When You Love a Rancher: Ranchers Only Series Read online

  When Maddie licked her lips, leaving a shiny trail behind, I was done. I closed the remaining distance between us and pressed my mouth to hers.

  Fuck! Electricity had been sizzling between us, but I was unprepared for it to explode when we kissed. My hands tightened on the chair arms as I used all of my strength to hold myself up. If my body was consumed with fire from this single touch, what would it be like when we were naked and skin to skin?

  I slid my tongue along the seam between Maddie’s lips, and she hesitantly opened for me. The little moan that escaped when I licked inside her mouth went straight to my long, hard cock. Precum dripped from the tip, and I used my tongue in her mouth to mimic what I wanted my cock to be doing to her pussy. The only sounds in the room were our heavy breaths and soft moans, so the sudden sound of plastic cracking startled us both. I pulled back and looked down to see that I’d broken the arms of the chair. “Damn,” I said with a chuckle.

  Maddie didn’t say anything, prompting me to lift my head to see her face. Her eyes were wide, and her breathing was still choppy, making her breasts jiggle. My mouth watered, but I managed to only give them a quick look before returning my gaze to her face. I gave her a crooked smile. “Looks like I owe you a new chair.” Then it became a full-fledged, wicked grin. “If we need to replace it, we might as well test out its overall strength. I’m betting we could break it with one wild fucking.”

  With pinched lips, Maddie placed her palms on my chest, then shoved hard. It wasn’t enough to force me to move, but I stepped back, respecting her wishes. “This was a mistake,” she breathed as she jumped to her feet.

  “The fuck it was,” I growled. “I’ve been waiting ten years to kiss you, and it was even better than I imagined. I’m not going to let you act like you weren’t just as affected by it as I was.”

  Her cheeks bloomed crimson, but she cleared her throat, squared her shoulders, and glared at me. “I’m not denying our spark,” she conceded. “But that doesn’t make it less of a mistake.”

  I growled again and yanked her into my embrace. “Let’s try this again, and then you can try to tell me it’s a mistake.”

  My mouth dropped down onto hers, and I devoured her, letting my hunger take the lead.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but I believe Kyle and I have an appointment.”

  James’s voice sliced through the silence and caused us both to jump, breaking our kiss. Maddie and I spun around to find James standing in the doorway, grinning and leaning against the jamb with his thumbs in his pockets.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled. “We lost track of time.”

  James shrugged and ambled into the room. “It’s no problem. Just don’t expect that kind of welcome from me.”

  I laughed. “I appreciate that because you’re just not as pretty, and I doubt you taste as sweet.’

  “Oh, good grief,” Maddie muttered as she spun around on her heel and stomped toward her desk. She was attempting to seem mostly unaffected, but her breathing was still slightly elevated, and her cheeks were flushed.

  “We’ll catch up later, Maddie,” I promised. She kept her eyes on her computer screen as she waved at me with a careless shrug.

  I decided not to push it, so I walked over to the door and grabbed my Stetson. “Lead the way,” I said as I popped the hat on my head.

  James nodded and walked outside in the bright sunshine with me following right behind. “The house is all ready for you,” he informed me as he steered us toward my truck, which now had another parked right next to it. “My wife insisted it be cleaned from top to bottom before you got here. Seems her nesting instincts aren’t confined to our home.” There was humor in his voice, but it was also filled with unmasked affection.

  “I appreciate that, but she didn’t have to go through all that trouble for me.”

  James chuckled. “You know that, and I know that, but I’m not going to argue with my pregnant wife.”

  I nodded, completely understanding his choice. I avoided upsetting Helena at all costs, especially now since she was pregnant and cried at the drop of a hat. I hated seeing her cry, but even worse, if Stone thought I was the cause, he’d kick my ass.

  “There’s a small stable out by your house, and Garrison often chose to ride rather than drive. However, he didn’t have to lug around medical equipment, so you do whatever works best for you.”

