Prologue
Tell McKay had a boner.
In history class.
At least it hadn’t happened in math, where he’d have to stand at the board to solve a problem and then everyone could see…his problem.
His cheeks burned imagining how much that would suck.
He shifted in his seat and blamed his situation on the distraction seated in front of him.
The oh-so-hot, oh-so-out-of-his-league, sweet, sexy and amazingly perfect class beauty, Georgia Hotchkiss.
Yeah, Georgia was always on his mind.
She was something else. A petite powerhouse. The ultimate diversion. Those damn short, damn tight cheerleading skirts that showcased her athletic body. If he angled his head to the side, he caught a glimpse of her muscular thigh instead of the back of her head. Not that the view was bad. Her hair was as black and shiny as a crow’s wing in the sun. Add in her china-white skin, full ruby lips and Georgia could be a modern-day Snow White.
You’re a real poet, McKay. More like a fuckin’ pervert. Think about something else.
“Tell?”
Startled by the husky rasp of his name, he glanced up from his notebook, right into pale, icy-blue eyes that made him stammer like a fool. “W-what?”
“Did you do the homework assignment?”
Be cool. Do not imagine Hot Lips Hotchkiss whispering that in your ear. “Yep.”
Her mouth curved into a smile. He wondered if the gloss glistening on her lips was flavored. Would it taste like bubble gum? Peaches? Ripe black cherries?
“Thank God. Can I copy it?”
Tell managed to rip his focus from her plump lips. Before he could speak, she cranked the charm on high.
“Please? You let me do it before. And I didn’t have time because I was…”
Sucking face with your asshole boyfriend?
Not that he’d ever say that, but man, he hated Declan “Deck” Veldekamp; not just because the super jock—aka big man on campus—was dating the hottest girl in their class. The guy was a prick and a bully. And those were his best traits.
“You was what?” Tell whispered back.
“Bottle-feeding the replacement calves my dad got yesterday.”
He snorted.
“You don’t believe me? I’m serious. I had chores to finish last night.”
“So did I. And I was up until three a.m. helping my brothers pull a couple of calves since my dad—” was passed out in the barn, “—needed some shut-eye and I still got my homework done.”
Her tempting lips formed a pretty pout. “I don’t see the big deal in you letting me copy it real quick.”
You wouldn’t.
Like you didn’t see a problem asking me to help with prom decorations, and I ended up doing everything.
Like you didn’t see a problem asking me to help with Fellowship of Christian Athletes concessions, and I ended up doing everything.
“Please, Tell? I’m desperate.”
“Miss Hotchkiss,” Mrs. Walls said sharply. “Stop flirting with Mr. McKay and get ready to turn in your assignment.”
Swish. Her silky hair tickled Tell’s knuckles as she whipped her head. The scent of cherries traveled from his nose straight to his crotch.
Fuckin’ awesome.
“I’m afraid that’s the problem, Mrs. Walls,” Georgia intoned sweetly. “I seem to have…lost my assignment and I was just asking if he saw the paper fall out of my binder.”
“Is that true, Tell?”
Now Miss Sweet and Sexy was asking him to lie for her? Bull crap.
“No, ma’am, that is not true.”
“Well, then, what were you two whispering about that was so all-fired important that you disrupted my class?” Mrs. Walls demanded.
Tell knew the hard-nosed teacher wouldn’t let it go. “Georgia and I were talkin’ about the upcoming class project, bein’s we’re partners. She forgot the folder with our notes and discovered she’d slipped her assignment in it too.”
When Georgia gaped at him, Tell allowed a smug grin, but stopped short of giving her a conspiratorial wink.
“I’ll let it slide this time, only because I’m impressed you two have already started on the project,” Mrs. Walls said.
Score! Now with Hot Lips as his partner for a major graded assignment, she couldn’t back out. It finally gave him the chance to show her the real Tell McKay. Not the tongue-tied loser who sat behind her in history class and sniffed her hair.
“What’s the subject matter?” Mrs. Walls asked him.
