Cowboys-Dont-Dance (2 page)

Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

Jesse and his daddy had never seen eye to eye about the way the ranch should be run. Now with Terry gone, Jesse could do things the way he wanted.

“I’m getting too old to run the place and bless him, Jesse decided it was time to get his butt home to Mama.”

She felt a lump rise in her throat. “It’s about time. I still can’t believe he’s home for good.”

“Yep, and he’s fixing to get married!”

Jesse getting married?
Oh God, no!
An invisible vise clamped around Angela’s heart. Sure, she figured eventually he’d get married, but to whom? The man was a babe magnet. When they were teenagers he had a different girl hanging on his arm every week. She’d seen pictures of him in the news as he collected more silver belt buckles for bull riding and again there were always two actresses on his arms.

No way was Jesse the ‘settling down’ kind of guy.

Angela followed meekly behind Millie, too shell shocked to argue, her feet dragging against the soft carpet.

“Look who’s here.”

Silence met her for a moment as the small group stared at her.

Three of the ranch hands were there—Luke, Patrick and Dean. Of course, her brother, Beau, sat at the table wolfing down a sub sandwich, and Lydia was there, which surprised her just a little. She was a daughter to the neighboring ranch owner, but they had never been too friendly growing up. Then there was Jesse. Her eyes were drawn to him like a magnet to steel.

Golden hair fell around his angular face, curling at the nape of his neck. He had changed, but all for the better, no longer the skinny teenage boy she remembered. The blue-eyed cowboy standing before her was all man. His lean frame had filled out with muscles. His well-worn blue jeans accented his thick thighs and trim waist. The top three buttons to his red shirt were left undone, exposing his white undershirt provocatively and framing his broad shoulders. He was Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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Cowboys Don't Dance

11

better looking than she remembered, carrying himself with an air of confidence that had sexy written all over it.

“Angie, baby?” In an instant, he crossed the room, circling his strong arms around her, encasing her in his warmth. The scent of his aftershave wafted into her nostrils. She held him to her for a second, savoring the feel of him against her skin.

All too soon, the brief hug ended. He took a step backward, letting his arms slide down hers. “I can’t believe it’s you. After all these years, I never expected to see you here. Not that I’m complaining, you understand. You’re all grown up, and you look great.”

She swallowed. Her mouth had suddenly become dry as the Sahara Desert. Jeez, where had her courage gone? It seemed like she suddenly turned into that shy teenager, too dumbstruck to do more than silently open and close her mouth like a fish out of water. That’s what touching him did to her. It made her revert ten years.

“Me either.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Just dropping off some paperwork to my brother. The IRS would be running my dance studio if it weren’t for him.” She raised the box of receipts as if she had to prove she had business here. Why did this have to feel so awkward?

Her brother shook his head disapprovingly as he reached for the box covered in Hello Kitty stickers. “I don’t know how you can run a business and not be able to do the bookkeeping.”

“Can I help it if I don’t have a head for numbers?”

It was an inside joke of the family. Everyone else was a mathematical genius, and it was only because Angela was adopted that she had no math skills. Her brothers teased her constantly.

In a Caucasian family, her almond skin stood out like a sore thumb, but nobody ever said anything. Her brother made darned sure she was well protected from teasing. Anyone who dared to say something bad about Angela was likely to have her brother pummel them to the ground.

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Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

Her mother was a business analyst and pounded numbers all day.

Her father was an accountant, his father had been an accountant, and now, her brother had become an accountant. She had more interest in the arts, and that passion was why she founded her dance school.

“Good thing you have a dancer’s body to fall back on.” Beau winked at her across the room. “You can always pick up a part time job at the Starlight Lounge.”

Angela frowned. “I don’t do dirty dancing.” The Starlight Lounge was a strip bar downtown, and she could probably make some good money in tips, but no way could she dance in front of complete strangers naked. She wasn’t that outgoing or that comfortable in her birthday suit.

“Hey, that reminds me.” Beau’s eyes gleamed mischievously.

“How is your new pole dancing class going?”

Angela felt the heat rise to her cheeks. He would have to bring that up. “Good.” She gave him an unspoken warning with the icy look she shot him. Hopefully he would get the idea. “It’s got a waiting list.”

“What kind of newfangled dance do you need a pole for? Maybe I should sign up,” Millie said.

Oh jeez, this was just the kind of conversation Angela was trying to avoid. Millie was like a second mother to her, and as open as Angela was of her sexuality, she didn’t feel comfortable talking so casually about that topic yet with Millie. She made a mental note to kill her brother as soon as she could get to him privately. With her bare hands if she had to.

Beau could barely suppress his laughter. He stuffed his mouth with his sandwich so he wouldn’t give his mirth away. She glared at him. Sure enough, a smile was trying to break through his full mouth.

“You teach dance lessons?” Lydia’s face lit up with delight.

“Maybe you could teach Jesse a thing or two. I have been taking him to the clubs, and he moves like a robot with two left feet. He needs help to be more sensual.”

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Cowboys Don't Dance

13

A sense of relief flowed through her at the change in topic. “I guess I could give him private lessons.” She contemplated the idea silently. How hard could that be? Jesse’s athletic. He could adapt.

“Whoa, whoa. Who said anything about dance lessons? I don’t need some stupid dance lessons to take you on a date.”

“Yes, you do. If you had better rhythm you wouldn’t be stepping on my toes.”

Jesse let out a sigh. “I don’t even like dancing. I don’t need lessons.”

“Are you afraid?” Angela said the words quietly, but it had the intended effect. His pride refused to allow him to back down from the gauntlet she threw down.

“Afraid of what? Dancing? I don’t think so.” Jesse assumed a defensive stance, his arms crossed, a scowl on his face.

