BB Dalton (5 page)

He shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be like that. I want to see you again. Hell, that’s not true. I want what my family assumed to be true. I want you to be my girlfriend.”

She laughed. “Girlfriend.”

“Yes. Why not?”

“What about the future, BB? What do you want say, ten years from now?”

He shrugged. “Katie. In my line of work, you live every day as it comes and thank god for it. I don’t worry about the future. I enjoy the present.”

She breathed deeply in and then out at his words. “Let me tell you what I think. One day you are going to want to marry, settle down and have kids. I’m almost forty, BB. In ten years, I’ll be fifty. Which means I can’t be that woman for you. And as much as I understand your ‘live for the moment’ philosophy, I can’t warm your bed until you leave me for a younger woman who can have your babies.”

She looked away. He saw tears shining in her eyes, and his anger grew.

“That was not fair, Katie. I would never use you then dump you. And I’m not interested in any younger woman. If that was what I wanted, don’t you think I’d be with one right now? I’m not here with you because you were convenient. I’m with you because I respect you professionally, I care about you personally, and I absolutely crave you physically. And as for kids, I grew up with eight brothers and sisters. Everything I owned was a hand-me-down. And now I have more nieces and nephews than I can keep track of, and although I love them all, what makes you think I want kids of my own? For your information, when I became special ops, I decided I probably wouldn’t start a family, ever.”

The tears were falling freely on her cheeks now. “I know you believe what you’re saying.

But I also think I’m right. You just don’t know it yet.”

He shook his head. “You’re wrong. You know, I would have understood if you couldn’t be with me because of the nature of my job. But not because you’re assuming I’m going to trade you in for someone younger. If you really think that of me, then maybe you’re right. We shouldn’t be together.”

He got up and threw on his clothes as quickly as he could while trying to ignore the tears streaming silently down her face. He paused at the door. “I’ll pick you up at five-thirty.”

Katie watched the door close behind him and then burst out into huge sobs. All she could think was, thank god she’d held them in until he was gone.

And he was gone. Totally. She’d managed to push him away. But better now then later. It would only hurt worse then.

Her cell phone rang in her purse. She leapt from the bed, chastising herself for hoping it was BB. She couldn’t hope. Having hope would only devastate her further.

She saw Emily’s name on the read out. She answered on a sob. “Oh, Emily.”

“Katie? What happened?”

She cried her way through the entire thing, knowing it wasn’t professional to lay this on her assistant, but unable to help herself. She worked so damn much, she didn’t have any actual friends.

“Katie. You do realize you pushed him away because you’re afraid,” Emily observed patiently when the tale was complete.

“Yes.”

“So call him right now and tell him that. He’ll forgive you.”

There was that damn hope again. “You think so?”

“Yes, and if he doesn’t, you don’t want him anyway.”

Such sage words from one so young. She’d really have to stop being such an age-ist. Katie vowed that if BB would forgive her, she’d never make age-based generalizations again.

And then there was a knock on the door and she heard BB’s voice. “Katie?”

“Oh, my god. He’s at the door.” Katie’s heart pounded and she thought about how badly she must look at the moment.

“See. I told you he’d forgive you. What the hell are you doing? Hang up the phone and go answer the door.”

“Okay, bye.” She flipped the phone shut, pulled on her underwear and ran for the door. She only hoped he would still want her once he saw her at her worst. But as Emily had said, if he didn’t, then she wouldn’t want him anyway.

She opened the door. The cold night air felt good against her hot, tear-streaked face as she forced herself to look up at BB.

Stepping inside, he grabbed her face in his hands.

When he spoke, it was with such conviction it was almost frightening. “I won’t let you push me away because you are afraid.”

She felt her eyes fill again. “I don’t want to push you away. And I don’t want to be afraid any more. Will you help me stop being afraid?”

He smiled. “Yeah. That I can do, if you do something for me. Call and cancel your flight.

Stay and spend the holiday with me and my family.”

She felt her heart swell. “That I can do.”

Then he kissed her in a way that told her she was his, and she had better get used to it.

And she decided that was fine with her.

The End

FOR MORE ABOUT THE RED, HOT, & BLUE SERIES VISIT

http://www.CatJohnson.net

and

Samhain Publishing

The Red, Hot, & Blue Series

Trey

Jack

Jimmy

Jared

Cole

Bobby

A Few Good Men

Model Soldier

A Prince Among Men

About the Author

Cat Johnson is the author of contemporary erotic romance in genres including western, military, romantic comedy, multiple partner and paranormal.

She is known for her creative research and marketing techniques. Consequently some of her closest friends/book consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living and she owns an entire collection of camouflage and western footwear for book signings. She’s also the proud sponsor for real live, pro bull riding cowboys.

Cat is the author of both full-length novels and shorter romances. If you enjoyed this story, check out Cat’s other works. For more information about the author and all of her available titles visit www.catjohnson.net .

Email [email protected]

Also from Cat Johnson:

Red Blooded

What’s hotter than a man in uniform? Getting him out of his uniform. Meet the red-blooded, true-blue men of Special Task Force Zeta!

Red, Hot & Blue Series

TREY
The woman who’s posing as Trey’s wife on a special assignment is exactly the kind of distraction he can’t afford. Carly can’t believe she agreed to a dangerous mission with the one thing she swore never to have in her life again—a military man. It’s not long, though, before her body betrays her, followed closely by her heart.

JACK
Jack never wanted a forced vacation back home, but the new farm hand is rousing his interest. She’s hiding something—and he’s got the skills to find out what. The farm is the perfect place for Niccolina to hide…until Jack shows up. He strikes sparks that put both her body and her heart in danger. Especially when her secrets catch up to her.

