Drifter's Darling (Culpepper Cowboys Book 12) Read online

  His answer was a long, drawn-out, “Uh…”

  Elvie giggled and kicked her jeans aside, tugging off her socks too. Her underwear—though it was Korpanty’s best—was also as boring and sensible as could be, but the way he watched her as she walked around to the hot tub’s steps made her feel like she was wearing leather and lace. And it was an awesome, squiggly feeling.

  “You going to join me?” She asked as she climbed into the tub and sank into the warm, bubbling water to sit near one of the jets.

  “Um, yeah,” he answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  He wriggled out of his shirt and jeans and tossed his clothes aside faster than she thought any man could move. She watched him shamelessly as he revealed his broad, muscled chest, his six-pack of abs, and strong thighs. Oh, and a pair of tighty-whiteys that were stretched to the limit. Man, Evan sure did know how to make a girl’s mouth water. He was a fine specimen of the male physique!

  “You sure you need those?” She nodded to his briefs as he climbed into the tub and sank below waist-level. “They look a little…stressful.”

  “Like you said, we didn’t bring bathing suits.” His voice was gruffer than it’d been a few minutes before.

  Elvie shrugged and reached under the bubbling water to remove her panties. As she held them above the water line, raised her eyebrows, then dropped them over the side, Evan’s face flushed red. His eyes zipped to the water bubbling around her as she reached back to unfasten her bra, held that up, then dropped it over the side too. The bubbles danced around her skin, both concealing what was in plain sight and ramping up her need to do very naughty things.

  “You didn’t,” Evan said, eyes wide, jaw dropping, voice deep and tempted.

  “Oh yes, I did.” She arched a brow at him, dropping her eyes to the water bubbling all around him.

  He hesitated only a second before hunching down a bit, lifting at a weird angle, then drawing a soaked pair of underwear out of the water. He dropped them over the side. “Now what do we do?”

  Elvie blinked as innocently as possible. “Now you finish telling me all about how you ran away from completing the transfer of your great-aunt’s company because you didn’t want it to change you the way it changed her.”

  Evan gaped for a moment, then the blatant sexual tension that had wrapped around him fizzled. He leaned back against the side of the hot tub as though wearing not only a full bathing suit, but sweatpants and a sweater too.

  “You’re right,” he sighed, rubbing his face with a wet hand. “That’s it in a nutshell. I don’t want that company to wedge its way between me and my family like it did with Aunt Kissie.”

  Elvie shrugged, ready to play devil’s advocate. “But hasn’t it already kind of done just that by you running away from it?”

  He stopped rubbing his face and looked at her.

  “I mean,” she went on, “I’m assuming you’re not calling home every couple of days and stopping by for Sunday dinner every week.”

  “No.” He let out a breath, sinking deeper in the water. “I do call my folks every week, though. They’re surprisingly trusting of me, all things considered. Mom keeps telling Pop that I just need to get out there and find myself before someone else finds me.”

  Elvie grinned. “Sounds like your mom is pretty wonderful.”

  “She is.”

  “I think I’d like to meet her.” Elvie lowered her lashes, drifting away from her hot tub seat and into the middle of the tub.

  “I think I’d like you to meet her too.” Evan sat a little straighter, pushed away from the edge of the tub. “I think I’d like to see the two of you cooking family dinner together.”

  “I’m a pretty hot cook.” She shrugged modestly, almost enough to lift the girls above the top of the water.

  “You’re definitely hot.” It was a silly line, but coming from Evan right then, considering the circumstances, made Elvie tingle all over and float even closer to him. “Suddenly I don’t really feel like talking about my mom.”

  He slipped all the way off the edge of his seat and met her in the “deep end” of the center of the tub. His hand brushed her side, and Elvie sucked in a breath. A second later and he pulled her close, wedging one of his strong thighs between her legs, and fitting the two of them together like puzzle pieces. Elvie gasped in earnest as all of their important bits rubbed up against each other, the bubbles from the hot tub jets adding an extra layer of sensation.

