Used (Unlovable, #1) (Unlovable Series) (25 page)

“Of course, Denver, I’m sorry I was jerk. I just want him to leave you alone.”

“You weren’t a jerk. I was a bitch. And I don’t deserve you.”

He tenses against me, his arms squeezing me tighter like he’s protecting me from some imaginary threat. “It’s not that I don’t get it. You’re fucking amazing, but you do know he’s fixated on you, right?”

“Fixated on me? No he’s not.”

“Oh, he is. He thinks he’s kept it secret, but I can tell. He watches your every move. He wants you even though he pretends otherwise. It goes beyond liking though, and I’m afraid it’s not one-sided. He thinks he has a chance with you … does he?”

I can see the fear in his eyes, and I’m afraid he can see the truth in mine. The truth is that, despite the anger Ransom provokes in me, he provokes other feelings too. Feelings similar to what I once had for Greer. Feelings I’ve been trying to get back for him. That wasn’t working out so well since they seemed to re-route themselves toward Ransom. You think all these weeks of him being such an ass would’ve dulled what I feel. No, just the opposite. They’ve only intensified it.

Great! Not only did I have the slut gene, but I also had the asshole-magnet gene.

I don’t answer quickly enough. “He does,” he mumbles and drops his arms from around me like someone just dropkicked him. Turning from me, he puts his hands on the wall and leans in like he’s catching his breath.

“Oh my God, Greer. I’m—” I throw my hand over my mouth. I’m what? Sorry? Fucked-up? Stupid? All of the above.

He drops his head further. “I remember me and you watching him ride on TV. I know you are fascinated with him, but I thought I had a shot. I don’t stand a chance, do I?” he asks, resignedly.

Moving behind him, I wrap one arm around his waist and the other around his chest. “You’re the only chance I need. I don’t want to be with Ransom. I want to be with you.” Translation—I don’t
want
to want to be with Ransom. I
want
to want to be with you. But I’m still working on those nagging details.

“You mean that?” he asks.

“Yes,” I whisper without hesitation.

He spins in my arms, his eyes search mine for a moment. “I love you, chicken. I’m not going down without a fight,” he declares.

Chapter Twenty

Ransom

“
D
ENVER, YOU’RE STILL
in first,” I snap, as I head off a furious cowgirl. “Damn, woman. Stop,” I demand, as she rams right into me.

“That’s bullshit, Ransom, and you know it,” she yells in my face.
In my face.
She’s on her tippy-toes and pointing at the scoreboard. “Did you see it? That little shit added almost a full second to my time.” She’s back to gesturing wildly.

“You look like a damn windmill. Rein it in, Denver.”

She folds her arms and cocks her hip. I stare down at her for a minute, my eyes scanning her, pretending I’m gauging whether or not she’s calm. In truth, I’m committing her to memory. She stands about a head shorter than me, her long, blonde hair is windblown from her ride, and her eyes are wide and bright with fury.

“You calm?” I finally ask.

“Yeah,
boss
,” she sneers and rolls her eyes.

“Good. Go get your horse. She’s in need a cool down same as you.” I move past her quickly to head to the locker rooms because, frankly, that fire in her eyes that reminded me of a burning sunset had me beyond hard. I push my sleeves up and feel a little proud of myself for having disarmed the ticking time bomb that was Denver Dempsey. Holy shit. I’ve never seen someone so pissed-off. When she exited the arena, she dismounted quickly, throwing her reins and hat to Maggie. I watched, amused, for a minute until I saw her rolling up her sleeves and heading for the judges’ podium. Some kid had waved his cowboy hat in front of the motion sensor, setting her clock off before she was ready. She didn’t realize it until she was already racing, but she bounced back, of course. She still came in first overall, but that just isn’t good enough for Miss Dempsey. She wanted those judges to let her ride again.

“Did you set her straight, boss?” Austin asks, as I make my way down the platform.

“Yeah, sure did,” I grumble, unhappy with myself for letting her get me worked up. I need a distraction.

“Oh, so that’s what set straight looks like, huh?” he says and promptly bursts out laughing along with Pete, who’s also amused at whatever he sees behind me.

