With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1) (16 page)

“That’s it?” he asked in a teasing tone. “You enjoyed the farrier seminars?”

She unbuckled her belt and slid closer to him, pressing her left thigh tight to his as she straddled the gearshift. Once she secured herself in a second time, she dragged her fingers along the inside of his jeans from groin to knee and back again.

“I enjoyed watching the stallion demos. The rodeo. And walking around with you to all the stalls and vendors.” Her nails lightly raked him and his cock throbbed, hard and wanting.

“And?” Christ, his voice sounded like a frog’s croak.

“The riding. I
really
enjoyed the riding.” She leaned close to him and flicked the shell of his ear with her tongue. “Be it you riding me, me riding you, or you on one of your horses.” She nipped his lobe and before he could do much more than groan, she’d repositioned herself back in the passenger seat.

He stared at her as she sat there. Cat who ate the canary. Now he understood the expression for it sat plastered all over her face.

“You should watch the road,” she admonished. “You’re pulling a trailer.” One finger trailed down the V-neckline of her button-down shirt. “And just so we’re clear, that’s the only reason I’m not blowing you right now.” She licked her lips. “The
only
one.”

The truck swerved and he gulped, making the necessary corrections. His skin was tight and he almost tugged on his collar.

“You’re killing me here, Samantha.”

She propped her feet up on the dash. “I’m staying on my side of the truck. I’m not doing anything.”

“You think I’m going to forget what you just said?”

“I would hope not.” She put her feet back down on the floorboard. “But if you do, I could always remind you, again.”

“I could pull off.”

A siren’s smile. “What a coincidence, there’s a rest area two miles ahead.” A wink and she turned her attention out the side window.

Dustin changed lanes again and when the stop arrived, his cock hurt. It pressed so tight against his jeans. Didn’t matter how horny he was however, he wasn’t a fool and took care in parking them. Granted it was a bit off to the side. Samantha jumped out before he could even shut off the engine, but he followed swiftly on her heels meeting her at the door to the LQ.

He unlocked it and practically pushed her in. She was on him the moment the door closed behind them, lips seeking his. He didn’t disappoint her. Thrusting her against the bathroom door, he lifted her in his arms, even as he sought more. More skin on skin, more kisses. Just more. There were no words of love, this was pure passion. Hot. Needy. Desperate.

They spent an hour at the rest stop and never left the LQ. Back in the truck as he drove, Dustin watched Samantha slumped against the door, eyes shut. Low country played through the cab and he found himself smiling.

“What are you smiling about?”

What do you know, she was awake. “Am I not allowed?”

“Makes me suspicious.” She moved her head to stare at him more directly. “
Should
I be suspicious?”

He flashed a grin which he knew wouldn’t alleviate any of her concern. “Up to you.”

“You are trouble. You realize that, don’t you, Mr. Kane?”

“I’m beginning to think you bring it out in me, Ms. Finley.”

Her smile affected his heart in ways he didn’t believe anyone would be able to do, not after the fiasco with Charlotte. Rubbing his palm along the denim covering his thigh, he rested his arm on the door. The rest of the ride back to Branchwater passed with comfortable conversation, laughter, and music. He bit back his disappointment when the sign for the Diamond J came into view.

Deep down, he knew that things between them would change, again. Personally, he wished to keep it how it had been at the expo. The horses knew they were home and began shifting restlessly. Parking down by the barn, he shut off the engine and took a fortifying breath. What did one say now?

As she had at their stop, Samantha jumped out before he could say anything. Rabbit. That’s what she brought to mind. He followed and unlocked the LQ so she could access her bag. It shocked him when she appeared by the ramp.

“Want me to take one?”

Anything to keep her around longer. “Sure. Thanks.”

Soon the horses had been put in their stalls and they were back out by the trailer. “Do you want me to help you clean it up?” she asked, staring up at him. Her brown eyes sparkled in the light provided by the lamppost near the barn.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”

She hesitated a moment before pursing her lips and nodding. “All right.” A grin past his shoulder had him turning to see Connor striding up. “Thanks, Dustin. For everything. I had a great time.” Samantha shouldered her bag and walked off with a wave and a “Hi, Connor.”

“How was it?” Connor asked him, pausing at his side.

Dustin never took his gaze from the swaying ass of the departing woman. She strode off as if she’d gone as only a friend and they’d not even shared a bed. No lingering looks over her shoulder, no kiss farewell, nothing like that. He wasn’t sure what to make of that. All he knew was he didn’t like it.

“Dustin!”

“Damn near perfect,” he admitted as she climbed into her truck and started the engine. The taillights seemed eerily prophetic. As if telling him this was the moment she left his life for good. He couldn’t explain why he felt that, it just was. And he didn’t like it. “Made some good connections, have some people coming out to look at the geldings for sale.”

“So not what I was talking about, man.” Connor shifted his weight beside him.

“I know. But that’s all you’re getting.” She was gone.
The red glow from her taillights vanished from view, and he felt bereft.

* * * *

Finn walked back from the barn, morning’s glow providing her all the light she needed outside of the barn. She’d woken early, equal parts amazed and disturbed by how much she preferred waking in bed with Dustin to alone.

“You had your time and now it’s done,” she muttered as she jogged up the steps to the house and opened the door.

Mrs. Pendle had arrived while Finn had been doing chores in the barn. She knew this by the scent of French toast in the air. Her stomach rumbled and she patted it, silently informing it food would be arriving soon. Striding to the kitchen, she smiled at the sight of the woman who’d been a fixture in her life as long as she could remember. More of a mother as well.

“Morning, Mrs. Pendle,” she said with an affectionate smile.

“Morning, Finn. How was your trip?”

“I had a wonderful time. I sat in on a few seminars put on by farriers and learned a couple of things. Saw some people I hadn’t in a while. Bought a few things as well. Your gift is upstairs, I’ll bring it down later.”

