Playing With Fire

by Alison Bliss

  “Whoa!” Joe said, as he reached the top of the stairs. “We’re not here to cause problems. We’re helping Miss Anna load up these boxes. Why don’t you chill the hell out, dude?”

  Cowboy marched past Clay and clomped his way up the stairs where I stood with Joe and Bobbie Jo.

  I put my hands on my hips and glared at Cowboy. “That’s not a parking spot!”

  “Oh, yeah? Well, it is now!” he sneered.

  “God, you’re an even bigger asshole than I thought.” I turned and marched inside, flapping my arms in frustration.

  A growl burst from his throat. “Get back here,” he demanded.

  Surprisingly enough, I made it to the kitchen without him manhandling me. I’d fully expected him to be on my heels, but when I stopped and spun around, he wasn’t there. Peeking around the corner, I found out why.

  He had tried to follow me through the open door, but Joe had stepped into Cowboy’s path and was now poking one large finger into his chest. “I think the lady wants you to leave.”

  I stood off to the side, just out of their field of vision, but where I could see and hear both of them. With rage burning in his green eyes, Cowboy measured up the big guy in front of him. “If you want to keep that finger attached, I suggest you remove it.”

  They stood there in an intense, heated stand-off that looked like it would never end. Thank goodness Bobbie Jo intervened, patting Joe on the arm. “It’s okay, Joe. I’ve got this. Why don’t you give us a minute?”

  Joe nodded and walked by Cowboy, purposely bumping his shoulder as he passed. Cowboy rolled his eyes and started inside, but Bobbie Jo wasn’t having it. She put her arm up and blocked the door, scowling at him. “You really did it this time, didn’t you, Cowboy? Put your foot in it good.”

  “Ya know, I’d love to stand around here talking about how I screwed up, but I have something more important to do.”

  But Bobbie Jo persisted. “What do you want with Anna?”

  Oh, I love having such protective friends.

  “I just want to talk to her.” He peered over Bobbie Jo’s head and caught a glimpse of all the cardboard boxes in the living room. “What the hell is going on? Why are the Barlows loading boxes into Anna’s car?” He ran a hand over his distraught face. “Sonofabitch. Don’t tell me she’s leaving town.”

  Bobbie Jo shrugged nonchalantly. “What does it matter to you? It’s not like you care.”

  “What? I do care! Now let me in.” But Bobbie Jo didn’t budge. “Damn it, I need to find her. Get out of the way or I’m going to pick your ass up and move you.”

  Something resembling a smirk lifted the corners of her mouth. “She’s probably in the kitchen packing up more boxes,” she said nonchalantly, dropping her arm from the doorway.

  As Cowboy stepped inside, I slipped out of view and pretended to be busy.

  “Anna…?”

  I poked my head out of the kitchen and frowned at him. “Why are you still here?”

  “I want to know where the hell you think you’re going.”

  “Beg your pardon?”

  “You heard me.”

  I glared at him. “I’m no longer your concern, remember?”

  Cowboy counted slowly under his breath, trying to gain control of his temper. “Stop this nonsense, woman. I won’t sit by and let you leave town all because I—”

  “Because you what? Used me? Took what you wanted and moved on? Guess you were bored with me. Isn’t that how you put it?”

  “That wasn’t true and you know it.”

  “No, I don’t know. As far as I’m concerned, that’s exactly what happened. Now, get out.”

  “I need to talk to you. To tell you something. At the very least I owe you an explanation and an apology.” When I crossed my arms and waited, he continued. “I was promoted to chief.”

  “Good for you. Now leave.”

  “Damn it, just listen. After I came out of recovery, the mayor stopped by to see me. I thought he’d heard about my injury and was coming to tell me he was appointing a new acting chief. But instead, he congratulated me for making chief.”

  “What the hell does that have to do with me?”

  “I couldn’t stand the thought of you living in fear that something would happen to me. That one day, I might be burned alive. You don’t sleep as it is. I didn’t want to give you any more nightmares.”

  My mouth dropped open. “So you didn’t even fight for me because of that?”

