Page 22 of Breaking the Cowboy's Rules

“I can handle the pink. My date can hold the thermos if she’s worried my masculinity will melt our treat, or if the pink will melt my masculinity card.”

“Card?” Nico joined him at the bar whereas normally she would have watched the scene play out to gather more information. “You have a whole deck, Bodhi. I’m not worried the pink will neuter you.”

“Hey.” Bodhi smiled at her and held out his hand. She placed her hand in his, a little surprised by the gesture. It was totally non-sexual or a proprietary claim. His hand was large, warm, and rough. So different from other men who had held her hand over the years. “No double-teaming me,” he said cheerfully. “And I’ll have you know that I have a pink T-shirt and a pink and maroon button-down shirt I’ve worn at a couple of sponsor parties, so hand over the goods.” Bodhi beckoned for the thermos.

“Are you hungry?” he asked Nico. “I ordered us a snack.”

Nico blinked. Hungry. She rarely thought about food for hunger. It was fuel to stay healthy. Or she picked at meals because it was a business lunch or dinner.

When had she last eaten?

“Thank you.” She wondered what he’d ordered.

“Shane, I am taking your guest out to Miracle Lake to stargaze. I’d like you to vouch for my honor.”

Nico realized she hadn’t even told him her name.

Shane laughed. “Your honor? Bodhi Ballantyne, are you pretending you were a Boy Scout? Take the pledge.”

Bodhi drew an elaborate X over his chest. “I was 4-H, much to my mom’s disgust, and FFA just to drive the stake fully into her heart.”

Nico reflexively touched her heart. “Ouch for moms everywhere.”

“Don’t worry about her,” Bodhi said. “She’s a federal judge in Denver. She’s about as delicate as a wall of granite.”

A judge! Nico inwardly winced. But it was another reassurance that Bodhi lived a life as transparent as hers was opaque. For a moment, guilt swirled through her. She was deceiving him—if omission would be considered deceit. It wasn’t in her book—not that anyone would be impressed with her personal beliefs or feelings, given how much her moral code had been gnawed away.

“Maybe Shane should make me vouch to uphold your honor,” Nico teased.

Was she really going to have a week of fun with this man?

“I’m willing to take the risk,” Bodhi said quickly.

Shane laughed, and Nico found herself smiling at the bartender and wishing she could be as confident and comfortable in her own skin.

Maybe this week would pave the way. Three weeks to change a habit. Bodhi had offered her one, and with his air of lived-in sexy swagger and access to women as he toured around the country—a superstar daredevil in red leather chaps—he wasn’t going to get his heart broken by a ‘calculating East Coast old money…’ What was it that her last so-called lover, Jerome, had once called her when he thought she couldn’t hear him? Ah. ‘Tundra-frigid piece of ass.’

Indignation sparked.

And even though Jerome and several other men were years in the past, she wanted to prove them wrong.

And maybe Bodhi could help her with that too.

She looked at Bodhi speculatively as he listened to Shane’s instructions about how to prepare the coffee. He looked so comfortable in his body. And the way he moved! Just watching him walk made nerves she didn’t even know she had fire off a hallelujah.

Could she?

The question was, really, would she?

Their food arrived in a hot bag, which Bodhi tucked under his arm along with a mini cooler Shane handed him. Nico held the thermos.

They walked out of the lobby, Bodhi’s palm on the small of her back. Normally, she didn’t like men to touch her publicly. It screamed arrogance and possession and sparked a rebellion soul-deep to shrug them off.

But with Bodhi it seemed natural, caring rather than proclaiming a relationship he did not have.

“I am not even going to ask what you were thinking back there with that third-degree silent scrutiny,” Bodhi murmured low in her ear as they walked into the night. “But damn, girl, you were making me blush.”

She laughed, the startled sound loosed out of her like a popped cork, and she felt her cheeks heat. How would he be in bed? Would he be the one who could give her an orgasm without her having to be so involved and bringing in a toy like a three-way? Just his breath and nearness did something weird to her body. She felt hot, like she needed to strip off the new jacket as the faint heat she could feel rise in her cheeks now careened through her body.

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