Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)

by Donna Michaels

  His heart rate was still somewhere in the outer atmosphere when he opened his eyes and watched her rise to her feet, her expression so serene, so satisfied you’d swear she was the one who’d just had her boots knocked into the next county.

  He held his hand out to her. “Come here,” he said between breathes. “I don’t know what you did to me, darlin’, but my bones seemed to have melted away.”

  She laughed as she crawled up his body and set her forehead to his. “Hi.”

  God, she’s adorable.

  Able to at least move his arms, he cupped her face and stared into her beautiful, happy gaze. “Hi,” he replied. “And thank you. But, Kerri, I don’t want you to ever think you have to worry about keeping us even.”

  She pulled a piece of hay from his hair and tossed it aside. “Yes, I do. You’re the one who has to learn to take once in awhile. You give so much in everything you do. It’s time you got to take...and to realize you’re not the only one with a magical tongue.”

  She leaned down and kissed him, long and deep, and he crushed her close, loving how she fit against him. His heart gave a little jerk and snagged. Who would’ve thought a city girl would understand him so well?

  His hands sought her warm, soft skin, and he skimmed over the curve of her waist, around the front to brush her quivering belly. She was sweet. But when he slipped his hand inside her pants she stiffened then rolled off him.

  “Oh, no.” She shook a finger at him as she stood panting a few feet away. “What part of take don’t you understand?”

  He groaned. “None of it. Come on, darlin’. Let me take care of you.”

  She seemed to have trouble standing, but dammit, she didn’t come back.

  “Sorry, darlin’,” she said, straightening her clothes, checking her hair for straw. “You have work, and I’m meeting Brandi in a half hour to discuss a few menu items, so…” She paused to swipe her hat off the ground, dusted it off, then shoved it on her head. “It’s my turn to leave all pent up.”

  He stilled. “Are you wet?”

  She sucked in another mouthful of air and nodded. “Oh, yeah. Big time.”

  He groaned. “Damn it, Kerri, come here,” he said, trying to reach for her, but his useless damn legs felt like lead. “Let me see.”

  She laughed. “No can do. Got to go. Next time, we’ll have to make sure we’re both taken care of.” She tipped her hat at him. “Bye.” And left.

  “Kerri,” he called and watched and waited, but she never came back. He blew out a breath, and a moment later he chuckled. Damn, sexy woman tells him she’s wet then leaves. He put his arms behind his head, laid back and closed his eyes.

  Who does that?

  Apparently his sinfully sexy cook.

  “Sold! To the man with the longhorn tattoo!”

  Kerri heard the announcer raffle another basket while she waited nervously in the back. The morning of the fair was unseasonably warm and brought in a good crowd.

  She’d arrived with Cole and Jordan. They’d helped her cart her chili and the basket. She hadn’t expected Connor to offer to give her ride. After all, they weren’t an item. But she had hoped.

  And she wasn’t going to think about it right now. Her basket was up next.

  Kerri sucked in a breath. She was expected to go out there and stand as if on display while people bid on her goodies. Kerri didn’t know if she could do it. After all, she wasn’t Jordan.

  Sure, she had enough confidence in her food, it was in herself that she lacked. Although, she had to admit, she felt better about herself since Lance’s visit, and a heck of a lot better thanks to Connor’s…whatever you call what he’d done to her, and for her.

  Fluttering commenced in her stomach. She hadn’t seen the sexy cowboy since she’d left him half naked in the loft last week. Even now her body heated at the image of him laying back, shirts pushed up, jeans down, muscles—and other parts—gleaming, thanks to her. Just the thought that she’d put that look of pure satisfaction on the virile cowboy’s face was enough to make her wet, and had her inner feminine goddess beaming.

  Kerri couldn’t believe how lucky she’d gotten when Connor had pulled her up into the loft. She’d gone to the ranch hoping to find a way to even their slate, and he went and provided it for her. Perfect opportunity, and she took it…and him.

  She smirked. Yeah, she’d gotten lucky...and so had he.

  But dealing with this challenge was different. This was public. People. Strangers.

