Under a Rodeo Moon

by Roni Adams

  Carrie took the coffeepot, but didn’t walk away. She smiled and it lit up her face. His guts twisted even as his heart lifted. That’s how she used to look at him. A sparkle in her blue eyes and a curve to her full, kissable lips. He wished she’d lean over the counter and kiss him. He swallowed. What the hell was he thinking?

  She touched his hand where it rested on the counter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to give you a hard time. I loved my cowboy, but he broke my heart. I shouldn’t take it out on you. Good luck on your next ride.” She trailed her fingers across the back of his knuckles and walked away. He sensed CoraBeth watching him and picked up his Coke and took a long drink. Her touch sent a hot fire of longing through his body, and he shifted on his stool as his jeans tightened. Damn her.

  Carrie walked away on trembling legs. The exchange with Dusty had her blood racing and her heart pumping. She hated that he was here, watching her every move; it made her clumsy. She splashed the coffee as she poured the sheriff a fresh cup. “Ohh, Dan, I’m so sorry.” She set the pot on the table and leaned across him to grab some napkins.

  “Don’t worry about it. No problem. You seem a little tense today. Everything okay?” The sheriff took the napkins from her as she pressed them against the liquid on the table.

  Carrie stepped back and picked up his empty lunch dishes. “Yeah, just distracted, I guess.”

  Dan winked at her. “Hopefully you are finally distracted by me. Have dinner with me Saturday night?”

  Dan had been asking her to dinner since the second week she’d moved to town. He was a sweet, sweet man, but unfortunately she wasn’t into sweet men. Still, she hated turning him down again. “Dan,” she began.

  He reached out and touched her forearm. “Don’t answer right now. For once, think about it. At least let me hope for a few days.”

  She dipped her head, not wanting to hurt his feelings. “I’ll think about it.”

  The sheriff picked up his hat and slid out of the booth with his check in his hands. He slipped some folded bills into her apron pocket as he stood next to her. His large hand settled on her shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She carried the dishes back to the kitchen and came back out with a rag to wipe the table.

  “Dan asked you to dinner again?” CoraBeth watched as she put the money from her apron into a container behind the counter.

  Carrie was fully aware that Dusty was listening. “Yes.”

  “What harm would there be in going out with him? Dan’s a great guy, honey, and the sheriff. You could do a lot worse.”

  “I most definitely could,” she agreed.

  A half hour later, the lunch crowd was thinning, but Dusty still sat at the counter. He’d already had at least four refills on his drink and consumed a large chunk of pie. She’d avoided going near him, but with CoraBeth on break and eating her own lunch in the back, she had no choice.

  She pulled his ticket off her pad of paper. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked as if he was any other customer.

  He stood up, shoved his hand into his back pocket, and pulled out his wallet. “No, thanks.”

  The denim material stretched taut while he shifted. Dusty had a powerful body, sinewy, hard, and strong. She hadn’t forgotten how excited she’d been to be scooped up in his arms. How could she ever forget the look he’d had in his eyes when he pulled her close, told her he wanted her, and couldn’t wait to get his hands on her...

  She picked up his pie plate and set it carefully into the bucket under the counter. How many times had those muscular forearms held him up as he made love to her?

  Carrie pushed her hair back toward her ponytail. Dusty pulled out several bills, set them on the counter, and picked up his hat. She searched his eyes, appealing to him, begging him to talk to her. He shook his head and turned away. Tears pooled in her eyes as she watched his jean-clad backside head out the door without turning back.

  ****

  Dusty picked at his microwave dinner and half listened to the country music station on the radio. His stomach was in knots. What was Carrie doing here in Wayback? Obviously it had something to do with him. She didn’t just close her eyes and pick a spot on the map to move to. He’d talked about Wayback all last season and how big the purse had become. She knew he was going to ride here this year. Yet there was no way she could know about the ranch he was in the process of buying. He’d never mentioned it to her. That much he knew. She had no inkling that he was even considering retiring and buying a spread. Maybe he should talk to her. At least he’d find out why she was here and how long she intended to stay. He sure as hell wasn’t going to settle in the same town she was. Most likely, once she realized he wasn’t going to come crawling back, she’d hightail it back to her condo and charity functions. The image of her in the waitress uniform came to mind, and he rubbed his hand around the back of his neck. He never would have believed that if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes. If the good folks of Wayback had any clue what she was really like, they’d laugh their butts off.

