Donovan cut himself off at two beers, even though he could drink Rahrs all day with Emily. He had to drive them home safely, so he enjoyed watching her face as she ate with gusto. It was worth giving up a venison burger or barbecue ribs to take her here. And the food was really good. Next time he talked to Jimmy, he’d let him know that they ate at his sister’s place and would probably be coming back.
Spending time with Emily was taking his mind off his father. As usual, he was asking for forgiveness and money in the same letter. He gave him the latter, but would never give him the former. How the old fool had tracked him down was beyond him. Donovan had changed his name from Lincoln to Link after his mother’s death and his father’s imprisonment. He had moved all over Texas and never once left a forwarding address. Still, Charlie Lincoln had contacts and Donovan had stopped moving long enough to be traceable. Now that Charlie knew Donovan was taking wealthy hunters on gaming weekends, it was only a matter of time before he got another letter concerning a “business proposition” he had thought up. Although unlike Emily’s earnest proposition, Charlie would want to fleece the hunters for all that he could.
He pushed thoughts of his father out of his mind. The money Donovan sent to shut him up should keep him out of his hair for a few more months. It might be worth it to set him up with monthly contributions into his prison account, as long as Donovan made it clear the payments stopped if he got another letter. That sounded like a plan. He smiled in relief that he’d thought of it.
“We should be getting back to the ranch,” Emily said reluctantly when Carrie brought her the to-go meal and the check for him.
“Why?” he asked. Mexico still seemed like a good idea to him.
“Well, you have hunters coming in tonight and I need to talk to Trent.”
“Okay,” he said good-naturedly and stretched. He gave a mental check that he was all right to drive and then paid the bill and tip in cash. Donovan slung his arm around her again because she felt so damn good next to him and they walked back out to his truck.
“Are you going to behave yourself this weekend?” he asked as he started up the car.
“Was that what this was about? A bribe to keep me docile?”
He snorted. “Is that all it would have taken?”
“The food is amazing, but it wasn’t that amazing.” She sighed. “I really hate that you kill animals for sport. It enrages me that you make money off it. And it makes me cry that you’re doing it on my family’s property.”
“With your father’s permission and hearty approval,” he said, feeling he had to point out the obvious, even though it sounded defensive to his ears.
“And the fact that there’s nothing I can do to stop you makes it even worse.”
“You can’t always get what you want,” he said.
“I know that.”
He thought she might be pouting, so he threw her a bone. “I’m not going to renew the lease after the three years are up.”
“You’re going to up and leave? What about your building?”
“Your father or Trent will compensate me as per my rental agreement. I had the option to continue to rent or buy the land.”
“My father was going to sell you that land?”
Her shocked response showed him that she hadn’t been aware of that.
“It would have all been legal and wouldn’t have encroached on the cattle pastures. But don’t worry. I’m going to make some money and get the hell out.”
She was silent for such a long time, he thought she was in a food coma and then she said in a small, hurt voice, “Is it because of me?”
“What?” He took his eyes off the road to stare at her. She was serious. “No. It’ll just be time to move on.” Maybe leave Texas for good. See how good his father’s contacts really were. Would they be able to follow him to California or Montana? Would he have to leave the country to finally get rid of him? “I don’t stay in one place for very long.” He had thought the Three Sisters Ranch would be different, but even if it was, Donovan couldn’t risk having his father show up one day. He’d claim to be all rehabilitated after fifteen years in prison.
Donovan didn’t want the stigma of being Charlie Lincoln’s son to taint whatever legitimate business Donovan decided to get involved with. Charlie was a grifter and Donovan didn’t dare trust a word he said. It was better to pretend his father had died with his mother.
Rehabilitated my ass.
“Then there’s no reason to fight anymore, then. Not if you’re leaving anyway.”
“Nope,” he agreed. “You just have to deal with me for another few years and then I’ll leave you and your family’s ranch in my rear mirror.”
“Where will you go?”
He shrugged. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Do you think you’ll ever settle down?”
“Maybe.” He didn’t like how serious this conversation was turning. “How about you? After you set up your wind turbine farm, are you heading back to Ethiopia?”
“No. I did good work and I’m proud of what I did. But it’s nice to have all the modern conveniences that I took for granted before living in Ethiopia for three years. Running water. Clean water. The internet. Sometimes I think I’m a sellout. Other times I tell myself it’s time to grow up and start a career.”
“Like waitressing in a vegetarian restaurant?”
“I was thinking ranch owner.”
Donovan loved her enthusiasm. “Good for you.”
“Did you always want to be a hunter?”
“Nah, I wanted to be a cowboy.”
“Why aren’t you?”
Good question. “My parents had other plans.” Why was he going down this road?
“Did they want you to be a doctor or something else more white-collar?”
That would work as an answer. “Yeah, something like that.” They were hoping for the big score, so they’d be able to move down to Fiji or Tahiti and live out the rest of their lives on the beach. Like that would have satisfied them. They’d be back to rooking the locals within a year.
“You could still be a cowboy,” she said. “You don’t have to go. You could stay and just not shoot things.”
