Chapter Two
The next morning, Devin and his brother stood in the barn with most of the guests. Jaxon was taking them on a trail ride.
“Is he going to show?” Jaxon asked him.
“I told Willa if he didn’t show by six, there would be no training for him today.”
“ Willa? You’re on a first name basis with her already?” Jaxon teased.
“Shut up,” he muttered making Jaxon laugh.
“Be careful, little brother. You know she’s not sticking around.” Jaxon turned away to face the guests waiting for him.
Devin listened as he told everyone to mount up. The plan was to get them out of the barn and on their way before Fontaine showed up. If he showed up. He swore under his breath and looked up at Jaxon on his horse.
“You’re only older by four minutes,” he said in annoyance.
“True, but that does make me the older and bigger brother. Not to mention better looking.” Jaxon glanced over Devin’s head and nodded. “Here comes Fontaine. I’ll get the riders going.”
Looking over his shoulder, he bit back a grin. Fontaine wore pressed jeans, his new boots, and his fancy looking cowboy hat. Devin turned to meet him.
“Did you bring the papers I left with Miss Foster?”
Rocky faltered in his steps. “No. I left them in the cabin. ”
Devin shook his head. “I am not doing anything with you until you bring me those papers. I’m not risking my ranch for you or anyone.”
“I’ll call Willa. She can get them and bring them here. I’ll probably have to wake her up.” Rocky pulled his cellphone from his pocket.
Devin’s heart gave a leap at the thought of seeing Willa. He didn’t care if Fontaine had to wake her or not, he wanted to see her. He’d barely slept last night because he couldn’t stop thinking about her and his dick was hard all night. He wanted to sleep with her. Sleep? Hell, sleep had nothing to do with what he wanted to do with her in bed. His groin tightened as he thought of having her under him. Above him. On her knees. Shit! If he didn’t stop, he was going to have a raging hard-on.
He turned his back to Fontaine but listened to him talking to her and almost laughed when Fontaine pleaded with her.
“Come on, Willa. I didn’t do it on purpose. I walked out and left them on the table by the front door. Could you please just go there and get them. I didn’t lock the cabin.”
Devin rolled his eyes. The guests were told to lock their cabins anytime they left them. The Bur Oak ranch didn’t do background searches on the guests, so no one knew who was capable of what. In the five years they’ve had the ranch, there had never been a problem but this was the first time they had a celebrity on the premises. He turned to face Fontaine when he heard him tell her goodbye .
“She’ll be here in a minute. I woke her up,” Rocky said with a shrug as he looked at him.
“All right. I’ll saddle a horse for you. I wasn’t sure you’d show this early. I’ll be right back.”
Fontaine nodded and followed him. “Do you mind if I watch?”
Devin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “No, not at all.”
Maybe the guy wasn’t so bad after all. He seemed nicer this morning than when he’d arrived the day before. He was a good actor too. Devin remembered him being nominated for an Academy Award last year and in his opinion, he’d deserved to win but hadn’t.
He led a horse from a stall and tied her to the gate while he got the tack.
“Do you think I should learn to saddle a horse too?” Rocky asked him as Devin walked to the horse carrying a blanket and saddle.
“I do, but let’s get you used to her first and the best way to do that is to get on her. This is Moondancer. She’s an American Quarter horse and very gentle. One of the trail horses, and best for people who have never ridden before. She doesn’t spook easy and is laid back. You can rub her nose and talk to her.” He rubbed his hand down the white blaze on her face and she leaned into him.
Rocky reached a shaky hand out to the horse, and Devin wondered how in the hell the man was going to get on the animal when he was terrified of her. He watched as a smile lifted Rocky’s lips.
“I’d always heard their noses feel like velvet and it’s true.” Rocky rubbed her nose and seemed to lose some of his apprehension as he crooned softly to the horse. When she bobbed her head up and down, he chuckled.
“They’re gentle giants. Treated right, they make great companions. Don’t you, Moon?” Devin rubbed her neck. She turned her head toward him and pulled at his hat with her lips making him lean away from her.
“Does she do that a lot?” Rocky let out a surprised laugh.
“Oh yeah, she’s a big tease. She’ll try to take your hat and throw it.”
They were laughing together when he spotted Willa enter the barn and by the look on her face, she wasn’t at all happy about being up this early. Her jeans and tank top hugged her curves and on her feet were white flip-flops. She practically marched down the aisle of the barn with them in her sights while clutching the papers tight in her hand, and a frown marring her beautiful face. Stopping beside Rocky, she glared at him then thrust the papers at Devin.
“I’m sorry, Willa. I did mean to bring them,” Rocky said, looking surprisingly enough a little sheepish.
