* * * *
Dust rolled through the air when the horse and rider rode by when Carrie approached the rodeo participants parking area.
What in the hell am I doing here?
Her eyes traveled around the many cowboys and cowgirls lining the vicinity, searching for the one man she’d come to find. When he walked away last night, her whole body had been on high alert to his touch, his smell, and what his kiss would be like. Tossing and turning, she awoke this morning more sexually frustrated than she had been in years. After some deep soul searching and a phone call to her best friend, Katie, she decided to try to find him. She hated one night stands, and she hated short-term relationships, but for some reason she was fascinated by Cole Wilder.
Your mother would roll over in her grave if she knew you were even talking to a Wilder, much less spending time with one,
her head screamed. Her heart skipped a beat when it whispered its own fevered wish—
Live your life, Carrie.
She walked briskly along the metal fencing, her eyes darting back and forth, looking at each face. When she had almost made the complete circle of cowboys and cowgirls as well as the horse trailers, she found him sitting on the tailgate of his truck. His eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw her.
She shuffled toward him, embarrassed now that she searched him out.
“Hi,” he said, slipping off the truck bed.
“Hi.” Tearing her gaze away from his, she looked at the toes of her boots as she scuffed them in the dirt at her feet.
He cleared his throat. “The store closed today?”
She looked up. “Yeah. I always close it on Sunday.”
“Did you come out to watch the competition?”
“In a way, I guess.” She shrugged and her heart whispered,
Just say it, Carrie.
“I really came to find you.”
“Really. Why?”
“To apologize for last night.”
He smiled, flashing those devastating dimples in her direction, and she almost tripped over her boots.
“I’m sorry it sounded like I was dismissing you. In a way I was, I guess. It’s like I said before, I have a no touch policy when it comes to rodeo guys.”
His mouth turned down in a frown. “Then why are you here?”
“Because I was seriously contemplating rethinking my policy, at least for you.”
“And?”
“I just thought we might be able to get to know each other a little better even though you are leaving tomorrow or the next day.”
“What are you saying, Carrie?”
She huffed, planting her hands on her hips and said, “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
He smiled again, and her heart thumped in her chest. “Yeah, I guess you do.”
Tipping her head back for a moment, she sighed and then looked at him again. She grumbled under her breath.
Difficult man.
Knowing he probably heard her by the widening of his grin, she tried desperately not to roll her eyes like a schoolgirl.
“I like you, Cole, and I thought maybe…”
This was stupid. I shouldn't have given into my lust and sought him out.
Losing her nerve she mumbled, “Never mind.”
She turned her back, intending on stomping her way back to the spectator stands. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arm around her waist. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh when her breasts slammed against the rock hard expanse of his chest.
His voice dropped to a whisper when he stared into her eyes. “I like you, too, and I would love to get to know you better, but make no mistake, I’m not the settlin’ kind.”
She pushed at the hard muscles beneath her hands, but he wouldn’t budge. “I’m not looking for a permanent fixture in my life, Cole. I’ve got enough problems keeping Jess out of trouble and making sure the store stays running to worry about a man.”
He chuckled. “As long as we’re on the same page, darlin’.” His eyes swept her face and settled on her lips for a moment. A second later, he brushed them lightly with his before released her. “I need to go. I’m up in a bit.”
“Uh…yeah…sure,” she murmured and stepped back.
“Meet me back here after my ride. We’ll see what kind of trouble we can find.” There were those dimples again when his eyes sparkled in challenge.
Not waiting for her to reply, he grabbed his hat and rope before he headed for the arena. She watched his nicely emphasized ass in his tight Wranglers and muscular thighs encased in smooth chaps. He made her squirm with his good looks and luscious body, and she felt her face flush with embarrassment. Looking around quickly to see if anyone saw her, she ducked her head and headed for the stands.
Finding a seat down in the front, she could see him laughing with a couple of other riders while they stood behind the shoot waiting their turn. Two riders later and it was his turn. He climbed up on the metal fence where the bull shifted, pushing against the confines of the small area. Climbing over the top, he settled on the back of the huge animal and secured the bull rope around his gloved hand. She held her breath as she waited for him to give the signal he was ready.
After a brief nod of his head, the gate shot open, and the bull charged out several feet before his hind legs shot out behind him. Her heart clenched while she watched, terrified he would be hurt. For what seemed like hours, his right hand whipped through the air, back and forth, and the bull twisted and turned almost as if it were trying to dislodge a fly.
The buzzer finally rang loud and clear, and the crowd erupted in a loud cheer. Cole managed to get his hand free and jump away from the bull while the clowns did their job, distracting the enraged animal before it could gore someone. He flashed his dimpled smile and waved to the crowd before leaping onto the fence and slinging his leg over, dropping to his feet on the other side.
She stood, trying to be nonchalant while she walked headed for the stairs to meet him at his truck, her heart pounding. She let her mind wander slightly while she imaged what the coming afternoon and evening would present. When she rounded the horse trailers, she could see the side of his big black Ford, and she smiled when she headed for the tailgate.
The sight that met her eyes dropped her heart to her toes.
Chapter Four
Jumping down from the fence after his ride, his heart pounded while the full force of adrenaline rushed through him. Blood swirled through his veins, almost giving him an erection from the excitement. His penis pushed insistently upward, and he thought with a chuckle,
D
own boy!
A large smile was plastered on his face while he endured the slaps of congratulations from his competitors before he headed back for his truck.
