by Iris Abbott
COPPER
Metal Cowboys Series
Book 1
Iris Abbott
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
COPPER
Copyright © 2014 by Iris Abbott
First E-book publication: July 2014
Cover design by Iris Abbott
Photo and illustration courtesy of bigstockphoto.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters in this book are fictitious and exist only in the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Books by Iris Abbott
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
IRIS ABBOTT has always enjoyed reading, especially romances. She grew up in North Carolina and has also lived in California and Georgia. She travels extensively throughout the United States and enjoys sharing the ambiance of some of her favorite places through her stories. When she’s not writing emotion packed romances with a happily-ever-after ending, this former high school science teacher is traveling with her husband, taking photos, bird watching, riding her bicycle, or taking care of one very spoiled and demanding cat. She loves to hear from readers and fans. She can be reached at [email protected]. Please check out her website irisabbott.com and the Facebook page for Iris Abbott (author).
Books by Iris Abbott
Montgomery Family and Friends Series
A MONTGOMERY HOMECOMING
AUBREY’S SONG
A MONTGOMERY MARRIAGE
CAROLINE’S SEDUCTION
EVAN’S SURRENDER
LAURA’S STORM
FAITH’S SHERIFF
Enigma, Maine Series
A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE
A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CLAIM
A PIRATE’S LOVING KISS
A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING
LITTLE RED VALENTINE
OCEAN’S LOVING EMBRACE
A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CARESS
A WOLF’S LOVING VALENTINE
EAGLE’S EMBRACE
Rancher’s Bend Bride and Groom Series
ACCIDENTAL BRIDE AND GROOM
SECOND CHANCE BRIDE AND GROOM
EXPECTANT BRIDE AND GROOM
SURPRISE BRIDE AND GROOM
ISLAND MEDICAL SERIES
LOVE CURES ALL
ISLAND CHRISTMAS
METAL COWBOYS SERIES
COPPER
CHROME (coming soon)
ONE
Classic rock music blared from various speakers all around the large back yard. Coolers packed with a number of different brands of chilled beers were strategically placed around the patio and surrounding area. A few couples pretending to be dancing, grinded into each other as they moved to the suggestive beat of the music. Other couples were lounging around the yard, swimming pool, and hot tub in various stages of undress.
Flirting and foreplay were the main activities of the night. It was all a little too wild for elementary school teacher, Marla Taylor. She was intimidated enough by the alpha Metal Cowboys without adding the loud music, drinking, and blatant plays for sex. She wanted to be anywhere except where she was, hiding on the fringes of one of their wild parties.
Being around a large group of rowdy men, most of whom were strangers, made her more than uncomfortable. The atmosphere of the free-for-all gave her chills at times, it was so scary to her. That’s why she always made it a point to drive her own car and beg off before things got too far out of hand at the back yard bonfire parties. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her body and glanced around the surrounding area looking for a familiar face.
Her sister waved at her from across the yard. Natalie Taylor was drinking a beer and flirting with one of the Metal Cowboys’ latest customers. Marla tried her best to smile at Natalie instead of glaring at her through narrow eyes. It was her sister’s fault she was attending the out of control party.
The Metal Cowboys were a group of former military men turned bikers who set up shop in this part of Texas about four years ago. Natalie was their first local hire. The good news was that Natalie really seemed to love her job. The bad news, it put Marla on the peripheral of their world, and she’d been there ever since.
Even though it was Texas, the Metal Cowboys preferred motorcycles to horses. Regardless, they looked good in the saddle. Not even Marla could deny that. And the hottest one, at least in her opinion, was walking her way. She quickly swallowed down the contents of the bottled water she was holding as he moved closer and closer to where she was trying to stay out of everyone’s way.
She watched the loose rolling hips of Christopher “Copper” Ellison as he moved toward her. He stopped just an inch from her and put down the long neck bottle of beer he was holding. Her knees felt wobbly, and she instinctively took a step back. His nearness always affected her body, even made it hard for her to breathe. It’s why she avoided him as much as she could.
“Hey, darlin’,” he said in a deep mellow voice. “Let’s dance.”
Her insides heated up until she thought she might melt into an undignified puddle of goo right at Copper’s feet. He’d never approached her before, and she was too stunned to say anything. Self-preservation should have been her first priority, but she couldn’t summon up the strength to deny him.
The six-foot-three biker must have taken her silence as agreement. He pulled her into his arms and maneuvered them into a dark corner of the yard. The spot he chose was secluded and out of the way of the other partygoers. The light from the flames of the fire didn’t penetrate the shadows where they were standing. That only made the clenching muscles of her stomach tighten even more.
“Were you lost in thought or did you finally decide to stop running from me?” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve been dying to get my hands on you for months now,” he confessed in a husky voice. He grazed the bottom of her lobe with his teeth.
