Chapter 15
Fifteen
“ H ave you found anything else about the missing money?” Abby asked as Evie followed her out of the storage room.
“No. I wish I had some answers for Sam, especially with what happened to the herd. He seems so stressed and I feel terrible because I’m supposed to be here taking things off his shoulders.”
Abby and Daisy had stopped over after lunch to chat, and neither of them would let her carry a box from the storage room. Instead, she was getting in some cuddles with Sunny, whose head was laying on Evie’s shoulder as she swayed back and forth.
“Evie, somehow, someone is stealing from the ranch. I know Sam is grateful that you found it. Even if it is stressful right now. You’ll figure it out. And we’re all here to help in any way we can.” Daisy patted her arm before picking up her own box.
“Do you think Seb has a forensic accountant who would help? Don’t all big businesses have something like that?” Abby asked .
“Sam wants to keep things quiet, for now.” Evie admitted.
“Why? We could just get to the bottom of things and figure out where the problem is.”
She bit her lip, guilt churning in her stomach. “It’s because of me.”
Both women gave her questioning looks.
“Let’s go sit in the office.”
She led the way, with Sunny smiling lazily in her arms. God, it felt incredible to hold her, and Evie knew that before she could blink, Jellybean would be the same size in her arms.
“Alright, sit and spill.”
Evie didn’t sit. She felt too jittery, knowing the history she was going to have to rehash all over again.
“At my last job, I was accused of stealing from the office I worked for.”
Abby’s jaw dropped.
“There was a huge investigation. I had to spend all of my savings on lawyers who helped clear my name.”
“And this was when you were pregnant?” Daisy asked.
“Yes.” Evie set her forehead down into her hands. “My former boss found out I was pregnant and then I was somehow being accused. It was horrific to go through. I told Sam about it all as soon as I discovered the first discrepancy. The thing is, the timing is so strange. The first withdrawal that doesn’t make sense was the week I started here. And then the herd was…” she swallowed roughly, thinking about Lemon and her calf. “The herd was attacked. It feels like we are missing something huge here, but I just can’t figure it out. I’m letting Sam down.”
“You’re not. This isn’t just on your shoulders to figure out. The two things might not even be related.”
“But he doesn’t want to involve anyone else in case it gets worse for me. He’s protecting me when he should be thinking about the ranch. ”
“Seems like he’s finally pulled his head out of his ass and realized there’s a spark of something between the two of you.”
Evie felt her face grow warm.
“Oh, I know that look,” Daisy laughed. “Second trimester hormones make everything feel so… heightened.”
“It’s been challenging,” Evie whispered. “He took me on this incredible date, but since then, I don’t know what’s going on in his mind.”
Her makeout sessions with Sam had been incredible. But they weren’t going anywhere beyond a few fast and fiery kisses here and there in the office. Or the barn. Oh, and one time in his truck. It had been nearly two weeks since their date night and her hormones were kicking her sex drive into dangerous territories. If she didn’t know any better, she’d say the damn cowboy seemed to be actively trying to kill her with his manners.
“Evie! That’s so exciting! Well, the date part, not the pulling back part. But I bet it’s just work messing with his mind.”
“I feel like I’m drooling after him all of the time. And the kisses are nice, don’t get me wrong.”
“But you’re ready to take things to the next level?” Daisy asked, and Evie immediately nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t get enough of Hank when I was pregnant. You’ll see one day, Abby. You think you’ve got the hots for John now? Wait until he knocks you up and you get past all the morning sickness. You’ll be jumping on him the second he walks in the door.”
“God. If it’s that intense, how the hell are you surviving, Evie?”
She sighed. “I honestly don’t know. I feel like I’m about to combust.”
Daisy looked over her shoulder out into the barn and then turned back, winking at Evie .
“You know,” she laughed. “I could set you up on a date, if you wanted. Hank’s best friend is single, and a doctor. I’m sure he’d be happy to take care of your needs.”
“You are NOT setting her up with Jake.” Sam stormed into the office and Evie could have passed out just from how he was looking at her. Daisy’s wink now made perfect sense.
