Rocky Mountain Freedom (44 page)
Marion sighed. “I’m still sorry I made you feel unhappy before. That wasn’t right of me—my old brain was so focused on how we could fit everyone into new places I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“You made me happy now, so we’re even. Forget it, please.” Ashley closed her eyes as Marion squeezed her tight, and Cassidy warmed all the way down.
Ashley was getting to set roots like she wanted. He and Travis would do everything they could to make sure she stayed beaming like that, and he didn’t much care which house they lived in if it made Ashley happy.
Mike paused then turned to Cassidy. “There’s one more thing. I know you’ve got the job down at the garage and all, but it seems kind of stupid to have a trained ranch hand working as a grease monkey and then hire some green kid on the side. What would you say to joining on the Six Pack punch-clock full-time?”
Cassidy’s jaw fell slightly. He hadn’t expected this twist to the day at all. “You’d hire me on full-time?”
Blake cleared his throat. “Actually, what Dad meant to say was we need another full-time worker, but we ain’t going to pay you. At least not hourly. Hell, none of the others in the family get an hourly paycheque. You’d be full on the papers, same draw as us. Good year, you make a little more, bad years you get to go hungry like the rest of the family.”
Unexpected, and the final straw. Cassidy felt tears rising, and damn if he could stop them.
He turned toward Ashley, but that didn’t help, because she had ribbons of moisture running down her face. She’d understood exactly what that offer had meant.
It wasn’t just a job offer; it was so very much more.
“You’ve got a family, Cassidy.” She barely choked out the words before she threw herself at him. He caught her close and buried his face in her neck, thankful for the excuse to hide for a moment as he pulled himself together.
A strong arm enveloped his shoulders as Travis embraced both of them. “You’re supposed to be happy, guys, not flooding the place.”
“We’re happy,” Ashley insisted. She lifted her chin, and as flush-cheeked and teary-eyed as she was, Cassidy had never seen her looking more beautiful.
Travis held them close as he spoke to his family. “I have to answer for us all, seeing as you’ve pretty much knocked them off their feet. Thank you.”
Cassidy pulled himself to vertical and dashed the moisture from his eyes. “Thank you from me as well.” He took the time to meet each of the brothers’ eyes, amazed at the acceptance he saw. “I’ll make sure you never regret it.”
Mike Coleman nodded. “You keep on doing your best like the rest of my boys, and you’ll be fine.”
He patted Cassidy on the shoulder, then Travis, then turned and shouted at Matt and Blake for something he’d spotted left undone the previous day. Joel stepped in to tease them for getting shit, and the rest of the family settled into groups to visit or get supper together.
Travis pulled Ashley and Cassidy aside. “I’m not sure what just happened. All I was told was to bring you two over for dinner.”
Ashley had her arms around them both, her eyes shining. “I only knew about the house thing—you don’t mind, do you?” she asked Travis.
“How could I mind? Anywhere you are is home.” Travis kissed her, right there in the middle of the kitchen. A tongue-tangling, spine-melting affair that had her clutching him tight as he ignored that they were smack dab in front of his family.
They were both breathing damn hard when he let her go.
“Whoa,” she said. “My head is spinning. Excuse me while I sit down for a minute.”
Travis turned to Cassidy, and the fire and mischief and fuck-it-all passion that Cassidy remembered being so drawn to—all of that was back. This was the friend who’d become so much more. The friend who was his lover, and now his family—this was the man who stood before him.
Travis cracked off a grin and reached for him. “I’d warn everyone what I’m about to do, but I figure they pretty much already know.”
Cassidy glanced over Travis’s shoulder. Some of the family were watching, smiles in place. Some were busy at their tasks.
And then it was past time for looking anywhere but at Travis as he fisted the front of Cassidy’s shirt and pulled them together.
Tender? Yes. Thorough? Oh, God,
yes
. As hot and passionate as the kiss Travis had branded Ashley with. There was no doubt they were both being claimed.
There was nothing Cassidy wanted more. He held Ashley’s hand and kissed back the man he loved, wallowing in the acceptance of the family that had embraced him.
The sign on the front gate had never been truer.
Welcome to the SP Ranch.
Make yourself at home.
About the Author
Vivian Arend in one word:
Adventurous
. In a sentence:
Willing to try just about anything once
. That wide-eyed attitude has taken her around North America, through parts of Europe, and into Central and South America, often with no running water.
Her optimistic outlook also meant that when challenged to write a book, she gave it a shot, and discovered creating worlds to play in was nearly as addictive as traveling the real one. Now a
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of both contemporary and paranormal stories, Vivian continues to explore, write and otherwise keep herself well entertained.
Website:
www.vivianarend.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/VivianArend
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/VivianArend
Look for these titles by Vivian Arend
Now Available:
Granite Lake Wolves
Wolf Signs
Wolf Flight
Wolf Games
Wolf Tracks
Wolf Line
Wolf Nip
Forces of Nature
Tidal Wave
Whirlpool
Turner Twins
Turn It On
Turn It Up
Pacific Passion
Stormchild
Stormy Seduction
Silent Storm
Xtreme Adventures
Falling, Freestyle
Rising, Freestyle
Six Pack Ranch
Rocky Mountain Heat
Rocky Mountain Haven
Rocky Mountain Desire
Rocky Mountain Angel
Rocky Mountain Rebel
Takhini Wolves
Black Gold
Silver Mine
Diamond Dust
Paradise Found
Coming Soon:
Baby, Be Mine
The best type of growing up involves getting down and dirty.
