Page 3 of My Cowboy Date (Lucky River Cowboys #3)

Aspen

Wilder leans toward me, so sexy he should be outlawed. My heart thumps and a shot of desire pools between my legs. A teeny part of me wishes I could say to hell with being careful about our working relationship and cave to the urge I’m feeling.

But caving to the physical could lead to an emotional complication that could easily backfire. Taking a chance with Wilder just because my girlie bits want him would be foolish.

“Why would you help me?”

“Because it’s always best when someone has your back.”

There’s a note of experience and truth in his words. I consider them for a moment, then put my hand out between us. “Welcome aboard, partner.”

He takes one of my hands in his larger one and holds on. I swear hot lust replaces the blood flowing in my veins.

His eyes are warm and inviting. An invitation to a one-on-one party.

I have to say no , my brain and heart tell me firmly. Girl, get you some of that , my body tries to override them.

No. I can’t.

Smart thinking, my brain says and I imagine it with a nose and pushing up a pair of wire-rimmed glasses .

You’re going to fucking starve me of that delicious dick , my pussy screams in response to my decision.

I squeeze my legs together harder and put my other hand on the front of Wilder’s button-down shirt.

It’s loose-fitting but I know what the material covers.

I’ve seen him bare-chested working outside along with his brothers and what I saw belongs on the pages of a hot cowboy calendar.

Something flickers in his gaze. A desire matching mine. Oh no. This could escalate out of control too fast for me to handle. I put pressure against his chest, and he lets go of my hand to take a step back.

“Alright then, partner, what’s first on our list?” he asks in his deep voice that fans the desire I’m feeling. With that deep voice, I’ve heard him whisper very naughty things to me in a few of my dream fantasies. Sometimes waking up sucks.

I make myself concentrate on the task at hand. “I called the feed & seed store earlier and found out my ex had been there this morning for a meeting. He wants to get an exclusive supply contract with the owner, but the man wasn’t in.”

Wilder laughs at that. “You can bet he wasn’t in and won’t be. Albert Jones is the owner and he rarely comes down from his property. He’s a crotchety, reclusive old man. Doesn’t take kindly to people bothering him.”

“You know him?”

Wilder nods. “Years ago, before he holed himself up in the mountains, I got to know him.”

Excitement floods through me. This might be the opening I need to snatch the business from under my ex’s nose. “Then you’re friends?”

“I wouldn’t exactly go that far.”

It doesn’t matter. I’m taking whatever opportunity I can get. “Once I figure out what the issue with the tablet is, can you introduce me to him?”

Wilder glances at his watch.

“Unless you’re too busy. Then I can go alone if you give me directions.”

“Let’s go now. I can take a break. I’ll text Dad to take a look at the tablet when he and Mom get back from town. He’s pretty good with that kind of stuff.”

The drive to Albert’s cabin takes us over a rutted, rough road. After bouncing around in Wilder’s truck for the umpteenth time, he says, “Sorry. I know this isn’t comfortable. He keeps the road in this condition on purpose to discourage people randomly exploring his neck of the woods.”

We hit another dip, and my ass lifts and smacks back down on the seat. I wince. “This makes me feel like I’ve been paddled.”

“If that’s what you think, then I’d say it wasn’t done right.”

I lower the window to let the natural air in. “And you know how to do it right?”

“I’d do you right.”

I smile and extend my hand out into the sunshine. “Some things a woman’s better off doing herself.”

He parks the truck and grins at me as he shuts off the engine. “A vibrator won’t kiss you or hold you through the night.”

“The right vibrator will make you not give a shit about either of those.” I open the door and climb out.

He comes around the truck. “Then, until me, you haven’t met the right man.”

“You think you can get me to throw away my little happy wand?”

His smile is pure temptation. “I’d have to see it in action to know if it’s worth keeping.”

Now I’m thinking of Wilder replacing my vibrator with his cock and he’s grinning at me like he knows what I’m thinking. I draw in a few deep breaths and school my features into a mask of professionalism.

If Albert signs a contract with us, not only would that stick it to Peter, but it would benefit the ranch as well.

An elderly man sitting on a wooden bench on the cabin’s porch stands when he sees us approach. His long white hair is crammed beneath a brown Stetson and his face wears a scowl above faded overalls. One of his arms is in a sling.

“What the hell do you want?” he asks.

Wilder motions to me. “This is our new ranch manager, Aspen.”

Albert grunts, then says, “Get to the point.”

I take a step forward. “I’d like to talk to you about a supply contract with the store and?—”

“If you want any of my time, you’ll give me some of yours.” He points to a portion of the ground on the side of the cabin. “That’s halfway dug up to lay some new piping. The little shit I hired to finish it never showed up.”

