Stripped Down
Page 12
“Burden me,” Alyssa repeated. “That’s horseshit. You’ve supported me through more than I care to think about. You should’ve let me rot in my own misery, but you didn’t. And it sucks that you wouldn’t allow me to be there for you. You didn’t have the right to take that away from me. Yeah, I probably wouldn’t have flown home, but goddammit, Mel, I have a fucking phone. We could’ve talked about it.”
“I never knew what time zone you were in and international calls are expensive.”
Alyssa snarled, “Expensive? What the ever-loving fuck? Jesus, Mel, we both have a damn trust fund! Money hasn’t ever been an issue, nor will it ever be. Try again.”
Wynton strolled into the kitchen and smiled at her. But his smile dried when he saw she was on the phone. He mouthed, “You okay?”
She nodded.
“Still waiting Mel-is-sa.” Alyssa singsonged her full name like their mother used to.
“After I told you how Mom reacted, you’re honestly surprised that I didn’t break my finger trying to dial you up to sob on your shoulder?”
“Fine. You’ve got me there. But the fact is, I’m back in the States now. I missed you. I want to catch up on your wild, on-the-road rodeo tales. Isn’t it about time for national championships to start?”
“Yeah, but I sorta…gave up competing after my diagnosis.”
Silence. “Gave up. Please don’t tell me it’s some kind of stupid safety rule the organization enforces and you’re being discriminated against due to your health impairment. Because you know I have a team of lawyers who love to go after those kinds of cases.”
“Simmer down, crusader. I had a couple of episodes where I put myself, my horse, and the others in the corral with me in danger. It spooked me. So I’ve been taking stock.”
“That better not be Mel-speak for quitting.”
“And if it is?”
“I’ll harass you endlessly. And you have to listen to me because I’m paralyzed and I still compete.”
“Omigod, Alyssa. You do not get to play the paralyzed card with me!” She shot Wynton a look and he seemed…shocked by the conversation. Most people would be, but this is how it was between her and her sister, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Alyssa laughed. “Wrong. I always get to play the paralyzed card.” She paused. “The question is…do you miss competing?”
Mel locked gazes with Wynton. “Actually, no. I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would. I’m thinking about getting my teaching certificate so I can torture teens with words instead of a riding crop.”
“You’d kill at that, sis. Good for you.”
“Oh, and I am utilizing all the equestrian skills I’ve learned over the years. I’ve been helping out at this beautiful ranch in Colorado. I’ve even got this smokin’ hot cowboy rancher who wants me to stick around and be his personal ranch hand. He’s the lucky one I’ve been showing all my best riding tricks.”
Wynton grinned.
“You have a boyfriend! Is it serious?”
“Yes, it’s serious.”
“I want to meet this guy,” Alyssa demanded.
To Wynton, Mel said, “Alyssa is demanding to meet you.”
“She’s welcome here any time. I’ll even install a wheelchair ramp for her.”
She melted. She mouthed, “I love you,” at him before she said, “Did you hear that?” to her sister.
“Yes, I heard that and I think I’m a little bit in love with him. Does he have a brother?”
“He has two brothers, but one is married and the other one is gay.”
“Story of my life. I’m happy for you sis. Truly.”
“Thanks.”
“Take care of yourself. You’ve been feeling okay?”
How weird to have her sister asking about her health. “I still miscalculate sometimes, but I’m in the beginning stage of learning to live with it.”
“Call me whenever you need someone to listen.”
“I will.”
“Okay. Love you, and be expecting a phone call from Mom at some point this week because I am going to ream her—and Dad—a new one. It’s going to be fucking epic.”
Mel was still smiling when she hung up.
Then Wynton was right there, curling his hands around her face. “Sounded like that went…well.”
“Alyssa is pissed on my behalf. She can lay on the guilt trip to our folks way better than I can, so I’ll let her.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.” He paused. “You’re serious about looking in to getting a teaching certificate?”