  Evan took advantage of her open mouth to dive into a kiss. Instantly, Elvie was drawn back to that amazing day at the rodeo, when the two of them had made out like horny teenagers behind the bleachers during a football game. He knew just how to be gentle and demanding at the same time. He knew how to tease his tongue along hers without making her feel as though it was a weird invasion. Better still, as his mouth worked its magic, drawing her deeper and deeper into a sensual haze, his hands explored her breasts.

  She probably shouldn’t like the feeling of a man squeezing and fondling her breasts, rubbing his thumbs across her nipples until they were hard and sensitive, but this was no ordinary man. This was Evan, her Evan, the only Evan. He was the only man for her, the only man she would ever let touch her and kiss her like this again. If his hints about marriage had been teasing before, they’d better be dead serious now, because she was going to marry the heck out of this man.

  Right after she did some other things the heck out of him.

  “Evan.” She sighed his name as he broke their kiss to tease his mouth across her neck and the line of her shoulders. His hands continued their exploration of her breasts, so she tilted, arching her back, and let him do even more. He lifted her out of the water enough to kiss his way down to one already super happy nipple.

  A deep, excited moan escaped from her as he licked and teased her nipple, his hand firmly cupping her other breast. She’d never had sex in a hot tub, but suddenly she understood the appeal. The water made her feel bouncy and bubbly and eager to do anything and everything. Evan responded to her sighs and squirming with his own delicious sounds of enjoyment.

  His hands and mouth were wonderful, but she wasn’t about to let him have all the fun. She raked her hand down his side and over his hip, reaching for the thickness of him that was already firmly upright against her abdomen. He gasped as she wrapped her hand around him and drew it lazily up and down his length. Wrapped around him the way she was, she could feel ripples of pleasured tension speed through his body, making him hot and tense. So she kept up her teasing, stroking him and focusing on his flared tip.

  “That feels so good,” he said at last, as breathless as though he’d run a marathon. “I’m supposed to be the one making you feel good.”

  “We can make each other feel good, can’t we?”

  “Definitely,” he rumbled. His eyes met hers, alight with fire, as he reached between her legs to stroke her.

  She made a sound that was almost embarrassing it was so full of desire as he hit just the right spot. It wasn’t just the physical sensations they were drawing out of each other either. No, it was the fact that they were sharing pleasure, that they were both intent on making the other one feel as good as humanly possible that made the sensations that much more amazing. They were in this together, partners in crime. She’d never experienced that before. Andy had only ever been concerned for himself while she lay there, knowing there should be much, much more to sex.

  Well, here it was, more and more and more. Evan kissed and nuzzled her neck where it met her shoulder, one hand teasing one of her breasts while the other rubbed just right between her legs. He even had the presence of mind to slip two fingers inside of her while still stroking that part of her with his thumb. And while he did that, she played with him freely, up and down, faster and faster as her own pleasure grew.

  Then suddenly, she came apart in deep, powerful waves of orgasm. No sooner had she cried out and squeezed around Evan’s fingers than he let out his own cry and jerked his hips a
gainst her hand. The water was too bubbly to see, but she had a pretty good idea he’d come just as she did. Especially since he quickly loosened and his breathing got deeper.

  Together they drifted to one side of the tub and propped themselves up on one of the seats, heads resting against the edge, panting.

  “Looks like we didn’t need those condoms after all,” Elvie joked.

  Evan turned his head to grin at her. “We might later.”

  She giggled. It was too funny, too hot, too wonderful. Just the thought of taking what they’d just done and following it to its logical conclusion was enough to have her tingling and aching all over again.

  “Or we could wait to do the whole thing until after we get married,” he said, raising his eyebrows hopefully.

  “I think that sounds beautiful.” She smiled from ear to ear, twisting to throw a leg around his hips so that she could kiss him with their hot, spent bodies pressed against each other. “But we’d better get married fast, because I don’t know how long I can wait.”

