Danica straightened where she stood. “Yes, I’m seeing Creed.”
“I Googled him,” Barry said. “He’s bad news.”
“You did what?” Danica put one hand on her hip. “You have no right butting into my business.”
“I do when I care about you,” Barry said. “It’s all over the place that he goes out on women.”
“Don’t believe everything you read.” Danica’s skin flushed hot. “But that’s besides the point. I don’t want to be around you. I don’t even want you calling me.” She’d been patient long enough. “Goodbye, Barry. Don’t call me again.”
“Danica—”
She pressed the End button and threw the phone onto the couch. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the phone. It rang again with Barry’s name coming up, but she ignored it.
Still fuming, she went to the kitchen and cut up an apple and got out some peanut butter and ate them together, one of her favorite comfort snacks. The phone rang two more times and she just stood in the kitchen her hip up against the counter, and ate her apple and peanut butter.
When the phone rang again, she marched into the living room, prepared to turn the damned thing off when she saw the display.
Kelsey.
A measure of relief went through her and she smiled. She picked up the phone. “Hi, Kels.”
“Did you have a great trip?” Kelsey said the moment Danica answered. “How were things with Creed? Did you go to bed with him?”
“Whoa.” Danica laughed at her friend’s rapid-fire questions. “I had a great trip, everything went great, but no, I did not have sex with him.”
“Bummer.” Kelsey sounded disappointed. “Well, I want to hear all the details that are juicy.”
Danica sat on the couch and curled her legs beneath her. She told Kelsey about the trip and the time she’d spent with Creed and that they’d almost ended up in bed together.
“I don’t get why not,” Kelsey said. “You hit it off, you’ve been talking for a couple of weeks, you’re crazy about him, and he’s hotter than hell.”
“I just don’t feel like I know him well enough.” Danica paused. “I need more than one weekend with a man before I end up in bed with him. Besides, who says I’m crazy about him?”
“Heh.” Kelsey laughed. “The way you talk about him and the fact you flew out to watch him ride in his hometown. Come on, who are you kidding? You’re definitely not kidding me.”
“Maybe.” Danica smiled to herself then laughed. “Okay, I guess you’re right.” She pushed her hair out of her face. “Why did you tell Barry about Creed?”
“He was at the resort where the wedding was,” Kelsey said. “When I bumped into him, he started pelting me with questions about you so I told him that you were seeing someone. I didn’t think it would hurt to tell him who you’re dating. Was that okay?”
Danica couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s sincerity. “It was fine, Kels. Better he find out now, I guess. It would be nice if he’d take a hint, though.”
“Did you see Darryl?” Kelsey sounded breathy, excited as she changed the subject. “I haven’t talked with him since Saturday.”
“I need to talk with you about Darryl.” Danica paused. “I saw him with another woman.”
For a heartbeat Kelsey didn’t say anything. “Darryl said his cousin lived there and he’d be seeing her.”
“This didn’t look like a cousin type of relationship, unless they’re kissing cousins,” Danica said.
“Darryl wouldn’t do that to me.” As Kelsey said the words, Danica pictured her friend shaking her head with vehemence. “He cares about me too much. He told me he’s in love with me.”
Danica bit her lower lip as she gripped the phone.
“You didn’t see them kiss, did you,” Kelsey stated, her voice rising in pitch.
“Well, no,” Danica said. “But the way they looked together—”
“That woman was just his cousin like he told me.” Kelsey sounded almost hysterical.
Danica didn’t know how to give her friend the rest of the news when she was so adamant about Darryl’s fidelity.
“There’s something else,” Danica said, forcing herself to continue. “I’m going to tell you this because I care too much about you to not tell you.” She didn’t give Kelsey a chance to respond. “Darryl’s been arrested in the past for domestic violence with his ex-wife.”
“She lied.” Kelsey had an edge to her voice that Danica didn’t recognize in her friend. “Darryl told me about it. He said she was angry with him because he wanted a divorce so she made it all up.”
