by Magan Vernon
But it was.
I couldn’t remember the last time I asked a girl out on an actual date. Even if that date was to help me with my Christmas shopping.
And damn if I didn’t want to do something to impress her and not just be another asshat she couldn’t count on.
She blinked, raising an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
I shrugged. “Yeah. I guess it couldn’t hurt to try something other than gift cards this year, and maybe we can grab lunch or something too.”
She smiled slightly, brightening her face. Always made up with too much makeup, today she had liner highlighting her dark eyes, and her black hair framed her heart-shaped face. But when I thought she was prettiest was when she didn’t wear any of that. When she was just her.
What the fuck was I thinking?
“Are you asking me on a date?”
I blinked, licking my lips as I tried to think of the right words. “No. I don’t think I am. Does it count as one?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t get many of them.”
“Then it’s a date,” I blurted, and that beautiful smile returned to her face. “Pick you up tomorrow here at ten?”
She shook her head, her face falling. “Why don’t I meet you at your place, and we can go from there?”
I wanted to protest, but as soon as I saw her dad out of the corner of my eye talking to some of the bussers, I knew exactly what her issue was. So, I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll see you then.”
Jack Quinn was a larger than life man with salt and pepper hair in severe need of a cut but always a clean-shaven face. His signature Stetson Stallion hat perched on his head did nothing for his round face.
“Everything okay, you two? Haven’t seen y’all talking much since Vegas,” he said in that booming voice, clasping his daughter’s shoulder with his big sausage fingers.
Christy’s eyes widened, and for the first time, I noticed how the girl who was always bossing everyone around and so full of life suddenly shrunk when her father was around.
My fists clenched, knowing full well I couldn’t hit my boss, but whatever was beating at my chest had me wanting to protect the girl I wasn’t even sure was mine.
“Just been busy with the holiday season, sir,” I said, forcing a smile.
Jack laughed, flashing his tobacco-stained teeth. “Good. I was starting to think something went down at the convention with y’all that I didn’t know about. But the riders on our horses seemed to love both of you, and hopefully, we’ll be hearing more from some of the vendors you passed our card out to. You both make quite a business pair. I should send y’all to more conventions.”
I nodded politely, but I didn’t think Christy would want to travel with me again. Or her father would want us to if he found out what really happened in Vegas.
I HADN’T HAD A REAL relationship in I couldn’t remember how long, so the only thing I had to base girls on was my sister, who was always late.
So naturally, when I opened the door in my boxers at ten, with Snogs barking in the background, I didn’t expect to see the wide-eyed Christy standing there.
“Um. I thought we agreed on today, right? Were you just being nice and really didn’t want to do this?” she asked, fiddling with the hem of her pink sweater. I wondered how soft it would feel if I pulled her close against me.
Dammit, I couldn’t get hard when I was standing there half-naked.
But the dog did help to buffer those feelings. I could barely hear Christy over Snogs jumping, so I turned and yelled, “Snogs, calm the fuck down!”
The dog sat, her tail still wagging and thumping hard on the floor while I let Christy inside.
“Is that how you always talk to her?” she asked, scratching Snogs behind her ears.
“Yeah. In training class, they said to use a command that your dog would understand. That seemed to work the best.”
She stared, her eyes wide and eyebrows raised as though I just told her the earth was flat.
“I guess if it works, it works ...”
I nodded, scratching my chest where the tattoo of a bald eagle spread across it. It was the first one I got when I joined the Army and actually had some money. The lone stars on each bicep followed soon after. I wasn’t planning on a sleeve or anything, but the way Christy’s eyes trailed over my chest, I wished I had something lower for her gaze to follow and not just the donkey I got on my ass one drunken night in Mexico.
Dammit.
No. No. No.
If I was not going to lead this girl on or hurt her, then I couldn’t think about sleeping with her. Shopping was one thing, but nothing more. She wanted the divorce, and maybe we could work out something in my favor with running the ranch. We just both had to figure out that part.
Now if she’d stop biting her bottom lip and looking at me with half-hooded eyes, we wouldn’t have this problem.
“Imma go put on a shirt and pants, then we can head to Firewheel. That okay or did you have somewhere else in mind?” I asked.
She shook her head as if she was pushing out a daze. “Oh. No. Firewheel is totally fine if you know what you want.”
I laughed. “I have no idea what the hell to get my family, but that’s what you’re for. Just don’t think this is going to be some sort of romantic date where I hold your hand, and we take a long walk on the beach or something.”
She shrugged. “I figured. There aren’t any beaches around here, and it’s not like I’ve ever been on a real date anyway.”
I stopped, my heart thudding hard in my chest. “What?”
“I ... uh ...” She fiddled with the collar on her sweater. “This should be pretty obvious, given my reputation, but usually, guys aren’t quick to want to take me out. It’s more of a ‘hey, let’s hang out, then bang’ sort of thing.”