  As if sensing her dilemma, Jordan came to her rescue.

  “Stop worrying. You got this. Just go out there and have fun,” her sister said, placing her hands on Kerri’s shoulders. “Besides, you’re doing this to raise money for the children at the rehabilitation center. It isn’t going to hurt if you cause a little mayhem amongst the single cowboys in the process.”

  Kerri groaned. “Jordan, I can’t do that.”

  “Yes, you can, and you will. Plus, you’re allowed to plug the restaurant, too. The raffle committee said it was fine.” Her sister smiled with all the confidence Kerri was currently lacking. “Thing will be fine. You already know Duke is going to bid on your basket.”

  They’d bumped into the realtor on the way in, and he’d told Kerri point blank he planned to win her basket. She’d gotten a weird vibe from the guy today. He didn’t seem like the same man who’d taken her to Gulfport. Hopefully, someone else would win.

  “And I spotted Connor out there,” Jordan informed with a grin. “This will give you an opportunity to strut your stuff. Drive him crazy. Or am I wrong in thinking your one-time-thing with him has turned into multiples?”

  Her sister was fishing. And correct, darn her.

  “Maybe.” Kerri smirked. Her sister was good. Jordan knew what buttons to push all right.

  She squared her shoulders, and with a determined lift of her chin, headed for the makeshift stage.

  “And here she is, Ms. Kerri Masters, the owner and creator of all the delicious aromas that are coming from this basket.” The announcer, a jolly man with a straw cowboy hat smiled broadly. “Not only is she a wonderful cook, but she is beautiful to boot, as I’m sure you young men have already noticed.”

  Okay, see? It was one thing to boast about her cooking. That was good. She could do that. But when the talk centered on her, she turned nervous. Uttered stupid things. Blushed. Like now. Darn it.

  With her face heating, Kerri kept her chin high and bravely scanned the crowd in front of her. Jeez, there were a lot of people in the tent. She spotted Connor right away. Tall and big and hot. She warmed at the sight. He stood out. Hotly. And the urge to walk straight up the aisle and press into his sexy body was surprisingly strong.

  She forced her gaze to the man next to him. His best friend wore fatigues with his hat in his hand. Another hotty. Several women were eyeing Kade like the cowboys were eyeing her. Hungrily.

  Since Kade had told her at his ranch the other night that he didn’t have drill this weekend, he must be working one of the military stands. There were a few; one for recruitment, one for veteran support, and another for rehab. Whatever the case, women couldn’t take their eyes off him. Kerri held back a grin. The guy was oblivious.

  She wished she was.

  Both Connor and Kade folded their arms across their chests and smiled.

  At least they were having fun.

  It took her a moment, but she noticed Emma, her parents and the McCalls smiling encouragingly at her. Cole and her sister gave her a thumbs up, and she grinned when she realized they were all wearing T-shirts advertising their new restaurant.

  “Now, this lovely lady has packed this basket full with a feast fit for a king…or should I say a hungry cowboy?” the announcer joked as he looked over the paper she’d been required to submit, naming the contents of the basket. “Well, fellas, the winner of this basket is in for a treat. It seems this here little lady is the cook for the newest restaurant in our county. The grand opening is next Saturday. What is the name o
f it, sweetheart?” He held the microphone in front of her.

  “It’s called Texas Republic or Texas Pub for short.” She smiled, then feeling more confident because she was talking food, Kerri took the microphone. “And what’s in the basket is just a small sampling of what will be on the menu.”

  “Are you on the menu?” someone shouted, causing the crowd to hoot and a certain tall, sexy cowboy to scowl.

  Kerri smiled. “Nope. Sorry, I just cook it,” she replied, then continued with her pitch. “Every Friday night Texas Pub will feature local talent, and on Saturday will have live bands and plenty of dancing, so be sure to come in and check us out for some good food and good fun.”

  Still smiling, she handed the microphone back to the jovial announcer, pleased with herself for managing to get in a good plug for the restaurant.

