He shrugged. “I’m a little slower these days if you didn’t notice the limp and the cane.”
Although his words reeked of self-pity, she realized that’s not how he meant them. A man like Dade wouldn’t want pity. He was being matter-of-fact, just as he was with everything else, like his attraction to her. She’d see where a virile cowboy, anyone really, would find walking with a cane frustrating, learning to adapt to his new physical body when he relied on being rough and tough. Unbelievably, it was easy to forget his limp, or how he lost his balance at times, when all she could see was his sparkling eyes and tilted smile. “I noticed…but it wasn’t the limp or the cane that caught my attention.”
“You just say what’s on your mind, don’t you, angel?”
“Pretty much. I see that you do too. Some men can’t handle my blunt honesty.”
“Those aren’t real men, sweetheart. A man appreciates a strong, independent woman, and doesn’t find her candor intimidating.” His eyes twinkled. “Would you live at Nirvana if the opportunity arose?”
Whoa. Where is this leading? She shook her head. “Nirvana is beautiful, and I’ve certainly liked being there, but I’m not sure it’s meant for me. I think I’m the type who needs to stay connected with the raw and gritty side of the world. The lovely things the city has to offer—gourmet coffee shops on every corner, busy streets, the challenge of meeting new people. It’s what keeps me grounded.” She winked. “Visiting the ranch is like pushing the reset button. I’ll be refreshed and ready to take on what life has to offer.”
“Just as I thought. A city girl. Can’t take the country out of this ol’ boy. Being one with the land. Earning every callus on these hands—each one a reward for hard work.”
Calluses. Hard work. And sexy, masculine Dade. That was enough to make a woman drool.
The song ended.
They could have stayed on the floor all night, but she realized he had to be getting tired. She reluctantly took a step back, feeling the rush of cool air over her skin. “I need to run to the restroom,” she said.
“Okay.”
Sweat beaded between her breasts and the moisture on her panties was thick, wetting her inner thighs. She needed to go and take a swim in the sink. Hell, she needed to take a nosedive into the ice bin behind the bar. Dade’s gaze naturally floated down her body before his eyes returned to her face. He was smiling from ear to ear. She had a strong urge to step forward and kiss him again. Couldn’t happen. Shouldn’t happen.
Shit! When had she ever listened to logic? No reason to start now.
She covered his mouth with hers, slipping her tongue deep inside, only to draw away and gently nibble his bottom lip. He moaned and the sound tickled the secret parts of her. When her heart was beating so fast that she thought it’d knock right out of her chest, she took a step back, catching her breath. “Your kisses…they’re delicious.”
“So are yours.” His eyes were now as bright as the stars. She swore if she stared too long, she’d start making wishes and lose herself.
“Does this happen to you very often—meeting someone and knowing…just having that feeling?” Her voice was husky.
“Never.” He scrubbed his jaw. “This is all new.”
“I’m going to the restroom now.” She took a wider step back, bumped into a patron and she quickly apologized. Dade was laughing at her.
Gaining her breath, she hurried down the shaded hallway lit only by a neon beer sign and into the one toilet bathroom, locking the door behind her. It was surprisingly clean, but the flickering fluorescent lighting made her look like she had dark circles under her eyes and was lacking in nutrients. A little vitamin D—as in Dade—would help her in ways than she could only imagine. Once she did her business and had her dress back into place, she splashed her face with cold water, then returned to the bar. It took her a good minute to find Dade through the large crowd. He was sitting back at the bar, but he wasn’t alone. Next to him was a pretty, petite blonde who was huddled up by his side, her arm around his shoulders in a territorial hold. She wore a pair of shorts that were cut so high on her bottom that she had no secrets. Felicia sighed. I can’t leave for one minute without some chick moving in.
As Felicia got closer, she noticed that he looked as innocent as a kitten with a new ball. How could one man be so naïve and, yet, so confident at the same time? The blonde gave him a flirtatious smile, showing off pearly white teeth, kissed him on the cheek and darted back to her group of friends sitting at a table close to the jukebox.
