Connor (7 page)

Chapter Nine

Everything
had changed since she’d read Sarah’s journal and had the crazy idea to
blackmail him into picking her at Grantville’s Annual Bachelorette Auction. Now
she didn’t want to hurt him in anyway. He had bigger things to worry about.
Although they’d had sex twice it in no way proved that a relationship was
inevitable. Connor was Connor, and she wasn’t surprised he hadn’t settled down.
He’d always been a free spirit, a true cowboy. Maybe he’d inherited that nature
from his homesteading ancestors.

Jennifer
took one final look at herself in the rearview mirror. She wanted to give this
year’s auction a miss, but it was a tradition, a time for everyone in town to
get together and be like one big family. It was also the year’s biggest
fundraising event for the local hospice. Now it had a new meaning because of
Connor’s father. Not that she felt he’d be needing it, but it brought to light
how many people relied on it when their time came, and what a comfort it was to
die with some dignity while surrounded by your loved ones.

So
she’d put herself up for auction and dud or no dud, she’d have to accept
whichever man bid on her and took her out to dinner. Jennifer got out of her
car and walked into the hotel lobby.

“Hi,
Jennifer, how are you doing? Oh that dress looks wonderful on you.”

Jennifer
smiled when she saw Mrs. Pinkerton who owned the dress store where she’d
purchased the new blue floral dress just two days ago.

She
walked over to the check-in desk, got her number tag, and pinned it on.

Jennifer
waved to a few people as she went into the main area and first of all checked
out all the items that had been donated for auction. She glanced along the
table seeing if there was anything she’d like to bid on.
A
toaster.
Hers had bit the dust two weeks ago and one thing she did like
first thing in the morning was toast. Only one bid and that was $15. She
quickly added her name and wrote $20 next to it. She walked along the row of
items and spotted a gift basket from Katy’s store.
 
Edible panties, massage oil, a DVD on how to
give your partner a massage, handcuffs, and a mask. Jennifer was being plain
nosey and wanted to see if and who had bid on the item.

Just
one name, Connor Nolan-Delaney bid $100.

“Ladies,
if you’d like to come backstage and line up, we’re almost ready for the start
of the auction,” announced the coordinator.

Who
was Connor planning to use that with or was he going to give it to someone?

Jennifer
joined the rest of the women and went through to the back area where they’d
checked in when they’d arrived. She spotted Katy, who was wearing a black dress
and high red pumps.

“I’m
so sorry to hear about your dad,” said Jennifer, putting her hand on Katie’s
forearm.

“Thank
you. And I heard you cheered Connor up the other night. That was so sweet of
you.”

“How
is your dad doing?”

“He’s
getting scared about the operation, but we’ve told him it will be over before
he knows it.”

“Ladies,
if you could line up here in order of the number you’ve been assigned.”

“Looks
like I’m two ahead of you,” said Katy.

“Good
luck.”

“You too.”

The
first woman went out onto the stage to cheers and whistles. Jennifer hadn’t
seen Connor, but she guessed he was around somewhere to have bid on the erotic
gift basket.

“Our
next lady runs the sexiest store in Grantsville. Gentlemen, please feast your
eyes on Katy Nolan-Delaney.”

Jennifer
heard a few wolf whistles as Katy stepped out from behind the curtains.

As
Jennifer’s turn came, she tried to peek out to see what guys were in the audience,
but the coordinator held the drapes shut while they made her introduction.

“Our
next young lady works for Big Sky County Magazine, her mother’s on the school
board, and she’s the great, great, great granddaughter of the founding member
of the Grantsville Ladies’ Society. Put your hands together for Jennifer
Nealon.”

The
coordinator pulled the curtains back and Jennifer headed to the stage, hearing
the guys clapping and one lone wolf whistle. She looked up to see Connor with
his fingers in his mouth whistling away.

“Let’s
start our bidding at $250. What man would like to have dinner with this lovely
young lady?”

Silence.

