Chapter 7
~ Anelise ~
Islipped my boots on over my jeans, my heart pounding like crazy. I mean, when was the last time I went on a date?
Even much less with a guy I really liked?
Sure, I had a crush on him when I was younger, and things had developed over time and over the last few weeks. He’s shown me more of himself than I have ever seen and he’s been a great guy.
He’s always been funny, but he’s caring, smart, and a hell of a kisser. Not that I was pinning anything on that.
But it sure didn’t hurt.
And can we talk about, for just a moment, how romantic he was when he kissed me on our horses yesterday? I mean, it was the sweetest kiss I had ever gotten. And he knew just how to do it so the horses weren’t nipping at each other and yet enough so that I could feel it to my toes.
I did. They curled in my boots, and I wanted more.
Shit, my body has been craving more.
Even the other night at the game, I would have screwed him right there under the bleachers. But as my luck would have it, we had to stop the make out session because Markus was looking for me. MaryBeth wanted something and he wanted to make sure before he bought it.
I snapped my head out of that memory as I applied my makeup, turning as the door to my room opened and my little girl bound in.
“Mommy, you look ‘etty.”
“I look pretty? Thank you babygirl.”
“You gots a dates?”
“I do. With Troy.”
“I likes ‘im.”
“You know what?” I told her, pulling her on my lap. “I like him too. He’s Uncle Markus’s best friend and I’ve known him for a long time. But he’s also got to like you because that’s super important to me. If he doesn’t like you, then mommy won’t date him anymore.”
“He likes me, duh!”
I grinned as I kissed her cheek.
“I know he does. I want you to be good for your uncle tonight. When he says it’s bedtime, it’s bedtime young lady. Or you won’t get to see Rainbow tomorrow.”
“Got its!” She hugged me before she jumped off my lap, racing down the hallway to the living room.
“Just make sure you come home with less marks, okay?”
I stood up, winking at my brother as I sprayed some perfume.
“I make no promises with the trouble I could get into with that man.”
“Ew, no. I don’t need those details. Just be careful and don’t let him do anything stupid.”
“I promise.” I gave my brother a quick hug. “Thanks for watching MaryBeth.”
“You need a night out, sis. Troy is a decent guy.”
“I think he is, in lots of ways.”
“Eww, stop again.” He covered his ears as he walked away and I couldn’t help but laugh, even as Troy picked me up.
“I never thought I’d enjoy getting under my brother’s skin as much as I have,” I told Troy as we stepped into the bar. He had asked what had me laughing and I had to share the story, causing him to join me as well. He got an even bigger kick, though, being his best friend.
“It’s always nice to push your siblings. I did it with my older brother too. Well, he did it to me from time to time, too.”
“The joys of being siblings, I guess.” I smiled my thanks as he held the chair out for me. “Beer tonight?”
“Sure. Nothing hardcore, I still need to take you home.”
“Playing it all out tonight, huh?”
“It’s a date, I’m doing it right.”
He gave the waitress our order, his eyes only on me, and I couldn’t help but blush. Troy had only gotten sexier as time went on and I still couldn’t figure out what he saw in me to want to spend time with me. Or to even kiss me.
“What?” he asked, almost as if he knew my mind was racing.
“Just….I’ve been in your life for years, Troy. And you never once glanced at me that way, why now?”
“That’s a loaded question, Anelise, sure you want it?”
“Yeah, I’m curious.”
He looked around before standing up, his hand held out to mine.
“Let’s talk on the floor. Not so many prying ears.”
He led me to the floor, his arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer than a twostep allows.
“Do you understand how insanely gorgeous you are?”
“No. Because I’m not.”
“You might not see yourself that way, Anelise, but just about every cowboy in this bar has kept glancing your way. When you used to follow us around, you were the annoying kid we couldn’t shake.
But when I saw you, all grown up and looking like a siren herself, there was no way I could walk away without trying to get to know you again.
“Was it just looks? No. But I won’t lie and say that my dick didn’t take notice of you.
But the more I got to talk to you, the more I got to really know you, the more I saw the kid that had matured into a brilliant woman who still knew how to laugh, even after the hurt. That makes a man take notice.”
“And now you want no other man to claim me, is that it?”
“Shit, you think I’m stupid? I might have fallen off the bull a time or two and been hurt along the way, but nothing messed with my mind or my eyes. You’re beautiful, heart, mind, body, and soul. Any man would be lucky enough to get your attention.
“But in these parts, you grew up with all these goons. It’s really no wonder that some man who didn’t live here would grab your attention. Please tell me you don’t think you’re not worthy enough for men?”
“Well, it’s hard. But you’re right. I never thought of these guys as people I would know or grew up with. When I look at the single men, there are not any I would want to date anyway.”
“See. They probably think the same way. Not that you’re not beautiful, but they know you. It’s one of my problems with a small town. We all grew up together, and we all know each other.”
I tilted my head as I thought over his words. That made sense.
I didn’t think I’d die as an old maiden, but he told the truth about being from a small town. There was always a pro and con to everything.
“What did you love most about the rodeo?” I asked him, tilting my head back to look at him. In his cowboy hat with his wrangler jeans and dark boots, he was every cowgirl’s fantasy. I mean, he was mine. And tonight, he looked damn good.
Or maybe it was just my hormones all over the place.
Not being laid in a while did that to someone.
“Getting out of here and seeing different parts of the country. Some of the best sunsets I ever saw were either in Arizona or New Mexico. And out there, it’s just beautiful country. But some of the best times were up in Montana or Kentucky. Damn, the horses there were gorgeous and fun.”
“Someday, I’d love to see it. Some of those other places away from here.”
His hand stayed on my hip as he spun me out and then back in, his lips next to mine.
“I’d love to treat you and your daughter to a trip out of this state.”
Why the hell did that sound so good to me?
I hadn’t thought of it, but now I desperately wanted it.
“Well, Cowboy,” I told him, swaying even closer to him, “I’m all yours.”
“For tonight only?”
I gave him a smirk as I rubbed against the slight bulge in his pants.
“Tonight. Or more. Depends on how good you can treat me before I give up anything else.”
“Oh, Cowgirl, let me show you just how well I ride.”
I couldn’t help but giggle, not recalling the last time I had so much fun or flirted so much.
But it was Troy, and it wasn’t a surprise.
“What else you got in mind for me, Troy?”
“After a couple more trips around this floor? I want to take you to my favorite spot and show you some of my favorite things.”
That sounded promising.