After toweling herself dry, she put on her underwear and stood in front of the mirror to blow-dry her hair to perfection. Then came her outfit, which consisted of dark, skinny jeans that fit like a second skin but were surprisingly comfy, a fitted Western shirt that she wouldn’t have been seen dead wearing in Seattle and knee-high boots that had cost her a whole week’s salary a couple of years back. Man, she loved those boots. A deep-pink leather adorned with tiny embroidered flowers, they were sexy and feminine at the same time, and when she wore them, she felt as if she could conquer the world.
“Watch out, Levi Monroe,” she told her reflection as she appraised the finished product in the mirror and perched her cowgirl hat on her head. Although a city chick now, she hadn’t grown up in Marietta without acquiring such accessories, and she’d dug this one out for her return.
After grabbing a quick omelet for breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Selah returned to her room for her voice recorder and camera and then headed out to her car.
Due to prior commitments, country music star Jake Kohl hadn’t been able to get into town until late last night, which was why the rodeo committee had switched the annual dance on Main Street to tonight, instead of holding it after the welcome dinner like they usually did on Friday. As honorary chair, he’d be needed during the parade, but Selah had scheduled an interview with him at midday, hoping they’d have plenty of time to talk before the opening ceremony kicked off the events in the afternoon.
Theoretically, she didn’t need to be at the rodeo grounds until that time, but she figured she’d get to catch up with old friends and maybe grab a couple of cowboys to chat with for her other article. Of course, there was also the chance she might run into Levi. Her stomach tightened at the thought. After the way he’d led her on last night, she shouldn’t still want him like she did, but she couldn’t help it.
From the moment she parked her car in the designated area at the rodeo grounds, every cell in her body was on high alert, looking out for him. The grounds were busier than when she’d visited Levi yesterday. People who’d likely been to the pancake breakfast in town were starting to arrive for the official opening parade, which would kick off soon. As she walked through the gathering crowds, she tried to focus on the smells and sounds of the rodeo instead—things she hoped to use in her article to convey the atmosphere—but each time she saw someone in the distance wearing the classic cowboy uniform of Wrangler jeans, dusty boots, Western shirt and work-weathered hat, her insides quivered. Sooner or later, it would be him.
“Selah?” She turned at the sound of a woman calling her name, relieved to have a distraction.
It was Jenny, wearing a smile like a rainbow and her hand linked with her new hubby, Colton Thorpe, who was eating a corn dog. Selah waved and walked toward them, happy for the chance to see Colton again.
“Hi, guys.” She came to a stop alongside them and smiled.
“Morning, Selah. Great to see you.” Colton tipped his cowboy hat and grinned at her. “Jenny said you’re here for work, writing articles or something?”
For a second, Selah didn’t know what Colton was talking about, but then she remembered her real reason for coming to Marietta and nodded.
“Let me know if you need any information,” he offered. “I’m not competing this year, but I’m happy to help if I can.”
“Thanks.”
“So,” Jenny hissed as she dug Selah in the side, “last night?”
Fresh humiliation washed over her at the thought of having to tell Jenny and the others exactly what had happened. Or rather not happened. Colton and Jenny took her flushed face the wrong way, and he held up his hands and said with a laugh, “Whoa, spare me the details. I’ll leave you ladies to chat and go catch up with some of the dudes.”
Jenny laughed as Colton all but ran off toward the camp where the competitors kept their horses, trailers and goose-necks. Then she grabbed hold of Selah’s arm. “I know I should wait for Sage and Chels before I hound you for details, but Sage is working this morning, and Lord knows what’s going on with Chelsea at the moment. Shall we go grab something to eat and find a quiet spot to chat?”
Even if Selah hadn’t enjoyed a good breakfast at The Graff, she wouldn’t have wanted to eat now. Greasy rodeo food had never enticed her, and besides, the knowledge that Levi was around here somewhere killed any appetite she might have had. As for a quiet spot? With cowboys and cowgirls gearing up for their events, parents chasing overexcited kids who were running around like crazy and the calls of the carnival folk who’d set up a few rides for the weekend, such a place seemed unlikely.
