Redemption (Cowgirls Do It Better, #1)

by Lila Dawes

“Jack, wait.” My name on her lips did weird things to my stomach that I would think about another time. I turned and she was coming down the porch towards me, her long, toned legs glowing in the sunshine.

And then a moment later I saw a shirtless Jack wandering around. He was tanned and toned, body built and strong, overpowering. I strained my eyes, was that chest hair I could see? Oh God, why am I staring at him? Why is he so attractive?

But her sass, her strength and bravery were like sparks in my veins. I didn’t know why, maybe I just had a thing for sassy blondes who could verbally chew me up and spit me out.

“You can work behind the bar, the ladies’ll love you, and the controversy will increase my volume of customers,” he said, his low voice held a hint of resignation.

Then I cast my gaze out the window and I once again locked onto that navy stare that was driving me crazy. Kat was watching me from the main house. She didn’t move, I think she thought I couldn’t see her. I stood up straight, interested in her boldness.

She fidgeted next to me and snuggled in closer, like she couldn’t burrow in deep enough. After a while her breathing slowed and just before she fell asleep, she said something that slayed me: “I like it when you call me sweetheart.”

Stepping closer to the window, I took a bite of the apple, swiping my tongue across my lip to catch a drop of juice. Almost like I could feel her eyes on my mouth, my dick hardened in my boxers. I couldn’t see her but I knew she was watching. I wanted her to watch me. I wanted to see her. I wanted to know if she felt this pull between us too. This pull that was surely headed for disaster.

He knew. He knew I watched him. And I couldn’t help it. Couldn’t stop it. He knew and he watched me too. He let me. In the dark of night when everything felt secret and safe. I couldn’t explain why I was so obsessed with him.

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.” “Stop calling me that!” she snapped. I was wrapped up in our banter and tugged her closer, dropping my voice. “But you like it.”

I closed my eyes and tilted her chin slightly, ready to fit our lips together. I already knew it would be the perfect fit, the perfect pressure, the perfect taste.

“Jack,” I whispered, and it was enough. He took one step forward, then another, until he was right up against me, pressing me back against the door. “Why are you here?” he demanded, his voice low. “I…” had no answer. I didn’t know why. Only that I’d felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever, and I didn’t want to leave.

“Because right now, the way I feel about you, I want this to be the best damn kiss you’ve ever had.”

Grief was a funny thing. You think you’re okay and getting by just fine. Then something comes along and knocks you on your ass. That was me today.

“I need you,” he said. The wanting in his voice was too much.

“It’s been a while, I get it. It’s okay if it’s quick the first time, we can go again,”

“No, I mean I haven’t…”

“You mean you hadn’t before you went to prison?”

“No.”

“Oh…”

“Ohhh…so this will be your first time?”

“Yes. Which is why I stopped the other night. You wanted it a certain way from me, and I wasn’t sure I co...

“So you decided to not give me anything? Rather than ...

“I’m an idiot.”

“I’m not arguing with that.”

She leaned forward and nipped my chin, kissed her way along my jaw before stopping by my ear.

“I’ll be g...

“Good God, I ho...

“What a way to wake up. Is this why people never get out of bed?” His voice rumbled in my ear, raspy from sleep and making me shiver.

“I am hard to get,” she replied, closing the door and strutting over to me. “No, sweetheart. You’re hard to keep.”

“Tell me you want me,”

“I want you.”

“Tell me you need me.”

Her eyes heated, I think she liked the way ...

“I need...

“This is a naked bedroom, no pajamas allowed.” She arched a brow at me and then shrugged out of her shorts and top. “That’s fine, if you think you can keep your hands to yourself.” I prowled across the bed and pulled her into me. “Sweetheart, I have zero intention of keeping my hands to myself.”

“If you keep doing that, I’m going to have to find something to restrain you with,”

“You wouldn’t dare,”

“Right, where’s that rope I saw earlier?”

“No!”

I squealed, trying to pull them away and failing miserably. He gave me a look that said I was in for a ravishing and my excitement grew. He tickled me, I shrieked and giggled and we ended up on the floor of the newly cleaned stall, rolling in the hay.

“I’m sorry sweetheart but this is gonna be hard and fast, I need you,”

Jack never gave any signs that what happened still affected him, or if he did, he hid it well. But it was in his dreams that this strong, gentle and unbreakable man was tortured by his actions and memories.

Kat sat in the middle of the bed, her long legs crossed, that Stetson on her head, her pink cowgirl boots on her feet and not wearing anything else. I couldn’t speak, practically choked on my tongue at the amazing sight of her.

August pulled me into the kitchen and dug around in various cupboards, rummaged in the sideboard for a few bits, and presented me with a wicker picnic basket, checkered blanket and napkins, and a matching set of dishes and utensils. “This was my mother’s,” August said, presenting them to me. I hesitated and August smiled softly. “I think she’d be very happy for you to take them and put them to use. Mom was a big romantic, and she and Daddy always used to have picnics. It’s okay Jack, take them.”

“I’ve watched you behind the bar all night, getting hit on by other women and I just want to remind you that you belong to me,”

she drove me wild and I couldn’t control myself. She looked so damn good on her knees, looking up at me with wide eyes as she swallowed down everything I gave her.

He ate at my mouth, his hand coming up to cup my jaw, angling my head for deeper contact and he rumbled low in his throat when our tongues teased each other.