Chasing Dreams (Devil's Bend)

by Edwards, Nicole

  Without even thinking about it, Tessa poured him a beer, knowing that he preferred draft to bottle thanks to his frequency in the place. When he approached the bar, she passed it over and beamed at him. His grin was contagious. “Why’re you so happy?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? I just received a phone call from my Realtor. You know what that means?”

  Tessa shook her head, though she still smiled because that devious grin on his face was infectious.

  “It means no more motel rooms for me.”

  Thank God he didn’t mention the date. After all, they’d agreed if Luanne called him first, Tessa would go out with him. And clearly, he must’ve received an agreement on the original price. For some strange reason, she wanted to walk around the bar and wrap her arms around him. She was a sucker for that sort of emotion, and he seemed genuinely happy.

  Even if his happiness was at her expense.

  “I take it she went with your price?”

  “She actually came down a few thousand. Seems that playing hard to get works out sometimes. We should celebrate,” he stated after she was smart enough to keep her feet glued to the floor where she was.

  “I just gave you a beer.” Tessa laughed. “What more could you possibly want?”

  “Dinner.” The smile was still on his face, but there was something else lingering in his golden eyes. Heat maybe? Since she felt it too, she was hard pressed to be able to deny what she saw there.

  “With who?”

  “You, of course.”

  “Sorry, cowboy. I’ve got a bar to run.”

  “You do. But I also know you happen to have Tuesday night off. What do you say?”

  Tessa didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure what to say. Tuesday was still a few days away, but her nerves didn’t seem to understand that. The smart part of her brain told her she needed to say no. The other part wanted to jump up and down like a giddy school girl and announce to the bar that Cooper Krenshaw wanted to take her on a date.

  Before she knew what was happening, Cooper was leaning over the bar, mere inches from her face and Tessa could hardly breathe. His eyes were glowing with what appeared to be elation, but worse than that, she couldn’t take her eyes off of his mouth. If she just leaned forward a fraction of an inch, she would be close enough to feel the heat of his breath against her mouth. If she moved a fraction of an inch more than that, she would get to confirm yet again that those sensual lips were as soft as they looked.

  Damn. Damn. Damn.

  Tessa managed to lean back slightly while trying to hide her reaction to him.

  “One dinner. That’s all I ask.”

  “You’re telling me that if I go to dinner with you one time, you’ll leave me alone indefinitely?”

  “If that’s what you want, then yes. One date.”

  “You just said dinner, now date. Which is it, cowboy?”

  “Date. After Tuesday night, when I return you to your front porch, if you decide that you don’t want to go out with me again, I’ll leave it at that.”

  Tessa had to think about it for a minute. Oh, who was she kidding? There wasn’t any thinking involved. She was merely fantasizing about what it would feel like to taste his lips again.

  Rather than speaking, she nodded her head. She didn’t trust her voice. Based on the look on Cooper’s face, he didn’t need the words.

  “Perfect. I’ll pick you up at five on Tuesday. Be ready because I’ve got plans for us,” he told her and then grabbed his beer and sauntered off across the bar, leaving her to stare after him.

  Tessa wanted to be angry with herself for giving in to him. There was just something about him. He was enigmatic. Charming. And, of course, he smelled so damned good. One night, Tessa had even searched on the internet and come up with the answer that it was pheromones that caused her to be so drawn to his scent. She knew it had to be something because no one should be able to smell that delicious.

  She allowed herself a few more seconds of admiring his ass before she turned back to what she had been doing before he walked up. And she would get right back to doing it… if she remembered what it was.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Score a point for the cowboy, Cooper thought as he forced himself to walk away from Tessa.

  Not only had he finally signed a firm contract on the house, he scored a date with the woman who managed to insert herself right smack in the middle of his mind and taunt him when he least expected it.

  And if dreaming about her wasn’t enough, he was also waking up with his dick hard enough to hammer nails into concrete. Of course, he’d been playing it cool when he was around her. Or he would like to think he was anyway. Tessa was skittish, and he knew he had to take his time with her. He wasn’t looking to rush anything, so he had all the time in the world. If only his dick would feel the same way. Before it was over, his balls might be cobalt blue, but Cooper was pretty sure it would be worth it.

  Making his way up onto the stage, Cooper set his beer on top of the stool and grabbed his guitar. The Rusty Nail might not boast live music every night, but this was what he’d been missing these last few years. He wanted to sing, and this place gave him that opportunity. On his nights off, or during some of his spare time, he would write the songs, practicing in his motel room. So far, no one had complained, but he was thrilled to be able to move into his house to get more privacy.

  According to the Realtor, he wouldn’t have to wait long. Everything was going to move fast because he was paying cash. In fact, she’d told him that all of the paperwork would be ready and waiting for him first thing Monday morning. He was counting down. As soon as he signed the papers, and the electricity and water were turned on, he’d be moving in.

  Not a minute too soon.

  Obviously it helped that he had ignored Luanne’s first call a week ago. And then he’d had his Realtor call her back late last week to tell her he was concerned with her new price. Apparently the woman realized her luck had run out, and as of yesterday, the ball was back in his court. Now that it was Friday, everything seemed to be waiting for the beginning of the next work week.

