––––––––
An hour later, Wyatt was ready to go. He’d sat through the rest of dinner as well as after dinner conversation, but now he was getting antsy...or maybe he was just horny. He glanced over toward Olivia, and almost groaned. The woman was so hot and he wanted her now. He quickly stood, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I’m heading home. I’m tired,” he told them.
“It’s too early to call it a night, little brother. We’re getting up early and we’re not ready to call it a night yet,” Jake told him.
Wyatt shrugged. “I’ve had a long day. A problem with a horse and I’m beat.” He nodded at Emma. “Thank you for dinner, Em. It was great as usual.” He glanced around to the others. “Goodnight everyone.” He practically ran from the room and out to his truck.
When he pulled up to his house, he wondered how long it would be before Olivia arrived. He entered the house and let Bear out then took his coat and hat off. He walked toward the living room and after settling into his recliner, he picked up the remote and turned on the television. He glanced over to where his grandfather clock sat in the corner. Shit! He’d only been home five minutes. Where in the hell was she? She should have been right behind him. He sighed as he flipped through the channels. There wasn’t a damn thing on he was interested in watching.
God damn it! He should have gotten her cell phone number. He’d be calling her right now, that’s for sure.
He stood and walked toward the kitchen when he heard Bear barking. Opening the back door, he peered out into the yard but saw nothing out of the ordinary and he especially didn’t see Olivia’s sports utility vehicle. Where was she?
He whistled for Bear. The dog leaped onto the porch and entered the house. Wyatt stared down his driveway and only saw darkness. Shaking his head, he entered the house and headed toward his bedroom. Maybe he’d read her signals wrong and she wasn’t going to show up.
Shit! She wanted to go out on a date. Was that what she’d expected? Wyatt groaned as he thought about it again. The small town of Clifton would have a field day once they saw Olivia and him out together. He supposed he could take her to dinner in Hartland. There was a nice restaurant there. He swore at the thought. He hated dating. Women expected too much with dating. They started thinking in terms of long term relationships. Surely, Olivia didn’t want that, did she?
He took his flannel shirt off then pulled his T-shirt over his head. He sat on the bed to remove his boots when Bear started barking again. Wyatt walked toward the kitchen.
“Damn it, Bear. What is it?” He walked to the door and looked out. Headlights were coming toward the house. He opened the back door, stepped onto the porch, and leaned against a column when he saw Olivia’s SUV stop by the steps, and then she hopped out. She leaned back against her vehicle.
“A little chilly to be out without a shirt on, isn’t it, cowboy?” She smiled up at him.
“I was heading to bed,” he told her.
Olivia walked up the steps and past him, going inside the house. “I’m just in time then,” she threw over her shoulder.
He sighed and shook his head. She was going to be the death of him. He turned to follow her inside. She smiled at him as she took her jacket off. Wyatt walked toward her, took her jacket, and hung it on the back of a stool. When he turned to face her again, he almost groaned. She was the most exquisite woman he’d ever set eyes on. He folded his arms to keep himself from pulling her into his arms.
“What took you so long?” he asked.
Olivia sighed. “Becca and Emma kept talking. I had a hard time getting out of there. Even Jake wanted to go and I know Gabe was ready for bed.” She stepped closer to him. “Did you think I wasn’t going to show?”
Wyatt shrugged. “Didn’t matter.”
Olivia burst out laughing. “Really? So...if I decide to leave now, it wouldn’t matter to you?”
He shrugged again but when she reached for her jacket, he pulled her into his arms.
“Hell yes, it would matter,” he said before pressing his lips to hers. Olivia moaned as her arms wrapped around his neck. He pulled her tighter against him, but then she leaned back from him.
“I can feel how much it would matter. Now, what do you want to do about this?” She pressed against him.
Wyatt picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “I’ll show you what I want to do about this.”
After entering his bedroom, he carried her to the bed and dropped her down on it. He sat on the edge of the bed and took his boots off then stood and removed his jeans before stretching out beside her.
“You are so beautiful, Olivia,” he whispered against her lips. Olivia smiled at him before pressing her lips against his, and that fast, he was lost. He was on a downward spiral and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
* * * *
Olivia ran her hands over his whiskered cheeks. If she lived to be one hundred years old, she’d never get enough of this man. Her fingers sifted through his thick, black hair as she slowly moved her tongue into his mouth. When he moaned, she smiled against his mouth.