  He slid his hands down her back to cup her backside. “Think we could get your Brother Anthony out here to the ski lodge immediately?”

  Elvie laughed and kissed him again. “It doesn’t have to be that fast. Besides, I think we’ve just discovered there are other ways to be naughty.”

  “Yes we have.” He held her tight, and Elvie felt more than just sensuality. She felt adoration and commitment, from both of them. She felt an entire future’s worth of family and togetherness. She could feel the rest of her life in the beat of her heart against his, and she knew that whatever weird troubles they had to face, from inheritances to exes to silly companies, they would be able to face them together.

  10

  There was only one last piece of business to be sorted out before Evan was sure he could face his future with certainty, Elvie at his side. And that business was pounding on their door early the next morning.

  “I know you’re in there,” Andy’s voice carried through the door and up to the loft, where Elvie and Evan were tucked in bed together under a cozy down quilt. “I’ve caught you at last.”

  Evan sighed, snuggling deeper into the luxurious, king-size bed. It’d been quite a night. Between telling Elvie absolutely everything there was to tell about Kissie Lips, Aunt Kissie, and his worries about inheriting her company and her money, between the episode in the hot tub, a few awkward minutes of wondering just how strong chlorine was or if they should drain the tub, disinfect it, then clean it again, then repeating the whole reason it’d been soiled in the first place, between ordering room service and having a shivering hotel employee deliver it in the falling snow, then eating, cuddling on the sofa, then moving up to the loft and the bed, Evan couldn’t believe he was still part of the lifetime when Andrew Ball, Esq. was hunting him down.

  Andy’s thumping knock sounded again. “Come on, guys. The girl at the front desk confirmed you’re in this cabin. I saw Evan’s truck down in the parking lot.”

  Elvie stretched and moaned and shook herself awake. “What is he doing here?”

  “The same thing he’s been doing the whole time,” Evan groaned in reply, “Trying to make our lives miserable.”

  For some reason, Elvie found that hilarious and broke down into giggles. Evan didn’t mind those giggles at all, especially considering they were all wrapped up in each other and wearing very little. They’d figured it was best to have at least something on so that they didn’t backtrack on their determination to save the complete fireworks for their wedding night, so Elvie wore one of his t-shirts and Evan wore pajama bottoms. That hadn’t stopped them from goofing off in the middle of the night, though. He’d have to leave an extra-large tip for whatever poor maid had to clean the cottage after they’d gone.

  The knocks continued, along with Andy’s more plaintive plea of, “Guys, it’s really cold out here. The least you could do is let me in so I don’t freeze to death.”

  “He has a point there,” Evan said, shifting so that he could climb out of bed.

  “No,” Elvie groaned. “His heart is already frozen. Let the rest of him freeze as well.” She laughed as she said it and followed Evan out of the bed.

  The cottage came with thick, wooly robes and slippers, thankfully, and both Evan and Elvie slipped into them before heading down from the loft to the main floor. Evan spared a red-faced glance to the hot tub before continuing through the living room to the front door.

  “We really should tell someone they need to clean that thing,” he said before he reached the door, lips twitching as he tried not to laugh.

  “I’m pretty sure I remember Sly saying that they scrub it thoroughly after every couple stays here.” Elvie giggled as she spoke. “You can never be too careful.”

  “Nope,” he replied, though if he had his way, they’d be back in the tub, making even more work for the staff.

  That thought and the grin that came with it was still on his face as he pulled open the door, revealing Andy, hunched in a coat that wasn’t warm enough for the snowy mountains, teeth chattering.

  “Let me in, let me in.” Andy barged right past him, invading the cottage with a relieved exhale at entering the warmth. “It’s bitter out there.”

  “It’s a skiing area, Andy.” Elvie was already headed into the kitchen, straight toward the coffee maker. “It’s supposed to be cold.”

