Not Looking for Love: A Cowboy Romance

by Martini, Mae

  “No,” she reiterated. “I’m not for sale.”

  He let out a boisterous laugh. “Everyone’s for sale, sweetheart. Maybe you want more, you greedy whore? Okay, I’ll double—”

  But before he could get the rest of the sentence out, Richie was on him, grabbing him in a headlock. The other men in the entourage quickly rose up.

  Richie tightened his hold on Davis and looked around, daring anyone to stop him as Davis gurgled while trying to remove Richie’s arm from around his neck.

  “Richie! Stop!” Simone said as she pulled on his arm.

  Richie’s eyes shifted to her then back to Davis, ignoring her as he shook her off. “Apologize to the lady,” Richie said.

  Davis grabbed on to Richie’s forearms trying to yank him off, but Richie didn’t let up. Davis’ air intake was limited and his struggles began to subside as he nodded his head.

  Richie let him go.

  Davis turned his head to look at Richie. Richie didn’t budge; he was ready to throw his arm around his neck again. Davis looked to Simone, her forehead creased as her lips were pulled back. He watched her bite the corner of her lower lip. He nodded to her. “Please accept my apology.”

  Simone quickly nodded. She wanted out of there fast.

  “Our deal is off,” Davis said as he turned to Poppy. Find some other backer.” He looked to his entourage and nodded toward the door.

  Richie didn’t take his eyes off of Davis until he and his crew walked out. He turned to Simone and let out a sigh.

  “Richie? Poppy needed that money.” Simone frowned, and her shoulders sagged. She turned to Poppy. “I’m sor—”

  “Simone, wait outside,” Richie cut her off.

  She looked back to him and tilted her head.

  He stared at her. “Go.”

  She looked to Poppy then back to him. “No Richie. You can’t fix this.”

  “Don’t let me tell you again.”

  “Really? Are you kidding me? Who the hell—”

  “Damn it, Simone,” he raised his voice. “Please?” He lowered his voice again and lightly grabbed her arm. “Just go.”

  She looked back to Poppy who didn’t give her an inkling of what to do. Then she looked back to Richie again as she shook off his hand, turned, and walked out of the room.

  Chapter 14

  “Oh, fuck yeah, baby. You want it harder?” Richie asked in-between grunts as he pounded Simone up against the wall. His hands held hers above her head.

  Her high pitched rapid moans were all she could get out and that was good enough for him. He pulled out, moved her over to the nearby couch and turned her around and over the armrest. He slid back into her and grabbed her hair in a bunch and pulled as he let loose.

  “Tell me you want it? I know you do. You like this, don’t you? The harder the better.” He thrust hard and mercilessly.

  “Yes…harder…,” she said breathlessly. Her butt kept slamming into him as she took him in as far as he could go.

  He brought his other hand to her ass and fingered her sphincter before pushing inside. He felt her tighten around him as she screamed. She was coming… again. He was like a machine. The rage he felt and the conditioning he had practiced through the years kept him from coming too soon. There were moments he thought he would, but he managed to put that rage ahead of all else as he aimed to give her the fucking of her life.

  He let go of her hair, removed his finger, and dick and brought her down to the rug then slid yet again inside her and brought her legs up over his shoulders and her hands up over her head. He lowered his head and latched onto a nipple as he thrust with fast shallow strokes. Then he loudly grunted and tensed as he stilled inside of her, picking up his head and locking eyes with her as he came. She needed to see. She needed to see what she did to him. She had been angry at him during the whole ride back to the hotel. He had to let her know he cared enough about her to be enraged at what she did for a living and having to put up with assholes like Davis and Danny.

  Before pulling out, he abruptly kissed her, he kissed her hard and long, dueling with and nipping her tongue, saliva spilling out. And just as abruptly pulled back and pulled out of her.

  She offered a smile and he just melted. Her lips were puffy. Her hair was in tangles with platinum blonde strands sticking out all over her head, a dewy sheen on her face and neck. Mascara had smeared under her eyes which were intensely fixed on him. She was beautiful.