“How’d you hurt your arm?” Wilder asks.

“Got off the toilet to wipe my ass and fell.” Albert rubs his forehead, and I notice a bruise there.

“Albert, you fell a couple of months ago, too. Did you ever consider moving closer to town?” Wilder asks.

“Too many people. You digging or not?” Albert glares at me.

“She’s not,” Wilder says at the same time I say firmly, “I am.”

I’m agreeing because I know that this is the older man’s way of getting help without asking for it.

If he’s anything like the elderly people I’ve known, not being able to physically do what he once could because of age or injuries is frustrating and discouraging.

And sometimes stubborn pride is the only thing that helps them not give in to the despair.

“Shovels are in the shed,” he says and disappears back inside the cabin.

“I’ll do the digging.” Wilder puts a hand on my arm to stop me.

“I’m doing this for him because I want to,” I say, heading to the shed to take one of the shovels.

Wilder takes the other and we get started, working for hours at a steady pace.

Digging is hot, dirty, and backbreaking work. “I can think of better ways to work up a sweat,” I say, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand as I stab the shovel into the dirt for the final time.

“I’ll say.” Wilder strips off his shirt and puts it on the edge of the porch. The sun’s rays beat down on his shoulders and he catches me staring. Our eyes lock. “What are you thinking?”

“Good girls don’t jump their boss,” I admit. “They do not drag them down to the dirt for a nookie picnic.”

“A noo—” He laughs and when he sobers, he says, “Then be a bad girl. Be very bad with me and let’s have that picnic.”

He walks closer and raises his hand over me, shading my eyes from the sun’s glare.

His muscled torso is so close. He’s so well-built. And he’s right. There are some things a vibrator can’t do. Like pick you up and slide you onto a thick cock.

I don’t mean to sway, but I’m pulled toward him like I’m on a string.

He catches hold of my arms. “Aspen…”

I don’t know what I was thinking. I snap to my senses. “We should let Albert know we’re finished.” I hurry onto the porch with Wilder behind me.

As I reach to knock, the older man swings open the screen door and points at us. “You ain’t coming in here tracking dirt everywhere. Go use the hose to rinse yourselves off, then we’ll talk.”

The hose is on the opposite side of the cabin where trees give off plenty of shade.

I kick off my shoes and Wilder takes off his boots.

“That damn pipe ditch just had to be dug in the sun,” Wilder says, turning on the water. We both reach for the nozzle and apply pressure to the handle at the same time.

Water shoots into the air and cascades over us, cooling my skin but doing nothing for the heat I’m feeling in other places.

Wilder’s attention flicks to my lips and I whisper his name as drops of water hit my cheeks and fall across my lips.

My clothes are soaking up the water and in the chill from the shade, my nipples harden.

“I’m not made of stone,” Wilder says, staring at my nipples.

“No one asked you to be.” I skim my hands across my breasts.

His eyes flare and he shuts off the water to cup one side of my face as he draws me to him. Without hesitation, he lowers his head and takes my lips under his.

Thrusting his leg between mine, he walks me backward until I’m against the side of the cabin and then he kisses me, drinking me in and I’m flowing into him. Urging him to taste more, to taste deeper, to meld his body against mine.

A wild animal growls way too close to us and to my shock, I realize that’s me. I made that sound. I’m losing control. Headed for trouble.

I find the strength to turn my head and his lips graze along my jawline, then the side of my neck before he slowly lifts his head.

I raise my hand, wanting to touch his face. Wanting to trace his lips. Wanting to never feel the pain of heartbreak again. That thought has me lowering my hand and I clench it into a fist.

Wilder leans over to turn the water on again and silently rinses the leftover traces of mud from his feet, then from mine. “Hold your arms out,” he says quietly, then he trickles water over them, washing away the dirt.

“I…” I lapse into silence. I what? I loved that kiss? I did, but don’t know what to say now.

He gives me a second and when I don’t continue, his easy grin is back. “I’ve got a towel in the truck. I was planning to go for a swim the other day, but it didn’t work out. I’ll get it for you.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Thanks. I’ll be here just poking out.”

He laughs and then jogs off.

I reach deep within myself to start my how-to-avoid-a-heartbreak lecture but with swollen lips and an aching need, I don’t want to listen. I want that man. I want to finish what we started.

What’s wrong with that horny me wants to know.

Everything wise me says.

Wilder walks toward me, his jeans snug and riding low, and I strongly suspect wise me is going to be ignored.