Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (2 page)

Throwing the blanket on the ground, she grabbed the dress and shook it out, wrinkling her nose. The satin material was now a mass of wrinkles. She had no other choice but to slip into the strapless dress and zip it. She tugged on her boots, smoothed her dress the best she could and went back to make sure the trailer was safely hitched to the truck.

Movement caught her attention. She looked up to see Nash still in the truck, and still very much uncovered. “Do you not understand what I’m saying? I’ve got to go.”

“As you wish, darlin’. Although, would you care for another skinny dip this morning?” He stood up. The man didn’t have an ounce of modesty. “I think I’ll take a quick one, ya know, to ease the frustration.” He pointed at his erection.

“Do something with it.” She groaned deep in her chest, keeping her eyes on his twinkling gaze.

Chuckling, he moved out of the truck. She wanted to resist the temptation of admiring him as he walked through the grass—really, she didn’t want to look—but the sight was impossible to ignore. She had a good reason for watching, needing to prove to herself that his body wasn’t perfect.

Nash had definitely gone from a boy to a man over the last few years.
Dang, when did this happen?
Wide, strapping shoulders—a cattle rancher’s shoulders. Lean hips and long legs. A nice, muscular ass. Yep, he was in shape. She could confirm that he didn’t have an ounce of fat. But nobody was perfect. Everyone had flaws. His were hidden in his personality. He had an ego.  A huge one.

Giving her head a quick shake, she dislodged thoughts of Nash’s body.

The Walters’ cowboys could turn many heads. Once upon a time, she’d had a crush on his older brother, Jobe, but that fizzled before it went anywhere. Although Jobe had danced with her once last night, Em had a feeling he had an eye on Ruby Stone, Em’s cousin who had come to town for the wedding.

And Em had enjoyed herself with Nash. They’d had a great time. Skinny dipped. Talked. Apparently wiped out from the festivities, she’d fallen asleep. That was all.

“Where the hell are my clothes?” he yelled from close to the pond’s edge.

“Don’t ask me. I didn’t take them off.” She shrugged and headed toward the driver’s side of the truck, happy to find the keys left in the engine.

“Where are you going?” Nash stomped toward the passenger side and jerked open the door. A glare darkened his features.

“Like I said, I have someplace to be.” She met his gaze. Starting the engine, she put the gear into drive. “Shut the door.”

“So be it.” He slid in, wearing nothing but a scowl and a five o’clock shadow, and slammed the door.

“What are you doing? Get out,” she screamed, pointing toward the door.

“Hell no. My clothes are gone and if your dad catches me on his property buck naked, he’s going to shoot me.”

“You can’t go with me,” she mumbled.

“The hell I can’t.”

Realizing he wasn’t going anywhere, she shrugged. “Fine, suit yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Pressing the gas pedal, she jetted out of the grassy spot near the pond and pulled onto the narrow lane, heading toward the main road. The trailer bounced across the ruts in the road as she picked up speed. The truck’s shocks creaked. Nash’s stare heated her profile. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What the fuck are you doing, woman?” He held onto the dashboard. “You’re going to wreck a perfectly good trailer if you keep driving like you’ve lost your marbles. Slow the hell down!”

“I have to be somewhere. Ten minutes ago.” She did take heed and reduced the speed. She didn’t like him, but she didn’t want to kill him in an accident.

“Take me back and help me find my clothes.” He was fully awake now.

She caught a glance of him. Hair tumbled into dark, finger-combed waves. A layer of beard that promised heavenly skin rash on sensitive parts. A body that declared he was a hard working cowboy. His hat sat cockeyed on his lap, and she was glad he had covered up his jewels.

He was a tall drink of water, but it was Nash of all people. He annoyed the spit out of her when they were kids. And she wasn’t interested. Not just in him, but no one. She’d made a promise to herself that she would steer clear of relationships, even dating. But admiring wouldn’t hurt. “I don’t have time to take you back to the pond.”

