Page 2 of A Lot Like Love
“What?” she mumbled, looking up. Shelly’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head. She didn’t answer, just cleared her throat too loud and made a weird gesture with her head. What the hell was going on?
“Shel…”
Chloe’s voice died in her throat when a too-husky voice sounded out behind her.
“Maybe you should try it sometime.”
A full-body shiver worked its way from her shoulders down her back and to the very tips of her toes, the deep voice lazy and sexy all rolled into one. She glanced at Shelly before turning slowly, knowing there was only one man who could have a voice so deliciously sinful. Because there was only one man she’d seen here today wholookedthat sinful.
“Try what?” she managed, fighting to keep her composure as she came face-to-face with the handsome cowboy.
“Riding a crazy big beast,” he said, raising one eyebrow as a slow smile spread across his lips. “Your terminology, not mine.”
Chloe’s face flushed, the heat burning like fire across her skin. She wasn’t embarrassed, but she sure as hell was attracted to the man standing less than two feet away from her. Everything from his full lips to his stubbled jaw, the long dark lashes framing bright blue eyes, made her think about having his mouth and his hands all over her.
“Shouldn’t you be icing your injuries?” It was the best she could come up with, her brain suddenly going into lock-down.
“After that little tumble?” His grin was matched with a wink that had her heart racing way too fast to be healthy.
She swallowed, hard, trying to think of something witty to say. She’d grown up surrounded by brash men and she wasn’t going to be the pathetic girl going all goofy over any guy, even if this one was a super hot cowboy.
“If you think flying through the air and having a bull almost crush you is a little tumble, then you’re crazier than you look.” She glanced at Shelly, her confidence slowly seeping back as she saw her friend’s grin. “I stand by my comment.”
“Crazy, huh?” He chuckled, folding his arms across his big chest, icy blue eyes never leaving hers.
She shrugged, trying to act uninterested. And she should be uninterested. The purpose of her being in Dallas was to work and save money. No complications and no men.And definitely no sexy-as-hell cowboys.If there was ever a time to stick to her good-girl mantra, it was now.
“So I was thinking we could go get a drink tonight.”
The way he asked, all chilled out and self-assured, told her that he wasn’t used to women turning him down. She got it—he was gorgeous to look at and she knew his family was insanely wealthy—but that didn’t mean she was going to melt into a puddle at his feet.
“I’m busy, sorry,” she said, folding her own arms across her chest as he pushed his hands into his pockets, a surprised look on his face.
“Tomorrow, then?”
Chloe bit down on her lower lip, trying not to laugh. She wasn’t usually so standoffish, but there was something about the sexy cowboy that was pushing all her buttons. If he hadn’t been so arrogant she’d have said yes, but there was something satisfying about turning him down. Even if she did want to go out with him.
“Sorry, busy again. But maybe I’ll see you around.”
A look passed over his face, a frown hovering before kicking back up into a grin, as if he’d decided she was playing a game instead of actually turning him down.Smart boy.Even if she did want to think she was in control, the desire thumping through her body was telling a different story. From the way he was watching her, she could tell he liked that she was screwing with him. Maybe he liked the fact that someone actually had the balls to say no to him.
“How about you give me your number and we can talk about this in private some time?”
She laughed, refusing to make eye contact with Shelly. Her friend would be in hysterics by now, and she didn’t want to cave in. Flirting like this was fun, even if she was the one breaking out in a sweat from their bantering.
“I don’t have a pen.”
He bent in, too close, his lips brushing her ear. She’d thought about that mouth of his from the moment he’d smiled at her from across the way, and she was so close to giving in and just saying yes to going out with him. Or turning her head a few inches so that his full mouth brushed her lips instead of her ear.
“Give me your digits. I won’t forget them.”
Chloe swallowed and raised a hand between them, placing it on Ryder’s chest and pushing him back. Her hand hovered, fingertips gripping his shirt briefly before letting go. Guys like Ryder were used to yes,and she wanted to break the mold. Sure, she might say yes to him eventually, but she was going to let him sweat it out a bit first.
Just as she was about to tell him no again, Shelly called out Chloe’s number before bursting into laughter. Chloe turned, furious with her drunken friend. She’d pay for this big-time.
“I’ll call you,” he said, grinning as he took a few steps backward.
“Fine. Play your cards right and I might say yes next time,” she replied, unable to stop herself from smiling at him, slipping her hands into her pockets and trying hard not to cringe at the cliché.
