The Virgin Next Door (Stud Ranch 3)

He leaned down and kissed her hard. He probably should have taken it slower. But for once he was letting go of all his normal calculated moves and just going with what felt right.

From the way she kissed him enthusiastically back, he’d say it was the right way to go.

At least until she pulled back. She was still grinning at him as she pulled out of his arms, though. “I still want to work with Painter a little more and get him groomed. See you at dinner.”

“You bet your arse,” he said. Then, before she could turn to go he stepped forward and kissed her again.

She was laughing as she pulled away. “I’ll see you.” Then she turned and slipped back out through the fence. She walked away but looked back at him a couple of times, that radiant smile still on her face.

He frowned. What if she was playing him? This innocent, not immediately available, hard to get act could just be that—an act.

It wouldn’t be the first time a woman had tried games to capture his attention. There was nothing he hated more than people trying to fecking manipulate him. For a long while there he hadn’t thought there was any other way to interact.

Wasn’t he the guy who believed no one ever gave anything without expecting something in return? So what was Calla’s angle? If she didn’t want him for his money, what did she want? Maybe his body. She’d certainly seemed to enjoy everything he’d done with her.

He stared in the direction Calla went long after she’d disappeared around the corner of the barn.

Jaysus, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so in over his head. With a horse or a woman.

“What do you think happened with Mackenzie?” Calla asked. They were sitting on the porch swing after dinner, her in his lap with her head nestled in the crook of his shoulder.

Usually when he had a woman in this position, he’d be quickly shifting her other leg over him and hiking up her skirt so they could get on with things.

But he and Calla were just… talking. Well, occasionally they’d make out for a while, but then it would calm down again and she’d just curl up into him like a contented kitten.

Liam paused from where he was running his fingers through her hair, finally registering her words. “Um. He’s an arsehole?”

Calla shoved his shoulder lightly. “I’m serious.”

Liam had been serious too. Mack was a bogger arsehole and that’s all there was too it.

“Have you seen him the past couple days?” Calla lifted her head from his chest to look at him.

Liam shrugged. “Just the back of his head after he’s grabbed his food and heading up to his room.”

Calla sighed. “Exactly. I think something’s going on with him.” She dropped her head back to Liam’s chest but she pulled away moments later to look at him. “Do you not want me to talk about him? Is that…” she glanced down. “Is it not okay to bring him up?” Her eyes were anxious.

Liam squeezed his arms around her. “You can talk to me about anything. I don’t want you holding back.” He was just starting to trust that she wasn’t a fake. He certainly didn’t want her to think she should put on a show of any kind.

She swallowed and smiled tentatively. “I’ve just never done anything like…” she waved a hand. “You know.” She lifted and dropped her eyebrows significantly. “And he was part of it with us.”

Liam felt a flare of pain in his chest. Was he not enough for her?

It faded quickly at seeing the distress on Calla’s face, though. “Do you still want him?” His tone was more even than he’d expected it to be.

Calla glanced down again before taking a deep breath and meeting his eyes again. “I don’t really know him. But I didn’t know you either. And then… that night.” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “It felt, I don’t know…” she looked around like she was trying to find the right word. “Important. Like

all three of us were connecting in this really special way.” She turned her head to look out at the dark night. “That’s probably stupid and naïve. I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“Don’t say that.” Liam’s arms tightened around her. “Don’t doubt your instincts.” It might not be his favorite thing to hear that she was still thinking about Mack, but here she was, telling him up front. Being real with him. No matter what she was feeling, it was right there on her face.

“What did you think about that night?” she asked. “Did you like it when he… When you two were…”

“Sure,” Liam said, then he felt Calla stiffen at his clipped tone.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have ask—”

“It wasn’t the first time.” Liam took her hands so she didn’t feel like he was cutting off her line of questions. He wasn’t used to being open with people, but if she could do it, so could he. Well, he could try, anyway. “I’ve done things like that before. With both a man and a woman.”