Mocha Latte (Silk Stocking Inn #3) Read online

  “Sorry. Seems like I brought up a bad memory.” Jackson had only just met me, yet he was more in tune with my thoughts and feelings than the man I’d spent six years of my life with.

  “That’s all right. You couldn’t know.” I smiled weakly at him. “But thank you for noticing. My parents died in a car accident when I was ten. I was at school when it happened. My uncle and the principal walked into the classroom, and—” I swallowed, but it was hard. “I’ll never forget my uncle’s face. I knew then that something really bad had happened. I just didn’t know how bad until he got me home and sat me down. I remember looking around the house, wondering where my parents were, and that’s when it occurred to me that the bad news was about them.” I hauled in a steadying breath. “I wasn’t a bad kid, the opposite, in fact. I was quiet, a good student, lots of hobbies, but my relatives just didn’t have space in their lives for me. My grandpa, a man who I only saw every other Christmas, insisted I come live with him on his cattle ranch. My dad had never gotten along well with his dad. They were extremely different. My dad was this mild mannered, bookish man who liked to spend time theorizing about the world. My grandpa was a doer. He didn’t think you lived a true life unless you came home every night with calluses on your palms and dirt crusted on your boots. I loved living on the ranch. He got sick just after I left for college and died a few years later. The ranch was in debt by the time he passed, so my uncles sold it off to pay creditors. I really miss that place . . . and him.”

  “I’ll bet.” He reined his horse to the right side of a fork we’d come to. Archie followed without much effort on my part.

  “In the bakery, Coco mentioned you’re a television producer.”

  “I produce a children’s show. It involves people and puppets. If I had to choose between the two as the best work partners, I’d choose the puppets every time. They’re far less whiny and needy.”

  “Sounds about right,” he said with a deep laugh, a sound that I was quickly growing used to. He peered over at me, his green eyes shiny under the shade of his hat. “I could see you hustling around a television set telling people what to do and keeping all the chaos under control. It suits you, a big shot job like that.”

  “Big shot?” I said, sounding slightly insulted. But the more I thought about it, I liked it. “I’ll take it. I’ve been called a lot worse. Behind my back, of course. But my crew can be overly sensitive about stuff.”

  “Well then, big shot, you ready to kick that horse into a lope? He picks up his feet a lot better when he has to move fast.”

  I patted Archie’s neck. “I’m ready if he is.”

  I moved to press my leg against Archie’s side, but as soon as Rebel took off, Archie was right behind. I couldn’t hold back a laugh. It had been a long time since I’d loped a horse, or even ridden one, for that matter. I realized how much I’d missed it. Nate had never been a horse person or even a pet person. What the hell had I seen in the man?

  A breeze nearly took off with my straw hat. I reached up with my free hand and pushed it back down on my head. Then I rested back on my pockets, something Grandpa had always reminded me to do in a lope. I allowed myself the pleasure of watching the extremely handsome cowboy riding his horse in front of me. Jackson was one of those men who rode a horse as if he’d been born right there in the saddle. He made it look effortless. His cues were so subtle, it was as if the horse was merely reading his mind.

  Jackson held his hat as he glanced back at me over his shoulder. I could see his gleaming white teeth beneath the shadow of his hat. He turned back around and led Rebel off the trail and slowed him to a trot. Archie followed without me asking him. He was on auto pilot, and the main pilot was Rebel.

  I trotted up next to Jackson. We slowed the horses to a walk. “I don’t even have to steer this horse. He’d follow Rebel straight off a cliff without a second thought.”

  “Yeah, Archie prefers not to have to put much thought into things.”

  “I suppose Rebel must be top horse in the barn. Especially if you don’t have any stallions.”

  “Yep, but there are a few mares that are quick to put Rebel in his place out in the pasture.”

  The temperature had dropped as we headed toward a copse of lush evergreen trees. The sweet, musky scent of running water filled the air. I took a deep whiff. “Is that water I smell?”

