Seduction on the Sand (The Billionaires of Barefoot Bay #2)(26)

He lifted a cotton ball to her nose, his expression disappointment. “I really like this one, but I want you to close your eyes so you can really appreciate this scent.”

She inhaled, a zing going to every pleasure center in her body. “Oh, what is that?”

“Chamomile and lavender.”

She took another whiff. “What do you call it?”

“I call it…” He hesitated a few beats, making her look at him.

“You have no idea, do you?”

“Barefoot at Twilight,” he finally said.

She let out a soft gasp at the perfect name, and he caught the inhale in a kiss, wrapping his arms around her to pull her into him. “You like it?”

Really, what wasn’t to like? “I think that Jocelyn will love these fragrances and this whole concept and then she will buy tons of my soap, ensuring that I have every reason to stay right here on my goat farm where I belong, which…” She inched back and winked at him. “Makes me wonder if you really know what you’re doing.”

He didn’t smile but looked at her for a long time. “Makes me wonder, too,” he said, his voice hoarse. Suddenly, he let her go. “So, we’ve got one more. We have morning, sunset, and twilight.

What’s left?”

“Midnight.”

“I’m thinking something tropical, like that coconut—” He froze, eyes wide. “Did you hear someone scream?”

“Oh, that was Dominic.” She was so used to the bays and bleats, she barely heard her buck calling.

“He’s...” She laughed. “He’s kind of frustrated and...you know. Worked up.”

“Must be something in the water around—”

The goat cry was louder now and followed by the metallic smack of his pen gate hitting the fence.

“I think he got out!” Frankie whipped around to run to the shelter door. Not good. This was not good.

Elliott was on her heels, and they both rushed outside at the same time, to find Dominic charging straight toward them, wailing in fury and excitement at his freedom.

“Holy shit, he’s mad,” Frankie said. “He could bust right into this pen.”

“He won’t.” Elliott tore to the gate and leaped over it again, going straight for the buck, who hesitated and stumbled in surprise. “Whoa, slow down there, big boy.”

He was a big boy, too. A Salerno goat the size of a small pony, with a shiny red and black coat and powerful twisted horns, Dominic was everything one expected from an Italian boy.

“Careful,” she called. “He has a temper. And he’s obstinate. And can be a little stupid when he’s this horny.”

Elliott grinned, slowly approaching the goat, holding out his hands. “Easy, boy. None of the girls in the goat pen are interested in hotheaded, stupid, stubborn guys.”

But behind her, Agnes and Lucretia bayed and danced, as though they could contradict that statement. They were always ready for a party, and that just made Dominic throw his head back and howl.

“Damn, he’s ready to rock and roll,” Elliott said, taking a step closer.

Just then, Dominic whipped around, his full focus on Elliott. He lowered his head and charged, head-butting Elliott right onto his ass.

Frankie slammed her hand over her mouth, not sure if she should laugh or go try to save him, but Elliott rolled and got up so fast she didn’t have a chance to do anything.

“I don’t think so, goat boy,” Elliott muttered, his muscles tense, his backside dusty. He took a few more slow steps, jumping to the side to miss another butt. “We’re done here, Dominic.”

“We have to get him back into his pen,” Frankie said. “I don’t know how to do that, either, because he’s never escaped since I’ve been here.”

“Let’s go, Dominic.” Elliott carefully approached him and got his hand on the goat’s neck. “Let’s go—”

Dominic whipped from side to side, butting hard again, but this time Elliott held his balance and managed to get his arms around the goat’s neck.

All the does were out of the shelter now, screaming and scuffing their hooves, the acrid smell of the buck as exciting as the fight. Frankie held two of them back, walking closer to the fence, mesmerized as Elliott tried to lead Dominic back to his pen.

Dominic bucked again, snapping with open teeth at Elliott’s arm.

“Shit, he bites!”

No kidding. Frankie nodded, half-laughing, half-holding back a moan. Dom bit, kicked, and head-butted when he was content, for crying out loud, and right now he was one pissed-off buck.

“Come on, boy, come on.” Elliott braved another bite, swearing furiously as he worked to keep his balance and move the buck away. “You gotta go back home.”

As if he understood, Dominic jerked out of Elliott’s grip again and started to run in the direction of the road.

“Sonofabitch!” Elliott took off after him, a few feet behind, both running full force with dirt and stones flying.

Elliott grabbed hold of him, practically wrestling the goat to a stop, getting yet another buck and bite in the process. But Elliott held on tight, his legs wide, his powerful arms finally, finally subduing the goat.

“We’re going home,” Elliott said through gritted teeth, clearly in control now. “Move it!”