I am Not Your Melody: (steamy cowboy romance)

by Shoshanna Evers

  “You’ve already seen everything under my towel,” Allie said softly. “Remember?”

  It felt strange to be nearly naked next to him, absorbing the heat from his bare skin, contrasting with the chill on her own body. Rivulets of water ran down onto her from her still-wet hair, and goosebumps arose on her arms.

  “I’ll never forget.” His voice was low, husky with desire.

  “We look like twins,” she teased with a shiver, gesturing to their matching blue bath towels.

  “‘Cept I need a shower, an’ you’re all clean,” Bill murmured.

  He stepped in closer to her, and Allie let him, enjoying the warmth from his heated skin.

  His broad shoulders were even more incredible bare than they were filling out his T-shirts. The towel only served to accentuate his trim torso, six pack abs, and the light dusting of chest hair that led to his navel, then straight down below the towel.

  “I don’t mind that you’re dirty,” Allie whispered.

  She reached her hand out tentatively, and traced the trail of hairs down his stomach, running her fingers over his rock-like abdominal muscles.

  Bill groaned with desire and put his hand in her wet hair, holding her to him as his lips came down on hers… a deep, strong kiss. Allie gasped with pleasure as he tightened his hold on her hair, pulling her head back to accept more of his kisses.

  Should she be even doing this?

  Yes.

  Even if it was just for the amazing physical connection they had, she needed to reconnect with him on that level. She needed it in her very soul. Being with him in this way would almost be worth any torments that might come of it.

  “Make a decision,” Bill said in her ear. His breath was hot. “Go now, back to your room, shut the door and get dressed.”

  Allie shook her head, enjoying his commanding tone. “Or what?”

  “Or you’re mine,” he said, his voice low.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Allie said with a smile. “I’m yours.”

  With a passionate growl, Bill pulled her towel away from her body, letting it fall into a puddle on the floor in the doorframe. He dropped his towel as well, and gently rocked her back so her bare feet hit the cold tile once more.

  “I still need to shower,” he said, turning on the water until it came down like rain, the steam billowing around her in the bathroom.

  Allie stepped into the shower with him, and he handed her the soap with a grin.

  Oh my goodness. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Just the way that he was, the way he seemed so in line with her needs and desires, but was still so dominant and strong… it slayed her in a delicious, undeniably sexy way.

  While Bill showered, shampooing his hair, and helping Allie to lather up his body, she kissed him. She just couldn’t stop, he tasted so good.

  They shouldn’t be doing this. Shouldn’t be giving in to temptation.

  But the pull between them was too strong.

  Bill turned her around, so the shower beat down on her back, covering her with warm rivulets of water. She sighed with pleasure.

  “Will you get cold?” she asked, her eyes closed, enjoying the sensation.

  She could hear him pulling the shower curtain back and reaching for something, but she kept her eyes closed anyway, enjoying having the opportunity to focus only on physical sensation, and not know what he might do next…where he might touch her next.

  His hand came up between her thighs from behind, playing with her, and Allie inhaled sharply. The sound of a foil packet being ripped open made a shiver of anticipation run down her spine, despite the hot water splattering on her skin.

  He held her back against his chest, his strong arms wrapped around her body, and whispered in her ear.

  “Are you mine?”

  “Yes,” she whispered back, without hesitation.

  Only then — slowly at first, then harder, deeper — he thrust inside of her.

  “Yes,” Allie gasped.

  Bill took his time with her, bringing her to new heights of pleasure, running his hands, lathered with soap, all over her body…over her shoulders, her neck, her breasts…

  They moved together as one until the water turned cold. Only then did they stop, her pruned and wrinkled fingertips incongruent with the rejuvenation in her soul.

  “Go put some clothes on ‘fore I ravish you again,” he said with a satisfied smile.

  “Maybe I’ll just stay naked,” she said, grinning back.

  As much as the idea appealed to her, Allie left him with a quick peck on the cheek, and went back to her room to get dressed.