  “You’ve got a good nose.” He didn’t say any more. The path thinned down so that we had to ride single file. Archie just about glued his head to Rebel’s butt as we walked through the trees. A crow hopped down from a branch, startling Rebel, and Archie, who felt the need to mimic everything his leader did, jumped a good foot sideways. I slid to the side of the saddle but managed to right myself easily.

  “You all right back there?” Jackson asked.

  “I’m still in the saddle, so yep, I’m good.”

  Sunlight clawed its way back as the heavy foliage thinned to a light canopy of pine branches. We stepped into a clearing that seemed to have popped right out of a travel postcard.

  I sat back, which immediately cued my well-broke horse to stop. “Is that a waterfall?” I glanced around at the idyllic setting. “I’d ask how this place is possible just miles from the concrete jungle I live and work in, but nothing about this weekend seems real.”

  “Far as I know, this river and the pitch in the rocks creating the waterfall and pool beneath it have been here for a long time.”

  I pointed at him. “Far as you know, but with the magical way Coco cooks and bakes and finds perfect clothes and seems to know everything I’m thinking, I’m not ruling out that she did this.” I waved my arm around the piece of paradise we’d found.

  Jackson climbed off his horse. “I’ll admit that Coco has some extraordinary gifts, but I doubt we can credit her with hundred year old trees and a majestic waterfall.”

  I raised a brow to show him I disagreed.

  “All right, so maybe it isn’t beyond her powers.”

  “Then we’re in agreement,” I said satisfied. I climbed down off of Archie.

  Jackson unwound a lead rope and halter that he had attached to his saddle. “Archie’s halter is on your saddle too. We can tie them off under these trees. Archie would probably be safe tied up by his reins, but all it would take is one fast moving squirrel or a big bee and Rebel would yank out all his teeth with one move.”

  I pulled the halter and lead rope off the saddle and exchanged Archie’s bridle for his halter. We tied the horses loosely where they could entertain themselves on small tufts of green grass growing beneath the trees.

  Jackson took my hand. It had been a long time since a man had taken hold of my hand, and it dawned on me that I’d missed it. He led me to the edge of the pool, a swirl of deep green water that had formed where the waterfall ended and the river began.

  We sat down on the mossy bank.

  I picked up a stone and tossed it into the water. The surface of the pond was smooth enough, even with being so close to the foam of the waterfall, that a group of concentric circles formed in the spot that the stone had landed. The rock disappeared quickly below the surface. “That water looks cold.”

  “It is. But on a hot day like this, it’s a nice place for a dip. If you’re feeling spunky, that is.”

  “Spunky is my middle name, buddy. But, freezing my butt off has nothing to do with spunk and everything to do with my jeans fitting right.”

  His deep laugh made both horses lift their heads before returning to their late morning nibble. Jackson leaned forward to take off his boots. “Suit yourself, but I’m going in.”

  “But we have no bathing suits.”

  He dropped his boots next to him and stood up. He grinned down at me as he reached down to the hem of his shirt. “Little late to worry about me seeing you naked, don’t ya think?”

  His shirt came
off, revealing the incredible physique beneath. The vision of Jackson standing shirtless in front of me, prompted me to pull off my boots. “You’re sure we’re alone, right?”

  “Not gonna guarantee that. Right now, I only know about Archie and Rebel, and they’re far more interested in that grass than a couple of naked humans.” Jackson took hold of the button on his jeans. “Come on in. Could be fun.” The way he said the last three words got me to my feet.

  “Maybe I should leave on my bra and panties.” I unbuttoned the blouse.

  “Then you’ll have to ride back with wet underwear. Besides, chances are I’m going to be taking them both off—one way or another.” He pushed down his jeans and boxer briefs for proof that I’d more than likely be relieved of my underwear, and soon. His erection seemed to glisten in the thin ribbons of sunlight streaming through the patchy foliage. In fact, it was more of a sparkle than a glisten.