“Am I keeping you from something—or someone,” Felicia said as she approached him, sliding onto the stool.
He brought his chin up. “No, why?”
“Well, I saw the pretty blonde. You should ask her to dance.”
He shrugged. “That’s Danni. I would, but her lover might get mad.”
“Lover? Where is he?” She scanned the room.
“Sitting right next to her,” Dade said.
Felicia realized the woman’s lover was a gorgeous brunette who was now tangling her long fingernails into Danni’s hair.
“Yeah, Danni looks preoccupied. I guess you’re stuck with me.” Felicia wagged her brows.
“Looks like we’re stuck together. And it’s time to go.”
“But we’re just getting started.”
He slipped off his stool and gently gripped her elbow. “We need to try and make it back across the bridge before it gets any worse outside. You’ve had your fun, now we gotta go.”
Why did he suddenly seem so cold? Hell, she knew Chase would give them some grief over tonight, but she could handle her brother. She had a feeling there was something more happening? Did he rethink the connection between them? Had she come on too strong?
She knew it was best not to cause a scene and together they walked outside. The rain was coming down so hard that she could barely see ten feet in front of her. The fog had also settled in and it made for a dangerous night to be out on the roads. Maybe she should have taken Dade’s word more serious.
“I’m parked over here.” Dade pointed, but she couldn’t see exactly where he was referring to through the downpour. She’d just have to follow him, which wasn’t a bad thing. He filled out his Wranglers in a way that made her curious if his buns were as tight as they appeared. It was only a matter of research, of course.
Dade made a dash into the rain and Felicia looked down at her heels. This might be an issue. She started to slip them off when she heard a sound behind her, a cackling laugh.
“Hey, pretty lady. Where you taking off so fast without my digits?”
The slurred masculine voice made her stomach twist. She looked over her shoulder and saw her worst nightmare—Tom with the neon-white teeth. He was stumbling her way, rather quickly for someone who could barely walk a straight line. She groaned, doubting he would even remember his number. “I’ll have to pass, big guy.” She started back down the sidewalk, searching through the rain for Dade. Where did he go?
“Ahh, come on. I bet you and I could have a real good time together. If you ain’t into my partner, you and me could go back to my room. I’m sure I have something you’d like.” He gripped the crotch of his jeans.
“No, I have someone waiting for me.”
“Oh now, what does he have that I don’t have?” Tom sneered and unzipped his pants, reaching in and dragging out his limp penis. He gave it two jerks, but nothing happened.
Is he being serious? She kept her eyes steady on his brows. “Look, Tom. I have no intention of climbing between the sheets with you, let alone ever calling. You should put that thing away, zip your pants, and go back inside.” She started to turn, but he caught her on the elbow and all she could think was how different his painful grip compared to Dade’s gentle, warm touch on the same spot of her body.
“I’d let go of the lady’s arm. It’s in your best interest.”
Felicia brought her chin around and relief spread through her. Dade stood a few feet away, soaked. Rain drippe
d off his hat, falling to his drenched boots. “I thought you were following me?” he asked her, his jaw tight.
“I got sidetracked.” She jutted her chin toward drunken, obnoxious wanna-be cowboy.
“Who are you?” Tom slurred.
“Nunya. Now unhand the lady so we can be on our way.”
“Well, Nunya…,” Tom said, sending saliva shooting out of his mouth. He wobbled closer. “the lady and I were having a conversation.”
“No we weren’t,” she said.
“I was about to give the sweetheart my number.” He leaned a hand against the pole of the awning as if to support himself.
“And again, no.” Felicia couldn’t believe the balls this man had—or rather that he didn’t have.
“The lady said no. Take it to heart and get on back inside the bar. Sounds like they’re playing your song, Achy Breaky Heart.”
Tom squinted. “Who do you think you are, boy? Trying to tell me what to do. Why don’t you take your crippled ass inside, buy yourself another drink and let me and Miss Purty get back to business.”
