Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(80)

Macie shook her head and made a mad dash for the bathroom.


Carolyn’s worry lines faded when she saw AJ. “How are you?”


“Good. Any problems with the lawyer today?”


“Nope. Once the money is squared away and Florence pens her signature to the deed, you and your mother are officially squatters on McKay land.”


AJ’s face fell.


“Oh, honey. I was kidding.”


“Nice goin’, Ma,” Cord said dryly. “Got salt in your hand, wanna throw that in her eye too?”


“I need to get going.” AJ purposely avoided the word “home”. She frowned. “Shoot.


I don’t have a car.”


“I’ll take you. I’m headed that way.” Cord pecked his mother’s forehead. “Behave.


No pesterin’ Macie about you-know-what.”


“Like I have a choice. Carter made me promise.” Carolyn winked at her. “Have fun at your girls’ night. Call if you need a designated driver, but I believe you’ll be the only one drinkin’.”


She and Cord didn’t speak at all until they were in the truck and a mile down the road. “Macie told me she and Carter will be living in my old house.”


“You okay with that?”


No. “I guess. Thanks for suggesting Macie tell me.” She looked out the window. “So are the McKays officially land barons? Buying up everything in Crook and Weston County?”


Cord didn’t answer.


“Sorry. It’s just hard.”


He slowed down at the next pullout and parked. “C’mere.”


AJ buried her face against his chest. He didn’t say a word; he just held her.


After a while, he said, “I wanna be with you like this, dust devils swirlin’ around us in the late afternoon heat. Just us, sneakin’ some alone time. What do you say?”


She nodded.


Cord slipped out and climbed back in the passenger’s side, pulling her on his lap.


“Let me love you up. You look a little lost.”


I am. Oh, she’d like it if he loved her, but she accepted the only type of love Cord could offer her was physical.


He kissed her softly, sweetly, running his rough hands up her spine beneath her damp shirt. The languorous kiss seemed endless. Cord seemed equally content just to touch her. He eased away from her mouth and whispered, “Lord, I’m gettin’ addicted to your kisses, AJ. I feel plain, damn drugged when you’re kissin’ me. I feel plain, damn lost myself when you ain’t around.” Then he dove in for another thorough taste of her mouth.


When his erection twitched, she fumbled for his belt. “Pants off, cowboy.”


“Hang on.” He lowered the bench seat back. “Scoot to the middle for a sec.” He shimmied his jeans down his legs. “Now you. Take them britches completely off.”



AJ kicked her sandals to the floorboard.


“And the shirt and bra.”


“If my shirt comes off, then so does yours.”


He grabbed the hem and yanked. “Now come here, cowgirl up and show me how good you can ride.”


Bracing her hands on the sculpted muscle and hardness of his chest, she straddled his pelvis and began to lower down.


His hand curled around her hips. “Slow. I wanna see your body takin’ me in. Oh yeah, that’s so goddamn sexy. Bring those pretty tasty nipples to my mouth.”