Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
R eid had experienced a lot of spring-branding days in his cowboying life. But none compared to spring branding at the Holiday Ranch. When he and Sophie arrived at the branding corral that Saturday morning, he was taken back by all the trucks and trailers . . . and people. He had known the Remington men were coming to help. He had not known that their wives would be there too. Along with the other Holiday sisters and their husbands and babies. But even with all the folks scurrying around getting ready for the day, Reid’s gaze had no problem zeroing in on Sunny.
He hadn’t seen or talked to her since Cooper Springs. Yesterday, he’d been busy getting ready for branding. By the time he got back to the trailer, he’d had to help Sophie with a school project she’d put off until the last minute. By the time they’d finished, it had been too late to call Sunny.
But he intended to talk to her today.
And hopefully, more than talk.
Someone had set up a canopy next to a straggly mesquite tree. Under it, Sunny was cuddling a chubby-cheeked baby in a pink bow headband. Sunny’s hair was braided in a long red-tinted rope of gold that hung over one shoulder and she was looking down at the baby in her arms with a soft smile on her lips.
Reid didn’t know why he felt like someone had sucker punched him in the gut. It wasn’t a bad kind of pain. It was more an aching kind of longing. He had never given much thought to kids. His mind had always been too wrapped up in his dream of owning a ranch. But the sight of Sunny with the baby made him realize that he wanted kids.
He glanced over at Sophie sitting in the seat next to him.
He wanted more kids.
“Wow,” Sophie said as she looked around at the chaos. “This is crazy.”
Reid smiled as he parked his truck behind the others. “This is family.” He jumped out to help Jace finish unloading some horses from a trailer.
“Where’s Hallie?”
Jace glanced at a straggly group of mesquite to their left with a concerned look. “She’s not feeling so hot this morning.”
Hallie came out from behind the trees looking shaky and pale. “You don’t need to beat around the bush, Jace. If the way Reid has been coddling me the last few days is any indication, he knows I’m pregnant.” She looked at him. “Isn’t that right, Reid?”
He only shrugged. After the egg salad incident, he’d figured things out and had been doing his darnedest to make sure Hallie didn’t overdo. It wasn’t an easy task. The woman was as stubborn as sin.
“I wouldn’t use the word coddling. You more than pull your weight, Hallie.”
She released a heavy sigh. “Yeah, well, I’ve come to accept that might have to change.” She placed a hand on her stomach and sent Jace a determined look. “But just until this little one is out of the oven.” She glanced at Reid. “Until then, I’ll need to rely on my ranch manager.”
He knew how hard it was for Hallie to relinquish control and he couldn’t help feeling a swell of pride that she trusted him enough to relinquish it to him. “I won’t let you or this ranch down, Hallie.”
“I know that.” She thumped his arm. “So let’s get this party started.”
It did turn out to be a party.
While the temperature was humid and hot and the work grueling, there was a festive feel to the day. Mimi and Darla had set up food on tables beneath the tarp and they and Liberty and Belle, who were both too pregnant to help with branding, passed out food and drink while the rest of the Holidays and Remingtons worked the cattle. As they separated the calves from their mamas and filed them through the chute to get tagged, branded, and vaccinated, they joked and got on each other as only family could.
Surprisingly, Reid wasn’t left out of the teasing.
“Where did you learn to ride, Reid?” Casey asked as they herded cattle into the corral. “On the mechanical horse outside your local grocery store?”
“Yep.” He wheeled his horse to the left to cut off a calf from escaping. “Where did you learn to ride? On those county fair ponies that ride round and round in a circle?”
Casey laughed. “I was the best county fair pony wrangler this side of the Pecos.” He whipped off his hat and waved it as his Appaloosa horse reared up on its back legs with front hoofs flailing. “Yee-haw!”
“Stop showing off, Case,” Rome yelled. “I’ve seen you flat on your back more times than I can count.”
“Same, big brother. It’s just part of the joy of being a cowboy.” Casey winked at Reid as he tugged on his hat. “Right, Reid?”
Reid couldn’t agree more.
The sun was low in the sky by the time they finished for the day and started loading the horses back in the trailers. Reid was about to dismount and load his when he noticed Sunny sitting on her horse a few yards away. He couldn’t see her face in the shadow of her straw cowboy hat, but he could feel her gaze. He didn’t hesitate to walk his horse over.
“You impressed me today. I didn’t realize you were a cowgirl.”
