This Just In... (Harlequin Superromance)

by Jennifer Mckenzie

  Noah smiled. God, he was lucky. “I missed you so much.” And he had some time to make up for. He took her by the hand and led her toward the bedroom. Chester tried to follow, but was resoundingly denied. He stopped crying when Noah gave him a chew toy.

  “Where did you get that?” Sabrina wanted to know.

  He ushered her into the bedroom, locked the door and stripped off her white button-down shirt. “I stopped at the grocery store on my way over.”

  “What?” Her hair brushed across his forearm. “You mean you didn’t just come straight here when you realized the error of your ways?”

  Noah nudged her onto the bed and slipped off her boots. He’d missed these boots. He wondered if she’d wear them with nothing else one day. He’d have to ask. But not today. Today was about her. Not him. Loving her, showing her everything he’d kept bottled up inside, too afraid to tell her how he felt.

  He rose from his crouch and undid her jeans, working them over her hips. Her bra and underwear were the same shade of fiery red. He toyed with the lacy edges and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “I thought a gift might be required.”

  “For the dog.”

  Noah pressed a kiss to Sabrina’s other shoulder, then trailed his tongue across her collarbone. “That was just the start.” She shivered in his arms. “Let me show you the rest.”

  Her only response was a smile.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  SABRINA COULDN’T STOP smiling as she and Noah walked into the dealership. He’d have been happy to stay in bed all night, but she insisted. This was the first time she’d be in town when he won and she wanted to see it firsthand. Chester was with them.

  “The puppy!” Daisy’s scream drew the attention of anyone who hadn’t already seen the two of them enter.

  “Daisy.” Marissa snagged her daughter’s shoulder just before she launched herself at Chester, who took one look at the screeching Daisy and promptly peed.

  Daisy stopped, then jerked back making sure the pee didn’t touch her red boots. “Ew. He needs a diaper. Like Timmy and Scotty.”

  “He was scared.” Sabrina crouched down so she was eye level with Daisy. “Remember how we talked about gentle voices and pats.”

  Daisy nodded and stroked Chester’s soft fur. “He’s a nice puppy.” Chester tried to crawl up her.

  Noah bent down holding a roll of paper towel someone had handed him. When Sabrina attempted to take it from him, he shook her off. “He’s my dog now, too.” Since she didn’t really want to clean up puppy pee, she let him.

  He looked so handsome, mopping up the mess, gently chiding Chester, who clearly did not understand he was in trouble and kept trying to lick Noah’s face. Sabrina smiled as he balled up the paper towels and walked over to a nearby garbage can. He looked pretty hot in his suit, too. She thought about how she’d get him out of it later.

  “Why are you smiling?” Daisy asked.

  “Yeah, why?” Marissa chimed in with a knowing grin.

  “I’m happy.” She shot a glare at Marissa who only laughed.

  Daisy laughed, too, as though she was in on the joke. “I’m glad you’re here.” She put her arms around Sabrina’s neck and hugged. “Where are your boots?”

  Sabrina had decided on a simple gray dress and sleek black heels. The fitted skirt and straps around her ankles were very film noir chic. Appropriate for the mayor’s partner. But she’d had to promise Noah to wear the boots for him later. Apparently he had some fantasy about her and boots and nothing else.

  She hugged Daisy back and then stood, still carrying the little girl. Daisy responded by wrapping her arms and legs around her.

  “Nothing for me, Daisy?” Noah asked, coming back over. “This is my party, you know.”

  Daisy frowned at him and clung to Sabrina more tightly.

  “Your niece knows how to hang on to a good thing when she finds it,” Sabrina informed him. “You could take lessons.” Of course, if Daisy wanted to ease up on the hugging just a smidge, Sabrina wouldn’t be upset.

  Noah’s fingers curled across her hip, sending a bolt of pleasure up her spine. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Already have.”

  “No whispering,” Marissa said. “Daisy, let go of Aunt Sabrina.”

  “No.” Daisy had staked her claim and wasn’t giving up without a fight. “You said she was my aunt and we had to show her how much we loved her because Uncle Noah might not.” She turned her miniscowl on her uncle. “You love Aunt Sabrina don’t you?”

  “Daisy.” Marissa’s eyes were enormous. Embarrassment warred with laughter on her face.

  Sabrina felt her own cheeks heat. Noah looked like he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to hug his niece or pretend she didn’t exist. Sabrina’s lips twitched. She tried to turn her laugh into a cough. Marissa did the same, then the two of them were laughing hysterically as if it was eleventh grade all over again and they’d just driven off with Ed’s parking sign. Who needed a personalized street sign anyway?

  Noah sighed. “You’re supposed to let me mention that in my own time, Daisy.”

  “What does that mean?” Daisy peered at him and then at Sabrina and Marissa who were still laughing. “What’s so funny?”

  The question set Sabrina off again with Marissa right behind her. “Daisy,” Marissa finally choked out. “We need to go.”

  “Where?”

  “Anywhere.” She took her daughter’s hand when Sabrina set her on the ground. “We’ll come chat later.”

