I chuckle, amused by her dedication, and lower my voice slightly. “Shep is definitely a grumpy cowboy, but it turns out he’s not serial killer material. In fact, he’s actually really sweet. I sprained my ankle this morning, and he insisted on carrying me inside.”
Even now, he’s in the kitchen making lunch while I’m lounging on his bed chatting with my friend. It’s not as if he’d let me hobble around to assist him, but that doesn’t stop the pang of guilt cutting through me.
Gemma lets out a sharp gasp, followed by a delighted squeal. “You’re snowed in with a single man? Please tell me he’s packing.”
My jaw drops at her bluntness. The woman has no filter. She’s the type who goes to a bar, buys a guy a drink, and lays out exactly what she wants in bed before they step outside. Meanwhile, I’ve always been cautious, never daring to be thatbold, secretly wishing I was brave enough to ask for help exploring my desires without judgment.
“I don’t know… not yet. I mean it’s not like that,” I rush to correct myself, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “Yes, he’s handsome—the hottest cowboy I’ve ever seen actually—but he thinks I’m a total nuisance. Plus, he’s forty-five, so I’m far too inexperienced for him.”
A sudden thought crosses my mind that Shep would take it in strides, guiding me with the commanding dominance I’ve always craved.
“Girl, you’ve hit thedaddylottery. You can’t pass this up—opportunities like this don’t come around twice. Have you at least tried one of your new dildos yet?” Gemma asks loudly. “The reviews say they hit the G-spot just right and the vibrations match your rhythm.”
“Why don’t you yell a little louder so Shep can hear you,” I deadpan.
“Well?” Gemma whisper-shouts. “Haveyou tried them?”
I shake my head, laughing at her blissful ignorance of volume control.
“Not yet. I haven’t had any alone time since I’ve been here. I can’t exactly whip one out in Shep’s living room and…” I drift off, an alarm sounding in a far-off place in my mind.
The toys.
My stomach drops when it dawns on me that the pocket where I had my phone charging was on the inside of the front flap of my suitcase. That means Shep had to open it, and there was no way he would’ve missed the elaborate collection.
Oh. My. God.
I bury my face in my hands, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. No wonder he was acting so strange when he came back to the bedroom. I can only imagine what he must think of me after seeing an entire catalog of sex toys in my suitcase.
“Everything okay?” Gemma asks.
“I just realized there’s a good chance Shep found my stash of toys earlier.”
She practically screams into the phone. “Maybe he’s imagining all the ways to use them on you! Save a horse, ride a toy,anda cowboy!”
“Gemma, keep it down,” I hiss, scrambling to switch the speaker off and pressing the phone to my ear.
I’m already humiliated as it is. The last thing I need is Shep overhearing my friend trying to drag him into my sexual escapades. I’d also rather not admit that I’ve rarely used toys in the past, let alone with a man. My past partners weren’t exactly enthusiastic about them, treating toys as rivals rather than a way to spice things up.
“All I’m saying is that being trapped on a mountain together is the perfect excuse to have a little fun,” Gemma says, and I picture her waggling her eyebrows.
“And I’m telling you, it’s not going to happen.”
“Why?” she presses. “Because you don’t want it to or you’re afraid you actually do?”
I only wish she had it wrong.
The reality? I’m battling a fierce attraction unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. My mind drifts to the barn earlier when Shep was pressed against me as he showed me how to brush Maple. He appeared unfazed. Meanwhile, I was fighting to concentrate with his breath hot against my ear and his hand wrapped around mine.
I clear my throat. “I plead the Fifth.”
“Uh-huh. I expect every juicy detail when you give in and let that man fuck you six ways till Sunday.”
Oh my god.
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I’m glad she’s not here to call me out on it.
“Can we please talk about something else?”
