Resisting Pressure (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 5)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  He would leave for Walters’s ranch in a week. He’d be busy working and starting plans on building his house and ranch. He had no time for a woman who didn’t like cowboys. She said it herself. He’d always managed to keep his emotions aside, but why was this time different?

  What if tonight changed things?

  What if somehow they could move from here?

  Damn! What was wrong with him?

  He dried his hands and face off with one of the frilly towels from the rack and went back into the room where Violet was stretched out on the bed, a smile curling her beautiful lips. He laid down beside her and dragged her close.

  “That was wonderful,” she said in a lazy voice.

  He smoothed his thumb over the small of her back. “You got that right.”

  “I could do that a few more times.”

  “And you should know that we will.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Oh shit!

  Violet stared at the walls while listening to Keefer’s beating heart under her cheek. The morning sun flowed in through the window.

  She stared at the picture on the wall of a newborn baby holding a flower with the words, “Prosper and live well.” Prosper? As in reproduce?

  They used protection. No prospering in her womb.

  Memories came flooding back. After having sex with Keefer for a third time, they’d rolled away from each other in a heap of skin and bones, falling asleep.

  But now it was time to start the new day.

  Carefully, she slipped away from him, dragging the sheet with her. He was still sleeping, his arm draped over his forehead and soft snores coming from his nose. He was quite handsome, even when snoring. He was also still completely naked with only the edge of the white sheet draped over his lap. She didn’t need to see his package to remember just how wonderful it was, from one inch to the next. Her inner thighs immediately throbbed, but she couldn’t ignore the satisfying chafing. She’d remember this for a long time.

  Sliding from the bed she instantly felt chilled. For the life of her she wanted to crawl back in and cuddle next to the cowboy. But she shouldn’t. Couldn’t. He was a cowboy in the rodeo. She was a nurse. They had nowhere to go from here. She couldn’t risk having feelings for someone who risked his life every few weeks. Had his fair share of buckle bunnies waiting for the end of a ride. She’d had a long line of assholes, jerks, and useless men over a span of several years. The last thing she needed was another notch on her bed post.

  Grabbing her dress from the floor, she searched for her thong but couldn’t find it in the small space. She could go without panties if she needed too.

  In the bathroom, she hurried and dressed, finger combed her hair, and put on lip gloss. She stepped out into the room.

  “Heading somewhere?’

  The deep, raspy voice stopped her in her tracks. She found Keefer sitting on the side of the bed, the sheet pulled over his lap. “You’re awake.”

  “Were you hoping to sneak out without a goodbye?”

  She shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it sneaking out, but more like starting my day.”

  He nodded. “Well then by all means, start your day.”

  Why didn’t she run while she had the chance? “Last night was…well…amazing.” She strolled across the room and looked out of the window, anything but to stare at his stunning body exposed and glistening in the morning light. What they had shared lingered harshly in her brain. She couldn’t do it again. “I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”

  “Why would they be?”

  She turned, remembering to come off as indifferent although she was anything but. “Maybe I’m wrong.”

  He stood up and the sheet dropped to the floor and he stepped over it, moving panther-like across the room. Although her conscious told her to turn away from the visual art, her gaze remained steady. The man was amazingly built. Tanned skin stretching across coiled muscle. Long, toned legs and a bull-rider's ass. And it looked as though his muscles weren’t the only thing stretched this morning. Her cheeks felt like she’d been slapped. Her body ached for his touch, a spiraling of need. She remembered how they’d touched, rough and fast at times, and other times passionate and full of emotion.

  He bent and grabbed his jeans off the floor, dragging them on. She still watched like a diabetic outside of a candy shop admiring the chocolates she couldn’t eat.

  Once his pants were on, zipped and buckled, she was finally able to breathe normally again. “I was going to head into the bar and see if they were open. I’ll use the phone. I have to be at work later.”

  “Great.” He didn’t look her way.