Danica felt surprise at the fact that Darryl had brought it up to Kelsey already, but she made herself continue. “Creed said that there are rumors that Darryl is rough with women.”
“So now Creed is spreading rumors?” Kelsey was starting to sound angry. “Darryl would never hurt a woman.”
Danica clenched the phone. “I’m only telling you these things because I care about you.”
“If you cared about me, you’d be happy for me instead of telling me horrible things about Darryl that aren’t true.” Now Kelsey was practically yelling. “Some friend you are.”
A sick feeling settled in Danica’s gut. “I’m sorry, Kelsey. I just thought you should know those things.”
“I’ve got to go.” Kelsey said. “I’ll see you around.” Then she hung up.
The sick feeling grew in Danica’s belly. Had she been wrong about Darryl? Had Creed? Should she have just shut up and not said anything to Kelsey about it?
Danica lowered the phone to her lap. No, she’d had to tell Kelsey. She might be mad now but it was better that she was at least prepared for the truth.
But Danica didn’t think Kelsey was prepared at all. She was in denial, infatuated with a man who could hurt her in so many ways, including physically.
If Kelsey wasn’t going to listen to her, Danica wondered if maybe she should have a talk with Darryl Thompson herself.
Danica put her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. She should probably wait and give Kelsey a chance to cool off and talk with her about it again.
Chapter 10
Danica unlocked her front door, relieved to be home after a long day at work. Hell, a long week. It was Friday and she was thrilled it was time for the weekend.
She shut and locked the door behind her, dropped her laptop bag on the couch, hung her purse on the back of a chair, and went into her bedroom where she proceeded to strip out of her work slacks and blouse. She stood in front of the mirror in her hot pink panties and bra and pulled her hair back in a ponytail, then slipped into a pair of jean shorts and a white blouse.
Another week had gone by filled with telephone calls and text messages from Creed. Danica had watched him on TV again just to see him even though she was worried that he’d get hurt. Thankfully he hadn’t been. In the last event she watched him in, it was the first time she’d seen him come in with a lower score than Darryl.
And truth was, she missed Creed. She wanted to be with him, spend time with him, and she knew she was crazy for getting involved with a bull rider. It was everything she’d thought it would be—lonely, wanting to be with him while he was on the road, and concerned that he might get seriously injured.
She’d also spent the week avoiding Barry and trying to get in touch with Kelsey who was ignoring her calls. Kelsey had even stopped showing up at the club where they usually met to work out.
The fact that her friend was so hurt made Danica’s stomach ache and she’d begun to doubt herself and the choice she’d made to tell Kelsey her suspicions about Darryl. But at the same time, she knew that as Kelsey’s friend, she’d had to tell her. Danica hoped she was wrong about Darryl, but her gut told her she wasn’t.
There was a knock at the front door just as Danica was heading out of the bedroom and to the kitchen to make dinner. She paused. Was it Barry? He’d stopped by a couple of times and she had peeked out the peephole and hadn’t
opened the door. If the man couldn’t take an outright statement that she didn’t want to see him, she wasn’t going to mess with it any longer.
The knock sounded again and she went to the door and looked through the peephole. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the tall figure in a cowboy hat. Excitement rolled through her as she unlocked the door and opened it.
“Creed.” She caught her breath as he stepped in through the door, grasped her around the waist, and pulled her close to him.
He kissed her hard and she gave a sigh of pleasure. When he raised his head he smiled. “Hello, beautiful.”
“Hi, cowboy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and he kicked the door shut behind him.
He dropped the duffel he’d been carrying, caught her by the waist, and brought her closer. She pressed her mouth to his and he kissed her again.
His kiss was filled with the same pent-up passion that she felt. She didn’t know how much longer she could go without having him…and with him here now that might be impossible to do.
When they drew apart again, she was smiling up at him and looking into his beautiful green eyes. He looked so damned good in a blue western shirt, dark blue Wranglers, and a straw Stetson. He had a day’s stubble that looked sexy on him and she breathed in his masculine scent.
