“Well, it’s about time!” Coco chuckled and reached over to her bag which was laid out like a tool kit.
Bren snickered.
Tools for beauty and they were magical too.
Coco grabbed her chin and layered her wand over Bren’s lips.
A pounding sounded on the door and Coco sneered. “There’s art going on in here!”
The door burst open and a small man stood there. “You had your hour, Miss Coco!”
The artist didn’t even look up. “That’s okay, this is just the finishin’ touch. So, keep your tiny britches on.”
The little man huffed and stalked into the room.
Pedro was right behind him, pushing a clothing rack.
Coco dropped her hands away and stepped back. “I did it again! She is lovely, yes?”
Pedro strolled over and his brows rose. “S
í
! Just looking at her makes me hard all over.”
“Out! Out with you…you Latin hound!” yelled the little man.
Pedro ignored him and knelt down with a dramatic flair while taking Bren’s hand into his. “Mi Contessa, por amor.”
Bren felt her cheeks flame as she stared into his burning brown eyes.
Coco snickered. “He’s smitten for sure!”
“He needs to get his tight, troublemaking buns outta here!” shouted the little man.
Coco shook her head as she was packing up her magic bag. “You’s best scoot, chico.”
Pedro acted as though he never heard her. He kissed Bren’s knuckles with a fevered passion.
The little man released a heavy breath. “I would whip that tan ass of his, but I’m afraid he’d like it too much!” he tisked loudly.
Coco was still laughing as she snapped her case shut. “Yes, Mr. Morty, he would!” She looked over at Bren’s stunned expression. “I hope that when you do get to the circus? You find that lion tamer, your ma was tellin’ me about.” She gave her a wink and sauntered with a curvy stride to the door. “Pedro?” she called as she went through the doorway.
Pedro rose up slowly. “If your cowboy can’t see what a beauty he has? I’ll be waiting.” He bowed with a flourish and went to the doorway.
Bren had been holding her breath and now released it.
“Shut the door!” Mister Morty yelled at the tall Latin man.
Pedro gave her a flirtatious wink and did as he was told.
Bren swung her gaze over to the strange little man who’d been shouting orders since he came through the door.
“Now, stand up and let me get a look at ya,” he commanded.
She felt like a puppet as she stood immediately.
“Hmmm…” he muttered as he strolled a circle around her. “Yes…Contessa, indeed.” He walked over to the clothing rack on wheels, reaching into the many outfits like he was channeling them and brought one out with a dramatic flair. “And here it is!”
Bren’s eyes widened.
*~*~*~*
K
anda’s lids fluttered and she gazed up at Wade.
He sat next to her on the bed, grinning at her.
“Okay, so I faked it,” she admitted.
He shook his head with seeming humor.
“I’m sorry. I know what you said earlier about females playing games, and then what do I do?”
He threw his head back and laughed.
Startled, she sat up and stared at him.
Swiping a tear of laughter away, he gazed back at her. “I’m flattered.”
Kanda got defensive. “Well hell, you should be!”
His smile dropped away and he gave her a questioning look.
“I ain’t ever pulled a stunt like that before!”
Reaching out, he grabbed her arms.
Gasping, the rest of her defensive speech drifted away.
“You didn’t have to start now either,” he whispered. “Just tell me the truth. I prefer that, anytime.” He chuckled low. “Although, I was entertained for a few minutes there.”
Another first for her, a total loss of her footing. She’d never experienced any of this before in her life and she just didn’t know what to do or how to do it.
Wade pulled her close to where his lips were just touching hers.
She shook all over as she took a great big gulp of air.
“Tell me.” The words were nearly said right into her mouth.
“I—I…” she stuttered like a child.
He swiped her lip with his warm tongue. “I don’t bite.”
Flustered, she was getting angry at herself. His mouth being so close made hers water and other parts of her were watering badly. Another new experience. She was wet as hell!
Look what a chicken shit you are! For all your life you’ve been braving things no woman ever dared and yet…?
Look at you, shaking like a schoolgirl and feeling like a child.
“I just wanted to stick around for a while longer.” Her voice was small and barely audible, though she’d meant it to be firm and strong.
“All you have to do is tell me whatever it is you want and I will do it.”
A lump formed in her throat.” What—what if…?” She tried again. “What if I don’t know?”
“I think you know, I think you know exactly.”
She didn’t know how to tell him; she’d never admitted it to anyone. “I really don’t know.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve never…”
Wade’s expression changed and he sat up straight. “What?”
She looked away. “I have been kissed, fondled and such, but I never…”
“You mean never—like…?” It seemed to be his turn at being at a loss for words.
Her heart pounded heavily in her chest and in her ears. “I’m a 27-year-old virgin.” The words said out loud seemed to be a weight lifting from her chest and she released a huge breath.
