Chapter 12

"Tell me about New York."

Scarlett sighed and rolled onto her back. She was content. Lazy. Happy.

Their lunch had been amazing. Taz was full of surprises, he'd presented her with gourmet sandwiches, the kind normally found in fancy delis, homemade chicken soup and the best damn cookies she'd ever had. And as promised, he'd brought her to the prettiest spot in Montana—at least that she'd ever seen. Nestled at the edge of Yellowstone, up on a hill that overlooked a river, and beyond that a valley, the scenery was picture perfect. In the distance were buffalo, their large bodies brown dots as they grazed the tall grass, and beyond them fields of wildflowers bloomed, spectacular swaths of bitterroot, paintbrush, and lupine. It felt as if she were in another world. Another time and place.

And definitely a world away from New York City.

"New York City," she repeated, eyes on Hank who was asleep in the large basket Taz had brought their picnic in. Snug as a bug and shaded, the only part of him that was visible was his little foot. He was deep in dreamland, and she expected him to stay that way for at least an hour. How could he not be content out here in God's country?

"I have a degree in Art History. I went to New York because I thought I wanted to work in a gallery or a museum."

"And?"

She looked at Taz, who was on his side, inches from her. "I discovered that I didn't like working in galleries or museums."

"Is that why you came back to Montana?" Had his voice always sounded like sex and candy?

"No, that's when I decided to work as an intern at a publishing house. I blame The Devil Wears Prada for that decision, though maybe working for a magazine would have been different. I lasted six months before I managed to piss off the editor I was interning for and got my ass fired." She laughed and shook her head. "I disagreed with every single book she took to acquisitions, which is when I learned that publishing is about making money for big companies and not about buying books that will change the world. I mean, for the most part. Luckily enough good ones get through the process and make it out to the masses."

"The world we live in is about making money, so I'm not surprised. Did you leave after that?"

"You would think so, but no," she replied wryly, "that would have been the smart thing to do. But I owned a Brownstone. I bought it using some of the money from the trust my mother set up when she died. Then Cal up and paid it off without asking, which meant I was in this big, exciting city with no debt, no constraints on my time, and it was easy to kind of disappear for a few years." She exhaled slowly, thinking back to that time in her life. "Sometimes I think I just wanted to be as far away from Montana as I could be. It wasn't always peaceful at the ranch. After Mom died, Dad started to drink, and he was a mean drunk. There was always fighting, especially between my dad and brothers. I used to hide and hope no one noticed me. Then Cal left and my sister Vivian and I, we just don't get along. I never understood her, and I still don't. She's like this egg with a shell you can't crack. I don't know if anyone will ever do it."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Eventually she left too." Scarlett shrugged and looked away. "You can't pick your family and running away from them doesn't always work out the way you want it to. I thought New York was the answer to everything I didn't know about myself. Thought I would find purpose, a job I loved and was good at, but I still don't know what that is."

"You've got time to figure out that stuff."

Truthfully, she hadn't tried all that much since she'd been back. She looked his way again. God he was beautiful. "I think we should change the subject."

"Yeah?" He inched closer. So close she couldn't help but notice how thick his eyelashes were. Totally unfair, but still a good look for him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You."

"We playing the question game again?" A hint of a smile lit up his handsome face.

"Maybe." She rolled onto her side which brought her closer to Taz. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I thought that was self-evident."

"To show me the prettiest spot in Montana." Her eyes dropped to his mouth. "But why'd you really bring me here."

That slow smile she was beginning to love curled his bottom lip. "You insinuating I have an ulterior motive?"

"Yes, to the insinuating."

"And what would that be?"

"Two words. Friday night." She grinned.

"What about Saturday?"

She laughed, enjoying herself. "Let's stick with Friday."

He tipped his head back. "Last Friday night. I had a baseball game."

"Win?"

"Yep."

"What else?" She nearly licked her lips in anticipation.

"I think I?—"

"You kissed me."

He slowly nodded. "It's coming back to me, but I might need a little help with the details."

