Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
T alking to Knox had been easier than Lorna had thought it would be. He was a good listener, asking occasional questions as he took notes, but he mainly just let her speak. It felt a little easier after having just admitted it all to Mack. After she was done, he left her with a card and a promise to be in touch.
Duke sent him off with two smoked brisket sandwiches, and she felt lighter after he was gone. Not just like a weight had been lifted, but like it had been washed away. Like that feeling of a hot shower after three days of camping—fresh and cleansed of all the dirt and grime that had been collecting but was now scrubbed off with soap and shampoo and rinsed down the drain.
The whole atmosphere of the room had changed as the family sat down to eat, passing plates and swapping good-natured jabs and stories of the day.
Duke had baked russet potatoes and simmered green beans with slabs of bacon to go with the thick brisket sandwiches then ladled au jus into individual ramekins for each plate and offered caramelized onions and a homemade horseradish dip as condiments. The table held sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and more shredded brisket as toppings for the baked potatoes, and a small tray of celery, carrots, and radishes.
Talk turned to the work Ford and Elizabeth were doing on their farmhouse, and the latest issues they were having with putting in a new woodburning stove.
“You’ll figure it out. You always do,” Duke said, then turned to Lorna. “With these boys, when there’s a problem, Dodge reads a book or studies up on how to do it, Ford is the one who digs in and builds it, and Chevy usually turns it into a party, inviting a bunch of people over to help complete the task.”
“So, now I guess you have to figure out how Mack fits into that project,” she said, then wished she’d kept her big mouth shut as Mack stared down at his plate.
His expression was pensive when he looked up. “I do like to read, but I’m not a scholar like Dodge, and I’m not as skilled with tools and construction as Ford, and I’ve never started a party in my life. I guess I’m like one of the guys who Chevy calls in to help, because I’m always willing to show up and lend a hand.”
“Good to know,” Ford said. “I can’t promise a party, but I’ll be calling you when it’s time to install this stove.”
“I’ll be glad to help,” Mack answered, and Lorna caught the small, pleased smile he wore as he reached for another helping of brisket.
“Why do have a baby monitor by your plate?” Max asked Dodge before popping a green bean into his mouth. He pointed to his little sister, who was propped up in a highchair between Lorna and Mack. “We can see the baby right there.”
Dodge chuckled. “That isn’t a baby monitor. It’s more like a ‘moo’ monitor. I’ve got several mama cows ready to give birth, so I’m keeping an eye on them in the barn by watching them on this camera.” He pointed to his phone sitting next to his plate. “I’ve also got an app that tells me when they’re going into labor.”
“How does it do that?” Lorna asked.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s a non-invasive sensor that attaches to the mama cow’s tail, and it measures her tail’s movement patterns which are triggered by the labor contractions. It collects a bunch of data, then when the cow reaches a certain level of intensity, it sends me a text. Then it’s usually within an hour or so that she gives birth.”
Ford chuckled. “He’s even got his text programmed to sound like a loud moo when it comes in.”
“It sure saves us from having to spend all night sleeping in the barn,” Mack added. “Not that I wouldn’t do it. I love those dang cows.”
“We’ve got one that seems real close,” Dodge said. “Her name’s Junebug, and I imagine it’ll be sometime tonight.”
“Cool,” Max said, eyeing the camera. “Can I come out to the barn with you when Junebug’s gonna have her baby?”
Dodge shrugged as he looked over at Lorna. “It’s okay with me, bud, but it might be in the middle of the night, so it’s up to your mom.”
“Pleasssse, Mommy,” Max begged. “Can I go?”
“Far be it from me to stop my small child from witnessing the miracle of childbirth…or in this case, calfbirth,” Lorna said. “But only if it’s before midnight. Otherwise, you can just go see the new baby in the morning.”
Max frowned then pointed his fork at Dodge. “You think you can ask her to try to have that baby before midnight?”
Dodge laughed. “For you, I’ll sure give it a try.”
“It’s nice that you have a camera set up in the barn so you can keep an eye on things,” Lorna said.
“Oh yeah, we’ve got cameras all over this place,” Dodge said. “The ones in the barn are on a subscription, like the ones for your doorbell, but we’ve also got motion-sensor wildlife cameras set up in the pastures and the mountains around the ranch that we can check for signs of mountain lions or bears. They’re mainly triggered by deer and wild turkeys, but we’ve caught plenty of bears and coyotes, and once even caught these two foxes playing together on it. They’re more old school where you have to check the SD card, but they’re free, and Gramps likes to switch the cards out then upload the photos to his laptop.”
“I’d like to see a bear,” Max told them.
“On the camera, please,” Lorna said, ruffling her son’s hair.
Max shrugged. “I’m okay either way. Mack told me if you see a bear, you’re good as long as you can run faster than the guy next to you. And I’m a pretty fast runner.”
The table erupted in laughter as Ford offered a solemn nod. “It’s a fair point.”
After supper, Ford, Dodge, and Mack shooed the women and their grandfather into the living room while they cleared the table and filled the dishwasher, then Duke served up slices of his famous Peanut Butter Pie.
