Wild Rodeo Nights Read online

  “I think both look good on you, but this one fits your personality better.” She turned to see who had come in, but she couldn’t spot them over the shelves. “You keep looking, and I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  The girl’s mother and Carrie exchange exasperated looks before she smiled and headed back for the front. Approaching the counter, she was startled to see the gorgeous cowboy from this morning standing by the register.

  Mmm…I wonder what he's doing back here.

  “Forget something?”

  “Nope. I brought a peace offering.” He held up the biggest cup of coffee she’d ever seen.

  She chuckled. “I should be giving you a peace offering since I ripped into you.”

  “Well, I figured this way you’d get your mega dose of caffeine, and I could see you again.”

  Trepidation rippled down her back and she narrowed her eyes. A come on?

  “Thanks for the coffee, but I’m not…”

  “This isn’t a come on, Carrie.” Her name rolling off his tongue sent shivers down her spine and goose bumps across her arms.

  “Well, I can’t let you buy me coffee anyway. I don’t even know your name.” She pulled two dollars out of the register to hand to him, but he shoved it back at her.

  “It’s Cole. Cole Wilder.”

  “Just here for the rodeo, Cole?” She took the packets of sugar and cream he brought, doctoring up the strong brew.

  “Yeah.”

  “What events?”

  “Calf roping and bulls.”

  “Ah, An adrenaline junkie.”

  The bell tinkled again and she groaned.

  “I’ll get it,” he offered, turning to approach the customers as her gaze followed his muscled back.

  He didn’t just offer to help my customers, did he?

  She watched him use his devastating good looks to charm the woman who came in, taking her order, before he turned back toward her asking where the things were. Directing his movements, she told him where to get the things Mrs. Roberts asked for before he grabbed a large sack of feed and hefted it onto his shoulder.

  “I didn’t realize you had such a nice looking young man helping you these days, Carrie.”

  “Um…yeah.” Tearing her eyes away, she jotted down the order. “Do you want me to put this on your account, Mrs. Roberts?”

  “Sure, honey. That’d be fine.” The older woman looked at Cole and asked, “Would you be a dear and take the sack out to the truck for me?”

  “Of course, ma’am.”

  Her appreciative gaze followed his nicely exposed backside when he walked out the door, and she sighed.

  More customers rolled in right behind the woman, never really giving her a chance to say anything more to him. He jumped right in, taking care of anyone he could as her startled gaze followed him around the store. Cole quickly learned where everything was while she manned the register and he filled orders. Before she knew it, it was time to close the store. Following the last customer to the door, she thanked them for their purchases and locked the door. She turned the sign and leaned heavily against the panel for a moment, closing her eyes before she released a heavy sigh.

  “Is that it?”

  Her eyes opened slowly. “Yeah—finally.” Realization hit her square in the face. “Oh no! You were supposed to ride today, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “No big deal.”

  She smacked her forehead. “I can’t believe I let you help me and miss your ride.”

  He took her hand in his and softly caressed the back with his fingers. “It’s okay. There’ll be others.”

  She nervously pulled her hand back, wiping her palm on her jeans. “I know all about how riders are. You’re just trying be nice even after the dressing down I gave you last night.”

  “No, Carrie. I wanted to help.” He smiled, showing off those gorgeous dimples when he put his hand on the door next to her shoulder.

  She shifted uncomfortably before pushing away from the panel behind her and heading back toward the counter. “Well, I still shouldn’t have let you, but thank you anyway. I wouldn’t have been able to keep up today without your help.”

  “You are most certainly welcome. Besides, I’m not afraid of hard work.”

  “I kind of gathered that.” She grabbed the money from the register, slipped it inside the bag, and headed toward the office. Pulling open the safe, she slid the bag back inside, shut the heavy door and spun the dial. Grabbing her purse and her keys, she looked up to see him standing in the doorway. She stopped in front of him, expecting him to step aside, but he didn’t move for a moment. Her gaze ricocheted up to his with a questioning tilt of her head.

  He finally stepped back and gave her enough room to pass but not by much. Her breath caught when her breasts almost touched his chest. The slow, steady, sexy-as-sin grin rippled across his lips for a moment before she cleared her throat and moved past him.

  “You could probably still catch some of the rodeo. The events go on for several more hours.”

  “No. I’m not in the mood tonight.”

  What are you in the mood for? She shook her head to clear her thoughts. The last thing I need is a temporary man in my life, but I should thank him for helping me.

  She headed for the steel door with him on her heels. Once it was locked and secure, he moved toward her truck with her. Turning to look at his handsome face, she was shocked at the heat in his gaze. When it traveled down her body, she shivered.

  “If you aren’t going to the rodeo, can I fix you dinner? It’s the least I can do for your help today.”

  The slow smile was back, showing the dimples in his cheeks. Her thoughts quickly went haywire as she wondered what it would be like to lick those devastating indentations.

  “Sure. I’d like that.”

  “Okay. You can follow me back to the house.”

