Her Forever Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 4)

by Donna Michaels

  “Sounds good,” he said. “’Cause ‘I’ve got the moves like Jagger.’”

  His girlfriend laughed. “I just bet you do.”

  By the time they danced through Maroon Five, Enrique, Brookes and Dunn and Rascal Flatts, he noticed a change in Shayla. She was relaxed, smiling, gave herself over to the music. The woman was having fun. So was he. So much so, he forgot to be leery.

  Just like at his New Years Eve party, when they danced, they connected on a different level, their bodies anticipated and moved like one. Shayla was a joy to accompany. When Usher came on, Kevin upped the game, pushed the envelope, mimicked the moves he’d seen in the video, and his beautiful partner kept up, hitting the marks, kick steps, moonwalking, whatever he threw at her, she threw back and volleyed a few of her own, challenging him. And oh, hell yeah, he loved challenges. Thrived on them. She pushed him to dig deep. To bring his A game.

  And he loved it.

  “Well now, that was fantastic.” Mrs. Avery clapped from her perch on a stool near the stereo when the music ended. “I’m beginning to think you two could teach me a few moves.”

  He smiled. “Never. You’ll always be the master.”

  The older woman chuckled, waving a hand at him. “And you’ll always be a charmer, Kevin Dalton.” She slipped off her stool to walk to the fridge. “Let me get you some water to cool off.” She opened the door and clicked her tongue. “Except, stupid ninny that I am, I left the bottles in the house.”

  “No problem. I’ll get them.” He headed to the door.

  “No, you two stay here and practice some more. Work on the slow songs. They’ll be playing them at the competition, too.” She flipped a switch and a ballad began to play. “I’ll get the drinks. I need to make a phone call anyway.”

  And before he could reply, the woman was gone.

  He was supposed to dance to a slow song. With Shayla. Unchaperoned.

  This wasn’t good.

  Turning to his partner, he found her staring at him, gaze round and leery while she chewed on her lower lip. Ah hell, he wanted to nibble on it, and sooth with his tongue.

  Instead, he held out his hands and led her in a dance, keeping their moves respectable and safe.

  “M-maybe we should sit this one out,” she said, body stiff but trembling.

  Kevin knew the reasoning behind her words, but could not stop the question from leaving his mouth. “Why?”

  She swallowed, took a deep breath, then transferred her gaze from his throat to his eyes. “Because I want to wrap myself around you like a pretzel and kiss you long and deep.”

  Son-of-a…

  He stumbled to a stop and blinked at the woman who just stopped his heart. Her chest was still heaving, but he didn’t know if it was from the past fifteen minutes of lively dancing, or the hunger smoldering in her blue eyes.

  To hell with it.

  He yanked her close and brought his mouth down on hers, molding her ass with his hands as he ground his throbbing erection against the heat emanating between her legs. She moaned, opening up to him, allowing his tongue access, and he took advantage, plundering inside as she practically climbed up him and did her pretzel thing. The woman tasted hot and desperate and so hungry he momentarily wondered if he’d be able to keep up with her demands. But then his own hunger kicked in, grew, intensified until his blood burned in his veins and the need to get them both naked shook through him.

  “I know, that’s what I told him,” Mrs. Avery said from right outside the garage.

  Shayla stiffened, then unwrapped herself just as their teacher opened the door, phone to her ear and six pack of water in her other arm. Kevin rushed forward to grab the bottles, giving his body time to cool off. Both their bodies. If that were even possible.

  He’d been hungry and in lust many times, but he’d never felt a passion this strong before. Need shook through his body, and he literally ached to be inside the woman. That was new.

  And alarming.

  And exhilarating.

  Placing the water in the fridge, he drew in a breath then blew it out slow. Now was not the time to act on that hunger. But, oh, they would definitely be acting on it. All these weeks he’d been fooling himself into believing he could resist the sexy redhead. He’d been wrong. The need, the want…the passion they’d just experienced was too strong to be denied. If he learned anything the past ten years, it was desire and hunger that strong won’t just go away. You need to act on them to put out the fire.

