by Jillian Neal
“Like what you see, Ms. Sanchez?”
So, he was aware she was awake and watching him. “Working off some pent up need there, cowboy?”
He leapt to his feet, all traces of the fear that had consumed him in the middle of the night vanished, replaced with his devilishly good looks and wicked grin. “Hell yeah, sunshine. I woke up with a beautiful woman tucked up against me, one who hasn’t quite given me the go-ahead to wake her up the way I’d like to. Had to do something, and I already jacked off in the shower … twice.”
“You’re so full of shit,” she came right back, but the lift of his left eyebrow and quirk of his lips said maybe he was that potent. Dear Lord, what must that be like? Her heart tripped over its next several beats. How exactly had he wanted to wake her up? Her clit twitched against the fabric of his t-shirt, reminding her of how long it had been ignored. Could she somehow manage to both be a good mom to J.J. and to find out just what Austin Camden was made of?
“Get up, woman. I’m hungry. Let’s go get breakfast, then I need to get my draw, find out which bull I’m riding tonight. After that, we’ll go see what kind of trouble we can get in out here in Cody, Wyoming.”
Grinning, she crawled out of bed, more than pleased not to spend another day doing nothing more than walking listlessly around Cody, counting the moments until J.J. was hers again.
“I hope it’s not Dallas Devil.” The concern replaced her moment of excitement over his plans for the day. She was beyond certain that her asshole ex was doping that stupid bull. He didn’t give a damn that cowboys were being hurt. Proving it would be next to impossible, but his daddy wanted a winning bull, and Brant wanted nothing more than to make his father happy. She’d been planning to snoop around the chutes in Cheyenne to see if she could get Brant caught. If Austin was paired with Dallas Devil, she’d find a way to prove that Brant was giving him steroids. She’d keep Austin safe. She owed him that much.
He planted a kiss on top of her head. “No worries. No matter which one it is, I whisper meat-packing horror stories to all of ‘um before the chute opens.” He winked at her as she cracked up. It felt so good to laugh again. She tried to recall the last time she’d done that.
Getting ready quickly, she took a moment to admire Austin’s ass in a clean pair of Wranglers, along with his boots, his muscular chest in a button-down shirt, and the dirty Stetson that set off his chiseled jaw line. A real cowboy. One that knew how to ride and how to work his ass off. One that was protective at all personal cost, even if he had a few demons that occasionally kept him from sleeping. And one that kissed with enough fire to brand her mouth all for himself. What woman could possibly resist that? She wasn’t certain she could for much longer.
To her relief, when Austin pulled his papers that morning, he’d been paired with a bull named Perfect Storm. She’d never heard of that particular bull before, but he was owned by K&D so he was probably as safe as any bull could ever really be. He seemed very pleased. It was a good draw, apparently.
They had breakfast at Buffalo Bill’s diner, along with a dozen other cowboys that were tired of the breakfast buffet at the Cody hotel. She’d watched in awe while Austin downed a mountain of flapjacks, three fried eggs, a slab of bacon, a platter of hash browns, and two cups of black coffee.
“Good thing you don’t have to make weight to ride a bull,” she harassed him.
“I told you I was hungry, sugar. I’m not a sissy-ass kid, or worse — a stock supplier from Dallas. I’m a cowboy. I eat.” He’d chuckled as she watched him consume enough calories to get him through the day and giggled over his slight towards Brant.
When he finished, he grinned at her. “Now, what would the lady like to do today?”
“I don’t care. You don’t have to entertain me. I can find something to do on my own.”
“Summer, honey, do you have some kind of hearing problem? How many times do I have to say I want to hang out with you today, tomorrow, and for the next two weeks in Cheyenne? After that, we’ll see where we stand, but for now, please stop acting like I’m sacrificing something to be around with you. From where I’m sitting, I have the best damn view in Wyoming and the best conversation going.”
So, he wasn’t thinking beyond Cheyenne. Summer told herself she should be relieved, but he refused to look at her. His tonality shifted when he’d added that last part.
He was lying to her. She was almost sure of it. She and J.J. didn’t need anyone else. Hanging out with Austin could be some kind of summer rodeo fling, like the ones she had before her daddy and Brant had come up with their ridiculous plan. Yeah, that could work. Surely, he didn’t really want more than that anyway.
