Wound Tight: A Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys Crossover

by Lorelei James

  The closest campground without restrictions was a forty-five minute drive through metro Denver closer to the mountains. For Denver having a decent public transport system, neither the buses nor the light rail went that far out. And in reading the fine print, Callie saw that the hookup facilities were closed from November through April anyway.

  So she’d looked into leasing a lot in a trailer court. But again, the lots were full and most of them had a waiting list of a year or more. And the lot rental was four times more than she’d expected it’d be, which was a double whammy because the trailer courts were mostly in the worst parts of Denver.

  Now, she had less than two weeks to come up with a solution.

  Callie closed the lid on her laptop.

  Two weeks. Hard to fathom that her life would be completely different two weeks from now. She’d be in classes Monday through Friday, with every other Saturday being optional to shadow professionals in their job settings, allowing students to gauge their interest on adding accreditation for becoming a nail tech, makeup artist, or an esthetician. That would give her two full weekends off every month. She’d never had that option. What would she do with herself? Given the rent situation, she’d probably have to get a job.

  Maybe she could skip the line, so to speak, in continuing to work within The Sly Fox franchise in the metro area. She’d given her notice last week, and the Barbarian had been surprising cool about Callie moving on. She hadn’t even penalized her by cutting her hours. She’d miss her coworkers. Their mutual promises of keeping in touch…nice in theory, but the reality of the bar business was people came and went all the time and losing track of them was more the norm than sustaining a lifelong relationship.

  And speaking of relationships…Callie had no idea what the future held for her and Justin, or if they even had a future. She loved him like crazy and he told her he loved her too, showed it to her in every way that mattered—not just in bed.

  He’d moved in with her the day after they’d burned up the sheets for the first time. Living with him had been much easier than living with her mom and her sisters, probably because he didn’t have a lot of stuff. Callie had gotten used to crawling into bed next to him after her shift at the bar. He never complained that she woke him up, not even when he had to be up at the crack of dawn. He just sleepily gathered her into his arms and asked how her night had gone. Bonus points for her man that she’d never caught him snoring during the retelling of the events of her shift. Part of her suspected his curiosity stemmed from whether any male customers had gotten handsy with her. In the interest of keeping her job, and keeping Justin’s blood pressure down, they agreed that he limit his visits to the bar to once a week for a maximum of two hours.

  She knew he loved watching her dance—he just hated that other men got to see her move like that too. On the nights he came to watch her, she gave him an over-the-top show. A different routine than he’d ever seen. They rarely got out of the parking lot before Justin was on her, in her, owning her, whispering in explicit detail exactly what’d raced through his deliciously dirty mind as he’d watched her dancing for him. Then they’d go at it again when they returned home.

  He’d taken her sexual education to a whole new level. Sometimes he’d love her so tenderly, so reverently, tears sparked from the pure joy of their intimate connection. Other times, the bossy cowboy appeared, ropes in hand to tie her to the bed, or to the chair, teasing her until she literally screamed. The cocky man really loved when their campsite neighbors/coworkers gave him a high five the next morning after joking about rockin’ the camper. He sure didn’t have a problem with her age then. The man was so proud she couldn’t even be mad at him.

  Callie would miss all of the couple things they shared that she’d never had. Their inside jokes. Cooking together in their little love nest. Arguing at the grocery store when he went over their allotted budget because he’d bought her flowers. Working the pens together. The quiet moments when she rested her head on his chest and just listened to him breathe.

  She’d done pretty well convincing herself that she respected him for making her no promises and for believing hers that this was just sex without strings. Despite knowing her last image of him would be his tail lights and the mud flaps on his truck as he drove away, she’d gone into this relationship with her eyes and her heart wide open.

  Most days she’d convinced herself that realizing she was capable of such love and passion was enough. That the memories of him and falling for him would be enough.

  Today wasn’t one of those days.

  The rodeo school session ended next week. Justin hadn’t mentioned his plans for after that and Callie wondered if he knew where he’d end up. It’d stung to learn that he’d been offered the instructor’s position for next session at Grade A Rodeo Academy—gossip she’d heard from Deke and Lana, not from her man himself.

  Maybe he’d decided to make it a surprise for her.

  Maybe he hadn’t told her because he didn’t want the pressure from her to take the job when he didn’t want it.

  During the hours they’d spent hanging out at the bonfire with their friends and coworkers, Justin shared a million stories of his life on the road. While she loved hearing about that part of his life, she’d hated it too because she recognized the longing in his voice went deeper than melancholy. It was an innate part of him and she’d never ask him to walk away from it. And Justin understood how important school was to her, so he wouldn’t ask her to give up her dream to be with him wherever the road took him. So they were at an impasse.

  Callie closed her eyes, trying to calm her chaotic thoughts and focus on the positive.

  He showed you that you’re worthy of love.

  He accepted every part of you.

  He treated you with respect.

  He was proud to be with you.

  He made you laugh.

  He made you swoon.

  He made you his with every touch, every breath, every look, every moment you spent together…and how in the hell are you ever gonna live without him?