I spin around just in time to see one of the judges frantically waving security over.

“Shit. Really?”

“Way to show her who’s boss, Ransom,” Pete jokes with a chuckle and slaps me on the back.

“Fuck, y’all,” I call over my shoulder, as I head back up to talk her ass down.

Denver

“
A
H!
T
HE BIRTHDAY
girl has to sing,” I hear a buzzed Maggie squeal from behind me. I straighten up from taking my shot at the pool table to see her careening into people as she makes her way to me. Pete’s laughing and trying to hold her up. Maybe she’s more than buzzed.

“Denver!” she shouts, as she sweeps me up into a hug like she hasn’t seen me in years, rather than thirty minutes. “Can you believe that they not only let us drink here, but we haven’t had to pay for the first drink either?”

Pete wraps his arms around her and nuzzles her neck. “That’s because we’re fucking rodeo gods, sweetheart,” he boasts. And it’s then I realize they’re both wasted. Great! I’d be on duty tonight. Our conversation about how bad she wanted Pete, but how she didn’t want to lose her virginity just yet, is still fresh on my mind.

“Pete, should you be drinking with a concussion?” I ask.

He gives me a slanted grin. “I haven’t drunk that much, and I’m no worse for wear.” He knocks on his head. “Takes a lickin’ but keeps on tickin.’” Maggie and I both roll our eyes.

For the most part, we wrapped things up quite nicely for the first half of our season. Maggie and I are number one in our respective events, despite my being cheated out of almost a half of a second. Ransom had ridden today with his three broken ribs, got a ninety-two-point ride, and finished in first place. Pete is number three, having ridden with his mild concussion. Greer is number two. Everyone else is still in the chase, even if they aren’t in the top five. They’ll have plenty of time to rest up and come back in the spring ready to take care of business. Since we didn’t party yesterday, we’re letting loose tonight.

“OK, you two, I realize you’re both inordinately horny,” I say, causing them to laugh in between the kissing and the sudden semi-inappropriate fondling that’s going on right in front of me. “But you’re making it look like our night’s going to end in a sure-fire threesome.” Greer’s pool stick brushes against the inside of my thigh as he moves in behind me. I shoot him a knowing grin over my shoulder, but he doesn’t even acknowledge his little teasing.

Pete’s head pops up, and he has look of wonder on his face. “Is that like something you girls are into? Because, holy shit, that’ll be hot!”

I hear Maggie gasp, and she spins around slapping him on the chest and pushing him off her at the same time. Pete stumbles a bit, laughing. “I’m just kidding, sweetheart. You’re all the woman I need.”

“Whatever,” she snaps out. But since she’s drunk, it’s not near as pissed-off sounding as I’m sure she intended. Putting both her hands on her hips and spinning back to me, she says, “Let’s go show him what he’s gonna be missing out on, Denver. Come on!” She’s grabbed my hand and is pulling me toward the karaoke corner before I can resist.

“I’m not drunk enough to sing,” I protest.

“I’ve heard you sing. You have a lovely voice,” she shouts back to be heard over the girls on stage now. I glance up and can’t help but roll my eyes hard at Becky and Amber. They don’t sound bad, but they’re trying to be sexy and it’s … ugh! You’re either sexy or you’re not.

Stephanie is throwing darts, and Maggie smacks her on the butt as we pass. She misses the target and jerks around looking like she’s going to take someone’s head off. When she sees me and Maggie, she just laughs. “I had no idea, girls,” she says, as she waggles her brows at us.

“Oh, no,” Maggie protests, “You’re a hottie and all, but I just want you to sing with me and Denver. Anyway,” she sighs, “I’m saving myself for Pete. His tongue and his fingers are like pure magic, so I can’t even imagine what he can do with his—”

“Oh my God, Maggie. Really?” I interrupt. “What have you been drinking?” My shy friend will crawl up in a ball and die tomorrow when I tell her how loose she’d been with her tongue tonight.

“Pete and I were doing tequila shots. And I sucked lime juice from his lips,” she brags.