“I don’t need gifts from you, sweetie.”

“Indulge me,” she replied, brushing a kiss along the woman’s cheek. “Besides, you deserve it.” Finn reached for the bacon on the plate. “Ouch.” She jerked her hand back.

“After all these years, you think I’m not aware of what your ultimate goal is? To get the bacon before anyone else?”

Finn flushed. She’d been trying unsuccessfully for years to swipe a piece from under Mrs. Pendle’s nose. Still hadn’t managed to fool the woman yet. “I keep thinking I’ll get quicker with time, but I am beginning to believe that’s your magic power.”

Mrs. Pendle laughed. “I have many magic powers, dearie, so don’t even try it.” The warning came as the housekeeper ducked her head into the fridge and popped out with orange juice.

Propping her hip against the counter, Finn crossed her arms. “I wouldn’t doubt that for a second, Mrs. Pendle. And having my hand rapped once today is enough. I’ll stay away from the bacon until breakfast, thank you very much.”

Finn set the table and the women worked in silence until she got back to the counter. Mrs. Pendle paused in chopping of the fruit and stared at her.

“Yes?” Finn questioned.

“You and Dustin Kane?”

Damn it. Biting the inside of her lip so she’d give nothing away, Finn blinked. “Me and Dustin Kane what?”

“At the horse expo.”

“Oh that.” She tucked some wayward hair behind her ear in an attempt to calm her racing nerves. “Yes, I went with him. Stayed in his LQ as well. It had two beds.” Not that they used two. Okay, so that wasn’t entirely true. They used them both, just not in any way she’d be sharing with the woman who’d changed her diapers.

Mrs. Pendle blew out a heavy breath, a sure sign she was agitated. “I know it’s not my place to tell you how to live your life, Finn.” Her slender shoulders rose and fell. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

How couldn’t she? She’d lusted after Dustin since the first time she saw him and had loved him nearly as long. Locking that away, she canted her head. “Why would I get hurt? He invited me to the expo. He worked the expo while I went and toured around. Helped him a bit when he had demos, but I still fail to see how I will get hurt.”

Blue eyes, which had offered her such support and compassion throughout her life, met hers. The sheen in them bothered her. Was she about to cry? If so, why?

“I’ve known you almost all your life, Samantha Mallory, don’t you think to pull the wool over my eyes.” The sheen vanished only to be replaced by an edge. “You may be able to snow your father, but it won’t work with me.”

She blinked and sighed, rolling her shoulders in a lame attempt to loosen them up. “How long have you known?”

“Since you were in fourth grade.”

Fourth? Damn. That grade was right about the time she discovered the hotness that went by the name Dustin Kane. And here she thought she’d been so smart. “And you never said a word? Not to me or Daddy?”

Her expression reflected her insult at Finn’s words. “Not a one.”

“How did you find out?”

A snort this time. “Wasn’t hard to figure. Anytime that boy’s ranch was mentioned or we attended a school function and he was there, it appeared all over your face.”

“Damn.”

A grayed brow rose. “Mind your language.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Finn’s response automatic. “Sorry.”

Mrs. Pendle moved to her side and touched her arm. “Baby, I couldn’t love you more than if you were my own flesh and blood. You moving away broke my heart right along with everyone else’s. I just want to protect you and I see it happening all over again. Only, this time, it’s more.” Her voice dropped. “So much more.”

Unsure of what to say, Finn remained mute. She worried her lower lip and gathered Mrs. Pendle close. When she heard her father’s crutches on the stairs, she released her. “Trust me, I’ll be okay. I know it is only temporary. I’ve gone into this with my eyes wide open.”

“It’s not your eyes I’m worried about.”

Her unspoken words hovered in the air between them.

“Thank you for worrying. For wanting to protect me. And most of all, for loving me.” She brushed another kiss along her cheek and smoothed out her own expression.

“Morning to my two ladies,” her father said as he entered. “How are we today?”

“Nursing a smacked hand, Daddy,” she replied with a grin.

Her father’s grin made the world tip back into “right” as opposed to where it had been in “unknown” moments before. “Haven’t learned yet you can’t steal bacon from this woman. She’s got eagle eyes and never misses a thing.”

Meeting said gaze, Finn nodded. “I know.”

“Food’s ready, so sit down before it gets cold,” Mrs. Pendle ordered.

And much like they had when she was growing up, both her and her father listened to the woman who’d become such an important fixture in their lives. Finn looked up when Mrs. Pendle began to leave the room.

“Eat with us,” she implored. “There’s more than enough.”

“I ate at home and have work to do.”

“Daddy,” Finn said, well aware he would take her side.

“Finn’s right, Mrs. Pendle. You should sit and eat with us. If you’re not hungry then you can at least sit and drink coffee or juice.”

Finn hid her smile as Mrs. Pendle sat. No matter what had been spoken previously, it didn’t escape her notice that when her father fixed a plate and set it before Mrs. Pendle she accepted it without argument. Drinking some juice to hide her smile, Finn thought about the implications of such a telling sign.

After she finished eating, she made her excuses and headed back outside. The sun, now full above the horizon, still struggled to banish the remaining fog, which curled up from the ground much like a snake as it wound along a tree branch. Leaning against a pillar, she sighed, shoving her hands into her front pockets.

“Heavy heart, babygirl?”

She’d not heard him arrive, but it wasn’t a shock he had. Her father had always been intuitive about her emotions.
Apparently not as much as Mrs. Pendle has been.

“Living in Maryland, I forget how much I love it here. I miss home, Daddy.”

He braced himself against the other side of the pillar. The silence between them, familiar and comforting. She knew he’d talk when he was of the mind to. Evan Finley didn’t rush things.