Chapter 7
Kat
M y hand reached out and grabbed onto Beau’s shirt. I think I planned on pushing him away, but I pulled him closer. I heard a click and felt my seatbelt slide against my chest. The next thing I knew, I was pressed into Beau and he was kissing me in earnest.
I let go of his shirt. Again, I meant to push him away, yet my hand found its way into the back of his hair. My mouth opened under his as his tongue slipped in and found mine. Both of us moaned at the same time.
“God, Kat.” He groaned my name and lifted me onto his lap. My legs split to give room. His steering wheel pushed into my back, forcing me even closer. His arms went around my waist and behind me. It was like he still needed me closer. I had never felt this level of passion in my life, and it was addicting.
“We can’t do this.” I found the strength to back away.
“Yes, we can.” He worked his way down my neck.
“No.” I tried. My head fell backward, negating my words. This wasn’t supposed to feel so right. Not Beau. Anyone but Beau. My heart would never recover.
The top button of my shirt opened, followed by the second. His lips continued down to the upper slope of my breast. My fingers tightened in his hair. Another moan left my lips. Instead of opening the rest of the buttons, he kissed his way back up and sat back.
“Do you have any idea how much I want you, Kitten?” He kissed my lips again. “If we don’t stop now, I’m taking you inside and making love to you.”
“This is all supposed to be pretend.” I shook my head.
“Does it feel like I’m pretending?” He kissed my cheek, my eyelashes, and back to my mouth. What the hell was I doing?
“It feels like you’re just trying to get laid,” I blurted out. My mind was all mixed up from the feeling of his body hardening under me.
Beau instantly stopped. His eyes darkened so fast I had to blink to catch up.
“Is that what you think?” He lifted me off his lap.
It took a second for me to get my bearrings. I quickly buttoned my shirt. “How did you get these open?” I didn’t remember his hands moving from my back.
“My teeth,” He answered nonchalantly. “Do you really think I would use you just to get laid?”
I let out a hysterical gust of laughter. “Isn’t that always your goal?”
He turned to face the front of the truck. His jaw ticked in the darkening night. “I know I’m not some innocent virgin, but I’m not the man whore everyone seems to think I am.”
“Come on, Beau.” I started to run my hand through my hair before I remembered it was in a ponytail.
“Come on, what?” He tipped his head back toward me.
“You’re acting like you haven’t worked your way through most of the women that attend the rodeo.” I couldn’t believe he was really offended right now. “I’m sure if you want to get laid, that hostess at the restaurant would be happy to oblige.”
He turned his body right toward me. “I can count on one hand how many women I’ve been within the last year and not even come close to using all five fingers.” His eyes narrowed on mine. “Sure, when I was young and just getting into the circuit, I slept around. When you get your first taste of fame, and all you’re thinking with is your dick, that’s what you do, but that isn’t the case anymore.”
“You say that like you’re ancient.” I scoffed as I tried to wrap my head around the idea that Beau might not be as bad as I believed. Was he really telling the truth?
“In rodeo years, I am.” He shook his head. “I’m twenty-eight, and I have maybe four years left. If I don’t get hurt, I could push that to five, but not much more. That isn’t taking into account the pressure from my family to take on more responsibility with the farm and the business. Dad’s getting older, and Hailey already works non-stop. Daphne isn’t going to trade the ranch for the office, so that leaves me.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to give up the rodeo.” How was it that I have known Beau Wynters my whole life and I wouldn’t say I had ever really known him until tonight?
“I know, but I always knew I would walk away sooner rather than later. Go out on my terms and on top.” He shrugged. “I’d just like to be a little more settled when I do.”
I stayed quiet for a long moment.
“How did you know I was a double major?” I asked quietly.
He snorted. “You really think your mother didn’t tell everyone you were graduating with a degree in English and journalism before you ever ordered the announcements?” I should have known.
“I’m sorry.” I let out a breath. “I guess I’ve sort of been judging you on assumptions instead of really trying to get to know you.”
“Thanks.” He leaned his head back on the headrest. “How about we use the next two days to really get to know each other? Work on that friendship I thought we already had.” His lips twitched.
“We could do that.” I agreed, my head mimicked his.
“And if we happen to end up in bed together before Sunday, so be it.” He broke out laughing.
I rolled my eyes. “Keep dreaming.” I bit at my lower lip. The idea of us together sparked a quick heat low in my stomach.
“Oh, I’ve been dreaming.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“I’m done.” I opened the door and jumped down.
“Wait.” He followed me out. “Where are you going?” He came around to meet me at the front of his car.
“I was going home, but someone forced me to spend the night here.” I tilted my head.
“In my room?”
“In Maddie’s room.”
Beau let out a breath, and his lips split into a smile. “Good. I’ll walk you there.”
“I can find my way.” I turned for the entrance. He raced up behind me and kept up until we reached Madison’s door.
“Do I at least get a goodnight kiss?”
I knocked and waited until she opened the door. “I would, but I think we’ve done enough performing for today.” I smiled. “Have a good night.” I let the door close behind me.
