Cowboys-Dont-Dance (10 page)

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and Angela wondered when and why she’d decided she wanted more. She wanted him to love her.

Millie stood in front of the barn. “Get cookin’ Jesse. Company’s awaitin’.”

Angela stood in the shadows and watched Jesse walk, head down, toward the huge, brick barbeque grill. Damn. He sure had a cute butt.

No wonder Kathy had pinched him the other day at the studio.

Jesse’s mom followed him, and he soon had an apron reading 'kiss the cook' wrapped around his slim waist and long handled tongs in hand. He grinned when one of the guests stopped to tease him.

Jesse picked up a large platter of raw meats and began laying pieces on the grill. Angela continued to stand in the shadows listening to the sizzle of the cooking meat and watching Jesse. Her tummy growled, but her throat was so tight with unshed tears she wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat anything.

Shoot. She loved the sexy cowboy and when push came to shove she had to admit she'd been in love with him for years and years.

What about Lydia? Would Jesse still marry her?

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Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

Sure. It’s not like he called off the wedding or anything because of her. She wasn’t an idiot. She'd gotten herself into this mess, she'd get herself out. Maybe he'd keep her on as his mistress?

Dump that. No way She wanted it to be all or nothing when it came to Jesse, and Angela wasn’t sure she how she would go on without him in her life.

A tall, leggy blonde in a red cotton blouse and skin-tight jean shorts frayed at the bottom, strutted across the patio on four-inch heeled sandals and stopped next to Jesse. Angela’s heart did a flip-flop and her tummy rolled. Lydia had arrived in all her gorgeous glory.

* * * *

“Darling!”

Jesse’s skin crawled at the sound of Lydia's voice in his ear. Her high pitched chatter sounded like fingernails on a blackboard. Jesse ran a hand over his waist. The hackles on the back of his neck rose and itched.

Lydia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. “Oh, I missed you so much, baby!”

Sure, she did. He wasn’t stupid. She didn’t even want his body.

She couldn’t stand to make love, said it was too messy even when he used a condom. All she seemed interested in was his land, money, and a wedding ring. She wasn’t the first gold-digging bitch he’d run into over the years, but she sure was going to be the last.

He had made a point of
not
inviting her to the barbeque. The woman had a lot of nerve. Couldn't figure out when she wasn't wanted. His mom must have invited her. From her perfect hair to her polished toes, Lydia wasn’t dressed for a family barbeque. Her whole outfit yelled trouble with a capital T.

Her designer shirt, worn over a revealing, overpriced tank top screamed Abercrombie and Fitch. Her shorts showed off everything.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

71

Cut in the Daisy Duke style, they bared a hint of her round butt cheeks and long lanky legs.

Lydia's suggestive clothes didn’t affect him in the least. He couldn’t be tempted now because it was Angela he craved. Compared to Angela, Lydia was a cold, calculating bitch. She used her body like a black widow spider snaring the male spider into her lair so she could mate and kill him. The last time he slept with Lydia, she’d laid there and stared at the ceiling. He couldn’t imagine being married to her for the rest of his life, but apparently she could imagine herself as his wife.
Dream on, lady.

He tried to be nice to her during the breakup—but apparently nice hadn’t gotten through to her. The only reason he put up with Lydia on a friendly level was because her father had business with him and their ranches were adjacent to each other. Jesse had to keep up the appearance of friendship or lose the water rights Lydia’s father continued to let him use for a small fee. He needed the water or the two thousand head of cattle on his ranch would die.

Jesse shook his head. He had to consider Angela’s feelings.

Ah, Angela, beautiful, perfect, and oh so sexy. She was his heart and soul’s desire.

He never wanted to hurt her.

Which is why this was such a sticky situation.

Lydia continued to manhandle him until Jesse couldn’t stand it any longer. He pushed her away gently, but firmly.

“Aren’t you happy to see me, Jesse?” Lydia pouted. “What’s wrong?”

Jesse tamped down his flaming anger. He wrapped his hand around Lydia’s arm. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m happy to see you, but I think it would be better if you went in and helped Millie bring out the food. The meat is going to be ready in a few minutes.”

“I can only think of one piece of meat I’d like nibble on.” Lydia’s phony purr set Jesse's teeth on edge.

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Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

Jesse turned to search for Angela in the shadows. When he spotted her he called out, “You about ready to eat, Angie?”

“No. I don’t want to be a third wheel.” She had her arms folded across her chest defensively. “I’ll eat something later.”

Her remarks hurt. Jesse had hoped they could eat together. Angela was pulling away, abandoning him when he needed and wanted her the most. Didn't she know he loved her? Couldn't she tell? He ached to grab Angela up in his arms and carry her off into the sunset.

Damn the woman. She probably thought he was still in love with Lydia, not that he ever had been because he hadn't loved anyone before Angela.

Somehow he had to get Angela alone and tell her the truth. The sooner the better.

* * * *

“Angela Elaine Roberts, wait up!” Only one woman besides her mother would use her full name, and this was not her mother’s voice.

Angela had managed to avoid Jesse and Lydia all afternoon. Lydia hadn’t gotten the hint and found her.

Angela was working on a major headache and the last person she wanted to talk to was Lydia. She sighed and pasted a smile on her face. “Yeah, what’s up, Lydia?”

“I have been trying to get a chance to chat with you all afternoon.”

Lydia laughed lightheartedly. Her eyes, the color of stone, pierced Angela like a hawk, looking for weakness or frailty. “If I didn’t know better, I would swear you'd been avoiding me all day. Now, why is that, I wonder?"

Snotty bitch.
“Of course not, Lydia. I've been busy helping with the kids. Surely, you didn't miss me."

“Not at all, darling.”

