Afire (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  Cal glared at him but didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “She and Tim should be here this afternoon.”

  “But he’s not staying,” came the smug retort.

  “No,” Cal gritted out, “He has to go back to help his dad. He’s going to stay with his aunt.”

  Eddie chortled. “Nah. He’s gonna stay with me. He wanted some time away from the farm to play but didn’t want to ‘accidentally’ stumble on you and the luscious lady playing ‘Giddy-up.’”

  Eddie just smiled at Cal’s glower. Tony watched with interest as an amused Eddie and a stubborn Cal stared at each other as a silent communication passed between them. The last thing Cal needed was Tony getting curious about his relationship with Jenny because God knew the man loved to cause shit. Tony finally blurted out, “Who’s coming?”

  “Both of them, if I don’t miss my guess,” Eddie muttered, his lips twitching. “Jenny’s coming.” He clarified louder with a satisfying sigh.

  Cal kept scowling at him, and Eddie just shook his head. He broke his gaze and turned to a now-bored Tony. “Crooked Corners was evacuated this morning because of the forest fire. We’re going to be billeting about fifteen of her horses for the next few weeks. Jenny’ll take care of the horses herself, so you can relax, Tone. You won’t actually have to do any extra work.”

  “Jelly Jenny? That’s who all the fuss is about?” grunted an unimpressed Tony.

  “Shut your mouth! Don’t talk about her like that,” Cal barked at him.

  It was hard to tell who was more startled, but the kid stammered out an apology.

  Eddie chuckled and said to Cal, “Tone hasn’t seen her since she hit her, um, growth spurt. You might as well set some rules so you don’t have to kill him later.” Eddie turned to Tone, who was still watching Cal cautiously, and explained, “Jenny’s come into her own. She’s tall and leggy and blonde and curvy. And Cal’s been mooning over her for about two years. So don’t even think of doing your bullshit flirting with her.” Cal reinforced this with an angry glare and unconsciously clenched fists. “Don’t bug her and try not to embarrass yourself. In other words, don’t be yourself.” Turning to Cal, he said quietly “And you...don’t fuck this up. Time to grab what you both want.”

  * * * *

  Jenny’s heart started to pound as they neared Cal’s farm. She looked at her overnight bag on the floor and warred with the idea of pulling over. Finally, deciding this may be her best and last opportunity to get Cal’s attention, Jenny carefully pulled the truck and trailer to the side of the road. She hastily changed into a new pair of tight jeans in a move that would make a contortionist proud and slipped on a skin-tight pink tank top. She jiggled her breasts in the push-up bra until she had a little more cleavage. Hard to ignore the girls now, she thought absently. She jammed her discarded clothes into the bag and zipped it shut.

  An animal’s warm breath moistened her cheek, and she turned to see curious brown eyes. “I know, Napoleon, but I have to try, right?” she asked, scratching his muzzle before easing the truck and trailer back onto the road. She soon caught up to Tim, who had slowed his own truck and trailer when he saw her pull over. Waving his arm in acknowledgement, he picked up speed again, and it wasn’t long before they were turning into Cal’s laneway.

  Jenny and Tim parked side by side near the stable doors, and Tim got out first, laughing as he gave Cal a hearty back slap. He, Eddie, and Tony shared a rowdy greeting of name-calling while Jenny slipped up behind Tim and stood waiting uncomfortably for Cal to notice her. She grinned when she saw Eddie and laughed when he pulled her into a twirling hug.

  * * * *

  Cal tried not to scowl at the laughing pair but he couldn’t ignore the stab of jealousy at seeing them together. Their embrace seemed so intimate. Cal had just tamped down his jealousy when he saw Tony openly ogling Jenny. Well, her ass, really. Cal hated him leering at her but couldn’t really blame him. Her tight jeans were starting to make his own jeans pretty snug.

  He tried to look at her dispassionately. She wasn’t a classic beauty, too tall and firmly built, her lush frame balanced out by generous womanly curves. She might never grace a magazine cover, but her curves made him sweat. Her breasts were worthy of wet dreams, and her legs seemed to go on forever. Jenny’s full thighs were rock hard from a lifetime of riding, and her defined, striated muscles rippled with each seductive step. Cal doubted she was aware that men watched the play of her muscles or the gentle bounce of her breasts when she walked. Honey blonde hair highlighted her sparkling, mischievous golden brown eyes. Her quick smile transmitted every feeling, not leaving any doubt about what she was thinking. And if her expression was anything to go by, she wanted to play rodeo with him, and he wasn’t entirely sure he didn’t want to be roped.

