Love Me Once, Love Me Twice (Montana Cowboys 1) Read online

  Love Me Once

  Love Me Twice

  Montana Cowboys 1

  Sandy Sullivan

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

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  A Secret Cravings Publishing Book

  Erotic Romance

  Love Me Once, Love Me Twice

  Montana Cowboys 1

  Copyright © 2010 by Sandy Sullivan

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-936653-00-3

  First E-book Publication: December 2010

  Cover design by Beth Walker

  Edited by Trena Hayes and Ariana Gaynor

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2010 by Secret Cravings Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Secret Cravings Publishing

  www.secretcravingspublishing.com

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my fans. You've stood by me through my changes in publishers and my experimentation with other genres, but it all comes back to the cowboys.

  I love you all!

  LOVE ME ONCE

  LOVE ME TWICE

  Montana Cowboys 1

  Sandy Sullivan

  Copyright © 2010

  Chapter One

  Red Rock, Montana

  Established 1895

  The headlights reflected the white letters on the green sign, bright as day, even though darkness shrouded the countryside. Snow fell in flurries heavy enough to make it difficult to see and stay on the roadway. Deep ruts in the snow gave Natalie Bennington something to follow, so they obviously hadn't plowed the road in a while.

  "I never will understand why in the hell they put the sign for town clear out here," she grumbled. "It's still a good five miles in yet." A deep sigh left her lips. "I sure as hell never thought I'd be back here. Fifteen years is a long time to be gone. I can't walk away from Gram though. Not after what she's been through."

  The tires spun as she tried to go a little faster.

  "Wow. These roads are bad."

  Her grip on the steering wheel tightened, turning her knuckles white.

  "I haven't really driven in snow in ages, well, nothing like Montana snow anyway."

  A small hill loomed in front of her, and she knew if she didn't speed up to some degree, she'd never make it up. With a miniscule amount of pressure on the gas pedal, she started a slow climb.

  Halfway up, the tires started to spin, and the back end of the car began to fishtail.

  "Oh no." The ditch to her right loomed from the darkness like the gaping holes of hell. "Shit, shit, shit!" Barbed wire fencing stretched from one pole to another just beyond the backside of the trench, and without a doubt, she knew the gully had her name on it. The back of the car slid faster and faster toward the right while she struggled to keep it on the road, to no avail. Seconds later, she heard a dull thud and a loud crack as the rear hit the dirt, slipping into the crevice. The next thing she knew, she was staring through the windshield at the falling snow while the beams from her headlights reflected nothing—only disappeared into inky blackness.

  "Now what the hell am I going to do? It's still a hell of a long walk to town, and it's snowing like crazy," she grumbled and slammed her fist against the steering wheel. This trip started out bad and continued worsening the farther she got from "civilization”. The truck stops stunk, the food sucked, and the motel beds couldn't have one ounce of padding left in them because she felt every spring and every bulge. The truckers ogled, flirted, and propositioned at each gas station and bathroom stop. In addition, the weather hadn't helped, snowing almost constantly. The highway department closed the interstate for two days—two days of dealing with lonely men and very few women at a motel she wasn't sure didn't rent rooms by the hour, outside Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. Her cell phone battery died earlier in the day, and she'd forgotten her car charger at home.

  I should never have come on this trip, but Grandma needs me.

  On the verge of tears, she bit her lip and shook her head. She could give into the frustration and aggravation while no one could see her. One, two, three, four, five.

  Too many times, she reminded her students to count to five before they did anything while angry.

  It really doesn't help a whole lot.

  Headlights appeared, coming from the direction of town.

  "Great! Maybe it's someone who can help me get my damned car out of this hole."

  The door handle felt cold under her hand when she tried to pull it and open the heavy panel. Gravity wasn't her friend, even though she pushed with everything she had, it wouldn't budge.

  "Hello? Anyone in there?" A deep baritone yelled while he tapped on the window.

  "Yes! I can't get the door open."

  "Hang on," he said and disappeared for a second.

  "Wait! Where are you going? Don't leave me in here. I'll freeze to death."

  "I'm not leavin', honey. Hold tight."

  The endearment sent a little flutter in her stomach. No one called her honey or darlin'. Then again, this was Montana, home of the gentleman cowboy, where every female was honey, darlin', or sweetheart.

  Metal squeaked and groaned, but the driver's side finally opened.

  "Hey there. In a bit of a pickle, huh?"

  "You could say so, yes."

  "Can you crawl out while I hold this open?"

  "I think so."

  The snow crunched under her boots when her feet touched. The man let the door bang shut behind her.