Rocky Mountain Rebel
© 2013 Vivian Arend
Six Pack Ranch, Book 5
Vicki Hansol made different choices than her less-than-reputable mom and sister, yet her fiery temper has left her branded with the same town-bad-girl label. When she desperately needs a change of scenery, her get-out-of-town-free ticket arrives—and requires she face down one of her deepest fears.
Easygoing Joel Coleman has nothing to complain about, but he’s never really done anything to brag about either. The youngest member of the Six Pack Ranch is looking to make some changes in his life that include stepping out from under his twin brother’s shadow.
So when the bold beauty with the smart mouth approaches him with a proposition, Joel is intrigued. Her request for him to
teach her to ride
soon takes on a whole new meaning. All that passion in his arms, his bed, in the barn…hell, anywhere he can get it?
Bring it on.
But tangling the sheets leads to unanticipated complications, and by the time the dust settles, everything family means is going to be challenged.
Warning: Saddle up for some youthful vigor applied with great enthusiasm. Ropes, rails and raunchy sex—there’s more places to get dirty around the ranch than first meets the eye.
Enjoy the following excerpt for
Rocky Mountain Rebel:
No, she wouldn’t play the blame game. No matter how she’d been treated while growing up, no matter what her family’s reputation, she was an adult and responsible for her own actions.
Right now? There was no one to blame for being unemployed but herself. She’d love to say it was Eric’s fault, but he wasn’t the one who’d moved his fat head into her fists.
She shouldered her backpack and headed down the alley, thankful he hadn’t pressed assault charges. He could have, and it would have been nothing more than another round of he said, she said… The town bad girl acting out against the star valedictorian.
Another round with another loss for her.
The end of the alley was mere steps away, the sunshine on the sidewalk her goal, when someone stepped around the corner and she jerked to a stop.
Images of vindictive mob-crews sent by Eric vanished as Joel Coleman blocked her path. She paused, making sure she was in position to run if needed. Not that Joel had ever done anything to threaten her, but being cautious was only smart.
“What?” If the word came out sharp and defensive, so be it.
Joel examined her carefully. “You okay?”
“Just peachy,” she lied, the sarcasm in her voice tinny and bright.
“Don’t fuck around,” he growled.
The words rumbled over her, dark and rough, and for once she allowed herself to look him over. To take in the broad width of his shoulders stretching his T-shirt. Massive biceps pushing the sleeves. Narrow waist and well-worn jeans, with a lighter patch right
there
where her gaze shouldn’t dwell. He shifted his weight, and the impulse to stare a little longer was hard to fight when his thighs and his…
Vicki dragged her gaze up to the relative safety of his face. Only it wasn’t safe, not by a long shot. Bright blue eyes twinkled at her, a lazy love-em-and-leave-em smirk on his firm lips. His hair long enough she wished she could step in closer and thread her fingers through it to see if it was as soft as it looked.
Yeah, if it wasn’t the stupidest idea ever, she would love to get a taste of Joel Coleman. Always had wanted one, never would take herself up on the craving.
She took a deep breath and stared over his shoulder. “Sorry. I’m still riled up.”
“I figured.” Joel stepped to the side, his body swaying back into her line of vision, and the concern on his face nearly killed her. “I really did want to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.” Vicki paused. The words stuck in her throat, but he had helped. “And…thanks. I mean, earlier, at the restaurant.”
“No problem.” He glanced at his watch. “You finish your shift already?”
No use in lying. He’d find out soon enough she’d been canned. “I’m going to look for a different job. One more suited to my personality. Sorry, no peach pies tomorrow.”
He nodded. “Sorry to see you go.”
Vicki needed to get home. Needed to hide, and not have to think for a few minutes. “See you around.”
She shouldered past him, ignoring his hand that brushed her arm as she walked by. She was at the edge of the alley, stepping into the sunlight, when he spoke again.
“I heard Orson’s Hardware is hiring stockers.”
Vicki paused. Glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks. That might be a better place for me. I’ll look into it.”
“Vicki, if…” His words trickled to a stop, and the strangeness in that alone was enough to pin her feet to the ground.
She turned to face him, waiting for him to finish. “What?”
Joel was looking at her. Really looking, as if seeing beyond the tough-girl façade she wore like armor. She tugged her backpack a little closer, hiding behind it.
“If you ever need, well, someone to talk to. Or a hand. Let me know, okay?”
She should have responded. Should have blurted out a noncommittal
thanks
, but his offer knocked all logic from her brain and left her with nothing but emotional turmoil.
They stood for a moment, nothing said, just a growing sense of disaster looming as Vicki fought the urge to give in. Because giving in would be a bad idea—she was sure of it.
It seemed like an earnest offer. Maybe. Or maybe more of the same of what she’d been handed over the years. People who appeared to be one way, while only wanting to take advantage of the trusting and the naïve.