Chapter Nineteen

 

 

 

 

Becca? Stunted, Carolina gaped. How could that seemingly sweet, lovely woman be so incredibly insensitive. Had it all been an act?

“It’s called money,” Matt muttered, “In case you’re trying to figure out the why.”

“How long have you known?”

He shook his head. “The strange pregnancies started two years ago. Only Red Angus were involved. At first, we chalked up the male calves to flukes. When they repeated last year, I went to the sperm samples and read up on all the problem calvings. Nothing like excessive calf weight gain was mentioned. Six months ago, another heifer tried to deliver a huge calf; we lost both cow and offspring during the calving. Except the calf delivered had obvious Brahman markings.”

“Who would try to crossbreed the cattle?” she asked. Evermore predominantly raised Simbrah beef. A composite breed. Breeders were required to maintain strict proportions of Simmental, Brahman or Zebu blood for the cattle to be considered purebred.

Matt’s deep blue eyes glinted. He was ticked off and frustrated—who wouldn’t be. “From suspicions, I narrowed down the possible suspects to one. The only person who had access to my records for prime heifers. We integrate our prize stock within the herd, reason three hundred eleven why we need to update our technology and security. I had to shut down the use of chip readers. It was like shooting fish in a barrel for someone with zero cattle experience. With the right cell phone app, just point and shoot.”

It made perfect sense. Carolina had seen his study at his house. It was a repeat of his office. Becca had acted so surprised. Now, she understood why. “Is that why you keep her on?”

“It isn’t optimal,” he said with bitterness in his tone.

“How else can you keep watch on her? Does she suspect anything in turn?”

“No, otherwise she would’ve disappeared. I’ve installed hidden cameras in my study, hoping to catch her on video feed. But she’s pretty slick.” Matt’s frown turned black. “Pisses me off how we’re stuck eyeballing cattle to distinguish which one is which, but we don’t have a choice. It’s why I spend so much time at the office. I’m giving Becca the opportunity and the means to incriminate herself. The information that’s on my home computer is a set-up. Eventually, she’ll do something dumb.”

No wonder Matt was so gung-ho on doing more than sprucing up the ranch’s Wi-Fi. “Can’t you just fire her?”

“So she can go and repeat this on another ranch? She’s not working alone. I’ve tried to talk to my dad and uncle about who she’s hooked up with. But Becca’s got this way with people.”

Good Lord, she’d been fooled. “You’re right,” Carolina muttered. “The woman has mastered the art of giving good face.”

Matt steered her into the interior pen. There was the heifer in the birthing area. Her belly was terribly swollen. It was painful to watch her move. He said solemnly, “Tell me what you think?”

With a critical eye, Carolina studied the heifer. “How long has she been licking her belly and wringing her tail?” It was the first stage of labor and she noted the time on the wall clock.

“The log detailed she was separated from the herd last evening.” Matt had a clipboard in his hands and read the note. “At five, began lying down this morning. Discomfort since sunrise, at least.”

The cement floors were new. “This is an improvement over the last place I calved.” She met Matt’s eyes.

“We installed new plumbing last year. Hot and cold water runs all the time, unlike the Wi-Fi. We might scare off some vets, but we’ve got all the equipment and devices required to ease the birth including mobile sonograms and pregnancy blood testing.”

“No wonder you didn’t mind if I left my van in Miami.”

“Carolina, I didn’t bring you here for this birth. We’ve had a few too many calls and I decided enough was enough. Check around if you’d like and you’ll see for yourself, we didn’t just go out and purchase all this equipment in the last month.”

“Matt, I spoke out of turn. Regardless, I’m happy to be here and part of this.” Of course, a man interested in the tech side of his business, would also make sure Evermore’s entire facility was cutting edge. It translated to better care for his animals, a wrap-around approach, and spoke to the type of person McLemore was deep down. “May I?” she asked, intending to probe the heifer.

Matt handed her a pair of gloves. “Do you want help?”

“Not this time.” Carolina ran her palm along the tight belly of the heifer. “She’ll probably take a while, at least six hours.”

“We’ll be back by then.”

Matt wasn’t exaggerating about the problematic birth. Carolina pushed out a heavy sigh, “She’s small for her size. I hope her pelvis is larger than it looks. Anyone examine her yet?”

“Brock had her brought in this morning but he’s got his own birthing issues. His wife, Trish, is scheduled for a C-section today. They’re in Clarkesville. He won’t be back for a couple of days, at least.”

“How nice that your cousin is married to the ranch manager.”

“For a little over a year. First child and all that.”

*

Matt’s gaze slipped to her mouth. The temptation to do more than stare was like a flashbang in his skull. For the last hour, he’d revisited the things she’d done with that luscious mouth of hers last night. What he’d like to do to return the favour. The possibilities were so vast. Hands-down, he craved Carolina. Had to sample those lips of hers. Without a qualm, he lowered his mouth to hers, savoring the lush sweetness. He pulled her against him as she looped her arms around his shoulders.