She wanted to say,
Afraid you might enjoy it too much?
She knew she was going to enjoy dancing in his arms, day after day. Probably too much, but instead she said, “Afraid you might learn something?”

Jesse’s mouth gaped open, as he pondered what to retaliate with.

“Please, honey! For me?” Lydia pouted.

Jesse rolled his eyes at the petulant display, but his voice softened.

“I have no idea when I can do it. I have a ranch to take care of.”

“I can squeeze you in sometime in the morning. Is that good for you?” Angela offered.

“I have my morning rounds to do.”

“Can’t your ranch hands do that? What do you pay them for?”

Lydia snorted a chuckle.

“How about two in the afternoon?” Angela tried again.

“Fine. Fine,” Jesse said. “But I know I’m going to regret this.”

The note of pain in his voice twisted in her gut. Regret was the last thing she would feel, day after day of dancing in his arms. She would probably be enjoying it more than she should, but there was nothing to lose. Jesse Burke would never see her as anything more than a child. He could never see her as the woman she’d become. If Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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14

Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

he could see that, then maybe it would have been her on Jesse’s arm, not Lydia.

“Now that that’s settled,” Millie beamed at the couple, “I want to hear more about this new pole dancing class of yours.”

“Um, yeah.” Angela backpedaled, swiftly changing the subject and filling her mouth with a brownie from a plate lying on the kitchen counter. “Did you make these brownies?”

* * * *

Well, tonight’s little get-together was a total disaster.

Now everyone had the bright idea that he’s getting married.

Jesse's belly still ached from the verbal sucker punch he'd gotten earlier at his favorite watering hole.

He was having a beer with his buddies when, out of the blue, one of the old codgers hanging out at the bar came up and congratulated him on his up-coming marriage to Lydia.

“Atta boy, son!” He guffawed patting him on the back. “You don’t fool around none. Only home a week and you got yourself engaged. Lydia’s quite a catch, being she’s from money and all.”

Jesse was stunned. Downing the beer in one gulp that the old man bought him and slamming it against the counter.

What the fuck?

If he was getting married, that was news to him.

Where had Lydia gotten such a crazy idea? Yeah, they'd had a few dates, even a couple of romps in the hay, but nothing serious as far as he was concerned. Jesse sure as hell hadn't asked her to marry him.

If she were pregnant, he’d understand. Of course, he’d do the honorable thing and take care of his kids, but if she wasn’t, God help her.

He flew home, pedal to the floor, to get home. Sure enough, Lydia and his mother were right in the middle of making wedding plans.

His own mother was helping her scheme against him!

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Cowboys Don't Dance

15

What was Lydia up to? Crazy woman. He should have known better than to sleep with her. More than one of his friends had hinted the woman was nuts and dying to get hitched.

Too bad he didn’t know how badly until tonight.

Jesse tamped down the anger bubbling up in his belly. It would have to wait until he could get Lydia alone and out of earshot of everyone else. That was why he kept his mouth clamped shut all night long through all the congratulations and the ‘so when’s the big date’

questions. He was too much of a gentleman to embarrass her in front of everyone else.

He watched her tight derriere saunter down the porch steps, ever so proud of herself. But, boy, did she have a thing coming. No one was going to trap him into a marriage. Not even Lydia Haywood.

He hit the remote on his keys to unlock his truck, but she didn’t bother to open the door. She waited, tapping her foot at the passenger side door.

Hell. Why did his mom raise him to be a gentleman? He clenched his teeth and walked around to open the door.

She smiled before getting in, her glossy pink lips baring pretty white teeth. “Thank you, Jesse, for driving me home tonight. I’m afraid I had too much to drink.”

Bull puckey.

If she’d finished one glass of champagne, he’d eat his Stetson.

The sound of her tinkling laughter cut his spine like a knife. He was too irritated to put up with her feigned helplessness. What was he thinking? She was too high maintenance for him. He always preferred his women au naturale.

Lydia was stone-cold sober. She could have driven herself home, but he wanted to get her alone, and this seemed the best way to do it without creating a scene.

“Must have been all the champagne.” He slammed the door, circled the vehicle, and slid into the driver’s seat.

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16

Missy Lyons and Cherie Denis

He drove in silence. He wasn’t the confrontational type, but this had to be said. Who goes around announcing they are going to marry someone? If he gave in this time, what next? Picking out the color of his shirt? She'd try to control every detail of his life the moment the ‘I do's’ were said. She'd tell him when to sleep, when to eat and the days they could have sex. Knowing her, she would limit it to the days she ovulated.

In fact, he'd only had sex with her a couple of times because it wasn't very exciting with Lydia lying there like a limp rag.

Their farms bordered each other. Their driveways were less than a mile apart, and he didn't have much time to get to the crux of his issues with Lydia. Not much further before her home would come into view.

Hell. Jesse hoped he had the tact he needed for the coming confrontation.

He took a deep breath. “Lydia, there's something I have to talk to you about tonight.”

“Yeah, me too. I hoped we could celebrate a little,” she purred, inching closer to his side.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“No...” She sounded surprised. “I just thought you might like to do—you know.”

“Hold up a minute, are you pregnant or something? If you are, why didn’t you tell me?” Jesse pushed a hand through his hair. "I was careful. We used condoms, and you told me you were on the pill."

“I am on the pill, but accidents do happen. Who knows? I could be. Do you want to try again? Since it’s official we're getting married, there’s no reason to wait.”

“Thank God! About this marriage—”

“Oh, pooh, you're not mad, are you?”

“Mad? I didn’t have time to get mad because I'm in shock. I have never discussed getting married with you, or anyone else for that matter. Who told you it was okay to go telling the whole town we Ebook piracy is stealing. It is a federal offense.

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