“Sweetheart, are you asking me to stay?” he teased.
“Yes.”
That stopped him in his tracks. “Why? I thought we were adversaries.”
“We won’t be, once you stop killing animals.”
“Thanks, no one has ever asked me to stay before.” It gave him a warm feeling that he didn’t want to trust.
“So are you going to stay?”
“I’ll tell you in three years,” he said. Hopefully his father wouldn’t make it sooner.
When they pulled into the Three Sisters Ranch, Donovan parked in Trent’s lot. “I don’t think he’s home.”
“Maybe he took Kelly and Alissa out,” she said. “Let’s go look around.”
The studio was locked, but they checked out the barn just to make sure. “Just horse shit and sheep shit,” Donovan said.
“Let’s see if they’re at the new house,” she said, tangling her fingers through his as they walked back to the house that was in the final stages of development. He had work to do, but for the moment he wanted to be with Emily.
“Hello,” she called, walking up the unfinished stairs. There wasn’t even a door.
“Big house,” he commented, looking around at the construction that was nearing completion.
“Alissa is so excited she gets her own room.”
The floors were finished, but the walls were only half sheet-rocked. They looked around, but it was clear no one was around.
“Oh well, I’ll have to catch up with him later.” Emily put her hands on her hips and let out a breath. “I guess I delayed the inevitable as long as I could. I’ve got to go home and face my failure.”
“It’s not a failure. It’s just a bump in the road.”
She reached for his hand again. “I don’t suppose you could come with me as a buffer.”
“I’m not sure what type of buffer I’d be, but I can give you a few more hours. Then I’ve got to do an equipment check.”
“You mean clean and load the rifles.” Emily dropped his hand.
“No, they’re bringing their own rifles. I need to make sure we have the gear to camp out in and to check that they all emailed me copies of their licenses.”
“Don’t you think they’d rather do trail riding?” she asked hopefully, a sweet, wistful look on her face.
“No, I do not.” He hoped she wasn’t starting this shit again. He really thought they had made some progress today.
To his surprise, she left it at that. As they were walking out of the house, she turned back to him. “I had a really nice time today. Thanks.”
“I wouldn’t mind doing it again,” he said.
Standing up on her tiptoes, she gave him a real kiss. Pressing herself up against him, she slid her arms around his neck and opened her mouth under his.
Hell. He hadn’t expected that.
Donovan staggered back from the punch of desire that hit him low and hard. Crushing her to him, he took her sweet mouth and everything else she was offering. He was damned sure she wasn’t wearing a bra under her sundress and he was damned tempted to slide it down to find out. A part of him was dimly aware they were kissing in the middle of her sister’s house that had no freaking door, but he couldn’t stop. Not when she felt so sweet and right in his arms. It was like kissing an angel in sunshine.
Emily made little needy noises in her throat that were driving him wild. Reaching down, he cupped her ass and held her against his cock that was pressing tight against his jeans. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she reached up to kiss him deeper. He tugged her dress down to her waist and her breasts popped free. Kissing down her neck, Donovan thumbed a taut nipple as she gasped and wiggled. The rest of her dress slid to the floor. As he sucked on one rosy tip and then the other, she spread her legs when he dipped his hand inside her tiny panties.
She held his head to her breast, and cried out in pleasure when he rubbed his finger across her wet slit and then fingered her fast.
“Please,” she choked out, but his mouth was too full to ask what she was begging for.
Donovan flicked his fingers over her tight bud as he kissed back up her chest to take her hot mouth with his again. Clutching his shoulders, her moans were muffled as he brought her trembling body closer to orgasm. Emily undulated on his fingers, her willing body letting him do whatever he wanted.
When she stiffened, he wrapped his hand around her ponytail and pulled her hair back so he could watch her come apart in his arms. Her eyes wide and her mouth open and gasping, Emily pressed her thighs together on his hand as she rode out the tremors.
“I can’t believe that just happened,” she said shakily, as her eyes refocused.
“You and me both, sweetheart. But I want to do it again.”
“Donovan?” Trent called from outside.
“Oh shit,” they both said at the same time and banged heads as they both bent down for her dress.
“Stall him,” she hissed, pushing him toward the open doorway.
Donovan staggered, rubbing his forehead. His body was still screaming for him to bury himself in Emily’s hot wetness. Adjusting himself the best he could, he walked out the door and blocked Trent just as he was coming up the stairs.
“Hey, buddy.” Donovan clapped him on the arm and steered him away from the door. “Looks good. You should be getting the certificate of occupancy soon, right?”
“Yeah, what are you doing around here?”
Emily popped out. “He drove me home. I was looking for you. I need to talk to you about something.”
Donovan gave her a quick once-over. Aside from her nipples clearly outlined against her sundress, she didn’t look as if they’d been screwing around. He side-eyed Trent, but the guy didn’t seem to notice his soon-to-be sister-in-law was braless.
“I’ll see you later, Donovan.” Emily smiled at him.
Donovan wasn’t sure what that meant, but it was a damned uncomfortable walk back to his truck.