The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy Read online

  So she did.

  “I don’t want you to be a gentleman,” she said, slipping out of her sleeping bag and landing on top of his with a soft thud.

  He oofed before saying, “What do you want me to be?”

  She unzipped his sleeping bag enough to comfortably wiggle inside, all while he continued to lie there with his hands behind his head, a sexier-than-should-be-humanly-possible smile, and eyes that gleamed with yearning. She straddled him, leaned her elbows on either side of his head so their chests touched and their faces were only inches apart. “Inside me.”

  “Kennedy.” He murmured her name with velvety reverence she felt between her legs. His hands moved to her waist. His hips pressed against hers, the hard, thick bulge in his jeans giving away his desire. For her. The chemistry, the emotion, the connection—all of it and more had brought them to this moment, and she was grateful they were on the same page.

  “I’ve never had sex outside before.” She rolled her hips, unable to stop from rubbing over his firm, solid ridge. God, they’d just started and she couldn’t remember ever being more turned on.

  “Is that so?” He slid a hand underneath her T-shirt and cardigan, his palm warm and slightly calloused, and unhooked her bra with one flick of his fingers.

  “Not your first rodeo, I see.” She figured as much, but a wisp of air left her sails.

  “No, but it’s been a while.” He lifted his head to brush his lips against hers. An open-eyed, openmouthed kiss followed. “I’m glad it’s you here with me,” he whispered.

  “Me too.” She touched her forehead to his. “I can’t believe—”

  “Believe it.” He claimed her mouth, this time with hunger and urgency. The time for sweet nothings over, he made quick work of removing her sweater and shirt, kissing her while he did so.

  She lifted his shirt over his head next. Kissed his neck, his collarbone.

  He brought her face back to his. “Lose the bra.”

  It took her an extra few seconds because he distracted her by slipping his hands underneath the material and cupping her breasts. Rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. “Better than I imagined,” he whispered.

  “You pictured my boobs?”

  “When we got caught in the rain.”

  “You’re better, too.” He’d obviously lifted a million bales of hay, his chest and abs strong and defined.

  “There is so much I want to do to you.” He traced his finger between her breasts, up the side of her neck, and around her ear, leaving a trail of tingles behind the soft touch. He landed on her bottom lip, dragged it down.

  She sucked his finger into her mouth and she swore he grew even thicker inside his jeans. It made her lightheaded to know she affected him this way.

  Without warning, he flipped their positions inside the sleeping bag, taking care to cushion her back with his arm before crushing his mouth to hers and unbuttoning her jeans. He slid his hand inside, effectively lowering her zipper, and grazed his palm over her most sensitive spot.

  Two could play the in-the-pants game, so she undid his jeans. Pushed them—and his underwear—down his hips and freed his straining erection, hot and heavy in her palm. She made breathy sounds when he slid lower, along her very wet panties.

  After that, they kicked off their clothes and kissed and laughed their way to total nakedness as quickly as possible. Sex had never been this much fun.

  Except right when Maverick was about to get to the best part and slide inside her, he stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “I don’t have a condom.”

  God, she’d been so enamored with him, so anxious to lose herself to him, she’d forgotten about anything else. “I’m on the pill and healthy,” she offered.

  “I always use protection, so I’m safe, too.”

  She smiled up at him. “Then what are you waiting for, cowboy?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive.” She slid her hands over his tight, round glutes for encouragement. She trusted him implicitly.

  He spread her with his fingers and, with his breathtaking blue eyes locked on hers, slid unhurriedly inside. When she completely surrounded him, he stilled, seated so deep inside her, they both had to catch their breath.

  And when he moved, when they moved, in perfect sync, their bodies slick with sweat, nothing else existed but the two of them. He whispered in her ear how good she felt. She whispered back for him to never stop. She cried out the first time he made her come.

  Being the incredible lover he was, he didn’t stop there. He continued to move inside her with slow, measured thrusts until a second orgasm rocked her. This time he followed right behind, spilling inside her with one final push before going absolutely still to enjoy his climax.

  “Wow,” he said, keeping them connected.

  “Times two.” She gave him a quick kiss on the lips. In thanks. In surrender. In bone-deep affection. Falling for Maverick? In only a matter of days?

  Best mistake of her life.

  Chapter Nineteen

  One day until the wedding

  Maverick woke before Kennedy did. It didn’t matter the day of the week or where he’d slept, his internal clock had him up early, rain or shine. This morning, the first thing he saw held beauty and intelligence and maybe a piece of his heart.

  Last night had been incredible. They’d stayed inside his sleeping bag long enough for two rounds of sex before he’d tucked her back inside her own sleeping bag, cleaned up, and dressed. She’d fallen asleep near the edge of the mattress and there she remained, her cheek pressed into the pillow, her lips slightly parted.

  He gazed at her, his mind and body inundated with warm feelings.

  He never imagined having heart-to-heart conversations with her. Poking fun at each other with fondness. Letting his walls down, and kissing her like he’d never kissed anyone else. Like he was consumed. Possessed. Unable to get enough. She’d tasted like barbecue potato chips and he didn’t care—they were his new favorite food. The smell of her skin his new favorite scent. Feeling her from the inside and being as close as two people could get, the best thing to happen to him in years.

