Page 47 of Wannabe in Wyoming
Crossing her arms over her chest, she watched her best friend drive away before turning toward her new foreman with a scowl. “Way to spend your first day at a new job, huh? Baiting my best friend who left his own ranch to help us? I don’t know what’s happening with you two, but if I see that sort of display again, I’ll be finding a new foreman.” She kept her tone cold and firm. “This sort of macho dick-measuring contest bullshit is a waste of everyone’s time. You don’t have to like him, but you’ll be civil toward him when you’re on my property.”
Looking at his boots, Dale had the grace to look ashamed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And for crying out loud, don’t call me ma’am.” She allowed herself to smile, just a little, trying to soften the blow of her words. She needed his respect, but she didn’t want him to dislike her. They would be working closely together every day and needed to maintain a good relationship.
The corners of his mouth ticked upward, but he was smart enough to keep the smirk or smile from fully forming. “Understood.” Burying his hands in his coat pockets, he continued, “I’m going to get a few things set up in the RV and have some dinner. I’ll do another check on the stock later before getting some shuteye. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll be up at dawn, but you’re the boss—I won’t expect you until I see you.”
Nodding once, he spun on his heel and walked to his trailer. The door slammed behind him as he went inside, and Willow questioned if she’d handled the situation correctly. She’d have to ask Nathan when they Skyped later tonight.
Stomach growling, she saw it was dinnertime—not only for her, but for the chickens and Ethel too. Once the hens were safe and secure for the night, Willow headed back into the house, cold and hungry. She threw some kibble in the cat’s dish in the laundry room, then checked the pantry for something for herself. Soup sounded good—it was fast, easy, and hot, just what she needed to warm up and still be ready in time for Nathan’s call. Grinning for the first time in hours, she hurried to fix her meal, anxious to talk to him.
* * *
Reclining in bed,Willow propped her laptop on her thighs and opened the Skype app. She tapped her fingers and watched the clock tick over, impatient to see Nathan. Every time they spoke, she struggled more and more not to confess her feelings and beg him to come live at the ranch with her when he was finally discharged from the army. She was desperate to tell him she loved him but knew it would be more meaningful coming from her in person, not over the internet. She would only get the chance to say those words for the first time once, and she didn’t want to screw it up.
She tried not to think about Andrew, but the man had pissed her off to no end—again. He’d called twice while she’d been eating her dinner. As usual, when she saw the Philadelphia area code, she’d sent both calls to voice mail. Since she’d blocked his number, he’d started calling her from other phones-––she didn’t know or care who they belonged to. She listened to the messages for all of two seconds to confirm they were from her ex, and not someone else trying to get in touch with her for some reason, before deleting them. The man wasn’t going to get a dime from her no matter how much he begged. Let him find someone else to bail him out of whatever trouble he’d found himself in.
The chime sounded on her computer, and when she connected the call, Nathan’s face and upper body appeared on the screen. He was shirtless and coated in a fine sheen of sweat. She grinned into the camera. “Nathan, why are you all sweaty? You know that’s mean right? Teasing me . . .”
Laughing, his eyes dancing, he swept a hand down his shiny face. “My workout with Ramsey ran long, and I didn’t get a chance to shower yet. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m complaining about your appearance, since seeing you all flushed and glistening with sweat does things to me.” She gave him a sassy wink.
“Don’t distract me, woman. All settled in there?” He grabbed a towel from somewhere off screen and wiped his face and chest off.Lucky towel.
“Yes!” she exclaimed, knowing he was talking about the animals. “They were no trouble at all. It was a long day, but so worth it. Dale said he was going to do another check this evening, but I’ll go out too when we’re done talking. I just want to see for myself that they’re doing okay. I feel like a first-time mom or something. Well, a second-time mom since I already adopted Ethel, and Fred sort of adopted me.”
“I’m so happy for you, and I can’t wait to see them. You’ll have to take a video of them tomorrow and send it to me. I loved all the pictures you sent throughout the day. Especially the one with Lucy mugging for the camera. Or was that Desi?”
