A Perfect Cowboy Daddy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 7) Read online

  “Have you been out here working all day?” Moon asked after the woman approached.

  “Oh, I took several breaks. This evening I’ll be picking blueberries and then taking a boat ride. I’m leaving soon and I can’t seem to get enough in.” She swiped the back of her hand across her forehead, leaving a trail of dirt. “I can’t believe I’ve been here for a week already. I could stay forever.”

  Moon smiled. “Nature seeps into your blood, doesn’t it?” She grabbed one of the large tomatoes from the basket and gently pressed it for firmness. It was perfect.

  “I’ll be back, guarantee it.”

  “Don’t forget to say goodbye before you leave, you hear?” Moon dropped the tomato back in with the rest of the produce.

  “I will. Care to give me a ride to the kitchen so I can drop these off?”

  “Sure. Hop in.”

  Once they were headed down the lane, Nola looked down at her clothes. “I’m a little dirty. I hope I don’t mess up your seat.”

  “No worries. They wash. I’ve proven that theory more times than I can count.” Moon had never thought much about dirt and dirty seats. Just like the old beat-up truck she still drove that she’d inherited from her parents who’d used it on the family farm. They had a belief that just because something lost its shine didn’t mean it should be traded in for something new. She couldn’t remember her parents ever buying a new car—or anything ‘new’ for that matter.

  “I’m going to miss you, Moon. And of course I’m going to miss the views too.”

  “You won’t find these sceneries anywhere else, unfortunately.”

  “And no one quite wears a hat and boots like the Nirvana cowboys. I think I’m in love. I got a glimpse of the new boys with Chase earlier. Whoo-whee!”

  Moon looked down the seat at Nola who was blushing. “You certainly will go back home refreshed.”

  “I might even find my own cowboy. How do you do it, Moon? Being around all these hunky men day in and day out. I swear, if I was younger I’d be flaunting a pair of Daisy Dukes and teaching these men a few lessons I have hidden up my sleeve. I bet you could tell a few naughty stories.”

  “Sorry. No stories to tell. By the time my evening’s finished I’m ready to hit the sheets, for sleep.” No way could she open up and talk to the woman about the lonely nights.

  Nola chuckled. “Sure, sweetheart, and I was born yesterday.” They pulled up in front of the large lodge that housed the kitchen and an eating area that overlooked the mountains. Guests had gathered on the patio to enjoy a meal. “Here’s where I get off, my dear.”

  “Do you want me to wait?”

  “No. I’ll be fine from here.” She slid out, but turned back. “Life is too short to waste it not doing what you want to do. Trust it coming from a woman who didn’t realize this until it was too late.” She winked and stepped up to the cobblestone walkway.

  Moon waited for Nola to go inside and then pulled away, mulling over her insightful words. Although it was against the rules for staff and guests to socialize intimately, there’d been a lot of relationships sparked at the ranch…and marriages. The running joke was that cupid peed in the water supply and women came here hoping to snag one of the hot, sexy cowboys. Even Chase had found his soulmate at Nirvana and he and Kaycee were happy.

  Truthfully, there’d been a few times Moon had found herself in a position when the lure of masculinity was almost too much. Just last week she’d been brushing down a horse when she spotted Jace, one of the hands, across the field, shirtless, dripping in sweat, his belt buckle glistening in the sun as he stacked bales of hay. Never before had sweating been so sexy, so sensual. Her core reminded her that she hadn’t had sex for a long time—not since her cheating husband had bent her over the kitchen island in their luxurious downtown apartment. Little did she know, until later, he’d just left his mistress and her cheap perfume had mixed with the scent of arousal. Moon had overlooked the obvious signs. How could she not see Art’s cheating ways sooner? Her stomach turned and the need to wipe out the haunting memory with a skilled, virile bed partner grew stronger.

  Nirvana was a six-pack-abs, God’s-gift-to-denim buffet and she had her plate in hand, fork ready, and one wrong move and she would lick, bite, and gobble.

  Control yourself, Moon. Rolling around naked where she worked was the first step to writing her resignation.