“What are you talking about? I’m naked, Emerald. Take me back or take me home!” he demanded. His glare turned fierce.

“Not going to happen. The best I can do is let you off here and you can walk home.” She slammed on the brake. The tires crunched on the gravel and the trailer creaked as they came to a stop.

He pushed off the dashboard, appearing a bit white around his mouth. The hat had shifted. “I’d have to walk a half mile to get home, naked. I’d end up getting locked up for indecent exposure.” His jaw hardened.

Em tightened her hold on the steering wheel, not daring to drop her gaze southward on his body, although it proved difficult. It didn’t help that he wasn’t the least bit self-conscious as he slipped on his seatbelt and stretched his legs on the floorboard. “Okay, I’ll let you stay in the truck, but you can’t be in here like that.” She pointed a finger at his package.

“Then I advise you to take me back for my clothes or, better yet, drop me off at home.”

“I’m going the opposite direction and I don’t have time for you or this conversation.” She pushed the pedal down and the tires kicked up gravel. She pulled out onto the main road.

“That’s the wrong direction.”

“Maybe for you, but not for me.” She wished she could tone him out. She had other things she needed to think about besides his complaining—and his naked body.

He sighed heavily. “Damn it, Emerald! Do you always have to be so complicated?”

“Do you always have to call me Emerald?” she snapped.

“It’s your name,” he growled.

“Em is my name. Or Miss Stone will work. And will you please cover yourself up.” It took a lot of discipline not to steal glances every few minutes.

“With what? My hands?” He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Try the hat again.”

He picked up the hat and put it on his head. “I’m sorry. Am I making you uncomfortable? What happened to the blanket you had in the truck bed?”

“I tossed it onto the grass back at the pond. Look behind the seat. There has to be something in here.”

He swiveled and lifted on one knee, his ass right there, close to her face. She lifted a hand and held it up as a screen. The leather rustled and creaked under his weight as he plopped back into the seat. “You can look now.” Exasperation filled his voice.

Dropping her hand to her thigh, she saw he’d found something. “You’re in luck.”

“This is the only thing I could find.” He held up a red and black checkered fleece blanket.

“Then use it.” She turned right onto a back road.

He tossed the blanket over his lap. “What is so damn pressing that you couldn’t drop me off?”

“I told you. I wasn’t going that direction.” She rolled her eyes.

“My ranch is next door to yours.” He sighed. “I’m beginning to think you like having me naked in your truck.”

She shot him an annoyed look. Some of the harshness of his expression eased. “Look, I have to get to the ranch before the hands do. If I don’t, it’ll be too late and I’ll have missed my opportunity—my only opportunity. This isn’t how I planned for this to happen. But as for me liking you naked, I can assure you I don’t like you with or without clothes.” She tossed her hair over one shoulder, catching a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror. She winced. The pretty ringlets in her hair yesterday were now wild, frizzy waves. Her eye makeup had smeared below her eyes and her cheeks were flushed. Too bad she didn’t have time to worry about her appearance.

“Say what you like, sweetheart. Last night was pretty amazing. I didn’t know you could do that move with your—”

“Don’t embarrass yourself or me.” She cleared her throat. “However, while we’re on the subject, what exactly did we do last night?” Keeping her gaze planted on the road ahead, she thrummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

“You don’t remember, darlin’? I’m heartbroken.” He brought his hand up to his chest, over his heart. “All I can say is, you’re into yoga. It’s a night I’ll never forget.”

She slammed on the brakes and the truck came to a screeching halt, leaving a ten-foot stripe of rubber on the asphalt.  She turned in her seat and faced him, humiliation spiraling through her, but she had to take care of this once and for all. “What? You’re insinuating we had sex. You’re kidding me, right?”

“I thought you were in a hurry.” He pointed at the road.

“I’m not moving from this spot until we’re clear on the events of last night.” Her voice quavered.

