by Soraya Lane
“Seriously, Ryder, you need to start reading the blackboards. We’ll do shots later, though. Now we’re starting with margaritas.” She ordered more food than they’d ever eat and two drinks, then perched on a stool and relaxed against the counter. “I guess I should feel lucky that it was an old foe we ran into and not my dad.”
Ryder rubbed her back as she slumped forward, and when she didn’t sit upright completely he started to massage her shoulders. “What you need is a good ride.”
She tipped her head sideways and scowled at him, laughing when he held up his hands in surrender.
“I was talking about the mechanical bull,” he said. “Over there.”
“Ha-ha, very funny.”
She watched as he nodded to the bartender then held up his glass, waiting for her to clink hers against it. “Wait until you’ve downed a couple of these and you’ve got a belly full of tacos. Then we can really have some fun over there.”
Chloe took a long, slow sip of her margarita and straightened her shoulders. She’d had her slump and now she was going to forget all about who they’d run into. It was Vegas, it would have been impossible not to run into someone her father owed money to.
“You feeling good about how you played today?” Ryder asked.
“Sure,” she said, twirling the stem of the cocktail glass between her fingers. “First game was a little rusty, and after that I found my feet pretty quick.”
“So you’re ready to take Parker for all he’s worth?”
She took another sip, moving her glass when their food arrived. “Wow, that was quick.” She giggled. “It looks amazing, although I may have gone a little crazy ordering.” The tacos were piled high.
“For a buck fifty a pop I don’t think we can go wrong.”
Ryder picked one up and took a bite. “Man, shrimp and mayo. Life doesn’t get any better than this.”
Chloe chose a chicken, mayo, and avocado one, nodding her agreement as she polished it off like she’d never eaten before. “Pretty damn good,” she managed as she swallowed her last mouthful.
Ryder was reaching forward for another when he caught her eye and leaned in to wipe the corner of her mouth. “You have a little mayo there,” he told her.
Her tongue darted out, licking the spot he’d touched, but she ended up connecting with his finger as well as her skin. He seemed to forget all about his taco, replacing his finger with his mouth, kissing her instead. Chloe smiled against his lips, kissing him back.
“Yours tastes good,” she said. “Maybe it’s time for me to try one.”
Ryder pulled back and pushed one in her direction. “Glad I could give you a complimentary pretasting.”
They both laughed. “So tell me,” Chloe said, toying with her second taco, glancing down at it but not taking a bite straightaway. “What’s the deal with your family and Parker’s anyway? You mentioned some long-standing feud.”
He finished his mouthful and reached for a napkin, wiping his mouth and waving the bartender over for another drink. “I’m switching to beer. You?”
She shook her head, watching as he took a long pull of the Budweiser that was passed to him.
“Parker’s family has always been crooks. I’m all for capitalism, but they’re like vultures, sniffing around one man’s misfortune and trying to cash in. Let’s just say that none of us appreciate the way they intimidate landowners into selling out.”
“And this has been going on for how long?” she asked, no longer hungry and sipping her drink instead.
“Decades,” Ryder told her. “But the reason his family hates mine has to do with my dad.”
She waited, watching as he took another sip of beer, worrying the label on the bottle with his thumb.
“The story has it that my old man had an affair with Parker’s mom. My mother was still alive then, so it was before I was even born, but they reckon it was my dad who had something to do with her leaving town and never coming back.”
“And what do you think?”
Ryder sniggered. “That if she was truly involved with my dad she did the best thing by getting the hell away from him.”
Chloe nodded. She got that he was bitter about his father, but she also knew how bad that kind of hate could eat away at a person. “So the bad blood started then?”
“That was a big part of it, but my granddad had already made us enemies with them. Whenever he caught wind of what they were doing, he’d get some sort of protection in place for any man being intimidated, and see if he could work out a way to loan the man money to keep his head above water. Obviously it didn’t happen all the time, and Parker’s family still took a lot from other people, but when Granddad heard about it first, he always stepped in.”
She was surprised. “So your granddad’s not just some hard-nosed businessman, then?”
Ryder grinned. “Oh no, he is. If they didn’t pay their loans back then he’d have to foreclose on their ranches eventually, but he liked to give them a chance to work it off, to do what he could. He firmly believes in giving everyone a second chance.”
“And that kind of thing is still going on?” Chloe asked.
“Not so much,” Ryder told her. “Parker’s old man is long gone, and Parker himself is more interested in roughing women up. There’ve been too many girlfriends of his with black eyes for me not to hate the bastard.”
“So basically, he’s just your average nice guy, huh?” Chloe said, shaking her head and downing the rest of her cocktail.
“Enough about douchebags like Parker,” Ryder announced. “Finish that taco and we’re getting you up on that bull.”
Chloe held up her hands. “No way.”
Ryder leaned over the bar. “Two tequila shots,” he ordered.
“Heaven help me,” she muttered, digging into her taco. If she was going to drink shots, she needed a full stomach to cushion the liquor.
“The night’s still young, darlin’.” Ryder slid his stool closer and collected both shots, holding hers out to her and giving her one of his goddamn sexy winks. “You can teach me poker again tomorrow. Tonight I’m gonna teach you how to ride rodeo.”