  Yet, there was a scorching need between her inner thighs that she couldn’t seem to ignore—couldn’t satiate with her trusty toy that had become her best buddy.

  A thought struck her like a slap to the back of the head. If she got pregnant soon, she could say buh-bye to any sexual pleasure that didn’t require batteries for the next year, or two, maybe even three. Her parents had told her that their sex life had been put on the back burner until she went away to college. Eighteen years was a long dry spell.

  Moon gulped and her chest tightened. Maybe she needed to rethink this whole plan. Not the insemination, that she was sure of, but the idea of not making sex a top priority. This could be her one and only chance before she concentrated on a baby.

  She mentally shook herself. She might be surrounded by some of the best looking cowboys in Wyoming, but when they looked at her they didn’t see breasts, soft curves and vagina. They saw ‘one of the guys’. Sure, she didn’t help the situation any. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten dolled up or applied makeup—or spritzed herself with her favorite perfume. She found herself reaching for the cotton granny panties in her drawer more often than the lacy, satin lingerie she used to love to wear for Art. Wedgies and working the land didn’t mix. These days, it was all about flannel and jeans, ponytails and Bag Balm. She’d always been a tomboy, loved getting her hands dirty, but she enjoyed being a lady too, feeling wanted and desired. Enjoyed driving a man wild between the sheets.

  Since walking in on Art fucking Tracey, a lot had changed. The sight of him and her sprawled across the couch, grunting and thrusting, was tattooed on the back of her eyelids. It wasn’t the pain of his cheating that left her cold now. The fact that her life had been thrown for a loop left her bitter. She needed to take a plunging step forward, and that’s what having a baby would do for her. Push her onto the next rung of the ladder.

  Again, she couldn’t ignore that it had been so long since she’d been touched, caressed, simply screwed until her toes tingled. She was quickly forgetting how she used to have multiple orgasms, loved exploring new positions, new places.

  Truthfully, sex was about the only thing she missed in her marriage. She didn’t even miss that he was gone, especially how things were between them when the bedroom had gotten too crowded.

  Last she heard, he’d married Tracey and they were expecting. Good luck! Good riddance! Moon hoped he could keep his Armani slacks zipped.

  Being horny was a thorn in the ass when no one was available to help a girl out.

  She rolled her eyes at the wretchedness of her situation.

  The last hug of sunlight held onto the sky as she pulled next to the barn and shut off the engine. She inhaled the strong scent of hay and freshly mowed grass. She loved it. Wished she could bottle it. The peace and quiet soothed her soul. She grabbed a cookie from the tin and nibbled.

  Movement caught her attention. She narrowed her eyes on the dark silhouette of horse and rider moving slowly through the field. The duo came closer. Jace was riding Caliber, one of their newest mustangs. The horse’s long, lean muscles coiled as he kept a steady pace. But it wasn’t the beast’s muscles that kept Moon’s attention.

  She popped the rest of her cookie into her mouth and swiped her palms down the legs of her jeans. All she was missing was the popcorn. She chuckled.

  Jace and the horse came around the side of the barn and she continued to watch. He looked like a western portrait that had come alive. His cowboy hat was pulled low. The thin layer of beard made his jaw shadowed and he gripped the leather reins with strong hands.

  He slowed the horse and slid
out of the saddle. Her gaze naturally skimmed his frayed and tattered flannel. Faded jeans and worn boots.

  She considered him a friend. They worked together often, yet she knew very little about his history. A lot of the staff here at Nirvana were quite about their past. In fact, very few people knew of her ex and his cheating ways. Not having to discuss every sordid detail made life easier. Jace led Caliber into the barn.

  Climbing out of the Gator, she strolled to the open door and peered in. He removed the saddle and placed it on the work bench. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up high, revealing strong arms covered in dark, crisp hair. His fingers were wide and thick, and she conjured up an image of him caressing her, which triggered a rush of tingles between her thighs.

  This was a dangerous spot.

  She was lonely. And horny.

  She became the aimless bullet shooting through the night looking for a target.

