CHAPTER 21
Morgan was feeling much better, and discussion of the night Dunny put her in a compromising position was put to rest. Although disappointed in the behavior Dunny exhibited, Morgan couldn’t help but feel somewhat responsible. Ludacris as it was, she had been impaired that night, and thought it was somehow partially her responsibility and stood behind keeping Dunny on staff…for now.
Not privy to the conversation that took place between them, it was clear to Guy she had at least enlisted boundaries of sorts, and made her intentions clear, because Dunny kept a cautious distance. Guy was more than pleased with that and didn’t fault Morgan for her kind and forgiving ways. That was just who Morgan was.
Keeping up with his duties around the ranch, Guy took extra care in keeping tabs on Morgan while a potential threat still loomed. When she wasn’t in his line of sight at the ranch, she was at work where Blake had eyes on her. The ranch hands were loyal and protective, always watching, too. Fortunately, they were in between dude ranch parties and they didn’t have the extra guests to add to the worry.
Their nights were a different story. A new precedent had been established as boundaries of their own, or lack thereof, had shifted. Each night, since the chaotic debacle with Dunny, the demolished bench, and gun toting lunatic, Morgan and Guy had shared a bed. He had insisted on sleeping in the same room, not willing to let her out of his sight, even if only a single room apart. She, however, had insisted they share a bed.
An eerie calm had taken place over the ranch, not another incident to speak of. Now more than ever, Guy felt an imminent threat looming. It was like a sixth sense, or premonition, he felt it brewing, building, and waiting to strike. It just granted more reason to keep Morgan close, which was nothing to complain about as far as he was concerned.
When Morgan wasn’t working as one of McKenzie Ridge’s finest, their days were spent together, riding and ranching, nights spent full of sultry passion. They came together through a circumstance as odd as could be, however their love was anything but. It was charmed, virile, and full of enraged fervor.
They loved intimately, they loved hard, they loved completely. Nights of naked endeavor, so great, so satisfying, it only left them craving, hungry for more. As sated as they were, at the end of each frolic, they could never get enough.
Guy built a new bench at the ridge so they could continue to enjoy their sunrises and sunsets, every chance they got. It provided a private sanctuary to explore each other’s wildest desire, breaking through their own sexual inhibitions. As did the barn, various out buildings, and the creek as the weather became warmer.
Intensity, like no other, their deep seated, lustful need for each other led them to be something of sexual
exhibitionists, seeking an endless storm of sultry pleasure. It wasn’t the core, or foundation of their love, no, that was their deeply entrenched, mutual respect for each other. Intense, plentiful, over the top love making was just the bonus that anchored them.
A slow low whistle of appreciation announced Guy’s entrance. “Wow, look at you. Stunning.” He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her exposed waist and kissed her bare shoulder as she stood in front of her bathroom mirror getting ready for a night out with the gang.
“Looking pretty snappy yourself, there, cowboy.” She turned in his embrace to face him, arms around his neck.
She pulled him in for a sultry kiss only to be lifted and placed on the vanity counter. Guy moved closer standing between her parted legs, deepening their connection while his hands roamed, finding their way under her cropped shirt.
She looked hot, smoldering, in a semi-fitted black top that ever so slightly exposed her midriff, while the cut out shoulders and space above her ample cleavage provided a tantalizing view. Tight jeans did amazing things for her round ass and the sexy curve of her hips, but it was the sexy black fuck me
heels paired with said cleavage that had his jeans getting tighter by the minute.
Pulling away with a giggle, she scooted herself off the vanity so they were pressed together in an intimate state.
“Save that,” she aimed her view down as she pressed against his arousal, “for later.”
Stealing one more kiss before slapping her ass, he held her at arm’s length. “I’ll do my best, but no promises! How long is this thing?”
The thing
in question was their outing with the gang for a would be
joint bachelor and bachelorette party at The Pump House. With tourist season kicking into high gear, there was no way they could all get time off, at the same time, for a weekend to whoop it up in the city. Inevitably, they would end up crashing each other’s soiree – so a party at The Pump House it was.
“A few hours at least,” she said. “Just think about how much better it will be if we…wait
.” She painfully teased him, stroking his hard virility, giving him a vixen’s wink and slow lick of her lips.
“You’re a troublemaker, Ms. Jameson…” he scolded
Walking away with a sassy sultry swagger just for him, she turned and said, “And you loooove it.”
Half of the town crowded The Pump House to celebrate one last hurrah
with a couple of its favorites. Even on duty Emergency Response people from the town’s various branches stopped in for a celebratory hot wing or iced tea, they were on duty after all. Silly couples’ games were played, wedding themed, of course, as well as endless rounds of darts, pool, and dirty dancing.
The group of friends brought their own mixed bag of emotions to the party. Soon to be newlyweds, with their burning devotions, set the tone, but there was also plenty of tension driven heat, with everything in between. If not love, then plenty of sex was in the air.
From Sam and Dawson, still love struck newlyweds a year and a half later, to Evie and Doc Charles, pretending there wasn’t an ounce of anything between them, a good time was had by nearly all. Obvious tension built between Blake and Jessie as each took turns taunting and teasing the other by flirting and dancing with everyone…but each other.
Guy sat back in the large corner booth they occupied all night, watching Morgan work her way through a line dance, dominated by all women. Their group was easy to find in the crowd with Meg wearing a make-shift wedding veil that trailed behind her and a white satin sash that said, Tying the knot, so buy me a shot
, in silver glitter letters. The rest of the women in the wedding party wore short hot pink veils of their own with matching hot pink satin sashes that said, The Bride’s Tribe
, in matching glitter. It wasn’t gaudy or ridiculous at all, according to the bride.
