Page 29 of Any Cowboy of Mine
They clinked glasses. Sophie surprised herself by taking back the whole shot in one swig. Brad raised his eyebrows at her and followed suit, waving the bartender over for two more.
“I’m only sad that we didn’t get to see how this romantic coma they’re in started.” Truthfully, not even the depths of Sophie’s wildest imagination could conjure up a scenario in which Jackie Truman, her friend and roommate, would slow dance around an empty room. Not all the alcohol in the world could factor into that decision.
“I know, right? I mean, he’s gotta be hammered. There’s no way he’s gonna remember this tomorrow. We should take a picture to remind them in the morning. With that blackmail, I’ll have free oil changes for life.”
Sophie nodded. “Should we let them get as far as tomorrow morning together?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Let’s see if we can get the story first. I want to know why they left us for dead in the wedding of my nightmares. Present company excluded, of course.”
“Agreed. So, not that talking about our ridiculous friends isn’t the way I want to spend tonight, but… I really don’t want to spend tonight that way.” Sophie slid off her stool and took a tentative step towards Brad.
She fumbled in her stiletto peep-toed heels, almost diving headfirst into the bar until Brad reached out to catch her. His solid biceps wrapped around her, pulled her to his chest that felt like being pressed against a warm boulder. Through her buzz, she felt a surge of longing for him. Not just the type that could be taken care of in a night, but where she could wake up to him with his arms around her like they were right then. Where she would fix him breakfast, kiss him goodbye when they were leaving for their jobs, and wait every minute of the long day for him to come home to her and make love to her until she passed out again and they could repeat the whole thing the next day. For the rest of her days. It was a fantasy, she understood that—how much did she really know about this guy anyway—but it didn’t stop her from imagining every aching second of it.
“Hey there, pretty lady. No accidents tonight. I have plans for us that need you healthy.” He winked, and she felt lightheaded in a way that had nothing to do with alcohol.
“Um, thank you. For catching me, I mean.”
“Of course. I want to take care of you, Sophie.”
She glanced up at him, recalling telling him something of the sort earlier. “You do?”
Brad cleared his throat, took one hand off Sophie’s back and ran it through his hair. God, she wanted that to be her hand, starting at his tuft of thick, wavy hair and working down his muscled neck…
“Um,” Brad said, interrupting her thoughts, “yeah, of course I do. You’ve been a good friend tonight.”
Sophie pulled back from Brad, her mind suddenly sharp and clear. What the hell? She was getting whiplash with his oscillation between sticking his tongue down her throat one minute, then calling her a friend the next.
Well, which was it?Her libido and her pride couldn’t take much more of this back-and-forth.
“A friend?” she asked. Clearly Brad had a different vision of a future with her than she did, and that included not being able to make up his mind. “If that’s how you think of me, why can’t you stop kissing me, then?”
Brad’s face changed almost instantly. His brow furrowed, his cheeks turned a deep red and beads of sweat formed above his eyes.
“No,” he said, waving his hands emphatically. “That’s not what I meant. I only meant to say that you matter. To me. I want to protect you, but I’m not sure where that compulsion comes from. I mean, look at you.”
She stood there, her mouth open, and eyes wide.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked.Jesus, this had gone south faster than a car full of coeds heading to spring break in Cabo.
“Argh.You aren’t getting it.” He wrung his hands. “Fuck, I mean, words are kind of my thing and I can’t even get that right tonight. I meant to say look at how strong you are, how capable. You don’t need anyone to take care of you, least of all me. You’re incredible. And beautiful. And I’m only hoping I haven’t just blown it and shown you what an absolute idiot I am. I mean, it was bound to come out sooner or later, but I kinda hoped I’d have a little more time with you first. Jesus, no more shots for me; I’m cutting myself off.”
As he talked, he’d moved closer to her. She inhaled a sharp intake of breath when his hands slid over her hips again, drawing her the rest of the way into him. Her frustration ebbed as quickly as it had arisen. It was that easy. She was putty to be molded by his strong, decidedly not-teacher hands.
“Can you forgive me for saying all the wrong things?” he asked her, his breath hot on her cheeks, making her warm in other places. “Make no mistake, I want you, Sophie. As a friend, yes, but hopefully more, too.”
She nodded, leaning her forehead against his. The sweet aroma of lemon liquor on his breath compelled her to move her mouth closer to his. He met her halfway and their lips touched, softly at first, then with more passion and fervor.
Sophie couldn’t believe the physical chemistry she had with Brad, especially just coming out of a particularly troubling relationship. She’d been trained by Drew not to expect much romantically or sexually from a partner, so this was unexpected and thrilling.
His tongue parted her lips, and she opened to meet him, her tongue gently exploring his mouth. Brad’s lips were like clouds raining down on her after an eternity in a desert, making her thirst for more all at once. She wanted to get drunk on him, have him fill her with everything he offered, which was turning out to be quite a lot. His teeth nibbled on her bottom lip at the same time she felt his thumb glide along the bottom of her breast, and she moaned with pleasure.
Just as she was about to pull away and ask if he wanted to follow her upstairs, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She reluctantly and breathlessly turned towards the mystery person she wanted to pummel for breaking up such a perfect moment.
“Looks like you two had fun at the wedding,” Jackie teased. “Or did you not make it, either?” Sophie’s best friend looked for all the world a different person than had shown up with her earlier that evening. Her cheeks were flushed pink, not with embarrassment, but exertion and energy. Sophie recognized it from the way her own skin glowed after a particularly good run or hike. That, and there was something about the rest of her body that looked more relaxed, less rigid. Usually her roomie was the portrait of poise and fashion, always ready for glamor shots, even when she was just out for drinks with Sophie. Now, her shoulders were back, her head tilted to the side, knees crossed languidly. She looked like she’d gone to the Caribbean for a week, not a crappy hotel bar in the middle of Montana in the winter.
“Well, well, look who decided to join us. You, by the way, are the crappiest date I’ve ever had, Jackie. And yes, we did have fun at the wedding, because, in case you forgot, that’s the reason we were here.”
Jackie looked up, reaching her arm back, and Sophie followed to where Jackie’s attention was being pulled. Steve walked up, a crooked smile plastered to his face. He looked like he’d joined Jackie on whatever mental vacation she’d gone on in lieu of attending her friend’s nuptials. Brad sat up straighter, his face solemn.
