Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)
Page 23
His chin lifted, and a new light entered his eyes. “Later? You mean you’re not going to leave after your cook off?”
Kerri’s head snapped in his direction, and she frowned. “I’m supposed to sing with Jordan and Cole,” she told him. “Then afterwards, I-I was going to stay…”
Maybe he didn’t want her to. Maybe he was meeting up with someone. Her back stiffened as thoughts of him with another woman soured her stomach.
Warm fingers tightened around her leg. “I’d love for you to stay. I just didn’t think you’d want to.”
Her gaze shot to his face. “Why ever not?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged and released her to grab his plate of pie. “Most city girls don’t care for the sounds and smells the rodeo will bring later.”
This time she reached out to touch his leg, brushing a thumb over his knee. “I think you know me better than that, Connor. You know I’m not like most city girls.”
“I’m beginning to see that.”
Holding his gaze, she squeezed his leg to make sure he knew she was serious. “I’d very much like to stay. In fact, just try and get rid of me.”
He reached for her hand and smiled. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She nodded and watched as his hand swallowed hers. Delicious warmth flowed through her, quickening her pulse to an unsteady beat. You’re in public, her mind reminded. Don’t do anything…stupid.
After a quick shake, she pulled her hand away and busied herself by pouring them each a serving of sangria. It was best if she didn’t touch him.
With a hand slightly shaking, she offered him a glass along with a toast. “Here’s to your generous donation.” Kerri left out the part about him rescuing her from being alone with Duke. The realtor was not worth mentioning.
“And to the delicious rewards I’ve gotten in return.” He grinned, and they clinked glasses before drinking the tasty mixture.
Connor’s brows rose as he pulled the glass away from his mouth and gazed at the liquid. “You were right. This is by far the best tasting sangria I’ve ever had.”
“I thought you might like it.”
“I do, and I have to admit, I am dying to try your champagne soaked strawberries.”
His gaze lowered to her mouth, and she had all she could do not to lick her lips. They tingled as if touched.
Sexy bugger.
She set her glass aside and offered the plate of fruit to him. Holding her gaze, he took a strawberry and bit into it.
Kerri knew the instant his taste buds registered the culmination of berry and bubbly by the slight narrowing of his eyes. Brows raised, she waited for his response.
“Mmm.” He smiled his approval. “Who would have thought?”
“You need to broaden your horizon, cowboy.” Grinning, she placed the plate back down and was about to grab one for herself when he pushed her hand away.
“Allow me.” Leaning close, he lifted the strawberry to her lips.
A tremor hiccupped through her pulse on contact, and she didn’t know what she savored more, the sweet taste of one of her favorite decadent desserts or the feel of his fingers touching the inside of her lips as she bit into the strawberry.
Her senses were in an uproar, and she could feel the invisible pull of attraction and unspoken command of desire as she lifted her gaze to his. God, it was so easy to get caught up in the moment, to give in to the unbridled feelings the cowboy brought out in her.
From somewhere deep inside, she knew she should stop. This was Connor, and he played in the major leagues while she was still dabbling in the minors, building up her confidence and working on her pitches.
But all thoughts of pulling away disappeared along with her surroundings as Connor’s fingers left her lips to gently trace a path to her chin.
“I’ve got to have a taste,” he murmured.
His touch was feather light, the complete opposite of her pulse. And slowly, very slowly he brought his face within inches of hers.
“Tasting’s good.” She expelled a breath and he captured it as his mouth came down on hers.
Awareness shot out in all directions, and Connor groaned as she ran one hand up his back and the other around his neck bringing him closer. He deepened the kiss, and her moan caught in her throat when his tongue entered her mouth as he pressed her back on the blanket.
Apparently, they weren’t going to worry about being seen.
The urge to touch places and do things to him was as strong as it was confusing. This one kiss had filled her with more passion than she had ever known. In fact, Kerri never thought in a million years she was capable of such a thing. Instant burn. Instant longing.