“Hey there.” Brandon came into the pen area.

Instead of repelling apart, they stopped kissing only to find his brother undeterred.

Brandon knelt by the heifer. “She’s near.”

Matt squeezed Carolina’s waist before unhanding her. He turned to his brother. “Who’s looking after the heifer with you?”

“Rory. We’re taking turns. We had expected this one would take all night but things are changing, rapidly by the looks of it.”

“She’s relatively small, isn’t she?” Carolina said. His brother shot her a look, then glanced back at Matt.

“Carolina’s a vet and I don’t want you telling that to anyone else. Not yet.”

Brandon rose, holding his brother’s gaze, and nodded. “Got it.”

Matt punched him on the shoulder. “We’ll see you outside.”

He guided Carolina the long way, out the back door and across the yard to his office.

They burst into the reception area that was devoid of people, until his brother headed out into the hall.

“Morning,” he spoke through clenched teeth to Miller.

“I need — ”

“Not now. I’ve got important business to attend to.” Matt strode past him, with Carolina in tow.

“Come find me,” Miller said. “Need to talk about the cell tower contract.”

Not even talk of Wi-Fi could diffuse this firestorm of desire in his veins. Matt brought Carolina inside his office. He clasped her around the waist and swung her against the wall. She came willingly.

He sought her undivided attention. Needed it more than he had previously been willing to admit. She was the first person, he’d unburdened his concern over what was going down on the ranch. This thing with Becca was coming to a head. He had to execute control instead of losing his temper. To openly accuse a person of a crime required rock solid evidence. More so when it involved a woman who had lived close by. Becca had been born and raised in Annona. Her people weren’t well off. Not that it was an excuse for doing this sort of foul play with his cattle. The callousness of it lit Matt’s anger right up.

“Talk to me, McLemore,” Carolina whispered.

When his anger rose like a phoenix, talking was the last thing he wanted to do. “Kiss me.”

“I’m not sure—”

Matt didn’t wait for her to finish. He devoured her lips, savoring the taste and texture of her mouth, the way her body fit perfectly against him.

She pulled away. “What do you want?”

“Everything you’re willing to give.”

“That goes both ways, you know.”

“Yeah?” It felt so good to disappear into a zone of urgent need this woman capably provided. Matt lowered his mouth an inch above hers. “You’re mine, all mine for the next two weeks.” He recaptured Carolina’s mouth again and worked the top button of her jeans. He journeyed his palm against her belly and lower, into her panties, past her curls, and there, in between smooth wet flesh.

Surprise skittered across Carolina’s face that quickly turned into a half moan. “Please,” she begged.

He gave her what they both wanted, not stopping until he’d wrung another orgasm from this little firecracker. The hardness housed in his jeans practically begged for release. “That’s just a taste of what I’ve got planned for you, sugar.”

“Why just a taste?”

Carolina was like no other woman he’d ever met. Sure, there’d been plenty who had wanted hot, hard sex on the fly. But it was how his body responded that was night and day. He couldn’t deny her anything, so it seemed.

“Don’t move.” He picked up a leather chair and placed it against the door. That should ward off any unwelcomed intruders.

With a commanding tug, Matt pushed her against the wall as his fingers worked her zipper.

She was so unbelievably hot. He tossed his hat, then hers onto the chair by the door. In one swift motion, he tugged Carolina’s faded jeans down her legs. He clamped her foot between his boots and jerked her foot free. Matt unzipped his jeans and yanked both pants and boxers down his legs. Lifting her knee, he pressed her calf around his hip. His muscles tightened at the contact of her soft wet skin on the head of his cock.

They both groaned. There was no going slow. Matt plunged roughly, deeply inside her. He flexed back and forth, thrusting in and out of her heat. All jacked up, he pumped fast then faster. In time, Carolina’s head and shoulders thudded against the wall.

“Get there, baby!” His body was on meltdown, his muscles burned, and he thrust deep, impaling her.

Carolina convulsed around him, a slick furnace taking him deeper. He felt her tighten. This was her moment. She arched her beautiful neck. Her sexy fragrance threaded into Matt’s mind, unlocking his self-restraint. He gave in and sucked that precious point on her throat that made her cave. Carolina whimpered and clung to him. They were one in this feral pleasure, and he nipped her flesh. He was coming home. Fueled by a fiery urge to take Carolina, keep her, own a piece of the sanctuary she offered.

In the aftermath of their love making, Matt desired something that had no logic. Instead of trying to talk, which was impossible, he kissed Caro again, cupping her face, consumed in the feel of her incredible body.

“That was very, very nice,” she whispered against his mouth.

Nice hardly explained what it was. He kept her pushed up against the wall, still embedded in her. He was tempted to tell her that he was fast-becoming a greedy bastard. But Carolina lowered her leg that had been wrapped around his waist. Their bodies came apart. Efficiently, she removed her other boot and pulled off her jeans. Matt didn’t look away as she walked to the bathroom. Her body held him captive, and one he’d never get tired of exploring.