Wild Wyoming Nights (16 page)

His brother also wasn’t nearly as cynical. Cole hadn’t been in love, at least that he knew of, and liked to play the field. He was a woman magnet with his looks, muscular build and rodeo rough guy persona. He, on the other hand, had loved and lost. He didn’t think he would ever love again unless one could call his need for Abby love. No, he wasn’t in love, he was sure of it. He wanted her, he knew that, but she wouldn’t go for a strictly physical relationship.

What would happen now? He’d made love to her—no, more like fucked her good—but where things would go from here, he didn’t know. He knew by the look in her eyes that she wanted to fall in love again, wanted to feel the love of a man wrapped around her for the rest of her life.

Maybe I should step aside and let Cole pursue her if that’s what she wants.

 
The thought sent his heart to his toes. He would never be able to accept Abby and Cole together.

Chase shut off the water and stepped out, toweling off before he hobbled off to his room. The shower did nothing for his sour mood or his out of control libido. The only thing that would cure his malady was a warm bed and a warmer woman. Unfortunately for him, the warm bed was available, but the warmer woman, or at least the one he wanted, wasn’t. After last night, he didn’t know for sure anymore.

Chapter Twelve

For the last couple of weeks, Abby had been out with Christopher on several occasions. Chase ignored her, never called, never came by, and she avoided him at all costs. Being near him did things to her heart she wasn’t ready to explore, and he obviously didn’t want to be around her, either. Things between them screamed uncomfortable even though they had made love.

Christopher pulled into her driveway and shut the car off. He reached across the seat to caress her shoulder. She closed her eyes to the sensation and tried desperately not to shiver at his touch.

“What is it, Abby?”

She turned to look at the blond, dangerously gorgeous man next to her with a small smile, a tear slipping down her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Chris. I wish I could feel for you what you think you feel for me.”

“Give it time.”

She shook her head. “It wouldn’t matter.”

“It’s Chase, isn’t it?”

She dropped her eyes to her hands.

He wrapped his hand in her hair, forcing her to raise her eyes back to him.

“This isn’t over. I’ll show you.” He slanted his mouth across hers as he gripped her head from behind. She whimpered under his lip grinding assault on her mouth for a moment, and then pushed against his chest until he let her go.

“I’m sorry, Abby. I didn’t mean to do that. I just want you so bad, it’s driving me crazy.” He smoothed his hand across her cheek.

“I…uh…I need to go inside.”

“All right. I’ll call you in a few days.”

She didn’t answer, just slipped out of the car and almost ran to the door, opening it with shaking hands. She shut it behind her, sliding the dead bolt into place. Holding her breath for a moment, she finally let out it when his car left the driveway. Raising her hand to her bruised lips, she shivered. She never would have thought Chris would do something like that.

I’m just glad he didn’t do something else.

Shutting the lights off, she headed toward her bedroom and a bath. All of the sudden she felt dirty and used. Turning the light on in her bathroom, she plugged the tub and twisted the handles until the water was the perfect temperature. She dribbled some of her favorite bath bubbles in, and then went back into her room for her pajamas.

Her phone rang and she sighed heavily.
I really don’t want to talk to anyone,
she thought until she looked at the caller ID. Her heart skipped a beat in her chest. She picked it up and hit the talk button and said, “Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Oh, hi, Cole.”

“You sound so thrilled to talk to me.” His warm chuckle met her ear, and she wished she could be attracted to him instead of his difficult brother.

“Sorry. I wasn’t sure who it was, that’s all.”

“Sure, Abby. You thought it was Chase.”

She sighed, refusing to let Cole bait her into admitting her growing feelings for his brother and the disappointment she felt at his refusal to communicate with her. “What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to see if you would go out with me.”

“You mean like on a date?” Her steps moved across the carpeted floor and she chewed her fingernail.

“Yeah, dinner and a movie or something.”

I don’t want to encourage him, but how do I say no without hurting his feelings?

“Sure. I guess that would be all right.”

“How about tomorrow night?”

“That’s fine.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up about six.”

“Six it is. I’ll talk to you later, then. I’m getting ready for bed.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

Abby hung up the phone and moved back toward the bathroom. The tub she had in her bathroom was huge, and she loved to soak. She really needed it tonight.

Stripping off her clothes, she pinned her hair up on her head and started to step in when the phone rang again.

Damn.

Rolling her eyes, she picked it up and looked at the screen.

Hitting the talk button, she said in an exasperated tone. “What is it now Cole?” There was silence for a couple of seconds before she heard, “It’s Chase.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Did you just talk to Cole?”

“Yes, he called a few minutes ago from your home phone.”

“What did he want?”

The indignation in his voice made her mad. “What difference does it make?” The flippant nature of her words let him know she didn’t care what he thought.

“What did he want, Abby?” His voice was almost a snarl when it reached her ear.

She exhaled on a rush and said, “He asked me out to dinner tomorrow night. Satisfied?”

A growl? Is that what I just heard?

“Chase?”

“Yeah.”

“Is that all you wanted? I’m getting ready to get into the bath tub.”

The silence stretched on for a moment and then she heard him groan. “God, Abby. I really didn’t need that picture in my head.”

Maybe he’s not so immune to me. Mmm…let’s see…

“What picture is that?”

His whispered words met her ear. “You are a witch.”

She chuckled softly. “What’s wrong, Chase? The mental image getting to you? Are you remembering making love to me on the kitchen table? I remember, too, you know.”