“This is amazing,” Lorna told Duke as she took another bite. The lusciously light peanut butter filling paired perfectly with the crunchy Oreo cookie crust. “I think I gained ten pounds just being here for supper tonight.”
“Yeah, but it was worth it,” Elizabeth said as she cradled a sleepy Izzy on her shoulder.
Since his brother had moved in with Elizabeth, Ford’s room was free, so Lorna and the kids were sleeping in there. Mack had set up the travel crib and put a sleeping bag on one of their camping cots for Max. He and Lorna put both kids down for the night, promising to wake Max if the cow went into labor before midnight.
“Can I play a game on your phone before I go to sleep, Mommy?” Max asked as they were leaving the room.
Lorna debated the idea. “Okay, but only for ten minutes, then you have to turn it off and go to sleep.”
Max frowned. “How about twenty minutes? Since this is like a special occasion.”
“How do you figure?”
“We’re having a sleepover at the ranch, so that makes it seem special.”
Lorna had to concede his point. Tonight did feel special. “Okay. Fifteen minutes. But you have to set the timer and as soon as it goes off, you shut down the game and go to sleep.” She passed the phone to her son. “I’m going to have Mack set a fifteen-minute timer, too. So, if I come back to check on you, that phone needs to be off.”
The boy was already clicking through her passcode and opening the timer app. “I promise I’ll turn it off right after the timer beeps.”
“Okay. Good night.” She leaned down and pressed a kiss to her son’s blond head. He smelled like minty toothpaste, laundry detergent, and little boy, and she was tempted to pick him up and cuddle him to her. But he was already engrossed in the game.
“That kid is really smart,” Mack told her as Lorna carefully pulled the bedroom door shut behind them so as not to wake Izzy.
“Yeah, he is. And he knows how to do more things on that phone than I do. Last week he Face Timed his grandma in Florida just because he missed her. I’m not sure I even know how to do that. But I downloaded a couple of games that are specifically to help with his dyslexia, so I don’t mind having him do those before he goes to bed. They’re puzzles and activities that help teach him phonics and reading and spelling. But he doesn’t know that. He just thinks they’re fun.”
“So, not only is he smart, but his mom is, too.”
She grinned and offered him a little extra wiggle of her hips as he followed her back into the living room.
After another round of beers and several hands of cards, Ford and Elizabeth left and Duke headed to bed. Dodge and Maisie were spending the night at the ranch, and they went to Dodge’s room to watch whatever Netflix show they were binging while they waited for notifications from the moo monitors.
“You have everything you need?” Mack asked as Lorna came out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth and washing her face in preparation for bed. He’d turned out the lights in the living room but left the one above the sink in the kitchen on, and it gave off a soft glow in the otherwise darkened house.
“Yeah, I’m set,” she told him. “Honestly, I’m so tired, I’m sure I’ll fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow.”
“Yeah, me too.” He stopped outside the door to Ford’s room then jerked his thumb at the next door down. “I’m right here if you need me. Or need anything, I mean.” He leaned down and brushed a tender kiss against her cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”
His lips were soft against her skin, and she wanted to fling her arms around his waist and bury her face in his chest. She had a sudden image of him picking her up and carrying her into his bedroom then stripping her naked and having his way with her.
Which would be super with her kids across the hall and half the Lassiter family in the surrounding rooms.
Why was she letting this man get to her?
Because he was hot as hell and had abs that made her want to lick them like hard muscled ice cream cones.
Yeah, she needed to get out of this hallway before she lost all her willpower and jumped him. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she said as she eased open the door so as not to wake the kids.
“Yep, sounds good. Unless you need me. Then I’m just right down the hall.”
“Got it.”
She’d told him that she was tired, but sleep eluded her as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. All she could think about was him.
Mack beat his fist into the side of his pillow, trying to mush it into a new shape. As if that might help him finally fall asleep. He’d brushed his teeth, tried to read the latest issue of the Farm Journal , couldn’t concentrate, and had been lying in bed with his eyes wide open for the last thirty minutes rethinking everything he’d said and done with Lorna that day.
Should he have punched Lyle in the face when he’d had the chance?
Should he have kissed her goodnight outside her door in the hallway?
She was the one who had kissed him in the truck earlier that night, but he probably shouldn’t have slipped his hand under her shirt.
Was there any chance she’d consider going out with him on a real date? One that didn’t have anything to do with her asshole ex-husband.
She’d already told him she just wanted to be friends.
Why would she want a guy like me anyway? Someone his own mother didn’t even want.
He rolled over on his back and stared at the ceiling.
What if she was still awake? Maybe he should text her. Make sure she’s okay.
No, the phone could wake up the kids.
His mind strayed to the little pair of pajama shorts she’d been wearing and how they’d barely covered her luscious ass. And not that he’d been looking, but he was pretty sure she wasn’t wearing a bra under the matching pajama top.
He turned his head as he thought he heard a sound in the hallway. It could have been his brother or Duke. Or nothing.