I swallowed hard, not believing the words coming out of this girl’s mouth. “You have to be shittin’ me. Yesterday, you said you didn’t get many dates. Surely, there were guys in high school begging to take you out or even in college. Though, from what I’ve seen and heard, those guys are fucktards.”
“Well, high school was one thing. That’s not even considered dating if a guy buys you Sonic, and then forces you to go down on him in his truck in the cornfield,” she muttered.
I shuddered at the thought of how many girls I’d done that same thing to. Okay, not really that many because the country girls of Friendship weren’t that into a guy like me either. But watching this girl, who always was so confident, as she peeled back her layers had a protective instinct I didn’t even know I had taking over.
“Then I guess we do have to make this date all official and shit. I’ll even put on clean pants,” I said, trying to lighten the situation, but I had a plan. I just hoped at the end of it, I wouldn’t end up being the one who got hurt, and we could still both walk away smiling.
Chapter 14
Christy
We stood outside the little white chapel behind a few other couples in various stages of dress—from drag queens and showgirls to pregnant women in long white dresses.
“This your first wedding, doll?” a very tall woman with bright red lips and even shinier red hair whispered from behind me.
I tried not to stare at what I hoped were fake boobs, or she had some severe back problems.
“Um, yes? Is it yours?” I asked, trying to think of something better to say, but my mind was in a fog. A fog that had lifted me to a little white chapel in Vegas with a rainbow ring on my finger of the hand that was holding Clay Carrington’s. A guy I definitely thought I had despised before tonight.
Now...now my heart was beating at the thought of him kissing me again, even if it was in front of Elvis and everyone in this room.
The woman laughed, a deep throaty bellow that sounded like she was smoking more than a pack a day. She put her hand on my shoulder, stabbing her long red nails into my skin. Then she shook her head. “Honey, this one may be number five or six, and when he sobers up, he’ll be either divorce or a
nnulment number six too.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at the short man in the suit and yarmulke behind her. “Is that legal?”
She laughed even harder, digging her nails even so hard into my shoulder, I was sure they would leave a mark. “Honey, anything can happen in Sin City, and as long as he doesn’t try to take me home and make an honest woman out of the girl who just had her pajookie in his face, then we’re all square. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Get my drift?”
Her eyes roamed over the tall drink of water next to me who was talking to the other couple in front of us. Hopefully, he hadn’t heard any of this woman’s conversation.
“You just meet him tonight, honey? He looks a little too dirty for a girl like you’s taste. I can take him off your hands if you need me to.” She put one hand on her hip, running her tongue over her overly filled red lips.
“Uh. No. Actually, we work together. We’re here on business,” I blurted, suddenly feeling very possessive and squeezing Clay’s hand, which garnered a smile as he halted his conversation to turn toward me.
He raised an eyebrow, glancing at the tall woman. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. I was just telling ... um ...” Fumbling through my foggy brain, I tried to think of the woman’s name.
“Stormi,” she answered for me, holding a hand out to Clay, which she squeezed a little too long for my liking. “Your bride here was just telling me that you two work together and are here on business? What kind of business is this?”
She raised her eyebrows with a smirk as if she was trying to catch us in some elaborate lie. Actually, I wasn’t sure what she was thinking because I wasn’t that great at reading people, but I knew there was mischief in whatever it was.
Clay nodded. “Yeah. We work on a ranch together in Texas.”
Her smirk turned into an all-out grin, baring a broad set of teeth. “Don’t tell me you’re a cowboy? My first and third husband were both from Dallas. I’ve always loved a man who knows how to handle his horse.”
She winked, and I found my grip on Clay’s hand growing tighter.
“Yeah. Guess I’ve always had a thing for this temptress, and it took getting her to Vegas with a pawn shop ring for her to finally agree to marry me. Now we can ride off into the sunset and back to the ranch with our kids and dog who will be happy we’ve finally settled down.”
Stormi blinked. “Kids? The two of you? But you’re ... well ... I’d expect you to be more of a wild man with that hair and tattoos standing next to Miss Prim and Proper in a designer dress and Louboutins.”
I didn’t know whether to be insulted, but my jealousy took over as I moved my arm around Clay’s waist and pulled him close. “Yup. Two little girls named Elsa and Ana. My daddy said we should have gotten married after he knocked me up on prom night, but my future hubby here wanted to finish his rodeo career before we got hitched. Now that he’s done, guess it’s time.”
Clay grinned, looking down at me. “You’re somethin’ else, darlin’,” he said, dragging out a terrible accent before his lips pressed to mine.
It was probably supposed to be a peck, but I couldn’t help getting lost in him. My tongue met his, and a moan escaped my mouth as I grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer to taste him.
Everything else melted away around us as my body warmed. Kissing him was like getting a drink of water after a long hot day, and I drank up every bit of him, never wanting to let go.
Maybe whatever drugs I took were talking, but if they were, I think they were finally helping me see clearly for the first time.
