Bisette sat next to Florentine on the porch swing, enjoying the quiet with a blanket tucked over their laps. The arid scent of the fireworks from earlier permeated the air around the main house. Funny how the smell conjured up parties of the past with her daddy leading the celebration for the community.
Bisette yawned loudly. “I’m beat. I think I’ll go fall into bed. Are you comin’?”
“No. I’m gonna stay out here a bit longer.” Florentine leaned her head on the backrest.
“Boy, I remember when we used to party through the night with our friends after the grownups had pooped out after the fireworks. What happened to us?”
Florentine snorted. “Speak for yourself. I’m wired. I’ve been off for too long. I think it’s time to get back to riding.”
“I’m so happy we were all able to get together. All the laces together again.” Bisette sighed. “Do you remember what Momma always said about us?”
Florentine smiled, recalling her mother’s telling of how she named all of them. I named my girls after different types of lace...Margot, Bisette, Florentine, Chantilly, and Valenciennes. You all carry the middle name of Lace for a reason. For how dainty and fragile lace appears, when it is all intricately woven together, lace is a hardy strong fabric that will last a lifetime. Just like you girls.
“Yeah, I remember.” She smiled. “Now go to bed before we’re both in a funk.”
“Don’t stay out late. You’ll be covered in skeeter bites before long.” Bisette leaned over and kissed Florentine’s cheek. “Love you, Florentine Lace.”
“Sweet dreams, Bisette Lace.”
Florentine held herself together until the front door closed. She sniffled and closed her eyes. Every one of her sisters had moved on after Daddy’s death. It left her unsettled to realize all she had left were memories. While her sisters went on with their lives, building new families, she felt stuck in ruts her adolescent dreams and expectations had formed along her path.
It was Florentine’s time to find her place, to find her happiness, to find what made her stand out, and for the first time since she was a teenager, she wondered if she’d find that happiness on the back of a bull. She loved the excitement, but after ten years, she could still lose her dream with one bad ride. She reached up and rubbed her shoulder. The tenderness was almost gone, despite the discoloration. Four days from now, she'd land in Wyoming and things could get back to normal.
Everything she wanted would make sense once she let the adrenaline from winning heal her doubts. The bulls were still the only thing that left her feeling empowered. She knew what to expect when she got on their backs. It all came down to beating the bull, winning, walking off unhurt and ready for more. Every ride she completed showed her she would survive anything life threw at her. And that included Cole.
Sitting around, feeling sorry for herself never did her any good. Best thing for her was to get back on the bull. She stood up and moved to the edge of the porch.
The foreman’s cabin lay out there in the shadows, dark and forbidden, where she wasn’t welcome. That seemed to be her life story. The cowboys wanted her gone from the rodeo, and even Cole wanted to run away from her.
She’d been raised by a single father, and instead of holding any of her sisters and her back, Daddy forced them to spread their wings in a safe environment in Pike. Now that she was an adult, she wanted to take that gift he’d given her and give back to others. Everyone deserved a mentor who encouraged, believed, and helped pick you up when you got thrown off the bull.
She could provide the safe place, away from the boys, where girls could blossom over their own achievements. Whether they became pro bull riders, teachers, or scientists, they needed the confidence to go after what they wanted, without others telling them differently. She wanted them to learn you couldn’t find happiness unless you got off your butt and captured it yourself.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Florentine peered behind her, and then quickly turned around. The footsteps grew louder.
Cole leaned against the porch railing and crossed his arms. She waited for him to leave but he stayed, staring at her. What was his deal? Did the true Cole only come out at night?
“Where’s Sarah?”
“She woke up when I put her in bed and told me she had other plans.” He shrugged. “She asked me if she could sleep over here with you again. She’s with Chantilly.”
She smiled on the inside, hiding the warm thrill the news gave her. It wouldn’t do to let Cole see how much she’d love to spend time with his daughter, not when he was so determined to protect his daughter from her. “I imagine that went over well.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m the last person you want around your daughter.” Now that she’d said it aloud, she couldn’t stop the anger that followed his rejection. “You don’t think I notice how you’re willing to listen to me when we’re alone, like now or on the circuit? Yet anytime I’m around Sarah, like this evening, you close yourself off as if I’m a bad influence and you have to be on guard. You didn’t even trust me to watch her alone last night. Of course, if my sisters are around, everything is fine, Sarah’s safe from the bull rider.”
“You have—”
“Forget it.” She shook her head. “I understand. I do. I’m just a bull rider to you.”
He stepped up in front of her. “No. You don’t get it.”
“Then what?” Her voice rose higher. “Am I so flippin’ one-dimensional a dog could do a better job at babysitting than me?”
“Stop.” Cole seemed about to grasp her shoulders but slipped his hands into his pockets. “I was wrong.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean?” he said.
“Why were you wrong?” She shrugged. “I want to know why my career is reason to treat me like I’m pond scum anytime bull riding comes up.”