“I have no doubt you did, but for heaven’s sake, Rocky, I wanted to try to sleep in at least once while we’re here.”
“Wow. Not a morning person, huh?”
Devin couldn’t stop the grin when she turned those jade green eyes on him. Her hair was mussed from sleep, and she wore no makeup. Apparently, it didn’t bother her not to be wearing any .
“Do I look like a morning person to you, Mr. Callahan?” Her hands went to her hips as she narrowed her eyes at him.
He ran his hand over his mouth. “Maybe you need someone there in the mornings to kiss you awake and help make you a little more chipper.”
Her eyebrows shot up and disappeared under her bangs. “You’ve got some balls, cowboy.”
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.”
She huffed, closed her eyes, and shook her head then spun on her heel to leave the barn. He and Rocky watched her go. When she had disappeared, he could feel Rocky looking at him. Devin glanced at him.
“What? Am I stepping on your toes?”
Rocky blew out a laugh. “No. I’ve just never seen her speechless before.”
“Now that I can believe. Come on, let’s get to the corral.”
He led Moondancer out into the sunshine with Rocky following him.
****
“Damn man… who does he think he is? Suggesting I need someone to kiss me awake to help make me chipper. I’ll make him chipper,” Willa muttered as she stomped her way back to her cabin.
She passed some women and sent them a tightlipped smile. Bur Oak looked like it prospered very well. She could understand why everyone had to sign a waiver. If someone sued the Callahan brothers, they’d lose this fantastic place.
Maybe she’d sign up for a trail ride since she loved riding and it had been a few months since she’d been on a horse. Suddenly, the song Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy popped into her head, and as much as she hated to admit it, she’d love to ride one particular grey-eyed cowboy. She couldn’t though because she had an awful feeling that he would be too easy to fall for and her life was in Hollywood.
She glanced up at the beautiful Glacier Mountains in the distance. They appeared to look as if they were piercing the sky with their jagged points. Willa knew they had to be even more gorgeous with snow capping them. Reaching her cabin, she was about to step onto the porch when a man stopped and smiled at her.
“Good morning,” he said and nodded in greeting.
She smiled in return. “Good morning.”
“I’m Barry Harmon.” He stepped closer with a smile on his face.
“Willa Foster,” she said as she extended her hand to him and he took it in his.
“My wife and I are heading to breakfast at the lodge. Are you coming back from there?”
“No. I didn’t even realize the lodge served breakfast. I’m afraid I didn’t look at the brochures before arriving.” As she stood there talking with him, she saw a petite redhead walking toward them.
“Are you bothering other guests, Barry?” she asked as she stepped up beside him.
Barry laughed. “No, hon. At least, I don’t think so.” He looked at Willa with a raised eyebrow .
“No, he’s not. We were talking about breakfast.”
“Good subject. I’m starving.” The woman laughed then stuck out her hand. “I’m Donna Harmon.”
Willa repeated her name in introduction, and smiled. They were probably in their mid to late twenties.
“Have you been here before, Willa?” Barry asked her.
“First time. What about you two?”
Donna smiled at her. “We’ve been coming here for four years. We actually spent our honeymoon here. We love it.”
“Four years? Wow. I’m sure the owners and staff know the two of you well.”
“They never forget us, and I know they have tons of people here every summer. Devin and Jaxon are both really nice guys. Not to mention gorgeous.” Donna giggled.
“Excuse me? I’m right here, Donna,” Barry said in mock anger.
Willa and Donna both laughed. “I’ll let you two get going. Enjoy your breakfast.”
“If you don’t feel like cooking yourself breakfast or any other meal one day, eat at the lodge. They have a wonderful buffet.”
“I’ll do that. Have fun. Maybe we’ll see each other again soon.” Willa waved as she walked onto her porch and entered her cabin.
She continued to smile thinking about the Harmons. They were a lovely couple. Donna was right about the Callahan men. They were gorgeous. She couldn’t help but wonder if Jaxon was married. Devin certainly wasn’t.
Both men were very similar in looks, although she’d noticed Jaxon’s eyes were a lighter shade than Devin’s and appeared more silver than grey. Otherwise, they had the same hair, build, and height. They had to be close to six feet five since Devin had towered over her five feet seven by almost a foot. She’d love to slowly crawl up that hard body. No! No! No! His lips were even sexy. Cupid’s bow lips. She loved a man with sexy lips and since she was on the subject of sexy. Could his ass be any hotter? She wanted to dig her nails into it and bite it. That ass should be illegal.
“You seriously need to stop this,” she muttered to herself as she walked to the small kitchen and opened the refrigerator door to peer inside. There was plenty of food. She’d filled out a menu to have food in the cabin but since talking with the Harmons, she was anxious to see what the lodge offered.
