Dylan Read online

  “Are we keeping you two from anything more important?” Jesse teased.

  Emily flushed a bright pink, but walked over to the youngest Garahan and hugged him. “Your brother is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  Tyler’s eyes darkened and Ronnie knew exactly what he was thinking; she’d seen the same look in Dylan’s eyes. “I could save your dinner for you to nuke and eat later.”

  Tyler’s eyes lightened and so did his mood. “It’d be mighty cold come morning.” Turning to Emily he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her until she melted in his arms.

  “Wow,” Ronnie murmured to no one in particular. “I wonder if all of the Garahan men kiss like that.”

  Jesse stopped right beside her, plate in hand. “Want to find out?”

  Dylan reached between the two and grabbed his brother by the front of his shirt. “Do it and die.”

  His brother flinched. “Uh… I’ll take a rain check on that kiss, darlin’.”

  Dylan flung his brother against the cabinets. “Over my dead body.”

  “Jealous much?” Tyler interrupted, coming between the two.

  Dylan flexed his muscles and gathered his control; it was the only thing that saved Jesse from being pounded into a puddle.

  “Let’s eat.” Emily took Ronnie by the elbow and steered her toward a chair on the far side of the table. Inhaling, Emily said, “Smells wonderful. I can bake brownies, but I’m not a great cook.”

  Tyler chuckled. “Darlin’, you do so many other things really well.”

  “Is this one of them?” Emily walked over and slipped her arms around Tyler’s waist, pulling him close before pressing her lips to his.

  When they finally came up for air, all Tyler could do was nod.

  “Wasn’t it against one of Grandpa’s rules to be kissing in the kitchen?” Jesse asked.

  Dylan locked gazes with Ronnie before answering. “Only if he caught us.”

  Chapter 14

  Dylan disconnected the phone call and sighed. He’d offered, and now he’d have to come through for Jolene… starting tomorrow night and for the next few days. “Why did I make that damned offer?” Because you never thought she’d take you up on it, Son. “Gee thanks, Grandpa.”

  But his grandfather was right. He never thought she’d take him up on it. “Damn, she’ll probably start asking me about that damned all-male revue again.”

  Jesse walked up behind his brother. “What revue?”

  “That crazy woman Jolene—” His gaze met Emily’s. “No offense, ma’am.”

  She smiled warmly. “None taken.”

  “Jolene wants to have an all-male revue for Take Pride in Pleasure Day, featuring some ‘real’ cowboys with her dancers.”

  Jesse looked thoughtful. “Sign me up. It sounds like fun.”

  “We’re holding some of the events in the town square,” Emily said, “so all of our dancers will be wearing jeans, boots, and Stetsons—no shirts.”

  Dylan sighed and looked at his brothers. “We’re going to have to do the damned revue, aren’t we?”

  “We owe Jolene,” Tyler said quietly, locking gazes with Emily.

  “Come on,” Jesse said, punching Dylan in the shoulder.

  Dylan punched him back as Ronnie walked back into the room.

  “For heaven’s sake!”

  Ronnie looked at Emily, but Emily shook her head. “Don’t ask me. I warned you the Garahans were mixers—they enjoy brawling.”

  Ronnie shook her head and sighed. “I guess I didn’t realize they were so physical about it.”

  It was Emily’s turn to laugh. “Honey, that’s the best part of relationship with a Garahan man… the physical part.”

  Tyler pulled Emily into his arms and kissed her soundly. “Amen to that.” Putting his arm around her, he swept her toward the door. “Come on, darlin’,” he crooned. “Time to remind you just how good the best really is.”

  Jesse glowered at the empty doorway. “I’m going out to the barn.”

  “Didn’t you already take care of the horses?” Ronnie asked.

  Dylan knew what his brother planned to do. “Yeah, but there are a couple of feed bags that we toss around when we’re angry.” He watched the door bang twice against the frame and hoped Jesse would come around to their way of thinking and forget the woman who’d broken his heart… twice.

