One Unforgettable Night: Wild at Heart / From This Moment On / Her Last Best Fling

“You actually think the day will come when you can’t get it up anymore?”

He laughed. “No, I don’t, but that sounded good, didn’t it?”

“It sounded like you’re still fishing for compliments about your awesome package.” She patted his cheeks. “Bring your chicken and your cell phone and your package up to the platform, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Luke followed her down the path to the pine tree that supported her observation platform. He knew she’d been teasing him and acting sexy on purpose to take his mind off the impending conversation, assuming he could make the phone call from her platform.

That was exactly why he’d sought her out once he’d dreamed up this plan. She was the soft landing spot if he should fall and go splat, psychologically speaking. He stood below the ladder and concentrated on the pleasure of watching her climb it. By tilting his head, he could almost see up her shorts. Not quite, but he knew she wasn’t wearing anything underneath and that was enough to fuel his imagination.

He wasn’t sure if he wanted this phone call to go through or not. He had such mixed emotions about it. But at least, whatever happened, Naomi would be there at the end of it. And he could lose himself in her lush body…if she wasn’t too absorbed with eating fried chicken.

NAOMI HAD SENSED all along that Luke’s wandering soul had a soft, vulnerable spot somewhere within it. Maybe she’d been afraid to find out what that was because she already cared too much for the guy. Discovering his secret pain could tear down the walls around her heart completely, and those walls were already displaying stress fractures.

But he’d come to her, like a bird with a broken wing, and asked for help. She could no more deny that than she could toss an injured animal out into the elements. Her creed was to live and let live, but when that life hung in the balance, was she supposed to turn away?

She was no psychologist but even she could figure out that Luke had become a wanderer partly by nature but largely so that he could live the life his father had said he wanted. Maybe he’d hoped to please his father and maybe he’d wanted to compete. It didn’t matter. He’d come to a crossroads, a place where he wanted to invite his father to share in his adventures.

Luke knew his dad’s response to the invitation was important to both father and son. She didn’t have to tell him that. Whether it was important to her was another question.

She could no longer deny that she was getting emotionally involved with this drifter who had wandered under her observation platform one bright, sunny day. She knew how much he’d come to mean in her life. She was less convinced how much she meant to him.

Yes, he needed her now, when he was about to make this difficult phone call to his father. But was she only a temporary crutch to get him through this critical time in his life? Or had they made a deeper connection?

She had no answers. But while he stood at a far corner of the deck and dialed the number for his parents’ home, she laid out their picnic on the red checkered cloth he’d left there after their first meal on this platform. Regardless of how the call went, she would offer him solace.

If that cost her dearly in the long run because she ended up with a broken heart, she’d deal with that. He’d given her so much in this past week that she couldn’t begrudge him whatever he needed. She mentally crossed her fingers and hoped that his father would understand the stakes when he heard Luke’s invitation.

She didn’t eavesdrop, but she knew when he’d made a connection because the low murmur of his voice drifted over to her. Sitting beside the picnic tablecloth, she stayed very still, not wanting to disrupt his concentration in any way. This could be one of the most important conversations he’d ever have with his dad.

After what seemed like an eternity but was probably less than five minutes, Luke walked over and sat cross-legged on the far side of the checkered tablecloth. Glancing over at her, he shrugged. “He says he’ll think about it and get back to me.”

She wanted to scream. Stupid, stupid father! She tried to imagine her own father acting with such indifference. He never would. She thought of the Chance men, devoted fathers, every one of them.

She’d been in Florida when Jonathan Chance had died in a truck rollover, and she’d heard the rumor that he’d been upset with his son Jack at the time. Yes, that had been difficult for Jack to reconcile. But at least Jonathan had been a big part of Jack’s life.

All of Jonathan’s sons—Jack, Nick and Gabe—were passionately involved with their children. Nick wasn’t biologically connected to Lester, the troubled boy he and Dominique had adopted after Lester had spent last summer at the ranch. But Nick was a committed parent.

