Falling For A Cowboy (2 page)

He leaned both elbows on the counter
.
A
firm butt
jutted behind
to fill
out his worn
Wranglers
.
Along w
ith
the
plaid
,
pearl-buttoned shirt
,
he
had on
the uniform of a cowboy
.
Based on the weathered cast
of the fabric
,
she figured he might be for real rather than a wannabe
tourista
,
even if he wasn
’
t a contender.

“
I just won saddle
bronc
.
”

His smile lit big, showing off snow white teeth and
a
very kissable
mouth
.
It
would
definitely be someone other than her enjoying those f
ull
lips now that he
’
d confessed he was a rough
stock rider. Not that she
’
d had any intention of trying
,
or any hope of success.
She
wasn
’
t the kind of woman
that
guys like him went for.

She gave him a once over for effect before commenting
.
“
You
’
re too tall to be
a
bronc
rider
.
”

“
So I
’
ve been told
.
But then Dan Mortens
e
n
’
s
been
a
n NFR saddle
bronc
qualifier multiple times
and he
’
s
close to six feet
.
And
, of course,
I did just win
a couple grand
.
”

Langley
had just upped its prize money to try to attract more cowboys
.
With the changes in the PRCA tour,
the town fathers were afraid the best riders
might neglect
Langley
if it didn
’
t provide more incentive. It had caused quite a ruckus until
Dan
and
Jenna Connors
, local ranchers,
had
agreed to guarantee the additional money
.

“
True
,
but he
’
s the exception.
”

“
That proves the rule?
”

This time she couldn
’
t help the smile.

“
There it is.
”
The cowboy chuckled
, those blue eyes of his lighting right up
.
“
I thought maybe you didn
’
t know how
.
”

“
I know how about a lot of things.
”
T
hose words
snapped
out before she
could stop them.
Last thing she wanted
was
this cowboy to think she was flirting
.
She wasn
’
t
into
puffing up
cowboy
egos
.
Especially at her
own
expense.

He brought the beer to his lips while his gaze held hers. Darn if she could look away.
“
I bet you do
darlin
’
.
”
He took a sip and set the beer down
.
“
This place on your T-shirt
…
”
he
stare
d at
the small rise of her
chest where
bold blue letters spelled out
B
eehive
Saloon
.
“
Y
ou
’
ll be working there tonight?
”

Heat stole up her face
as his gaze locked on her body
.
She
’
d never been well-endowed like
her best friend
Tara
Lynn
.
Dusty
was tiny—small-boned
,
her mother called it
.
Another name for barely there.
She wasn
’
t the
kind of
girl Texas cowboys hungered
for
.
Not that she wanted this one to
hunger
for
her
.
But she didn
’
t
appreciate the
reminder
his stare
sent
.

She wait
ed
for him to look up
.
No way was she going to have a conversation
with
his hat.

When he finally
raised his gaze
,
she answered.
“
No.
”

“
J
ust run the concession?
”

This was
getting beyond
mindless
conversation.
Didn
’
t anyone else want a beer
?
S
he stared out at the almost empty walkway
.
The announcer
’
s voice was still booming from the box and cheers were heralding good
bull
rides.

“
On
ly
Saturday
s,
”
she said
.
“
That
’
s
four dollars
.
”

He fished in his pocket causing the denim to stretch over private places
.
Damn
.
Don
’
t go there, she silently cautioned her eyes
.
Too bad they weren
’
t listening.

“
If I go
to the B
eehive
tonight
, wi
ll I
at least
see you there?
”
he asked, giving her
the kind of smile that
promise
d
a good time. He held out
a
five
dollar
bill
.
“
Keep the change.
”

“
Thank you,
”
she said, ringing him up
.
“
And unlikely.
”

He frowned for the first time
.
He obviously hadn
’
t expected that answer
.
Good looking as he was, s
he imagined few women
said no
to him.

“
I
’
d appreciate the company unless you
’
re in a relationship or something.
Maybe even then.
”
He flashed another grin but this time it didn
’
t reach his eyes
.
He was undoubtedly looking for a reason for her refusal.

She wouldn
’
t
lie to
spare his pride
and s
he was
n
’
t
fooled
into thinking
he really wanted to be with her
.
He was just placing a safe bet in case he couldn
’
t score with anyone else.
She was
all too familiar with the routine
.
She
’
d show up and he
’
d already have his arm around a woman with
ample
curves
in all the right places
and he
’
d forget he
’
d
ever met
Dusty
. Not that she would have agreed under any circumstances
.
He was a rodeo cowboy after all.
“
No
relationship
.
Just not interested.
”

“
Ouch.
”
He straightened to his full height
, a frown creasing his
rugged
forehead
.

Movement behind him caught her eye
.
Finally someone
else
was coming
for a beer
.

A wiry
young cowboy
sauntered up
and slapped
her customer
on the
back
.
“
Hey, Clay
.
Thought I
’
d find you out here.
”
He was shorter than
his friend
.
H
is denim jeans and chambray shirt
were
dusty, his
broad
brow sweaty under the beige cowboy hat.
“
Where there
’
s a
pretty
woman, that
’
s where you
’
ll find Clay.
Howdy ma
’
am.
”
He tipped his hat and settled it back on his blond head of hair.
“
Don
’
t believe anything he
’
s told
you.
”

She graced
the newcomer
with a smile.
He
’
d just confirmed
her instincts
.
“
Beer?
”

“
Please,
”
h
e answered
, giving her a hu
g
e grin in return
.
He wasn
’
t handsome like his friend but he had an open, honest face.

“
I
’
ll buy
,
”
Clay
called
from behind as she drew
the
beer. When she turned around
a five dollar bill was
on the counter.

She set the beer down and retrieved the money.
The cowboy said his thanks, keeping his mouth in a grin.

“
Keep the change
but a
t least tell me your name
.
”
Clay
’
s hands were keeping his hips
company.

She rang up the sale
,
star
ing
at the register rather than
at
him
or his friend
.
“
Dusty
.
Dusty Morgan.
”

“
For your hair, I
’
m guessing.
”

She glanced up.
He was smiling at her again
.
She had to give it to him for persistence—and for guessing right
.
She nodded.

“
I
’
m Clay Tanner and this here grinning fool is Jesse
Blair
.
”
He reached out a hand
.
S
he could do nothing but grasp it
.
His grip was strong, his touch warm. When he released, she felt tingles
clear through her arm
.
Lordy
.
Jesse shot his hand forward and she gave
it
a quick shake—and felt nothing.