  He picked up his dinner and tossed it in the trash. A knock at the trailer door was a welcome interruption, but for half a moment, he thought it was Carrie. Then he remembered the new security. She couldn’t get back here unless he put her on the list, and he wasn’t about to do that. Still, when he opened the door to find Matt and another cowboy, he couldn’t help the stab of disappointment that hit him.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “We’re heading down to the Blue Bug. Thought we’d see if you want to go.” His buddy looked around and wrinkled his nose as if finding the trailer suffocating.

  Dusty scratched his head. Remembering the nasty dinner he’d just tossed out and the long evening ahead, he grabbed his keys off the counter and picked up his jacket. “I’ll follow you.” He’d been around these particular guys enough to know they were heavy partiers. While he didn’t mind going for a drink or two, he wasn’t about to close the place down as he suspected they would.

  The local honky-tonk was noisy and crowded as they made their way to the bar. Looking around, Dusty spotted the gal from the barbecue place, BobbiJo. She saw him, but rather than the warm smile he thought he’d get, she looked as if he’d just crawled out from under a rock. He tipped up his beer. What was that about? He couldn’t have insulted her; he hadn’t even seen her since the night he ate at Cranky Hank’s.

  Then the crowd shifted and he saw her. Carrie sat at the same table as BobbiJo. Her brown hair fell softly around her shoulders, and she laughed at something someone said. Her face softened and from across the room, he imagined that lyrical laugh. If someone had stomped him in the chest, it couldn’t have hurt more. She used to laugh like that with him, and he loved it so much he’d lean over and kiss her. She’d frame his face with her long, slender hands and kiss him back no matter where they were or who they were with. God, he missed her. He turned his back to the room, not wanting to watch her have a good time.

  The band was good and the beers were cold. A second one followed the first, and it went down pretty quick. He turned around again and faced the crowd. Carrie sat at the table in the same spot she’d been for the past hour. What harm would there be in dancing with her? He set his beer down and started to cross the room when the man he recognized as the sheriff from the diner sidled up to her table. The stocky man leaned down and said something to her, and she smiled and nodded. Dusty scowled and leaned against a pole as the other man took her hand and led her to the dance floor. The sight of the two of them together was as bad as a red flag to a bull. He wanted to cross the floor and pull the guy’s meaty hands off her. Instead, he forced himself to watch.

  He’d never seen her dance with anyone else, and he didn’t like it. Her jean-clad hips swayed in time to the beat and her white, flowing blouse spun from her body, occasionally revealing her flat midriff.

  He should leave, but his feet wouldn’t move. His blood pressure boiled and he seethed with jealousy. He was rooted to the spot. She had every right t
o dance with whomever she wanted. He had no claims on her.

  “Hey, aren’t you one of the bull riders?” A tall blonde with hair that fell like a curtain all the way to her hips sidled up next to him. From the spacey gaze in her eyes, he could tell she’d had a few drinks.

  He let his gaze drift down the length of her and back up to her hazy eyes. “Yes, ma’am.” He purposely laid it on thick, and even touched his fingers to the brim of his hat.

  She giggled and moved closer. Her hand settled on his forearm and curled around it. “I can’t imagine how you manage to stay on those bulls for so long. They are such huge monsters.”

  He turned and gave her his full attention. The heck with Carrie. He could have women like this every night if he wanted, and they would never tell him to choose between their bed and the ring.

  He reached out and looped a long strand of hair around his finger and raised one eyebrow. “It wouldn’t be any fun if they weren’t a challenge.”