  “No, not just that. I…” He closed his eyes and breathed out slowly, gearing himself to say something he obviously dreaded. “I save people for a living. It’s what I do. But I…couldn’t save you. And to make it worse, the whole thing with Mandy was my fault.”

  “Your fault?”

  “Before I saw you in the library that first night, I…I flirted with her. No more than I did with other girls, but I hadn’t realized she was unstable and had taken any of it seriously.”

  “So you’re saying you and Mandy were sleeping—”

  “No. Of course not. Nothing ever came of it, but she got the wrong idea about me because I let her get the wrong idea. Just like everyone else around here.” He shook his head. “No one takes a playboy seriously. And my behavior with the women in this town hasn’t encouraged it. I’m sorry, sweetheart, but this was all my fault. I was doing what I thought was best…for you. To end things and let you move on without me.” He glanced behind him at the boxes stacked everywhere before his eyes landed back on me and he frowned. “But I don’t want you to leave. Damn it, Anna, I can’t lose you.”

  Slack-jawed, I stood motionless and stared at him in silence for a full thirty seconds, waiting for a declaration of love or at the very least an honorable mention in the like department. But it didn’t come. As the realization sank in that he might never admit his feelings for me, I only blinked at him, which apparently wasn’t the reaction he expected.

  He shifted his weight and sighed with annoyance. “Gonna leave me hanging or are you going to say something?”

  “I…um…I’m not leaving,” I managed to say, watching the worry melt from his eyes. “Those boxes are filled with books I’m donating to the library.”

  “Oh, thank God,” he said, the tension in his shoulders loosening. “When I saw them loading boxes into your car…well, you scared the hell out of me. I thought I’d lost you for good.” Then he opened his arms to me.

  But I didn’t move into them. Even though I knew the truth, nothing had changed.

  “So you think you can treat me like I’m nothing to you, then waltz in here with an apology? And then what? I’m supposed to just forgive you and get over it?” I scoffed under my breath. “No way in hell.”

  He dropped his arms to his sides. “Anna, I already told you why—”

  “I don’t care. Not only did you hurt me, but you embarrassed me. Made me feel bad about myself, as well as our relationship. And it was so easy for you. Then again, everything comes easy for you, right? Well, not this time,” I said, starting past him.

  Cowboy snagged me by the arm and raised a brow. “Are you saying you don’t want me?”

  “No, actually you said you didn’t want me, remember?” I glared at him and even took it one step further. “I wouldn’t want to bore you again, so we should probably keep things casual and see how it goes. Don’t worry, though. If I’m feeling frisky, I’ll give you a call. But only if my bed isn’t already occupied by someone else.”

  His eyes narrowed and his grip tightened. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Sure I do,” I said, punctuating my indifference with a simple shrug. “After all, you’re no Prince Charming. I wouldn’t want you to get any wrong ideas about me falling in love with you. I guess I am grateful to you for teaching me how to make love, though. I can’t wait to practice some more.”

  The insult must’ve hit home because Cowboy released my arm and said, “You want to wait around for Prince fucking Charming, then that’s fine by me!” He turned and stormed ou
t the front door.

  The bottom dropped out of my stomach, and I stood there blinking like an idiot. Oh, no! What have I done? But by the time I came to my senses and made it to the door, he’d already slammed his truck door closed and was roaring out of my yard without even looking back. I swayed unsteadily in the doorway as my heart ripped apart at the seams.

  I had only meant to show him how it felt to be tossed aside. How much it hurt for the person you loved not to love you back. But it all backfired and blew up in my face. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My fairytale romance was over.

  So much for happily ever after.

  Thank goodness Bobbie Jo had been there when Cowboy ran out on me. I’d needed the comfort of a good friend. And she was, indeed. Not the least bit fooled by my silence, she made me some chamomile tea to soothe my broken heart.

  She handed me a steaming cup. “I don’t understand Cowboy. I only let him inside to talk to you because I thought he was here to fix things with you.” She shook her head in disgust. “Now I’m going to have to kill him.”

