by Becca Turner
Beneath his t-shirt, his muscular chest rose and fell with every breath. The simple act of Nolan breathing pulled her back to the night she’d spent wrapped in his arms. This was hardly the time or the place to think about that.
“This is stupid,” he muttered.
“You still did a good deed today.” Peach passed the paper cup to Jody. “Just you rest, boy. I know Jody’ll take care of you.”
He rubbed his hand down his face. “I’m never going to live this down.”
Poor guy. His macho image was shrinking by the minute. But as far as she could tell, not another soul was paying any attention to him. “It was pretty funny. Luckily, Abe caught you before you knocked your head on the tile. That could’ve been bad. ‘Course, you were a bit of an armful for him. You really should’ve had something to eat before you came.”
“I didn’t plan on coming in.”
“Really?” She pushed the bendy straw toward his lips. “Here, have a drink. You’ll feel better soon.”
He complied, holding her gaze the entire time.
Warmth crept up her neck. What was it about his eyes that made her feel like he could stare straight into her soul? Like he knew she couldn’t get him out of her head?
He pushed the cup away. “I saw you outside and thought I’d say hi. Somehow I got roped into donating blood.”
“Are you joking? Why didn’t you just tell someone you didn’t want to?” She rolled her eyes. “God, Nolan. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all week.”
“Whatever it took to get me over here, I guess.”
“That’s a little extreme.” She put her hands on her hips. “Next time, just ask for me.”
He nodded at her. “You didn’t give blood?”
No Band-Aid decorated her arm. She lowered her gaze. “Not today. Some other time, maybe.”
“You afraid of needles?” His question didn’t come out mocking.
“No, it’s… Peach dragged me into this. I figured better to not risk passing out so I can take care of guys like you.” She added a smile, but her stomach twisted. Better to make an excuse than admit her blood probably wasn’t suitable for anyone who needed it. Not even in a desperate measure.
“Well, it worked out for me. I wanted to get your attention and here I am.” He offered her a smile. “I should buy you lunch to say thank you for the orange juice.”
She held up her hand. “Not necessary.”
“I’d like to.”
The sincerity in his voice made goosebumps rise on her arms. The color had come back into his face and the intensity in his eyes made it hard to concentrate.
Jody swallowed. “I have somewhere to be when I get out of here.”
“With me.”
Damn you, Nolan. She crumpled his cup in her hand. “I’m serious.”
“Me too. C’mon. I bled for you.”
“Which was pretty stupid.” A little sweet, maybe. The kind of sweetness she didn’t need—or deserve. “I can’t. Sorry.”
He raised his head. “Come on. Lunch. Don’t you want me to feel better? This way, you’ll know I’m fed and on my way to recovery.”
“It was a pint of blood, not major surgery.” What was it about him that made saying no so difficult? “Okay, fine.”
His smile made her heart do a flip. “I knew you’d come around.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Only because you look so pathetic. I feel sorry for you.”
“Hey, whatever it takes. I’m not complaining.”
Jody forced a cookie on him and made him sit up for fifteen minutes before she’d consider leaving with him. By then, thank God, her volunteer time had passed. As they left the community center, she coerced him into letting her drive.
“You want to buy me lunch, then you compromise and let me sit behind the wheel. I don’t want to crash in case you get fuzzy-headed again.” She started her truck, then pulled the seatbelt across her chest and lap. “No offense.”
He flashed her a panty-dropping grin. “If it means you’ll take care of me, I’m happy to milk this.”
“You milk it and I’ll tell your brother about this little stunt.” She hadn’t met Austin yet, but he wouldn’t be hard to find.
Nolan shuddered. “Please don’t.”
“I don’t get why you want to see me so badly? It’s not like I’m a prize.” She pulled out onto the road and headed toward Trulove Cattle Company. Peach had brought her a brisket sandwich from the cantina there last week and that was the other thing Jody couldn’t get off her mind. Surprisingly, the tender brisket had awakened her appetite.