Crap. “Ah. Advances and setbacks in Wyoming livestock practices over the course of Wyoming statehood.” Hey, that sounded pretty good, especially on the fly.
“Excellent. The rest of you might as well choose partners today—after you turn in your assignments. The bell rings in two minutes, so get cracking.”
Tell’s mind drifted into a soft-focus image of Georgia and him, alone, studying in the back of the library with their heads bent close. When they looked up simultaneously, Georgia would whisper his name and lick her lips, letting him know she wanted him. Then would he gently touch her face and slide his hand into that thick waterfall of shiny black hair? Or would he keep eye contact with her as he gradually moved in for a long, slow kiss?
No. He’d grab her, kiss her with all the bottled-up passion he hadn’t had the chance to show any woman, let alone her. Passion that was just waiting to burst free. While they were kissing like crazy, her soft hands would be all over him.
No. His hands would be all over her. Slipping under her shirt to touch her boobs. Inching beneath the spandex panties she wore under her cheerleading skirt.
She’d be moaning, rubbing her hand against his fly. Then he’d pick her up—just like in the movies. He’d sweep all the books and papers off the desk—just like in the movies. Then he’d gently lay her across the surface, bringing his body on top of hers. For some of that sliding, pounding, pumping action—
“Tell?”
His guilty gaze winged to Georgia. “Ah, what?”
“Are you even listening to me?”
He stammered, “N-no. Why?”
“The bell rang.”
Shit. “Oh.”
“Why are you still sitting there?”
Because I have another freakin’ boner. “Because I’m tired. I must’ve fallen asleep.”
She blinked at him. “With your eyes open?”
Way to be an idiot. He shrugged and fought another lame blush. Please, don’t let his face reveal that he’d been in a porn scene, dry-humping her to orgasm as she screamed his name. Be cool. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to say thanks for covering for me, but I can’t be your partner.”
Every fantasy—and his dick—deflated. “Why not?”
Georgia gnawed on her lip. “Deck will get mad.”
“So? It’s for school. Say the teacher put us together.”
“But Smitty was here. He’ll tattle that we weren’t assigned and us partnering up was your idea. Then Deck will want to, well…deck you.”
“I’d like to see him try.” Ooh, such a tough guy, McKay. Deck would wipe the floor with your scrawny ass.
“I can’t do that to you, Tell.”
Was her concern for him from fear? Or from something else? She had been talking to him a lot during class the last couple of months. Did she kind of…like him?
Wait. If he let Deck beat the ever-lovin’ crap out of him, would Georgia feel so guilty she’d offer to kiss his injuries and make them better? For the first time ever, he really hoped a guy punched him in the crotch.
Nice fucking fantasy, perv, but it ain’t ever gonna happen.
“You understand, don
’t you?”
His focus snapped back to her. “What’s your grade in this class?”
She dropped her gaze. “I have a C. Minus.”
“I have an A. This project could raise your grade to a B if you partner with me.”
“Well, okay then. But we can’t meet to work on the project during school hours where anyone could see us.”
If he’d had an ego, it would’ve taken a massive hit. “Where we gonna work on it?”
“How about the public library? In, ah, Moorcroft.” Her fingers nervously twisted the purity ring on a chain around her neck. “I’ll meet you there tomorrow night.”
That’s when he knew he’d be doing the history project alone.
That’s when he understood that sucker defined a guy like him, easily manipulated by a pretty girl.
That’s when he swore it’d never happen again.
Chapter One
Ten years later…
“Tell McKay, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“BeeBee, darlin’, I swear you get younger-lookin’ every time I see you. Pretty soon I’m gonna be carding you to make sure you’re old enough to be serving in a bar.”
“Even an old broad like me ain’t immune to that bullshit flattery.” She opened the cooler. “You drinkin’ Bud Light?”
“Yep.” Tell caught the bottle when the bartender slid it across the bar top. “Thanks, Beebs.”
“No problem. So where’s the blonde from last week?”
He grinned. “It’s a new week.”