She laughed. “So what impressed you most? My horrible cutting skills or my horrible roping?”
“Those take years of practice. You’ll get it.” If she stayed. He wanted that. He wanted it badly. Since he hadn’t heard anything about her leaving from the Holidays, he hoped the other night had changed her mind. He hoped he had changed her mind. “So what are you doing over here all by yourself?”
She pushed up her hat and those big brown eyes gave him the once-over. “Just enjoying the sight of hot, sweaty cowboys.”
He squinted at her. “Cowboys?”
Her lips trembled with a suppressed smile. “Maybe just one.”
“Hmm? So you have a thing for hot, sweaty cowboys, do ya?”
The teasing twinkle faded from her eyes. “It would seem that way. And I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”
His stomach took a dip. “And why is that?”
She sighed and looked away. “I just don’t want things to get too complicated, Reid.”
He hadn’t wanted that either. But now he didn’t care about complications. Now all he wanted was more time with Sunny.
Uncaring that there were people around, including her two brothers, he moved his horse closer to hers and reached out and cradled her face in his hand. “I think it’s too late for that.” His gaze locked with hers. “I like you, Sunshine Whitlock.”
She sighed. “I like you too, Reid Mitchell. But I’m not real good at commitments.”
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, loving the way her eyes darkened. “Okay. So what about if we just take things one day at a time and see where they go? No expectations.”
Her eyebrows lifted beneath the brim of her hat. “No expectations?”
He grinned. “Well, maybe a few.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“How easy would it be for me to sneak into the bed-and-breakfast?”
“That depends on how quiet you are?”
He bit back a smile. “I think I can manage to be pretty quiet . . . if something worthwhile is waiting for me.” He lifted her chin and leaned closer so their lips were only a breath away. “Like, say, a pretty painter with not a stitch of clothes on.”
A blush stained her cheeks. “I think that can be arranged.”
He really wanted to kiss her, but he figured if he did, he might lose all control and end up giving the Holidays a bigger show than he already had. So he lowered his hand and drew back.
“Then I’ll see you tonight. And just so you know, I like the way you sit a saddle, Sunshine Whitlock.” His gaze lowered to her jeaned thighs hugging the leather of the saddle. “I like it a lot. I like the way your curvy ass lifts and settles as you ride.” He lifted his gaze to her eyes that were filled with heat. “I want you to ride me. I want you to ride me hard and long. Do you want that too, baby?”
“Yes,” she said breathily. “I want that.”
He smiled. “Then I guess we better get these horses loaded so you can ride tonight.”
Once the horses were loaded, Mimi and Darla insisted that everyone come over to the house for dinner to eat the rest of the food. Reid and Sophie stopped by the trailer to shower, change, and pick up Patsy Cline before they headed to the Holidays’. After the long day, Reid figured everyone would eat quickly and head home. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The Holidays and Remingtons didn’t seem to want the party to end.
Especially after Mimi brought out her homemade elderberry wine.
It was potent stuff. So potent, it had Hank Holiday and Sam Remington, Casey and Rome’s father, sitting on the porch, talking, laughing, and slapping each other’s legs like they’d been friends for decades—instead of sworn enemies. Reid only had two glasses and was feeling a little unstable on his feet.
Something that didn’t get past Mimi.
“I hope you’re not planning on driving home, Reid. The rule is one glass of wine is fine, two and I take your keys.” She held out her hand.
“No need for that, Ms. Mimi. I’m fine.”
She sent him a stern look. “I’m sure you are, but now that you’re a daddy, you need to set a good example. You don’t want Sophie drinking and driving, do you?”
“No, ma’am, but . . .”
She held out her hand and sent him a warning look. He sighed as he reached into his pocket and handed her the keys. Damn, he couldn’t catch a break. How was he going to get into town to meet Sunny without his truck?
While he was trying to figure it out, Mimi continued. “And speaking of Sophie, I’ve asked her to spend the night. There’s a musical marathon on television and I think it’s important for young people to see that true talent isn’t showing how to put on makeup on that Tikity-Tok.”
Reid perked up. If Sophie spent the night with the Holidays, he wouldn’t have to go to town. Sunny could come to the trailer.
“Great! I’m sure Soph will love that.”
Mimi smiled slyly. “And I’m sure you’ll enjoy having the trailer all to yourself.”