God, he looked so good every time he came back from riding Jasper. Like the cover of some cowboy romance novel, his skin was glistening with sweat and the way his shirt had a few buttons open at the top made her want to lick that sweat right off his collarbone.
“Evie?” Daisy’s giggle snapped her back from her completely inappropriate thoughts. “You’re looking a little sweaty. Do you want me to take Sunny?”
Evie nodded, carefully passing the nearly sleeping baby back to her mother. “I didn’t realize Jake is Hank’s best friend.”
“You’ve already met him?”
She fanned herself with a stack of papers that sat on the edge of her desk.
“You okay?” Sam asked. “It doesn’t feel that hot in here.”
“Oh, you have no idea how hot it was just a minute before you walked in,” Abby teased.
“I met Jake a few weeks ago,” Evie rushed to say. “I had a little car trouble. He rescued me from the heat and I thanked him by passing out in front of him.”
“Oh my god. See, already such a sweet meet-cute.” She held her hand over her heart and batted her eyelashes.
“What the hell is a meet-cute?”
“You need to start reading more.” Abby sighed as she jumped down from his desk. “It’s like in a romance, when the two main characters finally meet. For example, she’s a waitress and he’s a crabby businessman, and she’s bringing him his order but trips and not only spills everything all over him, but punches him right in his junk as she lands in his lap.”
“Did you read that recently?” Evie asked, laughing at her very detailed description.
“Yup. It was adorable.” She turned back towards her brother. “They had the hottest happy ever after and I think Jake and Evie could too!”
Sam grumbled more as he started moving things around in front of him.
“That’s really sweet, Abby, but I’m good. What we were talking about earlier doesn’t matter. I’ll get through it on my own.”
Shit. She’d said something wrong because Sam’s head popped up from the paper he was intently staring at on his desk. His brown eyes filled with worry.
“What do you need to get through?”
Daisy choked on her water. “Girl talk, Sam. Nothing Evie’s boss needs to worry about.”
“I’m not her boss,” he grumbled again, this time loud enough for them all to hear. “I don’t pay her salary.”
“Oh, true.” Daisy winked and Abby giggled.
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?” Sam asked.
“Girl talk, dear brother of mine. Girl talk.”
“I’m sorry, Sam. Did you need something?” Evie prayed her friends would see how badly she wanted them to drop the subject.
“Just for Daisy and Abby to stop distracting my office manager from her work.”
“Nice try, Sam.” Abby coughed. “I know you wouldn’t want Evie to be overworked. Besides, we’ve been helping! She tried to convince us to let her haul some of the boxes from the storage room to here all on her own.”
“Abby. I thought we were friends!” Evie feigned hurt, but a little tinge of nervousness settled in her stomach as she felt Sam’s gaze boring into her.
“Evie…”
“I know. I didn’t do anything crazy. Like they said, they carried the boxes that I wanted to sort through.”
He folded his arms across his chest. Evie tried to remember he was being grumpy and not focus on the way his biceps bulged in his shirt. She licked her lips, thinking about how his hands had felt running up her arms the other day when they stole a few kisses in the corner of the barn.
Daisy’s laugh broke her daydream.
“Alright, Abby. I think we need to get out of here. I can drop you off before I head home.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I promised Katy we’d walk and pick some wildflowers on the way back to press into ornaments for our window.”
“That sounds like so much fun.” Abby’s activity with Katy sounded like everything Evie was looking forward to doing with Jellybean one day.
“It should be. Let’s just hope John remembered to grab wax paper at the store. Otherwise we’ll have to press the flowers another day.”
“Bye, you two. Behave yourselves…” Daisy winked at Evie. “Or maybe don’t if you want some relief, Evie.”
The women left with a wave over their shoulders. She shook her head and tried to stare at her computer screen, hoping like hell her pregnancy hormones would simmer down.
“Are you sure everything is okay?” Sam asked as she shimmied off her light jacket. The office was air conditioned, which normally meant she needed a cover on her arms, but she found the electricity in the air, and the way Sam was currently studying her negated all effects of the cold air.