  “Seriously?”

  “As a heart attack, darlin’. Come on,” he urged, after his brother made it over to the barn. “There’s a spot I want to show you out by the pond.”

  “Oh,” Ronnie said, her eyes bright with anticipation. “Where the air smells so heavenly?”

  “You can touch heaven there, darlin’.”

  “Really?”

  He pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “Oh yeah,” he rasped. “And I’m just the man to show you the way. Wait here.” He sprinted toward the front of the house.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ll be right back,” he called over shoulder, hoping she wouldn’t follow him. That would just take more time, because he’d have to pull her into his arms and kiss her some more, and with the way need was burning a hole through his gut, he’d be taking her against the damned wall in the upstairs hallway.

  “Well, I can—”

  “Ronnie, darlin’,” he interrupted. “Please don’t move. I’m going to get a quilt and don’t want to waste any more time than we have to before I make love with you.”

  Her mouth rounded in a kissable O. He winked and ran for the stairs. Two minutes later he was in the kitchen with his right arm wrapped around his woman and his left holding his grandmother’s quilt.

  “Time’s a wastin’, darlin’.”

  Ronnie’s breathless laughter echoed deep inside of him. “We’re taking the truck?”

  “What part of ‘darlin’, I can’t wait,’ didn’t you get?” His grin must have been contagious; she smiled back at him.

  “Lead the way.”

  He opened the door for her, waited until she was inside, and closed the door. Placing a hand on the hood of the truck, he vaulted over to the driver’s side. Inside, he slammed the door and revved the engine. When she grabbed ahold of him, he was concentrating on backing up. “If you touch me now, we won’t get to make love out by the pond, and my little brother’s still in the barn.”

  She let her hand drop to her side. “You’re burning starlight.”

  He had to laugh. His woman was something. Man, when had he started thinking of her as his? Did he really want to keep her? Last night and yes, his lust-addled brain managed.

  “The expression is daylight, tenderfoot.”

  “Tenderfoot?”

  “That’s right, you’re not from around here, and it shows.” His hands tightened on the wheel as he slowed down to turn at the fork in the road. “Almost there.”

  “Is it a problem for you that I’m not from Texas?”

  Her brow was wrinkled and her eyes weren’t as bright as they’d been a few moments earlier, by the light of truck’s cab. She was worried. Did that mean she cared? Hell, she’d better care; he was halfway down the slippery slope to love.

  “Not in this lifetime. It’s what makes you special.”

  In the glow of the dashboard, he saw her expression soften. “You think I’m special?”

  He slowed down to park alongside the pond and yanked her to his side of the truck and into his arms. It was a tight squeeze, but that just amped up the lust that was quickly burning out of control. Her lips softened beneath his, but he didn’t have time for a gentle tasting with the choke hold his libido had on him.

  He plundered and she moaned. “Damn,” he said, pulling back from her. “I’m getting out of this truck and you’d better be right behind me, because if I touch you again, it’ll be to bend you over the bumper.”

  She laughed and scooted over to her door. “You don’t scare me, Dylan.”

  His nostrils flared as her laughter wrapped around his heart and squeeze
d. “Maybe you should be scared.” He was scaring himself. Wanting her was driving him crazy. Needing her like his next breath he’d worry about later. Right now, he needed to bury himself to the hilt inside of her welcoming warmth.

  She reached for the quilt and spread it out on the grass, smoothing her hand over the tiny stitches. “This is beautiful.”

  “It’s prettier in daylight. My grandma liked to sew.”

  “Are you sure we should use it?”

  He reached for her hand. “We can talk later.” He yanked and she fell into his arms. Kisses mingled with their shared laughter. His boots went flying—one to the left, landing against the base of a tree, the other he didn’t bother to track. He had a gorgeous woman in his arms with her lips latched onto his neck.

  “Why can’t I get enough of you?”

  His heart lurched. “I’ve been suffering here too.”

