Buckle Down (Memory Grove)

  BUCKLE DOWN - SEDUCTION IN MEMORY GROVE

  BY

  MELISSA ECKER

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  About the Author

  www.lazydaypub.com

  Buckle Down-Seduction in Memory Grove

  ISBN 13-978-1-61258-062-3

  ISBN 10-1-61258-062-9

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Copyright © 2012 Melissa Ecker

  Cover art by Bret Poinier

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, any events or locales is purely coincidental. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the publisher LazyDay, with the exception of quotes used in reviews and critical articles.

  Dedication

  This book is for my friend, Bells. Without her encouragement and brainstorming, this story wouldn’t have happened.

  Chapter 1

  Humidity hung in the air and intensified the smell of fresh-cut hay. Tess Reilly wiggled her nose and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. She had only been in the stable for fifteen minutes and already she wanted to find a shady spot under a tree and not move. Summer was the only time she was able to come out and see her horse. One more year of school and she could move back home. Or not. Spending the last three years in California, she had developed a love for the beach and mild weather. But every summer she came back to Memory Grove, Arkansas, and it felt like home, the wide open spaces and friendly people.

  After mucking the stall, she lifted the mare’s leg and held it between her knees to clean the frog. The folks at Sarafina Ranch took good care of Tippi, which Tess appreciated greatly, as the two of them had been together for years. The horse had been a birthday gift from her parents when she turned fourteen.

  “Hey, darlin’.”

  Tess looked up. “Hey, Mrs. Cash.”

  “Please, don’t call me that. You make me feel old. It’s Phoebe.” Phoebe Cash was part owner of Sarafina Ranch. Her now-ex-husband owned the other half and it was named for their prize horse. Despite an ugly and very public divorce, she and her ex-husband seemed to be good business partners and Ted was gone most of the time, leaving Phoebe to run the place on her own.

  Tess laughed and set the horse’s leg back down. “Okay, Phoebe.”

  The redhead smiled, deepening the crow’s feet around her eyes. “How’s the family? Haven’t seen them out here in a spell.” Phoebe popped her gum and rested her hands on the aging wood gate. In true southern tackiness, she wore a ring on every finger and bright red nail polish to match her bright red lips. Phoebe wouldn’t admit her age to anyone, but she was clearly in her forties and dressed like a twenty-year-old hooker and had the reputation to go along with it. She held the titles of both town bitch and town whore.

  “They’re doing good. Mom and Dad are gone for a month. I think they’re in D.C. now.”

  “Very nice. And the boys?” Like most women in Memory Grove, Phoebe’s face lit up when she asked after Tess’ brothers, Luke and Cade. “They’re well?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Tess smiled and ran the hard-bristled brush over Tippi’s coat. A large horsefly buzzed past Tess’ ear and she ducked out of the line of fire. It landed on the horse’s shoulder and Tess slapped it hard with her gloved hand. Both she and Tippi had been bitten before and it hurt like hell. Tippi bucked and kicked her back legs the last time it had happened, and inside a small stable was a dangerous place to be with a pissed off horse. The horsefly dropped in the hay and Tess stomped on it for good measure.

  A black truck pulled into the parking area and kicked up a cloud of dust. Phoebe looked over her shoulder and turned back to Tess with a grin the Cheshire cat would envy. “See ya’ later, sweetie.”

  The door of the rig swung open and Tess squinted to get a better look at the man climbing out of the truck. Dark hair and sunglasses. She watched Phoebe cross the lot, swaying her nonexistent hips. If not for her over-done boob job, Phoebe’s body would resemble that of a thirteen-year-old boy.

  Tess put away her tack and led Tippi out of the stall. She wasn’t planning on riding Tippi today, just walking her around. The brown and white paint horse stood a good fifteen hands and Tess stretched up on tiptoes to peer over the animal’s back to watch Phoebe and the mystery guy in the cool shades.

