Page 36 of Sheltered by the Lawman

Chapter 12

TUGGING HIS HAT low on his forehead, Cull looked around as he made his way through the fairgrounds and to the arena. He kept his head down, not wanting to talk to anyone. The crowd was gathering at the rodeo gate. Several cowboys threw their hands up in greeting and he responded with a wave. “Good luck tonight, Cade,” one of them said.

“Luck ain’t got nothing to do with it,” he said with a chuckle and continued to the opposite side of the fence.

He felt a tug on his elbow and looked around to see a big smile and bright eyes. “Melissa.” He wasn’t surprised to see her here tonight, but he was shocked that she approached him. After all, he hadn’t spoken to her, or visited her, in a long time and a woman like her didn’t wait around for any man.

“Well, well, well…” She clicked her tongue, looked him up and down, then moistened her cherry-red lips. “You haven’t called me back, cowboy.” She tapped her boot impatiently and narrowed her eyes. Her long earrings clanked loudly.

“I’ve been busy.” He scratched his jaw.

“Too busy for me?” Her bottom lip popped out.

“Too busy for anything.” He wasn’t about to get into the details. Across the arena he saw his brothers. “I see my clan. I better get over there.”

She didn’t release her hand from his arm. “I came to see you ride tonight, Cull. How about we revisit old times, say my place after this shindig shuts down?” She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Maybe that sexy look would have hooked him weeks ago, but tonight the only thing Cull could think of was getting the ride over with and back home.

“After the ride I’ll be dog tired. How about I take a raincheck?”

“Another raincheck? This is getting old,” she slurred.

He resituated his hat. “Yeah, you’re right. I just said it, but I won’t be needing a raincheck. You should find a cowboy who has more time.” He dipped his hat and moved through the maze of people. His brothers were pressed against the gate of the holding area, laughing and carrying on.

“What is it out here? A hundred degrees?” Cull said in a low voice.

Phoenix chuckled. “I’m just wondering why in the hell we still agree to do this every year. I ain’t getting any younger.”

“Yeah, I second that. Tyler complained that she’s as big as a house with the baby, but she didn’t mind coming out tonight and watching us ride. In fact, I liked seeing her excited,” Kace said with a smile. “Nothing like my girl being proud.”

“Speaking of, where are the ladies?” Cull asked.

“Grabbing cotton candy,” Nix said.

“And a pickle. Elephant ears. And I think one of them mentioned deep fried cookies,” Zander said.

“You boys missing single life yet?” Cull winked.

“Not in the least,” Kace said and the rest of the brothers nodded in agreement.

“Before you know it, Cull, you’re going to find yourself whistling a different tune, too,” Phoenix said. “I remember being in denial and then Ria showed me the right path.”

“You could have at least warned us, buddy,” Nix said.

“Warned you? That this event would be hotter than hell?” Cull laughed.

“No, that you had a date,” Kace added.

“Huh?” Cull narrowed his gaze. Did the fellows see Melissa and misunderstand?

Looking in the direction that his brothers pointed, Cull held his breath. At first, he didn’t recognize the cowgirl coming his way, but then he realized it was Monica and she seemed to glide as she walked toward him. She wore a hat that shaded her face, but he could see her beautiful lush pout and that smile…that one that hooked him. He slowly traveled his attention over the slight bounce of her breasts under the shirt and the sliver of her stomach exposed above the waist of the daisy dukes. His mouth salivated as he followed the length of her firm, thick thighs, slender legs to the tops of the boots. She had a make over and he didn’t mind one bit, as long as she was happy.

Their gazes met across the dirt and she shyly looked down. Three heart beats later, she brought her eyes back up and boldly held his stare. Hell, all he could do was watch her like a teenage boy seeing his crush.

He heard his sisters-in-law saying something, but Cull couldn’t concentrate on anything except for the heavy, uncontrollable pounding of his heart. A beautiful smile parted Monica’s lips and his knees weakened—a man who’d never been weak around anyone. He realized just how happy he was that she was here.

He excused himself and whispered in Monica’s ear, “Can we have a moment?”

“Sure.”

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