  In a perfect world, she wouldn’t have to be here now, staring at Jace like he was a perfectly grilled filet mignon. She’d be with a man—a good man, and not the one who she’d trusted, but was betrayed by. She hated that she wanted a man’s attention, wanted to be touched and appreciated. Hated that she’d gone through a time when she wondered if she had been the reason why Art cheated. Maybe she wasn’t pretty enough. Feminine enough. She blew out a long breath. This was all silliness. She wasn’t desperate. After all, Jace had never given her the indication that he was interested in taking things to the next level with her. He’d always been a gentleman, and slightly guarded.

  What if he didn’t find her attractive?

  Several times she’d been to the local honky tonk with the hands and she’d seen the women they navigated toward. And they didn’t look like her. Not even close. It wasn’t that she didn’t have a feminine bone in her body. Back when she was married she got dressed up all of the time and behind closed doors she knew the tricks to make a man melt.

  Here at work she’d been careful to stay at arm’s length from the other hands, friendly but keeping her distance. She always wore her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, otherwise it landed well past her waist and got in the way. On occasion, she applied a coat of mascara to bring out the bright blue of her eyes. Art always said she had Bettie Davis eyes and that was what had attracted him to her. She made little effort these days to be girly-girl. Out here, as a hand, she had to be tough—had something to prove.

  She wasn’t the model-type, or waif thin. Thanks to well-fitting sports bras, she could hide the fact that she had ample breasts. Her curvy hips were something she couldn’t hide.

  “Hey, Moon.” Jace had finally noticed her.

  She moved her gaze across the hey-strewn floor to where he was latching Caliber’s stall. Her heart skipped a beat and her mouth went dry. It was now or never. They were alone and she had a hunger that needed satiated. She’d never been opposed to going after what she wanted. Why hadn’t she before? Why now did she feel the urge to land herself a cowboy for the night?

  Gathering her wits, she joined him in the center of the barn. The other horses were snorting, but she didn’t focus on the noise because all she could see was the opportunity dangling before her to put out an internal fire.

  Alarm bells went off in her head. This was unlike her.

  These were modern times when a woman could come on to a man for a one-night stand—even get pregnant and raise a child alone.

  “Enjoy your ride?” She hooked her thumbs into the front pockets of her jeans and tilted one hip. It had been a while since she’d seduced a man, but she could remember a few important details.

  “It’s a gorgeous evening.” He smiled broadly. “Are you just getting back from town?”

  “Not too long ago. You’re right. It’s beautiful out. This is a lover’s sunset.” There it was. She tossed out the line. Would he bite?

  “Wow, I didn’t know you were a romantic.” He laughed.

  “Oh, I’ve been known to surprise a few people on occasion.” She slowly licked her lips.

  “You trying to surprise me?”

  She swallowed. “You could say that.”

  He dipped his hat, resituating it on his head, but he kept his gaze steady with hers. “I guess it’s easy to forget you’re not one of the guys.”

  Seriously? She had to pull out all the stops. She sashayed her way to the wooden slats of Caliber’s stall and reached in to pet the mustang who nuzzled her hand. She subtly leaned over closer to give Jace, what she hoped, was a rounded view of her bottom. She had plenty to put to good use.

  When a long moment of silence passed, she looked over her shoulder and sighed. He wasn’t standing close. She scanned the dimly lit space and found him at the workbench polishing the saddle.

  If she was in her right mind, she would have walked away, but no. She was on a mission.

  Joining him, she leaned against the worktop where he had his head bent, concentrating on shining the leather with a fervor she’d never seen in him before. He dipped the corner of the rag into a canister of polish and worked the cream on the horn. She watched his hands move, his long, thick fingers were deft at the task. She could use some of that attention on her secret parts. She cleared her throat. “Where’s everyone at? Are we all alone?”

  He nodded, not taking his attention from the chore. “It’s quite this evening. They scattered when the day ended.”

