Love Me Some Cowboy

by Lisa Mondello

  He nodded. But he had no intention of waiting until one o’clock to see her again. To see if she was as interested as he was. He’d handle what he could before ten and join her for the auction. They could take the day from there.

  * * *

  IT WAS SHORTLY before ten when Sam made his way to the crowded bleachers by the pen where the ten o’clock auction was being held. Cattle bawled. A light haze of dust hung in the air. The crowd seemed to move in the same direction he wanted to go--everyone couldn’t be attending the auction. This was only one of several over the course of the event.

  The bleachers were already crowded. He scanned the faces, finding Lisa near the center about half way up. She was studying her catalog again. And she’d acquired a hat a white straw with a feather headband. At least the sun would stay off her face.

  It took more than five minutes to get up to where she was. Stepping over feet, brushing against ranchers already settled, he stopped beside her.

  “Hi.”

  She looked up. The smile she gave him dazzled. “What are you doing here?”

  “I finished up early so I thought I’d come to watch you spend your boss’s money.”

  She glanced around and then with a murmured apology to the man next to her, scooted over to open a space for Sam. He sat down, hip to hip with Lisa, the warmth of her thigh heating his through the denim. It was crowded, no denying that.

  He didn’t mind a bit.

  She shifted, and he felt every move. Her arm knocked against his.

  “Sorry. It’s crowded here.”

  “Sure is. I was surprised to find so many people for this one auction, but the whole place seems to have more people than usually attend.”

  “Signs of returning prosperity, I guess.”

  Her arm rested against his. When she shifted her leg, it brushed against his.

  Sam began to wonder if this had been a good idea after all. He was growing more and more aroused just being with her. It didn’t matter that they were in the midst of a crowd, that an auction was beginning.

  It just mattered that every time she breathed, he felt it. That her scent seemed to surround them. That her excitement at the auction was infectious. He hadn’t had such a good time in years.

  Not since Lisa had left.

  The thought sobered him like nothing else could have. She’d left once, would she stay in Tumbleweed this time? Or was this just a temporary measure until another job came along? One where the rancher would want an office manager to live on site?

  The thought didn’t set well. Sam scowled down at the dusty arena as the first bull was brought in. He didn’t pay attention, his thoughts suddenly uncomfortable.

  The auction was well underway before the bull Bill Taylor had designated was presented. Lisa sat on the edge of the seat, her numbered paddle gripped in her hand.

  Sam watched her, fascinated. Every damn thing she did seem to fascinate him. Always had.

  “We have a limit,” she murmured to him.

  “Of course. What is it?”

  “No more than fifty thousand for the three bulls he wants.”

  “So roughly sixteen to seventeen grand each?”

  “Except this one is so good, I could go higher with him and then try to get the others with lower bids.”

  “You and Bill discussed strategy?”

  She nodded, leaning closer. “We played out several scenarios, but the ultimate decision will be mine here. He said he couldn’t second guess what might happen, so he trusts my judgment. I hope I don’t mess up for him.”

  “You’ll do fine.” He squeezed her hand, then relaxed. She didn’t pull away, just smiled at him, her attention quickly caught as the bidding process began.

  Auction fever was contagious. The desire to win, to outbid the competition grew as stakes became personal. Sam watched as Lisa bid time and time again, against eight or nine other ranchers. Gradually the competition dropped out and soon there were only three bidding. The price stopped jumping at five hundred dollars and began leaping ahead at a thousand dollars a pop.

  Sam watched Lisa. She raised her paddle. The bid had risen to twenty-seven thousand. Well below her limit, but not if she was still planning to get Bill Taylor two more bulls.

  The auctioneer raised the price another grand. A man two rows down and to the left raised his paddle. The auctioneer nodded, raising the price another thousand dollars.

  Lisa started to raise her paddle. Sam covered her hand, holding it in her lap.

  “Let go, I need to bid.”

