by Cindi Madsen
“I can totally see it.” She tucked her leg up, twisting toward him. “Remember that first night we studied at your apartment instead of the library? When we planned out our futures? You told me you were going to be the next Indiana Jones—not an actor, but the real thing. Who played guitar in a famous band on the side. And after talking for hours without managing to actually get any of our assignment done, I knew we were destined to be more than just study partners. Even though I was pretty sure you were half crazy.”
“I was crazy? You said you wanted to teach history at a high school and coach basketball.”
Her lips curved into a smile, nostalgia filling her features. “You promised you’d bring all the archeological items you dug up to my classroom so I’d be able to get a peek and share them with my students before the museums fought over them.”
“I might’ve had a few too many beers that night.” What he didn’t confess was how nervous he’d been to have her at his place that first time, back when he was trying to impress her for other reasons.
She laughed. “Probably another reason we didn’t get any work done that night.” Her smile slowly faded. “I can’t believe I ended up working for a marketing firm of all things.” There was an inexplicable look in her eye that he thought might be regret. “Sometimes I want to go back to our college days, when it seemed like all it would take to get where we wanted to be was a piece of paper that said we had a degree. I miss that kind of sunny optimism.”
“What if you get that promotion you’ve been talking about? Will you love your job then?”
“I’ll be able to pay my bills every month, and I love the idea of that.” She pulled her knees to her chest and folded her arms over the top. “It might not be my dream job, but I’m good at it, and I deserve to be promoted.”
“I’m sure you do.” He took in her profile, feeling a twinge of regret himself. “I just wish you didn’t live so far away.”
“Me, too. But maybe when I’m making more money, I’ll be able to visit more often. And you being a pilot and all, I’m sure you could swing a few trips? When you’re not too busy flying people to new adventures and being a rock star, of course.”
“Oh, yes. In the one venue that the band regularly plays in because we know the owner, we’re marginally more popular than the jukebox that plays hits from the seventies. My rock-star status is right around the corner.” He leaned back on his hands, the tiny stones digging into his palms. “We’re actually performing Saturday night—Audrey doesn’t know I’m playing the night of her wedding or she’d kill me, but it’s super late, so she’ll never have to know.”
“Finally, a show I can go to. I haven’t heard you play with a band in years.”
“Be prepared to be completely underwhelmed.”
She laughed. She had the kind of infectious laugh that made him lighter and happier, even when he was feeling like crap. And for the first time in a long time, he didn’t have to worry about the fact that his girlfriend would be pissed over his hanging out with Dani.
Being fake engaged to her was going to be a blast.
Chapter Two
Dani rolled her suitcase into Wes’s apartment. A giant television lined one wall, there was a bookcase filled with video games, movies, and thick volumes on various wars, and he had one of those couches with the recliners and cup holders built in. But she couldn’t believe how clean and organized the place was. His apartment in college had been a total hazard area, and the last time she’d visited here, the books and movies had been in stacks around the room along with half the clothes he owned.
“I do know how to clean,” Wes said. Apparently he could read her mind. Or maybe her mouth was hanging open.
“Until now I really wasn’t sure.”
“Ha-ha.” He stripped off his shirt, wadded it up, and shot it into the hallway. For a moment, she stared at his bare chest and abs. He must’ve been doing a lot of hiking. And ab-ing—’cause damn, you could wash laundry on that six-pack.
Then she felt weird about checking out his body. It wasn’t like she’d never seen him shirtless before. They’d gone swimming, plus he sometimes took off his shirt while they hiked or played basketball. The fact he was in shape or good looking wasn’t news. But damn, was he always in that good of shape?
She turned around, acting like she was still surveying the place. It’s just because I’ve been single for so long without so much as a date. And the guys in the office all have large guts and thinning hair.