Naomi searched for the right thing to say. “I’m sure you caught him by surprise. It’s hard to make snap decisions.”

His dark eyes were bleak. “No, it’s not. You and I make them all the time. It’s what you do when you’re actually living life, instead of hanging on the fringes of it.” Anger and disappointment rolled off him in waves.

“Don’t give up.”

“I won’t. But the only way I’ll get his call is if I’m up here.”

“Then we’ll stay up here.”

He held her gaze. “Thank you. I…” He looked away and swallowed.

That’s when she knew that he needed something more than fried chicken right now. Moving purposefully, she cleared all the food aside. He watched her without moving.

Then she sat on the tablecloth, right in front of him. Cupping his face in both hands, she kissed him as thoroughly as she knew how, putting all her caring, her longing and her passion into that kiss. At first he simply let her kiss him without responding.

That was a new experience for her, and one she didn’t care for in the least. Luke had always been eager for her kisses. Once their lips met, he’d usually been the one who had pushed the kiss to the next level.

Not now, and for a brief moment her courage failed her. But she’d told him not to give up, and so she couldn’t, either. She kissed his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks and once again his mouth.

With that the floodgates opened. With a groan, he pulled her into his lap. After that she didn’t have to worry about how to kiss him. He took care of all the mouth-to-mouth contact, and the mouth-to-body contact, and every form of contact that followed.

Soon she lay sprawled naked on the tablecloth, and he’d covered every inch of her with his mouth and tongue. If she had been an ice-cream cone, she’d be long gone by now.

Standing, he gazed down at her as he took off his clothes with deliberate intent. “I’m going to have you six ways to Sunday,” he said. “And then we’ll start over and go through the whole damn week again.”

“Okay.” She watched him pull off his boots with angry motions and shuck his jeans and briefs. But after he’d located the condom in his pocket and put it on, she sat up and reached for his hand. “Lie down here. Lie down and let me love you for a change.”

The fierceness left his expression as if a cloud had scudded away from the sun. Without a word, he knelt down and stretched out on the tablecloth. Her heart constricted with the surrender implicit in his reaction. This was what he wanted, what he needed—not to take her six ways to Sunday, but to be loved and cherished by someone who asked nothing in return.

What an easy assignment that was. Straddling him, she began with his beautiful face. She followed the curve of his cheekbones with her tongue and placed butterfly kisses on his eyelids. His mouth became a playground for her lips, his determined jaw a place to nibble and tease until she felt him slowly relax.

With a deep sigh he let his arms fall to his sides, and she traced each vein, each corded muscle in those arms with her fingertips. As his mighty chest rose and fell with his labored breaths, she toyed with his nipples and stroked the silky black hair covering that massive display of strength and power.

She followed the trail of dark hair to his navel, and as she dipped her tongue into the shallow depression, he quivered. She stroked his cock and wished that nothing prevented her from feeling the velvet-on-steel wonder of it. But she could also fondle what lay beneath and watch as those heavy sacs drew up in tight readiness.

“Take me,” he murmured. “Please take me.”

She wondered if he’d ever begged a woman in his life. Maybe not. But she wouldn’t make him do it more than once. Rising above him, she guided his taut cock into position and began a slow slide downward.

His breathing quickened as she descended, and when she’d taken all of him, he began to tremble. “Go slow,” he said. “I don’t want to come yet.”

Leaning forward, she feathered a kiss over his lips and felt him sigh. Then she lifted her head to look into his eyes. “Tell me,” she said softly. “Tell me what you need.”

Passion burned in his gaze. His hands found her hips, bracketing them. “Easy strokes.” His voice was strained. “Go easy. Let me…I want to wait.”

She lifted up only a little and made her way gradually back down.

“Good.” He held her gaze. “Again.”

She repeated the motion.

He groaned. “So good. Again.”

Once more she rose up and came slowly down.

He sucked in a breath. “Good Lord, I want you, Naomi. I want to come. But I don’t want to end this.”

She smiled. “We can do it again sometime.”