  Her tears fell. This time, no amount of telling herself that life would go on and she could just suck it up and deal would make them stop.

  That’s how Justin found her, sobbing hysterically with her head down on the table, tears soaking her laptop.

  “Callie?”

  She snuffled and warned herself to get it together.

  “Sweetness, are you hurt? Are you sick?” His normally gentle hands frantically tried to push her hair away from face. “Baby girl, look at me.”

  She shook her head.

  “Talk to me.”

  She shook her head again.

  Then Justin merely plucked her up and carried her to the couch, settling her on his lap so she couldn’t hide.

  The concern in those beautiful green eyes did her in. More stupid tears fell. She managed to stutter, “I’m s-s-s-sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For c-c-c-crying like a b-b-baby.”

  Justin clamped his hands on either side of her head. “Are you hurt?”

  Yes, it feels like my heart is being ripped from my body and my soul has been shredded, but no biggie.

  “Callie,” he said sharply, “are you hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Thank you, Jesus.”

  She stared at him, greedily drinking in every nuance of his face, the faced she loved so much, the face she’d never get tired of looking at. The laugh lines by his eyes. The frown lines by his mouth. The scowl line between his eyebrows. The smooth, tan skin that indicated a life spent out in the elements. The tightness flattening his full lips. The hard set of his chiseled jawline. The softness in his green eyes. How many more times would she be this close to him?

  “You’re scarin’ the life outta me with the way you’re eyeballin’ me like you ain’t ever gonna see me again.”

  Callie wasn’t surprised he’d picked up on that. His intuition was unparalleled when it came to her.

  “What�
��s wrong?”

  “I got notice from the housing department today. Basically there’s no room at the inn. Everything is a go for me to start school, but I don’t have a place to live. I can’t find a spot to park my camper. So I have no choice but to start checking Craigslist to find a room to rent and it’s overwhelming.” Tears shimmered in her eyes again. “Nothing ever works out for me the way I want it to. I’ve always been able to suck it up and move on from disappointment, but it’s been harder this time.”

  His gaze turned shrewd.

  And Callie was as intuitive when it came to his emotions. She knew he wanted to say, “All them tears for that little bitty worry, don’t seem like you” because he’d seen her cry one time in the months they’d been together.

  Instead, he said, “Sounds to me like you’ve already got a plan in place.”

  Why didn’t he sound happy about that? “I’m trying to get it handled.”

  “By yourself. Just like you always do, huh?” His thumb gently stroked her cheekbone.

  “It’s what I do, Justin. I’ve always had to rely on myself.” He knew that. He’d told her that was one of his favorite things about her, so why did he seem so unhappy about it now?

  “Did you ever think maybe you oughta talk to me and I could help you figure something out?”

  Her chin shot up with defiance. “You’ve got your own stuff to deal with. You don’t need to be burdened with mine.”

  Then he was nose-to-nose with her. “Not a goddamned thing about you is a burden to me, Callie. Not. One. Damn. Thing. Don’t you know that by now?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then, baby girl, it’s time I showed you.” He settled his mouth over hers, his tongue pushing between her lips to get inside, as if he needed a taste of her to survive. The kiss wasn’t the ravenous, teeth-knocking one she’d expected, but a sweet outpouring of love that pushed her tears to the surface again.

  He released her mouth and rested his forehead to hers. “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.” Then Callie took the biggest chance of her life and said, “I love you, Justin Donohue. No matter what happens in the next two weeks, I’ll always love you with everything I have, with everything I am.” She managed a smile. “Granted, I don’t have much.”

  Justin said nothing. He pressed his lips to hers, gifting her with a lingering kiss.

  Then he lightly slapped her ass. “Grab your purse and get your boots on. We’re goin’ for a ride. I wanna show you something.”

  * * * *

  When Justin said “ride” Callie assumed he’d take her to the corral, saddle up the horses and they’d hit the trail for a few hours to take her mind off her troubles because being outdoors with him always worked.

  But he’d meant a ride in his truck straight into the heart of Denver.

  He’d been quiet during the drive. Not necessarily brooding, but Callie knew he had something on his mind. Her emotional exhaustion overtook her and she rested her head on the console between their seats.

  Justin smoothed his hand over the top of her head and down her hair, petting her in the way that made her feel spoiled…and very sleepy.

  She woke up to the sounds of honking horns.

  After she’d shaken off the cobwebs, she looked around. “Why are we in a concrete bunker?”

  He laughed. “It’s a parking garage.” He whipped around the corner and chose a spot with a warning sign above it:

  PRIVATE PARKING ONLY—VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED

  “Uh, I think you’d better park somewhere else.”

  “Nah. It’s okay.” He grinned. “I know the owner. Come on, let’s go.”

  Justin clasped her hand and led her into the elevator. He punched in a code and they started to ascend.

  He wasn’t talking, in fact, he seemed nervous, so Callie choked back the million questions on the tip of her tongue.

  She watched the lighted panel and saw they’d reached the seventeenth floor. The doors opened and a sea of burgundy carpet spread out, as if they were on the executive level of some fancy hotel.