The bad thing about rooming with a rodeo rider is that they wake up before the sun has even rolled over and hit the snooze button. If I had gone home, I would have had to be up early, but this was the wrong side of the clock early.
Maddie tiptoed around the room as if the shower hadn’t woken me up already. Personally, I didn’t understand how she was even functional. We had stayed up for another hour or so after I showed up last night, talking about everything that happened yesterday.
“Leave it to Beau to think this was a good idea.” Maddie had laughed through most of my story. “Actually, this whole thing sounds like something my idiot brother would have thought up too. No wonder they are friends.”
The more I told her, the harder she laughed. I didn’t tell her about the kiss. I wasn’t sure why exactly I decided to keep it to myself, but I did.
I sat up and stretched. “I’m up.” I figured I’d go ahead and let her know so she could move freely.
“Oh, good.” Her shoulders dropped. “I was wondering if I needed to wake you up to see if you wanted to ride with us to the arena.”
“Well, crap.” I dropped my head into my hands. I had forgotten that my car wasn’t downstairs. Yet another thing I could blame Beau for. If he hadn’t been so heavy-handed, I would be at home and comfy in my bed, still fast asleep.
“What the hell am I going to wear?” I shook my head. “I can’t interview the people from last night in the same outfit.”
“Why not?”
I looked back up. “Cause it would look tacky.”
“To rodeo guys?” Maddie rolled her eyes. “Some of them have been around the bulls so long they still smell like shit. Most of them probably wouldn’t even notice if you wore the same thing every time you interviewed them.”
“But I’d know,” I argued, even though she was probably right. “And what if I run into the guys from Patchwork Leather? How am I supposed to explain not changing?”
The corner of Maddie's lip rose. “Smile bashfully and leave it to their imagination.” She chuckled. “That should sell the fake engagement.”
“Not helping.”
She kept laughing. “I can give you a shirt, but there’s no way you are going to fit my pants.”
She wasn’t wrong. Maddie was like supermodel tall, which worked, considering she was supermodel beautiful too. I wasn’t tiny, but I’d have to cut her pants a good three to five inches to fit.
“That could maybe work.” I thought about it. If most of the guys wouldn’t notice if I had on the same outfit, then they definitely wouldn’t notice the same pants.
“Sure.” She lifted her bag onto the bed. “Feel free to wear anything, and you can use whatever you need in the bathroom.”
“Thanks, Maddie.” I stood and headed in to start getting ready. If I was going to ride with her and her brother I needed to get a move on.
A knock sounded right after I stepped into the other room. Since I was closer, I reversed out and opened the door to see Beau standing there with a smile.
“Good morning, Kitten. I hope you slept well.”
“What are you doing here so early?” I hadn’t expected to see him until later today.
“I had my sisters pull together some clothes for you last night.” He held out a hotel bag. “There are a couple pairs of pants in there because they couldn’t decide who might be your height.” He rolled his eyes. “There are also a few shirts, one of which is mine, and I’m not telling you just so you don’t dismiss it without a fair chance.” He winked at me.
“Wouldn’t I automatically know it’s yours because of the size?” I took the bag.
“You would think, but Daph and I have surprisingly similar shirts. Maybe it’s from both of us working on the ranch.” He shrugged. “Either way, I don’t think it will be easy.”
I should wear one of Maddie’s shirts just to beat him at his own game. “Whatever.” As far as comebacks go, it wasn’t my best.
Beau smiled and shook his head. “I’m on my way down for breakfast and then headed over to the arena. If you want a ride, I can wait, but if you want to sleep in, then Daphne and Hailey aren’t coming over for another hour and a half, and you can ride with them.” He had just thought of everything.
“Maddie offered to give me a ride,” I informed him.
“Oh.” For a second, he actually looked a little disappointed, but the look faded quickly. “That might be for the best. If you ride in with Maddie, then Victor doesn’t have to go looking for you to keep an eye out.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.” I tried to growl, but it came out just a little lower than my normal tone.
“Not a babysitter. Vic’s just going to keep the wrong people away.” He leaned to the side. “Morning, Maddie.”
“Hey Beau,” Madison called out.
“Take care of my girl.”
“You know it.” She replied.
“Good.” He leaned toward me and dropped a peck on my lips. “See you soon, Kitten.” He headed back toward the elevator.
“That was sweet,” Maddie said as I closed the door. “I always had an idea that Beau would probably be all cute if he ever fell in love.”
I almost choked on my spit. “What?” There was no way that she could possibly think Beau even liked me like that. Let alone was in love.
“I’m just saying. I’ve never heard of him finding clothes for anyone else.”
“It’s all pretend.” I reminded her. “He’s putting on a performance.”
“And if Randall and Leonard were here, then I’d maybe believe you.” She pointed out. “But why would he need to pretend or perform anything for us?”
I hated that she could be right. “I’m going to take a shower.” I went into the bathroom so I didn’t have to continue to think about what she said.