  Carrying two bottles across the floor, he silently handed one to Shayla before draining the other. His thirst was nowhere near close to being quenched. And by the heat still emanating from her gaze, she felt the same.

  “Okay, I’ll call you back later. Bye.” Mrs. Avery hung up and sighed. “Sorry I took so long, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling I’d seen you before, Shayla, and I was right.”

  His partner stiffened and pulled the bottle away from her mouth, only half-gone. “W-what do you mean?”

  “I skimmed through some of the video I had of past competitions of my students and found one from more than a decade ago that you were in, but I don’t think your name was Shayla back then.”

  What? Kevin’s gaze shot to the redhead who was turning white as a ghost before his eyes, almost resembling zombie Shayla from last weekend.

  She shook her head. “No, you must be mistaken.”

  Judging by her strong reaction, he’d say his teacher was spot on.

  “That’s what I thought,” Mrs. Avery said. “Until I spotted a Garth Brooks routine from regional’s where the dancer did the same incredible moves you did with Kevin on Youtube.”

  “Youtube?” Shayla’s sharp inhaled echoed through the garage, and before his teacher could blink, the redhead was in front of her, holding the older woman’s shoulders. “What was on Youtube?”

  “Why, th-the dance-off between the two of you at Kevin’s party.”

  She released the teacher and turned to him. “When? When did you post that?”

  “I didn’t. Mr. McCall did,” he said, grabbing her by the shoulders this time. “Calm down.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I need to know.” She twisted to face the older woman, even as he held onto one of her arms. “Please, tell me what you meant, Mrs. Avery. Is it on the internet or not?”

  “Yes, dear. But it’s okay. You are fantastic.”

  She began to shake in his grasp. “When? When was it up?”

  “I-I don’t know. I saw it last week.”

  “Oh my God,” she said, this time with panic thick in her voice. “I-I have to go.” She yanked free and ran for the door.

  “Shayla, wait.” Kevin rushed after her, but reached the driveway in time to see her peel out down the street.

  “Kevin, what in the world just happened?” Mrs. Avery was pale and shaking.

  Shit. He calmed his voice and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out. It’ll be okay. I promise. Don’t worry.”

  Chapter Eight

  Panic had a vile taste, similar to disgust and fury. Shayla hated them all. The last time she’d experienced the emotion, her father’s goon had been chasing her through Dallas. But she’d kept her cool and managed to get away.

  Just like now.

  “Keep your cool,” she said into the quiet car. “It’ll be okay. He’s not here. Maybe he hasn’t seen the video yet. You have time to pack and leave.”

  She should call the sheriff. Shayla had promised Kade she would the minute there was trouble. But what could he do? Probably nothing. Still, she’d given her word and that was one of the few traits her mother had always insisted on. Honesty and keeping your word.

  And she’d keep it.

  Fishing in her purse for her phone, she stilled. Kade was with Brandi, watching Amelia.

  She could just stop there...

  No. Kids were very perceptive. She did not want her daughter or Cody to pick up on her panic. Besides, it would be quicker to pack without h
er daughter’s help. A smile found her lips despite her dire circumstances.

  Since her daughter couldn’t be in safer hands with Kade, she could leave her at Brandi’s while she talked to the next best thing to the sheriff—Deputy Jordan McCall, Harland County’s future sheriff. Provided the woman won the election.

  By the time Shayla came to this conclusion, she was pulling into the Texas Republic parking lot and spotted the deputy’s SUV. Thank God. Now she didn’t have to call her friend.

  She parked around back, barely pulling her key from the ignition as she shot from the vehicle. She had no idea how much time she had before Lyle found them. And dammit, she hated this. Hated the panic and rushing, and uprooting her daughter and sister. It wasn’t fair.

  Fighting back a round of frustration-motivated tears, she rushed through the back door of the kitchen to find the deputy sitting at the corner table, but not alone.

  Cole and Connor were there, too.

  Shoot.

  “Shayla?”

  “What is it?”

