Page 53 of Wounded Cowboy
He tried to shake off the thought, but it clung to him stubbornly.
“Tonight’s going to be a blast,” Kelsey chirped, apparently oblivious to his inner turmoil.“I saw BATS in Anaconda a few years ago, when Nick was restoring a Gold Rush era-house there. They put on an amazing show. Everyone was on their feet and dancing the whole time.”
Spring hadn’t danced in years. Hadn’t wanted to. But now he was looking forward to dancing at Kelsey’s side tonight.
Chapter 14
Bearly Able To Sing
The Rialto Theater
Bozeman, MT
Inside the theater, the air pulsed with a hard-driving rock anthem.
Rob Swanson, the charismatic lead singer of Bearly Able to Sing, commanded the stage with his magnetic presence. His long, dark hair rippled around his shoulders as he played his electric guitar and sang. The audience was a sea of bobbing heads and swaying bodies under the glow of neon lights that painted everyone in hues of blue and red.
Rob stopped singing when he hit the chorus of his current song and held his mike out to the crowd. The audience enthusiastically took up the chorus. Their voices filled the Rialto, the lyrics echoing off the historic theater walls.
The communal spirit of fun and enjoyment sent goosebumps racing over Spring’s skin. Normally, crowds made him uneasy and had him scanning for threats and escape routes. But tonight, there was real magic in seeing and hearing a crowd of four hundred strangers coming together as one to sing.
Beside him, Kelsey was on her feet, singing and dancing. Spring looked over at her and saw her eyes sparkling and her radiant smile lighting up the crowded space. Watching her gyrate in that tight red dress, Spring felt primal need stir deep within him—a feeling that both thrilled and terrified him.
She’d dressed like this forhim. Even though he’d chickened out and told her this wasn’t a date.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The drape of her dress accented her deliciously rounded hips. It took a supreme effort of will not to reach out and grab them. All he could think about was how much wanted to tear that dress off her with his teeth and then lick his way down her body until she was moaning and begging for more.
He fantasized about grabbing her wrist, dragging her outside to an alley, and hiking up that sleek fabric before bending her over and burying himself inside her hot, wet depths.
Spring’s blood was still running hot when the concert ended forty-five minutes later. After an encore, Bearly Able To Sing took their final bows to a roar of applause.
Spring and Kelsey followed the stream of concert-goers through the theater’s exits.
They stepped out into the cool night air, the vibrant energy of the concert still buzzing through them. They walked side by side along Main Street, which was thronged with people sitting at sidewalk cafes and wine bars, and strolling along with ice cream cones in their hands.
Unable to resist his need to touch her any longer, Spring reached for Kelsey’s hand. Her palm felt heated against his.
To his pleasure, she immediately responded by interlacing her fingers through his, their hands fitting together like puzzle pieces. The lights from the surrounding establishments cast a warm glow on her face. Spring felt his heart race each time she looked at him.
As they strolled down the street, Kelsey chattered happily about the incredible performance they’d just witnessed.“Can you believe how amazing the band was tonight?” she exclaimed.“I swear, every time I see them, they just get better and better.”
Spring nodded in agreement.“And that laser light show? I thought it really added something special.”
He was acutely aware of Kelsey’s hand in his, and fought the urge to stroke her palm with his thumb. He knew he shouldn’t be crossing the line from“just friends” to“going on a date,” but he couldn’t help himself.
“I can’t wait to get to L.A. and see all those big-name bands you never get to see here in Montana,” Kelsey said.
Her words hit Spring like a glass of ice water in the face.
“Don’t get me wrong,” she continued, happily oblivious to his reaction.“I love the local music scene here, but there’s something special about seeing a mega-star perform live.”
Spring felt suddenly defensive of his small-town life.“Well, we’ve had some great local bands playing at the Elk’s Head Tavern and other clubs in Livingston and Bozeman,” he pointed out.
Kelsey smiled warmly, squeezing his hand reassuringly.“I know, and I love them, too. But it’s just different, you know?”
He couldn’t argue with that.
When they reached the parking lot and his truck, he gallantly held the passenger-side door open for her. And then took her hand in his as soon as they were back on the highway.