Oh
dear lord, she had no takers. Usually one guy with buck teeth and no hair bid
on her, but this year nothing,
nado
.

Ground open up
and swallow me whole.

“Come
along, gentleman. You might even get mentioned in Big Sky County Magazine. $250
I offer you.”

Still
nothing, but then someone shouted $250. It was Connor.

“I
have $250; do I hear $300 for Ms. Nealon?”

A
guy in front put his hand up.

“$300,
do I hear $350?”

“$350,”
shouted Connor, pushing his cowboy hat back on his head.

$400,”
shouted another guy sitting in the front row.

“$450,”
shouted Connor.

“Seems
our candidate for sheriff is upping the bidding tonight.”

“$500,”
shouted a man at the back of the room.

“$550,”
shouted Connor.

“Any
more takes on $550?
Going once and twice.
Sold to the man who wants to be sheriff.”

$550
wow, $250 had been the most she’d ever raised in the auction.

Jennifer
stepped to the side of the stage and was helped down by the Grantsville’s mayor.
Connor came up to greet her, held out his arm, and Jennifer took it as they
walked down to the end of the room. Connor waved to everyone who clapped as
they walked by.

“That
was so sweet of you to start the bidding like that.”

“Didn’t realize I’d have to pay so much
for you.”

She
looked at him.

“And
no, I didn’t mean it like that. You are worth every penny.”

“And
it goes to a good cause,” said Jennifer.

“Exactly.
So when should
we go on our dinner date?”

“I
think after your dad’s had his operation, because you need to be with him and
your family.”

Connor
nodded. “Oh and I want to check if anyone’s outbid me on the erotic gift
basket.”

He
walked over to the table.

“Son
of a gun, someone has and it’s the major. Well, his wife’s in for a sorry
disappointment, because I’m upping the bid on this baby.”

Connor
reached for his pen and added another $50 to the bid.

“Are
you allowed to bid on that?”

It
was Katy, who was with the young man who’d bid on her. Jennifer had never seen
him before.

“And
who will be taking my little sister out to dinner?” asked Connor, extending his
hand.

“This
is Cash. He’s just moved to town but has some Montana roots,” said Katy.

“Really?”

“Yeah,
my great, great grandmother worked in Grantsville.”

“Sounds
like the sort of story Jennifer might like to get her hands on,” said Connor.

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”
Jennifer dug in
her purse and pulled out her business card. “Give me a call sometime and we can
sit down and talk.”

“Last
chance to bid on the donated items,” shouted the coordinator. “We
all done
with the bids?”

“Oh
yeah and that erotic basket’s mine,” said Connor.

****

Jennifer
had the cutest butt in the world.
Softest one too.
It
glistened as he poured more oil onto the left cheek. This wasn’t part of their
actual auction date, but who was complaining.

“If
you don’t win the sheriff’s job you could become a masseur,” said Jennifer.
She’d been quiet ever since she’d gotten naked and he’d begun rubbing oil on
her legs. Now that he was up to her butt he thought she’d actually fallen
asleep.

“That
smells so good, feels good too,” she said in a dreamy sort of voice like she
was about to fall asleep.
“Great idea of yours for bidding on
that basket and thank you for sharing it with me.
I thought maybe you
were going to use it for entertaining yourself.”

He
slapped her butt.

“Ouch.”

“That’s
what you get for being naughty.”

He
ran his hand down her crack and slipped an oily finger inside her pussy.

“How
about a little pussy massage?” he asked.

She
wiggled her butt at him. “Never had one of those, but I’m willing to be your
guinea pig.”

He
ran his finger around her pussy walls, tickled her, and saw her butt muscles clench
tight.

“Geez,
Connor. Where did you learn to do…
”

She
couldn’t get the rest of the sentence out, because she came big time, almost
crushing his finger.

She
flipped over, causing his finger to slip out of her.

“Am
I cross-eyed now or what?”

Connor
laughed and she did too.

He
crawled up the bed toward her.

