Forever Dreams (Montana Brides) Read online

  After an hour of pampering, she looked in the mirror at a different person. You couldn’t mistake her for a cowgirl on trainer wheels now. In the blink of an eye she’d graduated to a city slicker knock-out.

  At half past five Gracie knocked on Trent’s door.

  “You managed to find your…” His jaw went slack and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

  Gracie grinned at his stunned expression. “What do you think?” She twirled in the corridor. “Do I pass muster?”

  Trent swallowed. “You look amazing.”

  “Thank you, sir. You look pretty fine yourself.” Her eyes traveled the length of his body. She had to swallow the sigh hovering on her lips.

  A man on the lookout for a bride might get the wrong impression if she started drooling at the sight of a navy blue pin-stripe suit and tie. Gracie smelt his musky aftershave and went weak at the knees. Stepping forward, she touched the lapel of his jacket. “I’ve never seen you in a suit before. You should wear one more often.”

  His eyes turned slate grey. Moving a step closer, he lifted his hand to her face, whispering in her ear, “You haven’t seen anything yet, honey.”

  His breath tickled the side of her face, but it wasn’t his breath she was worried about. It was the lips running along her jaw, sending hot and needy signals to other parts of her body that caused her the most concern. And the biggest problem was that she liked those feelings way too much.

  Gracie moved her head, trying to stop Trent’s lips from doing even more damage to her fragile resolve. As soon as she moved her head, she came face to face with his mouth. A mouth that tempted and teased and left her hungry for more.

  She leaned into Trent’s body. To hell with the consequences. Ignoring the need whipping through her body was like trying to put out a bushfire with a garden hose. She’d live for the moment and worry about tomorrow when it came.

  She nipped Trent’s bottom lip. He groaned, and desire streaked down her spine.

  He pulled her inside his room, nudging her against the back of the door. Gracie felt every nerve ending scream in pleasure as he sunk deep into her mouth. His hands moved from her back to her chest, gently rubbing her breasts until her whole body felt on fire.

  Yanking the bottom of his shirt clear of his trousers, she ran her hands up and along his ribcage. Hard muscles flexed under the gentle pressure of her fingertips.

  “Honey, I don’t know if I can stop.”

  “I don’t want you to.” She groaned as he pulled her into his arms, rubbing the hard length of his erection against her body.

  Leaning back, she slowly undid each button of his shirt, her lips following the path of her fingers. Heat radiated off Trent’s skin and his breath fanned her body in short, raw bursts. He moved his hand down her back, lifting the hem of her dress until she felt his hands gliding over her bottom. His fingers traced a hot path to the edge of her panties, teasing her until she was desperate to feel him inside her. Dipping his fingers beneath the silky material, he rubbed her aching body. She gasped as wave after wave of pleasure rippled through her body. Gracie opened her legs to the throbbing ache building deep within her. She whimpered as he slowly sank his fingers into her. “Don’t stop,” she panted, as his fingers flicked and cajoled until she was ready to scream.

  “Hold onto my shoulders.”

  Gracie reached up, clinging to his shirt like a lifeline. Trent took a step forward, pressing her into the wall. Pressing his fingers right where they needed to be. Gracie groaned as an orgasm tore through her body. Every time her body clenched, Trent rubbed a little deeper, a little different, until she didn’t know where one climax finished and another began.

  Her arms dropped to his waist. She leaned her head against his chest, trying to remember to breathe. Trying to remember when she’d last felt so loved.

  She groaned.

  “It’s okay,” Trent murmured, holding her gently against his body. “Did I hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “That was…I mean…you were…”

  Trent bent down and caught her lips in a soft kiss.

  “…Amazing,” Gracie sighed. She felt his chest move, caught the chuckle drifting over her head. She felt him relax against her body. Well… parts of him relax. Gracie nudged his bare chest with her nose. Her fingers danced over his hot skin.

  He wasn’t so relaxed now.