Dade’s jaw tightened and Felicia saw the change in his expression, but he still appeared fairly calm and in control.
“Ignore the man. Let’s go,” Felicia said.
“Hey, don’t turn your back on me,” Tom mumbled.
“Fuck off, asshole.” She shook her head.
“An asshole? You fucking, bitch! I have half a mind to…”
“You don’t even have half a mind left, so don’t throw around any threats.” She laughed. “And here’s some free advice. Stop giving sneak peaks of the goods. It’s only an embarrassment.”
“I’ll show you—”
The drunken man reached out, but Dade was quicker. He smacked ol’ Suave hard in the shin with his cane. Tom hinged forward, clinging to the pole like it was a lifeline. “You fucking bastard. I’ll get you for this.” He clutched his calf, balancing on one leg.
“Come on, let’s go.” Dade motioned for Felicia to go ahead of him, which she quickly moved into the rain, feeling the wetness seeping through her clothing and into her bra and panties.
She heard a thumping sound and turned just in time to see Tom rushing toward Dade who had his back turned. The cane slipped and went flying while Dade’s injured leg slid on the wet pavement. Tom’s fist landed in Dade’s jaw, sending him onto his back into a puddle. Felicia rushed to his side and a chuckling Tom was already slithering back, rubbing his fist in both pleasure and pain. He disappeared inside of the bar.
“Are you okay?” She helped Dade sit up.
He rubbed his jaw and sighed. “No, I hate soaked boxers. There’s nothing worse than a wet ass twice in one night.”
CHAPTER FOUR
DADE RUBBED HIS sore jaw as he leaned against the cold cement wall of the hotel. At least he had enough awning to keep from getting wet from the pouring down rain, not that it mattered because he was already soaked to the bone. The only thing dry were his toes, thanks to a good pair of boots. Puddles had already formed in the parking lot and, along the flowerbeds, a small creek had developed along the building.
He was in a shitload of trouble. He and Felicia had driven toward Nirvana, but once they got to the bridge, as he’d suspected, it was out and no one was crossing tonight.
Chase was going to kick his ass for keeping Felicia out all night, but taking the truck without letting someone know was just as bad. Just what Dade needed.
He pulled his cell out of his pocket and checked for service. None. Figures. He moved the phone a few inches to the right and left, hoping to see a bar or two pop on the screen, but he was shit-out-of-luck. They were stranded with no way of letting Chase know.
Real great.
He’d probably lose his job before this was all over. His stomach twisted.
His ego wasn’t doing so great either. He could have kicked Tom’s drunk ass, but the truth was, the bastard had caught him by surprise, causing Dade to lose his balance. It had only been a matter of time before he had gone down, the fist in the jaw was only a bonus for the drunk. “You suck.” Dade slapped the thigh of his left leg that was hurting like hell. Thankfully, Tom hit like a pussy. Nothing was broken or that a few hours couldn’t heal. Come tomorrow, Dade might have a small bruise, but tonight his ego needed stroking.
There was a bigger issue that he had to contend with. His dick was as hard as a cue stick. Had been since the second Felicia walked into his arms on the dance floor. The brushing of her soft body against his had made every cell come alive to the point he’d been scared to death he’d come right there in his jeans. He would have never lived down the humiliation.
He couldn’t lose his head. Felicia was off limits. Plain and simple.
He looked across the sidewalk, catching a glimpse of her through the large window where she stood in the lobby. She was getting two rooms, saying it was the least she could do after she’d been so much trouble. She wasn’t kidding. Since she’d walked onto Nirvana, he’d been a square block trying to fit into a round hole.
She bent forward, signing something, and her long hair fell over her shoulder. With a delicate hand, she swept the thick mass off her neck, showing off a sliver of the silken skin that he wanted to kiss. As if she knew what he was thinking, she looked at him, her lovely eyes eating him up and her smile flicking his heart like the strings of a guitar. He’d never wanted to get into a woman’s pants more in his life. It was like he had the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, both at a tug of war on how he should behave.