“There’s really nothing to tell,” Selah said, glancing around for an excuse to escape Jenny’s clutches.
Someone who didn’t know her that well might have mistaken these words for not wanting to kiss-and-tell, but Jenny saw the truth immediately. She looked into Selah’s eyes, and Selah felt tears welling up at the look of concern on her friend’s face. If she were honest, it wasn’t simply embarrassment over what had happened. There was a little heartache, too. Stupid when she’d only just reconnected with Levi, but she’d thought they’d been enjoying each other’s company last night. Talk about foolish!
She blinked and swallowed. “Please, Jenny, I really don’t want to talk about it here. I have work to do.”
Jenny hesitated a moment before pasting a smile over her concern. “That’s right”—she wriggled her eyebrows—“you’ve got your interview with Jake Kohl soon, haven’t you?”
“Yep. After the parade. And I need to chat with some of the competitors as well.” She pulled her camera out of her shoulder bag. “And I should get some snaps. Reckon I’ll be able to sweet-talk a few cowboys into having their photo taken?”
“Are you kidding?” Jenny made a theatrical show of looking Selah up and down. “They’ll be falling all over themselves to please you.”
Selah tried to laugh but failed dismally. If only the cowboy she actually wanted had been so eager to please. She walked through the crowds with Jenny, trying to resurrect some of her kick-ass attitude, as they passed the stalls selling hot dogs and barbecue and headed for the arena where the parade would soon start.
“Ladies,” Colton, hanging out with a couple of men on the bleachers, called to them. “Can I introduce you to Brendan Reid and Ryder Black?”
“Hi,” said Selah and Jenny at the same time.
“Jenny is my better half,” Colton said, proudly wrapping an arm around her and pulling her into his side. “And Selah’s an old friend of Jenny’s. She’s writing an article about cowboys. I know these two from the circuit, and they’re as good as you’ll get, Selah.”
“Nice to meet you.” Brendan, a tall, dark-haired man who looked a little too thin for a cowboy, held out his hand, and Selah took it. He had a firm shake and held on a fraction longer than was decent. “Selah? That’s a pretty name. You from around here?”
She shook her head. “Not anymore, although I did grow up in Marietta.”
“And where do you call home now?” Brendan asked, leaning a little too close and tossing her a practiced cowboy grin. He was kinda cute when he smiled, and she imagined it worked well for him with many a girl, but he had nothing on Levi. It didn’t make her toes curl or her insides twist.
As that thought darted through her head, Selah happened to glance sideways, and her heart flipped at the sight of Levi only a few yards away. He was leaning back against a bleacher, his arms crossed over his chest, watching them. Their eyes met, and then he waved a hand, as if acknowledging a casual acquaintance.
Grr. He made her blood boil. How dare he wave at her like that after last night?
Flicking her long hair over her shoulder, she turned her attentions back to the conversation and pasted a flirty smile on her face.
“Selah lives in Seattle now,” Jenny was saying, pride shining through in her voice. “She’s a journalist, so if you don’t mind, she’d like to ask you a couple of questions. Maybe take a few photos? Make you fa
mous.”
“Sure.” Brendan laughed and turned to Ryder, his blond friend. “Which do you think is my best side?”
“Neither.” Ryder snorted and then held out his hand to Selah. She fluttered her eyelashes at him as she took it, purely for Levi’s sake, of course. “Don’t waste your time with this loser, he barely knows one end of a horse from the other, and his mug’s far too ugly. It’ll break your camera.”
“Funny guy.” Brendan glared good-naturedly at Ryder. “Careful or I won’t partner you in the steer wrestling.”
“I’d like to interview you both,” Selah told them, flicking her hair again and secretly hoping Levi was still watching the interactions, “and I’m sure my camera will love you.”