  His surrender came at her honesty, her pluck, her insatiable curiosity. Her kindness and beauty—inside and out. He liked who he was when with her. He liked… Don’t get used to it.

  Kennedy’s whirlwind appearance had an expiration date, he reminded himself. They had very different roads ahead of them.

  Swallowing that thought, he looked away. Tomorrow’s wedding had landed her at the inn, and the day after that she’d be gone. Back to her life as a big city doctor. He had no doubt she’d do great things. Save lives. Find someone to love her the way she deserved.

  He rubbed at the sudden ache in his chest, unsure if the pain stemmed from the idea of Kennedy loving someone or from the pain of losing the woman he’d once loved. Three years. Nicole had been gone three years. Sometimes that felt like forever and other times like yesterday.

  A week from tomorrow, he’d be on an airplane to honor her. He didn’t have a return flight scheduled. Didn’t have hotel reservations or train tickets or car rentals lined up. Just a promise to keep so he could finally move on when he got home.

  Today…today he’d do his chores, then spend whatever time he could with Kennedy. She’d eyed the bookstore in town—maybe they’d go there. Or maybe he’d get her on George. Whatever she wanted, because making her happy made him happy.

  He climbed out of his sleeping bag and rolled it up. Extinguished the remaining embers in the fire. Gathered the blanket, picnic basket, flashlights, and binoculars. His movements woke the sleeping beauty. She sat up.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “Morning.”

  “Looks like you’re getting ready to go.” She stretched her arms above her head.

  “If
you don’t mind. I’ve got some work to do this morning, but I thought we could meet up after that.”

  “I’d like that.” She slipped out of the sleeping bag, raised up on her toes a few times to stretch her legs. “What can I do here?”

  “Nothing. I’ll take care of it later.”

  “A girl could get used to this special treatment, you know.” Their eyes met briefly before she gazed up at the clear sky, the sun on the rise.

  She put on her shoes, slipped on his denim jacket, and his breath caught in his chest. In the morning light, after the amazing night they’d shared, he liked her in his clothes way too much. Liked the idea of her even keeping the jacket, wearing it in Boston.

  She followed him over to Magnolia, where they mounted the horse for the ride back to the inn. With her arms around his waist, he could feel her more at ease riding behind him. Bone-deep pleasure filled his chest now. He’d taught her to be comfortable on a horse.

  He took them through the magnolia trees, near a ridge that offered views of the ocean. When the fog stayed away, the spectacular sight was incomparable. Kennedy let out a sigh of awe.

  Veering away from the hilltop, the air immediately warmed a degree or two.

  “Are those carvings in that tree?” Kennedy asked, missing nothing as they passed by the familiar landmark.

  “They are. My dad carved his and my mom’s initials after they married, and my brother carved his and Bethany’s after they tied the knot.”

  “A family tree,” she said.

  “Yes.” He slowed so she could take a better look.

  “Are there other traditions in your family?”

  “A slew of them. My mom’s big on rituals. And before her, my grandmother started a few, too.”

  “Like?” she prodded.

  “Like reading aloud The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, playing touch football on Thanksgiving, having weekly family breakfast, my mom cooking ‘good luck’ dumplings whenever someone needs extra support, and—you’ll like this one—kissing the last page of a book. My mom taught us there’s nothing wrong with showing affection to a good story.”

  “That’s really nice.”

  “How about you? Any traditions?”

  “No,” she said quietly.

  He hated hearing the sorrow in her voice. “Well then, I officially pass to you the tradition of kissing the last page of books. You can share it with Ava, and it will grow from there.”

  She squeezed him. Pressed her soft lips to the side of his neck. “Thank you. I will.”

  A minute of comfortable quiet later, they arrived at the barn to find Hunter grinning from ear to ear at their appearance. “Good morning, lovebirds,” his pesky brother said. “How was the campout?”

  “It was great,” Kennedy said, thankfully ignoring the “lovebirds” comment. She hopped off Magnolia without Maverick’s help.

  Maverick dismounted and shot his brother a warning look.

  “Really? My brother didn’t bore you to death with his motormouth?” Hunt slapped his hand on his thigh and barely stopped himself from cracking up.

  Kennedy waltzed past him, a skip in her step. “Your brother has much better things to do with his mouth than talk,” she tossed over her shoulder. “See you later, Mav.”

  Hunter flashed a proud, albeit slightly surprised grin. “I knew you had it in you, big brother.” He lifted his palm for a high five.

  “I am not high-fiving you,” he said. “Let’s get to work.”

  “Wait. I need details.”

  “When have I ever given you details?” He rubbed Magnolia’s neck, then closed the gate on her stall.

  “Exactly. Today’s a good time to start. I’ll tell you all about my night, too. You go first.”

  “Hunt, I’m not saying anything, but I’m happy to hear about you.”

  “Damn it, Mav. You need to get it off your chest.”

  He stopped walking in the doorway of the barn. “What are you talking about?”