  “Bear with me folks,” he spoke into the microphone, glancing out at the few people scattered throughout the bar, his eyes landing on Tessa. “I’ve been working on this one recently. Not yet finished, but I’d be glad to hear what you think. It’s called Angel in Blue Jeans.”

  A couple of people clapped, making Cooper smile. Closing his eyes, he got lost in the music for the next few minutes, trying to feel out every word. By the time he was finished, there was another round of applause, and to his delight, Tessa even joined in. He wasn’t sure what it was about her, but to know she liked what he did made it all worthwhile. Of course, the song was about her, but he didn’t think she would appreciate knowing that. Yet.

  Over the course of the last few weeks, he’d learned that he much preferred the sincerity of the handful of people he had come to call friends in this small town over a stadium full of people in an unfamiliar city. Many of those who came out to see him night after night he was now on a first name basis with.

  “Thank you, thank you,” he grinned at the crowd, keeping his eyes locked on Tessa’s. In her cowboy hat, her tiny tank top and those hip hugging jeans, she made his mouth water. Not that he was trying to think about what she would look like with all of those clothes removed, but he couldn’t help himself at times. Like now.

  Realizing he was seconds away from embarrassing himself with a hard on that even his jeans wouldn’t be able to conceal, Cooper turned his attention back to the group. At least he could get distracted for a few minutes.

  By the time three o’clock rolled around, the bar was empty. This had become his routine, working on his laptop after closing while Tessa, Eric and Katie shut everything down. Tonight he’d been engrossed in a project. A surprise for the bar he’d become so fond of.

  One of the pluses of being in country music, the number of friends he had made were endless. And he wasn’t just talking ab
out acquaintances. He’d built some relationships over the years, and he knew the people he kept close would support him through a time like this and at this moment, he needed all the help he could get.

  Not only was he looking to get some solid entertainment onboard at the bar, but he was also looking for some volunteer work on his farm. That was still a couple of weeks away, but once he got the stables up, he fully intended to get the ball rolling with the equestrian center. That was his main goal and his friends would make the end result that much sweeter.

  “I’m gonna call it a night,” Eric told Tessa who was standing behind the bar, wiping down the counter top.

  “I don’t blame you,” she answered, sounding tired. “Katie’s already gone, so can you lock the door on your way out? We’ll go out the back door.”

  “Yes ma’am.” With that, Eric swatted Tessa on the ass with a towel as he passed her by.

  Initially, Cooper hadn’t been all that fond of the gesture, but once he learned that Tessa and Eric went way back, and, in fact, Eric was married to Tessa’s best friend, he’d seen a different aspect to their relationship. They were friends, that was obvious. Cooper knew that he wouldn’t walk away with his junk intact if he swatted her on the ass like that.

  Damn, but he wanted to.

  His dick stirred, making his jeans damned uncomfortable as he thought about his hand on Tessa’s ass. In his mind, she was naked, the sweet, rounded curves of her ass filling his hands as she rode him fast and hard. Shit.

  “You plan on staying here all night?” Tessa questioned, pulling him from his thoughts at the perfect moment. If he had let his imagination wander any further, she’d be laid out on the bar top, stark naked while he...

  This was so not helping.

  “I didn’t realize you were ready to go,” he told her, trying to stall while he got his body under control.

  “There’s nothing left to do here.”

  Well, Cooper would have to disagree with that.

  “Hey, come here,” he told her as he stood.

  Without waiting for her, he moved to the sound system that was hidden in a panel on one end of the bar. He ran through the menu of songs until he found the playlist he was looking for and then hit play.

  Moving back to Tessa, he took her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor. She was smiling up at him, and the carefree look on her face was so rare, it stole his breath.

  Pulling her in close, Cooper removed her hat, placing it on the edge of the stage before sliding one hand in hers, the other around her waist. With their bodies aligned so intimately, he had to look down to see her, but even with their height difference, they fit together like puzzle pieces. He prayed she didn’t feel the effect she had on him, but he couldn’t very well help it. They had been doing this figurative dance for more than two weeks now and honestly, Cooper was looking forward to getting his hands on her again. Even innocently.

  Although his hands weren’t thinking anything innocent at the moment.

  “Are you trying to tell me something, Krenshaw?”

  “Me? I don’t have any idea what you’re talkin’ about,” he replied, smiling. Cooper knew she was referring to the song, and yes, he could never go wrong with Conway Twitty.

  “You think you’re sly, don’t you?”

  Sly or not, Cooper didn’t want to move from where he was. They danced slowly around the floor, two stepping although their feet barely moved. This was as close as they’d been since the night that he kissed her, and the feel of her soft, smooth fingers entwined with his, the crush of her breasts against his torso, were exactly how he remembered. Better even.

  While the song referred to laying her down, Cooper was perfectly content with being upright. Hell, he wasn’t particular about how they went about it, he just wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep going another minute without kissing her. When the next song he had selected queued, Cooper knew his control would be shot in less than thirty seconds.