Though Lance was the only other man she’d ever made love to, Kerri had had several boyfriends throughout her life and had shared a lot of embraces, but none had even come close to bringing her to this body-shaking, inferno state.
Every kiss she shared with Connor awoke something in her more and more. She was beginning to realize her body only had this reaction to Connor, and it flourished under his touch.
It was overwhelming, and she was still unsure if she was happy with that revelation. She didn’t like the thought of this cowboy having so much power over her, but it became irrelevant when he ended the kiss, and she stared up into his dazed eyes.
They appeared just as mystified, just as…sunk.
“Sorry, darlin’.” With a long finger, he pushed the hair off her temple and continued in a rough voice, “I didn’t mean to get so carried away. I can’t seem to help myself around you.”
The confusion muddying his brown eyes confirmed the sincerity she heard in his words. Kerri reached up to trace the hard line of his jaw.
“It’s alright. That same wave was carrying me, too.”
“Yeah?” His gaze twinkled as it traveled down to her mouth again.
Taking a deep breath, she ignored her hammering heart and gently pushed him back so she could sit up. “Oh no, cowboy, if we do that again, I’ll probably miss the chili cook-off, and I don’t want to disappoint Emma. She deliberately abstained from the event so I would enter, and I can’t not show up.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I seem to lose all track of time when I kiss you.” He grinned as he helped her up, but didn’t let go of her hand.
She answered his grin with one of her own, then reluctantly pulled her hand from his. “Guess we’d better clean up.”
Within minutes, everything was packed, the blanket was folded and Connor took her hand again. Connecting with him felt right. It felt…good. She allowed herself to enjoy the warmth and tingling sensations that spread throughout her body. Yeah, really good.
He tugged her close. “Thank you for a wonderful lunch, Kerri.” He smiled down as he gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “Everything was delicious, especially the cook.”
She felt the blush. Couldn’t stop the heat from invading her face, but she could control her lips, and they slid into a wide smile. “You tasted pretty good, too.”
He had tasted great. She would never again be able to eat champagne soaked strawberries or drink her sangria without immediately thinking of the wildly hot, Connor McCall.
“There’s more where that came from.”
God, I hope so.
He lowered his head toward hers and Kerri dropped the blanket she’d been holding to put both her hands around his neck while standing on her toes to meet his lips.
Ignoring the chaotic thoughts that whirled in her head about him being a cowboy and experienced and a diehard Texan, Kerri instead listened to her body, and his, and gave herself up to the kiss. It was high time she took a chance and lived a little, starting by silently agreeing to everything promised by his embrace.
Slow and lazy and deep. He took his time driving her out of her mind. And she was. Delirious and crazy and shaking. But Connor was the one to pull away first, and her insides quivered at the sight of undisguised desire burning in his eyes. Desire she felt to her very core. It was sh
ocking what he made her feel, and want, with a single kiss.
She had zero control when it came to him, and the fact he had the same problem when it came to her made it all okay. Very okay.
“That alone was worth the ten thousand dollars.” He grinned, eyes warm as he brushed a thumb over her bottom lip.
“I still think I owe you a few hundred dollars worth, though.”
He raised a brow, and her temperature, when he cupped her face and drew her bottom lip between his teeth. But instead of taking advantage of her opened mouth when she gasped, he soothed her lip with his tongue, then gently but firmly held her away.
“I think I’d better collect them later, darlin’,” he said, voice rough. “I don’t trust myself right now.”
Right there with him, she drew in a shaky breath and nodded. Fingers entwined, they walked to his truck, dropped off the blanket and basket, then headed back to the fair and the cook off.
As she walked hand-in-hand with the handsome cowboy, she had to admit, it was fortunate Connor had had the sense to break the kiss, because Kerri found she was, for the first time in her life, senseless.
A few hours later, they finished their private supper on the blanket in the back of his truck. Connor was happy. He glanced down at the woman resting back in his arms, a content expression softening her face; yeah, Kerri was happy, too. The brilliant chef won first place in the cook off. Like there was ever any doubt.