After saying his goodbyes, Reid headed home across the back pasture. On the way, he tried calling Sunny. She didn’t answer so he left a text. When he got to the trailer, he wasn’t sure what alerted him that he wasn’t alone. Maybe it was the scent of fresh lemons that filled the air. Or maybe it was a deeper sense. Something he’d just developed.
He quickly took off his hat and slipped off his boots before heading to his bedroom.
The room was dark except for the moonlight spilling over the bed . . . and the naked woman stretched out on it.
To say Sunny took his breath away was an understatement. If he’d thought he was drunk before, it was nothing to how he felt now. He was completely intoxicated by her beauty and could only gawk like an infatuated fool.
From the tips of her peach-colored toenails to the ends of her strawberry-blond curls spilling over his pillow, she was every man’s fantasy. Her breasts looked like two abundant scoops of cream topped with rose-colored nipples that bloomed into mouthwatering, hard buds beneath his gaze. Her legs were long, toned highways that led to a tiny patch of reddish-gold heaven that had him hardening beneath the fly of his jeans.
“Hey, cowboy,” she said in a raspy voice that had even more desire coursing through his veins. “I heard you were interested in a ride.”
“Very interested.”
“Then why are you still dressed?”
“Good question.” He tugged the snaps of his western shirt open and let it slip off his shoulders. When he reached for the button of his jeans, she stopped him.
“Take your time, cowboy. I want to look my fill too.”
He smiled as he moved into the shaft of light coming in the window. “Whatever you want, cowgirl.” He popped open the button of his jeans, then slowly rolled down his zipper. He wanted her to enjoy the show as much as he was enjoying hers, but it turned out getting jeans off wasn’t easy. Or sexy. Especially when he was slightly tipsy. Once he had them to his ankles, he tried to lift his foot out and became unbalanced, nose-diving onto the bed.
As he cussed and kicked off his jeans, she giggled.
“It’s not funny.” He tugged off his socks and threw them across the room. “Mimi’s wine is potent.”
Still giggling, she rolled to her side and rested her head in her hand. Her hair fell around her like a river of liquid moonlight, one breast peeking out of the silky strands. He didn’t think he’d ever seen a prettier sight.
“Are you saying you’re drunk, Reid Mitchell?” She reached out and ran her cool fingertips down the center of his chest to his belly button, leaving behind a trail of flames. “Because I wouldn’t want to take advantage of an intoxicated man.”
“I’m not drunk.”
She sat up and pushed him back to the mattress. “I think I’ll be the judge of that. Now close your eyes while I deliver a sobriety test.” He closed his eyes and she leaned in closer, her warm breath falling against his face and causing a shiver of need to race through him. “Now I want you to tell me exactly what’s touching you—lips or fingers.” Her finger brushed over his bottom lip.
“Finger.”
“Good job. And now?” She kissed him, soft and sweet.
“Lips.”
“Excellent. Let’s make it a little harder. Keep your eyes closed.”
He didn’t know if it was the anticipation, but when something brushed over his nipple, he felt it all the way down to his growing cock. He tried to stay focused, but with his erection straining against the cotton of his boxers, it was difficult.
“Finger?”
“Nope. Strike one.” The touch on his nipple came again, this time with a brush of wet tongue that had him moaning. When she drew it into her hot mouth, his eyes flashed open. She released his nipple with a sucking pop he felt all the way down to his toes.
“Nuh-uh. No peeking or I’m going to think you are too inebriated to ride tonight.”
He slammed his eyes closed and waited for her next touch. He felt a light touch on his stomach. A finger, definitely a finger, dipped into his belly button before tracing the line of hair to the waistband of his boxers where it brushed back and forth with tingling heat.
He swallowed hard. “Finger.”
“Good boy,” she whispered next to his ear.
The mattress shifted and he felt the brush of soft skin on either side of his thighs. He barely had time to register that she was straddling him when his boxers were tugged down and his rock-hard cock set free.
He heard her swift intake of breath and then nothing but silence.
Lying there so exposed with his eyes closed made him feel vulnerable and, at the same time, excited as hell. When something brushed over the tip of his cock, he felt like he’d been stunned with an electric cattle prod.
“Lips or fingers?” she asked.
He struggled to think, let alone speak. “L-L-Lips.”
“Nope. Strike two.”
Damn. He focused his entire attention on her next touch. He wasn’t about to strike out. But when it came, he lost all thought as he was engulfed in the wet heat of her mouth.
“Sunshine,” he growl-groaned as his fingers tangled in her hair and his hips rose off the mattress. “Sweet Sunshine.”