Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(63)

“You gonna wow them with your special caramel apple pie, eh?” He frowned. “Hey, didja ever bring back that can of whipped cream you borrowed?”


Macie choked on her beer, and waved off her father as he started toward her with a worried look on his face.


Gemma’s eyes narrowed, then widened with comprehension. She hid a grin behind her beer bottle.


“You ready, sweets?” Cash said to Gemma. “We need to hit the road.”


“Soon as I hit the bathroom.” Gemma stood and smiled at Macie. “Thanks again for helping out. I enjoy talking with you. Don’t be a stranger.” She disappeared up the stairs.


“You’ll be okay here alone tonight?” her dad asked. “Last time we left there was a storm—”


“I’ll be fine.”


“Is Carter comin’ over?”


“I’m not sure.”


He fiddled with his cowboy hat. “Call him. I’d feel better if he was around.”


Macie lifted her eyebrows. Dad wanted Carter here? That was a first. “Why?”


“Yeah, well, because I want him to check the cattle before supper. He needs to take care of what’s important.”


Right. The cattle. Instead of that horses-and-cows-and-everything-else-are-more-important-than-me sinking sensation, she knew her dad had meant her. She was important. Macie hid a teary smile and turned away.


Later that night, Macie was exhausted when Carter barged into Gemma’s kitchen.


After he kissed her thoroughly, he said, “Come on. I want to show you something.”


“Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I’m tired and I have to be up early.”


“It’ll be worth your while, I promise.”


“Then will you tuck me in bed?”


“Uh-huh. I’ll even let you sleep tonight.”


They weren’t getting a lot of sleep the nights they were together. If she’d thought the man was dynamic in bed before the whipped cream incident. Whew. It was nothing compared to the stamina with which he made love to her at every opportunity. Just a few hours back he’d wrestled her to the floor in Gemma’s living room and screwed her silly.


She still couldn’t figure out what’d changed him. In addition to the smokin’ hot sex, they talked into the wee hours. And laughed, Lord, they’d laughed until they cried. They had pillow fights and water wars. They’d crawl in bed and feed each other ice cream. Or snuggle up by the campfire. Sometimes they played cards, although neither of them knew how to play pinochle. They were truly acting like a couple.


Macie couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Or exhausted.


She sighed.


“Please? Come on, darlin’, be daring.”


“Okay. But you better not be taking me snipe hunting.”


“Never. Close your eyes.” He slipped something soft over her head. Everything went dark.


“A blindfold? Why?”


“You’ll see. Trust me.” He clasped her hand in his and led her outside. “It’s just a short drive.” He helped her into his truck. They rode down the gravel road in silence.


Macie was a little unnerved, not knowing where they were or what they were doing.


They walked a ways and stopped.


“Hang on.” She heard a rustling noise and then Carter picked her up and laid her on something soft flat on the ground.


“Carter—”


“Ssh. Don’t be scared. I’m here. Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them.” He nibbled around the edges of her lips as he slid off the blindfold. One last sweet kiss and he moved away.


She felt him lay down beside her.


“Okay, darlin’, you can open them now.”


Macie blinked her eyes open and stared at the sky above her, which was a magnificent swath of pitch black, punctuated with silver stars. Stars so big she could almost reach out and touch them. Stars bursting with light so bright it was as if she were part of the Milky Way.


“Omigod. It is beautiful.”


“Isn’t it?”


“I’ve never seen anything like it.” That wasn’t a lie. She was absolutely floored.


“There’s no moon tonight and no clouds. No streetlights or air pollution to diffuse the pure blackness of the sky.”


“Is it always like this in Wyoming?”


“No. Maybe once or twice every couple of years. I’ve seen it in the summer when it’s hot as hell, and in the dead of winter when it’s ice cold. I have to admit I like layingon a blanket much better than bein’ wrapped up in a parka.”


“Me too. Thank you for sharing this, it’s spectacular.”


Carter reached for her hand. He swept his thumb over her wrist; he always had to be touching her. It wasn’t annoying; it was soothing, and becoming a familiar and welcome quirk.


They stargazed in awestruck silence. She had no idea how much time passed. Her mind blanked to everything the majesty stretched out before them and the sweetness of the man laying beside her.