  He leaned against the bed of his truck and lit a cigarette. Phoebe stood in front of him and flipped her hair every six seconds or so. Tess tried not to laugh. Phoebe, the forty-year-old high school flirt. Phoebe had a reputation, but Tess didn’t believe everything she heard. Rumors and gossip just caused trouble and she preferred to steer clear of it.

  The sun beat down on Tess’ head and she pulled the lead to get Tippi closer to the copse of trees in the clearing. From this vantage point, she had a better view of Phoebe and her guest. Tess tried not to be obvious but… damn. He was built. His biceps bulged against the sleeves of his black t-shirt and the jeans fit nicely around his… body. Beat-up cowboy boots definitely gave the impression this guy had spent some quality time on a ranch or a farm. He crossed one ankle over the other and drew hard on his cigarette before blowing a plume of smoke skyward.

  Although Tess had been out of the loop while in school, pretty much everyone in Memory Grove knew everyone else and she didn’t recognize him as a local, not someone who had grown up here anyway. She would have remembered the disarray of his hair and the hard line of his jaw. Just then he flashed a smile at Phoebe and Tess groaned out loud. That man was a masterpiece and the curiosity was killing her. She wanted to know who he was and how Phoebe knew him.

  The wind kicked up and blasted hot air and dust in her face. Her mouth went dry and her palms sweated around the rope clenched in her fist. She needed a drink of water. A barrel filled with ice sat against the front wall of the stables. Phoebe kept it stocked with water bottles and Gatorade. Tess wrapped Tippi’s lead around the branch of a tree and started back across the clearing.

  Despite her best efforts, she could not stop looking over at him. Her eyes traced the lines of his long legs and settled on his silver belt buckle. She couldn’t make out the design, but it was definitely rodeo style, big and round and embellished. The sun glinted off of it and blinded her for a second.

  The definition of his muscular torso was obvious through the tight t-shirt tucked behind that buckle. Unable to pull her eyes away from him, Tess didn’t see the old railroad tie lying on the ground. The tip of her boot caught on the large piece of wood and she pitched forward, landing face first in the dry grass.

  Oh. My. God. Please. Please, tell me he didn’t just see me eat dirt.

  She closed her eyes and spit a blade of grass out of her mouth. Bracing her hands on the ground, she started to push herself up when she heard the heavy footfall of people running.

  “Hey. Are you okay?” A strong hand touched her shoulder gently.

  Wishing the ground would crack open and swallow her, she rolled over onto her back. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  The bright glare of the sun blinded her and she could only make out the shape of his body, until he moved in closer. “Let me help you up, sweetheart.”

  His eyes were a shade of gray she had only ever seen on the air force jets that flew in formation over her childhood home. A crooked smile lit up his face and he wrapped his hand around her arm and slid the other behind her shoulder. With little e
ffort, he had her back up on her feet.

  Dirt covered her knees and she shook her head. “Thank you. I feel like an idiot.” From a mix of adrenaline and embarrassment, her heart rate sped up. If he came any closer, he'd probably hear the rapid thud banging against her ribcage.

  He laughed and reached out, pulling a piece of hay out of her hair. “Could’ve happened to anyone.”

  Yeah. But this kind of thing only happens to me. Stupid me.

  “You okay, child? You got to watch where you’re going.” Phoebe sidled up close to the guy. She didn’t seem as concerned with Tess’ well-being as she did with making sure she stayed as close as possible to him.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m okay.” Tess brushed off a clump of dirt from her jeans.

  “Didn’t knock your brain loose or nothing?” Phoebe jutted her hip out and grabbed her belt loop.

  “No, ma’am. I’m fine.”

  “I haven’t seen you here before.” A small vertical scar interrupted his left eyebrow. Tess wondered if the mark was from a fight or maybe a riding accident, something sexy and dramatic.

  Phoebe looked up at him and back to Tess. “Shane, this is Tess Reilly. Tess, Shane Wyatt.”

  Tess wiped her hand on her hip before extending it out to him. “Pleased to meet you and thanks again for your help.”