She giggled. “It was Desi. Apparently, he loves getting his photo taken.”
Reaching out, he ran a finger down the computer screen, no doubt tracing the image of her face. She could almost feel his touch along her jaw. His expression softened into something akin to longing. “I wish I was celebrating with you.” They stared at each other in silence for a few moments before Nathan suddenly sat up straighter. “Which brings me to my other news. I’m only working a half day on Friday. I can fly up to you that afternoon and stay until Sunday afternoon.”
“Really! You’re sure? You can really come?” Her exhaustion faded and pure elation flooded through her.
“Yes, Wannabe, I’m sure. I was just about to look at flights. As soon as I get it booked, I’ll text you the details. Will you be able to get away to come pick me up?”
“Are you kidding? Nothing could keep me away. I can’t wait to see you! I miss you.” She figuratively bit her tongue, stopping herself just in time from telling him how much she loved him, how much she wanted him in her home and bed. He belonged here with her—she knew it in her heart. She just hoped he knew it too.
“I miss you too, Wannabe, more than I can say. I’ll see you Friday, baby. Clear your calendar and tell Jeremiah to occupy himself elsewhere. This trip, I want you all to myself. Understand?” His tone dropped low, causing shivers to break out along her skin. Her nipples tightened and her panties grew damp, and all because he spoke to her in that commanding tone of his that made her knees weaken.Damn the man.
“Y-yes.” She couldn’t wait to experience everything his wicked grin and desire-filled gaze promised.Twice.
Chapter Thirty
Willow barely hadfront door shut behind them before she was pinned up against it. Nathan’s mouth was on hers in a heart beat, and all thoughts of what to make for lunch fled from her mind. She kissed him back with fervor, giving as much as she took. His tongue swept into her mouth as he pushed her coat off her shoulders.
Moans, gasps, and sucking noises filled the air as they quickly divested each other of their clothes. Bootsthunkedagainst the floor, and she stumbled as she kicked her jeans off. Willow hoped like hell Dale didn’t need anything or Jeremiah stopped by. Both men always knocked before opening the backdoor to her kitchen, but there wouldn’t be enough time for her and Nathan to duck out of view if either of them entered. Being caught standing there in her underwear by her employee or her best friend, while being ravished by her boyfriend, wasn’t how she wanted to start her weekend.
Today hadn’t come fast enough for Willow. Since she’d found out Nathan was coming up to see her again, she’d been counting the hours and then the minutes until she’d met him at the airport.
“Bed-bedroom,” she managed to tear her mouth free of his and blurt out in between gulps of air.
Grabbing her hips, Nathan lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me, baby,” he demanded before resuming his assault on her mouth. They were both in just their underwear, and she hissed in pleasure as his bare skin pressed against hers. His chest hair rubbed against her stomach and breasts, sending tingles all through her and raising goosebumps on her exposed arms and back.
His hands cupped her ass as he carried her down the hall to her bedroom. After he deposited her onto the mattress in a heap of wanting flesh, he knelt between her legs and flicked the front clasp of her bra, letting her breasts fall free. He crawled onto the bed, his body covering hers, surrounding her in his warm scent, as his mouth latched onto one of her nipples. His tongue flicked her piercing causing her to gasp and moan in pleasure. Willow writhed beneath him running her hands through his short hair, over his strong shoulders, and down his back. His skin was hot under her palms, fueling her desire. She couldn’t get enough of him. She wanted to touch and taste him everywhere, all at once. “Mmm, hurry, please.”
Apparently, that’d been the wrong thing to say because he slowed down immediately. Sitting up, he straddled her thighs and reached for her right wrist, bringing it to his lips. He’d done this before, and it drove her crazy—in a good way. His tongue snaked out and licked where her tattoo sleeve began, before tracing the interconnecting designs upward to her elbow and then further to her shoulder. Occasionally, he’d stop and suck on her skin for a few moments before moving on. Whenever they were naked in bed, he loved to study the ink, finding new things to comment about each time.