His thoughts turned toward Carrie, and excitement zinged through him. He couldn’t believe how pumped he was thinking about the coming night and spending some time wooing the reluctant hazel-eyed beauty into his bed. To be near her, to hold her, touch her, seeing if the inside of her mouth tasted as sweet as her lips did, had him almost running back in the direction of his truck.
Stopping at the tailgate, disappointment rippled along his arms when he noticed she wasn’t there. He shrugged and unbuckled his chaps around his waist before he bent over to unzip them at the sides. The next thing he felt was a warm hand sliding over his ass cheeks. Assuming the hand belonged to Carrie, he stood up slowly, only to meet the bright blue eyes of voluptuous platinum blonde.
“Hey, sugar,” she whispered while her hands slid around him and she squashed her breasts against his chest. “How about you let me ride you like you just rode that bull?” Before he could even utter a word, she wrapped one hand around the back of his head and planted her collagen-filled red lips against his. Never one to deny himself the kiss of a pretty woman, he lost himself in her touch.
A startled gasp caught his attention and he pulled away. The first thing he saw was Carrie’s wide hazel eyes when she took in the scene. Pushing against the strange woman until she released him, he hurried around the side of the truck, but in the blink of an eye, Carrie was gone, disappearing between the vehicles. He tried to follow, calling her name, but the other woman grabbed a hold of his arm.
Shaking her off angrily, he followed in the direction Carrie disappeared, but the only thing he saw was the dust left in the air as her truck pulled out onto the highway. Debating whether to follow her, he walked back toward his truck only to find the blonde perched on the tailgate.
“So what do you say we hook up?”
Shooting her an angry stare, he growled. “Beat it. Go find some other pretty boy to spend your night with. I’m not interested.”
The woman huffed and fumed. “I never!”
“I doubt that,” he spat and she spun on her heels and stomped away.
Running his hands through his hair, he tried to decide whether to go after Carrie or not. He could find his way back to her place, but as mad as she probably was, she wouldn’t see him.
“Damn it!” Slamming his hand against the side of his truck, he shook it for a moment when pain shot up his arm. He grabbed his gear and whipped open the door before he slid inside.
Two hours later found him at the bar where he first met her, nursing a beer with Jimmy sitting next to him. His hand hurt like hell, but it couldn’t dull the pain that centered in his chest somewhere above his heart.
“What’s in your craw, Cole? You’ve been grumbling for the last couple of hours.”
“Nothin’.”
“Yeah right! I saw you brush off the blonde babe at the rodeo. She was hot for you, man, and you walked away. That ain’t like you.”
His gaze scanned the crowd, hoping she would be here but knowing she probably wouldn’t. He couldn’t blame her, really. He had made sure she knew he wanted to be with her tonight, and then she came back to find him making out with someone else.
What else would she think after catching me playing tonsil hockey with another woman? Hell, I think I’m an ass. I can imagine what she thinks.
“Like I said, it’s nothin’, Jim. Just forget it.”
“Well, I think I’m gonna find me a pretty babe to dance with. Your company sucks, buddy.” The other man moved away from his side and headed for a group of women standing off to the side of the bar. Several of them had been trying to get his attention for the last thirty minutes, but he wasn’t interested. One hazel-eyed beauty had him tied up in knots.
Taking a long drink of the beer in his hand, he shook his head.
Why in the hell am I sitting here by myself with all these pretty women around? Maybe I need to hook up with one and forget about the little tigress.
Feeling a warm hand on his shoulder, he looked in the mirror over the bar and was startled to see who stood next to him.
“Carrie?”
“Hi.” She let her hand drop as he spun around on the stool.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t figure you would even want to be in the same room with me after what happened at the rodeo.”
She dropped her gaze to the floor. “Well, I thought I should at least give you the chance to explain.”
Taking her hand in his, he entwined their fingers. “I didn’t even know her. She was just there when I went back to my truck after the ride.”
“A rodeo whore?”
“Something like that, yeah.”
She shrugged, but still wouldn’t meet his gaze until he put his fingers under her chin and forced her to look up.
“It doesn’t really matter, Cole. I mean, we both know there isn’t anything between us. Tonight was just supposed to be a good time, right?”
“Uh…yeah.” Somehow hearing her put it that way didn’t sit well with him.
“Well, then, let’s have a good time.” She backed up, pulling him with her onto the dance floor. Slipping her hands up around his neck, he settled his own on her hips and pulled her close.
The sweet scent of roses met his nose, wrapping around his senses when he inhaled. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and desire started building in his veins. Sliding his cheek along hers, he could feel her soft hair brushing his face. His hands tightened on her waist before they slid around her back to pull her in tighter. God, she felt perfect in his arms.
Her breathing quickened when they moved together to the sway of the music. He wanted to let his hands drift down to her ass cheeks so bad his palms itched, but he wouldn’t embarrass her like that. She probably knew most of the people in this bar, grew up with them, and he didn’t want anyone to think she was easy or a
rodeo whore
as she had put it.
The music stopped, and they both sighed before they stepped apart. He took her hand and headed back to the bar. Finding the same stool, he perched on it and pulled her up next to him while she slid her arm around his shoulder and his hand rested on her waist.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Beer is fine.”
“So where is Jess tonight?”
She frowned while her gaze swept the bar. “I don’t know. She’s being so difficult. She won’t tell me where she’s going or what she’s doing. The only thing I do know is that she’s not here.”
“You can’t fix everything, Carrie. She’s almost old enough to make her own decisions.”