Chapter Five
By the time the plumber got there to fix the pipe, Ellie had arrived, too, and they’d cleaned the kitchen floor, it was early evening.
“I’m so sorry about this,” June said again.
Ellie grinned. “You heard the plumber. It’s an old house, it happens. I’m the one who’s sorry you walked into this mess. Fortunately, Dylan was here to help. He was so wet, the poor man, I’m glad Becket has left some of his clothes here so that he can change.”
June swallowed her groan. Images of Dylan changing clothes were so not something she wanted to think about right now. When Ellie and Becket had arrived, she’d quickly rushed upstairs to put on something dry. “Don’t you want something to eat? There’s so much food in the fridge.”
“Thank you, but not tonight. I’m working in the yarn shop tomorrow morning, and I still want to do the laundry tonight. Please do invite us again, though?” She smiled, hugging June just as the men walked back into the kitchen.
Dylan’s hair was still wet, but he’d changed into a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt that fit snugly around his muscled upper body. Oh, my. His eyes met hers, she quickly looked away.
“Well, husband,” Ellie was saying as she took Becket’s arm. “Let’s go. I think our fur babies are way past their dinner.”
Their three dogs and a cat were already standing in front of the door. The dogs barked when they heard the word dinner, the cat looked irritated. Daisy wasn’t quite sure what was going on but she was happy to join the chorus of barks.
“I recognize those two dogs from Becket’s initial sketches,” June said as they all moved toward the front door. “I’ve noticed the cat and other dog have joined them in the recent sketches, Becket.”
“Becket was kind enough to adopt Marmalade and Duke when he married me,” Ellie laughed.
“Thanks for coming to my rescue,” June said as she opened the front door. “I’m seriously impressed that a plumber is available outside office hours.”
“That’s what we do around here,” Becket said. “You and I should talk while you’re here, I have a few new ideas.”
“I was hoping we could meet at some point,” June said.
“Why don’t you come to dinner one evening?” Ellie nodded. “While you two talk shop, I can whip up something to eat or Becket can grill some steaks.”
“As soon as I have my car …” June turned to look at Dylan. “Remember to give me the number of the person who picked up my car, please?”
“Your phone?” he asked. “If I have your number, I’ll send you the details.”
As June handed her phone to Dylan, Becket grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “Smooth, coz, smooth. June, let us know what evening will suit you.”
“I can fetch June,” Dylan said. “She drives a red Camero, not suited for the ranch.”
“Oh, great,” Ellie said. “Then Dylan, you can help me cook. You are of course also invited for dinner.”
“Thank you,” Dylan said, his eyes on June’s phone.
“Arlene says she’ll be picking you up for book club on Tuesday,” Ellie said as they walked toward their truck.
“Yes, I’ve brought a few new releases with me. Maybe you will also enjoy them. I’m so looking forward to it.”
With another hug from Ellie, they left. As Becket was driving away, Dylan was still inside her house.
Slowly she walked back toward her house. Nothing could come of whatever this thing between her and Dylan was, but if she was honest, she was glad he was still here. Wary, worried, but definitely also excited.
Help.
*
As Dylan returned June’s phone, their fingers touched. Her soft gasp went straight down to his loins.
“Damn, June, you make it really hard …” Again, the double meaning only registered after he’d said it. Groaning, he rubbed his face. “Pun wasn’t intended, but it’s also true.”
Her eyes widened but she crouched down to pet Daisy, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Something’s happening here,” he continued.
“I wasn’t looking for it, I’m no prize, believe me, I know.
I have no idea how a relationship is supposed to work.
My folks were always fighting. My mother was not a happy woman, and nothing Carson or I did or didn’t do, ever changed that.
” He was telling her things he’d never told anyone before.
“But then there you were, in the rain and I … I want to see you again.”
She got up, combing her hair back with her fingers.
“It’s ridiculous Dylan and you know it. We only met yesterday, for goodness’ sake.
I don’t know what this craziness is, but it’ll pass, I’m sure of it.
I just found the guy I was dating in bed with another woman.
I’ve never known a home and have even less an idea of how relationships are supposed to work.
The wisest move will be to simply ignore what’s happening.
We probably won’t even see that much of one another. ”
“So you agree there is something?”
Frowning, she stared at him. “I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t want to know. I don’t like complications.”
At least she agreed there was something between them.
“That guy is an idiot, I hope you know that. How anyone can be with you and even look at another woman is beyond me. You’re right, this whole thing is ridiculous, we’ve just met, but why don’t we spend time together? Find out what is going on here?”
She was shaking her head before he’d finished speaking.
Turning away, she opened the door wider. “Not a good idea. Also, if you think about it, nothing has really happened. You found me bedraggled and wet … I mean …”
He moved quickly and was in front of her before she could finish her sentence.