“What are you smiling about, sweetheart?” Wyatt asked pulling back to look at her.
“I like hearing you moan for me,” she whispered.
Wyatt chuckled. “I like the noises you make too.”
“I don’t make noises,” she said.
“The hell you don’t.” He pressed his lips to hers and when his tongue entered her mouth, she moaned low and sexy. Wyatt raised his head. “Right there,” he said.
She laughed. “Oh, those noises.”
Wyatt’s kiss cut her laughter off and she felt his hands go to the snap of her jeans. She raised her hips for him. He pulled her jeans and panties down, and off together. He then lifted her sweater off over her head and removed her bra. Although she was completely naked in front of him, she felt no embarrassment. He’d already seen her this way, so there was no sense in being shy now. Besides, being shy wasn’t something she usually felt. She reached for his boxer briefs and pushed them off him then pushed him to his back.
Wyatt stared up at her. She grinned as her hand wrapped around his hard shaft and she pumped her hand up and down his hard length, slowly. His head went back and his eyes closed. She leaned down, kissed the swollen head, and then ran her tongue along the length of him. Wyatt’s hands plunged into her hair, and when she moved her mouth down over him as far as she could, she heard him hiss in a harsh breath. Her hand wrapped around the base as her mouth moved up and down his length. With her other hand, she cupped his balls and gently caressed them. His groans were turning her on. He reached for her, but she pushed his hands away. She raised her head and looked at him.
“Don’t make me handcuff you,” she told him.
Wyatt’s breath whooshed out. “It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if you had handcuffs.”
“Oh, I do, cowboy, and I’m not afraid to use them. Now just relax and let me take care of you.” She put her mouth back over him and smiled when he groaned again. Her hand pumped his length as she sucked on him. She ran her tongue up and down his length, and then took him into her mouth again. His cock seemed to grow harder, and she knew he was close.
“Olivia...Christ! You have to stop now...”
She laughed. “You really don’t want me to stop, cowboy. Relax.”
“Relax? Who the fuck can relax?” Wyatt groaned low in his chest.
She took him deep in her mouth and felt him stiffen. His hands fisted in her hair as a long, low growl tore from his chest, and he came. Olivia continued to suck on him until he lay spent and breathless. She crawled up his body and gently kissed his lips.
“You okay?”
Wyatt raised his head and looked at her. “Yes. That was fantastic. Thank you.”
Olivia laughed. “You’re welcome.” She lay down beside him.
Wyatt rolled toward her and pressed his lips to hers. “You have got to be the sexiest woman I know.” His lips moved to her ear. He took the lobe between his teeth and sucked it into his mouth. She shivered and felt him grin.
“Something funny, cowboy?”
Wyatt chuckled. “No ma’am.”
She smiled with a sigh when he moved down her neck to her breasts. He palmed one in his hand and ran his tongue over the other one to her nipple. Taking it into his mouth, he sucked on it, and pulled it into a tight peak. She pulled his head tighter against her.
* * * *
Wyatt moved to her other breast and gave it the same attention. He could spend all night just on her breasts, but he had a certain destination in mind as he kissed his way down her flat stomach to her belly button. He dipped his tongue into it, and then moved down toward her feminine curls. He grinned when he saw that small patch. He spread her legs wide, running his tongue along her slit, and then lapped at her.
“You’re wet, darlin’.”
“I enjoyed what I did for you,” she whispered then gasped when he moved his tongue over her clitoris.
“I knew you’d taste this good,” he murmured against her. He settled his mouth over her and sucked on her. She pulled his hair making him chuckle. He dipped his tongue inside her before sliding his tongue back up to her clitoris—again, and again. He inserted two fingers as he sucked on her and felt her inner muscles clenching. She screamed as she came. Wyatt slowly kissed his way back up her body to her lips.
“Can you taste yourself on my lips?” he whispered against her lips.
Olivia groaned. “Yes,” she hissed.
He reached down between them, ran his finger up and down her folds, and then ran his finger over her lips. “You taste fantastic, Olivia, don’t you?”
“Wyatt...”
“Don’t you?” he asked again.
“Yes. Yes,” she whispered.
He pressed his lips to hers just as he inched into her. She gasped against his lips. He lifted her legs over his shoulders and rode her hard, and deep. Wyatt sat back on his heels and thrust into her. It wasn’t long before he heard her breathing change, and cry out as she came. Her orgasm sent him over the edge and he growled her name out as he tumbled over too.