Certain her random hormone surge was under control now, she completed the circle she’d been slowly spinning, facing Wes again. He’d grabbed a bag of potato chips and a soda and flopped down on the couch. “You can shower first. There are fresh towels in the hall closet and my body wash will make you smell like a dude, but you’re welcome to it. Anything else you need?”
“Nope. And I’ve got my own girly-smelling products, so I’m good.” She rolled her suitcase to the bathroom, finding it as clean as the rest of the apartment.
Maybe some good came from his dating Sophie. Of course, his messiness never really bothered her to begin with.
After her shower, as she was blowing out her hair, she gave herself a pep talk. If she was becoming so desperate she was ogling her best friend, it was time for her to jump back into the dating scene. The pitiful part of her had been holding back, waiting for Steve to realize he missed her. But then more and more weeks passed, and the last time she’d sent him a pathetic how-are-things e-mail, he’d sent back one word: fine.
Two years together, a relocation for his job—that he ended up quitting to go back to college while she worked and paid all the bills—and in the end, she got dumped and one-word e-mail replies.
When I get back, I’m putting myself out there.
She lowered her hairdryer and frowned at her reflection. How do I put myself out there when I have no friends to go out with? She’d started working so much that she didn’t have time to go out, and all the women at work were married. She just didn’t have many other opportunities to meet people.
Well, however she had to do it, even if it meant putting up an online profile with one of those dating sites that wouldn’t stop e-mailing her—not the cougar one, of course—she needed to do something.
She finished swiping her lashes with mascara, tossed the tube into her bag to punctuate the thought, and exited the bathroom. “Where should I tuck my suitcase? You care if it’s out by the couch? I’d hate to ruin your chi.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m big on my chi.” Wes stepped into view, still shirtless, and pointed toward the closed door at the end of the hall. “You’re staying in my bed.”
His bed. All those muscles. Heat rose to her cheeks and she could feel her pulse steadily climbing. She couldn’t seem to look away from the tattoo on his side. The thick black ink formed a tribal sun that morphed into a swirled shape with hints of a beak and wings, like a bird soaring away from the sun. She’d seen it before—she’d even been with him for one of the two sessions it’d taken to get it—yet her pulse was still climbing as she took in the way it cut off right where the V of his obliques led to his low-slung jeans. Seriously, what’s wrong with me? She swallowed and it took way more effort than it should. “I love you and all, but I’m not sure I’m ready to be elbowed all night.”
“I cleaned my room and even put fresh sheets on the bed so you could sleep there. I’ll take the couch.”
What was up with the squeeze of disappointment in her chest? She was just lonely; that had to be it. She missed having someone to cuddle up to at night. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Already done. Let me just grab my clothes.” He took her suitcase handle but didn’t move past her like she’d expected him to. He flicked the ends of her hair with his free hand. “I forgot how nice you look with your hair down.”
If her mouth were working, she would’ve told him thanks. Offering her his bedroom and a compliment about her looks? This was a side of Wes she’d never seen. And she wasn’t
100 percent sure how to handle it.
What she did know was she’d had more fun in the few hours she’d been in town than she’d had in the last few months combined.
…
The orange lights inside Whisky River illuminated Dani’s dark hair. She turned to Wes, eyebrows drawn low. “What are we doing here? Did you go country and forget to tell me?”
“It’s a fun place. And we’re meeting Paul. Apparently Rob canceled—family emergency or something, although my guess is that his wife didn’t want to come once she found out we were hanging out at this bar and grill.”
A couple of guys walked by, running their eyes over Dani, and Wes found himself automatically doing the same. Years of basketball had toned her legs and arms, something her shorts and strappy top showed off. She was doing something different with her hair, too. A section of it hung halfway over her eye in this sexy way that had caught him a bit off guard when she’d stepped out of the bathroom earlier. He was sure even Paul, who’d recently sworn off women thanks to finding out his girlfriend was cheating on him, would reconsider his anti-woman stance when he met Dani.
She didn’t seem to notice the guys, but she definitely noticed the mechanical bull at the front of the room. A girl was holding on, screeching as it bucked.