JIMMY
Jimmy had one amazing night with the governor’s hot, redheaded daughter. Then an assignment pulled him away to the worst six months of his life. The only reason he’s alive—her memory. It figures that Lia’s one rebellious night ended when the man disappeared. When they meet again, the chemistry is stronger than ever. Tempting her to stop sacrificing happiness for the family dynasty.

Warning: Contains bad men with big…guns, special operatives looking for some action,
and sex hot enough to melt your panties off.

NOTE:
Trey, Jack
and
Jimmy
are each available as individual eBooks or in the trade paperback compilation
Red Blooded
.

Unridden

When country boys meet a city girl, everyone is in for a wild ride.

Studs in Spurs, Book 1

Slade Bower and Mustang Jackson are living the high life on the professional bull-riding circuit. The prize money is big, the bulls are rank and the women are willing. But something is missing.

For Slade, waking up in a different city with a different woman each morning is holding less and less appeal. Even Mustang’s creative attempts to shake things up don’t help. Then along comes a big-city author who’s like nothing they’ve ever encountered. Something about her makes Slade sit up and take notice—and Mustang is always up for anything.

Romance writer Jenna Block has a problem—her agent thinks a cowboy book will jump-start her career. A born New Yorker, Jenna doesn’t do cowboys, not on paper, and definitely not in real life.

Luckily for her there are two cowboys ready, willing and able to take her out of her comfort zone in every way that counts…and some ways she hadn’t counted on.

Warning: This story contains two hot cowboys, one very lucky woman, hot ménage sex and
lots of bull.

Bucked

This cowboy is looking for more than just an eight-second ride.

Studs in Spurs, Book 2

Mustang Jackson does two things well—ride bulls and love women. So the injury that takes him out of the arena leaves him only one way to make a living. Unfortunately, getting paid to be a stud in front of the camera isn’t as fun as private conquests. When he catches sight of little Sage Beckett, minus the glasses, braces and pigtails he remembers, doing time in his hometown suddenly gets a lot more interesting.

Sage had a crush on Michael long before he started using that ridiculous nickname “Mustang”.

Though from what she’s overheard about his string of buckle bunnies, the man more than lives up to it. In the past he always looked right through her. Now that he’s home again, she’s determined to capture and tame this wild stallion, no matter what it takes.

She intends to satisfy her curiosity and move on, but with every touch she’s less sure she’ll ever purge him from her system. Once corralled in her arms, Mustang finds himself thinking that domestication may not be so bad after all. Except, once she finds out about his side job, she may not stick for the next go-round.

Warning: Contains one well-hung cowboy riding much more than just bulls, some ménage
action in front of and behind the camera, some whips and chains and some red-hot cowboy
loving.

Ride

What happens in Vegas…sometimes follows you home.

Studs in Spurs, Book 3

Pro bull rider Chase Reese knew things move faster than an eight-second ride in Las Vegas. He just never expected to be driving home with a national championship under his belt and a wedding band on his left hand with no clue how it got there. Yet he can’t complain about the stripper bride beside him. From the moment his buddies bought him a lap dance from her, her trembles told him there was more to her than stiletto heels.

Leesa Santiago has met the perfect guy. Her timing couldn’t be worse though. If it was just their explosive sex, she could walk away. But from the moment her lap dance brought her
this
close to his baby blues, she was hooked. She can’t lie that she couldn’t be happier to bear his name—or guiltier that she’s using it and his Oklahoma farm to hide out from mob hit men. That’s before Chase’s family gets involved. And his determination to do the right thing pushes her to do the one thing that will keep him safe. Break his heart.

Do cowboy boots mix with stripper heels? And can a love that started out on the wrong foot end up on the right one? That’s the risk you take waking up in Vegas.

Warning: Contains one happy-ending lap dance that will make you squirm, some pretty hot
sex between two strangers who also happen to be married to each other, and a huge surprise
conclusion.

Hooked

His last eight seconds could lead to the longest, most satisfying ride of his life.

Studs in Spurs, Book 3

Annie Grant is at the top of her game as an on-air interviewer for the pro bull-riders tour. In all those years standing within microphone range of thousands of sexy cowboys, she’s never been tempted…until now. Now that respected veteran Luke Carpenter is no longer with his longtime girlfriend, he’s back on the market. And Annie is buying.

Luke knows his days are numbered. Every year the rookies get younger, the bulls get ranker and, like it or not, the time is coming when he’ll be hanging up his spurs. After a sizzling hot night with Annie, he realizes that maybe this old dog can learn some new tricks. But quicker than a bull can spin, things get complicated.

A tragedy forces Luke into a no-win decision: hang onto the tail end of his career, or retire early for his family. Either way, he can live with his choice. Question is, can he live without Annie?

Warning: Contains knock-your-boots-off cowboy lovin, some up close and personal
interviews of the oral persuasion, and a happy ending…cowboy style.

Rough Stock

The heart wants what it wants…

Bronc riders Mason and Clay have shared both good times and bad as best friends, but they never expected to share their boss’s daughter, April. Can two friends love one woman, body and soul, without it destroying them?

The heart wants what it wants. For April that means not choosing between the two cowboys she loves, no matter how wrong it may seem inviting them both into her bed.

Life sends the three lovers in opposite directions, but a devastating injury brings them all together again. Their relationship now is no less bittersweet—or complicated—than before. Once severed, old ties leave scars that are tough to heal…

This book has been previously published and has been revised and expanded from its original release.

Warning: When you choose a man who thinks 8 seconds is a long time, perhaps you need
two of them. In other words: Watch out, this book contains hot ménage sex with two
cowboys and the woman they love.

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS

Sexy, independent, corporate executive Casey Harrington’s life and career were shaped by a childhood Christmas wish left unfulfilled. Now, twenty years later on a Colorado cattle ranch, she finally gets everything she’s always wanted—both a hot cowboy and a dream job.