He shook his head. “That’s pretty damn bad you can’t remember, and unsafe. If it’s any of my business, I’d suggest laying off the alcohol.”

Anger stiffened her spine. “I should make you get out and walk. You’re a jerk!”

“Oh come on, sweetheart. You opened the door for that one. Deserves you right for keeping me hostage.” He smiled and her heart skipped a beat.

“How did we get, you know, in the back of the truck?” She stabbed the AC button with her fingernail. The cool air rolled through the vents, helping some.

“After we danced most of the night, you decided you wanted to go skinny dipping. I couldn’t let you go by yourself, not when you were drinking. Your sisters had all called it a night so I had no choice but to join you.”

Her throat constricted. “Yes, you had a choice. You didn’t have to go with me.” Her gaze automatically drifted down his tanned chest to the blanket. She was a bit disappointed.

“Excuse me, darlin’, but you left me little choice. You practically undressed me with your teeth, begging me to get into the water.”

She snapped her chin up, eyes wide. “No I did not!”

“Oh yes, you did. I’m not pulling your leg on that one. I can’t say I wasn’t flattered. By the way, you have a nice body. I think it’s sexy when a woman ain’t afraid to flaunt it.”

Heat oozed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her curled toes. She’d never, ever, drink again. “Just for the record. I don’t find you attractive, and last night wasn’t because I want you in anyway. You’re a good dancer and I’m a light weight, obviously, when it comes to alcohol.”

“Is it all coming back to you now?” His playful grin made her shame double.

“Can we just agree that this stays between the two of us? No one needs to know.”

“Are you embarrassed someone will think we had sex?” He lifted a thick brow. He had the palest blue eyes and they twinkled in the sunlight.

“No…I mean.” She licked her lips. “It has nothing to do with embarrassment. You’re a nice looking guy, but we wouldn’t want anyone to think you and I are a couple, or hooking up. Considering both of my sisters have gotten hitched in the last three months, my father is hoping my turn is right around the corner. I wouldn’t want to dash his hopes or disappoint him. I seem to do that often enough and he’s been sick. I’ve told him I have no plans of ever marrying and he relates that to my future going nowhere.”

“Ever?”

“Never!”

“Wow, that’s pretty heavy considering we’re only a few years apart. Truthfully, at this point, I might not be ready for marriage, but I’m not discounting it from my future.”

“Well, good for you.” She turned and started back on the road.

“You said your father has been sick?”

She didn’t realize she’d divulged so much in such a short time. “With his heart.” Every time she talked about it she became emotional. The last thing she needed was to break down in front of Nash.

“Is he okay?” He turned, watching her.

“The doctor believes with a healthier diet and medicine he’ll be fine. It wouldn’t hurt if he stopped sneaking cigars when he thinks no one is around.”

“Sounds like it has been scary.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear. “When we were told he had a clogged artery, yes, it was very scary.” Glad to see her destination ahead, she clicked on her turn signal. “Here we are.”

“Nazarene Ranch? Why?”

“You’ll see.”

“No, I don’t want to see. Tell me? You said you were no longer with the guy, right?”

“True, John and I are no longer seeing each other. I’m not here to see him.” This wouldn’t be easy to explain. “I’m stealing a horse,” she blurted.

He laughed. “You’re funny. Now how about the truth.” His laughter fizzled and his gaze narrowed. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m taking John Nazarene’s race horse, Sea Breeze.” She slowed the truck to a crawl as they pulled onto the lane leading to the buildings on the property. Sunday was a day off for many of the hands and the ranch was quiet.

“The hell you are. Let me out.” He went to grab the handle.

“I can’t let you out now. You’ll cause too much of a scene.”

“You can’t do this, Emerald. I won’t let you.” The lines around his eyes deepened.

“You can’t stop me. Sea Breeze will be euthanized in two days and I won’t let that happen. Just because he can no longer earn money in racing doesn’t mean he is no longer wanted, at least by me.”