Page 7 of Roped By the Cowboy
Those words stop me cold. Because he is not wrong. Cody, the boss who started these auctions, has essentially sold his men to the highest bidder. Last year, several of those sales led to romance, even though that is not implied. All they promise is a night on the ranch with a rugged ranch hand. Clearly, they know there may be more expectations from the buyers.
“Can I get a moment to myself, Jacob?”
Jacob’s light eyes darken before he nods. “Of course, Jillian. Take anytime you need. I will be waiting outside.”
With him gone, I ask myself the same question I’ve repeated for days—what the hell was I thinking coming here?
Chapter Five
Jacob
Talk about shoving a boot in my mouth.
Snarking about being whored out by Cody again was the wrong thing to say to Jillian. Sure, some of the guys might be hoping to repeat last year and wind up with a woman on their arm, but this auction is on the up and up. We need to raise money for the ranch, and we want to give back to the charity Heather organized this for.
Joking about this being some sort of stud operation was in bad taste. Jillian just came off a divorce. Her bio stated she wanted a night of fun for herself. That is all I ought to be thinking of giving her. Even if the sparks between us could power the whole damn town.
From the moment I touched her—well, crashed into her—it has been there. We have not kept our hands to ourselves, and I don’t reckon I will be able to. I want to touch her. I want to kiss that pretty pink mouth and feel all her creamy skin pressed against mine. That doesn’t mean I will get to.
“Watch your mouth with her,” I hiss at myself, kicking at the dirt.
Jillian is flirting with me, touching me, tempting me, but she clearly is not looking for more. I have to accept that. Having no idea how brutal her divorce was or where her head is, giving her a good time while she heals is the best thing I can do. It is the least I can do for her while she is here.
“I am ready to cowgirl it up, cowboy,” her sweet voice startles me as I pace in front of her little bungalow.
Turning, I almost growl out a response once I see her. Gone is her pretty dress. Now she wears tattered jeans, dusty cowboy boots, a plaid shirt open to a form fitting tank top, and even a cowboy hat. Jesus, she’s a beautiful cowgirl. I can see her sitting on my front porch, waiting with a glass of sweet, iced tea, smiling at me as the sun goes down as I come home to her.
“Yes, you are, honey,” I comment, rubbing my hand over my mouth so I don’t say the wrong thing again.
“Been to a few rodeos before,” she says with a tip of her hat. “Not that I knew what the hell they were doing or why, but it was a fun time.”
“A few of the men here were rodeo riders,” I tell her as we head towards the barn. “Tough life. Lonely life too. I never tried it because I never knew what the hell they were doing, either.”
Beside me, she laughs, shoving me playfully with her hip. I want to reach out and draw her back to me, but I think better of it. Just give her a good time. Have some fun. Give her what she paid for, no more or less.
“I am excited to get on a horse again. They say get back on the horse, don’t they? Thought this would be symbolic of me trying to ride again.”
“After...I mean after your divorce?”
Jillian stops, turning to me outside the barn. We can hear the horses, smell the hay, but for a moment, it’s just us. Nodding, she steps closer, bowing her head. As if she has something to be ashamed of. I won’t have it. Reaching out, I tip it back up, grasping her chin gently in my fingers.
“I had it all figured out. Had my partner, a dream wedding, dream career, everything you could want. Except...itwasn’teverything I could ever want. It was not that we needed more. We both just needed different.”
“Do not look at it as a failure or a mistake. You had a good relationship, it gave you good things, good memories, a good life for a while. That is not a failure, Jilly Bean. That is a success if you ask me.”
Jillian’s eyes light up, a smile tilting her lips. “I like it. Jilly Bean? It’s cute. Verycowboy, from my own cowboy.”
Smirking, I nod. I couldn’t help it. “That’s right. Come on, cowgirl. Let’s go ride.”
Beaming up at me, she nods, taking my hand and letting me lead her to the horses. I explain about the rescues from the abandoned farm. Jillian takes time with each of those horses, cooing at them, telling them how pretty and perfect they are. And as I watch her, I decide the same about her. She is so pretty and so perfect, I am lucky she won the bid for me.
We’re going to have a good time—I am getting her back on the horse again.
“Oh, she is beautiful, Jacob,” Jillian breathes when she meets Snickerdoodle. “I can tell she is yours. Look how happy she is to see you. You take good care of her.”
Flushing, I nod as I brush out the onery horse as she stamps her feet. Usually, I would be in here with carrots and apples, brushing her down for the night. Being sidetracked with my Jilly Bean, I am here late. I apologized and let her nuzzle me, smiling when she tentatively nuzzles Jillian too.
“We cannot ride her though, honey,” I tell her gently. “I am still breaking her in. Whatever they did to her, I am trying to undo it.”
