Page 13 of Wild and Unruly (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #3)

stetson

It was a good thing this young filly I was working with was giving me a hard time. That wasn’t something I thought often, but she was giving me something else to focus on after not hearing from Bonnie for two days.

Well, okay, one day.

But the last time I saw her, I had helped her into her truck after kissing her until neither of us could breathe while pressing her against it, and then I didn’t see her for the entirety of yesterday.

The other image that I have of her is her sprawled out on the ground, my hat covering her eyes, and her grasping my hands in hers while I made her come on my face. That is an image that will live with me for the rest of my life, and I have zero complaints about that.

It took everything in me not to steal Dani’s phone and find Bonnie’s contact information, to make sure she was okay after everything we did together, to make sure I didn’t push too far .

Oh, sure, Stetson. Just after a week of knowing the woman, you ate her out in the middle of a fucking forest. That wasn’t pushing it too far.

I clear my throat and refocus on the horse I currently have in the round pen behind the main barn.

It was basically my round pen, as I’m the one who works in it the most with all the young horses.

It helps to keep them contained to a smaller area so they can focus, and it helps so I don’t have to run around a huge arena and exhaust myself after one horse.

I stop pushing this horse to run. She has little spots all over her face, so I’ve been calling her Freckles.

Her bloodline indicates that she would make an excellent cutting horse in the future, which was why CT bought her, and I want to get her as ready as possible before she moves up in our training program.

Turning my back to her, I give her a minute, letting her decide if she wants to join up with me. Letting her make the decision if she wants to put her trust in me.

I feel a nudge against my back and smile, turning to see her right behind me, waiting patiently for me to put her halter back on her, and I take a moment to rub my hands all over her little body, rubbing them down her legs and picking up each hoof, getting her used to a person moving all around her.

My neck pricks, and I turn to see a sight I’ve been dying for: Bonnie up on the side of the round pen, her arms over the top rung, and her boot-clad feet a few rungs up. But the image I love the most is the smile stretched across her lips.

“Looking good there, cowboy.”

I smile to myself and lead Freckles to the side where she’s at. “Thank you. She’s a good one for sure.”

“She’s adorable.” Bonnie coos, looking her over. Sunglasses cover her eyes, and her hair blows softly in the early morning breeze. I smile at her jeans and T-shirt, loving how casual yet country she is.

I back the horse up and open the round pen, ending our session. Bonnie hops down and takes a few steps, giving me and the horse space, but I’m unable to wait or hold back. I step right up to her, the lead rope in one hand and my other going right around her waist, pulling her into me.

She smiles up at me, not hiding how happy the move has made her, and I bend down to take her lips with my own, taking a few minutes to savor her mouth under mine.

One of her hands goes to my shoulder to steady herself, and the other cups my jaw in an intimate way that has my heart pounding in my chest.

Something big was happening here. Something really fucking huge.

After a minute, Bonnie pulls away and sighs. Her gaze catches mine. “I just wanted to say good morning.”

“Bo, you can say good morning to me that way any day of the week, and I’ll be a happy man.” She chuckles and I press another sweet kiss to her mouth before Freckles starts to nudge my arm, trying to get my attention.

We both turn to smile at her, and Bonnie releases me to give the horse affection. I keep my arm around her waist, though, not wanting her to get too far. “Where were you yesterday?”

She hesitates for long enough that I wonder if I shouldn’t ask that. Are we not at that stage where we’re allowed? But then she says, “I had to run into the city for some supplies.”

“Oh,” I reply, nodding. “I could have come with you.”

She turns and looks at me, giving me an ornery look. “We’re not at the stage of you buying me feminine products.” I blink, and she blushes furiously, shaking her head. “Why can’t words stay in my mouth? ”

I pull her into me, kissing the side of her head and chuckling. “I prefer you don’t keep your thoughts to yourself.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not the one saying the embarrassing stuff.”

“Bonnie! We’re heading out.” CT’s sudden presence startles me more than the young horse, who doesn’t even move at the loud voice, and I frown over at him.

“Okay!” she calls back with a wave, then she turns to me and pinches my stomach. “Have a good day.”

I frown. “Wait, where are you guys going?”

“We’re heading out for CT to show me the property and how the cattle part of the business works.” She pecks me on the cheek, and I’m not quick enough to pull her into me and keep her from leaving.

“Well, be careful,” I call out, slapping my hand lightly against my thigh and wishing I could have more time to talk with her. It seems to be running out rather quickly.

“I will!” she says and jogs into the barn, catching up with CT, and he smiles as he talks to her. I narrow my eyes.

I’m not jealous she’s going off with CT and some of the hands to see the property.

But…I am a little jealous she’s going off with CT and some of the hands to see the property.

I sigh and look down at Freckles, who’s sick of standing and nudges me again. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m being ridiculous.”