  Andy grumbled something that Evan couldn’t hear, then snapped straighter, his eyes going wide. “What have the two of you been up to?”

  Sensing trouble that he didn’t want to deal with, Evan shut the door, then walked around to stand in front of Andy. “Exactly what you think we’re up to, and it’s none of your business.”

  “But…” Andy stuttered, glancing from Evan’s imposing form to Elvie in the kitchen. Between the bathrobes and their disheveled appearances, Andy would have to be an idiot not to figure things out. “I thought we were going to patch things up,” he told Elvie, slouching and slinking into the kitchen.

  “Where on earth did you get that idea?” Elvie snorted.

  “Well, from…” Andy paused. “Because… I just assumed.” He huffed. “I told you this guy was bad news.”

  “He’s not bad news.” Elvie finished setting the coffee maker to run, then turned to face Andy, arms crossed, leaning her butt against the counter. Evan walked to join her, imitating her stance. “Evan is very good news. He’s also my fiancé.”

  “No way, I’m your fiancé,” Andy protested.

  “I think you’ll find that isn’t an accurate statement, mister lawyer,” Evan said.

  Andy continued to sputter, appealing to Elvie. “But I want you.”

  “Listen to yourself, Andy.” Elvie shook her head. “You sound like a spoiled child. I broke things off because you never listened to me, you were more concerned for yourself than anything else, and because you never really cared about me to begin with.”

  “That’s not true. I care about you. I care about how great of a wife you’ll make.”

  Elvie sent a sidelong glance to Evan, one eyebrow raised. “Well, that much is true. But not your wife.”

  Evan grinned at her comment, and when Elvie glanced at him again, he bent down to peck a kiss on her lips. Andy made a strangled, defeated sound, his posture sagging even further.

  “Well, what about the fact that he’s on the run?” he pressed his point, even though his tone and body language said he knew he’d lost. “How can you possibly be with a man who would turn his back on a major fortune and a thriving company to boot?”

  “About that.” Evan stood a little taller, ready, at last, to face what he’d been avoiding for so long. “I want to sign the papers, get everything through probate. I’ll do whatever is needed to take possession of the Kissie Lips company.”

  “What?” Andy looked downright bereft now. He threw out his hands and puffed with weary indignation.

  Elvie frowned and stared at him. “You aren’t by any chance getting paid for your time while atte
mpting to locate Evan, are you?”

  Andy turned pale and splotchy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You are!” Elvie stood straighter, letting her arms drop to her sides. “You’re collecting money for every day that Evan doesn’t sign those probate papers. That’s why you let him run for so long and why you made a big deal about him being the missing heir.”

  Evan scowled, anger growing by the minute.

  “I bet you created that media frenzy to keep Evan on the road longer,” Elvie went on, shaking her head. “You were trying to unnerve him so that the case would drag out.”

  “That’s it.” Evan stepped forward. “I want to sign any and all papers, and I want to do it now.”

  Andy stood there like a fish in the desert, his mouth opening and closing. Guilt was painted in his every feature. At last, he gave up and sighed, “Fine. But I don’t have them with me. You’ll have to come back to Denver and sign all the papers.”

  “I will,” Evan snapped. “Later today.”

  “Today?” Andy whined. “But that means I’ll have to get back in my car right now and drive all day just to get to the office in time to prepare everything.”

  “Then do it.” Evan underlined his command with a fierce stare. When Andy didn’t move, he added, “I’m waiting.”

  Andy turned to Elvie as if appealing for help. “Don’t look at me,” she said. “You’re the rat who got yourself into this situation. And we are not, nor will we ever be again, engaged or dating, or even mere acquaintances at this point.”

  Andy’s jaw hardened. “Fine, but don’t come crawling to me when you miss having an important, powerful, rich fian—” He stopped cold, peeking at Evan. Evan, who was just about to inherit a successful company and become an important, powerful, rich, and nice guy. Andy gave up completely, shaking his head. “I’m going.”