Page 36 of Headstrong Cowboy
Ryder sat up straighter and puffed out his chest.“No, ma’am.In all the times I rode him, there were only two occasions where I didn’t make the eight-second time limit.Every other cowboy got bucked off after four.All of them asked me what the secret was, and I just shook my head and said there wasn’t one.”
Chrissy was fascinated by the story and wished, once again, she could see him ride a bull again.She had watched a couple of videos of him online, and she’d held her breath every time, even though she knew he was okay because he was living and breathing in Marietta.“You must have had a certain way you rode him.”
Ryder shrugged.“A bull rider never gives away his secrets.”
“Aha!So you admit to doing some sort of voodoo magic on Calm Bill.”
Considering the way Ryder had been so reluctant to stay in town for the rodeo, he was showing no indication that he was uncomfortable.Here he was, relaxed, eating barbecue, and talking about his bull riding days.His eyes were sparkling with happiness.“I admit to nothing.”
Chrissy pointed her fork at him.“You can say that, but I know better.”
Ryder put his fork down and leaned toward her.Her tongue darted out to moisten her suddenly dry lips.“Is that right?”he asked, his voice low and sexy.Shivers of desire rippled through her and she wanted so much to cup the back of his head so that she could kiss him.
“Uh-huh.”It was the only word she was capable of speaking.All the noise around them faded until it was as if they were in a bubble underwater.
“You know what I’m going to have to do now, don’t you?”
“I don’t,” she whispered, wishing that he could read her mind and kiss her.Every time they kissed, it was better than the last time.
“Then I guess I’ll have to show you.”
She had a second to prepare for his lips landing on hers.She sighed, glad that he got her silent messages.Chrissy didn’t care that they were surrounded by people.That they weren’t the only ones at the table.To her, it was just the two of them—Chrissy and Ryder.
Ryder pulled away too quickly for her liking.“Trust me, I didn’t want to stop.But there are kids around, and I don’t think anyone here is prepared to see what I’d really like to do to you.”His lips brushed her ears, doing nothing to quell the desire thrumming through her veins.
“I’m glad one of us is sensible,” she quipped.If she’d had her way, she would’ve climbed onto his lap and given everyone around them a show.As it was, she was sure their kiss was going to make its way back to her mom.Not that her mom would care, especially after she commented about how good-looking Ryder was.
“Trust me when I say I wish I wasn’t.”Ryder moved away to give them some breathing space and began to eat again.
Chrissy followed suit, wondering how much longer they would have to stay.The Graff was nearby, and Ryder had a perfectly good hotel room which had a perfectly good bed in it.
Conversation continued all around them, and she looked up to see if everyone was looking at them.Her gaze snagged on a woman seated down at the end of their table.She fanned herself.Chrissy felt the heat start at the bottom of her neck and rise up.She could do nothing but laugh because they had put on a spectacle and, if she was honest with herself, she wasn’t a bit sorry about it either.
It felt good to be free.It didn’t matter that there was every chance that Ryder would drive off into the sunset, but for a while, she was going to enjoy the time they had together.But deep down, she hoped that when Ryder drove off into the sunset in his truck, she was seated next to him.
Chapter Eighteen
Ryder’s body wasstill buzzing from the kiss he’d shared with Chrissy.How he’d managed to break it and not take her in front of everyone was beyond him.Tonight, he didn’t know if he’d be able to let her go home.Spending time with her was becoming an addiction he would gladly accept.
The band that had been playing throughout dinner changed the tempo from the fast square dance music they’d entertained the crowd with to something slower, a ballad that urged Ryder from his seat.“Dance with me?”he asked, holding out his hand.
“Absolutely.”Chrissy slipped her hand into his and together they weaved through the tables and made their way to the dance floor.
Ryder pulled her tight, his hands on her hips while she looped her arms around his neck.He breathed in her sweet floral scent as they swayed to the beat.“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“A couple of times, but I won’t complain if you say it again.”
He smiled, something he found himself doing more and more when he was around her.“You look stunning.I liked the pink dress, but this color is gorgeous on you.”The silky fabric beneath his fingers had him imagining what it would be like to slide it up and over her body.
“You look handsome too.I love it when you wear all black.You’re like a bad boy cowboy.The one who comes to town to cause havoc but ends up being the hero.”
Her words were a little too close to home because he could end up being the villain in her story, but tonight he wasn’t going to think about it.Tonight was about them.Not to mention, tomorrow was the big day for Chrissy and he didn’t want to do or say anything that could put her off her game.“I’ll own the bad boy image.I was that way in my youth.”
“What do you mean?”
He hadn’t meant to bring up his past, but here he was about to tell her things that he hadn’t told anyone.“Come on.”He took her by the hand and led her off the dance floor.Finding a quiet place amongst the crowd was going to be difficult, but Ryder directed them to a corner of the square where the crowd noise was dim and the light cast a golden shadow over them.
“What’s going on, Ryder?”
