Page 22 of Rogue Cowboy
She gave the last word an extra syllable, and he could almost hear the air quotes.Riley squirmed and that decided it.She was determined to shake him, and he was going to change her mind.
“I’m always up for a show,” he deadpanned, earning a funny little sound from Riley and two more fist pumps, bumps and explosions.
“We’ll introduce you to Cinnamon.Let’s go,” Petal said, tucking her arm through Arlo’s as they took off running.
Cole touched her hand as Riley turned to follow.“What kinda tricks are we talking about?”It didn’t sound as flirty in his head when he’d said it, but Riley’s cheeks were rose pink.He brushed his knuckles across her cheekbone and ran his thumb over her tempting bottom lip.
“Stop,” she whispered shakily, catching his hand.“We’re not doing any ofthathere.”
“Where would you like to go to do it?”
“Stop teasing.We’re not doingthatanywhere.”Her eyes were huge, her breathing elevated, and he could see her nipples had pebbled under the thin cotton of her T-shirt.
“Baby, we are,” he said.“Maybe not now or this afternoon, and definitely at your pace, but we are so doing…that.”He put his arm around her, angling toward the horse barn.His fingers splayed on her hip, and he leaned down, lips brushing her ear, sending a shiver of heat through his body all the way to his toes.“That and so much more.”
*
Act normal.
Riley nearly laughed.Who knew what that meant now?
Her brain kept spinning and spitting out the unbelievable fact that Cole was no longer sending random text messages but here.And wanting to start something instead of ending it.It was a fantasy and nightmare rolled into one, and her body and mind couldn’t settle on an approach.
If only she could Cher it and ‘Turn Back Time,’ she’d slap herself and insist she suck it up, stand on her own and stick it out.Alone.She never should have texted him for help that she was sick, desperate and hysterical and hiding behind a dumpster in an alley with half her clothes.
She’d put him in a terrible position.She’d made the mistake.She’d needed to pay the price, not the quiet, enigmatic Texas cowboy with the beautiful eyes in the stark face and sinewy body that moved with grace but looked like it was carved from the granite of the Absarokas.
Shame washed over her.It never stopped when she thought of those nearly two tumultuous humblingly hard years in LA.
The ‘saving’ hadn’t been necessary in the end, so she’d trapped a good man for nothing.
Just looking at him fired up every nerve in her body, and she wasn’t sure what to do with her hands, her feet, her mouth.She’d always been athletic and graceful, and Cole had her off-balance.She needed to focus on Petal and Arlo and Cinnamon.Keep them all safe.
“Maybe you should go find Rohan, catch up, but zip it about the rest.”
Yeah, she was being as rude as she sounded, but Cole didn’t seem offended.
“I’m sure he’ll find me,” Cole said.
“Where’s Cinnamon’s saddle?”Petal asked.
“In the trailer,” Riley nearly smacked her forehead.“I’m distracted today.”
“I bet.”Arlo shot an all-too seeing look at Cole.“I’ll get it.”
“No, I’ll…”
“I’ll get the saddle,” Cole said decisively, holding out his hand for the keys.
“But…”
“I know where you parked.”
She was discomfited by the look in his eyes that said something she wasn’t ready to hear.
“Fine.”She slapped the keys in his hand.“Cinnamon has two.It’s the saddle with the high cantle and horn.There are some stability grips hanging below.Bring those as well.”She kept her voice clipped, professional—the horse trainer, not the damaged, inconvenient wife.
Have you ever written a song about goats?