Blowing out a breath, she pocketed her key and left the cabin to have breakfast at the lodge. Willa knew damn well she wasn’t going to get back to sleep and she could do some work once she returned. Outside, she put her sunglasses on and headed for the lodge. Smiling as she passed several people. How many people were here, she wondered. She counted twenty cabins. If there were couples in the other eighteen that was forty people including her and Rocky, which made her wonder how many rooms the lodge contained?
Rocky and Devin seemed to be getting along pretty well too. When had that happened ?
Well duh, Willa. It had to have been this morning because yesterday they didn’t seem to care about getting along. Rocky had even mentioned that he thought Devin was cocky. Willa had snorted at his remark—exactly what she’d accused Devon of being when he kept flirting with her. He certainly knew how to tease too. She bet he knew how to kiss too.
Stop it!
Entering the lodge, she saw at least thirty people sitting at tables and five at the buffet getting food. Smiling at people as she passed, she made her way to the food and almost groaned when she saw it. Her stomach growled. An older woman beside her looked at her and laughed.
“My stomach was just saying the same thing.”
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I saw all of this. Everything looks so good.”
Reaching for a plate and utensils, she then moved along the buffet. Everything from pancakes and waffles to scrambled eggs and gravy for biscuits was laid out in front of her.
“Everything is wonderful here. For dinner, you can order from a menu or have the buffet. I recommend, oh let’s see… everything.” The woman laughed. “I’m Ethel McKinney. My husband, Grant… is over there.” She nodded toward a table where a man sat with a massive plate of food in front of him.
“Willa Foster. Nice to meet you, Ethel.”
“Enjoy your food, honey. Maybe we’ll see each other around. I plan on being at the pool this afternoon.”
“I didn’t know there was a pool. I may join you.”
Ethel looked at her like she’d said she was an alien. “First time here?”
“Yes. Does it show?”
Ethel chuckled. “A little. This is our third time, and I think we’re going to make it a yearly thing. I’ll see you later, Willa.” She walked to the table to join her husband.
Just about every age was here except for children. She hadn’t seen one person under eighteen. She really needed to read the brochures, she thought as she filled her plate and turned to find a seat. After taking a seat at a table, she began eating and almost groaned aloud at the first bite of her pancake. It was fluffy and delicious. Glancing around, she noticed a few women sitting together and Willa would bet money they were all single. They saw her looking their way and smiled at her. It didn’t seem like anyone was anything but friendly.
After breakfast, she walked over to a woman standing in a doorway. Willa knew by her black pants, white shirt, and nametag she worked here. Her badge read Robin .
“Hi. Could you tell me where the pool is?” she asked Robin.
“Sure. It’s on the west side of the lodge. If you go through those double doors over there, they will take you out onto the porch. The pool is right there.”
“Do I have to go through here to get there?” She really didn’t want to parade through the dining area in her swimsuit to get to the pool.
Robin smiled at her. “No, ma’am. You can get there through the fence at the back of the lodge.”
“Great. I really didn’t want to walk through here in a swimsuit.”
“Understandable, and behind the pool is where you’ll find the tennis courts if you’re interested.”
“Great. Thank you, Robin.”
“You’re very welcome. Enjoy your stay at Bur Oak.”
“I will.”
Willa walked out of the lodge and down the road to head for the cabins. As she passed the barns, she wondered how Rocky was doing. Only one way to find out, Willa .
Turning in that direction, she entered the barn and strolled down the center aisle, stopping to pet several of the horses. Glancing toward the open doors, she saw Jaxon leading riders in. He touched the brim of his straw cowboy hat when he saw her, and she inwardly sighed. He was so good-looking too. She smiled when he got closer.
“Hello, Mr. Callahan.”
After giving her a nod, he turned in his saddle making the leather creak. “All right everyone, you can dismount. The ranch hands will take care of your horses. The rest of your day is free to do what you want.”
“Anything we want?” one of the female riders asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I don’t think you’d be agreeing with me if you knew what I wanted to do, cowboy,” she remarked with a grin.
Nervous laughter filtered through the other riders as Jaxon turned back around and dismounted from his horse. He looked at Willa and rolled his eyes. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Once he stood beside his horse, he looked at the woman.
“Within reason,” he said smiling.
“Damn,” the woman said laughing.
As Willa watched, everyone dismounted and handed the reins over to the waiting ranch hands before strolling out of the barn chattering about their ride, and she suspected their sexy guide. She turned to see Jaxon tying his horse to a stall gate then began removing the tack.
“How often are the trail rides?” she asked.
“We have an hour ride every morning.”
“I’d love to go on the next one.”
