Attached (Coronado Series Book 3) (3 page)

He watched Cary dance closely with a dumb cowboy next to the band. Where in the hell had she found a skirt so short? She looked happy and relaxed out there in the arms of the over-grown boy who had his hands all over her. The woman had the sense of a grain of rice. First the biker bar and now a honky-tonk in the middle of nowhere. He drank his beer and waited for the inevitable cry for help. He didn’t want to have to save her, but he would. She clearly needed him, and he wasn’t the type of man to ignore something like that.
 

Cary enjoyed dancing with Paul, and when they were done, he was nice enough to get her another margarita. Several of Paul’s friends showed up, he introduced her around and she was having a great time getting to know them. Apparently they all worked at a local ranch and were real cowboys. They were all dressed like it, so it must be true. The band came back from their break, so Paul took her out again, and she did a little better. She still needed a lot of instruction, and Paul was more than willing to give it to her. Looking down at his hands, she admired how big and capable they looked and wondered if he had other big, capable parts. Looking up at him, she smiled and moved with him to the music.
 

Travis sat on his stool. Two hours had passed, and there was no cry for help from Cary. In fact, she was having a great time. He noticed that the son of a bitch who was dancing with her was taking every opportunity to get his hands on her, and she was doing nothing about it. In fact, she looked like she might be enjoying it. The guy finally headed to the men’s room, and Travis took the opportunity to have a quick chat with him. After he was done, he decided he’d better go over and check in with Cary and see how she was doing. She stood by herself on the edge of the dance floor, listened to the music and studied the dancers. Another man was making his way over to her, so Travis threw him a look, and the guy quickly backed off. She clearly needed him to keep an eye out for her, because there were a lot of men who thought they might have a chance with her. He slipped in behind her and whispered in her ear, “Are you waiting for me?”

She twirled around and almost lost her balance. He quickly grabbed her arms and kept her steady. She looked up at him with big, startled eyes, and nothing came out of her mouth. He took advantage of her shock and started to lead her out to the dance floor. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again…what a surprise.”

The band started playing a melody that he remembered from his childhood, and he started moving her around the dance floor.
 

Too polite to make a scene, she followed his lead as they began to dance. When she finally started to come out of her shock, she pulled him down and whispered in his ear, “Are you following me? How did we end up in the same bar?”
 

He liked the feeling of her voice in his ear and her breath against his neck. In fact, he liked it a lot. He twirled her around and leaned down and spoke into her ear. “My family has a ranch about a hundred miles from here, and I decided to stop in for something to eat.”

“That sounds slightly suspicious, and I’m not sure if I believe you.”

Travis hugged her and kissed her head as he led her around the floor. He was enjoying her company and decided that he liked the combination of her bossiness, innocence and sex appeal. This might just be what he needed to make the transition into civilian life. The music ended, and they remained in one another’s arms as people moved around them. He thought briefly about lowering his head for a kiss but decided not to at the last minute. She didn’t seem to be all that charmed by him at the moment, so he’d better give her some time. “Are you ready to head out? Can I walk you to the motel?”

“No, I’m not ready to leave. I’m having fun.” She looked around. “I wonder where Paul went?” She didn’t see him. “That’s weird…he’s been so attentive. I’ve been dancing with him all night and he hasn’t left my side.” Travis looked down at her innocently, and she didn’t buy it for a moment. “What did you do him?”

“Me…I didn’t do a thing. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Cary shook her head. “I know you did something, but I can’t tell what it is. Well, you can go. I don’t need a body-guard.” She slipped out of his hold, and made her way over to the bar and ordered another margarita.
Only a boring person would leave this early. A person who didn’t know what fun was, and I’m clearly not that person. I’m someone who knows how to close down a honky-tonk.
 

Travis sat on the barstool next to her, ordered a beer and indicated to the bartender to put the drinks on his tab. Cary turned around and looked at him. “Don’t you have something else to do? That woman over there keeps giving you the eye. I bet she would love to dance with you.”

