Cowboy-Sexy

by Donna Michaels

  With duffle bags slung over their shoulders, they stole kisses on the way into the house, and for once in Finn’s life, everything felt right with the world.

  ****

  Life was perfect. Too perfect. A shiver raced down Cammie’s spine. Experience had taught her that was when the other shoe dropped.

  Her gaze bounced around the dimly lit bar, half expecting someone to jump from behind a pole and tell her she’d been dreaming. That none of her time with Finn had been real.

  She blinked and focused on the man sitting next to her in the black vinyl booth of the local bar and grill, his hand warm on her leg. Cowboy-Sexy was real, very real. She covered his hand with hers and smiled into his happy face.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  Not wanting to spoil their night, she kept her thoughts to herself and increased her smile instead. “That it’s time to invest in the jukebox.”

  “Ah, good idea,” Brett said from across the table. “It’s a bit too quiet in here for a Friday night.”

  “True.” Finn nodded, refilling his and his brother’s mugs.

  Cammie was sticking to soda. Not just because she volunteered to be the designated driver, but because her gut told her she’d need her wits. She gave Finn a quick kiss, then slipped from the booth and crossed the bar to the neon music maker flashing in the corner.

  Maybe she was being paranoid. Heck, they’d already weathered one storm here. Heather. Finn’s ex had stopped by their table earlier to welcome Brett home. They had asked her to join them, but the petite blonde had politely declined.

  During the meeting, Cammie had studied Finn from under her lashes and a thrill had shot through her. He hadn’t removed his touch or tensed up and his gaze had heated only when he looked her way.

  Maybe she was just anxious because, for the first time that year, she wasn’t in any emotional pain. She still missed her mother. A lot. But she no longer felt so alone.

  The twang of a steel guitar filled the air as her first selection began to play. She punched in her final choice and turned to leave when something big in red flannel and a straw cowboy hat blocked her path.

  “Thanks for playing my favorite song, sweetcheeks. How ’bout a dance?” Big ’n’ Burly asked, holding out a calloused hand.

  She brought a non-encouraging smile to her lips. “I’m glad you like the song, but I’m here with someone.”

  Cammie went to step around him and sighed inwardly when the idiot moved with her.

  “I’m sure he won’t mind one dance,” the goof insisted, grabbing her arm.

  Why was it the bigger they were, the harder their hearing?

  She stared him down. “Remove your hand before I break it.”

  The big guy’s gaze darkened, and she started calculating the amount of pressure needed to carry out her threat when she heard a familiar deep tone.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Finn appeared to the man’s right, his gaze steel hard as it rested on her admirer. Cammie didn’t need his help, or her C.O.’s who now stood silently behind his brother, his gaze a replica of Finn’s.

  Surprise lessened Big ’n’ Burly’s grip. She jerked free and stepped toward Finn.

  “Nope. Nothing’s wrong.” She slipped her arm around his waist and drew him away. “The cowboy was just complimenting me on my choice of music.”

  Finn hesitated, his gaze still trained on the big guy. Cammie tugged and he broke eye contact to look at her.

  “Let’s dance.” She led him to the floor, trying to think of something to add that would capture his attention. “You know, dancing is one of the few activities we haven’t done together.”

  He grinned that cowboy-sexy grin and her pulse hiccupped.

  “Well, then it’s high time we fix that.” He spun her around before pulling her close.

  She laughed and settled against him, closing her eyes, their bodies moving as one to the slow tempo of the love song beginning to play. Cammie soon discovered Cowboy-Sexy was gifted in the dance department too. The way his hips moved against hers sent those damn butterflies into a heated frenzy and stole the strength from her legs.

  When the song ended, she opened her eyes and spotted the captain drinking his beer alone. Reality had the same effect as a cold shower.

  She looked up at Finn. “I could dance with you forever, but since this is supposed to be a homecoming celebration, we should get back to Brett.”