  “No problem.” He headed for his truck while she slid into hers and started the engine. Keeping him in her rear view mirror, she pulled out onto the highway. Within several minutes, they drove down the long driveway surrounded by obvious electric fencing, beautiful black horses grazed in the distance as the sun went down over the hill behind them. Parking in front of the porch, they both climbed out and headed for the door.

  He walked up behind her when she reached the front of the house. “Nice place.”

  “Thanks." She frowned when her gaze found the still dark windows.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I guess. I just expected Jess to be here, but there aren’t any lights on.”

  Walking into the large living room, she set her purse on the table and yelled, “Jess?”

  Silence met her ears, nothing to tell her the other young woman was home. She turned to look at the man standing in the room with her before she chewed her lip. Great! Now I’m alone with him. I really hoped Jess would be here. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Sure, whatever you have is fine.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  She walked into the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator. After she grabbed a couple of beers, she shut it and headed back into the living room.

  He stood near the fireplace mantel looking through the several pictures sitting there. She took in his appearance before he realized she had come back in the room. Standing at six feet, his blond hair curled slightly while it brushed the back of his neck near his collar, and her fingers itch to comb through it.

  I wonder if they are as soft as they appeared.

  The muscles of his back and arms pulled at the material of his shirt, stretching it taut. Her gaze wandered down his back to his firm ass, encased in the standard Wranglers of a cowboy, down to the boots on his feet. When his hand touched hers earlier at the store, the calluses on his fingers brushed against her palm, sending tingles of awareness up her arm.

  With a grumble, she pulled her gaze from his enticing form and stepped closer, holding out the beer in her h
and. He turned, and his intense blue eyes captured hers, sending her heart into overdrive while the errant organ slammed against her ribs.

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ll see what’s available for dinner.”

  She hurried back into the kitchen and stopped at the counter, taking a deep breath to still her racing heart. Lifting her head, she pulled open the refrigerator again and grabbed the two steaks she took out yesterday for dinner. “It’ll have to do, I guess,” she mumbled before she placed them on the counter to make a little marinade.

  * * * *

  He let his gaze linger on her backside as she walked back toward the kitchen. Lifting the long neck to his lips, he felt the cold liquid slide down his throat, settling somewhere in his empty stomach. She fascinated him, and he wasn’t quite sure why. She was pretty. He’d give her that.

  Hell, who am I kiddin’? She’s gorgeous!

  The ends of her brown hair brushed the middle of her back even tied back in a ponytail, and he wondered what it would feel like wrapped around him. Beer lingered on his lips, and he wiped it off with the back of his hand before he shifted his stance, trying to relieve the pressure against the fly of his jeans.

  It had been a while since he’d been with a woman.

  Too damned long, obviously.

  He groaned silently, wondering what her breasts would taste like when he licked her nipples. Her back was toward him when he reached the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.

  “Steak okay with you? I’ve got a gas grill in the back. We can throw them on there.”

  “Sounds good,” he said from not far behind her. She jumped and put her hand on her chest before she turned around. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I got lonesome out there by myself.”

  “It’s okay. I just didn’t hear you come in. You’re pretty quiet even wearing cowboy boots.” A smile flittered across her lips, making her eyes dance in the florescent lighting over their heads.

  He leaned against the door jamb and watched her putter around the kitchen, grabbing things from the refrigerator and the cabinets. “How long have you lived here?”

  “All my life. My parents bought this place thirty years ago, so both my sister and I were born here. Not in the house itself, of course, but here in town.”

  “You’ve never been out of Silver Ridge?”

  She shot him a strange look. “Of course I’ve been out of Silver Ridge. I’m not some backwoods country girl, you know.”

  “I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m curious.”

  “I’ve only been out of South Dakota a few times, though. My dad used to take us into Wyoming sometimes to buy cattle or horses.” She turned her attention back to the tomato while she sliced it. “So—where are you from? I mean, obviously you get around some since you ride.”

  “Wyoming originally. Now…wherever the rodeo takes me most of the time.”

  “Where in Wyoming?”

  She placed the steaks on a plate and motioned for him to follow with a nod of her head.

  He held the screen door for her as she passed next to him on the way to the patio.

  “Outside Laramie.” He took the seat she pointed to as she set the plate near the barbeque.

  “Really. Interesting.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “My dad spent a lot of time in Laramie, actually.” Once the steaks were on the grill and she pulled the lid down, she took the seat across from him. “Are you parents still there?”

  “Yeah. Mom and Dad live in town now, but one of my brothers runs the ranch with his new wife.” He dropped his gaze from hers for a moment when he thought about Chase and Abby, a smile rippling across his lips. Silver Ridge South Dakota was his first stop after their wedding several months ago. He spent the winter helping Chase and Abby as well as visiting his parents and his brother Justin, but riding season started.

  “One of your brothers?”

  “Yep. I’m the youngest boy. Chase is the middle child, and he just got married a few months ago. Justin is my older brother, and he lives in Nevada. Then there is Jamie. She’s the baby of the family. She still lives with my parents in Laramie most of the time with her daughter.”

  A sad look crossed her eyes a moment before they met his again. “I wish I would have had more siblings. It’s just me and Jess.”

  “What happened to your parents?”