Scarlett had never been the girl to make the first move. Heck, if Robbie Davis hadn't cornered her at the back of the football field when she was fifteen, she probably wouldn't have had her first kiss until at least a year later. Boys had always made her nervous, maybe it was a male thing; maybe it stemmed from her daddy issues or the fact that all her brothers were larger than life. Whatever it was, one thing was clear. All of that was long gone. She wasn't the girl she'd been.

An ache began to pulse between her legs.

Hell no, that girl was a part of her past. She was a woman and this woman wanted Taz Pullman.

Before she could tell herself to take it slow, Scarlett pushed Taz back and then straddled him, leaning down so that she could slide her mouth up along his neck. His pulse was fast, and she grinned to herself, knowing he was as affected as she was.

"Rules are no touching unless I say so," she whispered near his ear. "You think you can handle that, Pullman?"

"I sure as hell am gonna try." His voice was low and rough.

Scarlett smiled as she moved seductively and stared down at him. "Good. You keep those hands at your side."

"You're bossy."

"That a problem?"

"Not with you."

"I like a man who listens at the right time."

"When's the wrong time?"

She bent close and swept her lips over his. "I'll tell you later." With that she claimed his mouth, cupping the side of his face with both hands to anchor herself. He felt like heaven. Like everything right in this world. And even without using his hands he could kiss like a champ.

The kiss was long and slow. Deep and intimate. Who knew a kiss could be this magical? When she finally dragged her mouth away, his breathing had ramped up to eleven and the ache between her legs was hovering at about the same number.

Sweat beaded his forehead and those light eyes the color of the palest green ever, regarded her with a look that was pure hunger. With a groan she kissed him again, savoring the taste of him, the feel of him. Their tongues touched and she sank onto him fully, feeling his erection push against the part of her that begged for release.

"Permission to touch," he said hoarsely, breaking the kiss.

Scarlett didn't hesitate. "Permission granted."

His hands were on her in an instant and with a practiced move Taz had her on her back, positioned perfectly between her legs. He kissed her again. And again. He kissed her until her head swam and her body shook and throbbed. She was on fire. Her body starved for touch and aching for more.

Shit, why in hell hadn't she stolen some condoms from Ryland?

"We need to go slow, Peaches. We're not having sex."

It took a bit before she realized Taz had spoken. But she couldn't form a reply. She was blinded by lust and need.

He dropped a kiss to the crook of her neck where her pulse was racing like a locomotive. "But if I have your permission, I'd like to try a few things." He leaned back so she could see his face and her heart turned over at the sight. "To take off the edge. I wouldn't want to leave a lady hanging."

Chest heaving, Scarlett used her elbows to sit up, caught in the moment. "Get on with it," she rasped, squealing when he pushed her back down and reached for the waistband of her jeans. He opened the snap and began to pull them down her legs.

Shit. Her insecurities came rushing in and with them a flood of thought.

She was only six months post-partum.

Damn, the shorts were at her knees.

Thank God she'd worn her new pink thong.

Now the shorts were off.

Ugh, her belly was still flabby. She had stretch marks on her hips. She… Oh God his mouth was on her inner thigh.

Everything else fled her mind as she let the simple joy and pleasure of a man who knew what the hell he was doing, do what he did best. Taz kissed his way up each thigh and then suckled her most private area through her thong, which was soaked with need.

"You're so beautiful, Peaches." He practically growled the words as her hips began to move of their own volition. Taz pulled aside the small scrap of fabric that, let's face it, barely covered her up, and began to love her in a way she'd never felt. Ever. Not even with Malcom.

His tongue, his teeth and his mouth plundered her very core and the heat that began to build inside her was sharp and full and exquisite. He pulled at her clitoris with his teeth, the touch so slight, the pressure so subtle, yet shards of pleasure raced through her. Then he latched on and suckled.

"Oh, Taz," she whimpered, as it continued to build.