  Still wrapped in the towel, she sat on her bed — Melody’s bed.

  What were Allie and Bill really trying to accomplish with these moments of uncontrolled desire? Their desire not just for sexual contact, but for each other. What did any of this mean?

  He had said that he didn’t want to get involved in a relationship. He had said he would never love anyone again.

  Did this mean he could be changing his mind? Or was Allie just setting herself up for the one thing she’d sworn she’d never let happen again — complete, and utter heartbreak?

  Chapter Eleven

  Allie hit the switches from behind the bar, and the overhead lights in the room darkened, and then the space lit up with ambient lighting. The little pinpoints of brightness, the stars that sparkled on the wall behind her, gave the space a distinctly special feel. Two TV monitors in the corners of the wall behind the bar were off, for now, but the first weekend after opening they would start showing whatever big game was playing. The pool table, the same one that had been in complete disrepair not too long ago, looked brand-new after getting refurbished. A new pool set, balls, and pointers hung neatly on a rack on the freshly-painted wall.

  “This is our bar,” Allie whispered in disbelief. “I am an actual co-owner of a business I’m super excited about.”

  Bill stood behind the gleaming mahogany bar-top with her, gracing her with the biggest smile, all straight white teeth.

  “Yeah, you are,” he said. “You’re gonna be great at runnin’ this place. Folks ‘round here, they see you. They see you workin’ hard, building somethin’ for the good of the town.”

  “You really think I’ll fit in?” Allie asked. “I’ve been warned about how hard it is to fit in and feel welcomed in such a small town. Not that I’ve found that in Bear Creek Saddle,” she added quickly. “I’ve just been so busy here — with you — to meet people.”

  “You’ll make friends real quick,” Bill said, with the certainty of a man who could tell the future. “Especially after the official opening night.”

  With the renovations complete and the alcohol stocked, the place was ready to go. They only needed one thing: a “practice night” to work out any bugs before the grand opening party.

  “Place looks good,” Bill said, whistling under his breath as he took it all in. “You’re good. This never would’ve happened without you.”

  “Thank you for saying that,” Allie whispered. She moved in closer to him and kissed his lips, then pulled away slowly with a smile. “You did an amazing job yourself, you know. I was lucky to have such a skilled jack-of-all-trades.”

  The gravel crunched in the parking lot outside. Allie, in the spirit of choosing her battles, had let Bill win when it came to not paving over the lot.

  “They’re pulling up,” Bill said. “The guys’ll love this. Usually, they just bring beer and dates to the barn,” he said with a laugh. “An’ annoy the hell out of the horses.”

  Well, at least the new bar could top a barn, right? It would be pretty embarrassing to be outranked by a farm structure as the best place in town for a drink.

  The main door opened, and Zach strolled, in followed by Eric, who wore a sleek cowboy hat Allie could only assume was his “clean” one, or his “dress” cowboy hat, unlike the battered hat he wore on the ranch. Jay and Chris followed, their hair still wet from showering after a hard day’s
work.

  “Welcome to Uncle Fred’s Bar,” Allie said. “You guys are the first to see it.”

  “Wow,” Zach exclaimed the moment he entered. “And great name. Real good.”

  He ran up to the bar and high-fived Bill, and then for good measure, Allie as well. Allie laughed and slapped his hand back with exuberance. The other guys walked around, checking everything out.

  “I can’t believe this is the same bar,” Zach said. “You did a real good job, Allie.”

  “Thanks!” she said. “Bill did, too.”

  The guys laughed. Jay said, “Bill’s put in more man-hours on this bar then he has on th—”

  Chris jabbed Jay in the chest, interrupting him.

  “Oww,” Jay muttered.

  Bill pulled his black Stetson down over his forehead and shrugged. “What can I say? Allie motivated me to want to come to work.”

  “I’m gonna have to wear a skirt to get ‘im back on the ranch,” Eric joked, “I know it.”