“Why are you nice and sweet to other people and rude to me?” He immediately realized his mistake, as he watched her eyes get squinty and mean. She gave him a hard glare as she proceeded to blast him.

“Poor you…big bad Travis got his feelings hurt. Get over yourself. Just because I’m not falling at your feet like every other woman doesn’t make me rude. Perhaps you’re rude for always telling me that I’m rude. I think you would be hard-pressed to find another person to corroborate your story. In fact, it would be impossible.”

She twirled around on her bar-stool, drank her margarita and looked around for someone to dance with. Travis wasn’t going to rain on her parade. She was going to have a good time even if it killed her. She noticed a handsome man smiling at her, and she smiled back, hoping he might come over and save her. He started to make his way over when he stopped, frowned and turned around. What the heck happened? She turned around and saw Travis looking in the same direction. “Did you just throw that man a dirty look?”

“Me? No. Why would you think that? How ridiculous!”
 

“Ridiculous, my behind. You did! You’re trying to poop on my party. Go away and find another woman to harass.”
 

“I’m sitting here drinking my beer, minding my own business, and I’m being falsely accused of malicious behavior. I’m starting to feel abused.”

“Oh suck it up. I have kindergarteners who have better behavior than you do. I taught middle school for five years, and I’ve never heard such a poorly concocted story.” She leaned back on her bar-stool and tapped her boot. “You have no game. It is really quite sad…because you look like a hard ass, but in fact, you’re not.”

Travis looked at Cary sitting on her stool in her short skirt with a mile of leg showing and started laughing. He hadn’t had this much fun since his last deployment with his Team. The woman could talk trash, and he liked that in a person. “Cary, I like you. Can I take you to the diner and buy you dessert?”

“I just insulted you five ways from Sunday, and you decide it’s foreplay. You have a very twisted mind.” She twirled around on her stool again and found that she’d finished her margarita. She motioned to the bartender for another one and started to look around again-hoping to find someone to dance with. She noticed a nice fellow a couple of stools down and was about to lean forward when she felt a large arm wrap around her waist possessively. She straightened up and turned toward Travis. “Seriously, you’re going to spoil all of my fun tonight?”

“I like to think of it as redirecting your fun-you have no idea what these men want. What happens if one of these guys gets the wrong idea and thinks you’re willing to sleep with them? What will you do then?”

“I’ll probably do a happy dance. Why do you think I’m here in this short skirt? It’s not because I think I’m at a church social. I’m young and single…..and not boring. I’m here to have fun and close down the bar.”

“Who was the asshole who said you were boring?”

She turned the other way and shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re are talking about.”

“OK….if that is your story. I don’t believe you, though.”

Her shoulder drooped, and she started to look a little defeated. “Before you got here, I was having so much fun. I met a cute cowboy, and he was teaching me how to dance. He introduced me to his friends, and they were friendly and had great stories to tell. I think they liked me, too, and I was looking forward to getting to know them. Then you showed up, and it all slipped away.” She downed her margarita, gathered her purse and pulled out some money for her drinks. “You win. I’m going back to the motel. I give up.” She turned around and started walking toward the door. “I thought Paul was going to kiss me tonight and you took that away.”

Travis quickly settled the bill and followed her out. He caught up with her out on the patio and grabbed her hand before she got away. “I’m sorry. I was just watching out for you. You seem so innocent, and I’m worried that someone is going to take advantage of you.” He ran his finger along her wrist and up her arm. He tried to pull her in, and she resisted. “I’ll kiss you.”

“The moment’s gone, and I don’t feel like kissing you.”

“Don’t hold back, Cary. Let me know how you really feel.”

“Am I the first woman who hasn’t fallen at your feet? I must be, based on the look that just crossed your face.”

“Women don’t fall at my feet. Why do you keep saying that?”

“Never mind. I’m tired, and I think the last margarita I had might’ve put me over my limit. I’m going to bed.”