A fire ignited in his eyes. He swallowed. “Then ride me, lady.” His words echoed their first time together. His fingers gripped her hips. “Ride me hard.”

That was all she’d been waiting for. Yes, he needed the sweet loving, but more than that, he needed heat that would burn away grief, incinerate sadness. She brought the heat, pumping up and down with a frenzy that made her breasts dance and her bottom slap against his thighs.

His first cry was low and intense, his second louder and when he came, his shout of triumph sent the songbirds fluttering and squawking from the branches of the tree. He laughed at that, a breathless, happy sound that resonated in her heart.

She laughed with him, collapsing against his chest and panting from the effort she’d made.

He wrapped her tight in his arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I know you didn’t come.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. I’ll make it up to you.” He rocked her in his arms. “I will make it up to you a dozen times over. But that…Naomi…that was exactly what I needed.”

“I know.”

“How did you know?”

“That’s my secret.” And it would remain her secret. If he ever guessed she was falling in love with him, he’d leave.

12

LUKE WASN’T SURE what he’d done to deserve someone like Naomi, but she was a lifesaver. As the sun went down, she insisted they should haul the sleeping bags up to the platform for the night. Even when he protested that his father was probably in bed by now and wouldn’t call, she refused to consider going back down to the campsite, where the phone reception was bad.

“Just don’t let me fall off in the middle of the night,” she said, laughing.

The thought made his heart stutter and he stopped unrolling the sleeping bags. “Do you think you might? Are you a sleepwalker?”

“No. At least I don’t think so.”

“Let’s forget this.” He started bundling up his sleeping bag. “If there’s the slightest chance that you’ll wake up at night and start wandering around this platform half-asleep, it’s not worth the risk.”

“I won’t. And we’re staying.” She crossed her arms and planted her feet. “I’ve always thought it would be fun to sleep up here, but I was a little worried about doing it by myself. This is perfect.” She peered at him. “Unless you’re a sleepwalker.”

“Nope. Never been a problem for me.” He crouched next to his sleeping bag, thinking. “So spending the night up here would be an adventure for you?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“You’re not just saying that because of the phone thing?”

“That’s a good excuse to do it, but from the moment I first climbed onto the platform, I thought of spending the night, pretending I’m Tarzan. I’ve just been too chicken.”

He smiled. “You wouldn’t make a very good Tarzan.”

“You’d be surprised.” She took a deep breath and let out the most Tarzan-like yell he’d ever heard.

He laughed so hard he had to sit down.

“Wait, that wasn’t as good as I can do. I’ll try again.” She sucked in more air.

“No, no, you’re great!”

She looked at him. “Yeah?”

“Amazingly good. I wasn’t laughing because you were lousy at it. I was laughing at that big Tarzan yell coming out of such a blonde cutie-pie. It’s so unexpected.”

“My college friends and I taught ourselves to do it. When we backpacked through Europe, we sometimes entertained people in pubs by doing our Tarzan yells. I’m better after a couple of beers.”

“I’ll bet.” He chuckled. “I can just imagine that.” He also felt a pang of longing. Although he’d traveled with friends when he was younger, they’d all settled down with families. They still traveled, but now it involved taking spouses and kids, which was a whole other ball game. Not his deal.

He stood and surveyed the platform. “So if this is something you want to do for the adventure factor, but you’re a little scared of falling off, we’ll put your sleeping bag next to the tree and mine next to yours so I’m on the outside.”

She nodded. “I like that. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. It’ll be fun.” He knew that for sure because everything involving Naomi was fun. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed this much.

They ate cold sandwiches for dinner, watched a family of deer graze in the clearing and made love to the sound of wind in the trees. They slept spoon-fashion, with Luke on the outside. He figured if he kept a hand on her at all times, she wouldn’t get away from him and risk falling.

That thought made him restless. And then there was the issue of a potential phone call. It didn’t come until dawn, and it woke them both.

Luke scrambled to pick it up before the chime disturbed Naomi, but he was too late. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, as he put the phone to his ear.

“Luke, it’s Dad.”

