Wrangled (Steele Ranch 2)

I’d be here for her, Boone too, in any way she needed, but she had to come to the decision on her own to cut the ties. To walk away. To live her life the way she wanted. Last night, with us, was the first step. We’d take the next one, and the one after that, together.

“Mother, I have to go. No, I won’t call the company back. I’m not interested. Good bye, Mother.”

Her mother’s muted voice continued to rant until Kitten ended the call.

She propped her head back, closed her eyes. “Sorry about that.”

“You can’t change your mother.”

She turned her head, looked at me. Smiled. “I can change my father though.”

“Very true. And see what that’s done. You’re here in Montana, claimed by two men and you’ve just told your mother you turned down the job offers. I’d say that’s a good start.”

“And your mom? Is she a power-grubbing congresswoman?”

I ran my hand over the back of my neck. “My mom lives with my dad in a beach house in Alabama. They were snowbirds, retiring and leaving the cold of Montana in the winter, but then decided to stay year round. When I was growing up, her job was taking care of me and my three brothers. Now, her job is to stay sane while living with my father.” I smiled, thinking of my parents’ loving relationship. “My father likes to tag along to the grocery store, look at everything, talk to people. My mother likes to get what’s on her list. Get in, get out. He drives her crazy. I’m waiting for the call when I’ll have to bail her out of jail.”

Kitten smiled at my story. “That’s sounds nice. Normal. Although any woman who had four boys should get a medal from Congress. Hmm, maybe I can get my mom to give her one.”

I remained quiet for a moment, let her think about that. I couldn’t imagine two mothers being polar opposites more than ours.

“You were offered a job?” I let that question bounce around the cabin of the truck, even though I knew the answer.

“I told you yesterday they’d been in touch. Emails from several places, but one company is more persistent than the others. I guess they really want me working there.”

“That must feel good, knowing all your hard work has paid off.”

She shrugged. “I don’t want the job, turned it down. I’m glad I finished my degree, but I’m just not interested anymore. It’s not what I want.”

“Okay.” I nodded, ending the conversation, at least for now. Nothing about it would change overnight. “So will you stay with me?”

She glanced at the house. “Yes, but I need to pack a bag. I need something besides this outfit.”

I looked her over, but didn’t see the jean skirt and shirt she’d put back on. I saw her pale skin, the curve of her wide hips, the soft swells of her full breasts as she sprawled across Boone’s sheets. Every bare inch of her.

“Pack it all, Kitten. You’ll be in my bed or Boone’s until we decide where all of us should live together.”

Her wide eyes met mine. “You…I mean, I thought…you want to live with me?”

“Don’t go saying we just met.”

She pinched her lips together.

“I thought we’ve been over that.”

She reached out, took my hand, curled her fingers around mine. “We have. It’s just…I’m not used to someone, or two someones, wanting me. I’m not used to it.”

I tugged her hand, pulled her close for a kiss. “Get used to it. Fast. Like we said, we wouldn’t have taken that sweet cherry of yours if we didn’t mean forever.”

She blushed as bright as a cherry, stared at a button on my shirt. “You’ve had women before.”

This was a dangerous conversation and I had to tread carefully. I understood the difference between Kitten and the woman I’d been with in the past. I’d fucked for twenty years. But it had never been with Kitten. It had meant nothing. A quick release. But I had to make sure she understood that.

“Yes, I have,” I admitted. “But I never once fucked without a condom. She may have had access to my dick, but never once did I give a woman my heart. Until you.”

Her full lips parted. “Jamison,” she whispered. “What we did wasn’t making love. It was—”

“Wild?”