  She didn’t answer at first, but he saw tears welling up in her eyes. He had the insane urge to pull her close and wipe away the sadness, but she squared her shoulders, stood up, and walked several feet away.

  “They were killed in a car accident about a year ago.” She rubbed her arms, her back to him. “I was at college when I got the call. I have to take care of Jess now until she’s at least eighteen. Not like I'll turn my back on her after that, but she'll at least be out of high school then.” She spun back around, and the anger in her eyes took him back for a moment. “Thanks to your friend, there is one more complication with her being pregnant. By the way, I would appreciate if you would help me pin him down and make him take responsibility for the child she now carries.”

  He stood and walked to her side, laid his hands on her shoulders and kneaded the soft muscles for a moment. “Carrie, I’m sorry. I can’t imagine having to be responsible for another when it’s forced on you like this has been, but don’t hold it against me, okay? If I could make him do the right thing, I would, but I can’t. He's a friend, but I can't make him do anything he doesn't want to.”

  She sighed and stepped back. “I'm sure you would, Cole. You seem like the kind of man who wouldn't walk away from his responsibilities, and I’m sorry. I just can’t believe she was so careless and I don’t mean to take it out on you.”

  Pulling open the grill, she flipped the steaks over. “I’ll be right back. I need to get the potatoes in the microwave.”

  “Sure.” Watching her move back into the house, protectiveness struck him hard, curling in his belly like nothing he had ever felt before. For some odd reason, he wanted to hold her and take away her cares and worries.

  After a few minutes, she returned with another beer for him and one for herself. Taking the chairs again, she tucked her feet under her as the beer bottle dangled from her fingers. “So, I imagine you have a girl in every town.”

  He almost choked on his beer when his eyes met hers and he saw the twinkle in her gaze. “Not really, no.” He laughed out loud.

  “Yeah right! With those looks and those teasing dimples, I bet you have women falling all over you at every stop you make.” He could feel the heat crawling up his neck to splash across his cheeks while she laughed. “You’re blushing!”

  “I am not.”

  “Yes, you are.” She laid her hand across his for a moment and said, “I love a man who can blush. I think it’s cute.”

  Pulling her hand back, she jumped up and moved toward the grill while the smell of barbeque wafted to his nose, making his mouth water. “Damn, those smell good.”

  “I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself.” She turned the meat again before closing the lid. “I’ll be right back. Those are done. I just need to get the other stuff unless you’d rather eat in the house.”

  “Out here is fine. It’s a pretty night, actually.”

  “All right. Why don’t you get the steaks off the grill, and I’ll make the plates?” Again, she disappeared into the house, returning a few moments later with two plates in her hands and placing them on the patio table.

  He sat across the table from her, watching her delicate hands wield the steak knife while she cut the piece of meat on her plate. A soft sigh left her lips when she popped the steak into her mouth. He watched her lips, and his mouth wet dry as his cock hardened in his jeans, pressing firmly against the fly. Reaching for the beer, he took a long drink and tried desperately to calm the zing of desire rushing through him.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Huh—uh, no. It looks great.” Pulling his gaze from her mouth, h
e tried to concentrate on the food in front of him.

  * * * *

  She sat back against the chair and lifted the beer to her lips. His gaze moved to her mouth, and his pupils dilated when she licked her lips, lapping up the drop of alcohol resting there.

  Get a grip! The last thing I need is a temporary man in my life. He’s only here for the weekend, but, oh, what a weekend it could be.

  Sitting back up toward her plate, she continued to eat, steering the conversation to safer topics. "Is rodeo all you do for a living?"

  A small grin lifted the corners of his mouth. "Why?"

  "Just curious. Unless you are pro, it's hard to make a living that way."

  "I'm a diesel mechanic, too."

  "Like eighteen-wheelers?"

  "Anything with a diesel engine. I've always been one to take things apart and put them back together again. It drove my parents crazy. During the summer, I do the rodeo thing mostly. In the winter, I work on trucks and break horses for Chase."

  "I bet. You can make a pretty good living riding bulls if you're good. Just look at Ty Murray," she said with a chuckle.

  "Yeah. I wish I was that good."

  “Do your brothers raise horses or cows?”

  “Justin runs cattle, but Chase and Abby bred quarter horses.”

  She dropped her fork when her startled look met his, and he frowned. “Something wrong?”

  “You’re a Wilder from the Rocking W?”

  “Yeah, that’s Chase’s place, but it belonged to my parents before that. Why?”

  “Shit!” She grabbed her plate and headed for the house.

  Chapter Three

  “Do you wanna tell me what’s wrong?” He stood behind her, itching to touch her back where her hair lay against her shoulders.

  She turned around. Her eyes masked against whatever thoughts ran through her mind. “I…um…I’m sorry, Cole. It’s nothing really.”

  He frowned. “It didn’t sound like nothing. You seemed shocked or surprised, like you knew my family.”

  She wouldn’t look at him while she started fiddling with the sponge on the counter, wiping at some imaginary dirt. “No. What I mean is that I’ve heard of them. That’s all. Your brother’s reputation is well known amongst ranchers.”