lori king rough ride romeo (5 page)

pale moonlight against the jewel tones of the blanket she slept under. The image

struck a chord with Roman, and he froze in the living room entryway unable to

step inside or retreat. Would she welcome him? After their moment of intimacy

outside, she’d distinctly pul ed away from him focusing all of her energy on a fake

smile and an enthusiastic greeting for Marilyn. Feeling like a fifth wheel, he’d left

her be and sought out the comforts of hard labor by mucking out stalls for a few

hours. It never crossed his mind that he’d come back to find her peacefully

sleeping, all of the worry lines gone from her brow.

“You should probably wake her. She’s been asleep all afternoon.” Marilyn’s

voice came from behind him.

He shrugged, “I’m afraid to. It looks like she needs the rest.”

“Perhaps,” Marilyn paused and then patted his shoulder, “Sometimes people

don’t even realize what they need until they find it. I think that girl needs

someone with big shoulders to lean on.”

Roman frowned down at the petite woman who’d help mother him since he

was eight years old. “What makes you think that?”

“Call it a woman’s intuition. I have to go get the bread from the oven, we’re

having parmesan chicken tonight. You’d better give her a chance to get awake

before your brothers come inside. The whole crew can be overwhelming.” With

that, Marilyn turned and disappeared into the kitchen leaving him wondering

how he was supposed to wake the angel on the couch.

In his experience, women were in his life for only one of two reasons. To

sleep with, or respect. The two lines never seemed to cross. If he respected a

woman he didn’t usually see her as desirable. He respected Marilyn, and Sera,

and even his future sister-in-law, Lacy—although, initial y he’d felt a stirring for

Lacy that had been quickly squashed by Drannon. His desire for Franki was out

of place considering he was already forming a unique respect for the thick-shelled

woman, and it seemed like an impossible situation.

Taking a deep breath, he entered the living room making as much noise as

possible. When she didn’t react, he grunted with irritation. The last thing he

should be doing is touching her, but here she was, beautifully peaceful,

and...vulnerable.

Easing down onto his knees next to her, he saw his hand reach out to brush

her hair from her forehead as though it wasn’t attached to his arm. She sighed in

her sleep and turned her face into his palm almost as if seeking his touch, but that

wasn’t possible, was it? She barely knew him, and if she was awake she’d

probably be smacking him for salivating over her lush lips that turned up in a

sweet half smile while she slept.

“Franki,” he murmured, keeping his tone soft, as he pressed more firmly on

her cheek. “Franki, sugar. I hate to wake you, but it’s almost dinner time. It’s

about to get noisy in here.”

She whimpered a bit in her sleep, and it instantly made his balls draw up

tight. Good God, if she sounded like that while sleeping what heavenly sounds

would she make when she was coming?

With a soft curse, he pulled away from her, afraid that he wouldn’t be able to

keep his hands to himself if she moaned again, but his movement drew her heavy

eyelids open and her beautiful eyes met his.

“Romeo,” she whispered, a wide smile spreading across her face. Drowsiness

was still evident in her movements, but he didn’t resist when she leaned into him.

Her soft lips brushed over his stealing the breath from his lungs, and he let go of

his control and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her tight to his chest.

Her hands drew up to hold the back of his head and she gave as good as she

got, granting him access to her mouth and taking in return. Together they

exploded in a kiss more intense than any he’d ever experienced before. It was like

being hit by lightning as every cell in his body seemed to sizzle with the need to

claim her. When he finally ran out of oxygen in his lungs, he tore his lips away

from hers, and panting, they gazed into each other’s eyes. It seemed oxygen was

just what Franki needed to get a grip on her surroundings because she suddenly

froze in his arms, and clenched her eyes shut.

“Oh shit. Please tell me I did not just molest you in my sleep.” She let her

head drop so he couldn’t see her face.

“You can’t molest the willing, sugar,” he teased, kissing the top of her head

softly. His cock pressed painfully against his zipper, and his heart was racing in his

chest, but he’d be damned if he’d let her see how much she affected him, or how

much her rejection hurt. “Sorry to wake you, but dinner’s about ready. Marilyn

said you’ve been sleeping a while.”

Retreating back into the cushions of the couch, Franki rubbed at her eyes,

and patted her hair into place all the while clutching the blanket to her chest like

it was a shield protecting her in battle. “Thanks. I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

“No problem. You’re welcome to molest me anytime you feel the need. Uh,

my brothers should be in shortly, so if you need a minute to freshen up…” He

rose awkwardly to his feet as he tried to hide his stiff erection from her.

“Yeah, that’d be great; thanks Roman.”

With a nod, he turned and made a quick exit, leaving his heart behind.

~ ~ ~ ~

Franki was positively mortified. How could she make out with a man she’d

just met? And while she was half asleep no less? She’d been dreaming about the

sexy cowboy, and then he was just there. So raw and real, but she had no idea

when her dreams had suddenly switched to reality, but damn it, now she’d really

screwed up. What was he going to think of her? Offering herself up like that

would just give him the wrong idea. Cursing her body for its betrayal, she hurried

to fold the blanket and replace it on the shelf Marilyn had picked it up from,

before rushing up the stairs to her room. Earlier, the room seemed like a serene

sanctuary, but with her frazzled nerves and rushing hormones, it taunted her with

its cheerfulness now.

“Fuck a duck,” she cursed. “What the hell am I doing? I’m not here to play

games with a cowboy, damn it. I have to find Vivi and get her back to St. Paul.”

