Crazy Little Thing Called Love (10 page)

“Because you’d feel sorry for me walking
around town looking like a traffic cone?”

He chuckled, the sound deep and heady. She
liked that sound. It did strange things to unexpected parts of her
body.

“Sure, let’s say that’s why.” His eyes met
hers, “How about a dance Bluebell?”

She wanted to say yes which meant she should
definitely say no. He was too good-looking with his chiseled jaw
and dark hair. He was just so damn big and manly, so unlike the men
she’d been dating who were safe. That’s why she was so unreasonably
attracted to him when she knew absolutely nothing about him. That
had to be it.

“I don’t think I can.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’m pretty sure if I raise my arms, the good
people of Fate will get more of a show than they’re expecting.”

He grinned and glanced down to where her
breasts spilled over the top of the heart shaped neckline, “I guess
you’ll just have to stand real close to me then to make sure it
stays up.”

She laughed despite herself, “Well aren’t you
just the gentlemen cowboy, first you changed my tire and now you’re
offering to help me keep my dress on. Keep it up and I’ll owe you a
lot more than one.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.” His eyes
flashed as he reached for her hand and pulled the cup of wine she’d
all but forgotten away. He set it on the bar along with his beer
before his big hand took hers and he tugged her towards the dance
floor, “Come on now, you do owe me after all.”

The band was playing a slow Rascal Flatts
song and she did just as they described and melted. He pulled her
close and his other arm wrapped around her waist, his big hand
settling against the small of her back. Without thinking she slid
her hands up his broad chest and over the hard ridge of his wide
shoulders, around his neck. Her dress stayed put but he pulled her
tight against his chest anyway and she let him.

“One dance and then we’re square?”

“Not hardly baby-doll. There’s still that
issue of the test drive you owe me.”

Her one track mind did a little shimmy of
anticipation. She had to stop thinking like a horny teenager. He
said test drive he didn’t say hook up. She needed to think with her
brain and not her libido.

“You might have to think of another way for
me to pay you back. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning. I
have to get back to work.”

“I’m sure I can think of something.” His
breath brushed her temple when he spoke, “What do you do when
you’re not playing bridesmaid Barbie Bluebell?”

Thankful for the change in topic she sighed
and relaxed a little in his arms, “I’m a freelance journalist.
Right now I’m contracted with the Denver Journal-Constitution.”

“Why freelance?”

“I’m not very good at staying in one spot. My
daddy says I don’t have roots so I just keep rolling.” She breathed
him in and he smelled like a man should, musky and strong.

“Course you have roots. You’re here aren’t
ya?”

A smile tugged at her lips as she leaned back
to look into his face, “I guess I never thought about it like
that.”

Prisms of light cut through the dimness and
highlighted a smooth cheekbone as he shrugged, “It’s your
home.”

“I’m not sure Fate’s felt like home since my
mama died.”

She wasn’t sure why she admitted something
like that to a virtual stranger but she didn’t regret the words
when she felt him tighten his hold on her waist, his thumb brushing
back and forth in a reassuring gesture. It was probably just the
wine. Yeah, that had to be it.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. She passed away a long time ago. I
was only five.”

“Do you remember her?”

“Bits and pieces here and there.” His knee
brushed her bare leg.

He was silent for a long second as they
swayed to the music. Her fingers naturally played with the short
hairs at the base of his skull. There was something about being in
the arms of a big strong man that made her feel safe despite
herself.

“Damn, that’s sad.” He finally sighed, “I
guess we were lucky to have my dad as long as we did.”

Her stomach clenched. She’d forgotten he’d
lost a parent too. Something they had in common. Not just small
talk.

“How old were you when he passed?

“Eighteen.”

“And you took over the ranch?”

“Yep. I woke up and went to work, been doing
it ever since.”

“You like working the ranch?”

“Most days.”

“Today?”

“Today was a good day but yesterday was
better.”

“Why was yesterday better?”

“I got to change a pretty girl’s tire.” He
chuckled.

