Chapter Sixteen #2
“You still look goofy when you look at her,” Cash noted. “And don’t say it. I went from zero to one hundred with Maddy in less than a week, so I know I look stupid boots over spurs about that woman. Plan to stay that way. How long you been married?”
Telford tested the saddle’s girth buckle one last time. Fed River a carrot and hoisted himself up. Settled. Felt right. He looked at Cash, wondered how much to say. How little.
“Maybe it’s genetic,” he deadpanned even though the DNA results hadn’t hit his inbox yet. “Met her not quite two weeks ago at lunch. Proposed that night. Married in Marietta on Monday.”
He let Cash goggle over that while he lightly tapped River’s flank and rode out of the arena into the yard where Rohan and Taryn Telford waited with about eight friends of Cash’s from the American Extreme Bull Riding Tour.
They were in town, most with spouses or girlfriends, for the weekend wedding and associated activities.
Riley, Boone’s wife Piper, Petal, and her friend Arlo were going to lead a trail ride and picnic with the women, which was going to feature a tarot card reader and someone who read tea leaves, auras, and palms. Telford was relieved that the men’s group was just going to ride—do some archery, and eat before coming back.
Tonight the bachelors were heading to someplace called FlintWorks for beer and music, and the women were headed to the cowboy bar, Grey’s Saloon, for pink drinks and dinner before the men joined them for dancing.
All of it should sound awful, but Cash had asked him and Ayana to attend.
He’d known he should say yes, but the flash of excitement in Ayana’s eyes had sealed the deal.
He usually used work as an excuse to escape social engagements, but he hadn’t done much work since hitting Marietta.
Not that he’d abandoned the idea of building a legacy for Cam.
He hadn’t, but he knew his friend well enough that he would approve that Telford was doing a little legacy foundational building of his own.
He was beginning to contemplate the idea of buying land closer. And for that, he should probably have a sit-down with the man who quite likely was his uncle—Taryn Telford. So far, he’d spent time with his sons and Cash.
“Seriously”—Cash rode up next to him, blocking him in, navy eyes, so eerily like his flashing—“you can’t lay something out like that and then ride away like it’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing,” Telford admitted, a little shocked he’d been so free with information.
Should he have asked Ayana first? Did he want to tell his brother about the one-year contract? No.
“But you got guests, and this is your party, meaning you need to host up.”
He rode over to check on Ayana, who’d admitted that she’d ridden horses in Austria, France, and Romania and donkeys in Greece while she’d worked on river cruises.
“You situated?” He wanted to ask so much more—was she sore from last night?
As overwhelmed as he was, but her shining eyes gave her away.
“Better than.” She smiled at him and blew him a kiss.
And that would have to hold him until later.
*
“We’re short on time.” Ayana grabbed his hand and raced up the grand, historic staircase to the second and then toward the third floor.
“I’ve had the most fantastic day,” she enthused.
“It’s like a dream—the challenges and teamwork, the ride out in the beautiful, sprawling ranch, and a picnic lunch. It was like a movie.”
“Not that short on time,” he objected, though he’d run up with her.
He cursed as he almost missed a step.
“Tired and sour from riding a couple of miles,” she teased, gently because he’d been deep in his head on the way back to town.
She’d noticed Cash poked at him a bit and Telford had poked back, and it had made her happy as well as sad because she no longer had Alissa to share inside jokes with.
Not that our life had leaned into joking or laughing.
Still, she’d tried to steal moments of fun and beauty with her sister. Create the illusion of freedom, even though the Family’s leadership was vigilant, looking for mistakes and setting painful or humiliating examples.
She shook off the unpleasant memories. Today had been magical—a day she’d never imagined she’d have, and she didn’t want to ruin it.
“It wasn’t a couple of miles,” he objected. “And different muscles are involved when riding a horse versus running.”
“Tell me about it. If I don’t keep moving and get into that soaker tub, I won’t be able to dance tonight, and I intend to dance.”
They walked to the end of the hall to their suite. “I don’t dance.”
“You will tonight. Your brother Cash is getting married on Saturday and tonight’s the bachelor party and then tomorrow morning all the women are spa-ing it up before the sunset ceremony.
And I want to be able to dance and sit in a chair and have a pedicure.
I never had one by a professional before. ”
The expression on his face was hilarious.
“What? You don’t like the idea of anyone playing with your toes?”
“Not one bit.” He unlocked the door.
“That’s on brand,” she teased.
“What’s not on brand is my behavior.” He helped her out of her jacket and hung it up before adding his.
She loved that he did little things like this for her. They both slid out of their shoes.
“What behavior are you referring to?” Hopefully not their passion last night.
She was hoping for a repeat tonight and deeply regretted they didn’t have enough time to make love before meeting up with the others.
“My lack of productivity. I haven’t researched land. We haven’t booked a second appointment with the realtor or driven around looking at properties that we could make a persuasive offer for. I haven’t even looked for a proper urn for Cam or figured out if he’d rather I spread his ashes.”
She like liked the way he used we sometimes.
“You’ve taken vacations before, haven’t you?”
“Not really.”
“Me neither. Not really.” She lightly reached out and touched his open Henley shirt. Blue like his eyes.
She’d picked it out. Usually, he wore neutrals unless he wore a dark stupidly expensive, I’m-King-in-the-Boardroom suit. She liked his casual better.
She walked her fingers down to his belt. “Maybe we should think of this week and weekend as a vacation. Something new for us both to enjoy. Learn to relax.”
“Relax?” He looked skeptical.
“We could be energetic.” She smiled flirtily. “You had stamina last night.”
The flare of heat in his eyes was like a match. She felt almost reckless with desire, and heat flooded her body. Her nerve endings—so stimulated last night—woke up again, wanted an encore to sing.
She held his hand. Brought it to her lips and nibbled on his fingers.
“I know we’re short on time,” she began, peeling off her off the shoulder silky long-sleeve tee.
“Never that short,” he finished.
She pressed his palm to her cheek and then brought it lower to her breast and the tiny buttons and bows of her stretchy camisole.
“Yes?” she asked feeling her core go liquid, and her legs trembled until she locked her knees. She’d never propositioned a man. Not ever.
“Always,” he said softly.
Ayana didn’t trust her voice, so she turned and walked toward the primary suite bathroom, stepping out of her flared-style jeans.
His startled hiss of breath floored her confidence, and she met his gaze in the mirror as his warm hands smoothed over her bare body.
“If I have another fifty years, nothing will compare to this.” His voice was gravel in her ear. “I will never take your luminous beauty that shines from the inside out for granted.”
Overwhelmed, she briefly closed her eyes and leaned back against him. How could anyone think anything this beautiful—two people sharing their bodies—was a sin? Something the woman should do as a duty instead of a pleasure.
“I’m so glad I found you,” she said as his hands cupped her breasts.
She turned on the taps, checking the water, plugging the tub.
“I’m the lucky one,” he said.
So serious. She loved that about him. But she also wanted to help him find his happy.
“And you’re in luck again,” she said, and began to undress him.