  He winked at her and smiled. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  Phoebe’s already beady eyes narrowed. “Tess, here, is Luke Reilly’s little sister.” A satisfied smirk settled on her face as if she were revealing some secret. Everybody knew Tess was Luke’s sister. Well, everyone but Shane Wyatt, apparently.

  Shane licked his bottom lip, gave Tess a once over and nodded his head. “Perfect. You take care of yourself, now.” His eyes lingered on Tess’ face for a moment longer before he turned to Phoebe. “Are you ready to go?”

  Phoebe batted her eyelashes and hooked her arm through his. “Yes, I am.” She waved at Tess and the odd couple walked off. Shane opened the passenger door of the truck and helped Phoebe inside. As he rounded the back of the truck, he waved at Tess.

  She raised her hand and smiled before grabbing a water bottle from the cooler. She took a long pull as she watched them drive away and disappear into the dust.

  ****

  Thick suds floated in the tub and Tess’ muscles burned and ached. She had landed a little harder than she thought and her knees bore scrapes where her jeans had abraded her skin. But her ego was bruised more than her body. Shane’s face kept flashing in her mind. Those gray eyes and his bulging biceps as he lifted her off the ground and, holy hell, was he tall. Not as tall as her brother, Luke, who stood a solid six-five, but Shane was definitely well over six feet. She had a like for big, strong men. She liked the feel of solid arms wrapped around. She liked to feel protected, and Shane definitely could do that.

  For the life of her, Tess couldn’t imagine what Shane was doing with Phoebe. She was attractive for a woman her age, but Shane couldn’t be more than mid-twenties, and couldn’t be more perfect. Surely, he could do better than someone like her. Phoebe was not particularly nice either. With her age, she was probably really good in bed, though, and it was no secret she got around a lot, both before and after her divorce.

  For a few moments, Tess wondered what Shane would be like, his naked body pressing between her open thighs, his strong hands gripping her hips, his mouth crushing against hers, offering hungry kisses.

  Oh, Dear. Don’t get yourself all worked up over this guy.

  After pushing Shane from her mind, she soaked for a good hour, climbing out once her fingers resembled puffy, pink raisins. Shrugging into sweatpants and a tank top, she crawled into her old bed in her parents’ house. Her cat, Gypsy, curled up beside her and purred. Tess stroked the cat’s long, gray fur and flipped from channel to channel until her eyes grew heavy and she drifted off.

  ****

  Morning sun shone through her window and Tess’ body ached something fierce. She yawned and stretched, popping the vertebrae in her back. The bright red numbers on the digital clock on her bedside table read half-past eight. It was so nice to sleep in. Her days back in California were hectic, and the lazy days of summer at home were just what she needed to rejuvenate. Not ready to get out of bed, she pulled the blanket up around her neck and looked around the room. Her favorite Barbie dolls were still perched on the top corner shelf beside her closet. Two trophies from barrel racing and an assortment of ribbons from the fair were arranged opposite the dolls. Her black suitcase sat on the floor, clothes peeking out the side. Unpacking would be on her agenda today. She hated to iron anything, so the sooner she got her clothes put away, the better. Then she could go visit with Tippi.

  She lay in bed for another hour before forcing herself to get up and get moving. The same dresser she used throughout her childhood now held her grown-up clothes. She shouldn’t have to hide her birth control pills, but she did anyway. Her parents had always been lax with her brothers, but as the only girl, and the baby of the family, they expected her to be a virgin on her wedding day. She had been taking the pills for two years, mostly to regulate her period, but the other benefit had not gone unnoticed.

  Laughing to herself, Tess finished hanging up her jeans and sweatshirts and got dressed. She paired Levi’s with a t-shirt, waiting to slip on her Muck’s until she was ready to leave. Her muddy boots were in the garage next to her dad’s Ram.

