She tugged on her panties and shorts, fastened her bra, and pulled her shirt over her head. She looked in the mirror. “Wow.” Her messy hair framed her glowing face. If that was what an orgasm from Jayden Hancock did to her, she could live with that forever…
“No!” Her word echoed around the tiled walls. She couldn’t even let herself daydream about it. She had too much to do before she settled down. Two more years of college, learning the bookkeeping side of the family ranch. And she had too much “fun” to have.
She touched her cheek. Could she see herself in bed with anyone but Jayden? He’d stolen her heart on Valentine’s Day, and today, ironically, she’d decided to let him keep it, and sent her soul along with it. “Don’t be stupid,” she whispered. Every woman thought their first love was the only man they could ever love.
Marching out of the bathroom, she vowed to ignore the tiny voice in her head telling her to call him, find him, make it right. He needed time, and she’d give it to him. She slipped her shoes on her bare feet and walked into the living room.
“Hey.”
She jumped a foot and her heart thudded.
Jayden sat on the red leather couch holding a longneck, his legs stretched out along the cushions, his ankles crossed, keeping his boots off the leather. “You thought I’d left?”
She gestured toward the door then dropped her hand. “I guess I did.” The thudding of her heart turned into a sweet, soft beat. He’d stayed!
He swung around and set his feet on the floor. “C’mere. Please.” Always the gentleman.
Stormie padded to the couch and took the spot next to him, not too close, but far enough away to make sure he knew she hadn’t forgiven him. Yet.
“I’m sorry I went caveman on you.” He ran a hand through those sexy blond curls of his. “Whatever you decide to do if we split up, that’s your business.”
“If we split up?”
Chapter Five
What was he thinking? Of course they’d split up. Stormie sat next to Jayden on the red leather couch, trying to read his expression. They barely knew one another, their lives were too different, like they lived on different planets. He ran with the rodeo, and she had deep roots in the red dirt of Oklahoma. How could he even consider trying to make this bogus marriage last? And why the heck did the thought of losing him make her want to cry?
He set down his beer. “This has all been a lot to take in, Storm.”
She pressed her lips together. She wasn’t going to apologize again. She’d been honest with him, and his response was his to own.
He took her hand and ran the rough pad of his thumb over her knuckles. “I suppose the smart thing to do would be to take a while and let it all settle in before we make any decisions.”
“Sure.” Was he going to leave? Did he want her to leave?
“The family is downstairs at the bar. Let’s go have a drink with them.”
“The family?” He considered her part of his family?
“Boone and Gigi, Dallas and Kira, and Rance, who most likely is with some buckle bunny.”
Relief washed through her when she remembered Kira was her family. “Okay. I’d like that.”
“Aw hell, who am I kidding.” He stood and tugged her up, pulling her close and wrapping her arms around his neck. He slid his hands down her bare shoulders and along her sides to her hips. “There was a reason we got married.”
He’d begged her to be his wife, she’d given in too easily, but she hadn’t been considering her chastity vow when she’d said, “I do.” She’d been thinking of a life with him. Dreaming up ways to make it work between them. “There was. And it felt like the right thing to do…at the time.”
He shifted his hips against hers. Behind his fly, his shaft was hard. “We fit together real well.”
Pressed against his chest, her nipples pebbled, sending delightful twinges to her belly, and down between her legs. “Yeah.”
“There’s a connection.”
She’d been hot for him since the first moment she’d touched him. Just a handshake, but the way he’d held her hand, the intensity in his gaze, somehow made her all too willing to do whatever he wanted. Now that he’d given her the best orgasm of her life, she wanted more. “It’s hard to ignore.” She twitched her hips and smiled at her pun.
He didn’t respond to her teasing, but pressed a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. “Let’s not ignore it.” He stepped back and took her face in his hands. “Let’s go with it. Just for now.” His gaze bore into her eyes.
Was he changing his mind about drinks with the family? Did he want to make love instead? “I want that, too.” Her belly jittered with a sweet throbbing.