His lips crashed down on top of hers. He nipped at her bottom lip and thrust his tongue inside, staking a claim on her mouth. Large, strong hands moved up and down her body, cupping her backside, and pressing the curves of her body against the hard planes of his.
Marla felt a jolt of lust shoot through her body. She visibly recoiled from the strength of the desire welling up inside her. The intensity shook Marla to her core, and it was not a welcome feeling. She let out a deep breath and tried unsuccessfully to back out of Copper’s disturbing hold.
He was holding her so close, her nipples pushed into the soft cotton of his black T-shirt. They tightened, becoming sensitive enough to ache. She could feel the ridge of his erection pressing against her abdomen. It was too much, way more emotions and feelings than she could handle! She desperately needed to put some space between them.
She was able to fight through the fog created by the bombardment of sensations long enough to act. Marla lifted her arms and moved them between their bodies. She flattened her palms against his well-defined chest and pushed. His lips tore away from hers. She stumbled backwards. Somehow, Marla managed to retain her balance so that she didn’t fall flat on her butt and embarrass herself even more in front of the intimidating man.
Her hand flew to her swollen and tender lips. “I can’t do this!” She took a slow step back and then another. Soon she was running. She heard Copper yell her name. Marla stumbled, but she didn’t stop, and she didn’t turn around to look at him. She caugh
t her balance and ran faster.
He was too good-looking, too potent, too everything. Marla’s breathing was fast and erratic around the man. Waiting to see what he wanted to say or do wouldn’t help the situation. Only distance and time would allow her to calm her nerves and return to normal. There was nothing normal about Copper.
She bypassed Natalie, deciding to go straight to her car. Her sister was a smart woman. Natalie would be able to figure out she left, even if she didn’t say goodbye. Marla clicked the lock, threw open the door, and shoved the key into the ignition.
She was halfway home before her breathing evened out, and her heart stopped racing. She really needed to stay away from Copper Ellison. Any man who summoned those kind of reactions was dangerous.
Marla didn’t want dangerous. Been there, done that, and it didn’t end well for her. She didn’t want to go down that road again. Mild-mannered men were much more her speed now. They might not rev up her engine, but they were safe. And safe was underrated as far as Marla was concerned.
She shrugged even though there was no one else in the car to see it. So what if there was no spark between her and her last two boyfriends? She laughed. That was a bit of an understatement. Her last two relationships were more friendships than romances.
The lack of passion and physical attraction in her previous relationships didn’t bother her at all. Even if she ended most dates with a yawn, that was just fine with her. Boring was safe, and if there was one thing Marla craved, it was safety.
She pulled into an empty parking space across from the apartment she shared with her sister. Her cell phone started to ring, but she ignored it. Marla grabbed her purse and dashed inside the apartment. A heartfelt sigh escaped. It was a long week, and she could use a good night of sleep.
Somehow Marla didn’t think that would be happening. The feel of Copper’s lips on hers was imprinted in her brain. She wouldn’t be forgetting the sensation anytime soon. Her nerves still tingled everywhere he touched her. She couldn’t get him out of her head, and she probably wouldn’t be getting a wink of sleep that night.
****
Copper shook off yet another clingy blonde and grabbed a bottle of beer from a nearby cooler. He wasn’t in much of a partying mood since Marla ran out on him. That woman made his sex hard and ready for action, but she tied the rest of his body into knots. She was as refreshing and unexpected as she was sexy. And she was driving him crazy.
Maybe it was the hard to get act, but he wanted her, and he wanted her bad. The other women trolling around the party looking for a good time left him cold. They did nothing for him, which was a new development for Copper. He didn’t like it at all.
His brother, Steven “Steel” Ellison, silently stepped out of the shadows. “That’s some nice tits and ass you just turned down,” Steel said with a smirk.
“Help yourself,” Copper said, waving his hand after the retreating woman. “Somehow I don’t think she’s very discerning.”
“You sure you’re not ill?” Steel wanted to know. “You’re usually one of the first ones to take what that kind of woman has to offer.”
Copper shrugged. “That kind of woman has been losing her appeal for a while now. I have my sights set on someone else.”
A snicker was Steel’s first response. “I saw Marla Taylor hightail it out of here like she was being chased by the devil himself.” He shook his head. “That’s one nervous filly. Are you sure you know what you’re doing with that one?”
Copper ignored his brother for several seconds, hoping he would forget his question and move on. No such luck. When Steel prompted him with an elbow in the side, Copper started talking. “I don’t have the slightest clue. I just know there’s something special about Marla. On the surface, she appears delicate. But underneath she’s as strong as we are. I see it in her eyes.” He shook his head and stopped talking for several seconds.
He sighed. “She sets me on edge, but it’s a good kind of edge. I feel things I’ve never felt before when she’s near. She’s definitely unlike any woman I’ve ever met.”
“She doesn’t seem to be falling into your arms or dropping at your feet, brother.”
“That’s part of the attraction. I take one step forward, she takes two steps back. But that’s okay, because my stride is a lot longer than hers,” he said with a grin.
