Cowboys-Dont-Dance (3 page)

Cowboys Don't Dance

17

were headed to the altar? Which reminds me...when did you plan to let me in on the secret?”

“You knew it would just be a matter of time before it happened.

You’ve been seeing me going on two years now. Every time you come into town, we hook up.”

“Yeah, like once a year. You just thought you’d speed it up a little?”

“Oh, pooky. I know you’re mad now, but you’ll forget about this tomorrow, and things will be all better.”

“Not likely. My heart couldn’t take many more of your surprises.”

“What do you mean?”

“Heart attacks. You’re going to give me a fucking heart attack. No man likes to be surprised with a wedding.”

“I’m not trying to trap you into marriage, if that's what you're talking about.”

“Yes. You. Are.” Jesse buried his face in his hands. "You're not listening to me, Lydia. You're driving me nuts with your dense act.

We are not getting married. I don't want to see you or have anything to do with you. I need a break."

“A break? From what?”

“From you.”

“You’re breaking up with me?”

He pulled to a stop in front of her house. Other than the porch light, the house was dark. “Damn straight.”

“I can’t believe you’re breaking up with me.”

“We can stay friends, but the dating thing isn’t working for me.”

“You’ll change your mind. I’ll give you a week.”

He had news for her. It was going to take a lot longer than a week for her to convince him to take her as his wife. “No. I won’t. Not in a week. Or a month. We’re over, Lydia.”

Tears. Ah, hell. He hated the tear trick. "Stop it right now, I'm not changing my mind." The moment the words left his mouth a huge Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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18

Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

weight fell from his shoulders. "We're done, and don't go trying any of your little mind games on me. I've made up my mind."

“You sure you don’t want to come inside for a few minutes? We could, you know, snuggle a little bit.”

“Haven't you been listening?"

“Jesse? Aren’t you at least going to walk me to the door?”

“Just get out, Lydia.”

“Fine.” She opened the door and slipped out onto the ground. “But don’t think I’ll just wait quietly on the sidelines for you to find yourself, cowboy. One day you’re going to realize what a good thing you are missing, and you will come running back to me.” She slammed the door behind her and stomped down the walkway.

She turned, marched back to the truck and yanked open the passenger door. "I'll give you time to rethink the marriage, but don't you dare stand me up for the dance contest. Understand, cowboy?"

Jesse nodded. "Whatever." Hell he'd forgotten about the stupid contest.

Lydia slammed the door one more time and headed to the house.

The woman sure could be a bitch. He'd be at the contest, he'd dance, but that was it. Hell would freeze over before he'd change his mind about marrying her.

* * * *

“Come on in, Jesse.” Angela greeted him with a grin. Latin music filled the air of the small studio. Mirrors lined most the walls, giving the false impression of a much larger room.

Jesse removed his black Stetson, not quite sure what to do next.

He was so far out of his element. The dance studio was nothing like the farm. The walls were pink. Pink! Put him in a barn, or back in the country and he’d be fine, but here? How did he allow himself to be talked into this? The only reason he came today was to get his mind Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

19

off women and Lydia in particular. Angela was an old friend. To him she would always be his best friend's sister.

Her smile this morning lifted his spirits. Maybe dance lessons would be fun after all.

Her skin-tight jeans tautened over her high round bottom when she did a few squats."What the hell are you doing?" Jesse was finding it hard to breathe.

"Loosening up. If I don't, I might tear a muscle."

She bent from the waist and put her hands palm down on the wood floor. “Take off your jacket and make yourself comfortable.

You better do some stretches so we can get busy. Neither one of us has all day. ”

Jesse dropped his denim jacket in a corner of the room, unsure of where else to put it.

Angela broke the silence. “Is something wrong?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“You seem kind of on edge.”

Jesse had to stop himself from frowning.

She would find out about Lydia and him soon enough, but for now, he didn’t want to talk about their split or relationships in general. “Well, I did discover a missing calf this morning on my rounds. It was gone two days.”

“Oh yeah, I bet the momma had a hard time accepting it back after so many days.

“Sorry, Angela. Wasn't the case.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“Something ate the poor little guy.” Jesse paused. He didn't want to talk about the gory details. “You won't like this, but there was nothing left but skin and bones.”

She gasped sharply.

“I think there may be a pack of wolves on my property.”

“You’re kidding!”

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Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

“Or a mountain lion. I’m not sure what else it could have been, but it had to be big to eat so much meat.”

“Did it leave any tracks?”

“None. Whatever it was, it's also been attacking my neighbor's stock."

“They lost cattle, too?”

“The Jensens lost two head last month, and Lydia’s father lost a heifer last week.”

“No wonder you’re distracted. My God, a large animal attacking cattle could hurt or kill a small child.”

“Yeah, even a grown man. I told my guys to start traveling in pairs, and no one is to leave the house without a gun in his holster.”

Angela shivered. “That seems a little drastic. Maybe you can contact some wildlife preserve to relocate the animals.”

“Wolves are territorial. They aren't going to leave. I sure as hell can't call the pound and tell them to take the animals away. It’s not easy to get rid of a predator. They think my ranch is an all-you-can-eat buffet. We can't relocate them. They’ll come back. If my men find them first, there won’t be a problem.” Jesse shrugged. “I have a business to run, not a charity for hungry wolves.”

Angela sighed. "I'm afraid I wouldn’t be much of a rancher. Too soft of a heart."

She moved onto the dance floor and held out her arms. "No more business talk. It’s dance time, and when you are here, you belong to me, so get your mind off the ranch, cowboy.”

