Page 8 of Joy Ride
He catches me staring and gives me a devious grin which hits me right between the thighs. “Have you always wanted to be an interior designer?”
“No, not always.’ I cross my legs and try not to squirm, but my pussy is pulsing now. “I was an award-winning barrel racer at Central Wyoming College.”
“Impressive.”
“But I took a bad fall and broke my back. It scared me, to be honest,” I say, surprised, because that’s the first time I’ve admitted the fall shook me to my core. “After that, my dreams of competing professionally on the circuit went out the window.”
“Damn. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Let’s not turn this little chat into a pity party,” I say graciously, trying to lighten the mood. “I healed, helped my dad on the ranch for a few years, saved some money, and came up with a new plan.”
“Hmm,” he ponders, peering up at his skimpy string of Christmas lights. “Jolene Woodman Designs, kind of has a ring to it.”
“Huh?” Oh right. I nod. “Uh-huh, quite the ring.” Heat sneaks up from my neck to my cheeks. “Speaking of decorations, my cousin is expecting me by tomorrow at the latest. Do you think there’s any chance I’ll be able to call him?”
“No telling how long the tower will be down.” Travis pours himself another shot and knocks it back. He plunks the empty glass on the bar and zeros in on me with a fiery stare. “You could be here for a while.”
Hot damn, even though I’m covered under a pound of fabric, his scorching glare roams over my lady bits. The way he’s checking me out makes me think my plan to sleep with him might not be so farfetched after all. “Um, as long as we’re stuck here…” I cock my head, trying to look all feminine and soft. “I’d love another drink.”
Travis studies me. “You sure you’re twenty-one?”
“Are you questioning my integrity?” I ask in my best sultry voice.Sure, I might be planning on seducing you tonight, but I’m a woman of honor.
“Nah.” Travis pours another shot and slides the glass across the gleaming wood. “But if you’re lying, I could lose my liquor license.”
“Thanks.” I tip my drink to him. “God’s honest truth, I’m twenty-one, even though I act older than my age.”
He raises a brow and watches as I drink my fortification in one big fire breathing hot as fucking hell gulp. “Whoa.” I choke as my tastebuds explode.
“You okay?”
This is what I get for showing off. “Yep.” I wave my hand over my open mouth to get some air inside. “It just went down the wrong pipe. I’m good.”
“There’s a slim chance cell service will be back up tomorrow. It depends on how bad the storm is and who’s working over the holiday, but you’ll be safe here for as long as you need to stay.”
There’s that word again,safe.“Well, I sure appreciate the hospitality, Travis.” Hoping my inopportune choking fit didn’t spoil the mood, I coyly run my index finger along the rim of the glass, get my nerve up, and then wink at him. Totally not giving me the kind of reaction I was hoping for, he hurries to the other end of the bar and busies himself washing glasses that appear to be perfectly clean. “Well, either way,” I say confidently, trying to put him at ease, “I’ll be out of your hair and on the road tomorrow.”
Right after you pop my cherry.
He glances over his broad shoulder. “Where’d you say you were heading?”
Thinkfast. Thinkfast. “My cousins live in…Helena.” I scratch my neck, trying to remember exactly which road I would take to get there.
“You’re a little off the main track, aren’t you?”
“That’s right, I am.” I’ve fibbed more in the last two hours than I have my whole life. “But Mom said I shouldn’t miss West Palomino. She says y’all really do it up for the holidays.”
Travis places the last of the glasses on the shelf. “Maybe she’s thinking of where we had our Christmas party tonight. Wild Cat Ridge is a new resort. The only one, really, since there isn’t an old one.”
“Yes, come to think of it, I think she did mention something about Wild Cat Ridge.”
“Well, I wouldn’t suggest wasting too much time there. There’s another storm coming in, right after this one. You’ll have a short window of clear weather, so you’ll want to be as close to Helena as you can before it rolls in. We should probably head back up for the night,” Travis takes my glass and rinses it along with his in the sink. Apparently, the party’s over.
“So, since I never technically asked for permission, are you sure it’s okay that I’m wearing your shirt?”
He snaps his head up like I hit him with a lightning bolt.
“I mean, I brought clothes.” I chuckle. “It’s just that they’re in my car.”