He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “You won’t regret it. I promise.”
The sincerity in his eyes shook her, sending blood rushing fast through her veins.
“I trust you.” She did trust him. With her head and her heart. Would he pick her up and carry her into the bedroom now? Make her a woman?
Tugging her with him, he headed toward the hallway door.
After all that, he still wanted a drink?
“We’ll make this fast.” Grabbing the keycards, he tucked one in her back pocket and one in his, opened the door, and gestured into the hallway. “After you, wife.” His eyes sparkled with trouble.
She grabbed her purse on the way out. “Cowboys,” she whispered. So unpredictable.
The Roundup Bar was packed with rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, both participants and fans. A couple of friends greeted Jayden, and when Stormie spotted Rance’s dark hair and tan skin, she pointed him out to Jayden.
The bull rider saw them, said something to the sexy…okay, trampy…lady he was standing next to, then walked over to meet them. “Hey, you two. Didn’t expect to see you tonight.” He winked at Stormie and gestured toward the back of the bar. “They’re over here.” Rance led the way to the big, round booth Stormie had sat in with everyone last month, on the day she’d met Jayden.
Gigi and Kira sat next to each other in the back with Boone and Dallas on either side of them. Stormie slid in next to Dallas, who tipped his hat in greeting, his dark eyes and hair nearly disappearing beneath the shadow of his hat. Jayden sat next to her, his arm resting across the back of the booth behind her. Rance took the spot opposite them, next to Boone.
“Where have you been?” Kira leaned forward, her long, red hair sliding over her shoulder as she pinned Stormie with a green-eyed glare.
“Playing poker.” Stormie’s voice came out snippy, but she didn’t care for the way her cousin played chaperone. Heck, Kira was only two years older than Stormie.
All gazes slid to Jayden.
“It’s true.” He shrugged. “Got lucky, too.”
Kira’s lips tightened. “Jayden, if you did anything with my cousin that—”
“Everything’s okay, Kira.” Stormie made her voice low and quiet, but her look told her cousin to shut the heck up.
“How’d you guys do in the short go?” Jayden looked at the cowboys.
Stormie glanced at him, thanking him with her eyes for changing the subject.
“Hell.” Boone tipped his cowboy hat back, revealing his shaggy, blond hair and blue eyes a few tones lighter than Jayden’s. He gestured to Rance. “The kid beat me by eighteen points.”
Rance shrugged, but his green eyes sparkled. “Day one of a two day rodeo. I know the pro will kick my ass tomorrow and take the buckle.” He looked at Boone, who shook his head.
“The pro is gettin’ old, boys. Might be time to retire.”
His wife, Gigi, smiled up at him. “You’re only twenty-three. You’ve got a lot of good years left.” Her long, black hair lay in two braids that ended below her breasts. It was cute that Gigi and Kira, both New York City girls, had dressed in cowgirl gear for the rodeo.
Kira snuggled in close to Dallas. “My cowboy’s twenty-eight, and he took first place today.”
Dallas, in his quiet style, tipped his head down.
Dallas and Jayden talked horses and rigging and timers while Stormie thought about heart-shaped beds and bubble-filled bathtubs.
Jayden ordered a margarita for Stormie, a beer for himself, and another round of drinks for the table.
Rance and Boone discussed bulls for a while, then Rance asked him, “What’s new with your rodeo school in Reno?”
“Gigi’s got all the press releases and marketing stuff ready to go, and she found someone to do our website.”
Gigi grinned and wiggled in her seat. “I’ve got sponsors lined up. Casinos, equipment dealers…” She gestured toward Stormie. “Stock handlers.”
Stormie’s parents had jumped right into the opportunity to sponsor the rodeo school.
“Thanks to Dallas and Kira’s lawyer friend,” Boone said. “Permits and incorporation papers are in the works.” He looked at Rance. “The barn’s done, ready for inspection. We’ve got bunkhouses going up right now.”
“And an addition on the house,” Gigi said.