  He certainly seemed aloof. “I’m sure you have things to do also.”

  “Yup.”

  “Are you going to continue answering me in one word sentences?”

  “Probably.”

  Moving away from the window, she took several steps toward him, and something in her started reacting. She passed him up, moving in the direction of the door as if it were her only lifeline in the raging sea. “Last night was amazing, but we have to get back to reality.”

  “You’ve already said that. Last night was awesome. We’ve established that.” He scrubbed his jaw and his beard rasped. Her inner thighs throbbed.

  Shaking her head as if to push those thoughts aside, as if it were possible, she slipped into the boots remembering that she’d exchanged them for her heels. The boots were a little tight, but she hoped Edie got good use out of the heels. “I guess I’m a little at a loss for words.”

  “And you said you didn’t want this to be awkward?” One brow shot up.

  “I did say that and looks like there’s no helping that.”

  “Some things just aren’t meant to be.”

  “That’s the truth.” Boots on, she wiggled her toes, attempting to gain some more space in them. She must have been tipsy to make such a harebrained exchange.

  “I’ll go find us a gas can and get a ride to the truck. Probably best you wait here and I’ll come back to get you.” His shirt had several missing buttons and she recalled how she’d ripped it from his body. He looked handsomely dangerous with the partially ripped shirt, a growth of beard, and his hair uncombed. She needed to stay on track, otherwise she’d land back into the rumpled sheets, and this time who knew where they’d end up come morning again.

  She didn’t need or want a relationship…well, maybe she did, eventually, but she didn’t want one with a rodeo star.

  He retrieved his hat from the table and pushed it on his head, starting for the door, but he stopped as if he’d forgotten something. He strolled toward her, a mere few inches away, his eyes dancing in the morning sunlight. He really was the most handsome man. The scar on his cheek was completely hidden from the beard growth. “I understand, Violet. I really do.”

  “You understand what?” Her voice quaked.

  “That you’re not interested in a cowboy, but I need to tell you something…”

  “Okay. What is it?” She could see the sincerity in his expression—his jaw relaxed and the corners of his eyes creased.

  “About the rodeo…”

  “You don’t owe me an explanation, Keefer. It’s your career. It’s what you love to do. It’s not just about you being a cowboy.” She needed to make this quick and easy. Talking would get them nowhere, except maybe back in bed, and she couldn’t think clearly with an orgasmic hangover.

  A second passed, but seemed like an hour until he finally dipped his hat. “I’ll see you soon.”

  He walked out of the door and it closed in an unexplainable finality. Would she see him again? Would he come back to get her? Yes, of course he would. He was a gentleman, after all.

  She watched out of the window as he crossed the lot, his silhouette disappearing into the rays of the sun. Her knight in shining armor wasn’t supposed to be moving the opposite direction.

  Who was she kidding? Truthfully, she had no idea what she wanted—or even needed.

  Las
t night might have cured her sexual epidemic, but it certainly didn’t ease the tension that seemed relentless. She truly wanted to see Keefer again, but her track record of relationships left a lot to be desired. More like, they were a horror story. Her sister Crystal’s words pushed through her brain “Take a long break from men. Get to know yourself so you’re certain what you want. It’s not right to run men over like a bull dozer.” She’d taken the words to heart. She respected what Crystal—all of her sisters—said.

  She was trying hard to be a good girl. Last night wasn’t quite what she’d been shooting for, but it was Keefer. Who could blame her? He’d spiced up her life right and nice. It’d take her a long time to forget what they’d shared.

  Leaving the window, she went to the bed and sat down on the edge.

  A knock came at the door. Keefer must have forgotten something.

  She got up and opened the door, surprised to see that it was Buck, the bartender.

  “Hello, ma’am.” He offered her a shy smile.

  “Good morning. I wanted to say thank you again for letting us stay here last night.”

  “No, problem, Miss. It was empty and glad I could help. I wanted to let you know that there’s a lady up at the bar who says she’s your sister.”