  Lifting herself up, she took a seat on the bench, her thigh inches from where his hand worked meticulously. He moved the saddle and his fingers brushed her knee, but he didn’t even seem to notice. She twirled a tendril of her hair around her finger, looking at him through the veil of her lashes. “Wow, its hot out tonight.”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  Sliding her fingertips from her throat, down to her collarbone, she slipped inside of her shirt. The top button of her flannel came loose. Subtly, she glanced down, making sure she wasn’t showing too much. Her breasts swelled over the top of her bra. Her nipples tightened. Why hadn’t she decided to wear one of her pretty, lacy Victoria’s Secret bras?

  She leaned slightly forward, giving him a peek of her assets.

  Still. Rubbing. The leather.

  Was he even paying attention? Did he even care that she was coming on to him?

  “Maybe it’ll snow tomorrow?”

  Nothing.

  “I want to get naked with you,” she muttered. Still no response. “How about I use the beam as a stripper pole and we get nasty together?” He didn’t even blink.

  She jumped off the bench, her boots hitting the dirt hard and sending up a cloud. She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her toe. “Jace? JACE!”

  “Yes?” He turned, wiping his hands on the dirty cloth.

  Irritation shimmied down her spine. “If you haven’t noticed, which apparently you haven’t, I’ve been flirting with you for the last ten minutes.”

  He blinked. “You have?”

  “Yes, I have! I don’t go around sticking my fingers inside my blouse unless I’m trying to turn a man on!”

  “I’m sorry…”

  “I’m not sure whether I should be embarrassed or respectful that you’re being a gentleman.”

  “I am a gentleman,” he sputtered.

  “I’m giving you the permission to not be.”

  He sighed and dropped the rag next to the saddle. “Why?”

  Her mouth parted, but she quickly forced her lips closed. “Are you being serious? I’m practically throwing myself at you and you have no clue why? Either I’m just that bad at seduction or you’re just not interested.” She dropped her arms to her sides.

  “Look, Moon…I really am sorry…”

  Her shoulders slumped and she swiveled, not wanting to look at him. “You don’t have to explain.”

  “I think I do. I-I don’t look at you like that. I think of you as one of the guys. I haven’t always. There was a time when I was afraid I might do something stupid, real stupid, and I…well…we’ve worked together f
or a while. You’ve never, you know, did this before.”

  He brought up a good point. Why hadn’t she felt like this before now? Before a few weeks ago?

  Her heart did a flip. She leaned her hands on the top rail of the stall. Caliber neighed and she rubbed his nose, attempting to concentrate on her breaths. In and out. In and out. What had she been thinking?

  Demanding her body to get in line, she finally turned back to Jace, planting a smile on her face. The last thing she’d do was show any disappointment. “It’s okay. I guess I’m just a little out of my head this evening because of the heat. Or blame it on the sunset.” She chuckled, but it fizzled.

  Jace took a step closer, started to reach out to touch her, but he must have thought better of having any contact. “You’re a great person, beautiful, sweet, but…”

  Oh no. Not this! The last thing she wanted to hear was the “It’s not you, it’s me” lecture. “Don’t worry about it. Really. Let’s pretend this didn’t happen and move on. I appreciate your honesty. A lot of men would have just gone with the flow and got laid.” Why didn’t she feel better? Because honestly, she just wanted to get laid. Deserved her right. A woman should never jump into anything when she was this needy.

  “Right.” He pulled off his hat, ran his hand through his hair then smashed it back on his head. “I should go. You’ll be all right?”

  She nodded. “Better than all right.” She winked, smile still in place, although her toes were on fire.

  He walked away and her smile dropped like a hot rock.

  Moon plopped down on a bale of hay and lowered her face into her palms as humiliation washed over her. What had she just done? Rejection sizzled deep in her veins. How would she ever face Jace again?

  “I’m glad he’s finally gone.”

  She froze, didn’t even take a breath, as she pondered who owned the voice.

  Spreading her fingers wide, she looked through the cracks, darting a glance around her. Had she imagined hearing the man’s voice? Oh, now she was losing her mind as well as losing her ability to seduce a man. She stood and started for the door, but heard a rustling sound coming from the back of the barn. Swiveling on her boot heel, she found Dr. Cam Parker. His stethoscope was slung over his neck and his cowboy hat was sitting crooked on his forehead.