She and Boone lived in the big old farmhouse on the ranch Boone had inherited from his grandfather.
Stormie hadn’t seen the place yet, but Kira had stayed there when she’d traveled from New York to visit Dallas. She said the house was huge. Why would they need more room… “Gigi.” Stormie smiled. “Are you expecting?”
Both Gigi and Boone held up their hands and cried, “No!” Boone took his wife’s hand. “Not that it can’t happen soon enough, but we’ve got too much going on right now.”
Gigi blinked a couple times, the sweet look on her face as she stared at her husband sent a twinge of longing to Stormie’s heart. Gigi turned to Stormie. “We’re expanding the kitchen and adding a dining hall for the students.” She sipped her drink. “See? Drinking a margarita. No bun in this oven.”
They laughed, but Kira tipped her head down. What was that about?
Dallas caressed her shoulder. Was her cousin pregnant?
Kira caught Stormie’s eye and shook her head. “Not in this oven, either.”
Dallas picked up his beer and drank half of it.
Gigi and Boone got quiet.
“Kira, is everything okay?” Stormie’s gut instinct told her something was wrong.
Jayden laid his arm across her shoulders. Was that a warning?
“Sorry.” Stormie felt her cheeks heat. “None of my business.” Damn. If Kira had wanted to tell her what was going on, she would have said something while they were sitting in the arena watching the rodeo.
“No, it’s okay.” Kira glanced at Dallas, then back at Stormie. “I’ve been spending more time in Reno. Dallas found a kitschy old double-wide trailer that he put on his property while the house is being built.”
Stormie nodded. Kira was an accountant, and was setting up everything the school would need to function; from payroll to purchase orders to taxes.
Kira looked at Dallas. “I’m splitting my weeks between Reno and New York.”
“You’re still working for your folks?” Rance’s question surprised Stormie. He must be spending a lot of time with this group to know so much about them.
A prickle of jealousy hit her. She wanted that, too. These were the best people she knew, besides her parents. And Jayden was like the icing on the cake. Irresistible.
“I am.” Kira didn’t take her gaze from Dallas. “I made a commitment to them. I promised to stay until they found someone to replace me.”
“Oh.” Stormie looked at Dallas’s unreadable expression.
“I want her to move in and stay.” His voice, more like a growl, drew everyone’s attention. “As long as you’re there in New York, they won’t find anyone to take your job.”
Kira sighed. “Now’s not the time to rehash this, honey.”
Kira’s parents, Stormie’s aunt and uncle, were as family-oriented as her own parents were. They’d keep Kira there as long as they possibly could. Through any means they had to. Didn’t Kira see that? Stormie had to voice her opinion. “He’s right, Kira.” When her cousin’s gaze pierced her, she held up one hand. “Sorry, not my business, I know.” Stormie lifted her brows at Kira, then looked at Dallas and back quickly, telling Kira with her eyes, “Don’t let this great guy get away.”
Kira’s brow wrinkled and she looked at Dallas.
He leaned close and whispered something to her, and Kira’s eyes filled with tears. But she smiled and nodded.
Oh gosh, Stormie had never seen her cousin cry. This must be some serious stuff going on.
“Anyway,” Gigi said brightly, obviously in an attempt to give the couple some privacy. “What craziness are you two kids up to?” She sipped her margarita and looked at Stormie.
They hadn’t even shared their jackpot news. Stormie smiled at Jayden. “We have something to tell you.”
Jayden’s eyes filled with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. “You’re okay with them knowing?” His hand glided up and down her arm.
“I knew it!” Boone pointed at his brother. “You are married, aren’t you.” His voice didn’t sound happy.
Stormie jerked her gaze to Boone as the breath froze in her lungs. A month ago, Kira had said Jayden blurted something to Dallas about marriage, but their cell phone connection got cut off. Today, Kira told Stormie that Dallas had been trying to get the story out of Jayden, but he’d been evasive.
“Yeah.” Jayden tightened his arm around Stormie’s shoulder and kissed her temple. “We are.”
