Filthy Cowboy

by Amy Brent

  Clearly, he was a rich kid but he said he was a student. Family money maybe that belonged to a guy that still wanted to do something, that had a skill. Either way, it made her beat up SUV look like a complete piece of shit.

  “What is your major, Mallory?” The way her name sounded with his slight accent gave her the shivers and she looked over at him as he pulled out of the parking lot. De clan was the picture of confident as he leaned back in his seat and drove, with his dark hair in waves around his shoulders as she watched him pull it out of the bun that it had been in. So few men could pull that off to begin with but she couldn’t decide if she liked it better up or down.

  “Film. I’m studying all of the aspects of it to see where I want to end up.” She responded after a moment and a look from him, followed by a nod.

  “I would think you’d want to be in the movies, not behind the camera.” He delivered the compliment with a careless ease that almost made her believe him as her thighs heated up along with her face and neck.

  “I think I’m more of the behind the scenes kind of girl. I just love when an idea forms in my head. The movie starts playing out almost too fast for me to jot down.” Mallory admitted, feeling the fire inside of her that sparked up whenever she talked about her passion in life.

  “I feel that way when I play too. It’s like a high that you can’t get enough of, isn’t it?” De clan mused out loud as she nodded before glancing at her at a stoplight. “I was thinking of a pub for some fish and chips. Does that sound good?”

  “Perfect.” Mallory responded, mesmerized by the way his cheekbones sloped down his face to his full lips. He was a big guy and muscular to boot but his face was gorgeous and he was making her move away from the business type that she’d seemed to date since school started. They drove into the better part of Carmel and he parked effortlessly on the curb and smiled at her before he opened his door and walked around.

  “It’s a perfect time for a late lunch.” De clan told her as he pulled her door open and leaned in to help her out.

  “I agree.” She was captivated by the way that he looked at her as she took his hand to get out of the low vehicle. Heat slid up her arm as they made contact and forced her eyes to his as she took a slow breath.

  Declan was everything that Mallory should stay away from but she found herself stepping closer to him as he closed the door behind her.

  CHAPTER TWO

  They were seated immediately once he walked up to the hostess stand, set apart from the rest of the tables in a cozy corner by a fireplace. He joked back and forth with the waitress as she took Mallory’s order of coffee and his tea, apparently being a regular. Mallory didn’t miss the look the pretty brunette gave her when Declan wasn’t looking but she let it pass as she leaned back against the chair. This wasn’t a date and it was nothing to even worry about yet. The look her gave her as he leaned closer suggested otherwise and she dragged her tongue across her lip as he watched her closely. “How long have you played rugby?” Her voice was soft as she tried to keep it from shaking.

  “Since I was a boy. I’ve always loved sports but rugby was it for me as far as any type of future. I’m a center and I love the fast pace of the game.” She could see herself in his face when he talked about it, the passion making his eyed shimmer as he seemed to lose himself in the thought. “I came two years ago to come to school here since my best mate Rory ended up moving here with his family years ago. I’d already lived here for a few years and played but he talked me into joining him and I got to be good friends with coach, so I’m helping out.” The faraway look crossed his eyes again as Declan sipped the water in front of him. “He lost his family recently…a break in at their home. I don’t even know of he’ll be back anytime soon.”

  “The Pebble Beach one a couple of weeks back? I heard about that but I had no clue that it was part of our staff. That’s so sad.” Mallory told him as he nodded, remembering reading that a woman and her five-year-old twins were murdered in the incident.

  “A man loses that and he’ll never be the same. That’s everything. Not that I was ever close with either of my parents. They worked in the family investment company back home and liked the money more than they liked being a family. I lived with my grandparents most of the time, though he was head of the company.” De clan told her as she frowned, taking back any bitter thoughts that she might have had earlier about him. All of the pretty cars in the world couldn’t replace a family, though Mallory lived with her best friend’s parents while they were both going to school. Hers had died when she was thirteen and after being moved around to uninterested family members, Mallory ended up with Rayna’s parents. They loved her and took care of her as good as they did their own kids.

  “I live with my best friend and her family. I lost my own parents years ago and they offered while I went to school. The other family members didn’t want a kid around.”

  “I’m sorry about that, Mallory.” Declan pushed his hair back with one hand with a tense look on his face.

  “Do you live with anybody here?” She asked him, wanting to hear that he had someone there so she wouldn’t be any further tempted to lose herself in his world.

  “No. I have a small place near the beach but I live there alone. Rory has a girlfriend who he lives with so I decided to just stay on my own.” Declan replied as she felt her willpower breaking apart within her body.

  The girl brought their food to the table, barely looking at Mallory as she placed a platter of fish and chips on front of her that De clan had insisted that she order. She leaned down to place his just in front of him, practically shoving her big breasts in his face. Mallory sipped her coffee as she observed the way he leaned back away from her and cleared his throat as he glanced at her with a dark look in his eyes. “Thanks, Brittany. That’ll do it.” His tone was polite but cold as the waitress stepped back and stared at him for a moment before glancing at Mallory with a dismissive look before she stomped away from the table. “Fucking hell. I’m sorry about that. I made a mistake with her when I first met her and she won’t let it go. I’ve never brought a girl in here before and I didn’t think she’d lay it on so thick.” De clan looked down at the plate for a moment before he took a bottle from the table to shake over the fish before he added some fresh lemon juice.