  “I’d like to see that,” Bill said with a laugh, and the guys joined him in agreement.

  Allie could already imagine what they’d start daring each other to do if she let this go. Might be interesting… but they had a job (albeit a very enjoyable one) to do.

  “Okay everyone,” Allie said quickly, “drinks are on the house tonight. We’ll need to try some shots, try some cold beer on tap, check out the sound system, the dance floor, the stage… I want to sit in every chair and booth in this place, and make sure that everything is in working order and ready for customers.”

  The guys agreed heartily. That was definitely something they were up for helping with. Who could beat free booze in exchange for being “practice” customers?

  Bill pulled a bottle of vodka from the top shelf and slid it down the bar to Allie, who caught it with one hand. She winked at him, and poured all the shots in one go. It had been a while since she’d bartended (her ex hated her doing it, so she’d had to quit for him), but she was having fun getting back into it. It was a skill not unlike riding a bike — she hadn’t forgotten even the silliest cocktails, or moves.

  Later in the evening, with a few drinks in everyone, Allie had left her position behind the bar, and stood behind Bill, waiting for her turn to play pool. It wasn’t a bad situation, getting to watch five gorgeous, muscular men work the pool table, their deep, baritone voices mingling as they talked and laughed.

  “You guys could’ve brought your girlfriends,” Allie said, “to balance out all this testosterone.”

  “We’ll bring dates for opening night,” Chris said.

  Zach shrugged noncommittally from his chair, a lock of his light brown hair falling over his forehead. “I’m still looking for a girl.” He kicked his boots up onto a table.

  Bill glared at him.

  “They’re not that dirty,” Zach protested, but he dropped his boots to the floor instantly.

  In moments like that, Allie could almost imagine what it had been like when Zach and the guys first starting working for Bill when they were teenagers, and Bill was at the “advanced age” of his mid-twenties.

  “I have to admit, it’s hard to believe that hard-working, good guys like you four aren’t already taken.” Allie said. “Maybe… maybe you’re all too ugly?”

  She pretended to cough to cover her laugh, unable to play that line deadpan, the way she wanted to… to see if they’d fall for it. Those boys, ugly? Not even when they were covered in dirt and hay and sweat. Hmmm… maybe it was the dirt, hay, and sweat that helped the sexy cowboy factor along, instead of decreasing it.

  “I told ya you guys were ugly!” Chris said. “Now you know.”

  The guys laughed, Bill too. Apparently one too many cowgirls had given those boys big heads. Ginger from the General Store probably had something to do with that, as well.

  A slow song came on the playlist, and Allie grabbed Bill’s hands. “We should dance.”

  “I don’t dance,” Bill said, but he kept his hands in hers.

  “Well,” she said, “I’m not going out there alone and putting on a show for you guys—”

  Jay and Eric booed good-naturedly while Zach pretended to slap Eric upside the head for it.

  “—we need to make sure the dance floor’s not too slippery for dancing!”

  That sounded like a good reason, right? It had nothing to do with how much she enjoyed being with Bill, just being near him…working with him, smiling and laughing with him, tossing each other the bottles behind the bar and exchanging looks that only each other could understand — a skill that had come about from working so closely together on renovating the bar, and living in the same house for the past few weeks.

  Bill stood, and let her drag him onto the dance floor. But once there, his whole demeanor changed. He wrapped his arm around her, his hips tight against hers, and immediately found his rhythm, leading her to dance with him, slowly, rhythmically.

  Allie draped her arms around his neck, and whispered in his ear so that only he could hear. “You love working at the bar.” It wasn’t a question, it was just a fact.

  “I do,” he admitted. “I’ve been workin’ a lot less on the ranch over the past couple years,” he said. “Too many memories there — memories that trigger me. That keep me chained to the past.”

  She didn’t have to ask to know exactly what (or rather, who) haunted Bill’s memories over at Melody Ranch.

  “And the work…” he added, “It doesn’t get me goin’ anymore.”