  “Later when?” Daisy asked as she was dragged away.

  Noah ran a hand through his hair. “My niece knows how to ruin a moment.”

  “No.” Sabrina looked up at him. He looked so adorable, slightly confused, a little rumpled, but all hers. “It was perfect.”

  She saw someone coming toward them, waving a sheaf of papers. No doubt the polls on how Noah was doing and what the likely outcome of the election was. But Noah seemed uninterested. He turned to face her, ignoring the rustle of news. “When did she start calling you her aunt?”

  “A couple of months ago.” Right around the time she’d left, foolishly believing that her place was in the city.

  “I see. My family has been going behind my back for a while then.”

  Sabrina nodded. “It was for your own good.” She peeked at the young man who remained stationed a few feet away, shifting from one foot to the other. Kent someone. He’d been a few years behind her in school so they hadn’t run in the same circles. “I think people are waiting to talk to you.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” Noah’s eyes stayed on hers. They made her feel hot and cold at the same time. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so insistent that they leave her bed. They could have watched the coverage on TV tomorrow morning. “They can wait.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers and Sabrina forgot about the election. About the man with the sheaf of papers. About her niece who was probably watching somewhere.

  “I love you, Sabrina Ryan.” She could only clutch his shoulders and hang on for dear life.

  She didn’t get a chance to respond before Kent interrupted by clearing his throat. Noah’s mayoral face dropped into place as he turned to listen.

  God, that was sexy. The authoritative way he took charge. She shivered, remembering the way he’d done so in bed only an hour ago. She’d have to get him to show her again later.

  But first she had to answer to Trish who was heading over with a not-so-happy look on her face. Clearly, she’d seen the online article.

  The rest of the evening passed in a whirlwind of conversations about scrutineers, a mobile poll and how long Sabrina planned to stay in town. Her preferred answer of forever got some lengthy laughs. Trish forgave her the online article, but told her not to pull a stunt like that again.

  Her parents, Ellen, even George had all come ou
t in support of Noah. And the only time the excited chatter quieted down was whenever the news channel broadcasting the province-wide election results flashed Wheaton across the screen. Then there was a collective intake of breath and silence as everyone read the latest numbers. All except for Daisy who could be heard asking for more juice or singing about puppies.

  Each update showed Noah further and further in the lead. Any tension eased as it became apparent that Noah would be elected to his third term by a considerable margin. Kyle continued to show the room the wonders of his election app. Sabrina noticed a number of other people put the app on their own phones.

  When the results were finally called by the pundit sitting on a panel, a wild cheer filled the room and a waterfall of balloons rained down on them. Noah turned and kissed her amidst the celebration. “Thank you.”

  Then he was tugged away to give his victory speech. She watched along with everyone else, so full of love and pride that she was amazed she didn’t float up to the rafters. Chester barked happily and tried to chew a balloon. Then scared himself when he succeeded in popping one. This time she convinced Daisy to clean up the pee by telling her it would be good practice if she wanted to get her own puppy.

  “First the red boots and now a puppy?” Marissa asked as she oversaw her daughter’s cleaning attempt. “Remind me why I wanted you to come back?”

  Sabrina simply laughed and hugged her best friend.

  The crowd was in the mood to party, but lucky for Sabrina, that meant everyone was gone by eleven instead of nine. She helped Noah sweep up some of the mess while Chester roared around the room.

  There were still a few stray streamers and some balloons that had gotten wedged in the rafters when Noah walked over, carrying Chester under one arm and plucked the broom from her hands. “I think we’ve cleaned up enough. We’re done for now.”

  The night was clear and cold. Sabrina snuggled into Noah’s free arm as they walked through the empty lot to his car. He’d already laid a blanket in the backseat for Chester. Sabrina had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before Chester, who’d already gone from her dog to their dog, would soon be his dog. She hoped Noah knew that meant he was on early-morning walking duty.

  “Well, now that you’re mayor again, what’s next?”

  He draped his arm more securely around her, protecting her from the gust of wind that blew past them as they walked around to the passenger side. “Let’s go home.”

  She leaned her head against his shoulder and smiled. “I’m already there.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from RODEO DREAMS by Sarah Anderson.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  “OKAY, HONEY, IF you can ride Ball and Chain, then you’re in.”

  The fat man mopped his brow with a bandanna as he added, “But I’m not responsible for what happens out there, right?”

  “Right.” June Spotted Elk fought an eye roll as Chain kicked the metal chute holding him tight.

  “I’m just doing Dave a favor,” Mort went on as June reviewed her draw.

  Ball and Chain was a small bull, only thirteen hundred pounds. Not the best bull on the Total Championship Bulls Ranger Circuit—the minor leagues of the TCB. Two-thirds of the riders made the eight seconds for a good ride. Tended to break left. No, not a bad bull to start out on.

  Not that she was just starting out, but she was sick and tired of riding for a few hundred dollars while the men got checks with extra zeroes for doing the exact same thing.

