Between the Pines (Black Springs Ranch, #1)

by Amber Palmer

But red was my favorite color, and I had a stubborn streak a mile long.

“But your dad was going to sponsor me in the upcoming season…”

And there it is.

And the hot-as-sin bartender staring at me as though I was his last meal wasn’t half-bad either.

“Well, my daddy taught me to handle my whiskey. Nothing can be worse than the rye bullshit he keeps on hand.”

The scent of fresh forest and aged whiskey was a punch to the gut.

“Yeah, actually… I’m thinking about what it would be like to fuck this pretty mouth. How I’d want to see it dressed in some pretty color only to fucking destroy it and then proudly wear the remnants around my cock so I could see precisely where you’d been.”

“Do you want to talk, or do you want to let me see that pretty pussy, darlin’? Because I know which option I’d prefer.”

“Lift your hips, darlin’. Let me see what’s mine.”

I’d never considered myself a smart man. I’d made a lot of mistakes and fucked up more times than I could count, but the smartest thing I’d ever done was kiss the beautiful dark-haired tornado that swept into my bar.

“Like when I play with these pretty fucking tits?”

Ugh. Pull yourself together, Josie. You’re just dick drunk.

“Josie, it’s fine. I’m not under any impression this was anything more than two strangers sharing—” he blew out a breath and shook his head, “—a fucking phenomenal night together.”

When I tried to apologize, he’d placed his hand over my mouth and forced me to ride his fingers until I saw stars.

“Gruff cowboy charm? Do you think I could quote you on that? I think that’d make a great tagline to use when they talk about all my murders.”

“Because I’m just some girl you fucked on a pool table after a four-hour conversation.” Lincoln gnawed on the inside of his cheek, letting out a huff of breath. “That really what you think, darlin’? That you’re some fuck to me? Hell, if that’s all this was, don’t you think I’d have turned you loose by now? I sure wouldn’t be taking off work and buying you ice cream, would I?”

“Truth be told, I don’t have all the answers, Josie. I wish I could give you what you’re looking for. All I know is that I don’t plan to let those thoughts in your head ruin whatever this could be. We could burn out by morning. If that’s the case, so be it. But why don’t we just keep doing what we’re doing and see where it goes?”

Not falling in love with a beautiful man from Tennessee in five days.

But as Lincoln coaxed the orgasm from my body before following with his own, I couldn’t deny that he’d just made love to me when I was planning on breaking his heart.

“Girls, meet Lincoln Carter. Lincoln, meet two of my girls—Josie and Cleo.”

“That,” I said, pointing out the front door, “is a huge fucking problem.”

“Why?” she asked. “Do you have the hots for the cowboy?” When I didn’t answer, responding only with a glare, she laughed. “Oh god, you do, don’t you?”

“Josie’s Tennessee fling is Dad’s new trainer,”

“I don’t know, Cleo. We didn’t talk about his previous occupations before I jumped him.”

“And before you ask, the only other things I know about him are how he takes his coffee and how good he is in bed.”

“And? How good is he?”

Keeping busy was the only thing stopping my mind from wandering to the stables where a handsome cowboy had been most of the day.

“There’re good places to hide a body on the ranch,”

Frank had given me everything in his will. His land in Tennessee, his bar, and his blessing.

But I’d never thought I’d be sitting here on his ranch, staring at his daughter like I was. God, she was fucking beautiful. I hadn’t forgot, but it was different seeing her again.

“Look, if you want nothing to do with me, tell me now. But I want to make one thing clear.”

“I may have come here to honor Frank’s wishes, but I also came to remind you of how good we were, of what we could be again if you let me. Is this really over?”

As if it hadn’t been enough to put myself in such a compromising position, then I went and answered the phone right in front of the only man who’d ever made it his mission to make me come.

“I looked over the projected totals for Black Spring’s summer income, and it looks great. We’ll be turning a high-end profit that should carry us into the winter.”

Hmm if he sees no problem is his dad or him stealing it?

moonlight. He was so handsome—too handsome for my own good. Like the last piece of decadent chocolate cake you know you shouldn’t touch, or speeding down a deserted highway with the windows down and your favorite song on the radio.

And god, I wanted to feel the wind in my hair so badly I had to bite my tongue to keep my mouth shut.

“I was gonna ask if you’d waited for me like I’d been waiting for you.”

Is it Bishop??

“Over a quarter of a million dollars is missing from my family’s accounts and you want to go to brunch?”

But sometimes, when you know, you know. And I knew Josie was it for me, even if I wasn’t it for her.

“Why do you even care, Lincoln?” Her hands dropped to her lap. “I don’t deserve your kindness. I left you without so much as a goodbye. What kind of person does that?”

I wanted to tell her I didn’t want to go back, that I’d give it up for her right here and now, but she didn’t need me to come in with that. She needed a friend—a shoulder to cry on—and I’d be whatever she needed me to be.

“Tell me something… Why’re you so dead set on keeping me at arm’s length? I’m trying to be your friend. I sure as hell don’t see anyone else here.”

“Baby, I’d tell you you were wrong every day if you’d let me, but that isn’t what you need. You don’t need me to convince you of your worth. You’ve got to do that shit yourself.”

“I’ve got you, darlin’. Go ahead and break so you can put yourself back together.” “I don’t know how.” “I said I’ve got you, and I meant it. We’ll pick up the pieces together. You’re not alone.”

I wanted to blaze a path down her cheeks and wipe away every mascara stain with my tongue.

“You’re gonna get me in trouble, darlin’. I’m supposed to be a gentleman, and you’ve got me thinking about being everything but.”

“Break up with that piece of shit you call a boyfriend, and I’ll tell you every sordid detail. Then, when you’re writhing underneath me, just like you are right now, I’ll make good on every word I said.”

“You don’t love him, and you know it, Josie. Hell, do you even like the guy? I’ve seen more chemistry between Bishop and a bottle of beer.”

“Why doesn’t your dad ever call me son?”

Because you are a little bitch

Obviously, I’d been a fluffy baby bunny murderer in my past life. That was the only possible explanation for this level of torture.