A Cowboy's Promise Read online

  He rubbed her thigh as he gazed at her. “Would you believe me if I told you that you’re more beautiful now than when we started out?”

  “Nope.” She laughed. “I’d think you were flattering me.”

  “No, ma’am. When we began this ride, you were perfectly made up and very pretty. But after all that kissing and fondling, your skin is flushed and your eyes sparkle. You’re gorgeous right now, Libby. I can’t wait to see how you look after we—” He paused and cleared his throat. “Sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself.”

  “Maybe not.” Desire sizzled in her veins. His dark blond hair was tousled, too, maybe more than hers. Messy was sexy. Who knew? “What were you going to say?”

  “After we make love.” He held her gaze. “But we haven’t exactly decided what happens next.”

  “I have no other plans today. Do you?”

  He swallowed. “Not anymore.”

  “Then come back to my apartment with me.”

  He squeezed her thigh. “I’d like that very much. I have to make a stop on the way, though.”

  “Will you remember my address if I give it to you now?”

  “Guaranteed.”

  She rattled off the street and apartment number.

  “Got it. Let’s ride.” Scooping his hat from the ground, he slapped it against his thigh before settling it on his head. Then he mounted Bob and clicked his tongue. The palomino started back down the trail at a much faster pace than before.

  Strawberry followed suit. Libby lost both stirrups and bounced all over the saddle. She grabbed the saddle horn to avoid sliding off. “Hey, Greg!”

  He pulled his horse to an immediate step. “Damn!” He wheeled Bob around and leaped down. “I’m an idiot! I’m so sorry, Libby. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She grinned at him. “It was sort of exciting.”

  “Yeah, well…” He heaved a sigh as he repositioned her feet in the stirrups. “I should be horsewhipped for setting off at a trot.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up. You’re not used to riding with a first timer.”

  “That’s the damned truth. No wonder Kendra asked if I had experience with beginners. I plain forgot that you didn’t know how to ride a trot. You look so natural sitting in that saddle.”

  “I do?” That pleased her.

  “Yes, ma’am. But that’s no excuse. I let myself get distracted.”

  “That’s what we were doing? Trotting?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want to learn how.”

  His brow furrowed. “It takes a while to master it and you can end up with some sore muscles the first few times.”

  “Not today, then.”

  “Good.” He looked relieved. “I promise I’ll walk Bob the rest of the way back.”

  “Okay.” He was too cute for words. “I won’t break, you know.”

  “I know.” He gazed up at her. “But I want you to feel you can trust me.”

  “Are you kidding? You’ve kept our secret for ten years. You have more trust deposited in your account than anyone I know.”

  “That’s nice to hear.” Some of the tension left his expression.

  “I’ve waited for weeks, hoping you’d ask me out.”

  He grimaced. “Had to work up my courage.”

  “I’m glad you did, but if you hadn’t asked me soon, I would have asked you.”

  “Yeah?” He thumbed back his hat and smiled.

  “Yeah. So you see, I can’t blame you for speeding up. I’m as eager as you are to get these horses back to the barn.”

  “All righty, then.” Still wearing a big grin, he adjusted his hat and swung into the saddle. “Off we go. But slowly.”

  Even walking the horses, the trip took almost no time at all. Her first horseback ride had been short but extremely memorable. Kendra wasn’t around and Libby was just as glad. Greg might think she looked beautiful but Kendra might think she looked thoroughly kissed.

  Greg unsaddled both horses while Libby did whatever she could to help. Brushing them was easy, so she did that after Greg taught her how to move around behind them and avoid any chance of getting kicked. The horses didn’t make her nervous, maybe because she’d read the entire Black Stallion series as a kid.

  All that time she’d told no one about her yearning for a horse of her own. It would never have happened. But now it could. Greg might like that plan a lot.

  He turned both horses into the pasture before walking her over to her hatchback. She traded Kendra’s boots for her loafers and he offered to put the boots on the front porch for her before he left.

