With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1) (10 page)

“I already told you, Dustin. I have no desire to play games or become gossip for you and your ranch hands. I still work in the business and don’t relish the idea of being amusing fodder for y’all. Not to mention it’s just as easy to take care of any needs myself. Or I can get someone to do it for me when I get back to Maryland.”

What do you know, those possessive feelings kicked into high gear. Although his libido also did at the mental image of her self-pleasuring. Biting back his growl, he leaned closer and used his tongue along the whorl of her ear.

“Is that what you need? Someone to take care of your needs? I’m right here, darlin’, say the word.”

* * * *

Someone? No. Him? Yes. Finn hardly dared to breathe as she sat pressed against the brooding cowboy in such an intimate way. The hard ridge of his cock along the seam of her jeans made it difficult for her to concentrate.

Just say the word.
Oh, how she’d love to. Visions of their naked sweaty bodies, limbs entwined, streamed through her mind on an endless loop. It did nothing in the way of helping her remain focused on the fact she was supposed to keep her distance from him.

That and whatever he was doing to her ear. Good Lord! He kissed his way along it, derailing her thoughts with each passing second.

I can’t afford to get caught up in the drama of this town.

“Is it, Samantha?”

“Finn.” The correction fell on a breathy sigh as his lips connected with the sensitive skin of her neck.

“A man’s name,” he countered. “You’re
all
woman.”

Damn him, he could seduce her out of her clothes anywhere. Problem was, they weren’t
anywhere
, they were at a gas station and despite the fact they had some shelter, it was still public.

“I won’t do this.” Lord that had been hard to get past her lips because all she wanted to do was…well, him.

He placed them nose to nose and stared at her with those eyes of his, the ones that haunted her dreams.

“Are you busy next weekend? Not this one but the followin’ one.”

She blinked a few times, thrown by the question. “Am I…”

“Busy next weekend.” His smooth voice finished her statement.

Like she knew. Heck, she hardly could recall her name around him. It took some doing, but she managed to focus. “No, just going to work on some things at home.”

“Come away with me.”

She knew the answer should be no. Knew it. “Where?”

“Horse expo and competition. I’ve got some horses in.”

She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she thought about it. Not that there was much to think about. That was all he had to say. She loved horse expos.
Christ, I’m so flippin’ easy. Couldn’t even put up a small bit of a fight.
“Let me make sure daddy will be good. Are you going all three days?”

“Yes. Four technically, going the day before it starts.”

He stroked his knuckles along the side of her face. Her belly quivered with a mess of butterflies. He smelled so delicious, all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and hold him. Lower his jeans zipper and go from there.

“Sounds like fun.” Damn, when had her voice gotten so husky?

He leaned closer, his breath fanning her cheek and ear. “Come with me.”

Oh, he could so talk the devil out of his kingdom without even trying.

“Is this something so you can talk about it with your ranch hands?” she asked seriously. “I don’t need to be—”

“Forget everything but us.”

She arched a brow. “Us?”

“Are you still trying to deny there’s something between us?” He flexed his hips, driving his thick length against her.

She licked her lips. “We’re at a gas station.”

Dustin looked deliberately to his left then right. “So we are. What’s your point?”

“People could be staring.”

“Through two trucks with tinted windows?” He placed his hands on her waist, rocking against her core, skyrocketing her body temperature. “Besides, all we’re doing is talking.” His gaze burned hotter. “For the moment.”

“I hate being gossiped about, and I have things to do.”

He gave a slight nod. “I have your number so I’ll send you departure time once I get it all figured out.”

She shook her head. “I said I had to see if I could go.”

“I’m confident.”

No argument there. Finn struggled not to roll her eyes. The man oozed confidence and it was—quite honestly—a turn on. “I need to finish—”

His kiss cut off her words. Need pulsed through her and she sank deeper into the hard chest she longed to explore sans clothing. There was no reason for her to attempt to argue further.
She knew it, and so did Dustin. She’d be going with him.

When the kiss ended, her nipples had drawn painfully tight and she longed to rub her core against the hard ridge in his jeans. It wouldn’t take much for her to find relief. Something she desperately craved.

“I’ll let you know the time.” Another brief and powerful kiss and she was left alone on the backseat of her truck. Horny. Correction. Hornier that she’d believed she could be.

* * * *

“Bye, Daddy!” she called over her shoulder as she jogged down to where her truck waited, agleam in the sun. She paused by the passenger door and glanced back to the porch where her father waited. “Will you be okay?”

He only used one crutch now and was definitely on the mend. He merely couldn’t do his work yet. His color had returned along with his outlook.

“Things will be fine. Luke and Matt will be stopping by to handle the chores. Go. Enjoy the Expo.”

She blew him a kiss, tossed her bag in the passenger seat before climbing in the driver’s side and heading for the Diamond J. Part of her had guilt for not telling her father she was accompanying Dustin Kane to the Expo.

Her tires rumbled over the dirt drive leading up the long road, beneath the large sign emblazoned with the ranch’s name. She took a deep breath, needing to find some calm before she reached his house. And him. All too soon, it appeared in her view, the large home sprawled out before her.

She’d always loved this house from the first time she’d seen it. Only once had she been inside when she’d gone with a girl from school to there. Dustin hadn’t ended up being home. Still, she’d only made it to the end of the entryway.
His father had made it abundantly clear she wasn’t to pass that point. According to him, no person of her race—and he’d not been that nice about his wording—would get beyond where she stood. Regardless, she’d been enamored with the openness of what she’d seen.