  He blinked, then glanced over at his brother and nodded. “I forgot about him. It’s your fault. When you’re this close, you fog my brain.” He slipped an arm around her to lead her off the floor.

  The captain lifted his beer in a mock salute.

  “You two didn’t have to stop on my account. I invested a lot in my plan and it’s great to reap the rewards.”

  Cammie kicked his shin as she slipped into the booth and smiled when he yelped.

  “I still can’t believe you did that to me…and Finn…and your mother.”

  Her C.O. set his mug down and leaned back in his seat, satisfaction lighting his blue eyes.

  “Come on, Lieutenant. You should know I play to win.”

  Finn leaned forward. “You’re just lucky we all eventually wanted the same outcome.”

  “True.” Brett grinned. “I can only imagine what the two of you thought in the beginning.”

  “Actually, our feelings were mutual then, too.” She glanced from her C.O., to Finn and back again. “We both wanted to kill you.”

  Brett laughed. “I bet.”

  “But now, I think we’ll stick with thanking you,” Finn remarked.

  “Yeah,” she agreed. “I already popped you once. I guess I can leave it at that.”

  All three of them laughed and Cammie sat back when the conversation turned to the ranch with Finn bringing his brother up to speed on business.

  For the second time that night, she watched his body language and was surprised to see a lack of tension. Finn truly did enjoy working on the dude ranch. Almost as much as the military.

  Almost.

  “Okay, enough about work.”

  Brett’s gaze narrowed on Finn as he toyed with his mug.

  “I have to say, bro, you’re looking great.”

  The cowboy grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers. “It’s all thanks to Cammie.”

  Her C.O. chuckled. “I’m sure that’s true about how you feel, but I’m talking about how you look. I’ve been watching you since I got home, Finn.” He leaned closer, tapping the table with his finger. “There’s no limp, not a trace. It’s completely gone.”

  Finn squeezed her hand and leaned back, a broad smile covering his handsome face.

  “I have the same answer for you, bro. It’s all because of Cammie.”

  “Is that right?”

  “No…well, maybe.” She looked from one brother to the other, wondering how much Finn was willing to tell Brett about his plans. “I’ve been helping him train. We’ve been hiking up the mountain several days a week.”

  The captain’s brows rose as his glass lowered. “The mountain? Really, Finn? That’s fantastic.”

  Finn smiled at Cammie, his gaze too devilish. He was up to something.

  “Motivation is the key.”

  Her mind immediately thought of the waterfall and their repeated respites. Heat rushed to her face and she punched his arm.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. I salute you, Finn.” Brett brought his hand up to his forehead and followed through with the action as both brothers shared identical smart-ass grins. “In all the years I’ve known Lieutenant Camilla Walker, I’ve never seen her blush.”

  She reached for her drink and huffed. “I didn’t think I was capable until I met your brother.”

  “Finn has a way of getting people to do the impossible,” her C.O. proclaimed.

  Her gaze met Cowboy-Sexy’s over her glass. “So I’ve noticed.”

  He got her to fall in love with him…another SEAL of all things. She sipped her soda.
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  “I think it’s wonderful you’re helping Finn with his rehab, Cammie.”

  She shared a look with the Navy cowboy and smiled encouragingly. He nodded and faced his brother.

  “Cammie isn’t helping me with rehab, Brett. She’s helping me train.”

  Her C.O. frowned over his beer. “Train for what?”

  She covered Finn’s hand and squeezed.

  “To get back into the SEALs. I have a physical scheduled at Coronado on Tuesday.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Cammie watched the blood drain from her captain’s face a second before his mug slammed onto the table.

  “The SEALs? Are you crazy? No. You can’t do that to Cammie.”

  Brett transferred his horrified gaze to her and reached across the table to grab her hand.

  “Cammie, I’m so sorry. I swear if I’d known, I never would’ve tried to set you two up.”

  She released Finn to capture her C.O.’s hand. “It’s okay. Don’t be sorry. I’m not.”

  The man blinked and bounced his gaze between them. “You’re not?”