  “I know what tomorrow is—we all remember the day. And with Kennedy here, that’s got to change things for you.”

  “It doesn’t change anything.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. I’m going to the city like I always do. Alone,” he added at the altruistic look on Hunt’s face. “And whatever you think is happening between Kennedy and me, stop. She’ll be gone in two days, and she won’t be back.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because she doesn’t live here.”

  Hunter crossed his arms over his chest. “You could invite her.”

  “We both know I won’t.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. If you get all the crap you’ve been accumulating the past few years off your chest, then you can move forward.” He put a hand on Maverick’s shoulder. “I want you to be happy again, and from what I can tell, Kennedy makes you happy.”

  Maverick knew his brother had only good intentions, but he was in no mood for brotherly love at the moment. “Let it be,” he said firmly.

  Hunt dropped his arm, shook his head. “Just tell me one thing. Do you feel something more for her?”

  “Yes,” he answered instantaneously. He couldn’t help himself.

  “Good. Then there’s hope for you yet.”

  His brother made life seem so easy. Hunter’s worst problem was a case of unrequited infatuation—he’d never watched the woman he loved take her last breath after suffering through an incurable disease. Those last few months with Nicole were awful and gut-wrenching and Maverick never wanted to go through that again.

  And now he’d reconnected with a woman who had beaten death twice, once as a newborn and then as a teenager. What if that wasn’t the end of it? What if Kennedy got sick again?

  Even if they were on the same path, he couldn’t afford the risk.

  …

  Kennedy sat on the bench where she’d told Maverick about Hugo and her own life-saving surgery at fourteen. Big, beautiful trees provided shade from the late morning sun, and a warm breeze carried the scent of jasmine. She watched in the distance as Leah and others added more flowers to the gazebo and set up a white-carpet aisle for Elle to walk down. Other employees were setting up folding chairs. Still others were assembling round dining tables and a dance floor under a large white tent.

  She lightly ran her finger over her bottom lip, remembering every sensation Maverick’s touch had elicited. Last night had been unforgettable, and she couldn’t wait to see him again. Her body heated at the mere thought of the quiet intensity in his blue eyes and the skill with which he used his body. With each passing day, the awareness between them sizzled brighter and the tight leash he held on his emotions diminished.

  The animosity between them had finally fizzled out.

  “Hey.”

  Kennedy looked up at Reed, quickly placing thoughts of Maverick in the back of her mind to bring out later. “Hi. Thanks for meeting me.”

  He sat down next to her. “I’m pretty sure our texts crossed at the same time.”

  “Great minds…”

  “Yeah.” He tapped his elbow to hers. “I owe you an apology and my gratitude.”

  “What are you sorry for?”

  “Calling you like I did. I was having doubts about getting married and your nature is to immediately jump in and save people. Subconsciously, I knew you’d rescue me if I needed it, when what I should have done is talked to Elle.”

  “You’ve talked now, I take it.”

  “We cleared the air last night, and we’re more solid than we’ve ever been.”

  “I’m so happy to hear that.”

  “It’s in large part thanks to you. I’m glad the two of you had a chance to talk.”

  “I am, too. She loves you a lot, and from the glimpses I’ve gotten of the two of you toget
her, you feel the same way, even with your temporary doubts.”

  “I do. She makes my life better, and I’d be lost without her.”

  “Looks like my work here is done.” Kennedy smiled at him.

  “It was pretty awesome of you to come all this way ready to do whatever I needed.”

  “You’d do the same for me.”

  “I don’t know,” he teased. “I think you better promise you won’t call me drunk from your bachelorette party.”

  She laughed. She’d never given much thought to her own wedding. But now…she could see herself having something small and intimate. “I promise.”

  “After the rehearsal tonight, we’re meeting in the parlor for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. You should come. Everyone’s welcome.”

  She wondered if Maverick had any plans for them. “Thanks. Maybe I will.”

  “Andrew will be there,” Reed said, getting to his feet. “He and Elle’s brother seem to have hit it off, although I’m hearing conflicting stories about what Andrew is doing for work now…and that the two of you are siblings and coworkers?”

  Kennedy stood, put up her palm with an exasperated laugh. “Don’t ask.”

  “Should I be worried? I think I heard him talking in an Australian accent, too.”

  “You can ask him yourself.” She nodded over Reed’s shoulder with a grin, where her best friend walked toward them with a beach towel hanging over his arm.

  “All good here?” Andrew asked.

  “Yes,” Kennedy said. “But Reed’s wondering what your story is, since he’s gotten several different reports. For the record,” she said to Reed, “I only agreed to us pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”

  “Bro, don’t sweat it,” Andrew said, placing his hand on Reed’s back in a reassuring manner. “I’m still acting, and I’m doing some method work while I’m here. I promise it won’t interrupt your wedding.”

  “It better not,” Reed stated, crossing his arms, but he broke into a grin, too.

  “Are these reports in distress or happiness?” Andrew asked around a good-natured smile.

  “Okay, point made,” Reed said before turning to give Kennedy a hug. “See you later.”