Double whoa. The woman was absolutely stunning. Her face was sharp angles-razor blade cheekbones, a square jawline. Her features were softened by pouty lips the envy of Angelina Jolie.The woman didn’t smile. “Can I get you to move please? That door opens out, which is the first thing I’m going to change.”AJ’s ears perked up and she shuffled aside. “Change?”“My sister and I are opening up a shop here once we can get the changes approved from the landlord.”“Landlord? Doesn’t Dewey own this building?”“It’d be easier if he did. He sold it last year. Any changes have to get approval from this mysterious owner.” The woman’s vivid blue gaze narrowed. “Why?”“Because Dewey neglected to tell my friend that. She’s talking to him about taking over his restaurant.”Blue eyes finally smiled. “Dewey is a miscreant. Let’s crash their meeting and see how old Dewey reacts.”AJ led the way. Dewey blinked rapidly when he saw the woman behind her.“Now, Dewey, please tell me you aren’t misleading t
AJ kicked her sandals to the floorboard.“And the shirt and bra.”“If my shirt comes off, then so does yours.”He grabbed the hem and yanked. “Now come here, cowgirl up and show me how good you can ride.”Bracing her hands on the sculpted muscle and hardness of his chest, she straddled his pelvis and began to lower down.His hand curled around her hips. “Slow. I wanna see your body takin’ me in. Oh yeah, that’s so goddamn sexy. Bring those pretty tasty nipples to my mouth.”Immediately Cord expelled a groan and began to lick and suck, not in his usual, forceful way, but with as much languor as he’d kissed her mouth.Witnessing the sheer joy on his face as he suckled, feeling him gliding deep—touched something inside her. Every rapid inhalation of the air in the cab filled her lungs with the scent of him. Of them. Of dust, hot sage, wool seat covers, sunshine and home.A bead of moisture zigzagged down her chest and Cord lapped at it, following the wet line back to the source behind he
“Wow. Surprised that hasn’t made it into the McKay gossip channel.”“Like the situation with Colt did?”All eyes zoomed to AJ.“What?”“You were there. What really happened?”AJ retold the story with as much detail as she’d remembered.Channing took Ella to burp her. “Do you know what Colt said to Cord that’d make Cord act like that? Because Cord never acts impulsive.”He’d acted pretty damn impulsive earlier when he’d had her naked in his truck. “No one knows.”Macie, Gemma and Channing gossiped about other members of the McKay family.AJ already knew most of it, since she’d lived in the county her whole life. Since she’d known the McKays her whole life.******So why did she still feel like the outsider?The conversation swam back into focus.“Dag and Chassie are brother and sister?” Macie asked Gemma, “Didn’t Dad team rope with Dag on the circuit a couple of times?”“Yep. Dag roped with Trevor after Edgard went back to Brazil.”Channing said, “I overheard Carolyn and her sister dis
Cord dragged in the garbage can and cleaned up. Finished with that chore, he rearranged the ropes according to type and length. He restacked the saddle blankets.Gathered the horse’s grooming supplies for a thorough washing. Set all the saddles on the ground and checked for wear and tear he might’ve otherwise missed.Took him ten minutes to find a clean rag. He kicked over a plastic pail and sat on it while he cleaned Ky’s saddle. The kid needed to climb on a ladder to get on his pony, Plug. But he’d been determined to get on “the cowboy way” so he’d swung his short leg over like an experienced buckaroo the second time he attempted to mount. Cord had been absurdly proud.After he’d finished wiping the grime off and coated the leather with leather conditioner, he picked up the next saddle. He’d bought this saddle for Marla right after they’d gotten married and she assured him she’d love being a rancher’s wife.What’d he been thinking, marrying her in the first place? So she’d been pret
“Least you got an heir. I thought I’d be married by now. Have a couple of kids. It ain’t really bothered me until recently. I figured there was time. Now that I’ve been livin’ with my folks, might sound sappy as shit, but I want what they have. I’m afraid I’m gonna wake up in ten years and be a grumpy forty-year-old man and be in the same damn place I am now.”Was Cord an example to his cousin of the kind of man Kade did not want to become? Why’d that sting so bad? He wasn’t so set in his ways he couldn’t change, could he?“Maybe things are gonna change.”“Whenever you say that, it’s usually for the worse,” Kade said wryly.“Lemme know when you’re ready to introduce your lady friend.”“Like hell. She’ll dump me and go for you—the broodin’ cowboy with the wounded soul and the cute-as-a-button motherless son. Plus, you’ve got a bigger”—he grinned—“section of the ranch than me. She’ll drop me like a cow pie.” Kade added slyly, “That is, if you ain’t already spoken for by your lady frien
“I see weeds. You see all that?”She nodded. “Nothing on earth is as pretty as Wyoming wildflowers.”“Oh, I’d beg to disagree, baby doll.”AJ looked up and saw him staring at her. “You know what I meant.”“And you know what I meant. You’re beautiful, AJ. Wild and free on the back of that horse. The wind in your hair, the sun glowin’ on your face, miles of blue sky behind you. Wish I had a camera.” To show her how stunning she looked because he didn’t need tangible proof. The image of her would be burned into his brain forever.Those sharp gray eyes narrowed. “Did you hit your head in the last couple days?”“What do ya mean?”“First an apology? Then a horseback ride? Now you’re tossing me compliments like poetry? You gonna whip out a guitar and serenade me with cowboy love songs next?”“No. Next, I’m gonna…” He spurred Jester in the sides and yelled over his shoulder,“Race you to the butte.”He heard her laughing and knew his playful side surprised her, hell it surprised him too, but
“Likewise.” AJ tried not to stare at the headpiece Cord’s mom wore and wondered if Carolyn was trying not to stare at hers.“Keely is gonna be so mad she missed this party. I think we oughta rub it in real good, don’t you?”AJ grinned and clinked her mug against Carolyn’s. “I’ll drink to that.”“How’s Flo?”“Better. She’s anxious to get on with her life. We’re going to Billings in a couple days to find a place for her to live.”“Why Billings?”“The company Jenn works for had an opening. She can start in the next couple weeks, which will give the kids time to adjust before school starts.”Carolyn placed her hand on AJ’s arm. “How are you adjusting, sweetheart?”AJ shrugged. “We’ll see. I haven’t officially left here yet.”“I know you’ve probably heard it from Keely, but you are welcome at our home anytime.”“I appreciate that. And I know that Macie and Carter are looking forward to being around here more often. Exciting news about the baby, huh?”“Very. Can you believe I’m gonna be a g
AJ hopped up and snagged her prize off the podium and hefted it in the air like she’d won the gold buckle at the rodeo.A few women noticed and clapped.Carolyn McKay floated her a thumbs up before she and her sister snuck out.The deputy and male bar patrons stared in horror at the decorations and the leftover food. And Bebe and Toots were having a sword fight with two monstrously long and anatomically correct penis-shaped swords.Which wasn’t nearly as much of an eyeful as the three women bouncing on a six-foot inflatable penis like it was a buckin’ bull. And two other women slow dancing with their life-size phallic partners.Oh yeah. Keely would be absolutely pea green with envy.Liza kept a silly grin on her face as Noah climbed up on the stage and helped her to her feet. “My Prince Charming.”“My drunken bride.”She giggled. “It was a grr-reat partay.”“I see that. Ready to return to the castle, princess?”“Yep.” Liza grinned at AJ as Noah scooped her into his arms and carried he