“Let
me take a look here. Wow, holy shit, you are cross-eyed.”

She
slapped his arm and he quickly leaned over and kissed her.

She
pulled away. “You want me to massage your dick?”

“Wow,
what guy could say no to an offer like that?”

Connor
flipped over on his back. Jennifer’s right breast brushed against his lips as
she reached over to the bedside table to the oil.

She
squeezed some out in her palm and then rubbed her hands together.

He
was looking forward to this. He groaned as she wrapped both hands around his
shaft and moved them up and down. She concentrated underneath its head, the
most sensitive part. He had to think of something more neutral or he knew he’d
spoil the whole thing by coming too quickly.

“How’s
the pressure?” asked Jennifer.

“Oh,
it’s perfect.”

Almost too perfect.
He grabbed a pillow
and dug his fingers into it, thinking about the campaign, anything but
Jennifer’s sexy hands moving on his dick. His balls were twitching now and even
his butt felt happy.

Had
he just thought that his backside was happy?

It
was working though because it was slowing his pace to the finish line. When he
came he wanted to be buried deep inside Jennifer.

“You
want to ride a cowboy?”

“I
thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter Ten

Truth
was this was Jennifer’s favorite position to have sex, her straddling her
partner. But this wasn’t just any guy. This was Connor. He reached up and
stroked her breasts as she leaned over and pushed harder on his cock. Its head
teased her G-spot, willing her to come, but she wanted it to last just a little
longer. She was getting used to the smell of raspberries now and even if they
went their separate ways, never had sex again, she’d always think of Connor
when she saw them at the store or growing in her aunt’s garden.

She
squeezed her thighs together, closing her eyes. She’d hung on enough. It was
time for the prize. Jennifer lifted her chin up and groaned as her climax made
her whole body come alive.

“You
know how beautiful you are when you come?” asked Connor, reaching up and
running his hands down her belly.

He
flipped her over. Soon he was back inside her, thrusting harder and harder
until he came. Spreading warmth worked its way through her pussy, with the
smell of raspberries filling her room.

“Maybe
we should try strawberry next time,” said Connor, setting his forehead on hers.

“I
bet Katy gets to see some interesting things come through the store,” said
Jennifer.

“Yep,
she’s heading to a sex toy convention in Vegas next month.”

“That
guy who bid on her was sort of cute, and he looked like he was really into her.
I mean not just because he bid on her.”

Connor
slid out of her and lay on his back. “That would be great if she found someone.
The pressure would be off me. Our parents have been bugging us about not
settling down and now with Dad ill he wants grandkids.”

“So
you’re not interested in having a family?”

“I’ve
never thought it was for me. I suppose I’ve always been career minded, and if
the sheriff’s job comes my way then I guess that will be my new family.”

They
weren’t technically dating, so why did she suddenly have a heavy heart about
what he’d just said? Even if he was ready to settle down, she doubted she’d be
the ideal mate for Connor.

Jennifer
hadn’t realized she was crying until she felt a tear sliding down her cheek.
She didn’t want Connor to see it. He’d want to know what it was about and she
didn’t want to tell him. She didn’t want to lie, yet didn’t want him to know
that she’d fallen for him.
Fallen for a guy that wasn’t the
marrying kind.

She
got out of bed, planning to have a good cry in the bathroom.

“Everything
okay?” asked Connor.

“Sure,
everything’s perfect.”

****

Connor
had promised himself he wouldn’t pace up and down while his dad was in surgery,
but he quickly discovered that was the only way he could deal with the waiting
and uncertainty about what the doctors could find once they operated on him.

Katy
had downed four coffees. His mother and Betty had begun knitting, and it looked
like they were making scarves long enough to fit around the whole of
Grantsville.

Five
hours after they’d seen his dad go through the double doors into the OR, the surgeon
came out, taking off her cap as she approached them. Was that a hopeful look on
her face?

“Dr.
Marwin
,
how’s my husband?” asked his mother, jumping up from the seat as soon as she
spotted her.