“What are you doing here?” She traced her fingers along his stubbled jaw. “Don’t you have an event this weekend?”
“Taking this weekend off.” He rocked her side to side in his embrace. “I had to see you.”
“That’s why you drilled me on my plans for the weekend.” She laughed. “Pretty sneaky.”
“Lucky me that you didn’t have any.” He smiled. “But now you do.”
“Yes, now I do.” She slipped her arms from around his neck and placed them on his chest. “I am looking at you but I still can’t believe you’re here.” She smiled at him then gestured toward the kitchen. “Let me get you something to drink. How about a beer or soda? I was just about to fix dinner.”
“It was a long flight.” He took off his hat and set it on the back of the couch. “A beer sounds great.”
Another knock at the door had her tensing. This time she was certain it was Barry. She drew away from Creed and peeked through the peephole. It was him.
She glanced at Creed and said in a low voice, “It’s my ex-boyfriend. He just won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. He won’t leave me alone. I am just tired of it.”
Creed stepped past her, surprising her as he opened the door. He blocked the doorway and she couldn’t see Barry.
“What can I do for you?” Creed asked in a hard voice.
“You’re that bull rider,” Barry stated, derision in his tone. “Where’s Danica?”
“She’s busy.” Creed had one hand on the doorframe, the other on the doorknob. “Do you have a message for her?”
“I want to see her.” Barry sounded angry. “Now.”
“I told you, she’s busy.” Creed’s voice had a hard edge to it and his drawl deepened. “If you don’t have anything to say then you’d best move on.”
“Tell her to call Barry.” He spat the words.
“I’ll do that.” Creed shut the door in Barry’s face.
Danica found she was holding her breath and let it out in a slow exhale. She wasn’t sure if she should be grateful to Creed or upset with him for taking control like he had. She supposed if it would keep Barry from bothering her, perhaps it had been a good thing.
Maybe she shouldn’t like the he-man thing, but for some reason she did. Deep inside she’d liked Creed stepping in and taking control as if she was his woman.
His woman. She nearly groaned at the turn of her thoughts.
He faced her. “If he bothers you again, just let me know.”
With a shake of her head, Danica said, “Really, I can take care of him myself.” The words were lame because she hadn’t been able to get rid of Barry by herself yet. “But thank you.”
Creed caught her face in his hands and kissed her. “How about that beer?”
She smiled. “Yes. How about that beer.”
Chapter 11
Barry glared at the door, his hands fisted at his sides. That sonofabitch.
He turned and marched down the front stairs of the townhouse. Fury burned beneath his skin. He’d never been so angry in all his life. All that stood between him and Danica was this bull rider who’d come out of nowhere. Well, he was just going to have to get him out of the way.
He dug his cell phone out of his pocket, pulled up his contacts, and dialed.
“Mac Dawson, private investigator,” a woman said when she answered the phone.
“This is Barry Hobbes.” He strode to his black Mercedes as he spoke. “Let me speak to Mac.”
“Sure, Mr. Hobbes,” the woman said. “I’ll get him now.”
“Barry,” the young PI said when he picked up, “what can I do for you?”
Barry unlocked then climbed into his Mercedes. As soon as he started the car, the phone switched over so that the call now came through the car’s speakers. “I have a job for you.”
“Tell me about it.”
“A woman I know is dating a womanizer, a cheat, and a real bastard.” Barry scowled as he pulled the car away from the curb and then started down the street. “I want as much dirt dug up on this guy as you can get. Find out who he’s seeing, what he’s doing.”
“What’s his name?”
“Creed McBride.” Barry clenched the steering wheel. “He’s some kind of pro bull rider.”
“What else can you tell me about him?” Mac asked.
“That’s your job.” Barry pulled the car up to a sign at a four-way stop then rolled through when he saw it was clear. “I’ll pay whatever it takes. Just get me everything you can.”
