Ride a Cowboy (5 page)

shorts riding low on her hips. He drew in a deep breath. “I’d like to start next on the

floorboards of the porch. Tomorrow,” he said quickly, like he expected her to object and

he wasn’t going to give her the chance.

While deep inside she felt a wail of denial rising in her throat, Katelyn relaxed. He’d

given them both a reprieve—and her time to think about where she was willing to let

this lead, without pressure or desire clouding her mind.

He stepped toward the front door, keeping his back to her. “You have several

boards loose. A few might have to be replaced.” He glanced over his shoulder, a

question in his gaze.

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Ride a Cowboy

Katelyn nodded. She knew he was right—about the boards and about needing time.

For such a young man, Daniel Bodine was pretty smart when it came to knowing how

far he could push a woman.

She didn’t think she could take having him underfoot for long without doing

something that might embarrass them both. “I’m not sure when I can afford more

work…”

“It won’t cost much, and it shouldn’t take me long. How about I come by tomorrow

morning and get started?”

He was so insistent she thought he must really need the job—or maybe he really did

want to come back just to see her. Her heart melted a little. She lifted her chin. “All

right, I’ll see you then.”

He walked out onto the porch and quickly loaded his tools, and then headed to his

truck.

She didn’t relax until his long, powerful legs disappeared into the cab. He gave her

a short wave, and she was startled to realize he knew she’d been watching him all

along.

Katelyn uttered a curse word she’d only heard in R-rated movies, surprising herself

into a giggle. “That man’s a terrible influence,” she murmured, pulling her shorts up.

Her gaze clung to the trail of dust rising in his wake. “It’s not like I want to give him the

idea I’m interested in forever.”

Daniel gunned his engine and let gravel spray behind him as he peeled out of her

driveway. The look on her face when he’d been talking about the porch repairs had

nearly done him in.

Her lips and eyes were glossy and soft from his lovemaking. Disappointment had

turned down the corners of her mouth when he’d turned to leave. Just the thought that

he could be sinking into her wet, tight pussy right now had him hard as a post and

groaning.

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Delilah Devlin

She’d come apart in his arms, shivering and moaning so sweetly, he’d wanted to lay

her down on the gleaming wood floors and stretch his body over hers to absorb her

ecstasy. He’d never felt more a man with her sweet cunt squeezing around his fingers

and her hips jerking at every rasp of his thumb across her swollen little clit.

He brought his fingers to his mouth and inhaled the scent of her as he licked the

salty-sweet flavor of her desire. Katelyn Carter could say this wasn’t about forever a

hundred times, but her body sang a different tune entirely.

* * * * *

Katelyn felt as if she’d barely had time to blink and the morning arrived, and she

couldn’t help the excitement thrumming through her body. She was up before the sun

and had a large pot of coffee brewing when she heard Daniel’s pickup truck pull up to

the house.

“Mornin’ ma’am,” he called out as his booted heels climbed the porch steps.

Katelyn found herself smiling and realized she was truly happy to see him. She

opened the front screen door and called back, “I have coffee made, would you like a

cup?”

His slow smile melted the hard knot of anticipation that had rested in her belly as

she’d waited for his arrival.

“I could use a jolt of caffeine to get me started today,” he said, his rich molasses

voice wrapping her like a warm blanket. “Sure I’m not too early?”

“Not at all. I was anxious to get started myself.” She drew in a sharp breath and

blushed.
God, is every word out of my mouth going to sound like an innuendo?
She rushed

on, “The AC’s working now, so I’d like to be done with the outside work before the

worst heat of the day hits.” She opened the screen door to allow him to pass. She didn’t

realize she hadn’t left much room for him to enter until his chest rubbed against hers.

“Coffee’s in the kitchen,” she said to him, suddenly breathless. To herself she thought,

He’s going to think I did that on purpose
!

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Ride a Cowboy

He didn’t appear to notice the intimate contact as he preceded her into the kitchen,

and Katelyn wondered what law of physics applied when the cozy room suddenly

seemed to grow smaller as his tall, broad frame strolled inside. She hadn’t forgotten

how handsome he was, but she had thought time and the stern talks she’d had with

herself the past couple of days would dull the sharp edge of her interest.

She pulled her gaze away and sighed. Even from the back, or maybe especially

from that perspective, she was achingly aware of every masculine muscle stretching his

T-shirt and of the round, taut buttocks his jeans revealed. It just wasn’t fair. Coming or

going he was too delicious to ignore.

He cleared his throat, and she blushed again because she realized he’d tried to draw

her attention to something he said.

“I beg your pardon?”

He glanced over his shoulder, the corners of his lips curving in a slight smile

“Cups?” he repeated.

“Oh yeah,” she walked to the cupboard and took down two, handing them to him.

He poured coffee and she busied herself looking for sugar, creamer and spoons. She

needn’t have bothered. It turned out they both liked theirs black.

They stood awkwardly, leaning against the counters, sipping from their cups. She

looked anywhere but at him, certain she’d betray her thoughts if their gazes connected.

Memories of how he’d held her while she orgasmed, simmered at the surface of her

thoughts. Never had she been so at a loss for words. She was aware of every move he

made, of the smell of his aftershave and the way he too avoided looking directly at her.

Perhaps he regretted their intimacy.

Her stomach sinking, she realized she’d been hoping for more all along—more of

his kisses, more of the sexy rumble of his voice as he’d coaxed her into opening to him.

She wanted to know the sensation of his mouth on her breasts and his cock thrusting

inside her.

33

Delilah Devlin

She’d dressed especially for him this morning. The soft pink T-shirt a deliberately

feminine choice. Tucked into the waist of an ancient pair of faded blue jeans, the T-shirt

clung to the curves of her breasts.

