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  He moved then, pulling his hips back, pressing into her again. He propped on his elbows, his forearms under her shoulders. The denim of his jacket scraped her nipples, and she thought about unbuttoning it, but the friction was too good to let go of.

  Pete’s gaze locked with hers, and as the sun set, a breeze blew across them and the howl of a coyote pierced the quiet.

  “I can see why you love it here.” She could get used to the quiet after the noise of Deadwood.

  “I’ll love it more when you’re here.” He frowned. “I don’t know how this is going to work long distance, but we’ll make it go.” Speeding his thrusts, his eyes rolled back for a second.

  She wrapped her bare leg around him, urging him faster, as her hands laced through his wild hair. “We don’t have to make any decisions right away, but I want you to know how much I want this. I want you, Pete.” She felt the blur of tears in her eyes.

  He kissed her, frantic now, as his hips pumped, his cock gave every fiber of her being the thrill ride she wanted to experience every day of her life. She tipped her hips, tightened her opening, willing him deeper, faster.

  He complied, and in seconds, everything went black, her pussy convulsed and shuddered, her brain burst with color and a loud, long cry escaped her lips. “Pete. Oh God, Pete. I love you.” The words flew from her mouth and her eyes popped open.

  He smiled down at her, sweat beading on his forehead. Just then, he spasmed, jerking his hips, ramming his cock into her as he shook and moaned, his orgasm running through him like a freight train.

  He collapsed onto her, breathing hard for long moments before a soft laugh came from his chest. “You know what, CJ?” He rolled to his side, pulling her onto her side to face him. Their gazes met.

  “No. What, Pete?” She braced herself. How could she stand to hear this wonderful thing from his lips when she could barely contain her emotions?

  “I love you, girl. You’re everything to me.” His eyes looked misty, unfocused.

  Something cracked inside her, burst, filling her with warmth and peace and certainty. Her lips curved up, way up, until she could feel the cold air on her teeth. Then she laughed. Rusty and low at first, but as she tried it again, it sounded nearly normal.

  He reared back, his eyes wide. “What’s going on?” He grinned. “Is that a smile? Yep, those are your teeth. And that sound coming from you? Is that laughter?”

  She buried her face in his chest. “Don’t make fun, Pete. I’m not used to this. I’m new at feeling this good.”

  “Aw, CJ.” He hugged her close. “I’m sorry. It was just so unexpected.” He kissed her hair. “I’d been getting used to having my woman always scowling at me. I like this new stuff.”

  She rolled onto her back, staring at the stars that fought to shine through the darkening sky. “It’s been so long since I had anything to smile about.”

  “I know.” He settled her into the crook of his arm. “I promise to give you good reason to smile, girl.”

  “Girl.” She snuggled closer. “I like that better than boss lady.”

  “You’re my girl. I like that.” He cleared his throat. “But I have something to tell you that might get you a bit riled.”

  She nodded and braced herself for his news. An ex-wife and three kids living a mile away? A prison history? A secret fetish that involved high heels, and him wearing them?

  “I’m working on the oil field. Have been since just after high school.”

  CJ slid away and turned to look at him. “Really?” She’d pictured him here on the farm all week. “That explains a lot.”

  “Yeah. I wasn’t trying to mislead you. The subject never came up, and then things fell apart.” He rolled on his side, meeting her eyes. “I have plans, CJ. For the ranch. I’ve saved enough to buy the place from my parents, buy a number of adjoining ranches, and make this one of the biggest spreads in South Dakota.”

  Her eyes popped wide. He’d made that much money? “That’s amazing. I didn’t realize how lucrative oil work was.”

  “I save and invest.” He pulled the blankets up closer to her chin. “I’ll hire a foreman, ranch hands, an accountant, and buy more stock. Once everything is in place…” He grinned. “I’ll be free to travel wherever we want.”

  CJ closed her eyes. It seemed too much to take in all at once. “It’s like things are falling into place too easily.”