She bit off a smile, “It was a pretty good
day.”

His hand lazily stroked her back as the song
ended and another began. Neither of them moved away. The new song
was something by Tim McGraw. It was a hair’s breath faster but they
didn’t speed up. They just swayed.

Zach’s touch spread warmth through her veins
and down into a curling pit low in her stomach. She settled firmly
against his chest, giving in to the security he probably had no
idea he was offering. She’d blame the wine if she had to but the
truth was she’d felt alone all day and she was tired of being alone
so for the length of the song she was going to enjoy this. He was
all firm, hard muscle and it felt good to be held by a big capable
man.

“Mmm, you feel good Bluebell.” His voice was
husky when it came from near her ear.

So did he. She should probably move away from
him but he was a little like a drug and she didn’t want to. She
liked the way he felt against her, liked that purely masculine
smell that marked him as all man. She liked the way he touched her
and her body reacted. It had been a very long time since she
reacted that way to a simple touch, far too long.

“Call me Blue. Nobody outside Fate calls me
Bluebell.”

“Baby-doll you’re in Fate.” He brushed her
hair back and looked her in the eyes, “And I like the sound of
Bluebell better, it fits you. It’s sweet and pretty.”

“Thank you.” She swallowed hard at the
compliment.

Their eyes met and she felt her skin sizzle
where he touched her. She didn’t know him, didn’t know how old he
was or if he’d ever been married or if he’d ever been arrested but
she didn’t care. All she wanted to know was what sort of bad
decisions they could make and how good it’d feel to take that
risk.

“We should go get another drink.” He spoke
after a long pause.

She knew he wasn’t offering her a glass of
wine. That glint in his green eyes. That upturned curl at the edges
of his mouth. All she had to do was say yes and see what happened
next. But Bluebell Montgomery Carter didn’t toe that line for
nothing and she certainly wasn’t going to trip over it now.

“I think I’m going to call it a night
actually.”

His eyes narrowed, “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I should get home. I have an early
breakfast with my Daddy tomorrow. He couldn’t make it tonight and I
haven’t spent very much time with him this weekend.” She was
rambling, she knew she was rambling but if she kept talking she
couldn’t give in to the urge to use her mouth for other, less
productive, more dangerous, things. “And then it’s a long drive
back to Denver. It’s like eight hours and I have to go to work on
Monday morning. I’m going to need my beauty sleep.”

“Beauty sleep?” A smile rose on his handsome
face, “Sure.”

“Thank you again for helping me yesterday. It
was really nice meeting you Zach.” She held out her hand, fully
aware of the awkwardness of brushing him off in the middle of a
dance floor.

“Like I said, the pleasure’s been all mine
Bluebell.” He chuckled and took her hand, “Let me walk you
out.”

He didn’t release her hand as he propelled
her off the dance floor and towards the doorway. She liked the feel
of her smaller hand in his big one. Liked it a little too much to
argue with him even though she knew him walking her to her car was
a bad idea.

Their footsteps echoed down the empty
hallway. Neither of them spoke as she grabbed her purse out of the
changing room. He held the door open, let her walk through and then
took her hand again as they walked outside. She had to tug on his
arm to stop him as he wheeled her into the gravel parking lot at
the back of the church.

“I can’t walk that fast.” She pulled her hand
away, thankful for the excuse to put some distance between
them.

“What?”

“Heels. Gravel.” She explained with a shrug.
“God didn’t make these babies for small town girls.”

His eyes trailed slowly to her feet and he
grinned when he looked back up, “How you walk in those things at
all is a mystery to me but you look damn good doing it.”

“Thank you.” She could feel her cheeks blush
at another of his easy compliments, “I can take it from here. Thank
you again for everything.”

“A gentlemen cowboy doesn’t leave a lady at
the door baby-doll.”

Standing alone in a darkened parking lot in
the middle of a warm spring night a shiver ran across her skin. She
was alone with him. That’s exactly what she’d been trying to avoid.
He had to have known walking her out was a bad idea.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not as
gentlemanly as I first thought?”