  He leaned in closer and inhaled the scent of her perfume. The sweet, flowery smell nearly gagged him. Still, seeing Carrie in the arms of the other man pushed him. Near her ear, he whispered, “It’s exciting to have something that powerful and wild between your legs, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Hmm, definitely.” She giggled.

  He trailed his hand down her arm and linked their fingers together. Without bothering to ask, he pulled her toward the dance floor. The blonde—he hadn’t even gotten her name yet—sidled in close and plastered herself to the front of him. Dusty looped his arm around her, but over her shoulder his eyes met and held Carrie’s. He saw the pain that filled her eyes and the red stain that spread across her cheeks before she looked away. He kept his gaze firmly fixed on her and within a few moments she looked back his way again. This time there was anger in her blue eyes.

  The blonde in his arms nuzzled his neck, her mouth leaving a trail of wet where she kissed him. He resisted the urge to wipe it off, but he couldn’t help the shudder of revulsion that coursed through him.

  She laughed lightly and pulled back to gaze up from under her lashes. She must have thought it was desire making him shiver.

  “So how long you in town for?”

  Dusty pulled his gaze back to her and off his ex. “Long enough, darlin’.”

  She smiled and linked her arms up around his neck. “Hmm, that sounds perfect.”

  The music ended and Dusty watched Carrie leave the dance floor and head directly for the ladies’ room. His dance partner had thoroughly attached herself to his side, and she clung to his arm as he walked off the floor.

  “How about a drink?” she asked.

  Dusty nodded. “I’ve gotta use the restroom.” He pulled some bills out of his pocket and handed them to her. “Why don’t you get yourself something and another beer for me. I’ll meet you over at the bar.”

  She took the bills from him. “Okay. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  He forced a smile. “Sounds good.”

  Inside the women’s room, Carrie ran the water over her wrists in an attempt to cool herself off. She didn’t know Dusty was even there until she saw him on the dance floor with that bimbo. Apparently, he was going to do everything he could to make her miserable while he was in town.

  Turning off the tap, she dried her hands and fluffed her hair with her fingers. She hadn’t even wanted to come out tonight, but BobbiJo had begged her to come down and have one drink. It was just her luck that Dan was there or maybe it wasn’t luck, but rather CoraBeth and her big mouth telling the sheriff where she was. She should feel guilty being glad that he’d gotten a call and had to leave already, but she didn’t. Her only hope was that she could convince BobbiJo to go home early.

  Walking back to the table she shared with her friends, she spied Dusty out of the corner of her eye. He stood at the bar with the blonde seated on a barstool next to him. Her short skirt was hiked even higher with her legs crossed, and her tight T-shirt left nothing to the imagination. It was good to know she’d been replaced with someone with such class, she thought bitterly.

  “Dan left you this and said to tell you again how sorry he was he had to leave,” Sally said, pushing a glass of wine in her direction.

  Carrie sighed. “I wish he’d give up.”

  “You could do a lot worse,” her friend cautioned.

  She shook her head. “CoraBeth said the same thing to me this afternoon. There’s no chemistry, no sparks. I miss sparks.”

  “Speaking of sparks, do you see who AmandaMae has her claws into at the bar?” BobbiJo jerked her head, but her eyes were full of pity for her friend.

  Carrie shrugged. “Yep, she was all over him on the dance floor. Whatever, if that’s the type he prefers, no wonder he didn’t come after me when I left.”

  “What did I miss? Left who?” Sally asked, her head whipping around back and forth.

  “I’ll fill you in later.”

  “Uh oh, here comes my cousin,” BobbiJo groaned.

  Carrie’s eye widened. “I don’t want to dance with Franky. Please, do something.”

  As BobbiJo’s cousin reached their table, Sally jumped up. “Franky! This is my favorite song, please dance with me.”

  The dark-haired man’s eyes flickered to Carrie, but Sally grabbed his arm and pulled. “Come on, Franky, just one dance.”

  Carrie let her breath out when the two moved away. “I owe Sally a free lunch for that one. I think I’m going to call it a night.”