  He took a breath and pulled her up with him. “Go… take a shower and go to bed.” Even though her house wasn’t far away from the club, he booked two rooms at his family’s hotel in L.A. One for them and one for Logan. He walked to the kitchen of the suite and threw out the used condom, then came back into the living room buckling his belt. She was still where he left her with a satisfied look on her face. He wanted her again. Oh, not good.

  He walked to the end table where he dropped his wallet and key card when they came in. “I’ll be back soon.” He didn’t wait for her to answer, he just walked out without looking back at her, not even seeing the hurt on her face at leaving her alone.

  Richie walked to the other end of the penthouse floor and knocked on the door, and waited a few minutes. He was just about to knock again when Logan opened the door, shirtless, with a pair of jeans on, the button undone, feet bare.

  “Hey, Rich, What’s up?” Logan said, and Richie noted his hair was messy, but he didn’t look like he just woke up.

  “Hey, I’m heading down to the lobby bar. Want to come along?”

  “Uhhh…”

  Richie saw movement beyond Logan and chuckled as he saw a very naked Anna Maria walk out of the kitchen toward the couch where an equally naked blonde he didn’t know was laid out, and climbed up and sixty-nined her. He tilted his head and offered a smile.

  “Your girl hooked me up,” Logan said with a grin. “You want to join us?”

  Richie’s smile slowly turned to an all-out grin as he shook his head. “No, man. Catch you later, bro.” And he walked away, toward the elevator.

  Two hours later and Simone was still alone in the large king size bed. An hour earlier, she had shut the TV and light, keeping the wall sconces in the bathroom lit. So many emotions went through her as she replayed the evening’s events in her mind. Not being able to read Richie was the most frustrating part. Thinking back, she thought she had seen anger flash in his eyes when he saw Anna Maria turn and smile to him before she entered the bathroom. She knew she had seen anger in his eyes when he had his arm around Davis’ neck, and she was sure she’d seen anger flash again when they first got back to the hotel suite as he practically ripped her clothes off and pawed her. And, holy crap! That sex was so freaking awesome, hard and raw. She was amazed at how long he could go. It was almost like he was mad at her, but when he was coming, he stared right at her, his features softened, and his eyes, two shiny blue glass marbles. She swore she saw a glimpse inside him. That kiss at the end went way deeper than any before it, touching her soul.

  She let out a sigh. So why was she in his bed, alone? Did she read him wrong? On their way to the hotel she had asked what he and Poppy spoke about after he pretty much threw her out of the room. He wouldn’t answer, until she pressed him on it. She was floored when he told her he put up the money for Poppy’s next film. She tried to apologize and he shushed her saying she had nothing to apologize for, but she begged to differ.

  She tossed from side to side, trying to get comfortable when she heard the front door close and movement in the living room, then she heard footsteps getting closer. She turned over again, her back to the door, and pretended to be asleep.

  After quietly walking to the bathroom and emerging a few minutes later, Richie had left the soft light from the sconces on and padded to bed and slipped under the covers, then he reached for her, throwing an arm around her waist, and brought her up against his body. She was so warm and she fit just right. He sighed.

  She turned to him, inhaling his expensive cologne. “Where’d y
ou go?”

  “Down to the lobby bar.”

  “Oh.” She began to turn back around again.

  “I needed to clear my head, that’s all,” he said as he held her, stopping her from turning away. “A lot of shit happened tonight.”

  He felt her head movement and knew she nodded. After pausing a few beats Richie gently squeezed her to him. “I know I said it before, but I need you to know how much it bothered me. Don’t ever bring another person in when we’re together. I have no desire to be with anyone else when I’m with you.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No. It’s okay. You didn’t know… I didn’t know. Uh..., also, I hated it when Davis touched you. And I hated when he called you a whore. I, um, I know you’re not, which is why you should think about getting out of the profession. It’s not who you are.”