  “Think a minute, Lisa. You are almost at two-thirds your limit for the entire amount. Taylor wanted three bulls. What are you going to do if you go back with only one?”

  She struggled to pull her hand free. Then stopped. Taking a deep breath she looked into his eyes, hers widening as reason took hold.

  “You’re right. This is getting too steep.” She looked down at the auctioneer and shook her head slightly. He began the final spiel, then slammed down the hammer. The bull had gone to someone else for thirty-four thousand dollars.

  “Now I have to tell Bill why I didn’t get the one he wanted.”

  “I doubt he wanted it at any price. Ranching is a business. Making business decisions aren’t always easy, but if you follow prudent business practices, you can usually come out ahead. There are plenty of good bulls. You’ll get another.”

  “Maybe, but I’m not much for selecting which one would be best.”

  “Maybe I can help. Tell me what Taylor is looking for and we’ll scout out some stock that will suit.”

  The rest of the morning they reviewed the catalog, went to look at livestock and discussed everything from yield potential to conformation to disposition.

  “Haller, good to see you.” A rancher stopped them and offered his hand.

  Sam shook it and smiled. “Hank Jenkins, I haven’t seen you in a coon’s age. How’re things going?”

  “Great. Cut back on the rodeoing, though that stock cutter of mine is always in the money. What’re you up to?” He tipped his hat to Lisa.

  “Hank, Lisa. Hank and I have been friends for longer than I can remember,” Sam said.

  Hank studied Lisa for a moment, looking puzzled. “I thought I heard you two split,” he said.

  Sam nodded. “We did,” he said shortly.

  “Well, I’m glad to see that was temporary. How’s that boy of yours?”

  “Can’t wait to ride his first bronc. Come to the ranch sometime and see him.”

  “Will do. Say, a bunch of us are meeting at the Sombrero just outside the south parking area for lunch. Join us?”

  Sam looked at Lisa, raising an eyebrow in question.

  “I’d love to stop for lunch. My mind is a jumble with all the facts and figures you’ve been pouring in.”

  The Sombrero was obviously a favorite restaurant. It was as crowded as the auction grounds had been. Hank, Sam and Lisa found the big round table with others already seated. In no time they found more chairs and squeezed in.

  Once again Sam and Lisa were hip to hip. He rested his arm on the back of her chair, wondering how they would all eat when the food came. Baskets of corn and flour tortilla chips and bowls of salsa were already piled down the center of the table. Beer was ordered, conversations flowed, changed, crossed over the table and back. The primary topic ranching.

  “Bored?” he asked Lisa a few minutes later, remembering her comment about so many facts and figures.

  She turned and leaned closer to be heard. “Not at all. This is more fun than I’ve had since ” She stopped and shrugged, the consternation in her eyes revealing what she’d been thinking.

  “Thanks for including me,” she finished.

  The rim of her hat touched the rim of his. He wanted to sweep both off and cover her mouth with his and kiss her until neither could breathe.

  But not in a crowded restaurant with men and women he knew and saw from time to time at rodeos and cattle shows. He’d bide his time, though his impa
tience was hard to contain. I’d like to see how far you can go, told him nothing about how far she’d join him. They had three days, and he planned to make the most of every minute.

  Chapter Nine

  BY LATE AFTERNOON, Lisa felt exhausted. She’d successfully bid for one of the bulls that Bill Taylor had marked in the catalog, and discussed pricing concessions with several major suppliers. The insight and suggestions Sam provided had been invaluable. But her head felt as if it were spinning.

  “Ready to head back to the hotel?” Sam asked. “There are two more days to this show, you don’t have to do everything the first day.”

  “I am tired,” she admitted, nodding her agreement, a spark of excitement flaring. Despite the fact this was a business trip, it would be just the two of them at the hotel, in adjoining rooms, away from the crowds, away from people who knew Sam. Away from the business at hand.