  BobbiJo grabbed her hand. “No, don’t go yet. I mean, I know it’s gotta be killing you to see him with her, but do you really want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he ruined your whole night? Where’s your backbone, girl? Come on, show him that it doesn’t matter to you one whit.”

  Her broken heart warred with her pride. “Okay, I’ll stay a bit longer, but I have to be up early tomorrow, you know. One more set and then I’m going.”

  BobbiJo nodded. “I’m going to use the little girls’ room. Be right back.”

  Carrie sipped her drink and frowned when a stranger approached the table. She’d never seen the scruffy looking cowboy before.

  “Wanna dance?” he asked.

  She had no interest in dancing with him, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, either. “I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. My feet are killing me.” She smiled, hoping he’d take the letdown a bit easier if he didn’t think it was personal.

  “They weren’t killing you earlier. I saw you dancing with the sheriff. What’s the matter? A simple cowboy isn’t good enough for you?” He reached out and took hold of her arm. “Come on, honey. I’ll show you what it’s like to be held by a real man.”

  Carrie yanked her arm away. “I’m sorry, but as I said, my feet hurt. Now if you don’t mind...”

  She slipped off her chair, intent on escaping to the ladies’ room, but he blocked her way. “Your type is all the same, sitting here looking hot and teasing all the guys, but when one of us comes over, you turn us down flat.”

  When he reached out to grab her arm once more, a strong hand clamped down on his forearm and stopped him.

  “The lady said no.”

  Carrie recognized the look of fury on Dusty’s face, and a shiver coursed down her spine. There was no doubt in another second he was going to punch the stranger and start a brawl. She didn’t need that kind of trouble, and he didn’t either.

  Chapter Three

  “Dusty, it’s okay. Don’t do this.”

  “The lady’s with me. Take a hike.” Dusty moved closer and stepped into the other man’s space.

  Carrie cringed.

  The cowboy’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t see no ring on her finger, and she’s been sitting here with a bunch of girls since the sheriff left. She ain’t with you.” He pushed Dusty in the chest with the flat of his hand.

  “Dusty, no!” Carrie cried out and stepped between the two as Dusty was about to lunge for the other man. She splayed her hands on his chest and pushed all her weight into him. “
Let’s dance, Dusty. Come on, two-step with me.”

  His jaw flexed, and she ran her fingers up over it to caress his cheek, trying to get through to him. “Come on, this isn’t good for the rodeo and you know it. He’ll leave me alone now. Come on.” She pushed at him and he took a step back, but his gaze was still fixed on the stranger.

  Carrie kept moving forward, not bothering to see if the other man walked away or not. When they reached the dance floor, she linked her arms around his neck and shifted into position. “It’s okay, it’s done. Come on, dance with me. Everyone’s watching you.”

  Her words must have sunk in. With only a small hesitation, he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her up against him the way they always danced. Carrie sighed and willed herself to calm down. His heartbeat raced against her chest through the thin cotton of her blouse. Neither spoke and within moments, the music carried her away.

  She relaxed against him and felt his body begin to loosen up. It had been way too long since she’d been held in his arms, and she closed her eyes, enjoying it even if it was only for one dance. Dusty’s strong hands shifted lower until they slipped into the back pockets of her jeans and held her tight.

  One slow song became two.

  His head bent and tucked into the corner of her neck. His breath was warm on her skin and shivers coursed up her spine. She smiled and tipped her head, letting him kiss the sensitive spot behind her ear. Warmth spread through her and her fingers tangled in his hair. His rock-hard thighs brushed hers with every step, making her desire spike even higher. Leaning her head back, she opened her eyes to look at him. He held her gaze, but when she thought he’d kiss her, he pulled her tight against him once more. When the song ended and a fast two-step started, she thought for sure he’d take her back to the table and walk away. Instead, he held tight to her hand.

  “Do you have a purse you need to get?” he growled.

  “I locked it in my car.” And her car keys were secure in her front pocket. She stumbled to keep up with his stride as he marched her through the bar. She barely had time to catch BobbiJo’s eye and wave goodbye.