Page 28 of Wicked Cowboy
She finished and put her plate away. I grabbed the fruit tray to bring to my room as she asked, “What about you?”
We walked the halls, but I said, “In the SEALs, I had a girlfriend. She died the hour I broke up with her.”
She opened the door and I put the tray on the dresser.
“I’m so sorry. That had to be horrifying.”
“Dora deserved better.” Until now, I’d never talked about her with anyone. I traced her arm. Touching her sent a thrill through me. Her smooth skin sent shock ways, but I said, “And before Dora and the Seal, I was wild, which is what you probably heard about me at Bernie and Chloe’s wedding. I could have anything or anyone I wanted. I learned to be… discerning.”
She crossed her arms and pretended she wasn’t interested. “Any diseases?”
I widened my stance and she gave me a once over. Goosebumps grew on my arm, but I smiled to keep our tone light. “No, ma’am. You?”
Her eyebrow arched. “Never call me ma’am.”
I stepped closer to her. “Yes, Sunshine.”
She pressed her hands on my chest and I decided to coax her into a better mood. “Okay, the answer is no.”
I helped her take off my t-shirt and tossed mine on the floor next to it. “We probably should have had that conversation first.”
She shrugged and untied her pants, stripping down. “Yeah, but I didn’t ask when I signed the contract and had a clear head. It might be… nice… to have a baby, and since you offered, I made the right assumptions.”
I ripped my clothes off and wrapped my arms around her naked body. “Let’s see what happens when we get back in that bed.”
Ridley had something about her that captivated me like a moth to a flame. I drew her lips for a kiss and my entire body had tingled from her kiss. She roared me to life. As it ended, she cupped my cheek. “You’re insatiable.”
I led her to lie down on the bed. “Only for you.”
That was the truth. No other woman in my life made the evening so vibrant and alive and colorful. Ridley was something special, someone I didn’t deserve, but craved.
And she was mine.
Chapter 10
Ridley
The moment the sun was in the air, I knew today was different. Somehow, the air was still and quiet, without a speck of wind brushing against the house. However, the mood became clear when Carter delivered a black dress for me.
I hadn’t ordered or picked anything out, but the color alone meant today was the day. I was needed. So no more daydreaming of dreams come true, not when Chelsea needed us. I prayed I was strong enough to be of help.
I had no idea where the dress came from, but I mumbled, “Thanks.”
Giving thanks when I was going to a funeral also seemed off. My stomach twisted and I tried to see straight. Carter hadn’t promised forever. I knew that, so I tried to be practical. I hopped in the shower and dressed.
Carter wasn’t there when I came out. But I found on the bed a shoebox with heels in my size. Another wonder, as honestly, he’d not had time to shop either, but I slipped them on and noticed the red bottom of the shoe.
I’d never even thought I'd own heels this luxurious. I checked my dress fit right. Time to go. I squared my shoulders and headed out of the room.
I heard Carter and his father down the hall, near the living room, but I headed toward Chelsea’s bedroom. We weren’t in love and the deal was to be here for my best friend’s daughter, not fulfill carnal desires. A moment later, I knocked and asked through the door, “Are you dressed, Chelsea?”
She flung open the door, dressed in a black dress, but holding her stomach until she hugged me, “I’m glad you’re here.”
For a moment, neither of us moved. I’d promised to take care of her, so I waited until she stood straighter and then waved for her to join the men. “Let’s get going.”
None of us said anything, but I saw how Chelsea hugged both men and then took a seat next to Carter’s dad.
We walked to a waiting limo. Here we were, going to mourn my best friend, Chelsea’s parents, but now I wore designer clothes and had a diamond on my finger. Reality was stark and strange. None of this seemed real.