  “My sister?” Crystal or Sapphire must have finally gotten the message she’d left. It was about time. “Thank you. I’ll grab my purse.”

  “I’ll let her know you’re on your way, Miss.”

  Once she closed the door, she hurried and grabbed her purse, her gaze naturally falling to the crumpled sheets where she’d had one of the most memorable nights of her life. She had to move forward. She gave herself a mental shake. It wasn’t that she had anything with Keefer outside of what they’d shared last night. Trying to dissect this into something more wasn’t good for her, or for him, and could only land in disaster. At least she was leaving with great memories.

  Leaving the room, she closed the door securely behind her and walked to the bar. It was completely unlike last night when patrons filled every inch. Crystal sat at the bar, sipping on a glass of water. When she saw Violet enter, her sister slid off the stool and walked over, her long dark hair swinging from side to side and one corner of her mouth dropping into a disapproving frown. Violet had a bad feeling that she was about to receive a lecture. Probably because Violet had pulled her away from work on the ranch to bring her all of the way out here into the boonies.

  Crystal dragged her in for a quick hug and Violet could see the concern in her dark eyes. “I freaked out this morning when I heard your message. I didn’t get in until late and I was exhausted and fell into bed, missing your call. Why didn’t you call me from your phone?”

  Violet hated to admit that she didn’t charge her phone before she left the house. “It was dead.” She chuckled, trying to make light of it, but when Crystal crossed her arms, Violet knew there was no making this easier.

  “How many times have I told you to make sure you have a fully charged battery?” The accusation in her voice drove through Violet.

  “Can you wait to lecture me once we’re out of here? I’d like to get home so that I can make my afternoon shift at the hospital.”

  A second marched by until Crystal finally grabbed her purse from the bar, laid down a few bills and tucked her arm inside of Violet’s, leading her through the doors and into the parking lot. “I have a feeling you weren’t alone last night.”

  “Of course. I told you on the phone I was with a friend and we ran out of gas.” Violet slid into the passenger seat of her sister’s new, decked out Dodge Truck.

  Once Crystal was behind the wheel, a knowing smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Oh…that was all? No overnight guests?” A thin brow popped up.

  “No…”

  “And a liar apparently.” She hit the start button on the dash and the engine purred alive. “I’d bet my truck that you had a party, and I’m not talking hats and whistles.”

  “That’s a risky bet. How could you prove differently?” Violet clicked her seatbelt and fixed the vents so that the cool air was on her face.

  Crystal reached across Violet and pulled down the visor. “Might want to cover that up before you head into work.” Her smile was as smooth as warm milk.

  “What are you talking about?” Violet examined her reflection. Sure, she had smeary ink lines under her eyes from the lack of sleep and her hair needed a good brushing but other that… “Oh shit!” There, close to her collarbone was a hickey. She rubbed it but it wasn’t going anywhere. “Oh my. I haven’t had one of these since—”

  “High school?” Crystal teased. Violet didn’t look at her. “Okay, ‘Fess up. Who was he?”

  She knew her sister wouldn’t let it drop until she managed a few tidbits. “Keefer Lane.”

  Crystal gave her a side glance. “The rodeo star? The one who bid for you at the charity auction?”

  “Yes. One and the same.”

  “You did say he was sexy and a charmer.”

  “That I did.”

  “Last night wasn’t so great?” Crystal turned off the radio.

  “No, it wasn’t great. It was amazing.” Violet folded her arms over her waist, remembering how good Keefer’s arms had felt around her.

  “And that’s the reason for the frown?”

  “This look is because of the cold, dark reality. We live in two different worlds. He’s a rodeo star and I’m a nurse. He seems like the type who doesn’t feel manly unless he’s risking his life.”

  “You’re not planning to see him again?”

  “No. Yet I have some very erotic memories to keep me warm at night.” She forced a smile. She brought her hand up and threaded her fingers through her hair. A sharp, spicy scent swept across her nose—Keefer’s scent that made her hormones twist and shout.