  Garrison was the manager over at Red Hill Ranch and married to James’s sister Rose. Before that, he’d been the manager at Locke Creek and had bought a small piece of the land to build his own home. According to Stone, after Garrison married Rose, the house had only had a few occupants, none of whom stayed long. It had been sitting empty since Helena stayed there for a few weeks. James had decided to repurchase it from Garrison and add it to the perks for the manager. But Maddie preferred to live in the apartment for the garage, so he’d offered to make it a part of my compensation. I’d jumped at the chance. I hadn’t been looking forward to living in the bunkhouse or finding a place to rent nearby.

  James walked to the driver’s side of the other truck and opened the door. “Just follow me in your truck. It’s only about a ten-minute drive.”

  “Will do,” I agreed as I got into my own vehicle. He pulled onto a gravel path, kicking dust up as we drove toward the rear of the property. It wasn’t long before we were parking in front of the garage of a modest-size ranch-style home. After shutting off my truck, I hopped out, grabbed a duffel bag from the bed, and met James at the front door.

  He hesitated on the front steps, staring at me thoughtfully for as I approached. It was clear that he was mulling over something and hadn’t decided whether he wanted to talk about it. I assumed he was going to ask what he’d walked in on earlier, but it wasn’t about Maddie and me when he finally spoke. “I hear that you having the same last name as Stone is no coincidence.”

  Caught by surprise, I froze in my tracks. I sighed internally. Slightly irritated with my sister-in-law because I knew Stone hadn’t told anyone. So, Helena must have relayed the information to Ophelia, who shared it with her husband. Now that the decision to hire me had been made, I’d fully intended to make my employers aware of my relationship with Stone. I hadn’t figured it would be an issue, but by finding out from someone else, I was worried that James would look at it as an omission. Clearing my throat, I nodded and started walking again. “We’re half brothers. I was going to tell you today. I’m sorry I didn’t before—”

  James cut me off with a relaxed wave. “No need to apologize. I completely understand.” He smiled with a little self-deprecation. “I like to think I’m objective, but Stone is a good friend, and I can’t honestly say that it wouldn’t have boosted your chances of getting the job.” I’d reached the door and stopped in front of him. He clapped a hand on my shoulder before continuing. “I respect the fact that you wanted to earn this job on your own merits.”

  “Thanks,” I replied with genuine gratitude. I entered the house and looked around. The house had come furnished, so it still had some décor spread throughout. It looked warm and inviting, reminding me of my home growing up. “This is perfect,” I told James, who had walked in after me.

  “That’s great. I hope you’ll be happy here.”

  I turned around and smiled. “I’m sure I will be.” While I was talking about the house and job, my thoughts of being happy were mostly centered around the fiery little redhead I intended to keep.

  “Now”—James crossed his arms and looked at me with narrowed eyes and a firm set to his jaw—“about you and Maddie.”

  It had been too much to hope he would simply let it go, but I’d done it anyway. I mirrored his stance and attitude, making it clear that I was serious about what I said next. “Boss or not, I would tell you this is none of your business. However, I know you care about Maddie like family, and”—I rolled my eyes—“you’ll just find out through the grapevine that is the women around here.”

  James chuckled and nodded. “True.”

  “Maddi
e and I have known each other for a long time. I’ve loved her since the day we met, but I was young and stupid and let her get away. I have no intention of doing that again.”

  He stared at me for a moment, then nodded. “If you are anything like your brother, which I get the feeling you are, I know you’ll love her and take care of her as fiercely as Stone does with Helena.” I nodded. “Still, you’re right. Maddie is family to us. So, I have to make sure you know that if you hurt her, one of the horses just might stomp on your balls.”

  I winced at the image that flashed in my mind. “Understood.”

  “Good. We serve dinner at the big house during the week at seven. Even though you have your own kitchen, you’re welcome to join us anytime.”

  I expressed my thanks, and we shook hands before James took his leave. After taking a quick look around, I dropped my duffel bag in the bedroom and settled in for the night.