  She sighed. “I want to… I can’t. I need the money…especially now, I just bought a condo.”

  Nothing was said from either of them for the next minute.

  “So, get another job,” he finally said.

  “I won’t be able to find anything that pays well enough to pay my debt and housing costs without a college degree.”

  “Go back to college.”

  She clicked the roof of her mouth. He made it seem like it was no big deal. Never having to worry about money does that to you, she figured. “That’s another bill I can’t afford to take on right now.”

  Again, another long pause.

  “I’ll pay for your college.”

  “Richie?” She brought her head up, but he gently brought her back down. “I can’t accept that.”

  “Why?”

  She sighed.

  “Poppy told me you turned down a hundred thousand dollars tonight. I can’t help but think I messed it up for you,” he said.

  “No, no, you didn’t, and Poppy should mind his own business. I made a pact with myself when I signed that film contract. Outside of the contract, I will never allow myself to be bought for sex.”

  He nodded his approval even though she didn’t see it. “If you let me pay for your college, I wouldn’t ever let you feel obligated. I’m offering, no strings attached.”

  “Thank you, that’s very kind of you, but I just can’t. I don’t feel comfortable.”

  He blew out a breath. “Okay.” He nodded. “But if you change your mind, don’t be afraid to tell me.”

  She rose up and this time he didn’t stop her as she climbed on top of him and brought her lips down to his.

  Chapter 15

  “You know, I didn’t tell you. She turned downed a hundred thousand dollars,” Richie said to Logan as he helped him clean out Logan’s barn. It was the one job he hated, mucking stalls, but he’d help his friend. Richie traveled a lot and needed care for his horse, Bentley, a blue roan paint gelding. He was beautiful, with three socks and a snip between his nostrils. Bentley also had a black mane and tail with a patch of white in them, and a patch of white on his neck and a bigger patch on his shoulder. He was also a well behaved horse thanks to Logan’s training.

  Logan had been stalling his horse for the past two years. He wouldn’t take any money either. Even if he did, Richie would still help him. This is the kind of work that humbles a man.

  “Who?” Logan asked, manure fork in hand, bringing it down on the dirty shavings. He was in the stall directly across the aisleway.

  “Simone.” Richie picked up his head as he flung manure into the wheelbarrow and looked to Logan when he heard him laugh. “What?”

  “You’re hooked.”

  Richie clicked the roof of his mouth with his tongue. “I am not.”

  “Dude, you always have a silly-ass grin on your face whenever you mention her. You’re hooked.”

  “I wouldn’t say I’m hooked. I like being with her. There’s some chemistry there. You know what I mean?” He wiggled his eyes. “But it can’t go further than a good time. She knows… We’re doing our own thing.”

  “Your three rules?”

  “Yep.”

  Logan nodded as he scooped up droppings and tossed them in the cart.

  “I even offered to pay her college bill if she went back. She only finished one year,” he said as he shoveled shit.

  “What are you crazy?” Logan looked across the aisle.

  “What? I was hoping she’d want to change her profession. She told me she’s into interior design, and she even has a little job on the side designing book covers.” He looked up. “She refused.” He shrugged. “Never had a woman refuse money before when I offered to pay for something.”

  Logan paused as he studied his friend then went back to shoveling.

  “I mean, can you imagine I introduce her to my parents.” Richie chuckled. “That would go over well,” he said sarcastically.

  Logan chuckled. “Can you imagine your Uncle Ted knowing her work?”

  Richie looked from his full manure pitchfork to Logan, his mouth in the shape of a big O.

  “Hah!” Logan couldn’t help but laugh. “And you don’t even know her name either. What would you say? Mom, dad, this is Simone no last name.”

  Richie just blew out a breath and went back to scooping shit.

  “What are you ladies talking about?”

  “Hey, Brett. How’s it going?” Richie said to Logan’s brother who strolled into the barn.

  Logan just clicked the roof of his mouth and continued to work.

  “You two, free tonight? I need a couple of wingmen.”

  “For what?” Richie asked.