  This was too bizarre. She tugged his hand. When he stopped and faced her, she crowded him against the wall. Well, crowded was optimistic because the solidly muscular and singularly stubborn man wouldn’t budge unless he wanted to. “Where are we? Some fancy-schmancy hotel?”

  “No. But would you hate that?” He touched her face. “Me takin’ you someplace swanky? Letting room service bring us food because we were too exhausted from fucking in a big, soft bed and a gigantic whirlpool tub to leave the room?”

  Callie set her hand on his chest. “I wouldn’t hate it, but you know I don’t need that from you either.”

  “I know.” He pointed to the door across from them with a number on it. “This isn’t a hotel. It’s an apartment building.”

  Okay. That was even stranger.

  Justin kept his hold on her hand until they reached the end of the hallway. He sorted through his keys and shoved one in the lock. A green light flashed. Then he led her inside.

  Callie stopped in the middle of the living room. Not that it looked lived in, with one long couch, a gigantic TV, and a coffee table. She turned and saw a large kitchen, open concept, with an eat-in breakfast bar that spanned the length of the marble countertop. The bank of windows snagged her attention next and she wandered over to look across the city of Denver and to the mountains in the distance. She turned back around to see Justin’s fine butt parked against the back of the sofa. His arms were crossed over his chest.

  “I’ll admit you’ve stumped me, cowboy hottie. What is this place?”

  His eyes searched her face. “My apartment.”

  She started to say something smart, but she noticed the tense set to his shoulders. Actually, his whole body was rigid. The man was wound tight as she’d ever seen him. “Your apartment,” she repeated.

  “Yeah. I haven’t been here much in the past. So this place will solve your housing problem. You can live here while you go to school.”

  Callie’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “What do you mean live here? There’s no way I can afford a place like this, Justin. No way.” That’s when it occurred to her that Justin shouldn’t be able to afford it either. She pinned him with a look.

  He smiled at her. “I see you’ve done the math.”

  “What is going on? Who are you?”

  “Baby girl, you know who I am straight down to the bone. You’re one of the few who do.” He patted the spot beside him. “Have a seat.”

  “I’ll stand. Start talking.”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “I doubt that. Boil it down to the basics for me.”

  He grinned at her again. “God, I love your sassy mouth.”

  Callie shook her finger at him. “Save the sweet words. Give me the facts.”

  “I did pretty well in the PBR. Better than most as far as not blowin’ all the money I earned because my brother Jack wouldn’t let me. He taught me a few things about investing money, I taught myself a few things and I…” Justin stood and rubbed the back of his neck. “I was smart enough after the second go-around not to let myself be used by women who only wanted me for what I could buy them.”

  “You have money?” Callie said finally.

  “Yeah.”

  “So you’re not a broke-down cowboy, living hand to mouth? Restless and on the road searching for your next job?”

  Justin looked at her and shook his head.

  Her mind raced. “Why would you let people think that of you?”

  “Because I’d had enough of women and former friends thinking of me as a damn meal ticket. A free ride. I’d earned the money. But the greedy women that I thought loved me felt entitled to spend it. When I wised up and said no more, I learned that my money and fame had more appeal than who I was out of the arena and the spotlight.” He paused. “It was a hard lesson that I shoulda learned a lot faster than I did. But when I did wise up, I also felt broken down. I had no direction in my
life so I just…rambled. Did what interested me. Spent time with my family. Helped out friends who’d stuck by me in good times and bad, and darlin’, I can count them on one hand.”

  Callie balled her hands into fists and tried to be calm, but her anger won out. “So when you were so self-righteous and accused me of lying to you about my age, you were lying to me about…this? Is it because you thought I was some kind of gold digger too?” Then she had another lightbulb moment. “That’s why you spent five fucking weeks as my friend. You were judging my character?”

  Then Justin was right there, his strong hands curled around her biceps. “The fact I didn’t disclose that I wasn’t hurtin’ financially had nothin’ to do with you. I’ve been livin’ that mindset for so goddamned long that some days it shocks the crap outta me to realize that I don’t gotta muck stalls to earn a paycheck.”

  She tried to squirm out of his hold. “How nice for you that you have so many options!”

  “Callie—”

  “Did you have a good laugh when I gave you money to fix your truck?” Her body went hot with shame. To think that it’d made her proud that she could help someone else out for a change.

  “No. That one sweet, selfless act made me realize I was in love with you.”

  “Why should I believe you?”

  He froze.

  She blinked at him, trying her damndest not to cry.

  “Because it’s the truth. I fell in love with you then and every day I love you more. Do you hear me?” He shook her a little. “I. Love. You. You’re the first woman who’s ever loved me for me, not for what I could give them. You loved me even when you knew that’s probably all I could give you. Just my love. And I knew part of you didn’t want to love me because you believed it wouldn’t matter and I’d leave you anyway. That I’d hop in my truck at the end of the session and not look back. But you still took a chance on loving me with that big heart of yours, didn’t you? You gave me all of you and you accepted every part of me, even my goddamned age. It didn’t matter because you love me. I know you do.”

  Had he said that to convince himself? Or to remind her?