“What’s that saying?” Melanie taps her kiss-swollen lips as she stares into space. “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.” Her eyes drift to me. “That saying applies to you. Two years and you still smell country.”
It’s been two years and three months since I’ve been back to the ranch. The last time I was there was the first time Slater met my family. . .
Slater places his duffle bag onto the twin wrought iron bed in the guest bedroom of my family home before his confused and slightly amused face turns to me.“You’re on top.” He motions his head to the single bed.
“Actually… I’ll be sleeping in my room.”
A deliriously wicked smirk forms on his mouth as his hooded gaze absorbs my body. When he takes a giant step toward me, I take a step back. My silent denial doesn’t faze him in the slightest. With his brow cocked and his dick pressed against the zipper in his jeans, he takes another step forward.
I splay my hand across his chest, stopping him. “My parents are old-fashioned. They don’t allow anyone to sleep in the same room until they’re married.”
I cross my legs, praying it will weaken the tingling sensation stealing my smarts. My excitement can’t be helped. You can’t see the smirk Slater is wearing. He didn’t hear a word I spoke. All he knows is that we’re in a room with a bed—alone.
When he takes another step closer to me, I crash into the drawers sitting next to the open bedroom door. My breath comes out in ragged pants when he moves forward until only an inch of air is between us. “I haven’t had you in a week.” His warm, minty breath fans my hungry lips. “Do you think I can wait another night?”
I lean in close to him—so close, our noses touch. “Then maybe we should get married?”
Panic slashes across his features as his pupils dilate. The longer I maintain my calm, cool composure, the more his panic settles in. Once I believe he’s suffered enough, I dart under the arm he’s bracing against the wall and enter the hallway.
“Or we could just have sex in the barn later?” I award him a flirty wink before dashing down the stairs, not missing his frustrated groan halfway down.
My parents couldn’t be more different than Slater’s if they tried. My dad was raised on this very ranch. My mom lived next door. They’ve been together nearly as long as Slater’s parents, except I wasn’t conceived until after they got married at the local church. Five years after I was born, I was followed by my little brother, Teddy. His real name is Theodore, but we all call him Teddy.
After Slater joins me downstairs, I introduce him to my mom and dad. They stand frozen in the entryway of the kitchen. My mom’s mouth gapes as her eyes roam over Slater’s body, whereas my dad’s eyes zoom straight in on the tattoos snaking around his thick arms and stacked shoulders. Even Slater offering his hand to shake doesn’t register with my dad. If Teddy didn’t walk into the kitchen to declare Slater’s tattoos are “totally sick,” I don’t think my parents’ hypnotic state would ever end.
I sign in relief when Teddy accepts the hand my dad left hanging. When his eyes turn to mine, I offer him my thanks with a smile. Teddy is only sixteen. He’s usually too wrapped up in teenage issues to bother with anyone else, but even he can’t miss the awkwardness in the room.
“You have to come and meet Misty.” I grab ahold of Slater’s hand before dragging him out the front door, eager to be anywhere but in the kitchen that’s so stuffy I feel like I’m about to die of heatstroke.
“Dinner is in an hour, Kylie,” Dad informs me sternly when we reach the front porch. “Don’t be late.”
Once we are safe from prying eyes, I raise mine to Slater. “I’m sorry about my parents.” I had no clue my parents were such judgmental people until now.
“It’s fine.” Slater waves away my concern with his hand. “But I take it they don’t know about your tattoo?”
I slap my hand over his mouth before my eyes dart to the house, praying we’re far enough away my parents didn’t hear what Slater said. When the coast is clear, I drop my hand from his face, wiping it down my jeans to clear away the spit he covered it with while licking my hand.
“I’ll take that as a no?”
He chuckles when I grumble, “Shut up.”
The closer we get to the barn, the larger Slater’s smile becomes. Still sour about his tease, I mumble, “This isn’t the barn I mentioned earlier.”
I giggle at his pout as I walk him up to one of my greatest loves. “Slater, meet Misty; Misty, this is Slater.”
Misty runs her beautiful nose down the side of my face, sucking in the scent of Slater’s aftershave on my skin. She’s my beautiful light gray mare I’ve been the proud owner of since I was ten. She’s the only thing I miss about not living on the ranch. I still ride her every opportunity, but with my schedule so jam-packed, it’s lucky to be once or twice a month.
“Hey, Misty. It’s nice to meet you.” When Slater runs his hand down Misty’s nose, she bucks up and rears.
“She has some jealousy issues.” I smile when a brilliant idea pops into my head. “Do you want to go for a ride?”
If we leave now, we could ride out to the old barn and back before dinner. I just need to convince Greg to help me saddle up Misty and another horse. Greg is the lead hand on the ranch. He’s been working with my dad since the day I was born. He’s like an uncle to me. He’s also Dylan’s dad.
When Slater fails to respond to my question, I turn to face him. He’s shaking his head, his face more panicked now than it was when I jokingly suggested we get married.“I’m not getting on a horse.”
“Why not?”
Before he can answer me, Greg enters the barn from the other end. I race for him, too excited to take Slater’s denial as a firm no. “Can you please saddle up Charlie for me?”