“He’s
doing just fine. We removed the tumor and there’s no evidence that the cancer’s
spread, but like I explained to him he will need some chemotherapy just to make
sure nothing’s lurking around.”

Connor
sighed with relief and finally sat down.

“When
can we see him?” asked Katy.

“He’s
going to be in recovery for a few hours and then he’ll be taken up to his room
where he’ll still be sleepy. I suggest coming back early evening and he should
feel more like visiting with you.”

****

Jennifer
hated hospitals. She’d fallen and broken her arm as a kid and they’d rushed her
to this very one. The place smelled sterile and her stomach began to churn the
minute she walked off the elevator. She’d brought a gift for Connor’s father.
He’d requested cream soda, so she’d stopped by the store and picked up a six
pack for him.

Room
56 was to the left. She headed past the nurses’ station and saw the door open
but knocked anyway.

“Come
in,” said Connor’s dad.

She
stepped inside to see him with various drips in his arm, sitting up watching an
old Western on the flat screen TV.

“Hi, Mr. Nolan-Delaney.”

“Why,
it’s Jennifer Nealon. Come in, honey, and pull up a seat…and you have to call
me Ted.”

“Connor
said you were craving cream soda so I picked some up for you.”

“That’s
very kind of you. Maybe you could pour me some.”

He
handed her a plastic mug. She opened one of the bottles, poured him half a mug
full, before handing it to him. He drank like he hadn’t consumed anything like
it for a long time. His Adam apple bobbled up and down as he chugged away.

“Connor
said the operation was a success.”

“Yeah,
thank goodness that’s over so now all I have to do is take chemo for a month.”

Jennifer
sat down, still smelling the sterile environment. She was beginning to get
nauseated but didn’t want to say anything.

“I
hear you work for a magazine these days,” he said.

“Yeah, Big Sky County.”

“Well,
that’s wonderful, honey. And your parents are both okay?”

“Yes,
you probably heard they’re planning to move to Texas when mom retires next
month.”

“No,
I didn’t. So you’ll be all on your lonesome. Aren’t both your brothers in
California?”

Jennifer
hadn’t thought about being on her own. Sure, she had friends and some cousins
in still living in town, but with her folks gone, well things would suddenly be
different.

“You
okay, honey? You look like you’ve lost all your color.”

It
was true she was feeling queasy. She suspected she was about to throw up. She
stood. “Excuse me, but I have to use your restroom.”

She
barely got to the toilet before she threw up. She sat on the
floor,
feeling like the room was spinning. Wasn’t this embarrassing? She came to visit
Connor’s dad in the hospital and she was the one being sick.

She
stood, turned on the tap, splashed her mouth with the cool water, and then
quickly wiped her lips with a tissue. He was right about one thing. She had
lost all her color. She’d eaten a tuna salad sandwich at the local café during
her lunch break, and she was guessing she might have food poisoning because she
was going to throw up again.

****

Connor
hadn’t realized just how tough running a ranch was until he was the one in
charge. He was on the best of their cutting horses, but he’d never had the
skill of his father in getting the cattle to go exactly where he wanted them.
They needed to be moved to the next pasture and next week the calves would need
vaccinating.

The
two ranch hands were driving the cattle his way, and if he didn’t get his act
together they’d run right by him or worse still, trample on him and his horse.

He
couldn’t wait for his dad to be back on his feet and out here doing what he did
best. And today of all things, Jennifer had sent along the photographer from
Big Sky County Magazine to snap some final shots of him to accompany her
article which was due out next month.

“It’s
the perfect opportunity. Do you think your opponent could herd cattle? You’re a
true blue Montana man and voters will see that,” she’d said. He’d agreed, but
now he wasn’t so sure about the true blue bit.

He
took off his hat and waved it about, pulling on the horse’s rein to force him
into getting the cattle to move where he wanted them to, not where the damn
things wished to go.