  “Your turn,” Gracie whispered. She reached for the button at the top of his trousers, nearly ripping it off when it wouldn’t budge. Trent pulled back, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He undid the button, and Gracie pushed his trousers down his legs. He stepped out of them, nearly falling flat on his face when they caught the top of his boots.

  A wicked gleam lit his eyes. “You nearly had me on my back in two seconds flat.”

  Gracie’s body purred in anticipation. Two seconds seemed like a pretty fine timeline to her. “Promises, promises,” she whispered.

  A grin spread across Trent’s face. Kicking his boots off, he stepped free of his trousers. “I want to see you, Gracie. All of you.”

  Taking a deep breath, she reached behind her, slowly unzipping her dress. Trent’s face tightened. One strap slipped off her shoulder. His pupils dilated to fill his eyes with a desire so deep, so total, that she nearly melted on the spot.

  She heard Trent’s sharp intake of breath as her dress slithered down her body, landing in a blue sequined puddle on the floor.

  He leaned forward to unhook her bra.

  Gracie stepped back. “Watch, cowboy.” Running her hands up her body, she unclasped her bra, dropping the wisp of black lace to the floor. The full weight of her breasts made her feel reckless and wanton. She took a step forward, rubbing the sensitive peaks of her nipples against his chest. He growled low in his throat as her hands moved over his body, kneading his overheated skin, teasing him until they were both breathless and panting. She laced her fingers through his, tugged his body until they landed on his bed in a jumble of arms and legs.

  She moved restlessly as he slid down her body, placing hot and hungry kisses along her skin, teasing her until she couldn’t think beyond the need clawing between them. He pushed her panties off and moved back to explore the rest of her body.

  Gracie grabbed Trent by the hair as he nudged the side of her thigh with his head. “I haven’t done that before.”

  He moved up toward her face and smiled. “Trust me.”

  She swallowed and nodded.

  He kissed her mouth with infinite tenderness then moved further down her body, his fingers wreaking havoc with her body. She opened her legs as he moved closer to his destination. Gripping the sheets in her hands, she braced herself as the first gentle lick of his tongue sent unbelievable waves of sensation through her body. “Oh God, Trent. More, I want more.”

  Gracie writhed on the bed as he plunged his tongue, harder and faster, inside her body. “Now, Trent. I need you inside me.” She arched her back as her body swelled, waiting to be filled.

  “I just need to…” He reached for his jacket at the end of the bed.

  Gracie sat up, needing the heat of his body against hers, needing more than she’d even wanted from anyone. She nipped the side of his neck with her teeth, felt the quiver that snaked through his body.

  Trent turned toward her, his eyes glowing with desire and something more. Something that made a different kind of heat spiral between them. He caught her mouth in a hungry kiss, melting every bone in her body. Pushing back into the bed, Gracie lifted her hips, wrapping her legs around his waist. She shuddered as he teased her, moving in and out of her body in slow deliberate strokes that left her panting for more.

  “Now,” she whimpered, grinding her body against his. He surged forward and she bucked under him. Their bodies came hard and fast, shuddering against each other, pushing each other over the edge and into supernova status.

  When their heartbeats slowed down, Trent slowly rolled off her, pulling her tight against his side.

&nb
sp; “I can’t believe we just did that.” She gently rubbed her nose across his chest. Trent’s skin was slick with sweat, his heart beat fast beneath her cheek.

  He laughed. “Sure beats happy hour in the cocktail lounge.”

  A horrible thought crossed her mind. Wiggling into a sitting position, she pulled the cotton sheet under her armpits. “You do realize that this, this…interlude doesn’t mean I’m going to marry you.”

  “Ma’am, the way I’m feeling right at this moment, I could stay unmarried to you for the rest of my life if you’d be happy to share my bed.”

  Gracie frowned. Then huffed. “Well. I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or not, but this…thing that happens between us, it can’t happen again.”

  “Honey, you might as well tell the wind to stop blowing if you think what happens between us can be flicked off at your bidding. It’s not going to happen.” Trent pulled the sheet and Gracie landed flat on her back. “And for the record, short-stuff, what happens between us is no summer breeze. It’s a full blown tornado.”

