Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch) (13 page)

Crawling out of Melody’s warm bed that morning had balanced the line between heaven and hell. He couldn’t believe he’d actually spent the night. He couldn’t believe he had to leave without doing it all over again.

All through his morning chores, images of what they’d done entertained him—picturing her naked, remembering the sounds she made as she moved under him.

The way she was so alive and willing to rock his world.

He was walking around the ranch with an enormous grin, and he didn’t mind one bit. In fact, he whistled as he exited the barn, Prince picking up on his good mood as the dog pranced along at his side. Steve smiled at his antics as he made his way to the tractor to meet his father and get to work loading bales.

Only it wasn’t his father waiting by the tractor.

His mother was decked out from head to toe in sturdy work clothes, one of Randy’s old baseball caps on her head. It wasn’t unusual for his mom to give a hand around the ranch—everyone put in time and labour when it was necessary, but her without dad wasn’t typical.

“You driving today?” he asked, glancing around cautiously, but there was no one hiding behind the tractor.

Kate flashed him a grin. “Think you can keep up with your mother?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He eyed the two machines. This was a task that he and his father had a definite routine they followed. Same with him and Trevor, and him and Lee. Whenever two people worked together for a long time, they’d develop their preferences. “You okay driving the truck?”

“Yup. And don’t worry, hopefully it’s just for a couple of days.” She smacked a pair of heavy work gloves against her thigh to clean them off before pulling them on her much smaller hands. “Your dad’s got a new medication, and it’s not agreeing with him. Doctor said things should settle down within the week, though.”

Steve nodded. “Just give me a shout if you need a break.”

“I’ll be fine,” his mom insisted.

It added a twist to his morning. For the first hour he went slower than usual until he was sure Kate had things under control. It was far more about him watching out for her than his mom actually slowing the task down, and once he realized that, they got the job done as efficiently as usual.

Lunch was an entirely different situation.

They stopped at the house to grab some food. There was no sign of his father, although his brothers were there, Lee slapping together sandwiches while Trevor stirred something at the stove.

Their mom glanced around in confusion as she pulled off the dusty baseball cap and wiped her hair off her forehead. “Where’s Randy?”

Trevor and Lee glanced at each other, looking a little too amused. Lee turned back. “I might’ve suggested something for lunch that didn’t sit too well. I think he’s lying down for a while.”

Kate sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. “You boys are evil. You know he’s not feeling well. Why would you pick this time to taunt him?”

“Heck, this is the best time.” Trevor chuckled as he scooped soup into bowls and brought them to the table. “Just think, we’re getting even for that time you had food poisoning, Mom, and he asked if you were going to come help butcher the chickens.”

His mom grabbed drinks from the fridge before joining her sons. “I still say you’re terrible.”

“But you love us, right?” Trevor teased.

She eased back in her chair, stretching her back with a grimace as she offered him a wink. “I know where you get your terrible sense of humour from, so I can hardly blame you.”

Even with lunch being a hurried affair so they could get back into the fields, Steve felt a rising sense of satisfaction. It was strange not having his father present, but working with his family was right. They knew what had to be done and usually agreed about how to do it, and that made a world of difference. He trusted them to have his back and to work hard to achieve their goals.

And now you can have Melody as well
that little voice inside his head pronounced.

It was far too early to be making long-term plans, but at the same time, that
was
where he was headed. It was one thing to insist he’d changed. If he didn’t have a long-term reason for changing? Just having sex with the woman, well, that wasn’t enough.

“We’ll be done baling well before I thought we would,” Trevor commented.

“It’s because we left that one section as grazing land. Letting it lie fallow for the year changes the amount of work,” Steve said.

“It also changes how much hay we’ll put up.” Trevor made a face. “I’m trying to get hold of the owner of the next spread. I know the Rylers’ rent out the house, but I didn’t hear from anyone who’s in charge of the fields.”

It was a good point. “If you can find out, we could cut them this year. We could use the extra, or sell it if we don’t need it for our stock.”