  “Let me leave her a note, too.” She grabbed a small pad and a pen from her purse and scribbled a thank you to Kendra. “If you’ll stick that under the boots, that would be great.”

  “Will do. I’d kiss you right now, but Kendra might glance out the window and I know you wouldn’t want her to see us kissing.”

  “Just one little peck wouldn’t hurt.”

  His expression of delight was a beautiful thing. “You’re sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Taking off his hat, he dipped his head under the brim of her ball cap and gave her a sweet, almost chaste kiss. Then he drew back and gazed at her with a warm light in his green eyes. “Expect something a little hotter when I get to your apartment.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  “I won’t be long.”

  “I’m counting on that, too.” Giving him a quick smile, she climbed in her car and headed out. Anticipation ran through her like an electric current. She couldn’t speak for him, but she could hardly wait. Once he was inside her apartment, the situation could heat up fast.

  Realistically, that wouldn’t be a good time for him to pause and make friends with her cat. Hermione had everything she needed in the kitchen—food, kitty bed and litter box. Libby decided to close her in there until after…yeah. She exhaled, letting some of the nervous tension seep away.

  Making love to Greg had been amazing ten years ago. She had high expectations for what it would be like now that he was older and wiser. Considering how easily he’d aroused her this morning, he’d likely blow right past her expectations.

  Chapter Four

  Greg told himself to settle down, but the self-talk wasn’t working worth a damn. He was on fire as he parked in a visitor space and climbed out of his truck. Libby’s apartment was on the second floor of her building and he took the outside stairs two at a time.

  Once he was standing in front of her door, he forced himself to pause and take several deep breaths. He shouldn’t barge in there like a bull elk. Ten years ago, he’d been lacking in finesse but he’d acquired some since then. It might be a good idea to demonstrate that.

  She had a bell but he rapped on the door instead. She flung it open immediately, grabbed him by the arm, and tugged him inside.

  “Were you afraid someone would see me?” That would be disheartening.

  “I don’t care who sees you.” She shut the door and twisted the deadbolt. “I just need—“ Instead of finishing the sentence, she launched herself into his arms, her breathing rapid. “I want—”

  “Me, too.” To hell with finesse. He dropped the plastic bag from the drugstore and tugged her closer. “Right now.”

  “Yeah.” She yanked at his shirt, popping snaps as she ripped it open. “Oh, God, it’s been so long.”

  “We’re gonna fix that.” He pulled her blouse from the waistband of her pants. A couple of buttons and he could lift it over her head. He tossed it to the floor and unhooked her bra. That hit the floor, too, and he filled his hands with her breasts. So supple, so inviting, so silky.

  She moved her attention to his belt and unbuckled it. After stripping it off, she dropped it with a clatter and went for the metal button of his jeans.

  His cock pressed hard against his fly. “Easy. I’m close.” Her boldness was new and he liked it. Letting her take the lead stretched his control to the breaking point, but he wanted to see how far sh
e’d go.

  Her labored breathing was punctuated by the rasp of his zipper. Reaching inside his briefs, she wrapped her hand around his aching bad boy.

  When she began to gently squeeze, he groaned and took hold of her wrist. “Stop, or I’ll come.”

  Releasing her grip, she stepped back, kicked off her shoes and took off her pants, dragging her panties with them. She left everything in a heap and sent him a challenging glance. “Your move, cowboy.”

  God help him, he was plum out of finesse. He got out of his boots and shucked his jeans and briefs. He considered getting directions to her bedroom, but abandoned that idea when she held out a shiny foil packet. She’d made good use of her time.

  He tore it open and rolled on the condom before picking her up and carrying her over to the living room carpet. She lay there, her breasts quivering with her breathing, and gazed up at him.

  “Next time will be smoother.” He moved between her thighs.

  “I wanted quick, not smooth.”

  “Good, because this may be really fast.” He entered her with one firm thrust.

  She gasped.

  “Too much?”

  “Oh, no.” Gazing into his eyes, she clutched his hips and wiggled closer. “Just right.”