Jesse moved into her arms and an electric shock went to his groin when he wrapped an arm around her waist. She was soft and womanly where a woman should be. Angela was usually a little standoffish.

She wasn't a take charge woman.

Jesse grinned. “I can multi-task.”

“Not with me, you can’t.” She brushed her fingers over his cheek, sending another scalding shock through his body. What was going Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

21

on? She was his best friend’s baby sister, not anyone he should be attracted to.

This. Was. Just. Wrong.

“What’s the hold up?”

He grumbled, “Nothing.” He wished she weren’t so sensitive to him, but she could read him like an open book. She knew him too well.

She frowned, took his hand in a firm grip and began moving to the music. "Watch my feet and get the beat in your head."

Her hips swayed to the music and Jesse was having a hard time paying attention to her feet. Dancing with Angela was a hell of a lot more sensual than dancing with Lydia. “It’s hard to keep up.” He caught his toe on the wooden floor and nearly fell.
Idiot.
He proceeded to step on her toes, twice. God, could he be more awkward? He couldn't bring himself to hold her too tight for fear he'd injure her if he did fall.

“For heaven sake, Jesse. You’re as nervous as a school girl at her first dance. What is the matter with you, Jesse?” Angela stepped away from him and put her fisted hands on her hips.

He shook his head. “You’re the one acting like a girl. Now stop complaining, and finish the lesson, so I can go back to work.”

“For your information, mister, I’m not a girl anymore. I am a woman. If you’re not going to take this seriously, you won't be able to dance at your wedding. Lydia is going to be pretty angry if you don't loosen up."

Wedding?

Hells bells
. His belly did a flip-flop. There wasn't going to be any fucking wedding.

“There’s something you should know.” She deserved to know the truth, even if he didn’t want to give out all the sordid details now. He placed his hands on her slender shoulders, looked her straight in the eyes and said, “I’m not getting married.”

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Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

* * * *

Her knees trembled, threatening to give out.

Had she heard him correctly or was it just wishful thinking on her part? “What did you say?”

“I’m not getting married,” he repeated.

“You mean, you’re getting cold feet.”

“No. I mean I’m not ready to get married.”

“Sounds like what you need is one final fling."

“You think?”

She nodded.

“Mmm, maybe you’re right. I need one last fling.”

Here was her chance. The opening she'd been waiting for. He thought she was a little girl. What would he do if she suggested her sleep with her?

She'd been hungering for him since she was seventeen and realized what sex was all about.

Could she ask him? Did she have the guts? What if he turned her down? What if he laughed? Would she be able to take the humiliation of being ridiculed?

Angela sighed. It was now or never. "If you're going to have one last fling, have it with me.”

“What? Are you out of your freakin' mind? Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

“I always wondered what sex would be like with you. Didn’t you ever think about touching me in a sexual way? Holding me? Kissing me? Making love to me? Not once?”

Jesse remained speechless, but she could almost see his mind working. A little persuasion might help him decide in her favor.

“Kiss me, Jesse.”

The breath caught in her throat as she waited for his response.

Would he kiss her or laugh at her? Would he worry about the age difference? He shouldn't. She was old enough to know what she Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

23

wanted and what she wanted was Jesse. Every second became an eternity to her.

He hesitated, and she tried to push him one last time. “I promise I'll rock your world, cowboy.”

Relief flooded through her as she saw him bend down toward her.

Her pulse raced in anticipation for the touch of his mouth on hers. His firm lips covered hers and her insides melted. He tasted deliciously of coffee and peppermint. He put his arms around her and pulled her tight against his body.

Oh, wow. He was hard all over.

What a kiss. He was taking her places she'd never been before even in her wildest dreams.

She'd been kissed by lots of men, but never like this. He deepened the kiss, raising her to a new level of lust and desire. The blood in her veins was on fire. She put everything into the kiss, unleashing all the desire she'd held in check for years. Years of longing or the cowboy to notice she was a grown woman. Jesse pulled her closer and Angela savored the strength of him. He was imprinting every inch of his heavy muscles on her body.

Angela leaned into his kiss. Her mouth slid sideways, and she kissed his rock solid chin, whisker rough cheeks and her lips slid lower. She kissed his chin and the sensitive place on his neck under his ear. She nipped and bit at his neck and began unbuttoning his shirt. Her fingers spread through his fine chest hair. She pushed his shirt open and rubbed her nose and mouth against the soft fur on his chest before nuzzling his small bronze nipples.

Jesse groaned and struggled to get out of his shirt, but she was too busy to help him. Her hands trailed down his body. He didn’t protest, so she went lower, unfastening his button-fly jeans.

He caught her wrist in one large hand “Angie, honey? What are you doing?”

“Please just let me do this for you. I want to taste you.”

“Now, hold on a min—”

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Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

“Are you going to say no?” Before he could answer, she finished undoing his jeans. She slid a hand into his boxers to cup his balls.

He moaned softly.

“That’s what I thought.” She knelt down before him and smiled up at him. She licked her lips and Jesse trembled. "Close your eyes and enjoy. I promise I'll be gentle." She wrapped her lips around his cock, pulling half his length into her mouth. His knees buckled as she sucked him in and let him slide out until only the knob of his cock was between her lips.

The mixed feelings, the doubt, the hesitation. None of it mattered anymore. She snuck a peek up at him and his eyes were shut tight. His fingers tangled in her hair. His moans were bringing her close to a climax. She’d never enjoyed sucking cock so much. She'd done it to a few guys in high school, but it hadn't been this exciting. Nor, had she had the feeling of control before.

Angela wanted nothing more than to make him come. No doubt about it, he was going to be a gusher, and she couldn't wait. Her toes curled in anticipation.