Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders 2)

“I’m thinkin’ of surprisin’ Macie and buyin’ her a horse.”

“Yeah? Is this some guilty throwback to ‘Daddy, will you buy me a pony for my birthday?’ portion of her life that you missed?”

He nudged her with his shoulder. “No, smarty. She likes to ride. It’d be good for her to learn to train a horse from the get-go. It might also be an incentive for her to stick around here at the end of the summer.”

“Things are going well between you two?”

“Better than I’d hoped, which is why I don’t want her to leave. Selfish, huh?”

“No.”

“Are you okay with it?”

“Yes, but you know she can’t live in that camper indefinitely.”

“I thought once McKay left she could live in the trailer. It even has a barn.”

So Cash had already written off Carter McKay. Gemma wasn’t so sure Carter had cashed in his chips with Macie—more like Carter was regrouping. She kept her opinion to herself. “A barn, which would be perfect for her new horse.”

“Yep.” He fiddled with the remote. “By the way, I heard from Trevor Glanzer today.

He’s on his way through tomorrow night. Is it all right if he crashes here?”

“Sure. But that’s odd. He just called you out of the blue?”

Cash aimed the remote. “Wanna see what’s on TV tonight?”

Gemma heaved a dramatic sigh. “We’re watching TV? The romance has already worn off.”

“Can we just veg? I’m bushed, Gem. I know I passed out last night, but you plum wore me out two nights ago.”

“You ain’t the one with the sore ass, cowboy.”

“Complainin’?”

“A little.” She smirked. “Okay, not much. It was hot as hell, waking up tied up. You having your wicked way with me. Telling me precisely all the kinky things you planned—”

“This ain’t relaxin’ me none.”

“Knowing I couldn’t make too much noise, even when your thrusts felt so good I wanted to scream. So hard I could feel your c**k all the way in my throat—”

Groaning, Cash picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

“What are you doin’?”

“Takin’ you to bed, winyan.”

“But I thought you were too tired?”

“Lucky for you I just got my second wind and a new rope to break in.” He spanked her butt and she shrieked. “Keep up that dirty talk and I’ll have to try out the gag too.”

Chapter Thirty-one

“Hey, squirt, when you’re done in there can I talk to you?” Velma said in front of the pass-through window.

“Sure. It’ll cost you a beer, though.” Macie tossed the metal-bristled scrub brush aside. She used a clean white towel to wipe down the grill and admired the sparkling surface before she shut the lights off in the kitchen and shuffled out front.

Velma sat at the counter with a ten-key calculator. Long curls of white tape spilled everywhere. Without looking up, she said, “I put a six-pack of Bud in the small cooler.

Grab me one too, while you’re at it.”

Macie popped the tops on the cans and waited, thankful not to be on her feet. Man.

She was exhausted. She’d been working split shifts the last two days. And with the way Velma was frowning, she figured it wasn’t going to get better any time soon.

Why stay here? It’s time to move on anyway. You don’t owe anybody anything but yourself.

It’d been a couple of weeks since her mom’s advice made an appearance. She hadn’t missed it.

Velma chugged half the beer. “It sucks that TJ up and quit. I don’t know if he was threatened by you or what, but it’s actually a good thing.”

“Why would he be threatened by me?”

“Because you are a damn good cook. And not just the usual diner fare. You’re bringin’ something new and fresh. Something classy.”

Macie squirmed.

“Local folks who hardly ever came in have taken notice. And the changes ain’t drivin’ away my regular customers, which is a plus. The bottom line is my business has more than doubled in the last two months and I am attributing it to you.”

“But hey, no pressure,” Macie muttered and swigged her beer.

Velma stared at her thoughtfully.

“What?”

“What are your future plans, Macie? Is the Last Chance Diner a blip on the roadmap to somewhere else?”

Macie really squirmed.

When she didn’t answer, Velma looked away and said softly, “I’m sure workin’ in a greasy spoon in Wyoming ain’t your life goal. Probably have loftier ambitions.”

Macie placed her hand on Velma’s arm. “Don’t. You’ve built a great business here.

And as flattered as I am that you think I’ve had something to do with business picking up in recent months, it still is your place, Velma.”

“True. But you still didn’t answer my question, squirt.”

“I don’t know if I can. You knew I’d only be around a few months. I do like working here better than anywhere else I’ve punched a clock lately. But you should know I’ve just never worked anywhere longer than four months.”

“Why?”

“Honestly? I get bored. Or I get fired. I’ve never had a reason to stick around anyplace and put down roots or whatever.”

“But your dad is here, ain’t he? Things are workin’ out with him at Gemma’s place?”

“Yeah.”

“Are things workin’ out between the two of you?”

Macie smiled. “Better than I’d hoped actually.”

“I’m glad.”

The clock ticked. The walk-in freezer hummed.

Velma sighed. “How are things goin’ with you and that good-lookin’ artist feller?”

Her stomach pitched when she thought of Carter. She hadn’t seen him since the day he’d squared off with her father. Which was why laboring excessive hours at the diner hadn’t bothered her. She needed distance and time to think about what’d happened.

Contrary to what other people thought, she hadn’t been mad at Carter for what he’d done. She’d been upset by the fact he’d cared enough about her welfare to challenge her father. In front of everyone, his family, his friends. Carter had been worried about her getting hurt. Or dying.

Dying.

She’d never had a man worry about her for any reason, let alone for her personal safety. It was cool. It was weird.