“Girl, you’re gonna feel that tomorrow.” I hear the Dastardly Duet come to an end, and then Maggie is pulling on both Stephanie and me.

I glance at the screen, wondering what we’re singing. I almost let a squeal as I see “Only Prettier” queued up. “Oh, Maggie, you’re too good to me,” I say as I lean in and peck her on the cheek, much to the delight of all the cowboys who’ve gathered around.

Austin calls out, “Yeah, baby! I’d much rather watch y’all make out than sing.”

We’re laughing so hard that we actually miss our cue and have to jump in on the second line. Somehow I’ve ended up in the middle with both girls dancing on me like we are, in fact, trying to simulate some hot girl-on-girl-on-girl action. I can’t help but play along, so I shake and shimmy and make suggestive glances while trying to keep in time with the music. Karaoke may be meant for having fun, but I won’t do Miranda Lambert an injustice, so when Stephanie and Maggie forget to sing and end up doing more of a striptease, I’m the only one left singing.

I glance to the corner booth that Ransom’s been hanging out in to see if he’s watching me. I don’t intentionally watch for him, but my body instinctively knows where he is. It’s pretty eerie, come to think of it, but he’s not looking at me. He’s just staring at his beer with a look of concentration. I close my eyes and will myself not to give a shit what he does or does not notice about me.

When I reopen them, my eyes find Greer. He’s kicked back on the wall by the pool table just taking us in with a slight grin on his face. He loves it when I sing.

Our song winds to an end, and when I belt out the line, “I’ll just keep drinking, and you’ll just keep getting skinnier,” I can’t help but direct it at those skinny bitches, Becky and Amber.

As the music dies down, the cheering and clapping reach a fevered pitch. I look to my left and to my right and crack up at my singing partners’ astounded expressions. “We were good, huh girls?”

“We? What we?” Stephanie questions.

“Holy shit, Denver! You can really sing!” Austin yells.

“Denver, I’m gonna be sick,” Maggie cries. I grab her mike. Luckily, Pete’s right next to her and sweeps her off the stage before she can embarrass herself.

Stephanie and I holster the mikes and start to make our way off stage, but Austin grabs me and pushes me back on stage.

“No way, you’re not getting off that easy,” he says as he wiggles his brows at me. “I didn’t mean that like it sounded. Or … maybe I did,” he jokes. I can’t help but laugh at him.

He backs me up to stand me in front of one mike and announces in the other, “Ransom? Where’s Ransom?” My laughter dies out quickly, and I cringe and swat at him to get his attention. I don’t know what he’s about, but I don’t want to be anywhere near Ransom. Or more like I really
do
want to be near him, and that’s a problem. “Stop hitting me, Denver. You’re gonna sing with Ransom.”

I throw my hand over the mike. “It’ll be a cold day in hell when I sing with Ransom,” I grit out.

Austin shivers and says, “I just got goose bumps. You feeling that chill?” He turns back to the mike and calls for Ransom again. I see movement from his corner, and I’d bet anything Ransom is trying to get out of the bar unnoticed.

“Ugh, Austin!” I try to jerk away, but he’s got a good hold on me. And then Ransom moves in behind me, but I stiffen rather than lean into him like my body practically demands.

“Yeah, buddy!” Austin shouts and turns to his mike again. “Y’all are in for a treat tonight. Ransom’s practically a singing cowboy, and since we’ve just heard Denver’s sexy pipes, we know she’s gonna give him a run for his money. Put your hands together for Denver and Ransom!” He dramatically fades out and removes himself from the stage as I stare daggers at him. My killer look loses its effectiveness when I burst out in laughter at his enthusiastic expression.

Ransom slides a hand across my lower back and hip as he moves to his mike. My skin tingles in its wake. I take a deep breath to steady myself, but instead of approaching his mike, he ducks down to my ear and rasps, “You’re even more beautiful when you laugh.”

My heart has lodged itself in my throat, but somehow I manage to squeak out, “What are we singing?” trying in vain to take my mind off that telling comment. You don’t say things like that to someone you hate, do you?

“Probably some Kenny Chesney. Austin knows that’s what I like to sing.”