  8

  Maddie

  My stomach flipped when I heard the door to the office open, and I wasn’t sure if it was excitement or dread. I’d had a restless night, bombarded with dreams about that stupid kiss and everything that could have followed if we hadn’t been interrupted. Finally, at around four in the morning, I gave up trying to sleep and got ready for the day.

  I’d done a check on the horses, completed some chores in the stable, and had been sitting at my desk for the past couple of hours trying to get paperwork done. It was a slow process, considering I was constantly re-reading the same paragraphs because my mind was otherwise occupied. Kyle was due at nine A.M. to get a tour of the ranch and his office. As the time for his arrival drew near, the ball of anxiety in my stomach began to grow.

  When he walked through the door, he looked so gorgeous that he could have been shooting an ad for RanchersOnly.com. The closer he got to me, the less my stomach fluttered, and the more my girl parts jumped for joy. I told myself it was because I hadn’t had sex in—well, that was just too embarrassing to admit to—and it was the reason I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about sweaty, naked bodies anytime he was near. It didn’t mean anything that this never happened with anyone else.

  He was wearing a sexy smile, and it reached his blue eyes, making them shine while he looked at me as though I was the best thing he’d ever seen. When he reached the desk, he set his Stetson on top, and his gaze swept down my body, leaving a path of tingles in its wake. I tried not to be self-conscious about my outfit. I’d been royally pissed at myself that morning for even caring about what I wore.

  Unless I was meeting with a client, my daily outfit was pretty much the same. But I’d spent a good half hour this morning deciding which jeans and shirt to wear. I’d gone with older pants that molded to my ass and made my legs look long and tone and paired it with a pink tank underneath a worn black plaid button-down. When his eyes returned to my face, he looked at me with hunger, and his eyes had turned to a deeper shade of blue. I wanted to preen a little, then mentally banged my head on my desk for acting like a teenager trying to impress her high school crush.

  “Mornin’, baby,” he rumbled. I expected him to stop on the far side of the desk, but he kept walking until he rounded the corner and was standing in front of me. Before I could reply or take a step back—not that I had anywhere to go—he slipped his arm around my waist and tugged me flush against his body. I wasn’t sure if I opened my mouth to protest or beg him to kiss me, but I’d never know because, in the next second, his lips were on mine. He took advantage of my parted lips and tangled his tongue with mine. A moan escaped my throat, and I found myself melting into Kyle’s strong embrace.

  Kyle had always made me feel safe, but the depth of what I felt while in his arms was staggering. Had I missed years of feeling this way because I’d been stubborn and scared? I didn’t want to think about it.

  The desire that had been trickling through my system since I saw him yesterday exploded into a thousand fireworks that lit up my whole body. I moaned and locked my arms around his neck, pressing my breasts against his chest. Kyle growled into my mouth and tightened his hold on me while he angled his head to take the kiss deeper.

  After a few minutes, I was ready to rip off his clothes and drag him to my apartment. However, to my shock, he groaned and pulled back. He wore an expression of pain as he set me away from him and took a few steps back. I didn’t understand why he’d stopped. My eyes dropped to the—whoa—very large bulge in the front of his pants. He’d clearly been as affected as me. When my gaze returned to his face, his eyes were closed, and he was taking long, deep breaths with his clenched hands hanging at his sides.

  After two more breaths, he opened his eyes. They were still swirling with lust, but he seemed to have control over himself, which was more than I could say for myself. I was still panting and squeezing my thighs together, desperately wishing I was brave enough to attack him.

  It was a little pathetic. I had a reputation for being a hard-ass and unflappable. A tough but fair boss. And here I was—one kiss from a sexy cowboy, and I’d practically melted into a puddle of want. Okay, not just any cowboy.

  “You could tempt a monk, Maddie,” he grunted as his eyes swept up and down my body once more, lingering on my hard nipples before locking onto my lips.

  “Why did you stop?” I asked before I could stop myself.

