Buckle Down (3 page)

Miranda toddled around the hardwood floors, talking nonstop
gibberish that Tess had no idea how to decipher. She just nodded and replied, “Yes,”
to everything Miranda said, to which Miranda laughed like her aunt was the
funniest person ever to live. Babysitting was a good distraction after the week
she’d had. The more time she spent around her family, the less she missed
Shane.

Miranda crawled up onto Tess’ lap and rested her head
against Tess’ chest. Tess flipped through the channels on the television and
found an old Tom and Jerry cartoon. Miranda giggled and sucked her thumb,
watching the silly cat and mouse. She finally fell asleep just before the front
door creaked open and Tess heard both Natalie and Luke laughing.

Tess shushed them as they walked into the den.

Luke had a big, shit-eating grin on his face. “Guess what?”

Tess cocked her head to the side and rubbed her hand over
Miranda’s back. “What?”

Natalie smiled and rubbed her stomach.

Tess looked back and forth between them. “Are you guys
having another baby?”

Her sister-in-law pulled her long, dark hair into a ponytail
and secured it with an elastic band.

“You bet your ass!” Luke scooped Natalie up and kissed her
cheek. “It’s a boy!”

“What? I mean, congratulations. Wait, how far along are you,
Nat? You don’t look pregnant at all.”  

“We didn’t want to tell anyone until we were out of the
danger zone. I’m seventeen weeks. We had an ultrasound today.”

“And it’s a boy,” Luke repeated. “Built like his daddy.”

Natalie laughed and slapped him on the arm. “Put me down,
you big lug. I have to pee.”

Luke set her down on her feet and squeezed her butt. “Go,
then.”

Natalie disappeared down the hall and Luke leaned over Tess
to kiss Miranda on top of her head.

“I’m happy for you and Nat,” Tess said, giving her brother’s
hand a pat. “You guys are great parents. Miranda will be excited.”

“I’m not so sure about that. She’s a demanding little
princess.” He laughed. “But she’ll adjust to being a big sister.”

Tess fingered the little girl’s curls. “Of course she will.
I’d like to take her out to meet Tippi sometime.”

“Nat is nervous to have her around horses. She thinks she’s
still too little.”

“I understand. When she gets a little older, then.”

Luke lifted his daughter up to his chest. “I’m going to put
her to bed. Be right back.”

“Okay.” Tess stood up and stretched.

“Are you hungry?” Natalie wiped her hands on a dishtowel.
“I’m going to make some sandwiches.”

“I’m starving, actually.” Tess smiled. Natalie made
sandwiches that made Subway look like snack food.

“Come keep me company.”

Tess followed her to the kitchen where Luke was dipping
cookies into a tall glass of milk.

“Luke! You couldn’t wait?” Natalie shook her head and
gathered lunchmeat and cheese out of the refrigerator.

Luke winked. “It’s just an appetizer. You know I can’t
resist your cookies.”

The front door opened and closed. “Honey, I’m home,” a man’s
voice called out. Justin Cain had been Luke’s best friend as long as Tess could
remember. He was tall with dark hair and a charming smile and she had wanted to
marry him when she was eight years old.

Justin peeked his head into the kitchen. “I hear I’m gonna
be an uncle again.” He rushed in and hugged Natalie. “Congrats, mama!”

Justin’s wife, Rebecca, followed him inside and pulled Tess
into a hug. “Tess! I haven’t seen you in ages.” She pulled back to look at her.
“You’re much prettier than your big lug of a brother over there. How’s school?”

“It’s going great. One more year. How are you guys?”

Justin kissed Tess on the cheek. “Hey, kiddo.”

“We’re good. If you wanna move back after school, I can get
you a job at the library,” Rebecca said.

“Thanks, Bec. I haven’t made up my mind what I’m going to do
after school yet. California is so pretty.”

Luke and Justin sat at the table, drinking beer and telling
off-color jokes while Tess and Rebecca helped Natalie assemble sandwiches and
pour chips into bowls.

“You two will never grow up, will you?” Natalie said,
placing a platter between the two men.

Luke smiled and tossed a chip into his mouth. “Never.” He
held out his fist to Justin, who bumped his fist against it.

