Cowboy Take Me Away (Rough Riders 16)
Cal cocked his head. “So you do plan on getting hitched to her?”
“If she’ll have me.” As soon as Carson admitted that out loud, he believed it. He’d make it happen.
“Gimme another goddamned beer.”
He handed it over. “Can you make yourself scarce tomorrow night? Carolyn’s comin’ over.”
“Guess that means you ain’t interested in hittin’ Gentleman Jack’s?”
“Nope.”
“Maybe I’ll pop Charlie’s strip club cherry since I got a feelin’ your strip club days are done.”
“Good plan.”
And that was that. End of discussion. Another thing he appreciated about Cal. He never wanted to talk things to f**king death, but he was always there whenever Carson needed to talk.
The following night Carolyn showed up on time, looking as tempting as strawberry ice cream in a pale pink dress, her hair swirled on top of her head.
He swept her into his arms, kissing her hungrily as he carried her into the trailer. So much for acting cool.
She sighed and placed a lingering kiss on his throat.
That simple, sweet gesture nearly did him in. But he’d sworn to himself he wasn’t dragging her to his bed as soon as she waltzed in the door. He nuzzled her neck. “You smell good.”
“Like pork chops and fried apples? That’s what I cooked for them for supper and what I’m making us.”
“No, like flowers and you. The scent of your skin drives me crazy.” He dragged his lips across her ear. “Almost as crazy as how hot and sweet you taste between your thighs.”
“Carson McKay. Stop dirty talking me right now. I promised I’d cook for you first.”
He trapped her face in his hands. “Sugar, I’m not like—” your family, “—I don’t expect you to cook for me if you don’t want to.”
“Which is exactly why I want to do it.” She pecked him on the mouth. “I brought food with me, so if you’ll show me where you keep your cooking utensils?”
“I’ll warn ya, it’s a pretty humble selection.”
“I’ll make do.”
“Tell me whatcha need.”
Carolyn rattled off—a cast iron pan, a sharp knife, a cutting board, butter, salt, pepper and flour. Luckily he had everything.
“Want a beer or something while you’re workin’?”
“I’ll take a Coke if you’ve got one.”
Carson poured her soda on ice, grabbed a beer for himself and turned the radio on to the local country station.
He watched her work and they talked about their days while she fixed supper. It didn’t feel forced as it had other times women had offered to make him a home-cooked meal. It seemed natural and he imagined how heavenly it’d be coming home to her—and this—every night.
“Carson?” she prompted.
“Sorry. Lost in thought. What did you say?”
“I asked if you’re okay with me putting onions in this?”
He sipped his beer. “Depends on if the onions will keep you from kissin’ me tonight.”
She grinned. “Nope.”
“Then put ’em in.”
“Where’s your brother? I thought maybe I’d meet him.”
“He had plans.”
“Do you guys have any problems working together all day and then living together?”
“Once in a while, but not really. I’d rather hang out with him than anyone else.”
“So is it the same way with your other brothers?”
Carson shook his head. “My youngest brother Charlie is just outta high school and is finding his way.” He realized that Carolyn and Charlie were the same age, which was just plain weird because she was ten times more mature than his baby brother. “My middle brother Casper is an ass. I hafta work with him for now, so I don’t spend time with him outside of the ranch if I can help it. Although he is a mean son of a bitch so he’s good to have backin’ me in a fight if Cal ain’t around.”
Her eyes widened. “Is fighting a habit of yours?”
He could lie, but that’d come back on him the first time she saw him with a black eye or a busted lip. “I’d say it’s more of a hobby.”
She laughed, thinking he was joking and he let it go.
“I really miss my sister, Kimi. I saw her all the time during the school year.”
“What’s she doin’ now?”
“She’s with our Aunt Hulda. In years past I’d work with our aunt for six weeks of the summer and I’d be home six weeks. Kimi would be there and I’d be here, so we didn’t spend our summers together.” She turned off the stove. “Supper is done. You want to get the plates?”
“Be my pleasure.”
First bite of the pork chop, Carson dropped his fork and grabbed her hand. “Forget about you bein’ the sexiest, sweetest woman I’ve ever met, or the fact I’d like to keep you tied to my bed twenty-four hours a day, or that I never get tired of talkin’ to you…this meal just proves that I was dead on with proposing marriage to you last week.”
Carolyn blushed. “Silver-tongued devil, that’s what you are.”
He could tell he’d made her uncomfortable, so he dropped it, even when he wanted to convince her every word he’d said was the gospel truth.
After they finished the delicious meal, Carolyn popped up to do the dishes. Carson circled his arm around her waist and set her on his knee. When she opened her mouth to protest, he kissed her. Thoroughly. “Thank you for supper. Leave the dishes. I want you to ride along when I do the last cattle check.”
“Really? Okay. Will I have to, umm…do cow stuff?”
He laughed. “No. But I’ll show you how to open gates.”
Carolyn asked a million questions as they bumped through the pastures, insightful questions so he knew she wasn’t just being polite.
“In the next couple weeks, we’ll turn out the bulls.”
“Meaning what?”
Carson peered at her from beneath the brim of his hat. “You really need me to explain what happens when we put the bulls and the cows together?”
“Oh. Uh, no.” Then a very female, very devious smirk tilted the corners of her lips. “But maybe you’d better show me what happens when a male and a female are alone together, to make sure I have a solid understanding of the process.”
“Sugar, are you sure?”