Dust
flew up and he tasted grit. He spat and put his hat back on.
One
day this would be all his.
His and Katy’s.
He
knew she wouldn’t want anything to do with ranching. She’d be in favor of
selling the place. However, he didn’t think he could ever do it. This was their
home, their ranch, and had been for three generations now.

Connor
had always had his heart set on raising his own children here, one day handing
it over to them for their kids and so on. Sarah and whoever was his great,
great, great granddaddy had been drawn here for a reason. It had been a new
start to a dynasty and he couldn’t let it go. He’d give Katy her share of the
money and work this place if it damn near killed him.

Maybe
by then he’d have kids to help out.

Kids
.
He suddenly
thought of Jennifer. He was actually thinking more about her each day that he
didn’t get to see her. She’d been laid up with food poisoning for the last
three. Maybe he’d take her some of the soup his mom had made that morning.

At
last the cattle were moving in the right direction. Good thing was his father
was being discharged from the hospital on the weekend. Not that he’d be up to
doing anything, but at least he’d be around. It felt strange going into the
house or stables and not seeing him there.

Connor
finally got the cattle into the next pasture and waved to the ranch hands that he
was heading back.
 
He’d clean up, get
changed, and then head over to Jennifer’s.

****

Jennifer
had finally gotten dressed and headed to the pharmacy. She’d thought about
asking her buddy at the magazine to pick her up one and drop it off, but she
didn’t want anyone else knowing about this for now. It could be a false alarm
so even less reason for people knowing her business.

She
got out of her car and headed to the door. At least she was feeling better now
she’d gotten some fresh air. Jennifer walked into the bathroom and took out the
box. First time she’d ever had to use one of these things, so she read the
instructions twice.

She
followed them to the letter just so she didn’t get anything wrong and hence an
incorrect result. She set it down on the counter, went out to the kitchen, and
poured herself a ginger ale that she’d been practically living on for the last
few days. She rubbed her stomach.

Having
a period that was late wasn’t anything new for her, but combined with throwing
up and having sex all pointed to one thing. The timer she’d set after she’d
finished peeing on the stick sounded.

Her
legs went wobbly thinking about what that stick would reveal. Her whole life
would change. Jennifer decided to get it over and done with. She marched in
there and picked it up off the countertop.

Shit,
shit, shit, she was going to have a baby.

Not
just anyone’s baby but Connor Nolan-Delaney’s baby. What would Beatrice Nealon
think about that?

“That
family is all the same, loose morals, obsessed with pleasures of the flesh, and
you young lady have fallen into their bad, bad ways.”

It
was almost as if she could hear Beatrice’s voice scolding her.
Our genes combining with theirs, that’s a
no, no, no
.

Jennifer
heard the doorbell. She wasn’t expecting anyone, well besides a baby. She
quickly put the stick down, closed the bathroom door, and headed to the front
door.

She
opened it and almost passed out. Connor stood there with a casserole dish in
his hands.

“Hi,
how you feeling?” he asked.

“Fine.
In fact, a lot
better. I even went out to the store.”

“You going to invite me in or should I
stand here and hold this?”

“Sure,
I’m sorry, come on in.”

“This
is mom’s homemade beef vegetable soup. She made a huge batch for dad, and I
thought you might like some too.”

“That’s
really kind. Sure, come through to the kitchen and I’ll put it in the fridge.”

The
bag from Grantsville pharmacy still sat on the countertop. Connor looked at it.

“I
went there to get some soda,” said Jennifer.

“If
you would have let me know, I could have picked up whatever you needed.”

Yeah, like a
pregnancy test kit. You’ve knocked me up, cowboy
.

“You
okay?”

“What?”
asked
Jennifer.

“You
looked miles away.”

No
way was she going to spring this news on him. He’d made it clear he wasn’t the
settling down type. She was going to be a single mom so she better start
getting used to it. She might even go to Texas with her parents. At least she’d
have some help with the baby.

Oh my god. I’m
going to bring a new person into the world.