Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

He laughed. “Hell, mine was so much simpler. That William was trying to get the two of you together. I never dreamed it would be all of that.”

I shook my head. “It was a shock, to say the least. Are you okay, Daddy? Knowing the truth?”

“I am, princess. Like I said, I always knew it deep down.”

With a smile, I motioned back to the desk. “Come on. Let’s finish painting this desk, then you can take me for ice cream.”

“I like the sound of that plan.”

Paige

PULLING UP TO the barn, I saw Lucas in the corral working a horse. My stomach flipped with desire and a memory flooded in.

Lucas stood in the barn, his cowboy hat tipped low, his green eyes a stark contrast to the black of his hat. He smiled, and it was so mind-blowing that it left me unable to breathe. His boyish looks contrasted his large frame. My fingers itched to trace every inch of his body. To explore how he was built. To feel the way his muscles moved when we finally had sex.

“Are you sure, Paige? We don’t have to do this. I’d wait forever for you.”

I returned his smile and pulled the dress over my head, leaving only my bra and panties, along with my favorite pair of red cowboy boots. Lucas swept his eyes over my body in a greedy fashion: fast, then slower. The look on his face would forever be etched into my memory. He licked his lips, and I heard myself moan ever so slightly. A pulse between my legs grew faster, harder. God, I couldn’t wait for him to be inside me.

“I want this Lucas. I’ve been wanting this.”

After putting my car into park, I made my way over to the fence. I climbed up and sat there, watching him work the whip. The way his muscles moved through his tight T-shirt had my body humming with pure lust.

The horse was just as beautiful a creature as Lucas. The horse’s muscles flexed as he ran around the circle, exerting hardly any effort as he seemed to dance over the dirt.

When Lucas lowered the whip, the horse slowed. He came to a stop, then made his way over to him. I watched in awe as he bent his head and Lucas leaned his forehead to the horse’s. He whispered something to the horse while he stroked the side of his neck gently.

It was official. I was insanely jealous of the horse.

After watching them for a few minutes, I decided it was time to let them know they had company.

“I hate interrupting this bromance, but I sure wouldn’t mind some of that attention.”

Lucas faced me. My stomach flipped when he broke into a wide smile, the one he seemed to save for me. I felt my body tremble ever so slightly as he walked toward me.

“This is a nice surprise.”

He reached up and helped me jump off the fence, then wrapped me into his arms. The horse came up and bumped Lucas on the back, causing us both to stumble into the corral fence.

“Goodness, looks like I have to fight for your attention,” I said with a chuckle as I stroked the horse gently on the neck.

“Ranger remembers you,” Lucas said with a bit of mischief in his voice. “Or at least he remembers what you did to me in his stall.”

My cheeks heated as the horse snickered. “Sharing is caring, Ranger. I’ve already told you that once.”

“I still feel that hay up my ass.”

I laughed harder and took the horse’s reins as I walked alongside Lucas. My eyes did a quick sweep of his body.

Wrangler jeans. Tight and sexy.

Stetson cowboy hat. Hot as hell.

Tight T-shirt that left nothing to my imagination. Swoon city.

Cowboy boots, old and well-worn. Yes, please.

“If you keep looking at me like that, Paige, Ranger is going to have to watch me take you against his stall.”

My body hummed with excitement.

“Then let me look a little harder.”

Lucas let out a growl and picked up his pace. “Let me take care of the horse, then I’ll take care of you.”

I felt my lower lip go numb as I realized I was biting down on it.

Thirty minutes later, Lucas had me up against the wall of Ranger’s stall. “Take off your pants.”

“It’s not that easy. I have on boots,” I said with a giggle.

“I only need one boot off, one leg out of your pants.”

I gave him a mock expression of surprise. “You’d take me half-dressed?”

“Yes, seven ways to Sunday if given the opportunity.”

Moving with lightning speed, I pulled my boot off and dropped it to the side, then slipped my leg out of my jeans. I went to pull my panties down when Lucas grabbed my hand.

“Don’t bother.” He lifted me, pushed my panties to the side and entered me in one quick movement. I gasped at the sudden fullness.