His heart thumping, he held Selah close. Her hat had fallen onto the dirt in the commotion, and he rested his chin against her silky hair, relishing its softness as he praised the Lord the horse hadn’t hurt her. The thought left him cold, and the intensity of his feelings scared him. The shock flooded his senses, resurrecting memories of their time together. She still fit perfectly against him.
But however good they were in the past, and despite the fun they’d had together last night, he had to remember things were different now.
They were older, more worldly. And the biggest difference of all—Selah had made her career and a life for herself in Seattle, whereas he wanted to make a home right here. Her proposition hadn’t included a relationship, just sex.
Coming to his senses, Levi pulled away. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
Although Selah looked a little shaky, she nodded, and then shock crossed her face as she brought her hand up to cover her mouth. “Did the horse knock over that baby carriage?”
He followed her gaze, his heart clenching again at the sight of a baby carriage lying on its side. “Shit,” he cursed before they both noticed a young mother stepping out from behind a trailer, clutching a chubby baby on her hip, horror sprawled across her face as she gazed at the baby carriage, likely contemplating what could have happened if her baby had been in it.
“Thank God,” Selah breathed out beside him.
Not trusting himself to stick with Selah any longer after the thoughts that had just been running through his mind, he scooped her hat off the ground and handed it to her. “I’d better go see if anyone needs help with the runaway horse,” he said, snatching the excuse to get away.
“Thanks,” she called after him.
And he didn’t know whether it was for the hat, for saving her from getting trampled or for his half-finished attempt at an apology. Either way, he hoped she’d forgiven him for acting like a jerk.
Chapter Seven
‡
Selah’s mouth went dry as she watched Levi jog away from her. Despite still shaking after their encounter and the incident with the errant horse, she couldn’t deny that the sight of his delicious ass encased in faded denim was a sight too good to be ignored. She rubbed her lips together to stop from drooling.
Damn, he was hot, and even after the humiliation of last night, she still wanted to nail him. She clutched her hat to her chest, stupidly inhaling in the hope of catching a whiff of Levi’s raw, masculine scent and torturing herself by wondering what exactly he’d started to say to her. Maybe it was a good thing the horse had charged by when it had, for it saved her the further mortification of listening to him explain why he’d rejected her. What if he’d been planning to follow through until they’d kissed, and the spark hadn’t been there for him? Or maybe he simply didn’t find her attractive?
The awfulness of these thoughts sparked uncharacteristic tears at the corners of her eyes, and she prayed she’d get through the weekend without another brush with Levi.
“Are you okay?”
At a female voice behind her, Selah blinked away her tears and snapped her hat back on her head. “I’m fine,” she lied, turning to find Marly Akers, who’d recently taken over from her mother, Angelina, as editor at the Copper Mountain Courier, a paper that had been in their family for generations. “Great to see you, Marly,” she said, trying to keep her voice even.
Marly nodded in the direction the horse had flown. “That is so going in the Courier, but thank God no one was hurt.”
That was debatable. Selah’s heart felt as if it had split down the middle, but of course she didn’t say that. “Bit of excitement to kick off the rodeo. Oh, and congratulations on your baby”—she glanced down at the other woman’s burgeoning bump—“and your upcoming nuptials. Drake’s a lucky man.”
Marly beamed in the way pregnant women and blushing brides were renowned to do. Selah had already congratulated her on the phone when she’d offered the article she was going to write with Jake to the Courier as well, but it felt right to say it again in person.
“I think I’m the lucky one,” Marly said. “Amazing how your luck can change in an instant.”
“Yes.” Selah tried to smile, though she felt anything but lucky this particular instant.
“How’d your interview with Jake go?” Marly asked, absentmindedly caressing her bump.
“Good.” Selah smiled, happy to have something to talk about that would take her mind off of Levi. Jake had been very obliging, flirtatious even. “He’s as lovely as everyone says he is, and I think it’ll be a great article. I’m going to take some photos tonight when he’s singing at the dance. I’ll send the article and the images to you early next week. Is that okay?”
