Skeeter glanced at the sofa and then back to her and nodded. “Of course.”

“Thank you.” She stood next to it for a second before she could bring herself to sit down. “This is crazy. I’m being silly. It’s just a sofa.”

She sat before she could think better of it, touching the pillow next to her. She glanced up at Skeeter.

He sat as well. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She blew out a breath and stood again, reaching down for his hand to pull him up. “Thanks.”

He captured her gaze. “Anytime. Anything you need. Just ask.”

“All right.” She knew he meant it too. “You can go get to the other guys. I’m just gonna fix my hair then I’ll be out to help.”

Skeeter reached out and fingered one long piece, wavy from the braid, hanging over her shoulder. “I like it down like this. You should leave it.”

It would be much too easy to fall for this guy. Hell, she already had. Long ago while watching him ride at every weekly event. Watching as he laughed and prayed. This week had just sealed her fate. It had put that final nail in the coffin of her heart, making sure it was good and truly his. She hoped he treated it gently.

Feeling the need to lighten this mood before she did something foolish, like blurt out she loved him or something crazy sure to scare him away, she smiled. “Yeah, but I get less bull snot in it if it’s in a braid so…”

He laughed. “Good point. See you in a bit.”

“Yeah, see you.” Riley heard the good mornings exchanged on the front porch as Skeeter headed out the screen door just before Sage walked in, followed by Jenna. Riley smiled. “Good morning. You look positively radiant.”

“Eh, it’s just the ring.” Jenna beamed. A frown creased her brow and she looked at Riley a little more closely. “So do you, come to think of it. What happened?”

Riley’s eyes widened. How could Jenna know? “Nothing happened.”

Sage smiled. “I agree with Jenna. Something’s different. And I don’t mean that your hair is down.”

She fingered the fall of hair over her shoulder that everyone was making such a huge deal about. “I got interrupted while I was getting ready this morning and didn’t get to braid it.”

“Mmm, hmm, but your hair has nothing to do with the fact that yesterday the moment Skeeter’s feet hit the dirt he was kissing you. Or explain the kissing last night while you were in the kitchen
doing dishes
.” Jenna stressed the last words as if she knew there was a hell of a lot more happening than dishes in the kitchen.

“Yup. I saw that too. Sit. Spill, girl. Tell us everything.” Sage grabbed her hand and pulled Riley to the kitchen table.

Riley rolled her eyes but deep down it felt good to have confidants. “He and I decided that we’re going to be a couple.”

“So you’re official.” Jenna couldn’t have grinned any wider if she tried.

“I guess so, yeah.” Whatever that meant. So far the only change was they didn’t hide their kissing from the others…well except from the preacher.