“Yes.”
“You can ask me for help, you know?”
“Is this about carrying those boxes? I already told you, the girls helped me. They were insistent. You would have been proud of them.” She rolled her eyes and hoped Sam heard the sarcastic tone in her voice. The last thing that man needed was anyone supporting his ridiculous ban on her carrying anything.
“No. I mean, yes, I want you to ask me for help with that too, but whatever you and the girls were talking about when I walked in. I can help you with whatever you need.”
Her face was on fire. The last thing she needed to think about was the filthy fantasies she’d been having of her hot as hell cowboy.
No. Not hers. Just a cowboy that she knew…. and was having crazy sexy hidden kisses with.
God, Evie, pull yourself together!
His eyes were still glued to her, studying her face. “Did you want Daisy to set you up with Jake?”
“What? No.”
“Then why are you acting so weird?”
“I just… with us,” she looked around the room, out through the open door before continuing. “Going on that date… Kissing… I just… it’s just?—”
“Oh,” he chuckled, his eyes going wide as he clearly registered what the problem was. “I understand now.”
“What?”
Sam stood, walking over to her desk where he rested his hip against the edge by her keyboard. His finger settled under her chin and lifted so that her eyes had to meet his.
“You know exactly what, Bluebell. You need that type of help, you need some relief , I’m here. Not Jake. Not any other man. Me.”
He chuckled as he pressed his lips to hers. Evie’s body leaned forward, ready for more. Ready to jump on and ride the sexy cowboy who had been filling every moment of her naughty fantasies.
“I made myself clear, yes?” he asked as he pulled away.
The only response she could manage was a whimper.
“Ow, these dang shoes are getting too small…” Evie muttered to herself as she slipped off the forest green flats she’d paired with her outfit for the day. She could slide them back on if someone else came into the office, but she doubted she’d be bothered for a while. While Sam had hovered after the girls left, making sure she ate some of the watermelon he brought down from the house for her, he didn’t kiss her or bring up their conversation again. And now he was back out, working on replacing a portion of fencing with Zeke and Derrick.
It was for the best. She needed to dive back into the banking statements and figure out how money was going missing. Evie’s first goal was to find when the money discrepancies started. If it had been going on for years, there would hopefully be a trail they could follow. If it was only when Evie started, she feared it would be more difficult to find the culprit.
Hours passed by, and Evie seemed to get nowhere. She managed to identify a few invoices that didn’t match their payment amounts, but without Sam there to verify if there was an updated invoice, or something else she was missing, she couldn’t assume it pointed to more embezzlement.
Shep’s growl grabbed Evie’s attention.
“What’s going on, buddy? Do you need to go?—”
Oh, no no no no no! The adorable ever-growing ball of fur had gone positively feral with one of her shoes! Evie could already see the fabric changing color as his drool soaked it .
She jumped up from the desk and started chasing after him.
“Hey, you little rascal! Give me back my shoe!” The puppy barely acknowledged her as he took off into the barn. The fluff ball went as fast and as far as his puppy paws could take him, clearly thinking she was trying to play a game with him. Evie chased him past the horse stalls, out the back door, and around front to the ranch trucks.
Shep bounded back into the barn and Evie knew it was a losing race, but she loved those dang shoes and wasn’t quite ready to give them up to puppy teeth. Her foot slid on the loose gravel outside the front entrance and her lungs squeezed painfully as she tripped over the threshold.
Evie’s eyes slammed shut as she braced to hit the concrete. Instead, warm, rough hands slid around her waist, yanking her into a wall of solid muscle. Leather and salt and swirls of coffee wrapped their way into her lungs as she opened her eyes.
“Christ. Are you okay?” Sam’s worried tone melted its way into her heart.
“Fine, ” she answered as she tried to haul oxygen into her lungs. “Sorry about that.”
He set her on her feet, hands lingering a second longer than necessary before pulling away. She hated that he’d let her go.
“What the hell were you thinking running in here like that?”