  “Then let’s go.” He teasingly pulled her hat lower on her forehead, shading her eyes from the sun. She wanted him to do more, to take her hand, or throw his arm around her shoulder, but he seemed content with a small teasing gesture. She wasn’t going to be the one to rush blindly out of control, she vowed as they walked to the truck. Despite her flirtatious words that morning, despite her intentions of a few days ago, she wasn’t confident how far she wanted to go with this new-found friendliness.

  Make haste slowly had been a favorite saying of her grandmother’s. Maybe she should apply it to her own situation.

  Lisa expected Sam to invite himself into her room when they reached the hotel. He didn’t.

  Sam waited until she opened her door, then casually asked, “Want to get supper together later?”

  “I’d like that, but I didn’t bring anything but jeans.”

  “We’ll find some place around here where jeans are the attire of choice. Say seven?”

  “Seven.” She smiled, waiting, but Sam just nodded and walked down the hall to his room.

  She stepped inside, disappointed to see the maids had closed the connecting doors. Would he open his and knock?

  Waiting by the door for several moments, Lisa was baffled when she heard nothing from his side.

  Sighing softly she crossed the room, took off her hat and ran her fingers through her hair. She felt bone-tired. It was hard work buying livestock especially with someone else’s money.

  Reaching for the phone, she called her mom’s to talk to Joey, then headed for the bathroom. A quick shower, a short nap and she’d be ready for the evening.

  Every second she had her ears attuned to the room next door, but heard nothing.

  * * *

  THE COUNTRY-WESTERN bar that had been recommended was not crowded when they entered shortly after seven.

  “Nice,” Lisa said, trying to keep the butterflies from kickboxing in her stomach. She hadn’t been on a date in more than five years. The last time they’d dated they’d been engaged to get married. Things were so different now. She had reasons to be nervous.

  “They have dancing after nine,” he said, following the waitress to the tables on the left side of the huge space. To the right a long polished bar gleamed in front of a wall-size mirror. Glasses and bottles of liquor stacked up before the mirror, gleaming in the artificial light.

  Between the tables and bar a wide hardwood dance floor waited, empty.

  Dancing? Sam wanted to dance?

  The butterflies kicked higher. Was she ready for this? Cheek to cheek, chest to chest, arms wrapped around each other? Heat skidded through her at the thought.

  When they’d ordered, Sam leaned back in his chair and looked at her. “So how did you like your first solo stock show?”

  “Interesting, but I wouldn’t have known what to do if you hadn’t been there. Bill should have come. He needs to meet other ranchers, build a network.” She glanced at him shyly. “He could have learned a lot from you today.”

  Sam shrugged. “Have him call me if he needs help.”

  “Thanks, Sam. That’s nice.”

  He smiled sardonically. “That’s me, Mr. Nice.”

  She bit her lower lip. She had not always thought that. Looking away, she pushed back the memories of the past. Tonight was not for thinking or dwelling on things not changeable. Tonight was just for fun. For the two of them.

  And after two years of heartache, she wanted to experience a lot of fun!

  They had Porterhouse steaks with all the trimmings. Her portion was regular, he had the larger size. She remembered when they’d first married, she had tripled what she thought they’d eat, and he seemed to clear his plate every time. Yet not a spare ounce of flesh ever showed. Ranching was tough physical labor and Sam worked hard.

  “Want some dessert?” Sam asked when they’d finished.

  She shook her head, toying with her wine glass. The band had started assembling in the small area to the back of the dance floor. Glancing around, she noticed the restaurant section had filled up.

  “Want to stay?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’d like that.” She smiled, wondering if this feeling of euphoria would last. They had discussed various things over dinner, nothing controversial. The two glasses of wine had mellowed her senses and she wished the night would last forever.

  By the time the band was ready to start, the place had filled up considerably, though it was not as crowded as the restaurant had been that afternoon. At least they had their table to themselves. She almost missed the crowded condition with Sam brushing against her with every move.

  Of course, dancing would change all that.

  “Ladies and Gents, we’ll start off with a Texas Two-step. Come on folks, time to work off that good food you just ate!” The band began playing a lively tune.