The angled one story country house created a beautiful scene against the endless Texas backdrop. Something about it made her imagination run wild and free.

Down by the barns she spied his dark green F-350 King Ranch Dually with a gooseneck attached. As she parked, she watched the very man who had invaded her dreams—while both awake and asleep—lead out a chestnut horse from the barn to the waiting trailer.

“What am I doing?” she asked herself as she hopped out and grabbed her bag from the backseat.

Messing with danger
. Her brain had the right of it, yet she couldn’t stop herself from striding down toward him. Tall, dark, and handsome stepped from the back as she reached it. She swallowed her immediate reaction to seeing him.

His grin, sin incarnate. His eyes were shadowed by the brim of his Stetson. “Ready?”

“Sure am. Anything I can do?”

“You can put your bag in the living quarters. I’m almost ready.”

She stepped back and stared between the trailer and him. So focused on Dustin she’d neglected to notice more about the trailer. Erotic images swarmed her at the mere thought of sharing space with this rugged cowboy. He encroached on her personal space, causing her to take two steps back before halting. Now, she could see his eyes. Was it her imagination or did they sparkle with challenge and heat?

“Worried?”

Yes. Worried she wouldn’t be able to control herself around him. “No, just thought we were staying in a hotel.”

“Don’t worry, there are two beds in the LQ. Decision is all yours.”

She licked her lips and tightened her grip on the straps of her duffle. What was there to say? She wasn’t stupid and recognized what he’d implied. “Good to know.” Brushing by him, she went to the door and stepped through.

A low whistle escaped as she closed the door behind her.
Damn, this is nice.

White ceiling and decorator wallboards. The mocha fabric set off the tan carpeting on the riser wall and bed area beautifully. Formica covered table and countertops with cherry panel cabinet doors. There were tinted windows with both valences and mini-blinds for added privacy.

Dropping her bag on the vinyl floor, she popped her head into the lavatory, where more Formica countertops waited along with a shower. Not to mention the pass-thru door to the cargo area. What an area. The sofa she knew would fold down to another bed yet her gaze continually focused on the queen with a gorgeous quilt where it rested in the bed area.

The door shut behind her, and she turned to see Dustin had entered. He hefted her bag then paused. “Do you need anything from this or can we store it?”

“I’m good, store it.”

She watched him place her bag in the storage area. Then all his attention was on her. With her back to the stainless steel kitchen sink she couldn’t get past him. He was between her and both doors.

Did she want to get away? Not particularly.

“Let’s head out.”

He raked his gaze over her before leading the way. Finn dragged a hand down her face as she stared at the firm ass encased in denim moving before her.
Oh yeah,
she realized following him,
I’m in big trouble.

She sat in the leather seat and watched as he exchanged final words with his foreman. Both men were good looking; however, it was only Dustin who caught her eyes. With admiration, she observed him as he strode back to the truck—long, powerful strides, confidence, and a cowboy swagger that dampened her panties.

He swung in and started the engine. “Ready?”

Not even close. “Always.”

He slanted his gaze at her, and she swore his lips kicked up at the corners. If it had, it was brief for he glanced forward and got them moving.

Chapter
Six

Dustin parked his rig at the site assigned him and hopped out. Samantha followed suit. The six-hour drive had passed swiftly as they spoke about numerous subjects. She was a shoot-from-the-hip kind of woman who didn’t put on airs. A fact he truly admired about her.

“I just have to get them settled inside,” he said as she met him by the back of the trailer.

“They come first. Put me to work.”

“Howdy, Dustin. Glad you made it.”

Stopping, he glanced to his left. Big Mike Towers, coordinator of the event, halted him. The man was built like a professional nose tackle for the NFL. Only change from last year was his hair had a bit more gray in it.

“Hi, Big Mike. Where you got me?”

He consulted the clipboard in his hands. “Straight back on the left.”

“Thanks.”

“I have to run, but we’ll catch up later, Dustin. In fact, we’ll do supper.” The man was gone with a wave.

Dustin would tackle the issue of supper later. Sharing a glance with Finn, they got to work. He loved it, and together they wheeled in sawdust for each of the stalls. She didn’t fill the air with rambling chatter; she just walked and worked silently beside him. It didn’t take them long to get the stalls set and ready for the horses. They wove through the people back to the trailer, and she waited for him to put the wheelbarrow away.

“I didn’t get anyone out because I wasn’t sure you wanted me to handle one. If not, I can carry in some gear.”

And she continually surprised him. “You can take one in, that would be great. How about Lawless.”

He talked and crooned to his horses as he took out his stallion, El Rey, and gelding, Dante. One on each side of him, he glanced back to see Samantha closing up the trailer with Lawless secured to the side. Then they followed.

Once they were all in, watered and given some hay, she leaned against El Rey’s stall and stroked his head.

“They don’t seem concerned.”

“They’re old pros at this. Which is why I can take this one with the gelding. He’s an amazing stallion.”

“Can’t wait to see you work him.”

Dustin flushed at her compliment. “Come on.”

They walked side-by-side back to his truck, sidestepping patrons and animals as more and more arrived to set up for the three-day event. He spoke to many acquaintances as they meandered. Each time, Samantha waited patiently for him to finish. No whining, pouting, or otherwise. She would introduce herself then he caught her gazing around, mostly at the horses.

Back at his trailer, Dustin held the door and watched Samantha as she moved inside ahead of him. The way those jeans cupped that ass of hers was enough to make him…swallow hard and remember it was her decision.