“Now it’s all starting to make sense,” Dani said.
The girl flew off the “bull,” into the padding, her bleached-blond hair hanging over her face.
Wes worked to put on his most innocent expression. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I come here for the onion rings and hot wings.” He nudged her toward a table front and center where Paul was seated.
Wes introduced them as he and Dani slid into the cow-print booth. “Paul’s going to help us pull off our scheme. He was about to propose to his girlfriend when they broke up, so he just so happens to have an extra diamond ring he’s not using.”
Paul hung his head and stared at a spot in the middle of the table. “I found out she was cheating on me, so… I keep telling myself I’m better off, but…”
Dani reached over and covered his hand with hers. “I’m so sorry.” When it came to other people hurting, Dani was a total softie, the first to reach out and comfort someone, regardless of how well she knew him or her. “Bad breakups have happened to the best of us. Even Wes.”
Okay, maybe not that soft. Her words jabbed him in the chest, leaving that annoying sting of rejection. If he were superstitious, he might’ve thought he and the band were cursed in love or something. But Rob’s marriage seemed to be working just fine. He and his wife couldn’t stop having babies, anyway.
Dani glanced down. “My last boyfriend left me. Not even for another woman, which is almost worse because it means he’d rather be alone than be with me.”
It baffled Wes how hurt she sounded. Not because he didn’t understand how that felt, but because she could do so much better.
“I was shocked by it, too,” she said, shaking her head. “I think that makes it harder to get over. I guess when it comes to love, we’re all kind of idiots, seeing the world with blinders.”
“Love definitely made me stupid.” Paul looked Dani over again. “Who’d dump you?”
“A total prick, that’s who.” Wes draped his arm over her shoulders. “You’re better off without him.”
She lifted her head. “I’m done with caring about Steve. I decided to move on.”
Wes wished he felt ready to make that decision. He’d thought Sophie was the one, regardless of their differences, and the idea of starting over with someone new and going through all the inevitable relationship drama exhausted him. He didn’t think Paul was ready, either—it’d been two months since he and Jennifer broke up, and it was still what he talked about more than not. All his “what if” questions made it harder for Wes to not think about the same thing with Sophie.
So back to the plan. Step one to getting over her included selling him and Dani as a legitimate couple. “Did you bring the ring?”
“I’ve been meaning to hawk it—at least try to get something back for it, but I…” Paul shrugged. He dug into his pocket, slowly pulled it out, and swallowed. “Anyway, here it is. Just be careful with it, dude.”
Wes took the box from him. “I will. Just a couple of weeks, then I’ll go with you to sell the damn thing.” He was tempted to open up the box and look at the ring, but Paul was staring at it like an appendage he’d just lost.
Maybe this was a bad idea. Honestly, he’d hoped once Paul could see he was okay without the ring sitting there reminding him of what could’ve been, he’d feel better. Wes had certainly felt better when he’d gotten rid of Sophie’s. It was a good first step to closure, anyway. Their food came, distracting them from their talk of stupid exes. Dani excused herself and Paul watched her head toward the bathroom.
“You guys are just pretending to be engaged, right?”
“Right,” Wes said.
“But have you ever…? I mean, she’s pretty and she seems nice…”
A smug satisfaction wound through him. “I thought all women were the devil. Wasn’t that what you were saying earlier this week?”
“Well, most women. I’m not sure I’m ready to move on, but if I were…” Paul didn’t say the rest. He didn’t have to. What Wes was trying to figure out was if Dani and Paul would be good together. Honestly, he wanted her to find a nice guy, and his bandmate was a good guy. She might get a little bored with him but then again, obviously he had no clue how she chose guys. But the thought of her being with any guy bothered him—always had. No one ever appreciated her enough, and they took up her time, leaving less for him. Selfish, but true.
Of course, the hypothetical possibility of her and Paul didn’t matter, because she didn’t live here anymore. Unfortunately. Life would be so much better if his best friend didn’t live so far away.