Her heart stopped for a second. She looked at him as disbelief whirled within her brain.
Jayden smiled at his brother like this was the best news in the world.
“Ah shit.” Kira stared at Stormie while wiping a tear off her cheek.
“Dude!” Rance called. “Way to hook a hot one!”
“You’re serious?” Boone snapped. “You’re really hitched?”
Dallas just cleared his throat.
“Serious.” Jayden finally looked at her and his smile faded. “Stormie?” He leaned closer and his eyes narrowed. “We talked about this in the suite. You said you wanted to give it a try.”
“Give it a…” She rewound to their conversation. She’d thought they were talking about sex. Not marriage. She closed her eyes, opened them, and saw five pair of eyes staring at her. “Excuse us a minute, please?” She elbowed Jayden to get him moving.
“Well, hell.” Jayden’s voice came out frustrated. “Guess the honeymoon’s over.”
“What?” Kira shouted.
Jayden stood and helped Stormie out of the booth and put a hand on her back, guiding her through the bar. Outside the entrance, he found a quiet corner and turned to her. “Say it. Whatever it is, just say it.”
He looked so miserable, she wanted to pull him into her arms and comfort him. But he’d just blurted to the world that they were legally bound. “Jayden, I think we were talking about two different things up in the suite.”
His brows lowered, then a look of comprehension softened his face. “You were talking about sex?”
“And you were talking about our marriage.”
He slowly shook his head. “How did we screw that up?”
“Back at the table, when I said we had something to share, I meant the jackpot.”
He stuffed his hands in his front pockets. “I get that now.” He blew out a breath. “Shit, I’m thick sometimes.”
Her anxiety left her. “No. We’re just too new at this to try to guess what the other person’s talking about.”
He waited a few seconds. “So what now?”
Chapter Six
Stormie glanced over Jayden’s shoulder into the crowded bar. “I’d rather not go back in.” Tipping her head in the direction of the hotel elevators, she gave him a half smile. “I’d like a little time to think about this, if you don’t mind.”
His head dropped and he let out a breath. After a minute, he nodded. “Okay.” He looked aroun
d them. “Let me walk you to the suite.”
She’d love that. The casino was rowdy this time of night and he was always the gentleman. But if he walked her to the suite door, she’d damn sure pull him inside with her. “Do you mind sending Kira out?” She made a dramatic shiver. “May as well get this lecture over with.”
One side of his mouth lifted in a cute smile. “Sure.” He turned to go, then stopped and looked at her. “Do you want to call me when you’re ready?” He blinked a couple times. “To talk, I mean.”
Sweet contractions fluttered in her core. She wanted to do more than talk. She wanted it all, but they’d start with talking. Get the crazy notion of making this marriage work out of his head. And hers. She nodded. “It won’t be long. I just need to collect my thoughts.”
“Hey, I’m sorry I embarrassed you.” He looked so young just then.
Stormie’s heart skipped a beat. They both were young. “You didn’t, Jayden. If I was really your wife…for the right reasons, I mean…” Sucking in a breath, she held it a moment. “I’d be so proud to let everyone know.” A lump of regret slid along her throat, choking her and burning in the back of her eyes.
Jayden looked at her for a long time, then turned and walked away, his cowboy boots thudding on the hardwood floor of the bar.
How would she ever be able to let him walk away for good?
Less than a minute later, Kira walked out of the bar, her “Bareback Riders Do It Best” T-shirt, jeans, and cowgirl boots a complete departure from her usual designer clothes.
Kira strode right up to her and grabbed her in a hug. “Are you okay?” She pulled back until they were face to face.
“Of course I’m okay.” Stormie put a few inches between them. “I appreciate your concern, but I just wanted to be sure you wouldn’t tell anyone about this.”
Setting her fists on her hips, Kira lifted a brow. “That’s what you wanted? To warn me? I’m concerned for you, and you just want to make sure I can keep a secret?”
Cowboy Jackpot: St. Patrick's Day Page 4