Cole didn’t budge, and she thought for several long seconds he wasn’t going to answer. She glanced away. How could she explore this attraction between them if he wasn’t going to be honest?
“My wife died. It bothers me that in a split second, she was gone from my life and Sarah doesn’t have a mother to love her.” Cole paused. “I will do anything to make sure I never lose Sarah. I know I’m overprotective, but she’s my child.”
“You’re not going to lose her.” She softened her voice. “You’re a great dad, and she knows that. I promised you I wouldn’t talk about bull riding around Sarah, and I’ll keep my word. There’s no reason to worry if Sarah spends time with me. If I’m guilty for enjoying your daughter’s company, then I’m sorry.”
“No.” He cupped her face with his hands, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. “The only thing you’re guilty of is making me want you.”
“And that’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Yeah.” He leaned closer and placed his forehead on hers.
He pulled her against him, and his embrace soothed her bruised ego. How was he able to calm her when everything else seemed only to aggravate her?
“You don’t understand. I’m the only one Sarah has. Everything I do affects her. She comes first in my life.”
“You’re an adult, Cole. You deserve to be happy, too. Besides, what’s Sarah learning when you don’t let yourself enjoy life?” She wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I know.” He pulled her down to sit in his lap on the swing. "I can’t seem to ignore you. You make it impossible.”
“So, what are you gonna do about it, cowboy?” She ran her hand down his jawline, turning him to face her.
“The only thing I can do. Go back to the ranch and concentrate on expanding Turner Grain. I’d like to open two granaries in the Midwest soon. I’d also like to breed my prize thoroughbred with a new mare I purchased earlier this year.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “Sarah needs to work on her spelling more before school starts.”
She ran her thumb down his chin. “Now tell me what you really want?”
He glanced away, but she guided him back. She covered his lips with her finger. Before he left, she wanted the truth.
“Don’t tell me what the owner of Turner Grain wants, or the cowboy from the Double R, or Sarah’s father.” She lowered her voice. “Right here. Just for tonight. Tell me what Cole wants.”
He stared at her lips and seemed to struggle with his answer. She waited, not saying a word. When several seconds had ticked by, she wondered if she’d pushed him too far. Then he exhaled a deep sigh.
“It’s only me here, and I won’t tell a soul.” She leaned against him.
Cole ran the back of his hand down her face. “You.”
He loomed over her, so close, but she wanted so much more. She caught herself staring at his hands. Working man’s hands, rough, strong, and yet she’d seen how gentle he was with Sarah, with herself. His control impressed and frustrated her. If only he would let loose, and show her what drove him to keep coming back to her.
Her attraction simmered below the surface, burning her. She shouldn’t get involved with him. Cole could only bring heartache—they were too different, and their paths should never have crossed. Yet she couldn’t make herself move.
Her pulse ran hot. She wiggled and straightened in his lap. If ever she wanted to throw caution to the wind, it was right now.
Instead, she knew what she ought to do. “You should probably check on Sarah. I’ve kept you too long.”
“Stay put.” He put his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest. “She’s probably asleep again.”
“She might wake up and need you.” She pushed against him, but he tightened his arms.
He kissed the side of her head. “She’s safe. Chantilly said she’d set her up on the couch and watch her until you came inside.”
“Really?” She laid her head on his chest and smiled. A spark of hope ignited. “You’ll let her stay with me?”
“Mm hm.”
She ran her fingers over his knuckles. They were so different, and she found herself enjoying the way he held her. His arms were bigger than hers, his body harder, and he was relentless to the point of being uncontrollable. She liked that about him.
It was the same reason she enjoyed beating a bull. No matter how hard the bull fought to get her off his back, when she stayed put for eight seconds and landed on her feet, she had everything she wanted in her grasp. With Cole, it felt so similar. His admission that he wanted her fed her confidence.
He stroked her hair. “You drive me crazy.”
She squirmed in his embrace until he repositioned her. Reaching up, she caressed his cheek and traced his beautiful cheekbones down to his full lips.
“Can I tell you something?” she whispered.
“Anything.”
She kissed his lips gently. “I want you, too.”
She’d walked around dazed and off-kilter for the past few days, and she couldn’t blame it on her concussion. She wanted to lie naked with this man and learn what it would feel like to have his weight atop her and his body inside, outside, and around her. She wanted to know every secret about him. What made him sigh, laugh, moan. She wanted to absorb his energy and confidence and know that whatever happened when they left Montana, she’d be okay.
He seemed to know what she was asking because this time he didn’t back away. “Are you sure this is what you want? I can’t promise you anything past tonight.”
She leaned in close and let her lips trace the rough edge of his jaw. “What’s happened to make you afraid of loving someone? Why are you so reluctant to let anyone close to you?”
“Hell.” He grunted. “Somewhere I never want to go back to. If I were a better man, I’d go right now and leave you alone.”
“Stay.” She stroked his whiskered cheeks. "No promises, just one night together...”