A shiver ran down Chloe’s spine as she threw back her shot and slammed the glass back down on the bar. Ryder was wicked, everything about him screamed trouble, but no matter how much she wanted to stay immune to his charm, she was like a bee to honey. Locked in his gaze, thighs rammed hard against hers, she wanted him bad and she had no intention of denying herself. Not yet.
“I’ll be riding that thing like a pro in no time, just you wait and see.”
* * *
“Oh my god, I’m going to be sick!”
Ryder tried not to laugh and failed epically. He doubled over, struggling to talk. He’d had a bit to drink, but that had little to do with why he was finding the situation so damn funny. Chloe looked like she’d seen a ghost, clinging on for her life, eyes wide.
“You’re going to be fine,” he choked out.
“Stop laughing at me and get me off this freaking thing!”
Ryder snorted and forced himself to stand up straight. The music was thumping around them and there was a decent crowd, but he didn’t notice anything other than the beautiful blonde attempting to ride the mechanical bull in front of him.
“You’re still going slow, just imagine you’re on a real bull and hold one hand up. I know you can do it.”
“If I fall off…” she cautioned.
He grimaced. Chloe’s eyebrows shot up, eyes wide as she hung on tight.
“Ryder!”
“Come on baby, I know you can do it,” he cheered, taking a swig of beer and guessing she couldn’t hang on much longer.
Ryder increased the speed, sending the bull into a fast spin and buck at the same time, which sent Chloe flying off, hitting the cushioned pads—fast.
“You okay, darlin’?” he asked, rushing over to her and trying hard not to crack up, hoping she didn’t realize he’d cranked up the difficulty level on her.
&
nbsp; The look she gave him was pure rage—she might be drunk but she sure as hell knew who to blame.
“You’re dead,” she fumed, standing up and tugging her top back into place, giving him an eyeful of her breasts. “If I have so much as one bruise…”
“Chloe.” He took her hand and pulled her forward, putting a shot in her other hand. “It was just a little tumble.”
“Little tumble my ass,” she muttered, knocking back her shot and glaring at him.
Ryder clinked his glass to her empty one and followed her lead. “If it’s your ass you’re worried about then I’ll happily inspect it for you.” He chuckled. “Maybe we could head back for a butt massage right now?”
She gave him a stern look that quickly turned into a laugh. Ryder looked around at the bar, which was starting to get more crowded, music blaring since the DJ had started.
“Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Chloe didn’t move, her grip on his arm tight. “I actually think I could be sick,” she moaned. “That fucking bull has made me all dizzy.”
Ryder raised his eyebrows. “Man, we are getting to know each other now. You just unleashed an f-bomb on me.”
She clamped her hand over her mouth and laughed. “Did I just ruin my good-girl image?” she teased.
“No, you just made me think you were even fucking hotter, and I think I took your mind off hurling.”
“You were right, let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough shots to last me a lifetime.”
Ryder hugged her to his body, slipping his hand into the back pocket of her jeans as they walked. Usually he became less interested in a woman after he slept with her—once the chase was over it was over. But Chloe? Damn. He doubted it would matter how many times he had her in his bed. He wanted her now even more than he’d wanted her before.
“Do you think we’ll pass a street vendor selling hot dogs?” she asked, leaning sideways and looking up at him.
Ryder dropped a kiss into her hair and held her close as they headed out the door onto the street. “You must be drunk if you’re wanting greasy food already.”
“Or maybe I’m just happy.”
He knew she was drunk, but the look on her face right now told him she was right about being happy, because so was he. He might have fucked up at home, but right here, right now, he was just damn pleased to be hanging out with a woman like Chloe. Dangerously happy to be with her.
“I’ll make you a deal,” he said. “If we don’t pass one on our way back, I’ll tip the concierge an insane amount of money to go find one for you.”
“Deal,” she said, grabbing his hand and shaking it, tugging him so they had to stop.
The tequila had sent a buzz through his body, too, and when she yanked him close enough to kiss, he had no hope of behaving any way other than badly. Ryder opened his palms against her waist, holding her firm, kissing her rough when she rubbed her body hard against his. She was digging her fingers into his shoulders one minute and worrying the top button of his shirt the next. Ryder groaned, grabbing hold of her hands and forcing her to stop.
“I think we need to get a room,” he grumbled into her ear. “As much as I’m all for public displays of affection, I don’t want to be arrested for public indecency.”
Chloe tipped her head back and laughed, still clutching his shirt. If she hadn’t hustled a table full of experienced poker players a few hours earlier, he’d have taken her for a naive young woman who’d had too much to drink in Vegas and needed to be looked after. Only he knew that she was more experienced in this city than half the men who visited regularly. Hell, maybe even more than him.
“Come on. It won’t take long.”
“You know, being with you is kind of like having a burly bodyguard on duty,” she told him, her thumb hooked into his belt as they walked side by side, bodies fused together.
“Is that a compliment?” he asked, not sure what she was getting at.