  I’d stripped down to my underwear and placed my hands on my bare hips to survey the incredible guy in front of me. “I’m not sure how it’s possible, but you look even more appealing out in the middle of nature.”

  “Funny, I was thinking the same damn thing.” He stepped toward me, wrapped an arm around me and hauled me against his rock solid, naked body. The slick, fleshy tip of his cock pushed seductively at my panties.

  “Lose those lacy little drawers, woman. I need to feel all of you.”

  I reached back to the clasp on my bra as he impatiently pushed my panties down to my ankles. “First I’m naked in a carriage, and now I’m standing naked in the middle of”—I glanced around—“wherever the heck this place is. Two things I’ve never done before, and I’ve done them both in the span of a day.”

  “Ever been fucked beneath a waterfall?” Jackson asked as he reached up to tug at my erect nipple.

  “No, I have not.”

  He took hold of my hand. “Then, baby, you’re about to add number three to your list.”

  Chapter 16

  The bank around the pond was soft and muddy. I trudged willingly behind Jackson, from the need to get out from the wide open and be at least clothed by the water and from the need to, as he’d suggested, be ‘fucked beneath a waterfall’.

  “Jeezus,” I shrieked as my feet first hit the water. I pulled free from his hand.

  He continued to wade into the pool several feet before turning around and sitting back easily into the icy water. He coasted toward the center. “It’s better if you go in fast, like yanking a bandage off.”

  “I disagree.” I stood calf deep and scooped up handfuls of the frigid water to pour over my dry skin. “This is what I do to get in a swimming pool, even a heated one. It takes patience to do it without giving yourself a heart attack. That’s my advice, and I’m sticking to it.”

  “That’s fine. I’m having a helluva a good time just watching you pour handfuls of water on that curvy, delicious body of yours. In fact, if I have to watch it for too long, I might have to swim over to that waterfall and finish all by myself. Unless you get brave enough to jump in . . . Spunky.”

  “Fine. I feel like the forest creatures are all staring at me anyhow. Squirrels are probably having a good laugh.”

  “They’ll definitely have a good story to tell their relatives.”

  “One, two, three.” I sucked in a breath, as if somehow that would make the water less glacial, and I pushed forward. “Holy shit, that is so cold I can no longer feel my limbs.” It was hard swimming while still trying to catch my breath. I pulled my arms through the water and pushed like a frog with my legs but wasn’t making much progress.

  “What do they call that style of swim stroke?” he asked with that ridiculously white smile.

  “Don’t know but my mom’s Aunt Nancy used to swim like this when she didn’t want to get her hair wet. I want to avoid brain freeze and keep my head above the surface. Which brings me to the previously mentioned waterfall event. I’m too numb. Hot, naked cowboy or not, I’m just not feeling it.”

  He stretched his arms out and headed toward the falls. “Follow me. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

  It took some effort with my body functions slowing to a crawl to keep from freezing to death, but I managed to swim behind him. The waterfall itself was small in the general scheme of waterfalls, but it kicked up a respectable amount of spray and bubbles. The roar of the water made it hard to hear anything.

  Jackson reached the rock ledge before me and hoisted himself out of the water. Sleek and wet, sitting in front of a majestic outcropping of black rocks, he looked like an erotic daydream. Only he wasn’t a daydream. He was real. My already labored breathing took another hit, and I gulped in some of the moisture-laden air floating over the surface of the pond.

  I tread water beneath where he sat and stared up at him. I had a stunning view of everything. “I don’t think I can pull myself out, especially because I can’t feel my hands or feet or anything in between.”

  Jackson reached forward, took hold of my arms and plucked me from the icy water.

  I sat down next to him on the rocks to catch my breath. “You know the water’s cold when the outside air feels like a cozy blanket.”

  He stood up and offered me his hand. “Do you have your land legs back yet? I want to show you something.”