She didn’t hear anything and she almost thought he’d hung up except for the rapid breathing in the phone.

“What are you wearing?” The soft, low timbre of his voice made her wish he was there with her, as her pussy started to throb with every beat of her heart.

“Nothing.”

“Shit!” His tortured curse made her smile.

Chase was getting hot just thinking about it. She could hear it in his voice, and the thought sent shivers down her arms. She squirmed slightly as her own desire spiraled out of control.

I think I’ll make him squirm, just a little.

“Mmm…the water is so warm.” She slipped beneath the bubbles with a soft sigh. “Smells like lavender. Do you like the smell of lavender, Chase?”

The only thing she heard was a growl through the phone line.

“The bubbles make my skin so slick,” she whispered with a smile on her lips as she tipped her head back on the tub rim.

“Abby.”

“Mmm…too bad you aren’t here to wash my back.”

“God, Abby. Stop.”

“I’ll talk to you later, Chase. Sweet dreams.” Abby hung up the phone with a wicked smile on her lips. She almost half expected him to break down her door, but it never came.

* * * *

Cole pulled into her driveway at precisely six o’clock. He knew Abby’s attraction for Chase ran deep. Her desire for his brother burned bright in her eyes whenever she looked at him.

As he reached her door, he knocked softly, and when she opened it, she took his breath away.

Her smile lit up the cold winter night brighter than any street lamp. “Hi.”

“Hi—wow! You look beautiful.”

“Thanks. Ready?”

“Yeah.”

She pulled the door shut behind her and locked it. He rested his hand at the small of her back, as he walked her to his truck and opened the door.

“Thanks.”

Once he was settled and they were on the highway, he asked, “Where would you like to go for dinner?”

“Whatever is fine with me.”

“Come on, Abby. What would you like?”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Fine. How about the steak house on Chestnut?”

“Perfect.”

During the ride, they chatted about his rodeo riding, her life in New York, why she moved to Wyoming, everything but Chase. After he’d parked the truck and they were sitting at a small table, he let his gaze wander over her features. Her brown hair shone with red highlights in the light overhead and her green eyes sparkled. Everything about her fascinated him. He had never been immediately attracted to anyone the way Abby piqued his interest, but he knew Chase was halfway in love with her already just by the way he looked at her. He didn’t know if he wanted to try to take her away from his brother or not.

Hell! I don’t even know if there is anything between them for sure.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asked, dying to know what she wanted.

“Sure.”

“What’s between you and Chase?”

Abby closed her eyes before she pushed the air from her lungs in a rush. When she opened them again, he wasn’t sure if there tears sparkling at the corners. “I don’t know what’s between me and Chase, Cole. I thought we were friends—you know neighbors helping each other out, that kind of thing—but now he just ignores me and doesn’t want me around.”

He chuckled and leaned back against his chair.

“What?”

“Oh, he wants you around all right. Trust me.”

“What is that suppose to mean?”

“Put it this way, Abby, Chase has been alone since Krista died. He’s buried himself in the Rocking W for two years. You are the first woman he’s shown an interest in since then.”

“He’s not interested.”

He frowned and stared.

Was she kidding?

Reaching across the table, he took her hand in his. “You can’t be serious?”

* * * *

“Of course I’m serious.” Abby’s thoughts ricocheted back to the night before and the intimate conversation on the phone with Chase.
 
A moment later, her eyes focused on Cole’s face again across the table. “Okay, maybe he’s interested physically, but not for anything more and I can’t just do a physical relationship. If there isn’t an emotional attachment of some kind, I can’t do it.”

Cole’s face took on a seriousness she wasn’t sure she liked. The more time she spent with the man across from her, the more she realized he wasn’t like Joshua at all. Cole had a carefree, player type attitude around women. He was in no way ready to settle down with one woman. His face was so much like Josh’s, it hurt her heart to see him sometimes, but his personality rang totally different.

“What did you two talk about on the phone last night?”

Her heart skipped a beat in her chest and she let a wistful smile ripple across her mouth. “Nothing, really.”

“That’s not the impression I got.”

Abby frowned. “Why?”

“Because Chase was like a wounded bear for the rest of the night, walking around growling and pacing.” She let a small teasing smile flitter across her lips and he said, “Ah! I knew it!”

“What?”

“What did you do to him, Abby?”

“Me? I didn’t do anything.”

Cole laughed. “Sure, that’s why he went into the bathroom and probably took a cold shower for about thirty minutes.”

What was it? Men always knew when one of their kind was horny and wound tighter than a spring.

Her shoulder lifted in a shrug and her gaze focused on the tabletop while she traced the pattern with her finger. “He wanted to know what you called about. I told him I was getting ready to get into the bath tub, that’s all.”

His laughter rolled across her and made her smile when her gaze returned to his. “I like you, Abigail Carter. You’ll give Chase a run for his money, that’s for sure. He’ll be lucky to have you in his life in whatever capacity.”

“Whatever is right.”

His tone turned serious as his gaze bored into hers. “Do you love him, Abby?”

She frowned and said, “I haven’t known him long enough to be in love with him, Cole.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Staring at the ceiling above her for a moment, she asked herself the same question. When she looked at him again, she said, “I wish I knew what was there, I really do. I care about him—I’m attracted to him.”
 
Good grief! I’m not having this conversation with his brother.
“Other than that, I can’t give you an answer.”