As long as Austin was good with J.J., it would be fine. They could part ways when he won the Cheyenne buckle, which she was certain he would. Once Austin wasn’t around anymore, she could focus on getting a job and settling down. It would be best. He was lying, so why couldn’t she? Besides, lying to herself had taken on a numbing effect as of late. She ignored the pain that bottomed out in her stomach. She would be fine, and so would he. It just wasn’t going to work beyond Cheyenne.
That afternoon, Austin grinned as he guided Summer closer to the counter at Main Street Ice Cream. Every time he placed his hand somewhere on her body, electricity amplified in his veins. He couldn’t wait to find out what touching something far more provocative than the small of her back, her hands, or her shoulders would be like.
Unable to hide his smirk, he turned to her. “Chocolate or vanilla, honey? What’s your preference?”
Her jaw cocked to the side, meaning she’d picked up on his double entendre and precisely what he wanted to know. Those seductive whiskey eyes glimmered with challenge.
“Are those my only two choices, cowboy?” Her sassy tone spiked his blood.
“Hell no. I just need to know what you might like before I … order something for you.”
“Uh huh. Well, to be perfectly honest, I’d say I’m more a rocky road kind of girl. I like a lot of something extra in my vanilla. I want to know I’ve had … ice cream after I’ve had it. You know, chocolate syrup, some nuts, loads of candy, and maybe a hot red cherry or two on top. How ‘bout yourself?”
He leaned in to let the low growl building in his chest sound in her ear. “You’re killing me, babe.”
“We’re just talking about ice cream, right?” Her play at innocence and the soft purr of her voice was the sexiest damn thing he’d ever heard.
“Definitely not,” his voice turned the consistency of the gravel parking lot of the ice cream shop.
“Good.” She stared him down, and he was momentarily concerned he was going to come in his Wranglers.
They edged forward in line and he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind her, crowding her, letting her feel every hardened plane of his hungry body. “I want you so fucking bad, Summer. I’ve wanted you from the moment I kept you from scalping your ex last night.”
Turning her head, she lifted her darkened eyes to his. Need was penned on every curve of her delectable body. Her nipples made themselves known despite the bra and vintage Wrangler t-shirt she was wearing. Tight and needy. His mouth watered.
His hot breath caressed her right ear as he roved his hands over her hips and soft midsection. His voice was still husky from her earlier declaration. He whispered, “Tonight, sugar. After I ride, after I win, I’m taking you to my bed. I’ll give you every single thing you need, and I’ll take every single thing I’ve craved since the moment I laid eyes on you. Trust me, you’ll know you’ve been fucked thoroughly come mornin’ when you wake up naked in my arms.”
She trembled against him, shivering in need. “Yes,” panted from her. Her eyes closed momentarily, and she leaned back against him in a vow of relent. It drove him wild.
“That’s it, darlin’. You lay back against me. Let me hold you while you think about how good it’s gonna be. Let it make you wet all for me. Feel my cock pressed up against your sweet little ass. Let it make you a
che, because tonight I’ll make it all feel better.”
A soft moan escaped her. Austin forced a loud cough to keep the Cody ice cream parlor rated PG.
The juxtaposing heat of the Wyoming summer pierced the cold air spilling off of the freezers as the door to the shop swung open. Summer gasped and spun out of his arms when she heard an exasperated wail from a baby.
Austin turned to watch her rush towards a woman who greatly resembled the long Pall Mall she was smoking — withered, painfully thin, with white grey hair highlighted an odd orange color matching the blush she’d applied that made her appear to be bunking with Satan. It took Austin half a second to realize that the woman had to be Brant Preston’s mother and that the baby was J.J. He rushed to Summer’s side when the woman held J.J. out of Summer’s reach. Poor kid wailed and had his arms extended to his mother, kicking his legs in an effort to get away from his evil grandmother.
“Ms. Preston, please. He saw me. Let me hold him.”
“Give her the kid.” Austin bellowed angrily.
“It’s Brantley’s turn. We didn’t know you were in here.” Ms. Preston pursed her lips and took another long drag of the cigarette, despite the no smoking signs hung four places in the ice cream parlor.