“It’s something I always wanted to do, but I’ve been too unsettled to follow through with it. Being with you…I feel settled for the first time ever, and not because I settled. But because I’m finally where I’m meant to be.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He kissed her and chuckled against her mouth.
“What’s so funny?”
“Remember one of the first nights you stayed here and we were talking about the difference between love and lust? I told you I warned Sutton that no one falls in love in a month? And you admitted you told London the same thing?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Because we beat them by falling in love in three weeks.”
Mel sighed. “Is everything always going to be a competition between you and your brothers?”
“Probably.”
“You know, London and Sutton are going to take full credit for us getting together.”
“Let ’em. You and I will always know the truth.”
“Which is?”
“Super Man-Slut and the Amazing Slut-Girl were destined to hook up and then hang up their unopened packets of condoms for good so they could become the one and only for each other, forever.”
“I love a happy ending.”
“Me too.” He scooped her into his arms. “Speaking of happy endings…you owe me one, woman.”
“Hey, I thought you owed me one.”
Wynton gave her a depraved look that sent her pulse tripping. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Uh-huh.”
Then they said sixty-nine simultaneously.
And they both got their happy ending…
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Ambition has always been his biggest downfall…until he meets her.
World champion bulldogger Sutton Grant works hard on the road, but his quiet charm has earned the nickname “The Saint” because he’s never been the love ‘em and leave ‘em type with the ladies. When he’s sidelined by an injury, he needs help keeping his horse in competition shape, but he fears trying to sweet-talk premier horse trainer London Gradsky is a losing proposition—because the woman sorta despises him.
London is humiliated when her boyfriend dumps her for a rodeo queen. What makes the situation worse? She’s forced to see the lovebirds on the rodeo circuit every weekend. In an attempt to save face, London agrees to assist the notoriously mild, but ruggedly handsome Sutton Grant with his horse training problem on one condition: Sutton has to pretend to be her new boyfriend.
But make believe doesn’t last long between the sassy cowgirl and the laid-back bulldogger. When the attraction between them ignites, London learns that sexy Sutton is no Saint when that bedroom door closes; he’s the red-hot lover she’s always dreamed of.
The more time they spend together, the more Sutton realizes he wouldn’t mind being roped and tied to the rough and tumble cowgirl for real…
“Why me?”
“Because we both know the only people who’ve been able to work with him have been you and me.”
She sucked in a few breaths and forced herself to loosen her fists. “This wouldn’t be an issue if you hadn’t browbeaten my folks into selling Dial to you outright. When the breeder owns the horse and a rider goes down, other people are in place to keep the horse conditioned. That responsibility isn’t pushed aside.”
“You think I don’t know that? You think I’m feelin’ good about any of this? Fuck. I hired people to work with him and the stubborn bastard chased them all off. A couple of them literally.”
London smirked. “That’s my boy.”
“Your boy is getting fatter and meaner by the day,” Sutton retorted. “I’m afraid if I let him go too much longer it’ll be too late and he’ll be as worthless as me.”
Worthless? Dude. Look in the mirror much? How could Sutton be out of commission and still look like he’d stepped off the pages of Buff and Beautiful Bulldogger magazine?
“I hope the reason you’re so quiet is because you’re considering my offer.”
London’s gaze zoomed to his. “How do you know you can afford me?”
“I don’t. I get that you’re an expert on this particular horse and I’m willing to pay you for that expertise.” Sutton sidestepped her and rested his big body next to hers—close to hers—against the fence. “I know it’ll sound stupid, but every time I grab the tack and head out to catch Dial to try and work him, even when I’m not supposed to, I feel his frustration that I’m not doin’ more. I ain’t the kind of man that sees a horse—my horse—as just a tool. Your folks knew that about me or they wouldn’t have sold him to me for any amount of money.”
“Yeah. I do know that,” she grudgingly admitted, “but you should also know that I wouldn’t be doin’ this for you or the money, I’d be doin’ it for Dial.”