“Dear God. And you’re having another baby to add to these
two.” Rebecca laughed. “I’ll babysit the new one but you’re on your own with
Luke, here.”

Natalie laughed. “I must be insane.”

After eating a sandwich the size of Texas and half a dozen
cookies, there was still some time before the sun would go down and Tess ventured
out to the ranch. Shane’s truck was parked in the lot but she didn’t see
Phoebe’s car anywhere. It was almost six and it was cooler since the sun had
started to set. Wearing a skirt, tank top, and flip flops, she was not dressed
to do much, not even go inside the stall, but she wanted to see Tippi.
And
Shane
.

She followed the same path she always did to Tippi’s stall
and stopped in front of the gate. “Hey, pretty girl.” She honestly was happiest
when she could just be around Tippi.

“Hey, pretty girl.”

Tess spun around to find a smiling Shane. “You shouldn’t
sneak up on people. It’s rude.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Sorry. I wasn’t sneaking up on you. I
was just watering your friend here.”

Tess had rehearsed all the things she would say to him about
standing her up, but before she could lambast him, he sighed and ran his hand
through his hair. Heat spread through her like lava, slow and burning.“Listen.
I’m sorry about the coffee shop…”

“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” She turned back
to Tippi and rubbed her nose.

“I had a flat tire and I didn’t have your number.”

Likely story
. “No big deal.”

“I recognize that tone. I’m really sorry, okay?”

She turned back around and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Okay.”

“Let me make it up to you.”

She caught a whiff of his cologne, or maybe it was just soap,
but he smelled good and his hair was still slightly wet. She watched a drop of
water fall and land on his shoulder. Suddenly, she pictured him in the shower,
soapy and slippery… and hard.

He smiled. “Are you okay?”

Blinking her eyes to clear her thoughts, she said, “Yeah.
I’m good.”

“I make great coffee. What do you say?”

Tippi snorted and Tess laughed. “I think Tippi says it’s
okay.”

He reached a hand out to her and motioned with his head
toward the main office. “Perfect. I always trust the instincts of a horse.”

Completely disarmed, she took his hand. He interlocked his
fingers with hers and squeezed gently. She liked his soft touch and imagined
how quickly that could change under the right circumstances. He looked like he
rode hard. She swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to keep her mind out of
the proverbial gutter.

His apartment was tidy with minimal furnishings. A navy blue
couch and dark wood coffee table separated the living room from the kitchen. A
flat screen television and floor lamp rounded out the space.

Shane dropped his keys on the kitchen counter. “Have a seat.
I’ll start the coffee.”

Tess sat on the edge of the couch and turned to watch him.
With his back to her, she checked out his ass.
Damn
. There just were not
guys like this in California. She imagined Shane had women all over him and she
knew of one in particular who already got on her nerves.

“How do you like your coffee?” He looked over his shoulder
at her.

“Cream and sugar, if you have it.”

“I have powder creamer. That work?”

“Sure.”

Carrying two steaming mugs from the kitchen, Shane set them on
the coffee table. “There you go.”

Shadows spread in the room as the sun set outside the
window. He switched on the lamp that bathed the space in a pale glow. It almost
felt romantic. If there’d been a lit candle and some soft music it would have
been perfect.

Tess picked up the mug and blew on the coffee before sipping
it. “Thank you.”

He sat opposite her and watched her drink her coffee. “You’re
welcome.”

“This is a neat little apartment. I didn’t know it was
here.”

“It’s not bad. It’s included in my compensation for my work
here.”

Tess laughed and set her mug back on the table. She pulled
at the hem of her skirt.

Shane raised an eyebrow. “What’s funny?”

“Nothing.” Tess shook her head.

“Something tickled your funny bone, sweetheart.”

“I just… Is this part of your arrangement with Phoebe?” She
didn’t really want to hear the answer to her question and she immediately
wanted to withdraw it. “Never mind. Forget I asked that. It’s none of my
business.”

“It’s obviously on your mind.” He took a drink of his coffee.
“I don’t have any secrets. Phoebe’s not my girlfriend.”

“I know that. She told me.”

“What else did she tell you? This should be interesting.” He
smirked over his cup.

“Well, she said you were her
toy
.”