  “Sounds good to me, folks. I’ll certainly be there,” the announcer said, then inhaled and smiled. “You don’t have the pleasure of smelling the delicious aroma coming from this basket.” He motioned toward the table where it sat along with her cooler and blanket. “But trust me, it is smelling mighty fine.” He grinned. “Now, let’s just see what’s causing it.” And he held up his paper and began to read off the contents. “Lemon-Lime Chicken, onion and bacon crostatas, red potato salad, grilled peppers and apples, crusty French bread, cheese, banana slices, grapes, cherry pie, and the one that’s got me curious, champagne soaked strawberries.”

  The crowd moaned and groaned their approval after each dish was mentioned. They especially liked the strawberries. Kerri grinned. That was a personal favorite of hers, too.

  “And as if that wasn’t good enough, Ms. Masters has also made a batch of Casa Grande Sangria to wash all that wonderful food down.” The jolly man held the list to his chest and sighed. “Wooweee! I tell ya, if my wife wasn’t in the audience today, I would’ve bid on this basket myself.”

  The crowd chuckled and Kerri smiled her thanks. She was glad he liked her list, but she really, really wanted off the stage. Too bad she had to stand up there and wait until he hollered, Sold.

  Her heartbeats quickened as he opened the bidding.

  “Remember now, people, this money is going toward those children and their gymnasium and much needed rehabilitation equipment for returning veterans. So, who will start the bidding at fifty dollars?”

  “One hundred dollars,” Cole called out from the front of the crowd, receiving a poke from Jordan.

  “Two hundred,” Duke offered from the side.

  “Five hundred,” Connor spoke up from the back.

  Kerri’s heartbeats quickened as she caught the determined gleam in his eyes.

  Oh, yes…she’d love to share the basket with him. Heck, she’d love to share more than the basket with him. Okay, so she already had, but she was hoping for more shared orgasms. Cripes. Her face heated. What was wrong with her? This was certainly not the time to be thinking those thoughts.

  “One thousand dollars,” Duke countered with an equally determined gleam.

  Unlike Connor’s, she didn’t like that gleam. After their date, the realtor had called a few times, but she’d turned him down. Kerri thought he’d gotten the message. Apparently not.

  Connor straightened, and his arms dropped to his sides. “Five thousand,” the cowboy said without blinking.

  And that’s when her lightheadedness began.

  Chapter Seventeen

  What is wrong with these guys? She glanced from Jordan to Cole to Kade as if their smiling faces held the answer.

  They didn’t.

  “Six thousand,” Duke hollered.

  The look he gave her sent a chill down Kerri’s spine. Okay. This was not good. He looked at her as if she were a trophy he was competing for instead of a human being. Cripes. She sure hoped Connor would out do him because she suddenly didn’t want to be alone with Duke.

  The dimpled cowboy smiled at her. “Seven thousand.”

  Relief flowed through her, and she mentally sent him a thank you.

  Duke shifted in his seat. “Eight thousand.”

  Kerri automatically looked at Connor. It was like watching a tennis match. And she felt like the dang yellow ball. Only in a lilac sundress.

  Dimples appeared and Connor touched his hat and winked at her. “Ten thousand.”

  Holy smokes. Kerri thought she might faint.

  “Well, I’ve got to say, you two are making my job easier,” the announcer said. “I haven’t had to do anything. In fact, you two are so fast that no one else has had a chance to bid. Is there anyone who is willing to go over ten thousand?”

  No, because obviously those two men were nuts. Her basket and her company were not worth anywhere near that amount of money. She was only happy the recreation center would reap the rewards.

  When no one else spoke up, the jolly man turned to Duke. “How about you?”

  Kerri held her breath. Please say no…please say no. His gaze darkened, and he sent Connor a look filled with so much contempt, a small tremor ran through her body.

  “Nope. Too rich for my blood,” Duke claimed. “I’ll just have to wait for the grand opening.” He smiled, but his expression said he was not done with her.

  Kerri shivered despite the warm temperature.

  “Then I shall proclaim this basket and lunch with the pretty lady sold to the cowboy in…well we all recognize the cowboy,” the announcer said with a grin. “Connor McCall. He always donates the best darn bulls for our rodeo. We look forward to the competition later this afternoon.”

