Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? (18 page)

“I was concerned.” Concerned, jealous. Whatever.

“Edward means nothing to Ainsley. He sounds just horrid,” Meagan said, placing her hands flat in front of her.

Riley leaned back in his chair, hoping his clenched muscles didn’t tighten the casual pose. “Then why did he follow her here? And send flowers?”

“He’s a confused, lost man, and he’s hanging onto Ainsley like she’s his lifeline. If anything, she’ll lead him to her sister.”

Which matched what Ainsley had told him earlier, but she could have been lying to Meagan, also. The music ended and the dancing couple came back. Dylan held Ainsley’s hand but released it when they got to the table. He gave Justin a jerk of his head and the two men left.

Ainsley rubbed the mouth of her beer bottle before taking another drink. Her slender fingers slid over the smooth glass. If Riley hadn’t been such a bonehead, her fingers might have been gliding over him instead. The sole thought of her stroking him gave him an instant erection and he shifted in his seat.

“So he follows you all the way out to Wyoming?” he finally asked.

“I’m going to get more beers.” Meagan rose. “You guys want? Yes? No? I’ll just get…yeah.” She left them alone at the small table.

“I didn’t ask him to,” Ainsley sighed, her eyes downcast.

“Why are you doing that?” He didn’t like it when she hid. He wanted her fierce, like when he first met her.

“Doing what?”

“Avoiding me. Is there something more that you’re not letting on?”

 “You can ask me that after the time we’ve spent together? Do you think I do things like that with random men on a regular basis?”

“I don’t know what to think.” He stayed silent, the twang of guitars and swishing boots a momentary distraction. “A man comes all the way across the country for you. It must be pretty flattering.”

“Not even remotely. He’s running away from himself. Tracking me down made sense to him.” She didn’t offer any other explanation. Meagan came back with beer and placed one in front of everyone.

“Daisy was flattered that Clay came for her.” Riley nodded to Meagan and picked up a beer, then put it down again.

“Daisy was in love with Clay,” Ainsley said flatly.

“And when I got here, you were in the arms of another man.”

Meagan held onto her beer and edged away from them. “I’m just going to…go over here.”

Bless her roommate for giving them privacy. “And you’re in the arms of a different woman every day,” Ainsley countered. She lowered her voice and put a hand on his arm, her delicate touch stroking his flame-licked senses. “I like you, Riley. I could tell that this singles adventure was your family’s idea and you’re going along with it. Aside from my sister, I can’t imagine anyone in my family being that selfless.” She smoothed the taut muscle under the fabric of his shirt and leaned into the space between them. “Being with you today was the most I’ve felt like myself in a long time.” She kissed him, gently brushing her lips against his. He remained silent, taking her in with his hardened gaze, and she fixated on the table. “Now you say something so I’m not completely mortified.”

Riley had no words. Instead, he framed her face in his hands and kissed her back, but this was no gentle brushing. He claimed her with his mouth, teasing and nibbling and waiting to hear that groan of pleasure from the back of her throat.

He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Her body swayed close to his and he could feel the heat and arousal she exuded. His gut clenched when vanilla drifted to his nose. Too bad they couldn’t leave Meagan and go find a nice, secluded area, away from bachelorette wannabes and desperate number crunchers, and take all night. She nestled into him and he closed his eyes, their bodies moving in perfect rhythm together. He’d been hard since that afternoon and dancing caused painful friction against his jeans, but he was still sorry when the music ended. Ainsley held tightly to his hand when they rejoined her roommate.

He danced with Meagan next, but it was nothing like the primal feel of being with Ainsley. Her brave admission had made his heart bang around his chest and his skin ached for her silken touch. He’d have to bare his own feelings if he wanted to keep her by his side. But he didn’t know how much he was willing to risk.

Ainsley squeezed against Riley during the truck ride home. Truthfully, there was room in the front seat between her and Meagan, but she enjoyed the feel of his hard, muscled thigh through her jeans. He parked next to their cabin and guided them as they stumbled to the door, giggling and shushing each other as Meagan tried repeatedly to fit their key in the lock. He finally took it from her, then waited while they slid inside. Meagan hightailed it to her room and closed the door.