BeeBee flapped the bar towel at him. “You’re such a McKay.”
“I’ll take the compliment. But you gotta admit I ain’t as wild as some of my cousins in their heyday.”
“I think you’re worse, sugar, because you hide it better. Lord, them dimples of yours are deep enough to get lost in. And the ladies eat up that fun-lovin’ gentleman cowboy bit you do so well.” She shook her finger at him. “Don’t deny it.”
“I don’t. But I’ll point out I am a fun-lovin’ gentleman cowboy, so it ain’t like I’m pretending to be something that I’m not.”
BeeBee’s gaze flicked to whoever stood behind him.
Tell slowly turned around on his barstool to see a redhead glaring at him. Aw, hell. Not again. He remembered he’d done a little mattress dancing with this cutie last year, but he couldn’t recall her name. “Hey, pretty lady.”
She rolled her eyes. “Does that work for you? The ‘hey, pretty lady’ when you can’t remember a woman’s name after you slept with her?”
BeeBee snorted.
Tell grinned. “Yep.”
The woman opened her mouth, no doubt about to read him the riot act, but he jumped in to head her off.
“Now, don’t go getting all indignant, darlin’. We both had a great time—that part I do remember. I told you up front that’s all it’d be.”
She sidled up to the bar, telling BeeBee, “A honey Jack and seven with lemon, please.” Then she cocked her head. “I’m Jamie.”
“Well, pretty Jamie, I may’ve been fuzzy on your name, but I do recall one thing about you.”
“What’s that?”
Tell traced the line of her neck from beneath her jawbone to the hollow of her throat. “How much you liked havin’ my mouth here.”
Jamie’s breath caught. “You are the devil. A handsome devil with dirty, sweet-talking ways and wicked, wicked hands.”
“Mmm-hmm. But knowing that ahead of time still didn’t keep you from sayin’ yes to me, did it?”
“Because I didn’t want to say no.” Her gaze gravitated to his crotch and zoomed back to his eyes. “Then or now.”
He raised a brow. “That right?”
She inserted her curvy body between his thighs and leaned into him. “Buy me a drink, cowboy, and we’ll talk.”
His night was looking up. “BeeBee doll, put Jamie’s drink on my tab.”
BeeBee snorted again.
“So, you here with anyone?” Tell asked.
Jamie took a healthy sip of her drink. “My friend Stephanie and some chick she knew in high school.”
High school. A time in his life he’d rather forget.
He set down his bottle and said, “Dance with me.”
There wasn’t a band, just piped-in country music, but several couples were on the dance floor.
Three fast songs later, Tell led Jamie back to their seats at bar. “I forgot that you’re such a great dancer,” she said breathlessly.
“Ain’t a lot of other things to do around here on the weekends.”
“But I haven’t seen you in Ziggy’s for a while.”
He didn’t mention he was in here every Tuesday night for dart league. “We just got done calving. Now I’m gearing up for rodeo season. Which means I’ll be gone most Friday and Saturday nights.”
She placed her hand on his chest. “Is that your way of warning me off?”
“Nope. Just stating the facts up front.” He shifted against the bar and put his mouth on her ear. “So knowing that… What are the odds that you’ll come home with me tonight?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether you still live with your brother.”
His lips nibbled down her jawline to the column of her throat. “My brother was only staying with me temporarily. So it’d just be you and me. I’ll be the only one to hear you moan when I do this.” Tell parted his lips and sucked on the sweep of skin where her neck met her shoulder.
“God. You’re good at that.” She bared her entire throat.
“At what?”
“Seducing me with your mouth and the words flowing from it.”
He chuckled against her neck. “So is that a yes, pretty—”
“Jamie?”
Tell froze. He recognized that smoky voice. Soft, sweet, unbelievably sexy. Been a while since he’d heard it. He lifted his head, but kept his face shadowed beneath the brim of his hat.
“Can’t you see I’m a little busy?” Jamie said crossly.
