Chapter 20
20
EMMA
When we walked into Cody’s Saloon the next night, I wished I had grabbed a pair of Lyssa’s cowboy boots from her clothes at the Chapman ranch. Obviously, she hadn’t needed them in Ibiza. I was in a jean skirt and fitted blouse, but my sandals didn’t look the part.
Johnny didn’t let me get far today after our wild sexy times last night.
Even though we’d come to Wolf Ranch because he had to work, he said Rob and Wes, the ranch foreman who I hadn’t met yet, had given him a couple days off to spend with me.
I wanted to protest–to shrink back into the wallpaper and not cause any ripples–but I remembered that I was Lyssa here, and Lyssa loved being the center of attention. Making ripples. Having people change their plans for her.
So I drank it up. Drank up Johnny’s attention, which he lavished me with.
Not leaving the bunkhouse all day was fine by me. We ate–who knew Johnny could cook a mean omelet?–and napped and had lots and lots of sex.
I lost count of the number of orgasms he wrung from me.
And the places where we did it besides the bed. The shower. The vanity in the bathroom. The kitchen counter. The couch. The other couch. Oh, and walls. Lots and lots of walls.
By the late afternoon, I was a little sore. Okay, a lot sore, but in the best way possible. When Colton texted Johnny and said everyone was headed to a bar called Cody’s Saloon for dinner and drinks after, we agreed to join them. My vagina needed a break.
We were late because when Johnny saw me in this skirt, he got on his knees, lifted it, and licked me until I came one more time.
I looked around the packed bar. If there was a quintessential western saloon look, this was it. Country music. Wood paneling, a mix of mounted animal heads and neon beer signs, a glossy bar that ran along one entire wall and a mechanical bull. I’d never seen one before except in movies and… wow. A woman was riding it, arm flung over her head, laughing and hollering as she rocked in the saddle.
I couldn’t help but grin.
I smiled and waved at Marina, Colton, Rob, and Willow, who had pushed a number of high-tops together in a corner and were holding court with a crowd of other couples.
“That’s the Wolf Ranch crowd.” Johnny escorted me over, his hand at my lower back. Was it just me, or did it seem like he was… proud to show me off?
He slapped shoulders or bumped fists with all the guys there. “Hey everyone. This is Lyssa, my beautiful m–hot date.”
I tilted my face up to his. “What were you going to say?” I couldn’t think of a descriptor of me started with an M.
He flashed that lopsided grin. “M….magnificent girlfriend. Can I call you that yet?”
Warmth filled my chest. Again, I noticed the urge in myself to draw back and reject the attention, but why should I? After two days, I knew he was boyfriend material. Why would I not believe he could feel the same way? Did I think I wasn’t special enough for someone to fall for me so soon?
Screw that. Lyssa knew she was special. I could embody that energy too, for a change .
“Lyssa, this is Boyd, Rob’s and Colton’s brother, and an international rodeo champ, and his wife Audrey. She’s an OB/GYN.”
I shook hands with each of them. “So nice to meet you.”
“And this is Clint and his wife, Becky. They left Lily, their little one at home. She’s not quite old enough for the mechanical bull.”
I offered them a little nod and finger wave since the table was between us.
“And this is Levi–he’s the local sheriff–but he’s worked on the ranch. His wife, Charlie, is our vet.”
They were closer, so I was able to shake hands with them, repeating their names, “Levi, Charlie. Clint and Becky…”
“There will be a quiz later,” Charlie teased.
Johnny turned to me again. “This is Rand and Natalie. Natalie owns the ranch next door to Wolf Ranch, and Rand owns a construction company.”
Rand, Natalie. I tried to recite the names in my head, so I wouldn’t forget.
“This is my boss, Wes.” Johnny introduced me to a brawny, tattooed, red-headed guy who offered me his hand but didn’t speak. Compared to the others, he seemed like he was a grump.
“I thought Rob was your boss.” God, I swore I was trying to keep them all straight, but I was already getting muddled.
Johnny leaned down and murmured, “He’s the head honcho. And Wes is the foreman. I have a lot of bosses.”
“We’re like an army, with a long chain of command,” Colton said.
Johnny hooked his thumb at Colton. “He was a Green Beret, if you hadn’t guessed it by the haircut.”
I laughed. The Wolf Ranch guys and their cowboy hats were all big and gorgeous.
“Come sit over here with us, so we can girl talk.” Becky patted the empty stool beside her as the men left us behind and went to the bar.
Johnny didn’t follow them, instead pulled the stool out for me like a gentleman. “What can I get you to drink, baby?” His hand rested possessively on my hip. I liked the way he claimed me for all to see.