Chapter 12
Danica was thankful Creed didn’t seem to want to discuss Barry. Instead she led him to the kitchen where she opened the fridge and brought out two bottles of beer and set them on the counter. She took the magnetic bottle opener off the fridge and popped the cap off of one beer bottle. The cap bounced across the counter and landed on the tile floor with a clatter. He picked it up while she cracked the other bottle open.
“To surprise visits,” she said as they bumped their bottles together in a toast. They each took a drink before she lowered her bottle and said, “I’m glad you came.”
“Couldn’t keep me away from you,” he said with sincerity in his voice and in his eyes.
He held her gaze for a long moment and a tingling sensation flowed through her body. She swallowed. “Would you like to go out for dinner or eat in?” She gestured to the fridge. “I have taco makings.”
“Tacos sound great.” He started rolling up his shirtsleeves. “What can I do to help?”
She loved a man who made himself useful. “You can grate the cheese.” She walked to the fridge. “I defrosted some ground beef.”
He washed his hands while she got out the cheese, a plate, and the grater for him. She put the ground beef in a frying pan, seasoning it with lots of fresh garlic, salt, ground pepper, and crushed red pepper.
They talked while they made dinner in the same easy way that they always were able to talk to each other. She’d wondered if they’d run out of things to share, but there was always something about their childhoods, their families, their occupations, things they liked to do, places they liked to go.
After dinner they sat on the couch. He was on his third beer and she was drinking her second. She finished it and set the empty on the end table beside her.
He set his own beer bottle aside on the coffee table. “Is this couch where I’m sleeping?” he asked as he put his arm around her shoulders and brought her close. “Or would you prefer I stay in a hotel?”
Flutters erupted in her belly as she met his gaze. His eyes were so intense, so filled with sincerity. Whatever she told him she wanted, she knew he would do it.
She cleared her throat. “You can sleep here.�
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He reached up and brushed hair from her eyes. “Maybe it’s not a good idea to stay with you after all. I don’t know that I can keep my hands off you.”
The flutters in her belly increased. Instead of answering she moved her mouth to his, catching him off guard. She kissed him with all the pent up passion inside her and moved in his arms so that she was straddling him on the couch, her knees to either side of his thighs.
She drew back from the kiss, her lips moist and parted, her eyes heavy-lidded as she settled herself more firmly on his lap. With everything she had, she wanted him.
He grasped her waist, his own eyes dark with desire. “Danica, don’t start something you aren’t going to want to finish.”
Danica kissed Creed hard, fierce. He groaned and slid his hands down to her ass and shifted his hips so that his erection was pressed hard against her center. She drew away from his kiss, her breathing deepening.
He slid his hands to her breasts and cupped them as he studied her as if waiting for her to tell him no. Instead, she reached for the top button and started unbuttoning her blouse. He nudged her hands away with his own and took over, slowly undoing each button, his knuckles brushing her soft skin.
She held her breath as her blouse fell open and he palmed her breasts over the satin of her pink bra. A moan escaped her as he fondled her nipples through the soft material. Her throat worked and she had a hard time not closing her eyes and falling into the erotic spell that held them both.
He pushed her blouse over her shoulders and she moved her arms so that the material slid down them and landed on the floor. The air felt cool on her bare skin as he reached behind her and unfastened her bra. With her help he slid it off her arms and tossed it somewhere behind her. He audibly sucked in his breath as he looked at her breasts.
Her nipples tightened beneath his gaze and he teased them with his fingertips as he brought his mouth to hers and kissed her. She sighed as their mouths moved together and he played with her nipples, and she grew even damper between her thighs.
He drew away from her again then lowered his head as he cupped her breasts. He sucked one of her nipples into his warm mouth and she gasped with pleasure, as the tingling between her thighs grew more intense. He moved his mouth to her other nipple and sucked it.
Roses and Rodeo (Rough and Ready) Page 7