She walked across the parking lot and over to the motel, and he watched go into her room. Well, he’d officially screwed that up, pissed her off and hurt her feelings. Damn, he was good with women. It was good to know he hadn’t lost his touch. He made his way over to his truck, grabbed his bag and headed for his room.
 

CHAPTER THREE

Cary woke up with a massive headache. She rolled over, took a slug of water and tried to look at the clock. Her head started to pound with the effort, so she put it back down on the pillow and tried to go back to sleep. She was just about to nod off when she heard knocking. That was strange…her head was knocking instead of pounding. She pulled the covers over her head and hoped it would stop soon. She finally realized it was the door, so she stumbled out of bed and opened the door and was immediately hit with sun directly in her eyes. Her head was starting to pound again, and she was beginning to feel sick. She finally managed to open one eye and saw that it was the arch-angel of doom. She tried to close the door, but he was already half-way in. “I think it’s too early for you to ruin my day.”

Travis looked at Cary and felt his heart skip a beat. He admired her curly hair sticking out in every direction and her mascara-smudged eyes. He’d never seen anything sexier in his life. He was rewarded with a glimpse of pretty lace underwear as she lifted her arm. “Good morning sunshine-I brought you coffee and donuts.”

“Why are you shouting? Stop shouting.” Her head was pounding furiously, and she felt her stomach start to heave up. She made a dash for the bathroom and managed to slam the door shut before she started throwing up into the toilet. She leaned over and lost last night’s dinner and all the margaritas she’d drunk. It took longer than she would’ve liked before she felt the nausea slowly subside. Managing to sit up, she leaned herself against the cool tile wall as she prayed for death. It somehow seemed appropriate since the arch-angel of doom was right outside the door. Maybe he’d left. Certainly hearing someone throw up would tarnish the shine on even the prettiest penny. She heard the front door open and close and said a silent prayer of thanks. Next time she wanted to get rid of a man, she would just drink too much and throw up-something to keep in mind for the future. She finally felt a little better and was able to get into the shower. She stood under the spray for a long time and almost fell asleep. The water had cooled, and she finally roused herself and got out. As she was drying off, she noticed a large soda on the sink.
How did that get there?
She took a sip and discovered it was Diet Coke, her favorite. She combed her hair, washed her face and took four aspirin while enjoying her cold soda. She opened the door slightly. “Can you hand me my robe and some underwear? It’s there in my suitcase.” She reached her hand out and felt the robe and underwear drop into her hand. “Thank you.”

She wrapped herself up and slowly opened the door. She’d hoped that he’d left, but luck wasn’t on her side. He sat in the chair drinking his coffee and reading the paper, looking totally relaxed and gorgeous.
 

He looked at her and tried to determine how bad off she was. “How do you feel?”

“Why are you talking so loudly? Talk in a normal voice, please.”

“I’m not speaking loudly. You’re just hung-over. Drink your soda and eat this Egg McMuffin. You’ll feel better.”

He handed her a bag from McDonald’s, and she almost felt like kissing him. Maybe he wasn’t the arch-angel of doom after all. “I’m mentally taking back half of the nasty things I’ve thought about you in the last twenty-four hours. You’ve redeemed yourself with this food.” She opened the bag and quickly devoured the hash browns and then started on her Egg McMuffin.
 

“Only half of the things?” He leaned over and kissed her head and smelled freesia again. It must be her shampoo. “I’m glad to know that you’re a forgiving person and easily bought off.” As she ate her sandwich, she smiled at him.

After she was done, she lay back in bed and finished her soda. “Thanks for the save, Travis. Have a nice life.” She felt her eyelids grow heavy and let herself drift off. She figured he would leave as soon as he realized that she wasn’t going to die. Maybe she would see him again, but probably not. She couldn’t get her brain to determine if that was a bad thing or a good thing. He sure was handsome, but he seemed like a lot of work.