  The men snapped out of their reverie and Eddie and Tim started to unload the horses, leaving Cal and Jenny to their awkward hellos. She locked eyes with Tim and saw his knowing grin at her change of clothes. Cal’s tongue felt glued to the top of his mouth and for a few moments he just stared at her. She gave him an encouraging smile, and he thrust his hand out in greeting. Giggling, she pulled his hand to her hip, and leaned up to give press her warm lips against his cheek. Before he could respond, Jenny smiled and said, “It’s good to see you. Thanks for letting me stay.”

  When she towards turned to join the others, he saw three heads peeking from behind the trailer doors. Cal thought he heard someone say, “He looks as awkward as a whore in church.”

  Throwing them a hostile glance, Cal was about to tell the lot of them to fuck off when an unusual horse whinny rent the air. The men exchanged bewildered glances and Tim rolled his eyes as Cal moved to Jenny’s truck cab. He peered in the backseat and saw impatient brown eyes staring back at him. The animal made the noise again, and Cal looked at Jenny in confused amazement. “What the hell is that?” he asked, pointing to the animal.

  “Shit, I forgot about Napoleon,” Jenny said as she rushed back to the truck. Opening the back door, she caught the animal as it leaped from the backseat. It wriggled until she set it down, and Cal got his first good look at the noisy little beast. He began to laugh in a way he hadn’t for years. The others heard Cal’s laughter and Jenny admonishing him and came to see the ruckus.

  “Is that supposed to be a horse?” Cal asked wiping away tears as the tiny horse pranced around energetically in front in of the truck.

  “Stop that!” Jenny chastised Cal. “You’ll hurt his feelings.” As if in agreement, Napoleon dashed toward Cal and head butted him in the thigh.

  The others rounded the trucks and stared in stunned silence.

  “What is that?” Tony finally asked Tim with ill-concealed disgust.

  Tim sighed deeply and said, “That’s Napoleon. The little monster is a dwarf miniature horse. Someone wanted him to be a special-needs guide horse but didn’t know how to train him. They dumped him on the vet’s doorstep. He doesn’t have the right temperament to be a guide horse, so the vet asked Jenny to take him in.”

  “Besides being kind of cute, what’s he good for? He’s two and half feet tall. Can’t ride him. Can’t put him to work,” Eddie said, openly dubious of the horse’s merits.

  “What he lacks in height, he makes up for in personality,” Jenny insisted.”

  The men seemed almost immobile as they watched the bizarre scene in front of them.

  “Enough, Napoleon,” Jenny scolded. “Come.” The little horse heeded her command and trotted toward her with tiny, quick steps.

  When Eddie stepped toward Jenny to hand her a lead rope, Napoleon lunged at him. Eddie jumped back and scowled at the temperamental animal. Tim patted his arm and laughed, “He’s a little protective of Jenny. He also thinks he runs everything. The problem is going to be how to make sure he doesn’t escape the barn. He can slip under most fences and can’t be stalled with another horse. If he gets out, check the house first. Chances are, he’ll be sitting on the porch swing or trying to get into the kitchen.”

 
; Cal turned back to Jenny, who was kneeling down petting the animal. From where he was standing, he had a very scenic view of her plump breasts barely covered by the tank top, and he jammed his hands in his pocket to hide his swelling erection. “Does he usually ride with you in the truck?” Cal asked, clearing his throat.

  Jenny nodded. “Yeah. I was worried the other horses might injure him if they were jostled during the trip. He usually just sits in the backseat watching out the window. He was a bit agitated this trip, though. Too many corners.”

  Cal felt his lips twitching. “He doesn’t like corners?”

  “Nope,” Jenny answered solemnly. “I think he gets car sick.”

  “I thought you said the horses were going to be low maintenance,” Tony accused Eddie.

  “He lied,” Tim chirped happily.

  “Any other quirks we should know?” Tony reluctantly asked, his frown still fixed on Napoleon.