  She started to push him away, but he let his weight settle him more firmly against her, pressing her against the soft cotton bed they’d made beneath the stars. “Talk later… kiss me now.”

  He stripped the clothes from her slender body. “I’ll go slower next time.” Her nipples pearled as a wisp of a breeze blew across the pond, and he bent and sucked first one breast and then the other deeply into his mouth.

  Her groan was so close to agony, he almost stopped to ask if she was all right, but she lifted her hips and he knew she wasn’t in pain. She was right there with him. Licking and kissing a path along her collarbone, he stopped to tease first one rosy peak and then the other.

  “Dylan!”

  He didn’t bother to answer. Pressing his lips over her heart, he slid his fingers from beneath her rib cage to the dip of her belly button and followed the path, first with his tongue and then a gentle breath, blowing until he could feel her shiver.

  Plumbing her depths with his fingers, testing her readiness, it was his turn to groan. “You’re so wet… so hot.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth back to hers, pouring everything she felt into the kiss. Lifting her hips, she offered what he craved. He paused to cover himself then sank into her depths. I’m home.

  ***

  Ronnie’s heart stuttered in her breast as Dylan thrust again and again. She gave him all she had and then offered more. “I can’t wait—”

  Arching his back, he drove into her, lifting her up off the quilt. Grabbing ahold of his amazing backside, she hung on for dear life as he plunged into her over and over until her body took over and she ceased to think about holding back. Heart pounding, mind racing, she soared over the edge into madness, trusting the man to keep her safe as she shattered around him.

  The moonlight illuminated the hard planes of his cheek and jaw. The man was so beautiful it made her heart hurt. “Wow.”

  He snickered. “Gee thanks, babe,” he rumbled. “Glad you approve.”

  She smacked him on the back of his shoulder. “My brain’s not catching up as quickly. Give me a few minutes.”

  He rolled over until their positions were reversed and she was on top. Leaning her elbows on his chest, she sighed. “Now that you’ve snapped off a piece, I don’t suppose I could interest you in another?”

  His eyes narrowed and he stirred and stretched inside of her, but he pulled out of her and reached for another condom.

  “You are amazing.”

  He slid his hands to her backside, pinning her to him like a butterfly to a swatch of black velvet. The words evaporated as his hands massaged her butt cheeks; the rhythmic movements of his hips mesmerized her. “Dylan, I’ve never—” She wanted to tell him she’d never been this lust-crazed in her life. He wasn’t her first, but he was by far the best.

  “Darlin’, you sure about that?” Shifting his grip and his hips, he urged her to keep up.

  Following his lead, she rode him hard, until he flipped them over again and plunged deep, pumping into her until he was empty.

  His let his forehead rest against hers. “Darlin’, you’re going to kill me.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.” Energized, she hugged him to her and pushed his shoulder until he rolled onto his side. Pressing her lips and then her cheek against his heart, she snuggled in and closed her eyes. Safe and secure. Happy and loved in his strong arms.

  He tried to move his arm, but she protested. “This is my comfy place. Don’t move.”

  He laughed and reached out to grab a corner of the quilt, wrapping them in a cocoon of soft cotton. Sliding his arm back around her, he asked, “Better?”

  She sighed. “Amazing.”

  His breathing evened out and became deeper. Before he could fall asleep, though, she wanted to tell him what being with him meant to her. “Dylan?”

  “Mmmpf.”

  “Are you asleep?”

  “Almost.”

  “I meant what I said.”

  “Which part?”

  “I’ve never been with anyone like you before.”

  “Damn straight, darlin’. Once you’ve had a taste of Texas you never go back.”

  She pinched his butt.

  “Hey!”

  “Just testing the Grade A perfection of your rump, darlin’, to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”

  “Veronica?”

  Lord, she loved when he drawled out her name. “Yeah?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Jerk.”

  “Shrew.” She struggled to move out of his embrace, but he wouldn’t let her. “Lord, you’re temperamental.”

  “Are we back to you comparing me to a horse again?”

  “Darlin’, I live and breathe horseflesh.”