Dropping the back of his hands ever so slightly over her breasts, he looked into her eyes.
“Oh, yeah? Nothing happened? I saw you, June. I saw how your body reacted to me. What’s more, you know I know.
And you’re not the only one whose body is responding to whatever it is that’s going on here.
I had to take three damn showers last night just to be able to sleep, so don’t tell me nothing happened. ” And bending down, he kissed her.
It was just supposed to be a quick kiss to get rid of his frustration but as his mouth closed over hers, she gasped, a soft sound, but one he felt reverberating down to the soles of his feet. In mere milliseconds his blood had reached boiling point, and he was lost.
*
June was adrift in a sea of emotions and feelings. Far away a hysterical little voice was trying to get her attention, but she wasn’t listening, she was otherwise engaged.
Every single one of her senses had perked up and were valiantly trying to keep up with the multitude of sensations crashing over her. She was leaning into Dylan, his strong, muscled body covering every inch of hers. And every one of those inches was reacting to the contact.
And if she wasn’t mistaken, her world was rocking, as in rock-ing.
Whatever had been let loose in her tummy were giddily fluttering around, not quite sure which way to go.
She’d lost her breath at the get-go, but maybe one didn’t need that much oxygen when kissing.
At least not when Dylan Weston was doing the kissing.
He angled his head, deepened the kiss, and pulled her between his legs. The clear evidence of his desire weakened her knees, robbed her of her last breath. She shouldn’t be doing this, he was a stranger, for goodness’ sake. But oh, man, she’d never, ever been kissed like this.
Her hands went on an exploration without any messages from her brain, slipping over muscled arms, reveling in his toned solidness but soon it wasn’t enough.
The T-shirt was hindering her efforts to get more.
Pulling and tugging, her hand found its way underneath the white T-shirt.
Finally. He was warm, hard, all masculine, yet his hands were gently exploring her body as they moved up and down her sides, his thumbs just missing her aching breasts.
Desperate for more, she opened her mouth, their tongues met in a slow, perfectly harmonized dance. As if they’d done this forever.
Big hands closed over her breasts, kneading, exploring, and nearly driving her over the edge.
Daisy barked at the exact time the little voice finally penetrated her lust-filled mind, and gasping for air, she pushed herself away.
His eyes were molten liquid, bright with desire. “You still wanna tell me there’s nothing here?” His voice was low and so sexy, it took all of her willpower not to walk back in his arms again.
“I … I have to think …”
“What’s there to think about? I want you and you can deny it until you’re blue in the face, but you feel the same way about me.”
“Okay, you’re right, but I … I need time to … to process this. I’ve never felt this way before!”
His eyes narrowed. “You tell me that and expect me to walk away?”
“I don’t know if what I’m feeling is real. Besides, I’ve only ever dated city guys. Maybe I … maybe I’d feel the same way about any other Montana cowboy, how do I know?” She was talking nonsense, but this whole thing was going way too fast. She’d just met the guy, for goodness’ sake.
Dylan became very quiet. “So you want to date other guys to make sure what you feel for me is real? Well, go for it. Let me know if I can help pick someone for you. Carson, for instance, will be happy to oblige.” Without saying another word, he grabbed his hat and left, Daisy yapping at his heels.
Still reeling from the kiss, Dylan’s hands on her body, her response to him, June leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath.
What was she thinking kissing the first sexy cowboy who looked her way? Putting her hand on her tummy where the butterflies were going crazy, she inhaled slowly.
She’d tried to be honest. Feeling this way wasn’t something she was comfortable with. If Daisy hadn’t barked, she’d probably have ended up in bed with Dylan.
Images of their entwined limbs flashed in front of her. Within a millisecond, she was gasping for air again. Oh, my goodness, how was she supposed to sleep tonight?
This couldn’t possibly be real, could it? Surely, nobody could fall in love in just one day? Love? Where did that come from? This was lust, plain and simple. She’d get over it in time.
She was here to work, to find time to write her children’s story. Kissing sexy cowboys was so not on the menu.
*
Dylan cursed all the way back to the ranch. Daisy, who probably felt his frustration, crept nearer and put her head on his knee.
His body was still on fire and she wanted to date other people? What the hell?
Whimpering, Daisy moved closer to him. Petting her head, he sighed.
“What was I thinking anyway, Daisy? I’ve never even understood my own mother, how can I possibly know what’s going on in another woman’s mind?
This is just another reminder that women are a complication I seriously don’t need in my life. ”
Daisy crawled onto his lap.
“Except for you, of course,” he sighed.
He’d probably need another cold shower or two tonight before he could fall asleep.