They made arrangements to meet after Selah had interviewed Jake Kohl, and then Ryder and Brendan swaggered off in search of food. Selah couldn’t resist any longer. She turned back to look at Levi, her heart feeling as if it were physically deflating when she realized he was gone. She sighed. So much for trying to make him jealous or regret missing out. Her little show with Ryder and Brendan had been for nothing. Why she’d thought Levi would care, she had no clue.
If he felt anything for her, he wouldn’t have led her on last night. Vowing to try to forget about him and her ridiculous proposition, to enjoy the rodeo and catching up with old pals, she summoned a smile from deep within and sat down with Jenny and Colton to watch the parade.
*
Had any woman ever looked hotter in jeans, boots and a cowgirl hat? Levi wondered, glowering as he strode away from the bleachers. Of course, the answer was no, and he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. The memory of Brendan and Ryder laughing and leaning in close to ogle Selah’s magnificent cleavage made his fists clench, and he hadn’t been able to bear standing around and watching. He knew both men from the circuit and although they were reasonably good guys, they were all about the thrill of the ride—where the rodeo and women were concerned. No doubt, they were already placing bets on which one of them could lure Selah into his bed, and the thought had Levi seeing red.
He’d felt so good, so empowered last night after kissing Selah and then walking away, but it had lasted all of five minutes. He hadn’t even been back at the rodeo camping grounds before he’d started feeling like a total shit. Not only had he treated Selah badly, but he’d spent all night tossing and turning on his bunk, wondering if maybe he’d cut off his nose to spite his face.
Needing a few moments to pull himself together, he was heading for his trailer when he almost crashed into a laughing couple as they came around a corner.
“Hey, watch where you’re going, loser.”
Levi looked up to see Cole McCullough, Em’s grandson, still laughing, despite his harsh words.
He tried to shake off his frustration and grinned at Cole. “Maybe you should watch where you’re going,” he shot back.
Then they both leaned in for a quick man hug. Neither of them were the hugging type, but Levi hadn’t seen Cole for about a year, back when he was still a single man about town. “Congratulations,” Levi said, pulling back. “And to you too, Nell.” He leaned over and kissed Cole’s wife on the cheek. He’d met her at the Wilsall Rodeo at the same time as Cole, but had been as in the dark as everyone else about their relationship status. “I couldn’t believe it when Em told me you two had tied the knot in secret. But I’m really happy for you both.”
It was the truth, but it left a weird ache in his gut. He desperately wanted what Cole had found. He longed for a woman who wanted to be his partner in everything. Nell had a successful career in reality television, but she and Cole loved each other enough to make it work. The way Em told it, Nell had fought for him.
“Aw, thanks, Levi.” Nell smiled and linked her arm with his. “That means a lot. Wanna come watch the parade with us?”
“And then we can grab some lunch,” Cole added. “I want to hear all about this rodeo school you’re planning.”
Levi looked off into the distance toward his trailer and his horse. He could go off and sulk, or he could hang out with Nell and Cole and try to enjoy his last rodeo as a competitor. That had been his goal until Selah had come along and thrown a mammoth spanner in the works.
“Sure, that sounds good. Do you know if Em’s here yet?”
“Dad and Jane were bringing her. Not sure they’ll be here for the parade, but Em said nothing would keep her from watching your events. We’ll all be rooting for you.”
“Thanks, man.” Feeling a little more relaxed after the conversation with Cole and Nell, Levi headed with them back toward the arena where the parade was about to kick off, a decision made as he walked.
The evening with Selah had been the best night he’d had in a long while, and he was no longer proud of himself over how it ended. He needed to apologize to her for the jerky way he’d acted and maybe explain why he hadn’t accepted her very tempting offer. Just because he didn’t think it was a smart idea for them to sleep together didn’t mean he wanted things to end badly between them a second time.
All through the parade, Levi was semidistracted as he went over in his head what he could say to clear the air. He noticed Brendan and Ryder in the bleachers and couldn’t help a sigh of relief when he didn’t see Selah with them.