She huffed, straightening the bottom of her shirt that had gone all wonky when he caught her. “Well, if you must know, that furry menace of yours stole my shoe and was using it as a chew toy. And you really should get that ledge of concrete looked at. It’s a tripping hazard. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to find him and get it back. It’s one of the only shoes that still fits my feet.”
Sam chuckled and Evie’s eyes snapped into a scowl .
“Aren’t you supposed to be out in the pasture with Derrick and Zeke?”
“They’re done for the day and I just got back. It’s a good thing I wasn’t still out there.” His eyes held a challenge as he placed his hand over the baby. Her body swayed towards him, unable to resist melting into his touch.
“Yes. Thank you, Sam.” She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. The prickly whiskers of a two-day-old beard tickled her skin and set her whole body on fire.
“You missed, Bluebell.”
“What?”
“You missed,” he whispered again before lowering his lips to hers. The kiss was punishing and possessive. Not like the other kisses they’d shared. Stolen, quick, with softness and worry. Sam’s hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, and then down to the soft curve of her bottom. He lifted, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, digging her heels into the hollow of his spine as her belly pressed into his.
Sam took two sure steps back, pressing her against the solid wood of Jasper’s stall. She slid down slightly, rolling her hips against his leg.
“Oh, hell,” she whispered.
“Fuck, Evie. I’ve got to put you down for one second.” His hands fell to her waist and he gently set her feet on the floor. “Don’t look at me like that.”
His chuckle was deep, sending desire straight to her core. Sam pulled his shirt up over his head and laid it down on the bail of hay behind him.
“What are you doing?”
There was suddenly the strongest desire to run her tongue along every ridge of his muscular torso. To explore every inch of his sun kissed skin.
“Setting down a picnic blanket. ”
Her brows furrowed as he laughed, marching back towards her to capture her mouth in another possessive kiss.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited to taste you, Bluebell? It’s been killing me, waiting all this time. I have to have you. I’m going to lay you down right here and feast on you.”
Sam’s words washed over as another wave of heat pooled low in her belly. He laced their fingers together, leading Evie to the spot where his shirt sat perfectly splayed out.
“We need to talk about this.”
He dropped to his knees in front of her, his hands landing on her thighs. She clenched her legs together, willing her brain to stay online and ignore her horny heart. “I’d much rather hear you scream out my name.”
“Sam, I’m serious. I just… what is this that’s happening between us?”
He sat back on his heels. “What do you mean? We’re dating. And I’m taking care of you.”
“We are?”
“Fuck yes, we are,” he growled. “Why did you think I almost lost my shit when Daisy tried to set you up with Jake? You’re mine, Evie.”
“But you didn’t say anything…”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted them to know. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“So, we’re dating?” Her heart fluttered wildly waiting for his response.
“Yes.”
“And we are going to tell your friends, and your mom and sister?”
“If you’re comfortable with that, then fuck yes. I want them to know.”
“And you’re ready to take things to the next level?”
“Bluebell, I was fucking ready the day you forgave me for being such an unbelievable ass to you. ”
His hands found their way into her hair and his fingers tugged at the root, lighting her whole body on fire. Normally she wanted to be in control. No. She needed to be in control. But there was something incredible about leaning into his lead. Sam’s teeth raked over lip, leaving it swollen and deliciously achy.
She felt his hands drop to her waist, and in the next breath Sam gently laid her down on top of his shirt.
“Zeke—” her voice caught in her throat as she leaned back on her elbows while he kissed down her neck.
“Evie,” he growled, nipping at her earlobe. “I know you did not just call me another man’s name.”
“God, no, Sam,” she panted. “I meant, where are Zeke and Derrick? They can’t walk in… on us. Like this.”
Her mouth slammed down onto his, a haze of need pushing her to the brink of not caring about the fact that anyone could walk in on them right now.
Sam released his hold on her hips, the loss of his touch dousing her like she’d jumped in the arctic ocean.
“Don’t pout, Evie. I’m coming right back.”
She watched as he raced around the barn, locking the doors before sliding back in between her legs.
“We could just go up to my apartment,” she laughed.