  Chapter Nine

  “Let me guess? You and Jason Aldean are friends?” Tessa asked as she stared up at the man whose arm was wrapped around her back, the heat of his hand scorching her skin even through her shirt.

  “And what if we are?” he smirked.

  They were so close, not even a breath would fit between them, yet Tessa’s body was screaming for more. Not that she would ask. It wasn’t what good girls did and quite frankly, Tessa was bound and determined to be a good girl. She’d spent the majority of her life being just the opposite. And for some reason, with Cooper, she didn’t want him to know that side of her. Despite her better judgment, she didn’t want to send him running. She had a feeling he’d be deciding to do that on his own before too long.

  The way his intense brown eyes watched her, made her mouth go dry. When she used her tongue to moisten her bottom lip, she felt his body tense and suddenly, Tessa prayed he’d get the hint. If he didn’t kiss her soon, she was almost certain her body would spontaneously combust.

  He picked an incredibly fitting song and suddenly not talking anymore sounded like an extremely good plan to her too. When Cooper leaned closer, pressing his lips to hers, Tessa held her breath while praying he would lose the perfect gentleman act for at least a few minutes. She wanted this man to sweep her off of her feet.

  Seconds later, that’s exactly what he did.

  Suddenly they weren’t moving anymore. They were both rooted in place, their hands had taken up the part of their feet as they touched and tasted as though they’d been waiting for this day.

  She had.

  Tessa lost her ability to think when Cooper’s tongue slid into her mouth, his taste sending her body into hyperspace as she wrapped her arms around his neck, looping her fingers into the soft, silky hair at the nape of his neck, just beneath his cowboy hat. When Cooper pulled her even closer, his hips subtly grinding into hers, she moaned.

  “Lord, woman, if you keep doing that, I’m going to forget how to be a gentleman,” Cooper said breathlessly.

  Tessa stared back at him. At this point, she didn’t give a damn what they did, but if he didn’t put his mouth back on hers, she might just scream. “You talk too much.”

  That mischievous, crooked grin sent tingles racing through her bloodstream, taking brief breaks along the way to explode in her belly and then linger between her legs.

  “Well, you don’t have to tell me twice.”

  Tessa squealed when Cooper lifted her off of her feet, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist, the evidence of his arousal pressing intimately between her thighs and causing her to groan seconds before his mouth was once again on hers. This time, Tessa knocked his hat from his head and held him in place, not allowing him to get away from her until she got her fill. Based on the way he kissed, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get enough.

  Her back hit the solid wall, and yet she still didn’t allow him to get away. She couldn’t stop, couldn’t let go because she wanted more of him. Her body had a mind of its own, and she was grinding herself against his erection, his groans matching hers as he pressed her firmly against the wall, his hands bracketing her ass as he held her in place.

  “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked when they both came up for air a few minutes later. “What you’ve done to me since the very first time I laid eyes on you?”

  “I’ve got some idea,” she whispered, her eyes darting from his lips to his eyes and then back again. Tessa watched his mouth, her brain on a single track with one destination in mind, and she feared that, if she allowed him to keep talking, they weren’t going to get there.

  Cooper’s mouth returned, but this time he sent sparks of fire trailing down her neck in the path of his lips as he kissed and sucked her skin, making her damn near come apart at the seams.

  The intelligent part of her brain told her that she shouldn’t be doing this, but the other part, the part ruled by her hormones, told her not to care. She’d spent too long waiting for him to kiss her again. She had gone without for eve
n longer and just having his hands on her would probably be enough.

  “Darlin’, as much as I don’t want this to stop, I fear if we don’t, you won’t like me all that much in the mornin’.” Cooper’s words were a breath against her ear.

  “I don’t care about liking you. As long as you keep doing that,” Tessa groaned, her head falling back so he could have better access to her neck.

  “See, that’s where we differ,” he said with a chuckle between kisses. “I’m very interested in you liking me.”

  Cooper’s lips were close to her ear once again, and a shiver raced down her spine. Tessa wasn’t sure she was going to survive this. She wasn’t a virgin by any means, but never in her life had a man’s voice appealed to her so much. Not to mention his hands on her.

  “Well, I can assure you that I like what you’re doing,” Tessa whispered back to him, turning her head so she could bite his earlobe with her teeth. The guttural growl that rose up from his chest had moisture pooling between her legs.

  “That’s a start. I plan to do so many more things to you that I want you to like.”

  Tessa could hear the “but” in his tone. He was going to stop, and she so didn’t want him to. She didn’t even want to think about what that said about her.

  “I’d just prefer we had a place that was a little less… public. One where I could take my time because I want to run my tongue over every inch of your body.”

  Oh, God yes! Tessa’s body tightened at his words. If he actually said something dirty to her, she couldn’t promise that she wouldn’t have a mind blowing orgasm right there, fully dressed.

  “And?” Her question was meant to spur him on.

  “And what?” Cooper pulled back, and she could once again see his mischievous grin. “Tell me what you want me to do to you, Tessa.”