He shrugs, not wanting to brag, but I really want to know. “No, tell me. I want you to brag. Do you miss it?”
He nods instantly. “Yeah, I miss it. I think I always will, but now having this, well, it’s like I have something else to fill that void now. And yeah, I was good. I’m already booked out for training. As soon as the barn is finished”—he points out to the barn that looks complete from here—“I’ll be able to get started.”
“And Austin sold you this land, knowing he’d lose you on his ranch?” I ask, not understanding. I’ve heard the ladies talking at church about how hard it’s been to find help on the local ranches. I can’t believe Austin would willingly lose a rancher and a good one at that.
“Yeah, I was surprised too, but it was his idea. Austin and I are close; we have been for a long time. I worked on the ranch for his parents since I was fifteen and even while I was on the circuit. We’re more like family. They sort of saved me in foster care.”
I interrupt him. “I didn’t know you were in foster care.”
He nods. “Yep, I never knew my dad, and my mom left me when I was young.” He stops for an instant and then continues. “I spend all my holidays with the Yates, and Mylie and Abby call me Uncle Carter,” he says, talking about Austin and Millie’s twin daughters.
“That’s good, Carter. I’m glad that you have that... that you have a family.”
He nods. “Yeah, my marriage didn’t work out, but it obviously does for some people. Millie loves Austin and her kids. She’d never leave them.”
I put my hand on his chest and curl my fingers into his shirt. He’s telling me more than he realizes, I’m sure. “Most women don’t leave, Carter.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, I mean if they love someone, I mean really love them, they won’t.”
I move in closer to him and touch his chin so he looks down at me instead of over my head. “I don’t know what happened between you and your ex-wife, but I don’t believe your mom didn’t love you. She may have been sick, overwhelmed, or maybe something happened, I don’t know. But there’s no way I could believe your mother didn’t love you.”
He shrugs like it’s not a big deal, but I know it is. “Well, I’ll never know. I heard she passed away a few years ago.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s talk about something else. I didn’t mean to get deep on you.”
I reach up and cover his hand that’s resting on my shoulder. “Okay, what do you want to talk about?”
He smirks. “How about us being kissing friends?”
I laugh, and a snort comes out. I cover my face, embarrassed.
“You snorted!” He starts to laugh, and I playfully smack him on the chest.
He catches my hand and brings it up to his shoulders. By this point, I’m laughing with him. “I don’t think you’re supposed to point it out.”
He ducks his head so we’re looking into each other’s eyes. “It’s cute.”
I shake my head, not wanting to laugh in fear that I’ll snort again. “No, it’s definitely not cute.”
He puts his large, rough hands on each side of my face. “I think it is.”
I stop laughing then, entranced by the look on his face. “Are you going to kiss me?” I ask him and then blush, thinking how stupid that sounds.
He nods. “I want to.”
I close my eyes and wait.
His voice is gruff. “Can I kiss you, Janie?”
I blink, opening my eyes. This is my out. I already know I’m in too deep with him, but I can’t tell him no. “Yes, I hope you do.”
He leans in slowly and presses his lips to mine. He takes his time, nibbling at my lip, pressing soft kisses to the corners of my lips. I remember the other night and open my mouth to him. He doesn’t hesitate. He deepens the kiss as one hand slides around to the nape of my neck and the other one holds on to my ponytail. He pulls it backwards slowly, and I bend to his will, letting his tongue mate with mine.
We’re so close, but I need him closer. I move against his body, and the friction pushes me further, sliding my body along his like a cat that wants to be petted. My nipples harden, and there’s a tug in my lower belly, but I can’t imagine stopping.
He leans me against the fence post and slides his leg between the two of mine. He’s hard everywhere I’m soft, and I whimper at his demanding touch. His leg rises, and I moan loudly against his mouth. My thighs are trembling, and between my mound feels swollen and needy.