He fell to the bed beside her and tried to catch his breath. Sex with Olivia was...ah hell...he had no words for it. It had never been better. With anyone. Ever.
He glanced over at her.
“You all right?”
Olivia started laughing. “To use your words...that was fantastic. Thank you.”
Wyatt chuckled and rolled toward her. “You’re welcome, darlin’.”
He pulled her close to him and as their bodies began to cool, he reached down and pulled the quilt over them. He would just close his eyes for a few minutes.
* * * *
The sunlight streaming in through the window woke Olivia. She stretched and opened her eyes. After glancing around the room, she realized she wasn’t in her apartment but still at Wyatt’s home. She sat up quickly and glanced toward the other side of the bed. He was gone. She ran her hand over where he’d slept. It felt cool so he’d been gone a while. She glanced around for a clock and saw the one on the bedside table. She gasped when she saw it was ten o’clock. Getting up quickly, she looked for her clothes. Not having time for a shower, she dressed and practically ran through the house. The smell of coffee stopped her for a few seconds, but she kept going. She had to get to the B and B, shower, and get to work. Stacy was probably wondering where she was. Olivia never stayed out all night.
As she ran out the back door, she looked toward the barn but didn’t see anyone. Shrugging, she hopped into her SUV and tore out of the driveway. Why had he let her sleep so late? She groaned remembering the night before.
Dear God! That man was hot. Not only could he kiss but also he knew how to make a woman feel special, and he certainly knew his way around one. She shivered remembering. He was a fantastic lover.
She pulled around to the back door of the B and B then ran inside. Evelyn Robinson, the cook, turned from the stove and stared at her. Then with a knowing grin, she wiped her hands on a towel.
“Late night, Liv?”
Olivia groaned, and suddenly wished her apartment had a private entrance.
“I, uh...overslept,” she mumbled and headed toward her apartment. She could hear Evelyn chuckling behind her. Evelyn was a short, slim widow in her early sixties. Olivia adored her but knew she’d never hear the end of this now.
After taking a quick shower, she headed to the front desk to help Stacy with the guests, but her mind stayed on Wyatt the entire time. Her body trembled again with arousal just thinking about what he’d done to her.
“Are you cold?” Stacy asked from the stool beside her.
“Uh, yes,” Olivia lied.
“I think it’s hot in here,” Stacy murmured.
“I just felt a chill for a second.”
Stacy smiled at her, and then turned toward the door to greet some guests coming in. Olivia smiled too, but she wanted to be somewhere else with someone else. She wondered what he was doing now and she sighed, her thoughts drifting off as she imagined what she’d like to be doing with him right now.
* * * *
Wyatt strode from the barn and stopped in his tracks when he saw Olivia’s vehicle was gone. Damn, she left. Just like that? Pulling his leather heavy work gloves off, he walked toward the house and entered. He glanced around but didn’t see a note or anything. Why would she leave a note? He knew where she’d gone—back to the B and B. She probably had to get to work.
Damn. He was hoping to find her still in bed.
Wyatt swore aloud when he felt himself growing hard. He ran his hand down his face. Christ! What amazing sex. If he concentrated hard enough, he could still taste her and smell her scent. He wanted her again and muttered under his breath. How was that even possible? He woke her up two times last night and still wanted her. Shit! He stormed out of the house and back to the barn. There was plenty of work to do, and he’d see her tonight. He smiled as he thought about being with her again.
He strolled into the barn and saw Ben standing by a stall. Clenching his jaw, Wyatt headed toward him and stopped beside him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking a break,” Collins told him. “I’m entitled.”
“Really? Who told you that? From what I can hear, the men are having a problem with a horse and yet here you stand, doing nothing.” Wyatt stepped closer.
Collins shrugged. “There are plenty of men to help out.”
Wyatt fisted his hands at his sides. “Did you ask Lucky if you could take a break?”
Collins huffed and started walking away. “I’ll go back and help.”
“See that you do,” Wyatt said. He watched him stroll away as if he had all the time in the world. There was something about the guy he just didn’t trust, so Wyatt followed him to the corral.