His grin was practically salacious, “Because
you’re getting to know me better.”

She started to giggle but the next thing she
knew his arms were around her and she was in the air. Her laughter
turned to a squeal. He’d picked her up like she didn’t weigh an
ounce. She shivered again at the feel of his strong arms holding
her.

“Zach! What are you doing? Put me down!”

“I’m delivering you to your car so you don’t
break an ankle on one of these rocks.” His eyes danced with
laughter, “I’ll add it to the list of things you owe me for if you
want.”

“Oh you’re keeping a list?” She found herself
grinning yet again as he carried her across the parking lot.

“Yep. The tire, saving you from sitting at
the bar alone, making sure you didn’t fall out of your dress and
now keeping you from ruining those sexy ass shoes.”

They’d reached her car by the time he called
her shoes sexy and he gently set her back on the ground though he
didn’t move out of her personal space. His head hovered just over
hers. She could feel his body heat. He was too close for her to
think straight.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His breath brushed her
face, “Remember how I said I’d think of a way for you to pay me
back?”

She nodded because words failed her.

“I’m collecting.”

It was a whispered statement that had barely
reached her ears when his mouth covered hers. He was warm and
delicious and so distinctly masculine that the one simple touch
ignited the fire that just dancing with him had already kindled.
Her mouth opened to him on instinct.

He took advantage, his tongue sweeping in to
taste and tease. She melted from the heat and wetness pooled in her
core. His strong arms went around her again, pulling her against
him. If she’d had time to think about it common sense would have
told her to resist but he’d jumped ahead to stroking her skin with
his big hard hands and she couldn’t catch up or catch a thought
other than how good he felt.

Deep, invading, wet kisses drugged her with
desire. Her body was pressed between the cool metal of the car at
her back and the hard heat of the man in front of her. Everywhere
he touched her sizzled as wanting burned through to need.

Pleasure punched her in the chest as his
hands found her breasts. His palms seared her through the satin of
the dress and her nipples responded by turning to hard nubs that
strained against the cotton of her bra. He caught her moan in his
mouth as he caressed her breasts.

More. Faster. She wanted him and nothing else
mattered. Her world spun out of control and the only thing left was
the feel of this man touching her, the taste of his mouth devouring
her greedily. Her hands ran across his chest, around his neck, into
his hair, touching him, feeling him.

It was too fast, too reckless and impulsive.
She knew it and she didn’t care. It felt too good, had been too
long since she allowed her body to feel like this. His erection
pressed hard against her pelvis and she rocked into him. So long,
too long since she’d had a gorgeous, impossibly sexy man that knew
what he was doing touch her.

His mouth danced across her jaw to the soft
spot below her ear, “You are so damn pretty Bluebell.”

His hands roamed down her body, finding her
hips and then the hem of her dress. Her dress inched higher as he
bunched it and the cool night hit her bare thighs. She gasped as
his hand moved beneath the remaining material and he cupped her
through her lace panties.

“Mmm, you’re wet.” His words were a low
growl, almost feral.

Her head fell back as liquid heat swept
through her and a moan escaped her lips. This couldn’t be
happening. She shouldn’t be letting this happen. Not here. Not now.
Not with a man she barely knew but Zach’s fingers slipped under the
edge of the lace and she was reduced to a puddle of
incomprehensible need.

“You’ve been wet from the minute I touched
you at the bar haven’t you?” His mouth played down her throat,
“This is what you want?”

“Yes.” Oh God, she’d meant to say no, really
she had but it would have been a lie. She needed to say no, to stop
him before it went too far, before it went any farther. They had to
stop before there was no going back but then his fingers stroked
her slick flesh and parted her and another moan escaped,
“Zach!”

“I like the way you say my name.” He nipped
at her earlobe, “You want more?”

“Yes, God yes.”

“Get in my truck.”

“What?” She was having a hard time grasping
the English language with his magical hand rubbing her into a
frenzy and his mouth on her neck.