“Perfect. I’m just so pleased you offered them to us. The pregnancy is affecting my brain lately, and I didn’t even think about requesting an interview myself.”
“It’s fine. It’ll be nice to finally have my byline in the local paper after all these years.”
“Speaking of your byline in the local paper,” Marly began, her lips curving into an even bigger smile, “any chance we could lure you away from that big-city magazine?”
Selah blinked, the offer completing blindsiding her. “What do you mean?”
“It’s probably a long shot, but I’m going to have to go on maternity leave soon, and I want someone I can trust to take over as editor while I’m away. You’ve got the experience, and you know the area and the people from having grown up here. You’d be perfect, but I understand if it’s not something you’re interested in at the moment, as I can only offer you a temporary position.”
“Move back to Marietta…”
Selah didn’t realize she’d said the words aloud until Marly nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry, but I think you’d have to, it’s not really a job that can be done long distance.”
Since leaving ten years ago, she’d never contemplated the idea of moving home, but she had to admit that lately, she’d been feeling a little disgruntled. And she was missing out on so much here. Although she’d return for Sage’s wedding in a few weeks, she wouldn’t be able to get away for the bachelorette party as well. And then there was Jenny’s baby. She’d miss watching her bump blossom like Marly’s, and she’d miss watching the baby grow up. Likely, Chelsea and Jasper would marry soon and start a family, too, and her parents weren’t getting any younger. Since they were barely on speaking terms with Magdalena, the job of looking after them if they needed help would likely fall to her.
Then she thought of Levi, and her whole body tingled. He was moving back himself. Would there be any possibility of rekindling that old spark if she returned as well? A hot flush swept through her at the thought, but she quickly dismissed that ridiculous notion.
Hadn’t they just established Levi wasn’t interested?
“Wow.” She sighed, her head suddenly throbbing. “That’s a temping offer, and I’m honored that you’d think of me…”
“But?” Marly asked, anticipating her refusal.
Selah found she couldn’t actual do it. “Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Sure.” Marly’s eyes lit up with hope. “I know it’d be a big change for you, and I’ve still got a few weeks of work left in me. Let me know as soon as you can, okay?”
Selah promised to do exactly that and then continued on toward the arena, hoping to find one of her friends to sit with while she watched some of the events. In the end, it was Chelsea who found her.
“Selah.” She threw her arms around her friend and whispered, “Come sit with me. I need a break from Jasper’s evil twin and his supposed girlfriend, who acts more like his minion.”
“What?” Selah looked questioningly at Chelsea as her friend started dragging her toward the bleachers.
“It’s a long story. One I don’t want to talk about right now. Let’s enjoy the rodeo instead, okay?” Chelsea delivered these lines in her school teacher’s voice, and Selah knew there was no point arguing. Besides, she
didn’t know if she could handle Chelsea’s issues while grappling with her own. Maybe later she’d tell her friends about Marly’s offer, but right now, she just wanted to lose herself in the rush of the rodeo.
They stopped at a stall next to the bleachers to grab drinks and a hot dog each, and then Chelsea led her to a row right at the top, where they’d be hard to find. The calf-roping was fun to watch. Selah didn’t know many of the competitors, aside from Rhett Dixon, who’d been a few years behind her at school and, according to her father, had recently been hanging out with the Taylors and getting into a bit of trouble. One poor cowboy got off to an unfortunate start when his horse broke before the calf. That earned him a ten-second penalty, but a dark-haired guy named Cordell Morgan followed and got an awesome time.
“He’s staying with Payton Hollis out at Beargrass Hills Ranch at the moment,” Chelsea whispered. “I wonder if anything will happen between them. Payton swears she’s too busy with her cows to have time for a man.”
