Page 14 of Roughing It with the Rancher (Love Along Route 14 #11)

Chapter Thirteen

REESE

“ N o luck finding Coast to Coast?” I ask as Esmeralda turns the dial through thick auditory waves of static back to our station. Elvis’s rich, dark voice croons “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

“Nope, it appears we’re still stuck on love songs.”

“Perfect. After all, you’re about to fall head over heels for me, Treasure. Just you wait and see.”

I side-eye Esmeralda, watching her forehead knit as she puzzles out my words. “After the kitchen, the shower, and the bed? This is what you think will make me fall for you?” she asks breathlessly.

I chuckle, reaching over to grab her hand. Bringing it to my mouth, I kiss and lick each finger with care, spending extra time on the one holding my band until a little moan escapes her lips. “Would it really take that much to fall in love with me?” I counter, raising an eyebrow.

Her cheeks burn, and she quirks her adorable, kissable mouth. I’m ravenous again for this little, tantalizing wife of mine. “Let’s just say there’s nothing on that treasure map that’ll outdo your earlier performances.” Her voice sounds lazy and seductive.

“You have no idea. That was just a taste of the ways I plan on claiming and pleasuring you,” I promise with a wink.

Her breath catches in her throat, and I’m right back to the kitchen bench with her straddling me, buried to the hilt in her sweet, juicy pussy. This woman will be my fucking undoing. And every moment will be well worth it.

She crosses her legs, shifting uncomfortably and squeezing her legs together, her cheeks burning.

I chuckle, knowing my little angel is ready for more devilish things. Too bad we’re hurtling through the dark of a Nevada night into the middle of nowhere.

“You know, there are some amazing hot springs on this property. How do you feel about skinny dipping?”

Esmeralda smiles languidly, her big turquoise bedroom eyes simmering. “Hot springs sound good with the chill in the air, although I don’t know how I feel about being naked. Especially after you gave those UFO hunters permission to be on your property.”

“Shit, I almost forgot about that. We’ve packed so much into less than twenty-four hours that I can’t keep it all straight. But don’t you worry, Treasure. Those extraterrestrial people always hang out in the same damn spot. Far away from the hot springs. You’ll see.”

“I’ll see?” She shifts again, eyeing me curiously. “Tonight?”

“More than likely. Although three’s pretty late—or early, depending on your perspective—for them. I’d wager we’ll only see them if there’s been strange activity in the skies.”

“So, that’s really something you see a lot of around here?” she asks, a shiver in her voice.

“Yes, ma’am, along with the occasional cattle death and mutilation.

’Course, the mass die-off I told you about before was likely related to the developer, not little gray men.

But I wouldn’t totally discount those motherfuckers.

They’ve caused enough trouble to have men in black out here a couple of times. ”

“Men in black,” she huffs. “Now, I know you’re lying. Are tall tales the norm for you?”

“There isn’t a rancher in Nevada without his fair share of tall tales. But I swear to you, Angel, that’s the honest truth. I don’t mean to scare you, but you asked.”

“Do you think the UFO activity has anything to do with Area Fifty-One?”

“Dunno.” I shrug. “That’s pretty far from here. All I can say is this has been the reality on our ranch for as long as I can remember. But don’t worry, wife, I’ll keep you safe. No matter what.”

She smiles, her face relaxing, and I feel like the toughest guy on the planet. I could get used to this.

“Enough of the spooky stuff,” she says, shaking her head. “Back to the treasure. I’m dying to see what you want to show me. I just hope it’s not a nothing-burger. Grandpa and I have had too many of those to count on the trail of the El Cortez treasure.”

“I don’t think it’s a nothing-burger, but we’ll see. That said, I am kicking myself for the whole gambling my dually thing. What in the hell was I thinking? I could’ve thrown the cabover camper on the back, and we would’ve been perfectly comfortable tonight.”

Esmeralda eyes me. “I still don’t get how you gambled vehicles at a casino table anyway. I thought that kind of stuff only happens in private poker tournaments behind closed doors.”

“A lot happens that probably shouldn’t late night at the Craps table in rural Nevada. Obviously, you’re betting against the house with the game. But then, the spectators at the table indulge in private bets about potential outcomes. At some point, vehicle keys ended up in the mix.”

“I know you say this kind of behavior isn’t normal for you, Reese. But as your wife, I won’t put up with it. You were downright reckless last night, and I could never live like that.”