“Sure you are. Who doesn’t love a sarcastic, scowling, reclusive lady in a short, sexy skirt?”
She turned the scowl on him before putting her attention back on the road. “Real cute.”
“Two out of three, right there.” He brushed his hand through his hair. “C’mon, Jody, give me a smile. Like you mean it.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I don’t have a lot to smile about.”
“Make it my business. I don’t mind.” He leaned closer on the bench seat. “I’m not afraid of anything you have to say.”
You wouldn’t be afraid. You’d be angry. Disappointed. Ashamed you got involved with someone like me. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel. “I don’t have anything to say.”
“I told you about Tiffany and how I’m worried I’ll die alone.”
That isn’t the same league I’m in. “I’m glad you got it off your chest. So happy I could help.”
“Sarcasm again.” He wagged his finger at her. “You don’t have to care, but honestly, she hurt my feelings. Broke my heart. I don’t know if it’s even worth the risk of having one-night stands anymore.”
She had to laugh. “You had one with me. You were fine.”
“Only fine?” His eyebrows drew together. “Is that the best you can do?”
“Oh, your ego need stroking. You were great. No kidding. Best one-night stand I’ve had in months.”
“I really hope that’s not sarcasm.” He rubbed his hands over his jean-clad legs. “I needed the boost of good sex. And I can’t figure out why we aren’t doing it again.”
“Lots of reasons.”
“Name one.”
“I’m not staying in Swells forever. I only do one-night stands. No long-term relationships. Keep it clean is my motto. Despite your former playboy reputation, it’s pretty clear you’re itchy for something a lot more permanent.” She couldn’t afford to win his affections. Couldn’t give in to his sad puppy dog eyes.
Nolan pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Jody shivered. “What are you doing?”
“Helping. Maybe a little seduction.” He trailed warm fingers down her neck, across her sleeve, and over her arm. “Pull over.”
“Here?” They’d left city limits behind for a flat stretch of road where buffalo grass waved in the seemingly never-ending wind. “What are we doing? Getting it on like the pioneers or something?”
“There’s an idea.” He slid his arm around her shoulders. “Seriously, pull over.”
She eased the truck over to the side of the road. “Okay, why?”
“’Cause I can’t kiss you while the wheels are turning.”
Her heart pounded. “You passed out. You probably shouldn’t be making sexual advances right now.”
“I didn’t pass out, but I might need a little TLC from a pretty lady.”
She was about to melt into the seat fabric. “This is a bad idea, tiger.”
His lips were less than an inch from hers. “Seems pretty good to me.”
“You don’t want to get involved with me. I’m a hot mess.” Sweat broke across her forehead. “Really.”
“You got the hot part right.” He cupped her face. “I think you were born to argue.”
She leaned into his touch. “Shut up and kiss me.”
“That’s more like it.” His smiling mouth touched down on hers.
/> Jody curled her hands into the front of his shirt as she opened her mouth to him. He made her want to turn the truck around and head back for his place. She ached to have his hands all over her.
Wish granted…
Nolan pushed his hand beneath the hem of her t-shirt. When it crept beneath the fabric of her bra, she jumped a little.
“What’s the matter?” Nolan’s hand stilled.
“Nothing. I…there’s traffic.”
The whine of tires on the pavement rushed toward them.
“Yeah.” He sighed and pulled his hand back. “You still want to eat?”
She nodded. “I need a drink to cool off.” A beer would be just the thing.
“They have great coffee.” He settled back into his seat. “London used to be a barista. She does iced coffees if you ask nicely.”
Jody bit back a cynical question about whether they sold tiny bottles of Bailey’s too. She wanted to drink until she forgot about life before Swells. About sleeping with Nolan. About what kind of lousy future lay around the corner.
“You look upset.” Nolan’s pinkie touched her jeans-covered thigh.
The jeans that hung too loosely and needed a belt to hold them up now.