Selah only vaguely knew Payton—she’d been a few years behind them at school and was friends with Jenny’s sister, Mandy—but she’d seen the cowgirl talking to the good-looking cowboy earlier. And by the way Trinity and Mandy had rushed over to speak to her, leaving Payton alone with Cordell, she suspected Payton’s friends had hatched a Marietta matchmaking plan.
She shrugged and made no comment.
It was fun watching, but she didn’t really feel invested in any of the events until it was Levi’s turn in the ring. Then, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. The way he rode his horse and the control he had over the steer were things of beauty indeed. None of the other competitors stood a chance, and when Levi came out with the best time in his first event, Selah couldn’t help feeling a burst of pride.
He wasn’t hers, she reminded herself. Unfortunately, Chelsea chose that moment to remember her Levi plan. She dug Selah in the ribs. “Hey, you haven’t told me about last night. Was he as good a ride as he looks?”
“I can’t talk about it here,” Selah hissed, semishocked at Chelsea’s dirty question. Jasper had certainly loosened her up some.
Chelsea gave her a knowing smile and then wiggled her eyebrows. “Fair enough, but I want all the details later.”
“Deal.” Selah sighed, hoping that something drastic would happen to make Chelsea forget to ask again. She really didn’t want to hash over her disastrous Friday night again.
During the ladies’ barrel racing, Chelsea went off to look for Jasper, and Selah went for a stroll. She contemplated going into town—maybe even visiting her parents, who had never embraced the whole rodeo thing—but she found herself hanging around, chatting with old friends and generally soaking up the buzz of the rodeo. A sucker for self-punishment, she ended up back at the arena with Sage, Dawson, Jenny and Colton for the final event of the day—the bull riding. This time, they sat closer to the action, and her heart felt as if it were pounding in her throat as she waited for Levi’s turn with the mammoth beast.
Then he and the meanest-looking bull she’d ever seen came bursting through the chute.
Despite not wanting to care, Selah was on the edge of her seat the whole time she watched him compete, her insides churning and her teeth cutting into her lower lip for what seemed like the longest eight seconds of her life. As Levi dismounted after a very successful ride—in which he’d managed to stay on the bull until the buzzer sounded—she let out a sigh of relief and smiled. She didn’t know how women in love with pro cowboys didn’t lose their hair or at least turn prematurely gray.
As the crowd erupted around her and other spectators started talking about Levi’s skill, he turned and met her gaze. They locked eyes for a few moments, and she mouthed, “Well done,” a warmth spreading through her when he rewarded her with a smile. If only she hadn’t listened to her friends, if only she hadn’t attempted seduction, then maybe she and Levi could have salvaged some kind of friendship this weekend. Feeling as if she might recover from her mortification, she vowed to congratulate Levi if she saw him later at the steak dinner or dance.
*
Cole and Nell had persuaded Levi to attend the dinner and dance on Main Street. Although it was his last rodeo, he hadn’t been that enthused about anything but the events. Over his last ten years on the circuit, he’d partaken in his fair share of celebrating (aka drinking himself stupid and then finding a pretty girl to share his trailer for the night), but he was bored of that lifestyle now. He’d planned on going out to the ranch to have dinner with Em, but after congratulating him on his events, she’d mentioned she was tired and planning an early night.
“Come to the dance with us,” Nell had said, sounding like an excited child as she tugged on Levi’s arm. “I’m sure there’ll be lots of pretty cowgirls there eager to dance with today’s star.”
“I’m not much of a dancer, Nell,” he replied, thinking that he’d likely blown his chance with the prettiest girl in town. He didn’t even know if Selah would be there tonight, but as she’d come to town specifically to write about the rodeo, he guessed she probably would be.
“The food’s good,” Cole added.
“All right, you twisted my arm,” Levi said, allowing Nell and Cole to think it was the food that had won him over. Truth was, despite the adrenaline rush of riding the rodeo that afternoon, he hadn’t been able to get the memory of Selah pressed against him when he’d pulled her out of the runaway bay’s path out of his mind. And somehow, whether wise or not, that memory had him throwing himself in the shower and then yanking on his best jeans and a clean shirt.
