Page 171 of Ride a Cowboy

“I can’t remember the last time he said that to me.”

Daniel struggled for an answer that would convince her to give up on Josh once and for all. He wasn’t going down without a fight.

Sienna saved him from having to find the right words. “Don’t you think it’s pretty sad that he can only say those words when he’s wasted?”

“Yeah. I think the guy’s a jackass, but I’ve said that before.”

“The truth is, he’s not. He was right to ask for this break. I didn’t think so at first, but obviously Josh saw something I was too blind to recognize and, by asking for this distance, he’s really just trying to fix the problem.”

Daniel’s chest ached. He didn’t like where this conversation was heading. “What problem?”

“That even though we’re technically adults, we were both actually just silly, inexperienced kids, clinging to a dream we’d concocted when we were too young to make those kind of decisions.”

“Do you know what you want now?”

She leaned closer. “I think so. It’s weird to admit it, but suggesting this time apart may be the most mature thing Josh has ever done in his life.”

Daniel wanted to ignore the admiration in her voice. Though she’d been hurt by her boyfriend and aggravated by his drunk phone call, she still harbored feelings for the man.

She took a long sip of her beer. “You know what?”

“What?”

“I’m sick of talking about Josh. I’m tired of worrying about the future, of wondering what the hell’s going on inside his head…and my head. I’m fucking done with all of it. We’re here to have fun. Let’s do it.”

He grinned, though the happiness wasn’t sincere. Clearly he had more work to do if he hoped to erase Josh from her mind—and her heart—once and for all. “Dance with me.”

She hopped up quickly. He wasn’t fool enough to think she’d completely shut Josh out of her mind. He could see a shadow in her eyes that told him she was still upset. It didn’t matter. The kid gloves came off tonight. He was about to take ownership of Sienna Compton’s heart.

Sienna reached for Daniel’s hand, letting him lead them to the crowded dance floor. An old country song, “Honey Bee”, started to play. It was one she’d heard her dad sing—badly—to her mom many times when she was a little girl. The words were funny and sweet and silly. Though she’d only been young, she remembered how she and her mom had giggled when Dad danced them around the living room, calling them his honeysuckles.

Daniel took her hands, spinning her around. Damn. He was a smooth dancer. Weeks had passed as she tried to find something the sexy cowboy didn’t do well. So far, she hadn’t found a single thing.

He drew her closer, the two of them swaying to the beat. Their close proximity brought her in direct contact with one of the things she’d decided she liked best about him. She pressed against his hard cock, her gaze lifting.

“Really, cowboy?”

He chuckled as he grasped her hips, holding her tighter to him. “Sweetheart, if you’re around, he’s around. It’s something I’m learning to live with.”

She blushed at his compliment. Weeks spent in his bed hadn’t alleviated her need for sex one little bit. If anything, she’d become a raging mass of hormones, walking around in a constant state of arousal.

So much for slaking her needs and moving on. Had there actually been a time in her life when she thought a couple quick tumbles with Josh over the holidays would be enough to soothe her? The sad fact was, it probably would have scratched the itch and she wouldn’t have even realized what she was missing. She’d never experienced the same passion for Josh that she felt for Daniel.

The music ended, an upbeat song filling the room.

Daniel bent closer. “You wanna play pool?”

She glanced over her shoulder and discovered most of the Compass ranch hands hanging out around the table. She shook her head. She’d been disappointed when a bunch of the guys had decided to come along with them. Though she didn’t think Daniel had intended his invitation as a date, she’d sort of liked the idea of the two of them going out somewhere together. Alone. In public.

“There’s a corner booth over there that’s empty.” Daniel pointed. “How about I buy you a beer?”

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

They claimed the tiny booth. It was tucked away between two larger tables. Sienna wondered if it had been tossed there as an afterthought. Or as a private spot for lovers.

Daniel waved for the waitress to bring them a couple of beers. His arm rested against the back of the cushion and it felt too inviting for her not to wiggle closer. He grinned when her knee brushed his beneath the table, then he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and dragged her over until she was tucked tight to his side. “You smell delicious. Coconut?”

She wondered how she’d ever manage to keep her hands to herself until they made their way back to his place. “Must be my body wash. I like it because it makes me think of summer and sunshine. Helps me pretend it’s not freezing outside.”

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