She pushes me again and nearly makes me lose my footing. “Fine, fine. We’re going.”

Holy shit, that was a long day .

I worked all my young horses and then when that was done and I couldn’t take the begging from my niece anymore, I hopped in the stalls and helped her muck out. She only works one day a week on stalls for the summer, but it was her least favorite day.

Honestly, I didn’t know a single person that would say shoveling shit was their favorite job.

But the big puppy dog eyes and the pouty lip got me every time, dating all the way back to when she was just three years old and mastered that look.

I’m sitting on a box outside the tack room when the group from the cattle ranch tour comes back.

Bonnie dismounts, and I watch her closely, from the way her hair is now up on her head in a bun to the shirt that has sweat soaked through to the way her jeans cup her ass perfectly. She was a fucking sight.

She pulls off her straps where her cameras are resting and walks inside the barn with her horse, moving to one of the cross-tie areas.

I stand and make my way over to her. “Need some help?”

She smiles at me and hands me her cameras. I take them carefully. “Their bag is over by that box. Could you just set them in there, please?”

I nod and do as she asks, wondering how much the guys outside can see us. They’re still standing in a semi-circle, and I frown when I see Logan went, too. I thought he was out today.

“Have fun?” I ask as she starts to uncinch the saddle. I step up beside her, slightly behind her, and she smiles over her shoulder.

“So much fun. I can’t believe how big this ranch is.” She keeps moving, not affected in the least by how close I am. “I mean, I knew it was big since you and I went so far up, but still, it’s massive.”

“It’s been family owned for years. They bought this piece a long, long time ago and kept it going.”

“That’s incredible.” She shakes her head and nudges me out of the way. I step aside and watch her walk around the back of the horse, keeping her hand on him so he knows where she’s at. Once she latches the cinches, I take the saddle and pad off for her and go put them away.

When I get back, she’s in the wash rack rinsing him off.

“You know, that will be a great part to add to the article. Family owned for what, four generations?” she kind of asks over her shoulder, and I mentally calculate that.

“Yeah, something like that. Cal would be who you talk to.”

“Do you think he would talk to me?” she asks, pausing in her rinsing to look at me. “He didn’t seem that interested in the article.”

I think about it for a moment. Knowing who Bonnie is, I think Cal would end up really liking her. He was CT and Graham’s dad and had been running the ranch long before any of us came along. As he’s gotten older, he’s taken a step back from the day-to-day parts of running the place.

“He probably would. I’d just ask CT.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

I finish watching her clean up the horse, and she lets him stand in the alleyway for a few minutes while he cools down.

She crosses her arms and leans her back against the stall beside him, and I take my opening to go and lean my arm over her head, holding myself above her. Bonnie smiles up at me and tucks a lip into her teeth.

“What?” She giggles through the question, and I smile .

“Nothing,” I say, leaning down lower. I know any minute the others will come in, so I get my words out quickly. “I was hoping I could talk you into dinner with me.”

“Tonight?” She wrinkles her nose. “I’m all sweaty and disgusting right now.”

I lean down until my nose hits her neck just below her ear and take in a breath. “Hm, I don’t find you disgusting at all.”

“Okay!” She pushes her hand on my chest and shoves. “You can’t do that when people are around!”

I smile and step back, glancing at the door of the barn. No one is watching. “Why not?”

She scoffs and gives me a dead-eyed look. “Cause! I’ll want to climb you like a tree, that’s why!”

I lift my brow and smile wider. “Well, that just makes me want to do it more.”

“Stetson Cash!” she snaps, smiling slightly despite herself. “Behave yourself.”

“I really don’t want to.”

“I really don’t want you to, but we’re in public!

” she says, untying the horse and leading him to his stall.

I follow behind her, stepping into the stall and out of sight of everyone.

The horse goes to get a drink, and I shut the door behind me, grabbing onto her and spinning to pin her against the wall.

I knock the air out of her.

She looks around the stall and gives a lift of her eyebrow. “Oh look, privacy.”

“I’m resourceful like that,” I say before I slam my lips down onto hers, taking my time with exploring her mouth and relishing in the moans she gives me as a flashing green light.

Her hands explore my shoulders and my hair while I pull her to me and hold her tight, just kissing her for the few minutes I’ve secured us.

I have been waiting two days for this.

After a moment, I pull away and look down at her. “So, how about that date?”

She blinks and smiles. “I need to shower first.”

“Is that an invitation?” I tease, but she looks up at me seriously before groaning and slipping out beneath my arm and opening the stall door before closing it behind her, trapping me inside.

Bonnie spins, giving me a wink and stepping away from the door. “Not just yet.” Then she walks down the alleyway and out of the barn. I rest my hands on the bars of the stalls and breathe for a few minutes, letting my body come down from the high that woman just gave me.

She was going to make me work for it, and I was perfectly okay with that.