Although on the lookout for her so he could try to catch her before the afternoon’s events arrived, he didn’t see her again until he was sitting down eating lunch with the McCullough clan. Trying to pay attention to the conversation, led mostly by Nell, Em and Jane, Levi watched out of the corner of his eye as she laughed with a couple of local girls—Mandy Wright and Trinity Cash, if he recalled correctly. Both girls had been a few years behind them at school, but Mandy was Selah’s friend Jenny’s little sister.
The moment she began to walk away, he made his excuses, leaped up and hurried after her. She was walking briskly toward the temporary offices set up for the rodeo, and although he would usually be able to keep up with her easily, Levi lost ground navigating the growing crowd.
He was about to call out to her when she raised her hand and knocked on the office door. He cursed and kicked up some dirt on the ground as a man dressed like a cowboy but far too polished-looking to be a real one stepped out. The man and Selah exchanged a few pleasantries, judging by the looks on their faces, then shook hands before he ushered her inside and closed the door.
“Can I help you?” asked a woman, coming up behind him. She was wearing a rodeo committee badge.
“It’s fine.” He shook his head and gestured toward the office. “I was trying to catch up with my friend, but it looks like she’s busy.”
“You mean Selah?” The woman beamed. “She’s interviewing Jake Kohl for that magazine she writes for. We’re all so excited to have him here.”
Levi racked his brain for why the name sounded familiar. And then it hit him. Jake was a country music heartthrob. One of the female wranglers who worked for his friend Lane had all his albums. By all accounts, he was an all-around nice guy and great singer and owned a face and body that made women crazy.
Something tightened inside Levi at the thought of Selah all alone with this man, but he could hardly voice his discomfort.
“Ah, that’s right,” he said to the woman, feigning nonchalance. “I’ll catch up with her later.”
Vowing to put all this pent-up tension to good use, Levi went off to prepare his faithful steed for his first event, steer wrestling. He was in no mood for the dramatics of the opening ceremony, but ventured back toward the action just before the calf-roping was due to start to see if any of the competitors in this event would be competition for the title of All-Around Cowboy. Earlier, he’d seen a cowboy unload a big black horse from a trailer. While the horse had appeared half-asleep, his gut told him the horse was whip smart and the cowboy a seasoned competitor. Considering this would be his last rodeo, he’d decided winning the All-Around Cowboy title would be a good finale to his career. The prize money would also come in handy for his new vent
ure, so he planned on giving it his best shot.
Heading toward the arena, he saw Selah, a camera slung around her neck, walking a few steps ahead of him as if she, too, had had business in the camp.
“Hey, Selah,” he called, and began jogging toward her before he could think better of it.
She turned, and the breath caught in his throat as her gaze connected with his. Her long, chocolate-brown hair blew across her face in the wind, and he seriously couldn’t recall having ever seen anything or anyone as beautiful as she was.
“Levi.” Her tone was guarded and her look wary as she tucked her errant hair behind her ears and readjusted her hat. It wasn’t exactly a friendly greeting, but what had he been expecting?
“Can we talk a moment?” he asked, stopping just in front of her.
She folded her arms across her chest and glanced behind them toward the arena. “I don’t have long. I need to get some photos of the calf-roping.”
“This won’t take long,” he promised, shoving his hands in his pockets, because right now all he wanted to do was pull her against him and apologize in the most basal way possible. Not with words, but with kisses. Yet, standing before her now only emphasized the fact he’d made the right decision yesterday. He may have gone about it the wrong way—he should never have teased her and led her on—but Selah wasn’t the type of woman he could sleep with and then walk away. Even after all this years, she still did something crazy to him. “I wanted to apologize for last night.”
She held up her hand, a decided flush rushing up her neck and spreading into her cheeks. “It’s fine, Levi, you don’t owe me an…”
Her next words were drowned out by the thundering of a horse’s hooves heading toward them. He turned in the direction of the noise to see a riderless bay cantering toward them, its stirrups thrashing against its belly and the reins dangling free. Instinctively, he grabbed Selah, yanking her against him and pulling them both out of the path in the nick of time.
Tease Me, Cowboy (Montana Born Rodeo Book 1) Page 7
