Wild Rodeo Nights Read Online Free PDF Page A

less spending time with one, her head screamed. Her heart skipped a beat when it whispered its own fevered wish— Live your life, Carrie.
    She walked briskly along the metal fencing, her eyes darting back and forth, looking at each face. When she had almost made the complete circle of cowboys and cowgirls as well as the horse trailers, she found him sitting on the tailgate of his truck. His eyebrows rose in surprise when he saw her.
    She shuffled toward him, embarrassed now that she searched him out.
    “Hi,” he said, slipping off the truck bed.
    “Hi.” Tearing her gaze away from his, she looked at the toes of her boots as she scuffed them in the dirt at her feet.
    He cleared his throat. “The store closed today?”
    She looked up. “Yeah. I always close it on Sunday.”
    “Did you come out to watch the competition?”
    “In a way, I guess.” She shrugged and her heart whispered, Just say it, Carrie. “I really came to find you.”
    “Really. Why?”
    “To apologize for last night.”
    He smiled, flashing those devastating dimples in her direction, and she almost tripped over her boots.
    “I’m sorry it sounded like I was dismissing you. In a way I was, I guess. It’s like I said before, I have a no touch policy when it comes to rodeo guys.”
    His mouth turned down in a frown. “Then why are you here?”
    “Because I was seriously contemplating rethinking my policy, at least for you.”
    “And?”
    “I just thought we might be able to get to know each other a little better even though you are leaving tomorrow or the next day.”
    “What are you saying, Carrie?”
    She huffed, planting her hands on her hips and said, “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
    He smiled again, and her heart thumped in her chest. “Yeah, I guess you do.”
    Tipping her head back for a moment, she sighed and then looked at him again. She grumbled under her breath. Difficult man. Knowing he probably heard her by the widening of his grin, she tried desperately not to roll her eyes like a schoolgirl.
    “I like you, Cole, and I thought maybe…” This was stupid. I shouldn't have given into my lust and sought him out. Losing her nerve she mumbled, “Never mind.”
    She turned her back, intending on stomping her way back to the spectator stands. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arm around her waist. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh when her breasts slammed against the rock hard expanse of his chest.
    His voice dropped to a whisper when he stared into her eyes. “I like you, too, and I would love to get to know you better, but make no mistake, I’m not the settlin’ kind.”
    She pushed at the hard muscles beneath her hands, but he wouldn’t budge. “I’m not looking for a permanent fixture in my life, Cole. I’ve got enough problems keeping Jess out of trouble and making sure the store stays running to worry about a man.”
    He chuckled. “As long as we’re on the same page, darlin’.” His eyes swept her face and settled on her lips for a moment. A second later, he brushed them lightly with his before released her. “I need to go. I’m up in a bit.”
    “Uh…yeah…sure,” she murmured and stepped back.
    “Meet me back here after my ride. We’ll see what kind of trouble we can find.” There were those dimples again when his eyes sparkled in challenge.
    Not waiting for her to reply, he grabbed his hat and rope before he headed for the arena. She watched his nicely emphasized ass in his tight Wranglers and muscular thighs encased in smooth chaps. He made her squirm with his good looks and luscious body, and she felt her face flush with embarrassment. Looking around quickly to see if anyone saw her, she ducked her head and headed for the stands.
    Finding a seat down in the front, she could see him laughing with a couple of other riders while they stood behind the shoot waiting their turn. Two riders later and it was his turn. He climbed up on the metal fence where the bull