Ben jumped over the wooden rail and walked slowly toward the horse to help hold the rope. The other men had a rope around the horse’s neck trying to calm it down. Wyatt not only trained cutting horses, he also broke horses before training them to be cutting horses. It was a hard, tedious job but he loved every minute of it. He had two ranch hands, other than himself, who could break the horses, and he never asked anything of them he wouldn’t do himself. They were a lot younger than he was though, so he let them do it more often. At thirty-four, his body wasn’t what it used to be. He was still in great physical condition, he worked out and worked hard on his ranch but being thrown from a horse gets old, and he’d hate to see how he felt in another ten years.
The two ranch hands, Ethan White and Mason Wright, were only twenty-three and young enough to believe they could do anything. They were good though, and Wyatt paid them highly for doing what they did. He smiled as he watched Mason grab the saddle horn and hoist himself onto the horse. The horse had worn himself out but Wyatt knew once the rider mounted, the horse would get its energy back and do all it could to dismount the rider. The men started cheering when the horse began to buck trying to dislodge Mason, but he held on. The next thing Wyatt knew, Mason was flying through the air and all five men standing along the rails groaned when he hit the ground, hard.
Wyatt jumped the fence and ran toward him. Just as he got there, Mason sat up and grinned up at him. Wyatt shook his head.
“You crazy son of a bitch.” He put his hand out to help him up. Mason stood and dusted himself off.
“Let me at him again,” Mason said.
“Are you sure? Ethan can try,” Wyatt told him with a grin, but he knew Mason wouldn’t let Ethan take this one.
“Hell no. I got this,” Mason said as he walked back toward the horse and once again, hoisted himself onto the horse. The horse jumped and bucked around the corral again. All the men were shouting encouragement—except Ben Collins. Wyatt glanced over at him and saw him staring at him. Wyatt raised an eyebrow at him and Collins turned away. Wyatt sighed. He knew it was just a matter of time before he’d be firing the man. He was just waiting for him to fuck up big time.
“Hey, boss,” Kirk Collins said from beside him.
“Kirk. How’s it going?” Wyatt nodded.
“Fine...can we talk?” Wyatt stared at him then nodded for him to follow him to his office in the barn. He closed the door, Kirk took a seat, and Wyatt leaned against the desk. Kirk took a deep breath. “Ava’s leaving me,” he said quietly.
Wyatt was shocked. “What? Why?” He held his hand up. “No. It’s none of my business. Are you going to be all right?”
Kirk shook his head. “I’m trying. I’m staying with Ben for now, but she’s moving to Texas. She has family there.” He ran his hand down his face. “I don’t know what happened to be honest. One day we were fine, the next, she wants to leave me.”
“I’m sorry Kirk. That’s why you were preoccupied the day Candy’s leg was cut.”
“Yeah, I’m real sorry about that, Wyatt. If my mind had been on my work instead of my wife leaving me, I would have caught it,” Kirk told him.
“I wish you would have told me. I wouldn’t have sent you home for the weekend without pay.”
Kirk shrugged. “I deserved it.”
“Yes, but you didn’t need to be sitting at home alone. I know. I’ve been there.” Wyatt sighed. “I try to rotate the weekends so you guys have family time but if you had told me, I would have let you work.”
Kirk stood. “I fucked up and it was the right thing to do. I do understand about being home alone so I’ll work any hours you want me to.”
Wyatt nodded. “Check with Lucky and the men. Some of them will be more than happy to let you work their hours.” He put his hand on Kirk’s shoulder. “I’m real sorry to hear this, Kirk.”
Kirk gave a terse nod and strode from the office. Wyatt stared at the door, and then grunted. This was what love does to a man—brings him to his knees. It was why he wasn’t going through it again. He glanced down at his watch and swore. He had to pick Olivia up in a few hours and he hadn’t even told her where they were going. He pulled out his cell phone and called the B and B.
“Clifton Bed and Breakfast. How may I help you?”
“You sure sound professional, darlin’.”
“How did you know it was me, cowboy?”
Wyatt chuckled. “I’d know that sexy voice in my ear any day.” He laughed outright when she groaned into the phone.
Olivia laughed. “You’re not breaking our date are you?”
“Nope. I’ll pick you up at six. We’ll go into Hartland for dinner.”
“You ashamed to be seen here with me?”
“Christ, you’re suspicious. No, I’m not. I just thought you’d like to go to a nice restaurant since all we have is the diner. Up to you though. We can go to the diner.”
“I’d like to go to Hartland. I’ll wear a dress. I just might wear underwear.”
Wyatt growled. “I knew this was a mistake,” he muttered.
Olivia laughed. “I’ll be your favorite mistake, cowboy. See you later.” She hung up.
