Certified Cowboy (22 page)

And completely in love with him.

He teased her lips apart with his tongue and delved inside, deepening the kiss and stirring primal needs she could no longer deny. The terror she’d felt earlier when Kenny had gone missing reminded her of how fleeting and precious these moments were, that she had to hold on to her son and savor any happiness that came into her life, no matter how transient.

And Johnny Long was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

She threaded her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer, hungry for more. He seemed to understand and stroked her back, then eased one hand around to cup her breasts. Need flared inside her, and she moaned, silently willing him to make love to her.

He gently pulled back and searched her face. “Any time you want me to stop, Rachel, all you have to do is say no.”

His sensitivity and the gruff, sultry tone to his voice intensified her hunger, and she slid her hands down to unbutton his shirt. One button, two, three, his breath hissed, an erotic sound that ignited her passion.

Then his mouth found hers again, and this time that passion exploded in a rush of tongues mating and hands exploring. Rachel remembered her son, though, and tugged Johnny into her bedroom.

He paused at the door, his breathing labored, and gave her one last opportunity to say no. But she didn’t want a way out. Not this time.

She wanted Johnny naked and loving her.

J
OHNNY’S HEART DRUMMED
in his chest, his body hammering home his raging need to be with Rachel. She was vulnerable but strong and so damn beautiful that he felt humbled being invited into her bedroom.

The sound of the door closing as he shut it added an intimacy and aroused him even more. He’d wanted, craved a night in Rachel’s bed ever since she’d arrived. The fact that she wanted him after the way she’d been treated intensified his emotions.

Then she gave him a sultry, beckoning look, and he stripped his shirt and tossed it to the floor. His hat he gently hung on the chair in the corners, then he walked toward her.

When she reached for him and rubbed her fingers across the broad expanse of his chest, his breath became trapped in his lungs. With a teasing smile, she lowered her head and trailed kisses over his torso.

Johnny’s body hardened with need, but he allowed her to set the pace. Her kisses were tender but so damn erotic that a second later he thought he’d explode. He eased her back toward the bed, then slowly began to undress her.

Only, Rachel seemed in a hurry. Her breath quickened, her hands flew to help him, and suddenly they were tearing off each other’s clothes and falling onto the bed, a tangle of naked limbs and bodies. Their tongues danced and mated again, then he lowered his head to take one firm ripe nipple into his mouth and suckle her. He raked his other hand down her abdomen and found the soft nest of curls at the juncture of her thighs. She was wet and he slipped one finger inside her.

She writhed beneath him, urging him on, and he spread her legs and dipped his tongue into her honeyed sweetness. Her moan of pleasure sent a million sensations pummeling him, and when she cried out his name and her body convulsed with pleasure, he rose above her, grabbed a condom from his jeans pocket, rolled it on and teased her legs apart with his sex.

Her hand came down to grip him, making his erection throb, but he let her guide him inside her. Her warm, wet body enveloped him, her muscles clinched his thickness, and he plunged deeper, then withdrew, then filled her again. She wrapped her legs around him and he set a rhythm, rocking inside her, stroking, filling, taking, giving.

And when she clutched his hips and lifted her own, coaxing him to move deeper, then whispered that she was coming, his own release spiraled out of control and he lost himself inside her.

Chapter Nineteen

Rachel rolled over and curled in Johnny’s arms, sated and happier than she’d ever been with a man. She buried her head against his shoulder, and he pulled her closer against him and kissed her again. She savored the moment as they lay entwined, hearts beating, breath slowly steadying, erotic sensations tingling through her body.

Exhaustion pulled at her, but she didn’t want to go to sleep. She wanted to languish in the pleasure he had given her.

Johnny had reminded her that lovemaking was supposed to be about love.

And she was totally in love with Johnny.

But Johnny was a star, a man who was only donating time here at the ranch, a man who had his own life to go back to. Not a man who wanted or deserved to be saddled with a ready-made family with trouble on their tails.

Johnny nuzzled her neck, then stroked her arm gently with his fingers, and she closed her eyes, relaxing in his embrace. Outside, the rain slowed to a drizzle, the pattering on the roof a soft hypnotic rhythm, cocooning them into their own private world.

“I like the rain,” Johnny said.

“Why?” Rachel whispered.

“Because it brings new life to the ranch,” Johnny murmured.

Rachel realized he was right. The rain would make the grass grow and water the flowers and bring spring into full bloom.

Just like Johnny had done with her heart.

She kissed him tenderly, then he deepened the kiss and moments later they made love again. Slowly, tenderly, languidly, tasting and exploring…

And for the first time in two years, Rachel forgot that she was a wanted woman and allowed herself to dream that she and Kenny and Johnny could be a family.

A sense of peace washed over her as another orgasm rocked through her in perfect timing with Johnny’s.

Then he held her again, and she finally fell into a deep sleep. A sleep filled with dreams of marriage and babies and a life that she hadn’t dared dream about for the past two years.

J
OHNNY WOKE AT
THE CRACK
of dawn. He rolled sideways to make sure Rachel was still in his arms, that last night hadn’t been a figment of his imagination.

His chest heaved with relief when he saw she was still there.

Then his body stirred once more. Early morning sunlight seeped through the sheers and painted glowing lines across her beautiful face. God… He could get used to waking up beside her every day.

The tip of one naked breast glowed in the sunlight, and he ached to kiss it and make love to her again. But reality seeped in. It was morning, and Rachel’s son was sleeping in the next room and might wake up any minute.

He didn’t want Kenny to find him in Rachel’s bed.

Not until they were ma— What the hell was he thinking?

Johnny Long was a bachelor. Not husband or father material.

Besides, they still had to deal with her ex and the charges against her.

His phone buzzed, and he checked the number. Brody.