“Good luck with that one. You’re going to need it. I’m pretty sure she only comes around here because of Natalie. And even then, she doesn’t seem all that comfortable around us. After tonight, I know she’s not comfortable around you,” he smirked.
Copper saw his way out of the awkward conversation and honed in on it. “Speaking of our lovely assistant, Marla left in such a hurry she bypassed her sister. And Natalie’s so busy flirting with the newest owner of one of our custom bikes she’s probably oblivious to Marla’s departure. I’m going to make sure she has a ride home.”
“Chicken,” Steel taunted.
“Bull shit!” Copper snapped at his brother. “Peterson is getting a little grabby. If Chrome tears himself away from the sexy brunette wrapped around him long enough to see what’s going on, he might blow his top. I’m not in the mood to be breaking up any fights tonight.”
“You and Chrome are on a sinking ship. I wonder who’s going to seek dry land first.”
Copper ignored his brother’s laughter and walked away. He reached Natalie’s side and delicately extracted her from the sticky situation with enough tact not to upset their latest customer. “Peterson,” he said with a nod. “I need to borrow my assistant for a while. Why don’t you grab a beer?” He yanked his thumb to the right. “That group of women over there looks lonely. I’m sure they’d appreciate your company.”
The man good-naturedly grumbled, but he left without making too much of a fuss. “Natalie, I’ll see you next time I’m out this way,” he said before strolling off. He looked back at her with a smug grin on his face.
“Whew!” Natalie wiped her forehead with a hand as soon as the man was several feet away from her. “Thanks for the save, boss. He always flirted with me when he came to check on the progress of his bike, and things started out well, but darn if that man doesn’t have more arms than an octopus.” She shuddered. “To think I used to like octopuses, he may have ruined that animal for me forever.”
“No problem. I’ve got an ulterior motive, because I need to talk to you. Marla took off about fifteen minutes ago. I wanted to make sure you knew she was gone and find out if you needed a ride home.”
“I’m good, thanks, Copper. Marla always insists on driving her own car, because she usually leaves your get-togethers before things get good. I make her come with me, because I think it would do her a world of good to let loose.” She shook her head. “You know that old saying, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. My sister is twenty-six going on fifty,” she said in exasperation.
“So I’ve noticed,” Copper said with a snort. “Your sister’s not like other women,” he insisted.
Natalie looked at him through narrowed eyes. “No, she’s not. Remember that, Copper. I think I’ll call it a night too. I don’t feel like fighting off Peterson anymore, and Marla might want to talk. She only has one week of work left before the school year is officially over. She doesn’t sleep much this time of year. See you Monday morning!”
TWO
Marla didn’t plan on being the last person out of the building, but she didn’t want to have to come back on Monday. Determined to get everything done, she stayed until all her tasks were finished. Report cards were filled out, her room was neat and clean, and all her supplies and personal belongings were packed up until the start of the next school year. Saying goodbye to her beloved students and closing a chapter of her life was sad, but Marla was ready for a much needed break and a relaxing summer vacation.
Maybe she should have been a little more observant and a lot less ambitious. It was after nine o’clock, and the sun sank below the horizon several minutes ago. T
he school was well-lighted, but the area near her car was deserted. She tightened the hold on the cardboard box she was carrying and walked faster.
A hot southern wind blew across the school’s parking lot. A few stray pieces of litter skidded across the pavement. The fast-moving paper occasionally scraped across the hard surface, sounding like fingernails on a chalkboard. Despite the smothering humidity, Marla felt chilled. She worked hard to stifle a shiver.
A loud popping sound startled her. She dropped the box, and an instinctive shriek left her mouth. She went down after the box. Another pop sounded. This time she was pretty sure a bullet whizzed by her head. Marla forgot about the box and scrambled toward her car. It was only three feet away, but it might has well have been three miles.
She could feel the grit and loose pebbles digging into her knees and palms as she frantically tried to get to the relative safety of her car. Marla finally reached out to touch the door of her compact car. She pulled on the door handle two more times and swallowed a scream of frustration. Of course it was locked, and she couldn’t get it open.
Luckily her purse was across her shoulder and not inside the abandoned box several feet behind her. She fumbled around for the plastic rectangle. As soon as her fingers closed around it, she clicked the remote. The snick of the lock was music to her ears. She yanked open the door and dived inside. Another loud pop urged her to move even faster. She slammed the door shut and hit the lock button.
A burning sensation seared her left side. Marla wanted to see how bad the wound was, but she couldn’t take the time. She was isolated. She needed help. Even if she called 911, she couldn’t wait around, hoping the police arrived before it was too late. She needed to get out of there immediately.
She managed to fit the key inside the ignition and start the car. A loud pinging noise told her she was still being shot at. Marla shoved the gears into drive and slammed her foot down on the accelerator. Rubber peeled against asphalt. The vehicle shot forward. She hunched down over the wheel as low as she could.