She turned her attention back to the young man behind the service desk. She was slightly bent over, her bottom sticking out just enough to make a man sweat bullets. The hem of the dress had risen on her leg, showing off more skin. He groaned and squeezed the bridge of his nose. He allowed his mind to wander down a dead end road with images of her, on her knees, bending in front of him with her long silken hair falling over her bare breasts. His cock pressed his zipper until he thought he’d lose the button.
Soon, he’d be in his room, alone, under the spray of a long cold shower and he’d be fine—probably not, but it was the best he could be under the circumstances. Once they were back at Nirvana, he’d have no problem keeping his hands off Chase’s sister.
When she came back out, she was dangling one key. “We have a minor problem, cowboy.”
“I wouldn’t expect things to go any differently tonight.”
“They only had one available room. The rodeo has all of the places booked. This particular room had been under repair until hours ago and why, if you think about it, luck is in our corner.”
He scratched his jaw. There went his date with a cold shower. “No problem. Not one bit.” He didn’t mean one word.
“We’re adults. We can handle this,” she said cheerfully.
If only she could see into my thoughts. “You’re right. I’ll sleep out in the truck.” Much safer.
“Uhh, no you won’t. I got you into this mess and I wouldn’t hear of you sleeping out in the cold truck all night.”
“It’s spring. How cold could it actually get?” The cold might actually be what he needed to fix the problem with his misbehaving cock.
“No one is sleeping in the truck. You act as if you’ve never shared a bed with a woman before. If I bite, it’ll only be a nibble and all of my shots are up to date.” She winked and laughed. “Now I’m wet and would love to get undressed as soon as possible. Let’s go find this room—251.”
He couldn’t have argued if he wanted to because he was somewhere stuck between ‘wet’ and ‘undressed’. Those words, put together, conjured up an image of her naked, in a hotel room, or in a cave for all he cared, with no one around to know what happened between them.
Hell, I’d know.
He couldn’t do that to his buddy. This was his sister, for God’s sake. There was some unwritten code. Men don’t sleep with their friends’ sister no matter what the circumstance.
He’d treat her like he would a buddy
. Yeah, that’s the answer.
“Doesn’t look too bad,” he said once they stepped into the room. He leaned his cane against the wall, hopped onto the bed and stretched out, his leg already feeling better.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind stinky carpets, thin curtains, lumpy beds, and comforters that haven’t been washed in years.”
He looked at her, narrowing his gaze. “That’s not true.”
“Yes it is. I watched a show where this man goes into hotels located all over the country and investigates how clean they are. In ninety-five percent of the rooms that he investigated, he found bodily fluids on the blankets.”
There wasn’t a sliver of humor to her expression. He jumped up, tore the flowered blanket from the bed and tossed it onto the nearby chair. “I’ll have to have faith that the owners believe in clean sheets.” He laid back down and kicked off his boots. He bounced up and down. “The mattress isn’t too bad. A few lumps here and there won’t hurt anyone.”
“There went any idea I had of you sleeping in the bathtub.” She laughed. He lifted a brow in question. “I’m only teasing. I promise to keep my hands to myself tonight.”
He stared. Did he really want her to keep her hands off?
“Relax, Dade. You look like you could spit nails. By the way, you need ice for the cheek.”
Her smile made him want to kiss her. He’d give a month’s wages just to have a chance to sample the cherry flavored lip tint again. “Nah, I’ll live. I’ve been stung harder by a bee.”
“Suit yourself, but you’re going to have a black eye.”
“I’m not worried about the black eye. Chase will do more than that once we get back to Nirvana.”
She laid a palm on her tilted hip. “We’re not doing anything wrong.”
“Let me list the issues.” He sat up and lifted one finger. “First, I’m supposed to be watching over you and making sure you don’t get into trouble. I failed. You managed to steal my clothes and leave me locked in a room. And just so you know, I’m still not over that. Two,” he held up another digit, “I left the ranch without telling anyone.”
The Discreet Cowboy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 6) Page 6