  “No, Bobbie Jo, it was my fault,” I told her, twisting my fingers together. “He tried. Really, he did.” Unshed tears clogged my throat, but I managed to rasp out the rest. “I guess I wanted to give him a dose of his own medicine and show him how much he had hurt me. It didn’t work out quite how I thought it would.”

  “He’s a big boy. If he wanted to fight for you, then he should’ve stayed and done so.” Bobbie Jo frowned as she looked to be pondering something. “I hate to even say it, but the one thing I’ve learned from dealing with Jeremy is that some relationships aren’t…”

  “Meant to be?” I asked.

  “I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sure it doesn’t help.”

  “No, it’s a fair statement. And true, too. Like you and Jeremy. Some people don’t belong together.” I sighed wearily. “I guess I just thought Cowboy and I might.”

  Suddenly, something popped loudly outside, startling us both. Bobbie Jo and I exchanged glances, then I closed my eyes. “If those Barlow boys are setting off fireworks again, I’m going to—”

  Another pop sounded, followed by a horn honking, and something that sounded like a dull roar. With puzzled faces, we rose from our chairs and headed to the door. I threw it open, stepped onto the porch, and gasped.

  In what looked like a traffic jam, vehicles were lined up along both sides of the road out front of my home. Horns blaring. People cheering while standing in the back of their trucks or on top of their hoods. The Barlow brothers took turns shooting off fireworks over my house from my own front yard. What the…? Now they have an audience egging them on?

  I double-timed it down the stairs and glared at them with my hands on my hips. “What the hell is wrong with you two?”

  “Oh, hey, Miss Anna,” Clay said nonchalantly, setting off a chain of pops that exploded in colorful disarray above us. “What do you think? Pretty, right?”

  Bobbie Jo joined me and nodded to the familiar faces on the edge of the driveway. Emily rocked Lily while Jake held wide-eyed Austin in his arms. They stood next to Ox, Judd, Hank, and Floss. All of them wearing wide grins. “What’s going on, guys?” Bobbie Jo asked, as confused as I was.

  “Just came to watch the show,” Jake said with a wink. “Heard there’d be fireworks here tonight.”

  I glared at Joe and Clay. “I thought you two weren’t going to do this anymore? You promised me!”

  Joe set off another shrill whistle which combusted into a huge ball of blue lights in the sky and grinned. “Your boyfriend asked us to. He knew it was one way to get you outside.”

  “My boyfriend? I don’t have a—”

  The clomping of horse hooves sounded in the distance and my head—along with everyone else’s—spun in its direction. A white horse came into view, bobbing its head proudly.

  Hank’s colt, Ruckus?

  Cowboy was on the back of the trotting, once-wild stallion he’d tamed, whirling his white Stetson in the air. The crowd went wild, applauding and wolf-whistling as he grew closer.

  Good grief. What the heck was he doing now?

  Gravel crunched under the horse’s hooves as Cowboy steered him up my drive, then stopped in front of me. He rested an arm over the saddle horn and leaned forward, tipping his hat back and giving me a wicked grin. Then he offered me his hand.

  “Have you gone insane?”

  “Darlin’, the only thing I’m crazy about is you.” Cowboy scooted back in the saddle and gave the other guys a quick nod. “Boys, why don’t you give the lady a boost?”

  “No, I don’t want—” But Ox and Judd grabbed a hold of me and gently lifted me into Cowboy’s waiting arms. Balancing on the front of the saddle with my legs hanging off one side, I wrapped my arms around his waist to keep from sliding off.

  Everyone quieted and stared at the two of us, waiting for one of us to speak. Not used to being the center of attention, I felt my cheeks heat and lowered my gaze to avoid all the prying eyes. “What are you doing?” I whispered.

  “I’m laying claim to what’s mine,” he said, lifting my chin. His intense eyes reminded me of the last time he’d “claimed” me.

  My heart sped up and a tingling sensation rocketed through my lower abdomen, but there was still no way he was getting off that easy. “You can’t just come here and take whatever you want. It doesn’t work that way.”

  “Wanna bet?” Cowboy wrapped his large hands around the back of my neck and roughly pulled my mouth to his.