  He snugged her closer, her head on his shoulder. “That’s how things should be for us. You’ve had so much responsibility… Hey, who’s watching the bar tonight?”

  She smiled, liking the feel of it on her face. “Dolby’s son Jake. He’s in college, learning management stuff. He’ll be stepping in for me more often now, so I can come spend nights on your air mattress.”

  He chuckled. “We’ll go up to the house to sleep. Too cold tonight. You’ll sleep in my room, and I’ll crash in Huck’s.”

  “Then I’ll sneak into bed with you, when the parents are asleep?”

  “Exactly.” They stared up at the stars, popping now that the sky was nearly black. “Sneaking around like we’re teenagers.”

  “I can’t wait. But when will this place be finished?”

  “Roof and walls are going up this week, then the interior mechanical, electrical, and water, then you get to help me decorate.”

  She groaned. “You’ve seen my apartment. White with more white and some colorful pillows.”

  “Okay, good point. We’ll hire someone to help us decorate.”

  She liked the “us” word he’d used. “Pete?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you put a skylight right about there?” She pointed straight up.

  “Already thought of it.” He pointed toward the eastern horizon. “Orion.”

  She could see the constellation’s belt. Now, it was time for her to confess. “Cassiopeia Jupiter.”

  “Uh, really?” He laughed. “I see Cassiopeia, but Jupiter? Where’s that?”

  “It’s not up there. It’s here, right next to you.” She waited for more laughter.

  He was silent for a few moments. “CJ is Cassiopeia Jupiter?” He kept his voice level. No teasing, no laughter, not like her first years of school which prompted her to demand her school records listed her as “CJ”.

  “Yes. Mom was a leftover hippy, and dad would have done anything to make her happy. Didn’t work, though. So now you know my secret.” CJ rolled over, laying her arm across his chest.

  “What a coincidence. My middle name is Ophiuchus. The serpent-bearer constellation.”

  “What?” She popped her head up to look at his face. “You’re joking.”

  He nodded. “Yep. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.” He kissed her, quick and hard. “You’ve met my parents. Not a hippy bone in their bodies. My middle name is Joseph.”

  She felt a rolling happiness coming from her stomach, and it burst forth as a laugh. A real laugh. “You make me happy, Pete. Really happy.” She kissed his chest and lay her head over where his heart beat.

  “We’ll make it a happy life, CJ. We’ll do some traveling as soon as you say. We’ll see Cassiopeia and Ophiuchus and every other constellation from cities all over the globe.”

  Seeing Pete’s home, lying here with him, somehow had tempered her wanderlust. “I kinda like the thought of just settling here. Baking you cookies every day, making huge meals every night.”

  “You’ve seen my dad’s gut. You want to do that to me?”

  “I want to do that and a whole lot more to you. You deserve to be happy, and I want to be the one to put a smile on your face.”

  “CJ.” Her name on his lips sounded almost like a prayer. Grasping her hips, he rolled them so she lay on top of him.

  She pushed up, looking at his handsome face, seeing bright stars reflected in his beautiful brown eyes. “Hayseed.”

  He smirked. “Girl, it’s time you come up with a better nickname for me.”

  “How about, I love you, Hayseed.”

  He kissed her, th
en nibbled on her lower lip. “Since you put it that way, we’ll make hayseed work.”

  ####

  Here's a sneak peek of the third book in the All Cowboy Series which will be coming in February for Mardi Gras

  Dax and Marilou’s story:

  All Smoke No Fire

  All Smoke No Fire - Chapter One

  Dax Marshall stood backstage at the small theater of Wiley Pete’s Casino in Rapid City, South Dakota, watching Marilou Roselle sing and strum her acoustic guitar, her band behind her. The venue had sold out, no surprise. She was a rising star in the country music world, and one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. Long, black hair, straight as a ruler to the middle of her back, and hazel eyes that tipped up at the outer corners.