He focused on her mouth. She licked her bottom lip and caught it between her teeth. The heated passion in his gaze didn’t steal her breath away.
She managed to force out one breathless question. “Kiss me?”
He nodded. “Damned if I can walk away. You’ve left me sleepless more nights than not lately. I’ve tried to tell myself over and over that you were part of my job and to keep my distance, but nothing–”
“Cole.” She laughed softly. “Shut up and kiss me.”
He moved in slowly. He caressed her lips with his mouth, taking his time, while his fingers curved around her waist. She swayed. Her equilibrium unbalanced, her body heated, and not just to his touch, but in anticipation of more.
She slipped her fingers into his hair and gave herself over to the delicious sensations battering her body. Being with Cole felt as new and astonishing as those first tender moments of exploring the opposite sex. She trembled under his touch, nervous, giddy, and excited. Her first time with Cole might as well be her first time ever.
“Tell me yes.”
“Yes.” She shivered.
He growled and dropped a kiss on her nose, and then on her lips, her neck. “The cabin is too far away. I can’t wait that long to have my hands on you.”
“Mm...” She gripped his shoulders. “The house is full of my family.”
They spoke simultaneously. “The barn.”
She didn’t care where they ended up. The only thing that mattered was being with Cole. When he took her hand and guided her off the porch, across the yard and through the barn doors, her every muscle felt rejuvenated, alive, and wanting. Suddenly, being with Cole left no doubts, no worries, only a carefree sensation she wanted to explore.
She led him the rest of the way inside the barn, up the ladder and into the loft where bale upon bale of hay took up the entire space. He shucked off his shirt and spread it atop the straw. She smiled at his gallantry, and the hungry grin he returned caught the air in her lungs on fire.
“You deserve a bed, but hell if I can wait any longer to be inside of you.” He kissed her, long and deep.
Cole created a small space between them and worked his way down the buttons of her blouse. She opened her mouth to encourage him. Afraid if he stopped, he’d change his mind and she’d never have this moment with him.
She wiggled her shoulders back and forth, helping him remove her shirt without letting go of his kiss. An eternity later, he’d freed the material. A thrill swirled through her when the cool night air brushed her uncovered skin.
He pulled back to gaze down at her. “Shit...that’s about the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
She lowered her gaze to her bra and giggled. “I love lace. I’ll explain later. Right now, I want to be naked and underneath you.”
He ran his fingertips lightly across her midriff. At once, her center clenched with silent squeals of delight, and another shiver of longing passed through her.
In the shadows with only a light from the aisle below, Cole towered beside her, half-dressed. His hard, muscled chest revealed the body of a man who did manual labor for a living.
He ran his fingers along her shoulders and down her arms, taking her bra straps with him. Faster than she could comprehend, he’d unhooked the front clasp, and her breasts were free. “Perfect,” he murmured, and he swooped her up in his arms and laid her down on the makeshift bed.
He took one of her nipples in his mouth, sucking, nibbling, caressing. He drew a moan from her, a wordless plea to feel his tongue on other parts of her body.
The room tilted. He popped the snap on her shorts and tugged them down along with her panties. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined. I’ve tried so hard to stay away from you, and right now I can’t even think about walking away.”
She lay naked before him while he stood over her. A kind of acceptance washed over her. They might not have a future together, but tonight was all theirs. She could live with one day as long as he stayed with her now.
He pulled a condom out of his back pocket and undid his jeans, then pushed them past his hips.
“Did I wear you down or did you come prepared, cowboy?” She smiled up at him.
“Does it look like I’m worn down?” He grinned. “I’m damn lucky I stashed a handful of condoms in my suitcase months ago.”
She lowered her gaze. The sight of him hard, ready, and beautiful gave her another enjoyable thrill. She held out a hand, and Cole at once lay on top of her.
Skin against skin. Was there a more glorious feeling in the world? Every cell in her body responded to the differences in their bodies. Big against small. Soft against hard. Every brush of him against her sent her moving underneath him. From head to toe, her body conformed to his until they were locked together, melting into each other.
The trail of his lips painted her with a low, burning fire, moving along her neck and lower as he discovered her body. She clawed at his shoulders when he sucked her to a near frenzy. His hand wandered over her stomach, over her mound, and found the moist heat between her legs. Soft moans escaped her, and the most delightful frustration filled her.
He stroked, teased and promised, but held her back from finding release. She arched up against his fingers, silently begging him for more. Her legs clamped around his hand, rocking against him, trying to reach for the explosion she knew would come.
Finally, he shifted into position between her legs and thrust into her. Pleasure shot through her, confining her as he plunged, withdrew, and set the rhythm. Helpless to do anything but hold on and let the feelings consume her, she moaned his name.
With a cry, she unraveled, and a few seconds later, Cole followed her with a deep groan of his own satisfaction. Her body trembled underneath him as the aftershocks of her climax hit her. She clung tightly to Cole, realizing she’d lied to herself and to him when she said she’d be satisfied with one night with him.
She wanted more.