“That works for me. There’s another reason that I want you. Only you.”
“Which is?”
His unwavering stare unnerved her, as if he was gauging whether he could trust her. Finally he said, “Strictly between us?”
She nodded.
“If it’s decided I’ll never compete again, you’re in the horse world more than I am and you’ll ensure Dial gets where he needs to be.”
London hadn’t been expecting that. Sutton had paid a shit ton for Dial, and he hadn’t suggested she’d help him sell the horse to a proper owner, just that she’d help him find one. In her mind that meant he really had Dial’s best interest at heart. Not that she believed for an instant Sutton Grant intended to retire from steer wrestling. First off, he was barely thirty. Second, rumor had it his drive to win was as wide and deep as the Colorado River.
As she contemplated how to respond, she saw her ex, Stitch, with Princess Paige plastered to his side, meandering their direction.
Dammit. Not now.
After the incident this morning, she’d steered clear of the exhibitor’s hall where the pair had handed out autographs and barf bags. She felt the overwhelming need to escape, but if she booked it across the corral, it’d look like she was running from them.
Screw that. Screw them. She was not in the wrong.
“London? You look ready to commit murder. What’d I say?”
She gazed up at him. The man was too damn good-looking, so normally she wouldn’t have a shot at a man like him. But he did say he’d do anything…
“Okay, here’s the deal. I’ll work with Dial, but you’ve gotta do something for me. Uh, two things actually.”
“Name them.”
How much to tell him? She didn’t want to come off desperate. Still, she opted for the truth. “Backstory: my boyfriend dumped me via text last month because he’d hooked up with a rodeo queen. Because he and I were together when I made my summer schedule, that means I will see them every fucking weekend. All summer.”
“And?”
“And I don’t wanna be known as that poor pathetic London Gradsky pining over her lost love.”
Sutton’s eyes turned shrewd.
“Are you pining for him?”
“Mostly I’m just pissed. It needs to look like I’ve moved on. So I realize your nickname is ‘The Saint’ and you don’t—”
“Don’t call me that,” he said crossly. “Tell me what you need.”
“The first thing I’d need is you to play the part of my new boyfriend.”
That shocked him, but he rallied with, “I can do that. When does this start?”
“Right now, ’cause here they come.” London plastered her front to his broad chest and wreathed her arms around his neck. “And make this look like the real deal, bulldogger.”
“Any part of you that’s hands off for me?”
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Of course “The Saint” would ask first. “Nope.”
Sutton bestowed that fuck-me-now grin. “I can work with that.” He curled one hand around the back of her neck and the other around her hip.
When it appeared he intended to take his own sweet time kissing her, she took charge, teetering on tiptoe since the man was like seven feet tall. After the first touch of their lips, he didn’t dive into her mouth in a fake show of passion. He rubbed his half-parted lips across hers, each pass silently coaxing her to open up a little more. Each tease of his breath on her damp lips made them tingle.
She muttered, “Kiss me like you mean business.”
Those deceptively gentle kisses vanished and Sutton unleashed himself on her. Lust, passion, need. The kiss was way more powerful and take charge than she’d expected from a man nicknamed “The Saint.”
Her mind shut down to everything but the sensuous feel of his tongue twining around hers as he explored her mouth, the soft stroking of his thumb on her cheek, and the possessive way his hand stroked her, as if it knew her intimately.
Then Sutton eased back, treating her lips to nibbles, licks, and lingering smooches. “Think they’re gone?” he murmured.
“Who?”
He chuckled. “Your ex.”
“Oh. Right. Them.” She untwined her fingers from his soft hair and let her arms drop—slowly letting her hands flow over his neck and linebacker shoulders and that oh-so-amazing chest.
Their gazes collided the second she realized Sutton’s heart beat just as crazily as hers did.
“So did that pass as the real deal kiss you wanted? Or do I need to do it again?”
Yes, please.