“I have to have you, Bluebell. Right here. Now.”
“Are you still feeling needy, Bluebell? If I slip my fingers into these shorts, will I find you wet for me?”
“Yes,” she panted.
He slid his fingers into the band of her shorts, not missing the way she groaned or the way her face turned a shade of apple red.
“What? ”
“Why did I have to be wearing maternity shorts right now?”
“Because you’re pregnant?”
“It’s not sexy.”
“Bluebell. No, don’t hide from me.” He framed her face with both his hands.
“No, oh, god. I’m wearing granny panties today!”
Sam laughed. “You’re in luck then, because I find granny panties to be incredibly sexy.”
Evie rolled her eyes.
“None of that. Are you wearing them?”
“Yes. I just told you I was!”
“Then they are sexy. Because you are the sexiest woman I have ever seen. The fact that you are pregnant doesn’t take away from that.” She was clearly about to argue, so Sam did the only thing he could think of to quiet her. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss.
“Are you ready to listen to me?” She nodded, her lips parting slightly as her eyes dropped to his mouth. “I’m being honest right now. Your body is incredible, Bluebell. Jellybean bump and all.”
He let go of her face, his hands falling to cage in her hips. Sam pressed a kiss on the underside of her jaw before dropping down to kiss her breast. “Lush.” Another kiss to the opposite breast. “Soft.” Another kiss, lower now, right on top of her belly. “So fucking feminine.”
“Sam…”
“Can I please, please start enjoying my picnic? You should know it’s dangerous to stop a hungry cowboy from eating his supper.”
Her hand pushed against the top of his head.
“That’s it, baby.” He smiled as he helped her shimmy off the shorts and panties he found so fucking sexy. “Get ready to take what you need from me. ”
His fingers traced down her body until they landed between her legs. Sam rubbed his thumb over her swollen clit. “Christ, Bluebell. You’re this fucking wet for me already?”
“Oh god, Sam.” Evie turned her face towards the wall and smiled.
“Does my girl like dirty talk?” he teased, letting his fingers circle and tease her as her hips wiggled back and forth under his touch.
Sam moved his hand down to her thigh, spreading her legs further apart. “Fuck, Evie. This is the prettiest sight I’ve ever seen. It’s a good thing I’m hungry, because I’m about to feast.”
His mouth lowered, lapping up her arousal before he focused all her attention on the spot he knew would throw her over the edge.
“Look at you, Bluebell. So needy. I love seeing you laid out like this, just a wiggling mess waiting for me to take care of you.”
He continued to focus his attention on the swollen bud until her legs started to shake around his head. He could tell she was so close.
“Wait, Bluebell. Don’t come yet.”
“I can’t… It’s too much.”
Sam slipped a finger inside her, his other hand pressing down gently on her hip to hold her in place as her back arched.
“You can, Evie. Christ, you’re so beautiful like this. Flushed, chasing that orgasm you so desperately need. I’m never going to be able to let you go after this. Now that I’ve had a taste of you. You’re mine. So fucking mine it’s making my heart hurt.”
“Sam.”
His fingers curled, pressing over the soft spot he knew would send her into oblivion.
“Let go. Give me this orgasm. There’ll be more, Evie. I promise. ”
Her legs clamped down on his head, spurring him on. His tongue lavished her clit at the same pace his fingers plunged in and out of her. He worked his mouth and fingers in tandem as she rode out her orgasm.
Sam lifted his fingers to his lips, licking off the remnants of her release.
“So fucking delicious. I don’t think another meal will ever compare with the taste of you, Bluebell.”
Her chest rose and fell as a blissful smile crossed her face.
“That tongue of yours is wicked, Cowboy.” Her lower lip disappeared between her teeth.
“Why do I sense a ‘but’ in there?”
“I heard there was an interesting rule about wearing a cowboy’s hat.”
“Oh yeah?” Sam reached over to where his hat was resting on the floor. He picked it up, placing it back on his head. “What’s that?”
“I heard if I put on the hat, then I had to be ready to ride the cowboy.”
“Are you ready for that, Evie? Are you ready to wear the hat?”