  “Yeah, good reason why you shouldn’t see him again. Memories are so much better than the real thing.” Crystals snort made Violet look at her.

  “Just because something feels good doesn’t mean it’s meant to be.”

  “And just because you’ve had some lousy men in the past doesn’t mean you should lump them all together as turds.”

  “My past isn’t the reason why I’m not seeing Keefer again. Believe me, he doesn’t want to see me any more than I want to see him. We both went into this knowing it’d be a one night thing and one night only. I don’t have the time for a relationship. Remember, you were the one who advised me to lay off men and find myself.” She looked out the window watching the scenery go by in a blur. She closed her eyes a moment, relishing in thoughts of Keefer, storing them in a place inside of her that she wouldn’t forget. The hard planes of his chest, the patch of crisp hair in the center that had rubbed her breasts, scratching every nerve ending awake. Her nipples budded, aching and wishing for his lips again. His body stretching her, filling her, satisfying her unlike anything she’d ever known. The orgasms had been wonderful. Tremors that had spread through her, explosive and beguiling. She’d come completely apart in the cowboy’s arms.

  “Look, sis, I really respect the fact that you’re getting your life together, working hard and being the best that you can be. Yet, this is a lot like dieting. If you deny yourself from ever having dessert, you’re destined to fail. A little goody once in a while never hurt anyone. If you’re lucky enough to find an entire buffet of desserts without all of the bad calories, why not dive in?”

  “Are you dieting again?” Violet shifted her gaze on her sister’s profile.

  “Yes, always. But even I enjoy a snack on occasion.” She wagged her brows.

  “Crystal, you’re a voluptuous woman. You don’t need to lose.”

  “Says the sister that wears a size two,” Crystal huffed. “Besides, it’s not a diet. I’ve been working out and feeling better. Let me ask, what if you just happened to run into this cowboy again? Will you be able to deny yourself more pleasure?”

  “We don’t run in the same circles. There’s no way for us to acciden
tly see each other.” Even as the words came out of her mouth, she knew they weren’t the answer to her sister’s question. There was an undeniable emotion wrapping around her, much like his arms had last night that left her questioning everything, especially the rules she’d placed upon herself. Emotions were dangerous, especially when they targeted a man like Keefer. She needed to snip these thoughts in the bud before they blossomed into a full blown idea that there was a future for her with Keefer.

  Crystal reached over and laid her hand on Violet’s arm. She jerked and turned her chin. “Sweetheart, you’re not allowing what happened years ago come back again, are you?”

  Every bit of warmth, every bit of positive emotion, disappeared from her body, taken over by an ice age freezing her insides. This happened every time the subject of that time, long ago, was mentioned. Crystal was the only one who knew Violet’s secret. “Of course not. I don’t allow the past to rule my future anymore.” Why couldn’t she even convince herself of this?

  “You know I only worry about you.” Crystal’s soft voice almost chased away the demons in Violet. But years of therapy hadn’t even worked to erase the tragedy.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got this, Crystal.”

  ****

  Keefer slid out of the driver’s side of the truck and started across the parking lot of Mickey’s Bar when he saw Buck throw up a hand. The man was standing by the back door smoking. Keefer shifted his direction and headed toward the bartender.

  “I see she’s up and running again,” Buck pointed at the truck.

  “Yup, back on the road.” Keefer rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  “She’s a beauty. I bet the engine purrs.”

  Keefer nodded. “Great for hauling trailers. I bought a piece of land not too far from here and she’ll come in handy when I start looking for horses. Only issue is, I have to get the gas gauge fixed.” He smiled.

  Buck dropped the cigarette to the ground and snuffed it out with the toe of his boot. “You going to be hiring?”

  “Sure will. Here in the next six months. Right now construction is about to start on the house. I plan to move in as soon as possible and watch over things.”