When she’d dressed that morning, she’d called herself every kind of fool, worrying

about what she wore and wondering if he’d approve of what he saw. She’d been too

bold, dispensing with her bra for the day.

Earlier, she’d reasoned the heat would make wearing one unbearable. A glance in

the mirror that morning had assured her the T-shirt didn’t fit
too
snugly.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t taken into consideration her reaction to this man. While

she held her breath, trying to think of a way to break the uncomfortable silence, her

nipples drew tight, the points visible beneath the fabric. Embarrassed, she hunched her

shoulders and plucked at the fabric to ease the fit. Glancing up, she caught him before

he could avert his gaze from her chest.

Fascinated by his reaction, she watched him cross and uncross his legs, and then

take a long swallow of his coffee. His eyes teared up, and she guessed he’d burned his

tongue.

She pressed her lips together to suppress a feline smile of triumph. He’d noticed the

tips straining against her T-shirt and his gaze had clung—and he was bothered.

The blush on his cheeks as he grimaced through another sip of the scalding coffee

somehow reassured her. His reticence pleased her.

He set down his cup on the counter. “I better get started outside, ma’am.”

“
Mr.
Bodine
?” she said, keeping her voice soft.

“Yes, ma’am?”

She raised her gaze to his. “Don’t you think it’s a little silly for us to be so formal?

Please call me Katelyn.”

He released a long breath and nodded solemnly. “And I’d be pleased if you’d call

me Daniel.” Without waiting for a response, he went out the back door.

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Ride a Cowboy

His haste to get away had her grinning.

Katelyn went to work as well. The previous two days she’d managed to unpack the

last of the boxes, but there was still a lot of a lot of cleaning to do. The windows alone

would likely take the whole weekend. They were so covered with dirt and grime and

many wouldn’t open.

Gathering her cleaning supplies, she headed outside to begin her self-assigned task.

She didn’t question why she needed to start on the exterior of the windows. She was

resigned to the fact she needed to be near her handsome handyman.

All morning long, she savored her awareness of his presence as they both labored.

Midday, she saw him pause to wipe a hand across his forehead. His damp shirt stuck to

his broad back. She put down her scrub brush and realized she was just as soaked with

sweat. She went into the house, enjoying the blast of cool air, and hastily poured two

tall glasses of iced tea.

Carrying one in each hand, she went out to the porch. “Daniel, would you like a

glass of tea?” She held out a glass to him and he stood to accept it. Once again, she was

intensely aware of the height and breadth of the man. Her breath caught.

“Thanks, I could use a break. The heat’s a killer today.”

Murmuring her agreement, she tilted back her head for a long sip. When she

opened her eyes, he was watching her. His gaze slid away, but not before she noted the

tightening of his jaw.

“It’s very warm,” she drawled.

He finished his drink and set the glass down, his eyes narrowing on her.

“Would you like another?” she asked.

His gaze swept down her body and he swallowed. “Not right now,” he said, his

voice gruff, “but thanks.” He picked up his hammer and a couple of nails and went

back to work.

A spring in her step, she went back to her chores as well.

35

Delilah Devlin

* * * * *

Chipping away at paint that glued one window to its casing, her gaze returned to

the porch for the hundredth time that day. Only now, Daniel was drawing his shirt over

his head, baring his broad back and tapered waist. His skin was tanned, and the ridged

muscles rippled as he shouldered several long planks.

Her mouth grew dry, and her belly tightened. God, how she wanted him! If the

sideways glances he’d given her throughout the morning were any indication, he felt

the same way. Their sly appraisals of each other felt like foreplay, building a slow heat

that threatened to flicker into flame with the slightest encouragement.

Realizing the direction of her thoughts, she berated herself. She should be ashamed.

She was in full-blown lust over a man she didn’t even know. The last thing she needed

was another man in her life, especially when she hadn’t completely shed herself of the

last one. She was a fool to stand here drooling over a cowboy.

Placing the tip of the screwdriver into the corner where window met the casing, she

pounded the end with a hammer, working her way along the corner to free the

window. She continued to pound away her frustration, until she felt a hand at her

shoulder. Startled, she whipped around. Daniel stood behind her.

“Let me see if I can get that open for you.”

She moved away and he grabbed the window to push it up. His jaw tightened and

his forearms bulged. With a crack, the paint gave and he shoved it upward.

Grinning, he looked back at her. She knew she must have looked like a deer in the

headlights, but she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the broad, bare chest that

stretched endlessly in front of her eyes.

“Need help with anything else?” he drawled.

The gravelly texture of his voice drew her attention upward. Her heart pounded as

she read the intent in is expression and his face drew near hers.

The kiss was light. His lips rubbed softly against hers, never opening. It wasn’t a

carnal kiss. It was sweetly innocent and exploring. Her hands rose to rest against his

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Ride a Cowboy

damp chest and she felt a ripple of response as the muscles tightened and flexed

beneath her caress.

She rose on her tiptoes to deepen the kiss, but his head lifted. The look he gave her

held a solemn promise. She didn’t know how to interpret it, and was more confused

than ever when he released her and went back to the porch to pry another board loose.

Why had he stopped? Her husband had never kissed her with just his lips, and his

kisses always led to sex. Was she confused because she didn’t understand Daniel’s

intent or because she wanted more?
The last thing I should need is another man in my life,

especially one who could have his choice of any woman he wants.

At midday she stopped to make sandwiches for them both and delivered the meal

on a tray with drinks. She sat opposite him on the porch steps and barely glanced his

way while they ate. The strain of the hard physical work, as well as her efforts to ignore