Jaxon turned his head and smiled at her. “You should be here around six any day you want to go, but you will need to sign up for it the previous day. There are also three camping trips, one overnight trip, a two-night trip, and a cattle drive. The brochures tell you all about it.”
“I have to admit I haven’t read them.”
“I got that feeling when you asked how often we had them, Miss Foster.”
“Please, call me Willa.”
“Only if you call me Jaxon.”
“Deal.” She smiled.
“I saw Dev and Mr. Fontaine out back. He looks like he’s doing well.”
“Rocky will give it all he’s got. He’s a very determined man. He’d do all his own stunts if he could, but his agent won’t allow it.”
“I can understand that. ”
She watched him lift the saddle off the horse as if it weighed nothing. Tilting her head, she studied him. Not only were they similar in looks and build, but Jaxon and Devin were identical in their mannerisms.
“Who’s the oldest between you and Devin?”
“Me… by four minutes.” Jaxon grinned and set the saddle over the rail of a stall.
Realization dawned. “You’re twins?”
“Yes, ma’am. Fraternal twins.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“How would you?” Jaxon chuckled as he lifted the blanket off his horse.
“True. I’m going to check on Rocky and make sure Devin hasn’t killed him yet.”
“Good idea. Have a good day,” Jaxon said as he touched the brim of his hat.
Cowboys were so polite. They were hardworking men, and she’d bet hard loving too.
Oh my God! You need to stop this, Willa Foster!
When she walked into the bright sunshine, she saw Devin leaning against the wood rail fence with his arms folded along the top and one booted foot hooked on the bottom rail. Rocky was sitting on a beautiful chestnut horse with a white blaze down her face. He was riding her around in a slow circle.
Willa skimmed her eyes down over Devin. A cowboy through and through…from the top of his white straw cowboy hat sitting low on his forehead to his well-worn dusty boots. Too bad he wasn’t facing her, or she’d check out his jeans. Stop it now!
“Hi,” she said as she stepped up beside Devin .
“Hello, darlin’.” Devin smiled at her.
Laughing, she shook her head. “Do you use that cowboy jargon on all the women?”
“Well, I am a cowboy. But as far as calling all women that—I don’t.”
“I’m supposed to believe that?” She snorted.
Devin chuckled. “You’re a tough woman, Willa. What man made you mistrust the rest of us so much?”
“It would take too long to tell you.”
“You could tell me over dinner.” He grinned at her.
She looked away from him because if she didn’t, she’d take him up on the dinner invitation in a heartbeat. Rocky waved at her, and she raised her hand at him.
“He seems to be doing all right,” she said as she watched Rocky.
“He is so far. This was just to get him used to how to command and sit on the horse. He was scared to death when he first mounted her. Moondancer is a very gentle horse but any horse can feel the tension, and it makes them nervous too. I had to tell him to relax in the saddle or he was going to bounce around, and hurt like hell tomorrow. Although, it won’t matter because he’s going to be sore anyway.”
“I did that the first time I rode. My muscles really hurt the next day.”
“You didn’t have a good teacher. I could have taught you how to relax and enjoy it,” he said quietly near her ear.
Suppressing a shiver, she looked at him. “Are we still talking about horseback riding? ”
Devin laughed. “I was, but you know it’s true about anything you do. Relax, and you enjoy it more.” He looked at her. Their eyes met and held.
“That’s true,” she whispered.
“Have dinner with me.”
“Will it stop at just one dinner?”
“Hell, no.”
“Devin…”
“I love how you say my name. Sexy as hell,” he murmured.
She noticed his gaze dropped to her lips then lifted back to her eyes. Most women wouldn’t have caught it since he’d done it so subtlety, but she did. She watched for things like that and noticed almost everything a man did when looking at a woman. This man was so dangerous, to her heart and her libido. She had to convince herself not to get involved with him but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted him. To feel him between her legs.
She shuddered and licked her lips. He groaned and started to lean toward her when Rocky stopped the horse in front of them.
“Hey, Willa.”
Tearing her eyes from Devin, she smiled as she looked up at Rocky. “Hey. Your teacher here says you’re doing well.”
“I like this. I think I’ll buy a horse when I get home. What do you think? I could buy you one too.”
“I don’t need you to buy me a horse, Rocky. I figured you’d like it once you started riding though. I’m going to head back to the cabin and change into my swimsuit. I plan on going to the pool and soak up some sun. Later, gentlemen.”
Rocky nodded and moved the horse along the rail. Starting to walk away, she turned back when Devin spoke.
“Great. Now, I’ll be hard all fucking day thinking about you in a swimsuit,” he muttered.
“Poor you, Callahan.”
She turned and walked away laughing, putting a little more sway in her hips because she knew, without a doubt, he was watching her.