  Connor tipped his hat, and Kade slapped him on the back while Cole, Jordan and both families cheered. Kerri was still in a daze over the amount of money her basket had pulled in as her lunch date ambled down the aisle and up onto the stage to pay at the table in the corner.

  “Bless you, young man.” The elderly lady had a tear in her eye as he handed her a check. “You will be making a lot of children happy with your donation.”

  He tipped his hat and showed the treasurer his dimple. “It was my pleasure, ma’am.”

  Who pays ten thousand dollars for lunch with their fling?

  Was there more going on? Had they turned a corner when she wasn’t looking?

  “I’ll get that.” Connor quickly seized the basket and blanket and would’ve grabbed the cooler, too, if Kerri hadn’t beaten him to it.

  “You have enough to carry. I can handle this. It isn’t heavy.” Kerri glanced up at him and smiled, deciding to just enjoy the day.

  Maybe she was reading more into the bidding. It was a donation. Heck, the two alphas were just competing. Probably would’ve tried to outbid one another on old man Foster’s basket.

  Okay, no, she’d want that one if it had his chocolate ice cream.

  “All right then, where do you want to eat?” The dimpled cowboy looked down at her questioningly.

  There was nothing extra behind the bidding, she kept telling herself. No secret motivation. They were just friends—with benefits—who hadn’t had an hour or two of alone-time together in weeks.

  Feeling better, and all sorts of excited at the prospect of that alone time, she looped her arm through his and tugged. “Follow me.”

  Kerri led them away from the crowd and into the meadow beyond the parking lot. There were several families and couples laid out on blankets, and she had to admit, this was a much quieter spot than at one of the many picnic tables in and about the fair grounds.

  Five minutes later, they were sitting on the blanket Connor spread out, and she was busy setting out the food. Already, her body was heating and tingling in response to his closeness.

  “I’m not sure what you want, so I’ll let you help yourself.”

  He nearly choked on the grape he popped into his mouth.

  “Hey, cowboy, are you alright?”

  “Yes,” he said between coughs.

  She smiled. “Good, I’d hate for you to choke on a meal you bought for ten thousand dollars.”

  He grinned, and their gaze
s held for several beats. She felt as if something needed to be said, or maybe he could just put his mouth on her. Yeah, she voted for that, and so did her body. See? It was unanimous. And dangerous.

  She cleared her throat and asked him what he wanted to drink instead.

  “I’ll just have the water for now and the sangria with my dessert.” Kerri handed him a bottle of spring water before turning her attention to her own plate of food, and the two of them ate in a companionable silence. When they finished, they tossed their plates in a small garbage bag she’d had the sense to bring.

  “That was delicious,” he said, gaze lazy and appraising. “But seeing as you were the cook, I’m not surprised.”

  His compliment warmed her whole being, and the heat in his eyes made her hot. She cleared her throat. “Thank you. Now, how about dessert?”

  “Hmmm. What to have? What to have?” He grinned and tapped his mouth with his index finger. “I’ll start with you.”

  Kerri smiled. “It might be too public for me to be on the menu.”

  Although, that was exactly what she wanted. Memories of the cowboy devouring her on the island flashed through her mind. Great. Now she was wet.

  His gaze dropped to her chest, and her nipples tightened under his scrutiny. It’d definitely been too long since he’d had his hands on her.

  When his gaze eventually lifted, his eyes had darkened to a rich, deep caramel. “But it’s you I want most of all.”

  Air tried to funnel into her lungs, but clogged in her throat as fierce need and desire rushed at rapid speeds. “Jeez, Connor,” she said in a hoarse whisper, hand trembling over her thudding heart. “You make me crazy.”

  “Ditto, darlin’.” Eyes smoldering, he traced a delicious line down to her ankle.

  She cleared her dry throat, and needing something to do, cut him a piece of pie. “There’s nowhere we can go right now where we won’t be seen, so we’ll just have to save that thought ‘til later.”