“I asked you not to smoke around him. Now give him to me,” Summer demanded.
“What kind of grandmother makes a kid cry? This seems like something the lawyers need to hear about, darlin’. Either that or he can tell his therapists all about grandma when he’s a little older.” Austin narrowed his eyes in on Ms. Preston.
With a huff, she shoved J.J. into Summer’s arms. She cradled him close and rocked him back and forth. He stopped crying immediately. Austin grinned as he nuzzled his little face into Summer’s chest, took tight hold of her t-shirt with one hand and wrapped the other around her neck.
“And just who do you think you are? That is Brantley Preston’s child. This is none of your business,” Ms. Preston smarted indignantly to Austin. She reminded him of a sashaying peacock on full display, but unaware of an incoming storm.
“Oh, come on, Ms. Preston, everyone knows who I am. Why don’t you leave J.J. with his mama for a little while and go ask Brantley himself just who I am? I feel certain he can tell you all about me. He’s one of my biggest fans.”
Summer bit her lips together to keep from laughing when Austin winked at her.
“Yes, well, Brant’s not feeling well this morning. J.J. and I were out of the room so he can rest up for the finals tonight. He’s presenting the buckles in the ceremony,” Ms. Preston announced proudly, as if someone had just named her queen of the rodeo.
“Stomach ache?” Austin smirked, and a giggle escaped Summer’s lips. She cuddled J.J. closer, using him as a very effective cover for her laughter.
“Pardon me?”
“I was saying I heard Brant had a stomachache this mornin’. Must be something going around.”
“Well, yes, he does, in fact. I suspect it’s something he ate last night. He has a very sensitive stomach.”
“Doubt that’s it, but okay. And hey, tell Brant to buck up. I really want him to be there to present the buckles tonight. I want that more than you could ever know.”
That did it. Summer began giggling hysterically. J.J. looked delighted with his mother’s laughter. He beamed ear to ear and squeezed her tighter. Austin found himself longing for a moment. Longing for her, definitely. Longing for a family with her … Whoa now, let’s not get carried away just yet. He patted J.J. on the back. “You don’t get to hear near enough of that do you, little buddy?
To his delight, J.J. awarded him with one of his adorable grins as well. Two tiny teeth were visible on his lower gum line. Austin chuckled. The little guy’s grin was a quick show of acceptance, then he hid his face in his mother’s neck again. Summer beamed at their exchange.
After squeezing him to her and kissing his cheeks, she lifted her head. “I’d be happy to keep him today. I get him back tomorrow night anyway. Sounds like Brant’s going to be busy. Please, Ms. Preston. I miss him so much.” The pleading desperation in her tone pricked Austin’s heart. He put his arm around both Summer and J.J. and kissed the top of her head, but he hadn’t figured out Brant’s mama well enough to play her … yet. He would in time. He could read self-righteous bitches same way he read bulls. Shit all smelled the same.
“Oh you’d just love that wouldn’t you. You won’t be getting J.J. one moment longer than you’re supposed to have him.” Ms. Preston jerked the baby out of Summer’s arms, spun, and flew out of the ice cream shop with J.J. screaming for his mama. Austin envisioned a broom and flying monkeys following in her wake. Before he could fully process beyond that, Summer’s jaw clenched as she dammed back tears of pure frustration. Austin wondered if she ever allowed herself to have them. Everyone always wanted women to be so damn strong. Far as he could tell, women were by far the stronger sex. Whoever decided that human beings shouldn’t show emotion was a fucker. Austin knew that sometimes the only answer to the world was tears, even if he’d never show his to anyone else. Fear wasn’t something he indulged himself in, but sadness was different. Summer had been through hell. She’d earned every single tear she wanted to cry.
He wrapped his arms around her, letting her hide in his chest. “I’ve got you, okay? Wanna get out of here for a little while?” Her body shook from the internal war she was waging. “Baby, if you need to cry, go for it. It’s fine. I’ll hold you. I’ll be right here.” His own statement shocked him. Every vow he made to her still surprised him. What was she doing to him? He wasn’t sure, and he didn’t care. He was going with it. Being there for her felt right. That was all he needed to know.