Lee spoke up. “Whiskey Creek clan are looking for extra hay if we have any to spare. I was talking with Lisa the other day, and she mentioned it.”

His mom nodded. “I was talking with the rest of the ladies, and it sounds as if Mike and Marion will need extra as well.”

It was strange having this kind of discussion without his father in the middle of it, and Steve felt uneasy. “Let’s make a note to talk about it with Dad when he’s feeling better.”

“Don’t put it off too long,” his mom prodded, rising from the table and brushing her hands together. “He trusts you. You boys think we’ve got the time and the energy to deal with extra fields, I’m willing to help if Randy’s not feeling up to it.”

Changes.

Steve thought about it the entire afternoon as he bounced around in the truck, following after his mother who had insisted she wanted her turn driving the baler. He wasn’t the only one who’d changed over the past years, and while he had new goals to set with Melody, his family was changing as well.

It was both exciting and uncomfortable, and he wasn’t sure from one moment to the next, which he felt more. Luckily, anticipation overrode them both as he focused on the end of his day and getting together with Melody.

His grin was back in full force.

Chapter Nine

It was as if he couldn’t get enough of touching her, and Melody wasn’t about to complain.

From the moment he picked her up after work, he’d been nothing but agreeable. Running back into the house to grab the salad she’d forgotten without a word of complaint. Tucking her in at his side, his arm around her as they headed down the back roads to Gabe and Allison’s house.

“How long did Mathis say he’d be gone?”

“Six weeks at least, but he didn’t seem very firm in his return date,” she shared. “And even if that makes things more difficult for us, I’m glad to know he’s not going to rush. The man deserves every minute of his getaway.”

“I agree.” Steve went quiet for a moment, his hand on her shoulder rubbing gently. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him going on a holiday before.”

“Don’t think he ever has. It’s not as if there’s a good season to take off and leave people in the lurch.”

“He didn’t take a holiday until now because he didn’t have you.” Steve pressed his lips to the top of her head, but his words warmed her more than his touch.

She’d already gotten some of her concerns out while talking with Allison, and she didn’t want to dwell on it. Still, Steve was as good a person to ask as any. “You don’t have any trouble with me being your main contact for the summer?”

He made a rude noise. “Of course not. Never had issues with any of the work you’ve done when Mathis brought you out. Why should you do a lesser job just because he’s not there?”

A little of her tension faded at his words. “Thank you for that.”

It was hard, though, to put aside the rest of her worries and concentrate on enjoying the evening.

Steve pulled into the yard and parked beside Gabe’s newer vehicle. Melody offered her hand to Steve, and he pulled her out the driver side door, sliding her down his body until her feet hit the ground.

They paused, her head tilted back to stare up at him as the physical attraction between them flared. He cupped her face, running his thumb over her cheek as his eyes burned brighter. “Barbecue, and then I’ll take you parking.”

She laughed and tugged him toward the house.

The aroma of rich tomato sauce hit the instant they opened the door. “Now I know we’re in the right place. Forget about hiding your silverware, I’ve come for your ribs,” Steve called out.

Gabe caught his hand in a friendly clasp and shook it. “You can have the spoons and forks. There’s no way you’re taking Allison’s cooking out of here without a fight.”

Melody left Steve’s side after giving a final squeeze to his fingers, crossing the floor to her friend and offering Allison a hug. A small black cat with white paws slipped around the corner, rubbing against Steve’s shins as it purred a welcome, but Melody wasn’t too distracted to notice the slight swell of her friend’s belly pressed between them.

“Looks as if someone’s going to need maternity clothes soon,” Melody teased.

She wasn’t sure who looked happier at her comment—Allison or Gabe. “I’ve already been given enough things to get me through the first while.”

“Let me guess. Jaxi?” When Allison confirmed it, Steve shook his head. “That woman runs ninety percent of Rocky Mountain House, doesn’t she?”

Gabe wrapped his fingers around Allison’s arm and led her to a chair, settling her into it with a smile. “Don’t exaggerate.”