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Cowboys Don't Dance

73

Get to the point already Lydia
. “I'm on my way out now. I have a private lesson scheduled for this evening. I hate to say goodbye so soon, but I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry. ”

“Really? You know I have been meaning to talk to you about lessons. Jesse has come a long way since he has spent so much time with you.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, his moves are so much more…intense. He’s never danced with so much elegance and ease.”

“I’m glad you’re happy,” Angela drawled.

“I don’t think he needs any more lessons. I do want you to see how well he does at the Raven Nightclub’s Salsa contest. I’m hoping you’ll be able to convince him he’s doing great.”

“Jesse doesn’t need me to—”

“He’s been kind of distant lately. Did something happen between the two of you?”

Heat crept up to Angela’s cheeks. She done well to keep her affair with Jesse a secret, but she'd never been much of a liar. It wasn't her place to tell Lydia what had happened between her and Jesse. It was Jesse's responsibility.

Angela did not want to be responsible for messing up the impending nuptials. “Nothing is wrong, Lydia. Jesse and I are friends.

We’ve been friends since forever.”

“Jesse has changed, but it doesn’t matter. Most men settle down when they have a ring on their hand, and they spend their nights home with their wives.”

“Jesse will make a good husband.”

“Yes, he will. To me, and you should know he doesn’t need some little girl from his past hanging around. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, but I can assure you it’s never going to go anywhere. He’ll come into a fortune when he marries me, and he’s not going to settle for anything less.”

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74

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"Got it. Loud and clear. Have no fear, Lydia. There is nothing between Jesse and me."
Except for one very large cock
. Lydia didn’t want her hanging around Jesse anymore. No problem. Angela took a deep breath. It had come to the end. Their affair was over. Jesse belonged to Lydia for better or for worse.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

75

Angela recognized Jesse’s black Ford F-350 pull up to the front of her house.

Super Duty was imprinted on the back of the tailgate. Even to a woman with no knowledge of cars or trucks this vehicle had more horsepower than average. Most people chose their vehicle because of how it looked or how sexy or successful they felt behind the wheel.

Jesse’s truck on and off the road was meant for work. Not play. It had more power than anyone, but a rancher, would need. The chrome around the edges emphasized the manliness, but the mud in the wheel wells proved it wasn't a showpiece.

Angela watched open mouthed as Lydia flung open the passenger side door and stepped out.

Lydia in Jesse's truck? Why not? After all they were engaged.

Angela's insides twisted into knots. What did they want? Why had Jesse brought Lydia here?

Surely Jesse wasn't going to make a scene. Would he call her his

'fuck buddy' or his whore?

No Jesse wouldn't be that cruel.

He sure as hell wouldn't have told Lydia they were having an affair. God, the word 'affair' hurt. She wanted to be Jesse's one and only love.

Dream on, sister. You are his whore.

“Why, don’t you look cute!” Lydia exclaimed, hands on her hips.

Yeah, in comparison to Lydia, she'd always be just cute.

Lydia’s custom made sequin gown fit her like a glove. Tonight was the big Salsa competition. Angela hadn't planned to enter. She Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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76

Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

was only along to support Jesse. After tonight she would avoid him like the plague. He’d begged her to come, and Angela had accepted thinking they would be alone on the ride to the club.

Wrong again.

How many more times did Jesse have to hurt her before her heart got the message?

Angela wore skin-tight, white pants and a white blouse tied under her breasts to show off her midriff. She'd put a small fake diamond pendent in her pierced bellybutton. She seldom wore any jewelry in her navel, but tonight was special.

The piercing was a reminder of her youth, and a night she’d had a little too much to drink with her then boyfriend, Jimmy Sampson.

Jimmy had decided they needed to have matching piercings. He'd gotten his nipple pierced, but Angela chickened out on the nipple piercing and had gotten her bellybutton done instead. To this day the mere thought of having a cold ring in her nipple gave her the willies.

Tonight was going to be a little awkward. She’d never been the third wheel on a date. This was a first. To tell the truth, she hadn’t had many boyfriends. Jesse was only her third lover, and he'd been the first one to pay attention to her needs and desires. He'd probably be her last lover for that matter. There weren’t many men who’d be able to live up to her expectations. Having Jesse had ruined her for another man. He'd been an amazing, inventive and addictive lover. He’d managed to awaken feelings and desires buried deep inside she’d never knew existed.

“You look great, too, Lydia,” Angela acknowledged biting the inside of her mouth to keep from saying something she’d regret.

“Maybe I should go back in and get my jacket.”

“You could use mine.” Jesse offered his leather jacket after circling the truck, and opening the rear passenger side door for her.

Angela accepted the lightweight jacket. She put it on and buried her nose in the leather. The coat smelled of his cologne and pure Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

77

Jesse. She couldn’t bear to look at him for fear he’d see the raw desire burning in her soul. “Thanks,” she muttered.

She turned to get into the truck. “I really appreciate you guys stopping for me. If I had to rely on Beau, I’d have been late. I’m planning on having a drink or two tonight and don’t want to drink and drive.”

She put her high-heeled foot on the running board and holding the cheater bar, slid into the back seat. Her foot made contact with a small, brown paper bag. Angela turned to Jesse and quirked an eyebrow.

“What’s this?” Angela hoped Lydia wasn't listening.

No problem. Lydia primped in the mirror, and paying attention to them.

Jesse grinned. “Uh…your panties.”

Angela’s face burned. “Oh my, God. I forgot them.”

“Yeah. Mom found them, washed them and told me to get them back to whomever they belonged to. I think she knows they’re yours.”

“What else did she say?”

Jesse shook his head. “She knocked me on the side of the head and told me to get a hold on my libido, or I'd be in big trouble." He leaned closer until his lips nearly touched her ear. "She said you'd better not be pregnant because if you were I'd have to marry you."