Page 3 of Rodeo Cowboy
“That’s what our marriage certificate says.” Her hands land on her curvy hips again, and I must remind myself not to let my eyes stray to her round ass.
Although, maybe that’s what a doting husband would do. Drop a look, admire, stare. I let it happen. My gaze sweeps over her fine ass.
My cock stirs.
My breath deepens.
For two months, I worked on her ranch. For sixty days, I ignored the desire that hit me the second my eyes landed on her. She’s my boss, and my life is too complicated to start a relationship with. Which is ironic considering it’s all I can do not to gather her in my arms and kiss her in front of everyone. And not to convince them I’m fine and I’ve moved on—the exact reason I dragged her up in front of the entire town to make our announcement. I’m goddam neither of those things, but I want to feel her, taste her, close my eyes, and ravish in her honey smell.
Shit, I got it bad for my boss.
My brother grunts. “Sweetheart—”
“Not your sweetheart.” That’s my girl.
He glances at me. “I like this one.” He smiles at her. “Ayla, if you’d kindly step aside, I’d like to hug my brother.”
“Doesn’t seem like that’s your intention.” I don’t know many things about my wife, but I see she’s a hard-ass country girl.
“Fifty bucks on Silver!” My brother Ford shouts from the crowd.
“Fifty bucks on Sammy!” My other brother Dean, grunts, waving a bill above his head. “He’s got some deep demons to shake.”
I’ll show him deep demons.
“Never apologize, mister. It’s a sign of weakness.” Grumpy Wayne only talks in quotes from John Wayne. He tips his Stetson at me.
“You boys get your asses off this stage before we hit the new year.” My pa doesn’t have to yell or shout. His deep voice thunders over everyone.
“Excuse me. Coming through. Make way.” The mayor pushes past the drummer. “Get back to your seat. And you”—he points at a member—”pick your guitar up. And fetch the mic Mr. Wilde dropped.” He shuffles along, sticking his toothpick into the side of his straw hat.
“I’m not going into the new year angry with you.” Silver’s (color) eyes don’t stray from mine.
I touch the small of Ayla’s tense back. “It’s alright,” I whisper in her ear. Her blonde waves tickle my skin.
I step around her, ready for my brother’s next punch, but the asshole of a man does exactly what he says. He wraps his arm around me in a hood ol’ Wilde bear hug.
“I fucking missed you, brother,” his hoarse voice rasps in my ear. “Don’t you ever fucking leave me like that again.”
***
AYLA
––––––––
WHAT IN THE SAM HILL, small-town, brotherly fighting, love/hate have I gotten myself mixed up in?
“I love you, Sammy.” Silver hugs his brother like he hasn’t seen him in years and doesn’t plan to let go any time soon.
“I love you, too, brother.” Sammy slaps Silver’s back.
Battered.
Bruised.
Bleeding down his face.
The older gentleman wearing a straw hat taps the microphone before his booming voice amplifies through the speakers. “A round of applause for the Wilde rodeo twins making up after months of us all wondering when it was going to happen.”