  Eddie put his hand up to stop Tim. “I’ll take this one.” Turning to his disgruntled brother he said, “The Arabian stallion thinks he’s human and believes the other horses are Jenny’s pets. His name is Caliente because he thinks he’s hot shit. He’s also a giant pain in the ass. Sorry, Jenny, but it’s true,” Eddie said, holding his hands up at her protests. “Don’t leave anything in the corral or he’ll steal it,” he cautioned, giving a pointed look at Jenny. “I’m still looking for my hammer.”

  Jenny blushed. “I’m sorry. But I got the pitchfork back, didn’t I?” she reasoned desperately. Cal felt another headache coming on. “Okay, let’s get everyone settled. Do you guys want to get the chores started while Jenny and Tim make sure the horses are in their stalls? Even the little General here, please,” he said, motioning at the tiny horse.

  When all the horses were unloaded and stabled, Tim helped Jenny carry her suitcase and the tonnage of food their mom sent along into the house. An enormous St. Bernard dog slumbered in the middle of the porch and Cal sighed in frustration when Swiss Miss refused to move her big furry carcass. He ignored Tim’s chuckle as the man pointedly climbed over the snoring dog.

  It took two trips for Jenny and Tim to bring in all the food from their trucks. As Cal stared at his covered kitchen counters, he wondered when, or if, they’d be able to eat it all. The thought niggled that maybe Becky Busch hoped her daughter would be staying longer than just a few weeks. As they carried the bags upstairs, Cal’s eyes narrowed at the mischievous look on Jenny’s face. He felt an unwelcome swelling in his cock when Jenny cheekily asked, “Where will I be sleeping?”

  Cal gave her a quelling look and directed her to the room neighboring his that she’d used before. Passing by with her suitcase, Tim teased, “I guess it’s Miss Scarlett alone in the bedroom with a vibrator.” Jenny blushed at her brother’s embarrassing revelation, and Cal nearly swallowed his tongue. His imagination was running wild, and he knew he needed to get control of the situation. Now.

  When Tim came back downstairs, Jenny was in the kitchen unpacking the casseroles and desserts her mom had made. Cal pulled Tim aside and asked tightly, “How can you let her go out like that?” pointing to her tight jeans just as she leaned into the fridge.

  “I’m afraid of her,” Tim answered honestly, “And so are you, apparently.”

  He patted Cal’s shoulder in feigned sympathy then snuck behind Jenny to kick her in the butt. She retaliated with a well-aimed orange, grinning in satisfaction as the fruit exploded against his head. He laughed and ran out the door, just dodging an apple that whistled past his ear. Jenny bent back to the fridge as if nothing had happened and presented her perfect round ass to his gaze. Cal groaned to himself and readjusted his swollen dick. Only an hour into this, he was already in way over his head.

  * * * *

  Jenny exhaled in relief when Cal left again for the barn. She was trembling and needed a minute to catch her breath. Pretending to be relaxed and flirty took all her energy. Damn the man. It was the same every bloody time. For reasons she didn’t really understand, she’d felt drawn to him since they met over two years, three months, and three weeks ago. Not that she was counting.

  Looking much younger than his thirty-nine years, he had an aura of confidence and sexuality that men her own age lacked. Just brushing six feet, his body testified to a life of hard work. She wanted to trace the lean, defined muscles in his arms and run her hands over his broad back. He kept his dark brown wavy hair cut short but often had a day’s stubble, giving him a just-fucked appeal. But it was his incredible dark green eyes that captivated her. They seemed to look into her, as if he could read every thought.

  She sighed. She had a month.

  A lot could happen in a month.

  * * * *

  Much to Cal’s relief, Jenny was wearing much looser, frumpier clothing when she showed up later in the stable. Just as Eddie said, Jenny stayed out of their way and concentrated on the horses, talking to each one as she groomed them and checked their hooves. She sought out Eddie to see which pastures she could use to separate the mares and stallion and led them out to the designated fields.