I was totally in lust with this cowboy and had been for I don’t know how long.
Maybe when we sobered up, these feelings would change, or they’d go back to being hidden. But as long as I had him, I would not let go.
Stormi mumbled something and went on talking to her future husband, but I was too lost in Clay to care.
When he finally broke our kiss and pressed his forehead to mine, he breathed his words onto my lips. “You have a way of surprising the hell out of me.”
“Is that a good thing?” I whispered.
He smiled, pushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I think so.”
Chapter 15
Clay
Crowds always flocked to the outdoor mall on nights and weekends, but during December, it seemed like everyone took off right before the holidays because it was even more of a madhouse.
“So ... who do you need to buy for?” Christy asked once we finally found a parking place. It was practically still on the freeway, and I thought I’d have to climb out my window because I was worried my door would hit the truck parked next to me.
“My mom. My youngest sister, Violet. Brooke. I guess Eddie, too. I usually send something to my grandparents in Iowa.” I thought for a second and tried to figure out if I was forgetting anyone as I stared at the large department store ahead of us.
We hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet, and I could already see people with their arms full of shopping bags or pushing strollers with screaming kids. If I lit up right here in the parking lot, it’d be my luck I’d find the mall cop with a tiny penis who would bust me.
“So basically everyone ...” Christy’s voice wavered.
I looked at the girl in the seat next to me with her long black hair and face that went from hopeful to fallen in two milliseconds. I had promised her a real date. Shopping and fighting even more people at a crowded chain restaurant were the furthest things from that.
“You know what? Fuck the mall.” I put my seatbelt back on and started the car.
“What? I thought you said you needed to do some Christmas shopping? That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”
I smiled, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye as I backed out of the spot. “Yeah, but I also owe you a real date, and it ain’t happening here.”
“So where are we going then?”
“It’s a surprise.”
WE HEADED OUT ON I-635 toward Richardson. Christy stared out the window with her brow furrowed and head tilted like Snogs did when she was confused.
It was utterly adorable and even more so on a girl that wasn’t my dog.
“Are we going to Grapevine? I know some wineries there. Maybe you could get your mom and grandparents a bottle? Brooke and Eddie too? Of course, that doesn’t help for your little sister ...”
I nodded. “Yeah. We can stop there after this.”
“After where?”
I grinned, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. “You’ll see. Once we get through Irving.”
“You’re not going to tell me? I’m just going in blind, and you expect me to trust you?”
That one struck a chord, and I winced. “Since when have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?”
When she didn’t answer, I fully faced her, though she kept her eyes out the window in front of us.
I thought she would turn to face me or scream at me to look at the road. But when she didn’t budge, I groaned, looking back at traffic, so I didn’t get in a wreck on the freeway. “It’s always going to come back to Vegas, isn’t it?”
She let out a low sigh. “I guess I can’t blame you for what happened there ... but ...”
“But it was my friend who you asked for Advil from, and we both ended up high off our asses, getting married. So that makes it my fault and me less trustworthy.”
“I didn’t say that,” she muttered.
“But I know that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
I groaned, running my hand down the length of my face. This whole thing always had the ability to turn my day into a fucking mess and have my blood boiling. “I don’t know what to say other than maybe I should have stood my ground and refused to let you come out with me, but we know you were going to fight and claw me until you got your way.”
I licked my lips, shaking my head as my fists white-knuckled the steering wheel. “I wis
h I could have gone back and protected you. I would have told you not to even take the bottle and gone to one of the all-night drug stores, got us both some ibuprofen, then gone to bed. And even when we did take the shit from Angel, I should have just taken you back to your room to sleep it off instead of giving in to it. And that’s something I have to live with every fucking day. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for not doing better by you.”
There was a thick silence, and the only sound was the rumble of the road beneath us. Then after what felt like forever, Christy put her hand on mine between us on the console.
I looked down at her pale, pretty soft hand. Such a stark contrast to my own that were large, rough, and well-worn from manual labor and the military.
Just the one little touch sent a jolt of electricity straight to my dick. Now wasn’t the time to get turned on by a little hand-holding. Damn.
“I’m sorry too. It’s not all your fault, and you shouldn’t have taken on the burden. Hell, I forced you to take me with you. And guilted my dad into letting me go on the trip. I just needed to get away from everything ...”
“Well, we definitely did that,” I smirked.
“Yeah ...”
We were silent again until I turned off the highway and pulled into our destination. That was when Christy leaned forward, staring out the front window. “Um. Is there a mall or something I’m missing? Or are we shopping at this indoor waterpark?”
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye and grinned, pulling into a parking space. This place wasn’t as packed as the mall since it was during the week and kids weren’t out for break yet. “I guess we can shop in the gift shop first anyway since I don’t have my suit with me.”
She turned to face me once I came to a stop. “A suit?”
“Yeah. What else would you wear to go swimming?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again like a fish. “Swimming? As in the water?”