Determined to resist Roman Freemont’s charms, she quickly tied her messy

hair up in a ponytail and changed her shirt for one less wrinkled. She wasn’t a

fussy woman, but she had no idea what to expect from dinner at Crawley Creek,

so she wanted to be prepared. The main house was less of a ranch house and

more of a country mansion. It sprawled across the grass like it had grown up

naturally and continued to grow over the years. Inside was a mixture of old and

new décor, but it was tastefully done. She was envious of the various photos that

were scattered about, and the possession’s that held obvious sentimental meaning

for the family. She wasn’t much for keeping stuff, but really she’d never had

anything of value besides her bike. With a single mom, and a little sister, the

budget was too tight to be sentimental. Items that were unnecessary were

generally sold to purchase something needed.

A glance around the sunshine yellow bedroom reminded her that she was in

a completely different world now. Roman’s family obviously had money. What if

he or one of his brothers was a customer of Goat’s prostitution ring? Would she

ever be able to seek justice against people who’d shown her kindness?

Deliberately, she tossed her head, and marched out of the sickly sweet room

shutting the door firmly behind her. In her heart she knew that there was nothing

she wouldn’t do to protect Vivi and give her the justice she deserved. Even if she

had to throw a whole ranch full of cowboys under the bus.

By the time she got back downstairs the noise level had indeed increased

monumentally. All of the voices she could hear were male, and a few of them

sounded pretty irritable. Just what she needed in her mood.

“There is no way in hell she’s getting me into a lavender vest.”

“Whatever, D. Didn’t you tell her she could have whatever she wanted

because it’s her day? Well guess what buddy? She called your bluff.”

“When I said that, I meant anything within reason. Damn it. A purple vest is

not within reason. Isn’t it enough that I agreed to wear a tux for this damn

wedding?”

Franki stood in the doorway of the dining room watching the four large men

interact. They were all seated, but no one had served up food yet, and it was

Roman who noticed her first.

“Franki, come on in.” He gestured her towards him, but she purposely took

a seat on the other side of the table, fushing a bit when all of the men stood until

she was seated. “Guys this is Franki Scott, our guest for the time being.”

“You mean the woman you tried to kill?” The man on Roman’s right side

was about the same age as he was, but he wore his blonde hair longer—just past

his shoulders—and he had an air of innocent fun that was intriguing to her. Like

he wasn’t quite done growing up yet; just like Vivi had always had.

“I didn’t—”

“My name’s Franki, and he didn’t try to kill me, just my bike.” Franki

responded, smiling at the blonde.

“Damn, brother. I had no idea you hated motorcycles so much. I saw what

you did to that beautiful machine. Somewhere the Hel ’s Angels are plotting your

death.” Blondie turned back to her, ignoring Roman’s nasty glare and offering his

hand. “I’m Hawke Kapshaw, Franki. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, Hawke.” She shook his hand, tugging hers out of his grip

when he held on a moment too long for comfort. Turning to the large man with

dark hair next to her, she offered her hand and waited for an introduction.

“Drannon Russo, and this”—Drannon pointed at the kitchen doorway

where a woman had just entered—“is my soon-to-be-wife, Lacy.”

“You must be Franki!” Lacy rushed around the table and bent to hug her. “I

have to tell you, when Marilyn said we had a female guest on the ranch I nearly

cried with relief. We’re smothered by testosterone around here, and I crave more

estrogen in the air.”

Franki laughed at Lacy’s dramatics, and felt herself relaxing. “I’m glad my

bad luck is helping someone out. I swear if I’d known what the trip had in store

for me before I set out from St. Paul, I might have just crawled under my bed and

skipped it entirely.”

“St. Paul, Minnesota?” Drannon asked, “We have some friends that live on

the Minneapolis side. What brings you all the way to Montford?”

She tried to cover her hesitation by sipping the glass of ice water in front of

her, but it was clear everyone noticed her delay tactic. Patting her mouth with her

napkin she finally said, “Family business. I was hoping to meet my sister in town,

but she wasn’t there when I arrived. I’d only been here a few minutes when

Roman ran into me, literally.”

Everyone chuckled except Roman who rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t on purpose.

Geez Louise, the whole town is going to think I go around in a monster truck

smashing innocent motorcycles for fun.”

“Well if Hal could speak he’d probably say that’s exactly what happened.”

She said, accepting a bowl of beans from Marilyn who’d just joined them.

“Who’s Hal?” Lacy asked.

“Hal is my motorcycle. I named him the day I bought him.”

Vin snorted out a loud, barking laugh. “Get that, she thinks her bike is a

him! Everyone knows motorcycles are females. Just look at their graceful lines and

elegant machinery. No man would ever look so beautiful.”

Cocking her head Franki narrowed her eyes, “You know, I’m not sure if that

was a dig or a compliment, so I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear it. Hal and I are very

close. He’s the only male I let that close to me.”

The moment the words left her lips her eyes instinctively found Roman’s,

and she felt her cheeks heat. What would the others think of her if they knew

she’d been sucking face with their brother just moments ago? The memory of

Roman’s lips on hers made her shift uncomfortably in her seat, but no one else

seemed to notice as the conversation continued around her.

“Lauren will be here next month. She asked me to RSVP on her behalf for

the wedding.” Hawke was telling Drannon.

The big man smiled and smacked the table loudly, “Fantastic! It wil be good

to see her again.”

“Make sure to tell her to bring her gun.” Roman said. “She owes me a

rematch.”

Vin snorted next to him, “Why so she can kick your butt again?”

“I’m a much better shot than I was back then.” Roman protested. “I’m sure

I can take her on this time. Is she staying for a while?”

Hawke shrugged, “No idea. She was prepping for an event of some kind so

her email was short.”

“I thought you were going to give me her email address?” Vin asked, glaring

at Hawke who just shrugged again.

Tension was obvious between the two men, and Franki glanced at Roman

feeling wary. Something was happening but she was on the outside of the inner