His arms slid around Ainsley’s waist and gently pulled her back against his chest. “I didn’t expect you.” His low voice vibrated against her. “After my sisters told me of their plans for the single women on the ranch. I expected the Jewels and Robins and even Daisy, but not you. And now I don’t know what to do about it.”

Love me.
The words formed unbidden in her mind but she held them back. He wasn’t ready to hear them, to trust them. And she wasn’t ready to say them. Instead, she turned in his arms and stood on tiptoe, gently brushing her lips against his mouth. He pulled her tight, crushing her as his mouth devoured hers.

“Come out with me tomorrow night.” He panted as he said the words in a rush, as if he had to get them out fast or never say them. He swallowed. “I mean, like a date.”

She flashed back to his words by the cabin. “Will it take all night?” A husky quality filled her voice and her face got hot, thinking of his hands all over her body.

His breath quickened and his hazel eyes melted, and one large hand cupped her neck while the other pulled her to him. She tasted the rough passion on his lips and her own arms found their way around his body, caressing the smooth skin of his back with her fingertips.

His lips slid to her neck, a touch below the ear, giving her rippled shivers. He stepped away from her. “Tomorrow night.”

“You’re killing me, Cowboy,” Ainsley muttered. “So your goal was to get me all hot and bothered, ready to rip off your clothes and pounce on you, and then send me to my bed alone like a good little girl?”

“You’re not the only one hot and bothered.” Riley captured her hand and lowered it so she could feel for herself how hot and bothered he was.

She rubbed her thumb over the bulge in his pants, wishing she could have him naked and hard beneath her right now.

He groaned. “What about Meagan?”

Her lips found his throat and led a trail of small kisses to his ear. “I don’t think she’ll mind,” she whispered.

Damn, but he was a good kisser. One large hand cupped her breast, his thumb rubbing her nipple through her shirt. Her breath quickened when he broke the contact, resting his forehead on her shoulder for a brief moment before he whispered, “Good night,” and left.

She closed the door behind him, leaning against it as her world swam. That kiss had loosened the coils of reserve she’d wrapped around herself. Awareness of how much she wanted to be with this man zinged her senses. Regret tugged at her heart, but she tucked it away. She had already told him she liked him and expected no commitment. And she wasn’t looking for forever anyway.

Yes you are, you big liar
.

Meagan peeked out of her room, coming into the common area when there was no sign of Riley. Her presence interrupted Ainsley’s beginning panic and let her hold the euphoric feeling for a little bit longer.

“That was fun, but I am so tired,” Meagan said.

“Think Justin will call?” Ainsley asked. “He’s so dreamy!”

Meagan stuck out her tongue and sat on the floor, stretching her legs apart and rubbing her lower back. “It’s a good thing no one saw Riley drop us off at our cabin. I can only imagine what everyone would say this time.”

This time? Ainsley’s stomach took a nosedive and ended up in her toes. If Meagan had told everyone about her and Riley, it would certainly explain the animosity of the other women. But her roommate didn’t seem the type to gossip. She kicked her shoes off and flopped on the sofa, playing with her hair and sorting things out.

Meagan stopped stretching when Ainsley said nothing, her dark brows drawn over bright eyes now full of caution. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Nothing. Everything.” Ainsley pulled her legs up so her chin rested on her knees and ignored her sick feeling. “Can I ask you something? And please don’t get offended.”

“You can ask.” Meagan sat down next to her and put the soles of her feet together.

“I’m going to sound paranoid. Or insulting.”

“So noted. Ask away. I think I have an idea what this is about.”

“Okay.” Ainsley took a deep breath and steeled herself for an angry reaction from the other woman. It would be easier to let the matter go, except for the tiny, little, miniscule effect the insults and manipulations were having on her life. “Have you told the other girls anything about what I’ve been doing this past week? Or with whom?”

Meagan snorted and shook her head before answering. “I suppose that’s a logical conclusion, but no. I’ve said nothing. But you want to ask what the other women say when neither you nor Riley are with them.”

“They talk about me, don’t they?”

“They do.”

“To you?”