Evie wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him into her. She smiled, plucking the hat from his head and placing it on her own. “Giddy up, Cowboy.”
Sam held onto her waist as he lifted her, turned, and positioned them so he was sitting down on the bale of hay with Evie wrapped around his lap. Her fingers went to his buckle and his cock strained against his zipper. It only took a few seconds for her to have the buckle and button undone.
Her hand wrapped around his shaft as he tried to shake his pants down under his ass. Sam hissed at the contact. Christ, he was about to embarrass himself.
Running his fingers up under her shirt and over her belly, Sam cupped Evie’s breasts as she continued to stroke his length. Reality smacked him in the face.
“Evie, wait.” Sam hated the confused look on her face.
“Was I not doing it right?”
“Baby, you, touching me like that… feels incredible. I just, I don’t have a condom.”
She smiled. “I’m clean, Cowboy. Had to have every test under the sun when I went through IVF. I haven’t been with anyone in years. And I can’t get any more pregnant than I already am.”
“You don’t want me to wear a condom?”
“Is there a reason you need to?”
“No!” He rushed to clarify. “I haven’t been with anyone in… a long time either. And I just got a clean bill of health from my doctor, too.”
Evie’s hand wrapped back around him, pumping his shaft as she positioned her entrance over him.
“Then I think it’s time I take my cowboy for a ride.”
“Fuck, Bluebell,” he moaned as she sank down on him inch by inch. Sam leaned back, his eyes drifting to her face. “I promise to always treat you like a queen. Christ,” he hissed as she started to roll her hips. “You feel so good wrapped around my cock. I’m not going to fuck you like a king, baby. I’m going to fuck you like a cowboy. A fucking down bad, all in, horny as fuck, rowdy cowboy. You’re going to bounce on my cock like the good fucking girl I know you want to be.”
“I need to have control, Sam. I can’t… I don't like to feel like things are out of my hands.” Her fingers scratched down his chest, scorched skin left in their wake.
“You can have control right now, Bluebell. This one time.” He groaned as she picked up the pace. “For me to be at your mercy, baby. But then next time we do this, and holy fuck yes, there will be a next time,” Evie’s whole body shuddered. “You're going to follow every single word I say, and you’ll be begging for me to take control. So, show me what you need. Use me. Make a mess on your cowboy’s cock.”
“I think you were made for me.” She tipped her head back to the ceiling and Sam took full advantage of her exposed neck, sucking her skin in and nipping at the tender flesh. “I feel so full.”
“God, I want to suck on these perfect tits.” Sam continued to roll her nipple in between his fingers as he let one hand drop to massage her clit while she rode him. Her pace became frantic, chasing the friction and the fullness he knew she needed.
“Do it, Sam. Please,” she begged.
“We have to be careful. I read that nipple stimulation can cause contractions.”
Her fingers threaded through his hair, pulling at the strands near his neck. He couldn’t have held in his moan even if he’d wanted to. “You read that? Where?”
“I bought a book. There’s so much I don’t know.”
“About pregnancy?”
“Yes.”
Her mouth crushed against his. “I didn’t think I could be even more attracted to you.”
The moan that ripped from Evie’s throat had the rest of the blood in his body rushing south. He felt lightheaded. Euphoric before his orgasm even hit. Sam could feel how fast it barreled towards him, but he wanted to make sure Evie tipped over the finish line again before he did.
Her hands slid from his shoulders to the base of his neck. The edge of his vision darkened as her hands tightened around his throat. Her back arched, legs shaking as her orgasm ripped through her. The incredible sight of her coming was all Sam needed to push him over the edge.
“Fuck,” he choked out a laugh, reaching up to tap her fingers.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” she said, her face turning bright red.
“I liked it.” He tipped her chin up. “Don’t get me wrong. You’re perfect, Evie. I’ll let you choke me a hundred more times if that’s what helps you get off.”
She laughed, her body softening into his. God, he couldn’t remember the last time he felt that good. That free. That alive.
Evelyn Williams was quickly becoming the only drug his body needed to heal.