“Reese,” he said as he took her hand. “This is a big undertaking with a lot of responsibility. I wouldn’t trust it to just anyone. I know you’ll put your heart and soul into the inn—you’re already doing it. You have to stop questioning your worth, sweetheart. Because as far as I’m concerned, we should be paying you in gold for all you’re doing for us.” He let out short laugh. “’Course, we have a budget to stick to, so we can’t pay you in gold. But you get my—”
She kissed him. Then she said, “I absolutely will not let you down. Or Sam.”
“Darlin’, I already know that.”
Her smile warmed his insides a
s much as her kiss did. But then she jolted and clamped her hands to her mouth, startling him.
Pulling away her hands, though her eyes were wide, she said, “Oh shit! I forgot to tell you something. Damn it. Caleb, small problem.”
His brow jerked upward.
“I’ve been meaning to mention this to you for a couple of weeks. You’ve spent just about every waking hour out at the ranch, now that you’ve broken ground on the med facility, and I failed to alert you to all the rumors Tommy’s been spreading around town.”
He laughed. “I’m not living in a cave, Reese. I’ve already heard. And I’ve been putting in my two cents along the way. So has Sam. No one thinks we’re doing anything kinky or illegal in this house, darlin’. It’s just a lot of gum-flapping on Tommy’s part.”
“Well, I know that. Everyone’s been saying they don’t think I’m actually getting it on with both you and Sam. Actually,” she added with a roll of her eyes, “they’re all implying I’m not capable of something so lascivious.”
With a low chuckle, he said, “I’ve done a lascivious thing or two to you.”
Pink tinged her cheeks. “Be that as it may, my ex is still in town and still shooting off at the mouth over things he knows nothing about. Though I suspect he hasn’t been skulking about lately, since the deputies are driving by the B&B more frequently.”
This was news to Caleb. “Sweetheart, I think it pretty much goes without saying that Sam and I can take care of ourselves. Are you worried about being here alone when we’re working late out at the ranch?”
“No, of course not.” Her chin hitched a notch, but a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes alarmed him. He and Sam were, after all, taking both trucks to the ranch. It would be quite obvious to Tommy that Reese was in the house by herself on some evenings.
He scratched his chin and said, “Maybe Sam and I should be carpooling. We’ve been hauling out supplies with both vehicles, but if my new truck is sitting in your drive, your ex might think twice about stopping by.”
“I’m not afraid to be here without anyone else in the house. I just wanted you and Sam to be aware of the ongoing issue.”
Sweeping a few strands of hair from her face, he said, “We’re big boys. A little gossip never hurt anyone. I just want you to be safe.”Leaning toward her, he cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed her. Then he suggested, “Why don’t we call it a night?”
She sighed. “I’m good with that.”
They left all the papers on the coffee table and he took her by the hand and led her into his room. He closed the door, then stepped behind Reese. His mouth grazed her neck and she moaned as she leaned back against him. His arms wrapped around her waist.
“You smell like cinnamon,” he murmured.
“It’s the baked apples I made for dessert.”
“They were delicious,” he said. “But not as tasty as you.”
She laughed. “Oh come on. All that buttery, sugary, goopy sweetness? And topped with vanilla ice cream, no less. Neither you nor Sam came up for air until you were done.”
“Remember, he did mention we each had a sweet tooth. Fortunately for me, I get to indulge mine a second time this evening.”
His fingers eased the buttons of her sweater through their small holes. Then his hands covered her breasts, kneading them through the lacy cups of her bra. His tongue swept along the side of her throat and she shivered in his embrace.
“You send wicked thrills down my spine,” she told him.
“I can do better than that.” He slipped the sweater over her shoulders and it dropped to the floor. He unhooked her bra, tossing it aside as well. Then he palmed her breasts again and massaged them as her ass wiggled against his crotch. His cock swelled instantly. “I was dog-tired the last several nights. Sorry.”
“I did miss you inside me,” she said. “But I got to catch up on my sleep.”
“My snoring didn’t bother you?”
“Not at all. In fact…I like listening to you when you’re sleeping. There’s almost a therapeutic quality to it.”