  “Did you say that you’ve never brought a girl here?”

  “Not on a date or just to eat. I tend to just hang out with the team or on my own. Girls are…casual to me.” He said the words with a frown as he took a fry and bit into it. “I know how that sounds but it’s always been about sports for me, Mallory. Women were just a bonus of sorts.”

  “Why me?” She asked him as he stared into her eyes through long lashes searchingly for a long moment.

  “When I saw you stumble and caught you in my arms, I knew that I never wanted to let go.” Declan tried to explain as she picked at her fish with her fork awkwardly. “You smelled good and you felt good. It just kind of hit me so suddenly and then I realized that you might feel the same way. I’ve seen girls get nervous around me…chatty. I’ve seen that a lot but it was appealing with you. I can’t explain it. I just had to spend some more time with you.” He shook his head and took a sip of his tea. “I’m making you nervous.”

  “I have never had a guy like you interested in me before. That’s all.” She forced a bite of the crunchy fish between her lips and chewed it slowly as she sighed happily. “This is so good. I have never even seen this place.” How could she, living on a tight budget with her very part time freelancing that she did for a little extra money?

  “I’ll show you all of my places. I’ll prove to you how interested I am in you.” Declan told her, leaning over his plate to lock his gaze with her eyes.

  She looked down at the table as she started to eat, nervous but too hungry to ignore this plate of food in front of her. Apart from some of the dinners that Mary cooked, this was some of the best food that she’d ever had.

  He took her back to school aft
er they’d lingered over the meal, seeming to understand that she wasn’t ready to go back to his house quite yet. There was a part of her that wanted him more than she’d wanted anything but her heart told her to wait and see what this settled into.

  The kiss that he gave her before she left his car almost made her waver from her decision, just a brush at first before he was melting her from the inside with the way that he claimed her. Declan knew that he had her in his grips and the kiss just sealed the deal as he pulled away to her breathing heavily.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Mallory drifted to her faded blue Sportage as he waited to make sure she got inside safely with his number in her phone and a text that he’d sent to give himself her number. She started the engine as she leaned her head against the steering wheel for a moment to draw air into her chest in deep breaths, attempting to break the spell that he’d put on her.

  Declan still sat beside her and she lifted her face to glance over shyly. Mallory waved as she backed out to head to Rayna’s house on the outskirts of Monterey. Her father did well in the insurance business while her mother ran an art gallery but they weren’t too close to the beach at all. She looked in the rear view mirror at a light as she wondered what his house looked like and if she could see the water from his bedroom.

  Jesus, the idea of being in his bedroom made her press her thighs together. Mallory pulled forward with a start as the light turned green and made her way through the streets until she was turning into the long driveway and parking behind Rayna’s red Tercel. She got out and trudged up the steps to the front door before she opened it to smell lasagna with a frown. Normally she loved this for dinner but she was both full and a bit sick from being so nervous. “Hey Mal!” Mary called out from the kitchen cheerfully as Mallory smiled. “Hungry? Ray’s just taking a shower before she eats.”

  Mallory hung up her keys and walked across the sunken living room to peek in at the pretty blonde. “I ate out today, actually.”

  “As in lunch with a friend or something heavier than that?” Mary asked her as she chopped vegetables for a fresh salad on the plastic tray carefully.

  “I’m not sure.” Mallory replied slowly as she looked at the happy woman with envy. Mary had met Adam just after she entered college and it had been love at first sight. “It might become a thing. I just don’t know yet.”

  Mary looked up at her before tucking a curl behind her ear. “I have seen you date a few guys here and I have never seen you so…unsure. I also haven’t seen you ecstatic but there’s something here. Isn’t there?”

  “I kind of want to jump him immediately.” Mallory confessed as her insecurity set in for a moment. “He’s gorgeous. He’s a rugby player and he’s English. I couldn’t keep him if I wanted to.”

  “Couldn’t hurt to have a little fun with this mystery man.” Mary teased her as they heard footsteps.

  “What mystery man?” Rayna asked curiously as she walked into the kitchen brushing her straight hair that was the same pale color as her mother’s. They even had the same hazel eyes and were both beautiful to Mallory.

  “I met a guy at school today. Rugby player.” Mallory told her as she watched her best friend’s face for a reaction.

  “Which one?” Rayna pressed, her eyes intent on Mallory’s face.

  “Declan Meadows.” Rayna let her mouth drop open as Mallory raised her eyebrows at her.

  “What?” Mary jumped in with something about him taking her out to eat and Rayna looked between them in disbelief.

  “You had lunch with him? Did you end up at his house?” Rayna asked her as Mallory flushed a deep pink.

  “No, I didn’t. We just ate and talked. Is that unheard of or something?” Mallory asked her and Rayna seemed to consider the question.

  “Practically. He’s more of a love them and leave them kind of guy. I’ve never heard of meals being included in the deal.” Rayna speculated as her mother shook her head.