“I’m great.” Except she couldn’t hide the way her voice cracked halfway through the statement.
“No, you’re not.” He put his hand over the gear shift to keep her from putting it in Drive. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m hungry. That’s all, I swear.” But her appetite for smoked meat had faded. Not surprising given the dark turn in her thoughts.
“How come I don’t believe you?”
She pushed his hand off the shifter. “Probably for the same reason you won’t leave me alone. You obviously have some kind of deficiency.”
“I’m gonna turn that frown upside down.” He nodded knowingly. “Just you wait and see. You won’t even know what hit you.”
As she gunned the engine, Jody pressed her lips together. If only the things that had already hit her hadn’t flattened her heart. “I’m not some steer you can rope. You can’t change my direction.”
“We’ll see.” He turned toward the passenger side window. “Bet you twenty bucks.”
She groaned. “After we have lunch, we’re going to the bar. I’m going to pick out a woman for you to spend the night with and I want you to forget me.”
“Not in a hundred million years.”
“We’ll just see about that. Twenty bucks says I’m right.”
“Challenge accepted. This ought to be a riot.”
Chapter Nine
Casa Piedra wasn’t crawling with women. A few lingered near the bar, but it wasn’t any kind of jackpot.
Nolan leaned back in his chair as Jody scanned the sparse weeknight crowd. Smug in the notion that he’d already won twenty dollars from her, he took a sip of his beer.
Jody’s dark eyes didn’t stop moving. Her gaze flickered to each woman and her mouth pinched as she scrutinized them.
“You ready to give up?” He stretched out his legs. “I’ll take my money now.”
“You didn’t give me a time limit. Sit there, shut up, and drink your beer.” She twisted in her seat to see if she was missing anything on the other side of the room.
“Yes, ma’am.” Her vigilance to find him another woman gave him time to study her profile. That high brow that led down to her long, thin nose. Wide cheekbones that tapered to a proud chin. And her lips. Had any woman ever had such a pretty Cupid’s bow mouth? Tiffany had forever gone on about how she’d like to have plumper lips. She hadn’t appreciated it when he told her he knew a natural way to get them. She’d rolled her eyes and walked away when he suggested she stand by the flowerbed and kiss a bee.
Jody’s attention snapped to him. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing except the woman I’d like to go home with. You have to prove you’re more stubborn than Will, don’t you?”
“I am and proud of it.” She swung her gaze toward the door.
A pretty blonde with shoulder-length curls stepped inside. She wore a dark blue sundress with a yellow daisy pattern on it that hit her a couple of inches above the knee. Tall dark brown boots covered her calves. Lip gloss painted her mouth shiny and red. Rhinestones glittered from the comb tucked into her hair.
“There. Her.” Jody pointed, obviously clueless about conspicuousness. “You’re taking her home and forgetting about me.”
“What if she doesn’t want to go home with me?” Her ring finger was bare of any jewelry, although a couple of silver rings hugged the others.
Jody raised her eyebrows. “Why wouldn’t she want to?”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Lots of reasons.”
“Go talk to her.”
He raised his beer bottle, but she reached out and pushed his hand toward the table.
“Right now, before someone else does.”
“You’re in an awful damn big hurry to get rid of me.” Nolan set the beer aside, then rose. “What am I supposed to say?”
She reached for his unfinished beer. “What do you usually tell the women you pick up in bars?”
“I guess this afternoon it’ll be how this crazy gal hijacked me from a blood drive and dumped me in a bar with no way home.”
Jody nodded. “That could work. I have faith in you.” She wrinkled her nose, then smiled wickedly. “Sic ‘em, tiger.”
He’d rather stay at the table with her and make her forget why she wanted to lose him so badly. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, they had chemistry. He itched to yank the volunteer t-shirt off her and kiss the hollow of her throat.
The blonde at the bar—pretty. Jody—a whole other animal who made his blood surge.