The woman sure could cook. She’d wowed the judges, and a line of tasters had wrapped around the booth down the fairway eager to sample the winning chili. The committee, and a beaming Emma, had presented her with a trophy that now sat near the empty basket.
All that was left were three delicious strawberries. She picked one up and smiled at him with a playful gleam in her eyes. His heart bucked in his chest as she moved in closer.
“Wanna share?”
Hell yeah. Bodies.
“Absolutely.”
It’d been too damn long since he’d been insider her. Too damn long. If it weren’t for the fact Kerri was singing with Jordan and Cole later, Connor would’ve whisked her back to the ranch or her apartment or somewhere private along the way for their own bit of heaven.
“All right then, cowboy. Come get some.”
His heart rocked in his chest as she sunk her teeth into the strawberry, careful not to bite all the way through then offered him the other end. Happy to oblige, he bit the berry, then took her mouth and shared the strawberry with her.
Hot damn, she tasted good. So damn good. His groin tightened and throbbed behind his zipper, and he classified the strawberry as the most erotic, tastiest one he’d ever shared. Nibbling at her lips, he took his time, lazily drinking every bit of sweetness she offered, quite happy to kiss the woman forever.
“Uhum.”
The sound of several clearing throats and soft giggles had him slowing the kiss before they broke for air. He glanced at their interrupters.
Figures. His brother, Jordan and Brandi, who’d showed up in time for the cook off. The three stood by the truck grinning from ear to ear.
Cole smirked. “Sorry to break up your private party, guys.”
Bullshit, he didn’t look sorry.
“But we’re due at the bandstand in less than a half hour, big brother.”
Damn. He’d forgotten about that. Connor nodded, jumped off of the truck then turned to help Kerri. His groin tightened with a painful throb. The angle put him face to face with the tastiest part of her.
Jesus, he never had this much trouble controlling his desire for a woman before. But with Kerri? Shit. He was toast. A sap. Putty in her hands.
He swallowed a groan. That was the problem. He wanted to be in her hands, and have her in his.
At least the last part was doable.
Gripping her waste, he lifted her with ease and slid her down his hard body, enjoying her soft curves without moving a muscle. By the time her feet reached the ground, the need blazing in her eyes matched the size of the one ready to burst in his jeans.
“Okay,” Jordan said. “Please tell me you have more of those strawberries, because…wow…that kiss was hot!”
Kerri stiffened up in his arms, and her face turned crimson, but she smiled and pointed to the cooler. “There’s two left.”
“Sweet.” A second later, Jordan reached over the side of the truck, grabbed the cooler, then turned to her husband and smiled. “I think we just found the best dessert of the night. One for us and one for Brandi.”
The quiet designer shook her head as she held up her hand. “No, I don’t think so. Probably too much—”
“Only about thirty for half,” Kerri said, cutting the woman off with a bunch of gibberish Connor didn’t understand.
Brandi’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“See? There you go,” Jordan said, handing the woman a strawberry…his strawberry, while she kept his other one.
Dammit. He’d had plans for them later.
Kerri’s chuckle rumbled through him, and the look in her eyes told him she’d read his mind.
“Don’t worry, I have more in my apartment,” she told him in a hushed tone that had his dwindling erection at full tilt once again.
“So,” Jordan said to Brandi. “You just have to find someone to share it with and you’re all set.”
Connor smiled as he caught sight of his friend approaching behind the others. “I think I see a volunteer now. How about Kade?”
Chapter Eighteen
“What about me?” Kade asked.
Connor watched as the designer’s smile disappeared from her face at the sight of Kade rounding the truck. Had to be the uniform. She’d never looked at his buddy so cold before, and he was a little surprised by the designer’s reaction. As soon as Brandi had caught a glimpse of the guardsman she’d stiffened, and the interest that had flared at the mention of his friend’s name quickly disappeared from her eyes.