“For the first time in my life I feel like someone’s looking out for me,” she told him, her voice low as she dropped her shoulder half against his chest. “No one’s ever really given a damn about me before, so it’s kinda nice.”
Ryder’s chest tightened, his hold on her even fiercer. “Where I come from, all women deserve to be looked after.” His voice was raspy; he could hear how dark it sounded.
“If only I lived in your world.”
Ryder steeled his jaw, hating that her words hit him with the force of a truck slamming into concrete. There was no part of him that wanted a real relationship—he had to get his own shit together—and there was no room in his life for anyone else, not even Chloe. He glanced at her, admiring how damn touchable and silky her blond hair was, her side profile all pouty lips and long lashes framing her dark eyes. And underneath those clothes? He fought not to stop her from walking and scoop her up, remembering what it was like to have those long legs wrapped tight around his waist. Ryder ground his teeth instead, staying in control.
If he’d ever met a woman who could tempt him into something more, it was Chloe, although maybe it was the combination of her being goddamn beautiful and capable of winning his ranch back that was making him want her so bad. Once it was all over, maybe the thrill of wanting her would disappear. He groaned when she leaned up and grazed a kiss across his jaw. Or maybe he was a fucking liar.
Chapter 12
The room was dark when they stepped in. Ryder flicked on a light in the living room and then made his way into the bedroom to do the same to the bedside ones. Chloe disappeared into the bathroom and he poured himself a glass of water, drinking it slowly as he stared out at the myriad of bright neon lights shining below. Vegas was sure lit up tonight, but instead of itching to be out partying, all he wanted was to be holed up in the hotel room with Chloe.
He checked his phone, flicking through a couple of missed calls. Tonight was supposed to be confession time, only he’d conveniently forgotten about his promise to himself and become entirely distracted with the woman who was still behind a closed door in the bathroom.
“Can I come in?” he called out.
“Just a sec,” she called back. Her voice was no longer slurry and he finished his water and went to lean against the entrance to the bedroom.
When the door opened and Chloe appeared he was glad he’d already put down his glass. “Damn,” he muttered, giving her a wolf whistle as she did a little twirl before crossing the room.
She was wearing tiny boy shorts that showed off a heap of ass and an even smaller tank tight over bare breasts.
“I didn’t expect anyone to be seeing me,” she muttered, stopping in front of him and rising on her tiptoes, nibbling his jaw and then the side of his mouth, slowly moving across to his lips, her teeth grazing the soft skin there before she placed her mouth fully across his. “Otherwise I’d have brought a big T-shirt for bed.”
“Hell no,” he grunted when she sliced her nails down his back, sharp even through his shirt. “I fucking love it. And I like it even more that this is what you usually wear. It’s sexy as hell.”
She dropped back down to her flat feet and grabbed the front of his shirt, walking backward and tugging him with her.
“Give me two seconds in the bathroom and I’ll be right back,” he told her, catching her chin to hold her in place and kissing her, wanting her tongue against his and to rip her clothes off so he could see her bare instead. “The getup is cute, but it’ll be even cuter off.”
Chloe just laughed and headed for the bed, falling down onto it, her golden hair like a waterfall of silk across the pillow. Ryder stopped to look at her again, shaking his head as he considered every inch of her body.
“Don’t be long,” she whispered, stretching out, toes pointed as she flexed her legs.
Ryder blew out a breath and went into the bathroom, cleaning the tequila taste from his mouth and then relieving himself fast. He pushed open the door and burst back into the room, ready to strip Chloe and let her have a second chance at riding co
wgirl for the night.
“Chlo—” Her name died on his lips. Ryder stared at the beautiful woman lying on the oversize hotel bed. She was on her side, still facing the bathroom, but instead of the wicked smile he’d been anticipating, her lips were slightly parted, eyes shut as she made the faintest snoring sound. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath, padding silently over to her and pulling up the sheets. Ryder ran his eyes slowly up her body as he covered her.
He unbuttoned his shirt and jeans, discarded them along with his underwear, and flicked off the lamps, sliding into bed beside Chloe. Ryder spooned his body against hers, burying his face into her hair and shutting his eyes. His sexy gambling and drinking buddy had crashed on him, but he didn’t give a damn. Come morning he wouldn’t let her off so easy, but there was something different about Chloe. For the first time in his life, he was in bed with a woman without any chance of instant gratification, and he was just happy to fall asleep with her in his arms. She made a groaning noise in her sleep and pushed back into him. It was time to admit that he liked her. A lot. More than he’d ever liked a girl before. And it scared the hell out of him that he was happy to just hold her.
Damn. Unless she kept wiggling that pert little butt into him all night. Then they’d have a problem.
* * *
Chloe stretched out and wriggled back, eyes popping open when she realized there was a hard body behind her, with something even harder pressed into her lower back. The body moved, a hand running gently through her hair and down her back. It was Ryder and he was awake.
“Mornin’, cowboy.”
A low, deep chuckle echoed in her ear as Ryder’s lips brushed her skin. “You know how cute you sound when you snore?”
Chloe could have died. “Oh my god, I fell asleep on you last night, didn’t I?” She laughed, the memories flooding back. “I was waiting for you on the bed and…”