Luke grimaced. “Hi, Dad.” Who else would it be at this hour of the morning? His father had probably forgotten the time difference. Travelers usually thought about that when they made phone calls. Nontravelers, not so much.

“Listen, I thought about your invitation, and it won’t work for me.”

Luke had prepared himself for that answer, but even so, disappointment sliced through him. Apparently he’d placed more importance on this than he should have. “Okay.”

“I checked flights, and it’ll cost an arm and a leg.”

“So it’s the money?”

“Well, that, and your mother has a cookout planned with the Sullivans. She has her heart set on that cookout. You remember the Sullivans, don’t you?”

“Yep.” They were neighbors whose attitude toward travel was exactly like his mother’s. They claimed everything they needed was right there, so why go anywhere else?

“Anyway, thanks for asking. Maybe next time.”

“Sure, Dad. Have a nice Fourth. Talk to you later.” Luke disconnected and laid down the phone.

“He’s not coming.”

Naomi put a hand on his shoulder. “Luke, I’m sorry. It was a great idea.”

He shrugged. “I should have known better. He’ll just keep watching documentaries about places he’ll never see.”

“His loss.”

“I think so, too, but I can’t make him get out there and see the world.” He gazed at her. “I did think it would be cool, though. I’ve never been here for Fourth of July, but the town’s really gearing up. Are you coming in or staying here?”

She smiled. “Are you inviting me to come and party with you?”

“Hell, yes! We’ll have a blast. Although maybe the fireworks will look more spectacular from this platform, come to think of it. We could—”

“Hold on. Did you say fireworks?”

“Yeah. Everyone’s all excited because Shoshone’s never had fireworks before. What’s the matter? Don’t you like fireworks?”

“That depends. Are we talking about little stuff, close to the ground? Backyard fireworks?”

“Not from what I heard. This Clifford Mason guy, the one we saw having dinner with Pam Mulholland at the Spirits and Spurs, is arranging for a huge spectacular. Tyler Keller…you know Tyler?”

“Yes, she’s Josie Chance’s sister-in-law. She plans tourist-type events for the town. So she set this up?”

“I believe that’s what Emmett said. And Pam’s underwriting it. Everybody’s happy about it except Emmett, who thinks Clifford’s romancing Pam.”

“Luke, this is a disaster. I have to stop it.”

“I don’t think it’s our place to interfere in Pam’s private life.”

“Not that. The fireworks. I know people will be disappointed and I hate that, but we can’t have fireworks.”

“Why not?”

She gestured toward the eagles’ nest. “It’s too close. The parents might become terrified and abandon the nest. The babies would die.”

“Town’s not that close.”

“I know it doesn’t seem like it, because from the ranch road it’s about ten miles. But we’re out on a far corner of Last Chance land. When I hike in from my folks’ place, it’s only about five miles straight across. That’s way too close to nesting eagles.”

He sensed a train wreck coming. “Are you sure the eagles would abandon the nest?”

“Not a hundred percent sure. You can’t ever be positive when you’re trying to predict the behavior of wild creatures. But I’m sure enough that I don’t want to take the risk.”

“Okay, but I’m afraid you’re going to have some tough sledding. Everyone in town is looking forward to this.”

“I’m sure they are. If it weren’t for the eagles, I would be looking forward to it. But we do have eagles, and fireworks are a bad idea. Tyler’s a very compassionate person. When I explain the situation, I’m sure she’ll cancel.”

He wasn’t so sure. “I don’t want to be the prophet of doom, but there could be economic repercussions. The fireworks have been paid for and the merchants are expecting to cash in on all the excitement.”

“But what about the other activities? They always have a ton of things going on. Won’t that be enough?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. I think you’ll get push back. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I know.” Her blue eyes clouded with sadness. “I really hate that, and I hate having people disappointed. But I can’t let them light up the sky only five miles from a nest of eagles.”

“No, you can’t. I can see that.” He picked up his phone and hit a speed-dial number.

“Who are you calling?”