Gathering around the table, after the dance, they each took turns toasting the couple with well wishes and words of marital advice. The wisdom part of said advice, optional. Sweet, tearful sentiments were shared, even practical recommendations like always put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher,
or never miss the hamper
went around. The best advice of all was shared by Granny Lou, a shot of whiskey a night keeps the belly moving and blood warm, and always sleep naked
, to which everyone toasted and cheered.
A slightly inebriated Jessie gave the final toast. “Use your teeth,” followed by a wink in Blake’s direction. It was safe to assume her suggestion was meant to be vulgar and sexual in nature, it was Jessie.
“So nothing else out at the ranch? It’s been over a week – some kind of record,” Blake inquired, standing at the bar with Guy, helping him with another round of drinks and appetizers to soak up the booze.
“Not a thing, but I feel like that’s a bigger warning than the shots in the woods,” Guy admitted.
“I hear ya, man. My gut isn’t settled either. I want to believe that beating you gave Dunny Haines was the end of it – but that feelin’…it just won’t pass,” Blake admitted, leaning against the bar on his left side facing the crowd. Keeping tabs on everyone and everything, he scanned the crowd as he always did.
“I have the same edge, man. I can just feel it, hanging over the ranch. At first I thought I was just paranoid, but this is real. I think I brought something to McKenzie Ridge with me. Dunny is an asshole, but I don’t think he’s my problem.”
Blake raised his eyebrows before dropping his head, shaking it in disbelief. “Or is he?” he asked, nodding toward the dance floor. Dunny had Morgan in a close embrace, moving across the dance floor to a slow sweet country song, a cheerful smile on his face, a serious expression on Morgan’s. Guy didn’t like what he saw. A certain heat flooded his core as a sense of rage that had been building finally surfaced. Not anxious to make an ass of himself, or ruin Colton and Meg’s special night, Guy grabbed a shot of whiskey from the line sitting in front of him, then a second.
“Well, okay then,” Blake chuckled. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
A shallow grunt of disgust was all Guy offered with a single sharp nod of his head to acknowledge Blake before he reached down deep to find a handful of calm.
Thank God for whiskey
, he thought.
Walking up beside the two dancing, mellow as could be with his million dollar smile in place, he had the attention of everyone in the place. The angst between Guy and Dunny wasn’t a secret, it was a well-known fact in their small town.
Blake stood a few tables closer, keeping an eye on the friendly
confrontation while talking to a pretty blonde. Dawson and Colton were each dancing with their girls, but tightened their circle, moving closer, and ready for the first punch.
A friendly tap to Dunny’s shoulder and Guy said, “May I cut in?”
Dunny was halted in his tracks and offered a cold threatening stare in return, “Songs almost over…”
A snarky grin and low chuckle preceded Guy’s plea, “Yeah, but I kind of love this song and really think you should…”
With his smile fading and a serious expression taking over, Guy was having a hard time maintaining his cool. “Move on, friend
.” Seems the whiskey wasn’t much help after all.
Stunned and angered, Dunny looked around the room. Though still coupled up and dancing, it was slow, out of rhythm, and distracted. Distracted by him and waiting for him to react.
“Hey, wanna get out of here?” Jessie, asked Dunny. Her intention was to break up the standoff, and prevent a fight, but her eyes were on Blake. The blonde hanging from his arm, bouncing her assets as often as possible for him might have had her attention too.
Following her view, he quickly put two and two together, catching on to her attempt to spring both of them from uncomfortable, albeit awkward, situations.
“Sure,” he abruptly let go of Morgan, throwing his arm around Jessie’s shoulders. “Lead the way, Jessie.”
Surprised by the unforeseen change in events, hmm’s and ha’s drifted through the place. Especially when Blake took a step forward, blocking their path as they tried to leave, arm in arm.
Eyes pinned on Dunny, Blake gave him a single menacing message, “Don’t do anything…stupid
, Haines.”
A smarmy wink and half assed salute would be Dunny’s final move for the night. He’d officially pissed of the wrong guy in town.
“You didn’t beat your chest. I’m surprised.” Sarcasm was pouring off Morgan’s words.
“What? He was puttin’ the moves on my girl. And I don’t trust his moves
,” Guy retorted, matter of factly. Even if he was acting a bit archaic, she found his antiquated alpha protectiveness sort of endearing, and entirely adorable.
“I appreciate your concern, but you know, I can take care of myself. A whole town actually.” Her fun poking was just that, fun, but it was also her opportunity to remind him of her independence. She liked being thought of, cared for, and taken care of, but even that had limits.
“You don’t say? So that’s the real reason behind the hand-cuffs?” Reading her loud and clear, he respected her enough to take the hint and back off…at least a little bit. He could never leave her alone altogether.
“Yep! They gave me a gun and badge too. Go figure.” She stole a sweet kiss, changing gears from silly to serious, if only for a minute. “You know I love you, right? And, I love that you love me so much, and would do anything…anything
for me. But, I need to you trust that I can take care of me too and that I know what I’m doing. Dunny just gave me his notice, he’s leaving Pinecrest next month, after he hires a new foreman to replace him.”
His turn to steal a kiss form her. He pulled her close, leaving no space between them, “I know you can, take care of yourself. You’re kind of a badass.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Morgan smacked his ass and left the dance floor, with Guy ready to follow her anywhere.