  "Thank you," she said, trying not to slide into the hole behind her.

  "You're welcome. How'd you end up in there anyway?"

  "My car fishtailed in the snow and in the gap I went. What's it look like?"

  "Easy. Just askin'," he replied, pushing his black cowboy hat back on his head.

  "Can you help me get it out?"

  "Sorry, darlin'. I have four-wheel drive, but it doesn’t matter. Your car ain't goin' anywhere. The drive train snapped."

  "You're kidding."

  "Nope, I saw it in two pieces when I drove up. Are you sure you ain't hurt?"

  "I'm fine other than bruised pride."

  "W
here are you goin' and I'll give you a lift?"

  "Into Red Rock. My grandmother's actually."

  "You ain't from here are you?"

  "Not anymore, why?"

  "You used to be?"

  "Yes, actually. I was born and raised here until my parents moved us out of town about fifteen years ago. My gram still lives here."

  "What's your name?"

  She frowned, clamping her lips closed, afraid she already gave out too much information. If the man happened to be a psycho or something, she’d probably already told him enough to find her.

  As if he could read her mind, he said, "I'm not some weirdo, just a good 'ole country boy. Born and raised here and trying to help a lady in distress."

  "Are you serious? I don't believe you." She cocked her head to the side, studying his features the best she could in the dim light, "My name is Natalie Bennington."

  "Nat? The same Nat in the band?"

  "No one calls me Nat."

  "I did, or should I say we use to. Me and Kale anyway."

  "Cade Weston?"

  "One and the same." He shifted from foot to foot, stomping his feet a couple of times. "You know, I'd love to stand out here and chitchat, but I'm about to freeze to death. The roads are impassible if you don't have chains or four-wheel drive. I'll grab your stuff and take you home."

  Once he retrieved her suitcase from her car, she followed him to the passenger side of the truck, and asked, "What are you doing driving in this if the roads are so bad?"

  The door opened with a lift of the handle, and she could finally see his face a little—only enough to see the corners of his mouth lift in a smile and a flash of white teeth. She still couldn't see his eyes, but from what she remembered, he had the prettiest baby blues of anyone she knew.

  "Shootin' pool and havin' a good time. It is Saturday."

  "I should have known."

  The wind howled outside the windows, but the heater blast warm air throughout the vehicle. Snow swirled in the beams from the headlights, almost obliterating the view outside.

  "Wow. It's really coming down out there," he said, once inside, shutting the door.

  When he took his hat off and tossed it onto the back seat, she got a glimpse of the brown locks she remembered. A moment later, he fixed his gaze on her, and she forgot to breathe.

  Holy shit!

  A five o'clock shadow of whiskers covered his jaw, making him look a little rugged and a whole lot handsome.

  He put the truck in drive and slowly pulled around her car.

  "They won't tow my car, will they?"

  "No. It should be fine until tomorrow. The snow is supposed to stop later tonight, and the plow should be through early."

  "I hope they don't bury it."

  A warm chuckle left his mouth, sending goose bumps flittering across her arms.

  Cade and Kale were two of the most popular boys in school. Somewhat opposites in looks, Cade with brown hair and blue eyes, and Kale with dark brown hair and brown eyes, they kept many a girl twittering behind their hands in hopes of a little attention from one or the other, or both.

  "Don't worry. If they do, I have a shovel."

  The lights of town came into view a short moment later, but her grandmother's house was still a few miles away. Red Rock, Montana hadn't changed much in the time she'd been gone. A few businesses she remembered were now gone, and a few new ones took their place. Johnny's Gas Station still occupied the corner of Olive and First. A chain store grocery replaced Smith's. The Hometown Feed hadn't moved. Nevertheless, right now, all the doors were closed tight and nothing stirred except the wind and snow.

  "What are you doing now, here in Red Rock?" she asked, curious about the man he turned into after school.

  "Same thing I've always done. Work horses." A quick glance in her direction had her shivering. "And tryin' to stay out of trouble. Not easy to do in this town sometimes."

  What the hell is wrong with me? Yeah, he's gorgeous, but I'm not looking to get into a relationship with anyone, much less someone in Red Rock.

  "True. Have you managed to do that so far? Stay out of trouble, I mean."

  A wiry smile crossed his mouth. "Not so much. I stole a car a long time ago. Well, I should say we did, Kale and I."

  "Wow! Really? You didn't come across so rebellious to me."

  "Luckily, the car belonged to a neighbor, and they didn't press charges since it made it back to them in one piece. If I remember right, you left town before I really got into trouble. Where did y'all go anyway?"

