Page 20 of Rogue Cowboy
“I did.”His voice was deep and rough, and she didn’t want to hear any more of that.He couldn’t be serious.Couldn’t be.But Cole was also no liar.
“I’ll sign what we need to sign.You should have your freedom.Find a woman to love, who can be a true partner.We weren’t real.We were never built to last.”
She spoke rashly, a little harsh, but she spotted more people arriving.The camping area for competitors and stock contractors was filling up and her family would be looking for her.Petal and Arlo would need her help practicing for the exhibition.
“I asked for the weekend, Riley.I want a chance for us.”
“But why?”She really didn’t understand him.“I’m no one to you.I’m not special.I’m…” it killed her to admit it; she hated to be so defeatist and weak “…damaged.We were over before we began.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw and his pupils flared, making his eyes look black, fathomless, drawing her in, despite the knowledge that she had to back away, keep clear.Cole deserved her best, and she couldn’t give it, not anymore.
“That’s quitter talk, Riley.Woman who’s accomplished what you have is no quitter.Neither am I.We are married.We made vows.I intend to keep them.”
*
Riley fast-walked backto the rodeo grounds, and he had a hard time not fixating on her high, tight ass in her dark, boot-cut stretch denim with the pink embroidered roses on the pockets, sprinkled with pink rhinestones.So cute but the attitude was all sass and badass.
Bling was what he thought it was called, though why he could dredge that word out of his brain, when he hadn’t experienced anything remotely blingy in well over a decade, was faintly astonishing.But he’d grown up in Texas and gone to school with quite a few cowgirls who’d loved to have sparkles in their hair, lip gloss and eyes, tight western shirts and definitely on their jeans.
Made a man notice.
And Cole felt like his libido was not only waking up, it was raring to roar.Riley had a devastating walk—fast, fluid and full of purpose, and though she was petite, her body was perfectly proportioned—toned, athletic, and yet unconsciously feminine.She dragged her hair back from her face, made a thick ponytail and held it in her hand.
He’d used several napkins and a bottle of water at the food truck this morning to help her rinse the blood out of her hair.Connor, the medic, had told her not to wash her hair for a few days, and Riley’s disgusted expression had made Connor laugh, and made him want to haul off and hit Rohan, though he’d beaten himself up enough about it.
She snapped her fingers.
“My elastic from my braid.You took it when Connor treated me.”
Her eyes flashed with impatience as he strolled toward her.
“And stop staring at my butt.”
“Pardon?”Yup, his libido was waking up as was his long buried, dirty, rusty flirt.He’d never been smooth with the ladies as his granddad would say, but he’d been genetically blessed so hadn’t had to work much to seduce a woman.
Riley had been too young when he’d met her, but she’d been the only woman who had made him feel like he’d been picked up, spun around a few times and then roundhouse kicked out a window to land in a water trough.
“You’re not pardoned, and don’t play innocent with me.”She held out her hand.“I’ve got a lesson soon, and I can’t have my hair all crazy.”
“I love your hair all crazy.”
She held up a finger, and he had a hard time not sucking it into his mouth.
“Wipe that look off your face and stop messing with me.Elastic.”
The flip in her attitude was spectacular and his laugh rumbled, surprising them both by the looks of it.Her eyes darkened to a beautiful purple indigo, and he had an image of some faraway sea that he’d wanted to dive into and keep swimming.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said softly just to yank her chain again.
Mission accomplished.
“I must really be out of practice wooing.”
“Wooing?You sound like you’re from the nineteenth century or some backward time.No wooing.And no courting.You’ll give my dad a heart attack and my brothers prison time.”
“Are there going to be rules for the time we spend together?”
“Lots,” Riley said.“I’ll give you a list and stop sounding like you’re going to be around.I know your family has a big spread in Texas.”Her cheeks flushed a little, and her eyes sparkled, and he thought she looked a little embarrassed, like she’d googled him.
