Chapter 13
Rhett
Ididn’t want to leave Carina last night, but I had to.
Had I known I was going to bump into my elusive wet dream, I wouldn’t have left Emmylou at Jenkins’s place.
After my girl and I exchanged phone numbers, I slipped into the night to find my best friend.
To my surprise, he didn’t give me a hard time.
He just said I looked like I had a good time.
It was the truth. I had a fucking great time.
And now I’m back for our first date.
I ring the bell and wait.
“Come on in.” Carina waves me in when she swings open the door.
It’s a gift seeing her again.
“Hey, darlin’,” I say, stepping inside her house and closing the door behind me. I drop my hat on a table near the door and focus all my attention on her.
The first time we met, I was so stunned by her beauty, I thought I was seeing a vision. Last night, my desire for her was so overpowering, I could barely think straight. Now, in broad daylight, I’m able to admire her all over again. She’s almost too much to take in.
She truly is gorgeous.
Her waist-length hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Her big, ocean blue eyes are framed by long, never-ending black lashes. Her plump lips are painted in a light pink shade. Her huge bright smile… it’s all gravy. And the icing on the cake, her easy-going personality.
I’m not sure I even deserve any of it, but I’m damn happy she’s accepted me as her guy.
I wrap an arm behind her waist, walking her back until her ass hits the kitchen counter.
I crowd her space. Lowering my head, I hover near her and wait. Smooth, supple skin greets my rough palm when I drag my hand over her bare shoulder with my free hand.
Her breath catches and she arches towards me.
I got the answer I was looking for.
I brush my lips against hers, smearing her perfectly applied lipstick. I lean in, except this time I graze her neck and breathe in her floral perfume. Goosebumps break out on her skin, and my cock is twitching in my jeans.
“Oh, God.”
I don’t go easy on her. I want to hear that breathy voice again. I nibble the curve of her naked shoulder, altering with more forceful bites.
“Rhett.” Her arms wind around my neck. She pulls me closer and grinds her stomach against my growing hard on.
“You didn’t get enough last night?”
“I guess not.”
“Looks like we’re in the same boat.”
“What are we going to do about it?”
The way those gorgeous blue eyes heat beneath my stare is enough to make a man lose his head.
Fuck.
Me.
And if that assertiveness doesn’t turn me on even more.
“First off, I’m going to say hello properly.”
“What—”
I take her lips in a searing kiss. My tongue slides against hers, and she moans, the sound making me rock-hard. I cup her ass cheeks and squeeze them as I bring our bodies closer together. For a fleeting second, I’m tempted to cancel our plans, but I want her to discover where I’m from.
When I pull away, she exhales. “I love how you people say hello down here.”
I toss my head back as I laugh. “What do you take me for? I don’t go around kissing girls. I only kiss my girl. Everybody else gets a nod, a tip of the hat, and a quick hello.”
It’s her turn to laugh. “How was your day?”
“It was busy. Remember how I told you last night I was staying with Jenkins because my farmhouse wasn’t quite ready?”
“I do.”
“The contractors are nearly done. I spent the better part of the day taking care of the landscape. I’m getting some new furniture delivered during the week and I should be able to move into my own place by next weekend.”
“You’re a new homeowner?”
“I am.” I nod. “I bought a dilapidated and ugly farmhouse on a good chunk of land. It’s located in a remote up-and-coming area. There was nothing to salvage, so I tore it down and built my dream home.”
“Congratulations! That’s great.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been staying with my buddy Jenkins and his sister for too long.”
“How long?”
“Six months. We’ve been best friends since our first week in first grade. When I needed a place to crash while I recovered, he opened his home to me.” I rub the back of my neck. “A lot has happened to me lately.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“You’re one of the good things to happen to me, though.” Her smile is as wide as mine. “Hey, I forgot to tell you. Guess what?”
“What?”
“You work with Jenkins’ baby sister.”
“I do?”
“April.”
“What a small world.”
“That’s small-town living for you. I’ll have you over as soon as I’m settled and I’ll invite Jenkins and April.”
