Page 43 of Country Music Cowboy
“Loretta?”
“Stop staring at my mouth,” she whispered.
“Okay.” His gaze didn’t move.
“Travis—”
“I’m almost done.” He held up his finger, nodded, and scrubbed a hand over his face. “See, I can behave.”
She was beginning to doubt that. “Thank you.”
He shook his head. “This is going to be one hell of a long night.”
Her breath caught as a dozen tantalizing images popped up. All of them more exciting than the last. She was in favor of a very long night. The longer the better.
“In the kitchen. With my family.” He chuckled, once more devouring her lips with his eyes. “The place we should get back to before people start wondering where we are.” He cleared his throat. “You should go ahead. I’m going to need a minute to calm down. Or go find a bucket of cold water.”
Don’t look. Don’t look.But, she looked—her gaze dipping from the way his thin T-shirt skimmed over every edge and contour of his chest and abdomen to the cling of his jeans. If she’d had any doubts about his level of attraction, that was no longer the case. She couldn’t look away—she couldn’t stop smiling. And she was, smiling. Because that,allof that, was for her.
“Loretta.” It was a broken groan. Her name had never sounded sexier. Laced with hunger. Gruff and raw and just the right mix of demand and request.
What would happen if they didn’t go back to the kitchen? What? This. This was the problem. But she had to believe that ninety percent of this was the anticipation of the unknown. Afterward…afterward things would calm down. And even though there was the tiniest flicker of doubt that this was going to work—she had to try. Didn’t she?
Yes.Yes, she did.
“I’m going.” She forced the words out, forced herself to turn, and forced herself to head back to the kitchen.
Inside, it was as chaotic as ever. A new game was being unpacked and teams were taking shape. They were so excited, it was possible no one had missed them. Except for Sawyer. He sat, a not-so-stoic curve to his mouth as he glanced her way. At the same time, it happened so fast, she might have imagined it. She glanced at the kitchen door, but no Travis. Instead of waiting for his return, she needed to do something. Even though she never drank coffee this late, she made herself a cup—stirring in two teaspoons of sugar and a healthy dollop of cream.
When Travis did show up, he had his guitar, some blank sheet music, and a pencil with him.
If the rest of the room was aware of the current firing back and forth between the two of them, they hid it well. Loretta was hyperaware of Travis is a way that did nothing to calm the thrum of desire between her legs. Every time his blue-green gaze slid her way, she ached a little more. And his smile, just for her? The slow building one that crinkled his eyes just right at the corners? She spilled her too-sweet coffee on her hand and hurried to run it under cold water.
Travis followed, standing too close to her at the sink. “You okay?” he asked, reaching for her wrist. The slide of his fingers against her skin slowly compressed all the air from her chest. He was teasing her, right here in front of his family—in the family kitchen for crying out loud.
Two can play that game.
“Yes.” Her hand flexed, turning over in his touch before her fingers slid, ever so slowly, between his—and testing her fading control.
But his hiss of indrawn breath was worth it.
“Whose team are you going to be on?” Krystal called out. “Or are you working on something? Since you brought your guitar?”
Charades was a bust. Poor Hank had to write everything down—so the game didn’t last long. Long enough, however, for Travis to brush against her twice and run his hand along the back of her calf when he’d dropped the paper with the clue on it.
Settlers of something lasted forever. While she enjoyed the camaraderie of the game, she wasn’t all that invested in collecting sheep and wood for her settlements. But she did enjoy Travis making the same play twice in a row because, under the table, she was running her toes along the inside of his thigh.
By then, Loretta was on the breaking point. All it took was one blazing look from him, and she was giddy with anticipation.
Brock almost coerced everyone into a Scrabble rematch but Margot had already turned in, Hank was dozing in his chair, and—as Emmy reminded him—he had training early tomorrow. After that, things started to wrap up fairly quickly.
Krystal and Jace left.
Emmy Lou and Brock left.
Sawyer headed to his apartment over the garage.
Hank, insisting he wasn’t tired, convinced Travis to play chess.
