Page 9 of Filthy Cowboy
“Speaking of good luck.” He places both hands on my face and looks into my eyes. I can’t help but stare back at the desire I see there. “How about a kiss for that good luck?”
I’d always dreamed of sharing my first kiss with the man I married, but this feels too raw and powerful to prevent it from happening. It’s okay, I remind myself, there will be other firsts I can share with my husband, as I lean forward, meeting him halfway.
“Good girl.” He murmurs right before tilting my head and capturing my lips in what seems like a hesitant kiss for someone who talks the way he does.
All thoughts of his hesitation disappear from my mind as his tongue flicks across the corner of my lips, making me gasp in surprise. He uses that surprise to his advantage as his tongue enters my mouth again with a slight hesitation until we find a rhythm that has me grabbing onto his shirt to pull him closer. Time feels frozen as our tongues collide in a frantic dance.
A familiar voice loudly calls from nearby, “The sign-up is almost over, so if you still need to register, you might want to take your tongue out of my sister’s mouth and sign up.”
We jump apart at Junie’s words. Damn her for spoiling what was the best feeling I’ve ever felt.
I bet he could make you feel really good in other places too.
Most people have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other—I swear I must have two devils and no angel because the things I want this mountain man to do to me after only one kiss have got to be unholy.
“Come watch me compete.” There’s a desperation in his voice I haven’t heard before—like he can’t be away from me.
My heart beats faster. “I-I need to help with the food truck.” I stutter. This is all happening too fast. I need to step back and take a breath.
He glances over my shoulder at the food truck with a smile. “I think they’ll be fine without you.”
I spin around just in time to see Charlotte and Brynnlee, who must have arrived for her shift, both smiling and alternating between waving and making a shooing motion.
“Fine,” I say, causing him to smile.
“My name’s Ridge.” He gives me a quick kiss. “I want to make sure you know what name to call out.” With a slow, sexy wink, he starts to walk away.
The double meaning isn’t lost on me, and I feel my cheeks heat up. “My name’s Autumn,” I call out, earning me one more of those gorgeous, dimpled smiles as he walks backwards toward the sign-up tent, never taking his eyes off me.
What mountain man doesn’t have a full beard? One that would hide that tempting dimple. Sure, he has that sexy five o’clock shadow, which I actually prefer.
“Hey, sis,” Junie’s super sweet voice is not lost on me.
“It’s no big deal. He’s only in town for one day.” Even as I say those words, my heart drops. I finally meet someone who makes my heartbeat faster and slower at the same time, and he’s not an option for the kind of future I want.
“Suuuuure.” She drags out the word, making it clear she doesn’t believe me. “Now, let’s go watch our men compete against each other, and you can tell me all about how the first man I’ve ever seen you interested in isn’t a big deal.” She loops her arm through mine and leads me to the stands and to the one man I can’t afford to fall for.