“No,” she defied angrily. “I just … don’t want ice cream.” Jerking out of his arms, she stomped out of the ice cream shop.
Okay, wait. Is ice cream still sex? Don’t ask her that, moron. He raced after her, desperate to find something to make her smile again. She was right. Brant’s mama was evil. The duo took the term son of a bitch to a whole new level. It was high time Brant and his mother take a long walk off a short pier, and he’d happily supply the pier.
“Summer,” he called as he jogged a few paces before catching up to her on the sidewalk. “Come on. Talk to me.”
She worked her jaw and glared back towards the hotel before turning to face him. “I’m sorry. She just makes me crazy. He doesn’t understand what a jerk his father is. I’m sure he will someday, but he doesn’t understand why I can’t have him when he wants me. It kills me. He’s not a tug-of-war rope, but he probably feels that way.”
Austin pulled her back into the safety of his embrace. “I know it seems like he doesn’t understand, but I kind of think he does. Kids are smart, a lot smarter than we want to believe. Let’s just get through Cheyenne. Then you can get a job, settle in, and get the courts to realize what a piece of shit his daddy is. Maybe he won’t have to see him all that often.”
“I keep prayin’ for that, but I don’t know how I’d get so lucky. Seems impossible. I think that’s why I always have this bad feeling about it. Brant’s daddy has a ton of money. To the courts that’s all that matters.”
“Hey, come on. If you need money, let me help you. I haven’t spent any of the money I’ve won, and not to sound like a brat-ass rich punk but my family does all right. We run a ton of cattle and have more land than we really know what to do with.”
“Austin, I cannot let you do that. Plus, you bought that fancy truck. What do you mean you haven’t spent any of your winnings?”
Unable to hide his chuckle, he wondered momentarily just how much assuming Ms. Summer Sanchez had done on his behalf. “You wanna go ahead and tell me everything else you’re so sure of about me before I correct you, darlin’?”
She rolled her eyes then leveled a cold glare on him. He laughed. “So, the lady does not like to be told she’s wrong. Sorry, cowgirl. You’re up a creek without a paddle. Need me to come rescue you?”
“Shut up, A
ustin. Fine. When did you get your truck?”
“Three years ago. You ever tried to pull a full horse trailer, tractors, or a load of cattle in a tiny truck with half an engine?”
“That truck doesn’t look like it’s ever worked on a ranch.” She cocked her jaw to the side and gave him a gotcha grin.
“Just so you know, if you argue with me while you’re naked, I’ll probably let you win.”
Another eye roll.
“Sugar, I can show you the paperwork on the truck if I ever get you up to the ranch, ‘til then you’re just gonna have to believe me. I take care of my truck. We use the old trucks to run the feeders. I keep mine clean, and it hasn’t been on the ranch in months. That makes it easier to keep up. But I learned to take care of all of my shit growing up. We worked for everything we got. So my truck, my house, my team, and most certainly my girl, I take excellent care of.”
Summer knew he wasn’t lying, but part of her still wanted to be right. She’d never met a rodeo cowboy that didn’t blow all of his winnings long before he won again. And what was that taking her to the ranch and his girl thing? He had been lying that morning at breakfast. She knew it, but he’d just witnessed the shit-storm that was her life currently. Anyone with half a brain would run far away. That alone was why she had no business getting involved with Austin, no matter how badly she wanted to.
“Stop,” he commanded as he gently lifted her face with his rope callused hands.
“Stop what?”
“Stop standing there deciding you shouldn’t be with me or whatever because of what just happened with J.J. Your eyes give you away, sunshine, every single time. Stop trying to figure out the rest of your whole life in this one moment. For me, take it easy, please.” With that directive, he spun behind her and proceeded to massage her shoulders with the might of his hands there on the sidewalk of Cody, Wyoming. Had it not felt so absolutely incredible, she would have called him on the decidedly eighth grade hallway-between-classes move. It had just been so long since anyone’s hands had been on her for the purposes of caring for her. She couldn’t bring herself to harass him. Maybe he was right. Maybe she should stop worrying so much and just go with it. Up until the moment she’d had J.J., that’s how she’d lived her life. Until her father had intervened with his grandiose plans, she’d done all right.