“Angel, I couldn’t agree with you more,” I say, leaning forward and slowing the vehicle as the road grows rougher and bumpier.

I haven’t been looking forward to this part of the trip in the old Caddy.

“I about gave myself a stomach full of ulcers last night. But I’ll never regret it because how else would we have met and married so quickly? ”

“You have a point,” she says, smiling affectionately and raising her hand to stroke my bearded cheek. “But never again. Promise?”

“Promise.”

“The same goes for rifling through dilapidated barns about to crumble around us,” she adds, still palming my cheek. I lean into her hand, turning my head to kiss her soft flesh.

“Oh, come on, Treasure, are you really going to cramp my style like that?”

“Yes, I am,” she proclaims, though her lips still hold their tantalizing smile, warming me from the inside out.

“Good thing I put the top up. It’s chilly out here tonight.”

“Yes, it is. But I bet the top down would afford impressive views of the stars right now,” she says, craning her neck to look out the passenger window.

“Just wait ’til you see where we’re going, Angel. I bet you’ll have clear views of your home from the summit.”

Esmeralda chuckles, “Clear views of Oklahoma? Now I know you’ve lost your mind.”

“No, of heaven,” I flirt, sliding my fingers between hers, savoring every moment of invading her space and feeling her warm flesh on mine.

What is it about this woman? Even the most innocent gestures make me feel more alive than I ever have before.

She magnifies my senses and emotions, bringing the world to vibrant, startling life.

“Heaven? Alright, it’s official. You have lost your mind,” she snickers, her cheeks glowing.

“No, ma’am, but I have lost my heart to the most beautiful woman to ever walk this planet.”

Her fingers caress and make love to mine. “You silly man,” she cheerfully scolds.

“You better get used to my verbal adoration because it’s not going away anytime soon,” I warn.

“I suppose I could learn to live with it,” she retorts, trying to make her voice sound begrudging and failing miserably.

My mind wanders back, still struck by so many blessings in so little time. “Do you realize that at this time yesterday, you still didn’t know I existed?”

She shakes her head. “You’re right, and now all I can think about is your existence and how much you already mean to me.”

Her words turn my insides warm and gooey, like a fresh-baked batch of fudge. I’m not used to this kind of constant tenderness and affection, but I’ll do my darnedest to acclimate to it … and deserve it .

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” blasts through the radio, and Esmeralda and I both laugh. This matchmaking radio station.

Suddenly, it hits me. “Have you noticed how there are absolutely no ads on this station? Just endless songs?”

She nods. “Endless love songs. It’s as strange as it gets. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the car is attempting to matchmake us.”

“That’s exactly what I was over here thinking.” I chuckle. “I thought only VW Bugs could do that.”

“Oh, Herbie! I haven’t thought about the love bug in forever.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you. Do you always go by Esmeralda, or do you have any nicknames?”

“Apart from Angel and Treasure?” she teases. “Well, Grandpa calls me Snickers, but I never want to hear that come out of your mouth. It’s something dumb from my childhood.”

“Snickers? Why?”

“Because I used to snicker at all of his jokes, no matter how silly, and I also couldn’t get enough of the candy bar.”

“And do you still like Snickers?”

“Absolutely. It’s my favorite candy bar.”

I add, “Which logically means your favorite DQ Blizzard is Snickers, too, right?”

“Yep, you’ve figured me out. How about you?”

“Snickers are fine. I pretty much love anything with chocolate and peanuts. But the caramel can be a little much. So, I’m more of a Reese’s Pieces kind of guy. No pun intended. And I can get behind the peanut butter cups, too.”

“Every time I think about Reese’s, my mind jumps straight to E.T. ,” she confesses. “And now you. Did your parents name you after the candy?”

“Hell, nah. We’ve already been over this. The river.”

“I know. I know.” I laugh. “But I couldn’t let that coincidence go without asking.”

“Fair enough. By the way, E.T . was one of my favorite movies as a kid, and it didn’t feel too far off being out here in the middle of Nowhere, Nevada.

You see weird stuff sometimes. Things you can’t account for.

Stuff that gets your mind questioning whether we’re the only critters in the universe. ”

Esmeralda looks pensive for a moment. “I think there must be tons of other lifeforms out there. But I’m not sure if or when we want to actually meet them. Or maybe more accurately, if or when they want to meet us.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“So, do you have any nicknames I need to know about?”