“Nice. She’s so classy.” He shook his head.

“I don’t want to cause any trouble, with either of you.”
Tess started to get up.

Shane stood and caught her wrist gently. “Don’t leave.”

“I probably shouldn’t have come here.” Tess exhaled heavily.

His hand slid up her arm and cupped the back of her neck. The
air stood still as he moved closer until he was only inches away.

She put her hand on his chest and looked up at his face. She
knew she should push him back and not part her lips in response to his breath
on her forehead. His gray eyes bore into her and she inhaled his
uncompromisingly male scent. In that moment, all she could think about was his
lips touching hers. Her heart accelerated and her hand trembled.

Shane reached up with his other hand and pressed Tess’ palm
tight to his chest. His heart thudded against her hand and she gathered his
shirt in her fist, pulling him down to her.

 Her eyes closed as his mouth covered hers. The first touch
of his tongue sent an electric current coursing through her body and every bit
of her tingled. Goose bumps rose on her skin despite the heat. Her nipples
responded, forming tight peaks inside her bra.

He moved a hand to her hip and squeezed, pulling her closer.
“Damn.” His tongue delved into her mouth as he sucked at her lips.

Tess’ knees grew weak and she pulled back, breathing hard.
“I should go.” She licked the tender spot on her lip where Shane had just
sucked.

He still held her hip and whispered in her ear. “Are you
sure?”

Her mouth would not cooperate with his hot breath on her
neck. She nodded.

“Okay. I’ll walk you to your truck.”

His lips brushed her neck and Tess second-guessed herself.
She looked up at his face. Her brain was telling her to get her butt in the
truck, but her body wanted to stay and find out what Shane was capable of.

When was the last time you were alone with a hot guy?
When was the last time someone kissed you? When was the last time you had sex?
Her
resolve snapped and she grabbed his head and kissed him hard.

He backed her up to the wall and slid his hands under her
shirt, cupping her breasts. Lips slid down her jaw, sucking her neck. He pressed
against her and his obvious arousal jutted against her stomach, awakening
butterflies she hadn’t felt in forever.

She held on to his shoulders as he bent lower and pulled her
shirt up, his teeth tugged her bra down, exposing a sensitive nipple.

He looked up at her before he closed his lips on her breast
and sucked.

The pull of his mouth sent a shiver through her body and her
clit throbbed. Tess’ fuse was short tonight and all he had to do was slip his
hand between her legs and she’d come, maybe even before he touched her. She
stepped her legs apart in silent invitation.

Rolling her nipple between his thumb and finger, Shane’s mouth
found her other breast. He touched her leg and trailed his fingers up her thigh,
stopping at the hem of her skirt. His teeth scraped over her nipple before
kissing down her belly and he dropped onto his knees. He slid both hands up the
outside of her legs, under her skirt, and up to her hips.

She panted, staring down at him, feeling his fingers hook
the strings on the sides of her panties.

Shane pressed his forehead against her stomach for a moment
and then pulled at the strings, letting her thong slide down her legs.

Tess stepped out of it and he pushed her skirt up, over her
hips.

He stared up at her while pushing his finger between her folds.

Her head lolled to the side as he massaged her clit softly.
He shrugged his shoulder under her knee and lifted her leg, opening her pussy
to him.

“Damn. Beautiful.” He held her open with his fingers and
probed her entrance with his tongue. “Mmm.”

A moan escaped her and she tangled her fingers in his still-damp
hair, pulling softly.

His tongue pushed inside her, thrusting a few times before
he licked up to her clit, tracing circles around it.

All thought left Tess’ mind as instinct took over. Her body
needed release. An urgency built inside her, increasing with each pass of his
tongue. She needed to come.

Shane rubbed her thigh and slid two fingers inside her.
“You’re so hot and wet.” He looked up at her while he wriggled his fingers
inside her.

She nodded, panting.

Smiling, he returned to the task at hand and covered her
with his mouth. He sucked gently, drawing her clit into his mouth, licking it
lightly.

Tess’ thighs tensed and the throbbing increased.

He sucked a little harder and moved his fingers faster.

“I’m gonna come,” she whispered, holding Shane’s head with
both hands.