  June knew she was born to ride bulls. She knew she could ride with the big boys—all she had to do was prove that she had what it took, no matter what anyone said about her being a girl, an Indian or poor. Or all three.

  She looked out at the sea of unwelcoming faces that crowded the indoor arena. It was Friday night in a small Illinois town she’d never heard of, inside what was normally a convention center. June had grown up riding in outdoor arenas, so the bright lights and the echo off the bleachers were throwing her off. But she couldn’t let a few technicalities undermine her. A professional bull rider rode no matter where they were. And she was a professional bull rider.

  Or she would be, if she could just get on the bull.

  She sighed in frustration. Proving she could do this was only the first step. But at least she’d gotten her foot in the door, thanks to her uncle Dave, who’d had to cash in a favor with Mort, the Ranger Circuit promoter. She knew good and well that was the only favor she was going to get.

  The rest? All up to her, one bull at a time.

  She wanted to compete. And competing meant riding against the men.

  Not that the men were thrilled about it. Even though no one was within four feet of her, she could feel the palpable irritation in the air. But she was doing her damnedest to ignore them and focus on the bull. If she could just get on the bull...it would all fall into place.

  Or she’d get crushed to death. Either way, really.

  Mort was babbling again. “Just doing Dave a favor. I’m not responsible.”

  “Mort, you’ve got to be kidding, right? Ball and Chain? For her?”

  “Shut up, Red.”

  So that was Red Willis. Number two on this circuit. And he was getting closer, his heels dragging his spurs across the dirt so loudly that they clanged.

  “I’m just saying, if the little girl wants to ride with the big boys, she don’t want to ride Ball and Chain. She wants Hallowed.” An arm unexpectedly draped around her shoulder, pulling her into Red Willis’s chest. At six feet six inches, he was the tallest cowboy here. Even though she was five foot nine, June barely came up to his armpit. And his fingers were dangling dangerously close to her chest. Didn’t matter if she had on the protective vest that all the riders wore. The threat was implicit.

  “Don’t you, honey?” Red was saying, smiling down into her face, his tobacco-stained lips pulled over brown teeth in a mean sneer. “Only the best for a girl like you.”

  “Get your hands off me,” she said, trying to sound calm. She knew his type. As long as he thought he held all the cards, he’d make the wrong bet. Every single time. “I’m not your honey.”

  The smile got meaner. “Come on, babe—”

  That’s all it took. June knew if she didn’t nip this in the bud, half these boys would think it was open season and she would be the trophy everyone was trying to bag.

  She was not here for a man. This was not some misguided attempt to snare a cowboy for her very own. She was here for herself. There would be no hooking up, no trailer hopping and absolutely no sleeping her way to the top of the rankings. The sooner everyone got that through their thick skulls, the better.

  In one smooth movement, she grabbed Red’s hand and ducked down, twisting back until his wrist was near his shoulder blades.

  “I said,” she repeated, ratcheting up his arm, “to take your hands off me. I won’t say it again.”

  One of the few advantages of her rough childhood—she’d learned to defend herself early. And often.

  “What the hell?” he squawked. That was better. Less bravado, more confusion. Keep the opponent off balance. Just like a bull would.

  “This was your first and last warning, Willi
s.” With one final squeeze, she let go and pushed him back toward the other cowboys. Just about every jaw was dropped to the sawdust. Even Red was too shocked to do anything but let a few of the other guys hold him back. “I’m just here to ride. Anyone else got a problem with that?”

  “Just doing Dave a favor,” Mort muttered to himself again. “Not responsible.”

  “You really don’t belong here.”

  One cowboy stepped forward. The overhead light hit the brim of his black cowboy hat, casting a dark shadow onto his face. The shadow, combined with the ten-day-old beard he wore, made it almost impossible to read his expression. His hands hung at his sides, the left shoulder at a slightly lower angle, probably from where he’d hit the ground rolling earlier.

  “This is no place for a girl.”

  June knew who this cowboy was—she’d know that jaw, those shoulders anywhere. Travis Younkin was the most famous bull rider on this circuit and one of the best bull riders in the last decade. He’d been on the verge of winning the TCB Harley Pro Challenge finals—the major league—in Vegas before that one last ride had taken a few years of his life. She’d followed his career before it got shot to hell and back—well, it was more than that. She’d followed a lot of riders’ careers, studying their rides for what worked and what didn’t. Travis was the one bull rider who’d held her attention in a more personal way, one that went far beyond a good ride. There’d always been something about him...

  After his wreck, she’d cried for him.

  Now he was trying to claw his way back up to the bigs. Aside from Red and one or two other guys, he was the only one here who could claim to be a real professional.

  And he didn’t think she could do this, either.

  The old anger flared up as she heard her father’s voice when he caught her watching bull riding on TV. You ain’t getting on those bulls, Junie. She could even hear the smack of his hand hitting the table, the wall, her face—because there was always a smack—as he said it. Unconsciously, she flinched as her body remembered the one time he’d caught her on a bull. And he’d been sober then.