Summer's Desire (13 page)

“Oh hell,
”
He rubbed the back
of his stiff neck. “I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy to
give me the time of day? You’ve ignored me
,
Holden
,
and I just can’t handle a
cas
u
al relationship right
now. It was wrong.”

Dumbfounded
,
his mouth dropped
open. “Is that what you think? I just slept with you without feeling anything
for you?” He could see the answer in her sad eyes. “Honey, I’m not that man. I
don’t go around sleeping with women for the heck of it. Truly it has been a
busy last few days and I’m sorry that I hurt you. I never
,
for one single
second, thought of you as that type of girl. I wish you could look into my eyes
and see what I do feel.”

Summer stared
into his eyes and her face softened. She took a deep breath and sighed. “Fine.”

“Fine what?”

“I believe
you care and—”

“You’ll meet
me later?” He gave her his best grin.

This time she
graced him with a smile that curled his toes. “Yes.”

He slowly let
his breath out and smiled. “When later?” He could see the joy in her blue eyes.

“Later.”

“Later
,
in the barn?”

“Holden, you
forget you have four brothers. It will have to be much later. Besides aren’t
you tired from being out at all hours?”

“It wouldn’t
have taken so long if I hadn’t been distracted by thoughts of your naked body.”

She quickly
glanced at Matt. “
Shh
.”

Holden kissed
her cheek. “Later,” he whispered huskily. He walked back out of the house
wearing a big grin. Later couldn’t come fast enough for him. Maybe he’d work
with Yukon for a while
,
that would keep him focused. A man could hope.

*
*
*
*

Giddy wasn’t
the right word but that was all Summer could come up with as to how she felt
,
and she wasn’t quite
sure why she wasn’t still mad at Holden. She kept lecturing herself to stop thinking
about Mindy Sue. She wasn’t part of their equation. She had a right to be suspicious,
especially after Brent, but Holden was an entirely different man. Oh and what a
man he was. If he even rolled up his sleeves her stomach started to do flips. She
never wanted anyone the way she wanted him. She wondered if he’d come to her
room later. The anticipation had her unnerved. Her body began to feel the
shiver of yearning
, and h
er
breasts felt
heavy in need.

Damn, it was
only midmorning. In the time she’d been there she’d gotten the place sparkling.
It was a chore keeping it that way, but she was satisfied with her efforts. The
sound of a truck horn caught her attention. Before she could even walk to the
front window, Matt announced that Mindy Sue was here. Her heart panged. Damn
didn’t she just tell herself that she had nothing to fear from Mindy Sue?

Mindy Sue
walked in and smiled at Matt.
“
I brought you more magazines. I could bring a book next time if
you’d like.
”

Matt’s eyes
lit up and he smiled. “A few minutes of conversation would be great.”

Mindy Sue’s
green hair was surprisingly flattering. It matched her outfit and her green and
black stripped nails. “Of course, sugar, I have all the time in the world for
you. I’ve been meaning to stop by but trying to coordinate the names of owners
with all their animals isn’t easy. It would be easy if we had info. I’d have
gotten it all into a data base but we did a mass mailing and well it’s still
going to take time.”

Summer
relaxed. “Hi, Mindy Sue.”

“Nice to see
you again, Summer. I hear a lot about you every day.”

Mindy Sue’s
words horrified Summer. The whole town was talking about her again. It chipped
away at her self-esteem.

Mindy Sue
must have noticed Summer’s stricken look. “Oh no it’s all good. I meant that
Holden is always talking about you. In a nice way.” She smiled at Summer. “I
think he likes you.”

Summer’s face
heated. It embarrassed her and thrilled her. “Can I get you something to drink?
Are you hungry
,
it’s almost lunch time?”

Mindy Sue
looked to Matt for her answer.

“Yes, she’s
staying. She needs a bit of a rest from all that work she’s been doing
,
” Matt said.

“How about I
set your plates where you are. It’ll give you a small bit of privacy before the
onslaught of
O’Learys
com
e
in.” Summer was
rewarded with smiles from both.

A burden
lifted off her shoulders. How she hadn’t seen it before she didn’t know. Matt
and Mindy Sue liked each other. Happiness washed over her and hope filled the
spot in her heart that had been reserved for jealousy.

As predicted
Mark, Luke, John and Holden all came clambering
in
for lunch. It was one of the happiest meals
she’d had there. The secret glances shared with Holden warmed her. Matt and Mindy
Sue were happy in their own little world. The discussion revolved around horses
but she hardly noticed. Holden’s strong, handsome face was all she thought of.

His lips were
delectable and she wanted them on her, anywhere, everywhere. Her body began to
burn with desire and she felt restless.

“Holden
,
weren’t you going to
show me around the ranch?” She hoped he’d take the hint.

His eyebrows
rose and he winked at her. “Did you want to go today? We could wait.” The
teasing glint in his eyes flustered her.

“Today
,
please,” she said
quickly
t
hen
looked down at her plate. How could she be so brazen?

“Sounds good.
I’ll be back in a few.”

Summer waited
until the kitchen was empty before she looked up. Holden stood at the door
staring at her. He tipped his hat, grinned and walked outside.

“You play
video games?” She heard Mindy Sue ask Matt.

“Yes my
favorite is
Halo
.”

“Do you have
the new one?”