I usually stuck to one drink–the same drink I’d been ordering since college–a cosmo. But I wanted to fit in, and I was being adventurous. I smiled up at him. “Surprise me.”
He leaned over and claimed my mouth. Not a quick peck because we were in public, but a long, slow kiss that made everyone in our crowd whoop and cheer.
I let out a flustered laugh when he sauntered away toward the other guys with a swagger, like he was satisfied he’d just shown everyone in the bar who I belonged to.
“Someone’s smitten.” Marina winked.
“Damn. He’s usually so quiet. My brain is scrambling to update,” Becky said then leaned closer and whispered–although not that softly. “Is he wild in bed?”
I smiled. They reminded me of Lyssa and how, back in high school and college, she’d pester me for any details I had when I went on a date.
“So good,” I said. If Johnny was going to kiss me like he was going off to war in the middle of the bar, then he didn’t mind me telling them the truth.
“But you all know Johnny better than me. Give me the dirt.” I twisted to look over my shoulder at his broad back where he stood at the bar. Gawd, he was hot. I could fall in love with this guy.
Easily.
Except he didn’t even know the real me. He thought I was Lyssa. Was falling in love with Lyssa. What would happen when he found out about plain old boring Emma? Would he still be interested?
“I don’t know. Looks like you know him real well,” Marina said with a big smile and a wink.
I laughed and felt a blush creep up my neck. “Not that. I mean… I mean with clothes on.”
“He’s a good guy. Definitely trustworthy,” Becky said. “And like all the guys at Wolf Ranch, he’s protective. ”
“Sweet.”
“Strong.”
“Intense.”
“Thoughtful.”
They went around the table and listed adjectives that were really accurate. Clothes on or off.
“He comes off easy-going, but he’s got a darker side. Well, I don’t mean darker–just serious,” Becky added. Her phone was face up on the table, and the lock screen was of her and Clint and their little daughter who had the same big blue eyes as her.
I had glimpsed Johnny’s more serious side yesterday, when he told me about what happened with his sister, but I wanted to know if it went farther than that. “Oh? Like what?”
A new song came on, and Natalie made a loud whoop along with everyone else in the place.
“He’s close with Clint,” Becky said, her voice a little louder over the noise.
“They’ve been friends ever since he moved here. What happened to him before he came here, well, that’s Johnny’s story to tell you, but I think it really left a mark on him. Underneath all those panty-melting smiles and rippling muscles, he’s cautious.”
Johnny? Cautious? He seemed so spontaneous.
“He told me a little about what happened to his sister,” I offered, wondering if that’s what she meant .
Becky nodded, meaning she knew as well. The others looked a little lost but didn’t comment.
“Yeah, that left its mark on him. He has a firm sense of justice. He values honesty. He definitely doesn’t abide assholes.”
“Who does?” Willow muttered, raising her arm with an empty pitcher in her hand to signal the waitress for another.
He values honesty . How would he feel about me pretending to be Lyssa? Pretending to be spontaneous? Comfortable with her sexuality? Wild and free?
Would he still be interested?
A waitress swung by with a full pitcher of beer and a pint glass filled with a pale yellow drink. “Pineapple cider for Lyssa?”
I raised my hand. “That’s for me. Thanks.”
“Don’t make Johnny all doom and gloom, Beck.” Audrey put her hand on her friend’s forearm. “He’s protective of those he cares about, that’s all. And it looks like he’s decided he cares about Lyssa.”
As a group, we swiveled around on our stools to look Johnny’s way. He stood by the bar with the other guys. All of them were watching their specific woman and Johnny? He only had eyes for me.
Me.
I felt that heat, that need that arced between us from across the room .
“Oh my. That’s hot,” Willow said.
“Good thing the bunkhouse is empty,” Marina added with a giggle.
Yeah, good thing. Because when I told Johnny the truth about me–that I wasn’t actually named Lyssa and all the rest–I didn’t want anyone else around.
“Ooh!” Becky squealed. “Come on, it’s our turn on the bull. I put all our names down since none of us are preggers. Lyssa, you’re totally doing it with us!”
Everyone hopped up as if the table was on fire and headed toward the mechanical bull tucked away in the back.
No. Nope. No way was I getting on that thing!
The others didn’t seem to have the same thoughts. Based on how excited they all were, they thought it was fun.
Fun. There was that word again.
Was I only being chicken, or did I have serious fears? It wasn’t a real bull, and there were thick mats circling the thing. No one had gotten hurt so far.
Lyssa would do it. She’d be the first one in line and whooping it up like a real cowgirl.
Great. Now I had to do it and in a skirt! I took a deep breath, followed my new friends, and braced myself for the fun.