  "Oregon. My dad got transferred after the plant closed here."

  "Must have been hard."

  "Yeah. Not easy making new friends at fifteen after you've spent your entire life in a town no bigger than a suburb of Portland." One shoulder lifted in a shrug. "I survived and even made some close friends."

  "I heard about your grandfather. I'm sorry."

  The sight of him sitting across the truck from her made her wonder what he thought about her all those years ago. "It's okay. He had a good life. Mom and Dad want me to try to convince Grandma to move to Portland with them. I don't think it's happening though. She loves this town."

  "How long are you planning on being here?"

  "I'm not sure. I took a leave of absence from work."

  "What kind of work?"

  "Elementary teacher."

  A smile spread across his lips when he looked her way again.

  "What?"

  "It suits you."

  "Thanks. I think," she replied with a frown, and he laughed. The warm sound made her shift on the seat, heat curling in her belly and spreading down her legs.

  "You never did take compliments very well."

  "When did you ever compliment me, Cade Weston? If I remember correctly, neither you nor Kale ever gave me the time of day, much less a compliment."

  The lights of her grandmother's house came into view, and he pulled into the driveway, shut the truck off, and said, "Teenage boys don't know how to give compliments, Nat. You've changed since all of us were kids."

  "I know, cynical and bitter."

  "No, I mean you've turned into a real beauty. I certainly don't see the gangly teenage girl I remember. I'm sure we've all had issues and problems over the span of time."

  "Sorry. I didn't mean to dump on you."

  "It's okay. Obviously there is some sourness."

  "Yeah, well, maybe I'll tell you about it someday. For now, I need to get inside. I'm sure my grandmother is worried sick. Thanks for the lift," she said, pushing open the door. "I guess I'll see you around."

  "Probably. I'm always around somewhere," he replied. "Be careful going up those steps. They might be a bit icy."

  "Thanks for the warning, but I do remember winters in Montana; very cold, very windy, and not much fun."

  "Unless you are sledding down Marshall Hill."

  "People still do that?"

  "All the time."

  "Man. I haven't been sledding in forever." After they moved to Oregon, rarely did her family do anything like sledding together. Her parents fought a lot since her mom hadn't wanted to leave Red Rock and her dad worked all the hours he could get to buy them a house. She shook her head to clear the melancholy thoughts.

  Life got lonely for the awkward fifteen-year-old from the hick town in Montana.

  Her sister, Andrea, felt the same way, although, much younger than Natalie, friends came much easier to her and fitting in hadn't been such a chore.

  "Let me get your suitcase and walk you to the door," he said, opening the drivers' side.

  "I can get it."

  "I'm trying to be a gentleman here, Nat," he said with a smile. "My parents did raise me to be one, even if I didn't take to it very well sometimes."

  Moments later, he stood at her side of the truck and held the door open for her.

  When she stepped onto the driveway, her foot slipped, and she grabbed the door of the truck, Cade's arm whipping around her waist to steady her.


  "Careful."

  Heat spread from where his hand touched, down to her toes, and back up, settling low in her stomach. No man made her react this way, not even Steven; the man she once loved, or thought she had, for over two years before he decided he needed someone younger, prettier, and skinnier. Sure, she wasn't model thin. Her lips had a little natural pout to them, and her legs seemed somewhat long, but overall, she didn't think she was ugly or anything.

  "Thanks," she whispered, looking up at his face.

  Damn, he's hot. Always was, but I almost forgot about his rugged good looks. And the way he filled out with muscles and bulges in all the right places…yummy.

  Her shoulder brushed his chest, and she wondered if he had lots of hair or only a little. The few times she'd seen him and Kale without shirts, they’d been young enough not to have much, but now it made her wonder.

  The boys around Red Rock used to swim in the river meandering south of town, and many times, she and a few of her friends would watch from the bridge. Pre-pubescent boys had her all a twitter at fifteen, just like any girl her age. Cade and Kale were some of the cutest boys in school and everyone wanted their attention, including her at the time. They'd both been more into the popular girls. The cheerleader types—not the band geek, like her.

  "This driveway is pretty slick."

  "Grandma probably hasn't had anyone shovel it in a while. It looks like the drifts are pretty high."

  "Yeah," he replied, stepping back and grasping her arm with one hand while holding her suitcase in the other. "Take small steps. It'll make it easier to walk on."

  Giving him an exasperated glance, she said, "You know, it does snow in Oregon sometimes too."

  His lips lifted in a grin. "But this gives me a reason to hold your arm."