  His throat tightened because being inside her was exactly right, more right than anything he could imagine. He wanted her, and not just for this moment. She wanted him, too, but he didn’t know for how long. Like he’d told himself before, he could hit the jackpot or lose his shirt.

  Or maybe he’d already hit the jackpot just by being here with her now. Focusing on her eyes, he began to move. “How’s that?”

  “Nice.”

  No kidding. As he stroked, he resisted the climax trying to shoulder its way forward. Ten years ago, she’d been quick to respond, but he didn’t know if—

  “Greg.” Her fingertips pressed into his backside as her first spasm rolled over his cock.

  “I’m here.” He bore down and picked up the pace. Oh, man, this was going to be…yes, it was…hell, yeah…he lost control when she did. The hot waves of her orgasm tipped him over the edge and he came and came hard, gasping her name, the name that had been haunting him for ten long years.

  Gulping for air, he balanced on his forearms so he wouldn’t press her into the unyielding carpet. The force of his climax deafened him at first, but gradually his hearing returned. He picked up the sound of her breath, fast and shallow, and something else, a plaintive, feline cry.

  Libby sucked in air as she gazed up at him. “That’s Hermione. She wants out.”

  He’d forgotten all about her cat. “Where is she?”

  “I closed her in the kitchen.” She smiled. “I’m glad I did.”

  “Probably a wise decision.” He drank in the sight of Libby sprawled beneath him in glorious abandon. All traces of her prim bank employee persona were gone. Her skin glowed pink and moist, her hair lay spread over the carpet in golden disarray and the wary look had left her blue eyes. “I was right.”

  “About what?”

  “You’re more beautiful now than you were out on the trail.”

  “Then all the time I’ve spent every Friday morning choosing what to wear and applying my makeup with extra care was wasted?”

  “You did that for me?” He’d never guessed.

  “Of course. I wanted to grab your attention. Looks like I would have been better off forgetting the makeup and running around the block several times on my lunch hour.”

  “At least then we would have matched. I always came straight from working a sweaty job. I fully expected you to reject my stinky self yesterday.”

  “Instead here we are.”

  He laughed. “On the floor.” Her cat’s cries grew louder. “Hermione isn’t happy being cooped up in the kitchen.”

  “You remembered her name.” She sounded surprised.

  “Of course.” He peered at her. “Why wouldn’t I? She’s a member of your family.”

  Her eyes grew misty. “Yes, she is.”

  “If you’ll point me in the direction of your bathroom, I’ll go make myself presentable so I can meet her.”

  “Okay. I have a feeling you’re going to get along.”

  * * *

  If Libby had been a jealous person, she would have resented how quickly Hermione fell for Greg. Hermione was a rescue cat who’d been discovered pawing through a dumpster so she had no known history. She might have started life with a cowboy like Greg. Whatever the reason, she’d clearly loved him on sight.

  Then again, so had Libby. But like horses, she’d assumed she couldn’t have him, either. A cowboy wasn’t an acceptable choice for a lady. Yet no man had ever been so right.

  He seemed in no hurry to leave and as luck would have it, she had enough food in her refrigerator to keep them fueled up between rounds of satisfying sex. Her small apartment had more interesting places to achieve that than she would have guessed, although the kitchen was Hermione’s domain. She didn’t like being closed in there every so often, but her new hero Greg always gave her extra attention when he let her out.

  Late that night, after another lovely orgasm, Libby snuggled in the crook of Greg’s arm as they lay on her queen-sized bed. The light was on, because she’d discovered that with Greg, she wanted to see and be seen. Making love was so much better that way.

  She was beginning to drift off though, so perhaps darkness was in order. “Can you turn off the light?”

  “Ready to go to sleep?”

  “Uh, huh.”

  “Me, too.” He reached for the light and paused. “Where does Hermione usually sleep?”

