Lorelei James - Slow Ride

Authors Note

This short story takes place between the epilogue of Rough Riders book 8, All Jacked Up, and the second chapter of Rough Riders book 10, Cowgirls Don't Cry. Enjoy a sneak peek of Jack and Keely on the road to their happily ever after

This was the longest wedding reception in the history of the world. She wished it were overwhich truly was saying something, since it was her wedding reception.

Jack leaned closer and whispered, Stop sighing.

His warm breath sent goose bumps cascading down the right side of her body. Keely turned her head so his five oclock shadow scraped her jaw. She closed her eyes and inhaled his familiar scent: cologne, starch on his shirt collar and the underlying hint of his heated flesh.

Jack Donohue. Her husband. She really and truly was married to this gorgeous, sexy, intense man.

Keely sighed again, not out of annoyance, but out of pure pleasure.

He smiled against her cheek. Now thats a sigh I recognize.

I have different sounding sighs?

Uh-huh. You make that one in bed after I

Bringing up sex when we arent having any just makes me cranky, Jack.

His soft chuckle tickled her ear.

Its not funny. Why arent we rolling around in bed nekkid right now? she demanded in a fierce whisper. We are married. Why are we still stuck at the reception? No one would care if we left.

He eased back to gaze into her eyes. As much as I cant wait to roll around naked with you, if we skip out early, your dad will kill me, turning you into a widow before youve had a chance to be a wife. His voice dropped an octave and the possessive rumble vibrated through her in an electric caress. My wife.

You certainly get off on saying my wife.

Yes, I do, Keely McKay Donohue. So go ahead and call me a Neanderthal.

I would if it meant youd employ some caveman tactics and drag me off to your cave. Right now? she asked hopefully.

God, I wish.

Jack, I

The chinking of silverware hitting glassware crescendoed. Knowing what the crowd of family and friends wanted, Keely twined her arms around Jacks neck and gave him a long, wet, tongue-tangling kiss that probably caused some guests to squirm in their seats. She didnt give a damn. It was her wedding day. If she wanted to make out with her husband, she damn well would.

When they broke apart, Jack murmured, Two more hours and I swear were outta here.

Im holding you to that.

Id expect nothing less, buttercup.

So where are we going in one hour and fifty-nine minutes?

He kissed her temple and said, Its a surprise, for the millionth time. Then his brother Justin snagged his attention and he turned away.

Sneaky-ass tease. Jack hadnt told her where they were spending their two-week island honeymoon beyond the cryptic hint that she only needed to pack beachwearpreferably a dozen skimpy bikinis.

Normally hed spill his guts if she bribed him with unlimited, no-strings-attached sexual favors. But this time, the stubborn man wouldnt budge.

After the Twin Pines banquet workers cleared the dinner plates, the head table was disassembled to make room for the wedding dance and members of the wedding party were relocated. Which wouldve been fine with her, if she and Jack hadnt ended up on opposite sides of the dance floor.

A hard bump connected with her hip as AJ McKayher best friend, matron of honor and sister-in-lawsidled up beside her. Why the frowny face, Mrs. Donohue?

She plastered on a fake grin. Better?

No, thats actually worse. Whats up? You seem jumpy.

Would she sound like a horny ho-bag if she admitted all she could think about was jumping her husband? Wait. Could she even be a ho-bag if she was obsessed about having nonstop, shake-the-barn-rafters sex with the man shed just pledged the rest of her life to?

Granted, were all anxious. Its been a crazy couple of weeks, AJ said, breaking Keelys thoughts. Four different family members having bouts of false labor during your bridal shower. The bachelorette party. I think Ramona is still hungover.

Everyone had been shocked at how tame former wild child Keely McKays bachelorette party had played out last weekend. Not a lot of takers for a tequila shooting contest besides her cousin Ramona when the majority of Keelys sisters-in-law and female family members were knocked up. But truthfully, not reverting to her formerly rowdy wayseven for one nighthad been a huge relief.

Screeching feedback from the microphone distorted the air.

Sorry about that, JC Blackwell said from the stage. The band is set up and were ready to kick off the weddin dance. So can I get Carson and Keely up here? Well start out with the father-daughter dance. Hey, you know, in all the years Ive been doin this, thats the first time Ive ever said that at a McKay wedding.

Laughter rang out as Keely met her father in the center of the dance floor.

He squinted at her.

What?

Youve got a funny look on your face, girlie. Aw hell, you aint gonna cry again, are you?

Maybe. She playfully tugged on the silky silver handkerchief poking out of the front pocket of his suit. At least youre prepared if I do begin to bawl.

He muttered, Dont know why I have to wear this fancy-ass piece of crap. Its worthless.

Keely laughed.

The band started a cover of Kenny Chesneys There Goes My Life and her dad twirled her around and around the dance floor like he had when she was five years old. She looked at him suspiciously.

What?

Have you been drinkin?

Yep. Aint every day a man gives away his daughter. His only daughter.

Damn him. She was trying so hard not to cry. Daddy

We dancin? he asked gruffly. Or talkin?

Dancing. Definitely. And she let him twirl her all he wanted.

When the dance ended and he hugged her in such a public display of affection, she knew hed been hitting the bottle. When he released her and motioned for JC to bring the microphone to him, Keely thought her father might actually be hammered. Her dad. Making a speech. In front of over two hundred people.

He held her hand and cleared his throat. The McKay Ranch had been in existence for over a hundred years when this little gal made an appearance. My brothers and me never considered what havoc this little spitfire would cause in all our lives and our future.

More laughter.

Keelys stomach clenched. She desperately wanted Jack by her side as support in case her fathers impromptu speech somehow embarrassed her.

Our beautiful Keely was the only girl for a long time. But with the arrival of more darlin little girls into the McKay family the last few years, he winked and waved at his granddaughters, Liesl, Oxsana and Sasha, men my brothers know that times are changin and these girls deserve to have an equal part in the McKay Ranch if they choose to.

So weve restructured the way were doin things and Hell, itll be easier to show you. Hang on a second. He released Keelys hand and rooted in the inside pocket of his suit coat. He held out a folded piece of paper.

Keely gave him a blank look.

Go on, girlie. Open it up.

With shaking hands, Keely unfolded the legal document and she scanned the words. She reread it twice before she met her fathers bright eyes. Daddy, are you serious?

Yep.

The McKay Ranch had deeded Keely and Jack Donohue two hundred acres. Beyond shocked, beyond touched, she couldn't utter a single word.

Carson whirled around, searching the crowd. Donohue? Where are you?

Jack stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Keelys waist before he peered at the document. He looked at Keely and then Carson. Wow. Thats very generous. Thank you, sir.

My pleasure. Though, I dont envy the headaches youre gonna have building my girl her dream house on that spot shes always had her eye on. Do you know how many dollhouses she had growin up? I cant count all the hours she spent redecorating them.