  “But I’m not—”

  “You’re fiery, strong, passionate, and fierce in your lovin’… just like the best filly… the one you want to breed to your strongest stallion.”

  “I still don’t like it.”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead, cheek, and chin. “You surely do, darlin’. Better catch some z’s. Morning comes early at the Circle G.”

  Wondering if her heart could take waking up next to him without the promise of a lifetime scared her right down to her toes. “Are you a morning person?”

  “I wake up locked, loaded, and ready for bear.”

  “Well—”

  “Better shut your eyes. You’ll be needin’ your rest come sun up.”

  “Promise?”

  “Cross my heart.”

  With Dylan’s arms wrapped around her, she closed her eyes and snuggled against him, falling asleep to the sound of the wind gusting across the pond and the steady beat of his heart.

  She woke at sunrise with his lips on her heart, branding her. There was no going back, only forward. God, please let this man feel half of what I feel for him.

  Her morning prayer said, Ronnie greeted him with a smile as she slid her hand between them, finding and testing the satin smooth length of him. Two strokes later, he jerked and swore.

  “I’m sorry… did I grip you too hard?”

  He closed his eyes. “Not nearly hard enough, darlin’. Don’t let me keep you from your explorations.”

  Intrigued that he’d let her take the lead, she tested the length and strength of him again, pressing her lips to his as she flicked the tip of her finger across the soft, smooth, blunt tip of his erection. She was rewarded with a bead of moisture. Swirling it over him, she listened for the catch in his breath. Encouraged, she took him in hand and stroked him, coaxing more, listening to his ragged breaths and pounding heart.

  He was on her in a heartbeat, buried to the hilt, pressing his lips to her heart. “Now!” he urged.

  She gave herself over to the splendor of his love-making. Hard, fast, urgent, powerful. If she lived to be a hundred, she’d never have another lover like Dylan. He plunged in deep, touching her womb, his hot seed emptying into her.

  “Oh crap!”

  “Not exactly the words I long to hear after waking up my woman with lovin’ at sun up.”

  She grabbed t
he sides of his face and tilted it up so their gazes met. “Tell me you used a condom.”

  His blank look was her answer.

  She was on her feet before he could stop her. “What part of the curse didn’t you understand?”

  “I’m sorry, darlin’—”

  “Don’t darlin’ me,” she bit out.

  He stood up, towering over her, and his confusion washed over her. “Look, all I know is that you have a family curse, you never explained what it involved. Besides I don’t believe in that kind of stuff.”

  “But you’re Irish!” Tears pooled and slid down her face. How could she have ignored the warning signs? “I’m not ready to grow as big as a house and carry your twins.”

  His eyes were dark and dangerous. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t want the children I could give you?”

  She’d been stupid to let her lust rob her of the ability to think, the ability to act and prevent a possible pregnancy. Rattled to the bone and embarrassed to the core, she grabbed her clothes, yanked them on, and started walking toward the ranch house.

  “Ronnie, wait!”

  She sniffed back the tears and shook her head.

  He was angry and still naked when he caught up to her. “So am I a pity fuck?”

  That got her full attention. “Excuse me?”

  “I thought we had something good going here, but if I’m not good enough for you, just say so and I’ll have somebody give you a ride into town.”

  How could last night’s loving and this morning’s early wake-up call end so badly? “We did… I mean we do—”

  “Then what’s your problem? Maybe I didn’t make you pregnant. It was only one time… God, that sounds lame, but maybe luck will be on our side.” When she didn’t say anything, he grabbed her by the upper arms and shook her. “Damn it, you get to me. My brain shut off—O.F.F.—when you grabbed ahold of my dick.”

  He stood there vibrating with anger—with an emotion close to the fear slashing through her brimming in his dark and dangerous eyes—and she believed him. Dylan was an honorable man who’d been blinded by the lust that she’d stirred him to. How could she stay mad at him?

  She stifled the snicker. “Nice mouth, Garahan.”