  “Just you hush. Mal is a great girl and he’d do good to take her out. She’s a catch.” Mary reprimanded Rayna as the girls looked at each other.

  “Of course she is. Mal’s beautiful but I don’t want to see her get hurt.” Rayna defended herself as a chime filled the air. Mallory reached into her bag for her phone to read the screen as Rayna moved beside her to read over her shoulder. “Holy hell. It’s Deck.”

  “How well do you know him, Ray?” Mallory asked as she gave her friend a sharp look.

  “I am not into the sports guys. You know this. While I’ll give you that he’s easy on the eyes and that voice is utterly divine, he’s not my type.” Rayna shot back quickly as Mallory sighed and opened the message.

  I meant what I told you earlier, Mallory. I’d like to have dinner with you, the kind where I pick you up and we dress up and have a date. Will you?

  “How did you meet him? This is amazing.” Rayna sputtered as Mallory looked at her again.

  “Yes, it is and it’s also between us.” Mallory warned her before she told him she’d love to go out with him, to which he asked for a date the following night. “It’s stupid really. I was leaving edit and the wind was crazy and I guess I lost my footing. I’m waiting to hit the ground at the very least when I realized that someone was holding onto me. I moved since I’m not exactly light and we started talking. Well, make that I started stammering and he responded with enough to get me to eat with him. Then he was all sweet and intense at the end and said he wanted to go out.” She gave both women a curious look. “That’s good, right?”

  “Of course it is. Maybe he’s just settling down some is all. Isn’t she perfect for that?” Mary interjected as Rayna rolled her eyes playfully. “Your father had his crazy times before we got serious, you know. He’s the best right?”

  “He really is.” Rayna was very close to her father and her mother and she adored them together. “Give it a shot, Mal. Just be careful and don’t let him rip your heart out. I won’t allow that.” Mallory had been through enough in Rayna’s opinion.

  “And I would?” Mallory had ended her last relationship pretty bluntly when she heard some gossip and clarified it with the guy. She was done from the moment that he began to stumble all over his explanation.

  “True.” Rayna admitted with a smile as she shoved her brush into the pocket of her thick robe. “I cannot wait to see the looks on the faces of those empty girls that always drool at the players when they see him with you. It’s going to be epic.”

  “I think we have to have a date first for things to go there.” Mallory said wearily as she slipped her hat off and yawned. “I am going to study for my test tomorrow and get some work done. Then it’s crash time.” She made a pot of green tea and added generous amounts of honey and lemon to the big cup before she went up to her room and dropped her messenger bag on her king sized bed.

  It was already difficult enough to focus on her stuff without his texts but they came through anyway. They were fun and flirty and made her feel fantastic. She ended up dropping everything just to start a conversation about school, basic life and where they were going the following night. Mallory ended up getting ready for bed later than planned and ended up nearly sleeping in.

  She pulled on some thick black tights and wore her favorite pencil skirt over that, covered with roses in a black and purple tone. Along with that, she added a thick black fitted sweater and long boots to keep her feet dry in case it rained later along with a heavier coat. She threw on some make up quickly as she hoped she’d have time to get ready later for their real date. Mallory hopped into her car and headed to the campus to get her four classes out of the way, unable to not look for him as she made her way around between classes. Sadly, she didn’t see him until she was done for the day as he ran across campus calling her name when she walked out to her car. “Mallory…hold up!”

  She was smiling when she turned to look at him, dressed for rugby with his hair flying behind him as he scurried among the students on the grass. “You’re very subtle, you know.” She told
him softly when he reached her and grinned as he rocked back and forth on his feet.

  “I just had to tell you how gorgeous you look in that skirt today and that I was hoping you were wearing it for me later.” His words were soft enough for only Mallory to hear as she felt her skin heat up rapidly.

  “I was planning to.” She admitted as he leaned closer to her and locked gazes with her. “I’m glad that you approve.” She felt something shift in the air and suddenly he was moving closer to kiss her softly as she gasped. When he pulled away slowly, her eyes shot around to see that they were being stared at by nearly everyone as she pressed her lips together. “Wow. They’re all looking at us.”

  “So what? Let them.” De clan told her as she raised her gaze to meet his hooded eyes. “I don’t care.”

  “I just thought that since we hadn’t even really been on a date that I wouldn’t have to worry about that yet.” Her voice was awkward and stilted as she spoke, her eyes watching as his face fell.

  “What was yesterday then?”

  “That was me going to have drinks with you which turned into food that I was supposed to pay for in return for your kindness. Though you didn’t let me do that,” Mallory reminded him as she worked hard not to drool at him standing taller and looking at her like he owned her. “I didn’t think it was a date.”

  “It was but it’s not like the one we’re going on tonight. Last night was just practice and me wooing you.” He teased her as she laughed out loud. “Did that work, Mallory?”

  “Irrevocably. I mean…I said yes to dinner, right?” She stammered as he chuckled softly. She texted him her address before they both left the campus for the day and went home to get ready further. Mallory only had a couple of hours and she knew that Rayna would want in on the preparation.