It wouldn’t hurt to just look out the door though. Maybe it was Lorna, going to the kitchen for a drink of water. Maybe he could catch her there and have another chance at a better good night kiss.
He climbed out of bed, pulled on a pair of loose gray sweats, and padded barefoot to the door. The noise had probably just been the house settling.
Pulling open the door, his mouth went dry at the sight of Lorna standing there, her fist raised as if she were about to knock.
“Oh, hi,” she said, dropping her hand and wrapping her arms around her body as she shifted from one foot to the other. “I was just…”
“Yeah, me too,” he said, staring at her as if he couldn’t quite believe she was there. Like she might be a mirage, or maybe he really had fallen asleep, and this was just a dream.
Either way, he wasn’t missing out on another opportunity. He took a step back and opened the door wider. She didn’t say anything as she slipped through, and he shut the door behind her.
She turned and looked up at him. The room was lit only by the silvery glow of moonlight shining through the window. She lifted a hand and pressed it to his chest, and he shivered at the touch of her fingers on his bare skin.
Her voice was soft, but there was no mistaking her words as she stared into his eyes. “Take me.”
He swallowed, then leaned in and crushed her mouth with his. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers tunneling through his hair then grasping fists of it as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth as one of his hands slid under her shirt and palmed her breast while the other reached down to cup her perfect ass.
There were too many clothes between them. He needed to see her, to touch her, to have her skin against his.
Lifting her up, he carried her to his bed and laid her on the mattress. But she sat up, reached for the waistband of his sweats, and pulled them and his boxer briefs down.
Okay, this really must be a dream.
But if it was, he sure as hell didn’t want to wake up as she leaned forward and ran her tongue down the length of his shaft before drawing him into her mouth.
He let out a groan as her lips skimmed back and forth, tugging and sucking, eradicating his control as he lost himself in the sensations.
Just when his small amount of control was slipping, she drew back and pulled him down on the bed with her.
She’d had her turn.
Now he wanted his.
Rocking back on his knees, he hooked his fingers under the elastic of both her pajama bottoms and her panties and wrenched them down her legs. Her top had shifted up just enough for him to glimpse the creamy flesh of one breast, and he filled his hand with it as he used his other to spread her legs.
Dipping his head, he planted a kiss on the tender inner spot on her thigh that had driven her nuts the night before.
He couldn’t believe that he was getting to have this woman again, but he wasn’t questioning it. He was too absorbed in the essence of her, the way she smelled, the softness of her skin, the muted moans she made when he grazed her thigh with the whiskers on his jaw.
He tried to take it slow, to tease and tempt, but he had to taste her.
Only, she sat up and pushed him back instead, kissing his neck and nipping at his chest before climbing on top of him. He reached for the bedside drawer, grabbed a foil packet and covered himself before she straddled him, her hips already grinding against his as she reached for the hem of her shirt, then pulled it over her head and tossed it to the floor.
“My god, you’re gorgeous,” he whispered, his voice husky with desire, as he stared in wonder at her beautiful body. Reaching up, he filled his hands with her breasts and elicited one of her soft kitten sighs as he rolled her taut nipples between his fingers.
Rock hard, he rubbed against her center as she writhed over him, arching her back and offering him an even better view.
She reached between them and guided him into her. Letting out a growl, he gripped her thighs, digging his fingers into her flesh as she rode him. Her hair was loose and wild, and she had a reckless abandon about her as she took what she wanted from him.
The night before she had submitted to him, but tonight it felt like she needed to be the one in control. And he was only too happy to let her be, almost losing his own control as he watched her run her hands over her belly and touch herself, taking charge of her own pleasure.
He recognized this for the gift it was—Lorna offering herself to him—so freely, still in control, but without inhibitions or reserve.
He’d spent the months in Texas fantasizing about her, dreaming of being with her, kissing her, touching her, but this was beyond anything he’d imagined. Everything about her felt so damn good.
Her breasts were lush perfection, and as she leaned forward, he pressed up to suck the tip of one taut nipple into his mouth. She squirmed over him, around him, and his control teetered on the edge.
Her movements quickened, and he could tell by the expression on her face and the way her fingers dug into his hip that she was close to the edge herself.
Arching his hips, he gave her everything she wanted, lost in the sweet ecstasy of her pleasure. Then her hands flattened on his chest, and she pressed her lips together as if in an effort not to cry out as she soared over the edge. And took her with him.
They knew they weren’t alone in the house, and trying to give and take pleasure while keeping quiet suddenly became a fun way to tease and tantalize each other.
She was driving him crazy, but they were having fun, and he was falling harder and harder for this woman.
He loved the way she laughed, the way her hair fell over her shoulders, the way she smiled coyly at him as she drew him to the brink of desire. Being with her was a gift he’d never imagined getting.
He pressed his lips together, stifling another groan as she straddled him again, but this time giving him a different view.
Then a knock sounded on his door and Dodge called out, “I just got the moo text. Junebug’s been in labor for thirty minutes. Meet us in the barn if you want to meet her calf.”