Wyatt stared at the phone in his hand. Damn. He should have canceled the date. This was going to go south fast, he could feel it in his gut. What were you thinking? He snorted. The thing was he hadn’t been thinking, not with the head on his shoulders anyway. It was so good with her though that he wanted her again. Right now, but he’d wait. Tonight would be soon enough. He hoped.
* * * *
Olivia smiled as she hung the phone up. She couldn’t wait until tonight because if he thought they were going to have sex, he had another think coming. She chuckled when she thought of his reaction when she told him no.
“What are you grinning about?” Evelyn asked from the doorway to the foyer.
Olivia jerked. “Don’t sneak up on me for God’s sake, Evelyn.”
Evelyn laughed. “You look guilty, Liv. What are you up to?”
Olivia stood and faced her. “Why, not a thing.” She fluttered her eyelashes.
Evelyn burst out laughing. “I don’t know why I don’t believe you.”
Olivia walked toward her and headed to the kitchen with Evelyn behind her. She took a seat at the table and stared out the window. The sky was beginning to darken and the wind was picking up. The temperatures had been dropping all day. It was going to be a cold night and she was going to be alone in her bed when she could have a hot cowboy next to her keeping her warm. Olivia snorted. Warm? Try hotter than hell.
She wiggled in her seat just thinking of the things he’d done and said to her in bed. It shouldn’t have surprised her since she’d been pretty sure he was going to be like that way back when she first met him, and he’d looked at her like he couldn’t stand her. He wouldn’t even shake her hand. For almost two years, she’d let him know in every way she could just how much she wanted him and he never took her up on it. She was glad now she’d gone to his place to see Cochise, otherwise they’d still be dancing around each other. Now they were dancing between the sheets, and against walls, doors...
“Earth to Liv,” Evelyn said.
Olivia glanced over to her and grinned. “Just doing some day dreaming.”
“About a man?”
“What makes you say that?” Olivia tilted her head.
“You come home in the morning and you have a shit-eating grin on your face all day. Sounds like a man to me.”
“Oh, yeah, you mean like you look when Stan comes around or talks to you,” Olivia teased.
Evelyn huffed. “I certainly do not.”
Olivia laughed. “Yes, you do. You’ve got the hots for Stan, Evelyn Robinson.”
Stan Watson was the foreman at the B and B. He’d worked for Becca’s grandmother for years. When Becca inherited the ranch, he had stayed on. He still took care of the horses for the riding trails. Olivia was certain Evelyn had a crush on the man and if she was right, Stan felt the same in return.
“The hots? What a way to put it, Liv.” Evelyn sighed. “Although he does make me feel like I’m having hot flashes, even though they’ve been gone for years.”
Olivia burst out laughing. “Go for it. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“What? Oh no. I see what you’re doing. You’re trying to change the subject from your man. Who is it?”
Olivia shook her head. “My lips are sealed.”
“I’ll find out eventually, you know. If he comes here to pick you up for a date, or do you two just hook-up?”
Olivia nibbled on her bottom lip. “He’s going to pick me up.”
Evelyn folded her arms across her chest. “When?”
“In a few hours,” Olivia mumbled.
Evelyn cackled. “I can’t wait.”
Damn it! Why hadn’t she thought of this? Wait. Why should she have? She wasn’t trying to hide anything and if Wyatt was, he had better get over it real quick. The grapevine in Clifton would be in full swing by tomorrow. She was also sure some people from Clifton would probably be at the restaurant in Hartland since it was a Saturday night. Sighing, she smiled at Evelyn and headed toward her apartment.
“I need to figure out what to wear.”
“You get real sexy for him, ya hear me?”
Olivia stopped in her tracks. “Him who?” She narrowed her eyes at Evelyn.
Evelyn grinned. “Wyatt, of course.”
Olivia gasped. “How...?”
“Because I know how much you like him and seeing you this excited about going out can only mean one thing...you’re going out with him.” Evelyn tilted her head. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
Olivia sighed. “I can’t because you’re not.”
Evelyn nodded. “I’m glad he finally came to his senses. I’m happy for you. Now, you go figure out what to wear, honey. I hope you have a great time.” She entered the pantry, leaving Olivia to stare after her.
She sighed heavily. If Evelyn only knew the truth about it, she’d laugh. The only reason Wyatt was taking her out was that she’d practically blackmailed him into it. She closeted herself in her apartment to get ready for her date.