Wade bit at his lip. “I didn’t realize—I mean…” He scooted back and stood up.
Her heart seemed to sink in her chest at the stunned expression he wore. “So, now if I tell you exactly what I want?”
His piercing blue-eyed gaze bored into hers.
“Will you do it?”
SIX
Knockin’ Boots
All dressed up with no place to go…
Front porch of the Plush Ranch
B
ren stepped out onto the daisy-filled verandah. Her eyes were immediately assaulted with color from the multitudes of different versions of her mama’s favorite flower in every vase and hanging pot. Daises were all over the place. While you looked at them all, there was a feeling like if you really believed it? Everything could come up daisies.
Shaking her head, Bren had always known her ma had a flair for everything and this ranch was her best creation to date. Sure, at first she’d been shocked at what her mother had done here. Really…a ranch full of studs out to please the plush type woman? Who would’ve thought up such an idea?
There are all types of men, my dear. But a woman can tell the kind that likes ’em big
. Bren tilted her head as she remembered the saying.
Really? Well, I never thought Trevor would go for me, all big boned and plenty of curves.
She remembered just then what he’d said when he first saw her in the au-naturel. His eyes were burning a hole right through her at the time. ‘
You’re fucking gorgeous, and you turn me on like no other woman I’ve seen!’
Bren shivered from the memory and tried to get ahold of herself. She needed to get focused on what lie ahead. To get to the ranch and get her cowboy back. All she needed to do now was to thank her mama for the makeover and get into that monster of a truck.
She looked all around and spotted her to the left of the house, talking to someone in the parking area. She loved to watch Daisy in action; she was always so lively and today was no exception.
Always enter a room with pizzazz, shake what ya got and leave while being applauded
. Yeah, her mother did that every day.
But can I?
She was taking an awful chance that Trevor would even notice her again after what he thought about her motives. Bren peered down at her outfit. It hadn’t been what she would have expected the odd Mr. Morty to pick out for her. It was a white sundress with a fluffy lace ruffle and red cowboy boots to match. She felt like a different person. Hell, she looked like a different person. Her attention wandered back to where her mother stood.
Daisy was waving her arms as if she was worked up about something and Bren squinted to see who was getting her riled. Her body went completely rigid.
Trevor gazed up at her and their eyes met.
She thought her legs might buckle as he strode over to the high porch. She loved to watch him just walking, his powerful body moving with such a cowboy like stride. Her mouth almost watered at the sight.
Daisy stood right where he left her and she watched the scene with no expression on her face.
He stopped at the bottom step and gazed up at her.
Bren shook all over and she felt her throat swell up.
Seemingly mesmerized, he studied her from the tips of her new red boots all the way up to her face.
It seemed like an eternity to her. What was he thinking? Why was he here? Her heart pounded in her ears as she all but held her breath.
Then, he suddenly rushed up the steps and swooped her into his arms.
Bren shrieked as it was the very last thing she thought he would do. “Oh!” she gasped.
Easily swinging her around, Trevor headed for the entrance to the house.
“Wha—What are you doing?”
He gave her no answer, and his face held no expression as he opened the door. He was walking fast and headed through the lobby.
“Give the man room!” shouted her mother from behind them.
Pedro and a few other men, along with Coco and Mr. Morty stood at the base of the stairs and they all parted as Daisy had instructed.
“Oh, Lordy!” Coco gasped out. “Look at this tamer, will ya?” she asked no one in particular. “Hot damn, what a man!” Her eyes followed the tall, well-built cowboy up the stairs.
Bren peeked over Trev’s shoulder at Coco’s stunned face and then swung her gaze over at her mother, standing in the elaborate foyer.
“First floor, 2
nd
door on the left!” Daisy called out and gave Bren a huge wink.
Trevor carried her all the way up the long flight of stairs without a word.
Bren wondered two things now:
How did he find her and was he angry with her?
He made his way down the hall and the door was wide open. He went through it, turned around and kicked it shut with his boot.
Bren was pretty scared by now.
What was this all about?
He carried her to the huge brass bed and set her down on it, making sure she was standing upright on it.
Stunned and full of questions, she stared down at him.
Still unsmiling, he took a few steps back and peered up at her.
Bren grew very nervous, standing there in all her finery and with her new look.
His eyes started at her red boots and then traced a slow path up along her lace ruffle to her white sundress. This looking over was a more heated one than before. He didn’t seem to guard his expression at all, even letting out a groan.
At the burn in his eyes, Bren felt like she might just faint and fall right off the huge bed.
His searching gaze seemed to pause and then moved up along her curves to her breasts where his hot perusal lingered. Finally, he met her stunned gaze. “Why are you all made up like this?”