  “There’s a dance over at the lodge and I heard Dana Thomas is going to be there.”

  “Who’s Dana Thomas?” Richie asked.

  Before Brett could answer, Logan picked his head up. “A new filly in town. She owns the florist that just opened. My brother’s got his eye on her. The only problem is, she doesn’t even know he exists.”

  “She knows,” Brett said. “It’s just that she is in mourning. Her husband only died less than a year ago.”

  “I can’t. After this I gotta pick up Heath. I got him for the weekend,” Logan said.

  Brett, turned around to Richie. “You free?”

  Richie shrugged. “Yeah, I got nothing going on?”

  “Great, thanks.”

  “How come you’re not flying to L.A. to be with you know who?” Logan asked Richie.

  “She’s in Florida, visiting her brother.”

  “Who’s you know who?” Brett asked.

  “Richie’s seeing a porn star,” Logan said.

  “Dog!” Brett said, a grin breaking out on his face. “Damn, you’re one lucky son-of a-bitch. How?”

  Richie shook his head with a grin on his face and gave Brett the short version.

  “Have you seen her film anything yet?” Brett asked.

  “No.” Richie said and quickly wondered why he lied.

  *

  “What?” Simone asked as she picked her eyes up from examining a pair of shoes she was admiring on the sale rack. It was too hot in Florida that day, the pool wasn’t even cutting it, so Simone suggested going to a mall for a few hours.

  Her sister-in-law just stared at her with a little smile on her face.

  “What?” Simone asked again as she moved a little to the left, eyeing another pair of shoes.

  “Who is he?”

  Simone looked back up to her again. “Who is who?”

  “Don’t… I know you a long time, girl. Way before I ever started dating your brother. I know that look.”

  Simone laughed to herself. Lauren and she did go way back. If it wasn’t for her boyfriend at the time cheating on her with Lauren she never would have become close with her, let alone friends. They’d known each other since ninth grade when they were on the cheerleading squad together. At first Simone got along with all the girls. She had more male admirers then any of the girls on the squad and Lauren somehow convinced the other girls to flout her and that they did. Never a quitter, she stuck it out for the year and at
the beginning of the next year she dropped out.

  Lauren sat next to her in their eleventh grade English class and they were paired for an assignment. It was rough at first, but soon the two of them without even realizing it put their heads together and came away with a ninety-nine. During that time Lauren found out she was the other woman in the relationship with Johnny Trainor and Simone. She went ape-shit and went to Simone and told her what was going on. Heartbroken though Simone was, she knew something had been off with her relationship with Johnny.

  Lauren had asked if she wanted to get even with him and Simone said yes. They came up with a plan. Simone had Lauren call Johnny and ask him to the mall, promising him some sex afterward. Johnny was supposed to go to Simone’s house, but he called her and told her his mother was sick and he was going with her to the doctor’s office. As Lauren was sipping a soda at the food court with Johnny sitting on the same side as her, Simone watched and waited until they were in a lip lock before making her presence known.

  After a lashing from both girls, Johnny practically ran away, tail between the legs. He had the nerve to go up to Simone that next Monday at school and try to win her back. Needless to say, it didn’t work, but she and Lauren became great friends and Lauren went on to marry Simone’s brother, Eric.

  “It’s nobody, really. It’s mutual between us that we’re just having fun. He knows I’m an adult film actress, and he runs in an elite circle. I don’t expect anything from him.” She picked up a pair of black crystal studded sandals by Jimmy Choo and walked over to an empty chair. Lauren sat down beside her and as Simone slipped a foot into the sandal she turned to Lauren. “Do you know the name Warren?”

  Lauren tilted her head to the side and Simone could just see her going through her mental databanks. Then Lauren shook her head. “No. Should I?”

  “The Warren hotels?”

  “Oh, that Warren. Yes. What about them.”

  “The nobody I’m seeing is Richard Warren the third,” she said with a silly grin. She was never one to brag and so it felt good she was able to tell someone.