  In the bathroom, she pulled her hair up into a ponytail and popped two ibuprofen before she jogged down the stairs. Her mother had restocked the pantry before they had left on vacation. Tess inspected the kitchen cabinets. She peeled the foil wrapper off two strawberry Pop-tarts and dropped them into the toaster. The coffee pot was still half-full from yesterday. She microwaved it and added too much cream and sugar; perfect for dipping her Pop-tarts in.

  Pouring a second cup of coffee into a travel mug, she went into the garage and slipped on her boots. The air was heavy and hot, typical summertime in Arkansas. She turned on the truck and let the air conditioning blast into the cab while she ran back inside for her purse and cell phone.

  It was a thirty-minute drive to the ranch, which sat on the outskirts of town. The desolate roads were not identified by numbers or names, but by landmarks like the Memory Grove water tower and the Johnson Farm’s big, red barn. The wrought-iron sign welcoming her to Sarafina Ranch was about two miles past the barn.

  She spotted the black truck with the dark-as-night tinted windows as she cruised into the parking area – Shane’s truck. Heat spread up to her cheeks as she remembered his eyes and his hand on her arm, that instant current so hot she thought it might blister her skin.

  He’s dating the wicked witch of Sarafina. Don’t get too happy, girl.

  She waited a minute for the dust to settle around the truck before climbing out. It always felt hotter out here for some reason. Her sunglasses cut the brightness. Everything was dry, the ground, the grass, the air.

  Tippi stood at the gate and moved her head from side to side when Tess came into view.

  Phoebe had her hand on her hip while she talked on her cell phone in front of the stall next to Tippi’s. The redhead laughed with an obnoxious exaggeration before she snorted and started talking again.

  Tess giggled quietly when Tippi snorted in what almost seemed like an exaggerated mimic. She rubbed the horse’s nose and climbed into the stall. The tack hung on the wall and she removed the brush to groom the animal. Tippi’s coarse hair held dust and the stiff bristles sent it floating into the air.

  Phoebe’s voice was muffled to the point that Tess could hear her talking but couldn’t understand the words she said. Tess was almost finished brushing Tippi when Phoebe got quiet for a few seconds.

  “Wait just a goddamn minute,” Phoebe screeched.

  Shane appeared a few feet to the left of her stall. “Don’t fucking talk to me like that,” he snapped.

  Tess cringed and stood behind Tippi, waiting for the drama to unfold. Absently, she
stroked the horse’s mane.

  Phoebe grabbed Shane’s arm. “Listen to me for a minute.”

  “You’re crazy.” He yanked his arm out of her grasp.

  “I’m sorry, baby. Forgive me?” She batted her heavily mascara’d eyelashes and flipped her unnaturally red hair before tilting her head.

  “Jesus, Phoeb.” Shane shook his head. “You’re a roller coaster. Don’t try to play all sweet after that bitch attack you just had. This shit is getting old fast.”

  She touched his arm, trailing blood-red nails over the tattoo that Tess couldn’t quite make out.

  Shane recoiled. “Just stop, I have work to do.”

  Phoebe pouted and stepped back. “Fine, I’ll be in my office after you’ve calmed down.”

  Tess watched her walk off. Shane stood there and ran his hand through his hair before walking away in the opposite direction, muttering to himself.

  With the little show over, Tess went back to brushing Tippi. She loosely braided the mare’s mane and let it hang. The horse’s lead hung free, and Tess grabbed it and opened the gate. Tippi walked beside her out to the back field.

  The dry grass crunched beneath her boots and she wondered when the rain would come. Memory Grove never went very long without a storm. Tess didn’t hear him approach before Shane fell in step beside her.

  “How’s the knees?”

  She looked up at him from behind her sunglasses. “Fine. Thanks.”

  A smirk crossed his mouth. “Glad to hear it. So, you’re Luke’s little sister. Where’s he been hiding you?”

  Tess couldn’t stifle the giggle that erupted. “He hasn’t been hiding me. I’m home for the summer. I go to school in California the rest of the year.”

  Shane nodded. “That explains why I haven’t seen you here before.”