  He leaned forward and rubbed the tip of his tongue along her lips. She sighed as her body rippled into life. Her mouth opened and Trent slid in, hot, hungry, and needy.

  Gracie groaned as a slither of sanity edged its way into her brain. Lying buck naked under Trent wasn’t how she’d imagined spending her time in Las Vegas. And if she didn’t move soon, they’d be spending even more time curled around each other. She pulled her mouth away, gasping for breath. “I’m going to have a shower.” At his cheeky grin she added, “In my own room.”

  “Are you sure? We could try some bubble bath in my tub.”

  “Nice try,” she grinned, “but I’m leaving.” Slipping out the side of the bed, she grabbed the duvet and wrapped it around her body.

  “You look like a snowman.”

  Gracie glanced up. Trent had a goofy grin plastered across his face. “Don’t look too smug, Trent McKenzie. We’ve still got the conference dinner and show to go to. Unless you get out of bed quick smart we’ll be walking in late. And guess what everyone will think?”

  “That we’ve been dicing with danger in the casino?”

  “Nope.” Gracie moved across to the door with her clothes in one hand, and the extra miles of duvet slung over her shoulder. “Think again, cowboy. These are ranch men we’re talking about, not inner city paper pushers.”

  Gracie put her ear to the door and listened for footsteps. Getting caught in the corridor with a duvet wrapped around her body would finish the evening off nicely. She poked her head out the door. All she saw was beige-on-beige carpet. No tourists, no housekeepers, and no families waiting to see an almost naked woman streak between rooms. As she stepped under the hard spray of the shower, she could still hear Trent’s laughter following her out the door.

  Heaven help her now.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Trent hooked his arm around Gracie’s shoulders. After the conference dinner and the Cirque du Soleil show at the Venetian, they’d escaped with three other couples in a tour of the night lights of Las Vegas. Halfway through the night, Gracie discovered frozen raspberry margaritas. As they’d moved in and out of the shuttle bus, she’d become less steady on her feet, purring like a pussycat against his body.

  The Fountains of Bellagio were the last stop of the night. Everyone had been looking forward to the spectacular water, light, and music show in the lake outside the casino. While they were waiting for the next performance, they moved inside the hotel, heading toward the bar.

  Trent looked at Gracie, then down at the bright red margarita sitting in front of her. Big blue eyes stared straight back at him. “Are you sure you want to drink that, honey? What about an orange juice?”

  With a slightly dazed look in her eyes, Gracie reached up and brushed her lips across his neck. Trent held back the groan that swept through his body.

  “Don’t worry. You can tuck me into bed when we get back if you like.”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea to have another margarita.”

  She trailed a hand along his jaw. “Last one, I promise.”

  Trent kept a careful eye on what she was doing. He’d never seen her tipsy, and doubted she’d ever drunk this much alcohol in one evening. She sipped her drink delicately, like a butterfly savoring a glass of nectar. Nectar with a healthy punch that would leave her with the mother of all hangovers the next morning. When everyone started moving into the hotel entrance he grabbed the half-full glass out of her hands and left it on a table.

  Gracie headed straight across to the water, taking an unnatural interest in the lake in front of them. He held her waist firmly beneath his hand. Her little blue dress didn’t stand a chance against the shimmering fountain and skinny dipping wasn’t going to be on tonight’s list of attractions.

  Ted Davidson, a cattle rancher from Ohio, stood beside him. “What do you two lovebirds have planned for the rest of the evening?”

  Gracie turned to Ted, battered her eyelashes a few times and then in a matter-of-fact voice said, “We’re getting married.”

  The hiccup at the end was a dead giveaway to her level of sanity. Either Ted didn’t hear it, or he didn’t think such a sweet looking woman could get plastered on four margaritas.

  Trent coughed into his hand, staring at Gracie’s innocent expression. He could forgive Ted for missing her intoxicated state. If you didn’t know her too well, you’d think she was stone cold sober and working on all six cylinders.