  I put my hand in his and he helped me to my feet. The surface of the rock was slick and smooth from the constant flow of water, but there was enough flat area to walk along the ridge. My skin was covered with gooseflesh, and my teeth chattered as my core body temperature tried to catch up to the rest of me.

  Jackson glanced back over his shoulder at me and stopped. “You’re freezing. This was a bad idea.” He pulled me against his body and began rubbing my back and shoulders with his hands. “Can’t believe I’m suggesting this, but let’s swim back to the horses so you can get dressed.”

  My face was cradled against his incredible pecs, and I didn’t feel like leaving the warmth of his body. My voice was muffled by his chest and the thunder of the waterfall. “We’re this far. I don’t want to turn back yet.”

  He rubbed me a few minutes longer. I actually grew drowsy pressed into his comforting heat, especially with the feel of his hands moving over me to generate hot friction.

  When he stopped, I groaned quietly in disappointment.

  He lifted my chin to look at him. Wet and dreamy, they were the first words to float into my sleepy head. They were followed by, pinch me, someone.

  “Are you ready? Or should we turn back?”

  “Hey,” I said weakly, “you’re talking to Spunky, remember? Besides, if you promise to hold me and rub me like that again, once we reach the bank, then I’ll follow you right onto a damn glacier.”

  “I promise.” He took my hand again. We traveled closer to the waterfall. The cold misty spray grew stronger and louder as we neared it.

  Jackson turned into a recess in the rock. It was deep and tall enough to walk into. One half of the opening was curtained by the cascading water as it shot out over the rocks and down to the pool below.

  I looked around. We were surrounded by smooth, slate-colored rock. The view out toward the water was incredible. “We’re standing in a cave . . . behind a waterfall.” I gazed out in awe. “It’s amazing.”

  He pulled me into his arms again. “Worth freezing your cute butt off?”

  “Absolutely. Thank you, Jackson.” I peered up at him. “I won’t ask how you know about this extremely secret and super sexy hiding spot in the rocks.”

  “You can ask. I just happened to take a swim in the pond one day, and I decided to explore. I found this spot and thought, hell, if I ever find a hot woman with a lot of spunk then I’m going to bring her here and kiss her.” He lowered his mouth to mine.

  His kiss was all the warmth I needed to stop shivering. I curled my ar
ms around his neck and clung to him, our naked bodies providing plenty of heat.

  His hands swept over me as his cock pushed urgently against my belly. I’d been nearly blue with cold just moments earlier, but the flush of arousal warmed me as if we were standing inside a warm room, rather than a rocky hollow behind a waterfall.

  I reached between our bodies and wrapped my hand around his erection. He groaned against my mouth and rocked his hips to move his cock in my hand. His kiss deepened as I stroked him from base to tip, urging hot sticky liquid from his erection.

  “Hell, Becca, I can’t get enough of you. Wish there was a damn bed in this crevice.”

  A short laugh pushed my lips from his, but I instantly pressed them back where they belonged, tight against his mouth. His hands continued to rub heat into my body as I brought him near to climax with my hand, each stroke moving faster and harder.

  His low, sensual groan echoed off the rock wall. “I’ve got to have you, baby.” He reached down and took hold of my wrist in a silent request to release him.

  I uncurled my fingers, and he took a deep, steadying breath. Even in the shadow of the rocks, his eyes glowed with raw, erotic hunger. It sent a shiver through my body that had nothing to do with the temperature.

  He made what seemed to be a quick assessment of our surroundings, slick and sometimes craggy rock surfaces that were neither cozy nor inviting. Yet, I was completely aroused. I wanted it just as badly as Jackson.

  He took hold of both my wrists, gently kissed my knuckles on each hand and then turned me around to face the rock wall. The shower of water flowed past me. I could feel the energy, the power in the moving water just as I could feel the energy and power of the man standing behind me.

  Jackson lifted my arms and pressed my hands against the wall. Then he took hold of my hips and moved them so that my ass jutted out. His bare foot moved between my feet, and he spread my legs wider.