  He’d said a quick hello as she’d walked on stage, but their official meeting would happen after she finished the show. He’d contacted her people to pitch a new song he’d written for her, but her agent had explained that Marilou was a little old-fashioned. She didn’t like to hear new songs through her headphones, but live from the writer.

  Dax had never been this nervous in his life. He leaned on his guitar case and took deep breaths.

  She ended the set with her most popular song, handed her guitar to a roadie as she waved and left the stage.

  Dax stood back, leaving her and her entourage plenty of room.

  The roar of the crowd coalesced into a single chant, “One. More. Song.”

  She stopped a few feet past him, taking a drink from a bottle, then letting her makeup person touch up her face and lips.

  Her gaze met his. She gave him a finger wave.

  He nodded and gripped his guitar case for stability. She’s a nice person. He repeated the mantra, having been promised this was true by half the people standing around behind the stage.

  Marilou handed her bottle to a staffer, and walked toward the stage, but stopped right in front of Dax.

  The stage lights shifted.

  The crowd grew louder. “Ma-ri-lou, Ma-ri-lou.”

  She leaned into him. “Guess that’s me, huh?” With the two-inch heel on her cowgirl boots, she was still a half a foot shorter than his six feet.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m pretty sure it is.” Could he sound any dumber?

  She laughed, holding out her hand. “You’re the songwriter, correct?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He took her hand, feeling the zap of excitement race all the way up his arm.

  “Do you have a name?” She blinked, looking innocent.

  “Yes, ma’am. Dax Marshall.”

  “All right, Dax. I’m excited to hear what you’ve got for me.”

  “Yes…” He didn’t dare say “ma’am” one more time, or she’d think he was a parrot. “…Ms. Roselle.”

  She smirked as she walked back on stage to the shouts of thousands of fans. “You wanna hear another one?”

  The crowd erupted in cheers.

  Marilou sang her two most popular songs, and everyone sang along, including Dax. She had a voice that could melt butter. Soft and rich, but she could hit the high notes, too.

  “Can I get another mic stand out here?” She looked backstage, and the crew jumped into action. “One with two mics, please. One down here…” She held her hand at the level of her guitar. “And one up here.” Her hand lifted to about the top of her head. “Thanks, guys.”

  She smiled at the audience. “I like to get my money’s worth out of those roadies, you know what I mean?”

  The audience clapped and whistled.

  The spotlight narrowed on just her, camouflaging the road crew as they set up the mics while she sang a slow ballad.

  After the song and the applause, she turned to look backstage where he stood. “I’ve got a surprise for you.” She pointed in his direction, then looked out at the audience. “We have a local boy, songwriter, who I want to bring out on stage right now to sing a song he wrote for me.”

  Dax’s heart thudded to a halt, then he relaxed. It had to be someone else. He looked around his area, but everyone stared right at him. “Oh shit.”

  Marilou put her hand beside her mouth, and leaned into the mic. “He didn’t know I was going to do this, so be kind to him, okay?”

  The audience erupted in applause.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time ever live, and on stage, Dax Marshall.”

  “Oh shit.” His face heated and he gripped his guitar case tighter.

  Shouts and whistles came from the audience.

  A guy grabbed Dax’s guitar case and set it on the ground. “Pull yourself together, buddy. This is your big break, right here.”

  Dax stood staring out at where Marilou smiled at him from under the bright lights. “I’m not sure I can…”

  “Sure you are.” The man slung his guitar strap over Dax’s head, handed him a pick, and gave him a mighty shove out onto the stage.

  “Oh shiiiiit.”

  ####

  Would you like to know how Shaw and Harper found each other? They have their own book, the first in the series, All Hat No Cattle. Read the book blurb and find out where you can order it by clicking HERE. Here's a sneak peek:

  Shaw and Harper’s story:

  All Hat No Cattle

  All Hat No Cattle - Chapter One

  Harper Johansen backed into the last diagonal parking spot on Main Street in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. She jumped out of her company car just as the cattle drive started, and leaned against the front bumper, watching the longhorns plod toward her. Cowboys and cowgirls rode horses along each side of the sauntering cattle, close enough for Harper to touch.