  “What’s wrong, darlin’?”

  The three of them stood at once, concern wiping the smiles from their faces. She pulled in a breath, fought back more tears, dammit, and shook her head. It was too late to try to talk to her friend alone. One of the McCall brothers shoved a drink in her hand while the other forced her to sit.

  “I’m on the internet,” she blurted. “I don’t know how much time I have, Jordan.” She sucked in a breath. “I should go pack.” Then made to stand, but a giant hand clamped around her shoulder and gently held her in place.

  “No, darlin’, you need to sip your drink and then tell us what’s wrong,” Connor gently insisted. “Did Kevin do something to you?”

  “Kevin?” She frowned, glancing up…and up at the cowboy. “No.”

  Other than turn her into a hot, trembling body of need with his incredible kiss. But she had bigger problems at the moment.

  Cole placed a hand over her shaky one as the others retook their seats. “Then what’s wrong, Shayla?”

  He was sweet, but she didn’t need to sit, she needed to pack.

  “That’s what I’d like to know, Shayla, if that’s really your name,” Kevin said, suddenly standing in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, expression hovering between angry and confused. “You nearly gave Mrs. Avery a heart attack, and over what? A stupid video of us dancing on Youtube?”

  “Youtube?” Jordan jumped to her feet. “When?”

  “Ah, not you, too,” Kevin grumbled. “What the hell is going on?”

  Her friend ignored the men, grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Shayla, are you saying there’s a video of you and Kevin dancing on the internet?”

  Finally!

  “Yes. Mr. McCall posted it. And I don’t know how long it’s been on there. Could be since New Years. That’s almost a whole week, Jordan. A whole week.” Tears heated her damn throat again. She lifted her drink to her lips and gulped a good portion, welcoming the burn as it went down.

  Enough with the panicking. She could and would handle this logically. Setting the glass down, she exhaled then stood. “It’s too public here. Let’s go to my apartment.”

  “Yes,” Jordan said, whipping out her phone.

  Brushing past Kevin, Shayla opened the door and forced her feet to walk at a normal pace as she headed across the lot and up the stairs. If she only took essentials, she’d be out of here in less than fifteen minutes, and with Amelia in less than twenty.

  Then she’d call her sister…God, she hated to have to do this to Caitlin. The poor girl just found a nice guy and was enjoying college life. It wasn’t fair.

  When she reached her door, she turned to ask Jordan her thoughts about Caitlin, but the words died in her throat at the sight of the three cowboys standing behind the deputy.

  Shoot. Who invited them? She hadn’t. Not intentionally. “You all didn’t need to come.”

  “Yes, we did,” Kevin said, voice as stern as she’d ever heard.

  No matter. She needed to keep moving. And since her father hadn’t found her yet, she could risk coming back to the apartment for a few things. She pulled out her key, but Jordan took it from her.

  “We need to check the apartment just in case.”

  And before Shayla could ask who Jordan had meant by we, the off-duty sheriff joined the chorus, rushing toward them down the hall.

  “You okay, Shayla?” Kade stared down at her through concerned gray eyes, warm hands on her shoulders, strong and reassuring.

  No. “Yes.” She nodded, trying not to think about her daughter with Brandi and Cody unguarded.

  “It’s going to be okay.” He squeezed before releasing her to nod at the cowboys. “You three stay out here and watch Shayla.”

  Then he nodded to his deputy who unhooked the strap from over her gun, but didn’t pull the weapon. Shayla’s heart began to pound. And pound nearly clean out of her chest as Jordan and Kade disappeared into her apartment.

  Please don’t let him be in there.

  “Shayla, what is going on?” Kevin grasped her arm and turned her to face him. “Why are the sheriff and deputy searching your apartment? Who are you running from?” His grip tightened, and she shivered at the fierce expression darkening his face.

  Hysterical laughter bubbled up her throat. “Life.”

  Gorgeous blue eyes clouded over in a frown. She knew he was confused. Her gaze shifted to the McCall brothers. Yeah, them, too. Hell, so was she.

