Chapter Sixteen
It was theweek before Christmas and the holidays in Marietta were in full swing.Festive touches were everywhere on Main Street and the shops were teeming with decorations and people trying to find the perfect gift.Letty was one of them.She had no idea what to get Riley.Yes, they were only going to be together until New Year, but they were together now and she knew Riley would get her something.Therefore, she needed to get him a present.But what?
After searching online, she found a history of his stud, Meteor’s, ancestors.She couldn’t be sure he didn’t have something similar, but she managed to get a new hardback copy of it, which she knew he wouldn’t have.It seemed like the perfect gift for the man who had what he wanted and who loved his horse like his child.
Which led her to thinking about Riley and children.And his admission that he was thinking about marriage and children eventually.Implying he wanted it with her.She’d thought he understood when she put a time limit on their romance.He’d seemed to accept it.But the longer they were together the more serious he seemed.Even though it had only been a few weeks.And even though she cared about Riley, she was determined not to fall in love.She couldn’t risk it.Which meant she was in for a very lonely life.She had friends, even a family with Jasper and Lorraine.But she wouldn’t be having kids.A family of her own.
At the same time, she missed Riley.It wasn’t as if she never saw him, but she never really saw him alone.Ever since his mom’s illness she’d seen very little of him.She understood.Of course she was thankful that Lorraine was well enough to go home but since then she saw even less of Riley than she had when his mom was in the hospital.And when she did see him, which was mostly only when she went out to the ranch, he was invariably tired and stressed.It worried her.
She’d always known Riley worked hard and even more so since his father had to cut back on the work.But now with Lorraine having pneumonia and needing more care, not to mention trying to see that Jasper didn’t overdo it, he had even more to do.Part of it was his dad being a pain in the butt.Letty loved Jasper like a father, but she had to admit he could be difficult.It seemed like he was doing his best to drive his son crazy.She’d offered to help take care of Lorraine when she wasn’t working.But Riley and Jasper wouldn’t hear of it, saying she had her own life to take care of.The best she could do was to get them to agree they’d call her if they needed her.
One day not long after Lorraine came home, Letty went out to the ranch to visit.She found Riley and Jasper arguing in the barn.
“You’re not required to like her,” Riley said.“Mom likes her, so she stays.And you need to stop being rude to the woman.”
“I’m not being rude,” Jasper said.“It’s my house and I can damn well tell the woman when she’s overstepping.”
Clearly Jasper was mad since he rarely cussed.She wondered what ‘the woman,’ aka the nurse, had done.
“If this one leaves, I swear to God you’re going to live in the bunkhouse until Mom is well.”
“Don’t you threaten me, Riley Fletcher!”
“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”
Jasper stomped off, probably to go back to the house and cause more trouble.
Riley squeezed the bridge of his nose and sighed before turning to Letty.“This is the third home health care nurse we’ve had.So far she’s let Jasper’s attitude roll off her back, but I don’t know what we’ll do if she quits as well.”
“He’s probably just scared, and this is how he reacts.Do you want me to talk to him?”
“I doubt it will do any good.But you didn’t come out here to listen to me bitch.What do you need?”
There was no one else around.Letty grabbed Riley’s hand and pulled him into the tack room, shutting the door behind them.“I need you.”
He blinked at her.“Uh—”
She crooked a finger at him.His mouth lifted in a slow, ridiculously sexy smile.The next thing she knew Riley had caged her in against the door with his hands on either side of her face.Then he kissed her.
It wasn’t leisurely, or sweet, or gentle.It was rough and real, but she could tell he was still holding back.And she didn’t want him to.She wrapped herself around him and poured everything she had, everything she wanted, into the kiss.He put his arms around her and held her tight.He lifted her up and she felt him, hard and ready for her.He groaned and let her slide down his body.“We can’t.”
“Why can’t we?”
“Because you deserve more than a quick bang against the door of the tack room.”
“I don’t want more.I just want you.”
*
I just wantyou, she’d said.
“Damn, Letty, you’re killing me.”She was wearing a dress.He wondered what she had on under it.He suspected that was what she’d intended.He locked the door in case things progressed further than they should.Which, he knew, they would since he couldn’t possibly resist her in this mood.
“Good.”She put her hands on his belt and unbuckled it before attacking his jeans.
He could have stopped her.Could have talked her out of it.To hell with it.Letty was here, she was willing, she was so soft and smelled so good.And he’d missed her, every day that he spent away from her, he’d missed her.He’d talked to her but it wasn’t enough.He wanted to see her, hold her, love her, and he couldn’t.Even if he could be with her he couldn’t tell her he loved her.Not yet.Maybe not ever.
But she was here with him now and he couldn’t wait any longer.He moved her hands and finished unfastening his jeans and pushing them down, freeing himself.
