Page 79

Instead, we’ve spent the past day and night together. Talking.

She showed me her store’s Instagram, photos and videos of her floristry work—which is stunning—plans she’s got for events and clients who have already booked her for the new year. Skylar’s smile only grew brighter when she sheepishly told me about the dream she’s had of growing different varieties of peonies, of having a farm-gate style “pick your own” operation while building a team to handle the shop front for her.

This girl has got budgets and spreadsheets and she absolutely has her shit together. When I think back to being young and dumb and her age, I’m embarrassed to admit all I was doing was roping, riding, and chasing skirts.

Everything is done with such an eye for aesthetic detail, it’s no surprise Skylar’s busy as all hell.

In between phone calls with her parents and some other friends, she told me about her folks’ travels and how they want her to fly to meet them somewhere during the summer.

I mean, admittedly, a lot of those conversations have been while naked or in between another round of sinfully hot sex, but there’s a familiarity there between us.

In all honesty, I hadn’t expected to find that sort of connection with anyone, let alone a girl half my age who I shouldn’t even be looking at.

Something that was put into sharp perspective when Brad video called, and it made for a very awkward twenty minutes when both of us tried to pretend like we didn’t spend all of Christmas with my tongue in her cunt.

“He’s so glossy.” Her voice glides in and interrupts my thoughts. I’ve been busy grooming my bay gelding, Fizz, lost in my own mind and didn’t even hear her approaching.

“That he is. Fizzy loves a compliment, too.” Sure enough he’s nuzzling Skylar, looking for a bit of extra attention. “How’s it going down there?”

“I think I’m all done. You might have to check my work, though, Mr. Rhodes.” Her lips roll together, and lashes flutter. Baby blues bounce between my eyes, down to my mouth, then up to my hat. She settles her gaze there, lingering, and her tongue darts out to wet her lips.

Tossing the brush into the bucket next to my boots, I tuck my hands in my jacket pockets and close the distance between us. Advancing slowly, watching eagerly as Skylar retreats with a teasing little smile playing on her lips until her back makes contact with the wooden wall.

“Did you get distracted on the job, sweetheart?” I selfishly eat up the way her pupils dilate and lips part on a shallow exhale.

“Maybe.” Small white puffs leave her lips with the heat of her breath on the crisp air.

It’s way too goddamn cold out here to be sinking into her, even though that’s a particular fantasy I’ve played out in my mind’s eye one too many times over the past couple of days.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Skylar hums.

“You can tell me anything.” I lean one arm over her, high on the wall, brushing our bodies together.

She bites her bottom lip, and the glassy look in her eyes spells my impending doom. Because I know it—I know whatever comes out of this girl’s mouth next, I’ll agree to.

Her tiny fingers curl into the front of my jacket, and she goes up on tiptoes. I have to duck my head lower so that she can reach my ear and it sends a shudder roaming through me.

Illicit thoughts drift in of having days, months, years on end when this could be a reality between us.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Rhodes, but I forgot to put any panties on.” Skylar’s voice is a sultry whisper. “And I can feel you running down my thighs.”

“Jesus.” I swallow thickly. My pulse starts thudding as hard as hoofbeats in my neck.

“Then you had to go and stroll around in that hat and those jeans … and …” She peeks up at me through a heavy curtain of lashes.

“Are you telling me that your needy little pussy is out here bare and slutty and dripping with my cum?” With my other hand that’s not leaning on the wall, I rub my thumb back and forth across her bottom lip before tugging it down.

I’m fucking addicted to the way her pupils blow out when I treat her this way. A little bit stern but mostly just teasing her and telling her how perfect she is.

Goddamn, if it doesn’t make everything insanely hot knowing that my cum is still inside her from when I had her bent over the bathroom counter this morning.

“Do you want to see?” Her words are soft. Delicate. Just like her.

Fuck. I might just forget my damn mind and propose to this girl.

“I didn’t think I could find a way to fuck you out here, but I might have to change that plan.” I press my thumb into her mouth, and the good girl she is, Skylar swirls her tongue around and laps at the pad.

Pushing off the wall, I grasp my hat and lift it off, placing it over her pastel-pink waves.