  “No. I’ll admit the thought of your brother being put in harm’s way keeps me up at night. But…” She released the captain and turned to Finn who was watching her intently. “I knew the risks. I went into this relationship with my eyes wide open, and no matter the outcome on Tuesday, no matter what Finn chooses to do, I’ll support him.”

  The emotions deepening the blue in Cowboy-Sexy’s eyes stole her breath a second before their lips met. His touch was tender and full of unspoken feelings, and she decided then and there his kiss had never tasted so good.

  “Oorah! I knew you were the right woman for my brother.”

  Her C.O. slapped the table, the sound reminding Cammie they were in public.

  She reluctantly drew back, but continued to float on that preverbal cloud, and lifted higher when Finn held her gaze and spoke.

  “Cammie’s the only woman for me.”

  Her vision instantly blurred.

  She leaned in and brushed his lips again, fighting to keep her throat from closing. For the first time in a long time, her future looked solid.

  “Does mom know? No, of course not, she would’ve told me,” Brett answered his own question.

  They broke apart, but Finn held her hand as he faced his brother. “No one but us, Clint, and my unit knows. No sense in saying anything to anyone else, until there’s something to say.”

  The captain nodded and raised his beer. “A toast is in order. To, Cammie. The best damn lieutenant anyone could ever have. You were sorely missed on this deployment.”

  “Of course I was, sir.” She smiled. “No one knows you better, except maybe your mother and your twin.”

  They laughed before drinking the toast. Cammie turned to the cowboy beside her and raised her glass again.

  “To Finn. May the Navy find you as invaluable as I do.”

  “Here, here,” Brett echoed.

  They clinked glasses then drank. Cammie was feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, until she spotted Big ’n’ Burly following Heather down the corridor leading to the restrooms.

  The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up.

  It could’ve been a coincidence, but when the guy looked back to make sure no one else was coming, Cammie knew better. She set her drink on the table and wondered if she should tell the guys what she’d seen.

  What if she was wrong? Finn and the straw-hatted cowboy had nearly come to blows earlier, no need to alarm them. Besides, she could handle whatever the big guy dished out.

  “If you’ll excuse me. I need to go fix my make-up, thanks to you.” She gave Finn a quick kiss and gently but firmly shoved him out of the booth.

  Doing her best to keep from running, Cammie hurried down the dimly lit hall to the door with the sign of a triangle shaped woman. She pushed. It wouldn’t budge.

  “Heather? Are you okay?” she called, knocking loudly.

  Cammie heard a low, muffled voice before Heather answered.

  “Y-yeah.”

  That told her all she needed to know.

  She stepped back, then kicked the door hard just above the handle. The wooden casing broke and the door flew open, startling Big ’n’ Burly enough for Heather to break from his grasp. Cammie rushed in and positioned herself between them.

  “I think you’re in the wrong restroom, pal.” She pointed to the hall. “I suggest you go home and sober up.”

  He reached behind him and pulled a gun, waving the weapon around like it was a toy.

  Great. Drunk and armed.

  “And I suggest you give me that dance you owe me, bitch.”

  Cammie kept her gaze on the gun, noting with alarm that the safety was off. She pushed the shaking Heather toward the door. It would be much easier to handle the guy without worrying about someone else.

  “Go get security,” she commanded.

  “No one leaves,” Big ’n’ Burly insisted, alternating his aim between them.

  “You don’t need her, you’ve got me.” Cammie pointed to herself, drawing his attention so Heather could escape. “You want to dance? Let’s dance.”

  She stepped toward the drooling hulk, calculating the distance before she could strike.

  Two feet.

  “Keep your hands where I can see them,” he slurred.

  One more foot.

  “Cammie!”

  Finn and the captain burst into the room. From the corner of her eye, she noted their faces were anxious and pale. Damn. Now the creep waved the gun at all three of them.

  She put her feelings for the twins out of her mind and let her training kick in.