  How could this happen?

  “It’s all my fault.” She sighed, knowing she’d screwed up. Big time. “All because I gave into the temptation to be normal and have a little fun at a party.”

  And now she was paying the price. Was going to have to hit the road. Leave a great job, great apartment. Great friends. Great kisser.

  Had it really been worth it?

  Yes.

  For those three minutes, she’d reconnected with life. Remembered what it had felt like to have fun. To laugh. To live. Remembered what it was she wanted for her sister and daughter. Shayla wanted them to live.

  “Well now, darlin’,” Connor said, stepping closer. “No harm done.”

  “Yeah,” Cole agreed. “It’s perfectly normal to want to have some fun in your life.”

  She snorted. “Except my life isn’t normal.”

  “You’re not making any sense.” Kevin released her and shook his head.

  “Now that is my normal.”

  Jordan appeared in the doorway. “Okay, it’s all clear. Come in.”

  Rushing into her apartment, she headed straight for her room.

  “Oh no you don’t. Hold on there, Shayla. I want answers,” Kevin said, catching up to grab her by the elbow. “Who is after you?”

  God, she didn’t want to get into this now.

  “Let her go, Kevin.” Kade blocked the hall and stared at his cousin, who let out a curse.

  “Fine.” He released his hold. “But can I at least know why you freaked out enough to almost cause Mrs. Avery a heart attack?”

  “Wait,” she frowned at him. “You’re serious?” Her heart hit the floor. She thought he’d been exaggerating in order to guilt her into talking. “Is she all right?”

  “She’s a little shaken. A little frightened, and a lot confused. But she’ll be all right,” Kevin said, his gaze a little less angry. “I called Jace. He’s checking her out.”

  “Oh my God.” The tears she’d held at bay finally cut loose. She hiccupped. “I’m sorry.” Staggering to the island in the kitchen, she swiped the wetness from her face and sank onto the nearest stool. She almost killed Mrs. Avery. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.

  What had she done? Her gaze took in Jordan and the four men, standing around the counter, staring at her with concern. She’d just put them all at risk.

  “Hey, it’s not your fault,” Jordan insisted, dropping onto a stool beside her, placing a hand on her arm. “You did nothing wrong.”

  She hiccupped again. �
�Yes, I did. I made friends.” Stupid mistake. She blew out a breath. “I shouldn’t have friends. I shouldn’t be around people. This is why I need to go.”

  “No, it’s exactly why you need to stay,” her friend stated, grip on her arm increasing. “You need to stay because you made friends. We care about you.”

  Hot tears splashed down her face again. “Don’t. It’s too dangerous.”

  “What is?” Cole asked.

  “Yeah, what’s going on, Kade?” Kevin stared at his cousin who leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

  The sheriff shrugged. “It’s not my tale to tell.”

  “Jesus, really? You’re going to be like that?” Kevin tossed his hands in the air. “Why can’t I get a straight answer?”

  All gazes shifted to her. She could feel them, like the sun through a magnifying glass in mid June. It stung. Shayla lifted her gaze until it clashed with an aggravated blue one.

  “The less you know, the safer you are. I don’t want anyone hurt because of me.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s too late.”

  His words and his tone hurt, although she knew they weren’t meant to.

  “It’s like Jordan said. We’re your friends.” He pushed his way in, grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Let us help. We care about you and your daughter and your sister. Level with us, Shayla.”

  Her heart was beating so loud and hard her body shook. What should she do? His blue gaze was so open, welcoming, and warm her chest ached. She wanted to tell him. God, she wanted to, but wouldn’t that put him in danger?

  “You don’t need to be involved in my mess. None of you do.”

  A smile spread across his face and lit his eyes. “Too late for that, too, darlin’. We’re already invested. You’re our friend.”

  He was the last person she ever thought she’d hear say that.

  “He’s right,” Cole agreed, slapping a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “You’re our friend and we’re going to help.”

  “Yeah, darlin’, friends help friends around these parts, so you’re stuck with us and our help.”