  Kyle spun around and marched back around the desk, putting a barrier between us. “Trust me, baby. The last thing I wanted to do was stop.” He faced me and smiled gently. “But you aren’t ready yet. Because when I take you, and believe me”—he winked cockily—“I will have you. But when that happens, there will be no turning back. You’ll be mine. Without any doubts.” I sucked in a quick breath at the intensity in his eyes. It made tingles skitter over my skin, and…I believed him. The question I needed to ask myself was, would I ever be brave enough to take a chance?

  “Don’t overthink it, baby,” Kyle said with a crooked smile. “How about you show me around?”

  The door to the barn suddenly swung open, and one of the ranch hands strode inside. It was like tossing a bucket of cold water over me. Work. Shit. Yeah, we needed to get to work. Besides, that was where I was comfortable. It was what I knew. What I did best.

  “Hey, Maddie,” Gil said as he approached, his expression tense.

  “What’s up, Gil?”

  “It’s Calliope. I went to take her for a workout, and she looked listless. I wouldn’t have been too worried except she hasn’t eaten since yesterday afternoon. I offered her an apple, and she wouldn’t take it.”

  “Damnit.” My brows furrowed at Gil’s news. Calliope was a thoroughbred who’d been born, raised, and trained at Locke Creek. She was one of the fastest racehorses we’d ever had, and her sale had just gone through yesterday. Her new owner was set to pick her up in two days.

  “I think that’s my cue,” Kyle stated, startling Gil and me. I’d forgotten that Kyle was there in my worry for Calliope, and it took about half a second for me to feel hopeful relief. “Putting me right to work? You guys sure know how to welcome a guy,” he teased.

  I smiled in return and introduced him to Gil. “Kyle’s our new full-time vet.”

  Gil sighed as he shook Kyle’s hand. “Glad to meet you. I can’t tell you how relieved we are to have you here. Now, as you said, let’s put you to work.”

  “Sure thing.” Kyle grabbed his hat and set it on his head, then gestured for me to go ahead of him. I shook my head and grabbed my desk phone, already dialing as I answered. “I’m going to call James, then I’ll meet you down there.” He nodded and followed Gil toward the door.

  Once I’d briefed James, I plopped my hat on and hurried to the stables.

  “Well, that was quite the day.” Kyle sighed as we walked back to the office. He looked as beat as I felt.

  “Now, you see why we were so desperate to get a full-time vet on the payroll and here as soon as possible.” After checking on Calliope, he’d been called to check on a mare about to give birth, then to treat a gash
on another horse’s leg from getting tangled in the fence. He even tended to a deep laceration a ranch hand had gotten while trying to free the horse.

  I’d asked him if he could treat humans, and he’d shrugged. “It’s not like we have much choice out here.” Then he’d winked. “Besides, humans are animals, right?” I’d laughed, and he’d reacted by smiling even wider. There were a few other animals he was called to see, and through it all, not only did he prove his competence, but he stayed calm and collected, thoroughly impressing James and myself. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I also found it incredibly sexy. Though I doubted James felt the same way…

  Kyle and I reached the door, and he grabbed the handle to pull it open, holding it for me so I could walk in first. I nodded my thanks as I passed him, and when he entered behind me, I swore that I could feel his eyes on me. I tried not to shiver and give away the effect he had on me, but once we were alone, the air thickened with tension.

  I headed straight to my desk without looking to see if Kyle followed me, but I could feel his presence. It had always been like that for me. I instinctively knew when he was near. It was like my body had a radar that was attuned specifically to Kyle Kensington.

  It wasn’t like I didn’t have a shit ton of stuff to do, but when I reached my desk, I shuffled around papers, trying to look busy because my mind couldn’t focus on work. I felt tense and on high alert, wondering if he was going to kiss me again. My radar started pinging off the charts, and a few seconds later, his shadow fell across the desk right next to me. I looked up and was immediately lost to gorgeous blue eyes that were drinking me in as though he hadn’t seen me for years.

  I held my breath as his head moved closer, but at the last second, his head shifted to the right, and he brushed a kiss over my cheek. “Good night, baby. I’ll see you in the morning.”