“Even they’re not that stupid,” Meagan laughed. “Cookie overheard them. Robin was with Jeanne when she saw Edward’s flowers, and she told the rest of them. It became a war-game operation to figure out what to do to keep you and Riley separated. Cookie didn’t stay and listen, though, and he wanted to tell you but didn’t feel right about spreading gossip. But he thinks you’re being treated unfairly and wanted to help, so he told me and let me do with it what I thought was right. I didn’t say anything because you seemed happy.”

Ainsley leaned backward on the brown cushions and rubbed her temples against a sudden headache. “I knew it! So there is a conspiracy. And it’s working.”

“I had Riley pegged for a better man than that.”

Her heart tugged in her chest as his hazel eyes flashed in her mind and a warm liquid feeling spread over her. “He is. But for how long is he going to keep believing me when I protest? Plus with Edward showing up… there’s a lot working against us.”

Meagan nudged her arm. “What do you want, Ainsley?”

A tingly feeling covered her jaw and worked its way up her cheeks. She shifted her gaze to the floor. It was something she had yet to admit to herself, to even let herself think about. Her livelihood, her family relationships, her very world would be in peril if she let herself be a permanent part of his life.

It didn’t matter. “Him,” she whispered, closing her eyes. Heat blossomed in her chest and tears welled under her lids, but the power of saying the word out loud tightened her resolve. She straightened her spine and gave her roommate a determined stare. “I want him.”

“Then go get him!”

“Now? It’s really late and he’s probably already in bed.”

The shrill ring of the phone made both women jump, and Meagan frowned at Ainsley. “Riley, do you think?” she asked as she went to answer it.

“I have no idea.”

Her friend held it out, giggling. “It’s Edward.”

“That is so not funny.” This caused louder giggles from her roommate, who continued to hold out the phone. “You can’t possibly be serious. Hello?”

“Thank goodness you’re back safely. I’m coming to your cabin to talk to you,” Edward said.

“Listen. It’s really late and—” Ainsley heard the telltale click of a hang-up as it stung her ear “—I’m tired and don’t want to talk to you, you overgrown excuse for an obstinate number cruncher.” The last remnants of her emotional bliss crashed to the floor. She slammed the receiver down and spun to Meagan, hands fisting in the air. “Why, why, why does he do this to me? Why is he not pursuing my sister? Should I draw him a map to Cecelia’s house, maybe?”

“What’s going on?” Meagan asked.

“Please don’t go to bed,” Ainsley pleaded, grabbing her arm. “I can get him to leave faster if you’re here.”

“Okay,” her roommate agreed, “though I may fall asleep on the sofa. You should pretend you’re really drunk.”

“Oh, that’s good. He’ll completely disapprove and hopefully leave.”

After a few minutes, a knock sounded at the door and Ainsley steeled herself before she answered it. “Edward. Come in. Please. I have nothing else to do tonight except go to sleep.”

“Ladies,” he said. He still wore a suit, but this one was neatly pressed. He handed a bouquet of red roses to her. She took them and stomped to the kitchen, fighting the urge to whap him on the head with them. Repeatedly. How many years had he known her and he never got it through his mind that she disliked getting flowers. It made her think of men who were apologizing for some wrongdoing in the most smarmy of possible ways.

Meagan folded herself into the corner of the brown sofa. Even Edward’s pointed stare did nothing to make her leave the room. She blinked back at him, twirling her hair, her features serene and guileless. When she stayed put, Edward focused his attention back on Ainsley.

“What the hell are you still doing here? Don't you have to drive fifty miles to a hotel or something?” she asked.

“I wanted to say good night to you. Your cell was off, so I’ve been calling your cabin every fifteen minutes. Were you in the white pickup that drove through the gate about ten minutes ago? Where have you been?” he demanded.

“Shy Ann’s,” Ainsley said, coming into the common room. She sat next to her roommate and tucked her feet beneath her.

“There’s no way you’d be back here this soon if you went there,” he accused. “Where were you, really? With that cowboy of yours?”

Even in the midst of his most ardent pursuit of her, he had never been this possessive. “It’s a bar. We danced. We drank. We rode a mechanical bull. And it was fun.” She said the words precisely and with great care.

“What on earth made you do such a thing?” Edward folded his arms and fixed her with a glare. As if he was her father or something.