She worries her bottom lip. “Really?”
I give her a, Are you kidding me right now? look.
“All right, all right. You’re my guy.” She’s still a little shy about it. That only makes me like her even more. “I look forward to the invitation.”
“By God, she got it, y’all.”
She laughs.
“You know why else I want you to come over?” My voice is low and deep.
She shakes her head.
“Last night was pretty hot, but I can’t wait to get you in my bed, beneath me, on top of me, riding me like a wild cowgirl until we both pass out from exhaustion. And I want to wake up to your dark hair fanned around your beautiful face against the pillow like a halo.”
“Oh.”
“Your eyes are as big as the fucking moon.” I laugh.
“You say things—”
“Things I mean.”
She blushes.
“FYI, those are some of the perks of being my girl.”
“Lucky me.”
“Damn right.” We exchange a warm smile. “How was your day?”
“Since a certain Rhett Sullivan is tight-lipped about where he’s taking me, I spent most of the day preparing food for our outing. I have a cooler packed.” She points her chin to it in the corner of the kitchen.
I cock an amused eyebrow. “Carina, it’s only for tonight. We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. Looks like you prepared enough food for a week.”
She shrugs. “Sue me. I’m half Italian on both sides.”
I laugh. “You’re absolutely charming. I love what you’re wearing, by the way.”
“Once again, I was going at it blind. I changed four times because I wasn’t sure what to wear.”
I kiss her again. “You look perfect.”
She’s wearing a pretty white dress with large blue flowers. The bottom part is flared out and hits her below the knee. Since it’s going to be a scorching hot day, it’s the right selection.
My eyes drop to her sandals. “Still no cowgirl boots?”
“Someone promised to take me to Fort Worth or Dallas so I can buy a pair. I’m still waiting.”
“Cheeky Carina.”
“You opened that door.”
“You’re right.” I smile. “Something’s been on my mind…” I say, changing the subject.
“What’s that?”
“This is going so fast between us—”
“Too fast?”
“Not for me.”
Her features soften.
“I realized last night before falling asleep I don’t even know how old you are.”
“I’m twenty-four. How about you?”
“I turned twenty-eight a couple months ago.”
“Oof.” She wipes her forehead with the back of her hand. “Thank God you aren’t a dirty old man.”
“I’m just dirty.”
“I’ve experienced it firsthand.”
I wink. “There’s something else on my mind.”
“You’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Mr. Sullivan.”
“Everything about you took me by surprise,” I say. “I was thinking maybe I should tell my bosses about us.”
“Really?”
“Jake and Hunter will be wondering what’s going on if they keep seeing my truck parked right outside of your door. It’s best if we put it out in the open.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “Are you sure?”
She’s so sweet and vulnerable right now.
“I’m sure about us.” I trace my knuckles against her cheek. “Not you?”
“I’m sure as well.”
And fuck, that does something to me.
Her lips pull up into a slow smile.
“I want them to know. I don’t want to sneak around. I also want to make sure the other ranch hands keep their distance. That way they know you’re off limits.”
She offers a slow nod. “I wrangled a possessive hunk?”
“I’m being a territorial alpha because I lassoed the prettiest girl from here to New York City.”
She bites her lower lip. “There are a lot of gorgeous women in New York.”
“None as stunning as the one standing in front of me.”
“Sweet talker.”
“I’m not going to even apologize.”
We smile at each other. We seem to be doing that a lot.
“I’ll tell Riley about us,” she says.
“Good. It’s best to be on the up and up.”
“You’re right.”
There’s so much she doesn’t know about me––and I’ll remedy that soon––but for now, I want everyone to know she’s mine.
More importantly, I don’t want to get her in trouble with Riley, Jake, or Hunter.
I don’t know what kind of agreement they have with her when it comes to men coming over since she lives on their property.
I jerk my head towards the door. “Ready?”
“I am.”
“Let’s hit the road.”
“This is going to be so much fun.”
“You have no idea. I get you all to myself until tomorrow. I’m a lucky bastard.”