“Reinforcements.” He gave her a quick grin. “Hello, Emmett? Listen, I need to take the morning off, if there’s any way you can arrange it.”

“I probably can,” Emmett said. “What’s the problem?”

“You might want to take the morning off, too. Naomi needs to shut down the fireworks display and she could use backup. Fireworks are a danger to the eagles. The parents might spook and abandon the nest.”

“Is that so?” Emmett sounded pleased. “Never did care much for fireworks, myself.”

“Or the guy who sells them?”

“Don’t much care for him, either.”

“I was thinking we need to have a little chat with the folks involved, but I don’t have everybody’s numbers.”

“I can arrange a meeting,” Emmett said. “How soon can you both get to the diner?”

“Thirty minutes to get organized and an hour of travel time, maybe less if Smudge is feeling lively this morning.”

“Good. I’ll round up the parties involved and meet you both at the diner in an hour and a half.”

“Sounds good.”

“Thanks for the call, Luke. It made my day.”

“I thought it might. See you soon, Emmett.” Luke disconnected the phone and glanced over at Naomi. “Does that work for you?”

Grabbing his face in both hands, she kissed him soundly before releasing him. “Yes, sir, it most certainly does.”

RIDING DOUBLE ON a five-mile trip turned out to be an interesting experience. Neither of them thought it would be wise to try it with Naomi sitting on Luke’s lap facing him. They couldn’t handle the distraction.

So they chose for Luke to sit forward in the saddle, with Naomi perched behind him, hanging on to his waist. Once they were settled, she couldn’t see where they were going, but she trusted Luke to get them there safely.

She was, however, concerned about his package. “Are you squished up there?”

He chuckled. “A little. Can’t be helped.”

“I don’t want you to injure yourself.”

“I’ll be fine unless the conversation turns to sex. Any expansion could jeopardize this entire arrangement.”

“Understood. Maybe we shouldn’t talk at all.”

“We should definitely talk. If we ride along in silence, with your luscious body pressed tight against mine, my imagination will get me into trouble in no time. So think of a topic. Just don’t make it anything sexy.”

“I know the perfect thing. Tell me about some of your favorite places.”

“Well, your mouth, and your—”

“No! In the world!”

“Oh.” He laughed. “My mistake.”

“You knew what I meant.”

“Yeah, I knew what you meant. But sometime, not now, I’ll list my favorite places on Naomi Perkins.”

“You’re not helping your cause, Luke.”

“You’re right. Okay, favorite places in the world. Jackson Hole is one of them, believe it or not.”

“I believe it.” She rested her cheek against his broad back. “I’ve always felt lucky that my parents chose to live here. So, what else?”

He began to list the places he’d seen that had made the biggest impression on him. He’d traveled widely in the United States and had made it to several South American countries. He’d also seen most of Australia and New Zealand. He talked lovingly about his trips, leaving no doubt that being a wanderer was in his blood. It was a good thing he knew that about himself.

About halfway there, he switched the conversation to her and she listed all her favorite spots, although she didn’t have nearly as many as Luke. Privately she admitted that his life had some appeal, but she still thought it sounded like a lonely existence.

Thanks to their conversation, the trip went by faster than she’d expected. She didn’t stop to think about the message she and Luke would convey with this cozy riding position until they were almost there.

She’d enjoyed resting her cheek on his warm, strong back, but she’d be wise to stop doing that. “I wonder if I should get off here and walk in.”

“Why would you—? Oh, I get it. Wagging tongues. Do you want to walk in? You’re the local girl, so you decide. I told Emmett that we’d ride in together, but he probably won’t mention it to anyone.”

“He won’t have to. If we ride down Main Street like this, I can guarantee we’ll be noticed. Comments will be made. I may be the local girl, but you’ll probably be hit with some personal questions. Assumptions will be made.”

“I figure that’ll happen anyway if we spend Fourth of July in town together, so I’m okay with it. Your call, though.”

She thought about how he’d jumped right in on her side of the argument regarding the eagles. He’d pulled Emmett in, too, which was a brilliant move and something she might not have thought of.

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