Melody thought it through, but from what she knew the young woman got tangled up in almost everything that happened in the community. “You sure?”

Gabe’s grin broke free. “Jaxi’s one hundred percent in charge, but she’s nice enough to offer the illusion other people occasionally get a say in the matter.”

Steve tilted his head toward a pile of ribs on the side counter. “Do I need to help you burn things?”

The men were out the door and headed to the barbecue in no time flat, leaving Melody and Allison grinning good-naturedly at each other.

Allison rested her elbows on the table as she examined Melody. “So?”

It wasn’t the easiest question to answer. She took a moment to scoop up Puss in Boots and stroke his head, the small creature rumbling with pleasure at the attention. “So… Am I excited about my new job? How do I like my new truck? Did we break any bed springs last night?”

“You didn’t,” Allison gasped before schooling her features. “And I was totally talking about your truck.”

“Sure you were…” Melody prepared to give an update on her and Steve, but the guys wandered back in before she could say anything. Maybe it was backlash from her nervous energy, but a spirit of mischief struck as she looked Allison straight in the eye. “Seems to have as good of a payload as I remember. And there’s definitely some power under the hood.”

Her friend caught the dirty innuendo, and her smile widened.

The guys joined them at the table, Gabe’s interest high. “So you’re enjoying the new ride?”

Allison made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a whimper, turning it into a cough before offering Gabe a watery smile. “Sorry. Something in my throat.”

Melody considered carefully before answering. “So far, so good. I’m still figuring out how hard it can go, but it seems to be living up to the promises.”

Another small sound escaped her friend, and Melody had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop from joining in.

“You know the best way to break her in is to just go for it,” Steve advised. “None of that keeping it steady or riding under the limit. Take it right up to the max. That’s the only way you’ll know if it’s got everything you need. Pound those pistons a little.”

Allison rose to her feet and headed for the counter, the tortured grin on her face just about setting Melody off.

“Sounds like a good idea,” she agreed, fighting to get the words out without her voice trembling with laughter.

He caught her fingers in his, the cat abandoned them for the floor, and talk turned to some of the organic changes being made to the Angel Coleman ranch, much to Melody’s relief.

She didn’t want to have to explain why she’d never again be able to hear the word
piston
without wanting to laugh.

It was good being around friends, and as the meal progressed, the sense of familiarity Melody enjoyed so much returned. Something was very different as well, though, as not a moment passed without Steve following up on her. Checking to be sure she had enough to eat and drink, offering Allison help.

After the meal was over, the guys took over the dishes and left her and her friend sitting in lawn chairs by the fire pit with the promise of marshmallows to come.

Steve pressed a kiss to her cheek “You still like those sticky sweet things, don’t you?”

“My one and only vice,” Melody confessed.

He dipped his head lower, his mouth by her ear. “I don’t know about that. I think you have plenty of other vices for us to explore…”

If a small moan escaped her, it couldn’t be helped. She watched his fine ass in his faded Levis until he vanished behind the door, rejoining Gabe in the house.

Allison let out a sound like a balloon losing its air. “Holy
cow
. If you two keep this up, I’ll need you to leave immediately after your first marshmallow so I can jump my husband.”

Melody didn’t bother to hide her smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Look, I’m pregnant. And I do know what causes that.” Allison leaned forward. “I’m serious. You said you were going out again. Does that mean you plan to do anything other than light the bed sheets on fire? Because that one you’re clearly accomplishing.”

“I hope so.” Melody squatted by the fire pit to arrange the kindling. “It’s only been twenty-four hours. Don’t start putting me in a white dress yet.”

“Not unless it’s made of fire-retardant material.”

Ha. She picked up the lighter from beside the fire pit and applied the flame to the kindling she’d prepared. Ignoring Allison as she gathered her thoughts.

It couldn’t all be about sex.

She sat back as a flicker took hold of the wood shavings. Awkward thing to ask, but it was in her head… She glanced around first to make sure they were alone, then went for it. “Do you think it was too soon to hop into bed with him?”