  Lisa smiled when Sam rose and offered his hand. In two seconds, they joined others on the floor and began moving around to the familiar tempo.

  She and Sam had often gone dancing. She’d loved every minute. Tonight, keeping time to the music took her mind of everything but the joy of moving with the rhythm, in Sam’s arms again. She’d been so lonely in Denver.

  When the set of fast numbers ended and the band segued into a slow dreamy tune, Lisa didn’t protest when Sam pulled her in close snuggling right up against his hard chest, putting her arms around his neck as his came around her back. It was the closest thing to heaven she’d ever felt, she thought dreamily.

  Resting her forehead against his jaw, she relaxed and moved with the music, conscious of every inch of her body pressed against his. The slow beat of his heart could be felt through their shirts. His long legs moved with hers, brushing against her thighs, causing a deep longing to bud and grow.

  The dance floor was crowded, but Sam kept them from bumping into anyone. Slowly the song ended and another slow-moving tune began. The easy-going camaraderie of dinner was being replaced with an intensity she hadn’t felt in years.

  He tilted back his head and looked at her. “Lisa?” he said.

  “Hmmm?” She opened his eyes and looked into his.

  Lisa felt the deep breath he took before he spoke. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”

  Decision time.

  “Okay, Sam.”

  They didn’t speak during the short walk back, but Lisa felt like her skin had been electrified. Tingling sensations seemed to dance on nerve endings as anticipation grew by leaps and bounds all because Sam held her hand. Or was it her imagination of what they’d do when they reached his room.

  His thumb traced patterns against the back of her hand, his palm felt warm and firm against hers, the calluses from work giving his skin a slightly rough texture that heightened the sensations.

  She glanced at him from time to time, his expression hiding his feelings.

  When they reached their floor, Sam pulled her right past her door, stopped in front of his and opened it with his free hand, his other hand tightening his grip with Lisa. He glanced at her and stopped with the door wide open.

  “I’m not misreading the signs, am I?” he a
sked.

  She shook her head, her heart racing.

  The room was dark, the only illumination that spilling in from the window. The curtains had not been drawn.

  Sam made no effort to turn on lights, only pulling her into the room to shut the hallway door.

  He tossed his hat in the direction of the dresser and pulled her into his arms.

  “Lisa,” he said softly, kissing her.

  His touch was electrifying. She could scarcely catch her breath. Time and memories mingled. Was she in the past or the present? He held her in a so familiar way, that was almost forgotten only had never been.

  She pressed closer, reveling in the feel of his hands as they roamed over her back, as he deepened the kiss, taking her to that special place only the two of them had ever shared.

  Slowly he moved her closer to the huge king-sized bed. Feeling out of control when he lifted her and put her on the bed, she smiled up at him, her arms locked around his neck as if she’d never let go. Sam’s eyes glittered with emotion, and he kissed her again.

  Before long, kisses weren’t enough. He ran his hand over her arm, as if learning the texture of her skin. His fingertips gliding gently, leaving trails of fire and ice.

  Lisa threaded her fingers in his thick hair, remembering the rich texture, the warmth. She relearned the breadth of his shoulders. Then found the buttons of his shirt. Without thinking, she began to unfasten them.

  He paused in his gentle nibbling on her cheek and ear lobe. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, not wanting words to spoil the magic of the moment.

  “Say it, then,” he whispered, his voice urgent.

  “I’m sure. I want you, Sam. I’ve wanted you for a long time. I missed you.”

  He groaned at her words and kissed her again and again, his hands moving slowly as he unbuttoned her shirt and spread it wide. He lowered himself until he brushed against the lacy bra, rubbing his chest against her until Lisa thought she’d go crazy with yearning to have her skin against his.

  “Let me take off the bra,” she whispered, trying to move to get enough room to reach behind her.

  “I’ll do it. I’ve dreamed of doing it every night for more than two years,” he said, reaching behind her.