Would he hit on the blonde? Sure. Would he go home with her? Very unlikely.
He put a little swagger in his step since Jody was watching, then picked the empty stool next to the woman. Threw in his charming smile and nodded at her. “Hey.”
She eyed him coolly. “Hi.”
“You don’t come in here much, do you?” He gestured at the open seating. “I’m a regular.”
“I’ve never been in here before. Out of towner. I’m waiting on my sister and her friends. She’s getting married and we’re having a hen party.” She glanced toward the door. “No fellas allowed. Unless…”
Her honey-colored eyes darkened a shade. She plucked at the neck of his t-shirt. “You’re one of the strippers, right?”
Nolan almost fell off the stool when the laughter bubbled out of his throat. “I’m one hundred percent not a stripper, but I’m willing to give it my best shot if you’re in the market.”
Her lower lip caught between her teeth as she assessed him. Dark lashes brushed her cheeks when her gaze fell toward his crotch.
He decided the lashes had to be falsies. “You wanna skip the hen party and the cheesy male dancers you can’t touch?” He touched one of her dangling earrings. “I’ve got some sheets these could get lost in real easy.”
“Sounds…promising. And here I thought tonight might be a run of the mill drunken girls’ night out.” Her voice practically purred with sex. She leaned in close. “You’re cute.”
His gaze flicked toward Jody.
She saluted him with the beer bottle.
Then the blonde’s gaze went over his shoulder. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh—” He jerked backward when a big hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.
The fist that plowed into his left eye seemed to come from nowhere.
Nolan sagged against the bar, head spinning and stars flashing brightly in his vision.
A hulking guy in a blue polo shirt and pressed khakis snarled. “Keep your hands off my girl.”
“Marcus, I was just playing. You didn’t have to hit him like that!” The blonde pressed her hands to her face in horror. “He didn’t do anything.”
The bartender whipped out his MagLite. “Take it outside.”
The hulk put his fi
nger in Nolan’s face and made another guttural growling noise before he grabbed his girlfriend by the hand and pulled her out of the bar.
Jody practically ran into him as she rushed up. “Oh my God. Are you all right?”
Nolan gingerly pressed his fingers to his eye socket. “Did a mule kick me, ‘cause it feels like a mule kicked me.”
She swore under her breath, then looked at the bartender. “Can you get him some ice?”
The bartender complied and handed over a chunk wrapped in a bar towel.
Jody pulled Nolan’s hand away. “Oh, God. It’s already swelling and darkening. Austin is going to kill you. Can you see straight?”
“Kill me? It wasn’t my idea to pick up women in a bar. This is all on you.” He slid onto the barstool, then took the ice from her. “Crap that hurts. Oh my God, I’m dying.”
“Don’t be such a wiener.” Her voice came out soft, a little uncertain. “Do I need to take you to the hospital? I’m so sorry. I had no idea that would happen.”
Her face went ashy.
She cared. Really cared. He covered his smile by ducking his head. His eye hurt like hell, but he could work it to his advantage. “I’m a little dizzy. Might be best if we go home.”
“Home? But—”
“That’s where I want to be. Can we just…” He motioned at the door. “Before anyone else in here decides I need a matching set.”
She led the way out, but turned several times to check on him.
“This is not my best day ever.” He let himself into her truck, then put his head back against the headrest. “Go on and laugh. It must have been pretty funny.”
Jody’s eyes widened. “It wasn’t funny. That guy could have beat you to a pulp. We’re never going back in there together. Every time we do, someone gets hit and it’s always my fault.”
“Okay, first, that guy would not have beaten me to a pulp. He was big, sure, but I can hold my own. I wrestle steers a lot bigger than him sometimes, you know. Second, this sort of is your fault, but mostly it’s that blonde chick’s, because she was leading me on. Like she didn’t know her boyfriend was hanging around? She probably gets off on having him knock the crap out of strangers.”
Jody stared at her dash, silent, eyes dark and brooding.