  He lowered his hands to her hips, and Allie swayed into them, enjoying the feel of his hands on her body once more. Dancing could be so intimate, even in a public space.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Bill added, keeping his voice low so the guys couldn’t overhear from the pool table in the back. “I love the land, I love the cattle, and the horses. But the day-to-day of ranchin’ just… It’s not somethin’ I have my heart in, not anymore. Not for a while.”

  “If your heart’s not in the ranch, then…where is it?” Allie whispered.

  Say it’s with me; please say your heart’s with me.

  She didn’t know why she would want that, not when the idea scared the hell out of her. Somehow, she wanted it just the same.

  “I think my heart’s in makin’ this bar a success now,” Bill said. “I could see working here with you.” He touched the rim of his hat. “That is…if you’d have me.”

  “Of course,” she said. “Of course I’d have you, partner.”

  She smiled and whirled away from his embrace. They could be partners, and maybe, just maybe… something more.

  Bill tugged her hand and she twirled back in against him, pressed against his chest.

  “The dance floor,” Bill said, “is jus’ right.”

  They kissed, and in that perfect moment all of her fears melted away. She was ready for this, for this new life with him.

  What about Bill? Maybe he was ready for the bar, but was he ready for a relationship? Or would she forever only be… not his Melody?

  Chapter Twelve

  “It’s gettin’ real cold out there,” Bill said.

  He was upstairs from the bar in Allie’s apartment with the guys, and while it still needed some cosmetic work, at least the bones of it were all well above code now.

  Zach flushed the toilet one more time to make sure everything was working, and came out of the bathroom to peer out the window in the living room.

  “Those snow clouds, ya think?” Zach asked.

  Bill scoffed without bothering to lift his head. “Too early.”

  Eric dropped the plaster he was using on the drywall, and peered out the window as well. “I don’t know, boss, they look like rain clouds, but it’s too cold for rain. If it comes down, it’s gonna be a snow storm.”

  “What else do we have to do here, so that Allie can move in?” Zach asked.

  Bill walked through the apartment, looking at everything carefully. The guys had done a really good job, and Allie had been helping with
painting and picking up the furniture she would need from thrift stores and garage sales throughout the whole county.

  “Looks real good,” Bill said. “I think we just need to make sure she has a new refrigerator an’ microwave.”

  The guys glanced at each other in uneasy silence.

  “What?” Bill demanded.

  Zach shrugged. “I bet you’re ready for her to get out of your house, huh?” he asked. “She’s been there a while now. Must be drivin’ you crazy… since you like your space an’ all.”

  Bill shrugged back in response. “Livin’ with Allie, it ain’t so bad.”

  Now the guys exchanged an altogether different look. Bill could just imagine what they were thinking: “Bill an’ Allie, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

  Bill laughed at the knowing expressions on their faces, and shook his head.

  He wasn’t going to spill his guts about Allie. It wasn’t his style. The guys knew that he’d had his share of flings in the past two years. Those weren’t girlfriends, though, and they weren’t women he could fall for. They weren’t even women that he had to see the next morning, if he didn’t want to.

  But Allie was different.

  They worked well together at the bar. He could actually see himself having a future there with her. The night they’d had their practice run with the guys at the bar had only proven what Bill already knew — his new venture with Allie was going to be a success. If only Uncle Freddy were around to see it, he would’ve loved it (once he got over grumbling about the girly aspects).

  Grand opening was on Saturday night, only five days away.

  Her apartment would be ready before then. Despite the fact that he’d never wanted her to move in in the first place, Bill wished that they could slow it all down. He wanted to keep Allie with him, at his house. Having her around had kind of…worked out.

  Originally, he’d thought that he wouldn’t want her in the same room with him, so that yeah, he could have his space. The guys knew all about that. Instead Bill felt like he could still have his own alone time, even when she was right there. Not because he shut her out, not at all. Maybe because she just seemed to belong there, with him. He didn’t feel the need to escape her presence so that he could recharge, the way he did around everyone else.