  With the assailant’s attention momentarily on the two men, Cammie rushed forward, grabbed his gun hand and shifted his aim to the opposite side of the room before ramming her elbow into his gut. Hard.

  When he gasped for air, his hand went slack. She jabbed him again, knocked the weapon away and body checked him into the wall. He sailed back, cracking his head on the tile before sliding to the floor with a thud. She quickly kicked the gun and watched as it skidded across the black and white checkered floor toward the sink.

  Big ’n’ Burly moaned. She turned toward him, planted her feet and waited to see if he was going to make another move.

  He rubbed the back of his head, then looked at his wet fingers. “I’m bleeding you stupid bitch!”

  “I’m no bitch.” Cammie jammed her hands on her hips. “I’m a Marine.”

  “Oorah,” Brett sounded from behind. “You picked the wrong woman, pal.”

  Strong hands clamped around her arms and she was twisted around to face an anxious Finn.

  “Are you all right?”

  He looked her up and down, blue eyes dark and desperate.

  “I’m fine.”

  She held his ashen face, forcing him to focus.

  “Really, Finn. I’m okay. He didn’t get a shot off.”

  Cammie watched as her words sunk in, then stiffened when his gaze hardened and settled on the bleeding man.

  “You son-of-a-bitch!”

  He brushed her aside, grabbed Big ’n’ Burly by the collar and lifted him to his feet with one hand as if he were a feather.

  “You tried to shoot my fiancée.”

  He drew his other hand back and made a fist, the sound of cracking knuckles echoed around the room.

  “Finn, don’t!” Brett rushed forward. “He’s not worth it.”

  Cammie eased in between the Navy cowboy and his target, placing one hand on Finn’s chest and the other around his shaking fist.

  “Finn. Please. Brett’s right. It’s not worth your Naval career. You’ve worked too hard.”

  Cowboy-Sexy blinked and shifted his focused on her.

  “He tried to kill you.”

  “He tried. Didn’t succeed.” She smiled. “I’m fine, Finn. He’s the one who’s bleeding, right?”

  “Listen to Cammie,” his brother encouraged. “Let the authorities take care
of him.”

  She held her breath, her heart beats growing louder by the second until Finn finally lowered his fist. He released Big ’n’ Burly who stumbled backward into the wall just as the police stepped inside the room.

  ****

  Finn didn’t think he’d ever sleep again. The image of that creep pointing a gun at Cammie wouldn’t go away. It happened hours ago. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Two minutes after three. Yeah, he wasn’t going to sleep tonight.

  Cammie stirred in his arms. He kissed her head and held her tight, his body heating under her naked curves. He knew he should focus on the positive, but he wanted, needed to hit something. Preferably the big creep’s face. Then gut. Then face a few more times.

  He closed his eyes and immediately saw the gun. Damn. His eyes snapped open and he stared at the ceiling. It was going to be a long night. Hell, it had already been long. They’d spent an hour and half filling out police reports before they dropped Heather off and came home. Then they spent the next forty minutes reiterating the evening to Terry and his mother.

  By that time, he’d been antsy. His heart felt squished in some sort of vice. He couldn’t breathe. His insides hurt. All he wanted was to get Cammie alone and lose himself inside her. And he had. Their lovemaking had been frantic and fierce, and God help him, fantastic.

  And now he needed her again.

  He gazed at the sleeping beauty whose luscious curves curled around him. He didn’t have the heart to wake her. She’d had a rough night, too. He’d settle for laying there, one hand cupping her incredible backside while the other traced circles on her shoulder.

  She sighed and snuggled closer, her breath warm on his chest.

  “Mmm…I’ll give you two days to stop.”

  Finn smiled and ran his hand over her hip. “Deal.”

  He kissed the top of her head again, his body tingling as her fingers skimmed down his torso, stopping tantalizingly close to his tightening groin.

  He watched her lean on one arm, a sleepy smile on her face as she reached up to feather light strokes through his hair, lips hovering just out of reach.