He sat with Cole, Nell and a couple of guys he’d gone to high school with during dinner, munching on overcooked steak and potato salad, half-listening to talk about cattle prices and drought, all the while keeping an eye out for Selah. He didn’t know what he would do if he saw her, but he couldn’t help wanting to. Knowing she’d been watching his bull ride this afternoon had spurred him on to the best ride of his life. Yet the thrill of victory had been nothing compared with her smile as he’d exited the arena. It gave him hope that she’d forgiven him, and call him insane, but he wanted another hit.
“Are you looking for someone?” Nell asked as the first croons of Jake Kohl wafted across the crowd, signaling the beginning of the dance.
Why did women have to be so damn perceptive? None of the men had noticed his distraction. Unfortunately, Selah had so far proved elusive, and he was just about to deny he was looking for anyone when he saw her standing at the edge of the temporary stage, snapping photos of the country music star. She lowered the camera, and he saw her face light up with a massive smile as she bopped along to what he had to admit was a very catchy tune.
“Oh, I see…” Nell’s tone was all knowing beside him. “Who is she?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, tearing his gaze off the stage, off Selah and back to Nell.
But Cole had chosen that moment to abandon the ranch chat. “Who is who?”
Grinning like the Cheshire cat, Nell leaned into Cole as she pointed toward the stage. “That gorgeous woman taking photos of Jake.”
Cole registered who Nell was looking at, then looked at Levi and back at his wife with a cocky grin. “That is Levi’s first love. Selah Davis.”
“Really?” Nell was far too excited for Levi’s liking. “Is she from around here? I don’t think I’ve met her yet.”
“No,” Cole supplied, “not anymore. But she used to be, and she and Levi were the hottest couple in senior year.”
“You should ask her to dance,” Nell suggested, nudging Levi as if she wanted him to march up to the stage and do so right that moment.
“She’s busy.” Levi shrugged, glancing back at Selah, his chest squeezing at the look on her face, directed right at Jake, who appeared to be looking back as if the love tunes he sang he’d written specifically for her. Levi clenched his hands into fists.
“I’m going to get a drink.” Levi marched off to find the bar
, ordered himself a beer and all but poured it down his throat in one shot. This rodeo weekend was not at all turning out as he’d expected. He was contemplating the unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling of jealousy when three young cowgirls came up to chat.
“Hi, I’m Cindy.” One of them offered her hand, giggling in an irritating manner as she did so. “We saw your bull ride earlier and just…wow.”
“Yeah, wow,” echoed her two friends, also giggling.
“Thanks.” Levi tried to swallow his bad mood and remember his manners as he offered his hand to each of them. “Pleased to meet you. Are you ladies here to watch or compete?”
Cindy announced that she’d competed in the barrel racing but hadn’t done as well as she’d hoped, and her two friends—Layla and Louise—declared themselves her cheer squad.
“Will you come dance with us?” Layla asked.
In his youth, three gorgeous women would have been a fantasy come true, but right now another beer sounded much more appealing. Still, figuring it wouldn’t kill him to give them one dance, he let them lead him out onto the dusty dance floor.
Jake appeared to have finished his couple of songs, and a DJ had taken over. Loud country tunes blasted from speakers at each corner of the dance floor, which was already jam-packed with sweaty bodies writhing to the music. As his three young cowgirls gyrated around him, Levi glanced toward the stage where Selah had been ten minutes earlier, the tension in his body ramping up a notch when he could see neither her nor Jake.
He smiled at the girls and tried to relax, but that possibility flew out the window when a few moments later he caught sight of Selah and Jake dancing a few yards away. Torturing himself, he watched as they chatted and laughed while they danced, seemingly having a splendid time together.
Tease Me, Cowboy (Montana Born Rodeo Book 1) Page 8
