Page 37 of A Cowboy's Trust
The winter day was made colder by the grey clouds overhead. Jake was glad he wasn’t out on horseback at the moment. They sat in a comfortable silence, the SUV making odd noises at times, until Tansy pulled in at the long drive beside the decorative wooden sign that declaredRed Boot Ranch.
“We’re headed to Petra’s brother’s place?” Jake asked.
“Sort of, but not really. Patience is a virtue,” Tansy teased.
He had no idea what was going on as she guided the van down a twisting road, all the way past the small rental cabins and the barns.
When she finally pulled into a parking space outside a not-quite-finished building, Jake’s suspicions flared. “That sign saysspa.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not open yet. I’m not making you do a mani-pedi or anything.” Tansy cut off the engine then waggled her brows at him. “Although, speaking of spontaneity, you might decide you like having a pedicure.”
“That’s someone touching my feet?” Jake made a face then joined her at the cleared path that led to the oversized cabin. “Unlikely.”
“Ticklish?”
He didn’t offer an answer, although, hell yeah.
Thankfully, she stepped forward, pushed through the unlocked door, and entered the spa. The inside lit up as she hit a panel of lights, and Jake glanced around, expecting to see…
Well, someone, to be honest. But the foyer with a pristine white front counter topped with a cedar plank was empty. Peaceful yet upbeat art hung on the walls—images of wide open lakes and wheat fields and sunflowers made of multiple layers of fabric and paint.
Tansy tapped at her phone for a moment, and soft music began playing. She finally turned and caught his eye. “Ta-da. Here we are.”
“Here we are, indeed.” Jake stepped in a slow circle, trying his best to be a good date for Tansy. Someone who embraced spontaneity instead of desperately attempting to figure out what happened in closed spas.
Laughter spilled toward him, and he turned away from what looked to be a massage room to take in Tansy in all her glory. Brown eyes bright, the gold in the core flashing at him in amusement as she pulled her hair into a ponytail high on the top of her head and secured it with a purple thing off her wrist.
“Time to put you out of your misery.” She nodded, the top fluff of blonde hair sticking upright bouncing with the motion. “I’m ready if you are.”
“Me too.”
An instant later, he was tugged down the hall, Tansy sweeping him up in her wake. “Here’s the first thing you need to know. The spa is not officially open. Red Boot is adding services for their dude ranch guests, but not until the spring. We’re testing the place out for them.”
“Since there’s no official staff, does that mean I get to give you a massage?” The suggestion came out an octave lower than usual, need colouring his voice.
She jerked to a stop, twirling against him. Heated palms pressed to his chest as she smiled. “Better. Get your swimsuit on and meet me in that room.”
After a quick point across the hall, she tucked him into a small changing room and vanished.
Jake stripped at the speed of light. His board shorts didn’t do much to hide his hardening dick. Empty rooms to themselves with showers and massage tables available? Swimsuits might mean a hot tub…
Yeah, he was already enjoying this.
He slipped across the hall, shocked to discover Tansy had beaten him there. The room was about the size of High Water’s main living space, the air extra warm as it swirled around his bare shoulders. The faintest hint of coconut and fresh clean wood ash filled his nose.
Recessed lighting turned low created a golden glow that danced over Tansy’s bare legs and torso as she leaned over and placed a couple of pots beside what looked like a sunken, half-full wading pool.
Flickering sparkles danced back at him from the teeny square of yellow fabric barely covering her mighty fine ass. He could cup one cheek in his hand, and his fingers would easily slip under the edge of the fabric and stroke and tease until she was panting his name. And that’s just where he’d start. Next he’d dive in on her breasts before returning to that addictive mouth of hers…
Of course, Tansy being Tansy, she would probably kill him if she knew exactly how dirty the thoughts racing through his head were.
Scratch that. She’d kill him for making a list.
She stood and turned, and damn if he could stop his gaze from dropping to her breasts. The sweet, soft swells were covered with equally tiny triangles that matched her briefs.
Briefs? His gaze dropped farther, stuttering to a stop over her mound. It too was a golden-wrapped present he wanted to open this instant, preferably with his teeth.
God. Jake swallowed hard to stop from drooling as every inch of her seemed to glisten.