Damn. He’d promised he’d explain the situation this morning and he’d better get his butt over and do just that.

Rachel sighed as he kissed her cheek, then he tucked the covers over her and rose. He hurriedly dressed, then grabbed his hat and tiptoed out the door, closing it gently so as not to wake her. The ground was still damp from the night’s rain, but the sun glinted off the water droplets clinging to the grass, making them shimmer like diamonds.

He texted Brody that he’d be there in half an hour, then retrieved the horses he and Rachel had ridden the night before, mounted Soldier and led her horse back to the stables. One of the ranch hands was already mucking stalls and he asked him to take care of the animals.

Then he rushed to the main house, took a quick shower, poured himself a cup of coffee in the kitchen and went to meet Brody.

“All right,” Brody said, “what’s going on, Johnny?”

Johnny cleared his throat, then spilled the whole story.

“Dammit, Johnny, why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Brody asked.

“Because at first it was just suspicion.”

Brody leaned back in his desk chair. “We have to talk to the sheriff.”

“No.” Johnny’s emphatic tone brought an eye raise from his friend.

“Why not? If this Rex guy is as dangerous as you say, we can’t let it go. In fact, you should have turned Burgess in last night.”

Johnny swallowed hard. “Maybe, but I believe Rachel, Brody. You and I both know money can buy people. And God knows, the press can add its own spin. Look how they crucified me.”

Brody drummed his fingers on the desk. “So, what now?”

“You hired extra security. Let’s alert them to watch out for Rachel’s ex and for Burgess. And I’ll personally guard Rachel and Kenny.”

Brody studied him for a long, tension-filled moment. “This is not like you, Johnny. What’s going on between you and this woman?”

Johnny hesitated, a lie on the tip of his tongue. But lies had landed him in trouble when he was younger. And he respected Brody and what he was doing too much not to be honest.

“I care about her and the boy,” Johnny said. “Besides, we’ve worked too hard on the rodeo and setting up this ranch. If this story goes public, it could cost us big time.”

“Which would make Copeland damn happy.” Brody chewed the inside of his cheek. “All right, we’ll play it your way for now. But if Rachel’s ex shows up and causes trouble, I won’t hesitate to call the sheriff. Rachel will have to deal with the fallout.”

Johnny nodded. Brody was right. But Rachel would not have to deal with the fallout alone. He would do whatever he could to help her.

Kenny’s terrified face the night before flashed in his mind. In fact, he would like to meet her ex face to face, himself.

And when he did, Johnny would convince him to leave Rachel alone. If he didn’t, the lowlife would be sorry.

R
ACHEL FELT THE
EMPTY
bed and immediately missed Johnny. She rolled to her side and clutched the pillow Johnny had slept on, inhaling his rugged masculine odor and letting it wipe away the scent of Rex’s cologne.

She had no idea where she and Johnny would go from here, but she knew what she wanted.

Only what she wanted was impossible.

She checked the clock. Kenny would be up soon, so she jumped in the shower and quickly shampooed and rinsed her hair, almost hating to wash the scent of Johnny off her.

But she had to get ready for the day.

She’d barely dressed when footsteps pattered across the floor and Kenny appeared in her doorway.

“Mom, is the bad man coming back?”

“No, honey. We’re safe now.” Rachel rushed to him and hugged him, although, even as she reassured him he was safe, fear crowded her chest. Burgess might be gone, but Rex would hire another.

Or come himself.

It was only a matter of time. She’d been deluding herself into thinking otherwise.

But she couldn’t leave until after the rodeo. She couldn’t deprive Kenny of this one memory, not when he’d dreamed about it forever.

Kenny hurried to check on Cleo and the pups. She let him play with them for a few minutes, then Cleo followed the two of them to the dining hall. When Blair entered, her eyes looked puffy, her expression contrite. Rachel knew the poor girl blamed herself for Kenny’s disappearance, so she pulled her aside. “I need to talk to you in private.”

A sliver of apprehension streaked the girl’s face, then Rachel explained that her ex had been following her and Kenny.

“It’s not your fault, Blair. He hired this man to kidnap Kenny.” Rachel fought a shudder. “I have custody, but Kenny’s father is violent. I should have told you before, but I didn’t think he’d find us here. But he did. So please keep an extra careful eye on Kenny.”

“I promise I won’t let him out of my sight.” The young woman squeezed Rachel’s hand.

“Thanks.” Rachel went to explain the circumstances to Ms. Ellen. With everyone on alert and the extra security Brody had hired, hopefully Rex would be dissuaded and leave them alone.

But that was a pipe dream, and she kept her eyes peeled for him to show any minute.

T
HE NEXT THREE DAYS,
Johnny kept an eye on Rachel and Kenny, but he didn’t allow himself to sleep with her again.

Not that he didn’t want to. Just the memory of her naked in his arms stirred his hunger. But sleeping with her was a distraction, and he had to remain alert. Letting his guard down was too dangerous.

Besides, there were a thousand details to handle in preparation for the rodeo. The kids were excited, the vendors had set up booths, the ads had been placed, the TV interview had aired and all the investors had arrived to help make certain the safety specifications for the rodeo events were up to par.

Each of the investors had offered to man events and participate in a grand-finale exhibition that would hopefully help draw a larger crowd. Johnny was on the billing as the grand finale, but he wanted to downplay his role. Still, the idea of showing off in front of Rachel gave him a small thrill.

Excitement hummed in the air the night of the rodeo. Johnny and the other ranchers rechecked the venues, stables, chutes and animals to verify everything was in order and up to safety regulations. Counselors worked alongside the boys to set up the pony rides, face branding, horseshoes, a lasso contest and other events for the smaller children. His sister and Lucy offered to handle the face-branding booth, and Lucy was the first customer and chose a bright red ladybug to match her hair.