Yeah, very interesting. Her body language at the restaurant a few weeks back had been relaxed…interested. Not stiff and cold like now.
“Brandi needs you to share her champagne soaked strawberry with her like this,” Jordan replied, then bit into the side of the berry and offered his brother the other side. They proceeded to demonstrate…
Christ. Is that what he and Kerri had looked like? His sister-in-law was right. It was hot.
Kade stepped toward Brandi and smiled. “I’d be more than happy to share your strawberry, Brandi.”
The woman appeared frosty. And rigid. She glanced at Kerri who nodded and smiled. Brandi straightened her shoulders and turned back to his friend.
“No thanks.” She shoved the berry into Kade’s hand and stepped back. “It’s all yours.”
His buddy frowned. “Why? You have something against soldiers?”
Brandi shook her head. “Nope. I respect the military.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Her chin lifted and eyes held a combination of sadness and flight. “I have something against kissing a soldier.” The designer shifted her gaze to Kerri. “Congrats on your win.”
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Kerri asked.
“Yeah,” Brandi said, moving backwards. “I’ve got to see a guy about…a…thing.” She nearly tripped in her haste to get away.
By this time, Cole and Jordan had finished their strawberry and were watching the exchange with as much interest as him and Kerri.
His brother grinned at Kade. “Still got a way with the ladies, I see, man.”
“Yeah.” Connor laughed and jumped in for some ribbing. “You need to work on your follow through. She nearly broke an ankle trying to get away from you.”
His buddy turned to them and the scowl disappeared from his face. “That just means I get the whole strawberry to myself.”
Then the bastard ate his dessert right in front of him, and took his damn time, too.
“Come on, bro,” Cole said, slapping his back. “We’d better get going. Why do
n’t you walk with us, this way you and Kade can grab one of the few tables?”
Kade fell into step with them, placing his arm around Kerri. “And don’t worry, I’ll keep Connor company and out of trouble while you play.”
“Good luck.” Kerri’s laughter kept the situation light.
Which is what it was. Light. Kade was just joking with him, but for a split second, even knowing this, Connor had experienced a burst of uncontrollable rage. Which was weird, because he didn’t do rage. Up until last Thanksgiving, that had been a Cole thing.
Yeah, the woman he held hands with…she brought out all kinds of new feelings in him. Strong ones. And hell, he had no idea what to do with them. But that wasn’t Kade’s fault, so it was time he lightened things up.
“Get your own date,” he said with a grin, wrapping an arm around Kerri’s waist and dragging her closer. “Quit trying to steal mine.”
Kade’s brows rose. “Oh, so you and Kerri are on a date?”
Where they? He looked down at her and the hope in her eyes was exactly what his heart wanted to see.
“Yes,” he replied, smiling at the pleased expression on her face. “Yes we are.”
“Speaking of dates,” Cole spoke as they continued to walk toward the bandstand. “Where’s Kevin?”
Connor nodded. “Yeah, I haven’t seen him all day.”
“Are you kidding?” Kade chuckled. “He’s in buckle bunny heaven.”
Ah, yeah. Connor had forgotten how the venue was always a Kevin harem waiting to happen.
“But Kevin isn’t part of the rodeo.” Kerri frowned.
Kade snickered. “Tell that to the buckle bunnies. They don’t seem to care.”
They were still laughing when they reached the bandstand area. Connor stopped and turned to Kerri. He still couldn’t believe she was enjoying the fair. With him. His date.
Monica wouldn’t. His first fiancée had hated the dust and the dirt and the smell. Tiffany, his second, she didn’t mind, but well, that’s because she was probably doing half the rodeo contestants. But Catherine? Hell, his third…and worst. When he was a contestant, she would sit there and cheer and had him so damn fooled he hadn’t trusted his judgment in years. Sure, she’d cheered and took a real interest in his life, and work and ranch...and bank account. Because he was her fiancé?