  Before Trent could stop him, Ted yelled across to his wife, “Did you hear that, Marianne. Gracie’s getting married.”

  A squeal of delight erupted from somewhere behind him.

  “What’s that you said? Married?”

  Marianne, a woman in her early sixties with enough diamonds dripping from her neck to keep his ranch afloat for a decade, walked across to Gracie and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “That’s so romantic, darlin’. And here I was, thinking you and your man were only here for a bit of romancing under the Nevada stars.”

  The rest of the conference group gathered around them like honey bees to a hive. Gracie swayed slightly on her feet, accepting all of the congratulations like a seasoned pro. Trent tried telling everyone it wasn’t going to happen, but no one seemed remotely interested in listening to him.

  “When are you getting married?” Marianne asked in a hushed whisper.

  Gracie gazed up at him. With an alcoholic grin painted across her face she told them, “As soon as we find Elvis’s chapel.”

  Trent nearly burst out laughing. He didn’t know when the little devil had managed to find out about the Elvis weddings, but the stories had obviously stuck in her brain.

  As if reading his mind, Gracie turned in his arms. “Gina told me.” And in an almost wistful voice she added, “Gina with the long legs.”

  He didn’t care who Gina was, or how long her legs were. He needed to get Gracie out of here before they ended up married.

  “Let’s go, Gracie. It’s time to call it a night.” He pulled her hand, then yanked harder when all five-foot-one inches of her slightly sloshed body refused to move.

  “I want to get married.” Her bottom lip quivered and he could have sworn real tears shone in her eyes. Or maybe it was the alcohol. “You promised, Trent. And cowboys never go back on their promises. That’s what Gina told me.”

  He wondered what else Gina had been saying.

  “Aw shucks, little lady,” Ted bellowed. “Don’t go getting all teary-eyed on us.”

  Marianne stepped forward with a tissue clutched in her hand. “It’s alright, honey. Tell Marianne what the problem is.”

  Trent nearly hauled Gracie over his shoulder. God knew what pearls of wisdom would come out of her mouth next. “Come on, Gracie. I’ll take you back to our hotel.”

  “What about your wedding?” Marianne’s voice carried across the still night air until every head seemed to turn in their direction.

  Trent gazed across the lake
, trying to think fast before he ended up married to a slightly drunk bride. Hell, what was there to think about? He wanted to marry Gracie. But she didn’t want to marry him. She’d strangle him in the morning if they got within three feet of a wedding chapel.

  He could see one of those intersections on life’s highway coming up. If he didn’t take the opportunity that had presented itself in a swirl of alcohol and sequins the ranch could end up serving beef and biscuits to suit clad executives. If he went along with tipsy Gracie and hunted out a chapel, then his ranch would be safe, and he’d have a wife. And maybe a family, if parts of him lived long enough to repeat what had happened earlier in the night.

  Trent looked around. Gracie had moved further toward the fountain, sitting close to the water’s edge. He dodged a few tourists, trying to reach her before she ended up waist deep in the water. He could hear Gracie discussing her wedding dress with Marianne.

  What was a man to do?

  Ted decided to take matters into his own hands. He rounded up the group who’d traveled together in the shuttle. In a booming voice he said, “Now listen up, folks. We’re going to get this lovely lady married tonight if it kills us.”

  Ted didn’t know how close he might get to death once Gracie was working at full throttle again.

  “Trent, I take it you want to marry this little lady?”

  Now was his chance. Tell the truth or lie like his ranch depended on it. He made his choice.

  “I do.” God help him. He’d never been a religious person, but he had a strong urge to pray for deliverance from a five-foot-one redhead who’d make his life a living hell.

  “Then let’s get this show on the road.” Ted looked at him. “Do you have a license?”

  He cleared his throat. “Ah. No.”

  “Don’t worry. I came here for my brother Frank’s wedding last year. I know exactly what to do. All aboard the shuttle folks. Next stop is the Regional Justice Center. If luck’s on our side we’ll get there before they close.”