  And she had a need to touch. She wanted a genuine cowboy so bad, she almost ached. This was Wednesday, the first day of the four-day rodeo, so she had through Saturday to look for one. There had to be at least one man in town who’d fit her requirements.

  Straightening to her full five-foot, two inches, she fluffed her shoulder-length red hair and tugged her T-shirt down. Cocking her jeans-shorts-clad hip toward one of the younger, sexier horsemen, she gave him the look. He grinned at her but lifted the reins in his left hand, showing her his wedding ring.

  Taken. All the cowboys who matched her idea of perfection were either taken or far too young. Not that she was old at thirty, but she did have an age limit. Rodeo cowboys were usually way beneath her minimum requirement, but she still got enough propositions from them to fill an arena.

  After the short parade passed, she headed to the sidewalk, flip-flops flapping, and opened her trunk. She lifted out the box of free samples she had been giving away at every one of the twenty rodeo towns on her summer tour this year. This afternoon’s samples were alcohol-free, but tonight at the rodeo, she’d be gifting her company’s best fermented beverages. Harper set the box on the bumper, balancing it with one hand while she reached up to grab the trunk hood.

  Two strong arms reached over and grabbed the teetering box, lifting it out of her way. Attached to the arms was a hunk of a man in a cowboy hat. His plaid shirtsleeves were rolled up over tan, muscled forearms and the top buttons on the shirt were open, revealing a few brown curls. His big brown eyes shone against his tan, strong-jawed face. “Ma’am. Can I help?”

  Despite having promised herself there’d be no more men unless she verified they were the real thing—cowboys seven days a week—she smiled. “Thank you.” She shut the trunk and patted the top of it. “Here is fine.”

  He leaned over and set the box carefully on the trunk and backed away a step.

  His clean soap and pine scent turned everything deep inside her all warm and gooey.

  “You’re selling those?” He tucked his fingers into his front pockets.

  She pulled out a red can of cola and offered it to him. “Free samples. I work for the company.”

  He nodded and accepted it from her. “Thanks. One of my favorites.” His voice was deep and slow, just like she imagined her perfect cowboy’s would be.

  “Are you...in the rodeo?” He looked a littl
e older than most. Maybe twenty-five.

  “No. Just came into town to watch it.” He looked at her box of cans then back into her eyes. “Will you be at the rodeo tonight?”

  She nodded. “Section C, Row 5.”

  People wandered by, slowing to look at her box of cans. Pasting on her professional smile, she handed out samples. She struggled for the right words to ask the helpful stud if he was a ranch worker or a stockman or what his cowboy status was. Her inability to formulate a question probably meant it was far too soon to start vetting him.

  “I’ll look for you, ma’am.” With a sexy grin, he touched his hat brim and walked away.

  Harper stared at the gorgeous sight. Wide shoulders, narrow hips, sweet ass, and long legs in faded denim. Her mouth watered for a bite of those round cheeks. “Yummy.”

  “What?” An older woman frowned at her as she took her free sample.

  “Yummy...cola. It’s wonderfully refreshing, too.” She focused on handing out the cans and when she looked again, he was gone from sight.

  ####

  Connect With Me

  At the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, I loved watching the cowboys almost as much as I enjoyed seeing the incredible sights in the area. Deadwood held a special fascination for me. The rich history of the town mixed with the modern party atmosphere made it one of my favorite stops. I hope you enjoyed Dax and CJ’s story, and please see an excerpt below from Book 1 in the series, All Hat No Cattle, which is Shaw and Harper’s story. I’m excited to bring you Huck, and Dax’s stories in future Red Hot collections, and I’ve included a quick teaser from that book, too. Be sure to subscribe to my Newsletter to be the first to know when All Smoke No Fire releases.

  I'd love to hear from you. I've listed all the places I hang out, and I hope you'll connect with me at one or more of them.

  All my best,

  Randi

  "Rode Hard and Put Up Satisfied"