Tangle.Interesting way to put it, but it suited what she had in mind.“Just one.No strings attached.We have some fun, part ways and that’s it.My name’s Fiona, and the last name doesn’t matter.I’m not looking for long-term and I don’t want you turning up on my doorstep next week looking for something more.”
His eyes narrowed.“So now it’s my turn to ask.You got an old man stashed somewhere who’s going to grab a shotgun and come looking for me in the morning?”
She snorted, shaking her head.“Not a chance.It’s just me, and that’s the way I like it.”
The bartender returned, slamming two mugs of beer down on the bar in front of us.“Add that to your tab, Wyatt?”
“Yeah.Thanks.”
He tipped his hat, and a quick look passed between the two men.There was something going on but she wasn’t sure she wanted to ask, and even less sure she wanted an answer.Probably some dumb issue that was none of her business, so she decided to ignore it.
She wrapped her fingers around the mug and lifted it to take a long pull of the cool contents.Liquid courage, some call it.“They seem to know you here.”
He nodded, and she realized he still held her hand firmly in his.Maybe he had a history of women taking off on him?Hard to imagine.He had that cool, bad guy vibe that women (herself included) seemed to find irresistible.If anything, she could envision him fighting off hordes of eager bar bunnies who wanted a piece of him.She gave her head a mental shake.Why would that bother her?She had his attention for the moment, and tomorrow he’d be free to pursue all the jailbait he wanted.
“Been my go-to place for quite a few years.I’m going to miss it.”He took a big swallow from his mug.“Just finished putting all my stuff in storage, rented a motel room for tonight, and heading out to a new job and a new life in the morning.So if you’re serious about the no-strings thing, I’m your man.This time tomorrow I’ll be long gone.”
Wow.Talk about a perfect opportunity!She gave him her sexiest smile, leaning forward to whisper in his ear.“It’s a deal.”
He picked up his beer and drained it in one long gulp.“Great.”He reached out to run a finger down the side of her face to her chin.Tilting it up, he managed a repeat performance of the kiss he’d given her earlier in the bull-riding pit.When he finally disengaged his lips, her legs were weak and her mind was too fogged with lust to make any more small talk.
They’d covered the basics.He was hot.She was ready.No strings.The motel room was already waiting.
“What say I give you a ride back to the motel?”He paused to sweep a look from her head to her toes.“You’ll look mighty fine on the back of my bike.”
Fiona shook her head.Another of her rules.Always have an escape route ready, and that meant having her own ride close by in case things went south.“I don’t ride on bikes, ever.I can follow you in my truck.”
Wyatt shrugged.“Suit yourself, but you’re missing one hell of a sweet ride.”He slid off the barstool and waited for her to do the same.
She left her mug on the bar, barely touched.Amazingly, they were still holding hands and this time he didn’t attempt to tow her behind him.They walked side by side to the door.Dropping her hand (finally) he reached in front of her and held it open.
She almost dropped from surprise.Cowboy/biker/gentleman?Hardly any guy bothered to open a door for a woman these days.Where had a rough, tough, cowboy biker dude learned manners?
She smiled her thanks and sashayed out the door in front of him.“That’s my truck over there.”She pointed to the beat-up Chev.“How far to your motel?”
“A couple of blocks.”He waved rather vaguely off to the south.“Just follow me.That’s my ride there.”
She didn’t mention that she’d watched him pull up earlier.Didn’t want to make it sound like she was stalking him.“Okay.Just take it easy.My old gal isn’t the fastest thing on four wheels.”
He glanced at her truck, and she had to appreciate his lack of comment.Beside his flashy new Harley, her truck looked every year of her age.A wry smile curved those extremely kissable lips.“I’ll keep an eye on my rearview to make sure I don’t lose you.”
They stepped off the curb and he walked beside her as she headed toward her beat-up old truck.Because it was in the same direction as his bike or was he playing gentleman again and walking her to her vehicle?She’d had this guy pegged as a hardcore biker dude, but some things just didn’t quite add up.
Then again, she wasn’t in it for the long term so no point in worrying about the details.
They were halfway to her ride when he reached out and laced his fingers through hers.At the first touch, she felt a sizzle of awareness dance along raw nerve endings.He rubbed his thumb lightly across the palm of her hand and the sizzle turned into an all-out flame.
She sucked in a deep breath and prayed that motel of his was damn close.
By the time they reached her vehicle a good ten seconds later, she could hardly contain herself.She fumbled for her keys, and when she finally managed to extricate them from her purse she couldn’t quite get the damn thing inserted into the lock.Unfortunately, the old pickup didn’t have any of that push button electronic stuff going for it.
“Allow me.”Wyatt reached out and took the key from her, slotting it smoothly into the lock.The tumblers clicked loudly and the door swung open without a hitch.
Why is it that trucks always behaved for the male of the species?Of course, the problem now was positioning.In order to perform that gentlemanly act, Wyatt had effectively caged her between his arms and against the side of the truck.She could feel every inch of him snuggled up against her, including a particularly hard and impressively large and tempting lump in his jeans.
She leaned forward just a tad and ground her hips against his denim-clad cock.
Chapter Two