  “On the bed with me, but—”

  “I’ll go get her.” Easing his arm free, he swung his long legs to the floor, stood and walked out of the room. Moments later he was back with Hermione nestled against his broad chest. “Fair is fair and she was here first.” He set her on the bed and crawled back in next to Libby.

  She stared at him, not quite believing what had just happened. “You don’t mind?”

  “How can I mind? She’s used to sleeping in your bed and she’ll be lonely in the kitchen. She might even think she’s done something wrong to be banished like that.” He reached down and stroked the cat as she settled between them. “Right, Hermione?”

  Purring, she gazed at him with adoration in her yellow eyes.

  “Most men would not have done what you just did.”

  “I’m not most men.”

  “I’m beginning to see that.”

  Leaning around Hermione, he gave her a soft kiss. “Sleep well.”

  “You, too.” She touched his cheek, which had a little scruff going on. “Best day ever.”

  He smiled. “For me, too.” And he switched off the light.

  * * *

  Greg woke to bright sunshine and voices in the living room. Angry voices. The bedroom door was closed. No Libby. No Hermione. But he recognized Libby’s voice among the others. Near as he could tell, she was out there with two men and a woman. What the hell?

  The woman was louder and easier to understand. “Look at this place! Dirty dishes sitting around, blankets on the floor, pillows scattered everywhere. What went on here last night?”

  Libby’s reply was softer and harder to understand, but she seemed to be apologizing for something. For him? Did they know he was still here or did they think he’d left after the orgy? He quickly pulled on his briefs and jeans.

  Then a man spoke up. “Brunch lasts for three hours so we still have time. Kitten, go get dressed. We’ll wait for you.”

  Sounded like a dad thing to say. They didn’t know he was here or her father wouldn’t have suggested that she simply get dressed and leave with them.

  “Thanks, Dad, but I’ll have to take a rain check.” Her words were normal enough but her voice trembled.

  Greg shoved his arms into the sleeves of his shirt, but three critical items of clothing were out in the living room. Eventually someone was bound to see at le
ast one of them.

  “Hey, babe, your parents wanted the four of us to spend some time together.” This guy sounded younger, more Greg’s age. “The least you can do is—”

  “Sorry, Jeff. I’m not going.”

  Jeff. The bastard ex. Greg got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  “It’ll be good for you to go, kitten,” her dad said. “This can all be smoothed out. We’ll have some champagne and relax.”

  “Dad, it’s my life. I’m not going to brunch. I’d appreciate it if you’d all leave.”

  “I found a belt on the floor!” the woman, presumably Libby’s mother, screeched in outrage.

  Yeah, he’d never picked up his belt and he honestly couldn’t remember where he’d left his boots and hat.

  “Look at this!” Libby’s mother sounded hysterical. “The buckle has a…a bull rider on it and it’s one of those championship buckles!! No man would go off and leave this. Elizabeth Jane Tesler, is that cowboy still here?”

  Greg opened the bedroom door and stepped into the living room. “Yes, ma’am, he is.” He gazed at the well-dressed people in the room and was aware of his bare feet and the scruff on his chin. He hadn’t tucked in his shirt, either, mostly because he hadn’t had his belt. He finger-combed his hair back, but that wouldn’t keep him from being an embarrassment to Libby.

  He glanced at her and hoped she’d see how sorry he was to have put her in this position. Then he looked at the other three. “My name’s Greg Paladin. I take it you’re Mrs. Tesler. Pleased to meet you.” He nodded in her direction. Then he stepped toward the older, gray-haired man and held out his hand. “Mr. Tesler, glad to meet you, too.”

  Libby’s dad looked at Greg’s hand as if it had maggots crawling on it. “You, sir, are no gentleman, if you’d come in here and carry on with my daughter when she’s just recently broken off a long engagement.”

  “Yeah.” The pale guy who had to be Jeff straightened the knot in his tie. “That’s offensive, man. I won’t make a scene in front of Libby, but I suggest you leave.”

  Libby’s expression was filled with pain and regret. “I’m sorry, Greg. I was supposed to go to brunch with them this morning and I forgot.”