Dani came back to the table and stole a couple of onion rings from his plate as Wes glanced toward the mechanical bull no one had ridden since they’d gotten their food. “So, Paul thinks you should ride the bull.”
She arched an eyebrow, an oh really expression on her face.
Paul held up his hands. “I didn’t say that.”
“But he’s thinking it,” Wes said. “And so am I. You’ve gotta try it at least once in your life.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why? So all the guys can see my stuff bouncing around? No thanks.”
“It’s about the challenge of staying on.”
“Mmm-hmm. I’m sure.”
“If you ride, I’ll ride. Then all the girls can watch my stuff bouncing around.”
The corners of her mouth quivered, but she was working hard to keep the smile off her face. “You and all of your challenges. I’m too old for this stuff now.”
“You’re twenty-seven, not seventy.”
She glared at him. “I have to pay for my hospital bills and insurance deductibles myself. If I get hurt, I’m screwed.”
“So you’re saying you don’t have enough skills to not get hurt? The entire ring’s padded.”
She glanced at Paul, like he would be the voice of reason. Wes wouldn’t have even known about this place if it weren’t for him, so he knew she wasn’t going to find it.
Paul shrugged. “Not saying you have to ride, but I’d definitely put my money on you.”
Wes tossed an onion ring in his mouth and leaned back in his seat. “Five bucks I can ride longer than you.”
She looked from him to the bull and then back at him. “You go first.”
Challenge accepted—he knew she’d cave. Excitement zipping through his stomach, he stood. He tipped an imaginary cowboy hat at her. “In all fairness, darlin’, I should probably warn you that this ain’t my first rodeo.”
She laughed and swiped her hand through the air. “Less talk, more walk, cowboy.”
He leaned over her, took one last swig of his drink, and charged toward the front. Yes, he’d been to a rodeo before, when he was really little. At one point,
he’d even told his mom he wanted to be a bull rider—she’d been quick to stomp that one out. But he’d never come close to actually riding a bull. At least this one wouldn’t charge after him or trample him when he fell.
He kicked off his shoes, like the guy working the bull told him to, and a loud whistle came from the audience. Dani did this fingers-in-the-mouth whistle thing that could practically deafen anyone in near proximity. He bowed and then climbed on. A couple of other women had lined up to watch and he shot them a big grin. One blonde was kind of cute. Maybe if he didn’t make a fool of himself, he’d go chat her up.
Wes gripped the rope and the rocking started. The thing bounced more than bucked. Usually it started out slow, but the guy must’ve cranked it up. It started spinning faster and faster, going up and down harder, whipping him back and forth. Making his back crack.
I just gotta hold on longer than Dani can.
His fingers slipped, and then he was on his butt on the padded mat. The red numbers above the ring read forty-seven seconds. By the time he got his shoes back on, Dani was slipping hers off, getting ready to go.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she muttered.
“Would now be a bad time to admit that the bouncing is most of the allure?” He winked because he knew it would make her crazy. On cue, two bright spots of red showed on her cheeks and her jaw clenched.
Then her eyes lit up and something deep inside his gut stirred. “You must be scared if you’re trying to get me to change my mind,” she said.
He took a step closer and echoed her words from earlier. “Less talk, more walk, cowgirl.”
Her mouth dropped and then she charged past him into the ring. Wes leaned against the edge of the railing, chuckling to himself.
The two girls, including the cute blonde, scooted closer to him.
“It’s so cool that you rode it. The guys usually don’t.”
About a minute ago, he’d wanted to talk to the girl who was smiling at him and twirling her hair around her finger. Now he was focused on Dani, thinking he hadn’t had this much fun in months. He’d forgotten how fired up she got when he implied she couldn’t do something. As she climbed on the bull, though, he noticed all the guys in the place leaning forward, pervy looks on their faces, and started wondering if getting her up there was a mistake.