"Come for me, Peaches," he rumbled against her, his hands now joining the party between her legs. "I want to watch you come. Open your eyes and look at me."

Scarlett looked down and the sight of him between her legs, his mouth covering her fully, was something she would never forget. "Now you're being bossy," she said on a gasp as her insides began to quiver.

"There's my girl," he said, a satisfied look on his face as her orgasm came crashing down, sweeping her away on a wave of pleasure so intense she couldn't speak. She could only look down on the man who'd managed, in a short time, to worm his way into a part of her she thought she'd never give away again.

When the quivers subsided, she fell back, sated, her body still thrumming with passion. Taz gently pulled her shorts back up and they stood up together, his hands in her hair, his mouth on hers once more. This time the kiss was gentle, almost a caress and when they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily.

Scarlett's eyes dropped. His arousal was obvious. "I'm sorry…I…you…"

Taz chuckled and adjusted himself. "Don't worry about me." He looked sheepish. "To be honest I wasn't planning on lunch to get so…"

"So?" she asked, with an answering smile, at ease with this man.

"Interesting."

"I think that word is lacking."

"Delightful."

She made a face at that.

"Unexpected?"

"Okay," Scarlett replied. "I'll take that one."

His eyes darkened just then, and he pulled her into his arms, trailing kisses up the side of her neck until his mouth was at her ear. "That's just a sample of the things I want to do to you. But like I said, we're going to take this slow."

"What if I don't want to."

"You don't have a choice."

"You're being bossy again."

"It's one of my flaws."

"Why?" she asked lightly.

He raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Are we taking this slow? I've heard it's not your MO."

At first, he didn't say a thing, then he kissed her forehead. "I don't want to make any mistakes. I think we could be something. This feels different."

His raw honesty made her speechless and she was embarrassed by the fact that she blushed. Actually blushed. Had anyone ever spoken to her like that? Most of the men she'd been with had been afraid to be vulnerable. As if putting themselves out there somehow impacted their masculinity. She rested her head against his chest and said nothing.

"I should get you back," Taz said after a while. Scarlett nodded and got busy with Hank. He was still sound asleep, and she secured him in the carrier, cuddling him while Taz packed up their picnic.

The wagon ride back to the house was nearly an hour and it was pushing five o'clock by the time they arrived. While Taz took care of the horses, she sat on his porch and fed Hank, and for that small window in time everything felt perfect. When she was done, she changed his diaper and settled him in his car seat, then climbed into the truck.

She watched Taz walk up from the barn and couldn't help the spark of desire that sat low in her belly. He didn't stop until he was beside her. He rested his elbows on the window.

"What are you looking at?" she asked quietly.

"You." He leaned close and swept a light kiss across her mouth. "So, there's this rodeo thing on the weekend."

"I heard something about that," she managed to say.

"A dance on Friday night."

"Cal's band is playing."

"I think we should go."

"Together?" she blurted, equally pleased and surprised.

"As opposed to…"

She laughed. "No, I mean, I have plans to go. Dad is coming out to the ranch to babysit Hank and Nora." She bit her lip considering her options. Then thought, fuck it, her brothers would behave. "I'm meeting Benton, Cal, and Millie for dinner before the show. Do you want to join us?"

Taz straightened. "You asking me on a date?"

"I guess I am."

He leaned real close again. "We making this thing official?"

"I guess we are."

"Let me know what time and I'll pick you up."

"No," she said in a rush. "We can meet in town. I'll just come in with Benton."

"Scarlett," Taz said slowly, drawing out her name in a way that had those butterflies in her stomach swirling faster than a riptide. "I don't know what kind of men you've dated in the past, but I don't meet up with a woman I'm interested in. I'll pick you up. Let me know what time." His tone brooked no argument.

"Okay," she replied softly, feeling a little more of herself melt.

"I was right," he said quietly, hand on the open window of her truck.

"About what?"

He watched her for a few moments, with a devastating smile that made her heart turn over. Then he took a step back and winked.

"You taste as good as you smell."