Matt shook
his head. “No, haven’t had a chance to get that one yet.”

Mindy Sue stood
and touched his arm. “I’ll bring it by next time.” She bent and kissed Matt’s
cheek, waved goodbye to Summer and left.

Matt immediately
glanced at Summer. “Think she likes me?”

“I wouldn’t
be surprised.”

Matt’s smile
said it all. It was the happiest she’d ever seen him
and her heart glowed.
It reminded her of just how close she
’
d become to all of them.

Holden opened
the door and made a bee line for her. He took her hand in his strong one and
led her outside. “We have a tour I believe?”

Summer
laughed. “Why, yes. I haven’t seen much of your ranch.”

Holden helped
her into the truck and got in on his side. “It could take days to see it all
properly.” He gave her a wicked sidelong glance.

Summer
lightly punched his shoulder. “We aren’t really going to tour the ranch are
we?”

His mouth
opened in mock outrage. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I hope you
brought protection.”

Holden
laughed deeply. “Of course I did.”

“Come to think
of it you had some with you when you came to my room. Do you keep them in your
wallet or something?”

Holden
laughed even harder. “No, only when I’m around you.”

His answer
brightened her day. “So, where are we going first?”

“I figured
you’d want to see my cattle.”

“Cattle it
is. Hurry
,
please.”

“Anxious for
some cowboy loving?”

Summer
smiled. “You know I am!”

Holden turned
off the road and headed toward a group of trees. “The hell with the cattle,” he
said, parking the truck. “I need to kiss you.”

Before she
could reply
,
he swooped down and claimed her lips. She immediately opened her
mouth wanting the kiss to be as deep as possible. She sighed as Holden
unclasped the front of her bra. Her breasts had wanted his lips on them all
day.

He left her
lips and kissed her neck. He nibbled her earlobe making her squirm. Sitting
back for a second he pulled off her red t-shirt and white bra. The air on her
breasts felt freeing. Holden continued his onslaught of kisses until he ma
d
e his way to her breasts.
He licked one and lightly squeezed the other. When he took the tip into his
mouth to suck on it she moaned wildly with need.

“Feels so
good, Holden.” She reached and unbuttoned his shirt
, h
is skin so smooth
and soft under her fingertips. Running her hands through his dark chest hair,
she kissed his shoulder, lightly nipping at him. She had no self-control when
it came to Holden. She grabbed at his zipper and he leaned back against the
seat invitingly.

Hurriedly she
opened his pants, once again amazed how big and hard he was. She kissed, licked
and kissed some more from his navel on down and was rewarded with an urgent
gasp. After a minute he pulled her up from him and slipped her pants off. He
wrapped his big war
m
hands around her waist and expertly planted her on top of him.

Her eyes
widened as she took him all at once
.
I
t felt exhilarating.
He made her feel so sexy. He held onto her waist guiding their rhythm and moved
her up and down so fast, she grabbed his shoulders to keep her balance. Her
hair splashed across her face as she rode. Holden was first to cry out, but he
kept going until she spiraled to the sky and back.
W
rapp
ing
his massive arms
around her
,
he
held her tight. The
beat of his heart was pronounced against her. Summer wrapped her arms around him
and treasured the feel of being held. She never wanted to move. Sitting on him
was perfect.

“Like my
tours?” he asked in a sultry voice.

Summer began
to nod when she saw a truck out the rear window. It was on the dirt road and
she didn’t recognize it. Her whole body automatically stiffened. “Holden.” Her
voice shook uncontrollably.

Holden lifted
her off of him and turned around. “Stay down and get dressed as quickly as you
can.
”
He
kept his gaze on the rear view window while he hustled to
g
et himself dressed. He
didn’t bother with his shirt. He leaned down and reached under the seat,
bringing out a rifle.

Summer gasped
at the sight of it. “He’s just staring at us.”

“Get your
head down.” Holden reached to open his door. “He’s gone, hold on. Put your seat
belt on. I’m going after him.”

Summer didn’t
reply she just did what he said. They heard a thump as Holden tried to back up.
He immediately got out of the truck and swore. Summer watched as he got on his
cell phone.

The fury on
his face when he came back inside the truck scared her. “We won’t be going
anywhere for a while.”

“
Wh
-What do you mean?”

“That bastard
got close enough to us to put an icepick into the back tire. Damn it!” Holden
hit the
st
ee
ring
wheel. “I could have gotten you killed.”

“No, Holden
,
d
on’t
blame
yourself. We’ll just have to be careful and more aware.”

There didn’t
seem to
be
anything she could do to break the tension in the truck. At least
she knew that it wasn’t directed toward her. “Did you call the sheriff?”

“No, I called
Mark and Jonas. I’m going to need help keeping you safe.”

Summer nodded
her stomach in knots
while they
waited for back up.

*
*
*
*

T
he
cavalry
arrived
. Jonas
reached them first, then Mark. Jonas took Summer home, while Mark helped Holden
change the tire.

Jonas drove her home in silence. She made no attempt at conversation.
The thoughts whirling in her head made it impossible to focus

The boys were all on the front porch and t
he
worried
expressions
on the boys’ face hurt her heart. She never intended to bring them
any harm
and s
omeone
was bound
to get hurt with Brent out there. The fact that he was so close to them hadn’t
sunk in yet.