“I wouldn’t bother you, but Stephanie told me to tell you that your sister has called your cell about ten times. She thinks you oughta call her back in case it’s an emergency.”
Jamie stepped away from him, warning, “Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’ll be right here, waitin’ on you.” As soon as Jamie flounced off, Tell raised his head, looking at the woman who’d starred in his teenage fantasies for three long years. “Hello, Georgia.”
Surprise crossed her face. She stumbled backward and would’ve fallen on her ass if he hadn’t lunged for her.
“Whoa, there.”
“Tell? Tell McKay? You’re the hot cowboy Jamie was talking about?”
Tell wasn’t sure if he should scowl because of Georgia’s shock or if he should grin because she’d called him hot. A smile won out. “Yep, that’s me.”
“Wow. You…look amazing.” Georgia’s gaze traveled over his shoulders, his arms, his chest and then landed back on his face. Her fingers tightened on his biceps as if she was testing the merchandise. “Like, really amazing.”
He couldn’t look away from her. Christ. Hot Lips Hotchkiss was still a knockout. Her ebony hair was shorter—shoulder length, rather than flowing halfway down her back in a tangle of black silk. Same lush mouth. Same startling blue eyes. She’d put on weight, which had softened the sharp angles of her face, and added some curves to her compact body.
“You’re staring at me,” she said in that low-pitched voice he’d dreamed about.
“You were staring at me first, darlin’. And I’m pretty sure you can let go of me now, unless you wanna challenge me to an arm-wrasslin’ match?”
“Ah. No. Sorry.” A hint of pink spread from her neck up to her cheekbones and she dropped her hands.
Interesting. Tell couldn’t remember if he’d ever seen her blush in high school. “So what are you doin’ here?”
“Having a drink with Stephanie. You remember her?”
T
ell frowned. “Was she in our graduating class?”
“Yes. Stephanie Blackstone?”
“Ah. Now I remember. One of them smart girls. But I didn’t know you two were friends.”
Her eyes turned cool. “I couldn’t be friends with a smart girl because I was a dumb cheerleader?”
Shit. He’d stepped in it with her first thing. He felt the knots tighten in his tongue as that stammering, apologizing, blushing boy from the past made a brief appearance.
No sirree. He was not going there. He hadn’t been that kid for a long damn time. He reached for his beer and sipped. Then he granted her a slow grin. “Georgia girl, you were smart enough to get a boy like me to do your schoolwork, even when you were more than capable of doin’ it yourself. So that snippy response don’t hold true and you know it.”
She laughed self-consciously. “I guess I deserved that.”
At least she could laugh at herself. “I haven’t seen Stephanie in years.”
“Steph moved back to Moorcroft last year but she travels all over the state for her job.”
“I haven’t seen you in years either. What brings you back to Sundance?”
His cell buzzed before she could answer. Normally he would ignore it, but he’d been expecting—dreading—this call. He lifted a finger and said, “Hold on a sec. I gotta take this.” He clicked Answer. “What’s up?”
“Landon has been shrieking since you left him here. He don’t wanna watch a movie. He ain’t hungry. And the little sh— poop kicked my dog. When I put him in time out, he smacked me in the face with his fire truck. Sorry, bro, but I can’t do this alone.”
Perfect fucking timing as usual. “Fine. I’ll be there in fifteen.” Tell finished his beer. He fished out a twenty and dropped it on the bar, signaling to BeeBee. “We square?”
“Sure enough. You’re leaving so soon?”
“Gotta deal with a kid problem.”
BeeBee frowned. “You’ve got Landon this weekend?”
“Yeah, and he’s actin’ up bad enough to warrant a call, so I gotta get. Thanks.” Tell looked at Georgia with serious regret. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to catch up. Take care.” He slipped on his PRCA jacket and hustled out the door.
Georgia watched the hot cowboy with the black hat disappear into the night. Tell McKay had been cute in high school in that sweet and dorky way. But now? The man was drop-dead gorgeous.
Kissin' Tell: Rough Riders, Book 13 Page 1