  Cal heard her enter the dairy barn an hour later, and his body became instantly alert to her presence. He closed his eyes and hoped she would return to the house. When she slipped into the neighboring stall and prepped a cow for milking, he knew the gods hated him. Tony came over to flirt with her, asking if she needed help. Reaching toward a cleaned udder, Jenny gave him a cheeky smile. “I’m pretty good at milking,” she said as she squeezed her fingers along the cow’s teat in a sure, slow stroke. The young man was transfixed by her fingers, watching them massage the warm flesh, thick cream rhythmically squirting from the teat. He swallowed audibly. Jenny giggled, “I can usually get a nice stream of cream like this. It’s all in the wrist.”

  She smiled broadly when Cal came to stand behind Antonio. “Did you want me to help you milk?” she murmured huskily, staring at his obvious erection.

  Cal heard Tony choke and patted the dazed farmhand on the shoulder. “Ok, you’ve had your fun. I actually need you to work today, so Tony, go on in and get something to cool off,” Cal encouraged, gently pushing him toward the barn door. When Cal turned back, he found that Jenny had attached the four milking machine nozzles to the individual teats and checked to see that the milk was flowing. Cal said, “We’re OK here, Jenny. Maybe you could get dinner started?”

  Jenny nodded, biting her lip as she grazed against his groin firmly on her way out of the stall. “Anything in particular you want to eat?” she tossed over her shoulder as she strolled through the doors.

  Cal watched her full figure wiggle sensually as she left the barn and turned back to the stalls to see Eddie shaking his head in mock disgust.

  “What?” Cal challenged.

  Eddie shook his head again. “You’re an embarrassment. You wanna grow a set? She’s playing with you. Take control, man! Either take her up on it—and I’m voting for that option—or tell her to back off.” He paused then shrugged. “If that’s actually what you want.”

  Chapter 2

  Two hours later, Cal watched Jenny pull a peach cobbler from the oven, getting another view of her world-class ass. Dinner had been a series of double entendres that left him frustrated and aroused and wondering if he would have a zipper permanently imprinted onto his dick.

  Taking Eddie’s advice, Cal stepped directly behind her and murmured, “It smells almost as good as you.”

  Jenny would have dropped the dessert if Cal hadn’t pushed the steaming dish safely onto the counter. Jenny whirled around to face him. “What did you say?”

  Angry at his wavering control, Cal blocked her against the counter with an arm on either side. Of similar height, they were at eye level when he leaned in close. “You like teasing, little girl, but what would you do if I actually touched you?” he asked throatily.

  “Come,” she replied baldly.

  Taking advantage of his startled reaction, she hooked a strong hand around his neck and pulled him down for a steamy
kiss. Her warm plush lips pressed firmly against his, and his control snapped. Two years, two long years of wanting were unleashed. Groaning, he deepened the kiss, stroking his tongue into her mouth. Jenny felt pleasure zing through her body and threaded her fingers in his hair to pull his mouth even closer. He tasted of coffee and something intensely male. He growled when her tongue dueled with his and held her even closer. When she sucked his tongue into her mouth, Cal slowly bent his arms, allowing his full weight to press against her. She could feel his erection and rubbed her hips against his. Cal caressed her face as he kissed her, deepening the kiss when she murmured her approval. When the kiss ended, they were both breathing heavily.

  Cal leaned his forehead against her, his warm breath feathering her cheeks, and cupped her face. “Shit. That was even better than I imagined.” He saw her pleasure at his admission and gave a small smile. “Yeah, I’ve thought about you, too.”

  “Good,” she whispered, “’cause I’ve gone through a lot of batteries thinking about you.”

  He choked at her confession. “Jesus, the things you say,” he said, pulling her closer. “It’s probably good I need to finish chores before we get carried away.”

  He let her go and left to finish the evening chores. Cal couldn’t believe how incredible kissing her had been. He was so fucked.

  If I’m lucky, he admitted to himself.

  * * * *

  She knew she wasn’t going to get any sleep but for once was happy to toss as she replayed their kiss over and over. She’d gone to bed early so he wouldn’t feel pressured when he came in from chores. Jenny called her parents to check in. Hearing they’d arrived safely at Aunt Cathy’s, she called Tim, who said he was staying with a friend. A friend he wouldn’t identify. The coyer he became, the more intent she became on discovering his mystery friend. She had her suspicions. For now, though, she’d try to solve one of the mysteries in the novels Cal had left by her bed.