  Briefly, I froze. But the moment his tongue slid into my open mouth, the fever kicked in. My frenzied hands swept up his back, knotting his shirt in my fist, as he kissed me silly. So much for me playing hard to get.

  A round of applause sounded, reminding me that not only were we on a horse, but there were others present, watching us make out. I was the first to pull away. Touching my swollen lips with my fingertips, I glanced around at all the smiling faces, wondering if they could all see what I was feeling.

  I glanced up at Cowboy. “You’re sure you want me?”

  “No, darlin’, I don’t want you,” Cowboy said, making a lump form in my throat and tears burn behind my eyes. “I need you. And only you.” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “I love you, Anna.”

  My heart ballooned in my chest, filling with more joy than I could have ever imagined. “I love you, too.”

  “Then what would you say if I told you I wanted to marry you and give you that happily ever after you deserve?”

  Tears fell from my eyes, landing on my cheeks. “Really? You mean that?”

  “Hell, yeah, I mean it! I may not be scaling a wall, slaying a dragon, or even be much of a prince, but I’m damn sure on a white fucking horse, aren’t I?”

  “Then I guess I’d say I’m feeling pretty jubilant right about now.”

  “Sonofabitch.” He groaned in frustration. “Woman, you know damn well I don’t understand what the hell that means. Was that a yes or a no?”

  I smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss. “That was definitely a yes!”

  Epilogue

  “You sure you don’t need any help?” Cowboy called out from the living room over the low rumblings of our family and friends.

  “No, I’ve got it.”

  I placed the leftover sheet cake into its box, but before closing it, I swiped one finger across the corner, scooping the white frosting, and popped it into my mouth. A low moan escaped my lips as I sucked the icing off. Delicious.

  When I turned to grab a napkin, I realized I wasn’t alone. Cowboy stood in the doorway, his eyes focused on me and one brow raised, as if he caught me red-handed. “Very unladylike,” he reprimanded.

  But his smirk told on him.

  “And you loved it.”

  “Damn straight,” he replied, then continued standing there with his eyes burning with uncontrolled intensity.

  For a moment, all I could do was stare back. Even after a year of marriage, it
amazed me how his watchfulness still affected me. Warmth crept up my neck, as if my body was a thermometer and heat from his pointed gaze caused my mercury to rise. Then his eyes flickered down to my chest and my swollen nipples hardened.

  “W-what are you doing?”

  “You mean, besides looking at my beautiful wife?”

  I glanced down and caught sight of the bulge in his jeans. Just my luck. His wick was lit. “Yeah, right. We both know what that look of yours leads to.” I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping the disarming gesture would slow his roll. “Put away the weapon of massive proportions,” I told him, lowering my tone to a whisper. “We have guests.”

  Cowboy groaned. “This is going to kill me, you know?”

  I smiled. “You’ll live.”

  He stepped into my space and cinched his arms around my waist. “You sure about that?” he asked, dusting his lips across mine and then nipping gently.

  My ragged breath caught in my throat and my pulse raced. The force of attraction between us bonded us together in a way I couldn’t explain and it still blew me away. Cowboy’s high libido was definitely going to be problematic over the next—

  “For the love of God, Cowboy!” Bobbie Jo exclaimed from the doorway, holding an empty plate. “You think you could give the poor woman a few weeks before you start trying to sex her up again? She just had a baby, for goodness sakes.”

  Maybe Cowboy should have felt deeply ashamed for his behavior, but he just chuckled. “Can I help it if she tastes so sweet?”

  The sugary aftertaste still coated my tongue. “Frosting,” I explained to her. “He was just helping me put away the leftover cake.”

  “Well, I just came to tell you we’re leaving. I’m sure you’re exhausted and would like to get some rest.” Her eyes cut to Cowboy and narrowed slightly.

  Cowboy raised both of his hands in the air and smiled innocently. “Hands off, I swear.”

  I rolled my eyes at him and gave her a quick wink. “Don’t worry. I know how to handle this cowboy if he gets too frisky.”

  We walked into the living room, where most of our friends and family had gathered quietly in a semicircle around Dan. He must’ve sensed us approach because he turned and grinned wide. “Sure is a hefty little guy, isn’t he?”