His deep voice rumbled right through her. It’d only been two days since she saw him or heard his voice, but it felt like forever. Her hungry eyes took him in. His wide shoulders and well-muscled chest were wrapped in a clean, crisp-looking long sleeved white button up shirt, tucked into some faded jeans that encased what she knew was the best built bod she’d ever seen. Her body was instantly on fire just from the sight of him.
“Well?” he asked after a minute or more had passed.
“Um—I thought—maybe…?” she faltered.
“You left town,” he stated quietly. It was a statement, not a question.
She nodded, unsure of where all this was going.
“Are you gonna quit the ranch?”
She shook her head.
“Well, why are you here at this—this place?”
Bren looked into his troubled eyes. “My Ma was here.”
“And that’s why you’re here?”
“Yes, why else?”
“Okay, so why are you all made-up?”
It seemed they just went full circle and were getting nowhere fast. Bren’s nerves seemed to snap with a crackle as she drew a deep breath. “I was aiming to get your attention, Mister Kincade!” Her words came out in a rush of breath.
Trevor look surprised as he peered up at her. “My attention?”
Bren curled her hands into fists. Her mama always said,
men were always first up to the bar, but always the last to figure out how to order a dammed drink
.
“Everything I’ve done in the last week was for that purpose!”
He took a step closer to the bed. “You wanted my brother.” His voice was so low it was barely audible
.
Bren knew this was the defining moment. How was she gonna convince him? How could she explain the ‘to do’ list? She peered down at this cowboy who owned her heart. She had wanted to have a life with him and she realized that this right here? This was her shot, her one shot and it had to be right on target.
“Yes, back when I didn’t know there were two of you. It was the only name I had at the time. Now? There’s only one of you and I was never confused after I knew about the twin thing. There’s only one Kincade in my mind, and in my heart…just one.” Tears formed in her eyes as she clenched and unclenched her fists.
Trevor stood very still, his eyes remaining latched to hers.
Bren held her breath and gritted her teeth so hard she thought she may need dental work after this was over. “I thought you left for good,” she whispered. “That I ruined it all.”
Trev took a step back and said not a thing.
He doesn’t believe me!
Bren felt the wind rush out of her as her heart plummeted.
*~*~*~*
Cabin on the Flat River
W
ade spoke not a word as he took a step back.
So, he’s gonna run on me?
Kanda’s mind whirled with emotions. He’d wanted the truth, but like most men? He couldn’t handle what was true. If he were a bull or a horse, she’d just lasso him and tie him till she was done with him. She thought about that exact advice she’d given to the Plush girl just the day before.
Squaring her shoulders, she stepped from the bed. Her heart was pounding and she wondered for a second if she ought to do just that with Wade. A smile curved her lips
. I can hog-tie a man in ten seconds.
She proved that record time again and again, even tying up her bigger brothers before they knew what’d hit them.
“This makes it all a bit different,” he whispered.
“Oh, really? And why is that?” she challenged.
“Why?”
Nodding her head, she took another step toward him. She was just so drawn to him, like she needed all that he could make her feel.
“This isn’t just something you up and give away, Kandy!”
“Oh, so you lied then,” she retorted.
His brows shot up. “What?”
“You said to tell you the truth. You said you would do whatever I ask.”
He looked shocked at her challenging him. “Now, look. What you’re asking is—”
Kanda took the last step needed toward the tall man with the semi-scared expression on his face. She always had control for her whole life. So, why should this be any different? She gathered all her courage and knew deep in her heart this is what she wanted— what she needed. Her chance at having a wild night with a real man. And maybe she would find out what everybody and their god-dammed cousin were all up about when it came to sex.
Wade stood rigidly and gazed into her eyes.
“I want—” She bolstered her voice. “I want for you to kiss me.”
He seemed to relax. “I have and I will again. It’s just that—”
“What?” She pressed herself against him.
God, was he built
! She wanted so badly to feel his sleek bare skin along hers.
He grabbed her up. “Do you even know what you’re asking me to do?”
Kanda nodded her head. “Do I have to beg?”
Titling his head, he released a chuckle. “No, you’re not the type.” He smiled and pressed his lips to hers. “But, I bet I can get you to.”
Shivering, Kanda felt his hot hands grasping her arms.
I bet he could too.
“You’re so dammed beautiful. The loveliest thing I’ve encountered in this country, but I can’t just—”
“You can,” she whispered, bravely lowering her hand and taking hold of his jean-covered package. Squeezing him gently, she kissed him on the lips with all her might. Her hand did what was natural as she realized he was large here too, just like the rest of his body. Pushing her tongue onto his, she pressed herself tightly to him.